Picture If You Will

"Picture If You Will"
Part Two

Terry brought his camera to the next practice. Afterwards he went off to owl his film to be developed.

"Pictures will be back on Monday." Terry told Lisa.

"Good, that means I can show them to Cho on Wednesday." Lisa said. "Fifth and sixth year girls are meeting to plan Padma's birthday party. She has detention at nine with Snape."

Terry stared blankly at her. "Padma's birthday is this Wednesday?"

Lisa sighed. "Check the notice board once in a while. Padma's birthday is Friday. The party is planned for nine in the common room."

Terry scratched his head. Girls were difficult to find a present for. "What should I give her?"

"She collects usual bottles, enameled cloak pins, and books by Andrea Dufresne. Just don't get the Hargrove family series, Mandy, and I clubbed our funds to buy that for her."

Terry nodded. He said goodnight to Lisa and wondered over to the notice board. He really did need to check it more often.

Padma's birthday was Friday. To his surprise Lisa's was only two weeks after that.

Mulling over possible gift ideas, Terry retreated to his room. He hated thoughtless gifts: to him the only gifts worth giving called for a greater investment of care. He had just set his camera down on the bedside table when an idea struck him.

He reached under his bed for the box of photographs he kept there and plucked out the parchment envelope containing his latest pictures. He had fudged the truth to Roger, the pictures were not too dark or blurred.

He thumbed through images from the Halloween feast until he came to a picture of Padma in the center of a group of her friends. She was smiling and laughing, her head thrown back.

Terry slipped the picture into a charmed envelope and set it by his bed. He started to put away the rest of the pictures when one slipped to the ground. He stooped to pick it up off the floor.

It was a picture Mandy had taken using his camera. Terry could recall the minutiae of the incident: he had just taken a picture of Mandy and Lisa, and Mandy jokingly demanded the use of his camera to snap one of him with Lisa. According to Mandy he was in danger of not having any pictures of himself in his collection.

Terry smiled at the memory and down at the picture. Mandy was right, it was nice to see a few pictures of himself. He actually managed to look decent in the picture. Lisa looked pretty, they made a cute couple.

He froze and forced his mind to replay that last thought.

They made a rather cute couple.

He shoved the picture into a drawer and used his foot to push the picture box back under his bed.

* * *

Breakfast the next morning was difficult. Terry had to keep reminding himself that it was Mandy whom he fancied. Mandy, his usual partner in crime; Mandy with her bouncy curls and mischievous smile. Mandy Louise Brocklehurst. Not Lisa Anne Turpin with her cool and level gaze, wit, silky brown hair and...

Terry forced his train of thought to derail. He laid his head on the table. He was terribly confused.

"Boot's finally snapped!" Mandy exclaimed, thinking he was playing some sort of game. She shook his shoulders. Terry allowed his head to turn to the side so he could see the girls.

"You aren't feigning illness to get out of potions, are you?" Lisa's voice cut in, her tone disapproving. "I saw you in the common room this morning. If you can't fool me then there is no way you can hope to convince Madam Pomfrey - or Snape."

"I'm not mad or ill. I'm conducting a detailed examination of the wear marks on the table top." Terry told them. "It's like cloud formations: stare long enough and patterns start to emerge."

Over his head, the two girls exchanged a meaningful look.

* * *

On Monday the pictures arrived in the care of a screech owl. Terry thought they turned out well and was anxious to show them off to Lisa. He slid the packet over to her in History of Magic. Not even Lisa could manage to pay attention to Binn's dry lectures.

"Even the shots of the team in the air turned out well." Terry whispered, as Lisa silently examined the pictures.

"Good one of Cho." Lisa commented, plucking a single photograph from the stack to examine it in greater detail. Terry handed her the rest of the pictures and she tucked them into her bag. "I'll make sure she sees these today."

"Good."

Terry watched her go, wishing he could have thought of something else to say. Good was not good enough.

* * *

Tuesday came and went without incident, unless one counted Professor McGongall from taking five points from Ravenclaw for daydreaming in class. On Wednesday another owl delivered a package to Terry - a large envelope that he had to hold up in the air to prevent Mandy from taking it and opening right at the table. Terry supposed her attempt was a stab at payment for all the times he read her letters aloud over breakfast while she fumed.

After class, Terry brought the package upstairs where he opened it. After seeing that the contents were to his satisfaction, he stowed it under his bed. It was an excellent hiding spot as few wished to sift through all the boxes and clutter crammed there. Only Terry understood his complex organizational system: others called it a mess.

* * *

"Didn't these turn out well?" Lisa asked as Cho leafed through the stack of pictures.

"Splendid," Cho said with a soft sigh. "Can you ask Boot if he could have copies made? I can give him the money later."

"I'll ask." Lisa promised. Her mind was sorting through possible avenues to use in turning the conversation from Terry to Roger.

Cho flopped down on her bed and stared up at the canopy. "I wish I could take pictures like those."

Lisa hid a smile. Cho opened the door right for her to bring up Roger.

"Terry had the benefit of good advice," Lisa informed Cho with a shrug. "Roger Davies is an excellent photographer and he gave Terry some pointers."

"Really," Cho mused. "I didn't know that about Roger. I'll have to ask him for help."

"We're all set for Friday, right?"

Cho reached for the small notebook at the foot of her bed. As Lisa shared a room with Padma, it was thought better that Cho and her roommates hold on to any incriminating party supplies.

"Pretty much. Mandy and Terry are on distraction duty, you and Su are in change of decorations. Isabel, Sarah, and I are coordinating on the food. I spoke to the boys earlier. Kevin wrote to his Mum - she's a baker - and she'll owl us a cake. Roger's father works in Hogsmeade and he sent him a list of supplies, they arrive tomorrow. Stephen has convinced the other prefects and Professor Flitwick to allow the party to continue to one or two depending on the noise level. He is also going to assist in setting up." Cho concluded.

Lisa laughed at Stephen's duty. Her fellow fifth year prefect was a quiet boy, but one who could convince anyone to do just about anything with his charm alone.

* * *

"Padma - please?" Terry pleaded. He positioned himself between the fuming young witch and the entrance to Ravenclaw house. It was not the safest place to be, but Padma was well versed in wizarding law and too sensible to break it over an annoyance. Or so Terry hoped. He only had to keep her from entering the room for another two minutes, but was running out of ideas. He and Mandy had tried everything they could think of.

"I said NO!" Padma told him icily before turning around to give Mandy a similar glare before the other girl could utter a syllable. Padma brought her wand out and folded her arms across her chest. "I've already gone over your potions essay and your notes. Don't you two know when to back off? I can only help you so much. Now, I've had a trying week and want to spend a nice Friday night with my roommates - which excludes you - so step aside!"

Sensing how close Padma was to doing something drastic, Terry acquiesced, he saw Mandy do the same. Neither of them wished to experience Padma's wrath and the time was close enough. He could only hope that the others were prepared.

With a final glare at her two fellow Ravenclaws, Padma faced the Ravenclaw tapestry.

"Ursula Minor!" She snapped.

The tapestry rolled up like an old window shade allowing Padma to enter with Terry and Mandy at her heels.

"Odd," Terry heard Padma say to herself. "Common room shouldn't be this dark now."

Just then, as if Padma's words were a cue, the lights flicked back on. In a flash the fire burst back to life and multiple confetti charms were cast into the air as all of Padma's friends screamed "SURPRISE!"

Padma jumped backwards and into Terry's arms. Terry was not expecting her to react like that and they both fell over, much to the amusement of their house. When they were once again standing, Padma took at long look at those gathered to surprise her and she burst into tears.

After Padma recovered and was wished a very happy birthday by all of her friends she was called upon to open her gifts. Cho gave her an enameled cloak pin in the shape of a cat. Padma's roommates had pooled their money to purchase Andrea Dufresne's Hargrove family series. When Padma saw the title peeking out through the layers of charmed gift wrap that sang as it was unwrapped, she gave a squeal of delight.

"Oh...I cannot believe...thank you!"

Padma exclaimed. Then she turned to Terry and Mandy. " I'm sorry about how I acted outside."

"No apology necessary," Mandy assured her. "Terry and I were very annoying. We are quite expert."

"You are most welcome," Lisa said, as if Mandy had not spoken, speaking for them all. She was pleased by Padma's response to the present.

"This one's from me," Terry said handing Padma a flat present.

Padma felt the gift. Then she started to open it. "It feels like - it is a picture frame!"

"With a picture inside," noted Cho as she leaned forward for a better view.

"Oh, this was taken last year!" Padma recalled. "It's so sweet, thank you."

Mandy clapped her hands together. "Now you have something to put on your bedside table!"

"Nice shot of you," Roger commented, leaning over to get a better look.

"Yes," Cho agreed.

* * *

"Good work on your gift," Lisa commented later as they were cleaning up the common room along with Stephen after the party. As the prefects it was Lisa and Stephen's responsibility to see that the common room was restored to normal, Terry had been talked into helping them. "Nice having the secondary effect of reminding Cho about photography."

"That wasn't why I gave Padma the picture," Terry reminded her.

Lisa's expression softened. A peculiar light filled her eyes for a moment. "I know, but I still appreciated the unexpected boone to our plan."

"How can people eat so much?" Stephen wondered, reminding Lisa and Terry that they were not alone. The other prefect stared at a pile of used plates in horror. He carefully picked up two plates that were stuck together and frowned.

"We're teenagers," Terry told him. Stephen managed a weak grin in response.

"Just put all the dishes in that bin for the house elves," Lisa instructed, waving an arm in the direction of the bin. "Unless you are up for a late night dish washing party."

"Accio plates!"