Denying Draco

54 - Cedric's Broom

The days rolled by with no word from Harry, Ron or Hermione. She still hadn't told Ginny what she knew and intended to keep it that way; she was already worried out of her mind.

To make things worse, news had spread of a mass breakout from Azkaban with all high profile prisoners fleeing who were now walking the streets free to do as they pleased. This was something that scared Poppy and she knew once her mother found out about this that she would likely come and get her.

Professor. Dumbledore was rarely in his office either. She had made her way to see him several times in the past three days but he was always away from school. She worried that his cursed hand was getting worse and just wanted to check up on him but she realised that with so much happening and so little time left in her uncle's life, he obviously wanted to do as much as he could to destroy the Horcruxes before his time was up.

As for Draco, Poppy kept her distance. His looks in their shared classes and around school were stoic and bitter at first but by the end of the week he seemed to be looking at her more often. His expressions were more curious than rude and he would give her the impression that he wanted to talk to her when he paused by her table in class or slowed when he passed her in the Great Hall. She continued on as normal, keeping her nose out of his business and no longer following him around like he'd so aggressively demanded. Now, it seemed he was surprised by it. It seemed he hadn't expected her to actually listen.

Being up to date with her schoolwork and way ahead with her studies for the NEWTs, Poppy had a lot of spare time to spend reading in the library, relaxing in the common room or walking outdoors or through Hogsmeade with Ginny to keep her mind occupied.

She really felt for Ginny. She was worrying for her own brother, a girl she had grown close to for the past six years who was practically family to her and also the boy she had deep feelings for. Poppy had never had a single moment in her life when she'd believed in a higher being but she prayed every night to the heavens that her friends were safe and would return from a successful mission.

As she sat in the courtyard one day, her head buried in a book, a little, brown owl flew overhead and landed on the stone wall beside her. It had a letter in it's beak and Poppy took it gratefully, opening it up to read.

Poppy,

        I am writing to check that all is well after not receiving a response to my previous letter. I hope I did not make you feel uncomfortable with the gift I sent you. If so, I apologise. I would still very much like to see you if you would be up for meeting again? If not, I understand, but I really would like it if we could arrange something. I thoroughly enjoyed having tea with you last time. Feel free to let me know whenever you aren't too busy. My owl will await to return a letter to me if you so wish to respond.

Regards,

       Cedric x

Poppy let out a soft sigh. With all of the drama of Goyle and Draco and Snape and Harry, Ron and Hermione leaving, she had simply forgotten to write back to Cedric.

Pulling her quill and parchment from her bag, she lay it down on the cover of her book and wrote a letter back. It was short and it was simple but it was to tell Cedric she would meet him in Hogsmeade the upcoming Saturday at 12pm by Madam Puddifoot's.

Rolling the letter up into a small, thin scroll, she popped it into the owl's mouth and off it soared to deliver it back to it's owner.

Her week carried on as normal and when Saturday arrived, she stayed in the common room for a while with Ginny, watching as her friend silently stared into the fireplace looking tired and low. With each day that passed by with no word, Ginny looked even more unwell with the stress of it.