Chapter Text
Parvati had never wanted to disappear more in her life. Her stomach erupted with butterflies, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from her friend as she stood, nervously awaiting Parvati's input.
"Well, don't just stare! What do you think?"
Parvati cleared her throat. "You look stunning, Lav. Obviously."
Lavender squealed, turning and surveying herself in the full-length mirror. Her dress was steel blue with white flowers decorating the bodice and bottom of the tulle skirt. It contrasted beautifully with her brown skin, which now glimmered under the influence of some beauty spell she had cast.
Lavender twirled, faint sparkles in her dress catching the light, and the straps, which tied on her shoulders, slipped down her arms.
"Oops. Ti, I can't get these to stay. Could you tie them for me?"
Wordlessly, Parvati stood, holding her breath as she reached for the straps. She tried her best not to touch Lavender's skin, but her fingertips brushed her soft shoulder as she tied the bow.
"Turn," Parvati murmured, and Lavender obliged with a wide smile.
"Can I do your hair?" Lavender asked as Parvati tied her other strap.
"Of course. Do you really think I would trust anyone else with it?"
"And your makeup?" Lavender asked, spinning around to face her and grabbing her hand.
Parvati smiled. "You didn't even have to ask. You're a thousand times better at makeup than me."
Within a few minutes, Parvati was sitting on the floor beside Lavender's bed, listening to Lavender as she rifled through a bag of hair products.
"I was thinking that we could do, like, a half-updo? And a few braids, if possible?"
"That sounds perfect." Lavender dropped her feet onto the ground on either side of Parvati. "Your hair's so long!"
Parvati's ears grew hot as Lavender cupped either side of her face and tilted her head back.
"Where are your robes?"
"Erm, they're hanging on the door."
Parvati found it hard to breathe as Lavender's warm fingers brushed her temples, pulling her hair away from her face. Her scalp tingled and her heart raced, but she leaned back onto the bed and closed her eyes as Lavender got to work.
Parvati, without looking, flicked her wand so the radio turned on, and listened with a smile as Lavender sang along to a song she didn't recognize.
"I'm so glad Hermione introduced me to Muggle music. I was getting bored of The Weird Sisters."
Parvati laughed as Padma and Hermione entered their dorm, thankful for the distraction.
"How much longer, Lavender?" Padma asked, sitting on the bed in front of Parvati.
"Twenty minutes. You look nice, Padma," Lavender said. "When are you gonna get ready, Hermione?"
Hermione shrugged, a secret smile on her lips. "In a few minutes. It won't take long; I'm not doing much. I love your robes, by the way."
Padma beamed. "My mum made them. Parvati's are pink."
"My favorite." Lavender turned Parvati's head, humming as she tied off her final braid. "You have the prettiest hair."
Parvati's cheeks burned as Lavender hopped off the bed and tugged her onto her feet. "I know I do."
Lavender laughed. "Makeup."
Parvati eagerly sat down, watching as Lavender laid out a few different products. Lavender quickly got to work, and by the time she had finally released her, Parvati was breathless and more than ready for a moment by herself.
"I'll meet you in the entrance hall, Parvati," Padma said, brushing her hand against Parvati's as she left the room.
"Right. Well, I'm gonna get dressed in the washroom."
"Boo, you prude. I wanna see your robes!" Lavender skipped toward the door and reached for the clothing bag, but Parvati was quicker. She threw it over her elbow and raced out the room, laughing as Lavender huffed and slammed the door.
She tugged on her robes in a daze, and when she finally looked in the mirror, she froze in shock at her appearance. Lavender had kept her makeup surprisingly natural, and she felt oddly comfortable as she donned on her gold bracelets and earrings.
"Oh, Ti," Lavender murmured when she returned, and Parvati's face split with a wide grin.
"How do I look?"
"Lovely." Lavender squealed and pulled Parvati in for a hug. "Bloody hell, Ti, do you have to be so perfect?"
Parvati rolled her eyes and grabbed her wand. "See you in a few minutes."
She was grateful for the moment alone as she walked to the common room. Her mind was much clearer away from the smell of thick perfumes and cheap makeup.
She allowed herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, she would feel something. Harry was kind and funny and . . . attractive, she supposed. She would be dancing with him in front of the whole school. Surely, that was romantic.
Harry didn't like her in that sense, and she was quite thankful for that. His eyes were often glued to Cho and Cedric — so much so that Parvati wasn't sure which one he fancied.
"You — er — look nice," Harry said awkwardly as she met him and Ron.
"Thanks," Parvati replied, secretly thinking she looked much better than nice. "Padma's going to meet you in the entrance hall," she informed Ron.
"Right." Ron looked around the room, his brows furrowing. "Where's Hermione?"
Parvati shrugged. "Shall we go down then, Harry?"
"Okay."
Parvati ignored one of the Weasley twins as he winked at Harry, and followed him silently to the entrance hall.
There were students everywhere, loud laughter floating through the room and glittery dresses shimmering in the candlelight. Parvati stared at the doors to the Great Hall expectantly, accidentally catching the eye of her sister. In an instant, she raced through the crowd and grabbed Padma's hand, then pulled her over to Ron and Harry.
"Hi," Padma greeted, running a hand nervously down her turquoise robes. She stared at the frayed edges of Ron's robes, and Parvati tugged on her sleeve, giving a look that she hoped told her twin to be polite.
"Hi," Ron replied absently, peering at the crowd gathering around them. "Oh no. . . ." He ducked down behind Harry to hide from Fleur, and Padma pursed her lips to conceal her laughter. "Where is Hermione?"
As everyone filed into the entrance room, Parvati glanced around the room, searching for Lavender. She tried to swallow her disappointment when she realized that her friend hadn't left the common room, but her glumness was short-lived.
"Champions over here, please!" Professor McGonagall called out.
Parvati beamed. "See you in a minute," she said to Ron and Padma, then slipped her hand into the crook of Harry's elbow and led them through the crowd. She had been looking forward to dancing the most since Harry had asked her to the ball, and her veins hummed with anticipation.
Parvati looked around at her fellow champions, admiring Fleur Delcour's silvery hair, but when her gaze fell on the girl next to Viktor Krum, her jaw dropped.
Hermione had transformed in a matter of minutes. She looked completely different than she had when she'd left their dorm.
"Hi, Harry! Hi, Parvati!" Hermione beamed at them, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Parvati felt Harry's eyes on her, but she just surveyed Hermione, shock evident on her face.
Once everyone had sat down, Parvati continued through the night in a daze. Her head spun with excitement at the many eyes on her as Harry led her to their seats, sliding into the chair beside someone she vaguely recognized as Percy Weasley. The conversations around her were awfully boring, although Harry seemed to enjoy them. She propped her chin on the heel of her palm, looking around at the extravagant decorations.
After she finished eating, Parvati allowed herself to glance at the table where Lavender and Padma sat, and frowned when she found Lavender staring at Seamus. Shaking her head, she sat forward, watching as the Weird Sisters trooped up onto the stage.
She stood, and when Harry stayed planted in his seat, she hissed, "Come on! We're supposed to dance!"
He tripped as he stood, and Parvati pulled him onto the dance floor. He was truly an awful dancer, so she kept it simple, her gaze firmly planted on his dress robes. Soon, their peers joined, and Parvati found it easier to relax when there were no longer so many eyes on Harry's dreadful dancing.
"Nice socks, Potter," Professor Moody growled as he passed the pair.
"Oh — yeah, Dobby the house-elf knitted them for me," Harry replied, grinning, and Parvati went rigid, surveying Professor Moody suspiciously.
"He is so creepy!" Parvati whispered to Harry as he clunked away. "I don't think that eye should be allowed!"
The Weird Sisters began to play a song Parvati quite liked, and she frowned when Harry released her.
"Let's sit down, shall we?" Harry asked.
"Oh — but — this is a really good one!" Parvati complained.
"No, I don't like it," Harry replied, and although she could tell he was lying, Parvati grudgingly followed Harry to Ron's side.
"How's it going?" Harry asked Ron, and Parvati zoned out, playing with the hems of her sleeves.
"Will you dance with me?" a boy with a heavy French accent asked Parvati, and she whipped her head up, a grin splitting across her face.
"You don't mind, do you, Harry?" she asked.
"What?"
"Oh, nevermind," Parvati snapped, placing her hand in the boy's. She allowed him to pull her into the crowd, giggling when he held her waist.
"What's your name?" he asked, half-shouting over the loud students surrounding them.
"Parvati! You?"
"Henri!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Henri!"
He lifted her hand up and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "The pleasure is all mine!"
She giggled and shifted closer to him, closing her eyes and losing herself to the music.
They must have danced for hours. She was tired to the bone but had never felt more alive in her life, and when Lavender and Padma came to join her, she swore she could take on the world. Henri brought a friend over to dance with Padma, and Lavender didn't even seem to mind dancing with two strangers. Henri got along quite well with Parvati's friend and sister, although he stuck close to her side, and his hand slowly shifted from her waist to her hip.
She didn't mind. Lavender's hair was a frizzy mess, her pale curls spilling out of her neat bun and down the nape of her neck. They stuck to her skin, which glimmered with sweat and the shimmer spell she had cast.
Henri yelled something about getting drinks, and Parvati nodded, not turning her head and grabbing both of Lavender's hands.
"Are you having fun?" she asked.
"This is the best night of my life!" Lavender shouted, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Parvati laughed and wrapped her arm around Lavender's shoulders, then pulled her sister into their embrace.
When Henri returned, he pulled Parvati closer to him than ever before, her back plastered against his front. Lavender's eyes widened, and she giggled, tugging Padma to her side.
"I think I see Seamus!"
Parvati paused as Lavender winked, squealing and pulling Padma through the crowd and away from her twin.
"Where are they going?" Henri asked, leaning down so his mouth was near her ear, and Parvati smiled.
"Lavender saw her . . . date."
The song switched to something slow, and Parvati turned in Henri's arms, her heart thumping loudly in her ears.
"Let's go somewhere quiet, yes?"
She nodded wordlessly, allowing him to lead her outside of the castle. They began to walk the grounds, her hand still in his.
"How old are you, Parvati?"
"15. My birthday's in October."
"I'm 17."
She blinked up at him, shrugging. "I — ."
"You may be the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," Henri interrupted, pausing mid-step.
Parvati stopped, scratching the back of her neck. "Thank you. That — ."
Without warning, his lips were on her's, and his hands were on her waist, pressing her body against his, and all she could think was, oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no.
But he was gentle, and she quite liked the taste of Butterbeer on his lips. She would be damned if she let her first kiss go to waste.
She hadn't expected to snog Henri, but she didn't mind as long as his hands stayed firmly on her sides. She soon looped her arms behind his neck and relaxed into his embrace, but when her mind wandered to Lavender, she gasped and broke away.
"Sorry," she whispered, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "I've never — I've never kissed someone before."
"Well, that wasn't so bad for a first try, was it?" Henri asked, and Parvati couldn't decide if she wanted to continue their kiss or slap him.
She chose the former.
When she returned to her dorm, her lips were red and puffy, and she repeatedly wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. She didn't know why, but her skin prickled where he had touched her.
She had wanted to kiss him — she was sure of it. But her mind was a tangle of perplexing emotions, ranging from joy to disgust, and she felt no less confused as she collapsed on her bed.
"Lav?" she asked, sitting up and staring at her friend's closed bed curtains.
"Yes?" Lavender said, her voice faint, and Parvati frowned, slipping out of bed.
"What's wrong?"
Lavender sniffled and peaked her head out of her bed curtains. "Seamus left the ball with some other girl."
Parvati frowned and slid into bed next to Lavender, surveying her friend. "Did you even like him?"
"Yes," Lavender said defensively, but her shoulders slumped. "No? I don't know."
"So why are you upset?" She reached up and tucked a stray curl behind Lavender's ear.
"He didn't want me," Lavender said, staring down at her hands in her lap. "I don't know why he didn't want me."
Parvati gently pulled a pin out of Lavender's hair, then another. "Sometimes people just don't want someone else. I think he was just looking to have fun, and he knows you deserve better than someone who would use you for a few weeks and then dump you."
It was a lie, one she felt guilty telling. But Parvati would lie a million times if it meant she got to see Lavender's lips curl up with a smile as she did then.
"You really think so?"
Parvati nodded, pulling the last pin out of Lavender's bun. Her curls fell past her shoulders, brushing against Parvati's arm in a way that made her pulse flutter.
"Thanks, Ti," Lavender murmured, tucking her face into the crook of Parvati's neck.
"Anything for you."
When Lavender fell asleep, Parvati returned to her own bed, her mind preoccupied as she changed into her pyjamas.
Was something missing? Parvati wondered. She'd never felt anything like the emotions Lavender described; the way Lavender talked about the boys she fancied was like a blazing fire, which always burned out just as quickly as it grew. Lavender could talk about them for days and never grow tired of them.
Parvati had never felt that. She'd waited and waited, hoping there would be something — even if it was just a spark compared to Lavender's flame — but the boys around her were still boring and ordinary. They never piqued her interest, even, in Henri's case, when they were snogging her.
Perhaps she was never meant to be with someone. She tried to imagine a future with a husband and children, but her mind stayed blank, buzzing with questions and confusion.
A future she could imagine was one with Lavender and Padma. Perhaps she was meant to be the cool aunt who traveled the world and spoiled her nieces and nephews. Even then, though, unease settled in her stomach at the thought of living alone for the rest of her life.
It felt like hours before Parvati fell asleep as Hermione crept back into their dorm room, sniffling in the darkness. Privately, she wondered what the appeal of the Yule Ball was at all.
~
Parvati's veins hummed with excitement the next day, and she slipped out of bed, eager to see her friend and sister. Lavender insisted on a play-by-play of her night with Henri, but there weren't very many details to give. Snogging him had been rather monotonous, although slightly thrilling at first, but Parvati deliberately steered the conversation away from the less exciting aspects of her night.
"Are you dating him now?" Lavender asked at breakfast, her eyes wide.
Parvati choked on her food. "What? I snogged him once, Lav. Besides, he goes to Beauxbaton. I'm not exactly keen on my first relationship being long distance."
Lavender smirked, shrugging and pushing her eggs around on her plate. "He seems to want more time with you."
"He does?" Parvati asked, looking around the Great Hall eagerly. Her eyes met Henri's, and she quickly dropped her gaze to her food, suddenly finding interest in her potato wedges. Lavender giggled and leaned into her side, whispering something that Parvati couldn't hear over the loud group of girls sitting a few feet away from her.
Mentally, she ran through what little she knew about boys. They don't think things through, they don't understand fashion, they like when girls play hard-to-get . . .
Hard to get. She could do that.
Parvati forced a sigh. "I think I'm gonna go to the dorm. I'm tired."
Lavender jumped up. "Excellent! I can give you your Christmas gift."
On the way to the Gryffindor common room, Lavender prattled about how amazing it was that Parvati was dating someone from France. Parvati listened, her own excitement growing as Lavender seriously overestimated her connection with Henri.
"I'm sorry I didn't give you this yesterday," Lavender said, grabbing Parvati's hand and pulling her into their dorm. She closed the door behind them. "Honestly, it took me so long to get ready for the ball and — ."
"It's okay, Lav. Better late than never, right?"
Lavender flashed her a grateful smile and pushed Parvati onto her bed, then reached under her pillow. In her hand was a neatly wrapped gift with a tag that read Ti <3.
Parvati carefully removed the tag and closed her eyes as she opened the gift. She could feel the mattress quivering with Lavender's excitement as she dropped the wrapping paper to the floor and opened her eyes.
"A . . . journal?" Parvati asked. She turned it in her hands, running her fingers along the pale blue cover.
"Not just any journal," Lavender said, her knee bobbing up and down as she reached into her bedside table. She pulled out a journal that was identical to the one in Parvati's hands, save for the color, which was pastel pink. Lavender handed her a quill with a pink feather. "Write something!"
Parvati opened the journal and wrote hello in her neat script, and Lavender flipped to the same page in her journal and grinned as the words appeared on the parchment.
"Merlin!" Parvati looked up at Lavender with wide eyes, then wrote something else.
"Hey!" Lavender laughed as the words Lav stinks showed up in her journal, then giggled. "Now we can talk about boys whenever we want and no one will know!"
Parvati nodded, closing her journal and tracing the gold lettering of her initials on the bottom right corner of the cover.
"Thank you, Lav. I love it." Parvati wrapped her arms around Lavender's middle, and her friend pulled her into a tight embrace, grinning widely.
"I'm so glad. I was really nervous, honestly. It's not as good as your gift."
Parvati had gotten Lavender an adjustable charm necklace. All Lavender had to do was tap each charm with her wand and say what she wished it to look like, and it would transform into whatever she wanted.
"No!" Parvati said quickly. "This is perfect. Now we can bother each other at any time of day."
Lavender laughed and pulled her quill from Parvati's hand. "We have to go meet Padma, as we promised. Are you ready?"
Parvati allowed Lavender to tug her off the bed and wound her fingers through hers, swallowing the confusing emotions bubbling in her chest at the feeling of Lavender's warm hand surrounding hers.