All\'s Fair In Love And War

I may have been too hasty in my last assessment of Harry\'s actions toward me.

I was almost positive he was tired of being my friend, that he was avoiding me on purpose, that after thinking about the fact that I want him as more than a friend he decided he didn\'t - and would never - feel the same about me and was trying to let me down easy.

Now, I’m sure I was wrong.

Why, you ask?

Well, there are a couple of reasons.

The first being that he came and found me Thursday night after dinner. I was sitting down by the lake - yes I was at our tree, you want to make something of it? Anyway, I was sitting there, watching the giant squid as it swam slowly through the water, when Harry came and sat beside me. He looked like hell and I told him so. He told me that Weasley was angry with him, that he\'d finally gotten up the nerve to tell him that he was queer, and that he had been seeing Zabini. He told me that Weasley had yelled at him, did the \"you should have known better than to trust a Slytherin\" rant, and then by the end, he wasn\'t speaking to him. That he had just walked away.

Good thing he did too, if he\'d hurt Harry, best mate or not, I\'d have hexed him into a puddle. Literally. I can do that.

Being the git that I am, I asked Harry if he was okay. I don\'t know what I was thinking, obviously he wouldn\'t be. The first friend he\'s ever had - besides that big oaf Hagrid - and he had most likely lost him over something as stupid as who he shags.

I knew better than to voice my opinions. Even if they are right.

I have to admit to taking pleasure in comforting Harry. I held him close to me for the better part of an hour before he started to complain that his bum had fallen asleep. I almost offered to rub it for him, but stopped myself just in time. It was enough that he came to me for comfort, I wasn\'t about to push my luck.

The other reason I feel I was over reacting to Harry\'s absences, is that today is Valentines day.

The day for lovers.

I almost didn’t get out of bed, I was so depressed.

See, I hadn\'t expected to receive anything this year, as I was not dating anyone, and as my friendship with Harry has made me somewhat persona non grata among the Slytherins. So you can imagine my shock when an expensive box of chocolates dropped into my lap during the mail delivery. I looked up in time to catch Harry\'s snowy owl flying away.

Yes, I was elated.

Yes, I grinned like a fool.

Yes, I immediately opened the box and ate one of the chocolates. They were Belgian for Merlin’s sake!

But, that wasn\'t the only thing I got this morning.

There was a very nicely addressed invitation to a private dinner at seven o\'clock. I was to dress formal and go to the seventh floor. There would be a door directly across from a moving tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy - apparently he tried to teach trolls to dance ballet.

When I looked up from reading the invitation, Harry was no longer in the Great Hall. I assume he left to get everything ready.

Me? I spent the remainder of the day getting ready as well. I had to choose an outfit, shower, have my shoes shined, fix my hair, and pace nervously around my room for an hour or so.

Then I decided that I really didn\'t like the black robes I had chosen, that they made my face look sallow, so I undressed, put on the brand new, grey robes I had purchased several weeks ago, redid my hair, paced again, and then finally left my room.

Thank Salazar it\'s Saturday! If I\'d had lessons today there is no way I would have been ready on time. As it is, it is two minutes to seven and I\'m standing out here in the corridor.

That Barnabus really was barmy. I mean, honestly, ballet dancing Trolls?

Yes, I’m stalling. I’m nervous, okay?

I know that Harry is on the other side of that door.

I know he has gone to a lot of trouble to put this together.

I highly suspect he’s had help from Granger. The past few days of Harry running off with her all the bloody time only leads to this conclusion. Thank Merlin I didn\'t do something stupid like decide to leave him before he left me.

Still, what if this isn\'t what I hope it is? What if it\'s only dinner with a friend? What if he just wants someone to spend Valentines with, and he picked me because we\'re both alone? What if...

Bugger it. I’m a Slytherin, not some wishy-washy little Hufflepuff.

I\'ll never find out if I don\'t open the door.

Here goes nothing.

Holy hell.

If this isn’t romantic, I’ll eat my wand.

Candles. Flowers. Music. Harry in a tux…

Damn.

I owe Granger big time.