A Thousand Roses

A Dozen Roses

By: Kinoryo

It was Valentine's Day. Hermione never quite enjoyed Valentine's Day. She'd never been much of a romantic. In her opinion, Valentine's Day was simply a chance for companies like Hallmark to make a lot of money. Perhaps it was because she'd never had a boyfriend to enjoy Valentines Day with in her time at the school. She'd watched, as the cards would pile up on the table in front of Harry when they were eating breakfast in the Great Hall. Even Ron, who had more admirers than he thought, would get a stack to rival Harry's. Malfoy, who wasn't at all bad looking in the slightest, got several cards from Slytherin and some other girls. But Hermione...

Hermione didn't need a lot of cards. Why should she? She thought the holiday was stupid anyway. It wasn't like she didn't get any. She always got one from Ron and Harry. Theirs would be ones they bought on their last Hogsmeade trip. They'd say things like "Bee Mine!" with a little picture of a bee next to it, or "What's up, Valentine?" Hermione appreciated her friend's efforts to spread the holiday cheer to her, but wished that, just once, she'd receive a real Valentine card. One that wasn't store bought or had some corny phrase on it.

It was the trio's seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And it was Valentine's Day once again. Hermione had chosen to look as she always had, instead of trying to be fancy by wearing red ribbons in her hair like the other silly girls in their year.

Hermione took a bite of her eggs and looked up as Harry and Ron came over and sat down. Ron was glowing with enthusiasm for the holiday, but Harry (who had always been shy) was like Hermione, trying to act as if it were any other day. Ron grinned and sat down to his plate of biscuits.

"What's wrong, Hermione? Why aren't you smiling? It's Valentine's Day!"

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I have a calendar, Ron. I just don't care for today much."

Ron shrugged and began to shovel food into his mouth. Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Ron, seeing Harry, did the same. They handed her the envelopes at the same time and said:

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

Hermione forced a smile and accepted the cards. She reached down into her bag and brought out two cards. She had written them the night before. She handed them to them and resumed her eating. Ron took his card, but didn't open it.

"Come on, Hermione! Open your cards."

She looked at Ron's eager face and sighed. She picked up the envelope with his messy handwriting on the front and tore open the seal. She extracted a card. It had a picture of a cartoon that looked remarkably like Ron. There was a word bubble that read:

"Happy Valentine's Day to you,

Happy Valentine's Day to you,

I hope you get lot's of hugs..."

Hermione opened the card and read the final line.

"... And snogs all the night through!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron was laughing so hard that he was clutching his stomach in pain. Hermione chucked a doughnut at Ron, which only made him laugh harder. Harry was wearing an expression showing that he was trying his hardest not to laugh, too.

Hermione stood up from the table. She was just shoving all the things back into her bag when the owls came. Hermione couldn't stand it. She stormed off, but Neville's voice made her stop and turn around.

"There's one for you Hermione."

She looked back at her spot, and there was indeed a card sitting where she had been only moments before. She rushed over to it eagerly and snatched it up. Ron looked at her curiously.

"Open it!"

He demanded, but Hermione simply shook her head 'no' and shoved it in her bag. She'd open it where she could get a little more privacy. She left the Great Hall and went out into the halls that led to Potions. There, she eagerly tore at the back of the envelope. Inside was simply a piece of paper that said:

"I can be your hero, baby."

Hermione turned it over in confusion. There was no signature to tell her who said it. There was no words at all, other than "I can be you hero, baby." shining in bright red ink.

Hermione stuffed it back into its envelope and put the envelope back in her bag. It was too early in the morning to try and puzzle it's meaning. It was time for Potions anyway.

_-_-_

"That stupid, slimy git!"

Ron muttered darkly as Harry, Ron, and Hermione marched out of the Potions classroom. Snape had given everyone a four-parchment essay on Brigenbalm Potions that was due on Monday. Harry said nothing. He had been acting strange all morning.

"Are you all right, Harry?"

Hermione asked, tugging on his sleeve. Ron grinned and elbowed his best friend.

"He's fine. Just lovesick. Bet you're missing Cho today, eh, mate?"

Harry mumbled something and blushed.

"Ah."
Was Hermione's almost comment? She couldn't deny it, she was jealous. Hermione shook her head. She shouldn't think that way. She convinced herself that she was just jealous that Cho had someone who really cared for her, and she didn't. Hermione's thoughts slipped back to the note in her bag.

"See you guys later!"

Hermione called as she headed down the hall toward Arithmacy. She was sort of glad to get away from Ron and his "Snogs all the night through!" attitude.

Hermione sat down in her seat at the front of the classroom and reached in her bag to withdraw her parchment and quill. She reached inside and felt something small, hard, and square. She grasped it and yanked it out.

It was a box like those that contain wedding rings. Hermione felt her pulse quicken as she carefully lifted up the lid. Inside was a Hershey Kiss. It was wrapped in its usual silver wrapping and sat cheerfully on the foam cushion. Tapped to the inside of the lid was another piece of paper. This one read:

"I can kiss away the pain."

Hermione hastily snapped the box shut. She shoved it back into her bag next to the first note. Someone was trying to mess with her, and she was going to find out whom. She did not appreciate it. Not at all. There was no way anyone would send her a valentine like this, especially not Harry. No matter how much she wished it were he.

_-_-_

"What's wrong?"

Harry asked at lunch. Hermione was hastily eating her food so she could rush off to the library. She decided to put a monitoring charm on her bag so she could identify who it was that slipped things in her bag. Whoever put the box in there probably did it during Potions. She had been sitting with Lavender, and was pretty sure it wasn't her because she was dating Ron. There were numerous possibilities. Malfoy had been sitting right behind her.

"Nothing."

Hermione managed between bites. She took a drink of pumpkin juice. She said a hasty goodbye to Ron and Harry as they she made her way for the library.

_-_-_

Hermione had had no luck in the library. It was just as well. She didn't really need to know who'd been messing with her anyway. Ron and Harry had come to investigate about half an hour ago. Neville, Seamus, Dean, and even Malfoy had walked by as well. They all had said something and gone on their way. Now she sat alone.

Hermione snorted at the unhelpful book and shoved it away from her. The shelves of books surrounding her had been a sense of comfort to her in the past. Now, it seemed that they were worthless. Of what worth were they if they couldn't provide her with answers, anyway? That wasn't entirely fair, however, since the answer she was seeking couldn't be found in a book.

Hermione leaned back in her chair and caught sight of something on the windowsill. It was yet another box. This one was wider than the other one. Hermione grunted angrily. When will this person give up? Hermione snatched it off the window and opened it. Inside was necklace. It was a red stone of some sort cut in the shape of a heart, hanging on a fine gold chain. On the top of the lid were the words:

"I will stand by you forever."

Hermione looked down at the necklace. It was beautiful. Hermione touched it. She shook her head no and snapped it shut and put it in her bag. She didn't believe in this holiday and it was foolish to think someone was actually trying to send her a real Valentine. She was used to getting cards like Harry's (who's she'd opened during Potions. It was a big red heart that said, "You're the Best".) She had hoped Harry's would have been a little more sentimental.

She flung the bag, which was getting steadily heavier, over her shoulder and left the library a little louder than she had meant to.

She walked down the hall, defeated. Hermione, who was looking at the floor, bumped into Neville by accident.

"Sorry, Neville."

He shook his head.

"It's all right, Hermione. Have you seen Harry?"

Hermione blushed at the thought of Harry and shook her head.

"No, why?"

"No reason."

Neville said and sped out of sight suspiciously. Hermione was confused. She decided that it was really none of her business anyway.

Hermione finally got to her room. Being Head Girl, she'd gotten her own room that she was very fond of. It was concealed behind a portrait of Rowena Ravenclaw in the corridor by the Gryffindor Common Room. Hermione said 'hello' to Rowena and gave the password "Hogwarts: A History".

Hermione gasped. Her bed was covered in dozens upon dozens of roses. Red roses, pink roses, and white roses were clustered together in large bouquets that were piled on top of each other. Petals of red, pink, and white covered her floor. Hermione dropped her bag and walked into the center of her room, still dazed. She just stood there and stared at the roses. It was then that she noticed the card. She picked it up. All it said was:

"You can take my breath away."

Hermione dropped the card. It was amazing. Hermione looked up and saw her reflection in her mirror. Her eyes were wide and she realized that her mouth had fallen open from the shock. She noticed something else in the mirror too. Something was taped to the back of the door.

Hermione whirled around and snatched the piece of paper off the door. It said "Meet me in Astronomy Tower tonight at midnight."

Hermione ran out the door and rounded on Rowena.

"Did anyone come through here while I was gone?"
Rowena thought for a moment.

"Why, yes! A young man with a bunch of flowers."

Hermione was startled. At least she knew her Valentine was male.

"What did he look like?"

Rowena's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"You'll have to wait until tonight to find out."

Hermione gapped at the painting. It knew! Hermione grew very frustrated and went back inside. Hermione went over to her bed. The aroma from the roses was overwhelmingly wonderful. She was careful not to crush a single rose as she moved them into a bunch of vases that she placed on the fireplace mantle, her dresser, the window, and even on the floor because she ran out of room.

She lay down on her bed, clinging onto a single rose. She pressed it to her nose, wondering who the sender could be. Hermione decided to take a nap. During her nap, she found herself dreaming about a certain green-eyed Gryffindor.

_-_-_

Hermione bustled anxiously around her room, trying to make herself look as pretty as she could without getting "fancy". There was no way someone could spend all that money on flowers and not like the person they sent them to.

Hermione had decided on a silky, midnight blue blouse and her dressiest, black pants. She didn't want to get too fancy, just in case it all was just a joke. She did, however, try to tame her hair (with mild success) and put on the ruby necklace she'd received. She picked up a white rose and decided to take it with her.

The halls of Hogwarts weren't as quiet as they were usually. Hermione ignored the noises coming from "empty" classrooms and closets. Let them have their fun. It is Valentine's Day after all. Hermione thought, surprising herself. Since when did she care about what went on this day? Since she'd gotten a real Valentine of her own, she guessed.

Hermione was very glad that she was Head Girl. She could use it as a great excuse for her being out after hours. She smiled to herself.

She was almost to the Astronomy Tower. She glanced down on her watch. It was almost five minutes until midnight. She doubled her speed and took the stairs two at a time. She pushed open the door to the Astronomy Tower and climbed up.

The stars gave the Tower a dazzling effect. Hermione searched the Tower for a sign of life. There was no movement. Her heart fell. It had been a set up. Then she noticed something in the middle of the floor, glittering in the starlight.

Hermione walked over to it and picked it up. It was a ring. It was a gold band with a small diamond on top. Hermione gasped and clasped a hand over her mouth. A voice coming from the shadows made her look up in surprise.

"I can't fight this feeling any longer.
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow.
What started out as friendship has grown stronger.
I only wish I had the strength to let it show."

Harry stepped out of the shadows. He was staring at her intently as he sang, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. Hermione choked back a sob.

"I tell myself that I can't hold out forever.
I said there is no reason for my fear,
'Cause I feel so secure when we're together.
You give my life direction,
You make everything so clear."

Harry kept singing. He wasn't too bad. He took a few steps toward Hermione. She was glued to one spot. The moonlight casted shadows on his face, his eyes glinting in the light. Hermione watched as he took the ring from her and casually slid down on one knee.

"And even as I wander,
I'm keeping you in sight.
You're a candle in the window
On a cold, dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might."

Harry lifted her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. Hermione was crying freely now. Harry remained where he was.

"Hermione. I know we're only seventeen, soon to be eighteen, but I also know that I love you more than I've ever loved anybody. So, will you marry me?"

Hermione's mind was processing things a mile a minute.

"Harry, I love you, but we are only seventeen. I'm not ready to get married."

Harry seemed totally unfazed. He slid the ring off her finger and put it on her right finger instead. He stood up and kissed her on the cheek.

"Then hold onto it for me and think about it in the meantime."

"I don't understand, Harry. I thought you loved Cho."

"No, just you."

Hermione smiled and hugged him tight. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and swayed from side to side, singing again.

"And I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
It's time to bring this ship into the shore,
And throw away the oars, forever.

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
And if I have to crawl upon the floor,
Come crushing through your door,
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore."

Hermione smiled as he took her hand and spun her around. He twirled her all around the Astronomy Tower, laughing slightly as he continued.

"My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you.
I've been running round in circles in my mind.
And it always seems that I'm following you, girl.
'Cause you take me to the places that alone I'd never find.

And even as I wander I'm keeping you in sight.
You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might."

Hermione giggled as he picked her up and spun her around in the air. Hermione had always loved Harry. Her feelings for him had just been bubbling at the surface, waiting to overflow. It took dozens of roses to finally accomplish that.

"And I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
It's time to bring this ship into the shore,
And throw away the oars, forever.

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
And if I have to crawl upon the floor,
Come crushing through your door.
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore."

Harry dipped her dramatically and Hermione found herself staring into the endless emerald depths of his eyes. Not for long, though. Harry brought his lips down to hers to begin the first of a thousand kisses that they'd later share.

Hermione had never liked Valentine's Day much. But, after that Valentine's Day, it became her favorite holiday out of all the holidays in the year.

The End