After Potions class ended, a brand-new piece of gossip swept through Hogwarts, quickly replacing the talk about Marius Cloud challenging the Six Head Prefects.
Of course, the shockwaves from Marius's earlier battle still lingered, but the reason the topic changed so quickly was because—once again—it was about him.
Marius Cloud had gone head-to-head with Professor Snape in Potions class!
"Merlin's beard! You mean that Snape?!"
Compared to the wide-eyed first years, the second through seventh years needed no introduction to Severus Snape's reputation.
In fact, they'd all had the misfortune of experiencing the infamous wrath of the dungeon bat firsthand.
If there were ever a poll for "Most Disliked Professor in the School," Snape would win by a landslide.
If there were a separate poll for "Most Terrifying Professor in the School," Snape would still win by a landslide.
"This Marius Cloud… he really can't stay out of trouble for even one day."
"In the morning, he rattles the Prefect's Council. In the afternoon, he goes and pokes the dragon in his own lair. That's insane!"
Many students expressed open admiration for Marius's sheer audacity.
Some Gryffindors, who had suffered long under Snape's unfair treatment, even began calling him a hero.
A Slytherin—a genuine, robe-and-tie-wearing, snake-on-the-badge Slytherin—becoming a hot topic in Gryffindor Tower, and even gaining a fan club there?
That was practically unheard of in Hogwarts history.
"Tsk, tsk… what exactly did he say to him? That Snape's blind and deaf?"
"No, no, I heard it was more of a side jab, like saying Snape can't hear or see properly."
"Huh? That's not what I heard at all! I was told he flat-out called him a blind, deaf git to his face!"
By dinner time, the story of Marius's "heroic stand" was making the rounds in increasingly exaggerated forms.
Naturally, these whispers reached the ears of the faculty as well.
A few professors who had long been irritated by Slytherin favoritism and Snape's chronic bias even felt a small, guilty thrill.
The other three Heads of House, however, simply shook their heads in unison.
Marius Cloud—if he didn't stir up trouble for even one day, he'd probably break out in hives.
They cast careful side glances at Snape's expressionless, stone-like face, and shook their heads again.
By now, every professor in the school remembered Marius's name.
How could they not, when he had been at the center of headline after headline?
"Oh, and I heard Snape told Mr. Cloud to come to his office tonight…"
"What?! Seriously?" one student gasped. "That's got to be revenge!"
"But if he wanted to get back at him, why wait until after class?"
"Simple," another student replied darkly. "He's probably planning to use some unspeakable, terrifying method to punish Marius. That's why he wants him alone in his office."
"No way… does Hogwarts even allow corporal punishment?"
"Could be worse than that! Ugh, whatever—let Slytherin have its own dogfight."
"Hey, don't say that about Marius. He's actually a pretty decent guy!" the first student retorted.
Still, her frown deepened with worry for him.
And she wasn't alone—across the castle, the rumor that Snape was plotting some secret retribution spread like wildfire.
Some students even gleefully speculated that "torture" might be involved, forcing the other three Heads of House to order their Prefects to squash the gossip.
To be fair, the logic made sense.
Even if Marius Cloud was arrogant, flashy, and unfathomably bold, he was still a student.
Snape was not only a professor, but also the Head of Marius's own House.
The gulf between teacher and student was carved in stone—no amount of talent could erase it.
As for Marius himself?
The star of the day's drama was lounging comfortably in the Slytherin dormitory, entirely unconcerned.
Why bother worrying about what Snape wanted? He'd deal with it when it happened.
Tonight, Barry was delivering his dinner—a perfect arrangement where breakfast, lunch, and dinner duty was split evenly among the three Shadow Prefects.
Perfect logistics.
As for the six newly "recruited" official Prefects? Marius hadn't quite decided what to use them for yet.
If the Prefects ever found out that their grand "submission" to him would be repaid with glorified errand-running, they'd probably cough up blood on the spot.
Especially the ones who had been forced into it—if they knew what was going through Marius's mind right now, they might shove their wands down their throats and end it all just to avoid further humiliation.
Brunel Leif and the others, of course, had already passed the point of despair.
Marius's commands were like a force of nature—resistance was useless. If you couldn't fight it, you might as well lie back and… enjoy?
"Huff… huff…"
Hearing the sound of panting, Marius glanced down and spotted the Doge sitting neatly by his bed, staring with soulful eyes at the forkful of beef in his hand.
"You're nowhere to be seen all day, and now you show up the second there's food?" Marius asked dryly. "Get lost. Go eat your own specially-prepared kibble."
The Doge's face crumpled into a picture of tragedy.
"But Master… there aren't even many couples in this school to watch…"
Marius nearly choked.
What the hell kind of single dog needs to watch couples as an appetizer before eating? Was this some kind of… canine romantic drama addiction?
Still, the Doge's ability to arrange its fluffy Shiba Inu face into such a perfectly sorrowful expression earned it a small reward—a forkful of broccoli.
"My dear ancestor…" the Doge groaned in disgust, "dogs are not vegetarians. Do you even have basic common sense?"
"Out you go, fifth group discount!" Marius snapped, switching forks and taking a bite himself. "If you don't want it, fine. My old dog back home loved eating leaves. Go to the Hogwarts kitchens if you're that picky."
Immediately, the Doge's tragic mask shifted into a fawning grin—a pure DOGE face in Marius's eyes.
"Nooo, my dearest Master, you don't understand. The house-elves in the kitchens are absolute savages! They kicked me out the moment I walked in. And they're so polite to wizards!"
So you have actually tried, huh…
Marius tossed the broccoli back at him.
"Then eat it. Honestly… and you still claim you're not a vegetarian."
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T/N:
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