From Snakes to Small Hearts (Dramione OneShots)

Candy Hearts (Valentine's day) Part 2

There are only two days until Valentines day and she is determined to find the author and maybe even her mystery date.

Once again Harry and Ron were talking about Valentines day, as Hermione ate her toast. Ron sighs loudly. "Did you get a date yet Harry?"

"No," Harry looks sadly at his water.

Ron groans, "We have to get a date, Valentines day is so soon."

"Everyone is already taken," Harry complains. 

Ron nods, picking at his eggs. 

"Do you really need a date?" Hermione asks.

Ron groans again, "Merlin, yes, Hermione. Everyone has a date for Godrics sake."

Harry plops his head down in his arms. 

"Luna doesn't," Hermione argues.

Ron rolls his eyes, "Don't try to make us feel better Hermione. You don't know what it's like."

"Yes I do!" She continues.

"No, you don't," Ron combats, "You're just mad that you don't have a date and you're too scared no one will ask you. At least Harry and I are trying."

Hermione looks at him taken aback. Harry pops his head up, "Ron...You're just frustrated that we haven't found anyone yet."

"No, Harry," Ron stands, "She doesn't understand how it is for us guys. People expect us to have dates. If a girl doesn't have one who cares."

Hermione blanches. "What if I do have a date? Then what would you say?" She demands. 

Ron laughs, "Yeah, then who asked you?" She searches for words to say. "Yeah, sure, 'someone asked you'. C'mon Harry, we are actually going to get a date." 

Hermione stares after him. She is going to get a date too! Just to prove him wrong. Maybe even the author of her letters will ask her.

 ~

Draco wakes with an odd feeling in his chest. The feeling doesn't go away as he goes through his morning activities of styling his hair perfectly put together but just messy enough that it'd make his father mad if he saw. The blond strands flop precariously over his right eye and he smooths them back before draping his tie over his shoulders. He looks at himself in the mirror, sighs, ties the tie nicely, before Blaise barges into the bathroom caring his robes and promptly kicking Draco out muttering something about taking too long to even be a girl.  

Draco rolls his eyes and sneers at the now closed door before packing up his things and placing them in his black school bag. Then Blaise is dragging Draco, Crab, and Goyle down to breakfast. Draco pulls free of the friends to return his borrowed book from the library. 

~

Hermione is standing next to her Bowtruckle in Care of Magical Creatures when the sweet-sour smell of apple and mint hit her nose. She looks up and next to her stands Draco Malfoy. She turns her head to glance at Harry and Ron, but they are joking around with Dean and Seamus. The breeze cool ruffles her hair and she smells the scent again. 

A loud careless crunch rings out and he isn't just standing next to her, he's eating an apple. In the middle of class no less! Hermione rolls her eyes and listens to Professor Grubbly-Plank instruct them on the locations of Bowtruckles. "Bowtruckels can be found in England, Germany, and even some Scandinavian forests..."

One of the fellow Slytherins begins talking to Draco and his attention is pulled away from his apple. He chuckles and cold laugh. "They're such weird stick creatures." He pokes his Bowtruckle and the thing bounces away slightly, looking terrified. He pokes it again, laughing with his nasty friends. 

"Would you stop that!" Hermione says in his direction. "He clearly doesn't like it."

Draco imminently stops laughing, "Would you shut-" When he turns to face her and their eyes meet he abruptly cuts himself off. 

"Care of Magical Creatures is supposed to help us appreciate all creatures great and small," Hermione continues ignoring the way he is staring at her. 

Draco puts his finger to her lips to shut her up, he opens his mouth to speak but Professor Grubbly-Plank from the front of the classes says to them, "Is there an issue in the back?"

"No," Draco calls. 

"What did I just say then, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Bowtruckles serve as gaurdians to their home tree, a tree often made of wood that is wand quality"

Hermione looks up at him with wide eyes. Half smirks half sneers at her before turning away from her and joining another group of Slytherins on the other side of the clearing. 

"What was that, Hermione?" Harry asks at the same time Ron says, "What a prick."

Hermione shakes her head. Changing the subject she says in a whisper, "The potion should be done today." Trying to get on Ron's good side

Harry's eyes light up, "Really?" 

"Brilliant" Ron says not looking at her

Yes, tonight we'll finalize and tomorrow will be quite the event." She smiles

Harry and Ron grin to each other. "It most certainly will," Ron says most likely thinking of how much of a spectacle it will be, Dumbledor and McGonigal and probably less that he will have to spend more time with Hermione especially after their argument.  

Hermione makes to ask what he means, but Professor Grubbly-Plank beats her to it, "Potter, Weasley, Granger! Is there something you three would like to share?" Snickering and whispering erupt from the class around them. 

Ron's face turns bright red and Hermione turns to a smirking Harry. "No professor," They say.

"Fifteen points from Gryffindor." Professor Grubbly-Plank says before resuming the lesson. All the Gryffindors in the clearing groan. Hermione looks horrified and Ron and Harry give each other a look that makes them both chuckle. "Open your books to page 45..."

As Hermione turns to the correct page she finds another note stuck exactly where the teacher instructed to turn. Upon the dark paper reads, 

Have you ever wondered why Care of Magical Creatures is always outside? On that topic, which Creature is the best at limbo?

Hermione thinks for a minute, then whispers, "A Salamander, because they already crawl over the ground."

Then silver words appear under the previous message,

A Grindylow

Hermione snorts, then covers her mouth in embarrassment. Harry looks over her shoulder, "What's that?"

Hermione shoves the note into her pocket. "Nothing," She says quickly a blush creeping up her cheeks. Harry looks at her puzzled. She faces him repeating, "It was nothing." She looks forward and pretends to be listening to the teaching and following along in her book. However, Hermione could feel Harrys eyes on her. 

The instruction passes right over her head as she tries to identify who would write her notes. No one would write her notes, but someone is, and she wants to know who and why and maybe even some small part of her wishes they would ask her out on Valentines day. Some part of her really hopes they will, just to prove Ron wrong.

~

The day continues to pass and every once in a while Hermione receives a note from her mystery person, friend, lover? She didn't know what to call them but they seemed to know exactly what to say to brighten every moment in her day. The author was funny, they joked a lot, but sometimes they were a little mean or snarky, and other times they were so supportive and said such kind words to her she couldn't help but blush. No one had ever done this for her, everyone else had special things and had many boys to ask them out, but Hermione just needed this, little love letters just for her and nothing else.  

She had just one more day to figure out who her mystery author was.