Chapter 9: Hydrangeas and Hysterics

On the first day of the new term, the memory of the Christmas and New Year celebrations fading from her mind, Padma sat at the Ravenclaw table eating breakfast. She had a copy of One Thousand Magical Plants and Fungi propped up against a bowl of fruit and turned the pages between munching on a slice of buttered toast. She looked up as dozens of owls swooped down from the ceiling, carrying letters and parcels for the students. Across the table, Terry was opening a parcel that turned out to be full of socks. Padma looked at him curiously.

"My mum sent them," Terry explained. "I wrote to her after Christmas and told her that all of my other pairs had holes in."

Padma smiled shortly and looked over to the Gryffindor table. She could see Parvati retrieving a parcel from her tawny owl Shiva. Parvati opened it eagerly, showing her friend Lavender; it seemed like she'd received a box of Liquorice Wands from their grandmother.

"What lessons have we got today?" Padma asked, trying to distract herself.

"Double Herbology and Charms this morning," Lisa said. "Then we have Astronomy at midnight."

At this comment, Anthony looked distressed.

"I'll never be able to keep awake tonight!" he said, stifling a yawn. "I stayed up last night trying to finish Snape's essay and I'm shattered!"

Padma smiled and glanced back over to the Gryffindor table; Parvati was now eating the sweets and sharing them with Lavender. Swallowing back the annoyance that rose in her throat, Padma got to her feet. She glanced at the enchanted ceiling above, finding it to be a dark and stormy grey.

"We'd better get going to Herbology."

The Ravenclaws headed out of the Great Hall and into the grounds of the castle. Padma pulled the hood of her cloak up over her head and hurried down the sodden grass, trying to avoid slipping over. Somewhere in the distance thunder rumbled loudly. Professor Sprout was standing in the door, her hat perched precariously on her flyaway hair. She smiled warmly at the first years.

"You'd best come inside before you drown!" she said loudly as thunder rumbled again. "This weather would even make a kelpie want to be dry!"

Padma hurried inside. She sat down at a desk at the back of the greenhouse next to Terry and hung her damp cloak over a hoe. As usual the greenhouse was humid and full of greenery, and the scent of perfume hung upon the air. The greenhouse was also filled with the sound of thudding as rain pounded down on the panes of glass.

"You won't need your books today!" Professor Sprout said cheerfully. She lifted down a huge pot from her bench. "We're working with Humming Hydrangeas, and I'll be asking you to do written work on them for homework."

Padma groaned inwardly; she may have been able to do the written aspects of Herbology well enough but practical work was another matter entirely. She would worry so much about making a mistake that she would get nervous, anxious and make twice as many errors as anyone else.

The Slytherins eventually entered Greenhouse Two, talking and laughing loudly. One of them was looking murderous, his cloak covered in mud. It seemed as though he'd been pushed down the slippery slope by one of his housemates.

"Do take that cloak of, Mr Zabini," Professor Sprout said. She clapped her hands enthusiastically, silencing the class. "Now, today we will be working with Humming Hydrangeas. Can anyone tell me what the Hydrangeas are used for?"

Next to Padma, Terry raised his hand.

"Mr Boot?"

"When they're planted around other species, the humming drives off pests," he said.

Professor Sprout nodded.

"Well done, Mr Boot. Five points for Ravenclaw." Terry smiled and his cheeks become tinged with a blush. "What pests do the Hydrangeas best drive away?" Professor Sprout continued.

This time Padma raised her hand.

"Gnomes," she answered. "The humming is extremely painful for them to hear."

"Another five points to Ravenclaw!" Professor Sprout said. "Humming Hydrangeas are popular in wizarding households because of this property, as well as because they are tuneful. Different varieties are capable of producing different tones. I'll just go and get the specimens for you," she added.

When Professor Sprout disappeared through a partition in Greenhouse Two, the Slytherins started to talk loudly. Pansy Parkinson turned on her stool, glaring at the Ravenclaws.

"They're just a bunch of know-it-alls," she said in a clear, carrying voice. "Thinking that they're so much better because they're in the intelligent house; it makes me sick!"

Padma rolled her eyes, ignoring the Slytherin girl. Next to her, Terry was clenching his teeth tightly together and his face was flushed. Across the classroom, Draco Malfoy seemed to notice this and Padma saw his cold eyes light up.

"You're quite right, Pansy," Malfoy added in his drawling voice. "They should be called the Ravenbores instead; they could put someone to sleep just by talking!"

The Slytherins laughed. Malfoy continued,

"Patil would be the best of them all."

Padma still ignored him, but Terry was glaring at Malfoy, muttering under his breath.

"And she doesn't deserve to be here," Malfoy said with a final smirk. "This isn't even her country!"

Padma took a sharp intake of breath; she'd lived in England for all of her life and had very rarely received this sort of comment. But whenever she did, she felt as though she wanted to scream. She turned on her stool. Terry glanced from her to Malfoy then back again, and then suddenly leapt to his feet, fumbling for his wand in his robes.

"How dare you!" he hissed.

"Terry!" Padma said. She grabbed his wand hand and pulled him back down to his stool. "Put your wand away!"

Malfoy smirked as Professor Sprout returned, carrying a tray of gently humming shrubs in her arms. Padma let go of Terry's hand. He was still glaring at the back of Malfoy's pale blonde head.

"What were you thinking?" she asked him. "It's not your job to defend me if someone is insulting towards me! I can look after myself, you know!"

"I know!" Terry said, a blush spreading across his cheeks. "I saw you deal with Pansy before…" he paused as Professor Sprout placed a Humming Hydrangea in front of both of them. "…but that comment Malfoy made about you just pushed me over the edge. Insulting our house is like insulting a family."

Padma nodded and patted his arm sympathetically.

"That's all true," she said, "but there was no need to draw your wand. Just try and ignore Malfoy. Though he would've deserved it," she added with a smile.

Professor Sprout stood at the front of the greenhouse and clapped her hands.

"Now pay attention everyone!" she said clearly. "We are going to prune these Howling Hydrangeas, but you must be careful. One wrong snip and the tone will change drastically; therefore it will no longer have repelling properties. You only need to take off the old growth that is dying and you must prune the new shoots correctly in order to encourage growth."

Padma took the pruning knife in one hand. She found her hand to be trembling and she took a deep breath before starting to work. The white flowered shrub in front of her was humming softly, in perfect harmony with Terry's, but when Padma accidentally cut off a bud, the tone changed dramatically; it was now higher and sharper. She bit her lower lip, put down the knife and raised her hand.

"What seems to be the problem, Miss Patil?"

Professor Sprout stood over the Humming Hydrangea, inclining her head closer to the shrub.

"It sounds very sharp, Miss Patil," she concluded, straightening her hat. "Did you nick a flower, by any chance?"

Padma shook her head, feeling her face burn.

"It was a bud, Professor Sprout."

"Ah, I see. Well you can retune a Humming Hydrangea, you know. Take off a bud on the opposite side of the plant…" she paused as Padma picked up the knife, "…as close to level as you can, and that should get it back to normal. That's it."

Padma listened carefully. Now the shrub was humming at the same tone as it had originally. Professor Sprout smiled briefly before heading over to help someone else. At the end of the lesson, Padma washed her hands and grabbed her bag, heading outside where the rain had finally stopped.

"May I have a word, Miss Patil?"

Padma walked over to the front bench where Professor Sprout stood cleaning her trowels with a rag.

"Yes, Professor Sprout?"

"I've noticed how nervous you are when you take part in practical work," Professor Sprout noted, putting down her fork. "Now I know that you are fully capable of completing the written work, but practical work is the most important part of Herbology. Perhaps it would be a good idea if you had some extra practice."

Padma nodded shortly. She felt embarrassed that she was actually unable to do something, but at least Professor Sprout was giving her a chance to improve.

"There are a couple of first year Ravenclaws who attend Herbology Club on a Monday. I would suggest talking to Kevin Entwhistle; he is quite adept, and I'm sure he would be willing to help you."

"Yes Professor Sprout," Padma said. "Thank you."

Padma left Greenhouse Two and rushed up to the castle for her Charms lesson. When she entered the classroom, she apologised to Professor Flitwick and sat down. That lesson was a lot duller than it usually was. Padma spent her time writing down the theories behind Locomotion Charms on organic matter, specifically how to make fruit dance. At the end of the lesson Padma jotted down her homework and headed down to the Great Hall for lunch.

"Hey Kevin!" she cried as she walked down the marble staircase.

Kevin, who was walking with Stephen, turned and hurried over to her.

"Could you do me a favour?" Padma asked.

"Of course," Kevin said. He took off his glasses and started to clean them on the corner of his robes. "What can I help you with?"

Padma stood silent for a moment.

"I was wondering if you would be able to give me some help with my practical work in Herbology," she said finally, flushing. "Professor Sprout said that it would be the best thing to do."

"Of course," Kevin said. "When would you like to practice?"

"Friday afternoon perhaps? We have it free."

"Then we'll go down after lunch on Friday."

The two of them walked down to the Great Hall and sat down at the Ravenclaw table. Lisa looked up from her goblet.

"What're you doing after lunch, Padma?"

"Probably my Potions homework," Padma said. "Or I'll read. Actually, I think I still have that Astronomy homework to do…"

Her list of things to do was cut off by the sound of fluttering wings. She looked up at the ceiling, finding that Rama was swooping down from the ceiling, damp and hooting irritably. He dropped a letter into Padma's lap and settled on the table momentarily before flying off, showering the Ravenclaws with water. Padma slit the envelope open, wondering why it hadn't come at breakfast with the other owls. It read:

Dear Padma,

As you may recall me saying in my last letter, I was extremely disappointed that you didn't come home at Christmas to see the family. Your aunt, uncle and cousins were asking after you. When Parvati came home, it became apparent to me that you were staying home because of a boy. You know that family comes before school and that comes before boys. After all, you are far too young to be considering such things. Parvati said that his name was Terry, and well, I have to say that he doesn't sound suitable at all.

Love from,

Grandmother.

Padma had to read over the letter twice before what it said sank in. Suddenly she realised what Parvati had insinuated. She was at a loss as to why she would even say that. She had told Parvati exactly why she hadn't gone home.

Standing up so suddenly that she knocked over her goblet of pumpkin juice, Padma glared over to the Gryffindor table; Parvati was heading out of the Great Hall with Lavender.

"Where are you going?" Lisa asked.

Padma ignored her and stormed after her twin sister, anger thudding in her ears. Her long hair streamed around her face and she clenched her fists, stalking after her twin.

"Parvati!"

Parvati turned around at once, smiling warmly. This only served to make Padma more furious and she glared at her sister.

"What do you want?" Parvati asked, seemingly oblivious to her twin's anger.

"How dare you say that to her! You had no right to tell her such lies!" Padma screamed suddenly. She was breathing heavily through her nose, the blood pounding at her temples.

She was suddenly aware that people in the Entrance Hall were watching her outburst. Padma grabbed Parvati by the robes and dragged her outside onto the grass. Her twin brushed down her robes, looking confused.

"Mind my robes, Padma," she said sniffily. "And what lies do you mean?"

"Oh, shut up, Parvati!" Padma hissed.

"What're you doing?" Lavender asked. She stood at the doors looking concerned.

"Go where you need to be." Lisa had arrived at the doors and was watching the twins carefully. She put her arm on Lavender's shoulder. "This is nothing to do with us," she said, and steered Lavender inside.

Padma took a deep breath and looked evenly at her sister.

"You told her that I was staying for Christmas because of a boy," she said icily. "A boy. And not just any boy; you told her I was staying because of Terry!" Her voice had risen to a shout again. "Terry; my best friend! He's my friend, Parvati, nothing more and nothing less!"

Parvati looked shocked and her face was flushed.

"I told you why I was staying!" Padma continued. "I told you up in the Owlery and I thought you understood me! I told you, and you went and told grandmother something else anyway!"

She turned and headed back up to the castle, tears threatening to slip from her eyes. A hand gripped tightly onto her wrist and she turned, finding Parvati standing there with tears in her own eyes.

"It was a joke!" Parvati said helplessly. "I was talking to cousin Hina and she asked why you weren't there; I told her it was probably because of Terry. I told her it was probably because he was your boyfriend. Grandmother must have overheard us."

Padma couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't be so selfish, Parvati!" Padma said coldly. "And even if that is true, you didn't do anything to suggest otherwise. You may as well have told her in person."

Parvati now had tears running down her cheeks and she took hold of her twin's hands.

"It was a joke!" she said again. "I should have told her something, but even if I had done she would never had believed me…"

"That much is true."

"I just felt jealous, I suppose," Parvati said finally. "Of your friends in Ravenclaw. Padma, we've been together all of our lives and all of a sudden we're pulled apart. Haven't you found it hard?" Padma nodded. "So when I knew you weren't coming home I felt so horrible and when she overheard…"

"That's why you didn't say anything," Padma said.

The twins stood in silence for a moment. Parvati sniffed loudly and wiped the tears from her face. Padma folded her arms and stared at the ground.

"I've got to go," she said suddenly.

"But I thought…"

Padma set off up the stairs, ignoring her twin's insistent cries. As she reached the huge doors she stopped and swivelled around.

"I know what you mean," she said logically. "But you still didn't do anything when you should have. I can't forgive you for that, not just now. We're twins," she explained to a confused looking Parvati, "and you should know that that's more important than what house we're in or how jealous you feel."

Without another word she headed into the Entrance Hall where Lisa and Terry were standing. Lisa walked over, putting her hand on Padma's shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

Padma nodded.

"I suppose," she said. "It's just family stuff."

Lisa smiled appreciatively and didn't ask anything else. As they headed up to the Ravenclaw Common Room, Terry stopped halfway up a set of stairs.

"I could've sworn I heard my name mentioned when you were arguing outside," he said with a puzzled expression on his face. "Nothing bad, I hope?"

Padma, although she was still angry at Parvati, couldn't help but smile. As she hurried up the stairs, Terry pestering him as to why he had been mentioned, she wondered about how he would react if she told him what her grandmother thought was going on between the two of them.