There are few things Padma Patil liked as much as writing in the Hufflepuff Cafe. One of the only ones was writing in general, the feeling of a pen on paper putting the demons in her mind to rest and letting her feel absolutely free.
Padma looked around and grinned when she saw her favourite table open. Scattering her stuff and opening her laptop, Padma was greeted by the appearance of Draco Malfoy, her classmate at Hogwarts University.
"Still doing that writing, Patil? Nothing better in your life yet?" He asked grumpily, already writing down her daily order long before she could actually order it.
Padma winked at him. "Oh ya, babe, you know it. I've got another assignment for Binns' writing class and it's going to be fun. I'm writing about the history of nudity and how it's involved in our evolution as human beings."
Draco almost choked at the suggestiveness of her words. "Why are you like this, Patil? And what did I do to deserve having to know you?"
"Underneath this veneer of slightly crazy and mildly socially retarded, I'm a complete disaster," Padma confided, batting her eyelashes. Draco had begun to look like he was having a stroke and she was definitely enjoying it. "And after all, I choose you over everyone, so be flattered. You're the funniest to annoy, Potter doesn't even get that red. Pansy and Ginny just give me sass, those bitches."
"I'm not surprised." Draco almost tripped in his haste to get away from her. Over his shoulder, he called pleadingly, "please never talk to me again, Patil. I mean it."
Padma snorted and went back to her writing. The simple elegant strokes of her hand didn't even compare to the fun of typing and feeling the click-clack of the keys. It was almost hypnotizing and she smiled to herself.
It wasn't until the sound of her name stopping her short that Padma looked up. "Padma Patil," the blonde girl called again dreamily and Padma blushed scarlet. "That's me!" She said embarrassedly, running up to the counter.
The blonde girl finished writing and passed Padma her cup, along with a freshly baked brownie. "On the house," the blonde girl confided. "Draco said I can have as many if I want if I talk with you instead of him...though I don't get why. You don't seem evil or anything."
Padma let out a laugh at that. "I told him my project was about the history of something… I just happened to choose nudity. Not my fault he can handle the heat."
"I think he can. He and Harry certainly are very hot in their relationship," Luna said thoughtfully. The line at the counter seemed to be getting even more impatient, but Padma only had eyes for her.
"They haven't gone public with it," Padma answered, just happening to notice just how blue Luna's eyes were. No big deal. "But thank you for telling me, Blonde. I have to go now, but it was great meeting you."
"I'm Luna Lovegood," Luna said, letting out a laugh. It sounded like bells chiming and Padma ducked her head to hide her blush. Oh, this girl was beautiful. "It's nice meeting you too, Padma Patil."
Padma waved cheerily and walked back to the table. It was not until she took a big sip and looked down that she almost spit it out in shock.
On the side of the cup, in Luna's bubbly letters, it said, 'Fuck me if I'm wrong, but dinosaurs still exist right?'
Laughing to herself, Padma blew a kiss back to the register. Luna didn't see it, busy helping an old man who was engrossed in the menu, but Padma watched her all the same.
…
The next evening, Padma got down to business immediately. Placing her notepads, homework, and laptop down, she immediately began to work on first her math homework.
Harry showed up before she even finished a full page. "Hi, Padma," he said cheerfully.
Padma smiled up at him. "Evening, Harry. Where is Draco today? I miss him."
"No you don't, you just wanted to make him embarrassed and then laugh at him as he huffed off in shame." Harry snorted at her false denial. "Sadly for you, he refuses to see you now, so you'll just have to get used to my pretty face."
Padma fluffed Harry's hair. "It's not that bad of a fate if I think about it. I just hope you don't dare to make me never see Draco again. I'd miss my boy."
Harry made a face, but didn't say anything to that in a rare act of self-preservation. "The brownie and coffee as per sual?" He asked and Padma nodded brightly.
When he was gone, Padma went straight back to her project. She had wasted enough time that day with classes and coming to the shop. She needed to be productive before the due dates caught up with her and left her broken and in a fit of despair.
"Food for you," Harry said, appearing by her side as she worked. "Luna said hi but she was too busy to come over here. I didn't know you two knew each other."
"We met yesterday," Padma said absentmindedly, already rotating the cup. On the other side, it said in the same print as yesterday, are you God? Because I would worship you.
Padma looked up. This time, Luna was already staring. Grinning at the other girl, Padma winked, and was rewarded with the sight of Luna winking back.
…
Padma sighed to herself as she listened to Professor Binns drone on and on about some old war. The textbook had all the same information as he did, except better written and 50 years more accurate, not to mention six times more interesting.
"I'm passing around a sheet, please write your topics for your final assignment. I expect you all to have decided by now."
Waiting patiently until it reached her spot in the second row, Padma scribbled down her name and her topic, smirking to herself. Knowing Binns, he would never look it over until she handed it in, and by then, it'd be too late to stop her.
"What did you pick as your topic?" Padma turned around and smiled at Hermione Granger as the other girl pulled her into a quick hug.
"Nudity."
Hermione snorted, neatly placing her books back into her bag. "I'm not surprised, knowing you. I picked Woman through history, should be interesting enough."
Padma nodded at both the slight dig and Hermione's topic. "Sounds good, Hermione. Where are you off to now?"
"Law class." Hermione visibly brightened at the thought of her favourite class. "You're done for today, right? Where are you going now?"
"To Lavender's and Parvati's flat. I wanted to catch up with them."
Hermione softened visibly at the mention of her former roommates. "Say hi for me! I miss them both."
Padma nodded, hugging Hermione goodbye. "I will. They miss you too."
Turning around, Padma began the trek to her sisters and sister's girlfriends flat. It wasn't too far from the university, definitely closer than her own, which made the already tiny amount she visited seem even more shameful, as the two girls commonly reminded her.
The day was nice and with her headphones blaring music, Padma almost didn't notice that she had arrived until the flat came into sight.
Padma knocked three times in rapid succession on the door, grinning at the familiar sound of footsteps.
"Pam!"
Padma allowed herself to be pulled tightly into Parvati's arms. Her sister's hugs were always too tight, but they felt like home.
"Hi, Pav." Padma grinned wickedly. "Where is Lav? I miss my favourite sister."
"Rude." Parvati extended the last syllable, shaking her head in mock disgust. "We came from the same womb and I'm still the second choice. Disgraceful, dearest sister. Sadly for you, Lav is gone till tomorrow, she has a shift at the hospital."
Padma rolled her eyes, stepping past her sister and flopping onto the soft purple couch. The entire apartment was decorated with the expert taste the girls had, making it a beautiful paradise.
"So, catch me up." While Padma had been taking in the apartment, Parvati had sat across from her. "Any cute people in your life?"
Padma smiled. "I am fond of all of God's children...except boys. However, there is a cute girl at Hufflepuffs…"
"Oh, please, you love boys… just love girls more from what it seems." Parvati let out a laugh. "Wait, you still go to Hufflepuffs? I refuse to encourage your bad addiction, though I demand to hear more about this girl."
Padma stuck out her tongue. "I'm very much bi, but at least this way I won't get pregnant. But Pav, you know what? She writes pick-up lines on my coffee cup, so she's even worse than I am. You should see her, she's absolutely gorgeous with these blue eyes-"
Padma cut off self-consciously as she realized her sister was staring at her. "What?"
"You really like her, don't you?" Parvati said softly. "I'm glad, sis. You deserve love."
Padma blushed and looked away. Parvati's apartment was filled with light at this point in the afternoon and it gave the whole room a warm glow that made Padma feel softer.
"Yes," she whispered. "I really do."
…
The next day, Padma marched into the Hufflepuff Cafe with a determined stride. Her bag swang, the laptop, and books protesting at the weight. Still, today was not a regular day. She would not be sitting down quite yet.
Padma leaned onto the counter. Merely seconds later, Luna approached her, clad in a paint-splattered shirt and blue jeans. She was gorgeous, as per usual, and Padma felt her heart soar with excitement.
"Hey, Luna," she said and the other girl smiled brightly.
"Hello, Padma. Usually, you sit, are we changing things now?"
Padma smiled at that. "Yes, if you don't mind seeing my face, Luna. I wouldn't want to bother."
Luna let out one of her famous, beautiful laughs. "Of course not. Same as usual? Or are we changing that too?"
Shaking her head, Padma watched as Luna pulled a brownie from the display and heated it up, drizzling caramel and whipped cream on it without even being asked. When she finished, Luna started making a cup of black coffee, stirring it before writing something on the side.
Padma was bouncing with nerves by the time Luna got back to her. "Enjoy," Luna said and Padma thought she might die as she rotated the cup and read today's message. Pizza is my second favourite thing to eat in bed.
Luna was watching her reaction and Padma smiled at her as she looked up, before reaching down and grabbing the pen Luna had used. On the side of an unused cup beside them, Padma scribbled down her digits.
"Call me," she said and felt all the weight slip of her shoulders as Luna read the cup, grinned back, and leaned over to close the distance between them.
...
Written for:
Meet Cute: Day 2
Femslash February: Padma/Luna
Library Lovers - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, (occupation) Writer, (dialogue) "Underneath this veneer of slightly crazy and mildly socially retarded, I'm a complete disaster," (dialogue) "I choose you over everyone." (restriction) Feature a slash pairing
Scavenger Hunt: Write a Ship you've never written.
Gobstones - Gold Stone (Opportunity): (character) Padma Patil, (action) Tripping, (dialogue) "I'm not surprised."
Serpent Day: Bird snake - (character) Padma Patil
Character Appreciation: (Trait) Accepting of those that are different than him
Disney Challenge: The Sultan - Word Set: Hypnotised/short/happy
Book Club - Francis Goldsmith: (word) pregnant, (emotion) hope, (action) pleading
Showtime: For Good - (genre) Friendship
Days of the Month: Pluto Day - Write about someone who is often overlooked or forgotten
Count Your Buttons: (dialogue) "Think about it," (word) Dare
Lyric Alley: The weight's off my shoulders
Restriction of the Month: Write a story without using any of the Hogwarts Houses,
(character) Professor Binns
A Year in Entertainment: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult - (relationship) Sisters
Liza's Loves: The Flirt - Write about a flirt
Jenny's Jovial Quotations: "I am fond of all children, except boys." - Lewis Carroll
365 Challenge: Genre - Friendship
Ultimate Writers Challenge: Character - Luna Lovegood
Resolutions: Write a Meet-Cute, Write a cliche plot, Write a fic based around a character we don't get to see in the movies
