The Luckiest Man on Earth

The Luckiest Man on Earth 40



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 41: School Days



“Thank Merlin, that’s over,” said Higgs as he threw himself down on the grass in front of Adrian and Marcus. His mates were sitting on the lawn outside of the castle in the late spring sunshine.



“I wasn’t the one who insisted on taking Ancient Runes,” said Marcus with an eye roll.



“And no one tied you down and forced you to take Arithmancy as well,” said Adrian with a smirk.



“I know,” said Terry as he rolled over onto his back and gave a big stretch. He closed his bright blue eyes and sighed with pleasure as he felt the springiness of the grass under his fingertips.



Adrian looked at his best mate with a small smile that played around his lips. Ter looked like a Siamese cat that decided to take a nap in a patch of sun.



Marcus gave a jaw cracking yawn and turned the page of his Quidditch magazine. He stiffened as he read the article in disbelief. He sprang to his feet with a low growl.



“What’s wrong?” asked Adrian in surprise. Terry opened one eye languidly.



“It’s Wood,” sputtered Marcus. He waved the magazine around in a frustrated manner.



“He’s not here, is he?” asked Terry with a yawn. “I thought ….well never mind.”



Marcus ignored Terry as he quickly re-read the article. Adrian squinted up at Marcus.



“He had an interview in this rag,” sputtered Marcus. “He spouted some rubbish about Puddlemere, learning experiences and whatnot then the utter wanker says that he is not surprised that he was one of the only players at Hogwarts offered a professional position. He said that certain members from certain houses were not the right material. Gods, I hate him.”



“I was offered a position with the Falmouth Falcons,” said Terry as he opened both eyes and looked up Marcus.



“What?” said Adrian with surprise. Marcus only glared at Terry.



“How?” said Adrian. “No offense mate, but you aren’t exactly their type of bloke.”



“As a seeker,” said Terry with sigh as he closed his eyes again. “The actual firm offer came yesterday.”



“Are you going to take it?” asked Marcus sulkily as he threw himself down on the grass. He started to shred the grass into tiny little pieces.



“Well,” said Ter as he opened one eye. “That rather depends on you, Marcus.”



“What do you mean?” asked Marcus.



“See,” said Terry thoughtfully. “I was suspicious when they came up with a solid offer out of the blue, so I asked why. The people from Falmouth said quite frankly that they were hoping that I could persuade you to change your mind.”



“Me?” asked Marcus with a frown. He tried to dampen the sense of elation that was bubbling up inside him.



“Yes,” said Ter as he sat up suddenly. “They want you to change your mind about playing professional Quidditch. They want you to play for them.”



“They never asked,” said Marcus gruffly as he frowned into the distance.



“They did,” said Terry softly. He bit his lip then looked into Marcus’s closed face. “They had to approach your father first. I think he said no for you.”



“I can’t,” said Marcus as his sense of elation dissipated almost as quickly as it came up inside of him. He had been afraid that utter wanker Wood had been telling the truth. He had been afraid that he wasn’t thought of as good enough to play professional Quidditch.



“Why not?” asked Adrian.



“The old man doesn’t want me to,” said Marcus with a sigh.



“Honestly Marcus,” said Terry with a snort. “Are you a Slytherin, or not?”



“What advantages do I have?” asked Marcus. “I can’t blackmail him, he is my father.”



“First off,” said Adrian. “In approximately two weeks, you will have done your duty to your bloodline and will have married. Plus you have the sprog on the way already. Secondly, does your father know how many galleons you can make playing Quidditch? No offense but Bell won’t have a substantial dowry; remind your father of the financial advantages.”



A hopeful light entered Marcus eyes as he looked at his mates speculatively.



“Thirdly,” drawled Terry. “You won’t be living with your parents come July. Can I tell that Jones man to call on you in London? Besides, Marcus, think of me. I know I have only a small chance of actually making the team but I would like to try. I am pretty sure that they will only take me if I can persuade you.”



“Why didn’t you tell me this news yesterday?” said Marcus.



“I had two more NEWTS,” said Terry indignantly. “I am not thick. I am not putting my eggs in one basket. I have my eye on a position at the ministry.”



“What are you thinking of doing, Adrian?” asked Marcus curiously as he mock swatted Terry across the head.



“Besides marrying well,” said Adrian dryly as he thought of the rather serious and frank conversation he and his mother had about the state of the family businesses recently.



“Besides that,” said Marcus with a raised eyebrow.



“My mother has arranged a series of apprenticeships for me,” said Adrian with a grin at Terry. “I am going to spend a few years learning how to run a business. You know, a year with Gringott’s, a year with the craftsmen, and so on.”



“Taking over the family business?” said Terry softly.



“Some one has to,” said Adrian airily. “And with the galleons Tristan has actually managed to get as a dowry for marrying that daft girl, we can modernize the plants and distribution.”



“So,” said Marcus. “You are going into the broom business.”



“Trust me,” said Adrian with a crafty look in his topaz eyes. “When you two are nice and famous, we are going to be in business together.”



The Slytherins started to laugh. Terry waved at Derrick and Bole as they came towards them on the grass.





“Finally finished your tests,” said Tarquin Bole as he and Derrick settled themselves on the grass. “I cannot imagine taking that many NEWTS.”



“Did you take any at all?” asked Marcus with a grin.



“The least I could get away with,” said Tarquin with a lazy grin.



“You know that Tarquin’s best subject is Muggle studies,” said Derrick with a smirk.



“Really?” said Adrian with surprise.



“Please,” said Tarquin. “It was easy as pie. I took a few trips into London for research. It was absolutely brilliant. I went to this place they called a club. In fact, I wrote a paper on it. Professor loved it.”



“We should recreate that one day,” said Derrick as he sprawled out the grass. “I read the paper. It sounded like great fun.”



“Better than the pub in Marcus’s village?” said Terry with interest.



“Much,” said Tarquin. “Loads of hot totty.”



“What?” asked Adrian in confusion.



“Muggle term,” said Tarquin airily. “For girls that are…..”



“It would be like all the witches here suddenly all started dressing like the muggleborns in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw all the time,” interrupted Derrick dreamily. “Except with less clothing.”



“How is that possible?” said Marcus with disbelief.



“Oh,” said Tarquin. “Marcus, it’s very possible. I have pictures.”



“And you never showed me?” said Terry indignantly.



“Do you know what we should do?” said Tarquin as he leaned in with a merry look in his bright green eyes.



“I am afraid to ask,” said Terry.



“We should hold an end of the year costume party,” said Tarquin.



“But Snape is expecting a party this week end,” said Marcus. “He will be extra vigilant.”



“Not if we do it tonight,” said Adrian. “No one expects a party tonight - most people sleep and get ready for the weekend.”



“We can do it,” said Tarquin with a grin. “We will split up the jobs exactly like we did for the bacchanal.”



“What is the theme of the party?” asked Derrick as he got to his feet.





Gryffindor Tower:



“Only the Slytherins would consider Muggle club gear as a ‘costume party’,” said Angelina as she shook her head in disgust. She reread the invitation.



“I think it’s cute,” said another Gryffindor girl. “I am going to go just to see what the Slytherins think muggle club gear is. It will be hilarious. I can just see them wearing ski clothes and such.”



“Hell,” said Angelina. “It would be worth a laugh.”



“One thing is for certain,” said Ally as she eyed the invitation. “We are going to have to pool our clothes. Not much call for club gear at school.”



Ravenclaw Tower:



“But how could they?” said a Ravenclaw girl. “Are they mad? NEWTS ended an hour ago.”



“Well,” said Roger Davies. “I thought everyone knew the Slytherins were mad especially that Tarquin Bole.”



“Don’t say that about Tarquin,” said another Ravenclaw witch. “He is just misunderstood.”



Roger nodded sarcastically. Then he wondered what kind of muggle gear he could scare up on short notice. If he was lucky, maybe Flint would forget to guard Bell so assiduously and he could spend some time flirting with her before she got married.



Hufflepuff Tower:



“But Professor Sprout is having that tea tonight,” wailed a Hufflepuff girl.



“It will be over in time,” soothed another girl. “Besides I want to say good bye to Higgs in fine style. I heard he and Spinnet broke up. What does one wear to a muggle club?”



Outside the Entrance Hall:



Marcus’s face glowed as he told Katie what Terry had told him about the Falmouth Falcons and their offer. He outlined his plan to her and smiled as he saw her eyes shine with unspoken pride. He held her hand in one of his and ran the back of his fingers across her cheek.



“You look a bit tired, love,” said Marcus with a touch of concern.



“I am,” said Katie ruefully. “It’s this heat.”



“We won’t go the party then,” said Marcus quickly.



“No,” protested Katie. “I want you to go. I want you to celebrate with your friends. I’ll be fine. I’m going to bed early.”



“I don’t need to go,” said Marcus gruffly as he started to lead her towards Gryffindor Tower. “It doesn’t start for an hour.”



“I am going to have to insist,” said Katie with a smile.



“It just won’t be the same without you,” protested Marcus. They had made their way quickly up the stairs and were in front of the portrait in a short time. Katie had been rather quiet during their walk and Marcus had decided not to try to make her talk. Sometimes, Marcus noted, Katie needed silence. It meant that she was thinking long and hard about something. He waited expectantly.



“I want you to do something for me,” said Katie seriously as she turned and took Marcus’s hands in her own.



“I would do anything for you,” said Marcus seriously.



“I want you to go have fun with your mates,” said Katie as she took a deep breath. “And later, if you want, you know we aren’t married yet.”



“What do you mean?” asked Marcus suspiciously.



“I want you to have one last fling,” said Katie seriously. “No, don’t get angry.”



“I cannot believe you think so little of me, Katherine Bell,” said Marcus. He was quite insulted.



“I am not saying that you announce in the middle of the party that you have permission to fuck one last witch,” said Katie heatedly. “I am just saying if things get out of hand that what I don’t know won’t hurt me. Just be discreet.”



‘I cannot believe you,” said Marcus angrily. “I love you.”



“But we can’t….you know,” said Katie with frustration. “I know it’s driving me mental. I cannot imagine how you are coping. And I love you too. That’s why I am just saying….”



“I won’t,” said Marcus forcefully. “I can deal with the frustration.”



“Are you sure?” said Katie. “As long as I don’t know….I won’t be upset.”



“Bullocks,” said Marcus. “You will stay up all night worrying about it. You need your sleep. I don’t care about your carte blanche, love. The only witch I want to shag is you, so I’ll wait.”



“Really?” said Katie as she bit her lip.



“You know,” said Marcus as he kissed her trembling lips. “All these rampant hormones are making you completely mental. A few months ago, you would have ripped my balls off if I even looked at another witch. And here you are offering me a free pass.”



“Are you calling me daft?” asked Katie.



“Yes,” said Marcus as he kissed her again. “But you’re my daft witch. I would never in a million years give you a free pass, you do know that.”



“I know,” said Katie with a grin as she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. “Tell me more about the Falcons before you go.”











Author’s Note:



Short chapter but I am setting up for an end of year arc and wrapping up some plot lines.