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Chapter 10

Saturday 2nd February 2002, Small Café, Anglesea, Hermione Grangers POV

Would Marcus meet her? Hermione hadn't received a confirmation owl, so perhaps he wouldn't come. A feeling of deep disappointment settled in her stomach at this thought. Oh why did she send that accursed letter? She should never have been so weak. Fiddling with a mug of now lukewarm chocolate, Hermione glanced out the cafe window into the chilly overcast street. She had a perfect view of the pub Marcus had taken her to less than a week ago. A soft sigh escaped as she remembered the conversation, the light hearted teasing which resulted in her laughter and Marcus cheeky smirks. Marcus may not laugh often, but there was a definite difference between the conceited smirk that Hermione remembered Malfoy being so fond of, and Marcus' cheeky smirk. She wanted to learn more about those little differences. She wanted to strive for the real smiles and laughter from Marcus she had glimpsed a few times. If Marcus would let her, Hermione was desperate to see if the slight tightening of anticipation in her chest whenever she thought of a future relationship could happen. Because, she had known almost from the moment Athena had flown away with that stupid letter that her fear over Pureblood snobs or her friends' opinions didn't matter. Sadly, though, it seemed Marcus was not going to show up since Hermione had already been sitting here waiting for the last ten minutes. Bending down slightly to the right of her chair in order to fetch her handbag she took no notice of the twinkle of the door chime since the café was busy with patrons wishing to escape the cold weather. Checking her money while trying to decide if perhaps she should get another hot chocolate and wait just a little longer, Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin when the deep voice she was beginning to know well spoke from beside her.

"Leaving already?"

Glancing up from her position, still semi bent below the table, Hermione noticed his raised eyebrow. Abandoning her plan, Hermione righted herself in the seat head still turned slightly appraising the man before her.

"Is that the best you could come up with?" Hermione was not sure what made her say something so brash when she was very much in the wrong and probably should be apologising, but Marcus' eyebrow raise did not seem to be of annoyance.

"Sorry I'm late. I've been watching you from across the street."

Hermione gaped as he pulled out a chair and sat down across from her, before looking her dead in the eye. His facial expression gave her no clue what he was thinking. "Why?" Why would he watch her from across the street?

"I was trying to decide if I should come inside or not. That was a piss poor letter you sent me."

"I understand why you would think l that. I am ve-"

Marcus cut her off by raising his hand. Hermione was so shocked at the act that she silenced her apology. Although she felt a slight indignation at being interrupted, she listened as he began to speak.

"You raised issues in the letter that seem a little strange to need addressing after only two dates. But I suppose we better get it all out in the open now. I think my mother is having a strange mid-life crisis, so you don't need to worry about her." He ended the speech there, clearly amused at the look of disbelief that must be on her face.

"I'm sorry, you mother is what?"

"You said in your letter we should stop seeing each other because we are from 'different worlds'. This was after you spent an evening with my mother's long-lost cousin. It's not hard to read between the lines that you were warned away from me because of my mother."

"Andromeda isn't long lost. She has always been there- just no one in your family wanted anything to do with her."

Marcus rolled his eyes and continued speaking. "Now I'll admit my mother hasn't always been the nicest woman to those outside her family and close friends. I'm aware your Andromeda had good reason to think the way she does. But my mother really seems to be trying to be a nicer person, and I deserve a little more credit than you gave me. There is no point in us continuing if you think I would be so heartless too throw you in a room with crazy, pureblood fanatical relatives."

Marcus had crossed his arms, his posture rigid as he now seemed to wait for her reply, but his eyes spoke a different story as she thought for a moment that she saw a glimpse of hurt and venerability.

"You're right, it was a stupid, horrible letter. I didn't mean it and if I could take it back, I would." She paused for a long moment, summoning her courage. "But would you be willing to continue? Give me another chance?"

Catching his eyes, she silently begged him to say yes. It was bizarre that she wanted this so much, considering how rocky their brief dalliance had already been, yet Hermione was positive that something was there.

"One more shot, but we really have to stop with this misunderstanding shit. I'm not the best at this kind of thing, but I think we've had a crap beginning."

Hermione couldn't help chuckling in agreement at this. "Parts of it have been really good."

Marcus nodded in agreement, his sexy smirk appearing causing Hermione's stomach to clench with anticipation.

"Well then, Hermione, you had better make good on that promise of cooking me dinner."

Saturday 2nd February 2002, Hermione Granger's Apartment, London, Marcus Flint POV

The crack of side-along Apparition sounded as the couple appeared in Hermione's apartment. After getting his bearings, ignoring the sickening aftershocks of their travel Marcus followed her through a large open plan living area to the kitchen. He had been curious about Hermione's home since she had invited him to dinner. He had never entered a Muggle house before, and the items he couldn't properly identify proved Hermione's home was a pure mixture of Muggle and Magic. A big, black rectangle that he knew from Muggle bars could play moving images of sport or music with sound attached was placed in the corner of the lounge. Multiple enlarged Wizarding and Muggle photographs lined the few sections of walls that didn't hold the many overflowing bookshelves filled with Magical textbooks. Walking closer to where she was rummaging around what looked like a silver two-door cupboard with light shining out of the door, he noticed a large professional looking cauldron in the far corner of the kitchen. Taking a seat on one of three bar stools located at the island he watched as Hermione began to heat up food. She started by cutting vegetables the Muggle way, and Marcus was fascinated. He was raised in a house where house elves cooked every meal, and although he had watched Emmaline cook, she did everything with magic. They had a nice dinner and he really didn't mind Chicken Kiev at all, they were quite tasty, oozing garlic cream from the centre. The cooking however had taken longer than Marcus had anticipated, and at the beginning, conversation was strained reminding him frustratingly of their first date. Thankfully by the end of the meal it was as though the letter issue had never taken place.

During dinner he had tried to impress her with his knowledge of the sport and music playing box. Hermione had instead burst into laughter informing him that the 'Televission' did more than that, and after dinner she put of a 'mooviee'. Something she called 'Cruel Intentions', and he vaguely registered though his confusion that it was a story of some kind and that the characters resembled Muggle versions of the Slytherin student body. It didn't help that he was incredibly distracted by the pretty little witch that had snuggled up to him on the couch. He really did try to make sense of what he was watching while asking so many questions he was sure she would be getting annoyed. All attempts at watching came to an abrupt end when her hand slid to his thigh causing Marcus to have an involuntary reaction of longing. He was having trouble keeping his breathing even as she angled her head to face him with darkened eyes, looking at him with a questioning gaze. He began to tilt his head toward her and smirked as she moaned when their lips met in a searing kiss. He was not sure how but within less than a minute of first impact she had flipped them so she was straddling him on the couch, not that he was complaining. This was the assertive and hot Hermione he remembered from Canada, only back then it had taken much longer to get her to this stage. Their kisses continued sensual and explorative one of his hands had tangled itself into her amazing hair while the other began to creep under her top which made her breath hitch seductively. It was his turn to moan as she followed suit, one of her dainty hands ghosting across his taut stomach as another rested at his neck. They continued to kiss, the heat becoming more intense, and Marcus knew that if she didn't want to continue they would need to stop soon. Almost as soon as this tragic thought entered his mind, she rocked her pelvis into him causing him to grab her hips firmly for a brief moment, prolonging the exquisite friction. He experimentally tugged on her top, testing her reaction and was blissfully happy when she quickly broke their kiss to pull the clothing over her head and toss it on the floor. His heart stopped at seeing her clad in only a simple black bra and jeans. His eyes swept over the creamy skin of her bra covered breasts however as with last time his eye involuntarily glanced down her torso where a long thin white scar that ran from her right hip to under her left ribcage. She hadn't noticed his look in Canada but she did now and stiffened slightly. In an effort to relax her again he ran a finger lightly across the scar but couldn't help giving her a questioning glance.

"Cursed by Dolohov at the Department of Mysteries in my fifth year, I learnt my lesson though. Even silenced Death-eaters can still do lots of damage."

Deciding he didn't want any more talk on this particular subject he found his mouth involuntarily moving down her neck towards her breasts smirking into her skin as her head fell back and what could only be described as a whimper escaped. She had just barely managed to call out 'bedroom' before he had lifted her small frame up with ease as she encircled his waist, her lips never ceasing their attentions to his throat. He paused momentarily upon realising he had no idea where her bedroom was located.

"Through the door by the kitchen, last door on the right." Hoping to Merlin he was heading in the right direction, he began to walk her through the apartment. She ended up slammed into the wall as they headed down the hallway, after she slipped her hand into his pants. He managed to growl at her.

"Do that again and I will take you right here," before resuming his search for a bed, any bed. Merlin's soul, a spare room bed would work right now. Reaching the end of the hall, still carrying her with ease, Hermione held his neck with one hand while opening the door with another. He quickly walked toward her bed placed in the centre of a large bedroom. Placing a knee on near the edge of the bed he positioned them both to fall into the middle, bracing his hands either side of her shoulders as her legs detangled themselves from his waist at the impact. Rising himself onto his knees, Marcus spared a quick glance at the beautiful, dishevelled, witch with swollen lips and perfect breasts rising and falling enticingly with her heavy breathing. Impatient and trying for a quick removal of his white T-shirt, he cursed when it caught on his neck causing him to lose balance and fall, barely managing to brace one arm against her head to avoid crushing her with his superior weight. Hermione chuckled as he scowled.

"Think that was funny, do you?"

His witch nodded her head and he partially silenced her 'yes' with a kiss, savouring yet another moan of contentment from her.

As they resumed the heated almost desperate kissing, her small dainty hands glided slowly down his back before slipping around his sides to begin unbuckling his jeans. Marcus slightly lifted his hips away from her in order to help and she had almost succeeded when a loud POP of Apparition sounded through the apartment. They both instantly stilled at the noise Hermione's breath left her in a loud gush as the lust in her eyes was quickly replaced by both panic and annoyance.

"Hermione, are you here?" Bloody Merlin's balls, what the fuck was Potter doing here?

"What the fuck is he doing here?" He sent her a questioning look and let out a frustrated moan as she quickly made to get out from under him.

"I will get rid of him, wait here." He gave her a dirty look, still incredibly worked up and pissed off at the interruption.

"Make it bloody quick, I will just wait here as your dirty little secret, shall I?" She sent him a half amused half annoyed scowl while putting on a dressing gown and walked toward the door.

"Hermione! We know you're here, we wouldn't be allowed in otherwise."

A second voice, this time female, drifted through the apartment, the voice he remembered from the Ball as belonging to Ginny Potter, as Hermione left the room. He quickly activated a secret Rosier spy spell his mother taught him toward the living area of the apartment and sat against the fabric headboard of her bed to listen. He would give her five minutes to get rid of the all-conquering-boy before he barged out and caused one hell of a scene.

"Harry, Gin, what are you doing here?"

"Hermione! We sent an owl but you never replied so we thought we would come around and see if you wanted to hang out tonight."

"I... cant tonight, I was planning on a bath before bed." There was a short silence following Hermione's admission and Marcus just wished the intruders would leave already. This shag was two months in the making and he was determined tonight was the night to get with his witch.

"Bed? It's 8PM, Hermione you never go to be this early..." Potter seemed confused and Marcus scoffed, she wasn't going to bed to sleep, fool.

"I was going to do some reading..."

"Hermione, do you have someone here?" Oh shit. Potter's confused tone turned instantaneously suspicious, as his wife squealed.

"Oh sweet Merlin! Is he here?" Ginny Potter seemed very excited, but Marcus wanted to curse her. Now Potter was suspicious, surely his and Hermione's reunion would be further delayed. His head banged the bed head in frustration.

"Who's here, Hermione? Whose jacket is this?" Oh, Potter found his jacket. Well, this could get interesting, he was unsure if he was ready for the inevitable confrontation. Though, he was sure if it got physical he could take bloody Potter with one hand tied behind his back... magically it was probably best not to fight with the defeater of he-who-must-not-be-named. Marcus' eyes went wide at the thought.

"Who I have around is none of your business, Harry."

"Oh My God, Hermione are you-" Potter's tone was still shocked and full of disbelief but his sentence was interrupted by his wife.

"Calm down, Harry, Hermione is a big girl." The excited voice of Ginny Potter got louder, ringing in his ears as she clearly yelled at him from down the hall, enhancing the volume of the spell. "I am looking forward to meeting you. Hermione should bring you around for dinner next week. I won't take no for an answer." What the fuck?

"Do you know who it is, Gin?"

"Yes, Harry, I do- but you don't need to yet. We will be going now, Hermione. Perhaps you should block your Apparition wards this evening?" The sound of one crack, hinted that Potter may have been side along taken away from the living room and the footsteps heading back down the hall further heightened this assumption. The door opened and a bathrobe clad Hermione once again entered, turning to face him while leaning against the now closed door.

"I am so sorry about that. I forgot to block access."

"Clearly." He quickly debated the pros and cons of raising the lingering topic, or trying to ignore it, for a while with seduction. In the end his curiosity won out, "So am I going to dinner with the Potter's next week."

Hermione fidgeted with her robe tie, "If you want to? I think I would like that."

"The secret will be out." Her chin rose defiantly, and he was desperately hoping she wouldn't care. Her following words made his chest tighten with both happiness and nerves.

"There is no point in doing this if we keep it secret."

"Well then, my friends would kill me if they knew I met yours first. I will go to dinner next week if you come meet mine tomorrow." He smirked at her wide-eyed look of shock. "Come here."

She grinned as the topic of friends was put on hiatus, and moved to the bed, joining him in the middle as he untied her robe and slipped it off her shoulders. There reunion was not interrupted again and a long blissful night followed before the new couple fell asleep, their naked limbs entwined.

A long but mostly pointless author note-

Oh my! I have just had one of the most emotionally amazing musical days of my life! This will mean very little to most people outside of Australia but we had the Triple J (alternative national radio station) Hottest 100 of the last 20 years countdown today! I was 8 when the Hottest 100 started happening yearly and so many songs took me back to my childhood, teen, uni and adult years! Number one song was Oasis- Wonderwall and while not a bad song I was more excited when The Verve- Bittersweet Symphony made number 5! Indecently part of the amazing soundtrack of the 'Cruel Intentions' movie ;-)

So this chapter is probably as intimate as I can currently write and my husband thought it was one of the funnest things he has ever read. Still I hope this made up for last chapter although my lovely reviewers were amazingly nice and supportive!

I also wrote a Black/Rosier/Flint family tree. Just to clear up any confusion about who is related to who but I cant seem to post it on my profile like I had wanted to so it is now basically useless- and it took me ages to remember how to use Microsoft Visio effectively! :-(Oh well, win some, loose some!

Once again a huge thank you to blue artemis for being a wonderful beta!

lady innogen