The Reckoning of Emmie MacKenzie

I Love You, Flint

For the next few days, Emmie managed to put her thoughts of Oliver aside, much to Kara's chagrin, though she refrained from pushing Emmie, knowing that she'd take care of things in her own time.

They had spent a quiet, uneventful weekend doing homework, which Emmie was grateful for. With everything that had happened of late, she hoped that it would last and that perhaps they could get through the rest of term without another disaster.

Someone else, of course, had other ideas.

The four Hufflepuffs turned the corner into the great hall that morning and froze, their eyes widening as they drank in the sight.

"What the hell?" Emmie murmured, taking in the tacky pink and red fabric draped along the walls while hearts floated in the air instead of candles. It was enough to make her gag, though she refrained.

"I knew Lockhart would do something," Kara said with a sigh as she started towards the Hufflepuff table.

"Lockhart?" Emmie asked, confused as to why the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would take over redecorating the great hall.

"Good lord, Emmie. Did you honestly forget today's Valentine's Day?" Kara asked with a chuckle.

"Pray tell, just what has had you so distracted?" Melanie added, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Oh... just homework and quidditch," Emmie replied quickly as they sat down and she reached for a glass of orange juice, hoping to hide the fact that she was currently blushing.

Melanie and Toni shot each other knowing looks, likely sure that Emmie was lying through her teeth. Of course a certain Gryffindor quidditch captain had once again taken up resident in Emmie's mind, but she wasn't about to say that aloud in front of everyone at the Hufflepuff table.

Emmie then had the urge to look over at the Gryffindor table, but stopped herself, knowing none of her friends would let her live it down.

"Think you'll get any valentines?" Kara asked, smirking at Emmie.

"Shouldnae think so. Not now that Cedric and I are over," she said before taking a bite of her food.

She glanced down the table and saw him not far off with his friends. He caught her looking at him and waved, offering a warm smile. He seemed okay. They hadn't talked much since the break-up, but thankfully they appeared to be sticking to their vow of friendship.

"Or, because you're over, you could get loads from all your secret admirers," Melanie said, fluttering her lashes dramatically at her. Emmie snorted.

"What secret admirers?" she asked, finding the suggestion ridiculous. Melanie shrugged.

"Sure you have some... like Flint," she replied casually. "Or well, suppose that's not actually a secret... Hmm... maybe a certain Scottish bloke from Gryffindor will send you something."

"First of all, Flint willnae send anythin' – not his style - and Merlin, do not tell me that ye're startin' up that whole Operation Get Wood again," Emmie said, laughing at Melanie. Though she glanced nervously at Kara, who had - as she expected - picked up on the nervous hitch in her laughter.

"What about Wood?" Fincher asked, sitting next to her. Emmie jumped as she looked over, watching while he and the rest of the quidditch team sat around them.

"Nothin'," she said quickly as her cheeks turned pink. Melanie and Toni laughed loudly as Fincher looked confused and Kara just shook her head.

Suddenly, a hush fell over the great hall as they looked towards the faculty table, where Lockhart was standing with a large grin in bright pink robes. A gaggle of dwarves in wings were standing nearby, though none of them looked happy to be there.