Chapter Twenty-Six: Me Against You

Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The underlined portions are taken directly from the novel; I do not own those parts. They belong to J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: This fanfiction is going to be different from my other stories. This picks up where "The Heart of Everything" and "The Heart of Everything: Shallow Bay" left off. The time in the books also changes. So, pay attention the time, so you don't get confused. Some of the chapters are other Marcus Flint/Katie Bell stories, just with more changes and deleted scenes added.

Time: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Genre: Romance, Drama, and Friendship

Rating: PG-13

Marcus crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at the box on his mum's desk. He just didn't understand how something some small could transport people. Katie was holding Emily. They would get going through together and if everything went okay, Katie would return in a couple of days.

Emily smiled at Marcus and reached her arms out to him. He took her from Katie and held her close. "You give my brother lots of trouble."

"You don't need to give her any ideas," Jasmine said as she entered the room. Brad was right behind her.

"You ready?" Brad asked.

Katie took Emily from Marcus's arms. "Yeah."

Marcus put his hand on Katie's arm. Katie turned to him and kissed his lips. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah."

Jasmine opened the box. "Just focus on Nathanial and it will take you there."

Katie shifted Emily. "Okay." She looked at the rest of them. "Well, I guess I'll see you later." She stepped toward the box and disappeared.

Marcus stared at the empty space. "When will we know if it didn't work?"

Jasmine gathered the box up. "We would've known by now."

Marcus nodded. They were safe and that was all that mattered. "I'd better go. I'm supposed to be meeting Adrian and the Ministry."

"Take your mobile," Brad said.

"Yeah, hopefully this time I don't end losing money."

"Hopefully."

Marcus walked out of the room and went to change into his robes. He sat down on the bed as he pulled on his boots. His mind was racing. How long would it take the Death Eaters to realize that Emily and Katie had left the country? If they knew that Emily and Katie had left, it would probably add to their suspension of him.

Shoving his wand in his pocket, he went outside and disappeared with a pop.

A few minutes later, Marcus arrived at the Ministry. Adrian was leaning against the entrance wall.

"This is so stupid," Adrian muttered as they went down into the men's room. "We are on their side and shouldn't have to do this."
Marcus didn't answer.

"They captured some Muggles in Ireland. It looked like they were trying to flee the country," Adrian went on. "So, it looks like we are actually going to have to do stuff today."

Marcus's heart skipped a beat. Katie's parents were in Ireland. Were they in the group?

As they entered the Ministry, Marcus knew this was going to be a long day.

Adrian pushed through the crowds. Several non-Death Eater workers gave them the normal dirty looks, but none dared to say a word. Marcus was actually glad that most chose to protest in silence. He didn't care that people didn't like him or judged him, but often times found himself wondering what gave someone the right to do so.

He wasn't afraid of them, but it always in the back of his mind what they were capable of. Even though he wasn't a Death Eater, the world still viewed him as one.

Adrian pushed open the torture room door and they stepped in. Marcus noticed right away that there were more people. The cells now had about ten people crammed into them. The new and old Muggles alike gave them both dirty looks as Marcus and Adrian pasted them.

Adrian disappeared into the back.

"You," one hissed as Marcus pasted a cell.

Marcus turned and gripped his wand. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but he wasn't about to put up threats.

"You," the voice hissed again.

Marcus went over to the cell. His heart sank once he recognized the voice. Katie's father, Jim, was leaning against the wall. Jim was almost unrecognizable, his hair was long and he was unshaven. Marcus could see how close to starvation he was.

Jim put his hands around the bars. He was one of the few people with his own cell.

Marcus looked around to make sure Adrian was still out of sight before going over the cell.

"Are they okay?" Jim whispered, his eyes darting around. "Did they escape?"

"Yeah," Marcus said in a low voice. "They left earlier tonight. Where's Jenna?"

"She got away."
Marcus looked around. "We wanted to come after you, but..."

"I know." Jim closed his eyes. "You probably get told this enough, but we careful."

"What about you?"

Jim smiled. "I'll be all right." He paused. "Now, punch me and make it look good."

Marcus looked down at his fist. "Um..."

"Do it or they're going to start to wonder."

Marcus sighed and made a fist. He could not believe he was going to do this.

"Punch me like you were in a fight."

Great...Marcus drew back his fist and connected it with Jim's face. Jim let out a groan as Marcus's fist struck him and straggled backwards.

"Nice punch," Jim groaned.

Adrian came out of the back room and over to them. "Is he giving you attitude?"

"I took care of it," Marcus said.

Adrian looked at Jim. "I can see that."

Jim glared at the pair of them, but didn't say a word. Marcus followed Adrian to the back room, wondering how much damage he had actually done to Jim.

Adrian already had the torture table cleaned up. "These new ones are clearly going to cause us some problems. We need to keep an eye on them."

Marcus nodded. "It's always the new people who cause all of the problems."

"Isn't that the truth," Adrian snorted.

Marcus's eyes kept darting out to the holding area. He wasn't sure what to do about Jim. Marcus couldn't let him stay in there, but wasn't sure how to get Jim without exposing himself.

Adrian handed Marcus a knife. "What do you say we start with him?"

Marcus took the knife. "With who?"

"The one who was giving you the attitude."

Marcus looked at the sharp edges of the knife. "Is there any reason why?"

Adrian shrugged. "I just figured you would want to get even with him."

Marcus put the knife down and picked up a sharper one. "Maybe we want to save the troublemaker for last."

"Saving the best for last?"

Marcus nodded. "Exactly."

Adrian smiled. "I really do like your thinking."

Marcus really did like the sharper knife better. "I try."

"I'll go get us one," Adrian said as he left the room.

Marcus leaned against the wall. This was making his head worse than a Quidditch head injury. What was he supposed to do about Jim? He couldn't let Jim become another victim.

Adrian came back a few minutes later with an elderly man.

"You kids have no idea what you are doing!" the old man was screaming as Adrian strapped him down onto the table. "You're probably too young to remember the last war, but you should know how it ended! You will pay for this!"

Adrian hit the old man. "Shut up!"
The old man fell silent, but kept giving them dirty looks.

"Much better," Adrian muttered.

"I have done nothing wrong. I can't help it if I was born a certain way!"
Adrian rolled his eyes. "Make him shut up!"

Marcus pulled out his wand. "Silencio."

The old man looked wide eyed at Marcus as he tried to find his voice. Normally, Marcus hated putting charms on other people, but this was necessary.

Adrian pushed the old man's shirt up and uncapped a bottle. Marcus closed his eyes as soon as he realized it was acid. "Let's have some fun since he can't scream."

The old man's eyes were huge, begging Marcus to put a stop to this.

Adrian raised the bottle over the old man.

Marcus reached out and grabbed Adrian's arm. "Don't, you're crossing the line."

"Are you standing up for Mudbloods?" Adrian snapped.

Marcus stared Adrian down. "You know as well as I do that this is evil."

"Are you're point is?" Adrian held Marcus's gaze. "It's about your father-in-law in there."

Marcus blinked.

"Do you think I didn't know who he was? That's why you didn't want to bring him in here."

The old man was staring at him.

"You really do need to watch your back, Marcus. I am only giving you a warning because I am your friend. I don't want to have to turn you in." Adrian gave Marcus a sick smile.

Marcus looked at the old man, whose eyes were still wide. He couldn't do this.

Adrian brought his hand down on the table. "Marcus!"

Marcus looked at Adrian.

"You need to man up and do this. You know as well I as I do what will happen to you if you don't and I will put all of the blame on you."

Marcus sighed. So, much for friends sticking together no matter what the cost.

Adrian eyed the acid and the old man. "You are lucky that this one is willing to protect you," he hissed as he slammed the bottle down on the table and stormed out.

Marcus took the charm off the old man and unchained him. Marcus took his wand out and pointed to the wall in front of them. "Scream when I tell you too and we both might just pull this off," Marcus hissed.

Even though the old man nodded, Marcus could tell that he still didn't trust him.

"Now," Marcus hissed.

The old man screamed as a light filled the room. The old man screamed until he noticed he was unharmed.

"Adrian, I'm going to take care of this, then I'll join you upstairs," Marcus called, praying that Adrian won't come back into the room.

Adrian didn't respond.

"Adrian?" Marcus called again.

"Yeah, I heard you," Adrian answered.

Marcus nodded and pushed open the back door. "Come on."

The old man still couldn't believe his luck as he raced out behind Marcus.

Marcus lead them down a set of steep stairs and down a tunnel that ran along the River Thames. He looked up at the stairs to make sure that Adrian hadn't followed them and slashed the cool, quick moving water.

Marcus drew himself to full height. "Leave the country and make yourself disappear. Don't even come back to Great Britain or I will have no other choice, but to kill you."

The old man grabbed Marcus's arm and held on for a few minutes. "You be careful," he whispered before disappearing above ground.

Marcus stood there for a few minutes before going back into the Ministry.

Adrian was standing inside the holding room. "I knew you had it in you and you were just slipping up."

Marcus just nodded. "Yeah, it had to be done."

Adrian nodded. Neither one of them wanted to bring up what had just happened.

"Let's go get something to eat," Marcus muttered.

As they passed Jim's cell, Marcus could feel his father-in-law's stare on him, but knew better than to look. Adrian would know that something was up.

Marcus watched behind Adrian as they got out of the lift. In a fight, Marcus was sure that he could Adrian, but didn't want it to come to that.

"Me against you," Marcus thought as they pushed out into Muggle London.

Marcus's eyes kept darting around looking for the old man, but found himself feeling better whenever he did not spot the old man. He only hoped that the old man had taken his advice.