You might hate me after reading this chapter lul. Oh well.
The death of Anthony Goldstein brought an unprecedented amount of events and people to Hogwarts' castle. The following days were grimly surreal, and in many cases, seemed unreal.
When Cornelius Fudge, Lord Malfoy, Lady Bones, and the Undersecretary entered the Great Hall with their squad of Auros, all students and Professors stopped eating their breakfast. They all had an inquisitive face, wondering what the Minister of Magic, his Undersecretary, the Head of the DLME and Lord Malfoy were doing at Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Aurors always consisted of being a group of either twelve or twenty-four, for a party of such importance, there were two squads the four high-ranking officials came with, each at a twenty-four compacity. One squad came inside the Great hall, one was stationed outside, another were stationed all around the castle, and one more was station around the perimeter of Hogwarts' castle, past the Viaduct bridge.
Susan's letter had reached her Aunt Amelia in an astonishingly short amount of time. Her arrival wasn't much of a surprise for the Court, though it was for the other students. What surprised those of the Court was the squad of Aurors, the Head of the DMLE came with, that were guarding the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, dressed in a grey three-piece suit, wearing a black bowler hat. The Court was surprised with who Cornelius Fudge came with. The Minister brought two other high-ranking officials in the Ministry with him, Lord Malfoy, who was dressed to his part and for his position as the Minister's Advisor. A black three-piece suit with an over jacket that acted as a cloak, and his signature snake head cane. With him, the Minister as well as the Undersecretary, dressed in a dastardly, disgusting, hydrangea pink dress, hat, and shoes. Her name, Dolores Umbridge.
Marcus knew of her because of the few unpleasant, to him, interactions he's had with her in Wizengamot Court, though to her, she'd consider their interactions, pleasant, and would label their talks as plain social interactions with the intent of subtly climbing the social ladders and ranks. Though Marcus wasn't stupid, he saw through her scheming easily, not that it wasn't hard to do, many of the Nobles knew that she was a Half-blood spouting Pureblood ideal, and many took advantage of it, using her to do some of their more unsavory work in exchange for measly amounts of political favor with their Noble House. Dolores, in others and for lack of a better term, in Marcus' opinion, was a leech, a parasitic bug that feed on the pain and agony of others, someone who experienced joy from others' suffering.
"Cornelius?" Dumbledore exclaimed with a loud boom, his questioning tone was drowned in the reverb echo of his voice. The students fell into a silence, mainly because none of them had the energy to say anything, with what happened to Goldstein, all of them had been put under a depressive spell. They had little energy, many still thought of the dead and half-eaten body of the Ravenclaw boy. "What can I do for you?" Dumbledore smiled grandfatherly.
"Don't play stupid with me, Dumbledore." Cornelius barked peevishly. Dumbledore frowned and narrowed his eyes the slightest. "A boy is dead, one who was of the Goldstein Line, no less. The Great-Nephew of Newt Scamander and Tina Goldstein, do know what kind of scandal this is creating? Do you know how I was informed of the boy's death? Through a letter, Dumbledore, a letter! From the Scamanders no less, inquiring of the death of their Great-Nephew, to which I had no information on!" Cornelius was red-faced, blood boiling under his skin, the color it turned made him seem like a ripened berry of some sort.
"Goldstein, huh. So they're related to them." Gerrod scoffed in disgust at the name. Historia had an equally disgusted face when she realized the weight of Cornelius' words.
Marcus chuckled a little at the confusion of some present. Those were Theo and Blaise, Thomas Yaxley, and some others who just hated studying history. Ginny was present as well, she looked to her Father with rapt attention. "The Goldsteins, Tina and Queenie, along with the Scamanders, Newt and Theseus, and Dumbledore were the reason why the Grindelwalds fell from their prestigious position in Wizarding Society. Mainly because they stopped Gerrod and Historia's Grandfather, Gellert Grindelwald, and his attempt to conquer the Wizarding and Muggle World." Silent sounds of ohs were voiced. "The Muggles called Gellert's conquest, World War II as almost all the major countries and nations were brought into the fold to fight in the Eastern and Western Fronts, we the British,- called it Grindelwald's Insurrection. The American Wizards called it the Dark Joining. Afterward came the rise of Voldemort-" many gasped, Marcus rolled his eyes, "-...grow a fucking pair, you dumb tossers, Merlin you guys are pathetic. The Dark Lord's rise was called Voldemort's Insurgence but it's known more commonly as the First Wizarding War. Voldemort was believed to have been gathering power as early as the 1940s, during World War II, right under the nose of the Minister of Magic of the time. After his downfall to Potter, the insurrection caused by the fanatic practically ended overnight. And with that, it leads us to present time."
The group looked over to see that the Minister, Undersecretary, and Headmaster were leaving the Great Hall, probably to talk privately in the Headmaster's office. Lord Malfoy stayed behind to talk to his children while Lady Bones went to her Niece to catch up before relegating the Aurors' tasks. Draco and Hermione both went to their Father when he beckoned them to an empty area in a corner of the Great Hall. To those watching, they looked to be having a serious discussion.
"Gerrod?" Marcus said aloud. Gerrod hummed. "Have the Ravenclaws found anything yet?"
"They've found some possibilities." Gerrod said. He picked at his fingernails, there was some dirt in them. Flicking the gunk on the floor, he continued. "They're compiling a list as we speak, though it won't be done till later today, from I've been told by Nermaius. They're taking their sweat time, since we're technically paying them by the hour."
Marcus scoffed amusingly, then chuckled a bit. "And they say we Slytherins are shrewd," he says. He looks up and squints his eyes. "Hey... looks like Draco and Hermione are done talking." Gerrod shifted to turn around.
"What was that about?" Gerrod asked as soon as Draco got close enough to Slytherin's table, Hermione continued her path towards Gryffindor's table. Draco sat down, brushing his hair out of his face as he did so, "Draco, anything important we should know?" Gerrod asks again, his tone suggesting that he wasn't going to ask a third time, Marcus snickered quietly.
Draco started to plate some food, he was still hungry, as he did so, he answered. "The Minister may or may not send all of its students home in wake Anthony Goldstein's untimely death." Draco stated, he took a bite of his second plate of breakfast. "So you should all probably pack your bags. I am anyways, Father's pulling me and Hermione out of school until all of this hubbub quiets down." He said, taking another bite. "But this is just rumor, you didn't hear any of this from me, just a rumor you caught on. Just... just pure speculation." Draco suavely said, giving the group a devilish smile.
"Totally." Marcus remarked with a smile. He turned to his Daughter. "Ginny, go and pack your things. Be ready to leave when the Minister announces his oh so brilliant plan." He sarcastically mocked.
Ginny groaned. "Can't I do that later? I'm eating." She said, Marcus sighed tiredly, he looked at her plate which was filled with a lot of food, and then at her, raising a brow, he gave her a look, one that was neutral but was still expecting to be obeyed. "Fine," Ginny said begrudgingly. "But I'm taking my plate with me." Ginny got with her plate and began to make her way out of the Great Hall. Pansy got up as well to follow her.
"Where are you going?" Marcus asked.
"Ginny and I are going to discuss places to go shopping after we leave," Pansy answered back with a smug and knowing smile, she knew Marcus would never deny the both of them a shopping spree. The other laughed at Marcus' expense, especially Yaxley.
"Shut up, Yaxley." Marcus commanded, he smacked him upside the head but Thomas kept laughing which eventually turned to low wheezing. Marcus eyed Gerrod who returned the look. "Shall the Court convene one last time before we all leave Hogwarts, Gerrod?"
Gerrod shrugged. "Probably not, Cornelius is looking for a reason to blame Dark Wizards or those with Dark affiliations for Anthony's death." The atmosphere lowered to a solemn feeling for the shortest of moments. "Besides, it'd look suspicious if the Court all walked out and the Minister and Headmaster ran into us. I mean can you imagine their faces? You'd have before them, the most influential students all convening and walking together, if that doesn't scream suspicion, then I don't know what does." Many nodded in agreement.
"Why don't we just leave in separate groups?" Draco asked. "I know that'd still be suspicious looking, but it'd draw less attention."
"Not really, Draco." Marcus said. "I mean, it's still the same thing, just in a more uncontrolled way. We'd still have Court Members walking in the same direction before the split off to our separate dorms and Common Rooms. Plus, I don't think any of us are ready to speak of the events that have happened." Draco shrugged, he wore a casual face, he didn't really care that his suggestion was rejected. He just wanted to voice an option.
"Besides that point, there's a lot of shit that's been happening too fast for us to deal with." Gerrod groaned out tiredly. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms.
"Like the door we ran into on the seventh floor?" Historia asked, this caught the attention of everyone who was listening in. "Anyone one of you know about some black and white door on the seventh floor?" She asked.
"Why were you on seventh floor?" Thomas Yaxley asked incredulously. "You do know it's literal taboo to enter it, right?" Marcus scoffed.
"That's bollocks, Yaxley, and you know it," Marcus retorted challengingly, "besides, whatever bullshit rumor that the students before us told us was completely bonkers." Gerrod unconsciously raised a brow in interest, Historia did the same. Marcus caught the looks on their faces, sighed, and proceeded to tell them. "It was some thing about the floor being cursed or whatever, pretty weird stuff, if you ask me. I don't believe in it, place has been abandoned, a perfectly good floor that can be used as a lounge, or something of the other, for Head Boys and Girls, and Prefects as well." Yaxley rolled his eyes.
"Well, say what you want to say," Yaley began. "But I believe there's something wrong with the place."
"Whatever." Marcus scoffed out. "Oh, by the way, Draco, is your family going to host Harry at Malfoy Manor?"
Draco shrugged. "Don't know." He said Gerrod listened quietly, "Father hasn't said anything about it, but he did say that Hermione can invite him if she wishes. She probably is, though if anything, I'm willing to bet that Dumbledore already arranged something for him."
"Well, he can't force Harry to do anything if he doesn't want to, he's technically a legal adult with the Goblins doing whatever they did," Marcus commented thoughtfully. "If he wishes to go to Malfoy Manor, then he can go to Malfoy Manor, and no one can do shit about it. Speaking of other people, how's Nermaius doing?"
Chocking sounded, specifically from Gerrod. Which was surprising. He was... laughing? Genuinely laughing, scaring both Draco and Historia who was sitting next to him. They slowly scooted away from him, as did everyone else. "That is disturbing." Historia whispered, many nodded quietly in agreement. "That is very, very disturbing... okay, I need to like, go to therapy or something. Gerrod stop laughing!"
Gerrod placed an elbow on the table and propped his head against his raised hand. He chuckled almost darkly as lifted his head to sneak a peek at what Nermaius was doing, nothing, just reading. "Nermaius is fine, though I wouldn't put it past him to be on the verge of committing murder. Daphne was a right pain in his arse until the moment Luna left a couple days ago." He explained. "Once Luna left, Daphne just dropped out of school for apparent mental reasons. I honestly don't know what's going on in her head right now. Nermaius is more than anxious to return and keep an eye of Luna, probably to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. Daphne, if I'm a betting man, which I am, will probably try and woe Luna, quite honestly want to be there for the mayhem that'll ensue when she does."
A collected amused exasperation was exclaimed from everyone who was listening, mainly in disbelief at Daphne's sheer idiocy. They all knew Nermaius would definitely try and kill Daphne, though probably with more subtle methods to make sure Luna doesn't have some mental breakdown from knowing that her Cousin killed her fiancé or to make sure the crime wasn't connected back to him. If it meant Luna's recovery or happiness, or the preservation of his sanity, they all knew he would probably do whatever was necessary.
The Minister of Magic and his Undersecretary, and the Headmaster, had finally walked back into the Great Hall, from the looks of it, their discussion didn't go well as they, save for Dolores had a frown marred onto their faces, it was during their walk, did the students pipe down and intensely watch them. The three made their way to the golden podium, Dumbledore taking his place behind it, the Minister to his right, and Dolores to his left. The Headmaster pulled out his wand, a curious-looking thing, and casted the Sonorous Charm onto himself before he spoke. "May I have your attention please." Dumbledore said, his voice silencing any remaining small talk the few students who weren't paying attention, were having. "The Minister and I have had time to discuss the future of this schoolyear, unfortunately, due to the incident involving the death of Anthony Goldstein, the Minister and I have both decided it is best for all students to return home or house with other families." Marcus scoffed at the end of the Headmaster's announcement, clearly, the last part was being directed at Harry. There was an uproar of protests.
"What about the rest of the schoolyear?"
"What the hell are the Ministry doing to fix this, what are our taxes paying them for? My parents spent money for my education here!"
"How long will we have to stay home, are we still going to have assignments?"
More and more questions, statements, and arguments were being brought up. Students then began to riot in a sort, why they were complaining that they weren't going to have school was the biggest question to some, particularly to someone like Ronald Weasely, who was absolutely delighted with the announcement. "SILENCE!" Dumbledore shouted over the raging crowd of students who instantly fell silent. Dumbledore paused for the longest moment to eye the students inquisitively, almost as if he was daring them to speak up and protest to their decision. "Now. Since the schoolyear is being altered, we the Professors shall be sending you your homework,-" at this, the students groaned, "-worry not, the homework will not be any essay writing, but more practical application and self-studies. I suggest you all pack tonight or tomorrow morning as we will be issuing a Floo Call and letter to your families to come a pick you up from school. Any and all classes are cancelled until further notice, so I suggest to you all to say your goodbyes and have any affairs you might have in order. And with that out of the way, you are all free to do whatever you wish, within reason, until such time that you need to leave, either tonight or tomorrow. Those who are of age and wish it, may leave anytime today through their Head of House's Floo Network, their offices will be open for you to do so."
Marcus pondered to himself as the others talked, he knew that leaving as soon as possible would be the safest option, what with all the hubbub of the Beast of Slytherin, it was best not to be near the place which had caused two deaths in the span of a little more than a week. As Marcus brought himself out of his own thoughts he caught the end of one of Gerrod's commands.
"-get the Ravenclaws to hurry up, we need that list so we can send it Lady Bones. Marcus, take Yaxley and get Nermaius, and get whoever is in charge of putting the list together to step on it. Time's of the essence, and lives are at stake." Marcus nodded and Draco sighed annoyingly at the comment.
"Why are we dealing with the problem? The adults should be doing this, that's what our taxes are supposed to be paying them to do!" He frustratingly said. "Merlin, when did the British ministry become so useless?"
"That's easy, when Fudge took over." Historia remarked knowingly. Though it was in a joking manner, they all knew it was actually the answer. "If we were ever pitted against another nation, we'd lose in a landslide."
Marcus exhaled and stood, "C'mon Yaxley, we have work to do." He told his long-time friend.
"Why are we letting Gerrod boss us again?" Yaxley asked.
"Cause none of us want to be in charge." Marcus retorted, his retort was almost sounding like he was trying to state the obvious.
Thomas chuckled, "That's true." He answered. the two walked towards Ravenclaw's table, though they obviously did this when the Professors weren't looking and the Minister was too busy occupied answering all their questions alongside Dumbledore and Dolores, who really liked butting in. They sat across from Nermaius, after forcibly moving some younger years out of the spot they wanted to sit in. Nermaius calmly, and straightfaced, put his book down that he was reading, and waited to hear what the two wanted.
"Gerrod wants whoever is in charge of compiling the list, to hurry up." Marcus said, straight to the point. Nermaius cleared his throat with a small cough into his hand and calmly answered them in the blankest sounding voice they've heard him speak in yet.
"Its been done for while now." He said.
Marcus and Yaxley blinked in confusion. "What?" They both said at once.
"It's been done for a while now."Nermaius repeated. He took a small breath of air and continued calmly. "The person in charge is a student by the name of Johnathan Mandrake, of House Mandrake, they're minor Nobles, he's to your left if you're wondering. Blond hair, shaven, pretty boy, well, prettier boy. The one the girls are swooning over." Marcus and Yaxley looked over to their left, lo and behold, the charming face of one Johnathan Mandrake was before them, flirting with all the younger students. If the two had to rate him, they'd put him up as someone who'd be able to compete with Cedric Diggory. "He's a Sixth Year like you and Yaxley. Arrogant like Gerrod, but as boastful and as fragile like McLaggen. He has it on, so you can take it off of him when you deal with him. He's like a cheap Cedric Diggory, if you will. A fake byproduct."
"How do you know he has it one him?" Yaxley asked. He smiled at the brutal descriptions Nermaius was giving of Johnathan.
"I have eyes and ears everywhere." Nermaius said with a small smirk. "Unlike you, I'm allowed unlimited access to the Court's Treasury."
"Lucky bastard." Yaxley muttered. Nermaius heard him.
"Not really," he remarked, "more responsibility. Less time to myself." Nermaius revealed casually to the two. "I'm always on the lookout for information, so the job for me is never-ending, be nice to head home for a bit."
"Speaking of being on the lookout for information, do you happen to have any information about-" Yaxley patted Marcus' back.
"Mandrake's leaving," Yaxley said. "Best catch him before he reaches the Common Rooms. C'mon." Marcus groaned, he eyed Nermaius who shrugged uncaringly as he stood up and followed Yaxley. "By the way, what's the plan?"
"Teach him a lesson," Marcus said calmly as if to state the obvious, the way he said it was almost as if he'd done such a thing before, which he had. "And bring back the list." Yaxley nodded. He sighed, Yaxley preferred less violent methods, though, with his House's sworn featly towards House Flint, it was nearly impossible for him to not help his Lord. They were friends, yes, but they were also sworn allies, and that caused their alliance and long-time friendship, much to his annoyance, to cross paths every once in a while whenever they did something that challenged their bond, like doing the dirty work for others.
The two walked down the aisle the tables formed and followed James Mandrake, who so happened to be with other Ravenclaws, a couple of Witches, and another Wizard, all of which were a year or two younger than him. Marcus nodded to Gerrod who was watching as he and Yaxley walked out of the Great Hall. They walked fast, just enough to catch up to Johnathan and the others he was with, eventually they did catch up to him. "Mandrake!" Marcus called out to Johnathan, who instantly turned and stopped at the sound of a hostile-sounding voice. "A word please."
Johnathan and his group were on guard, each one of them tense, and rightly so. Before them were two Slytherins who were well-known throughout the school as high-ranking Court Members for being the enforcers and attack dogs of the Court, were confronting them. To Johnathan Mandrake, Marcus Flint, and Thomas Yaxley were well-known for their violent methods and ways of debt collecting. They were known and feared because they willingly did the unsavory dirty work for the Court to ensure their hold on the student body. And now he was being confronted by the two in a secluded hallway.
"Alone, Mandrake." Yaxley said when he realized that the others weren't getting the hint.
"Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of the others, can't you?" Johnathan said in his most charming voice he could muster. He smiled the best he could, though his legs were shaking and his confidence being before Marcus and Thomas was heavily diminished which caused his eyes to shake and act unfocused. The other Ravenclaws nodded in unconfident agreement as they huddled closer together subconsciously.
"You seem nervous." Marcus said toyingly.
"Me?" Mandrake stated aloud. "No. Just a little intimidated."
"Because you've been stealing from the Court or lying to the Court, which one?" Marcus asked with a light menacing voice. "Or is it both? I seem to recall that you were commissed by us to lookup any creature that could help us identify the Beast of Slytherin. Yet, source tell us that you've already completed the list we asked you to research for us. Why is it," Marcus confidently strolled up to Johnathan in a daunting manner before stopping in front of him, "that you say it isn't finished, hmm?"
"I, uh, I-I-I was making, I'm, uh, doing a final check." Johnathan nervously sputtered out. "Didn't want to give pointless possibilities. You know?"
"It's not finished? How unfortunate." Marcus said, his voice was dangerously low. "What have you been possibly doing all this time, Johnathan?"
"I, uh." Johnathan stuttered.
"Procrastinating perhaps?" Thomas remarked smugly. He started to circle Johnathan and the other Ravenclaws. Like the watchful vulture waiting for its prey to die, or the deadly lion contemplating the best way to attack. "Here's what I think, I think that someone doesn't want you to give us the list, what do you think Marcus?"
Marcus quite honestly hadn't even thought of such a possibility, he was surprised but made sure not to show it. "A possibility." He said lowly. Johnathan shrunk in fear, the more he did, the more Marcus became more intimidating with his sturdy, imposing figure. Marcus eyed the pitiful person before him. He didn't know why, but he felt as if Johnathan was hiding something. "Who paid you?" Marcus asked on a whim.
"What?" Johnathan said, his voice clearly laced with surprise.
"Who paid you?" Marcus asked again.
"No one paid me." Johnathan replied earnestly. His throat began dry and his stance became more feeble. "I don't know what you're talking-"
Marcus punched the man. Yaxley, who was watching his friend's movements had pulled his wand out and aimed for the other shocked Ravenclaws. "Incarcerous!" Thick ropes shot from his wand, binding the Ravenclaws into helpless mummy-like figures, their entire body, save for their eyes and nose, were bond by a thick, heavy cord. Their mouths had been gagged so they wouldn't be able to cast Finite or Finite Incantatem on themselves. Now they laid on the ground like a lame man in bed or on the streets. Johnathan stumbled around as he grasped his stomach.
"Let's try that again." Marcus said as he grabbed Johnathan's head and slammed it into his knee. One of the girls screamed. "Who paid you?" Mandrake fell on the ground, arse first. His nose was bloody, as were his teeth, his lips had been smashed into them when Marcus kneed his face.
"'O one," Johnathan said, his voice clogged up because of his fractured nose. Marcus rolled his eyes at Mandrake's insistence on his own innocence. Marcus lifted his leg and twisted his body, his foot connected to the Ravenclaw's face in a disgusting crack. The other Ravenclaws were crying and screaming, the other Wizard was cursing at Marcus while the Witches were pleading for Johnathan's life.
"If you don't start talking, he's gonna start breaking bones, mate." Yaxley said in warning, his voice was one of pity. He knew that Marcus wouldn't stop until his victim confessed to whatever he wanted to hear. Marcus waited as Mandrake stared defiantly back at him, the blood made for a gruesome sight.
Marcus waited in silence, seconds, which seemed like minutes passed. Marcus spoke menacingly. "Let's start with your arm, shall we?" The tied-up Ravenclaws cried in protest, one Witch, in particular, was struggling to break free, she was looking at Yaxley pleadingly as Marcus grabbed Johnathan by the scruff of the color of his robes and dragged him to the wall of the hallway. He slowly reached for Johnathan's arm and lifted it at a dramatically slow pace, as if to mock him. Johnathan didn't even try to fight back, he had no energy, and he knew it'd be pointless to try and fight the Court. The Witch screamed through her gag.
"PWEASE!" Her muffled cry sounded. Marcus was too engrossed to hear her, as he stretched Johnathan's arm out, he placed a foot onto the elbow joint.
Johnathan breathed heavily and deeply as he prepared himself for the pain. Marcus started to placed pressure, not enough to break, but to torture began he actually did it.
Snap!
The sound of the break resonated throughout Hogwarts. The screams, while muffled, were agonizingly painful for one to listen to. Marcus was indifferent to the, but Yaxley wasn't.
"Pwease! Pwease! PWEASE!" The Witch's muffled cry finally broke Yaxley and he moved and knelt down to her. He ungagged her. "I'll tell you, I'll tell you, please stop hurting him." She pleaded.
Yaxley looked at Marcus who had turned to watch what he was doing. Marcus nodded and Yaxley silently cursed in defeat. "What's your name?" Yaxley said in a comforting manner. Though it was all a charade.
"Emily." She said. "Emily Vance." She was beautiful. It was the first thing Yaxley noticed about her. Brown hair, hazel eyes, a small nose, and lush lips. A shapely face, like a heart.
"Well, Miss Vance," Thomas almost seductively whispered out, to lull her into a false sense of security. "Who paid Johnathan off?"
"'On't tell 'im" Johnathan practically gurgled out.
"I'm trying to save you life," Emily vehemently whispered back. "Shut. Up." She pleaded with him.
"Well?" Marcus said coldly as he looked down at her.
There was a silence. A pregnant pause in the air as Emily steeled herself, breathing in and out as calmly as she could. She looked up at Marcus and uttered the answer he was asking for, but not expecting. "Percy." She said bitterly at the fact that someone who was a supposedly goody-two shoe Prefect, was the reason they were in the mess they were in. "It was Percy Weasley."
"Fuck." Johnathan cursed quietly. He dropped his head back, hitting the wall in defeat.
Marcus was surprised, very surprised, what did Percy Weasley have to gain from stopping the deliverance of the list? Though he was surprised, he knew that he couldn't show it, he had to maintain his imperious look. "Where's the list, Johnathan?" Marcus asked, turning back to Mandrake with a cold calculated look. Johnathan looked at Marcus with a burning hatred. "I see, that's a shame." He said as he turned back to Emily and pulled his wand out. "Finite." He said, Dispelling part of the Spell Yaxley cast onto the Ravenclaws on the ground. Emily's legs were now unbound.
"Wha' are 'ou doin'?" Johnathan weakly said.
Marcus looked up with feigned surprise. "Oh, well, since you don't want to talk, I guess I'll break her legs." He answered casually, grabbing one of her legs, his wand still in his other hand.
"No, please. Please. Please. Don't break my legs, don't my legs, please." Emily cried out, her voice told Marcus and Yaxley that she was completely defeated, that she had given up. She shook her captured leg in protest as she cried out for Marcus to stop what he was doing.
"Silencio." Marcus said, muting her voice and then Johnathan, and then the rest. "Such a pity, Mandrake. This could all have been avoided, if you had just talked." He placed his foot onto the joint of his knee, Johnathan mutely screamed along with the others. Yaxley, who was stone-faced, casted Incarcerous onto him, forcing him into a helpless state as he watched and listened to Emily's leg being broken. Time slowed for him, he heard every sound, felt every rip in the ligaments, and saw every silent scream Emily made as she froze in pain. Johnathan could only watch in silence and horror. Silent minutes passed, why hadn't anyone come to find them? "Wondering why no one has found us yet?" Marcus asked. Johnathan just looked fearfully at him, he didn't want to know the answer, if Marcus knew it. "Because, unlucky for you, you actually walked into one of the shifting hallways. And, since its a hallway located near Ravenclaw, they tend to be more, unfriendly, chaotic if you will. How you didn't know that, that's just sad, don't you think?" Marcus smiled menacingly as he dropped the leg and pocketed his wand.
Yaxley unmuted Johnathan and Emily, the others he left as is, the first thing heard was Emily sobbing hysterically. "Why!" She asked, cried out in agony. "Why are you doing this?"
Johnathan winced at the sound of her hoarse voice. "'Top! 'Top. It's in my 'oom. Under 'y bed, in on' of da books. 'Ust 'top, pwease." He said in defeat. Marcus scoffed amusingly to himself, Yaxley stoically watched, after so many times doing such violent deeds against other students, he'd become almost numb to the scenes like the one before him.
"I knew you'd come around." Marcus said. His voice, which seemed like it was one of victory, relaxed Johnathan as they would finally leave them alone. Marcus, however, had other plans. "It's too bad that I have to break Emily's other leg." Johnathan gasped in horror.
"What?" Emily asked, teary-eyed, her eyes lit up in fear.
"You can thank Johnathan for that." Marcus said calculatingly. He smiled hauntingly at Emily. "He lied twice when I asked him about the list. And while you think and know that he should be the one to get punished, I've found that it isn't the best way to get a message across. Because tou can always hurt the same wrongdoer, but they'll always do it again, cause they know only they will get punished. But if you hurt someone else." Marcus left the rest of it for them to figure out. Emily started breathing hysterically. She closed her eyes in acceptance of her fate. The others silently prayed for a savior, a deliverer, anything at that point.
"No!" Johnathan yelled. "'Ou leave 'er 'lone, I did dis, punis' me!"
"Someone wasn't listening. You are being punished, but you're also being taught a lesson," Marcus said loudly, his voice was smug, filled with satisfaction that he'd broken Johnathan Mandrake. His face turned serious and dark in an instant. "That you know your place in the presence, and before the authority, of your betters." He said with menace. He grabbed Emily's other, unbroken leg, and placed his foot onto the knee joint. Mercilessly placing pressure onto it, more and more until it started to bend, until Emily started to cry, to plead, to beg.
Crack!
Emily screamed, she screamed as loud as she could, Marcus didn't bother silencing her cause he got what he came for, the location of the list. So he allowed her to scream, to scream to let others know of her location and to solidify his message to Johnathan Mandrake. That he, and the Court, were not to be trifled with. Johnathan cried, he cried in regret of his stupidity, if only he had conformed, if only he had not tried and stand up for himself. If only he had obeyed. For if this was what they got for standing up to the abusive tyranny that ran the school, he wanted no part in it.
The other Ravenclaws were teary-eyed. They had a lifeless look to their eyes, a look of defeat, despair, and horror. Marcus had calmly and casually, walked away without a word, his work had been down and now he needed to inform Gerrod and Nermaius. Thomas had lingered behind to look at Emily.
"I'm sorry." He apologized, his voice hollow, void of emotion. Thomas walked away after his apology, sparing not another glance at the emotionally and physically spent Witch on the floor.
Johnathan crawled to Emily, his limp arms trailing alongside his body, as the two Slytherin walked away in receding haunting steps. "Emily, Emily, I'm 'o 'orry, I'm 'o, 'o 'orry." He cried out to the passed-out Witch before him. Tears ran down his face as he stretched his hand to her, the need to comfort her and apologize profusely was eating away at him. "It's all 'y 'ault. It's all 'y 'ault." Emily had fainted from the pain and mental exhaustion she suffered. Johnathan followed suit just seconds later, his eyes blurred before he lost consciousness. The others closed their eyes, telling themselves that what happened was just a dream, a horrible dream, which would go away once they woke up.
Marcus and Yaxley, once he had caught up, walked slowly through the changing hallways. They were constantly using Point Me to navigate around the castle. While usually, they could find their way around the castle, Rowena Ravenclaw made her part of the castle more intricate and confusing, she made it so only those with a sharp mind or a knowledgable personality could navigate her part of the castle.
"Why do you think that the Prefect Weasley wants to stall the Court?" Yaxley asked Marcus after the silence became too intolerable.
"Don't know." Marcus answered quietly. "We'll let Gerrod and the others know. Keep the Weasley twins out of the loop, we don't know if they're conspiring with Percy or not." Yaxley nodded in agreement.
"Alright," he uttered curtly. Marcus noticed the unsatisfied tone Thomas was using.
"Something wrong?" Marcus asked sternly.
Yaxley sighed. "Don't you think you were a little harsh." He asked, the two passed a few First Years as they took a turn, they were heading towards the Great Hall to see if Gerrod was still there, if not they would go to Slytherin's Common Rooms.
"With what part?" Marcus said boringly. "Emily?" He looked to his friend questioningly.
"Yes." Thomas answered in an instant.
Marcus frowned the slightest, he thought deeply on his answer before giving it to Yaxley. "I do think I was harsh on Emily, she shouldn't have suffered because of Mandrake, whether I regret my actions or not are a different subject. But I do believe I could have been less violent in dealing with Johnathan, I very much could have broken his legs." Marcus admitted solemnly. He continued on with his explanation. "But as I said before, defiance and punishment are intertwined, Johnathan was definitely a person who would have kept defying the Court, even after I potentially broke his legs. He was the heroic type, shame he wasn't in Gryffindor. I needed to solidify the Court's rule, even if we're leaving, the Court can't show any weakness. To m,e the Court is a nescasarry evil, before it was created, Hogwarts was a near cesspit, you remember don't you?"
"Course I do," Thomas scoffed out, "how could I forget." Memories before the time of the Court were uprooted from the past, Yaxley silently reminisced the unsavory times. "I don't disagree that the Court is necessary, but when will it become what it was meant to regulate, what it was created to stop?"
"Who knows." Marcus answered lazily. "I certainly don't really care, when that day comes, the Court will deal with it the best we can, I only know that its working and that's all that I care about." The two walked into the Great hall after a minute more of walking, surprisingly, Gerrod was still there, he was playing chess with Nermaius. Marcus considered Nermaius to be Gerrod's most trusted confidant, who was only second to Harry when it came to their friendship. Gerrod, Marcus knew, considered Harry to be his closest friend and ally, Marcus didn't know why, and he suspected they didn't either, but the two had an unnatural bond. And that bond made the two a seamless team, though that team was hindered by the fact that Gerrod kept Harry out of the loop, though probably because of Harry's own volition.
"Back so soon?" Gerrod said amusingly to Marcus and Yaxley when they got close, he was winning against Nermaius, so it put him in a good mood.
"Shut up, you tosser." Nermaius cursed quietly at his friend. Gerrod chuckled to himself. "I'm trying to think." He placed his hands against his temples and messaged them as he looked at the chessboard. The two were playing a game of Magical Chess, really just chess where you don't have to use your hands and can just tell the pieces where to move, that and the pieces are animated and destroy each other.
"We have a problem." Marcus said seriously, both Gerrod and Nermaius halted their game instantly and looked up at the two. "Seems someone knew about the list. They were stalling its completion." Gerrod narrowed his eyes and began thin-lipped.
"How?" He asked quietly, eyeing the other students nearby.
"Don't know." Marcus said. "But I when we were interrigating the person in charge, I had a feeling he wasn't told why."
"Who was it?" Gerrod questioned, he needed to get o the bottom of this, whatever it was. "The person who knew, who was it?"
"Percy Weasley." Yaxley answered. Gerrod gave a face, one of a mixture of surprise and confusion. "Though from what I know, he isn't the type to try and intervene in Court matters, quite sure he supports our decisions, so there's definitely something suspicious going on about him if he's opposing us."
"Odd," Gerrod commented almost with praise, "though not unsurprising considering that we are a bit oppressive. Oh well." He said uncaringly. "The Twins don't know do they?"
"Don't know," Marcus said again. "I assume not, but they could be helping Percy as a joke to themselves. But from what we've seen them interact, that being Percy chastizing them whenever they prank someone, we can assume they aren't in league with him."
"That's good," Gerrod said. "Would honestly be terrible if they were in league with each other, those two are a menace. The list?"
Marcus clicked his tongue reminiscence, "We ran into a little trouble, but nothing I couldn't sort out." He answered vaguely. "They're alive if you're wondering. Nermaius, the list is under his bed in one of the books. Nermaius, can you bring it to Susan?" Nermaius didn't answer, instead, he got up without a word and headed for the Ravenclaw Common Rooms.
"How many this time?" Gerrod casually asked, as casual as one would be asking about the weather, or how their day went or was.
Marcus slid into Nermaius' seat, Yaxley took a seat next to him. "An arm and a pair of legs," Marcus said blankly. He moved a pawn, he liked to play the Muggle way. Gerrod scoffed, though it wasn't in annoyance, more in surprise. He moved a bishop the Muggle way.
"Usually you break only a finger or two." Gerrod commented. "Must have been a tough nut to crack then?" Marcus moved a knight, Gerrod moved his queen and took the remaining rook Marcus had.
"No," Marcus admitted. He moved another pawn, Gerrod moved a pawn as well. "Anyone can break under pain, you just need to know how to inflict it." Gerrod shook his head at the answer in amusement. It was odd for him, he was showing more emotion in a single conversation than he ever had in his entire life. As a child he was always a quiet one, Historia was the cryer, when they watched their parents walk out of the door at the age of five and four, it was his duty to raise his Sister until they returned. They never did. Marcus moved his remaining knight and took one of Gerrod's knights.
"You should probably leave before they find out what you did," Gerrod said. He moved his king, much to Marcus' surprise.
"I have a feeling that they won't rat me out," Marcus answered confidently. Yaxley sighed exasperatedly. Marcus moved one of his bishops to take one of Gerrod's few remaining pawns, Gerrod took the bishop.
"Well, if that's all, I need to pack and get ready to leave tomorrow, see you gents later," Yaxley commented loudly as he smacked his hands onto the table when he announced his intentions. He stood up and left, Gerrod and Marcus now just stared at each other. There was a silence between the two, it was almost awkward. They continued moving pieces in silence.
"The Court's days are numbered," Marcus commented finally to end the silence.
"Maybe," Gerrod answered. He shrugged in thought. And moved his queen to take one of Marcus' pawns that were about to be queened. "Maybe not, who knows, if it is, that's too back, but I have a feeling we the Court will be in power for a long time. Besides, I know several Court Member definitely like their power a little too much, they'll be pained to part with it, so they'll work to keep the Court running."
"You play a dangerous game." Marcus commented, he stood up and moved his knight one more time. "Checkmate." He said smiling, so did Gerrod, Marcus left to go to the Slytherin Common Rooms, he passed Nermaius. "Nermaius." He greeted. The two nodded in acknowledgment of each other and continued to their respective destinations.
Slytherin's Common Rooms were filled with students talking and gossiping, some of them were hugging each other telling the other that their parents were at the castle to collect them and take them home. Some students were playing with tarot cards, others played Exploding Snap. Marcus spotted his fiancé talking with others and walked over to her, he hugged her from behind and she grabbed his arm, looking up with a warm, welcoming smile.
"Hey." She said, halting the conversation she was having with some other students. Marcus kissed the top of her head and held her close. "Ginny's packed, she and I are ready when you are." The two had agreed that they would live together during their engagement at Flint Manor to get closer as a family. "Are you alright?" Pansy asked, her voice was filled with concern. She felt that something was off about him.
"Yeah, I'm alright, I'll be ready in a few minutes," Marcus answered with a calm, relaxed look, the stress he had been feeling was almost Magically lifted from his shoulders whenever he was with Pansy. He kissed the top of her head once more, "I love you." He told her before leaving to allow her to finish whatever she was having a conversation about, to pack. The students, who were all Witches, began to tease her and swoon over her fiancée, to which Pansy just giggled and joked along with them.
Marcus slowly ascended the steps which lead to the Sixth Year's dormitories. The room he shared with Yaxley was large, since Slytherin's Common Room was originally built underground it was able to be expanded quite a bit, having its own tower like the other Four Houses, they used that part of their Common Rooms for the Fifth Years and up, and some Fourth Years, only those of major Noble Houses and prestige, like the Malfoys. With the upperclassmen in the tower, the lower years were given the dormitories underground, while they were lavish, they weren't as lavish as the ones in the tower. Slytherin being originally underground, allowed for them to expanded as much as they wanted to the point where every student could have their own private room. Some liked having privacy, others like bunking together, what was nice was that there were enough rooms for every student to choose either option.
Marcus entered his room that he shared with Yaxley, he noticed that Yaxley had finished packing. Yaxley greeted Marcus kindly and Marcus returned it in equivalence. Marcus pulled his wand out and casted the Pack Charm onto his things, his control with Magic wasn't as good as others when it came to delicate things, but it got the job done in an orderly fashion. His oak-lined trunk was neatly packed, Marcus then casted the feather-light Charm onto it and then a weak Shrinking Charm, making his trunk half its size. "Well, I'll see you whenever, mate." Marcus said aloud.
"You too, Marcus. Stay safe." Yaxley answered with a smile. "Who knows, maybe I might come over unexpectedly to annoy you." He joked.
"Oh, fuck you," Marcus said playfully, "I swear to Merlin, you have the worse timings." Yaxley bellowed a laugh in agreement.
"Damn right." He said, Marcus sighed exasperatedly at his friend's antics, he grabbed his trunk, waved goodbye, and made his way downstairs to his fiancé. Ginny and Pansy were both talking to each other, both of them had a smile on their face, their own trunks, ones that were just like his, were on the floor right next to them. "You all ready to go?" He asked them, they turned and smiled.
"Yup." Ginny answered she bounced in excitement. Pansy just rolled her eyes at her antics, how unladylike. Marcus smiled at them, he picked up their trunks, which were identical, save for the names engraved onto them, not before casting the Spells he used for his own trunk on them. The three then made their way to Professor Snape's office. They were greeted by the sour-looking Professor in his usual cold manner and self, which they always returned politely as all, mostly, courteous Slytherins did. Marcus went first since he was carrying the trunks, Pansy took a pinch of Floo Powder for him and called out his destination. With a burst of green flames and a series of twisting turns, he was home. Marcus stepped out of the furnace, he breathed in a hearty breath, taking a few steps, he placed the trunks in his hands on the floor. Not a moment later after he did so, came Ginny and Pansy, he turned around dramatically.
"Welcome my Lady and my Lady," Marcus bowed playfully to them, "to Flint Manor." Pansy scoffed in amusement at his charades.
Ginny walked out of the furnace in awe of her new home. She stared at the expensive furniture, the intricate marble walls, floors, and pillars, the fine leather carpets. The crystal chandelier put her in a trance because of its beauty. Marcus and pansy just watched her as she started to wander around the enormous entirety of Flint Manor. Ginny started to aimlessly wander chatter away at the many expensive and amazing things she found inside the house, the inside pool, the green room filled with rare and exotic plants, the library which was an entire wing. All sorts of things which she yelled from the top of her lungs to her Mother and Father in amazement of. All of which, Ginny's pure emotional discoveries, did Marcus and Pansy chuckled amusedly at. Maria and Aurora had come out of their rooms to see what the fuss was all about, they heard the yelling and saw that Marcus and Pansy were home, early to their surprise.
"Is that Ginny?" Maria asked, Marcus nodded with a smile. "She seems excited." Maria commented playfully.
Marcus chuckled a laugh. "Yes, yes she is." He answered happily, his eyes to his Sisters were filled with life, though he would never admit it, they knew that he was happier with his fiancé and Daughter.
"Shall we entertain our Niece?" Maria asked her little Sister.
"Yeah, let's, leave Ginny's trunk here, we'll deal with it later," Aurora said, she looked playfully at Marcus and Pansy, who just so happened to be holding hands. "We'll get supper started and have food prepared, you guys have fun alone." The two Sisters laughed and Pansy stared at them in mortified shock and surprise at Aurora's implication.
The two Sisters left in a hurry, each giggling uncontrollably. Marcus and Pansy had quickly let go of each other's hands in embarrassment. they looked at each other with a blush to their cheeks. "So um," Pansy awkwardly started, she turned to face her fiancée, "your room? Or do you want to do separate rooms?"
"Well, uh, um," Marcus stuttered, "sure." He said. He picked up his and her trunk, and the two silently made their way to Marcus' room. Pansy closed the door for privacy. She saw that Marcus' room was clean, organized, which Pansy silently praised him for in her mind. There was enough space in Marcus' room to fit two more beds even with the shelves of books, the large work desk, the personal bathroom and shower, and the spacious star-gazing windowsill. "Do you want to unpack later?" He asked her, placing the trunks at the end of his large bed.
"Yeah, that's fine." Pansy said. She looked around the room, inspecting it, and then she remembered from before they arrived. "Marcus." She gently said as she turned to face her fiancée. Marcus was sitting on the bed, his shoes and socks off, legs crossed as he watched her examine his room. "Are you okay?" She asked once again.
"I'm fine." Marcus said, though his answer was unconvincing. Pansy knew how to read his moods, though his shoulders were relaxed, his eyes told a different story, they looked lifeless to her, even though to others, they would look to be glowing with happiness. Pansy climbed onto the bed and crawled to him like a cat, the top of her shoes brushed the fabric of the blankets. She crawled right up to his face, catching his attention as she stared into his eyes as if she were judging his soul and worth.
"I don't believe you," she whispered in a soothing manner to him. Marcus looked down to avoid her gaze. "Marcus." She grabbed his chin and lifted his face to hers, catching the attention of him and his eyes once again. "You can tell me." She said to him, "I won't judge you."
With those words, Marcus broke, he cried, he lost what little hold he had on his fragile emotions. Pansy sat up and hugged him, she held onto him and comforted him as he let loose all his pent-up stress and unvoiced feelings. Marcus cried into her school robes, he held onto her like it was the end of the world. They stayed clutched together for minutes until Marcus was finally ready to let go and separate. He slowly, but surely told her about Johnathan Mandrake and Emily Vance, he told Pansy of the horrible things he did to them, all in the name of protecting the Court. he told her how he felt, that he felt good, that he felt powerful hurting them, that he felt free doing the terrible deeds he had done. He poured his heart out to her, and she listened, he told her of other times he mercilessly brutalized other students to get what he wanted, of times before the formation of the Court, of times during the founding of the Court, and of the present day.
"I'm a monster." Marcus said to her.
Pansy grabbed his face and once again lifted his head to look at her. "You're not a monster, never to me." She told her. Marcus scoffed. "I'm serious, Marcus. If you were a monster, Ginny would be dead. If you were a monster, I would have not fallen in love with you." Pansy explained to her foolishly stupid fiancé, who she loved to death. "If you were a monster, you wouldn't be able to feel what you're feeling now. Anger, guilt, regret, all of it, emotions are what separate us from monsters, and you have plenty of it. Of this." She placed a hand over his heart.
Marcus closed his eyes, tears ran down his face, as he cried just a little more, his head crestfallen. "I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too," Pansy whispered back with a smile, she lifted his head to look at her one more time, wiping the tears from his face as she did so. Her hair she had grown out fell from her shoulders and acted as a curtain for their faces. All Marcus could see was the goddess before him when he opened his eyes, and that goddess lowered her face onto his, as their lips touched, their eyes closed as a feeling of euphoria and ecstasy washed over their body like a tidal wave. The taste of salt filled their mouths as Pansy mounted Marcus' body.
Marcus fiercely grabbed her hips and Pansy possessively grabbed the back of his head and the collar of his robes, the two fell into the sheets of the bed, never relenting, nor stopping for anything. Maria had entered quietly to announce to them that food had been prepared and that supper was going to be ready in a couple of hours, that announcement was never made as she slowly backed from the door with a smile, and closed it, leaving the two to their own world.
Marcus and Pansy then lost themselves in the throes of passion and desire for one another.
To be continued...
A/N; 9.5k words, I installed Grammarly for Chrome so I'm gonna do another edit. Who's POV should I do next? Ron, Dumbledore, Hermione, or Daphne's/Luna's? Might make a separate side story for Daphne and Luna tbh, don't want to conflict with this one, probably will title it [Of Wrackspurts and Nargles].