Chapter 213 - Parvati Patil! Part-1

{Patil Lotus, Thane, Mumbai}

{12th July 1991} 

{Rigel's POV}

The floo spun me out onto a gleaming marble floor, and I steadied myself quickly, glad I'd avoided coming before Harry, as looking at the annoyed look on his face, he had a bad landing... again. Brushing soot from my shoulder, I turned just as Parvati emerged. She gracefully stepped out, much more used to magical travel than anyone I have ever seen.

"You alright there?" I asked Harry after nodding toward Parvati.

He nodded shakily, giving me a grateful glance. "I think I'm finally getting used to magical transport—or maybe a little numb to it."

Fred and George followed next, bursting from the fireplace in an untidy tumble. Sirius came through, calm as ever, brushing a speck of ash casually from his robes.

Ginny stepped gracefully from the green flames, her eyes briefly meeting mine with a shy sparkle before quickly turning away. The snug fit of her T-shirt hadn't escaped my notice earlier. It revealed just enough of her slender waist to distract my thoughts momentarily. I looked away quickly, clearing my throat and turning to Parvati, who was already in her element.

Parvati swept forward confidently, gesturing around the airy, vibrant restaurant. "Welcome, everyone, to one of my family's most popular establishments—the Patil Lotus. The food here is amazing, but we can try it later. Right now, let's go explore the market! It's the best way to experience magical India firsthand."

"Sounds great," Sirius agreed warmly. "Lead on."

Stepping out onto the bustling street felt like entering another world entirely. A dazzling array of colors and sounds greeted us immediately, the air heavy with the scent of exotic spices and the warm murmur of dozens of conversations in rapid local language, or languages. From what I could make out, there were multiple different languages being spoken around us. My eyes widened slightly at the sheer liveliness of it all—the vibrant chaos was unlike anything I'd seen, even in Diagon Alley, which was always bustling.

As we walked, I became increasingly aware of how much we stood out. Everywhere around us, witches and wizards moved fluidly, their skin varying shades of warm brown, some lighter, some deeper, but none as pale as our own. A ripple of curiosity traveled through the crowd as their heads turned, eyes watching us closely, which was pretty easy considering our group towered over the locals a little. I felt no hostility, only intrigue from my mana sense—our appearance clearly marked us as foreigners.

Ron glanced nervously around. "Blimey, we're attracting quite a bit of attention already."

Parvati turned back reassuringly. "Don't worry. People here rarely see foreigners in this part of the market, so naturally they're curious."

Almost immediately, two guards stepped forward from somewhere behind us. Their presence—stern faces and crisply ironed robes bearing the Patil family crest—instantly quieted the crowd's murmurs. The locals continued to watch, their curiosity respectful but intense.

Feeling a sudden rush of sympathy for Harry, I leaned over and whispered jokingly, "Is this what you deal with all the time? If so, you have my sympathies."

Harry groaned softly, rolling his eyes. "You have no idea. Try having people stare at your forehead everywhere you go."

Fred seized the opportunity instantly. "You could always tattoo a sign on it—'Stop staring!'"

George nodded cheerfully. "Or 'Ask me about my latest embarrassing landing.'"

We laughed, and the tension dissipated quickly into humor. Harry sighed dramatically, but the smile tugging at his lips told me he wasn't truly bothered.

Moving further into the market, I noticed another striking cultural difference—most wizards and witches wore distinctly Muggle-style clothes rather than traditional robes, which I was used to. Men mostly wore simple cotton shirts and trousers, sleeves rolled up casually. But it was the women who immediately captured my attention. Most of them wore vividly colored sarees, rich silks that shimmered softly in the afternoon sunlight. Even the ones who didn't embrace Muggle clothing with varied lengths of tops and jeans on full display.

My eyes lingered unintentionally on a woman who passed us gracefully, her deep emerald-green saree wrapped elegantly around her figure. The sheer fabric revealed hints of skin beneath—her slender waist bare, a small jewel sparkling gently from her navel. The saree's delicate transparency and deep cleavage neckline framed her curves with a subtle, enticing elegance that caught me completely off guard.

"Enjoying the view, Rigel?" Sirius teased quietly, startling me slightly.

I cleared my throat awkwardly, quickly tearing my gaze away. "Just appreciating the cultural differences."

He chuckled knowingly. "Of course you are."

Feeling inspired, I turned to the group and impulsively suggested, "Maybe we should try shopping for some local clothing. It might help us blend in better."

Parvati immediately beamed, excitement lighting her features. "Brilliant idea! There's a fantastic tailor right down this street."

Ginny's eyes sparkled with quiet enthusiasm. "That sounds wonderful—I'd love something new."

Fred groaned dramatically, clutching George's shoulder. "Shopping for clothes? Rigel, you're breaking our hearts here."

George nodded mournfully. "We've barely even seen a broomstick yet."

Ron quickly joined their protests. "Yeah, I heard Indian broomsticks are brilliant and cheap! Can't we go see them instead?"

Harry glanced between the twins and Ron, looking genuinely torn. "Shopping sounds painful, but I'd really like to see their Quidditch gear."

Sirius laughed lightly, patting Harry's shoulder. "Maybe we can split up later—let's at least keep the ladies company first."

Fred slumped theatrically, exchanging wounded glances with George. "We never stood a chance."

Parvati confidently took my arm again, pulling me gently forward. "Come on—let me show you the best place. You'll love the designs, Rigel."

Ginny moved closer to us, walking just a step behind Parvati. Her eyes flickered shyly toward me, holding my gaze for a heartbeat longer than usual before looking away. Her quiet confidence intrigued me, and I smiled softly in return.

As we walked through the vibrant market, passing colorful stalls filled with exotic spices, spellbound textiles, and enchanted artifacts, the rhythm of the crowd enveloped us. Though attention still occasionally drifted our way, the guards respectfully distanced any overenthusiastic locals.

Turning to Parvati, I asked curiously, "Does your family often get this kind of attention?"

She laughed lightly, her eyes bright with amusement. "The Patils have been influential here for generations, so yes, people tend to notice us. But this level of attention usually means there's a guest of special interest." She glanced pointedly toward Harry, whose expression instantly shifted into a familiar groan.

"Just great," Harry sighed resignedly. "I can't even escape being famous on vacation."

Fred smirked cheerfully, squeezing Harry's shoulder. "Look on the bright side—maybe you'll finally learn to land properly here. International humiliation might do the trick."

Harry glared playfully. "Thanks, Fred. Very encouraging."

Parvati finally led us toward a bustling tailor shop with vibrant silks and shimmering garments displayed proudly. She smiled warmly as she introduced the shopkeeper in rapid Hindi, or so I assumed, quickly turning back to me with excitement. As Ginny, Parvati, and I stepped into it, the rest of the guys slipped away, clearly more interested in having a look around the market.

"Come see these, Rigel—they're beautiful," she urged eagerly, gently guiding me forward into the shop's colorful depths.

Ginny quietly fell into step beside me, her shy smile brightening slightly as she murmured softly, "This is definitely a better way to blend in compared to Harry's face-plant strategy."

I laughed quietly, appreciating her gentle humor. "I certainly hope so."

As we entered the vibrant shop together, we were surrounded by the exotic beauty and rich culture of a diverse country. I was curious how Ginny would look in one of the sarees, which I promptly pointed out, pushing her slightly toward a black one that had some beautiful embroidery work done. She nodded shyly before taking it away toward the tailor, who quickly pulled her behind the curtains toward what I assume was a dressing room.

"You seem interested in her, at least let her get to Hogwarts, don't you have too many witches in your harem already?" Parvati joked as she leaned closer, I turned my attention back to the indian beauty and appraised her. 

"Well, we are here for a full week, and I do need some entertainment." I joked back, "Unless you are free, but I don't see Lavender around anywhere?" 

She frowned slightly as she looked around, making sure no one heard me, shaking her head, she replied, "Don't joke around about that, I don't want any rumors getting back to dad. Besides, it was a fun experience, though I enjoy both, and you know that." She glared playfully at the end.

"Yeah, but you were always attached to... you know. Can't be too sure." I shrugged. 

"Sure sure..." shaking her head, she looked around and grabbed a reddish version of the saree that Ginny went to try on. "Come on, I'm going to need your help." She grabbed my hand and pulled me behind the curtain.

'Well, things escalated quickly.'

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