A/N: Is anybody out there? Hi guys, bet you weren't thinking you'd ever see me again. I could pour on the excuses but the truth is that something bad happened to my family in the beginning of 2012 and it completely took over my life for three months, by the time it was over I had forgotten all about my stories. I only actually remembered when I got an update about an old favourite story of mine receiving a new chapter. Then I saw that someone had actually reviewed this story just after my 21st birthday this year. I went back onto my very old laptop and found a draft I had written for chapters 12 and 13.

It's been slow work finding my feet again and I can't guarantee that it will pick up pace very quickly but I feel like I owe it to everyone who ever took that time to express their feelings for my story to give you an ending. I'm starting small and any reviews with tips on things that are still great or things that have got rusty would be greatly appreciated. You guys never gave up on me and so I promise this story won't give up on you.

Disclaimer: None of this is mine, except for the pathetic attempts at banter :)

Chapter 12

The beat thrummed through the club as people swayed and chatted by the bar, topping up two galleon glasses of Ogden's.

Katie laughed and poured a Firewhisky for tall, dark and stumbling who continued to insist that he was definitely sober. Bachelor parties were common at the club, especially Quidditch star bachelor parties.

'You know I play for the wasps, the Wimbly Wasps.'

'Wimbourne, yeah you might have mentioned it,' Katie flashed him a practised smile, 'Six or seven times.'

He nodded slowly, 'The Wimbly Wasps. I'm a beater.' He paused. 'I hit things. '

Katie struggled to hold back another giggle, 'I'm sure you do.'

'Need me to take over?' Ange slipped across the bar, smiling at their companion. 'Ben wants to talk to you. Apparently you're better with friend stuff.'

'Probably because you two have yet to see past your Quidditch differences.'

Her friend shrugged, 'No, it's probably because he's an idiot.'

Tall, dark and stumbling took this opportunity to give the new arrival the once over, 'You're Anglia Josson!' He bellowed, a stupid smile spreading across his face, 'You play Quidditch! I play Quidditch!'

'All righty then,' Katie smiled and gave Ange's hand a quick squeeze before moving towards the other end of the bar where Ben was serving a quickly growing group of female customers. 'What's up?'

'I need your help, with,' his voice lowered conspiratorially, 'relationship stuff.'

Playing along Katie lowered her own voice to a whisper, 'Why are you asking me?'

'Are you, or are you not Agent Bell dating the infamous Mr Flint of the equally incorrigible Falcons?'

'That, Agent Hayes, is classified information.'

'So classified that even I know?'

Katie groaned, 'True.'

'Sorry Kates, looks like the Kat's out of the bag.'

'That, was terrible.'

'You'll be dealing with the press soon and I can guarantee some headlines will be even worse. Rita Skeeter's bound to come up with a right shiner.'

'I can see it now.'

'Flint chasers a new lady, Beau Bell: Quite a catch, On your Marcus, Sex, Go!'

Gasping, Katie slapped him with the nearest dish cloth. 'Just get on with the problem before I hex you so bad you'll be walking backwards until June.'

'Hate to break it to you Kates, it is June.'

'Did you want my help?'

Ben paused, his usual Chesire cat grin replaced by the painfully awkward expression on his face. 'Where do you take a girl on a date?'

Katie laughed, 'When have you ever had trouble with dates?'

Her friend gave a noncommittal shrug, 'This is different.'

She nodded jokingly, 'Because this one isn't married..'

A smile broke through the concern on his face as he leaned back against the bar, 'Exactly, Katie my darling, because this one isn't married.'

'Well, I...'

'Daphne's.' A low lilting voice broke into the conversation. Katie looked up from their conspiratorial discussion and saw Marcus standing just behind Ben's shoulder. His shirt was grey today, a shade of slate that looked a little like the dark silver of the Gringotts private banking cards she was used to handling behind the bar. It definitely suited him. Meeting his eyes, she blushed lightly at the smirk that spread across his face, an effortless quirk of his lips. 'A Firewhiskey, please.'

She nodded, turning back to the bar and measuring out an amber shot. 'Anything else?'

'I can think of a few things.'

Katie felt a small smile creep up on her and tried to stifle it as Marcus reached for his glass and downed the shot, without breaking eye contact. She bit her lip watching the muscles in his neck contract as he knocked back the whiskey. Merlin, he looks good. How does he always look this good? Does Flint own a t-shirt? Has he even heard of polyester? A small black and gold coaster hit the side of her head and she caught Ben tutting at her before turning to Marcus and sticking out a hand.

'Ben. Katie's non-romantic better half. She wishes it were something more but I have a thing for brunettes you see. I'm sure she would have introduced me but she has no manners, pity.'

His lip quirked again as he lowered the glass back onto the bar before shaking Ben's offered hand, 'Marcus.'

'You said something about Daphne's?'

Katie's eyes lit up, 'It's amazing.'

Marcus had the good grace to look humble as he nodded. 'It's certainly special.'

Katie beamed, 'You should try the gnocchi.'

'What's gnocchi?'

A few gold strands escaped her pinned hair as she shrugged, 'No idea, but it tastes fantastic.'

Ben laughed, 'Sounds about right.'

Marcus reached out across the bar suddenly, his hand brushing across Katie's hair. She felt sparks at the contact, her blue eyes gazing across at his in surprise. He's going to kiss me, Holy hippogriffs he's actually going to... His fingers ducked nimbly behind her ear retrieving the pen she stashed there for long orders. Picking a coaster off the bar he scrawled a number in gold ink and handed it to Ben. 'Ask for Paulo, he'll look after you.'

Katie's friend nodded and he smiled genially at Marcus, ribbing a still dazed Katie with an elbow, 'I like this one, you can keep him.' Marcus let out a low laugh. 'Anyway Kates, judging by this watch here I'd say it's time for you to come off shift.' Grabbing one of the ties of her apron he pulled it loose and chucked it under the bar. 'Be free!'

Katie rolled her eyes as and hopped up onto the polished wood, kicking her legs over the edge so that she sat directly in front of Flint. 'Hello.'

He offered her a slow smile, stepping forward between her legs. 'Hello.' In that moment Katie thought she might melt.

Another voice sounded from behind the bar, 'Hello.'

Katie sighed and turned to give her best friend a weak smile. 'Hi Ange.'

Marcus suppressed a groan as he pulled himself back from Katie to a respectable distance, noting that her hands instinctively reached out to keep him there before returning to her sides.

'Johnson. A pleasure.'

'Flint. Not so much.'

'Ben. Firewhiskey!' Katie called.

'I see that the Harpies put up a fantastic fight against the Arrows yesterday. I thought I recognised that Woollongong Shimmy from your fourth year. I assume you had a hand in it.'

Ange gave a noncommittal nod.

'Have they told you when you might be making the first team?'

This time he was rewarded with a small shrug as Angelina tipped back two of the three shots on the bar before staring him down, which at half his size was quite a feat.

'Look Flint. I know you. And not the old you, though Godric knows he wasn't an ideal candidate either, but you now. You're the captain of one of the league's most popular teams. You have a different girl in your bed every night, two from my own team so don't try and tell me it's not true. If you're after Katie because she's a Gryffindor and therefore unattainable I am telling you now that is exactly how she is going to stay, unattainable. I will not have you using her like all your other groupies. Do you understand me?'

A silence fell over the small group.

'Marcus?' Katie prompted, watching as his expression darkened.

'Johnson, I would never..'

'Marcus!' A tangle of green silk and red hair flung itself at Flint, smiling coyly. Katie recognised her as Grace, one of the hostesses. They'd never spoken but she was aware of the other girl's reputation around Quidditch men, especially captains. 'Why didn't you say you were going to be here?' She snaked a perfectly manicured hand around the back of his neck, her scarlet nails resting on his shoulder, toying with the collar of his grey shirt. Angelina arched an eyebrow and Katie drew her legs towards herself as Grace prattled on.

'I think I left my heels in your living room, or maybe your bathroom..' She giggled up at him and Katie felt sick. She could see Marcus' eyes on her, trying to read her take on what was happening and made an attempt to look neutral. She waited for him to deny it, to plead with her, but then she guessed she should have known better than to expect an apology from Marcus Flint. Forcing a smile onto her face she faced him like an old friend.

'Anyway, it was nice to see you Flint.' Her voice sounded hollow in her own head. 'Ange and I were just leaving.'

Slipping down from the bar she let Ange take her hand and guide her between the throngs of people and out into the cool London air.