Parvati Patil: The Soul Within
Summary: Parvati Patil is just that Gryffindor prep and member of the Hogwarts gossip circle. She's just Lavender Brown's sidekick and fan of Professor Trelawney. Right?. Maybe not, after all, people change. 6th year fic.
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, chances are that I don't own it.
A/N: Sorry it took so long for this to get up, I was busy with finals, and my other fic. Hope this chapter continues to please everyone. Also... Please R/R it thanks. Also, you should all go check out my other story, its called "If Things Were Different: The Sorcerers Stone.
Thanks to:
free2rhyme: im glad that you like the story. And for your question about Parvati's family. Well, if I answered that then it would take away the mystery, wouldn't it. lol.
Miranda Potter: Yeah, I'm 16, almost 17, and there's no way i've met my soul mate yet, and im not planning on it anytime soon. Thats why I hate it when all these authors have people falling in love when they're like 15 or 16, its ridiculus. I hope my fic continues to please you. Oh, and I've read so many fics that its really hard to think of any specific ones to suggest, sorry.
Leeanna-Marie-Malfoy: Thanks bunches for pointing out that mistake. It was a simple typo, I went back and fixed it. If you see any more mistakes just point them out and I'll do my best to fix them. Thanks again.
Puja: Your praise flatters me. :) Although your comparision of me to J.K. is a bit much! lol. hope you like this chapteras much as you've liked the others.
Chapter 8: Advice
As Parvati enterd the DADA classroom she noticed two main things. First, unlike everyother class she had ever attented, there were members of all four houses sitting around the room in desks. She remembered some older students talking about how the NEWT level classes were mixed, but she had never given much thought about it.
She took a seat inbetween her twin and Lavender. She figured that if for no other reason this seating arrangement allowed her to not only chat with Lavender, but also lean over and hit her more intelligent sister up for answers. Not to mention that two of the hottest guys in school, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy (currently shooting murderous looks at one another) were sitting a row in front of her, allowing her a perfect view if she ever felt the need to drop off into some day dreams.
The second thing that Parvati noticed was that the dark red velvety curtains were pulled accross the windows, leaving a few fluttering candles to be the only source of light. There was a large fireplace in the back of room, which normally was hidden by a storgage cabinant. Now said cabinant was nowhere to be seen, leaving the fireplace in plain view, a surprisingly dark and somber fire cackaling away in its pit.
Unlike the divination room, which had a slightly similar decour, the new DADA room held a dark, mysterious, and, despite the fire, rather cool atmosphere. Parvati figured that if no one else found it appealing, at least the Slytherins probably would.
Just after the last student, Padma's boyfriend Terry Boot, had entered the classroom and taken the last seat available, between Harry and Malfoy (Terry looked quite uncomfortable with said seating arragment), and everyone had finally settled down the door burst open with a loud thud.
The tall, pale man, whom Dumbledore had introduced as Professor Adrik, entered the room and took a seat behind the old, beat up teachers desk. He placed his elbows on the desk's surface and leaned forward, rubbing his smooth chin with his long fingers, looking around the class with his dark blue eyes, until he had caught the gaze of every student in the classroom and examined each student for several seconds.
The class was eeirly silent. Parvati thought back to a few seconds ago when the new professor had caught her eye. As she held his gaze she had felt as if he was searching through every fiber of her very soul, searching for something. She felt very exposed, naked to the world, until finally, she had looked away, only to see the professor catch her sister's eye.
Finally the man broke the increasinly uncomfortable silence in a very quite, attention demanding, even voice.
"Death... It is something we have all experienced, in one form or another. Whether it be a classmate," here he glanced at a few of the Hufflepuffs, "A friend," he looked directly at Malfoy, to Parvati's confusion, "Or a mentor." He looked to Harry for several seconds, Harry looked back, his gaze unwavering.
"Some of you have merely heard, second hand, of its tragic impact, others have witnessed it first hand." He once again let his gaze travel back to Harry. "It can not be cheated, not be outsmarted. It can be postponed, prevented, even fought off, but in the end it will always catch up to you and then roll on, to its next victim. You never know when it may strike. In your sleep, perhaps, or in the midst of battle.
"Some spend their entire lives preparing for it, while others spend their entire lives denying its power." He then paused and once again looked around at the now intrigued yet weary class, still silent as they all awaited for the professor to continue with his monalogue.
"In the oncoming fight with the Dark Lord death either may be our greatest weakness, for a weakness it is. Or we may wield it. It could be our greatest weapon.
"Over the following year I will try to pass on to you the many ways which death may not only be prevented and avoided. But I shall also show you the many ways it may be used to your advantage.
"It is extremley important to remember that it is not to be toyed with. Once it is administrated there is no earthly way it may be reversed. What you learn this year shall hopefully never, under any circumstances, be needed to be used, and if so, only under the most streneous circumstances.
"Going into the coming war Death has already given us one main advantage. What advantage, you may ask, could such a horrible thing give us? It is quite simple, for, you see, one Lord Voldemort, leader of the Dark Side, believes himself to be immortal. And immortality is but a myth."
The class had been so inraptured in Professor Adrik's speech that they didn't even flinch when he spoke Voldemort's name. After several moments of silence Hermione Granger's slim hand rose high into the air.
"Yes, Ms...."
"Granger, sir. I was just curious, did you say that you shall teach us how to hand out Death in this class? And if so what is Dumbledore's view on this? Don't you think it's a little rash to teach mere sixteen year olds how to kill?"
The professor smirked, his blue eyes filled with an unidentifiable emotion. "I'm glad to see you were listening Ms. Granger. Under the circumstances the magical world is currently under, and that is to say a large war is possibly approaching, Dumbedore did approach me, and I agreed with him on this, asking that I teach you not only to run and hide from death, but also how to face it....postpone it....and even to administer it.
"Death is a very powerful thing, its power has driven many a man mad, insane, sick... however you wish to describe it. Many feel that to kill another human is a Dark Art, of the worst kind. They may argue that such a thing should not be taught in a high school.
"However, over the next year or so it is likley that many of you may be engaged in direct combat with Death Eaters, some of you already have experienced said combat, and know a limited amount of its horrors. When the time comes it will needed to know what you will be facing, and also, if necessary, how to fight that fire back with fire... Did I answer your question, Ms. Granger?"
She nodded and then stared off into space, her eyes unfocused as she contemplated his answer.
"Now, please open your books to page 143, and read up on the top five most deadly curses presently known to wizards. I will be expecting a six inch description of each of the five curses listed, as well as what countercourse, if any, may be used against these curses, or any other ways they may be prevented. This will be due on Friday. Also, next Tuesday, I will be expecting an essay, at least one foot in length, in which you describe your own personal experience with death. You may have the rest of class to work on either one of these assignments."
*****
After the bell rang Parvati joined up with the rest of the fith year Gryffindors and headed down to lunch chatting about the class.
"I can't believe that he's actually going to teach us how to kill someone!" Hermione said as they walked down towards the Great Hall for lunch, a mixture of shock and anxiousness easily detectable in her voice.
"Yeah, its kinda creepy." Lavender joined in.
"Mmhmm. And there's something about him, he seems familiar." Ron added. Parvati nodded, glad that she wasn't the only one that thought that about the new professor.
"Yeah, but I can't quite place what it is." Dean joined in.
"You have to admit though, he is pretty awesome." Seamus said, obviously impressed with they're new teacher.
"Not as awesome as your mom was in bed last night!" Ron joked, being the sixteen year old boy that he was.
"Ahh man, you just got burned!" Dean laughed. Everyone minus Hermione, who looked disgusted at the sudden change of conversation, laughed as Seamus' ears turned pink.
"You don't have much room to talk Dean," Harry joined in, "You know what they say about black women in bed, and you mom sure did live up to it last night!" Everyone (minus Hermione, again) died laughing at the ususally serious Harry's joke, Dean even joined in lightly.
"Now you got burned, Dean." Seamus joked.
"Aww, is the Dream Team expanding?" A new, this time quite unwelcome voice joined in.
"Go screw yourself, Malfoy." Harry said in a dangerous tone, turning around to face the blonde boy.
"But I was hoping one of your groupies could help me with that, Potter." Malfoy smirked, looking Parvati and Lavender up and down.
"They're not groupies Maloy, they're friends. Something I'm sure you don't know much about." Harry said looking over Maloy's shoulder at Crabbe and Goyle, who everyone knew were much more bodygards to Malfoy then they were friends.
"You better watch who you're talking to, Potter. Afterall, what did Adrik say about death? Oh yes, and I quote, 'You never know when it may strike. In your sleep, perhaps...' I'd my back if I were you Potter."
Harry fingered his wand quite blatantly and looked Malfoy directly in the eye, "Actually Malfoy, if I were you I'd spend all my time watching my back, and hire someone to watch my front. Afterall, there are things much more painful than death."
With this Harry turned, followed by the rest of his classmates, and headed to the Gryffindor table. If they had cared to take a look back at Malfoy they would have seen him still standing there, mouth opening and closing in shock at Harry's threat.
As Parvati sat down and began to eat she too was quite taken back by Harry's thoughts. He had sounded so serious. Was it possible that Harry was much less the Gryffindor godlen boy than everyone thought he was?
By the end of lunch everyone had forgot about the Malfoy confrintation. Harry and Seamus ran off to the Ravenclaw table to talk to Terry about finding a place to practice for their band.
The reamaining fith years compared their scheduals. It turned out that neither Neville nor Dean would be joining the rest of them after lunch for their NEWT level charms class, which Parvati was getting ready to attend.
*****
By the end of her first week at Hogwarts Parvati had figured out why she two study halls in her schedual. NEWT level classes were evil. By Friday afternoon she not only had two more essays due in DADA, but also a three foot essay due in Charms, a pair of foot long essays due for Professor McGonagall to go with an 18 inch essay due for Professor Sprout in Herbology. Even Hagrid, who was famous for never assainging homework had asked for them to write a two foot essay on giants, of all things.
Parvati really had no idea how Ron and Hermione (who was taking 8 NEWT classes) were able to perform their prefect duties, not to mention that Ron had now been assigned as Gryffindor's Quidditch captain. Nor did she understand how Lavender was able to keep up her infamous gossip circle.
Then there was Harry and Seamus with their band. Plus Harry had to deal with having the wizarding world putting all their trust with him to defeat Voldemort to go with his recent boom in his celeberity status (what with his cover story in Witch Weekly). And thats not even to mention the rumor that Harry might be starting the DA back up.
Parvati, whom wasn't really involved in any extra activites, was already under enough stress with all her school work. Which was why she was now thoroughly relieved that the weekend had finally came. She was currently sitting by herself down by the lake on a small bluff, her barefeet dangaling down, towes gracing the chilly water's surface.
She layed back in the soft green grass and closed her eyes, the early fall sun beating down on her skin, she closed her eyes and began to drift off to sleep, trying not to think of her all the work she needed to catch up on when she was interrupted.
"Padma?" A soft feminine voice called out questingly. Parvati's eyes flutterd open and gazed up at the beautiful and popular Cho Chang.
Parvati pointed at her Gryffindor badge and replied, "No, its Parvati."
"Oh yeah, how silly of me. I always forget to check the badge." Cho smiled, showing off her brilliantly white teeth. "Have you seen your sister, by any chance."
"No, not since I had class with her earlier, sorry." Parvati said, sometimes she wished she didn't have and identical twin, it got rather annoying always having people mistake you for one another.
"Oh." Cho said and then turned to leave, before stopping in mid step and turning back to Parvati. "Actually, you might be better with this than you sister anyways... Can I ask your advice on something?"
Parvati sighed to herself, she wasn't in the mood for some know-it-all Ravenclaw to ask her for some stupid advice, probably about a boy. She smiled, nonetheless, and replied, "Sure. Shoot."
Cho sat down next to Parvati and stared across the lake, as if she were searching for the right way to ask her question.
"Well...you see, there's this boy." How did I know? Parvati thought to herself, slightly amused.
"Yeah."
"And, well... I really like him, a lot. But I think I already blew it with him... We went out a little, but it was at a bad time, for both of us, and it didn't go to well. And now I want to give it another try, but Im afraid he hates me now. What should I do?"
Parvati thought about it for a second. She was quite used to questions like this by now, she had quite a reputation for knowing how to get a guy, even though she had never had a steady boyfriend.
"Hmm. First I think you should try to befriend him. Friends before lovers, right. Get him used to being around you again, let him see how good of a friend you can be."
"That sounds right." Cho thought aloud.
"Whatever you do, don't try to make him jealous. It sounds like your already walking on thin enough ice to try something like that." Cho nodded, contemplating the advice. "Once he starts to accept you as a friend you should try and spend more and more time alone with him. Maybe flirt with him a little or make hints that you like him. Definatly compliment him, guys love to be complimented, even if they won't admit it.... but don't overdue it. Before long I'd say you should be able to get him to like you again, just don't go to fast."
"Wow, thanks a lot. I was kinda planning on just going and telling him I still like him. Your plan sounds much better." Parvati smiled, not that she thought about it she really didn't mind helping a girl out every now and then, it could be fun.
"Yeah, good luck." Cho got up and dusted herself off and thanked Parvati again before turning to head up to the castle.
As she was walking away Parvati called out, "Hey, Cho!" Cho turned around and Parvati asked, "Who's the lucky guy?"
Cho blushed and replied, "Harry...... Harry Potter."
Hey everyone, hope you liked this chapter. If you did, or even if you didn't, please Read and Review. Thanks. Also, bonus points to anyone who can guess why the new DADA professor seems so familiar to everyone, or any other, ahem... intresting... information about him. Its really not that hard to guess, if you look at the clues.