She Said What?

Chapter 38: I Fear Valentine's Day

A/N: This chapter is introducing Valentine's Day, but also catches up with an important question I've been ignoring about Russell and Livvy. Plus, there's a bit of James-ness – we get some closure on the birthday party deal with Jonathon. So I hope you guys like this!

Cheers!

February 5

9:30 AM
Status: Frazzled

It.

Has.

Begun.

Yes. Two of the most intense weeks known to Hogwarts, the time has arrived. The fever has started to spread. Evidence is sprinkled in around the corridors.

Valentine's Day season is officially upon us.

Now, see, for me, it usually isn't a big deal. I mean, I just don't care. Valentine's Day is Valentine's Day – it's not that much different from any other day, except that people use it as a pinnacle point for their various relationships. But for my friends this year, it's kind of a bigger deal. We've been discussing the matter this morning, starting over breakfast.

"So...can you believe Valentine's Day is only in nine days?" asked Alice, buttering a piece of toast. "The only thing is, it's on a Friday, so the teachers have the Hogsmeade visit on the weekend rather than on the actual day."

"It's not such a big deal," I said fairly. "I mean, putting it off one day isn't going to kill anyone. Besides, it gives people more time to get a date. Twenty-four hours can do a lot."

Livvy sighed. "I just don't know what I'm going to do about Russell this year," she said. "I mean, I've never been in a forbidden relationship before and I'm sure James will be in the village that way, or someone else who's on the Quidditch team. They could see me and bad things could happen."

"I've always said you're taking a very silly line on all this," I said wisely, taking a sip of my orange juice. "Livs, you can't keep hiding this from James. He'll be pissed at you for lying to him for...how long has it been now, six months?"

"Four," corrected Livvy promptly.

"Well, it certainly feels like a long time," I concluded. "And you know James as well as I do – he hates it when people lie to him."

"If you really love Russell, your relationship will survive James," added Alice. "How much do you love Russell, Livvy?"

"Too much," Livvy announced.

"Exactly – so trust him, trust yourself, and trust James," I said. "Tell him. Make things right."

"James has been passing hints that he doesn't approve of inter-team relationships lately," said Livvy, pained. "He's kind of formidable when it comes to his team. He's not going to take this lightly. He might even kick us out."

"No, he won't – if you tell him," I said. "But if you don't tell him, he'll want to take more drastic measures."

"He'll do that no matter what, you don't know how he is when it comes to Quidditch," said Livvy, "and Quidditch matters to me, too. You two, Russell, and Quidditch are all I live for when I'm here. I don't want that balance to tip."

"Livs..." I was about to say something else, when Russell himself came over, grinning at Livvy.

"Hey," he said, leaning down to kiss Livvy. "Tonight, then?"

"Yeah, in the common room, right at nine," she said. "Now come here, I wasn't finished."

Grinning wider, Russell descended back down to Livvy's mouth and she kissed him slowly, richly, as though preparing for the rest of the hours she couldn't have him. They remained attached for about a minute, with me and Alice rolling our eyes and eating toast; but after that minute, Alice snapped, "Oh, please! Get your tongues out of each other's throats and move on with your lives!"