17Time continued passing so quickly with her studies, personal readings, having actual friends and not to mention this adventure with the Sorcerers Stone. She didn't really think it was Snape. Poppy protested and mentioned Quirrell, he seemed weak and weak people could be threatened. They all thought this was ridiculous but Poppy watched him sometimes and was suspicious of him. Something about him didn't sit right with her. He was the only Professor she didn't give a gift to after all. Maybe it was because Harry's scar hurt whenever he was around. That had never happened before and Poppy was very careful and tried hard to discover when it was hurting. Only when Quirrell was around. The boys were too hung up on it being Snape. Secretly, Hermione agreed she didn't think it was Snape either but neither did she believe in Quirrell.
Boys will be boys after all, stubborn and hard-headed and the two girls speculated who it could be. They had no idea. Then again, Hermione probably didn't believe because the mere thought of a Professor doing wrong was unthinkable. Oh her swotty friend.
Poppy and Hermione were growing much closer, it was like Ron was Harry's best friend and Hermione hers. When Harry and Poppy weren't together, Ron and Hermione were or occasionally Poppy and Ron. Although most of the time they spent together. Hermione positively adored her collection of advanced Transfiguration textbooks for Christmas, they were for sixth or seventh years but McGonagall recommended them and said they were excellent although she probably wouldn't understand them for a while. Poppy got herself a set also and was slowing making her way through them but it was difficult because she had to stop every now and then and ask her Professor or look it up. It was her deal with the Professor to do Transfiguration readings so she didn't have much of a choice.
Neville loved his presents also. She got him an encased poppy also but a larger one that would grow and expand in a slighter nicer crystallised glass than the one she gave to Sprout. Poppy also got her friends some sweets for honeydukes.
Winter was still on them and the next big holiday was approaching which apparently was quite a big thing in Hogwarts: Valentine's day.
Poppy had never celebrated or even thought of the holiday really. She only noticed it passing as the shops were covered in ridiculous amounts of pink and red. But she figured she was at Hogwarts and was a witch now so she should probably celebrate it.
Poppy uncomfortably noticed her 'procedure' was taking effect and she had grown taller than Harry, Ron and Hermione. Not by much but it still made her uneasy, she hoped she wouldn't get any bigger in the meantime. Her clothes were also rapidly getting a little smaller that she wilfully ignored.
Either way, she was determined to enjoy Valentine's day as the Great Hall was decorated and older students lost a record amount of points for 'loitering' in the Halls, whatever that meant. She had used Hedwig to buy cards and candies for people, happy with her new found money.
On the day of Valentines, she entered the Hall to see a record number of Owls swooping about to give cards to people. Poppy custom made hers mostly, it was really cheap but took she had to order them about two months ago so they would arrive on time. It was quite simple really and she was happy to give out her cards.
Skipping down the Great Hall with her cards tucked away in her bag, she smiled at the little hearts floating about and people gushing about cards and eating chocolates. It was nice for people to celebrate love.
Harry, Ron and 'Mione were seated near the Professor's table so she skipped up to the end just as Professor Snape entered the Hall from the entrance near the staff's table. Noticing him, she called out, "Professor Snape" She smiled and moved over to the surly Potions Professor who looked even more annoyed than usual surrounded by bright cheerful colours.
"Here" She said and pulled out her card for Professor Snape. His face was stoic but Poppy thought she heard a few people's cutlery crash and almost immediately people stopped talking and began whispering. She wondered what it was all about. Snape narrowed his eyes at her dangerously and looked down towards the card. She smiled up at him and waited for him to accept it.
His lips were thin and he didn't look happy but he snatched the card from her, did not open it and stalked quickly towards the staff table.
Harry - being quite near to her already - ran up to her with a green complexion and alarmed face, "D-did you just give Snape a valentines card?" He whispered, apparently horrified, green eyes wide. Poppy blinked and noticed her other friends also flanking her brother not looking happy either.
Poppy took a look around the Great Hall. The twins were in hysterics, laughing uncontrollably and falling over their seats. Almost everyone in the Hall was looking her way and sniggering. The staff table looked mostly amused and Snape was scowling and ignoring the prods of the Professor's to open her card. Dumbledore's eyes were sparkling madly and she was sure she could see him smiling under that beard. McGonagall's face was more impassive but a smirk and had a little amused smile shadowed on her face.
It was all very strange.
"Uh yeah?" She said a little confused and then pried herself from her brother's grip on her arm and opened her bag to give her friends their cards.
She gave one to Ron, Hermione and of course, Harry.
They all looked vaguely confused, looking down at the cards. Ron was the first to open his. She didn't order his specially but she liked it.
It said in bold writing, 'Ginger's have souls' and a silhouette of a red hair in the background. Ron looked dumbfounded as he opened the card. Inside it read,
To my favourite Weasley,
It's a muggle myth that people with red hair don't have souls. I don't know why but we gingers – even not proper ones like me – need to stick together. Here's fighting the myth.
Happy Valentines Day,
Poppy Potter.
Ron's mouth was open as he read the card with Hermione and Harry reading over his shoulder. They were silent until Ron exclaimed, "Bloody mental, you are" He breathed.
Hermione then tore into hers and didn't really say anything. The card simply read, 'To my favourite Swot' Inside it she wished her a Happy Valentines day. Hermione read her card over a few times before looked up with a hesitant smile.
"...Thank you" She said a little awkwardly. Poppy beamed and looked to Harry who did not look amused and was looking at her as if to say, 'seriously Poppy?'
But Harry sighed and opened his card and read the front, it said 'to my better half' and it had half of an Oreo talking to the other. Her twins lips twitched and opened to the card to a heartfelt note from her. He smiled but looked up at her in an exasperated manner.
"You didn't need to get us cards" He sighed but did seem a little happy at the gesture. Poppy shook her head and gave her friends a group hug, an arm around Harry and one around Ron.
"Yes I did. Valentine's day is about love, people you love and spreading love and joy. Of course, I did" She huffed but with a smile. They were all in Hogwarts now. They were young adults, as McGonagall often reminded them. They were old and mature enough to celebrate the holiday properly.
Poppy then pulled back and opened her bag again to pull out some sweets. She got Chocolate Frogs for Ron, Sugar Quills for Hermione and Smarties for Harry. She also gave them a packet of candy hearts too of course. Ron was very happy with his sweats and immediately opened them, wondering at the muggle candy.
Poppy was so happy at this point and decided to give the rest of her gifts away. Approaching the staff table, McGonagall looked exasperated but amused. Dumbledore looked curious but seeming quite happy. The rest of the staff were curious and watched her.
Poppy gave each Professor a card and a packet of heart sweats each. Even Snape who's glare was practically burning holes into her robes.
Professor Sprouts card read,
'Shivelfig's are red,
Monkshood is blue,
Herbology is fun!
And you are too.
The woman laughed in joy and showed the Professor's around her with a smile. Inside the card she had addressed it to, my favourite Professor. Professor Flitwick's read,
'You are very Charming'
Then she had drawn a little picture of him with his wand for good measure.
Vector's had a mathematical pun on it that she didn't understand, Sinistra had a picture of the stars that said 'Your a Star! Shining brighter than Orion's belt', Professor Babbling got a card written entirely in ancient runes that wished her a 'Festive day and wishes of much love' which was the best she could do. Kettleburn got one with a picture of a unicorn on it, she got Trewlany a card that said something cryptic about love with a picture of a crystal ball in it.
McGonagall's was a favourite of hers and it read, 'It's a good thing you've got nine lives' and it had a picture of a cat on it. On this inside, she wrote '...because you need them to handle me'. The transfiguration Professor snorted loudly at this.
Finally, she got to Dumbledore and she was quite happy with this card. It read;
'With great beard comes great responsibility'
On the inside, she wrote,
Dear, Headmaster Dumbledore,
Happy Valentines day,
Just to let you know that I Dumbleadoreyou.'
Poppy then drew a magical figure rolling around on the floor, doubled over in laughter at her amazing pun.
She then wrote in very small writing at the bottom -
P.S – I am jealous of your beard.
Professor Dumbledore read the card silently. Looked up to her and then back down again. His laughter was sudden but filled with bemusement. He laughed and laughed even wiping tears from her eyes. She was very happy with his reaction. Her joke was very funny.
Professors McGonagall and Sprout were obviously curious and came over to see what he was laughing at. They both chuckled.
Poppy was very pleased with her awesome gift giving and started giving cards out to people. Ron's older brother Percy she got, 'Your my favourite Prefect' and on the inside said, 'even if your a bit of a stick in the mud'.
The twins she got a nice set of cards that had half a heart on each side and said 'To my favourite makers of magical mischief' but you could only read it when the cards were put together.
The rest of the cards weren't very enlightening, one card she gave to Seamus that said 'your the best at blowing things up'. The one to Lavender said 'To a fellow flower named friend' and Parvati's just said 'I love your hair'. Most people seemed rather puzzled at her cards and gave her a few odd looks, passing them about to each other. Dean Thomas' said, 'You suck less than most people' The boy paused, looked at her oddly but then shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
Professor Snape still did not open his but it seemed that the Professors had teamed up against their surly colleague and tricked him with Dumbledore's help to get the card. The headmaster opened it, read it and smiled warmly, giving her a soft look with his pretty blue eyes. Poppy bit her lip, she took a chance with it and hoped it would be alright. The other Professor's crowded around the Headmaster and cood and smiled at the card. Snape reluctantly read it with a blank face and then left the Great Hall with billowing robes. Poppy tried not to sigh. Progress was very slow going.
The card was white had a picture of a sun on the front. On the inside it read,
'To Professor Snape,
Here's a little bit of sunshine to someone who spends all day in the dark. I hope we can be great friends one day.
Poppy.
Poppy smiled and then turned towards her friends at the breakfast table with a smile.
"Now where's my cards?" She beamed to the Gryffindors around her.
Months later Poppy was still not happy that nobody had gotten her a Valentines day card. She had felt sad and unloved. Hermione and Ron tried to explain it to her that it was normal but she didn't feel like it. Later in the day, Dumbledore, McGonagall and most of the Professor's sent her a card that made her feel a bit better but nobody else did. None of her friends. Poppy was in a huff for the rest of the week, especially with her twin. She didn't listen when they tried to say it was romantic love Valentines day celebrated but she knew it was just excuses. How childish were they?
After the Valentines day incident, time flew by. Hermione liked to lecture her on what was 'appropriate' and not. Such as giving cards and gifts to Professor being a big no. Harry, Ron and Hermione had a little intervention the light after Valentines day and told her to stop being so friendly with people, especially Snape. She had snapped and shouted then sulked for a few days. How could they not see she was just trying to be friendly and kind to everyone? She knew how awful it felt when people didn't show you they cared so she tried to be nice to everybody else.
Their adventures continued and in the end, she was triumphant to learn that it was Quirrel trying to steal the stone. She wasn't quite right as she thought he was being threatened and not... Voldemort at the back of his head but you know. Half right. Either way she didn't feel much like bragging. Seeing Harry go through the flames alone was heartbreaking. Poppy knew she couldn't cope without her twin. They weren't just twins, they were two halves of one whole. She needed him.
Hermione expertly saved them from the devils snare, Harry's flying skills got the key, Poppy the Potions riddle and Ron the chess set.
After all was said and done the foursome were even closer.
Her first year was great. Gryffindor won the house cup and the Quiddich cup, thanks to Harry. She was proud that it was their points that made their whole house win. It made her feel like she had accomplished something great.
It was very painful to say goodbye to this new life to return to the Dursleys. Painful indeed. It was only with the hope of returning the next year, letters from friends and, of course, her amazing brother that she made it through.