Poppy sent a note to Charlie which was hastily written, telling him that he did nothing wrong over Christmas, and that she was just, as she said, upset about having to not see him for months. She also said that she would want to talk to him in the summer, and that she had something to tell him.

Then she got down to business, prepping for her exams, which she found easier, since she now didn't feel the pressure of an unresolved issue hanging over her head - she felt over the moon and excited about the fact that Charlie liked her too! For some odd reason, it gave her the nudge she needed to knuckle down even more and study even harder than she had over Easter.

Which she probably would have had to do anyway, as her teachers added even more work to her plate in the form of practice essays and questions in the coming weeks.

Professor Moody seemed to have warmed to her even more since they'd last spoken, and at one point invited her to an after school duelling practice session with him, as he said that since she was the only promising student trying to get through to the Auror programme and he wanted to see if her duelling skills were acceptable - "When you're out in the field got won't have a class full of friends cheering you on," he'd said. "You'll be on your own, facing the worst they can throw at you."

Although Poppy still had an off feeling about him, she'd spent so long now putting it to the back of her mind - it was her issue with him, no one else felt the same, and he'd only tried to help her so far - with her application, reference, and duelling pointers in class. So, she accepted his offer of help.

The training session started out well, and Poppy was surprised that she was still able to hold her own for a few minutes, just as she had earlier in the year.

But then, after about five minutes, he told her, "Your enemy won't fight like a school child and neither should you," and began to really duel, using faster quick fire spells which made her duck and dive all over the room.

Poppy was able to deflect quite a few and avoid others, but then Moody said, "Good! You're putting up a fight! How about we up the ante even more?"

Poppy wasn't sure. She stood from her hiding place behind a desk and sighed. "I'm…" she began, rubbing her arm. She still remembered the last time she'd been under the influence of one of his curses, and had been hoping to not be subjected to another, as her exams were only a week and a half away.

"Didn't take you for a quitter," he growled, moving forwards across the room, his foot clanking against the stone floor.

Poppy sighed again. "I'm not quitting, I'm just…"

"You. Are. Quitting," he growled again, stopping in the middle of the room. "I thought you wanted to be an Auror. I thought you wanted to prove yourself."

"I do," Poppy whispered, feeling heat rise to her cheeks, and pinpricks under her arms as she felt her stomach drop.

"Well then," he replied, raising his wand. "I think it's time we stopped playing around and tried some real curses."

Poppy gulped. She didn't want to be injured again, but Moody was right she supposed. Here was a war hero who had fought real Death Eaters. Who had proven himself on the battlefield. Who knew what training would be like. And here she was, saying she didn't want to be hurt? How embarrassing was that? How silly did that sound?

So, despite not wanting to, she nodded and raised her wand.

She held her own again for around six minutes, before she heard, "Crucio!" and felt unimaginable pain spear through her. She didn't know how long the spell went on for. It felt like minutes, but she knew Moody wouldn't intend to hurt her for that long.

Gasping, she shook and twitched on the floor when the spell was removed from her. Tears in her eyes

Unfortunately, Poppy found herself placed under a few short bursts of the Cruciatus curse during the hour of intense duelling, finding it hard to jump out of the way or repel the curses once Moody had caught her.

It shook her at first, but Moody told her that she needed to keep fighting despite it, and by the end of the session she'd been able to disarm him just after a short burst of the curse.

Tired, hurting and annoyed at herself for not being able to duel better, she returned to her dorm room.

"You should tell someone," Cass said when Poppy explained what had happened.

"It's really fine," she replied, limping to the bathroom. "I think I'll do better if we duel again."

The next day she did what she always did - she plastered a smile on her face and moved forwards.

She recovered within a few days and by her next Defence class, she was able to hold her head up high.

Her first exams at the end of May and start of June went well, she thought, but her last week contained three exams, and she found herself snapping at everyone who interrupted her study, and getting overwhelmed easily.

One moment stuck out to her; "Poppy? Vould you like to study vit me?" a Durmstrang student who Poppy knew from her Care of Magical Creatures class asked, and Poppy, who was in the middle of trying to memorise a rather intense piece of literature about what a wrong flick of the wrist could do to someone's insides mid-human transfiguration, looked up with wide eyes, her hair frizzy and unkempt, her face blank.

"She ran away," Poppy whined, looking down at her notes as she walked across the lawn the next day. "Physically ran. Ran!"

Fleur laughed and shook her head, her hair flying all around her. "I am sure that it was not zat bad," she said happily as they walked; they were on their way down to the edge of the forest, where Poppy would be going in to take her practical Care of Magical Creatures exam.

"It was, and I'm still jealous you got to skip these," Poppy replied, sighing down at her notes.

"Yes, well, I am not. I thought it would be fine, but I will 'ave my marks from ze teachers and be stuck wiz those for the rest of my career. I 'ope they're okay."

"I actually hate you," Poppy replied, pushing Fleur gently. "You're complaining about not having stress."

"Right now I would find exams easier than 'aving to think about what is coming in that final task."

"True… weird to bring up, but your 'ths' are coming in great by the way," Poppy said, smiling. She knew how much Fleur was working on her English, and of her dream to spend a year or two working in London now. Despite her reluctance to accept Hogwarts' weather, the French native was loving the challenge of living abroad.

Fleur beamed. "Thank you. I 'ave been trying. I do need to work on it still… Would you like me to ask you a question?" she asked, pointing to Poppy's notes.

They spent the rest of the walk with Poppy answering Fleur's random questions. It worked well, and Poppy finished the exam with a smile on her face. Her examiner even shook her hand and asked, "For extra credit," if she knew how to tell the difference between male and female dragons. She repeated what Charlie had said once - that it's in the scales, but if they pop out an egg it's easier to tell. The examiner laughed, and Poppy grinned.

Her next two exams were Defence Against the Dark Arts, and she was most prepared for these. Her practical on Wednesday the twelfth went well, and was followed, on Friday the fourteenth of June, by her theory exam in the morning.

Her last exam at Hogwarts.

Poppy went down to breakfast a bundle of nerves, and was instantly found by a rather burly looking brown owl which swooped down and dropped a letter onto her head. She shoved it into her bag without looking at it properly, and anxiously had breakfast while reading and re-reading her notes.

She waited outside the Great Hall while everyone finished their food and the doors closed to be transformed into the exam hall. Then she walked in and sat in the very front row, surrounded by her peers, and students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.

When she'd finished, her mind was blank. She felt like she'd poured everything she had in her brain out onto the parchment, and she could barely think.

Her friends still had their last exam that afternoon so after lunch, instead of going straight to celebrate, she went outside into the sunshine and sat down on a boulder by the Beauxbatons carriage, and tore open the letter.

She'd assumed at first that it was from Charlie, but the handwriting was new to her.

She was shocked to see that it was headed with the Ministry of Magic logo.

Dear Miss Jacobs,

Thank you for applying to the Auror Training Programme.

We received your application in March and after reviewing your application, certificates, predicted grades and additional recommendations, it is my great pleasure to say that you have been selected as a potential candidate for the programme.

Subject to our criteria being met*, we would like to welcome you to our assessment week which will take place 31 July - 4 August at The Ministry of Magic, Scotland Place, Westminster, England.

My best,

Rufus Scrigemour

Head of the Auror Office

*Please find an information pack enclosed.

Poppy squealed and opened the pack to find the entrance requirements. She already knew that the entrance criteria differed candidate by candidate based on the subjects that they'd chosen to study at NEWT level. Skipping over the rest of the jargon, she read;

The below minimum grades would be acceptable to attend an assessment week.

Care of Magical Creatures: EE

Charms: EE

Defence Against the Dark Arts: O

History of Magic: EE

Transfiguration: EE

Please note:

Candidates without a NEWT level qualification in Potions will be expected to pass a Potions Aptitude Test during their assessment week.

We would also like to see you achieve an Exceeds Expectations in Muggle Studies, though this is not required for entrance into the programme.

Poppy let out a scream of happiness and began to jump up and down - now it was simply up to the exams she'd taken to secure her dream.

Without thinking, she ran back towards the castle, a massive smile on her face as she went.

Before she knew it, she was finishing off a letter to Charlie, the information pack and list of qualifications discarded (carefully) on her bed.

She'd agreed to celebrate the end of exams with Cass, Esther and their other classmates at a lakeside party at five, so she ran straight to Professor Sprout's Herbology class to tell her the good news. Sprout was in the middle of an end-of-year exam for the Third-Years, so Poppy waited, bouncing on her toes until the bell rang and the class poured out.

She told Sprout the good news and received a hug in return. Ginny, who'd been in the exam, stayed behind to wait for Poppy and so she was the second person Poppy told.

"You should tell Professor Moody," Sprout said, laughing as Poppy danced with Ginny. "He was asking if you'd heard anything yet. He'll be in his office."

"I have to get to the Owlery…" Poppy complained, but her happiness was barely rocked.

"Then run," Sprout said, shaking her head and letting her next class into the greenhouse.

Moody's office was shut when Poppy arrived, panting slightly from all of her running. "Professor?" she called out, knocking on his door.

The timetable to the Defence room said that he didn't have any classes at that time, so he was either in or she'd have to come back later.

She turned around but then groaned. If she came back after dropping her letter to Charlie off at the Owlery then she'd not make it in time for the start of the party… and for once she really did want to be there, front and centre, kicking off the last two weeks of school.

She heard a noise inside the office and knocked again. There was a shuffling, a few thumps, and then Moody opened the door, both of his eyes trained on her, his face twisted into a grimace.

"What do you want?" he growled.

Poppy gulped, but her adrenaline kept her smile on her face. "I got my acceptance letter. To the Auror programme?"

Moody's face twisted more. "And?" he asked.

"And nothing," she said, her smile dropping slightly. She had thought that he'd be more excited for her. "Well… I- I just wanted to say thank you for your letter. I think it helped. And… well, Professor Sprout said that you'd want me to tell you straight away."

Moody narrowed his eyes at her and she gulped.

"Fine," he said, finally. "What else do you want?"

"Nothing," she replied quietly.

"Nothing at all?"

"No, sir."

There was a movement inside the office, followed by a muffled bang, and Moody looked over his shoulder. Poppy frowned. It looked like his trunk was open. He moved forwards, and Poppy moved back, looking away. He closed the door behind him.

"Sneakoscope went off," he said, his magical eye whizzing to the back of his head.

Poppy frowned. "Sneakoscopes don't bang, do they?"

Moody's magical eye fixed on her now. "No. But mine do."

"Oh, okay…" she replied, looking down the hall to see if anyone else was coming. "Sorry," she whispered. "I know you like us to point out inconsistencies…"

"You suspect me of something?" he asked, his eye whizzing this way and that. It turned back to her quickly.

"No," she said quietly. "No of course not. But I should probably get back to my common room now. My friends are waiting."

"Not looking for any advice?"

"Advice?"

"For the Auror entrance exams. They're not easy. A full week of assessments and interviews…"

Poppy smiled and pushed her fear and worry to the back of her mind. "Uh, yeah, I think I can be a bit late…" she mused, thinking that she and her friends wouldn't begrudge her ten minutes if it meant she could get a head start on training. "That'd be great, thank you."

"Give me a minute," he said, and Poppy nodded.

He went back into his office and closed the door behind him. There were more thumps and a few scrapes, and then the door swung open again. "Come in," he called.

Poppy hesitated. Something felt off, and Moody seemed to be weirder than usual.

"Well?" he asked.

Poppy shook the feeling and walked in. Standing by his desk, her heart beating fast, her worries having increased with every step she'd taken towards him. She wanted to leave. But she knew she had to be polite. She noticed that his trunk was closed now, and that his sneakoscope seemed to be in full (but malfunctioning) working order.

"Here," he said, handing her a piece of parchment. She looked down and saw numerous book titles. "I find them handy. I think you will too."

Poppy let out a huff of a laugh and grinned down at the list, shaking her head. "Thanks."

"How'd your exam go?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Good I think," Poppy said, smiling. "I'd day I've got to get an O."

"From what I've seen this year, you will."

"Maybe… can I ask you something that's been playing on my mind?" she asked slowly. Moody nodded, so she said, "I keep thinking about that duelling practice. I feel like I could've done better. I didn't even see the Cruciatus coming. I guess I'm worried that if I get through to training then I'll keep making the same mistakes…"

Moody shifted, his leg clunking against the ground. "I know a few Aurors who have taken that curse. Surprised with it too. Mid-fight. But they kept going. Just like you. Now, what did you learn from the experience?"

Poppy sighed. "Constant vigilance. Keep fighting."

"Exactly. Now, off you go," he said, nodding to the door, which still stood open. "Close the door on your way out."

"It's funny," she said quietly when she reached the door.

"What?"

Poppy turned back quickly. She'd thought she'd said it quiet enough for him to miss it. "Sorry… uh, well… I just get these odd feelings… Charlie, my…" She sighed and shook her head. "Well, it doesn't matter…"

"Explain."

"Oh, uh… well, he said that I should tell you that I get bad feelings about people, and that I don't trust you. Said you'd find it funny…"

"Did he now?" Moody asked, his marred face twisting into an odd smile.

Poppy grinned back. "Yeah… his dad, Arthur, said you'd like that."

"Arthur?"

"Weasley."

"I know him. Good man. You close?"

"Uh… close to Arthur? No…"

"But his son?" he asked.

Poppy shrugged. "I hope so. I've got to send this to him actually," she said, holding up her letter.

"Not telling him about your failure of a duelling practice are you?" he asked, letting out an odd laugh.

Poppy shrugged. "Thought he might find it good to know. I could take that bit out? I know the unforgivables are illegal, but I thought it might be okay since Dumbledore knows you're using them, right?"

Moody didn't answer, but his face paled.

Before she could say anything, Poppy heard a faint bubbling and frowned, looking down. She moved the door forwards and saw a little cauldron bubbling away behind it. It looked as though it had been shoved there hastily, as if Moody was trying to obscure it.

"Oh, is that polyjuice?" she asked, recognising the thick bubbling liquid from Esther's Potions textbook (Snape hadn't let them attempt the brew in class since he'd said someone had stolen all of his supply of ingredients, so Esther hadn't been able to steal some for Poppy to look at in person).

"I find it handy to have some spare. Just in case," he growled, his voice low. It sent a wave of unease through Poppy, but she pushed it to the side again.

"I'll make sure to remember that," she said, smiling at him over her shoulder. "Thank you again," she said, shaking the parchment list in the air.

She made it to the Owlery in good time.

She was choosing an owl when she heard a sound behind her. She frowned and turned, looking around for the noise, but there was no one there.

She turned back to the owls on the perches and chose a grey one she'd used before.

Clunk.

Poppy frowned and pocketed her letter instead of tying it to the owl's leg. "Professor Moody?" she asked, hearing another clunk.

There was silence.

She slowly took out her wand and moved back to the door, carefully picking her way through the perches.

Looking down the stairs, she frowned. There was no one there.

"You're hearing things," she muttered to herself.

There was another noise, and Poppy turned sharply.

She sighed and laughed to herself when she saw what was making the noise - at the other end of the Owlery, a small window was open, and the wind was banging it against the stone wall.

She shut it with a flick of her wand. She sighed and looked out of the window, smiling at the memory of the night the dragons (and Charlie) had arrived for the First Task.

She hoped he liked her letter. If he didn't, she didn't think she'd be able to face him again - she'd be too broken-hearted.

She was taking a massive chance… she'd recounted her month, but also, at the bottom of the letter she'd written;

I have two more things to tell you:

One, I got it! I'm going to take the entrance exams for the Auror programme in August!

Two, I love you.

That's why I was weird on the train.

It's always been you. Since the first time I met you. It's always been you.

I know it's crazy, but if I get it, could we make it work? If I don't make it onto the training programme this year, I'll come to the Sanctuary and try again next year. If I do get it, I can visit on all my off-weekends? It would be three years. But I'm getting ahead of myself. We can talk about it later.

Yours,

Poppy

She thought it was about time she was completely honest with herself, and with Charlie. No ambiguity.

She reached into her pocket to take the letter out again. But there was a flash of light and Poppy was slammed to the side.

Her head, shoulder, hip and leg banged harshly against the stone wall and, disoriented, she stepped forwards, lost her footing, and began to fall down the stairs.

She was unconscious before she hit the bottom.