Chapter Ten

"We better win the cup this year!" Oliver said in a carriage on the Hogwarts Express. Lauren and Oliver were in a carriage with Sebastian Smith, Gerald Hastings, Katie Bell and Fred and George Weasley.

"Of course we will, old chap!" Fred Weasley exclaimed.

"Who's your favorite team?" Sebastian asked Lauren.

"I can't stand the game", Lauren answered, not taking her glance away from outside of the window. She heard Sebastian sigh.

"Word's gone round that Flint fancies you", Sebastian whispered.

"That's true—well, not anymore", Lauren replied.

"What do you think of him?" Sebastian asked curiously.

"Nothing at all", Lauren replied.

"You must think something of him", said Sebastian.

"I want to marry him", Lauren joked, laughing.

Sebastian half chuckled, wondering whether to believe her or not.

"It's a joke, Sebastian", Lauren said.

"What's a joke?" Oliver asked.

"Marcus Flint", Lauren replied.

"I'll kill the bastard", Oliver said suddenly.

"That's not necessary, Oliver, he's no harm at all", Lauren said.

"That's not true!" Sebastian interrupted.

Lauren and Oliver stared at Sebastian.

"What? He isn't!" Sebastian retorted.

"I know, mate. You don't have to get so passionate", Oliver laughed, "He's my problem".

"Mine too", Sebastian replied eyeing Lauren, who quickly turned away, blushing in embarrassment.

The Hogwarts Express finally arrived and all students entered the Great Hall, watching first years being sorted into their houses and listening to Dumbledore's welcoming speech. Marcus eyed Lauren from across the room. She looked as pretty as ever but he had to keep his mind off her. He eyed her talking and laughing with Sebastian Smith. Naturally Marcus hated Sebastian Smith, as he was a Gryffindor and best friends with Oliver Wood. She met his gaze and blushed, looking down. Did he have a chance with her?

Lauren blushed and looked down. "I'm going up to the common room, Oliver".

"Sure thing", Oliver replied, not taking his eyes off Katie Bell who was sitting next to him.

As soon as Lauren walked out of the great hall, her owl, Roger dropped a letter in her hand. "Meet me at the Quidditch field", said the note. Wondering if the note had been from Marcus, Lauren hesitated but in the end, decided to go.

"LAUREN!" Randolph explained.

"Randolph? What are you doing here?" Lauren asked, slightly annoyed.

"Nice to see you too!" Randolph replied.

"It's just…I thought we were on a break", Lauren said, "We are on a break, aren't we?"

"I've missed you Lauren—you haven't contacted me once since you left France!"

"I can't believe you came here! Randy, things haven't been the same since I came to England…I'm so much happier now with my father and brother and…this…this was just a bit unexpected".

"You're not happy to see me, then? I'm your boyfriend for crying out loud!"

Lauren grit her teeth, annoyed at his dramatics, "You knew things were getting worse between us though, didn't you? Look, I've been procrastinating long enough so I have to say this: I'm not in love with you. I don't think I ever was. What's the point in trying? I think…it's best that we don't see each other anymore" Lauren asked.

"What?!"

"I guess I don't see the point in being with someone if I know for certain we're not going to be with each other forever. It's a waste of time for you and me".

"Lauren, we can work things out".

"Randolph, during our time-off I hardly ever thought about you, and I never missed you and seeing you here today, I wasn't happy or excited but…irritated. That's not what love is".

Marcus had followed Lauren out to the Quidditch field, wanting to see her again, but to his dismay he had seen that someone had gotten to her first. He could see that she was arguing with him, and Marcus was curious to find out why.

"Lauren", Marcus said, coming up to her.

Lauren's frown vanished upon seeing Marcus. "Marcus, what are you doing out here?"

"Who's this?" Randolph demanded.

"Flint, Marcus Flint", Marcus stated, clearly annoyed with Randolph's tone.

"I see…I'm Randolph Manning—Lauren's—"

"My ex-boyfriend", Lauren cut in.

Marcus smiled. Randolph looked from Lauren to Marcus. "You think this is funny do you?" he asked Marcus.

"I'm more pleased than amused actually", Marcus laughed. In a flash, Randolph punched Marcus in the jaw.

"RANDOLPH!" Lauren screamed, "Just leave me!" Randolph looked at Lauren with disgust and walked off the Quidditch field, shaking his head with defeat. Marcus clutched at his jaw. "You didn't fight back", Lauren said, confused.

"My last year right? Staying out of trouble", Marcus grinned.

Lauren was amazed Marcus had remembered what she said. "This is the second time I've caused you trouble!" Lauren said genuinely apologetic.

"I'd go through anything for you", Marcus said. Lauren pretended she didn't hear what he had just said. "What a jerk, Lauren…he's why you wouldn't go out with me?"

"He was a nice guy initially, but I knew it wouldn't last forever…it had to end sometime", Lauren said, ignoring his question.

"Didn't want to waste your time?" Marcus asked.

Lauren looked at him. "Marcus, can we be realistic here, pretend I wasn't a pureblood—"

"I wouldn't care".

"It's easy saying that when you know I am", Lauren replied.

Marcus took her hand, "It's easy saying that, because it's the truth", he said looking into her eyes, "Do you want to sit down near the lake?"

Lauren looked over her shoulder, feeling uneasy, "I have to unpack my things".

"Oh…" Marcus said looking as if he had just lost a game of Quidditch.

Lauren felt crushed looking at Marcus. "Well…I guess five minutes won't hurt".

Marcus smiled a little, but still looked in pain. The two sat down near the lake and Marcus was the first to speak, "If I wasn't Marcus Flint, would you be interested in me?"

"Marcus…it's too hard to talk about…I can't answer that".

"Why can't you answer that? It's merely a hypothetical question".

"Well think about it. How would you feel if I said yes? I don't want to encourage you…"

"You're different from other girls I've been with",

"Don't give me that line, Flint!"

"It's true! In the bookstore…you were interested before your brother came in"

"…No", Lauren replied, hesitating a bit too long.

"I knew it", Marcus sighed, "God, Lauren, do you have to be so stubborn?"

"I have to think with my head, Flint! I can't let feelings get in the way of what I know is right!"

"What exactly is right? And what's wrong with me?"

"…A lot of things…" Lauren replied.

Marcus looked genuinely hurt and couldn't even look at Lauren.

Lauren expected Marcus to get up and give up by now but he stayed put.

They sat in silence for a while. "I'm sorry…" Lauren said, putting her hand on his, but quickly withdrew it, realizing what she had just done.

"It's true…that I've had a lot of girlfriends…I admit that", Marcus said, "But I still think you should give me a chance".

"I don't get along with your friends, Marcus…I never will".

"I'll make sure they don't go anywhere near you", Marcus promised.

"Is that what you really want, Marcus?"

"I'll do anything".

"It's not just that…I want to go out with a guy who my brother approves of…we're pretty close now", Lauren said honestly.

"I don't know how to fix that problem", Marcus said, looking thoughtful.

"Do you ever give up?" Lauren asked, "You've been punched in the face twice because of me, I've turned down your offers numerous times and now I give you a list of reasons why I can't go out with you and you try and debate every single one".

"I…can't give up", Marcus said.

"You want what you can't have, Flint".

"When I saw you in the bookstore, before I knew you were a Wood…you have no idea how hard it was to come up to you…but I'm glad I did", he said, putting his hand on hers.

Lauren didn't take her hand away. He moved closer to her but she moved back and he sighed.

"We just can't do this. I have to go…and Marcus…you can have any girl you want".

"Evidently not", Marcus muttered to himself as Lauren walked off. He lay on the grass, looking up at the sky. This year was going to be complicated.