The Education of Oliver Wood

Taking the Next Step

Emmie glanced around, still not quite believing that she was sitting in Marcus' flat. It looked all at once him and not him. It was very masculine - wood and dark tones. But at the same time, it was cozy, yet sophisticated. He had done well on the Falcons, that was clear. It was large and in a quiet residential district of Diagon Alley. And he lived alone, it seemed, though she was halfway surprised that Adrian hadn't popped in as much as he was around.

Since the gala, they had gone on a double date with Adrian and his girlfriend - another Slytherin from their year who had defected from the lot during the war. That was another shock. The fact that Emmie was dating and hanging out with Slytherins.

Seemed the war had changed a lot of things.

She looked over at the open kitchen, seeing Marcus hard at work at the stove, a towel over his shoulder and his wand on the cabinet next to him. Part of her was nervous being here. The night of gala, she had been so sure that she was ready for that next step with him. But upon waking up the next morning, she found herself a bit relieved that nothing had happened. Outside of the fact that she had been much drunker than she thought, it was a much bigger deal that she thought it would be.

Granted, that shouldn't have surprised her. Oliver was the only man that she had been with and it had taken them a fair bit of time before they slept together the first time. Yes, part of it was because they were young when they started dating, but also because Emmie had been nervous, building it up in her head a bit before then. Much as she found herself currently doing.

Reaching for her glass of wine, she took a rather large sip. She wasn't sure if that was where things were going tonight, but she was a bit on edge over it all the same. For his part, Marcus seemed a bit nervous as well. His brow was furrowed, intent on whatever it was he was cooking. The morning after the gala had been a bit awkward at first. When she woke up to find herself in his arms, the both of them still in their dress robes, neither were sure what to do or say. Though the tension had eased when he got up and made them coffee, leaving her to shower and change. When she had come out feeling a bit more human, he held out a mug to her. She quickly found herself relaxing, sitting at the island as he quickly whipped up breakfast for the two of them. She couldn't help but think he looked at home despite it being his first time staying over.

She couldn't remember a time when Oliver had made her breakfast.

Of course, the mood had then been ruined - or well, changed - when Kara and Fincher stumbled out of her room, both hungover and roused from sleep by the smell of coffee and food. Emmie had to chuckle to herself, remembering the bright shade of red that Fincher's face had turned as he tried to pull Kara's robe around him, though it was woefully too small.

"What's so funny?"

Emmie looked up, her eyes wide, not realizing that Marcus had been watching her. He had an amused look on his face. She stood and walked over to the island, leaning against it.

"Just thinkin' about Fincher after the gala," she said with a smile. Marcus chuckled.

"That's a sight I'd rather not think about again," he replied, turning his attention back to the pan. "Saw more of Fincher than I'd care to ever see."

"He wasnae able to look at me all week in the locker room," Emmie replied. "Though didnae stop him from comin' over again."

"So, Kara and Fincher... it's official, is it?" Marcus said, looking up at her. Emmie nodded slowly.

"Apparently he fancied her in school but never had the courage to say anything," she said with a sigh. "As for Kara, she always thought he was fit, but tended to stay away since he was my captain and didn't want things to get awkward."