"Sod it all! That can't be the last of the Pepperup Potions..." Poppy
muttered angrily as she frantically searched her own private stores. Her
medicine cabinet however stared back at her, quite devoid of Pepperup
Potions. It was enough to make a grown woman cry, especially one who had
come down with a severe cold. "You're a ruddy mediwitch for Merlin's sake!
How can you have failed to restock your own private stores?!" She growled,
levitating a box of tissues over.
She sat down, a few tissues still clasped in her hand, and closed her eyes. "There's nothing for it. You're going to have to use some from the school's stores." She told herself. Sighing, she rose and descended to the hospital wing with the tissues still clasped in her hand. Happily enough, the wing was empty as she proceeded to the medicine cabinet in her office. She decided to only take a little of the Pepperup Potion, just enough to hold her over until she reordered some for herself.
Seconds later she felt immediate relief. Gone was the stuffy nose, the congestion, the slight headache, and the coughing. "Loveliness, I can actually breathe." She sighed with a smile on her face. Vanishing the tissues she went back up to her rooms to change into appropriate wear for the day and descended yet again, proceeding down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
On her way down the main stairwell she passed by Professor Bembridge of the Muggle Studies Department, looking a little worn for wear. "Rremly, are you quite all right?" Poppy asked concernedly, pausing on the steps. Glancing up, Rremly just smiled a small smile and sighed. "Quite fine, thank you."
Poppy looked him levelly. "Have you caught the culprits behind the enchanted singing pencil sharpener?" She asked him shrewdly. At this he laughed quietly. "Actually as a matter of fact I have. Two Slytherin fifth years. Caught them just now chatting about it outside the Great Hall." Rremly sighed amusedly.
Poppy couldn't stifle her laugh. It had been quite amusing. Imagine, enchanting a muggle pencil sharpener to sing "God Save The Queen" all hours of the day. Enough to drive one mad, it is. "I can only naturally assume they'll be having detention with you then this evening?" Poppy mused. He nodded emphatically in reply. "Quite right." Rremly chuckled and went on his way up the stairs. Still more than amused, Poppy went on her own way, down the stairs to the Great Hall.
Brushing back a few tendrils of her hair, Poppy crossed the corridor and entered the Great Hall, the ceiling revealing a hazy but bright morning. The few shafts of light that filtered in lit up the staff table in golden sunshine where Albus, Minerva, Severus, Pomona, Filius, and Celene sat. As Rolanda usually slept in, Poppy wasn't surprised to see her chair empty. Rolanda wasn't much of a morning person.
Briskly, Poppy made her way to her seat. After she'd sat down, she glanced at her suddenly full plate. There were scrambled eggs, kippers, toast, and milk. Smiling a small smile she took a bite of the eggs, savouring the taste. Taking another bite, she glanced over the hall, her eyes flitting from each of the house tables where the students sat eating and talking steadily. Her eyes traveled down the Gryffindor table where she spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione down the way eating. However, Hermione wasn't doing much eating, what with her reading a book she'd propped up against the milk jug. That girl was so like Minerva, it was scary. How many times had she seen Minerva eating any meal while steadily reading a book or her notes? It was uncanny really.
She then glanced at Harry. She knew whenever anyone saw him, they saw his father James. She had to admit he looked incredibly like his father, but of course he had Lily's eyes. Though, he may look like his father and may have inherited his father's quidditch prowress, but his temperment put her in mind of someone altogether different...
Glancing up, Poppy spotted Remus walking down the aisle toward the staff table. As he neared he smiled a warm smile and sat himself down in his seat beside Pomona. Poppy smiled in return and went back to eating her breakfast meal. She took a sip of her milk and leaned back in her chair, staring straight up at the enchanted ceiling, thinking a little. It's been a while since she'd really talked with him. She wondered... but no...
"Poppy are you all right?" Celene asked quietly, glancing at her concernedly as she set down her fork on her plate. Poppy averted her gaze from the ceiling to Celene. Shaking her head of her previous thoughts, she smiled a small smile. "Yes, I'm fine." Poppy told her reassuringly.
Celene didn't looked terribly convinced. "Are you sure? You looked really pensive." The younger woman persisted, still very much concerned. Poppy nodded. "I was just thinking, that's all." She tried again to reassure Celene.
She was still unconvinced, yet Celene nodded all the same, finishing the rest of her breakfast meal. Poppy wasted no time in finishing her own breakfast. Pretty soon the students were filing out of the Great Hall in droves. By the time Poppy cleared her dish and stood, the Great Hall was nearly empty excepting some seven scattered students, Filius, Remus and herself.
As Filius ambled down the aisle, ushering the stray students out, Poppy moved towards Remus. "Well, first day of classes for the year. Good luck, Remus." She said, a warm smile lighting up her fair features. He too smiled and inclined his head. "Thank you, Poppy. I appreciate it and I know I'll need the luck. This is my first time teaching after all." He responded, walking down with her to the double doors.
Poppy smiled a little. "I'm sure you'll do fine. You're very smart and clever, you'll do well by them." She told him quietly, glancing down a moment. A moment later, she felt him tip her chin up with his forefinger. Her heart beat just a little bit faster. He looked into her eyes. "Thank you, Poppy." He replied in his quiet voice and nodded his head before leaving the room to head to class.
Just barely trembling, she stood there looking at where he'd been. He'd been so close. She lightly touched the spot where his fingers had been and closed her eyes a moment. The next moment she shook her head vigorously and snapped to attention, dropping her hand. Poppy turned and briskly left the Great Hall, heading back up to her post in the hospital wing. Entering inside she went into her office and shut the door, leaning heavily against it. She took a calming breath and let her eyes flit to the open window where sunlight spilled through.
"Si seulement..."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That evening she didn't go down to the Great Hall for dinner. Instead she had one of the house elves bring her dinner to her rooms, where she did something she hadn't done for a long while.
Sitting at her window seat with the moonlight filtering in behind her and played soft Celtic melodies on her brother's violin. With her eyes closed she played from memory his favorite songs, letting herself remember him as was in life. She let herself remember his sense of humor, which had always been on the daft side, and his playfulness. She remembered when they'd been younger how they played for their parents, Stewart on his violin and Poppy accompanying him either on her cello, piano, or by singing.
As she let herself remember, all the while playing those Celtic melodies, there was a knock at the door. Poppy stopped her playing, lifting her chin from the violin. "Come in." She called out, standing up from her spot.
The door opened to admit Irma, two books in hand. "I see you're playing again." She remarked, coming inside. She eyed Poppy shrewdly, pursing her lips slightly. The mediwitch shrugged a little, still holding the violin.
"It's been a while since I've played. I felt I really needed it." Poppy responded, looking down a little. Though, Poppy wished it wasn't common knowledge that she now tended to play more out of a need drain and empty herself. She'd noticed this sort of thing tended to be fuel for questions from her friends.
However, Irma oddly enough never seemed to question her as the others did. Then again she was the most reclusive of the group and tended to steer clear from any of what she termed "girl talk" or any other such bonding moments. She prized her solitude and her strong independence. Yet, having empathic abilities Poppy could sense something deep and buried in Irma. Something that Poppy easily resonated with in some senses. She could just barely sense that for her independence and solitude, Irma was lonely. Though she kept herself so well guarded none would exactly see that. It seemed only Poppy could see and feel this.
After all, even though Poppy had two wonderful parents and a host of close friends and colleagues here in the castle, in some parts of her she felt her heart and her empathic feelings and abilities were not truly being tested. She felt she had so much to give and yet, who exactly would she give it to? Aside from the brief glimpses into the students' lives through their various injuries and subsequent visits she did so little for them. Truly, Poppy wished she could do more. Wished she had children of her own.
"Well, I'll leave you to your playing. I only came up to bring those two books you requested." Irma spoke, her voice reaching into Poppy's thoughts, bringing her from her reverie. She blinked and shook her head. "It's quite all right, Irma. You needn't go. I was glad to see you. I thank you, for bringing the books." Poppy replied with a small smile.
Irma shook her head. "No, that's fine. I've some orders to fill for some new books anyway. You go on and play..." She told Poppy, her voice just barely softer than Poppy had ever heard it. "Play... for him." Irma added quietly as she turned and left the room.
For a full minute, Poppy couldn't breathe. Her heart stopped and she literally felt herself go cold. She couldn't possibly know... could she? No! It's impossible! There's just no logical way for it to be even slightly possible.
Then it dawned on her like cold rainwater, Irma didn't know. She'd been referring to Milo, a friend of their's and a former Ravenclaw. As the realization settled in, Poppy felt a sadness seep into her. She was the only one who knew. It was Poppy who had seen that she'd held a torch for Milo, ever since they'd left Hogwarts. Yet, it had been nigh on impossible for anything to come of it. Milo had gone into training to become a Ministry Ambassador and was gone for quite a long while and traveled quite a bit.
Then... once he'd even remotely settled after his training and subsequent job placement back in Britain, it happened. Voldemort had come to power and things had been plunged into chaos. There were many times when he'd disappeared without so much as a goodbye, and they'd been forced to understand it was part of his job. Then... he'd been murdered. It was a blow to the Poppy and all of his friends, but most especially to Irma. She'd never been the same since...
"Oh Irma..." Poppy lamented, playing a few plaintive Celtic melodies on her brother's violin, a few stray tears slipping down her face onto the violin.
"Si seulement..."
She sat down, a few tissues still clasped in her hand, and closed her eyes. "There's nothing for it. You're going to have to use some from the school's stores." She told herself. Sighing, she rose and descended to the hospital wing with the tissues still clasped in her hand. Happily enough, the wing was empty as she proceeded to the medicine cabinet in her office. She decided to only take a little of the Pepperup Potion, just enough to hold her over until she reordered some for herself.
Seconds later she felt immediate relief. Gone was the stuffy nose, the congestion, the slight headache, and the coughing. "Loveliness, I can actually breathe." She sighed with a smile on her face. Vanishing the tissues she went back up to her rooms to change into appropriate wear for the day and descended yet again, proceeding down to the Great Hall for breakfast.
On her way down the main stairwell she passed by Professor Bembridge of the Muggle Studies Department, looking a little worn for wear. "Rremly, are you quite all right?" Poppy asked concernedly, pausing on the steps. Glancing up, Rremly just smiled a small smile and sighed. "Quite fine, thank you."
Poppy looked him levelly. "Have you caught the culprits behind the enchanted singing pencil sharpener?" She asked him shrewdly. At this he laughed quietly. "Actually as a matter of fact I have. Two Slytherin fifth years. Caught them just now chatting about it outside the Great Hall." Rremly sighed amusedly.
Poppy couldn't stifle her laugh. It had been quite amusing. Imagine, enchanting a muggle pencil sharpener to sing "God Save The Queen" all hours of the day. Enough to drive one mad, it is. "I can only naturally assume they'll be having detention with you then this evening?" Poppy mused. He nodded emphatically in reply. "Quite right." Rremly chuckled and went on his way up the stairs. Still more than amused, Poppy went on her own way, down the stairs to the Great Hall.
Brushing back a few tendrils of her hair, Poppy crossed the corridor and entered the Great Hall, the ceiling revealing a hazy but bright morning. The few shafts of light that filtered in lit up the staff table in golden sunshine where Albus, Minerva, Severus, Pomona, Filius, and Celene sat. As Rolanda usually slept in, Poppy wasn't surprised to see her chair empty. Rolanda wasn't much of a morning person.
Briskly, Poppy made her way to her seat. After she'd sat down, she glanced at her suddenly full plate. There were scrambled eggs, kippers, toast, and milk. Smiling a small smile she took a bite of the eggs, savouring the taste. Taking another bite, she glanced over the hall, her eyes flitting from each of the house tables where the students sat eating and talking steadily. Her eyes traveled down the Gryffindor table where she spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione down the way eating. However, Hermione wasn't doing much eating, what with her reading a book she'd propped up against the milk jug. That girl was so like Minerva, it was scary. How many times had she seen Minerva eating any meal while steadily reading a book or her notes? It was uncanny really.
She then glanced at Harry. She knew whenever anyone saw him, they saw his father James. She had to admit he looked incredibly like his father, but of course he had Lily's eyes. Though, he may look like his father and may have inherited his father's quidditch prowress, but his temperment put her in mind of someone altogether different...
Glancing up, Poppy spotted Remus walking down the aisle toward the staff table. As he neared he smiled a warm smile and sat himself down in his seat beside Pomona. Poppy smiled in return and went back to eating her breakfast meal. She took a sip of her milk and leaned back in her chair, staring straight up at the enchanted ceiling, thinking a little. It's been a while since she'd really talked with him. She wondered... but no...
"Poppy are you all right?" Celene asked quietly, glancing at her concernedly as she set down her fork on her plate. Poppy averted her gaze from the ceiling to Celene. Shaking her head of her previous thoughts, she smiled a small smile. "Yes, I'm fine." Poppy told her reassuringly.
Celene didn't looked terribly convinced. "Are you sure? You looked really pensive." The younger woman persisted, still very much concerned. Poppy nodded. "I was just thinking, that's all." She tried again to reassure Celene.
She was still unconvinced, yet Celene nodded all the same, finishing the rest of her breakfast meal. Poppy wasted no time in finishing her own breakfast. Pretty soon the students were filing out of the Great Hall in droves. By the time Poppy cleared her dish and stood, the Great Hall was nearly empty excepting some seven scattered students, Filius, Remus and herself.
As Filius ambled down the aisle, ushering the stray students out, Poppy moved towards Remus. "Well, first day of classes for the year. Good luck, Remus." She said, a warm smile lighting up her fair features. He too smiled and inclined his head. "Thank you, Poppy. I appreciate it and I know I'll need the luck. This is my first time teaching after all." He responded, walking down with her to the double doors.
Poppy smiled a little. "I'm sure you'll do fine. You're very smart and clever, you'll do well by them." She told him quietly, glancing down a moment. A moment later, she felt him tip her chin up with his forefinger. Her heart beat just a little bit faster. He looked into her eyes. "Thank you, Poppy." He replied in his quiet voice and nodded his head before leaving the room to head to class.
Just barely trembling, she stood there looking at where he'd been. He'd been so close. She lightly touched the spot where his fingers had been and closed her eyes a moment. The next moment she shook her head vigorously and snapped to attention, dropping her hand. Poppy turned and briskly left the Great Hall, heading back up to her post in the hospital wing. Entering inside she went into her office and shut the door, leaning heavily against it. She took a calming breath and let her eyes flit to the open window where sunlight spilled through.
"Si seulement..."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That evening she didn't go down to the Great Hall for dinner. Instead she had one of the house elves bring her dinner to her rooms, where she did something she hadn't done for a long while.
Sitting at her window seat with the moonlight filtering in behind her and played soft Celtic melodies on her brother's violin. With her eyes closed she played from memory his favorite songs, letting herself remember him as was in life. She let herself remember his sense of humor, which had always been on the daft side, and his playfulness. She remembered when they'd been younger how they played for their parents, Stewart on his violin and Poppy accompanying him either on her cello, piano, or by singing.
As she let herself remember, all the while playing those Celtic melodies, there was a knock at the door. Poppy stopped her playing, lifting her chin from the violin. "Come in." She called out, standing up from her spot.
The door opened to admit Irma, two books in hand. "I see you're playing again." She remarked, coming inside. She eyed Poppy shrewdly, pursing her lips slightly. The mediwitch shrugged a little, still holding the violin.
"It's been a while since I've played. I felt I really needed it." Poppy responded, looking down a little. Though, Poppy wished it wasn't common knowledge that she now tended to play more out of a need drain and empty herself. She'd noticed this sort of thing tended to be fuel for questions from her friends.
However, Irma oddly enough never seemed to question her as the others did. Then again she was the most reclusive of the group and tended to steer clear from any of what she termed "girl talk" or any other such bonding moments. She prized her solitude and her strong independence. Yet, having empathic abilities Poppy could sense something deep and buried in Irma. Something that Poppy easily resonated with in some senses. She could just barely sense that for her independence and solitude, Irma was lonely. Though she kept herself so well guarded none would exactly see that. It seemed only Poppy could see and feel this.
After all, even though Poppy had two wonderful parents and a host of close friends and colleagues here in the castle, in some parts of her she felt her heart and her empathic feelings and abilities were not truly being tested. She felt she had so much to give and yet, who exactly would she give it to? Aside from the brief glimpses into the students' lives through their various injuries and subsequent visits she did so little for them. Truly, Poppy wished she could do more. Wished she had children of her own.
"Well, I'll leave you to your playing. I only came up to bring those two books you requested." Irma spoke, her voice reaching into Poppy's thoughts, bringing her from her reverie. She blinked and shook her head. "It's quite all right, Irma. You needn't go. I was glad to see you. I thank you, for bringing the books." Poppy replied with a small smile.
Irma shook her head. "No, that's fine. I've some orders to fill for some new books anyway. You go on and play..." She told Poppy, her voice just barely softer than Poppy had ever heard it. "Play... for him." Irma added quietly as she turned and left the room.
For a full minute, Poppy couldn't breathe. Her heart stopped and she literally felt herself go cold. She couldn't possibly know... could she? No! It's impossible! There's just no logical way for it to be even slightly possible.
Then it dawned on her like cold rainwater, Irma didn't know. She'd been referring to Milo, a friend of their's and a former Ravenclaw. As the realization settled in, Poppy felt a sadness seep into her. She was the only one who knew. It was Poppy who had seen that she'd held a torch for Milo, ever since they'd left Hogwarts. Yet, it had been nigh on impossible for anything to come of it. Milo had gone into training to become a Ministry Ambassador and was gone for quite a long while and traveled quite a bit.
Then... once he'd even remotely settled after his training and subsequent job placement back in Britain, it happened. Voldemort had come to power and things had been plunged into chaos. There were many times when he'd disappeared without so much as a goodbye, and they'd been forced to understand it was part of his job. Then... he'd been murdered. It was a blow to the Poppy and all of his friends, but most especially to Irma. She'd never been the same since...
"Oh Irma..." Poppy lamented, playing a few plaintive Celtic melodies on her brother's violin, a few stray tears slipping down her face onto the violin.
"Si seulement..."