Valentine's Day at Hogwarts

Part 5

Detention that night was an even more solemn affair than usual. Sarah had finally finished cleaning out Flitwick's office and storage closet (without magic), and was sent to organize Snape's potion ingredients. She bent low over the jars in the pale dungeon light, squinting to read the old labels on the jars, replace them, and put them in order by name and date. Of all her stressors in her 5th year, her year long detention had to be the worst.

She had to have been working for over an hour now. She had no watch, but Snape slinked over every 15 minutes or so to taunt her. He crept up behind her now, making the hair back of her neck stand up.

"Oh dear, still only on the Cs?" he sneered. Sarah bit her lip. She wanted to say that it wouldn't be taking her so long if somebody didn't have such childish handwriting, but she figured it wouldn't make Snape let her leave any earlier. "Apparently, these detentions have yet to work the laziness out of you, Spellman." She focused on placing the bottle she had just labeled perfectly on the shelf. "But, I grow tired of your presence in my classroom. Leave."

"Thank you, sir," she said without looking at him. She didn't want to encourage his wrath. She scurried out before he could change his mind, barely registering his words. "Nine o'clock tomorrow evening, Spellman, and every evening until you finish with those bottles."

Sarah shuddered and folded her arms as she left the dungeon, hurrying to Gryffindor Tower. It was late, and she still had homework to do before she went to bed, but she found herself wanting someone to talk to. She wondered where her friends were. Charlie had never shown up to the library. Penny had left early and Sarah hadn't seen her again. They were most likely in their respective common rooms, winding down after the day's events, or else relishing the start of the weekend.

She could go join them. However, she found herself heading towards the library. There was still an hour or so before Pince would shut it for the night. The person she really wanted to see was Barnaby, to feel his calming presence. She knew if there was any chance he was still out, he'd be there. He had promised Rowan that she could help him study for History of Magic. Barnaby didn't usually break his promises, even if he sometimes forgot he made them for most of the day.

She quickened her pace, hoping to catch them before they ended for the night. She could always use another study date.

_____________________________________________________________________________

"You...you don't like her, do you?" said Charlie, rather more hopefully than he meant. He had hoped their adventure was over. If Penny liked Sarah too, that complicated things. Tonks threw him a nasty look, but Penny shook her head. 

"No, no I don't. But, I don't want her to hear and think..."

"Oh, come off it Penny, this is Sarah we're talking about," said Tonks.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if there is a rumor going around at Hogwarts about Sarah Spellman, who is guaranteed to be the last person in all of Hogwarts to find out?"

Penny made a noise somewhere between a giggle and a sob. "She is."

"Exactly," said Tonks, ribbing Penny's arms. "So, you've plenty of time to set things straight."

"And even if Sarah did hear the rumors before you said anything to her," added Charlie. "No matter how she felt about it, you know the first thing you would do would be to come to you and ask you about it."

Penny smiled, her blue eyes glistening with tears. "Of course, she would."

"Sarah will do anything to keep her friends," said Charlie confidently. "It's like we were just telling--"

Tonks cut him off by clearing her throat, but Penny was just blowing her noise on the handkerchief she had conjured, and seemed not to notice.

"You're both right, of course," she said. "I'm being silly. I think the stress is getting to me."

"It's getting to us all," said Tonks. "I'll be glad when we're good and rid of all this O.W.L nonsense."

"I was going to ask her to Hogsmeade with me on Valentine's Day," said Penny. Charlie and Tonks shared a worried glance.

"Just as friends," she added. "Beatrice and I always used to do something special together on Valentine's Day. Bake cakes, see concerts, you know. And when I got to Hogwarts, we always sent each other parcels and treats and things. But this year, with Beatrice...you know,"

"Hung up?" Tonks suggested. Penny gave a sob. "Sorry Penny, I just meant, busy."

"It's okay. With Beatrice busy, I didn't want to be all alone on Valentine's Day. And Sarah's always been such an understanding friend."

"That seems fine, then" said Tonks. "I'm sure Sarah would be honored to spend Valentine's Day with you."

Charlie agreed. There was the small problem of Barnaby now being determined to ask her out, but Charlie figured Sarah would most likely drop her date if it meant cheering Penny up on a day that was sad for her.

Penny nodded. "But I know someone else was planning to ask her out that day. Which is fine, I don't want to keep her to myself. But when rumors were going around that it was me, I was afraid of how she'd react."She gave a little laugh. "It all seems silly now," she said.

Tonks patted her on the back kindly. "It's all alright now. Why don't we all go up to bed? We could use the rest." The others nodded. "Alright, let's get out of this dusty old mausoleum."

They walked out of the artefact room, and Charlie turned toward the staircase while the two hufflepuffs headed towards the kitchens.

"One thing that does surprise me," he said suddenly, causing the girls to stop, "is how word got out about another person asking Sarah to Hogsmeade so fast."

Penny shrugged. "You know how Hogwarts is, rumors spread like wildfire."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Besides, I think Andre has fancied Sarah for a while now."

"Yeah, he basically--hang on, who?"

"Andre," said Penny. "He's had a thing for Sarah ever since third year, I believe. He's never said, but I can tell. And I have a feeling he's the one planning to ask her out. Why?" she asked, looking at their stunned faces. "Who were you talking about?"

"Andre," said Charlie. "I was talking about Andre too. I thought you said someone else."

"Listen, do you two mind not telling anybody about me being upset? Especially Sarah. I don't want her to worry that she's causing me grief."

"Of course," said Tonks. "And Penny? Even if Sarah already has plans for Valentine's Day, which is entirely possible, you absolutely do not have to spend Valentine's Day alone."

"Yeah, we'll spend it with you," said Charlie.

Penny looked as if she might burst into fresh tears. Instead, she wrapped them both in a tight hug. "Thank you."

"That's what mates are for," Charlie yawned. "Now, I'm knackered. See you both later."

 They all turned to leave again, but out of the corner of his eye he caught Tonks piercing her eyes at him behind Penny's shoulder. She mouthed, "Find me later."

Charlie suppressed a moanas he trudged up the stairs to bed. He had a feeling his match maker's cap wasnot about to be hung up any time soon.