Sparks

Sparks 05

Chapter 5:

Marcus hated going to Hogwarts' student meetings. At the beginning of each year, the House prefects and Quidditch captains attended a general meeting with the Head Girl and Head Boy. Marcus always found it to be a dead bore.

He was not in the best of moods. For the past week, Bell avoided him like the plague. She refused to even look at him. He scowled into the fire as he waited for Tarquin, who was a prefect, to join him in the common room before the meeting. It had taken him nearly a week to come up with a plan. Bell was not making it easy but he was not going to give up. He wanted the girl and by Merlin, he was going to have her. Besides, Marcus liked a challenge.

Marcus grinned into the fire and mentally went over his plan. First, they needed to maintain secrecy. The Gryffindorks would freak if they ever found out about him. But, he needed help to arrange dates and to run interference. He trusted Warrington and Bole. Marcus knew they would help him. Second, they had to keep Quidditch out of their relationship. If not, the first match between their houses would end their relationship. Third, he had to lure her into the said relationship. He would start with passion and chemistry. Slowly, he would bring her deeper and deeper into his world. Then he would have her. Marcus wanted Katie's heart, body and mind.

"But first, Katie actually has to look at me again," thought Marcus to himself. "I wonder if she is a prefect?"

Suddenly Tarquin appeared and sat down beside Marcus with a mournful look on his face. "Merlin Marcus, I'm utterly screwed," he moaned. "My father just sent me an owl to announce that he's visiting me next weekend. He wants to meet my girlfriend!"

"So, get Moira a nice dress and tell her to say she's in Slytherin House," said Marcus.

"I wish it was that easy mate but Moira won't do it. I've already asked her. She said that she had principles and that if I had any, I wouldn't even dream of lying to my father," Tarquin pouted. "Honestly, what did she expect from me? I am in Slytherin House after all. I can't even spell principles."

"Then get another girlfriend mate. I mean Moira should be getting past her expiration date anyway," said Marcus. "She's lasted more than a week already."

"Merlin Marcus, you make me sound like a fickle bastard!"

"You are a fickle bastard mate!"

"No, I'm not. Besides I like Moira. I'm not ready to trade her in."

"Then you have a problem Tarquin," said Flint. "You need a Slytherin girlfriend without the Ravenclaw girlfriend finding out and you need her fast. Let me see where are you going to find a nice, discreet Slytherin girl. One who will not announce from the front of Great Hall that she has not only bagged one of the wealthiest wizards at Hogwarts but she caught one who vowed he would never be caught. Hmmm, where would you find a non-devious Slytherin who wouldn't take advantage of the situation? Geez Tarquin, maybe in your dreams because that the only place a sweet, guileless Slytherin girl exists."

"Marcus, I hate it when you are sarcastic," grumbled Tarquin. "Let's go to that stupid meeting."

A half-hour later, Marcus was thrilled when Katie walked in the door to the meeting. Their eyes met as Marcus smiled at a flustered Katie. He suppressed a whoop of joy as Katie was forced to sit in the chair beside him because she was late and the only chairs left around the table were beside him. His joy was tempered when he noticed Wood sit down beside her.

"Why is that git here?" thought an outraged Flint. "Oh yeah, he's the Gryffindork captain. I forgot for a second. But hey, time to have fun!"

As the meeting droned on, Marcus amused himself by accidentally brushing Katie's arm with his fingers. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her blushing every time his hand lightly touched her. He was aware of her every move. When a sudden noise outside the window distracted everyone in the room, he took the opportunity provided and started to trace a light pattern on her bare knee under the table. He felt her body go tense as he started to stroke her skin in soft circles. Marcus felt her shiver then he started to feel aroused.

Minutes later, her hand grasped at his fingers forcing them to stop. He quickly twisted his hand out of her grip and covered her hand with his. He ran his thumb over the top of her hand and started to trace a pattern with his other fingers over the pulse in her wrist. He felt her tremble. He caressed and stroked her skin lazily. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her lick her lips and he was lost. It was a good thing that the meeting ended a few seconds later or else Marcus would have blown his secrecy plan sky high.

Marcus turned and looked at Katie full in the face. He let her see how much he wanted her. "Wait for me," he whispered softly. He saw her eyes widen and then her imperceptible nod. He glared at Wood as the oblivious Scot tugged at Katie's arm and led her out the door. He waited a few moments and quickly whispered to a startled Tarquin, "I'll explain later but get Wood away from Bell now!"

He gave Tarquin a few minutes to accomplish his task. He had faith in Bole. He never met a more devious guy in his life. He strode out of the meeting room and grinned. Tarquin had Wood cornered and in the midst of a loud argument. Katie was hovering uncertainly beside her captain. Other Gryffindors and Slytherins were drifting towards the fracas. Marcus caught Katie's eye as he drifted down the hallway unobtrusively. She followed him. After a few minutes, they were alone. Marcus pulled Katie into a deserted classroom.

The silence was deafening. Katie took a deep breath and said, "Flint, we have to talk."

"Later Katie," drawled Marcus lazily. "First, why don't you kiss me?"

"I ummmm..I don't want..," stuttered a flustered Bell.

"Yes you do Katie," said Marcus as he pulled an unresisting Bell against his body. "Kiss me," whispered Marcus against her mouth. Marcus inwardly smiled as Katie kissed him. It was a duplicate of the kiss they shared outside of the Slytherin locker room.

The kiss was hot and intense. He felt Katie melt against his body. "She still tasted like cherries," he thought to himself as he ran his tongue along her lower lip. He kissed his way along her jaw to her ear and whispered her name as he nipped at her earlobe. She turned her mouth towards his and kissed him again. This time her tongue ran along his upper lip and then into his mouth. Several long heated minutes later, Marcus pulled his mouth away from hers.

Panting, they stared at each other in surprise. Katie tried to pull away from Marcus but he wouldn't let her go. Remarkably, Katie did not put up a hard fight and relaxed into his arms. He stroked her back and said, "Katie, we do need to talk."

"I know," she whispered softly. "Flint, we can't do this."

"Katie, I think you can call me Marcus now," said an amused Flint. "And what can't we do?"

"We don't belong together Marcus," she said regretfully.

"How do you know Katie? I think we belong together," said a serious Marcus. " I do have a plan."

"A plan? Can you make Hogwarts just go away? You are a Slytherin and I am a Gryffindor. We are incompatible."

"We are not incompatible. Our bodies for one seem to be very compatible. My plan, my sweet, involves two things: Quidditch and secrecy. One, we don't discuss House Quidditch and two, we don't tell your housemates."

"No Quidditch? What will we talk about?"

"Katie, I don't plan on doing much talking."

"Oh."

They started to exchange heated kisses again as Marcus's hands ran down Katie's back and around her hips. Katie recovered her composure and protested, "Secrecy Marcus? We don't tell anyone. Are you ashamed of me? What about your housemates?"

"My mates are going to be no problem. They are my friends and I trust them. I'll announce our relationship tomorrow from the front of the Great Hall if you want but your mates will not understand."

"No they won't," said Katie sadly.

"Then we don't tell them," said Marcus forcefully. He tempered his words by pulling her against him and stroking her back softly. "Katie Bell, we have something here that can't be dismissed. I'm willing to try, are you?"

"I want to try Marcus but what if it doesn't work?"

"Are you afraid to take a chance Katie? I always took you for a fearless woman, was I wrong? Life is all about chances my sweet. Are you going to take a chance on me?"

Katie gazed into Marcus Flint's fearless eyes and said, "Yes."