Counting Stars || Poppy Snape

CHAPTER 24

"Poppy" I felt someone shake me awake, or try to.

"Shove off Sarah. Just five more minutes."

"Poppy, it's Cedric" I immediately shot up and looked at him with panic.

"What's wrong?"

"You can't see my morning face!"

I bolted from the bed and through a door I could only assume led to the bathroom. I rinsed my face and ran my fingers through my knotted red hair. I decided that that was the best I could do, considering I was still half asleep.

When I left the bathroom Cedric looked at me with an amused expression. "I don't really see the difference"

"Oh hush"

I started putting my clothes on sleepily and collected my books. When I was done I waited for Cedric to finish and we made our way to the Hufflepuff dorm exit. But just before we could leave Cedric remembered that he had forgotten his Transfiguration book and told me to start heading to the Great Hall.

As soon as I opened the door into the hallway I bumped into a figure in scarlet robes.

"There you are, Pops! I was worrie-'' Oli suddenly stopped abruptly. "Why are you coming out of the Hufflepuff dorm? And why do you have a yellow tie?"

I looked at my tie and groaned. Of course I had been stupid enough to pick up the wrong tie. Just what I needed.

"Oh Merlin, you were with Diggory!" he exclaimed loudly, causing a few curious faces to turn our way. Then he lowered his voice and continued, "Did you guys, you know... do it?"

"Oh God no Oli!" this time it was my turn to attract stares, "I came here with Lanti and couldn't find my way out so Ced offered to let me sleep with him. That's it. We slept with each other. Like actually sleeping though not the other thing."

He nodded his head, seeming somewhat unconvinced.

"What are you doing here anyways?" I asked him to try and change topics

"Well you missed Quidditch practice."

I slapped myself. Dammit. We had an important game against Slytherin soon and I had completely forgotten about it. "Oli, I'm so so sorry, I just had a long day yesterday and-"

"Just forget it Pops, you clearly had more important things to attend to"

With a quick goodbye he left to go sit next to his classmates. I sighed, reminding myself that I'd have to talk to him later and made my way next to Sarah.

Her eyes went wide when she looked at me, well not at me rather at the yellow tie around my neck. "I knew it!" She exclaimed, "Look at you losing your virginity to Cedric Diggory."

I spurted the water I'd been drinking out and everyone on my table turned to look at me. Today really was my day huh?

I corrected Sarah and told her all the corny details that Oli didn't like talking about. She 'aww'ed in all the right moments too which helped.

After finishing breakfast I excused herself from Sarah and ran to find Pen. I wanted to ask her about the break up.

"Pen!"

The ravenclaw stopped talking with her friends and turned to face me. "Hey Poppy, what's up?" She tried to act happy but I could see how much she was hurting inside.

"Pen, I heard about your breakup" She faltered slightly, "oh"

I put my hand on her shoulder comfortingly, "do you want to talk about it?"

For a second I was completely convinced she would say yes, she needed to say yes. The stress of such a break up was too much to handle alone. But instead she shook her head, "Why would I need to?"

"If you change your mind I'm always here to talk." I smiled.

"I won't, but thanks anyway. See you later!" before I could say another word she had already hurried down the hall to meet her friends.

I could already feel us drifting. 

***

A/N: hey guys! I really didn't expect this story to even get 10 reads, let alone 3.3k! I am so so thankful for all of you <3

However, I did have a lot of plans for this story but I just can't bring myself to keep writing it. This feels more like a chore than something I do for fun, which really shouldn't be the case. I'll try and keep writing it but if I don't update often then this is why.

P.S: I've started writing this other fic which is a marauders era Remus Lupin one and I think I might get far with that one. so if you would be interested in me posting that just lmk :)