Pairing: HarryMarcus

Prompt: 154. Someone to Love

Word count: 399

Someone to Love

The young man standing alone in the corner at the Yule Ball didn't escape his attention. He had his hands in his robe pockets and was shuffling his feet as couples walked by. Occasionally, he would look up in a sense of hopefulness, but was always disappointed when he realised it was just another loved-up couple.

Harry, who was bored of his date, decided to go over to the young man. "Where's your date?" he asked casually, leaning his back against the wall.

The young man scowled, snarling at Harry. "None of your business, Potter," he snapped.

Harry nodded. "Okay," he said. "Well, my date's over there somewhere, so I'm dateless, too."

"Who said I was dateless?"

"I've been watching you."

The young man now had the decency to look embarrassed, but Harry only smiled. "Nobody deserves to be hated," he said.

"Well, I asked, and they all said no. I heard the mutterings and whispers in the corridors. Nobody wanted to be seen with me."

"But you came anyway?"

A silence befell them.

"Listen," Harry said, "you may consider this to be a pity question, but I assure you it's not. But, would you like to dance with me?"

The expression on the young man's face was unreadable as he stared at Harry.

"Everybody needs someone to love," Harry said gently. "Even a burly, brutal Slytherin such as yourself."

The young man – known to most as Marcus Flint – looked as if he was going to reject Harry's offer. But just as he opened his mouth to turn him away, another couple walked by, hand in hand and laughing.

He sighed.

"Alright, Potter," he said, "I'll dance. But after tonight, we never speak of this again."

Harry nodded, offering his arm to Marcus. "Deal," he agreed.

The pair moved to the dance floor, and despite originally agreeing to only one dance, they were one of the last couples there. As the last song was played, Marcus removed his hands from Harry's waist.

"Well, see you, Potter," he said roughly. Before he could completely leave, though, Harry grabbed onto his arm, turning him back around.

"Not even a kiss?" he asked teasingly.

Marcus looked around, but only some ghosts remained in the hall now. Quickly and self-consciously, he leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against Harry's. "See you, Potter," he said again, and this time he really was gone.

This chapter was requested by mizzrazz72.

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