Tell Me If I'm Stupid

[Abel Smith]

After avoiding the entire situation as best he could, Abel realised that, there was very little he could do to just stop being a werewolf. That was what he was, and he had to accept it. However, it appeared that he was not alone, and while he knew he was certainly not the first werewolf on the planet, nor the first in the school, it was still surprising to be led to safety by the professor with the other werewolf in the school, and have that experience. Finding a note and photos, and not of unhappy people either. It was like a slap in the face that woke him from his total stupidity. He still had no idea what to do with himself, where his life was going to go, what all of his beliefs meant to him now, and even his family. His world had changed, but theirs had not. He doubted his family would drop anything for him. He was unimportant, and easily removed from the tree if he took a step in the wrong direction. And with this? He virtually lept into the wrong direction and he was very alone. He had Killua, but he had yet to really talk to him about this. Killy was a cool guy, and very understanding, but Abel was nervous about just telling him this. It was big, and if he told the wrong person... well, he would not have a home to go back to.

Abel sighed and pulled out some parchment. He had to get to writing to that woman... Rowan? It was Rowan something. He slapped his forehead, how could he not remember that name? Briar Rowan-Cullen. That was it. He took a deep breath, and began to compose a letter to a total stranger. This was so stupid. But if he did not do it, Kialla would kill him, and probably Killua too, if he knew.​

Spoiler: Letter

Dear Ms. Briar Rowan-Cullen,

My name is Abel, and I attend Hogwarts New Zealand. Honestly, I have no idea what I am supposed to write, or why I'm doing this. But, I was told to by someone close to me, my sister, and so I decided to just write this.
I recently became a werewolf, a few months ago, actually. I had my first change on the school grounds this month, and when there I saw some photos and stuff, and then my sister decided that I should write to you. And here I am. I don't know what to write at all, and I feel stupid for just writing this stuff, but I suppose I may as well continue, because I doubt you will understand anything if I do not tell you.

I'm not going to bother lying. Before this, I hated werewolves. I had no reason to, and I see that now, but I was that horrible bigot that I now so fear. And I live in a family full of them. My sister is one of the few that is somewhat accepting, and that is simply because she wrongly blames herself. I have no-one else as the only other family member that I could talk to has recently died, fortunately, before he found out what I would become.
Only my family knows what I am, and a few other people that had to be told, obviously. But otherwise, no-one else. I have admittedly been thinking about talking to one of my friends, but I don't know. I will have to test the water first, so to speak. I fear that I was not the fairest, or the most understanding person - in fact, as I previously stated, I was everything I fear now. I'm sorry, I've filled this up with my problems, when I'm sure you're just reading this and thinking that I deserve this. And I think you would be right. For all the years that I have thought that my family and I were better because of blood, and now my own beliefs have turned against me. It's almost poetic.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,

-Abel​

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

things were staring to get into a smooth rhythm for Briar. she had been working hard and in the previous august had a couple of weeks off holiday for willows second birthday where the whole small family went on holiday visiting dees family, hers and other family friends. it had been a good week. When she had arrived back at work there was a new file on her desk. she hadn't had a new file in a while. the efforts of keeping werewolves safe was meaning that less and less people were being bitten, she had been nominated the offices specialist on youth and adolescence. maybe because she was no more than an adolescent when she had started and had strong ties to the local school, more maybe it was because they found it easier to relate to someone young, or maybe (most possibly) the older members of the office had gotten too lazy to try something different. this one sounded like an interesting boy. she had sent out a basic written info pack to him letting him know what the department was there for but after that she would let them seek out if they wanted to. she didn't want to pressure the clients. it was just over a month later when she was working on a particularly boring piece of work list some of her colleagues were tracking down a stray herd of hippogryffs who had landed in a muggle park when she heard a fluttering of wings and before her thee was an owl holding a letter she took it and gave the bird some treats and lead it over to the perch before she opened the envelope and read the contents. she smiled before finding a fresh piece of parchment and a quill. before writing a reply

Dear Abel.
It nice to hear from you. Don't worry about what to write. you can write anything here and it will be confidential unless it is going to hurt others. you said you go to Hogwarts new zealand so did i I graduated a few years ago now but i put some of the pictures up in the hollow. i am the girl with mad red hair with the part giant, she is my sister madlyn.
enough a about me. i don't blame you for hating werewolves, we all hate people for n reason be it how we were brought up, or from impressions, no one is immune to that. so as long as you don't hate yourself you are doing well. it is good that you have a sister there to support you. when i was first bitten i had no one. i couldn't even tell my family, as i thought they had disowned me because of something i had done before.
coming out to people is a big decision and certainly testing the water is a good idea. having people by your side to support you should things get out. however make sure you can trust them and they aren't going to start rumours around the school especially if that rumour has it magazine is still going.
you don't sound bad to me, it is a shock and people are allowed to complain it isn't something that can be cure. the important thing to remember is you don't deserve it, it was just an unfortunate bit of fate. although i am not one to hide from things and managed to take it in my stride, and it isn't the life sentence some people believe, without it some of the best things in my life would never have happened, however even so it isn't something i would wish on anyone.
If you have any questions problems or anything you want to say feel free to send me an owl.

Briar Rowan-Cullen

deputy team leader: werewolf support services.

 

[Abel Smith]

It had been a long, long time since Abel had written to that woman again. He had purposefully been putting it off. Citing OWLs to be the reason, then being too tired and lethargic, then having to figure out where he is going to live after this year, and worrying about everything else going wrong in his life. But, after cleaning his trunk out of old things, he found the old letter he had received from Briar, and decided that it was about time he responded to her. He had ran out of excuses to use, and it was time to get things over with. He had started this exchange of letters. He had to continue it.
​

Dear Ms Briar Rowan-Cullen

I'm sorry it has taken me this long to reply. Since your letter, I must admit I decided to bury the entire situation, but have now realised that, really, it cannot be buried. Can it?
A lot has happened since your letter, so therefore I'll have to catch you up. My sister has recently graduated, meaning that she no-longer has the ability to stand up for me any longer, and so now I am currently on my own away from my family, which strangely enough I kind of like. The thought of never returning home isn't nice, but the chance to be myself is pretty comforting. However, come this holidays, I will have a different address that, once I figure out what exactly it will be, I hope I will be able to give to you in order to continue our correspondence. I promise never to ignore another of your letters - that is, if you still want to actually write to me after how long I have ignored you. I truly am sorry.

And yes, by the way. Rumor Has It is still around. I have never been featured in it (thankfully) but know people who have. But I think I have at least one person who will back me up, somewhat. I haven't spoken to him since I told him of my condition, but there have been no rumours or stories about me circulating the school yet, so even if he doesn't want to be my friend any longer, I know that he at least hasn't told anyone what I am. That's certainly something. And I saw the photos of the past werewolves in the school. They're nice - inspiring, I guess is what you could call them. Proof that it's not all terrible. But to be honest, I'm not seeing this as a bringer of good omens yet, but maybe when I'm older I will? I don't know. I think I need to hunt down my friend though, and figure out whether were still friends or not.

Thanks for reading.
-Abel