Year 3: Chapter 39

The weeks passed without much trouble although Joseph did find himself centre of a prank a week after the Quidditch game. To his embarrassment, he was at breakfast when he suddenly turned into a baby elephant.

He was stuck there while everyone just looked at him, Amanda grinned happily and high-fived James while everyone else just laughed. He didn't know how he was going to live it down, although Ginny seemed to find it sweet.

February showed itself and Valentine's Day, which for the first time became a major event for the third years. A Hogsmeade visit had been set up for third years up even though it was a Wednesday; they were allowed to leave the castle from three but had to be back by nine at the latest.

The five girls were sat up in their dorm room on the Wednesday at three o'clock sitting together. Ginny had a date with Joseph while Branwen with Peter and Alice with Frank. They were busy getting ready while Lily and Amanda sat on the bed.

"Mand, can you curl my hair for me in the back? I can't get it right."

She moved from her bed dropping her book as she went and taking her wand wrapped it around Ginny's hair counting to three she pulled her wand out and saw the curls remain in place.

"What do you think?"

All the girls turned as Alice stepped out of the bathroom, she was dressed comfortably, that was sure; a plain black skirt that came down to her knees with her school shoes, then she wore a red blouse on top and her hair was tied up into a high ponytail.

"Alice, you look adorable."

"You really think so Lil?"

"Yes, Frank's not going to know what hit him!"

She picked up her bag from the bed and looked around.

"Well, I'll head down; I'll tell Pete and Joe you won't be too long, and I'll see you all later."

Then she was down the stairs and in the common room. It was rather empty, as many students had already left for Hogsmeade. On the sofa she noticed the boys sat around. Sirius and Remus were on the floor, just in front, playing chess. Peter was with James on the sofa and they were talking in low whispers and Frank and Joseph were sitting together looking into the fire.

They all turned to look at her at the same time and she heard the low whistle from Sirius. Frank stood up and took her hand.

"Wow, you look gorgeous Al."

"Thank you."

"Come on then, let's head down."

"Bye!"

She waved at the others as they left through the portrait hole, hand in hand. The walk down to the small town was comfortable, not much was said; the silence wasn't awkward, but it was right for the mood.

Alice was shivering slightly as the chill of the winter air hit her; she hadn't put on a thick cloak she hadn't really thought about it. Frank noticed her shivering and wrapped his arm around her gently before taking off his own cloak and wrapping it around her.

She didn't ask where they were going she didn't feel the need. She couldn't help but hope that they would go back to his mother's café; she had fallen in love with it on the last visit there.

The smile that spread up her face as the café came into sight didn't go amiss and Frank moving slightly ahead opened the door and bowed to her. Stepping inside she shook her head to rid it of the snow that had begun to fall.

The café was decorated especially for the day it had candles floating around much like the Hogwarts Great Hall, the flames however were a dazzling pink colour, showing the special occasion.

A young witch of about twenty stepped towards them.

"Welcome to Café Carina, how can I help you?"

Frank smiled at the woman and Alice could see he was trying not to laugh

"Enid, it's me... I just want the table I booked."

The witch looked up and her blue eyes sparkled as her face took on a red blush.

"Oh sorry Frank, its so busy here that I didn't really look. Carina said you'd be in there's a table for you back here."

The woman led them to the small table and Frank quickly pulled Alice's chair out for her and once she was settled took his own chair. They chatted softly to each other completely at ease and sharing their meal.

Before long they had finished and Mrs. Longbottom had come over to say hello and given them some hot chocolate, with which they just sat together.

"Frank?"

"Yeah?"

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

Alice smiled and handed over a wrapped parcel. She saw the twinkle in Frank's eye as he unwrapped it. With baited breath she waited and then saw the glint in his eye as his smile exploded.

"Wow, arm guards! How did you know I needed another pair?"

"Oh well you see…"

She looked up at him under her eyelashes

"Don't get mad, but I didn't know what to get you so I asked Mand if you needed anything for Quidditch and she said you'd need a new pair of arm guards, so I bought you a pair."

"So she was planning on putting that charm on them to chase James around the field before practice yesterday!"

"Yep, but lets not talk about Mand, do you like the arm guards?"

Frank looked at them again, they were a dark navy shade and lined with some sort of fur possibly that of a muggle sheep. They were made of dragon skin though and were very tough and on the outside in a gold font were the initials FL. They looked very expensive.

"I love them; I'll keep these ones safe. Thank you Alice."

He leaned over the table and kissed her gently. Then pulling back he grinned as he reached inside his pocket and pulled out a box. He placed it gently on the table and pushed it over to Alice.

Carefully Alice took the box and opened it gasping slightly. Inside sat a gold chain and on it a heart shaped locket. She smiled slightly and opened the clasp, inside were two pictures; on the right was a picture of her smiling and turning to look at something on her left.

On the other side was a picture of Frank who was grinning and occasionally winked.

"It's beautiful, thank you."

"Not as beautiful as you though."

The blush that spread up her face was enormous, she'd never been complemented like that before, she knew she wasn't bad looking but she wasn't anything special, next to Ginny she considered her self one of those ugly step-sisters in that muggle fairy tale Lily had once told her about.

"Alice, are you okay?"

She snapped out of her thoughts and nodded at Frank. She glanced at the clock on the wall and was surprised that it was eight thirty already.

"Frank, we'd better go; it's getting late."

So with a goodbye to everyone in the café they slowly made their way up to the castle and their friends.

Okay so this is the first of a few of the Valentine posts and there's going to be a few dates we've got Joe and Ginny, Branwen and Pete, James and a certain person and the rest of the group. So I hope you'll have enjoyed this one and that you'll like the next.

Jessie You're back that's so good. I'm okay, just found out I have hayfever and hence a lot of sneezing at the moment and runny eyes. I've had my hair cut all short and now I'm going to get low lights, some nice red in my hair. How are things with you?

Roman is doing great the tests came back and it shows that there is no brain damage at all so that's fantastic, he's putting on weight the last time I spoke to Nic he was 3lb 7ozs but he's weighed every Tuesday so he's probably more now.

Firewalker No Joe didn't see the elephant coming, mind then again who would? Yes there is a hint of a lot of romances just because Lily and James end up together doesn't mean that they always have to be together, in fact Alice and Frank have some fun times ahead before they settle and marry.

Well I'm guessing you're on your cruise now so I hope that the weather is good for you, and I want to hear all about it when you get back. I've only got 10 months before mine; so not long really, I should start saving to pay for it.

Well I'll try to update soon but I'm redecorating my bedroom so might be a while.

Kris