2 Date

Harry didn't have much time to think, though. When going to breakfast, they found the announcement that since there were no lessons until the start of next term, they could go to Hogsmeade on both Sundays until then. "It means that you need to take Padma on a date today," Hermione made it clear to him, "and you should take me for a date next week, on the new year."

Harry gulped nervously. It hadn't occurred to him that he would need to do it so soon. Luckily, Hermione could still advise him and direct him until he had to leave. "Go to the Ravenclaw table and set the time you'll meet her at the gate. Make sure to leave enough time for her to get ready – girls take much longer than boys to get ready for an outing. Make sure you shave well and use some fragrant after-shave lotion. Put on your best clothes. Make sure to also put your winter coat on – it's freezing outside. Let me check you over before you leave."

He did just as told. Padma was glad to see him and even gladder to go on a date with him. "Wait for me in about an hour at the Ravenclaw tower. The corridor there is quite warm, but I hope not to let you wait for too long."

Back at the dorms, he shaved well and wore the trousers he had used for the ball, along with a white shirt. Hermione checked him over and approved of his efforts. She then kissed his cheek again, "for good luck."

Harry couldn't refrain from thinking of Hermione's kiss even while waiting for Padma, and that made him feel bad, as he thought that Padma deserved his full attention.

She did get his full attention, eventually. She looked magnificent when she came out, and she smelled really nice. He felt dazzled by her smile and even more confused when she kissed him once again on his cheek. "Let's go!" she said, grabbing his arm possessively.

In a way, it was like being with Hermione. Padma was quite smart and just as bossy with him. It felt so familiar that he caught himself almost calling her "Hermione". Luckily he didn't say it.

Padma didn't mind the cold. She walked with him along the street, stopping at almost every shop's window. They went only into the bookshop, where she bought two thin books, and to Honeydukes, where Harry insisted on buying some sweets and sharing with her.

"I've heard there's a nice place for lunch," she told him as midday arrived. He followed her to the entrance of Madam Puddifoot's. Just seeing the window, decorated with pink, made him feel a bit sick. He failed to see the mischievous smile on Padma's face. "Isn't it cute here?" she asked in an overly sweet voice.

"It's..." Harry didn't know the right way to describe his feelings without hurting the girl. "... alright, probably."

Padma turned her glance at him, noticing his face turning green. "Well, not so nice, actually. It's for silly girls who want to show off or to torture their dates, mostly. I think there's a better place a little down the road."

She hid her smile at seeing Harry's relief, finding that he didn't need to go into that pink hell. A short walk brought them to another establishment, showing only a steaming cup over the door. "It's a bit early for this place, but it may give us some time to just talk and get to know each other in a warm and pleasant place," Padma noted.

Harry opened the door for her and followed her in. All he saw was a wide passage with three small dining rooms on each side. Each room had a curtain at the opening and currently, all six were open. As he looked around, Harry noticed that each had a slightly different colour scheme and décor.

A waitress came forward. "Where would you like to sit?"

Harry had no idea. Padma looked around and he was quite sure this was also her first visit there. "The blue room seems fine," she said.

It was a small room with a table large enough for four. Its walls had a light blue wallpaper with some delicate gold decorations. The lampshade was blue as was the curtain. Harry held the chair for Padma to sit before he sat at her side.

It was Harry's first time at any restaurant or café and he felt a bit lost. Luckily, Padma already knew what was expected. She opened the menu, that was set in front of each chair, and looked through it. Harry followed her example.

"I don't trust them with oriental food," Padma said, "but I've heard they're quite good with Italian cuisine. How would you like this?" she pointed at one item on the menu.

Harry blushed. "I have no experience with any foreign food. I'll trust you to choose for me as well."

They ended ordering two types of pasta and some drinks. Harry was aware of the fact that Padma didn't go for the highest priced dishes or beverages, although she didn't choose the cheapest either.

Harry wasn't sure what he was expected to do once he gave the waitress their order. It was the first time he took any girl on a date. How could he know what a girl wanted?

Padma didn't wait for him to start talking. "You were dressed very nicely for the ball. Why is it that your clothes are so worn at other times? I believe you could afford something better, at least since entering the tournament."

Harry wasn't glad to talk about this, but he didn't know how to evade the direct question. "My relatives only give me..."

"It doesn't matter what they give you. I've already heard that they aren't very nice to you. Yet you don't need them any longer, now that you're emancipated."

"I'm what?"

Padma rolled her eyes, reminding him of Hermione once again. "Don't you know? Being the last of your line, you should have been emancipated at twelve and given all the rights and responsibilities of your position as Lord Potter. Your guardian should have told you, at least."

Harry couldn't hide his surprise. "Nobody told me."

Padma frowned. "I can ask my dad to look into it. He's a solicitor." She then brightened again, making Harry realize that she was really beautiful. "Anyhow, as a Lord, you can access your vaults, and I'm sure you have more than enough for a decent wardrobe. The Potter family was known to be much richer than Malfoy, although not as politically involved."

Harry looked stunned, and Padma frowned. She liked the shy boy for himself, although being from a rich family didn't hurt. She didn't think he would not know anything about it. Being modest and unassuming was one thing. Being kept in the dark about his own position was something else. She grabbed Harry's hand. "If you allow, I'll send an owl to my father when we return to school. He'll be able to find some more information even before the new year and act upon it as soon as the holidays are over."

Harry nodded silently. This date was turning into something he hadn't expected, yet it was probably for the best. He just held Padma's hand tighter.

His mind finally settled, he found his voice again. "Well, if that's true, maybe I can use some more of the money from my trust vault for buying a few garments..."

"I can help you choose," Padma offered gladly.

They left that subject aside for the rest of their meal. Harry told Padma about his previous school adventures; she told him a bit about life at the Ravenclaw dorms; he told her about the clue in the egg; she suggested immersing it in water, to make the screeching tolerable; he told her about his friendship with Ron and Hermione; she listened attentively. By the time lunch was over, both felt that they were forming a solid friendship.

"There's a nice man's clothing shop nearby," Padma told him.

He followed her to a shop, closer to the main road, that was dedicated to men (and boys). Harry was surprised to find the prices much lower than in other shops he had visited. He then noticed that most were muggle clothes, some with slight adaptation for the magical people.

It was quite late when they boarded the carriage back to school, yet they both felt it had been a very pleasant day. Harry walked her back to the Ravenclaw tower and was not too surprised when Padma hugged him shortly and kissed both his cheeks, although he didn't dare do the same.

Hermione was already in the common room. "How did it go?"

Harry smiled. "I think it went quite well. We had a wonderful time together and she even made me buy some new clothes for me. She kissed my cheeks again before we parted."

He couldn't read Hermione's expression. "Did she ask for another date?"

"No, but she's going to ask her father to look into something for me – he's a solicitor – so we're probably going to meet again."

He was now sure that Hermione was worried, although she tried to hide it. "You see, she told me some things I didn't know about myself. She said that as the last of my house, I should have been emancipated at twelve. She asked if I wanted her father to check this for me."

Hermione's frown only deepened. "Why has nobody told you until now?"

Harry shrugged. "That's what a solicitor may check, I believe."

He turned to go to his dorm to put his shopping down, when he remembered another thing. "She also said it might help to open the clue in water, as it would make the sound more intelligible. She also asked to meet you at the library tomorrow, after breakfast."

By the time Harry went to the great hall for dinner, he was wearing his regular clothes, as the robes were hiding them anyhow. He sat as usual, between Ron and Hermione, yet he couldn't overlook the darker face that he saw at the Ravenclaw table with a dazzling smile, directed at him. Ron didn't notice, but Hermione did, and she didn't seem too glad about it.

As Ron was sleeping very late, Harry went with Hermione for breakfast and then also accompanied her to the library. Padma was already waiting there, yet she didn't seem glad to see Harry. "We're going to discuss girls' stuff," she told him. "I think you'd better find something else to do. I'm willing to meet you after lunch, if you like to."

Harry was unsure about the right answer. If he declined, Padma might feel hurt; if he accepted, Hermione might. Before he made his mind, though, Hermione answered in his stead. "Harry has not started working on his homework yet. I'm going to help him with that after lunch, yet you may help him find where he could check the clue for the second task."

"Why, in the prefect bathroom. It's quite big enough and we could all go there together. We should wear swimsuits, of course."

"We can't go in there. It's protected by password!" Hermione insisted.

"My head of house gave the password to some younger students as well – those who are the best in their class. I can open the door for you." Padma wasn't bragging but seemed quite content.

"Well," Hermione turned to Harry, "I suggest you start with the charms homework and then Transfiguration. I'll check it over when we finish here."

He had been clearly dismissed. Not knowing any better, he followed Hermione's suggestion to the letter, despite Ron nagging him for a chess game.

Hermione returned close to lunchtime, looking quite pensive. "What did you talk about?" Harry asked her.

"Just girls' stuff, you know – relationships, love, marriage, boys, nothing you should concern yourself with."

Harry felt quite concerned, though. It wasn't like Hermione to spend her time on idle talks and he had a hunch that Padma wasn't that type either, unlike her twin. He had a distinct feeling that it was about him, actually. "I've never listened to such talks. Can you elaborate?"

She smiled, yet he detected some nervousness in her smile. "This usually takes place in the girls' dorms or in the showers, and no boy is allowed in either place. Padma, being in a different house, had to meet me at the library, but it wasn't meant for male ears any more than what girls talk in the showers."

Harry sighed, knowing that he wouldn't get a straight answer until she decided to give one, no matter what he said.