Chocolate For Him

It was a festive time at Hogwarts School of

Witchcraft and Wizardry that February.

Classes were going along fine and Voldemort was laying low. Therefore, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore

decided that a three-day Valentine's Day Celebration was in order. It was to be ended with a Valentine's

dance on Valentine's Day itself.

On the first day was to be an exhibition

Quidditch competition. The

outcome of the competition did not affect the house points, but the Quidditch

teams from each house were more than happy to participate. So far, Gryffindor had beat Ravenclaw

and Slytherin had creamed Hufflepuff.

So the final match of the competition was between the two rival

houses. The commentating, like

usual was done by Lee Jordan with Professor McGonagall watching over him.

"And the Quaffle is released and taken by Chaser

Alicia Spinnet of Gryffindor!

Spinnet passes to Bell who passes back to Spinnet. Whoa! Spinnet barely avoids being creamed by one of the Slytherin

chasers as she goes and she--SCORES!

Ten nothing to Gryffindor!

Slytherin in possession! Chaser Pucey zigzags along pitch

making his way to the Gryffindor goal posts and is going to shoot--YES! Excellent Bludger work by George

Weasley! Take that you Slytherin

scum!"

"Jordan!"

McGonagall's voice rang out as she scolded Lee Jordan's highly biased

commentating.

"Sorry Professor. Angelina Jordan in possession of Quaffle. Gryffindor chasers fly down pitch in

the Hawkshead Attacking Formation.

Angelina passes to Bell who passes to--NO! Slytherin beater hit Bludger toward Bell who drops

Quaffle! Damn you Slytherin�c�h

"Jordan!"

"Sorry Professor. Slytherin in possession--No wait. Fred Weasley uses the back-hand Bludger hit to knock Quaffle

out of Slytherin Chaser Montague's hand!

Johnson catches Quaffle and SCORES! 20-zip to Gryffindor!

"Slytherin in possession. Montague passes to Pucey who flies up

to the Gryffindor goals--WHAT THE!

Slytherin beater Derrick hits Bludger at Gryffindor keeper who gets hit

in the head�cNO! Pucey scores and

brings score to 20-10! Damn you

Pucey!"

"Jordan!"

"Sorry professor. Spinnet in possession of Quaffle. Passes to Bell who passes to Johnson who passes back to

Spinnet. Spinnet dodges a Bludger! She goes up and SC--NO! Slytherin keeper Bletchley blocks

Spinnet's shot!"

"Hermione?

Did you come to the Quidditch match just to sit in the stands and

read?" Ron Weasley asked his best

friend as he cheered Gryffindor on.

Hermione Granger scowled at him. "For your information, Ron, I find

these Quidditch matches an excellent time to catch up on my reading. And I think you need some catching up

as well."

Ron snorted. "Oh sure Miss 'Hogwarts: A History'. Come all the way to a sporting event

and not even watch the sport.

Hermione, why are you reading 'Hogwarts: A History' again? You've read that book about�chey wait a

minute? What's that smaller book

you got hidden in the larger one?"

"N-nothing!" Hermione tried to slam her book shut but Ron was too quick

for her. He plucked out the

smaller book Hermione had been reading while hiding it in between the pages of

'Hogwarts: A History'.

"A cookbook?" Ron raised an eyebrow as he skimmed the book. "Since when have you been interested in

cooking?"

Hermione blushed red as she glared at her red

haired friend. "I just have a wide

range reading topics, OK? Unlike

you."

"What's that supposed to--"

"POTTER HAS SEEN THE SNITCH!" Lee Jordan's voice caught both of their

attentions as they looked up to see their other best friend speed toward the

small golden glint on his Firebolt.

All thoughts of the cookbook vanished as they both cheered their best

friend on.

"Draco Malfoy, that git--"

"Jordan!"

"Has also seen the snitch. But Potter's broomstick is faster. Come on Harry! YES! Yes, yes, YES!

Harry Potter catches the golden snitch and Gryffindor wins 170-10!"

"We won!

We won! Harry's done it

again!" shouted Hermione while hugging Ron and jumping up and down.

"Now she gets excited," muttered Ron. He grinned and said, "Lets go down and

give him our congrats."

Hermione and Ron made their way to the Quidditch

pitch where the Gryffindor Quidditch team was being carried on the shoulders of

their cheering fans. There he was,

with his hopelessly messy raven black hair, his emerald green eyes behind round

glasses, and his famous lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. Harry Potter immediately spotted his

best friends making their way towards him.

"Ron!

Hermione!"

"Harry!"

The three best friends pulled each other into one big group hug and

laughed out loud in the sheer joy of Gryffindor victory. Of course, they soon had to part as the

Gryffindor team needed to make their way to Dumbledore and accept the

Valentine's Quidditch Trophy.

* * * * * * * * * *

That night, Hermione left Gryffindor tower and

snuck through the corridors. "I

can't believe I'm doing this," she thought as she swiped her long bushy golden

brown hair out of her face. "I'm a

prefect for crying out loud! And

here I am breaking the rules."

Furthermore, she was breaking rules for very personal reasons, and if it

wasn't for the fact that the reason was very important to her, she wouldn't

have even thought about breaking the rules.

Hermione finally managed to sneak up to the room

that contained a portrait of a pear.

She felt relieved that she hadn't run into Filch or Mrs. Norris,

although she was positive that she could bluff her way out by saying she was on

prefect duty.

Hermione tickled the portrait of the pear, and

it swung open to reveal the entrance to the kitchens. She walked in.

"Miss Hermione! Miss Hermione!"

Dobby the house elf ran up to her wearing his tea cosy and mis-matching

socks.

"Hello, Dobby. Did you prepare the stuff I asked for?"

"Yes Miss Hermione. Dobby prepared all the stuff Miss requested. Dobby is a good house elf. Dobby helps Harry Potter's friends."

"Thank you Dobby," said Hermione with a sweet smile. Usually, when Hermione went down to the

kitchens, she would try to convince the house elves there to accept some of the

benefits that Dumbledore was more than willing to grant as part of her on going

campaign with S.P.E.W. This time

however, she was here for a completely different reason.

Hermione proceeded to the counter where a whole

manner of food ingredients such as cocoa, milk, sugar, as well as the required

pots and pans were lain out.

Hermione pulled the cookbook out and turned to the page that she was

reading at the Quidditch match.

She put on a cooking apron and started to make Valentine's

chocolate. Within half an hour,

the rich aroma of chocolate filled the room. Hermione sighed happily. "I still can't believe I'm crazy enough to make Valentine's

chocolate with my own hands," she thought. She was just about to start putting on the finishing touches

when the entrance to the kitchens opened.

Panicking, Hermione dove under a nearby table while accidentally

knocking a roller on the floor in the process.

At first, no one seemed to have come into the

kitchens. Then, a silvery

invisibility cloak was whipped off and Hermione gasped as Harry Potter emerged

in the room. Dobby sprang onto him

right away: "Harry Potter sir!

Harry Potter sir!"

"Hey Dobby," said Harry with a grin. He sniffed the air. "Mmmmmmm. Chocolate. Is

that for Valentine's day?"

Dobby glanced at Hermione in her hiding

place. She mouthed, "I have

nothing to do with this," to him. Dobby

nodded and said, "House elves love making chocolate for each other, Harry

Potter sir."

Harry nodded. "So, can I have some snacks?" Dobby was off in a flash looking for some extra food. Harry started exploring the kitchens

when he stepped on the roller and fell over.

"Oh no.

Harry!" thought Hermione.

Harry seemed unhurt however as he picked up the roller.

A split second later, Dobby had come back with

the food. He made a double take

when he saw Harry on the ground.

"Harry Potter sir! Is Harry

Potter alright sir?"

"Yeah Dobby, I'm fine. Just slipped when I stepped on this roller."

Dobby took the roller and started beating his

head on it. "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

"Dobby!

It's OK! Don't beat

yourself up over it." Dobby immediately

stopped and passed the food to Harry.

"Well, this should shut Ron up for a while. Thanks a lot Dobby," said Harry.

"Anytime, Harry Potter sir," said Dobby. Harry pulled the invisibility cloak on

and left the kitchens.

After a few minutes, Hermione emerged from her

hiding place. "That was close,"

she thought. "Well, now I can

finish what I came to do." Hermione

completed the finishing touches to her piece of Valentine's chocolate. She smiled satisfied at her handy work

and wrapped it up in a gift box.

She left the kitchens and crept back to Gryffindor tower.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next day, the Gryffindor fifth years had

Potions with the Slytherins.

Hermione had been up late the last night making chocolate and she was

dozing on her desk.

"Miss Granger will you pay attention in my

class," growled Snape sounding as oily as ever. Hermione immediately sprang up blushing fiercely.

"I'm sorry sir, it will never happen again."

"See that it doesn't," said Snape. "And 15 points from Gryffindor." Snape went off to bully Neville who had

melted his fourth cauldron.

Snickers were heard from the Slytherin side.

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day when you

of all people would sleep in Snape's class," whispered Ron. Hermione scowled.

"For your information, I was up late last

night," she hissed.

"Doing what?" asked Harry. "What could've been so important that

you of all people would risk sleeping in Snape's class?"

"Reading," muttered Hermione. She hated lying to Harry but she didn't

want to tell him what she had really been doing.

"Who would of thought," muttered Ron. Hermione scowled at him.

"5 points from Gryffindor for talking in class,"

snapped Snape.

After class, Draco Malfoy, flanked by his

bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle, walked over to the trio who were packing away

their books.

"Well so the Mudblood was sleeping in

class? Who would of thought that

would happen? What's the matter Mudblood,

can't get a date for Valentine's day?" smirked Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled stupidly.

Harry and Hermione had to stop Ron from lunging

at Malfoy and beating the crap out of him. "Why don't you go eat some of that chocolate you got from Millicent

Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson, Malfoy.

I'll go visit you when you get sent to the hospital wing for food

poisoning."

Malfoy scowled at Harry and left with his two

cronies. "Thanks Harry," said

Hermione.

"No problem," replied Harry, his eyes

smiling. "Well, we better get a

move on or we'll be late for transfiguration. I'm not in the mood to get on the bad side of McGonagall

today."

* * * * * * * * * *

Later that day, Hermione was sitting alone at

dinner. Harry was away at

Quidditch practice and Ron had gone to see him. Hermione glanced at the boxed chocolate she had made the

night before. "Tomorrows Valentine's

Day," she thought. "I wonder if I

can ever give this chocolate him."

"Hi Hermione." Ginny Weasley had come and sat down next to her.

"Hi Ginny."

"So tomorrow's Valentine's day," said Ginny. She blushed as she said "I got Harry

some Honeydukes chocolate. I'm

going to give it to Hedwig and ask her to deliver it for me tomorrow during

breakfast."

Hermione chuckled. "Oh Ginny, if you that you'll only be one of the legions of

Harry"s fans."

Ginny raised her nose and huffed while still

blushing. "Well maybe I'm content

with just admiring Harry from a distance." She glanced at the boxed chocolate in front of

Hermione. "You also got some

chocolate?"

"Made it," said Hermione, blushing a little.

"Who's it for?" asked Ginny with a teasing

voice. Before Hermione could

protest, Ginny grabbed the box and read the name written on the piece of

chocolate. She raised an eyebrow

and glanced at Hermione who was blushing very red. "Well, I don't blame you," said Ginny.

"Thanks," mumbled Hermione as she put the

chocolate into her bag.

"I suppose you'll give it to him personally."

"Actually, I've been considering owling it him."

"Don't do that!" Ginny's outburst startled Hermione. "You have to give it to him in

person. You're more than an

admiring fan, Hermione."

It was around that moment that Harry returned

from Quidditch practice. "Hey,

what's up?"

"Nothing much," said Ginny blushing a

little. "Well I need to go so I'll

see you later, Hermione." She went

off back to Gryffindor tower.

"So Harry," asked Hermione a little

apprehensively. "Do you have a

date for the Valentine's Day Dance tomorrow night?"

"No," said Harry. "Actually, I was planning on going stag. How about you?"

"I don't have a date. I was a little busy recently and I wasn't too concerned

about finding one."

Harry smiled. "Well if that's the case, then maybe we could go together."

Hermione blushed a little but she also

smiled. "I'd like that."

"Alright then. I'fll see you at 7 in the common room tomorrow." They stood up and made their way to

Gryffindor Tower. Hermione smiled

inwardly knowing that she would go to the dance with Harry, even if they were

just going as friends. Of course,

Harry hadn't necessarily mentioned that they would be going as friends.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next day, Harry had gone to see Hagrid. He had mainly come there to avoid the

bombardment of Valentine's chocolate he had received from the owl post that

morning. Even Hedwig had brought

him some chocolate from a few girls he hadn't even met before.

"Hiya Harry. You wan' one a 'em rock cakes I made?"

Harry politely declined as he petted Hagrid's

boarhound, Fang. "So are things

going along fine, Hagrid?" he asked.

"Oh, things are jus' righ'. Say, who're yeh goin' to the dance

with?"

"Hermione."

"Ohhhh.

Is tha' so," said Hagrid with a cheeky grin. Harry didn't miss it.

"Hagrid, what are you thinking?" Hagrid simply whistled and looked

away. Harry rolled his eyes as he

took a sip of his tea.

* * * * * * * * * *

That night, Hermione was in her dorm room

preparing for the dance. She

wanted to make sure that she could make the male population of the school turn

their heads when they saw her. She

also decided that she could give the chocolate to him during the dance.

Hermione was pleased to see Harry's jaw drop

when she emerged from her room.

For that matter, the entire male population was staring at her and the

female population was glaring at her with envy. Hermione was wearing, a one piece, form-fitting, sleeveless

silvery blue dress robe. She wore

the slightest hint of makeup and her golden brown hair cascaded around her face

in beautiful ringlets.

"You look beautiful," said Harry as Hermione

descended the stairs to join him.

Hermione blushed red and beamed at him. "Thank you. You don't look that bad yourself." It was true: Harry was wearing bottle green dress robes that

went well with his eyes.

"Shall we proceed?" said Harry as he offered her

his arm. Hermione laced her arm

through his and the two proceeded down to the Great Hall.

The Great Hall was decorated magnificently with

beautiful hearts floating about.

The stars shone on the enchanted ceiling giving a romantic glow to the

room. Dumbledore had hired a

magical orchestra to play waltzes and romantic ballads. It was a million times better from when

Lockhart had decorated the Hall for Valentine's Day during their second year.

Harry and Hermione proceeded to their table

where Ron was sitting with his date, a Ravenclaw sixth year. "Hey, you two," he said while stuffing

mashed potatoes into his mouth.

"Hi Ron," said Hermione as she and Harry took

their seats. "Having a good time?"

"You bet," declared Ron while he stuffed some

Yorkshire pudding into his mouth.

Harry snickered a little at the scene Ron was making.

"So, Potty and the Mudblood decided to come

together eh?" called a drawling voice.

Draco Malfoy had come up to them.

"Get lost, Malfoy," said Ron. Harry placed a hand on his shoulder to

make sure Ron stayed in his seat.

Malfoy smirked.

"So let me get this straight, Potter. You're actually willing to degrade yourself

low enough to escort a Mudblood?

Who would've known."

Harry felt anger building up inside him. However, he decided to let it pass when

someone came up behind Malfoy and said, "Draco dear, would you like to have a

biscuit?" Without looking to see

who it was, Malfoy took the biscuit and popped it into his mouth. Malfoy was about to continue his verbal

abuse when he all of a sudden bloated up like a balloon, pretty much the same

way Harry had once blown up his Aunt Marge. All of the students, even some of the Slytherins, roared

with laughter as Malfoy started floating up to the ceiling. McGonagall looked livid but she, along

with most of the other professors, were too busy trying to get Malfoy back down

to the ground. The ones who had

given Malfoy the biscuit were of course Fred and George who were now roaring

with laughter.

"Great one you two," said Ron between gales of

laughter. Even Hermione was

chuckling a little.

Finally, Dumbledore signaled the orchestra to

start the first dance, a slow waltz.

Hermione grinned and pulled Harry onto the dance floor. Harry looked nervous. "I-I can't d-dance," he stuttered.

"Come on, Harry. Its easy."

Hermione placed Harry's hands around her waist and she looped her hands

around Harry's neck. They slowly

started to sway to the slow music.

After a few dances, Harry had gotten used to dancing and the two were

simply swaying back and forth with ease with Harry stepping on Hermione's foot

less and less often. Feeling

content, Hermione rested her head on Harry's chest and closed her eyes. Pretty soon, the two were in their own

world, simply content with dancing with each other.

After a while, Harry looked down at

Hermione. "Hey, want to go outside

for a while?" he asked.

"I'd like that," said Hermione with a sweet

smile. The two proceeded outside

hand in hand and made their way to the lake. A number of other couples were outside snogging in the

bushes. Harry and Hermione caught

sight of the Giant Squid resting its tentacles on the beach. Hermione finally decided that this was

the right time.

"Um Harry, I have something for you," she said

blushing a little. Harry raised an

eyebrow as Hermione pulled out the wrapped box. Harry took it and opened the box. Inside was a heart shaped piece chocolate that had the

following letters written on it in frosting:

To Harry James Potter

Happy Valentine's Day

From your best friend, Hermione

Hermione looked at her toes fidgeting nervously

as Harry read the writing on the chocolate. "I made it myself," she mumbled.

Harry smiled and said, "I love it." Hermione smiled and decided to take a

risk. She leaned forward and

kissed Harry briefly on the lips.

Harry seemed a little surprised but certainly didn't look upset as he

grinned. Hermione smiled as a

blush settled in her cheeks. The

two made their way back to the Gryffindor common room. Before they made their way to their

respective ways to their dorm rooms, Harry turned to Hermione and said,

"Hermione, next Hogsmeade weekend.

You want to go together?

Just the two of us?"

Hermione smiled and said, "I'd love to,

Harry." Harry grinned and kissed

her briefly once more.

"Good night, Hermione," he said.

"Good night, Harry. And Happy Valentine's Day." They both smiled as they walked up the stairs to their

dormitories.