When classes began again, it was a welcome change. As nice as it was to have nothing to do, it could get pretty boring when Harry had nothing to do. He had also kind of missed his students, as strange as it was for him to admit.
He threw himself back into teaching, and his students enjoyed the creative lessons he came up with. He and Draco fell back into the pattern of visiting each other after classes to brag, although, strangely, they were noticing that more and more often students would hang behind, or come in soon after final lessons had ended whilst they were talking.
By the time February had rolled around, Harry and Draco had become practically insufferable to the rest of the staff. They would argue in circles, both refusing to back down about the same point they'd been arguing since early September. Generally the rest of the staff avoided them, but the students seemed to hang around them increasingly often, and so did the ghosts. If they happened to be walking in the halls, good naturedly taking pokes at each other's teaching methods, there was always bound to be a group of students lurking nearby, trying to listen in, or Nearly-Headless Nick trailing along 'casually' behind. And Harry could swear whenever either of them would laugh at mealtimes, several heads would whip in the direction of the staff table.
Of course, Harry dismissed this as him putting too much stock in silly coincidences. Besides, he was much more excited with his Valentine's Day lesson plans. He planned to talk about Sirens with the Second and Third Years, and objects cast with a dark infatuation spell with the Sixth and Seventh Years. He was thrilled with the fact that the students would be intrigued by the topics, and it would go with their lesson plans! Plus, he could talk about so many different aspects, especially with the upper years.
He could teach them how to narrow down their dark magic detection spells to indicate the intended effects of the cursed object. They could talk about what the effects would be if someone came into contact with the object, and the difference if they were magical or Muggle, and how to counteract the effects. He could go over how to render the object harmless without falling prey to it magic. There were so many opportunities, and his inner Hermione was thriving. Needless to say, he was excited for Valentine's Day.
~*~
Draco also had plans for Valentine's Day, although his were much more halfhearted.
He greeted his Sixth Year class.
"I have decided to participate somewhat in the festivities today, perhaps against my better judgement. I am trusting that this group is mature enough to handle it — do not make me regret that trust." He said in a rather Snape-like dour voice.
The class perked up, excited. A Slytherin raised his hand.
"Are we doing love potions, sir?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes, we will be experimenting with a very low level love potion. We will be brewing them so that the effects last for a much shorter time than usual, and trying them out."
Excited whispers erupted around the room. He truly hoped this class could handle it; they were a small one, even with all of the houses combined. Draco only accepted the highest O.W.L. marks for Advanced Potionmaking.
"Can anyone tell me one possible way we might do that?"
A Hufflepuff boy raised his hand hesitantly.
"Jeremy?"
"Would using less valerian root help?"
"Excellent! Ten points to Hufflepuff."
He saw the boy give a small pleased smile. Good. He was much too hesitant for all the brains he had in that Hufflepuff head of his.
"That would certainly help, but with less valerian root, the pH would raise, making the potion more unbalanced and volatile, and possibly harmful to ingest, especially with the addition of the lacewing flies. Could anyone give a solution to that problem?"
Draco smiled internally, very pleased with his students. He had confidence in them; they were a very smart group.
~*~
Harry's Sixth Year class came in very excited. He had been incredibly pleased with the lecture on Sirens he had gone through with his Second Years, and he was eager to get in depth with the infatuation spell.
"Alright! We're going to talk about some seasonally appropriate stuff today!"
The students who had been in potions compared Professor Malfoy's reluctance and Professor Potter's exuberance toward the Valentine's Day lesson plans. A few of them exchanged glances and smirks, connecting the dots for themselves (regardless of the fact that there wasn't actually meant to be a picture in them).
"We're going to be talking about more cursed objects, but specifically those with dark infatuation spells on them!"
A Gryffindor girl raised her hand.
"Sir? We did love potions in Professor Malfoy's class, are love potions and spells related?"
Harry smiled widely.
"Did you? Wonderful! Yes they can be. The spells we're talking about today are dark magic, and there are some potions that cause infatuation, or other similar states that involve the same dark magic in the brewing process."
"Do they cause extreme excitement?" another Gryffindor mumbled in the back. His friend smacked him.
Harry was confused.
"No? They usually produce a zombie-like state of single-minded fixation, as do most potions and spells that force large parts of the mind and personality into submission. Why?"
A couple of the students giggled at Harry's clear obliviousness.
When nobody answered, Harry shrugged and continued on with his lesson.
"Well, I taught you a general spell to detect if there is dark magic acting on an object, but now I am going to teach you another spell that can indicate what the intended purpose of the magic is..."
~*~
At dinner that night, the Great Hall was decorated sickeningly. Pink and red covered nearly every surface, and random showers of pink confetti hearts would spontaneously rain down on couples. As soon as Draco sat down, he voiced his disdain.
"This is the tackiest holiday of the year, and it's time it should be put out of its misery."
Harry laughed.
"Oh, but it makes for at least one interesting class. Didn't you do love potions today?"
"Only with my Sixth Years. I definitely don't trust those hormonal Third and Fourth Years with them."
"Well maybe you shouldn't have trusted the Sixth Years; some came to my class after and they were acting strangely. I think it was infectious too, because by the end of the lesson nearly all of the students were giggling and giving me strange looks. They were making cryptic remarks the whole lesson, and I can't help but feel like I was missing something major!"
Draco laughed and laid a hand on Harry's arm.
The conversation in the room increased twofold.
"With all those teenage hormones, I don't doubt that you were. I wouldn't worry about it though."
"Merlin! You don't think someone snuck some out of your class and dosed me?"
"I can assure you no such thing would ever happen under my watch."
Harry eyed his goblet warily.
Draco shook his head, trying to hide a small smile.
"Harry, you are utterly ridiculous, would you like me to make sure it's safe for you?"
He reached over to pick up Harry's goblet and took a sip of the pumpkin juice. He smiled and handed it to Harry.
"See? Perfectly harmless. No telltale nutmeg or lavender scent, or any unfamiliar taste. And I'm just fine."
Harry took a drink and set it down on the table, smiling as well.
"I suppose it's okay."
A shower of pink confetti exploded over them, and the noise in the hall increased exponentially.
Draco brushed the little paper hearts off of his hair and robes.
"Tacky holiday," he muttered, but he couldn't quite keep the smile from his face.
