Halloween Prompt - Blood Red

School Of Prompt - Word Count 755

Sims 3 trait - Genius

An - Yes I understand the irony of writing about Valentines Day in a Halloween Collection. No, I don't particularly care :P

Word Count Without AN - 754

Perfect Fit

The owls just kept coming, ignoring the scowl on the recipients face. Minerva and Pomona were both chuckling behind their teacups, and the students were discussing the packages in loud whispers. Harry rolled his eyes as he took the final package, checked who it was from, and tossed it behind him into the large pile of discarded boxes.

"Are you actually going to open them, Harry?" Filius asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Nope."

"Then what are you going to do with them. They can't remain there," Minerva said, glancing at the pile.

"Kreacher will collect them and burn them. He enjoys it. Valentines Day is one of his favourite days of the year."

That set the other teachers off laughing, though Harry just picked up his coffee. He hated Valentines Day with a fiery passion. When he glanced at Severus, it was to see his partner eyeing him with an amused smirk. Harry rolled his eyes.

"That's it. Laugh it up, genius. See how you enjoy it later when I'm too wound up to do anything but complain when we retire for the night," he murmured, before standing up and calling Kreacher to him.

When the old elf appeared with a bow and a respectful, "Master Harry," Harry gestured to the pile behind the staff table. "Have fun, Kreacher."

Harry collapsed into his seat at the table, amusing Severus so much he actually chuckled.

"You look awful."

"Yeah... why don't you try and convince your class to comprehend the intricacies of formal duelling when their twittering and fluttering about Valentines day, let's see how you fare."

Severus snorted. "I'd have throw the little snots in detention with Filch if they dared disrupt my class for something so foolish."

Harry nodded. "And that if why I have the student's respect, and you have their fear."

"Fear is a useful motivator for good behaviour, which, when dealing with toxic concoctions, is necessary."

Harry conceded with a half shrug. It was an argument they'd had before and one he was sure they'd have again.

When an owl, carrying a heart shaped box, flew in through the window and landed in front of Harry, the entire hall broke into laugher when said receiver of gift let his head fall to the table with a loud bang.

When dinner rolled around, Harry was still in a bad mood, but no more gifts had turned up, and he was hopeful that the worst of the day was over. For the first time, he actually picked up the food on his plate. He was almost done when Hedwig came into the hall, a single blood red rose in her beak. Harry accepted the gift and didn't throw it away.

If Hedwig had it, it must have been from someone he trusted or she'd have scratched their face off.

He turned to look at Severus, who swallowed hard, and turned even paler than he usually was.

"Ouch," Harry murmured, pulling his finger away from the rose to see his finger had been pricked by a thorn. As a drop of blood fell from his finger to the flower, Harry watched with some confusion as the rose morphed into a box.

Opening it, he saw a ring nestled in red satin.

"Oh my," Minerva whispered. Harry looked around the hall, startled by the sudden hush. He looked at Severus to find his partner no longer sitting beside him. Instead he was down on one knee beside Harry's chair.

"Harry, you've been the most important thing in my life for the six years we've been together, and I don't ever want to wake up to find you are no longer there. You've shown me how good life can be, and you make me happier than I ever thought it was possible for a man to be. I know you hate this day, and I don't like to see you upset, so I hoped I could change the day into something happy. Marry me?"

"Of course I will," Harry gasped. He pulled Severus up from his knee, and they both stood, Severus pulling Harry into a tight embrace, pressing a passionate but brief kiss to his lips. When they parted, he took the box from Harry and slipped the ring from the satin, smiling when Harry offered him the third finger on his left hand.

"I love you," Harry murmured.

"And I you."

The ring was a perfect fit.