Putting Trust into the Wrong Man

Chapter 12: New Friend

There was still much talk about the Halloween dance, but the next holiday was approaching fast. The decorations in the halls was quickly changing, preparing for thanksgiving.

Poppy had kept her distance from both Harry and Draco, focusing on her studies and mostly spending time with Hermione when she wasnt with Ronwhich wasnt very often.

Tick. Tick.

Poe was flying just outside Poppy's window with a letter tucked in his beak. Poppy quickly unlatched the window and let him fly inside the dormitory, warming himself up from the cold journey. She took the parchment out of his beak and fed him a few biscuits.

Poe flew back out of the window, probably to the owlery or to find an actual meal. She sat back in her bed and ripped open the envelope:

Poppy Willow,

Haven't heard from you in a while my dear. How are you? Is Hogwarts everything you thought it would be and more? Headmistress McGonagall has invited me to the annual Thanksgiving celebration at the Great Hall and I have accepted. I will see you then.

Miss you always,

Dad

A tear ran down Poppys cheek, oh how shes missed her father. Then the guilt hit as she read the letter once more.

How could I have left him for the holidays? He must be so lonely at home without me or Poe. How could I have done this?

She quickly scribbled a response on a spare piece of parchment and went to her window to call for Poe. She whistled for him and she could see the bright white bird flying her way. He gladly picked up the letter and was on his way.

Dad,

Theres so much I want to tell you. Well talk at thanksgiving.

Miss you always,

Poppy Willow

Knock. Knock.

Poppy ran back and laid in her bed while picking up a Muggle Magazine called Cosmopolitan.

Hermione peeked her head through the slightly opened door, she fully opened the door when she knew it was just Poppy in there.

"Hey, want to go get some lunch?" Hermione rarely spent time away from Ron, they were basically connected at the hip.

"Ya know, I'm not really that hungry," Poppy looked up from the magazine and smiled lightly to Hermione, Poppy hadn't really been hungry since the dance.

"Oh, come on Poppy. You've been saying that since the dance did something happen? Between you and Harry?" Gasp! "Or is there someone else!" Hermione sat right in front of Poppy and all of a sudden, the dramatic pages from the magazine became reality.

"What? Why would there be someone else? No, I just havent been hungry much," Poppy was trying to deflect and get the attention off her, "how's Ron doing by the way?"

"Well, you would know if you spent more time with us," Hermione became frustrated but quickly recovered, "sorry, I didn't mean that, it's just youre never around anymore. Come sit in the courtyard with me and you can flip through that boring magazine out in the sunlight. You're starting to look like a vampire." Hermione laughed while Poppy pretended to look offended.

With that, Poppy grabbed her moms sweater and followed Hermione through the hallways and out into the bright sun in the courtyard. Poppy shielded her eyes until they sat down at a stone table.

"So, what's in that boring magazine of yours anyway?" Hermione laughed while she bit into an apple.

"Boring?! Oh please, this is full of drama! The Jonas Brothers just announced they're getting back together!" Poppy was astounded, how could Hermione call this news boring?

"The who brothers? Honestly, they don't even move on the paper!" Hermione grabbed the magazine and flipped through the pages looking disappointed that no people were moving.

"The Jonas Brothers, like the best band in the Muggle world. Here, let's see which celeb brother you'll marry!" Poppy flipped open to a page with a quiz for Hermione to fill in to see which Jo Bro Hermione would marry.

Hermione didnt understand half the questions, "what on earth is Netflix?" She looked up in confusion and Poppy could only laugh, Hermione would never understand the Muggle world.

"Oh please, Cedric, I will not go out with you! Leave me alone!" a girl was yelling across the courtyard, it was a Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw in an argument, the Ravenclaw girl looked annoyed.

"Luna Lovegood, she's in my house, don't really know her though spends most of her time at the quidditch pitch," Hermione nodded her head to the sleek blonde hair and blue robes, "Cedric Diggory, he's been trying to ask her out for ages, but she wont bite. Not after what happened to his last girlfriend," Hermione pointed to a tall brunette with yellow robes, he had a charming smile.

"What happened to his last girlfriend?" Poppy turned her focus back to Hermione.

"Rumor has it she was secretly a vampire, tried to bite his neck one time. Last time we ever heard about that relationship. Though I don't know how he didn't know, she hated being in the sun and could never check her makeup in a mirror!" Hermione laughed and Poppy joined in.

"Excuse me, could I join you?" Luna was standing there, looking like a ghost in the sunlight, she was standing impatiently.

"Yeah, of course," Poppy moved her bag and Luna took a seat next to her.

"So, you and Cedric? What's your secret...werewolf?? Hermione turned toward Luna, trying to crack a joke to lighten the mood. It didn't work.

"No, course not. He's just so..." she trailed

"Annoying? Jocky? Horny?" Hermione started listed adjectives when they came to mind.

Luna laughed and nodded in agreement, she looked at Poppy and her laughing stopped.

"Hey! You're Poppy Snape! Wow, I didn't think I'd ever be able to meet you in my lifetime. You're Slytherin right? Well that would make sense your both your parents were..." Luna trailed again she knew she went too far.

"Yeah, I'm Slytherin. Though Im not as scary as they make the house out to be," Poppy smiled as she made the joke and Luna knew she hadnt offended her new friend.