(Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Marcus Flint, and all other character featured in this are copyrighted and belong to JK Rowling and her respected publishers. The only character I created were Ryan Connor, Endara Bail, and Cecilia Devogue. I make no money off of this...it's just a free fan fiction I hope everyone enjoys.)

Three - "There's Something About Marcus"

By Travis J

The train ride from Platform Nine and Three Quarters to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was quite a long one. Ryan spent the majority of his time in a cabin with a few Hufflepuffs who seemed to be infatuated with the recent escape of some wizard convict named Sirius Black. They were all hovered around the Daily Prophet, pointing to the moving picture of Black...like the one Ryan saw posted outside of some shops in Diagon Alley. Deciding that he wouldn't join in their conversation, his thoughts wandered to the memories of Cecilia helping him on the train. A few people stared and sniggered at her, but Ryan could care less what they thought of his guardian. She had been almost like a mother to him this past summer and he was greatly in her debt for all the kindness she showed him. Very few people would agree to take a stranger in and finance an education at Hogwart's for them. She had made sure to pack him everything he needed, fussing over his luggage and making sure it was looked after as if it was first class. The beads on her headress clanked as she turned her head from the ticket man to the conductor's assistant, asking them several questions. Ryan felt she was more nervous than he was.

When they finally parted, Cecilia took his hand and clased a simple silver chain necklace in his hand, a beautiful dark blue crystal hanging from it. She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed it with a smile, "You stay safe now my dear. Don't forget to write to me and fill me in on all the gossip at Hogwart's...and whatever you do...don't wander through the school grounds alone at night. That Sirius Black is a dangerous lot!" Ryan pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek, promising her he would stay safe and that he would write to her as much as possible. She had insisted she purchase an owl for him to take, but he had a dislike for birds in general, so he politley refused the offer. Getting on the train, he waved goodbye, and did not stop waving until the smoke billowed onto the platform and she was completley out of sight. That is when he found a compartment in which the three Hufflepuff students were graciously willing to share with him. They only asked him a few questions, which he politley answered, and then went back to their Daily Prophet. About an hour into the ride, Ryan decided to take a look through the train, seeing if he met anyone new.

As he left his compartment, he quickly walked down the hallway and almost colided with a blonde young woman a year older than he was. Her eyes were the same icy blue as his, and she had a sneer on her face. She was very pretty, thin, and wore enough makeup to be considered for an act in the circus. Her skirt was tailored so it rose above her knees, and her white button down shirt only had several buttons done. She took a step back and rolled her eyes, her stiletto heels clicking on the ground, "Watch where you're going!"

A little irritated at how brash she was, Ryan thought it would be better if he defended himself right from the start, "It was an accident. Not intentional."

"Well I don't really care if it was intentional or not. You run into me again and I will make sure you're sorry. I'm a Ravenclaw girl, I know a good deal of hexes that would make your head spin."

"Sorry if I don't sound intimidated...but if you find you always have to flaunt your knowledge, you really must not have that much to begin with."

As if she didn't expect such a retort, she pushed past him, "You'll regret pissing me off!"

Ryan watcher her leave, thinking of something to say, but someone behind him beat him to it, "Someone should tell her to stop stuffing her brassier."

Ryan turned around and saw Marcus Flint, garbed in his school robes, smile on his face. Ryan almost smiled but remembered the way he was treated in Diagon Alley, "Oh so you're talking to me now? If I see your friends, I'll make sure to hide in the closest compartment."

Marcus winked and tapped the window of the nearest compartment, "You wouldn't want that, beautiful. That's Malfoy's cabin and he's a real wanker. Trust me...he's also a Slytherin."

Hands on his hips, Ryan narrowed his eyes, "So are you going to give me that explanation you promised me at Diagon Alley?"

"Well...", Marcus seemed to be fishing around for the right words, "When you get to Hogwart's you will understand it more. See the school is seperated into houses...Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. Gryffindors are the worst. Hufflepuff's have nothing special, Ravenclaw students are tolerable, and Slytherin happens to be the best."

"Not that you're being biased or anything."

"It doesn't hurt to take pride in your house. I don't think you will be Sorted since you won't be at Hogwart's for the standard seven years. Actually, I don't know where the hell they'll stick you."

Ryan sighed, though felt a bit happy to be talking so personally with Marcus again, "Thanks for the comfort. So you're in Slytherin...why can't you talk to me around your friends?"

Once again it seemed like Marcus didn't have a clear answer for this. He rubbed the back of his neck with one of his hands and finally groaned, "You see I got a reputation to keep up. I'm the bad ass captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team. I'm not supposed to be your nice and friendly guy."

"You should be whoever you want to be, not follow someone else's image."

"That's easier said than done when your father isn't in the best wizarding circles and you have to struggle to get respect.", Marcus sighed, "Listen I'm sorry about being a bastard in the bookstore. It's just...when I'm around my friends I need to be who they think I am...you know me in a different way. Understand?"

Even though he didn't, Ryan nodded, "Fine. I'll be sure to lay low when your friends are around you. Any other useful advice?"

"Yeah. Don't piss off Snape. He's real partial to Slytherins and hates Gryffindors."

Wanting this conversation to last forever, Ryan rolled his eyes when he heard students walking behind them, so he decided to end the conversation, "Well it looks like I should find the loo and then get back to my compartment. Thanks for the flowers."

Marcus reached out and brushed his finger's over Ryan's right hand, "Anytime, beautiful. See you around soon."

With that, they parted ways. Ryan felt that weird sensation again in his stomach as he walked away from Marcus. He was so glad to see him again, and didn't quite understand why he acted the way he did...but everyone had a different life to live. He was glad that he had more freedom than Marcus. What was it about him though? As he passed by the compartment full of the Hufflepuffs avidly reading the Daily Prophet, Ryan went through another car and another hallway. It seemed like each cabin had their own clique that was significant in some way or other. He could tell that in this car there were more Gryffindors. As fate would have it, he ran into Hermione Granger again. She smiled and waved to him, and in a state of shock of meeting the Ravenclaw girl again, he pointed her out to Hermione. She rolled her eyes when she turned her head, "Oh I see you met Endara Bail. She's a rude and inconsiderate seventh year who is full of more hot air than the engine room of this train. I wouldn't worry about her...usually she carries empty threats." Sure enough, Endara took notice of Ryan and narrowed her eyes as if to send him a silent threat. He was tempted to flip her off, but thought that it wouldn't be mature to do while in the company of his new school friend Hermione. The two talked in the hallway for a bit, and then Ryan decided he had enough of discovering the train and started to head back for his own cabin. He was allowed to borrow the copy of the Daily Prophet they were reading, and nodded to them as they left the cabin to socialize with the rest of their Hufflepuff friends who were on board the train. Time passed without him knowing, and as his thoughts began to linger again, the train came to a screeching halt and the lights began to flicker. He put the paper down and got up instantly, opening the cabin door and looking out now at the dark and cold hallways. People were whispering and whimpering, and all of a sudden Ryan felt quite cold.

He was going to try and find his coat in the luggage Cecilia had packed when he heard an odd sort of noise and some screaming down the hallway. At that moment, he was dearly afraid of being alone in the cabin. Moving towards the open door, he put his hand on the door frame, when it was all of a sudden covered by a rather calloused hand. That hand belonged to Marcus Flint, as he pulled Ryan back into the cabin and closed the door tightly. A frost had come over the windows, and Ryan held onto his hand tightly. His voice was almost quivering, "How did you find me?"

Marcus gave one of his roguish grins and pulled out his wand, "Because I'm good like that. Now be quiet...I just saw what one of those things look like. They're the guards of that bloody Azkaban prison! I wouldn't want to come face to face with one."

Ryan whispered into his ear, "What do you think they want?"

"I have no clue, but I really don't want to find out either. You should of seen how pale Malfoy got. He's shit scared I bet."

The two stood there, holding hands and feeling cold, before Ryan caught glimpse of a dark hooded figure, "Marcus! Is that it?"

"Quiet! Don't let it know you're afraid!", Marcus moved with Ryan towards the back window of the cabin as he kept his eye on the clearly defined Dementor. His voice somehow remained strong, as if he was trying his best not to show fear, "I know some spells to protect us just in case."

Ryan was glad that Marcus was here. Though it all happened so fast. The door to their cabin opened, the Dementor looked in, stretched out it's long icy fingers, and then glided away. For a brief moment, Ryan felt like he would simply never smile again. Then he looked at Marcus, who seemed a bit pale, and squeezed his hand. Marcus looked at him and smiled softly. Why did this feeling of sadness come over them all of a sudden? After what seemed like endless minutes, the lights flickered back on and the frost started to subside from the outside windows. Marcus sighed and Ryan didn't know what to do, so he hugged him. At first it seemed like Marcus was going to pull away, feeling very akward, but then he accepted the hug and almost laughed. Putting his wand away, Marcus winked and waved goodbye to Ryan casually, leaving the cabin without another word. Once again, Ryan found himself confused by the way Marcus acted. It was very sweet of him to come to his rescue like that, but he just left so all of a sudden. Either way, he heard more students filing past his cabin and decided he should put on his school robes. Once he slipped them on and took his wand out of his backpack, Ryan felt like a new person.

The train finally reached Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and as Ryan got off and carried his heavy luggage with him, he looked around at the horseless carriages and a rather tall man in a moleskin coat calling for the first years. Even though he was new, he was sure that he didn't count as a first year. Watching the young ones follow the rather tall man, Ryan felt a tinge of sadness mixed with slight jealousy. He never did get the full experience that the students here did. For that he was a bit sad...perhaps the students would treat him differently as well...but that remained to be seen. With a sigh, he carried his luggage to one of the carriages and found the same trio of Hufflepuffs that had the Daily Prophet. They helped him with his things and he enjoyed the ride to Hogwart's. When he first caught sight of the gigantic castle, a gasp escaped his lips and the other three riding along with him giggled as if his reaction was rather silly. The castle seemed illuminated and welcoming. As the carriages came to a halt outside, Ryan was one of the first to get out. Grabbing his luggage, his eyes scanned the area and he said simply, "This will surely be an adventure I won't forget." He was right, for soon he would discover his stranged connection to the rude Ravenclaw girl known as Endara, and would start his training as a summoner. Either way, he had to admit, there was something about Marcus Flint. Something mysterious...something that was all together wonderful.