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Milan seemed…surprised to hear that Robin believed him. Robin nodded firmly that xe believed him. It wasn’t a matter of being easy to convince or nice, xe though, it was a matter of giving someone going through a hard time the assurance that what they thought about their own feelings was heard. Robin needed to remember that.

It took a moment for Robin to realise Milan was trying to tactfully figure out xer gender identity. Even on a hospital bed, fighting obvious exhaustion he was still thinking of other people. Evidently the rumour mill was wrong here and had the Wellebeloves–or at least this Wellbelove–wrong. ”xe/xem or they/them. I’m still figuring it out. Thank you,” xe replied, hoping to clear at least one cloud of confusion.

Milan moved his hand away, pushing himself up a bit to a sitting position. Robin kept an arm out in case he needed anything, catching Milan’s hand immediately. ”You okay? Healing magic isn’t pain-free, sorry.”

Xe was surprised when Milan had such a coherent answer when asked what he thought would help. Obviously he had looked up what might help. Time…therapy…friends….yeah, it was about what people had told their family. Time had helped Wren. Therapy had helped Sparrow. Friends…yeah. In the end it came down to friends. People. God worked through people. And it seemed like Milan was suffering from a dearth of people–aside from Angier and his sisters, Milan seemed to be…lonely.

”People…can be so cruel,” xe noted, when Milan mentioned that the rumours said they had caused everything. Xe…had unfortunately heard that one too.

Otherwise, Robin listened quietly, nodding and keeping associations and mental notes to know where to come back to the conversation.

”People deal with grief in different ways,” xe said finally. ”You and your sister were very close to Angier. It makes sense that you process the loss of your relationship differently.”

It was probably stuff he had heard already. Although…”Have you and Yaretzi talked? Throughout the grieving process?” Xe considered the request for more friends…for someone to talk to.

”Grief therapy would probably be useful,” Robin agreed. ”I know the Hogwarts Healers are all trained in short-term counselling? Madam Kavanagh would know better who best to talk to.” They wouldn’t send Milan home if he wanted to finish the year, right? Surely that was what trained professionals were for. ”If you’re worried about the potions, they could also probably work with you on a rehabilitation program.”

On the subject of friends, xe had more thoughts: ”Joining clubs is one way to meet new people,” Robin thought aloud. ”But Milan, you’re in charge of the Daily Dragon and part of Art Club already, right? Anything else?” xe asked. ”Is there something in particular you’ve wanted to join? Because if not, it might be easier and more natural to make friends with people you already know. Like….hang out with people who are in the clubs you’re in and get to know them better?”

Robin struggled for a moment to think of how to explain xer thoughts–it wasn’t like xe was a shining beacon of making friends. Xe wasn’t even sure xe could consider many of xer clubmates or classmates…friends. Sure they would talk during clubs, but…well even just in xer dorm, the only one xe would really consider xer friend was Lem.

”And finally. I can run up and grab you these comfy pants and some lunch?”

Robin’s eyes crinkled in amusement as Milan tried out the unconventional pronouns. Milan agreed that he too had been trying to figure things out since he was little. Not gender, but –oh, sexuality! Xe smiled in understanding. ”I understand,” xe replied sympathetically.

Milan tried to shift, acknowledging that even magic had its limitations. He mentioned something about a muggle hospital where he had to get stitches once. Xe did not, of course, know about the incident Milan spoke of, but xe understaood enough that Milan was not overly fond of being awake for the pain. It was something to mention when Madam Kavanagh checked back with them.

They returned to their conversation. Robin nodded thoughtfully as Milan described how he and Yaretzi wrote, but they hadn’t really talked about everything. “That’d be nice. To talk again. Sometimes silence is needed. Sometimes talking it out works. But maybe it’s time to talk. Or even earlier. Like during a Hogsmeade visit?

Thankfully, Milan seemed not terribly put off by the idea of therapy and rehab? Xe wasn’t sure. He seemed…exasperated and tired. The broken bones probably didn’t help.

“I’m happy to be here,” xe replied when Milan apologised. “I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but I’m happy to talk now.”

Xe felt a p***k of sadness with how easily Milan had dismissed everyone else as not caring. The feeling lingered as Milan went on, talking about clubs and mentioning astronomy. He admitted to being a bit of a prat in hirst year.

“Give it another shot then, maybe? People…” xe hesitated. Robin really wasn’t a trained therapist. Or even a friend. Xe just happened to be in the place Milan needed. Xe wasn’t sure what xe could say–if Milan wanted to know xer opinions on these things– or what would be helpful to say. ”People are just complicated plants. They’ll get everywhere if you don’t draw boundaries, and they’ll push boundaries even then. But…I think they usually want to help, they just don’t know how. And people change. Especially now. We’re all still growing. So even if you were a prat before– I didn’t know you then but if you say so– you can change. Be…less prat, more empathetic? And maybe they’ve changed too. Less judgy, more understanding?”

Xe didn’t know if xe really believed that people wanted to help. Some people seemed to have hearts of stone and cared only for their own agenda–or the convenient aesthetic of their agenda. Xe remembered just a few moments agreeing that people could be so cruel with the rumor mill. But they could also be wonderful and caring and sweet. People were…good, xe believed, even if they were capable of great evil. Maybe it was because they were capable of great evil that the kindness meant so much more?

Madam Kavanagh stopped by, checking in the pain and announcing Milan’s sisters were there.

It was probably time for xem to go then. Xe mentioned picking up comfy clothes from the dorms, and thankfully Milan had directions to not only those but his spare glasses. Robin stooped up to leave when xe remembered Milan had been clinging to xer hand like a vine on a trellis. Even though his sisters were here, it felt weird to just leave. Instead, xe pulled a small blue rock out of a pocket and put in Milan’s hand. “This is Zuriel. Something to hold onto until I get back.”

“Miss Harlynn, Miss Echo,” xe greeted, stepping out of the area. Echo brushed by xem without a glance and xe flinched when immediately xe heard her exclaim.

”MILAN. My goodness you look terrible.” Echo was immediately by her brother’s side, brushing his hair and fussing over the breaks and bone still on display. Madam Kavanagh had to remind her about soft, calm tones. ”What happened? We were on the stairs to come to you when Professor Narain said you were in the Hospital Wing? And then this student outside said you’d slipped on a puddle of potion? We’ll get the useless caretaker sacked for this–”

Robin had half a mind to stay and explain, but of all people, this was Milan’s quadruplet sisters they were talking about– they were much better hearing it directly from him. So as promised, Robin headed directly for the Ravenclaw Common Room, murmuring a prayer for Milan as xe climbed. Prayer for a swift recovery, for Milan to feel His comfort in grief, for Angier’s soul to be at His side, for Yaretzi’s healing, for the Wellbeloves to find friends and a community of support. Xe paused, remembering that Milan had mentioned having to write everything down in the morning. It might not be the same takeaways that Milan had gotten from the conversation, but it might help.

Thanks to Milan’s directions, Robin quickly found a comfy looking pair of sweats, a loose looking shirt, a Ravenclaw hoodie that looked a few sizes too big, and of course, his spare glasses. The other Wellbeloves were still there when xe returned, so as to not interrupt, Robin just handed the change of clothes, glasses, and note off with a little wave and assurance that xe would be back later.