Padma Patil and Susan Bones were an unlikely couple, a studious Ravenclaw with a kindhearted, rather aloof, Hufflepuff. Together in a time that most couples hadn't been able to stick together out of fear of the danger it could hold. Yet, there they were, still a couple despite their many, many differences. Padma remembered the doubts of her fellow Ravenclaws, the whispers as she passed classmates in the halls, faces that screamed 'What are you doing?' and 'It's dangerous!'.
She couldn't bring herself to care though, she had Susan and that was what truly mattered to her. Susan was radiant, always wearing a bright smile, or offering a few kind words, always managing to cheer Padma up in times of mild sorrow. They would always sit next to each other in classes they shared, in Herbology Susan would help Padma, who had a hard time getting a grip on the subject. In turn, Padma would help Susan in Arithmancy, a class the Hufflepuff was almost failing.
Some called them insane when they took walks out to the Black Lake at night. They had always enjoyed watching the glimmer of the moon reflecting off the water, loved being in each other's embrace as they lay in the soft grass. Even though times had changed, they shouldn't have to. Sure, there was always a slight nagging at the back of their minds, because what if they got caught, what if they got in trouble? The Carrows were very strict about students making curfew and if any were caught out of bed after it then they would be tortured.
But they had covered their tracks, and it was worth every second of pure happiness. They weren't allowed to show public affection in school or it would be a detention, the Death Eaters wanted to vanquish all happiness the students had. But Padma had Susan, Susan who still gave bright smiles to those who looked upset, who had been one of the only students who hadn't changed despite all the terrible things happening around them. Susan, who made her undeniably happy.
It was dangerous, their affection, their love, everything. It could get them tortured, maybe even killed if they got caught. So they were careful, made sure each time they saw each other was safe, planned, perfect. Susan knew the school, having explored a lot in her first three years at the school she knew all the secret pathways, some that even the Death Eaters weren't aware of. Padma had the brains, knew the timing they would need, the exact way to cover themselves in the darkness that they seemed to almost be suffocating in.
This darkness that the evil was breeding, one meant to diminish all hope and happiness, was what the couple used to bring hope, to bring themselves just a tiny bit of serenity in such a terrifying time. Padma knew that this was a time of war, a time of chaos, a time she wouldn't survive without Susan. They were each other's perfect half, together they were complete. Together, they could do anything.
Together, they would survive this.