Padma's Quest -
Chapter 4
A/N: Standard disclaimer applies. Anything you recognize does not belong to
me. It belongs to J. K. Rowling. This is a fanfic written for amusement
purposes only. Some original lines of
dialogue used.
I skewed the timing in cannon a little, but hey, it's my fanfic. This is dedicated to all the lovely people who've reviewed, you know who you are!
Padma Patil made her way towards the potions class inhaling deeply. She truly liked the smell of the dungeons. It was a dark, cool scent that brought to mind wet earth on a hot day. The dungeon scent intermingled with the smell of old potions and had a very soothing effect on her. Padma excelled in Potions and although Professor Snape was never actually friendly, he was a good professor. Padma could hardly believe some of the stories her sister Parvati told about him; how he bullied the Gryffindors mercilessly and favored his own house. But then again, Parvati was known to have a tendency to tell some strange tales. During the past summer, Parvati claimed to have had a vision concerning Professor Snape. Some rubbish about him quitting Hogwarts to join a satanic wizard rock group and getting a tattoo. Padma thought it was nonsense, of course, although the thought of Snape singing did unsettle her for some reason.
Padma squinted into the dimly lit corridor, searching for her sister among the throng of students milling about before their next class. Finally she spotted Parvati next to Lavender Brown. It was easy to see why Parvati and Lavender were so popular. They were both extremely pretty and made quite an interesting contrast when they were together, which was most of the time.
Lavender was fair skinned with long, wavy blond hair that she always wore lose. She used a Darkening Charm on her eyelashes that made her soft, blue eyes stand out even more. She never ventured out without lip-gloss on her full, pouty lips. Lavender was average height, with a slight build, but she appeared taller due to the large platform shoes she wore everyday. Lavender's shoes always made Padma shudder. It was a wonder she didn't break her neck traipsing up and down the Hogwart's staircases.
Although Padma and Parvati were identical twins, there were differences in their appearance nonetheless. They had the same dark, flawless skin tone, but Parvati wore make-up on a daily basis, while Padma saved it for weekends and special occasions. Parvati wore her long, black hair lose except for two little braids below her ears which she pulled back and tied together with a red ribbon. Padma thought it extremely foolish to wear long hair lose around bubbling cauldrons. She plaited her hair, or pinned it up almost everyday. They had the same, large, dark eyes fringed with heavy lashes. However, Padma used thin, wire-framed glasses during class for reading. But the biggest difference between them was that Parvati carried herself with a decidedly confident attitude that Padma seemed to lack. Padma compensated by assuming an air of aloofness that unbeknownst to her, many people mistook for conceitedness. Padma was aware that her sister was more popular than she could ever hope to be, and she tried not to grudge her that. She consoled herself by concentrating on her studies, which after all, were the real reason they were at Hogwarts anyway.
As Padma approached Parvati she noted that Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas were close by as usual. Indeed, ever since Lavender and Seamus had become an official couple, people just assumed that Dean and Parvati were one as well. However, Padma knew better. Parvati told her that although she had kissed Dean behind the Quidditch stands once, they were really just friends.
Padma said a curt hello to Dean, Seamus and Lavender before pulling Parvati away. Parvati raised her eyebrows inquisitively, but Padma put a hand up before she could say anything.
"Don't talk, we don't have much time before I have to leave for Herbology." She lowered her voice. "Is Ron here yet?"
"He's not here yet, but then neither are Harry or Hermione." Parvati paused, then took a deep breath and blurted out, "Padma, I really don't think it's a good idea for you to pursue Ron Weasley."
Padma stared at her angrily. "Why?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Parvati hesitated. "It's just that…that…well, I've been…consulting the Orb, and…"
"Oh Parvati!" exclaimed Padma, fighting the urge to shake her sister. "Why don't you take your blooming Orb and stick it up your-Hello!" said Padma brightly, as she spotted Ron approaching over Parvati's shoulder.
Ron smiled uncertainly, but walked over to them. To Padma's great annoyance, so did Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. Didn't they ever do anything apart?
"Hello," said Ron cheerfully, though he still looked mildly surprised.
"Oh Ron," said Padma breathlessly, "Parvati's was just telling me how brave you were during your ordeal in the lake at the second task. Was it really horrible?"
Ron's eyes widened delightedly and he launched into a thrilling tale of his underwater escapades. Padma knew he was exaggerating, having heard the real details from fellow Ravenclaw Cho Chang, but Padma found Ron's exaggeration endearing. She listened rapturously, gasping every now and then when he related a particularly harrowing detail. Padma took no notice of Harry's amused face or Hermione's increasingly irritated expression. She practically swooned when Ron said something about fighting off the 'mer-idiots'. Really, he was so cute! But just then, Hermione made a shrewish remark.
"What were you going to do, snore at them?"
Harry quickly choked back a laugh with a loud cough. Ron's ears turned an alarming shade of red and he looked away from Padma guiltily. Padma felt extremely annoyed at Hermione for cutting Ron off. In her annoyance she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Ron, I'd love to hear more about your brave struggles. How about meeting in Hogsmeade this weekend so that you can tell me all about it over a butterbeer?" Padma couldn't fail to notice the identical, open-mouthed, astonished look on Parvati, Hermione and Harry's faces. She also noted that Ron's ears turned, if possible, a darker shade of red. They matched his face.
"H…Hogsmeade?" he croaked weakly.
"Ron," hissed Hermione, giving him a pointed look. "We've got…stuff to do in Hogsmeade this weekend, remember?" Hermione stopped suddenly, as though afraid she'd said too much. She glanced at Ron and Harry in alarm.
"Oh…er…sorry Padma, I can't" Ron stammered.
"Why?" asked Padma, feeling her own face grow hot.
"Because…" said Ron, "because…"
"Because we need to buy socks for a house-elf," said Harry quickly.
"Yes!"
said Hermione with unmistakable relief. "Yes, socks. We need to buy socks for…for …house-elves."
"House-elves?" asked Padma incredulously, her eyebrow arched in disbelief. "What, are you going to sack them or something?"
"Well, no," said Ron, "It's just that…we…we wouldn't want their little feet to be cold."
"We…like…house-elves," finished Harry lamely.
"You know, 'Spew' and all that," said Ron.
"Spew?" asked Padma, feeling more annoyed by the minute.
"Not 'Spew' Ron!" said Hermione hotly. "S-P-E-W, it stands for Society for the Protection of Elfish Welfare. You've not heard of it?" Hermione shot Parvati a reproachful look.
"Er…no," admitted Padma.
Hermione's eyes glittered excitedly, but before she could speak, Harry said, "Oh look at the time! We'd better queue up for class. Wouldn't want to miss one of Snape's lessons."
"We…like Snape," said Ron with a smirk before rushing off after Harry. Padma would've like to have asked them if they were planning to buy socks for Professor Snape as well, but Hermione was pushing a leaflet into her hand.
"Padma, we would love to have you join our society. The more people we can convince to fight for house-elf rights, the better. You are aware that Hogwarts is responsible for the subjugation of over a hundred elves, aren't you?"
Padma glanced at her sister, who was rolling her eyes, before answering, "I wasn't aware. Why, that's outrageous! Who's in your society?"
Hermione looked taken aback by the question. "Well, there's myself, and Harry, Ron…"
"Sign me up!" said Padma quickly.
"Really?" asked Hermione with surprise.
"Oh yes," said Padma passionately. "I want to start working against house-elf oppression right away. Tonight if possible…"
"Tonight?" asked Hermione in a daze.
"Yes, tonight. Let's meet in the library at say, eight o'clock? And make sure all the members are there won't you? We need everybody to fight this tyranny."
"Okay," said Hermione, smiling uncertainly. Just then Pansy Parkinson who had been tittering with her gang of Slytherin girls for a while now, interrupted them.
"You might find something to interest you in there, Granger!" Pansy threw a magazine at Hermione who caught it in surprise, before turning back to Padma. Padma noticed it was the same copy of Witch Weekly magazine that Parvati had shown her earlier.
"I'd better go, it's almost time for class anyway." As if to confirm this, Professor Snape was suddenly sweeping up the corridor, his perpetually black robes billowing out behind him.
A short while later, Padma rushed out of the castle breathlessly, the bell signaling the start of class having rung several minutes ago. She clutched at her hat, which the wind was threatening to blow away. She hoped this 'Spew' meeting would be worth the five points Professor Sprout would undoubtedly take from Ravenclaw for her tardiness. She also found herself wondering why Pansy Parkinson had thrown that magazine at Hermione. Oh well, with any luck, she'd find out why at the 'Spew' meeting.
To be continued…