Chapter 275 Valentine’s Day

Hogwarts doesn't celebrate Valentine's Day, or at least the professors don't bring it up, and yesterday the homework that is left on Friday isn't missing a point. But for young wizards, it's a pretty important holiday.

"Think about it, it's the only day of the year when the girls change into nice clothes and wait with passion for someone's invitation ..."

Up early in the morning, Harry walked out of his dorm room listlessly to see the Weasley twins pushing the couple's mirrors towards a tall, freckle-faced boy.

"... We have two styles right now, if you think the heart shape belongs to hot love and doesn't really suit you, you can try the rectangular one, and we can mix it with some little Eros decorations."

"But ... I don't have anyone to give it to." The freckle-faced boy said hesitantly.

"Opportunity waits for no one! Buy our product, then go back and change into a formal dress, and send out an invitation while the morning is still young--" Fred said in a tempting tone.

George also put an act on the sidelines, he put his right hand to his chest and bowed deeply, "Madam, can I invite you to join me for a walk?"

The boy then bought it happily.

Harry gave a thumbs up to the twins, who returned it with a big smile.

"Will anyone else buy them?"

"Valentine's Day represents sweet love, and it's like the mushroom suddenly popping up after a rain, even people who originally didn't intend to buy it will be tempted ..."

Harry walked over to Hermione, glad to see that she is no different from usual. She's grading a thick stack of papers, and he glanced twice, sheepishly noticing that it turned out to be a third-year Ancient runes paper. The graded papers had a different appeal, the first one belonged to Dean, with six errors circled, and Harry secretly guessed how many red circles his own paper would have.

He reached over and Hermione slapped his hand, "Don't mess it up, it's what I've been working on all morning."

It didn't take long for Ron to walk out, one of his pant legs tangled in his sock, and when Harry pointed this out, he yawned and fiddled with his pant leg.

"Any activity?" He asked.

"We've asked Neville and the others to go to Black Lake to read a book, which is one of the few things we can do as a group, do you remember?" Harry stated as Professor McGonagall initially seemed to want to keep him cooped up in the castle to mold, but after he argued reasonably, some places outside the castle were reluctantly made available to him.

For example, the Black Lake is a good place, it is behind the castle and surrounded by a clear view, Black won't appear in such a place even if he thinks with his toes.

"Just in time," Ron perked up a bit: "I can try the newly learned Incarcerous Spell now. The dueling tournament is about to start, and I don't want to lose in a first-round."

Because of the overwhelming number of registrations, the dueling tournament has been rescheduled to the second day of the weekend, which starts tomorrow at 10 a.m. and will be held the whole day.

Harry said matter-of-factly, "You're pretty good in the dueling group." At least, Ron had learned the spell as the third person after him and Hermione, although the price paid was a bit high.

The small jar of ointment for bruises that he had asked from Madam Pomfrey is running low.

Ron's excitement is clearly high, and in the following time, he began to talk about his own experience of learning this spell: "As Professor Hap said, you have to understand the spell. How to understand? Personally, I think you have to experience first hand the feeling that magic gives you ..."

Ginny, Neville soon came out, and by then Hermione also finished grading the last paper quickly, she then looked at the time then said: "Let's go."

Coming out of the common room, they were surprised to find some people already in the corridor, a couple holding hands and skulking around openly. And some guys and girls gazing around with tangled eyes, he or she had a sweetheart within sight.

They passed by a group of second-year girls and the wind blew their conversation over, "What do you think of ... Professor ... my card?"

"What's going on in their heads?" Ron said incredulously.

Hermione did understand: "Maybe they just want to send a festive greeting ..."

They waited at the castle door for a few minutes and Luna popped up, taking Ginny's hand, "It's good time to go out of the castle, so you can avoid the wrackspurts in the mistletoe."

"Wrack... what?" Ron asked.

"The wrackspurts, it makes people unfocused and confused ..."

"Well, that explains why witches like to kiss under the mistletoe." Ron teased and Harry wanted to laugh, but Ginny and Hermione both glared at him.

There were little witches sitting in a group two or three in the grass and shade by the Black Lake, and they picked a clearing and enjoyed a leisurely time. It isn't until the third girl handed Harry a card with the encouragement of her friend. Ron said sourly, "Why don't you accept their invitation."

Harry's face heated up a little, and he stammered, "I, uh ... because ..."

Luna said cheerfully, "You have someone you like?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ron and Ginny immediately stared at Harry's face as if seeing a flower. Harry growled in exasperation, "No--"

Luna stared at him with a surprised expression.

"You're scaring her." Hermione said sternly, and Ron defended Harry by saying, "Luna's usually like that, isn't she?"

Luna said in a trance, "I don't think she was talking about me." She pointed to a whomping willow by the lake in the distance, and the crowd looked in the direction of her finger.

Ron narrowed his eyes, "It appears to be a boy." He looked meaningfully at Harry.

Harry said embarrassed: "Maybe because I just shouted ... only, only ..."

However, after ten minutes, the boy still staring over here, and even Harry felt uncomfortable.

Hermione stood up, "Why don't we go and ask him, maybe he has something important to say." She went to the whomping willow tree and talked something, reaching out and pointing at Harry in the middle.

After a while, Hermione returned and looked at them in confusion, "He refused to say a word."

Ron laughed, "The only way is to let Harry do the work."

Harry got up from the grass and shrugged, "Definitely not what you think, just wait, I guess it might be inquiring about the dueling study groups?"

He walked over and saw what the boy looked like, supposedly the first year, wearing loose old robes with the fabric flaring at the edges.

It reminded him of Ron, and Harry flashed a smile, mentally wondering how he should make the tone of voice both polite and firm if the boy really is his admirer; one Colin Creevey is enough of a headache for him.

Sixty feet, fifty feet, the boy across the way looked at Harry with equal surprise and opened his mouth to say something.

"Buzz~buzz~"

Harry's pocket began to vibrate, and immediately a piercing beep sounded abruptly, so loud that it could be heard halfway around the Black Lake.

Harry's smile froze, time seemed to slow down all of a sudden, he could see every shift in the expression on the boy's face, and even had a mind to guess who he is.

But the next second, he realized a fact - the Sneakoscope! The Sneakoscope went off!

"It's Sirius Black, run!" Harry yelled out, he nimbly stepped to the side, reached out and drew his wand, a red light flew out in the blink of an eye.

But the spell missed, the boy, no, Sirius Black also drew his wand, the oncoming thick rope deflected by harry, then he turned and ran.

Harry thought nothing but chasing after him, the sharp beeping sound made him unable to hear his surroundings, his heart racing as he pounded towards Black.

"Harry, don't take any chances!"

Percy panicked and held him, one hand still holding the peanut flake candy, Harry struggled, "Let go -- let me -- catch -- him! --"

He kept his eyes on Black as he ran away, the surrounding students watched this in bewilderment as Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny came running over, "Harry, oh -- that's, that's?" Hermione shouted under her breath, trying to drown the beeping sound.

"It's Sirius Black!" Harry yelled, but even he can't hear it.

Neville asked with a bewildered look on his face, "What are you talking about?"

"Whoosh!"

The crowd saw Professor Hap descend from the sky with a flash in his broom, his wand pointed towards Harry, and the beeping disappeared into thin air.

"Professor - Sirius Black, he's here!"

"Disguised as a student, it's a Polyjuice potion-"

"And he's got a wand in his hand!"

Felix asked calmly, "Which direction did he run off?"

Harry hurriedly pointed in one direction, he suddenly realized that it's impossible to use Apparition around Hogwarts, Hermione had told him, which meant that there is still a chance!

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