A/N ~ Well, here's the final chapter before the Epilogue.I can't tell you all enough how much your wonderful reviews have meant to me.They honestly make me want to keep writing and coming up with new stories.Thank you!Thank you to my wonderful Beta StephanopolisO9!Go check out her story Where did all the Men Go!


Lost and Found

Chapter 8

Marcus led Hermione through Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron, and into Muggle London. Marcus was already dressed in blue jeans, boots, a navy blue t-shirt, and his favorite leather jacket, allowing him to fit into the Muggle world perfectly. Hermione transfigured her robes into a fashionable jacket over her dress, and added and cushioning charm to her shoes for their walk.

"Let's take a cab," Marcus said as he hailed one passing by.

Hermione smiled up at him and nodded. Once inside, Hermione gave the driver directions to a park she had frequented growing up. As they sat side by side in the back of the cab, Hermione thought about her life. So much had changed since May. She definitely never dreamed that she would feel so safe with someone again, and definitely not so soon after losing Viktor.

She also realized that she was happy with him. Of course, it probably didn't hurt that she had spent the previous night wrapped up in Marcus' arms. Smiling, her mind drifted back to that morning when she had woken up next to Marcus.

*FLASHBACK*

During the night they had moved so that her back was pressed to his front, spooning, their legs tangled.Marcus in his sleep, had allowed his hand to move down to lay over Hermione's protruding stomach protectively.Hermione's consciousness still lay halfway in dreamland as his hand gently rubbed soothing circles there until suddenly a sharp kick under his hand, jolted both awake.

"What happened!" a drowsy Marcus yelped as he looked around the room trying to understand what had happened.

Hermione looked down at her stomach and then back up at him before she burst into laughter.

"Hermione?Wha…was that the baby?" he asked.When all he got as a response was a nod accentuated by giggles. He looked down at her stomach and reached hesitantly out towards her.Realizing what he was doing and snatched his hand back.

"It's okay Marcus," Hermione said reaching for his hand. "Give me your hand.The baby seems to really like your touch."She held his hand on her stomach.As soon as his hand was on her stomach the baby rolled and kicked again.Marcus almost pulled his hand away, but Hermione held it firm. "Wow, the baby really likes you.They've never been this active before when anyone else has touched my stomach."

"Dang, they have quite the kick, don't they?I bet the baby will be a great Quidditch player!" he remarked, still in awe at the movements under his hand.

Hermione just giggled and looked up to him. "I would expect so given Viktor is the father.Add in that you're in our lives, I imagine the baby will be a force to be reckoned with on the Quidditch Pitch."

Marcus just stared at her with a goofy half smirk on his face before he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers.He waited for her to pull back, but when she didn't, he lightly let his tongue run along the crease of her mouth, asking permission to deepen the kiss.At first she hesitated, but soon, she opened, giving in to the feelings running through her.Hermione's hands moved up his chest to circle his neck, her fingers teasing the short hairs on the back of his neck.Marcus' gingerly pulled Hermione into his lap.Then he had one hand buried in her thick mass of curls, the other holding her body close.

The two finally parted when breathing became necessary.Marcus rested his forehead against Hermione's and the two just quietly took in their reactions and feelings.

It was Hermione who broke the silence. "We should get going.You have practice and I'm going shopping with Mama."Slowly she moved off his lap, Marcus assisting her.She grabbed the clothes she had set out the night before and headed for the bathroom.As she reached the door, she looked back over her shoulder and gave Marcus a bashful smile, lightly biting her bottom lip before disappearing out the door.

*END FLASHBACK*

A short time later, they made their way through the park. It had well-manicured paths that were lined with trees, bare as they prepared for the winter. She sighed deeply as she held tight to Marcus' arm, a slight shiver going through her body.

Marcus subtly conjured a hat, scarf and mittens for the tiny witch beside him. She smirked as she put on the forest green pieces trimmed in silver.

The two walked along the Thames, like she used to do with Viktor, along the river in Bulgaria on his family's land. There was a sudden gust of wind that swirled around the two, pushing Hermione into Marcus. His strong arms wrapped around her, shielding her. As soon as his arms were holding her so they were pressed together front to front, like Viktor used to hold her, the wind had stopped. Hermione lifted her head up from his chest and looked into Marcus' grey-blue eyes. Her hands were resting gently on his chest and she could feel his firm muscles beneath her hands, so similar to Viktor's, yet so different.

Taking a breath she said, "You felt it too, didn't you?" Marcus only nodded, so she continued. "What did it remind you of?"

"The wind wrapped around making us spin like I would do in the last Quidditch move Viktor and I designed. How about you?" he whispered.

"Whenever Viktor and I would walk along the river by the manor, out of nowhere, he would whip me around and hold me close, just like this. As soon as I was in this position with you, Viktor's and my favorite way to stand at the river, the wind stopped."

"Do you think he's trying to tell us something?" Marcus asked.

"It appears so. Have you ever heard of that happening before? Being a Muggleborn, I don't know the full extent of Magic," she answered honestly.

"There was an instance in my family where something similar happened. When my great-grandfather Andre died, my great-grandmother Emmaline was pregnant with my grandmother. Andre's best friend, David felt compelled to see her one day after receiving a serious injury, instead of going to St. Mungo's. Emmaline had always dreamed of being a healer, but because of being a pureblood witch during that time period, she wasn't allowed to. Andre supported her learning and would buy her texts on healing so she could learn even though she wouldn't be allowed to become an official healer. She would heal all sorts of injuries that Andre would end up with from playing Quidditch. So when David showed up injured, she immediately was able to heal him. It was the first time she had been allowed to utilize her knowledge aside from Andre and it is said that she felt a warmth fill her. David also felt like he was called to see Emmaline, he would say that Andre chose him for Emmaline since he couldn't be there anymore. David and Emmaline went on to have one of the most loving and strong relationships ever to occur in any wizarding marriage. David raised my grandmother as his own child and loved her as his own and always let her know how much Andre loved her as well.

"I think that might be what happened here. Does it bother you?" he asked, looking down to her hands on his chest, scared to see a negative reaction in her eyes.

"I loved Viktor so much and it is exactly something he would do. He would make sure that the baby and I would be taken care of and hopefully loved. He trusted you Marcus. He wouldn't trust us with just anyone. I think you and I both meant a lot to him and this is his way of making sure we know it. We've needed each other to get over losing him," she told him gently.

Finally Marcus' deep voice broke through the silence. "Mina?"

"Yes Marcus?" she asked quietly.

"Do you think that one day you may grow to care about me as more than Viktor's best friend?" he asked, trying desperately to not allow his voice to show his nervousness.

Hermione turned to look at him, taking in his strong profile. He was so like Viktor, but so very different. While Viktor rarely showed anger and never raised his voice, Marcus was known for his anger and brutish behavior. Viktor was gentle and kind and had loved her completely and she never questioned it. Looking now at Marcus, she knew he was also gentle and kind, however that was only towards her. Where Viktor would have just swept Hermione away from Ron and continued on their way, Marcus had verbally stood up for her in front of a crowd, defending her against her former best friend.

Could she love Marcus? Looking at him now, she realized she was already on her way there. It was a different love than she had with Viktor, but no two loves were the same.

"Marcus, you're not Viktor, nor do I want you to be. I like you for who you are. You don't begrudge me having a place in my heart that will always belong to Viktor. I know it's what he would want and even if we didn't have the signs, I believe I would still eventually fall in love with you. I – I think I already am…" Her words were soft but firm as she looked up towards him.

She watched as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed before looking down to her face. To most they would only see a stony face lacking all emotion. What Hermione saw was uncertainty, with a hint of hope.

"I think I know what you're planning on doing Marcus. I know why you want to do it too. What I want to know though is, do you think you could grow to love me for me, or will I always be Viktor's Mina to you? Will you hold back who you are or will you show me who the real Marcus Flint is? Will you accept everything about who I am? Or are you only feeling this way because you were raised to do this, like you explained at the Party?"

"Mina, when Viktor was alive, I admired you not because of who you were, but because of how happy you made him. Now that I've met you and he is no longer with us, I can appreciate everything you were to him while at the same time appreciating everything you are now. You are a strong, intelligent, determined, and kind witch. You are so much more than I even envisioned when I thought of my future. I want to be a better man when I'm around you. I want to protect you and stand up for you. I want take care of you and the baby. I want to laugh with you. Hell, I even want to argue with you. I have never met a witch I can argue with who won't take it to heart. You know I'm not perfect and I'm sure I'll piss you off. I want to learn everything about you. The good. The bad. Everything. Sleeping beside you last night offered me peace of mind for the first time in my life. Hermione, I honestly believe I can grow to love you because I think I already do. Those feelings have nothing to do with being raised to marry to protect a witch from being shunned. It has everything to do with me caring deeply for you." His hands were cupping her cheeks lightly, his fingers ghosting over her temples and into her hair. "Please Mina marry me and allow me to take care of you and the baby. Let me give you two my name so that you can live life without questions and know that no one alive will ever care more about you. Marry me because I- I love you."

Hermione felt tears stinging her eyes as she raised her hands to his, holding them to her face before moving them to cup his own face. "Tell me Marcus, will you accept me working or do you want me to stay home and raise the baby?"

Marcus released a short single note burst of laughter, his eyes never leaving hers. "Like I could ever stop you from working. To stop you from working would be wanting you to be someone you're not. I would never ask that of you."

"Okay," she said quietly.

"Okay?" he asked. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes, it's a yes!" Hermione said through happy tears.

Marcus leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It was a soft kiss, one that spoke of love and affection, while hinting at so much more to come. "Tomorrow I'll go to Gringotts and select a ring from my family vaults that I think you will like and appreciate. Unless you would like a new ring."

"I know you'll select a ring that is appropriate. If you are not able to find one you think fitting, then we can discuss purchasing a new ring," she told him as she leaned into his chest.

Marcus' arms wrapped around her, holding her close. When his hand rested on her stomach, the baby rolled and pressed against his hand, as if wanting to be close. They laughed at the antics of the baby. Hermione sighed contentedly as the two stood there together looking out across the pond as the sun began to dip behind the trees.

"We better go home," Hermione whispered. "I don't even want to contemplate what Blaise would attempt for dinner for Mama and Papa if left to his own devices." Looking up at Marcus, she gripped his shoulders and pulled him down for one more kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. Before she released him, her lips hovered near his ear and she whispered "And Marcus? I love you too."

Together, they walked into the woods and activated the Portkey back to the stadium before flooing home.