Denying Draco

38 - Red Ears

The duvet was pulled abruptly back from over Poppy and she sat upright in her bed and squinted against the light as she let out an irritated sigh. 'What the hell?!'

'You can't lie in your bed all weekend, Poppy!' Hermione cried. 'Now get up, get dressed and hurry to the common room where we will be waiting for you.'

'Waiting for me for what?' Poppy groaned, trying to reach for the duvet but Hermione pulled it further away from her.

'We're going to Hogsmeade to take your mind off...things,' Ginny explained, from behind Hermione. 'Just us girls. We'll go to the pub, have some drinks and keep you distracted.'

'I don't want to go,' Poppy stated, bluntly.

'I know you're sad,' Hermione sighed.

'I'm not sad!' Poppy whined.

'Yes, you are and that's okay!' Hermione exclaimed. 'You've been hurt but you cannot wallow in your pit for endless days and let it get you down. Come on, you're coming with us even if I have to drag you there myself.'

'Fine!' Poppy groaned, climbing out of bed.

'We'll wait for you in the common room.' The girls left and Poppy made her bed and got dressed, throwing on any old clothes that she could find. After doing her hair quickly and effortlessly, brushing her teeth and gathering her belongings in her backpack, she walked to the common room where Harry and Ron sat playing chess. They gave her sympathetic smiles and she ignored them, following the two girls out of the common room.

They made the walk on foot to Hogsmeade village and entered The Three Broomsticks. It was packed with it being a Saturday and Poppy felt anxious incase she saw him. It had been two days since their fight in the Room of Requirement and she hadn't seen him at all, more so because she had barely left her dorm and skipped all of the classes they shared.

'Oh, there's Luna,' Ginny said, walking over to where the small, blonde girl was sat at a table alone. 'Hi, can we join?'

'Of course,' Luna replied.

They all sat and Ginny ordered three Butterbeers, which came rather quickly and Poppy eyeballed hers as it was set down in front of her. Since the fight with him she had constantly felt nauseous, emotionally unstable and melancholy. His words had hurt and she hadn't realised just how much he had been able to have such an affect on her after only knowing him for so little time. She was full of regret, wishing she had listened to the people that had warned her off but she used every ounce of energy she had left, which wasn't much due to lack of eating and sleeping well, to try and push away negative thoughts and not think of him, something proving to be very difficult.

'Don't you like Butterbeer, Poppy?' Luna asked her, as she watched her stare at it.

'I do,' Poppy replied. 'I just feel a little bit sick today.'

'Do you still not have your appetite back?' Ginny asked her, with a sympathetic look.

'Not really,' Poppy mumbled. She felt uncomfortable and all she wanted to do was go back to her bed where she could cry in peace if she needed to.

'You look sad,' Luna said, and Ginny and Hermione glanced at each other.

Poppy was annoyed at Luna for pointing it out but she knew she meant no harm by it. 'Yes, Luna...that's because I am sad.'

'Whatever for?' Luna asked.

'Maybe we shouldn't talk about this,' Hermione murmured.

'Oh...someone hurt you...' Luna said, letting out a soft sigh.