Padma had never felt more free. After seven long years, she had finally graduated Hogwarts. With honors. Parvati and she had rented an apartment in midtown London and were starting their new jobs at the Ministry that very day. If the trembling of her hands was any inclination, she had never been more excited.

The twins had carefully chosen their clothing for their first morning of work, using each other as mirrors. Parvati was going to be working in the Department of Prophesies and couldn’t be more thrilled. Padma was looking forward to working in the Department of Spells, specializing in enchanted objects.

They soon arrived to the Ministry and said their good-byes, promising to find each other for their lunch break. Suppressing a gang of nervous butterflies in her stomach, Padma found her new supervisor, and he showed her to her desk and gave her some of her first assignments.

Arranging the few quills and parchment sheets she had brought, she sat at her desk. Taking a deep breath, she opened the large envelope that contained her very first assignment.

Slowly, she perused the contents, one large parchment, a map, and a photograph. She quickly recognized the grinning face as it winked, seemingly at her. It was Bill Weasley, Ron’s oldest brother. Padma had never met him, but the family resemblance was unmistakable, and she knew he wasn’t Charlie from the ponytail that Ginny had complained so often about. Though as she peered closely at the handsome face, she couldn’t imagine why – the long hair gave his pretty face a decidedly roguish look.

How on earth was he her first assignment? She thought he worked at the bank, spell breaker or caster or something. Parvati had met him once and had told her all about it. She reread the parchment and realized she was going to have a meeting with him and get his notes about a certain new spell he had created that had been particularly successful. The Ministry appeared to want to use it for some of their more sensitive items.

That would be easy enough. Padma wondered if all new workers were given such mundane tasks. She would have to successfully learn to repeat the spell to ensure that it could be used in the Ministry, but certainly, he could have just owled instructions to them. Nevertheless, she certainly wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to met up with one of Hogwarts finest graduated and the wizarding world’s most eligible bachelors. Perhaps she should just owl him and ask if he just wanted to met over lunch, killing two dragons with one stone, so to speak. Not that she had any ulterior motives. None whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

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Later that day, Padma was sitting in one of London’s most quaint café, which catered almost exclusively to wizards and witches, wondering how her devious plan had worked so well. Bill Weasley had sent in reply to her owl that he would be most pleased to met her for lunch and discuss the new charm he had created.

When she saw the tall redhead enter, Padma stood as gracefully as she could, thanking Pavarti’s lucky stars that she had dressed so carefully this morning. He was wearing jeans, but they were a nice, indigo pair with a cerulean buttoned-up shirt. Padma tried not to froth at the mouth. “Hello, uh, Mr. Weasley. Thank you so much for joining me. I thought this would be a more comfortable environment to discuss your anti-theft charm.”

Bill smiled widely as he sat in the chair across from Padma, “oh, do call me Bill, and may I call you Padma.” Padma gulped and nodded. “This is a great place, perhaps we should order before we discuss dull spells and charms.” Padma gulped and nodded.

She was wondering if her plan was a good idea after all. She had no idea how to make small talk to this man several years her senior. He was so confident and handsome and she was never going to be able to do this. As she tried to order a salad and croissant from their server, she could feel the bile rising in her throat and was wishing she had never even had this stupid idea. What in the name of Dumbledore had she been thinking...?

Bill’s drawl interrupted her frantic thoughts, “so Padma, you just started working for the Ministry, am I right? It’s so nice to see another lovely young lady dedicating herself to helping others.” Padma bushed slightly, but then turned bright red when Bill scooted his chair around next to hers.

He leaned in conspiratorially and said softly, “I’ve met your sister, Parvati, I believe you’re even more beautiful.” Eyes wide, Padma grabbed her braid, which had been slung over her shoulder, and played nervously with it as Bill leaned in again. “I know we’ve never met, Padma, but I think you’re the most beautiful, intelligent woman I’ve ever met.” Padma smiled nervously, she was going to be in big trouble if he kept this up.

Bill whispered in her ear, “I think you’ve cast a spell over me.” Gently, he kissed her jaw line just in front of her ear. Padma turned towards him, trembling. He put his large hands on either side of her face and kissed her mouth slowly, gently, snatching away her very breath. When he released her mouth, she glanced around the café and was shocked to see no one looking at them. Her eyes darted back to his as he kissed her again, this time more urgently. She grabbed the front of his shirt and, daringly, pulled him closer desperate for his touch. His hands moved down her shoulders, as he pulled her even closer, to where they settled on her waist. As he kissed her neck, she threw her head back, and her numb fingers found his hair ribbon, pulling it out, so that they could entangle themselves in it’s crimson length.

Padma was gasping as his hand slipped down to her leg and began working it’s way up her skirt. It was all too much and she felt like she would burst. Quickly she found his lips again and kissed him passionately. In the distance she could hear a fainting ringing and she wondered if was from the blood pounding in her ears. Her head felt fuzzy and her fingers were growing number. She did not know why Bill felt like he was pulling away from her. Desperately, she tried to hold on.

 

 

 

 

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Padma woke up covered in sweat. Her head ached and her body felt like it was on fire. She sat up and was surprised to find herself in her bed at Hogwarts. With a sigh, she laid back down and tried to find a cool spot on her sheets. 



 

 

 

 

 

( Now Cho did not find the man all that attractive, but he was a man, and she was not a woman to be ignored. )