Six pairs of feet, rhythmically running together, devoured the silence of the Hallway. Once they reached the Grand Staircase there were more students filing in and out of study rooms, so Tessa, Fred, and George slowed their pace to a brisk walk.
"Hold it you three." A seventh year came jogging into view from the hallway they just ran through.
"Damn," said Tessa quietly as he reached them trying to catch his breath.
"What are you doing you know this is temporarily a restricted section of the school until further notice from the Head Master.
"Well we can't go outside," said Fred.
"So we've decided to exercise inside," said George sarcastically.
"Now that Sirius Black is on the loose we need to keep ourselves fit so we can be the first ones to reach safety," said Fred with a smirk. The seventh year looked shocked and began sputtering more questions at the twins who quickly answered his questions without flinching. Tessa slowly edged away from the twins' side and made her towards the staircase. Tessa could hear their voices slowly fading as she reached the bottom. She walked towards the dungeons as she eased her way through the crowd and around professors without being noticed.
The dungeons were eerily silent, once Tessa reached the bottom of the stairs, and she welcomed it graciously. She quietly walked past each classroom and supply closet quietly with no luck of hearing a student being scolded.
"That's strange I would've heard Snape by now," said Tessa quietly to herself. A door to Tessa right opened and she froze in the middle of the hallway.
"Well, Well." Tessa whipped around to see a tall and muscular student walking out of the Slytherin Common Room entrance.
"I'm actually impressed to see a lion wondering around a snake's den." The door shut and Marcus Flint walked into view. Tessa's heart began to flutter, and it wasn't romantically.
"If you're looking for Snape he's with Finch," said Marcus as he motioned Tessa to follow him. She looked at his back with shock as slowly put her wand back into her robes.
"Are you comin' or not," said Flint rudely looking at the door to his Common Room and back at Tessa. She nodded quickly and followed him back towards the entrance of the dungeons.
Silence still enveloped the air as they slowly walked towards the staircase.
"Thanks," said Tessa quietly as she finally calmed herself. Flint grunted in response and slowed his pace until they walked side by side. Once they reached the staircase Flint stopped abruptly.
"I didn't help you do you understand," said Marcus glaring at Tessa.
"Understood," she said confidently.
"Keep your distance," replied Marcus as he walked passed Tessa and up the staircase.
The crowd of students grew bigger in the great hall entrance as lunch was starting soon. No one really left the area anyways, but it was nice to have more people together in one space to hide the fact that a Slytherin was helping a Gryffindor. Marcus slowed down as the volume of people grew thicker. Tessa was so close to him that she became squished against his back at one point as it was getting harder to move for the both of them.
"He actually doesn't smell bad," she thought to herself. She must've been too close for too long because he elbowed her away and looked back her.
"My apologies," said Tessa after she noticed a few Ravenclaw's giggling at the at the encounter. Marcus rolled his eyes in response and pushed a few first years out of his way.
"I have to think of another route," thought Tessa as she walked towards the center of the crowd, after noticing more than a few Slytherinsh also watching her and Marcus.
Even though Tessa was tall enough to still see Marcus she wasn't really going anywhere at the moment. She was at the center of the hallway and no one was moving. Tessa sighed and began making small talk with the students around her. This helped her progress greatly as when she asked the group she was talking to let her through they happily agreed and she slowly, but surely, reached the entrance that would lead her to the grand staircase.
"Shit," said Tessa quietly she looked around for Flint. He was gone.
"I knew I shouldn't have followed him," though Tessa angrily as she marched towards the dark hallway she and George used the first night at Hogwarts. Before she could go further down a pair of hands firmly grabbed her. For once, Tessa was actually relieved to have Marcus Flint yanking her back towards the Great Hall.
"Go up the stairs," he said and pushed out of the hallway.
"Alright," said Tessa annoyed and walked towards the magical stairs she reach the second floor when the staircase she was on abruptly began to move the left. She turned to see Marcus right behind her with a smug grin on his face. She glared at him and pulled her skirt down past the back of her knee.
Once they were out of sight from any students again, Marcus stood on the step Tessa was on.
"You know," said Tessa. "You don't smell like a dirty Slytherin."
Marcus smirked slightly. "Shut up," he said still smiling.
"Also," said Tessa once they reach the top of the stairs and walked down a sun-lit hallway. "You're teeth they look straight."
Marcus walked beside her again after letting Tessa get off the stairs first.
"Yeah. I got into a scuffle over Holiday knocked a couple of me teeth out, and let a Nurse do the rest. Would you tell her to keep making your teeth crooked?" Marcus looked at Tessa smiling.
"No," responded Tessa, smirking at his response, as they walked down the hall.
They reached a hallway where Mrs. Norris sat on an empty pedestal.
"Hate that fuckin' cat," said Marcus glaring towards it. Mrs. Norris hissed at them both and leaped off of her perch.
"For once, we can actually agree on something," said Tessa.
"Think we could agree on a lot of things," thought Marcus side eyeing Tessa. He shook his head and pushed past her.
"I'm only helping because I'm going to see Snape alright," said Marcus impatiently behind him. Tessa sighed and walked behind him again. They reached a door where Tessa could hear Filch shouting.
"At your friend no doubt," said Marcus with a smile. "Might get points taken," said Marcus with laugh.
"Whatever," said Tessa glaring at him.
"Just because you are surprisingly decent compared to other Gryffindors doesn't mean I won't hide my satisfaction," said Marcus leaning against the wall. Tessa looked at him with surprise. "I remember when you were getting sorted; you almost went into Slytherin." Tessa actually blushed with his statement. She is standing with the guy she obliviated, not even, a few weeks ago because she knew she would be closer to finding Lee, even if it was against her instincts to do so.
Marcus banging on the door jolted her out of her thoughts. She stepped back away from the doorway as it opened.
"Mr. Flint," said Snape calmly as he opened the door.
"Miss Thornhill," said Snape again, but more sternly. "I take it you were found in the dungeons as well."
Marcus immediately shook his head. "She was looking for Lee, but in the Great Hall. I overheard her and thought it would be a good charity to help her," said Marcus. Tessa glared at the back of his head.
"Very well. You're lucky I believe Mr. Flint as you are one of my best students, Miss Thornhill," said Snape lazily. "Fifty points to Slytherin."
Tessa glared at Snape for the unreasonable amount of points given. "That's ridiculous!" Lee shouted as he made his way to the door.
"And another Fifty points from Gryffindor," snapped Snape in response. Lee walked out of Filch's office. "Not so fast Jordan. Your detention starts today. We will be heading to my supply closet immediately since you like being in there so much. Mr. Flint, escort Miss Thornhill to the Great Hall," said Snape eyeing Tessa before turning around.
Tessa waved Goodbye as Marcus grabbed her elbow and led her back towards the staircase. Marcus and Tessa walked down the hall side by side again. After his little stunt with Snape she reverted back to not wanting to make conversation, but he was the exact opposite.
"So, what are your plans for the day," said Marcus happily.
"I'm sure you are happy after what you did," thought Tessa annoyingly. She glared at him in response.
"Oh, come on," said Marcus laughing.
"I might go see Hermione," said Tessa with a fake smile.
"Oh," said Marcus. "Going to study then?" Hearing Hermione's name didn't faze him.
"No, going to check out some muggle artefacts. I'm doing a report on the positive uses of muggle objects in the wizarding world." Tessa smiled at her success to Marcus' silence.
"Good that'll shut him up," thought Tessa. Marcus chuckled, and Tessa frowned.
"Oh, I might have to read that sometime. Privately of course," he said winking at her.
"If you can read it," thought Tessa very annoyed at her failed attempts.
"So how's Quidditch," said Tessa quickly.
"Oh, it's been great. We—".
"Thank fucking Merlin," thought Tessa as Marcus began talking about himself.
They finally reached the Great Hall just as Marcus ended his monologue.
"Well we need to part ways you know," said a chipper Tessa as she quickly hopped down a step. "And, seriously, thanks," said Tessa as she turned around to face Marcus. His cheeks turned red and Tessa noticed that his face look slimmer. Marcus' jawline was suddenly slimmer and sharp. Tessa knew it was from Marcus' adjustments. He actually looked decent, still had bricks for brains, but he definitely did not look like a troll anymore.
"I'll wait five minutes," said Marcus smiling at Tessa staring at his face for too long. She grumbled a bye and skipped down the steps. She opened one of the massive doors to the Great Hall and walked in. Before she could even scan the room she saw Hermione waving profusely with Angelina and Ginny.
Tessa quickly walked over to the Gryffindor table, and waved to Ron and Harry sitting near the entrance.
"We saw," said Angelina before Tessa even sat down. Tessa paused and then plopped down next to her friend.
"Oh yeah, Lee got caught—," Tessa was cut off by a very flustered Hermione.
"—Not Lee." Hermione looked more concerned than flustered, but her tone made Tessa feel a little intimidated for the first time. Tessa sighed.
I was looking for Lee, and he just walked out of his House Quarters at the same time I walked passed, and he helped me." All three girls stopped eating and just stared at Tessa.
"He helped you," said Ginny slowly.
"Yeah Lee never showed up to help me and the twins' with a project, and I walked down to the dungeons, because that was the last time I saw him. Well Marcus knew where he was and helped me get there. He wasn't creepy, just rude and very flirtatious," said Tessa quietly.
"Did he touch you?" Angelina asked with concern.
"Not like that. He would grab me if I was going the wrong way, because he wanted me to follow him, but kept distance. I lost actually him at one point and he picked me up to turn me around, but he never un-consentingly touched me," said Tessa calmly.
"Alright," said Angelina with smile as she began to eat her food again. "But why would he help you. He's a Slytherin," said Ginny very confused. "I think I know," said Hermione thoughtfully.
All four girls walked out of the Great Hall together.
"Remember the project you had at the beginning of school," said Hermione.
"Project?" Angelina asked enthusiastically.
"I'll tell you in the room," whispered Tessa. Angelina nodded to let Tessa continue.
"Yes, but it's over I took away his memory of that specific time," said Tessa.
"Okay, but I think Flint might've already had some attraction towards you before you gave him the potion," said Hermione matter-of-factly.
"But how that's—."
"That's not impossible," said Ginny curiously.
"I do remember Malfoy saying something about Marcus on the train ride in September. Apparently he wasn't too happy that their captain had a thing for Tessa. I don't know why or how since Marcus never was around Tessa except Quidditch." Angelina laughed.
"Well maybe that's enough. I know plenty of guys that like girls only because they are good on the field."
Tessa blushed.
"Well now we know why he took such a strong affect to the potion," said Ginny laughing as the girls continued their conversation to the Common Room.