"Yep."

Mmmph.

"...I - remember you fighting him. Trying to force him out. Even though - even though he was stronger than us."

"Thanks."

"Wasn't gonna- gonna leave you."

Unhappy noise.

"I - "

"Maybe you should've."

"He was - he was thinking, is the circlet just being slow, overwriting her, because he'd never tried to do that before, or is something preventing it, and should he try to speed it up or just kill you - he was playing with you while he thought about that, and I was so so scared you'd be gone, and - you can break possession but you can't break death."

"I don't think I can do that."

Hrrrmmm.

"Then I guess we both gotta get really powerful. 'Cause you're not allowed to get yourself killed protecting me."

Firm nod.

She settles back, seeming a bit worn down.

And Professor Reynolds enters soon enough, bringing several books which she sets on the side table between the two girls. She smiles, softly, at Anathema. "Good morning, Miss Canta. Are you feeling better?"

Scarlet darts in behind her before the door can close, sprinting past the medi-witch and leaping into Ellie's lap with a worried 'mrr'.

"I'm okay," Anathema says. "Ellie told me about - checking our heads."

"I'm - alright with you doing that. If you don't - don't remember stuff after."

She rests a hand on Anathema's shoulder. "Of course." To them both: "One of the Aurors on this case is available within the next two hours," she says, "If that isn't too soon."

Ellie pets Scarlet. "That works."

If they purr loudly enough maybe that will fix everything.

Anathema nods, quietly.

"Alright. I can sit with you both until he makes his way over, then."

Purring warm kitty does help some.

Good. Cat medicine is best medicine. (Headbutt.)

Hee.

She grabs a book.

Anathema does too.

It's a good way to pass the time.

And, before too long, there's a knock on the Hospital Wing door. The medi-witch opens it, revealing a tall black man in sombre pants and a top cut very similar to traditional robes, but with less spare fabric, and the logo of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement on his breast. Professor Reynolds stands to greet him, and he introduces himself to Ellie and Anathema as, "Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt. I've been the lead on this case."

Professor Reynolds invites him over, saying, "Thank you for coming so quickly, Auror Shaklebolt."

He nods. "This is important." And, looking over to Ellie and Anathema - "Miss Potter and Miss Canta, correct?"

"Yes."

"Yeah. I'm Anathema Canta."

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance," he says, evenly, "Though I regret the circumstances around it."

"Now, the current idea is that Professor Reynolds here will scan you each in turn using Legilimency to seek out any lingering mental influence. This will be a thorough scan, rather than a glance. Legilimency is an invasive form of mind reading, potentially usable for mental alteration in the hands of a skilled practitioner. I will be observing, and I have a somewhat high chance of noticing if Professor Reynolds steps outside of the bounds of this agreement, but this is not without risk. Professor Reynolds has offered to be Obliviated after making her statement to preserve your privacy. That is a skill I have, though we have no way of trivially verifying to the two of you that I performed the Obliviation as described and that she did not attempt to conceal her memories or subvert the spell. Still, if you believe there has been malpractice, during the Legilimency, during the report, or during the Obliviation, you have the full right to bring a complaint to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement or before the Wizengamot if you believe the DMLE's response is insufficient."

"Professor Reynolds will perform Legilimency and make a statement on each of you in turn. We will pause for two minutes before beginning each scan, so that the Obliviation has some spare room. You will have the opportunity to confirm whether you want her to be Obliviated after the scan, in case you change your mind. You can withdraw consent to the Legilimency at any time prior to or during the scan, but be aware that without a scan of this depth, it will be difficult to declare either of you cleared of mental influence. You cannot withdraw legal consent to the report once the Legilimency has been performed."

"Do you understand and agree to this process?"

"Professor Reynolds is only going to report the presence or absence of mental influence?"