All Good Things

Chapter 4 - Quiet Walks

The silence of their walk to the room Poppy had rented in the city while she set up her sanctuary had been filled with small conversations between the two women. Victoria really hadn't had much to say of her own life, given that she had resigned herself to a reality behind a desk. Poppy, on the other hand, had adventures galore exploring not only Europe, but the world in search of magical beasts in need of rescue and rehabilitation.

Victoria had been surprised to hear that Poppy had spent almost a year in America, and another in Australia. Poppy had explained that her partner had been hurt rather badly, and they had resolved to return to England and work on a sanctuary before continuing their adventures. Only for her partner to have exploded in a fit of rage when they had been invited to Uganda when Natty had gone on her vacation earlier that year.

Victoria was unsure if she meant a romantic partner or simply an expedition partner, and Poppy seemed determined to move on from the topic, switching to some of the beasts she had waiting to be transferred. The smaller woman expressed excitement at the possibility of getting to introduce her friend to occamies, bowtruckles and real life demiguises.

She smiled, her eyes lingering on Poppy as she animatedly spoke of her passion, her hands waving around as if she could somehow conjure up her visions. This. This was the Poppy she knew and loved.

Poppy stopped suddenly as they approached the wall that led to Diagon Alley, tapping the bricks lightly with her wand. The two women passed through the shifting stones, the sounds of them shifting closed behind them filling the empty space. It didn't take too long to make it to the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron, people filing in and out of the bar below.

Their leisurely pace slowed even further, Poppy's hands coming to rest together in front of her. Her brown bob swayed as she turned to look at Victoria, coming to a careful stop near the door.

"Poppy, it was wonderful getting to catch up with you." Victoria smiled through her words.

Poppy simply hummed, rocking back and forth on her heels. Victoria could swear she saw a slight look of disappointment pass over her features, the silence once again beginning to swallow them.

"Do you happen to be free tomorrow? I would love to see this sanctuary you're conjuring up."

Poppy's face suddenly lit up, her smile spreading wide, white teeth showing clearly between her lips.

"Oh, you'll love it! I can meet you here just after lunch if you'd like." She could see Poppy biting the inside of her cheek as she gazed up into her eyes, her expression hopeful.

"That sounds absolutely lovely, Poppy. Lunch it is. You get some rest, and I'll see you tomorrow." Victoria wrapped the tiny woman in a bracing hug before departing back the way she'd come.

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Poppy

She didn't think she had been any more obvious during their school years, and yet Victoria had been oblivious to all of her attempts. At first, Poppy had thought that perhaps Tori was as straight as freshly pressed parchment. But then she had seen her with Violet McDowell at one of the Gryffindor house parties heading back towards the dorms.

After that, it had been a matter of getting Victoria to notice her glaringly obvious pursuits at romance. She hadn't exactly been shot down. That probably would have been less painful and wouldn't have left her pining. And now, after all this time, after being apart for three years and having had a chance at romance outside of the confines of the school for magic, Tori was suddenly giving her all the signs of feeling something more.

She had seen the way Tori's eyes lingered on her, the heat obvious in the way she stared. Tori had never looked at her that way before, and the sudden attention from the woman she had pined for as a teenager had her heart pounding in her chest for the first time in years.

Poppy had dropped down on the bed in the room she was renting for the week rather unceremoniously, splaying all her limbs out and letting out a huff. She had walked into that office and thought she was over any lingering feelings she'd had for the taller woman, and then they had run into each other at the restaurant and everything had come crashing back like she was still that over eager fifteen year old.

Victoria had been the one to request they spend some time alone together for once, and it had Poppy wondering. Would this be like all the other times they had been together during their school years? Or was this going to be a proper date for once?

She grabbed her wand, flicking it to the lights and closing her eyes against the darkness that enveloped her. Her stomach was in knots, and she desperately hoped she could succumb to the sleep that she deeply craved.