With his back pressed against the soft comfort of the train seat, Blaise Zabini sat in deep thought, aimlessly fiddling with his wand. His mind wandered over the many obstacles and adventures which lay in wait of him at Hogwarts. While not nearly as adventurous as the Gryffindor trio it was no secret that each student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had their fair share of misadventures and mishaps. With his N.E.W.T's fast approaching and the impending shove into adulthood that accompanied the exams, he pondered his options with regards to his not so distant future.
The sound of the opening of his compartment door drew his attention away from his present musings and to his best mate, Draco Malfoy, who, he noticed, seemed to be quite surly. He need not query the reason for his friend's seemingly misplaced demeanour as Hermione Granger came barrelling into the compartment, she too quite red in the face.
"I don't understand why for the life of me you won't get rid of that insufferable cow Malfoy!"
Draco had, upon her proclamation, slouched into the chair and buried his face in his hands.
"Maybe if you would stop thinking through your arse and use your head you'd properly grasp the situation Granger."
His vehement response seemed like a slap to the face to Hermione as she gaped openly at him. Schooling her features she quickly responded to the situation with a cool and steady tone.
"If that is the way you'd like it Malfoy then so be it. I will not interfere with any matters with regards to you and as such it would be much appreciated if you would stay out of my business."
With that she made a casual glance to me and nodded her head in curt acknowledgement and took her leave.
I focused my attention back to the displeased blonde in front of me.
"Does your being albino affect your thought process because if I'm correct, and the 'cow' is Parkinson, then I'd say that argument with lady love is in regards to Parkinson being your conjoined twin"
"Zabini I suggest you watch your mouth or I'll watch it for you."
"Clearly you're quite the voyeur as you seem to be taking pleasure from watching the best thing that's happened to you take the consequences of your English inbreeding."
"You aren't being useful to this situation Blaise." Malfoy stressed while propping himself up and running frustrated hands through his hair.
"All I'm saying is being a traditionalist may be fitting with the Malfoy name but it's obviously not agreeing with the path your heart is clearly choosing."
"I most definitely do not need to hear this drivel from you of all people Zabini." Malfoy said preparing to leave.
"Well don't let the door hit you wear the good Lord split you."
"Zabini it really is time you stop with the muggle sayings" quipped Draco disapprovingly.
Blaise chuckled to himself and stood to retrieve some reading material from his trunk in the over head compartment located near the door when the compartment door opened. Assuming that the person entering the compartment was Draco again Blaise said "You know maybe if you go screw her she may forget about your little indiscretions."
"And who would I be screwing?"
Neglecting his trunk, his head swivelled around towards the hypnotic voice which had come from the direction of the door.
In the doorway stood a girl whom he'd never seen before and by her obvious accent it was apparent she was a transfer. Dark straight hair cascaded down her back, molasses tinted eyes which carried a single band of cornflower blue around them alert and plump pink lips pursed, Katarina Abellona, stood tall and proud, her 5 foot 9 stature an anomaly for girls her age. She was an enigma, her dark skin contrasted sharply against the crisp white shirt she wore with a pleated grey skirt, Mary Jane's and knee high socks. In one of her hands was the handle of the cage within which lie her sleeping familiar, a Siamese cat, and behind her floated her levitated trunk.
"Now that you've finished assessing me I think it's only polite I introduce myself." She stated with a small smile on her aristocratic face. Extending her arm towards him she shook his already proffered hand.
"I'm Katarina Abellona, I'm from Greece and I recently transferred to Hogwarts."
"I'm Blaise Zabini, I'm from Italy coincidentally."
"Is that so... Well it would appear that your cabin is the only one in which I can situate myself so would I be a bother if I were to stay here for the remainder of the trip?"
"Oh no...not at all."
With that she proceeded to settle into her surroundings. Blaise sat in wonderment of the young woman before him. Why would a student transfer at such a late date? He pondered. And what sort of influence does her family wield that it was done so discreetly? Deep in thought Blaise was not aware that the particular young lady in question was contemplating him as well.
She studied him; his physique was immaculate to the average outsider. Tall with mocha skin and indigo eyes, Blaise presented a handsome and unruffled teenager who seemed so at peace with the world. Her thoughts were distracted from his physical appearance as she was suddenly hit by an overpowering scent, thrust at her when he had opened the cabin window. Her eyes widened in shock. This most definitely should not be happening. Blaise Zabini could not be her mate.
Blaise leaned in the window, eyes trained outside in an attempt to stop staring at the witch in his compartment who, unbeknownst to him, was in a mild state of panic.
Katarina was in internal turmoil. She had come here intent on blending in to her surroundings, merely observing without being observed and so this new development was, to say the least, quite unwanted. The troubles arose with her craving, her absolute need to be bonded with one Blaise Zabini.
A deep sigh drew said male away from his musings and he swivelled to cast his eyes upon her.
"What seems to be the matter?"
What; besides you being the one male with whom I feel a connection? Nothing at all.
"Homesickness," was her curt response.
I will not bow to the will of this carnal desire!
"Maybe we should become better acquainted seeing as we have a bit of a ride to Hogwarts"
"Maybe..."
Blaise shifted uncomfortably. This girl, she was simply intriguing, not fawning over him like some love sick pup, she actually...
"You said you're from Italy, how long have you lived in England?" she asked, interrupting his thoughts.
"For the past 10 years. Why did your family move?" he challenged.
"That is a question for which I myself would like an answer." Her response trailed off as she averted her gaze.
Just who was this girl?
"Where were you educated prior to your relocation?"
"I had no formal schooling. My knowledge was garnered from various members of my family."
Oh...
"What house are you in? I was told there was a system to unite various years according to personality traits."
"Slytherin."
"I see."
The compartment door was slowly pushed aside and in sulked an ashen and distraught Draco Malfoy. Unaware of Katarina's presence he threw the compartment door shut and slid to the floor.
"She left me." He mumbled almost incoherently.
He looked up, silver eyes shrouded in pools of red from his recent crying searching out Blaise. "She left me and it's my entire fault." Whatever fight he had left was drained through his tears and broken sobs.
"I do apologise for my intrusion but I really should take my leave." Katarina said rising from her seat. "It would appear that this is a private moment unfit for such unacquainted company." She nodded to Blaise "Blaise."
He returned the acknowledgement as she cast a final sympathetic look at the blonde male who sat unbelieving on the floor.
"Who was that?" Draco accused.
"A new friend."
Draco grunted his response and grumbled dispassionately to himself. "Probably another purebred whore."
"It would do you well to mind the volume of your voice Malfoy and whom you are addressing."
Draco jutted his chin out and retorted indignantly, "Or what? What will you do Zabini? What could possibly make this worst?"
Blaise smiled sadly. Draco was not only beginning to understand Hermione's worth but was basically emulating her very persona. Even though he was positive that Hermione was furious with him he knew that Draco's new frame of mind would help if nothing else in solidifying the love which they shared.
Silence fell between them until Blaise glanced at his watch. "I do believe it's time to change Draco. We are after all only a short distance away from our destination."
Without so much as a further glance in Blaise's direction, Draco rose to his feet; his sullen mood quite potent in the room and left.
Blaise rose, collecting his clothing from the over head above when a brief rapping was heard on the compartment door.
"Come in."
"I do apologise again but it seems that in my haste to depart I forgot my trunk." Katarina gushed sliding open the door without even looking around, eyes firmly fixated on the floor. The eloquent words tumbling over each other in her haste to retrieve her trunk.
Blaise smiled. "You know Katarina, I may not be the most devilishly handsome male alive, but looking at me won't turn you to stone."
Her eyes quickly flickered to him then to the spot where she had last seen his blonde companion.
"Oh. I thought you still had company."
A devious smirk crossed his features. "You can keep me company." He leered whilst waggling his eyebrows.
After a hearty chuckle she responded. "Quite the sweet talker aren't we?"
"Indeed."
"Well I'll be going. It would appear my siblings require my company." She said with a roll of her eyes.
"Oh. I wasn't aware that you had family attending Hogwarts."
"Yes Cassiopeia and Estefany. The youngest and oldest respectively."
After a brief and awkward pause Katarina forged forward. "Well I really should get going. Would you be so kind as to pass me my trunk?"
Blaise didn't bother with a response and instead just handed her the item.
"Thank you and farewell Blaise. Maybe we could chat later?"
"Possibly."
With that she left.
A/N: Enjoy! :)