Saving Valentine's: Three Days and Counting
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine as they all belong to JKR. Also this story is AU for HBP and DH.
There was a bounce to Hermione's step as she walked up the stairs to the dormitory she shared with the other seventh-year Gryffindor witches. Her conversation with Dumbledore had gone astoundingly well. Not only did he agree to leave the decorations in the hands of the students instead of making the House Elves do such work, he had remarked in passing that he had been approached by another student asking for the House Elves to be relieved of that duty. That piece of news made Hermione want to sing. Maybe the number of official S.P.E.W. members still wasn't growing, but at least she had evidence that its philosophy was finally taking hold amongst some of Hogwarts' students after so much hard work on her part.
Hermione quickly stuck her head into her dormitory, half-expecting not to find either Lavender or Parvati. There was only three days before Valentine's, and that meant it was about time for her two roommates to kick their beauty regimens into high gear in order to look their best for whatever plans they had for that day. However, contrary to her expectations and past experience, she found both of her roommates there.
"Hello Lavender, Parvati," said Hermione as she went ahead and entered the room. She took note of the collection of books that were spread out across their beds. She tilted her head to the side in order to read the titles on the books' spines. "Divination exam coming up?" she asked.
"Yes," said Lavender. "On signs of impending doom and whatnot."
Hermione blinked. "Really? I would have thought it would be something else."
"Professor Trelawney says that most people ignore such prophecies during this month because they're too concerned with other things. So she wanted to emphasize the dangers that this month presents," Parvati explained.
Hermione suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "Well that's good. For a moment there, I was worried that there was a quiz in Transfiguration or Potions that I had forgotten about." Her friends exchanged a glance, and she knew what was coming.
"That would never happen," said Lavender.
"And if it did, it would be a clear sign that the end is near," added Parvati. "I don't need a book to tell me that."
"Exactly," agreed Lavender. The three girls were silent for a moment and then broke out into peals of laughter. Over the years, the three girls had grown close to one another, and Hermione had become accustomed to her friends' habits as they had become used to hers. If it weren't for the fact that they were sorted into the same House, Hermione doubted that the three of them would be the least bit friendly with one another as they were nothing alike at all. She was glad that she got to know them even though they had vastly different goals in life. They were both kind and loyal, and she felt that her experience at Hogwarts was so much richer because she knew them.
"So I've asked and Professor Dumbledore has agreed to not make the House Elves have to put up all the decorations for Valentine's," she said. "I was wondering if you two would be willing to volunteer to help out with that."
Hermione's mind was already whirling ahead, plotting about who next to approach and just how many people she would need to decorate Hogwarts in its usual style. She had meant to start earlier, but she had major essays due in virtually all her classes this month so she hadn't had the time before now. She knew that some people would be all too willing to complain if the volunteers weren't able to do as good a job as the House Elves. Hermione was so busy making these calculations that she missed the meaningful look exchanged between Lavender and Parvati.
"You know that we would usually be more than happy to help you out," said Lavender slowly. "But neither of us is celebrating Valentine's Day this year and so…"
"That's great," said Hermione, not really paying attention. "I was thinking we should ask…" That was when she finally realized what the other witch had said. "Wait a second. What did you say? You're not participating in Valentine's this year?"
"No we're not," said Lavender, and Parvati nodded her head in agreement.
"But why?" asked Hermione.
"It's so passé. Not to mention the fact that it's just not right if you're willing to break up with your boyfriend if he doesn't do something special for you on Valentine's," explained Parvati.
"Something's probably already wrong with your relationship if that's the way you feel," said Lavender sagely. "And your priorities are a bit skewed if you think that he doesn't love you just because he didn't get you the perfect present for a day that really has no meaning."
"I can't say that I disagree with that," said Hermione. "Some people do take it too seriously. But honestly! You're not going to do anything for Valentine's?"
Both her roommates shook their heads. "No I have no plans," said Lavender.
"You could even say that I have plans to have no plans," added Parvati. She shrugged. "It will be just another day."
"So you see we can't really help you out this time. Because if we do help to decorate then it's as though we're encouraging others to continue in such a frivolous celebration," said Lavender.
Hermione pinched herself. Unfortunately she didn't wake up. "Wait a minute," she said. "This isn't some grand prank set up by a couple of wizards I know, is it?" she asked. It would be just like Ron to suggest that people come up with excuses not to help her so she could realize how ridiculous her ideas about House Elves were. And it would be just like Harry to go along with what Ron had suggested because it sounded like fun.
"No it's not," said Parvati, looking rather affronted.
"Not everything is about you, you know," sniffed Lavender.
"No, of course not," said Hermione. "I'll leave you to your studying then." She backpedaled towards the door and headed downstairs. She was shocked that Lavender and Parvati were deciding not to do anything for Valentine's Day, but that didn't change her plans too much. She would still have to find volunteers, and Hermione felt certain that some of the younger students would be willing to help. Little did she know that more nasty surprises were in store for her.
An hour later Hermione was feeling very frustrated. No one she asked was willing to volunteer for decorating duty. Everyone, it seemed, agreed with the viewpoint that Lavender and Parvati had taken. It was mind-boggling. She just couldn't wrap her mind over the concept that no one wanted to have anything to do with Valentine's Day. At first she revisited her first instinct, that this was all some grand plot by her two best friends. However Hermione knew that planning wasn't the strong point of either of her boys, and so they couldn't be responsible for this fiasco.
There were only three people she could think of who were capable of coming up with such a convoluted plot, but only one of them would actually do so. She knew Professor Snape enjoyed the way it distracted his students giving him more opportunities than usual to take away points and she really couldn't see Dumbledore bothering to take up arms against Valentine's Day.
That left Draco Malfoy.
Hermione prided herself on being more open-minded than either Harry or Ron. The two of them were always willing to accuse Malfoy for the slightest thing that went wrong. Hermione knew better than that. Malfoy wasn't the source of all evil, no matter what her friends wanted to believe. He was simply a horrid, spoiled prat who was all too adept at making people's lives miserable. If he was the source of anything at Hogwarts, he was the source of all trivial annoyances.
Only this particular plot wasn't too trivial. Though she never said it, Valentine's Day was one of her very favorite holidays. She wasn't going to stand aside and let Malfoy dismantle it for whatever twisted reason he had. If he thought he could get away with it, well then, he had another thing coming.
Hermione set off in the direction of the Slytherin dormitories, determined to give the little ferret a piece of her mind.
At the moment, Draco was sprawled out on the second largest sofa in the Slytherin common room. From the corner of his eye, he watched Crabbe and Goyle to make sure that the two of them didn't get into any trouble. It was almost farcical how badly the both of them could muck up a simple spell. Over the years Draco, along with all other Slytherins with half a brain, had developed the habit of always keeping an eye out for them whenever they were in the same room as him. It sometimes was annoying to have to do so, but his large friends had their uses. After all they were the reason that the common room was mostly empty, given how nocturnal Slytherins tended to be, allowing Draco to study in relative peace and quiet. His friend Theodore Nott was seated in the armchair beside him, and Blaise Zabini was off in a corner composing a letter to his infamous mother. Aside from the seventh years, there were only a couple of fourth year students pouring over their Transfiguration notes while occasionally glancing in Draco's direction, as if guessing whether or not it was safe to approach him for help.
Draco sighed as he reached for the parchment he had tossed aside only minutes before. The Potions essay wasn't due for another two weeks and he had already completed his research along with several preliminary drafts, but he wanted his final version to be as close to perfect as possible. He knew that he had no reason to worry about his mark. Snape was always very generous when it came to grading Slytherins. However there were times when Snape's comments on his essays became so acerbic that they had almost burnt their way through the parchment. Draco had noticed that Granger seemed unnaturally happy whenever he got an essay back like that, and he had conjectured that she had some way of knowing about their grades. It had been Theo who had suggested that Snape became more irritable and bitter whenever the quality of their work fell too far behind Granger's. Draco hated to admit it but Theo was probably right. But then that didn't come as any real shock as Draco had always known that the other wizard was more clever than he was.
He barely caught another sigh before it escaped. It wouldn't do to sigh too often; it wasn't good for his image. But it was hard to keep working on his essays when even now his fingers itched to reach into his book bag and towards the gift his mother had sent last week. Knowing his love of good novels, she had sent him The Mystery of Madcap Manor, the latest book about the adventures of M. Arte Jameson. Unfortunately he had been too busy between head duties and schoolwork to even crack open the book. It looked like he wouldn't have the time to read it yet again…unless he was able to somehow justify not spending more time on his thrice damned Potions essay.
"I was wondering," said Draco casually.
"About the status of my Potions essay?" replied Theo, without even bothering to look in his direction. "Haven't started it yet."
Damn. There went that excuse. Although it didn't sound like Theo when he thought about it; if anything his friend rivaled Granger when it came to being obsessive over his marks. "Liar," he said accusingly.
"Draco, Draco," Theo drawled, absently turning a page of the Ancient Runes text he was reading. "I'm only doing it for your own good, you know. If I gave you the impression that I've already constructed a top-notch Potions essay, you will inevitably skive off on your own in favor of reading the rubbish that your mother loves to send you. You ought to consider reading good literature once in a while. It would do you a world of good."
"It's not rubbish. You sound like my father."
"Your father sounds like a wizard with good taste." Theo looked up from his book and shot a smirk at Draco. "It's too bad you don't take after him."
"Oi."
"You see what I mean? Don't get me wrong, your mother is a lovely woman, but she has spoiled you rotten."
Draco wisely kept his mouth shut as the first response he could think of was how Theo was deprived because he didn't have a mother. That wasn't the sort of remark that should be said ever even if it was true. Theo had a tendency to act as though he was already an old man, and Draco chalked that up the fact that his friend was raised by one. "Putting that aside for now, what would it take for me to get you to tell me how well your Potions essay is coming along?" he asked.
"Oh it's a complete disaster. I haven't been able to get any research done at all. Good thing I can count on Snape to not mark me down too much because of that," said Theo.
"Theo!" exclaimed Draco, exasperation tinging his voice.
"Now, now. Practicing a bit of self-restraint will do you a world of good. In a couple of weeks, you'll have the time to read your book. The anticipation will make it better, I wager."
"In a couple of weeks, I'll be busy revising for exams in Transfiguration and Charms," Draco pointed out.
"That's true. And those two are just the start of our series of exams, aren't they? Seeing how all of our professors want to give us an idea of what our areas of weakness are when it comes to prepping for N.E.W.T.s. Awfully kind of them, don't you think?" Theo tapped his fingers against the spine of his book. "Ah. But it seems between that and all your head duties, you won't have much spare time at all, now will you?"
"You're evil, you know that right?" Draco said.
"Thank you," Theo said modestly. "I do try my best."
"Just like when you turned down the position of Head Boy. You did that on purpose, didn't you?" he asked, having wondered for ages why his friend had turned down the position. Draco knew that if Theo hadn't had done that he would have only been a prefect this year; his father was powerful and influential but there were limits to what that power and influence could buy for his son. He had already asked his friend about the subject several times, but Theo had never given him a straight answer.
"I fail to see how I could accidentally turn the position down. But yes I did do that on purpose. I thought given how good friends we are that I would do you a favor," said Theo.
Draco snorted. "A favor? Hardly."
"Oh? Your father wasn't pleased to learn that you had earned the position?"
"He was happy all right. But don't think that I don't know that you turned it down so you wouldn't have to worry about all the extra head duties cutting into your time to revise for N.E.W.T.s."
"There is that. Awfully convenient for me how my two closest competitors have so much on their plates this year."
"Prat."
"You could have refused it too, you know."
"What? And let it go to a Gryffindor like Weasley? You knew I wouldn't do that," Draco said. "And even if I would, I doubt I could have convinced my father to let me do that." He was struck by a sudden notion. "Wait a minute. How did you convince your father to.…"
"It is easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission," Theo said succinctly. He shrugged. "I thought you would have learned that by now."
Before Draco could respond to that, he heard a scuffle start near the entrance with both Crabbe and Goyle shouting obscenities. He reached for his wand as he rose from his seat, preparing for the very worst. He heard, rather than saw, Theo doing the same beside him, and as he strode towards the entrance he knew that his friend was right behind him. Zabini had looked up from his letter and was carefully watching the proceedings, while the fourth years crept towards the stairs in case all hell broke loose.
"Crabbe! Goyle! What's wrong?" asked Draco as he approached them. Though he wasn't short by any means, they were both significantly taller than he and he couldn't see what had got them all riled up. Thankfully the two of them had never outgrown their habit of listening to him and so they broke apart so he could see the source of their outrage. He immediately wished that he didn't. From the way Hermione Granger's hair was sticking out, something had made her absolutely livid.
As soon as she caught sight of him, Granger drew herself up and sniffed. "I never thought you could sink this low, Malfoy. You really are a bastard to come up with a plot like this," she growled at him.
"I love it how she assumes you're an evil mastermind," said Theo sotto voce from behind him.
"Shut it," Draco whispered back before turning his attention to witch in front of him. "Granger dear, could you please enlighten me as to what you're referring to?"
"Oh don't you try to fool me." She took a step forward and poked his chest with her index finger. "I don't know what you said to my Gryffindors to make them act in such a way…"
"Did they all spontaneously decide to mimic lemmings and jump off the top of Gryffindor Tower?" he asked excitedly. He had a wonderful dream about the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team doing exactly that once and had been sorely disappointed when he woke up to the reality of all of them being in perfect health for their upcoming match against his team.
"No!" she replied, a horrified look on her face. "Was that you were aiming for?" Her look of horror melted into bewilderment. "Though I must say, I can't see how convincing them all not to celebrate Valentine's would lead to that happening."
It became Draco's turn to be confused. "Excuse me? Not celebrate Valentine's? Why would I do that?" he asked. He would never try to convince anyone to do that, especially when his House relied upon that day when it came to closing the gap in terms of house points. "I am not sure what fool notion your Gryffindors have taken up, but believe me, I have had nothing to do with it."
"Oh, now that's not a convincing lie. Care to try again? And keep in mind that I know Parkinson was just following your orders when she made that suggestion of hers at our last meeting." At those words, the rest of the room broke out into laughter.
"What?" Granger spat out, doing her best to level her death glare at everyone at once.
"So sorry, Granger," said Theo. "But the idea of all of us being in lock step with Draco's orders is just…."
"Mad? Insane? So ridiculous that only a Gryffindor could believe it?" suggested Zabini.
"I would have to say all of the above," answered Theo. "Our House doesn't have any sort of unified hierarchy, my dear, and I certainly don't answer—" Draco trod back on his friend's foot then and there to prevent him from saying anything else to damage Draco's reputation with the rest of Hogwarts. He liked being feared as the de facto ruler of Slytherins by idiots who didn't know better thank you very much.
"As you can see, everyone here is willing to vouch that Pansy wasn't acting at my behest. Besides why would I bother with trying to convince Gryffindors that Valentine's is a waste of time? I hardly see the point."
"There is no point, outside of the fact that you're just that mean-spirited. And it's not only my House. I ran into several other students who all informed me that they too were participating in the boycott of Valentine's."
Draco almost stumbled backwards in shock. "What? Boycott Valentine's? Whose idea was that one?"
Granger simply crossed her arms and glowered at him.
"Me? Bloody hell! Granger, I love the damn holiday. Do you know how many presents I get on that day?" He suddenly remembered just who he was talking to and decided that he didn't need to go into further detail about why he loved Valentine's Day. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. I doubt this so-called boycott has spread that far considering this is the first I've heard of it. Tell me, Granger, have you always been prone to panic attacks like this? Or is this a new development for you?"
A cough sounded from the right of him. "What is it, Goyle?" he snapped irritably. He really wanted to get rid of the annoying pest who had intruded into their common room. Then he could get back to work and maybe finish with enough time for him to enjoy his book.
"I just remembered to tell you that I can't help you out this year," Goyle said with a sheepish look on his face. "Sorry."
"Excuse me? You're not making any sense. When have you ever—"
This time it was Theo stepping forward on to his foot. "What Gregory was referring to, Draco, is the fact that he also is participating in the boycott of Valentine's and so you can't use him as a guinea pig this year for any suspicious packages you might receive."
"What?" Draco's mouth hung open for a second. "I guess that means there's just more for Crabbe then."
"Umm…actually I can't help out either," said Crabbe.
Draco whirled around to give all of his friends a hard look. "What the hell is going on here?" he asked. He spun back around. "Get out," he told Granger shortly.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Or maybe you really do need a trim for that bird's nest of yours. I said get out. I'm not sure what sort of nonsense your Gryffindors have been spreading to my Slytherins, but I assure you, I will remedy that immediately. So get out. I don't need you around." Left unspoken was the fact that he didn't want her to see how recalcitrant Slytherins really were when he tried to give them orders. Trying to get them to do anything he said was worse than trying to herd cats.
"No. I'm not leaving until I get some answers."
He rolled his eyes at her stubborn refusal. There were days when he thought that their Houses weren't all that far apart when it came to steadfast determination not to give an inch. He would find it very admirable if she wasn't currently being a nuisance to him. "Please. Clearly this is an internal House issue. I'll take care of mine, and you'll take care of yours." He launched an evil smirk in her direction. "Or is that the real reason behind you storming in here? Because you can't do anything without the help of a suave, good-looking wizard like me?"
Her snort was echoed about the room. "Fine. What about the rest of the Houses?"
"I am positive that everything will fall into place once we deal with our own. Besides it's too late to do anything for them. Do you know how cranky Hufflepuffs get when they haven't had enough sleep?" Draco shuddered. He had Herbology the next day with them, and he knew the class would be dreadful if all the Hufflepuffs were groggy from a lack of sleep.
She tilted her head fetchingly as she considered his words. Privately he thought she always looked her best when lost in thought but he would gladly die before admitting that. "That's true enough, I suppose. Very well. However if I find that you've had anything to do with manufacturing this plot…."
"I know, I know. Students will be talking of my dire fate for years to come," he said, interrupting her because he didn't have to wait for her to think of lame threat. He waved a hand to dismiss her. "Now I thought you were leaving."
She cast him one last wary glance before exiting. After she was gone, Draco turned back to his fellow Slytherins. "Okay, now that I've got rid of her, will someone tell me what's going on?" he wailed. He hated being left in the dark.
"There isn't much to tell," said Theo. "There's a boycott on celebrating Valentine's Day going around, and I am honestly surprised that you haven't heard about it yet. I do believe it has spread rather far."
"How far?"
"Well I am participating for one. As well as Crabbe and Goyle and…"
"Just about everyone else in Slytherin," added Zabini. "I find it astonishing that no one has got around to telling you about it."
"Probably because they knew I would put a stop to it," Draco grumbled. "And I will. I don't know what has got into the lot of you, but you all will renounce your participation in this stupid idea right away."
"I don't think so," said Zabini.
"We can't do that," chorused Crabbe and Goyle.
"I am afraid I am going to have to decline your invitation," said Theo.
"What?"
"Oh dear. It seems like Granger's hearing loss is contagious," Zabini remarked from his corner. "Yet another reason, I suppose, that Mudbloods aren't allowed in Slytherin."
"Hush. Leave this to me," said Theo. "There's a very simple reason why we won't listen to you."
"And that is what? That you like being difficult?" Draco tapped his foot impatiently.
"Hardly. The Slytherin girls have made it clear that any wizard participating in the holiday will be persona non grata with them for the rest of the year."
Draco openly scoffed at that remark. "You can't expect me to believe that."
"Don't. But while we all like to pretend amongst ourselves that there is no organized hierarchy in Slytherin, Pansy rules the witches with an iron fist. She's decided that she has had enough with all this Valentine nonsense and this is the result."
"And you're actually complying with her demands?" Draco asked. "I mean, even if all our witches wind up falling in line with Pansy, there are still plenty of witches in other Houses."
"True, true, but then hell hath no fury like a Slytherin witch. I for one do not want to be constantly having to watch out for hexes and jinxes thrown at me from behind my back for the rest of the year."
"Oh I'm sorry. I thought I was in fucking Slytherin. Since when has this become a haven for gutless Hufflepuffs?" Draco raged at them. "Fine! If you're all that scared of pack of witches, be that way. More presents for me if I'll be the only one accepting them." He walked back to the sofa to gather his belongings and head upstairs. He had a pounding headache from the events of the last hour and there was no point in continuing to work on his essay. He would have to do that later. Tonight he would rest up so that tomorrow he could work his magic, convincing every witch he could that she really wanted him to be her Valentine. Slytherin was probably a lost cause, given the hold that Pansy held over the witches of his House because of her family's connections in society, but there were three other Houses out there. Although given the sort of witches that were in Gryffindor, Draco decided to do his best to canvass Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff before going there.
Hermione stomped into the Gryffindor common room, still feeling rather heated from her earlier exchange with Malfoy and his Slytherin friends. She cast a quick glance around. It took her all of a second to ascertain where her best friends were located. True to form, they were staying up late and huddled over a chessboard.
"Are you busy?" she asked once she was in earshot.
"Busy? Us? What does it look like?" asked Ron. "I'm only in the middle of deciding whether to crush Harry's bishop or demolish his knight."
"Oh good. Because I need to talk to you about something." Hermione dropped down beside them and cleared the chessboard with a wave of her wand.
"Hey! We were in the middle of a game there!" protested Ron.
"But you said you were going to win anyway," Hermione said blithely.
"Actually that isn't what he said," said Harry, sounding somewhat upset. "He only said that he was about to take another piece of mine."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry," she said reasonably, "half your pieces were already gone. It was only a matter of time before you lost. Ron was just drawing things out because he likes to toy with his prey. He's worse than Crookshanks in that regard, really. Besides we have more important things to talk about, and time is of the essence. You two can always start another game later."
"Thanks," muttered Harry.
"Your generosity astounds me," Ron noted sarcastically.
"If the two of you are finished with trying to make smart remarks?" She ignored the groans that issued from her friends. "We're in the midst of a dire situation, and I only have myself to blame for not cottoning on sooner."
Harry sat up noticeably straighter at those words. "What is it, Hermione?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper.
Hermione followed suit. It wouldn't do to alert all of Hogwarts to her plans. "Someone—I don't know who—has been arranging for a boycott of Valentine's Day amongst the students," she informed them.
"Excuse me?" said Harry.
"What?" asked Ron.
"I know. It's horrible, isn't it?"
"What's horrible is that you interrupted us for that," Harry complained.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. We already knew about that Hermione. Who do you think went to Dumbledore asking for the House Elves not to bother decorating in three day's time?"
"What?"
"Merlin, you'd think that our girl here has developed some sort of hearing problem," Ron said. "We already know about the boycott, and I for one think it's a brilliant idea."
"You wouldn't know a good idea if it bit you in the arse," said Hermione crossly. "It's a horrible idea, I'll have you know, and we all are going to put a stop to it."
"What? Why is it that you always think my ideas are bad?" asked Ron.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Your ideas aren't always bad," she said. "Most of them are, it's true, but not all of them. It helps when you're not thinking with your stomach, just to let you know." She narrowed her eyes at her tall friend. "Is that's what all this is about? You don't want to waste any of your precious stash of chocolate frogs to woo a witch?"
"No I don't. Besides I never actually did that. You said that was one of the worst ideas you ever heard of, remember?"
"It is. Astonishing lack of any sense of romance that. Honestly! If I weren't here to watch out for you, what would you do?"
"I don't know. Maybe be a lot happier?" Ron's voice began to increase in volume. "Seriously, Hermione, you're always like this. My ideas are no good so I should just shut up and do what you say."
"That sounds about right. So when are you going to get around to shutting up so I can explain the bulk of my plan?" she asked.
Harry stood up to step in between the two of them. "Okay, I think things are getting a little heated here. Ron, you know how Hermione can get when she latches on to an idea. Hermione, you know you can be rather pushy when you think you're in the right."
"I am right," she told him.
"That's right. You're never wrong. How could I forget that fact?" asked Harry sarcastically. "To be frank, I have never been fond of Valentine's and if popular sentiment is against the holiday for once…well I have no complaints."
Hermione glowered at him. "Harry!" she admonished him. "How could you? It's a lovely day, made to celebrate love—"
Ron snorted, interrupting her. "To celebrate love? Hardly. The truth is that it's a day invented by witches to cement their control over us wizards. We're expected to fret and worry over what to get the witch we fancy, where to take her, what to say…it's a bloody nightmare, that's what it is."
"Just because you're too insensitive to know what a witch wants doesn't mean the holiday is worthless," said Hermione pointedly. "There's no point in trying to ruin it for everyone just because you're bitter over your past failures. That's hardly sporting of you."
"Me? Bitter?" Ron said as though he couldn't believe she had accused him of that. "I'm not bitter. I'm fed up. I'm fed up with witches always telling me what to do. Whenever I'm at home my mum won't let up with telling me how to act, and when I'm here, you take her place. I have had it. From now on, I'm through with listening and nodding my head and doing whatever you want even though it defies common sense. You want me to help you out with stopping this boycott? Well my answer is no!"
Hermione sniffed haughtily at him. "I don't think you want to do that."
"Why? Because you're going to not help me with my homework if I don't?" he asked mockingly.
"Ever again," she told him.
"Fine. I don't want your help if it comes with chains," he said. He clapped Harry on the back. "And Harry here feels the same way."
Harry issued a long-suffering sigh. "Not exactly the same way, but no I'm not going to help you out here because I don't agree with your position, Hermione," he said. "I hope you understand."
"If that's the way it's going to be, that's the way it's going to be," she said with a shrug. "Just don't come crying to me in two weeks when we have that essay due in Potions." She flounced up the stairs, her mind quickly rethinking her earlier plans. Clearly her next step would to be to assay the situation in the other two Houses before arranging for some sort of meeting to encourage students that it was okay to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Harry and Ron simply watched her leave. Once she was gone, Harry turned to Ron. "So do you want to start a new game?" he asked. One glance at his friend was all he needed to see that Ron was still fuming over Hermione's words. She had been at her bossy worst during the whole exchange, and Ron had borne the brunt of it.
"I can't believe the nerve of that girl," Ron said. "I mean, she acts as though she expects us to jump just because she says so. Who does she think she is?"
"I know," said Harry, patting Ron on the back in an attempt to console him. Ron, however, was having none of it.
"You know, it's partially our fault. We tell her yes far too often for our own good. It's easier for us to agree than to have to sit and listen to her nag at us. We've got to stop doing it. It's a bad habit. We need to learn to tell her no." Suddenly a gleam lit up his eyes.
"Oh no," said Harry to himself. He knew that look. Ron had come up with an idea, and if Hermione usually labeled Ron's ideas as bad that was because they usually were.
"I have it. What we need is a support group for all men who are constantly hen-pecked by women."
Harry decided to nip that bad idea in the bud. "And what would you tell your mother?"
Ron immediately deflated. "I hadn't thought about it." He thought it over. "What if I just didn't tell her?"
"And count on your mum not hearing about it from someone?"
"Damn it! Why is it that my ideas always get shot down?"
"There, there," said Harry. "Look on the bright side. You didn't really have time to organize a support group like that anyway. You have to get started on your Potions essay because there's no way Hermione's going to help you after this."
"That's the bright side?"
"If you come up with something better, let me know."
Author's note: Thanks so much for reading. I would love any reviews you choose to send my way, be they good or bad.
Also I'd like to thank Ehlonna and dracosnumber1girl for their reviews. I hope this update was fast enough. I'm planning to update once a day with the last chapter on 2/14.
