She was in a private section of the hospital wing. It didn't hurt anymore. She was alive. These were things she'd reminded herself of every morning since she'd been here and they were things that helped keep the fear at bay, if only for a moment or two.

It hadn't always been that way, of course. The first few days were hard. Memories of Sam-Astrea's ex girlfriend- giving her a cursed object. The pain that consumed every inch of her body and the inability to make it stop or to call for help. That panic. Then there was nothing. Then there were healers. Now there was just emptiness and and a longing for home. Things like OWLs and Hogsmeade dates weren't even a thing of concern like they'd been before that rehearsal. Everything felt different now.

She'd taken to reading while she was stuck in the quarantined section of the hospital wing. Books she'd found comfort in when she was younger. Tales of happy things. The stories seemed so much more unlikely now. Happy endings weren't as prevalent in real life. Still, the familiarity helped somehow. Visits helped too, even if she usually sat quietly reassuring whoever came that she was fine. It's what you did, right? Reassure people. No one ever wanted to hear that you didn't feel safe. The lie was easier on everyone. It's why when the headmistress asked how they were, Junia replied with a soft, "Fine."