Sparks

Sparks 10

Chapter Ten:

When Marcus saw Katie whirl towards the door and out of his life, his temper snapped. He followed her to the door with the fast reflexes of a Quidditch chaser. "There's no way in hell Katie is walking away from me!" thought Marcus. "I cannot believe I opened my heart to her and she stomped all over it! How dare she?"

As Marcus was turning her to face him, a volatile mix of hurt and anger consumed him. He was hurt that she didn't seem to care that his father was a heartless bastard. "She is fixated on Circe Jones and I already told her that Circe didn't mean anything to me. Granted she is on the list but she is on Tarquin's list too for Merlin's sake," thought Marcus. "Doesn't she believe that I care about her?"

"Merlin, why did I tell her about my old man?" thought Marcus. "What was I thinking? I wasn't thinking! I let my passion for a girl who won't even sleep with me blind me to the truth. She'll never care about me."

Marcus was too proud to let Katie see how much she had hurt him. His hurt fueled his anger. Marcus's temper was legendary in Slytherin House. When he was angry, he lashed out at the person or persons closest to him at the time. He knew he learnt this behavior from his father but he was powerless to stop.

When he was furious, his temper was in control of his actions, not him. Yet, when he looked into her face, he felt the red-hot intensity of his anger fade. He felt disgusted with himself for being weak. He tried to fan the flames of his anger but it was no use. He still deeply cared about her. He was still very angry but not out of control. There was something about her that seemed to calm him.

"Where do you think you are going Bell?" said Marcus with a low dangerous tone in his voice. "I'm not finished with you yet. So tell me Katie, was I just a little diversion for you? Did you go out with me for a thrill?" Marcus saw that her chin was lifted in defiance and her eyes looked set to battle. He was more than willing to give her that battle.

"You got the same thrill from going out with me Flint," said Katie bravely. "And speaking of diversions, have you decided which witch you'll be marrying next year?"

"I have no intentions of marrying anybody, Bell," yelled Marcus. "How many times do I have to say that. You blew the list out of proportion girl and not for the first time I might add. Typical Gryffindor! Jumping in and judging people before knowing the whole story."

"Typical Gryffindor?" gasped an outraged Katie. "I 'll have you know that-"

"Shut up Bell," growled Marcus. "It's my turn to talk. People who jump to conclusions and act morally superior are not allowed talk right now. So tell me, all that you remember about me baring my soul to you earlier was that stupid list right? Did the whole father thing just fly out of your head?"

Katie froze in horror at his words. She had forgotten about what he had said about his horrid father. "How could I be so thick?" thought Katie as she listened to Marcus yell at her. "He has every right to be angry."

Katie felt her anger with Marcus fade. "After all, he never actually said he was getting married," thought Katie. "Oh, how could I be so stupid? He's never going to forgive me, is he?"

Marcus leaned closer into Katie, pushing her against the door. "Is this all you wanted from me Bell?" asked Marcus coldly. "Is this all I'm good for?"

Finally Katie could see beyond her hurt and jealousy to see what lay behind Marcus's anger. She had hurt him when she had gone off about the other girls. The main point of that entire conversation had been his father. "Merlin, how can I get him to see that I'm sorry?" thought Katie. "How do you apologize for being so uncaring?"

As she looked into Marcus's hard angry face, she did the only thing an impulsive, temperamental Gryffindor could do. She went for broke.

Marcus was in mid rant when Katie threw her arms around his neck and pressed her body close to his. He froze in shock. He stopped yelling. He could barely hear her softly whispered apology against his ear. "What did you just say?" said Marcus in confusion.

"I said I'm sorry, " said Katie tearfully. "I am an insensitive git and I don't blame you if you walked away right now and never spoke to me again."

"Do you think an apology is going to fix things, Katie?" asked Marcus quietly.

"I don't know," said Katie. "All I know is that I couldn't bear to see you walk away from me. Please forgive me, Marcus."

Marcus looked seriously into Katie's tear-filled eyes. He knew what his answer would be.

"Yes, I forgive you Katie," said Marcus quietly. Suddenly, he smiled wryly. "I never thought I'd live to see the day a Gryffindor apologized to me."

"I was wrong. I let my jealousy blind me to the real subject of this talk -your father," said Katie seriously. She could feel Marcus stiffen in her arms. "I know there's nothing I could say to make it better, Marcus. I just want you to know that I'll try to never be so blind again."

"I know something about horrible fathers, Marcus. My father left when I was ten. I haven't seen him since. He's never even owled me in six years, " said Katie as she closed her eyes against Marcus's shoulder. "I guess I have issues about abandonment and jealousy. My father ran off with a co-worker at the Ministry. My mother took it hard. All she talks about is how men are not to be trusted. I should be grateful he sends financial support but I'm not. I hate him."

Katie could feel Marcus arms tighten around her. She looked up into his eyes hopefully. "Marcus, I think, well I know that I can't guarantee that I won't get crazed with jealousy again but..."

"I understand Katie," interrupted Marcus. "I understand now."

Marcus and Katie held each other in growing darkness. Several long minutes later, Katie let Marcus guide her to the chaise. Katie felt tired and emotionally drained. All she wanted to do was hold him. "He's not leaving. He forgave me," chanted Katie's tired and relieved mind over and over again.

Marcus held Katie on his lap in the darkness until he could feel her trembling stop. He stroked her long amber hair gently. When he felt her finally relax, he broke the silence.

"You know, tomorrow's Halloween and the first Hogsmeade weekend, Katie," said Marcus. "I know it's risky but I have a plan. I want to take you on our first real date. That is, if you will go with me?"

"Of course I'll go with you," said a surprised Katie. "But, what is your plan and how will I get away from my friends? How will you get away from yours?"

"All you need to do Katie, is get your friends to Zonko's by two in the afternoon and no matter what happens in Zonko's, meet me at the Hogsmeade Inn. I'll be waiting for you," said Marcus with a glint in his eye. "Now. We better get back before Filtch catches us. I think it's after curfew."

A half-hour later, a relieved Marcus strode through the darkened halls away from Gryffindor Tower. He had accompanied Katie as far as he could. With all the trouble with that Black person lately, he didn't want her walking alone.

"Merlin," thought Marcus as he headed for the Slytherin dorms. "That entire fiasco had not gone like I planned. For a minute there, I was so angry I thought my head would explode. It's a good thing that I love her or -"

Marcus stopped abruptly in his tracks. "What did I just think?" wondered Marcus. "I don't...I can't...but she...Oh fucking hell!"

A panicked Marcus set off towards the Slytherin dungeons at a hard pace with his mind racing a mile a minute. Minutes later, he slammed into the common room. He looked around for Tarquin and Chris and when his eyes found them, he gestured towards their room with a silent hard jerk of his neck. He didn't wait to see if they followed him as he resumed his breakneck pace.

When Tarquin opened the door of their room, he saw Marcus digging through his wardrobe. He heard him mutter and watched with Chris as Flint flung expensive clothing and shoes carelessly over his shoulders as he searched for something important. A minute later, Marcus muttered an exasperated 'Merlin, about time' and emerged from his wardrobe with a bottle of Ogden's Blue Label single malt scotch.

Tarquin exchanged wry looks with Chris. "I can see that Bell did not take the list well, Marcus," said Tarquin. "I'm sorry mate, did she break up with you?"

"Join me for a few drinks boys?" said a shaken Marcus. He opened up the bottle as Chris went and got three glasses from the mantle. Marcus poured them hefty shots as he downed his on one go then poured himself another. He proceeded to repeat this gesture three more times before Tarquin stopped him.

"Mate, are you trying to get completely pissed drunk? Over a girl?" asked Tarquin with concern. "So, she broke up with you. Maybe she'll see reason in a few days, if not I can set you up with another girl."

"Yes, I'll ask Sarah. I know that this Hufflepuff girl is just wild about you, Marcus," said Chris. "I'll set you up."

Marcus stopped drinking long enough to grin at his two mates affectionately. They looked so concerned like two maiden aunts. "I'm sorry guys," said Marcus. "It's worse than Katie breaking up with me which by the way she didn't do."

"Well then, why the drinking, Marcus," said an annoyed Tarquin.

"I'll tell you both but first we need a few more drinks," said Marcus.

"Okay then," said Chris as he hoisted his glass. "But you know you are a loon right mate?"

An hour later, three drunk Slytherins were loudly arguing about the new Firebolts that were on the market and whether or not they could hoodwink some unsuspecting Alumni or Malfoy's father into buying them for the team when Marcus abruptly stopped talking.

"Too bad I couldn't buy the brooms! I've been saving my freaking allowance. Nothing to buy in Hogsmeade anyway! Stupid rules! Well, Marcus, why did you stop talking, " said a bleary eyed Tarquin.

"IthinkIloveKatie," mumbled Marcus.

"What?" said Chris. "I couldn't hear you. For a minute there I thought you said you loved Bell."

"Merlin," sighed Marcus as he laid his head back on his chair. "I think I'm in love with Katie. I got into this relationship with her looking for a fun and exciting and yes, forbidden, fling and I messed it up. I fell in love with her. I think about her all the time. I want to make her happy. Me, a Slytherin through and through wants to make a Gryffindork happy!"

"Well," said Tarquin carefully. " Maybe you are mistaking passion for love. We are teenage boys. It happens all the time. You know hormones and what not."

"Merlin," snorted Marcus. "I wish!"

"You mean you haven't..." asked Chris.

"No," said Marcus. "That's what I meant by I wish."

"Really?" asked Tarquin. "Not even once?"

"Tarquin," said Marcus. "I am positive I would have remembered."

"Oh," said Tarquin thoughtfully. "Untouched is she Marcus? Well hell, I didn't think Wood was that stupid or that slow!"

Marcus glared at Tarquin. Tarquin gave him back a shrug. Chris snickered.

"Merlin Marcus," said Chris. "It must be love then."

"Yes," said Tarquin. "Love. Now I understand about the drinking. Let me see if I got this straight in my mind. You are in love with a virginal Gryffindor girl from a middle class broken home. And you are expected to marry a pureblooded wealthy, preferably Slytherin or Durmstrang girl sometimes this summer that you possibly have not met yet. I'm sorry mate but you are fucked!"

"Yes," said Marcus as he dragged himself to his bed. "That I am." With that pronouncement, Marcus passed out.

Early the next morning in the Slytherin Dungeons:

Marcus snapped awake with a painful groan. "What the hell is making that infernal racket?" Marcus thought. "Are there Cornish pixies lose in my room and why is it so bright out? Aren't these the freaking dungeons?" He rolled over in bed and his head and stomach protested. He buried his head under his pillows and decided today would be a good day to die. "This time I mean it, I'm never ever drinking scotch again."

"Christian Alexander Warrington, I cannot believe you stood me up! Get out of bed, you evil, evil Slytherin boy! I mean it Chris," threatened the screechy voice. Marcus assumed it belonged to Warrington's girlfriend. How did she get in their room?

A languid voice emerged from Tarquin's bed. "Merlin Chris, how did your girlfriend get in here? Please Sarah, don't yell. I'm dying. You can't scream in a dying man's presence. It would be cruel. You're a Hufflepuff. They aren't supposed to be mean," pleaded Tarquin.

"Merlin Sarah, you weren't supposed to use the Quidditch entrance," said an annoyed and deeply hungover Chris. "It was only for emergencies! I'm not supposed to meet you until twelve thirty in the afternoon anyway. Let me sleep woman!"

"Chris," said Sarah calmly. "It is quarter past one and I have been waiting!" Sarah yelled the last part of the sentence. "Have you been drinking you evil boy?" Her voice started to get amused.

"It was an accident," said Chris sulkily. "It is all Marcus's fault. It was his scotch."

Marcus's head popped out of his pillows. "What time is it Sarah?" he asked.

"Quarter past one, " said Sarah. "And that lazy git disguised as my boyfriend was supposed to take me to Hogsmeade."

"Fucking hell, I have to meet...ummm I have to pick up something at two and Tarquin you have to help me pick it up," said Marcus as he sat up with a heartfelt groan. He quickly lay back down. His stomach was doing flips.

"I'm not leaving this bed Marcus, " said Tarquin. " I'm dying. No really, I am dying. And my head is all mushy. I can't think."

"Oh Honestly," said an annoyed Sarah. "You are Slytherin men, you must have some hangover potion somewhere in this room. Tarquin, you of all people must have some. By the way, Moira wants me to tell you that she is thinking of forgiving your last transgression. She'll be at the Three Broomsticks at three."

"Sarah, look on the mantle, it is in a gray bottle. Marcus, get out of bed," said a rejuvenated Tarquin. "Could you be a sweet witch and bring the potion here?"

Sarah not only brought the potion around to all three beds; she also brought a large glass of water to each of the three Slytherins.

"Sarah," said Tarquin a few minutes later. "Would you consider being my wife? I think I love you."

"Tarquin," said an annoyed Chris. "Get your own woman. Besides, you can't marry her, she's not in Slytherin House."

Sarah snorted in amusement as she sat down on the couch. She looked at Chris and said, "You evil one, need a shower. You smell like eau du Scotch. Hurry up Christian. I have not forgiven you yet! And Tarquin, no thank you. I decline your offer of marriage." Sarah smiled at Tarquin.

Marcus sorted through his clothes, which where for some reason piled on the floor. He glanced at Sarah. "So how do you know about the hidden Quidditch entrance?" asked Marcus. "Only team members know that password."

"Oh, " said Sarah as she blushed. "Chris showed me the other night, when ahh..we were..he was going to show me ...ummm the-"

"His broomstick?" drawled Tarquin.

Both Marcus and Tarquin laughed as Chris came back from the shower. They had their own washroom. Or rather, Marcus did. Quidditch captains had their privileges.

"No teasing my girl," warned Chris as he disappeared behind his wardrobe to get dressed. "Well, I'm ready."

"How do guys do that?" wondered Sarah. "You only took five minutes."

Marcus and Tarquin watched as the couple teased and bickered their way out the door on their way to Hogsmeade. A few minutes later, both Slytherins were ready to go.

As they crunched their way through the fall leaves and ran their way past the Dementors at the gatehouse, Marcus filled Tarquin in on his plan. He called it Operation First Real Date.