Actually, Valentine's Day didn't hold any special significance for the first and second-year students.
Most of them were simply there to enjoy the spectacle, watching how the older students became all bashful and red-faced on such a day.
And this year's spectacle was especially entertaining.
Those little angels calling themselves "Cupids" flew throughout the castle, their snow-white wings fluttering as they scattered tiny specks of starlight.
They dutifully delivered Valentine's Day cards and love letters to their intended recipients, accompanying each recitation with different music. There might be the gentle sound of a harp, the melodious note of a small bugle, or the lively beat of a little drum, along with a shower of brilliant petals.
These little Cupids were also remarkably "sensible."
If the person they were supposed to deliver a letter to was in class or otherwise unavailable, they would automatically wait until a more suitable time, or go find another recipient first and return later.
Throughout the entire morning, not a single Cupid barged into a classroom and interrupted a lesson, nor did any of them deliver a letter to the wrong person.
Originally, the whole thing had been quite romantic. People could convey their feelings to someone they liked through these adorable little angel-like messengers.
However, there were always people who could discover "creative uses" beyond the intended purpose.
For example, a certain pair of twins.
In perfect coordination, the two of them wrote an utterly absurd and unspeakable "confession" to each other and asked the Cupid to recite the whole thing loudly in public.
It was said that everyone present at the time fell silent for three full seconds before bursting into earth-shaking laughter.
Once that precedent was set, it was as though a door to a whole new world had been opened for the students.
Why use them only for confessions?
They could prank their friends with them!
They could even publicly embarrass people they didn't like!
"Hey, what do you think if I write one to myself? It'd be so embarrassing if I didn't receive a single letter."
"Good idea! I'll write one to myself too and say it's from a secret admirer!"
...
In the corridor, Lucien was walking and chatting with Harry and Ron.
Several Cupids flew towards them from up ahead.
They all assumed the little fellows would simply pass by as before, but instead, they stopped directly in front of them.
"Hmm?" Lucien raised an eyebrow.
The leading Cupid pulled out a pink envelope and cleared its throat.
The others automatically spread out and took their positions. One began playing the harp, another blew the bugle, and a third scattered petals.
Then the Cupid raised the letter and, in a crisp, childlike voice, began reciting it to a certain someone.
"Harry Potter:"
The smile on Harry's face instantly froze.
Hearing his friend's name, Ron, who had already witnessed several such scenes that morning, widened his eyes.
He had no idea what was about to happen.
Was it a heartfelt confession from some shy girl to the Chosen One, or another prank started by Ron's two brothers?
The Cupid continued reciting:
"Every time I see those toad-green eyes of yours, I feel as though they are two bottomless lakes, making me want to jump in and drown."
"Even though your hair is always a mess, that's exactly what I like about it. It reminds me of what our house-elf looks like just after waking up."
"You are so special, so special that there isn't another person like you in all of Hogwarts or maybe that's what you've always thought, and I fully support you."
A clear, childlike voice, beautiful music, gentle light, and drifting petals.
It should have been a beautiful scene.
But paired with such an unbearably cheesy "confession" full of obvious mockery, it became painfully awkward.
Harry was completely stunned.
He didn't know whether he should hurry away or laugh and pretend he didn't care about the embarrassment.
His face went from red to white, then white to red again. His lips moved, but he couldn't get a single word out.
Ron could only silently mourn Harry's "good fortune" from the side, while secretly feeling relieved that no one had sent him a "love letter" like this.
Lucien looked at Harry's embarrassment and helplessly raised a hand to his forehead.
These Cupids were alchemical puppets he had created. They possessed a certain level of intelligence. They knew how to wait until someone finished class, avoid obstacles, recite letters, and play music.
But expecting them to distinguish between a sincere confession and a prank was asking a little too much of a person, no, of a puppet.
Lucien glanced around.
Quite a few young witches and wizards had already stopped, craning their necks to watch. Their faces clearly said, This should be good, while some whispered among themselves.
"Who wrote that?"
"That's so mean."
"Well, at least it's lively."
And the main event of the day was still to come that evening. Love was like fire, so how could there not be brilliant fireworks and passionate vows?
Lucien was about to look away when he caught sight of a familiar figure.
Malfoy.
He was standing at a nearby corner of the corridor with his arms folded, wearing the expression of someone who had merely "happened to pass by and stop to watch."
But his face betrayed him.
The corners of his mouth were being pressed down with great effort, his eyes were unusually bright, and his whole expression seemed to say, No, not yet. I can't laugh yet.
Lucien looked away.
Well, he seemed to know who had sent that "love letter."
The Cupid finally finished reciting the long confession.
Harry let out a breath of relief and was just about to find an excuse to leave when Malfoy, unable to wait any longer, opened his mouth, ready to mock him.
Then another Cupid pulled a letter from its satchel, flew forward, cleared its throat, and unfolded the parchment.
"Dear Draco:"
Malfoy's mouth was still open, but the words caught in his throat.
"Your platinum blond hair is so smooth and bright that whenever you walk past, I can't help wondering whether a unicorn is missing part of its tail.."
"Your grey eyes are so cold and deep that looking into them reminds me of staring into a cauldron of yesterday's potion."
"And that noble little sneer of yours is so charming that I sometimes wonder whether you practise it in front of a mirror every morning."
"If I could, I would want to become the Slytherin badge on your chest, forever resting against your heart..."
Music, petals, and a clear childlike voice.
Perfectly coordinated.
The corridor fell completely silent.
"Pfft!"
Ron was the first to lose control and burst out laughing.
It was like lighting the fuse on a powder keg. Laughter erupted all around them.
Malfoy's expression was a sight to behold.
His face turned from white to red, from red to green, before finally settling into a complicated look that seemed to say, Should I be angry? Embarrassed? Or should I pretend nothing happened and remain dignified?
He instinctively looked at Harry.
Could this be Potter's prank?
But Harry's face only showed the barely suppressed laughter of someone enjoying another person's misfortune, not the satisfaction of someone whose scheme had succeeded.
Malfoy could still tell the difference.
It wasn't him?
Then who sent it?!
In the distance, at the corner of the corridor, a girl with a pug-like face was hiding behind a pillar, secretly watching Malfoy's reaction.
________
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