Padma's eyes widened at his reaction to her touch, and her free hand clutched ever tighter to her files. This was not a normal reaction, and she immediately snatched her hand back, feeling unnerved, as if she'd either seriously infringed on his personal space or done otherwise made some terrible mistake in touching him.
She was walking away, had already taken two steps backwards, when she heard her name. She registered it, but it wasn't until he was half way down the hall in one direction, and she in another, that Padma realized why a flag had gone up in her mind at the mention of her name.
She didn't know that man, but he knew her, and while that could have been easily brushed off under normal circumstances, they both worked in the Ministry afterall, she had just been Obliviated, and there was a man out there who knew her name, a man who's face she couldn't remember.
Padma hurried down the hall, relieved when she saw a coworker she half-trusted, relieved to no longer be absolutely alone in the hallway with that man. She tapped Evelyn on her shoulder before glancing back down the hall at the man. "Evie, who is that?" she asked, trying to hide the swelling panic in her voice, to appear normal and unnerved. Her hands were shaking, though, and the panic wouldn't stay down.
"Who? Oh, Padma," Evie teased, spying Robert Stebbins. "That's the Minister's Junior Assistant. He's right fit, isn't he?"
But Padma didn't agree, didn't answer, just continued to stare, wide-eyed down the hallway. The color drained from her face, and she was starting to wrinkle the edges of her files from holding onto them so tightly.
"Robert Stebbins?" she managed, voice barely a whisper. She had to clear her throat as it pinched from lack of moisture. Evie wasn't sure what to make of Padma's reaction, but nodded pleasantly before elbowing Padma lightly.
"Padma, you're staring at the man like a fourth year," she teased with a grin before looking back up at Stebbins. "Oh, but he's looking at you! Oh, here, turn to me," Evie encouraged, nudging Padma to face her. Padma was shaking a bit, and her eyes darted up to Evelyn. Did Evie know what was going on? Oh, Padma had to get out of here. "Now, pretend we're talking about something, now I'm going to laugh like you just said something funny!" Which Evelyn proceeded to do, eyes glancing over to Robbie to see if he'd noticed, or was still watching.