Part 14
Albus and Nicholas were called away to London for a week after the news got out that they had finally created the Sorcerer's Stone.
"I shall be back in no time, you will not even miss me, for Paulettina will keep you company," Albus had told Poppy when they said good-bye, "Do not fret."
Poppy did not reply, only took his hand. He gently pressed her own, and, seeing the ring on his finger, she felt better. And then he climbed into the carriage with Nicholas and they went away.
"Come, Miss Pomfrey," Paulettina said, taking her arm, "Do not be melancholy."
The two of them spent much of their time together that week, studying in the library and spending their free time strolling the grounds. Poppy frequently came close to telling Paulettina about Gabriella, but then withdrew, for she knew it would not be honorable. Paulettina did not try and force it out of her, and for this reason Poppy liked her very much.
On the Friday after the boys had left, Poppy and Paulettina were laughing over a private joke on the way to Muggle Studies. They recieved a bit of a shock when, on walking in, Professor Green stood there behind his desk.
"Ladies," He bowed, smiling, "How very pleasant to see you again."
They were startled, but managed to collect themselves enough to incline their heads. There were no other students in the class yet, so Poppy, after regaining herself, and feeling only a cold-hearted hatred towards the handsome young man before her, took the opportunity to inquire after him.
"Pray, what business called you away from us for so long, Professor?" She asked.
"It was family business, of a private matter," Professor Green returned, "I am truly not at liberty to speak of it Miss Pomfrey."
Poppy nodded, but privately thought that he must know that she knew all about his
misdemeanors. He had a very smug look on his face that made her uneasy, and so she returned o her seat without asking further.
When class began, he looked around, smiling broadly at them all, "I am very pleased to be back in the school once more," He said, "And now we begin our lessons where we left off, unless Professor Rockbeam got you past chapter eleven in the books?"
They nodded slowly in assent. Poppy did not like the way that his brown eyes kept flickering over in her direction, and throughout the lesson, every time he regarded her, there seemed a bit of arrogance and pride that she had not noticed before. Perhaps it was not there. While they were reading from the books and taking notes, Professor Green constantly opened a drawer in his desk, and would reach his hand towards it, touching it delicately, lovingly. Poppy was startled, at first, thinking it was the Sorcerer's Stone, but then realized that that would be impossible; Nicholas had taken it with him to London. Her fear was replaced by hope, hope that it was maybe a miniature of Gabriella, or he had a lock of her hair, as Albus did her's.
This renewed her faith slightly. Perhaps Professor Green was not a blackgaurd, and perhaps he meant to act honorably and take care of Gabriella. Smiling at the thought, Poppy returned to her work with uplifted spirits, only to have the dashed away.
The bell rang, and they all stood and bowed. Poppy was gathering her things and preparing to leave with Paulettina when Professor Green said, "Miss Pomfrey, a word if you please?" He looked at Paulettina, "Privately?"
"Yes, Professor," Poppy replied, and then quietly to Paulettina, "Do not wait for me, only tell Professor Finch that I will be late."
Paulettina nodded, threw a puzzled glance at Professor Green, and then left. Poppy turned on Professor Green, who was lounging in his chair, his feet propped up on his desk. This was highly improper, but Poppy, not wanting to reprimand him, still hoping that he would have good news for her, simply stood on the other side of the desk. For some minutes, even past the second bell, Professor Green only smiled up at her.
"Professor Green, I am already late. Pray, what business do you have with me?" She finally asked.
"A very personal business," He replied. For another moment, he was silent, and then said, "I suppose you know about Miss Patil's condition?"
"Yes," Poppy clenched her jaw, trying very hard not to let her fury get the best of her.
"Well, though it is shameful business indeed, I suppose you know the order of society."
"What do you mean?"
Professor Green stood, and said, "If I marry a girl of a respectable name, I will have no crime against me, and Miss Patil will simply be considered a hussey."
"Professor Green, do check your language," Poppy could not restrain herself.
"My business in town these last few days has been of a family matter. My parents were
enraged with my misconduct, as is understandable. They told me that, with the most possible urgency, before any news of Miss Patil's condition got out into society, that I should find myself a wife with a good reputation, in order to save myself and them."
Poppy felt her stomach jump into her throat. She was aware of the sweat on her forehead, adn the way her hand convulsively clutched at her books.
"Why are you telling me this?" She asked slowly, trying to keep her voice from trembling.
"Well, of course, Miss Patil was a very arrogant girl," Professor Green began, "She wanted to be in every other persons' business, and have everyone in her own. No doubt that she flew down to your common room the moment I informed her that I would like to court her to brag to you. I had told her how I had loved you - "
His voice broke as though by a sob, but there were no tears. For the first time, the smug mask seemed to break and was replaced by longing and pain. Poppy could not help but pity him. He had just professed his love to her, and she felt nothing in return but contempt. Professor Green stood slowly.
"However," He regained his composure, "I thought that the wounds deep in my heart could heal with the tender affections of Miss Patil. And they began to, somewhat. I had loved you for such a long time that, at first, it seemed in vain - "
"How long," It was not a question, but a demand, for Poppy could not help but ask.
"Since the last day of your sixth year," A dreamy look came into the Professor's eyes, "We
were all running about, saying good-bye. And I had just walked in the front door when I looked up and saw you on the top of the grand staircase. You were wearing an afternoon dress of the lovliest shade of blue, my particular favorite color. And as I opened the door, the afternoon sunlight fell right upon your lovely form, illuminating your face, and I felt as though my insides had fizzled away to nothing, and I could hardly stand for how much I loved you at that moment. I have a staircase much like that one at my own estate, in my mansion-house, and I pictured you standing upon it, smiling on me as your husband and lover, rather than as your professor as you did then."
Poppy closed her eyes very hard, wishing with all her might it was not so. Why did this man, this man who she thought no better than the most vile of criminals, love her? It should not be so!
"I have kept it deeply hidden, these past eleven months or so, for I did not know how to approach you. I could not ask you to be alone with me, for fear I would pull you into my arms and never let you free, so unrestrained was my passion. I doubt you noticed it," And here the dreamy look came out of his eyes and he looked very evilly at her indeed, "But whenever I passed you in the corridors, or stood over your shoulder on the pretext of examining your work, when truly I was only trying to get a little closer to you..." He took deep breaths and grabbed the edge of his desk, as though steadying himself, "I had to do everything within my power to restrain myself until you were of a proper age, until your eighteenth birthday, which was over the holidays. I did not percieve that a very ignorant young man would stand in my way."
Poppy did not know what to do with herself, so intense were her emotions that she could barely stand. She turned away and went to the window, where she looked out over the grounds. She did not look at Professor Green's face, though she could feel his pain and his sorrow filling the air about her. She heard his footsteps coming closer, and then felt his hands upon her arms. Poppy started, but did not turn around.
"Dearest - " He began.
"Do not address me with such intimacy until I have given you my consent," Poppy said shortly.
He pulled on her arm and whirled her around, looking at her furiously, "I do not need your consent...Darling."
She wanted to slap him. More than anything she wanted to slap him, but he held her arm in so tight a grip that she could not move. She only looked straight ahead at his chest. She could see the sweat glistening on his neck.
"My business these past few days," Professor Green whispered, "Was in London, and then in the country."
Poppy closed her eyes and stopped resisting to his grip, for she felt all of her emotions disappear except for one : Utter and complete despair.
"Your parents do not know of your courtship to Mister Dumbledore, do they?"
"They know a little of it, though not much," Poppy replied in a faint voice, "I was waiting
until the summer for him to come stay with us."
"I thought as much. It was very pleasing to me, your prudence in this matter, for it made my goal only so much easier to reach. They were absolutely delighted, beyond all reason, and more than ready, to give their daughter to such an affable young man of such repute and fortune."
Poppy could no longer restrain herself. She seemed to wilt into his arms, and fell into hysterics. More than anything, she wanted to hit him, hit him for ruining her life, but she was so weak that she could only make to hit him, and end up clutching at his jacket.
Woe.
He pulled her into his arms, a furious pride in his face, and, upon seeing that, she fainted.
Albus and Nicholas were called away to London for a week after the news got out that they had finally created the Sorcerer's Stone.
"I shall be back in no time, you will not even miss me, for Paulettina will keep you company," Albus had told Poppy when they said good-bye, "Do not fret."
Poppy did not reply, only took his hand. He gently pressed her own, and, seeing the ring on his finger, she felt better. And then he climbed into the carriage with Nicholas and they went away.
"Come, Miss Pomfrey," Paulettina said, taking her arm, "Do not be melancholy."
The two of them spent much of their time together that week, studying in the library and spending their free time strolling the grounds. Poppy frequently came close to telling Paulettina about Gabriella, but then withdrew, for she knew it would not be honorable. Paulettina did not try and force it out of her, and for this reason Poppy liked her very much.
On the Friday after the boys had left, Poppy and Paulettina were laughing over a private joke on the way to Muggle Studies. They recieved a bit of a shock when, on walking in, Professor Green stood there behind his desk.
"Ladies," He bowed, smiling, "How very pleasant to see you again."
They were startled, but managed to collect themselves enough to incline their heads. There were no other students in the class yet, so Poppy, after regaining herself, and feeling only a cold-hearted hatred towards the handsome young man before her, took the opportunity to inquire after him.
"Pray, what business called you away from us for so long, Professor?" She asked.
"It was family business, of a private matter," Professor Green returned, "I am truly not at liberty to speak of it Miss Pomfrey."
Poppy nodded, but privately thought that he must know that she knew all about his
misdemeanors. He had a very smug look on his face that made her uneasy, and so she returned o her seat without asking further.
When class began, he looked around, smiling broadly at them all, "I am very pleased to be back in the school once more," He said, "And now we begin our lessons where we left off, unless Professor Rockbeam got you past chapter eleven in the books?"
They nodded slowly in assent. Poppy did not like the way that his brown eyes kept flickering over in her direction, and throughout the lesson, every time he regarded her, there seemed a bit of arrogance and pride that she had not noticed before. Perhaps it was not there. While they were reading from the books and taking notes, Professor Green constantly opened a drawer in his desk, and would reach his hand towards it, touching it delicately, lovingly. Poppy was startled, at first, thinking it was the Sorcerer's Stone, but then realized that that would be impossible; Nicholas had taken it with him to London. Her fear was replaced by hope, hope that it was maybe a miniature of Gabriella, or he had a lock of her hair, as Albus did her's.
This renewed her faith slightly. Perhaps Professor Green was not a blackgaurd, and perhaps he meant to act honorably and take care of Gabriella. Smiling at the thought, Poppy returned to her work with uplifted spirits, only to have the dashed away.
The bell rang, and they all stood and bowed. Poppy was gathering her things and preparing to leave with Paulettina when Professor Green said, "Miss Pomfrey, a word if you please?" He looked at Paulettina, "Privately?"
"Yes, Professor," Poppy replied, and then quietly to Paulettina, "Do not wait for me, only tell Professor Finch that I will be late."
Paulettina nodded, threw a puzzled glance at Professor Green, and then left. Poppy turned on Professor Green, who was lounging in his chair, his feet propped up on his desk. This was highly improper, but Poppy, not wanting to reprimand him, still hoping that he would have good news for her, simply stood on the other side of the desk. For some minutes, even past the second bell, Professor Green only smiled up at her.
"Professor Green, I am already late. Pray, what business do you have with me?" She finally asked.
"A very personal business," He replied. For another moment, he was silent, and then said, "I suppose you know about Miss Patil's condition?"
"Yes," Poppy clenched her jaw, trying very hard not to let her fury get the best of her.
"Well, though it is shameful business indeed, I suppose you know the order of society."
"What do you mean?"
Professor Green stood, and said, "If I marry a girl of a respectable name, I will have no crime against me, and Miss Patil will simply be considered a hussey."
"Professor Green, do check your language," Poppy could not restrain herself.
"My business in town these last few days has been of a family matter. My parents were
enraged with my misconduct, as is understandable. They told me that, with the most possible urgency, before any news of Miss Patil's condition got out into society, that I should find myself a wife with a good reputation, in order to save myself and them."
Poppy felt her stomach jump into her throat. She was aware of the sweat on her forehead, adn the way her hand convulsively clutched at her books.
"Why are you telling me this?" She asked slowly, trying to keep her voice from trembling.
"Well, of course, Miss Patil was a very arrogant girl," Professor Green began, "She wanted to be in every other persons' business, and have everyone in her own. No doubt that she flew down to your common room the moment I informed her that I would like to court her to brag to you. I had told her how I had loved you - "
His voice broke as though by a sob, but there were no tears. For the first time, the smug mask seemed to break and was replaced by longing and pain. Poppy could not help but pity him. He had just professed his love to her, and she felt nothing in return but contempt. Professor Green stood slowly.
"However," He regained his composure, "I thought that the wounds deep in my heart could heal with the tender affections of Miss Patil. And they began to, somewhat. I had loved you for such a long time that, at first, it seemed in vain - "
"How long," It was not a question, but a demand, for Poppy could not help but ask.
"Since the last day of your sixth year," A dreamy look came into the Professor's eyes, "We
were all running about, saying good-bye. And I had just walked in the front door when I looked up and saw you on the top of the grand staircase. You were wearing an afternoon dress of the lovliest shade of blue, my particular favorite color. And as I opened the door, the afternoon sunlight fell right upon your lovely form, illuminating your face, and I felt as though my insides had fizzled away to nothing, and I could hardly stand for how much I loved you at that moment. I have a staircase much like that one at my own estate, in my mansion-house, and I pictured you standing upon it, smiling on me as your husband and lover, rather than as your professor as you did then."
Poppy closed her eyes very hard, wishing with all her might it was not so. Why did this man, this man who she thought no better than the most vile of criminals, love her? It should not be so!
"I have kept it deeply hidden, these past eleven months or so, for I did not know how to approach you. I could not ask you to be alone with me, for fear I would pull you into my arms and never let you free, so unrestrained was my passion. I doubt you noticed it," And here the dreamy look came out of his eyes and he looked very evilly at her indeed, "But whenever I passed you in the corridors, or stood over your shoulder on the pretext of examining your work, when truly I was only trying to get a little closer to you..." He took deep breaths and grabbed the edge of his desk, as though steadying himself, "I had to do everything within my power to restrain myself until you were of a proper age, until your eighteenth birthday, which was over the holidays. I did not percieve that a very ignorant young man would stand in my way."
Poppy did not know what to do with herself, so intense were her emotions that she could barely stand. She turned away and went to the window, where she looked out over the grounds. She did not look at Professor Green's face, though she could feel his pain and his sorrow filling the air about her. She heard his footsteps coming closer, and then felt his hands upon her arms. Poppy started, but did not turn around.
"Dearest - " He began.
"Do not address me with such intimacy until I have given you my consent," Poppy said shortly.
He pulled on her arm and whirled her around, looking at her furiously, "I do not need your consent...Darling."
She wanted to slap him. More than anything she wanted to slap him, but he held her arm in so tight a grip that she could not move. She only looked straight ahead at his chest. She could see the sweat glistening on his neck.
"My business these past few days," Professor Green whispered, "Was in London, and then in the country."
Poppy closed her eyes and stopped resisting to his grip, for she felt all of her emotions disappear except for one : Utter and complete despair.
"Your parents do not know of your courtship to Mister Dumbledore, do they?"
"They know a little of it, though not much," Poppy replied in a faint voice, "I was waiting
until the summer for him to come stay with us."
"I thought as much. It was very pleasing to me, your prudence in this matter, for it made my goal only so much easier to reach. They were absolutely delighted, beyond all reason, and more than ready, to give their daughter to such an affable young man of such repute and fortune."
Poppy could no longer restrain herself. She seemed to wilt into his arms, and fell into hysterics. More than anything, she wanted to hit him, hit him for ruining her life, but she was so weak that she could only make to hit him, and end up clutching at his jacket.
Woe.
He pulled her into his arms, a furious pride in his face, and, upon seeing that, she fainted.