"So, what d'you think?" Seamus asked. He held a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a single red rose, magically enchanted to last at least four weeks. "D'you think Padma will like it?"
Ron sighed. "Yes, I think she will," he said for the umpteenth time. Seamus and Dean had come back from Hogsmeade loaded with candy and butterbeer. The butterbeer was for themselves, the candy for their girlfriends. In two days would be Valentine's day. Ron hadn't been allowed to visit Hogsmeade this time, but it didn't bother him that much. After all, he didn't have someone to give a present to.
Suddenly, he saw a movement from the corner of his eyes. Colin walked into the Common Room and their gazes met for a split second.
Ron felt himself turn bright red and stood up quickly. "Sorry, Seamus. I'll go down to the Quidditch pitch. I promised Harry to practice with him," he excused himself and went outside. It was cold, and of course he'd forgotten his cloak. But he wouldn't go back inside. Actually, he had no idea where Harry was, or what he was doing. And he didn't care.
A new problem had occurred: Did or did he not have someone to give a present to?
+~*#
Harry broke the kiss and waited for Ginny to look up. They were in the changing rooms of the Quidditch team, heated by a Heating Charm. But they weren't cold anyway.
"Are you sure you want this?" he asked seriously.
Ginny nodded. "I love you, Harry, and I don't want to wait any longer." She took in a deep breath. "I'm ready."
He kissed her deeply and passionately, slowly unbuttoning he blouse.
+~*#
Ron crossed the Quidditch pitch and went towards the changing rooms. Maybe he could sit there and think about his situation. He didn't want to go back into the castle, and it was damn cold outside. Maybe it was warmer inside, or he could use a Heating Charm to warm the room and then stay there till dinner.
When he approached the door, he suddenly heard it. A soft moaning, sounding just like…
'Oh God!' He stopped dead. 'This can't be true!' And he even recognized the voices. Harry and his sister. His little sister.
For a second he thought about going in there and tell Harry to better watch his back, because should he ever harm Ginny, he would make sure Harry had a good reminder not to do it again. But then he decided against it. First of all, it would be embarrassing for all of them. Second, he wanted Ginny (and Harry) to be happy, and if they were happy together, so be it. And he didn't want to see them together. He wasn't sure he was ready to witness something that would easily remind him of Lucius and Pansy. He didn't want to risk freaking out completely.
Turning on his heel, he stormed out onto the Quidditch pitch and looked around, breathing the cold fresh air. It calmed him down a bit.
Seeing Hagrid's hut, he started to walk. He hadn't seen Hagrid for some time now. After the end of the war, there were still people needed to calm down the giants. Hagrid, being half giant, had accepted to spend some of his time with the giants. Professor Grubbly-Plank took over while Hagrid was away.
But maybe he was back. It couldn't hurt to go and check.
+~*#
By dinner, Ron was utterly frozen. Hagrid hadn't been there, and he had gone into the Great Hall, only to find it empty except for a group of sixth year Slytherins (with whom he didn't want to spend his time). So he had gone to the library. Where else could he go without running into Colin?
He was glad when finally the dinner bell rang. He went to the Great Hall quickly and took his usual seat. Harry and Ginny came in shortly after him, both wearing the unmistakable goofy grin of two people badly in love. They were just too happy to hide it. Holding hands, they sat down beside each other. But with Valentine's Day only forty-eight hours away, it wasn't an unusual sight in the Great Hall.
Looking over at the Head Table, he was relieved that Snape hadn't gone into 'Valentine mood' as well. He was scowling at everything and everyone, even Dumbledore, who tried in vain to start a conversation.
Suddenly, Snape's face lit up a bit. Ron turned his head to see what Snape was looking at, and he wasn't surprised when he saw Hermione enter the Great Hall and walk over to her seat next to Ginny.
"So, Ron," said Dean. "Did you find Harry at the Quidditch pitch? I didn't see you two practice," he said, mouth full of roast beef.
Harry's head jerked up in shock, and Ginny turned crimson red. Ron had to smile.
"Nah, I remembered I had to work on an essay for Professor McGonagall, so I went to the library instead," he said, still grinning. He turned to Harry, enjoying to see his friend squirm under his gaze. "Sorry, Harry."
"N-no problem," Harry managed to say. He exchanged a glance with Ginny, and they let go of each others hands, staring at their plates.
Ron caught Hermione's gaze and she raised her eyebrows. He nodded towards Harry and the towards Ginny, and he could see that Hermione understood what he meant. She tried to hide her grin, but failed miserably.
When she started to giggle, she took an apple, but only managed to choke on it. She spat out the piece and stood up. "Sorry. I have to… I'll go to the library," she said, still giggling.
"I'll go with you," Ron offered.
Together they left the Great Hall.
+~*#
"Did you see his face?" Hermione asked for the umpteenth time. They were sitting in the library in their usual corner. "It's so sweet, the two of them together." She giggled. "And Ginny was more red than ever!"
Ron laughed. "Yeah. I guess they are embarrassed that I know. I mean, I'm Harry's best friend, and Ginny is my sister. I surely wouldn't want them to know if I had sex. But even if I hadn't known, I think I would have found out eventually."
Hermione nodded. "Sometimes you can't hide it," she said thoughtfully. "In a few month I won't be able to see my own feet anymore."
"Did you tell your parents already?" Ron asked. "I mean, it's as you said: Sometimes you can't hide it that you had sex. It will be pretty difficult to hide a baby."
Hermione sighed. "I know," she said seriously. "Severus and I plan to tell them after I took my N.E.W.T.s. We want to marry in April, and I would like my parents to be there, naturally. So I'll have to think of a way to tell them without causing my dad to die from heart attack. My mom will be easier to convince. When I tell her that she will have a grandchild to spoil, she will be content enough to overlook the little fact that I'm pregnant at the age of eighteen." Hermione leaned back. "In both world, muggle and wizarding, I am of age. They can't really do anything, but I would hate to lose them."
"I bet they'll understand," Ron assured her. "And once they get to know Snape, they will hate him as much as all the students do…" he said, laughing.
"Oh, Ron, you are so funny," Hermione said sarcastically.
Instead of answering, Ron only laughed harder.
+~*#
"Do you think he knows?" Ginny asked in a quiet voice. She and Harry were sitting on the sofa in the Common Room.
"Of course he does," Harry said. "Dean said he went to the Quidditch pitch to practice with me. And we weren't exactly quiet. I didn't even think of a Silencing Charm. But who would have thought that anyone would come out there. It was cold and windy and just a day to stay inside!"
"Well, don't worry. He didn't skin you alive, so you should be pretty safe tonight in your dorm," Ginny laughed. She still felt a little uneasy. Her older brother knew she had sex. It was strange. She couldn't imagine any of her brothers to have sex – and didn't want to. It was like imagining that her parents had sex. She knew they had to have sex (after all, they were seven children) but she didn't want to picture it. 'God, Ginny,' she said to herself, 'stop to think about it! NOW!' She shuddered.
"What is it? Are you cold?" Harry asked and took her in his arms.
She shook her head. "I just imagined how it would be to witness someone you know to have sex. Wouldn't that be strange?"
Now it was Harry's turn to shudder. "That would be gross! Actually, it is gross. When I was about eight years old, my uncle sent me to bed without any supper, so I was pretty hungry. Late at night, I went into the kitchen to get something to eat and I heard a strange noise from upstairs. So, curious as I am, I went to check. And wished I hadn't. You can't imagine what it looked like. A man like my uncle lying on top of my aunt. It was probably the most disgusting thing I ever saw."
"What was the most disgusting thing you ever saw?" Seamus asked, coming into the Common Room with the others and hearing only the last sentence. He sat down in a squashy armchair and looked at Harry expectantly.
"I once saw my aunt and uncle do it," Harry replied, disgust evident in his voice.
"Ah, I know one of those stories myself," Dean said, sitting down as well. "My older sister was home for Christmas two years ago. When I went into the basement to fetch some more beer for my dad, she and her boyfriend were… preoccupied," he said, grinning. "I was so shocked that I accidentally dropped the two bottles I was holding, and of course they exploded in a loud crash." Everyone was laughing by now. "My sister couldn't look at me for the rest of the holidays."
"Well, that part may be funny, but you have no idea how it is to be caught by… your girlfriend's parents," Seamus said, an unamused smile on his face. "When I was home for the summer, I visited Melissa. She's a muggle. Well, we were just… you know, when suddenly her father came in. You have no idea how embarrassing it was! He was actually quite cool with it, but the whole summer he had to make insinuations. Like, whenever he said 'Are you coming?' he made it sound… dirty."
They laughed even harder this time.
+~*#
Valentine's Day came and Ron still had no idea how to react to Colin.
Naturally, breakfast was torture for him. He saw all the happy couples or couples-to-be and felt a little left out. Even Hermione had someone, although she couldn't show it.
Even Hermione had someone, although she couldn't show it. But she did receive twenty-five deep red roses, delivered by an enormous eagle owl. Of course Parvati and Lavender couldn't take their eyes off the flowers and Dean and Sean's little candy boxes suddenly looked cheap and shabby.
He smiled a little. Maybe the day wouldn't be too awful.
He was wrong.
Draco Malfoy passed the Gryffindor Table and saw Hermione's roses.
"Oh, Granger, you are so pathetic. Sent yourself some flowers, eh?" he sneered and grinned. Ron saw Hermione's eyes narrow. Since she was pregnant, she was even more moody than before. He knew better than to argue with Hermione nowadays. But Malfoy didn't.
Ron avoided to look at Malfoy (because he really looked like his father) and concentrated on Hermione. 'Don't fall for it,' he thought. 'Please, 'Mione, stay calm. He's not worth the trouble.'
Obviously, Hermione didn't think so. She rose from her seat, wand at the ready, and took a step forwards.
"Well, Draco, if I were you I surely wouldn't talk about sending yourself Valentine's Greetings," she said calmly. Ron knew that inside she was boiling with fury. He could see it in her eyes. She took another step towards Malfoy and now stood right in front of him. "Since your little bitch ran off with your father you don't have anyone who would actually send you something voluntarily…"
Ron looked up when Malfoy didn't answer.
Malfoy looked quite pale and not as arrogant as usual. "What? My father… what? He's not out of Azkaban, is he?"
Hermione must've realized Malfoy's odd reaction, too, because she didn't tease him further. She frowned, mirroring his own expression.
"Don't you know? Your father escaped shortly before Christmas," Hermione said in her schoolroom voice.
Malfoy looked shocked. Ron didn't understand that. And it seemed as if he also looked a bit frightened, something Ron understood even less. What could he have to fear from his father?
Without another word, Draco left the Great Hall, leaving Hermione and Ron to stare at each other, confused.
+~*#
Hermione decided that she did not care what Draco Malfoy's problem was. She had enough other things to think about and then again, why should she care? Malfoy hadn't said one nice word to her in the last six and a half years. He hadn't even ignored her, but bullied her every time he got the chance. He was mean and arrogant and just an idiot.
But-
"Hermione?" Severus' voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up from where she sat on his sofa, reading a book (or trying to read). Her face lit up.
She closed the book and stood up. She smiled broadly. "Thank you for the flowers, they are gorgeous. Lavender couldn't stop asking who sent them."
She hugged Severus closely and kissed him.
After a while, Severus broke the kiss. "Are you busy?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Why?"
"Surprise!"
She frowned. Sverus' sounded way to cheery to be himself. Maybe Dumbledore had put something into his tea.
"What surprise?" she asked hesitantly.
Severus seemed to consider his options. He could either not say a thing, and she'd get angry, or he could spoil his surprise and have Hermione follow without arguing. "Well, don't get angry, but I wrote your parents." He saw Hermione's mouth open, but put a finger on her lips. "No, don't. I can explain, and you will like it. I hope." He cleared his throat upon Hermione's impatient look. "However, I wrote your parents, inviting them to my house. For today."
Hermione did not look pleased.
"Before you say anything: Your parents would love to see you. They regret that you couldn't come to them at Christmas, and I thought that maybe we could tell them today. If we are to be married in April, we have to tell them sooner or later."
He saw the defeat in Hermione's eyes. She nodded her agreement. Suddenly, her head jerked up. "Your house?" she asked. "You have a house? What it's like? Does anybody live there? Do you go there in the summer holidays?"
"One question at a time, Hermione," Severus laughed. He took her hand. "Let's see if we can answer the first few questions. We'll go there now."
"Now?" Hermione let go of his hand and went into the bathroom. "I can't go now. I have to dress up. If I'm playing Daddy's little girl, he'll probably get over it soon enough to be at our wedding without shouting and throwing things at you and disowning me."
"You think it will be that bad?" Severus asked, a little worried. He was about to meet his parents-in-law and from what Hermione had told him they were nice people. But now it didn't seem so. He sat down on the edge of the bathtub and pulled Hermione close to him, hugging her around the mid-section. It soothed him and calmed his nerves to be near her. But it also frightened him how fast he got accustomed to having her near him all the time and how he felt when she wasn't around.
Hermione sighed and put her arms around his head. She kissed his hair and whispered, "I love you."
He smiled into her robe and closed his eyes for a second. "I love you, too," he murmured. He laughed. "Happy Valentine's Day, love."
Hermione had to laugh, too. It really was strange. Two people who never thought much of such an idiotic holiday as the Valentine's Day were now totally into the concept.
"My parents will calm down fast, I suppose. I guess my dad will be a little shocked at your age. You're only a few years younger than him. My mom will be more concerned than angry. But I guess we can convince them that we are serious about this. And it will be okay. I promise."
Severus drew in a breath. "Well, then let's go."
+~*#
The house was large. The biggest house she'd ever seen.
"Where are we?" she asked. As soon as they'd been out of the gates, Severus had hugged her and Apparated here. But she had no idea where it was. It could be anywhere.
"We aren't that far from Hogwarts. Actually, we could have taken brooms, but…" Severus didn't finish the sentence. They both knew that brooms and Hermione didn't match well. She hated flying and had quit as soon as she could. It was just too high and unstable. She preferred her feet on solid ground.
Hermione brought her attention back to Severus' house. It reminded her of old manors often found in England. Maybe it really was one of those.
It had enormous wing doors made of dark wood. Severus produced a large brass key and opened the door. It creaked lightly, and revealed an elegant but a little old-fashioned entrance hall. Twin stairs were leading up to the first floor, one to her right, one to her left. The marble floor reflected the light of the many torches that illuminated the hall.
"I guess I best show you around a bit," Severus said, taking her arm. "Your parents won't come until four o'clock. We've got enough time to have a little tour and lunch in the kitchen."
"Sounds okay to me," Hermione agreed, eager to see the house. She was especially curious of Severus' old room.
+~*#
"Where are they?" Hermione asked for the umpteenth time. She was nervous. Her parents were a little late and that was unusual. Normally, her parents were there sharp on the minute they said they would be.
"Hermione, love. Calm down," Severus said. He was sitting on the sofa, watching Hermione pace from the fireplace to the coffee table and back. "They are all right. Maybe they just got out of the fire one place too early or too late. They'll be here in no time."
Hermione sighed. "You're probably right. They aren't used to Floo Powder." She sounded okay, but it couldn't fool Severus. He knew Hermione. She was biting her lower lip, a sign of her nervousness.
He held out his hands. "Come here." She took his hands and sat down beside him, snuggling close. He put one arm around her shoulders and kissed her softly.
The sound of someone clearing their throat brought them back to reality.
The Grangers had finally arrived.
+~*#
"Colin, you all right?" Annabelle asked. She was a year younger than him and they'd shared the love for photography.
"Hmm," he said, preoccupied with his thoughts. He was – of course – thinking about Ron. He'd tried to leave him alone, but yesterday he'd found Ron staring at him while he was reading a magazine on photography.
He wasn't sure what that meant. Maybe Ron was just freaked out because they'd kissed and couldn't deal with it. Or maybe he was angry at him because he had kissed him. Or maybe…
Staring at his hands, he sat in the Common Room, considering what to do. He knew what he would give Ron as a Valentine's gift. He had a photo of Ron, Harry and Hermione right after their third year. They were standing at Hogsmeade Station, smiling into the camera. He'd framed it and wrapped it in black and white paper. It wasn't too romantic (there were no hearts or sweet messages), but Colin thought Ron might like it. He just wasn't sure if he'd accept the gift.
Suddenly, he had an idea. Searching the Common Room for a bright red head, he finally found Ginny Weasley. He walked over to where she sat by the fire, and sat down beside her.
"Hey, Ginny," he said casually.
"Hi, Colin. If you are looking for Harry, he and Ron are down to the kitchens," she said. Colin smiled. That was just what he wanted to know. Ron wasn't near Gryffindor Tower.
"Well, wasn't important, anyways. I guess I'll go and enjoy the free afternoon." He stood up and walked over to the dormitories.
Picking up the package from his room, he went into the seventh year dormitory. He could easily guess what bed Ron's was. It wasn't that hard to find out. Next to his bed was a poster of the Chudley Cannons, his favourite Quidditch team. One of his Weasley sweaters lay on the bed, the orange "R" plainly visible on the front.
Colin placed the package on Ron's pillow and went downstairs again, playing a game of wizard's chess with Annabelle.
+~*#
"Mum!" Hermione stood up hastily and nearly fell over. Severus managed to catch her but her movement sent them both flying back onto the sofa.
"Hermione, dear!" her mother exclaimed. She rushed over to her daughter, helped her to her feet and hugged her for a few minutes until Hermione broke lose to breathe again. Severus watched them with amusement until Hermione's father, Frank Granger, approached him, hand outstretched.
"I believe you are Mr. Snape," he said, trying to look intimidating, but failing miserably. He obviously had no idea who Severus was or what he wanted.
"Yes," Severus agreed and shook his hand. "I'm Severus Snape. I'm the Potions Master at Hogwarts."
Alice Granger's head shot up. "Potions Master? Hermione doesn't have problems in school, does she?"
Mr. Granger stood next to his wife and put a hand on her arm. "Alice, do you really think Hermione could ever have problems at school?" he asked, smiling a little. He was obviously proud of his daughter. Suddenly, his face became serious again. "What I would like to know is why my daughter and one of her teachers were kissing before we came."
A/N: The title…yes, this Valentine's Day surely isn't the happiest for any of them. And that's what I wanted to say with it. Ehm, yes. Go read the next chapter!