Denying Draco

45 - Where Are You, Draco?

'Hermione, what were you thinking?!' Poppy gripped her own hair in her hands as she paced the common room, her letter home drifting to the floor as the plan of returning home became a forgotten thought. Now she had to stay. Now Draco knew, she had to make sure he wasn't going to say or do anything stupid.

'I'm sorry, Poppy!' Hermione cried, her face creasing up as she tried not to cry. 'He had to know, someone had to sort this out!'

'Not Draco, Hermione, anyone but him!' Poppy screeched, her tone panicked and distressed. 'Goyle is one of his best friends; what did you think telling him was going to gain?'

'She's right, Hermione, it wasn't your place to do that,' Ron murmured.

'He was going to torture me until I told him anyway!' Hermione exclaimed.

'I'm with Hermione on this one,' Ginny said, softly.

'Of course you are, you gave him the name!' Poppy cried, brushing her palm back across her hair as she tried to compose her breathing.

'There's something about the way he was, Poppy,' Hermione said, calmly. 'His whole face and demeanour changed when I told him. He was furious. He looked like he was going to throw up!'

'How does that make this any better?' Poppy asked.

'Because I really think he...cares,' Hermione replied.

'He doesn't care!' Ron scoffed. 'This is Malfoy! He only cares for himself and you two should have respected Pop's wishes and kept this a secret!'

'I was planning on telling my uncle anyway when I left school,' Poppy told them. 'I wasn't going to let him get away with it.'

'Draco threatened to perform the Cruciatus Curse on me if I didn't tell him,' Hermione explained. 'He had already seen you running through the corridor crying. He was going to find out no matter what.'

Poppy closed her eyes and nodded slowly, feeling disturbed that Draco had threatened to torture Hermione to get her to speak. 'Well...I would rather you had told him the truth than let him hurt you so, I'm sorry for getting mad.'

'At the same time, I wanted him to know,' Hermione said. 'Because he will make Goyle pay.'

'No, he won't, Hermione!' Ron cried. 'It's his best mate! Goyle has been loyal to him since first year!'

'Goyle put his hands on Draco's girl!' Ginny argued.

'I'm not his girl,' Poppy said, immediately.

'No, I didn't mean it like that,' Ginny sighed. 'You know what I mean...'

'Goyle means more to him than I do,' Poppy told them.

'I disagree,' Hermione said. 'You didn't see his reaction when I told him. I believe he will do right by you.'

'I think he's going to fucking kill him for this,' Ginny said.

'Do you hear yourselves?' Ron asked, twisting his face at the two girls. 'Sticking up for Malfoy, talking about him like he's some fucking superhero! Are you forgetting everything? Are you forgetting what an absolute arsehole he is?'

'I can't do this right now,' Poppy sighed, picking up the half-written letter and crumpling it in her hand. 'I need to go back to my dorm. I feel sick again.'

'Does that mean you're staying?' Ginny asked, pointing to the crumpled letter. 'Didn't look like Malfoy was too happy to hear you were leaving either.'

'Oh, Ginny, you're really annoying me now,' Ron spat, scowling at his sister. 'Shut up putting stupid thoughts in her head!'