Chapter Twenty Three

It was Sunday afternoon, a few days after Val's and Oliver's infamous Quidditch match. Oliver had taken the defeat quite well, and teased her that she was almost as good a Seeker as Harry Potter. At this comment both Val and Harry had blushed, and everybody had a good laugh at their expense.

After lunch Val pulled Hermione and Ginny to the side for a minute.

Would you like to come have tea with me this afternoon? We haven't really gotten to talk for a few weeks now. I'd like to catch up with you. You can talk about your boyfriends all you want to, she teased, laughing at their red cheeks.

We'd love to! What time? Hermione answered for both of them.

Well, I was thinking around four. Would that be okay?

Yes, we'll see you then! Ginny replied as Ron and Harry caught up with them.

What were you talking about? Ron asked, putting an arm around Hermione's shoulders and pulling her close to his side. Harry did the same with Ginny, and they both waited expectantly for an answer.

Girl stuff, I'm afraid. No boys allowed. See you later, Val said before turning to leave the Great Hall. She needed to get back to her room if she wanted to be ready for tea. She had a few letters to write and some research to do on one of the potions ingredients Severus wanted to use for the next stage in their experiment.

She stopped to talk to Minerva for a moment on the way out and waved to Oliver as she passed him. Severus was nowhere in sight. He must have snuck out early. He hates dining in the Great Hall' Val thought as she arrived at her rooms. She said the password and went through the door, shedding her shoes and robe on her way to her desk on the other side of the room.

Sitting at the desk, Val pulled out her favorite quill, a bottle of violet ink, and some parchment, and prepared to write a letter to her Aunt Molly. She was halfway done when a tapping at the window interrupted her thoughts.

A beautiful grey owl waited at the window, carrying a letter addressed to her and a beautiful red rose tipped with gold. Delighted with the gift, Val charmed the flower so that it wouldn't die and placed it in the glass vase sitting on her night stand. She knew who it was from. The spiky handwriting on the envelope was easily identifiable as Severus'. The note inside read:
Val,
I thought that you should take today to rest, so I have decided to do the research on the Dementor's blood myself. I believe that this may be the key to making our potion work. I'll fill you in later on my findings. I hope that you like the rose that accompanies this letter. Professor Sprout informed me this morning that her special rose bush was blooming and thought that you might like to have one. It is very Gryffindor in coloring, after all.

Severus

Val gave the owl one of the tea biscuits she had just gotten out and ruffled it feathers gently before sending it back to the owlery. There was no need to reply; she wanted to thank Severus in person for the lovely flower, but it would have to wait until later.

The girls arrived at four, laughing and chatting as Val poured the tea and offered them some of the biscuits. It wasn't long before the topic of conversation shifted from schoolwork and classes to boys.

I'm just glad Ron finally got up the nerve to ask me out, Hermione declared decisively, tossing her hair back over her shoulders.

I'm glad Harry came to his senses too, Ginny added.

You girls are lucky to have such great boyfriends, Val said wistfully as she stared at the bottom of the now empty cup.

Listen Val, I know you didn't have very good luck in the past, but you shouldn't let that stop you. How about Oliver? He's really cute and sweet, and I think he likes you, Hermione commented, setting her own cup down on the table at her side.

Before Val could reply, Ginny gave her own opinion.

Professor Wood is cute, but I think that Professor Snape likes you more. He's always watching you when he thinks you won't notice, and he panicked when he thought you were hurt a few days ago. He acts like he's in love.

Val's mouth dropped open. Severus loved her? Was it possible? She had to admit, she cared for Oliver as a friend, but with Severus it seemed like there was something more there. Her cheeks flamed as she realized that she had a gigantic crush on one of her best friends!

The girls were watching her shocked and speechless reaction with amusement, waiting patiently for her to recover enough to say something. Finally she said the only thing she could think of.

What am I going to do? I think I like him back! she wailed, gazing imploringly at her cousin and her friend. Now it was their turn to look confused.

Which one? Hermione asked. Oliver or Professor Snape?

Val buried her face in her hands and mumbled something that they didn't understand.

Ginny asked.

Val yelled in frustration. What am I going to do? she asked again, this time more calmly. It's going to be so hard to act normal around him now.

You need to get him to admit his feelings. Otherwise you'll never get anywhere, Hermione advised her.

But how?

Make him jealous, Ginny suggested. Go out somewhere with Professor Wood, make him think he's got competition.

Val relaxed back into her chair and thought for a moment. You know, that might work, she said thoughtfully. Oliver did ask me to accompany him to Hogsmeade next weekend. I told him I'd think about it, but maybe I'll tell him yes.

I think you should. That should get some sort of reaction out of Snape, Ginny said.

Hermione glanced down at her watch and nudged Ginny. We have to go, she told Val apolegetically. We promised the guys we'd help them with one of their assignments before dinner.

Thanks girls, for everything, Val said as she hugged them both.

Thanks for the tea, Val. See you later, Ginny called back right before they turned the corner in the hallway.

Val leaned against her door frame for a moment after they left. Tonight,' she thought, I have to tell Oliver I'll go to Hogsmeade with him next weekend. And I have to do it in front of Severus if possible.'