Denying Draco

31 - A Future Potions Master

It had been over a month since Poppy had first arrived at Hogwarts, still with no further communication from her mother, and Poppy certainly felt like she had been there a lot longer. She was thriving in classes, she finally knew her way around the school almost completely and living with her friends everyday was her idea of true happiness.

It had been over a week since she had stayed with Draco in his dorm and she had only seen him in their shared classes and in the Great Hall at mealtimes but they hadn't spoken at all. She figured he wasn't making an effort to approach her due to her being on her period all week, meaning he probably believed sex was out of the question and had no other reason to even talk to her. It bothered her but only slightly; she was quite used to the fact that Draco was only interested in sex and ensuring he was the only one she gave it to, as much as remembering the change in the way he had been with her that night was something she wished to experience from him again.

Strolling down the corridor towards the Potions classroom, she was lost in a world of her own thinking about how much time her uncle had left to live and worrying about him deeply. Harry appeared beside her and she looked at him and smiled. He looked tired but she knew he had a lot on his mind that probably kept him up most nights.

'Morning,' Harry said, cheerfully.

'Good morning to you too,' Poppy replied, as they continued down the corridor to class. 'You look rather chirpy this morning.'

'I actually had a really good chat with Ginny last night,' he told her. 'We both stayed up late in the common room just talking and it was nice.'

'That does sound nice,' Poppy replied, smiling with joy. 'So...what else happened?'

'Nothing,' Harry said, turning away from her.

'Hold on...do I see you blushing right now?' Poppy teased, nudging him in the side.

'I'm not blushing!' he protested, nudging her back.

'Oh my god, you are!' she cried, howling with laughter as he turned back to her and she saw the pink flush across his cheeks. She reached up and pinched his left cheek gently. 'Oh Harry, you are so adorable right now.'

'Stop,' Harry laughed, shoving her hand away.

Their laughter was cut off as a hard thud hit them both from behind, sending them stumbling apart as Draco shoved between the two of them and continued onwards.

'Watch it, Malfoy!' Harry barked, rubbing his arm.

'Shouldn't be in my way, Potter,' Draco muttered, before he stopped outside of the Potions classroom and turned around to look at them, his eyes focusing on Poppy.

'Are you alright?' Harry asked her, watching as she rubbed her shoulder that was throbbing from the hit.

'I'm fine,' Poppy murmured, not taking her eyes off Draco.

Draco entered the classroom and Poppy and Harry followed, taking their places at their table as the rest of the class filed in and they waited for Professor. Slughorn to arrive.

'Are you still...spending time with him?' Harry asked her, his eyes flickering over towards Draco.

'I haven't even spoken to him for over a week now,' Poppy replied. 'Not since...' She stopped talking right away, unsure of whether it was a good idea to tell Harry about the night she'd stayed in the Slytherin dorms.

'Not since you slept in his dorm overnight?' Harry finished.

Poppy gasped quietly. 'Who told you?'

'Nobody,' Harry replied.