A note to my readers: Year 2 is almost done. Valentines Day is a day of love, friendship and awkwardness. Poor Harry ;)

Chapter 20- Valentine's Day

The month of January had rolled by swiftly. The occasional sighting of a Death Eater broke the silence and made everyone become quite jumpy. A number of students could be heard swearing they saw Pettigrew hiding in the shadows of the Forest, causing numerous investigations. Harry had not fared well, being constantly watched by teachers and his friends alike. It was this constant bother that lead to a particular afternoon in mid February that Harry got exceptionally mad. It wasn't his friends though, nor was it the staff. It was much worse.

"Leave me alone, seriously, I'm too young to date," Harry yelled over his shoulder as he strode to Charms. "Give it a rest. Bloody women," he added under his breath.

"Oh, Harry! You can never be too young to date." A few girls said.

Harry had walked into his classes late since the week before Valentine's Day, and it seemed a miracle that he hadn't received detention. His Professors seemed to feel for his suffering, only giving him small chidings and the occasional after class talk. Today seemed no different as he was confronted by Professor Flitwick.

"Third time this week Mr. Potter. See me after class," Professor Flitwick said.

Harry took a seat between Draco and Blaise Zabini.

"What's wrong, Potter? Girl problems?" Malfoy asked once he had settled in.

"That time of the month then, Potter?" Blaise asked. Both boys snickered.

"Shut it, both of you."

"Nah, it's too much fun." Zabini was laughing quietly.

"Mr. Zabini, are you feeling all right?" Professor Flitwick had noticed Zabini's small convulsions from his laughing.

"Yes, Professor. I'm fine, thank you for asking."

"Good, then maybe you can repeat what I just said?" Professor Flitwick asked.

"Err, something about Charms?"

"Very good Mr. Zabini, but if you cannot be more descriptive, I will see you after class as well." At Blaise's nod, the small professor continued. "Perhaps laughing at Mr. Potter's expense would not be wise."

"Yes, Sir," Blaise replied sullenly. The rest of the class ended uneventfully (they had practiced expulsion charms, creating large craters in the walls). Harry stayed behind at the end of class; Blaise had snuck out the door, whispering to Harry "I know I'm getting detention."

"Mr. Potter, thank you for staying after. Tell Mr. Zabini that he has detention tomorrow after dinner," the small Professor said. "What seems to be the problem?" Harry looked inquisitively at his Charms Professor. "You have been increasingly late for class."

"We are getting increasingly close to Valentine's Day. Those loony girls will not leave me alone! I try to make it, but I… I can't," Harry finished lamely.

"Is you're head on right, Mr. Potter? You have women practically throwing themselves at your feat. Unless," he paused and watched as Harry's eyes widened, "there is a certain female who has already gained your attraction?" Harry turned crimson, Professor Flitwick's smile increased. "A redheaded female? You make it so obvious, almost as bad as Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger. Ms. Weasley is obviously as thick as her brother."

"She's too young. A first year! I'm trying to wait, but she makes it so hard."

"Oh? She makes it hard? If anything, you make it hard. Love knows no boundaries, Mr. Potter, age is no exception." Harry opened his mouth to protest. "Although," Professor Flitwick continued, "if you had a girlfriend, you wouldn't have this problem."

"But-"

"So, if you still have this problem by Valentine's Day, I will give you detention every Friday for the rest of the year."

"I- What?" Harry's jaw dropped several inches below his knees, or so it felt. A teacher was blackmailing him. Not just a teacher, but Professor Flitwick.

"Goodbye, Mr. Potter. Go get her, and quickly."

Harry knew he was getting detention as he sat by the fire. It was 2 A.M., but Harry was wide awake. To him, it was worth it to not rush into a relationship. On the plus side, this little 'bribe' could get him closer to Ginny. Or, as he had thought many times before, this would be a disaster and Ginny would hate him.

Eventually, Harry decided to go with detentions. Valentine's Day really seemed to put a damper on things, or at least, in Harry's opinion. That is why, a week later (The day after Valentine's Day), Harry was polishing trophies at ten o'clock on a particularly stormy night.

"It's a shame," Professor Flitwick had said, "you really ought to get it over with before those awkward teen years."

"I am there," Harry grumbled to himself, going unheard to the small Professor.

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A note to my readers: I will end this chapter here, but only because I have a special treat for you all. The prologue for a story I've been thinking up for a long time. It's been done before, but not as an H/G story.

THE DARK LORD'S SON

Severus Snape was no stupid man. He knew when to quit, knew when to run and hide, even knew when he was caught. He knew he was caught, this instance, as he locked eyes with the Dark Lord's prodigy, Voldemort's son. Snape cringed at the thought of being caught, thought of how quickly it would end, how painful it would be.

"It is a pity, Severus, that you would betray us like this. You seemed so," he paused for a moment, "loyal? You are a fool. I surpassed my father years ago in the arts of legillimency. What would my father do if I told him you betrayed him?" A malicious smile formed on his cold lips. "No doubt he would take all the fun, no? It's a good thing that I found you out instead." His voice was laced with malice and cruelty beyond measure. "I will spare your life, but," he said as Snape opened his mouth in praise, "you will not come out of here unscathed. CRUCIO!"

Snape was on fire; his mind was blank as white hot pain seeped out of his pores, as if his body were slowly catching on fire. He screamed, feeling the sensation of falling from consciousness. At the moment when his brain stopped working, the spell was lifted.

"Now go, and do not forget where you truly belong." Snape bowed low and left.

"Rough night, Severus?"

"The same, Macnair, the same."

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"That was, invigorating, father. Although I enjoy these lessons, I would prefer to experience them surrounded by people my own age."

"Silence, boy. You are not going to Hog-"

"It would give you the perfect opportunity to have a spy in Dumbledore's 'encampment'," he said, cutting off Voldemort. Voldemort's eyes narrowed viciously.

"You're dancing with pain, boy."

"I could even keep tabs on Snape in my spare time. It'll be like-"

"CRUCIO!" He didn't even flinch, the spell hitting him dead on. His nerves were on fire, but if he had learned anything, it was to show as few emotions and feelings as possible. The spell was relinquished a few moments later.

"So, we have an agreement?"

"Fine, boy."

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"My son wishes to stay here, to observe how teaching is done, and how to behave like a teenager for once."

"How human of you, Tom."

"My son must have all that he wishes, or else I may lose him to you and your pathetic Order of the Phoenix." Voldemort spat the last part out.

"I believe that I have no say in the matter. The laws forbid me from turning a student away who wishes to learn here." Dumbledore said, slightly amused at how he had said it struck a nerve. "However, his being here will not influence my decision to try and change him."

"You are a fool Dumbledore. Do you not know who he is?"

"Lily and James' son? It would seem that you had a heart for him."

"I had a plan. One that I wish to fall through without flaw."

"Very well, say goodbye to your son."

"Goodbye's are for fools, mortals. I, however, am a god."

"A god who is still mortal?"

Another ending note to my readers: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Here's a cookie. There is my prologue to my next story, The Dark Lord's Son. Review, the more I get for this, the faster this comes up (same for Shattered Hope). valorousknight and his angry monkey bob.

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