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Other than the beast pens, Poppy’s least favorite place in the entire castle has to be the library.
Thanks to Madam Scribner having a stick up her arse, you can’t even sneeze in the library without being scolded within an inch of your life.
Poppy is only here right now because she has several essays she needs to write— one of which ten inches on dittany. Poppy adores Professor Garlick but who has the time of day to think, let alone write, that much about some leaves— and have been procrastinating in favor of pursuing more worthwhile endeavors.
Like tracking down some obscure location with even more obscure hints in the hopes of eventually rescuing a creature long thought to be extinct.
“In the south there is a cave within which lies what the poachers seek — a moonstone. Retrieve it and place it in the henge in the forest.”
Poppy respects centaurs and their alleged omniscience, but sometimes she really wishes they talk like a normal person and not in riddles.
Peeves notwithstanding.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Having taken the painstaking route to secure herself a secluded space away from prying eyes, Poppy almost feels annoyed at the prospect of having to share the aforementioned space with someone else.
She looks up, ready to plaster on the fakest smile she can conjure, only to immediately swallow her words.
Any trace of displeasure is gone the second Poppy lays eyes on Rory Watson.
“Rory, hi.”
Rory looks as good as ever, her hair up in a ponytail and eyes staring down at Poppy with genuine interest.
“Hi.” Poppy repeats, for some reason just staring dumbly at her friend. Realizing her slight, Poppy coughs in apology. “Sorry, I just— I wasn't expecting you.”
Pretty face falling, Rory asks. “I’m not disturbing you, am I?”
Why, that's just silly. “No. Not at all.” Proving that Rory’s presence is truly welcomed, Poppy gestures to the empty seats across from her. “You can sit down, if you want. I assume you're here to do work?”
Immediately Rory’s frown is replaced by a relieved smile.
“I am. Here to do some work, that is. So, thank you. Actually, if you don’t mind, I have someone with me—”
“Hello friends.”
Well would you look at that? “Hiya Natty!”
Poppy has no idea what she has done to be graced with the presence of two of the most popular witches in their year, but she will not be complaining one bit.
“Poppy, hello.” Natty smiles, holding a big pile of books against her chest. “Is this where we’re sitting, Rory?”
“Uh, well, I was just about to ask Poppy.” Turning her head, Poppy finds Rory’s pleading blue eyes. “Can we sit here? We promise to be very quiet.”
“None of that, please,” Poppy waves dismissively, which Natty takes as prompting to sit down. “The library is a public space. You guys don’t have to ask for my permission to sit.”
Rory goes to object, Poppy can see the intention from miles away, but Natty cuts her off.
“You know how Rory is. Always so dramatically polite.”
“Hey!” Rory’s objection is mixed in with Poppy’s giggle, who earns a pout and a blinding smile from the two witches. Poppy is having a wonderful day. “You know, whenever I think about wanting the two of you to be closer friends, I did not think about you ganging up on me.”
As if cued, Poppy and Natty’s eyes lock, the two of them synchronizing with each other and widening their grins.
Rory, whose eyes bounce back and forth, before darting to the ceiling in defeat.
“God, why do you hate me so?”
Natty and Poppy exchange a fond eye roll, before the former snatches Rory by the sleeve and tugs her down.
“Sit your dramatic self down. We have stuff to do.”
Poppy, finally seeing a chance to snoop without seeming impolite, asks.
“What are you guys working on? Anything exciting?”
“Just normal homework, I’m afraid.” Rory answers, pulling out two books in one go. “Remind me again why Flying requires written homework? I was under the impression that this was a practical class.”
Natty chuckles. “That’s Kogawa for you. She takes flying theories very seriously.”
Poppy wholeheartedly agrees, goosebumps galore at the reminder of the drills the woman used to put her through to make sure Poppy can actually levitate off the ground.
“I’m so glad I skipped out on that this year.”
“I didn’t even have a choice.” Rory pouts, then reconsiders. “Actually, I would take Flying even if I did. It’s fun.”
“Yes, I believe we’re all familiar with your flying prowess.” Rory looks at Natty in confusion, who elaborates. “Imelda Reyes.”
Poppy automatically makes a face at the name, but once she sees Rory noticing, quickly puts on a cordial smile.
“She’s not that bad.” Rory says, sounding like she almost doesn’t believe it herself. “I mean, she is a tad bit too competitive, a bit brash, a lot crude, and can’t take a compliment for the life of her.”
“I’m starting to think there isn’t a ‘but’.” Poppy jokes, secretly believing it too.
“But she’s misunderstood.” Rory emphasizes, her protectiveness showing. A part of Poppy wishes it was something only she got to see, but it is what it is. She isn't that special. “Imelda has a soft spot, I swear.”
Natty tilts her head, neither agreeing or disagreeing. “Well, regardless of that soft spot, she has been going around cursing your name for beating her records.”
“Are you talking about her flight tests for Albie Weekes?” Natty nods. “Oh no wonder. I’m surprised she didn’t declare a war right then and there.”
Rory blinks once. Twice. By the third, Poppy and Natty are already laughing it up again.
“She did, didn't she?” Poppy asks through her giggles, her ears growing hot at the sheepish look on Rory’s face.
“I was supposed to meet her in Irondale for a rematch.” Rory mumbles in resignation, cheeks pretty pink with embarrassment.
“And I’m sure you’ll beat her records once more.”
Poppy doesn't mean to sound so soft, only realizing when she is the center of Rory and Natty’s attention, the former touched and the latter curious. She blushes, ducks back down to her half-filled parchment, and hopes a dragon will burst through the roof and swallow her whole.
It doesn't come to that, thankfully. Rory clears the air like she always does.
“Hey, I haven't had the chance to check in with you, but have you any luck with the cave?”
Poppy glances at Natty, who doesn't look surprised at the seemingly abrupt change of topic. Poppy selfishly hopes she's just respecting their privacy and not Rory having told her about their quest.
“That’s actually second on my to-do list.” Poppy gestures to the pile of books and maps she already borrowed in advance, tucked on a chair 3 seats away and temporarily out of sight as she doesn’t want to remind herself of the impending struggle.
Centaurs. Poppy loves to hate them.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll be able to find it. You're very smart, Poppy.”
Warmth spilling in her chest, all Poppy can do is smile. Rory grins back, eyes shining, and it takes everything in Poppy to remember not to feel so special.
Rory Watson is trouble. It's becoming a theme.
—
“Alright, that's it. I’m declaring a break.”
It's hours later that their bubble of shared productivity is broken by Rory, who stands up and does a full-body stretch, face not unlike a cat just waking up from a nap.
Poppy keeps that observation to herself, but allows a small smile regardless.
“Good thinking. I’m beginning to see stars as well.” Natty blinks rapidly, as if actually clearing them out of her eyes.
Poppy looks at her pile of essays, only one more away from being completed, and nods.
“Progress check?” When both her friends nod, Poppy decides to go first. “I have one more homework sheet for Arithmancy.”
Natty goes next. “Just an overview on gillyweeds.”
Rory looks at the two of them like they’re mad. “I’m surrounded by nerds.” Perhaps the synchronized motion and speed in which they pull out their wands need to be taken into consideration. “Whoa. I meant it like a compliment.”
“Watch it, Watson.” Poppy jokingly threatens, barely holding back a laugh at Rory’s exaggerated shiver. “What do you have left?”
Rory sighs, shoulders hunched so much she almost folds within herself.
“7 inches on the 14th century Witch Hunts, 9 inches on the legality and morals of amortentia, and an independent study on graphorns.”
Poppy is nodding along at every item on Rory’s to-do list, but the last one admittedly takes her aback.
“We don’t have graphorns in our curriculum.”
Immediately Rory realizes her slip-up, freezing like a deer in headlights. Poppy and Natty exchange looks with each other, somehow having mastered this silent form of communication within a few hours of existing in each other’s space.
“Oh, it's um… an extra assignment. From Fig.”
Rory looks so uncomfortable, practically squirming, but Poppy is too curious.
“Since when does Fig hand out Beast homework? I thought he only teaches Magical Theory.”
Rory shrugs, avoiding both Poppy and Natty’s eyes.
Feeling bad, Poppy goes to apologize. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” Then, “We can help you, if you want.”
Natty, seamlessly picking up on her train of thoughts, continues. “Yeah, I’m pretty good with Potions, been brewing them since I was 3, and who better to teach you about beasts other than Poppy Sweeting herself.”
Waving away Natty’s praise before it gets in her head, Poppy makes a proposal.
“How about I give you a quick overview of graphorns before we take an extended break? When you get back, you’ll feel less overwhelmed.”
“Poppy, you’re too kind.” Rory says, softly. Her eyes go back to bouncing back and forth between Poppy and Natty. “Both of you are.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re simply being your friends.” Natty says with a tone, one Poppy immediately recognizes as stern and no-arguing.
The words have more than just the intended effect, also making Poppy feel included and wanted. Nothing warms her heart more than having people who aren’t ashamed to have her around, and although she already knew that was the case with Rory, being able to add Natty to the list makes her so, very happy.
“Graphorns are very proud creatures. They’re like hippogriffs, in a way. Thought to be dangerous and extremely violent, but there are records of witches and wizards befriending them in the past. On the chance that you encounter a graphorn in the wild, you must show them the proper respect by kneeling before them. Although, that is only hypothetical. I would suggest only testing out that theory in a secure, controlled environment.”
“For the graphorn, you mean.”
“You read my mind.”
Now sitting alone thanks to Rory moving to sit beside Poppy to take notes faster, whatever the logic that is, Natty raises a hand.
“Question, do graphorns eat humans?”
Poppy blinks. “Uh… most likely—”
“Oh! That reminds me of something I found while exploring!”
Subconsciously showcasing her charms skill, Rory gives her wand a flick and, with barely a whisper, summons a thick book from her bag. Poppy can tell Natty is impressed too, eyebrows bouncing all the way near her hairline before falling back down.
Poppy has had a quiet suspicion since the beginning, that Rory Watson is a lot more powerful than she let on. It would somewhat explain the situation with Rookwood and Harlow, who, as Poppy slowly discovered, are much more dangerous than both Rory and Natty made them out to be.
There is also a goblin who Poppy has seen in the newspapers and thinks has something to do with all this, but she hasn’t found something that proves her theory to be true yet.
“There we go.” Flipping through what Poppy now recognizes as her Field Guide book, Rory reads. “I was wandering around Feldcroft after I visited Anne, when I came across this small bouquet. Curious, I took a closer look, and in the book appeared ‘This memorial serves as a grim reminder of the power of magical beasts. Years ago, a young witch was killed here by a Graphorn as she awaited her true love. That love now returns to this spot to remember her and leave a bouquet of lovage, her favorite plant.’”
“That’s… dark.” Poppy gulps. “I suppose people do say they are dangerous, but I find it hard to believe that they would outright eat an innocent human alive like that.”
Rory hums, actually considering Poppy’s opinion and not immediately discarding it, before writing a few things down in her notes.
Feeling tears in her eyes, Poppy swallows them down and, for the sake of distracting herself, makes a joke.
“I know the Field Guide Book is for you to catch up on 4 years worth of schoolwork, but I have to admit, I’m a little jealous I didn’t get one.”
Rory laughs, looking up at Poppy from under her impossibly long eyelashes. “You are always welcomed to take first year all over again.” Rory winks, tongue making an endearing clicking sound.
It’s still charming enough to make Poppy blush, looking away and flushing even hotter when she comes face to face with Natty’s inquisitive eyes.
“What?” Poppy mouths.
Natty only grins. “Nothing.” She glances at Poppy then Rory, then Poppy again. “You guys are so cute.”
There goes her hope of cooling her face down. What the heck, Natty?
“I’m done!” Rory’s announcement is accompanied by her leaping off her chair. Instead of walking around like a normal person, she takes advantage of the new height and jumps over the table.
Poppy and Natty wince at the noise, heaving sighs of relief when Madam Scribner doesn’t make a sudden appearance. Odd, considering the woman has deducted House points for coughing before.
“I declare a coffee break.” Rory says, turning to Natty. “You want to come with me?”
While Natty nods and is standing up too, Poppy is looking at the 2 empty cups Rory had been sipping throughout their study session.
Merlin’s beard, how does her heart not jump out of her ribcage?
“Another one? That can’t be healthy for you.”
The eye roll she gets for caring is heavy-handed but no less fond. “Poppy, if I fought a dragon and came back out alive and in one piece, 3 cups of coffee a day won’t kill me.”
Brows furrow, Poppy goes to refute, “But we never fought—” only to see the smirk proudly adorned on Rory’s frustratingly gorgeous face. “You’re messing with me.”
Another wink and click of her tongue. “Indeed I am. Be right back.”
Won over, Poppy has no choice but to watch her friends skedaddle away. Letting loose a disbelieving chuckle, Poppy still can’t quite get it through her head that this school year is going the way it does, so different and much more wonderful.
Figuring they won't take long, Poppy decides to get a headstart on her moonstone hunting project.
When two shadows reach over and block her light, Poppy thinks Natty and Poppy are back early.
“That was fast.” Poppy looks up smiling, swiftly replaced by a frown when they're not who she thinks they were. “What are you guys doing here?”
In front of her stood Justin Nelson and Gwen Yuval. Not exactly high on the list of people Poppy tolerates, but certainly not prominent enough to be one of those Poppy keeps an eye out for in her spare time.
“Oh, just wanting to see what all the hubbub is about.” Justin replies, his sneering tone leaving Poppy to have a bad feeling about this.
“The hubbub about what?” Poppy asks, instinctively looking for her friends, who still haven't returned.
“You with humans, of course.” Gwen cackles, and Poppy’s heart sinks. “One would think you’d spend the weekend with the kneazles in their pen. Instead you're here! Out in public! Surrounded by creatures with two arms and two legs!”
Mortified and deeply embarrassed, still Poppy tries to keep her composure.
“Your jokes are getting old. I suggest finding some new materials if you want to roleplay as the mean protagonist in a coming-of-age novel.”
Poppy goes back to her map, intending on ignoring them until they grow bored and go away, but whatever goodwill she has immediately vanishes when her painstakingly borrowed books get soaked in pumpkin juice.
“What the fuck? What’s your problem!”
Justin, holding the pitcher, merely snickers.
“What are you gonna do about it, Peculiar Poppy?”
He looks around at the deserted area around them, grin widening when Poppy begins to vibrate hard with anger.
“You have no blonde lapdog with you now.” Gwen chuckles as she holds up a wet notebook, easily pushing Poppy back when she lunges for her stuff. “Don't you lay your hands on me! Who knew where you put them?”
Poppy wants to fight back, wants to scream at them and make them regret the words they say so casually, wants to hurt them the way they hurt her, but she can't.
Suddenly she's 5 years old and begging to be let out of the cage. Suddenly she’s 5 years old and asking for forgiveness. Suddenly she's 5 years old and all she knows is pain.
Tears sting her eyes and stream down her face, but her bullies show no mercy.
“Probably on one of those animals she loves so much. Or should I say, in.” Justin laughs himself dizzy with the crude joke, meanwhile Poppy grows lightheaded with shame. “Is that why you love spending time with the hippogriffs? Do they make you feel things? What's next? You gonna try to shag a centaur too? I hear they got some really nice co—”
“If you mean complexion, then yes I sure do agree.”
Poppy’s ears pick up the sound of Rory’s voice, but it's Natty’s touch that pulls her in a hug and helps her stand up.
She didn't even realize she fell. “Poppy. Poppy, are you alright?”
“I’m— I’m okay—”
“Oh look, it's the blonde lapdog.”
To Poppy’s surprise, Rory drops her jaw and cups her own cheek.
“Aww, I’m flattered! I’ve always wanted to have a dog.” Then, her eyes flicker over her shoulder to where Poppy is, essentially held up by Natty with a face stricken with tears. No one can see it, but Poppy will swear there's a speck of something violent passing through Rory’s eyes. “Hey, you mind holding my coffee for a sec?”
Poppy exchanges a confused look with Natty, who merely grins and shushes her.
What in Merlin— “What? No! I’m not holding your coffee, you stupid bitch.”
“Aw, come on. Please.” Rory even pouts, cups of coffee dangerously spilling with how much she sways. “I need to tie my shoelaces.” Justin gawks. “So just a second.” Gwen scrunches her nose. Apparently that's consent. “Okay? Okay! Thank you so much!”
In her ear, Poppy hears Natty whisper. “This is going to be good.”
Poppy wants to ask, but the show put on right in front of her very eyes is, safe to say, difficult to look away from.
In a move so clearly fake, Rory ‘trips’ and launches the coffee into Justin and Gwen’s torso. On cue, the duo squeal in panic, Justin hurriedly flapping his shirt to not make it stick to his skin and Gwen frantically wiping at it with her bare hands.
The show isn't over yet.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” Rory says with too much amusement. “Here, let me fix that. I hear pumpkin juice helps get all the stains out.”
Not missing a beat, Rory reaches for the jug of pumpkin juice and, to the soundtrack of Poppy and Natty’s shocked gasps, pours the entire leftovers onto Justin’s head. Gwen, who stood close enough, suffers just as much as her friend, her shriek reaching an all-time high.
“Oh? Is it not helping?” Rory feigns confusion, head tilted like a clueless puppy. Then, also like a puppy, she brightens with an idea. Tiptoes meeting and index finger pointed up and everything. “I know! Let me try something else!”
In a sea of pleads (Gwen) and curses (Justin) and complaints (both), Rory only cares about whipping out her wand. They try to run away, but for some reason the bottom half of their body is frozen solid, eyes turning into saucers once they realize and turn to each other with fear painted so obviously on their faces.
Poppy looks to her side, and sure enough, Natty has her wand in her hand too.
“Natty,” Poppy admonishes softly.
“I’m providing backstage support.” Natty whispers, clearly having too much fun watching Justin and Gwen wiggle back and forth to no avail.
“Alright, let me remember how the incantation went.” Rory hums, tapping her wand against her lips. “Maybe… Incendio? Nah, too many fireballs Confringo? No, too many fire jets. Oh, I know.”
Poppy doesn't catch the incantation, too busy being in awe at the burst of steam escaping from the tip of Rory’s wand. It moves like a dragon, bombarding the duo and enveloping them in a sea of mist.
Poppy knows exactly what will happen when the spell wears off, and yet she still laughs her arse off at the way their hairs stand up and their clothes cling tightly to their skin, stumbling into each other as Natty stops doing her leg binding spell.
“Oh.” Rory blinks, then hums. “You know what, you actually look better like this.”
While Gwen is too shell-shocked, Justin has had enough.
At once, all the oxygen is sucked right out of Poppy’s lungs, her eyes only fixated on Justin’s curled up fist, his tendons popping with exertion.
Her mind starts going haywire, reality and memory merging together in a series of abstract snapshots.
Curled up fist into a stomach. Curled up fist into a cheek. Curled up fist— curled up fist—
“You're going to pay for this.”
Blood on her person. Blood in her mouth. Blood on her hands.
Poppy wants to scream. Poppy wants to cry. Poppy wants to move.
“Poppy? Poppy, are you okay?”
She exits her memory with a gasp, clutching at her chest and willing her thundering heart to slow down.
In front of her, Rory shows no sign of fear, even as Justin is stomping over with murder in his eyes.
“Poppy, can you hear me?” It's Natty. Natty who is holding her up and wiping her forehead. When was the last time someone did that for her? When was the last time? Has there ever been a first time? “Poppy?”
“Get… Rory…” Poppy grits out, every word hurts more than the last. “She… hurt…”
“Oh I don't think it's Rory whom you should be worried about right now.”
It's almost surreal, the transformation.
Rory has always been mild-mannered and kind, only raising a hand to defend herself or protecting her friends. Poppy has heard rumors, of course— Rory Watson the Troll Vanquisher, Rory Watson the Spider Exterminator, and Rory Watson the Dragon Slayer.
But this Rory is nothing short of a predator, Poppy has studied enough beasts to recognize the way those shoulders are pushed back and feet shuffled, and this Rory will do whatever it takes to give back as good as she gets.
She, in this case, being Poppy.
Even from the side profile, Rory’s face is terrifyingly calm as she stares Justin down.
Poppy is frozen in her spots, having a feeling she should know better than to intervene when Rory looks like that. Natty, well— Natty looks like she’s having too much fun with this, actually. Who knew she had a thing for this sort of thing?
“Are you finally going to apologize to Poppy?”
“Apologize my arse.” Justin grits out, shoulders squared to make himself look bigger. “I’m going to beat you up, and report you to Headmaster Black.”
Poppy’s only just opening her mouth, to do what, she isn’t sure, when Justin swings his fist.
Heart in her throat, Poppy almost shuts her eyes.
Thankfully she hadn’t, otherwise she would have missed the marvelous way Rory catches Justin’s fist easily with one hand, face unchanging like it doesn’t cost her a sweat.
Then, faster than lightning, Justin is sent crumbling down onto the floor. Poppy is starting to think they knocked the old librarian out somehow— all this ruckus and she's still nowhere to be found.
“I’m starting to see the reason why Rookwood and Harlow haven’t been able to lay a finger on her.”
Poppy wants to laugh. After this display, she can’t imagine anyone who would ever want to.
As Justin squirms and screams all sorts of things, Rory bends down so her mouth is close to his ear. From this distance, Poppy can’t hope to hear a single word she’s saying, but by the blanching and horrified look slowly tearing Justin’s face in half, Poppy perhaps doesn’t need to know.
Gwen, who’s been standing around and roleplaying as a tree apparently, catches her friend once Rory lets him go, trying to check on him but ultimately being dragged out by the arm instead.
They scurry away like a pair of spikey-haired rats, an altogether hilarious image especially with their soaking wet robes flapping in the wind.
Poppy almost wants to call out and taunt them further. But her tired bones tell her she’s had enough excitement for one day.
“You can fight.” The exclamation comes from Natty, sounding surprised for some reason.
Rory’s voice is a lot louder than Poppy expected, saying. “You don’t grow up where I did without learning a trick or two.”
Turning her head, Poppy finds Rory standing right in front of her, face contorted with concern. For her.
“Hey, Poppy.” Rory says slowly, like she’s cautious about scaring and spooking Poppy away. It, unfortunately, makes her hackles rise. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Poppy says, sounding a little too curt even in her own ears. “I— thank you. I don’t know what got into me. I’m usually not this useless.”
Neither of her friends have anything to say in return, which suits Poppy just fine. The flush of shame is crawling up her throat and squeezing as tight as it is, the last thing she needs right now is empty placation and meaningless affirmation.
“Alright. I’ll help you with your books.”
“Great idea. I have just the perfect spell in mind.”
But, Poppy reminds herself, they’re only here because they care.
And what Poppy Sweeting will not do is spit on the extension and manifestation of that care. Because if one day they disappear, Poppy can look back and smile remembering they were here when no one else did.
“Thanks, guys.” Poppy reiterates, her voice soft and grateful.
Rory, whose wand moves even as she is looking at only Poppy, smiles. “Would you like to go back to the dorm? We can invite Natty over and finish studying in my room.”
In the midst of collecting all of Poppy’s borrowed materials, the majority of which beginning to reek of pumpkin juice and something else Poppy doesn’t want to think about, Natty cheers at the suggestion.
“That’d be lovely! I’ve never been inside the Hufflepuff Common Room before.”
Rory doesn’t say anything, only giving Natty a smile and a nod, before turning back to Poppy. Essentially giving her the choice.
Sometimes Poppy wonders if it’s just her that’s so easily softened by careless, casual acts as this. Do other people see this and not want to cry? Do other people see themselves being cared for and just easily accept it?
Poppy wants to be like them one day. Out of everything else, that’s who she wants to be the most when she’s older and wiser.
“I’m in.” Poppy answers, smiling at Natty letting out a loud whoop.
Again, how are they not escorted out of the library already?
“Brilliant.” Rory grins, all teeth and stars, then gives her wand a final flick. “Nat, you’re good on your end?”
“Almost done here also!” Poppy knew of her being able to use wandless magic before, but to see it in action for the very first time, it’s an incredible display. “We’ll need to put these books far away from Madam Scribner for a while though. The smell won’t come off completely for another few days.”
Poppy pipes up. “No worries, I have until two weeks before I have to return them.” Say whatever you want about the librarian, but at least her borrow policy is great.
“Alright. We should head back now.” Rory says, enchanting all her stuff back in her bag. “Can we sneak into the kitchen for coffee though? I wasted 2 perfectly good cups on those pricks.”
Poppy snorts, gingerly holding her bag against her chest.
“One of these days, you’ll start bleeding coffee.”
“And increasing my chance of being put in a portrait and haunting the student body until the end of time? Count me in!”
Rolling her eyes fondly, Poppy goes to stand next to Rory, the two of them waiting on just Natty to get her stuff together.
In the corner of her eye, Poppy sees a moving shadow. It hovers in the air, lingering and hesitating, before tugging at her sleeve.
“Hey,” Oh, it’s just Rory. “I just want to say— and I hope you don’t take it the wrong way, like I’m underestimating you or anything. You’re brilliant, and brave, and so many other wonderful things. I just… I want to tell you that… I’m here for you. If you ever need to talk about… what you told me at the henge, or anything else, I’m here. I’m always everywhere, but if you need me, I’m here.”
How can she be so confident kicking arses but then fumble like a baboon when it comes to providing emotional support?
It's… incredibly endearing. And so bloody effective.
“I’ll remember that.”
Poppy feels better already.
—
When Poppy next sees Justin Nelson and Gwen Yuval, her and her friends are sitting on a little patch of grass in the Transfiguration Courtyard.
In the midst of gazing at Natty and Rory, who are immersed in their debate of whether musical instruments are better being played by humans or by magic, Poppy doesn’t see them until her ears pick up the familiar whine of Justin’s voice.
They hadn’t seen her, immersed in their own conversation, Justin waving his hands about as he talks and Gwen looking on with a face that can only described as epitome of boredom.
Poppy feels a stir in her chest, one she knows all-too-well.
“Poppy?” She follows the sound of her name, finding Rory and Natty looking at her with concern. “You okay?”
Poppy opens her mouth, goes to answer, but she can’t.
Instead, she turns around, finding Justin and Gwen looking back at her.
There’s a lot of things Poppy can do. She can ignore them. She can yell at them. She can even go and hurt them the same way they hurt her.
Instead, Poppy does what she feels right.
She raises a middle finger.
It’s a challenge, a promise, and a threat in the same breath. Next time, Poppy won’t stand still and take it.
It’s about time Poppy be her own hero.
In the background, Poppy hears the guffawing laughter of Rory and a more demure giggle from Natty, which only increases her amusement when Justin and Gwen both turn red and skedaddle away, trying so hard to come off as disgruntled but clearly running with their tails in between their legs.
“Poppy Sweeting!” Her name is drenched in fondness and humor, only making Poppy grin harder. “How scandalous. What would your Gran think?”
Poppy shrugs, a touch of bitterness and regret seeping through. “To tell you the truth, she would have wanted me to do it the first time they bullied me.”
“Better late than never.” Natty chimes in, wise as always.
“Damn right.” Rory nods, wiping an actual tear from her eyes. “God, I would have given everything to have a portrait of their faces. Can you imagine, seeing that first thing when you walk into the Slytherin Common Room? Ha! Even the Giant Squid would come over and laugh in his face.”
Her joy too contagious, Poppy and Natty ending up laughing alongside Rory for the next minute.
Eventually they calm down, or at least Rory stops wheezing like a walrus, Poppy goes to say.
“It’s about time I say something. It’s been a rough few years, and truly, I couldn’t have done without you guys.”
Rory blows a raspberry, flopping down on her back. “Don’t sweat it. As someone wise once said, we’re simply being your friends.”
Even a blind man can see where Rory is getting at, eyes not at all subtly darting to their Gryffindor friend, who raises an impressively high eyebrow in return.
“Watch it, Watson.” Natty finally says, making Poppy burst into laughter once more.
Her heart is so full. Poppy understands now what her Gran meant when she said Hogwarts was one of the happiest times she’s ever had in her life.
It hadn’t ever been true, but it is starting to become so, more and more by the day. This is going to be her best year yet.
“Not to drastically change the subject, but on a scale of 1 to 10, do you think I need to finish reviewing my graphorn report?”
In return, Natty and Poppy give a synchronized eye roll.
The former says, “We should.”
With the latter agreeing. “With your tendency to get in trouble, maybe one of these days you’ll fight one of them.”
Still laying on the grass, Rory pouts up at them. “Can we not jinx it? Like I don’t have enough on my plates already.” Poppy sees it, Poppy feels it, that air and smirk of mischievous creeping up on Rory’s face. But she’s helpless to stop it, and now they all must face the consequences. “Fine. Tell me again, are the tentacles used for any purpose other than eating?”
Later, Professor Weasley will admonish all 3 of them for running in the hallway, not giving a care that Rory was literally running for her life, allegedly, or that Rory was in grave danger, also allegedly.
Poppy quietly smiles to herself throughout the whole thing.
This is what childhood is supposed to be, and it feels great. Maybe her Gran was right after all.
—
“I still don't know how we got away with making such a ruckus in the library. Madam Scribner usually would escort us all out by our ears and threaten expulsion.”
“Oh, that's on me. I told her there was a huge butterbeer discount at The Three Broomsticks.”
“Was there really one or did you conspire with Miss Ryan again?”
“...No comment.”
“One of these days, Rory Watson, you’re going to give us all gray hair.”
“Hey! She owes me a favor, that’s all.”
“Well, lucky us then.” Lucky me indeed, to have a friend like you.