And Only Change Is Here to Stay (Winnie)

[parvati patil macmillan]

Quality Quidditch Supplies, in all her years of being a mother to twin boys, should have become less of a foreign territory to Parvati than it was, yet she had always had Ernie go with their sons—whether that was to browse through the shop or to buy something of which they were actually in need. She now regretted having done that, particularly since Sav was eyeing a career in professional Quidditch and she was intent on surprising him with some new gear—possibly even a new broomstick, if she could convince Ernie to contribute to the cost of it—before the start of September.

While it wasn't even June, she knew that she had to start somewhere and talk to someone who knew what was realistic. The fastest racing brooms on the market, while visually appealing, probably weren't very affordable (although it was incredibly tempting to make the investment in Gryffindor's Quidditch team). As long as she was buying something useful that Sav didn't already own and that would last him through his seventh year without needing to be repaired or replaced, Parvati would consider it a success.

Initially, she waited just inside the door to see if someone would show up behind the till but began to browse around after a few minutes. She walked past a display of used broomsticks, noticed the model of one of them, and laughed softly to herself. It was a Firebolt—still in reasonable shape after so many years. And yet it felt like yesterday that it had been the most sought-after broomstick, but that had been some thirty years back.

@winnie

[Deleted]

Winnie was no stranger in Quality Quidditch Supplies, she had always enjoyed flying and she loved Quidditch even if she didn't get to play as much as she wanted to. But the girl had a love for the sport and was happy to be able to play as much as she actually could. Right now she had been taking a trip down to Diagon Alley and like she often did, she ended up making a pitstop into Quality Quidditch Supplies, just for a look - but, that often ended up with her leaving with at least a few new things. Today she was hoping to be able to pick out a broom and hopefully get enough that she could buy it before the new school year would begin - today was just a look for that part however.

Plus she was hoping to be able to have a new broom to play on the Quidditch team this year, which was already something she was looking forward to - even if she may not go after Quidditch for a career - it was something she would always love. That she was sure of. So for now she was wandering around the store before she would be heading over to the brooms to see if there was one she might be able to get when she made her trip later in the holidays for school supplies. But her attention was caught at first when she heard a light laugh, but that wasn't what fully caught her attention, but rather when she looked up to see who it was - she happened to see her very own Head of House - instead of a fellow student as she had at first expected to see.

Quietly she made her way over, smiling as she nods and moves over to say hello, she wondered briefly - was it supposed to be strange? To see a teacher - or other staff member outside of school, but for Winnie it was more interesting than anything else - although she was wondering one thing, "What am I supposed to call you out side of school..?"

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Parvati was brought back from her moment of reminiscence by the sight of one of her Gryffindors, Winifred “Winnie” Meagle, who nodded and smiled as she approached her. Winnie was about to enter her seventh year, which put her in both the same year and House as Savtaj. Parvati began to wonder if Winnie would find it strange if she asked her for advice on what to purchase, although it was Winnie who spoke first.

“What am I supposed to call you outside of school…?”

Forgetting, momentarily, how unusual it must have been for her—and for the rest of the students, for that matter—to see a Hogwarts staff member outside of school and in the “real world” again, Parvati paused. She didn't take offense to the question at all, however unexpected it might have been for her to hear.

“You can still call me Madam Macmillan,” she answered. That didn't change just because it was summertime. “Or you can call me Parvati, if you'd like.” Truly, she had no preference either way. Her married name was what she continued to use most often within the context of her work at Hogwarts, but that didn't mean that her given name had disappeared. Her colleagues still addressed her as “Parvati”, for one. Being on a first-name basis with students while in the castle could be viewed as too informal, though she was still “Aunt Parvati” to her niece and nephew and “Mum” to her sons, regardless. “Whichever is more comfortable for you, Winnie,” she decided. “How's your summer so far?”

@winnie

[Deleted]

Winnie was curious, like any student would be about seeing a Hogwarts Staff member outside of school. But it was also interesting and it was kind of fun to see one of them just doing normal things. Mundane and somewhat boring even, like shopping - it was fun to see, so she wasn't all that bothered - but of course she was curious which was why she had happily approached. Plus she had always liked Madam Macmillan well enough - some of the staff members were rather well, boring in Winnie's mind. The idea of seeing those ones outside of school was one that was almost creepy to think about. So it being Madam Macmillan who she saw - well she was pleased by this at the very least. 

The response to her question was one she hadn't fully expected, while yes she had considered just calling her what she usually would - the offer to use her first name was surprising but it was certainly something that Winnie wasn't going to just let be pushed aside. Her face lit up, a wide happy grin forming on her face as she spoke again, "Well then - It's lovely to see you out side of school Parvati." she was almost a little giddy at the chance to use a less formal way to converse with a staff member, "My Summer? So far - its pretty good, how about your break?" she happily continued the conversation, glancing over the things on display as she spoke.

"No offence to you -," she started quietly, glancing back with a small smile, "But I didn't know you were too into Quidditch - or are you looking for someone else? I didn't want to assume," Winnie shrugged quickly, giving an almost sheepish look that couldn't hide the tiny spark in her eyes. It was kind of fun learning about what some of the staff did out side of school.

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Winnie did then address her as Parvati, which, admittedly, sounded a little odd at first, though the look on the girl's face was such that someone might have thought that she had just gotten away with murder. “My summer?” she asked. “So far—it's pretty good, how about your break?"

“That's good,” Parvati smiled. “Mine has been relatively quiet so far,” she said, though that was only because what had happened to the visiting students had happened before summer's start. It was calm now, for the most part, though that was without including the Order or her worrying over how much Padma was having to take on at work because of the international nature of what had occurred.

“No offense to you—” Parvati paused initially, wondering what Winnie was going to say. The girl's smile, however, told her that it wouldn't be anything too bad. she started quietly, glancing back with a small smile, "But I didn't know you were too into Quidditch—or are you looking for someone else? I didn't want to assume.”

“I’m not,” Parvati assured her with a laugh, having taken no offense to the comment; it wasn’t a stretch to say that she wasn’t exactly a “Quidditch person”. She didn’t mind watching matches, which could get quite exciting, but she didn’t follow the league tables or anything of that nature and never had. “I'm actually looking to buy something for Savtaj,” she clarified for Winnie. “I was thinking that he could use a new broom for September.”

@winnie

[Deleted]

Okay it was a little odd to address an adult by their first name, but there was no way that Winnie wasn't going to do it - she had been offered the oppertunity and by god she was going to run with it. Besides - Madam Macmillan had always been pretty nice, and if she was allowing it, well - Winnie wasn't one to reject that chance.

She happily smiled, shifting slightly where she stood as she nodded, hearing about how her break had been so far. With how things had began with the Summer - it was well, surprising how quiet that things had actually been. "I've kind of been waiting for something else to happen... not that I want something to happen but.." she shrugged as she spoke, she had just been waiting for the other shoe to drop really which considering the past year or two - it wasn't something that should just be overlooked or ignored. It was logical - there were bad things happening all around them, there was a feeling in the air that it wasn't over.

For now though she smiled, asking about why Parvati was actually in the Quidditch shop, and causing her to laugh well - Winnie took that as a bonus, "Ohh! Is it a present or just because he need a new broom?" While Winnie wasn't what anyone would call close - she did know Savtaj and well, Winnie had followed Quidditch since she knew what it was - thankfully she was getting a chance to play for herself as well this year, "Well - if you want I could totally help - I was actually looking at some brooms myself, I'm hoping to get a new one myself by September." As she spoke her eyes lit up, clearly excited at the thought, "I'm getting to play myself this year so - its a good investment I think." 

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

“I've kind of been waiting for something else to happen…” Winnie voiced, adding that she didn't actually want anything to happen. It wasn't the first time that something tragic had occurred, and the students' concern was perfectly understandable.

Parvati nodded solemnly. “I understand,” More than Winnie knew, she understood the feeling. No one knew what was coming next or when. They could try to guess; they could increase security where they thought it was needed, but they would never really know who or what would be targeted.

Discussing the present moment and her being in a Quidditch supply shop, Winnie seemed to put the pieces together as soon as she mentioned Sav. “Is it a present or just because he needs a new broom?”

“It's a surprise,” she explained, “or I'd like to keep it one. Sav doesn't know I'm here.” Parvati didn't think that Sav would ever suspect her to have gone to Quality Quidditch Supplies, unless, perhaps, she came away from the shop smelling of broom polish. She had always placed a greater emphasis on his need to do well academically than on his need to continue developing his skills on the pitch, which she knew had been a source of frustration for him. He wanted to play Quidditch professionally, and, although she didn't like the potential for serious injury that came along with the job, she was happy to support him if that was what he wanted to do; he just couldn't forget that he still had another year of school to go.

Winnie said that she thought that a new broom seemed like a good investment to her, since she was looking to get a new broom, too. She was going to be playing Quidditch in the coming academic year, she shared excitedly.

“You're joining the Quidditch team?” Parvati asked, excited for her. “Which position?”

@winnie

[Deleted]

Winnie wasn't one to really shift around the subject, she knew that it would be understood what she meant and didn't have to explain it, she was sure the same thing was on everyones mind. None of them knew what was going to happen next, or what to expect - when it would happen - it was all unknown and the unknown was something scary no matter who you were or how old you were. Everyone was worried about what was to come.

The present moment was far easier to discuss and Winnie happily jumped at the opertunity to discuss it after putting the pieces together quickly. Plus, Quidditch was always something she loved to discuss, be it talking of playing the actual sport or talking equipment or even the professional teams, she'd happily slip in and talk about it. Hearing that the broom Parvati was looking for would be a surprise, she couldn't help but smile - it would be a great surprise for anyone into flying and Quidditch. She nodded slightly, offering a small smile, "I'm sure it'll be a great surprise - you really don't come in here often do you?" it was an innocently asked question with no judgment or malice, but she knew her own mother rarely would come into the Quidditch Supplies Store unless it was for a gift or something.

“You're joining the Quidditch team?”
“Which position?”

The questions were ones that Winnie was more than happy to jump on, "Yeah, I've wanted to join for awhile and well - its going to be my final year so I kind of wanted to make sure I did as much as I can, I love Quidditch so." she gives a small shrug before smiling happily, "I'm going to be a Beater," she knew it was one of the more dangerous positions but that was kind of a bit of a thrill along to it. "Would you like me to help you pick a broom out?"

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Winnie agreed that a new broom would be a great surprise for Savtaj. “You really don't come in here often, do you?”

Maybe it made her uncool, but Parvati really didn't. She couldn't pretend to know the next thing about Quidditch, and at least Winnie found it amusing. “I'm not in Diagon Alley much,” she reminded her. For most of the year now, she was at Hogwarts. Hogsmeade was within closer reach, so most of her trips outside of the castle were just to the village. “But, even then…” Parvati really didn't come into Quality Quidditch Supplies often. She could count on one hand, in fact, the number of times that she had come into the shop in the past two or three years. Maybe she had made a trip there once a year since her sons had started at Hogwarts, but that was certainly an overestimate. “Usually, it's my ex-husband's job,” she explained.

When Winnie confirmed that she was joining the Gryffindor Quidditch team for the upcoming year, Parvati smiled, particularly when Winnie mentioned that she was going to be playing Beater, the same position Savtaj played.

“Sav plays Beater, too,” Parvati stated, though Winnie must have known that already. “He'll also be your captain for this year,” she added, “so you'll be in great hands.”

“Would you like me to help you pick a broom out?”

“If you don't mind,” Parvati answered. “I'll admit that I don't know what I'm doing.” She needed to know, at least, that what she was going to buy wasn't going to put Sav at a disadvantage; anything that would get her bonus points in Sav's eyes was an additional plus.

@winnie

[Deleted]

Winnie was gently teasing, she had always quite liked Parvati well enough, compared to some of the adults who worked at the school she was a bit more fun at least. Perhaps it was because she had her own children or something, she wasn't too sure. But regardless she was nice enough, so a little gentle teasing was a fun thing. As she listened - Winnie eyed a few of the brooms on display, giving a faint smile before shrugging, "Well, I'm happy to help you out - and I bet Sav will be pleased when he hears that it was you who came in to get his broom. I know personally it'd mean a lot to me, the fact that Quidditch isn't really something you enjoy but you're supporting what he loves." She was still looking at the brooms, judging the kinds and what they could do.

She gave a quick grin, of course she knew Savtaj was also a beater but hearing it and the fact that it was him who was going to be captain - well she hadn't know the last part just yet,  "Well, you know who's gonna have his back now - I promise to make sure he doesn't get hit in the head or something. " Winnie gave a small hum, nodding her head, "It's gonna be cool to have him as a captain." She shot Parvati another quick grin before pointing out two brooms, both were good ones - and she knew they would do well, "These are two that I'd pick between - plus as a beater they'd help out a lot as well, I know Sav is good on a broom as well so he'd have no issue controlling either." She gave another small smile and nodded her head, Quidditch was by far something she loved - and while she wasn't going into it as a career - instead having decided to go toward being an Auror, she still took the sport seriously enough and kept up to date on new brooms and other things surrounding it.

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Fortunately for Parvati, who hadn’t the slightest idea of where to start, Winnie said that she would be happy to help her to pick out a broom for Sav. “And I bet Sav will be pleased when he hears that it was you who came in to get his broom,” Winnie added. “I know personally it'd mean a lot to me, the fact that Quidditch isn't really something you enjoy but you're supporting what he loves.”

Parvati smiled, glad to know that she was doing something right. She watched Winnie for a moment as the girl looked at the selection of brooms, trying to figure out which one would be best.

“Well,” Winnie told her, “you know who’s gonna have his back now.” It was reassuring that she knew the student who would be paired with Savtaj was serious about the sport and would actually try to keep him from getting hit by any stray Bludgers meant for their bats. She had seen enough Quidditch matches to know that that wasn’t always the case. “It's gonna be cool to have him as a captain,” she expressed, as well, still in the process of deciding on a broom.

Parvati couldn’t say that she was entirely unbiased; she was, after all, Savtaj’s mother, but she knew how dedicated he was to his goal of playing professionally. Sure, Sav had a tendency to focus on anything but schoolwork at times, but he ate, slept, and breathed Quidditch and certainly wouldn’t shirk his responsibilities to the Gryffindor team.

Winnie then drew her attention to two different brooms, and Parvati stepped over to take a closer look at the models in question. “These are two that I'd pick between,” Winnie told her, and Parvati couldn’t find fault with either of them at a glance. Winnie added that, as a Beater, these brooms would be of help to Sav. “I know Sav is good on a broom as well so he'd have no issue controlling either.”

“Hmmm…” Parvati read over the list of speculations for each model. They both seemed, as Winnie had advised her, like they would be solid options. “The Starsweeper XXXI looks like it’s got the better ratings for safety,” she said aloud, thinking it over. The price wasn’t as bad as she had expected it to be, either, considering that the model was top of the line. She looked back to Winnie for confirmation. “What do you think?”

@winnie
OOC: I based the model off of the Starsweeper XXI, which was mentioned in a Pottermore piece.

[Deleted]

Winnie was more than happy to help out, she honestly admired Parvati and was glad to help her out - the fact that it involved Quidditch and picking out a good broom well, that was just a huge bonus. Quidditch was something she loved and was really interested in - so if she got to help someone out and have to be something to do with Quidditch, well of course that was an extra reason she was going to help out. 

She carefully looked over the brooms, thinking about the next year - it was going to be a blast and sure maybe it would be a little struggle with juggling Quidditch and her NEWTs but, she'd make it work out for her. Plus she could help look out for Sav when they were playing - and Winnie considered it was one of the more important parts about being on a team. Looking out for your team mates, it was part of what made her see being a beater as an important position. Honestly - she would love to go on to professionally one day, but these days she had been looking more at becoming an Auror - after all she could still play Quidditch in her spare time and being an Auror would help her protect those she cares about.

As she finally settled between the two different brooms she informed Parvati about them and waited for her to look at the two models and settle on which one she preferred.  She had kind of prefered the Starsweeper XXXI herself and it was actually the one she was hoping to get herself sometime as well,“What do you think?” Parvati asked and Winnie gave a quick grin and nodded toward the broom, "Honestly I prefer the Starsweeper myself, its my personal preference. I'm actually looking into getting one myself hopefully." she happily added on.

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Winnie grinned at her choice of broom. It must have been the one towards which she would have leaned, too, between the options she had suggested. She nodded as well, which solidified it. “Honestly,” she answered, “I prefer the Starsweeper myself, it’s my personal preference.” Winnie added that she hoped she would be able to get one, too.

“It looks like a quality broom,” Parvati nodded, taking a glance at the model again. For a broomstick, it was nice. Overall, it fit what Sav needed. It wouldn’t leave her broke, and it would give him a good chance of success at the sport in his final year.

“I think this might be the one,” she said, smiling. “Sav will like it, don’t you think?” If Winnie was hoping to get one for her own use to play Beater, the XXXI was probably as close to perfect as any broom could be.

@winnie

[Deleted]

Winnie was glad to be able to help out, she had always liked Parvati at school - compared to some teachers and other staff members she had always been nice enough and was okay perhaps a slight favorite for the blonde when it came to adults. But also a bonus was the fact that she'd be helping out a team mate in getting a good broom of course. She offered a small smile, glad that Parvati seemed to approve of the choice as well. 

Like she did with just about any broom related things, Winnie had done her research before and like she had stated, it was a personal preference but it was the one that Winnie herself was favoring to try and get before the new school year. There weren't many better options in her mind. "I think he will, it's pretty close to being the utterly perfect broom - if he doesn't like it just let me know." she offered a little grin, proving she was joking on the last part. "Seriously though - I doubt he won't like it, and it's sure to help him out on the team which I'm sure he'll approve of."

Carefully she moved, glancing back at the other brooms as she thinks and nods to herself, "I can't think of a better option Parvati." she was still enjoying using the womans first name, an obvious little thing, "So I have to say, it seems you haven't done a bad job today... I can't wait to hear how Sav reacts."

[parvati patil macmillan ]

[parvati patil macmillan]

“I think he will,” said Winnie, on whether or not Sav would like the broomstick. She stated that it was close to being “the utterly perfect broom,” which was about as glowing as any review of it could get. “If he doesn't like it,” Winnie teased, “just let me know.”

More seriously, Winnie assured her that Sav would like it—or, rather, that she doubted he wouldn’t. “I doubt he won't like it, and it's sure to help him out on the team which I'm sure he'll approve of.”

That would probably be his main criterion, Parvati guessed, and she laughed a little. “That’s very true,” she nodded.

“I can't think of a better option, Parvati,” Winnie told her. Parvati still wasn’t quite used to hearing Winnie call her by her given name, but she could tell that the girl was enjoying having the freedom that its being summer brought her in the ability to do so. “So I have to say, it seems you haven't done a bad job today…” Parvati couldn’t claim that she’d done it herself; she’d needed a teenager to make sure that she wasn’t missing the mark. “I can't wait to hear how Sav reacts.”

“I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I’ve given it to him,” Parvati promised her. “Thank you for your help, again, Winnie. I really do appreciate it.”

@winnie
OOC: We can end here or on your next?