Chapter 28: Valentines Day (1/2)

On February fourteenth, as Chris entered the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione, she got a huge shock. The walls were all covered with large, lurid pink flowers. Worse still, heart-shaped confetti was falling from the pale blue ceiling.

”Bloody Hell!” Ron looked sick, as he said. ”What's this?”

”Oh My...” Hermione giggled, looking at the staff table.

Lockhart, wearing lurid pink robes to match the decorations, was waving for silence. The teachers on either side of him were looking stony-faced. Chris could see a muscle going in Professor McGonagall's cheek. Snape looked as though someone had just fed him a large beaker of a disgusting potion.

”It's beautiful, isn't it?” Hermione asked happily as they sat on the Gryffindor table.

”Er... Hermione, I don't like Pink that much. So..” Chris replied but then stopped as Luna and Ginny came to them.

”It's a little bit stupid, isn't it?” Luna asked looking at the decorations.

”I think it's charming.” Hermione snapped.

Luna ignored her and turned to Chris.

”I asked Ginny to join us. I wanted my two friends back together.” Luna said.

Chris and Ginny caught each other's eye but Ginny looked away quickly.

”What's going on?” Harry asked them, sitting down and wiping confetti off his bacon.

”Happy Valentine's Day!” Lockhart shouted. ”And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all — and it doesn't end here!”

Lockhart clapped his hands and through the doors to the entrance hall marched a dozen surly-looking dwarfs. Not just any dwarfs, however. Lockhart had them all wearing golden wings and carrying harps.

”My friendly, card-carrying cupids!” beamed Lockhart. ”They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines! And the fun doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!”

Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands. Snape was looking as though the first person to ask him for a Love Potion would be force-fed poison.

Chris and Harry burst out laughing.

”That was something...” Harry said.

”... something hilarious.” Chris completed.

They started laughing again.

All day long, the dwarfs kept barging into their classes to deliver valentines, to the annoyance of the teachers, and late that afternoon as the Gryffindors were walking upstairs after class, one of the dwarfs caught up with Harry.

”Oi, you! 'Arry Potter!” shouted a particularly grim-looking dwarf, elbowing people out of the way to get to Harry.

All the first year girls including Ginny, had sent Harry Valentine (of course, except Chris).

Harry tried to escape but the dwarf caught up with him.

Chris saw all the first year girls were looking red, specially Ginny.

”I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person,” the dwarf said, twanging his harp in a threatening sort of way.

”Not here,” Harry hissed, trying to escape.

”Stay still!” grunted the dwarf, grabbing hold of Harry.

Harry tried to break free but Chris hold him back.

”Oh let's get over with it.. how bad possibly it could be?” she said.

”Right,” the dwarf said, sitting on Harry's ankles. ”Here is your singing valentine: