Sparks

Sparks 08

Chapter Eight

In the Slytherin Quidditch Locker Room:

A pensive Marcus Flint was alone under the shower after practice in the Slytherin Quidditch locker room. The Quidditch season was about to begin and he still did not have a reliable keeper. The Ravenclaw and Gryffindor teams were good this year. He was bound and determined not to lose the Quidditch Cup. He wasn't going to be the first Slytherin captain in eight years to lose the Cup, not if he could help it.

He sighed and lifted his head so the warm water could wash over his head. He wished he could wash his problems away. "Too bad, it couldn't be that easy," said Marcus to the empty locker room. He jumped when a soft voice answered him from outside the showers.

"What's not easy Marcus?"

He quickly wrapped a towel around his hips and went into the other room. He smiled when he saw Katie sitting on the table in front of the blackboard. Her eyes widened when she saw how little Marcus had on.

"How did you get in?" wondered Marcus.

"Aren't you glad to see me?" pouted Katie. "Bole let me in. He said that you needed to be cheered up. I was waiting for you outside the change room in a dark corner. Merlin, that boy's eyes are scary sharp."

" Does this mean that you're not mad about Tarquin and Chris anymore?" said Marcus. "They are my best mates. Of course they know about you."

"Maybe," said Katie with a glint in her eye. "That depends, does the rest of the team know about us?"

"Define the word "know"," said Marcus nervously.

"You're stalling," prompted Katie.

"No, I only told Tarquin and Chris about us. But I have talked about you in front of the rest of the team," said Marcus. He twisted the end of the towel nervously in his fingers.

"Technically, I didn't tell the rest of the guys anything," Marcus thought to himself. "Tarquin told them."

"What did you say about me?" wondered Katie.

"Well, I've mentioned how beautiful you are and what great legs you have," listed Marcus. "Oh, and I mentioned how hot you looked in that red skirt you had on last Saturday."

"Really?" said a blushing Katie. "Ummm...Marcus don't you need to get dressed now?"

Marcus smiled to himself. He could see Katie eyeing up his chest. He decided to stand a little closer to her. He needed to distract her. Katie could be annoyingly perceptive.

"Well, I need a little help drying off," teased Marcus. "Do you want to help?"

"Yes. No. I mean, you need to get dressed Marcus," said a flustered Katie. "Do you know you're only wearing a towel, you shameless man?"

"Yes," said Marcus. "Do you know you haven't taken your eyes off the towel yet?"

As Marcus turned to change around the corner, he laughed as Katie shrieked her embarrassed protests. Minutes later he came back with his clothes on and a wicked grin on his face. Katie was still muttering about how she hadn't been staring at his towel.

He pulled her resisting body up against his as he bent to kiss her. Several soft kisses later, he apologized Flint-style. "Sorry Katie, " he whispered against her mouth. "I shouldn't tease you when I know you can't control yourself when you look at my body and..." Marcus stopped talking because Katie shut him up the only way she knew how. She kissed him.

Several heated minutes and many kisses later, Marcus lifted his head. "I have a surprise for you Katie," said Marcus. He led her out to their spot behind the Slytherin broom shed. A curious Katie watched him as he opened the door to the shed by running his wand down the front of the door. It opened after a series of clicks. He turned to her and asked her to close her eyes. He didn't bother to tell her not to peek because he reasoned she was a Gryffindor. She wouldn't dream of peeking. When he told her to open her eyes, she gasped.

"Marcus, what have you done to the place?"

"Oh, a little transfiguration here and there and the place looks pretty decent, doesn't it?"

Katie looked around in the Slytherin broom shed in wonder. She had seen the inside of the Gryffindor shed and it looked nothing like this place. Marcus had rearranged the broom shed into a rather posh nook. It had a chaise lounge and a place for two people to sit with a long low table on a plush carpet. The colors were, of course, Slytherin green and silver. It looked luxurious and Katie wasn't surprised. In the six weeks that they had been seeing each other, Katie had the very distinct impression that Marcus was used to the finer things in life. His clothing was understated but expensively tailored. His Quidditch equipment was top notch and very well taken care of. She turned and looked at an expectant Marcus.

"Well Katie, do you like it? I thought that maybe we could come here and do homework together or something," said Marcus.

"Something?" asked Katie with an arched eyebrow.

"Merlin Katie, why are you always trying to seduce me?"

"What! I'm trying to seduce you! Oh, you are an evil, evil man. I...Ummm."

Marcus decided to shut her up the only way he knew how. He kissed her.

Later that night in Gryffindor Tower

Katie was getting ready for bed when her two best friends, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, accosted her.

"Where have you been, young lady. A certain daft Scot was looking high and low for you all night," scolded Angelina.

"Yes, we told him you were in the Library but he didn't believe us. He said he looked in the Library. Be still my heart Katie but did the Scottish loon finally open his eyes?" wondered Alicia.

"What, I was studying potions with my tutor in Ravenclaw Tower," lied Katie. "What did Oliver want with me?"

"Well Katie, I could tell you a few things Oliver would probably like to do with you," laughed Alicia. "Well, you have been studying a lot lately. What was the name of that tutor again? I hope he walked you back to the Tower."

Katie ignored Alicia's question and quickly asked, "What do you mean Oliver would like to do a few things with me. Please Alicia, that ship has sailed. Maybe last year but not now. I hope you are wrong."

Angelina exchanged a surprised look with Alicia and quietly asked, "What's wrong Katie. I thought you liked Oliver"

Katie sighed and said, "I like Oliver but I don't fancy him."

"Well this development is a surprise, I must say," said Alicia. "Although it will come as a relief to half the girls in Hogwarts and perhaps a few of the guys. So Katie, you haven't answered my question. Where are you going every night?"

Katie blushed and decided to not answer Alicia's question.

"It's a secret then," asked Angelina. "That's okay Katie, you can tell us when you feel comfortable."

"No, I want to...," protested Alicia. Her protest died when she caught the fierce look Angelina gave her. "Yes Katie, you can tell us later."

"Have you heard the latest about the Hufflepuffs, " asked Angelina as she deftly turned the subject or so she thought. "It seems that the Slytherins are wreaking havoc amongst the Huffies. Warrington is dating Sarah Douglas-Scott and half the house is going crazy. I heard she's madly in love with him and spends all of her time in the Slytherin dungeons. Worse yet, she's bringing her mates along with her when she watches his practices. It seems that some of her mates are hooking up with Slytherins too."

"Well I can see Sarah's point though. I think Warrington is pretty hot," said Alicia. She caught another look from Angelina. "Oh, completely evil Angelina but very sexy. Speaking of sexy and Slytherin House, is it just me or is Marcus Flint looking yummy lately?"

Katie felt as if she were made of stone. She tensely looked down and tried not to look at Alicia. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute. She heard the next words out of Angelina's mouth and her heart accelerated even more.

"I can't believe I would ever see the day when the words sexy and Marcus Flint were ever used together on more than one occasion. I heard that there are girls in Hufflepuff that have a bet going on to see who could lure Flint into bed first. One of them went up to him and actually asked for a ride on his broomstick. Fred told me he overheard her," said an amazed Angelina.

Katie turned away from both girls. She could barely see straight, she was so mad. She schooled her features and turned back with a curious expression.

"What are those girls' names? Do you know Angelina?" asked Katie sweetly.

"I think her name is Lydia something and the other girl is her roommate. Fred tells me that both girls are famous for sharing. They share clothes, books and boyfriends. I do hope Fred only has heard this story rather than experienced it firsthand. I'll have to have a word with him, maybe two. Besides, I heard Flint was dating some girl in Slytherin House named Circe Jones."

Katie had enough. As smoothly as she could she pretended to yawn and the other girls caught her hint. Besides knowing Wood, he might be getting them out of bed at dawn for a surprise practice. They left a seething Katie alone to get ready for bed.

Katie put a silencing charm around her bed and screamed in frustration. She wanted to find those Hufflepuff girls and tell them off. Alicia better not have any ideas about Marcus or else. She remembered Alicia's fling with Adrian Pucey last year. She was never so embarrassed as that morning when she woke up when Pucey was exiting Alicia's bed and getting dressed. Thank Merlin he had on boxers. He had the nerve to wink at her as he left their room. Alicia had laughed at the expression on her face that morning. Alicia better not have any designs on her Marcus.

"And who the hell is Circe Jones!" yelled Katie.

It took her an hour to calm down. Halfway through, Katie acknowledged to herself that she was jealous, very jealous. She wanted Marcus to wear a sign from now on that said Property of Katie Bell. Do not touch. Other girls thought Marcus was fair game because they kept their relationship secret. Those girls were wrong. She needed to talk to Marcus. She fell into a fitful sleep and had nightmares of walking in on girls in the Great Hall slobbering all over Marcus. And being powerless to stop it because of their secret.

The Next Morning

Early the next morning, a tired Katie made her way to the owlery before breakfast. She sent Marcus an owl. She arranged to meet him in an empty classroom near the Great Hall. She sat in the classroom and waited for him with a pensive look on her face. She was lost in her thoughts as a worried Marcus came through the door.

"Katie, what's wrong? Your owl sounded urgent. Are you feeling okay?" asked Marcus.

"I don't know," said a somber Katie. "I have to ask you an important question Marcus and I need you to look me in the eye when I ask it."

A surprised Marcus nodded his agreement as he gazed into her serious eyes.

"Are you dating Circe Jones?"

"No," said Marcus. His eyes did not waver for a single second. Katie felt like her heart would burst in relief. She started to cry. Marcus pulled her against his chest and rubbed her back as she cried for several minutes.

"What's wrong, Katie?"

"Nothing. I'm just so relieved," said Katie as she pulled herself together. " I heard all these rumours about you last night and I just got so....jealous. By the way, who is Circe Jones?"

"She's this girl in Slytherin House. The Hogwarts rumor mill says I'm dating her? Well, I know she kinda fancies me but I haven't done anything with her Katie," said Marcus. 'You know that you're the only girl I'm seeing, right?"

"Yes, I knew that but I think I just let my imagination run away with me. It's just that all these girls are saying how much they fancy you and the fact that we keep our relationship a secret makes me think that well, I don't know what I was thinking," rambled Katie. "I'm sorry for not trusting you and for blurting out that thing about Circe. I was really going to ask you if you were sure you wanted to still see me but I got scared and blurted out the first thing I could think of."

Marcus nodded at her seriously. He cupped her face in his hands as he looked into her eyes. "You were jealous Katie?" he said with a little grin. "Well, let me state for the record that I still want to see you. In fact I want to see you all the time. I'm not so thick that I don't see those other girls flirting with me Katie but I don't want them. I want you."

Katie grasped his hands with hers and asked seriously, "Even though those girls would sleep with you, Marcus? We've never..."

Marcus interrupted her with a shake of his head. "I don't care, Katie. I know that you've never been with anyone before. I'm more than willing to wait for you," he said quietly.

"Really?" whispered Katie.

"Really," said Marcus. "Contrary to popular belief, I'm not a sex starved Slytherin playboy. I know quality when I see it Katie Bell and I'm willing to wait for it."

Katie gave Marcus a soft kiss on the mouth. He held her shaking body against his and stroked her hair. He was worried about her.

"Why don't I take you to see Pomfrey. You look tired. Maybe, she'll let you stay in from classes and get some rest," said Marcus. He coaxed her towards the infirmary and waited for her until she came out. Marcus walked her back to Gryffindor Tower through the empty halls.

"Marcus, you're missing class," said Katie.

"Don't worry, it's History of Magic. Binns probably thinks I'm there anyway. When he called my name, I bet Tarquin answered."

They stopped in front of the Gryffindor picture and Marcus leaned and gave her a sweet kiss. He watched as she went into the Tower. As the door closed, the picture asked him, "I've never seen you before. Are you Miss Bell's young man?"

"Yes ma'am," he said. He smiled as he walked away. He heard the picture comment on what a nice boy he was. She obviously didn't catch the Slytherin crest on his robe.

Marcus waited for Tarquin outside of History of Magic. He didn't have wait long. Fortunately, both Slytherins had a NEWT study period next. They were supposed to take the period in the Library but Marcus asked Tarquin to come with him back to their room. Chris had already disappeared with Sarah.

Just as Tarquin was about to open their door, he turned to Marcus. "Merlin, I just had a thought. What if Chris and Sarah are in there?" Tarquin said.

"Don't worry mate," laughed Marcus. "The signal isn't on the door handle."

"What if they forgot? You know a heat of the moment thing," said Tarquin with a grimace.

"Oh well, it isn't like we haven't seen Chris naked before," shrugged Marcus.

"True," laughed Tarquin. "Besides I wouldn't mind getting a look at..."

"Pray continue that thought, Mr. Bole," insinuated a silky voice from behind Marcus. "I curious to know how it ends."

Both Marcus and Tarquin whirled around to face their House head. Snape glided up to both young men with an amused expression on his face. "Don't let me interrupt you gentlemen," murmured Snape. "I was hoping for a word with both of you today. Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Marcus lifted his chin and opened the door with a flourish. "Of course sir," he said calmly. "We have nothing to hide." His squared shoulders nearly sagged in relief as he looked into his thankfully empty room. Tarquin smoothly offered Snape a seat. As he took his chair, Tarquin and Marcus shared a relieved look tinged with a sense of unease. Marcus offered a beverage, which Snape quietly declined. Both Slytherins then took seats in front of the professor. They waited without fidgeting for Snape to begin to talk.

"I have decided that this year I need to speak to all the seventh year men privately. I decided to start with you three gentlemen, although, we seem to be missing Mr. Warrington. No matter, I'll speak to him later," said Snape quietly. He shifted in his chair as he looked down with a slight frown.

"I do not know how to broach this subject delicately so I will simply come out and say it. We all know gentlemen that female students are forbidden access to male dormitories and vice versa. However, we live in the real world here in Slytherin House. Last year, there was a problem with the unseemly number of inappropriate sexual relationships that were consummated in these dormitories. There are two things I do not want to deal with again this year. First, I want no accidental pregnancies. I have contraceptive potions that are available and I expect them to be used. Second, I do not wish to see a young lady that is under fourth year in any seventh year bed," said Snape as he gazed at the boys unwaveringly. Both Slytherins nodded their agreement. "As gentlemen, I would prevail on both of you as leading members of Slytherin House to make sure there is no repetition of the situation from last year. Discretion is the hallmark of a true pureblooded wizard. I trust that this is the last word I shall have to say on this matter. Good day gentlemen."

Both Tarquin and Marcus stood up as Snape swept out of their room. They both looked at each other as the door snapped closed behind Professor Snape.

"Seriously Marcus, did we just get the sex talk from Snape?" gasped Tarquin.

"Yes," moaned Marcus. "That was seriously disturbing."

Just as they started to laugh, Chris walked in the door. He watched as both his best mates laughed until their stomachs hurt. Several minutes later, Chris was finally able to ask, "What's so funny?"

Amid renewed howls of laughter, Chris waited impatiently for one of the silly gits to stop laughing. He couldn't understand why Tarquin couldn't stop saying 'inappropriate sexual relationship' and why it was funny.

Finally Tarquin managed to tell him that Snape had given them the Sex Talk and he, the unfortunate git, had the misfortune to miss it.

"Merlin," gasped Chris. "I cannot begin to imagine how wrong that conversation must have been. What did he say?"

"Basically Snape just said that shag all you want but no underage girls, no pregnancies, no being loud and above all do not get caught but not in those exact words," said Marcus. "Did I miss anything Tarquin?"

"No," said Tarquin. "Don't you worry Chris, Snape said he'd have a word with you later."

"So Marcus, what did you want to talk about?" said a grinning Tarquin.

"Oh," said Marcus as his expression sobered. " Katie was very upset this morning. You know how the Hogwarts gossip mill works, eh? Well she asked me about the Hufflepuff girl and Circe Jones. She was very jealous. Merlin, what will she do if she ever found out about the List? You know Circe is on the list of possible brides my father gave me."

"Marcus, did you do what I suggested?" asked Tarquin.

"Yes. I asked my father for a detailed dossier on each girl. I said that since I would be marrying with my head, I would like to know everything I could about each choice. And I asked if I could suggest other purebred girls here at Hogwarts. The bastard agreed and I think I have bought myself a few months," explained Marcus.

"Excellent Marcus," said Tarquin thoughtfully. "Well, you have two choices mate. One, you can keep the List a deep dark secret and hope that she'll never find out. At least until you are forced to marry. Then she'll find out. Or else you can tell her now and head off a confrontation later."

"I don't know Tarquin, she was very jealous about the other girls. I'm worried that I might lose her."

"Right. Ease into telling her about your father and what a miserable git he is," prompted Tarquin.

"I have mentioned it in passing," said Marcus.

"Well mention all the gory details in an emotional outburst," said Chris. "She's probably embarrassed by her emotional outburst this morning. It will help her forget her embarrassment and make her believe you implicitly. She'll be extra sympathetic. Trust me Marcus. I have three sisters."

"Then in a burst of unSlytherin-like honesty, show her the List. Say that you were afraid to show her but you just had to prove to her how much you trust her," said Tarquin.

"Then she literally cannot be upset at me, I'm telling the truth. Which is unlike me," wondered Marcus. "Then I'll tell her that she's the only girl I want. Guys, I think it will work."

Later that afternoon, Marcus sent an owl to Katie asking her to meet him behind the shed that evening. He was nervous about telling her about his father but in a good way. He wanted to tell her. He knew she would be sympathetic. He hoped that when he told her about the list, he would not lose her. His mates didn't know it but he meant what he had said. Katie was the only woman he ever truly wanted.