Sparks

Sparks 24

Chapter Twenty-Four:

The Slytherin Dungeons: late Sunday night:

Later that Sunday night in their room, Chris, Tarquin and Marcus were enjoying a glass of Ogden's Blue label. Marcus looked at Tarquin with a puzzled frown.

"Tarquin," said Marcus. "I have to ask. Why does Circe hate you so much?"

"No kidding," said Chris. "She looks at you like she wants to kill you but can't quite decide how."

"Oh," said Tarquin airily. "You know witches, especially Slytherin witches. Merlin knows what goes on in their homicidal little heads. By the way, what are you two doing here? I thought you would be out with your witches."

"Sarah is having something she calls a girls night in," said Chris. "I have no idea what it is but she said she was neglecting her mates. I've been ditched."

"Katie has a potions project due and she hasn't had time to do it. That Scottish twit and his practices eat up all her spare time during the week," said Marcus with a sigh. "I've been ditched as well. And Tarquin, I still want to know why she hates you."

Tarquin tried to pretend he couldn't hear Marcus but after several glasses of Ogden's, he finally told them.

"So you know, Circe spent part of the holidays at our manor," said Tarquin. " It wasn't so bad at first. We were forced to spend a lot of time together and I started to realize that Cassandra is very young. I mean she still plays with dolls. So my attention diverted to Circe. She's gotten very pretty and couldn't help but compare the two sisters. I thought I had made an error. Then the Library incident happened."

"You kissed her," said Chris.

"Yes," said Tarquin with a groan.

"And you enjoyed it," said Marcus quietly.

"Yes," said Tarquin a little sadly. "It was sweet and romantic. It wasn't what I was used to."

"Then what happened," asked Chris.

"Then right after," said Tarquin. "We overheard my father and her father talking about the betrothal. Her father asked mine why I didn't chose Circe. My father said I didn't want Circe and that I wanted a witch I could mold. Circe was too old. He outlined all the cold hearted reasons I gave him for Circe's father and unknowingly for Circe."

"What did she do?" asked Marcus. He already could guess the answer.

"Did she hit you, mate," said Chris sympathetically.

"No," said Tarquin with a closed off expression on his normally open face. "She just looked at me like I was the last wizard that she would ever touch again and walked away. She didn't say a word. But for the rest of the holiday, she generally slagged me off at every opportunity."

"Have you tried to talk to her about it," asked Chris. "Girls can't be allowed to stew when they are angry. They just get angrier. You should have groveled."

"She was really mean," complained Tarquin. "And she still has a thumping crush on Marcus so why bother? Besides, if we just ignore the whole incident, it will fade away. In the future, we'll exchange fake smiles and stiff greetings during the holidays when I marry Cassandra. It will carry on the Bole family tradition of uncomfortable family get-togethers."

"Speaking of uncomfortable, Marcus," asked Chris. "What was up at the Three Broomsticks yesterday? I thought people's eyes were going to bug out of their heads while they were watching you make nice with the Gryffindorks."

"Hey," said an offended Marcus. "You make nice with the Hufflepuffs. What's so different?"

"I do that because I would like to see Sarah naked once and awhile," said Chris with a grin. "You're Marcus Flint, Slytherin Quidditch captain and bad boy extraordinare."

"Who likes to see his girlfriend naked once and awhile too," rejoined Marcus.

Tarquin grinned and said," I never thought I'd see the day when you two would be whipped boyfriends." Both Marcus and Chris turned and glared at Tarquin who tried to look innocent.

"Take that back, Tarquin," threatened Marcus with a glare. "Or else."

"Or else what," asked Tarquin with a raised eyebrow.

"Or else, I'll tell Circe that you are still shagging Moira," said Chris with his arms folded against his chest.

"That's just mean," said Tarquin sulkily.

"And using the word whipped wasn't?" rejoined Chris.

"We are just friends," protested Tarquin. "Who occasionally sleep together."

"You are still shagging that Ravenclaw?" asked Marcus.

"You mean you haven't seen her some mornings mate," asked Chris.

"No," said Marcus with a frown. "I must be losing it."

"The Gryffindor girl has you distracted," said Tarquin. "Or is your old man?"

"It's the old man," said Marcus as he quickly refilled his drink and the other glasses as well. "He officially won 'the worst father in the world'' contest yesterday. And he had pretty stiff competition from Lucius Malfoy. He'd be pleased though, winning against Lucius."

"What did he do?" asked Chris.

"He reminded me that he would be choosing my bride," said Marcus heavily. "Not me."

"And Bell is not acceptable," said Tarquin quietly.

Marcus nodded shortly and downed his drink.

"Did you confront him about the Quidditch offers?" asked Chris.

"No," said Marcus with a crafty gleam. "I made a tactical error in telling him about Katie so I'll keep that information to myself for now."

"How did Katie take the news?" asked Tarquin.

"She doesn't know," said Marcus tightly. "I can't risk losing her."

"Oh," said Chris sitting straight up. "That's the wrong move. If she finds out on her own, she will go mental. Girls hate secrets like that."

"Well," sighed Tarquin. "It is up to you. But you know Marcus, she loves you."

"I'll figure something out," said Marcus confidently.

"On a lighter note," asked Chris. He sensed that Marcus wanted the subject changed. "It's Valentine's Day in a few days. What have you got planned?"

"My plans involve having the room all night," said Marcus with a determined gleam.

"Whatever," said Chris. "I want the room too, mate."

"What about me," asked Tarquin plaintively.

"Please," said Marcus with a lifted eyebrow. "Surely Ravenclaw Tower is big enough for your Valentine's Day trysts. And I'm sure you have more than one planned."

"As a matter of fact," said Tarquin loftily. "I have plans with Circe."

"Does she know?" asked Chris with a laugh.

"Not exactly," said Tarquin pensively.

"And not in our room," said Marcus forcefully.

The boys continued to bicker good-naturedly into the night over glasses of expensive firewhiskey.

St. Valentine's Day: the Slytherin dungeons:

Their mouths were straining against each other in the darkness. Katie could feel his powerful thighs rubbing against her slender ones as they moved together. His hands pulled her own over her head as his fingers intertwined with hers. She could feel his hot seeking mouth on her throat and she moaned her pleasure.

Katie felt so unbearably excited that she bit Marcus shoulder as the pleasure washed over her in waves. Several minutes later, when Katie came back to her senses, Marcus was panting on top of her.

"Merlin Katie," said Marcus plaintively. "You bit me."

"I'm sorry," said a sheepish Katie. "I don't know what came over me."

"It hurt," said Marcus in mock outrage.

"Do you want me to kiss it better?" asked Katie.

"Yes," purred Marcus as he shifted off Katie. "Later."

"Merlin Marcus," said Katie. "You were right though, it keeps getting better and better. Practice really does make perfect."

Marcus laughed then lazily wound her hair around his fingers as she stroked his back.

"How did you manage to get rid of your roommates?" asked Katie.

"I bribed them," said Marcus flatly. "And I'll have you know it cost me a lot of favors. They refused to accept galleons. Damn Slytherins."

Katie giggled then stretched in contentment. Marcus rolled over on top of her trapping her against the bed. Katie squeaked in surprise.

"I believe, Miss Bell," said Marcus lazily. "That you have something to make up to me."

"Right now?" gasped Katie. "Marcus!"

Marcus lightly kissed her neck as Katie sighed and wound her arms around his neck.

Two Weeks Later: The Great Hall

"Oh no," gasped Katie as she looked at Lee with a look of horror. "How could they?"

"They had every right Katie," said Lee defensively.

"It was none of their business," said an outraged Katie. "It was Alicia's and Ty's business and no one else's."

"He was kissing another girl," said Lee. "How would you feel if Flint was kissing another girl when you were dating?"

"Number one, they weren't really dating. Alicia told me,' said Katie forcefully. "Number two, Marcus would never kiss another girl because then I would be forced to kill him slowly. He knows this. Number three, I would be stomping on that slag so hard that she wouldn't know what hit her. The point of my list is that I would be doing the damage, not my well intentioned thick mates."

"Fred and George were just defending Alicia's honor," said Lee stubbornly.

"Are you talking about the fight Fred, George, Montague and Derrick are having right now in front of the Great Hall," asked Seamus. "Because it's a doozy all right."

"Another one," cried Lee as he got up and ran out of the Great Hall.

Katie gasped and followed him out of the Hall. There was not a professor in sight. "Merlin," thought Katie. "Where the hell is Percy when you need him. Snogging that Clearwater girl in some dark corner, I bet."

Katie was just in time to see Tarquin deliver a wicked left hook right into Fred's jaw. Her eyes widened in surprise. Tarquin was currently wiping the floor with Fred. He just never struck Katie as a brawler, never mind a good one. Katie snapped out of her stupor and looked around for Marcus and for Merlin's sake, at least one professor.

She saw Marcus coming up the stairs from the dungeons fast. He looked furious. Katie dashed over to intercept him but the rolling bodies on the floor got in the way. She moaned in frustration when she saw Oliver confront Marcus just a few feet away from her. They were so near yet so far. Katie strained to hear them as she tried to avoid the brawling boys.

"Get your Slytherin bastards away from my team, Flint," yelled Wood.

"Those gits jumped Montague this morning, you Scottish wanker," yelled back a furious Marcus.

Oliver cocked back a hand and Katie shrieked when his fist connected with Marcus's jaw.

Marcus's head snapped back. He turned back his head with a wide grin on his face.

"Finally," said Marcus gruffly. "I can hit you. You thick bastard." He grabbed Oliver's robes in one hand and punched his face with the other. His hand connected with an audible crunch. His fist drew back again. "She wouldn't let me touch you unless you hit me first. For that, I thank you."

Oliver lowered his shoulder into Marcus's chest and both captains fell to the ground.

Katie made her way around the flailing bodies and threw herself on top of the struggling captains.

"Merlin Katie," panted Marcus. "Get off before you get hurt." He grunted when Oliver's fist connected with his stomach. Marcus tried to roll away from the Gryffindor but Oliver had a death grip on his robes.

"Stop it," yelled Katie as she rained slaps down on both boys. "Marcus Flint, you better stop punching, right now."

When the male spectators saw Katie get in between Wood and Flint, they started to help her to break up the fight. After all, when a girl was brave enough to try to stop a fight between those two opponents, it wouldn't do to make her go it alone. Cedric Diggory and Roger Davies had the most luck getting pairs to stop fighting. All in all, it was mostly Hufflepuffs that helped bring the fight to an end.

Marcus had stopped hitting Wood when he heard his witch threaten him. Slytherins were not stupid.

"Oliver Wood," screeched Katie. "Don't you dare hit him. He's stopped fighting."

Moments later, both the Slytherins and Gryffindors involved in the fight were busy giving each other death glares from opposite sides of the foyer.

"What is the meaning of this gathering," asked Professor Snape. Professor Lupin had come up right behind him.

His inquiry was met by silence.

"I think that they may have been letting off a little steam," said Lupin mildly.

Snape rolled his eyes then gave Marcus a stern look.

"Is this true Mr. Flint," said Snape softly.

"Yes sir," said Marcus. "A little rough housing that got a little out of hand." He and Fred Weasley exchanged a look.

"Yes Professors," said Fred rubbing his jaw and glared at Bole. "A little bit of steam that got a little out of hand."

"Well," said Lupin. "I believe it is time for Sunday lunch." Lupin corralled most of the crowd into the Great Hall.

"I do hope Mr. Flint," whispered Snape as he passed him. "That we at least won the non-existent fight?"

"Yes sir," said Marcus with a whisper of his own.

Katie grabbed Marcus by the arm and led him into the Hall. She was whispering furiously at him while he absentmindedly nodded.

Tarquin was repairing a large rip in his robes in the foyer when Circe came up to him. She stared silently at him for a few moments. Then she took her handkerchief out of her robe pocket and grasped Tarquin's chin in her hand.

"You are a big moron," said Circe dryly as she dabbed at his bleeding lip.

Tarquin hadn't noticed that he had an injury. He watched her intently as she wiped away the blood. The foyer was empty as she finished.

"But at least," said Circe with a small smile. "You did give Weasley a good working over."

Tarquin grasped her wrist in his hand when she turned to walk away. Without a word, Tarquin pulled her against him and kissed her. To his eternal surprise, Circe kissed him back. The kiss was soft to start and turned hot as Tarquin poured everything he could never manage to say to her into it. When he lifted his head, Circe eyes were still closed. She opened them and she looked completely dazed.

He opened his mouth to say something and Circe put her fingers over his mouth.

"Don't talk," said Circe with a grin that lit up her face. "You'll only say something stupid." And then Circe kissed Tarquin.

"We have to talk sometimes," said Tarquin a little unsteadily a long time later.

"About," asked Circe with a lifted brow.

"Cassandra," said Tarquin. "And what a huge prat I've been to you."

"What's there to talk about Tarquin," said Circe with a far away look. "One day you are going to marry my sister. We are just having a laugh. Isn't it want you wanted?"

"No," said a confused Tarquin. "I think I want more from you Circe than just a fling."

Circe tilted her head at Tarquin and smiled. "I think we have our paths crossed Tarquin because a fling is all I ever wanted from you."

"What?" asked a hurt Tarquin.

"What else would I want from a guy that said to my father that I'm not good enough for him," asked Circe with cold eyes. "Get over yourself Tarquin."

Tarquin watched her walk away with his heart in eyes. "Merlin you git," thought Tarquin. "When will you ever learn that women are not to be trusted." He didn't see Circe and the tears she had in her eyes as she walked away.

Over the coming weeks, Katie was distressed to find that the rivalry between the two Houses was at an all time high. And she was right in the middle. She tried to keep her relationship away from the tension but it was a hard go. Marcus was also acting strange. On one hand she was glad that he never mentioned his father to her but on the other, his father was a wedge between them. Ignoring him was not the answer.

The Great Hall: One week before the final Quidditch match:

Katie walked into the Great Hall with a distracted air. The sheer stress of constant practices and the tension in the air was giving her headaches. Instantly she could feel every eye on her as she walked into the room. Her eyes searched for Marcus but he wasn't in the room yet. She caught Tarquin's eyes and he was giving her a sad look. But lately Tarquin was pretty sad and dispirited. Katie wondered about what had happened with Circe. Nowadays, he would not even look in her direction and his womanizing was down. She wondered if Tarquin was sick.

Marcus strode into the Great Hall and took his place at the Slytherin table. His housemates were looking at him expectantly. Tarquin gave him a serious look and sighed.

"What is it?" asked Marcus. Tarquin wordless handed him the Daily Prophet. He looked towards Katie before he read the article in the society page.

Marcus watched as Alicia gave Katie a worried and sad look as she put her arm around her at the Gryffindor table. Angelina leaned close and whispered something in her ear. His head jerked up when he hear Katie shriek. He was about to go to her when Tarquin urged him to read the article first in a very serious voice.

Marcus's eyes darted down and he read the article. He could hear his heart boom in his chest and from far away Tarquin talking to him. He closed his eyes and shook his head then reread the article.

It read:

Aurelius and Natalya Flint are pleased to announce the forthcoming betrothal of their only son Marcus Aurelius Flint to Ekaterina Sergeievna Romanova, the daughter of Sergei and Anastasia Romanov.

Marcus looked up to see Katie's anguished tear streaked face.

"That utter bastard," thought Marcus as he felt the anguish engulf him as well.