Impossible Girl
by EMPG22HoPe
Benjy had expected to spend the last day of summer with his friends. But apparently, his friends had different plans. That plan being to set him up on a bleeding blind date with one of their classmates. They thought it was about high time he started dating before he starts their seventh year.
His heart was not in it, of course. A part of him was very fearful that his blind date might not enjoy his company, or his gift. But it was not to say he wasn't curious. Still, it was nothing to what he truly felt. He's always had his eyes set on a particular Marlene McKinnon.
To his great shock, he found that his friends did set him up on a blind date… with Marlene McKinnon.
She was clad in jeans and a tangerine jumper. Her eccentric taste for the unusual color was one of the many things he admired about her. Well, that, and…
"Benjy?" Marlene asked in disbelief when she saw him approach the table she sat on in the restaurant. "Don't tell me—"
"I believe our friends just set us up." Benjy replied bashfully as he scratched the back of his head, one hand hidden on his back where he held a small box of cupcake. He had been told it was his blind date's birthday. He knew he should have put two and two together when his friends mentioned it so.
"This is why we never let out friends experiment on our love lives." Marlene sighed in defeat before gesturing towards the seat across hers on the table. "Oh, well. We might as well get on with it."
"Any reason why you agreed in the first place?" Benjy asked with an air of optimism to ease the tension. He has learned a long time ago that looking like a bumbling fool in front of Marlene won't score him points. He's grown to be a little more easygoing around her since then.
"Would you believe me if I said I was… curious?" Marlene shook her head as she stared down at what he now saw was a humongous bowl of ice cream, avoiding his gaze. "I was also afraid, of course. Love always makes me a tad bit fearful of the unknown."
"I doubt you'd believe if me I say I felt the same way." Benjy laughed, finding the coincidence far too, well, coincidental. Before he could blabber on any further, he revealed the small box of cupcake to Marlene. "If I had known it'd been you, I would have brought something bigger. Happy birthday."
Marlene's blue eyes lit up in delight all of a sudden, her bowl of ice cream abandoned. She looked to and fro between Benjy and the box before she smiled fondly. "Thank you, Benjy."
Benjy opened the box to reveal a chocolate cupcake with cheesecake frosting. He then took out a small candle hidden just within the box before driving the wax into the middle of the cupcake. Then, he riffled through his pocket to take out a box of matches.
"You could use your wand." Marlene asked with an amused raise of her brow.
"And get expelled just before the start of school? Not bloody likely." Benjy grinned before he flicked a matchstick against the box's side, emitting a small fire before placing its flame on the candle's wick. As the candle lit aflame, he pushed the box towards Marlene. "Go on. Don't let the wish grow cold."
Marlene laughed brightly before leaning down. She closed her eyes tight for a few seconds before she opened them to blow out the candle. Once blown, Marlene straightened herself to stare at him almost affectionately. Benjy could have sworn his heart might burst out.
"Alright, Benjy," Marlene started while she took out the cupcake from the box. "How about you share some cupcake and ice cream with me and make this the most memorable blind date in the world?"
Benjy released an almost relieved set of chuckles before he nodded. Perhaps his fears and dread of ruining the date wouldn't be so apparent all evening after all.
They spoke fondly of their summer time despite the rumors of some Dark Lord coming about. The tension was quick when discussion of him came about, but Benjy did his best to stir them towards different topics like their plans after Hogwarts and such.
"I definitely want to be an Auror after Hogwarts." Marlene explained just as their lasagna order arrived.
"I think it fits you perfectly." Benjy affirmed as he watched Marlene take a bite out of the pasta dish.
The blonde haired girl let out a sigh as she savored the taste. "Once again, my life has been saved by lasagna."
Benjy shook his head in amusement. She looked rather adorable the way she enjoyed the simplest of things in life.
"What about you, Benjy?" Marlene asked between large bites of lasagna. "Any plans?"
He shrugged noncommittally. "None I could think of. I'm not really the most active student. I do Quidditch, of course. But do I really want to be a Beater after Hogwarts?"
"Why not be an Auror?" Marlene suggested. "You're smart, skillful, fantastic with tactics and you're an impressive dueller. Think about that for a moment."
Benjy was surprised. He never thought of himself that way, let alone Marlene to think of him in such a way.
"You really think so?" Benjy asked hopefully.
Marlene graced him one of her most alluring smiles. "You're a brave and noble guy, Benjy. I don't think it, I know it."
This seemed to open up new avenues for him if the girl he liked thought he'd be fit to join one of the most trying careers in the wizarding world. It gave him some bit of hope for himself, whom he always believed to be hopeless beyond words. And perhaps a bit of hope between him and Marlene.
After their date, they stepped out into the warm summer night. The last day of summer was always a tad saddening for him because it'd be his last day with his family before going to Hogwarts. But it was also a bit comforting because he knew he'd be seeing his friends again at the Hogwarts Express the next day.
As Benjy walked Marlene home, he did not expect her to blurt out something he himself would impossibly say out loud out of his own bloody fear.
"I know you've always had a crush on me, Benjy." Marlene admitted plainly before glancing up at him. "It's nothing to be ashamed about, of course."
Benjy felt heat rise to his cheeks. "I… I wanted to tell you before we graduated but…"
"It's okay," Marlene smiled at him, a hint of a blush gracing her cheeks. "I've always had a crush on you too. You just never seem to notice."
It was as if he'd been hit by the Knight Bus ten times over. He had to stop on his tracks in the middle of the sidewalk, staring at Marlene in wonder. Merlin wake him up from whatever dream he must be in.
"Marlene, I—"
Marlene giggled before she filled the distance between them. Her lips seemed to be a breath away from his now, their proximity making his heart do erratic leaps it's never done until now.
"Are you going to kiss me, Benjy?" Marlene asked him bravely.
"I want to." Benjy replied just as boldly. "But only if you want to."
The obvious delight in her face grew before she leaned in close. "I do."
Their lips met for the first time. It felt like blissful oblivion, exploring the soft of Marlene's lips. He inhaled her honeysuckle scent as he pulled her close to him. It felt like a dream, but by Merlin, he'd be damned if he ever woke up from it.
When they pulled apart, they breathed for air, but soon fell into fits of bashful laughter as they continued their walk.
"Benjy?" Marlene asked just as they approached her home. "Promise me something."
"Hm?" He asked distractedly as he glimpsed at her.
"Promise me you won't think you're completely hopeless." Marlene proclaimed. "Promise me you'll join Auror training after Hogwarts and give yourself your best shot. I believed in you then, and I still believe in you now, alright?"
Benjy nodded with a bright smile before he leaned down to press a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Benjy Fenwick wasn't much of anything, as far as he's gone through life. But if Marlene McKinnon thought he was worth something enough to make a difference in the world, then perhaps he had much of something after all.
FanFiction Writing Month – July: 1,445 words
Pinata Club: Medium (Romance)
Eastern Hogwarts FunFair: Ferris Wheel #16: (era) marauder
Southern Hogwarts FunFair: Hedge Maze - Southern Corner: (trait) curious
Northern Hogwarts FunFair: Tunnel of Love: Yacht #8 - (plot) blind date
Insane House Challenge
150. Pairing - Marlene/Benjy
365 Prompts Challenge
118. Era - Marauder
Writing Club - July:
"Don't let the wish grow cold." (Disney Challenge: Quotes)
Vault 81 - (word) Experiment (Sophie's Shelf)
1. The ice cream - (food) ice cream (Emy's Emporium: Italy)
3. The donkeys - (trait) easygoing (Emy's Emporium: Greece)
2. [Character] Marlene McKinnon / 3. [Emotion] Fear / 4. [Dialogue] "Think about that for a moment." (Bex's Biscuit Barrel: Gingerbread)
[Summer] Seasonal Challenges
Garfield the Cat Day: Use the dialogue - "Once again, my life has been saved by, lasagna." [Bonus] (Days of the Year)
(object) Ice Cream (Seasonal - Summer Prompts)
Tangerine (Seasonal - Colour Prompts)
Dahlia - (title) Impossible Girl (Seasonal - Flowers)
September Equinox - (theme) Last day of Summer (Summer Astronomy Prompts)