Prodigal Witch

Marcus! All Marcus, all the time.

Hermione checked her reflection one last time. She didn't know what Marcus had planned for them that night. He'd loved her leather trousers, so she decided to go with leather again. She wore a dark purple leather sleeveless dress that stopped just above her knees. Hermione paired it with very high black heels so she would be taller, although no heels would ever put her on eye level with Marcus.

Almost everyone had gone. Hermione had spent the afternoon relaxing, talking to Susan about the renovations, and reading a little about the third ritual. Blaise had been advertising for eligible wizards to attend the last ritual, but Hermione didn't want to think of that right now. She had a date with Marcus.

"You look delicious, kitten," Adrian smiled as she came out of the dressing room.

"Marcus does love leather," Blaise added.

"Which knickers did you put on?" Theo whispered in her ear, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "I want to picture them."

"Who says I'm wearing any at all?" Hermione teased. She did have on a pair of black boy-short style knickers, but Theo didn't need to know that.

"You are being quite naughty," Theo scolded.

"When it's time for our date on Thursday, you'll have to do something about that," Hermione giggled.

"You can bet I will," Theo affirmed. He smiled and gave her a soft swat on her rear.

Draco had already gone home to have a nice dinner with his parents. The whole family was excited about their new addition.

"Ready, princess?" Marcus asked, coming into the room. His eyes devoured her. "You look gorgeous."

Hermione smiled and managed to hardly blush at all.

"Am I dressed alright for what you have planned?" she asked.

"You look perfect," Marcus said, pulling her flush to him. "I hope you don't mind a low-key night, though. You said you wanted your magic to get to know us, so I thought I would plan my idea of a perfect date."

"That's a wonderful idea!" Hermione praised. She really thought it was. The four wizards were so different, but she found it impossible to choose between them. Each one complimented her in some way; at least she thought so. She hoped her magic would feel it as well.

"Marcus' perfect date? So that's just shagging, then?" Blaise teased.

"Right, so all you tossers need to clear out and give us some privacy," Marcus said, rolling his eyes.

Hermione shook her head at their teasing.

"What are you all up to tonight?" Hermione asked them, picking up her bag and a thin black cardigan to wear when it got chilly later.

"Theo and I have invited ourselves over to Blaise's house for dinner," Adrian smiled.

"Have fun," Hermione said. She gave Adrian and Theo each a goodbye kiss, then she and Marcus left.

Marcus' arm wrapped around her waist and they walked to the Apparition boundary. It was a beautiful night. Marcus took Hermione side-along to their destination. Hermione looked around and saw they were in a bustling city similar to wizarding London.

"We're in Edinburgh," Marcus informed her. "I like this city, the energy and the people. If it were the weekend during the day, I'd take you to a Muggle rugby game. Those blokes know how to have a good time, even though it would be better with flying."

Hermione laughed.

"There's a pub here in wizarding Edinburgh that I like," Marcus said, leading her down the street, his arm still firmly wrapped around her. Hermione smiled and leaned into him as they walked.