Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Written for the Fanfiction Marathon. HarryPadma. This is the first time I've written this pairing, but I kinda like it. Anyway, there is a divergence from canon, so this is AU. Keep that in mind.
Dance With Me?
Padma watched through narrowed eyes as Parvati danced happily with a boy from Beauxbatons. Why was it never her who invited to dance? Even this boy that knew neither of the twins, had never so much as spoken with either of them, had figured out that Parvati was the fun sister.
"Are you going to ask me to dance at all?" she asked the sulking red head beside her.
"No."
Shaking her head, she left him sitting alone at the table. Her evening ruined, Padma decided to take a walk around the makeshift gardens before heading to bed. Her heels clacking lightly on the floor, she slipped through the double doors, smiling despite herself at the fairies that fluttered above the bushes. She walked along slowly, occasionally spotting a badly hidden couple behind the hedges.
The night, whilst not being exactly cold, was breezy and she rubbed softly on her arms, the friction warming her up a touch. Spotting a small bench, she moved towards it, not realising that it was half occupied until she was almost upon it.
Harry looked up at her, offering her a half smile as he gestured at the other side of the bench for her to take a seat. She sat down beside him, feeling slightly awkward. Parvati was supposed to be his date, and she was inside dancing the night away with a handsome French boy.
Still, he didn't see all that torn up about it.
He broke the silence after a few minutes passed, turning to look at her. "I'm sorry you had such a bad night."
"It's not your fault," she assured him quietly.
"Parvati asked you to go with Ron because I asked her to," he said, shrugging his shoulders slightly. "Makes it at least partially my fault."
"Ron... He has it bad for Hermione, doesn't he?" she murmured after a moment. "Has he realised it yet?"
Harry chuckled. "He does, and no, I don't think he has."
"Do you think she feels the same for him?"
"Sometimes. They're just...so different, you know? I don't know if it would work. But then, they say opposites attract, so maybe they'd be perfect together."
She nodded in agreement and they fell into silence once more, though this time, it was a comfortable one. Music filtered from the Great Hall and a slow song started. Harry turned to her again, offering her his hand.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked.
She took his hand, standing up with him as she did. He pulled her close, his hands resting gently on her hips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her head against his shoulder as they swayed together in time with the music. It was the first remotely romantic encounter she'd ever had and she knew she'd remember it forever. When the song ended, he kissed her cheek lightly before stepping back.
"Thank you for the dance, Padma. I hope it helped to make up for your disappointing evening."
She smiled slightly at him, nodding her head. "Thank you, Harry."
"Are you heading in?" he asked.
"Not just yet," she replied, sitting back down on the bench.
Shrugging his cloak off, he wrapped it around her shoulders.
"I'll fetch it to breakfast tomorrow," she promised.
With a cheeky grin, he shook his head. "How about you wear it for the next Hogsmead visit, and give it back to me afterwards?"
"Are you asking me to Hogsmead, Harry?"
"Are you saying yes if I am?"
When she nodded, he said, "Then yes, I'm asking you to Hogsmead. Have a nice evening, Padma."