For the Ministry Christmas Party on the Ministry of Magic Discord.
H.M.S. Dreamcatcher
— Lavender and Parvati —
It happens the same way every night. Once the sun has set and the lights have dimmed, Lavender dips into the bathroom to start her night-time routine. It's with a fresh face and wrapped in a periwinkle rope that Lavender perches at the end of Parvati's bed, cross-legged and yawning. Parvati immediately shimmies towards her. She hangs her legs off the side of the bed, each one falling to either side of Lavender's frame. Then with a happy hum, Parvati reaches out and pushes her fingers through Lavender's hair.
"Your sister doesn't like me," Lavender says. "She thinks I'm an idiot."
Parvati frowns. "My sister doesn't know you. She'd like you if she did."
"I'm not sure that's true."
It's a conversation that they've had before. And like always, Parvati is quick to change the subject. Instead of dwelling on her sister's judgmental character, she turns the conversation to a topic that she knows Lavender can't resist...the latest gossip. Specifically, the latest who's with who at Hogwarts. Parvati has heard rumours that Cedric Diggory has asked Cho Chang to Hogsmeade. The girls in Hufflepuff are apparently devastated. As she speaks, her fingers don't falter. They gently untangle the knots in Lavender's curls and then begin to wind her locks into two long plaits.
"Morag and Su were caught kissing in the library," Lavender says. "Hannah heard Daphne telling Pansy that Romilda told her that Padma saw it."
"What?" Parvati freezes. "No. Padma would have told me."
Lavender scoffs her disagreement. The two fall into silence as Parvati secures the ends of Lavender's hair with two long ribbons. The ribbons are pink and silk. Pink to complement Lavender's rosy cheeks. Silk to avoid any damage to her hair. Parvati looks down at her work, a flush of pride warming her. Lavender, on the hand, has also found something to keep her hands busy. While one remains in her own lap, the other has gone wandering, tracing lazy trails over Parvati's calf and thigh.
"What did people say about Morag and Su?" Parvati asks quietly. "About them kissing, I mean."
At this, Lavender twists her body. Still between Parvati's legs, she now faces the girl so that she might see her shining eyes and sympathetic smile.
"Nothing nice." Lavender rests her arms on Parvati's thighs, steadying herself. "Nothing worth repeating."
And then, just as it does every night, the door begins to rattle. Their private moment has been interrupted, and they spring apart. As their dorm mate pushes the door open, Lavender makes her way quickly towards her own bed. And as the girls all sing their polite good-nights to each other, Parvati catches Lavender's gaze and offers a weak smile. In return, Lavender's fingers reach for the ribbon in her hair and gives a small nod.
They both fall asleep with a smile, looking forward to the next night when once more, Parvati will deftly plait Lavender's hair.