Chapter 8 – The Disagreement

Genna was home early that day. She had had her Muggle combat practice first thing in the morning and, after an hour with Harry, had been sent back home because Harry and most of the Aurors had gone on a raid in the afternoon. Trying to kill time, she was now sitting on her bed, staring off into space, a novel forgotten on her lap, thinking of Marcus.

Every night since the dinner date almost a week ago, Marcus would slip in her bedroom and they would spend the night together. They hadn't slept naked again since Marcus had told her he wouldn't be able to stop himself if they did. They had still pleasured one another but Genna wanted more: she wanted to feel him make love to her, she wanted to feel him move inside of her.

She knew he had been with another woman before. Two summers ago, he had had a fling with a two-year older witch who had spent the summer in his neighbourhood. She had showed him a lot, but he had stopped seeing her fairly quickly when he realised she only wanted sex and he didn't even like her. He admitted to Genna that it was not one of his proudest moments and if he had to redo it all over again, he would choose his hand over the girl.

Genna was still lost in her thought when somebody knocked on the frame of her opened door.

"A knut for your thoughts," said Ginny, walking in the room with a smile.

She was still wearing her Quidditch uniform.

"Marcus," Genna answered with a small smile.

"Oh!" said Ginny. "You know, you should tell him to move down here with you. That way he wouldn't have to sneak in anymore."

Genna looked at her with her mouth hanging open in surprise.

"You... you know?" she managed to ask.

"Of course, I know," answered Ginny. "You're a healthy woman, he's a healthy man. You have needs."

"But we never..." began Genna.

She let the rest of the sentence hanging and looked away, blushing at what she had just revealed.

"Wh-what?" asked Ginny surprised. "You mean to tell me you've spent all of five nights in the same bed and you never..."

Genna felt a stinging behind her eyes and didn't dare look at Ginny.

"I'm sorry, Genna," said Ginny gently. "I didn't think you had chosen to wait."

"I didn't. But I don't have a mum, Ginny," she said shortly. "Nobody ever showed me the spells so I just can't take it further."

"Oh!" said Ginny, lightly. "They're not very complicated."

And to Genna's surprise, she just proceeded to show her the spells as if it was the most natural thing in the world. After a few minutes of practice, Genna was confident she could manage them just fine.

"Ginny, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," answered the older girl.

"How old were you when you and Harry... you know?"

"A few weeks shy of my 18th birthday," she answered. "About your age, really."

"And... and did it hurt?"

"Yes, it did," she answered honestly. "We both didn't really know what we were doing, really. But even with the pain, it felt so good and so right, you know. It felt like I was finally coming home, like I wasn't alone anymore. Now there's nothing better than making love with Harry. He's my all and he just completes me."

"Wow," said Genna, amazed at the depth of Ginny's love for Harry.

"You guys remind me of us at your age, not that it was very long ago, mind you," she said with a smile. "I would tell you to wait if you don't feel as in love with Marcus as I felt with Harry, but I know it's not necessary. Harry and I can almost touch the love around you when you're in the same room with us. And we would not have let you share the same room, or even allow you both to stay here with us if we hadn't seen the love between you two when we visited in the Spring."

"You saw it at St. Leandre?" asked Genna surprised.

"Yes we did, and Fawkes told us in his own way," she answered. "But Genna, if I can give you a piece of advice: be sure it's what you want before you go down that path because there is no turning back."

Genna hesitated a moment then nodded her understanding.

"How... how did you know Marcus was spending his nights with me?" she asked shyly, looking at her hands.

"Kraecher," answered Ginny. "He doesn't approve. Harry told him to mind his own business.

"Malda, on the other hand, was delighted and called her grandfather a grumpy old elf who needed a good lay," said Ginny, laughing.

Genna laughed at the image and became sober again.

"Genna, tell your young man it's okay if he wants to move his things here. Harry and I don't mind at all. We're actually happy you found each other," said the older witch, standing up. "And if you need to know anything, please just ask. I'll be happy to answer you."

ghghghghghghghgh

The same night, Genna was lying in bed, waiting for Marcus to join her when her door finally opened and he walked in, a grin on his usually sober face. He locked the door with a wave of his wand and said the privacy charms before joining her in bed, pulling her to him, her back to his chest, careful not to touch her with his lower body. He gently kissed her in the soft spot behind her ear and settled down. Genna backed into his embrace further until she felt his readiness against her butt. She so badly wanted him to touch her, which he hadn't done in the last two nights, afraid he wouldn't be able to hold it anymore. She didn't like that he was pulling away from her that way.

She felt him back away from her as his breath had grown shorter and shorter. Frustrated even more, she turned in his embrace and looked at him in the eyes. His eyes were shiny with suppressed desire.

"Marcus," she whispered. "Please don't push me away. Touch me. Love me."

The look he gave her was so incredulous and funny she would have laughed if her body was not screaming in frustration, so much was she in need of release.

"Are you..."

He swallowed audibly.

"Genna... are you sure?" he finally asked her.

She leaned forward and kissed him passionately.

"Yes, Marcus," she whispered, tugging at his shirt. "I want you to make love to me."

"Genna," he said, still hesitating.

She sat and, grabbing his hand, pulled him up next to her. Finally unobstructed, she grabbed his shirt and pulled it off over his head. She then waited for him to do the same and remove her nightdress, but he didn't move. He just looked at her, his eyes desperately searching her face, for a reason to doubt she wanted it as much as he did.

'What is he waiting for?' she wondered.

She had told him twice.

"Genna," he whispered. "Are you... are you doing this just for me? I mean, I love you. I love you more than I ever loved anyone else in my entire life. I've loved you since I saw you taking a seat in the Totem to be sorted. And I have loved you ever since.

"I don't want to make love to you if you don't feel the same way. I don't want to make love to you if you are not absolutely sure about it.

"I love when you touch me, I love sleeping with you in my arms. I love the smell of your hair in my nose when I'm falling asleep. And I cannot make love to you if you are not sure you feel the same way. You have so much power over me, and I'm afraid if you decide in a week from now, or a month, or a year, you don't want to be with me anymore, I would die of a broken heart.

"Genna, what I'm trying to say is if we make love, if we take that step – and Merlin knows how much I really want to – for me it will be a promise of forever. There won't be any turning back. And in the very near future, I will get down on my knee and ask you to marry me."

"Wow!" she said, drying the tears which were falling down her cheeks. "Marcus, I was so afraid you didn't love me as much as I love you," she said. "I know you love me but I was afraid it would only last for a time and I never thought you would ever consider me to be with you forever," she added, wiping her tears again.

"Why did you want me to make love to you then?" he asked gently.

"Because I wanted to have these beautiful memories of you while it lasts," she answered. "And you making love to me would be a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life, even if I grow old alone... because I don't think I will ever be able to love someone else as much as I love you."

"Oh, Genna," he said, leaning forward, taking her face in his hands and kissing her. "I love you," he said, putting his forehead against hers. "I love you so much."

"Please, give me forever," she whispered against his lips, and she kissed him again, more urgently this time, her heart lighter than it had ever been.

He finally grabbed her nightdress and pulled it over her head. His eyes widen in surprise when he realised she wasn't wearing any panties and she was now totally naked.

She leaned forward to kiss him again, her hands going to the waist band of his boxers. He kneeled and removed them quickly, freeing his erection. She reached for it but he stopped her hand, taking it in his and bringing it to his mouth as he sat back down.

"If you touch me, I'm not going to last," he said against her hand. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes," she answered truthfully.

He pushed her gently on the bed, laid her on her back, still sitting next to her. He leaned down to kiss her and for a moment, Genna wondered what he would do. She found out the moment after when she felt his hand searching her folds and a finger slid into her. She moaned in pleasure. He hadn't done that since the first night they had spent together and her body wanted it so much. She was so very ready for him. He slid his finger in and out of her for a few moments and removed it. Genna would have cried in frustration until his mouth found her breast and she was lost in a totally new range of sensations.

'Is this what making love feels like?' she asked herself, feeling her eyes roll into her head.

His finger found her clitoris then and he began to rub it gently.

"Marcus," she whispered, arching her back, bringing her body closer to his mouth.

His hand was doing wonders between her legs. She was close and she wanted him so much inside of her that it felt like sweet torture to her.

And basking in the feel of his mouth and his hand, she came with a loud moan.

Her breath was slowly getting under control when she felt Marcus move over her. She opened her eyes and saw him smiling down at her, a satisfied look on his face. She raised her head and kissed him. He quickly deepened the kiss, his tongue playing with hers for a long moment before he broke the kiss.

"Genna, it's still time to change your mind," he said, panting hard, eyes glassy with desire.

"I want forever, Marcus," she said.

"Forever, Genna," he said, kissing her again.

He reached between their bodies and she felt him against her sex, poking at her clitoris, which made her sigh. He moved around and then, she felt the head of his erection slowly slide into her. It felt so good, but he just stayed there without moving. Genna opened her eyes, which she hadn't realised were closed, and looked at Marcus. He was looking at her, as if in awe, breathing hard.

"Please," she begged him.

"I've got to... I've got to wait," he said. "Genna, I'm so close. You feel so good. I'm afraid if I move, I'll come."

She felt him leave her and she would have cried at the loss of contact. He kissed her then, raining kisses all over her face and neck, his hand slowly caressing her left breast. After a moment, she felt him poke at her again and slid into her, just past her entrance.

"Genna, I'm afraid it's going to hurt," he said sadly.

"I know," she said. "I trust you."

With that, he slid deeper into her until she felt him push against her barrier. All of the sudden, he pushed through and she felt a tearing inside of her. She winced and her eyes watered with the pain.

"Genna," he said in a panic voice. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she whispered. "Please be gentle."

The first few times he moved in her were so painful, Genna considered asking him to stop. But it just felt so right to feel him in her that she didn't. And after a few more moments, the pain was replaced by a dull ache, and then by a slight discomfort. Marcus was gentle and took his time, stopping frequently. It was during one of the pauses that she squeezed his length, as if to have a better feel for him.

"Genna," he said, looking at her with surprise and awe.

She did it again, and his breath caught in his throat and his eyes fluttered close. Genna loved to see him like this, in the throes of passion, trying real hard to stay in control but at the same time, awfully close from losing it. And all because of her, because of what she made him feel.

His lips found hers and he kissed her with all the passion in his body. When he moved again, she felt it: a wonderful rubbing that made it so worthwhile. She moaned in pleasure, hoping she would feel it again.

"Genna, are you okay?" asked Marcus concerned by her moan.

"That felt so good," she said. "Can you touch the same spot again?"

And he did, again, again and again. The pleasure was so intense Genna fell weak. And she fell an amazing tension build in her, taking her higher and higher until it sent her over the edge and she climax, contracting on Marcus who just seemed to move deeper into her until he, too, came.

Both panting hard, they looked at one another, forehead against forehead.

"You're beautiful," said Marcus. "I cannot believe we just made love, Genna. It's more wonderful than anything I ever felt."

She felt him then, sliding out of her, and she almost cried at the loss of the intimate contact.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Yes," she said, and added, almost sadly. "It just doesn't feel right not to have you in me anymore."

Marcus chuckled and gave her one of his rare smiles.

"Is it true, what you said?" she asked, after a few moments of kissing. "That it was more wonderful than anything you ever felt? I mean wasn't it as good with the other girl?" she asked, her insecurity and curiosity getting the best of her.

"It wasn't as good," he answered honestly. "I think the difference is that I love you so much that my body knows I really belong with you."

"Oh!" said Genna, not really knowing what else to say.

"How do you feel?" he asked her, caressing her cheek.

"Sore," she answered with a small smile. "But happy, too. I never thought I would enjoy it on my first time."

"I'm glad you did," he said.

He rolled off of her and, lying on his back, pulled her to his chest.

"Marcus?" she said after a few minutes of silence.

"Mmh?" he answered.

"Ginny said you can move your things to my bedroom if you want."

"How did she... how did she find out?"

"Apparently Kraecher told them," answered Genna. "She said she understands. Harry and she have no problem with it."

"Oh!" he said. "And what do you want?"

"I... I want you here with me," she answered

"Then I'll move my stuff first thing tomorrow morning," he said, kissing her head. "I love you, my Genna."

"I love you, Marcus," she answered, closing her eyes and letting sleep welcome her.

ghghghghghghghgh

When Marcus left the Hospital the next night, he was in a gloomy mood. Healer Troovus and he had tried to save the life of a wizard who had been hit by a Muggle car but they had been too late. After hours of trying to heal him, the wizard had died from his made Marcus tired and grumpy. The only thing he looked forward to was to crawl in bed with Genna in his arms and take comfort from her.

As soon as he arrived by Floo in the kitchen, Marcus knew something was wrong. The first thing he saw was Harry, sitting on a chair, the top of his head against Ginny's belly, who was standing right in front of him with her hands in his hair, massaging his head gently. Ginny's expression was very serious and even sad. The second thing he saw were Genna's crutches on the table next to Harry.

"Where is Genna?" he asked, suddenly worried.

"I think she went upstairs," answered Ginny quietly.

Talking the steps two at the time, his tiredness completely forgotten and replaced by a sense of urgency, he ran to the bedroom he now shared with Genna. Genna was sitting on the floor, crying and nursing her left hand.

"Genna!" he said alarmed.

She lifted red and puffy eyes towards him.

"I-I cannot g-g-get on the b-bed," she said between sobs.

And then he noticed how both her ankles and her left wrist were swollen. Seeing her like this nearly broke his heart and he felt a surge of rage coursing through his system. He took her in his arms which seemed to calm her, and gently put her on the bed. Despite the warmth, she had begun to shiver violently and Marcus could only imagine the amount of pain she must be in. She was holding on to his shirt for dear life, her head pressed hard against his chest, as if seeking safety and refuge from the world.

"Genna," he said gently. "Let me see your wrist."

He took his wand but could not reach his stone.

"Genna, I need to lay you down on the bed so I can look at all of you, okay?"

Genna nodded and he helped her lay down. He grabbed his stone and healed the sprain in her left wrist and right foot. He also healed the crack rib on her left side and turned his attention to her handicap foot. The ankle was a broken mess. It seemed to Marcus as if fragments of bones were floating everywhere and, since her ankle was already different because of her handicap, he knew he would need help with it. He put a dulling spell on it to spare her the pain.

"Genna," he said, sitting next to her and taking her in his arms. "What happened, my love?"

"He-he vanished my crutches," she said with a broken voice.

"He did what?" asked Marcus incredulously.

He didn't have to ask who 'he' was since he knew who she was supposed to train with this afternoon.

"He vanished my crutches then sent spells at me," she said. "Marcus, I couldn't stay up," she said, crying again. "My foot was hurting so bad. I tried to defend myself as best I could but he sent me flying across the room. I landed badly. I don't know how I actually stayed conscious. And I just Apparated here... I – I had to get away."

Marcus knew how stupid it had been of her to Apparate while in so much pain; she could have splinched herself. But it was not the time to tell her now. He was so furious at Harry, he could barely control his shaking.

"Genna, listen," he said, gently caressing her back. "Your ankle is badly broken and I need help fixing it. I'll make you sleep now so you can rest, and I'll wake you up when I come back, okay?"

"Are you going to be gone long?"

The vulnerability in her voice was almost his undoing but, for her sake, he kept a tight lid on his emotions.

"No, I won't be long," he said, setting her back on the bed and kissing her forehead.

He took his wand and, murmuring a spell, put her to sleep. He left the room and closed the door quietly behind him. He laid his back against the wall for a moment and took a shuddering breath, feeling his control totally slip away from him. The woman he loved had been hurt and the bear in him roared, asking for revenge. The next thing he knew, he was down the stairs and barging into the kitchen. Harry still had his head on Ginny's belly and it infuriated Marcus even more to see him get comfort from the woman he loved when he, Marcus, had to see Genna suffer because of what Harry had done to her. In two steps, he was at Harry's side and pulled him to his feet by his shirt.

"Why did you do this to her?" he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Marcus, stop!" begged Ginny, trying to separate them. "Please stop."

Marcus had always had a fair amount of respect for Ginny. She was always nice to him and a surrogate sister to Genna.

"You're lucky Ginny loves you enough to beg for you because Merlin knows what I would do to you," said Marcus, letting go of Harry's shirt. "You disgust me," he spat.

"Do you think it amuses me to have to do that to her?" shouted back Harry. "Do you think it doesn't disgust me, too?"

"Then why did you do it?" hissed Marcus. "Why, in the name of Merlin?"

"Because she needs to be able to overcome her weaknesses," answered Harry. "She needs to be able to defend herself against what's out there."
"Newsflash, Potter! The war is over! There's nothing out there!" said Marcus coldly.

"That's where you're wrong," said Harry more calmly. "There's something out there right now, something that's been trying very hard to kill her for the past year."
"You're a lunatic! I'm done listening to you! What a hero you make! If people knew, they would be appalled."

Marcus turned around and walked to the fireplace.

"Marcus, where are you going?" asked Ginny who was suddenly next to him.

"I've got to get Healer Troovus," he answered quietly. "Genna's ankle is injured beyond my skills."

"Hold on," she said. "You'll need the address on a piece of paper otherwise you won't be able to bring him back."

She left his side and Marcus waited, not daring to turn back as he knew seeing Harry's face would only set him off again.

"Here," she said, giving him a small piece of paper. "Go get him."

ghghghghghghghgh

When Marcus came back a few minutes later, Ginny was waiting for him in the kitchen, and Harry was nowhere in sight. It was definitely better that way, thought Marcus, since he didn't know if he had enough self-control to face him right now.

"Ginny, my child," greeted Healer Troovus warmly, kissing Ginny on her cheek. "How have you been?"

"I've been wonderful," answered Ginny with a warm smile. "Welcome to our home."
"Thank you. Where is your young man?"

"He is at the Ministry," she answered. "He had to go take care of something."
"Oh! I see. Maybe later then."

Healer Toorvus followed Marcus up the stairs and into the room he shared with Genna. A few minutes later, they were both examining her ankle.

"Merlin's beard!" exclaimed Troovus. "How did she end up with such an injury? This is very bad indeed."

"She said she fell," answered Marcus.

"I think, dear Marcus, she's keeping something from you," said Healer Troovus. "This ankle is more crushed than anything else. I don't think a fall, even a very bad one, would have done this type of damage. The bones are practically shattered."

Marcus frowned but kept focusing on the examination of Genna's ankle. As he continued in silence, he saw something strange, something that should not be there.

"Healer Troovus, what is that?" he askeddirecting the Healer's attention to what he had just discovered.

"That is... that is... I don't know what that is but it surely doesn't belong here."

"Can it be the reason why nobody could heal her?"

"I don't know," answered Healer Troovus slowly, his forehead wrinkled in concentration. "But if her foot was not so damaged, we would never have found it. See there? I think it was hidden within the small bone over there."

"Mmh," said Marcus. "You think we should remove it?"

"Yes," answered the Healer, speaking slowly again. "Let's do that first before we work on the rest of her foot."

Removing the small unidentified object was a lot harder than Marcus had anticipated. In fact, it was so hard they had to call on Ginny to help them, and they were all sweating profusely when they were done. The object, about as big as a grain of sand, was black and hard, and to everybody's surprise, dissipated in a flash of light while they were observing it.

"What was that?" asked Ginny.

"I've seen something very similar only once before," said Healer Troovus, frowning in concentration again. "Marcus, is Genna's mother a Squib, by any chance?"

"Why? Yes, she was," answered Marcus. "She passed away before Genna began school."

"What did she die from?"

"I don't know," answered Marcus. "Some Muggle disease."

"I think this was part of her mother's magic," said Troovus.

"I thought Squibs did not have any magic," said Marcus.

"Oh! Yes, they do," said Troovus. "They just cannot use it.

"The only other time I saw something like this was at the very beginning of my career. There was this young woman, a Squib, and very sick too. She was admitted to my ward because with her recently born baby had developed this big round black pebble-sized lump in his arm and nobody could figure out what it was."

"What was it?" asked Ginny as curious as Marcus.

"I think it was her magic," answered Healer Troovus. "You see, I think her magic was trying to cure her of her disease while she was pregnant but it couldn't because she had no way to channel it like wizards do. When she was not pregnant, the pebble-sized magic burst would come out of her through regular means but, while pregnant, it lodged itself in the baby.

"I think Genna's mother may have begun to be sick while she was pregnant or shortly before and this grain of salt created her deformity."

"Does it mean we can cure her?" asked Marcus hopefully.

"Perhaps," answered the Healer. "Perhaps not. But at the very least, we can make her a lot more comfortable and her handicap a lot less pronounced.

"Enough taking! Let's get back to work. We have an ankle to reconstruct."

A few hours and a couple of pebbles later, they were done.