Denying Draco

22 - Girl Talk

Poppy wandered into the Great Hall the next morning with very little appetite for breakfast but she also did not want to avoid her friends forever. She had been in classes and the library the rest of the day after they had found out about her and Draco and then she'd snuck back into the common room as late as possible and retired straight to bed.

'Morning, Pop.' Ron greeted her first with a positive and bright smile. Ron was her favourite of all of the friends she had made. Poppy felt like no matter what the case, there was never any judgement from Ron.

'Hey, Ron,' she replied, sitting down next to him. 'Hey, everyone.'

'Morning,' Hermione said, softly, gently eating some food from her fork.

'Hey,' Ginny murmured, and her face displayed a look of discomfort and guilt.

Harry did not say a word. Instead, he got to his feet and left the table altogether.

'I guess Harry isn't talking to me then,' Poppy mumbled.

'He'll be fine, Pop,' Ron told her. 'He's just a little...surprised, I guess.'

'We all are,' Hermione stated. 'But all the same, you could have told us from the beginning what was going on. We wouldn't have judged you for it.'

'I certainly feel very judged if I'm completely honest, Hermione,' Poppy admitted. 'I would just appreciate it if the four of you would please keep it to yourselves. Especially from Draco. I don't want him to know that I've told anyone.'

'We'd never say a word,' Ron told her. 'Just be careful. You know Malfoy is-.'

'I know, Ron,' Poppy interjected. 'I know exactly what you're going to say and I know you only have my best interests at heart but really, I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about.'

'Okay then.' Ron nodded with a soft smile and squeezed her arm. 'I'm gonna' go talk to Harry.'

'You should leave him to it,' Ginny scoffed. 'If he wants to be in a mood about it then let him.'

Ron rolled his eyes and got up, leaving the table to go after Harry. It appeared to Poppy that Ginny still believed Harry had an interest in her, something she hoped was not true considering Harry's actions certainly made it seem that way. After Ginny had confessed to Poppy that she loved him, the worst thing that could happen would be for Ginny to find out he really did actually like her friend instead.

'You will be careful, won't you, Poppy?' Hermione sighed.

'Hermione, she's not an idiot,' Ginny told her. 'Anyway, it's not anything serious, right?'

'Absolutely not,' Poppy replied. 'It's just...'

'Sex?' Ginny asked, and a smile dared to spread onto her face.

'Why are you smiling like that?' Poppy asked, but a shy giggle escaped her lips and she pressed her fingertips to her mouth and felt herself blushing.

'I can't actually believe you and...him,' Ginny said, bringing her last word to a whisper. 'I mean, god he's an awful person, I'm sorry I have to say that, but I can see what attracted you.'

'I suppose when you haven't grown up with Malfoy from age 11 you see him a little differently,' Hermione said, raising her eyebrows awkwardly.

'He is good looking,' Ginny said, with a quick shrug. 'He's just a complete twat.'

'I don't know what it is, guys,' Poppy sighed, shrugging her shoulders. 'It just...happened. And now it just seems that it keeps...happening.'

'So it really is just sex then?' Ginny asked, and Poppy nodded quickly. 'How many times?'