Chapter 89: The Alchemy Room
Before the school project could begin, Miriam decided to do a brief lecture on St. Mungo's itself. Most of it was information that was covered in Professor Binns' lecture, including the name of the hospital's founder Mungo Bonham.
"As you can see, this place has a long and illustrious history," Miriam said once she finished her lecture. "Many great witches and wizards have walked these halls, and you five are among them. Do you have questions?"
"Only one, Madam Strout," Claire said, raising her hand. "What is our first assignment?"
"It will be in the Alchemy Room, Miss Krystal," Miriam stated. "Come along, my lambs! We haven't got time to waste."
So Claire and the others followed Miriam into a room that looked like the Potion Classroom at Hogwarts, only it was much bigger with tubes on the ceiling that were pumping purple liquid.
"This is where all of our healing potions are brewed," Miriam explained. "We also study the magical properties of different substances, which helps us to synthesize cures for various diseases. Unlike standard alchemy, which concerns itself with turning metal into gold, the alchemy done in this room is used to study the composition, structure, and magical properties of various plants."
"Professor Snape has a lot of books on alchemy in his classroom, since potion-making is part of the alchemical process," Penny said abruptly.
"Exactly, Miss Haywood," Miriam concurred. "It's also important to remember that potions are a tool for healing."
"Although if some of these ingredients can turn metal into gold, that would be great for my business in Knockturn Alley," Jae remarked.
Miriam frowned. "The Alchemy Room is strictly for medical purposes, Mr. Kim. As for your first assignment, you will be organizing the Potions Cabinet!"
"This is no different from organizing the potions in Snape's classroom for detention," Jae whispered to Claire.
"Knowing the potions we have here is important if you're going to use them to heal someone," Miriam stated. "In other words, by becoming familiar with the tools we have available, it will allow you to build a solid foundation for your future here at St. Mungo's."
"I guess organizing potions shouldn't be too difficult," Claire said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
So the five got to work examining the Potions Cabinet and putting the potions back in their proper places with Miriam keeping a sharp eye on everyone to make sure they didn't spill anything. Then after organizing the potions alphabetically, they were finished.
"Fantastic!" Penny remarked. "I can't believe how easy that was!"
"Not sure why you're so enthusiastic, Penny," Jae said. "All we did was organize some bottles of odds and sods."
"But it's still important," Penny insisted.
"Miss Haywood is right again," Miriam weighed in. "Every task at St. Mungo's is equally important, no matter how small it may be. You'll also have to work on your bedside manner while working here."
"Pomfrey says my bedside manner is pretty good from the times I've worked with her before," Claire said.
"Isn't bedside manner just not yelling at your patients?" Jae asked.
"Not just that," Penny said. "It's more about making your patients comfortable."
"Both of those answers are quite true," Miriam said. "Now for your next assignment, you'll each be helping a newly admitted patient at St. Mungo's."
"How exciting!" Penny said enthusiastically.
"This will give you an idea of the different kinds of patients we get here, and give you all the chance to perfect your bedside manner," added Miriam.
Inside a large patient room, Claire walked past the veil that stood between the front door and the patient's bed. What she saw surprised her, as the person lying in the bed was a familiar giant.
"Hagrid!" Claire exclaimed.
Groggily, Hagrid replied, "Hullo, Claire. Didn't expect t'see yeh."
"I'm here on a class field trip to study potential careers here at St. Mungo's," Claire explained. "Madam Strout assigned me and the other students to work with new patients to work on our bedside manners. What about you?"
"Oh, I got into some trouble with one of the creatures in the Forbidden Forest," Hagrid admitted.
"What kind of creature?"
"An Acromantula."
This answer surprised Claire. "But I thought the Acromantulas liked you. Except for the one that attacked us during my fourth year."
"Maybe it'll help if I started from the beginning. I was out in the Forbidden Forest recently, helping the Acromantulas clean out their old nests t'make way fer the new ones. Then one'o the little ones bit me on me finger."
Claire examined Hagrid's large hand using the lamplight on the bedside table. Indeed, there was a bite mark on his pinky that was small but the skin around it was swollen.
"I'm just glad t'see a familiar face here, Claire," Hagrid said. "Hospitals tend t'make me nervous. They're a far cry from me homey cottage."
"Then why did you come here?" Claire asked. "Is it because you didn't want anyone at Hogwarts to find out about your eight-legged friends?"
"Aye."
"Can I do anything to make you feel better until you get your bite cured?"
Hagrid thought for a moment. "A pumpkin pasty would be nice. It reminds me o'home when I eat one, and makes all my troubles melt away."
"That's true for me!" Claire said. "My mum made them whenever I was having a bad day. I'll see if the tea cart I saw on the way here has any pumpkin pasties."
So Claire left the patient room and went into the lobby. There, she found Jae and Chiara talking between themselves.
"Hi, guys!" Claire said as she interrupted them. "Are your patients doing okay?"
"Mine was unconscious," Jae said. "So I thought I would grab a bite to eat."
"I was hoping to find the tea cart and get something to make my patient feel better," Chiara said.
"That's what I'm doing too," Claire said.
"Who's your patient?" Jae said. "Is it Mundungus Fletcher? He was involved in some risky business recently."
"No, it's Hagrid," Claire admitted. "He got bitten by a spider and thinks a pumpkin pasty will make him feel better."
"Makes sense, given this is Hagrid we're talking about," Jae said.
To be continued…