A/N on bottom as always.
Chapter Five -Bad Luck December-
Bad Luck was common this time of year.
It had been days since the last unfortunate event, which I have been mulling over for some time, and it seems that Hogwarts has entered a period of unbreakable bad luck.
First bad luck: The Quidditch match, Griffindor against Slytherin, had been changed to Griffindor against Hufflepuff. Wood, along with the rest of the lot, had taken a nasty beating from this newly found information. The match had been absolutely terrible and now noted to be the worst match in the history of Hogwarts Quidditch. I won't go into details for the devastating memory is still intact and I might burst into tears before I even start telling the story.
Second bad luck: Things with the ever wonderful Oliver Wood had taken a turn for the worst. After that bitter experience with the Dementors, which I won't go in detail for personal reasons (mostly due to the fact that a certain person was involved in this matter), I cannot act the same way around Wood as I had done before. In fact, I had lost the ability to face him at all. Ange says I'm being foolish and stupid for not clearing it up with Wood, but I'm quite sure that he doesn't want to see me in his time of depression. Because of this, Quidditch practice has been most uncomfortable lately, and is now becoming the one thing I don't look forward to. That, and going into the Great Hall (We all know why that is).
Third bad luck: The recent scandal between Flint and I had spread around the school like newfound hexes or new information regarding Sirius Black's whereabouts. Everywhere I turn, there's either a Griffindor student glaring at me, or a Slytherin who seems to be at a loss for words. All the other students seemed to enjoy this bit of gossip and was the only thing talked about, despite the recent sightings of Sirius Black. The fat lady, whose portrait resides in the hidden entrance of the Griffindor Tower, was recently attacked by Sirius Black just days before the match against Hufflepuff. It caused a terrible fright among the students especially the first years, due to the fact that Sirius Black was now somewhere in the castle.
Despite everything that had happened over the last few days, nothing compared to the bad luck of falling in love with Marcus Flint.
The insatiable hunger for his touch, his kisses, his body, had grown increasingly overwhelming as the days progressed, and the tolerance to keep it all hidden was now reaching its limit. Dreams of that muscular male body and those deep, dark eyes have been appearing periodically, leaving my body aroused and wet. I would find myself running to the bathroom in the middle of the night, suppressing my moans as I slipped my hand inside my knickers. Fantasies of his toned body flashed through my mind as I touched myself, feeling every inch of the soft flesh. It had become a nightly routine; a habit I could not rid myself of. The guilt of doing what had become my nightly routine was bad enough; I wouldn't dare make the fantasy into a reality.
Days slipped into weeks as October turned into November and November to December.
The grounds were now covered with winter frost instead of the usual mud, and the sky had cleared of heavy rain and dark clouds to bring in small amounts of snow. Along with the new change in weather, the spirit of the holidays had erupted amongst the students, mostly the third years for their second trip to Hogsmeade. Hogwarts had gone through a most impressive transformation, from glittering fairie lights to fake snow in the Great Hall, and all the students were buzzing with excitement. Unfortunately for me, I had to stay at Hogwarts during the holidays, due to the recent discovery that my parents were touring France for their anniversary. Ange and Alicia had offered to stay for the holidays as well, but I denied their offer, for I saw the disappointment on both Weasley's faces at the thought of not being able to spend time with their girlfriends. On a side note and to my great luck, Wood was not staying at Hogwarts either.
"And... did you hear anything about him?" Ange implied, rolling her eyes toward Flint's direction. My heart skipped at the sight of him; howling with laughter at Warrington for having spilled his drink on his pants, where it left a visible stain just above his groin.
"I... er—no, not really," I said. "I haven't really thought about that."
"Oh. Well, um, it might come as a bit of shock to you and promise not to be dramatic about it, but... I heard he's staying at Hogwarts."
"What!?" I yelled. The reaction had come off a tad bit louder than I expected for I noticed all conversation had stopped, and all eyes were on Ange and I.
"Sorry," I muttered, blushing furiously at the sight of Flint's dark eyes toward my face. "Sorry."
The chattering had resumed and Ange pulled me back down on the seat, giving me a look of exasperation and a I-told-you-not-to-be-dramatic-about-it look.
"What's Flint want staying at Hogwarts? For the Holidays?" I asked feebly.
"I heard him talking about it with Montague, about not going back for the holidays. I'm not exactly sure, something about 'unfinished work' and 'last chance to see'-"
"See? See what?" The nervousness of my state of being was now completely evident in my tone of voice.
"I don't know for sure, but I don't think it's anything you should be worried about too much," Ange saw the immense fear and dislike on my face (Though we all know by now is only an introduction to what I'm really feeling) and added hopefully, "I think." This small attempt at comfort failed miserably.
"What are you going to do?" Ange asked worriedly, still glaring at Flint who was now laughing at Warrington, whose face was now covered with freshly served porridge. (How it got there remains a mystery and I dare not find out).
"I suppose there's nothing to do but hide, is there?" I shrugged, though in my mind I wanted to do quite the opposite of that.
The Saturday morning for the Hogmeade had arrived, though quite unexpected, and the students filed happily out of the Hogwarts entrance one by one.
I had curled myself up in layers of sweaters, scarves, and cloaks, and headed out with Ange and Alicia. Everybody shivered against the bitter frost, huddling together for body warmth. There were no Dementors around, giving students sighs of relief as they continued marching onto the beautifully decorated streets of Hogsmeade.
After waving off the boys at Zonko's, Ange, Alicia and I headed for The Three Broomsticks for a nice cup of butterbeer. The tiny inn was extremely loud and packed; students excitedly talking about peculiar shops and items found at the busy town.
"I'll get the drinks, shall I?" Alicia piped up and headed towards the front of the inn.
Ange and I headed away from the crowds of students located around the inn and finally found a table in the back corner, placed right beside the clouded window.
"I suppose it's better than nothing," Ange said cheerily, taking a seat by the window. "Hold on, Alicia's having trouble with the butterbeers." She rushed towards the front where Alicia was struggling to hold the foaming tankards of butterbeer.
I sat down on the opposing seat and stared blankly out the window. Several people passed by, rubbing their hands together and shivering against the freezing wind as it blew past them. The door clanged open and cool breeze entered the inn, along with a group of heavily cloaked students. I ignored the loud voices of the lot and continued staring out the window. From the reflection in the window, I saw a heavily dressed figure approach behind my seat, smirking at my dazed expression. I turned around to find myself facing Flint, the last person I had expected to see and wanted to see. (Which I suppose is ironic considering this past couple months all I wanted was to see him).
"Merry Christmas," he said, taking Ange's seat before I could I even object.
"What do you want?" I asked half-heartedly. "Come to torture me some more, have you? Want a good last laugh before Christmas comes and you're all alone at Hogwarts?"
Flint seemed to be struck by this news. "Surprisingly no, I don't recall the last time I 'tortured' you. And I also don't remember ever telling you my Christmas plans or anything that's my business."
I bit my tongue at this; The bit of information slipped through my lips carelessly.
"And I don't plan on spending my only available time at Hogsmeade with ugly gits. So bugger off," I retorted. Those last small mistakes left me too vulnerable and open for his verbal attacks.
I turned away from Flint's smug face to get up and leave the scene before any other information slips from my lips. Flint's arm shot across the table and grabbed aggressively around my wrist, pulling me back to face him.
"Didn't you learn Bell, that it's rude to leave in the middle of a conversation?" Flint smirked, his hands still gripping my right sleeve.
"I absolutely did Mr. Flint," I grinned forcefully through my gritted teeth, "But I also learned to never speak with strangers. Especially those who barge in unwelcomed."
"Ah, and who was the one that needed my heroic helping hand when Dementors arrived during practice?"
Flint tugged my sleeve again, this time causing me to be dragged back to my seat. Flint continued his firm grip around my wrist, not allowing me a moment of escape.
"The Dementors wouldn't have been there if it not were for you and your lot in the first place, that's a months' worth of detention right there. And, not to mention attacking another Hogwarts student without proper consent? I'm sure even you, Flint, can't get away with rape no matter how many Death Eaters connections you have." A sudden burst of bold feeling rushed into my body after saying my last words; No, I couldn't let my sexual fantasies and late night departures get intermixed with the fact that Marcus Flint is a lying, arrogant, dirty-playing, self-absorbed, brainless, troll looking git that Hogwarts has ever received as a student.
Laughing, Flint released my sleeves and withdrew his hand within his pockets. I continued glaring at Flint, wand ready at the depths of my pockets.
"You've seem to forgotten, Bell. I can't get accused of something I didn't do, especially when the other didn't try to fight back."
I bit my tongue again at this. It was the truth that I couldn't run or wave my wand at.
"Well, I—I—"
Seeking my immediate danger and noticing the big troll of a man seated across from me, Ange and Alicia quickly rushed to my rescue, butterbeers still foaming wildly in their hands. With a whoosh and several scampering of feet, we were forced to face several Slytherins with their wands pointed steadily towards us. Several students in the inn were now aware of the commotion and turned their heads to goggle.
"What do you want Flint?" Ange asked demandingly, setting the frothing tankard down on the table while keeping her wand pointed at Flint's unmoved face. Warrington and Montague were both glaring at her as they watched her for any suspicious activity.
"Last time I checked Johnson, this conversation was none of your business," Flint spat.
"Yeah, well, I know the way you lot work," Ange replied, glaring back at Warrington and Montague, "Tell me Flint, do you always keep those trolls of yours on a leash? Don't want them causing trouble, now do we?"
"And I assume you and Spinnet just happened to eavesdrop accidently?" said Flint.
"Let it go Flint," I added authoritatively, "We don't need your lot to be causing trouble outside of school too. Bad enough we have to deal with you lot inside Hogwarts."
At this being said, Flint ordered the rest of the trolls (I can no longer call them actual human beings now; the name is hard to adjust out of) to lower their wands, which they did so obediently (Though Warrington looked as though he wanted to hex someone at least once before putting his wand away).
"Now bugger off before we have to forcefully kick you out," I said coolly, "Oh, and take your gang of trolls with you."
Now noticing the sudden attention that was on the scene, Flint grudgingly gestured to leave and stalked out of the inn into the bitter winter. The rest of the Slytherins followed suit. Ange quickly gulped down the lifeless tankard of butterbeer and wiped her mouth with her robes.
"Let's get out of here before someone squeals on us," said Ange.
Alicia and I guzzeled down the butterbeer and quickly followed Ange out of The Three Broomsticks, passing by a group of first years deep in conversation.
"Some bad luck running into those blokes, eh?" Ange said humorously, trying to break the lingering atmosphere.
Alicia and I merely nodded silently as we continued down the path back to Zonko's, where Fred, George and Lee are probably stuffing their pockets full with newly attained Zonko products.
Had it really been plain bad luck running into Flint at The Three Broomsticks or had he actually followed us, or rather, me there? I couldn't tell the difference and I reckon I don't really want to find out; the answer was too risky and it could leave me disheartened or with my hopes up, which I hardly doubt will be the result.
Bad Luck was common this time of year, and I seemed to be the victim of most of it.
A/N: I finally finished chapter five, which was a big challenge for me since I had to redraft over and again what to write. The course of the story has changed a little bit, steering away from my original idea but still keeping the same general concept nonetheless.
It starts getting a bit graphic in the next couple chapter (mostly the next) so I don't advise those who can't handle to read the next chapter. Just a warning.
Thank you for all the support and reviews out there. It really makes it worthwhile.