As Mary turned around, she saw a man on the ground, convulsing. Albus made it to him just as she saw that it was James Potter. Albus didn't seem surprised or upset at seeing his brother have what looked like an epileptic seizure. Mary turned to Sophia.
"Have you seen that happen before?"
"Not personally, but Albus has mentioned it. It is the effect of whatever the Death Eaters did to him when they kidnapped him many years ago."
"He's still affected by that?"
"I don't know the details, but yes. Not everything can be Healed."
Mary didn't bother correcting her just then, she ran over to the two men instead.
"Do his fits usually last this long?" she asked Albus.
"I haven't really timed them, but it varies. Sometimes he's out for hours." Mary checked his pulse and his other vitals, and the results baffled her. If it wasn't for the fact that James Potter was currently convulsing in his brother's arms, she wouldn't have thought there was anything wrong with him.
"What…" before she could ask more, James woke up. All of a sudden, he just stopped convulsing and opened his eyes. He sighed when he saw Albus.
"Again? How long was I gone this time?"
"Only a few minutes. Do you remember what triggered it?"
"No. I saw you talking to these two women, and you were all laughing. Then I was here."
"Where do you go, Mr. Potter, when you lose consciousness?" Mary asked.
"Huh?"
"Between those two moments, what did you see?"
"Nothing. It's just dark. Sometimes there are voices, but it's usually just darkness. Who are you?"
"She's a Healer. And a friend." Albus replied.
Mary continued to ask questions, but James wasn't able to answer most of them. He had been asked most of them before, though he was surprised at some of the things Mary asked.
"Why don't we continue this somewhere else," Sophia said. "We're starting to attract attention."
Mary looked up and saw that many people had stopped to look at them.
"Let's get him home," she said. "Or maybe to the Base."
"We usually take him to St. Mungo's." Albus said.
"I don't think that's necessary anymore," she said. "But it's your choice."
"Well, they're usually not helpful anyway," Albus mumbled. He lifted his brother like he weighed nothing, and ignoring his protests, Albus Apparated them all into James' apartment.
"I can walk," James grumbled. Albus put him down, but still had to help him get over to the couch.
"Now, tell me one more thing, please," Mary said. "Do you only have these fits? Or do you also sometimes feel like you hate everything and everyone and want to fight them?"
Both men jumped at the question.
"How did you know that?"
"Who told you that?"
"That happens more often than the fits themselves," Albus elaborated. "Or at least it used to. He usually ended up in Knockturn Alley and drank himself into a stupor."
"But that hasn't happened as much lately," James said. "Not after I got a job and more of a purpose in life again."
Mary nodded. That fit with her theory.
"Have you noticed a pattern to when you get these fits?" she asked.
"The Healers keep asking that," James grumbled. "No. Not unless you count getting them when it's the most inconvenient."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I hardly ever get them when I'm home. Just when I'm out with family or friends. Then I ruin whatever good mood was happening by convulsing on the floor like a madman."
"It usually happens when you're experiencing something happy," Albus said reluctantly. "The latest Healer had a theory about it but doesn't know how to fix it."
"I suspected as much," Mary said. "What caused all of this in the first place?"
"Being placed on a statue that emitted waves of Dark Magic," James said shortly. Albus elaborated slightly.
"What happened to the statue afterwards?"
"It's being studied in the Department of Mysteries," Albus said. "But they haven't been able to figure out how it works, nor how to retrieve the memories."
"Have you tried just destroying it?"
Albus looked at her with an open mouth. Clearly, neither of them had thought of that.
"Won't that just make him worse?" Sophia asked.
"Not necessarily. It sounds like the memories are still trapped in the statue. If we destroy them, and Potter is nearby, he might get them back."
"Might?"
"Well, there's no way to know for sure."
James seemed at a loss for words as well. Then he finally said,
"Do you really think that'll work?"
"It's a theory. But from what I know about memories, they aren't easily contained. If the statue acted like a siphon, like you described, and they haven't returned on their own, then the thoughts may be trapped in the vortex…"
"Mary, now you're losing us," Sophia said with a smile. Mary had to laugh. She was usually the one saying that to Sophia, when she went on about technology.
"Ok, to keep it simple, yes, it can work. But I can't guarantee anything. And I don't know what other ill effects may come from destroying the statue. I suspect that is the main thing the Unspeakables are trying to find out."
"What do you need?" Sophia asked. Mary smiled. Just like they did at the Order.
"Well, access to the statue. Preferably with permission to destroy it, if I think my theory is correct."
"We need to talk to Aunt Hermione." Albus said. "If she thinks it's worth a shot, she'll make it happen."
"Well, she should be headed home from work about now," James said. "Let's go."
"Wait, right now?"
"Well, yes. Why, do you need more time to test your theory first?" Albus asked. Mary thought about it. It would be easier to test if she had access right away.
"No. Let's go."