Thank you Aphrodite-Venus-u.k and Ginny blue for your reviews. It definitely encouraged me to post two chapters the same day. Last chapter was also a little short, hope this makes up for it.

I do not own any Harry Potter Characters.

Chapter 16:

Katie didn't want to believe that her dad could have betrayed her, but he was her only suspect. No one else had been in her apartment that night. At the same time, she didn't want to accuse him without knowing all the facts. Katie didn't want to believe that he was helping Voldemort out, there was no way. Right?

Ignoring the unsettling feeling Katie got ready for practice, today was going to be a long day. She needed to not let this distract her. Once practice was over, she would produce a plan to manage this. For a moment Katie debated whether to send Alicia a letter asking if Angelina was okay but decided against it. That would mean she would have to read every letter that the girls had sent her the last few months. Which only filled her with dread. Even though they were no longer friends, Katie couldn't help but feel guilty that she was the reason Angelina was injured.

Practice was long and exhausting, by the end of it, Katie was sweating heavily doing her best just to keep her breathing even. She couldn't focus on the practice, and everyone noticed that. Often messing up plays, and even fumbling the Quaffle.

They were playing a scrimmage match to end the practice. The team was split up evenly between the reserve and the starter players, and Katie's team was losing badly. Katie zoomed forward trying to catch up to Marcus who was about to score for his team, only seconds short. Another goal. Katie cursed to herself.

The match continued and Katie again found herself chasing after Marcus again. Doing her best to rest her stomach completely to the handle of her broom, to gain extra speed. She was catching up to him fast when she noticed Marcus's head twist around to look at her. His eyes widened in shock, "Katie watch out!" he shouted, doing his best to slow his broom. He dropped the quaffle just as a bludger was making its way straight to Katie's face. Using his body, he pushed Katie away just in time for the bludger to hit him directly in the back, knocking the air out of his lungs.

Katie could hear another team mate to whisper to another. "He used her first name. Think they're still dating?"

"That's it. Practice is over!" The coach shouted annoyed. "Everyone to the locker rooms, except you Bell."

Defeated Katie returned to the ground and got off her broom. The coach gave her an earful, telling her that she needed to focus if she wanted to get off the reserve team. She knew today had been one of her worst days of practice, but she was so overwhelmed with everything going on with her life. When the coach was done, Katie headed to the female locker room.

The only benefit of being a female player on this team, was that she had the locker room to herself. When she got in the shower the warm water soothed her aching muscles. Only when she felt all the tension leave her body, did she finally let the tears stream down her cheeks. It had been a while since she had even felt this much emotion and she gave into it. Sitting down in the shower, she wrapped her arms around her legs and cried.

Her dad was the only family she had left, and he had betrayed her. It had to have been him. There was no other explanation.

When she finally calmed down, she got dressed and packed her things in her duffle bag. Heading out of the locker room she was greeted with a warm handsome smile. Brenton's smile broke when he noticed Katie's bright red eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked gently one of his warm callused hands grasping her shoulder.

Katie felt some of the tension leave her body, he always had that effect on her. As if her pain just faded away. "It was a rough practice." She explained her voice betraying her slightly.

Brenton pulled her to his broad muscled chest, wrapping his arms around her. "How about, we get you a nice dinner and get you to bed."

They ended up going to a restaurant near her apartment in the muggle area. It was a small Italian restaurant that Katie often got takeout from when she got out of practice late. Sitting in a corner booth they chatted as they ate their food. Katie wanted to tell Brenton about what was going on with her, but that would mean divulging information about The Order of the Phoenix. Katie knew it was a bad idea since they already suspected her of leaking that parcel, no need to give them an actual reason to not trust her.

They finished their meal and headed outside into the snow swept town. "I'm really sorry for how today went for you, I had really nice plans for us tonight, but it can wait until you are up for it." Brenton explained. She couldn't help but feel guilty. She had spoiled his plans. He was searching for the right words as they faced one another. "I was planning on asking you to be my girlfriend tonight."

She knew she was charmed by his looks and his personality, but was he what she wanted? He was generous, and kind. At the same time, he had a ruggedly masculine appeal about him. Even his lips were a work of art, so many sensual lines that were just begging to be explored. She couldn't help when her mind drifted back to practice today, Marcus had stopped the practice match, to prevent her from being injured. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? He was the one who broke up with her. Yet he continued to give her so many mixed signals. Even going out of his way several times to approach her. She just wanted to be done with him already.

Brenton angled his head to the side, then flicked his eyes to her face. As if emerging from a daze, Katie realized he was waiting for her to reply. She gazed up at him, lifting a hand to cup his face. "I would love to be your girlfriend." His hands tightened around her waist, his fingers just grazing the bottom of her ribcage. His eyes were locked on hers. Faster then she could see, he grabbed the back of her head. Pulling her into a deep sensual kiss.

After they pulled apart, they headed towards Katie's apartment hand in hand. When they rounded the next corner, they came face to face with Katie's father, and an older woman with long brown hair that was braided to the side. "Dad?" Katie questioned caught off guard. Her dad's grey eyes widened in shock, as he looked back and forth between the woman and his daughter. Unsure of what to say. He took a small step behind the woman and mouthed the words "Muggle."

What was her father doing with a muggle? Let alone why was he walking the streets without another wizard. It was against the law. Wasn't he supposed to be at work? He always worked late during the weekdays, and it was a Monday. "Adeline this is my daughter Katie, and her…" he paused before finishing the sentence eyeing the taller man standing next to his daughter.

Brenton squared his shoulders, and said clearly "boyfriend, pleasure to finally meet you, I'm Brenton Allen." Taking her fathers hand firmly in a shake. The handshake was going on way longer then deemed normal. Her father stiffened. Neither of them moved an inch. They didn't so much as blink.

Katie went pale. Unsure of what to do, she pulled Brenton's shirt lightly, He broke the stare to give Katie an uncertain look, effectively breaking their handshake. "What are you doing out here so late?" She questioned her dad, unsure of what just happened.

"Your father was just walking me to my cab I have waiting. Thanks again Theodore." The woman said in an obvious American accent, clearly feeling awkward about what had just happened as well. She then pulled him into a tight hug before walking off to the waiting cab.

"Why aren't you with another wizard or witch, you know its illegal." Katie whispered fiercely at her father. She wanted answers.

"She's a friend from a long time ago that I don't get to see very much." He explained. "Perfect timing though, I'll head home with you Katie and use your Floo." He almost looked expectantly at Brenton as if to tell him to leave.

Does he know that she knows he betrayed her? Is he going to try and kill her? No there way no way. Right? Katie stiffened with worry. Unsure. "Well, that's the way we are headed, you are more then welcome to join." Brenton said in an almost too friendly of a tone.

The walk back was awkward, Katie walking slightly ahead. Just wanting to get out of this situation, luckily, they were only a few short blocks away. Their feet crunched against the snow and ice that slicked the sidewalks. Katie didn't press either of them to speak, just continuing to walk. When they arrived in Katie's apartment, she felt apprehensive about what to do next.

"Katie mind if I have a few minutes alone with you?" Her father asked.

They all stood awkwardly in Katie's living room. Katie picked at the hem of her grey blouse unsure of what to say. "I actually need to head to bed early tonight, mind if we chat tomorrow?"

Her father looked unsure glancing between herself and Brenton. What was his deal? Did they know each other or something? She was clearly not seeing the whole picture. "Yeah, no problem, Goodnight Katie. I love you." He looked towards Brenton. "It was great meeting you."

"Likewise." Brenton replied wrapping an arm around Katie's shoulder. After her father left Katie pushed Brenton's arm away.

"What the hell was that?" Katie was fuming. She had never seen him act like that before.

"Katie I'm sorry about how I acted, but I can't explain it. When I shook his hand, it was like he was radiating evil magic. You didn't feel it?" A silence fell as she thought back trying to recall anything unusual.

She looked him in the eye and said, "no, all I could sense was the tension between you two."

He went on, "I think he knew I could sense it." Brenton kept his eyes down accessing Katie's reaction.

She replied honestly, "I have been starting to have my doubts about him." Not wanting to go too far into the explanation.

"I don't think you should be alone with him."

The following morning Katie had finished breakfast and was starting on her dishes. The night before had almost confirmed her suspicion about her father. Brenton had sensed someone dark about him, just another piece of evidence that she shouldn't trust him. Katie continued to think it over as she got her quidditch bag ready before she headed to practice.

Katie was cut short of her thoughts when her father appeared from her Floo. Shocked she took a small half step back her eyes widening slightly. "You scared me!" She exclaimed placing her hand on her chest willing her heart to stop beating so fast. She didn't want to be alone with him.

Her dad wiped the soot from his clothes before stepping away from the Floo. "Sorry I came unannounced, I just wanted to talk to you before you headed off to practice."

"It's got to be quick, sorry I was just heading out." Katie grabbed her Quidditch bag hastily, fumbling with the straps.

"I'll get straight to the point then, it's about Brenton, I don't think you should trust him."

"You know this after what? Five minutes and an awkward handshake later." Katie rolled her eyes, walking towards the Floo and her father.

"Just trust me, there's something off about him." He hurriedly tried to explain.

"You know how I know you are wrong? Marcus is the only other person who doesn't like him. Brenton's a great guy and treats me well." Katie defended. She needed to end this conversation; she didn't want to be around him. She wasn't sure if he knew that she was aware he betrayed her. He's trying to isolate her away from everyone that she's close with. She felt a familiar pain in her chest. Angelina and Alicia had tried to do that with her and Evelyn.

"I don't approve of him." Her father tried to take a different approach.

"Well, good thing it's not your decision. Listen I need to go to practice, let's talk about this another time." She was annoyed and gave her dad a stern look, as if to say that he wasn't welcome in her apartment. Nodding his head he said goodbye, and that he loved her. Disappearing through the Floo.

Katie stayed focused in practice, doing every play perfectly. Marcus stayed away from her throughout the whole practice, not even looking her way once. Which made Katie feel relieved. He hadn't tried to approach her again since the day in her apartment lobby.

When practice was over, she noticed her dad standing on the side of some bleachers. Why had he come here? This was two days in a row where he wasn't at work. Something was off. "You played amazing today! I watched the last hour of your practice." Her father said enthusiastically.

Katie had a bad feeling. "I'll be out in a little bit; I need to hop in the shower and get changed." Katie explained before walking off the Quidditch pitch.

Katie's father waited patiently on the bleachers waiting for his daughter. Noticing a familiar face, he produced a quick plan. "Mr. Flint, Good to see you!" He called out to Marcus who was just within hearing distance.

Shifting his attention to the older man he walked over, still covered in sweat and mud from practice. "How's it going" Marcus greeted with a handshake.

"Well, I can see that you guys are really rough on my daughter during practices" He teased.

"Well…ah… It's the nature of the sport, really." Marcus was caught off guard and struggled to explain. Only to be met with a large warm-hearted laugh.

"I'm just pulling your leg. I do have a question for you."

"Yeah, no problem." Marcus sat down on the bleachers next to the older man.

Mr. Bell looked around before continuing, "I wanted to know what you thought of my daughter's boyfriend." He questioned in a deep voice. Marcus eyed him curiously, why would he be approaching his daughter's ex about this, and not his daughter. Unless he already had.

Katie took a long time getting ready, hoping that her dad would be gone by the time she got out. An hour later she left the locker room and headed towards where her father had been sitting. Surprised to see he was still there and sitting next to… Marcus. Katie debated on either turning around and going home or going up to her father and Marcus to break up this little pow wow. How long had they been talking? Clearly Marcus hadn't been to the locker rooms yet.

Just as Katie had decided to leave her dad turned his head around towards her. "Oh Katie! Sorry we were just chatting about quidditch." Her father stammered, giving off the impression he was lying.

Marcus shifted his direction to Katie, his face unreadable.

"Would you want to go for dinner? You must be starving" Her dad questioned. As if on que her stomach growled loudly.

"I can't tonight, I need to go to bed early." Katie admitted in a soft voice, keeping her eyes trained on her dad. Not daring to look at Marcus. "I have food at the apartment I can heat up."

"Okay no problem, at least take this." He handed her a plastic shopping bag filled with mail. "It's all your mail, and I put one of your mother's necklaces in there as well. I found it the other day and figured you should have it.

She thanked him giving him a fast side hug before heading to the Floo and disappearing back to her apartment.

Getting into pajamas Katie heated up some food in the kitchen and sat at the table. Going through her mail as she ate. Noticing a letter from the real estate company Katie opened it first. The house had successfully sold, but without the furniture, so Katie would have to empty the house before, they had given her two weeks to remove all the property.

What was she going to do with a mansion full of furniture? It was supposed to all sell as a bundle. Katie sighed, deciding that she'd go through the house and pick out anything she'd want to keep for whenever she bought her own home. She'd have to get a storage unit to store everything in the meantime.

There was several letters from both Angelina and Alicia, she felt her heart clench. Deciding on putting it off until later, she put in in a box with the rest of the letters they had sent her. She didn't understand why she kept them but didn't read them. It just didn't feel right throwing them away until she did. She just wasn't ready yet.

Shuffling through the bottom of the bag Katie found a black velvet rectangular box. Inside was a magnificent necklace with a moonstone beautifully set in silver. This had been her mothers, her dad had said. She fingered the stone, feeling a wave of sadness crashing around her. She placed the necklace back in the box, placing it in her nightstand. Putting it off for another time.

The following weekend when Katie had a break from practice, she set up a time for the moving company to take what she wanted on Saturday. Then everything else was going to be donated, a separate company would come on Sunday with several trucks to make multiple trips. She wasn't planning to keep much.

Evelyn was helping her move, and Brenton would be showing up later when he finished his practice. They were both walking through the house, Katie was going room by room marking what furniture she wanted and what she didn't with red tags, and green tags.

Arriving in her grandparent's bedroom Katie started tagging everything with red tags, not wanting to keep anything. Katie stood frozen after a moment staring at the empty space across from the bed. Wasn't there always a mirror there? Who would have taken that down?

Meanwhile Oliver was in the locker room after practice getting ready to head home, when he overhead Brenton and the other beater chatting. "You coming to get drinks with us later?"

"Nope, got a date with Katie tonight, there's a bar close to her apartment that we go to." Oliver held his breath and stiffened, trying to hear better.

"You finally going to score with her tonight?"

It was hard to hear Brenton, but he was sure he heard him say, "I don't want to talk about it." Oliver couldn't tell whether Brenton was evasive because he didn't want to disrespect his girlfriend or an alternative.

"What, hasn't she given it up yet?" Oliver tensed, feeling angry. A part of him still cared for her, she was his first love, even if he hadn't been hers.

"Some girls need romancing. Those are the girls you want to go after. They might be too advanced for you though." Brenton joked his voice fading as they exited the locker room.

Oliver made up his mind, he went to send an owl.

Back at Katie's Grandparent's house, they had finished her grandparent's bedroom and headed across the hall to the opposite room. This room was filled with tons of artwork that was stacked in a corner. Katie took the time and went through every painting. "Katie if you mark something as red and I want it can I change it to blue?" Evelyn pleaded. "I can't believe you are going to donate that makeup vanity!" Katie let out a laugh.

"Yes, you can totally have that vanity, I'm keeping the one that's in the guest bedroom in the East wing." Reaching the end of the pile Katie noticed that the mirror she had been looking for earlier was tucked in the corner wrapped in a sheet. It was a beautiful golden ornate mirror, which was six feet tall. She didn't dare try to move it. "I'm going to go tell the movers to be super careful with this mirror."

When Brenton finally arrives, he shows up with a tea for Katie and a Coffee for Evelyn. "So, how did it go today?" He asked kissing Katie on the cheek.

"It went well, everything I want, or what Evelyn wants" Katie teased elbowing Evelyn lightly. "Is completely out of the house. The rest gets donated and then I'm all done!" Katie said proudly.

"How about we head to dinner then?" He asked wrapping his arms around her stomach, pulling her into his chest.

"With that, I'm going to say goodnight." Evelyn laughed heading towards the Floo. "I know when I'm no longer wanted." She joked.

"I just want to head home and shower first if that's all right with you. I'm covered in dust, and cobwebs." Katie pointed out her dirty clothing. He let out a chuckle and agreed, teasing her about her current condition.

After getting showered, Katie decided to wear a dress she had just bought recently with Evelyn. It was a long blue dress, with leather detail on the corset cinching her waist, flattering her figure. Her hair was straightened, and all pulled to the right side over her shoulder.

Katie grabbed a black peacoat before heading out the door, Brenton trailing behind her. Making it to the bar they sat in a corner table by the window, chatting while they waited for their drinks.

Just outside the restaurant, and unlikely pair stood across the street of the restaurant. "This was a bad idea, why did I owl you." Oliver was worried that Katie would notice him, especially with Marcus of all people.

"No such thing as a terrible idea, only poorly executed ones." Marcus explained a sinister smile forming.

Oliver looked at Marcus, asking "if we can't hear their conversation then why, are we here?"

"Oh, we are going to hear their conversation all right." Marcus walked inside the restaurant Oliver trailing behind him. Marcus made sure to request the window seat, which caused them to sit directly next to Katie's table. The tables were slightly angled, so that Brenton's back was just slightly to their table, if he turned his head at all he would see them. Whereas Katie could see both men clearly, the shock caused water to go down the wrong pipe and she started to choke. Doing her best to clear her throat in small coughs, tears welling up in her eyes as a result.

Wiping her eyes with her napkin, she turned to Oliver and Marcus, catching Brenton's attention to their arrival. "You really have nothing better to do, then ruin my date." She glared at Marcus. "And you Oliver of all people are in on this too." Turning her attention to Oliver.

"We are here to have some drinks. If you don't like it, then ignore us and pay attention to your boyfriend." Marcus quipped. She should have expected nothing less from him.

"Let's just finish our drinks, and then we will head out." Brenton tried to reassure her, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. They talked in hushed tones the best they could. Katie glanced over noticing Marcus staring at her, rolling her eyes she looked back to Brenton. They hadn't been drinking long before the interruption, but Katie was feeling the effects of the alcohol.

"Can we just pay the tab; I don't want to be near him anymore." Katie said flatly to Brenton.

"Are you talking about me?" Marcus questioned a smirk plastered on his face. For a moment she could see that face beaming at her, shouting at her, loving her.

Brenton's nostrils flared as he did his best to reign in his rage. "Mind your own business" Brenton spat standing up from the table.

"Well, it is my business, if you are talking about me." Marcus interjected. Oliver just looked like he was about to be hit by a bus. Remaining quiet.

"Let's go." Katie said grabbing onto Brenton's arm pulling him toward the bar. They paid their tab and headed back to her apartment. Oliver and Marcus followed behind, chatting about what had transpired, Oliver letting him know he'd give him any information he overheard during practices. When Marcus reached his room, he showed Oliver where the Floo was, and he headed home.

Marcus took off his black sweater and threw himself onto his couch. He sat for a minute and pondered his next move. If there should be a next move. If the Death Eaters found out he was trying to talk to her then that could spell disaster. They had already threatened him once recently that he was too friendly with her. That's why he had stopped talking to her during practices. "Fuck!" Marcus yelled, breaking the silence of his quiet apartment. He gruffly stood up and rushed out his front door. Stomping all the way up the stairs to get to her floor. When he was standing outside her door he listened.

Katie had just said goodnight to Brenton, after promising to consider moving out of her apartment to get away from Marcus. She didn't want to move again but what choice did she have. Why now? Why did he wait for her to be happy before he tried to ruin her life again? Katie got changed into a grey tank top and a pair of red shorts that hugged her thighs. Opening a bottle of wine Katie continued to drink, wanting to drown her pain away.

When she heard the knock at the door she didn't rush over. Figuring the pizza boy would leave it outside the door as she had already paid. She was surprised when she opened the door and her pizza was there, but Marcus was holding it.