Sprawling mountain ranges and pine trees that dwarfed even the largest ogres. Gazing up at the blue sky and appreciating the smell of damp wood and pine, Rosie could only think that this was not the way she'd imagined her week would end. In fact, the mere notion, if suggested earlier in her week, would have elicited a chortle and perhaps a disbelieving glare. As she wrapped her arms around herself enjoying the warm Romanian sun, she certainly had no complaints.
Excelling in all things academic - bar divination of course, but she would hardly consider that 'academic', Rosie was unsure what she wanted to do once she finished school. Potions mistress? Yes, she had considered it and she certainly had the talent for it, but she would rather cut off her left arm and feed it to a troll than spend all her days confined in a laboratory. Healer? She recalled her keenness for the topic in her fifth year, spending all her spare time pestering Madam Pomfrey and trying to glean every ounce of knowledge possible on the subject. She liked it enough, but she remembered the day Madam Pomfrey delivered some particularly bad news to the family of a small boy, the feeling of sadness in the room was palpable and in that moment she'd known she didn't have the disposition for such pursuits.
Animals were easy to read, certain postures and movements equated to their emotions everything adding up nicely like her Arithmancy homework. Though unpredictable in nature, there was nothing more rewarding than hatching a dragon egg and seeing it progress through infancy into a healthy and strong adult. Not only that, but working with animals she could spend hours outside with the sun tickling her skin in a most delightful way.
She'd been lucky enough to spend her first year out of school in New Zealand. The reserve she worked on had been relatively small with only a few cottages nestled in the mountain faces. Though very much understaffed the long work hours kept her busy and she loved learning something new every day. Rosie had helped care for Thunderbirds, Augureys and Jobberknolls, studying their physiology and importance in potion brewing. They'd even been fortunate enough to house a number of Antipodean Opaleyes, she was particularly invested in the breeding program seeing as their numbers were certainly declining – dragon hunting still prominent in ancient New Zealand tribes like the Yamil and Ookatara peoples.
The following year she'd been taken under the wing of famed Dragonologist Hui Xiong, sleep became a luxury and she'd spent her time becoming familiar with the anatomy and behaviour of the Chinese fireball under his guidance. Deep scarlet in colour, their cleverness shone almost as brightly as their colouring. Every feeding was accompanied with a battle of minds, the dragons enjoying the rapport they had built with her over time. Hui had taught her more than any textbook ever could, he encouraged building familiarity with the beasts and whilst he acknowledged that they were erratic in behaviour, he saw the most value in a hands-on approach.
Her deep-rooted love of healing meant she was especially fond of caring for sick and injured animals, Hui had been especially impressed when she'd nursed one of the larger beasts from near death to perfect health. Noting all of her work in her scruffy purple journal Rosie had built a veritable cornucopia of information on the topic of dragon disease, though she'd readily admit her notes were far from done.
Interrupted by the cry of an Augurey, she snapped out of her musings; based on both the reverberation time and pitch she hypothesised it to be a male. Her attention was quickly drawn to the black watch adorning her slim wrist. "Almost nine" she muttered, dusting off her khaki shorts and heading to the Romanian Wizarding Embassy.
It had been late last night when the Ministry had owled her requesting her presence in Romania in the morning (she'd personally thought the letter had been quite forceful in its wording, reinforced by the fact that the owl refused to leave until she'd responded). She'd woken up Hui to tell him of her sudden departure, her stomach sinking and her eyes heavy with emotion at having to end her time with the man, Hui had smirked in his usual way stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"If it is Merlin's will that you leave then I have no objection. When people work with one mind, they can even move Mount Taishan. It has been a pleasure" he had closed the door in her face, leaving her on his doorstep, eyes shining with unshed tears and her mind mulling over his strange choice of parting words.
Feeling quite content from her time in the forest Rosie felt her stomach constrict at the sight of the Embassy, her previous feelings completely replaced by more sinister ones as she craned her neck up to observe the building.
"Merlin…" the large spires at either side of the building were less than welcoming extending impossibly high into the sky. The building itself was an ordinary grey, but spanned an impossibly huge area. Of course it would be too much to hope the people would be of the friendly sort, the two guards situated at the entrance seemed to resemble trolls, they were taller than the average man with sharp and unwelcoming features. Pausing for a moment she readjusted her posture, standing as tall as she could be being scarcely five feet. She'd gone through all the usual security protocols and found herself in a sterile and cold room.
"Primrose Delorme?" Nodding, she gazed up at the pudgy man from her seated position, noticing the steely professionalism he outwardly displayed.
"Alexander Dumitru" introducing himself, he reached across the table, taking her small hand in his much larger one before speaking.
"As you would've gathered we have called you here for some rather important business" he started taking a seat across from her at the grey table.
"You achieved top marks in your grade, correct Mrs. Delorme?"
"Yes Sir" Rosie wrung her hands in her lap nervously barely able to meet his brown eyes with her green ones.
"The British ministry speaks highly of your work, having reviewed some of it myself, I daresay it is admirable." Clearing his throat, he continued, obviously uncomfortable giving her a compliment.
"Heavily invested in the well-being of the creatures myself, we have decided to bring you into our Romanian sanctuary. I'm told you've spent a number of years detailing and learning of the various ailments of Dragons?"
Thinking of her precious purple journal she smiled once again, albeit more genuinely than before.
"In my sixth year of schooling I began compiling all the notes I could on the matter, I'd loved reading about dragons but I'd found the study of their illnesses to be quite underdeveloped" she looked up at him meekly.
"I spent my first year out of school at the Moutohora sanctuary in New Zealand. As I'm sure you'd know birds and dragons share a lot of physiological features so working closely with both really helped to deepen my understanding of the creatures."
She looked up feeling uncomfortable speaking about herself for so long, he nodded at her to continue.
"This past year I've worked closely with Hui Xiong in China he runs a small sanctuary with Chinese Fireballs. As Nasty as they can be they are devilishly smart and I've compiled a large section of notes on them. Quite prone to eye problems, but that can be easily treated with a number of carefully prepared potions!" she absent-mindedly stroked a large scar on her arm as she spoke only noticing when Alexander's eyes travelled over it.
"Very good" he muttered scribbling a couple of things onto his notepad.
"Dragons are a very important part of the Romanian Economy Miss Delorme, we are one of the major exporters of scales, heart strings – you name a Dragon product, we export it." He smiled sheepishly at her revealing his less than pristine teeth, rubbing his hands together as one may before devouring a particularly delicious meal.
"A very good source of profit for us, That's why we require your help. Our Dragonologists have observed a great deal of dragons, both in captivity and the wild, experiencing some type of illness. Four of our finest have been lost in the past month." He stood up pacing, she could tell he was an unkind man by his mannerisms, he barely smiled except at the mention of money and he spoke without the tiniest inflection to indicate his interest in Dragon well-being.
Whilst his words told her he cared about the dragons, or at the very least was able to feign interest (just as every business man should) his body language told her this was just another thing to tick off his long list of problems. Though she didn't care much for Alexander she was becoming rather concerned about the health of the aforementioned dragons.
"You are expected to arrive at one o'clock this afternoon, you'll find the details here" he finished passing her a sheet filled to the brim with information.
"The team at the Romanian sanctuary looks forwards to meeting you Miss Delorme. That will be all" he said, barely looking at her, instead focusing on the rather expensive looking watch on his wrist as he exited the room.
She exhaled loudly, releasing a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding whilst running a hand through her unruly brown hair. Skimming the sheet her eyes widened at the proposed salary, though she supposed her new job would be a difficult position she'd gotten used to her otherwise modest pay. Not that she minded, more money to spend on her next trip to Diagon Alley she mused.
Rosie smiled, remembering that later tonight she would have to owl Tabitha, her best friend and fellow Ravenclaw. Tabitha would be absolutely delighted to hear of her new position and Rosie herself couldn't wait the catch up on the gossip Tabitha regularly spouted at her (she was a girl after all). Taking a few deep breaths she tried to calm down and quell the shakiness of her hands. Reading over the address once more she tried to look confident, as difficult as that was being vertically challenged.
"You can do this..." she murmured unconvincingly as she squeezed her eyes shut, preparing to Disapparate.