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Film night typically consists of 2 movies, played back to back, and usually ending well after Hermione’s typical bedtime of 11pm.
Her fatigue has been accelerated tonight however due to extenuating circumstances. Draco has been on an American New Wave kick lately, and she can only take so many hours of Clint Eastwood in one night. (And that number is usually less than one.) As such, by the end of the first movie she was already on the cusp of passing out.
Draco gets up and inserts the DVD of the second film. After he settles back onto the couch, Hermione climbs on top of him and nestles into his chest. The last thing she sees is “Martin Scorsese presents…” while the droning waltz of the movie’s theme song lulls her to sleep.
—-
Hermione hears her name through the fog.
“Hermione, sweetheart, are even you watching this??” Draco asks.
“Huh…? she yawns. “Oh I’m sorry Draco but all Scorsese movies are the same to me…”
In a higher pitch than she was expecting, Draco replies “What?? How could you say that? This movie’s amazing!”
Hermione groans as her film bro boyfriend makes an appearance once again.
“Where’s that black box with the small buttons?”
“The remote?”
“Yeah the nemote. I wanna watch that apple scene again…”. “Iconic” he breathes as he frantically digs at the couch underneath them.
“Yeah sure babe, whatever you want… ” Hermione murmurs as she drifts back to sleep.
——
The next morning at breakfast Draco can’t stop raving about the movie last night.
“Hermione I’m telling you, this one was different. The chills I feel just remembering those scenes. I think I was forever altered last night, down to the basic elements of me as a wizard.”
“Wow those are some strong words. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, hun.” Hermione added absentmindedly.
After a minute of silence Draco added “Can we try and watch it together again today? I can’t stop thinking about it and want to rewatch it anyway. And I’d love for you to experience it with too. I think you’ll really like it!”
Hermione didn’t have any specific plans for that Saturday, but she also didn’t like spending her whole weekend watching the television.
“Ive told you my thoughts on Scorsese. I’ve already sat through Raging Bull and hated it. I just don’t think giving it another chance will change my feelings on the genre as a whole.” she hedges.
Draco continued: “Truly Hermione, there are so many complex plot points and characters.
I really think you’d love it. The lgbtq+ representation alone is worth it…”
“Draco dear, I don’t want to poke holes in Your interpretation…”
“That’s a lie. That’s honestly one of your favorite thing to do” Draco interrupts.
Hermione stops dead to glare daggers at him. He shrugs and gestures for her to continue.
“Like I was saying, not to poke holes in your interpretation, but this movie was released in 1973. I find it very unlikely that a film produced by a large studio, with a big name such as Martin Scorsese involved to touch on those topics which were very taboo at the time.
…Not to say that your interpretation through a modern lens isn’t valid. But there simply couldn’t be two homosexual couples purposely written in a movie like this at the time. I mean the Stonewall Riots were just 4 years prior, for Merlin’s sake.”
“Hermione honey, I understand the historical context you bring up, but it’s literally one of the gayest movies I’ve ever seen. Please please please say you’ll watch it.”
Sensing her hesitation, Draco, playing into her competitive nature, added: “How about we bet on it then? If you do end up loving it, I get to hear you admit out loud how much I was right and how much you love the movie.”
“And when I win?” she asks.
“If you win, you get to pick the films for the next 3 months.”
“We’re supposed to alternate each week, but you already, unfairly, usurp all of the choices every week as it is.” Hermione retorts.
Feigning hurt he replies, “I thought you said you appreciated how seriously I’ve taken my own self-study of Muggle cinema and culture.”
“I do. I do.” she sighed. Resigned to 212 more minutes of her weekend to be eaten up by Martin Scorsese, she gestures towards the living room, coffee in hand (because she’s going to need it).
——
The credits roll and Hermione continues to sniffle quietly hoping Draco won’t bring attention to her bawling the last 20 minutes of the movie.
After a few minutes, Draco breaks the silence and says, with the smuggest look on his face, “So… I was right wasn’t I?”
“Oh my gods Draco, I adored it. The longing between all of the characters was so tangible. Poor Goncharov and Andrey. They were doomed from the start. And Katya and Sofia were such tragic beautiful characters. Draco I think I’m having a bisexual awakening right now.”
“Yes! Exactly that!” he exclaimed. Every character was so complex and fantastic and I’m infatuated with every single one of them. And the actors poured their whole souls into their roles. It’s even better second time around, I tell you. There’s so much foreshadowing you totally miss that first time. The clock imagery really is everywhere.”
“I can’t believe this was made in 1973. Truly ahead of its time.” Hermione stated, almost as if in a daze.
“So… do you have something you want to tell me?”
Knowing when to admit defeat, Hermione breathes out and says, “Ok. Fine. Draco Lucious Malfoy. You win the bet. I love the film ‘Goncharov’. The themes, subject matter, and characterizations are simply unrivaled in modern cinema.”
With a pure victorious gleam in his eyes, Draco says ”I know (Goncharov aside) you’re not fond of Scorsese, but can we watch Means Streets next Friday? It’s got Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel as the main actors again, and if they have even half of the chemistry that they did in Goncharov you KNOW it’s going to be good.”
Hermione rolls her eyes as she’s enveloped by his arms and dragged to his chest. He might be a film bro, but he’s her film bro.