Denying Draco

49 - Stupid, Gullible Idiot

'Sit down and be quiet,' Snape demanded from the front of the class, glaring around at the students in front of him but keeping his eyes strictly away from Poppy. 'Page 429 in your textbooks. The Ear-Shrivelling Curse. Read it quietly for the remainder of the lesson.'

The shuffle of students and the thudding of books opening sounded and Snape returned to his desk, pulling out a book of his own. The hour long class went by silently and dragged out. Poppy tried to focus on the task at hand but she was all too aware of Draco not far behind her. He hadn't looked her way since entering the classroom and she knew he was annoyed about Cedric's gift.

When the hour finally ended, Snape dismissed the class but told Draco to stay seated. This instantly sparked Poppy's curiosity. Why was he always on Draco's case? It was beginning to feel like Snape had something on him judging by the way Draco's face always seemed to fill with dread whenever he was around Snape.

Poppy left the room, looking at Draco and seeing him leaning on his hand with his eyes down at his desk. The full class vacated the room and dispersed in the corridors to their next classes, but Poppy stayed in the corridor further down, sitting in a small alcove on the wall to wait for him. His cold shoulder treatment was bothering her and she needed him to know nothing was going on with Cedric.

I shouldn't have to explain myself to him though! Oh, but...I have been having sex with him so I suppose I do owe him an explanation... But then again, why should I? He has been so awful to me and he never said this meant anything! Still...if he was sleeping with me and there was another girl making moves on him, surely I would expect to be informed? Does he even deserve to be informed though? He's such an arsehole to me! Although he hasn't been for a while... Why couldn't you have just came to Hogwarts and been a normal student and not gotten involved with him in the first place, Poppy? Well...too late for that now.

The classroom door opening pulled her from her argumentative thoughts and Draco turned out into the corridor with speed in his step and a scowl on his face.

Poppy got up from her seat and when he saw her, he slowed and his face changed to an uninterested look.

'What did he want?' Poppy asked him.

'I don't have time for chit-chat,' Draco mumbled, walking away from her.

'There's nothing going on you know!' Poppy called down the corridor to him and he stopped, not moving from the spot. 'Yes, he sent me a gift but it's not like that.'

Draco turned slowly on his heel and when he looked at her, she saw his throat move as he gulped. Then came the hand from his pocket, swiping his nose again frustratedly as his rings glinted in the light and he shoved it back into his pocket aggressively. His lips pushed upwards and his eyes narrowed. He was looking for a response, but all he could do was glare.

'I just thought you should know,' Poppy murmured, softly.

'Why?' he asked, shaking his head quickly. 'Why would you think I should know that?'

She opened her mouth to speak then quickly shrugged.

'I don't give a shit about you and Diggory,' he said, and she sensed the cruelty in his tone and her heart began to pound as she detected more to come.

'Draco,' she said, calmly. 'Before you start saying things to me that-.'

'I have nothing to say to you, Dumbledore,' he stated, looking around in a bored manner. 'Go be with Diggory. I don't give a fuck. I have more pressing matters to deal with than the shit going on in your life.'

'I'm not with him, Draco,' she sighed, feeling irritated. 'Listen to what I'm telling you, for Christ's sake.'

'I already told you, I don't give a fuck!' he snapped, breathing out heavily. 'He wants to take you out again he said...I suppose you're going to go, aren't you?'

Poppy's eyes flickered side to side as she thought about the unexpected question. 'Umm...well, if I decide to go...it would only be as friends-.'

'Friends, oh spare me the bullshit, Dumbledore, don't insult my intelligence!' he scoffed, mockingly. 'In my opinion, he's a sad, brown-nosing twat but I can see the appeal from your perspective.'

'You're being ridiculous,' Poppy groaned.

'You enjoy your date with Diggory, alright?' he said, stepping backwards down the corridor. 'In fact, enjoy your life with Diggory for all I care. He can have you.'

'Do you hear yourself?' she cried. 'You're just making up ridiculous things!'

'I SAID...he can have you,' he barked, loudly, bringing his voice back down to a stern mutter again.

'I don't want him.' Poppy's voice came out weaker than she'd intended and she regretted it right away the second she saw the taunting look on Draco's face.

'Well, that's unfortunate for Diggory,' Draco said, calmly. 'But Pansy's right, he's dodged a bullet.'

'Here we go...' Poppy sighed, shaking her head and pulling her lip between her teeth.

Poppy Ariana Dumbledore, don't you dare fucking cry in front of him! Walk away, just walk away before you get hurt; he is going to hurt you now!

'I'm going to go now because you're boring the life out of me,' Draco said, turning to leave. 'Just go out with the pathetic bastard, Dumbledore.'

He turned around again and she felt her anger bubbling.

'What about everything you said then?!' she yelled down the corridor, ignoring the voice in her head. 'What about being the only one? Why are you pushing me towards him? You know it means you won't be the only one anymore...'

She heard him take in a slow breath and he turned around and blew it out again, appearing to be losing his patience. 'Do you hear how pathetic you sound? Do you actually think you're that special; think you mean something to me? Like I already said, he can have you...'cause I certainly don't fucking want you.'

There you have it! Just like you knew it was coming! You stupid, gullible idiot, Poppy...

A turn in her stomach and an even more painful jolt in her chest arrived at his words as she watched him pace away down the corridor and disappear. He had done it again. He had hurt her again and this time, she could only blame herself for forgiving him the first time. This time, however, it truly felt like heartbreak, and that was the most confusing part of it all.

She leaned against the wall and urged her tears to fall but they wouldn't come. She was too angry and frustrated to cry. She was furious at herself for getting into this place with him again. He was so back and forth with her she knew she should have known at this point that there was never going to be the side of Draco that she wanted to see everyday. He didn't have one side. He had multiple sides, and the majority of them lived up to his name.

She kicked the wall and ignored the pain in her toenail, storming up the corridor towards the Gryffindor common room. As she got closer and closer, her mind consumed by what had just happened, the thoughts were quickly whipped away as she heard a load of voices talking loudly at the same time.

Hurrying forward, she turned towards the common room entrance and saw Professor. McGonogall standing amongst a large group of Gryffindor students.

'We just want to know if the rumours are true, Professor!' someone cried.

'If everybody would please just quieten down then I will explain!' McGonogall bellowed, letting out a heavy sigh.

Poppy wandered closer and saw Ginny hovering at the back, her face as white as a sheet.

'Is it true then, Professor?' another girl asked, calmly. 'Is he really dead?'

'No...' Poppy whimpered, hurrying to Ginny's side as Ginny began to look even more nauseous.

'Poppy,' Ginny said, turning to her and clutching her hand tightly. 'Poppy, have you heard?'

'No, heard what?' Poppy whispered. 'Please don't tell me it's Harry, Ron or Hermione, please no...' Her voice was trembling with fear.

'What?' Ginny frowned at her in confusion. 'No...not them. You really haven't heard...'

'The rumours sadly are true,' Professor. McGonogall sighed, and Poppy turned to her slowly, feeling overwhelmed with confusion. 'Late last night, the body of Gregory Goyle was found and yes...it appears that he was in fact murdered.'