A/N: Happy reading, you guys. =) Thanks for the wonderful reviews. You guys keep me going. I still have far too much time in my hands 'cause I haven't registered for college. =P Gonna go soon, though. So, I'd better update this as often as I could now 'cause once college starts, I doubt I'd have time. =(
Leave me another review. =)
Hermione,
Can I please have Columbus back?
Draco
O
What's the reason this time? Archie's with him.
O
But Edna isn't.
O
Who in the world is Edna?
O
Edna's Columbus' mate. It's Valentine's Day soon. They can't be without each other on that day.
O
They wouldn't even know what day it is.
O
They will get jealous when they see us together.
O
Are you mad? They are owls, Malfoy, they wouldn't know if we are dating. Are we going out on that day? I'm sorry but I haven't said yes to a date with you on Valentine's Day, have I?
O
But we will be going out.
O
It's a school day. I can't cut class to go out with you. I'm sorry.
O
Live a little, Hermione. It's fine to skive off some classes sometimes.
O
No way. Slughorn's teaching us how to make Felix Felicis on that day.
O
If Felix Felicis is so important to you, Hermione, I can get us an empty classroom and teach you how to brew it.
O
I am not going into an empty classroom with you, Malfoy.
O
What? You would rather be in an empty classroom with Slughorn than with me? I'm utterly offended, Hermione.
O
The classroom won't be empty, you git.
O
Yes, it will be. It's Valentine's Day, for Slytherin's sake. All seventh-years will be skipping class for a snog session somewhere.
O
Well, I don't care if everyone's deciding to not show up in class. I am definitely going to every single one of mine.
O
Why am I not surprised?
Professor McGonagall,
I would appreciate it very much if Miss Hermione Granger can be excused from all classes on the 14th of February as I require her assistance in the research for Hogwarts: A History.
Thank you,
Draco Malfoy
O
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
I am no fool. Regardless, enjoy yourselves on Valentine's Day. I shall give her the day off.
Minerva McGonagall
Dear Miss Granger,
You are excused from all classes on February 14th. If you are to, in any way, attempt to attend class on that day, points will be taken from you and detentions will be given to you.
Any pleas to have my decision changed will be ignored and insistence upon the matter will not do any good.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts School
of Witchcraft and Wizardry
What did you do, Malfoy?
I can't thank you enough, professor.
Hermione,
Can you cover for Ron and I on Valentine's Day? We're sneaking off to Hogsmeade.
Harry
O
I'm sorry, I can't. Malfoy somehow got Professor McGonagall to disallow me from entering any of my classes on that day.
O
That is so romantic!
O
Um… Hi, Ron.
O
Hi. Well, what are you going to do with him all day? Do you have anything planned? Or is he giving you a surprise?
O
I'm not going to do anything with him. I'm going yo punish him for having me miss all my classes.
O
Godric, Hermione, don't you know how to have fun?
O
Making Felix Felicis is fun, Ron. And I'm going to miss that because of Malfoy.
O
Why are you still calling him Malfoy?
O
Oh, no. Not you, too.
O
What? He's your boyfriend. Shouldn't you be addressing him by his first name?
O
No, I shouldn't. And he is not my boyfriend.
O
After all these time, Hermione, you still can't break that barrier holding you back from him?
O
What are you saying? I'm dating him now, aren't I?
O
Using his last name instead of his first, Hermione, indicates that you are creating a distance between you and him. And refusing to be his Valentine, even though you actually really want to, for some classes is just downright stupid. You have too much pride, Hermione. Just drop it, stomp on it and admit that you love him already. He'd done that for you a long time ago. It's your turn now.
O
I don't love him.
O
Stop trying to convince yourself, Hermione. It's pathetic.
O
It isn't because it's the truth.
O
Hermione,
For once, Ron's right and you're not. Sorry.
Harry
O
Great, now, you're on his side, too.
Hermione,
Will you be my Valentine?
Draco
O
Hermione,
Will you be my Valentine?
Colin Creevey
Sure, Colin, I would love to.
O
Go to hell, Malfoy.
What are you saying, Hermione? McGonagall gave you the day off for my benefit. Of course you're going to be my Valentine.
O
She didn't say anything about my having to date you on that day. So, I get to decide how I want to spend my Valentine's Day.
O
Are you going to curl up in a corner to read Hogwarts: A History, then?
O
No. I'm going out with Colin Creevey. He's my Valentine.
O
You're not serious. The really annoying boy who miraculously recovered from supposed death during the Battle? Him?
O
Yes, him.
O
I'm going to put him back in his death bed.
O
Malfoy! You can't do that!
O
Yes, I can, Hermione. It's not fair. It took me months to finally get you to date me but you won't say yes to being my Valentine. All he did was ask and he's got it.
O
Malfoy, you have to understand that you are not my boyfriend and neither am I yours. We are both free to explore out options. And I am exploring mine. Like it or not, Malfoy, I'm Colin's Valentine. So, unfortunately for you, you would have to find someone else to romance on February 14th.
Ginny,
Be my Valentine?
Draco
O
Isn't Hermione your only choice?
O
Apparently, I'm not her only choice.
O
Who's her Valentine?
O
Creevey.
O
You're not serious, are you?
O
I wish I wasn't. So, what say you? You need a guy to romance you a little, don't you?
O
No, I don't, ferret. But, yes, it would be nice.
O
Great. I'll pick you up at your dorm.
O
You can't enter the girls' dorm.
O
Don't worry. Just wait in there and I'll come and get you.
Ron,
Valentine's Day was a disaster.
Hermione
Blaise,
I'm in trouble. I think Weaselette's in love with me.
Draco
Hermione,
Do you want to go out again?
Colin
Draco,
I um… I'm not sorry for what happened. I know you're in love with Hermione but if you won't mind, I would like to go out with you again.
Ginny
Hermione,
Well, you did say yes to a date with Colin Creevey.
Ron
O
He's a very sweet boy. He just doesn't do romance very well that's all.
O
What did you two do?
O
We snuck out of the castle using the secret passage to Honeyduke's then he took me to Zonko's to check out the new products. I had to listen to him talk about ways to prank snogging couples when we get back to the castle – apparently, pranking other people was part of our date. I managed to drag him out of Zonko's and take him to Madam Puddifoot's.
Merlin help me, I should never had took him there. He tried to play footsies with me under the table and he kept trying to kiss me. It took a kick in his groin to stop him from try9ing anything else. He thinks it wasn't intentional because I apologized profusely afterwards. He only stopped because he thought I was dangerous, I think. All the same, I was grateful… for a while, at least.
We left the shop and he accio'd his broom to fly us back to the castle. It was the most horrible part of the date. I felt nauseous when we landed and he hilariously said something about 'sweeping me off my bloody feet'. Bloody hell, Ron. Why in the world did I say yes to this date? Now he wants another one. I'm going to have to pass or I would probably die because I fell off his broom or something.
Drake,
Mudblood to blood traitor. That's an upgrade.
Blaise
O
Blaise,
Will you stop with your stupid pureblood ideals? Both Hermione and Ginny are really wonderful girls. Help me out here.
Draco
O
There isn't anything that I could help you with. You love Granger, don't you? And not Weaselette? So, there's nothing that you need to do about anything except continuing in your pursuit of Granger.
O
I can't just ignore Ginny. She has become quite important to me.
O
Honestly, what did you do during the date? You didn't go all out, did you?
O
I… kind of did. Pothead found an excuse to be rid of her because of me. I know it was just a matter of time before it's over but it was I who had made it sooner. I needed to make it up to her. So, I gave her a date that I would have given Hermione.
O
You've been hanging around Gryffindors for too long, Drake. Why are you so nice? What exactly did you do?
O
I picked Ginny up from the window of her dorm by flying her out of there. I initially wanted to get Hermione on a broom because I wanted to help her get over her fear and discover how great flying is. For Ginny, it was different. She is a natural on a broom. She just hopped on, leaned into me, closed her eyes and enjoyed the flight.
I brought her to London's Wizarding Zoo. Hermione loves magical creatures so I figured she would enjoy a day there. I didn't know Ginny liked magical creatures, too. She was positively glowing, looking at Blast-Ended Skrewts. And she recounted to me how Weasel was afraid of those when Hagrid rared them for class. I know it isn't the most romantic place to be but I planned it for Hermione, anyway. Ginny thought I actually knew her that well and said I was really sweet. We took several pictures with different owl breeds while we were there and she thought it was funny because I kidnapped her owl before.
We had lunch in the zoo then we Apparated to Venice. I got us into a gondola and saw the Bridge of Sighs. We hung around Venice for some ice cream then Apparated to the Eiffel Tower in the evening.
That, was when things started to go wrong. We actually held hands for the most part of the day – that was it. But when we were leaving the Eiffel Tower, she kissed me. It wasn't passionate or wild or anything of that sort – it was light and sweet like a 'thank you' kiss. I was a bit surprised by that but I carried on like nothing happened.
We headed to a posh restaurant in wizarding Paris next and had a great dinner there with wine, dancing, violins playing – the works. That was, well, romantic – as it is meant to be. After, we took a Portkey back to Hogsmeade and I flew her back to her dorm from there. She climbed into her dorm through the window then she reached out, grabbed my shirt in her fists and pulled me in. She kissed me. It was urgent and, in a way, desperate. I was hanging in mid air and she snogged me senseless – it was one of the most memorable kisses I've ever gotten. Then she pushed me away as if she was burned and stared at me, hard. I could see tears glistening in her eyes by the moon light. Then she turned and walked steadily into the darkness.
I flew back to my dorm and thought to myself the whole night, what the hell was that? The next morning, I received an owl from her asking me for another date.
O
Well, you were the one stupid enough to take her to Venice and Paris. Nothing screams romantic like those two places. If you had taken Granger out, she would probably have shagged you that night.
O
She wouldn't have. She wants to be in love before she does the deed.
O
She would have been feeling bloody close to being I love by then. So, yes, it would have happened for you.
O
We both know it won't happen now. So, what do I do about Ginny?
O
You did say she gave you one of the most memorable kisses you've ever gotten so you might want to try dating her. She may change your mind about Granger.
O
No way. Every time I kiss Hermione, I feel myself falling in love with her all over again. With Ginny, it's a great kiss then nothing.
O
This is where you're wrong. With Weaselette, you actually feel like flying – literally. And she kept you up all night thinking about her.
O
You have a point there.