Chapter 15: Until Time is Through…

"OUCH! Bugger!" Marcus rolled on the ground, blood gushing out of his nose.

I looked after the disappearing form that was Oliver Wood. I'd never seen him mad enough at Flint to HIT him…It was amazing the things that could set a man off. I glanced back down at Flint.

"Oy, get up you big baby!" I pulled him to his feet. "You're such a git! I had that situation under control."

"Yes, you certainly did," Marcus said dryly. "You almost went crying into his arms. Ginger, you need to stay away from him at all costs." He watched me watch Wood far down the hall. "To save him."

"Harry! Wait up!" I raced through the crowded corridor, trying to catch up to the third year. It had been a few hours since the Wood/Flint incident and I desperately wanted to pass something on to Oliver. "Hold on!"

Harry whirled to face me, fury covering his usually welcoming features. "May I help you?"

I was taken aback for a moment. Then I regained my courage and handed a piece of parchment to Harry. "Could you please, please, please give this to Oliver?" My eyes pleaded with him. He was the third person I'd tried to give this to Wood and it was vital that he got it.

"What is it? Rubbing it in more?" Harry spat as he tossed it back at me. "I don't think so." He turned to walk away.

"Please, Harry!" I stepped in front of him, blocking his way. "I don't want to 'rub it in,' I swear…" I sighed. "I just miss him. I promise, I won't talk to him anymore after this! Please!" I handed him the parchment again.

Harry sighed exasperatedly. "Fine! But I'm warning you, Ginger," he said as he stuck a finger in my face, "if this upsets him, I swear I'll murder you."

I gulped as the boy pushed past his fellow classmates. I'd never seen fury like that before; well, actually I had…about three hours earlier. Flint's broken nose was proof of it. I sighed and wiped a few stray strands of hair out of my eyes. My body was aching for Oliver's strong arms and lovingly tender kisses. I ached so bad that it killed me to walk toward Ancient Ruins. I just wanted to skip and meet him and laugh. I hadn't laughed in days.

"Hello, lover," Marcus said, slipping an arm around my waist. He leaned down to kiss my cheek; I pushed him away. "What's got your knickers in a twist, then?"

I glared at him. "Keep your filthy hands off of me. You know I don't want to pretend to be your girlfriend anymore than you want to pretend to be my boyfriend. So lay off the gushy stuff and we'll get through this."

He wrapped his arms around me, grinning slightly, though not enough to upset the delicate balance of his bandaged nose. "I honestly don't mind." He noticed my sour face and took a step back. "But you seem to. Why, I wonder?"

Tears welled in my eyes. "Because you're not Wood."

Marcus's face darkens. "You were communicating with him…through Potter."

My eyes widened in shock. I turned away from him, heading toward my class. "What makes you say that?"

Marcus scoffed and came storming after me. "Oh, come off it, Gin. I saw you hand Potter something." He grabbed my arm and whirled me around. "What did it say?"

I yanked my arm away. "That's none of your concern."

"Ginger, you don't understand! You-Know-Who will only use Wood to get to you!" Marcus stared me straight in the eyes. "You have to let him alone."

"Yea well, Marcus, who's fault is it that Voldemort- that's right I said it!- Who's fault is it that he knows about Wood?" I said through clenched teeth. "How about this? You let me alone, I'll let you alone, and if you come near me again, I'll strangle you. Have a nice day." Then I sauntered off.

Flint didn't take the hint, though. He followed after me and pulled me into a dark nook off the hallway. "I'll make you a deal, Bensington. You tell me what the note to Wood said, and I'll let you alone." He stared at me expectantly, his hand stretched out.

I looked at it and reluctantly shook it. "The note said, 'I'll love you until time is through.' Remember, a bargain's a bargain." And with that, Marcus Flint was no longer a relevant person in my life.

A/N: This chapter derives its title from the 5ive song "Until the Time is Through." I love that song! R/R, buddies! Nellie