Chapter 14: A Christmas Party

That snowy Saturday was not only the day of the Christmas party Marcus had invited to, but the day of the years last Hogsmeade visit as well. Students usually used this opportunity to do some last minute Christmas shopping, and Marcus was no exception.

"I'm sorry, I have to buy Christmas gifts," he told Poppy when she asked him to go for a butterbeer with her. She didn't need to buy anything, as she usually preferred to gift hand-made items.

"Maybe we can meet up after you're done," Poppy said, hopeful. Grace was spending the whole day with Cedric and Poppy didn't want to spend her day alone, obsessing about the upcoming party.

"Maybe, but I can't promise you anything. This might take a while."

Poppy wandered around the shops alone, but not having money to buy anything, finally settled to spending her day at The Three Broomsticks. She had brought along a book to read just in case.

"Poppy!" someone called out and she looked up. It was Oliver. He made his way to her through the crowded bar and sat down at her table.

"It's freezing out there," Oliver said as he removed his hat and scarf. "You're lucky you're inside."

"I'm so lucky all my friends abandoned me," Poppy said dryly.

"Well, I'm here," Oliver said and flashed a smile, the first one in a long time.

"You don't have a date?"

"Not this time."

Poppy had missed spending time with her brother. It seemed ever since she and Marcus became friends, she only saw Oliver when he was angry with her. Poppy decided to take advantage of his good mood and had him buy her a hot chocolate. She knew he only seemed happy because Marcus was nowhere around her but decided to enjoy this rare moment nonetheless. As they were catching up, she was careful not to mention Marcus' name and only spoke briefly of Quidditch. Poppy tried to keep the discussion light and so she talked about her schoolwork and Grace's latest relationship and made Oliver laugh. On the outside she seemed happy, but she couldn't shake the feeling of how horrible it felt, not being able to talk freely to her brother. She used to tell him everything.

Before the party, a lot was happening in the Slytherin common room. Older boys were telling the younger students to go to their dormitories even though it was only six o'clock and a lot of the sixth and seventh year girls were disappearing into their dormitories giggling with their friends while others were sitting around the fireplace sulking. Poppy figured they were the girls who didn't get invited but she was wondering why it seemed as if everyone knew what was going on. The party wasn't broadcast all over the school and she'd never heard of it before even though Marcus had sort of hinted he'd been there before.

While Poppy was getting dressed, she kept peeking out the door just to see if Marcus was waiting for her. A lot of the Slytherin boys were sitting in the common room, some of them dressed in fancy outfits and waiting for their dates. Poppy's favourite people in the world, Victoria and her friends, were also getting dolled up for the evening. She was disappointed to see they had apparently also been invited.

When she was ready, she stepped out to the common room to finally see Marcus there. He was clearly representing Slytherin with his dark green vest which he wore with a tidy black shirt and black pants. At least there was no snake pattern or silver, Poppy thought to herself.

"You look amazing," he said. She was wearing a simple, strapless black dress with a full, knee-length skirt and black heels. Her blonde hair was lightly curled at the ends. She had even put on mascara and pink lipstick.

"You're not so bad yourself," she said with a smile and they headed for the door.

"Right, so what is this party, anyway?" Poppy changed the subject as they walked through the school halls.

"It's kind of an annual thing. Just a Christmas party to get everyone in the holiday spirit and give the four houses a chance to socialise," Marcus replied.

"Since when do you care about socialising with other houses?" Poppy teased and Marcus smiled.

"I don't, actually, but some people find it rewarding. They must be insane."

They walked for a long time and seemed to be heading towards the Quidditch pitch. Poppy saw the doors leading outside and stopped.

"Is that where were headed? We'll freeze!" she exclaimed.

"Don't worry," Marcus replied as he opened the doors to reveal some sort of pathway surrounded by small lights. He stepped outside and didn't even shiver so Poppy followed and was surprised to find that the freezing weather outside seemed to have disappeared. She stuck her hand outside the lit path to see if she was right about the pathway being under a heating spell and she was. Marcus tugged on her hand a little bit to remind her they should keep moving.

"How can this be here? What about the teachers? Or the dementors?" Poppy asked, amazed something like this had been going on for who knows how many years without anyone knowing.

"I don't know, it's just well organized," Marcus shrugged and it occurred to Poppy that he probably had not thought about it before.

"By who? Who invited you?" Poppy continued.

"Not sure. Every year I just get a note and it tells me where to go and when," Marcus explained. "This year was exciting, though, I got my first note that told me I could and should bring a guest."

"What if I didn't want to come?" Poppy asked.

"Then you wouldn't have come and I would've come alone. Simple."

They arrived at the locker rooms of the Quidditch pitch. They were nicely decorated with Christmas ornaments on the doors and some lights going around them. A blonde boy was standing at the door, Poppy recognized him as Ernie Macmillan, a third-year Hufflepuff.

"Ah, Mister Flint!" Ernie exclaimed in his typical, pompous manner and turned to face Poppy with a smile. "I see you've brought the lovely Miss Wood. I hope you both have a lovely evening."

He opened the doors behing him and Poppy and Marcus walked in.

"They have to make sure nobody uninvited gets in," Marcus explained. "And dorks like him can guard the doors to earn themselves an invite for next year."

Couches had been set up along the walls and all the lockers and benches had been moved to make room for the party guests. A lot of students were already there. Poppy recognised a lot of fellow Slytherins and some Hufflepuffs. Fred and George Weasley from the Gryffindor Quidditch team were there but luckily there was no sign of Oliver, at least yet. Grace had parked herself by the punch bowl in the middle of the room and was offering to pour drinks for any boys that walked past.

Poppy made her way towards Grace and was sort of surprised when Marcus followed her there.

"Want some punch?" Grace asked as soon as they reached her and held out a cup.

"I didn't know you were working at this party," Poppy said jokingly but took the cup as Grace poured one for Marcus.

"Ha, ha. This is the best way to meet everybody," Grace said.

"Who is there to meet? You go to school with these twats and see them everyday," Marcus said and took a sip of his drink.

"True, but tonight almost everybody is dressed really fancy and even boys have done their hair. Nobody is wearing an ugly uniform or anything," Grace said. "Even you look almost presentable."

"You know, somebody might think you're a wee bit shallow," Marcus said with a grin and Poppy laughed.

"Well, what do you know, he actually makes you laugh," Grace said with a smile. "And I thought you were lying."

"Yes, well, anyway," Poppy began to change the subject. "I thought Cedric was your date?"

"He is. He's just gone to get some more punch, you know how we Hufflepuffs are. Always helpful," Grace said. "Besides, it's not like we're married. I am free to meet other men."

They moved to one of the couches that had been set up for the party and just sat for at least half an hour, talking about things that could not have been less interesting to Marcus but it seemed he was there to stay. Poppy had sort of assumed they wouldn't spend much time together, since they came as just friends. Grace brought up the subject of boys, which Poppy thought would finally scare Marcus off but no, he was stuck to his seat.

"I'm actually a little mad at Cedric for leaving me alone here, we're supposed to be on a date and suddenly he has to go get punch? It's not his party!" Grace started ranting. "And he's been gone a long time, maybe I scared him off for good."

"Maybe he's just nervous," Poppy suggested.

"Maybe," said Marcus, who Poppy was sure hadn't even been listening to their conversation, "you should go dance with the Weasley twins over there, so when he comes back, he'll see you don't need him to have fun."

"How is that going to work?" Grace asked.

"It'll work, trust me. Unless you're scared."

"Ha!"

And sure enough, twenty seconds later Grace was already tearing up the dance floor with the twins.

"She's not scared of anything," Poppy said to Marcus.

"I figured. And I kind of wanted to spend some time with just you," he replied and Poppy was sure she was blushing. His hand was on her knee but he didn't seem to even notice it.

Poppy saw Grace had stopped dancing and was staring straight at Poppy while nudging her head towards the door. Poppy turned to see what was happening and there he was. Her beloved brother, Marcus' nemesis and the subject of every Gryffindor girls' fantasies: Oliver Wood. He was standing at the door, looking at Poppy and Marcus with a look that screamed hatred and confusion at the same time. Marcus quickly removed his hand from Poppy's knee. The Weasleys rushed to the door, took Oliver by the arms and dragged him somewhere further away.

"I should probably go talk to him," Poppy said and got up. She found Oliver and the Weasleys outside and told the twins it was ok. They went back inside but said they wouldn't go far.

Oliver looked angrier than ever before and this just made Poppy angry at him. She knew Marcus understood Oliver's point of view but she still couldn't. Why was Oliver trying to run her life for her? Who was he to say who she can and can't be friends with? Before Oliver had a chance to say anything, Poppy was already screaming at him.

"What is your problem?" she shouted and he looked taken aback. "I know you hate him because he's a Slytherin but guess what, so am I!"

"I don't hate him for that! I hate him because of all the little things you seem to be completely blind to and I cannot understand why you would want to be with someone like that!" Oliver yelled and before Poppy responded, he continued. "And don't try to tell me you're just friends, I know what friendship looks like and that's not it!"

"So you're not just angry at him, you're angry at me too?" Poppy asked.

"Yes! He's violent, he drinks, he cheats, he smokes and once he gets what he wants he will leave you! Why can't you see that?" Oliver shouted.

"You don't know him! How can you say those things when you don't really know anything about him?" Poppy yelled.

"Because I grew up with that! He is exactly like Dad! You were so small you don't remember it, and I've tried to shield you from the truth but I can't let you make this mistake!" Oliver shouted. "And I don't want to be the one to pick up the pieces when he breaks you!"

Poppy was taken aback. Oliver's face was red and his anger seemed to be fading to sadness. He sat down on the wet grass. She didn't know what to say anymore. Marcus walked outside. He appeared to have heard everything, which made Poppy think everyone else had too. Marcus walked up to Poppy and took her hands into his.

"You should go," he said. Poppy looked at him, eyes wide, and Marcus squeezed her hands, reassuring her that it was ok. She walked back inside and glanced back one more time before opening the door to see Marcus sitting next to Oliver. Once she got inside, everybody was still partying and nobody seemed to even notice her. Grace ran up to her and asked what had happened.

"You didn't hear any of that?" Poppy asked, confused.

"No, Flint put up some spell," Grace said and Poppy sighed of relief.

"Good. I'll tell you later, right now I just want a drink."