Chapter one: Meeting the Family

It was the cold breeze that woke her up. Her hair was fanning around her face as she got up. It was quite unusual for a cold breeze to be blowing in the middle of July in India. Padma sat up and looked around but soon found out that the cold breeze was actually her twin sister Parvati blowing on her face to wake her up.

"What was that for?" asked Padma

" Come and eat and nanaji is also calling you" answered Parvati

"What does he want?"

"He's got something for you come on" and with that Parvati got up and walked out the room.

Padma got up and rubbed her big sparkling brown eyes and pushed her waist length hair from her face, slightly puzzled what her granddad wanted to give her.

She walked outside and the heat hit her. She walked to the kitchen and saw that many members of her family were there. Her grandma and granddad (nana and nani), her parents and Parvati, her uncle Satnam and aunt Harpreet and their kids Gurbani and Suraj, and her uncle Vinnay and aunt Monalika from her dads side with her other grandparents (thatha and thathi).

They were in Punjab where her mum was from. Her dad was from Delhi. Both her parents had different religions so there was a lot of controversy over their relationship and marriage but soon it was all over with and both families soon united but there was always tension when both families got together. Padma's mum, Gayatri had waist length hair like the twins and like Parvati was very tall. Padma's dad, Kamal was also tall but also a little plump like Padma.

"Padma dear will you please come to my room after dinner before you leave, I have something for you" said her nana

"Yes nanaji" replied Padma

"Come on girls we got rice with chicken, chapattis and lentils and parata with lemon and garlic pickle"

"Can I have some rice mum?" Parvati asked

"Have whatever you like" replied Gayatri

They all ate, reminiscing on old times and some stories when Gayatri was at school. Gurbani and Parvati were outside and started skipping with some rope. Padma was listening to both her nani and thathi stories about India's history and starting to complain how westernised India was becoming and Padma giggled when they said that the actresses were showing way to much flesh.

"I mean showing their full arms and the top part of their chest like that, they should be ashamed" Said her grandmother

"Padma would you please come with me?"

"Ok" and Padma followed her nana out and walked to his room. They both entered and her nana shut the door and sat down.

"Now what ever anyone says to you, you are special and everybody loves you, no matter how different you are"

Padma sat there looking puzzled. 'Why had he said that' she thought. Nana chuckled and replied " I heard what happened on you first day when you got here when myself and your thathaji was out". Padma's face fell because what had happened hurt her so much.

Padma and her family arrived in India on a hot Sunday afternoon. Her and Parvati were quite different even thought they were twins. Parvati was interested in music, clothes, make up, fashion whereas Padma was more into reading books and had a slight interest in fashion.

They had greeted all their family in India and all sat down. They were discussing when they should go to the gudwara when thathi asked Padma " So Padma why don't you ever put a little effort into your appearance? You are letting yourself go as well around the middle"

"I just don't feel like plastering my self with make up to impress no one that's all thathiji"

"And how is your divination going, you know Parvati can read tea leaves on her own and can read the stars, she has already told me what is happening tomorrow, we shall wait to see what happen, though Parvati never gets it wrong" beaming at Parvati

" Oh erm I have been crystal ball gazing" Padma said hesitantly

" Really well I can tell when I am being lied to. Do you posses the noble art of this magic" thathi said sharply making Padma wince. Parvati was looking at Padma apologetically

"Y –yes I do"

"Gayatri doesn't she even know how to read palms?"

"No mother but it doesn't really matter whether-"

"She doesn't even know how to read a plam, that is a disgrace to the family. You are nothing special I don't even know why your mother and father praise you so much. Now Parvati this is a true example of what you should be like. Vinnay why doesn't Padma know any of this" interrupted thathi

"Mum it doesn't matter shes much better at history and potions-"

"None of this matters. Padma we are deeply ashamed of this."

Padma had tears in her eyes and felt like shouting at her thathi but then she would let her parents down. They had not brought her up to shout at her elders but to respect them.

"Padma don't worry child, divination doesn't matter, but what you can do. You are very special than you know and you will amaze this world and make a difference. Now will you be coming to Raja's academy of magic? You can stay here with us. It's a magnificent place, your parents went there as well" Said her nana

"I was thinking of staying in England, and going to school there because I don't like being so far, but I don't know the schools name. Mum and dad won't tell me" Padma replied.

"Ah it is a fantastic school and is run by Albus Dumbledore" nanas eyes twinkling when her eyes went round with amazement.

"Oh my god really? That's fantastic, oh I hope I get it"

"You will and I have something for you" nana went under his bed and his turban fell off and he chuckled as he surfaced with a long box.

"I always do that. Will you please put it back on for me?" Padma chuckled and put the turban back on.

"This is for you. It has been in the family over seven centuries." Padma took the box and saw that a wand lay on the silk interior of the box.

"Oh thank you so much" and tears ran down her face.

"Padma I want you to promise me one thing. I want you to amaze this world and er" he looked around and said in a whisper, "shut your thathi up about divination" he then chuckled. "you do whatever you like and myself and you thatha will always be proud. We have always thought that divination is not worth it. We'll always be here for you. Now run along you should be leaving soon."

"They can wait we haven't spoke in a long time" so they both sat there chatting about when Padma was younger

"Oh I remember when you were two and you were pulling my beard" chuckled nana

"How long is it? You always keep it tucked in" Nana let his beard out and Padma laughed "its nearly as long as Dumbledores" and they both sat there laughing.

They got up an hour later and went into the kitchen where they were all ready to leave. Padma went and hugged everyone. She didn't mind what her thathi said, they had been very polite to each other after and tried to avoid each other after.

"Mum we aren't doing that side long apparation are we?" asked Parvati

"I didn't like it"

"No we are using a port key come along" And they all touched the saucer and at once Padma felt a tug from her naval and a rushing sound in her ears. Next thing she was on the floor n her living room of the Patil Mansion and it was morning. There were tow owls with two official looking letters. Gayatri took them and smiled and handed them to both Padma and Parvati.