For A Candy Cane A Day on the Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.

S.S. Ginger Curry
— Ron and Padma —

Padma is woken by a shining blue light at the foot of her bed. Through blurry eyes, she sees an otter. She reaches to the other side of the bed, but finds that it's already empty. Suddenly alert, she looks up. Ron is rushing around the room, pulling on a shirt and trousers. Before she has the chance to say anything—to ask if something's wrong—the tell-tale crack of Apparition sounds. Without even pressing a kiss to forehead, he's gone. Padma closes her eyes, but finds herself unable to sleep.

With dark circles under her eyes, she recounts the tale to her sister the next morning. "It was the third time this week."

"Doesn't she have someone?" Parvati frowns. "Someone else? It's not fair that he's always leaving you to comfort her."

"Not really." Padma shifts uncomfortably. She doesn't want to say something she can't take back, but she's never been good at hiding things from her sister. Finally, she says, "Things are tough for her. She still has nightmares from the war."

"Yeah. That's tough, I guess." Parvati shrugs, dismissive. "But she can't go crying to Ron every single time. She has other friends, doesn't she?"

Padma doesn't disagree. The late night disappearances and last minute date cancellations have taken a toll on their relationship. But how can she criticise him for wanting to be there for his friend? For his best friend, no less. And that that friend happens to be Golden Girl, Hermione Granger, makes it even more difficult to protest. Padma doesn't want to seem unsympathetic. Or worse yet, ungrateful.

"You need to tell him," Parvati insists. "I know you love him and all—and honestly, even I like him more than I did at school—but he's a bit dim sometimes. He's always been like this, especially with girls. Lavender always said the same. He was always putting someone else first and never understood why she got so upset about it."

"I'm not upset."

Parvati rolls her eyes. "Maybe not right now, but you will be."

Padma hesitates for a moment and then swiftly changes the topic to one that she knows her sister won't be able to resist—her own dating life. But later that night, when the lights are dim and Ron's arm is thrown over stomach, she lets her mind wander. Perhaps she's being naïve. Perhaps the way he rushes after Hermione is indicative of more than just friendship. The thought makes her shiver. She turns so that she can fit the curve of her back into his body and pulls his arm around her. She tries not to think about it. She tries to be grateful that tonight, at least, he's with her.

The next day, she wakes alone.

There's a note on her side table which simply reads: At Hermione's. Padma throws it in the bin, her hand shaking and hot tears pricking at her eyes.