As Cassius Warrington made his way down the long labyrinthine hallways to the inner sanctum of the Ministry that was the Games Department, he could hear Marcus laughing. That was weird. Marcus Flint didn't laugh. His friend (best friend, if Cassius was being honest) was still too self-conscious about the absolutely mangled teeth he'd had as a teenager and did everything he could not to draw attention to his mouth.
And, if Marcus Flint was going to be laughing, it sure as hell was going to be Cassius who made him do it, not whatever specter that had decided to haunt the Games Department!
But there it was — Marcus was laughing again. He picked up his pace, needing to know what the hell was going on.
He swept into the Games Department, rather dramatically, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight that greeted him. Hermione Granger herself, swotty Gryffindor Queen that she was, was seated in a desk pushed up against Marcus's. She wore a grin as big as Marcus's and they were both still laughing about some sort of inside joke that he wasn't privy to.
"Hey, what's all this about then?" he demanded, announcing his presence.
Marcus looked pleased to see him, greeting him with a handshake. "Cass, you remember Hermione?" he said, before nodding towards an uncharacteristically shy Granger.
Did he remember Granger — of course Cassius remembered Granger! He first noticed her during the Yule Ball and from that point, he'd kept up with her life, pouring over the salacious details of her life in the papers and magazines. All strictly curious, not like he was a weirdo or anything. He just couldn't help himself. There was something about her that really did it for him. He lapped up every morsel he could find about her in the glossy Witch Weekly.
"Cassius Warrington," he said, smoothly, remembering that one generally needed to talk during introductions. "I'd heard the rumors, but I didn't think they were true."
Granger immediately bristled, her pretty brown eyes narrowed at him. "Rumors?" she asked, her voice a bit sharp and shrill. Huh, in all the pictures of her he'd seen, he hadn't ever really wondered what she would sound like.
"Everyone's been saying that you are gunning for a Department Head job," Cassius said. Granger's ambitious nature was the stuff of legend, at Hogwarts first, and now at the Ministry. It felt like she had a way of getting whatever she wanted.
"Oh, is that what they are saying?" she repeated, crossing her arms over her chest. Sulky.
"You know, there has never been a Minister of Magic who was the Head of the Games Department," he said, casually, wondering if she was just taking the first opening that she could find, seeing it as little more than a stepping stone.
"I am up to date on my history, thanks Warrington," she responded, sounding rather tart.
Marcus looked between the two of them, trying to figure out what exactly was going on, torn somewhere between amusement and frustration.
"I bet if there was anyone ambitious enough to make it happen, it would be you, Granger," he complimented, giving her one of his award winning smiles.
"Hermione hasn't taken over as the Department Head," Marcus said, rolling his eyes at the reach he'd made, just because she had a desk there. "We've been talking so much in preparation for the Cup that I finally requested she move over here, just until the tournament is over."
Ah, yes, the Quidditch World Cup. Cassius wasn't sure how they'd done it, but Britain had won the right to hold the Quidditch Cup again, even though the last one had ended up being so disastrous. He wasn't going to look a gift broom in the bristles, though. It was great news for his work, too.
"Yes, I'm sure you'll be very disappointed to hear that I'll be returning to the International Magical Law Office at the end of the summer," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
"Hermione is helping us with all the red tape around getting the internationals here for the Tournament," Marcus explained. "Couldn't do it without her."
"Oh, well, I am sure we will be seeing a lot of each other," Cassius said, wondering how he'd gotten such luck. Hermione would have to talk to him and maybe she'd give him a second look when all of this was all over, once he proved what a capable wizard he was.
"And why is that?" she questioned, looking at Marcus. "I hope that you aren't in the habit of entertaining your friends at work. I'll move back to my office! It's much nicer."
Marcus snorted in amusement. "As if you are one to talk, Granger," he teased. "You know that Potter is in here at least once a week, checking in on you."
"And I wish he wouldn't!" Hermione said, with a pout that really made her lower lip look too delectable. Cassius could practically imagine catching it between his teeth for a cheeky nip.
"I work in the Broom Regulatory Control division," he said, needing to get her attention back on him. It was petty, but he didn't like being ignored for the likes of Marcus (best friend or not). "I suppose that we will be working closely together in the coming months as well."
Hermione made a little noise, turning her brown eyes on him again. "They've already finalized all the broom regulations for the Cup," she said, smoothly. "I think that Davies finished that weeks ago. So, I don't know why we'd have much of a reason to talk."
"The Internationals might fly a broom here or use it when they travel within the country," he explained, hoping to keep the connection alive. "Our regulations are really quite different to the rules in, say, Italy."
"I'm sure that's a riveting discussion to be had," she said, breezily before standing up. "You can reach out to Davies if you need the support of the International Magical Cooperation Office. Marcus, I think I'll take my lunch now."
And then, Hermione Granger walked out of the Games Department with a sway of her hips that would be mesmerizing Cassius for the rest of the week.
He looked for another opportunity to stop into the Games Department again as soon as possible. He was not going to give up this chance to get to know Hermione Granger a bit better. He also wanted to better suss out whatever was going on between Marcus and her.
Even though he wouldn't mind getting to know Hermione a bit better, there was no way that he would step on Marcus's toes if there was a romance blossoming there. Marcus was his friend first and he wouldn't throw away a two decades long friendship for a witch (even a witch as exquisite as Hermione).
But, when his Witch Weekly subscription arrived with a picture of Hermione chatting with Viktor Krum on the cover, he realized that he might have other competition.
He strode in to the Games Department with a smile on his face and tossed the magazine down on her desk. "I understand now," he said, with a smirk, feeling as though he'd really figured everything out.
"Understand what?" Hermione demanded.
Cassius pressed his hands to her desk and leaned over. "The appeal of working in the Games Department, even if for a while," he crooned. "Reconnecting with an old flame?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she snatched up the magazine, her eyes pouring over the picture. A noise of frustration bubbled up from her throat. "I can't even meet with a friend..." she said, shaking her head. "I am not interested in Viktor romantically. He's just an old friend."
"But you did at one time," Marcus said with a teasing lilt. "Weren't you just telling me the other day about the —"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Hermione cut him off, her cheeks flushed. "I told you that in confidence."
Cassius couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that, wondering just what sort of sordid details she was hiding. He pursed his lips. "It's okay, you have a type," he said, shrugging his broad shoulders, delighting at the way her eyes seemed to graze his body, following the lines down to his strong forearms. "Quidditch players."
"What?" she practically sputtered.
"Well, there's Krum and McLaggen, if I've heard correctly," he said, using his fingers to count them off. "And your on-again off-again situation with Weasley. And now Marcus."
Hermione and Marcus shared a look between one another, wide-eyed and concerned, before they both burst out laughing. "Me and her?" Marcus asked, once they'd regained their composure. "Not bloody likely."
She scrunched her nose in agreement. "Yeah, no offense, Marcus, but pass," she said.
Relief flooded Cassius when he realized that he wasn't going to have to stop his pursuit because his friend was already after her.
"So maybe I got that last one wrong, but you can't deny that the others have all played Quidditch," he said, staring at her again. "Not that I can blame you. The physique alone is enough in their favor, but when you start to factor in the strategy and the determination, well —"
"Surely you aren't talking about Quidditch," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "No, I do not find the strategy of Quidditch to be alluring, thank you very much."
He wanted to argue with her then, to prove to her that there was actually a lot of rather complicated strategy when it came to the world's most popular sport, no matter how much she derided it.
"You know, Cassius played Quidditch, too," Marcus said mischievously, shooting Cassius a look and he knew then that his friend had clocked him for what he was trying to do. "He was a Chaser when I was Captain."
"Yes, I remember that," Hermione said with a smile that had Cassius's heart fluttering away in his chest. Was it really possible that she remembered him playing Quidditch? "Ron seemed to think that your size seemed to be the determining factor for your spot on the team, rather than your skill."
He felt a flush grow on his cheeks, but he scoffed. "I'll have you know that I never scored more points than when I was going up against Weasley in my fifth year," Cassius said hotly. Bloody Ron Weasley with his stupid opinions and even stupider face. "Maybe your little boyfriend doesn't know as much about Quidditch as he'd think."
Hermione shrugged her shoulders then, an innocent sort of look on her face, though he could tell that she was pleased that she'd hit her target. "Could be," she agreed. "Ron seems to have all sorts of stupid theories these days. And this will only be adding fuel to the fire." She patted on the magazine that was still on the desk, before she heavily sighed and took it with her. "You'll have to give me a rain check on lunch, Marcus. Seems like I'm going to have to do some damage control."
She took the magazine with her before she left the office, a sway in her hips that wasn't put on, but no less mesmerizing to Cassius.
When she was gone, he let out a breath he didn't know that he was holding, before slumping down into her recently abandoned chair. "What was that all about?" he asked his friend.
"Weasley and her are on-again," Marcus explained, rolling his eyes. "Sounds like he's a jealous prick, who thinks she must be into any wizard she talks to."
"Fuck," he swore under his breath. He'd felt some dread return. Sure, he wouldn't have to back off because of Marcus, but there was no secret about the complicated and intense relationship between Hermione and Weasley. The gentlemanly thing would be to leave her alone, until she was single.
Cassius wasn't sure that he knew how to be a gentleman.
"More importantly, what's all this about? You and Granger?" Marcus asked, looking at him, his head tilted to the side like he was trying to figure out his friend.
"What makes you think there is anything?" Cassius demanded, though he knew he wasn't doing a very good job of covering his tracks.
Marcus snorted. "Come on, since you are the reason my lunch plans disappeared, you can take me instead," he ordered, standing up from his desk. "And tell me all about this harebrained plan of yours."
Cassius practically skipped to the pub after the long week that he had, eager to chat with Marcus and Graham, and Adrian, if he was able to sneak away from his fiancee for a cheeky pint. He wasn't going to be over the top, but he was going to get some details from his oldest friend about the object of his affections: Hermione Granger.
Salazar, ever since she started her satellite work in the Games Department, it felt like she was everywhere. Gorgeous pictures of her at various Ministry functions graced the glossy covers of Witch Weekly and he ate up every word and detail. He was especially appreciative of a particular spread from a beach outing that she'd been on, even if the pictures were ruined by Weasley and Potter popping in.
He'd had a crush on her for years. But, having a bit of banter with the real live witch herself had transformed his crush into full on pining. She was perfect, in his opinion. She even got on with his friends!
Cassius was pleased to have a bit of inside assistance from Marcus, hoping that his burly friend would be able to provide him with all sorts of information that he could maybe use to woo the witch.
He swept his green eyes around the pub, looking for his former Captain. He found Graham first — chatting up a pretty witch at the pool table, wrapping his arms around her to show her how to hold the stick (a classic, that one). With a smirk, he went right for the bar and got himself a pint.
While he was waiting, he looked around for Marcus again, only to find him tucked away in one of the back booths, with none other than Hermione Granger herself. Curious. He left some sickles for the barman before grabbing his drink and making his way over.
Standing at the table, he immediately noticed the glum slump to Hermione's shoulders, her eyes watery and red. "What's this then?" he asked, looking to Marcus pointedly.
"Granger's having a bit of wizard trouble," Marcus answered with a grimace.
"Ron's the one with the trouble," Hermione slurred, looking furious.
"Mind if I join you?" Cassius asked. He liked Hermione enough to leave her alone if she wasn't up for his company.
"Be my guest," she said, before taking a massive gulp of her ale, emptying her pint and waving for another.
"She's drunk," Cassius said, looking at Marcus, wondering how he'd let her get in such a state.
"So what if I am?" Hermione asked, her eyes shiny with tears again. "I can get drunk if I want to."
"What's led you to drink then?" Cassius questioned, wondering what had upset her so much.
Hermione let out a hiccup and waved her hand at Marcus, unable to find the words. "She and Weasley have been fighting a lot lately," he said, with a frown. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a protective squeeze. "He's always accusing her of cheating on him."
"But I didn't!" Hermione insisted fiercely. "As if he could actually think I'd do something like that. But it doesn't matter, if I'm seen out with a wizard, then he flies off the handle at me."
Cassius couldn't resist his smirk. "Wonder what Weasley would think seeing you here with Marcus and me, then?" he asked, giving her a playful waggle of his eyebrows.
But, to his dismay, Hermione's face went sheet white, perhaps thinking things through. "Two Slytherin Quidditch players," she said, pressing her hands to red hot cheeks. "Godric, there really isn't anyone worse for me to be with."
"Three if you count Graham," he said, teasing.
"We don't count Graham," Marcus said, with a smirk of his own. "He's been trying to pull that witch for two hours."
"Two hours?" Cassius asked, eyes wide. "You've been here drinking like a ramora for two hours?"
Hermione shook her head. "Since my row in the atrium this morning," she admitted.
"Cor! I think I did read something about that in the evening edition of the Prophet," he said, with a wince.
Of course, Rita Skeeter had reported on the disturbance in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic and while she kept Hermione's name out of it, they had included a picture of her and Weasley glaring at one another.
She made a miserable sort of noise. "What are they saying about me, then? That I'm a terrible harpy, playing wizards against each other," she asked. "Poor Ronald Weasley, being in love with such a vicious shrew of a witch. He's never done anything wrong in their eyes."
"Hey, I think your turn of phrase — if it was reported correctly — was more like a banshee than a harpy," he teased, hoping to make her smile a bit.
But, Hermione wasn't sober enough to see that it was just a bit of good natured ribbing. Her face fell and then hardened. "Well, if that's the case, then I won't burden you with my presence anymore," she insisted and began shoving against Marcus's shoulder to leave.
"Hey, you were here first," Marcus reminded her. "I can make Cassius leave if he's bothering you."
Cassius shot his friend a betrayed look.
Hermione pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes, before blinking at him blearily. "No, I've really drank more than my share," she said, hiccuping. "I should really get home."
"You really weren't burdening me, Granger," Cassius said, not wanting her to leave just because his joke didn't land well. "And, for what it's worth, I think that you gave Weasley just what he deserved."
She rolled her eyes, clearly not taking him even a little bit seriously. "Whatever you say, Warrington," she countered, shoving Marcus from his spot in the booth.
She wobbled when she stood up and Marcus caught her. Cassius wished that he'd thought to stand up and walk her to the Floos.
"Let's get you home, Granger," Marcus said, wrapping a massive arm around her shoulder.
Hermione was like a newborn foal, just learning to walk on unsteady legs, but she still batted Marcus's hands away. "And give Ron more ammunition against me?" she countered with a snort. "I think not. I am a big girl. I can get home by myself, thank you."
"Whatever you say, Hermione," Marcus said, a worried look on his face. "See you on Monday."
And then she stumbled out of the pub.
The next edition of Witch Weekly breathlessly relayed the details of an overheard argument between Hermione and Weasley, with Potter acting as a reluctant mediator. Cassius was proud to hear that Hermione was standing her ground with Weasley in regards to his possessive behavior, but he wasn't particularly broken up to hear that their relationship remained on the rocks.
He was confused by how the tone of the article seemed to suggest that she was the one who was being unreasonable.
He stopped by a sweet shop on his way into the Ministry and picked up a packet of sugar quills — according to Witch Weekly, they were her favorite — knowing that Hermione could probably use a little pick me up.
Grabbing an interdepartmental memo, he penned a quick note hoping to put a smile back on her face.
You were bossy enough to get the Turkish and Belgian Federations in agreement over the importation of pressed rose oil. I'm sure you'll manage to get Weasley in line, too. - Cassius
Cassius practically skipped with glee towards the Games Department. He had been planning on keeping away from the office, not wanting to come off as too strong, especially when Hermione was in such a state over her relationship with Ronald Weasley.
But then, when he'd gone to lunch, he'd been absolutely struck by the cover of Witch Weekly. Cassius had barely bothered to read the headline because he was far too gleeful about the contents of the picture to bother. He'd simply tucked it under his arm and went straight to the source of the glorious news.
He knew that he was grinning when he strode in, pleased to find both Marcus and Hermione at their desks, working through the lunch hour now that the World Cup was getting so close.
Marcus looked at him with his eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" he asked quizzically.
Cassius simply tossed the magazine down on Hermione's desk, looking at the gorgeous sight of her screaming at a naked Ronald Weasley, a tiny pair of trunks held in front of his privates to shield him from view.
"Now you've gone and done it," Cassius said to Hermione, grinning at her broadly.
But, she didn't return the grin that he wore. Instead, he was struck by the red puffiness around her eyes, like she had been crying. He felt his heart clench in concern.
"Come here to laugh at me, too, then?" she demanded, jutting her chin in the air in challenge. Even if she was heartbroken, it seemed like she wasn't going to wilt away like a sad flower.
"Laugh at you?" he asked, utterly dumbfounded. Here Cassius was thinking that he should have stopped by an off license on the way to get some champagne to celebrate.
"Yes," Hermione hissed in response. "Seems that I was the only one too stupid not to realize that my boyfriend of two years was cheating on me. And, if I hadn't literally walked in on it, it seems like I would have been the gullible girlfriend this whole time."
"It's not stupid to expect your partner to be faithful to you," Cassius argued back, wondering how she'd gotten it so twisted around in her head.
"Or maybe to tell me that I was too naive to think that I alone could satisfy a war hero of Ron's caliber?" she continued, rolling her eyes once again. "How could plain Hermione Granger, uppity muggleborn, stick up her arse, try hard ever hope to keep his eye long term?"
"I hardly would use those phrases to describe you —"
"Even Marcus here thought that all of his projection and jealousy about me even talking to another wizard was suspicious enough and suggested that maybe it was him at fault," Hermione said miserably.
"Hermione, I didn't mean anything by it," Marcus begged, looking at her with sad eyes.
"But I defended him, telling him all about how Ron just had a lot of self-esteem issues from his family life and feeling like he was in Harry's shadow," Hermione continued, like she hadn't even heard him. "I was so sure that he'd never do this to me."
"I know that you must be in a lot of pain right now, but I for one can only see this as a good thing," Cassius said, looking at the witch sadly. Hermione was normally so strong and to see her looking quite so upset really had him feeling down.
"Oh, I'm sure that you'll be happy another pureblood isn't tainting the bloodline with a muggleborn like me," she said sarcastically. "Guess the Weasleys aren't as big of blood traitors as you Slytherins like to think anyway."
"I would never think something as horrid as that," Cassius said. He was beginning to feel a bit affronted himself, with her throwing around accusations like that, but he remembered that she was just hurt right now. "And I bet Marcus doesn't feel that way either, do you Marcus?"
"Of course not," Marcus answered, looking at his friend woefully.
"In fact, all that I can see from this glorious picture, witch —" Cassius said, pressing his hands to her desk and smirking down at her "— is that Weasley clearly wasn't man enough for you, if all he needs to cover himself with his that tiny pair of trunks."
She blinked at him owlishly and he could almost see the gears in her mind turning away while she tried to figure out what it was that he was trying to say. "Are you trying to say that I'm some sort of a... of a slut or something?" she asked, her glum mood quickly turning to ire.
"No, no, of course not!" Cassius quickly backtracked. "I was only making a comment on Weasley's apparent size. What I mean to say is that he's not very big —"
"Oh? So you think that I'm too big for him, then, is it?" she partially snarled, standing up abruptly from her desk. She barely came up to his shoulder, but it still felt like she was staring him directly in the eyes when she pressed a bony finger into his chest. "Godric, for a wizard as good looking as you are, you sure know how to cut down a witch when she's already hurt!"
He wanted to grab for her, but she breezed right past him in a huff before he could even get his mind to work.
Marcus whistled when she was gone, looking at him like he had just taken a bludger to the face. "Wow, you really know how to get under her skin, don't you?" he asked, shaking his head.
"I don't understand why," Cassius answered. "I'm just trying to pay her a compliment. In any case, all hope is not lost."
"Oh yeah?" Marcus questioned, leaning back in his chair. "How's that?"
"Well, she's single now," Cassius said, grinning at his friend. "And she said I was good looking."
The World Cup had gone off without a hitch.
Okay, well, that was an understatement. It was being hailed as one of the best handled World Cup's that had ever been held in over a millennium and suddenly, no one was wondering why England was awarded being the host nation again so soon.
The Games Department was getting a lot of praise for all the work that they did, especially Marcus. He was constantly trying to talk up how much help Hermione had been in the press, but rather than shining a light on her hard work, it only made him seem more humble.
Still Cassius was proud of his friend, knowing how much Marcus cared about the sport of Quidditch.
There was a Champion's gala held at the end of the event. Cassius had wanted to ask Hermione to dance, but found his chance taken again and again. It seemed as if every wizard wanted to dance with her — Marcus, Viktor Krum, even the Captain of the winning side of New Zealand, and a very muscular beater from the losing side, Ecuador.
And why shouldn't they? Hermione had looked utterly sensational in her daring gold dress, the same color as a Snitch. She had everyone seeking her out all night. Cassius could stare at her picture, looking so effervescent and happy, on the cover of Witch Weekly again and again.
Ultimately, he decided that seeing her in person would be a better shout.
He'd been disappointed to learn that she'd moved back to her regular desk in the International Magical Law Office, seeing as visiting her there gave him much less cover. Then it was clear that he was seeking her out directly and it wasn't just a by-product of her being near to Marcus.
But, he managed to pluck up the courage and do it anyway (even though he'd waited until nearly everyone had gone home for the day... if he was going to get rejected, he didn't want anyone else to be around to see it).
Hermione's pretty brown eyes narrowed the moment that she caught sight of him and Cassius couldn't help but send a crooked sort of smile her way. Salazar, he loved to know just how much he affected her. She sat back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Warrington," she said, raising her chin in the air. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Come to ask me about broom regulations again?" Then she caught sight of the magazine he was carrying and her frown deepened. "Or do you just have something snide to say about my appearance, too?"
"Snide?" Cassius asked, halting when the negative word clicked in his head. "Why would I say something snide about you?"
"Because your favorite little magazine always has something awful to say about me," she said, rolling her eyes. Taking the magazine from him, she flicked the page open and started pointing out various quotes. "Teeth too big, too skinny, not skinny enough, hair the size of tumbleweed, vying for all the wizards attention, dress too expensive, makes the dress look cheap... need I go on?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
Cassius felt his mouth drop open, before he snapped it shut. "Honestly, I was too busy looking at the picture to read any of that," he said. It was the truth. He was stunned by how pretty she looked.
"It's not like you don't have your own hits," Hermione said with a snort. "Too ambitious, too bossy, a burden, shrill like a banshee. Honestly, if you are just coming here to try to say something awful to me, I've heard it before."
"Too—" Cassius stopped himself, before he said something worse. "Granger, I'm trying to flirt with you! I... I happen to think that those are all qualities about you that I really like."
"Really? You accused me of gunning for a Department Head job," she said, her nostrils flaring in annoyance.
"I'm a Slytherin! I happen to find that sort of ambition to be incredibly sexy," Cassius said, just hoping that his complete honesty in this situation wouldn't hurt him. "And, for the record, I'd like to pin this cover up on my wall if it wasn't too untoward. I haven't been able to stop looking at it since it arrived on my desk!"
"Really?" she asked, nibbling on her lower lip, desperation clear on her face — like she was desperate to hear that he was telling the truth. "Why didn't you... why didn't you tell me at the after party?"
"I wanted to, witch, but you were absolutely surrounded by wizards all night," Cassius admitted. "I couldn't find an in, even though I really would have liked to."
"So you don't think I'm too bossy?" she asked, still unsure of herself.
"I do think you are bossy, but I love you for it," he answered, with a grin.
"And you think that I'm... I'm pretty?" she asked, still uncharacteristically uncertain.
"I think you are the most gorgeous witch I've ever seen," he confessed.
"And you don't mind that I actually really do have a thing for Quidditch players?" she asked, a grin starting to tug on one corner of her mouth.
"Mind it? I'm pretty sure it's the only reason that I have a shot with you at all," he answered. "And I still have my Slytherin uniform at home."
"Really?" Hermione asked. A blush spread on her cheeks when she saw his enthusiastic nod. "Then what are we waiting here for? Would you like to come back to my flat?"
Cassius really couldn't believe what he was hearing, but he didn't want to let her rethink things. "By all means, Granger, lead the way," he answered, waving his hand toward the direction of the doors.
She grabbed her coat and his arm in hers and tried to fight off a smile. "I realize that I never said thank you for the sugar quills," she said. "They are my favorite. How did you know?"
"Witch Weekly, of course," he answered, fighting off his grin.
She swatted him on the stomach making him huff out a laugh of surprise.
EXCLUSIVE! Cassius Warrington CONFIRMS Relationship with Golden Girl Hermione Granger!
Rumors have long been swirling about a potential relationship between Cassius Warrington and Hermione Granger. The pair have been seen together numerous times, looking very loved up, including emerging from a broom cupboard during a Ministry party together with rumpled robes. So far, the pair has been extremely quiet about each other, with Granger refusing to give any comment since her breakup with Ronald Weasley last year.
Until now!
Witch Weekly caught up with Warrington and he was finally willing to go public and confirm that they are dating one another. "We are celebrating our one year anniversary," Warrington told the magazine, when they were caught out at a pricey restaurant in Diagon Alley.
A quick bit of maths reveals that they must have begun dating very soon after Granger's last break up. She moved on extremely quickly from Weasley, who had been her best friend while at Hogwarts and her boyfriend of several years. "Hey — don't say it like that, okay? Weasley was the one that cheated on her," Warrington insisted, when pressed on the timeline.
The pair was introduced by Marcus Flint, who worked with Granger during the World Cup last year. "Ugh, I guess so?" Flint said, when asked about setting up the couple, before a grin came over his handsome face. "Cass had a crush on Granger for a long time. There was no way that he wasn't going to take a chance with her when Weasley f*d things up."
Of course, Granger is an impressive witch that any wizard would be lucky to call his own. She was recently promoted in the Department of International Law and has ambitions of making Department Head in the near future. Colleagues are quick to bring up Granger's positive attitudes. Witch Weekly just hopes that Warrington can keep up with a witch as ambitious as she is!
"What? I don't — Hermione is just the right amount of ambitious for a Slytherin like me," Warrington explained with a perfect smile. "Perhaps other wizards haven't been up for the challenge, but I promise you that I am wizard enough to support my witch in her career ambitions."
And, it seems that career ambitions are not all that Warrington has in store. He was recently spotted visiting his family's vault at Gringotts. Are wedding bells in the future? "Gringotts cannot confirm or deny that Cassius Warrington removed anything from his family vault," a rather rude goblin spokesperson revealed to Witch Weekly.
In any case, now that their relationship has been made public, Witch Weekly is sure that they will be keeping us entertained with their public displays of affection. See below for a photo gallery of their most loved up moments!