I Can Learn To Do It Too (Parvati)

[Deleted]

Everything was brand new. It was hard to explain and Anna knew that most people wouldn't be able to understand, but being named Hogwarts Champion changed everything for her and she wasn't sure how to deal with it. She was so excited to represent Hogwarts, but after her fight with Lucy, she wasn't exactly sure if the Goblet made the right decision. She didn't feel like she was up to the job.

Then she got an owl from her head of house, asking Anna to meet her at the pond so they could have a little talk. Well, Anna was nervous. So she went early, of course. She just couldn't seem to calm herself and the fact worried her slightly, but she was trying to deal with it. Maybe talking would help her out. She didn't know. 

Once she arrived at the pond, she waited not-so-patiently. She sat down and looked at the water, trying to figure out how she was going to make everything in her life less complicated. She had no idea.

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Their conversation in the side chamber hadn't covered as much as Anna Weasley would need to know about her role in the Triwizard Tournament. It had covered the basics—how the three Champions were now bound to compete against one another and how each of them would be advised by their respective school's representative—but Parvati knew that the challenges to come would be much more complicated than that. The last time that Hogwarts had hosted a Triwizard Tournament, Anna's own uncle had been one of the chosen four, and Cedric Diggory had been killed. The pressure on Anna to succeed, therefore, was considerable.

One advantage that Anna had over her competition was that her representative was already someone with whom she was familiar, and Parvati wouldn't let that go to waste. She wanted Anna to be the best prepared out of the three Champions, and her reasoning went beyond Gryffindor pride. Parvati knew the Weasleys, and she knew them well. Although Anna was unaware of it, she had a member of the Order of the Phoenix on her side. And, if anything were to happen to Anna, Parvati knew that she wouldn't be able to forgive herself for it.

The weather had been nice, if not slightly chilly, and Parvati didn't want Anna to feel trapped by the formality of having her meet her in her office. The pond on the school's grounds would be quiet enough for them to have a private conversation, she thought, so she had asked Anna there instead. If nothing else, it would be a pleasant change of scenery.

Parvati could see the young woman's ginger hair as she arrived at the pond. Anna was already sitting at the water's edge, and Parvati readjusted her cloak and sat down beside her. “Hi, Anna,” she smiled warmly. “Thinking about the Tournament?”

@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna turned when she heard Madam Macmillan talking to her. "Hello Madam Macmillan." She was excited to have hear head of house guide her through this process of being Hogwarts Champion, but at the same time it was very nerve-wracking. She'd never really been particularly close with any adults at Hogwarts, but that was all going to need to change now. Maybe it was a good thing though.

She smiled at the question. "Yes ... and no. I guess everything is mixing together now, so yes. I just ..." should Anna just let it out? She hadn't told many people about what happened with Lucy, but it was really bothering her. At the same time, their sisterly fight wasn't really something Anna wanted to share with anyone else. It was too ... upsetting. "I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do to prepare, and I'm not used to interviews so I'm a bit nervous." That was all true too. It was a good way to start, with the small things. Anna could do that. Then, as she felt them get closer, she could share more. That was the way she should do it.

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Anna replied that everything seemed to be “mixing together” where the Tournament was concerned, so her answer was really some combination of a yes and a no. Too, she expressed her concern about the interviews that she would have to do over the next few months.

“Overwhelming, isn't it?” Parvati asked empathetically, looking out at the water.

As it was, the Weasleys already received their share of attention from the press, as did she and many of the others who had played a role in the Second Wizarding War. They had all moved on with their lives, but it wasn't uncommon for a story to be run about where they were and what they were doing. It didn't matter that the majority of them had been just seventeen when they had defended Hogwarts; any time that the former members of Dumbledore's Army met in public, it became news.

Sugar-coating how difficult things would be for Anna would do her no good, Parvati decided. “You're the only girl in the Tournament, Anna.” Unlike the boys, the press would focus on every aspect of Anna's life, beyond how well she did in the Tasks. “From now on, everything you say,” she cautioned, “everything you do… It's all going to be public.”

“It isn't fair,” she acknowledged, “but the press won't always be kind to you, and I want you to know what to expect.” Parvati didn't want to use the word “failure” so early on, but she was sure that Anna would be torn down without adequate preparation.

@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna nodded, "Yes," she answered with a frown. She never realized how overwhelming it would be, how much becoming the Hogwarts Champion would change her life but here it was, looming over her every second. At first, it made her excited. Now ... now she didn't know how to deal with it, so she wasn't really dealing well.

Anna sighed, turning her attention to Madam Macmillan as she started to explain more. Anna liked this even less. From now on. Those were strong words and Anna felt like she was being crushed by all the weight of expectations that were being placed over her. First Oscar and Uncle Harry, now Madam Macmillan. It seemed like everywhere she turned, all she got was negative information. She turned her attention back to the pond, reaching forward with a hand to dip her fingertips in the water as she thought. What was she supposed to say to this barrage of information? Anything she did would be public, front page news because she was the only girl in the Tournament. So was Madam Macmillan trying to tell her to be someone other than herself? Everyone that knew Anna knew that she could have a temper when she felt like things were unfair, but most of the time Anna got along well with everyone and was happy and outgoing. Was that the only side she was allowed to show from now on? 

Anna felt herself writhing on the inside, reeling from the unexpected pressure. She knew she couldn't back out of the Tournament and she really didn't want to, but she was tired of people focusing on the negative. Telling her things were going to get hard wasn't helping. It was only making her feel like this was impossible, like she was going to break and like Lucy was right. The worst part was that the whole world would be watching, taking pictures as she failed. Fantastic.

Apparently her new life goal was to appease others now, so she gave a small smile to Madam Macmillan to begin the process. "Thank you for ... letting me know," she said with a small nod. She wasn't trying to make light of the situation, but she didn't know what else to say! "Oh thanks, now I'm really depressed. Guess I'll have to hide that though and show everyone the happy, enthusiastic me that's buried deep inside, thanks to Lucy and everyone else talking about the Tournament ..." well, that probably wouldn't go over well so Anna just kept on staring at the water, her thoughts a complicated mix of emotions. She didn't even realize she wasn't really participating in the conversation.

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

The last thing that Parvati wanted was for Anna to feel discouraged before the competition had even begun. She needed to devote everything she had to the Tournament; she couldn't allow herself to get burnt out so soon.

“Anna,” Parvati said, hoping to get her attention. “I'm here for you. Every step of the way.” It wouldn't always be easy, though she was prepared to support Anna through it all. “I worked for Witch Weekly for years,” she added. She knew how the major magazines worked; she knew how publicity worked, and she had the contacts to make sure that the British public would look upon Anna favorably.

“They're going to craft an image for you,” she explained. “The Prophet are, too.” Anna's family's reputation would either give her an edge or hurt her. She was at the mercy of strangers' quills. “Considering you've got Fenrir Greyback's son and a French boy who's—” Anna had met Émile, so it went without saying that the young man was arrogant, to say the least. “Well,” Parvati laughed, trying to remain professional. “I wouldn't worry too much.” She would handle any and all damage control as it came.

“I don't want you to change yourself for anyone,” Parvati emphasized before her next point, her voice almost hard. “But it's going to be disorientating,” she warned, “and that's why I'm here. Even if you just need a cry, Anna. That's my job, to be here for you.”

@annelise

[Deleted]

At the sound of Madam Macmillan saying her name, Anna turned to look at her. If she wasn't feeling so entirely overwhelmed at the moment, she would probably laugh at herself for her lack of enthusiasm. Here she was, Hogwarts Champion and she was upset about it. Everyone else was wishing they were her, and she wanted to complain about it. How selfish was that? Oscar would not be happy if he knew. When she heard the older woman say that she was there for her, Anna smiled- a real smile this time. "Thank you. That really means a lot to me." Anna meant it. The fact that there were people supporting her, willing to help her, gave her a small feeling of peace.

Anna couldn't keep herself from grinning when Madam Macmillan started talking about her competition. Rather, when she mentioned Emile. Anna knew exactly what she was talking about. She nodded, trying to show she understood, but her throat felt tight, closed off. This was the part she was nervous about. What if being herself wasn't enough and no one liked her. Granted, as long as she kept her friends (and Oscar), she really didn't care what anyone else though, but it still mattered. Somehow.

Anna nodded when she finished. "So what do I do? I'm not sure how to be myself for them, or what is expected of me. I don't know how to talk to reporters or really talk about myself. What if I come off as something that I'm not?" There. That was her true worry. That she'd try to be herself and fail. That the media, the world, would see a side of her that didn't exist and that she would be powerless to correct her mistake. She gave a small smile. "I have a feeling I'll be taking advantage of that offer, by the way." It was nice having someone older she could talk to about this, she decided. Granted, Uncle Harry knew her better, but out of all the people at the school, Anna was glad she could have Madam Macmillan to help her.

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Glad to see that Anna appeared to be making sense of everything, Parvati nodded at her words of thanks. Anna had more support than she realized—from her family, from her friends, from most of the school, if not most of wizarding Britain and Ireland; she just needed to believe in her own abilities. The boys from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons seemed to be evenly matched to her, from what Parvati had seen of them. The Tournament wasn’t meant to crush any of its competitors, and that was part of the reason why Neville had put the Age Line in place. All three were in their final year of schooling, and, though the tasks would be a challenge—the point of the whole thing—they were all fully capable, as far as their skills went.

Parvati couldn’t do a thing about Émile Chevalier’s egotistical attitude or the fact that Elias was the son of Fenrir Greyback, nor did she want to. Anna was a Weasley; she was a cousin of the current Minister for Magic; she was a Gryffindor, and that alone would sell her. Speaking up, Anna expressed her concern about being herself for the reporters—or even what was expected of her, in that regard. “I don't know how to talk to reporters,” she said, “or really talk about myself. What if I come off as something that I'm not?” She also thanked her for being a shoulder upon which she would be able to cry.

“Answer their questions, and mind your words,” Parvati advised her, knowing how easy it was for statements to end up misconstrued. “‘Please,’ ‘thank you,’” she elaborated. Showing respect would go a long way. “If you’re not comfortable answering a question, tell them that you’d rather not comment.” Even saying something more than that could be taken out of context. “If they mention anything… political,” Parvati added, tensing up and searching for an appropriate word, “anything… about the attacks, or about the Ministry, don’t answer.” She feared that, given the opportunity, some of the journalists who were lacking in morals could try to smear Hogwarts or Victoire to further their own propaganda.

“It’s your job to represent the best of Hogwarts,” Parvati smiled, trying to get off of such a serious subject. “And, honestly, Anna,” she added, “you’ve already got that.” She just had to show the rest of the world.

@annelise

[Deleted]

Maybe talking to Madam Macmillan really was a good thing. At first, Anna felt weighed down by all the expectations, but as the conversation continued they seemed to lift little by little. It was nice. She nodded at the suggestions of being polite. Anna really didn't see that as being a problem, but she'd make it a point to be polite to the reporters. "I'd rather not comment," she muttered under her breath after Madam Macmillan said it. She had a feeling she would be saying that a bit, especially when she was told what not to talk about during the interviews. Nothing about the attacks or the ministry. It was a lot to take in, but Anna was finally starting to feel like it wasn't impossible. These weren't hard things, just little things she needed to remember. She logged them away in her mind, hopefully she would remember them when she needed to. 

Anna smiled back as Madam Macmillan seemed to finish. "Thank you. For everything. Really, it doesn't seem as bad now. I mean, I know this isn't going to be easy ... particularly the interviews," she added almost as an afterthought, "But it doesn't feel so overwhelming now. I can do this!" She grinned widely at her head of house. "Is there anything else you think I should know now?"

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

With Anna’s confidence about the “public image” side of things successfully boosted, Parvati was prepared to remind her, that, unfortunately, the interviews and photographs were just part of being a Champion, and she hadn’t even touched on the actual tasks that she and the two boys would have to compete. Anna’s asking if there was anything else that she needed to know provided her with a welcome segue into the topic, which she took.

“The tasks.” What awaited Anna in the tournament itself was a mystery to Parvati, though she could advise her based on what she knew of Triwizard Tournaments past. “I know as much as you do about what’s coming,” she readily admitted, “but prepare yourself as much as you can.” Much of it would have to be on her; she would have to use what she had learned in school so far and research anything and everything that she could get her hands on. For what she could, though, Parvati was willing to help.

She might not have been able to trust Anna’s competition to play by the rules, but Parvati was careful to set her limits. “This is probably where I should remind you that you aren’t allowed outside help during the tournament,” she provided as a disclaimer, “but I think it’s only fair that you should get some additional practice until then.” There were plenty of defensive spells that—Parvati hoped—Anna had learned about but had never actually had to use, the kinds of things that would be necessary when thinking on her feet. “How are you at Defence Against the Dark Arts?”

@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna nodded when Madam Macmillan told her she needed to prepare as much as she could. "I know. I'm trying to go through notes and anything that might be useful, I just wish I knew what was coming." Really she didn't expect any knowledge. She knew that Uncle Harry wasn't supposed to know about the dragons before the actual task, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they kept this a secret. She still wish they would tell her. 

Defense Against the Dark Arts. Anna smiled, "I do very well at that class. I mean, I'm not top of the class, but I feel pretty confident with it. Much more than I do with Potions, that is." She might as well tell Madam Macmillan her weakness, since that might be an important thing to know. "I'm really bad when it comes to Potions, but Defense Against the Dark Arts is good. Also, I'm practicing with my friends, whatever I think of that might be useful. Do you have anything specific that you think I should work on?" Anna hoped Madam Macmillan would have some advice. She wanted to be guided through this, as much as possible. 

parvati patil macmillan