Protector {Completed}

Chapter 7

Marcus was in the dogbox with Hestia, he never had any time to even talk to her as she had moved all her things to Hermione's room that night. Sirius, Remus, and the twins had noticed the change in their behaviors and had cornered Marcus to ask him what had happened. At the end of the explanation everyone was plainly shocked, for one they never knew Hestia would cut herself, secondly they thought Marcus was stupid as he did not see how much Hestia had actually fallen for him, and lastly,Marcus's perfectly calm and stoic mask, was cracked, he was visibly upset. "Well Marcus, we understand that you were...upset. But the reaction you had was not correct." Remus said, he was still reeling from the news that his cub was hurting herself and they didn't know. "The fact that you didn't know she liked you is frankly ridiculous. Remus and I figured it out the minute she said she'd left the Weasley's and was coming over here with her friend." At Marcus's confused look, Sirius leaned back against the lounge wall, "Why would she fight with the people she called family? Love makes us all crazy Marcus and you, you made her crazy." Fred and George both nodded in agreement, although they were upset that Hestia didn't come to them with her issues they knew they needed to help her with her love issues. "Firstly Marcus you need to apologize to her." Began Fred, "And secondly you both need to talk through your issues." Finished George, Marcus nodded he knew he had to do it, if only she didn't actively avoid him.

The next morning wasn't any better, Hestia made it her mission to walk out of an empty room if it was only them in it, she stuck to Hermione and spoke to the others but seemed like she didn't want to even look at Marcus. That afternoon after Hestia cooked them supper, Mrs Black was placed in the kitchen because apparently she wanted to be 'in with the action.' Conversation was tense but flowed pretty well, that is till Mrs Black decided to be matchmaker. "Hestia dear, if you are to run your own household, I think you would do splendidly, not even when you marry into the Flint family can they fault you." She said beaming at the two, Marcus had ended up choking on his stew and Hestia sat there with widened eyes, however before either could say anything in protest the floo spewed to life and out walked Albus Dumbledore. Now, Marcus had lived with Hestia for a couple weeks, but they had also been friends for a couple months, so he knew the small ticks she had, if she was angry, irritated or annoyed, there was a reaction for it all, so when Dumbledore appeared, he noticed the subtle grit of her jaw as she kept eating, her eyes firmly on her bowl. "Ah Good Evening, Mr Black, Mr Lupin, Mr Weasleys, Ms Granger, Ms Potter and ah yes young mister Flint, I was told you were here." That got a reaction as Hestia put her spoon down and looked up at Dumbledore, "Professor we just made supper would you like to stay and eat?" Shaking his head he smiled genially to the girl, "Sorry my dear girl I am here strickly on business I am afraid. Mister Flint." He turned back to Marcus, his face now set into what Hestia realized was his serious one, "I have been told by sources that this summer was supposed to be when you joined the Death Eaters is that true?" Marcus had set his face to his normal Slytherin mask as he nodded, not letting anything on, "Well the others and I have been talking and we think it's best it you go back and get it-" "No" the entire kitchen, including Mrs Black turned to look at Hestia whose face was set in one emotion, defiance. Dumbledore shook himself out of his reverie as he spoke up, "But my dear, if he does this we have one more-" "Professor Snape is there." "Yes my dear I understand but he will be-" "no he does not need help and Marcus will be in danger because one he has been with us for over a month, they will definately know he's a traitor when he goes back." Hestia crossed her arms, there was no way she was backing down from this and everyone knew it. Dumbledore was shocked that she actually spoke back and doubted him. Mrs Weasley was right, Hestia was getting out of hand and it was because of Marcus Flint, "My dear it's his decision whether or not he wants to-" "Whatever decision he makes has to include me in that process." She said icily, "Well my dear why would that be?" Hestia's expression almost faltered, what was she gonna say, she and Marcus weren't together, she didn't have any right she can't- "Well Albus don't you see?" Came Mrs Black's voice. "They're engaged."

After Dumbledore left, in quite a rush everyone may add, Hestia let out a breath she didn't know she had held. "What are we gonna do now!? Aunt Walburga you can't just say things like that!" Hestia said, clearly worried, shaking her head in her portrait, "This makes it harder for anyone to keep you two apart. Engagements and marriages in wizard laws are sacred, it's not just two people, it's two houses." Biting on her nail she turned to look at Marcus for the first time since their fight. "So what do we do? We don't have rings nor do we know how to act." Marcus shook his head and pulled a ring out of his pocket, it was emerald and ruby, a beautiful symphony of red and green mixed together. "Marcus where..how?" Hestia looked at the older boy, "My mother sent it to me with a letter two days ago, I already asked Lupin to check if anything was wrong with it, it's in the all clear. So lets get this Fake Engagement on the way why don't we?"