A/N: Standard disclaimer; see chapter 1 for details.

There were no candy adulterations this year, somewhat to Hermione's disappointment, as she had made copious notes on various evaluating spells. Two of the boys felt that the holiday made for great entertainment, as they quickly memorized the words of a poem which had been delivered to Harry with a modified Howler charm.

"What do you say, Neville," Draco enquired in a serious tone, "are his eyes really 'as green as a fresh pickled toad'?"

"I'm not certain, Drake," he responded amidst snorts, "I was never served that at home. But the description of his hair is spot on."

"It almost makes me want to eat one of the Weasley twins' prank concoctions," Harry grumbled.

"Have they perfected the hair dye charm?" Hermione asked.

"Just about," he replied. "The bleedover into the skin now is only a faint tint of the hair colour instead of matching its intensity."

"Has anyone checked if the curtains match the drapes?" queried Draco.

"Boys!" Hermione's huff of outrage was drowned out by the others' guffaws. "That's rude."

"Yeah," Neville grinned as he put an arm around her shoulders, "and that's why it's funny to guys our age. I'm told we'll grow out of it eventually."

"Speak for yourself, mate," Draco said. "Personally, I think Sirius will howl at the moon when we tell him."

"No," Harry butted in, "that would be Remus." He focussed his gaze on the girl in their group. "It was the Ravenclaws who were selling the Valentine delivery method. Are you sure that you didn't help them with the charm work?"

She raised her hand. "I absolutely promise I did not. That was the doing of some older years. Not that I couldn't have helped, but I was busy researching love potion antidotes."

"As if we would eat anything without testing," Draco assured her. "So, Harry, have you figured out who your 'Secret Red-haired Lover' is?"

"Well, Seamus finally stopped laughing long enough to vow that he didn't do it, and Neville swears that neither Sue nor Megan sent it–"

"Megan likes a third year, and Susan would write a better rhyme," Hermione reminded him. "Honestly, 'I'm glad he is mine, he is really divine'?"

"Morag insists that she is auburn and declares she would never refer to herself as 'red-haired'."

"Olivia has been trying to get Theo's attention since before Christmas break. Not that she'll get it, as he only has eyes for Daphne."

Neville cleared his throat. "I think we all know who is the most likely suspect."

"Yeah," Draco cracked, "if you're not having trouble with one Weasley, you have it with another."

"We may think it is she, but proof?" Hermione halted a moment in the corridor then hurried to catch up with the boys as they headed for the Great Hall. "Did any of her brothers hear it and recognize the voice?"

"Percy was sitting with Penny at your table, and the twins had received several themselves, all speaking at once."

"And once food has caught Ron's attention, he sees nothing else."

"I've done my best to keep my distance this year," Harry grouched, "and she still claims me as hers? Faust!"

Indeed, his scowl in the direction of a certain Gryffindor first year held tinges of brimstone. Her chin quivered under the force of his glare until she jumped up and ran out the door. Her brothers, as they had for the entire year, barely noticed.

"Did you get any sleep last night, Mari?" Cho asked the girl joining her at the Ravenclaw table.

She placed only a couple pieces of toast on her plate before scanning her face with a mirror charm. "Drat! Is my glamour not working?"

"Yes, it's just that I know you so well. So," she leaned closer, "have you finished jerking around the little Weasley? You saw what happened once Harry and his friends showed up last night."

"Yes, and I would have enjoyed it more if not for what came afterwards." Marietta took a sip of tea. "My lack of rest is due to calming her down while chiding her for presumption."

Do you hate me now, Harry? Is that why you looked at me so?

I thought I told you that our relationship must be kept secret for now.

But that was two months ago. It's so hard to see other girls make up to you and not hex them into oblivion.

You must try for patience. I distinctly remember saying that I would decide when we would go public, and even then I only guaranteed the end of the school year. And what do you do? Shout it to everyone in the Great Hall!

I didn't sign it. Maybe no one will suss it out.

There are only so many redheads attending Hogwarts. It is a simple matter of deductive reasoning.

I'm sorry. I'll try to work on being more patient.

And controlling your temper.

"I had to go over the situation with her upside down and sideways before she let me sign off. I swear, if I get a spot for not getting enough rest, that chit is going to pay!"

"She's only a child!"

"An extremely annoying one. I'm almost sorry that I kept my temper over that Valentine and didn't cast a depulso strong enough to propel her to the middle of the Forbidden Forest." She rubbed her forehead for a moment before halting, transfixed. "The forest…"

The second half of February was calm in contrast to the excitement provided by the mid-month festivities. Most of the student body forgot Harry's initial embarrassment, and, as he had paid her no attention beforehand, thought nothing of the fact that he ignored the youngest Weasley whenever they were in the same room; they were in different years, after all.

The tutoring program kicked into higher gear as the students could almost see the end of the term. As predicted, some of its participants donned the mantle of mentor as well as mentee; among those were Greg, who joined Neville and Hannah in leading the Herbology review, and Dean, who proved to be Anthony's equal in Charms. Dobby was ecstatic with the extra work providing snacks for the groups; he certainly enjoyed letting the castle elves know that he and he alone had the honour to serve the highest ranking students.

While the Headmaster continued to express his disapproval from the dais at the sessions in the Great Hall, the students noticed that the man himself was under observation at those times. Due to the combined efforts of his heads of house and the Hogwart medi-witch, he spent several days during the Easter break at St. Mungo's; had Neville visited a different wing than the one which housed his parents, he might have even encountered him.

At long last, Scotland displayed its vernal beauty, and Harry prepared for the final Quidditch match of the year, Ravenclaw v. Gryffindor. Draco joined Hermione in the stands decorated in blue, while guests Sirius Black and Remus Lupin sat with Neville amidst the contingent of Lions.

Harry easily beat Cho to the snitch, and since the Gryffindor chasers had made an excellent showing, there was over a two hundred point difference between the scores. Once showered, the team was fêted in the common room, Harry leaving as soon as was polite to join the other nobles at the Hogsmeade house for a celebration with the last two Marauders.

"I never thought I'd see his equal, Harry," Remus stated, "but I believe that you are even more impressive on a broom than James."

"Yeah," Sirius pouted, "but if he'd used the Firebolt, he would've flown circles around that other seeker."

"He did fly circles around her, Mr. Black," Hermione pointed out, "and I'm sure he will do so even more impressively next year when he uses that broom."

"You're welcome to visit the Manor for a practice session," Draco offered before scowling. "Though I don't know why I'm encouraging you to improve even more." Slytherin had come in right behind Gryffindor for the Quidditch Cup, but second place was still second place.

"Maybe you can talk your dad into upgrading yours this summer," Neville suggested.

"Just like boys to compare broomsticks," Hermione groused. "That wasn't an off-colour remark!" she almost screeched at the three rolling on the floor with the supposed adults.