(Disclaimer: I did not create nor own the rights to the character of Marcus Flint or most characters mentioned in this fan fiction. I created Ryan Connor and Cecilia Devogue. The rest is all copyrighted to JK Rowling and her respected publishers. I make no money off of this fan fiction. I hope everyone enjoys this. Thank you.)
Seven - "All I Want For Christmas"
When he finally got back to Cecilia's grand apartment in lavish London, Ryan felt wound up and eager to tour the city like never before. Wondering what he would get Cecilia and Marcus for Christmas, Ryan used this newfound energy of his to go out shopping. Riding the metro and looking through stores gave him the exact rush he needed to unwind properly for the oncoming adventures he would have during the holiday break. A great number of students left for the holidays, Sirius Black still a looming threat, and parents wishing to keep their families safe. For a moment, Ryan felt a twinge of sadness that he didn't know what his own family was up to. His mother was out somewhere shopping for someone else. He was no longer part of her life due to recent events. Somehow, Ryan wondered if he ever would see his mother again. Not that it mattered since he was under the watchful care of one of the magical community's most fashionable witches. When thoughts of his past started to overwhelm him, Ryan set his mind back to finding the perfect gifts for his boyfriend and foster mother. He found a most wonderful broom servicing kit for Marcus, thanks to a kind suggestion from his friend Hermione Granger, and bought Cecilia some new fabrics she could work with along with a silve bracelet. His money had come from a fund his mother left at Gringott's for his life care. It was not a whole lot, but it would last him until he graduated and found a career. Considering that was only two years, Ryan decided to enjoy himself as much as he could.
As the snow fell outside and a cold air surrounded him, Ryan felt all the warmth in the world come to pay homage when an owl came to him from Marcus. It simply read "I'll be there this weekend. Make sure we have the whole weekend to ourselves. I have plans for us. - Marcus". Though before he could feel too giddy with the world, a twinge of panic ran over him. Cecilia was still here and somehow she would have to leave for the weekend, just so he and Marcus could have some serious alone time. At first he felt like panicing, then wracked his brains for a way to get Cecilia out of the apartment for the weekend. When he stumbled across his textbook on summoning, he mumbled some foul words and then got an idea. Smiling, he ran to Cecilia's den with a cheery smile, "Cecilia, do you remember the fellow summoner friend of mine at school? The one who wishes to have talks with you about fashion and such things?"
The woman's head rose from a pile of old fashion magazines, "Yes of course. Endara was her name. What about her?"
"Well you said that Madame Malkin planned on visiting Paris for the weekend to see what the French witches liked to wear. You know for that new silk line she had planned for this coming spring. Why don't you and Endara accompany her?"
Cecilia blushed in her cheeks and shook her head, "It would be rather rotten and selfish if I left you alone for an entire weekend!"
"Oh not at all. To be honest, I wouldn't mind some quiet time to catch up on my studies and Christmas isn't for another week. Plus it would be fun. You admitted to me just a month ago in one of your letters that you wished to go. You should. I would like that."
Cecilia was quiet for a moment before she nodded, "All right then. Though I promise to bring you back something nice from Paris! Be sure to write your dear Endara friend and tell her the date I will meet her at Malkin's place for our departure. I can soak up the travel expenses."
Ryan cringed at the fact Endara was called his friend but needed this plan to go through, "Of course. Right away."
Thus his plan was set in motion. He wrote to Marcus the very next day when he recieved an excited reply from Endara that expressed her eagerness to meet Cecilia Devogue. Feeling bad that he was sticking poor Cecilia on a weekend trip with the spoiled Endara made Ryan feel a bit guilty. So much so, that he decided to get his foster mother another Christmas present after she returned from her trip. Wishing her the best of luck, he waved her off as she got in a cab and left for the Leaky Cauldron. He had hoped everything would go well and looked forward to Marcus arriving at his apartment complex that night. As the sun fell and the darkness began to surround the sky, Ryan felt a bit nervous. What if Marcus didn't really want to come? What if he got held up and couldn't spend the weekend? What if everything went wrong and Cecilia found out? His worries got the best of him as he practically paced back and forth in front of his building in anxiousness. Finally, a cab pulled up and Marcus Flint climbed out of it with a large black duffle bag. He smiled and winked at Ryan as he paid the cabbie and then shut the door.
Ryan ran up to him and hugged him tightly. The two embraced there in the streets for a moment until Ryan led him upstairs. Marcus seemed fully interested during the tour of the place, and even pulled his boyfriend aside to kiss him several times. Ryan giggled at the interruptions and continued, determined to impress Marcus however he could. When the tour was over, Ryan showed Marcus to the spare guest bedroom and the Slytherin Quidditch captain raised an eyebrow, "Guest bedroom? We'll discuss this later, but we should both change. I have an idea for a good meal and a good night." Without asking any questions, Ryan changed into a pair of khaki shorts and a tight t shirt that had the logo of a band Marcus liked on it. He had bought the shirt to show Marcus he took an interest in what he listened to. The summoner spiked his hair gently and put on some nice shoes before spraying himself with a sweet cologne that Cecilia had given him. Checking himself over in the mirror, he walked into the living room and felt his jaw drop as he saw Marcus.
There stood Marcus Flint in the most amazing outfit he had ever worn. His thin and toned body was garbed in a tight black t shirt, and a pair of shining black leather pants with a chain belt. A pair of sunglasses completed his look with some spiked hair. Marcus chuckled as Ryan stood speechless in the living room and moved in to kiss him. The two got into one of their more glorious snogging sessions, but became interrupted when Marcus said they should get something to eat and go dancing. The dinner was something simple and nice, a cafe near the club they were going to go to. The club was another story, hundreds of gay men dressed in various ways all dancing with one another. Music was blaring and people were truly having some stress free fun. For a moment, Ryan felt scared, but as Marcus held him on the dance floor, he felt more safe and alive than ever before. The two danced well into the night and went home as happy as they had left. Ryan locked the main door to the apartment as Marcus wrestled his tongue into his mouth. The two got into another deep snogging session, but this time they didn't stop. Marcus moved him towards the guest bedroom and smiled, "I think we need to take this a step further. We will be alone, all weekend, and I know you really don't want me to sleep in the guest bedroom."
Ryan blushed and shook his head, "My bed is more comfortable anyway. Though...do you have protection?"
"Of course. I'm not stupid, even though I seem it at Hogwarts.", Marcus laughed and then was quick to run his fingers over Ryan's cheek, "Don't be nervous. Everyone has a first time, I promise you we will both enjoy this."
Ryan believed him, and as they went into his bedroom, all of their worries had eradicated and were replaced with a burning passion. They made love well into the night and slept in rather late the next morning. The next day consisted of more snogging, going out to find Cecilia another Christmas present as an apology for her weekend with Endara, and exchanging their own gifts. Ryan went first, giving Marcus the broom servicing kit and a book on the history of Quidditch that was an autographed copy. Marcus's face lit up as he saw it and he smiled that trademark smile that everyone knew him for. The smile that was genuine but looked a tad sinister. He handed Ryan a small wrapped package and mumbled, "I couldn't wrap the damn thing so I had the dame at the store do it." Inside the box was a most beautiful silver ring with a dark blue gem in the middle that looked similar to the one that Ryan kept around his neck all the time. Ryan gasped in awe of it's beauty and couldn't help but kiss Marcus right there on the park bench, in front of everyone. He didn't care who knew, he was in love. He had Marcus put the ring on his finger and explain it, "Now don't get freaked out or anything. This ring just means I...well...you know...love you. It means we have a connection no one can sever." With that, Ryan knew that no matter how Marcus acted on campus, he was genuinely a good man and a great boyfriend. The two had a wonderful snogging fest, and made love again that night.
The next day, Marcus had to leave for home. He kissed Ryan so many times that both of their lips felt sore from it, and they promised to see eachother the second they got back to Hogwarts. In pure happiness from the most wonderful weekend he had, Ryan didn't notice Cecilia get out of the cab right across the street from the apartment. Marcus had just left and Cecilia looked rather pale. Taking her luggage, she moved quickly across the street and looked at Ryan with a bit of sadness in her eyes, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Completley taken by surprise, Ryan almost jumped in shock, "Cecilia you're back! How was the trip? Was Endara too much of a pain?"
She shook her head and interrupted before he could say more, "Don't change the subject. Who was that who just left? Was it that Marcus you keep writing and talking about? He looked like him from your description. What was he doing here?"
"Well you never said that I couldn't have friends over. I am awfully sorry I didn't tell you Cecilia. It slipped my mind. I would of told you when you got back anyway. The apartment is clean of course."
Cecilia still looked dissapointed, "I thought we promised not to hide anything from eachother. We work on trust, you know. So why in bloody hell didn't you tell me that Marcus was coming over?"
"It's not an easy question to answer, Cecilia. I mean there are things you need to know."
Right there in the street, his foster mother laughed and dropped her bags, "You seriously think I'm blind? My darling I've been in the fashion world longer than you have been alive, I know much more than you would think. I know you fancy him! My god the fashion world wouldn't be as glamorous as it is without the gays to help it thrive. I could tell when you first started writing about him in your letters!"
"What do you mean?"
"I am not mad that you two are together, in fact I can fully support such a thing as that. There is nothing wrong with him being your boyfriend, but there is something wrong with you inviting your boyfriend to stay the weekend without getting my permission first."
Ryan went pale, and he nodded in agreement. He really should of confided in her, "I really am sorry Cecilia. I would of told you eventually, I just...well I didn't know how to."
The two went inside and talked at great lengths. Ryan recounted practically the whole tale of his romance and Cecilia gave him some good advice. Advice he knew his real mother would never give him. After their talk, he gave Cecilia her Christmas presents early and she burst into tears of joy. Promising to cherish everything he gave her, she presented him with a very lovely set of school robes and a rather nice broom she had picked up in Paris that was supposably cutting edge. He was a bit surprised at the broom, never showing much interest in flying, but decided that Marcus would probably take the time to show him. Marcus was a real natural at flying. As the holiday came to a close, and Cecilia groaned about her long and dull trip with the overly annoying Endara, Ryan looked forward to returning to Hogwarts and seeing the man who had confessed his love to him. Things would be different, and he certainly got all he wanted for Christmas.
Be sure to keep checking this story for the next chapter which will include the full story of Endara's sister and the graduation of the students.