Stolen
Her ears were assaulted with a terrifying sibilance as she heard him speak to her, speak through her somehow. Her head exploded with burning pain and just for a brief second, Padma realised what Harry had been going through not once, not once but constantly, as Voldemort treated him like the doormat to an open door and let himself in whenever he pleased.
"Harry!" She shrieked as her eyes rolled upwards and she nearly collapsed in the Great Hall, vaguely registering that she wasn't the only one. Her hands fought to find Harry's and she clasped them tightly, terrified of letting go.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed as her head throbbed, the heavy whispers still snaking its way through her brain.
"Padma, just hold on to me, you're okay, you understand?" The words tumbled out of his mind, shaking with fear.
"Is this what you feel like?" She gritted her teeth as his savage request reverberated through her skull and Padma was convinced that her brain would haemorrhage soon.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked desperately, knowing that he needed her help with the diadem but too terrified for her to move away, with her or without.
"When…when he gets into your head," she managed, leaving his hands abruptly as she cradled her head in her clammy palms.
"It doesn't matter, it's my burden to bear," he said desperately as strong hatred bubbled in his chest with every second she spent in agony.
"This might seem like the most awful timing in the world," Padma said, half sobbing and half smiling.
"But I love you, Harry. I will be okay – look, Luna's on her way and you and I both know that you need her to find the diadem. I'll stay with Cho and come find you when I can move, okay?" She enunciated each word like it was the end of the world, which it probably was if neither of them acted fast.
Harry's heart twisted around in pain as he nodded mutely.
"Stay here, okay? I'll find you, I'll come back for you, Padma!"
He caught her lips in a swift kiss and got up, seeking out Luna.
Seven hours later, he came back to the exact same spot to find it devoid of life. A sole body lay by the corner of a wall, looking by all means like a sleeping person. Harry's stomach flooded with dread as he approached it, the long braided hair a perfect giveaway.
"Padma!" he roared as he ran to her stone cold body.
She'd never respond.
Only then did Harry realise that he never told her. He never told her that he loved her, too.
Entered in:
The Battle of The Houses, prompt #3 (entry 2), fear
The Twelve Days of Christmas Style Challenge, prompt 4 (house fics) – Ravenclaw (Padma Patil)
The Het-Tastic Drabble-Athon Competition, #83 - headache