Sunday, June 2003

Marcus's arms were happily filled with Hermione Granger. Her back pressed against his chest and her head rested on his shoulder. The scent of his familiar shampoo filled his nose as his head laid on hers. The long day out in the sun, had drained both of them. And shortly after dinner they made their way to the sitting room and refused to leave the comfort of his oversized couch.

Hermione turned out to be an excellent assistant in the garden. He felt a sense of pride as he explained what he created in a once empty space. He could see the excitement in her face as she asked question after question about the planting schedules, specific soils, the work needed for magical versus non-magical plants. A smile appeared on Marcus's face when he recalled her trying to excuse her giddiness. She explained that she doesn't have opportunities like this in London to literally pick her own food. By the time they decided to call it a day the picnic basket had to be moved into the kitchen by a Levitation Charm due to the weight.

Dinner turned out be a demonstration as he showed off his cooking skills once again. She assisted by chopping and dicing all the vegetables he needed. "Thank our Potions class for my fantastic knife skills. It makes me not completely useless in the kitchen." They shared a bottle of wine as they sat on the kitchen counter eating bowls of pasta primavera. As Marcus watched Hermione talk about the day, her earlier comment never left the forefront of his mind. "I also have an immense crush on you." The words, even through memory, still caused a pleasant ache in his chest.

"Marcus?" Hermione's voice removing him from his train of thought.

"Hum?"

"Thank you," she said as she turned around in his arms to sit up and face him. "This weekend has been truly amazing. I think this is the first time in a very long time that I didn't think about work and was able to just...be," she laughed.

"You don't have to thank me, Hermione." She provided him with one of her lovely smiles. "This weekend has also been great for me too. Having you here has been...perfect." He watched as her eyes brightened. She reached over, placing a kiss on his lips. The kiss became heated as Marcus bit her bottom lip; she released a whimper from her mouth. He moved his hands up and down her arms causing goosebumps to form over her soft skin. Her head tilted to the side as Marcus traced his lips along her throat. His hands made their way to the hem of her t-shirt and Hermione lifted her arms so he could easily remove it from her form. I'll never tire of this. She stood on her knees before him, her nipples firm as they pressed through the thin fabric of her bra. He gently pushed her, so her back was on the couch. His hands started to move again, this time to unbutton her jeans. He groaned at the view of her bare under her jeans. The small patch of her dark hair showing as he pushed the zipper down. She lifted her bum up making it easier for him to completely remove the garment. He didn't even have to touch her see the need she had for him. His cock grew hard from the feeling of his fingers sliding through her wet folds. Marcus pushed two fingers deep inside her; his thumb teasing her pearl with small circles. She moaned as she moved her hips harder against his hand.

"Let me see you, Marcus." Her tone was deep and demanding. Marcus stood on his knees and with his other hand unbuttoned his jeans, pushing them down along with his underpants. He watched as her eyes grew bigger, as though she was seeing him for the first time. The view of her reaction making him feel heady. Don't let this night end. Her moans became louder as he started to stroke himself; using wetness from the tip of his head to lubricate the motion of his hand.

"I need you, Hermione," he whispered, stroking himself faster as he looked at the witch beneath him.

"You have me." Even in his intense passion, Marcus surprised himself by not finishing at that exact moment those words left her mouth. He removed his fingers from her, hearing a tiny sound of disappointment fall from her lips.

Hermione opened her eyes to see Marcus looking down at her. His expression was filled with heat and something else she couldn't describe. She already missed the feeling of his fingers inside of her. Suddenly, Hermione's breath caught in her throat. She could feel her lungs work harder as she watched him move his wet fingers into his mouth, sucking them clean as though savoring an exquisite meal. I'm going to die. Hermione's body detached from her brain, roughly pushing the large wizard down on his back. Instantly, she was on top of him, fucking him, as though it would be her last time. Hermione was glad he was active since he kept the force as she felt herself getting tired. His thrusting was hitting all the right places as her body broke down with a cry of his name. Not too long after, her own could be heard throughout the sitting room.

Silence filled the room as they stayed wrapped in each others' arms. It seems their last rendezvous had made their entire weekend catch up with them. Their bodies weak but satisfied all the same.

A chime in the hallway made Hermione sit up. "What time is it?"

Marcus sat up and rubbed the face. "Midnight, I suppose."

"Damn!" Marcus watched Hermione make her way up the staircase. He could hear her footsteps move across his bedroom upstairs. He knew this time would come. It was the end of the weekend. Back to reality. Her grabbed his boxers and jeans and slipped them on as he stood from the couch. A feeling of loss already hitting him. She can't stay forever, Marcus. The witch in question made her way back to the sitting room, back in her black pencil skirt and blouse. "Has it really only been two days?" Marcus thought to himself as she approached him.

"Thank you again, Marcus...for everything," she said as a blush crept up her neck. "Um...so...I'll...damn it, I really don't know what to say. I've never just stayed over at a man's home like this before. You know? Even men that I was in relationships with. Of course, that doesn't include Harry. I live with him and he's a man and all. But nothing like this. It's just when we met at the pub and started talking, I didn't want it to end. To be honest, it was even before that. Meeting at the Quidditch game, the letters, the surprise lunch visit. It was so lovely. Then you almost walking out." She paused and looked in his dark eyes. "I'm sorry," she laughed. "I promise you, I'm not mad, just tired. Probably will end up splinching myself when I leave."

"Do you want to see me again," asked Marcus. His expression void of any emotion.

"Um, I - "

"Yes or no"

"Yes, I want to see you again," replied Hermione.

"Good, then that's settled, isn't it?" A large smile spread across her face.

"Settled?"

"I have something to tell you and...I hope you don't think it...inappropriate." Hermione raised a curious eyebrow. "Well, before we spent our day in the garden, I reached out to Potter for a favor." Both Hermione's eyebrows had reached her hairline.

"Continue."

"Well, I guess you can say, I assumed again." Hermione's head tilted to the side, her brow was furrowed with confusion. Marcus walked over to the fireplace and placed his hand on the mantle. "I thought it would make things easier if I had my Floo connected to Grimmauld Place. That way you'll be able to come by whenever you like. To be honest, I have no idea how to change the wards for you to Apparate in the cottage, so I thought of this instead. Harry was able to setup so you can come and go."

Hermione couldn't hide her shock. "Harry did this?"

"Yes. However, there is a limitation though," he said with a smirk. "Only you are able to go back and forth between Flint Cottage and 12 Grimmauld Place. I won't be able to enter your home without yours or Potter's permission. So, there's no need to worry about splinching yourself. His smirk turning into a shy smile as his eyes stayed on the witch in front of him. Hermione raised a finger to him.

"One moment, please." She grabbed her work bag and a handful of Floo Powder. "12 Grimmauld Place." The green flames surround her body before she stepped out into her sitting room.

"Hello, dear," said Theo as he sat in a wingback chair reading. She dropped her bag and held up a finger to Theo.

"One moment, please." She grabbed another handful of Floo Powder "Flint Cottage". Hermione then stepped back out into Marcus's sitting room. Her head turned to him. "You really did this?"

Marcus shrugged his shoulders. "I don't want to stop seeing you."

Hermione jumped into the large wizard's arms, placing a kiss on his lips. "Your assumptions are correct, Mr. Flint." Marcus hugged her tightly against his body.

"Brilliant!" He placed her gently back onto her feet. "I know it's late and you have work tomorrow, so how about you come over after and I'll have dinner ready."

"Perfect," she replied. Marcus lowered his head and placed a kiss on her lips. "Until tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Hermione."

She grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and once again yelled out her destination.

"Oh! Hello...again," replied Theo with a roll of his eyes.

"Hello, Theo," she replied, placing a kiss on his cheek. "Where's Harry?"

"It's past midnight, dear. He's fast asleep."

"Why aren't you asleep."

"It's only past midnight, dear." A small smile tugged at her mouth as she rolled her eyes this time at Theo. "My, my."

"What?"

"Don't you look...glowing." Hermione sat down in the chair across from her friend. "Harry already told me everything he knows and from the looks of it. It appears you had a nice long weekend.

"Yes," she exhaled with a smile on her lips. "But it couldn't last forever, could it? Back to reality tomorrow or in five hours, I suppose."

"Who says it can't last forever, Hermione? Who says that you have to go back to reality?"

"Spoken by someone who's probably never had to work a day in his life." Theo smiled.

"Oh, I do enjoy your cheekiness, dear. However, I am just referring to the fact that you're an adult and you can do whatever the bloody hell you want. And by the look on your face, I know you don't want to be here or back at your shite job tomorrow." Hermione looked at her hands that were folded in lap.

"You're right, but I have responsibilities and-"

"I'll make sure the boy-who-lived sends an owl to your supervisor in the morning. Looks like your coming down with a cold," said Theo as he started to read the book that was open on his lap. Hermione stood up and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder.

"Thank you, Theo. I'll see you tomorrow," she said. Theo didn't reply to her comment. He simply took hold of her hand and kissed her knuckles.

Marcus had just finished putting the dishes away when he heard the roar of the fireplace. He walked around the corner and there standing in his sitting room was none other than Hermione Granger. Marcus rushed over to the brunette witch, an unsettling feeling filling his chest.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" His hands resting on her shoulders. "What's wrong?" Marcus stared into her eyes, waiting for some kind of response from her.

"I thought really hard about this and I don't want to meet you for dinner tomorrow night."

"Oh, umm. That's fine. Maybe another time?"

"I don't think so." Marcus lowered his head, feeling the lead form in his stomach. He knew in the end, that it was too good to be true. "You see. I'd much rather have breakfast in the morning with you." Marcus's brown eyes met hers of the same color. Before he could respond Hermione jumped onto the masculine wizard, instinctively wrapping her legs around his waist, as their lips crashed into each other.