Off to one side of the level and stretching far and wide sits a greenhouse specifically for the botanists and oceanologists of the Department. Upon entering the greenhouse, you’re met with an earthy smell and a sight that makes you forget that you’re underground. Instead of a ceiling, a large, glass dome stretches from one end of the greenhouse to the other, giving you the view of blue skies and sunlight, perfect for the plants. Next to the door sits a cupboard in which you can find various equipment you can use in here including dragon hide gloves, lab coats, more pots and other botanical equipment.

Stretching across the greenhouse sits rows and rows of various plants from the mundane and normal to the exotic and dangerous. The plants sitting closest to the door are the more mundane ones; the ones anyone can care for and doesn’t require much specialist knowledge. As you walk further and further along the greenhouse, the types of plants tend to become more dangerous with the most dangerous, flesh-eating plants sitting in their own glass area at the back of the greenhouse. Labels can be found near sections of each of the plants that the botanists are required to tab. Under each of the tables of plants, you notice that there are pots of various sizes for the botanists to use. The oceanologists, though usually on business trips and therefore away from the Department for large periods of time, can find their own sections of water plants in various sized tanks along the right hand side of the greenhouse. Dragon hide gloves are still expected to be used on these plants and the oceanologists, along with climate controllers, are expected to ensure that the water are at their optimum temperatures, which can differ between one water plant and its neighbour.

A door can be located towards the left hand side of the greenhouse which, upon entering, leads you to a special laboratory for the botanists to use. The striking white of this room contrasts greatly with the green of the greenhouse. Workspaces can be found here for the botanists to experiment and research more into the plant they want to work with. Scientific equipment can be found in the cupboards and drawers around the room and are expected to stay in this room and the greenhouse ONLY.

The greenhouse and the laboratory are only to be used by botanists, oceanologists and Ms. Quinn. Anyone who wishes to enter needs to be accompanied by either of these employees.


OOC: As mentioned above, please don’t come in here unless you’re with Ms Quinn or one of the botanists or oceanologists. It’s only for your charrie’s safety because there are dangerous plants in this greenhouse.

Anthony didn't know what to think when he entered the space, it was amazing to see that amount of plants. He wasn't sure what he was to do, but he figured he would be happy either way.

Even though Alex had thoroughly enjoyed her Holiday break, she was looking forward to getting back to the "office". Whistling to herself, the climate controller found herself on level four before she even realized how she'd gotten there.

First things first, she should head to the greenhouses to confirm that the climate hadn't shifted too much over the break. Especially with the garden party and their taking plants from there, who knew what happened to the climate?

She stopped short seeing a new face. "Hi there! Are you a new employee here?" Or like was he just lost in the greenhouses and needed to be escorted out?

The voice startled Anthony and he turned around to notice a woman standing there. "Hello! Yes, I'm one of the new employees. I'm Anthony Hunt, and you are?" he asked with a small smile.

Emmalee strode into the Greenhouse, thankful to be in her own domain once more, but with singular purpose. There was a puzzle to solve and she certainly was going to do whatever she could figure it out.

Setting the box of earmuffs down, she frowned at the screechsnaps and the honking daffodils crowding her workstation and, well, honking and screeching at her return. "I'm sorry, babies," she whispered, casting a silencio charm over them. Setting her wand on the workstation, she picked up each pot in turn and set them on the metal shelves behind her work bench. The plants bobbed and swayed, communicating their displeasure silently.

Sighing, Emmalee turned back to her work bench and set herself to the task of cleaning it and sterilizing all of her tools.

It simply would not do to introduce an unintentional species into whatever crossbreed they ended up producing.

As she cleaned, Emmalee kept an eye on the door of the greenhouse, hoping that someone from Accidents would be along to give her any sort of direction.

It took Derek quite a while to pluck up the courage and finally go back to level 4. He wasn't enthusiastic at all about leaving his lab to go to someone else's lab/greenhouse. Sighing, the lab technician gathered what he worked out would be important and took with him.

Slowly entering the greenhouse, the 31 year-old noticed that the Senior Botanist he had met was already there. He blinked and awkwardly stood by the door, expecting some sort of sign to let him know he could come in; something he wished people did whenever they wanted to enter his lab.

Emmalee was flipping through her inventory, eyes narrowed as she took note of what plants and supplies were going to be readily accessible to them. Her gloves rested on the workstation, off to the side, and she idly dragged her thumb across her forehead, sighing.

She noticed the man out of the corner of her eye and straightened up. How long had he been there? Why hadn't he tried to announce his arrival? It hardly, mattered now, she supposed, as she gestured to him.

"Come in, come in," she said. "Grab a set of gloves and an apron if you'll be staying. And then tell me, what are we dealing with?"

She had some theories, but given the time-sensitive nature of the situation, she wanted facts.

Derek walked in once he was told to do so and grabbed a pair of gloves to put on. He eyed the apron and wished he could use his lab coat instead, but he didn't want to contamiate the greenhouse or his own lab. Putting the apron on, he blinked when the woman was already asking questions.

Merlin, she was straight forward, wasn't she? "All the information we have." He said briefly, not looking at her but holding out the file he had brought for her to take. Hopefully it was all self explanatory and she wouldn't have to ask many questions. It contained all the information they had collected not only about the cosmetics that were used on each creature, but also what each of them was before the mutation. A list of everything they had found out from their blood and drool samples was also in there, as well as the amount of each substance found in each creature's system. Their own assumptions on the matter were written at the bottom of the page, too.

The Potioneer looked around at all of the plants and wondered which ones would be the best to use to cure those... lab-destroying mutants. He was also waiting to see if Emmalee had anything to say or ask. He hoped she didn't.

Despite delegating the task to division two, Aron couldn't help himself. It wasn't every day that experimental plant breeding came into play with his department and, well, he wanted in on the fun. That...and he wan't to make sure Derek was surviving working elsewhere than his own laboratory. And maybe, just maybe, he was eager to pick the brain of the woman who had volunteered her assistance.

Lingering in the doorway for a moment, he knocked his knuckles against it three times and then waved.

Emmalee took the folder with interest and laid it out in front of her, eyes scanning page after page. The fellow in her greenhouse was certainly a man of few words, which would be fine once they started working, but right now.. well.. she was not exactly impressed.

But she was a professional.

The notes on the levels of alihotsy were what fascinated her the most, given that glumbumble treacle had been ineffective. She was just about to move that page to the side and continue reading when she heard a knock. Looking up, she waved the man inside. "Equipment hangs over there, if you're planning on staying," she said, gesturing to the rack of aprons and gloves, before returning to the file.

Her eyebrows drew together as she thought and she tapped her fingers against her cheek, trying to piece together what she recalled of the conversation in the holding room and the data in front of her.

"Ok. There's a lot here," she said, gesturing to the file. She stood up straight, eyes traveling between the two men. "Bottom line, though. You think it's the alihotsy causing the distress? Some new interaction because of the concentration and the mutations that glumbumble treacle alone can't deal with?"

If that was the case, they were going to need some sort of toxin-purging agent, and perhaps a sedative, all in one.

Derek was still looking around at the plants when he spotted his boss at the greenhouse's entrance. The sight of him made the lab technician feel less uneasy because he knew Aron liked talking, something Derek most definitely didn't. The woman casually spitting out orders about the proper greenhouse gear made Derek glance at her for a moment beacuse Merlin, she sounded obsessed with that. Not even a greeting first, and for Derek to notice that, it should be big.

He then realised he was exactly like that with his lab. ...... Awkward.

What he was hoping wouldn't happen... did happen. She was asking questions. Great... "Possibly, but not... quite." Derek started, frowning slightly since it would take him a lot of effort to make sense. Speaking was more difficult than brewing Wolfsbane AND Polyjuice Potions at the same time. "The alihotsy, along with the main substances of the cosmetics, also suffered drastic chemical reactions." Derek answered, looking everywhere except at the woman's eyes. That's why they couldn't simply use glumbumble treacle and needed brand new ingredients, that were genetically mutated as well. "We need a new breed to serve as an antidote to these new substances."

Derek blinked and pursed his lips, quickly glancing at Aron before looking away again. Was that enough? Could he stop talking now?

Emmalee frowned. If not for the time-sensitive nature of the issue, this would be a puzzle she would enjoy tremendously. But with that constraint? This was going to be difficult.

She nodded as Derek spoke, pinching the top of her nose between her fingers and closing her eyes. "Ok. Emmalee. Think this through," she said to herself, turning to the racks of plants. Mutated alihotsy and cosmetic chemicals all mushed together to make something new. "We need this stuff out of their systems." She continued talking to herself as she walked past Derek and down to where she knew the fumitory was. That had detoxifying properties... perhaps a cross with.. hm.

She turned to face the men, running her hand through her hair. "A new breed is certainly possible. The question is where to start. I just brought in some new plants - muggles consider them weeds - but I think with the right manipulation they actually might have the reaction we need." Emmalee had taken a special interest, recently, in plants that muggles claimed had special properties and this seemed as good a time as any to see if it was possible to enhance those properties.

She looked past Derek and to Aron. "It's your call. I just do the work."

Didn't have to ask him twice. After a light chuckle, the department head too a few giddy steps insides towards the pair and stopped quite suddenly.

Apron? Aron raised an eyebrow at the term and reluctantly walked over to the equipment as he fully understood the necessity of following protocol...but the term apron....smock made him feel a bit more masculine.

Slipping on the equipment as the two discussed, Aron listened in while trying not to chuckle at Derek's 'bluntness'. At least the bloke's personality made for an efficient employee? He had nothing really to add to what Derek had already said, so he simply nodded his head and shrugged his shoulders a few times as he made his way to stand between the two of them.

"You really think that mundane plants can counteract the effects of a magical one?" he questioned while holding his chin with his hand. He had seen it done before, but never with alihotsy. Which, well, was exactly what he and Derek were asking for. Creating something that didn't exist yet. "Let's roll with this hunch of yours," he nodded after a few pensive moments, gloves finally being slipped on. "It's the only lead we have right now and those critters can't wait forever."

If it didn't work, well, they could tackle that hurtle if it came.

Emmalee grinned, as if she were the only one in on a secret. "Not... mundane, exactly," she said, slipping her own gloves on and carrying over a greenish-grey plant with purple flowers. "I like to think of them as herbal squibs," she said, as she set it down. "There are plenty of references in muggle texts to herbs they thought had some sort of power or special property, but whose use faded away as they moved from superstition to science." She looked over to see if they were following. "This one, for example, was gathered by muggles because they believed it could cleanse the body, remove toxins and extend life. It's a theory, and I know it's a stretch, but what if it's actually a descendant of a magical plant whose properties have been muted?"

This wasn't exactly the way she'd wanted to broach the theory publicly. She knew it was wild and had hoped to actually run some experiments before she shared it with anyone. But desperate times, yes? She hadn't even told Bryce yet, which was probably not the best thing, but he really had given her a lot of control over what happened in the greenhouses.

"So this, fumitory, crossed with..." she walked over to the racks. "henbane? It's described as a sedative, which could be useful. Though the roots also have some hallucinogenic properties, so we'll want to be careful."

Herbal..... squibs?

....

Derek simply stood there, blinking at the greenhouse wall. He wasn't sure what he thought of that and completely ignored the options they had, since Aron was there to give his input. Besides, wasn't his boss a Herbologist? He probably knew better than him anyway.

Then the woman said something about henbane's roots having some hallucinogenic properties and raised one eyebrow, clearing his throat before speaking again. "Won't that be um... a problem?" The creatures were already having plenty of freak-out moments; did they need any more of those? He'd personally opt out of that one, just in case.

In all his years in the field, he had never once heard of herbal squibs and he was very intrigued. VERY intrigued. While he tried to keep his home life professionalism in tact and not talk about work things with Seren too much...THIS was something he was going to have to mention.

Hanging on her every word, Aron almost wished she hadn't had to stop talking...or that there weren't mutants on a time crunch...so he could hear more. Derek broke his stare of intrigue and the Australian untensed his arms and stood up straight, shoving his hands in his jeans pocket instead.

"What about the glumbumble treacle?" he asked, taking a quick peek over at Derek's data and then returning his gaze to Emmalee. "Could the use of glumbumble in the pollination process of these two weeds help keep the hallucinogenic properties of the henbane in check?"

Because he was right there with Derek. They did not need the added risk of breeding something that would make them more...insane.

"It's a risk," she said, responding to the man of few words. The whole thing was a risk. A risk to the mutants. A risk to her theory. A risk to her career. But... "If I thought there was any other option, I never would have suggested it." She rested her gloved hand on the workstation, staring at the fumitory, as if the plant would give her the answers.

Aron's comment caused her to turn her head. "Maaaybe," she drew out, standing up to get the henbane from the racks. Cradling the pot against her, she carried it back to the bench and set it down. "Using a magical creature to aid in pollination was something I was hoping to try with these plants anyway," so they might as well. But.. would it take care of the roots?

Emmalee slipped off a glove so she could feel the leaves between her fingers, eyes going soft-focus as she looked at nothing in particular.

"Can we get one? A glumbumble?" she asked. "And some treacle too, actually." That last bit was added almost as an afterthought, the wheels in her head turning as she closed her eyes and worked through the problem in her head. If the roots were the issue, well, then they needed to get to the, heh, root of the problem.

"Once we have a new plant," she said, opening her eyes and turning to look at the men, smiling, "we'll infuse the roots with a solution of the treacle." A glumbumble bath would take care of any remaining hallucinogenic properties, and, with luck, would give the plant the magical kickstart it needed.

"This might just work."

Seriously. Under different circumstances he would be inviting this woman over for dinner so the three of them (himself, his wife, and the DERP employee) could have a Herbology discussion. He could only see a friendship based on a mutual appreciation blossoming...

But, as it was, this was not the time - and there was no way he would invite Derek over for dinner - so he kept such urges to himself and stayed focused on the task.

"I appreciate that we seem to think alike," he mused, turning his attention away from the woman and towards his own employee. "You wouldn't happen to have a vial of the stuff on you, would you?" he asked Derek. Bloke seemed to have everything on him at any given moment and, given their recent experimentation, seemed most likely.

His wand out, Aron conjured his Tasmanian devil patronus and sent it off in the direction of Creatures. Hopefully they had one of the little buggers somewhere for them to use.

...

Well then.

Derek kept listening while the two Herbology freaks spoke and thought of different ways to apparently cancel out the hallucinogenic effect. He was glad none of that experimentation would have to take place in HIS lab. No more explosions there or anything alike, thank you very much.

The use of glumbumble treacle in the process actually made sense and Derek had just reached for something in his pocket when Aron spoke directly to him. He blinked and held out the vial of said stuff, his eyes glazed on the plant the Botanist was holding then darting to his boss.

Hadley found her way easily to the Greenhouse and Laboratory. She had with her the Glumbumbles and treacle and intended to hand them to none other than Aron Ashburry-Hawthorne of Accidents and Catastrophes himself.

"Hi Aron," she said, rather informally, arms aching, "Harmony asked if I could pick the Glumbumbles up from the Creature Holding Room and bring them to you." She was also slightly out of breath, as she had rushed around to the creature holding room, and then to the greenhouse and laboratory. She handed the transport carrier containing the glumbumbles to Aron. That was all that was left in the cage.

Emmalee nodded at Aron before turning back to the plants. Now, which one to use to pollinate the other... She considered this decision while she set up several new pots. After all, she would need to give whatever they developed to Aron and his team, but she certainly wanted a specimen of her own. And there was a chance that only some of the seeds would be actual hybrids. Emmalee wanted to leave nothing to chance. Filling the pots with soil, she looked back over as Derek produced a vial of treacle and the worker from creatures entered.

Gloved hands packing soil into pots, Emmalee gestured to the apron rack with her head. "If you'd like to stay to handle the glumbumbles, please grab some equipment." Aprons - or smocks if you were Aron - and gloves were readily available. She could do it herself, but having someone from Creatures assist seemed most prudent. She could only imagine the reaction should she accidentally harm one of the insects during the process.

She turned to Derek. "Would you be able to make the infusion? I could, but I know we're short on time and want to have it read as soon as it's needed." She looked to Aron, hoping that it was ok to ask for his employee's assistance in this way. Several months here and she was still adjusting to not being in charge the way she had been at her old greenhouse. Eyes flicking back to Derek, she added, "It should be straightforward. Two parts treacle to one part water, heated. Then," she paused, considering her stock. "A few drops of hellebore syrup. Should be under that work station over there."

Hadley noticed her surroundings, and saw a woman busy at work, and offering instructions at the same time. Whoa… what had she missed out on? She heard the woman address her, pointing to a rack with aprons on it. She walked over, gently placed the transport containers down on the ground, chose an apron at random and tied it up around her clothes. Not that she would be bothered if they got dirty, or ruined. She wasn't a Witch for nothing…

She had never handled the glumbumbles, but she would of course assist; she had handled many animals, hopefully this wouldn't be too much trouble. And after all, she was the employee from creatures. If anything happened to the glumbumbles it would be Hadley that was liable for their wellbeing anyway. She may as well be the one to handle them…

But she had no idea what to do. What were they doing? She felt like the messenger, suddenly finding herself involved in the activity going on.

"What… can I do?" she asked, now securing gloves onto her hands.

Derek's gaze went to the greenhouse door once someone else joined them and he watched as the Senior Botanist gave out instructions to the newcomer as well. Maybe it was just her personality then. Or her obsession with the greenhouse and the plants.

Anyhow, the lab technician wasn't bothered by that anymore and just nodded as he gave him another set of instructions. Of course he would be able to make the infusion. And he knew how to make it, he didn't need her telling him exactly what to do. Well, he did need to know where the stuff he needed to work with was, so at least that part was helpful.

The former Gryfindor went to look under the work station Emmalee mentioned and, after a moment, found the hellebore syrup. Pulling out yet another vial from his pocket - this time an empty one - he used magic to both make it larger and add some water into it. He glanced to the Botanist to make sure she wasn't freaking out because he had just turned the burner on.

...

Adding twice the amount of treacle, he watched the mixture for a bit before adding a few drops of the hellebore syrup. He did so until he was pleased with the colour then turned the heat off. Derek turned around and waited until the woman looked at him again and gave her a nod to let her know it was ready.

Aron took a small step back while he waited for an answer to his patronus and casually checked his watch for no particular reason. Thankfully, it didn't take long for his patronus to be answered and he greeted the Creatures employee with a curt nod before accepting the glumbumbles from the woman. "Great, thanks," he said with a casually smile before bringing the goods over to Derek and Emmalee.

Setting it on the counter beside Emmalee's work space - since Derek was off at another working on part two of things - and leaned down to look at the critters buzzing around. He had...never worked with glumbumbles in this sort of situation before, just the standard mundane bee, so things out to be .... interesting. "You can help me use a Locomotion Charm on the glumbumbles," he instructed over his shoulder to the Creatures employee. "I reckon we'll need use them to collect pollen from the henbane to pollinate the fumitory aaaaaand visa versa. Cover all our options with this particular experiment."

Wand out, he was about to unhitched the latch on the cage to begin...only to pause for a moment to look towards the Senior Botanist. "Right?"

Emmalee watched Derek out of the corner of her eye. It was a situation that required others help, but she was uneasy letting anyone else work in her lab. No, THE lab. Not her lab. She shook the thought loose. He was probably perfectly capable.

Looking back to the Creatures employee and Aron, she made space at her workstation for the glumbumbles and the woman who would handle them. "Yes, that sounds like the best way to cover all of our bases." She'd not had previously cause to work with Aron, but she was impressed with his knowledge regarding what would need to be done. She'd only been planning on one cross, but he was right. Crossing both ways could give them more options. She would... just need to take note of which seeds ended up in which pots, in case the crosses produced different results.

She gestured to the Creatures employee to stand near her. "We need the glumbumbles to pollinate the plants for a new breed," she said, by way of an over-simplified explanation. "If we had more time, we might just let them buzz around contained on their own... but we don't." She added this last bit for justification. Truthfully, part of her thought that the imperius curse would be the most straightforward way to ensure pollination happened according to plan, but she knew better than to even entertain the thought.

Pointing first to the stamen of the henbane, Emmalee tried to give clear instruction. "We'll need you to, basically, brush the first glumbumble in the pollen here, and then again on this part of the other plant." She pointed then to the purple flowers of the fumitory, the pistil peeking out. She looked over, checking to see if the woman was following. "Then, you need a new glumbumble to brush here," she split open one of the purple flowers, exposing the pollen that had previously been hidden, "and then brush it here on the white flower." She looked up and back over to Aron. "Or, I suppose you could each take one."

And then the Creatures woman could take her bugs and leave, and Emmalee could get to the business of accelerating seed development and then potting their new hybrids.