Naturally, it would have been the moment she left the room that Akiva awakened. At first, the Auror did not realize it, having dutifully moved toward the table, bearing the bucket of water. It was, perhaps, the first and only time that she would meekly take an order from Nagde in stride. Once there, the once healer, and herbalist, took over. She recognized a good few of the herbs, powders, and mixtures all ready set up and she silently approved as she added the appropriate amounts of water to the necessary vessels.

Tamis almost jumped when she heard the signature blonde’s voice but managed to catch the reflex in time. Her head lifted and an immediate rush of relief washed over the Head Auror, so strong that she wavered for a moment. Akiva Katz was wide-eyed and frightened and had been staring at Archer like he was a three-headed dog until Tulojow interjected. Terrified but alert and coherent, she was going to be okay. It settled the Auror a little more knowing that, seeing her awake and it strengthened her resolve. She was not sure how well her friend knew anyone else in the room. She could keep it together as Akiva was going to need her to keep it together.

There was nothing more that she wanted to do than rush over to the librarian and encase her in a hug. However, it would have been entirely inappropriate and the Auror did not want to risk the other woman’s emotional stability. They were going to need her sound enough to answer questions. To avoid the temptation, Raynor took a step back next to the student and her partner, where she was asked a tentative question.

For a long moment, the Auror stared up at the girl, as if truly considering whether or not to give it back. Truth of the matter was, she had completely forgotten that she had taken it. Eventually, the petite woman reached into an inner-compartment of her robes and produced the slender rod of wood, holding it out shaft-first to the girl.

“Try not to lose this so easily. Next time the person might not be willing to give it back,” She departed her wisdom on Fauna, was it? before lifting her gaze up further to Archer. That eye of his looked like it was going to bruise.  “If she is well enough, I think it is time to take… Fauna,” might as well use the name she had become equipped with, “… home.” The less unfamilar faces Akiva had to deal with, the better. Her gaze shifted back over to Fauna, “if you will permit it, I would like you to give a replication of the Memory pertaining to what you saw to Auror Radley before he leaves you, while it is still fresh. It would aid our investigation immensely.”  Yes, she was at least sounding like her typical self again.

Perhaps, that had not been the best phrasing to use about Fauna’s wand. It had not clicked in her head as to how Akiva would relate to it if she overheard it until it was too late and the words were already out. The woman became more alert, sitting more fully upright and craning her head, panic lingering in her voice. Raynor had not remembered seeing a wand, but she had not been exactly looking. She moved closer to the bed her friend was perched on, trying to look encouraging.

“It must have fallen where we found you. Some of my men are looking the area over, they’ll find it,” she told her, her gaze sliding over to Archer for confirmation that there were Aurors investigating the scene. In her own mental distress, she had not given that order, but she safely assumed that Radley had thought of it and sent word. She chanced a glance up at Nagde again before turning her undivided attention back to the victim. She had a strange ache in the pit of her stomach that they were not going to discover the wand. There were a number of reasons to kidnap an individual and take their wand, none of them pleasant.

“Who are ‘they’, Akiva?” She asked, much more gently than one would have thought possible. It was all going to work out just fine. Katz was alive and would eventually be well and she could tell them about who took her. One case, at least, had a fair shot of not running cold.

Of course, medically, Akiva was their priority but that didn't diminish the risks, or the likelihood, of shock.  Primarily, in Fauna's case but, given the situation, she wouldn't rule it out with Raynor. 

Tulojow didn't doubt that the younger auror was tough and resilient - one couldn't have gotten to where she was without being.  But, no one was immune, as much as they tried to convince themselves they were.  Finding someone one cared about in such a state could get to anyone.  And, Tulojow suspected Raynor's pride would interfere with her ability to gauge her own state.  But, of course, Tulojow would wait until the two were alone to evaluate the other woman. 

Of course, there was no way any of the aurors would be allowing Fauna to walk home alone.  There were, presumably, aurors searching the woods but, Tulojow could only assume, had they found any suspects, Raynor would have been notified.  Whoever had been capable of doing this to someone and willing to dump her without a second thought could still be in the forest for all they knew.  And, they had to assume, might know Fauna was the one to find the victim.  Tulojow cast a pointed glance at Raynor before turning back to Akiva.

She smiled warmly at Akiva when she appeared to relax.  She'd just turned towards the second teapot when she noticed the woman's reaction to the drink.  After considering her options for a moment, Tulojow poured the some of the brewed tea into a class and cooled it with a touch of her wand.  But, rather than handing it over immediately to Akiva, Tulojow took a small sip herself before setting it on the table next to Akiva.  The fluid was lightly sweet.

"You're worried about drinking something?"  She asked, softly.  "You're severely dehydrated, my dear.  We need to get some fluids in you.  Drinking this will be faster and easier but we can use the old-fashioned muggle injectable fluids route if you don't think you can drink anything, yet." 

Tulojow shook her head as she pushed herself, creakily, to her feet and moved over towards Fauna as Raynor questioned Akiva.  Tulojow felt the young woman's forehead with the back of her hand before feeling her pulse and nodding in satisfaction.  "I think you'll be alright.  Just finish the tea before Radley sees you home and make sure you get enough rest.  It'd be best if you side along with him back.  Just to be on the safe side." 

She was worried about her wand.  She wanted her wand to know she had it, to be able to protect herself.  Without it, she only had her hands and feet, and she wasn’t strong at the moment.  If anyone here meant her harm, she would have to rely on the others to protect her, she couldn’t do anything for herself in the way of protection without it.  She had nothing and looking around, she desperately hoped that it was in the situation Tamis described, having been lost and dropped during the course of transport.  Looking around, she sighed, it clearly wasn’t anywhere here. 

When Tamis looked back at the large man, Akiva looked as well.  He did not appear quite so hopeful as Ray and shrugged his shoulders after her comments about the wand – though he nodded about the searchers.  Akiva hoped they would find it and return it to her.  She felt a little empty without it. 

She would have found the energy to fret about it more if she hadn’t thought about the drink that Tulo was pouring.  The water was steaming, it looked like tea.  She could feel her mouth starting to try to water – the promise of a drink made her all the more aware of how thirsty she was, but her stomach jumped and burbled at the same time.  It seemed the healer caught onto the problem though, and Akiva looked at her sip the drink, then place it down.  Her options were laid out in front of her.  She would have picked up the cup, but she wasn’t even sure she could lift it. 

Averting her eyes, Akiva licked her parched lips.  There was no moisture there.  An attempt to lift her arms was in order, but she had very little success.  Her limbs were so heavy, she flexed her fingers, but they hurt.  Pains shot up through her injured hand and her wrist.  She winced and felt the tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.  The teacup became blurry and she tried to blink, entirely too embarrassed of the whole thing.  She couldn’t even get up the strength to get to the cup, and she was thirsty.  “I… I can’t pick it up…” she murmured, almost inaudible, amongst the rest of the activity.

She didn’t want to get an IV, as she assumed that’s what Tulo meant. She had gotten her tonsils out as a little girl and the IV had scared her more than anything, she didn’t think she was going to be able to handle a needle on herself.  It just made her stomach churn even more.  She didn’t want to pay attention to that thought though and she entertained Tamis’ question instead. 

Who were they?  Akiva moved to open her mouth, to spill out her guts on everything, but then realized, with dismay, she had nothing.  Her mind was blank.  She saw nothing – there was absolutely nothing there.  She remembered cups, she remembered a room, but who they were?  She stared up at the grey eyes of her friend, warm brown meeting icy grey, and her mouth gaped like a fish.  “I…” she paused, “They..." she had to remember something! She pushed herself, trying so hard.  She closed her eyes and scrunched her face - she would have rubbed her fingers on the bridge of her nose, but she couldn't.

She clenched her jaw and bit on the inside of her cheek.  She couldn't remember anything.  It was dark - there were flashes of pain, flashes of things that didn't even matter, memories of hours of solitude, but not even a sound she could recall - no faces, no voices, no names.  Her head started to spin and her eyelids fluttered, her breath hitching in her throat. "I..." she looked at Tamis, even if she was slightly spinning, "I don't... I can't... I don't know."

For a few agonizing moments Fauna wondered if the Auror would hand back her wand, or keep it. Somehow she managed to keep eye contact, looking at Raynor with confusion and surprise. Was there a reason they needed to keep it? The Aurors didn’t still suspect her, did they?

Fauna breathed a sigh of relief when Raynor gave her her wand. She pocketed it, nodded at Raynor’s words of advice, and watched worriedly as Akiva asked where her own wand was. Fauna hoped for the woman’s sake that it was left at the crime scene of the shack. All she’d remembered seeing was the chair and the other props, so she didn’t think that Akiva had been holding anything or had anything on her.

Embarrassment flared up again, but also thankfulness, when Tulo checked her forehead and her pulse. “Oh, I’m.. I’m fine,” Fauna stammered, trying to reassure the healer. She finished the tea in a gulp that left her throat burning, uncomfortable at hearing Akiva admit to Raynor that she couldn’t remember her assailants. Fauna felt a bit like an eavesdropper. She was ready to go home.

“Auror Radley?” She glanced up at him. “I’m… ready. I think I have everything.”

They started towards the door and Fauna looked back at Akiva and the two women around her. “Thanks for the tea, Tulo. Bye…” she said awkwardly, eyes resting on Akiva for a second before Fauna turned to go.

It was Dreogan's first time back to Jerusalem since Adon had moved, and he couldn't have felt more lonely. The street lights outside of the West Jerusalem hotel flickered through the slatted blinds. The room smelled of horosonic rinsing solution, window washing fluid, and the faint tang of cigarette smoke. Sitting, bare feet on the tile floor, on the edge of a stiff and sterile bed, he looked at the clock: 3 am. After no sleep for two days, Dreogan acknowledged it was time to sleep.

He watched the clock until it turned 3:01. In his mind, he counted through the next minute, surprised when he found he had been counting too fast. It was not 3:02 until he had counted to seventy-three. It was unnerving, the thought of a seventy-three second minute. Shifting upon the bed so that he now looked up at the ceiling, he continued to count, not looking at the false clock. Sleep would come, if he counted high enough.

But it was not sleep that came at second eight-hundred and eighty-five. Its was a patronus. Mercurial and blazing. Dreogan was up like a dart, propelled into a sitting position from the springs in his mattress. It was a horned-snake. It was from Tulo. It had to be about, yes it was about Kiva.

The serpent delivered its message and Dreogan had listened with little emotion. Just listened. When the glow of the patronus had dissipated and mingled with that of the light beyond his blinds, he considered it all. She was found. Alive. She was. . .

Dreogan felt one hoarse sob shake his frame; then another. And another. He could not remember how long it had been since he had felt tears on his face, crawling down and into his mouth. He ran his hands through his hair, feet back and flat upon the tile as he strove to regulate his breathing. He did not know how long it had been since Tulo's patronus had delivered its message -- he had stopped counting -- when a second appeared. Larger and filling the space near his bed. A bear; Adon. The same message with instructions to go to Hogsmeade, where he was.

Dreogan could listen to that message over and over again; nearly begged for a third patronus to come. When he finally looked back at the clock to see it read 4:13, he rose to his feet slowly then, as he pieced it all together, could not move fast enough. By 4:16 in the morning, he had all his things collected in his bag and with faint *pop!* Disapparated, exchanging West Jerusalem for the Near East Ministry. It would be Floo to Amsterdam from there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The loud crack! that announced Dreogan's mid-night arrival to Hogsmeade was nearly as conspicuous as he himself. As Dreogan dropped to his knees to catch his breath and regain his sense of direction, he considered that he ought not to have Apparated from Amsterdam. But it had been worth it.

The matter now remained on how to arrive at Hogwarts, and Dreogan found no option available at this hour but to walk the twenty-minutes to the school grounds. Only Dreogan did not walk. He ran.

Propelled by the desire to know, to see, to get answers, he could hardly be hindered by things like doors and so when the time came, he fumbled with the handle, laid his palm upon the door, and pressed. Panting and pale, he looked about the room, astonished to see so many people, never thinking for a moment that the surprise might be mutual.

"Where is she?"

Archer felt oddly out of place when he was told that Fauna could not leave, but had nothing to do either.  Ray needed to do what she had to do, she wasn’t going to let him take care of things, the woman wouldn’t respond to him anyway.  She had been looking at him like he was some kind of murderer or threat, which anyone else in the room might have been able to say was absolutely not the case (unless one was a criminal, then he was one hell of a threat), but otherwise, he was just standing in the background and waiting. 

He figured that once he dropped the girl off, he would be able to return to the site and meet Spencer and Eleor, catch them up on the situation.  He knew they would both be interested and were probably preoccupied as it was.  He also wanted to see if they recovered her wand.  He didn’t remember seeing it and he had been closest to her the entire time, but they had to continue to look.  If it was gone, she’d need to give them a description and they’d need to look for it.  It could have been broken over her time in captivity; Ray would have to get that out of her.  Archer wasn’t going to go near her.

Hands clasped behind his back, Archer watched, his eyes glazing over as he thought about what he wanted to get done and what he had to do.  He would have run his hand over his face in frustration, but he was doing a job and had to appear as though he was on the ball and not stressed about anything.  What he was really feeling was the need for a shower and to sit down for a minute, to think things through.  Those luxuries were not available, however, and he was glad, finally, when the girl finished the tea (it felt like she was purposely taking ages), and he nodded at her.  “Good,” he responded curtly, moving toward the door and in front of the teenager.

She didn’t need to lead the way, and when they were far enough away from the woman and the questioning, Archer leaned down, “Where am I taking y-“ he was about to ask, but was interrupted by the opening of the door.  His hand immediately flew to his wand, afraid that perhaps someone had followed the down and was just now deciding to make a move on the group.  It was probably a suicide wish, but whatever the case, Archer had the wand out and pointed before he could even see who it was.  When he finally realized, his wand immediately dropped to the side. 

His eyes averted to the young woman, back to the man who burst in looking like the walking dead, and back to Fauna (that was her name, right?) again.  “One second,” he muttered to her, moving forward and holding out his hands in the least threatening manner possible.  “In the living room,” he responded in clipped, quiet tones.  He didn’t want her to hear him – he didn’t want to interrupt the investigation yet.  Once Dreogan got in that room, she would be too distracted to answer questions and he didn’t look very good either. 

Standing closely enough so that he could be quiet, but still be heard, Archer put a hand on his shoulder.  “Nadge is patching her up,” he interceded before Dreogan could push past, “it’s nothing bad – just some cuts and general upkeep and Ray is asking some questions.  Let them finish up,” he advised, trying to be as comforting as possible, “she’s awake, alert, and talking so you can see her as soon as everything is calmed down.  It’ll be easier on her,” he tried to use that angle, giving him her welfare to think of.  “Maybe you should sit down for a minute.  Nadge fired up some tea, get some of that if you can sneak around without being noticed.”

It seemed like they would be held up for another few minutes.  Archer glanced back to Fauna, “Sorry about the hold up,” he said, glancing at Dree again.  “I’ve got to bring her home,” he motioned to the student, “but then I’m going to check in with Spencer and your brother, so I’ll let him know you’re alright.  You going to be okay?”

The pointed glances from Nagde had not gone unnoticed. Tamis Raynor had simply chosen to ignore them. The retired Auror was far too intuitive than Raynor would admit, but now was not the time or place to respond to those unspoken questions. Not that she thought herself answerable to the older woman. But they had invaded their home and currently were making very imposing house guests. Even with a lack of proper parental upbringing, Raynor understood basic courtesy and respect to a host.  But there were superseding circumstances at hand. And her attention was far too focused on the victim before her. So much so that she did not notice Archer and Fauna slip out of the room.

A sense of dread settled in so deeply that the chill penetrated her bones. The possibility that finding Akiva Katz alive would mean that her memory would be stripped had been a highly probable one. It was a better alternative than having recovered her body, but Raynor had wanted to believe, still believe, that the captors had not been serious enough to erase her memory. The burning insignia glowed in laughter at the Auror. A pessimist should have known better than to try to hope. 

Breathing carefully regulating, she reached out and, despite the grime, brushed Akiva’s fingertips in a symbol of physical comfort. She would have taken her hand, but was irrationally afraid that the touch would inflict more damage. It hurt to push her friend. Hurt more than interrogating Knox Greyfriar had, if that were possible. But they needed to know her mental state, needed answers. And for that, she needed Akiva to stay with her.

“It is okay, Akiva.” She sounded much calmer than she felt. “Just breathe. Concentrate on breathing. I need you to stay with me. Can you do that for me?”

Reaching for the glass of cooled tea that Tulojow had prepared but Akiva had been unable to move, Raynor lifted it to the other woman’s lips, allowing her to take controlled sips if she could. She knew from experience, both in her current line of work and previous, that allowing a dehydrated individual to drink too fast could be disastrous. Tamis had developed tunnel vision by this point, as far as she was concerned there was only one person in the room.

“Can you remember anything? Any details about where you were. Anything about what anyone you may have seen. No matter how insignificant it seems to you. ”

The hand holding the cup was steady, but the careful observer might have noticed that her other hand was balled up against her side, the knuckles stark white against her fair complexion. She did not want the confirmation, but the confirmation was needed.

Tulojow left the mystery of the missing wand to others and focused on the primary task ahead of her.  Fauna had been cleared to go and was being escorted back to her parents by Radley leaving just herself, Raynor and Akiva in the overcrowded living room.  Now, Tulojow was free to focus her efforts on Akiva. 

She heard the front door open and close and the mutterings of voices.  Though there was an urgency to the tone of the voices, there also wasn't any frantic agitation or hostility from Radley or the newcomer.  Whoever it was - one of the aurors searching in the village or perhaps Dreogan - had come on friendly terms.  No doubt, Radley could handle it before he left.

Despite the initial obvious fear with which Akiva regarded the offered drink, she'd agreed to start drinking it and, with Raynor's help, she started sipping at the hydrating solution.  Grabbing a spare bit of parchment from a nearby pile, Tulojow began, quickly, jotting down her findings and observations, making careful note about the young woman's reaction to seeing Radley, the drink and her obvious confusion. 

"The amnesia could be the result of the dehydration.  Or disrupted sleep patterns," she offered in explanation.  Of course, the brain's own attempts to protect itself from the trauma of its own memories could be, very much, part of the explanation as well but Tulojow opted to leave that possible explanation to herself.  Of course, magical intervention was a plausible, though much more sinister, explanation. 

Looking at the situation from an auror's perspective, Tulojow could understand the time sensitivity Raynor was faced with.  Tulojow knew she wanted - and needed - the information promptly.  But, again, the healer in Tulojow and the auror weren't always in complete agreement.  "We can try some neuro-healing charms - even try some less conventional methods to get at the suppressed or oppressed memories.  But, I'd be much more comfortable doing those when she's a little stronger."  But, then, healers were thrilled when they had the luxury of time - aurors often rarely had time.

After levitating the bucket with the remaining hot water over to the side of the bed, Tulojow slowly - and with more of a painful grimace than usual - lowered herself back into the chair.  It was still proving to be a long, activity filled weekend and her knee wasn't going to let her forget that anytime soon.  "Alright - we're going to get you cleaned up some, so you can rest more comfortably.  But, before that, I'll need to get some blood, unless you know or can remember what poisons or toxins 'they' gave you."

All of the stimulus going on in the house was enough to overwhelm even the healthiest of young women.  Akiva was feeling pretty terrible on the whole and though she recognized and trusted Tamis, there were things going on that she couldn’t necessarily be sure of.  True, the woman, Tulojow, had not presented herself as a threat, but Akiva couldn’t help but look over every few seconds to keep her in check.  The large man was leaving, lifting quite the burden off of her shoulders, and Akiva exhaled deeply, trying to concentrate.

She continued to press herself, evident from the creases in her forehead and the intense expression in her eyes, persisting even through the sips of tea that Tamis was affording her.  She had to admit that they almost immediately made her feel better.  The dryness of her lips and mouth was diminished with every sip and she could even lick her lips to some result after a few of the very carefully controlled portions Tamis gave her.  “Thank you,” she mumbled softly when she was satisfied.  Drinking too much was going to make her feel sick to her stomach. 

Those feelings were already starting to resurface anyway and she internalized a groan of pain as her stomach either grumbled or lurched, she couldn’t tell the difference anymore.  It was just a distinct pain.  Her concentration wasn’t so much on that; she wanted to make sure that she was answering the questions being levied at her, but she wasn’t coming up with anything.  She didn’t know! 

A frustrated sigh passed through her lips and Akiva shook her head.  She closed her eyes, another attempt to recall anything.  A room, she remembered that – only a wooden chair – heavy footsteps.  Those were the things she remembered.  Looking at Tamis with a sense of completely hopelessness, Akiva just didn’t even think the most inconsequential details she had in her mind were going to do anything for her.  She asked for them though, and she shook her head.  “He had heavy steps,” Akiva finally said, “and there was a wooden chair in the room… it was usually dark…” she closed her eyes tightly again, hoping she might get something else – but it was all blank – nothing came up. 

When Tulo asked about what she had been given, Akiva shook her head.  “I don’t know…” she breathed, it seemed like her mantra at this point – she didn’t know.  She knew her drinks had been tampered with, but she never knew when or how or what was used.  She couldn’t even remember the taste.  She looked at the cups and knew something was wrong, but couldn’t understand why.  It was really difficult for her. 

She didn’t want to give her blood, that was probably the last thing she could have wanted at the moment and looked down at her arm, at least she was having enough trouble moving – it wouldn’t be hard for Tulo to get the sample.  “You’re going to have to take some,” she clarified, shaking her head as she turned her eyes away, “I… I don’t remember anything.”  She felt almost numb at this point, like it was finally hitting her.  She didn't know anything.  It was the most bizarre sensation she had ever come across.

Archer was the first person he met with, and a young woman. No, a girl. He didn't know her and returned his attention back to the senior Auror. “In the living room,” Archer said, but seemed to stand between him and his way there. Dreogan gave an impatient sigh as he took a step towards the man with a mind to circumvent him.

He shrugged the shoulder off as injuries were discussed. Dreogan wanted to see. Now. He didn't care about tea, didn't care about whether or not he should "sit down" or "needed time." He wasn't in a mood to be coddled and after a time, attempted once more to take another step to see her. Just to see her. He knew, of course, that there was protocol. Always protocol. And Archer was right, of course, that he needed to consider what was best for Kiva. As little stimulation as possible. But he wanted to see her! In the absence of knowledge, one could only assume the worst and prepare accordingly, and Dreogan was tired of preparing. He could not wait a moment longer with this weight upon him.

Archer was making some sort of apology -- Dreogan couldn't see how any of this was his fault -- but when he asked if he was going to be okay . . . Dreogan looked at Archer, unable to suppress surprise. What a question at a time like this. "Y-yes," he managed, thoughts fragmented. "Just . . ." he trailed off as the man left.  

Edging his way slowly and quietly -- one might even say with trepidation -- along the wall, Dreogan kept out of sight, listening to the questions and Akiva's trembling, increasingly frustrated responses. Dreogan felt an increasing concern at the mention of toxins -- this was not mere scrapes and bruises -- and the trauma in her voice . . .

When Dreogan felt rather certain that Akiva was not going to produce answers without him there, he did not see what the harm could be in his presence. Peering his head from around the corner, he then stepped out, smiling slightly at the group that had not as yet turned their attention to him, being much too focussed on their inquiries. As Akiva turned her eyes away from Raynor and Tulo, however, he felt his chest tighten as he saw her looking in his direction and saw only a glimpse of the damage inflicted.

He tried to swallow, but cleared his throat, hoping to ease the breathing and announce, indirectly and without any fanfare, his presence to, primarily, Madame Raynor. She would not approve, he was sure, but he was not making any displays or fanfare.

Part of him wondered if he'd be advised to return to his home, carry out his job. . . Dreogan was past listening to Raynor for the moment; his obligations to the case, to finding Kiva, to the governmental institution and ideological state apparatuses were secondary. He would take his cues from Akiva and give her what it was she wanted in support from him.

Clearly, Archer had no choice but to let Dreogan do what he wanted to do.  He had attempted to talk with him, but he was nervous and wanted to see the woman he had been dating.  Archer couldn’t blame him, even he would be that concerned after such a time.  Of course, he probably would have relaxed as soon as he found out she was alive.  It was a miracle that Katz hadn’t been killed.  Her chances after twenty-four hours were incredibly slim, and as far as he was concerned she had defied the odds so definitively, Dree could have waited an extra five minutes to see her.

But, he appeared persistent, trying to step around him, even though Archer was far larger and could stop him with one hand if he wanted to - he clearly did not care.  It would have done him better to listen to him, after all, he wasn't going to walk in on the same woman he was used to seeing. That was another reason Dreogan should have waited- she looked like a refugee from some sort of third world camp at the moment, it would only upset the already rattled diplomat.  For someone who made his living trying to initiate peace could really be a wound up person.  

Patting Dreogan on the shoulder, trying to be reassuring as well as assertive, Archer couldn’t do anything else.  Fauna was standing by and the young woman needed to be brought home.  She had to rest, get her thoughts together, and be able to write a statement, but she needed to sleep first.  Poor girl was probably going to be shaken up for some time, but Tulojow was attached to the school and could attend to the girls’ needs.  It wasn’t Archer’s place.  He wouldn’t even know where to start.  

Frankly, things like this didn’t both him anymore.  He looked at the situation as a win for everyone – they found her, and she was alive.  That was the best thing he could pull out of it, and to say anything negative about the situation was being picky.  Sometimes he wondered if he was being far too hardened, this was one of those times.  Licking his bottom lip in thought, Archer glanced back at Fauna, satisfied that Dreogan was going to at least hold it together.  

“Let’s get you home,” he finally said, opening the front door for her to let her out.  He’d apparate with her outside – to minimize the noise and disturbance to the jumpy woman on the bed.  He glanced back and sighed as Dree peered around the corner, he couldn’t imagine it was going to end well, but at least he wouldn’t be there.  

Fauna jumped about ten feet in the air when the door suddenly swung open, revealing a stricken man panting for breath. She looked at Archer quickly, but he seem unperturbed, so Fauna tried to calm down. Calm down, calm down, was the mantra she kept repeating to herself tonight. It seemed impossible to relax, at least until she got home. Even then, she’d have to answer to questions- worried questions from her mum- which would be anything but relaxing.

She kept quiet as Radley talked to the man who had just arrived, trying to slow him down, she thought. But he wouldn’t listen. She couldn’t blame him. He must have been one of the people, family maybe, who was worried sick about Akiva.

After what seemed like ages, she and the Auror left Tulo’s home and walked outside. “I live in the North Devon county, Dolton village,” she told him, resting a hand on his arm and preparing for the roller-coaster feeling of apparation.