A short chapter, but it's still a chapter. Valentines' Day is coming up next, and then we're going to skip a little more.
If I started posting more regularly on Tumblr, who would follow? I would post things like sneak peeks, outfits, and when my next update would be.
February 7, 1991
Classes resumed, and Hermione threw herself into her work. She tore through essays daily, spending most of her time tucked away in a dark corner of the library. Daphne and Tracey joined her occasionally, but for the most part, Hermione worked alone.
Of course, she still met with her study group each week, but Hermione made sure that the few hours she spent away from her books didn't stop her from getting perfect scores in class. Her potions club was still growing strong. Weasley had quit after the first week, which turned out to be a good thing as Draco Malfoy showed up the next Sunday. Potter was content to work by himself and ignore the blonde Slytherin, so Sundays in the potions lab passed peacefully. There was one incident when Neville Longbottom had exploded three cauldrons and sent two people to the hospital wing, but his confidence was slowly growing each week.
"Good morning," Hermione called to her dormmates as she got out of bed.
"Morning," Pansy nodded back, the brunette awake early for once.
"What are you doing awake?" Hermione yawned as the pair made their way into the bathroom.
"My owl decided to come early and wake me up," Pansy replied. "Magnolia brought the Valentine's cards I ordered last week."
Hermione frowned. "Valentines'?"
"Do muggles not have Valentines' Day?" Pansy asked.
Hermione studied the other girl. She seemed genuinely curious, so Hermione responded with a nod. "We do. I just didn't expect witches and wizards to celebrate it. You don't celebrate Christmas or Halloween so..." she trailed off.
"It's more modern," Pansy admitted. "We just give cards or small gifts to friends and lovers. We don't really go all out."
"Interesting," Hermione murmured, sticking her toothbrush back into its holder. "Should I get people cards?"
"If you want," Pansy shrugged. She dropped her towel on the counter and disappeared into the main dorm room.
Hermione stared thoughtfully after Pansy. While she could be stuck up at times, the brunette could be nice and funny. Hermione especially liked her snarky tone that appeared when Gryffindors were around. At this point, she wouldn't have any reason to lie to Hermione about Valentines' Day.
Hermione hurried back to her bed and pulled out the letter to her parents she had just finished writing last night.
PS: Can you please buy me some heart shaped chocolate, and a few nicer ones too? Apparently they celebrate Valentines' Day here.
Back at home, the Grangers would put up a heart or two, but in general the family steered clear of the glitter pink and red decorations found around town. Would wizarding decorations be different?
~ Slytherin ~
"Blaise," Hermione began at breakfast, sitting across from the Italian, "do wizards celebrate Valentines' Day?"
Blaise looked up from his eggs and toast, surprised. "Some do. Why do you ask?"
"Pansy mentioned something about cards," Hermione said, taking a bite of her potatoes.
Blaise nodded knowingly. "Most people will probably get small cards or trinkets for their friends, at our age. When you get older, though, it's considered a day of love and you follow the courting rules."
"Courting rules?" Hermione repeated.
"Dating, courting," Blaise said dismissively. "You'll see a bunch of Slytherins do it. Depending on the seriousness of the relationship, you give different types of flowers. Those in a new relationship will give carnations, and there will be a lot of tulips and roses to declare your love. The number will also matter. Most people will arrange one of the Twelve Dates for Valentines' Day,"
"Twelve Dates?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Courting ritual," Blaise waved her question off. "But to answer your question, you can give your close friends a little something if you'd like. The nicer it is, the closer your relationship is."
Hermione considered his words. "Are you going to do that?"
"Yes," Blaise nodded. "Mother is sending me a few things."
"Okay, thanks Blaise," Hermione said absently, getting up from the table.
Blaise had more or less confirmed what Pansy had said. Hermione walked to the owlry and sent her letter, hoping that her parents would respond soon. She should probably make a few cards instead. Maybe she would ask Jade about what the different flowers and cards mean.
From what she'd picked up, Daphne and Tracey would get nice cards, as well as Jade, who's been practically mentoring her since she started Hogwarts. Blaise would also get a nice card, as one of her close friends. It was definitely not because she found him cute and enjoyed dancing with him at her party. Hermione had also become close with Padma and Susan, and she figured that the two girls would also receive a card from her. Hermione didn't know about Susan, but she did know that Padma and her sister Parvati celebrated Samhain over Halloween. Would they follow the traditional Valentines' Day as well, or would they more interested in the candy and glitter that Dumbledore apparently allowed every year? Rumors had been flying about what Dumbledore had planned for this Valentines' Day, but if it was a serious day of love as Blaise had said, where did pop songs and fast-paced dances fit into the equation?
