"Happy Valentine's Day," Char said, coming down the stairs. "You're up early."
"Well, I couldn't really go back to sleep after I woke up," Aly replied, standing up. She was dressed casually because today was Valentine's Day, and technically, they had off. She had been waiting in front of the fire for several minutes for Char to come down.
"So, what's the plan?" Aly asked as he approached her.
"Well, it's breakfast, homework, Hogsmeade...relaxation, dinner...sleep," Char recited.
"Hogsmeade?" Aly asked, as they began to walk out of the entrance to the tower.
"Of course! Madam Puddifoot's Tearoom is having a special event today that I plan to take you to."
"Like what?" Aly asked suspiciously, as they headed down the stairs.
"Oh, I dunno," Char said airily, "Snogging, I guess."
"Char!" Aly exclaimed.
"I'm joking! But I would like to stop in there and buy you some chocolate, or something. No snogging, I promise," Char said, holding up his hands.
"Fine," Aly said, still eyeing him suspiciously. "Don't try anything funny."
"Alright," Char muttered. "Ruins all my plans, it does."
"You know, Char," Aly said, wheeling around on a step, "If I were to accidentally knock you over with the Impedimenta spell...You'd be falling for a very, very long time."
Char gulped.
"Happy Valentine's," Hayden said brightly, as they walked into the Great Hall. It was decorated with many different pinks, whites and reds, and there were baskets of chocolates on the tables.
"Indulging in the chocolate, Amanda?" grinned Aly as they sat down across from them.
Damien smirked as Amanda looked up from the chocolate she was eating and smiled sheepishly.
"I think she's trying to be cute," Damien said in a carrying whisper.
Amanda glared at him and attempted to swat him, but Damien grabbed her wrist and smiled playfully.
"So," Hayden said, leaning forward to Char, "Got any special plans today?"
Char glanced briefly at Aly. "Just the usual. Homework, Hogsmeade, dinner..."
"Nothing special?" Damien asked, playing along.
"No." Char scowled. "She doesn't want to." Then he smirked. "But I'm sure I'll find some other way."
"Oh, you're just so determined, aren't you?" Aly demanded.
"Yes, I am," Char replied brightly. Aly scowled and reached for a chocolate.
Amanda turned to Hayden. "So, who's your valentine?"
"Gods, Amanda!" Aly exclaimed.
"Mandy-" Damien groaned.
"Um..." Char said awkwardly.
Hayden's smile tightened. "I...er...don't have one."
Aly threw a chocolate at Amanda angrily. "Think!"
Amanda flushed when she realized her mistake. "Oh. I'm sorry, Hayden, I'm so daft."
Damien opened his mouth, and then decided better and closed it. Aly snickered, and he winked at her.
"How is she doing?" Hayden asked, turning to Aly. Aly noted that he made every possibly attempt not to mention her name.
"I actually...er...don't know," Aly said nervously.
"Why?" Hayden asked suspiciously.
"Well...she hasn't...been around lately," Amanda said awkwardly. "She kind of...has a boyfriend..."
"Well, that's just lovely," Hayden said angrily. "It's been almost a month and a half and I am socially depressed, and I can just bet you she's going through them one by one."
"Ah, cheer up, mate!" Char said, slapping Hayden on the back. "There's plenty of pretty fish in the sea!"
"Yeah, but every one keeps missing my hook," Hayden sighed. He stood up. "I'll be in my dormitory if anyone needs me."
He walked out of the Great Hall slowly.
Aly threw another chocolate at Amanda. "Way to go. It's Valentine's Day, and he's depressed. Way to go, Amanda!"
"Well, I'm sorry," Amanda snapped. "But it's been almost two months; why doesn't he just forget about it?"
Aly rolled her eyes and popped another chocolate in her mouth. She swallowed. "Well, I have homework to do. I'll be in the common room."
"Who says you're going anywhere?" Char demanded. "I'll come with you."
"No, it's fine, really," Aly said, smiling. "You can stay and eat. It's just a little bit. I just want to get it out of the way."
"Oh. Okay, then," Char shrugged. Aly nodded and walked out of the Great Hall.
She strolled along the hallway, smiling contentedly, and thinking of Char.
"Hello," a voice said behind her. Aly turned around and her smile dissipated when she saw Adam standing behind her.
"Hi," Aly said slowly. Then she smiled. "Would you mind not popping out like that? You give me heart attacks."
"Sure," Adam said, walking over to her. "So, what's this whole D.A. thing?"
Aly's smile faded. "What?"
"I'm tired of people playing stupid. What is the D.A.?"
"Wha...how you do you know? Did someone tell you?"
"No. I got an outside tip from a friend and I peeked in after everyone left after last night's meeting. So, what is it?"
Aly opened her mouth, but then stopped. She had signed her name on the parchment.
"I can't tell you."
"Oh? Why's that?" Adam demanded, walking over to her.
"I've signed a contract. I swore not to tell."
"You can tell me," Adam grinned, looking down at her.
"No, I can't."
He frowned. "And what will happen if you tell, exactly?"
"I dunno, but I don't want to find out."
"What's with these secrets? Why can't I just know the truth?" Adam demanded.
Aly sighed. "There are some things better left unsaid."
She looked away from Adam's face, and then became aware that he was scrutinizing her.
"What?" she asked, turning to him.
"Your eyes," he said, staring at them. "They look bright...and excited." He smiled bitterly. "You're really enjoying that relationship with Char, aren't you?"
"Um, yes, I guess," Aly shrugged.
"Hm. It's amazing what one tiny relationship can do to change a person," he continued, still scrutinizing her.
"Is there a point to this?" Aly asked impatiently. "I have homework to do."
"That's a lie. You just don't want to be around me," said Adam angrily.
"Actually, it's not. I have some Transfiguration to finish."
"Sure."
Aly looked him over carefully. "What happened, Adam? You never acted this way before."
"How did I act before?"
"Kind, funny, thoughtful, polite..."
"And what am I now?"
Aly smiled ruefully. "You try to figure that out yourself." She started walking away.
Adam stared after Aly wistfully and turned around to skulk down the corridor.