Disclaimer: I don't own them. I can't even pretend to own them.
*** Thank you to Americanangel and yeah for you! You were the first one to review! I'm glad you think Mitch is sweet and all that stuff! You're an awesome reviewer and I'm getting to reading what you sent me in just a few minutes! Pineapplehead you're welcome for waking up Padma! And don't worry—this chapter is kind of slow moving and stuff but it's a nice transitional chapter I think! I hope you enjoy! Tsukiyo Tonbo you're only on the 13th chapter but I'd like to say thanks for reviewing and it's so nice to see a new name on the reviews! I'm glad you like it! Lycr another new name! Thanks for thinking I'm brilliant! Ronaldrose I like Seamus too! I think he's a sweetheart! And I think you'll continue to like this chapter! Sugar Blossom that is such a cute name! And it's another new name! I appreciate seeing you new people! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! Jenny because it sounds like your life is very busy and yet you still read and review, I give this chapter to you! You'll like it, I promise! HogwartsHoe there isn't a whole bunch going on in this chapter but I think you will like it nonetheless! Enjoy! Mina I have to tell you I kind of enjoy being called "The Mistress of Cliffhangers" it's such a great compliment! Thanks for your review it means a lot to me, it really does! Lily Michelle you're questions are beginning to be answered. I hope this satisfies some questions! Celeste there aren't going to be too many more chapters. Actually, I'm hoping to be done with it within the next two weeks…hopefully within a week. I'm ready to move on to other things! LOL! I'm glad you're still reading and that you still like it. Shaunna for a minute there when I was writing I thought Parvati might have fallen under the blessing-curse too but I obviously she didn't! After all, she likes Harry and she's admitted it! Thanks for calling me "Miss Brilliant!" That's another awesome compliment! Felicia since you so eloquently asked for me to update, here you are! I hope you enjoy! Soupcann314 I have no idea whether or not I'm dismissing G/N…I like them once and then I don't again…so we'll see… * thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like how I'm focusing on other people too! Thanks again for reviewing! Danidancer I'm glad you thought the last chapter was great! I hope you enjoy this chapter too! Hermione Weasley thank you for review! Your question will be answered! Enjoy! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! It means a lot to me that you guys are thoughtful enough to review! It means so much to me! Thanks! And enjoy!
Chapter 35: Picture Perfect
Parvati sat in a chair holding her sister's hand. Padma Patil wok up crying uncontrollably, confessing her innermost secrets also: she fancied Mitch Reed, who didn't fancy her back.
At first Parvati had been blown away by her sister's confession. Then, after the shock had worn off, something that felt distinctly like guilt settled in. She was practically the reason Mitch would never love her sister—he was going to have to fall in love with Katie Bell. Parvati didn't tell Padma that though. She didn't think it would set well with her sister at that time.
Currently Padma's face was covered by her hands as she sobbed on. "I'm absolutely humiliated Parvati! I mean, how many of us who are here are going to hear 'I don't love you. I can't love you'?" She sniffled. "I mean, honestly, Parvati! Other than Pansy who here isn't going to wake up and find someone that loves them?" She wailed horrifically and Parvati didn't do anything. She really couldn't do anything.
She squeezed her sister's hand. "It will be alright, Padma," she promised quietly.
Padma stopped wallowing in self misery long enough to raise an eyebrow. "You can't possibly know that, Parvati," she whispered.
Parvati smiled hopefully, she smiled in hope for the future loves. "No, I can know that. Remember what Mum used to say? 'It's always darkest before the dawn,'" she quoted.
The other Patil sister smiled bitterly. "That saying never did make sense to me Parvati. Didn't you know that?" Her voice was liltingly upset. "Your boyfriend is here," she told her sister.
Parvati's eyes widened and then she jumped out of her chair and fairly ran to meet Harry's hug. "Isn't this wonderful Harry?" she squealed happily. Harry squeezed her tightly against his body.
He tried to be happy for her but his happiness was marred by other things; including the reality of what might happen in the next few days. "Parvati, could you come out in the hall with me for a minute?" he requested.
She nodded. "I'll be right back Padma!" she called out over her shoulder.
Padma didn't respond.
Parvati was only slightly surprised to find Ron and Hermione apparently waiting for them to reappear from the Infirmary.
Hermione smiled and Ron spoke, seemingly for the both of them. "Good thing about Padma, Parvati," he told her.
"Thanks," Parvati responded kindly.
Harry shifted his weight onto his left foot and then decided instead to lean against the wall. "What happened? How did Padma wake up?"
Parvati's smile disappeared. She looked awkwardly away from her friends. "Mitch Reed told her he could never care for her that way. That's why she's awake now," Parvati answered in a steady voice that betrayed how she was actually feeling. Dumbledore had to of known Padma fancied Mitch Reed so why didn't he save Mitch for her sister? She didn't understand, to say the least.
Hermione's smile also faded. "Your sister liked Mitch Reed? As in the Mitch Reed who is…reading Katie Bell's diary?" Hermione questioned.
"No! The other Mitch Reed!" Parvati snapped angrily. So maybe she was more than a little irritated, she realized.
"Hey, don't yell at Hermione!" Ron jumped in protectively of his girlfriend.
Parvati sighed heavily. "Look, I didn't mean to snap. It's just that I'm tired and there is so much going on lately…I guess my lack of patience is getting the better of me."
Harry placed his hand on the small of her back and reached around her neck to kiss her cheek.
She rubbed her temples. "I just kind of want to hang out with my sister all right?" she asked.
"Go on then, we'll talk to you later, alright?" Hermione told her kindly.
Parvati smiled gratefully at Hermione. "Thanks," she mouthed.
Hermione and Ron disappeared off down the corridor and that left Parvati and Harry alone together.
Harry watched his—gulp—girlfriend silently. She didn't look as happy as she should have been, he thought. "What's wrong?" he asked curiously.
Parvati must have forgotten he was with her since her eyes widened in shock when he piped up. "Oh Harry!" she exclaimed. A dull pink graced her cheeks and Harry knew she had completely forgotten he was standing there. "Nothing is wrong. Why would ask that?" she asked, recovering nicely from her embarrassment.
"You seem a little…preoccupied," he commented.
"Wouldn't you be if your sibling just came out of their coma?" Parvati countered. There was an unbidden tension in her voice and Harry had to wonder at it.
He continued giving her the look (the look that said "I know there's something wrong with you Parvati Patil") until she smiled weakly.
"I'm just…worried about Padma I guess. Mitch is reading Katie's diary," Parvati whispered. "My sister…she'd be heartbroken," she finished off not calmly. "Dumbledore is supposed to be all knowing…if that's true…then why is he breaking my sister's heart?" Parvati wondered sadly.
Harry had nothing for a response.
She continued smiling up at him. "I know how much you respect Dumbledore…and so do I…I just…I feel very hopeless, you know?" she asked curiously. "I hate not knowing things," she groaned.
"Hey there!" Seamus called out as he came down the stairwell. "I'm so happy for you Parvati…I mean with Padma!" he finished.
"Thanks," she replied quietly.
Seamus didn't even notice the tension in the air as he made his way into the Infirmary and then next to Lavender.
Harry and Parvati wandered over to the door and looked in. They had a panoramic view of Seamus hugging Lavender. Both of them were smiling brightly. And when Seamus pulled away he kissed her on the forehead.
Parvati sighed.
***
As soon as they felt Parvati and Harry the two set off to do something that hadn't had much time to do. And they were in Hermione's empty dorm room. Well it was empty except for Hermione. And Ron.
Hermione giggled and the sound sent thrills up and down Ron's spine. She kissed his chin before he managed to capture her mouth. She groaned a little.
Ron pulled away. "You know, you make the most lovely sounds when we're…um…kissing," he whispered against her closed eyelids.
Hermione's face heated up but Ron thought it was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.
He pressed his forehead against hers. "Stay with me Hermione. Stay with me forever," he pleaded.
Hermione's eyes flew open and she immediately was staring into Ron's blue eyes. "Did you just propose marriage to me?" she asked in the softest of voices.
Ron pulled away from her forehead and leaned into her ear. "I only asked you to stay with me forever. I never said anything about marriage," he replied with a laugh.
Hermione slugged his arm gently. And when he was too preoccupied with the mark she had left on his arm she threw her arms around his neck. He looked down at her smiling, radiant face.
"Is that a yes?" he whispered. It was getting hard for him to breathe but it was the best thing he had ever felt in his entire life.
Her eyes crinkled in a wide smile and she got on her tip-toes to kiss him. "Yes," she breathed just as she pulled away from his lips. "Yes."
Well, what did you think of this chapter? I hope it was alright. Hmm…I guess there's only ONE way I'll know if it was alright…if you review! Thanks guys, you're all great!
*** As a side note, please pray/light a candle/meditate/whatever-it-is-you-do for the Allied forces in light of the war…and not only for the Allied soldiers but also the innocent Iraqi lives that will be lost. Remember, it is not Iraq we are against, but Saddam Hussein. I apologize if this request has offended you.
We call that person who has lost his father, an orphan; and a widower that man who has lost his wife. But that man who has known the immense unhappiness of losing a friend, by what name do we call him? Here every language is silent and holds its peace in impotence.
~ Joseph Roux
