Chapter 3

The Lines Are Drawn

Well, it's been a few years. Sorry about that. Life and all. But if anyone actually reads this, then we apologize. If not, oh well. Hope cyberspace enjoys another HP fanfic. :)

"Well what do we have here?" The man closest to her stepped forward, breathing in her fear. "I think we have something to play with now boys." Marianna could feel his smile twisting into perverted thoughts below his mask.

Trying to back slowly into the barrier she felt her body press against a hard chest. Knowing the worst she turned quickly only to be pushed to the ground as the person sent a spell flying at the closest intruder. Looking up Marianna realized it was Pogue's strong chest she had backed into, her mind went blank with the relief that she wasn't dead.

Quickly kneeling down Pogue helped her up and moved in front of her. Caleb, Reid, and Tyler were standing along side him, shooting spells out faster than the deatheaters could handle. They barely had time to acknowledge her presence before another curse came rocketing their way.

Marianna looked back at the still in tact barrier, none of the others had come out. But she could feel George on the other side, pacing back and forth with Arabella who had to have noticed that Caleb had come too.

Turning back to face the action she noticed one of the Deatheaters trying to get Reid on his own. Breaking every rule they had ever been taught about defensive training he followed the masked man into the dark wheat field. Not bothering to glance back Reid didn't realize that Marianna was following him into the shadows. The Ipswich boys could handle this situation, that was the only reason she had called for Pogue, but they were stronger as a unit, Reid knew that, there was no reason for him to break formation.

"Reid?! Where are you?!" Marianna's heart was racing, the two men had run off faster than she could play catch up; letting herself slow down for a split second she heard the echo of ricocheting spells to her left. Before her heart had slowed a beat she was cutting through the over grown grain.

The only thing illuminating the 12-foot clearance was the multi-colored spells being shot back and forth. Reid's blonde hair flashed at her from the right, whipping his wand up and down he seemed to be enjoying the event Marianna had brought them too. With a flick of his wrist he sent the Deatheater flailing backwards.

Spying Marianna he turned on her, before he had even raised his wand Reid sent another baray of spells down on him. Realizing it was a lost cause he lowered his mask. His face was twisted into rage at his defeat by a young wizard; blocking Reid's attack he inched his way closer to Marianna.

"The Dark Lord does not leave work undone little girl. Remember that." His gruff voice echoed in her head as he whisked out of existence.

Reid was suddenly next to her. She could see his mouth moving, but all she heard was a loud rushing noise. The Deatheaters words reverberating back in on her. She had done a very stupid thing leaving the barrier and showing her face. The target on her might as well have been bright green at this point. She was marked.

"Marianna?!" Shaking her roughly Reid was trying to pull the awed girl back to reality. "Marianna snap out of it!"

"What? I'm fine." Marianna stated trying to assure herself as much as him.

"What in the world were you thinking?" The concern in his eyes was comforting. "Why did you follow me, you know I can handle one pesky wizard." Pulling her tightly to his chest, his warmth filled her back up with life.

"I—I'm not sure, I'm sorry. I had to make sure you didn't get yourself killed." To her he smelled like home. She didn't want him to let go, but he did to soon.

Laughing he let her fall from his arms. "Come on we have to get back and check on the others." Beginning to jog back to the barrier he pulled her along in the dark. "How did you even get caught up in this mess? When Pogue called for us he seemed almost in a panic." Stopping he turned back to her, blocking her from getting back to the group. "One day away and you had him on a war path. You'll have to be careful with this power you have over him."

For a second she thought he was joking, but the changing tone in his voice called her attention to the truth in his words. Nodding she squeezed his hand before she sidestepped him and took off at a sprint back to the barrier.

By the time Marianna and Reid reached the others, all the Deatheater's had gone. The barrier had been dropped and the two separate groups seemed to have merged together. Still a good distance away Marianna noticed that Caleb seemed to be holding Pogue back from going to look for her. When their eyes met he finally managed to shake off his friends strong grip.

"I told you she was fine with Reid, Pogue you need to calm down." Caleb seemed out of breathe but happy nonetheless. He was holding Arabella's hand now that he was free of his fighting friend. Gently he brought her tiny hand up to his lips. His show of affection seemed to satisfy her but not stem the rage at what her twin had just recklessly done.

"What the fuck were you thinking!" Pogue crossed the short distance to Marianna and Reid in five strides. Marianna was a bit taken aback by his harsh words towards her. Before she could even mount a defense he had walked past her straight to Reid. "You knew she would follow you if you broke off like that." His right fist connected with Reid's hard jaw. Sending him staggering a few feet.

"What the hell man." Regaining his balance Reid massaged his jaw. He had expected something along these lines, so he wasn't all that shocked by Pogue's behavior.

"You risked her safety to get a little attention!" Closing the distance between them again he pushed him hard in the chest, almost knocking the wind from his lungs.

"Guys stop it." Tyler was between the two before Marianna could move herself into that familiar place. "You two are acting stupid. Pogue go see your girlfriend, Reid what you did was stupid, no need to fight over the obvious." Pushing Pogue back towards Marianna, Tyler helped Reid back over to the rest of the group.

Marianna stood with her head down. She had been stupid too. There was no guarantee that they would have gotten through the barrier; she shouldn't have called for Pogue so easily. His arms crashed around her, holding her tighter than was healthy. Her tiny frame was dwarfed by his well-muscled body, she could feel everyone's eyes on them.

"Marianna—I was so worried about you." His lips brushed the top of her head as he whispered into her hair. "As soon as I felt you calling I knew something was wrong."

"I'm sorry Pogue, I shouldn't have—" His lips melted into hers as his hand traced along her flushed cheek.

Breaking his hold on her he looked seriously down at her. "Yes you should have. And you better always do that when you need me." Kissing her more gently he seemed to want to keep her from the rest of the group.

Finally pulling away she turned to see almost everyone staring at them. Slowly she pulled him back to the rest of the now disapproving group, the front-runner being her fuming sister. Awkwardly Marianna stood in front of them all, holding Pogue's hand behind her back.

"Well that was fun." Her joke seemed to shake everyone from their confusion at their rescuers. Tyler and Reid smiled as they congratulated each other again.

"I. Will. Kill. You." Arabella's voice was shaking. The only thing keeping her grabbing hands from actually reaching her twins neck was that Caleb had a tight hold on her waist. Marianna slunk back into Pogue, her eyes momentarily lighting on the Weasley twins, Fred seemed amused by the situation while George seemed slightly dejected.

"Ari I had to." Marianna tried to reason before her sister could break free.

"You had to?!" Arabella's voice cracked as she ripped away from Caleb and landed full force on Marianna knocking her from Pogue's protective embrace and to the ground. "YOU LEFT A PROTECTED AREA TO GO INCHES FROM SOME HOMICIDAL FREAKS IN MASKS JUST TO CALL FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND?! I WILL MURDER YOU!" They were rolling back and forth across the ground. Arabella was dominating over her slightly weaker sibling. Finally managing to pin her she wrapped her hands around her neck.

"Someone help me!" Marianna gasped out.

"Sorry Mar this looks like a sister thing." Reid barely got out through his laughter.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" George stepped forward trying to figure out how best to pull the two apart.

Pogue stepped in front of him, instantly stiff. "It will be over in a few minutes. Ari just needs to get this out of her system." George fell back, the two seemed to already have a bad connection.

"Well should we go inside?" Sophia offered ignoring her daughters trying to kill each other.

By the time Marianna could get Arabella off her, ten good minutes had passed of them being alone outside while Arabella abused her in every sense of the word. Finally letting her sister go she stood up. Whipping away the tears she had been letting fall she reluctantly offered her hand down to her gasping sister.

"Don't you ever let me catch you doing that again." Arabella's words were sharp and menacing. Glancing back at the house she walked a few feet farther from it instead.

"I don't even know why I did it." Marianna finally voiced, slightly ashamed of herself.

"Because you are an idiot with a death wish." Arabella's voice had gone back to a safe and normal range.

"I'm so sorry. No one was doing anything, and I felt Pogue in the back of my mind, but the connection was being distorted by the protective spells." Marianna's hands were flying wildly as they often did when she was upset with herself and forced into talking.

"The boys said something about that connection. What the hell did you and Pogue do?" Finally turning back to face Marianna, Arabella crossed her arms, trying to keep some warmth in her arms from the chilled night.

"It's nothing, really." Marianna's voice trailed off, her sister would not be pleased at her linking herself to another person.

"Mar."

"Its just—you know how protective Pogue is—So when I told him I was leaving he insisted on putting a connection spell between the two of us…" Marianna could feel Arabella's disappointment. "It's not as bad as what you are thinking. It only works if one of us calls out to the other with the right trigger word." Her last attempt at justification seemed to fall on her sister's stony expression.

"You know how dangerous it is to connect yourself to another person like that Marianna." Arabella was back to almost shaking.

"Come on Ari, don't be mad. Look I can sever the connection if I want to. And it came in handy tonight, you have to admit that." Wheedling in her position she tried everything to get her sister to smile.

Snorting Arabella headed back to the house. "You wouldn't have needed them anyways. As soon as you broke for the barrier, George was on your heels." Looking back over her shoulder she winked at her surprised sister, so much for this being an easy night.

The mood inside the tiny house was mixed. The younger generation seemed to be fueled by the fight they had just witnessed while the older generation was sitting off by themselves musing as to what the open attack meant. But everyone was having a hard time ignoring Caleb as he accosted Parker into letting him have his way.

"Mr. Ambrose, you have to see my side of the argument makes sense. This is obviously too dangerous a place for Arabella to be. You were all attacked, you can't want your daughter to be in harms way like that." He was standing strong in front of their farther. His eyes alight with fire, refusing to sit down when Arabella begged him to let it go.

"So you think I want my children in harms way?" Parker's voice was unperturbed by the boys pleas.

"That's not what I'm saying sir. I simply think if you let Arabella return to American with me, she would be much safer than here in this war torn country." Caleb was starting to sound a little desperate as Arabella decided to ignore the situation and sit next to Marianna on Pogue's lap. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were on the couch across from them. The Weasley twins and Ginny were standing back in the distance.

"And Marianna." Pogue added trying to defuse the tension a little by drawing attention away from his now pathetic looking friend.

"Yes and Marianna as well." Miss reading his friends actions as support his argument seemed to be refueled. "They could stay with my family until the summer ends, and be back at Salem in two weeks for school."

Parker laced his fingers together, seeming to be in deep thought. Caleb inadvertently stepped forward. Parker took his action to be an aggressive front, whipping his wand out he slammed the boy into the ground before anyone could tell what happened.

"Parker!" Sophia cried out positioning herself in front of the Creevey brothers again. Embarrassed she tried to draw the room's attention away from her over zealous husband. "I'm sorry everyone, he's just on edge from the attack." Her excuse was paper thin at best and Parker seemed to realize his misbehavior, releasing Caleb from his position. Arabella kneeled down to make sure he was all right.

"I think it's time you boys went home." Remus stepped up from the table gesturing to the 4 boys who had come to their rescue. "We appreciate what you did. I'll be sure to owl your ministry, or what do you call it in America? Anyway, I will owl them to tell them of the good deeds you have done here tonight." The smile on his face was fake, but it was the best he could muster at this point. "In fact why don't we all leave, we've had a long night." The other new comers nodded and filed outside while Remus waited for Caleb, Pogue, Tyler, and Reid.

Pogue's grip tightened on Marianna's waist, not wanting her to move off him. Twisting her neck around she kissed him on the cheek trying to be as comforting as she could be in the tension filled air. Slowly he let her up, following the others outside after one last kiss goodbye.

Caleb took Arabella aside, completely dejected from his high of the fight. "I will bring you back, don't worry." His thumb and forefinger kept a tight grip on her chin, trying to push his confidence through to her.

"Don't worry Caleb, I am safe here. Marianna just decided to be herself tonight, despite our parents asking us to behave." Leaning up she kissed him gently before pulling away. He followed Tyler and Reid out the front door, leaving the tiny house filled with an awkward silence in their wake.

"Well, no one can say you American's aren't fun." Fred came out from the shadows leaning against one of the chair's backs. Smiling he infected everyone until they mirrored his ridiculous expression.

"You know it. And who knew you Brits could throw such a great party." Arabella tried to play along with his ludicrous jokes, everyone knows the British can't have fun.

"Well at least we know Dennis and Collin will be safe at your house." Mrs. Weasley came out from the dinning room, smiling and the room. "Marianna, Arabella do you want to go get their trunks and call it a night." The kind-hearted woman pointed them up the stairs. "They were on the third floor."

"How did we get stuck doing this?" Marianna turned Collins trunk for the third time trying to fit it between the two beds in the room. "One of the boys could have at least offered to help." Pouting she pulled her wand out before remember she couldn't use it and gloomily put it back.

"Would you want to help two girls who had psychotic boyfriends?" Arabella teased pulling Dennis's trunk to the door. "But if you want I can send George up. I think he understands now that you are taken."

"George? What are you talking about?" Marianna turned away from her sisters prying eyes. Had she noticed him looking at her too? Her heart started to pound, Marianna was sure it was loud enough for her to hear.

"Oh come on Mar, don't tell me you couldn't tell he was flirting with you all night. I finally brought up the boys to try and deter him." Arabella picked absently at her dress from where her attack on Marianna had messed it up.

"You did that on purpose? Come on Ari, I'm sure he was harmless at best." Marianna kicked the trunk before wrenching it one last time. "GAH! I give up on this stupid thing." Throwing her hands up she sat angrily on the bed.

"You really are weak Mar." Opening the door she stepped out. "I'll be right back to get it, don't break anything while I'm gone."

"Oh haha. You aren't that funny." Absent mindedly she pulled her wand out again, twirling it around her fingers she fell back against the bed, tracing shapes in the air above her she didn't even hear the person at the door walk in.

"Need help?" The voice was a little sullen but still pleasant enough.

"Oh no my sister…" Sitting up she realized it was George standing there. "Oh hi." The room seemed to fill with their awkward unspoken words.

"So that was your boyfriend?" Leaning against the doorframe he was trying to seem uninterested.

"Uh yeah, been 7 months now." Standing up quickly she slipped her wand away, instead she twirled a lose strained of hair around her finger, he made her nervous for some reason.

"Yeah seemed like a nice enough guy. Big guy though, almost seemed like he's too big for you." Kicking against the wooden floor he seemed a little spiteful.

"Excuse me?"

"You know, like he could crush you if you weren't careful. But that's cool, if that's what you are into." His accent was confusing her as to if he was actually joking or being serious.

"I'm sorry, is something about my boyfriend bothering you, practical stranger that I just met tonight?" Her eyebrows contorted together as she moved to the defense.

"Hey no need to get testy, I was just stating an observation. If you are okay with someone who looks like a lost link then more power to you and your free thinking American ways. Want me to get that trunk for you?" Not waiting for a response he crossed between the beds and easily picked up the trunk.

"Are you serious? Or is this how all you British treat guests?" Marianna was completely flabbergasted by his actions.

"What's going on here?" Arabella was back in the door way, watching the bad soap opera scene unfold.

"Nothing. It seems the monkey didn't get his banana today." Marianna stormed out of the room, leaving the two behind her in anger.

Arabella turned back to the ginger boy. "I see the way you are looking at her." Her statement made him shift the weight of the trunk from one side to the other. "She does have a boyfriend, and I'm telling you for your own safety more than anything, you should stay away."

A slick smile slid onto his lips almost too easily. Moving to the doorway with the trunk he chuckled to himself. "Don't worry, I don't plan to hurt your sister."

"Marianna can take care of herself, I'm worried about Pogue trying to hurt you. I'm serious, when it comes to her—he gets really scary, real fast." Arabella was remembering the time another boy at school had hit on her after they had only been dating two months. Pogue put him in the hospital for a week.

Finally passing past Arabella George looked back still smiling as he carried the trunk down the stairs. "I can handle myself too." His attitude was as if he had just accepted a challenge.

Arabella looked after him shaking her head, muttering to herself she followed after him. "The lines are drawn, I wonder which one of them will cross first."