The Christmas holidays weren't exclusive to ordinary people. Even the magical world kept the tradition. Sorcerers didn't believe in Jesus or God, but no one rejected an excuse to rest.
As the newly appointed Minister for Magic of Britain, Hermione woke up early.
She stood before the mirror, changing outfits again and again. After so many years, she had grown up. Caring about her appearance came naturally now. It wasn't a flaw. It was just something she hadn't paid attention to before.
Usually, Hermione dressed casually. Because of work, light makeup and a black sorcerer's robe were enough for most occasions.
But today was different.
Today, she had a date with Noah.
The thought alone made things complicated.
It was hard enough for Noah to initiate a date. Hermione had already mentally prepared herself to never experience something like this. And yet, here it was. Even though they were only going to watch a movie. And not even a romance movie. It was Iron Man, supposedly filmed by his apprentice, Tony Stark.
But Noah had asked.
So she couldn't refuse.
That was the problem.
She didn't know what to wear.
For the first time, she felt her wardrobe was painfully empty.
"A black evening dress? No, that feels wrong. A black trench coat? Too serious. A down jacket? That completely ruins the mood..."
She changed clothes back and forth, growing more helpless by the minute. Most of her outfits were too formal.
And there was a bigger issue.
Almost everything she owned was black.
That realization alone depressed her.
"Do I even look like a woman anymore?" Hermione sat down on the bed.
The mirror in front of her faded away, dissolving into magic. She stared at the empty space.
"And Noah didn't even say what he'd be wearing."
She sat there for a long time, lost in thought.
Only when her phone rang did she snap back to reality. It was an alarm. A reminder.
Time was running out.
She glanced at the phone. Then at her wardrobe.
Silence.
"...Damn it. Why do I only have these clothes?"
After a long moment, Hermione cursed softly and stood up.
"Forget it. I'll just wear what I usually wear. I'll put on some makeup. That's enough."
She grabbed a white shirt and black trousers, slipped on a black trench coat, stepped into high heels, and immediately took out her Sling Ring.
The theater was in New York.
That alone made her feel better.
If it were in London, she might run into people she knew too well. Hermione didn't care much, but she didn't want anything awkward to happen tonight.
Running into acquaintances was the worst.
"Where was it again?" She thought for a moment. "The Stark Arts Center?"
Tony had invested in and built it himself.
Originally, he'd wanted to premiere the movie at Lincoln Center. Unfortunately, that place had been completely destroyed during the Battle of New York. It was still under reconstruction, and there was no chance it would be finished within a year.
Tony didn't like small theaters.
So he bought one.
Renovated it.
Renamed it.
And turned it into a massive new arts center.
Once she confirmed the location, everything became simple.
Hermione opened a portal and stepped into the British Ministry of Magic's embassy within the American magical world. After a brief greeting with the stationed ambassador, she left and headed straight for the theater.
It was a holiday.
The streets were crowded.
She arrived at the entrance of the Stark Grand Theater along with the flow of people. Looking at the crowd and the elegantly dressed men and women walking the red carpet, Hermione suddenly felt nervous.
She didn't know why.
Maybe a bit of everything.
Especially when she noticed how refined everyone looked, she began to feel uncomfortable. Her own outfit felt too ordinary.
It reminded her of the difference between her and Noah.
On the surface, they seemed equal. But she knew better. In many aspects, the gap between them was real. Magical ability. Status. Experience.
It felt like her clothes compared to the people on the red carpet.
The feeling was unpleasant.
Hermione stood there blankly, her thoughts spiraling.
Even someone like her wasn't immune to overthinking.
But she was still the Minister for Magic.
Rationality returned quickly.
She understood something.
For sorcerers like them, none of this mattered.
Especially for Noah.
If he wanted to, he could easily surround himself with countless female sorcerers. But he never did. And aside from herself... there were women around him, yes, but he never crossed lines.
That alone meant something.
Just as that thought settled, a voice sounded beside her.
"Why are you standing here?"
Hermione froze.
She turned instantly.
Noah was standing behind her.
He looked the same as always. Handsome. Energetic. Short hair. A black trench coat, black trousers, leather boots. Very London.
Ordinary.
And yet, somehow, it wasn't.
That simple outfit carried an indescribable presence.
Without realizing it, Hermione felt her face warm slightly.
If earlier she had worried about whether Noah would show up, now she found herself worrying about something else entirely.
The shift made her dizzy.
"I..." She took a breath and forced a small smile. "I just got here. I didn't have time to contact you yet."
"Is that so?" Noah scratched his head, then looked her over carefully.
He smiled.
"You look beautiful today."
"Do I?" Hermione glanced at herself. These were her most ordinary clothes.
"Of course," Noah said naturally. "I've always liked your style. Natural. Intellectual. Mature."
He stepped forward and took her hand.
His smile was bright.
If not for the magic desperately keeping his palms dry, it would've been perfect.
Hermione didn't notice.
She smiled too, squeezed his hand, and walked into the Stark Grand Theater with him.
They stood out.
Not because of their clothes, but because of their presence. Even dressed plainly, they drew attention. When Tony Stark himself came to greet them, the surrounding crowd immediately understood that these two were anything but ordinary.
Led by Tony, they entered the VIP area.
There weren't many people there.
Most were familiar faces.
Pepper. Fury. Coulson. Tony's bodyguards.
"So many people," Hermione said quietly, looking around. "Do they really expect that much from this movie? Or are they just here for the name 'Stark'?"
"The latter," Noah replied. The crowd seemed to ease his nerves. "Tony Stark's name is a legend. Power. Wealth. That alone is enough."
"So in the ordinary world," Hermione teased softly, "isn't he basically you?"
"No," Noah said. "He isn't me. And I'm not him. I didn't have his starting point. He doesn't have my abilities. I came from an orphanage."
That was true.
Tony's circumstances were impossible to replicate. But Noah never felt inferior. What he had achieved now was no less impressive. Everything he had was earned.
He glanced at Hermione.
She wasn't simple either.
People liked to say her position came from him. But Noah knew how much work she had put in. Organizing the Ministry. Implementing reforms. Managing everything with precision.
Talent wasn't enough for that.
Effort mattered more.
Just like in the original story.
Holding her hand, Noah felt a strange sense of familiarity.
If he hadn't had memories.
If he hadn't had the system.
Would he be here today?
The answer was obvious.
Neither Harry Potter nor the Marvel world ever mentioned Noah Finnel.
The lights dimmed.
Noah leaned closer and whispered into her ear.
"Actually, you're the most outstanding one."
"Me?" Hermione was startled by the closeness. "No. You're the outstanding one. Everyone recognizes that-"
"Today," Noah interrupted softly, "you listen to me. Understand?"
She hesitated.
"...Alright. I'll listen to you."
"Then," Noah continued, "don't go back tonight."
"????"
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