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Some people think that Parvati has it all together, but she knows nothing is further from the truth. Really, she's good at putting on a show. Maybe it's that she's spent so much time trying to be like her twin that Padma's influence is finally starting to show.

Today, however, she feels the last traces of sanity slipping as she struggles to smooth out the frosting on the cake. The color is perfect. Parvati managed to get a lovely shade of sea green, Lavender's favorite color. The application, unfortunately, is not as elegant.

"That's beautiful."

Parvati looks up to see Padma there, smiling as she nods toward the cake.

"It looks a bit…" Parvati gestures aimlessly with her hands. She isn't quite sure what she's trying to convey, but maybe Padma understands.

Her sister rolls her eyes and moves closer, taking over. "You're too hard on yourself, sis," she says kindly.

Padma is much more graceful than Parvati. Maybe it's because she's so careful and calculated in a way that Parvati isn't. Either way, Padma manages to smooth the frosting out until it's even and neat, and the cake looks pretty. Parvati is certain it's better than she could have managed on her own.

"You are an absolute blessing," Parvati says with a relieved sigh. "I was about ready to pull my hair out."

Her twin grins. "Don't mention it. I'm guessing this is for Lavender." She gives Parvati a knowing look, an amused little smirk. "You only bake when you're feeling romantic."

Parvati feels her cheeks flush with warmth. She nods. "We didn't get a chance to celebrate our second anniversary because of Dumbledore's death," she explains. "I wanted to do something nice for her."

Padma lets out a dreamy sigh. "You two are adorable, you know. I want that."

"Anthony seems like the type of bloke to give you that."

It's Padma's turn to blush. Parvati loves watching her sister get so flustered. Padma always seems so collected, but Parvati knows exactly what to say to make her into a mess of a human. "I don't know what you're talking about. Anthony is… He's a friend. A good friend. He doesn't…"

"Ya know, for someone so clever, you really are painfully oblivious sometimes," Parvati teases. "Ask him out. See what he says, and when he accepts, come tell me so I can say I told you so."

…

"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Lavender asks when Parvati joins her in the Brown family's garden. "Celebrating, I mean. It's like Dumbledore dying was…"

She doesn't finish; she doesn't have to. Parvati has felt it too. She's almost certain everyone within the wizarding world has. There's a heaviness hanging in the air, and she can't seem to shake it. It feels like they should all still be mourning. Maybe not so much mourning Dumbledore, but something else entirely. It's cold, suffocating dread that's wrapped itself around everyone.

But she knows she can't let it get her down. Dumbledore wouldn't want the world to lose hope. There was something about him, like a beacon of hope that always seemed to radiate from him. Giving up feels like an insult.

"We should still celebrate," Parvati says softly, pressing a gentle kiss to her girlfriend's lips. "At least we still have each other."

That's the one beautiful thing left in this strange world. Lavender is still there. Lavender loves her, and that's enough to push her through, even on the hardest of days.

Lavender smiles at that, shrugging. "I suppose you're right. The cake looks delicious."

Parvati beams at that. "Padma made it look pretty," she admits, cutting a slice and setting it on Lavender's plate. "Hey, Lav?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you get the feeling something's coming?"

It's something she's felt since Dumbledore's death weeks ago. With all the Death Eater activity the previous year, then the headmaster's death… it all feels like some terrible omen. She's meant to consult Professor Trelawney for advice, but something always seems to come up, and she's never sure what she would even say.

Lavender exhales heavily, nodding. "I do. How can there not be? I don't think it's going to be good, whatever it is."

Silence hangs over them. Parvati fears she might have ruined the mood entirely. She should have waited until they were done to let the conversation turn serious.

Stupid, she thinks. So much for a romantic evening.

Lavender rests her hand on Parvati's, gentle and reassuring. The soft, comforting weight is enough to draw Parvati out of her thoughts.

"You know what I do know?" Lavender asks, lifting Parvati's hand to her lips and pressing a chaste kiss to her knuckles. "No matter what happens, I have you, and you have me. I think we can get through this. Together."

Parvati can't help but smile at that. The world is changing, and she doesn't think it's for the better. There are too many uncertainties for her liking. In the end, though, Lavender is right. They have each other. That is the one thing this dark and troubling world cannot take from them. Maybe it doesn't feel like it now, but she's sure that as long as Lavender is at her side, they can overcome anything.