Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any characters or scenery related to him. I wish I did. But then again, I would have the new book already out!

Author's Note: This is the last disclaimer and author's note you will see at the start of a chapter. There will be an Author's Notes page at the end of the fic that will serve as the disclaimer. As I get reviews, I will respond there, and I will respond to every review I get. If there are any further disclaimers, I will be putting them there as well. Please refer to the AN's for any info about the fic. And now, read. Enjoy. Embrace. Review!

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A Valentine's Mask

By Katie of Gryffindor

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Chapter One

One Delectable Mystery

Harry Potter sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall and groaned. I hate Valentine's Day. Stupid fake lovey-dovey shit. He watched as the Hall was filled with owls swooping down and delivering pink and red colored packages, cards, and letters. This was the one day of the year when scarlet envelopes weren't shied away from for fear of a howler.

Now just because Harry hated Valentine's Day, it did not prevent a pile of well-wishes from his many fans from creating a large heap in front of him. No, Harry watched as at least a dozen owls descended upon him and left the love letters and gifts waiting for him. Any normal person would love all the attention Harry received. But Harry being who he was, he hated it. Why can't people just treat me like a normal kid?

Harry sighed, frustrated. He looked to his left, where his best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley sat. They were exchanging their valentines in person. They were happily flaunting their relationship. They'd been seeing each other for almost a year now, and took every chance they could to show the world that fact.

Harry looked at the ever-growing mound of hearts and packages. Well, I had better get to opening these stupid things. Otherwise, they would sit here all bloody day. Harry picked up the first note, and ripped open the envelope.

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Roses are red.

Violets are blue.

Everyone knows

How much I love you!

Love always, Ginny Weasley

PS - Don't tell Ron. He'd flip if he knew I sent you a valentine…

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Harry smirked. Even after all this time, Ginny still had a crush on him. He sighed, looked past Ron to where Ginny was watching with bated breath. Harry forced a smile and Ginny blushed.

Harry turned back to the pile in front of him, and picked up the next scroll. This one was from Lavender Brown. Another silly poem.

Ten minutes later, Harry was surrounded by a large pile of love notes and chocolates from most of the girls in Gryffindor. There were also gifts and notes from half the Hufflepuffs and at least a quarter of the Ravenclaws.

One of the more interesting envelopes was filled by a parchment bearing the following message.

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Dear Potter-

You may be a little shit from Gryffindor, but you're damn hot. And as much as I hate to admit it, I want a piece of that ass. If you ever need some hot sex, owl me. Ask anyone in Slytherin, I'm good.

Signed-

Pansy Parkinson

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That one really disturbed Harry. Harry shook his head and put the parchment aside with the rest of the requests to bed him. Now there was just one more box left unopened. Harry picked it up, inspecting it. The extremely long and thin box was stark white, with a red fabric ribbon tied around the center. There was no note taped to the box, so he tugged at the ribbon, untying it. As it came loose, it turned a sparkling gold. Well that's neat, thought Harry. He slid the knots of the ribbon apart, and eased the lid off and opened the box.

Inside was a single, shimmering, long-stemmed red rose. Harry's scar slid up his forehead as he raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Two fingers set themselves on either side of the stem and pulled the rose from the green tissue surrounding it. Something in Harry made him turn the blossom to his nose and inhale deeply. The sweet smell was almost intoxicating. Then Harry realized what he was doing and started to rest the rose back into the box where he'd found it. But appearing before his eyes was a small white envelope. The other eyebrow rose to meet the first and Harry reached in with his unoccupied hand and picked up the envelope. He slowly set the rose down into its place in the box and then turned over the envelope. He lifted the unsealed flap and pulled out a bleached sheet of parchment. Someone had written in ruby red ink. The handwriting was a very neat script, and Harry assumed it was probably a boy's writing as there were no hearts or silly girly additions to the writing. Just a nice scrawl. Harry leaned back to read the note.

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Harry-

Happy Valentine's Day. Yes, go ahead and snort. I know you hate today. I can tell by the look on your face any time someone mentions the day. But, even though I know your hatred for the day, I decided to send you the rose anyway. This way, Weasley won't tease you for getting a silly gift like that on a normal day. Thought I would make life easier for you.

Why am I sending this at all, you ask. I need to tell you how I feel. It's extremely important to me. And no, you needn't worry that I am a silly little teeny-bopper-type girl. I am a guy. And I'm no teeny bopper. I know that will ease your mind a bit, for two reasons. A) You don't care for girls, and B) you don't care for attention just because you are the bloody Boy-Who-Lived.

I ask that you please meet me this evening. I know, this is very cliché, however it is the easiest way to talk to you. No, I am not a Gryffindor. Please meet me at ten this evening on the side of the lake farthest from the castle. If you agree to meeting, hold the rose in your left hand and sniff it. If you decline, just put this note back into the box and close the whole thing up.

Before you make your decision, I want to stress that I will not do anything against you, no matter what. I hope that you agree, because I know that there is something between us that is truly powerful. Please agree to meet me.

Signed,

One Delectable Mystery

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Harry looked up from the parchment and stared around the room. There was no one watching him intently. No one waiting to see his answer. Harry looked down at the writing on the page. What could it hurt, thought Harry. They obviously know me pretty well. They knew I hate this stupid day, and they know I'm gay, and that I hate this stupid celebrity thing… Harry made up his mind. His left hand reached into the box and extracted the rose again. He put it to his nose and inhaled the rose's enchanting perfume once more. At once, he heard a whisper in his ear.

"See you at ten tonight, Harry. Happy Valentine's Day."

Harry looked around. Still no one looking at him. Interesting… He was quite intrigued by the whole situation. He decided he would just have to wait and see who it was that seemed to be intent on telling him how they felt.

Harry smirked and put the rose back into the box. He collected all the gifts from the table and started up toward Gryffindor Tower. He had anticipated the mass of gifts and had given himself extra time to take them back to his room before classes began. As he deposited the presents on his desk, Harry smiled ever-so-slightly. He was actually looking forward to the meeting that night. Harry picked up his bag and started off to Potions.

As he left his room, he snorted. Wonder if Snapey-Poo will give in and teach us about Love Potions this year. Harry snorted again and walked toward the dungeons.

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In the Great Hall, one delectable mystery was sitting among his friends in their usual spot. He watched as Harry picked up the box from him. He knew nothing would happen unless Harry took a whiff of that rose. He'd enchanted it to do so. As Harry put the rose to his nose, the young man sighed in relief. He went back to eating, knowing full well that as soon as the Gryffindor was finished the note, he would be looking around the room for someone watching him.

After a few minutes, the young man held back a smile as he felt his voice escape his throat and fly across the room to Harry's ear. Minutes later, he felt it was finally safe to look up at Harry. There was the faint glimmer of a smile playing on the teen's lips as he gathered up the many offerings from his adoring fans. The mystery writer noticed that Harry took extra care with the box containing his own offering of the enchanted rose. Another smile was forced into submission. He watched the raven-haired teenager walk out of the Hall and out of sight.

Well, thought the delectable mystery, Tonight should be interesting. The mystery man smiled to himself and finished his breakfast. It was almost time for class.

~*~TBC~*~