Chapter 3: Broken Charms
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the places or anything.
The sun crept into the room on Friday morning. When the beam of sunlight hit Padma's face she groaned and turned over, but the sunlight were ricocheting off all the shiny objects in her room so she finally woke up shielding her eyes from the beam. She got up and started to do some stretches. Today was the Malfoy party and she was not looking forward to it.
She and Parvati had gotten into a lot of trouble over the plate that Crabbe broke two days before. Her mum told them that they were very irresponsible and that if they wanted to go to Hogwarts, then they would have to clean up their act. Parvati and Padma both thought it was unfair and that the plate could be fixed in blink of an eye.
Padma got up and went into the bathroom, it was only the crack of dawn so she was sure Parvati was not going to be in there. After she had washed up, Padma went into her room and read Hogwarts: A History.
"Girls come and eat, breakfast" shouted Padma's mum
Padma jumped. She had been so consumed in the book that she lost track of time. She set down her book and went downstairs.
"Padma do I have to keep feeding Om? Are you going to carry on like this at Hogwarts as well"
"Sorry mum, I'll feed him" and got some owl treats and went to feed Om. They all sat down to eat breakfast. Padma's dad was reading the Daily Prophet, mum was talking to Parvati about what they were going to where for the party tonight. Mum turned around and looked at Padma and said, "What are you wearing tonight then?"
"This Blue and Black robe"
"Which jewellery are you going to wear?"
"I haven't got any that match, Parvati took my blue necklace and lost it"
Parvati glared at her sister.
"Well we might as well go to Diagon Alley quickly and get something for you. No you are not coming Parvati, you'll just end up spending money on worthless junk" as Parvati was just about to interrupt.
After they finished eating breakfast Padma got up and went to the fireplace.
"No we're not travelling by floo this time" said Padma's mum
"How are we going to get there" already knowing the answer and why
"Side-long apparation because you always go to Flourish and Blotts not the Leaky Cauldron. You always buy a book when your there and you spend at least two hours there."
"But I don't like apparating" Padma protested.
Padma's mum ignored her and went to put on her cloak.
Padma grabbed her mum's arm as they apparated to Diagon Alley. First they went to Madam Malkins to get a little bag for Padma and Parvati. Then they set off for the jewellers. Lotus Sapphires was a small shop. It had rings and necklaces on display in the window. Looking at the jewellery was a plump woman with shocking red hair. She was gazing intently at a simple golden locket.
"How are you, Molly" smiled Padma's mum
The lady started and turned around. She beamed at Padma and her mum.
"Oh Gayatri how are? You gave me such a fright"
"I'm fine and yourself"
"Well I've lost the twins again so Arthur and Ron have gone to look for them, mayhem as usual" she turned to Padma and said "Parvati you have grown so much, last time I saw you were all yay high" Molly raised her hand up to her hip side. Padma Grinned.
"I'm Padma"
"Oh sorry dear, I should be able to tell the difference, I've got twins of my own," laughed Molly
They all laughed.
"Well Molly we better get going, got to get ready for the Malfoy party tonight. Are you coming?"
"Oh no, well you know how Arthur and Lucius are when they get together. Well I better get going as well I think I jus seen 2 redheads disappear into Knockturn Alley"
"Bye then" Padma's mum called after Molly
Just as they were about to enter the shop they heard someone shouting, "WHAT IN BLAZES DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? GOING OFF TO KNOCKTURN ALLEY LIKE THAT ON YOUR OWN. HAVEN'T YOUR FATHER AND I TOLD YOU NOT TO GO THERE? IF YOU DARE EVER STEP FOOT IN THAT ALLEY YOU WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO HOGWARTS AND YOU WILL BE BANNED FROM PLAYING QUIDDITCH! DO I MAKE MY SELF CLEAR? HOW DARE YOU DEFY YOUR FATHER AND ME…" Molly bellowed. Half the street turned around to see what was happening. Gayatri just laughed and went into the store with Padma at her heels.
The door ringed as they entered the shop. At the counter sat a very old man. What was left of his hair was grey and he was very pale. He was surveying a jewel through a monocle, rotating it. He then looked up.
"Welcome to Lotus Sapphire, how may I help you?" he said in a crisp voice
"Yes, do u have a blue and black necklace? Not to big, just something simple" replied Padma's mum
He pulled out a tray with many necklaces of all shapes and sizes. Padma liked the one with two blue and black stones hanging of the end of the chain. She picked that up and showed her mum.
"Excuse me, how much is this necklace?" asked mum
"17 galleons and 5 sickles" answered the shopkeeper.
"Padma why don't you choose another?"
"Mum come on please," begged Padma
"Oh ok just don't tell your father the price or he won't be happy. Just because we have the money doesn't mean we can just spend it on anything we lay our eyes upon"
They payed for the necklace and left. They got back home and had lunch. Parvati sat at the table, unusually quiet but Padma knew why. She wanted to go to Diagon Alley to get some more jewellery.
As soon as they finished, they went upstairs and started getting ready for the party. After Padma got changed she looked in the mirror. She looked stunning. Her black and blue robes fit around her body perfectly. She left her hair down, she didn't like her hair up, some one would always tug on it. She put on her necklace and she was done. Padma walked downstairs to see her dad sitting there with his brown dress robes on. He looked at her and smiled.
"You look beautiful"
"Thanks dad, you look great"
Padma's mum came down 5 minutes after. She was wearing red and yellow dress robes that flowed to the floor, the robes dragging in her shadow. Her hair was up in a clip and two bits of hair in front of her face, which were in soft curls.
Padma just stared at her mum. Her dad's mouth was hanging open. Padma's mum laughed and that snapped both Padma and her dad back to reality.
"Padma, here's a bracelet from your nanaji, it matches your robes" and handed Padma a bracelet with so many charms covering the whole bracelet, you couldn't even see the chain that they were clipped onto.
Parvati came down after 10 minutes. She was wearing baby pink and cream dress robes of silk. Her hair was in ringlets and one of her arms was full of bangles.
"Thanks for doing my hair mum" Parvati said putting the last of her bangles on.
"Alright we are all here, come on. Padma hold onto your mothers arm and Parvati grab hold of my arm" said Padma's dad
Padma groaned and took her mums arm and they apparated.
They arrived in front of the gates and walked up to the Malfoy Mansion. A house elf appeared at the door
"Welcome sir and miss's to the party please follow me" and they all followed the house elf.
"Dobby go get more food and more firewhiskey, ah Vinnay how are you?" A tall man with sleek blonde hair and grey eyes asked. The house elf ran of out the room and the man approached Padma's dad.
"Fine thank you Lucius. Looks great" Padma's dad said gazing around the hall
The room had a medieval style, but looked cosy at the same time.
"Girls, the other children are in the second room, would you like to join them?" ask Lucius. The girls nodded and turned and walked to the room. There was Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and Nott and 2 other kids they didn't know sitting all talking.
"Hi" Parvati announced to the room. They all turned. They all muttered back their hello's and both Padma and Parvati sat down.
"Hi Padma" said Nott. Padma smiled back.
"Hi I'm Ernie Macmillan" said the blonde boy sitting in the corner
"Hi I'm Susan Bones" a girl with long blonde hair.
They all sat there and talked about Hogwarts.
"Hey shall we all go into the hall and get something to eat" asked Parvati
They all muttered and got up. A lot of people had arrived now. There were some people dancing.
"Oh no" muttered Padma and Parvati at the same time. Their dad was on the dance floor, dancing like a buffoon. Lucius was laughing heartily or was it more of a sneering laugh.
"Look at that idiot on the dance floor" sneered Draco
"Hey that's my dad shut up" retorted Parvati
"Yeah Malfoy atleast he can have fun unlike your idiot of a dad who jus stand in one place. Bet he can't even dance" and Padma walked off to get a drink.
Malfoy went after her. Padma got a glass and was about to pour herself some pumpkin juice when a hand snatched at her bracelet and ran off with it. Padma whipped around and saw Draco running into the next room. She tore after him, her hair flying around her face like a fierce wind. Then the rest of the kids ran into the same room.
"Give it back Malfoy" Shouted Padma
"Or else" he said swinging the bracelet in his hands.
Padma just stood there. She couldn't perform magic because she didn't know any and couldn't run to her parents because they would all think she was some kind of baby. Draco stopped swinging the bracelet and grabbed the Bracelet with both hands.
"3…2.." but Padma lunged for the bracelet. Malfoy tugged hard on it and it broke into little pieces all the charms going everywhere.
She looked at him, her insides burning with fire
"You…"
But someone's fist had collided with his face. She turned and saw Nott.
"Get all the charms and get your dad to fix it or I'll make you"
Draco just stared at him, shocked. Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini were shocked also. Susan and Ernie looked as though Draco got what he deserved.
Draco got up and collected all the charms, went outside the room. He came back within minutes and threw the bracelet at her.
Padma walked out the room.
"Are you ok?" she turned around and saw Nott standing there
"Yeah thanks for getting it fixed" and walked off
Padma had been really hurt. That from her nanaji and she didn't want to loose it.
Soon Padma's mum called Parvati and Padma and it was time to leave. Padma turned and walked up to Nott and gave him a quick hug and blushed and said 'thanks' again. They apparated back home and went straight to bed.
Only a week left until Hogwarts she could hardly wait. As she turned over to go to sleep there was a tapping noise at the window and she turned to see an owl there with a little package.
She crossed the room and opened the window and the owl flew in the room. She opened it and saw a charm on top of the letter.
You forgot this charmNott xx
The owl flew off into the night. She was a little surprised. Why couldn't he have given it me on the train?
She started to think about him and then realised the kisses by his name. She smiled then stopped. He is just being friendly and you only like him as a friend that's all. Now get to sleep.
She crossed the room, put the charm down and closed her eyes. She could think tomorrow.