A/N: Okay, a couple of things first, but I'll try to quick about it.

One, several readers have reported that they're being alerted that the story has been updated, but when they click the link, they can't access the new chapter. So please, if this happens to you, private message me. If it happens with this chapter, I'll contact the admins of , but for now I'll just be messaging you the chapters you're missing.

Second, I've decided to edit out several passages of the next few chapters because I don't want to run the risk of getting the fic deleted because it's not rated properly. I'll put these outtakes into a separate story when this is finished. Think of it as a bonus :)

And thirdly, thank you so much for all your support and reviews/messages about the story. I'm constantly insecure about how I write, so to be told I'm doing a good job and that I'm not a complete idiot makes me happy :) You guys absolutely don't have to review, but I appreciate it :D

Much love!

PS - My dad is really into American Idol this year because of Phillip Phillips (whom I feel bad about crushing on because he's got a girlfriend), Elise Testone, and Joshua Ledet. It's kind of strange. He's more of a fangirl than I am.

Anyways...

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Sunlight filtered through the glass panes of Gryffindor Tower, hitting me in the face and waking me up instantly. I threw a hand over my eyes and blindly felt around on my nightstand for my clock. I peered at it sleepily. It was, of course, 7 in the morning, a full three hours before I had class. I groaned and rolled onto my stomach, burying my face into my pillow. Edgar meowed in protest as I jostled him by the action.

I had just started to drift off when I was smacked in the head with a pillow. "Lin, do you know what today is?"

I propped myself up on my forearms and blinked sleepily at Jane, who looked panicky. "Quidditch practice?" I wracked my brains. No, that's tomorrow. "Marcus's birthday? Your mum's birthday?" She grew more and more impatient with each answer. I huffed. "I don't know! It's too early to think!" I slumped forward into my pillow.

Jane shook me. "It's Valentine's Day."

It took me a moment to process this. "And?"

"It's VALENTINE'S Day, Lin!" She shook me again.

I sat up and slung my legs over the edge of my bed, looking around the room. Carly and Georgie were still sleeping. Lucky. "We forgot, didn't we?"

Jane nodded wildly, her bed-head hair flipping around dangerously. "What do we do? I've only ever had two other boyfriends before, and they were both in the summer! I don't know what to do!"

"Did you date them at the same time, or were these different summers?" I scratched my head. Bad idea, because she looked like she was going to kill me. "Sorry! Sorry! Still waking up here!"

She sighed and her shoulders slumped as she plopped down on her bed. "What did you do last time?"

"Umm," I scratched my head again, "with Kyle? I think we swapped chocolate."

She looked disappointed. "You didn't do anything more romantic?"

I shrugged. "We had just started dating, and neither of us took the day too seriously." I stretched and stood up. "What's wrong with chocolate?"

She shook her head. "I feel like I should do more."

"Calm down, Janie, seriously." I yawned and rummaged through my trunk for clothes. "It'll be fine."

She burst into tears suddenly, causing me to be alarmed. "I ate all the chocolate!"

I finally understood. "It's your time of the month, isn't it?" She nodded sort of pathetically. "Look, we'll go to Hogsmeade right now. No one's going to be awake, right?"

She wiped away her tears. "How?"

"James has this map, and it's got a whole bunch of secret passageways on it. I'll sneak into his room and grab it. Now, turn around!" She complied and I quickly changed. "Get dressed, Jane. I'll meet you downstairs."

Edgar followed me down the dormitory staircase, probably going off to the kitchens for food. I shook my head as he pushed though the portrait hole. He roamed the hallways as if he owned the place, and figured out more secret passages than I ever had. That cat is too intelligent.

The common room was empty, which was a relief. I didn't want any rumors spreading around about what I was doing in the boys' dormitory. I crept slowly and quietly up the stone staircase, reading each door. When I got to the fifth landing, I noticed it. Seventh Year Boys.

I inhaled deeply and crept inside. James, Jack, and Reggie were all sleeping soundly, curtains tightly shut. I knew they could sleep through anything, but I still wanted to be careful, because they usually got up soon, anyways.

I searched James's nightstand and his trunk, finding nothing of interest. The space beneath his bed was more of the same. I did learn, however, that he was extremely messy. I shuddered. It was like a dirty sock graveyard.

I sighed and looked down on James's sleeping form. He was snoring lightly, which made me giggle softly. I couldn't resist the urge to sweep his hair from his face. My hand inched forward, but he caught it and tugged.

I fell on top of him with an "oomph". I tried to get off of his torso, but his arms wrapped around me, hugging me to him. "Lin," he breathed and looked into my eyes sleepily. "Is this my Valentine's present?"

"No." I struggled against him. "James, I have to meet Jane downstairs now."

He frowned in confusion. "Wait. Why are you in here, then?"

"I need the map," I whispered. "Jane forgot that today was Valentine's Day, and she wants to sneak into Hogsmeade."

He ruffled his hair. "I'll come with you, then."

"No!" I insisted quickly. I didn't want him to find out I had forgotten, too. "She'll be so embarrassed. Please?"

He looked at me curiously as he released me and rummaged around under his pillow. "So, what's my surprise, then?" he asked after he found it.

"Your what?" I all but snatched the map from him.

"My Valentine's Day surprise." He pouted. "You didn't forget like Jane did, did you?"

"Of course not," I scoffed, hoping I wasn't beginning to blush.

He smiled and settled back against his bed. "Good, because I got you one. Be in the Great Hall at 9, okay?"

"Does this have anything to do with the prank you were talking about a week ago?" I looked at him nervously. I thought it had been an empty threat, since breakfast had passed without anything out of the ordinary happening.

He gave me a small smile before he rolled over. "See you at 9, Lin."

I frowned at his back briefly before tearing down the stairs to Jane. She looked concerned. "Why did you take so long?"

"James woke up," I said, trying to catch my breath. I pulled out my wand and tapped the parchment in my left hand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Jane looked at me like I was crazy, but gasped as the castle and names appeared. "I know," I told her as I scanned the map, "that was my reaction, too." I grabbed her hand. "It's clear. Let's go!"

We ran down the hallways and staircases to get to the statue of the one-eyed witch by the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. When we reached her, Jane was wheezing, and, even though I was in better shape because of quidditch, I was having trouble catching my breath. I glanced at the map and groaned. "Dissendium!" I tapped the witch's hump and shoved Jane inside, just barely making it in myself before Professor Roberts passed us.

We walked calmly the rest of the way, with me checking the map periodically until we crossed the Hogwarts border. I then shoved the map into the pocket of my sweater. Jane looked at it curiously, now breathing much easily. "Where'd James get that map, anyways?"

"He stole it out of his father's desk when he was 14." I giggled. "It didn't surprise me, to be honest."

Jane smiled. "No, it doesn't surprise me, either. I wonder if his dad made it."

I pulled it out of my pocket and examined it. "No, it looks older than that. Hugo's said his Uncle's talked about it before, though. Maybe next time we're over we could ask about it."

Jane nodded as we hit the end of the passageway. I pointed my wand at the ceiling and levitated it away, leaving us a space to crawl up. Jane cupped her hands. "Here, I'll give you a boost."

Several muttered curses and bruises later, we were in Honeyduke's. Thankfully, it was packed, so our arrival didn't raise anyone's suspicions. I tried to discreetly shake the dirt from my hair as I checked my snitch necklace. "We've got a half an hour before we should head back." Upon hearing this, Jane immediately started throwing candy after candy into the basket. "Slow down, Jane!" I stopped her hand as it reached to clear the shelf.

She shot me an embarrassed look and put half the packages away. "Sorry. I got carried away. But you know how it is, Lin."

"I suppose so." I grinned at her knowingly. "In fact, mine is coming up, so we should probably stock up. But what about Marcus?"

She chewed on her bottom lip. "I can get him a box of chocolate frogs, and maybe a poster for the Appleby Arrows?"

I patted her on the back as I glanced around the shop. "Sounds good. What do you think for James?"

"Another chocolate frogs pack, I should think." She tossed in another pack of chocolate frogs. "Other than that, I dunno. We could try at Spintwitches. Or Gladrags for a pair of screaming socks." She winked.

"No, I'm saving those for his birthday," I joked. "But Spintwitches sounds good. Their quidditch stuff is pretty top quality."

So, after paying for the candy in our basket, we slowly made our way to the sporting goods store. I took deep breaths of the Scottish air, enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face as we crunched through the snow. I was relishing in the peace and quiet, until Jane tugged me into a store. "I have an idea!"

She shoved me through the door way. I paled as lingerie filled my vision. "No. Oh, no. No no no no no." I insisted, trying to back out. "We've only been dating a month and a half!"

"Just give it a try, Lin. It'll be fun!"

I whimpered. Today was not turning out as fun as I had hoped. "We're going to be so late."