FREE AS A BIRD || WHISKEY

[Deleted]

'Cause I feel like I can do anything when
My head is spinning and my feet off the ground
When I can't stop dancing like no one's around

9 JUNE 2025

Even though it was a new thought for her, Peyton had decided to get a part-time job. Of course, when it came to her schooling, she had to pick somewhere close by. And thus, Hogsmeade was the best option. All she had to do was get up early, take the train, and she'd be there in no time. Talking her parents into letting her do it, hadn't been an easy task - especially when she said that she wanted to get experience in something that she loved to continue it after she graduated. After what happened to Hogsmeade over Winter Holiday, they were a little hesitant but eventually gave in.

Luckily, she was welcomed into the Magical Wildlife Rehabilitation Center as a part-time caretaker. It was a start in the right direction, and after only a few days of working there, she felt as if this could be her forever home. Her job once she graduated from Hogwarts - of course, doing something more than caretaking. Maybe she'd become a veterinarian for the center like Whiskey was!

She had shown up bright and early that Monday morning, only four days into her new job, and she loved it. And it was as she was walking through the place, doing the task at hand, that she noticed the familiar face of Whiskey. She had met her a few times since she started, but she was always so busy. She smiled brightly, waving her hand as she moved closer to the woman. "Whiskey, morning," she said brightly at the woman, her eyes slightly squinting cause of the sunshine.

@whiskey

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

June 9, 2025
@peytonbainbridge

Whiskey had only been working at the reserve a few days, apprenticing under the vet. But it had been some of the best few days of her LIFE! She'd always loved working with animals of all kinds. She'd grown up on a ranch, for crying out loud! But this was a very different type of work. Before she'd just been taking care of the animals' daily needs. Now, she was learning how to take care of the animals on a medical stand point. Plus, working also helped keep her mind off of the fact that she and her younger siblings were stuck in the country, unable to go back home to the Earp homestead.

There were a few other recent grads at the reserve in various positions, and to Whiskey's surprise a few students had gotten part time work as care takers. She only new a handful, since she'd only been at Hogwarts for a year. She couldn't learn everyone at Hogwarts in only a year! But, a few stood out. One such was Peyton Bainbridge. Whiskey had been put into Hufflepuff at Hogwarts, the house that Peyton belonged to as well. Also, being only a year young than Whiskey, she'd seen her more often then the younger students.

Whiskey hadn't necessarily been planning on coming in today, it being her day off and all, but the night before they'd gotten in an injured Hippogriff. After a lot of work late into the night, Whiskey had volunteered to come in in the morning to check on it, and force a potion down it's beak that was meant to prevent any infections. It'd been attacked by poachers, and a particularly nasty spell had caused a gaping wound. The spell itself was healable, it just took some time. Sometimes spell damage took a little work. So, as the potions and charms worked on dispelling and healing, they just had to make sure the Hippogriff didn't develop an infection from the wound.

With a great number of fresh scratches all up and down her arms and cheek, she left the recovery room the Hippogriff was staying in. In her arms was the Vet's kit, which included the now empty antibiotic potion, a full sedation potion, and a few other bits and bobs. She'd made the rather stupid mistake of thinking it would still be too weak to put up much of a fight, so she wouldn't need the sedation. Whelp, as her new numerous scratches said, that hadn't exactly happened. It was recovering very well, and put up a huge fight, witch Whiskey on the losing side. She'd eventually succeeded in getting the potion down it's beak, but it was clear that the Hippogriff had won in war. She'd have to patch herself up. She was only a few steps out of the recovery room when she heard her name and a morning greeting. Glancing over her shoulder she saw it was Peyton. Despite her numerous fresh injuries she smiled brightly. "Oh! Good morning! I didn't realize anyone else was in yet."

[Deleted]

'Cause I feel like I can do anything when
My head is spinning and my feet off the ground
When I can't stop dancing like no one's around

Whenever someone asked Peyton what she wanted to do when she graduated from Hogwarts, she always told them she wasn't sure. She loved animals, she excelled in Charms, but she hadn't been sure what she wanted. Now that she was getting closer and closer to her seventh year, only a few months off from actually having to decide. That was why she decided on a part-time job to help care for the animals at the Rehabilitation in Hogsmeade. And even though she was only four days into her new norm, she was madly in love. This was likely the place that she would settle once she graduated.

She was pretty friendly with all the staff that she had met so far, and had already shown that she was super enthusiastic about working. She showed the same amount of patience and attention as she did in school. And her ability helped as well. Almost any question she was asked, came to her in any way possible - just like at school. It helped when it came to remembering how to care for the animals. And due to having to take the train, she sometimes showed up a little bit early for her shift - overshooting it just a tad. But she rather be early than late.

'Oh! Good morning! I didn't realize anyone else was in yet.' Peyton smiled, frowning slightly when she noticed the fresh injuries that the other girl had. "I'm not in yet...I maybe have overshot when I should have left this morning. Taking the train, sometimes you're almost late, and other times you're extremely early," she said with a smile on her face. She caught up to Whiskey, falling into step behind her. "What happened?" she questioned, wondering what had resulted in her needing to get all patched up.

@whiskey

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

June 9, 2025
@peytonbainbridge

Shifting the kit under one arm, Whiskey fully turned to the younger girl. It was so cool seeing students get a chance to work here for the summer. If Whiskey had been given that opportunity she would have jumped at it! Getting some real hands on experience before graduation would have been amazing. Peyton began to explain that she was in early, explaining the train got her here early. "Oh! Well you should have stopped and got some breakfast. I hear there's a nice place in the village that has a mean coffee. Real kick in the morning. I've never tried it, but I'll plan on it. Someday." When she actually remembered to eat breakfast. IT was so easy at home, because her mom would wake up early to fix breakfast for the whole Earp family. Here though? Whiskey had to fend for herself and she always forgot.

As Peyton asked what happened Whiskey looked genuinely surprised. 'What happened when?" Then, realization. "OH! You mean these?" She raised her free arm, so the fresh scratches were visible. "Nothing serious. Angry hippogriff. Didn't want it's medicine."

[Deleted]

'Cause I feel like I can do anything when
My head is spinning and my feet off the ground
When I can't stop dancing like no one's around

'Oh! Well you should have stopped and got some breakfast. I hear there's a nice place in the village that has a mean coffee. Real kick in the morning. I've never tried it, but I'll plan on it. Someday.' Peyton smiled and shrugged her shoulder, "I ate a banana on the way. I'm not exactly the type that can stomach a big breakfast in the morning, at least, not all the time. Sometimes at Hogwarts, I just eat a bowl of fruit for breakfast and go on my way." The words came out with a laugh, "But maybe I'll try it one day," she finished with a huge grin.

It was then that she noticed the injuries on the girl's arms and questioned it, one that got a surprised look from the other girl. She didn't seem to know what Peyton was referring to, and just as the blonde went to point at her arms, she realized. "Oh no. Do you need some help bandaging up?" she questioned, her eyes shining with worry.

@whiskey

MADE BY VEL OF GS