4 YEARS LATER

Whilst I'd been on the house Quidditch team, I always knew that that was as far as I'd take that part of my life. As much as I enjoyed the game and the freedom I experienced as I felt the wind whipping against my face as I aimed to score another goal, I was content to lay that to rest. But I really hadn't expected it to have any effect on my post-Hogwarts life.

It was really a spur of the moment decision that made me apply to an opening that the Daily Prophet had for a sports reporter and I certainly hadn't expected to go on to get the job. Merlin, the only reason that I'd applied was because I didn't know what to do with the rest of my life and with graduation approaching in less than a few weeks, I was panicking about what to do.

It was still one of the best decisions I'd made to date. If I hadn't applied to the Daily Prophet, I wouldn't have been scouted by the leading national sports magazine and I wouldn't get the opportunity to personally visit the international quidditch teams. But as much as I loved my job, sometimes it was just a big pain in the arse. Especially when it put me in the most awkward situations.

Oliver Wood, one of the newest keepers within the league, had popped into my office to conduct his final interview before the end of the season. The interview had gone off without a hitch, we'd even joked about our past experiences playing against each other in school and just as he had gone to rise to his feet to bid me goodbye, the door to my office was opened.

"Once your article's been published," I said contemplatively, "I might get into contact with you again if you manage to maintain those impressive stats."

"That's the plan," Wood assured me as I looked to the doorway and wanted to sigh at the sight of my boyfriend stood in the doorway.

Wood followed my gaze, eyes settling on his ex-rival and I wanted to sigh when both men narrowed their eyes at each other. Really, they weren't kids anymore, they were grown, adults. Why couldn't they just put it all behind them already? Clearing my throat pointedly, I widened my eyes meaningfully towards Wood.

"I'll be in contact with you for the follow-up," I assured Wood and silently urged him to hurry up and leave the room.

He didn't need any further prodding. Walking away from my desk, Wood went to leave my office, but Marcus didn't make it any easier for him. He refused to budge from the doorway and instead forced Wood to edge out of the room.

"You're so childish," I chided, rolling my eyes when Marcus shut the door behind him and headed straight towards me.

"What was that about?" he asked straight away as he settled into the chair opposite my desk and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Really, you sure can be childish sometimes," I muttered, shaking my head and tidying up the notes I'd made during the interview. "He's featuring in the new column I'm writing. Remember I told you about that survey we had our readers complete? The one about the Quidditch players they wanted to know more about? He was one of the names that popped up the most; I guess my readers are curious about him."

"As long as it's just your readers that are curious about him," he muttered through what could only be described as a very Marcus–like a pout. Salazar, so I'd had a crush on the man in my fourth year. How was it that he still remembered that?

Although we'd been dating for years now, I was still reluctant to miss a single opportunity to tease him. So there was no way I was passing this one up. Leaning across my desk towards him, I remarked suggestively, "If only he'd been the one to approach me in sixth year. Maybe he's the one I'd be dating now."

Marcus' only reaction to my words was to rise to his feet and walk around the office. My eyebrows rose in surprise, he'd gotten better at hiding his annoyance and his jealousy, but really hadn't he learned that it only made it harder for me to stop teasing him? Biting my bottom lip, I watched as he walked around the office, playing with random things that I had lying around the room until he came to a stop beside the desk.

Although I knew I shouldn't have, I added, "You know – I heard that he's a good kisser too. Probably better than you."

Again, no reaction other than him lowering his head to stare down at the snowball perched on the corner of my desk. It had been a gift from him when he'd been sent out of the country for work. Salazar, it was no fun if he didn't react.

"Maybe I should give it a go and see. You know, just for comparison's sake."

His head snapped up at that and his brooding eyes had me fallen silent. My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip and I wanted to take my last few words back. Salazar, I'd pushed too far –

"Marcus."

And then he was storming over to kiss me senseless enough for me to forget just what we'd been talking about in the first place.