Fauna hesitated in front of the door to Tulo’s home, considering going back. If she just left now, she wouldn’t embarrass herself or make anyone uncomfortable, or any number of awful possibilities. She chewed on her nails, the other hand in her pocket. Fauna wasn’t quite sure how her feet had gotten her here, in front of the place she and the Aurors had brought Akiva that horrible night. Akiva Katz. After asking around a bit she’d discovered the woman was the Ministry Librarian and someone who was supposed to be very personable and helpful. Fauna was afraid to find out if Akiva was still the same person, or if she was the vacant-eyed, terrified, ghost she remembered from the Shrieking Shack. Still, she had to know. That was the real reason she was here. Thought what had happened to the woman hadn’t been her fault- she’d just found her and been in the wrong place at the wrong time (or the right place, for Akiva’s sake)- she felt somewhat responsible. Plus, she couldn't get the image of her out of her head.

So, Fauna clenched her hand into a weak fist, raised it, and knocked very timidly. It was probably the quietest, most pathetic knock ever, but she’d done it. She sucked in a breath, hoping it was loud enough and she wouldn’t have to knock again, and half-hoping no one was home, until the door opened and she looked up nervously.

Fauna shoved her hands in her pockets and bit her lip, shuffling from foot to foot. What was her excuse again? Oh right—she was just here to ask Akiva about some research. Some research that she could probably pester the school librarian about, but it was the best excuse she could think of!

Despite being a quite accomplished witch, Tulojow had also always valued doing things the slow, muggle "old-fashioned" way.  Cooking with magic was fast and convenient and, given the right circumstances, Tulojow was as subject to streaks of laziness as the next witch.  But, she had always firmly believed that one could taste the care and effort put into a hand-made recipe of chicken and dumplings with cast-iron baked cornbread. 

The term had started at Hogwarts but Tulojow still came home regularly in the afternoons and weekends to check in with Akiva.  Despite the time restraints, even after Akiva had grown strong enough to be apparated, Tulojow had been adamant about keeping the woman at her residence under her care rather than have her transferred to St. Mungos.  Though those that followed more traditional forms of magical healing might disagree, Tulojow had believed, firmly, that being confined to small, sterile room amongst strangers wouldn't help the woman heal. 

Kalie had been watching the chicken in the pot simmering since Tulojow had first taken the meat from its wrappings.  The golden eagle pointedly ignored the carrot that Tulojow chopped before adding it to the pot.  "Don't blame me if you get burned," Tulojow said as the bird craned his neck forward to peer closer to the top of the simmering stew. 

The sudden chiming of the intruder charms around the house and Kalie's subsequent startled squeaking heralded the arrival of the visitor long minutes before Fauna's inaudible knock on the door.  Tulojow quickly tugged her wand from her pocket and froze, listening for several moments, her suspicions growing when she heard no obvious knock or any familiar voice calling through the door.  Slowly and quietly, Tulojow moved towards the front door and quickly pulled it open, her wand at the ready. 

"Fauna!" Tulojow half breathed, half shouted in a mixture of relief and frustrated amusement.  She glanced around the yard for safe measure before repocketing her wand and ushering the young woman inside.  "Here's a suggestion for future reference.  Don't sneak up quietly to the houses of retired aurors housing dumped kidnapped victims.  Triggering alarms and not clearly announcing your identity makes us a bit jumpy."  The recommendation had been serious, but her tone was friendly, humorous and casual.  "Are you hungry?  What are you doing here?  Shouldn't you be up at school?"  Tulojow asked.

Fauna jumped about ten feet in the air when the door swung open and there was Tulo, pointing her wand at her. Holy harpies! She took a step back and gestured with her hands, palms up, to show that they were empty.  The very unpleasant memory of Raynor pointing her wand at her flashed in her mind.

Amidst the squeaking bird and Tulo’s exclamation, Fauna stepped inside, listening to Tulo’s sound words of wisdom. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “I… I knocked, but it was, well, barely a knock and more like a tap. I was… nervous.” Of course she was. It was her natural state of being!

Fauna glanced around the room at the cooking pot, the watchful eagle, and a few of the other things in Tulo’s home, privately wondering if Akiva was even still staying here. Something smelled tasty, though. The smell alone made her peckish even though she'd eaten a few hours ago. She looked at Tulojow when she asked her why she was here.

“Oh, well,” she stalled, looking embarrassed. “I probably should have asked first. I mean, you’re in the middle of… of cooking,” It was a little early for dinner, she thought. “Um, sorry for just showing up. But I was wondering… is… Akiva still staying with you?” Fauna asked slowly, meeting her eyes.

“I.. kind of wanted to see her. I know that sounds so strange,” she said in a rush. “I just.. if I can, even. Is she okay?” By okay, Fauna meant was she conscious, somewhat calm, perhaps recognizable as the person she’d been before her abduction. She hadn’t heard anything other than the fact that Tulo was taking care of her.

Tulojow chuckled, shaking her head at the young woman in her doorway before turning and moving back towards the kitchen.  With the weeks of chasing youngsters around Hogsmeade behind her, Tulojow's limp was much less pronounced than it had been on the night Fauna had last visited Tulojow's residence, but it was still there. 

"Unfortunately, when one considers the behavior of friends and foes, it's usually the foes that are prone to sneaking quietly and nervously about.  After all, being on the friendly side of the spectrum, you have no real reason to be nervous, my dear," Tulojow said as she pulled a tin from one of the cabinets and a large terra cotta mug from a hook under the cabinets.  Some powdered cocoa and hot warter from a kettle over the fire was added to the cup before Tulojow stepped up towards the young woman but paused a moment as she regarded the young woman. 

"Never apologize for being who you are.  And you have every right to knock on that door like you deserve to belong here."  Tulojow grinned slightly, setting the cup down on the kitchen table.  The brief interrupting exercise would do little to harm the cocoa - it could stand to cool down some, anyway.  "In fact, let's  - for the amusement of an old crone, let's try it again.  It's a beautiful day, so there's no harm done.  Just step outside and, before you knock, tell yourself: 'I am among friends.  I wish to be here.  And I deserve to make my presence well-known.'  And then knock.  I'll let you back in when  your knocking loud enough."  And, therefore, with enough confidence. 

But, before turning towards the door, Tulojow hesitated a moment and reached out to gently take Fauna by the chin to look closely at her features.  "How have you been?"  Tulojow asked, gently.  "Are you sleeping alright?  Eating normally?  What did you eat for lunch?" 

Even if her strength was mounting and Akiva was genuinely able to get up and walk around without getting tired, it didn’t mean she was ready to go home yet.  She still had some trouble lifting things and though her hand had healed up fairly nicely (there was a scar across her palm that she tried to tend to daily), her wrist was taking far longer to heal.  It didn’t appear as though it wanted to stop burning and it had been attributed to the magic quality of the wound.

She had to admit, being at Tulo’s was better than being at St. Mungo’s with the impersonal treatment and the hours of aloneness in a white room.  She also liked the company and was glad they had some common ground with the Eleor boys.  Akiva certainly knew Dreogan and she was getting to know Adon as well, so the environment was comfortable for that.  It was also comfortable to take a nap whenever she felt like it, and the afternoon hours were certainly wonderful for taking naps.  Curled up on the bed, Akiva was hugging a pillow to her chest, wrapped in a blanket, peacefully dreaming away until she heard the familiar chiming of security spells.

Darting upward, something like a meerkat, Akiva became entangled in the sheets, falling over and out of the bed with an unceremonious thump to the floor.  Yelping as she hit the floor, she wrestled out of the blanket and blinked, surprised as the alarms suddenly stopped.  The sound of Tulo’s bird also stopped.  It could have been very good, or very bad.  Biting her lip, Akiva decided she was going to go down anyway.  She didn’t have a wand, no, but why prolong something that was inevitable.

An intruder was going to go through the entire house and she couldn’t hide – better to expose herself now.  Slowly tiptoeing out of the room, Akiva peered down the corridor – no one, a good sign.  She stopped at the doorway and listened again.  She heard Tulo and her voice wasn’t defensive at all!  That was a blessing.  Letting the tension fall from her shoulders, Akiva rubbed her eyes and retreated back into the bedroom, looking in the mirror for a moment.  It was clear she had been sleeping, so she threw up her hair into a ponytail and rubbed her eyes out again, yawning before she exited the room.

Trotting down the stairs, she didn’t want to appear nosy, but she was curious.  Seeing the door open and Tulo greeting the visitor, Akiva was stunned it was a young woman. She was probably a student, though it didn't make any sense to Akiva since school was in session.  Maybe it was an emergency - after all, Tulo was the healer at Hogwarts.  Akiva now stood awkwardly on the stairs, playing with the cuff of her long-sleeved, deep purple sweater.  The dark color made her thinness stand out even more, but it was comfortable, unlike the room.  She didn't know what the student was doing there, and then she remembered - she had been the one there that night! 

She licked her lips anxiously and stepped down from the step, unafraid of the unassuming girl with the big eyes who had helped her that night.  Without her, apparently, she might not have been found until she woke up herself.  "Hello," she greeted simply from behind the older woman, something of an awkward smile on her face.

When Tulo lifted her chin up gently and studied her face, Fauna’s eyes widened in surprise. The slew of questions was asked in a concerned, motherly way, and Fauna couldn’t help but smile. It made her feel more welcome and at home than anything else.

“I…” she paused, embarrassed and touched at the same time. She felt very conscious of the slight shadows underneath her eyes, though she couldn’t blame that all on the night of the Woodcroft Festival. Other things, such as Ollie’s expulsion, had also occupied her thoughts. “Oh, I’m all right. I had, well, brunch. Eggs and pancakes,” her smile grew wider.

A creak sounded on the stairs and Fauna looked towards it, finding a pale brunette in a dark purple sweater. Akiva! The woman still seemed thin, but her eyes weren’t full of terror anymore. Something in Fauna’s chest loosened as she gaped at her, barely believing her eyes. Akiva looked okay, or at least much better than she had the night Fauna had found her.

Fauna let out a breath. “Hi,” she said shyly, and then lapsed into silence for a long moment. Now she had no idea what to say. The shock and relief of seeing the woman on her way to recovery was almost enough. She could leave now and rest a bit easier tonight. Though leaving, of course, would be very rude.

“Oh!” She exclaimed, remembering what Tulo had asked her to do. “Should I..? I’ll just… knock again,” Fauna said sheepishly, ducking outside and closing the door. This made her feel extremely silly, but Fauna had done much more embarrassing things.

Raising her hand to the door, she knocked, this time a decent couple of raps, and waited. A giggle escaped as she imagined how confused Tulo’s eagle would be when the 'second' visitor arrived.

Tulojow smiled gently at the young woman's surprise but, quickly, went back to studying Fauna's face.  The face she regarded wasn't entirely free from the effects of worry and unease but it was one that seemed to be, at least, coping with the stress.     At least she appeared (and sounded like) she'd been eating well.  "Good," Tulojow concluded, smiling warmly before looking up as Akiva slowly descended the stairs. 

"And, how are you feeling?" she asked, just as warmly, but just as pointedly.  In the last two weeks, the woman had improved considerably.  It had taken almost a week of intense therapy - both conventional and traditional - to fully rid the woman's blood of the destructive poisons and toxins her body had been subjected to.  It had been, really, only after that point when the woman's condition had, really, started to improve.  She was still underweight and, despite Akiva's admirable poise and stoicism, was still under the effects of the emotional trauma.  But, she was improving.  And, as Tulojow had reminded her on several occasions, was welcome to stay as long as she wanted to heal physically as well as mentally. 

Tulojow remained quiet as the two women exchanged awkward and uneasy greetings but nodded, encouragingly, when Fauna remembered the task Tulojow had set out for her.  Once Fauna had let herself out, Tulojow stepped up towards Akiva and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder just as Fauna knocked, again, on the door. 

"You have a visitor.  Fauna stopped by to visit and see how you were doing.  Would you like some cocoa or tea?"  Tulojow asked, turning back towards the kitchen, leaving it to Akiva to open the door and regreet their guest. 

Akiva could always count on Tulojow to ask how she was, particularly after a long nap.  She had probably been sleeping for a few hours, and though she felt rested, was not completely at ease.  The tumble from the top of the bed onto the floor had definitely roused the pain in her wrist, but it was nothing to be alarmed about or could not contend with on her own right.  Cutting down on the use would be fine; she thought and allowed for a muted smile to flourish on her face, “Better, more rested,” she responded happily, though had to cut short as she yawned, drawing her small hand to her face.

Stretching her cheeks, scrunching her nose, and tightly shutting her eyes gave her the perfect awakening stretch for that part of her body and she finished the last few steps with some degree of grace.  Her walk was something of a newborn calf at the moment, from the sudden bursts of energy and then drains of fatigue; she had to allow for certain falters.  The fatigue was gradually going away, however, especially after the first two weeks.  Those were the absolute hardest, physically, and though she knew the (mentally) worst was not over by a long shot, she was feeling alright, and that was better than nothing.

She was surprised when it appeared that Tulo and Fauna had agreed to close the door.  But hadn’t she just got here?  She couldn’t have needed so little to have to come all the way here could she?  Akiva pursed her lips and was about to question her when she put her hand on her shoulder, cutting the brunette’s inquiries off at the knees.  Nodding, not that she completely understood WHY the girl needed to come in again, Akiva brightened at the prospect of a new visitor.  She had some now and again, but they were typically the same people – and though she cared very deeply for said people, she was still happy to see a new face. 

“Tea would be excellent, thank you,” Akiva smiled at her host, glad she was such an obliging woman, “I would suspect you might want to boil extra water, in case Fauna would like something too,” she added thoughtfully before approaching the door.  The sleeve of her sweater was still wrapped around her hand as she reached for the knob – the answering call to the inquisitive knock.  She twisted and pulled, swinging the door in to reveal, once again, Fauna standing outside. 

Smiling wider now, confident that she did not have to be nervous about the young woman or her motives, Akiva’s more bubbly personality began to shine through in bursts like sunbeams through an overcast.  “It’s good to see you, Fauna,” Akiva greeted with a certain warmness, "Come in, Tulo's preparing tea and cocoa if you'd like anything.  How did you get permission to come out here this evening?" she questioned, remembering her own days at Hogwarts and how barely anyone thought they could sneak out - excepting a few individuals of exemplary circumstance.

The woman’s smile was contagious and Fauna grinned back at her, happy to see her so cheerful and, well, normal. The sweater enveloped Akiva and she still looked pale, but her eyes were bright and her smile was real.

“Cocoa sounds good,” she murmured, coming in and taking a seat at the table. Fauna held back a laugh at the eagle who looked at her curiously. “Um, I didn’t,” she answered Akiva, glancing at Tulo and biting her lip. Then again, Tulo was the one who had jumped into the Wizarding Paintball game, so Fauna didn’t think she was a stickler for rules.

“I was already outside, so… I just kinda wandered on over,” she told Akiva somewhat sheepishly. It didn’t seem as if the woman minded her stopping by, so Fauna tried not to worry about it.

“I like your hair,” she complimented her suddenly. “It looks different, but, nice.” Fauna rested her chin in her hand and smiled until she thought of something. Her head popped up and her eyes widened apologetically. “You don’t have to… it’s not like a disguise, is it?” She wondered, worrying about bringing up the change in hair color and then worrying about bringing up a potential disguise. Fauna glanced at Tulo again to see if her reaction would lend any insight.

From the kitchen, Tulojow listened in on the interactions at the front door between the young woman and the student.  With the water still warm over the fire, it took only a few moments for Tulojow to fix a pot of tea for Akiva before setting it down on the table next to Fauna's already made cup of cocoa.  The drinks prepared, Tulojow turned back to the stove, pulling back a moistened towel from a bowl of risen dough. 

As strange as having Fauna return to the stoop and reenter might have been, judging by the cheerful sounds of greeting, the second take seemed to have proven to be less awkward.  While Tulojow's methods might not make much sense, by now, it seemed likely that Akiva had figured out that unconventional techniques were a hazard of being around Tulojow.  While Tulojow hadn't hesitated to use more conventional healing techniques, there were quite a few traditional healing techniques scattered in there as well. 

Pinching off small pieces of dough into the stewed dumplings, Tulojow glanced up as the two women entered the kitchen and sat themselves at the table.  "Should I be lecturing you for sneaking out?"  Tulojow asked as she regarded the youngster at the table.  "I used to sneak out every other night when I was in school.  It was quite a feat, too, since we were on islands."  And, there wasn't a whole lot of exciting things to sneak off to do.  Seeing as how Ucluelet had been the closest town and it was far from a hopping center of night life."  There were more salmon then people.  "It was as quiet at night as it sounds."  Those were the days. 

"Are either of you hungry?" she asked, glancing between the two women.  She knew she'd asked Fauna before but the answer had, already, slipped her mind.

Akiva was glad that Fauna was coming in and didn’t seem so afraid about it.  The girl had nothing to be afraid of, especially amongst friends.  She had done something for Akiva that she could possibly never repay her for, so any anxiety on her behalf would just have been wrong!  When they entered the kitchen, Akiva smiled at her declaration that cocoa would be nice and she moved around the other side of the table.

“Do you need help with anything, Tulo?” she asked before she even attempted to take a seat.  The woman was so helpful all of the time that it was second nature for Akiva to offer before she even took care of herself.  She wanted to be involved and help her do whatever she could to be comfortable and not take advantage of staying in her home. 

When the drinks were prepared, Akiva took them from the counter and brought them to the table, placing the cup of cocoa in front of Fauna and then the tea at her own space.  It smelled wonderful – Tulo was excellent with tea, and she took a sip, happily enjoying the aromatics as well as the taste.  It was one of her more conventional therapies, by Tulo’s standards, and Akiva’s favorite. 

Grinning softly, Akiva had personally never snuck out, but well, she went to school with Harry Potter and the ilk, so she had some history with those that did.  “We won’t tell,” she teased, looking to Tulo who had more experience on the matter than she did.  She laughed softly, “Lucky for anyone who likes salmon,” she commented happily, a fan of the fish herself.  She liked light meals, salmon being one of them. 

Looking at Fauna, she was surprised when she commented on her hair – forgetting for a moment that she had changed it at all.  It felt so natural to be a brunette again (quite the accomplishment) and almost laughed as she asked about disguises.  She had quite the imagination, not that she probably needed it after what she actually witnessed.  “Oh no, no disguise,” she said as she reached up, tugging a tendril, “I didn’t feel like keeping up with the blonde for the time being,” She admitted, “too much work without magic…” she coughed into her hand and took another sip of tea. 

Thankfully, Tulo changed the subject.  “Starving!” Akiva chirped with good nature.  She looked to Fauna, “you should stay – Tulo is a fantastic cook.  There’s a chocolate cake left over as well,” Akiva smiled – she had a lot of time on her hands, generally used in the kitchen, “homemade two days ago - frosting too."

“Thank you for the cocoa,” she told Tulo, taking another gulp (partly so she wouldn’t make any more embarrassing comments about hair color). The hot cocoa reminded her of fall and cooler weather, holing up by a fireplace, which she liked.

When Akiva suggested that she should stay, Fauna smiled at her thankfully. Akiva seemed like such a warm and generous person, just like people had described her. Fauna was glad that she was doing well, at least in the short time she’d visited with her. “That does smell really good,” Fauna admitted, grinning. “At my house, well, my grandma’s almost disappointed when the smoke alarm doesn’t go off. It’s like a… tradition for her,” she shook her head and laughed a little, glancing over to where Tulo cooked. Sometime, she planned on asking her more about the school she’d attended. Though Tulo had more of an American accent, Fauna hadn’t considered it enough to realize she probably hadn’t gone to Hogwarts.

Fauna set the cup of cocoa down but wrapped her hands around it, looking at the woman across from her and trying to decide how to broach her idea. “Akiva? I was wondering, uh… if I could ask your advice about something,” Fauna hesitated. She didn’t want Akiva to think this was her only reason for visiting, because she’d mainly wanted to see how she was. “I tried looking up some stuff in the Hogwarts Library, but I couldn’t find anything- then again I’m really bad at research- so I thought about asking the school librarian, but… she’s kind of intimidating.” Many people seemed intimidating to Fauna, but that went without saying. “Um, so then I remembered you work for the Ministry as a librarian…”

She paused again, biting her lip. It was a bit tedious and silly to go through a full explanation like that, but Fauna always felt uncomfortable asking people for favors. She was especially afraid of burdening Akiva with her worries when the woman had so many other things to take care of- like recovering from a brutal attack!

“If you’re busy or don’t want to that’s okay,” Fauna said in a rush. “I’m just, kind of looking for a place to start. I know... very little about werewolf laws. One of my friends got expelled because, uh, she is one, so I’m trying to figure out a way to help her.”

She glanced at Tulo. “Have you heard about it, Tulo? Ollie, I mean?”

Tulojow dismissed Akiva's offer to help quickly and warmly.  Really - there was no need for it - the cornbread was almost done and pinching the dumpling dough into the stewed chicken was the last step for the stew.  Tulojow had never been as open and sharing with her own emotions with others as she often encouraged others to be with her.  Perhaps it was a sign of her age - or perhaps it was her own grandparents' influence on her even after all these years.  The older generation was there to help and guide the younger generation - it went against the nature of things for the older generation to lay its burden on the younger.  Perhaps it was an old and outdated way of thinking but it had always weighed heavily on Tulojow.

But, while the circumstances had been horrific, the presence of others in the usual quiet and empty home had been a pleasant and welcome change.  And, while the transient role in others lives was an inevitable part of the role of a caregiver, Tulojow was looking upon the time when Keegan moved on and Akiva returned to her home with a mixture of happiness for them and trepidation towards a once more empty home.  During her last 'unofficial' trip to a monastery in Tibet - the one which led her to receive her career ending injury while she was supposed to be shadowing a dark wizard through the black market of Dubai, one of the monks had advised to evaluate her tendency to fill the empty family void.

"Your grandmother is disappointed unless she burns the food?"  Tulojow asked, slightly confused by the comment.  "At times, my smoke alarm has been known to protest about my cooking," Tulojow pointed towards the eagle who sat preening on his perch.  "But, that's usually when the cooking involves onions."

The food finished, Tulojow sent the dishes to the table with the plate of cornbread before pouring herself a glass of blackberry wine and settling herself, creakily, at the table.  Tulojow chuckled and shook her head when Akiva assured Fauna no one would rat her out.  "Indeed no.  In fact, I've been known to encourage such behavior," Tulojow said with a grin - the paintball game being a prime example.  "It's an important part of your education.  You should follow rules, or laws, or directives blindly - only if you agree whole-heartedly with them.  It's important to learn which rules really, truly, matter."  For better or worse, it was that type of thought pattern that left Raynor quite relieved that Tulojow had retired.

Taking careful note of the awkward tone about hair color, Tulojow casually commented, "I've been considering taking over the blond thing for Akiva.  Carry the burden for a while."  There was a distinct twinkle in her eyes though Tulojow's expression and demeanor remained, otherwise, steadfast.  Most that knew Tulojow for any length of time knew that such a notion was rather unlikely.  Tulojow wasn't even sure she'd know how to go about dying her hair in the first place.  Though, she knew a student who could advise her.

She listened carefully to Fauna's request to Akiva.  Nodding slightly, Tulojow took a sip of her wine.  "The new school administration and I don't exactly get along, but I've heard rumors about an expulsion.  I didn't know the circumstances but that doesn't sound surprising to me."  Given what she'd heard from those she knew in the Ministry, it seemed plausible.  Tulojow knew that Covi at the Ministry was doing quite a bit towards werewolf equality.  But, as always, things seemed to be two steps forward and one step back.

Akiva smiled warmly at the young woman, nodding at her thank you.  She took a long sip of the tea and sighed, wrapping her hands around the cup.  She would be happy to see Fauna stay for dinner, the soup smelled delicious and it would have been worth it to stay even if she didn’t have to.  Akiva didn’t assume she had to stay at all, but it’d be nice and she’d get to find out more about the very nice young woman who found her.  She didn’t have to know, but she wanted to – it was the right thing to do. 

Quirking her brows, Kiva had to agree with Tulo’s confusion.  She never would have thought anyone would be proud of burning food and disappointed should there not be a blackened singe upon every meal.  Akiva would be so upset with herself should the fire alarm go off whilst she was cooking.  Of course, it was one of her prided talents, so she supposed that was part of it. 

Thinking about it, she really hoped that it never happened, especially now.  If there was anything that she did not need to happen, it would be ruined food.  Everyone came around and told her how thin she had gotten and how sunken in she had looked.   Her joints were far more pronounced than they had ever been and she felt like she had lost some of the softness that had previously been so much a part of her natural look.  She was really going to be working on getting that back to normal. 

Everything was returning to its normal state, including the whole hair thing, and Akiva was about to further comment when she craned her neck curiously looking at Tulo.  Her voice did not betray her humor, nor did her face, but when one examined her closely -  there was a distinct little look about her face.  Akiva smiled.  “It’s a heavy burden, Tulo,” she assured her, “but I think you can take up the banner smashingly,” She smirked and took a sip from her teacup, looking to Fauna again. 

She suddenly got awkward (perhaps she had never not been awkward, as Akiva let that thought strike her), and she titled her head to the side.  She felt very much like Tulo’s eagle, craning her head to and fro with those big eyes and curious expressions.  It seemed like the most logical way of responding without having to say anything, especially as the girl stumbled over her words and paused, looking at things and then rushing, she just wanted her to finish so she could agree to help.  She owed the young woman more than she could know, without her it might have been a day or two until anyone came upon her (providing her screams weren’t enough), so Fauna could have anything she wanted.

And books on werewolves would be perfect.  She had started pulling them out for Covadonga before she had gone and was in the process of helping with the Lupin project.  This would be excellent for that.  Nodding eagerly, Akiva put down her glass and grinned at the young woman, “I would be more than happy to give you the information you need,” Akiva smiled. “I’ll have the passages and things that are relevant to werewolf laws and legislation copied for you when I return to work.  There are some journal articles on creature rights that I can get you as well – if you’d like to do something with them.  They’re scholarly, but you are a smart young woman, I think you can handle that.”  She smiled warmly, hoping to be supportive, especially when it seemed so important to her. 

She knew how that felt, finding information about things.  She helped plenty of people research – she smiled softly at a little memory of an evening very well spent in the library.  Rubbing the back of her neck, she took another sip of tea.  She didn’t want to say anything on the new administration or anything, as she didn’t deal with Snark at the library – she was terrified of her and she would go through Poole before she went through Akiva for anything. 

“I really hope I can help you with this,” Akiva added, “I can even set you up talking to Miss Gertrudis, as she’s doing some very interesting research – perhaps I can even ask her if she’d be willing to share it with you over the year,” this connection might work very well for both of them – the Lupin project would need some fresh eyes – she could see Fauna finding her way into the little project. 

Merlin’s pipeweed. Fauna’s comment about her grandmother’s cooking had apparently caused some confusion. “Oh, no, it’s just a joke she makes. Because it happens so often. Uh, nevermind,” Fauna shook her head, hoping they’d move on to other topics. She was used to getting some blank looks when she attempted humor, but being used to it never seemed to make her less embarrassed when it happened!

She chuckled a bit though, when Tulo mentioned she had been known to encourage certain rule-breaking behavior. Fauna glanced at her quickly, eyes amused. The paintball game wouldn’t have been the same without her. Her comment about following rules made a lot of sense as well. For a moment Fauna wished that Greyfriar had asked her to be the new Headmistress as well as the Hogwarts healer. It was a silly thought, but one that very much appealed to her while thinking about how one rule, one decision, had cast Ollie out of Hogwarts for good.

Akiva listened very patiently to her anxious request and then offered her help with an easy grin. Fauna smiled, relaxing in her chair as she realized Akiva seemed to want to do this and acted excited about it. Tulo even admitted that she didn’t exactly get along with the new school administration. Fauna nodded, reassured she’d come to the right place, the right people.

“Oh! Wow, thanks,” she exclaimed, surprised when the woman said she would send her copies of important articles. This gave her more than giving her a place to start. She’d have real resources from a library even larger than the one at Hogwarts. Akiva then complimented her and Fauna chuckled awkwardly, unwilling to admit that she often struggled with reading large amounts of text on scholarly topics. Mainly, making sense of it all and knowing what information was important or not. Reading was not her preferred mode of learning. Yet perhaps Astrid and the other members of SAWS would help her.

“That- that’s great. Thank you. I mean, don’t feel rushed. I’m sure there are other things…” Fauna trailed off, uncertain of how to explain. Other things more important? Well, not to her, but perhaps to people in higher positions than her. There would be other projects waiting for Akiva. Fauna didn’t want to add to any stress she might feel coming back to the job.

“I’ve… actually written to Miss Gertrudis already. I, uh, interned with her over the summer. Remember the Runespoor that got loose?” Fauna giggled a bit. “I was there, adding to the, well, chaos. But, I wrote to her and the former Headmaster. I think they’re trying to do something,” she said hopefully. “You’re right, though. I’d definitely want to help with any research that she’s doing.”

Fauna took a sip of cocoa and smiled gratefully at the women in the room. She felt less nervous now that it was all out in the open. The response she’d gotten was much, much better than she could have imagined.

“I really appreciate this,” she told Akiva shyly. “My friend Astrid… started this Students Against Werewolf Segregation club, so I think we’re going to have our first meeting soon. I got some of the Hufflepuffs to join. I wonder if there have been, um, other cases, where something like this has happened. Where a student’s turned away because of something she can’t control.” It was very likely. She wished there was something in place to protect students like Ollie, so that the Headmaster or Headmistress didn’t have the final say in their education.