Dark Secrets

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: don't own anything significant...

After the wedding ceremony Katie and Marcus stood in line to greet the newlyweds. Katie was nervously shifting her weight from leg to leg, which earned her an anxious look from Marcus, who tried to hold her still and pointed to her ridiculously high heels. "Wouldn't do for you to break your ankle." , he whispered. Due to her heels, their height difference was almost compensated. This allowed Marcus to drop a brief kiss on Katies cheek without leaning down too much.

Katies face scrunched up in concern. "Is it that obvious I'm not used to teetering around in shoes like this?"she asked.

"Of course not." Alicia scoffed from behind them. "Flint, stop being overprotective. Just cause she stopped shouting insults at you doesn't mean she's a porcelain-doll all of a sudden."

The former mentioned just stared at the brunette speechless.

"Well love, that was sensible as always." Cassius hissed in an unmistakable stage whisper, looking from his wife to their friends and back with an amused smirk.

Alicia was taking a deep breath, clearly preparing herself for rounding her husband up for his comment, as Adrian Pucey came to a halt beside them.

"Hello mates." he greeted Marcus and Cassius with a clap on the shoulder, before bowing in front of Alicia. "Mrs. Warrington, always a pleasure." he purred, bringing her hand up to drop a kiss on it, what earned him a glare from both, Alicia and her husband, while Alicia snatched her hand back hurriedly.

"Miss Bell, I'm glad we meet under better circumstances this time." He smiled brilliantly at Katies left shoulder, clearly too uncomfortable to look her in the eyes in remembrance of their last encounter. Marcus snorted. Which caused Adrian to cast his eyes down to the floor immediately. Looking even more flustered. Katie merely nodded her head in his direction. After a moment of uncomfortable silence Pucey mumbled:"Well, I'll just... see you later." and rushed in the opposite direction.

"Well, that was awkward..." Cassius drawled.

Katie patted Marcus chest lightly, smiling. "I kinda enjoy how most of these guys are squirming at your feet without you doing so much as look at them sternly. Just like old times." Marcus drew her even closer to him and pressed his nose to hers. "Well some things don't change."

"Like how whipped you got me." Alicia imitated him in a husky voice, wrinkling her nose. "Aww come on! Stop it you lovebirds. You can romance each other behind closed doors where I don't have to witness it. Four frigging years of pent up emotions...You're so sickeningly cute around each other I think I have to puke." she complained and stomped away. Cassius shrugged apologetically. "Sorry. Hormones." he said and followed his wife through the crowd.

Marcus stared after their retreating figures, shocked, while Katie tried hard to stifle her laughter.

"What is wrong with her? We've met countless times since she married Cassius, but she's never been this... flippant with me."

"I think it might be her time of the month..." Katie started, only to break into a fit of giggles, seeing Marcus scrunch his nose in disgust.

"I see. Let's better not talk about that kinda things..." he stopped her.

When it was finally their turn to greet the freshly wedded couple, the bride threw herself in Katies arms squealing.

"Kitty Kat! Merlin I missed you! I'm so glad you came! I wanted to send you your own Invitation, but Terence said you were with Marcus, so you'd come anyway. We soo need to talk about this as soon as I'm back from my honeymoon, I can't believe you didn't tell me! You know you can trust me, right? It's not like I'd have acted like you self-righteous Gryff friends, no offense..." Cassandra rambled on and on, hugging Katie so close to her she could barely breathe.

Terence and Marcus had shaken hands in the mean time, looking at the girls in amusement.

"Cass... I missed you too, but I really gotta take a breath." Katie wheezed out.

The other woman giggled and released her friend, before turníng to Marcus with knitted brows, her hands on her hips.

"You've better been taking good care of her, or I'll..." Marcus threw his hands up in surrender.

"No worry's, I protect what's mine."he smirked.

"What's yours?" Katie asked incredulous.

"You said yes, princess. You know what that means, you're not going to get rid of me." he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Katie promptly blushed.

"Read it in the prophet, congratulations." Terence smiled. His wife waved her hands dismissively.

"I always knew they'd end up together sooner or later." she winked.

"Cass!" Katie cried out, desperately trying to hush her.

"No worries I'll leave our secrets for later. More important matters first: See the fake blonde over there?" Cassandra spoke quietly to Katie as not to draw someone elses attention to her words. "That's Daphne Greengrass. You better be careful around that bitch, she's been ogling your man for the last years, desperately trying to get him to go out with her."

"Well, she better backs off then. He's already taken." Katie glared at the other witch.

Cassandra nodded enthusiastically, while Marcus hugged Katie back to his side proudly. "That's my girl.", he whispered to her.

Katie smiled up to him, melting to his side.

After they bid their friends farewell they went to find their seats and, in the process, the Warringtons.

Marcus scooted Katies chair for her, eying Alicia carefully.

"You feeling better?" Katie asked her brunette friend.

"I'm fine. It's you guys who seem to have a problem with behaving in public." Alicia flipped her off.

"Oh come on. We haven't done anything scandalous. What's up with you?" Katie hissed, leaning closer over the table.

Marcus put a hand on her shoulder to stop her, because the houseelf arrived at their table, pouring wine.

Alicia declined, what gained her a raised eyebrow from Katie. "No wine? Sure about that? I think you could need it. Might loosen you up a little."

Her friend scowled at her, but was cut off by her husbands outburst. "For Merlins sake! This is ridiculous! She`s pregnant. That's why she's moody, that's why she isn't drinking. We're having a baby"

The others and a few people from the tables next to theirs where gaping at Cassius, who looked scandalized over his little rant.

"Well, remind me to never tell you anything I want to keep secret ever again." Alicia growled at him.

"Congratulations." Marcus mumbled, unsure of how to react in this situation.

His betrothed on the other hand had no such reservations.

"Pregnant! Oh Ali! I'm so happy for you!" she jumped out of her seat and went to hug her friend.

But Alicia was stiff and only replied "Don't congratulate me yet." Before hastily retreating to the restroom.

Cassius mumbled a few apologies and went after her, leaving Marcus and Katie alone at the table.

"That was the second time they rushed off today." Marcus remarked dryly. "You'd have told me if my aftershave smelled that horrible, right?"

Katie giggled at that. "Of course babe, it's not your fault, believe me, you smell ravishing. You think they'll come back?"

"Nah, don't think so." Marcus answered. "But Montague and whatever silly bint he's chosen to accompany him should be over soon."

A few minutes later Katie squeezed his tight and grittet her teeth. "You've got to be shitting me."

Marcus looked at her questioningly before following her line of sight.

Sure enough Alex Montague came sauntered over to their table, a scantily clad Daphne Greengrass on his arm.