A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! I am so glad that you guys are enjoying the ambitious posting schedule. I've got six chapters left to write, so I think I should be able to continue posting at this rate. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions. Huge thank you to SynnDagger who beta read this chapter!
Please let me know what you thought of chapter six and be on the lookout for chapter seven tomorrow!
After an insane week of work, Hermione was looking forward to letting loose at Harry and Ginny's engagement party. Even though Ron and Harry teased that she loved work more than socializing, that didn't mean that Hermione didn't get overwhelmed at work occasionally. It was good to unwind.
She spent her Saturday cleaning and reorganizing her cottage before starting to get ready for the party in the early afternoon. Hermione knew that she cleaned up well - more than well, really - when she wanted to. Her best friend's engagement party was certainly no reason to slouch.
Hermione knew that it might make her a bit vain, but she loved the rush she got when she surprised people with her appearance. She tried to placate herself by explaining it as being underestimated, rather than just being pleased to know that she was considered pretty.
Since she had gotten through one engagement party already, Hermione did not feel the need to anxiety drink this time around, but she still had one glass of wine while Crookshanks watched her getting ready. Dressed in a soft robe, she listened to the wireless while carefully applying her makeup in the mirror. A touch of Sleek-Eazy's in her hair transformed her slight frizziness into smooth, voluminous waves.
Pleased with how she looked, Hermione returned to her closet before pulling out the dress she'd pressed for the evening. It was a dusky rose, fitted on top with a flowing skirt that stopped just above the knee. When she walked, though, it revealed a slit on the side. She wondered what Marcus would think, seeing as it revealed a bit more skin than witches robes typically did.
She slipped into the dress and stared at herself in the mirror, pleased with the finished product.
"What do you think, Crooks?" she asked, smiling at the reflection of her bandy-legged senior cat, who had made quite the nest on her white duvet. "Think Marcus will be pleased?"
Saying the words aloud made her cheeks heat up and she wondered when she started to care what Marcus thought of her. It didn't matter if he actually liked how she looked so long as he played along. Something he'd been doing admirably thus far.
Crookshanks did not share her embarrassment and gave her a pert little yowl, expressing what exactly, she wasn't certain. Hopefully it was an agreement.
Hermione did not have to wait very long before Marcus arrived a few minutes later, punctual as ever. When she opened the door, he did little to hide his obvious appreciation of her work. He appeared momentarily stunned before he rewarded her with a rather sharklike grin.
"Forget me picking out any outfit for you ever," he complimented her. "I think if even Graham took one look at you right now, he'd..."
Her blush was back in full force at his candor and wondered what the rest of the sentence was going to be. "Thank you," she answered, knowing that it had indeed been a compliment. "You look very smart, too. The Muggle cut suits you."
The tailor had truly outdone himself with his work; the suit fit Marcus exactly as it should, despite his "unusual" proportions. While Marcus was obviously more sportsman than model, he wouldn't look out of place in an advertisement for menswear.
He puffed out his chest proudly. "And I figured it out all on my own," he replied. "I told you I wouldn't need any help with it."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
She had offered to let him get ready at her place in case he struggled with the suit. Marcus had declined, promising that it couldn't be any harder than formal dress robes, and that he'd manage on his own. It was probably for the better, as Hermione didn't think she could handle seeing him in any state of undress given her budding attraction for him.
She closed the gap between them before grabbing his tie and straightening it. "Almost," she said with a smirk of her own.
The bob of his Adam's apple caught her attention and Hermione was secretly pleased to see that he was not unaffected by her.
"Well, shall we be on our way?" he offered, his voice half an octave lower than usual.
Hermione nodded before taking his offered arm. From there, she Apparated them to the Apparition point nearest to the hotel. From there, they walked the short distance to the party, enjoying the pleasant summer breeze, knowing that autumn was just around the corner.
When they entered the party, the differences between Harry and Ron were abundantly clear. Harry and Ginny were much more laid back, focused on providing a good time. That wasn't to say that it was a better party, simply more in line with what Hermione might want for herself.
She immediately found Ginny and Harry in the crowd, the pair of them absolutely beaming in delight and so in love with one another. It warmed Hermione's heart to know that her friend was so happy. "Let's go give our congratulations," she told Marcus.
Once again, he slung his arm around her waist possessively, trying to make it clear who she'd come with. "Lead the way," he agreed.
Hermione felt more comfortable with Marcus's touch now and leaned into his body like it was a shield. She felt untouchable with him by her side. Even Ron's snide remarks wouldn't get to her tonight.
When they got to Ginny and Harry, Ginny wrapped her tightly in a hug.
"Congratulations, you two," Hermione said earnestly. "I can't think of anyone I could be happier for."
"I hear congratulations are in order for you, too. Finally focusing on yourself and snagging a boyfriend," Ginny said, sizing Marcus up. "Hard to believe it's Flint though. Don't think that this means I'll go easy on you in a match."
"I'd have to get back on a team first," Marcus quipped, self-deprecating. "But don't worry, I'd never expect you to."
Ginny was excited to play Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies, the league's only all-female team; she was doing brilliantly. Hermione hadn't thought about the potential Quidditch rivalry that she was creating by fake dating him. She hoped that Ginny didn't think that this meant she'd side with Marcus.
"I'm liking this," Ginny said, waving her hand at the couple standing before her. "Hermione, you've loosened up a lot. And Flint, I don't think I've ever seen you look so put together."
Marcus smirked. "Thank you," he accepted graciously.
Ginny groaned. "That was meant to be a dig at your usual attire," she goaded him. "Don't think I don't know that Hermione had her hands all over you to get you into this."
"And then some," Marcus quipped back, completely unfazed.
"Marcus!" Hermione gasped, absolutely scandalized. She hit him against the stomach only to find that it did nothing to wipe the grin off of his face.
He gave her a playful pat on the arse. "C'mon, Hermione. They know what it's like," he said. "They are newly engaged."
"He does have a point," Ginny agreed with a grin of her own. "Sometimes, when I watch Harry getting his Auror robes on in the morning, I can barely keep my hands off him. I've made him late once or twice — or fifty times. I've lost count."
"Ginny!" Harry and Hermione scolded her simultaneously, embarrassed by the turn of conversation.
She took a sip of her drink to hide her smile. "What?" Ginny asked, playing stupid. "Anyway, what do the two of you talk about?"
Before either Hermione or Marcus could answer, Ron butted his way into their little circle. "Oh, do tell. I would love to hear all about this," he said, staring at the new couple expectantly. "Because I know Hermione knows nothing about Quidditch. And I doubt that you have even the slightest idea about what Hermione does."
"Merlin, I'll get drinks," Harry said, intending to remove himself from such a contentious conversation.
"I actually know a lot about what Hermione does," Marcus said confidently.
A little too confidently.
Hermione felt her heart sink and wondered if this was how they would be found out.
"Go on, then," Ron encouraged.
"Hermione works for the DMLA reviewing really, really old laws that are still on the books," Marcus said smoothly. "If they don't make sense any more or if they are harmful, she prepares research so the Wizengamot can repeal them."
Ron looked stunned, perhaps realizing that he couldn't have given such a clear answer even if he'd tried, despite being one of her oldest friends. It wasn't that Hermione's job was overly complicated, just that Ron never quite cared enough to learn the ins and outs of it.
Ginny started to laugh loudly, startling Harry, who'd just made his way back with the drinks. Hermione eagerly took her offered glass of champagne and drank half of it in one go.
"What is it? What happened?" Harry asked.
"Flint just put Ron right in his place," she said, pleased to see her older brother flustered.
"That sounded like a memorized job description!" Ron argued back, clearly not pleased that his plan had backfired. "What is she working on right now, then?"
Marcus grinned once again. "She's just finished up some work with werewolf laws. It was important to her because of Lupin," he said, pulling Hermione closer in a show of support. "I don't know what she'll tackle next, but whatever she does, I am sure it will be important."
Hermione was really touched to hear that Marcus had gone to the trouble to learn all of that about her, and she was suddenly quite embarrassed that she hadn't bothered to learn about his position in Quidditch or what he was doing now that he was no longer playing. While Quidditch contracts could be lucrative, she didn't think that Marcus had enough Galleons saved to retire this early.
"Well...well, that's just not it," Ron fumbled to come up with a response.
"Ron, you are just going to have to accept that Flint and Hermione are close," Harry said firmly. "They've been dating for a whole year, they clearly know each other."
"Yeah, just be happy for her like the rest of us, and move on," Ginny agreed.
"Whatever," Ron said, before turning and leaving the group without argument.
"Oh, and I've just noticed Dudley," Harry said, spying his cousin across the way. "Wish we could talk longer, but I think he'll need a few minutes of babysitting to get acclimated."
Hermione agreed and wished her friends congratulations once again. Then it was just her and Marcus alone again.
"I think Weasley has some unresolved feelings," he said astutely. He crossed his arms across his chest, obviously a bit annoyed. "I don't like him having any ideas where my girlfriend is concerned."
Hermione raised a brow at him, not willing to remind him that they weren't really dating. "I don't think you need to worry about that," she told him. "He is totally in love with Lavender. I think he's just...struggling with the idea that maybe he doesn't know me as well as he thought he did."
"You obviously know them best," Marcus said with a shrug, ready to let the conversation drop. "It's kind of shit that your friends can barely believe that you have a boyfriend."
It did sting to see how incredulous they were, especially when she didn't understand the fuss over having (or not) a significant other. She had been happy with her work, hadn't she? Happy with her life. "Surely there are better things we can do than talk about Ron," she said, eager to change the topic of conversation.
"Sure, let's go chat with Longbottom, then? He looks a bit sad and alone on the edges," he answered, subtly bringing her attention to her other friend.
Hermione was glad to chat with Neville again and was pleased that Marcus seemed to enjoy it as well. Neville was happy to catch up and talk about the plantings he'd done. She was pleased to note that spending a bit of time with Marcus was not just a chore she needed to get through; she quite liked him as well.
Perhaps after they went through their fake breakup they would remain friends.
She must have been enjoying herself too much because as the night was beginning to wind down to the last remaining guests, Hermione was surprised to see Ron and Molly making a beeline towards her and Marcus. Willing to do anything to avoid another confrontation with Ron that evening, Hermione threw herself in Marcus's arms and grabbed him by the tie.
"Weasleys incoming. Kiss me," she demanded, before pulling him down for a passionate kiss.
Marcus was only too willing to join in, immediately sweeping her up with a passionate kiss, one large hand delving into her hair to hold her against him. Hermione was embarrassed to hear a little moan escape her throat at the feeling.
Now seemed as good a time as ever to make their grand escape. She broke away to catch her breath and took his hand in hers, twining their fingers together. Then she gave him a sultry smile. "Shall we go up to our room?" she asked, making sure that it was just loud enough for it to carry.
That had done the trick, if Ron's annoyed huff was anything to go by.
Pulling Marcus behind her, Hermione brought him to a waiting elevator and slipped inside, making sure to wrap her body around him as the doors closed.
Once they were alone, she dropped the act and stood next to Marcus, cheeks flushed.
"I thought you told me I was the one being too grabby," he said, clearly amused.
"It was the quickest way I could think of to get out of there," Hermione said, though the excuse sounded a little hollow when she said it out loud. "Do you want to get room service?"
"Room service?" Marcus asked, sounding dumbfounded.
"Oh, you call and order the food you want, and then they bring it up to your room," she said. "I could go for some chips and more champagne."
"That sounds great to me," Marcus agreed readily. "Not a very romantic order, though."
Hermione laughed. "No, it isn't," she agreed. "But maybe we're so comfortable in our relationship that we don't need to have...chocolate covered strawberries to have a good time."
The room she had reserved had two queen sized beds. Hermione thought that Marcus looked a little disappointed when he realized that they wouldn't be cuddling, but he didn't say anything about it.
She disappeared into the bathroom so she could slip out of her dress and into one of the soft robes that the hotel provided, ready for a cozy night in.
After Hermione placed the order for their chips, she brought up something that had been on her mind all night. "How did you know all that stuff about my job?" she asked, still touched that he'd gone through all the trouble. "It was very convincing. Just enough detail without sounding prepared."
Marcus slipped out of his suit coat and tie, before working on the buttons on his uncomfortable button down shirt. "Oh, that," he said. "I did have to ask Adrian, but don't worry. I just told him that I wanted to better understand what you did to impress you."
"Well, you did. Impress me, that is," Hermione said sweetly, though that unpleasant niggle in her stomach came back when she was once again forced to face the fact that she hadn't taken the time to learn anything about what he did. She would have to do something about that.
They each sat on their respective beds and Hermione showed him the remote control. Marcus was in awe of the television and was happy to flip through the channels while she went to the door to get their room service. Opening the champagne, she poured a glass for each of them.
Marcus was sat up in his bed, stripped down to a white shirt and a pair of boxer briefs when she returned, completely absorbed in a repeat game of football.
She rolled her eyes, wondering how he'd managed to find it so quickly. Biting her lip, she eventually decided to join him on his bed so they could split the chips between them. "How is it that I leave you alone for thirty seconds and you manage to find sports?"
"This television is amazing," he said, completely oblivious to the fact that he had a nearly naked witch on the bed with him. "Why don't they teach this in Muggle Studies? What is this sport called?"
Hermione took a handful of chips. "Muggle Studies is so outdated," she said. It was something she'd been disappointed to learn herself. "This is football. I've never thought about it, but it's a bit like Quidditch, I guess."
"And Muggles can watch games like this in their own homes whenever they want?" he asked, eager to learn more about the sport. "Do you watch football?"
She laughed. "No, I can't say that it ever caught my interest. Maybe if I hadn't gone to Hogwarts, but I kind of doubt it," she answered, knowing that she just wasn't that interested in sports.
For the rest of the night, they watched the game and shared the chips and champagne between them, with Marcus peppering Hermione with more and more questions about Muggles and their technology and sports.
And Hermione found herself having more fun than she'd had in a long while.