Author's note:

I realize that in the book, that the Yule Ball is held on the 25th of December. For future chapter purpose though, the Yule Ball in this fic is held on the 21st of December, which allows me to set other events in motion. So enjoy. xx

15.

The sheet was cool beneath her back, the only light coming from the fire that was crackling in the hearth. Marcus' breath was hot against the curve of her throat, his weight pressing her down into the coolness of silk sheets. Katie's breath hitched as he scraped his teeth across the curve of her throat, sending a forbidden thrill through her as she arched against the delicious pain. He chuckled darkly when her fingertips dug into his shoulders, the sound causing her to shiver as he dragged his teeth across her throat again.

"You like that, hmm? My girl's a deviant."

She felt her body shudder at the gravely tone of his voice, and he chuckled knowingly. His body shifted slowly, his heat withdrawing from her in a sinful caress as he knelt up in the flickering light. His eyes were so dark they appeared black, and his hair was messy from her hands running through it. His lips twitched with amusement as he slowly skimmed his hands up her thighs, causing her to shift restlessly under him.

"Do you even know what I'm going to do to you, Katie?" he murmured as he lightly trailed his fingertips across the back of her knee, and along the sensitive skin of her thigh. Goose bumps broke out in the wake of his touch, and when his fingers briefly dug into her skin, she was unable to stop the soft sound that spilled from her swollen lips.

She shook her head in answer to his question as she watched the light play over the smooth skin of his chest and stomach. Gleaming muscle, shadowed dips, and angular curves made him a beautiful specimen of man. She blushed when he pressed his hand to his chest and slowly dragged it down over his stomach, to where he toyed briefly with the fastening of his pants. His soft laughter rang in her ears when she lifted her eyes to his, and he dropped forward onto his hands, so his body created a cage above hers.

Lowering his head, he flicked the tip of his tongue over her lips, and then lifted his head when she tried to kiss him. His lips curved, and his eyes glinted as he stared down at her. And when he lowered that smooth body to hers, he twisted his hips against hers to create more room between her thighs. He settled there, and then looked up at from under dark lashes as he leant forward to kiss her again. His voice echoed between them, just as his mouth gently touched hers; dark, gravely, and filled with cruelty.

"I'm going to break you."

The sharp, quick rap of a beak on the window woke Katie with a jolt, and she turned her head towards the noise while biting back a scream. The large eagle owl who hovered outside her window hooted softly, and Katie groaned again as she rubbed her hands briskly over her face. Just a dream… She slipped out of bed and crossed the room, all the while telling herself, the chills she had were from the coolness of the room. Opening the window, Katie slowly stretched out her hand and spoke softly as the owl hopped lightly towards her. Katie ran the tip of her finger down over the owl's soft head, and smiled when it turned its head and nipped gently at her fingertips in greeting. The letter it carried dropped on her window ledge, and Katie ran her hand down over the majestic creatures back, before it spread its wings and spiralled into the brisk morning wind with a soft hoot. Closing her window carefully, Katie tiptoed back to bed and curled under the covers as she fingered the seal on Marcus' latest letter.

"Don't be daft, Katie Bell!" she scolded herself, when she felt a trickle of trepidation run down her spine. "It was just a stupid, bloody dream!"

Breaking the seal, Katie let her lips curve into a smile when she saw Marcus' familiar scrawl, and she snuggled lower into her bedding, recalling the tone of his voice as she read his latest letter.

Dear Katie,

I hope this finds you curled up warm and safe in bed. I wish I was still in bed myself right now, rather than facing the training schedule I've got this morning. I'd almost risk betting my entire fortune that Coach trained to be as sadistic as possible, before he accepted the position. But that being said, his methods do get results!

I didn't get your owl until just now. I went out with the team last night, and didn't get in until late. Thank Merlin for a healthy dose of Pepper Up, otherwise I reckon I'd be dead come lunch. What's on the schedule for you today? Have you spoken to Snape yet? You know he's not as scary as he seems.

Not long now until you finish up for the Christmas break. I've got a few days off myself, and fancy a walk along a winter beach. Leigh-on-Sea is supposed to be spectacular at this time of year. You'll have to show me.

I'd better be going. Coach is a real stickler for punctuality, and I don't fancy running laps or doing suicide rolls on my broom for being a minute late.

Katie? I wish too.

Marcus.

Katie sighed as she folded the letter up, and slipped it into the draw beside her bed that contained all of Marcus' letters. When her dorm-mate Leeann sat up in bed and yawned, Katie quickly closed the draw. A careful locking charm later, and she slipped out of bed to start getting ready for her day. She didn't like the idea of what her day held – she had a meeting straight after breakfast with Professor Snape. He had peered down at her through black eyes while she stammered out her request after Potions the day before, only to nod and agree to a private meeting.

Breakfast was a cheerful affair, and Katie grinned at Lee when he sat down across her. She idly wondered if Snape would accept over eating and nausea as an excuse for skipping their meeting, and then shook her head at herself. The morning owl post arrived, and Katie automatically picked her pumpkin juice up as packages, letters and newspapers rained down from the sky. Lavender Brown squealed as she snatched up her copy of Witch Weekly. The blonde turned towards Padma Patil and opened the gossip magazine with something akin to reverence. Katie snorted softly as she turned back to her breakfast, and tried to ignore the sighs of jealousy and delight that were coming from the two younger Gryffindor's.

"So, what are we doing today?" a voice asked, and Katie grunted as one of the twins physically moved her along the bench seat towards Lavender. "Blowing up Snape's potion cupboard? Sending some jinxed chocolates to Malfoy? Convincing Peeves to play a prank with us? Because inquiring minds want to know!" he continued, squeezing in next to Katie.

Katie examined him closely for a moment, and then shook her head.

"Not the potion cupboard, please, George. I have a meeting with Professor Snape after breakfast."

George grinned at her, and raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know I'm not Fred?" he asked, and Katie snickered.

"Because I doubt Fred would let his own twin get away with snogging Angelina," she said wisely, and George turned his head and then grimaced.

"Oi! Get a room already!" he called, and had the satisfaction of watching Fred jerk away from Angelina with a startled oath.

Katie started laughing as Angelina blushed, and Fred threw a bread-roll across the table at George. Turning back to face Lee with a small smile, Katie felt her smile falter at the sight of the Daily Prophet he was holding. She blinked once, a slow closing and opening of her eyes. Nevertheless, the pictures remained the same, and Katie shuddered. The moving pictures caused her stomach to shift violently, her eyes riveted to the paper as she watched the group of players drink glasses of Fire Whiskey, while groupies giggled behind their hands. She watched as a witch with lavish curves rose from Marcus' lap, and held her hand out to him with invitation and promise shinning in her eyes as he rose to his feet and took her offered hand with a smirk.

"Katie?" Lee asked his dark gaze intense over the top of the newspaper. Puzzled by her sudden quietness, he stared at her as Katie licked her lips and her eyes slowly rose to the headlines. The words burnt themselves into her brain, and her breath hitched almost silently as she slowly read the accompanying article.

Marcus Flint - consistently scoring both on and off the field.

The Falcon's newest senior recruit was seen in France last night, enjoying more than fine cuisine.

Mr Flint's well known for his spectacular Quidditch abilities;

He enjoys all the lifestyle offers him, including the bevy of beautiful, sophisticated witches he is often seen with.

Will Sophia Dalian be able to capture the young wizard's heart?

Will she become yet another of the many witches gracing the young player's arm since joining his team?

Whatever the outcome, life has been good to the Falcon's newest recruit.

Katie stood up slowly as her stomach heaved again, and turned towards the double doors that led out of the Great Hall.

"Katie?" Angelina called, and Katie shook her head as she walked stiffly away amid startled murmurs from her housemates.

She continued to walk, ignoring the calls of her friends and headed down towards the lake. The flat section of rock brought a small feeling of comfort and familiarity, and drawing her knees up to her chin, Katie stared out across the water in silence. This wasn't the first time she had seen pictures of Marcus with other witches. It wasn't the first time she had felt the slow curl of anger in her stomach, or the hot flush of jealousy. Marcus had freely admitted that he was seeing other witches. That he was spending the occasional night with a witch. And as Katie sat by the edge of the lake, she brushed away a stray tear and laughed bitterly.

She had no real reason to be upset. He wasn't her boyfriend. It wasn't like he was cheating on her. But it still hurt non-the-less. It still hurt to know, that all though they shared a connection, that Marcus was still right; they couldn't be together. Not openly, and not in a way that Marcus preferred. He had too much respect for her, and his utter belief in what was right and wrong kept them apart, no matter how they felt about it. While he might want her above anything else, he wouldn't put her reputation and his freedom before that. And in that very moment, Katie very much wanted to hate him for it.

She'd get over it, she mused silently. She'd get over it, and they'd continue on the way they had - she'd continue to answer his owls and write her own. She'd do her level best to ignore the flutters in her stomach every time his owl tapped at her window. She'd smile and laugh when she next saw him over the Christmas holidays. She'd attend the Yule Ball in a few days, and she'd enjoy herself with her friends. But the dent her heart had received was still painful, and would continue to be so for several days to come.

XxXxXxXxX

The night of the Yule Ball was a cool one, and Katie shivered slightly as she made her way down the stairs from Gryffindor Tower. Angelina had spent an hour helping her do her hair and glamor spells, and as Katie turned down the last of the stairs and caught sight of Lee waiting for her, she held her breath as his friendly gaze swept over her from the top of her curled head, to the tips of her ivory clad feet.

"You scrub up all right there, Katie," he said cheerfully offering her his arm, and Katie couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips as she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.

The candles flickered beautifully against the ice sculptures, and cast a dreamy glow over the Great Hall. As they entered the Great Hall, Lee led Katie straight out to the dance floor. Grasping her hand and waist, Lee launched them into the crush of people who were dancing and spun her across the floor. After the first dance was over, George cut in and made her laugh helplessly with tales of how silly Pansy Parkinson looked in her stiff pink taffeta robes, and how many times Hermione Granger had blushed over Viktor Krum, before he passed her out of his arms into the arms of his twin. It was Fred who peered a little closer, and who asked her softly if she was all right. His concerns were deflected with a smile and a careless shrug as she told him that she was fine.

For a long hour she danced and twirled, ignorant to those around her as the steady beat of the Weird Sisters echoed in her ears. For once house unity was gone, and she openly grinned when Adrian Pucey twirled her under his arm and then told her with the drawl of pure blood supremacy that showed his class and wealth, that she looked fucking delectable if she wouldn't mind pardoning his manners. And as she enjoyed a dance that required dancing with several different males during the sweeping turns, Katie relaxed even further. Turning from Roger Davies arms into the arms of her next partner, Katie looked up with a smile only to have that smile freeze on her face. The world shrunk to contain just him and her, and her lips parted on a whisper.

"Marcus."

Marcus' hand tightened around hers as he turned her under his arm, and he silently led her through the next stage of the dance. His eyes were cool, his face a passive mask as he stared down at her through shuttered eyes. Yet when his hand slowly scraped across the smooth skin of her exposed back, she heard him swear softy. Eloquently. But the music was finishing, and he turned to her and bowed as the dance finished. The heat that Katie saw in his eyes caused her breath to hitch as Marcus straightened up slowly. Tiling his head cordially, Katie watched as his gaze flicked towards the balconies that lined the great hall. Those stormy eyes slid back to lock with hers, and when Katie nodded at the silent message his eyes had conveyed, he turned and walked away.

XxXxXxXxX

Marcus stood in the flickering candlelight, and swirled the flame coloured whiskey in his glass with a tense hand as he stared silently out at the crowded hall. She was dressed simply in a pale peach coloured robe that left her shoulders and half of her back bare to his hungry gaze. She'd looked so untouchable when she first walked into the hall on Lee Jordan's arm. So beautifully innocent. So fucking delicious, that he'd had to clench his hands into fists, so he wouldn't charge across the room and grab her. Force her into the shadows, and seat her on a ledge somewhere. Smooth that filmy gown up those long, long legs, and her age be damned, bury his cock in her while swallowing her cries. Fuck her and kiss her; mark that creamy skin until she forgot what she thought she'd seen, and she remembered that she belonged to him.

Her robes had been modest, but they had hinted at what the filmy material clung to. Soft, sexy curves and legs that he was sure were illegally long. Her hair was swept up in some curled confection, and Marcus had stared at the slender line for her bare throat for longer than was socially acceptable if the elbow that Adrian had driven into his gut was anything to go by. But even that elbow hadn't been enough to stop him staring at soft pink lips that had been pliant under his the one time he had tasted them, and held a sweetness that had left him craving. He had watched as they curved in smile, but the blinding brightness of her smile was slightly dimmer than normal. Those soft pink lips had caught his attention and kept it.

And while he had been able to get away with it with Adrian, he had had to fight to keep his thoughts clear and his mind on task when his former Head of House had joined him for a glass of Ogden's finest, a dangerous thing to do indeed. Snape's eyes had glittered in the flickering light, and more than once Marcus had felt the brush of his Head's mind against his own. Marcus had allowed stray thoughts of Quidditch practice and his life outside of Hogwarts to slither through his mind; maybe it had worked, because Snape had seemed satisfied when they parted company, allowing Marcus to breathe a little easier as his attention returned to the girl who crowded his mind all too often.

Katie was innocent enough to believe she had hidden her hurt from him, but after writing back and forth with her for well over six months now, he was well versed in the emotions she was so desperately trying to hide from him. Her words in her return owl had been too formal; too stilted in the flow of ink across the parchment, and it had left him perplexed for several hours. It was only as he read the Daily Prophet that evening over his dinner that he realized why. Sophia Dalian had certainly held appeal. But what the Prophet had failed to report, was that Marcus had walked her to the Apparitionpoint and bade her farewell, before returning to his team-mates and drinking the remainder of the night away. He had gone to bed alone, with Katie clouding his dreams and leaving him reaching for her phantom figure in his bed as dawn split the sky.

He hadn't told Katie that he was a guest to the Yule Ball on the off chance that he would be unable to attend. But now he was beginning to regret that decision. He had seen the hurt in her eyes she had been unable to completely hide when she had looked up at him; had seen the humiliation that had stained her cheeks as her eyes swept across his face and down to his chest. And as he waited for her to join him on the balcony, he wondered if the lies that the Prophet always told were going to destroy the faith Katie held in him. It took a further two glasses of Ogden's for Katie to slip into the shadows of the balcony with him; her eyes were shuttered and her lower lip trembled once even as she smiled up at him in greeting.

"I know what you saw," he murmured in way of greeting, and Katie tilted her head and lowered her eyes; no pretences with his girl.

Glancing towards the dance floor, Marcus reached out and drew Katie further into the shadows with him.

"It's not what you think, Katie," he said softly, and when her eyebrows drew together in confusion, Marcus gripped her chin and tilted her face up so that he could see her eyes. "The pictures you would have seen in the Prophet? It's not what you think," he said again, and as Katie's eyes searched his, Marcus lightly dragged his thumb across the corner of her mouth.

Looking down at her, standing as close together in the shadows as they were, Marcus was able to see the stain of colour that stole across Katie's cheekbones at his touch, and he cursed softly as he glanced over his shoulder again as laughter drifted passed the balcony.

"Come with me; we'll get a room down at the Hog's Head," he whispered, and when Katie's eyebrows drew together in confusion, Marcus was unable to stop himself reaching out to draw his finger along the crease between her brows.

"What... Marcus?"

"Come with me," he whispered again, gesturing towards the wide doors of the Great Hall with his hand.

"I can't leave school, Marcus; they have wards up to prevent it," Katie murmured as she took a step closer to him, and Marcus closed his eyes momentarily as her scent clouded his mind.

"We need to talk face to face," he whispered, as Katie unconsciously slipped her hand into his. "I don't care where we talk, Katie. I don't care if I have to break into Gryffindor tower at three am…. I need to talk to you."

Katie stared up at him silently for a tense minute before she finally nodded in agreement. It took everything he had to step back from her, and walk away. So intent on getting outside, Marcus missed the two different pairs of eyes that followed his exit from the balcony. And when Katie slipped out of the shadows a minute later, only the owner of the golden eyes wasn't surprised. Adrian tilted the glass in his hand at Marcus' retreating figure with a smirk, before turning his attention back to his date. Across the floor, however, Lee's eyes narrowed and he cursed silently under his breath as he watched Katie slip out of the Great Hall after Marcus.