Disclaimer: sadly, I do not own these boys or the wonderful world of Hogwarts.
Summary: Every Slytherin has a public mask that protects them from the deception that goes hand in hand with being in their house. When a series of events occur that shatter our favorite Slytherin's masks, things will forever change. Takes place in AU sixth year.
HP RANDO: The Slytherin's masquerade.
Blaise Zabini leaned back in his seat with a sigh. Draco was probably the only person that the Slytherin would ever wait for. No one else was deemed important enough. So even though he was getting quite bored, Blaise sat in the small compartment in the third car of the train...waiting. He had sent the others away nearly 10 minutes ago. Crabe and Goyle were too annoying to have around for long, and Pansy was, well she was Pansy.
Her obvious advancements were a nuisance at the moment, and seeing as the train wasn't great for the whole privacy issue, he didn't see much use for her at the moment. She would give him a proper welcome tonight when they could be alone. Pansy was in high demand these days, but Blaise was always at the top of her priorities.
Blaise was royalty in Slytherin, second only to Draco, the prince of Slytherin himself. Draco had gotten bored of Pansy a couple years ago. At least that's what he told everyone else. He would get a good snog out of her every so often, but he would never go any further with her. Everyone knew that the great Draco Malfoy had been Pansy's first, but not many knew what Blaise did. Few people knew that on that dark night two years in the past, not one, but two fourteen year old Slytherins had lost their virginity. Even fewer knew that it had not only been Draco's first time, it had also been his last and only. Blaise knew that Draco had regretted it, but also that he would never admit it.
Blaise's thoughts were interrupted after that, when the golden trio decided to make their way noisily down the corridor. Blaise listened as they shuffled past his door, hauling their trunks along behind them. It was when he was turning backing to his thoughts, when Blaise heard a familiar yell directed at Weasley.
"Watch where you're going!" This was fowled by mumblings of dark curses. It was not what was said that alarmed Blaise, rather the fact that he should not be hearing the particular voice. Since said owner of the voice should have left several days ago to Duration boarding school, Blaise simply had to be mistaken. Lex Fenwick simply couldn't be on the train going to Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry.
Blaise slid the compartment door open slightly and peered into the hall. To his utter disbelief, he was not mistaken about the voice. In the middle of the corridor, stood a small boy with shaggy brown hair. Lex caught Blaise's gaze and his eyes warmed slightly. It was always strange to see warmth in those eyes that looked so much like Narcissa Malfoy's. The crystal blue that looked like ice on his mother almost made Lex look more innocent. Blaise motioned for Lex and the boy made his way over to Blaise's compartment. When he moved to close the door behind Lex, Blaise noticed the other boy in the corridor. Blaise almost sighed in relief. It was about time Lex's brother showed up. Draco Malfoy was making his way slowly and carefully towards Blaise's compartment. As he passed the golden trio, Draco moved out of their way and made to continue. He would have succeeded, if Weasley's head was only slightly smaller.
"Oi! Ferret!" Blaise sighed internally. Weasley had started another fight that Draco would finish. He pulled his wand out, ready to come to Draco's aid if necessary. This act however, was not needed. Blaise stared in shock as Draco walked calmly past the trio, not even sparing the Weasel a glance. Weasley was not one who liked to be ignored, and had proved it on occasion. He reached out to stop Draco, his hand grabbing onto his enemy's forearm.
Before anyone truly registered what had happened, Draco had wrenched his arm away from Weasley, a pained sound escaping from his lips. All eyes traveled to the spot Weasley had touched Draco's arm. Blaise's eyes widened a fraction of a second before the golden trio's. They had all realized what could easily be branded onto that arm.
Draco gave Weasley one of his infamous death glares, but Blaise could tell something was wrong. Draco simply didn't look as menacing as he usually did. The golden trio could tell as well. The slytherin gave them one last parting glare and continued his journey to Blaise's compartment. Once he was in, Blaise began to cast the usual silencing spells around the door so nosey students wouldn't overhear their conversation.
Just as he was about to place the final locking charm on the door, it slowly opened from the outside. Ginny Weasley poked her head into the compartment and smiled when she saw Blaise. A couple of years ago this might have alarmed Blaise, or even caused a fight. Muggle studies class had been the reason for this change. It had been nearly two years since the day Blaise decided to sit down beside Ginerva Weasley in the third row of that classroom. In these two years, he had managed to create a friendship that he both cherished and despised.
"Hey Blaise, Draco," she greeted cheerfully. Her gaze fell upon the small boy sitting beside Draco and her features turned curious. "Who's your friend?"
Draco frowned and his face became tense. Blaise could tell his friend wasn't about to answer the girl, so he stepped up instead. "His name is Lex, he's a first year." Lucius had kept Narcissa's son out of the spotlight, and so far no one knew of his existence or connection to the Malfoy family. If this was the way the powerful man wanted things, Blaise was going to ensure they stayed that way.
Ginny smiled at Lex kindly before returning her gaze to Draco. "That's nice of you…looking out for a first year." She paused. "A little out of character…but still nice." When Draco said nothing, Ginny continued. "So I hear you have the Dark Mark." It wasn't a question nor was it an accusation. She spoke in a tone that made it seem like a casual conversation. Draco's eyebrows rose at her bluntness. She obviously expected Draco to say something, because when he didn't she frowned. "…..Well….do you?"
Draco hesitated before answering. "If I did…why would I tell you?"
Ginny grinned. "Because I'm curious. And because the golden trio is ranting about how you're an evil death eater and what they should do about this." Again her bluntness surprised Blaise. From the look on his face, it had surprised Draco as well. It was definitely a Griffindor quality. Slytherins were constantly hiding their true motives, always trying to trick answers out of people. They never came straight out and asked anyone. It seemed a foreign concept.
Blaise expected Draco to scoff and make one rude comment or another, but Ginny was not the only one surprising him today."Hn ...well I don't have it." Blaise barely managed not to let his jaw drop in shock. He knew Draco probably wouldn't have the mark yet, but to tell this to Ginny? It was...un-Draco like. Blaise had befriended the girl, but that hadn't made Draco warm up to Ginny nor her to him. He realized that Ginny was basically nice to everyone, but Draco? It seemed if he wasn't being a prat, then she could tolerate him. The question was why wasn't Draco wearing his usual public mask? He never let anyone other than Blaise notice there was something wrong. If he was slipping up this much, something was seriously bothering him.
Ginny smiled brightly when she heard the news. "That's good...being a death eater is dangerous." All three boys just stared at her in confusion. All the times they had talked, and Blaise still didn't understand this girl. Why should she care if Draco was a death eater for any reason other than telling Dumbledore? Any normal Gryffindor would go running to that old fool at the first mention of the topic. Although Blaise very much doubted any normal Gryffindor would be in a train compartment with three future death eaters.
Even if Ginny was a mystery, it still didn't explain Draco's strange behavior. Why was he telling her this? He didn't have long to ponder before Ginny leaped up from the seat. "I should get back before they think that you've killed me or something." Blaise cringed on the inside, and thankfully Ginny didn't notice his mood darken.
"Yeah," responded Blaise, careful to keep his tone right. "Get back to your Gryffindors."
Ginny shot them a bright smile and skipped out the door towards the awaiting trio. As soon as she was gone, Blaise locked the door and got back to his previous topic. Draco's arm, and now this new attitude of his.
"If you don't have the mark, then what's wrong with your arm?"
Draco looked up at him, pausing for a fraction too long. "You really shouldn't be getting so close to the Weaslett. You are supposed to kill her soon, or have you forgotten that little detail?"
Blaise glared at his friend. "No…I didn't forget." How could he ever forget something like that? It was the reason his and Ginny's friendship was so complicated. Friendships that start off with lies never work out. This was a basic fact. Blaise was pretty sure that friendships that started off with one side plotting to kill the other didn't work out so well either.
Draco raised an eyebrow and Blaise's glare deepened. "Forget about Ginny and stop trying to change the subject." When his statement was met with silence, Blaise sighed and grabbed Draco's arm. He was holding it above the spot that had hurt him earlier, but Draco cringed anyways.
"Blaise. Just leave it alone." Draco's glare probably would have sent anyone else running for their lives, but it had been a long time since he had been able to intimidate Blaise like that.
Blaise grabbed Draco's sleeve and rolled it up to his elbow. His eyes immediately fell upon what had hurt his friend. On his left forearm, exactly where the dark mark might have been, was a deep purple bruise. This might not have alarmed Blaise as much if it had not been an obvious handprint. "How?" was all he managed to say.
Draco glared at the hand holding his arm. "Doesn't matter. Now let go."
Blaise glared at the boy sitting opposite him and suppressed the urge to punch something. Taking a moment to calm himself, Blaise gave his friend a pleading look, the emotionless mask he usually wore taken completely off his face. "Drake…please."
Nothing was said but both boys continued to stare at each other, willing each to let them win the struggle. This might have continued for hours if not for the small boy sitting with them in the train.
"It was Lucius," Blaise allowed his gaze to travel to the child across from himself. Lex was looking up at Draco with sadness in his eyes. The path of his vision was on a set course between Draco's eyes and his arm, his teeth clenched tight in worry.
Blaise's attention was now on the boy, his grip never less remaining unchanging on Draco's arm. "Tell me what happened, Lex," Blaise's tone was not demanding, only firm and persuasive to help influence Lex's reservations.
Lex remained hesitant for a moment before surrendering to Blaise's gaze. Blaise had known the kid since he was three, and despite efforts made neither could keep something from the other for long. The same could be said concerning either boy and Draco.
"He hurt Draco…I think it's bad this time Blaise."
Blaise's attention was immediately returned to Draco. "Where else are you hurt?"
Draco's response was another glare, but it was half hearted and weaker than the previous.
"Right," responded Blaise. "Shirt off. Now."
Draco began his protest, but was cut off quickly. "Now Drake. …or do you need help?" Draco's newly developed glare was brushed off as Blaise shrugged and reached for Draco's shirt.
Draco sighed, finally admitting defeat in this particular fight. Blaise's hands were pushed away and his shirt was slowly and carefully pulled over his head.
Blaise stared critically at the deep bruise on Draco's stomach. Furious was a definite understatement when it came to his emotions concerning Lucius Malfoy. He reached out and lightly touched his friend's injury, trying to determine how much damage had been done.
Draco gasped in pain as Blaise's hand brushed his rib. "I…think it's broken."
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