Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Kingsley Shacklebolt/Padma Patil
Warnings: alternate universe; het; age difference; and Padma Paitl is an independent and opinionated woman
Prompts: (Pairing) Kingsley/Padma; (AU) Soulmates; and (Word) Trouble
And I won't work for nobody but you
–"Love Machine" by The Miracles from City of Angels
We Found Love
025. Love Machine
When she was eleven, Padma Patil awoke to a searing pain on the right side of her abdomen. It was an intense pain that brought tears to her eyes. The pain only lasted a few minutes than it was over. Padma laid in bed, staring at the ceiling as she tried to blink the tears away. While it no longer hurt, there was lingering pain. She laid there for awhile, trying and failing to fall back asleep. Staying up late wouldn't do her any good.
The next morning, Padma was awoken by her mother, who was irritated that her daughter had slept in. When she tried to tell her mother about the pain from the night before, the woman would snap and tell her to move faster. Because of Padma, they were running late for an important family birthday. The family had gathered in England to celebrate Padma and Parvati's eleventh birthdays and watch as they received their Hogwarts acceptance letters. It was a big deal, in their family.
While Padma and Parvati were twin sisters, the day was mostly about Parvati. Parvati was the eldest child of their generation. While she was a girl, the family saw a bright future through her. Padma was used it, and she was happy to sit back since she was shy.
It wasn't until that night when Padma noticed a change. There was a crown on her abdomen – right where the pain was the night before. She traced over the shape a few times. Where had this mark some from? Since she didn't have an answer, Padma wasn't going to show anyone until she knew. This mark might get her in a lot of trouble.
...
It wasn't until she stared attending Hogwarts a few months later that Padma learned what that mark might. It was a soulmark. Only a handful of British witches and wizards received a soulmark each generation. Even fewer managed to meet their soulmate and marry. People with a soulmark were treasured, treated special. These people were seen as extremely lucky and their children were usually powerful.
When she learned the importance of her soulmark, Padma stared at it in a mirror for a few hours. She needed to decide what to do. It was nice knowing she was special. If she told the Soul Committee, then everyone were learn. People would stop and stare, and she would receive all kinds of attention – attention she didn't want. If she kept quiet, then she would be able to live life.
Biting her lip, Padma decided she was going to wait to tell people. She wanted to get through Hogwarts first. Padma wanted to enjoy being invisible while she was in school.
...
Hogwarts was a long seven years for Padma.
She was considered an average Ravenclaw since she got above avenger grades and she did the required homework. Most of her roommates were more interested in studying or sabotaging one another than making friends. Padma learned to be an average Ravenclaw after she witnessed Mandy Brocklehurst and Lisa Turpin bully Sue Li and stealing her homework during first year. The only time Padma excellent was OWLs and NEWTs. Those were the most important exams of her life. Her entire future rode on those exams.
In addition, Harry Potter and his friends seemed to have a bad habit of getting into trouble. Once every year they seemed to go on some kind of adventure against the Dark Lord or his followers. Those adventures always happened towards the end of the school year, sometimes canceling the end of the year exams.
After the end of the Second Blood War, Padma decided to study for her NEWTs before arranging to take them at the Ministry of Magic in September.
...
After receiving her NEWTs scores, Padma was prepared to visit the Soulmark Committee to register her mark. Two committee members documented her soulmark and asked her several questions.
"Why did you wait so long to register your mark?" demanded one of the committee members. She was an old woman with gray hair, glasses, and she wore a permanent frown.
Padma frowned, wondering what right this woman had to demand such a question. "Because I wanted to finish my education," she answered, honestly.
The woman's frown deepened. "The Committee exists to make life simpler for an individual of your influence," she explained. "You have no need to concern yourself with trouble of mundane things like education or a job."
"While I might not have to, I choose to," Padma stated, her tone harsh. "I like the 'trouble of mundane things' because I choose to act like everyone else."
Someone else took over asking questions.
...
After registering her mark, Padma went on with her life. With her NEWTs results and her status as a soulmate, she secured an apprenticeship with Master Autumn Rosier, an elite figure in the field of Charms. The apprenticeship was paid for, thanks to the Soulmark Committee.
Busy with her apprenticeship, Padma barely noticed time speed by. In her limited free time, she would see her twin sister and she visit Sue Li, and she started dating a nice Italian young man that called her belle.
Before Padma knew it, a year had gone by since she registered her soulmark. She frowned when she realized how much time had gone by, but she quickly moved on. It was highly likely that she would never meet her soulmate. Padma decided to live her life and enjoy herself. It didn't make sense to wait for someone who might never come.
...
When she turned twenty-three, Padma met her soulmate. It was a date arranged by the Soulmark Committee.
"Sorry for the delay," he said with a smile. "I've been rather busy these last few years."
Padma nodded, starting Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic. "I'll forgive you, this time," she told him.
Kingsley's smile widened.
This was written in response to the following: (1) 200 Different Pairings Challenge; (2) The Alphabet Challenge; (3) Are You Crazy Enough to Do It; (4) Fill the Cup Challenge; (5) The FRIENDS Competition: The One With 472 Prompts; (6) Once Upon a Time Character Category Challenge-itition; and (7) The Ultimate Writer Challenge from Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenge forum.
(1) 200 Different Pairings – 073: (Pairing) Kingsley/Padma
(2) The Alphabet – T: (Word) Trouble
(3) Are You Crazy Enough to Do It – 380. (Restriction) Can't use Harry, Draco, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, or any of the Weasleys' in a story.
(4) Fill the Cup – Easy: (AU) Soulmates
(5) The FRIENDS Competition: The One With 472 Prompts – Season Six, TOW Paul's The Man: Write a fic inspired by the song "Love Machine."
(6) Once Upon a Time Character Category – David Nolan/Prince Charming: Write about a twin.
(7) Ultimate Writer – Write a cross-gen fic.
Count: 994