Bewilderment
Almost all eyes were on Marius and Orion now as they sat together cordially next to each other. Orion glared at them, causing them to look away.
"That's a good trick you have there."
Orion eyed the human next to him with malice, but the human—Clarke, of course—just grinned at him.
"Do you have a death wish?" he asked.
"Hmm… Will you have the guts to do so?" Marius eyes glinted and this took Orion by surprise that his eyes widened for a bit before he easily covered it up by sneering at the human.
Orion decided that it was best to ignore the human and just try to pay attention to the class. What he did not expect was Snape to give them the Polyjuice Potion to brew. He scowled at the idea of having to be partnered with the human for more than a month.
Marius turned to him. His face was blank and he tilted his head to Orion's direction. Orion raised his eyebrow at this, questioningly.
"Orion, could you please pick up the ingredients while I prepare the cauldron?"
Orion's eye twitched. He gritted his teeth but he felt Snape's eyes on him so he yielded. Dealing with Snape was troublesome since it seemed as if he had taken a liking to the human.
He huffed and headed to the ingredients cabinet. He precisely picked what they needed. He was about to leave when he felt someone held his arm. His eyes trailed on the arm and saw Potter holding him back. He glared murderously and Potter looked at him with equal distaste.
"What do you want, Potter?"
Potter released him and he sneered at those green eyes. The way Potter stood, he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but near him.
"Stay away from Marius," said Potter.
Orion snorted at this with amusement dancing in his eyes as he smirked at Potter. The Gryffindor stance was rigid, careful as if he was ready to pounce him.
"Ah… Our dear Golden Boy has taken a liking to the human huh?" Orion's amusement was now completely erased from his features. He turned murderous, but Potter did not flinch.
"Then you should make sure that he knows his place and stay away from me," he bumped his shoulder with Potter and went away, heading back to his desk.
"Something happened?" the human's eyebrow raised in his direction, noticing Potter's eyes on them.
Orion grinned at the human. "Not much." He flashed his fangs. Clarke shrugged his shoulders at that and thus, they then began brewing the potion, watched by a pair of green eyes here and there.
…..
Potions class was over and Marius grinned evilly at the thought of watching Blaise and Neville dance around each other for a while. It will be an amusing thing to see. He was about to walk in the direction of Theo, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
He looked back to see Harry and two of his friends—one of them was a redhead who looked frazzled and the other was a female that was now smiling at him. Marius couldn't tell why, but he felt like he needed to avoid the girl at all cost. She was not in their class but he noticed she was pretty close to Harry.
"Hey."
His eyes found those Avada Kedavra orbs once again and he fidgeted. In the corner of his eyes, he could see Theo who wanted to be away from the mess happening around him, Blaise who was boring holes at Neville and said person was just looking at the ground, wanting it to swallow him whole. He sighed.
‘Let's get this over with.'
"Hi, is something up?" he tilted his head, to look up more properly to the taller werewolf. He stayed indifferent.
"Uhm… No. It's just, do you have a class after this?" Harry looked nervous at asking him and the way he combed his raven locks proved it.
"No. It's my free period but I was going to study—" he did not get to finish his sentence when Harry's female friend cut him off suddenly.
"Oh! That is great! We could study together, after joining us in Divination that is. I'm Hermione, by the way. The red-head over here is Ron." The way her eyes sparkled made Marius want to step back, those inquisitive eyes—
‘I can't deal with her.'
"… Oh, um, thanks for the offer, but I promised Theo, Blaise, and Neville, we would study together," he said and whether it was his eyes playing trick or something, he saw Harry's face turned disappointed at this.
"Wait, you hang around with vampires? And Neville hangs out with them too?" the red-head began, his eyebrows were furrowed together. In Marius' opinion, he seemed confused.
"Yes. Is there something wrong?" his eyes turned a bit sharp when dealing with the red-headed male.
"Yeah, there is. You're a human. Vampires treat your kind as food and Neville, well, he is a werewolf."
Marius' eyes turned cold at the redhead's outburst and he replied coldly, "Not all werewolves belong to the light. Not every vampire is in the dark. Witches never remained neutral and chose sides and us humans will not remain weak. Just because some bloody dumb-head decided that he wanted your whole race dead does not mean that you should believe the same." His glare was piercing and this caused Ron to flinch, Harry's eyes to widen, and Hermione merely watched the scene with her mouth gaping.
Marius' posture straightened and he pinned them all with his eyes as if telling them to be ashamed of themselves. "I suggest you not judge a being by its race but by who they are and who they want to become. I will not just stand idly while you accuse my friends." With that, he turned his back and headed to the direction of Theo, Blaise, and Neville who was just watching him, as they heard every word.
"Come on." He pulled them and left the Golden Trio who were stunned, mouths agape.
Blaise blinked his eyes. "I have never seen Granger that speechless before." He then began to chuckle.
They all headed to the Room of Requirement. The tension was gone while they were on the way there. As soon as the door appeared, Marius hurriedly pushed Neville inside the room and Theo did the same to Blaise. Neville squeaked at this, especially when he noticed the door was already closed. Since Marius was the one who conjured it, he and Blaise couldn't open it.
The room was made to look like the Hufflepuff common room with its canary-colored walls and black curtains to balance out the colors. The couches were leather and black as well and everything seemed relaxing.
"Was that really necessary?" Theo sighed, asking Marius who looked pleased.
"Oh, yes, it is," he chuckled. After a few seconds, suddenly he remembered something that he gasped.
"What's wrong?" Theo asked worriedly.
"Stay here. Open the door only when you deem it alright—" He was stopped when Theo raised one of his hands to stop him and Marius pouted at this.
"No way. What if they are in the middle of something? I don't want to be scarred, Marius!"
Marius shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes. "This is Neville we are talking about. He is too shy to attempt such a thing."
Theo tutted at him. His index finger waving in front of Marius. "You don't know Blaise like I do."
Marius' mouth was agape. He grunted. "Urgh, fine open the door after 15 minutes or so. I will be back."
"Wait. Where are you going?"
"I need to see Orion to discuss our potion. Bye!" he shouted his farewell as he ran down the stairs. Theo tried stopping him but was too late. The vampire merely sighed. If he went away, the door wouldn't open and God-forbid if Blaise ever tried something like marking Neville. Orion would behead him before he even stepped foot into their common room, so he opted to stay and count the time.
Inside the room, Neville and Blaise were, finally, alone now. The tension was thick and the werewolf could hear his own beating heart. When he tried to look up at Blaise, he noticed that Blaise's heartbeat was normal and this made him even more anxious.
"I guess we won't be getting out till we sort this out huh?" Blaise voiced out. He turned to Neville who was looking at the ground and he decided to take this slow as to not scare Neville away. That was why he decided to take a seat at one of the leather couches. He noticed the werewolf hadn't moved a step from where he stood. That made him heaved a sigh.
"Neville."
Neville flinched involuntarily and he looked up to see Blaise's eyes flashed a feeling of hurt. Neville's wolf howled in pain deep inside of him. Without realizing it, he slumped on the ground and was repeatedly apologizing.
Blaise's eyes widened at that and in one swoop, he was there trying to calm and ease Neville.
"Hush, diletto. Why are you apologizing?" his hands were now holding onto Neville's face to make him face Blaise.
"I-I hurt you."
Blaise's eyebrows knotted at this and he sighed. "To be honest, I was a bit hurt when you started avoiding me. But I guess, we both needed the time to think this through." He gave a small smile until he noticed that Neville wasn't so tense anymore.
"I-I," Neville began, but he was stopped when Blaise suddenly pecked his lips. Neville turned red that it reached the tip of his ears and his mouth was trembling, unable to talk. While Blaise just smiled sweetly at him with adoring eyes.
"But Lestrange—" Blaise cut him off again. This time, by kissing him again. His soft eyes gleamed in the light.
"Vampires search for their mates for almost a lifetime. I found you this early. Do you really think I would let anyone get in the way of my love for you?" Neville stared at him, not believing his hearing. Blaise just smiled wholeheartedly at him. The werewolf couldn't respond, so he was left gaping at the beautiful man in front of him.
Finally gaining his voice, he spoke softly as if in incredulity. "You love me?"
This time, it was Blaise who turned to a different shade of red that he opted to look away. Neville was about to feel rejected but seeing the red in Blaise's neck, he chuckled. Blaise then looked back at him. The vampire felt blessed hearing it since for him, Neville's laughter was like a symphony that his heart always sought.
Neville turned conscious when he noticed that Blaise was staring at him brazenly with his light brown eyes. He looked down embarrassedly, but his chin was lifted up once again. He was forced to face those piercing eyes that look at him as if he was the sun.
"Don't hide away, diletto. I love you just the way you are."
Blaise then leaned in. ‘He is going to kiss me!' Neville's brain turned to mush and he could not think. It was blank and he could not discern what to do, so he closed his eyes. But instead of feeling those soft lips before, he felt his forehead touch with Blaise's. He smiled a full-blown smile. He knew that his cheeks might hurt from all his smiling but he did not care. He had his mate with him now and he felt at ease, at last.
…….
The air in the Conference Room was heavy. Andromeda sat rigidly. Her thoughts were spiraling in her head. She then turned to the still entwined thread, creating the rune. She stood abruptly that it caused the others to stare at her.
"What is it, Andromeda?" Sirius voiced out, worry laced his voice. Andromeda ignored him and opted to cast a spell on the rune. As soon as the magic touched the rune, she hissed. The magic rebounded back to her. She then turned her eyes to Penelope and pointed at her. "You. Try a tracking spell."
Though reluctant, Penelope did as she was told and the same result came to her.
"Smart kid." Andromeda was not sure whether to be proud or to be pissed, as this makes finding her nephew harder than ever. She turned her head to face her companions. "It seems my nephew is very efficient. He asked someone to cover up his whole existence. He could be anywhere by now."
Remus returned after a few moments and reported. "Alpha, there is not enough manpower to begin the search and guard our land at the same time."
James turned to him. "Choose only a few of the elites. The others will remain here for the time being."
Remus bowed his head and began to head out. But before he could get anywhere, a figure came running up at them, one with red hair.
"Percy, is there something wrong?" Remus asked Percy Weasley.
"Urgent report, Beta."
Remus called him inside of the Conference Room. He gave a bow to all those present before saying, "Alpha, Bellatrix Black has begun amassing a huge army."
"What do you mean by that?" James abruptly stood in shock. They are moving faster than any of them could've expected.
"There have been rumors of her heading to the Dark forests, seeking Rouges."
Everyone was in a state of shock. If the rogues decided to join their forces, they would be outnumbered.
"She found him, Alpha. She found Fenrir Greyback."
The room fell silent. Fenrir Greyback was said to have been one of the chosen in line to be Alpha of their pack, but due to the unforgivable crimes that he has committed, he had been banished, alongside his comrades.
Lily turned to Dumbledore with worried eyes. "Albus, what about the Order? Would they be willing to help us this time?"
Albus closed his eyes and shook his head. "Forgive me, Lily, but even I, their appointed leader, could not persuade them. You know that we follow only one leader." The rest remain unsaid as they all knew the reason why the Order, one of the largest neutral coven of Vampires, did not wish to join the war.
"Then how were you able to assist us in the past war if even you follow that one leader?" Andromeda was curious.
"Because he asked me to."
"Does that mean that he is still alive?" James asked quickly.
Albus shook his head. "No. He died after telling me of his order to assist you in any way that I can."
Each one of them was now thinking of ways on how to repel the added threat. Andromeda then turned to Penelope. "You. Return back to my sister's old cottage. Dug up her remains and bring it here."
Penelope looked at her in shock. To dig up a grave is a sign of disrespect, but to use it is even more unforgivable. "Are you planning to use it for a Dark Spell?"
Andromeda snarled at her and Penelope took a step back. She could feel the energy of Andromeda fluctuating. She knows she was far stronger and more experienced than her that she would lose for sure.
"No. I am not like you."
Penelope glared at the High witch and Andromeda haughtily ignored her. Instead, she began addressing James. "Alpha James, you have to understand if Bellatrix were to get her hands on my sister's corpse, she will use it against us. After all, even in death, she could use my sister's body to draw magic and even try to break the barrier."
James looked uneasy. He turned to Lily for her opinion but she looked as if in conflict with herself. He then turned to Sirius who looked pained but he nodded his head. "Remus, order Charlie to bring Narcissa's body here and properly please," he said. Remus bowed before he left along with Percy and his mate Penelope.
Andromeda inwardly smiled at this. ‘Bella, I will assure your death and if the cost would be me turning to the Dark, then so be it.'
……
The classroom to Divination was really high that Marius was now thinking twice of following Orion up to his class or to ask him during dinner since he noticed that Orion did not eat anything during lunch times. Theo and Blaise mentioned that Divination was a class for everyone who wishes to take it, but they decided not to as it is rubbish.
He was about to take the first step when he heard his name being called. He looked back to see a male. He knew his is a Slytherin due to the crest on his robes. He raised his eyebrow in question.
"Clarke."
He was about to speak when he was suddenly strangled and pushed to the wall. He held onto the hands that held him up in the air. The way those hands held his throat ached. They stung and it hurt. Even with his life being in danger, he even had the thought to compare the way Orion had done this to him. He realized that it did not hurt like the way this man held his throat.
"What was the dumb old fool thinking when he let you enter this school?" the man snorted in amusement.
"Ah… I haven't had a fresh source of blood since I entered this school and you look so delicious. The way you flaunt yourself—ah… as if you are begging us to prey on you." His face was now close to his neck and Marius whimpered in pain.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt. Instead, I will make it pleasurable for you." The Slytherin was now gnawing with hunger. Marius closed his eyes shut as he was losing too much oxygen and in fear of being bitten or possibly raped.
Before those fangs were able to pierce his neck, he felt someone attacked the man that he slid off the ground, taking in huge gulps of air. His hand was now on his throat, massaging it. He opened his eyes to see Harry about to attack his assailant, but there was Ron who held him back. His assailant snarled and hissed at Harry.
Hermione was crouching by his side and she seems to be asking him something. But due to the lack of oxygen, everything seemed woozy. When Marius became stable, a new individual had entered the hallway to reach the Divination classroom. She had black hair, tied in a bun and dark brown eyes that looked black in the shadows. Marius noticed the crest on her robes and found out that she was in Slytherin. All eyes snapped to her presence and suddenly Hermione was pointing her hand at the new individual but the said person just gazed at them, starting from him to Hermione, then to Ron and Harry, and finally his assailant.
"What is going on here Flint?"
Marius' assailant, Flint, spoke. His voice sounded smug. "Potter and his gang decided to stop me from feeding on the human." Flint then stood up and dusted his clothes.
"Hmm…" the intruder then hummed. She gazed at Marius with a tilted head.
"Don't make me curse you, Parkinson." Hermione snapped.
‘So, that is Pansy Parkinson The said Queen of Slytherin,' Marius thought. He turned to look at Flint and he looked at him like he was a very tasty treat. Without any of them noticing, Flint began to attack him with his fast movements. Even after Harry and Ron realized that, they were too late to react. Marius closed his eyes for the assault that never seemed to arrive.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the back of Pansy Parkinson. She was in front of Flint, blocking his way. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were staring wide in shock at the sudden intrusion of the female vampire.
"Get out of the way, Parkinson," Flint snarled.
Parkinson looked at her nails and, in a bored tone, said, "And why would I listen to you?"
"Acting tough. You think Potter and his puppies would save you?"
Parkinson stopped viewing her nails at that. "No. Why would I need mutts help when I can take you on myself?" Her voice was dripping with venom that made Flint took a step back.
"Don't think this is over Parkinson. You are not my Elder," he threatened before walking away.
She turned back to look at Marius clutching his neck. She crouched and grazed her hand at his pale neck. The coldness of her fingers made Marius shiver.
"Sorry about that. Are you alright?" she gave a small smile and Marius nodded his head, still catching his breath.
"Why'd you defend him when to all of you blood suckers you refer to them as livestock?" Ron snapped at Pansy.
She stood and she just looked down at him. "Professor Snape would have our heads if he ever found out that his new favorite student was sucked dry. Besides…" she began as she stepped closer to Ron, her face merely an inch away from his. Ron was in a state of panic, his brain was telling him to push Pansy away but his heart leaped and howled at the proximity. His hands itched to just grab the black-haired beauty and snog her senseless to make her shut up. "…that is none of your business is it?" Pansy whispered at him.
When she saw how stiff Ron looked, she grinned before taking a step back. She turned her head to Marius who was staring at them with inquisitive eyes which she ignored. "Marius, if you wish to speak to Orion, I think it's best if you approach him after dinner." After saying that, she looked back at the Golden Trio, gave a wink, and walked up the stairs to class.
The Golden Trio looked at each other in disbelief. Ron grunted and pulled a bit on his hair.
"What the hell just bloody happened?"
Harry crouched in front of Marius, ignoring Ron's dilemma. He gently removed Marius' hand from his neck to check on it. When Marius yielded and removed his hand, Harry saw the marks of Flint's hand in his pale alabaster skin. He growled and he clutched on Marius' wrist harder.
"Harry. Let Marius' wrist go. You're hurting him," said Hermione calmly.
Harry did not realize this. He only let go when he noticed the scrunched up face of Marius, obviously in pain. "Sorry." He then raised both of his hand up in surrender. He looked up at Hermione who was checking on Marius' bruise as well. "Can you heal him?"
"Yes. It's just a small bruise anyway." With a few words, she waved her hands and they were all gone. Along with the forming bruise on his wrist.
"Ugh. I have been talking here and you guys have been ignoring me all this time," Ron whined.
Harry sighed at this and shook his head. It was a second later he took notice of how Marius stared at Ron. As if observing him or in the middle of a deep analysis. He saw another change of expression when suddenly, Marius grinned. The human licked his lips, almost sensually that Harry's eyes widened in an instant. A thought registered in his mind and he looked away before he was able to conjure what it is. Fortunately, he was taken out of his reverie when Marius spoke.
"Ron," he called.
"Hm?"
"Do you like Parkinson?"
The room fell into silence almost at the exact second the question flew out of his mouth. A beat and almost in an instant too, Ron's cheeks started flaming, matching his hair somehow. The werewolf's mouth then began vomiting incoherent words, trying to give any form of answer that ended quite miserably.
Marius, ever the sharp person, couldn't stop his already widening grin to get even bigger. The amusing scene already gave him his answer. So, feeling quite humble today, he decided to spare the Weasley's life by standing up and dusting himself, smug and all, before humming to himself while making his way out.
It was when he was about to go around a corner that Ron shouted. "I don't like that pug-faced woman!"
‘Alright, that's amusing.' Marius thought as he spun around so he could come face to face with Ron, smug and all.
"Whatever you say," he said back, chuckling happily, a moment before skipping away from the trio—leaving a grumbling Ron, a speechless Hermione, and an amused Harry on his wake.
……
Harry felt elated when he heard Marius laugh before. There was something so free in it that he could not comprehend. He felt drawn toward the human in a way he knew was wrong. He had a mate and falling for another would just cause them all bad endings. Realizing this, he decided to lock away his growing feelings before it grew out of his control.
"He really is an enigma," Hermione stated.
Harry, without a second thought, nodded his head meanwhile Ron only pouted.
"He is really sharp. In that single interaction, he was able to read Ron's body language."
"He won't talk, will he?" Ron asked worriedly. After seeing Marius' spark of anger a while ago, he felt threatened that he might spill it because of that incident.
"Ron, Marius is not like that," Harry assured him until he heard his best friend sighed in relief.
"Come on, then. We are already late for class," said Hermione as she began climbing the stairs, the other two following close after.