A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! I am so glad that you enjoyed the last chapter, but I hope that you will really enjoy what I've got in store for this one, too! You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates, and answer questions. Huge thank you to kristeristerin for beta reading this chapter!

Please let me know what you thought of chapter thirteen and be on the lookout for chapter fourteen soon!

February 1968

It seemed as if some things about Hogwarts would never change, namely all the excitement that proliferated around Valentine's day. Elna, Fawn, and Lottie woke Hermione up bright and early to encourage her to put her utmost into her appearance for the day, even though it was a rather unremarkable Wednesday.

Once she was in her freshly pressed uniform for the way, her wavy hair styled artfully with a pale pink ribbon lent to her for the day by Elna, they declared her ready for the day. The four Gryffindors made their way down to the Great Hall arm in arm, trying brainstorm any of their classmates who might decide to send them something as a token of their affection.

Fawn must have sensed some of the nerves and tumult that Hermione was feeling because she was whispering quietly into Hermione's ear so that no one else would hear it. "You know, no one would think any differently of you if you wanted to start seeing Lestrange," she said with a bright pink blush on her pale cheeks. "It's clear there is no love lost between him and Bellatrix."

Hermione swallowed thickly, hating the traitorous way that she wanted to take Fawn's advice and run with it. Since their holiday break, Hermione and Rodolphus had resumed casual contact, though Hermione resolutely ignored the elephant in the room, and wouldn't acknowledge the sweet kiss that they'd shared, even though she was growing quietly desperate for a repeat. Still, she didn't think that she could bare the thought of a relationship between her and Rodolphus actually becoming a reality. She squeezed Fawn's hand in appreciation of her words. "Thanks," was all she could possibly muster to respond to that statement.

The Great Hall was decorated with all assortment of floating streamers and clouds of pink ephemera. Tiny winged cupids flew around from table to table, giggling and shooting arrows at unsuspecting students, something that she thought might have something to do with Peeves the ever-present poltergeist. It was a nice, if a bit goofy, scene.

Sitting in their usual spot for breakfast, Hermione quickly made herself a bowl of oatmeal, thinking that she wouldn't be able to stomach much more due to her nerves. The post began to swoop in not much longer and fully laden with perfumed notes and tiny packages, telegraphing that students had a secret (or not so secret) admirer. Delighted squeals began to sound off through the hall as girls received whatever baubles from the love interest in their lives. Lottie had received a rather large package from her steady boyfriend Marcus, while Elna had racked up a healthy little pile of gifts. Even Fawn had gotten two little notes that had her blushing in amusement.

Hermione was glad that the three of them were far too intrigued by their own gifts that they didn't notice the slim rectangular package that had dropped into her oatmeal. Quickly grabbing the package, she hid it under the table, using her wand to clean it. Opening the box, she found a healthy portion of Honeyduke's fudge and a little note from Arthur, wishing her a happy valentine's day.

Unbidden, she looked down the table at the redheaded boy and saw him staring down at his bangers and scrambled eggs, blushing at the plate, completely unwilling to meet her eyes for once. Sighing, Hermione knew that she was going to have to set Arthur straight for once and for all. But it could wait for another day. She didn't want to give him a false hope by talking to him on Valentine's Day.

The rest of the day passed by without much issue. Her classes were moderately disrupted by flirting couples and she got the impression that most of their professors were thoroughly annoyed that their lesson plans were not going to get accomplished. Hermione kept her head down, moving from class to class, determined not to be waylaid by Arthur.

After classes, she told her Fawn that she was going to the library instead of to the Great Hall for the feast, lying about an essay that she needed to finish for Ancient Runes. In lieu of dinner, she swung by the kitchens and found that the elves were only too happy to give her a sandwich to take to the library. Finding her favorite desk with ease, Hermione settled in for the night, eating her lonely dinner all by herself.

Spreading her books out in front of her, she decided that even though her essay wasn't due for another two weeks, it was no reason not to get a head start on it. Eagerly inking her quill, she started writing, stopping every now and again to reference her text or other books that she had found in her research.

When she was nearly halfway done, Hermione set her quill down, raising her arms over her head to give her back a well-needed stretch. Rolling her head side to side, she started to wonder if it would be safe for her to return to the common room for the evening. Before she could make a determination, hands were coming up from behind her to cover her eyes.

"I've got a present for you," a slightly gravelly voice whispered in her ear, sending a delighted shiver up her spine. She would recognize Rodolphus's voice anywhere at this point, she was certain, and she couldn't deny the bolt of excitement in her heart when she thought that he might be giving her a present for Valentine's Day. A very small part of her had been worried that he'd completely forgotten about her, even though she knew that he would be more than entitled to, the way that she had shunned him time and time again. "Open your eyes," he commanded, removing his hands from her face.

There, resting on top of her essay, was a rather worn looking book, the title embossed in gold. "The Decline of Pagan Magic?" Hermione asked, tracing the title with one finger.

Rodolphus pulled the chair next to her out, before settling in next to her. His body was angled towards her, completely unbothered by the way that their thighs were pressed together. "Well, yeah, you said that you liked Hogwarts: A History, so I figured you would like more of Bagshot's work," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck, the way that he always did when he was nervous. "Plus, I thought you might like learning more about the Pagan rituals, since a lot of pureblood families still practice them, even if it's just in private."

Hermione flushed, thinking that it was a really lovely gift. He had remembered her off-hand comment about loving Hogwarts: A History, despite his own proclamation that he didn't think much of the book himself. And, he must have known about her desire to know everything that she didn't understand. "Like your family's Yule celebration?" she asked, paging through the thick book.

"Yes, that will be in there, too," he agreed with a chuckle. "Though more traditional than what my father puts on, I'm sure. His is mostly an excuse to get drunk, if you'll recall."

"Rodolphus, this is a first edition! This must have cost a lot of money," she added, knowing how rare it must truly be. She couldn't believe that he would be spending that kind of money on her.

He didn't seem phased at all and instead rewarded her with a shy smile. "Happy Valentine's Day, Hermione," he said simply, hopefully, reaching towards her hand to give it a little squeeze.

She felt her breath leave her at the look in his dark blue eyes and felt herself leaning into him. "Thank you, Rodolphus," she said, a blush staining her cheeks.

Her eyes slipped closed when she saw him leaning into her, eyes trained on her lips. She sighed into him when their mouths connected in a kiss, unwilling to let this one be over so soon. Throwing caution to the wind for once her life, she pressed against him more firmly, becoming an active participant, feeling a thrill of desire inside her at how easily they fit together.

Before long, though, he was pulling away from her, smartly not pushing her too far too fast. "I hope you'll let me do that again," he hedged, his voice transformed by desire, pupils slightly dilated.

Hermione dropped her eyes to her lap, unable to hide the smile from her face. The voice inside of her, the voice that knew what the future held for this man, was growing quieter and quieter in its demand that she leave well enough alone with Rodolphus. Instead, she was filled with the encouragement of Dumbledore to live a normal teenage life, Bellatrix's assertion that she and Rodolphus were well suited, and Fawn's quiet promise that no one would bat an eye at her relationship with him. Further, she could no longer deny the desire and attraction that she felt for Rodolphus. Maybe she could give it a try. After all, he wasn't going to be at Hogwarts for much longer.

"I hope that you will," she said finally, biting her lower lip, meeting his eyes cautiously. It was a lot to admit, both to herself, and to Rodolphus, but for once in her life she was going to go with her heart rather than all the logic trying to sway her to the contrary, and just hope that she wouldn't get hurt along the way.

Rodolphus, to his credit, looked utterly surprised at her pronouncement. Eyes going a bit wide, it looked almost like he couldn't believe her, before regaining his composure. He rewarded her with a half smirk, only to cup her jaw gently, pulling her down to kiss her again. This time, he was not shy about deepening the kiss, moving with confidence and ease, making Hermione moan in surprise at the feeling.

Once she was thoroughly kissed breathless, Hermione was pulling away, fighting a smile of her own. "We can't spend all night snogging in the library," she told him, looking back to her desk.

"Salazar, Hermione, if I'd known all it would take to get you to kiss me was one measly book, I would have given you one a long time ago," he said with a chuckle. "Does this mean you will be my valentine?"

Hermione returned his smile. "I suppose it's a little late in the day, but...yes, I will be your Valentine, only..." she bit her lower lip trying to think of the best way to say what she wanted to say. "Only if you don't go shouting it from the rooftops."

"What, worried Weasley might find out?" he asked, with an annoyed sneer.

"No, it's just...well, with you and Bellatrix being betrothed and all that," Hermione explained awkwardly. "Even though the both of you are insistent that I shouldn't worry about it, and Bellatrix has been particularly insistent that I go for you...I don't really want to get a reputation as someone who is disrupting a betrothal."

"Bellatrix has been encouraging you to go after me?" he asked, caught off-guard by her statement.

"Yes, actually," Hermione told him. "She seems to think that...that you and I are suited for one another, even though I don't think she knows enough about me to really make that sort of assessment, but..."

Rodolphus shook his head, a slightly troubled look on his face. "I don't really know what she's up to..." he trailed off, lost in thought, before returning his brilliant blue eyes to her face. "But if I can still kiss you whenever I want, I suppose I don't see much reason to think about it."

Hermione smiled, feeling a little glimmer of joy settling in her belly at his pronouncement. "Well, maybe not whenever," she cautioned. "But you don't have to give me a book every time that you want to." Her hands found the book again, tracing the worn spine. "Can I ask you about the rituals in here?" she asked, excited to get started.

"Of course. Don't know how much of a resource I will be, but I can try," he agreed.

They spent the rest of the evening talking quietly in the library, legs pressed together until the matron was coming around to remind them about curfew. Rodolphus left her with one last devastating kiss goodnight before sending her off to Gryffindor tower for the evening.