Snow, snow, snow.
It fell in thick blankets, covering the Hogwarts grounds completely. The white stuff was captivating in it's swirling patterns and uniqueness. Unfortunately not all of Hogwarts' inhabitants agreed with that.
Blaise Zabini was one such inhabitant. He hated snow. It was wet and sticky and no matter how hard you tried to keep it out it always got your sock wet. He was in a particularly foul mood that Thursday afternoon because he was required to go out in the wretched fluff for his Care of Magical Creatures class. He normally enjoyed the class. The Slytherins were paired with the Ravenclaws for once and they got on rather well academically despite the athletic feud. They were all good about keeping Quidditch issues on the field and out of the classroom. The only person, Blaise suspected, who never mentioned Quidditch at all was Loony Lovegood. He figured she probably had no idea what it even was. She was too engrossed with her "muffliewumps" and what not.
The class was down by the Black Lake today to see how the water creatures dealt with the cold weather. As Blaise traipsed closer to the lake he saw only a few people from the class. He looked at his watch and realized he was early. His frowned only deepened when he saw who all was standing by the lake. Three rather snobbish Ravenclaws stood by a nearby tree while Loony Lovegood balanced on a rock that hung out into the deeper water. She was kneeling close to the water and murmuring something to a mermaid of all things, who had come up from the depths of the lake. The mermaid made soft screeching noises back at Lovegood who laughed and responded in equally strange noises. Blaise figured her father had taught her mermish along with all the other rubbish.
In an attempt to avoid the snobs he stood closer to the rock Loony was on. She looked up at him when he came near and said something in parting to the mermaid who swiftly vanished beneath the icy black waters.
"Hello Zabini." Lovegood said softly as she slowly walked across the rock to the end. She hopped off the end of the rock and landed gracefully beside him. He eyed her, interested. He had never seen Loony look so aware of her surroundings. She turned her big eyes up to him and spoke.
"You should have worn a hat and a scarf. It's very cold outside."
Surprised, he responded with the first thing that came into his head.
"Ah well, I'm afraid something stole my scarf and hat." He hadn't meant to tell her his suspicions about his dorm mates stealing his things in jest. He didn't usually talk to anyone besides Malfoy. It was just his way. So it was odd he actually managed to splurt out a whole sentance to explain.
"I see. Your muffliewumps might be a bit peeved at you. Maybe you could try eating more chocolate?" She nodded at him as if deciding that would help. The girl was off her rocker.
"I'm allergic to chocolate." He lied easily and turned toward Hagrid who had jsut arrived with a gaggle of students behind him. Draco Malfoy came over to stand with them.
"Malfoy." Loony nodded before going to talk to Hagrid. Malfoy eyed her weirdly as she left.
"What in Merlin's balls did she want?" He looked to his best mate curiously.
"Something about eating more chocolate. Did you know she speaks mermish?" Blaise gazed out of the lake, his expression full of disinterest and his tone bored.
"Aren't you trying to cutback on the chocolate intake? No. I'm sure she knows lots of strange things." Malfoy ignored Hagrid as he started to talk about today's lesson.
"Indeed." Zabini left it at that. He stared at the mermaid who had just appeared in the hole in the ice made closer to shore. It was the same one who had been talking to Lovegood earlier. He thought so at least. They looked a bit alike. Hagrid went on to talk about mermaids and how they slept during the winter, much like a bear. How unusual it was for one to be this far up in the lake this late in the season. He said something about the mermaid's name and mentioned the Lovegood family's good relations with mermaids and how this one had agreed to appear before them on Loony's request. He also pointed out the differences in the mermaids skin. Normally it's a sea green or crystal blue. Now it was covered in green and brown algae. The algae, he said, acted as a sort of fur coat and kept them insulated. At the end of the winter they would eat it. It grew only in cold lake waters and was apparently high in nutritional value. After that, Blaise pretty much tuned the half-giant out. He didn't really care much about mermaids.
He vaguely listened when Hagrid explained what the squid did but forgot it almost instantly. He was much to busy thinking that maybe Loony knew more than she let on. He felt around in his bag for the bar of chocolate he ahd bought from the last Hogsmeade trip. He pulled it out and quietly muched on it until it was gone. As he shoved the wrapper into his pocket he saw Loony look at him and smile. He looked to see if Draco had noticed. The pale Slytherin had indeed. He raised an eyebrow at his tan companion but said nothing. Blaise just shrugged and went back to ignoring them all.
That night when Blaise got back from dinner he found his hat and scarf sitting harmlessly on his bed. Maybe Loony was right. He should eat more chocolate.