Lost Memories

xxxvi. stood up

The morning came faster than expected, meaning it was the fourteenth of February– Valentine's Day. The four of us made it to breakfast in time for the daily owl post. Hermione was tugging a letter from the beak of an unfamiliar brown owl as a large black owl sat on my shoulder, bending down to give me a letter.

"Whose owl is that?" Harry pointed.

"I have no clue," I whispered, grabbing the letter from its beak. Before it flew away, I gave it a sausage link and watched it fly away.

"Whose the letter from?" Ron asked.

The envelope was sealed with a snake crest on it. Before I could figure out who it was from, I saw the black owl land on Draco's shoulder. Draco turned around and looked at me, knowing his pet gave me the letter.

"And about time! If it hadn't come today..." she said eagerly, tearing open the envelope and pulling out a small piece of parchment. Her eyes sped from left to right as she read through the message and a grimly pleased expression spread across her face.

"Listen, Harry," she said, looking up at him. "This is really important. Do you think you could meet me in the Three Broomsticks around midday?"

Ignoring their conversation, I broke open the seal and quickly read his letter. Looking up towards him, I gave a quick nod and a shy smile. Before Ron could see who I nodded at, Draco turned around and the black owl flew away.

"Who you noddin' to?" Ron stuffed a sausage in his mouth.

Hermione quickly stood up and hurried out of the Great Hall, her letter clutched in one hand and a piece of uneaten toast in the other.

"Are you coming?" Harry asked Ron, but he shook his head, looking glum.

"I can't come into Hogsmeade at all, Angelina wants a full day's training. Like it's going to help — we're the worst team I've ever seen. You should see Sloper and Kirke, they're pathetic, even worse than I am." He heaved a great sigh. "I dunno why Angelina won't just let me resign."

"It's because you're good when you try," I scoffed.

Walking with Harry out of the Great Hall, we went to the front of the Hogwarts entrance to stand with the other pairs going on their Hogsmeade dates. Harry quickly met Cho's eyes and almost tripped over his feet. Without saying goodbye, he walked over to Cho and embraced her.

After being signed out by Filch, I made my way down the path towards Hogsmeade. Unlike the people around me, I walked alone; Harry and Cho had been long gone. Feeling bored, I played with my ring absentmindedly as I decided to count all of the candle posts that lined the drive to the gates of Hogsmeade. Almost to the gates, I heard an assortment of laughter from a large group of Slytherin girls that passed by, including Pansy Parkinson.

"Look at little Harring, alone on St. Valentine's," screeched Pansy to a chorus of snide giggles. "Even Malfoy wouldn't want to see seen with you!"

"Jealous I didn't ask you to be my Valentine? Merlin, you really are in love," I laughed. Pansy inched forward, as to intimidate me, but one of her little posey girls held her shoulder. With a huff, Pansy pushed past me with her groupies trailing.

Entering Hogsmeade, I made my way to Three Broomsticks where I was supposed to meet Draco. I gave Harry and Cho a small wave as I passed them near Dervish and Banges; they had been staring at a large poster with ten pictures of the escaped Death Eaters. Walking into the pub, I ordered two butterbeers and found a table for Draco and myself.

A few minutes into waiting, my excitement started to wash away at every RING of the pub door. Hogwart couples walked in, enjoying their date, but no Draco in view. After a while, his butterbeer started to go flat while my bottle emptied. Another RING and I snapped my eyes up, in hopes of Draco, but was met with Hagrid.