Quite the Catch
MarcusxHermione; DracoxLuna
Rated T
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling
Quite the Catch
Chapter 5
Marcus felt incredibly stuffy in his formal black dress robes. It was more stifling than he would like and if he had his choice, he would have shown up in his regular attire. However, he did understand that the Yule Ball was a formal event and thus he had to dress the part. His partner for the night, Millicent Bulstrode, was also dressed in elegant dress robes as well, hers a dark grey almost black color. Neither of them was too keen on dancing or the ball or anything like that, but they also didn't want to be considered wet blankets for not attending. Therefore, they decided to attend together, but knew more than likely they wouldn't be together the whole night. Marcus had even resolved himself to leave the ball a little early just to get away from the fray and excitement. It was a bit too much for him, and everything was so…white.
Even so, the night wasn't all bad. He wouldn't admit it, but he had been looking for familiar curly brown hair the moment he stepped into the overly decorated Great Hall but could not spot the girl he was looking for. Imagine his surprise though to see her walk in on the arm of Viktor freaking Krum with the rest of the Tri-Wizard Champions and their dates. Hermione looked so…different. She was…beautiful. And the way her periwinkle-blue dress robes floated around her as she was twirled around by the burly Bulgarian made her seem to float on air.
She seemed to be having fun with Viktor Krum, a lot of fun. He didn't know why, but Marcus found himself feeling some type of way about that, about Hermione having fun with Viktor and not him. Then again, it wasn't like he and Hermione spent much time together anyway. Their relationship was cordial at best, but they also weren't friends. But what was stopping them? Adrian had made friends with the brunette no problem and regarded her highly, but Adrian was also more friendly than he was. He was also less intimidating than he was, but Marcus knew he didn't scare Hermione. Perhaps once, but not anymore. She had even gone out of her way to help tutor him; hell, she even hugged him when he passed his test. But the fact of the matter was that they weren't friends. They were just acquaintances, so why did he feel funny about seeing her with Krum? Maybe it was because he was another large Quidditch player with recognition that Marcus could only wish to have. Oh well, he supposed it didn't matter. Even though he would like to leave the Yule Ball early, Hermione did promise to save him a dance, a dance that he had to admit to himself he was looking forward to. After their dance, he would leave for Slytherin Dungeon.
Marcus began looking around for Hermione some time over halfway through the ball, hoping she was free to dance with him now. He knew he was sure to get some strange looks from his Housemates, but he didn't care. He just found himself really wanting to dance with the little brunette. Because he was so tall, he could easily scan the Great Hall with little effort to find her, though he did understand it might be hard to pick her out in the large crowd. Luckily, his dark grey eyes finally spotted her. Making his way through the crowd towards her, Marcus was about to call her name but paused. Hermione seemed to be quickly leaving the Great Hall, and she looked rather upset. Upon closer inspection, he saw that she was in a rather heated argument with Weasley and he dumb redhead didn't seem the slightest bit upset that whatever he was saying was hurting Hermione's feelings. Hell, even he could see the angry tears standing in her eyes. Frowning he made his way through the crowd and followed them out of the Great Hall, stopping when he heard Hermione's tearful voice yelling at Weasley from the bottom of the steps leading to the First Floor.
"I can't believe you would say that to me, Ronald! If it upsets you so much, next time there is a ball ask me before somebody else does, and not as a last resort!" Hermione yelled at the redhead, her sleek hair beginning to return to its curly state from her frazzled nerves.
Ron shrugged and said, "That's besides the point. And I stand by what I said. He's only using you."
"How dare you!"
Ron brushed past Hermione to head up the stairs, obviously on his way back to Gryffindor Tower. He turned to say something else, but stopped looking over her head and said, "Harry."
Marcus blinked having not noticed that Potter had indeed walked past him out of the Great Hall and seemed to be turning in early himself. He watched as Potter approached his two friends, Hermione whirling round on him and asking, "Where have you been?"
Before Potter could speak, Marcus heard the brunette tell him—or order, rather—and the redhead to head to bed. Potter made no protest and climbed the stairs to meet his other friend, the two of them headed up. Hermione wiped her tears but soon turned back around and stomped up the stairs after the two boys, having heard whatever it was that Weasley had uttered, screaming, "RON, YOU'VE SPOILED EVERYTHING!"
As Potter and Weasley quickly retreated, Hermione plopped down on the stairs and cried, kicking off one shoe and throwing the other down the steps. She buried her face in her hands and bent down so her head was in her lap, not at all caring who was seeing her cry. Marcus's heart clenched at the sight, not liking to see her upset like this, especially over someone who didn't deserve her tears, and a Weasley no less. Walking towards her, he stopped to pick up her shoe at the bottom of the steps before climbing up the to her. Stopping three steps below her, he said, "I don't recall Cinderella staying at the ball after losing her shoe."
Hermione gasped and looked up, surprised to see Marcus standing before her with her shoe in hand. Sniffling and wiping her tears away she replied, "Cinderella also didn't have friends that would spit hateful words to her just to make themselves feel better."
"No, she didn't."
"How much did you hear?"
"Just the back half, but from what I could gather, Weasley is accusing Krum of using you in some fashion that is less than pure, probably insulting you for being his date for tonight, and is in general a right git."
Hermione giggled a little and wiped her eyes again before nodding saying, "Yes, that would seem to be it. Though, he's really just being spiteful because he can't believe that someone like Viktor would be interested in someone like me."
Marcus frowned. "Well, why wouldn't he? You're smart, you're kind, and you're pretty. And you can also hold your own against those who consider themselves better than you. There is nothing wrong with any male being interested in that."
She knew he was just trying to cheer her up, but Hermione found herself smiling and blushing upon the Slytherin calling her 'pretty'. She didn't think she was pretty, decent maybe, but not pretty. But Marcus had said she was, and so easily too. Perhaps he really did think she was pretty, unless he only meant for tonight. It didn't matter though, because in the end his little response lifted her spirits. Looking up at him she said, "Thank you, Marcus."
"It's no problem. And don't let that tosser get to you. His only real issue is that he had to show up tonight in those ghastly dress robes."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh, Marcus laughing with her. He was right, after all. Ron had to wear such hideous dress robes for the night and had been in a bad mood since getting them in the mail. Wiping away the rest of her tears, she sniffled once more before smiling up at the dark-haired boy, her eyes shining as she looked at him. Upon seeing her sweet smile and shining mocha eyes, Marcus felt his heart stop momentarily in his chest before beating again, only a little faster. Was it…was it because of Hermione? Because of how she simply smiled at him? She had smiled at him before, so what was different about it now? Was it because of how her eyes sparkled when she looked at him?
Not wanting to dwell on it any more for fear of further confusion, Marcus moved to sit next to the brunette on the stairs. Once he was settled he said, "You know, if you just wanted to, I can help you get back at Weasley for ruining your night."
"No, I don't want to do that. I mean, I don't want to stoop to get even. Besides, it won't even matter soon."
"As long as Krum has an interest in you and is here at Hogwarts, it will matter. Weasley's not going to let you see any peace about him until he is gone."
The brunette groaned before saying, "I don't want to deal with Ron for that long just because Viktor and I are friends."
"Which is why I say we get back at Weasley now, or at least play a harmless prank on him."
"Harmless?"
"Well, if it were me doing it, it wouldn't be. But since it is you, it will be harmless, or as harmless as it can be." Marcus nudged Hermione and said a bit teasingly, "You know you want to."
Giggling Hermione shook her head before saying, "I'll think about it. Maybe when he pisses me off again, I'll take you up on your offer."
Marcus nodded and said, "I'll be waiting, because knowing that prat, it won't be long."
Hermione giggled again before sighing and looking back down in her lap. It was quiet between the two of them, the only sound being that of the music drifting out of the Great Hall and the chatter of peers. Some people that walked by them on the steps or were leaving the Great Hall looked at them strangely, all of them wondering what in the name of Merlin Hermione Granger and Marcus Flint were doing sitting together and looking rather content at that. Neither Hermione or Marcus cared, though. However, they did know that there would be talk about it later (if anyone cared to bring it up, that is).
Suddenly remembering something important, Hermione gasped before turning to look at her companion. Getting his attention, she said, "Oh, I've almost forgotten. I promised to save you a dance tonight."
Dark grey eyes blinked in surprise, surprised that the Gryffindor girl remembered to do that. He figured that with what had just happened, she wouldn't want to. And even though he himself was looking forward to it, he wouldn't hold her to her promise if she wasn't feeling up to it. Shaking his head he said, "No, it's alright; you don't have to, Hermione. After that whole ordeal with Weasley, you probably don't even care to dance right now anyway."
"Don't assume to know what I do and don't want to do, Marcus," Hermione retorted, though there was no malice in her words. Smiling up at him she said, "I want to dance with you, Marcus."
Marcus stared down at Hermione for a moment before a soft smile appeared on his face. Standing up from his seated position on the stairs, he stepped down a few steps before holding his hand out to her. Hermione took it and allowed him to help her stand before letting him lead her down the steps, taking notice of how he picked up her shoes for her as he did. When they reached the bottom, he placed her shoes on the floor and held her hands as she stepped into them, helping her to keep balance. Once her shoes were securely back on her feet, He began walking towards the Great Hall, but stopped when he felt a tug on his hand.
Turning to look at the brunette, Marcus asked, "Hermione?"
Hermione looked up at him and tugged on his hand again saying, "Come on."
She turned and walked away from the Great Hall and down a corridor, pulling Marcus along and Marcus allowing her to. As they walked further down the corridor, passing by lingering students and the music drifting from the Great Hall fading, the Seventh Year couldn't help but wonder where Hermione was taking him. Soon they stopped at one of the many entrances of the courtyard, the same one he had saved her from falling to certain doom. The courtyard was covered in snow, the snow falling from the sky in beautifully random patterns. Marcus looked down at Hermione, the Fourth Year Gryffindor looking up at him with a smile. She then stepped out into the falling snow, never once letting go of his hand as he followed her until they were standing in the middle of the courtyard.
Taking her wand from where it was hidden in her dress robes, Hermione waved it and a Muggle radio appeared on one of the stone benches. With another wave of her wand, it playing Tchaikovsky's Pas de Deux from the Nutcracker ballet. Putting her wand away she looked up at Marcus and said, "I'm ready."
Marcus chuckled and nodded, taking his own wand and waving it towards their feet, putting an Anti-Slipping Charm on their shoes so as not to slip on any snow or hidden ice during their dance. After he put his own wand away, he gently took Hermione's hand in his while placing his other on her tiny waist; Hermione put her other hand on his shoulder. They almost would have looked silly, with Marcus being so tall and Hermione being so small in comparison. Yet, if anyone had walked by and saw them, they would have thought that they in fact looked rather cute together.
Without any hesitation Marcus began moving in time with the music, leading Hermione and dancing with her around the courtyard from corner to corner. They danced and spun, Hermione's robes floating and Marcus's seemingly flying. Snow fluttered down from the sky, seeming to circle around them while also nestling in their hair. The way the two of them moved was filled with so much grace, their dance flawless as the two of them looked into one another's eyes, dark grey staring into mocha brown. Hermione smiled up at Marcus and laid her head against his broad, strong chest, sighing contentedly while he smiled down at her small form and how she pressed herself against his large one.
The music soon changed to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, which seemed to be rather fitting as they danced beneath the light of the moon in the sky, the sky and the snow being the only witnesses to their beautiful dance. As their movements began to slow and the song was nearing its end, the two of them ended up back where they started in the middle of the courtyard. Even though the night was cold, both Marcus and Hermione felt warm, and not just from dancing. No, they felt warm on the inside, a warmth that had filled their chests as they stared into each other's eyes as they danced. Looking at each other, it was silent between the two before Hermione smiled and hugged the tall boy, pressing herself against him before whispering, "Happy Christmas, Marcus."
Marcus smiled softly and returned the brunette's hug, wrapping his strong arms around her small frame and holding her sweetly as he replied just as softly, "Happy Christmas, Hermione."
Later that night, just a little after the ending of the Yule Ball, Hermione was walking into Gryffindor Tower with what could only be described as a practically and deliriously lovestruck smile on her face. Her eyes were shining and she was blushing heavily. Many would have thought it was because of Viktor Krum—many still not believing she was the one the handsome Bulgarian had asked to the Yule Ball—if not for one thing: the outer dress robe wrapped around her shoulders that practically drowned her. If it had been Viktor's no one would have thought much of it, but the fact that it wasn't was what had her fellow lions' attention. The dress robe was black, not red with brown fur, meaning it obviously belonged to some other male that hadn't been her date for the night. Who could Hermione have possibly been with with no one knowing and who gave her their outer dress robe?
Ginny and Neville, who were still in the Common Room with a few others not ready to go to sleep yet and still excited from the Yule Ball, watched as their friend headed up the stairs to the Girls Dormitory, looking at the happy expression on her face as she tugged the robe tighter around her before disappearing from sight. Ginny frowned in wonder, making a mental note to ask Hermione about her Yule Ball night at some point, specifically about where she had disappeared to after her argument with her brother. Neville however, had an inkling of who Hermione had been with and who gave her their outer dress robe, but chose to stay quiet about it for Hermione's sake.
Up in the Fourth Year Girls Dormitory, Hermione was happy to see the room was empty save for Fay Dunbar who was soundly sleeping, none the wiser to Hermione's presence. Stopping by her wardrobe, Hermione took off her shoes and changed out of her dress robes and into her nightgown. She then went to the bathroom and took down her hair, brushing it out before taking the time to French braid it for the night. As she did, she made a mental note to apologize to Viktor for basically bailing on him at the Yule Ball. She was sure he would understand if she told him that Ron had upset her so badly she decided to leave the ball early. Technically, it wasn't a lie. Ron had upset her greatly with his unfounded accusations, but the reason for leaving the ball were completely different, not that Viktor needed to know that.
After using the toilet, washing her hands, and brushing her teeth, Hermione went back to her bed and climbed into it, settling beneath the covers to sleep. Before she did though, she reached down to the foot where Marcus's robe was lying, grabbing it and pulling it up to where she was. Closing her bed-curtains, she settled down on her pillow with Marcus's robe held tightly in her hand. Not helping herself, she pressed the fabric to her nose to smell it, instantly calmed by his comforting scent, the scent of the earth after a fresh rain mixed with chamomile. It was a simple scent, but it was a nice one and one that Hermione would find later to associate with Marcus Flint.
Marcus walked into Slytherin Dungeon, headed for the Boys Dormitory only to be stopped by a call of his name. Turning he saw Adrian headed his way, he himself still dressed in his dress robes. When the black-haired male stopped in front of him, Marcus asked, "What is it, Adrian?"
Adrian looked up at the slightly taller male and said, "You disappeared from the ball. Where'd you go, mate?"
Marcus didn't reply right away, instead heading towards the Boys Dormitory and to the Slytherin Seventh Year dormitory. Adrian, taking the hint that what his friend had to say wasn't for prying ears, followed behind him. When they entered the Seventh Year Boys Dormitory, Marcus saw that it was empty before closing the door behind Adrian. The two of them settled on Marcus's bed before Marcus said, "Hermione promised to save me a dance."
With wide eyes Adrian asked, "Really?"
"Yes, but when I found her, she was fighting with Weasley. I cheered her up and even offered to get back at him for her for ruining her night."
"I'm sure she refused, she's too nice to her friends sometimes."
"She did, but said she'd take me up on my offer the next time he pissed her off."
"That will be soon, I'm sure."
The two boys chuckled before Marcus cleared his throat and continued. "Anyway, she remembered she promised to save me a dance, though I wasn't going to hold her to it since she was so upset earlier thanks to Weasley. But she insisted and drug me away from the ball to the courtyard to have our dance."
Adrian smirked at hearing those words. "A private dance, eh? And with no prying eyes? Must have been a good time, am I right?"
"Stuff it, Pucey."
The Sixth Year laughed before calming down again, done with teasing his friend for now. Looking at him he asked, "So how was it really?"
How would Marcus describe that moment while dancing with Hermione? He supposed there were many words to describe it, but his mind settled on one in particular. Looking away from Adrian to stare at the wall in thought, Marcus finally answered, "Magical."
Adrian smiled at Marcus's response, taking notice that the tips of his ears turned pink when he said that. Not many people knew Marcus well, but he did and he knew that whenever Marcus was embarrassed or flustered or anything akin to that emotion, the tips of his ears turned pink. So the fact that talking about Hermione Granger made his ears do that had Adrian believing that his friend was possibly beginning to fall—at least a little bit—for the Gryffindor girl. Adrian wasn't opposed to it, wanting to his see his two friends happy together, but he knew it also wasn't going to be that easy. Marcus was bound to be oblivious to them until they became apparent to him, then he would probably deny them. And as for Hermione, though they had only become friends the year prior, he knew she was too stubborn to admit that she too was probably falling for Marcus.
Deciding to move on from that train of thought, Adrian looked at Marcus again and noticed that he didn't have his outer dress robe on. His brows furrowed he asked, "Where is your robe?"
Marcus blinked for a moment and looked down at himself before answering, "Oh, I gave it to Hermione so she wouldn't be cold. She said she'd return it, but I told her not to worry about it."
Adrian smirked slightly before nodding and standing up to leave. Turning back to his friend he said, "Well, I hope you had a good time, Marcus. Good night."
"Good night."
After Adrian had left, Marcus fell back on his bed and stared up at the canopy of his bed, his mind drifting back to the dance he shared with Hermione out in the courtyard. They had danced under the light of the moon as snow fell, and as they danced the snow seemed to twirl around them with each spin and turn that they took. Hermione's eyes had been shining along with her sweet smile, and it had been directed at him. It had made him feel…special, something he didn't feel often if at all. And yes, that private moment between them had been exactly what he had said: magical. Also, he couldn't help but think the brunette had looked adorable practically drowning in his dress robe when he placed it around her shoulders.
With a fond smile on his face, he took his wand and waved it over his body, using magic to exchange his dress robes for his pajamas. Once that was done, he crawled under his covers and settled down into his bed, soon going to sleep with his dreams filled with a curly haired brunette wearing beautiful periwinkle-blue dress robes and twinkling mocha brown eyes.
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter pertaining to the Yule Ball. As you can probably tell, Hermione and Marcus are starting to fall for each other, even if they don't know it. The next chapter will take place a few years later, right before the events of Deathly Hallows hopefully if I can work what I want to do around that. Again, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for more. Love, SehunsBae37.
