In the Shadow of Seventh year

Chapter 6: Comfort and Care

As soon as she had apparated right in front of the school gates, Poppy didn't waste any time heading toward the Undercroft. Her muscles were strung tight, her heart was still beating way too fast and tears were threatening to overflow.
The Undercroft was the only place she knew she could access herself and where absolutely no one could witness her mental breakdown.

Hurrying through the DADA tower, she hastily looked around, careful no one saw her and then tapped her wand at the intricate clock design on what looked like a sealed-off ornamental closet. The gears shifted and she quickly stepped in, letting the door close behind her.
Only after the gate closed behind her did Poppy dare to finally let it all out, knowing the space was sound-proof.
Sobs wrecked through her body as she screamed until her throat hurt and her lungs demanded air.
She hated how those poachers got her right where it hurt with just a few words, she hated how even the mention of her parents had such an effect on her still and most of all she hated how weak it made her feel.

She had wanted to cast a spell at them, wanted to curse them and make them suffer for what they did to that poor Kneazle and the Mooncalves, but instead her body had just frozen up. Unable to do what her mind wanted it to do.

Weak. Pathetic. Burden.
The words her parents loved to use to describe her swirled around in her brain, taking turns in taunting her as Poppy weakly let herself fall on the floor. Her knees hitting the concrete was barely felt as the emotional pain was scorching her, tears flowing down her cheeks and dripping on the ground.

You had told her it was okay and you'd handle it with the others. You had urged her to go back and be safe. Poppy was thankful you did and deep down she knew you didn't blame her one bit. You knew it wasn't her fault.
But at that moment it didn't matter. Poppy couldn't help but feel like she had failed her friends. Abandoning them just because she was too weak to get over herself and fight.
It had been a long time since Poppy felt self-deprecation this strong.
"I'm weak." She spoke softly into the empty room, voice raspy from screaming and crying. "They'd be better off without me. I'm just a burden to them like this."

"You know, they say talking to yourself is the first sign you're going mad." Ominis' voice spoke up from just beside the entrance. Poppy froze. How had she not even heard the gate rattling?
She looked up slowly. He was standing there, leaning with crossed arms against the wall next to the gate, almost looking nonchalant.
But Poppy could see his tense shoulders and the slight downward curl of his lips.

"Well, that's what my father always says anyway and I do have the tendency to disagree with him." Ominis continued.
"How- how long?" Poppy couldn't get herself to finish the whole sentence, but she knew he understood. How long has he been there? How much did he witness of her breakdown?

"Not long." He answered softly, stepping away from the wall and uncrossing his arms. "I heard a thud just as I came in and judging from where your voice comes from, I'd guess you let yourself fall to the floor."
Using his wand to guide him, Ominis made his way over to her until he was standing right in front of her. He put his wand away and held out his hand as an offering.
Poppy looked at it and sniffled.
The boy she was so utterly in love with had seen her run away like a coward, heard her crying and her murmurs of self-hate. Yet here he stood in front of her, holding out his hand, wanting to help her.

She reached out and laid her hand in his. Ominis closed his fingers around hers and gave a firm tug, pulling her up.
He didn't let go of her hand when she was standing again. Instead, he used his thumb to rub softly over her knuckles, soothing. It almost made her cry again.
His gentle touch was comforting and she slowly got out of her head, trying to focus on the feeling of his fingers, his thumb still stroking her skin, and on his familiar scent that reminded her of sitting by the lake on a sunny day.