The Care of Magical Creatures Professor

Chapter 13

Quick TW: this chapter does talk (somewhat briefly) about depression. If you feel as though you or a loved one needs help, please reach out!!!

    The weeks were passing faster, and summer was swiftly approaching. Newt hadn't expected to feel upset about that, though... he had liked the class more than he thought he would. Before he knew it, it would be time for him to leave. He'd probably never see any of the students or staff again (besides maybe Dumbledore), and for the first time since New York City, leaving people was making him sad. He tried not to be sentimental, and instead decided to make the best of what little time there was left in the year.

    He knocked on Roger's door tentatively, almost a little scared of the older man still. He opened the door, looking tired, but for the first time, not entirely angry. Not happy, but... Not angry.

    "It's early, Newt..." Roger sighed.

    "I know, I just- well... I'm leaving in two weeks and I feel like we haven't spent much time together."

    "What do you classify as 'time together' then."

    "We could... talk?"

    "About what. Newt, I think you're trying a little too hard."

    "Why are you so sad and angry all the time?" Newt couldn't stop himself from blurting it out. He wished he had, that was far too personal a question...

    "... Why don't you come inside..." Roger led Newt into his office and closed the door behind him.

    "What's wrong..?" Newt sat in a desk chair usually meant for a student.

    "I don't talk about this much. It's a long story, and... one I don't tell most people. I'm only telling you because you won't stop pestering me," Roger sighed, sitting at his own chair. Newt looked around the room. It was... slightly messy. Roger's desk was disorganized, papers scattered all over it and old teacups stacked up in a corner of it, causing the room to smell distinctly of Earl Grey and chamomile. He didn't seem to care enough to clean it up, or even have the energy to. As he was talking, Newt started to realize something he had previously overlooked. Of course he was angry and dull all the time. This man was actually depressed. He had realized the depressed mood from the start, but didn't realize that he had the condition that muggle psychiatrists called "acute melancholia".

    "I'm not well, Newt. Psychologically. I have to see the nurse frequently to have her make sure I'm fit to teach that day. She gives me potions to... feign the existence of having enough dopamine. Muggles would say I have 'acute melancholia'. I've got frequent depressed moods and I can't find the energy to do... many things... but I make myself," Roger sighed, clearly a bit uncomfortable with the subject, "It most started to show itself when I was in school. I was a Hufflepuff, believe it or not. In the summer before my fourth year, my sister fell ill with tuberculosis. She didn't make it. Don't bother with your apologies, I've heard it all. I've been... not great... I neglected the rest of my family and friends, if I even had any, and I've just lived a lonely life since."

    Newt wasn't sure what he was supposed to say to this kind of a confession, though he definitely couldn't say he was surprised. Roger hadn't exactly hid his problems, even if he hadn't stated their cause outright. He was silent for a moment, hoping Roger wouldn't take that the wrong way.

    "Nothing to say? Figured," Roger sighed and sipped some tea, "nobody ever has anything to say. Teachers mostly say that I should just get over it, but it's not even my sister that I'm really upset about anymore. Nothing I can do can bring her back, magic can't raise the dead despite all of my research in the subject." Newt was a little surprised Roger had even gone as far as to look into that. Necromancy was a dark subject, and every wizard who had ever tried had either failed, gone crazy, or died themselves...

    "Most of what's wrong with me is just my brain being wrong now. I can't get myself to do things, it's no one's fault," Roger explained.

    "I know it's not what you want to hear but I... have nothing else to say besides 'I'm sorry'," Newt's leg was bouncing as he finally got the courage to speak.

    "Don't be," Roger handed Newt a biscuit from a tin he had been keeping in his desk, "just have a biscuit."

    Newt took the biscuit and nibbled it, standing up, "I... think I should go now. I have matters to attend to."

    Roger nodded with little more than a grunt and Newt made his way out of the room. Newt was about to enter his own classroom when he heard a scream from down the hall. It... sounded a lot like that of Sam. He abandoned the idea of heading back to his room and raced towards the noise.

    "Is everything all right?" he asked as he approached Sam and Rose, who were standing out in the courtyard. Rose was laughing, and Sam was hiding behind her (despite being considerably taller than the girl). In front of them was... a toad.

    "Sammy's scared of toads and frogs," Rose teased.

    "Th-they're just gross!!" Sam shied away from the harmless creature, "... maybe they want to eat my soul! How would I know?!"

    "... Sam, that's ridiculous," Newt sighed exasperatedly, picking up the toad gently, "it's just a wee toad. Scientific name 'bufo bufo'."

    "I don't like it."

    "What kind of wizard doesn't like toads?!" Rose had to tilt her head back to look up at her boyfriend.

    "Me."

    Newt saw that the boy couldn't be reasoned with, and decided to bring the toad back to a grassy area where it belonged. Rose followed close behind, Sam behind her still.  The toad hopped away towards the forest, and Newt did a little goodbye wave.

    "So you're... scared of frogs and toads? Seriously?" Newt tried his best not to offend Sam.

    "Yes. When I was a child one jumped on my face when I wasn't expecting it and I haven't liked them ever since."

    "They're harmless though.."

    "I don't care. Something about them is weird, and I can't explain it."

    "Well... as long as you aren't hurting toads, I... will leave you to your opinions."

    "Professor, can I ask you something?" Rose shifted a bit.

    "Of course."

    "... When are you leaving?"

    Newt was a little caught off guard by the question. Did they want him to leave? Maybe he hadn't been as well received as he thought...

    His spiraling was cut off by another comment from Rose, "don't take that the wrong way. I... wanted to know how much more time we got with you... because I think everybody's going to miss you. Our other teacher was so... boring. And you're the least boring teacher I've ever had."

    Newt was touched by that. He didn't think that the students had liked him that much, but he was proved wrong by Rose's statements. It was nice to know that there was someone who cared about him. He'd definitely miss these kids.

    "I'm leaving in two weeks. If you want- I... well... forgive me if this is inappropriate... but we could send owls to one another..." Newt trailed off.

    "I'd love that!!" Rose seemed in better spirits just at the proposition.

    "You two have been like friends to me, despite us being teacher and students. I hope we can stay in correspondence," Newt smiled, handing them a paper with the address that they would need.

    "Thank you, professor," Rose smiled. Her smile was contagious, just the way she seemed to glow. Sam held her hand, and despite the subject he had discussed with Roger earlier, Newt couldn't help but smile on his way back to his classroom.