Parvati Prevails

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Chapter Three: Patronus Pointers

The whole of Hogwarts was in turmoil over the situation. Everyone had heard about Draco Malfoy asking out a Gryffindor. The Slytherins were disgusted, although this factor did not seem to bother Draco much. A reasonable amount of the students disapproved, while it was probably fair to say that an even larger percentage (consisting of mostly girls and one Justin Finch-Fletchley) were decidedly jealous.

Very few, like Hermione and Padma, felt a Gryffindor-Slytherin relationship would help improve house rivalry.

There were speculations as to how long the controversial couple would last. Some were sceptical, and given Parvati's history with long-term relationships, they could hardly be blamed for thinking that way. Zacharias Smith had hedged his bets on Blaise Zabini murdering Parvati before they had even had their first date.

Despite this, Parvati was quite happy. Envious third year girls worshipped her in the hallways, and everywhere she went people were talking about her and Draco. Blaise kept shooting her Avada Kedavra glares across the Great Hall, but Parvati no longer felt threatened. Parvati did not understand homicidal tendencies but she was perfectly comfortable with flagrant jealousy. She was also feeling extremely pampered these days, which probably had something to do with the wonderful gifts she kept receiving at breakfast. Draco sent beautiful scented flowers every morning, apricot, butter-yellow, pale pink and deep-red roses by the dozen. Expensive chocolates in lavishly decorated boxes, which Parvati gave to Lavender and the other girls. She didn't dare eat any herself for fear of developing the rare spot. Adorable, soft, stuffed animals arrived in baskets tied with large satin bows, and always with every package came a carefully folded origami paper swan, in marbled parchment colours, and inside was always the same note in linked, even handwriting : Love, D.M.

On Friday morning before the Hogsmeade weekend, she received a beautiful silver necklace; the pendant was set with a glittering green jewel. Slytherin colours. Parvati felt like such a princess that she decided to wear a small, stylish tiara to class. It was fitting, and Lavender and the other girls approved, telling her it looked sweet.

She had forgotten that they had Transfiguration that morning.

'Miss Patil!' barked Professor McGonagall.

Parvati jumped. 'Yes, Professor?'

'For the love of Merlin, remove that ridiculous object out of your hair! This is class, Miss Patil, not the Miss Witch Weekly Pageant!'

'But Professor, it's just a headband,' Parvati protested.

'It is not a headband,' said McGonagall dryly. 'I can't see clearly, Miss Patil. Headbands do not blind innocent bystanders.'

A few of the boys sniggered and Hermione Granger rolled her eyes.

'What if it's a really sparkly headband?' Parvati muttered sulkily, taking off the pretty tiara. Lavender and Delphinium gave her sympathetic smiles.

'And the earrings,' added Professor McGonagall.

Parvati removed the large, dangly silver hoops she had been wearing.

'And are you wearing nail polish?'

'I buffed them, Professor,' said Parvati innocently.

'It looks like nail polish to me,' answered McGonagall suspiciously. 'All shiny and gleaming.'

'That' s because I spent ages on them, Professor. Just ask Lavender.'

'Oh yes,' piped up Lavender immediately. 'She spent all of last period buffing her nails in History of Magic.'

Underneath the table, Parvati lifted her foot and brought it down. Hard.

'Ow!' yelped poor Lavender.

'Is that so, Miss Patil?' inquired Professor McGonagall.

'Ye-es,' agreed Parvati miserably.

'Well, in that case hopefully you'll pay attention now, seeing as your nails have already been taken care of today?'

'Yes, Professor,' answered Parvati meekly.

She wasn't so bad, Professor McGonagall. Once you go to know her a bit. Parvati could almost have been forgiven for wearing red tartan dress robes to the Yule Ball in fourth year. Having successfully weaselled her way out of trouble, she decided to forgive Lavender and was even feeling kind enough to try and help with her Ron situation.

Parvati found Padma in the Library (surprise, surprise) at lunchtime, with her pretty little freckle-free nose in a book (who would have guessed?).

'Hello, my darling sister, what's that you're reading?' she greeted cheerfully, plucking the book out of Padma's hands. 'Huh...it's not in English...'

'Qu'est-ce que tu veux maintenant?' asked Padma wearily.

'You know I don't speak French,' said Parvati irritably.

'Oui,' replied Padma. 'Mais tu me comprends, n'est-ce pas?'

'Of course I understand you,' Parvati snapped, 'don't be stupid.'

'Alright,' sighed her sister, giving up. 'So what do you want?'

'Well,' said Parvati sweetly. 'I was wondering if you could teach me how to play chess...'

*

'So...the dog thing moves in a sort of D-shape...' explained Parvati. She and Lavender were sprawled out on Lavender's bed, with Delphinium's chess set spread out between them.

'A D-shape?' said Lavender. 'I thought that was a knight...don't they move in an L-shape?'

'No, I'm pretty sure it's a dog, and that it moves in a D-shape. D for Dog...duh...'

'But...' Lavender frowned. 'Wouldn't the piece just end up in the same place it started?'

'Er, maybe...' she shrugged. 'So what if it's a useless piece? It's still kind of pretty. These tower things are quite cute too.'

'Parvati, please,' begged Lavender. 'Be serious.'

Parvati pouted. 'I am being serious. This is me at my most boring, can't you tell?'

'This is really important to me!' cried Lavender.

'Oh....fine!' Parvati sighed. 'Go ask Padma to teach you then, she'll probably explain it better than me. Besides, it's time for my Patronus lesson anyway.'

Lavender beamed and slid off the bed. 'Okay. Have fun at your lesson.'

'Yeah, yeah. Don't worry, I won't.'

A few minutes after Lavender left she went down to the common room and found Ron and Hermione reading together by the fire. Parvati was surprised, until she noticed that Ron was only looking at the pictures in Quidditch Quarterly.

'Hey, is Harry here?' she asked them.

Hermione finished a page and flipped it. 'No, sorry. Why?'

'I was supposed to meet him in the Room of Requirement, but I thought if he was here we could just walk together.'

'Don't know where he is,' Ron muttered. 'It's not like he tells us anything anymore.'

'Ron,' said Hermione wearily. 'He's going through a tough time.'

'Yeah, and we can help him! But he just won't talk to us. I thought we were best friends, Hermione. Isn't that what friends are for?'

Parvati was intrigued. Were Hermione, Harry and Ron having some sort of fight? Scandal!

'Yeah, I noticed he was being kind of distant lately. Is he very upset?' she asked them.

Hermione, mistaking her curiosity for genuine concern, sighed again. 'I think he just needs some time to figure things out a bit. It's not really our business to talk about it.'

'Oh, no, of course' said Parvati, disappointed. Hermione thought she was being sympathetic. 'I understand.'

'He didn't even tell us he was meeting you tonight. What are you taking lessons for?' asked Ron.

'I'm having trouble with Patronuses.'

'What? But they're so easy, even Neville-'

'I KNOW!' said Parvati irritably. 'Why the hell else would I be taking lessons!'

After she had stormed out of the portrait hole, Hermione gazed at Ron reproachfully. 'That wasn't very nice.'

Ginny, who was just coming back into the common room, headed over towards them.

'Were you talking to her about Malfoy again?' she asked Ron in a disapproving voice.

'No,' replied Ron. 'Not everything's about Malfoy.'

'Then why is she so angry?'

'Because Ron is an insensitive pig,' said Hermione.

'Tell me something I haven't known for fifteen years,' answered Ginny, rolling her eyes.

'Yeah, and where have you been all night?' demanded Ron.

'It's only seven,' Hermione pointed out.

'Where have you been, Ginny?' continued Ron, ignoring her.

'Shagging Dean up in the Astronomy Tower,' replied his sister airily, flopping down onto a couch beside Crookshanks.

'Oh yeah?' said Ron coolly. 'Well how come Dean's up in our dormitory with Seamus right now?'

'Because he's having a mad, passionate affair behind my back?' suggested Ginny. 'I was kidding, Ron. I've been at the library with Daisy.'

'Then how come I don't see any books?'

'Because I returned them, oh shrewd one,' Ginny retorted.

'Ron, would you just leave Ginny alone already?' cried Hermione exasperatedly. 'You're so suspicious all the time! God, dating you would be an absolute nightmare!'

And with that she picked up her book and left extremely agitated. Doors slammed and several people stared after her wonderingly. Ron retreated back into his magazine, looking preoccupied.

Ginny smiled. 'Hey, she didn't really mean it.'

'You think?' asked Ron in a small, muffled voice.

'Well,' said Ginny, grinning. 'Maybe only some of it.'

Ron looked up at the ceiling. 'Thanks a lot, Gin.'

*

When Parvati entered the Room of Requirement, Harry was already inside sitting on a big cushion looking decidedly subdued. Probably moping over Cho, the sad, miserable bastard.

'Hullo,' said Harry cheerfully. 'Come in.'

'I am in,' replied Parvati suspiciously.

'Well if you could shut the door that would be nice.'

'Am I late?' she asked (like it really mattered).

'No more than usual,' said Harry, taking off his glasses and wiping them on his robes. Parvati fiddled with her wand and waited til he had put them back on.

'Alright, so what's the problem then?'

'I don't know,' answered Parvati. 'Sometimes I just get a tiny wisp of smoke, but then it just disappears.'

'Well, in that case I guess you should show me. Okay, have you got a happy memory?'

Parvati thought for a moment, and nodded.

'Alright then, go ahead.'

'Expecto Patronum!'

Parvati had been right; her wand emitted a small puff of white smoke which promptly disappeared when Harry exhaled.

'Okay,' said Harry. 'Um...what's your happy memory?'

'When I got my new shoes.'

Harry blinked. 'That's your happy memory?'

'They're really awesome shoes,' Parvati pointed out.

'Erm...okay...could you think of a happier time in your life?'

'When I got my new mini-skirt?'

'Those were the only times in your life when you were truly happy?' asked Harry disbelievingly.

Parvati shrugged. 'I like shopping. I'm happy when I shop. In fact, when I'm sad, I even go shopping to cheer myself up.'

'Retail therapy...'

'Yes, exactly.'

'Isn't that a bit shallow?' said Harry bluntly.

'Shallow?' echoed Parvati. 'I'm not shallow. I just like pretty things. What's wrong with that?'

'Nothing...I guess...but I think you need a different kind of memory for the Patronus charm to work.'

Parvati sat and thought, and came up with nothing, not that that was particularly surprising. She had not had a miserable life-far from it. She came from a loving, wealthy family, had multitudes of friends. Her grades were generally good-if you didn't compare them to Padma's-and she was dating Draco Malfoy. What more could a girl want?

'Are you really that unhappy?' asked Harry gently.

'I'm not unhappy,' said Parvati, irritated. 'I just can't think of anything at the moment.'

'Well, try and remember.'

'I am trying,' she snapped. 'If I try any harder I think my brain will explode,' she added dramatically.

Harry let out a deep breath. This was going to be a lot harder than he had originally anticipated.

'Okay...um...what was it like when you were little?'

'When I was little?'

'Yeah. You must have had some happy times with your family.'

'With Padma? My sister Padma? You've got to be kidding me, right? Sure, I'm happy around her. Happy when she starts talking and puts me to sleep so I don't have to listen anymore. '

'Be serious.'

'I AM being serious!' cried Parvati exasperatedly. 'Why do people keep thinking I'm not?'

'I don't know...' said Harry slowly.

Parvati narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

'Right. What are they like?'

'Who?'

'Your family.'

Parvati could have said what she usually did. Moan about how much it sucked to have a prodigy for a twin sister, and boast about her father's success with his business overseas or describe their lavish seaside mansion in intricate detail. Talk about her holidays around the world; the Patils liked to travel and Parvati had been fortunate enough to visit numerous attractive sights and destinations in her short lifetime.

And yet, none of that stuffed seemed to add up right. Parvati sighed.

'My Dad's great,' she said. 'He's never really had a lot of time to spare, because of his work and everything. And well...you know Padma.'

Harry nodded. 'Oh, yeah. What about your Mum?'

Parvati stiffened. 'She's dead.'

Harry stared at his hands. 'I'm sorry.'

'It happened a long time ago,' said Parvati, inspecting a chipped nail.

'What was she like?'

'I don't remember.'

'Oh.'

They decided to call it a night after that. Actually, Parvati decided to call it a night because she was going into Hogsmeade tomorrow with Draco and needed her beauty sleep. They walked back to Gryffindor tower together and said goodnight. It was not until Parvati was snug in bed and just about an inch from sleep that she realised she had neglected to ask Harry about his family.

*

Lavender decided to wake up her best friend in the morning by crowing in her ear like a deranged rooster. Of course, she promptly forgot to run away afterwards and as a result, Parvati sat up instantly and attacked her with a large stuffed panda bear.

'Was that absolutely necessary?' Lavender demanded shrilly, after the giant panda had bounced onto the ground behind them.

'Yes!' replied Parvati mutinously. 'What the hell were you doing, you flipping psycho?'

'Waking you up,' said Lavender. 'It's already eight.'

Parvati clutched Lavender's shoulders in fear. Lavender squirmed.

'Ow, Parvati, let go...'

'I've only got three and half hours!' she wailed in horror. 'Why didn't you wake me earlier?'

'What's the point? You would have hit me anyway.'

'I don't have time to play idiotic mind games Lavender Brown!' cried Parvati frantically, leaping out of bed. 'I have to be beautiful in three and a half hours!'

Miraculously, three hours and twenty five minutes later Parvati was still rushing around searching for one of her heeled sandals.

'Why don't you just wear the flip flops?' asked Lavender.

'Because I'm short!' snapped Parvati, hobbling about. Lavender reflected that her friend was looking unfairly pretty today (all those hours hogging the bathrooms had paid off), with her smooth hair flowing down her back like a black silk curtain, and the silver necklace hanging from her throat.

'Calm down,' said Lavender.

'Don't tell me to calm down! I only have one shoe! How can I go and meet Draco Malfoy with only one shoe! I'd be limping like some sort of insane limping-thing!'

'Professor Moody?'

'Yes!' wailed Parvati. 'Lavender? What have I gotten myself into?'

'A great date with the hottest guy in Hogwarts?'

'Well...yes. But...but...we have absolutely nothing in common!'

'Sure you do.'

'Like what?' asked Parvati disbelievingly.

'Well,' said Lavender, reaching under Parvati's bed to pull out the missing shoe. 'He's hot...and you like hot guys.'

'Thanks,' said Parvati, relaxing visibly. After she had finished putting her shoes on, she and Lavender both stood up; they were now roughly the same height.

'Perfect!'

'Yes, but can you walk?' asked Lavender doubtfully.

'I'll be fine,' said Parvati. She took a step and fell flat on her face. The panda grinned at her in a self-satisfied way, its big button eyes bright with mirth.

'Well that was attractive,' laughed Lavender, helping her up. 'Not to mention graceful and co-ordinated.'

'Shut up,' replied Parvati helplessly, straightening herself out and taking a deep breath. 'Alright. Here goes. How do I look?'

'Compared to what?'

'Uh...' Parvati thought hard. 'The door.'

'The door?'

'Yes.'

'Well,' said Lavender. 'It's a very pretty door. You know, I think after a touch of mascara and maybe a good shave or two you'd have some tough competition there.'

'Well, that's good news.'

'Yes, I thought so too.' Lavender grinned. 'You know you're gorgeous Parvati.'

'I do,' she agreed. 'But sometimes I need confirmation. You know, from someone who isn't completely infatuated with me.'

'Including yourself?'

'Yep. Has it been five minutes yet?'

'Yep. You're planning on showing up fashionably late?'

'Yes, but fashionably late on time. Showing up fashionably late late is just not on.'

'And fashionably late early is even worse,' added Lavender.

Parvati arrived precisely late on time, much to her relief. Draco was waiting for her outside the Great Hall, sneering at a couple of Hufflepuffs third years as they scurried past him as quickly as they dared. He smirked as she drew nearer, his slate-grey eyes performing an expert sweep from top-to-toe and back again.

'You're late,' he drawled.

'It's intentional,' she explained.

'I know,' replied Draco, who claimed he understood the female species even better than they knew themselves. Parvati reckoned he was either remarkably self-assured or spectacularly deluded...perhaps both. It was hard to tell for sure, but he pulled it off pretty damn well.

'I didn't wear pink.'

'I noticed. We make a good couple,' Draco told her. He pulled out a beautiful, red, long-stemmed rose from behind his back.

'I know,' said Parvati, taking the rose and slipping her arm into his. 'Thank you. For this, and the necklace. And all the other lovely gifts. You shouldn't have.'

'It was nothing,' said Draco in a flat voice. Parvati glanced up in surprise, he suddenly sounded bored; almost angry, even. But then again she must have imagined it, because the next moment everything seemed perfectly fine again. Or maybe she was just distracted by the way he leaned in and whispered in her ear as they descended the front steps.

'You know, I never did get to take you up to the Astronomy tower that night.'

Parvati kept a straight face. 'In your dreams, Malfoy.'

Draco grinned into her neck; she tried not to shudder. 'You have no idea.'

'I mean it,' said Parvati, stopping suddenly. 'No.'

'Alright,' agreed Draco pleasantly. 'I fully respect your decision.'

Parvati was stunned.

'What? Um...I mean, good...Thank you,' she said confusedly, wondering if she had somehow been tricked.

Draco's smirk however, widened considerably. He pulled Parvati towards him by the shoulders, and the next thing she knew his searing lips were moving firmly across her own. There was fire burning in the kiss, a feeling that someone had poured hot, flowing nectar down her throat, sweet and scorching. Parvati was so shocked she tried to jerk away, but Draco's grip held her firmly and all she could do was let her hands curl up around his neck and into that feather-soft, fine hair.

Then all of a sudden he was gone, that delicious warmth evaporating as quickly as it had come. Parvati was sick with dizziness, finding it astonishingly difficult to breathe, much less stand up straight.

And Draco smirked.