Sophie's Shelf: ErniePadma
Arcade, Blaze the Cat: cat, lavender, Padma
Lowdown: "Meat and sarcasm. That's all I've got. Pretty much my whole identity."
Insane House Challenge: coat
365: running late
Feline, Havana Brown: Padma
Word Count: 312
"Can you relax?" Ernie asks as Padma nearly trips over their pet cat.
Padma glares at him, smoothing her hands over her lavender blouse. Try as she might, it still seems too creased, too wrinkled. Not good. They're running late like it is, and she can't afford another setback.
"Seriously," her boyfriend adds. "You're making me nervous."
"Can you be a little more helpful?" she snaps.
"Meat and sarcasm," Ernie answers. "That's all I've got. Pretty much my whole identity. Have I ever been helpful?"
Padma rolls her eyes, but she can't help but smile. Her boyfriend is hopeless, but she loves him more than anything. "Tell me I'm not going to lose my mind, at least."
Ernie moves closer and wraps his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You're going to be fine," he tells her. "You've got the interview, and you're going to kill it."
"See? You're more than just sarcasm."
"And meat," Ernie offers. "Don't forget meat."
Padma kisses him gently. "And meat," she agrees before grabbing her coat and slipping it on. "I'd better go before I completely miss it."
…
She's completely giddy when she arrives back at their house. Ernie sits in the living room with his feet up, their tabby cat curled up in his lap and sleeping.
"Well?" Ernie sits up a little straighter, grinning.
"You are looking at the newest Healer at St. Mungo's," she says.
He jumps up, sending the cat fleeing with a disgruntled hiss. "I knew you would get it," he says proudly, pulling her into a hug.
Padma melts into his touch, unable to keep from grinning. Ernie has been there for her from the beginning, always helping her study and keeping her motivated. She can never tell him how that's helped her.
"I'm proud of you," he says.
And that means the world to her.
