The Outside (Esther)

[geethanjali amaryllis root]

December 6, 2027

Although she knew that she should have been going somewhere to have lunch while she had the opportunity, Geethanjali's mind wasn't focused on the menu at the Flobberworm and Lettuce or that of any of the various eateries just a short distance away in Hogsmeade. Instead, she had her mind on a different subject. She was fortunate enough not to have had a reason to need to go to the Hospital Wing in recent weeks, but she occasionally missed all the time that she had spent there in the years before Hogwarts had been destroyed and rebuilt. Being that she was a werewolf, she had gotten used to the routine of going there for her Wolfsbane Potion in the lead-up to each full moon, if she wasn't there before or after the full moon anyway because of the effects of her transformations.

As much as she had been frustrated by it occasionally because it was a glaring reminder that she was different from the majority of her peers, Geethanjali had come to realize that she had been pretty lucky, actually, to have the relatively positive experiences that she had with the nurses at Hogwarts. Maybe it was because she was stuck going to the Hospital Wing so often, but she didn't fear her trips there—or at least not after her initial apprehension in her first year.

Luckily, the rebuilt Hospital Wing was also located in the LIFE section of the campus, which was where Geethanjali's classes were held each day. It wasn't really out of her way to venture over there, and the even better news was that she couldn't really get called out for her detour; the school staff viewed the LIFE students as adults, so they had additional privileges like not having to wear the uniform robes that the MAGIC students still were required to wear.

Geethanjali tried to be both quick and quiet about getting to the Hospital Wing, since there was no way for her to know if the nurses were busy or not. They had more students to care for than before the decision had been made to turn Hogwarts into three schools, but the Hospital Wing's facilities had also improved from what they had been previously.

Once she got there, Geethanjali peeked inside to see if she would be disturbing anyone if she were to enter despite not actually needing any sort of treatment. Perhaps it was her timing or just luck, but the only patient there at the moment seemed to be a younger MYSTIC student who must have come in for a minor broken bone or something like that.

She entered a few seconds later and knocked lightly on the doorframe. "Is Madam Garnet here?" she wondered. "I'm not ill. I just wanted to say hello."

Esther Garnet

[Esther Garnet]

Since the schools had been restructured into a completely different organisational flow, Esther found some of her days as Head Healer in the Hospital Wing strangely isolated. What was once a role that involved more practical elements, like running the physical floor, treating patients and producing potions was now often more rooted in administration; marking essays, people management, operational logistics - basically just a ton more paperwork that ensured the department was not only a place to treat students and staff alike, but that students practising healing and nursing were receiving the best education that the UK’s magical education system had to offer outside of St Mungo’s.

Today was one of those days. Esther worked in the wing’s main office sitting hunched over a pile of parchment consisting of policy and procedures. She wasn’t sure if she liked this new set up as much as before, but it had its upsides for sure, especially on the mornings that followed a night out at the Hog’s Head. One of the perks was simply revelling in the peace and quiet that came with having one’s own office to hide away in and ride out the hangover.

There was a knock at the door and Esther lifted her head to meet the familiar gaze of a student she had been quite fond of in the past having seen her regularly to administer her monthly Wolfsbane. One of the other nurses ushered the girl in, and the blonde smiled warmly and gestured to the chair opposite her. “Ah, Miss Root! Come and take a seat.”

Esther placed her quill down and then weaved her fingers together resting them softy in front of her on the desk giving the witch her full attention. She waited for her colleague to leave, just in case Geethanjali was seeking a private consultation which was one of the most important considerations when it came to teenagers especially. “How have you been? I trust you’ve been managing your full moon cycles comfortably?” The woman arched a brow at her with an air of careful concern. She knew the young Ravenclaw was more than capable of looking after herself, but she couldn’t think of another reason off the top of her head for why she might have come to see her today.

geethanjali amaryllis root

[geethanjali amaryllis root]

December 6, 2027

Although it looked like Madam Garnet was plenty busy with whatever the paperwork was that she had sitting on her desk, the nurse remained welcoming of her. "Ah, Miss Root!" she exclaimed with a smile upon her face. "Come and take a seat."

Madam Garnet had invited her to take a seat in the chair that sat on the opposite side of her own, and Geethanjali sat down where she had been directed to sit. She wasn't nervous about it at all; she was the one who had come into the Hospital Wing, and it wasn't for a health-related reason. Even if it had been, she wasn't sure that she would be too nervous. Any nerves she had wouldn't have been because of Madam Garnet, anyway. She wasn't intimidating or anything; at least Geethanjali didn't think so.

"How have you been?" Madam Garnet then asked her. "I trust you've been managing your full moon cycles comfortably?"

With the full moon on the thirteenth of the month, Geethanjali had already started taking her Wolfsbane Potion again. She couldn't lie and say that every transformation was pain-free and totally comfortable just because she no longer had to live at school, but it was better than it had been before the fire. That was one of the few things that she could say was really better since then, considering how terrifying it had been, how many people had died, and how everyone had to deal with the aftermath and whatever it meant for them.

In response to the question she had received, though, Geethanjali nodded. "Grand. And they're alright," she said, and her Irish accent contrasted against Madam American one. From the perspective of the staff at Hogwarts, too, it was probably better that she wasn't a boarder anymore. If her Wolfsbane Potion were to fail, then she would be putting only her own family members at risk.

At the same time, she didn't want Madam Garnet to worry that she needed more support for her lycanthropy, so she smiled a little. "How are you, Madam Garnet?"

Esther Garnet

[Esther Garnet]

No matter how busy her workload, Esther would always attempt to make time for students in her day if they came to her in a manner like this. Especially someone like Miss Root. She knew what it was like to be a teenage girl - she was one once! - and how hard that was at the best of times, let alone to be in a position like the one that Geethanjali was in. To be influenced by factors outside of one’s control and come to terms with them and adapt to what that means for managing life day to day. For the young Ravenclaw sitting before her, becoming a werewolf was her reality. Esther felt for her, but she didn’t pity her because what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.

“I’m glad to hear it,” she affirmed, nodding her head and smiling warmly at the girl. There was no doubt in her mind once Geethanjali exercised her independence and declared that she was going to look after herself and go back to living at home that Esther thought her more than capable. But she was still happy to be able to check up on her, especially in this setting where the girl had come to her and not the other way around.

“I’m doing just fine, thank you” Esther responded, though she showed some vague curiosity around why she’d come to visit her today. She didn’t generally receive visits from students for the purpose of just having a friendly chat. Even on the odd occasion where one of the teenage boys would come into the hospital wing just to catch a glance of the Veela healer had at least faked an injury to get admitted. And if Geethanjali had some kind of ailment she wouldn’t have had to seek out the Head Healer herself - there were plenty of other nurses and nurses-in-training working the medical wing floor. Cocking her head to the side slightly, Esther asked her, without being pushy, “Is there anything in particular you wanted to discuss with me today, Miss Root?” Sometimes it was easier to just get straight to the point when it involved conversations with young people!

geethanjali amaryllis root

[geethanjali amaryllis root]

December 6, 2027

Geethanjali and Madam Garnet exchanged their pleasantries and whatnot, but it was the question of why Geethanjali had come that she had been waiting to hear.

"Alright, so, erm…" she began after a pause. What she had to say was nothing scandalous, but she still felt the need to whisper about it. And so she did, lowering her voice. "I've actually got a question about a boy," she admitted to Madam Garnet. "Romantic advice, like."

While she could have written to her parents—whether her adoptive parents or her birth parents—about it, that somehow felt weird. She also wasn't planning on telling anyone that she had gone to Madam Garnet for advice on her love life, but still.

The relatively unique combination of identities she had made it hard to know what to emphasize. Adopted, Indian, Irish, not quite a Druid but almost, the niece of the current Minister for Magic… There were a lot of ways in which Geethanjali could describe herself. She had a feeling that placing an emphasis on the fact that she was a werewolf wasn't exactly the right move, though. Or was it more of a personality thing? (See? That was precisely why she needed the advice!)

Esther Garnet

[Esther Garnet]

Generally when students came to visit her in the Hospital Wing, it was because they weren’t feeling well, they wanted to clarify something for a practical exam, or they were simply just popping in to say hello. Esther had definitely not expected a personal question like this to come from one geethanjali amaryllis root.

"I've actually got a question about a boy,"

“Oh?” Esther leaned forward in her seat a little taken aback by the question. Her brow furrowed slightly as the girl elaborated some more; that she was looking for romantic advice specifically. Esther’s lips pressed together in an effort not to come across too puzzled, or even amused by the situation and then relaxed back in her seat again and folded her hands together, resting them on her desk in front of her.

“Alright,” she said, nodding carefully and giving her a warm smile as she exhaled softly. She supposed it was nice that the young Ravenclaw trusted her with a conversation like this, but she wasn’t sure why or how exactly she had gotten the impression that Esther was at all suited to be handing out romantic advice. Because she surely wasn’t given her history and track record. “You can ask me anything, Ms. Root. What’s your question?”

[geethanjali amaryllis root]

December 6, 2027

It was very apparent that Madam Garnet had not expected to be asked about anything to do with romance. Beyond her initial confusion, though, Geethanjali thought that Madam Garnet had taken the question well. There were worse things she could have asked her about, even as far as romance was concerned; Geethanjali was aware of that. By contrast, in other words, what she was wondering was… Well, maybe it wasn't straightforward, but it was comparatively easier to discuss.

"Alright," Madam Garnet then agreed, to which Geethanjali nodded her head in return. "You can ask me anything, Ms. Root. What's your question?"

As though they were in a business meeting, Geethanjali began to state her point. "Alright. So…" Giving the background information was certainly important to catch Madam Garnet up to speed on the situation. Naturally, Geethanjali began there. "I like a boy in my year, but the problem is I don't know if he knows I exist…" She realized that what she had just said was hyperbolic and went back on it. "Erm, obviously, he's aware I exist because we've been at Hogwarts together for years," Geethanjali said to correct herself, "but I mean… There's plenty that could scare him off, like. Saying, 'Oh, hi. By the way, I'm a werewolf,' is…" Geethanjali gritted her teeth, unsure of a good enough word to describe how utterly cringeworthy that would be.

Esther Garnet

[Esther Garnet]

Esther listened attentively to Geethanjali's heartfelt dilemma. As the young werewolf shared her concerns about catching the attention of a certain boy in her year, her eyes softened in an attempt to appear understanding. She somehow even recognized the vulnerability that accompanies matters of the heart, especially because it was intertwined with unique circumstances such as being part magical creature.

"Well, Ms. Root," Esther replied gently, her voice carrying a soothing tone. "These things can be complicated, particularly when we feel unsure about how others might perceive us."

She paused for a moment, searching for the right words that exuded more of her professional Healer side than her hopelessly commitment-phobe Veela personal life. If this were a friend or a peer, she probably would have told them to forget about the love interest because men are generally useless anyway and it wasn’t worth worrying over, but this was a student who had come to her for advice. Despite the fact that Esther had little to no personal experience with such matters, she had to put that aside and attempt some wisdom and support.

Brushing the thought off with a compassionate smile, she continued, "I know it might feel daunting to reveal your true self to someone, but honesty and authenticity are often the building blocks of genuine connections. Instead of focusing on the potential fear or rejection, consider the strength and resilience that I know lies within you."

Esther's delicate fingers brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear as she spoke, maintaining a serene demeanour intending to lend reassurance to the young student. "Perhaps, my dear, instead of burdening yourself with the weight of sharing everything at once, you could begin by nurturing a friendship. Let your true qualities shine, and in due time, when the moment feels right, you might find the courage to share more about yourself?"

geethanjali amaryllis root

[geethanjali amaryllis root]

December 6, 2027

One of the good things about Madam Garnet, in Geethanjali's book, was that she wasn't one of those members of the school staff who only pretended to listen to what the students had to say. Instead of stopping her midway through what she had been saying to tell her to get to the point or to make assumptions without hearing every last detail, she actually paid attention. Geethanjali knew that her own attention span wasn't always the longest, but she liked that Madam Garnet didn't get frustrated with her.

Madam Garnet acknowledged how complicated what she had relayed to her was, and Geethanjali nodded as she listened to what the school's Head Healer had to say in response to her. She didn't feel that she was being lectured or that Madam Garnet was talking just to try to placate her. No, she actually paused occasionally as she offered her advice.

"I know it might feel daunting to reveal your true self to someone," Madam Garnet told her, "but honesty and authenticity are often the building blocks of genuine connections." Geethanjali realized that she had a point. She couldn't pretend to be someone she wasn't forever, especially if she wanted to have a real relationship. "Instead of focusing on the potential fear or rejection, consider the strength and resilience that I know lies within you."

Geethanjali wasn't sure that she saw herself as resilient, but she had heard it from her parents enough—and now from Madam Garnet—that maybe she needed to start believing it. Making it through everything that had happened because of Elaine Dupree and coming out the other side and back to Hogwarts as a LIFE student was sort of resilient, wasn't it?

"Perhaps, my dear, instead of burdening yourself with the weight of sharing everything at once, you could begin by nurturing a friendship. Let your true qualities shine, and in due time, when the moment feels right, you might find the courage to share more about yourself?"

"So… I should take it slow, then?" Geethanjali checked, just to make sure that she understood what Madam Garnet was advising her to do. She had read plenty of books where romances had started from friendships, but it was different when she thought about applying it to her own life. That wasn't exactly the picture that she'd had in her head before then, but she guessed it could work. "And making a friend is better than being rejected, isn't it? Instead of never having a chance again because I ruined it the first time?" Maybe that wasn't exactly the takeaway that Madam Garnet had intended for her, but Geethanjali realized that it made her feel a little bit better about the situation.

Esther Garnet

[Esther Garnet]

Esther wasn’t sure exactly where she managed to pull that nugget of wisdom from - probably from watching too much daytime drama in her free time - but despite feeling like an imposter of sorts, the young witch sitting in front of her seemed to resonate with the offering.

Even though Esther was the last person on Earth who should be giving relationship advice, Geethanjali appeared to take it all in and even pondered on the sentiments, interpreting what the Healer had said as if she was sitting with her thoughts and working out what needed to be reshaped and reordered.

"So… I should take it slow, then?"

“Exactly, Miss Root!” Esther responded with a curt nod and figured that if that’s what Geet had taken from the spiel, then that was good enough. But then she continued.

"And making a friend is better than being rejected, isn't it? Instead of never having a chance again because I ruined it the first time?"

Esther inhaled deeply and her eyes scanned the room briefly in order to consider whether that was what she’d meant when she explained it. She’d definitely gotten herself in way above her head with this one. “Uh…. well…” she paused for a moment to consider how to proceed. It turned out that it was hard to tell someone so young that things don’t always turn out the way you think they might. “I suppose what I’m trying to say is that it’s important to be yourself, and if someone doesn’t like you for who you are then they really aren’t worth the effort.” She smiled at the girl, albeit a tad awkwardly. Oh Merlin’s beard, why her???

geethanjali amaryllis root

[geethanjali amaryllis root]

December 6, 2027

After asking Madam Garnet if what she meant was that she should take things slow with her crush, the affirmative reply Geethanjali received was wonderful to hear. It didn't seem to last, however, because even Madam Garnet seemed stumped by her asking if making a friend was better than being rejected and never getting a second chance. Initially, Geethanjali wasn't sure if she needed to rephrase what she meant, but then Madam Garnet answered her.

"I suppose what I'm trying to say," she clarified, "is that it's important to be yourself, and if someone doesn't like you for who you are then they really aren’t worth the effort."

"Got it." At least, Geethanjali thought she did. If her crush turned out not to be interested in her romantically because she was a werewolf, then obviously there was no way of getting around that. She couldn't change that she was a werewolf, even if she was only in wolf form at the full moon. "So…" She thought back on her conversation with Madam Garnet so far. "Er, what says to a boy, 'I want to "nurture a friendship" with you,' and not, 'I want to date you,' like?" Especially since she did want the latter, Geethanjali wasn't totally confident in her ability not to mess up that part of the whole thing without further guidance.

Esther Garnet

[Esther Garnet]

In what had turned into a somewhat awkward conversation, with Esther beginning to feel like a bit of a fraud handing out advice of this nature, Geethanjali eventually confirmed that she had “Got it”.

Esther inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. As much as she appreciated the idea of a student like this one looking up to her, she certainly wasn’t an expert on the subject of sustaining healthy relationships. She definitely wasn’t a role model in that regard. But young people were susceptible to believing whatever adults told them, so really Esther was just churning out generic phrases from things she’d heard most normal people say that she thought seemed relatively sensible. When she was the same age as Geethanjali, Esther had no interest in boys. She had never had the experience of lamenting over an unrequited crush. What a waste of time that would be!

But then the young witch continued on…

“So…”

Esther couldn’t help but cringe, making a concerted effort not to show visible signs of her discomfort. Instead, she kept a steady expression and allowed the girl to continue on in her quest for guidance. She was asking her specifically what to say to the crush in question, and Esther arched a brow cautiously. “Ms. Root…” Part of her now started to wonder what kind of consequences she could face if the girl’s parents found out that she was giving out advice on dating. There were plenty of parents as it were who weren’t too happy about a Veela running the school’s Medical Wing.

“Try not to think about it so literally. Just be yourself and form a friendship in the same way you would do with any other friendship. See if you still have those same feelings once you get to know each other, and things will become a lot clearer in time.” She smiled gently to assure the girl. It probably not exactly what she wanted to hear, and it was quite vague, but she was running out of seemingly safe advice!

geethanjali amaryllis root

[geethanjali amaryllis root]

December 6, 2027

Madam Garnet sounded a little frustrated with her, and Geethanjali wondered if she had worded something strangely. She hadn't meant to ask anything inappropriate, though she imagined that people had probably had much more intimate questions for Madam Garnet before because of her job. With the reassurance in her head that it could have been far worse than her overthinking about what to say and do around her crush at a basic level, Geethanjali didn't feel as bad about it.

Still, Madam Garnet stressed to her not to take what she was saying literally. "Just be yourself and form a friendship in the same way you would do with any other friendship," she advised her. "See if you still have those same feelings once you get to know each other, and things will become a lot clearer in time."

"That makes sense," Geethanjali agreed. It all seemed so confusing initially. Friendship, she could do, provided that she didn't do anything stupid. She would have to tread carefully. "Thank you, Madam Garnet. I know it's not exactly your job, and I probably shouldn't be keeping you from doing that, but…"

Esther Garnet