(A/N: A little something that hit me…)
The Patil Sisters
Harry was carefully watching, waiting to make his move. He really didn't want to do this, but he felt it was the right thing to do, regardless of his feelings. If he went by his feelings, he would be back in his dorm room curled into a ball on his bed. It had only been a couple of days since he had seen Cedric Diggory killed and Voldemort seemingly raised from the dead. But despite his feelings, he must do this now, everyone was leaving Hogwarts tomorrow.
Finally, he saw Parvati Patil get up from the table and start walking towards the doors to leave the Great Hall. Padma rose at approximately the same time. With a hasty "I'll find you later" given to his friends, Harry also got up and hurried after the twins. It wasn't hard to imagine that Ron and Hermione were wondering what was going on, but at the moment, all he hoped was that they didn't follow him. As he reached the doors, a quick glance back showed that they were still seated.
Turning and hurrying down the corridor, Harry saw the sisters and quickly walked after them. When no one else was nearby, he called out. "Parvati! Padma!"
They turned as one and the instant they saw who it was, each of them gave him a cold look, one he knew he deserved.
"Can I please talk to you for a few minutes? I need to tell you a few things and after that, well, if you want to yell at me or slap me, then I won't blame you and will take it." He gave them is best pleading look and hoped they would hear him out.
They looked at each other and seemed to have a silent conversation. Finally, they turned back to him and Padma said, "In here Potter." She led them to an old classroom that was nearby. Parvati came after him and closed the door after they were in.
The two Patil sisters stared at him, waiting. Harry looked at them. Besides one being in Gryffindor robes and the other being in Ravenclaw robes, the differences between them were very small. Parvati's hair had a slight curl to it; Padma's was completely straight. Harry also thought Parvati's eyebrows were slightly thinner. Otherwise, they were identical at first glance. As they continued to stare at him, over a few seconds, he noticed that Parvati became more agitated while Padma continued to stand completely still.
"I, uh, I have a few things to tell you and then if you want to go off on me, I'll understand and I won't fight back."
They just blinked, still waiting.
"Listen, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier in the year, as well as give you an explanation. Padma, I'm sorry I got you involved with Ron at the Yule Ball. He was having problems with something else and should have paid more attention to you, but I'm sorry I asked Parvati to ask you to go with him."
Padma tilted her head slightly and examined him minutely. Harry had a hard time not looking away.
"While I appreciate this, why are you here apologizing and Ron isn't?"
Harry shuffled his feet. "Because he, uh, … he won't think to come do this," he finished lamely.
Padma nodded once. "I heard about his explosion at Hermione after the Ball. I assume that's what caused his inattention?"
"I believe so, although Ron never discusses his feelings." Harry snorted. "I didn't know he had any feelings for Hermione until then. It took me completely by surprise."
Padma smiled for the first time. "The fact that Weasley has any feelings beyond those for food and Quidditch surprises most of us. I forgive you for your part, Harry. You couldn't have know the prat was going to do that. However, I will request you never mention this to him or prompt him in any way. While I would like an apology from him, if it happens, I want it to happen because he thinks of it himself."
Harry nodded, happy she had accepted his apology. "Of course. Personally, I'd be surprised if he ever did it, but I understand you wanting it to be genuine."
He turned a little to face Parvati. This one was going to be a lot harder. He forced himself to stand up straighter. "Parvati, I would like to apologize to you for ruining your evening at the Yule Ball. Not that it excuses me, but I was having trouble dealing with being in the Triwizard Tournament. Now that it's known that I really didn't put my name in the Goblet of Fire, that may help my conscious, but it still doesn't excuse my ignoring you during much of the Yule Ball and being a bad date. Please accept my deepest apologies for my inattention and general prattishness. If I knew of a way to make it up to you, I would."
Parvati's gaze was still cool. He found her scrutiny harder to endure than Padma's. Then again, his guilt had been minimal with Padma, while he was directly responsible for Parvati's woes. Tears welled in the girl's eyes. Harry wanted to looked away, but forced himself not to.
"I was so happy to be asked by you and you took that away from me," she said more than a little fiercely.
Harry saw movement from the corner of his eye, but he stood stock still as her hand swung around and slapped his face. As he slowly turned back to her, he saw a look surprise on Padma's face. Apparently she was as surprised at the depth of Parvati's hurt as he was. He continued to silently wait.
She pulled a corner of her robes up and dabbed at her eyes. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you," she told him. "I've been holding that in for so long." She sighed and stole a glance at her sister before turning back to him. "I'll forgive you if you do one thing for me."
Hoping the price wouldn't be too high, Harry said, "Name it." He was glad his voice hadn't squeaked or otherwise betrayed his fear of what she might ask.
"Kiss me. Kiss me like you would have at the end of the date. Kiss me like you really mean it," she demanded.
Harry blinked for a moment, stunned at her demand. It wasn't overly hard, in and of itself, but he had never really kissed a girl before. He wasn't sure he could kiss her "like he really meant it." That was gave him some cause for panic.
A snigger caught his attention and made him looked at Padma. She had a full grin on her face. "The great Harry Potter panicked by the thought of having to kiss a girl." She shook her head before she looked at her sister. "Parv, you could have asked for so much more, and you ask for a kiss?"
"While the date didn't go well, he owes me a good ending," Parvati defended her decision.
Padma shrugged, although mirth was still present.
Harry thought the girl looked very pretty that way. He had always thought both twins were cute, but now Padma seemed to change in front of his eyes into pretty. That realization surprised him.
"Well, Harry?"
Parvati's question pulled Harry back into reality. He looked at her and nodded. "As you wish. Now?" He wasn't sure about kissing her in front of her sister, but if that was what she wanted, he would do it.
She nodded and relaxed her stance slightly, arms hanging at her sides.
Not totally sure what to do, Harry screwed up his courage and walked up to her, standing toe to toe with his fellow Gryffindor. As he started to lean forward, Parvati took a step back and exclaimed, "What are you doing? You're supposed to kiss me like you really mean it, not like you'd kiss Granger."
He couldn't understand. "What do you mean?"
Parvati looked disappointed in him, but Padma saved him. "Parv, I don't think he's ever really kissed a girl before."
"I hadn't heard of anyone kissing him, but I thought surely…" Parvati looked at him with a little amusement before a full smirk broke out on her face. "So I get to be the first to really kiss you?"
He wasn't sure what to say or do. He didn't want to look weak and admit, but it was the truth. Harry slowly nodded.
"Well, I suppose being the first to kiss you does make up for it." Parvati walked up to him and stood with her feet between his and pressed her body to his as she lifted her arms and put them around his neck. "Put your arms around me and hold me tightly, but don't crush me."
Harry was wondering how she knew about all of this, since she was just finishing fourth year like he was. Deciding in for a Knut in for Galleon, he put his arms around her. One hand went on the small of her back and the other a little higher.
"Perfect," she almost purred in a soft voice. "Now tilt your head a little to the right and do everything I do."
Harry did his best to match her, movement for movement. Her lips were soft. He suddenly felt her tongue touch his lips and he was so surprised he opened his mouth slightly. A moment later, he was glad he had and again tried to match her this way too. The minute they spent kissing was incredible, brilliant, spectacular, and every other superlative he could think of.
Eventually, Parvati pulled back a few inches and smiled. "That's how you kiss a girl, Harry." Still holding on to his neck, she twisted slightly and kissed him on the cheek. "You're forgiven." Still smiling, she let go and left, gliding out of the room.
Harry licked his lips with the tip of his tongue as he stared after her.
A chuckle broke him out of his numb thoughts. He had totally forgotten about Padma. He felt his face grow hot as he looked away. No matter what he did, he could not keep the smile off of his face. "Sorry," he mumbled.
"For what, Harry?" Padma stepped over so she was in front of him, just out of arm's reach.
"I, uh, I wasn't trying to take advantage of your sister or anything…"
Padma's laughter filled the room.
Harry watched her and again noticed how pretty she was. They were practically identical, and yet, there was something about Padma that rang truer with him.
"I believe my sister was trying to take advantage of you, but you seemed to have turned the tables on her. Thank you, Harry. That will give me much to tease her with, and the fact that you did it even when you were initially uncomfortable shows me you really were honest about your apologies."
He carefully looked at her face, the light from the windows warming her brown skin and smile. "I think I owe you one more apology," he said softly, surprising himself for saying what he was thinking.
"Oh?" Padma looked intrigued.
Now what, he asked himself. Since she was waiting, he had no choice but to go ahead. "I'm sorry I didn't ask you to the Ball. I think I asked the wrong sister."
Her eyebrows went up and she colored slightly. "Why do say that?"
"I think you're prettier."
"But we're identical." She looked puzzled.
"Not really. If you dressed just a like, it might take a moment to tell you apart, but you are different and I would be able to tell." He worked up his courage again, and hoped she took this the right way. "Parvati's nice, but I've always like girls who are smart."
Padma looked amused. "Then why didn't you take Hermione to the Ball?"
Harry couldn't stop the snort. "Not likely. She's my best friend, but it would be like taking a sister. I'm not an inbred git like Malfoy."
She laughed. "No, no you're not." She studied him for a moment. "That's why you tried to ask Cho, wasn't it?" In a Parvati-like move, Padma flicked her hair back over one shoulder and took a half step forward.
Harry's heart was starting to race. All he could do was to nod, especially when she slowly licked her lips, the tip of her tongue barely showing.
When she took the other half step forward after a brief moment, his hands seemed to have a mind of their own and encircled her. A moment more and she was leaning forward.
Kissing Padma was sort of like kissing Parvati, but where Parvati was more aggressive, Padma was patient. Harry enjoyed the relaxing and yet passionate kiss. When they broke, she leaned her forehead on his. He would have gone cross-eyed trying to see her, so he just closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of her closeness.
"I know why she was gliding now," Padma sighed.
He reveled in her warm breath across his face, as he did in feeling her body pressed to him. This was a feeling that he had been missing all of his life. Mrs Weasley's hugs were nice, but there were still impersonal. He was sure that if he had a real mother, they would be different, and yet this nice feeling. This feeling would be his new memory for a Patronus.
"Harry?" she whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Since it's summer, how about we write each other and really get to know one another. I think we should take things slow."
Harry felt like his head was filled with Treacle, thoughts moving slowly as his senses were still overcome by holding and kissing this pretty girl. "Er, OK. I think I'd like that," he finally said.
"I need to go pack. I know you'll sit with your friends tomorrow, but perhaps we can talk for a few minutes on the train?"
"Sure," he told her, willing to promise her almost anything at the moment. Her holding him even kept his sorrow about Cedric at bay. "What about your sister?"
Padma gave him a soft kiss on the lips before pulling back. "Don't worry about her. I'll talk to her and I'm sure she'll be happy for me. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Harry."
He gave her a crooked smile, causing her to flash him a big grin before gliding out herself. It took him a moment, but Harry finally found control over his body and he walked back to the Tower to pack as well.
When he walked into the common room, he was glad that Parvati wasn't there. He was sure his look would give away what happened between him and Padma, and he didn't want to come between the sisters.
"Harry, where've you been?" Ron called out.
He looked over and saw Ron at a table in front of the chess board. He didn't see Hermione around, which was probably good, as she'd question him right now. He was sure his pleasure was still pasted on his face.
"Just talking to a friend. I gotta go pack," Harry quickly said, so he didn't have to stay around. Without waiting for an answer, he jogged up the stairs.
Ron was still his friend, but his talk with the sisters was making him reevaluate just how close they should be. Perhaps he should spend more time with Neville. He'd think about that this summer.
Of course, he'd think a lot more about Padma.
((A/N: If I were to get Harry together with one of the Patil sisters, this is how I'd do it. While I think it might be fun to write this, I doubt I ever will as I'd have to "finish out" the story, and coming up with a unique way for this pairing is not high on my priority list.
Parvati would understand about Padma wanting to date him and not give her too much grief, at least as long as Padma supplied her with the juicy details.
Harry would meet the Patils on Platform 9 3/4 and they would like him.
So, given that Harry has something to take his mind off of Cedric so he doesn't brood so much, and Padma's letters would tell him that it wasn't his fault, would the scene with the Dementors really happen the same way as in the book? It might not because Harry wouldn't be brooding as much and so he might not be in the park. What would happen to the Dementors (and later the Ministry) if they couldn't reach him because he was in the house? Would they attack others? Maybe Figg and/or Fletcher (when he returned)?
What would his friends' reactions be to Padma? Hermione would probably be supportive. Ron would probably say something about getting a pretty girl, setting Hermione off about how Ron seems to think that outside beauty defines a girl. Ginny is the wildcard, but I think she would be sadly supportive, keeping the British stiff upper lip and hoping H/Padma broke up. Sirius would be happy for him.
Harry would want to please her, so he'd start to take his studies more seriously. Between that and not being sure about Ron, those 2 things would start to divide the two friends so they eventually become normal friends (like he is with Dean), and Harry becomes a close friend with Neville as Neville matures. (This process would probably take the entire fall term of 5th year.)
Padma would instantly realize what happened to Harry's hand and know that a Blood Quill was illegal. Would that spell an early end to Umbridge's days at Hogwarts? Maybe she'd get Flitwick involved, who would bring out Umbridge's illegal actions.
I view Padma as someone who would stand by Harry, but wouldn't take a place on the front lines. How does that change things?
How would having "2 Hermione-smart girls" support Harry change things? (Yes, Hermione and Padma will get along well. Maybe they'll form a study group of the 3 of them and become the new trio? Would Nev get involved? Would Nev go after Hermione with his new confidence or is Hermione not his type?)
No, Harry will not end up with both sisters. If Parv ever tried to substitute herself for Padma, Harry would notice and nicely chastise her in private. He wouldn't tell Padma until the second time, not wanting to cause a split between the sisters.
By having a girlfriend for 2 years and feeling more centered and self-confident, would Dumbledore's plan of Harry sacrificing himself really work? (NO! Padma would figure out that Harry had a soul fragment in him much sooner and would find a way to remove it, maybe even during 6th year. She would go on the hunt in year 7 with him -- but avoid situations like going into Gringotts -- and she'd probably make Ron stay home, not being able to deal with his childishness. Would that mean that Hermione and Ron never get together? Or would that pairing simply take longer?)
I'm sure there are other fun questions, but those are all that immediately hit me. As always, if you are willing to commit to finishing the story, you may "take" this idea if you let me know.
Kevin))