Kelly gave a cold snort. "I'm Kelly Leif, Seventh-Year Female Prefect—and the unfortunate sister of that idiot standing behind you."
Marius tilted his head, glancing sideways at Brunel Leif. The boy gave a sheepish smile. "Please forgive my sister's... bluntness."
Steve exchanged a glance with Samuel and said, "Well, you already know the two of us, so no need for formalities."
Only two female Prefects remained.
The older one stood up with elegance and spoke calmly, "I'm Lisa Joestar, Sixth-Year Female Prefect—"
"Cough!"
Marius suddenly coughed so hard he nearly choked on air.
His thoughts were spinning—Joestar? He couldn't help but glance behind him at Joseph. Was Lisa supposed to be his mother or something? Marius shook the thought away before he accidentally said it aloud and triggered a duel to the death right here in the Prefect meeting.
The last Prefect, the Fifth-Year Girl, stood up shyly. "Um... I'm Pauline Fudge."
Marius's eyes narrowed as he gave her a more scrutinizing look.
Despite her timid demeanor, she seemed to command respect from several others at the table. Her surname—Fudge—most certainly indicated a connection to Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic himself.
When introductions were finally over, Kelly couldn't hold back any longer.
"Brunel! What the hell are you thinking? I heard you swore allegiance to a mere first-year!"
"Correct," Brunel replied without hesitation.
Kelly's voice rose in disbelief. "Are you insane?! You were made Shadow Prefect of the second-years—our parents were thrilled! And now you've thrown it all away for this?"
"I have nothing to hide or regret," Brunel said firmly. "The strength and talent of the Mr. Cloud are unlike anything I've seen in my life. I believe in his future."
Kelly was left speechless, her furious eyes glaring holes through her brother.
A few of the other Prefects frowned in silence. Lisa muttered under her breath, "A single Shadow Prefect commanding all the others… and he's a first-year, no less. This is sheer madness."
Barry narrowed his eyes, his tone laced with warning. "Prefect Joestar, you sound like you're doubting the Mr. Cloud. If you need a demonstration, I'll be happy to provide it. No need to trouble him personally."
"Enough," Caesar said sharply. "We're in a Prefect meeting. Don't start a duel in here."
"Maintain your composure, Barry," Marius added lazily.
Caesar's words had little effect on Barry—but Marius's voice was like a command. Barry immediately backed down, as if nothing had happened.
Lisa snorted but didn't continue. She wasn't about to start a fight in front of everyone. Especially not when the person backing Barry had soloed three duel champions the night before.
Just thinking about it made Lisa's hands twitch with nerves.
"Well then," Caesar said, clearing his throat, "let's begin discussion on Shadow Prefect Cloud's proposed challenge."
Marius didn't respond.
He had leaned back in his chair and—was napping.
The blatant disregard for the seriousness of the meeting made several Prefects clench their teeth.
Samuel scoffed openly. "As the person at the center of all this, you seem oddly detached. Or is it just blind arrogance because you think victory is certain?"
Marius cracked one eye open and gave Samuel a faint look.
Samuel scowled. "What's with that look? If you've got something to say, say it."
"That look?" Marius sighed. "That's the look one gives... a simpleton."
"You—!"
Before Samuel could finish, he slammed a hand on the table and yanked out his wand, pointing it directly at Marius.
Brunel, Joseph, and Barry instantly followed suit—three wands drawn, pointed straight at Samuel.
Despite the tension, Marius stayed leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, not moving an inch.
"Prefect Crouch, SIT DOWN!" Caesar thundered, coughing to assert control. "This is a Prefect meeting—control yourself!"
Samuel gritted his teeth and reluctantly holstered his wand, his expression frosty.
But Caesar hadn't shouted to protect Marius.
No, he was protecting the authority of the meeting. And now, with the situation barely defused, he turned directly to Marius.
"So you're saying," Westa began, "that you truly believe you can win? That you alone can match—no, surpass—all the Prefects seated here?"
In Slytherin, authority mattered. Caesar was the top Prefect, and Marius's actions challenged that very foundation. His arrogance was a direct threat.
Marius opened his eyes again—but this time, there was no trace of laziness.
His gaze was sharp. Piercing. Unblinking.
And not a single Prefect could meet it.
"You've made one critical mistake, Prefect Cliff."
Marius stood up.
He was no longer the lazy boy dozing off in his chair. Now, he stood tall, commanding, facing down the entire Prefect council.
"It's not that I alone can match the entire Prefect council."
"No—I alone surpass the entire Prefect council."
Those words echoed like a thunderclap.
Behind him, Brunel, Joseph, and Barry felt their blood ignite. Their hearts thundered in their chests, not with fear—but exhilaration. His words had lit something primal in them.
"You arrogant little—" Steve began, unable to hold back.
But Marius stood firm, the only one upright in the room, looking down at them all.
"No. I'm not being arrogant. I'm simply stating a fact."
"That is why I demand, upon my victory, that you all swear allegiance to me."
"Because in Slytherin, the weak serve the strong."
"That is an ironclad law—an unchanging truth."
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T/N:
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