After yesterday's whirlwind battle, Marius Cloud had come to a very clear realization: Magic power alone isn't everything—mental stamina and
After yesterday's whirlwind battle, Marius Cloud had come to a very clear realization:
Magic power alone isn't everything—mental stamina and physical endurance were just as vital.
Without his mental skill Mental Scan and his ridiculous physical constitution, he wouldn't have walked away from his duel against the three Shadow Prefects so easily.
Clenching his fists, Marius stared out in silence, clearly deep in thought. No one could tell what exactly was on his mind.
"Oi, you psycho. Why are you just standing there like a weirdo right after getting back?" came the snide voice of Doge, wearing one of his usual nauseatingly smug expressions—something he clearly thought made him look charming.
"Keep it down," Marius replied coldly.
"Whoa, whoa, come on now! Weren't we supposed to be sailing the boat of friendship together?" the spirit beast backpedaled immediately.
"Then shut your mutt mouth," Marius snapped.
Doge had no choice but to sulkily sulk near the window, posing dramatically as he gazed at the moon like some lonely wolf spirit. Or maybe just a pitiful dog who'd read too much poetry.
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"Marius… Marius…"
It was early morning when a voice called his name. Marius blinked his sleepy eyes open and found Pansy sitting cross-legged on the little desk across from his bed.
They were already familiar with each other, so Marius wasn't surprised.
"Hey there, little lady. Coming into a boy's dorm this early in the year? That's a bit naughty, isn't it?"
"I—I just… I just got lost, that's all!" Pansy squeaked, leaping to her feet and turning to leave. The memory of kissing Marius the night before still made her face burn scarlet.
Marius nearly laughed. Lost? From the girls' dorms to the boys'? Yeah right.
And how did you even get in, anyway?
"You came to find me, didn't you?"
"Dummy! It's already time for breakfast and you're still in bed!" Pansy huffed, brushing her skirt. Punctuality was usually a given for her.
"Sleep is more important than breakfast," Marius replied solemnly. "Skipping one meal won't kill you. But skip one good sleep, and you'll be walking around with dark circles, no energy, stress bladder, premature greying—"
"Alright, alright! Are you getting up or not?" Pansy quickly interrupted before he could go completely off the rails.
"Nope. I fell and hurt myself. I need a kiss from Pansy to heal me," he said cheekily.
Her face flushed instantly. But Marius was having the time of his life.
Teasing this adorable little noble girl was becoming one of his favorite pastimes.
Even Pansy—normally bold and sharp-tongued—couldn't stand up to his shameless flirtation. Face bright red, she hesitated for a moment… then darted forward like a nervous chick and pecked his cheek before running off in a flustered sprint.
But only a few seconds later, she returned, now standing awkwardly at the door with her head down.
"Marius… remember to come down for breakfast," she mumbled softly.
"Got it. Or… do you wanna come back and give me another kiss first?" Marius called lazily.
"In your dreams!" Pansy shot back, fleeing like a rabbit again—noble elegance completely forgotten.
Marius chuckled to himself, clearly amused.
What he hadn't told her was that he had no real need to rush to the dining hall anyway. Why?
Well…
___
As if on cue, the reason walked into the room.
Brunel entered carrying a tray loaded with a proper Hogwarts breakfast—croissants, ham slices, oatmeal, and milk.
Clearly, Marius had been too lazy to go eat downstairs, and his new follower had just gone ahead and brought it to him.
What was the point of having underlings if you didn't use them?
"Mr. Cloud, if other students saw the great Shadow Prefect reduced to your breakfast delivery boy, I wonder what they'd think…" Brunel said with a theatrical eye-roll the moment he saw Marius awake.
Marius stretched lazily. "Oh? Got a problem with that?"
"..." Brunel paused for a few seconds before sighing, shoulders slumped. "No, sir… here's your breakfast."
Of course he had no problem. That vow he made last night wasn't just for show.
He sighed deeply. Who would've thought the mighty Shadow Prefect of Slytherin—a position revered for centuries—would end up as a personal errand boy?
Meanwhile, Marius was now standing in front of the mirror, already dressed in his robe and admiring himself.
"Sigh… I really shouldn't be this devastatingly handsome at my age." He glanced at the food on the tray. "You eat it. I'm heading to the Great Hall."
"Huh?"
Brunel was stunned. Wasn't the whole point of this setup to avoid going downstairs?
"Sorry, sorry," Marius said, unconvincingly apologetic. "But I have an appointment with a beautiful lady."
Besides Pansy, Marius found his thoughts drifting—I wonder how Hermione's doing over in Gryffindor…
Is she lying awake thinking about me too?
He left the room with a satisfied smile—only to find Pansy still standing there, waiting for him outside his door.
"I was just… worried you'd get lost," she said awkwardly, averting her gaze. "Let's go already."
"You really think I'd let you go just like that after coming to my turf?" Marius suddenly leaned forward, pinning her gently against the wall.
Pansy squirmed in embarrassment, trying to avoid his eyes—which only made her look more adorable in Marius's view.
Leaning close to her cheek, he whispered, "You kissed me twice. Now it's my turn."
Feeling his warm breath on her ear, Pansy started thumping his chest with her tiny pink fists.
"Stop messing around!"
But then she added, her voice barely audible:
"If… if you really want to mess around, I live in the third room on the right…"
The words hit Marius like a Bludger.
Slytherin wasn't like Gryffindor where rooms were shared in twos. Being a house full of aristocrats, Slytherin's accommodations were far more luxurious.
So when Pansy just casually gave him her exact room number, it made certain activities all too convenient…
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