Chapter 15: The Prince and the Dragon

Marcus didn't mean to eavesdrop but he couldn't help it. After he'd gotten rid of the Weasleys and conjured a silencing spell, he moved a few steps further and confirmed that nothing from the outside could be heard inside. His curiosity got the best of him and he slowly stepped closer towards the door. It was open a little bit, so he could hear quite well. Nobody seemed to notice him lurking around the door as the party was back in full swing. Everybody had definitely noticed Oliver arriving but nobody seemed to care about what happened afterwards.

Marcus could hear Oliver listing all of Marcus' bad qualities, Poppy shouting back, Oliver yelling things about their father and then everything went silent. Marcus thought maybe he should go see what was going on. He walked outside to see Oliver sitting on the ground and Poppy standing next to him. Marcus took her hands and told her to go inside. He slowly sat next to Oliver and when Oliver didn't immediately start throwing punches, Marcus assumed he was safe.

"My mother died giving birth to me," Marcus said when he saw Poppy had left. Oliver looked up at him from the ground, slightly confused and as if he'd been holding back tears, his face red. "My father raised me and he wasn't exactly what you would call a loving father. You know how some wealthy people let nannies raise their children?"

Oliver nodded.

"I wasn't one of those lucky bastards. My father believed in discipline. Harsh, physical discipline. I wasn't allowed to do much of anything at home so as soon as I got to school, I started acting out. I suppose that's where the drinking and smoking comes from," Marcus continued.

"Violence, too, I suppose," he added after a short pause. "Some people might say I'm exactly like my father but I disagree. He never loved anyone after my mother died, not even me. And I never thought I could love anyone, either."

"How is this relevant to me?" Oliver asked.

"You love Poppy and you want to protect her," Marcus said. Oliver nodded. "That's why you packed up and left your mother as soon as you could and you took her with you. When I turned seventeen, I emptied my bank vault and got myself an apartment. My father found out and tried to beat me as I was leaving. He hadn't tried to hit me in a few years, because he knew I was stronger than him but this time he was clearly full of rage. I suppose he wanted me to stay with him forever."

"What happened?" Oliver asked.

"I took him down with one punch. It was the first time I'd ever hit him. After that I've never looked back," Marcus replied.

"I'm not sure why you're telling me this," Oliver said.

"I care about your sister," Marcus said. "And I don't want to come between you two. She's already lost enough family."

"You could be the greatest guy in the world, though you're not, but you're still not good enough for her. I mean, the age difference alone is just... Killing me."

"I've told her that I'll be her friend, nothing more, but you know how stubborn she is. If you keep fighting her on this, well, nothing good is going to come of it."

With that, they both got up from the ground and made their way towards the door. Marcus opened it and Oliver stepped inside. Marcus followed and was just about to ask if he could ask Poppy to dance, when he noticed Oliver looking at something. Actually, a lot of the students seemed fixated on something, or rather, someone in the middle of the room. A blonde girl with a black dress was jumping on one of the couches with a drink in her hand and singing loudly and very much out of tune to the music.

"Poppy!" Oliver exclaimed. He sounded angry while Marcus looked at Poppy with slight amusement. "What on earth do you think you're doing?"

"I'm having fun, big brother! You should try it!" Poppy yelled while laughing and doing another spin on the couch, spilling some of her drink. Grace was slightly holding on to Poppy's leg, making sure she didn't fall and Cedric looked ready to catch her if she did. "This is the best party ever!"

"Me thinks the lady might be a wee bit tipsy," Marcus said with a smile and Oliver shot him a look of death.

"If you don't get off that couch right now..." Oliver said but Poppy just stuck her tongue out and continued singing. Most of the students around seemed to find the situation funny, somebody had a camera out and a few were just looking around to see if anyone else was disgusted.

"One ought not come to a party if one has no sense of humor," Marcus proclaimed and Oliver glared at him again. He began walking towards Poppy, but Marcus quickly swooped ahead of him and said, "I've got this, mate."

Marcus walked over, grabbed Poppy by the waist and placed her on his shoulder so that her legs were in the front. Grace took Poppys drink, much to her dismay, and Marcus walked out while some of the students clapped and whistled.

"My prince has come to save me from the evil dragon!" Poppy exclaimed before they exited and Marcus heard a roar of laughter from behind them. He carried her like that all the way to the Slytherin dungeons and somewhere on the way she either fell asleep or passed out. Since he couldn't enter the girls dormitory, he placed her on his own bed and tucked her in and as he was exiting the dormitory, she woke up.

"Where are you going?" Poppy asked quietly.

"I'll sleep in the common room. You just sleep there," Marcus replied.

"No, you have to come here. You're my prince," she whispered.

He moved closer to the bed and sat on the edge of it.

"Are you sure? You are quite drunk," he asked.

"Absolutely," she said with a smile. Marcus hesitated for a while but he lifted the covers and got in the bed next to her. He thought it was innocent enough, they were both fully clothed and everything. It wasn't until Poppy fell asleep again and wrapped her arms around him while scooting in even closer he felt he might've done something wrong again.