According to the information on the small flyer, Erimentha Eades had been missing since before Rook had been born. The photograph was grainy and inert, but it was incredible to be holding physical evidence of her birth mother's existence.

On top of this breakthrough, Rook's quality of life had significantly improved since Fred's very Fred-like apology. Most surprisingly, Rook seemed to have considerably less nightmares now that she was on good terms with him.

Stefan had been upset that Rook had gotten a detention. At first he thought it must have something to do with Fred and George, the resident rule-breakers, and his jealousy threatened to resurface. Once Rook explained that the detention had been given by Snape, however, Stefan was more understanding. After all, one could easily receive a detention from Snape for merely laughing in his general vicinity.

Rook had avoided telling anyone, even Fred and George, about Snape's involvement in her efforts to unearth the truth about her past and parentage. Rook herself couldn't explain Snape's investment in the whole thing, so she preferred not to try, at least for the time being.

Rook was eager to discuss this most recent discovery with Snape, and to see what else he managed to discover about Erimentha Eades, but she was quickly overcome with schoolwork. The fifth years in particular were feeling the pressure if O.W.L.s more than ever before, and even Stefan was becoming neurotic in his pursuit of top exam marks.

"This isn't good," he snapped one evening as they worked on Potions together. "I told you to study the different effects of powdered, liquid and solid ingredients. We don't have time to review basics so late in the game!"

"I'm sorry," Rook apologized timidly. "For some reason I thought you just wanted me to study powdered griffin claw. I don't know how I got confused…"

Stefan sighed. "It's my fault. I should have explained better." He buried his face in his hands. "I was just counting on this session to get some studying in myself. We're both taking the Potions O.W.L. in a few months, after all."

"But you're great at Potions!" said Rook. "I'm sure you'll get an 'Outstanding' mark!"

Stefan lowered his hands and looked at Rook. "I'm sorry…" he repeated, "I could easily live without an 'Outstanding' mark as long as I have you."

Rook blushed and looked away bashfully.

"You're so cute, Rosey," Stefan chuckled, amused by her shyness.

"I just—" Rook met his gaze tentatively. "I'm still not used to this kind of… romantic stuff."

"You'll get used to it," Stefan said, tucking her hair behind her ear as he looked into her eyes. "Which reminds me… Valentine's Day is coming up. It's on a weekday, but I thought we might celebrate the Sunday before. It's a Hogsmeade weekend, so we can spend it in the village. What do you think?"

"Of course!" Rook replied, genuinely excited at the prospect. "What should we do together?"

"You can leave the planning to me," he said confidently. "I've got loads of ideas."

Rook couldn't help feeling somewhat giddy as she returned to the common room that night. After coming clean about George to Stefan and making up with Fred, Rook had come to feel closer to Stefan. She realized that her feelings of guilt had made her reluctant to fully open up to him, but now she let her guard down, and even found herself daydreaming about the future of their relationship.

Rook had no trouble keeping herself occupied until the Sunday of their Valentine's date. She had so much homework, she wondered how Stefan would find time to plan anything for their date.

Still, she was surprised when Stefan cancelled their date at the last minute.

"I'm so sorry, Rosemary, really…" he apologized profusely. "It's just, my dad's friend really needs extra help at the station today. He volunteered me without even asking me, but she's an old family friend…"

"It's okay, Stefan," Rook assured him. "I understand. "

"I know. And I knew you would, I just… I really wanted to spend the day with you."

"Maybe I could meet you after?"

"Well…" Stefan hesitated. "Actually, er… you can come along. It'll be boring for you, so I get it if you don't want to, but… it'll be less boring for me if you're there."

"I want to come!"

Stefan brought Rook to the headquarters of the Wizarding Wireless Network. It was, apparently, exactly what it seemed to be—a wizarding radio broadcasting station. Rook couldn't help being intrigued, particularly as the setup and design of the building was not completely unlike muggle buildings of a similar nature. Also, it occurred to Rook that, for wizards, one would naturally assume "wireless-ness", wouldn't they? Once inside, Stefan introduced Rook to a vibrant middle-aged witch with greying curls and an enthusiastic smile.

"Your girlfriend, you say?" she exclaimed excitedly once he'd introduced Rook, causing him to turn slightly pink.

"Carmen, please," he muttered embarrassedly. "Isn't there a lot of work we're supposed to be doing? Isn't that why I'm here?"

Carmen waved dismissively, her eyes still on Rook, "I have time to get to know your girlfriend a little. Rosemary, was it? You're so pretty!"

This time Rook turned pink. "Th-Thanks. So are you!" Rook wasn't lying. Perhaps it was her energetic aura, or the constant smiling, but Carmen possessed a youthful comeliness Rook didn't associate with many women her age.

"Oh, you're sweet," Carmen replied. "Here, why don't you sit here…"

Rook ended up chatting casually with Carmen for several minutes. At one point, she noticed that Stefan was no longer in the room with them, and, after a moment, Carmen realized this as well.

"Where did he get to…?" she wondered aloud, wandering along a hallway with Rook following close behind. "Oh… Here he is."

They had walked into a room that, again, did not look unlike a studio in a muggle broadcasting station, though it was conspicuously lacking monitors and wires. Stefan sat behind what was presumably soundproof glass, having what looked like a pleasant conversation with a wizard in thick eyeglasses.

"Uh…" Rook turned to Carmen, unsure what she ought to do with herself. Carmen handed her what looked a lot like the enchanted, sound-proof earmuffs she'd seen in one of the greenhouses, presumably for working with mandrakes. Rook didn't know why she'd need these now, but she donned them without question, not wanting to be an inconvenience to anyone.

To her surprise, the earmuffs, instead of blocking sound, allowed her to hear what she deduced was an on-going radio broadcast. It did not take her much longer to figure out that the voices she heard were none other than Stefan and the man on the other side of the glass.

"So, I heard that you wanted to do something special for a certain someone this Valentine's?" the wizard asked Stefan in a very clear, friendly voice.

"That's right," Stefan confirmed with a smile. "I met a special girl, and I wanted to come up with something as unique and wonderful as she is."

Rook saw now that Stefan had his violin resting in his lap. At last it dawned on her what was happening. She looked over at Carmen who was grinning at her puckishly.

"So you've come to play for us today?"

"Yes—I thought a long time about what song I thought would suit her, and I finally decided on Ombra Mai Fu by Handel."

"You're welcome to 'ombra your fu' all you want, after you play us the song you promised!" the wizard deejay quipped and Stefan laughed good-naturedly. "Without further ado, we have Stefan Spencer on violin. Take it away…" With a flick of his wand, a piano in the corner began a slow, evocative classical piece, and Stefan stood, raised his instrument and began to play.

Rook found herself entranced, not only by the music itself, but by the Stefan as he played. His movements were flawless and his expression was serene. In that moment, Rook thought of nothing but Stefan and the music he had dedicated to her.

When he had finished, he lowered his violin, his eyes met Rook's through the glass and Rook's heart seemed to skip a beat. The deejay also seemed momentarily speechless.

"Wow…" he said at last. "Mister Spencer, that was a spectacular performance! I do have one complaint, however…"

"What's that, Apollo?"

"You're making the rest of us look bad," he said. "Looks like I'm going to have to bring my wife roses and expensive jewelry this year!"

Stefan chuckled politely, but his eyes flickered back to Rook as he smiled. Rook felt heat rise in her cheeks.

When the broadcast went to commercial, Stefan emerged from the booth and kissed Rook. Though self-conscious of the fact that Carmen and the deejay could see them, Rook was rather pleased as she kissed him back.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he said. "Or rather, Valentine's Eve? I suppose it hardly matters. I love you regardless of what day it is."

Rook's eyes widened slightly. "L-Love…?"

"I figured it's about time I told you," he spoke softly. "I know we haven't been going out very long, but—"

"I love you too, Stefan," said Rook, her heart racing. She said it without thinking, and she didn't know how or when it happened, but she realized it was the truth as she said it. Stefan kissed her again, and Rook could hear and audible sigh from Carmen.

"S-So I guess," Rook said, suddenly very bashful, "you have to, um, finish helping out around here?"

"What?" Stefan responded with a laugh. "Of course not! That was just a ruse, Rosey!"

"Y-You're not…?"

"Carmen is my dad's friend," Stefan explained, putting an arm around Carmen's shoulders as he spoke. "She helped me out, so I could impress you."

"It was my pleasure," Carmen said spiritedly. "You two are so perfect together!"

"I plan to spend the entire day with you, Rosemary," said Stefan, taking her hand. "Shall we…?"