11
Three weeks after the death of her mother, Katie quietly returned to Hogwarts. The relationships she had forged on the Quidditch pitch with her team-mates sprang to life, and they formed a protective buffer around her, keeping the gossipers and curious alike at a distance. Even Oliver toned down his tendencies to shout at her when she was on the Quidditch pitch; if he had an order to give, he simply relayed it to Angelina. Angelina set a punishing schedule; Katie's life was regimented down to the last nanosecond. There were classes to catch up in; homework and extra credit parchments had Katie too tired to even dream when she collapsed into her bed at night. And after four weeks of being treated like she was going to break, Katie was ready to scream. Slipping away from her friends was starting to prove impossible. She knew that they meant well, and she did love them for it. Nevertheless, if she didn't get a moment alone to reflect and breathe, she was going to scream.
In the end that distraction came from Harry, when he approached her one Saturday evening requesting her help. It was the gleam in his eyes that made Katie look at him twice, and when he asked if she would mind helping him with a parchment on Quidditch, Katie could only nod slowly. Harry led her away from her hovering friends, while he insisted to Hermione that only Katie could help him. Rounding the corner, they left their friends behind; most of them were curious, and Hermione was pouting. After checking to see if the coast was clear, Harry led her down a side corridor rather than towards the library. After walking down several flights of dimly lit stairs, Harry stopped, ran a nervous hand through his hair and gave her a sweet smile as he ran his fingers over a warn tapestry.
"I've left my broom in the changing rooms. The moon is high and full tonight, so you should be able to see just fine. Put it back when you're finished, yeah?"
Katie stared at him for a long moment, before ducking her head and brushing her lips lightly across his cheek. Harry blushed and patted her shoulder awkwardly.
"I know what it feels like to be constantly watched. To have people watching your every move, and waiting to see if you are going to crack under the pressure. This is my escape route, for when that happens… Go and have some fun, Katie. Your Mum would want that," he said earnestly.
Katie nodded and slipped through the passageway behind the tapestry. It was poorly lit, and Katie trailed her fingertips over the wall as she made her way towards the end of the passage. When she eventually found a small wooden door, it took several swishes of her wand to get it to unlock; it led to the one thing she found that she needed more than anything else. Katie found herself outside, in the fresh evening air, on her own. It felt like pure freedom to run down to the Gryffindor change rooms, and find Harry's prized Firebolt hidden under some dusty blankets. Tracing her hands over the smooth handle, Katie took a deep breath, before she headed outside. She had barely taken a half a dozen steps into the shadows, when she collided with a solid body.
Rough hands gripped her arms tightly, and she was jerked back into a standing position that had her stumbling into a very familiar wall of muscle. It was the scent of him that unveiled him to her; Katie breathed in the crisp scent of soap, broom oil and fresh air. Lifting her chin slowly, Katie looked up into the familiar darkness of Marcus' eyes. They were narrowed as he stared down at her, his lips drawn into a familiar scowl. As she stared up at him in the silence of the night, she was reminded of another night she had lifted her face to look at him, while standing as close to him as she was now. As if reading her mind, he released her abruptly and took a step away from her, his voice gruff when he spoke.
"Where are your jailers?"
Katie tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and shrugged slightly.
"You noticed that, huh?" she asked softly, and Marcus gave a sharp bark of laughter.
"I notice a lot of things, Bell."
"Such as?" she asked as he pushed past her, and Marcus glanced over his shoulder at her.
"Such as certain little girls who should be inside where it's safe, instead of walking around in the dark, and poking their noses in other people's business."
Katie flinched at the obvious snarl in his voice. Marcus swore softly as her shoulders dropped and he ran a rough hand down over his face as she took a step away from him.
"I've also noticed that you can't scratch your own arse without one of them springing up to do it for you," he muttered, and Katie faltered mid step. "I've noticed that you're being treated like an invalid. They aren't letting you feel, Bell."
"Like you aren't, you mean?" she murmured, and the winced when he grabbed her hand and spun her back to face him.
"What's that meant to mean?" he spat, and Katie shoved him back a step in sudden anger.
"You have taken pure pleasure in cutting me down time and time again. You've laughed as I bled because of your words! But since the last time we were out here together, you've pretended that I don't exist!"
Marcus laughed in disbelief, and lowered his face so that they were nose to nose.
"I might be in Slytherin, Bell, but I don't take pleasure in deliberately kicking someone when they're already down!" he spat, and Katie laughed cynically.
"Don't you?" she retorted, and winced when he grabbed her arm and jerked her towards him.
"I could cut you down so far that you'd never recover, Bell," he hissed, and shoved her back a step. "I just can't be bothered. It lost its appeal."
Katie pressed her lips together for a moment and nodded slowly as Marcus glared down at her.
"I see," she said quietly, and tightened her grip on Harry's broom. "Sorry to be such a bother to you, Flint."
Turning away from him, she took a couple of steps towards Gryffindors change rooms, only to have Marcus grab her elbow again.
"Where are you going? You're not going to go flying now?" he asked, and Katie leveled cold blue eyes on him.
"I can't be bothered. It just lost its appeal," she said flatly, and Marcus' jaw tightened when she turned his words back on him.
"Don't be stupid, Bell," he said gruffly. "I'll grab a Quaffel…"
He broke off when Katie shook her head and jerked away from him.
"No. What I wanted when I came out here, Flint, was some peace and quiet. To not have people ask me if I want totalk about how I'm feeling," she said bitterly. "What I don't want, is pity. Not my house-mates, not my team-mates, and not yours. I just want to forget," she said, and turned blindly when she felt the tears in her throat rise up to choke her.
She managed another few steps, before she found herself blocked by a solid arm slipping around her waist. She closed her eyes and dropped her chin when she felt Marcus step closer to her, his size dwarfing hers as he stood behind her.
"How much are you willing to give for some peace, Bell?" he asked after a long moment of silence, and Katie shrugged slightly.
"What do you care?" she whispered. "I'm not worth it, remember?"
Marcus laughed softly, and after bodily turning her back to face him, he gripped the tip of her chin and tilted her face up so he could look down at her.
"Don't put words into my mouth, Bell, I never said that. Again - how much are you willing to give? Or are you too scared to be alone with me?"
His words were a whisper from the past, and Katie licked her lips and shook her head slightly.
"How much?" he whispered, and she jumped when she felt his words intimately brush her cheek.
"What wouldn't I give?" she muttered finally.
For a long moment, there was utter silence. But then Katie felt Marcus' hand tighten on her neck.
"Good girl. I'll give you that peace, Bell."
"Why? What's in it for you?" she asked, and felt his hand twitch against her neck.
"Meaning?" he asked, and Katie looked up at him slowly.
"What do you want from me in return?"
"That's a dangerous question, Bell," he murmured, as a look she couldn't quite decipher crossed his face.
"What do you want in return?" she asked stubbornly, and Marcus' fingers briefly slid through the hair at the base of her neck.
"I'll collect at a later date," he said quietly, and his hand slid along her skin as he released her. "You coming or what?"
Katie paused as Marcus turned away from her; his soft laughter was mocking when he glanced back at her.
"Come on, Bell - where's that fabled courage that you have, hmm?" he asked with a chuckle.
Katie glared at him, but nevertheless, she turned back towards Gryffindor's change rooms to return Harry's broom. After resetting the wards, she turned towards where she had last seen Marcus. But when she didn't see him, Katie shook her head as she wondered what games he was playing now. Taking a few steps towards the corridor that led between the stands, she jumped when the door to Slytherin's rooms opened and Marcus walked out. It was only after he'd flicked his wand and tucked it into his inner holster that Katie saw he was holding a cloak.
"Coming?" he asked, and Katie sighed as she nodded.
Marcus remained silent as he led her away from the Quidditch pitch, and Katie was content to let the silence linger between them. Tucking her hands into her jacket pockets to keep them warm, Katie followed Marcus for several minutes. But as the walk stretched out, Katie finally broke the silence.
"Where are going?"
A soft snort echoed between them, followed by his soft drawl.
"You ask that now?" he said dryly, and Katie felt the corner of her mouth quirk upwards at the amusement in his voice.
"Well, it isn't like you're leaving me a trail of clues as to where we are headed, is it?" she asked, and Marcus snickered.
"We're nearly there, Bell," he promised, and Katie sighed theatrically, causing Marcus to snicker again.
As they walked out of a clump of trees, Katie glanced at Marcus, and then squinted through the darkness.
"The lake?' she asked finally, and Marcus hummed softly.
"Hmm. It's nice down here at this time of year," he replied, and Katie shrugged as she continued to follow him around the lake.
Marcus led Katie to a large flat section of rock, and when he sat down, Katie only hesitated for a moment before she sat beside him. The silence was broken by the sounds of the night; the crickets that chirped, and the occasional splash that signaled the merfolk swimming beneath the crystal surface of the lake. And as she stared out across the quietness of the lake, Katie felt the tension in her shoulders slowly start to melt away. Wrapping her arms around her drawn up knees, Katie sighed softly.
"Marcus?"
His eyes snapped towards hers when his given name passed her lips. But Katie had given it a lot of thought – he had helped her. Surely now, they were passed the surname approach of this strange little relationship.
"Hmm?" he murmured finally.
Katie peeked over at him, and as she watched, Marcus slowly stretched out on the rock, and tucked his arm beneath his head as he stare up a the star filled sky.
"Where did you grow up?" Katie asked softly, and Marcus looked up at her with a look of mild confusion on his face. But as they stared at one another, Marcus' face relaxed, and Katie thought she saw a flicker of sympathy cross his face. She couldn't be certain, however, as Marcus shifted so that he could see the stars again. Silence fell between them again, and Katie sighed. But when she laid down beside Marcus to stare up at the sky too, Marcus spoke quietly.
"My parent's home is in Wiltshire," he said. "About a Quaffle's throw from the Malfoy's and Pucey's."
Katie felt her lips quirk up into a smile, and she tilted her chin so that she could study Marcus out of the corner of her eye. He seemed content to remain silent, but the memory tugged at her, and Katie took a deep breath.
"You know where I live," she stated softly, and Marcus murmured softly in agreement. "How?..." she asked, and Marcus jerked his shoulder slightly.
"You really want to discuss this, Katie?' he finally said, and Katie nodded.
"The night your Mum...passed... do you remember that?" he asked, and Katie nodded silently. "Apparently, the whole castle was looking for you. Professor Snape was the one who found us. He sent McGonagall a patronus, and when he saw her coming, he took me back to the castle, so that there wouldn't be questions asked as to why we were together. I didn't find out until the following day about your Mum."
Marcus broke off and shook his head, and when Katie sat up and curled her knees under her, she spoke quietly.
"I take it then, that Professor Snape gave you not only his permission to leave school, but my address as well?"
Marcus simply nodded.
"Yes. He told me where and when the funeral was going to be."
"Why?"
It was a loaded question, and Marcus sat up slowly. They stared at each other for a long time, before Marcus finally shrugged.
"Why not?" he muttered, and Katie snorted.
"Please. Why is it so hard for you to answer a simple question?" she asked.
"Why do you have so many questions?" Marcus asked, and Katie shook her head.
"Why do you always answer a question with a question?" she countered, and Marcus' eyebrow lifted at her tart response.
"Touché," he replied, and then shrugged. "I don't know why, Katie. Why do you think?" he asked.
"I think you should be honest," Katie said softly, and Marcus snickered.
"An honest answer can get you into a lot of trouble. Haven't you learned that yet, Katie?"
Katie sighed, and then shrugged.
"Honestly? I think you came because we're friends. We are friends, aren't we, Marcus?" Katie whispered, and it was Marcus' turn to sigh as he looked out over the lake.
"I don't know what we are," he said finally "I used to think that you were a colossal pain in the arse. All pointy elbows, and snark and runs."
"And now?" Katie asked, and Marcus looked at her silently.
"I don't know what you are now, Katie," he said finally. "But I don't want to throw you off the top of a Quidditch tower any time soon."
"You're not as bad as people say, Marcus," Katie murmured, and Marcus grinned at her suddenly.
"Nah, I'm worse, Katie."
Katie giggled, and when Marcus laid back down, he pursed his lips as he studied the sky.
"Do Muggles really travel to the moon?" he asked out of the blue, and as Katie laid back down beside him, she nodded.
For the next hour Katie found the peace she so desperately craved, as Marcus asked questions, and she softly answered them. And with each question asked, the tentative friendship between them became more real.