Hello everyone! I'm super excited to finally be sharing my Miraculous Valentine's Hogwarts AU. I really hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 1 - Quidditch...and a Distraction

Marinette opened her eyes and glanced at the ceiling of her four-poster bed. She yawned sleepily, smiled, and closed them again, pulling the covers back over her head. All was quiet. It was Saturday, which meant she didn't have to…

'RISE AND SHINE, FLYWEIGHTS!'

Marinette nearly tumbled out of bed as someone tore open the red curtains.

'What the…' She rubbed her eyes groggily. 'Nora? What are you doing in here? It's the middle of the night!'

'It's six-thirty a.m. and that means…Quidditch practise!' Nora began dragging Marinette out of bed by her ankles. 'I've organised it all with Professor Couffaine. Let's move!'

'Now?' Marinette's heart plummeted. 'Nora…I love Quidditch more than anything, but seriously?'

'No time like the present. So I want to see you up and dressed in ten minutes. You too, Kubdel.' Marinette heard moaning from the direction of Alix's bed and guessed that her fellow Chaser was also having her curtains thrown open.

'Have you been in the boys' room and dragged Kim out of bed?' Marinette asked, stretching her arms above her head.

'I didn't need to. He's up and ready to go,' Nora told them proudly.

'Classic Kim,' said Ondine, poking her head out from between her own curtains. 'Tell him I said hi.'

'You can say hello to him later. He is your boyfriend,' Alix pointed out. Ondine just grinned and disappeared back into the warmth of her bed.

'Quidditch robes, you two,' snapped Nora. 'Don't make me ask again.'

'Okay,' said Marinette. 'We'll be right down.'

Marinette and Alix grimaced at each other as they took turns to head into the bathroom and change from their red-and-gold lion-printed pyjamas into their scarlet robes. Marinette grabbed her broomstick, the Miraculous 2000, and the pair snuck quietly out of the dormitory.

Nora and Kim were already discussing Beater techniques when they arrived in the Gryffindor Common Room. The others were dozing in armchairs – Jess, their third Chaser, Socqueline, their Keeper, and Adam, their Seeker. Jess and Socqueline were both sixth-years, one year above Marinette, and Adam was in third-year.

'Off we go, Flyweights,' Nora barked. 'We are going to crush Slytherin in our next match.'

They all tumbled clumsily through the portrait-hole. Marinette, as per usual, tripped over her robes on the way out. Shaking her head, Jess helped her up.

'You'd think after four and a half years you'd have mastered that,' she teased.

'It's harder when you're half asleep,' Marinette replied. The three Chasers fell into step side-by-side as they began to walk down the corridor. 'I know exactly why Nora's so obsessed with beating Slytherin this year. It's because Alya's their new Seeker.' She was almost beginning to regret convincing her best friend to join her house Quidditch team. They had quickly learnt that sibling rivalry was best left off the pitch.

The whole team began to feel more awake as they released the four balls, mounted their brooms, and shot up into the air. The sun climbed steadily up over the horizon as Kim and Nora whacked the Bludgers back and forth, Socqueline swerved from side to side trying to block attacks from Marinette, Alix, and Jess, and Adam hunted around for the Golden Snitch. Marinette's tiredness melted away as she whizzed through the air, scoring goal after goal, her robes and her pigtails streaming out behind her. This was the only time she felt truly free. When she was high up on her trusty broom, with the wind in her hair and pride in her heart, her self-doubt melted away, along with her clumsiness.

Well…most of the time.

When Marinette was in the zone, there was only one thing that was guaranteed to bring her out of it. Or rather…one person.

She accepted a pass from Jess, caught the Quaffle with one arm and performed an expert barrel roll to dodge a Bludger attack from Kim. She was about to pass the ball to Alix, who was poised to send it flying through one of the three tall hoops, when she saw a flash of yellow in the stands below. As she breezed along, she allowed her gaze to linger on what had caught her eye. A black-and-yellow scarf waving in the breeze. And a mop of windswept blond hair.

Her heart jumped. Her stomach fluttered. Then suddenly –

'AAAARRGHH!'

Marinette crashed headfirst into Alix, knocking her off her broom. As Marinette braked hard, Nora pulled out her wand and yelled 'Arresto Momentum!' as Adam darted upwards to catch Alix's broom before it could fly away. Alix stopped falling and floated gently to the floor below. The rest of the team flew down and dismounted.

'What was that, Dupain-Cheng?' Nora snapped.

'I…I…' Marinette stammered. 'I don't know. I thought I saw…er, someone in the stands.'

The team craned their necks to look at where Marinette was pointing.

'I don't see anyone, Marinette,' said Jess. 'Maybe it's too early in the morning and you're seeing things?'

This was a possibility. Anyone who knew Marinette knew that she was not a morning person.

'I…um…maybe. I guess. Sorry, Alix. My bad.'

'Knocking other players off their brooms is our job, Marinette,' Kim joked. Marinette forced a laugh.

'Right you are. I'm sure it was nothing. Back to it, then?'

'Let's move, people!' Nora yelled as they kicked off from the ground once more. Marinette tried to forget about what – or rather, whom – she'd seen. Or thought she'd seen. Were her eyes – and her heart – playing tricks on her?

The rickety wooden stairs creaked as two pairs of boots carried their owners up towards the commentator's box.

'Thanks for coming with me, dude,' said Nino as he stopped to catch his breath. 'This won't take long and then we can go to the Great Hall for some breakfast. I wouldn't want to keep you from your food.' He glanced around for his best friend. 'Um, hello-o? Adrien?'

The blond, as it turned out, had wandered over to one of the seating areas in the stands and poked his head out. His Hufflepuff scarf was caught by the breeze as he gazed up with a dreamy smile on his face.

'Adrien?'

'Coming, Nino.' Adrien tore his eyes away from the players – well, one player in particular – and followed Nino up the stairs.

'Don't tell me,' Nino threw him an accusatory look. 'You guessed Gryffindor might be practising today. That's why you wanted to come. You don't actually want to help me test out my new megaphone.'

The guilty smirk on Adrien's face gave him away.

'Dude, really?'

'Don't be silly, Nino. Of course I wanted to help you. Anything for my favourite Quidditch commentator.'

Nino snorted.

'I'm the only Quidditch commentator you've ever known. That charm of yours might work on the ladies, but it won't work on me.'

Adrien laughed and slung an arm round Nino's shoulders.

'It would be weird if it worked on you. You're my best friend. And I promise I do want to see this new megaphone your parents got you for Christmas. Even if…yes, you got me. I also wanted to see Marinette flying.' His face regained its dreamy look, eyes gazing into outer space. 'I can't help it. She's just so amazing.'

The way she flew through the air like a red blur. The way he could never take his eyes off her in her crimson robes with DUPAIN-CHENG emblazoned on the back. He'd never seen Quidditch played before he'd joined Hogwarts at the start of his fifth year, and he'd never really met any girls besides Chloe, who had been like a sister to him growing up. It was no surprise, really, that Marinette had captured his heart. She was brave, talented, funny, not to mention beautiful…

His face must have taken on a vacant expression, because Nino rolled his eyes.

'My guy, you have got to ask that girl out. Next weekend is Hogsmeade, why not ask her to go with you? Or…it's February in a few weeks. You know what that means.'

'Ummm…?'

'Valentine's Day! Send her a card. Tell her how you feel and put me and Alya out of our misery.'

Adrien's shoulders slumped.

'I don't know, Nino. I'm new to this whole thing. Coming to school, making friends. I wouldn't know how to go about telling Marinette that I love her.'

Nino suddenly found himself feeling bad for Adrien. It couldn't be easy, trying to fit in after being home-schooled your whole life.

'Don't sweat it. We'll come up with something. My girlfriend is Marinette's BFF, after all. So I'd say luck's on our side.' He held out his clenched fist. Adrien grinned, and bumped his own fist against it. 'Now, are we gonna test out this megaphone or what?'

'You bet!'

The two boys raced each other up the rest of the stairs to the commentator's box. When they emerged into the cold, crisp air once more, Nino took the megaphone out of its case. He peered over at the seven red dots flying about on the pitch beneath them.

'Looks like Alix's got the Quaffle,' Nino said. 'Are you thinking what I'm thinking, dude?' he asked with mischief in his eyes. Without waiting for Adrien's answer, he put the megaphone to his lips and cried:

'GRYFFINDOR IN POSSESSION! ALIX KUBDEL EXPERTLY PASSES THE QUAFFLE TO MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG. SHE SHOOTS – SHE SCORES!'

Nino's voice echoed around the stadium. Adrien had to cover his ears; the noise was deafening. The Gryffindor team stopped playing at once and squinted up at them, their mouths falling open. Even from a distance, they could tell that the team captain, Nora Cesaire, was not happy. Nino suddenly looked nervous. Adrien, as usual, tried to look on the bright side of things.

'Well, er, at least now we know it works!'

Marinette's head whipped around at the sound of one of her best friends' voices. That was definitely Nino all right. And wherever Nino was, a certain somebody else was never too far away.

Sure enough, when her curious eyes landed on the commentator's box, her suspicions were confirmed.

'Adrien!' she gasped, shivering with delight. So she hadn't imagined it. It hadn't been her lovesick brain playing tricks on her. It really was him. He'd come to watch their practice and…oh no. Her stomach dropped all the way down to the pitch below her. Had he seen her knock Alix off her broom? She'd die of embarrassment if he had.

Nora was flying over to the two boys. The rest of the team followed, Marinette nervously bringing up the rear.

'Hey! You two!' their captain hollered. 'This is a Gryffindor practice session. No Hufflepuffs allowed.'

'Sorry,' Nino was saying as the team fanned out into a circle around the box. 'I wanted to try this out.' He held up the megaphone. 'Imagine how stupid I'd look if it didn't work on match day?'

'Try it out some other time, Lahiffe,' Nora replied. 'We don't need any commentary right now. So you and Blondie had better clear off, or else.'

Marinette felt bad for Nino, being bossed about by his girlfriend's big sister. Adrien spoke up.

'Nino didn't mean any harm. We're not on the Hufflepuff team. We haven't come to snoop, I promise. It was my idea to come, and I don't know the first thing about Quidditch anyway,' he told them, blinking his big green eyes innocently.

Marinette was impressed. Adrien had a great many charms at his disposal – and not just those he could cast with a magic wand, of which there were many. She would definitely have fallen for it. Nora just narrowed her eyes.

'Whatever, Mr Model Guy. We all know that thing works now. So you two had better not be here when we start again.'

'Right you are!' Adrien grabbed Nino and made for the stairs again. Just as he turned to go, his eyes lingered on Marinette, who gulped, and gave a huge, awkward grin, waving her hand. As the rest of the team turned their backs and flew off, he treated her to a wink and a lopsided smirk. Her heart skipped several beats. Oh, he was good.

You see…Marinette was great at chasing the Quaffle. But she wasn't so great at chasing boys. Especially this particular boy. She always ended up getting flustered around him.

After Adrien and Nino had vanished, Marinette heard Alix's voice calling to her.

'Hello? Earth to Marinette?'

'Wha…' She blinked. The rest of the team had reached the ground and dismounted once more. Sighing, she flew down and joined them.

'You can't speak to Adrien Agreste like that!' Socqueline was saying worriedly. 'What if he tells his father? You could get in big trouble.'

Nora wasn't convinced.

'Pffffft. I'm not scared of some pretty-boy, or his daddy. Everyone thinks he's so special just because he's been on the cover of Witch Weekly more times than anyone else.'

Adrien is special, Marinette thought angrily as she leapt off her broom. Special to me.

'His father is Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement,' Adam pointed out.

'And it's not against the law to tell someone to get lost when they're not welcome, is it? I bet those two were sent by the captain of the Hufflepuff team to spy on us. Or sabotage our practice!' Nora fumed. 'That Agreste boy was probably here to distract Marinette. Everyone knows about the ridiculous crush you have on him.'

All the colour drained out of Marinette's cheeks until she resembled one of the Hogwarts ghosts.

'Th-they do?' she asked, teeth chattering. 'D-does A-Adrien know?'

'Nah,' said Alix, waving a hand dismissively. 'Boys never pick up on that stuff.'

'That's true,' said Kim. 'It took me weeks to get the hint that Ondine was trying to ask me out.'

'Enough talk about our love lives,' Nora interjected. 'Back to Quidditch, please?'

But even she couldn't deny that everyone was getting tired and hungry. They would miss breakfast if they carried on any longer, and nobody wanted that. Eventually, they all agreed that they had practised enough and decided to leave it there and head back up to the castle.

After changing out of her scarlet Quidditch robes and grabbing herself a hearty breakfast in the Great Hall, Marinette decided to make the most of the lovely morning and head down through the grounds to visit her old friend, Master Fu.

The wise old man lived in a small tent on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. His role at Hogwarts was Groundskeeper – but he was so much more than that to Marinette. He'd been the first friend she'd ever had in the Wizarding World. On her eleventh birthday, he'd shown up at her parents' bakery in London, presented the young girl with her Hogwarts letter, and explained to the little family that she was, in fact, a witch. Tom and Sabine had nearly fainted in shock. Marinette had pinched herself hard, certain that she must have been dreaming. But it was all true. Unlike anyone else in her family, she'd been born with magic in her blood. She was special.

'Master?' she called as she reached the tent. 'Are you home?'

A few moments later, a familiar, kind old face poked out from between the tent flaps.

'Marinette! What a lovely surprise. Please, come in. I'll make us a pot of tea.'

'That would be lovely!'

Marinette ducked inside the tent and made herself comfortable on her favourite cushion. It was one that she'd made for him as a birthday present during her second year, and it was now looking a little worn with use. In no time at all, she was wrapping her cold hands around a cup of steaming hot tea, feeling the warmth flooding through her. The tent was always warm and dry, no matter the weather. She wasn't sure how that worked. Magic, probably.

'Hey there, Wayzz.' Master Fu's pet tortoise had plodded over to say hello. Marinette stroked his smooth shell affectionately. 'Miss me?'

'We both did,' said Master Fu as he took a seat opposite her, clutching his own teacup in his hands. 'It always gets a little lonely when you go home for Christmas.'

'You got my letter though?' she asked hopefully. 'And the card I sent?'

'Of course. I always find those muggle Christmas cards so fascinating – the way the pictures don't move at all. And I'm glad to hear your parents are doing well. I remember like it was yesterday when I met them. I'll never forget the looks on their faces when I told them the truth about you.'

'They couldn't believe it,' Marinette laughed. 'Some days, I think they still don't. But then again, they've never actually seen me do magic, since we're not allowed. So it's a little tricky for them. It'll be weird for them when I turn seventeen and can really show them my stuff.'

Suddenly a shadow loomed up against the tent wall. Master Fu frowned.

'Who could this be?'

But Marinette was smiling.

'I'd know that silhouette anywhere. Come on in, Alya,' she called.

The door flap opened once more and in walked her best friend in the whole world.

'Hey, girlfriend. Hi, Master Fu,' she said, taking a seat on the cushion next to Marinette. 'I thought I might find you here. Is it true my sister had you up at six-thirty this morning?'

'Yep,' Marinette grimaced. 'I'm going to fall into bed at ten o'clock tonight. Which is super lame for a Saturday night.'

Alya laughed.

'Theo prefers to keep us awake all hours of the night. We have to sneak past all the ghosts in the dark on the way back to the dungeons when we come in.'

'I'd rather do that. I am not a morning person.'

'Oh, I know.'

'Although, sneaking around in the dark doesn't sound like a good idea for me either. Knowing me, I'd crash into a suit of armour and wake up the whole castle.'

'That's probably true, girl.'

Alya accepted her own cup of tea from Master Fu, thanked him, and took a sip. Then her face lit up.

'Oh my gosh, Marinette. The funniest thing happened!'

Marinette and Master Fu looked expectantly at her.

'What?'

'You'll never guess who tried to buy her way onto the Slytherin team.'

'Hmm…' Marinette pretended to scratch her chin in thought, her eyes sparkling. 'From the fact that you said buy her way onto the team…I'm going to guess…Chloe?'

'You got it. She showed up with a Miraculous 2001, thinking that would make any difference. But Theo and the rest of us weren't having any of it. We've seen her at try-outs and we know she can't play to save her life.' Alya put on a high-pitched, snooty voice. 'Just you wait until my father hears about this!'

Marinette fell about laughing, nearly spilling her tea everywhere.

'You know…I wouldn't mind Chloe being on the Slytherin team. Then I could kick her butt when we play against you. Serve her right for calling me a 'filthy Mudblood' all the time.'

'Still,' said Master Fu, frowning, 'That sounds like a waste of a perfectly good broomstick. What will Chloe do with it?'

'I don't know,' said Alya. 'I mean, her dad is the Minister for Magic. If he does tell us to put Chloe on the team, we kinda have to.'

'That would be terribly unfair,' the old wizard replied. 'In order to be on the team, she'd have to take someone's place.'

'Yes, and I bet she'd go for mine just out of spite,' said Alya with gritted teeth. 'And then we'd lose because she'd be too busy showing off that fancy broom to look for the Snitch.'

'You'd think Minister Bourgeois would have more important things to worry about,' said Marinette. 'Gosh, I'd kill for a Miraculous 2001.'

'Don't give me any ideas,' said Alya darkly. 'I'm the one who shares a dorm with her. Only joking, Master,' she reassured their host. 'Please don't report me to Headmaster Damocles.'

Marinette didn't really want to replace her broom. Her parents had got her the Miraculous 2000 back in August as a reward for being chosen as a school prefect. At the time, it had been the latest model. She supposed that broomsticks were like mobile phones back in the muggle world; you never had the latest one for very long.

'If only you two and Chloe could settle your differences,' Master Fu said wistfully. 'Then your lives would be easier, I am sure.'

'That's never happening, I'm afraid,' said Alya. 'But hey – that's enough talking about Chloe. What I want to know is…' She nudged Marinette. 'What's new with you and Hot Stuff?'

Marinette blushed.

'You mean Adrien?' she asked, unable to keep the goofy smile off her face.

'Um, duh.'

'Ah, Adrien,' said Master Fu. 'This boy that you are in love with?'

'What?' Marinette nearly dropped her teacup in surprise. 'How do you know about that?'

'I've known you for nearly five years, my dear. I can tell when something is going on inside your heart.'

Marinette's hand hovered over the left side of her chest.

'Is it that obvious?'

'Totally,' said Alya with a smirk.

'Also – let's just say that the students – and the teachers – at this school are terrible gossips. News travels fast at Hogwarts,' her old friend told her with a knowing smile. Marinette felt embarrassment flashing through her – and excitement fizzing in her stomach at the same time.

'Even the teachers?' she asked incredulously.

'Adrien's a big name, so anyone he may or may not be dating is gonna be the talk of the whole school,' Alya pointed out. 'And you're known for being the youngest muggle-born Chaser the school has ever seen. Speaking of which…Nino says the two of them crashed your practice this morning?'

Marinette recounted what had happened.

'Nino's new megaphone is super loud. Professor Couffaine is going to love it.' Their flying instructor loved all things loud and chaotic.

'Oh, yeah. Adrien was totally there to see you, girl.'

'R-really? You think so?'

'I know so.'

'Did Nino mention anything about me knocking Alix off her broom?' Marinette asked nervously.

Alya frowned.

'Um, no, he didn't mention that.'

'Phew. Maybe Adrien didn't notice.'

'That is so typical of you to get distracted by him. You do know he'll be in the crowd when we play?'

'As long as I can't see or hear him, I think I'll be okay. He just took me by surprise, that's all. He was watching every match we played last year and they were all fine.' What she didn't mention was how she had fallen harder for him than ever since their last match back in November. There hadn't been a single day during the Christmas holidays when she hadn't had him on her mind. It seemed absence really did make the heart grow fonder.

'Well, you're up against us next, so you'd better be at the top of your game,' Alya challenged.

'Oh, we will! Just you wait! You'll be there too, won't you?' she asked Master Fu.

'I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just don't get too competitive, girls, and remember to have fun.'

'We will,' they promised, and they meant it. They loved Quidditch, but their friendship meant so much more.

The two girls had met during their very first trip on the Hogwarts Express. Alya had gotten away from Nora and her third-year mates as quickly as possible and found an empty compartment. Five minutes later, there had been a yell and a crash as a small, blue-haired girl had tripped clumsily over her suitcase as she'd attempted to come in. The suitcase had burst open, spilling the contents everywhere. Alya had helped Marinette pack everything away again, and the pair had quickly become friends. They'd spent the rest of the journey eating sweets and telling each other all about their very different lives. When they'd arrived at school and been sorted into Gryffindor and Slytherin, they'd known it would be difficult maintaining their friendship, but they'd made a pinkie promise (the first-year equivalent of an Unbreakable Vow) that they'd be best friends forever. And they had.

'Nothing's come between us so far,' Alya declared. 'So this definitely won't.'

'Absolutely,' Marinette agreed.

When Alya and Marinette arrived back at the castle after more tea and cakes, students were beginning to make their way towards the Great Hall for lunch. Alya spotted Nino in the crowd and pulled him to one side as Marinette headed off towards the Gryffindor table.

'This Hogsmeade visit next week,' she said, getting straight to the point as usual. 'I bet you five Galleons that Adrien and Marinette will fail miserably at asking each other out.'

'I know that look – you're planning something,' her boyfriend replied. 'What are you suggesting?'

'That we give them a little…extra help. What do you say? Operation Hogsmeade?'

Nino returned her excited grin. The two shared a subtle fist-bump before lacing their hands together.

'Operation Hogsmeade!'

And that's the first chapter! I hope you're enjoying it so far.