Singing Skies, Sad Waters

The Houses Competition:

House: Gryffindor

Year: seventh

Category: Standard

Prompt: Clear Skies

Words: 752

The Golden Snitch:

Pop Asia; who are you? (2005)

Prompt, any character who has a twin.

Centaurus, Aurora

Thank you so much to Tiggs for betaíng; you helped make this story look half reasonable, and I am eternally grateful.

Parvati Patil quickly walked over to a big beech tree on Hogwarts' grounds and walked under its canopy of leaves. The skies were clear, the sun was out, and it was hot, so the shade this tree offered was welcomed warmly by Parvati. After sliding to the ground, she couldn't help it; she broke into tears.

Parvati was not exactly a popular girl at Hogwarts, but just about everyone liked her, which was nice, but it came at a price: she always had to wear a pretty smile. If she was popular like Ginny Weasley, it wouldn't be so much of an issue. Especially since people mostly came to her for gossip, and gossip alone; people avoided her even for that if she looked remotely unhappy.

But because she never felt as though she could show how she felt, she had a lot of insecurities that haunted her. She didn't have a lot of friends she felt she could talk to, her parents were not the listening type, and it was difficult to talk to Padma because she was in another house.

That was why Parvati was under this tree. Everywhere else she felt as though she was being judged, analysed with every move she made. Though, Parvati wished she had thought to owl Padma to ask her to join her. She could have really done with Padma to talk to.

"Are you alright, Parvati?" the voice of Lavender Brown asked suddenly.

It had been so quiet, and Parvati had not expected it, so she jumped into the air in surprise before looking up at her best friend and roommate.

"I'm alright, I suppose. I just feel scared that people don't like me," Parvati said bitterly.

"Everyone likes you, Parvati; you are the most liked girl in our year at least. I hardly ever walk by someone without hearing a favourable comment about you," Lavender said.

"They like me for gossip, but what if that's it?" Parvati sobbed.

"That isn't the case, Parvati," Lavender said, getting down to comfort her peer.

"Maybe. It is so hard you know; I just want to have friends, people who like me! I don't like spreading gossip, but if that's the only way to get people to like me, well what can I do?" Parvati said, letting out other issues she had. Then she continued, "It is so hard at home, and I feel so insecure. My mum and dad are always arguing and half the time ignoring me and each other, and we seem to be always moving to a new house, too. Until we started at Hogwarts it was bearable because I could reply on Padma, but now that we are in different houses, we have become a bit distant."

"I am here for you, and I wish you would talk to me," Lavender said.

"That is true," Parvati said and slowly nodded.

"It is hard, Parvati, I know, but you are coping well, and it will get better, I promise," Lavender reassured. Then she added, "You can always talk to me, whenever you need to. And try reaching out to Padma, she is probably having some problems, too."

"You think so?" Parvati asked.

"Yes. Do you feel better now?" Lavender asked, turning to face her friend.

"Yes, I feel much better about everything, thank you," Parvati said, putting on a nice smile.

"Good. If you ever need to talk, I am always happy to listen; I hope that has gotten into your brain now," Lavender said and grinned, standing up.

"Thank you," Parvati said.

Lavender nodded, then she said, "I will give you a few minutes, but join me in the library soon, okay?"

After Parvati nodded, Lavender walked off, stepping out into the sun created by the clear skies.

Parvati put on a confident smile as she stood up. She felt a lot better now after having talked to her friend, and even knowing that there was someone to talk to made her feel better.

"Well, it is clear skies for me from now on," Parvati muttered, before heading back to the castle. Now she had gotten stuff off her chest, she appreciated the clear skies and the warmth that the sun brought.

Parvati had not enjoyed it until now, because she had felt miserable, clouded in. Thanks to Lavender, the cloud keeping her unhappy had cleared, and Parvati could see clear skies ahead. If she ever needed someone to talk to again, she would make sure she went to Lavender.