Ernie and Padma - Let's go to India Who: Ernie and Padma When: Friday, January 11. Where: Arcadia park, after an opera at Rastrick Hall What: Ernie's going to compromise. Or try to. COMPLETE
Unlike most people, Ernie enjoyed the cold weather. The more bitterly freezing London was the more at ease he felt. The biting cold seemed cleansing and pure, making him feel whole again after the heat of summer had torn him to shreds. And more so than just the cold, it was walking hand in hand with Padma through the trails of Arcadia park, fairy lights glowing to illuminate the path - charmed to melt the snow which piled on either end. One leather gloved hand held her own, fingers laced with hers, his face turned up to the falling snow, feeling the flakes land and melt against his eyelashes.
The opera they'd been at had been a lovely piece, the music powerful and hypnotic, drawing him into the story. A typical wizarding Opera, beautiful witch falls in love with Muggle, her parents forbid it, Evil wizard captures beautiful witch, Muggle rescues her and in return is granted the gift of magic so they can be together, only to be slain by the evil Wizard with his final breath and leaving the beautiful witch distraught - taking her own life to be with her love. And even though he'd seen many variations of the story before, the raw emotion never failed to have him on the edge of his seat.
And so it was, flushed with feeling at the curtain call, he'd suggested a waltz around Arcadia park before he had to have Padma home to her parents. Though, truth be told, the opportunity to have a moment alone with her in order to talk had been a large reason for his suggestion as well. His conversation with Hannah several days before, and the one he'd had with Padma's parents earlier that day hung heavily on his mind, and he knew the only part left in his decision to make it final was to tell her. They were a quarter of the way along the path when Ernie blinked and looked over at her, fluttering his lashes to rid them of the traces from the snowflakes. "You look beautiful tonight," he told her, releasing his hand so he could sign the words as well. "The cold makes your eyes shine. It's lovely."
Padma was not a huge fan of cold weather, especially if it was wet or windy, but she did admit that snowy days were beautiful and snowy evenings simply exquisite. She was really more of a romantic than most people expected, given her calm and practical manner, but no one could be a fan of Hindi movies, opera and classical music without having some romance in their soul. So she definitely appreciated the romantic atmosphere the park provided for her and Ernie, and she was happy to walk hand in hand, enjoy his company without anyone else, especially parents, hovering around. At the moment though, her mind was on the opera they'd just seen. It was difficult to conceal emotions as the story drew to its tragic end, but Padma managed not to cry - although she did sniff a bit - and now she was struggling between her practical thoughts on how silly it was to suicide for love and the romance of loving someone so much that it was impossible to live without them.
Ernie's sudden stop was a surprise and Padma's expression was questioning until he signed to her. Her cheeks, already dusky pink from the cold, now flushed with a pleased blush. She still found compliments, especially ones that were sincerely meant, a huge thrill. "Thank you," she signed and then tiptoed to give him a kiss on the cheek. Staying close, she tenderly brushed snowflakes from his cheeks. "It's wonderful being here like this with you."
The speech Ernie had carefully crafted about India, and the several flowcharts in his pocket he'd brought along to illustrate his points, were completely forgotten. He found himself just starring wordlessly at her, unable to piece a coherent sentence together in his mind, and all together terrified at the sudden prospect of the implications of his decision. But everyone had been most encouraging, especially Hannah and her family and his own. His mother had actually declared a "Dear Merlin, finally," when he'd asked her opinion the other morning.
But that still didn't change the fact that this was the single most terrifying thing he'd ever decided to do. Well, it was right up there with hexing that Carrow who tried to use Hannah as a Crucio example in front of the class and spending hours... yes, well, at least this wouldn't leave physical scars. The scars on their reputations though... would they ever recover? Ernest Courtland Macmillan, for someone so smart you are entirely too dimwitted for your own good, he heard his mother saying. No one cares. Not us, not her parents, certainly not her. Quit living in the twelfth century, step up, and be a man already. He'd thought he heard her mutter something about rumours of his preferences, but decided she was just referring to Justin and promptly forgot it.
Bringing his mind back to the present, he forced himself to concentrate on the matter at hand. After all, the decision had already been made and holiday time requested. There was no turning back now. "How's March?" he suddenly burst out, his hands matching his words as he spoke. "Mid-March, I mean."
He was looking very odd, just staring at her like that, but clearly trying to gather together something serious to say. Padma started to worry that he was going to announce he didn't want to go out with her anymore or he'd always been in love with someone else or something that was going to be painful to hear. She steeled herself for the worst, hoping she wouldn't cry and could react with dignity.
Then he was suddenly asking her aboout mid-March and she was instantly confused. India did not spring instantly to mind, since Ernie had been so reluctant she was on the verge of giving up, and therefore Padma's mind slid immediately to something else that often happened in Spring: Weddings. Her eyes widened and her mouth was dry as her heart hammered madly. Was Ernie asking her to marry him? In March? But this was so out of character! Luckily, Padma wasn't the sort of girl to immediately assume her first thought was the right one and therefore spared them both huge embarrassment by asking for clarification. "How's mid-March for what?"
"Oh! Sorry," he apologized, glad for the dark so she wouldn't notice his flushed cheeks. "I was looking into my holiday time, and the best time for me to take one is in mid-March. So, if you still want to go... we should plan for March." His words came out slowly, clumsily strung together and his hands hesitating between signs. "If not, it's fine!" he clarified, his speed picking up as he started to sign hurriedly while he babbled. "I'll just have a week off work. I put in my request now so that I would definitely get it and not run into difficulty - I hate to procrastinate - but if you'd changed your mind I'm sure I could use the break anyways so... really, it's up to you."
As soon as he said 'holiday' everything clicked into place and Padma almost laughed out of amusement at her initial assumption (not sure if she was relieved or disappointed) before astonished happiness kicked in. Her lips curved into a huge smile as tears welled up in her eyes. Unlike before, when they were at the opera, she didn't rein in her emotions, in fact she didn't even think she could. He was going to come with her to India! The wish she'd made when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve was coming true! Her mouth opened and closed on the word 'Yes' until she remembered no sound was coming out and she signed the word, very emphatically, three times before flinging her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.
Caught off guard, Ernie stumbled and put his hands on her hips to steady himself, unable to stop the laugh that escaped him at the same time. "I'll take it March is good for you then? I requested the seventeenth to the twenty-first off, so we have any time between the fifteenth and the twenty-third," he tried to explain, the compulsive need to expunge all the facts taking over and even making him forget to sign in his excitement as he needlessly rambled on about how spring was prime holiday time and how he'd narrowly beaten Gayson, another clerk, out for that week.
With an silent laugh and amused smile, Padma put her hand over his mouth, cutting him off in mid-flow. She couldn't sign like this so she let her expression speak for her. There was genuine warmth in her smile, but there was a warning note in her eyes telling him that now it was time to stop talking. When she was sure he'd received the message, the hand was removed and she signed to him. "Those dates are fine, I will be able to take that time off and it's a good month to travel in India, not too hot. Thank you, Ernie, this means so much to me and I really wanted to share the experience with you," she stopped signing to run her hands over his upper arms and up to link at the back of Ernie's neck. Tiptoeing again, Padma kissed him once more, but on the lips this time.
Nodding, wordlessly, as she signed, Ernie impulsively pulled her closer to him. His hands on her hips wrapped around her waist and his lips crashed hard against hers. A surge of warmth unaffected by the January cold surged down to his toes, warming every part of his body. Forgetting they were in a public park, a popular public park that many people he knew tended to frequent, he kissed her, trying to tell her everything he wanted to say to her and couldn't put into words into the kiss.
It seemed that every time they kissed it got better. Padma was still quite inexperienced, but she was a quick learner and apparently so was he. This time, he was managing to kiss her almost breathless and she felt her toes curl in a physical response to the feelings surging inside. She had only meant to kiss him lightly in thanks, since usually Padma was uncomfortable about excessive displays of affection on public, but now she wouldn't have cared if every person she knew suddenly popped up around them. Her arms tightened, squishing her body against his, and a little passionate moan rose from the back of her throat. It was that and the need for air which caused Padma to pull back, her cheeks very red in the dim light. However, she didn't pull back too much and looked up at him with a dreamy smile.
True to his nature, Ernie had done extensive research into the practice of kissing as well as drafting several flow charts of possible scenarios he might encounter. Of course, none of them had involved a public park or that noise she made. So when she backed away and the shock of cold air enveloped his body and shocked him back to his senses, he found he felt relieved and disappointed all at once. Blinking, still at a loss of breath, Ernie gaped at her as she smiled up at him - making him feel as if in her eyes he could do anything. "That was..." clearing his throat, unable to really explain what he was feeling, he flushed and reached for her hand again after signing, "let's finish our walk, yes?"
Having read a few romances and paid close attention to lovers in theatre and those fascinating Muggle films where passion was commonplace, Padma wasn't completely surprised that they'd kissed so heatedly in a public place. She was a tad surprised that she and Ernie, two of the most by-the-rules people she knew of, could succumb, but it also made her happy. So before taking his hand, Padma replied to his question with something she really felt needed to be said. Something she'd held back on saying because she was afraid it was too soon and he might get spooked, but if she couldn't say it after they'd kissed like THAT and after he'd made such an effort to please her then when could she? "Wait," she signed. "I have to tell you..." Padma's cheeks were very red now, a combination of cold and shyness, but she kept her eyes on his face as she signed, wishing she could say it in her own voice. "I want you to know... I love you, Ernie."
"You do?" he squeaked, sounding as if he were thirteen again. For a second he couldn't really speak. This hadn't been on his flow chart, after all. In fact, according to his calculations, the admission of love shouldn't make an appearance for at least another three months. But then he stopped, and he caught the look on her face, and he couldn't help the smile that broke out on his own as he put both hands on her face and kissed her again. Breaking away just far enough to speak, he flicked his eyes up to hers and held them there. "I love you too, Padma."
His own admission was just as astonishing to her and once again Padma's eyes got wet. A couple of happy tears slid out, dripping onto his fingers, as her hands curled in the front of his robe, clinging tightly as if she was afraid he'd disappear. Telling him how she felt was not a trick to get him to admit the same, at the most Padma expected a smile and a comment that he liked her. To hear him say 'I love you too' with such sincerity made her so happy she thought her heart was going to burst or she'd float away in a little bubble of joy. As it was, she broke eye contact to kiss him back - three, four quick little kisses - before her arms were around his neck again and she was hugging him tightly, her face buried in the hollow of his neck, not wanting him to let her go - ever.
Ernie pressed his lips against her temple, inhaling that warm, spicy smell that was undeniably Padma and fighting the suddenly dueling parts of his brain: the part the was an upstanding man aware of propriety, and the part that was nineteen and in love with a beautiful girl who was in his arms. Not knowing what to do, or how to proceed, or even what to say... he stayed still. Arms around her waist, lips against her hair, trying to breathe and attempting to think but unable to do either completely. For the first time he could ever remember - Ernie was at a complete loss.
Of course, while it was romantic to just want to stay the way they were forever, nature wasn't about to let them stay that way. Even with warm cloaks on, the cold still crept in and Padma was forced to move. Raising her head, she smiled up at him and then pulled back to sign. "I suppose we better keep walking or turn into very charming ice statues," she was still amazed by his admission but was very glad that they'd aired their feelings. Now her inner fears about how he felt about her were laid to rest, creating a sense that a large burden had been lifted.
It seemed almost impractical to return to simple hand holding after such a confession, and Ernie prided himself on not being impractical. So he nodded stiffly and awkwardly placed his arm around her waist while they meandered. Everything seemed brighter now - the snow, the lights, even the stars. As if the world had taken on a sharper clarity along with himself. Several times he found himself wanting to speak, but restrained his words, not wanting to cheapen the moment or break the queer spell which seemed to have enveloped them.
Padma was content with the silence, since it wasn't an unpleasant quiet, and, in her opinion, one mark of true companionship was not feeling the need to fill a silence with empty words but just being able to enjoy each other's company. She was close against him now his arm encircled her waist and she was pleased to note that their different heights didn't cause any discomfort when walking this way, in fact she fitted snugly against him so it felt perfect. Her own arm also curved around his waist, although her hand rested only on his back, and her head rested against his shoulder with a smile of contented happiness curving her lips. From time to time, she would glance up at him with that dreamy smile which hovered on the edge of adoration. Padma wasn't the sort to lose herself completely in love, but she was conscious of a desire to make Ernie extremely happy in any way possible.
The frantic beating in Ernie's chest slowed to a steady pulse as they made their way lazily through the park. Tomorrow he'd order their Portkey tickets and prepare to answer inquiries about his trip. But that was hours away, and at the moment it seemed like a lifetime, like time was hanging still for a leisurely walk in the snow and the stars. And he found, strangely, that he wasn't worried so much anymore. That as long as Padma continued to look at him with those eyes he could take on the world and conquer it for her. A new bounce to his step, Ernie tightened his arm around her waist, placing a kiss to the top of her head, content that for the first time in so many years the world was finally right again.