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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 19, 2016 13:05:36 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2016 13:05:36 GMT -7
If Anna had been talking to Uncle Harry and not the reporter version of him, she would have glared at him for his next question. Did he really think reporters were going to be asking questions like this? It almost felt like he was trying to make her slip up or trying to come up with a question that she wouldn’t be able to answer rationally, but Anna pushed that feeling away. Uncle Harry was trying to help, so she needed to behave the same way she would in a real interview. She shook her head slowly, “No, the Tournament is not a game to me. I see it more as a challenge. It’s a way for me to see all the things I’ve learned during my school experience and whether or not I can use them in a real-life situation.” She took a deep breath, wondering if she should continue or not. Anna decided to simply go for it. If she shouldn’t have continued, Uncle Harry would tell her and she could avoid that mistake in a real interview. “I also want to become an Auror, so I feel like the tasks will help me realize if I’m up for that type of a vocation as well, if I can think on my feet and do well in difficult circumstances while in front of a crowd, then I feel like I would be able to think clearly in other situations as well.” She wanted to ask Uncle Harry if that made sense, or if she should say something like that if a question like this were asked in an interview, but she didn’t. They’d only just started the interview. She braced herself for whatever difficult question he was about to ask next. HARRY JAMES POTTER
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 20, 2016 18:16:53 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2016 18:16:53 GMT -7
Harry was impressed with Anna’s response to his trick question. It was perhaps the best answer she could have given, especially because none of it seemed overly gimmicky. He made a note of that on his parchment, hoping that Anna remembered what she had said so she could repeat it back, and maybe practice it a few times. It didn’t need to be overly rehearsed, of course, but it could still be polished. Especially that bit about being an Auror. Harry loved that his nieces and nephews, and yes, even his son, were interested in going into the same line of work as him, but it seemed unwise to flaunt it. Harry was determined to make sure that none of the Weasley or Potter children got by on their last name alone, and if keeping their ambitions a secret kept others from thinking that they were riding the waves of nepotism, so be it.
“There have been debates about how the Goblet chooses its Champions, but it’s generally accepted that it chooses the contestant that will best represent each school.” Harry told Anna to preface his next question. “What do you think makes you best able to represent Hogwarts?” If he had wanted to be mean, Harry could have made Anna talk about what made each of the other Champions the best representatives for their schools, too, but he figured he had already given Anna enough trick questions for now.
@annelise
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 21, 2016 20:00:43 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2016 20:00:43 GMT -7
Man, he was asking good questions. And hard ones too. Anna wasn't quite sure how to answer; she wanted a second to think, but she also didn't want him to think she wasn't going to answer. "Well, I haven't really looked into the Goblet at all and I don't know how it works, but I'd want it to choose me for my determination. I work really hard for things that matter to me and I don't give up. I feel like that is what the Triwizard Tournament is about. You know, other than making friends," Anna added with a smile. "I mean, the tasks are about showing ourselves and others that we can make it through hard things, that we've learned the skills that we need to do so. Life isn't easy, but if we face our challenges and do our best, our effort will show. So I hope that's what will show through my experience in the tasks, that determination and hard work pay off." Anna paused for a second, trying to decide if she wanted to add something else or if she was good with that. She was good with it. HARRY JAMES POTTER
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 22, 2016 17:38:01 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 17:38:01 GMT -7
Harry nodded along when Anna said that she hadn’t looked into the history of the Goblet, but scratched something down under the ‘negatives’ column – admitting ignorance was never a good thing. Her actual answer was a good one, though. Determination was a safe character trait to say one had, because it was neither inherently good or bad. Being determined for the wrong reasons could end up messing someone up in the Tournament, if they weren’t careful. And saying that determination was what the Tournament was about wasn’t far from the truth. Anna hit the nail on the head when she said that the Tournament was about making friends, and it led perfectly into Harry’s next question. “Like you said, building international friendships is one of the main premises of the Triwizard Tournament.” He said. “Have you created any such friendships?” Part of that was for the interview, but Harry was also curious as to what his niece had to say on a personal level. Goodness knew she didn’t talk to Percy about those things, and Harry wasn’t going to blame her for that, but he wanted to know, and without Percy, had no real way of discovering that information.
@annelise
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 23, 2016 13:47:11 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2016 13:47:11 GMT -7
Anna smiled, pleased with Uncle Harry's next question, for the first time. She did have foreign friends! Well, one more than a bunch, but she was proud of the fact that she and Oscar were so close ... even though that may have broken the other day and he was still gone. That didn't matter. Anna brought her thoughts back to the present. "I have," she told him honestly. "My closest new friend is from Beauxbatons. His name is Oscar Gauthier and I've really enjoyed getting to know him so far. I think it's been really good to have the chance to get to know so many people that we wouldn't have met otherwise and I'm glad that I have him for a friend." Anna hesitated. How much was she supposed to say if someone asked a question like this in an interview?Obviously she wasn't going to tell them her feelings for Oscar, but should she mention that he was helping her study for the first Task or that he was going to take her to the Yule Ball? She just didn't know. "We started to become friends before the announcement of who the champions were, but since then he's decided to try and help me prepare for the tasks," she finally added, even though she knew it was random and didn't really fit in with what she'd been saying before. Honestly, she wouldn't tell that to a reporter, but she wanted to tell her uncle. She wanted him to know that Oscar existed, but even more strangely ... she wanted to tell him about the whole thing! About how confused she was when it came to Oscar, about him asking her to the dance and teaching her how to dance and then kissing her and ignoring her before leaving to go back to France. She wanted to tell someone how nervous she was that he wouldn't come back, and how much that scared her. She wanted to ask someone if it was impossible to think that she might be in love with someone she'd only known for a few months. It was all just a jumble in her mind and though Anna knew she couldn't say that to a reporter, or even show the internal confusion that she was probably not hiding very well right now, all of a sudden she wanted to end this faux interview and just talk to her uncle. Merlin knew she didn't have anyone else to talk to about it. Well, of course her friends were there, but she didn't want to talk to them about this. They were probably tired of her talking about Oscar. She couldn't tell her father, and her mother rarely kept secrets of this magnitude from him. And as much as she trusted Madam Macmillan, she wasn't going to tell her either. Anna was still smiling and doing her best to not show all outward signs of her inward turmoil, but she wondered if Uncle Harry still knew her well enough to see the confusion in her eyes. And if he did, she wondered if he would want to talk to her about it. Or would he just continue on with their interview? HARRY JAMES POTTER
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 29, 2016 16:56:43 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 16:56:43 GMT -7
Harry was beyond pleased when Anna was able to answer his question immediately, and to the affirmative. She really seemed to have taken the whole spirit of the Tournament to heart, including making friends with a foreigner, a boy from Beauxbatons. Anna had nothing but glowing reviews for the boy, which was perfect, considering that anything bad she said could be twisted as being animosity towards Beauxbatons as a whole. Adding that he was friends with her before the Champions were chosen was perhaps not the strongest choice, considering it implied things about the foreigners that she’d do better without implying, but it still worked, since it was meant to compliment this Oscar thing. Anna seemed to hesitate, which Harry found strange, because she had finished speaking, and adding any more would just be silly. He looked up from the piece of parchment where he had been noting his thoughts about the addition she made, and found himself eye-to-eye with someone who was clearly confused. Harry set down his quill, slight frown pulling at the corners of his lips. “Anna, is everything alright?” He pushed the parchment to the side to indicate that their interview was paused, if not ended, for now. Harry didn’t often get to spend time with his nieces and nephews, so when he got the chance to see one of them, and she was obviously distressed, he didn’t want to miss the chance to offer his sage advice or, more likely, a crying shoulder.
@annelise
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 29, 2016 22:00:22 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2016 22:00:22 GMT -7
Uncle Harry was taking notes, which wasn't a surprise in the slightest. He'd been taking notes throughout their entire mock interview. Anna was sure part of the reason he did that was to help her get used to talking to people who weren't looking at her the entire time, but he was probably actually taking notes on what she said as well. Hopefully she wasn't doing too bad. She waited for him to ask his next question, though what she really wanted to do was tell him what was going on. Then he looked up from his writing and Anna could tell that he knew something was off. Obviously he didn't know what, but he knew something wasn't right. She watched as he put down the quill and pushed everything to the side as he focused on her, asking if everything was alright. Anna's mouth opened and closed as she tried to decide what to say. After a second of not knowing what to say first, Anna's gaze turned to the ground. Now that Uncle Harry asked the question, she felt her emotions getting the better of her, but she was definitely going to try and keep them under control. Her first thought was telling him about Oscar and her worries with him, but when he said the word alright something else popped into her mind. Lucy. She winced as she remembered what her twin told her the night she was selected. Taking a deep breath, Anna lifted her gaze until she was looking Uncle Harry in the eyes. "You won't tell my parents," The phrase was supposed to be a demand, but Anna's voice made it into a question without meaning to. "Please," she added, biting her lip nervously. Now that she was so close to telling him, Anna wanted nothing more than to actually do it, but she did not want her parents to find out the things she was about to tell her favorite Uncle. She couldn't say anything else until she knew that she wouldn't be getting an angry owl from home tonight or in the morning. HARRY JAMES POTTER
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 30, 2016 19:45:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2016 19:45:05 GMT -7
Anna seemed relieved for him to put the parchment and quill beside, which Harry could understand. Interviews ending was a good feeling in and of itself, but interviews ending because you felt on the brink of emotional collapse was even better. He had expected his niece to begin spilling her guts as soon as her mouth opened, but nothing of the sort happened. Instead, she just asked that Harry not tell her parents. “Of course not.” Harry promised. Of all of the Weasley children, Percy was easily his least favorite. Harry knew that he had meant well and all of that, but he had seen how Percy’s betrayal had hurt the Weasley family, the people that he loved, and even time couldn’t erase all of that. Audrey was a different scenario entirely, but since Harry hadn’t exactly been looking for reasons to spend time with Percy, his interactions with his brother-in-law’s wife were also quite limited. “I just want you to be alright, Anniebear.” Merlin, it had been forever since he had called Anna by that name. Most kids stopped appreciating the nicknames by the time they were eight or nine, which meant it had been almost a decade now since he had called Anna the pet name. How time flew.
@annelise
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Nov 30, 2016 21:51:16 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2016 21:51:16 GMT -7
Anna breathed out a sigh of relief when he promised not to tell her parents. Not that she expected him to argue with her on that, but it was nice to have that confirmation all the same. Annd didn't want to cause family problems, which would probably ensue if her parents ever found out what happened with Lucy. Not that she knew which side either of them would pick, but she didn't want to have to find out. She smiled when he called her Anniebear, the old nickname bringing her back to a younger time when she and Uncle Harry were close. She used to love being around him whenever she got the chance. When did things start to change between them? "I feel like I'm breaking," Anna admitted in a whisper. She didn't know where to start, but she had a feeling that once she did, it would all come pouring out at once. She looked down at her hands, only then realizing that she was wringing them. She didn't know when that started. "I- I can't sleep very well. Ever since the tournament announcement. I keep having these ... dreams. Where everything goes wrong and I-" she broke off, not wanting to fully explain what happened in her dreams, though she assumed that Uncle Harry would realize that she was dying in them. Melodramatic, yes, but she didn't know how to stop them and she could only think of one thing that caused them. "Lucy found me that night. Halloween night," Anna was still talking quietly, still looking at her hands. She knew her explanations were disjointed and that she probably wasn't making any sense, but she couldn't change that. "She was angry," Anna admitted, her tone emotionless. "She yelled at me, saying that I didn't deserve to be the Champion, that I'm not talented enough and that she couldn't wait to see me fail in front of everyone. She said I couldn't compare to her or my friends, called me a failure and a bunch of other things," Anna didn't want to explain it all. "And I know it's ridiculous, but I can't stop from doubting myself. I know I'm a good witch. I do pretty well in school and there's got to be a reason the Goblet chose me, but ... I can't make her words go away and I feel like they're eating me up inside. I know it's stupid," she repeated. "I know. I just can't change it and my dreams seem to confirm everything she said about me and I ..." Anna trailed off, looking up at her Uncle with sad eyes. At least she wasn't about to cry. "Shouldn't my family be my biggest support? My parents, my sister? Instead, I feel like all they do is doubt me and I don't know what to do anymore. Nothing I do is good enough for them." Anna wasn't done yet. She still wanted to tell him about Oscar, but first she wanted to listen to Uncle Harry. What could he possibly have to say to all of that? HARRY JAMES POTTER
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Dec 4, 2016 8:41:09 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 8:41:09 GMT -7
Harry hadn’t expected his heart to break when Anna whispered her admission to him, but damn him if it didn’t. As much as Harry wished that he could tell Anna something that would keep her from feeling the way she felt, he didn’t want to lie to his niece. “Let me tell you a secret, Anna.” Harry said, reaching for her hand so he could squeeze it. “We all break sometimes. And life isn’t about not breaking – it’s about knowing how to put yourself back together after you do.” It wasn’t supposed to happen this early, they were supposed to have time before they were forced to see the dark side of the real world, but no one was being allowed that luxury anymore. The Purifiers had made sure of that. And the Tournament – well, Harry had had what little innocence he had retained stolen by the Tournament, and he understood the frustration, understood how it could strip you of everything that you had. He had had so much help, and still barely survived. And Anna, thinking that she was going to die…Harry wished he could tell her that she wouldn’t, but he didn’t want to lie. Harry would sooner give up his own life than have another child taken from the world because of the damn Triwizard Tournament, but that wasn’t allowed, and even Harry Potter himself was sometimes constrained by rules and regulations.
“Well, I can’t pretend I can make everything go away.” Harry told Anna. “But sometimes the easiest way to get something out of your head is literally to get it out of your head.” He reached for his parchment, and tore a strip off the bottom, pushing it towards Anna and offering her the quill. “Write down what she said to you.” He paused. “And then rip it up. Light it on fire. Do something to destroy it.” It was something that Harry himself had never tried, but he had heard that it was useful, and he wasn’t going to deny Anna some peace of mind just because he had never bothered to try something before. When Anna mentioned her family, Harry frowned a little. He knew that Percy could be a tough dad sometimes, but he would’ve thought that he would’ve been pleased that Anna was representing Hogwarts. “Your family doesn’t stop with your parents and your sister, Anna.” Harry reminded her gently. “If I know Lily at all, I’d be willing to bet that she’s over the moon for you.” Harry licked his lips a little. It stunk that Anna’s immediate family wasn’t being supportive of her, but the Weasley-Potter clan as a whole wanted her to do well, and he wanted to make sure Anna knew that.
@annelise
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Dec 5, 2016 22:54:43 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2016 22:54:43 GMT -7
The moment Uncle Harry reached for her hand, Anna took it, drinking in the comforting sensation as he began to offer advice. She was surprised by how much that simple gesture meant to her, but since Oscar left she felt so alone and now she didn't. At least, not as much. "Thank you," she said, nodding when he told her that life was about putting herself together after she broke. She hoped that he understood the thanks was for so much more than just his advice. Being able to talk about her issues and struggles was more comforting than she'd expected it to be and she was glad that he was there for her. She nodded as he suggested she write down all the things on her mind and then destroy it. She reached for the piece of parchment, meaning to tell him that she'd give that a try later, but then he was handing her a quill and Anna found herself giving him a hesitant smile before reaching forward and scribbling like a mad woman. It was nice to be able to get it out, to write exactly what Lucy said to her. It would probably be even better once she destroyed the paper, but she didn't want to do that now. She crumpled it and shoved it in an inner pocket of her robes so it wouldn't fall out. "I'm going to destroy it later," Anna told Uncle Harry with a shrug. Then he mentioned all the family that Anna had and she couldn't help but smile as he mentioned Lily. "She is," Anna confirmed. It was true. Out of all her family, Lily had probably been the most vocally supportive of Anna being Hogwarts' Triwizard Champion. Just thinking about her cousin brought a smile to Anna's face. "And so are my friends, of course. I guess I just got caught up in Lucy ... and I haven't heard from my parents in a while." There. That was another thing that was annoying her, though she wasn't going to bring it up any more than that. Thinking of things she wanted to bring up, Anna couldn't decide whether or not she should talk to Uncle Harry about Oscar. Would he have any advice or just go all awkward-adult on her? Besides, would he really be interested in hearing about her teenage romance? Anna bit her tongue for the moment, still debating whether or not she wanted to say anything. She probably wouldn't. HARRY JAMES POTTER
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Dec 28, 2016 18:29:46 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 18:29:46 GMT -7
Harry frowned when Anna put the piece of paper in her pocket instead of destroying it. The whole point of it was that you let go of whatever you had written down, not that you carried it with you until it was convenient to destroy. “Do it now, Anna.” Harry said, his voice still mild but offering no room for argument. “You’ll be happier for it, I promise.” He trusted Anna, of course, but he also worried that she’d become obsessive over the paper, and let it remind her of all her fears and failures. Then the exercise would have been more hurt than help.
“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Harry said sagely. “But if you’re too busy thinking about how dark it is, then you can never find the light.” Harry put his palms down on the table, and then smiled at Anna. “Maybe you should take a break for a bit. Not think about the Tournament. I can give you my notes, and you can look at them later, maybe, when you’re feeling more up to it?”
@annelise
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Dec 28, 2016 19:03:44 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 19:03:44 GMT -7
Uncle Harry told her that she needed to write it down now and Anna looked at his face, surprised by how serious he was about it. She nodded slowly, "Alright," she said, pulling the piece of parchment out again. She pulled out a quill and then put it down on the table in front of her. It was a lot easier than she thought to write it all down and put her feelings out there. It seemed like it only took her a few minutes, but she was sure Uncle Harry was probably super bored. Anna nodded when Uncle Harry started talking about darkness and light and happiness. It made sense. Basically he was telling her that she needed to remember to be happy even when the circumstance didn't warrant it, right? Then he said that maybe she should take a break from the tournament and look at his notes later. Maybe he was right. "You know what? I think I'll try that. Thanks for ... everything. For talking to me and helping me get things out and practice. I appreciate it," Anna told him, offering a small smile. She wanted to give him a hug, but shouldn't she wait until their practice/interview was over? Ahh, to heck with it! She stood up and moved over to him, wrapping her arms around him and giving him a tight hug. "Really, thank you," she muttered before pulling away. She needed this. HARRY JAMES POTTER
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last online Apr 27, 2024 11:31:12 GMT -7
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Dec 28, 2016 19:09:11 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2016 19:09:11 GMT -7
Anna obeyed his instructions when it came to the parchment, and for that, Harry was glad. And then she agreed to take a break from the Tournament, which made him even happier. Sometimes it was easier when you were told to take a break, because then you didn’t feel guilty about it. Harry accepted Anna’s hug with a smile, squeezing her perhaps a little too tight to him. Since she had agreed to take a break, it didn’t seem to make sense to continue this any longer. “Any other day you’re free, you can owl me, and I’ll see if I can make it fit?” Harry suggested. He doubted there was going to be much more time, but there was also a significant stretch in between the First and Second tasks in which they could do as much practice as possible. “Have a great day, Annie.” And then he was gone.
@annelise
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