Chapter 23:

The next week was Valentine's Day. "All seventh years must be ready by five thirty if they wish to go into Hogsmeade," Dumbledore announced at breakfast. "And I've also been asked to tell you that Filch and Mrs. Norris will be doing extra rounds to catch any out of bed lovers. Just a warning."

By six o'clock that evening, the castle was silent as everyone was celebrating the holiday in their own ways. In the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, Harmony and Remus were eating a lovely dinner for two prepared by the house elves. They had exchanged presents earlier—a teddy bear with two baby bears for Harmony and a new pillow for Remus since Harmony reclaimed hers.

Now, the two were just content to be with the other one—alone and in quiet. They knew that within the next few weeks that this would become a very rare moment. With the approach of the twins' birth, they were starting to get more and more nervous in their abilities of being parents. They had assured each other and numerous friends and families had raved about how natural they would be. Only Mrs. Anderson and Minerva had been brutally honest and said that for the twins they would have no clue what they were doing. However, both had left open-ended invitations for the new parents to come to them for help—as had Mrs. Lupin. In fact, Remus' mother had even gone as far as to offer to move into Hogwarts with them and take care of their daughters for them. Remus gently told her thanks, but no thanks. The two wanted the bond that taking care of their baby girls would create.

"This time next year, we'll have two squirming little girls on our hands," Harmony said, taking a sip of pumpkin juice. "But we'll probably be smiling so hard, our faces will stick."

"Of course," Remus replied, leaning over and kissing her. "Now, back to the food before it gets cold?"

"We're wizards—we carry wands…let the food get cold! We can reheat anytime," Harmony said, snuggling deeper into Remus' embrace.

Kiki apparated to the small shop that Severus had directed her to go. She held his letter in her hand, unsure what he had planned this Valentine's Day. She walked towards the front of the shop where Severus was waiting. She smiled; he wasn't wearing his usual black robes. This time, he just wore a white button down shirt with black slacks under a black coat. Well, at least it was some attempt away from the billowing robes.

"Took you long enough," he grumbled, grabbing her hand.

"Hmm, Severus, I'm only a minute late. Deal." He proceeded to lead her away from the village to a waiting horse and carriage. "Ohh," she cooed, walking up to the horse and petting it. She turned and allowed him to help her inside before he got in himself. He knocked the carriage wall and they started to move. "Well, at least I'm not blind folded this time," Kiki stated.

"Yet."

"What?"

"Nothing," Severus replied, while Kiki's mouth twisted into an annoyed expression. He smirked at that expression and took in her appearance. She too had forsaken her robes and wore a simple red, long sleeved dress with a puffy skirt—most likely to hide the bump where their unborn daughter was growing. He smiled as the carriage came to an abrupt halt, sending Kiki flying into his arms.

"You so had that planned!" she accused, arms still wrapped around his neck.

He smiled and leaned in close. "And what if I did?" he asked. She merely smirked and kissed him.

After the kiss broke, Severus helped Kiki out of the carriage. Before them stood a white Victorian house—Snape Manor. Kiki started up the green painted steps to reach the porch and sat down on one of the green and silver swings, pushing the swing so she could rock back and forth. Severus leaned against on of the columns, watching her. "You going to join me?" she asked, stretching out a hand.

Severus grabbed the hand and hoisted her up in his arms. "No, you're going to join me inside for a romantic dinner prepared by my house elves," he said, burying his face into her black and red hair. She smiled and beckoned him to move forward.

After a delicious dinner, Severus stood up and walked behind Kiki's chair. "I hope that you're planning on giving me a massage—my back is killing me from the pregnancy," she said. He didn't reply, but tied a red blindfold over her eyes. "Is this going to become a tradition? Every Valentine's Day, you blindfold me…cause if it is, I might have to hurt you." Nevertheless, she allowed Severus to help her to her feet and guide her through the house.

They stopped and Kiki heard a door open. Severus led her further into the room and stepped behind her. He removed the blindfold and she blinked a couple of times. Standing before her was the nursery—painted a lovely lavender color, blue and pink butterflies decorating the wall. A changing station and rocking chair stood nearby, as did a play pen. The crib stood in the center of the room and she walked over to it, looking down to see the miniature Slytherin blanket already tucked in there, as well as the little Gryffindor lion sitting by the pillow. She leaned up to start the mobile—all of little lambs.

"You like?" he asked, coming up to her and wrapping his arms around her midsection—making sure his hands covered her abdomen. She leaned into him and he kissed her neck.

"I love it," she replied, fighting tears—damn hormones. "It's just like my vision."

"Hmm. You never told me exactly what you saw," he whispered.

"Like you haven't pulled it out already?"

"You know me so well."

"I know."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Harry looked carefully at the Marauder's Map to be sure that Filch wasn't coming near them. He knew they wouldn't have to worry about Snape since Harmony had assured him that the Potions master had something special planned for Kiki—off of Hogwarts grounds. But Filch was another story. Rumors of what the caretaker did to young lovers on Valentine's Day hung over him and Ginny as they carefully made their way to the Room of Requirement.

Harry closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief. Ginny stood staring at the lovely table set up for their Valentine's Day dinner.Hermione hadn't wanted to go into town, but Ron finally got her to go--or else it would've screwed up his plans! Luna and Neville were talking a romantic walk near the lake. Harry smiled as he wondered if Ron had fainted yet…but then his smile grew even larger when Ginny launched herself into his arms.

"Oh my Merlin, Harry, this is so lovely! And romantic!" she said, arms wrapped around Harry's neck. "I love it…and I love you."

"I love you, too. Now, let's start eating before the meal gets cold."

"I don't think any food in this castle gets cold," Ginny commented. She tucked in her dark red skirt as she took a seat. She giggled a little when Harry pushed her seat in for her before taking his own. "Well, aren't we the gentleman."

"Hey, I learned from the best—Remus Lupin and Sirius Black," Harry smiled back, thinking of his father's two best friends. "I wonder how their nights are going?"

"Well, if I know Remus and Harmony, it's going very romantically. I don't think my mother would approve of how I think Sirius and Bianca's night is going, though," she replied. She twirled the pasta around her fork before taking a try. "Mmm. Romantic spaghetti dinner…did I tell you I love you?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you can't tell me again."

"Okay, I love you."

"I love you, too."

Harry and Ginny continued to eat in silence as some music started to play through the room. The two looked up confused but then smiled as they remembered that the room would provide everything they needed. Ginny tried memorizing the tune so that she could hum it again—perhaps Bianca knew the name of the song. She tucked a piece of her red hair behind her ear and continued to eat. She looked up at Harry, who was still staring at her and started to blush. "So, uh, how do you think my brother is doing?"

"I was just thinking that—I figured if he hasn't passed out yet, he's ahead of himself."

"I think that has to be my brother's worse case scenario! Fainting while trying to propose and then have Hermione yelling at him for making such a fool of the two of them."

"I think Ron's worst case scenario is Hermione yelling at Ron for proposing," Harry said, taking a sip of his pumpkin juice.

"But Hermione's been on edge because she thought Ron wasn't going to give her something special. This will thrill her beyond doubt."

"Yeah, but Ron doesn't know that."

"I know." Ginny finished up her spaghetti as a weird look crossed over her face. "Harry?" Her boyfriend looked up. "What if Hermione faints?" Harry just looked at her before laughing, Ginny joining in shortly after.

Once all the laughter subsided, Ginny and Harry exchanged presents. She walked up to him nervously and held out a square object wrapped in red tissue paper. Harry took it and smiled at her before opening it. Once the paper fell away, a small golden picture frame sat on Harry's lap revealing a picture of his parents as Hogwarts students cuddling during a Christmas celebration. "I got it off of Kiki," Ginny explained. "I thought you would like it."

Harry looked over to Ginny and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. "I don't like it," he whispered. "I love it."

"Good," she replied before smiling. "So, where's my present?"

"Who said I got you a present?"

"Harry. James. Potter. If you are joking, don't ever do that again. If you're not, they are NEVER GOING TO FIND THE BODY! Do you understand me?"

"Relax, I have a present for you," Harry said, squeezing Ginny's hand. When he pulled back, a small jewelry box sat in her hand. "I had Sirius take it to Diagon Alley so they could do it properly," he explained as Ginny opened the box.

She gasped, throwing a hand to cover her mouth. She lifted out a golden necklace with a ring on it—a golden band with a diamond ring flanked by two emeralds. She looked up at him. "My mother's engagement ring. I want you to wear it," he whispered. Ginny nodded and allowed him to clasp the necklace around her neck.

"Thank you," she whispered, kissing Harry. "But didn't you have this around your neck?" Ginny was slightly confused—she was there when Sirius had given Harry the rings and knew he had worn it everyday since.

"Didn't you hear me? I wanted you to wear it. I think my mum would be proud to have you wearing it," Harry said. He stood up and held out his hand. "So, Ginerva Molly Weasley, may I have this dance?"

Ginny took his hand and allowed him to hoist her up. "Certainly, Harry James Potter."

Sirius had practically pushed Molly and Arthur out the door that night. He wanted to be alone with Bianca. He loved his cousin but she was really an overbearing hen—but he would never, ever, ever EVER admit that Molly. He rubbed his head as thoughts of the Spatula of Death crossed his mind. But he shook them out and focused on him and Bianca. This was their night—their anniversary. Well, okay, so technically they didn't become a couple till the day after Valentine's Day, but Sirius liked to think of it as their one year anniversary.

Bianca stumbled out of the fireplace and right into Sirius' arms. She was still in her suit from the pressroom and just closed her eyes, allowing herself to lean into her boyfriend's embrace. "Mmm, you smell good," she said, burying her face into his shirt. "You feel good, too."

"Uh, thanks? I think," Sirius replied. "Unless I'm being compared to your bed. Then…"

"Oh, come off it…my bed isn't this comfortable. Nor does it smell as good," she said, stepping back from him. She looked him over from head to foot. He was wearing a nice suit and his hair was brushed into a small ponytail. "Nor does it look as good. Damn."

"Okay, that I can definitely take as a compliment," Sirius replied, laughing. "Now, we are going to have a wonderful dinner here where we first got together. But I want you to go upstairs, where you'll find your Valentine's Day presents waiting."

"Presents? No fair, I only got you one," Bianca pouted, but kissed him anyway. She then ran up the stairs like a giddy school girl. A few minutes later, he heard her scream.

After Sirius had set up all the different dishes and poured two glasses of red wine, Bianca came tumbling down the stairs. Sirius looked up and smiled; Tonks had done a good job of picking out a dress for Bianca. She was wearing a crimson silk dress with beaded straps. Beads also adorned her low neckline and she had twisted her hair up into a French bun. On her hand was the Black family bracelet, slightly altered so the Slytherin snake wasn't on it anymore, but a meeting of the Gryffindor lion and the Ravenclaw eagle. In her hand was a wrapped present. "Sirius Black, this is too much!" she exclaimed looking over the dinner.

"Nothing is too much," he whispered, hugging her.

"Well, this is," she fought back. She sighed. "Sirius, you are impossible."

"So they keep telling me. Come on, let's go sit down." With that, he tugged her hand and brought her closer to the table. With one motion, he pulled out her chair and sat her down in it. "Bon appetite," he whispered again, causing Bianca to shiver. When he pulled away his hand, she left his Valentine's day present in his hand.

He walked over and placed the box down next to his plate. Sliding in, he began to eat his dinner. "You know, this is a lot for Valentine's day," Bianca said again.

"Yeah, well, this is a double celebration."

"Oh?"

"Well, it's our anniversary."

"No, dear, that's tomorrow."

"When did we kiss?"

"I would say around four o'clock in the morning on February fifteenth."

"Alright. When was our first date?"

"Are you counting last year's Valentine's celebration—I use the term loosely—as our first date?"

"What you don't?"

"We were friends who didn't have Valentine's getting completely drunk!" Bianca exclaimed. She leaned over and squeezed Sirius' hand. "However, I think the idea of you thinking that was our first date is completely romantic and I would love for today to be our anniversary. Besides, you remembered it—definitely a step up from my last boyfriend."

After dinner, Sirius finally opened Bianca's gift—before he had to hear another plea from her. He opened the box to reveal a beautiful pendant--it was circular, black with a white double diamond design on it held by a silver chain. "I found it in Diagon Alley—it's for protection," she explained. "I've gotten the feeling that the war is reaching its climax and I feel better knowing you have something to protect you."

Sirius stared at her and noted the concern in her eyes. 'That's it,' he thought. 'When all this chaos is over, I'm proposing. She can't live without me and I can't live without her.' He didn't voice this sentiment—why ruin a perfectly good proposal?—but leaned over and kissed her. "I gave you the family bracelet for the same reason. It's supposed to protect the wearer from harm…and apparently it's the reason why my grandfather didn't end up killed by a mob of angry villagers. Don't ask," he explained, kissing her hand with the bracelet on it. She smiled and threw her arms around him.

In the Three Broomsticks, Ron barely registered what Hermione was saying. He merely nodded and made some sort of noise at regular intervals. He was nervously fidgeting with the ring in his pocket and mentally prepping himself for the question. Ron had written two letters the previous week. If he was going to propse, he was going to do it properly. He had written to ask the blessings of both Mr. Granger (whom had met the boy officially as Hermione's boyfriend the summer before) and his father. Both had readily given it. Harry had told Ron he would do the same thing when he proposed to Ginny while his sister thought it was the most romantic thing ever. Now, he had the speech all prepared but knew that he was going to flub it in some way.

Hermione, however, just kept talking because Ron wasn't really talking and she was incredibly nervous. He had arrived to take her out and complimented on her dress, handing her a beautiful bouquet of roses—the only Valentine's gift she got from him. She was pleased to see he was wearing one of the nice dress robes she gave him. She had been angry but then another idea struck her about Ron and his lack of Valentine enthusiasm. What if he decided to dump her? Ginny tried to calm her friend down, saying that it was an irrational fear she had over Christmas that Harry had proven wrong to her and that Ron was not going to dump Hermione. But the Head Girl still wasn't certain.

After dinner, Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and took her into the woods near the Shrieking Shack before Dumbledore and McGonagall would round them all back up to go back to the school. It had snowed a few days earlier and Hermione felt the woods held a very romantic feel. Hopefully, Ron wouldn't decide that this was the perfect place for him to say "Thanks, but I think we're better off as friends."

Ron led Hermione to a nearby rock and had her sit down. He took a deep breath and decided to make the plunge. "Hermione," he began, still fingering the ring he got her. "I've been thinking a lot lately about our relationship and this war."

Well, Hermione's heart was now taking residence in her stomach. Nonetheless, she nodded so that Ron could continue. "And with all this uncertainity, I've realized there's only one certain thing." Okay, she wondered, what is he getting at? "And that's our love." Great—wait, what? "Hermione, I know we're young and we have our whole lives ahead of us…" okay, he was now confusing her "…but I already know one thing. I want to spend it with you."

Hermione's eyes nearly bugged out of her head when Ron dropped on one knee and held up a ring. It was a beautiful silver ring with a small, tasteful diamond set on top, ruby colored streams criss-crossing on the band. "Will you spend yours with me?" he asked. Hermione barely registered the words in time to nod. Ron slipped the ring onto her finger. "Are you okay?" he asked, as Hermione hadn't moved. She smiled wide, tears glistening in her eyes, and pounced on her boy—fiancé. 'I like that word,' she decided.

Back in town, Minerva and Albus heard familiar laughter from the woods. The two looked at each other and shared a knowing smile.