A Football Romance

Chapter 1

(A/N: I own none of the magical themes or people in this story except for Britain. And yes, I am American, and I feel than all Americans are odd calling it "soccer" so I shall be referring to it as "football" which makes more sense in reality.)

It was the twenty-second of May, and my final year of Hogwarts. I was out at the Quidditch pitch, during our final free period before N.E.W.T.S., playing around with a football. Yes, I know I'm a witch and should probably be playing Quidditch, but ever since I was four-years-old in my first football game, I fell in love and shortly became obsessed with the sport. My dream, the only thing I ever wished for on my birthdays, or when I saw a shooting star, was to play football professionally for Manchester United…even better to play for England in the World Cup!

So, as I was saying, I was out on the pitch and had successfully materialized a full-sized net from mid-air and set it at the base of the golden hoops closest to the entrance. I had been here for the better part of an hour and was considering going back to Ravenclaw tower and washing up a bit before going in for dinner, but after deciding that the Rice Cake in my school bag would suffice as dinner, I grabbed it, took a bite, and began juggling the ball while I ate.

By the middle of dinner, my blonde hair was caked to my face in sweat, even though it wasn't very hot out, and my white shirt felt heavy on my back. I quickly stripped it off and continued to shoot mercilessly on the goal, wearing my red camisole top.

"Well, you look good shooting on an open net…but it doesn't seem like much of a challenge if you ask me." A voice drawled from behind me after I volleyed a shot into the back of the net. I turned, although I didn't really feel the need to, for I knew the face that belonged to that despised voice. His black hair was longer now, coming to the tops of his ears and hanging in a windswept-fashion across his tanned forehead. The dark green of his eyes would make any girl swoon and sigh…any girl in Slytherin that is.

"Whatever you want Flint, I'm not interested. Now please stop using my valuable time and leave." My voice was dull and bored, for I felt absolutely no emotion towards the man standing before me. I summoned the ball back towards me, and began juggling again before the ball was stolen away from me.

"What the bloody hell are you playing at Flint? Give me the ball back!" I couldn't steady my voice, and it screeched on the last syllable of my sentence. But Alas! The stupid git only smirked and twirled the ball on his finger-tip. My hair had come loose and pieces flew in a whirlwind around my face as my blood-pressure rose.

"So we're on a last name basis, are we? Well then Parks…I was just going to suggest that I could goalie for you and give you better practice." His white tooth grin was almost unbearable as he smirked across the pitch at me.

"Ha! Marcus Flint playing a Muggle sport? I won't live to see the day!" I laughed cruelly.

"Come on, Britain. Just let me block a couple of your shots…I've been dyin' to play all week and this is my first chance! You know, you would have a better practice if you had a goalie to block ya." He begged. It was kind of cute actually. He looked like a puppy that didn't get enough attention…maybe he was…

"Fine…but only a few shots, then I would like to get serious again 'cause I really need the practice." I finally gave in when he looked like he was going to cry. Flint got so incredibly happy that it almost made me laugh…almost. He conjured up a pair of goalie gloves, and did a few up-downs (A/N: for those that don't know what an Up-Down is, its when the goalie jumps up, touches the cross bar, then falls into a push up. This is used to prepare the goalie for high kicked and ground balls.) and then gave me a ready signal.

I decided to take pity upon this poor soul, and shot my first shot slightly to his left and level with his chest. I was waiting to hear this swish of the ball hitting with the back of the net, but to my utter amazement, I heard an audible thud as it made contact with Marcus' chest and his arms wrapped around it expertly.

"Wow, I thought you were than that Parks… This might not even be a practice for me at all." He sneered playfully as he tossed the ball back. My eyes turned a darker, angrier blue as I lined up for another shot. This one would sail high, and fall into the back right corner of the net. Try as he might, Flint couldn't save it.

"And I'm just getting warmed up Flint." I smirked in a very Slytherin like manner as he, again, threw the ball back at me, only with malice this time.

This continued for about two more hours, it would have been longer if we had night vision, for now, it was very dark outside…and I was getting frightened. Marcus wanted to conjure some lanterns and such, but my phobia got the best of me and I called it quits…I guess I couldn't hide my fear to well because the next thing out of Flint's mouth was…

"Don't tell me that the all mighty Britain Parks is afraid of the dark." His sickening baby voice made me want to turn and punch him, but before I could reply with my snappy comment, there was a loud howl from the forest beside us. I dropped the football and jumped about a foot in the air and two feet sideways, right into Flint. I thought he would laugh and make a nasty comment, so you would understand my surprise when I felt his arm wrap…almost protectively around my shoulders. I scowled and tugged his arm from my shoulder, and became dumbfounded when I realized that I missed his warm protection.

"So…um…there's this shop in Diagon Alley…that, uh…not many people know about…it has a lot of items for Muggle Sports and uh…I was wondering if you'd like to go….with me…tomorrow." I heard his voice shake slightly, but he cam out with a quick recovery…and I realized that he was somewhat nervous. So I did what I always did…I played with his mind…

"Are you, Marcus A. Flint asking me on a date?" I chuckled.

"Well…we don't have to call it a, uh…a date…but that's, umm…that's what I was intending…" His voice cracked a bit again, and I couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Unfortunately he figured out what I was doing, and scowled playfully in my direction.

"I'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks at noon, don't be late, or I'll find you and you'll be sorry." He asserted, becoming more confident. That's one thing I learned about Marcus, when someone was putting him down, he got nervous, shy, and wasn't like any of the other Slytherins.

"Fine. I guess I'll meet you. But purely because I need more soccer equipment!" I sighed. Flint smirked down at me, took my hand in his, placed a suave kiss upon my knuckles, and said…

"Parting is such sweet sorrow…" before jogging down to the dungeons. I stood watching him, until he rounded a corner and was no longer in my sight range, then started up the many stair cases to Ravenclaw Tower where I slept peacefully through the night.

Chapter 2

"See you back at the castle, Britain!" Becca called as she headed into Madam Puddifoot's with her boyfriend Thomas. I waved goodbye and headed towards The Three Broomsticks to find Flint. He was standing against the far end of the wall wearing black and track pants and a tight, black muscle shirt. I also noticed he had a tattoo of a rather beautiful looking scorpion on his right, lower arm.

"God, I thought you'd never show your pretty face." He smirked as he began walking down a small, cobblestone path, me at his side. I ignored his comment and decided to talk of something that interested me a little more.

"I like your tattoo…" I accosted as I examined his arm more carefully. "Where'd you get it done?" My interest taking hold of me; he gave me that arrogant smile that I hated so much and began to talk.

"I a shop down here…just past this little store actually; the one I was telling you about…with the Muggle sports equipment. I was going to stop in there after, I wanted to get another on my back…do you want to accompany me?" He asked very gentleman like as he opened the door top a shop filled to burst with Muggle sports items.

"As a matter of fact, I would…I've been thinking of getting one myself…" I mentioned as I perused through shelves before spotting a large amount of stuff under a wood sign that read "Football."

"That's a first. A goody-two-shoe Ravenclaw getting a tat… Well…I guess you're different…much more open to new ideas." I knew he had a double meaning in there when I felt hands on the tops of my hip bones. I must have turned pretty quickly, because Flint fell backwards into a shelf, causing a couple footballs to fall on his head.

"I swear Flint…touch me again, and I'll curse you into the next Millennium!" I suppose my voice was rather loud, causing the owner to glare at the two of us in suspicion. Turning back around, I began to search through a box of cleats, and examined a pair of red and black ones that looked to be my size.

About an hour or so later, Marcus and I approached the counter, paid for our purchases, and exited the shop; turning right, down a dirt pathway. We slowly made our way down the path and soon came to a creaky sign that read 'Tank's Tats and Tinks' that I supposed meant 'Tank's Tattoos and Piercings.' I looked up apprehensively at the grimy brick building with Marcus chuckling behind me.

"Come on Parks…I promise you it's clean inside!' he chuckled and opened the door for me, yet again, before following.

A woman greeted us at the counter, and we meandered into a sitting room with pictures of designs hanging on the walls, and magazines of other designs strewn across a table in the center of six chairs. I sat and began flipping through magazines, but Marcus remained standing, staring at a curtain near the back of the shop. I was only seated for a few minutes before a tall, muscular man with arms covered in black ink came from the back; a small girl carried by her mother following.

"Ah, Marcus Flint…what a pleasant surprise…what will it be this time?" The man seemed jolly as he clapped Marcus on the back, and shook his hand warmly, almost in a fatherly way.

"Good to see you too, Tank. I came for this," Marcus said, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket. I stood up and walked behind him to get a better look at the picture. I expected it to be of a naked woman with long flowing hair; but instead, it was a dragon that appeared to be flying out from his back. It was rather well drawn, and by glancing at the wall, I noticed multiple other pictures that looked to have the same design properties.

"Well, well…that's another fine one to add to the wall…alright my boy; I can do that for you." He looked to me, as if just noticing my existence, glanced back at Marcus and added… "Look here…You've got a right pretty girlfriend here lad, and what's your name little miss?" He smiled.

"Britain Parks sir…and we're not together…well, we're together as in the same place…but as in my together we're not…" I stuttered. Marcus turned and gave me an amused expression before turning back to the man called Tank….quite frankly, he looked like a tank.

"Britain here has agreed to come with me today, she was thinking about getting a tattoo herself." He explained. Again, I was dumbfounded that he didn't say anything arrogant and perverted.

"Good, good…well, let's get on with it before you two need to be back at the castle…right this way little miss." I hated how he called me little miss like I was five. I followed Marcus behind the curtained area and took a seat on one of the stools sitting nearly on top of the dentist-like chair which Marcus settled himself in, lying on his stomach and looking in my direction.

"Right now…you've never got one in such a spot…and I'll have to warn you that it hurts right bad…just so you know…" Tank mentioned as he took a seat on the stool opposite me. Marcus nodded his head and settled into the chair even more. Seconds later, Tank had his wand tip on a spot directly between Marcus' shoulder blades. I heard Marcus' in-take of breath, but wasn't prepared for when Tank's wand lit and Marcus' hand shot out, reaching for the closest thing…my right hand. I didn't really mind much, I actually thought it was cute that he was showing a weakness to pain and wasn't afraid to ask for comfort. I sat there and held his hand in mine, subconsciously running my hand over his soothingly. He seemed top relax more after the first minute, but every so often, when Tank would reach a more susceptible spot on his back, Marcus would squeeze my hand, and I'd squeeze his in return.

"Right then, all finished…let me just bandage that for you…you can probably remove it by tomorrow, its just to make sure you are hurt any more than you are now…" Tank said about an hour later as he cleaned the tip of his wand with some type of fluid.

"Thanks man… Well Brit…you want to grab a drink before we head back?" Marcus asked me, wincing slightly when Tank began to wrap gauze around his chest and upper back.

"No…I told you I was going to get a tattoo and I ant to get one now." I planted my foot in the ground to emphasize my unmoving stance.

"Well my boy…you better give the little miss what she wants…I think she may be one of the few that would be able to kick your arse." Tank laughed heartily as I began to search through a magazine I had brought in.

"Believe me when I say she can." Marcus rubbed the spot on his side where I had broken his ribs in fourth year. I laughed at the memory as I pointed to the design I wanted.

"But…I want it different…Marcus…do you think you could draw me a design? Please!" I said, taking his hand in mine and looking up to him with my famous puppy-eyed pout.

"How could I say no to a face like that… Sure, what do you want?" He said, taking the magazine and examining the picture more closely. I described the modifications I wanted, and by the time he was finished, the drawing looked very, very remotely like the starting picture.

"Alright then…where do you want this, and how big?" Tank asked as he examined the picture.

"Around my belly button if you can." I said, lying down in the chair with Marcus taking my once occupied stool. Tank looked at me like I was crazy for a second, and decided against saying whatever he was going to say.

"I can do it…but it will hurt just as much as Marcus'." He warned me, and with a nod of my head, he placed his wand tip about an inch away from the top of my belly button. The initial shock wasn't what made me grab onto Marcus'…it was the small amount of blood that had begun to seep through about two minutes later. Granted the pain was a lot, but the blood is what really killed me. I guess Marcus noticed what it was and asked Tank to stop for a moment.

"What…its not…it really isn't…alright…I'm a slight bit squeamish." I admitted as Marcus' stood from the stool. He pointed his wad at the chair, and said Engorgio before the bed grew to a size that would fit more than one person. I guess that was his intent, because Marcus' slid in behind me and put his legs on either side of mine before nodding to tank to continue.

"Thanks." I whispered as I lay back onto his chest. This boy is most definitely a soccer player! I thought as I felt his chest under my head, and noted the he had what seemed like a six pack of abs. This went on for the better part of an hour, with Tank finishing with just enough time for us to make it back to Hogwarts.

The finished product looked amazing! I had asked for a design that was a rippled looking sun (A/N: you know how water ripples? Like that!) with a crescent moon that was clear, un-rippled , and placed in-front of the sun…all this, focused around my belly-button. After getting the gauze placed on it, and a good-bye hug from Tank, Marcus followed me from the shop and we headed back to the castle.

"I am surprised at you Parks…I never thought you would go through with that." Marcus said as he threw an arm casually over my shoulder, only to be pulled off again.

"Remember, I only agreed to go with you today because you're the only one in this school that likes…loves football as much as I do…" I explained as I began walking faster towards the front doors of Hogwarts. Marcus jogged up beside me just as we reached the steps.

"Hey Britain…do you want to practice tomorrow morning…Slytherin has the pitch for Quidditch practice until 10…but after that it's free." He said was we entered the warm castle. There were a few people in the entrance hall; leaving their dates before heading back to their common room. I won't say that we didn't draw some eyes, because we did. I mean a Slytherin and a Ravenclaw actually walking side-by-side without killing one another? That was rare!

"Alright…man, I can't wait to get out of here and get back to my team… Their supposed to be starting work-out sessions next week!" I exclaimed, startling a few first years beside me.

"Yeah…the guys have already started practice…man do I miss it. But I've got you, so I have one up on them, I mean; it's not every day that you get to train with the one and only Britain Parks!" Marcus' exclamation was even louder.

"Shh…you're drawing some eyes Marcus…besides; you say that like I'm some type of Football Star!" I giggled. Wait… I thought… Did I just giggle at Marcus flint? Despised Slytherin?

"I don't care if they look, really… And yes, you are a famous Football Star…I'd be surprised if England didn't choose you to be on their World Cup team in a couple years." He slung his arm around my shoulder again, and I hastily removed it.

"Listen Marcus…this whole touching and hugging and being close thing isn't going to work out for me. You have to show me that you're my friend before I let you do that." I turned to leave, but Marcus grabbed by wrist and pulled me back around.

"Don't worry Parks…I'll show you that I'm trustworthy…one day…" he whispered. His breath sent odd shivers across my body and down my spine. I turned and was not stopped from walking away this time.

I was close to reaching the Ravenclaw portrait when I heard a commotion around the corner. People were laughing and from what I could tell, someone was being pushed around. I decided to go check it out and when I rounded the corner, I saw several Slytherins standing together in a tight circle; every so often, one would move as if they were kicking something. I thought it was Mrs. Norris and was about to turn around when I saw a flash of yellow robes and realized that they must be ganging up on a Hufflepuff. Having seen enough, I strode quickly down the narrow hallway, raised my wand and shouted for them to turn around.

"Look Montague…it's a wee little Ravenclaw girl trying to stop us." One of them that I recognized as a Slytherin Quidditch player said to a boy with blonde hair and dark black eyes…Montague.

"Oh, 'tis not just a Ravenclaw, Warrington. She's a right pretty little thing…and so brave for stopping our fun!" His voice made me sick as I raised my wand at his throat.

"You can talk about me all you want, but from my point of view, I have the upper hand here. You would do wise to leave before I curse you into oblivion." My voice was surprisingly steady, but had a venom in it that was equal to that of a scorpion.

"Yes you do. But another day, another time…oh, will you be sorry!" He yelled back at me as they ran from the scene of the crime. I turned to the young girl lying on the ground; she was sobbing.

"Hey…it's okay now. Those bloody Slytherins left, ha…bloody cowards! Are you okay? You probably need to go to the Hospital Wing… Come on, I'll help you there." I picked the small girl up by her arms and winced at her cry of pain. I figured her arm may be broken.

"Thanks…" She whispered her voice hoarse from screaming. The brown hair on her head was tangled and caked with some blood.

It was a long, quiet walk to the hospital wing, and the whole way there, all I could think about was what the Slytherin called Montague had said.

Another day…another time…oh, will you be sorry! I saw his ugly face peering around every corner. I even day dreamed of him silently walking up behind me in a dark alleyway…horrible!

We reached the Hospital Wing and Madame Pomfrey came bustling in, and gasped when she saw the girl I was practically carrying.

"What in the name of Merlin happened here!" she screeched as I sat the Hufflepuff onto a nearby bed; my arms were tired from carrying her all the way here.

"Slytherins…I was going back to my common room when I saw them ganging up on her. I sent them packing and brought her up here as quick as I could… Be careful! I think her arm is broken" I gasped right before Madame Pomfrey grabbed the girl's right arm.

"You got a nasty cut on your head too… What is your name, dear?" She asked as she busied herself in a cabinet, grabbing bottle after bottle of potion. My pity simply increased for the child.

"Sarah Finnegan, ma'am. Do you think you could get my brother up here? He's in Gryffindor, his name is Seamus Finnegan. He's probably in his common room studying for the N.E.W.T.'s ma'am." She finished shyly. Upon the mention of her brother, I was rather nervous that Poppy would ask me to go fetch him, but was utterly relieved when she sent another student who was just being released to get him. I waited in silence for what felt like forever until Madam Pomfrey fixed the girls cuts and bruises. Just as she was finishing up, the doors burst open and a boy with sandy brown hair and bright blue eyes came storming into the Hospital Wing…Seamus Finnegan. I've had a slight crush on him for the last two years, but seemed to give up when he started dating Lavender brown last year.

"Sarah, are you alright? What happened? Who did this? I'm going to beat them to a ruddy pulp!" She yelled in the echoing room. Sarah giggled a bit, but I decided to leave…shit, she caught me…

"Seamus, I'm fine… This girl here helped me, scared those Slytherins right off, she did. I'm sorry; I never got your name." This child was slowly ruining me…

"It's Britain…Britain Parks." I said clumsily.

"Britain Parks…I've heard of you. Yeah, my friend back home kept telling me about you. He said you were the most amazing and most beautiful footballer he'd ever seen. Thanks for helping Sarah. She's only a first year, so defending herself is almost an obsolete answer." Seamus held his hand out for me, and I tentatively shook it. OMG! I can't believe Seamus Finnegan is acknowledging me! My thoughts ran wildly.

"Do you want to go out for a butter beer tomorrow? It's the least I could do for what you did for my little sister." His smile was so charming that my stomach melted and I thought I was a puddle on the floor. But then I remembered Marcus and the promise I made to practice with him tomorrow.

"You know Seamus, I'm really sorry, but I already promised Mar…my friend…that I'd practice football with him for a bit. We're both a little depressed that we're missing the first week or so of our conditioning." I really, really wanted to get a butter beer with him, but I couldn't abandon Marcus…no matter how much I detested him at times. He was actually a really sweet guy when he tried to be.

"Well, I'll take a rain check then? Maybe next weekend? I'd love to talk, you know, get to know each other…I think we'd really hit it off." He winked before he exited the Hospital Wing with Sarah on his heels. I sighed and waited a few moments before exiting the Wing myself and headed back to the Ravenclaw Common room to be left alone…once again…