After leaving Dumbledore's office, Poppy had sobbed all the way to the library, finding herself a discreet corner to hide behind a book and let her sadness flow. She felt utterly heartbroken by the devastating news. It was the first time in her life she would ever lose someone. Both of her grandparents and her parents were still alive, her Uncle Aberforth was still alive and her Uncle Albus would be the first person she would ever grieve for. The pain she was already feeling, she dreaded with every part of her how it was going to feel when the time came around.
After her morning classes the next day, she was still feeling low and empty as she headed through the corridors back towards the common room. It was lunchtime now and there were students roaming the halls and grounds everywhere, some hanging outside in the courtyard, some gathered in the alcoves of the corridors playing games. Everywhere she looked there were smiles and laughter, and a heavy, draining darkness hung over her.
She spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione at the end of the corridor and she let out a soft sigh as she continued onwards. She did not want them to ask her why her eyes were red or swollen as these questions would only mean talking about it all over again, but they had already spotted her, and she had no choice but to walk to them.
'Pop?' Ron questioned, as she got closer. 'Pop, what's wrong?'
She opened her mouth to speak but a mere croak left and she choked on a loud sob and shook her head. 'I had some bad news.'
'Oh no, come here.' Hermione walked to her and pulled her into a gentle hug as the two boys moved in closer. 'You can talk to us about it if you want to, Poppy.'
'It's my Uncle Albus,' Poppy sniffed, with her head rested on Hermione's shoulder. She looked up and directed her eyes to Harry. 'You already know.'
'He told you about his cursed hand,' Harry sighed.
Poppy nodded and she could tell by Hermione and Ron's faces that they knew too.
'Harry just told us this morning,' Hermione told her. 'I'm so sorry, Poppy.'
'He's going to die,' Poppy croaked, shaking her head as the tears resumed.
The three of them moved in closer to her again, Hermione with an arm around her shoulder, Ron taking her hand in his and Harry gently resting his palm on her arm. She stood in silence with her friends as she wiped her cheeks and tried to stop her sobs and her eyes drifted further down the corridor where she saw Draco watching them. He stared, barely moving from the centre of the corridor, and his face changed to a concerned look. She wondered if he was about to run to her and ask what was wrong, and his flickering eyes across her tearful expression quickly moved to her friends who were already comforting her, so he walked onwards right past them.
'I'm fine,' Poppy murmured, straightening up and wiping the last of her tears on her sleeve. 'I'll be okay.'
'You know we're here for you,' Hermione told her.
'Yeah, anything you need,' Ron said, smiling sympathetically.
'Thanks, guys,' Poppy replied. 'I need to go to the dorm to get my books for my next class.'
'Poppy,' Harry said, his face creased up uncomfortably. 'I'm sorry about-.'
'Let's forget about it, Harry,' Poppy interjected. 'It's okay. I'm sorry too.'
He lingered for a second before he nodded quickly. 'I'm so sorry about Professor. Dumbledore.'
'Me too,' Poppy mumbled, turning and walking away, back towards the Gryffindor common room.
When she turned down the second corridor, she slowed as Draco moved off from the wall where he had been leaning and waiting and he stopped in the centre of the corridor. She continued to walk up to him and stopped, studying his curious and slightly worried expression.
YOU ARE READING
Denying Draco
Fanfiction✨A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction✨ 🔘Ongoing🔘‼️MATURE‼️ Preview:- "'Disgusting, evil bastard!' Poppy continued, her voice full of pain and emotion as her eyes filled with tears. 'I never said I was otherwise!' he bellowed, his eyes wide and erratic. 'I'...