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last online Mar 28, 2024 17:09:50 GMT -7
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Mar 29, 2016 14:42:34 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2016 14:42:34 GMT -7
Andy couldn't believe she was about to do this. She had actually made an appointment with the counselor at Hogwarts. Why? Because she had almost lost her temper and cursed Albus Potter. She wasn't sure what curse she was about to do, but she was sure it wasn't going to be pretty... Phil had caught her and stopped her which had only caused her to go into a downward emotional spiral. She was slowly realizing that she was more like her father than she ever thought she was, and that was a horrible thought.
So, she agreed to speak with Parvati MacMillan. She was horrified at the idea of it all, of talking to a professional in order to get some help. She stood outside the door, her hand lifted into a fist, hovering just over the wood. She caught her breath, her palms begin to sweat and she gently knocked twice on the door...
parvati patil macmillan (this is technically a flashback now since school ended XD it’s at the end of April ish)
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last online Mar 22, 2024 20:49:17 GMT -7
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Mar 29, 2016 16:36:52 GMT -7
Post by parvati patil macmillan on Mar 29, 2016 16:36:52 GMT -7
After having been in a temporary office space for what seemed like hardly any time at all, Parvati had been given permission to move into what would become her permanent office, even though she would not be taking over the role of Gryffindor's Head of House from Neville until the first of September. It felt strange, having her office where Professor McGonagall's had once been years ago, though it was hardly recognizable as the same space. With magic, it had been easy enough to pack up the tapestries on the walls, the velvet chaise longue and its cushions, as well as everything else, and get it transported to where it belonged.
Upon ensuring that she had alerted the students with whom she had recurring sessions that her office had changed to its permanent location, and that she had placed a notice on the door of the previous office to notify any students who would be meeting with her for the first time, she waited for the next student to arrive. She was a student with whom Parvati had yet to meet, though, as with many of the students at Hogwarts, she quickly recognized the girl's last name.
A knock came at the door. Parvati stood up from her desk and walked the short distance to it, glad that this office was not as cramped as the first. The bangles on her wrist shifted as she pulled open the door, clanging slightly against the metal of the doorknob. She smiled at the young woman on the opposite side of the threshold. “Andromeda?” she asked, holding the door open for her. “I'm Madam Macmillan. Please have a seat.”
@lestrange
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last online Mar 28, 2024 17:09:50 GMT -7
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Apr 1, 2016 15:55:54 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2016 15:55:54 GMT -7
Andy's throat restricted as the door was opened, her eyes immediately darting to the bangles on Madam Macmillans wrist. She didn't look up until the woman offered her a seat. "Yeah, okay," she said, her voice soft and weak as she slipped in the door. She moved toward the desk and sat in the chair in front of it. She sat up straight, as she was always taught, crossing her ankles and placing both hands in her lap. She looked down at her hands, resisting the urge to chew her lip apart. "Thanks for..." she gulped, keeping her gaze downward and not finishing the sentence. What was the end going to be anyway? Thanks for seeing me? Thanks for talking? Thanks for being willing to attempt helping me not to lose my temper? Thanks for believing that I’m crazy? Whatever it was going to be, it didn’t make it out of her mouth. In fact, she sat silent until Madam Mcmillan spoke next. parvati patil macmillan
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last online Mar 22, 2024 20:49:17 GMT -7
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Apr 1, 2016 18:08:49 GMT -7
Post by parvati patil macmillan on Apr 1, 2016 18:08:49 GMT -7
The young woman entered the office, not looking up at her initially. “Yeah, okay,” she answered quietly upon being offered a seat. Parvati shut the door softly behind her, then sat back down at her own place. She noticed that Andromeda did not make eye contact with her and looked down at her lap. Her mannerisms, too, were very formal. “Thanks for…” she began but did not finish the thought.
Parvati waited to see if Andromeda had anything to add, but, finding that she didn’t, she spoke instead. “It’s not a problem,” she smiled warmly. “I’m here to listen.” It was her job, after all.
She grabbed the clipboard off of her desk and set it on her lap, also taking up a quill when she did. Thinking for a moment, she paused, hovering the quill over the parchment before her. “Do you prefer to be called Andromeda,” she asked, “or do you go by a nickname?”
@lestrange
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last online Mar 28, 2024 17:09:50 GMT -7
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Apr 4, 2016 15:17:30 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2016 15:17:30 GMT -7
It’s not a problem, I’m here to listen. Those were words Andy had heard from very few people, and not very often. It still shocked her a little bit. The fact that there really were people out there who simply wanted to help with no hidden motives or agendas. She was still skeptical about it, in a way, but she tried to be trusting. Even if being trusting was giving her a headache. As the woman grabbed the clipboard, Andy felt her stomach tighten even more. She had a quill too. She knew that Madame Mcmillan would need to take notes because it would be hard to remember each individual students… issues. But it still made her tense up. At her question, Andy nodded, ”Andy. I mean, people call me Andy,” her parents didn’t, but it was the only thing she had for a long time to oppose them. Her nickname. ’You can call me Andy,” she said, a little more firmly, finding a tiny bit on confidence in such a vulnerable situation. parvati patil macmillan
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last online Mar 22, 2024 20:49:17 GMT -7
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Apr 13, 2016 16:37:00 GMT -7
Post by parvati patil macmillan on Apr 13, 2016 16:37:00 GMT -7
Andromeda nodded in response to her question. “Andy,” she answered. “I mean, people call me Andy.” She sounded nervous, though that was to be expected. “You can call me Andy.”
“Well,” said Parvati with a smile, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, Andy.” She scrawled the nickname onto the parchment and then set her quill down upon the clipboard, freeing up her right hand, which she reached across to shake Andy’s.
“Before we begin, I’d like to go over a few things with you, if that’s alright.” The first of these matters was confidentiality. “First of all,” she began, “anything that you say in this room will stay in this room. I won’t repeat anything that you have told me in your sessions to anyone else.” Parvati kept her tone calm as she spoke, adding, “However, there are a few instances in which I will have to break that confidentiality. The first is if you tell me that you are planning to hurt yourself; the second is if you tell me that you are planning to hurt someone else, and the third is if you tell me that someone else is hurting you. The only other exception is if you give me permission to tell someone else what you have told me.” It was a necessary disclaimer, and it was one that Parvati had repeated constantly—practically since the moment she had arrived at the school.
She smiled again, almost laughing, as she shifted the bangles on her wrist. “I know that’s all a bit overwhelming, so I’m going to open up the floor to you now. Questions? Comments? Concerns?”
@lestrange
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last online Mar 28, 2024 17:09:50 GMT -7
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Apr 16, 2016 10:12:04 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2016 10:12:04 GMT -7
Andy gave a short nod as Madame Macmillan said it was a pleasure to meet her, "You as well," she responded softly. Then the woman wrote something down, maybe the name, and set the quill down to offer a hand out to her. Andy reached forward and shook he hand firmly. Her parents had always taught her to have a good handshake. Weak handshakes were for... well, weak people, they said. Andy nodded as Parvati said they needed to go over a few things. She nodded again as Parvati was done explaining, "I understand" she said, smiling slightly due to the womans smile. Well, Andy never intended on hurting herself but the other two... well, those were a heck of a lot more likely. She felt sick about that, the fact that she knew she wanted to hurt someone. Granted, Neville had promised to keep that person away from her and her away from him so... that was a little encouraging "I don't.. think I have any questions... or anything. About that stuff," she said. Was she supposed to open up now? She shifted in her seat and her eyes darted to the desk. "I'm... unsure what to do next,"she admitted softly. This was already a disaster. parvati patil macmillan
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last online Mar 22, 2024 20:49:17 GMT -7
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Apr 16, 2016 14:21:54 GMT -7
Post by parvati patil macmillan on Apr 16, 2016 14:21:54 GMT -7
Parvati hardly expected anyone to come into her office with every idea of what to expect, but it was nice to see that Andy seemed to be growing a bit more comfortable with her. She said that she understood what she had been told about confidentiality, which was also good. When she was given the floor to ask any questions, she grew quiet again. “I don’t… think I have any questions or anything. About that stuff.” That was perfectly fine, Parvati thought; she didn’t have to come up with questions if she didn’t have any. “I’m… unsure what to do next.”
This counseling session wasn’t graded; it was for Andy’s own benefit. If she didn’t have questions, she didn’t have to come up with any. Parvati set the clipboard back onto her desk for a moment, wondering if doing so might help to keep the session from feeling like a job interview. “That’s alright,” she reassured her. “You won’t lose House points in here, I promise.” It was an attempt at humor, albeit not a very good one. Her point, however, still stood: This wasn’t meant to be a test.
“Why don’t you start by telling me what brings you here today?” Parvati suggested. “Whatever is most comfortable for you, Andy.” The initial session was always the most difficult, naturally.
@lestrange
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last online Mar 28, 2024 17:09:50 GMT -7
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Apr 16, 2016 15:49:01 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2016 15:49:01 GMT -7
As Parvati set the clipboard down Andy refrained from leaning forward to glance at it, but her body may have slightly moved that direction. At the joke about House Points Andy offered a smile. She had been trained to know when to laugh, being part of a 'high society' crowd, and all. She also did think it was kind of funny, but mostly she was just grateful that the counselor was trying to find ways to lighten Andy up and make her feel more comfortable. What brought her here? Andy tilted her head slightly to the side at the thought and then, finally, opened her mouth to speak before looking down at her hands. "My family, mostly. Probably. They... I don't know if I... it wasn't the best, you see..." wasn't the best!? That was a weak way of explaining it. Her mother acted like she didn't exist and her father was an angry beast most of the time. Her brother... that was a good place to start. "I've moved in with another family but I ran into my older brother in the village last week..." her eyes flickered back up to the woman. "We don't get along," she added, thoughts of Nik causing her blood to boil already. parvati patil macmillan
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last online Mar 22, 2024 20:49:17 GMT -7
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May 5, 2016 7:07:36 GMT -7
Post by parvati patil macmillan on May 5, 2016 7:07:36 GMT -7
Andy seemed to have some difficulty in figuring out what to say and where to start, stumbling over her words. She began to talk about her family, saying, “I don't know if I… It wasn't the best, you see.” It took her a minute, but, soon, she added that she had moved in with another family and that she had run into her brother in the village on the students' most recent Hogsmeade weekend. Andy looked back up at her. “We don't get along.”
“Ah,” Parvati nodded. They would be able to start there. First, however, she took the time to write down a quick note on her clipboard, and looked back up at Andy once she had finished.
“Tell me about your brother, Andy,” she encouraged. “What happened when you ran into him?”
@lestrange
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last online Mar 28, 2024 17:09:50 GMT -7
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May 17, 2016 13:28:53 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 17, 2016 13:28:53 GMT -7
“Tell me about your brother, Andy, what happened when you ran into him?” Andy knew the question was coming, yet her heart still skipped uncomfortably at the thought of talking about Nik. Well, her encounter with Nik was what started her toward this in the first place. It was what led her to Neville and what led her here, now, to seek actual professional help. It was the cherry on top of what she already knew. That she was slowly going crazy. That was the only way she knew how to describe what was happening to her. She looked down, taking a deep breath before speaking, "he's cruel, always has been. Smug and condescending. He knows how to get under my skin. To make people do exactly what he wants you to do using nothing but words," she was surprised at how fast and seamlessly the description came out of her mouth. She looked up after a moment, back to Parvati. "When I ran into him he made me sit with him and tried to goad me into starting a fight. He would have succeeded to if P-a friend hadn't intervened," she paused, "he threatened my family. The Longbottoms, I mean," her voice softened, "my real family," she added. She felt her eyes stinging again and quickly looked down. Why was this so hard? parvati patil macmillan
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last online Mar 22, 2024 20:49:17 GMT -7
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May 26, 2016 20:37:00 GMT -7
Post by parvati patil macmillan on May 26, 2016 20:37:00 GMT -7
Surprised to hear how fluid Andy was in her response, Parvati listened. “He's cruel,” Andy began, “always has been. Smug and condescending.” The words that she was using to describe her brother weren't particularly kind, and Parvati made a mental note of it. “He knows how to get under my skin. To make people do exactly what he wants you to do using nothing but words,” Andy went on to explain. When she ran into him, she said, he tried to goad her into starting a fight and nearly succeeded at it, if not for a friend's intervention.
“He threatened my family. The Longbottoms, I mean. My real family,” she corrected.
At the mention of the Longbottoms, Parvati's face lit up. Neville and Hannah were both so selfless; it only made sense that they would be the ones to take in someone in need. “They're good people, aren't they, the Longbottoms?” she asked Andy, turning to her desk and preemptively pulling a handkerchief from one of its drawers. She had always stood by Neville, even some thirty years before, when he had been the target of their peers' ridicule.
“If you need a moment, Andy, that's alright,” Parvati assured, passing the handkerchief over to her.
@lestrange
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last online Mar 28, 2024 17:09:50 GMT -7
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May 31, 2016 14:10:52 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 31, 2016 14:10:52 GMT -7
Andy nodded, noticing the lump that had grown in her throat. She was threatening to cry, and Andy was sick of crying. She cleared her throat before speaking, "they are. Best people I know," she looked up, wide eyed for a moment, "erh- no offense," she added. Always the proper socialite she was raised to be, careful not to offend anyone. Andy caught sight of the handkerchief Parvati was fetching and looked down again. Then, it was offered to her and Andy looked up again, just enough to catch sight of it. She nodded, reaching out to take it and holding it in her lap as she willed the tears to stay in her eyes. She bit her lip, looking back up at Parvati again. "I love them, Madame Macmillan. More than I've ever loved anything an-" she stopped, clenched her fists in her lap as her gaze hardened. "I'm... If anyone tried to hurt them I'd-" I'd kill them, was what she knew she was about to say, but she didn't want to say it. She didn't want that to be true. She looked down again. "I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me," she admitted. parvati patil macmillan
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last online Mar 22, 2024 20:49:17 GMT -7
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Jun 11, 2016 15:21:46 GMT -7
Post by parvati patil macmillan on Jun 11, 2016 15:21:46 GMT -7
Andy nodded her head in agreement with her about the Longbottoms, and the tears that Parvati had sworn that the girl was about to shed held off. “They are,” she said. “Best people I know.” Parvati couldn’t contest that—the Longbottoms, the Weasleys, and the Potters were some of the most genuine people she had ever come across in her life, and she felt so fortunate to be able to count them among her friends. Looking almost startled, Andy added that she meant no offense, though Parvati had taken none to begin with.
“I love them, Madam Macmillan. More than I've ever loved anything an—” Parvati watched as Andy’s fists clenched up. “I'm… If anyone tried to hurt them, I’d—” Andy didn’t say what it was that she would do, however. Instead, she looked down, the same way she had for much of their conversation so far. “I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me.”
“Why are you afraid that someone else might get hurt because of you, Andy?” Parvati kept her voice soft, hoping that she might be able to get an answer out of the young woman. If Andy or the Longbottoms had been threatened—by her brother or, perhaps, by someone else—she needed to know about it. And if Andy was planning on hurting anyone else, she needed to know about that, too.
@lestrange
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last online Mar 28, 2024 17:09:50 GMT -7
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Jun 12, 2016 17:48:23 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2016 17:48:23 GMT -7
"Why are you afraid that someone else might get hurt because of you, Andy?” That was the question of the hour, wasn't it? That was the thing that Andy needed to know as well. Why was she afraid? Did she think Nik would hurt someone? Or was she afraid she would... She knew the answer within an instant. She stood, "can I be excused now?" she asked, hands folded in front of her. They'd have to pick this up another time after... After she sorted through things more. She knew, somewhere deep inside, what she had to do. Voices of reason started to dissipate in her mind. Nevilles, Parvatis, her own. parvati patil macmillan
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