For Ballroom Dancing, task 1: Write about a couple's anniversary

Warning: mentions of character death and wartime injuries

Word Count: 585


Parvati chooses her outfit especially for Lavender. It's Lavender's favorite dress, a pastel yellow one that stops just shy of her knees. Parvati had always felt self-conscious in it; she becomes so painfully aware of how skinny her legs are, but Lavender always kisses away her insecurities and calls her beautiful. She normally wouldn't bother with it, but three years have passed since Lavender became more than just her best friend. It has to be special. It has to be everything that Lavender would love.

From the way she styles her hair and the nude shade of lipstick that Parvati has always thought was a little too plain, to the strappy white sandals, everything is for Lavender. She knows that her girlfriend would love her in anything, but it doesn't matter. Today has to be perfect because it's what Lavender deserves.

Once she is satisfied that she looks good, she makes her way to the kitchen. The picnic basket rests on the table, open and already packed with all of Lavender's favorite treats. All that's left is the wine.

Parvati has always been of the opinion that white wine is best. There's nothing quite like a glass of crisp chardonnay after a long day. Lavender, on the other hand, prefers sweet red wine. The pink moscato she places in the basket is a compromise Aberforth had helped them discover while hiding in the Room of Requirement during the war.

Parvati closes her eyes at the thought of the war. It's been four months. Four months since the final battle. Four months since Greyback turned their world upside down. Four months since she knelt in a pool of Lavender's blood, doing everything she could to stop the bleeding.

She swallows dryly. She doesn't want to think about that. Today isn't about pain and destruction. Today is their anniversary, and she intends to celebrate.

She grabs the bouquet of red roses, then the basket, and she is ready.

Parvati spreads the gingham blanket out, smoothing the creases. She's never been able to get it to lay quite flat, but it doesn't matter. She is here with Lavender, and that's all she cares about.

"Happy anniversary, baby," she says, pouring herself a glass of wine and breathing in the sweet, fruity aroma. "Looks like we aren't the only ones Abe turned on to moscato. Do you know how hard it was to find this bottle?"

She pulls out the bags of grapes and different cheeses. "I know, I'm probably being silly, but… I just wanted today to be perfect, you know? It's nothing fancy, but it's very… you." She smiles, adding the chocolate-covered strawberries to the picnic spread.

Three years, but it feels like a lifetime. Sometimes Parvati wonders if there's something to her father's belief in reincarnation. Maybe she and Lavender have met in a thousand lives before, and they'll continue to meet after this one. The thought of it makes her smile sadly as she nibbles a cube of gouda.

"I love you. I miss you." She squeezes her eyes closed and takes a deep breath. She will not cry, not today. "I miss us. Oh! Right. I brought you flowers. Your favorites."

A dozen red roses. Parvati thinks they're overrated, but Lavender loves them, so who is she to argue?

She places the bouquet on the ground in front of Lavender's gravestone, choking back the sobs that threaten to tear through her chest.

Maybe she should have brought something stronger than wine.