Meeting at the Alley
Monday and Tuesday came and by Wednesday her letters had come, demanding many new books and supplies as she would be starting her OWL year. The Patil girls were meeting her and her mom at Gringotts, an easy place to find.
"Hey Lavender! Over here!" Padma shouted as she ran down the steps, Parvati at her heels.
"Ohmigod, hey!" Lavender yelled and she too began to run.
"It's great to see you. You look great! Did you have a good summer?" Parvati questioned giving Lavender a good squeeze.
"Yes I did. I have a lot to tell you guys. Hey mom. How about we go get some ice creams first then start our shopping?" Lavender asked.
"I know, I have to do some shopping for your father. You three head down to the ice cream shop and I'll meet you down there in a bit. Give ya some time to catch up." She left in the opposite direction as the girls agreed and started walking.
"So," Parvati began. "How is everything going at home? Your parents still in your hair? I mean, Padma and I've got it easy. Our parents trust us when we have each other. They let us do whatever as long as we are together."
"Then I wish I had a sister. My parents have to know everything at all times. I tried going to a Muggle party this summer and they called ahead to see who was going to be there and talk to the parents and stuff. They made me take this Cellular phone thing to keep in touch," She rolled her eyes as they stepped in line. "It's a Muggle communication thingy," she added at their puzzled faces.
"Wow, that's horrible. Why don't they trust you? What have you done to lose their trust? I mean you've never gotten in trouble at school at least," Padma said and then she ordered a small strawberry cone.
"See that's the thing, (Medium ice cream sandwich please) I haven't done anything. I've been just great. I've never argued with them, snuck out, or anything. It's kinda disgusting." She made a face at realizing she was almost perfect. "I'm starting to sound like Hermione. Is my hair still ok?" They laughed at their own joke and sat down at an outside table.
"Well at least once we get to school, we're parent free until December," Parvati smiled at the thought and they continued in conversation for about a half and hour before Amy Brown came up the street.
"So mom we're gonna go look at some new dress robes, ok?" Lavender told her mom after they got all their books. She had had enough of her mom's false sweet voice and coaxing for a day.
"Um sure honey, just stay in Diagon Alley and don't talk to anyone you don't know. And we'll meet back at Gringotts in an hour." They walked away as her mother was still ranting about being safe and good.
"Finally, I couldn't stand it much longer," Lavender said as they stepped outside.
"I don't think she's that bad. I mean she just gave you more money for robes and she bought you more than enough quills and parchment. She spoils you rotten. And she's really sweet," Padma said as she led the way down the alley.
"She just wants to keep me on her good side. And yeah she gives me stuff but I want FREEDOM!" she hung her head and they continued down the street until they reached Madam Malkin's. They stepped inside and began to look around.
"Oh Parvati that looks so great on you!" Lavender and Padma cooed at a nicely fitting baby-blue robe with wide sleeves and a v-cut neck. Her sister looked at the price tag.
"Oh forget it. We'll never have enough, not even between both of us," Parvati looked crushed.
"Just take some of mine. My mom gave me more than enough. I'd never be able to spend it all," Lavender handed her the extra galleons. "No, besides it'll can be an early Christmas present," she added at her protest.
"Thank you so much Lavender. I owe you big time; this is amazing!"
She ran over to the desk to pay.
"That was really sweet of you, Lav. Did you see her face. My mom will freak when she finds out but man she looks good. Now maybe she can get Seamus to notice her. She's been crushing on him forever," Padma said as they made their way after Parvati.
An hour later they made started back to Gringotts to say good-bye before September 1st. It was only a week and a half away. They couldn't wait to start school again, not so much the classes and teachers but being together and parent-free for next few months. Lavender and her mother were home for dinner with her father, Kevin. Then they unpacked her new stuff. She lay in bed that night thinking of her pen-pal. She wondered who he really was. Did she know him? Was in her house? Was it a friend of hers?