Happy
Baby
First Crush
Angry
“Where is he?”
“Caden he’s really upset.”
“I didn’t ask if he was upset, I asked where he was.”
“…he’s in his room.”
Almost as soon as the words were out of Estella’s mouth, Caden was climbing the stairs to his son’s room. He wasn’t even two steps up when he heard a loud thud, a yell, and then Elizabeth yelling out from the hallway. “MUM! DAD! THEY’RE FIGHTING AGAIN!” Oh, this was just making everything so much better. He turned around to glance over at Estella, as though telling her he would take care of things. Reaching the top of the stairs, he made his way into Jacob’s room, where its main occupant was currently being pinned down by Marcus, who had probably tackled the younger boy just moments before, his arm raised as though he was about to punch his brother at any moment. “TAKE IT BACK!” Not even bothering to find out what the whole fight was about, Caden reached down and effortlessly tore the two of them apart by grabbing hold of Marcus’ arm, pulling him up into a standing position. “Are you out of your fucking mind?!” “But-“ “Just, don’t say a fucking word, and get to your room.” The boy scowled. “Dad!” “NOW!” His voice echoed through the room making everything go quiet. Marcus stood frozen, before he turned around and stormed into his own room, slamming the door behind him.
Turning back to Jacob, he helped him up. “Thanks Da-“ “What the fuck was that about?” “…nothing.” “Do I look like I’m in a good mood right now? You really want to stand there and say that he was about to break your nose over nothing?” “…I…” “You what?” “I-I kind of laughed and then…I told him he was an idiot for getting left back...” Caden sighed heavily, rubbing at his forehead. He was getting a massive headache, between the most recent news of his son getting left back, and the slamming of doors and stomping around that was going on upstairs. “I don’t have time or the patience to deal with both you right now…just stay in your room and keep your bloody mouth shut.” Turning around, he exited his step-son’s room, closing the door behind him before making his way across to Marcus’ room, only shooting a warning glance to Elizabeth to get back into hers. She got the message, and with a yelp, she closed the door.
Standing out in the hallway, he paused, taking a deep breath before turning the doorknob. Marcus was sitting with his back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his face scrunched up with anger. He was avoiding any sort of eye contact with his father. He stood in the doorway before making his way inside, grabbing onto the chair that was sitting nearby, dragging it closer to the bed so that he could sit down. He was leaning forward, his elbows on his thighs as he stared down at the floor, his head shaking back and forth. Marcus fidgeted on the bed, biting his tongue before he couldn’t take it anymore. “He said I was-..” “I know what he said.” “And you’re not going to do anything about it?!” Caden’s head shot up, his eyes narrowed. “What the fuck do you want me to do about it right now, Marcus? I just find out that you got left back and you expect me to do what? I know he was wrong, because you’re not a fucking idiot, but you sure as hell aren’t giving people reason to believe otherwise.” “What does that mean?!” “That means that you don’t fucking try!” “YES I DO!” “Than how the fuck did you get left back?!” “The tests are hard! I couldn’t do it, okay?! And then between that and Quidditch and-” “If you were having so much trouble with school you shouldn’t have continued with Quidditch.” “NO! I’m not giving up Quidditch!” “Than what the fuck is going to change next year? What the fuck are you going to change that will make you actually graduate, Marcus?” “I-…I don’t know, I’ll study more and-…” “So you could have studied more this year, graduated when you were supposed to, but just chose not to?! I swear to Merlin Marcus, if you get left back again because you wanted to keep up with Quidditch, we are going to have a very serious problem.” Marcus turned so his feet were on the floor. “How the fuck am I supposed to quit?! PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE, DAD! People already think I only got on the team because I’m Caden Flint’s son, and I can’t quit the team, and I like it, and I want to play pro and-“ “You think it’s going to be easy for you to get on a team after they find out you got left back?!” “No, but…!” “But what?!”
Marcus went silent, his mouth open as though he was about to add something more, but then just pushed himself back on his bed. “Forget it. You’ll never understand…” There was silence for about 2 seconds before he started talking again, sounding frustrated. “The tests are so much harder than they were when you were in school! It’s not as easy to do school and Quidditch, but Quidditch is the only think I like about school, and I have a hard time in all of my classes, and I hate that stupid bloody castle and now I have to go back there again when I thought I was done and now I’m not because I didn’t study enough and I know I messed up, and I’ll do better next year, but I’m not giving up Quidditch!” Marcus was basically yelling at his Dad at this point, but Caden just sat there, now flinching or moving as he spoke. “Are you done?” Marcus huffed, leaning his head against the wall. “Yeah I’m done.” There was a moment of silence before Caden rose to his feet.
“You can keep up with Quidditch next year…but I’m going to have Professor Snape send me weekly updates on how you’re doing, and if your grades slip, you’re done. I don’t expect you to get O’s in every subject, or even one, but I know that you can if you just fucking tried which is why I’m so fucking pissed off. You’ll continue with the Slytherin team next year, if you’re still allowed back, and you’ll get your homework done, and you’ll at least pass all of your quizzes. Until I figure out a proper punishment for the summer, you’ll only leave this room to eat and do your chores.” Marcus scowled again and nodded his head before going back to his sulking position.
“Glad we have an understanding.”
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