Intervention Upon a String

Chapter Thirteen

The first thing that Marcus thought when he woke up was that he was dreaming. He opened his eyes and spent several drowsy moments trying to figure out where he was and what was going on. But then none of it mattered when he turned his head and found Angelina sleeping peacefully next to him. All the sites and sounds around him disappeared. Angelina was alive; her chest rising and falling in even intervals; her face turned from him and relaxed. Despite his dizziness and his aching stomach, Marcus managed to scoot close enough to brush her hair back from her face. Angelina stirred and slowly opened her eyes. "Hey," Marcus said.

Angelina's eyes drooped with exhaustion and she sleepily replied, "Hey."

Marcus smiled. She was too tired to talk. "Never mind. Go back to sleep."

"Ok."

Angelina closed her eyes, lost in her own little land of nod. Instantly, she was asleep again and snuggled into their 'bed'. Marcus finally took the time to take in their surroundings. It was late into the night and a chorus of crickets finally registered in his ears. A circle of black silhouetted trees proved that they were still in the forest but they lay in a large clearing upon a soft bed of feathers and moss. A woven blanket of silky ferns covered them to keep them warm. Not too far away, Marcus heard faint voices and saw the flickering of fire. He pushed off his blanket and gingerly got to his feet to explore, giving Angelina one last glance before following the shadows of the flickering fire. Marcus made sure Angelina was still in eye site even though his vision danced. The pain in his stomach where he was shot throbbed and he clutched his torso with his arm where a new bandage was wrapped neatly around his wound. He made his way through the clearing, coming upon two centaurs engaged in soft conversation. It was Vesta and Sysleis under the glow of torches within their hands and they turned when they heard Marcus approach.

"Young male," Sysleis said in surprise. "You should be resting."

"Where are we?" Marcus asked; his voice dry and cracked.

"You are safe," Vesta answered. "As is your mate." She nodded at the shadow of Angelina's sleeping form.

"What happened?"

"You were saved by an abundance of phoenix tears," Sysleis said and smiled. "Your mate's injury was severe but her will is strong. She will need a few days rest to mend. In the morning, if you are both able to walk, I will escort you to the castle."

Marcus paused. "Thanks."

"It's no trouble. A simple walk."

"No, I mean for saving Angelina. I thought she was dead. I...just...thanks."

Sysleis nodded. "She saved us all. Our debt is now repaid."

She saved us all. Marcus smirked. "Now there's a turn of events. So, does that mean I won't be hung by my thumbs then?"

Vesta cocked her head. "What do you speak of?"

"Whatshisface," Marcus said, trying to remember Ares's name. "Airhead."

"Ares," Sysleis corrected him for the second time. The human still had no respect.

"Yeah."

The centaurs exchanged glances. "He was corrupt," Sysleis said finally. "It is a shame but his actions do not reflect us all."

Marcus snorted. "No, of course not," he muttered sarcastically.

"He almost slain an innocent life and allowed his rage to consume him," Sysleis said. "We are not beasts. Ares shamed the name of centaurs. And so have I. I have committed treason."

Marcus's eyes darted to Vesta for a split second before they fell on Sysleis again. "So...are you banished or something?"

Sysleis smiled. "Vesta and I have been pardoned."

"That mean we can forget this bullshit ever happened?"

"This what?" Sysleis asked. The word 'bullshit' was not in his vocabulary.

Marcus waved it off. He was beginning to feel dizzy again. "Never mind. What time is it?"

"Many hours before sunrise. Go rest so you will be strong in the morning," said Vesta. "We are standing guard."

"Standing guard against what?" Marcus yawned.

There was a distant howl and instinctively, Marcus peered up through the tree tops. The moon was full. Worriedly, he stared at Vesta and Sysleis. Was it safe to be sleeping out in the open like this? "Again, you are safe," Vesta reassured him. "Go. Sleep."

Marcus looked at the moon one more time and hesitated before silently going back to Angelina. Someone had to keep her safe, after all. He winced when he lay beside her; his stomach screaming in agony. Instantly, his body felt heavy with sleep. As he settled beneath the blanket of ferns again, Angelina turned her head towards him and he saw her beautiful features illuminated by the moonlight. She sighed and settled again. Marcus gazed at her for several seconds feeling nothing but contentment for the first time in his life. Angelina shivered in her sleep and despite his own chill, Marcus draped his half of the blanket over her body and smirked in satisfaction when she no longer shook. He tried to stay awake as long as he could to watch over her, but failed merely five minutes later.

Despite her brush with death, Angelina woke up as refreshed as she ever would be. She was groggy but the warmth of the sun upon her face filled her with energy every passing moment. Her eyes closed again and she sighed until the sound of birds reminded her of where she had been and she forced herself awake to confirm she wasn't dreaming. Her chest tingled where she was shot causing her to shift uncomfortably and that's when she saw Marcus. A smile crept up upon Angelina's lips. He was sleeping next to her upon his back; his blanket discarded and placed on her instead. She wriggled out from under it and took a feather from their bed; teasing his face with it. "Marcus," she said in a drawn out sing-song voice.

He rolled over onto his side away from her and remained sleeping. Angelina smiled and scooted closer, dusting him with the feather.

"Wakey wakey!" she continued to sing. Marcus swatted the feather away and so she moved onto plan B. "Marcus, I'm naaaaaked."

This time, he woke up and quickly looked over his shoulder. Angelina laughed as he let his head fall back down with a sigh. "Damnit woman," he said. "You are not allowed to lie to me when I'm half asleep."

Angelina continued to chortle. "You totally fell for it."

Marcus grinned and cursed her under his breath before turning himself onto his other side to lie face to face with her. They both settled comfortably and Angelina took it upon herself to tease him further with the feather which he quickly snatched from her fingers and tossed away. She laughed at his temper but then settled again and locked eyes. "What?" Marcus asked, suspicious of the look on Angelina's face.

"You came back for me."

He blushed. "Yeah, well..." Angelina smiled at him sweetly and he rolled his eyes. "Don't even start."

Angelina's cheeks went rosy but after a few seconds, it faded and her eyes went serious. "You were really brave, Marcus."

"I don't know about that," he said modestly. "I wasn't the one running in front of flying arrows."

"But you did," she said and gently placed her hand over his bandaged torso. He was surprised to find the warmth of her contact eased the ache. "You did for me."

"Well, you did for all of us." Marcus wasn't good at this mushy Gryffindor talk. Thankfully, he was able to change the subject when he looked at Angelina's hair. "What the hell is on your head?"

Angelina raised her eyebrows, carefully patted her hair, and felt an odd silky string of objects brush her fingertips. Flowers. Even she was baffled. How did she get a crown of flowers in her hair? But then she noticed Marcus's chest.

"Hey! You've got funny stuff on too."

Marcus gave Angelina a quizzical look. Oh, hell no! He sat up and unlike Angelina, who examined her hair gently, he began to swat his head to brush the offending flowers off. When he finished, he looked at her expectantly, not realizing there were no flowers to swat. She only tried not to laugh and gently plucked at a sash of ivy upon his chest. Marcus gazed down and touched it.

"The fuck is it?" It was better than dinky roses.

"The fairies in these parts are playful if not mischievous," Sysleis said and emerged from the woods with Vesta by his side. "They have left you gifts."

Angelina sat up and nodded at the centaur. Marcus was still a bit hesitant to keep the sash on, especially one made by stupid girly fairies. "I like it," Angelina said, noticing his discomfort. "Makes you look rugged. Very sexy."

He gave her a suggestive smirk.

"How are you feeling?" Sysleis interrupted, nodding his head at Angelina.

"Better," she replied. "Thank you. The way your kind can heal is amazing!"

"Are you able to walk?" Vesta asked.

Marcus gingerly stood and offered Angelina his hand. He was relieved when she took it and slowly stood; careful not to rise too quickly. When she felt steady, she smiled and released Flint's hand.

"We will escort you to the castle," Sysleis said. "It is but a short walk. You will be safe. Come."

Vesta and Sysleis started ahead and kept the pace slow so the injured duo behind them could keep up. Angelina and Marcus walked silently just as they had been for days. The centaurs were the only ones exchanging gentle conversation as they periodically glanced over their shoulders.

"So," Marcus said quietly to Angelina. "You done?"

"With what?"

"Your crazy Gryffindork hero shit? It almost got you killed again and that makes me rather cross."

Angelina smirked and gave him a playful nudge. "If I wasn't getting us into trouble with my heroics anymore, you'd get mighty bored, Flint."

"I can find other ways to pass the time. So you can make that your last stunt."

Angelina smiled. "Was that your very Slytherin way of saying you'd like me to stick around? My word, Marcus. You are getting soft on me."

"Am not."

Angelina's foot then got caught on a root and she tripped with a sharp cry. In an instant, Marcus lunged forward and caught her in his arms. Sysleis and Vesta quickly stopped to assess the situation and make sure they were ok. They found Marcus holding Angelina as she clung to his arm; her face screwed up as she waited for the pain of her arrow wound to subside. Even though his stomach and shoulder were protesting against her weight, Marcus held onto her with a worried expression. He really was going soft. When Angelina took a deep breath and straightened out, her hand slid into his and remained tightly locked with his fingers. Marcus, for once, didn't object. They continued on.

Angelina tried to lighten the mood. She gave his hand a squeeze. "You know what the first thing I'm going to do when we get back is? I'm going to take the longest bubble bath in the world and eat a big fat cheeseburger. How about you?"

A cheeseburger did sound good; so did the bath. He had other plans, however. "I'll...run it by you when we get back."

Angelina didn't understand what he meant. She gazed at his profile before watching where she walked to avoid tripping again. Soon, the looming towers of Hogwarts began to show through the treetops and the sound of students filled the air. Marcus was hoping the grounds would be empty but he wasn't about to stall the journey over it. The excitement of getting home was making them giddy and energetic. Occasionally, Angelina would tug at Marcus's sash of ivy and giggle or take a flower from her crown and tickle his cheek. She laughed when he swatted her hand away.

It was a perfect day to be outside after classes. The warm spring air and the sun lit the school grounds with warmth. All around, students were laboring over their books or simply chatting by the lake; their feet dangling in the water while the squid tickled their toes with its tentacles. It was just a perfect day. Among the students enjoying it was Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting under their usual tree and snacking on biscuits. After fifteen minutes of arguing, Hermione finally got Ron to finish up his homework and now they just basked in the sun. They talked of what they were to do when they finished their NEWTS and looked forward to the freedom they would have. As Harry and Ron joked about and laughed, Hermione's eyes grazed the grounds. Some students passed by with a polite nod, Seamus was talking excitedly with Neville not too far away, Draco and his cronies were harassing a first year Hufflepuff, Angelina Johnson and Marcus Flint were coming out of the forest with centaurs...Hermione's eyes widened. "What in the world? Harry!" She pointed.

Ron and Harry immediately cut their conversation short and followed Hermione's line of site. Out of the trees emerged a very exhausted and filthy-looking Angelina and Marcus flanked by Vesta and Sysleis. They weren't the only ones who noticed the two alumni appearing out of nowhere. When they got to their feet, several students were already approaching the scene cautiously. A chorus of questions went about unanswered. Angelina and Marcus had never been so happy to see Hogwarts in their entire lives. They scanned the crowd for a professor but only found the bewildered eyes of children staring back. Angelina spotted Harry. "Harry!" she said and smiled.

He gently pushed through the crowd with Ron and Hermione at his heels. "What are you doing? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, we are now."

"Where on earth have you been?" Hermione asked. "You look terrible."

Angelina and Marcus exchanged glances. "We've been....a bit lost."

"Aren't you supposed to be at a Quidditch game?" Harry asked.

Marcus flinched. "Shit. Is that today?"

No one acknowledged his rhetorical question. Instead, everyone's eyes flickered nervously upon the two centaurs who flanked him. Then, Professor McGonagall was making her way swiftly across the grounds to where the students were gathering. By her side, coincidentally, was Firenze. Sysleis and Vesta stiffened. "What is going on?" McGonagall asked and made her way through a sea of parting pupils. She froze when she saw Angelina and Marcus and put a hand on her heart. "My word! What is going on?"

Firenze put a hand on her shoulder and bravely approached the other two centaurs with a dangerous glare. "Have you harmed these students?"

"No!" Angelina quickly said in their defense. "We've been lost in the woods. They helped us back."

Marcus grumbled something about 'after being shot a few times' under his breath. Luckily, the centaurs didn't hear.

"How in heaven's sake did you get lost in the Forbidden Forest?" McGonagall asked.

Angelina looked at Marcus and he merely shrugged. "It's a...long story."

The professor sighed. "Well, it's no matter now. It's a miracle you're both alive. Come into the castle and Pomfrey will take care of you. As for the centaurs," she said and her eyes fell upon Vesta and Sysleis, "Dumbledore will extend his gratitude to you for bringing these two back safely."

Sysleis and Vesta only humbly nodded and waved away the offer. "It was our debt," Sysleis said. "She had saved us."

Firenze furrowed his eyebrows. "Saved you? From who?"

"Ares had turned dark," Vesta said. "The female nearly gave her life to protect us after we wrongly accused her of crimes against our kind."

Firenze stared at them in awe. Ares was dead. Even though he was not a member of Firenze's own herd, it was amazing news nonetheless. Perhaps the human girl would be the first step in bridging the gap between wizards and centaurs to end the war. He could think of nothing else to do but to offer his hand to them. Vesta and Sysleis hesitated but then shook it gratefully. "I thank you," Firenze said.

"Are you to come back to the forest?" Vesta asked eagerly.

"No. My place is here now. Go back and give my family well wishes if they desire to hear them. Now, I must take the students back to the castle. They are in need of much rest. Farewell."

Angelina smiled and turned to face Sysleis. She, too, shook his hand. "Thank you so much."

"And thank you."

She shook Vesta's hand as well before heading towards McGonagall. Marcus took his turn in displaying his gratitude as well, only silently, and followed right behind her.

"Take care of each other!" Angelina said to the centaurs and waved. They nodded and then retreated back into the forest as mysteriously as they had emerged.

The students were beginning to mumble and whisper amongst themselves now of what they had seen. Some scattered away to go about continuing what they were doing while others followed McGonagall closely to hear what was going on. One of them was Malfoy. He waited until Marcus and Angelina were behind McGonagall enough to not be overheard. "Flint," he whispered. "Captain!"

Marcus was not in the mood for hellos. He turned around and glared at Draco expectantly. Angelina stopped as well.

"I saw the cut on the centaur's foot," Draco said with an excited flash in his eyes. "Did my trap work?"

Marcus was speechless. The students were beginning to watch again and McGonagall stopped.

"You set that trap?" Angelina hissed and narrowed her eyes.

She rolled up her sleeve and prepared to punch Malfoy's face in when Marcus caught her wrist in mid-air. Draco, who was frozen on the spot as usual, sighed and smirked. He knew Flint wouldn't let anything happen to his prized former Seeker.

"No, Johnson," Marcus said and she glared at him angrily. How could he let Malfoy get away with such cruelty? He almost killed them! But before she could argue or Draco could give one more cocky smirk, Marcus punched him instead. A chorus of "oooh's" went about the students and Ron's laugh could be heard above them all. Everyone watched in delight as Draco fell back and clutched his bleeding nose before looking up in awe at the assailant. Marcus Flint had something of a reputation in school for being an arrogant bully (which is no surprise) who hardly cared about anyone but himself; especially to such a limit as he would punch someone to protect them; especially a Slytherin; especially Malfoy.

"Mr. Flint!" McGonagall scolded.

Marcus ignored her and jabbed a threatening finger at Draco. "If I ever see your rat fucking face again where I can kill you without any witnesses, you have my word."

Draco's face paled and the entire crowd went silent. No one understood what possessed Marcus to hit Draco or why Angelina was smiling and holding onto his arm.

"That is quite enough! Mr. Flint, kindly control yourself or I will be forced to take disciplinary actions!"

"What are you going to do?" he snorted. "Take points away?"

Angelina laughed silently against his arm. He was such a horrible influence on her. As they passed a flabbergasted McGonagall, she looked up at his face. "So, what was it you planned on doing?" she asked.

Marcus looked down at her. "What?"

"When I asked you what you were going to do when you got back, you said you'd run it by me once we get there. I'm curious now."

Marcus smirked out of the corner of his mouth. "I was just going to ask you...if you felt safe yet."

Their walk slowed as he stared at her humorously. She knew exactly what he meant and before one more word was exchanged, he leaned forward and finally kissed her long and deep. All the students sniggered except for Ron who whispered 'she's gone mental!' while Seamus made gagging noises behind them. Marcus and Angelina, however, were oblivious. When she pulled away, she smiled at him and playfully picked at his sash again. "I've been safe, Marcus," she whispered before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him once again. Marcus held her close and they shared a passionate embrace. They stayed that way for several moments until McGonagall cleared her throat.

"If you please....," she said and glared at them, inviting them to find their way to the castle entrance and stop this most provocative spectacle.

Angelina and Marcus smirked at one another and began to walk again hand in hand. No one could believe what they were seeing, but the two could care less about their reputation anymore. They ignored the whispers and laughs and even small Collin Creevey stealing a photo of them all the way up to the castle steps.

"So, where do we go from here, Marcus?" Angelina asked him quietly.

He sighed. "Well, I'll have to start by just seducing you the old fashioned way since you're so damn challenging."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Old fashioned way? What are you talking about?"

"I recall you seeming to think I only saved you in the forest because you had a...nice rack." His eyes actually flickered down to her chest for a brief moment.

"Marcus, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of that."

"But then you had to go and show off by saving my ass and a group of centaur's so I don't know how I'm going to top that," he interrupted her, purely playing a game now.

They reached the top of the steps and let McGonagall go ahead of them. Angelina stopped Flint and faced him again. "It's easy to beat, really," she said to him and toyed with his chest again. "Just...keep on your sexy little sash and give me one more kiss. Then I can be yours if you'd like."

Marcus twisted his lips in thought. "How about we lose the sash and give you one more kiss...but make it really, really fucking good...and then we can go from there..."

Angelina nodded and Marcus gratefully tugged on the vine that held his sash together before living up to his word. Angelina melted into his kiss and he let the ivy flutter away in the breeze until there was only a small string of a vine. At that moment, Draco was fuming and climbing the stairs with his wand brandished and ready to fight. Oblivious, Marcus let the vine slip from his fingers and it flew right into Draco's face. It caught him off guard and he swatted at it so hard that he lost his balance and fell down the stairs before a single hex could be muttered. The students at the bottom all laughed. Marcus finished the kiss and led a very satisfied Angelina into the castle with his arm coiled possessively around her waist.

Intervention is divine.