As far as Hitame, or Naomi, knew there was no sickness. Of course the two girls usually stayed away from any commotion about any and probably everything having to do with the news. They didn't find it nessesary for them to know most of theses things, as they probably wouldn't understand most of what was going on. Well maybe Hitame would, but she really just wasn't interested in those things. Naomi was just too oblivious to truly understand whatever went on. So there really was no point in them reading the paper or anything.
"No, not really Sammy. I didn't know that any new sickness even existed." Hitame said honestly, but a bit sheepishly. It was kind of weird for her not to know a single thing about what way going on. She usually knew something, even if she didn't read the paper. There was always something obvious that gave her clues about something that was going on. But maybe with all the trouble she's been having, Hitame might have just missed something. After all, between her and Naomi being sick a different amounts of time, she rarely even got out of the Gryffindor Tower now a days.
Hitame looked down at the butterbeer in front of her for a moment before looking at Samantha. "I don't know how I'll be able to help much, but I'll do any and everything I can to help you, Sammy." Hitame said softly, smiling at Samantha. "As will I." Naomi said. Even though she didn't know Samantha, Naomi was willing to help anyone that was a friend of her sister's.