Harry still hadn't discarded the strange, empty diary in the following week and had gone to investigate the shield with the name T.M Riddle emblazoned on it. ('I don't understand why he keeps that thing, it's weird' said Ron to Bella). There had been no more attacks since Justin and Nick a few weeks earlier and the students and teachers alike were hopeful they had come to an end. Bella discovered that the mandrakes were very nearly ready to be used to heal those petrified, as she heard Madam Pomfrey soothing Filch in the corridor one afternoon. Bella hoped the attacks were over and done with but something in her gut told her that they weren't quite finished yet.

February fourteenth rolled around and that morning made Bella realise how much she truly hated Lockhart. When the Gryffindors entered the Great Hall for breakfast that dreaded morning their eyes were assaulted with bright pink everywhere they looked. The walls were an eye-sore; covered in large pink love hearts. Heart-shaped confetti was slowly trickling down from the ceiling above them.

"Is this Lockhart's idea of a joke?" Bella asked.

"No, I think he's quite serious." Seamus replied.

He pointed up towards the teachers table and Bella found that he was indeed right. Lockhart was dressed in hideous pink robes, a beaming smile on his face as he called for silence. Snape was glaring venomously at Lockhart from where he sat further along the table and McGonagall would shake her head every time she glanced up at the daft professor.

"Happy Valentine's Day everyone!" Lockhart cheered.

Bella groaned and lay her head on her arms atop the table.

"I would just like to take a minute to thank everyone who had already sent me a Valentine this morning! I have arranged this special surprise but it it not all I have planned for today." Lockhart grinned.

He clapped his hands and the doors to the Great Hall opened to admit a hoard of grumpy looking dwarfs. It was no wonder they looked grumpy, Lockhart had them all wearing gold wings and carrying mini harps.

"They are my Cupids!" Lockhart called loudly. "And they will be hand-delivering valentines to you all throughout the day."

"He's not for real?" Ron spluttered.

"Well I think it's sweet." Hermione said giddily.

"It's because you fancy him." Harry teased as Hermione went bright red.

"I bet you three sent him a valentine." Ron groaned, looking from Hermione to Emily and Freya.

Hermione busied herself with her breakfast to evade answering while Emily buried her head in her arms and Freya spluttered.

"I bet they did." Bella agreed.


Throughout the day the dwarfs were in and out of classrooms delivering valentines, much to the annoyance of the teachers and envious students. Bella had nearly gone the whole day without being targeted by a mini cupid when one caught up with her on the way to Potions.

"Bella Weasley!" The deep gravely voice carried up the corridor.

Bella's eyes widened as the small dwarf began elbowing people out of the way in it's mission to reach her. Ron was cackling with laughter at her side as she panicked. Before she could move her feet the dwarf had caught up to her.

"I have a valentine to deliver to Bella Weasley." The dwarf grumbled.

"Not right now." Bella stammered.

"I have to deliver it." The dwarf growled, grabbing Bella's leg.

"Oh go on." Ron laughed.

Bella tried to gently pull her leg from the dwarf's tight grasp as it cleared it's throat, ready to speak.

"I fell in love with you the first time we met,

It's not something I will ever regret.

As long as my heart beats in my chest,

I know I picked the very best."

The corridor was deathly silent as the dwarf finished reciting the poem and released it's death grip on Bella's leg. She gaped down at the small being before she turned on her heel and all but ran down the corridor to the dungeons. She was one of the first there and she sank into her seat beside Draco, heart hammering in her chest.

"What's wrong with you?" He hissed quietly under his breath.

"Bloody dwarf, I'm gonna kill Seamus." She breathed.


Bella had been mortified after her escapade with the dwarf that afternoon. She felt as though everyone was staring at her for the rest of the day and she couldn't wait to get to dinner that evening for an opportunity of distraction.

"I got your valentine." Bella said as Seamus took the seat opposite her.

"I... haven't given you it yet." Seamus replied confused.

"What do you mean?" She asked. "I got your poem from one of those blasted dwarfs earlier."

"I didn't send a poem to you with one of them." Seamus replied.

"Well someone sent me a poem." Bella added.

"Oh, I wonder who sent you a poem." Hermione pondered.

"Me too." Bella replied absentmindedly.

Bella was drawn from her thoughts when Seamus sat a parcel on top of the table in front of her. It was beautifully wrapped in silver paper with a red ribbon to decorate. She pulled back the paper and found a photo frame with the words 'I love you' in red ink on the top of the frame and a picture of her and Seamus that Colin had taken in their first year. In the picture they were both settled in the Quidditch stands, Seamus' arm wrapped around her shoulders as she snuggled into his jacket. As the picture moved, Seamus looked down at her with a smile as she watched the Quidditch game.

"Seamus, this is beautiful. Thank you so much." Bella smiled.

"You're welcome." He smiled back.

Bella handed him a parcel over the table and as he pulled back the wrapping paper an array of wizarding sweets tumbled onto the table and Seamus' eyes lit up, Bella chuckling at his reaction.

"Thank you Bella." He replied, a massive grin on his face.

"You're welcome." She smiled.

The photo frame on the table was a temporary distraction from the mystery poem author and Bella tried to put it out of her mind for now. It didn't matter who sent it, Seamus was the one who mattered.