Hey folks, here's chapter five. Look forward to scandal and drama and all that good stuff.

Enjoy!

-squibbles

Chapter Five: What Valentine?

It was the second week of February, thus the corridors were buzzing with excited and anxious voices. A very, very important holiday was approaching: Saint Valentine's Day.

Terry, Michael, and Lisa were strolling to Transfiguration on Thursday, as usual. They always had a strong presence when they ambled through the hallways together. The trio radiated confidence, and through the years of having crossed paths with their peers thousands of times, they had grown used to being glanced at admiringly.

"Have you two heartthrobs found someone special to spend Valentine's Day with?" Lisa inquired, lightly shoving Terry, who in turn bumped into Michael.

"Of course. Michael Corner always has a date when the occasion calls for one," the Quidditch Captain professed.

"Right. And Michael Corner should stop referring to himself in the third person if he knows what's good for him," Lisa jested with a roll of her eyes.

"Sod off. I don't suppose you have a Valentine this year?"

"For your information, Michael, I do have plans with a special someone. He just doesn't know it yet," she replied curtly, tossing her blonde hair.

"Fat lot of good that's going to do you, if the bloke doesn't even know he has a date."

Terry burst out laughing. "You two are like an old married couple," he jeered, patting each of his friends on the back.

"Oh yeah? Who are you spending Valentine's with, then?" asked Michael. Lisa leaned forward slightly wearing an expression of unconcealed interest. Terry was about to answer ('I have no date but I'm perfectly secure with that') when he spotted Mandy walking the opposite direction. A smile suddenly on his face, he waved to her, and she waved back.

He realized his friends were gawking at her as if she had a unicorn horn sprouting from her forehead. This must have made her uncomfortable, for she looked away and quickened her step.

"What's the matter with you lot?" Terry demanded when Mandy was out of earshot.

"What's the matter with us? What's the matter with you, mate? Getting all google-eyed at some random bird like that. Who is she, anyway?" Michael interrogated.

Terry couldn't believe what his best friend was saying. He probably didn't realize how stuck-up he sounded. "First of all, I don't know what the sodding hell it means to be google-eyed. But I wasn't." Fists clenched, Terry glared at Michael. "Secondly, she isn't some random bird. Her name is Mandy Brocklehurst, and she's been in Ravenclaw for the past six years, just like you and me. Would it kill you to be a little more observant?"

"Relax, mate. I was just asking you who she is because I didn't know."

"She's in my dormitory," Lisa enlightened the boys. "We sort of used to be friends but then she became, like, really shy."

"Maybe you should get to know her again," replied Terry. "She's pretty quiet, I guess, but she's cool when you get into a conversation with her."

A moment's silence fell between the three companions… that is, until Michael just had to be tactless again.

"So does this mean you'll be asking her for a snog or two this Saturday?"

Exasperated, Terry gave the other boy a swift check in the side with his shoulder bag.

"Great Mother of Merlin! What's in that, Bludgers?" Michael hopped around in exaggerated agony, clutching his ribs. He fell to his knees. "This is the end of the line, lads. Just go on without me!"

Lisa was in hysterics. Terry couldn't help but crack a smile. He'd always found it strange, the way Michael was able to drive him crazy one minute than redeem himself the next.

"Let's just get to class, you lunatics."

After Transfiguration, Terry dawdled for a while, hoping to walk back to the common room alone. He was a little on edge, as Michael had been especially hyper during class and had gotten them scolded more than once. So much for redeeming himself.

"Go ahead, I have to talk to McGonagall for a minute," Terry fibbed, gathering up his parchment scrolls.

"We'll wait for you," promised Lisa with a smile.

"Nonsense, Lise," Michael butt in. "I'm so hungry I could eat a hippogriff, straight up. Come on, let's get to the Great Hall." He tugged the sleeve of her robe.

"Fine. See you later, then."

Terry could have sworn that Lisa winked at him right before she turned around to leave. Probably his imagination. He waited for another minute or so until the noise from the corridor died down. McGonagall didn't seem to mind; she was sitting on her desk, cleaning behind her ears with her delicate, black paw. She mewed and swished her tail as if to say, 'See you next class, Mr. Boot, and don't forget about that essay.' With a wave, Terry picked up his bag and slipped out the door.

Strangely, he had been thinking about Mandy since the detention. Something about her drew him in. Maybe it was her voice, which was soft but full of energy. Maybe it was her ocean-blue eyes that he found himself staring into at one point during the four hours. Maybe it was the way he could have a conversation with her as if they'd known each other for years.

Of course, Terry didn't like her. Not as more than a friend. That would be ridiculous, because he had only just started speaking with her.

Hands in his robe pockets, Terry wandered up to Ravenclaw Tower. The walk had gone quite peacefully. Sometimes he just craved time alone to think about his day. About life, about people… about Mandy.

Mandy: a new friend. Not Mandy: a girl he fancied. Because he didn't. Right?

Terry snapped out of his trance when someone emerged from the common room. He stepped inside the open door and realized he was alone—most of the student body was down at the Great Hall for lunch. The curly-haired boy jogged up to his dormitory, intending to drop off his books and then catch up with Michael and Lisa.

However, when he dropped his bag on his four-poster, Terry noticed something on the pillow. It was red parchment cut into a heart shape. He felt himself blush, even though nobody was around, as he read the short poem.

It's the time of year

When we put our hearts on the line.

If you give me yours,

Then I'll give you mine.

Sir Boot, will you be my Valentine?

The note was unsigned. Terry felt a smile spread across his face. Sure, girls tended to like him and he'd dated a few. But a secret admirer? This was definitely new.

He tucked the valentine safely into his robe pocket, planning to keep it from Michael's prying eyes. Terry didn't quite fancy having the poem copied a hundred times and posted throughout the corridors. Well, Michael probably wouldn't do that, but he did have a reputation for advocating romantic gossip. To put it in perspective, he was sometimes referred to as 'the Ravenclaw male equivalent of Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.'

Terry wasn't going to let his best mate indiscreetly discover the secret admirer's identity. He would found out for himself on Valentine's Day.

Saturday rolled around, and the students of Hogwarts found themselves in a sea of pink when they finally wandered downstairs for a late breakfast. Pink tablecloths, pink window drapes, pink balloons, pink napkins and plates and cutlery—it was as if Madam Paddifoot's café had somehow entered the castle and exploded in the Great Hall. Terry considered it all a bit overwhelming, but the girls seemed to think otherwise.

"Ooh, look at these, Terry! They're so cute!" Lisa crooned, pointing to the heart-shaped candles that floated their heads.

"They're pretty stupid," snorted Michael in between bites of toast with jam.

"I wasn't talking to you. Surely Terry appreciates them."

"Erm, yeah. They're great," replied the boy being addressed, as he flicked away a candle that was drifting a little too close to his hair.

"Hey, Terry."

He turned. It was Mandy. She wore a blue cardigan with dark jeans, both of which were a great contrast to the surroundings. Terry welcomed the distinction, as all the pink was becoming an eyesore after only five minutes.

"Hey Mandy, how're you?"

"I'm all right, and yourself?"

"Brilliant. What's up?"

Mandy dropped her gaze to the floor. "I hear the house elves are decorating all the common rooms this evening, and there will be food and stuff too. Will… will you be hanging out in the common room tonight?"

Terry could feel Lisa's and Michael's eyes on the back of his head.

"Absolutely. We could play Exploding Snap or something."

"Yeah! Yeah, definitely," agreed Mandy, smiling ear to ear. "I have a Charms lesson to make up with Flitwick after dinner, but I should be back around eight-thirty."

"Perfect. I'll see you then."

"All right. Bye, Terry." She started to turn, then glanced over her shoulder. "See you, Lisa, Michael," she added, waving as she walked.

Terry swiveled back around on the bench. He noticed that Michael's loud toast-chewing had ceased and knew the other boy was going to say something.

"You like her."

Eyebrows raised, Terry glimpsed skeptically at his friend, who had excess jam on his upper lip.

"What are you talking about?"

"Mandy. You're smitten, mate. It's the way you smile at her. I noticed it the other day in the hallway and I noticed it again just now."

"I don't."

"Yes you do!"

"If he says he doesn't, that means he doesn't!" Lisa interjected rather shrilly.

"I really don't. Can we just drop it?" requested Terry, poking his eggs with his fork.

"Fine, fine. You two just love ganging up on me."

With that, Michael shoved an entire croissant in his mouth, much to Lisa's disgust.

The afternoon was spent having fun outdoors. Students made snowmen and snow angels and engaged in snowball fights, then ran inside for hot chocolate in the Great Hall, only to head back to the grounds and do it all over. Terry felt like a kid again as he, Michael, and some other blokes from the dormitory played "Terrorize The Females," who were doing their best to look cute in their colorful winter coats. Soon enough, however, the girls were apple-cheeked and wind-blown as they got tackled, ambush style. (Tackled gently, that is.) They forged a counter-attack with snowballs. By and large, it was a wonderful day.

After showers and supper, Terry, Michael and Lisa returned to their common room. Indeed, as Mandy had promised, the walls and furniture were tastefully decorated. It looked far better than the Great Hall (which, Terry had decided, resembled Umbridge's infamous sweater). Tables with desserts and drinks were set up near the entrance. House elves skirted around the edges of the room, unnoticed, making finishing touches.

"This is great," Terry noted, absent-mindedly grabbing a drink. He looked at the slim bottle—it was Muggle soda pop. He took a swig. "Hmm. Bubbly."

"Well, I should go fetch my date," Michael announced.

"Who is she? You never told us," observed Lisa as Michael was turning to leave.

"Lavender Brown." With a smug smile, he sauntered out the common room door.

"Oh, what wonderful match they are. Gossip central," Lisa joked. She glanced up at Terry, batting her eyelashes. He couldn't imagine why—maybe there was some dust in her eye or something. "Shall we sit?"

"Sure."

Lisa took Terry's arm and led him over to the couch closest to the fire. He sat slightly sideways, resting his back against the armrest and facing the common room entrance. Lisa crossed one leg over the other. Her knee touched Terry's, but she didn't move, so he figured she just didn't realize. He was about to say mention it when Lisa took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Listen, Terry."

"Listening."

"We've been friends for a long time, right?"

"Right."

What's this all about?

"Well… I want you to know that I think you're a great bloke," Lisa complimented, shifting closer to him.

"Erm, thanks. You… you're great too."

"What I mean to say is… is…" She paused. "Well, I guess I don't know how to say it. So maybe I'll show you."

All of a sudden, she leaned forward, closing the short distance between them, and planted her lips squarely on Terry's. Taken aback, the boy didn't know how to proceed. He let her kiss him. What else could he do?

It lasted perhaps five seconds before Lisa pulled away, a sultry expression on her face. Terry stared at her, breathless, and tried to think of something to say.

"Uh… so it was you who sent me that valentine?" came the dumb response.

Lisa tilted her head to one side, smiling curiously.

"What valentine?"