Of course, Marius Cloud's teasing of Pansy was just his daily routine. Still... were girls these days really this precocious? Shaking his he
Of course, Marius Cloud's teasing of Pansy was just his daily routine. Still... were girls these days really this precocious?
Shaking his head with a bit of awkward amusement, Marius finally gave in and descended the stairs alongside Pansy like a responsible student.
-----
The moment they stepped into the Slytherin common room, they were greeted not by silence, but by the unmistakable buzz of gossip.
"Hey, did you hear? That first-year Shadow Prefect beat all the other Shadow Prefects by himself!"
"Those Shadow Prefects?" sneered one older student, lounging on a sofa. "Pfft. When I was their age, I could've wiped the floor with the lot of them. Slytherin students are getting more pathetic every year."
It wasn't unusual to find students boasting like this, especially when they'd skipped the actual event.
"Hah, you said it. I'd be impressed if that newbie could last two rounds against me."
"I heard he's the only heir of the Cloud family."
"Figures," another chimed in, clicking his tongue. "Probably bought that Shadow Prefect title. Bet there was a load of shady backroom deals going on."
"Ugh, our house's future looks grim."
"You're telling me," they both scoffed, laughing obnoxiously.
That's when one of them noticed something.
"Eh? Hey, look—there are two new kids over there."
They pointed toward Marius and Pansy, who had just descended the steps. The blonde older student squinted. "Guess they skipped breakfast too?"
The other turned to look. "Probably more first-years. Sucks to be them, getting stuck with that Prefect. Poor saps."
Clearly, they hadn't recognized Marius—unsurprising, given how many students had missed last night's ceremony. Not everyone took Slytherin's underground traditions seriously. Upper-year students who felt it didn't concern them often skipped it entirely.
Still, they were about to learn exactly who they were dealing with.
-----
"Hey, kid," the one with the slicked-back blond hair called out, voice dripping with disdain, "heard there's some newbie going around saying he beat all the Shadow Prefects last night. Any truth to that?"
Marius looked at them with a cold smile. "Yeah. So what?"
Something about the way the boy stared at them sent a chill up their spines. They couldn't explain it—but it felt like standing in front of something… dangerous. Their instincts screamed at them.
The blond student tried to push past the fear and put on his "senior" tone.
"And what's with that tone? Didn't your parents teach you to respect your seniors?"
Marius's reply came swift and sharp, throwing the words right back:
"Didn't your parents teach you not to point fingers at others while talking?"
That shut them up fast.
"You little—!" The second student turned red with rage. "That's it! I'm teaching this brat a lesson on behalf of the professors!"
They both whipped out their wands, aiming directly at Marius and Pansy.
It was laughable.
Any normal first-year might've frozen in terror under the threat of two older students.
Unfortunately for them, Marius Cloud was anything but normal.
He simply flicked his wrist, revealing the wand beneath his robe. No words, no incantation.
Snap.
The two upper-year bullies immediately froze in place—eyes wide, arms stiff, mouths gaping.
Petrified.
Marius gave them one dismissive glance, then turned on his heel.
"If you like pointing fingers so much, why don't you stay like that all day?" he muttered as he walked away with Pansy.
-----
"Was… was that the Full Body-Bind Curse (also known as Petrificus Totalus)?" Pansy gasped, glancing back.
"And you did it without saying a single word! When did you learn nonverbal spellcasting?!"
Even some sixth and seventh-years couldn't pull off that kind of magic.
Marius just grinned. "Wanna discuss it tonight in detail? I promise to explain everything—personally."
Of course, it wasn't just skill—it was the unnatural mental power he possessed and his unparalleled magic reserves. That kind of seamless, silent casting? Ordinary Hogwarts students couldn't even dream of it.
By the time they entered the Great Hall, Marius could feel the atmosphere shift.
Every eye at the Slytherin table turned toward him. All of them were different from before—no more disdain, no more casual dismissiveness.
Word had clearly spread.
After all, last night, a first-year had publicly declared a challenge—
To take on every single official Slytherin Prefect.
And if he lost? He could face humiliation… even death.
This wasn't just a prank or schoolyard scuffle. It was a wager of blood, reputation, and ambition—something unheard of in Hogwarts student history.
But if he won…
If Marius Cloud could really do what no student ever had—then he would become the undisputed King of Slytherin.
Everyone had a reaction.
Some scoffed, convinced Marius was just arrogant and due for a painful downfall.
Others admired his audacity, even if they thought it foolish.
But more than anything else…
He ignited something.
Something raw. Something ancient. A burning fury and pride that pulsed in every young Slytherin's blood.
He reminded them what it meant to want more—
To dare more—
To challenge the impossible!
Marius Cloud had become a spark. And the flames were rising.
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T/N:
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