Summary: how a relationship starts
You were walking alongside the taller figure, purely coincidentally as the two of you headed unanimously towards the great hall. “How’s your NEP going Marcus?” You asked, looking at him. The two of you had hardly spoken, if ever during your six years at Hogwarts, you were just making friendly small talk as you made the trek through the corridors. You had most classes with one another, but just two lights floating along - almost like the sun and moon, knew of each other just never having the opportunity to truly meet. You were doing an NEP in potions, a Non Examined Potion, something worth 20% of your grade - coursework. It meant you could go into your final exam with at least a pass on your shoulders.
The boy peered down at you to the right with a side glance, turning his face to speak to you more clearly. “Alright to be fair. Write up is doing my head in” he admitted and you nodded “how’s yours?” “I’ve finished the write up and it’s way too far over the word count” you told him “how’ve you managed that?” He asked “I don’t even know. I’ve read it back and I’m just waffling. It’s pure shite, trust me.” You said as he chuckled slightly. “What are you doing again?” He asked, watching you loosen your green tie and shove it in your pocket, telling him it was almost choking you.
“Befuddlement Draught” you said with a hum and a tight lipped huff. “What?” He asked “oh look it works on you!” You say with a laugh and he gives you a sarcastic smile “cheeky shit.” He shoves you slightly with his cloaked elbow. “You think you’re funny” he huffs “I know I’m funny.” You retort as you hold the door open, letting him through as he thanked you “humble too” he mumbled, rolling his eyes.
“What are you doing?” You asked him, reflecting his question. “Amortentia” he nodded “can you spell that?” You scoff “oi shut up. It looked easiest.” “Fair enough” you nodded, parting ways as you made your way to your friends, and he to his. “Didn’t know you were mates with Marcus” Penelope queried as you sat down “I’m not we were just talking” you say with a shrug as she nods. “Y’know he’s making Amortentia?” You say with a scoff “what?” She snorts “careful he doesn’t use it on you.” You both laughed loudly.
The library was rammed. Deadlines for all coursework subjects was next week and it was filled with sixth years frantically scribbling words onto paper. You and Penelope surveyed the room before she dragged you to the least occupied table. “Can we sit? Thanks.” She says to Marcus who didn’t even have a chance to look up before your things were allover the desk. He just shook his head, unimpressed, before looking back to his work.
You’d thrown open a book, finalising your references for your NEP when Penelope stood up “Fucks sake I’ve left my Divignations crap downstairs” “that’s why you don’t take shitty Divignations” you retort as she scrunched her nose at you. “Going to my dorm. I’ll be back” she grumbles and you just grunt a ‘mhm’ at her. Bored, you started messing with the hair band on your wrist, pulling it off and stretching it with your thumbs. Not even able to react before it flicked off your hands and straight into the boy’s face. Your hands flew over your mouth as you stifle a laugh “Marcus I’m so sorry” you say, not full believing yourself as you watch the unimpressed boy look up from his book “genuinely.” You say, still gently chuckling as you reach over and take the bobble from the book where it had fallen; still laughing every so often as you thought about it again. “Is it genuinely that funny?” Marcus asks, looking at you all serious. “Yeah” you reply, snorting a little at his expression. “Seeing as you’re being a pain in my arse, have a look at this” he says, nodding at his work. “M alright thanks.” You say, shaking your head.
You felt your chair being pulled, as Marcus had grabbed a leg of the chair and pulled you towards him. “Erm” you start “as I was saying” Marcus began and you rolled your eyes, looking at his book “can you give this a look over” “yeah ‘course.” “Well first off” you pointed at the Polaroid lazily glued to the page “it’s supposed to be pink not green. Not sure what you’ve done there” “right” he hummed “oh there you go.” You say as you point at his instructions list “you used tulip petals instead of rose. Gives it the colour” you say “ohh”. “What’s the difference?” He asks “are you being thick on purpose?” You ask and he grunts. “Right c’mere” you say, leaning your chair back onto its hind legs as you point out the window “the yellow ones” you point as he looks out “are tulips” and then you point at the others “the red ones are roses” you say “oh I just grabbed whatever” he say, as you lose control of the balancing chair, only for him to grab the backrest and set you straight as you both struggle not to laugh. “Cheers.”
Penelope had gotten back ten minutes ago, but your proximity made her reluctant to join you at the table, instead humming as she found another spot. “Right I’m done” you say, slamming your book shut. “Already?” He asked “no just can’t be arsed” you say “fairs” you collect your stuff as his voice begins again “y’know what I’ve had enough too” he says, and collects his stuff as well. “I’ll wait for you” you say as he nods, putting his books in his bag. “Right c’mon” he says, as you both head for the dungeons.
“Y’got any plans for the rest of the day?” He asks and you shake your head “nah, you?” “Quidditch practice” he says “forgot you play quidditch” you say “d’you not go to any matches?” He asks “yeah but I don’t really pay much attention” you said, honestly. “You should, it’s good” “ok Wood” you scoff and he shoves you “don’t you dare.”
“Alright, see y’later Flint” you say, beginning the stairs climb to the girls’ dorms. “Yeah later.”
Later that evening, you and Penelope were sat on the sofas in the common room, talking about utter nonsense in hushed but ironically, obnoxiously loud voices. Just after eight, several sweaty and loud boys clambered into the common room laughing boisterously amongst themselves. “Ladies” Adrien Pucey greeted, planting himself on the floor, a few others joining him as Marcus shoved himself into the small chair beside you. “Do you mind?” You scoff “not at all, love” he says, smirking at your disenfranchised look, shoving an arm around your shoulders. “Fuck off you actually stink” you say, shoving him off you as he laughs, a repulsed look on your face. You position your body sideways, throwing your legs over his and onto the arm rest as to sit more comfy and eventually his hands naturally rested on your calves as you all conversed between yourselves.
“I’m off to bed” Marcus said, tapping your legs telling you to move them, but your legs remained firm. “You sat here mate, not my issue” you shrugged and crossed your arms “I’m quite comfy.” “Fine” he hummed, putting one arm under your legs and the other around your waist “oi” you say, kicking your feet slightly “go steady Prince Charming,” Montague snorted as the boys all laughed, Marcus walking over to the large sofa and dropping you onto it. “Have a shower!” You shout after him, as you curl into the cushions.
“You coming to bed babe?” Penelope asked and you nodded, getting up as the group gradually disbanded “made that sound like you’re lesbians” Bletchley commented “what wanna join in?” You ask as you and Penelope squeal and giggle, running up the stairs, chased by the boy who was stopped at the bottom. “Dickhead!” You shout down the stairs.
“What’s happening with you and flint then?” Penelope asked, laying next to you on your bed “nowt. Literally nowt. We’ve been talking a lot and then that just happened.” You shrugged “girl he just picked you up” you both connected eyes and started giggling. “Can you get past the teeth?” She asked as you shoved her “what teeth?”
“What’s happening between you two then?” Montague asked Flint as the boy left the bathroom. “Who?” “You know who.” “Penelope and your lass just offered me a three way” Pucey boasted “you pillock they were joking”. “Nothings happening” “not with your teeth mate” “fuck off”.
Flint sat on his bed, shorts bunching around the muscle of his thighs as he used his towel to dry off his bare torso, throwing the towel across the room. “C’mon then” Marcus flopped back against his bed “dunno” “dunno? You’ve been flirting with her for like two months” “yeah you were cuddled up on the sofa for the past few hours” “listen I don’t know, okay? Leave it” he said, but loud snores interrupted his argument. As he was left to think, alone. He threaded his hands and put them behind his head; thinking.
You were all settling into your seats in potions, Marcus’ eyes meeting yours as he entered the room ‘thought you were going to wait for me’ he mouthed and you just shrugged as he took his usual seat behind you, tugging on the hood of your cloak and you turned to him “couldn’t find you babes” you said, and turned back as Snape cleared his throat.
“For your assignment you must practise your potion on a pre-decided partner, this will be the third and final sector of your NEP. Remember, your potions don’t have to work to get a good scoring, as long as you thoroughly explain why it went wrong.” He said.
“Penelope and Adrien, Oliver and Angelica, Fred and Sarah, Marcus and-” he tugged again on your cloak as your name was read. “The dungeon rooms have been reserved so if you all find an empty room along the corridor and reconvene here in ninety minutes.” “Ready to fall in love with Flint?” Penelope asked “don’t come knocking” you wink, as you head for the boy stood expectantly, hands in pockets.
“Be warned love, might find me irresistible” he smirked “oh like I don’t already?” You joke, pulling his hood over his head as he tosses his arm over your shoulder. You find a room and shut the door, as you exchanged vials. “Looks a better colour” “fuck off” You entwined arms, and necked the vials, as if shots. “Probably won’t work on you, you’re belligerent enough.” You grin. “Neither will mine seeing as you’re utterly in love with me.” He retorts.
For about ten minutes, you were sat on desks on opposite sides of the room. Mid conversation, you slid off the desk and walked over to the boy who raised an eyebrow at you, smirking slightly. You grasped onto his robes and pulled him forward. Him, in turn, slid off of his own desk and planted his feet firmly on the floor, breath hitching in his throat. You looked up at him with hooded eyes, grabbing his tie and pulling him to eye-level. “Do you smell beer?” You ask, thinking again “or pine and broomsticks” “no love” he replied, looking at you dead on. You hum as you exhale slowly, pulling him forward and allowing your lips to ghost “me neither, cause you stink.” You say with a loud laugh, letting the boy go as his actions faltered. “What a load of crap. How’d you mess up Amortentia?” You scoff “bua guff plaogh-” He replies, but stops and creases his brows, as yours raise and victory appears on your face. “But I didn’t mess up mine, did I Flint?” You tease, allowing yourself this opportunity to walk all over him while he was incapacitated.
“What happened? Put lilies instead of roses? Awh, someone doesn’t know his colours.” You pout and he grits his jaw. He paces towards you, a finger pointed as you, in turn, walk backwards. “Huwby klineon fgeot. Sken alovrns pwmf.” He says, poking at your chest as you hit the wall behind you. He rested an arm above your head, trapping you against the wall as his other finger was still pointed, mind-numbingly arguing with you but still making very little sense.
“Huh? Making more sense than usual, Marcus” you smirk “oh I’ll make you fucking senseless, love” he said, neither of you batting an eye lid as the potion wore off. “That a promise?” You ask him, and he just smiles at you. The doors to the dungeons fly open and students begin to emerge. You dipped under his arm and winked at him, beginning to saunter out of the room, him jogging to catch up and once again throwing an arm over your shoulders.
“So what happened?” Adrien asked “seven minutes in heaven Adrien, babe” you say and wink jokingly at him as Marcus releases you from his grip to collect his things as you all begin to file out of the room.
“Quidditch this weekend, you coming?” Marcus asked as you made your way to lunch. “Depends, what’s in it for me?” You ask, apprehensively. “A bit sloppy kiss from the captain of course” Montague interrupted “shut up” Marcus laughed “d’you fancy it?” He asks “we’ll see.” You hum “if we win I’ll get the drinks” he promises “deal.” And you shook on it.
You and Penelope ended up sat right beside the rowdy sixth year boys, all digging into food as Pucey and Montague began fighting over a slice of cake. “Will you fat fucks put that down a whole other cake will appear when you give over.” You say, grimacing at the pigs before you. Marcus made snorting noises making you and Penelope laugh. “Shut up troll face” “oi leave him alone” you say “ooh Marcus, your little girlfriends sticking up for you!” “And where’s your girlfriend Pucey? Cumming in your pillow at night doesn’t count.” You say, silencing the boy.
You look at your timetable, noticing the horrible afternoon planned for you. “Ugh I shall not survive the winter” you say dramatically, turning and falling into Marcus’ lap as you lay across the bench. “Do you want a sweet?” He asks, holding one up and you open your mouth as he drops it in “cheers, Marc” you say, chewing as you stay “you getting up anytime today?” He asks “nah” “you can have a job while you’re down there” he winks “not for free, pal” you joke, sitting back up as you and Penelope gather your things, off to your next lesson.
“You came.” Marcus said, slightly out of breath as you stood in front of each other on the Quidditch field. “You won.” You replied in the same optimistic, slightly surprised tone. “Well my good luck charm came, didn’t she?” He teases as you role your eyes with a smile. You begin to turn to walk back towards the school. “What? No well done?” He scoffs “well done.” You said flatly. “That’s not what I meant.” He replies, walking up to you while you stayed firmly in place.
“Well?” You say “I’m not doing it” he says, smugly, crossing his arms “fine” you hum with a shrug, turning around before a hand grabs your wrist, causing you to spin and crash into the boy. You smirk up at him, grabbing the collar of his quidditch jersey and crashing his lips into yours, him dropping his broomstick and grabbing your waist instead.
You pulled away and looking into one another’s eyes for a moment, before letting go of him and nodding towards the castle “c’mon you promised me drinks!”
About fifteen drinks later and a lot of celebrations from the party, you were incapacitated on the sofa as you were laid against Marcus’ also tipsy, however not as bad as yours, body. “You off to bed?” He asks you, looking at you but seeing your eyes closed. He chuckles quietly to himself. “Mkay cmon duck” he says, slotting his arms under your body to lift you up, heading for the girls’ dorms to put you to bed. “No.” The matriarch portrait said as he reached the stairs “she’s asleep” he replied “so? I know what you boys are like. She’s drunk and vulnerable. You are not taking her up these stairs” she said, gruffly. “Look, i understand, but-” “no buts.” She huffed and after a little more back and forth, Marcus returned to where you were both laid across the sofa before. He couldn’t just leave you. You were drunk off your head.
“So who are we waking first?” Montague hummed before Pucey walked over and violently shook Marcus awake “Oi prick” “rise and shine” Marcus creased his brows and looked at the amused group of boys surrounding him, and the girl still sleeping soundly on his torso. At some point during the night, someone had put a blanket over the two of you and left you to sleep. “You coming to quidditch practise or not?” He was asked and he nodded, Penelope walking over and practically jumping on you to wake you up and, in your groggy state, just walked past the group of boys surrounding you, totally unbothered and up the stairs with Penelope to enjoy a bit more sleep.
“It’s Hogsmeade weekend” Higgs nudged him “heard her and Penelope were planning on heading to the 3 Broomsticks” Bletchley added and Marcus hummed. “Right lads” Marcus began. “We’re gonna have a vote.” He surveyed his team “if you want to have a full practise say I” and silence ensued “if you want to do a bit and then go to Hogsmeade say I” and the whole team became vocal. “Right okay”
After half an hour of drills and a couple of sprints on the broomsticks, “right I’m calling it!” Flint announced. “Get showered and get down to the village”.
Just as the boys got back to the common room after having showers and getting dressed, you and Penelope’s voices were heard descending the stairs. You appeared from the bottom, complementing the picture at the base on her dress as the woman thanked you and bid you farewell as your eyes met Marcus’. You looked ready for the weather, as the first snow had began to fall on the snowy landscape.
You had leggings, thick socks and black adidas sambas, a thick puffer coat and scarf covering the lower half of your face. “Jesus love, wrapped up enough?” Marcus asked with a laugh “shush I’m cold already” you huffed, voice muffled behind the wool. He offered his arm, and you threaded your arm around his and pushing your hand into your pocket. Joined at the hip, you began the walk to the small village.
The path was slippy, black ice decorating the cobbled bridge, and your feet slipped from beneath you as the lack of grip on the bottom of your shoes became evident, he quickly grabbed you, but in pulling you up, he ended up pulling himself down simultaneously.
You ended up laid on top of him, as you both groaned “well that was daft” you say, moving to sit on your bum as you dusted off your knees. He gets onto his knees, using the wall as leverage to stand and grabbing your hand, pulling you up and into him, his hands sliding down your figure. “Your arse is a bit wet love” “well yeah I just landed on it dickhead” you scoff and he grins, “and get your hands off my arse”. “Give us a kiss then” he says, grinning. You lean against the wall as you melt into his kiss, one arm on the wall; the other around his neck.
Just as he deepens the kiss, you pull up your other hand and crash a handful of snow onto his head. “Oi!” He shouts, pulling back as you laugh and run off as best as you can, slipping along the bridge as he tries to chase you “you’re gonna get it now, cheeky shit” you laugh as a snowball flies past your head. “Missed me!” You shout, hiding behind a tree.
You gathered a bunch of snow and threw it at the boy who’d taken salvage across the way. At your next throw, you ended up hitting Adrien Pucey in the face “what the fuck!” He shouted “you’re in no man’s land Adrian” you shout, ducking at Marcus’ next throw. “I’d suggest joining in or taking cover.” You say “come ‘ere mate!” Marcus tells him “nah I’m helping your missus!” He says, joining you and helping pelt the boy at twice the speed.
Eventually, most of the students down at Hogsmeade had joined in, choosing a side. “Okay! Okay! I surrender!” Marcus shouted, as most people had sided with you. “Drinks on you?” You ask, as the snowballs stall. “One round!” He shouts as everyone cheers, slowly clambering out from your trenches and over the tops, meeting with the others and heading to the pub.
Marcus threaded an arm around your waist and guided you to the pub, dragging you into a booth in the corner before paying for a round, bringing two drinks back with him. “Y’got plans over Christmas break?” He asked “dunno. Probably not” you reply with a shrug. “I’ve got a rugby match on Boxing Day if you fancy coming” he tells you and you cock your head and furrow your brows.
“You play rugby?” You ask and he nods “yeah it’s a good sport” “I know it is I just didn’t expect you to play it, muggle stuff n all that” you reply “it’s one of the few muggle things my parents legs me do” you nod “you fancy it?” “Yeah why not”
And somehow; you were stood in the freezing cold, scarf wrapped tight around your neck, hands in pockets while the whistle was blown. It was just a small local rugby club, you were stood near his parents as muddy boys scrimmaged along the pitch.
You’d formally met them that morning, shaking their hands as Marcus introduced you. It was odd, seeing his practically famous parents in ‘civvie’ clothes - muggle clothes. His dad was wearing a pair of jeans, hiking boots and a thick coat, woolly hat and glasses on his head, his mum wearing something similar. You told them your name and his mum just smiled “we know, he doesn’t shut up about you” and your eyes averted to Marcus whose face was heating up.
“What’s your background?” His father, Christopher had asked you and his wife smacked his chest. “Very long line of very magical people” you replied, weary of the muggles surrounding you and he nodded. “I’ve got some distant link to Slytherin apparently, but we’re going back centuries now” you told him “what’s your surname?” He asked and you told him, hearing a hum of approval as he recognised the family name.
He cracked a smile and patted you on the shoulder “c’mon then, youngen let’s watch some rugby”. Marcus had left to head onto the field, green and white striped jersey cladding his body, hair getting progressively more wet as a light rain decorated the air.
“Do you like rugby?” His mum asked you “to be fair I’ve never watched it. My dad likes football” you say “good man, I used to play myself when I was younger” his dad said. “I didn’t realise your family was so into… muggle stuff” you say and he shrugs “one of those things, I suppose. They have some good things.”
His mum pulled out a camera “like this” she said, messing with the buttons on the digital camera “oh my mums got a thing that lets you print out the photos you’ve taken” you tell her and her eyes light up “really?” “Yeah she likes stuff like that” “would you mind printing the pictures on here out for me?” She asks and you nod “yeah of course” she hands you the camera, showing you and her husband how it works as you see Marcus mess with the mouth guard protecting his gums.
A few pictures later, Marcus was jogging over to you post-match, with a crooked smile from the way his guard was suppressing his lips. “Did you like it?” He asked, leaning over the barrier “yeah it’s fun to watch” you tell him and he tries to lean and kiss you “no! You’re all muddy!” You protest but his dirtied hands grasp your waist as he places a kiss on your lips. “What a bloody joke” you huff, annoyed, trying to wipe yourself down. “Are you coming over for dinner?” His mum asked “oh am I invited?” “Yeah of course you are love” she says and you smile “then I’d love to.”
And later on that evening, you were both cuddled in front of his fire in an old armchair, head against his chest as you messed with the rings on his fingers “y’know what, you’re alright Marcus” you say and he laughs “not too bad yourself dove” he continues “don’t think I’m doing too bad at this boyfriend thing” “you’re not my boyfriend” you tell him “I’m not?” “No, you haven’t asked me.” “Oh I needed to ask?” He teases and you just nod “will you be my girlfriend?” “Yeah, alright then.”
