A/N:Happy Holidays! ...Nzomniac

Valentine's Day without Him

14th February 2005

Hermione Granger

As I turned the lock, the door to my room sprang open. I pulled all my shopping bags in with me and tossed them all aside. All I could think of at that point was to lie down. I was exhausted! Shopping for Valentine's Day with Claire was no easy task. Claire wanted me to try on every single dress she laid eyes on. We started at 10 o'clock in the morning. It wasn't until 2 o'clock in the afternoon that we settled down for lunch and 5 o'clock in the evening that we apparated home. I looked around, almost 20 shopping bags were scattered around my bedroom floor, spilling their contents about. I sighed and brought my face to my hands. I badly needed some rest, but with the untidy room in front of me, I couldn't just let it go. I started to stack the bags properly in a corner. Once that was done, I spotted a pile of magazines, the pages flipped open and all over the table. I sighed and piled up the magazines too. By the time I finished, I was nearly asleep on my feet. I walked to my dressing table to brush my hair before I took a nap. When I reached the dressing table, I saw that my make-up was a mess on the dresser. Little cases of eyeshadow were everywhere; mascara unscrewed; lipsticks uncapped; and jewelry unsorted. It was not an easy job finding the matching cover to each and every make-up accessory I had, considering the amount had tripled thanks to Claire. When everything was tidy, I brushed my hair and went for a nap. The moment my eyes closed...

"Hermione! Time for a fashion show!" Claire called bustling into my room.

"Claire!" I whined.

"Up, up, up!" Claire barked at me.

I groaned in protest. I'd barely closed my eyes!

"Claire, I want to get some rest! Why don't we wait till Ginny comes for dinner?" I suggested.

"Fine. I'm gonna find Harry, perhaps he's got something for me to do," Claire said in a defeated tone.

Keeping a famous designer happy wasn't something I was good at. Poor Harry…

"Claire?" I called.

"Hmm?" she said, turning to face me.

"I don't know if you know this, but Harry once told me that you're the best thing that's ever happened to him. Spend this Valentine's Day with him, not me," I said sincerely.

Claire's face lightened up and blushed. Wow, that's the first time I've ever seen her blush. She's never embarrassed.

"Thank you, Hermione." Claire's ever-present smile slipped for a moment. Her forehead wrinkled in thought a second or two. "That's really... reassuring to know. You see, sometimes I can't help thinking even now that Harry only married me as... a replacement of sorts. He's lost so many of the people he loved."

"How could you even think like that? Harry loves you, and he's very lucky he found you if you ask me," I said seriously.

"I don't think he likes me smiling so much," Claire said sadly.

"I just so happen to know that's the thing he loves most about you. Well, I need some sleep now," I said, smiling at Claire's stupidity.

"Have a good rest," Claire said as she dimmed the lights.

Surprisingly, it was the dimness I liked. The dark was somehow comforting. Female intuition, I thought happily.

Ginny arrived at 8pm sharp. Dinner was served 20 minutes later. Ginny chatted happily with Claire and me. Harry just watched the ladies talking. Harry cornered me before Ginny's arrival and demanded to know what prank I was playing. Apparently Claire went into 'action' right after she'd left my room. It left Harry blushing madly every time Claire smiled at him or massaged his arms and shoulders. And Claire was grinning madly at Harry. Ginny definitely spotted the difference between the two lovebirds as she cast a knowing smile on me. Ginny and I had planned something and let's just say dinner is going to be so much fun!

I looked at Ginny and she nodded.

"So, Harry, did you enjoy your shag just now?" I said simply.

Harry, who wasn't expecting me to say any such thing, dropped his spoon with a clang! He then blushed furiously and tried drinking his soup but his hands were shaking so hard that soup splattered everywhere. Ginny, Claire and I giggled at his reaction.

Claire, on the other hand, wasn't having as much fun as we were. She looked at me sternly and said, "Let's just have dinner without er - interruptions."

I just smiled at her and continued tearing off a piece of my bread. Ginny's turn was next.

"Did you know I had oysters just before I lost my virginity?" Ginny said casually.

Harry, who just shoved some oysters in his mouth, choked on the oysters. He started coughing and when Claire went to help, she held one hand to his shoulder while patting his back vigorously with the other -- which only served to make Harry cough even harder.

"Hermione, Ginny," Claire said alarmingly.

"What?" I said innocently.

Claire inhaled sharply and clasped Harry's hand, causing Harry to blush harder than ever.

"I'm guessing it's the best shag you ever had?" I asked.

Harry was better at handling this question, although he couldn't control his blush.

"So what if it was?" Harry answered snappily.

"Means there's more to come. Claire's a very hot package," Ginny replied.

"Seriously Harry, you should get used to it, as it's gonna happen again, better and longer," I winked at Harry.

Harry licked his lips without knowing it.

"Okay, guys! It's dinnertime! Let's not talk about it," Claire said, easing Harry's blush a little.

"Means we get to talk about it later?" I asked sweetly.

"I never said that," Claire said through clenched teeth.

Ginny was the better actress so she got this part. We nodded and Ginny's act started. Ginny sighed dramatically, "If only I'd gotten that 'action' when I dated Harry."

Harry's blush was a deeper red than Ginny's hair. Claire too, was blushing.

"Here's something for you, Harry," Ginny said as she passed a bag to him.

"Some of them are for Claire," I added.

Harry looked in the bag and blushed. Claire tried to peek but Harry snatched the bag out of range.

"No peeking!" Harry called and the room burst out in laughter.

"Oh and Harry, if you want to use them, it's not gonna be tonight. We're having a slumber party and Claire's included in it," Ginny snickered.

"Don't worry, I have a whole lifetime," Harry said as he gave a very confused Claire a peck in the cheek.

After dinner, Ginny, Claire and I trooped back to my room for the slumber party. Harry stayed behind as he had work to do. Claire was still not talking to either of us as we refused to tell her what was inside the bag. I definitely have something to laugh at for the rest of my life.

"Okay, let's start the slumber party!" I shouted happily once we were in the room.

"Yaaay!" Ginny shouted childishly.

We both turned to stare at Claire and Claire mumbled, "Er - yay?"

"Let's tie up our hair," Ginny said excitedly.

"Sure, I'll do Claire's and Claire can do yours and you'll do mine," I replied to Ginny.

Claire's mood lightened up after several jokes and busying herself tying Ginny's hair up.

"Ginny, your hair is really smooth," Claire commented.

"I just did a hair treatment last weekend."

"At Crazy Cuts?" I asked Ginny.

"Yup, go on Wednesdays, its ladies day," Ginny informed us. "Ever been there, Claire?"

"Why would I go there if I can have it done for free?" Claire said.

"You get it done for free?" Ginny asked and I tried, though without success, not to roll my eyes.

"Duh! She's famous! She's got her own personal stylist to do any treatment she wants," I said, rolling my eyes.

"True," Claire nodded, "but I get them for free at Dazzle Studios."

"Why?" Ginny and I asked in union.

"Well, Dazzle Studios are the hair stylists for every fashion show I've had. They earned thousands because of my shows. They ought to give me the free treat, right?" Claire explained.

After tying each other's hair up, we painted nails and chatted. I showed Ginny a few of the dresses I bought and we had the fashion show Claire was whining for. Then, Ginny wanted to talk about first loves.

"So, everyone has a first love, right? Tell me the story," Ginny said grinning evilly.

I paled. How was I going to explain that Draco was my first love? Should I lie? But I trust them, they're my closest friends!

"We'll start with you, Haley," Ginny taunted me with my nickname.

"Guys, whatever's said in this room remains in this room, right?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah, go on! Tell us!" Claire said, urging me to tell.

"And you guys won't be angry?" I asked again.

"No, we're your best friends!" Ginny said comfortingly.

I gulped. They mightn't be my best friends if they knew my first love was their mortal enemy. I glanced at them nervously. I imagined Ginny's shocked and hurt look, Claire's disappointed look. But they were going to tell me their deepest secrets too. It would be an insult to lie. Plus, they said they're my best friends; then a thing like loving Draco Malfoy won't get in the way of our friendship, right? Right? I've always wondered what would happen if Malfoy and I got together. What would be their reactions? Well, here's the chance to find out…

"It was Malfoy," I said quietly.

They both gasped and I could feel the tension building in the room. Their looks were almost how I imagined it to be. I stared at the ground. The nail polish suddenly looked sooo interesting. At least it was compared to their expression that is.

"Well, there you go. He's my first love," I said, this time a little bit more confidently.

"Hermione, please tell me it's not true," Ginny said, still holding her breath.

"It is, Ginny," I announced.

"Oh. My. God" Ginny gasped.

"Ginny, please don't explode… you don't understand -"

"Shut up Hermione," Ginny cut in.

Well, that shut me up. I was shocked by her reaction.

"I could understand you ditching Ron at the altar. I knew you picked someone else over my brother. I don't mind. I convinced myself that it was someone nice. But if I'd known it was over Malfoy!" she hissed.

I sat still. I never thought she would think that way. I thought she didn't mind. Ginny continued.

"I can't believe you could love someone - someone like - like -"

"Ginny, Draco's human too!" I shouted.

How could she say something like that?

"No! He isn't! He's filthy scum! He's a Slytherin. He's a Death Eater for crying out loud! He's the reason so many people died! He was the cause of Dumbledore's death! He destroys and kills! He supports Voldemort!" Ginny spat.

"No! He was misunderstood! He was taught evil since birth! He never asked for it! He didn't have a choice!" I said, on the verge tears, "He didn't kill all those people! He hated the Dark Arts! It's just - you never took the time to understand him!"

Claire was stuck in the middle of Ginny and me. Not knowing who to support, she chose to watch. We were silent for a moment. For a while, I held back the tears. Ginny was holding back tears too, but for a different reason. She was holding tears because she didn't think I would talk to her in that tone. I was holding back tears thinking how misunderstood Draco was. How sad his life was. Finally, it was Ginny who broke the silence.

"Do you really love him?" Ginny asked, barely louder than a whisper.

"You can ask me that, Gin? You, who know me best of all people!" I asked poisonously. My eyes flashed dangerously.

Ginny winced. She bit her lips.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I guess I was just jealous."

"Don't worry about it. I'm pissed at myself for loving him too," I said, hugging Ginny.

"Does anyone know about it other than us?" Claire, seeing the mood had returned to normal, ventured to ask.

I smiled and said, "Harry does."

I ducked a swat from Ginny but wasn't fast enough for Claire's swat.

"You told Harry -" Ginny started.

"And didn't tell us!" Claire finished.

"How could you?" Claire and Ginny said in union.

I just grinned at them nervously and ducked the swats again.

"Come on! We've got a long day ahead! Why don't we cook something for breakfast tomorrow?" I asked the group.

"Sure! Each of us will prepare a dish for Harry to judge. Person with the lowest marks has to get Harry to give her a peck," Claire added.

"And Harry can't know bout it!" Ginny added.

"Let's go scare Harry and bring him to sleep in a tent with us? That's going to be fun. Camping in your own house!" I suggested mischievously.

"Let's go!" Claire said.

In less than 5 minutes, our group was wearing black masks, tip-toeing in the hallway, whispering hushes and snickering silently. We knocked on Harry's door and then hid at the side of the door so we could ambush him when he opened it. Harry opened the door, yawning slightly. I covered his mouth and pushed him into the room. Ginny took his hands and Claire closed the door, casting a silencing charm and then a locking charm. Harry struggled and I tied a scarf around his mouth. With Harry's magical abilities, he could break many minor charms. And Harry was currently learning wandless magic from what Claire had said. I hit him with a full body-binding spell.

I mustered the manliest voice I could make and said, "Cooperate, Harry. Your wife is with us, so are her pals."

Ginny changed her voice to a high-pitched and evil voice and said, "Yes…you better follow us."

Then Ginny cackled madly.

Claire settled on a woman's voice, though stern and cat-like, "Harry, wouldn't be wise to try wandless magic. Don't wanna lose the ability to perform magic even with a wand, do you?"

Then Harry said, "Just take whatever you want and leave!"

"You don't think we're doing it just for money, do you?" Ginny asked in the same voice she'd used before.

"Breaking into the mighty Harry Potter's house just for money?" Claire added.

"Stop babbling! Proceed with our plans!" I barked before the two start snickering at how they'd taunted Harry.

With that, I lead Harry out of the room to his backyard with Claire and Ginny snickering behind. I pushed Harry into one of the two tents set up by Sasha and entered; Claire and Ginny right behind me. We took off our masks and sat back to enjoy Harry's shocked look. Harry gaped from me, to Claire and then to Ginny.

"Surprised, Harry?" I asked.

"Merlin!" Harry shouted.