Denying Draco

10 - Artefacts

Poppy's smile was wide and amazed by the sight of her uncle's office. The ugly, stone gargoyle outside of it had made her twist her face as Professor. McGonogall stated the password, 'Acid Pops.' Upon entering the office, her eyes were fixated on all of the bewildering and wonderful fixtures, before they settled on her uncle stood by his desk.

'Poppy, welcome.' Albus Dumledore greeted his niece as Professor. McGonogall left the room again and Poppy began to wander around the room to feast her eyes on his wondrous office.

'I know I'm here about what happened this morning,' Poppy sighed, as she looked into the fireplace.

'Professor. Snape was not particularly happy about your counter-jinx on Mr. Malfoy,' Albus stated.

'He kicked me out,' Poppy said, turning to her uncle with a look of guilt. 'I apologised, Uncle Albus...oh, is it okay for me to call you that now?'

'Well what else would you call me?' Albus asked, with a humoured smile.

'Professor Dumbledore?' Poppy questioned.

'It is only us here, Poppy, you do not need to address me as Professor,' Albus chuckled.

'So what is my punishment to be then?' Poppy asked, strolling onwards and pausing to study a portrait.

'Well, I'm sure Professor. Snape will most likely hand you a detention,' Albus told her.

'And you?' Poppy pressed. 'Are you angry? Have I disappointed you?'

'Have you disappointed me for defending yourself against a jinx?' Albus questioned. 'Certainly not. I would have done just the same as you did.'

Poppy grinned and felt relief wash over her. 'Will I be returning to Snape's class?'

'I will talk to him,' Albus told her. 'I actually asked you here because we need to talk about your mother.'

'Oh no,' Poppy mumbled. 'Have you spoken to her?'

'I visited your parents this morning in Tinworth,' Albus replied. 'Your mother was not particularly pleased to see me.'

'I can imagine,' she sighed. 'Do I have to go home, Uncle?'

'Your father and I talked to her and she has agreed to give you the rest of the week before you must return home,' Albus explained.

Poppy felt her heart sink and she dropped her eyes to the floor. She almost felt tears brimming in her eyes at the thought of being back in Tinworth soon and the anger was slowly bubbling up inside of her.

'I refuse to leave,' Poppy muttered, looking back to her uncle. 'I am seventeen years old; I am of age now. I refuse to leave!'

Albus nodded back at her slowly, looking like he was in deep thought before he let out a sigh. 'That is a decision you are within your right to make, but with it will come consequences. Are you willing to risk your relationship with your mother?'

'She's my mother,' Poppy stated. 'She can't be mad at me forever but I cannot go on living my life on her terms. I am staying here. That is final.'

'Very well then,' Albus replied, still nodding slowly. 'I suppose I best inform her of your decision.'

'Yes, tell her I'm not coming.' Poppy nodded eagerly and tried to push away the rage she was feeling over her mother's behaviour.

'You may return to your classes now,' Albus told her, as he moved and sat down behind his desk. 'I will send someone for you when I have spoken to Arvilla.'

Poppy nodded again and turned for the door, pausing as a thought entered her head and she turned back. 'Uncle Albus?' He glanced up from his desk and Poppy hesitated before she took three steps forward. 'What is going on with you and Harry Potter?'

'I'm not sure what you're referring to, Poppy,' Albus replied.

'Harry was meeting with you last night and...well, it's clear by his behaviour that he is up to something,' Poppy stated. 'Are you involved? Is there something bad happening that you two are trying to fix?'

Dumbledore stared onwards at her before he let out a sigh and signalled to the seat by his desk. 'Come and take a seat, Poppy.'

She hurried forward and sat down, realising her uncle was about to tell her exactly what it was that was happening. She was scared and excited at the same time, praying that once he told her it would not make her want to hurry back home to the safety of Tinworth.

'Poppy, Harry Potter is currently attending to some business outside of Hogwarts for me,' he told her. 'He will still be at school for his studies but he is...looking for something for me.'

'What is he looking for?' Poppy asked.

'I am not so sure I should tell you,' Albus replied, to her disappointment. 'There are some very important...artefacts that I need Harry to obtain and this is what he is doing.'

'Why do you need them?' Poppy questioned.

'I want to destroy them,' Albus explained. 'These artefacts contain a different kind of dark magic.'

'So Harry is helping you search for dangerous objects that you want to destroy?' Poppy reiterated. 'Is that all?'

'No, it is not all but it is all I can say,' Albus murmured.

'Do they have anything to do with you-know-who?' Poppy asked, and Albus looked at her closely and nodded his head. 'What is you-know-who planning, Uncle? Should we be worried?'

'I would not have brought you here to Hogwarts if I was worried, Poppy,' Albus replied.

'How many of these artefacts are there?' Poppy asked him.

With a slight hesitation, Dumbledore considered answering Poppy, before he returned his eyes to her and replied. 'I believe there to be 7.'

'And have you found any yet?' Poppy asked.

'One of them was destroyed many years ago by Harry Potter in his second year at Hogwarts,' Dumbledore explained. 'I myself found a second, which I also destroyed. I believe I may have discovered the location of another.'

'Why must they be destroyed, Uncle Albus?' Poppy asked. 'What dark magic is this? What is inside of these artefacts?'

'It is time for you to leave, Poppy,' Albus replied. 'You missed Professor. McGonogall's class already, I do not want you to miss another.'

Poppy nodded slowly and got to her feet. 'I hope you find them all, Uncle. If you need my help...you know you can ask me.'

'I just need you to be the best Hogwarts student you can be and do yourself proud,' he replied, smiling softly. Poppy returned the smile and nodded, turning to cross the room and she left her uncle's office, a thousand more questions still spinning around in her head.

'Poppy, hi.' Harry Potter walked around the corner and greeted her as they passed by one another.

'Hi,' Poppy replied. 'Are you going to see my uncle?'

'Yeah, he wants to talk to me,' Harry said, smiling awkwardly. 'Probably about my crappy attendance.'

Harry laughed and Poppy smiled softly. 'Or about the next artefact he has found and wants your help destroying.'

Harry's smile dropped and he frowned at her. 'He told you about the Horcruxes?'

'Horcruxes?' Poppy questioned. 'What are Horcruxes?'

'What did the Professor tell you exactly?' Harry asked, shifting uncomfortably, as he ignored her question.

'Not a lot,' Poppy replied. 'Don't worry, Harry, I won't tell anyone. Good luck finding them all.'

She turned and continued down the corridor, leaving Harry alone and stunned but she had meant what she'd said, she really hoped he would find them all. If these Horcruxes were being hunted by Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter in order to be destroyed, she knew they had to be dangerous things to remain existing in the Wizarding World. She wished she knew more and that she could do more to help them, but she knew her uncle was right. She had to focus on her studies and stay out of it. Not to mention, she had a few problems of her own, the main one being an arrogant, rude, blonde-haired boy she couldn't get out of her head.