The American Enigma

Valentine's Day

February rolled around, with Hermione looking extremely eager for a certain holiday. I wasn't, since Lockhart felt the need to send Hermione a get well soon card. Filled with his 'accolades.'

Unfortunately, McGonagall heard me muttering my displeasure and gave me a detention. She was lenient, however, explaining that she understood my anger. I just needed to trust that Dumbledore knows what he's doing.

"Y/N! You okay?" Oliver asked. He had been running us into the ground with practices. Our next game against Hufflepuff could put us in first for the Quidditch House Cup.

"Yeah. I'm okay." He didn't buy it, but nodded and continued practice for the next half hour. We then returned to the tower, exhausted and covered in mud.

"Y/N! Look at you!" Hermione screeched, surprising me. "You're filthy! You need to take a shower."

"I'll take it tomorrow. When I can feel my legs." I replied, using scourgify to clean up the mud that caked my uniform. Hermione still wasn't pleased.

"You're taking the shower tonight."

"Please Mione. I can barely feel my legs. Can't I just take it tomorrow." Her cheeks heated up, and my limited abilities in Legilimancy told me she was embarrassed.

"W-Well, I-I th-think it'd be better th-than tracking mud." She changed her mind halfway through the statement, so I agreed. Especially after she gave me a shy smile. Something that can make me do anything.

After the shower, I went back downstairs to get some water. Hermione was still on the couch, with a book left on her lap and eyes shut. I took the opportunity to admire her before picking her up. She cuddled up closer, muttering something unintelligible.

Knocking on the door to the girl's dorm, Fay opened the door and giggled.

"She wanted to wait up for you." She explained, making my cheeks heat up.

"O-Oh." She moved out of the way, letting me place her down and tuck her in. She let out a little noise of frustration, but it was soothed by me gently kissing her forehead.

"You two are way too cute!" Fay squealed, causing me to turn a dark red. Silently walking back towards the common room, where I got to work on my history essay about something related to a rebellion led by goblins.

They're very rebellious. Can't think of any reason why they are though.

But tomorrow was Valentine's Day, which meant that Lockhart would probably try to do something stupid. But also give me a chance to write something for Hermione. Who will probably just want to be friends, but I can deal with that.

Probably.

Perhaps in the States, where I'm not haunted by her beauty every day, reminding me of what I can't have.

All that can wait until tomorrow. This essay needs to be finished. As I finally wrote the last sentence, I looked at the clock and was surprised to see that it's a little after one in the morning.

"Mione's gonna kill me if she knows how late I stayed up."

The following morning, I was awoken by the soft murmuring of a sweet, gentle, voice trying to coax me away from the blankets.

"Five more minutes, babe." I muttered, only for a familiar–and scary–giggle to jolt me out of my perfect dream.

"Don't worry, babe," Hermione continued to giggle at that, "it'll be our little secret."

"Yes ma'am." I squeaked, rushing off to the showers to try and wash away my embarrassment.

Hermione POV