Rating: K+
Pairings: Ron/Hermione, Padma/Anthony Goldstein
Length: 290 words
Rose Weasley was utterly depressed. Her date for the Yule Ball, Chris Edgecombe had flirted with another girl all night, completely ignored her, been a horrible dancer and then after the food was finished he had wondered off outside with a Ravenclaw who was much prettier than herself.
"Where did I go wrong, what's wrong with me? I thought he really liked me," thought Rose, head in hands, a single tear fell from her eye, mixing with her mascara and gliding down her face.
"Rose?" asked a voice that Rose recognized to be her favourite professor, Professor Padma Goldstein of Charms.
She looked up into Padma's eyes, wiping the tears away.
"Walk with me, Rose," said Padma in her normal gentle, knowledgeable tone.
Rose pulled herself to her feet, thankfully not stumbling and fell into pace with Padma.
"You know," started Padma, still in memories past. "Years ago, when I was at school in my fourth year, there was a Yule Ball, it wasn't a yearly thing then. My date wasn't all that great either, he was more interested in another girl. He was quite jealous, you see, she went with a famous Quidditch player who was visiting the school, so he was pre occupied with her, and didn't pay any attention to me. Your date was probably slightly worse actually. My date went onto marry the girl he was jealous of though, and I was at their wedding. On the other hand, the boy I liked throughout my seventh year is now my husband."
"Wait," said Rose, realization dawning on her and tears drying. This was a story her Aunt Ginny had once told her, with strict instructions not to tell her mother or father. "You dated my father!"
