Harry and Hermione hurried to meet up with their friends at the Leaky Cauldron. Harry and Ron were Auror trainees and Hermione was working at the Department and Regulation for Control of Magical Creatures.
"But why isn't Ronald with you?" asked Hermione, hurrying to keep up with Harry.
Harry shrugged, eager to see Ginny. "I told you, our trainer asked him to stay back for a chat, that's all I know."
"Oh, dear, that doesn't sound good. Perhaps we should go back and wait for him," she suggested, biting her bottom lip nervously.
"Hermione, it's our lunch hour, I'm hungry and I want to see Ginny,' protested Harry.
"Besides, he said he'd meet us here."
"Fine," huffed Hermione, as he stood aside for her to enter ahead of him. "Oh, there she is – and with Luna and Neville too. Hey, guys," she called, making her way to a large booth that held their friends.
She deliberately slid in next to Luna, leaving Harry to slide next to Ginny. He put his arm around her and she snuggled against him.
"Hi," she said, tilting her head to accept his kiss. "Happy Valentine's Day, lover."
Harry grinned while Hermione looked annoyed. "You're lucky Ron isn't here to hear you say that," she admonished.
Ginny shrugged unrepentantly, while Neville groaned. "There she is, she's absolutely perfect. I bet she has a date for Valentine's day,' he said gloomily, eyeing Hannah Abbot, who worked at the Leaky Cauldron.
"Go and ask her," encouraged Ginny.
Neville shook his head, slumping further into the booth. "I hate being single on Valentine's Day. What would I even say to her?"
"Ask Ginny, she's an expert on Valentine's day. Gin, got any poem ideas?" teased Harry.
Ginny nudged him and he grabbed his stomach in exaggeration.
"I've heard of some popular ones," offered Luna. 'Roses are red, violets are blue -"
Ginny interrupted. "Firewhiskey is cheaper than dinner for two."
Both Harry and Ginny dissolved into laughter. "Good thing I'm cooking dinner for us at home tonight," he said, and she nodded.
Harry looked at Neville, who looked terrible as he watched Hannah flirt with the customers. "Go on, Nev, go and ask her. What's the worst that could happen?"
Neville took a deep breath, nodded and stood, determined to talk to Hannah. They all watched as he approached her, the two talking easily till Neville said something, she replied and Neville nodded. His face bright red, he half bowed and hurried out of the Leaky Cauldron, not even sparing his friends a goodbye wave, let alone an explanation.
Harry coughed, embarassed for his friend. "Well clearly I am not cut out to help people make life choices," he said.
"Don't say that, you helped me choose you," replied Ginny, cupping his cheek.
He looked down at her, his eyes full of love. "Okay, well, that time I was a genius."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Harry, you're clearly the smart one." They were interrupted by Hannah coming over to take their orders, clearly uncomfortable when Luna mentioned Neville. She promised to return soon with their food.
"So, what do I bring to the table?" asked Luna, curiously. At their blank looks, she clarified, " if Harry is the smart one."
Ginny grabbed Luna's hand. "That's easy. "You're the cool one, Luna. I'm the hot one, Hermione is the smart one and Harry is the cute one."
Hermione, who had just taken a drink of water, snorted. "Sorry," she apologised, reaching for a napkin. "Why am I always the smart one?" she complained.
"Because you're Hermione," chorused Harry and Ginny together. They high fived each other.
"We are so -"
"in sync -"
that we finish -"
each other's sentences."
Hermione looked faint. "That was...disturbing," she finally decided.
"I liked it," smiled Luna.
"We rehearsed it," admitted Ginny.
"At home, last night," agreed Harry.
"Naked...in bed," finished Ginny.
"Who's naked in bed?" asked Ron, sliding into the booth next to Hermione. He planted a kiss on her cheek, then looked at his best friend and his sister. "Ugh, no, no naked talk before I eat." He scowled.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Ronald. You too, Hermione, Harry and Ginny," said Luna. "I really should go. I guess Ron is now the cool one. Goodbye." She waved to them all, then spoke to Hannah before leaving.
"Ron – the cool one? Merlin!" Ginny pretended to be shocked. When Hannah placed their lunches in front of them, Ron nicked one of Ginny's chips in defiance.
"So why did the trainers want to talk to you, Ronald?" asked Hermione, unwrapping her sandwich and trying to ignore Harry and Ginny kissing in between bites of their food.
"I failed the Auror Safety course today," he told her gloomily.
Harry looked at him in surprise. "Why, what happened?"
"Well, one of the questions was 'in case of fire, what steps would you take?' Apparantly fucking large ones wasn't an acceptable answer," he said grumpily.
"Oh, Ron," sighed Hermione, " you didn't."
"Yeah, I did. I'm an idiot." He waited for his girlfriend, his best friend, his sister to deny it, but there was just silence. He chanced a side look at Hermione.
She did not look amused. "If you're waiting for us to disagree, you'll be here till Christmas."
Ron looked miserable. "I'm having such a bad day. After lunch I have to report to the trainer for combat training."
"Merlin, our Valentine's day night will be spent visiting Ron at the hospital," sighed Ginny.
Her brother looked annoyed again. "Yeah, well, you don't have to visit. I remember when we were really little, we went to the hospital and all you did was cry, cry, cry," he growled.
"Gee Ron, was that because I had just been born?" snapped Ginny in reply.
"Come on, you two, stop bickering like, like..." Hermione tried to think of a tactful analogy.
"Siblings?" asked Ginny dryly. "No offense, Hermione, but you just don't get sibling relationships."
"Especially our family," muttered Ron.
"Your family certainly has...interesting dynamics,." agreed Harry, trying to keep the peace. He hated being caught between Ginny and Ron, just as much as he had hated being caught between Ron and Hermione over the years. "So, who are you fighting?"
Ron still looked gloomy. "Michaels," he replied, referring to another of their trainees. "The guy is like five feet five, I feel really bad for him. Anyone under five foot nine can't talk about fighting. Like, what is he going to do, headbutt my nipples?" he added sarcastically.
"Say goodbye to your knee caps, asshole," snapped Ginny. "Harry, I need to go and find this Michaels, tell him how to beat Ron." She glared at her brother.
"You are so tiny and adorable," gushed Harry.
"I could kick your arse right now," she growled, not in a mood to be appeased.
He looked at her with love in his eyes. "I know," he told her.
"Oh, brother," sighed Ron.
Ginny smiled smugly at Ron, who rolled his eyes. "Mate, can I give you some advice?" he asked.
"Absolutely not," chorused Hermione and Ginny.
"Thanks, mate, but unfortunately, I have to head back. Hermione, you coming?" Harry replied, after checking his watch.
She shook her head. "I think I'll stay a bit longer, and lunch with Ron."
Harry and Ginny stood. "I'll walk with you a bit, I want to visit George," offered Ginny.
"Great, and I'll be home later for our special night," agreed Harry, leaving some galleons on the table to cover his share of the bill.
"Don't do anything dangerous," warned Ginny.
Harry smiled at her. "You and I both know that's asking too much, love."
She nodded, grinning."You're right, it is asking a bit much. Well, don't get hurt. I have plans for this body tonight."
They waved to Ron and Hermione and walked out, ignoring the whispers that followed them everywhere.
"What about you, Hermione, do you have plans for my body tonight?" teased Ron. He lowered his voice in what he thought was a sexy tone. "I love it when you moan during sex."
"I do NOT moan, Ronald," whispered Hermione, blushing.
"Yeah, you do," said Ron. He put his mouth to her ear so only she could hear. "Usually it's the word yes...or deeper. Sometimes its a combination of the two," he told her.
Hermione pulled away and looked at him. "Yeeper?" she asked, teasing him back.
Ron looked confused. "Huh?"
"Never mind. Come on, let's get back to the Ministry. Don't you do anything dangerous," she taunted, mimicking Ginny's plea to Harry.
"Hey, Hermione, relax," said Ron. "It's me."
"Yeah," sighed Hermione, "That's what I'm afaid of."
Later that night:
Hannah returned from her Valentine's date with one of her regular customers who had been quite persistant in his endeavour to take her out. She had declined his invitation to come in for coffee, thorougly relieved the date was over. As she kicked off her shoes and made her way into the tiny room she rented from Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, she felt another pang of regret that she had had to turn Neville Longbottom down.
She had liked him for ages, forging a respect for him in the year from hell under the Carrows at Hogwarts. Working closely together in running the DA, they had grown a close bond, the four of them – Neville, Ginny, Hannah and Luna. She remembered the shy boy Neville used to be; she had seen that shy boy again earlier today, when he blushed and mumbled, asking her for a date.
She had wanted to grab him, to shake him – why now? Why now, when she had already agreed to a date with another guy? But...could this mean...dare she hope Neville was ready to give their friendship a chance to grow into something more?
She changed into her pyjamas, mentally thinking about the day ahead of her tomorrow. She would be up early for the opening shift, finishing at lunch time. Then she had a few chores to run; hardly exciting. Suddenly there was a tapping at the window. Not expecting to hear from anyone at this late hour, she warily approached, surprised to see an owl bearing a magnificent rose in its talons.
She opened the window and the owl flew in, hooting gratefully. She thanked him, taking the owl and the accompanying note. He flew off before she could even offer him a treat or some water.
The rose's magnificent scent filled her room and she sniffed it as she opened the scroll. Her eyes went to the signature at the bottom and her heart jumped.
It was from Neville, daring to hope her date hadn't gone well and she was free to have dinner with him tomorrow night.
Suddenly, her day tomorrow looked full of wonderful possibilities.
And from that year on, and for many years after, Neville and Hannah would always celebrate Valentine's Day on February 15th.