Tom Collivander and the Order of the Thunderbird, A Potter Parody

by Jonathan Lockwood

  Chapter 16 – The Best Valentine’s Day

  Over the next few days, the aftermath of the Quidditch match finally wore off. Amber was released from the hospital and Tom learned that Maloney had apologised to Amber, therefore he found him and called a truce as well.

  The rest of January and early February wouldn’t go by quickly enough for most of the students. The daily snowfall and large, stone rooms of the castle meant that it was bitterly cold everywhere they went. Tom wasn’t affected by it as much as others, having gone to Durmprang for four years, but even he had to admit that in Hogwash’s thin school clothes, it was quite cold.

  Tom had visited Lyrotth twice more. So far he’d never met any other creatures in the forest that Hogrod had told him to watch out for. Tom had a sneaking suspicion that they avoided him because they knew he was going to a dragon that could tear them apart.

  Their relationship grew every time he went. He now could count the number of spikes on her back from within his mind. He really enjoyed visiting her, experiencing a sense of electricity every time he did. Plus, there was the added bonus of snuggling up to the flames inside her belly to stay warm.

  He’d also started teaching Harry, Ron and Hermione. So far he’d just found out what they already knew and then improved their technique and showed them variations of the spells. He hadn’t yet really taught them anything new. However, they were so grateful that Harry had asked Tom to co-teach all DL meeting hence forth. Tom had agreed because he had found it quite fun the first time. It was ironic that Tom was teaching so many people all of a sudden, as the one job he’d always disregarded for himself was being a teacher.

  On the 7th of February, a notice appeared saying that the traditional Hogswine Valentine’s Day trip would be going ahead. Tom of course, would be spending the day with Amber, but he had no idea what they would get up to. If it was up to him, he’d just have some fun, doing usual stuff, but Amber would probably want to do something romantic.

  During the week leading to Valentine’s Day, Tom became very confused by the new role he seemed to have been given without his consent. People kept coming up to him to ask him advice about girlfriends or boyfriends. Tom realised that it was only happening because everyone knew about his relationships, due to Quidditch and so on. Even though it was a bit annoying, he found it quite funny because really, he had no advice to give. No matter how many people he told that he wouldn’t be much help, more kept coming.

  On the Thursday evening, Tom found himself alone with Amber in his room. They hadn’t had time together for 2 weeks and so were thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. As they lay there in silence, out of the blue, Amber asked, "What’s that?” pointing to his scar across his chest.

  “It’s just a scar from when I cut myself on some glass.”

  “You didn’t have that a month ago. What happened?”

  “There’s something I never told you.” She started to look angry so Tom quickly explained. “When you were in the hospital wing, we had a victory party in the common room. Mark and Ryan got me drunk and I fell into one of the glass vases and some of it embedded into me, hence the scar.”

  “It must have been a big piece of glass. The scar is huge!”

  “I was too drunk to remember it to be honest. I know Natalie patched me up but didn’t know how to remove the scar so it remains.”

  Tom thought Amber was going to start on him and get angry, therefore he was shocked when she said, "I like it.”

  Tom didn’t understand what there was to like about it but thought better than to question her. He was just glad she wasn’t mad about the party or him getting to drunk to remember things.

  Valentine’s Day came with a fresh wave of snow, 2 feet thick! It meant that Hogswine was extraordinarily pretty and that everyone looked like walking marshmallows due to the number of layers they were wearing.

  Tom and Amber walked together through the grounds towards the village, hand in hand. Amber was wrapped in several scarfs, a large red coat and a bobble hat. Tom loved how Amber had the knack of always looking good without too many bells and whistles, such as extensive jewellery or fancy, designer clothes.

  Once they reached the village, Amber was so cold that she insisted they warm up in the Three Broomsticks. Tom had no objections and followed her into the pub that he’d only been in once before, when Isabelle had shown him it. The pub was packed with students, although most seemed to be friends rather than couples. Tom noticed this and pointed it out to Amber.

  She explained, “Most couples are probably in café’s and tea shops, but it’s not really my thing and I’m pretty sure it’s not yours either.”

  “You’re dead right! Give me a pub any day.’

  She laughed, then went to get a table whilst Tom bought drinks. Unfortunately, the landlord wanted ID’s and so Tom couldn’t get any proper drinks. He had to settle for the childish butterbeer.

  On his way back to Amber, he received many pats on the back from friends and acquaintances that spotted him. Tom never used to like being the centre of attention or popular, but for whatever reason, he was starting to enjoy it. What was more, his admirers all liked Amber as well which made them like him even more.

  “Here you go,” he said, passing her a drink. “Sorry it’s only butterbeer, she wouldn’t sell me anything else.”

  “That’s cool, I like it. Cheers.”

  For a time they just drank. Amber appeared to be waiting for Tom to say something but for some reason, he couldn’t think of anything. “Are you ok?” she asked, gently.

  “Yeah, it’s just for some reason I don’t know what to say.”

  “Haha, you must be joking. You always know what to say. Even when I’m mad at you for something, you convince me that you’re right and I’m wrong.”

  “You’ve noticed that have you?”

  “Tom, what do you take me for? An idiot?”

  “Of course not!” He took another swig and noticed her face was different. As if she was deliberating something. “Is there something on your mind?” he asked.

  She fumbled over her words as she said, “It’s just that, we’ve been dating for months but there’s so much I don’t know about you. You have all these secrets from me. So often, we’ll be having a good time and then you just leave without telling me why.”

  “How long have you felt like this?”

  “Only recently.”

  “So if you didn’t have a problem before, why do you know?”

  “Before, we had only just started going out. It was expected I didn’t know things about you. But it’s been over two months now and I still don’t know. Do you not trust me enough to tell me?”

  “It’s not that at all. I care for you more than you know. I don’t tell you things because it might put you in danger and I don’t want to risk that happening.”

  “What are you up to that might be dangerous?”

  Tom realised that she wasn’t going to let this go but couldn’t tell her the truth so took a different approach. “If you trust me, you won’t make me answer that question.”

  “You know everything about me, warts and all. Will you at least tell me something new about you?”

  He pondered her request for a moment before coming to an answer. “Fair enough. Sometimes I sneak out of the castle to go for a drink in the Hag’s leg.” He figured that was the least risky bit of information for her to know.

  Despite it being his most trivial secret, it still shocked her. “How do you manage that!?”

  Tom didn’t want to tell her about his cube just yet so said, “Me and Wilch have an understanding.”

  “Wow! You really do have friends in all places.”

  “I keep telling you it pays off.”

  ‘You’re right…Thanks for telling me. I still don’t get why you never told me before.”

  “I wasn’t sure I could trust you before.”

  “So you trust me now then?”

  “One hundred percent. I don’t just trust you… I, I
love you.”

  A silence fell between them as they stared into each other’s eyes. Someone across the pub broke it by shouting over to them. “Hey! Hey Tom! Tell my mate how you can produce a dragon patronus.”

  “Not now!” shouted Amber back at him, annoyed. She gazed back into Tom’s eyes for a while before eventually saying, “I love you too.”

  They embraced each other and started making out. They were both oblivious to the wolf whistles and cheers from other people in the pub. The only thing that mattered was each other.

  When they eventually broke apart, Tom had a huge smile on his face. He’d realised he was in love with Amber when he watched over her in the hospital wing but had been waiting for the opportune moment to tell her.

  Once they finally took their gaze away from each other, Tom noticed Hermione in a corner staring at him. She was with a much older woman with curly blonde hair who Tom had never seen before. He nodded at Hermione who smiled back, weakly.

  Apart from the moment when Harry and Cho had entered and greeted them, before going over to sit with Hermione and the blonde woman, Tom and Amber gave each other their full concentration for the entire time they were there. Saying out loud that they love each other had cemented their relationship in a way nothing else could have done. It also got rid of the sticky nervousness that Tom had felt previously, about Amber’s potential reaction.

  Tom went back up to the castle with Amber a few hours later, once having been in a few cloths shops. Ordinarily, this would have bored Tom to death but today, he could tolerate it. They spent the evening in Amber’s room for a change. Tom had realised that they’d always hung out in his room and so he’d never been in there. He was delighted to see her room wasn’t much different to his. A few softer cushions, candles and female cloths were the only things that made it feminine. Very few things were pink. Tom had been worried that her bedroom would be more like Clara’s, more girly stuff that Tom didn’t understand.

  But upon seeing it, he knew she was the right girl for him. To him, Amber was very beautiful, confident, chilled out girl. But at the same time, someone who he could discuss deep and personal things with without feeling embarrassed. He felt more comfortable when he was with Amber than he did with anyone else.

  Amber started fantasising about holidays and adventures they could have together. She suggested trips such as going to the pyramids of Giza or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Whilst Tom loved the ideas, and loved Amber even more for suggesting them, he knew they couldn’t afford to go. “Once we can apparate,” said Amber but Tom cut her off.

  “To apparate internationally you need permission. It could take years after the initial test to get that.”

  “I know, I know. I was only fantasising. Can you just not be logical for a few hours?” she said, annoyed.

  “Sorry. You’re right. Go on.”

  Amber, animatedly, carried on. “So we’re in Australia, and you…”