Padma's Quest Chapter 7

Padma's Quest Chapter 7

By Poppy P

A/N: Here you are, another chapter of this continuing saga ;) Remember that all reviews are appreciated. Don't make me beg! Oh and remember, the charm that I mentioned in chapter 3, Busty Betsy's Breast Enhancement Charm? That's how Lavender got the big chest in the last chapter. I'm not sure if everyone caught that. Sometimes I forget what I wrote in past chapters! I think the timeline for this is about chapters 27-28 or so of GoF. Not sure as I lent out my book. Cheers!

"Psst!" hissed Padma from behind the broom closet door. She saw Parvati detach herself from the chattering crowd coming into the Entrance Hall. Padma watched her as she glanced around, wide-eyed, then shrugged and turned to rejoin Lavender and Seamus who were heading up the marble staircase. Padma retreated into the darkness of the closet in defeat. She had just slumped down on an overturned pail when the door to the closet was yanked open. She gasped and scrambled to her feet to find herself face to face with Parvati.

"Padma? What are you doing here?" Parvati pulled her wand out of her pocket. "Lumos."

Padma jerked her sister into the closet, pulling the door shut behind her.

"What are you doing here?" repeated Parvati. "I sensed your aura calling out to me." She inclined her glowing wand towards Padma. "Are you crying?" Parvati asked softly.

Padma wiped her eyes hastily. She had always been the more reticent of the twins. Padma had never known Parvati to cover up an emotion. Parvati wasn't ashamed to cry or laugh or sing in front of anybody. But then again, Parvati had never had any boy trouble either. She always got what she wanted.

"No, I'm not crying, you great dunderhead!"

Parvati looked at her skeptically. "What happened with you and Dean? He showed up by himself to the Three Broomsticks. Said something about you kissing him, then going mad." Parvati looked closely at her now. "Dean was terribly upset. He left Hogsmeade early."

Padma avoided Parvati's eye. "Who cares about Dean? The real problem is that I can't get Ron to notice me at all. But I have a plan."

Parvati clutched Padma's hand. "Oh Padma! Perhaps you should stop trying to tempt The Fates. Maybe Ron is…"

Padma yanked her hand out of Parvati's grasp. "Honestly, Parvati! You and your stupid Fates, and your Tarot cards and your bloody orb! It's no wonder you couldn't get into Ravenclaw. You're about as dull as a Flobberworm!"

Padma regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. Her stomach lurched with guilt as Parvati's eyes flooded with tears. She remembered why she wanted to talk to her sister and tried again. "Don't blubber! You know I didn't mean it. Just listen. I think Ron is oblivious to me because I haven't had the opportunity to spend enough time with him. To correct that, you and I are going to switch places tonight."

Parvati blinked through watery eyes. "Wh-what?"

Padma sighed in exasperation. "We're. Going. To. Switch. Places," she repeated, saying each word with deliberate slowness.

Parvati crossed her arms defiantly, though her tone lacked conviction. "But…but that's mad! I won't go along with it and you can't make me."

"Oh yes I can," said Padma grimly. "How would you like me to send Mum an owl about those love bites on your neck?"

Parvati's eyes widened and she clutched at her neck. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh yes I would," said Padma with determination. She was aware that she was breaching a long standing pact she had with her twin, that they would never tell on each other so long as they weren't doing anything dangerous or life threatening. But she felt she had no choice.

Parvati's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Okay," she whispered.

"Good." Padma spun Parvati around and began tugging at her hair.

"What are you doing?"

"I need your hair ribbons silly. And here, I have my ribbons in my pocket so let me plait your hair." Padma quickly braided Parvati's hair into a thick plait and tied the end with a blue ribbon. She scowled at the little red marks on Parvati's neck which looked more prominent with her hair pulled back. "Ergh! How far down do these go? Disgusting! Here, take my scarf and keep it around your neck. Padma took her blue and bronze striped scarf and wrapped it around her sister's neck. "There. Now me." Padma turned her back to Parvati so that she could do her hair. "Ow! You're pulling too hard."

"Wait, where are my butterflies?"

"Oh…er…the spell didn't work. They flew away."

The two sisters scrutinized each other in the dim wand light.

"I guess you look like me," said Parvati doubtfully.

"Oh course I look like you! We're twins. You think we need Polyjuice Potion or something?" Padma sat down on the overturned pail. "Okay, here's the plan. I'm going to go to dinner at the Gryffindor table. I'll simply find Lavender and sit by her. You will go up to bed in Ravenclaw. Just tell everyone you have a headache."

"But I'm hungry," protested Parvati.

"I have some Chocolate Frogs in my bedside table, eat those. My bed is the one next to the windows." Padma relented at the mournful expression on Parvati's face. "Come on now. I'll do your homework while I'm in your common room."

"Will you?" asked Parvati, brightening somewhat.
"Yes, what were you going to work on this weekend?"
"Divination. But I don't think…" Parvati trailed off.

"How hard can it be?" asked Padma. "We'll meet back here before breakfast tomorrow. And remember, don't talk to anyone or you'll blow our cover. Just stay in bed until breakfast."

The girls exchanged passwords and left the broom closet, Parvati heading for the Ravenclaw common room, Padma for the Great Hall.

Padma slipped into a seat next to Lavender, who interrupted her conversation with Seamus and turned towards her. "Where were you?"

"My sister wanted something." Padma concentrated hard on her potatoes.

"Did she tell you what happened with Dean? He was really upset."

Seamus looked around Lavender at Padma. "Yeah, he didn't even want to come to dinner. Said he wanted to be alone."

Padma fervently hoped that the guilt she felt wasn't evident on her face. "Strange, she didn't mention anything."

"So," said Lavender with a smirk, "looks like you and Mr. Beauxbatons got along okay."

Padma started to make something up about Parvati's time with Mathieu when Lavender suddenly interrupted. "Say, what happened to your…" she pointed at Padma's neck.

"Oh." Padma felt her face grow hot. "Er…Padma cast a Healing Charm on them. She's very good at those."

Dinner passed without further incident. It wasn't until they reached the Gryffindor common room that Padma made a mistake. Seamus and Lavender headed for a secluded sofa in the corner of the room. Padma started towards up a staircase when Lavender called out, "Parvati, what are you doing?"

"I'm going up to fetch my Divination homework," said Padma.

Lavender exchanged a look with Seamus before she asked, "Up the boys' staircase?"

Padma quickly caught hold of the banister to steady herself. "Oh! Right…er…I'll just go this way then, shall I?" She flew down the steps and rushed up the opposite staircase. Upon reaching the fourth year girls' dorm she hurried inside, closed the door and leaned against it. She stood there for several minutes, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Just when she had managed some semblance of calm, the door was violently pushed forward, pitching Padma headlong onto the floor. Stunned, she lay there, sprawled out on the thick, brown carpet when she felt someone helping her to her feet.

"Parvati!" Hermione squeaked. "I am so sorry!" She pulled Padma up. "Sorry. Just came to grab my books."

"Me too," said Padma.

Hermione stopped and looked at Padma doubtfully. "Really?"

Padma felt extremely nervous under Hermione's scrutiny. "Yes. Why?"

"No reason," said Hermione quickly, proceeding to her bed where she pulled a large, bulging bag out from under her bed.

Padma noticed that Hermione looked tense. Two spots of bright colour glowed high on her cheeks. "Hermione, is something wrong?"

Hermione's eyes flicked briefly over to Padma and she continued to rifle through her book bag as she spoke. "Oh, something's wrong, all right. Ron's being an idiot again, that's what."

"Really?" Padma's enthusiastic question caused Hermione to look up again.

Hermione studied Padma before she said, "Yes, he is. He made me so angry just now. He doesn't care about helping house-elves gain rights. He just…" Hermione stopped suddenly. "Sorry, I know you don't care about elves. Too bad you're not Padma. She'd understand." Hermione balanced a stack of books on her hip and headed for the door. "See you downstairs."

Padma considered Hermione's statement. Obviously she'd fooled Hermione about her interest in elfish welfare. She felt slightly guilty because Hermione felt she could confide in her. However, Padma couldn't help but feel hopeful about Hermione's comments regarding Ron. She grabbed Parvati's book bag (it was easy to guess which bed was Parvati's as she had a palm reading chart taped on the foot board) and headed downstairs.

Padma chose a table close to Seamus and Lavender's sofa. The couple was currently engaging in a not so discreet, snog session, oblivious to everyone else. Fortunately, the table was also close to Harry, Ron and Hermione's.

Not that they were saying much. Ron and Harry had just set up a chess match although it didn't seem to be progressing because Ron and Hermione kept glaring at each other furiously.

Padma was studying Parvati's star chart journal, unable to make sense of any of it when Dean suddenly took a seat next to her.

"Can I sit here?" he asked. Padma nodded, fighting off a growing sense of panic. Dean stared at her intently. He was holding a rolled up parchment tightly in his hands. Padma searched his eyes for some hint of recognition, but they remained unreadable.

She ventured forth. "You want to talk about what happened with…Padma?"
Padma's fears were laid to rest when Dean spoke. "Yes, let's talk about…your sister." He ran his hands over his face. "I don't know what happened. I mean, the girl of my dreams kissed me, then she pushed me away. Why?"
Padma's chest felt tight with guilt as she saw the hurt look on Dean's face.

"It's not your fault Dean. It's…I don't know why…I haven't told your before, but Padma likes someone else."

"Ron?" asked Dean quietly.

Padma was unable to restrain the colour that flooded her face. "Yes. How did you know?" Out of the corner of her eye she saw Harry get up from their table, hoist a bulging bag onto his back and leave the common room. Ron and Hermione were now snipping at each other in whispers, Ron gesticulating violently, Hermione's face scarlet with rage. Padma focused on Dean again. He held her gaze for several seconds.

Dean finally glanced away. "I see the way she always watches him. She's always conscious of what he's doing." Dean sounded bitter. "And I hate feeling jealous of a mate, but it's difficult. I know she turned me down for the Yule Ball to go with him, but after the way he treated her, I thought…"

Padma suddenly sat upright. "Wait, what did you say?"

"Huh?"

"About asking m-I mean Padma to the ball?" Padma asked.

Dean considered her for a second. "Remember Parvati? I asked you to ask her to the Yule Ball for me, but you said she turned me down because she really wanted to go with Ron."

Padma frowned. "But she never…I mean, I never…I mean…"

"Padma," said Dean.

Padma was so startled to hear her name that she snapped the quill she was holding in half. One piece remained in her hand, the other went sailing over her shoulder and landed in the middle of Ron and Hermione's table, splattering his chess set with ink.

"Wonderful!" said Hermione sarcastically to Ron. "I suppose you'll be asking some poor, overworked elf to come clean those for you now, won't you?"

"And if I do?" asked Ron, savagely wiping at a spot of ink on his cheek. Most of the common room was staring at them as their voices rose. Only Lavender and Seamus remained unmindful.

"If you don't fight for the oppressed, then you might as well be one of the oppressors!" Hermione stood up, clutching her books to her chest. "You're as bad as Malfoy!"

Ron's face paled with rage. "You take that back!"

"I will not!" cried Hermione obstinately. "In fact, I'm going to bed. I can no longer sit in the presence of one who refuses to oppose such a discriminatory system!" Hermione turned on her heel and marched up the girls' staircase.

Ron caught Dean's eye and shrugged, rolling his eyes. "Mad," he sighed, "barking, howling mad." Ron proceeded to wipe down his protesting chessmen.

Padma turned back to Dean. "You knew," she croaked, "you knew I wasn't Parvati?"

"Yes, I knew," said Dean quietly, tightening his grip on the roll of parchment in his hands.

"How?" asked Padma in a whisper.

"Parvati would never crack a book open on a Saturday night. Besides," added Dean with a wan smile, "You're holding your star chart upside down.

Padma spun the star chart around, avoiding Dean's eye. "I never knew you asked me to the Yule Ball."

"I never knew Parvati hadn't told you."

Padma considered this. "Perhaps…perhaps Parvati was afraid that Harry wouldn't go with her to the ball if she didn't find a date for Ron."

"Perhaps." Dean seemed to be considering this. He reached across the table suddenly, catching Padma's ink-stained hand in his own. "I guess I should've asked you myself. It's just that I get so nervous around you. Padma, I think you're the prettiest girl in school."

The feel of Dean's large, warm hand around hers made a strange heat radiate up her arm. Then she half glanced at Ron and it stopped. Padma's mouth curled in a cynical smile. "How can I be the prettiest girl in school when I have an identical twin?"

"But she's not Padma," said Dean seriously. "You know something? I reckon Parvati never told you about this either, but the one time she and I…er…kissed, behind the Quidditch stands, I thought I was kissing you."

"What?" asked Padma.

"You see, I asked Parvati to ask you to meet me down there and she showed up pretending to be you instead."

"Why that little…" Padma pulled her inky hand out of Dean's grasp.

"She only did it," interrupted Dean, "because she thought it would be convenient for us to go out seeing as how Seamus is my best friend and he's going out with her best friend. It didn't work out. We laughed about it afterwards. But I just never got up the courage to ask you myself." Dean smiled forlornly. "Some Gryffindor I am, huh?"

Padma could think of nothing to say. Fortunately, Lavender and Seamus caused a diversion at that very moment. It seemed that Lavender's Breast-Enhancement charm had worn off. One side of her chest shrank back to its regular size with a noise that sounded like air being let out of a balloon. The common room burst out laughing as Lavender sat up with a squeal and ran for the girls' staircase. Padma turned to see Ron sniggering, ears aflame. Just then Hermione came down the stairs, brushing past Lavender, and approached Ron's table.

"Ron, are you laughing at Lavender? That's not very nice, but what can one expect from someone who supports slavery?"

"Bug off Hermione. I'm going to work on my Divination. You know, that subject that you have no talent in?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed into slits. "It's not your common room. I guess I can sit here if I want to."

"Fine," said Ron, standing up. "I'm going to the library!" Ron slapped open the portrait hole and walked out.

Hermione slumped down in a chair, muttering, "Stupid prat. The library's not open on Saturday nights."

Padma turned to Dean, but before she could say anything, he put his hand up. "Don't," he swallowed hard. "You're going to go after him, aren't you?"

Padma winced at the sadness in his voice. "Oh Dean, I…"

"Never mind," he interrupted. "Just promise me you'll remember this, while you're out there, working so hard to make Ron notice you, I've already noticed you, and I think you're the prettiest girl in the world." Dean unrolled the parchment he was holding and handed it to her. Padma gasped. It was a drawing of herself standing at the edge of the lake, surrounded by butterflies. It was signed by D. Thomas at the bottom, right hand corner. Padma's eyes welled up with shame, gratitude and regret.

"Dean…"

"Go!" Dean indicated the portrait hole.

Padma clutched the drawing in her hand and with one last mournful look at Dean, started for the portrait hole.

To be continued…