The Date

Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments) Transfiguration Assignment #5.

Task: Write about the objectification of someone.

Entry for Word Prompt Express.

Prompt: (208) Date.

Cormac grinned as he saw Hermione coming down the stairs leading to the girl's dorm. They were going to Slughorn's Christmas party together, and Cormac couldn't be more delighted about it. He didn't miss the fact that Weasley looked pissed off, and had even stopped snogging that Lavender bird to watch Hermione come down the stairs. Cormac had to admit she looked stunning in her low cut coral dress, and the fact that another boy was jealous was the cherry on top of a bloody fantastic cake.

"Hermione, you look good enough to eat," he drawled arrogantly, as his eyes roamed hungrily over her body. She looked taken aback by his words and took a while to respond, sneaking a glance at Weasley as she did.

"Why thank you, Cormac, you're looking pretty gorgeous yourself."

"Comes naturally to me," he grinned. "It's hard for me to look bad."

He missed the look of disgust that she shot him as she replied, "Shall we get going?"

They linked arms and headed out of the common room. Cormac decided to break the ice. "That dress really is incredible."

Hermione smiled at him. "Thank you."

He ruined it with his next comment. "It would look even better on the Room of Requirement floor. What do you say, Granger? Care for a little rendezvous later on?"

Hermione gasped at his words, and Cormac smirked. "Yes, I often have that effect on women. Don't worry, you're not the first, and you'll certainly not be the last."

She responded dryly. "You flatter me, but no; not on the first date."

He chuckled. "I'm sure I can change your mind by the end of the night."

Hermione ignored him and walked faster. "Oh, good, we're here. I'm just going to look for Harry and Luna."

They walked into the room, and Cormac grabbed her arm to stop her from walking off. "Can't we get a drink and sit down first?"

"Oh, okay then," Hermione sighed, not sounding too keen on this idea. This washed right off Cormac's back as he found them a seat and grabbed two drinks. Not wasting any time, Cormac launched into a talk about his favourite two subjects; himself and Quidditch. Hermione nodded in all the right places while looking around the room, but Cormac failed to notice this once again.

"If it wasn't for the fact that Weasley is Potter's best friend, I would've got the Keeper position on the team. Clearly, Potter plays favourites."

Hermione had started to pay attention as soon as he said 'Weasley,' and she answered him with a smile. "Oh, you are definitely a better player than Ronald, but I don't think Harry plays favourites; I think you were just unlucky on the day."

He grins at her words, and puts an arm around her waist to pull her closer. "You think I'm the better player? I thought you and Weasley were close?"

Hermione does her best not to shudder as he moves his hand slowly upwards, brushing the side of her breast. "Let's just say, we had a falling out. It's disgusting watching the display he puts on with Lavender."

Cormac chuckles at her comment, and leans in to whisper in her ear. "I think that's enough talking about them; in fact, I think that's enough talking altogether."

He captures her lips in a bruising kiss without warning, and wraps his other arm around her, pulling her flush against his body. She responds hesitantly and wraps her arms around him. All Cormac can think about is how good it feels to be kissing her, and he doesn't notice when she tries to push him away gently with her hands. Imagine what his friends would say if he told them he'd snogged (or maybe shagged, if he was lucky) Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age. He wondered if she was a virgin; after all, she did go to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum. Viktor Krum! A famous Quidditch player, and here she was with him! He would be the envy of all his friends when he told them. He moved one hand into her hair and the other moved downwards, before Hermione succeeded in pushing him away.

She looked like she'd been wrestling with the Giant Squid. Her hair looked wilder than ever, and her lipstick was smudged all over her face; making her look like a little girl putting on her mother's make-up. He grinned and was about to kiss her again when she got up abruptly and downed her drink. "Right, another drink! I'll be right back!"

Hermione walked off quickly, leaving Cormac to sit with a smirk on his face. He was determined to get her into the Room of Requirements tonight, and he didn't think she'd say no after that kiss.

"It's always the quiet, bookish ones," he thought smugly to himself as he waited for her to return.