It didn't take Harry long to gather their cloaks to leave the Arrows' Christmas party and, before Hermione knew it, he was grasping her hand to apparate her back to her flat. Hermione lived in somewhat of a posh area in wizarding London, not far from Grimmauld Place. Being back in the comfort of her own home had Hermione already relaxing.

Harry peeled her cloak off of her and walked her over to the couch, getting her to sit down. He hung up their cloaks in her front closet. "So, what's your poison tonight Hermione?" he asked, walking over to the small bar cart to make them drinks.

Hermione thought about it for a moment before settling on a manhattan. After the clinking of glasses, Harry was walking back to the couch, handing Hermione her cocktail in one of her heavy tumblers, while he was holding his own filled with firewhiskey.

"Sorry, you know I can't resist the vintage Ogden's you have," Harry said with a smile that wasn't guilty at all.

Hermione just smiled, aiming her wand at the fireplace that dominated her living room, and soon cheerful embers were burning brightly, filling the room with a pleasant crackle and pop of the flames.

Harry took a few sips of his drink before directing the conversation to its purpose. "So, are you going to tell me what had you so upset back at the party?" he prodded.

Hermione bit her lip, feeling so silly for getting so upset that she'd made them leave. She didn't know why her heart was filled with so much hope over seeing Marcus Flint again. "Oh, Harry, you are going to think it's so silly," she told him, still resistant to opening up to her best friend. If there was anyone that would understand it would be Harry.

Harry looked at her face, reading all of her hesitation, before further nudging her. "Does this have anything to do with Marcus Flint?" he asked shrewdly. Hermione's immediate blush answered the question for him. "See, I am not as obtuse as you think."

She finally nodded. "Yes, it does have to do with Marcus," she admitted, still unwilling to reveal the depths of her feelings for the burly chaser. "I don't know where to begin."

"Why don't you start at the beginning? How do you know him? I mean, more than just in passing," Harry suggested.

"Well, do you remember in fifth year when he returned to school to retake some of his NEWTs?" Seeing Harry's nod, Hermione continued. "He was always staring at me in the library when I was studying, so eventually, I confronted him. I ended up helping him study a bit and we spent a few weeks forming a friendship, I guess."

It was Harry's turn to be embarrassed. "I can't believe I didn't know. I guess it shows how much I studied for my OWLs," he said, guiltily.

"On his last day at Hogwarts, he gave me a kiss, just on the cheek. I didn't expect to see him around again after that," Hermione admitted, remembering the feeling of his lips against her skin. "Anyway, we met up again at the New Year's Eve party after the war. I was hiding from Ron and literally bumped into him."

Harry nodded. "I remember that actually. I remember you dancing with Flint then," he said. Harry's face screwed up in concentration as he tried to remember the night more clearly. "Did you go home with Flint?" he asked, surprised he hadn't put two and two together before.

Hermione blushed again. "Yes, I went home with him. And I ended up, you know, losing my virginity to him," she said, trying to sound casual, like it wasn't a big deal to her.

"You did what?" Harry groused at her. This didn't sound like the normal, in control Hermione Granger that he was used to. "Well, what happened?"

"I mean, I didn't plan on it, but we had some sexual tension. Anyway, in the morning I just felt so stupid, knowing that you know...I am not his type, and he probably has all kinds of groupies following him around. Like his date tonight," Hermione explained, trying not to let her self-consciousness slip into her voice. "So I just left in the morning, before he woke up."

"Well what happened tonight? The pair of you seemed to be having a great time on the dance floor," Harry countered, not wanting to linger on his friend's sex life for too long.

"I don't know," Hermione told him, a hint of desperation in her voice. "I just...we did seem to hit things off again, and I got some tiny little hope that...I don't know, he might still like me." Hermione took a big gulp of her drink. "But of course he doesn't. He never tried to contact me after the night we had together. Plus, why would he when he had such a beautiful date?"

"Maybe because she is dumb as rocks?" Harry pointed out. "Though, I suppose Marcus isn't really known as the intellectual type."

Hermione nodded. She figured that Marcus was probably a simple man with simple needs, and dating Hermione Granger was never going to be one of them. "I just got a little overwhelmed. I am sorry that I made you leave early," she apologized.

"Don't worry about it," Harry said. "I get kind of bored at those anyway. Say, Hermione, is Marcus the reason why you never date?"

Harry often wondered why Hermione didn't try to go out with guys their age. After all, she was a bit of a catch. She was smart and pretty, she had a dry wit, and she always had his back.

Hermione scrunched her nose up, as if in distaste. "Don't be silly, Harry. I don't date because I am so busy with work. I wouldn't have time to keep up with a relationship. Marcus has nothing to do with it," she said, though she wasn't entirely convinced herself. She quickly took a drink, so as to disguise her blush. He was at least part of the reason why she didn't date anyone, but she wouldn't dare to admit it out loud.

"Good," Harry said, patting Hermione on the knee. "I think I will still have the chasers run extra drills on Monday, though."