Padma's Quest - Chapter 5

Padma's Quest - Chapter 5

By Poppy P

A/N: Once again I am astounded by where this story has gone. It's like the characters just take on a life of their own! I had no idea that…oops! You have to read the story! I make a couple of references to "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. If you have not read this book, you are missing out! It's a feminist view of the Arthurian Legend and it roxs! I'll tell you the two references at the end of the fic. 'Love' quote used from Francis Edward Smedley, 1818 - 1864, from the novel 'Frank Farleigh, big thanks for the reference to my awesome beta-reader, Zsenya. All reviews are appreciated! Heck, they're more than appreciated. They're loved, cherished and read over and over again during bouts of writer's block despair! That said, enjoy…

The tepid March sunlight gave way to gloomy dusk as Padma entered the castle. She scarcely took note of her surroundings as she plodded towards the Ravenclaw common room. She hung her head dejectedly, ignoring the murmuring coming from the portraits on the wall, especially the cheeky centaur on the third floor. She ran her hand over her tired eyes and winced. She had forgotten about the painful blisters on her palms. During Herbology she had accidentally dropped a vial of Bubotuber pus. In her haste to clean it up, she had neglected to put on her dragon hide gloves. Padma shuddered, remembering the way the Bubotuber pus sizzled and stung when it made contact with her skin. Unfortunately, Professor Sprout had kept her after class to compost the Puffapods for arriving tardy. This in addition to the five points she'd lost for Ravenclaw. Padma had never lost points before. Consequently, she was filthy, tired and humiliated. She winced again, remembering what had made her late to class in the first place. She couldn't believe she had been so forward as to invite Ron Weasley to Hogsmeade. She especially couldn't believe that she'd done it in front of Harry, Hermione and her sister Parvati. What was she thinking? If only Ron had at least accepted instead of turning her down with such a lame excuse. Socks for house-elves indeed! Then she'd spontaneously joined Hermione's 'Spew' society and now she had to attend a meeting that very night. Padma had only joined because Hermione had said that Ron was a member. Now, the thought of exposing herself to added humiliation in front of Ron and his friends was almost more than she could bear. What was it about Ron Weasley that made her act like such an idiot when he was around?

To top it all off, Padma was starting to get a sneaking suspicion. She had noticed that Hermione did not seem overly pleased with Padma's newfound interest in Ron. In fact, one would almost think Hermione was jealous the way she scowled every time Ron got near another girl. But that was impossible! Wasn't she dating Viktor Krum? Why would she want Ron when she could have Krum or even Harry Potter for that matter? Probably, thought Padma, for the same reasons she herself liked Ron. He was smart, funny, brave and there was no denying that he was cute. Very cute. And that hair—who could resist? It was with much regret that Padma admitted all of this to herself because she really liked Hermione. She admired her intelligence and her sensibility. She wasn't all giggly and shallow like most witches their age. But if Padma's suspicions were true, there was no way they could be friends. Because Padma had already made up her mind about Ron, and all's fair in love and war, right?

Padma sighed wearily as she approached the portrait of Rowena Ravenclaw that guarded the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room.

"Password please?"

"Fires of Beltane," said Padma listlessly.

The portrait blushed shyly. "Oh yes, how well I remember those! Godric and I once…"

"Whatever," grumbled Padma under her breath.

"Hmph! There's no need to be rude!" The portrait swung forward angrily.

Padma entered the common room to find her dormmates Mandy Brockelhurst and Lisa Turpin, whispering excitedly in a corner of the room. She tried to sneak past them, but Mandy caught her eye.

"We've been waiting for you for ages Padma."

"Professor Sprout made me stay after, remember?" Padma plopped herself down in an armchair next to Lisa.

"Ergh! You smell like dragon dung!" Lisa scooted her chair away from Padma.

"I've had the worst day!"

"That's right," said Mandy, "you never did tell us why you were late to Herbology."

"Long story. Anyway," said Padma, quickly changing the subject, "what were you lot talking about?"

Lisa's face lit up with malicious delight. "Oh Padma! You just have to see this." She thrust an open magazine at Padma.

Padma took a few minutes to scan the article, Harry Potter's Secret Heartache. When she finished she looked up with a large smile.

"This is wonderful!" exclaimed Padma.

"Wonderful?" asked Mandy, bewildered.

"That's not what I'd call it," sniffed Lisa. "I mean, the nerve of that…that…Muggle, cheating on Harry like that. You know, I never did like that Hermione Granger. Always showing off with her top marks and all."

For some reason that Padma couldn't explain she felt strangely protective of Hermione. "Oh come on now! She's never really given any indication that she's going out with Harry."

"They're always together," pointed out Mandy.

"Yes, but he's always with Ron as well and you don't think they're a couple now, do you? She's obviously with Viktor Krum," said Padma with satisfaction.

Lisa gave them a catlike smile. "Which is to your advantage, isn't it, Padma dear?"

Padma steadily avoided Lisa's gaze. "Don't know what you're talking about," she muttered.

"Well if Hermione is cheating on Harry, I still think its perfectly awful." said Mandy.

Lisa was not paying attention to Mandy anymore as she was staring at Padma's hands. "Wow Padma, did that happen with the Bubotuber pus in Herbology?"

Padma nodded grimly. "And I didn't even touch it directly. It came through the rag I used to soak up the vial I spilled."

Lisa kept gazing at Padma's hands pensively. "You know," she said slowly, "this kind of give me an idea. I think I know a way we can teach that Hermione a lesson."

"What do you mean?" asked Padma sharply.

"Come on," said Lisa, standing up. "Let's go down to dinner and I'll tell you all about it. It will involve some Bubotuber pus as well as a potion proof envelope, but when I'm done, I reckon Hermione Granger will think twice before she tried to mess with Harry Potter again."

"I'm not going to dinner," said Padma, glad for the excuse, as Lisa could be awfully cruel when she set her mind to it.

"I…er…have to get ready." Padma felt hot color rising on her cheeks.

"Ready for what?" asked Mandy curiously.

"Padma turned away from them slightly and mumbled, "An S.P.E.W. meeting."

"Spew? What's that?" asked Lisa suspiciously.

"It's…it's…the Society for the Protection of Elfish Welfare," muttered Padma.

Lisa cocked one eyebrow inquisitively. "You joined something called 'Spew'?

"Not Spew! S-P-E…"

"Oh I've heard about them!" interrupted Mandy. "Neville Longbottom told me about some society to campaign for elfish rights. Hannah from Hufflepuff mentioned something about it as well. I think she said Hermione Granger is the founder." Mandy shot a questioning look at Padma.

Lisa crossed her arms over her chest with a derisive snort. "Since when have you cared about the rights of house-elves? Are you going to tell that…that Muggle about the cute little twin elves you and Parvati have at home? What are they names again? Oh yes, Ninaine and Nimue."

Padma cowered under Lisa's cynical look. "I do care about Nimue. At least I don't make her give me pedicures like Parvati does to Ninaine.

Lisa threw her arms up in exasperation. "Just admit it Padma! You only joined because you're trying to get closer to Ron Weasley!"

"Keep your voice down!" hissed Padma, glancing around the common room in alarm. Fortunately, most people had already gone on to dinner.

"He's just a boy, and a Weasley at that," continued Lisa. "I never thought I'd see the day when a Ravenclaw fell all over herself just for a man!"

In an effort to stem further argument, Mandy tugged at Lisa's elbow. "Let's go to dinner, shall we? Padma, we'll catch you up later." Mandy started for the portrait hole with Lisa following after giving Padma one last irritated look.

Padma hung her head down sadly. Lisa's words stung her to the quick. She had never acted so silly over a boy before. She was starting to get as bad as Parvati with her giggling and love potions and Tarot card readings. Padma had always scoffed at her twin for these things, and here she was, acting no better. Padma's gaze fell back to the article about Harry again. She noted that the correspondent was Rita Skeeter. The name seemed familiar to her for some reason. She concentrated until she remembered where she'd heard that name. Of course! Rita Skeeter was a reporter for the Daily Profit. Padma brightened as she reasoned with herself. If Rita Skeeter was a reporter for the Daily Profit, then surely she must be somewhat credible. With this thought, Padma made for the fourth year girls' dormitory to tidy up before the S.P.E.W. meeting.

****

Padma shook her long hair, feeling its heavy weight lose down her back. She scanned the library for the S.P.E.W. gathering. She spotted Hermione sitting in a corner table. With trepidation, she noticed that Hermione was sitting alone. Padma glanced down at her wristwatch and noted that it was five minutes to eight. Perhaps the rest of the committee was late. She hesitated, but just then Hermione looked up and gave her a tired smile.

"Padma, you came!" Hermione waved her over.

As Padma approached Hermione's table, she caught sight of the table situated a few feet over. To Padma's aggravation she saw her sister Parvati and Dean Thomas sitting there. She cursed them mentally, wondering what on earth they were doing in the library on a Friday night. Dean was staring at Padma with a somewhat panicked look, while Parvati's face was unreadable.

She gave them a tight, little wave and headed resolutely towards Hermione's table.

"Hello Hermione. Er…where's the rest of the group?" Padma asked, hoping she wasn't too obvious.

Hermione sighed deeply. "It seems that our Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, have gotten a sudden urge to do their Divination homework."

Padma felt her heart sink down to her toes. "But…but it's a Friday night!" she protested.

"I know," Hermione scowled, "and it's not as though they even care about Divination anyway. But Ron said," Hermione took on a soft, mystical tone, "that the alignment of Jupiter and Mars were such that he was currently open to the psychic resonance. He also saw in the orb that if he left the safety of the common room, he would have his eyes pecked out by a mad raven." Hermione snorted in disgust. "Honestly! Psychic resonance indeed!" Hermione smiled apologetically at Padma. "Oh well, at least they gave me an excuse. Most members just don't bother to show up." Hermione ran her hands over her face. Padma suddenly noticed that Hermione looked upset.

"Are you…okay?" asked Padma tentatively.

"I'm fine. It's just…"

Hermione was cut off by the gang of fifth year girls that brushed past their table. One of them was wearing a red, Bulgarian Quidditch team scarf around her waist and hissed, "Mudblood slut," at Hermione as they walked by. Padma sat stunned. Hermione clinched her jaw and shut her eyes tightly, taking a deep breath. Padma finally spoke.

"What was that about?"

Hermione opened her eyes and with a controlled effort answered, "The Rita Skeeter article in Witch Weekly, have you seen it?" Padma nodded slowly. "It's not true you know," said Hermione quietly.

Padma looked at Hermione cautiously and asked, "So, you're not seeing Viktor or Harry?"

Hermione shook her head emphatically. "No, I'm not. We're just friends," she said firmly.

Padma bit her lip before asking, "Are you seeing anyone else?"

Hermione looked straight at Padma. "No, I'm not. Why do you ask?"

Padma drew a deep breath, preparing herself to ask the nagging question that had been in her head all day. "Hermione, do you…"

Padma's question was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Neville Longbottom who flung himself down in a chair next to Hermione. "Hermione," said Neville breathlessly, "I heard Ron and Harry… er…talking about the S.P.E.W. meeting. Sorry I'm late. What did I miss?"

Hermione smiled patiently and explained the reason behind the impromptu meeting.

Two hours and two sickles later, Padma started out of the library with a new, puce green S.P.E.W. badge pinned to the front of her robes. Padma had just said goodnight to Hermione and Neville when she felt a hand on her arm.

"Oh! Hello Dean."

"Hi Padma. You…er…look nice with your hair like that. Loose, I mean." He gave her a lopsided grin.

"Thanks. Listen, we'd better leave before Madam Pince throws us out."

"Yes, well, you see, I um…wanted to ask you something." Dean shuffled nervously.

"Yes?" Padma saw Dean glance over her shoulder at someone before he continued. Padma turned and saw that her sister Parvati was holding the new issue of Witch Weekly upside down and glancing furtively in their direction. "Yes?" Padma prompted Dean.

"I was wondering if you'd like to hang out in Hogsmeade tomorrow? You see, Seamus is going with Lavender and your sister is going with some boy from Beauxbatons. They're all going to go off on their own for a bit before meeting up at the Three Broomsticks. Padma hesitated which Dean took as a sign of rejection. "I'm sorry. You probably want to go with your own friends." He turned to go.

Padma quickly thought of Mandy and Lisa and their plan to retaliate against Hermione. "No, wait Dean. It'd be nice to hang out." Dean's face brightened so suddenly that Padma quickly added, "As friends."

Dean's grin faltered slightly, but he said, "Great! We'll meet in the Entrance Hall then?"

Padma nodded, smiling at his enthusiasm. She turned to go when Dean spoke again.

"Goodnight Padma."

She gave him a small wave and closed the library door behind her.

A/N 2: The Ravenclaw password, "Fires of Beltane" is in reference to a Druid fertility festival mentioned in Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon". The names of the twin's House-elves are names of characters from the same book.

TO BE CONTINUED…