Chapter One

Kingsley, Bagman, Fudge … He frowned. Why such a mess? It had been here just a moment ago. He would swear to it. He checked again. The documents had gone missing.

His brow furrowed with concentration, Blaise Zabini stood atop the rickety stepladder, sorting through an awkward armful of leather-bound books, when he heard the library door creak open.

"Mr. Blaise, I would speak with you!" exclaimed an imperious voice.

Oh, no. Not again.

Blaise started, his grip loosened, and the documents tumbled from his arms to land. The ladder swayed, and he made a mad grab for the railings. Gooseflesh prickled over his skin as he realized just how close he'd come to falling. And with the realization came a rush of anger. He looked down at the documents which lay in mass on the floor. He exhaled slowly; none of them appeared to be damaged. He twisted around to glare at the intruder.

"I told you before, the answer is no!"

A familiar figure stood in the doorway. Tall and slender, in a black robe trimmed with purple ribbon and cheeky smile on his face. Sharp green eyes and a thin lips gave him a striking, but not unhandsome countenance.

"Minister" said Blaise with bored voice. "Forgive me. I did not know it was you."

"So I gathered," replied minister, unruffled. "The fault is mine. I am sorry for startling you and causing you difficulties … "

Blaise descended the ladder with gingerly steps. "These documents are irreplaceable." He collected the fallen ones by switch of his wand and piled them on a nearby table.

Minister gave him a pointed look and raised the eyebrows. "Merlin, Mr. Zabini what on earth have you been doing? You look like you stayed a day under Whipping Willow."

He folded his hands on his chest and finally looked at the Minister.

"Did you need something, Minister?"

"Please call me Harry, we have to cooperate together and this title makes me feel the burden of my function. "Not answering on the question, he gave him a tiny smile.

"Hmm," sniffed, his lips compressed in a thin line and turned his attention back to the bookshelves that lined the room. And waited for an answer. The silence was pregnant. But any of these two men was not willing to break it.

"We cannot keep avoiding each other," after all he continued.

"I do believe Minister, I has made my opinions known on more than one occasion." He refused to call Potter his first name.

The Potter arched an eyebrow. "Is there any chance to change them at least for this election period? You should at least think about it." He came closer and stopped before the table with fallen documents.

Blaise's corners of lips were twitching. "Oh, yes, sir. I can change my opinion as you please." He replied sarcastically.

"So this small misunderstanding between two of us is not over?"

"Never. " Blaise replied and returned to his work.

"Well enough." Malfoy answered an eccentric young witch.

She grinned. "And how was your trip to India?"

"Hot, wet, and thoroughly unpleasant," replied the Malfoy with asperity. He was not in the mood to speak with this small chick. He needed something a little bit different. He sipped his wine which tasted to much ordinary. He began to wonder if he is in the right place or he is wasting his precious time.

"Draco Malfoy …" he heard familiar voice and turned round to welcome his old friend. But before he could speak up, he was interrupted.

"We have important matters to discuss. Can we have some private?" Blaise looked contemptuously on the young witch.

"You did not have to terrify her." Draco replied with a chuckle as she had excused herself and left them alone. They took a seat on the purple sofa and cast an isolation ward.

"This place still looks obnoxious." Blaise looks on glass golden chandeliers a red wallpapers. The furniture was inspired by a muggle baroque period. "I thought that you had some style at least but I was mistaken."

"I do not own this place." He replied in defense against such accusation.

"But you spend your time here. A lot of time gossips says."

"I do not deny it. This place is still the most ostentatious club in Wizard London. You do not know who you will meet and I shall do as I please." He paused.

"Anyway what are you doing here?" He ended his speech.

"Looking for you." he replied. His face looked worn out.

"Do you miss me so much?" He said playing the surprise. Blaise gave him bored look. But his dark eyes softened.

Blaise laced his fingers to stop their nervous fidgets. He needed a help but it was painful to ask for it. He was revealing his weak points. He hated himself for it. He should be able to solve it alone and close this issues.

"Your name is still valuable in some circles." He paused "It could be more if your father did not succumb Dark Lord and you did not behave as adolescent"

"Blaise, dear friend. You seems to be dragged down and you have to still openly criticize me and my family. I love the way, you are unchangeable even if you are at yours wits'end. I can say. It suits you." He gave him a sarcastically smile. . Then gestured to the tall, multi-armed bronze statue visible in the vestibule.

"Blaise. Have you ever visit any temples in India? This is Siva, the god of destruction and new beginnings. He is the patron of those who have no place in society-outcasts. Given all that has transpired over the course of my life."

Blaise stared on the moving statue for a while.

"Indeed." murmured in a thoughtful tone. "And now we must get to our business."

Draco's hand raised glass of wine to his lips. "What business would that be, Blaise?"

"Your future."

"My future?" Draco echoed.

Blaise gave him a heavy sigh. "Yes, your future. I should speak plainly, Draco, since I know no other way to go about it. You cannot continue to live like this."

"Like what?"

"Like… well, like a libertine."

"A libertine?" Draco frown deepened.

"A libertine, rake, profligate, call it as you like." Blaise confirmed with a nod. "Like those fellows you met on your voyages…"

"Hedonist. And I am not one of them, I can assure you."

"What would you call it, then?" demanded the black man. "It seems, there is no party or event without your presence. And there are gossips about your love live filling any newspapers." He raised his hands to point on the statue of Siva. "It was understandable two years back, you had to cope with death of Astoria. It was hard for you. You wanted to forget. But now is time to do something with your life. Do not waste your life completely away."

"Merlin, Blaise … What happens to you such a care for my wellbeing. It really touches my heart." Draco looked askance at his friend. "If I did not know you better," he said archly, "I'd swear you are plotting something."

"You give me too much credit, Draco," he protested.

"Nonsense. You have an exceptional mind. I would not permit some nitwit to meddle to my life." His lips twitched. "But you cannot expect that I will swallow your bait so easily. You must try better."

"I was unpacking and cataloging the documents on the department. These ones which you brought from India and gave it as a gift to department." He angrily inhaled. "Have you any idea what you have given away? I would never let anyone touch it, if I owned them."

"I had my reasons, so you can stop fussing around." Draco stopped him.

Blaise opened his mouth, then closed it with a snap. His black eyes flashing, looking for all the world like an inquisitive bird.

"The problem is that some of them went missing before we were able to move them to the Department of Mysteries." He whispered.

"Don't be ridiculous." Draco harrumphed. "There was no need to put them to the Department of Mysteries. These were only genealogical trees, not Dark Arts. And I do not see reason why would somebody steal them. He could make simple copy of it. You remain too long time close up in the department. It has bad influence on your mind."

"You idiot, It contains an ancient magic, a powerful ancient magic." Blaise replied. Another knot of tension began at the back of his neck, but he resisted the urge to rub at it.

"Well, it should," prodded Malfoy. His severe expression eased. "But this magic is not dark nor villainous."

"Not villainous!" He exhaled unbelievable. "Do you have any idea what have your schemes done to me?" With his wand revealed the glamour on his hand. On his dark right hand was a small silver symbol. He could not recognize it.

"Nice tattoo, what it means." Malfoy commented indifferently.

"It is symbol of love and I was cursed when I was working with yours documents." He said angrily. "This is proof that they are not for sure secure. And you have a problem. If something happens, you are in a jam."

"I do not know, how it got on your hand." He answered between sips of wine. "Are you sure that it was caused by these documents?" He looked at him skeptically.

"Do you feel any other effects on you except the tattoo?" Malfoy gazed mildly back at him. "Perhaps you need to take a lover and chill out." quipped Draco.

The black man gasp of shock sent a flood of liquid down his windpipe, and he began to cough. "Malfoy it is not funny!" he sputtered. His expression was furious, he set his glass down with a clatter. "The part of the documents, which I was exploring, had been missing."

"Which part it was?" Malfoy asked with keen interest.

"I do not remember it had to modify my mind and Merlin knows what else."

"So you have a blackout. You cannot be sure, if it was caused by documents or somebody or something else. Blaise, please find some girl and have a fun for one night. You look overworked." Mischief twinkled in Draco's eyes. "

Blaise did not answer right away. "I am not certain if I wish to spend my time in company of some muggle born chick." He stood up angrily to leave the club.

"It is a pity, you will not remain." Draco murmured for himself.