Deveena was given a sleeping potion soon after Mike and Danielle had left. A good decision on their behalf because she was sure that she wouldn't have gotten a second's rest otherwise.

A healthy nine hour sleep, however, far from helped her. She woke the next day, feeling worse than ever.

The pleasant morning screamed obscenities at Deveena. Fragments of thoughts, splinters of words, and droplets of silence spun into a kaleidoscopic jumble, shifting infinitesimally and falling into a woeful new pattern.

The quiet of the morning used to be something that she cherished, but now she couldn't stand it.

She sat up at the sound of the door being knocked. A middle aged woman peeked through the opening of the door, "Good Morning, Ms Fawley. Do you mind if I come in now?".

Like she had a choice.

Deveena shook her head and the redhead entered the room. It was still seven o'clock, but the healer already looked rather exhausted. Regardless, she didn't fail to offer her smile that seemed quite out of place with the bags under her eyes and her pasty white skin.

She did a basic check up, or at least, Deveena assumed that it was basic. "Everything seems to be in order," she commented in a satisfied tone. "You should be able to be discharged in a few hours then. Maybe around twelve?"

Deveena gawked at her. It somehow never occurred to her that she would have to eventually leave.

Stupid, she admonished. Of course, she had to leave. What did she expect? To lie on the hospital bed forever?

Did that really sound that bad?

She jerked her head irritably. Shut up!

From the moment she woke up in the hospital, Deveena could not wait to leave. And yet now, leaving was the last thing that she wanted to do.

Where would she even go? She didn't have any family left - besides her cousins. Akello was her age and Adara wouldn't be of age until September - assuming that they were even willing to take her in after what had happened. 

Perhaps they would all go under the foster care system.

"Professor Orlov has made arrangements for you and your cousins to stay with her family until your legal guardian arrives." said the healer kindly.

Apparently she was more easy to read than she thought.

She wondered if Professor Orlov was willing to take her in or if Jeff had played his cards right and guilt tripped them... again. She hoped not. The first time was enough of a disaster. Not to mention, it was the only time she saw Jeff fully make use of his ability. Even thinking about it brought chills down her spine.

He could ruin me.

As if there's anything left to ruin.

Sometimes she really hated her mind.

Strike that, reverse it. She had always hated her mind.

"Unfortunately, we've got our hands full today. It's always like this during the holidays. With the adults going crazy trying to have fun and kids' emotions running high, it's a recipe disaster. I'm afraid, I have to go. But please, don't hesitate to ask me if you need anything" she informed, already moving towards the door. "And do try and get some rest, Ms Fawley." she concluded, turned around and then shut the door.

Wait a minute.

Her face scrunched up as she stared at the closed door for a few seconds. Did she just say legal guardian?

She immediately sprung off of her bed. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

It couldn't be.

Maybe she had some other godparent or long lost family that she didn't know about.

Maybe Sirius Black wasn't a mass murderer who worked for a genocidal maniac. Maybe he was actually innocent and was trying to reach out to them like any caring uncle would.

Or maybe, just maybe, this was all some stupid, unbelievably long nightmare.

Before she even knew what she was doing, her palm found its way across her face, her nails cutting right through her skin. The action emanated widened eyes and a rather odd feeling in her chest that made it hard for her to breathe. Her cheek was warm and numb, only lightly stinging.

Shouldn't it have hurt more? She had to be right. This was all just a nightmare.

You know it isn't.

Her fingers gripped her hair and her face twisted into a scowl. No, I don't. Shut up!

It couldn't be real. Lyra Fawley couldn't be dead. It just wasn't possible.

Especially not that way.

It was a strange feeling. It was like she was simultaneously stuck between a dream seemed too real to be a dream and a reality that was way too outrageous to be real.

The words "legal guardian" kept ringing in her ears. Deveena growled in frustration, finally deciding that it was better to simply ask the healer what she had meant.

Making up her mind she trudged to the door and threw it open, only to hear a thud, and a muffled curse.

Jeffrey Orlov emerged from behind the door, red-nosed and clutching his forehead, giving her a look that she couldn't quite decipher - a mixture of annoyance and elation. Like he was somehow happy that the door slammed against his face, but irritated that it hurt. 

Jeffrey's expression immediately turned blank as he saw her. A still silence engulfed them as they stared at each other. His face adopted a touch of uncertainty. He had been so set on just seeing her fully conscious that, now that he was there, he realized that didn't worry enough about what he should say to her after he did. Honestly, what could someone possibly say to a girl whose mother had just been murdered? 

Deciding that there was no right answer, he resolved to say nothing at all. Instead he lifted his arms and rather tentatively pulled Deveena into a warm embrace. She didn't respond, her arms remaining limp at her sides. He quickly pulled away when he realized that she wasn't hugging him back. 

He began to rub the back of his neck and, awkwardly clearing his throat, asked, "Mind if I come in?". Deveena shook her head and stepped away from the entrance to let him through. He walked in and settled comfortably on her bed. 

"Did you want anything ma'am?"

Deveena turned back to the door. The question was posed from the younger, more inexperienced of the three aurors apparently standing at the entrance of her room. She couldn't see the other two, and it appeared that they didn't need to see her, but she could tell from the way they carried themselves that they had seen too much of the world. It was an aura that she recognized all too well. 

"You're not supposed to leave the room, but you can tell us if it's something important." the auror continued, pausing for her to reply. "Do you want me to get the nurse?" he asked when she didn't. Deveena remained mute. She took a step back and shut the door.

She fell  face-first onto the bed, ignoring Jeff's staring the whole walk back, and heaved a very heavy sigh. The entire bed shook and felt heavier on one side, indicating that Jeff was lying down as well. He kicked her leg softly. She lifted her head and turned to him with a raised eyebrow. He pulled out a candy bar and offered it to her, "Chocolate?".

She stared at his extended hand for a few moments before pushing it away. Then she moved closer and wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her face in his chest. His breathing halted for a few seconds in surprise and then turned back to normal. "We've got a few hours until we leave. Why don't you take a nap?" He whispered soothingly, "I'll be right here when you wake up."

That sounded good. Deveena knew that she had only just woken up over an hour ago but she was exhausted, and the idea of a nap suddenly became a lot more practical with Jeff near her. 

It shouldn't have been that way, especially because of who he was and what he could do. But all things considered, he was the only one that she could trust. At least, he would be until he figured everything out. What she was and why she was there. That he was the one who couldn't trust her. But until then, they'd just be two kids who found comfort in each other whereas nobody else understood them. 

Until then, she could take a nap knowing that he would be there when she woke up, just like he said he would. 

Because if there was one thing Deveena knew for certain, it was that nobody, not even Jeffrey Orlov, would understand why she had killed her mother. 

A/N: Thoughts?

I'm a bit rusty but I enjoyed writing this and that's what matters.

NOTE, whenever I reread these chapters idk why but I get the feeling that I'm not being clear enough. And if so, please let me know because I'm the one writing this and I know exactly what's going on so I honestly can't tell if I'm being clear or not. Feel free to ask me any questions if you're confused or otherwise.

Also, all the italics in the chapters so far are used in three instances;

1) In between paragraphs to emphasize certain words.

2) Whenever Deveena writes on her notebook and shows it to others because she doesn't talk. (didn't happen in this chapter but happened in the last one during the interrogation. Not sure if you guys noticed)

3) Used quite a bit in this chapter. This one is the mind voice basically.

In my head, I think you guys can contrast between these three instances pretty well but if I'm wrong please let me know cuz I can fix it.

Aight. Thanks so much for reading! Byee!!

Q: Lol do these Author's notes annoy you?