The Cruelty of the Writers (Previously 'Bleh to lazy to think of a catchy title)

"Alright," Vena said. The next half an hour or so was spent getting the anti-depresents and scheulding a time. Vena thought it took far longer then it needed to take. The two of them headed out of St. Mungos.

Nic scowled the whole time. "That was totally a waste of time," she said as they walked outside.

"No it wasn't Nic," Vena replied grabbing the girl's arm. She apperated the both of them to Nicole's place.

"Yes, it was," Nicole insisted. She yanked away from Vena's grip once they landed from Apparating. Noting they were at her house, she walked briskly inside and went straight to her room.

Vena walked in after and went to go talk with Nicole's mother. "You daughter has depression," She said upon seeing her, Not even bothering with the hello's. "And not a mild case either. You should have taken her to a healer once she got out of Azkaban."

Lyssa looked at Vena oddly. "What are you talking about?"

Vena whacked her palm into her head. "Nicole is depressed." She asid looking at Lyssa. "Like majorly depressed. She threatened to throw herself off a bloody bridge! Did you even think about getting her checked by a healer?"

Lyssa looked at Vena, eyebrows furrowed. "She hasn't displayed any sorts of that behavior in front of me."

"Cause she's been sitting in her room staring at a wall!" Vena replied very close to losing her temper.

Lyssa was momentarily derailed. Merlin, she was a terrible parent. How had she not noticed that? Perhaps it was all the years Nicole was gone, the years when she wasn't technically a parent.

"Merlin," Vena said running a hand through her hair. She was quite amazed at Lyssa's lack of noticing anything was wrong.

"Merlin," Lyssa muttered, falling back against the wall. "I'm a terrible parent." Maybe she was just so happy to have Nicole back with her that she hadn't wanted to notice anything was wrong, so her mind told her nothing was.

Vena threw her the bottle of antidepressants. "She needs to take two of them a day, and has a counseling appointment on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday every week at noon."

Lyssa took the bottle and nodded at Vena. "I still can't believe I didn't notice something was wrong sooner than this." She looked at Vena. "What if she had actually gone through and hurt herself? Oh Merlin, I would never have forgiven myself."

Vena looked at Lyssa, not sure exactly what to say in responce to her. She left sometime soon going back to Riddle House. She would stay around England for a bit longer but she really wanted to get out.

A few days passed and Laurie found her way to Nicole's place. Having heardfrom Cassie about Nicoles condition. "Hey," She said when Lyssa opened the door, she amde her way to Nicole's room.

Nicole was sitting on her bed as always, but she had her music on this time, music player hooked up to a set of speakers. Her chin was rested on her knees, which were pulled up to her chest and she looked rather put out with something, but it was a Tuesday, so that was probably why. She had taken a dislike to the counselor person, but her mum was forcing her to go, as well as forcing her to take the antidepressant every day. She would rather just do without either. They were pointless anyway.

Her head lifted and turned as she heard her door open. Standing in the doorway, she saw Laurie.

"Hey," Laurie said in her quiet tone entering the room. She looked at Nicole for a moment, wavering on entering the room furthur on staying where she was by the door.

"Hey," Nicole said back to her, wondering if the girl was going to come in or just stand there.

Laurie ran a hand through her hair coming further into the room. She didn't know what to say as "How are you?" Is a stupid question to ask someone depressed.

Nicole looked at Laurie for a moment. "Just ask," she said.

Laurie sighed slightly. "I know it's a stupid question but, how are you?"

"Firstly, not a stupid question my Sometimes people need to be asked that. But, I'm not really one of them. I get asked too much for liking," Nic said to Laurie. "Secondly, my answer. I'm not fine, I'm not bad. I'm incredibly annoyed and I want to punch out my window."

Laurie blinked looking at her frowning slightly. "That would be both stupid and would hurt." She said wth a yawn. She didn't get enough sleep. Ava seemed to like waking up in the middle of the night and then going and waking her up.

"I don't really care..." Nic muttered. "I probably won't anyway, just because mum -and maybe Vena if she found out- would spaz at me about it. They've gotten all crazy on me lately."

"They're worried about you," Laurie said with a small sigh.