Putting Trust into the Wrong Man

Chapter 16: Grieving Over the Holidays

It had been two weeks since Poppy waved goodbye to her father and wished him a good journey home from Hogsmeade station. Poppy smiled and mouthed always as the train pulled away, but tears formed in her eyes, he'd be alone for Christmas this year.

Hogwarts students have the option of staying for the holidays or they could go home, Severus assured Poppy that she should stay with her friends, especially HermionePoppy didnt know why her in particular and kept asking her father,

"But dad, you'll be all alone, I don't want to abandon you for the holidays and the anniversary," Poppy begged her dad at the station before he walked onto the train.

"I won't be all alone, the neighbors always have a holiday party. They even serve the food I like," Severus smiled as he thought of all the food he would enjoy.

Poppy frowned and hugged her father, still not understanding, "my dear, some need love when all love is gone. I have you always, but others don't have anyone. Everyone needs someone, remember that." Severus kissed her forehead and Poppy nodded, still not fully understanding. The Hogwarts Express blew its horn and went out of the station.

The snow had been falling very quickly on the Hogwarts grounds, the courtyard was far too cold to sit outside. Winter was approaching fast, and with it...Christmas.

Poppy sat by the fireplace on a nearby couch in the Slytherin common room, she sipped on her warm butterbeer and continued reading her book. Most students were in the library or the Great Hall, somewhere where they could find entertainment indoors.

Poe came through the window and into the common room, headed straight for Poppys beverage but she quickly moved it before the white owl could swoop in and steal it.

"Not today, Poe. Come here, you have snow stuck in your feathers," Poppy brushed off the collecting snow on her owl as he looked around the room for treats, "what did you bring me?" Poppy looked curiously at her bird, unsure of the sudden visit.

Poe just stood fluttering his wings looking for food, Poppy got up and gave him some crackers and he flew off again, well that was strange, Poppy said to herself.

She went back to sitting on the couch and sat on a newspaper from a few years ago.

The headline read:

GRANGER FAMILY ATTACKED BY DEATHEATERS: DAUGHTER NOWHERE TO GO

Poppy flipped to the page with more details and read all about the attack and Hermione, how could they do that to her? Just then, a knock was heard on the common room door.

Who knocks? A non-Slytherin student.

Hermione appeared at the doorway just as Poppy put the paper down, her face blank on what to say.

"So, youve read it, the whole thing?" Hermione looked down at her shoes, silent.

"Yeah, I dont think I ever heard the full story before. Hermione I'm so sorry," Poppy hugged her, realizing it was the week of their anniversary, just a few weeks before her mothers. They sat quietly for a while until Hermione spoke up again.

"Ya know, I know who did it. No one would believe me if I told them, of course not even the ministry. I never even tried to tell them, such a stupid thought," Hermione laughed quietly to herself, laughing at the fact she could ever think someone could believe her.

I"'d believe you," Poppy looked intently at her grieving friend, "tell me, who did it?" She inched closer to Hermione for the secret.

"James Potter, he shot the incantation at my parents, I heard Lily call his name. They wanted to find me and do more damage, but they escaped before anything else could happen. Lily's mask fell slightly off her head too, I saw it." Hermione looked at Poppy, thinking she would never believe the story.