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The holidays hadn’t ever been easy for Hermione Granger. When she was little the illusion of Santa had been stolen from her, when her cousins all told her he wasn’t real. Then when she was a teenager, her parents divorced. They informed her on Christmas that they were splitting, and over the next few years she had been shipped back and forth between houses. When she finally went off to college she went to school that allowed her to stay on campus over the holidays. Tired of being a ball that they seem to think was okay to pass between them, Hermione told them both that she was taking on a job near campus and wouldn’t be home. Her mother was upset that she wasn’t coming back, but her dad was proud of her for taking on the responsibility.
Hermione spent her first Christmas away from her parents doing something she liked. She was sitting in the library, curled up in one of the large windows, with a hot chocolate in one hand and her favorite book resting on her legs. As she skimmed through the pages, she hadn’t noticed the man sitting not far from her. He’d been sitting there for the last 45 minutes, staring at her. She didn’t even see him when she felt his eyes on her and had looked around to see who was in there with her. Shrugging she returned to her book, sipping her drink and day dreaming of what she really wished her life was like.
Once her butt had completely fallen asleep, Hermione pulled herself up from her spot, stretching her sore muscles out. She yawned and stretched, before bending over and gathering her things from the floor. When she finished buttoning her coat, she turned towards the stairs and started her way down to the exit so she could return to her dorm, that’s when she heard something. Turning she spotted the most beautiful man she’d ever laid her eyes on. He wasn’t classically handsome, but his long black hair that he had pulled back, and his deep soulful eyes made her heart race. He was sitting at one of the tables, reading and taking notes. He looked older, but she could tell he was a student. He was well groomed, and dressed appropriately for the weather. It'd been snowing most of the day, so like her, he wore jeans and a jumper, with boots. She took a second to really take him in, wondering why someone so handsome was all alone. Not wanting to seem strange for staring she turned and left before he noticed she was leaving.
“Hi, I’m Marcus.” He said, holding out his hand. His hand was massive, it could probably cover her whole face with no problem. She slipped her much smaller hand into his and shook it lightly.
“Hermione.” She replied looking up at him with a soft smile. He hesitated for a second before saying something.
“I was wondering,” He started. “The book you were reading, is it The Notebook?” She nodded. “I love that book, it’s a guilty pleasure.” She was slightly shocked at the confession, he didn’t look like a guy who read cheesy romance novels. “Would you maybe want to go and get some coffee with me?” She looked up at him shocked. No one had ever shown any sort of interest in her before.
“Oh, um, sure. When?” She asked, not wanting to sound too eager. He smiled.
“Now? I know a little hole in the wall place not far from here that serves the best hot chocolate.” She nodded.
“Lead the way.” As they made their way, they talked about a little of everything, she wasn’t really paying attention to where they were going, so she hadn’t noticed when they entered an apartment building. Once inside, she looked around and realized that she’d been led by a stranger to his apartment, but not once did he give her any bad feelings. He’d been sweet and a total gentleman the whole time.
That was how their relationship started, it started with hot chocolate, that turned into good morning text messages, daily phone calls, and good night selfies. Their friendship grew and blossomed into a beautiful relationship, by summer they were living together, he had graduated and had gotten a job working nearby, he’d graduated with his degree in business and was now working as a business analyst. He met her parents and decided that no matter what they had to say about him, he was going to prove to them that he could make her happy and take care of her. She took summer classes and worked to help pay for things they needed. He made sure she was taking the time she needed for her work, and taking care of herself.
The Christmas of her Senior year, Marcus had made a major decision. He was going to propose to Hermione. The last three years had been the best and he wanted to make the next 50 or so years great with her by his side. He took all the steps, bought the ring. Asked her father for his permission. Planned where and when. They were going to his families for Christmas that year. They had planned a ski trip. It was going to be his Parents, his older brother with his wife and two kids, his younger sister and her boyfriend, then him and hermione. His parents had rented a house and they all were going up. Marcus was planning to take Hermione out the day after Christmas to dinner, and proposing. Mother nature had other plans. When they woke up Christmas morning, the snow outside was so high it was almost impossible to open the doors, and there was no way he was going to risk their lives on the roads. Marcus was mentally cursing the weather, but he tried to keep a positive attitude, and turned to his father, brother and sister’s boyfriend for help.
At dinner that night, they sat around the table, talking, laughing and eating. Hermione sat to his right which put her between him and his dad. Marcus’s father, Arlo, had grown to enjoy Hermione’s company. She was intelligent and he liked how their conversations flowed. Marcus had turned away from them as he was conversing with his brother.
“Hermione, are you happy to be almost done with school?” Arlo asked. Hermione nodded as she chewed the bite of ham that was in her mouth.
“Oh yes, it’s been a long four years. I’m so happy it’s almost over and I can get on with the more important things in my life.” Hermione said, taking a quick sip from her water glass. “Marcus has been my saving grace and sanity. Without him, I might have quit.”
“Marcus talks very highly of you and your achievements. He’s proud of you.” She blushed.
“I’m proud of him too.” Hermione said. She truly was so proud of him and being with him. Sitting across from her was Marcus’s sister in law, Judy. She was a nice woman, but she never said much and stayed focused on the kids most of the time. She looked over at Hermione and gave her an odd look.
“Marcus has always put so much work into the women he’s been with. I’m just waiting for you to leave him too.” Judy said, as she wiped the mouth of her toddler son. Her husband, Marcus’s brother, Mitchell, looks over at her. Hermione hadn’t ever seen him look so angry and shocked at the same time. Everyone had gone silent. Arlo turned to his daughter in law.
“Judy, the women Marcus has been with weren’t right for him. Hermione is nothing like those women.” Arlo snapped. Hermione turned her attention to Arlo, and watched as he took his napkin from his lap and placed it on the table. “She has never taken advantage of him like they had, using him, dragged him through the mud. Hell, Hermione would never hurt him.”
“Arlo, she’s just like them all. It’s only a matter of time before she realizes how much of a pushover Marcus is.” Judy started. “He may look like he could kill you but the boy is as dangerous as a teddy bear.” These words made something snap in Hermione.
“Listen here, Marcus is not a boy, he’s a man. A great man with a huge heart, who knows what he wants and will do whatever it takes to get it. He works hard for what he has, and has been the most supportive person in my life. He is no pushover. Marcus is no doormat and will not allow anyone to take advantage or hurt him. Hell, I won’t let anyone hurt him, and let me tell you something, if you ever speak ill of him ever again, I don’t care if we aren’t together, I will come and I will end you.” Hermione snapped, she hadn’t realized she stood from her chair, and was now leaning over the table. “He’s the most amazing person in the whole world, and I love him enough to make sure he’s happy and taken care of.” She then just smirked. Which made Hermione want to reach out and smack her.
“That’s good to hear. I’m glad he has someone like you in his life. It’s about time he found someone who’s going to take care of him as much as he takes care of them.” Judy said, looking from Hermione to Marcus.
Hermione looked to her left, and found Marcus no longer sitting next to her. She wasn’t sure when he had done it, but Marcus was down on one knee. Holding out an open ring box that held a stunning diamond engagement ring.
“Hermione, I love you. I’ve known I wanted to marry you since the first time I saw you. You’ve been such a driving force in my life. You’ve shown me true love. The purest love. I would do anything for you.” He started, Hermione’s hands jumped up to her face both covering her mouth. Her eyes were filled with tears and her knees were beginning to buckle. “Will you marry me?” Her knees finally gave in and she plopped down into her chair, Arlo had managed to get right into position before she fell. She nodded as her tears started to flow and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Yes, a million times yes.” She kissed him, passionately as his family cheered around them. “I love you.” She told him between kisses.
“I love you too.”
When they got home a couple of days later, Hermione looked at him as they were putting everything away, he looked up from the dirty laundry he was throwing into the basket, and smiled at her.
“Marcus, thank you.” She said, smiling back at him.
“For what, my love?” he asked.
“For making Christmas happy again. For giving me something to look forward to. For everything. I love you so much and you honestly do very much make me so happy.” Hermione said,