Harry had asked Parvati to be his date to the Yule Ball, and she'd immediately agreed. It had been a while since they'd been close, but they still got on well, and she was one of the people he trusted most, so it felt right.
At first, they didn't decide on their outfits, but after a while, they did. It was Parvati who suggested it; she said she was really excited to match with Harry, and he said sure, why not.
They went shopping together and it turned out that Harry had quite a bit of Indian heritage. It wasn't a part of his identity that he had chance to explore and connect with before, but Parvati encouraged him to connect with it, and he did feel closer to his grandma after that.
Harry's grandma was Indian, but it was not a part of his identity that he had chance to explore and connect with before. Parvati decided to help him discover things about Indian culture, as they go shopping for clothes together. They pick a beautiful Sherwani for Harry, and he really enjoys the way it makes him look and feel.
He and Parvati become really close, and after the Ball, Harry asks her out.
***
"Parvati, would you go to the Yule Ball with me?" Harry asked, as they were sitting together in the common room.
Parvati looked up from her book and smiled at him. "Sure, Harry. We can match our outfits, if you want."
"Yeah, let's do that."
"Great. I've got a few ideas already, so I'll show you tomorrow."
"Sounds good."
They went back to their reading and didn't speak for a while.
"You know, Harry," Parvati suddenly said, "I have always thought that you could have Indian heritage. Your grandma was Indian, right?"
"Yes, she was." Harry hadn't really thought about it.
"I think you should explore that part of your identity. You could learn more about your grandma and her culture, and maybe connect with her a bit more. You could wear clothes that are more Indian, and explore the culture that way."
"That's actually a great idea, Parvati. I didn't think about it before, but I'd love to."
"I think it will be fun." Parvati smiled at him. "I'll help you."
"You will?"
"Of course. You can't explore your heritage on your own, can you?"
"No, I guess not." Harry smiled at her. "Thank you, Parvati."
"No problem. Now, let's stop talking about this, and go to bed. We have classes tomorrow."
"Okay."
Harry got up and went to his bed, and as he was getting under the covers, he thought how wonderful it was that Parvati was his friend and how easy it was to talk to her.
***
Harry and Parvati decided to match their outfits by wearing Indian clothes, and they went shopping together.
"You should pick something that really fits you and makes you feel good," Parvati said. "I don't want you to wear something just because it fits me."
"I want to wear something that fits you, though," Harry said. "I like the idea of us matching. I think it will be nice."
"Okay, then we will match, but you need to pick something that you like."
They looked at clothes in a few shops and Harry found a beautiful Sherwani. It was a deep blue color and it had golden thread that made patterns on the fabric. It had long sleeves, and a neck scarf that matched the color of the clothes. The pants were loose and ended in a point at the bottom.
"This is beautiful," Harry said, as he held it up. "I really like it."
"It's perfect for you. You should buy it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Thank you, Parvati. I really like it."
"You're welcome. Now, go try it on. I want to see how it looks on you."
Harry went to the changing room and took off his clothes and put on the Indian clothes.
He looked at himself in the mirror and felt a strange mix of emotions. He was excited, but also felt a bit overwhelmed.
He looked completely different. The clothes and the scarf made his neck look longer, and the clothes made his shoulders look broader. He looked strong, and he felt strong, too.
He looked beautiful.
He felt beautiful.
He saw himself as beautiful.
He had never thought about his looks before; he had never thought about how a certain thing he wore looked on him. But now, he thought about it, and he liked what he saw.
He liked himself.
He liked himself so much.
He felt tears welling up in his eyes, and he didn't understand why.
He looked at his reflection, and he saw himself again, and he felt tears falling down his cheeks. He was crying. He didn't understand why he was crying, but he felt so good at the same time. He felt so happy, and he felt that he had never felt something so good before.
He was crying because he was happy.
He was crying because he felt good.
He felt good because he was crying.
He didn't understand it, but he felt it.
He felt it so deeply.
He opened the door and stepped out of the changing room, and he saw Parvati sitting on the chair, waiting for him.
"Harry, you look amazing," she said, and she stood up and walked towards him. She had a handkerchief in her hand, and she wiped his tears away. "What's wrong, Harry?"
"I don't know. I feel so good."
"You look so good. You look so happy. I've never seen you look so happy before."
"I've never felt so happy before."
"You're crying because you're happy?"
"Yes."
"That's beautiful, Harry."
"It is?"
"Yes. It's so beautiful."
Harry looked at himself in the mirror again. His cheeks were still wet, but he felt so good.
"I'm going to buy it," Harry said, and Parvati smiled at him.
***
Harry and Parvati went to the Yule Ball together, and they decided that they would match their outfits. Harry wore the Sherwani, and it looked even more beautiful than it did in the shop.
"You look beautiful," Parvati said, when they met outside. "You look like a prince."
"Thank you, Parvati. You look beautiful, too."
"Thanks. Shall we go in? I think the dancing is about to start."
They walked into the Great Hall, and the decorations were beautiful. There were lights hanging from the ceiling, and there was a huge Christmas tree in the middle. There was snow falling from the ceiling, and the whole atmosphere felt magical.
Their classmates were already sitting at their tables; there was a huge cheer when Harry and Parvati walked in.
"Isn't this great, Harry?" Parvati asked.
"Yes, it is. I've never felt so happy before."
"You're crying again. Are you crying because you're happy?"
"Yes."
"That's beautiful, Harry."
"Thank you, Parvati."
"You're welcome, Harry. Now, let's go sit down."