Ring Shopping - Ernie and ChoVati Who: Ernie, Cho (as Parvati) Where: Chambers' Fine Jewels When: Thursday, 1:30 pm What: 1:30 pm - 2:30: Meet Ernie at Chamber's Fine Jewels to discuss Padma & buy ring, introduce Ernie to current century
When Cho Chang walked through the doors of Chambers' Fine Jewels and Enchantments she was many things--a saleswitch, a friend, a daughter, a would-be heir--but never once had she been a customer. Until she became Parvati Patil, a girl that could afford all of the jewelry Cho cherished. So, it was weird to meet Ernie there, even weirder to think she'd help him pick jewelry for Padma...without getting a commission, anyway. But that's what Parvati's list said to do. To be exact, it said "Meet Ernie at Chamber's Fine Jewels to discuss Padma & buy ring, introduce Ernie to current century" She couldn't quite bring herself to enter the store, not yet, so she stood outside and waited, counting the puddles on the sidewalk and wishing very much that she could jump in one. Ernie would never approve and neither would Parvati.
"Hullo!" she said with a wave once she noticed him approaching. "Are you ready?"
Ernie was far too nervous about picking out a ring - even if it wasn't THE ring - for his girlfriend that he didn't even notice that Parvati seemed to be in a much cheerier mood than usual. "Hello, Parvati," he greeted, his gloved hands clutched nervously behind his back. "Are you ready?"
"Of course," she said, looping her arm with his. "Are you buying me something too?"
"Sorry," he laughed nervously, "your Christmas necklace will have to suffice for now."
Cho laughed and tapped his nose with her finger. "I was kidding, Ernie. Lighten up. It's the twentieth century, you know!" Mentally, Cho made a big red "X" across that portion of Parvati's list. At least she got something right.
"Is it? I hadn't noticed," he said, a touch distracted as he held the door open and headed in - immediately spotting the figure of Mrs. Chambers walking around with a clipboard and a quill. Well, good thing he hadn't asked Hannah to come. "Where should we start? I haven't the faintest idea how to buy rings," he whispered.
"Well, first," she said, discreetly handing him a brochure from Twilight, Chambers' competitor, "you keep that in your pocket, peeking out just a little, and we'll start to the right. The better jewelry is over there."
"Right," he started, doing as he was told, and trying to keep up with his girlfriend's twin. "I want something with diamonds, and platinum, but that doesn't look like an engagement ring."
Cho smiled and she lead him towards the counter, her saleswitch persona shining through after all. "Diamonds are an excellent choice. You can't go wrong, I promise. Every woman--including Padma--loves them, and they match everything." She stopped him in front of a display. "These are our--their--more non-traditional rings. I know, maybe not your style, but they're least likely to look like an engagement ring."
"How do you know all this?" he asked, clearly impressed and in awe. "I mean, are girls just born knowing about jewelry? Or do you live here in your spare time?"
Cho laughed. "I wish I lived here. Can you imagine? Surrounded by a sea of sparkles!"
"You'd have a seizure," he laughed, pointing down a band with diamonds and sapphires. "Should I stick with diamonds or would she like sapphires?"
"You've found my weakness," Cho admitted with a wink. "I'm afraid I can't give an unbiased opinion when it comes to sapphires. Should we ask Bernadette?"
Ernie gave a wary glance at the older witch. "I don't know, you're the expert."
"Well," she said, studying his face, "what are you trying to say with it exactly? What's your price range?"
"It's a promise ring, I'm trying to tell her I want to marry her eventually. When I'm more successful and can support her. I told you all of this in my owl," he explained a little impatiently. "I don't have a price range, really."
"Well," Cho said, her voice taking on a soothing quality. "Sapphires are a symbol of honesty, sincerity and faithfulness. Blue sapphires, specifically, symbolize 'divine favor.' That's why the muggle Crown Jewels include so many large, blue sapphires. Pink sapphires conjure images of forgiveness and love. They also help cure a sore throat--" She pressed her lips together. Was that the wrong thing to say, considering Padma's condition? "There's also violet... Maybe we should stick with diamonds?"
Ernie's head was spinning. "What do diamonds symbolize?" he asked, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.
"Love," Cho said, and then she paused, giving Ernie time to think. "Ancient Greeks throught they were bits of stars, fallen from heaven." Oh! Her face lit up. "And in ancient India, they referred to diamonds as 'Vajra,' meaning 'lightening,' because of their sparkle and strength. I bet Padma would like that. She's both beautiful and strong, like a diamond."
"Yeah, yeah she is..." he murmured, repeating the line mentally to himself so he could remember to add it in to his speech. "Vajra," he said under his breath. "Okay, so just diamonds. I want something very classic, but also a little modern. So she doesn't find it old fashioned."
Cho laughed. "Early twentieth century?"
Even Ernie managed to twitch his lips at that. "The earlier the better."
"What about that one?" she asked, pointing to a platinum ring with two hearts. "It says love, but not engagement."
Ernie considered it, pressing his lips into a thin line before shaking his head. "No, no hearts. It's too young. Something a little older."
She pointed to the bubble ring, the one that always reminded her of Katie. "Too modern?"
Making a face, Ernie nodded. "Much too modern."
"Yeah, and Padma's much too delicate for it. Do you like this this one? I think it's been in this shop for at least half a decade."
"Closer," Ernie agreed, tilting his head to look at the small band. That's when it caught his eye. Another ring, a little bigger, but it just seemed... perfect. Ernie pointed to it. "That one, the one with eyelets. Can I see that one?"
"I'm sure you can," Cho said, looking up to catch Bernadette's eye.
Bernadette had noticed the moment Ernie and Parvati - or, should she say, Cho - had entered the shop. Leave it to Cho. She was in another body and still going to make a sale. Putting on a pleasant smile, she glided over to where the two were looking at rings. "Mr. Macmillan, Miss Patil," she greeted, her eyes lingering on Cho's a beat longer than usual, "how can I be of service to you this afternoon? Something for young Padma, yes?"
"You know Ernie so well," Cho said, her smile warm. Her thoughts turned to the tulip in Bernadette's office. "We're interested in the first ring in the third row."
"We make an effort to know our best customers," Bernadette remarked warmly, unlocking the case with her keys and taking out the designated ring. "To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden, until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle," she quoted wistfully, holding up the ring. "It's from the Quran, a holy book in one of the Muggle religions. This ring always reminded me of the eye of a needle, doesn't it?"
Ernie nodded, the saying in his head as he took the ring and held it up to examine. What was she saying, then? That Padma was as likely to say yes as it was for a camel to pass through the gaps in the ring? Biting his lip, he turned to Parvati. "Can you try it on? So I can see what it looks like? Right hand though," he corrected, flushing at the addendum, "if it's the ring, then I'd rather it be on her left and that be the first left..." trailing off, he shook his head. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Cho said, holding out her right hand. "Would you like me to put it on myself?"
"Yes, please," he requested, handing the ring to her.
Cho slipped it onto her finger. "I don't know," she said, holding her hand up in the light. "The one at Twilight sparkled more."
Ernie had been so busy starring at how perfect it looked that he'd completely forgotten the brochure in his pocket. "Oh!" he exclaimed, peeking at the paper sticking out of his jacket. "It seemed bigger there, as well, didn't it?" he asked.
Bernadette raised an eyebrow at Parvati - Cho - crossing her arms over her chest. "The quality of Twilight's jewels isn't even on par with ours. It would turn green within the year."
"That's true of some of their items," Cho said. "But we only looked at the best."
"If they're selling you a ring with, supposedly, better quality and larger carats for a lower price? That isn't the best," she remarked, her lips quirking. "That ring is worth 800 galleons. If they're selling it for anything less they're lying to you."
Cho pressed the ring into Ernie's palm. "800 is too much, but it's up to you."
Ernie looked at the ring - achingly - but he had to trust Parvati. He'd asked for her help, after all. So, he swallowed hard and put it on display case. "I'm sorry, I think I will try elsewhere."
Bernadette almost laughed. Surely Cho knew she'd be getting commission for this sale, but she was sticking to the part she was playing and the Macmillan boy was believing her. So she held the ring up. "782."
Cho leaned against the display, looking almost bored. "Lower," she mouthed to Ernie.
Ernie glanced at the ring. "700," he said, not sure he could, in good conscience, go lower.
"She's worth more than that," Bernadette told him with a lift of her brows. "770."
"715."
"763."
"727."
"754."
"731."
"745, final offer," Bernadette said with a roll of her eyes. Ernie glanced over at Parvati.
Cho smiled. Bernadette meant it, too. But... she was Cho, pushing the Chambers to their limits was her job in life, and she was positive now that Bernadette knew her true identity. "741," she said, emphasis on the one.
Bernadette fixed Cho with a level glare, her eyes boring straight into Parvati's dark ones until she found the piece of her that was still Cho. Both women were quiet, the tension in the room palpable while they upraised each other. "742. And just this once."
Cho tilted her head towards Ernie, her body still propped against the glass display. "You won't do better than that."
Ernie blinked, having been completely enthralled in the bartering system of the two women. Shaking his head, he set Parvati with an impressed look. "No, no that's... that's perfect. 742 is perfect." Turning to Bernadette, he nodded at the ring. "I'll take it, in a size..." trailing off he looked helplessly at Parvati. "What's her ring size?"
"Um," Cho said, turning quickly away from Ernie and locking eyes with Bernadette, panicked, and then the answer came to her. "I'm sure they keep files on all their best customers" she said. "It'll be in there."
"We have it," Bernadette said smoothly, locking the case up and stepping out from behind the counter to walk with them. "If not, we will get it without arousing any suspicions. Leave everything to us, Mr. Macmillan. Now, let me get the both of you a a cup of tea while I draft the paperwork." Gesturing to two chairs in front of an elegant desk, Bernadette disappeared into one of the back rooms, leaving Ernie to sink into one of the seats. "That was more intense than several Wizengamot trials," he confessed. "Do you do that often?"
Cho leaned back, relaxing. "First time," she replied, truthfully. Usually she was on the other end of the negotiations. "Don't drink the tea," she whispered.
Ernie furrowed his brow, but didn't raise the cup to his lips when they were brought out. "Really? First time? Have you considered magical law?"
"Me?" Cho said, laughing a little. Now, what would Parvati Patil do? "Have you seen the robes you wear? No offense, but this body can't be hidden like that."
Ernie laughed, but rolled his eyes in the process. Of course, Parvati would think about fashion. "Maybe they'll make an exception for you."
"I like the way you think," she said. "When you're in charge, I'll consider it."
"As long as you get results, wear what you want," he said with a wave of his hand. "As long as you wear something," he clarified.
"The Nudist Wizengamot!" she said, eyes wide and sparkling. "I'd break the law just to get put in front of you. Well, maybe not you. Or Grand--Frank Abbott."
Ernie squeezed his eyes shut. "Never - ever - put that image in my head again," he requested, shuddering.
"No problem there."
"At least we agree."
"We do have some things in common, you know," she said.
Ernie raised an eyebrow. "Besides our mutual distaste of a nude Frank Abbott, and love of your sister?"
"Well..." Cho was stumped. He'd stolen her line. Parvati, Parvati, Parvati... "We're both young, and we need to remember that. Live a little. We can run around nude. We're sag and wrinkle free!"
Ernie blinked. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Of course I am," she said, laughing. "I'm hurt. You don't want to streak with me?"
"I don't want to streak ever. It's illegal."
"Someone forgot to tell the Nudist Wizengamot."
Ernie squeezed his eyes shut. "Have you seen the Wizengamot? It should be illegal for any of them to even be nude in private - let alone public."
Cho placed her hand on Ernie's shoulder. "I'll stop now, I promise."
"It's appreciated," he muttered, just as Bernadette returned with the paperwork. Going over the optional protection charms, Ernie settled on one to keep the ring sparkly, an unbreakable one, and a tracking charm that was only able to be activated by Padma Patil herself in the case of it being stolen or lost. Once everything was signed and paid for, Bernadette gave him a receipt to pick the ring up in two weeks. Standing, he shook her hand firmly and turned back to Parvati. "Thank you. So much. I have no idea how I'd have done this without you."
"Of course," Cho said, leading him towards the door. She stopped once she got there and turned to face Ernie, holding both palms out to him. "Do you trust me? Really trust me? If you say yes, I promise not to make you streak. We'll save that for the next century."
Ernie paused, evaluating her. Finally, he nodded once. "Yes, I trust you. What is it?"
Grabbing his hands, she pushed the door open with her back and pulled him outside with her. "I'm going to teach you to live a little," she said second before propelling them both into one of the giant puddles. "Welcome to 1999!" she said as the water splashed around them.
Ernie stopped. Dirty, freezing water covered his clothes and face. At first he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, the he closed his eyes and tried not to hyperventilate. "What, in Merlin's mother's good name, was that?" he asked in a voice barely restraining his ire.
"Fun," she answered, kissing his cheek. "It was fun."
"You. Are insane," he hissed, opening one eye to glare at her. "Do you know this? In. Sane."
"Completely."
"Thank you for your assistance with the ring," he continued between clenched teeth. "I must go home and change before my break is over. Have a good day."
"You too," Cho replied with a grin, certain that Parvati would have the same effect on him. "Buuuut...since you're already wet, want to jump in another? Before you go?"
Ernie glared. And without a word turned and strode down the alley, his shoes leaving wet footprints in his wake.
Cho laughed, watching him go. She'd been right. He most certainly didn't approve, but maybe Parvati would.