Hogwarts was full of nauseatingly pink and red decorations: flower garlands wrapped around balustrades on the way down from the common room: jacquard hear bunting on the tables in the Great Hall. Even the parchment the owls carried in their beaks was sparkly, or flowery or smelling of perfume. Harry was surprised by the amount of mail delivered to him that morning by Hedwig. Jana bothered her as she perched on the table by touching her feathers immediately. Harry reminded her to be gentle when stroking her and flipped through his mail: the Daily Prophet, a letter from Professor Lupin for Jana, a valentine for Christoph...a valentine for Christoph? Harry cleared his throat and resisted the urge to open in.
"Erm...I think Hedwig's got a bit of your mail by accident again," Harry said, discreetly handing him the deep red parchment covered box, complete with a cherub shaped wax seal imprint, and reeking of evergreen and ginger. Christoph finally looked up from his paper to see what it was that Harry handed to him, and upon realizing the nature of the package tore it from the table and looked at it with shock.
"Is that from Katerina?" Jana smirked, leaning in closer. Harry was surprised to see Jana tease Christoph.
"Shut up, Jan," Christoph huffed as he rubbed his fingers over the seal.
"Who's Karina?" Ron asked as he leaned over for a slice of toast.
"Katerina? She's Christoph's girlfriend," Jana explained matter of factly. Anyone within earshot stopped what they were doing instantly and turned to look at him.
"She's not my girlfriend," Christoph refuted, as he nursed the package in his hand with uncharacteristic care. Christoph looked around at all the dumbfounded faces, even Hermione had a bit of food hanging out of her mouth as she sat there in shock. Most of the students looked away out of fear.
"Must be nice to have a girlfriend," Ron sighed.
"I don't have a girlfriend," Christoph replied sourly. Jana was smirking and holding back a laugh, as she looked at her adopted brother's reddened cheeks.
"Why don't you just open it?" Jana asked, leaning over and pulling the ribbon's edge, "or are you afraid Chantry will find out?"
"This is my package, not yours!" Christoph replied pulling it away from her, "and I don't want to hear anymore about Chantry or Oliver.". Jana continued to giggle. Christoph abandoned his paper and his meal, tearing away from the table, with package in hand, "Have fun today," was all he said before turning and leaving the Great Hall.
"Tell me more," Harry finally said to Jana, sidling up next to her.
"Christoph likes her a lot, he just won't admit it," Jana added, "she was one of his classmates. They were both in Ravenclaw together."
"Are you excited to go to Hogsmeade again?" Harry asked, getting off topic. Jana smiled widely and nodded. Harry could not have been more thankful to McGonagall for allowing Lupin to count as a "guardian" on their permission slips this time. Technically, Jana was Lupin's charge and by extension that made Harry Lupin's charge.
They were avoiding all of the more sought after spots on St. Valentine's Day. Harry glanced over at Madame Puddifoot's Tea Shop, where he had had a horrible date with Cho Chang the year prior. He shook off the memory as they headed down the street, unsure what to do with their unromantic selves.
"Are there books in there, Harry?" Jana asked, pointing to a window they were about to pass. It was Tomes and Scrolls.
"Yeah, want to go in?" Harry replied, reaching for the handle. Jana nodded.
"Hermione's a bad influence on her. I thought she'd want to go to Zonko's or Honeydukes," Ron commented, immediately bored as the smell of old parchment filled the air and the cold was securely shunned to the outdoors by the shutting of the door behind them.
"Honestly, Ron? We will visit both those places. There's nothing wrong with a book store," Hermione huffed. Jana mindlessly walked away and through the aisles, looking at and picking up books.
"What's wrong with Neville?" Ron furrowed his brow, glancing over at him from across a shelf full of rolled parchment, "He looks, peaky."
"Because of Jana of course," Hermione rolled her eyes, "he's got a Valentine for her-"
"He didn't ask me for permission," Harry snubbed.
"Ask you for permission? Neville doesn't know that...you know... and he's been working on it for weeks. Ginny and I told him-"
"You mean you've known about this and you didn't mention it to me?" Harry snapped.
"Sorry, Christoph," Hermione snapped back, "Maybe you should go over there and tell him it's okay?" Harry's initial reaction was to go over there and hit him upside the head or hex him. He never felt that way towards Neville. This is what is was like to be a brother. This is how Ron must have felt when Dean Thomas was snogging Ginny at the Three Broomsticks. This was how he felt when Dean Thomas was snogging Ginny at the Three Broomsticks…
"Will you please say something to him, before he passes out!" Hermione begged.
"No way, Harry, don't do it," Ron added in a hush. Harry took a deep breath and beared down. He did not want the day to be a waste, and he certainly did not want to be like Christoph. He took one look at Jana's innocent face, and one look at Neville's blushing cheeks and went for it.
"Hey, Neville, are you alright?" Harry asked, approaching him. Neville had his nose in a book, facing towards Jana, that he was clearly not reading, but just hiding behind. "Since when are you into Divination?"
"I'm not!" Neville declared, closing the book and anxiously trying to find where it belonged on the shelf.
"I heard you wanted to give something to Jana?" Harry tried. Neville looked shocked and just stood there very still. He seemed to try to speak, but nothing came out.
Harry filled in the silence between them, trying to reassure him that he and Jana were not an item, "We're really close friends...but not like that…" Neville nodded nervously and rummaged his coat for something until he found it, and handed it to Harry. Harry took a look at the surprisingly well constructed valentine. Then Harry reminded, "This is lovely, Neville, but Jana can't read-"
"I know it's a lot of ask Harry, but could you read it to her for me?" Harry was not certain if he had just vomited on the floor of Tomes and Scrolls, or if it were possible to be that nauseous without chyme exiting his gut.
"Erm…" Harry was trying to hold back the contents of his stomach.
"You made this?" Hermione marveled, taking the valentine from Harry's hands.
"Yeah…" It was some kind of heart shaped plant with Jana's name drawn in paste with bits of glitter stuck to it.
"I'm sure she'll love it," Hermione replied, "Won't she, Harry?" Harry just nodded, and took it from Hermione, stuffing it in his coat.
"It was nice of you to use such bright colors, she'll be able to see it for sure," Harry added.
"I want a book about plants, but they all smell the same…" Jana approached them, running her hand along the bindings.
"Neville can probably help you with that," Hermione chimed in. Ron stuck his tongue out and rolled his eyes at Harry to make him feel better. Jana looked up at Neville, who was quite taller than her and smiled. Neville just stared at her for a moment before he said, "Dogweed and Deathcap is a Herbology shop just up the road."
"Okay," Jana replied, heading for the door.
"Have a nice day," the shopkeeper called, as the bell above the doorway rang.
"We're going to head to Spintwitches," Hermione explained, "It's right across the way, meet us in there when you're done."
"Hermione!" Harry whispered, as Neville and Jana entered the Herbology shop, "They...they'll be alone!"
"Really? That was exactly my intention," Hermione quipped.
"And what if he tries to kiss her or something," Harry complained.
"Who are you right now, Harry Potter?" Hermione rebuffed, "Go look at Quidditch stuff, the both of you."
"I am not reading that to her," Harry decided resolutely as he tossed a quaffle to himself, "You can read it to her."
"Yes you are," Hermione demanded.
"Wuttya think of these, captain?" It was Jimmy Peakes, Gryffindor beater, "Supposedly they've got a spell on them that will repel water during rainy games." He handed a pair of goggles to Harry.
"Really?" Harry replied, checking them out. Ron and Harry looked at a bunch of new equipment with their fellow Quidditch team mates.
"Jana!" Harry called as he saw her rounding the corner, "Sorry, mates. We'll definitely give those goggles a try. See you later."
"Bye captain!"
Jana was with Neville and Luna, who displayed a rather festive headband with wiry felt hearts shooting off of it.
"Yes, Harry," Jana replied, as if she were in trouble.
"Hi, Luna," Harry added, "Happy St. Valentine's Day." Luna wished him the same.
"Erm...yeah...did you...erm...find the book you were looking for?" Harry asked Jana.
"No,"Jana replied, "but Luna showed us a Mallowsweet in full bloom. They're pink! I didn't know that."
"Right," Harry replied awkwardly.
"I'm heading to Scrivenshafts if you want to come," Luna invited. They all agreed. Harry was surprised to see how much Luna and Jana were chatting as they walked over to the quill shop. He didn't realize they were sort of...friends.
"I think you should write about the Mallosweet in the Quibbler," Jana commented as they entered the shop.
"That's a good idea," Luna agreed, "Most people probably don't know that they're flowering plants."
Jana smiled as she navigated through the sea of colorful quills, small flecks of barb and feathers scattered on the floor. Harry followed her closely, trying to ward off Neville who was following Jana persistently but doing a poor job of concealing it.
"If Christoph was here, he would probably be able to tell me what kind of bird each and everyone one of these comes from," Jana somewhat lamented, stroking a rather fuzzy quill.
"Some of them are labeled," Harry replied, "I can read them to you. These are different kinds of owls...this one is from a Fwooper...and this one...is from an Occumy."
"An Occumy?" Jana somewhat exclaimed taking a closer look.
"Yeah…" Harry replied, unsure of what an Occumy was. She took one off the shelf and made her way to the counter. The witch working the register was quite impatient, sighing is frustration as Jana attempted to pay. She dumped her entire coin purse on the counter, and closely inspected each coin, separating them by color as to gather the right amount. Harry did not offer to help. Harry tried to let Jana do things she could do herself, even if it took a tremendously long time. Jana held the decorative box up into the sky when they left Scrivenshafts to admire the golden ink used to mark the fabric box as it glinted in the sun. Harry assured Jana that Christoph would like the gift.
The next day Harry had to convince himself to finally hand over the valentine and...he swallowed hard...read it to her. He was afraid of what it might say. He had had quite enough of Jana's boyfriends for one school year.
Harry nearly clutched Jana's robes and pushed her aside to a nearby corridor, anxiously awaiting it to clear of students.
"I've got something for you...its from Neville." Jana's eyes widened, and she found a ledge to sit down on. Harry ignored her and hoped to get through this as quickly as possible. He showed it to her first.
"Lamprocapnus," Jana sighed, as she stroked the velvety pink exterior, "They're poisonous but very beautiful." Harry finally flipped it over and saw a poem in very neat penmanship. He cleared his throat:
Gloxinia on the train
As a fir tree grows in class
Pink camellias down the corridor
I wait for ambrosia in a glass
I fear candy tufts and daffodils
Plant forsythia and hope the jonquil grow
My oleanders are all that prevents me to know
"Was that a poem or a Herbology note?" Harry asked. Jana smiled.
"Would you write something back for me Harry?" He groaned on the inside. Since when was he designated the job of cupid? But he obliged, and scrambled for some parchment and quill. And Jana began:
I'll grow the largest ambrosia garden that you'll ever see
I regret the striped carnations there, and why they have to be
Purple hyacinth are planted in rows two by two
But a yellow rose for now is all I can give to you
Jana watched as Harry scribed.
"I'm not sure if I spelled hyacinth correctly-"
"That's okay!" Jana smiled, grabbing the parchment, "Thanks Harry!" She hugged him quickly and took off toward the Great Hall. Harry scratched his head and packed up.
"Did you read it to her?" Hermione's voice asked annoyed.
"Yes, and I wrote something back for her too," Harry retorted, pleased with himself, as if he had done more than asked.
"What did it say?" Hermione pryed.
"I have no idea. It was all about plants or something…"
"Plants?" Hermione queried.
"Yeah, plants. You know how they are with-" Harry stopped when he felt Hermione clutch his arm rather tightly, pinching his skin. He gasped from the sudden pain and then realized why it was that she was stopping him. Jana was handing what Harry had just written to Neville. Neville looked stunned, but Jana looked sad.
Harry found Christoph that evening, mulling in front of the Common Room fire, the parcel from this morning in his hands, but the ribbon untied, wax seal broken and the parchment folding away over his hands like the peel of a fruit. It glowed in the firelight, and Harry approached them both with great caution and care. Harry wasn't sure if he had sensed his presence, so took refuge in a close by armchair and just waited for Christoph to make the first move.
"Did you have a nice St. Valentine's Day, Harry?" Christoph asked, peering more deeply into the parcel now.
"The same as always," Harry replied honestly, "No improvements."
"Did you spend it with Hermione?" Christoph asked.
"No," Harry blurted out, startling Christoph, "No," he finished more softly, "She's wonderful, and she's my friend, but nothing like that…" Christoph nodded unconvinced. "Did you get anything good?" Christoph looked back at his parcel for a few moments before responding.
"Yes, actually, lingonberry bars...they're my favorite...she baked them herself...Karina…" Harry was quite surprised to hear Christoph speak so gently. "Would you like one?" Harry kindly refused them suggesting Christoph save them for himself and enjoy them, leading to another awkward silence. Why was it always silent and awkward between them?
"I don't mean to pry, but-"
"You want to know about her. I know. I've been plucking up the courage all day," Christoph replied, pulling out some folded parchment and rubbing it between his fingers. He set the box down onto the table and sat back, admiring the crinkles in the letter that he tenderly flipped in his hands.
"She was my girlfriend, I suppose…" he began, "We were very close, until Jana's accident." Harry's interest immediately peaked, changing his posture and adjusting his glasses. "Spoiled woman, she is. She couldn't understand my devotion to Jana. Karina knows how much she means to me. I had to care for her Harry, my parents they just couldn't handle the burden, and Remus tried to help me, he did, but between his transformations, and then he got the position here to teach and then Calandra got engaged-"
"You don't have to convince me," Harry replied. Christoph calmed down, realizing how worked up he was getting.
"Karina, she wanted all of my attention. She thought that once we graduated I would leave home. That I would leave Jana. We were supposed to go to China to study some rare salamanders-"
"She's a magizoologist as well?"
"Yes, and a brilliant one at that," Christoph nearly smiled, "and beautiful."
"And what did Jana think of all this?"
"I don't know, I never brought it up to her, I wouldn't want her to think it was her fault or something. It's Karina's fault...I have to take care of Jana, I can't be galavanting the wizarding world, studying…"
"I think Jana can take care of herself," Harry responded curtly, "You might want to give it a try. And I suggest you write back to this, erm, Karina girl. She clearly misses you very much." Harry headed for the stairwell, he had had more than enough romance for one day, and found it odd that he was giving relationship advice.
"Harry," Christoph had finally abandoned the package and was standing straight up, looking at him with wide eyes, "Thank you. You're right."
