Author's Note: This week I'm only able to post one chapter, as I'm on vacation. But I'm finished writing my other story, so hopefully I'll be able to post at least three chapters a week on this story soon. Thank you all for reading!

There's nothing like a bit of pressure to show how far you'll rise. It's what separates the diamonds from the lumps of coal and the "cans" from the "can nots." Regarding pressure, Marcus thinks he handled the situation and outcome with his father quite well. Although he can't take into account any subsequent attacks on his character, his house, or even his body. However, the youngest Flint believes that he can withstand those too.

The truth is he's not in this world to live up to anyone's expectations, especially the ones of his old death eater father. Marcus learned long ago he can't meet those lofty ideals. Not meeting them made him understand that when you release expectations, you're free to enjoy life and people for what they are, not what you think they should be. It's actually a load off the shoulders and a more unrestrained mind.

The minute the unburdened young man stepped into the floo salon at the chateau, he blocked access for Flint Manor, Maxwell Flint, and the rest of his criminally insane family. Then his dark eyes beheld a welcomed surprise, which put a massive smile on his tense face. Hermione rapidly rushed to where he stood and threw her arms around him. The two met in a much-needed embrace that took the rest of his burdens away and relaxed his troubles.

The couple walked to the great room and sat on their favorite comfy sofa, with her in Marcus's lap. Hermione put her arms around his neck, kissed his face, and lovingly caressed the stubble on his jaw. She needed to know, "Babe, are you alright? Topsy came to get me. He was a mess. All he could do was blubber and wail about how you went to see your father or the nasty, bad man as he calls him. He was worried about you and what might happen. So, naturally, I wanted to be here when you returned. I was almost ready to go on a rescue mission if you hadn't shown up soon."

Stroking her back, Marcus responded. "Topsy's a good elf. He's always been loyal to me, even though he belonged to the Flint family. But he's mine now. Topsy always strives to see I'm taken care of, despite my telling him otherwise." The thought of the weeping elf made him chuckle.

His large hand continued to rub up and down his witch's back in a soothing manner. "Thank you for being willing to fight for me. But I needed to see the man. As you know, I've been delaying the inevitable. I never realized how horrible Maxwell was when I was younger, but now I see what he's really like." Then he explained the conversation with the detestable death eater, being cut off from the family vault, the near crucio that backfired, the manor's general creepiness, and his father's crude office safe.

That was a lot for Hermione to take in. For all of it, the one thing not lost on her was that her guy stood up for himself. In a show of affection, she placed a proud, tender kiss on his neck and cheek. "I think you may have more Gryffindor in you than you realize. You persevered and took bold steps under pressure. You didn't let fear stop you because you're made of tough stuff like courage, strength, determination, and confidence. I've told you before, and I'm telling you now: you're a good man Marcus Flint. And even if you're burned off the family tree, you're still a good man. It's only the evidence of what you are inside your heart."

She kissed the worry lines away on his forehead. Then his loving girlfriend told him, "It's hard not to believe in soulmates when I'm with you. We met and fell in love for a reason. It was only supposed to be tutoring, but now it's forever, I think. I never want to stop making memories with you, spending time with you, or loving you. You're my favorite feeling and my favorite everything. And I'm sorry for acting stupid about the picture on page six."

His arms pulled her in, and she laid her head on his shoulder. After kissing the top of her head, Marcus explained, "It's alright, Sweetie. I forgive you. If you had read any of my letters, you would have realized that Parker Goldborne is engaged to some unsuspecting, rich pureblooded French man. She ensnared him the same way a venus fly trap does an insect. I only hope the girl doesn't turn him into digestive soup. That would be a terrible fate, similar to Blaise's mother, known as the black widow."

He suppressed a shiver, but Hermione didn't bury her giggle. "Oh, you think that's funny, do you? I agree, it kind of is, but I wouldn't wish that fate on my worst enemy."

Upon rethinking that statement, he decided, "Okay, that statement might not be entirely accurate. If only Voldemort were into women, we could offer up Blaise's mom. But seriously, the Goldborne sisters are notorious love them and leave them types of girls. They're all about the money. I would never choose one of them, or any girl, over you. You're all my heart ever talks about, the girl that makes me risk everything for a future worth having. Which I did, by the way, I told my father I'm done, and I don't need him."

That made Hermione smile, and she lifted her head. "Good because after talking with your grandmother and aunts, I realized that you're my future too. It's worth fighting for, and I'll go to war to have it."

That led them to discuss what she learned during that visit. What interested Marcus most was the fact that his mother's family accepted her so freely, as did the magic surrounding their mysterious secrets. If he could marry his girlfriend now, he would, but she's still too young for it. Regardless, he knows she's his, and he's hers. And as they talked about the future, the deep magic, Harry Potter, and the evil Dark Lord, she questioned, "What do you think your father is hiding in that safe, besides all of the nefarious objects you know about already? The liquid oblivion and trick tea make me nauseous thinking about them. Those could do some terrible damage to unsuspecting people."

His hands rested on her thighs and heated them through, like his hands, leaving burn marks on her back, where he rubbed. "I have no idea, but whatever it is can't be good," he reported.

Hermione's brain began to go into overdrive. "I think you need to find out who the headless statue is and its story. Why would someone behead a statue? What purpose does that serve? Plus, what do the other death eaters have locked away if your father has that many dark objects in his safe? Lucius Malfoy had Riddle's diary, but what else is left in their homes or vaults for keeping? And if Voldemort wanted you to take the dark mark, then who else of your peers has taken it? These are things we need to know."

Sitting there wrapped up in his girl, Marcus began thinking of her questions. Finding the answers shouldn't be too difficult. It would require him to get his trusted friends together. Pucey, Montague, and Warrington could help provide some insight into those things.

Hermione wasn't finished thinking out loud. "The more we know about our enemies, the more we can plan and gain strength to defeat it." Then she got tremendously excited because her next words were, "Once we start collecting the data, we can make begin to make lists!" Alongside homework, research, and reading, making lists is one of her favorite hobbies.

Seeing his girlfriend's happiness at the mention of lists and data, Marcus shook his head in wonder. A chuckle escaped his mouth. "I love it when you talk about sciency stuff. It's hot." He saw an unfamiliar expression across her cute, freckled face and her button nose scrunch up. The athlete reckoned, thinking he said something wrong, "I said it all wrong, didn't I? Isn't what Muggles call stuff like data, research, lists, and things similar to what they call science?"

Not having to finish his thoughts, Hermione captured his lips in a powerful kiss. It caught him off guard but was not unwelcome. Pulling away for a moment, the witch on his lap told him, "You're right. It's science." She could have said that what the two of them have together is perfect chemistry, but she didn't. Who needs words when actions speak louder? The fact he realizes those things about her makes the Gryffindor so happy she wants to snog him senselessly. When was the last time anyone appreciated her for her brains? Plus, he called it hot, and that, coupled with the manly timbre of his voice, made her feel like a spring breaker at Mardi Gras.

Yes, she knows all about that wild time in New Orleans. That's mainly because her grandmother is a devout Catholic and enjoys a good King Cake. At that moment, if Marcus Flint had pulled out a string of beads, Hermione would have gladly earned the right to wear them. Her heart fluttered every time his lips applied the right kind of pressure to hers. Every vein in her body flooded with emotion and passion that she's never known before. His hands wrapped in her hair, and hers grasped at the nape of his neck. Those strong quidditch-worn hands stroked her back underneath her shirt, pulling her closer and tight against the hard lines of his body. And she shivered just a little.

Overcome with desire, he drew back a bit and lifted his head to the floo. Out of nowhere, he produced his wand and flicked it once, cutting off its access completely. A mischievous smile crossed his face, and his thick, smoky voice declared, "No chance unwanted visitors can get through tonight." Then his lips went back to massaging hers and their tongues danced. There was no mistaking what was wanted. A year's worth of love and friendship had been leading up to it. With her legs wrapped firmly around him, Marcus stood and whisked them off upstairs, where he deposited his girlfriend onto his downy, gigantic bed. They knew the time was right as the couple lay kissing and feeling everything, anticipating what they were about to do.

In the softness of the room and the light of the moon, the sweet pair made tender explorations. Touching, tasting, skin-on-skin, they gasped and moaned and allowed themselves to form a deeper kind of love. The type created by merging together united as their bodies joined in the most intimate of ways. And when it was all over, as they lay tangled in each other, caught up in the moment, whispering words of devotion and affection, they knew this was it. This love is the kind of love people search the world for and sometimes never find.

So Marcus accioed a box that fell gracefully into his big, calloused hand. Sitting up a little, with the sheet exposing his chiseled chest and chest hair, he explained, "I was going to give this to you as part of your birthday present this year. It's not exactly what you think it is. You see, I know I want to marry you. I know you're it, Hermione. I don't want to mess this up, and I don't want to push too far. But the heart knows what it wants. You're the one I've been waiting for my whole life, and I want you to have this."

He gave her the black velvet box, which she shakily opened. Instead of the ring she thought she'd find, Hermione gasped at seeing another diamond bangle bracelet. Marcus knew she thought it would be a ring and smiled. Enlarging the bracelet to the correct size, he explained, "See, I plan to give you a ring at some point. But this is similar, for now. It's a piece of betrothal jewelry, kind of like pre-engagement. I figured with you being in school still, a ring might be too much, but this would be unassuming and unable to draw that much attention. The only ones who would know about it would be you, me, and whoever we told. So, what do you think? Will you be pre-engaged with me?"

Tearing up at his thoughtfulness and love, Hermione wiped her eyes. "Yes. I'll be pre-engaged with you, Marcus. I've never opened up to anyone as I have with you. I think waiting until I'm done with school gives us the time we need to map out our future. Plus, it'll only bring us closer because this thing between us is real and right." They sealed their love with a kiss, nothing more, just a sweet kiss in the moonlight. It topped off their relationship, moving into a new, deeper phase. Now, Hermione's arm is beginning to mimic Ms. Cecilia's with all of her many bracelets- jewelry that tells a story of love.

The next day, Marcus called a meeting with his friends. He and Hermione invited them for lunch, where Toffee had made burgers, chips, and all the trimmings for a fun summer feast. When everyone had arrived, Pucey announced to the room, "I went to the book store today. I know. I'm shocked, too, despite the fact I can read. But while I was there, I got three different girl's addresses. Bookstores are the playground for chicks who have brains."

The guys gave him looks crossed between disgusted and proud. Hermione shook her head and asked, "What will you do about that? You can't see three different girls at one time. That's a problem waiting to happen."

Pucey being Pucey, wore a cheeky grin and responded, "I know, right? I like to call it hot guy problems." They all groaned and threw a chip at him, which Adrian picked each one up and ate.

After lunch and raspberry cheesecake, the group moved to the comfortable, great room. That's when Cassius asked Marcus about the new bangle Hermione's wearing. "So, you gave it to her then? Are you two pre-engaged?" With his girl sitting beside him, holding his hand, the once stoic Slytherin smiled and nodded. Cassius got up and high-fived his friend, then stated, "Hermione, you have no idea how much he worried over it. He would've proposed outright if he thought it wouldn't be a problem. But this is good. Some couples are meant to be, and the two of you are one of them."

Before Montague could say anything, Adrian announced, "I agree. You're like some old married couple, definitely meant to be. It's also like me and that blonde in the bookstore today. We were meant to meet. Her name was Bethany or Buffy, or maybe it was Bambi."

Graham gave his friend a hard stare. "Good grief, you're worse than Blaise."

But Pucey, undeterred, told him, "I know. Blaise and I are like a sneeze. We can't be contained."

Laughing, Marcus declared, "That's definitely something Blaise would say. Moving on from Adrian and his dating life, we've invited you here today to help us gather information."

That's when Hermione jumped in and gave more detail. She explained the need for collecting and compiling data on the death eaters and dark objects. "It'll require a lot of risks and using that Slytherin cunning you're all known for. Maybe even a bit of uncommon bravery. Ultimately, we'll understand if you don't want to help."

Graham, who had been listening and thinking it over, announced, "If Marcus can renounce the dark mark and withstand being cut off from the family vault and torture, then what's a little risk to get rid of the Dark Lord? Even if it's uncomfortable, I'll help however I can."

Same as Montague, Cassius had been listening as well. He messed up his curly blonde hair several times from his hand gliding through it. That's how he thinks best. His smooth, silvery voice declared, "If I don't take a chance now, then every bit of freedom I've enjoyed, every good and helpful thing I've ever done will all be for nothing, especially if that demon wins. Count me in."

All eyes turned to Mr. Lady's Man. Adrian eyed them all in return and spoke truthfully. "Look, it's harder for me. You all know that. My father's a death eater, same as Marcus's. I'm not ready to give up the family vault just yet, and I'm not as skilled with occlumency as Warrington is. Nor am I as good with defense as Graham. Plus, this is my last year at Hogwarts. I don't want to burn bridges since I have to live with the people you're curious about for the lists. It's difficult to make excuses for not hanging out with the whole lot of them. You know? They've become suspicious, especially Bole."

Hermione understood his concerns, but she also heard what he wasn't saying. "You can help us in your own way. Quieter risks are still risks, Adrian. Besides, you can cast a Patronus, which covers a lot of darkness. That's something a lot of people cannot do."

They may not be the Marauders or the Gryffindor trio, but since watching that movie, The Goonies, one weekend, Montague remarked, "We're like the misfit group in that fun Muggle moving picture. All of us in this room are friends on a mission, bringing whatever gifts we have to the table."

Marcus chuckled. "Yeah, we're all goonies in some way."

Squeezing his hand, Hermione stated, "Never say die."

"So, who's the Chunk of the group? I vote Warrington," Adrian advised giving him a look.

In a huff, Cassius called him an idiot. Then they began sharing information. The lone witch in the room recorded it all in a notebook. So far, the only peers that they know of to have taken the dark mark are Theodore Nott, Gregory Goyle, Crabbe, Lucian Bole, Jay Overcliff, Cayden Snowy Owl (that name made Hermione laugh), Joey King, Theodora Vanity, Darrold Ashe, Liz Tuttle, the Carrows, Bletchly, and many others. The only name that blaringly wasn't on the list was Malfoy's. It made Hermione wonder.

"I find it curious that Malfoy isn't on the list. Are you sure you guys didn't forget him?" she questioned.

All four Slytherin's eyes met in a shared expression. Adrian answered. "Well, the last we spoke with Malfoy as a group, which was in June, a few weeks after his birthday, he hadn't taken the mark. I also saw him two weeks ago, and he still hadn't received it. The thing about him is if Lord Snooty Pants had gotten it, we'd all know. He'd have bragged about it for days."

That prompted Warrington to say, "I would think it would be challenging for him not to take the mark. His father's in prison. He has the escaped death eaters in his home, including his insane aunt. And to top it off, the unholy fiend who returned also lives there. I'd be surprised if Malfoy hasn't been pressured to receive it. So I estimate he'll probably get the mark before school begins."

For now, Hermione put Draco's name under the possible death eater column. Then the group moved on to the final thing, dark objects. On the paper, she made two sections. One was labeled known, and the other marked items of interest. It started with Marcus's father's objects. To which Graham remarked, "Wow! That's a whole bunch of terrible." The others agreed.

It's interesting how much darkness is present in people's lives when it's called into account. It wraps like a cloak and bears down on you like fog. Normal people have no idea how far it goes until it's brought into the light. So far, the list contained: chaos gems (which are sentient), a bewitched bell (ring twice, and your body is sliced), the silver hat, the liquor of sleep (for a hundred years), liquid freeze, the hand of glory, bloodstained pack of cards, the enchanted music box, vanishing cabinets, and on and on it went. There was enough to fill five pages, and those are only the known ones.

The top items of interest are those that promote immortality. So far, there's two of them. They are the cloak of immortality and petrified peaches. Hermione put stars by these because they seem like things Voldemort would want. She decided to research the cloak and peaches.

Before leaving, the guys said they'd keep their ears open for any objects of interest. Warrington will be the most significant help since his father works in trade. Cumberland Warrington's company imports and exports magical trinkets and curiosities worldwide. The curly blonde shared, "My father deals with sketchy stores like Borgin and Burke from time to time. I'll start checking the shipping form and packing list weekly for anything of interest. It won't seem odd me doing so since Dad has me manage that sometimes."

The group made significant progress, and Hermione felt a bit of relief. She produced more headway than the Order of the Pheonix has in one meeting. That's because they're so short-sided. They're just as bad as the death eaters in that regard. Neither side cares about making inroads. It's either one way or the other, no in between. While no one wants Voldemort to rule, getting rid of all wizarding traditions and not learning about the wizarding history would also be terrible. Same as not trying to understand muggle-borns and Muggle traditions.

There can be common ground if pride and selfishness are taken out of the equation. The only way to understand either side is through respectful debate and listening. And of course, food, because nothing brings people together like good food. Any Weasley will agree, especially Ron. The thought of Ron made Hermione think about having to get her books for school soon. And that only provides another source of contention- seeing Harry and Ron. They've been unfriend-like lately, caring only for themselves. That did not settle in her stomach well.