'Erm...Pad, are you alright?'

There was a muffled yelp that sounded vaguely like Mike!

'Of course she's not alright! Her date, that git-'

'-Pad is not deaf, Mike. She can hear us and is probably thinking about how best to tell us that she's alright, even if she isn't.'

Padma sighed to herself.

Trying to keep things from Terry was very difficult indeed.

He'd been watching her like a hawk in the days since the Yule Ball Incident.

She got up from her seat by the window, turning around to face her friends.

'I'm probably not as upset as you all think, really. I guess it would have been nice if he'd paid me a little more attention, I did spend three hours getting ready, after all. But then again, it's not as if he actually asked me to the Ball, and it's not as if I was expecting much, honestly. I suppose it would have been nice if he-'

Michael flung his arms around her.

'You need a hug.'

He held on to her tightly for a moment, then let go.

'Well, come on, the girl needs a hug!'

Terry shook his head at Michael, but hugged Padma briefly anyway.

'You're not unappreciated, Pad. We appreciate you.'

Anthony didn't hug her, but patted her on the back awkwardly.

'You've- you've still got us, right? And it could have been worse. The Yule Ball Incident isn't the worst thing that could have happened, right?'

Michael nodded at her.

'It's going to be okay, Pad. We'll get him back for you, I promise.'

'I really don't think that's necessary, Mike. No offence to you three, but he is a teenage boy-'

'-But he was a downright git! Spending the whole evening staring at Granger-'

'-He was rather rude, Mike, but I had an okay time, I guess. The Beauxbatons boys were rather nice, even if they were a bit, well, forward for my liking-'

'-Leaving her all alone to be drooled over by those French idiots-'

'-As I recall, Mike, your opinion of the French was much better last week-'

'-Shut up, Terry. In fact, I've got half a mind to hex him and punch him in the nose for good measure!'

'Mike, you getting detention for a week will not make Pad feel any better. In fact, it'll only make her worry.'

'Terry's right, Mike. But we're not going to just let this be, that's what the plan is for.'

Padma smiled slightly.

The boys were protective of her, in their own ways.

'What is this plan you speak of, Tony?'

'Well, it's something that the three of us thought up last night. It's a plan for you to get revenge on Ron Weasley. It's called Operation Ginger Newts.'

Padma glanced at Terry.

'You let them do this? You helped them do this? You support this?'

'I didn't endorse the operation name, Pad, but I did indeed help concoct it. What is necessary is never wrong.'

'And it's necessary that I get revenge on Ron Weasley?'

'It's necessary that you cheer up and feel better for yourself.'

Michael grinned.

'And this plan will do just that! Tony, do you have the notebook?'

Anthony nodded, opening up one of Michael's notebooks.

'Well, as you can see in this illustration, Stage One is Pretend to be Keen on Ron Weasley...'

There were fourteen stages in this plan altogether, and each one was illustrated with a sketch by Terry.

Padma was holding her sides, sore from laughter, by the time they reached Stage Fourteen- Invite the Giant Squid for Tea.

There are definitely worse things that could have happened to me than the Yule Ball Incident...

'Really, boys?'

Michael and Anthony nodded earnestly.

Terry just looked back at her, expressionless.

Padma had a sneaking suspicion that he only endorsed the plan because he knew this entire presentation would cheer her up, not because he actually supported revenge on Ron Weasley.

'So what do you say, Pad? Are we going to implement Stage One?'

Padma smiled at Michael, somewhat uncomfortably.

'I suppose when there's a proper time to do so. I can't just suddenly start acting like that towards him...'

She was saved by Luna Lovegood.

'There's a boy from Beauxbatons outside to see you, Padma. He looks a little lost... I think he's got Wrackspurts...be careful of the Nargles, there's a lot around because of all the mistletoe.'

Padma stood, slipping out of the Common Room.

Michael grinned.

'It looks like Prince Charming came to Padma's rescue after all! Can you just imagine it? A beautiful young girl, abandoned by her date, swept off her feet by a handsome gentleman, a wonderful Frenchman...'

Terry shook his head and returned to the spell he was inventing.

Perhaps I should turn my attention to something that'll cause Mike to make his mind up about the French...

That'd be magic indeed.