Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 43: An Invitation to Leave
Martin Hughes had been a security guard long enough to know that people rarely became less suspicious simply because they’d been asked to stop behaving suspiciously. He’d hoped the three young women would take his earlier advice, enjoy their afternoon, and leave their friend alone. For a while, they had. He’d seen them sitting at a café, drinking refreshments and apparently minding their own business. The shorter girl had even been reading a book, which Martin considered an encouraging sign.
Then, fifteen minutes later, he’d spotted them again. This time, they were hiding behind a decorative column near the fountain. Martin stopped walking. He watched the tall black-haired girl lean around the column, whisper something to her brown-haired companion, and nearly knock over a wastepaper bin in her excitement. The shorter girl seized both of them by their jackets and dragged them back. Martin sighed.
“Right,” he muttered. “That’s enough of that.”
Victoria was still grinning.
“Twice,” she whispered.
Georgina nodded delightedly.
“She kissed him twice!”
Hermione folded her arms.
“Yes. We’ve established that.”
“And she kissed him the second time,” Victoria added. “He didn’t even have to ask!”
“Victoria.”
“What?”
“Could you please stop discussing Draconia’s private life as though you’re commentating on a Quidditch match?”
Georgina laughed. Victoria looked thoughtful.
“Actually, that would be rather entertaining.”
Hermione stared at her.
“Don’t you dare.”
Victoria adopted a solemn expression and lowered her voice.
“Malfoy advances towards the opposition. Excellent positioning. Selwyn—”
“Alex,” Georgina corrected.
“Alex appears completely unprepared. Malfoy makes her move—”
“Victoria!”
“—and it’s a spectacular kiss! Ten points to Slytherin!”
Georgina dissolved into laughter. Hermione covered her face.
“Merlin, give me strength.”
“Afternoon, ladies.”
All three froze. They turned. Martin Hughes stood a few feet away, arms folded, wearing the patient expression of a man who’d already given someone more chances than he intended to give them. Victoria smiled weakly.
“Oh. Hello again.”
Martin nodded.
“Hello.”
Georgina offered a little wave. Hermione closed her eyes. Martin glanced towards the fountain, where Draconia and Alex were still sitting together, completely unaware of the commotion. Then he looked back at the girls.
“I thought we’d had a conversation about this.”
Hermione stepped forward.
“We did. And I’m terribly sorry—”
“You’re following that young couple again.”
Victoria opened her mouth. Martin raised a hand.
“Please don’t tell me you’re just admiring the architecture.”
Victoria closed her mouth. Georgina looked down at her shoes. Hermione sighed.
“Yes. We are.”
Martin nodded.
“Thought so.”
He looked at the three of them for a moment.
“Now, I don’t know whether this is some sort of joke, or whether you genuinely think you’re being discreet, but you’re making quite a spectacle of yourselves.”
Victoria frowned.
“We’re not hurting anyone.”
“No,” Martin agreed. “And that’s why I’ve been patient.”
He gestured towards the bench.
“Your friend is having a perfectly pleasant afternoon with her boyfriend. They seem happy, they’re behaving themselves, and they don’t appear to need three people watching their every move.”
Georgina smiled involuntarily.
“He’s not her boyfriend yet.”
Hermione turned towards her in horror.
“Georgina!”
Martin blinked.
“Sorry?”
Georgina flushed.
“I mean, it’s their first date.”
Martin looked at her. Then at Victoria. Then at Hermione.
“Right.”
He sighed.
“That makes it worse, doesn’t it?”
Hermione nodded miserably.
“Rather.”
Martin rubbed his forehead.
“Look, ladies. I’m sure you mean well. But you’ve been following them around for hours, hiding behind displays, peering around corners, and generally behaving in a way that’s attracting attention from staff and customers.”
Victoria looked genuinely surprised.
“People noticed?”
Martin stared at her.
“Miss, you’re nearly six feet tall. You spent ten minutes crouching behind a plastic palm tree.”
Georgina snorted. Victoria glared at her. Martin continued.
“I’ve already asked you to give them some privacy. You haven’t. So I’m going to have to ask you to leave the shopping centre.”
All three girls stared. Hermione blinked.
“Leave?”
“Yes, miss.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
Victoria looked indignant.
“But we haven’t done anything!”
Martin raised an eyebrow.
“Would you like me to list it all again?”
Victoria hesitated. Then shook her head.
“No.”
“Good.”
He softened his tone slightly.
“You’re not in serious trouble. I’m not calling the police, and I’m not banning you permanently. But you’ve had your warning, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my shift checking whether you’re hiding behind another piece of furniture.”
Georgina looked embarrassed.
“Fair enough.”
Martin nodded.
“You’re welcome to come back another day.”
He paused. Then added, with the faintest hint of a smile, “Preferably when your friend isn’t here with her boyfriend.” Hermione made a small, strangled noise. Victoria’s mouth twitched. Georgina pressed her lips together. Martin pointed towards the main entrance.
“Off you go, then.”
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