Chapter 43: Will You Be My Valentine?

February 14, 1994

Tonks woke up to knocking on the door to her flat.

She ran a hand through her hair and walked over to the door, pulling it open. "Hi, Remus," she greeted. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Happy Valentine's Day," Remus responded, smiling warmly. "Can I come in?"

"Yep, sure," Tonks allowed, stepping aside to let him come in.

He was dressed in a beige sweater and dark blue jeans. And she was in her pale pink pajamas. Great. "I got something for you."

"Remus," moaned Tonks. "I told you you didn't hav-"

"I know, I know," Remus cut her off, smiling. "I didn't buy anything for you. I made something for you."

Even worse. He had to spend time working on her gift. "What is it?"

"You don't look very enthusiastic." He was still smiling, but a little bit of something flickered in his eyes. Hurt? Sadness?

"I am!" cried Tonks, tripping over her socks. "I can't wait, Remus, where did you-"

"I'm joking," Remus said, laughing. He grinned. "Of course I'm joking." He reached over and flipped her palm out, littering a small threaded box into her hands.

"This is so cute," mused Tonks, fingering it. "Thanks!"

Remus grinned again. "The present is inside."

"Oh." Tonks laughed. "Well, this is cute too." She unlatched the box and found a small, rich, cute pink pendant in the shape of a heart. She opened her mouth, unable to speak. It was beautiful. It was small, but amazingly crafted. Every detail was right. The lines, the glass curve, the perfection. It was tiny but amazing. Remus knew her so well. "You… made this?"

"Yeah," replied Remus. "Do you like it?"

Tonks crossed over and wrapped him in a hug. "I love it," she told him. "Thanks so much."

"Of course," Remus said as she released him. "So, what do you want to do today?"

Tonks shrugged. "I don't know, we can…" She stopped, realizing that he hadn't even asked about her present for him. "Wait. Don't you want to know what I got for you?"

He looked shocked. "You got something for me?"

"Duh." She rolled her eyes. "Wait right here, I'll be back." She went into her closet and picked out the brand new, folded, maroon jacket. She tossed it into his hands.

"Is this my jacket?" he asked, smiling.

"That would be so cheap!" she exclaimed, then stopped. "Not that your jacket is cheap. It means a lot. But nobody regifts a gift. Especially not to the person who gave them the gift."

"I get it." Remus was still smiling.

"Right. No, this is a brand new one." She grinned at him. "This way we can match." Her smile faltered. "Do… Do you like it?"

Remus's face broke into a smile - a larger, wide, truly happy one. "I love it," he told her. "This really, really, really means a lot. I love it. I love you."

Tonks felt her insides melting. "Love you too."

"Hey, Harry," greeted Ginny.

Since when had she gotten the capability to talk to him?

"Hi, Ginny," Harry responded warmly, hiding his box behind his back. "How're things?"

"Fine," Ginny answered nonchalantly. "So, er, I got a gift for you. It's Valentine's Day after all."

Right. She liked him. He hoped she'd gotten over that one. Fat chance. "Thanks. You didn't have to, er, do that, though."

Ginny turned pink. "I know."

Harry felt bad for making her embarrassed and for making her feel small. She was like a sister to him, even though she probably didn't feel the same way about him. "What'd you get me?" he asked, feigning interest.

Ginny brightened up. "Easy Cheese and crackers and-"

"Easy Cheese?" Harry asked.

"Someone said you like easy," Ginny explained. "She said you want to live an easy life. So I thought of Easy Cheese!"

"Right." Harry blinked. "What's Easy Cheese?"

"Easy Cheese is a spray of cheese that you can spread!" Ginny said brightly. "It'll go great with the crackers." She held out a package of crackers and a white bottle of Easy Cheese. "It's a Muggle thing, my dad told me."

Harry nodded, making a note to put the revolting thing in the trash can the moment he got back to his dorm. "Cool. Well, er, thanks."

"Yep!" Ginny grinned. "I also got you a coupon."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "A… coupon? For what?"

"To skip a school day! You can go any day without having to take classes," Ginny told him.

Harry opened his mouth to speak as McGonagall came down the hallway. "Miss Weasley, that is not allowed," she said sternly.

"How did you…"

"I have my methods, and you were rather loud," McGonagall replied.

Ginny blushed. "Oh."

"Mr. Potter, were you planning to take it?" McGonagall asked him.

"Of course not," mumbled Harry.

Ginny glared at him.

"Miss Weasley, hand me the coupon."

Ginny tossed the coupon in her hand grudgingly.

McGonagall nodded. "Thank you. Happy Valentine's Day."

Ginny sniffed and left. McGonagall did too.

Harry sighed a sigh of relief and shook the box in front of him. He walked to the Ravenclaw Common Room as Cho came out of the Room. "Hey, Cho," he greeted. "Funny seeing you here."

"Hi, Harry!" she responded, smiling. "Yeah, same. What's up?"

"Er, nothing," he lied. "I got something for you, actually."

Her eyes widened and she blushed the tiniest bit. "That's really sweet of you, Harry. I didn't get anything for you, though, I'm sorry…"

"That's fine," Harry brushed aside, grinning. "It's cool." He held out the box. "Open it."

Cho yanked it open.

"It's… plum cake. Thank you, Harry."

Harry grinned, blushing. "Thanks! I mean, you're welcome."

Cho nervously waited outside the Hufflepuff Common Room.

"Hi," said a girl, named Susan Bones, coming outside. "Do you need something?"

"Yeah, actually, can you get Cedric Diggory outside?" Cho asked her.

"Sure," said Susan. "Give me a second." She disappeared into the Room and came out a few moments later. "He said he's coming. He had to get something."

What did he need to get? Cho's heart started beating faster. "Okay. Thanks." She smiled at the girl.

"Yep. Oh, okay, he's here now."

Cedric came outside as Susan went back inside.

"Hey," he greeted. "You needed me?"

"Well, er, yeah." Cho looked around. "Can we go somewhere more private?"

Cedric's eyes glinted. "Sure." The two of them went into a deserted classroom. "Peeves definitely had this place," he muttered, smirking.

Cho laughed. "I'm sure."

"So, what did you need?"

"Well, today's Valentine's Day," Cho said, blushing. That was such a dumb statement. Of course it was Valentine's Day. "And, er, I got something for you." She scanned Cedric's face for his response.

"That's really kind of you, thank you," he replied. "What'd you get?"

Cho nervously handed him the black box and he flipped it open. "A watch," he realized, his face breaking out into a smile as he saw the watch studded with gemstones. "That is extremely pretty. To make things better, I got something for you."

Her heart started to beat even faster. "Really?"

"Of course." He grinned. "How could I resist the chance for such a pretty girl?"

She gulped. "Oh. Right."

He handed her a gift-wrapped box, and she fumbled with the lace and pulled out a silky, glittery, dark red sleeveless dress. It was beautiful. Drop-dead gorgeous.

"My… My Merlin… this is amazing, Cedric, I love it." She smiled. "This is amazing."

He laughed. "You're welcome."

She slowly walked forward and gave him a hug. He returned it. "Thanks," she murmured.

"No, thank you," he told her. "This was truly the best thing ever." Then he paused. "What's that?"

Cho looked over at the plum cake. "Oh, right," she muttered.

She had a lot of explaining to do.

Dean nervously walked up to Aliya.

"Hi," he mumbled.

"Hey, Dean," she responded, scooting over on the bench. "Sit down. What's up?"

He shrugged. "Nothing. I just wanted to say hi."

"Well, hi. Any fun plans for Valentine's Day?"

"Nope." Except for one.

She laughed. "Well that's cool."

He gulped. "Actually, I got something for you."

She looked amused. "Yeah?"

"It's… here you go." He held out the assorted bathroom supplies (lotions, perfumes, and shampoos) and she took it, amusement all over face.

"'Lotions that will make your skin smoother than pebbles and that'll make your skin glow more than Lumos,'" she read. "'Perfume that'll make you smell like fresh raspberries and have a nice, fruity, forest smell. Shampoos that will make your hair silkier than silk.' That's a lot of metaphors."

Dean grinned sheepishly. "I guess so."

"Well, thanks for this," Aliya said. "I'll make sure to use it next time I… er… take a bath." She still looked extremely amused.

"Right," mumbled Dean, turning red. "I think I'll, er, go."

"Sure. See you."

"Yeah, bye."

That definitely hadn't gone as planned.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Penny," Percy said.

"Same to you," she replied, grinning. "I got you something."

"What?" cried Percy. "No way! I got you something too!"

"Wow," muttered Penelope. "Who would've guessed? We think so alike these days."

"Great minds think alike," Percy said smugly.

Penelope reached inside her bag. "On the count of three, we exchange our gifts."

"Yes."

"Three… two… one… show!"

They each held out a History of Magic textbook.

"What?" asked Penelope. "No way!"

"We got the same thing!" Percy exclaimed. "Who would've guessed?"

"Well, now we can both study together," Penelope pointed out smoothly.

Percy grinned. "Great minds think alike."

Hermione gagged.

"This is disgusting."

"I know," agreed Ron. "Why do people have to be so sappy about Valentine's Day? We're the only normal ones."

"Not all of us," Hermione pointed out. "Harry's going gaga over Cho."

Ron laughed. "He doesn't want us to know."

"Of course we know," Hermione replied. "It's so obvious. Why else would he get a plum cake for her?"

"Plum cake?" Ron gagged. "I hate plum cake."

"You hate cake?" Hermione looked amused. "I thought you loved food like nothing."

Ron grinned. "Except the one."

Hermione smirked. "I didn't know that. Now I know what to get you for your next birthday."

"You wouldn't!"

"Try me."

Ron laughed. "Fine, fine. I believe you. But yeah, this whole Valentine's Day is extremely annoying. Sappy."

"I like the concept," disagreed Hermione. "It makes it easier for someone to approach their crush. It's a day of love. I just don't like what people are turning it into."

Ron raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to approach someone?"

Hermione blushed. "Of course not."

"Really." He said it like a statement.

"Yes, really," Hermione adamantly said, trying - and failing - hard not to blush. "I'm not interested in anyone."

"Okay then." Ron shrugged and turned away, and Hermione wondered if there was more to his question than just curiosity.

"Draco!" cried Pansy, running up to him.

Liana rolled her eyes. What a wannabe.

"Happy Valentine's Day, and I got you something. Silver green robes! Silky and from the top brand!" she exclaimed, holding out the wrapped package to him.

Draco grinned. "Thank you. I got you something too."

Liana raised an eyebrow. Draco was a good liar.

"Really?" Pansy looked like she'd just received the best news of her life. Her face lit up.

"Yeah, er…" Draco reached into his bag and handed Pansy a brown paper bag.

Pansy opened it, and then her face dropped. "It's… a napkin."

"What?" Draco asked, pretending to look shocked. Liana rolled her eyes again. This was so fake. "That can't be. The owl must've messed my order up."

"Oh." Pansy nodded. "Makes sense. Thanks, Draco. What did you actually get me?"

Draco winked. "You'll have to wait and see."

"Are you done yet?" Liana asked irritably. "I'm still here, you know."

Pansy glowered at her. "Whatever. Bye, Draco!"

"See you."

The moment she left, Liana collapsed into laughter and Draco rolled his eyes.

"Not a word, Potter."

"Hi, Ron," Lavender greeted, trying to act normal.

"Hey."

"Valentine's Day is kind of sweet, don't you think?"

Ron shrugged. "I mean, yeah, but it's overrated. People are going nuts."

"Totally." Lavender nodded. "Parvati's going crazy over some Hufflepuff."

Ron smirked.

"So I needed to get away from them. They were going crazy." She shook her head. "The girls in there have lost it."

"Poor you."

"I know, right?" Lavender was surprised at how easy it was to talk to him. He didn't make her feel intimidated or anything. "Anyway, I just thought I'd talk to you. We're in the same year and everything, so like… I realized we don't even know each other all that well."

"Yep. Yeah, we should get to know each other better." Ron grinned. "Ron Weasley."

"I know that."

He laughed. "Lavender Brown, right?"

"Yes."

"Nice to meet you."

"I didn't mean we needed to meet each other so formally," she muttered, but she was smiling. "Who's your date?"

"Nobody," he answered, turning red.

She rolled her eyes. Boys were so stupid. "Who do you want?"

Ron's eyes widened. "I don't want anybody, why?"

"You clearly want someone," she sighed. "Don't be daft."

"But I don't want anyone." He was a rotten liar. "Why do you think that? What gives it away?"

"So 'it' exists."

"No!"

She shrugged. "Keep lying to me. I don't care. Just don't lie to yourself."

He turned red. "No, I'm not lying to myself. I know who I want."

Lavender mentally sighed. So he didn't like her. That was fine with her. As long as they started off easy, maybe he'd grow to like her in the process. Maybe he'd ditch whoever he wanted.

It was probably Hermione, though.

Why else would Hermione get so mad at her? And why was Ron blushing? What other girls did Ron know well? Ron and Hermione definitely felt for each other. It was a cute couple, she would admit. Even though she wanted Ron. Maybe she could play matchmaker. If she helped Ron, maybe he'd like her.

"It's Hermione, isn't it?"

"What?" he spluttered, turning dark red. "No!"

She sighed. "As long as you're not lying to yourself."

"But it's not Hermione."

Great. He was going down this route. "Yeah, I knew you liked Pansy."

"Pansy PARKINSON?" yelped Ron. "Of course not! What the heck, how did you get that idea?"

She shrugged. "If it's not Hermione, the only other one I've seen you get close to is Pansy."

He frowned. "Only when I hex her. Or punch her big fat mouth."

"Doesn't look like it."

"But it's not either of them! Look, I don't want to tell you."

Lavender shrugged. "If you say so. I think I'll go back to my dorm now."

"Yes! That would be a good idea!" Ron cried, his ears turning red.

Lavender rolled his eyes as she got up to leave. "Happy Valentine's Day," she said boldly, and then she was gone.

Moaning Myrtle swooped up to Harry.

"And a very happy Valentine's Day to you, love!"

Harry whirled around. "You! I need to have a talk with you, actually, but first…" He frowned. "Don't you never leave your bathroom?"

She smiled. "Exceptions for my dear one."

He gagged. "There's this rumor going around that you like me and that I like you. Where did this come from?"

"I started it," she admitted. "But forget that, I have a present for you!"

"You started it?" he growled.

"Yes. But I have a present for you! You are free to share my stall whenever you want."

Harry blinked.

Moaning Myrtle smiled charmingly.

He blinked again.

She smiled even wider.

He opened his mouth.

She opened hers to mirror him, still smiling.

And then Harry barfed all over the ground.

"Gross!" yelled Myrtle, swerving back. "HELP! HELP! POTTER HAS THROWN UP ALL OVER THE HALLWAY!"

Professor Flitwick ran up to them. "Oh, dear!" he squeaked. "Up you go, boy."

Myrtle grinned as Flitwick escorted Harry away.

She had a lot more gossip to be spreading.

Severus Snape watched Charity prance around in a glittery, light pink dress. It was her "Valentine's Day Special" dress, and it extended until her ankles, bouncing with her every step. She had a large smile on, and her hair was let loose around her shoulders. Her dress started from her shoulders and it had small pearls decked at where it met her shoulder. She looked kind of pretty in it.

Severus stopped.

What? Huh? Ugh, all this Valentine's Day nonsense was getting to his brain.

He had to monitor his thoughts more closely from now on. He didn't need rubbish spewing his brain. It was just the mood of Valentine's Day.

Bweh.

Lily had quickly gone to her house. It was a weekend, after all, no need to get any work done.

"James?" she asked, entering through the door. "James, wh-"

"Happy Valentine's Day!" cried James, a troop of drummers marching through the house and beating their drums.

"Er… Happy Valentine's Day." Lily smiled at her husband. "Did you get these drummers?"

"Yep. Do you like it?" he asked, walking forward. "Go home, troops."

The drummers saluted and left.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Uh, James? Did you hire those drummers?"

"Yep," he replied, smirking. "They were actually pretty cheap. Anyway, what's your gift?"

"My gift?" Lily asked nonchalantly. "Who told you I got you a gift?"

"Nice try. Give me my gift."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay. Here you go." She reached into her bag and held out her package of men's cologne. The scents he liked.

"Ey, thanks, Lily!" he said, his face brightening up. "I really needed one. I've been running out of my old one, and those scents are terrible. Like, creamy smells. I don't do creamy."

"I know," Lily replied, smiling. "And yeah, no problem. That's why I got it. Now, hurry up. What's mine?"

"Oh, right." James grinned as he trotted over to the kitchen and returned, holding out a large strawberry cake.

"Really?" asked Lily, her eyes widening. It was huge, much bigger than the last one, and it had words carved into it, decorative flowers, oreo bits, crumbled candy, and chopped strawberries. "Oh my gosh, wow. That's delicious."

James grinned. "This time I'll eat some too."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Stay tuned for next chapter, when Dumbledore announces the BIG SURPRISE!

And thank you for 150 reviews! :)