office hours ((open))

((Revolving door thread so it can always be retaken or can be made into some chaotic thing - doesn't matter with me))

It was always nice to return to her office following the summer holidays, especially as it allowed her to be a good support system for the students that need it. As usual, her magic kettle was just waiting to be used. Her assortment of teas had been restocked with the help of her brother-in-law, Bill, so anyone that came in could have a nice cup of tea to soothe their tensions. Pleasant, light-smelling candles were lit up to provide a bit of ambience with the dimmed lights to account for sensitivities. Getting a notification from a bell in front of her door, she called out, "Come on in and take a seat!"

As soon as he entered he wanted to quickly dart away from where he came. All right, so it wasn’t the stark-white-medical-facility sort of atmosphere (to the contrary it was more like a spa waiting room), but it still made him feel nervous to be going in and admitting that he needed counselling. What a horrible word. He wanted to take that word away from the equation. Then it was just... a talk. Right?

Okay...

He smiled awkwardly at Mrs Granger, took up a cup of tea, spilt a small amount on the floor, apologised, then managed to sit down and stop moving around. “Sorry this is just a bit... weird.” And made him feel like a complete loser. Argh.

@Hermione Granger

She smiled at the young man who had entered her office. "Don't worry about it," Hermione stated warmly as she watched him take a seat.

Moving her chair towards the filing cabinets, she pulled out the appropriate folder for the pupil. She was going to have to ask him about how his relatives were doing later. "How are you feeling today?"

@Lien Chang

“Er...”

Pissed off at your big family and all your annoying children that you can’t seem to control.

They were the words that crossed his mind, but it wasn’t Mrs Granger’s fault.

“A bit frustrated, I suppose...”

@Hermione Granger

"I see." Hermione swiveled back to her desk as she placed the manila folder on top of it. When she attended Hogwarts, the beginning of the year was always among the most stressful to her. Even now as an adult after years of peace, her mind couldn't help but wonder What'll happen this year?

"What's frustrating you?"

@Lien Chang

He put the tea down on the desk and abandoned it for a while. There was something about being in there and drinking tea with an adult, like they were supposed to be ‘good buddies’ or something, that he didn’t like. Lien sighed.

“No matter how hard I try...” he began, not able to look at her in the eyes. He was annoyed by the fact that he was here, he was annoyed by the fact that he was whining to a teacher, he was just... annoyed. “No matter how hard I try, I don’t seem to be recognised for anything in this school. Why is it that Louis Weasley got Head Boy, when he was a particularly lousy prefect? He never ran a detention in his life.”

Lien let out a sound of impatience and annoyance. Mrs Granger was his Aunt, she would probably be quick to defend him.

@Hermione Granger

Hermione listened attentively to his frustrations and concerns. Although she's proud that her nephew was awarded such a position, she understood why the young man in front of her would be so upset about losing it to him. She'd have to console him using her knowledge of Hogwarts' past Head Boys and Girls. It was striking just how much favoritism was involved in the past.

"Unfortunately, as the Head Boy and Girl is decided upon by the Headmaster, there is some degree of favoritism involved. That's just life as it isn't fair." How could she go about this without coming off as biased or callous? Wetting her lips, she opened one of her drawers and pulled out a stress ball and placed it in front of Lien. "One of my nephew's grandfathers was selected as Head Boy despite his noted history of terrorizing most of the school. I couldn't exactly tell you what Professor Voclain's line of thinking was, but she might've liked his approach and ability to get along with anyone. While some prefects are better at discipline, there are prefects who do better at defusing a situation. I won't say I'm not proud of him as it wouldn't be honest, but both of you are very hard workers and it's always better to work together."

@Lien Chang

It was refreshing to hear that she believed favouritism had something to do with it, because he often thought that about everything in life. But then, conversely, he hated the idea of favouritism. Would this be something that would plague him for the rest of his life? She seemed to say that’s life after all...

“I... don’t think I’d like to work together with him,” Lien admitted bitterly. “We’re just too different.”

He looked outside the window, noticing a ball she had placed in front of him. Lien blinked at her.

“So that’s it... that’s just life, is it?” he sighed, leaning his head inside of his hand.

@Hermione Granger

"I think being able to work with and embracing other's differences allows for more fruitful relations. Compromise is key, and you'll have to listen to him no matter what. Being able to get along civilly, at least, goes a long way to make you and everyone else feel better about the year's placements."

Hermione was, of course, speaking optimistically and from her own prerogative as she had grown out of her competitive streak with the years. There were more important things to worry about than being top of the class like when she was his age.

'It's a part of life, but to let it stop you doesn't make how you feel any better. Just continue to work hard, and it'll be recognized with time."

@Lien Chang

Lien certainly wasn’t as optimistic as she was. He thought about talking with Louis Weasley, but as soon as his chirpy, happy-go-lucky, airy-fairy voice entered his head, Lien wanted to smash his tea cup against the wall.

He wanted to believe her, he really did. But... would it really happen? Honestly, did she believe what she was saying?

“I’m afraid that... I’ll end up doing something, out of spite,” he muttered, flushing. “Have you ever, er, flipped out before?”

@Hermione Granger

"It's human to flip out. I was more prone to it when I was younger, but that was because I was a hormonal teen just like you are," admitted Hermione. "You have to learn to control your anger. If you don't know how to healthily cope, it can hurt both yourself and others."

She pointed to the stress ball. "If you need to borrow it for a few days to help you calm down, you're free to do so."

@Lien Chang

So he was just a dumb, hormonal teen that needed a good squeeze on plasticine or he’d definitely become a right psycho. It wasn’t entirely reassuring. He did, however, take the stress ball and thank her for it. Who knows? Maybe it could work... a bit.

“I’ll give it a go, I guess...”

Healthily coping with anger, eh? This is what it had come to...

@Hermione Granger

Going to the school counsellor’s office was something he was unashamed of. Since coming back to Hogwarts after being away for two years, he needed all the help he could get. If that meant reaching out to a trusted adult, then that’s what it took. He wanted to be healthy and happy after all.

He passed Lien Chang when entering the office. The boy nodded stiffly at him, but Atticus knew exactly what that meant. That meant don’t tell a soul I was here. Hopefully Chang remembered that Atticus was good for keeping secrets...

“Hello Mrs Granger,” Atticus greeted, taking a seat and smiling a little at her.

@Hermione Granger

It wasn't long after her talk with Lien that somebody else came into the office. Seems like it would be a busy day today! Of course, after a long summer away from friends, it would make sense that there'd be plenty of pupils seeking advice for just about any situation that could happen.

"Hello, hello!" Hermione gave the young man a wide smile as she scooted over to put Lien's folder back into her filing cabinet. "How are you?" Hmm, what was his name again? He looked familiar.

@Atticus Nott

He couldn’t help laughing a little at her reaction. He had changed considerably since the end of fourth year, so perhaps she really didn’t recognise him.

“It’s me Atticus, Mrs Granger. Atticus Nott.”

Or... perhaps she didn’t really know him to begin with. Hmm.

“I, erm, haven’t been here for the last two years. Anyway...” he shuffled a little. “I just wanted to ask you about... coping with change. Do I force myself to go back to my original routine here, or do I keep going with what I learnt while I was away? The trouble is, if I stop doing certain things, I start feeling a bit... anxious.”

@Hermione Granger

Atticus? Oh, he's gotten so much older and bigger since she last saw him! It was swell to see another bright, young mind again, especially after who knows how long.

"Atticus... Attticus. Ah, here it is!"

Hermione pulled out his folder which hadn't been updated since a few years ago. "Change is tough, especially after being away from your friends and family for so long. I know one way to deal is to not be too hard on yourself." She wasn't very in-the-know about the situation involving the Notts. "It depends on what those certain things are. I know you'll have to learn to readjust to the Hogwarts bell schedule, but I'm sure the other school you went to has taught you valuable lessons."

@Atticus Nott

He thought it was good of Mrs Granger to treat him just like everyone else, despite what his Father stood for. She must have known what he was like: that he was a pureblood supremacist, all about tradition and control and order. Sometimes he felt horrified to even talk to her. She had fought against those prejudices so bravely, being a muggleborn herself.

He smiled ruefully. “It was tough,” he agreed, reassured by someone saying that. What she said made perfect sense, and was a very fair assessment. “It’s things like... having to do things perfectly, set everything straight and neat and tidy before I can go about my day. I do feel a sense of relief when things are in order like that. I never used to be that way, though.”

@Hermione Granger

Listening, she nodded attentively as she worked on updating Atticus' folder in the meantime. She would have to make an attempt to summon him later to discuss career ideas and examinations.

"I think that habit is one you can easily incorporate into your everyday life." It had been so long since she attended Hogwarts that she kept a copy of the bell schedule on hand to help herself work out plans or use it as a tool to assist students. Hermione went through the filing cabinet attached to her desk and pulled out a laminated bell schedule. "If your dorm mates are fine with it, you could always get up earlier than the rest to have the chance to clean and organize before classes."

@Atticus Nott

"Yeah, I sort of do that already. But sometimes when I'm sat in class, I worry that I haven't done enough. Then I can't really concentrate."

Perhaps he was a lot more broken than he thought.

Atticus watched as she pulled something out from a cabinet. Was this some sort of form he had to sign now?

@Hermione Granger

Ah, it was one of those issues. Hermione glanced at the basic bell schedule.

"Do you have your timetable with you? Let's work out a game plan so you have less to worry about."

@Atticus Nott