Dark Secrets

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: Not mine, just borrowing

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"Katie, come on dinner is ready." Marcus pounded on the door to Katies bedroom.

„I'll be down in a second." Katie shouted back, desperately trying to fix her make up and hair.

„Women..." Marcus mumbled under his breath before trudging down the steps.

Katie meanwhile stared herself down in the mirror. "You can do this Katie. You won't let Flint of all people humiliate you like this. There's nothing you feel for him except hatred. These are not butterflies in your stomach when he touches you, it's just the urge to vomit." she ranted. Nodding at the mirror one last time she turned around and went downstairs to the dinning room.

They ate in silence. When the houself came to put the dishes away Marcus all but shoved a protesting Katie into the sitting room.

"So, we should get to know each other a little. And we don't have much time for it so we better start now. Did Alicia tell you about the Higgs wedding on Saturday? We'll have to make an appearance. Terence is a friend of mine and his fiance told me you know each other, it's Cassandra Nott." Katie looked at him wide eyed.

"Cassie's getting married?" "Yes. It's a good thing you've got another friend than Alicia in our social circle. Cassandra will make sure all the gold digging tramps who thought they'd have a chance to become the next Mrs Flint will play nice." Marcus made an uneasy face at mentioning this.

Katie blinked several times. "I can fend for myself. You know that. I broke your jaw once." she pointed out.

Marcus laughed at that. "Yeah, I'll never forget that. But that was Quidditch, Katie. We shouldn't underestimate the situation. These women can be really dangerous. You'll have to convince them that I'm yours. I will do anything to get you out of this alive, but we need to work together to accomplish that. "

"It won't be a problem. I can be really possessive. If one of these sluts so much as looks at you I'll put her in her place." Marcus nodded. "Well, good then. Should we start with the basics?"

Katie raised an eyebrow. "This was your idea, you start."

"Ok then. My full name is Katherine Nicole Bell, I'm 19 years old. I've got an older brother, James. I'm pureblood, my Dad works at the ministry, Mom works for Gringotts. We're not rich, but have always had enough money to consider us above the average. I'm a healer in training, at least if I'm still allowed to work.." she threw him a glare, "I enjoyed Quidditch, but can now only watch because of this stupid cursed necklace. I'm reading a lot of medical stuff and haven't talked to most of my so called "close friends" for a while." Katie kept her gaze locked on her hands.

"That are quite a few things I didn't know." Marcus tried to smile.

"So, full name is Marcus Anthonius Flint, 23, pureblood, no siblings. Father keeps the family business running. Mostly real estates and investment stuff. My mother doesn't work. Even though she will tell you that she is soo very busy planning this and that charity bullshit. You know what I'm doing. Even if I think Quidditch wont matter in a few months I still plan on winning the cup. If you want to you're allowed to work. I don't want to imprison you here. You know my friends from Hogwarts. It's mostly the same gang, minus Malfoy after that stunt he pulled. He got what he deserved for almost killing you."

Katie looked up to him, stunned. "Well, nice to know you're not friends with him anymore. I don't think I could pretend to be nice towards him." Marcus nodded. They were both silent for a while.

"I need to give you something." Marcus suddenly shot up, darting towards his study.

Katie furrowed her brows but waited patiently. Flint came back with a little box.

He sat down next to Katie, a little closer than before and opened the box, presenting her a beatuiful ring. "It's been in the family for over 6 generations. Who should believe us if you weren't even wearing an engagement ring." Marcus said earnestly, holding his hand out for Katie to place hers in it. Almost as if in a daze she did so. Eyes switching back and forth between the ring and Marcus. "But if it's been in the family all this time you shouldn't give it to me." she told him, even though not really protesting.

"And do what? Get you a new one? That wouldn't be conspicuous at all. You know how this things work. We'll have to keep the traditions. Your friend is wearing the Warrington-ring, Cassandra is wearing the ring Terence mother and grandmother and so on wore before her. In these circles everyone would notice something is amiss if you were to wear a new ring. " Marcus smirked, already putting the ring on her finger.

The blonde felt a little tingle going all the way up her arm as the ring adapted itself to her size.

After a while Katie coughed awkwardly. "Yeah, but that's different. They love each other."

His trademark Slytherin smirk slipped of his face. "I'm sorry. I did what I had to to keep you alive. I know this is not the romantic Engagement girls dream about. But at least you'll live. And even if our side wins and we'll go through with this marriage, we at least like each other well enough, don't we? There are many marriages that were arranged once and turned out good." He looked her in the eyes, trying to make out her feelings about this.

Katie let out a deep breath." I suppose so. It could be far worse. I'm grateful I'm not tortured and killed... But back to the present. Higgs and Cassies Wedding on Saturday. I'll need to find a dress then."

"I already thought of that. Alicia will pick you up from work. Don't look like that, I knew I could never talk you out of it, so I didn't even try. I've got training in the afternoon, so she will take you shopping. You'll need to be finished by 7p.m. Because my parents have invited us for dinner. Your parents will be there as well. I'm going to formaly announce our Engagement." Marcus stated. Katie looked at him strangely.

"Guess I never thought we would have to lie to our parents..." she mumbled.

"I asked your father for your hand a few weeks back. He knows what I am, and he knows what I'm doing for you. He said it's better to leave your mum in the dark. My parents can't find out the truth or my father will kill me for being a stupid romantic fool. He doesn't know about your heroics and is content with you being a pureblood. So all in all, You can talk to your dad and to me and basically lie to everyone else."

Katie looked at him shocked. "You told my dad? Marcus why did you do that? What if he.."

Marcus stopped her with a chaste kiss on the lips. "Don't worry about it. He wont do anything. We share a primal goal. Keeping you alive and unharmed through this war. I needed to tell someone in case something happens to me and/ or we lose the war. I wont have you in trouble for being a Death Eater wife in this case. So if it happens, your dad will take care of you."

She was too stunned to speak, so she hugged Marcus and hid her face in the crook of his neck.