Hermione's Valentine Surprise

Hermione Granger sat in the Common Room with her nose stuck in a book that her mom sent her. It was one of those romance novels that they both enjoyed so much. Sometimes when she didn't have any homework to do, she would take out one of the books and just read. As she got into the third chapter, she heard the Common Room door open and in walked Harry & the rest of the Quidditch team. She glanced up and saw they were all red faced and shivering.

Harry's glasses were all fogged up. Fred & George's faces matched the color of their flaming red hair. Ron (who was the Keeper now) looked just like his two brothers. The girls, Katie, Angelina, and Alicia, looked like Rudolphs on two legs. They all came in, brooms over their shoulder's, and sat down around the fire. Harry and Ron on the other hand, went and sat at the table were Hermione was. Harry took the seat next to her, and Ron the one across. Hermione tried to ignore the, but she felt both pairs of eyes boring into her. She glanced up at them over the top of her book. They were both grinning at her.

She slowly closed her book, set it down and grinned at them back, crossing her arms in front of her on the table. She looked over across the table at Ron. He was no longer looking at her. He was looking down at his hands in his lap; his ears still red from the cold. She looked at Harry on her left to see that he was still staring at her. His elbows were resting on his knees so that he was leaning slightly toward her. His black, matted hair was stuck to his forehead, and his emerald green eyes were gazing into hers. The color was slowly starting to return to his face, although his cheeks were still slightly red. They both stared at each other a moment before they looked over at Ron. He was still concentrating on his hands. He must have felt their gazes on him because he looked up at his two smiling friends and smiled back.

Hermione was the first to speak. "So how was practice today?"

Ron snorted and glanced at the fire. "It was like riding out broomsticks stark naked in a snowstorm! I swear that my wand is the size of an earthworm right now because I'm so cold!" He rolled his eyes as Hermione and Harry started rolling with laughter. Ron soon joined in and all three of them were laughing their heads off. They received weird looks from the others, but they soon forgot about it. After Ron stopped laughing, he said, "Well it was!"

Harry took a deep breath and said, "I agree Ron."

Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "I'm not saying that it's not cold considering it is the middle of February."

"Yeah," Ron said shrugging. They were silent for a moment, then...

"Oh Ron!" Ron and Harry both jumped with the sudden silence break. "You got an owl from Amanda today!" Amanda was a girl that Ron met over the summer and spent all his time with. She gave him a sly smirk. He sat there gawking at her like a fish out of water. "Here." She pulled out a blue envelope from under her chair and handed it to him. "You might want to read it and send back a reply," she told him. He nodded, still wide eyed, stood up, and went upstairs.

They both stared after him for a minute before Harry turned to Hermione with a surprised look on his face. He had met Amanda earlier that summer, and she looked like she was part Veela! "Is that really from her?" he asked.

"Yes it is! I was quite shocked myself. Goodnight guys!" Hermione said, telling the rest of the Quidditch team goodnight as they trudged up the stairs. Thus leaving the Common Room just to Harry and Hermione.

They both looked into the fire for a while before Harry stood up, stretched, and looked down at Hermione, who was still gazing in to the fire. He smiled at the site of her. The fire reflected in her cinnamon brown eyes and her wavy brown hair was falling over the smooth skin on her face. Finally Harry said, "Well, I'll be right back. I'm going to take a shower and change ok?"

Hermione shook her head and looked up at Harry. "All right. I need to do the same anyways," she said.

"So I'll see you in about 15 minutes?" Harry asked her.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah. I'll be right here."

"All right then! I'll be right back." He turned and walked up the stairs.

Hermione looked after him a while before she got up and went upstairs to the girls' showers. Before she headed to the shower she went to the dormitories to get her pajamas. Her mother bought her a new nightie for her birthday. It was what Hermione called her vixen nightie. It was a white silk nightgown that went to the top of her knees. It had braided spaghetti straps, and a robe to go with it that was as long as the nightgown. Then, she headed to the bathrooms to take her shower. She took it as quickly as possible and headed back down the stairs, dressed and brushing her hair out. She was surprised to see that Harry was already sitting there. His hair was wet and brushed back out of his eyes. She smiled at him and walked over to the chair where he was sitting.

Her heard her slippers moving across the floor and moved over for her to be able to sit next to him. When Hermione sat down, she was pressed firmly next to Harry. Although she really didn't mind. She rested her head on his chest, and he put an arm around her. After staring into the fire in silence for a few minutes, Hermione sighed heavily. Harry automatically sensed something was wrong with her.

"Are you ok?" he asked, glancing down at the tip of her head.

"Oh yea! I'm fine," she said with a shrug. "It's just tomorrow's Valentine's Day, and I won't have a Valentine. Again!" She said this without looking at him; just staring straight into the fire.

Harry stared at her a moment before he spoke, still looking down at her. "But Ron and I are always your Valentines! We always give you cards and candy!"

"Yea, well that's not what I was talking about," Hermione said flatly.

Harry furrowed his eyebrows at her for a second before he came to realization. "Oh! You mean, not having a real Valentine don't you?" he asked her. He turned to face her so that she sat on one of his knees.

She turned and faced him. She nodded as a single tear streamed down her face. She reached up to wipe it away, but Harry beat her to it. He slowly wiped it away, and then ran his hand along her cheek before taking her hand in his. She looked down at the tanglement of hands and her eyes grew wide. Then she slowly looked back up into his brilliant green eyes. He smiled weakly at her before he spoke.

"Don't worry, Mione. I'm pretty sure...well I know for a fact, you'll have a valentine this year," Harry said, stroking her hand with his thumb.

She gazed into his emerald eyes while he gazed into her cinnamon brown ones. They were lost in each other's eyes for what seemed like eternity, but it was only a moment. Hermione seemed to relax with Harry stroking her hand.

"Really?" Hermione whispered seductively. "Do you really think so?"

Harry gulped and adjusted himself in his seat. He was suddenly very aroused by just the sound of her voice. "Uh...yes. Yes. I really do. I-I know you will," he stuttered.

She grinned sweetly as she pushed a lock of silky brown hair behind her ear with her free hand. He just kept boring into Hermione's eyes, like he was being sucked into a black hole with no way out. He loved her eyes. They were not only beautiful, but also trusting. Friendly. Wise. Concerning. Her eyes said everything about her. Soul wise, or not.

"So who do you think it will be?" she asked him softly with a grin.

He grinned back at her and said, "Well you'll just have to find out about that!"

He gave her a flyboy grin that made her go weak at the knees. She smiled weakly back. He glanced over at the clock. It was midnight. He decided that they better go to bed.

"Hey. I think it's time for bed. You're gonna want to look good for your valentine tomorrow!" He leaned over and kissed the top of her forehead. "G'night Hermione," he said as he stood up, letting Hermione slide off his knee.

"Night Harry," she said back, just looking up at him. He grinned at her and walked up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.

She stared after him. He reached the door at top and looked down to where Hermione sat and winked at her. She smiled back, blushing. He turned, opened the door and walked in, and shut the door behind him.

Hermione sat back in the chair and sighed. She really dreaded Valentine's Day. Last year was ok. Ron made her a card and Harry bought her a box chocolate. But she wanted a real valentine! She slowly got up and prodded up the stairs. She quietly got into bed, closing the hangings around her four poster bed. She retraced in her mind everything that happened downstairs. Then, she reached something that made her gasp.

Harry had kissed her! It wasn't a real kiss, but it was a kiss of some sort! She felt her cheeks start to redden as she thought about it. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes. Maybe tomorrow wouldn't be too bad after all!

Hermione woke up feeling happy and perky. She saw the light shining through a crack in her hangings. She glanced at the clock through that crack and saw that it was 6:45 am. She got out of bed and went to the showers. She took a quick shower, put a spell on her hair to make it tame, and dressed in her best school robes. She decided she'd put on a little lip gloss, grabbed her school bag and hurried downstairs to breakfast.

When she entered the Great Hall, she felt a few pairs of eyes on her, but not too many. She walked over the Gryffindor table and took an empty seat next to Harry and across from Ron. Ron looked extra happy today, and Harry had a small smile on his face while he ate. They were both quiet but looked up when Hermione arrived.

"Morning Mione," they said in unison.

"Good Morning guys!" she said back, helping herself to some toast.

"So Ron, what did Amanda say in the letter if you don't mind telling us?" Hermione asked after she took a bite of her toast.

Ron sighed and looked up. Harry and Hermione could tell that a smile was pulling on the corners of his mouth. "Well...she wanted to know how I was, how you guys were, and everything and..." he paused and blushed, "she wanted to know if I'd be her boyfriend," he said simply, as if it was an everyday thing.

Harry and Hermione looked surprised. "W-well what did you say?" Harry stammered.

"What do you think I said mate? I said yes of course. And guess what else? She's coming here to Hogwarts!"

"That's great! I'm so happy for you, Ron," Hermione said.

"Yeah, me too, mate. You deserve her," Harry said.

"Thanks guys. Well, I have to be going. I told Amanda I'd owl her again today. See you guys in class!" Ron said, as he got up and walked out of the Great Hall.

Harry and Hermione continued with breakfast in silence until a brown owl swooped through the Great Hall and dropped something in Hermione's lap before leaving again. When Hermione looked to see what it was, she gasped.

In her lap was a long stemmed red rose with a small card. She took the card off the flower and red it aloud to Harry, who looked happy, smug, and surprised all at once.

Hermione,

I hope you like the rose. When I saw it, it stuck out from the rest because of its beauty. Just like you. You truly are a gift, and I love you.

Love,

Your Secret Admirer

P.S. - To keep you out of suspicion, I'll give it away in the entrance to the Great Hall after breakfast.

"Oh Harry! You were right! I do have a true Valentine!" Hermione exclaimed.

"You see? I told you! Well, I have to go too. I need to finish that essay for Snape before class, I'll see you later," Harry said, as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

She blushed furiously and turned to look at him. He just smiled and winked at her before he got up and made his way out of the Great Hall. Hermione sat there stunned for a minute before she turned back to her breakfast.

After a while, the Great Hall slowly emptied out. The only ones left were her, and a few Ravenclaws. She decided not to keep her admirer waiting and got up and walked out of the Great Hall. She looked around and saw no one. She looked at her watch. She had half an hour until Arithmacy. She looked down the main staircase to see if she could see them. Suddenly she heard an oh-too-familiar drawl from behind her.

"What are you looking for, Granger? Cupid? Sorry, but I think you just missed him."

Hermione turned around to see Draco Malfoy walking towards her.

"Oh please don't tell me it's you!" she moaned.

Draco raised one silvery eyebrow at her. "What are you talking about?" he snapped.

"Are you my secret admirer?" she asked him softly.

Draco chuckled. "Oh hell no, Granger. Although I do have something to give you," he said rather huskily.

He walked over to her until he was mere centimeters from her face. Hermione was pinned between the wall and him so she held her breath and closed her eyes, preparing herself for what was coming. His lips had barely brushed hers before she heard a load thunk and a groan.

She opened her eyes to see that Harry had Malfoy by his collar against the opposite wall. She slowly let her breath out as she listened to what Harry was yelling.

"Just what in the bloody hell do you think you're doing, Malfoy?"

"None of your bloody damn business, Potter!" Draco drawled through clenched teeth.

"The hell it isn't! You were about to seduce her!" he shrieked in his face, tightening his grip on the collar.

"So?" Draco shrugged.

"So? So I think you'd best back off or you won't see the O.W.L.S.! Got me?" Harry growled, as he shoved Malfoy down the corridor.

"Fine. You haven't heard the last on me," he yelled, as he straightened his robes, turned on his heel, eyes flashing at Harry, and stomping down the corridor.

"Yeah, yeah!" Harry mumbled, waving a hand at him, and turning to a trembling Hermione.

"Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" he asked, walking over to her and gently taking her by the shoulders.

Hermione threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. "Oh Harry! I was so scared. I thought that he was going to rape me!"

Harry put one arm around her and used the other to stroke her hair. "Shhh. It's ok. I'm here now. And I promise that no one's going to hurt you."

Hermione smiled into his jumper. Then, she realized something.

"H-Harry? Are you my secret admirer? Has it been you the whole time?"

Harry smiled. "Yes. Yes it is me," he said as he leaned down and kissed a surprised Hermione.

She gasped at how quickly it happened but soon gave into his warmth and passion. She slowly slid her arms up his chest and around his neck, and he comfortably wound his arms around her waist. He tongue ran along her bottom lip making her moan. She let his tongue in and felt an immediate shock run through her body. It lasted for a little while before they had to pull away for air.

The both smiled at each other.

"I love you, Harry. And I appreciated you for making me happy."

"I love you too, Mione. And that's all I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. Happy Valentine's Day," he whispered as he leaned back down and captured her lips in another kiss that led to making them quite late for their next class!

THE END