Cordate: heart-shaped
February 14, 2000
As daylight came blazing over the windowsills, flooding the house with warmth and light again, Mrs. Weasley found a single red rose lying across the table. She took it gently in her fingers and delicately touched the crimson petals charmed into the shape of hearts. After thirty years, a simple reminder of the beauty of life said volumes more than any extravagant gesture ever could. A rose to remind her of all the hearts she held dear, the lives they had brought forth together.
XxX
At noon, Hermione came back into her office to find a card sitting in the middle of her desk. Simple, thick white paper, a purple heart bearing the message my love always. It is more than enough of a gift.
XxX
In the stretching hours of the afternoon, as her grandson slept peacefully in the adjacent room, Andromeda pulled a small chest from beneath her bed and carefully fanned the contents out on the quilt. Three decades of elegant, lacy cards signed with that familiar, flourishing T, of loud, colorful gifts marked with "Love you to the moon and back – Dora". A tear or two slipped down her cheeks as she traced the silver hearts, her daughter's wavering, six-year-old signature.
Then she drew out the new card from her pocket and unfolded it, looked at the bright pink handprints all over the shimmery paper cut like a heart that her grandson had proudly shoved into her hands when Ginny had brought him home earlier. She placed it among the accumulation of valentines and smiled even as her heart broke.
XxX
As the sun set, a gold chain came down in front of Ginny's eyes, a small, ruby heart glittering there. She set down the tub of frosting she'd been spreading over cookies and turned around, face-to-face with her fiancé.
"Figured it was about time I gave you this," he said, that crooked smile crossing his face.
"It's perfect," she said, leaning up to seal their promised future with a kiss.
XxX
Dusk light filled the sitting room and Bill lit candles. They didn't have champagne this year. They didn't dance to romantic music. They sat before the fire drinking apple juice instead and tracing hearts over Fleur's bulging belly. This year they had a new sweetheart to celebrate.
XxX
Moonlight glinted off the snow outside the window, off their wine glasses, off the silvery ring he was holding up to her, knelt down on one knee.
"It's not a diamond," Percy said apologetically. "I couldn't afford one worth buying. But maybe someday I can fill it in…."
But Audrey thought that the swirling silver heart was far better than any rock he could have given her.
XxX
All the many ways they gave each other their hearts…
A/N: Ah, the many romances of the Weasley world. :) Hope you liked it, Happy Valentine's Day! Please share the love and review! ;)