Part Twelve
"Ahhhhhhh...Let us see, my boy, we shall find a ring to sit upon her finger that is fit for a queen!" Lord Dumbledore exclaimed, "What does she fancy? Rubies? Opals? Sapphires? Whatever it is, we shall find it and she shall love it!"
"Father, I think she rather prefers something plain and simple, for that is her manner," Albus returned, stiffly.
"NONSENSE MY BOY!" Lord Dumbledore roared, "That is what they all would say, but I know women better than you think and they want something gaudy and ridiculous."
"No, Father, I really think..." Albus sighed for he knew the argument was hopeless, "Just allow me to make the final decisions, please? In fact, why do you not let me go out and buy it on my own? I will take the carriage and a footman, so I will have an escort. Or I will walk, for the streets can get narrow at points and I do not wish to run anyone over."
Lord Dumbledore could not argue with this, so Albus set out from their London home with Harold, towards Diagon Alley.
"Honestly, Harold, what has gotten into my father?" Albus asked.
"He is simply overly excited, as one could only reasonably expect," Harold replied.
They passed many acquaintances on the roads of London, Muggle and Wizarding, and Albus was required to stop and chat. It was near an hour before they finally reached the entrance to Diagon Alley. Albus tapped the bricks, and they entered into the busy street. On Diagon Alley there were even more acquaintances to acknowledge, and when they finally reached Fallancourth's jewelry, Albus was frustrated and impatient. Harold opened the door for him, and he entered.
The shop was a small one, and the glass cases about it were filled with the finest jewelry in
the world. Stones of all shapes and sizes, sparkling in the sun that poured through the windows. Albus, seeing that all the attendants were occupied, was just sitting when a young man bumped his shoulder.
"Oh my dear sir!" The other man cried, "Excuse me!"
Albus caught his balance, "It is quite all right, sir, do not worry...Professor Green?"
"Mister Dumbledore!" Professor Green shook his hand, though there was a very foul look on his face, "It is so pleasing to see you here."
"And you as well, are you here on business?" Albus asked.
"Yes, unfortunately, it calls..." Professor Green looked at his watch, "Right this moment. I must be gone."
And he shook Albus' hand again and was gone.
"Is that the insufferable Muggle Studies professor that you speak so fondly of?" Harold asked in a sarcastic voice as they sat.
"Yes, that would be him," Albus replied, "He is now courting Miss Pomfrey's friend, Miss Gabriella Patil. Supposedly, Miss Pomfrey quite broke his heart when she started to court me, but Professor Green is without a doubt cured of that, for I think I saw a parcel in his hand, probably a gift for Miss Patil."
"I would not be so sure," Harold said.
Albus looked at him with amazement, but Harold folded his hands over his cane and looked straight ahead.
"Are you daring to suggest," Albus said, "That Professor Green still holds Miss Pomfrey in any sort of intimate regard? It would be absolutely absurd for him to propose to her when it is so obvious I am going to myself!"
Harold remained impassive.
"What have you heard, Harold, you must tell me for it is a matter of extreme importance!"
Harold sighed, and said, "I tell you this as a friend, Mister Dumbledore. As you know, your parents receive much company in your absence, and just when your courtship began, the Greens stayed for a week and a half."
"Professor Green's parents, you mean?" Albus said, eyebrows raised.
"Yes, and they spoke of their son, very fond of him they are, they dote on him horribly," Harold lowered his voice, "He is rather spoiled, and they told that he had grown increasingly fond of one of his students, a seventh-year Hufflepuff by the name of Pomfrey. Your mother then exclaimed that that was the very same girl you were now courting. They agreed, and became very serious, for they told your parents how heartbroken Professor Green was by it."
"I do remember that he left for a few days in mid-January," Albus mused, "Though I did not think it would be for such a reason as that!"
"They all agreed that there would be absolutely no hostile feelings between the four of them, though I can not say the same for you and Professor Green, I think he rather despises you."
"But he is courting Miss Patil!"
"It would be a great disgrace, if he were to propose to Miss Pomfrey after courting her friend for so long, but be very aware of him, Albus."
They were able to converse no longer, as they saw an attendant was free. They set out choosing a ring, designing it to what Albus hoped would be to Poppy's liking, for he had no doubt in his mind that she was the perfect girl for him.
"Albus, what is the matter?" Poppy asked, "You look so very grave. Is your mother ill? I know you spoke of her being so last time you came from London, is it so now?"
"No," Albus replied, "She is quite well, they have returned to Drakelane to enjoy the weather, the breezes revitalize my mother so."
He swallowed and reached his hand into his pocket, where he fingered the small ring.
"Well, what was it you wanted to talk about, without a chaperone?" Poppy added in a severe voice, for she did not approve of being unchaperoned after their first meeting.
Albus was silent for some time, and just sat looking at her. She was wearing a new dress of lavender, and looked as lovely as ever. They were sitting on a stone bench against the far wall of a courtyard which was overgrown with ivy. The walls were tall and majestic, the stones on the ground cracked and growing over with moss. A fountain in the middle of large flowers was devoid of any water, but Albus did not mind, for he did not want any sound to disturb him. He gently slid his hand forward and closed it over Poppy's, and took her other hand, and kissed her fingers gently.
"Albus," Poppy said in a hesitant, warning tone.
"Yes?" He looked up at her.
She withdrew her hands slowly, "What did you want to tell me?"
He reached past her retreating hand to her neck, pulled himself closer to her, and kissed her.
Poppy's first idea was, once again, to pull back and slap him hard across the face...No, that would be foolish for such moments of solitude as this were so rare that she dared not pass up the chance of it never happening again. She slowly closed her hand around his wrist and kissed him back, her romantic ideals taking hold of her, and the love which she had so strongly felt urging her forward. What could she want more? This young man, whom she had loved since she had first seen him in Herbology seven years before...And now he was kissing her...He loved her, Albus Dumbledore loved her...
"Albus!" She cried, suddenly pulling away.
"What?" He asked.
She blushed, "What is the meaning of this? It is improper and I will have no part of it."
She stood and turned away.
"What are you talking about?" Albus looked incredulous, and took her hand again.
"Mister Dumbledore!" Poppy snatched her hand out of his, "Unless you have something to tell me, I will leave this instant and never speak to you again in any intimacy! You have shown yourself thus to be a gentleman, but this sort of private affair leaves much to be desired! Now, do you have something to tell me or not?"
Albus smiled up at her furious face, took her hand and said, "Of course. I love you."
It was so blunt. Expected, but blunt. Poppy had fashioned in her mind a passionate monologue declaring his undying affections for her in such eloquent language, with him on one knee, his hands held up to her, his face reflecting long years of restrained love...
"I love you too, Albus," Poppy breathed, "I have loved you for so long..."
"How long?" Albus asked, leading her by her hand to sit before him again.
Poppy blushed, and then said, "Since our first Herbology lesson."
"So not so much longer than I have," Albus smiled, "You have loved me for perhaps ten months, and I have loved you for perhaps four."
Poppy blushed deeper and said, "No. I mean, since our first Herbology lesson ever."
Albus' eyes got very wide and he stammered, "So long! How have you remained so devoted for so long?"
"I do not actually know," Poppy seemed to frown and smile at once, "But it does not matter, does it?"
Albus smiled, shook his head. Then, they embraced again in that wondeful fervent, passionate way that young lovers do.
No one else knew about what had happened in the old courtyard, and though Poppy's fingers were quite undecorated, she expected that soon would change. She heard reports that Albus Dumbledore had been seen in Diagon Alley at Fallancourth's Jewelry store, and had spent nearly three hours and a half with an attendant, though no one saw the results of the time, though it was rumored that he had arrived out of the store with a small package about the size of a box to hold a ring. Poppy grew giddy every time she thought of it. She had no idea that all her good fortune was soon to change.
The day after Albus' declaration, when Poppy and the other girls returned to the common room, Gabriella was nowhere to be seen.
"I wager she is out with Professor Green," Fanny Donald said, "A moonlight stroll, perhaps?"
"No," Delilia shook her head, "That is too..."
"Lewd," Poppy finished up, "And she would have told us if she was going anywhere, you know how Gabriella loves to tell everyone everything about herself and Professor Green."
The other girls nodded in agreement. They all went to bed, but Poppy stayed up in the common room, reading. At one o'clock in the morning, Gabriella returned. She looked up in surprise when she saw Poppy.
"You are up late," Poppy said, putting down her book.
"As are you," Gabriella returned.
"Pray, Gabriella," Poppy stood, for Gabriella looked as though she were going to return to the dormitory, "Where have you been?"
"That is none of your conern."
"Ahhhhhhh...Let us see, my boy, we shall find a ring to sit upon her finger that is fit for a queen!" Lord Dumbledore exclaimed, "What does she fancy? Rubies? Opals? Sapphires? Whatever it is, we shall find it and she shall love it!"
"Father, I think she rather prefers something plain and simple, for that is her manner," Albus returned, stiffly.
"NONSENSE MY BOY!" Lord Dumbledore roared, "That is what they all would say, but I know women better than you think and they want something gaudy and ridiculous."
"No, Father, I really think..." Albus sighed for he knew the argument was hopeless, "Just allow me to make the final decisions, please? In fact, why do you not let me go out and buy it on my own? I will take the carriage and a footman, so I will have an escort. Or I will walk, for the streets can get narrow at points and I do not wish to run anyone over."
Lord Dumbledore could not argue with this, so Albus set out from their London home with Harold, towards Diagon Alley.
"Honestly, Harold, what has gotten into my father?" Albus asked.
"He is simply overly excited, as one could only reasonably expect," Harold replied.
They passed many acquaintances on the roads of London, Muggle and Wizarding, and Albus was required to stop and chat. It was near an hour before they finally reached the entrance to Diagon Alley. Albus tapped the bricks, and they entered into the busy street. On Diagon Alley there were even more acquaintances to acknowledge, and when they finally reached Fallancourth's jewelry, Albus was frustrated and impatient. Harold opened the door for him, and he entered.
The shop was a small one, and the glass cases about it were filled with the finest jewelry in
the world. Stones of all shapes and sizes, sparkling in the sun that poured through the windows. Albus, seeing that all the attendants were occupied, was just sitting when a young man bumped his shoulder.
"Oh my dear sir!" The other man cried, "Excuse me!"
Albus caught his balance, "It is quite all right, sir, do not worry...Professor Green?"
"Mister Dumbledore!" Professor Green shook his hand, though there was a very foul look on his face, "It is so pleasing to see you here."
"And you as well, are you here on business?" Albus asked.
"Yes, unfortunately, it calls..." Professor Green looked at his watch, "Right this moment. I must be gone."
And he shook Albus' hand again and was gone.
"Is that the insufferable Muggle Studies professor that you speak so fondly of?" Harold asked in a sarcastic voice as they sat.
"Yes, that would be him," Albus replied, "He is now courting Miss Pomfrey's friend, Miss Gabriella Patil. Supposedly, Miss Pomfrey quite broke his heart when she started to court me, but Professor Green is without a doubt cured of that, for I think I saw a parcel in his hand, probably a gift for Miss Patil."
"I would not be so sure," Harold said.
Albus looked at him with amazement, but Harold folded his hands over his cane and looked straight ahead.
"Are you daring to suggest," Albus said, "That Professor Green still holds Miss Pomfrey in any sort of intimate regard? It would be absolutely absurd for him to propose to her when it is so obvious I am going to myself!"
Harold remained impassive.
"What have you heard, Harold, you must tell me for it is a matter of extreme importance!"
Harold sighed, and said, "I tell you this as a friend, Mister Dumbledore. As you know, your parents receive much company in your absence, and just when your courtship began, the Greens stayed for a week and a half."
"Professor Green's parents, you mean?" Albus said, eyebrows raised.
"Yes, and they spoke of their son, very fond of him they are, they dote on him horribly," Harold lowered his voice, "He is rather spoiled, and they told that he had grown increasingly fond of one of his students, a seventh-year Hufflepuff by the name of Pomfrey. Your mother then exclaimed that that was the very same girl you were now courting. They agreed, and became very serious, for they told your parents how heartbroken Professor Green was by it."
"I do remember that he left for a few days in mid-January," Albus mused, "Though I did not think it would be for such a reason as that!"
"They all agreed that there would be absolutely no hostile feelings between the four of them, though I can not say the same for you and Professor Green, I think he rather despises you."
"But he is courting Miss Patil!"
"It would be a great disgrace, if he were to propose to Miss Pomfrey after courting her friend for so long, but be very aware of him, Albus."
They were able to converse no longer, as they saw an attendant was free. They set out choosing a ring, designing it to what Albus hoped would be to Poppy's liking, for he had no doubt in his mind that she was the perfect girl for him.
"Albus, what is the matter?" Poppy asked, "You look so very grave. Is your mother ill? I know you spoke of her being so last time you came from London, is it so now?"
"No," Albus replied, "She is quite well, they have returned to Drakelane to enjoy the weather, the breezes revitalize my mother so."
He swallowed and reached his hand into his pocket, where he fingered the small ring.
"Well, what was it you wanted to talk about, without a chaperone?" Poppy added in a severe voice, for she did not approve of being unchaperoned after their first meeting.
Albus was silent for some time, and just sat looking at her. She was wearing a new dress of lavender, and looked as lovely as ever. They were sitting on a stone bench against the far wall of a courtyard which was overgrown with ivy. The walls were tall and majestic, the stones on the ground cracked and growing over with moss. A fountain in the middle of large flowers was devoid of any water, but Albus did not mind, for he did not want any sound to disturb him. He gently slid his hand forward and closed it over Poppy's, and took her other hand, and kissed her fingers gently.
"Albus," Poppy said in a hesitant, warning tone.
"Yes?" He looked up at her.
She withdrew her hands slowly, "What did you want to tell me?"
He reached past her retreating hand to her neck, pulled himself closer to her, and kissed her.
Poppy's first idea was, once again, to pull back and slap him hard across the face...No, that would be foolish for such moments of solitude as this were so rare that she dared not pass up the chance of it never happening again. She slowly closed her hand around his wrist and kissed him back, her romantic ideals taking hold of her, and the love which she had so strongly felt urging her forward. What could she want more? This young man, whom she had loved since she had first seen him in Herbology seven years before...And now he was kissing her...He loved her, Albus Dumbledore loved her...
"Albus!" She cried, suddenly pulling away.
"What?" He asked.
She blushed, "What is the meaning of this? It is improper and I will have no part of it."
She stood and turned away.
"What are you talking about?" Albus looked incredulous, and took her hand again.
"Mister Dumbledore!" Poppy snatched her hand out of his, "Unless you have something to tell me, I will leave this instant and never speak to you again in any intimacy! You have shown yourself thus to be a gentleman, but this sort of private affair leaves much to be desired! Now, do you have something to tell me or not?"
Albus smiled up at her furious face, took her hand and said, "Of course. I love you."
It was so blunt. Expected, but blunt. Poppy had fashioned in her mind a passionate monologue declaring his undying affections for her in such eloquent language, with him on one knee, his hands held up to her, his face reflecting long years of restrained love...
"I love you too, Albus," Poppy breathed, "I have loved you for so long..."
"How long?" Albus asked, leading her by her hand to sit before him again.
Poppy blushed, and then said, "Since our first Herbology lesson."
"So not so much longer than I have," Albus smiled, "You have loved me for perhaps ten months, and I have loved you for perhaps four."
Poppy blushed deeper and said, "No. I mean, since our first Herbology lesson ever."
Albus' eyes got very wide and he stammered, "So long! How have you remained so devoted for so long?"
"I do not actually know," Poppy seemed to frown and smile at once, "But it does not matter, does it?"
Albus smiled, shook his head. Then, they embraced again in that wondeful fervent, passionate way that young lovers do.
No one else knew about what had happened in the old courtyard, and though Poppy's fingers were quite undecorated, she expected that soon would change. She heard reports that Albus Dumbledore had been seen in Diagon Alley at Fallancourth's Jewelry store, and had spent nearly three hours and a half with an attendant, though no one saw the results of the time, though it was rumored that he had arrived out of the store with a small package about the size of a box to hold a ring. Poppy grew giddy every time she thought of it. She had no idea that all her good fortune was soon to change.
The day after Albus' declaration, when Poppy and the other girls returned to the common room, Gabriella was nowhere to be seen.
"I wager she is out with Professor Green," Fanny Donald said, "A moonlight stroll, perhaps?"
"No," Delilia shook her head, "That is too..."
"Lewd," Poppy finished up, "And she would have told us if she was going anywhere, you know how Gabriella loves to tell everyone everything about herself and Professor Green."
The other girls nodded in agreement. They all went to bed, but Poppy stayed up in the common room, reading. At one o'clock in the morning, Gabriella returned. She looked up in surprise when she saw Poppy.
"You are up late," Poppy said, putting down her book.
"As are you," Gabriella returned.
"Pray, Gabriella," Poppy stood, for Gabriella looked as though she were going to return to the dormitory, "Where have you been?"
"That is none of your conern."