Chapter - Mail Call
Mid-November the routine of having the furves out in the yard before class saw Araya to breakfast. She was not much for mornings, the students could tell easily if it was safe to approach yet by the way she sat.
The mail flew in. Letters landed in front of Ron via Erol, his ancient owl. Hermione got her paper. Even Neville got a letter from his grandmother. Then two owls arrived for Araya. One had a small parcel the other a letter.
Harry watched as Araya opened the parcel. She looked wistful and sad.
"Hey, listen." Ron called, trying to get the attention of his siblings, "Mom wrote that Bill and Charlie are coming home for the holidays. She wants us all to come home." Ron looked excited, he greatly admired his older brothers. "Harry, she invited you to come too." Ron said enthusiastically.
"Great, Percy won't have a chance." Fred smiled.
"Oh, loads of fun." George looked mischievous. "So Harry, you going to come? We'll have a great time."
"I don't know." Harry said shyly. "Um, let me think about it."
"Come on Harry," Ron encouraged, "You'd rather stay in this drafty castle instead? I know it'll be cramped but-"
"I'll think about it." Harry said. He kicked Ron under the table to stop him, "Anything interesting in the news?"
"Not really." Hermione said, "Although, there does seem to be a lot of shuffle in the ministry."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed off to class. Although Christmas with the Weasleys did sound wonderful, it would likely mean no Hermione, and no Hagrid, and no Sirius. He'd never really had a family Christmas where he was actually part of the family. The closest were those he'd had at Hogwarts.
"So Harry, what's the problem?" Ron asked in class.
"It's just...well, Hermione wasn't invited and well, and Snuffles." Harry whispered back. "Besides, I don't want to be in the way."
"Harry, you've been in my house when everyone's there. Everyone gets in the way." Ron returned, "Let me know. I should write mom back."
They passed Araya on the way to lunch. She looked unusually depressed, and distracted. She actually didn't notice them until she bumped into Harry, scattering her books across the hall. "Sorry."
"Professor Araya, is something wrong?" Harry asked helping her gather her books.
"Yes, no – it's just that I'm feeling homesick." she said quietly, gathering her things.
"Does it have something to do with the package?" Ron asked, handing her some of her stuff. Araya looked a little shocked. "I noticed it at breakfast."
"It was from my Grandfather. He thought I might like some decorations for...my favourite holiday." Araya said. They thought she sounded closer to tears. "I-I'll see you when you come to get Blue."
They watched her retreat to the grounds, then they turned to each other. "Is there something we can do for her?" Hermione asked, "She sounded so...upset."
"I thought you didn't like her." Ron tossed at her. Hermione shrugged and looked disgusted at him, "Well, she said she's half witch. So what muggle holidays are around now?" he asked them. Harry and Hermione thought hard.
"None from around here." Hermione said during lunch. "However, I read that the Yanks have a holiday around now. Maybe her father was American." she took a bite.
"Well, does anyone know?" Harry asked hopefully. They all shrugged, "Perhaps we could get her to talk after school."
It was now a common sight, that after the final bell rang, the fifth years would run to collect the furves. Snowball always waited impatiently for Neville and cried even if Dean or Seamus collected her. Blue would start jumping the moment his group came to the yard.
"Hello Blue." Harry called to him.
"Krah Uoo." Blue called to them. He hopped up on the rail of the pen and waited. Blue had been scolded for running to meet them and knew better. "Rahh Rak"
Midnight was supervising the little ones. Araya was curled up on a nearby chair writing a letter. "Professor Araya?" Hermione called and waved. Muggle rock was playing in the background.
"Hey." Araya waved to the trio.
Harry reached Blue and patted his head. Blue jumped down and muzzled Hermione leg. She picked Blue up, just as she would Crookshanks, and started to pet him.
"Are you feeling better?" Ron asked.
"I'm alright." Araya replied, still seated some twenty yards away. "I've just never been away from home, separated like this before. It just takes some getting used to."
"So what holiday are you missing?" Hermione asked, setting Blue down who ran to Ron. Blue jumped up and landed on Ron's shoulder.
"No worries." Araya's voice belied her words, "It's not important."
"I wish I could get away from my family." Ron said wistfully, "Five brothers and Ginny."
Araya actually stood and smiled, "Six brothers all older, my grandfather, uncle, and two cousins all male." Araya challenged, "Trust me, when you get away, you miss them more than you'd ever thought possible." Midnight nuzzled her leg, "And no matter how great a place is, it's hard to make a home without your family."
"Well, I'd like to try it." Ron said.
"So did I." Araya said, taking her seat again by the tree. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to see my mother's world."
"Professor, why do you always divide it like that? Your father's side, your mother's side?" Hermione asked.
"Dad's family didn't get along with Mom's side. So after they died, it just sort of got divided." Araya sounded sad again. Midnight jumped into her lap. "Oh. Which of you is sneaking Blue candy?" she looked up at them, "That's what's making him so hyper." She went back to her letter. Professor Snape was coming across the yard, and the trio decided to take their leave, being around Snape was always dangerous.
Midnight started to growl. The closer Snape got the louder Midnight got. "Hey Severus." Araya called, "What brings you outside?"
"These...furves are-" Snape's voice told her exactly what he thought.
"Cute? Fluffy? Whimsically adorable?" Araya filled in humorously, looking at him innocently and batting her eyes as she dared him to contradict her. He looked about and sneered.
"Quite." the sarcasm dripped off his tongue. "Do you still have any of your potion supplies? I seem to be running unexpectedly short on certain key ingredients for...that potion." Snape's lip curled. "You did have your own supplies?"
"I did." Araya replied, her eyes narrowed dangerously, "And yes, if you can give me a list, I'll bring them down as soon as all the students have their furves." Snape handed her a sheet. She sensed a fight coming on. While usually arguing with Snape was fun, she liked clashes of will and intellect, she just wasn't in the mood just now. Midnight cuddled up to her, sensing her mood.
"Why don't you think she'll talk about it?" Ron pondered. Blue still on his shoulder.
"She's homesick, Ron." Hermione said. "Talking about it probably makes it worse. She feels alone, isolated. If she's never been in the Wizarding world before, it does take a while to get used to."
"Rubbish." Ron retorted, "Lots of muggle-born Witches/Wizards come here every year and they don't get homesick. Neither of you were."
"But Ron, we've had friends to help us." Harry said, "She's so much younger than the other Professors that she probably doesn't have that support."
"Well, then we should find out about this holiday and make her feel more at home." Hermione replied.
"Since when did you start to like her?" Ron repeated indignantly.
Hermione smiled. "Since she slammed the Slyerthins on the potions test. She also stands up to Snape." Hermione stopped.
"What are you lot up to?" Dumbledore greeted pleasantly.
"Well sir, we were noticing that Professor Luna is acting homesick." Harry said, "We were trying to think of something to make her feel more at home. Could you tell us about where she grew up?"
"I'm afraid not." Dumbledore smiled over his glasses, "Araya prefers to keep her life private."
The trio had no intention of letting the matter rest. Strangely Harry had the feeling that Dumbledore didn't expect them to, anymore than they intended to forget it.
They went up to the common room to pool information about Araya and the holidays in November. Unfortunately, they found nothing that fit.
"What are we missing?" Ron had lost patience, "Blue, get down!" He was about to push Blue off the list when it came to him, "Hermione, where do furves come from?"
"The Steppes region. The only two pockets that have any substantial populations are Lugansk region and Turkestan. Why?" Hermione said in her usual way.
"Well, she'd have to get them from somewhere, right?" Ron said.
"Right. She could just have a friend there." Harry said, "After all, you have a brother in Romania and one in Egypt."
"Bill's not in Egypt anymore. He's been transferred to South America ...temporarily." Ron said.
"Harry's point was that she didn't have to be from there." Hermione said.
"You got any better ideas?" Ron demanded.