Putting Trust into the Wrong Man

Chapter 17: New Year, New...Me?

Hermione and Poppy celebrated a quiet Christmas together, they lit candles in remembrance of their loved ones, and prepared for the New Year.

Hogwarts students prepared for the New Year way grander than Poppy had ever seen. The Weasley twins were planning the biggest party of the school year and to start the new year with a bang. Everyone was invited, only they couldn't get caught by Filch.

This underground party was planned in the dungeons, all classrooms would be unlocked and hallways free to roam from room to room. Filch only walked down there once a night, he preferred the upstairs of the castle where he could actually see.

After dinner in the Great Hall, students hid food in their robes, hoping to get them to the rooms without being noticed. Hermione convinced some of the house elves they could come to the party and bring as much food and drinks they could.

"I can't believe you actually convinced them to actually go into the dungeons!" Poppy whispered to Hermione in complete shock the elves would go down there.

"Oh please, if you ask them for favors, they're sure to help you out, plus I offered them food they cant get in the kitchen," Hermione smirked, Poppy realizing she was talking about butterbeer. When Poppy showed a slightly confused, Hermione responded, "butterbeer affects them differently, they go completely bonkers over it." They laughed and headed to their common rooms to get ready for the party.

Poppy hadn't talked much to anyone besides Luna and Hermione, things got awkward between her and Draco; she tried to avoid Harry as much as she could. It had been a quiet week since Christmas, she needed a fresh start to the year.

Poppy put on a black sparkly short dress with a pair of black heels, the long sleeves glimmering in the moonlight from the window. Hermione came down in a red dress with red heels, something Poppy never thought she would see Hermione wearing. Luna joined them at the bottom of the stairs in a navy solid dress with navy heels, representing her house proudly.

The trio walked into the dungeons together, starting with the potions classroom where food and beverages were. Poppy headed for the drink table and as she went to grab a cup another hand brushed over hers. She quickly let go and looked up to see a black suit, white shirt, and black tie with flattering blonde hair.

"Poppy," Draco grabbed two cups and poured them both drinks, he handed one to her as he sipped his own, "that dress looks..." he trailed off, speechless.

Poppy blushed, "you dont look so bad yourself, Draco," she said over the music. They smiled at each other, not wanting to walk away from each other but not knowing what to say.

"Meet me at midnight, it would be a pleasure to have you as my New Years kiss," Draco kissed Poppy's cheek and walked away to greet others walking into the room.

Poppy smiled and walked back to Luna and Hermione.

"What are you smiling for?" Luna giggled astonished as she hasn't seen Poppy this happy in a long time.

"Oh please, didn't you see who she was talking to? Draco, of course. What did he say, he's been awfully quiet since Christmas," Hermione faced Poppy who was still blushing, "oh, definitely to be his New Years kiss!"

Poppy giggled, finally letting out the truth; Hermione and Luna were proud. Hermione said she would try and find Ron by midnight, but who knew where he was.

"Maybe I'll kiss Cedric, show him what he's missing," Luna laughed while drinking her butterbeer.

"You're the one that keeps rejecting him! Come on, Luna, why won't you go out with him?" Poppy yelled over the music, it had been hours since she's seen Draco.

"Because, he looks like that," Luna pointed to Cedric who was dancing and laughing with his friends, "boys who look like that end up hurting girls who look like me," she finished her drink and left to get another one.

Hermione eventually found Ron and went to dance with him for a while, Poppy left to go get another drink from the potions classroom. As she was pouring her cup, Pansy Parkinson walked over to the table.

"You see Draco? He was supposed to meet me half hour ago for a make out session before midnight, ya know, preparing to do the deed," Pansy winked and laughed, Poppy set her drink down and looked at Poppy.

"What is your obsession with Draco? I mean seriously, you're like his mum constantly watching and stalking him, you might as well put him on a leash!" Poppy fumed.

"At least he has a mum to look after him," and with that, Poppy was so angry she pushed Pansy away from her, a drink fell on top of Pansy's dress leaving a huge stain mark.

"Come on," Hermione quickly grabbed Poppy's arm and pulled her out of the classroom and into another one further down the hall, people were playing games in here.

"I...I don't know why I did that. Why did I do that?" Poppy panicked and paced around the room, Pansy would get her revenge at some point.

"Because she attacked your family and your boyfriend, I would've done the same," Hermione watched as Poppy paced, trying to calm her down.

"What the hell happened!" Luna came running into the room with a drink in her hand, "Pansy basically had a heart attack and it looks like shes bleeding or something."

"Poppy pushed her," Hermione said flatly, Poppy sent her dagger eyes, "look, thats what happened! She came after your family and your man, honestly Poppy, it had to be done."

Luna immediately started laughing and high fived Poppy. They sat and played a few games together until the clock struck 11:55pm. Poppy had 5 minutes to find Draco for their midnight kiss.

Hermione left to go find Ron and Luna went back to the dancing room to find someone to kiss. Poppy roamed the halls and she could hear the clock ticking, it was 11:58pm and she still couldn't find Draco.

Hands grabbed Poppy and pulled her back into a closet nearby, she giggled and found herself in a dark closet, "Happy New Year," she smiled and leaned into her kiss. She was glad she was going into the New Year with Draco, nothing or no one could stop them, not even Pansy Parkinson.

As they were kissing, things started to get heated until the closet door opened, and light fled in from the hallway. Poppy pulled away gasping and smiling while blushing.

"Poppy?" Draco stood at the closet door.