Roman Slave Market
By Sara-Wackadoo
Disclaimer- Harry Potter and everything associated with the afore named books belong to JK Rowling who really is a most brilliant woman… I wonder if she'll sell me Marcus.
After the war a statue was erected in Diagon Alley. A square was built and it was positioned right in the middle with a large, beautiful phoenix on top, continuously being dieing before being reborn. Upon the base were silver gilded panels, names, thousands of names, lined the panels, war heroes who had died to keep England… the world really, free from the terror of Voldemort.
Every time that Katie saw this statue a tear crept to her eye. So many people she had loved now had their names engraved in the horrible piece of stone. This included friends, family and even enemies; so grieved for everyone whose names lined the walls.
Now Diagon Alley Square was fill of people, bustling through with a crowd, excited for a day of freedom free of violence, the war, two years gone, almost forgotten on the sunny summer day. Unfortunately, as Katie pushed through the crowd with Alicia Weasley, late wife to George Weasley, they headed towards a barricaded area at the far end of the Square. It was heavily guarded with Aurors, wands at attention, since those behind the barricade were war criminals, what were left of Voldemort's army; those whose crimes had not been serious enough to end them up in the already swarming Azkaban. These criminals were serving a life sentence for the crimes they had committed, hard labor usually to the people who they had wrong. Wizarding families who had lost loved ones in the war were entitled for revenge… and get a household servant at the same time. These prisoners wore golden collars around their necks, symbolizing their imprisonment. It was impossible for them to be removed and if they went out of order, with just a thought, the criminals could be willed into submission… or said the Ministry said. Nothing had happened to disprove this fact and the girls, who lived together in small, isolated house in Herts, decided they would need an extra hand around, especially since Alicia's little girl, Tyla, was getting older.
As the two witches passed through the barricade they scanned the selection of wizards being held. It reminded Katie of the Roman slave auctions, the thought making her shiver. Familiar faces greeted her eyes and Katie tried hard not to stare at some of the more unlikely deatheaters. Although many of those she recognized were former Slytherins, there were also Ravenclaws and even a few Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs.
The two girls browsed the holding pens, not sure what… or who exactly they should be looking for when a large man with striking, dark brown eyes caught her eyes. He had massive, strong shoulders and a hard, muscled, bare chest. Although his eyes were cold, Katie could tear herself away from the man. He cracked a slight smirk, revealing a pair of jagged canines and Katie recoiled in horror, recognizing the man she had been admiring – Marcus Flint.
"Katie," Alicia spoke up, interrupting her thoughts, "which kind of servant do you believe we need? Someone strong or someone with good skills?"
Katie shrugged, "Both would be good, I guess, but I don't like the idea of living in such isolated conditions such as at the house in Herts. Maybe we should go for someone stronger…"
"What if the collar were to break?" asked Alicia. "We don't want to be attacked in our sleep."
"Nothing of the sort has happened, Madam, I assure you," a pompous voice informed the two ladies who spun around surprised to see a tall, thin man, decked out in gaudy red robes standing behind them. "They are all well disciplined and collars are guarantied not to break."
Alicia looked inquiringly at Katie who shrugged. "It's a hard decision," Alicia said at last. "Can you recommend anyone to us?"
"Of course, Madam," the man answered just as Katie hissed, "No, he'll try and give us the troublesome ones that no one else wants."
The man looked outraged at this and clucked his tongue in frustration. "I assure you Madam, that I would do no such thing… and to show my good will, I'm willing to assign you two new servants instead of one."
Katie looked unconvinced but Alicia just smiled and followed the man through the pens, telling Katie that they could both pick one each.
"What specifically are you looking for?" the wizard asked and Alicia quickly relayed to him that she wanted someone good with babies and strong so they could do housework.
The man looked thoughtful for a minute before leading towards a cage towards the back. "I'm sorry that none of the women fit your description but many of them are quite mean spirited. But I think I have the man for you two ladies. He was a minor Deatheater from a large family, so he does know how to raise children, babies as well," the man told Alicia as they stared into a cage with six occupants. "Now, where is that boy!" he muttered to himself before pointing and nodding at the guards who stood next to the cage to retrieve a young man who was currently covered by mud and grime.
"This, Madam, is Terrence Higgs. A former Slytherin, pureblooded with seven siblings and a Hogwarts degree. He was a very minor Deatheater and did not participate in the last battle."
Slytherin seeker, Katie wanted to add, until Lucius Malfoy bought the position for his son, but she doubted that Terrence would take kindly to that comment.
Meanwhile, Alicia slowly paced around Higgs, sniffing him daintily and recoiling from the smell. "Well, he will need a bath…"
"We will be sure to outfit him in proper attire before you take him," the wizard replied and Katie was sure that she saw Higgs glare but Alicia didn't notice, she was to busy studying the Slytherin.
"He will do perfectly," Alicia finally replied before turning to Katie. "Now let's find you a Slytherin."
"You know Ali, I'm sure I'd prefer a Ravenclaw or a Gryffindor…"
Alicia shook her head, "No, Slytherins would be the best choice. At least we know how they're bound to act. With Ravenclaws and Gryffindors… even Hufflepuffs, we can't predict how they will act, I mean, they did turn to the Dark Lord!"
Katie sighed, "But I would prefer someone who isn't a Slytherin… they're safer."
In the background, Katie was aware of Terrence snickering but she ignored the man, hoping he would be controllable once they got him home. Ali was a grown woman, she could make her own choices.
"Madam," the wizard from before interrupted, "do you have any idea of what kind of servant you'd like?"
Katie thought for a moment, "Maybe we'll just stick with Higgs here…"
"Katie, no! We must get another, it's a wonderful deal."
Katie sighed, suddenly feeling uncomfortably guilty, it was the Roman slave market feel, she was sure. Quickly she shut her eyes and turned a little before pointing to a random man and announcing, "That one," with a pointing finger.
Alicia drew in a disapproving breath as Katie opened her eyes and was unsurprised to be confronted with Flint's smirk.
"I do not think he's a good choice, Madam," the wizard said nervously. "He's very brutish and devoted to the Dark Lord."
Katie felt a growl forming at the back of throat, "I'm sure, sir, that I may make my own decisions and I have made it, so please, do not change my mind."
"What happened to Ravenclaws or Gryffindors?" Alicia asked in a disapproving voice.
Katie ignored her friend and looked pointedly at the wizard, "Are you going to change your mind about the deal?" she asked in a shrill voice.
The wizard shook his head. "We're happy to see the devil gone…"
"Good," Katie replied with a curt nod. "We must soon return, please hurry with the papers so we may leave."
The man nodded and freed Marcus Flint from the cage and then bound Flint and Higgs together by the wrist and they headed towards the office to file the paperwork.
Half an hour later, four Aurors had just escorted the ladies and their two new servants home, bowing goodbye to the women and giving the men the evil eye before their was a pop and the Aurors were gone.
"What now?" Alicia asked, turning to Katie, "Should we wait for Ginny to drop off Tyla or should I fetch her myself? I don't want to leave you here with them," she added.
"Ginny or Angelina will pop around soon," Katie replied, "We should probably get the boys cleaned up soon anyways."
"Boys?" Marcus Flint growled. "Wish to come over here and see a boy Bell? Where's Wood anyways, now there's a boy if I ever saw one."
Terrence snickered at this as Katie's eyes stung and Alicia's cheeks turned red.
"I heard you married him, Bell… and you married Weasley, Spinnet. What they do? Get up and leave you?" he continued, snarling.
Oliver Wood, her loving husband was dead and the reminder always brought tears to Katie's eyes, until the point where she had changed her name back to Bell since she couldn't stand people asking, Do you need help with your groceries, Mrs. Wood? or That'll be five quid, Mrs. Wood.
"He's dead you bastard," Katie hissed, her eyes hurting so badly they almost stung. "It should have been you, it should have been. If you ever bring him up again… well the Ministry isn't going to miss you, one less Deatheater, you know?"
"Is that a threat Bell?"
Katie's laugh was manic as she replied with deep sarcasm "No, it's a declaration of love."
Marcus laughed at this at which point Katie darted out and punched the large man in the face just as the front door was opening and Ginny Weasley entered, carrying a baby with a toddler in his terrible twos walking at her side.
"Fight!" Hadrian cried, Ginny's two and a half year old son running towards where Flint had been sent sprawling to the ground. "Are you going to hit Aunt Katie?" he asked curiously, "because I can and will take you on!"
"Hadrian! Come here," Ginny Weasley cried in frustration and horror, registering Marcus Flint lying on the ground.
"Tyla!" Ali cried grasping the tiny bundle from Ginny's arms. "How are you baby?"
Tyla's small hand shot out, grasping onto Alicia's hair as she pulled happily. "Mama," she cried, "Mama!"
Terrence, who had been helping pull Marcus to his feet, starred curiously at the small body in Alicia's arms, his eyes softening. He loved children, they were his weakness, the reason he had never gone far in the service to the Dark Lord… unlike Marcus Flint, his old Quidditch captain. Flint was really lucky not to be in Azkaban, Terry thought, staring down at the prown man whose lip had cracked and now bleed profusely. One day, Aurors would come for Flint, they would catch up to him.
"Oh, Gin," Alicia said, interrupting Terrence's thoughts, "we got the servants from Diagon Alley, but they smell like pigs!"
Ginny nodded, studying Marcus with cold, calm eyes. "I see… and I smell. I believe they should be bathed," she continued and she pulled Hadrian away from Marcus, the former who was attempting to climb up the latter's shoulder to give him a punch.
Flint just looked confused at Hadrian's actions but the young boy looked to be having quite a bit of fun. "Oh Rian!" Ginny cried, exhasperated, "please, you're making me nervous." She quickly plucked Hadrian off Marcus with a nervous look and turned to Katie and Alicia, "I was going to ask the two of you if there was room for Rian and me but it seems like you already have quite the fullhouse. Fred is getting very annoying these days, specially since Angie's pregnant and spends most of her days eating. I guess I'll need to find somewhere else to stay. Maybe move back into Mum and Dad's," she added as an after thought.
"There's room Gin!" Katie exclaimed as she turned on the men and kicked Marcus to his feet before motioning Terry to stand. "They're perfectly safe, if you're worried about the big, bad Slytherins," she added, looking at Hadrian.
Ginny blushed and shook her head.
"Then it's settled!" Alicia exclaimed, "You're moving in and that's the end of this! Now please! I never knew Slytherins smelt so bad! You two bastards are having baths!"
Terry gave Alicia a sly sneer, Slytherins were known for their sexual appetites before all else, and said, "Will be joining us?"
Ali blushed red, even though she had bore one child already. Hearing innuendos from a Slytherin was just two much for the poor girl, Katie thought.
Author's Notes
WELL!! What do you think? Is it a good idea? Did everyone react how you'd think they would? I guess the reason Katie choose Marcus was a bit stupid… but ya. Couldn't think of a better idea.
Please review, the more the reviews, I must add, the more likely for me to get off my lazy ass and update. ;)