Andy let him know. Using Lawrence as a research subject was too personal for her. Something had gone wrong before they even began. Sandy worried for her. She did not want his worry. This was how he could help. For the good of the country. Sandy agreed. Also he had not yet dared obliviate Lawrence. He would still remember. Sandy was relieved Andy would not find it.

Andy told Sandy about Morgenthau. How the Ministry was interfering. Sandy liked to think he had helped the Ministry. As a healer. Not so much the magazine. She warned him Morgenthau stuck his nose in too much. Today they would meet. Sandy read all the research again. He still did not feel prepared.

"Come in." Sandy said. He got up from his chair. He went to meet the famous wizard. "Mr Morgenthau. It is an honor to meet you at last." He held out his hand.

He hadn't officially been department head for a week, even, and yet here Yavin stood in St.Mungo's in order to take on a task not quite part and parcel of what one might expect from level nine. They were more to do with sinister mysteries and complicated enigmas, than with healing. But he wanted to start this off (again) on the right foot. He'd worn one of his less outlandish sweaters, even.

"A pleasure to, aha, to meet you, Sandy." Yavin shook hands with Misslethorpe, carefully observing the man from behind his dark framed spectacles. "And please. Just Yavin. We're going to, hm, spend a good deal of time together aren't we?"

Or at least that was the plan. Merlin knew that Lawrence Musgrave was starting to appear a little cursed. Something for one of the Unspeakables to look into at some point. Hard to draw a line between cursed and plain ol' unlucky.

"I take it that, ha, that Miranda has outlined our aims for you?" he asked as he looked around the office to pick out the characteristics of its occupant. "We could, that is, we could go over them again if you would prefer."

Those sweaters were unforgettable! People had said. First names were good. Honored.
"She has..." Sandy said. He lingered. "I would be interested to hear them from your perspective sir." Sandy remembered. "Yavin." He bowed a little. He held his arm out to the chairs. "I was prepared to take part." Sandy said. "But Andy likes to keep her projects. I always thought we should research him. It did not look like we ever would. When Andy said she wanted him. I was worried. I did not want her to get hurt."

            "I did not want her to get hurt."

"I, aha, I quite agree." Yavin took one of the chairs and smiled sympathetically at the other man, who he assumed must care deeply for the Head Healer. "Better for her to watch from the outside." Merlin knew how Miranda might have damaged both her own and Lawrence's psyche if she continued without intervention.

He leaned back in his seat and clasped his hands together. "Our first aim is, that is, is to ascertain whether Lawrence is capable of....feeling. Of feeling happiness in particular."

Dementors and depression were creatures of the same kind. Those most affected by them could not feel, they could not even bring themselves to cast a Patronus to defend themselves. They were isolated from the part of themselves that could help.

"I theorise he is, at present, not." Yavin blinked slowly. "In which case, you might, aha, agree, we must proceed to try and incite it. Through the exploration of potential memories or, hm. Or otherwise."

Sandy did not know if Andy would stand being outside. He concerned himself with the study. Andy would want to know every detail. It was important to the patients that he knew every detail.

"We have explored similar with other patients." Sandy agreed. "Family visits. Friends and family telling stories." He looked sad. "Difficult for Lawrence. I do know of his family. You must know I was also at Hogwarts with him. Andy, Lawrence and I. All same year. Perhaps I can try to find things from then. Happier times." Sandy suggested. He was not sure how he felt about that. About cheering up Lawrence. He was just another patient. He cheered up his other patients. He could do this.

"You say at present. You believe we will find a way to incite it?" Sandy said. "Some of my patients say that they no longer take pleasure from things they most love. A favorite piece of music. The company of their husband. They have an absence of feeling."

             "You must know I was also at Hogwarts with him. Andy, Lawrence and I. All same year."

It was really quite impossible to find someone who hasn't always known Lawrence Musgrave. Yavin nodded, careful not to show his concern: he had reservations about the St.Mungo's staff and this personal connection did not help. He would keep an eye out for anything suspicious, whatever came of this meeting.

"Yes, do find, hm, find as many things that could remind him of better times." Although it would be worse if Lawrence saw such things and found his lack of emotions was only reinforced. "We could extend visit invitations to, ah, to family he likes."

Trying to rehabilitate the emotional spectrum of a criminal was going to be precarious business. They had more baggage than the regular patient, more perceived guilt and feelings of worthlessness.

             "You believe we will find a way to incite it?"

"I... believe we will find a, aha, a broad idea of how to approach inciting it." Yavin clarified, crossing his legs and humming thoughtfully. "A common thread in the most, that is, the most effective memories. It's what we have to go on for now, hm, isn't it?" he sighed and glanced at Sandy. "Do you have any thoughts yourself?"

"We have improved his diet. We can try exercise. When he was on Level 2. I prescribed daylight. Socialisation. When he was younger he was very social. Many friends." Good times. "Maybe I can try to befriend him again." Sandy shrugged his shoulders. He did not want Lawrence to think of recent times. Not if Yavin was listening. Sandy could protect his own thoughts. Not Lawrence's. Unless he obliviated him. It was a big worry.

"We can use happier old memories first. Old memories are polarised." Sandy noticed his patients most remembered things they strongly disliked or really enjoyed. "I will reach out to his father. See if they have any keepsakes from childhood." Sandy frowned. "If not I will try my things." They would try everything.

END