Such Pretty Forks in the Road (Ginny)

[parvati patil macmillan]

November 2025

It felt to Parvati as though the month of November had been years long, though it wasn't yet over. The past few weeks had been overwhelming for her, to say the least, but she was thankful that none of it had been as overwhelming for her as the past summer had. She knew that it had been terrible for Ginny, too, but they didn't often get the opportunity to talk much with one another about their lives outside of their respective job obligations half the time. Anything else was typically to do with Ouroboros, which wasn't something that Parvati felt comfortable discussing at Hogwarts if she could avoid it, considering how easy it would be for something like that to be overheard. At the same time, Parvati knew that constantly coming and going from the castle to either her flat or—more clandestinely—to Safe Harbour would likely create more suspicion, so she had opted to soundproof her office and hope for the best.

The space that she had wasn't conducive to large meetings at all, but Parvati was more than happy to make do, and it was just her and Ginny there. She hoped that Ginny wouldn't be too uncomfortable on the chaise longue across from her, though, and a part of her regretted not having gone to her flat in Hogsmeade instead, where it wouldn't have been quite so cramped. "As much as staff meetings are riveting," she joked, "I just thought it'd be nice to chat for once, you know?" Parvati smiled to Ginny. Maybe it was a little bit silly, but they were friends as well as being colleagues.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

My power's turned on starting right now
I'll be strong I'll play my fight song And
I don't really care if nobody else believes

After everything that happened, one would have assumed that Ginny would be better at holding her tongue. She survived a Wizarding War, the loss of her memories, her husband's disappearance, and so much more dark and traumatic events. The death of Hermione, however, affected her. They were sisters, even if she was no longer married to her brother. Hermione Granger was her best friend, and her death wrecked her. Of course, it affected Harry as well; they had been friends much longer than Ginny and Hermione had. After everything, Hermione was there for her after her memory loss and Harry's disappearance.

It didn't help that Ouroboros had a meeting between the leaders after her death, and she had to admit, her anger got the best of her. She felt terrible and knew that she would eventually have to reach out to Cas. It also made working with Parvati a little awkward, seeing as she had been an absolute bitch and Parvati was the one that tried to defuse the situation. They needed to meet for Ginny to apologize, and thankfully, they did.

There she sat, playing with her fingers as if waiting for someone else to speak. And luckily, Parvati did, letting out a joke about staff meetings before adding that it was nice to chat for once. She nodded her head, a small smile playing on her lips before she sighed. "Listen, Parvati...I need to apologize. I know it happened a few months ago, but the way I reacted, it was uncalled for..."

parvati patil macmillan ● sorry for the wait!

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[parvati patil macmillan]

November 2025

Almost immediately, Ginny sighed. "Listen, Parvati…" she began, "I need to apologize. I know it happened a few months ago, but the way I reacted, it was uncalled for…"

It was apparent what she was talking about—the Ouroboros leadership meeting following Hermione's death and how tense it had been—but Parvati had never held any hard feelings about it. They had all been on edge and more emotional than usual. It had hurt to lose Hermione, especially with as much of a rock as she had been for so many people, much of Ouroboros included.

"It's alright," Parvati reassured her firmly, not giving Ginny the time to overthink things. Hermione was Ginny's sister-in-law, after all; she couldn't just get over that pain overnight, and anyone would have been ridiculous to expect her to. She hated the thought that Ginny had been beating herself up over that for months, though, and Parvati found herself sighing, too. "I understand, Ginny," Parvati told her more softly, "and I've never been angry with you." What good would that have done her? "There's no need to apologize to me. Really, there isn't." She reached out her hand to Ginny then, just to make her point even clearer. "The only reason I wasn't an absolute wreck that day was because Shreya convinced me to see a Healer," she admitted. It wasn't just Ginny who had been upset, and Parvati wanted to ensure that she understood that she really wasn't alone in that. She hadn't been trying to make that into some secret, either, but Ginny had a right to know that she wasn't the only one who had been struggling. "And I'm sorry, too. I should have checked on you… If anything I've done has seemed too self-centered, or…" It wasn't an excuse, and Parvati just wanted to make sure that Ginny was really okay. "I know I'm months too late, but you're welcome to have a cry or anything if you need it."

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

My power's turned on starting right now
I'll be strong I'll play my fight song And
I don't really care if nobody else believes

Ginny wasn't a bad person; sometimes, she had a temper, which could get her best. But when she looked back at how she acted during that meeting, she was a little childish. She could have handled it way better than she did, and she was sure that both Cas and Parvati hated her. Or maybe they both were just as disappointed as she was with herself. That was why, the moment Parvati invited her to speak, she apologized. She needed to get it off her chest and was preparing for an ear-full. But she didn't give it, instantly telling her she was alright, reassuring her, and thankfully not giving her much time to panic.

'I understand, Ginny, and I've never been angry with you. There's no need to apologize to me. Really, there isn't. The only reason I wasn't an absolute wreck that day was because Shreya convinced me to see a Healer.' Ginny found herself swallowing and nodding her head, "I definitely didn't help the situation with Teddy, though." she admitted, she practically pushed him to get even angrier. "We need to work as a team, not push away from each other more..." she finished, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

It was then that Parvati apologized to her, saying that she should have checked on her, and she shook her head quickly. "You are not too self-centered, and really, you don't need to apologize. We all have been grieving; Hermione was your friend just as much as she was mine..." A small smile appeared on her lips as Parvati offered her a shoulder to cry on, "Thanks...really, I appreciate it. And the offer stands to you as well, if you need it."

parvati patil macmillan

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[parvati patil macmillan]

November 2025

Ginny said that she hadn't helped the situation with Teddy, but Parvati didn't hold that over her, either. She was frustrated by how Teddy treated Cas, and expecting Ginny to tell him off probably wasn't the best. Teddy wasn't a child; neither was Cas. "We need to work as a team, not push away from each other more…" Ginny expressed, and Parvati nodded. Even if Teddy and Cas would never be close friends, they needed to be able to set aside their differences and get on with it for the sake of Ouroboros. Splintering Ouroboros itself into pieces wasn't a possibility; the organization wouldn't survive.

As for her apology, Ginny accepted it and reassured her. "You are not too self-centered, and really, you don't need to apologize. We all have been grieving; Hermione was your friend just as much as she was mine…"

Hermione had been Ginny's family, though, Parvati wanted to remind her; it was easier, relatively speaking, for her to compartmentalize all of that. She could set it aside, whereas Ginny didn't really have that option. Maybe for a little while, but not exactly. Hermione's absence was still felt, and Parvati nodded again as Ginny thanked her for letting her know that it was alright if she needed to grieve still. "And the offer stands to you as well," added Ginny, "if you need it."

Parvati leaned forward and smiled back at her. "Thank you," she said, though she felt that she was alright for the time being. It wasn't as raw anymore, even if it was still strange to think about.

Trying to change the topic a little bit, or at least improve things as they were, Parvati spoke again after a moment. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

My power's turned on starting right now
I'll be strong I'll play my fight song And
I don't really care if nobody else believes

Behind every great group were the people that held it together. And the fighting, bickering that they all shown towards one another, was a weakness that the enemies could exploit. Sure, she wasn't a general in an army, but she had fought in a war. She had almost died in a war, lost people she cared about to it, almost lost the man she loved. And while her mind remembered that and more recent memories, it was all still fresh in her mind. It was weird to think that it had been a few years since her memory was taken, and yet, she had moved on rather well. Though her relationship with her kids would never be the same, seeing as she barely remembered raising them as children, nor being pregnant with them, she still loved them. One day they would get her memories back, and that day would be a good day. But until then, she needed to keep those she trusted close and stop making enemies due to her reckless anger.

That was why apologizing to Parvati was on the top of her list. Along with Cas, but she was still dreading that one. She had only met Cas through the group; she knew Parvati for longer and had been friends longer. But she knew that she'd have to do it, and she was mentally preparing herself for it each day. Once she got a chance with school going on holiday, she'd find him and meet with him. Sharing this moment with Parvati, the forgiveness that oozed from the older woman's being was comforting. 'Would you like a cup of tea?' Ginny smiled, allowing her head to move up and down in a nod, "I'd love one, thank you."

parvati patil macmillan ● apologizes

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[parvati patil macmillan]

November 2025

The dynamics within Ouroboros were occasionally messier than Parvati would have liked, but an ideal world wouldn't have had a need for Ouroboros to begin with. There was bound to be an occasional internal conflict or two, but how they handled those was more important than anything else. Fortunately, from Parvati's perspective, it hadn't been as catastrophic as Ginny seem to think, though she did accept her offer of tea.

Parvati was quick to summon a mug and a tea bag. Although putting on a kettle would have been preferable, it was difficult to do from her office. "I hope a breakfast tea is alright?" she checked with Ginny about the tea bag she had for her, filling up the mug with water from the tip of her wand and then gradually heating it.

As she was in the midst of ensuring that the water in the mug was hot enough, she glanced up at Ginny. "I actually need to tell you something," Parvati started, not sure how else to bring up the topic. Realizing that the way in which she had worded it had probably sounded a little too ominous, though, she added, "It's not life or death," or at least she supposed that it wasn't, "but it's, er… about Sav."

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Deleted]

My power's turned on starting right now
I'll be strong I'll play my fight song And
I don't really care if nobody else believes

Ginny wasn't the type to have a favorite kind of tea; she drank anything offered to her. 'I hope a breakfast tea is alright?' Ginny smiled, nodding her head, "Yes, thank you," she said in response. The ginger watched as the older female went upon the task, using her wand in the process. As the water was heating, Parvati glanced at her and mentioned having to tell her something.

A soft and worried frown appeared upon her face, her brow furrowing of its own accord. Of course, Parvati quickly added that it was not life nor death, easing her worry by a smidge. 'But it's, er...about Sav.' Now the worry lines were definitely back, as she nodded her head, "What's wrong? Is he okay...I know you said it wasn't life or death, but..." she started letting out a breath.

parvati patil macmillan

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[parvati patil macmillan]

November 2025

Ginny was visibly concerned about what she had to say, although Parvati hoped that her having reassured her that it wasn't life or death had kept her from worrying more than she might have otherwise. She immediately asked what was wrong and if Sav was okay, even though she acknowledged her mention of its not being life or death.

As Ginny let out a breath, Parvati managed another smile. She had had some time to work through it, though she still wasn't completely comfortable with what had happened. At the same time, it was Sav's life. It wasn't her decision, even if she felt that he wasn't fully ready for what he had taken on.

"He's alright," Parvati confirmed. Sav was safe; he was healthy. Fortunately, none of that was the problem. She couldn't say that it wasn't anything serious, though. It was serious, of course, but his life wasn't at risk. "But…" There was still no easy way to break the news to Ginny, and Parvati held off on handing her her tea for the moment, at least until she had had a chance to take in what she was about to tell her. "He's going to be a father. Er… Not with Katherine Kowalski—" although that might have been more expected. "With Ana Krum, actually," Parvati said, remaining as calm about it as she could. It was still incredibly strange to think about, and she knew that it would take Ginny some time to grasp it, too.

Ginevra Molly Potter