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 6
Hermione sighed as she closed the large tome she was reading for Ancient Runes, trying hard and failing to study. It was unlike her to be unable to study, and yet the reason for her not being able to was silly. The reason as to why she couldn't concentrate was because she was busy silently brooding over—of all people—Ron and Lavender Brown. The two of them had been an item for a week at best and they were the most disgustingly lovey-dovey couple ever. Not only did it make her sick, but it upset her because she had a crush on Ron, and crush that he couldn't see and she couldn't understand. It was honestly more than annoying, especially because she couldn't understand why she liked Ron as more than a friend now.
Deciding not to dwell on it, because she knew it would just irk her even more, Hermione put her tome away in her trunk before stretching a bit. Deciding to move on to her favorite subject of study, she grabbed her Arithmancy book and notes she had taken, wanting to go over those in case she had any questions for Professor Vector. However, because it was her favorite subject, she ended up going through her studies and review rather quickly and before she knew it, she was ready and prepared for her next class in half an hour. Closing her book and putting away her notes, Hermione sighed and laid back on her bed, staring up at the canopy. And as she stared up at the ceiling, her mind began to wonder.
She was in her Sixth Year, one year closer to finishing at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as graduating and going into the working world. However, she as also aware of the threat of Lord Voldemort because of his return the year prior. Voldemort was sure to rise to power now that he was back and his followers were coming out of hiding. It actually made her worry about the future and whether or not life would go on as normal or if normalcy would have to be cut short for the war brewing. Like Harry, she knew something was bound to happen, but Harry seemed to be having more paranoia than usual, and it all was centered around Draco Malfoy and what he was doing. She had a feeling he was even going out of his way to follow the Slytherin Prince and spy on whatever it was he was doing, even though there was literally no evidence of him doing anything. Yes, Malfoy was a prat at the best of times, but she doubted he was doing anything completely bad, not like how Harry was thinking. Though, she did have to admit he seemed to be rather…silent this year. Not silent as in quiet, but more so to himself and his thoughts and without his lackies more times than not. It did make her wonder what that was about, but as far as she was concerned, it didn't concern her and thus wasn't going to let it bother her.
Her mind wandering again, it drifted this time to someone she hadn't seen in over a year now, and that was Marcus Flint. Even though they weren't really close, she liked to think of the large Slytherin as a friend, especially after they got to know each other during her Fourth Year. They had barely interacted before until he had saved her from certain death in her Second Year. And even then, they still hadn't interacted until that day in the library two years ago. A simple suggestion of tutoring him in class had led to a bit of friendship between them. She had gotten so comfortable with him, she had even hugged him a few times; she had become fond of him and she liked to think Marcus had grown fond of her too. If she thought about it, the real turning point in them becoming friends had been the night of the Yule Ball. Marcus had asked her to go with him, and even though she already had a date, she had promised to save him a dance. That night had turned sour because of Ron, but Marcus had turned it around for her by making her feel better, and then they had the dance she promised him. That dance, it had been simply magical, much better than the actual Yule Ball if she just had to say so herself. She had spent the rest of her time with him that night before finally going to bed, him giving her his outer dress robe to keep her from the cold. She had meant to return it to him, but she never did and it was currently hanging in her wardrobe.
Thinking of said robe, Hermione got up from her lying position and got up off her bed. Walking over to her wardrobe, she grabbed hold of the handles and opened the doors. Right off she was met with her school uniforms and robes, as well as a few dresses and outfits she had brought with her just to have. Reaching her hand in a bit past her school robes to the left, her hand grabbed hold of a finer feel of material before grabbing the hanger it was hanging on and pulled it out of the wardrobe. There in her hand was Marcus's outer dress robe, the one he had draped around her shoulders Christmas night two years ago. Even though the fabric was cool, it was still warm in her hands to her. She could even remember smelling it, remembering how the scent of it, of Marcus, calmed her immensely and how comforting she found it. Looking towards the dorm room door to make sure none of her dorm-mates were coming in, Hermione put Marcus's robe to her nose and inhaled. Yes, there it was, the scent that was purely Marcus Flint: the earth after a fresh rain mixed with chamomile.
Sighing, Hermione breathed in the scent once more. She did however, quickly pull the robe away from her nose and shoved it in her wardrobe when she heard the door to the dorm room open, Lavender Brown stepping inside. The blonde witch looked over at Hermione in slight confusion, taking in her guilty expression and asked, "What are you doing?"
"What? Oh, nothing," Hermione replied as she shut the doors to her wardrobe, cursing her voice for shaking slightly in her answer.
Lavender didn't believe her at all and walked over to the brunette, lightly shoving her out of the way and opening her wardrobe. She ignored Hermione's admonished call of her name and began to rifle through her clothes before her hands settled on the dress robe her roommate had just put away. Pulling it out she looked at it before turning her gaze to Hermione. In an almost snooty and accusing tone she asked, "This isn't Won-Won's, is it?"
Hermione scoffed, both at the insinuation that Lavender thought Ron had given her his dress robe, as well as her obvious display of jealousy. Snatching the dress robe back, she hung it back in her wardrobe and answered sternly, "No. And don't touch my things again."
As the brunette closed her wardrobe, Lavender stared at her for a moment before smiling haughtily. With her nose practically in the air she said, "Alright, good. I just wanted to make sure. After all, I would have known if it was Won-Won's. It would have smelled like tomatoes if it was his. That's what Won-Won smells like, after all. And that robe doesn't smell at all my Won-Won."
The brunette stood staring and blinking in disbelief as Lavender turned and flounced into the bathroom, her hair flying behind her. Still blinking in disbelief, Hermione couldn't help but whisper, "What?"
Not wanting to even begin to understand, let alone allow that bimbo to get under her skin, Hermione shook her head and cast a Tempus Spell to check the time. Seeing that it was time for Potions, Hermione grabbed her schoolbag and gathered her things for Potions, as well as her material for Charms. Knowing Lavender was in her Potions class, opened her mouth to call out to her to hurry so she wouldn't be late, but then thought better of it. Instead of warning the blonde girl, Hermione looked at the bathroom and smirked before leaving the dorm room and closing the door behind her, placing a Sticking Charm on the door to keep it in place until Lavender eventually figured it out. Satisfied with herself, Hermione turned and headed down to the Common Room where Ron and Harry were, the three of them leaving for the Dungeons.
Hermione tried to keep her mouth from twitching into a smile when Lavender finally arrived to class a whole ten minutes late. She wasn't surprised Lavender took that long to not only realize the Sticking Charm she placed on the dorm room door, but to also get to class as well. She ignored the girl's glare towards her as Professor Slughorn lightly scolded her for being late, as well as taking away five House Points. Not that it mattered, Hermione knew she'd get those points back and more. Though, she did suppose if it had been Professor Snape instead of Slughorn, more points would be taken away. Turning her attention back to Slughorn, she began to listen to today's lesson.
"Alright, everyone. I hope you all read the chapter I asked you to, or at least browsed it. Today, we will be brewing the most powerful love potion in existence, Amortentia," Slughorn spoke, chuckling a bit at some of his female students' reactions to the announcement. "As spoken before when we briefly talked about it, it is the more powerful version of a regular love potion, and thus is why it isn't available for brewing until your Sixth and Seventh Years. Now, can anyone tell me the dangers of this potion?"
Instantly raising her hand, Hermione waited until she was called on before answering, "Amortentia is considered to be very powerful, as well as very dangerous because it is made to basically imitate love but really causes a person to be under incredible infatuation; obsession, really."
Slughorn nodded in approval. "Yes, yes, excellent Miss Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor. Now, who can tell me the ingredients that go in Amortentia, or even a basic love potion?"
At that moment, Draco Malfoy stepped into the room, pulling the attention of the class to him. He looked at everyone staring at him and scowled before saying, "I apologize for my tardiness. I was with Professor Snape."
"That's quite alright, at least you are here now. And lucky too, because we haven't even started brewing. Mr. Malfoy, can you tell me the ingredients that go in Amortentia or a basic love potion?"
Malfoy, who made his way to the only available chair which was next to Hermione, sat before answering, "Rose thorns, peppermint, pearl dust, ashwinder eggs, powdered moonstone, and rose petals."
"Yes, excellent, very good Mr. Malfoy. Ten points to Slytherin. Now, like I said you will be brewing Amortentia and I want you to work with the partner seated next to you. You both will be graded for your finished product together, so be sure to work well together for a good result. I know you all have the potion instructions in your books, but I've taken the liberty to already write them out on parchment which is placed on your desks. Hop to it, everyone."
Everyone began getting up to get the necessary ingredients, Malfoy standing and murmuring to Hermione that he would get what they needed. The moment Malfoy was gone, Ron and Harry from behind her tapped her on the back and Ron whispered, "Oi Hermione, you don't have to work with that ferret."
Turning to face them she replied, "Ron, it's only for this class. And honestly, I don't mind being paired with Malfoy. He's a great Potions student and I don't mind getting to see how he works firsthand."
"He'll purposely ruin your potion!"
"No, he won't. And I'll make sure of it."
"But Hermione-"
"Ron, let it go," Harry said before turning back to Hermione. "If you say so Hermione, I trust you. But just be sure to keep your guard up."
Hermione smiled at her bespectacled friend and said, "Of course, thank you Harry."
Harry nodded and tugged on Ron's sleeve to make him join him at the Potion storage room to get their needed ingredients. Soon Malfoy returned and he and Hermione began working on their batch of Amortentia. The two of them worked silently for the most part, only talking to each other here or there when asking for something. And contrary to Ron's accusation, Malfoy did not once try to sabotage their potion. Hermione supposed that like her, he wanted a good grade. By the end of class, they had a fully brewed Amortentia potion with the right mother-of-pearl sheen to it.
Smiling triumphantly Hermione said, "It's perfect, I'm sure of it. Good work, Malfoy."
Malfoy chuckled slightly before replying, "Not bad, Granger. Not bad."
Professor Slughorn walked over to them and looked at their cauldron before saying, "It looks right, darn near perfect if not completely perfect if I do say so myself. But just to be sure…Mr. Malfoy, if you will please smell it and tell me what you smell."
Malfoy grimaced but otherwise did as told. He inhaled the fumes coming off the potion before sitting back and taking a moment to think. After a while he finally answered saying, "I smell snow and plums and…lilac."
"Interesting. And what about you, Miss Granger?"
Hermione looked at the potion and took a deep whiff of it, expecting to smell what she liked, such as fresh parchment and what she thought Ron smelled like to her, oranges. But no, that wasn't what she smelled. Instead, along with the scent of fresh parchment, she also smelled chamomile and the earth after a fresh rain. That scent…it was…it smelled like…
"Marcus," Hermione whispered in surprise, her mocha brown eyes wide as she stared at the potion bubbling away in the cauldron.
"What was that?" Slughorn asked.
Realizing she had said that almost out loud, Hermione looked up at her professor before turning to look at Malfoy, the blond male looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Blushing, Hermione shook her head before answering, "It…for me it smells like fresh parchment, ch-chamomile and…the earth after a f-fresh rain."
"Interesting combination of scents for both of you. Anyway, I'd say well done. I believe you both together brewed a perfect batch of Amortentia. Just put some in a phial for me with your names on it and give it to me before you leave."
"Yes sir," Hermione and Malfoy said together before doing as told. Once an empty phial was filled with Amotentia with their names and handed to Slughorn, Malfoy took his leave and Hermione did as well, telling her friends she'd see them in Charms.
Hurrying out of the Potions classroom and towards the stairs leading out of the Dungeons, Hermione's mind was whirring with what had just happened. When she had smelled her Amortentia, she had expected to smell oranges for Ron, but instead…instead she smelled the smell she associated with Marcus Flint! Could that mean…was she possibly…did she have an unknown harboring crush for Marcus Flint? Grabbing her head in confusion about the possible revelation and oncoming frustration about it, Hermione hurried up out of the Dungeons to the Third Floor, all the while in denial about what the Amortentia scent told her.
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and Hermione's reaction to the smell of her brewed Amortentia. If you all are possibly wondering when I will include the Draco/Luna part of this story, it will be coming soon hopefully within the next few chapters, as I have no plans to go through the war and want to focus on the follow-up. That is where I plan to really get things moving. Again, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next one. Love, SehunsBae37.
