Chapter 4 - Marcus Flint

[DarkChild]

*Chapter Four*

Marcus Flint

Later that night, when everyone had gone to bed, and an eerie silence settled over the house, Will and Ash slowly crept out of bed, and pulled on their dressing gowns, at the sound of two familiar voices. They sneaked down the stair-landing, taking care as if the entire staircase was littered with glass, Ash leading the way with a levitating candle she had snatched from the lobby. They neared the kitchen’s doorframe and slowly peeked around the edge. They saw a haggard Ron and tousle-haired Geoffrey sitting at the table, their faces illuminated by a number of stationary candles suspended in the air around them.

‘’You know, Geoff, you can’t protect Ash forever. She’s going to Hogwarts in a month.’’ Ron said, sipping what appeared to be sherry.

‘’But she’s friends with him.’’ Said Geoff bitterly, putting an emphisis on the last word, and sipping his own glass of sherry.

‘’Geoff, you know I resent him as much as you do. I promised Aunt Hermione he could stay here.’’ Ron said.

‘’And you’re allowing it? Willingly, I mean?’’ Geoff asked, downing his glass of sherry and pouring a second glass.

‘’Well-I must admit, your sister is pleased with the Malfoy bastard.’’ Ron admitted.

‘’I don’t give a damn if she’s pleased with him. I don’t want her to be pleased with him. I don’t want her around him. He’s the bad feather of the phoenix, Uncle Ron.’’ Geoff muttered.

‘’I know he is, but you can’t pal around with Ash. She’s an intelligent bird, she will soon discover he’s a bad bloke, and not hang around him.’’ Ron replied, pouring his third glass of sherry.

‘’Over my dead body.’’ Ash whispered through gritted teeth. Will put a hand to her mouth to stifle her resentment, and their candle flew from Ash’s hand with a sharp thud it hit the floor.

‘’An’ you gotta not to protect her anymore. She’s a growing girl, she doesn’t need protection from you.’’ Ron said, too drunk to take in the scuffle outside the kitchen.

‘’Well, if I don’t protect her, she’s not going to realize that he’s a bad bloke.’’ Geoff said, not noticing the scuffle either. Ash and Will straightened up, and listened raptly, brushing their disheveled hair out of their eyes.

‘’Well, I got that problem solved already.’’ Ron said, leaning closer to his nephew’s face. ‘’They won’t be together for long. I found Will’s Godfather, and he agreed to take him in.’’

‘’Who’s his Godfather?’’ Geoff asked, imploringly.

‘’A Slytherin bastard that was on the Quidditch team when I was at Hogwarts.’’ Ron said. ‘’He says he got over his drinking problem, but that’s about as true as a troll’s word to me. His name’s Marcus Flint.’’

‘’I think I’ve heard of him.’’ Said Geoff thoughtfully. ‘’Didn’t he run from You-Know-Who because he didn’t want to be Marked?’’

‘’Yes, he did, but dunno why. His whole family is a batch of Death-Eaters.’’ Ron murmured, drinking more sherry. He then put a hand of Geoff’s shoulder, as if it was a gesture of comfort.

‘’Don’t worry. Flint will be here to pick up the bastard tomorrow, before breakfast, so you don’t have to dance in a patch of Doxies for long, Geoff. Your sister will soon be devoid of any Death-Eater’s son.’’ Ron gave an encouraging smile, then stood up.

‘’C’mon, Geoff. It’s really late. We should get some sleep.’’ Before they headed for the doorframe, Will and Ash had already started running up the stairs, three at a time, then careened into their beds, both of them, out of breath, and staring up into the endless void of blackness, that by morning, would be a ceiling.

‘’You think it’s true, Will?’’ Ash whispered, curling her blanket around her shoulders and staring at the bed beside her.

‘’Think what’s true?’’ Will asked, savoring the warmth of a blanket.

‘’What my fa-I mean what my uncle said. About your Godfather, you know, coming to take you home tomorrow?’’ Ash replied.

‘’Probably. I mean what else would your brother and your uncle be so pleased about that has to do with me?’’ Will said, sighing deeply. ‘’I mean, this isn’t fair! The second I finally find a friend and finally don’t have to forage for food, or cringe at the sight of my caretakers, I get whisked away from it all! I don’t even know my Godfather for starters, much less that I had one.’’

‘’Uncle Ron’s my Godfather.’’ Ash said. ‘’My dad, I think, his name was, George was his brother. So maybe, this Marcus Flint could be related to you somehow.’’

‘’Maybe, but I would’ve known him then. That’s what my dad makes sure of. If I’m related to someone he hasn’t killed yet, then I know them.’’ Will murmured. Ash said nothing.

‘’I just don’t want to leave you. I mean, what if I never see you again?’’ Will asked the window panes blankly.

‘’I’m sure we’ll see each other someday soon.’’ Ash murmured.

‘’How? Someday could be like twenty years from now.’’ Will told her, sitting up.

‘’I know.’’ Ash murmured, sliding her arms around Will’s shoulders. ‘’That’s what I’m afraid of.’’

‘’I know.’’ Will whispered, sliding his arms around Ash. ‘’I’m scared too.’’

‘’That’s why I didn’t tell you.’’ Ash murmured, it was almost inaudible.

‘’Didn’t tell me what?’’ Will asked. Having eavesdropped on his father for so many years, Will doubted if he couldn’t hear anything.

‘’Didn’t tell you about-well-it’s not really a Home rule-more of an obvious one.’’ Ash said, stumbling over her words.

‘’Look, Ash, just say it.’’

‘’It’s just, we aren’t allowed to form bonds, because one day, the kid your friends with might be-taken away by a guardian, because it-well-hurts.’’ She said.

‘’I can see why you didn’t tell me.’’ Will murmured, avoiding eye contact with Ash, tears stinging his eyes like a swarm of angry doxies. ‘’It hurts.’’

‘’Yeah.’’ Ash murmured. Her voice sounded strangled and old, as if she had lost use for it. She cleared her throat. ‘’We should get to bed, you know.’’ She whispered, sliding off of Will’s bed, and back into her own.

‘’I’m just afraid to close my eyes.’’ She murmured. ‘’I’m afraid I won’t see you again.’’


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that day, morning had barely risen itself, traces of nighttime hung in the air. A faint mist hung about the bodes of water, as if the world was still drowsy. However, Will, and Ash were already up, fully clothed, their stomachs screaming to be fed. Will hadn’t even to feebly attempt to tame his hair. So it was handsomely rumpled. His shirt was terribly wrinkled, his jeans were threadbare. The early morning sunlight that crept throughout the town, seemed to forget the Home, and Will didn’t blame it. He stood by the untouched window, trying hard not to cry. He felt someone touch his shoulder. He turned around and saw Ash, tears laid thickly on her eyes.

‘’Hey! Bastard! Your Godfather’s here!’’ Geoff’s voice, almost sickly musical sang out. Ash whipped around, about to do something, her eyes shining with tears, but was held back by Will. A tall man wearing a shabby black cloak entered the room. He had rumpled dark brown hair, and crooked teeth. He had large, dark eyes. He looked as if his ancestry was littered with trolls.

‘’Hello.’’ He said, emotionlessly to Will. ‘’I’m Marcus, your Godfather. Ron said, you needed a home, and well apparently I was the only one who volunteered. Well, I’ll allow you to say your goodbyes and all.’’ He said, unfastening his cloak.

‘’No!’’ said Geoff. ‘’Go! Go! You two don’t even know each other!’’

‘’Silence, Egomaniac.’’ Marcus said simply, digging his hands into his jeans. ‘’You obviously are extremely ignorant and therefore believe this boy has links to his father.’’ Geoff gaped at him.

‘’But-But-with-all-all do respect Marcus-‘’

‘’Mr. Flint, Geoffrey.’’ Said Marcus, cuttingly.

‘’Right. Er-Mr. Flint-It is impossible for him not to!’’ Geoff retorted.

‘’Foolish boy.’’ Marcus said, shaking his head lightly in displeasure, while Ash and Will were punching each other and biting their lips to keep their laughter down. ‘’You had to have actually belonged to the dark side for a while to truly understand how they operate. The only reason I was linked with Voldemort, was because my own parents were Death-Eaters. Obviously, I chose not to coexist with such barbarians, so here I stand. Now, let Will say his goodbyes.’’ Geoff just stared at him. He regained feelings in his legs and clambered stupidly over to his uncle who was looking exhausted, a traveling cloak over his arm.

‘’Uncle!’’ Geoff hissed. ‘’I thought you said he was stupid!’’

‘’Well, obviously the bloke has smartened himself up a little bit!’’ Ron snapped. ‘’Now, I’m only giving you what you want, because you are the only one who appears to have a brain in this house.’’ Geoff leaned against the wood paneling, wearing a smug look.

‘’Now, say goodbye, Will.’’ Said Marcus gently, putting a warm, comforting hand on his shoulder. Surprise shot through his body like needles. He had never had someone touch his shoulder like that, or talk to him so fatherly. At least no one that was old enough to actually be his father.

Will swallowed, giving his Godfather a faint nod, then ran to Ash, embracing her as if they were being reunited after so many years. Ash wrapped her arms around Will, and the two of them started crying. Ash buried her face into Will’s wrinkly shirt. Will hugged her tightly.

‘’Don’t go, Will. Please.’’ Ash sobbed.

‘’I don’t want to go.’’ Will murmured, trying to dry his tears. ‘’But I have no choice. You heard Ron and Geoff last night.’’

‘’I know.’’ Ash cried. ‘’I know.’’

‘’I still don’t want to go though.’’ Will muttered. ‘’Ash, you’re my first true friend. I’ll never forget you.’’

‘’Now, you’re making it sound like-‘’

‘’I know.’’ Will interjected. ‘’But you-you-never really know.’’

‘’Do you want to come out to the pavement with us, Ash?’’ Marcus asked kindly.

‘’Yes, thank you very much, sir.’’ Ash said, tearfully, gripping onto Will, afraid she might lose him.

Marcus led Ash and Will outside to the misty pavement, and waited patiently.

‘’I’m-I’m really going to miss you.’’ Will murmured, still holding Ash in his arms, blinking back tears.

‘’I’m going to miss you. I swear the first chance I get, I’m going to kill my brother. I mean, how could he do this to me-to-you? It’s insane! I haven’t had a real friend in years! And then, you show up and now you have to go!’’ Ash fell into Will’s shirt, and Will hugged her. Ash stopped crying and squared her shoulders, still wiping at her face.

‘’Well, goodbye, Ash.’’ Will murmured.

‘’Bye, Will.’’ She whispered. Marcus slid an arm around Will’s shoulder and took him down the street. Will couldn’t bring himself to look back at Ash, not knowing when, if ever he would see her again.