Glitter and Gold
Marvin loved Hogwarts, he really did. It was a wonderful place of magic and wonder and all things extraordinary.
So why did he feel like he would rather stab his eye out than step onto this train?
Maybe it was because he could hear his mother and father talking loudly about how amazing he was in class, how he was on his way to doing great things after this year. Or maybe it was because he could see Trina and Mendel a few feet away, leaning against each other and waving at him. Maybe it was the fear of seeing Charlotte for the first time since last year. Or maybe it was the absence of a specific someone who he would not be thinking about now or anytime soon.
He grudgingly walked over to Trina and Mendel, the pair looking happy, despite the frown on Trina’s face as she glared at him. “Marvin.” She said coolly.
“Trina.” He greeted, once again wondering how in the world they manage to be dating for as long as they had. The passive aggressive fights and tones they used to talk to each other was telling in their mutual dislike of each other. But they were on okay terms now, and he wanted to keep that.
“Excited for our last year?” Mendel cut in, sounding positive and happy and dear god Marvin really wanted to glue his lips shut.
“Can’t wait for it to be over.” He replied honestly, his eyes searching the crowd until he spotted the familiar blue robes of his best friend. He let out a sigh of relief as Charlotte walked over, her robes sweeping out behind her majestically. He was never able to perfect the effortless bad ass look she had to her.
“Ready to go?” She greeted, smiling widely at him as she looped her arm through his. People often mistook them as dating, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Marvin knew that Charlotte was head over heels for a particular Hufflepuff a year younger than her, and Marvin, well Marvin was hung up on a pretty Slytherin who practically ruined his life.
Funny how that works.
“Of course.” He said, grinning properly at her for the first time today. The four of them chatted easily as they wandering into the train, sitting in the first open cabin they could, getting settled for the ride.
“Where’s Cordelia?” Trina asked innocently, and Marvin grinned as Charlotte blushed deep red at the mention of the younger girl. It was kind of funny how enamored they were with each other.
“I think she’s with Whizzer and their friends.” Charlotte muttered, and Marvin’s heart dropped at the mention of the boy. The air inside the room went thick with tension as Charlotte realized what she said, but didn’t take it back. It was an unspoken rule, not to talk to him about Whizzer ever since their break up a month before his sixth year ended.
Marvin simply looked out of the window, ignoring the sting of anger and longing in his chest.
Him and Whizzer were done, after their last big fight Marvin said he never wanted to see him ever again. He regretted that now, regretted it during the lonely nights of summer where he wished he had the courage to just write a note. But Whizzer probably wanted nothing to do with anymore, not like Marvin deserved more than that.
He shook himself out of his misery, but the bad mood lingered over him, a storm cloud he just couldn’t shake off.
Whizzer and his relationship was a mess, a tornado filled with passion and fighting and insults. Marvin took the younger boy for granted, he knew that now, and the younger boy was just an asshole most days. They were incapable but fit together so well. A conundrum that was always destined for failure, destined to crash and burn like a curse. But goddamn after everything Marvin was still pretty much obsessed with the other boy, kind of a 'you never know what you've got till it's gone' type of situation. He never really got why he was so attracted to Whizzer until he let the Slytherin slip from his grasp in a flurry of insults and words he never really meant.
Looking around, he saw Trina and Mendel nestled together, Trina snoring slightly and Mendel half asleep and smiling down at her. Sickly sweet and exactly what he didn’t want to see when longing for his past lover.
Charlotte was reading a book, concentrating on the words and one hand petting Jason.
Marvin grinned slightly down at the adorable little tabby cat he and Trina shared. Jason was a gift from Marvin to Trina from their third year, a gift that actual made them start dating. Now, since the break up, they altered keeping him.
Marvin loved the little shit of a cat, and honestly he had missed it over the summer since he let Trina keep him. He clicked softly, causing Jason to glance up at his without interest and snuggled closer to Charlotte, who was trying not to laugh.
Marvin sighed, rolling his eyes. The little demon with fur was always more of a lady’s cat. And also just loved to spite him, kind of like a moody teenager.
He rested his head against the window, fiddling with the edge of his blue Ravenclaw sweater, he was in his last year, and he wished he could be anywhere else.
Stupid drama and strict professors and a cute Slytherin ruining it all for him.
Marvin sighed, resting his head against the window and letting the hum of the train lure him to sleep.
_______________________
Marvin hated sorting ceremonies, he loved it as a little first year, excited for a world full of magic and wonder and magical houses that were kind of like a second family. But now it was just boring. Watching excited and scared first years walk up to the hat, get sorted into a house and then run excitedly to their table while everyone cheered. He would much rather be sleeping or eating. Whatever came first.
But he couldn’t so instead here he was, half asleep and bored out of his mind while sitting beside Charlotte who elbowed him sharply every time he was suppose to applaud for a new member of their house.
A kid got sorted into Slytherin, and Marvin’s eyes wandered over to the cheering table, and there he was.
Whizzer in all his glory, his robes fitting him perfectly, the dark green complimenting his skin. His mocha brown hair effortlessly styled, a bright blinding smile on his face and a carefree air to him. He seemed to glow, to sparkle and fill the air around him with an energy no one could replace. Marvin felt like someone punched him in the gut, seeing his former lover so happy and joyful made something inside him stir painfully.
But the cheers died down, and once everyone was done congratulating each other, Marvin notice Whizzer wilt a bit, wipe a hand over his eyes and his smile fall. Somehow, seeing Whizzer look even a little bit unhappy, a little tired and worn out, hurt more than anything.
Marvin tore his eyes away, forcing himself to pretend he hadn’t seen him, like nothing happened. He felt Charlotte elbow him again, this time sharper than before and he glared at her, but clapped nothing less.
After everything was done, the feast began and Marvin hungrily piled up his plate with various foods he loved. He ate quickly, on and off conversation with Charlotte keeping him busy. Then, just like that, the night was over and the first years were getting led away, the rest of the group following.
Marvin sat on his bed groaning as his thick-headed roommates talked endlessly about some stupid spell they wanted to attempt at some point that year. He quickly unpacked his bag, his thousands of wrinkled shirts and sweaters getting thrown in whatever drawer he felt like throwing them in.
Finally he settled down and pulled out his history of magic book, wanting to get a head start on the worst subject this year.
Slowly, his room mates all feel asleep one by one, and Marvin reluctantly followed them, sighing as he wondered how his life had began to be so, well, boring.