Valentine of My Own

Valentine's Day. I used to hate this day. I had always thought Muggles invented it so they could have more business for the floral and chocolate industries. Those, and lingerie companies. But anyway, then the company that made Chocolate Frogs started taking the idea of making chocolate kisses, which were lips that actually kiss you after being unwrapped. Soon after that, the Owl Post began to deliver Valentines. People who send them could choose to leave their names off so the note would be anonymous. The Valentines were first introduced to Hogwarts during my sixth year. I still remembered all the commotion at breakfast in the Great Hall that day.

"Do you think I'll get any owls today, Parvati?" Lavender Brown asked, mock-worried.

"I'm sure you will. I heard someone in Hufflepuff likes you!" Parvati returned in a sing-song voice. The two ended up giggling. Thankfully, Harry and Ron's voices brought me back from my world of annoyance.

"I personally don't get why everyone's so caught up with the whole owl Valentines thing," Ron scoffed.

"It's supposed to be romantic," I said, almost automatically. But they could tell I was sarcastic. Harry and Ron were the only people that could tell when I was sarcastic and when I'm serious.

Harry laughed. "I thought you liked Valentine's Day," he joked, winking. I could tell that he remembered the Valentine's Day that we had in second year, when Professor Lockhart was teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Not as much as you," I joked back, also winking. The three of us burst into laughter. But the fluttering of wings that belonged to hundreds of owls soon covered it.

We looked up to see most of them coming our way. I immediately knew that they were mostly going towards Harry. No longer the scrawny first year that he was the first day I met him, he had become one of the most handsome people I have ever laid my eyes on. He still had his jet-black hair, shining emerald eyes, and of course, the trademark lightning scar. The only things that were changed in his appearance were his body built and his height. Years of Quidditch practice finally paid off, transforming the once-scrawny boy into a semi-buff young man. At almost six feet tall, Harry Potter truly was one of the most attractive people Hogwarts has ever seen.

This fact was obvious to the female population of the school, also. In fact, one day during dinner, Cho Chang came up to me. She told me that if she wasn't still in love with Cedric Diggory, she would have said yes to Harry when he asked her to visit Hogsmeade together on one of the weekends. Cho was one of the prettiest girls in Hogwarts. Harry had a fairly huge crush on her during fourth year. But he soon got over her. Basically, he could have any girl he wanted.

There was no way he would pick me. I was Hermione Granger. I was "just Hermione," as Lavender dubbed. I was just "Harry's best friend." Why would he even consider me? I was nothing special.

I pulled away from my self-babbling and looked up. There was already a whole pile of Valentines in front of Harry's face. I could barely see him through all the pieces of parchments. I turned to look at Ron, who was sitting next to me. He also had a fair share of cards in front of him. Ron had earned himself a small fan club over his years at Hogwarts. I smiled amusedly, seeing Ron's face becoming a mixture of shock, satisfaction, and flattery. I could tell he was also a bit embarrassed.

I looked around us. I could see numerous glances from other tables in the Great Hall looking our way. One girl from the Hufflepuff table turned away, blushing, as soon as Harry made eye contact with her. Three other girls at the Ravenclaw table were giggling as Ron turned to look their way. A few girls sitting at the other end of our own table were smiling shyly at Harry. I was pretty sure they were second years. It seemed like the only girls who weren't looking our way were the ones belonging to Slytherin, who were too busy worshipping Draco Malfoy and kissing the ground he walked on.

My attention returned to our own table when suddenly an owl dropped a card in front of my plate of bacon and eggs. At that moment, it was like time itself froze. I couldn't believe what just happened. Surely, that owl had gotten lost amid the Hall.

At the same time, I could tell that I was smiling and beaming with pride. I looked at Harry and Ron, who were also somewhat shocked, although it was not the same kind of shock as in they couldn't believe it. As a matter of fact, those two, and Ginny and Hagrid, were the only people on campus that thought I would get one of these. My eyes wandered to the Slytherin table and caught Pansy Parkinson's jaw dropped all the way to the ground. That was kind of satisfying to see, especially after overhearing her saying something after Potions one day.

"The day Hermione Granger gets a Valentine would be the day my Draco falls in love with Eloise Midgen," she had said.

Guess Malfoy was head over heels with sweet Eloise, eh? Hey, it could happen.

"Well, Granger, what are you waiting for? Open it!" Ron suggested.

"Yeah. You hear him. Go on. Open it," Harry echoed. There was something in his eyes. I didn't know what it was back then, but now I do. I ignored it at that time.

I laughed. "All right, all right. Calm down..."

I gently ripped the seal that shuts the envelope. I took the card out, and read it out loud.

"Dearest Hermione,

From the very first day
You've captured my heart
Through sorrow and pain
You're never apart

Whenever I need you
You're always there
Just to let me know
You'll always care

How foolish of me
For never know
My feelings for you
Are deep as winter's snow

Now that I love you
I am in great fear
That you would abandon me
And disappear

I dream the dream
And wish the wish
That forever it'll be you
Whom I would cherish

If you choose to trust me, please meet me by the lakeside tonight after supper. I'll be waiting for you, as I have been for the past six years."

There was a long pause, before Ron asked the infamous question. "That's it?"

I nodded, excitement and butterflies tying a knot in my stomach. "Yeah..."

"Since when did Krum quit Quidditch and took on poetry?" Ron inquired, mock-interested.

Harry ignored him. "Are you going to go?"

"I don't know. Should I?" I asked back, looking between the two of them.

Ron glanced at Harry, and then back at me. He shrugged. "Only if you want to. The question is, do you trust this guy?"

"Ron, I don't even know who he is. Or the fact that it's even a 'he'. You're asking me if I trust him?" I said.

"True. So you're not going then?" Harry replied casually.

"But I really want to find out who this is. At least, to find out if this was a prank or not," I suggested.

"So you are going," Harry stated matter-of-factly. I saw the mysterious twinkle in his eyes again. They were smiling, almost mischievously. I disregarded it at that time. But it seemed so obvious now that I look back.

I looked at him and pondered deeply. Something in his eyes was encouraging me to go. I couldn't describe what. I never could, I probably never would be able to do so. I paused for a moment, then sighed and gave in.

"Yes. I am. I'm going." With that, we got up from the table and started walking to double Potions. For once, I was actually not dreadful about Snape's class, just because of the Valentine.

The day went by fairly fast. Harry, Ron, and I had double Potions, Defense Against Dark Arts, and Herbology in the morning. Then I went to Arithmacy after lunch while they went to Divination. The butterflies in my stomach never faded away during the day. I kept on thinking about who it was. Who would actually send me, Hermione "Harry's Best Friend" Granger, a Valentine?

Soon it was dinnertime. None of us were hungry, so we ate a few random things and headed back to the common room.

Before we went pass the Fat Lady, Harry suddenly spoke up.

"I'm going to catch you two later, all right?" he suggested, turning around.

"Where are you going?" I asked. I was afraid that he would abandon me.

A lot of things were going on in my mind. What if this whole thing was a prank that Fred and George were pulling? Or worse, what if this was Malfoy's idea? I would die of humiliation if it was, and I needed Harry to be there for me.

"Somewhere..." he replied vaguely, starting to walk off. "Remember to tell me who it is, Herm."

"But..." I started, but was cut off by Ron.

"Come on, 'Mione. We have to get a move on. Don't keep him waiting now," he persuaded, winking.

I sighed and looked at him. "We don't even know who it is."

"And that's why you have to find out for us," Harry answered, winking. He smiled and walked down the stairs.

After he left, Ron pushed me up the stairs towards the sixth year Gryffindor girls' dormitories. I entered while he stayed outside. I quickly pulled on one of my nicer dress robes and combed my hair. When I went back outside, I saw Ron already made his way back down to the fireplace and looked up.

"Do I look all right?" I asked. I wanted to look my best, even though I didn't know whom I was going to see.

"You look stunning," Ron replied with confidence. "Absolutely stunning."

I smiled widely. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it."

"You better go. Don't keep the guy waiting! And remember to tell me who it is!" he rushed, pushing me out of the portrait hole.

I laughed. "All right, all right. I'll be back later." He gave me a quick hug, and then I started walking down the tower. Now that I think about it, Ron sounded like he knew something. I didn't notice it then, but now it's coming back to me. The way he rushed everything, trying to get me out of the common room and down to the lake. It was later that I found out he was in the little plot that night. I still couldn't believe it.

I made my way down to the lakeside without Filch, Mrs. Norris, or Snape catching me. I felt especially proud of myself, since I'm usually not the one that could sneak out of the school at night without getting into trouble.

I looked around and soon saw a figure standing by the lake. I couldn't see his face, since his back was towards me. He was looking straight ahead, and occasionally tilting his head upward to look at the stars. I walked slowly to him, taking small steps.

"Well, shouldn't you be telling me who you are right now?" I asked out loud. But he didn't turn around.

I didn't know why I thought this, but I could feel him smiling. Not a cynical smile, but a warm and happy smile. I just sensed it. He didn't even turn around yet.

"Yes, I should. But I guess you'll be able to tell by my voice anyway," was all he said.

It was then I realized who it was. The soft voice that always managed to make me melt inside. The same voice that made my body tremble when it whispered. The very voice that caused the butterflies in my stomach to dance like there was no tomorrow.

The voice that belonged to The Boy Who Lived.

He turned around. There was a brilliantly dazzling smile on his face. His emerald eyes were shining with joy, fear, and anticipation. I thought it was the moment I was supposed to give a statement. But I didn't. My whole body froze. It was like the morning of the same day, in the Great Hall, just after the owl dropped the valentine in front of my plate. I left like I was out of my body, floating in the air, watching myself being a fool. I could feel my brain coming back to me, and suddenly I was filled with emotions: happiness, shock, disbelief, and dizziness, all at the same time. I wasn't even thinking, but soon found myself running toward Harry and jumping into his arms.

It was that moment that I realized I was deeply in love with him. I felt like I was alone in the world with him, safely in his arms. That was the moment when I felt like I didn't need anything besides him. I felt like I could conquer anything, because Harry was by my side. He always had been by my side. And I had always been by his, just like his poem said.

"Thank you," he murmured into my hair.

"For what?" I breathed. I could barely utter anything, since I was still trying to catch my breath.

"For coming down here, for trusting me. For... believing in love," he answered, looking into my eyes, and my soul.

I chuckled and smiled. "No, thank you," I said quietly.

It was his turn to ask. "For what?"

"For being my best friend. For being there for me. For everything," I replied softly, still keeping my smile. I had never smiled more in one night than I did on that Valentine's Night. "I love you, Harry Potter."

Hundreds and thousands, if not millions, of girls said that to him over the years. Only one of them heard him saying that with her name.

"I love you too, Hermione Granger."

That lucky girl, the one out of millions, was I.

This was supposed to be the part where I tell you we had lived happily ever after. I didn't know if that was accurate or not. Life was not as easy as fairy tales, especially Harry's and mine. We had had tough times here and there, but no matter what happened, we were always by each other's side, never leaving. Even now, after almost a half-century, I still asked him if he was still scared that I would abandon him. We both knew neither of us would leave the other, but he was still afraid. Every night, I assured him that I would never go away. I promised I would never disappear. I vowed that, through any hardships, I would never give up my love for him.

I didn't say I stopped hating Valentine's Day. It's just that, now, I have a valentine of my own.