Chapter 11

The next few days, the cold remained and Hermione spent most of her time cooped up in her room with her thoughts. Flint was downstairs, mostly in his study, doing whatever it was he did down there.

Mercifully, they didn't go out and chase Draco, which she was endlessly grateful for. The relationship between Flint and Malfoy wasn't something she fully understood, but it was complex. It wasn't a good idea to bait Draco like they had been. Hermione knew it, but this was the game between them, and a good portion of it had nothing to do with her—she was simply in the center of it, the thing they fought over.

A noise drew her attention and Flint appeared in the doorway. "I want to go for a walk." It sounded like an order. "Please join me."

The asking was a new development. So was the new awkwardness between them. As well as Draco, she didn't really understand Flint either. He was certainly different and more complex as a person from what she'd expected.

"Alright," she said and walked over to the wardrobe to pull out the thick coat with fur lining that he'd gotten for her. It was much too luxurious for her, but it certainly kept her warm. It really was the most elaborate gift anyone had ever given her, and she didn't know how to take it.

The air was biting outside and she felt the sting of it on her face. They walked in silence for a moment, through the garden and then beyond. She'd never been this far away from the house.

"I know you haven't enjoyed these things we've been doing," he finally said.

It would certainly be a lie to disagree.

"You know, the Gryffindors provided a balance to the wizarding community," he continued when she didn't say anything. "The house, that part of society has been decimated."

Yes, most prominent Gryffindor members had died during the war. Where he was going with this, she didn't know.

"I think we're worse off for it," he said.

"I wouldn't have thought you were a great fan of the Gryffindors."

"I'm a fan of balance, and we're lost something. The house hasn't been destroyed. There are still children being sorted into Gryffindor at Hogwarts, but it's not a good time to be one of them."

"It's not a good time to be muggleborn either."

"No," he agreed. "But we need you."

"Muggleborns?"

"I don't know about Muggleborns as much as Gryffindors. We're polar opposites. As is the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. But can we thrive without the other?"

"You seem to be thriving."

"Except we're fighting over your, the last of your… I was going to say kind, but you're the last of the true Gryffindors. A scarce commodity."

"Is that what I am?" she said, feeling uncomfortable, because he was going down this route again, the suggestion that she was desirable. She really didn't know how to take it.

"Maybe because we feel your absence," he said quietly.

"Then maybe you shouldn't make us dance for your amusement."

"Alright, I won't."

"Truly?" she said, disbelievingly.

"I won't ask you to do something like that again."

She wasn't sure she believed him, but he sounded sincere. "Why would you do that? Isn't the whole point of having me to tease Draco."

"I admit it was fun for a while, but if you don't like it, I won't ask you to again."

"And what do you ask for in return for such a concession?"

"Well, it shouldn't be a concession in light of the discussion we just had. But perhaps that you accompany me on walks. Maybe even dine with me tonight."

"I was doing that anyway."

"Yes, but because I asked you to. I want you to choose to."

Confusion reigned inside her and she didn't know what to make of this. "Then I wish to not see Malfoy at all."

"Done."

This all seemed too good to be true. Too easy.

They were walking down a gravel path and she had no idea where it was going. To a lake, she finally noticed.

"I used to swim here," he said. "I haven't done it in a long time."

"Why not?"

"Things became too hectic for such simple things. But I miss them. We've all lost a bit of ourselves, I think."

"My parents used to take me to Brighton on really hot days," she said. "And we'd swim. We went to France quite a bit too."

"Your childhood was happy," he stated.

"Yes. Wasn't yours?"

He smiled. "Did I mention that my mother tried to murder my father?"

"Yes."

"I was an asset."

They approached the lake and he leaned on the trunk of a tree.

"I'm sorry."

"She wants me to marry and produce another asset. Marry someone appropriate."

He seemed so stalwart and independent to have such pressures on him, but apparently it was there. "And you don't want to?"

"Would you? I don't know. Who of the current compliment of people you've met lately would you like to marry? What do we have? Malfoy? Or the people who grovel at his boots? The backstabbers who smile to your face? Or the ones who see you as a means to an end? Take your pick."

It was a suggestions she couldn't even contemplate. "I would choose none."

"None of us have a lot of choices in this new order. The Malfoys put us all in the little boxes they have designed for us. Now I can tease Malfoy about you, but I can't escape my little box."

For a moment, she wanted to argue, but she knew what he meant. She was certainly trapped in her own little prison.

"I suppose we just have to bear this as best as we can," he finally said and picked up a stone to throw across the dark water. "You know the worst part?"

"What?"

"Everyone is putting up with it."

"I know," she said. She'd noted that too. They were just happy to have peace, they would take the control that came with it.

"But the one thing he can't control is this," he said and stepped closer to her. She hadn't expected it, but his intention was clear. He was going to kiss her. Her heart pounded in her chest and for a moment, she didn't know if she wanted to run from it or not.

Soft lips pressed against her and the sensation of it filled her mind, the taste of him. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been kissed. It both lulled and panicked her, but she didn't stop it. Part of her was curious, was starving for the feel of someone this close to her. Of a kiss. Of desire.

She shouldn't do this, but it just felt so nice. A little slice of heaven in a sea of badness.

His tongue slipped between her lips and the kiss deepened. Warm, and soft, and growing in urgency. None of this she'd intended on happening, but it was unfolding and she wasn't fighting it. In fact, her body wanted more.

Then he pulled away. She felt his hot breath of her lips and it sent shuddering sensation down through her. His hand was on the side of her neck and his thumb on her jaw. "I won't ask you," he finally said. "You have to come to me." Then he stepped back even further and exhaled deeply.

Inside her, a riot of emotions stirred. On some level, she was even offended, but the ghost of the kiss still burned on her lips. And if he came to her again, she'd kiss him back, but he didn't. Instead he turned away and threw along stone to skip on the surface of the water.

Urging herself to calm, she tried to find her bearings, but this had undone her for a moment. That a simple kiss could have such an effect. And really, who'd have thought Marcus Flint could kiss like that? It would have been quite a revelation back at school.

For a moment, light, joyous thoughts filled her mind and it was nice after all the heaviness she'd been through. A simple kiss and skipping stone on a lake. These things still existed if you let them. Maybe there was a point in all that.

It was beyond clear that he wanted something from her, but he wanted her to choose it, to choose him. She didn't know what to make of it. Was this a good idea? Probably not, but then there was that little want in her that wanted to love again.

He'd promised her that he wouldn't order her around again, make her do things she didn't want to do. It was almost as if he was choosing her over his fight with Malfoy, and there was something very promising about that. Wasn't this worth exploring? Maybe this was her ally in this world. It had been so very long since she'd had one.

His skin was pale in the cool light from the cloudy skies. Hadn't he already told her about what it was he wanted and why? He'd placed his cards on the table, and now it was time for her to choose what to do with it.

What was the choice? Be alone, or be with someone who wanted her to love him. Huh. Things did develop out of unexpected places.