Padma's Quest, chapter 8

Padma's Quest, chapter 8

By Poppy P

A/N: Please read note at the end of this chapter.  Please!

Padma left the Gryffindor common room and ran towards the library where she found Ron standing in front of the doors, reading the closed sign.  As she approached him, she discretely tucked Dean's drawing into her front pocket. 

"Hello Ron," said Padma breathlessly.

"Oh, hi Parvati."  He frowned slightly.  "Did you know the library closed early on Saturdays?"  Padma opened her mouth to respond, but Ron went on.  "Bet Hermione knew.  Yeah, she knew all right.  This would be just like her not to tell me.  You know, this is exactly what I was talking about.  She is so…"

"Actually, I'm Padma, not Parvati," she interrupted.

"Huh?"

"I'm Padma," she repeated.

Ron's brow furrowed with confusion.  "But weren't you just…"

"Say," said Padma, attempting to divert his attention.  "Since the library's closed, how about a walk outside?"

Ron looked doubtful.  "I dunno, it's pretty late."  He squinted out of the corridor windows.  "You're sure you want to go out in the dark?"

"Yes!" exclaimed Padma, grabbing his arm and urging him forward.  "And just think, we can do some stargazing and get some practical information for you star chart."  Ron still looked reluctant, so Padma added, "Besides, it beats sitting in the common room on a Saturday night."

Ron's face darkened.  "True, wouldn't want to go back to the common room right now.  I'd probably just end up in another shouting match with her."

They made their way stealthily through the halls, alert for any signs of Filch or Mrs. Norris.  They got to the entrance hall without incident, gently easing the front door open to step outside.  The cool, night air slapped at their faces as they made their way on to the grounds.  They walked towards the lake.  Ron stopped at the edge of the shore and gazed out at the Durmstrang ship with a brooding expression.  Padma studied his face quietly.  His moody aspect made his light blue eyes look a dark, midnight blue.  The semi-pout on his lips made his mouth look appealingly childish.  There was a slight breeze out that ruffled his bright hair.  It caught the moonlight and managed to shine despite the darkness.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Padma hesitantly, reluctant to break his revelry.

"Vicky," he spat.

"Who?"

"Viktor 'buggering' Krum," said Ron bitterly.  He swooped down, picked up a pebble and flung it viciously towards the Durmstrang ship.  It skimmed the surface of the water, bouncing several times before sinking harmlessly, several feet short of the vessel.  "He's rich and famous, bet he has loads of house-elves! So why is she still friends with him?  Why does she get all dressed up and go to the ball with him?  Why is she even considering going to Bulgaria?"

Padma's heart sank, knowing exactly whom Ron was referring to, though he didn't mention her name.

Ron shook himself and started off around the lake, barely bothering to glance back to see if Padma was following or not.  "And what is it with her and house-elves anyway, huh?  Why can't she just let it go?  I mean they obviously like serving wizards!  They're happy!  I tell you, if she keeps inciting them like that, they're going to get angry and start sending us substandard food.  Why can't she…" Ron cut off in mid-sentence and glanced sheepishly at Padma.  "Oh, er…sorry.  I forgot, you're one of those 'Spew' people now as well, aren't you?"

Padma found herself flustered now that Ron was actually paying attention to her.  "Well, I mean…I am a member of S.P.E.W., but er…well, my family owns house-elves.  Parvati and I each have our own elf."

"You do?" asked Ron in surprise.  He looked at her curiously.  "I never knew that."  Ron looked thoughtful for a second, and then suddenly asked, "But you're not er…cruel to them or anything, right?  You don't beat them or humiliate do you?"

Padma tittered nervously at his anxious face.  "No, of course not."  She wondered if dressing them up like dolls to play house counted as humiliation.

Ron rewarded her with a charming grin.  "Good."

Padma returned his smile and pointed towards the Quidditch pitch.  "Let's walk that way, shall we?  I think the pitch has a very nice view for star gazing."

"Okay," said Ron amiably.

They lit their wants to cast light on their path as they made their way past the darkened broom shed.  Padma blushed furiously, thinking of Penny and Percy's romantic encounter there the night of the Yule Ball.  She wondered if Ron was aware of his brother's passionate side.

They reached the pitch where they were met with a startling sight.  "What the…?" Ron's voice trailed off in his indignation.  Large sections of the pitch had been plowed up as though someone was planning to make a garden out of the Quidditch pitch.  They walked around it, mouths agape.

"What does this mean?" asked Ron finally.  Padma shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.  "We're still going to have Quidditch next year, right?" asked Ron with a note of panic.

"I would hope so," said Padma quickly in an effort to calm the panicked look on Ron's face, though she didn't particularly care one way or another.

"We'd better," said Ron fiercely.  "Because I mean to try out for the team next year."

"You are?" asked Padma, smiling at the way Ron's face lit up at the prospect.

"Course, I can hear Hermione now," Ron took on an expression of severity and his voice rose in squeaky imitation of Hermione's, "Ron!  You know how hard we have to study for our O.W.L.'s this year!  You shouldn't be wasting time on a stupid sport when there's so much homework to be done!"

Padma's smile evaporated at the sound of Hermione's name.  Why was it always Hermione?  Padma found herself remembering the time she'd spent with her in the library.  She had actually found herself liking Hermione at the time.  Hermione was smart, funny and unpretentious.  A girl that Padma could actually confide in.  But it wasn't fair, thought Padma.  It wasn't fair that Hermione had Viktor Krum's attention, and Harry's and now apparently Ron's.  All Padma wanted was for Ron to like her, and if that meant that Hermione couldn't be her friend, then it couldn't be helped.

 "Stupid sport?" asked Padma with all the indignation she could summon.  "What a horrid thing to say!  I think Quidditch is the best sport in the world!  Why, I could watch it everyday!" exclaimed Padma, secretly thinking she'd rather listen to a chorus of Augries.  Padma sidled up to Ron and leaned on his arm a bit.  "And if you do make the team next year, I'd come out and watch you practice every single day."

"You would?" asked Ron in great shock.  Padma nodded, squeezing in closer to Ron.  He stumbled sideways a few steps.  "Are you tired or something?  Should we head back?"

Padma felt her face burning with humiliation.  "Uh, no…I'm just a bit cold, that's all."

Ron regarded her for a second.  "You should've brought a cloak," he said seriously.

Padma hadn't realized she was holding her breath until she exhaled in defeat.  What was wrong with Ron Weasley?  Did she have to draw him a picture or what?  "I suppose I'll get warmer if we keep walking."

"Okay," said Ron cautiously.

They set off around the Quidditch pitch, occasionally wondering out loud about its sad state.  Padma was acutely ware of the space between them.  She cast about for something interesting to say, but couldn't think of anything.  She despaired, thinking here she was, out in the dark with the one bloke she had a crush on, and she couldn't think of anything meaningful to say to him.  She looked at him through the corner of her eye.  He was certainly tall, thought Padma, though not as tall as Dean.  She noticed that although his school robes suited him better than his dress robes, they were still a bit short, reaching just above the top of his sneakers.  Padma remembered what Penny had said about the Weasleys being poor and wondered if it was true.  

Ron broke her revelry by speaking suddenly.  "Er…Padma, I've been meaning to apologize about the Yule Ball.  I didn't make such a great partner."

Padma's eyebrows rose in surprise.  "Oh?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Well, you know, I didn't dance with you or anything.  You seemed to have a good time with bloke from Beauxbatons though, didn't you?"

Ron looked so hopeful that Padma couldn't bring herself to say anything but, "Yes."

Ron broke out into a relieved grin.  "Wow!  You're a lot easier than Parvati!"

"Come again?" asked Padma incredulously.

"Parvati gave Harry the cold shoulder for a week," explained Ron quickly.  "I guess he was a pretty lousy date too."  Ron shrugged and continued his walk.

Padma caught his arm and stopped him.  She looked up at him and drew a long breath, willing herself not to lose her nerve.  "Ron, I'll forgive you about the Yule Ball, but you still owe me a dance."  She gave him a meaningful look, her hand still on his arm.

Ron's eyes widened in surprise, his eyebrows disappearing under his bangs.  "Er?" he asked mildly.

"You…you owe me a dance," said Padma softly.

Ron glanced off to the side furtively, as though looking for an escape route.  "O-kay," he said slowly.  "And just where do you…er…propose we find a dance?"

Padma was rather breathless with tension now.  "You could dance with me here."

Even in the midnight, Padma saw Ron's face pale, his freckles standing out against the whiteness of his face.  "B-but…two problems.  There's no music, and-" he gulped, "-I don't dance."

Padma glanced around quickly until she spotted a shovel embedded at the end of the plowed pitch.  She pointed her wand at the shovel and cried, "Cantates!"  The shovel quavered slightly then began crooning a soft, Celestine Warbeck ballad.  Ron's jaw dropped.  "Cool!"  He looked at Padma quickly.  "But I still don't dance," he said, eyes wide with horror.

"It's not that difficult," said Padma.  She took one of his large, freckled hands and placed it on her waist.  She placed her left arm on his shoulder, and took his other hand in her right.  Slowly, she began swaying to the music.  Ron followed rather reluctantly, shuffling his large feet heavily.

After a few seconds, Padma felt Ron's body relax.  She looked up at his face and saw that his horrified look had been replaced with one of mild surprise.  He grinned down at Padma. 

"Hey!  Look at me, I'm dancing!"

Padma sighed contentedly and leaned in closer to Ron, placing her head on his chest, as she couldn't quite reach his shoulder.  She sighed deeply, inhaling the warm scent of his robes, the freshly plowed earth and the cool, night air.  To her dismay, she felt Ron's body tense against her.  The shovel warbled the end of its tune and Padma felt Ron pushing gently away from her.  Fearing she would lose the moment, Padma spoke quickly.

"Ron, I…I have to tell you something."  Padma searched Ron's face, trying to gauge his reaction, but his expression was unreadable.  Padma took a deep breath and pressed on.  "Ever since the second task, I've been thinking about you…a lot.  And I think I…I mean…I really like you.  I think I'm in love with you Ron."

A sudden looked of understanding dawned over Ron's blank expression.  Yet he remained silent, lips slightly parted as though attempting to say something, but not sure what. 

Unable to take his silence any longer, Padma quickly stepped towards Ron, closing the small gap between them, stood on her tiptoes and placed her lips on his.  Ron didn't push away, but he didn't embrace her either.  Padma slipped her arms around his neck, pressing her body close to his without breaking their kiss.  Still, his arms hung limply at his sides.  Padma ran her hands through the soft hair on the nape of his neck, and finally, she felt Ron placing his hands on her shoulders.  Only he was pushing her away!  Through the slight buzzing in her ears, Padma realized that someone was calling her name.

"Padma!  Padma!"

She pulled away from Ron, both of them scarlet in the face, and turned to see Dean running up the Quidditch pitch towards them.  She had one second to turn back to Ron before Dean reached them.  Padma drew in a long, shuddering breath of frustration.  Ron was once again wearing the blank, expressionless look, only now he avoided her eyes.  They had no time to speak as Dean reached them just then.

"Padma," said Dean breathlessly.  He gave no indication of having seen them kissing.  "Padma, McGonagal's looking for you.  Something's wrong with your sister.  She's been taken to Hospital Wing."

Padma felt her blood go cold, a numbing sensation hitting her from head to toes.  "Parvati?  What's wrong with her?"

"I dunno," Dean shrugged, "but you need to get to the infirmary right away.  I came out to warn you because McGonagall was furious that she didn't find you.  She thinks you're Parvati of course."  Dean finally turned to Ron and muttered, "Sorry for interrupting mate."

Padma cringed with embarrassment, realizing that Dean had indeed witnessed their kiss.  But she reminded herself that her concern for her sister overrode her embarrassment.  "Let's go!" she cried.

All three of them started off for the castle at a run.  As they were coming up past the lake, Ron turned to glare at the Durmstrang ship and tripped over a large rock.  Padma heard the loud thud as he hit the ground, followed by a barrage of curses.  Dean lit his wand and shined it on Ron who was rubbing his knee through his torn, bloody robes.

"You all right, Weasley?" asked Dean evenly.

"Yeah," he gasped.  "Go on you two.  I need to catch my breath."

Padma felt Dean tug at her sleeve and urge her forward.  They reached the castle steps, huffing loudly, Padma clutching at her side.  Padma and Dean eyed each other, as each of them tried to catch their breath.  Dean didn't break eye contact, but he didn't say anything either.  Padma looked away first, unable to face Dean any longer.  She wondered briefly why kissing Dean had been so confusing yet wonderful, while kissing Ron had only been…confusing.

" Are you ready?" asked Dean quietly.  Padma nodded mutely.  Dean tugged on the door and ushered her inside.  Instantly, both of them froze in panic.

Standing before them, her mouth in the thinnest of lines, stood Professor McGonagall.

"What, in the world, is the meaning of this? She asked in a deadly serious voice.

To be Continued…

A/N: This chapter will be followed by an outtake in Ron's PoV.  Don't have a title yet, but it's already written.   Hope you enjoyed!