A Valentine Rhyme
Professor Binns didn't stop for anything, even his own death, so when a Valentine-bearing dwarf barged in, asked for 'Arry Potter, he ignored the interruption and continued on, while the whole class crowded around the embarrassed boy, waiting to hear the letter.
"Ahem:
I pass you in the hallways; I pass you on the green,
I pass you in the classroom; you really make me scream.
You know me, I know you
You don't know me, now do you?
Well, that was it." The cupid began to roll up the scroll, delighted his duty was finished, and pulled out a flask of something to drink, "My throat gets awfully sore, these days," he explained.
"Wait! Who was it from?" Harry asked, as the classroom burst into whispers from the nice people, and outright laughter from the others.
"No name. Did you like the rhymin'? 'E didn't want to make up a rhyme, but it has to be poem form, so I told 'im I'd make one for the poor boy."
"Whaat? HIM? What did he say, then? How old was he?" He was totally humiliated. Harry would never live this one down. But he was glad that whoever liked him hadn't composed a special rhyming love poem.
"Yeah, is that bad?" The dwarf looked quizzical, "'E said somethin' about how 'e liked you lots, but couldn't tell you…an' how you'd never guess him, an' not to bother…'bout your age, I'd suppose, annnn' he was real nervous an' all, I think 'e really did like you." The dwarf concluded, trying to be romantic. He asked, looking hopefully up at the boy. "Are you goin' to look for 'im?"
"N-no. If he doesn't want to find me, I'll leave him alone," Harry told him, wishing more than ever the pink-bedecked messenger would leave.
The class, however, was adamant- find the boy and figure out the message. Half the wizards-in-training thought it was a bad joke and wanted Harry to fight him, the other thought it was true love. Hermione, the closet romantic, was all for figuring out the person, while Ron thought someone had thought Harry a fool.
"Harry! Don't you see, some boy wants to come out and say he likes you, but doesn't know how! We have to help him!"
"But I don't like—"
"I know! Still, it's better to be true to yourself, so we should—"
"Harry! Some bloke is plotting to make you the laughing-stock of the school! Don't go looking, or else you'll be known as Fairy Potter. Or something." Ron finished, getting an evil glare from Hermione. "I mean, Not that it's bad to be gay, but it's a joke! No one would use these cupids seriously!"
Hermione whirled on him, "how do you know?"
"Did you?"
"No! But I know someone who did!"
"Not this boy, someone else!"
"Yes, someone else!" the icy tone was enough to silence Ron. He didn't dare ask who.
Harry had also thought Professor Lockhart's dwarves were a bit of a joke, so when he got another one later that day in the hall, he wasn't surprised to get more laughs. Unfortunately, Malfoy was right there. "Someone's got a crush on Potter? Who in their right mind would like a freak like him?"
Harry just missed seeing Ginny run in the other direction, holding her face in her hands. But Draco didn't. He narrowed his eyes, and turned to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Find that red-haired girl. She's undoubtedly a Weasley. I want to speak to her." Crabbe smirked menacingly, and Goyle was a bit confused. Not that he wasn't always confused, but Ginny wasn't exactly Malfoy's type, not that Goyle really knew what Malfoy's type was. He didn't really know. Nevertheless, they stomped off in search of the girl.
"Hey, has anyone seen Ginny? I read over her essay on transfiguring live objects, and— Ginny!" Hermione called. Ginny had stumbled through the portrait hole, obviously exhausted, "Ginny, are you ok?"
Ginny nodded, looking grim, and walked towards the girl's dormitories. She looked up, heard the giggle of girls having a chat, and turned around, deciding to sit in a poofy common-room chair instead. The room was empty except for the trio of friends.
"Ginny, what happened. If any guy…" Ron stood up angrily.
"Ron, sit down" Hermione ordered, back turned. She was busy looking over the essay one more time. Ron sat down.
"Ginny, is everything all right?" Harry asked gently. She hiccupped then, a muffled sort of sound.
"Y-yeah. I'm fine. I think I'll…go to," she looked up the stairs again. A length of ribbon fluttered down, charmed to sparkle rainbow colors. It flashed and glowed, turning her face various hues, "Go take a walk."
"Be careful, it's almost time for lights out." Ron called.
"That's never stopped you!" Ginny called back, and stuck out her tongue. Ron sighed.
"Well, I'm going to go give this to her. Concentrating on something else will relieve the strain of young love." Hermione said matter-of-factly, and walked out of the common-room as well.
"Young- young what?" Ron yelled, but the Fat Lady had already swung closed. "Bloody hell. Young love."
"What's wrong?" Hermione jogged up behind the girl.
"Wha?! Oh, Hermione, it's awful!" Ginny turned around and faced her.
"Is it Harry?"
"Yeah. He has another crush!"
"On someone? Or from someone?"
"From someone. It's— Oh, but I can't tell you, he would find out and get mad! I found out by accident!"
"Harry wouldn't get mad!"
"No he might not, but M- the other guy would get mad!" she hissed, upset, "I really can't tell you, besides, Harry wouldn't like him anyway….I've said too much."
"Really, Ginny. We knew some boy had a crush on Harry. Just not who. He sent Harry a poem. Actually, Harry got two poems." Hermione inspected the shorter girl, who blushed and looked down.
"He didn't like it," she whispered.
"He did, it was just so…abrupt. You know, getting it in the halls and all. I'll keep it a secret for now, as well as the other boy, because Harry's so stressed right now, with everything. Oh, here's your essay."
"Thanks, Hermione."
When Hermione got back, Harry and Ron were playing wizard's chess, Ron winning, and they seemed to have forgotten about the incident. She didn't have a clue as to who the boy was. So she let it drop, content to let Harry be at peace for once.