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Padma Patil (ravenclawpatil) wrote in wished,
@ 2009-11-29 05:20:00

Entry tags:

!1997: 11, !incomplete, justin finch-fletchley, padma patil

Who: Padma Patil, Justin Finch-Fletchley
When: Hogsmeade Saturday.
Where: Hogsmeade
What: Date?
Rating: TBA, tame I'm sure.
Open/Closed: Closed

Padma hadn't told anyone but Parvati about Justin's owl. Mostly because she was sure that she'd sound completely idiotic on the topic. She'd said yes - of course she'd said yes. He was a friend, and nice, and it was always better to have someone to go with. Parvati would probably spend most of the day with her friends, and Padma tended to spend an hour or two in Hogsmeade, and then just go back to school to work, these days.

Therein lie the problem though - Justin was a friend. And Padma was entirely unsure if this was actually being asked to Hogsmeade as a date-like ocassion. . . or just a friendly thing. She would have known how to plan better if she knew that, but she didn't, which just left her nervous and doing silly things like worrying over what she'd wear - which was usually Parvati's territory, not hers!

And Padma felt ridiculous being fluttery and unsure over a date - or not-date - in light of everything else that had been going on lately. But. . . no one could be serious or worried ALL the time and it seemed like everyone else was making the time to date too.

If it was a date.

Parvati had really been very unhelpful on clarifying that point.

Padma finally settled on not wearing her school robes, no matter if they made the decision much easier. Parvati probably would shove her back into the dorm and refuse to let her out unless she changed anyway, even if she tried. She wore a casual, long blue wraparound skirt she'd always liked and a matching jumper and her lotus necklace, leaving her hair down to keep her ears warm and wrapping a scarf around. She looked perfectly normal. Which just made fussing over it seem MORE silly.

Books were much easier to deal with. And she said the stupidest things whenever she tried to talk to Justin anyway!

Still, she headed down to meet him outside on the path to Hogsmeade, as they'd agreed. She thought that if nothing else they could stop in at the Three Broomsticks for drinks for Lisa's birthday, since a few others had mentioned going there. Which would save them having to talk if she couldn't stop babbling about Charms or something again. She waited, hands buried in her coat and chin tucked into her scarf against the wind that made the chilly air feel cooler. She tried to keep from making a list of points for and against the idea of this being a date while she waited.

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xenial
2009-12-02 01:54 am UTC (link)

Justin laughed. "That's the difference between you and Parkinson. She'd hex the littles, too, if they annoyed her." Okay, so he didn't actually know if that was true, but it sounded about right to him. Not that he thought Padma would hex anyone over such a thing. He had a hard time picturing Padma losing her temper at all, let alone over something as understandable as sugar withdrawals.

"Oh, that's half the fun," he flashed her another grin. "I like having to work for my chocolate, even if it can get a bit messy at times."

Justin knew that he should feel completely stupid talking about something so trivial, but it was better than discussing schoolwork. Things felt definitely less awkward than they had before and he was going with it, even if he didn't think there was any way he was impressing her with talk about working for his chocolate.

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ravenclawpatil
2009-12-02 03:19 am UTC (link)

"She probably would. And enjoy it," Padma agreed, and then wrinkled her nose a little and added quickly. "I shouldn't say that. She really does a very good job as a Prefect." Most of the time. Even if Padma thought she could be a lot nicer.

She laughed. "Well. I might like it more if I could catch better. There's a reason I never tried out for Quidditch." Despite loving the sport. She just wasn't an athlete.

It was a little easier to talk now that they at least had a topic. She wasn't lecturing him, so Padma thought that was a step up, at least.

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xenial
2009-12-02 03:54 am UTC (link)

Leave it to Padma to have something nice to say even about Pansy Parkinson. That was pretty much why he adored her, though. Well, one of several reasons. It was also why he had a hard time picturing Padma throwing a hex at anyone, except maybe a Death Eater or someone who'd hexed her first.

The conversation seemed to make the walk to Hogsmeade go a little faster than it normally did and Justin almost couldn't believe it when he saw that they were entering the village already. It seemed like they had just left!

"What do you want to do first?" he asked his companion. He thought of suggesting Honeydukes since they'd been taking about sweets, but maybe they should do that last so they wouldn't be carrying a big supply around with them all day. In the end, he decided to see what she wanted to do before voicing an opinion.

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ravenclawpatil
2009-12-02 04:18 am UTC (link)

Padma wasn't a saint. She did have a temper, it was just hard to spark - and usually manifested more in an icy rage and a long standing grudge than it did in hexing anyone or yelling - though she had her moments.

"Honeydukes? We were talking about it. . . but then we'd have to carry everything around. . ." Padma mused, echoing his thoughts without knowing it. She smiled shyly. "Really anywhere is fine, though. I did want to pick up a few new quills, so we could go there first, if you don't mind? Or do that later and just go to the Three Broomsticks first?"

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xenial
2009-12-02 05:56 am UTC (link)

Justin was actually perfectly happy to do any of those things, whichever she wanted to do first. He didn't want to waffle about or be indecisive, though, so he gave it a few moments of thought, trying to work out whatever sounded like the best plan of action.

"A butterbeer does sound nice," he mused out loud. He doubted he'd order anything stronger, even if Lisa's brother was buying. "Unless you really want to get the quills first. Or some sweets. I mean, I don't mind, if that's what you want to do."

So much for being smooth and decisive. It appeared Justin was back to moderately awkward. It was funny how the earth never opened up and swallowed you when you wanted it to.

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ravenclawpatil
2009-12-02 06:09 am UTC (link)

Padma wondered if there was some kind of inherent test at work here. Pick quills, and it was definitely just a friendship. Pick sweets and it was. . . actually she didn't know. But it made sense to shop last, so she went with the sensible option. Sensible was usually Padma's default reaction anyway.

"Butterbeer it is," she agreed, giving him a smile and pushing her hair back as the wind blew it over her face. She started toward the Three Broomsticks. There were bound to be a lot of people there, but she hoped that there was at least room for them to sit together.

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xenial
2009-12-02 05:38 pm UTC (link)

If there was some kind of test here, Justin was oblivious to it. Then again, he knew today was meant to be more than just friendship. Whether Padma knew it or whether that was what she wanted might have been something different altogether, but it was possible that he'd find the courage to make it a little clearer before the day was over with.

"Okay!" It felt good to have it decided and he moved with her, maybe half a step behind, though he rushed forward to open the door for her once they'd arrived at The Three Broomsticks. He wondered who would be there already. Was it too early for Lisa's thing? Oddly enough, he'd completely lost track of the time.

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