Disclaimer: Bah.
A/N: Hi again! I realize that the last four chapters were sort of … un-Valentine-ic, but don't worry. It gets better from here on in. Enjoy:)
SNAPSHOTS – FIFTH YEAR
"Good morning! Happy Valentine's Day, Ron! Happy Valentine's Day, Neville! Happy Valentine's Day, Seamus, Dean!"
"Bloody hell, Harry, 's six in the morning."
"G' back to sleep!"
"But isn't today just wonderful? The sky is blue, the grass is green –"
"It's freaking early, the sky's still black, and it's winter, there isn't any grass."
"Fine, ruin my fun. But I'll have you know that I'm happy today, for once," Harry announced airily, getting dressed in the dark. When he'd finished, and it did take a while, he pranced over to the door and walked straight into it, knocking his head on the thick wood. Snickers filled the room, but he thought nothing of it as he opened the door and slipped out into the stairwell leading down to the Gryffindor common room.
When he got down there, he sat down on the couch and stared into the fire. He could swear he saw Cho's face in it, but of course he was seeing things. It was early in the morning on the weekend, for Merlin's sake. Harry rubbed his eyes and her face disappeared, but he still felt anxious about the upcoming day.
He began to pace around the circular room, his footsteps quick on the thick scarlet carpet. Where would they go? How fast would they walk? Would they be with a group of her friends, or alone? Harry wasn't sure what would be worse. With her friends, he supposed, because at least on their own there would be minimal giggling. He couldn't stand giggling.
How long had he been pacing now? Seconds? Hours? Was it time to go already, and him not even ready yet? "Oh, god," he moaned quietly to himself. He had begun the day cheerful as any pixie in a room full of glass, but now he was a nervous wreck. No, of course it wasn't time to go yet, no one else was up. Harry abruptly turned around and collapsed face-up on the couch, staring hopelessly at the high ceiling. "I'm going to completely botch it, and that'll be the end of Cho."
"You aren't going to botch anything, Harry," said a weary voice from the direction of the stairs. Harry lifted his head just so that he could see Hermione, dressed in pajamas and a huge bathrobe, yawning and coming slowly over to the couch. He flopped back down dejectedly, and her face appeared above him.
"What time is it?"
"Six thirty."
"Oh, sorry – did I wake you up?"
"Yes," she said frankly, but smiled while she did. "You nervous about your date with Cho today?"
"Are you kidding? I'm dead terrified," he answered, a shaky grin coming onto his face. Hermione laughed quietly and came around to the front of the couch, sitting down by Harry's head. "What if she tries to ... you know ... kiss me again?"
"Do you want her to?"
Harry turned a furious red. "Well – I mean, I dunno – last time wasn't – but –"
His stammering made Hermione laugh again. "Don't worry. Just go with whatever happens, and I'm sure you'll be fine. She does like you a lot, after all."
"You think so?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Of course. I know so. She's always looking at you, she kissed you for heaven's sake, relax! It will be fun."
"Okay, if you say so. What ... what are you doing today?"
"Oh, I'll probably either stay here and finish my homework or go to Hogsmeade with Ron and Ginny or something."
"You're not serious."
"What?"
"Finish your homework?"
Hermione laughed again. "I have an Ancient Runes essay due in a week, I want to get it done. Don't look at me like that," she said, sticking her tongue out at the black-haired boy who was staring incredulously up at her. "I'll have you know that you need to get good marks in everything if you still want to be an Auror, and you should finish all your work ahead of time too."
"But you don't have Quidditch."
"It doesn't matter, Harry! You still should."
"It matters when you have Angelina constantly on your back to get you to come to practices, and avoiding detentions with Umbridge, and trying to figure out how girls work ... it's not funny!" he exclaimed when Hermione bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. "Girls are complicated, I don't like them very much."
"You seem to like Cho quite a bit."
"Shutup, you."
They both laughed at that, and then sat in comfortable silence for a long while, both looking into the fire and each seeing different things. When students began coming down and filling up the common room, Hermione got to her feet and stretched. "Have fun today," she winked at Harry, and started back up to her dormitory to get dressed. Harry shook his head after her and sighed as he got up too, deciding to go down to breakfast. He was going to need nourishment to keep him from fainting with nerves later.
Just when he'd reached the portrait hole, he heard Hermione call him from the bottom of the stairs, and looked over his shoulder.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Harry!"
He smiled.