Aquila woke up like any other day. She stretched out, yawned and sat up, running her fingers through her tangled mane of black hair. Brushing her hair out took far too long in her opinion. She set a quick charm for her hair to braid itself up, as she dressed quickly. She set a long pin with the lion of Gryffindor down into her neat hair, and fastened her prefect's badge to her jumper. She pinched some colour into her cheeks as she gave herself a quick inspection in the mirror. The rest of her dorm room was just starting to stir. She swept down to the Common Room before any of them managed to say a thing to her. She sat in her favourite armchair by the freshly lit fire. The February mornings could be very cold. There was a heavy chill on the castle as it was. Students were being attacked now. Petrified by something. Aquila frowned just thinking about it, as she opened up one of her favourite muggle vices; a puzzle book. She set about her crossword as the Common Room began filling up with sleeping Gryffindors. She completed the crossword in record time, even for her, and set off, trying to puzzle out this Heir of Slytherin mess.

People were accusing Harry Potter because of his ability to speak Parseltongue. Aquila thought this was a foolish guess. That was like saying all evil wizards could roll their tongue. A genetic trait didn't make someone evil. Harry was a sweet boy. Determined and reckless, but not like to want to murder anybody. Whoever was picking off muggleborns was like to be from one of the old Pureblood families. Aquila had an old established pureblood name. The Valentines were a rich, powerful and old French family of wizards that had their fingers in every pie across the world. But what few people seemed to notice at Hogwarts was that Aquila herself was a Halfblood. Her father had married a muggleborn woman from Ireland, and together they had raised their children to be kind and tolerant of all magical people and creatures. But the bulk of her extended family was set on keeping the line pure. If Aquila suspected anyone, it was the Malfoys. They were notorious in their hatred of muggleborns. Just this year, their young get, Draco, had been dropping slurs like sweets at a St. Patrick's Day parade. She was toying with the idea of going to library later on to research the genealogy of the Potter family in a bid to clear her teammates name when she entered the main hall. And then she remembered.

Garlands of pink peonies were strewn everywhere, and giant hearts cut in red and pink crepe paper floated majestically through the air. Heart-shaped confetti rained gently out of nowhere. Gentle tinkling harp music, cards with silly, soppy pictures, giggling girls. It was Valentine's Day. Aquila braced herself for a day of jokes, and bombardment. She took a breath before she made for the Gryffindor table and set about getting herself a nice breakfast that mostly consisted of fruit and pancakes. Angelina Johnson arrived at the same time as a large owl carrying a veritable stack of letters.

"Somebody's popular." Angelina said as she sat down beside her teammate. Aquila groaned. This had been happening for the last couple of years. Boys were noticing her. She'd rather they didn't, if she were being honest.

"Spare me." Angelina plucked up one of the cheesy cards. It hadn't helped matters that Gilderoy Stupidhead was making a big deal about Valentine's Day. Just because he loved himself…. Aquila glared a slice of toast before she bit into it savagely.

""My Funny Valentine"" Angelina read, in a high falsetto voice. Aquila wanted to bang her head on the table. ""Your beauty surpasses the finest landscape-" LANDSCAPE? You look nicer than a bunch of trees? Some compliment… "My love for you grows with each passing day. I dream of making you mine-" Possessive, much? "With all my adoration, D." Wooooow…. Who sucks this bad?" Aquila groaned at first, but she had to laugh.

She plucked up another card and started to read.

"Valentine treasures are people who

Have often crossed your mind,

Family, friends and others too,

Who in your life have shined

The warmth of love or a spark of light

That makes you remember them;

No matter how long since you've actually met,

Each one is a luminous gem

Who gleams and glows in your memory,

Bringing special pleasures,

And that's why this Valentine comes to you:

You're one of those sparkling treasures!

P."

Angelina stared at her open mouthed.

"That was so boring… there's only one person it could be. Percy!" Aquila shook her head.

"Probably. He keeps asking me to go to Hogsmeade with him to discuss prefect stuff, and I have to keep saying no. He won't stop asking."

"You think that's bad…" Oliver said, as he sat down next to her, pulling a bowl of porridge towards him, and rubbing sleep from his eyes. "I have to go with him after you say no. To drown his sorrows with his best friend. Merlin's knickers."

Aquila smirked at the Scottish boy. He had a dry sense of humour that she liked. She breathed deep and leaned toward him slightly for a second. There was that smell again. That cologne. She had smelled it in the potion. She thought maybe that someone she loved used to wear it. Probably one of her uncles. That was the likeliest explanation. Aquila read through a couple of other Valentines, each one telling her how beautiful she was, some getting a little bit lewd. She rolled her eyes.

"These are ridiculous." She shoved the stack of letters away.

"Come on don't quit now. There's only one left." Angelina shoved a very plain card into her hand. It was a folded over piece of thick white paper. The writing was framed by a simple yet elegant golden scrollwork. The handwriting was familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Angelina was reading over her shoulder already, and Oliver was looking at her out of the corner of his eye, and strange expression on his face.

""Aquila,

Your determination and caring set you above all others in my esteem. When those around you struggle, you do not laugh or turn a blind eye. You offer your hand in help and endear yourself to all around you. You can never know how dearly I admire you for these things. Always with a ready smile, a word of encouragement. In this world the bravest thing to be is to be kind. You are the truest Gryffindor I have ever met. I wish I had the nerve to say these things to your face, but I lack your courage and daring. Just know that someone cares for you."" Angelina had a hand held to her mouth when Aquila was done reading out this last Valentine. She felt a similar way. She couldn't stop smiling or sighing. Oliver beside her was looking the other way, staring out into the distance, but there was a small smile on his face.

"Why can't I get a Valentine like that? All I get is George Weasley telling me my face is good. What do I do with that?" Angelina rolled her eyes.

"If it makes you feel any better, at least you don't have to worry about Percy." Angelina pulled a face of disgust and got up to go about her day.

"I think I've come up with a way to defeat Percy. We need to be tactical about this, Valentine." She turned around to face Oliver, who was a little red in the cheeks, she noted.

"Lay it down for me, Oliver. Anything to get rid of him."

"I don't mean kill him. I mean, maybe he'll stop asking you if you go with someone else. And he can't whinge the ear off of me I've gone with someone else too."

"You mean we should go together?" He turned back to face her.

"I hadn't thought of that. That would be the most efficient tactic. Maybe he'd stop thinking I was his best friend if he saw me with the girl he likes. Sounds perfect." Oliver stood suddenly, startling Aquila. "I need to get practice permission from McGonogall. I'll see you later." She waved him off with a smile. She looked back at the sweet Valentine. She thought maybe she'd done homework with the person who'd written this to her, but who was it? The writing was so familiar.