Despite his frequent forays into the memories of other people over recent days, Harry was still not used to the odd sensation caused by entering the pensieve. This sensation was only made more overwhelming by the fact that it the person most featured in these memories was himself, taking part in activities that he had absolutely no recollection of going through.
The first memory that Padma had given to him was of their confrontation with the Slytherins on the Hogwarts express. He had already been given a memory of how this confrontation ended, thanks to Hannah, but it was very useful to see it from the beginning.
Unfortunately there was still a gap to be filled in even after his viewing of Padma's memory, which ended with her escorting Daphne and Astoria Greengrass and Tracey Davis out of the compartment. From his own words Harry knew that he had spoken with both Malfoy and Parkinson, but exactly how much time had passed between Padma's exit and Hannah's arrival was something that he might never know.
After the confrontation with the Slytherins was a discussion that Harry and Padma had had regarding dealing with the Slytherin Head of House. Harry realised that he had spoken to Padma with relative ease, even joked with her. He could see how a date with her could have come about.
Unfortunately Padma eventually left and the memory ended, leaving another blank for Harry to try and fill in elsewhere. Trying to keep everything in some sort of order in his mind, Harry was reasonably sure that shortly after Padma's memory ended, he had gone to sit with Susan in her compartment, though again, he had no idea just how much time passed between the two events.
The next memory was of their meeting with Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and Flitwick in the Headmaster's office. It was certainly interesting to watch as he confronted Dumbledore and Snape over the actions of the Slytherins. Having Padma and Professor Umbridge there to help out certainly made the task easier.
Again the memory ended too early and Harry had no idea what had been said in the Headmaster's Office after Padma left it. They were currently waiting on Professor Umbridge being revived from a dosage of Draught of Living Death. Harry hoped that she would have plenty of memories to supply him with once she came around.
That memory was followed by his and Padma's encounter on the staircase down to the Great Hall. That Padma had been the one to ask him out surprised him a little at first, but then he realised that it probably did have to happen that way. There would have been no way that he'd have plucked up the courage for at least another three months had things been left up to him!
There then followed the memory of lunch with the Ravenclaws. He was pleased to see that he had gotten on well with all of them, just like he had when he had sat with Susan, Hannah and their year mates at the Hufflepuff table.
And then, of course, came the date, during which Harry surprised himself by not being quite as awkward as he had expected. In fact, he was very pleased to see, he and Padma had clearly had a very good time and their date clearly showed the promise of their having more in the future.
Unfortunately, just as the pair was walking back to the castle, with Harry fully expecting to witness himself and Padma end their night with a kiss, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape turned up.
After this there were not quite so many memories for Harry to view and he got the distinct impression that he and Padma had not yet managed to discuss having a second date. The closest that they had come was on that Saturday when they and a group of others had spent the afternoon together down by the lake. Harry had already seen this from Hannah's memories, but it was nice to watch it again. It was such a pleasant memory, though Harry watched it with a hint of sadness, knowing that just a few hours after this everything had gone right down the plan, all thanks Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix!
Harry exited the pensieve to find Padma watching him with a worried look on her face.
"Well, our date certainly went well," he observed.
Quite suddenly Padma threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and burying her face into his neck.
"What's wrong?" asked Harry in alarm as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"It's my dad, Harry. He's decided that Parvati and I are to continue our education at Pardleos School instead of Hogwarts."
Harry was puzzled for a moment and asked "I thought the school we were all going to is called Waxwings."
"Yes, that's the alternative that the Ministry arranged. My dad's decided to send us to a different school."
"Oh… Well, I'm sure we can visit each other…"
"Pardleos is in India, Harry."
"Oh… Well that sucks!"
Padma nodded into his shoulder and began to cry.
"Is there any way you can talk him out of this?" asked Harry.
"I've tried to, but he won't hear of it and neither will mum. There have been Patils in England for seven generations and until Parvati and I came along, they all went back to India to attend Pardleos. Our brother Sanjay already goes there, but dad thought it would be a good idea to send Parvati and I to Hogwarts. He's been less than happy with some things at Hogwarts and has been in two minds about sending us to Pardleos for a while. This latest mess just made the decision much easier for him."
Harry heaved a heavy sigh and asked "When do you leave"
"Tomorrow."
"Damn. So this is goodbye, then?"
She nodded and pulled back to look into his eyes.
"Write to me?" she asked.
"Of course."
A smile appeared on her face, the only time she had done so during the visit.
Then, catching Harry completely by surprise, she leaned in and kissed him.
Harry felt dazed. He hadn't expected to be kissed… his first kiss…
He didn't remember closing his eyes, but he assumed that he must have done because he was opening them again following the end of the kiss.
Padma had an odd look in her eyes, one that Harry found rather alluring. She bit her lip before saying "I should probably go…"
"Probably," agreed Harry.
She turned and walked towards the door. Just before leaving she looked back over her shoulder.
"Bye, Harry."
Harry swallowed nervously and replied "Bye, Pad."
She left.
Harry sighed again and sank down onto the end of his hospital bed, burying his face in his hands.
"Wow. That was some pretty heavy stuff."
Harry whirled around and saw that Hannah was lying on his bed.
"How long have you been there?" he demanded.
"On the bed? About ten minutes. In this room? I turned up with the Healer, remember?"
"And you didn't have the decency to leave?"
"Nope. I had a front row seat to a dramatic moment in your love life and I wasn't about to give it up."
"So you wanted to watch me break up with my girlfriend?"
"No. What I wanted was to watch as you and Padma snogged each other senseless. Her going to India was not something I was expecting.
.....
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