8

For several long days, Katie waited for rumors to swirl around Hogwarts about what had happened in the bathroom. But they never did. There were no hushed whispers, no nasty murmurs. Nothing. It seemed that Angelina's threat had worked. Even so, Katie found herself in a constant state of agitation, while waiting for Marcus to drop the other shoe and brain her with it as he was so fond of doing. In direct contrast to his behavior with her on the pitch, Marcus had reverted to form - his taunts were as cruel as always - derogatory remarks about her looks, cruel amusement in regard to her Quidditch abilities, and frank disbelief in her talents as a witch. But nothing about what he'd seen that night.

Then there were the meals they shared in the Great Hall. Katie kept her eyes on her plate at all times now. Marcus had taken to sitting so that he could watch her silently as he ate. It had gotten to the point that every time she looked up lately he was nearby. Watching her. Dissecting her with that cool, cool gaze that he always seemed to aim in her direction. Katie stared out across the library silently as she thought back over dinner. She was obsessing about what each look meant as she worried her lower lip instead of completing her potions homework.

When she caught herself sighing, she huffed, threw down her quill, and stomped into a dark stack to look for a book on the possible side effects of taking an antidote when poisoned. Damn Snape! She had better things to do with her weekend! Trailing long, slim fingers along the spines of the books before her, Katie tilted her head to the side and muttered softly under her breath. She didn't think her surly Potions master would appreciate her turning in a parchment saying that the side effects of taking an antidote when poisoned was that you bloody-well lived! Grasping the book in her hand, Katie tugged it off the shelf, only to see a familiar head of dark hair on the other side of the stack through the gap the book had left. Marcus' dry drawl reached her ears, and Katie felt her face flame red when she realized what he was talking quietly to Adrian Pucey about. Turning silently, she went to walk away, only to freeze when she heard Angelina's name being spoken in hushed tones. Her feet rooted to the spot, Katie clenched her jaw and scowled darkly at the two Slytherins when she heard what was said.

"I'd love a go with Angelina Johnson," Adrian said quietly, and Marcus snorted.

"She'd hex your balls off, Ades, before you could bend her over the nearest flat surface," he said, and Adrian muffled his laughter behind his hand.

"Maybe so, Marcus," he said finally. "But I reckon she'd be a real fire breather in the sack. Gag her, and she'd be perfect. Circe, that arse of hers... I'd be half inclined to give my fortune up if it meant being able to fuck it."

Marcus snickered and shifted against the shelves he was sitting against as he read through some books on the more obscure types of Potions.

"That would be an adventure, for sure," Marcus murmured softly. "Get past her guard dogs, and any hex she managed to send your way, and you could spend several hours in debauchery with her."

"Would you do her?" Adrian asked, and Marcus snorted as he glanced up from the book he was looking through.

"Nah, she's not my type. I like them with a little less attitude, and more of an idea as to what to do with their mouths other than sprout off Gryffindor idealism's."

Adrian slapped his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter as Marcus grinned at him.

"What about the other Chaser? Spinnet?" Adrian asked after his laughter had died away, and Marcus snorted.

"Please, she's worse than Johnson. Did you see what she did to Montague after the Quidditch match? Imagine how she'd react if you broke things off with her! I like my cock firmly where it is, thanks, mate."

Adrian slapped his hand over his mouth again, but his eyes danced with unholy glee as Marcus smirked at him.

"And Bell?" he managed a moment later, and Marcus stilled in the middle of putting the book he held back on the shelf.

"Little young for my tastes, mate," he said finally, and Adrian tilted his head slightly, and studied Marcus through golden eyes.

"You wouldn't fuck her if the opportunity presented itself?" he asked in disbelief, and when Marcus silently shook his head, Adrian leaned closer to him.

"Then what was it that made you threaten Montague with... What was it that you said again, Marcus? That you'd gut him like a fucking flobber worm if he tried that sort of stunt on the Quidditch pitch again? What was that about, my friend? Because I'm not the only inquiring mind," Adrian asked quietly, and Marcus' eyes narrowed.

"It's called rough conduct, Adrian, and if you weren't too busy thinking about fucking Johnson's delectable arse, you'd know that. I'm sick to death of losing to the Gryffs, and if Montague had unseated Bell, we would have lost for that reason alone," he snarled.

Adrian sat up slightly, his eyes glittering in the dim light as he smiled slowly.

"You know, Marcus, that argument would be all the more believable, if you'd told him that the day we played against them, rather than two days later."

Marcus' jaw clenched, and Adrian leaned forward slightly. The two Slytherins stared at each other for a long, tense moment, until Adrian finally lowered his eyes.

"All right. Rough conduct it is then. Are you sure there was no other reason?" Adrian asked quietly, and Marcus snorted derisively.

"Please. If it wasn't for that hair, you'd think she was a boy from behind. You'd break her in half the first time you fucked her. I'm not one for sticks in my bed, nor am I one for pure little virgins. Give me a woman with something to hang onto; one who knows her way around the bedroom, and who knows when to shut up any day."

His callous words caused a cold sweat to break out on Katie's face. They also served for her feet to start moving, and Katie took full advantage of it. Moving silently, she gathered her things up, stuffed them into her bag, and fled. Tears of humiliation threatened to spill down her cheeks, only to be ruthlessly swallowed back as she ran up the staircase towards Gryffindor Tower. Back in the stacks, Marcus glared at Adrian, who raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Marcus… we've been friends for a long time, haven't we?" he asked finally, and Marcus looked away. "I never said anything to anyone about you and Diana," he continued, and then laughed softly when Marcus' face whipped back towards him.

"You were careful, Marcus. You both were. Nevertheless, you forgot the silencing spells one night, and I got curious. Imagine my surprise when I saw who it was climbing out of your bed. I didn't know whether to applaud you or strangle you. But you never looked at another while you and Diana were fucking."

Marcus looked down at his hands as Adrian tilted his head.

"Until now," Adrian said softly, and he had the satisfaction of seeing his friends gaze snap back to his.

They stared at each other for a long, tense moment, until Marcus narrowed his eyes.

"You're out of your mind, Ades," he said finally, and Adrian's face twisted with anger.

"Don't insult my intelligence, Flint" he said coldly. "Don't insult me. You want to play it that way, fine. Nevertheless, I know you - remember that. Bell's gotten under your skin, and you, my friend, love a good prickle."

Marcus shook his head again, causing Adrian to snort.

"Merlin, Marcus, I'm not blind! You've always been extremely careful to hide your true self, which I get. I get it, Marcus. We're in Slytherin for Circe's sake! If it was known how you truly felt about her, you'd be torn to shreds. And in some way, I get why her. Gryffindor. Untouchable. But... why her? And if you insult me by lying again, I'm liable to hex you within an inch of your life" Adrian warned, and Marcus blew out a deep breath as he dragged his hands down over his face as Adrian looked at him expectantly.

"I don't know," he muttered finally. "Do you think I like feeling like this, Adrian?" he demanded, and then shook his head as he laughed bitterly and tilted his head back in defeat. "Believe me, friend, I don't. I've done everything in my power to stop thinking about her. To stop looking at her. To stop wanting... I've sought out the company of other witches... I've fucked other witches. Nothing works. Not the finest Cognac... She's still there... This mere slip of a girl has me in the palm of her hand, and she doesn't even know it... I want to fuck her, and break her down and… and..."

Marcus pressed his fingers against his eyes as his voice trailed away and shook his head as Adrian stared at him silently. Blowing out a harsh breath, Marcus finally spoke again.

"I feel sick, Ades," he said softly. "Sick and twisted, and... and I dream about her every fucking night. I don't know whether I want to kiss her or kill her, just to destroy this hold she has over me, because it's terrifying the way she makes me feel. It's humiliating and it's exhilarating, and I feel so fucking alive whenever we're together. And she isn't like that, I know she isn't. She isn't doing this deliberately... I see the way she looks... she watches me too, and it's written all over her fucking face. She feels it as much as I do and it's like this...this... it's a connection, and it's been there since I caught her, and I feel like I'm losing my mind, Ades... she's just a kid," Marcus' voice trailed away again, and his shoulders slumped in defeat as Adrian stared at him in surprise.

"What do you know about her?" Adrian asked finally, and Marcus looked up in shock.

"Her heritage, Marcus," Adrian said patiently. "Her blood lines, her parents. Where does she live? Who are her friends?" he added quietly, and Marcus swallowed slightly when Adrian turned glittering eyes towards him.

"She's a Half-blood," Marcus finally murmured.

"And the rest?" Adrian asked, and Marcus shrugged as he picked a speck of link from his trousers.

"She's fifteen."

It was the tone in his voice that had Adrian sighing as he looked at Marcus.

"That's only four years younger than you, Marcus. It's not like you are in your forties, and having fantasies about her. By the time she's of age, you'll only be twenty one yourself. That doesn't make you a pedophile, so stop thinking that it does. Now... do you want to know about her?" Adrian asked quietly, and then smiled slightly when he saw Marcus' eyes narrow. "I'll have the information for you by the end of the week then," he said, and Marcus stood up and dusted his pants off.

"The cost?" he finally muttered, and Adrian laughed softly as he rose to his feet.

"Oh, I'll do it for the pleasure of watching you fuck it all up, Marcus," he said finally, and walked away whistling cheerfully, as Marcus stared after him.

XxXxXxX

Marcus sat in the darkened Slytherin stands on the Quidditch pitch, with his cloak wrapped tightly around himself. His head was tipped back as he stared up at the night sky, and the figure that was moving across it with a speed and grace that she shouldn't have been in possession of at her age. She really was a thorn in his side - a constant thought in the back of his mind. Adrian had been right - he mostly alternated between wanting to yank her out and enjoying the prickle of pain she brought. Mostly. He'd stopped enjoying the thread they shared three weeks ago, when he stopped being able to read her.

Something had changed between them. Something had changed the dynamics between them. No more shy looks and colour highlighting an innocent face when she blushed. Nowadays, she looked through him. Ignored him. Sat with her back towards the Slytherin table. Generally pretended that he didn't exist. Except for the one time, he had been close enough in a packed hallway to stare down into her eyes. That day stood out in his mind with crystal clarity.

Three classes had joined in the hallway, creating a momentary crush of students. Laughter, chatter and grumbles mingled in the mêlée, as the crush stopped the steady flow of students. When he'd looked down, he found the girl who occupied his mind standing next to him with her back turned. And when he'd forcibly turned towards her, he'd let himself become plastered to Katie's back like toffee on an apple. He had reached out and brushed her inner wrist with his thumb, the movement of his skin on hers had teased a small gasp out of her as she twisted slightly and tilted her head back to look up at who had touched her. Marcus had pushed his shirtsleeves up during his DADA class, and the motion of her head had her hair slithering down over his bare arm and dangerous thoughts filling his mind before he could stop them.

Tilting his head, he looked down at her, his eyes tracking her features when their eyes met. Being so close to her, he had seen the icy shutters that had come down over her eyes - icy and indifferent. But before she had cloaked herself in ice, he had also seen the hurt that had flooded her features. Hurt that she had directed straight up at him. Pain and humiliation had flooded those pretty blue eyes, and left him feeling bewildered as to why she had looked at him like that. Marcus had closed his hand around her wrist as they stared at each other. But his touch had galvanised Katie into action, and she wrenched away from him with a soft sound and pushed her way through the student. She hadn't run from him, but it had been damn close to that. Left behind in the crush of chattering students, he'd only been able to watch her hunch her shoulders and lower her head as she disappeared around the corner.

Marcus watched Katie fly in a double eight pattern around the goals. He could feel the tic in his jaw, as the muscle clenched in time with the frustrated beat in his body as he watched the tight pattern formation that she was flying. Adrian's voice echoed in his head; his friend had been true to his word even though he was still angry that Marcus had kept this from him - Marcus now knew everything there was to know about Katherine Bell. Her father was Henry Bell. Henry Bell was born to Muggle parents, and had been sorted into Ravenclaw during his Hogwarts days. He was a gifted wizard in Charms and Transfigurations, a talent that he had passed onto his daughter.

He had gone on to run the pub in Leigh-on-Sea that his parents had built and owned. And it was in this pub, that he met Amelia Delaney. Amelia Delaney had attended Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, as had her family for the last four generations. Rather than graduate and marry, Amelia had travelled with her parents blessings. A gifted artist, she had excelled at school and she excelled in the Muggle world as an artist. Her family's bloodlines had remained pure, until she had met Henry. Over pints and seaside dinners, they had fallen in love and had married twelve months after meeting. Two years later, Katie had been born.

Her birth went a long way to mending fences with Amelia's parents, who had been shocked at the speed with which their level-headed daughter had married. They had never turned Henry away because of his heritage though. Henry was the voice of reason in the family, the one who managed the pub, the books, and the modest income the family enjoyed. Amelia was the laughter, a woman who lived life with love and pure enjoyment. And within Katie, her parents blended their values and created a young girl who knew when to be serious, and when to let loose a peal of laughter that came from a place of happiness. Katie spent her free time helping at the pub, splashing in the sea, and safe within a family who loved her. She travelled to France to see her Grandparents, and spent a lot of time with Lee Jordan during the hols, due to having grown up within a Quaffle's throw of one another as children. She was well liked, admired, and had numerous friends who would agree that with Katie, there were no pretences.

Marcus knew all about pretences - he had lived with them in Slytherin for the last eight years. Friendship came at a price in his house, one you never could be sure of what you would end up paying. His fellow house mates both feared and respected him, but only two had gained his complete trust - Diana and Adrian. His trust was returned, his respect warranted. Pushing up from his seat, Marcus glanced at Katie once more before he made his way down the stairs. And as he started back towards the castle, he firmly pushed all thoughts of Katie Bell to the back of his mind. There wasn't much of the school year left and when it was over, he could let go of any ideas his mind wanted to form about her and concentrate on his Quidditch.

He could concentrate on his games, and his life, and not let thoughts about creamy skin and innocent eyes cloud his every waking moment. He could seek out the witches he was used too, rather than wondering just how dark a shade of blue her eyes could turn if her body was under his hands. He could stop twisting her image up with Cecilia Warrington's, when the other witch was on her knees in front of him and sucking his cock like it was a sugar quill. And he could finally stop feeling as if Aurors were going to appear any moment, and drag him off to Azkaban for thinking about her in any manner at all.

"What you now need to decide, Marcus, is do you want this girl on a deeper level, or is it the taste of forbidden that you crave? Is it because she's in Gryffindor? Or does it go further than that? Can you wait? Will you still want her once you've left Hogwarts? Will you still want her in two years time, when she is of age? Are you willing to risk everything for her? Is she worth it?"

Marcus scowled as Adrian's soft voice echoed once more. That was a series of questions he didn't want to answer. Glancing over his shoulder once more, Marcus shook his head. Graduation could not come fast enough. And when it did, he would put a whole continent between them. He would move on, and forget about her. It was as simple as that.