word count: 1551
Voldemort wins!au
Padma shivers as she shrugs off her jacket, looking around the abandoned shed. It isn't much, but at least the four walls can protect her from the freezing winds outside. She can start a little fire to keep warm. All in all, it's a decent place to hide away for a little while.
"I guess this is home for now," she murmurs, digging in her back and plucking a blanket from within. She tries to ignore the tears that trickle down her cheeks, but even as she wipes them away, more spill from her eyes.
"Parvati!" Padma groans, turning to see that once again her twin has fallen behind. She tries to remind herself that strangling Parvati would be counterproductive, but it is so bloody tempting sometimes. "Come on!"
Parvati doesn't acknowledge her at first. She just walks along, tongue poking out, catching snowflakes as they drift down. Padma will never admit that it's precious. The world fell apart when Voldemort won in May, and they've been on the run, desperate and pitiful ever since. Even so, Parvati manages to find some sense of innocence in the world.
"You're no fun," Parvati groans, folding her arms over her chest and picking up her pace. "Where's your holiday cheer? How will we ever have a Christmas miracle if you're over here acting like Scrooge?"
"Bah humbug," Padma says dryly. "I'm not sure I believe in miracles. Not anymore."
How could she? Despite all the fiction she's read, she's had to learn that sometimes happily ever doesn't exist, and monsters can win. There isn't really anything left to believe in, and she hates to admit it, but her faith is gone.
"Let's just keep moving," Padma adds before Parvati can wax poetic about how she needs to look on the bright side. "I'm freezing."
There's an old terra cotta pot, and Padma sets to work, adjusting it just right and lighting a fire underneath it, carefully contained so it doesn't burn the shed down. It isn't perfect, but it will serve as a nice makeshift heater and keep her warm. It's the best she can do, just a small effort in the never-ending fight to stay alive.
If she's honest, she doesn't know why she still wants to stay alive. Sometimes she thinks it might be easier to just give up. She's a Ravenclaw, not a Gryffindor. Logic says that there's no hope, and she needs to just accept that.
But she can't. She won't. As hopeless as everything feels, she knows she can never just let go.
She sits on the blanket she's spread out, digging in her bag. There's still a good bit of food left, enough to last a few days. She'll need to go into town soon and buy some more rations. She hates doing that. It seems like there are Snatchers everywhere, and each trip into civilization is a risk.
That's another problem for another day. For now, she needs to focus on her needs, so she settles for a tin of chicken and a pack of crackers. Not the healthiest meal, but it will keep her going.
"That's not mine," Parvati says, pointing to the fruit cup. "Must be yours."
Padma rolls her eyes. Parvati worries too much. She's spent most of their time on the run saying Padma's too skinny, that she isn't eating enough. Of course, Padma understands. She's worried about Parvati too. Still, only an idiot would risk their own health.
"Why don't we split it?" Padma suggests.
Parvati purses her lips. She hates not getting her way, but Padma is probably one of the few people who will still tell her no. "Fine. You win."
Padma smirks, triumphant. "I always do."
"Shut up."
Padma sets up every protective spell she can remember. Once, it wasn't so difficult to settle in at night. Even with the defenses, she and Parvati would take turns keeping watch. Now, that extra layer of security is gone, and Padma swallows down the anger. She has to focus. There is plenty of time to dwell on her feelings.
Once the final spell has been cast, she takes the blanket and draws it around her.
Parvati sleeps soundly, and Padma watches over her, wand drawn and ready. She knows it's unlikely anyone will get in, but she doesn't care. Padma is older, if only barely, and she takes that very seriously. If she can protect her sister, she always will.
With a smile, she opens her bag, digging around. There's a golden tube of lipstick, one of the few luxuries Parvati had insisted on bringing with them. Padma can't blame her for wanting something familiar, some trace of their old life. That's exactly why she pulls out her favorite book, and mutters, "Lumos." They both need a little comfort in this terrifying new world.
Parvati turns, and Padma looks up, prepared to tell her off if she's awake. She isn't. With a smile, Padma settles in, her body relaxing. Maybe they can get through this after all.
The sound of laughter wakes Padma from her sleep. Her heart races as she grabs her wand. The shed has enchantments around it, but that doesn't make her feel particularly confident right now. The Snatchers and Death Eaters are all adults, some of whom are much more skilled than an eighteen year old girl. How easy would it be for them to find her and break through her defenses.
She squeezes her eyes closed, wishing Parvati was there. Her sister was always so brave and sure. So many people would look at Parvati and assume she was nothing more than a pretty face, but they didn't know her the way Padma did. Parvati was a warrior in her own way, always much braver than Padma could ever be.
The sounds outside die away, but Padma is still tense. There will be no sleep tonight, she decides. It's just as well. At least it gives Padma time to think and plot and get her plan together.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Parvati asks.
Padma rolls her eyes. "Of course I'm sure."
She is easily the best navigator between the two of them, and Neville's last transmission was clear enough. It isn't hard to find her way around. There's a safe haven about a week's journey from them. They'll be among other survivors again. Parvati will undoubtedly join the revolution and fight; she's been angry at the world since losing Lavender. Padma, on the other hand, isn't much of a fighter. She is skilled with her wand, but she thinks she'll be more helpful elsewhere.
Silence hangs between them, broken suddenly by a cry of, "Found some!"
The two girls exchange frightened glances, breaking into a sprint. They have a plan for this, a strategy that doubles their chances of survival. If they split up, the Snatchers might get lost or overwhelmed, and they can get away.
Parting ways with Parvati is like a punch in the gut, but Padma knows it's for the best. She picks up her pace, putting every last ounce of energy, even as she slips and slides over the snow.
Morning comes sooner than anticipated. Padma hasn't slept, except for maybe an hour. It doesn't matter. Nothing will keep her from finding the camp Neville spoke of. She packs her things quickly and waves her wand, tidying the shed as best she can.
It's snowing outside, fresh flakes joining the thick blanket of white at her feet. Padma adjusts her scarf to cover any last bits of exposed skin. She has a long journey ahead of her, and she has to be ready.
Twins are supposed to be together. Always. She and Parvati have been together since the womb, and maybe there's a part of her that always assumed they would die together.
But when Padma circles back, long after the shouts of the Snatchers have faded, she doesn't find the smiling, laughing twin she loves with her whole being. Instead, she finds Parvati face-down in the snow, spread-eagled with a broken wand splintered near her side.
Padma drops to her knees, and for a moment, she cannot breathe.
"Where's Parvati?" Neville asks once the guards have finally determined that Padma is really who she says she is.
Padma swallows dryly. Speaking the words aloud is still too painful. She's had days to process and think, but it still doesn't make any sense, and it still feels like some terrible dream that she cannot wake from. "She's…" Padma swallows dryly, tears clinging to her lashes. "She's gone."
Neville pulls her into a hug, ever the kind and loving person that he is. "I'm so sorry," he whispers. "She was a good friend."
Padma nods, pulling away. Good doesn't even begin to describe Parvati, but she doesn't have the energy to tell him that. Instead, she just smiles as much as she can. "Neville?"
"Yeah?"
"I want to fight."
It isn't like her at all, but she doesn't care. Now she understands the anger that Parvati felt, and she lets it push her forward. Voldemort and his little minions cannot get away with this, and she will do whatever it takes to help bring them down.
Parvati is gone, but Padma is still there, and she will fight.
