Padma definitely agreed that it would be exciting to discover something, to have her name put down in potion books among those people who made great advances to the world of potion-making. That was the dream, anyway, and she knew it wasn't going to happen tomorrow. Some day, though. So, at Evan's comment about how she could achieve that, she gave him a nod of thanks. It wasn't exactly cheering support, but it was better than being told she was silly.
She was a bit relieved, then, at his suggestion of letting her return to her work. As interactions went, it wasn't the very most awkward, but it had been rather... Pointless? But, sometimes that wasn't so bad. People did small talk all the time to fill the silences, which she didn't understand. Silence was better, wasn't it? But she was fairly good at faking it, but she would be happier to get back to work at this point.
"You're fine," she said politely, "it has been very informative. But yes, I should get back." She gave him a friendly - albeit slightly awkward - smile of farewell and then lifted her book and disappeared behind it.