Chapter 6: Rewrite the Stars

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the related characters. The Harry Potter series is created by J.K. Rowling and owned by Warner Bros. Pictures. All rights of Harry Potter belong to Warner Bros. Pictures. This entire story is a work of fanfiction and is meant for entertainment purposes only. I am not making a profit from this story.

Notes: This chapter is inspired by the song "Rewrite the Stars" by Anne-Marie and James Arthur.

Spring 1997

I tightened my scarf and braced myself when another cold wind billowed past me and Parvati as we walked down the street towards Uncle's house.

We had returned home for spring break and celebrated our seventeenth birthday a few days ago. I was hoping that Vijay would bring Dev to the party our parents had hosted, but when I casually asked him about it he said that Dev was away in Ireland on business. I nodded and concealed my disappointment at not being able to see him again before I returned to school. We were supposed to take the train back to Hogwarts tomorrow and were in the middle of packing our duffle bags when we received an owl from Sarika requesting that we meet her at Uncle's house right away.

"I wonder why Sarika called us over?" I mused as we made our way up the cobblestone steps to the front door of my uncle's house.

"I hope it's not to help with her wedding preparations again. We did enough of that over the winter holidays. I need some rest before it continues this summer," Parvati grumbled and rang the doorbell.

The door flew open and Sarika beckoned us inside. Her hair appeared dishevelled and she looked sweaty and tired.

"Hi Sarika! Do you need help with the wedding?" Parvati asked, careful not to make any remarks about her untidy appearance.

"Not for now. I'm in the middle of sorting through my things. I'm still deciding what I need to take to our new place and what I should give away," Sarika explained as she sat down on the bench in the foyer and crossed one leg over the other.

"Here, I found a box of shoes I don't wear anymore that are still in fashion. Take your pick," she waved at a crate by her feet. Parvati and I exchanged a look of disbelief. Sarika always wore the latest in designer wizarding fashion. These shoes must have been very expensive. She could have easily made a lot of money selling them.

"Are you thanking us for our help so far?" I hesitantly inquired.

"Well, that…and also you're both in desperate need of nicer footwear," Sarika bluntly stated.

Parvati scowled and I loudly thanked Sarika before emptying the box onto the floor to have a look.

There were six pairs of shoes that we split evenly between the two of us and began modelling in front of the closet mirror. I selected the black faux fur trimmed ankle boots, tan flats and a gorgeous pair of wooden wedge heels with thin white criss-cross steps.

I had just finished putting on the last pair of shoes I'd chosen, when I saw Vijay and Dev coming downstairs from the second floor. When he reached the ground floor, Dev and I locked eyes. A broad smile slowly grew upon his face as he surveyed my form. I felt a rush of confidence at his visual appraisal. The wedge heels added an extra four inches to my petite stature, giving my legs a longer, leaner appearance. I subconsciously took a step in his direction and tripped. Sarika grabbed my arm to help me regain my balance and I sheepishly smiled.

"What the bloody hell happened to you sis? You're a mess. Did Shahid drop by earlier?" Vijay taunted Sarika suggestively, wagging his eyebrows. She reflexively cast a bat bogey hex on him and he ducked into the loo to get cleaned up.

"I feel so tall in these," I commented, trying to ease the tension that always arose between my cousins.

"Just don't fall," Dev laughed, stuffing his hands into his pockets. We fondly beamed at each other.

From my peripheral vision, I saw Sarika frown and narrow her eyes suspiciously at my expression. I quickly schooled my features and changed back into my trainers.

"Alright, we're heading out now. I'll see you girls later," Vijay said as he emerged from the loo and strode out the front door.

"Bye Pad- I mean see you later Sarika!" Dev corrected himself, hugging my cousin goodbye. She appeared stunned, then firmly patted his back and was the first to pull away. I blushed at his mistake, elated that he was still thinking about how I looked while I was wearing Sarika's high heels.

Dev quickly hugged Parvati and then pulled me into a tight embrace, rubbing the back of my head affectionately.

"Good luck with finals. It's not Felix Felicis, but I hope it helps. Please stay safe," he whispered. My brows crinkled in confusion then shot up in surprise when the hand that was on my head trailed down my left arm and discreetly deposited a small metal object into my palm.

"Thanks, I will," I responded earnestly, sliding whatever it was into the pocket of my trousers. Vijay called Dev's name from outside just as we pulled apart.

"Send my regards to Ronald Weasley," Sarika suddenly piped up.

"Um, sure? We don't really talk much," I hesitantly agreed.

"Oh please! He asked you to the Yule Ball for a reason. Plus I heard he fought an acromantula in your second year. How brave of him, a true Gryffindor," Sarika commended with a wink.

"I thought Parvati was the one who had a date to that dance," Dev frowned.

"Pads did too, but that was two years ago. Ron recently broke up with my best friend, Lavender. The poor girl has been absolutely distraught these past few weeks," Parvati griped.

"He obviously broke up with her because he's infatuated with Padma! You did tell me that he and Harry Potter were very nervous when they asked you both to be their dates," Sarika reminded her.

"Actually, Lav suspects that Ron has always fancied Hermione and only asked Pads because Hermione was already going with someone else," Parvati corrected her.

"Don't be silly! The Golden Trio are just friends," Sarika laughed, roughly ushering a disgruntled Dev out the door. "Besides, I read in The Daily Prophet that Harry Potter is the one who really fancies Hermione Granger."

I stood uncomfortably in the foyer grimacing at the notion of Ron Weasley possibly fancying me. Based on the public displays of affection I had seen between him and Lavender in the Hogwarts corridors, his snogging skills definitely needed some work. He used way too much tongue, which couldn't have been pleasant.

'Not that I would really know,' I thought, remembering that I had yet to experience my first kiss with anyone. I ran outside to catch up with Dev, but he had already disapparated with Vijay.

"I think we should get going as well. Thanks again for the shoes Sarika!" I heard Parvati say as she exited my uncle's house carrying the crate in her arms.

An unpleasant feeling settled into the pit of my stomach. I hoped Dev didn't believe anything that Sarika said. If I could recall correctly, Rita Skeeter was the one who wrote that article about Harry and Hermione and there was something very untrustworthy about that reporter. I briefly considered owling him, but feared that his parents, Kirin or even Vijay might intercept the letter and wonder why I was defending my relationship status to a man nine years older than me.

I reached into my pocket to examine the item that Dev had secretly gifted to me inside Uncle's house. It was a tiny bronze four leaf clover pendant. He probably purchased it during his business trip to Ireland. I couldn't contain the excited smile that graced my face when I realised that he had been thinking of me while he was away.

"Are you coming?" my sister's question startled me from my thoughts.

"Yes!" I hastily replied, carefully sliding the pendant back into my pocket and resolving to clarify this misunderstanding when I returned home for summer vacation.

Notes: Being the brilliant man he is, I'm sure Dev won't misinterpret anything…right? :P