002

[wavesofjade]

I Would Like Someone To Confirm To Me That I Am Not Dreaming.
And If That Is Indeed The Case I Would Dearly Like To Know What Is Currently Happening To The School.

[Filtered to Staff]

Something Is Very Wrong.
My

My Son Is In The Hospital Wing.

Comments

[wavesofjade]

I hope so..

[She's grateful, and squeezes his hand in response, managing to summon a smile]

I just.. What is he doing here? How does something like this happen?

[thegluethatbinds]

((OOC: Assuming he knows her son is dead, if that's ok with you?))

[He spares another glance for the small boy, before his eyes flick back to Dolores.]

I haven't heard of anyone coming back from the dead, but I've spoken to students who have just literally dropped dead for no reason today and are hanging around as ghosts.

[wavesofjade]

[She lets out a quiet sigh]

One of the school ghosts - Kankri Vantas - I knew him before he was-.. before he died. Salvador is his brother. He's.. He came to see me. Somehow, he's alive again.

[thegluethatbinds]

I've never heard of dead people coming back. I don't think there's a spell anywhere that can do the impossible.

[And that's when a thought occurs to him, something from Eriq's and Arthur's conversation with him a few hours ago. His eyes widen slightly with realisation, but when he speaks its with careful consideration of how sensitive this topic is with her.]

Dolores, I'm sorry but I have to ask; by any chance, did you wish for your son to come back?

[wavesofjade]

I saw it with my own eyes, Philip. Kankri has been dead for over seventeen years yet he was alive in front of me.

[Her voice sticks a little in her throat - clearly it distresses her slightly to talk about it - and the change in topic doesn't help in the least. She shuts her eyes and for a moment looks as if she might cry, but she swallows it down and when she speaks her voice is hushed]

No. I would never wish something like that. I.. When he was killed, I didn't reach the hospital in time to say goodbye. Seeing Kankri again, being able to touch him.. It..

[thegluethatbinds]

I'm not doubting you but...well, I spoke with the boy who suddenly dropped dead and he told me the last thing he did before he died was to wish that he was dead. He hadn't meant it in a literal sense, but he ended up a ghost.

[wavesofjade]

Eriq Slepner?

[She frowns. She'd never heard of anyone wishing themselves dead..]

... Do you think the Dark Arts are at work, here?

[thegluethatbinds]

There have been other occurrences all around the castle, not limited to incidences of life and death. I don't think it's Dark Arts, but it's certainly got the potential to be dangerous.

[wavesofjade]

[Her frown turns worried]

Has there been any word from the Headmaster? It seems strange that he isn't addressing this.

[thegluethatbinds]

No there hasn't, but I'm sure if the situation worsens he'll step in.

[Nothing will ever shake his faith in Dumbledore.]

In the mean time...what do you want to do Dolores?

[wavesofjade]

What do I..

[Just for a moment, that carefully constructed veneer of calm and acceptance cracks, and Dolores presses one hand to her face, gritting her teeth]

I don't know. I don't want him to be here. I can't..

[thegluethatbinds]

[It's rare for him to see her this upset; the last time was when she confided in him about her worries on Snow. Giving the boy a quick look again, he couldn't help but feel a slight pang of sadness for both mother and child.

He was really young.]

Do you want me to look after him for awhile? I think you need some time to yourself to calm down and think carefully on how you'd like to proceed.

[wavesofjade]

I would appreciate that, but.. It's occurred to me that this won't be permanent, and if that's the case, I should spend as much time with him as I can.

[thegluethatbinds]

[He nods; he knew Dolores would always do the right thing in the end.]

I'll leave you two together then.

[But right before he leaves though, he hesitates slightly.]

...will you be alright Dolores? You know you my journal is always open to you if you need someone.

[wavesofjade]

[She draws in a quiet, steadying breath and nods]

I know, Philip. Thank you.

[thegluethatbinds]

Anytime.

[There isn't much left to say, so he steps out and shuts the door neatly behind him. It's only when he's out of the Hospital Wing and back in his office that he lets out the troubled sigh that had been building within. A hand crosses his face as he sits on his chair; he isn't trained for these kinds of situations and especially not when civilians are involved. With Agents, they all knew that death was a possibility; they all accepted it as fact and came to terms with their own mortality. But Dolores was...is a mother who lost her son in a tragic accident. That is something entirely different altogether.

He glances back at his journal; there were more entries there now, he realises, as he flips through the last few ones that he's missed. All surprised, but some scared at the sudden changes.

Steeling himself, he picked up his quill and started writing back. These students needed someone to rely on, after all. Still, he couldn't help but wonder and hope that the Healer he left is going to be alright.]