THREE
In Which People Are Conspicuous And Harry And Ron Remain Confused

Care of Magical Creatures was interesting only because both Hermione and Malfoy were not there. Their absences were made even more conspicuous (at least to Harry and Ron) because of certain recent revelations.
"You don't think she actually gave it to him, do you?" Ron asked Harry worriedly, surreptitiously glancing around, as if Hermione might pop out of nowhere at any time.
They were supposed to be studying the crup leashed in front of them and making note of the differences between itself and a normal Jack Russell terrier. The crup, however, felt itself being ignored and was running in circles, barking to get their attention. Harry absently reached out and pet the crup on the head.
"I hope not," Harry replied. "What do you think has gotten into her?"
"Well," Ron appeared deep in thought. "It is, what, two days until Valentine's Day? Maybe she's getting desperate..."'
"Yeah, but Malfoy?" Harry asked.
They didn't speak for the rest of the period, each lost in their own thoughts. The crup barked, but other than moral, fluffy, support, was unable to give any helpful insight into their problem.

Hermione didn't show up again until lunch, which, far from giving Harry and Ron any relief, only made them more consternated. For when she arrived, she sat down, her cheeks flushed, and pulled out another piece of parchment. This time she offered no resistance when Harry pulled it from her grasp, but merely stared over at Slytherin table with misty-eyed happiness."What's it now?" Ron asked. "A poem, perhaps?"
Harry's expression was one of resigned disgust. "No, worse. It's from him. Get this:

"Dearest Hermione,
Your letter has, I must admit, put to rest my fears that my
love for you would, as you so eloquently put it, 'remain
unrequited'. It is with great joy that I pledge my love to you
in this letter, although I hope that soon I may be able to voice
my feelings to you personally, and not through such impartial
medium as parchment and ink."

"'Impartial medium'? What kind of codswallop is that?" Ron asked indignantly. Harry ignored him and continued:

"It is my continuing hope that past differences will not interfere
with what I feel could become a blooming love, if attended to
properly."

"'Blooming love'?" Ron spluttered, choking on his pumpkin juice. "Blooming idiot, more like!"
"Would you stop interrupting? Otherwise we'll never get through this thing! It's like a small novel!" Harry asked.
"Fine, fine, continue with the torture..."
Harry grinned and did so:

"For you, my dearest bloom of perfection, are a dream come
true for me. All my life I have told myself that I would never
stumble upon a love so perfect as this! But now it is as obvious
to me as writing on the wall that this love was meant to be —"

"Stop! Now!" Ron begged, a small moan escaping from where he was bashing his head against the table.
Harry laughed and grabbed Ron's head before it could make contact again.
"Why are you laughing?" Ron asked accusatorially, rubbing his forehead. "How is this funny?"
"It's extremely funny, little bro," Fred said, from next to Ron. "Take a look at the lovebirds." He pointed with his fork at Hermione and Malfoy, who were now staring at each other from across Great Hall. Neither was eating or paying any attention to anyone around them.
Ron groaned again and let his head fall to the table, narrowly missing his soup.
Suddenly, Hermione and Draco both stood up and turned to leave. They rendezvoused at the entrance and left Great Hall hand in hand.
Harry, Fred, and George leapt up grinning. "Oh, we have got to see this!" Harry voiced the thought on each of their minds. Ron looked up to see them leaving.
"Hey! Wait up!" He jumped up and ran after them.