Chapter 31: My Funny Valentine

Life returned to normal once Hermione was released from the hospital but fear was setting in to the castle. Despite the fact that nobody had been attacked since December, the longer they went without an attack, the more tense everyone became. Harry was walking through the library with Hermione when everything boiled over.

"How can you continue to defend that asshole," Harry heard a voice that he recognized as Ernie MacMillan say.

"Because he's so obviously NOT the culprit behind these attacks," Susan's voice responded, fiercely.

"You're blinded," Ernie spat back. "Whether it's just simply a crush or something more, I don't know but you need to wake the fuck up!"

"Have you spent any time with him?" Susan was almost screaming. "Or have you just let your fear lead you to misguided ideas over who could be behind this?"

"I don't need to know him. I wonder if the reason You-Know-Who targeted him as a child was because he was too powerful. He didn't want another Dark Lord to supplant him."

"That's ridiculous," Hannah's voice rang out.

"Is it?" Justin Finch-Fletchley asked. "I've read the stories about You-Know-Who. He rose slowly, gained allies and divided everyone else. You've seen the crowd that flocks to Potter. What's to stop him from becoming the next Dark Lord?"

"There's quite a few things," Harry couldn't take it anymore. He stepped out from behind the bookcase. "One: Voldemort was a bully and I hate bullies. Two: my best friend wouldn't allow me to go down that path. It would be a choice between her and that path. Let me tell you: there's no path I would not take that she could not walk with me. Three: Voldemort murdered my parents. I'd be spitting on their memory if I followed same path as the man who took them from me."

"That was a good speech," Justin stood up. "How many times have you rehearsed it? I'm out of here! Can't attack me if you're not near me."

Justin sped out of the library. Harry felt bad for how angrily he retorted and chased after him.

"Justin! Wait!" Harry sprinted after him.

"Until you guys get your heads out of your collective asses," Susan gathered her books. "Don't talk to me. You don't even know him and you're judging him."

She exited the library with Hermione right on her heels.

"I'm worried, Susan," Hermione said. "The stress of this, the rumors; they're getting to him. He tries to hide it but it hurts him. Makes him feel like he's back in primary school."

"We'll figure out who's behind this," Susan said. "But first we need to find Harry."

It didn't take long. Turning down the next corridor, they found Harry standing next to a petrified Justin, Nearly Headless Nick floating above him. Harry turned to them, his eyes wide.

"I didn't…" Harry tried to start.

"We know," Susan and Hermione said at the same time.

"We have to move," Hermione pulled Harry but he was stock still, staring at Justin.

"Caught you red-handed, eh Potter!" Ernie's pompous voice echoed across the chamber.

"Don't be daft, Ernie," Hannah spat back at him. "Look at his face! He's just as terrified as the rest of us."

Hannah split off from the group and stood next to Susan. Neville also elbowed his way through the crowd to stand with Harry.

"I know Harry. He's my dorm mate and my best mate. He cares for every. Single. One of you," everyone was gobsmacked as the normally shy Neville shouted all the doubters down. "I know we're all scared and we want to find out who is doing this but in times like this, I choose to stand with my friends. I choose to stand by Harry."

Harry noticed Ernie's outburst had drawn a crowd had gathered at the scene.

"So do we," Parvati and Lavender added.

"Us too," Greg said as the Slytherin Four stepped forward. "Potter has been nothing but kind to us and we refuse to let that kindness be unmet."

"Got your new Death Eaters then, eh Potter?" Ernie folded his arms and stared down the group assembled around Harry. "Burn in hell, the lot of you."

"That is enough, Mr. MacMillan," Professor Sprout arrived to break up the crowd. "10 points from Hufflepuff for your language."

"Mr. Potter," Sprout turned to him. "Did you see or hear anything?"

"N-n-n-no," Harry stammered out, he gave Hermione a look that she understood to say he was holding something back. "I didn't see anything. I just chased after Justin because I felt bad about yelling at him."

"Well as always, if you hear anything, let us know," Sprout said. "We'll get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, no more going places alone. Everyone is to have someone with them at all times, no matter the circumstance."

From there, the castle was a war of factions. One faction thought Harry was behind the attacks and was determined to catch him at it. Draco Malfoy was especially ruthless, taunting Harry at every opportunity while also openly wondering what Dumbledore was doing.

"We've had four attacks, we have a viable suspect," Draco drawled openly at breakfast. "Why isn't Dumbledore doing anything? Maybe it is time for a headmaster who will."

Another faction stood with Harry but that was considerably smaller, basically consisting of everyone that stood up for him in the hallway, Luna, Colin, Lee Jordan and Harry's Quidditch team. Then there were those who didn't fall into either category but were worried about not being the next victim. Even Ron was giving Harry an extremely wide berth while Ginny just looked dazed and confused. He didn't lay any suspicions at him but he also didn't make any effort to spend time with him or correct those who did suspect him.

Justin was given the restorative but still avoided Harry as much as he possibly could. Pomfrey told Harry that they had used the last of the first bottle which meant they'd need one of the reserve bottles.

Even with tension in the school, life still moved along and soon February arrived and with it, the match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Harry flew out of the locker room to a chorus of boos with a spattering of cheers thrown in.

"Ready for our rematch," Cedric flew into position and gave Harry a roguish smile.

"Yea. Sure," Harry growled out. Even Quidditch didn't have the same pull it once did. "Let's get this over with."

Hooch released the balls and the game kicked off in earnest.

No way… Harry thought as it was too good to believe. Floating above the Hufflepuff goal was the Snitch. Knowing Cedric was behind him, Harry sped toward the goal.

"There goes Potter," Jordan added his commentary. "Unless he's going to attack the Hufflepuff keeper-

"-Jordan!" McGonagall would have smacked him if it was allowed.

"-then I think he's seen the Snitch."

True enough and minutes into the match, Harry caught the Snitch. Gryffindor won 180-10. The cup was theirs for the taking. Harry didn't think about that, however. Once their victory was announced, the Gryffindor cheers were drowned out by boos and a chant of "Potter sucks."

Harry didn't even celebrate with his teammates. He flew down, dropped the Snitch and entered the locker room. Angrily stripping off his kit and pads, Harry sat down heavily on the bench.

"Don't worry about them," Cedric's voice roused him from his misery. "Everyone is just scared and looking for someone to blame. It's not your fault."

"Then you believe me?" Harry looked into Cedric's eyes.

"Of course I believe you," Cedric said with his typical handsome smile. "Anyone who knows you knows you wouldn't do anything like this. In fact, my money is on you to solve this, just like you did last year."

"How do you…"

"Please," Cedric smiled at him. "There's something hidden in a forbidden corridor and we have a defense professor mysteriously disappear, followed by you and Hermione spending a night in the Wing? It wasn't hard to figure out. Plus, Hagrid is terrible at keeping secrets; half the school knew about the Stone.

"The school will come around," Cedric laid a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "Hold your head up and don't let them break you down. You're much better than that."

Feeling better, Harry greeted his teammates as they entered.

"I believe this is yours," Wood held the Snitch out to him. "You should keep that, you set a school record for the fastest catch."

"Really? I didn't even realize…"

"It'd be hard considering the reception you got," Katie said.

"Fuck em," George said. "We know you're not the Heir and soon, so will everyone else."

A week later, Harry was walking along the second floor with Hermione when a great commotion sounded from the bathroom that Harry recognized was the place where Mrs. Norris was murdered. Harry turned back to investigate when the door was flung into his face. Stumbling backward, Harry shook his head to clear the stars he was seeing. That was when he heard splashing. He gathered all his bravery and opened the door into the bathroom.

"Harry you don't want to go," Hermione started to say as Harry opened the door and stepped into the bathroom.

"In there," she finished to herself.

Inside he heard sorrow-filled wails.

"Can I help you?" Harry asked softly.

"Oh? Have you come to throw something else at me?" the ghost of a small girl floated out. Even for a ghost, she was pale with dark hair, big eyes and a permanent pout to her lips.

"Why would someone throw something at you?" Hermione asked before whispering to Harry. "This is Moaning Myrtle. She haunts this bathroom which is why nobody goes here unless they really have to. She's a little craz-"

"-I'm not crazy!" Myrtle shouted at Hermione. "I was just sitting in my toilet when somebody threw a book at me."

"Book?" Harry was mystified. "What book?"

"That one," she pointed to a stall. Harry walked over to find an old leather-bound book. "They probably were just doing it for fun; they all do. One day Olive Hornby…"

Harry lost track of her story as he read the book.

"Hermione," Harry pulled her over. "Look at the year printed on this book. It's from 50 years ago…"

"T. M. Riddle?" Hermione read on the first page. "Who is that?"

"Tom Riddle?" Myrtle said. "He was a nice boy, very cute but always seemed sort of… odd. He had friends but never seemed to care for them much."

"Maybe this book will offer some clues to the Chamber," Harry thought aloud.

"Maybe," Hermione said. "But we really need to move away from here."

"Sorry to intrude, Myrtle," Harry said softly. "And I am sorry that someone threw this at you."

"Ooh a nice one!" Myrtle was glowing. She floated up and pressed herself into Harry's shoulder which suddenly felt immersed in ice water. "It's been a while since a boy was nice to me."

"Another time, Myrtle," Hermione said with some annoyance as she pushed Harry out of the bathroom.

The next morning, Harry met Luna in the common room.

"Good Morning, Luna," Harry called out, bringing a smile to the blonde's face. "How are you this morning?"

"Free of wrackspurts," Luna said. "Driving away the Nargles."

Harry brought a package, wrapped in blue paper with a silver bow.

"Happy Birthday, Luna," Luna looked up in amazement.

"The plimpies told you?" She asked, making Harry smile.

"I asked your father and he told me," Harry handed her the package.

Luna tore open the paper and saw a collection of books from Dr. Seuss. Harry figured that since she loved all manner of mythical creatures, she would love his books. Luna hugged the books to her, thanking Harry profusely as she did.

The next morning, he saw her in the common room reading one of the books. Smiling, Harry headed down to breakfast with Hermione, as was routine. Harry stepped into the Great Hall only to freeze at what he saw: Pink. The entire hall was pink. At the end of it, in garish pink robes stood Gilderoy Lockhart.

"I figured with everything we needed a little distraction," Lockhart said with a smile. "What better distraction than love."

Lockhart looked at the females with expectant looks that made Harry wretch a little. Yet he looked at Fred and George who were positively brimming with excitement. Walking with Hermione, he sat down next to them.

"What have you done?" Harry asked with equal parts fear and excitement.

"Nothing," Fred said while trying too look innocent.

"Yet," George finished while nodding toward the table.

At that exact moment, two owls descended on Lockhart with pink envelopes. Lockhart gleefully opened the first one. That started a chain reaction as both the envelopes opened and started to scream at him. At this point, Harry was familiar with Howlers. Everyone who knew Mrs. Weasley's penchant for sending them. It was rumored she used them to ask Mr. Weasley to pick something up on his way home. Somehow the twins had color changed some.

"EVERYONE LOOK AT THE GREAT GILDEROY FRAUDHART. WON'T YOU NEVER BE MY VALENTINE? WHY DON'T YOU GO WASH YOUR HAIR AGAIN?"

"UGH AND THAT FASHION SENSE? "

"NOT AS BAD AS HIS TEETH. I DIDN'T THINK THEY NEEDED TO BE THAT BRIGHT.

"WELL SOMETHING WITH HIM OUGHT TO BE BRIGHT. IDIOT DOESN'T HAVE THE ENOUGH BRAINS TO LIGHT HIS WAND."

How Fred and George made a pair of Howlers to heckle in sequence, Harry never understood but that didn't stop his enjoyment of the prank. Lockhart pulled his wand to silence the Howlers, leading to them exploding in black sludge. Lockhart stood back up and his hair was black and greasy with black robes.

"Did we really need another Snape in the castle?" Harry asked.

"Two Snapes are better than one Lockhart," George admitted.

It would have been nice to say the rest of the day passed without incident but Harry was not that lucky. Lockhart had enlisted an army of cupids who marched through the halls delivering audible Valentines. Harry was headed toward Geneva when one cupid stopped him. Confirming he was the desired recipient started to recite.

Some might think he's the Heir
But I just love his hair
His eyes are so green
It makes me want scream
All I really want to choose
Is the boy who defeated You Know Who

Crimson faced, Harry thanked the creature and kept walking with Neville and Hermione giving him a hard time for the poem though Harry noticed Ginny Weasley in the corner looking a crestfallen at the reaction.

I really have to deal with that, sooner or later, Harry thought.

Later that night, as Harry was about to head up to bed Hermione stopped him. She was holding a card herself. On pink paper with white lettering, Harry read.

Courage

Bravery

Love

Each word was aligned differently with "Courage" on the left, "Bravery" below that in the center and "Love" at the bottom, aligned right.

Opening the card, he read her message: Thank you for showing what's most important in life.

"Happy Valentines Day, Harry," Hermione said softly as Harry hugged her.

"Happy Valentines Day, Hermione," Harry said. "I didn't make you a card so I hope this will do."

Leaning in, he kissed her on the cheek.

"Good night, Harry," Hermione blushed as she exited up the stairs.

"Good night, Hermione," Harry took the card and put it with his parent's letters.

Rolling over, Harry went to sleep with a smile for the first time in weeks.