Happy Valentine's Day, Hermione by Catriona Rhiannon

Rating: G
Genres: Romance, Humor
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 4
Published: 25/02/2003
Last Updated: 25/02/2003
Status: Completed

Hermione HATES Valentine's Day. With a passion. But will someone make her change her
mind?




1. Happy Valentine's Day, Hermione
----------------------------------

**Happy Valentine�s Day, Hermione**
Hermione Granger was trying to finish reading three chapters of Exotic Carnivorous Plants (How
to Survive Owning One) for her Herbology essay, entitled �How to Care for the different kinds of
Carnivorous Plant Traps�. She furrowed her eyebrows. �The Superior Venus Fly Trap needs constant
care and supervision,� she muttered. �If not maintained for a short period of time, it will emit a
very horrible stench coming from�argh!�

Succumbing to frustration, she snapped the book shut and sighed loudly. That was the forty-third
time she read that sentence in the past ten minutes. She just couldn�t concentrate! �Shh!� shushed
Madam Pince, as the eagle-eyed librarian gave her a piercing glance. Hermione didn�t even look up,
only muttering a �sorry� under her breath. She did, however, see Madam Pince wave her index fingers
at several giggling Hufflepuff fourth-years who were poking their friend who was receiving a
bouquet of red roses from a tall Ravenclaw admirer, it seemed. �This is a library, a room of great
learning, and not a meeting of lovers,� the librarian said huffily, fixing her spectacles.

Hermione watched the group shuffle away and sighed again. She finally knew what was getting her
goat.

Valentine�s Day.

Every year around the second week of February, the Great Halls became littered with red and pink
decorations. You�d even see Peeves dressed up as Cupid and �accidentally� hitting Filch in the
posterior with one of his golden arrows. Professor Flitwick would be showing them how to
distinguish between an Aphrodite Charm and a Venus Spell. Professor Snape would be demonstrating
how to concoct a Love Potion, much to his dismay and repulsion. Aside from that, everyone would
become all mushy and even more inattentive in their classes, daydreaming that their latest crush
would ask them to be their valentines. Those with steadies were saving every Galleon to purchase a
gift for their loved ones in time for that special day.

It was all a load of dung. She did not enjoy it one bit.

Why was she being a Valentine Grinch? Oh it wasn�t that she didn�t receive any valentine cards.
How shallow was she to get mad over that silly reason? She received some, from her friends and
family. No no. It was, to put it simply, the uselessness of the occasion. And how people became so
giggly and romantic during that particular holiday. You could hardly talk to anyone without that
person bursting into peals of laughter. It just did not make sense. And Hermione hated things that
did not make sense to her.

She sighed and blew a stray strand of her now straighter locks (straighter; not entirely
straight yet, but she was working on that) away from her eyes. She checked her watch and blinked
sleepily. Five more hours to the fourteenth of February, she thought wryly. Gee, the day when I get
to watch people make fools of themselves. I can hardly wait.

She could only console herself by thinking that she only had a year to go before ridding herself
of this ridiculous tradition.

Gathering the pieces of parchment she had scribbled her notes on, she lifted herself heavily off
of the seat. It was suppertime already, her stomach told her. She had approximately five minutes to
leave all her belongings in the girl�s dormitory and head down to the Great Hall for supper.
Valentine�s Day. Bugger. What else could go wrong?

* * * *

Breathless, she burst through the door of the Gryffindor Sixth Years Girl�s dormitories. Or what
she thought was the dormitories. It had been so this morning. Her heart sank miserably. This is not
what I need, definitely not what I need.

�Wha�Wha?� she stuttered. She stared at the numerous rose- and lilac-colored silky, gauzy sheets
draped over the four-poster beds and bedside tables. She gawked at the heart-printed cotton
comforters and the pink, mind you, PINK velvet drapes that hung around her bed. She gaped at the
peach and red rose petals scattered all over the floor, strategically placed so that one would
follow a path that would lead them to look at the most appalling change of all. Smack-dab in the
center of the room, was a blown-up eight-foot picture of Harry Potter.

Parvati and Lavender had obviously redecorated the entire room in the span of an hour. They did
a pretty good job of it, and Hermione would have been impressed if it hadn�t been for her
incredibly bad mood, the fact that they didn�t ask for her permission (as it was her dormitory too)
and that she didn�t want her best friend�s face plastered all over the wall.

Parvati leapt over to Hermione, grinning widely. �Isn�t it wonderful, Mione? All the pastels,
the roses, the hearts... romantic isn�t it? See, we even redesigned your bed! It looks marvelous
doesn�t it?� She linked her arm around Hermione�s as Lavender bounced over, her perfect teeth
dazzling. �And the roses, aren�t they superb? Have you smelt them? You�ll be showered with their
heavenly scent while you sleep!�

Hermione stared at them openmouthed.

They gave her startlingly brilliant smiles, �Well?�

�Why is the picture of my best friend enlarged to an unimaginable size and pasted on the wall?�
she replied, with all the self-control she could muster. Both girls glanced at the picture and gave
audible sighs of infatuation. �Oh Mione, you�re such a laugh. You of all people should know. He�s
your best friend! You�re with him all the time!� The last statement made their eyebrows furrow and
their eyes narrow.

�Are you angry because... Harry and you? You and Harry? Hmm?� Parvati sniffed snottily. Lavender
gasped at the notion her friend was implying. �No of course not! Right Hermione? I mean, your
relationship with Harry is completely platonic.�

Both girl�s sneered unfriendly-ly at her. �Right?�

Hermione threw up her hands in disgust, �I will not even dignify that question with an answer!�
She glanced at her four-poster, already searching her head for the spell to revert it back into her
old one. She was also trying to figure out how to take down Harry�s picture without Parvati and
Lavender pitching a hissyfit. She looked at Harry�s smiling face, enlarged twenty times it�s normal
size. The picture was waving cheerfully, giving her a warm grin. His messy black hair flopped into
his eyes, obscuring the scar. His green eyes glinted with hidden mischief. Her bad mood diminished
slightly. Just a teensy weensy bit.

�Where on earth did you get such a picture?� Hermione wondered, her brow unfurrowing. His
position looked so familiar. He was in his scarlet Quidditch robes, leaning against a wall. He
looked quite exhilarated, as if he just won the game. She remembered having a similar picture to
that one, tucked into her treasured photo album.

The pair reddened, and Parvati started twiddling her fingers. �Well, we kind of... er, that
is... when we borrowed your photo album... wekindasortoftookit.� Both cringed at the fury that
emanated from their normally studious roommate. They didn�t realize that the photo meant that much
to her.

Ding! That was the limit for Hermione's patience.

�You WHAT?! You STOLE that picture from my photo album?!� she yelled. �Who said you could even
LOOK at the album?! How DARE you take things without MY permission?! How DARE you decorate OUR
dormitory without even CONSULTING me?! How DARE you blow up MY picture of MY best friend without
telling ME?! Do you think you could just IGNORE my opinion?!�

Both girls cowered under the other girl�s furious gaze. �Hermione,� Lavender reasoned. �Dear,
please think rationally about the situation.�

�Yes yes!� Parvati agreed readily. �You shouldn�t overreact.�

�Gets that blood pressure of yours up. And we wouldn�t want you to get all huffy and faint,
would we?�

�And besides! Why should you be in a bad mood?�

Both girls grinned and threw their arms out, silly grins spreading on their faces. �It�s
Valentine�s Day!�

Hermione stared at them dully for a second, before turning around and stomping away. Curses were
being muttered and the pounding of her feet echoed around the hallway to the Common Room and
continued until they heard the portrait hole being slammed shut. Both girls blinked.

�So d'you think we can keep it?� Parvati wondered.

Lavender shrugged. �I reckon so.�

Parvati grinned happily. �Good! Now, did you see Harry in Care of Magical Creatures this
morning?�

* * * *

Hermione flopped onto the chair nearest to the fire upon entering the empty Common Room. Her
eyes drooped tiredly. It was three quarters past eleven, and she had spent the entire evening
avoiding their dormitories. Parvati and Lavender probably hadn�t taken down the decorations as she
had requested, so she decided to enter when darkness blanketed the room and she wouldn�t have to
see the ridiculous room design as she came in.

She twisted a piece of wavy brown hair around her finger, lazily watching the fire through
half-lidded eyes. She curled up in the chair, enjoying the coziness and comfort it offered her.
February was still very much cold, and any time near the fireplace was welcomed. She snuggled into
the nook of the chair, her eyes closing and her mind debating whether to spend the night here
instead of in her bed.

�Mione?�

She opened one eye and saw a disheveled form creeping up to her. He had a messy mop of black
hair and bright green eyes. His glasses were slightly askew, and his clothes were rumpled adorably.
�Hullo Harry,� she murmured, yawning widely. She smiled at the sight. He looked so young, so much
younger than his age of sixteen.

�Hullo,� he said, smiling back at her. He collapsed onto the sofa opposite to Hermione�s chair.
�Up so late?�

�I cannot stand Parvati and Lavender!" she exploded suddenly. "They�re just so...
inconsiderate!� Harry chuckled good-naturedly. �You�ve been their roommate for six years and you
only realized it now?� She made a face at him. �That�s not all. They even went so low as to
steal...� She stopped and giggled, surprising him.

�What is it?�

�If I tell you, your big head�ll inflate even more,� she joked, ruffling the top of his head
playfully.

He wrinkled his nose in annoyance. �And what is that supposed to mean?�

�It means, my all-star Quidditch-playing friend, that they took my picture of you from my album
and blew you up twenty sizes too big,� she confessed. It actually seemed funny now, come to think
of it. The looks of terror on Parvati and Lavender�s faces were positively hilarious! "I blew
up and left them in states of adoration and decided to steer clear of the room until
necessary.�

Harry scowled at the thought of his face in the girl�s dormitories before realizing what
Hermione said. �Hey! Does that mean you�re not the least bit attracted to my manly charms?� He
raised his eyebrows suggestively, making her laugh. �You wish Potter,� she snorted. �Manly charms
or no, you�ll still be special to me.�

A strange look overcame Harry�s face. �You really mean that, Mione?�

She let out a heavy sigh. �Of course, you daft git! You�re my best friend; nothing will ever
change that.� She didn�t notice that the glint in Harry�s eyes faded slowly and he muttered an
�Oh...� under his breath. Seconds ticked by as they watched the fire in the hearth flicker softly.
Hermione drew in a breath apprehensively. The flames were like fingers, reaching and clawing at the
heavens, trying to climb higher and higher. The orange and red and yellow, clashing in an eternal
battle, fighting for supremacy in the enclosed, tiny fireplace...

She shook her head. Valentine�s Day was making her too damn poetic for her own good.

�What�s wrong Mione?�

She harrumphed loudly. �Valentine�s Day. That�s what�s wrong Harry.�

�And what, pray tell my dear lady, is wrong with Valentine�s Day?�

�What�s wrong? What isn�t wrong?! I absolutely abhor it, and with good reason. I mean, think
about it! The atmosphere is just too damn irrational and downright insensible for our good. Instead
of progressing through a normal day, I have to walk down the corridor and see at least three
couples snogging the brains out of each other--� Harry colored at her choice of her words ��plus,
the lessons that Professor Dumbledore makes the teachers give are completely not included in the
curriculum. Instead of using the week to discuss points that are possibly in next year�s NEWTS, we
have to make LOVE POTIONS!�

She glared pointedly at him, expecting him to agree with the complete pointlessness of
Valentine�s Day.

Harry shook his head and chuckled. �Hermione, for you this might be terrible, but for others
it�s sort of a break. The seventh years take time off from studying and just spend time with the
people they love instead of worrying about their tests. And not just the seventh years. To the
people in love or who want to be in love, there is an air of romance about. For some people, amour
is more important than books.�

Hermione looked aghast at the very statement. �The seventh years?! How can they think about
Cupid when the test of their lives are approaching?! Have they gone mad?! Have YOU gone mad?!� she
sputtered, �And besides... how can they believe love is more important than learning? Than-than...
books?!�

Harry gave her a Look.

She let out a sigh of resignation. �Oh all right, you may be right about that. But that isn�t
the way I think.�

Harry gestured for a space next to her on the large armchair. She obliged, straightening up to
allow him to sit next to her. Much too close for comfort. His chest was pressed to her back and she
could smell him. Very clean, like soap and water, with a grassy Quidditch scent and a bit of
pumpkin pie. It was so comforting, so... Harry. Hermione flushed at his nearness. But somehow it
seemed too natural to be uncomfortable. Subconsciously, she laid her head across his shoulder and
he wrapped an arm around her.

Anyone who knew them and caught them like this wouldn�t give it a second glance. Harry and
Hermione were very close; they embraced exaggeratedly to surprise people and Harry even went as far
as to give both her cheeks big, sloppy kisses. It was imprinted in everyone�s mind that they did
such things without any malice at all. And there wasn�t.

But this embrace... it was different. It seemed as if Harry were trying to tell her something,
through his actions. Pouring out an invisible something. SOMETHING. Very very peculiar. For once in
her life, Hermione found that she had nothing to say to Harry.

�Huk�� she started. She cleared her throat. Why was she so nervous? This was Harry. HARRY. Her
best friend. The person to whom she told everything. So why was she acting this way? Damn
Valentine�s Day. Was that what was making her stomach flutter? Was that what was making her throat
dry up? Was that what was making her blush and tense?

Or was it something else?

Embarrassment. Yes, that what it was. But... that was preposterous! She�s never been embarrassed
in front of Harry. He was too close to her for her to be embarrassed about the things she did or
didn�t so why did she feel embarrassed when there was nothing to be embarrassed about unless of
course there was something to be emb-... oh my Lord, am I babbling?!

Damn Valentine�s Day.

Damn it to hell.

�Yes Hermione, it isn�t the way you think at all,� Harry said, with a philosophical intonation.
She bit back a giggle. �But Hermione... you need to look past your books and look at the world
around you. People are HAPPY with Valentine�s Day. Happy to spend one day just being romantic and
free and loved. Above all things, loved. And you should be too. You of all people deserve this sort
of break. I know a lot of people would love to ask you to be their Valentine.�

Hermione snorted. �No one would want a killjoy bookworm to be his Valentine, I assure you that.
I mean... the thought is nice and all but... I�d rather stick to my books than risk my trust on
something unstable like love. Books never let you down. They�re always there... they don�t hurt you
or... or... lead you on and in the end just... leave you to cry.�

The arm around her tightened. �No one will ever hurt you like Krum did anymore. Not while I�m
here.� A slight pause. �I will never ever let you down.�

At his words, she turned to look at him. His face was so expressionless but his eyes... they
were turbulent with emotion. The light from the fire reflected in them. She was seeing him
differently now, not as the best friend she had always thought he was, but as the knight in shining
armor she never knew was there.

The ambiance from the fire and the feeling of his arms around her was making her heart thud
faster. What was this? Was this... oh my... do I LIKE Harry? No! It's just... the fire!
Because... it's orange! And it's too hot! Goodness, where on earth is my BRAIN?! That idea
was simply... unthinkable! Forbidden!

And yet... it seemed like the most logical thing in the world. And Hermione exulted in
logic.

�And I don�t think you�re a killjoy bookworm...� he continued. His face suddenly turned pink and
he lowered his eyes shyly before fixing her with their piercing honesty once more. �I think you�re
a very beautiful person, inside and out. You�re bright, witty and determined. Sure, you tend to
scream a lot more than the normal individual, but I�m used to it.� He bit his lip and shrugged.
�I�m sorry; I�m not very good at waxing poetry...�

Hermione shook her head numbly. �No it�s quite alright.� A smile slowly spread onto her face.
�You really think so, Harry?�

He smiled. And that answered her question immediately.

They were jolted by the newly added grandfather clock in the Common Room. They watched the
little witch fly around the clock twelve times before reentering the small door in the middle of
the clock face.

It was February the fourteenth. Valentine's Day. The most horrible day of her life. But
somehow� being here with Harry� didn't seem so horrible. In fact, it felt almost� romantic.
Ick! Romantic?! How she hated that illogical, impulsive adjective. But Harry here was making her
doubt every little outburst she had about the day. Oh what the hell! This was driving her
barmy!

�Happy Valentine�s Day Harry,� she whispered to him. He didn�t answer; he just looked at her.
Then. Very carefully, he leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. Gently, softly. Her heart
stopped. Oh my� now I'm really doubting every grain of sanity I have left� This will change
everything you know� but� I think I want them to. Slowly, he pulled away and gave her a brilliant
smile. �Hermione Granger, will you please be my Valentine?�

Hermione felt his arms encircle her fully, drawing her into a more intimate embrace. Her heart
leapt. She snuggled into it and gave a happy sigh. Was this why everyone was so giggly and
inattentive? She could see why now� she was even ENJOYING it. �Harry James Potter, you daft git,
what do you think?�

He feigned innocence. �I don�t know. Assure me.�

She gave him a playful bop on the head before pressing her lips to his quickly. Maybe
Valentine�s Day wasn�t so bad after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



