A Single Moment

Parvati clenched her jaw and knocked on the door, hearing the familiar chimes inside that signified the magical doorbell had activated. Since meeting Lavender their first night in Hogwarts she’d become very familiar with the sound, visiting her close friend every single summer. She smiled slightly as she realized this visit was even the same time of year – she was following the same pattern as always, just for different reasons.

But when Mrs. Brown opened the door, the usual welcoming expression was replaced with an almost cold, stony one. “Parvati,” she said very formally.

“H-hello, Mrs. Brown,” Parvati said hesitantly. “Er…if Lavender in?”

“She is,” Mrs. Brown answered, although she made no move to stand aside and let Parvati in. “Might I ask why it is you wish to see her?”

Parvati clenched her hands behind her back. “I want to apologize,” she said softly, dropping her eyes. “I said some- some very mean things to her that I knew weren’t true. She’s my best friend, I just want to make things right!”

Mrs. Brown studied Parvati for a moment and then sighed, losing some of her cool demeanor. “Parvati, she’s very unhappy. I don’t know what happened between you – Lavender won’t talk to me about it at all – but it’s clearly still affecting her. Whatever it was, it’s not worth giving up your friendship.”

“I know, that’s why I’m here, really,” Parvati insisted, wiping away a tear. “I was wrong, and I miss Lavender so much…”

Mrs. Brown stepped aside. “Come in,” she said. “I’m sure you remember where Lavender’s room is. Would you like me to bring up some tea?”

“Um, no, thank you,” Parvati said quickly as she stepped inside. “I think that I’d prefer a bit of privacy, really.”

“Of course.” Mrs. Brown shut the door and turned to Parvati. “Parvati, I’m sorry to be so harsh; I’m just worried about Lavender, she’s very unhappy. I’m glad you’ve come, truly.” She smiled slightly, and turned toward the living room. “Call if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” Parvati said quietly, and began to climb the stairs.

She stopped right outside Lavender’s door; checking that she had everything she needed, she took a deep breath, and knocked lightly.

There was shuffling inside, and Lavender’s voice called out. “Mum? Who was at the door?” Parvati tensed as the doorknob turned, and the door swung open to reveal Lavender. “Mum, what-”

Lavender gasped in shock at seeing her estranged friend, and in that moment of hesitation, Parvati’s wand was out and she hissed “Petrificus Totalus!” She shoved the door quickly open as Lavender froze up from the Spell, and ran around just in time to catch Lavender before she fell. “I’m sorry,” she whispered tightly as she dragged the stiffened Lavender inside and shut the door. “I’m really, really sorry…” Parvati quickly cast the Silencing Charm on the room, and a Locking Charm on the door. Then she turned back to Lavender, who looked about as furious as it was possible to look while frozen solid. “Accio wand,” Parvati said; Lavender’s wand flew out of her robes and Parvati caught it. She walked hesitantly over and kneeled beside Lavender’s head. “I’m really sorry,” she repeated, and withdrew a small vial from her robes; pulling out the stopper, she let three drops fall into Lavender’s half-open mouth. Then she stood and walked backward until her back was against the door. She pointed her wand again. “Finite Incantatem.”

“Get the hell out!” Lavender snapped the second the Petrifying Hex was removed. “You bloody bit-”

“What’s your name?” Parvati shouted over Lavender’s yells.

“Lavender Brown,” Lavender said immediately, and then hesitated. “Veritaserum?” she gasped as she realized what her friend had done.

“Do you support V-V-Voldemort?” Parvati stammered.

“No, don’t be stupid!” Lavender growled, stepping forward, but she stopped when Parvati raised her wand. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me,” Parvati responded sharply. “Are you under the control of anyone besides yourself?”

“No!”

“Do you still want to help Dumbledore’s Army?”

“Yes-” Lavender glared at Parvati. “Okay, this was Harry’s idea, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Parvati confirmed, lowering her wand. She handed Lavender her own wand back. “Anything could have happened to you since…Harry said we had to be sure. Lavender, I’m really sorry…”

“Yeah, I bet you are,” Lavender said nastily. “I’ll bet you just hated Petrifying me, getting the best of the coward!”

“I didn’t!” Parvati denied, stricken. “I really didn’t! I- I’m sorry about what I said before, Lavender, I don’t really think you’re a coward-”

Oh, that’s rich,” Lavender interrupted. “What did Harry have to do to convince you to say that?”

“He didn’t do anything! I swear,” Parvati insisted at the incredulous look on Lavender’s face. “It was completely unfair what I said – I wanted to come and apologize for being so mean!”

“Yeah, right,” Lavender scoffed. “Prove it.”

“How am I supposed-” Parvati stopped, and her hand tightened around the vial of Veritaserum, still half-full. She shuddered; her one experience with Veritaserum had been very unpleasant. But still- “All right, I will,” she said, and slowly uncorked the vial again. She raised it above her head and heard Lavender snort skeptically. Bracing herself, Parvati dripped three drops onto her own tongue, and swallowed. “There,” she said, fighting the urge to run away.

Lavender stared in surprise for a moment – she clearly hadn’t thought Parvati would actually do it. “Are you sorry for insulting me?” she asked finally.

“Yes,” Parvati whispered.

“Do you think I’m a c-coward?” Lavender asked, her voice catching slightly.

“No. I never did.”

Lavender’s eyes were noticeably misty. “D-do you…do you want me to come back?”

“Yes!” Parvati blurted out tearfully. “I’m so sorry for what I said, please come back! What happened to Hermione and Neville made me-”

“What?” Lavender interrupted with a gasp. “What- Hermione and Neville, they’re not- not-”

“No, they’re not dead. You didn’t hear?” Parvati exclaimed, and then shook her head. “No, of course you didn’t, sorry.”

“I heard about Neville’s parents on the Wireless,” Lavender said tentatively.

They sat on Lavender’s bed, and Parvati described what had happened; how Hermione and Luna had figured out how to bring the Longbottoms back; about the attack by the Lestranges, Hermione’s being Cursed and Neville’s killing Bellatrix Lestrange; and about how Harry had been forced to Obliviate Neville so the Ministry wouldn’t find out about the D.A. By the time she’d finished, Lavender was on the verge of tears. “Oh, no,” she whispered. “That’s- that’s terrible! How is Ron taking it?”

Parvati started at her hands, clenched in her lap. “He’s just even more protective of Hermione than he was before,” she told Lavender, and Lavender smiled sadly. “And Harry said he’s going to do everything he possibly can to bring Neville back once it’s safe. He’s got most everyone else on a rotation to watch Neville, in case V-Voldemort thinks to kidnap him and torture him for information.” She looked up and met Lavender’s eye. “When- when I heard what’d happened, I realized how that could be me, or you, any day. And if it happened and I’d said something so mean to you…” Two fat tears slid down her cheeks. “I just want to be friends again!” she wailed. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it, really…”

“I know,” Lavender said quickly, and threw her arms around Parvati. “I just couldn’t stand to think you thought so badly of me, and…oh, it doesn’t matter!” she insisted.

They hugged each other tightly; Lavender inhaled and shivered at the familiar smell of her best friend. She pulled back and searched Parvati’s face for a moment before pulling her close again, this time to kiss her fiercely. Parvati let slip a surprised squeak as Lavender’s tongue caressed her lips and Lavender’s hands went roaming down her back towards her bum. “Lavender- wait!” Parvati mumbled, and pulled away with a huge effort of will. “Lav, your mum’s downstairs!”

It was a rule between them: never when a parent was in the house. They’d been doing this for several years, and were always very aware that there might be awkward questions and recrimination if they were ever found out. But now- “I don’t care,” Lavender said firmly, drawing Parvati close again. “It’s like you said- what if it turns out we never get the chance again? I’ve been horny for days and I’m really happy you’re here and you don’t hate me and I want to kiss you and taste you and to hell with if we get caught!”

Parvati could hardly protest when she was longing to taste Lavender again herself. She whined when Lavender’s lips found her neck and began to suck and nibble. “G-good thing I locked the door,” she whispered.

“Definitely,” Lavender mumbled into Parvati’s shoulder. Then she gasped as Parvati’s hands brushed against her breasts before beginning to fumble with her robes. “D-do that again,” she begged.

Parvati slipped her hands under Lavender’s robes and cupped her breasts, surprised and pleased to find the small, firm mounds bare. She and Lavender tumbled back onto the bed, and somehow Parvati ended up on top; she leaned in for a quick kiss, then tugged at the robes until she got them over Lavender’s head, exposing her completely; she was wearing nothing but a slim pair of lavender-colored knickers. “Yum,” Parvati said softly, and leaned down to nip at the side of Lavender’s breast, making the other girl jump. She wriggled down to the end of the bed between Lavender’s legs and slid off, so she was looking straight at the knickers; she pulled them aside, and her heart quickened at the sight of her friend’s quim, already slightly wet. She inhaled the familiar smell giddily before leaning in and lightly kissing Lavender firmly; Lavender’s whole body jerked and she let out a groan, but her hands pushed at Parvati’s head. “Lav…?”

“Not fair,” Lavender moaned out. “You’re supposed to be apologizing to me!”

“Uh…I thought I was,” Parvati said, confused.

Lavender shook her head. “I want to taste you,” she demanded.

“Oh!” Parvati stood up and began quickly shedding her clothes. Lavender raised herself up on her elbows and watched, with a little grin like a niffler in a jeweler’s shop. After what seemed like far too long, Parvati slid her dark red knickers off, blushing slightly at the look of pure lust on Lavender’s face. She climbed back up over Lavender, their legs twining together, and when they kissed both girls whimpered as their bodies pressed together. Finally Parvati pulled away and turned herself around, so she was once again staring right at Lavender’s sex and her knees rested to either side of Lavender’s head. Lavender didn’t hesitate a moment; she lifted her head and began to run her tongue over every inch of Parvati she could reach, lapping greedily at the wetness she created. She looped one arm around Parvati’s left leg to hold her steady, and used the other to spread Parvati wide so her tongue could dart inside.

Parvati dropped her head and tried to match what Lavender was doing to her, but was so aroused she couldn’t even think straight. When Lavender’s fingers crept up and began to probe around her anus she knew she was lost; giving up any attempt at tenderness and patience, she grabbed her wand, reversed it and guided the thicker handle end into Lavender. Although Lavender didn’t stop or even slow what she was doing, she clenched around the wand so tightly that for a moment Parvati couldn’t even move the smooth wood in and out; but Lavender relaxed and moaned as the wand tortured her, getting closer to her g-spot with every thrust. Parvati felt the moan in her quim and her legs almost gave out on her. She shoved the wand into Lavender as far as she could, and was rewarded when Lavender’s hips lifted off the bed and her whole body tensed up for a full twenty seconds before she collapsed again.

Apparently deciding that she’d been patient and thorough enough, Lavender slipped two fingers inside Parvati; her tongue sought and found Parvati’s center and began to push her, licking and sucking and driving her until Parvati dug her teeth into Lavender’s inner thigh and screamed as she came. Lavender swallowed hungrily until her friend finally stopped shaking. “W-wow,” Parvati gasped, falling over onto her back.

Lavender reached down and removed Parvati’s wand from inside herself, wincing slightly at the soreness; it had been too long. She crawled over until she was pressed against Parvati again, and kissed her. “I really wish I hadn’t left,” she said quietly.

“I’m really sorry,” Parvati said again, hugging Lavender. “At least it wasn’t for too long.”

“But we have to get back right away,” Lavender said, suddenly very serious. “As quickly as possible.”

“Well, yes,” Parvati agreed hesitantly. “Harry wants us to do something for the D.A.-”

“No,” Lavender interrupted severely. “It’s far more important than that!”

“What? Why?” Parvati asked, alarmed.

“Because as soon as we get there, Padma and I are going to strap you to the bed and do that to you again,” Lavender told her with a vicious gleam in her eye.

Parvati grinned enormously. “Well why didn’t you say so?” she exclaimed, rolling Lavender off of her, leaping up and snatching up their clothes. “Come on, hurry up and pack so we can tell your mum you’re leaving!”