Disclaimer: I do not own any of this. It belongs to J.K. Rowling. I receive no profit from this.
Hermione looked at the letter in disbelief. That idiot Fudge - what on Earth possessed him to do this? Once again, she looked down at the letter:
February 7
Miss Hermione Granger,
We are sending you this letter to inform you of a new law. All unmarried witches and wizards over eighteen are required to attend a "Who's Your Love?" meeting on February 14 at the Ministy of Magic. There, a new spell will be performed to show you your true love. You will be able to tell your love by the bright pink glow surrounding them that appears only to you.The meeting will be at 5:00 pm. We look forward to seeing you there. Oh, and dress nicely; you're meeting your life-mate, so make a good impression!
Sincerely,
The Ministry of Magic
Hermione flicked her wand and set a tea kettle to boil. She badly needed a cup of tea. When it was ready, she sat down and began to think of all the single wizards she knew. None of them really seemed like he could be her 'true love'. John Mankriz was nice. Hermione snorted and immediately dismissed the thought, wondering where that stupid voice inside her head had come from. John Mankriz was an obsessive dolt. He was a perfect example of "Harassment at the Workplace.
John Mankriz had, after many months of "discreet" mooning, asked her out for dinner. Hermione had politely agreed and took a quick trip into the worst date on the planet. Afterwords, Hermione had to forcefully push it into his thick head that she didn't want to see him anymore. He continued to follow her around in the bookstore she worked at while she studied for her Transfiguration mastery. After much arguing and a court date, a magical restraining order finally got rid of him. Unlike muggle restraining orders, magical restraining orders literally put up a strong, invisible barrier keeping Mankriz at least a mile away.
For some reason, Hermione's mind drifted to the teachers she had at Hogwarts. She was pretty sure they were single. Well, McGonagall and Dumbledore she wasn't completely certain about. Flitwick, Sinistra, Vector, Snape...she chuckled a little at the thought of Snape and his true love. Suddenly, Argus Filtch popped into her mind, she shuddered. His true love is probably Mrs. Norris, she laughed.
A week later.
When Hermione awoke that Saturday she groaned, "Valentine's Day...and that stupid meeting!" She got ready and went to work. The workload had been more ever since Mankriz was fired. Not that she wanted him to come back. Though, I would like some help, she thought as another person came to the counter to buy Donny Jenson's most recently released book. He was the new "Lockhart".
Mercifully, about fifteen minutes of calm came. Hermione used this time to contemplate the meeting at 5:00 that afternoon. She wondered who it would be, certainly no one she knew. Hermione sighed as her contemplating was interrupted by the bell that meant the front door had been opened. Whoever it was quickly walked over to the potions section before she could lift her head to see him or her. She went back to contemplating.
Five minutes later, Hermione jumped a little as a thick potions volume was slammed onto the counter. However, the slamming of the book didn't startle her as much as the person who had slammed it. Sure, Hogwarts wasn't that far away from Hogsmeade, but she had been here a year and she had never seen Severus Snape step foot from the castle. She had never even seen him supervise a Hogsmeade Weekend with the students!
"Miss Granger," Snape said by way of greeting, with a slight sneer.
Hermione slightly inclined her head in acknowledgment, saying, "Professor."
She proceeded to ring up his book, thankful the name Donny Jenson did not appear anywhere on it.
He handed her the money and began to leave.
"Oh, Professor? I suppose I will see you later," said Hermione before he reached the door.
"What are you talking about, Miss Granger," Snape spat coldly.
"The ministry meeting this evening," Hermione replied, feeling like a student again.
If Hermione thought Snape was already in a bad mood, she was in for a surprise. His features and shoulders stiffened and his eyes grew even blacker. He gave an almost imperceptible nod, muttered something that sounded like "blast Fudge", and swept from the store.
"Happy Valentine's, Professor!" she called after him.