Chapter 90: It Was Only a Kiss

                                    

                                          
Hermione gathers the pile of homework off her desk from the class of Hufflepuff and Slytherin sixth years she had just dismissed. Usually on a Tuesday, after the last lesson of the day, she held OWLs practical workshops for the fifth years who would be taking their exams in the Summer, but since it's Valentine's Day, Minerva had cancelled all afterschool activities in favour of starting the themed feast early. She gently tucks the homework into a folder and places it in her bag before making her way out of the classroom. She's surprised to find a single rose levitating in front of her face when she opens the door. A smile spreads across her face as she gently plucks it from the air, glancing up and down the corridor for her admirer but not seeing anyone. She knows none of her students is able to cast a Longevity Levitation spell and assumes it must be from Draco. She doesn't know why any of the other professors would leave her a rose unless it was a gift for all the professors from Minerva. She tucks the rose into her bag as she continues her journey to the Great Hall.
                          
All members of staff were required to attend the Valentine's Day feast, and those with spouses were allowed to invite their other half's. That's how Hermione and Draco found themselves sat at a pink clothed circular table with Neville, Hannah, Pansy, Ron and Jonathan Atkins just after half past four. It seems Minerva had placed the newest and youngest members of staff and their partners at one table and the older, more long-serving members of staff and their partners at another table.
                          
Draped from the ceiling of the hall were gold and silver sheets of cloth entwined with pink streamers. Multicoloured, heart-shaped confetti dances through the air of the hall, as though caught up in a soft breeze, alongside about thirty doves, delivering Valentine's messages between the students.
                          
Minerva stands to address the school before the feast can begin the walks over to their table.
                          
"This is lovely, Minerva," Hermione tells the Headmistress.
                          
"Thank you, Hermione, but I can't take all the credit, Filius and Pansy did help," Minerva admits.
                          
"Really?" Draco asks Pansy in slight disbelief.
                          
"Yeah, my proposal was to subject the students to a replication of Valentine's Day 1993." She admits. "Unfortunately, that idea was unanimously shut down." She adds.
                          
"To this day, the house elves are finding Gilderoy's confetti in various inconspicuous areas of the school, despite being rebuilt after the war." Minerva mentions. "I relented and allowed your heart-shaped confetti in a contained area." Minerva looks up pointedly at the ceiling.
                          
"Thank you, Minerva," Pansy says, her voice too sweet to be sincere.
                          
Ron suddenly burst out laughing from his seat between Pansy and Hermione.
                          
"What's gotten into you?" Pansy asks, frowning disapprovingly.
                          
Ron wipes a tear from his eye. "His eyes are as green-" He starts.
                          
"Ron, don't," Hermione warns.
                          
"As a fresh pickled toad." Draco finishes the first line with a smirk on his face. "Valentine's Day almost made Lockhart's tenure here worthwhile." He chuckles.
                          
Minerva shakes her head, adjusting her posture. "I'll leave you in peace to enjoy the feast." She takes her leave, returning to the other circular table where the older professors are already helping themselves to the feast that had appeared in front of them.
                          
Hermione notices that Darius Cain, the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, is nowhere to be seen.
                          
"I wonder why Darius isn't here?" She voices to the table.
                          
"He rarely attends meals in here." Pansy points out, turning from where she was having a conversation with Jonathan.
                          
"I know, but Minerva specifically said the Valentine's Day feast was mandatory for all staff." She reminds them.