Chapter 49 (Parvati Interlude)
Parvati watched Professor Slughorn deliver a lecture on some potion thing. The other students snoozed quietly. Only one or two were actually paying attention.
Her hand slipped under her robe and fondled the large-caliber pistol that was holstered there.
I could just blow 'em all away... She thought smugly. It's not time, yet. No... Not yet.
The bell rang, blessedly.
She stood and left and was the first out, having not even removed the books from her bag. She strode up the stairs and hallways and eventually entered the Great Hall. Lunchtime.
Her meal was interrupted by Professor McGonagall, Padma in tow.
"Ms. Patil, your father showed up a few minutes ago, unannounced. He wishes to speak with you and your sister in private."
Parvati gave Padma a questioning look. Padma shrugged.
McGonagall led them out into the entrance hall where, sure enough, stood Mr. Patil.
"Hello, dad." said Padma.
Parvati nodded silently at him. Her mind was racing. Why the hell is he here?!
"Girls... As you know I was attacked while on business in Iran." he gingerly touched the scar on his neck. "I recently investigated and discovered who my attacker was. I wanted to tell you in person, so as to avoid the usual... Exigencies when communicating via owl in this day and age."
Parvati stared at him. What is he on about? Of course he knows it was Ziad who did it!
"My attacker," continued Mr. Patil, "Was none other than Lord Voldemort himself."
Padma gasped. Parvati sighed. Oh. Shit. It's gonna be like that.
"Why are you here?" whispered Padma. "Why haven't you fled the country? Why hasn't he killed you yet?"
"I didn't leave because I needed to talk to you. Your mother has returned to India at my request. Now, it's up to you. Do you want to stay at Hogwarts and see it through, or do you wish to leave? You're adults now, you can make the decision yourself."
Tears started flowing from Padma's eyes.
Parvati just stood there, slumped.
He wants us to leave, all this 'your choice' shit is, well, shit. But why? Either way, I'll leave because Hogwarts has gotten fucking boring.
"Ok, I'll bite." she said.
"Huh?" said Padma and Mr. Patil.
"I mean, I'll leave. Let me get my stuff, first."
Mr. Patil seemed somewhat taken aback.
"Um... Yes, of course. Do you need help?"
"Nope."
Padma watched Parvati stride purposefully back to the castle. She stared at the grounds. Sunlight played on the lake, the trees in the forest gently waved in the cool mountain breeze.
"Ok... I guess I'll leave too." she whispered, finally. She trudged back to the castle.
Parvati hurriedly threw her clothes into her trunk, then sprinted to the Room of Requirement. She performed the necessary ceremony and opened the door.
The room had grown considerably. Right by the door was a small triage center, packed with medicine and tools stolen from a British military hospital. Beside that was a small kitchen. Tucked between the two was a thin mattress with army-green sheets and covers.
Behind the small comforts was a small warehouse. Rifles, machine-guns, rocket launchers, boxes of explosives, crates of ammunition, uniforms, vests, helmets, night-vision goggles, and everything necessary to equip an army.
Parvati grabbed a few rifles, pistols, and hand-grenades and threw them into her trunk along with the necessary ammunition.
She regretfully left the rest of the arsenal.
"Goodbye, my sweets," she whispered as she closed the door.
Back at the entrance hall, Mr. Patil was waiting with a Padma, who's trunk sat beside her.
"Ready?" he said.
"I suppose," muttered Parvati.
"Where are we going?" asked Padma.
"We'll meet up with your mother in Mumbai."
"Ok."
The silently left the school grounds.
Padma gave the castle one last look before the trees obscured it.
They arrived in Hogsmeade after a rather depressing walk.
Mr. Patil extended both his arms.
"Grab on."
Parvati and Padma dutifully did so.
CRACK
And they were no longer in Hogsmeade. Or the United Kingdom, for that matter.
But it sure didn't look like they were in Mumbai, either.
"This isn't Mumbai," muttered Parvati. Padma stared at their strange surroundings.
Mr. Patil slid his wand from his sleeve and flicked it at the twins.
They froze. Parvati's eyes, the only part of her body that could still move, glared accusingly at Mr. Patil.
"I'm sorry, but it's for your own safety," said Mr. Patil. "The world is about to explode, my beautiful daughters, and I can't have you burn along with it. Now, I believe that nice man walking towards us is my friend. Ah, yes indeed."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Patil. Welcome back to South Africa," said the uniformed man who had approached them. He shook Mr. Patil's hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, Major Smit."