Chapter 9 – The Prophecies

A gentle hand caressing her forehead woke Genna from a very deep sleep. Slowly, her mind still foggy, she opened her eyes.

"Hi," said Marcus quietly, with a smile. "How do you feel?"

"I..." she began but suddenly stopped speaking.

To her surprise, her left foot did not have its usual lingering pain and she realised it was encased in something. She looked at Marcus, her eyes round in surprise.

"Marcus, my foot!" she said. "I don't feel the pain anymore. I mean it hurts right now but it doesn't have the usual pain, the one I had for as long as I can remember!"

"I think Healer Troovus and I found what was causing it," said Marcus with a smile. "We hope you'll be able to walk without crutches eventually. You may still have a limp but we think you'll be able to give up the crutches altogether."

"Really?" she asked in a small voice. "Will I... will I be able to dance with you?"

"I'll take you dancing as soon as you can," replied Marcus with a smile. "And I cannot wait!"

"Why is my foot in a cast?"

"We had to do some major reconstruction. You are not allowed to walk on it for a week.

"Genna, what really happened? Healer Troovus thinks you could not have done this type of damage just by falling."

"Promise me you won't be mad," she said.

"I cannot promise you, Genna," said Marcus honestly. "And just by you asking me, I know I'm not going to like what you're about to tell me."

Genna looked at him and only saw concern in his eyes.

"I think, after he threw me, Harry didn't realise how hurt I really was," she said quietly.

"What did he do, Genna?"

"He threw a concrete block at me," she answered so quietly that Marcus barely heard her.

He took a deep breath and held it for a long minute before exhaling.

"I think he thought I could block it like I had done a few days earlier," she added.
"Why does he need to throw concrete blocks at you? Does the lunatic think you're going to be attacked or something?" said Marcus exasperated. "I think he's losing it, Genna. I think he had it so bad during the War that he imagines it's going to happen again."

Genna was surprised at how calm Marcus had remained, but she could clearly see his anger, nevertheless.

"Genna, I know it is not my choice to make and I would never keep you from doing what you want and love, but if you want to stop this internship, please tell me, okay?"

As she nodded, someone knocked on the door frame. Genna looked up to see Ginny smiling at her, a tray of food in her hands. She saw Harry from the corner of her eye too, but he didn't come in and was instantly gone from her field of vision. He either remained out of sight or left, Genna wasn't sure.

"How do you feel?" asked Ginny.

"Better, thank you," answered Genna, throwing another glance towards the door.

"I brought you some food. You must be hungry," said Ginny, putting the tray on the bed.

"Where did Harry go?" asked Genna.

"Brooding, most probably," answered Ginny with a sad smile. "I think he feels pretty bad."

"I hope he does," said Marcus coldly.

"Marcus," warned Genna, sitting up and pulling the tray toward her.

"Did he tell you what happened?" asked Marcus to Ginny, not ready to let it go.

"Some of it," answered Ginny. "He couldn't quite talk, really."

"Good!" said Marcus, satisfied.

"Marcus, enough!" said Genna, blushing in embarrassment. "Would you please go get me a book?"

Genna just wanted him to leave and cool off before he said something to Ginny he would regret later.

"A book?" he asked surprised.

"Yes, please," she answered firmly.

Understanding dawned in his eyes and he gave her the shadow of a smile.

"A book," he said, getting up. "Okay. I'll be back in an hour."

He kissed her forehead and left. Once he was gone, Ginny took a seat at Genna's feet.

"Wow! That was smooth," said Ginny with a small smile. "I need to remember that one."

"Well, hopefully, he'll be more relaxed when he comes back."

"I bet he will," said Ginny with a chuckle.

"He's pretty mad at Harry, I think," said Genna. "Did he talk to him?"

"After a fashion," answered Ginny with a wince.

"That bad?"

"I would think so," she answered sadly. "Not a very good mix in any case: an angry male who accused another one of hurting his girlfriend while this other one thinks all the problems of the world are because of him and his to solve alone."

"Oh!" winced Genna. "Not good. What are we going to do about it?"

"We could put them in a room and let them fight it out," she suggested.

"Okay but no wands," said Genna. "My man is absolutely no match for yours."

"Deal!"

ghghghghghghghgh

The next day, Genna had to stay in bed at the insistence of Marcus. The last thing he wanted was for her to put any weight on her healing foot and undo the work he and Healer Troovus had done. In the early afternoon, she was reading the novel he had bought her the previous day when he walked into the room. She looked up and smiled at him but her smile disappeared when she noticed his serious expression.

"Marcus, what's wrong?" she asked alarmed.

"I came to get you," he answered distantly. "We're expected in the Sitting Room."

To her immense surprise, he gave her the crutches instead of taking her in his arms like he would have normally done.

"Marcus, stop!" she said, panicked by the cold shoulder he was giving her.

He stood there, but his eyes wouldn't meet hers.

"That bad?" she only asked.

He nodded, keeping his eyes to the floor.

"Look at me!" she ordered.

He did and she could only see despair in his eyes.

"Did someone die?" she asked.

"No," he answered quietly. "Come."

He did not wait for her response, he just left. As Genna was pulling herself off the bed, she heard numerous footsteps coming up the stairs and she wondered who that might be. She grabbed the crutches Marcus had left on the side of the bed and made her way to the Sitting Room. Marcus was already there with Harry, Ginny, and...

"Headmaster Flynn?" she asked, intrigued.

"Good afternoon, child," he told her with a sad smile.

"Wh-what's wrong?" she asked. "Wh-why are you here?"

"Please, take a seat," said the Headmaster. "There are a few things I need to tell you."

Genna sat and glanced at Marcus. He was standing by the window, looking outside, his expression completely defeated and distant. Genna turned her attention back to the Headmaster.

"Genna, you being here, learning about Defence and being trained by Harry is no accident," he began. "The internship program was created for one reason and one reason only: so we can equip you with the best knowledge we could find in the arts of defending yourself."

"Why?" asked Genna, suddenly afraid.

"You know how our society is divided, right? Well this division is no accident. Somebody deliberately keeps our society apart because a unified wizarding world is a threat to her," explained the Headmaster.

"Wait! Who's 'her'? What are you talking about? What's it got to do with me?" asked Genna, liking this even less. "Headmaster, you are not making any sense to me."

"Let me explain. Some years ago, we don't really know when, a woman, a vampire came to Canada and for a reason or another, she worked very hard to keep the English wizards from getting along with the French wizards, and vice versa. We think she is trying to rule our society and the only reason why she is still working behind the scene, is because of one prophecy. What she doesn't know is that they are two prophecies and these two prophecies have been guiding us in our efforts to reunite our society.

"The first prophecy talks about a girl, apart from the others, who would guide the society towards reunification by defeating the darkness.

"Now, that in and of itself could lead to you because of your handicap. We think that is why you've been attacked all year. We think the person behind the division has heard of you and your difference, and has tried to eliminate you."

Genna's head was spinning. It was not that the Headmaster was speaking fast, but the news was just too grave for her to fully understand.

"I know this prophecy, in and of itself, may lead to you but is rather broad. However, the other one is another thing completely."

The Headmaster paused as if to collect his thoughts. It was so quiet in the room that Genna had this nagging impression of impending doom.

"The other prophecy says: 'As the old world finds peace, an union shall be born and consummated between two opposing enemies. United, they shall have the power to defeat the shadow that blankets their world and reunite it as one, as they will understand things others do not. As a new era has begun, the confrontation approaches and conqueror shall reign while vanquished shall perish with all its followers. As the new era begins, the force to defeat the shadow and reunite the world approaches.'

"We think, Genna, you are that person, and we think you and Marcus are the two people in the second prophecy because of your relationship."

"You're joking, right?" she asked, knowing deep down that he was very serious. "Surely Marcus and I are not the only French and English people dating."

"Actually, Genna, there hasn't been a relationship between an English and a French since the founding of the school."

And it hit her. The prophecy said 'consummate'.

Genna blanched visibly and her head began to spin. Marcus and she had finally consummated their relationship three days ago, effectively making them serious candidates to be the ones in the prophecies. What sick twisted act of faith made her get the thing she wanted most in the world and have it been such a poisonous gift?

Shakily, she got to her feet.

"Ex-excuse m-me," she said, and left the room without adding a word.

She made her way to her bedroom and would have closed the door if it wasn't for Ginny preventing her. Genna turned her back on her and made her way to the bed, anger seeping through her every pores.

"You knew," she accused. "You knew and you didn't try to stop me! You didn't try to talk me out of sleeping with Marcus."

"Yes, I knew," answered Ginny calmly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. "And I didn't try to stop you. And honestly, Genna, if I had, would you have listened to me?"

"But you let us stay here," said Genna, sitting on the bed and throwing her crutches to the floor. "Why?

"Genna, be honest with yourself!" said Ginny. "Whether you had stayed here or not, it would have happened anyway. I didn't tell you because I didn't want a prophecy to rob you from something you wanted, and quite honestly, you deserved. I didn't want that prophecy from ruining your moment, and it would have had, believe me."

Genna had to concede, Ginny had a point. But it didn't make her any less angry at Ginny for keeping the prophecy away from her.

"But why?" she asked, tears now falling from her eyes. "Why telling us so soon after we made love?"

"We had no choice," answered Ginny calmly, sadness in her eyes. "Marcus was not taking you being hurt very well. He didn't understand why Harry was training you like he did. He thought Harry was mad. He is the one who owled the Headmaster.

"Genna, he is very worried about you because he really loves you. He wants to protect you but there are some things he needed to know in order to do so. And you needed to know them too, eventually. We would not have told you if we hadn't been pushed to do it. And Merlin knows Harry and I had hoped you were not the ones in that prophecy."

Genna nodded her understanding. But it didn't take away her anger or her pain at knowing that her making love with Marcus may very well have sealed her fate. There was nothing she could do now and honestly, she wouldn't have done anything to change her past. Ginny was right on that point. But now, she would only have to face the consequences, whatever they may be, and it made her very afraid.

ghghghghghghghgh

How could he ever look her back in the face? wondered Marcus, listening to the Headmaster for the second time that day. After his outburst to Harry the previous day, Marcus had sent the Headmaster an owl, telling him how he thought Harry had lost it. When Harry had found out, he had judged it was time for his two guests to know the full truth of what was going on and had asked the headmaster to come over. Marcus had been in the kitchen when the Headmaster had arrived by Floo network and had received the short version of the explanation at that time.

Marcus could not look at Genna. Just a few days ago, they had made love and he had promised her forever, and today, he was finding out what he thought was the greatest moment of his life was in fact the thing that sealed Genna to a very dark fate. He saw how hard Harry had had it with his war, even if he was doing his best to hide it, and Marcus did not want that for Genna. He loved her so much he would take it all back if it meant she could live peacefully and happy.

But it was too late, the damage was done. And he could not live with himself, knowing that his love for her was to blame.

"Ex-excuse m-me," he heard her say, following by the distinctive sound of her crutches on the wooden floor as she left, followed almost immediately by quick footsteps

Marcus did not turn around. He kept on staring out of the window. He didn't know how long he was there when he was startled by a gentle touch on his arm.

"Marcus, go to her," said Ginny quietly. "She needs you right now."

"How... how can she even look at me?" he asked, tears threatening to flow from his eyes.

"She can because she loves you," she answered. "Right now, she needs you to hold her in your arms while she cries. She needs you to tell her that you'll stay by her side no matter what. She needs to know that you don't love her any less because of this."

"I-I can't," he said, disgusted with himself.

"You must, Marcus. While you may think it's your fault and you brought this upon her, she doesn't think that. If you don't go to her, she'll think you're abandoning her when she needs you the most, when she needs to know that there is one safe thing in the world and that thing is your love."

Marcus looked at her for a long and nodded once. Without another word, he left the room and went to the bedroom he shared with Genna.

His Genna.

He opened the door and found her on the bed, crying. He closed the door and walked to the bed, lying next to her and gathering her in his arms. She clutched his shirt with both hands, putting her head on his shoulder, right in the crook of his neck.

"I'm here," he whispered, putting his arms around her and hugging her as hard as he dared. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Why, Marcus? Why?" she asked between sobs.

"I don't know, my love," he answered. "I don't know."

"Why did somebody have to tarnish the best moment of my life? It isn't fair!"

"No, it is not," he said. "But I'm not going anywhere. We'll do this together, Genna. We'll do this together and we'll win because I love you."

"Why were you so distant earlier?" she asked.

"Because I don't really like myself right about now," he answered with a self-depreciating chuckle.

She stiffened in his arms.

"I love you," he said, "and if I had known, I would not have made love to you."

She pushed him away from her and slapped him, hard.

"And what about me?" she yelled at him. "What about how I feel? I wanted you, Marcus! And if I had known, it would not have changed a thing! Does it mean so little to you that you would have given it up? You would have given me up?"

"Oh, Merlin, no!"

And the tears he had felt earlier freely came down his cheeks.

"You're all I ever wanted since I was 12 years old! But I don't want you to suffer. I don't want you to be in danger.

"Genna, making love to you was the most beautiful thing that happened in my entire life. Nothing can compare. Nothing even comes close!"

Desperate, he put his hands in his hair and pulled, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Genna, I love you. I want forever with you. I would give up what we have if it meant you would be safe but I would be so miserable. I would die of a broken heart."

He opened his eyes as she threw herself in his arms.

"Genna, I'm not going anywhere," he said after a few minutes of silence. "I'll be right here, right by your side."

ghghghghghghghgh

Despite what he had told her, Marcus wasn't there for her, at least not like she wanted him to. After a third night when he hadn't touched her, or even held her, Genna was cold inside and on the verge of tears again. They had made love for the first time less than a week ago and now, he just wouldn't touch her.

She woke up around six that morning, feeling empty inside and not able to go back to sleep knowing that while Marcus was right next to her, he was in fact very far away. She dressed herself and slowly made her way to the kitchen to make some tea.

She was in the kitchen, staring at the empty fireplace, her tea long gone cold, when Ginny found her.

"Genna, what's wrong?" she asked her immediately.

"Nothing," said Genna, wiping the tears that had begun to fall sometime in the last hour. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not," said Ginny firmly, sitting next to her. "First of all, you're staring at an empty fireplace and second, you've been crying."

"Ginny, it's so horrible," she finally said.

"I know," said Ginny quietly.

"And – and Marcus won't touch me," finally said Genna, sobbing hard. "We made love for the first time less than a week ago and now, nothing! I don't understand, Ginny. I thought he loved me."

"He does, Genna. Give him time. You'll see."

ghghghghghghghgh

When he heard Genna and Ginny talking, Marcus stayed up the stairs, in the hallway. He had just overheard Genna confess to Ginny what was wrong with her when he heard someone behind him.

"You heard that, didn't you?" asked Harry.

Silently, Marcus nodded.

"Marcus, don't deny her. She needs you right now."

"How would you know?"

"I made that mistake once," said Harry. "I broke up with Ginny thinking that if I pushed her away, she would be safer. Turns out, she was not. I'm lucky I didn't lose her. It was when I was about to die that I realised how stupid of a git I really was. See, in my case, I was the one who needed her. She was the reason why I fought Voldemort. She was the reason why I wanted to come out of this alive. If she had left me instead of me leaving her, I would have failed. I would have lost the reason why I was fighting this war to begin with.

"Marcus, like it or not, your society is at war and Genna is the one who can save it. But she cannot do it alone. She needs a reason that would make it all worth it for her, and that reason is you. Take that away from her and no amount of training I can give her will make her survive this. Don't be stupid a git, Marcus; don't deny her the most important reason she has to live."

Harry's words were still echoing in Marcus' head when he came back from the Hospital shortly before dinner that night. He found Genna, sleeping on their bed, her eyes puffy and red, and her colouring on the pale side. He walked into the room and cast a privacy charm on the door before removing his shoes and climbing in bed next to her. Gently, as not to wake her, he pulled her to him, her back to his belly, and put his arms around her. He loved her so much and was so afraid for her. He couldn't overcome the horrible feeling that all of this was his fault. But Harry was right: she needed him. And if he was honest with himself, he needed her too. Except for his little sister, he had never felt the love of another person for him and he did not want to lose it, he did not want to lose her.

"Marcus?" she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

"Yes, my love?" he answered.

And she simple began to cry, big sobs that shook her entire body. He gently turned her around and pulled her to him, holding her tightly while she cried. Once she was calmed, she raised her head and kissed his chin. He looked down at her for a few moments and captured her lips with his. They quickly deepened the kiss with all their needs and wants. Slowly they finally pulled away.

"Marcus," she whispered, looking in his eyes. "I need you. Please make love to me. I need to feel you make love to me. I need to feel you inside of me. Marcus, please."

He buried his fingers in her hair behind her head and pulled her to him. He kissed her deeply, urgently, his body awakening almost instantly with need. He was breathing hard when he broke the kiss.

"Genna, can I vanish your clothes?" he asked her.

"Yes! Please!" she answered, breathing as hard as him.

He grabbed his wand and banished all of their clothes to the chair in the corner of the room. Capturing her lips again, he let his wand fall where he thought the bedside table was and heard it hit the floor. But in the next moment, any thoughts of his wand were gone when he felt Genna's hand close around his erection. He groaned deep in his throat and took her hand in his, stopping her.

"If you touch me, I won't last," he said, putting his forehead to hers.

He pushed her to her back and took place over her, his sex touching her entrance. Just in time, he remembered that she may not be quite ready for him yet and since it was only her second time, she may still be sensitive to his size. He looked into her eyes one more time before looking down at her chest and bringing his mouth to her left breast. She responded by arching her back and pulling his head closer to her. A few seconds later, his right hand pulled her legs apart and found her folds. He search for her clitoris and began to rub it gently, and then urgently. Genna moaned with pleasure. A few moments later, she moaned even louder while in her climax, trembling under him.

She pulled his head towards her face and looked at him with glassy eyes.

"Marcus, in me, now!" she commanded.

And, guiding himself with his hand, he slid into her, making her moan even louder. Seeing her face in the throes of passion was such a beautiful sight that he had to stay still for fear of coming.
"Genna," he whispered, his lips finding hers.

After a few moments, she rocked her hips against his but still he wouldn't move fighting with all his might the urge to crash into her and seek his very close release.

"Marcus, move," she said.

"I – I can't," his breath even more short. "I'm so close."

"Then, we'll just have to do it again tonight," she said with a dreamy smile.

Still he hesitated.

"Come for me, Marcus," she whispered in his ear.

It simply was too much for an already over-excited Marcus. He moved in her only a few times before he came, moaning her name.

"Oh, Merlin! Genna! I'm so sorry," he said after he caught his breath.

He rolled onto his back and pulled her to him.

"Why?" she asked.

"I didn't even give you the chance to come."

"That's why we'll do it again tonight," she said lightly. "Now, I just want a nap."

"Oh! I think I can manage that," he said with a chuckle.

"Good," said Genna, satisfied.