The Last Man on Earth

The Last Man on Earth

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters….yadda, yadda, yadda.

Chapter 45: Katie’s parents

The Infirmary:

“Katie,” gasped an unfamiliar voice a moment later. A fair-haired woman burst through the infirmary doors. She had a frantic expression. A tall man followed on her heels. Professor McGonagall followed the couple. She excused herself seeing as Gryffindor Tower was still in a tizzy following the win.

Marcus got to his feet. He was sitting beside the still unconscious Katie. He gave his father an uncertain look.

“You must be Marcus,” said the flustered woman. “Katie has written to me about you. What happened? Professor McGonagall said she hit her head. Was it during the game?”

“Yes,” said Rowan Bell as he held out his hand to Marcus. He had Katie’s eyes. “Katie has written to us about you. I’m Rowan Bell and this is my wife, Isolde.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Bell,” said Marcus shakily. “This is my father, Aurelius Flint.”

Headmaster Dumbledore told the Bells what had happened after the introductions were made. He also mentioned the fact that Marcus had saved Katie from further injury.

“This girl PUSHED Katie down the stairs,” said Rowan Bell in horror.

“Why?” asked Isolde Bell in shock.

“She was jealous of my relationship with Katie,” said Marcus with a sad, guilty look on his face. “The injury was to her head. She hit the wall before I caught her.”

“Is she going to be all right?” asked Rowan pensively.

“Yes,” said Madame Pomfrey as she bustled out of the infirmary storeroom. She brought yet another vial of potion with her. Marcus watched as she gently coaxed it down Katie’s throat. “There, it should take about a half hour to finish its job. That was a nasty blow to the head and she will have to take it easy for a few days but Miss Bell is going to right as rain.”

“That’s such a relief,” said Katie’s mother as she sat down on a chair on the other side of Katie’s bed.

“Is everything going to be fine?” drawled Aurelius Flint with a raised eyebrow at Madame Pomfrey.

“Yes,” said Pomfrey with a significant look at Marcus. Marcus sat down on the other chair beside Katie’s bed in relief.

“You are certain,” said Rowan Bell with concern.

“Yes,” said Pomfrey with a smile.

“Katie’s been injured in Quidditch accidents before,” said Isolde with a shudder. “I’ve mentioned time and time again that I wished Katie hadn’t had been the child that inherited your ability on a broom, Rowan.”

“I know,” said Bell with a sigh. “We were called because the injury was deliberate, weren’t we?”

“Yes,” said Dumbledore. “But here is also another pressing reason why we called you here so quickly.”

“What is it?” asked Isolde with a small frown. The adults in the room turned to look at Marcus.

“I don’t know what Katie has told you about us,” said Marcus hesitantly. “But I love her.”

Katie’s father’s eyes narrowed on Marcus. Isolde looked up with a puzzled frown.

“Katie loves me too,” said Marcus nervously. Merlin, this was hard to say. Even harder than when he proposed to Katie or when he told Katie she was pregnant. Marcus stood up and stood beside Katie. He held her limp but now warm hand.

“We plan on spending the rest of our lives together,” said Marcus with his chin up and his gaze unwavering.

“Katie is only sixteen,” said Isolde with a frown. Her father was still and his gaze was fixed on Marcus.

“We both know that the circumstances are not ideal but we want to married as soon as possible,” said Marcus.

“Married,” gasped Isolde. “She hasn’t graduated from Hogwarts yet. Why don’t you both wait?”

“Isolde,” said Rowan with a hard edge to his voice. ‘I do believe that Mr. Flint is going to tell us why they will not wait.”

Marcus nodded and said, “Katie is expecting my child.”

“What?” said Isolde Bell as she sprang to her feet. “She’s just a child herself!” She started to pace the room in an agitated manner.

“Is there more?” asked Rowan Bell with an icily cold look at Marcus.

“Yes,” said Marcus as he nervously cleared his throat. “We are betrothed.”

“You cannot be,” said Isolde as she froze. “Katie is underage.”

“We did it the ancient way,” said Marcus unflinchingly. “With earth magic three weeks ago. It is legally binding. Katie and I are passed the medieval age of adulthood which was thirteen and the betrothal was entered into willingly.”

“The hell it is,” said Rowan. His anger started to show itself.

“Unfortunately,” said Dumbledore quietly. “Marcus does tell the truth. The old pureblood families still use this betrothal ritual so it still holds legal status in our world. It’s rarely used but still magically binding.”

“There was no marriage contract,” said Rowan icily. “I’m sure a wizard from an old pureblood family still needs the consent of his family to make any betrothal binding.”

“Unfortunately,” said Aurelius Flint with a rueful shake of his head. “Several months ago, I told Marcus that he could choose his bride. That statement is enough to make any betrothal he entered into binding. I was unaware that he would find a bride so precipitously.”

“Do you approve of this fiasco,” said Rowan as he turned and glared at Aurelius.

“Approve?” drawled Aurelius. “No. But I am realistic. Katie is expecting the heir to my estates. For many generations, there have been only one or two viable heirs in each generation. I suggested to my son that he find a half blood girl to marry in order to strengthen the family bloodline. I never expected him to follow my orders quite this quickly.”

“Bloodlines and estates,” said Isolde with shock. “Is that all you care about? This is my daughter’s life, we are talking about here.”

“When the marriage contract is signed,” said Aurelius coolly. “I’m sure the terms will be agreeable. After all, Marcus turned down a two hundred thousand galleon dowry from the Bletchley girl in favor of your daughter who has no dowry. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

“My girl may not have a dowry,” said Rowan as he moved to stand face to face with Marcus. Aurelius kept his rapt gaze on them. The aristocratic ennui he affected was gone. “But she is worth more than that other girl.”

“I know,” said Marcus flatly as he held Bell’s unwavering gaze.

“You’ve been sleeping with my daughter,” whispered Rowan Bell. “I want to kill you for that alone.”

“I know,” said Marcus.

Rowan bit back an expletive and broke away from Marcus to stand at the foot of his daughter’s bed. He gazed into her pale face.

“Why didn’t she tell us about the baby,” said Rowan with a sigh of frustration.

“She was too scared,” said Marcus. “She was afraid that you would call her…unpleasant and untrue names.”

“Katie is our daughter,” said Isolde. “We love her.”

“She loves you both so much,” sighed Marcus. “She was afraid that you would be disappointed in her. She was afraid of bursting your image of her as this perfect daughter. I recall her frantically redoing scroll after scroll of homework time and time again all of this year. She was afraid that if she didn’t do well, she would disappoint both of you. She took her prefect duties so seriously. She said that being a prefect wasn’t her dream as much as it was yours. Katie is a good Quidditch player but her abilities aren’t inborn as much as honed by hard work and practice. She didn’t want to burst your bubble.”

“I don’t understand,” said Isolde as she shook her head.

“Katie told you about me,” said Marcus. “But I bet she wanted to go bit by bit. Did she tell you that I am the Slytherin Quidditch captain? She defied her House to go out with me.”

“Slytherin?” said Rowan with surprise. “Did you defy your House as well?”

“No,” said Marcus coolly. “My House will do whatever I tell them.”

“Ahhhh yes,” said Rowan as he looked at Marcus with new eyes. He had just assumed that Marcus was in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

“Katie could not tell you she was pregnant,” said Marcus. “She could take the whispers of the Hogwarts rumor mill but she cannot take the thought of disappointing either of you. I was going to ask Katie to marry me next Yule. Like I said, I have every intention of spending my life with her. The baby just means that we will marry sooner not later.”

“There are ways of making the problem disappear,” said Isolde with a determined look at Marcus. Marcus stiffened. “I’m sure one of you has thought of this solution.”

“We did,” said Marcus as he nodded. “But we both agreed, we could not do that.”

“She is still underage,” said Isolde.

“You still need my permission,” said Marcus stiffly. “It will not be forthcoming.”

“But marriage,” said Isolde plaintively. “She’s too young.”

“Would you prefer that there would be no marriage,” asked Aurelius sardonically as he turned to whisper a word to Severus. Snape disappeared silently.

“No,” sighed Rowan. “It appears we have no choice really. There must be a marriage and soon.”

Snape reappeared with brandy and some glasses. Aurelius poured the Bells a hefty portion and whispered, “Here, take this. It helps.”

“Aurelius,” said Snape conversationally with a smirk. “I do believe I saw Natalya headed up the drive of Hogwarts a moment ago.”

“Bloody hell,” said Marcus as he held his head in his hands. “Not mother.”

Aurelius poured a large portion and drank it down in one gulp. “Marcus, this is not going to be pleasant.”

“I know,” said Marcus.

“Your mother doesn’t know?” said Rowan.

“I was hoping actually, to tell Natalya sometimes before the wedding,” said Aurelius. “Say, the day before.”

“Wouldn’t she have noticed beforehand,” asked Isolde.

“No,” said Marcus and Aurelius together.

“Marcus,” said Natalya Flint as she entered the infirmary. “I was coming to join your father and you for lunch when I heard that you are in the infirmary. Are you okay?”

“Yes mother,” said Marcus quietly. He gave a pleading look towards Snape.

“Natalya,” said Severus with a sigh. “Beautiful as ever.”

“Thank-you,” said Natalya brightly. “I got this robe in Paris. Do you like it Aurelius?”

“It’d nice, my dear,” said Aurelius with a suppressed sigh.

“Is that the Gryffindor girl, you been talking about recently, Marcus,” said Natalya brightly. “Is there something wrong?”

Marcus quickly introduced his mother to the Bells and skimmed over the situation.

“Why are you here Aurelius,” asked Natalya with a confused tone.

“Marcus and Miss Bell are going to be married,” said Aurelius blandly.

“What?” said Natalya.

“You know that I wished that Marcus find a bride,’ said Aurelius.

“I know,” said Natalya with a dismissive gesture. “But he’s too young. We can wait for grandchildren anyway. I’m too young still.”

“There is a grandchild on the way, my dear,” said Aurelius.

“But,” said Natalya. “He’s too young. Wait for a few years Marcus dear.”

“Katie is having a baby, Natalya,” said Aurelius a touch impatiently.

“Are you sure it’s yours,” said Natalya vaguely. The Bells stiffened. “After all, it’s fortune hunting time at Hogwarts. Its springtime.”

“Yes,” said Marcus with a frown. “One hundred percent sure. Please do not speak that way about my betrothed.”

“Aurelius,” said Natalya chidingly. “You aren’t seriously going to let Marcus get married. He’s just a child.”

“Yes,” said Aurelius as he guided her a short way away and began to explain the situation in quiet voice. Natalya’s face continued to look confused.

“Your father is the most patient man I know,” said Snape. “Your mother is one of a kind.”

“She objects to my Katie,” said Rowan a touch stiffly.

“She objects to me growing older,” said Marcus. “She likes to ignore things that are ‘unpleasant’. My father will eventually make it clear to her.”

“She really wouldn’t have noticed until your father told her,” said Isolde with a touch of surprise.

Suddenly, Katie stirred against the pillows. Marcus sprang to her side as did her parents.

Katie opened her eyes blearily. “Marcus,” said Katie softly. “Marcus.” She said his name louder.

“Katie love,” said Marcus intently. “I’m here.”

“Oh Marcus,” said Katie as she licked her lips. “She pushed me.”

“I know,” said Marcus as his throat caught. “But I caught you.”

“Marcus,” whispered Katie as her voice filled with sudden fear. “The baby.”

Her parents flinched when they heard the anguish in her voice. Katie’s eyes filled with tears.

“The baby is fine,” assured Marcus. He pushed the hair away from her face soothingly.

“You promise,” said Katie desperately.

“I promise,” said Marcus intensely. Rowan looked at Marcus’s face then at his daughter’s. She had not taken her eyes off of him since she woke up. He was sure that she hadn’t noticed that they were there yet. The implicit trust in his daughter’s face told him more than words could that she loved this young man. He felt a wave of sorrow pass through him. He wasn’t the man in her life anymore. This young man had taken his place.

“Katie,” said Marcus as he looked at her parents. “Your parents are here.”

“What?” said Katie as she tried to sit up. Marcus held her down.

“Are you all right Katie,” said Isolde gently.

“Yes,” said Katie. Then she blurted, “You know about our baby?”

“We do,” said Rowan gently. He frowned when he saw the shadows cross her face as she braced herself as if for a blow.

“I understand that you and Marcus want to get married,” said Rowan quietly. Katie nodded then looked at Marcus with her heart in her eyes.

“Katie,” chided Isolde. “Have you not heard of birth control potions and charms?”

“Yes,” said Katie quietly. “It was an accident.”

“Accident,” said Isolde with a frown. “Katie…”

“Not now, Isolde,” said Rowan. “What’s done is done.”

“I love our baby,” said Katie intently. “And I love Marcus with all my heart. I hope you can accept us.”

“We love you Katie,” said Rowan. “We will talk later when you are feeling better. For now, I think we should leave and let Madame Pomfrey take care of you.”

“Not Marcus,” said Katie as she clung to Marcus’s hand.

“Mr. Flint can stay for a few more minutes,” said Madame Pomfrey. “Then you will sleep some more, young lady.”

“Thank-you,” said Katie. She kissed her mother and father good-bye and watched them and Marcus’s parents leave. Dumbledore and Snape had vanished earlier.

The infirmary was silent as Pomfrey left discreetly for a few moments.

“I thought I had lost you both,” said Marcus brokenly as he buried his face in her hair. Katie soothed him by running a hand down his trembling back. His hand came to rest on her stomach. Katie swallowed the sudden tears in her throat.

“You can’t rid yourself of me that easily, Marcus Flint,” said Katie lightly.

“Why were you there,” asked Marcus with anguish.

“I thought you were angry with me and I went to see you,” said Katie. “I was going to thank you for saving me from the bludgers. I really didn’t see them. But it wasn’t deliberate. I would never put the baby in danger knowingly.”

“I know, you silly woman,” said Marcus. “I only sounded angry because you scared me.”

“Why did she push me,” asked Katie with a frown.

“I had just finished turning down Mr. Bletchley’s offer of two hundred thousand galleons to marry Billy,” said Marcus. He touched her face.

“Marcus,” gasped Katie.

“You are worth way more to me than mere galleons Katie,” said Marcus intently. “I love you so much. I nearly died inside when I saw you fall.”

“I love you too,” said Katie. “You had to tell my parents alone. Was it horrible?”

“Not as horrible as it could have been,” said Marcus with a relieved sigh. “Although, I don’t think your father is okay with the thought of you and I having sex. He wants to kill me.”

“You told him,” said Katie with a frown.

“Katie,” said Marcus with a small laugh. “You are pregnant. I would have to have sex with you at least once for that to happen.”

“You told your father,” said Katie apprehensively as she recalled the tall aristocratic man than looked remarkably like Marcus. He was icily cool and looked horribly posh.

“It was like I suspected,” said Marcus with a grin. “The thought of a grandchild demolished his objections. The worst is over, and you slept through it, love.”

Katie reached up and pulled Marcus closer. She gave his lips a soft sweet peck that segued into a hot passionate kiss. His mouth slanted over hers again. Their kisses were hungry and desperate. They both forgot where they were as they wrapped themselves around each other. She sighed a few minutes later when a significant coughing noise came from beside the bed.

“Mr. Flint,” said Madame Pomfrey. “I do believe it is time for you to go.”

Katie watched until Marcus disappeared out the door of the infirmary. She took the potion Pomfrey gave her without protest. There was time enough tomorrow to worry about the future.