A/N: Another ficlet collection because I figured I needed one for those that don't fit in any of the others.
This was written for the Build a Zoo challenge on HPFC. I've written about Blaise for the little boy elephant.
Warning for implications of an unhealthy, controlling relationship.
Word count: 985
Someday, We'll See
Blaise scowled as he sidestepped a mother with a toddler hanging off either hand. He would never understand how anyone could stomach having twins. One child was a necessity if you had a name worthy of being passed on. Only sentimental fools had two or more, let alone at the same time.
He kept his eyes on the books as he entered Flourish and Blotts. The shopkeepers didn't like him, which was fine. It wasn't as if he held any respect for them either. The owner of the place often spaced out when you were speaking to him, and the workers he hired were inefficient at best and imbeciles at worst. Unfortunately, the shop stocked the widest range of wizarding books in Britain, and there were times when Blaise couldn't afford the time it took to have a book shipped by owl.
He identified the correct aisle only to be confronted with Draco Malfoy flipping through a book. Blaise froze in place to assess the situation.
It had been a year since he'd seen Draco. Back then, his former friendーif they were ever friendsーhadn't even been engaged, but Blaise knew from the Prophet that he and Astoria Greengrass had married earlier in the summer. It paid to keep a close tab on his former schoolmates. He'd sent a polite gift to the wedding, but he wasn't upset about not having been invited to what had been touted as a small, private affair. All of wizarding Britain knew the older Malfoys weren't happy with their son's choice of wife. Blaise wanted to keep himself as neutral as possible in the affair.
Blaise had been expecting Draco to look weaker when he next saw him, but he didn't look like a man scorned by his family. He looked the same as always, though perhaps less pale than he'd been during his stint as a Death Eater. Despite that, Blaise hoped Draco came to regret his choice of marriage. He never could stand the pompous attitude Draco carried himself with when it was clear to everyone else that he hadn't a clue what he was doing.
When Draco looked up and noticed his presence, Blaise was scowling. A frown creased Draco's forehead, and his eyes narrowed. Without saying a word, he placed his book back on the shelf and approached, sticking out his hand for the customary handshake.
"Blaise," he said conversationally, as if no time had passed since they'd last seen each other. As if he hadn't kept Blaise off the guest list to his wedding with no explanation except the one Blaise had received from the newspaper. "What have you been up to?"
Blaise shrugged, casting an uninterested glance around the store.
Truthfully, he hadn't been up to much that would provide an interesting story. His days were more than satisfactory. Being free of school gave him all the time in the world to delve into his real interests: uncovering information and passing it onto the Ministry for consideration. It wasn't an actual job by any means—Blaise had little use for one of those—but it had already reaped him countless rewards.
Draco wouldn't be interested in that. Blaise knew how much time Lucius Malfoy had spent at the Ministry once upon a time.
Instead, he shared the one piece of personal information he was sure would pique Draco's interest.
"I'm not sure if you've heard, but I'm engaged."
Draco nodded.
"To Pansy. Yes, I heard through Daphne."
Blaise scowled. He'd told Pansy repeatedly to break off that unfortunate friendship, but apparently, she hadn't yet listened.
Not willing to air his dirty laundry in front of Draco, he forced a smile onto his face.
"It must be surprising. She was smitten with you during our Hogwarts years after all."
Draco laughed, looking the closest to ease that he had been since he'd noticed Blaise.
"Pansy was never smitten with me. She wanted a nice pureblood husband, and I was willing to pay attention to her. She still got what she wanted in the end, though I'm sure she was hoping for someone from the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
Blaise's smile was thin.
"Yes, she agrees that she made a rather foolish display of herself over the years."
Draco smirked, and Blaise felt his blood begin to boil.
"If you're trying to work me up, Zabini, it's not going to work. I'm married, remember? Honestly, if I wanted to marry Pansy, I could have. As you pointed out, she was for the idea once."
Blaise's hands tightened into fists, and he bit his tongue as Draco's eyes narrowed.
"We're in the middle of a shop," Draco said in a low voice. "Do you really wish to cause a scene?"
He didn't. Blaise shook his head, clearing it as best he could and forcing his hands to relax.
"You always were far more conceited than you had any right to be, Malfoy."
Draco laughed, this one more biting than the others.
"Perhaps, but I'm not the only one you could say that about."
Blaise couldn't stop his right hand from wrapping around his wand in the pocket of his robes, but he wasn't yet angry enough to draw it.
"Perhaps," he echoed, barely moving his lips. "I suppose we'll see who's more deserving someday."
Draco smirked.
"Are you threatening me or just making predictions about the future too vague to come true?"
Blaise didn't humour him with a response as he took a step backward and released his grip on his wand.
"Farewell, Draco. Have a nice shopping trip. I'm sure I'll see you again."
Draco snorted.
"Yeah, one would imagine. See you, Blaise."
Blaise kept his head high as he grabbed the book he'd come for from the shelf and approached the register to pay for it. The worker hardly looked at him as she worked, and Blaise smirked with satisfaction as he left, certain that Draco was still watching.
