The Anger.

"I think I'm going to break school rules and have one of the Potter elves prepare a nice dinner for two. It'll be a Friday so, for tradition, I think we'll have fish."

"Breaking the rules for something so important is worth it," said Sirius firmly. "And you may as well use one of the Potter elves to deliver your twined roses in the morning.

"And, if you're going for fish, try a Semillon - alcohol free, of course. It's quite sweet. And I'm sure there's some in the Potter Mansion wine racks. James - your father told me once it was the white wine to which Potter children are first introduced."

"Wow!" said Harry. "I should have asked you about this agesago."

"Then why didn't you, dear boy?" grinned his godfather.

"Because I sometimes forget adults know things, too," replied Harry with a cheeky grin. "Scamp!" his godfather mock-scowled.

"Thank you, godfather," said Harry, a little more serious.

"You're welcome," said Sirius. "And don't forget to let me know how it goes."

"I will," replied Harry.

Before signing off, he asked Sirius to loan his mirror to Isabel for the Friday night as he expected Daphne might like to talk to her Mum, that night.

Sirius was more than happy to comply.

During the week leading up to Valentine's Day, Harry swore Tracey to secrecy and quizzed the girl on how the First Year Slytherin girls' dorms were laid out. From her, he learned that Daphne's bed was in the back left corner, that she didn't have a bedside table, but did have a shelf built into the headboard. That she left on there a hair tie to tie back her hair when showering in the mornings, as well as a few other knickknacks. And that Daphne always rose just before 7.00am on a school day, so the two of them would get to the showers first.

With that information he was ready to instruct a Potter house elf with what to do on the morning. As for Friday evening, he'd already talked to Cookie about the meal he wanted prepared, and when it was to be served. And he'd talked to Petey about setting up the Come and Go room for him and being ready to serve.

During the week while in his dorm after curfew, he organised for and magically twined the thornless stems of a white rosebud and red rosebud together, and tied them with a sapphire coloured ribbon. He managed to get a beautiful small card, wrote within it, and tied with the ribbon to the roses. Then placed the lot under a stasis charm until Petey collected it during the early morning of Friday morning.

The only clue he gave to Daphne he was planning something, was during one of the group's times in the library when he said, "I think, after Herbology on Friday, I'm going to have a really hot shower and dress really nicely. No school robes for Friday night." Turning to look directly at Daphne he asked, "Do you think you might consider dressing up on Friday night, Daphne?"

The girls, except for Daphne, all tittered while Neville looked a little confused. Blushing a bit, Daphne just looked at him and nodded before she finally said, "I think - that sounds like - a good idea."

"Then how about I meet with you at the bottom of the secret passage from the dungeons to the seventh floor and escort you to dinner that night?" he asked. "Say, five-thirty?"

"I'd like that," she softly replied.

Neville was sitting alongside Hannah so he carefully leaned over to her and quietly asked, "What's so special about Friday?"

Hannah hesitated a moment before turning her head to him and lightly kissing his cheek. Then she reached up with her off-hand and lightly cupped his opposite cheek before she whispered into his ear.

When Hannah suddenly kissed him, he blushed bright red. But, when she whispered into his ear, his eyes widened in surprise. He quickly looked at both Harry and Daphne before looking at the other three girls.

He then sat up a little straighter, firmed his shoulders and seemed to come to a decision. On the Thursday after classes Harry slipped a note to each of the others informing them he was taking Daphne to the Come and Go Room the next night for dinner, so they wouldn't be missed. And begged them to keep it to themselves.

Harry had a restless night sleep, that night. And was one of the first down for breakfast. He sat at the Hufflepuff table because it was between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables. And that day was truly about loyalty and friendship.

At first he thought he wasn't hungry because he felt his stomach was a little upset with worry. But, once he sat down, the mouth-watering smells of breakfast led him to build a decent plate of food.

His friends, except for the two Slytherins, had joined him before he saw out of the corner of his eye someone run into the Hall. Quickly looking up he realised it was Daphne. She was holding the twinned roses in her hand, and holding it to her chest.

Spotting them sitting at the Hufflepuff table, her eyes widen slightly before she ran over and pulled Harry up from his seat before saying anything.

Standing up and facing her, she immediately threw her arms around his neck and forcefully snogged him right there between the Slytherin and Hufflepuff tables.

That earned them quite a few catcalls; especially from the Gryffindors, who were always vocal.

When Daphne pulled her head back to look into his eyes he could see she had been crying a little. Her eyes were just a touch bloodshot and red rimmed. "Is there something wrong?" he asked with concern.

"No," she giggled, giving him another quick kiss. "Everything's perfect."

While they'd been standing there, content in each other's company, Tracey had walked in and joined the group at the table.

"Okay, you two," she said firmly. "Enough lovey-dovey. It's time for breakfast then classes."

Harry assisted Daphne into the seat alongside him and they broke their fasts together. And together, they watched other public displays of love around the Great Hall happy that this day the rules against students showing public displays of affection for one another were relaxed.

Daphne was also quite happy to show the rest of their group, plus just about anyone else who asked, the twined roses. And how she woke that morning and reached for the tie she used to tie her hair back before taking a shower; and her hand coming away with the twined roses instead.

Tracey also told the group how Pansy Parkinson was woken when Daphne screamed at finding the roses, and then proceeded to stare daggers until she left with Millicent Bulstrode in tow.

"I do believe Pansy was really, really jealous," said Tracey. "But Millicent was a surprise."

"What do you mean?" asked Hannah.

"While we were in the bathroom trying to take care of Daphne's eyes, Millicent was in there putting on her make up," she replied. "She then told Daphne and me exactly what the types and style of roses, plus why they're twined together, mean." "And, what do they mean?" asked Hermione.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you enjoy reading? Visit my Ko-fi! There you will find the advanced chapter in PDF format, ready for your convenience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

https://ko-fi.com/fictiontopia