Sparks

Sparks 22

Chapter Twenty-Two:

Hogwarts Grounds:

Marcus ignored the loud whispers that followed Katie and him as they left the Great Hall. He strode past the gawking onlookers that congregated near the front doors of the castle pulling Katie along by the hand.

"Marcus," asked Katie. "Is it a race?"

"No," said Marcus with a rueful grin. "But you promised me a snog. I'm trying to get there as fast as I can before anybody tries to stop us."

Katie laughed and dragged Marcus to a halt. She wound her arm around his waist and leaned into him. "Let's go slower," purred Katie.

"I hate going slow," said Marcus as he hauled her against his side with a grin. He closed his eyes and gave her a long slow kiss. Moments later, he opened his eyes and laughed.

"What is it, you git?" asked a flushed and pretty Katie.

"This feels strange. I'm kissing you in the daylight," said Marcus.

"Well," said Katie as she leaned in closer to Marcus. "You are always telling me to experience new things.''

"Mr. Flint," said an unwelcome voice. Marcus bit back a groan.

"Yes Professor Snape," said Marcus politely as he let go of Katie.

"Pray, do not let me keep you from your...activities," said Snape as he gave the couple a neutral glance. "But Madame Hooch would like a word with you sometimes today."

"Thank-you sir,' said Marcus carefully. Both Katie and Marcus watched Snape as he glided away from them with a courteous nod. They resumed their ramble towards the lake in a more subdued fashion. There were benches aligned along the edges of the lake. Katie and Marcus settled into one of those benches.

"I nearly forgot to tell you last night," said Marcus. "But I know what Madame Hooch wants to talk about."

"Are you in trouble over the prank?" asked Katie.

"Yes and no," said Marcus. "I've got detention with MaGonagall all of the next week. I have to clean storerooms. It is something else. You know what a bastard my father is, right?"

"Right," said Katie as she squeezed Marcus's hand.

"Last year, that man 'forgot' to tell me that I had been invited to try out for a few professional Quidditch teams," said Marcus. Katie gasped. "I was underage so they had to ask him first. I remember how I felt last year Katie when I heard that some Ravenclaws and Adrian got try out owls and I didn't. Merlin, I was pissed. Well, this year, I'm overage so I've been invited to try out for a professional team."

"Merlin Marcus," shrieked Katie as she threw her arms around him and sat on his lap. "That's wonderful news. I'm so proud of you. To be honest though, I was wondering when they would come calling."

"Really?" asked Marcus. His heart skipped a beat when Katie said she was proud of him. Her gleaming eyes told him that she spoke the truth.

"Marcus," said Katie. "You know you are an amazing Quidditch player, don't you? You are the best chaser at Hogwarts. I overheard Davies and Diggory talking about you last year. That move you do sometimes, I don't know what you call it though. Harry says you scurf or surf or something like that on your broomstick. That move is crazy but everyone from the other teams has been trying to practice it since they saw you do it. Merlin, I got bruises all over my body this summer trying to do that move. Davies says that move alone makes you one of the best Quidditch players to come through Hogwarts since Charlie Weasley. Of course the professional teams want you."

"You shouldn't try that move Katie," said Marcus with a slight frown. "It's dangerous. I knocked myself out countless times practicing it." He suddenly smiled. "Charlie Weasley? Are you sure Davies was sober?"

"Even Fred and George agree that you are a great player," said Katie. "But I think they weren't sober at the time. They would never admit it otherwise. Hell, even Angelina thinks you are good."

"Did they use that term?" asked Marcus skeptically.

"Good and dangerous are same thing when you are talking about a Slytherin," said Katie. "Especially when you are a Gryffindor. So, do you know which teams they are?"

All in all Marcus had a great morning. He and Katie talked about Quidditch for hours in between kisses. They skipped lunch because they were so absorbed in one another. Marcus never thought he would ever meet a girl who was as passionate about Quidditch as he was until he got to know Katie.

Katie watched Marcus's face intently as he talked animatedly. Here was a guy she could talk for hours with about her favorite sport who never for one minute forgot she existed or that she was a girl. Katie was elated. Their relationship was just as strong in the open as it was in the shadows.

Gryffindor Tower: that evening

"So Katie," asked George. "To what do we owe this honor?"

"What are you on about George," asked Katie in a puzzled tone.

"It's only ten and you are in the common room," said Fred. "We haven't seen you much in these parts this early since the beginning of the year."

"The Slytherin dungeons got cold?" asked Lee.

"Are you guys still mad about this morning?" asked Katie.

"Mad about what?" asked Fred.

"Marcus," said Katie. She did not like the way the rest of the room had gotten quiet when the boys started to talk to her. Alicia and Angelina were no where to be seen.

"Flint?" asked George. "Now why should we be mad that you've been shagging the Slytherin Quidditch captain?"

Katie blushed but stood her ground. "Is it any of your business? Oops...I forgot about your betting pool. Sorry," said Katie insincerely.

"Why did you do it, Katie," asked Lee seriously.

"Do what?" retorted Katie. "Fall in love with another person?"

"Merlin Katie," said Fred. "I would understand more if you said you were just shagging him."

"I cannot believe it," said Katie as she shook her head. "Do you think we'll be at Hogwarts forever? House lines are just invisible lines. They don't exist in real life. I don't care what house he is in and I also don't care what anybody else thinks of him. I know the real Marcus Flint."

With that pronouncement, Katie turned and ran up to her room. Fred and George watched her go. The common room started to buzz with conversation. Lee snorted when he heard two third year girls sigh over how romantic Flint and Bell were together.

"Do you think he gave her a love potion?" asked Fred.

"No," said George. "I think she actually loves that git."

"Have you got the firewhiskey Fred?" asked Lee. "Time to cheer up Oliver. Where is he?"

Madame Hooch's Office:

Marcus left the Quidditch and flying coach's office with a grin on his face. Tarquin was going to freak. He could not believe it himself. He had six solid offers on the table from teams ranging from the Appleby Arrows to the Falmouth Falcons. He also could not wait to tell Katie. He wondered if it was too late to try to see her. He could go to Gryffindor Tower and see if she-. Marcus slammed into someone when he rounded the corner heading to Gryffindor Tower. He was about to apologize just in case it was one of Katie's mates when he realized who it was.

"Flint," said Wood with shock. "Why are you hanging about the Tower?"

"Well Wood," drawled Marcus. "I'm looking for my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" asked Wood bitterly. "I thought she was-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," threatened Marcus as his face flushed with anger.

"I was not going to say anything mean about Katie," said Oliver. "I don't know what you did to her but when she regains her senses-"

"I did nothing to her," interrupted Marcus. "Well nothing she did not want me to do." Oliver's face flushed red. Marcus leaned closer and pinned Oliver with a stern look. "She belongs to me Wood. I don't even want you looking in her direction."

"You don't own her Flint," said Oliver. "You can't make her stay with you."

"But I don't make her stay Wood," said Marcus with an amused tone. "She wants to stay. She wants to belong to me. She loves me."

Oliver's face went pale. Marcus continued. "Just because you were too blind to see the beautiful woman right in front of you doesn't give you the right to be such a twat. She's mine now and I'm never going to let her go. Deal with it."

"I hate you," said Oliver with feeling.

"And I could care less," said Marcus. "If you make Katie cry Wood, I'll make you cry. Don't get me wrong, if you threw her off the team and never talked to her again, I would be thrilled to bits. Unfortunately, you are not that stupid. Or are you?"

"Bugger off Flint," said Oliver flatly.

Both captains turned and stalked away from each other. Marcus opted to go back to the dungeons and owl Katie from there. He was not pleased to find her waiting for him outside the main entrance with her eyes a little red.

"Who made you cry?" asked Marcus tightly and aggressively.

"No one,' said Katie with a little hitch in her voice.

"You're lying," said Marcus flatly. He took her hand and led her into the Slytherin common room. All conversation in the room came to an abrupt halt.

"What?" said Marcus loudly with a frown. "It's a Gryffindor in the Slytherin common room. It's not the end of the world."

Conversations slowly started up again. Marcus pulled a stiff Katie closer and introduced her formally to some of the senior seventh year Slytherins. Marcus wondered if Katie knew the importance of what he was doing. He made sure the senior Slytherins knew that he had introduced her to his parents and he had their approval. These steps were not taken lightly in the closed upper class wizarding world or in Slytherin House.

Later, he pulled her into a small sofa and subtly tried to find out who or what had made her so upset. Katie changed the subject but Marcus steered it back.

"You know," said Katie. "You can be annoyingly relentless."

"So give in," said Marcus.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"I hate to disturb this scintillating conversation," said Tarquin as he flopped into the chair opposite the sofa.

"You are not disturbing a thing," said Katie serenely.

"Bugger off Tarquin," said Marcus. "I'm interrogating Katie."

"You need rope, restraints and a strong overhead light if you want to get better results," said Tarquin. "She doesn't look like she's breaking."

"Restraints?" said Marcus with a gleam in his eye.

"You wish," said Katie with a snort.

"You two just turn everything into an innuendo about sex, don't you?" said Tarquin with a smirk.

Both Katie and Marcus looked at each other in amazement.

"I can't believe you just said that Tarquin," said Marcus.

"No kidding," said Katie. "That's like the pot calling the cauldron black."

"Hey,' said Tarquin. "I take offense to that remark."

"Well," said a sardonic voice. "Seeing as I take offense to you all the time, Bole. It's just fair play you get what's coming to you."

"And what would that be, Circe," said Tarquin with a narrowed gaze. "Or will you tell me later in the Astronomy Tower."

"Only if I can push you off," said Circe.

"Did you just say get me off," asked Tarquin with a smirk.

"Circe," interrupted Marcus. He nervously continued to speak. "I would like to introduce you to Katie Bell. She's my girlfriend. Katie, this is Circe Jones."

"How nice to meet you, Circe," said Katie sweetly. "I've heard so much about you."

Marcus looked at Katie apprehensively. Katie was surprised she didn't want to rip the girl's hair out by now. She had imagined Circe to be more confident than she was in reality. She had been expecting a seductress and found an ordinary schoolgirl. Katie relaxed.

"I hope it was good things," said Circe quietly. She glanced at Marcus a little sadly.

"Yes," said Katie kindly. Circe's quick glance at Marcus had made Katie realize that the younger girl still had a crush on Marcus. Instead of bringing out Katie's green-eyed monster, it had made Katie sympathize with the girl. After all, Marcus loved her. And she knew what it was like to be Circe and have a hopeless crush on an older guy. Besides, the tension between Tarquin and Circe was electric. Why didn't Marcus tell her Tarquin fancied Circe?

"Yes," said Tarquin dryly. "She didn't ask me about you. I would have been forced to tell Katie the truth."

"What truth Bole," asked Circe scornfully. "That you would shag anything if it was wearing a Ravenclaw tie?"

Marcus and Katie quickly shared a secret grin.

"No," said Tarquin sulkily. "That you are absolutely mad for me and are in the process of setting up a shrine to me in your room."

"True,' said Circe blandly.

"What!" said a stunned Tarquin.

"I would have to be absolutely mad to set up a shrine to you. St. Mungo's, here I come," said Circe. She smiled at Marcus and Katie and said her good-byes. She left Tarquin sputtering.

"That witch annoys me," said Tarquin.

"Is that why you have your eyes glued to her right now?" asked Katie innocently.

"I have to keep an eye on her," lied Tarquin unconvincingly. "She's an evil evil girl."

"Sure Tarquin," said Marcus as he raised his eyebrow at Katie. Katie smothered a smile.

Shortly thereafter, Tarquin left to keep a better eye on Circe.

"Those two are meant for each other Marcus," said Katie.

"I know," said Marcus pensively.

"What's wrong?"

"Tarquin is about to formally betroth himself to Circe's younger sister," said Marcus.

"Merlin," gasped Katie.

"You said it love," said Marcus.

Marcus walked Katie back to her Tower after stopping for a few heated kisses along the way.

"Marcus," chide Katie as he turned to leave. "You know that you are supposed to travel with another person."

"Is that an offer to come spend the night in my bed? Or your bed?"

"No," said Katie with a blush. "What if you run into Sirius Black? I'm worried."

"I'm not concerned," said Marcus. "Will you tell on me Miss Hogwarts Prefect? Are you going to punish me later?"

"If you are lucky, you naughty Slytherin boy," said Katie as she leaned in and licked Marcus's earlobe. "I will."

Hogsmeade: the next weekend: the Hogsmeade Inn:

Katie and Marcus waited for his father in the Hogsmeade Inn's formal dining room. Marcus was trying to calm his nerves and clutched Katie's hand for support. He turned his attention towards Katie instead of dwelling on his father's imminent arrival.

"You know," said Katie as she looked around the room. "I like the tea area better."

"So do I," said Marcus. They shared a look of fond remembrance. " Is everything going all right in Gryffindor Tower?"

"Yes, " said Katie brightly. Marcus was not fooled.

"Tell me," commanded Marcus.

"Okay," said Katie. "The twins have forgiven me but Lee has not. Most of the house has calmed down except for a few members. I never really cared for those people so that's okay. That situation has more to do with me than you."

"What else?" asked Marcus.

Katie heaved a sigh. "I have a formal team meeting tomorrow. Oliver hasn't even looked at me since last week," said Katie with a far away look.

"Good," thought Marcus. "Maybe the git realizes that she is mine."

"Katie," said Marcus. "Don't worry about tomorrow. He won't kick you off. He would have to toss Johnson and Spinnet off too. He's not that stupid."

"I'm not worried," assured Katie. Marcus squeezed her hand.

A minute later, Marcus's father arrived. They shared a stilted lunch full of long silences and awkward moments. Katie tried to smooth over the tense moments with little success. She was almost relieved when Marcus excused himself to go to the men's room before dessert came. The tension between the two men was palpable.

"Katherine, it good to see," said Aurelius Flint just after Marcus left. "That you have managed to teach Marcus some manners. This is the most civil I've seen my son in years."

"Uh..," said Katie awkwardly. "He is always charming when we out together."

"Merlin," thought Katie. "I thought the lunch was a disaster. I can't imagine why he thinks things are going okay."

"I'm sure he is,' said Aurelius with a lazy smile. Katie was struck again how much he looked like Marcus sometimes.

Katie gave him a nervous smile.

Aurelius continued to regard her in a serious heavy-lidded gaze that Katie could not for the life of her interpret. Then he slowly smiled at her and a horrible realization struck Katie. She recognized that look in his eyes. That was the look Marcus gave her on occasion. He gave her that look when he wanted to make love.

Katie stared at Marcus's father. She felt like she was petrified. She couldn't move even if she wanted to. She helplessly watched him run the back of his fingers very slowly down her arm. Then, their gazes locked on one another. Her eyes were shocked. His eyes were blatantly aware.