The Luckiest Man on Earth

The Luckiest Man on Earth 39



DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended



Chapter 39: Duel



Hogwarts: The Infirmary:



Marcus looked up from Katie’s side when he heard the commotion. He sprang to his feet when he saw his mother’s comatose body being ferried into the Infirmary.



“What happened to her?” asked Marcus anxiously as he held her clammy hand.



“I’ll find out in a moment,” said Poppy Pomfrey.



Marcus stepped aside and watched anxiously as Pomfrey worked. He noticed a parchment on the floor beside his mother’s bed. He picked it up and read it curiously.

He stared at the rather jaunty owl his father had sent to his mother.



“What is it?” asked Katie sleepily. Marcus turned to her with a slight frown on his face. Every now and again, Katie would wake up and talk to him then suddenly fall asleep. He suspected she had no memory of even being awake. He soothed a hand over her forehead and smiled.



“Just an owl,” soothed Marcus. “Go back to sleep, love.”



“Hmmm,” murmured Katie as she did just that.



“Mrs. Bell,” said Marcus quietly. “I have to see my father but I really don’t…”



“Don’t worry, Marcus,” said Katie’s mother with a gentle smile. “I will take care of Katie and your mother. What has your father done?”



“He’s challenged Billy to a wizard’s duel,” said Marcus with a sigh. “I think my mother is worried that he might lose. I don’t think so, though. I have to go and try to talk him out of this mad scheme. Billy is my responsibility.”



“The young lady is her own responsibility,” said Isolde firmly. “She’s tried to harm Katie over and over again even after you have made it clear that a relationship between you and her is not possible. I think she needs a shock and I hope your father delivers one.”



“I’ll be back as soon as possible,” said Marcus. “I have to see if I can get permission to go into Hogsmeade.”



Isolde nodded and watched Marcus leave the Infirmary. She sat beside Katie and watched as Pomfrey hummed and hawed over Natalya Flint. She hoped Natalya would be alright.



“Where am I?” asked a groggy Natalya Flint several minutes later.



“Sit back, Mrs. Flint,” said Pomfrey soothingly. “You’ve had a bit of a shock.”



“My husband,” said Natalya as she struggled to get up. Pomfrey held her down easily.



“He will wait,” said Pomfrey briskly, “but your heath will not.”



“What’s wrong?” asked Natalya with a suddenly worried look.



“Nothing nine months won’t cure,” said Pomfrey quietly and intently.



“What?” said a shocked Natalya. Her face blanched then colored bright red. A feeling of utter joy flooded through her followed by the horrid realization. Who was the father of her child? Natalya tensed as Lucius Malfoy’s handsome face drifted through her memory. If she gave birth to a blonde child, her husband and Lucius would know instantly.



“It’s early days though,” warned Pomfrey.



“How early?” asked Natalya as she bit her lip.



“Maybe two weeks at the most,” said Pomfrey confidently.



Natalya sagged with relief as her affairs with Lucius Malfoy and Rhys Bell had ended over a month previously. Then she clutched at her stomach and wondered if she dared to hope.



“I have had trouble maintaining a pregnancy,” said Natalya quietly to Pomfrey.



“As I said it is early,” said Pomfrey gently. “But remember that every pregnancy is different. Hope for the best.”



“I will,” said Natalya as she sighed and nodded. Then she thought about her husband and his mad scheme. She closed her eyes and settled back into the pillows.



“Marcus has gone to Hogsmeade,” said Isolde Bell as she came to see if Natalya was all right.

“Good,” said Natalya. She looked across the Infirmary. “Is Marcus’s friend doing better?”



“Yes,” said Isolde as she looked over to Mariah’s bed. “They are transferring the poor girl to St. Mungo’s in the next hour. They will be better able to take of her. That Bletchley girl has a lot to answer for.”



“That she does,” said Natalya pensively.



The Entrance Hall:



“There you are,” said Alicia as she caught sight of Angus Derrick. She was beaming and ran up to him in the quiet hallway just off the main entrance.



“What is it?” asked Derrick in surprise.



Alicia threw her arms around the big Slytherin and gave him a smacking, enthusiastic kiss. It took Derrick a second or two but he was returning her kiss just as enthusiastically. The kiss lost its enthusiasm and segued into a hungry, hot kiss that went on for ages.



“We have to stop that,” whispered Alicia as she tore her mouth away in search for air.



“Why?” asked Derrick as he kissed her again.



“I’m not pregnant,” whispered Alicia a long minute later.



“Good,” nodded Derrick then he slid his tongue into her willing mouth.



“We have to,” whispered Alicia as she tore her mouth away reluctantly.



“We have to what?” asked Terrence Higgs from behind the couple. He asked the question in a precise cut glass accent. He came to stand beside them.



“Ter,” whispered Alicia. “I’m not pregnant.”



“Good for you,” said Terry caustically. “I would be much happier about the entire situation if I didn’t find you snogging Derrick’s tongue out of his face just now.”



“We were celebrating,” said Derrick as he raised his chin. It was now or never, if he wanted Alicia Spinnet, he would have to tell Terry.



“Yes,” whispered Alicia as she stared at Terry, struggling to find words. Why did Derrick, damn him, have to be such a wonderful kisser?



“You want her, don’t you?” asked Terry speculatively as he looked at Derrick. He had known Derrick for years and he could see that Angus was gearing up for fight.



“Yes,” said Derrick firmly.



“Is this a borrowing type want or a permanent thing?” asked Terry coolly.



“You’d let me borrow her?” asked Derrick with a touch of shock. Alicia could only stare at him.



“Terry,” said Alicia as she began to get angry. But Ter was not looking at her which was a bad sign.



“You’re just going to fuck her, aren’t you?” said Terry dismissively “Why not? Take her for a spin. Return her when you are done.”



Alicia looked like she was going to cry. She could feel Derrick’s hand on her back. It was comforting.



“I don’t think so, Ter,” said Derrick firmly. “You aren’t being fair to Alicia as a person. I want more than a shag; I want a relationship. But you are my friend. I want to remain a friend that is why I am coming out and just stating what I want.”



Terry just looked at Derrick for a moment. He had been incredibly angry when he had seen them together. They looked lost in one another. He was dampening his anger down with difficulty. He knew deep down inside that it wasn’t just sex between Derrick and Alicia. He could see it in both their eyes. It had made him unexpectedly jealous.



“Well Alicia,” said Terry intently. “You have a choice. You can take unfaithful, unpredictable me or else you can have the upstanding, monogamous Derrick. Hell, I know who I would pick. At least I would know if I was dating Derrick, he would try not to let me catch him snogging girls in corners.”



Alicia looked at Terry and shook her head.



“You are such an arse,” said Alicia as she glared at Terry. She gave Derrick a sad smile and said, “You know if I didn’t love that complete bastard so much, I would be after you in a heartbeat. You are going to make some witch very happy. I am sorry it’s just not going to be me.”



“I had to try,” said Derrick. He gave Ally a pensive smile.



“I know,” said Terry seriously. “Alicia is really something special.”



“That is so sweet,” said Alicia with a grin. She went up to Terry and backhanded him.



“What the fuck was that for?” asked Terry as he clutched his cheek.



“He could take me out for a spin,” hissed Alicia. “You are such a wanker.”



“You bitch,” said Terry. “You were the one with your tongue down his throat. I thought you wanted a go with him.”



“You probably wanted to fuck him first,” hissed Alicia in Terry’s face.



Terry grinned then swooped down on the Gryffindor, kissing away her protests. Derrick laughed as he walked away unnoticed.



“Let me go, you idiot,” said Alicia breathlessly.



“Why?” asked Terry as he bit her neck. “So you could slap me again, you crazy bint?”



Alicia bit his neck, too as Terry hissed then moaned when she laved it better with her tongue.



“I can’t remember,” moaned Terry as he maneuvered her into a storage closet. “But when is the last time I fucked your brains out?”



“Too long,” moaned Alicia as she closed the door with a snap plunging the enclosed space in darkness.



“I agree,” purred Terry, “nothing like a fight to get a Gryffindor ready to shag.”



Alicia and Terry groped in the darkness. She moaned when he palmed her wet aching pussy under her school skirt. She panted as he stroked her folds with those long fingers.



“Are you imagining what it would be like to have Derrick here with us?” asked Terry in a wicked whisper in her ear. “I would touch you like this from behind as I watch you suck and lick at his cock. He has a thick prick but you knew that, didn’t you?”



“Yes,” moaned Alicia as Terry plunged a finger deep inside her.



“I would watch you get him nice and hard and wet,” whispered Terry as his finger plunged in and out of her soft sheath. Alicia was moaning. “Then I would open you up for him and watch as his cock split your pussy wide open. I bet you would moan for him, wouldn’t you?”



‘Yes,” moaned Alicia. Her hips were moving, begging him to plunge inside her.



“I would wait until you were mindless,” said Terry as he opened his trousers and let his aching cock spring out. Alicia gave a high cry as he plunged deep into her clenching sheath. Terry bit his lip as he drove them higher and higher. Ally was moaning his name over and over again as his hips drove her into an orgasm that crashed over her in waves.



Ally gasped and listened to him take his pleasure. She could hear him panting and moaning. He was moaning her name breathlessly. Ally gave a low cry when she felt his cock spasm in the tightness of her pussy. A burst of warmth flooded her as Terry collapsed against her back. She gave a sleepy smile as she felt his hands smooth over her back over and over again.



“Why do you do it?” asked Alicia in the darkness.



“What?” asked Terry lowly.



“Why do you try again and again to push me away,” asked Ally curiously. “You didn’t want me to pick Derrick but you tried to prod me into it. Why can’t you believe me when I say I love you?”



After a long silence, Terry said quietly, “I don’t know why.”



Ally pushed up on her hands and Terry let her up. Alicia turned and slipped her arms around him tightly and said, “That’s all right. I’ll wait.”



“I’m sorry,” whispered Terry against her hair.



“I know,” said Ally soothingly.



Hogsmeade:



“Marcus,” said Aurelius mildly. He was sitting quite nonchalantly in the bar of the Hogsmeade Inn. “How did you get permission to come to Hogsmeade?”



“I didn’t ask,” said Marcus. “So no one could tell me no. Where did Adrian and Alec go?”



“Albus Dumbledore thought that it would be nice if Alec and Adrian gave Alec’s fiancée a tour of Hogwarts,” said Aurelius as he motioned for more tea. “Did you need something stronger, son? By the way, has it always been so easy to sneak into Hogsmeade? I thought Hogwarts was quite well protected.”



“It easy if you don’t get caught,” said Marcus dismissively. “Dad, where is she? Did you know that Mom fainted when she got your owl?”



“Is your mother all right?” asked Aurelius with a look of alarm.

“Yes,” said Marcus grudgingly, “but she’s worried and she wants you to talk to her before you do anything mad.”



“Your mother worries too much,” said Aurelius crisply.



“You can’t do this, dad,” said Marcus seriously as he sank into the seat opposite his father. “She’s not worth it. What if the Ministry catches word?”



“It’s a legal duel,” said Aurelius coolly. “And Marcus, you do know the girl is quite mad. She’ll always come after Katie. Can you protect Katie from her? Can you be with her every minute of every day?”



“No,” said Marcus as a worried frown passed his face. “I always knew, you know that Billy was little off. I tried breaking up with her; I even cheated on her like mad but to no avail.”



“She paid a man to romance Persephone Stebbins and take her on a trek to Nepal,” said Aurelius as he looked at his son. “This man provided Billy with the hair for the polyjuice potion and it was understood that at the end of the trip, the man would turn over Persephone to Billy.”



“How did you find out?” asked Marcus as he looked stunned.



“Veritaserum,” said Aurelius crisply. “It only took one drop. She had plans for all your ex-girlfriends including the MacDuff sisters. Really Marcus, sisters?”



“She’s really crazy,” said Marcus pensively.



“I know,” said a voice from behind the Flint men. “I have always known. I just hoped that she would be spared the madness inherited from her mother’s side of the family.”



Marcus turned and looked Wilhelm Bletchley in the face. He turned to look at his father but his father’s face was expressionless.



“I have come to ask you for my daughter’s life,” said Wilhelm. His face was pale and wan. “I know she has harmed your family but she is not responsible for her actions.”



“I will protect my family,” said Aurelius seriously.



“I know,” said Wilhelm dejectedly.



“Billy nearly killed my child,” said Marcus hoarsely as he felt the fear touched his heart again. “I cannot allow her the chance to try again.”



“I know,” said Wilhelm sadly. “It’s just that she’s my child, too. She never really had a chance. I ignored the signs of madness. I just didn’t want it to be true. It should be me facing you in a duel.”



After a short tense silence, Aurelius spoke.



The Infirmary:



“Aurelius,” said Natalya as she struggled awake. She had fallen asleep from the relaxing potion that Pomfrey had given her. She was quite put out. She didn’t want to sleep. She woke to find him sitting by her bed. Her eyes flew over to Katie’s bed. Isolde was there reading in the candlelight. Katie was still asleep.



“Katie is fine,” said Aurelius quietly.



“Is it done?” asked Natalya with a worried look on her face. She looked at the windows that were dark. Sundown passed many hours before.



“It is done,” said Aurelius firmly.



“You will not be punished?’ asked Natalya. “Is Marcus all right?”



“I will not be punished,” said Aurelius as he took his wife’s hand and kissed her delicate knuckles. “And Marcus is back in the Slytherin dungeons. Madame Pomfrey would not permit him to stay over night with Katie.”



“I can’t help but think about the Bletchley girl,” said Natalya with sadness in her eyes. “It seems so cruel tha-“



“I did not kill her, my love,” said Aurelius. “I could not after her father came to me to beg for his child’s life.”



“Where is she?” asked Natalya with a shocked look on her face.



“Miss Bletchley had a strong “obliviate’ charm preformed on her memory,” said Aurelius intently. “It was so strong that it removed the past four years from her memory. I am afraid she will also always have poor recall. Her father took her to St. Mungos. Then he and his daughter will be immigrating to Australia where I believe that she will get the help and the attention she needs. Her father has vowed to me that neither Bletchley will ever set foot in England again.”



“She doesn’t remember Marcus?” asked Natalya.



“Yes, she does,” said Aurelius. “But only from the age of fourteen when they had little to no contact. She’s been told she had an accident. Bletchley has agreed to get her help for her obsessive disorder once she is in Australia.”



“Do you believe him?” asked Natalya anxiously.



“Yes,” said Aurelius. “But I am not thick. I told him that if she even comes near Marcus or Katie again, the duel will go off as planned. She is to wear a special amulet that will prevent that from ever happening.”



“A personal ward,” said Natalya with surprise, “they are very rare and expensive.”



“Bletchley believes that his daughter is worth any price,” said Aurelius.



“You are a good man, Aurelius,” said Natalya as she stroked his cheek.



“Are you all right?” asked Aurelius intently.



“I wasn’t going to tell you,” said Natalya a touch breathlessly. “I was going to wait until I was absolutely certain that it will happen but I need to tell you. We can’t have secrets anymore. We have to share the good and the bad.”



“What is it, Natalya,” asked a very worried Aurelius.



“I am two weeks pregnant,” said Natalya quickly before she could change her mind.



Aurelius was silent but he reached out and squeezed her hand hard.



“We can only hope for the best,” said Natalya bravely. “And it’s early days.”



Aurelius nodded. His eyes started to get suspiciously damp.



“We can just be optimistic,” whispered Natalya. Her hands covered his hands that were curled protectively around her abdomen.



“The best healers,” promised Aurelius with a hoarse voice.



“I won’t be disappointed if,” started Natalya bravely but she was cut off with a passionate kiss from her husband.



“We have hope, Natalya,” said Aurelius as he stroked her face. “And each other.”