Helloooo my faithful, amazing, beautiful readers! Here is Chapter 7. Hope you like it because it was a bit of a pain to write lol! Enjoy!
(*)
Harry awoke the next morning, still in a state of upmost shock regarding the events of the night before.
He scrambled out of bed, dressed, and hurried downstairs to the warm Common Room in a complete daze.
Sinking into a chair nearest the fire, he let the memories of the previous night roll over him.
He had been in such a good mood after spending the day with Marcus and spent the evening with Hermione in the Common Room, pretending to do his homework whilst really breathing in the smell of Marcus which remained on his robes.
She wished him good luck at 11:50 when he ran upstairs for his invisibility cloak and dashed down to the Gamekeeper's hut to meet with Hagrid…
Harry shuddered as he remembered the sight of the four, huge Dragons and closed his eyes, collecting his thoughts once more.
The meeting with Sirius hadn't been much better. His godfather had merely given him more to worry about regarding Krum and just when he thought he was going to get some help with the Dragons…Ron had interrupted them.
Harry's hands balled into fists at the memory of their encounter and he felt his blood boil at the memory of Ron's angry face.
Standing up abruptly, he marched straight out of the Common Room and headed off towards the Great Hall with the intention of reviving himself over a cup of tea.
It was when Harry was walking down a corridor, past the unused Classroom that he and Marcus so frequently inhabited, that he heard heavy breathing and stopped dead.
Listening, he thought he recognised the deep noise as Marcus', having fallen asleep next to the muscular Slytherin on many occasions.
He crept towards the Classroom Door and eased it open quietly.
Sure enough, he could see his boyfriend, lying flat on his back in a corner of the classroom, eyes closed and fast asleep.
Harry shut the door behind him and walked over to where the broad boy was lying, sitting cross legged next to Marcus' head.
He did not like the idea of jerking Marcus awake and so settled instead for running his cool fingers across Flint's square jaw, hoping he would wake up slowly.
He was quite wrong.
Flint jerked awake, his muscular arms flying instinctively up towards his face, catching his lithe boyfriend in the chest and sending him sprawling across the floor.
Harry gasped in pain as his shoulder connected painfully with a desk and sat up quickly.
Marcus was on his feet, looking around in utter confusion.
When his eyes fell on Harry, Marcus' look of confusion turned to that of horror at what he had done.
He strode straight over to where Harry lay, lifted him easily off the ground and stood the slender Gryffindor on his feet.
''Harry, you ok?'' he asked worriedly, ''I'm so sorry.''
He looked it too. Harry shook his head and wound his arms around Marcus' thick neck in a hug.
''It's fine, I shouldn't have startled you. I know you didn't do it on purpose.''
Marcus said ''don't know my own strength.''
Harry stood on tiptoe and kissed Marcus before saying ''I need to talk to you….wait, why are you here?''
It had only just occurred to him, what with being sent flying across a classroom, that it was strange for Flint to be here in the first place.
Marcus looked away and muttered ''waited, just in case you came back.''
Harry didn't know quite what to say.
''You waited here all night just in case I came in after meeting Hagrid?''
''Yes.''
Harry looked up into Marcus face for a moment before jumping and throwing his arms tightly around the Slytherin's thick neck again.
Marcus' muscular arms encircled Harry's small waist tightly and Harry was lifted further off the ground.
''You're so sweet sometimes.'' Harry said before crushing his mouth against Marcus'.
Marcus didn't respond, but pulled Harry more tightly to him, one of his hands moving from Harry's waist to support his backside.
Harry smiled and wrapped his legs around Marcus, before pulling his wand from his robes.
''Sorry, but you've got morning breath.'' laughed Harry as he pointed his wand at his boyfriend's mouth. ''All the muscles in the world can't save you from that.''
Marcus scowled in a playful sort of way before Harry pressed his lips against his own again, kissing deeply and winding his arms around the Slytherin's thick neck.
Marcus' other hand fell to Harry's backside as he walked them over to the wall, propping the smaller boy against it before attacking Harry's slender neck.
''Wait, Marcus.'' Harry said, placing his hands on the Slytherin's broad shoulders.
Marcus looked up, confused and frowning. ''What's up?'' he asked as he absent mindedly stroked one of Harry's well-practiced thighs which were both still wrapped tightly around him.
''I need to talk to you: it's about last night.''
Marcus looked disappointed, but nodded.
''Erm, aren't you going to let me down?'', Harry asked, half amused.
''Why?'' said Marcus looking genuinely confused.
''Well, not that I don't like this,'' said Harry smiling slightly, ''but it's just that this is quite serious and we're in quite a…erm… distracting position, don't you think?''
A tiny smile curved Marcus' mouth for a second as he continued to stroke one of Harry's legs, realising that with the lithe boy entwined around him in this manner, he wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything.
He nodded and let Harry down with a final kiss.
Harry grabbed Marcus' large hand in his own small one and walked over to a desk and sat on it.
He gestured for the muscular Slytherin to sit on the desk opposite his, which Marcus did, watching Harry's face as he did so.
Harry folded his arms against his flat chest and took a deep breath before starting to talk.
(*)
Harry spoke for about 20 minutes, telling Marcus everything that had happened after they had departed in Hogsmead.
Marcus' expression did not change throughout Harry's story, but his face became almost as pale as Harry's was normally and the muscles in his square jaw appeared to be clenching and unclenching.
When Harry had finished, Marcus stood up and began pacing up and down, eyes locked straight forwards.
Eventually, he stopped, looked around at Harry and said, in a low voice, ''Dragons?''
Harry nodded, watching Marcus grow whiter still.
''You're not doing it.
''What?''
''You're not competing.''
Harry had been afraid Marcus would react like this and tried to remain calm.
''Marcus, I've got to. It's a binding magical cont…''
''I don't give a shit what it is! You're not competing!''
''I've got to!''
Marcus punched the desk he was standing closest to and it toppled straight over, one of the legs rolling away.
''Marcus!'' Harry yelled in shock.
But Marcus advanced towards him and placed his large hands on Harry's narrow shoulders.
''I'm not losing you to a dragon, and that's final.'' He breathed.
''Marcus, I've got to compete!'' said Harry, half angrily and half pleadingly, ''and you won't lose me, I promise.''
Marcus looked away and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
Harry stood up and placed his hands on the Slytherin's muscular chest in a placating sort of way, ''you won't lose me, Marcus.''
His jaw still clenched and his breathing still heavy, Marcus looked down at Harry and nodded, though it looked like it cost him a great effort.
They both looked at the overturned desk and Harry said ''I'm still not used to how strong you are.''
''Sorry.'' Marcus said, waving his wand at the desk which mended itself and stood upright.
''It's Ok,'' said Harry, moving his hands from Marcus' chest to wrap his arms around the Slytherin's thick neck, ''I know you're only doing it because you care.''
Marcus nodded, wrapping his arms around Harry's waist as they hugged, the Slytherin still breathing heavily.
Harry stood on tiptoe and kissed Marcus lightly on the lips, ''let's got and get some breakfast.''
Marcus nodded, kissing Harry again and beginning to feel slightly ashamed of his outburst.
''Sorry'', he grunted again.
''Stop apologising!'' Harry smiled before saying, ''look, meet me here tonight and we can make up for yesterday, OK?''
Flint gave a small smile and nodded, holding the door open for Harry who left and hurried back up to Gryffindor tower to find Hermione.
(*)
Following a long walk around the lake with Hermione, Harry retreated to the library with her, rifling through book after book on Dragons.
He was desperate for anything that would help him survive the following Tuesday and even the prospect of meeting Marcus that evening did nothing to lift the rapidly sinking leaden weight of barely contained terror in the pit of his stomach.
How on earth was he supposed to overcome a dragon? He was 15 years old for goodness sake!
He clenched his jaw hard so as not to groan in anger and focussed his efforts instead on checking the index of a book called ''Tame the Untamable: A Dragon Keeper's Guide''.
Hermione, despite her best efforts, did little to improve his mood and, indeed, her constant reassurances that all would be well and that they would have found a solution to the problem before Tuesday did little more than irritate him.
''I mean, you could try a simple tripping hex, you know, to catch the Dragon off guard,'' she was saying as she stacked a pile of books neatly before opening another, ''but then what if it falls on you? That wouldn't be any better than burning really.''
Needless to say, by the time midnight arrived, Harry was in a vile mood and did not say goodbye to her as he walked out of the portrait hole.
(*)
He walked into the classroom at 5 past midnight to find his burly boyfriend sat on the desk nearest the door, waiting for him.
''Hey.'' Said Harry, walking into the room and placing an almost perfunctorily kiss upon Marcus' lips.
Flint frowned and when Harry did not explain, said, ''you still upset about the Dragon?''
Harry, who was still in a temper, snapped, ''Of course not, Marcus, I'm completely fine with the idea of being eaten alive!''
They stared at each other for a long moment before Flint said, ''don't say things like that.''
''Why not? It's true! I've got no chance against a 50 foot tall lizard!'' Harry said, flinging himself down on the desk opposite Marcus and folding his arms moodily.
''I'll help.''
''What?''
''I'll help you. I sent an owl to my uncle today. He works with Dragons in the midlands.''
Harry was completely shocked. ''You…you sent him an owl?''
''Yes''
Harry was starting to feel ashamed of his outburst. After all, it was not Flint's fault that he was in this situation and he felt he would deserve to be barbequed by his Dragon if he continued to take his anger out on the Slytherin.
He forced his face into a smile and said, ''shall we go for a walk?''
Flint looked hesitant and said, ''you got ill last time.''
''I'll be fine, come on.'' Said Harry, still smiling.
Flint nodded and stood up, putting his arm around Harry's shoulders as they walked out of the classroom and down towards the oaken front doors.
When they entered the freezing grounds, Harry took Flint's hand in his own and set off towards the lake, linking his slim fingers with Marcus' large ones absentmindedly.
''Have you got to kill the dragon?''
Harry looked sideways at Flint, whose jaw was clenched and who was staring straight ahead as they walked towards the mirror smooth lake.
''Charlie Weasley said to Hagrid that we just had to get past them.''
Flint nodded and stopped walking suddenly.
''Marcus, what…''
Flint turned sideways to face Harry, grabbing both the Gryffindor's hands as they stood looking at each other.
''Harry,'' said Flint, looking as though what he was about to say was costing him a great effort, ''I…I…I don't want to lose you to this tournament.''
''Marcus, you won't. It's….'' Harry began, but Marcus forestalled him.
''Please let me finish.''
Frowning, Harry nodded and continued to gaze up at the muscular form of his boyfriend.
''I don't want to lose you to this, and I know you say it's safer…but I…'' Flint looked away, his jaw clenched firmly.
Harry squeezed the Slytherin's large hands with his own and took a step closer, resting his head on Flint's strong chest.
''If anything happens to you, there won't be anyone else.''
There was a very long silence.
''What…what do you mean?'' said Harry, lifting his head from Marcus' chest to look him full in the face.
''Can't say it again.''
Harry opened his mouth, closed it and then opened it again, ''that's...Marcus, that's probably the nicest thing anyone's said to me.''
Flint continued to look down at the slender Gryffindor before nodding, ''mean it.''
Harry, who never cried, had to swallow a rather large lump in his throat before saying, in an attempt at a cheery voice, ''let's go to our tree!''
The two boys linked hands again and walked slowly off to the willow they had sat beneath a few days earlier, the moonlight silhouetting their linked fingers.
(*)
Three hours later, the two were to be found in the same spot.
Marcus was sat with his back against the tree, his legs stretched in front of him.
Harry was fast asleep in his lap. Lying sideways, his face was half buried in Flint's chest, sleeping peacefully as the Slytherin looked down at him and tightened his arms around the 4th year.
Harry frowned in his sleep and his eyelids began to flutter ever so slightly, one of his arms starting to twitch.
Without a word, Marcus stroked Harry's smooth face with the back of his hand, tracing his fingers over the scar on the Gryffindor's forehead.
Harry stopped twitching and merely pressed his face deeper into Marcus' chest, sighing peacefully…
(*)
There you go! Painfully fluffy as usual, but don't fear because the smut is on its way very soon! Don't forget to review! x
