Hermione ran down stairs with Ron in tow. She was in such a hurry she collided with Araya. Sending them both crashing down.
"What's the rush?" Araya asked from the floor.
"Sorry Professor." Hermione said, getting up. "Umm...you said the Furves have healing powers. I was just wondering about the treatment of mental illnesses."
"Why?" Araya asked, quizzically, "Never mind. Yes, they can help." Ron and Hermione looked at each other excitedly. "But, the furves have to intend that person to be heal. In cases of mental trauma, it's much more complicated.
"But it can be done, right?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Well, yeah, sort of." Araya said, watching them closely. "I'd suggest that whatever or whoever you're worrying about leave it to the experts. However, I know you won't." she half-smiled, "If I told you to concentrate your efforts on Harry, and the rest was being taken care of, you still wouldn't drop it, would you?" She shook her head, "I don't want to know." she held up her hands, "Midnight's in my office if you want to take him for a walk."
"Professor," Hermione smiled, "Thanks." Araya smiled.
By the end of practice, Harry was really dragging. He was so tired that he barely had the energy to eat dinner. Ron and Hermione looked a little better. In the Common Room Harry stared at his work.
"Harry, you look dreadful." Samantha said. "Are you feeling ill?"
"Fine. I - didn't sleep, well." Harry said.
She moved away and sat near the first years. "Who asked her?" Ron said, "She's way too nosey."
"That's her job. She's trying to be friendly and helpful." Hermione replied.
"She's just annoying." Ron countered. "If Harry were sick, he'd have gone to see Madame Pomfrey already. He knows where it is. First years might not, but we do."
"Whatever. I'm heading to bed." Harry said, "Don't wake me unless the school is burning down."
"Harry, what about your homework?" Hermione asked, concerned.
"It'll be there when I wake up." Harry waved. He got up to leave.
"Harry makes a good point." Ron said, "I can finish this later. 'Night."
"'Night." Hermione called, "I think I'll finish this first." She fell asleep on her books. Hermione awoke before dawn. Samantha was in the Common Room. She sat to read.
"Hermione? Have you been there all night?" Samantha asked. Hermione nodded as she stretched, "Poor thing, you must be so over-worked."
"No, it's alright." Hermione replied. "I've just been preoccupied with other things."
"You should be careful." Samantha said, "Take care of yourself."
"I try." Hermione replied, "Excuse me, I need to change and get ready for today. Are you always up this early?"
"No. I have a test this morning." Samantha said. "I wanted some extra time to wake up."
"We have trouble. He'll be making a move soon." Araya said. "He'll know everything that your friend knew about the school." she replied to Lupin. "Has he calmed down?"
"A bit." Lupin replied, "You think he'll try to attack the school?"
"No. He's not strong enough. He likes to strike the weak. That's why the attacks have only been on the old and the young." Araya commented. "Which doesn't explain why your friend was attacked."
"Um." Lupin looked away from her. He took a great interest in the jars lining her office walls. "It might have something to do with his lack of a wand."
"Probably." Araya shrugged, adding some stuff to the potion she was brewing. "This should help. How's Midnight getting along with him?"
"Alright." Lupin shrugged, "But I don't think he's been moved to tears. The Furve doesn't seem to be helping."
"He is, just not much." Araya replied sympathetically.
"Why aren't the others like that? I mean, why is Sirius so much worse than the others?" Remus sounded frustrated, turning to look at her.
"Well, the others were interrupted." Araya said, "But Sirius was more than likely interrogated. Not just . . . attacked."
"You told me that he'd know everything the victim knew. Why, if...if he would know everything Sirius did would… would he bother to interrogate him?" Lupin was frustrated.
"He's not the only person who might want to know about Hogwarts." Araya shrugged. "I mean, sure Gutglee would love to make this place an all-he-can-eat buffet, but that doesn't mean that he's the only party interested in the school."
"Sirius would die before he'd tell..." Remus stated adamantly. "He'd never-"
"That's why he's down there like that." Araya replied logically. Looking up at him pointedly. Lupin was now within arms reach. Araya stared at him, to back off. Remus took a moment to step back, which helped him to relax a little bit, and defused some of the mounting tension of the conversation.
"You said that Gutglee would know, Why didn't he just tell them what wanted to know?" Lupin fumed. "Why interrogate Sirius?"
"It doesn't work that way. He can't tell anyone how to find the tunnels, he'd have to show them." Araya shook her head. "It's - it's instinctual memory. Like being able to walk, find the tunnels by instinct. Your feet will guide the way. Besides it fades quickly."
"Then will he be here soon?"
"Maybe. I don't know." Araya sounded frustrated. "How should I know how a psycho thinks? Maybe I should ask Snape when he gets back next week."
"He'd probably take that as a compliment." Lupin smiled.