The Masked Valentine
CHAPTER ONE: THE INVITATION
…
Hermione never believed in the true meaning of Valentine's Day. Since she stepped onto her adolescent years, which she spent at Hogwarts, no one ever made her Valentine's Day a special one, and because of that, she had stopped believing. She had stopped hoping that a prince charming will soon sweep her of her feet during Valentine's Day because that seemed impossible; wizards don't celebrate Valentine's Day as much as muggles do.
She stared out in the open as she sat beside Harry and Ron, when an owl flew right past them, dropping a parchment.
"What's that 'Mione?" Ron asked eyeing the envelope.
"I...I dunno."
"Well, open it!" Harry exclaimed, enthusiastically.
She opened up the flaps of the envelope and found out that the parchment was an invitation. She read it:
In line with our Hogsmeade visit this Saturday, I cordially invite you to celebrate my birthday with me. It will be held at the Green Bailey from 9:00 a.m. until whatever time you like to leave. Please come in costume for it will be a masquerade party. I hope to see you there.
Sienna Mutler
P.S. I would like to inform you that I have asked permission from Professor Dumbledore already so don't fret.
"It's from Sienna Mutler," she began. "She's inviting me to her birthday party this Saturday."
"Sienna Mutler? But she's a Slytherin," Ron said in disbelief.
"I know, I'm not stupid Ron. But why did she invite me?"
"That owl probably gave you the letter by mistake," Harry alleged.
"That only happens when the owl is intercepted, Harry," Hermione explained. "And I, for a fact, didn't intercept it."
There was a pause. The three thought of reasons why she got invited.
"Wait a minute, why wasn't I invited?" Ron complained.
"How would I know? This invitation is still a mystery. I'm a Gryffindor and she's a Slytherin."
"Exactly my point! Why didn't she invite me when she invited you?"
"Oh, stop it! It's not like I'm going there. Harry's probably right; the owl might have given it to the wrong person."
"You're not going?" Harry asked.
She shook her head 'no'.
…
Harry and Ron left Hermione so that they could practice for their next Quidditch match. On her way to the Gryffindor common room, she passed by Draco Malfoy who was eying her horridly. She ignored him and his derisions while continuing her walk. She kept on deducing why and how she got the letter. I'm not even her friend. We aren't even close, she thought.
That night, when they were all gathered in the Great Hall, she confabulated with her house mates and asked who got invitations to Sienna's party.
"Ginny, were you…"
"No, I wasn't, okay Hermione? Now please quit bragging."
"Bragging? I'm not bragging!" she fumed. "I was just asking cause it's quite unusual, you know. I wanted to know who got…"
"It seems that you're the only one," she finished and then turned her head to continue her talk with Neville.
Why is she acting like that? I wasn't bragging! I just wanted to know.
…
The next day, two days before Saturday, Hermione was stunned by the sudden appearance of a zealous Ginny.
"Hermione! I'm so sorry for what I said yesterday, its just that you were uhhh… how can I explain this… you were… uhh… well, I just got jealous cause it seems like you were the only Gryffindor invited to what seems to be the coolest party this February."
"But I'm not going Ginny, so it won't matter."
"You aren't?" she said incredulously. "But you have to!" she argued.
"Wh.. why?"
"Cause I was invited and I'm planning to go!" she shrieked. "Here, look, it's my invitation," she continued, handing Hermione the paper she's holding.
"But.. I already.." she faltered.
"Please please please please please….," She pleaded.
"I don't know… Let me think about it okay."
"Think about it.. Think about the lovely and romantic party it will probably be. And to think it's on Valentine's Day."
She gave her a surprised stare. She had no idea that the party was on Valentine's Day, February 14th, "You celebrate it?"
"No. But it's Dad-muggle-valentine's. You get the picture now don't you?"
She nodded.
"I just want to well, experience it. Valentine's, that is."
"Don't expect too much cause you might get disappointed."
She gave her an odd look.
"You won't understand. It's a bit too complicated," it was an excuse. She didn't want to share to her that she has never had a valentine before.
"Oh well, do think about it okay?" and then she left, skipping...
…
"So Granger, you got invited to the party," Malfoy said in a mocking manner. "I don't know what you fed to Sienna, but good job. Just remember, you're still a mudblood," he added, snickering.
"I am not intending to attend that party Malfoy! I'd rather die than have myself spend a day near you," she announced and then stormed away from him
"Neither do I!" he bellowed.
…
When she got back to her dormitory, she found a piece of paper on top of her desk. She took it and then read it,
I know you have no plans on going to Sienna's party, but I hope you do go. I'd really like to get to know you better. Please go.
She ceased. Several questions ran through her mind: Who sent her the letter? Why was there a letter? Was the writer from Slytherin? Was the writer from Gryffindor? Hufflepuff? Ravenclaw? Why did the writer want to know her better? And what for? The only way to find out was to go to the party. Now, she had a dilemma.