6th Year.
Owlery.
Hermione and Blaise.
"You're not protecting him. He's going to leave Hogwarts eventually. When he does those letters are going to start heading his way too. He needs to know how to deal with them."
"What do you know about it, Zabini?" Hermione asked even as she was pulling out her wand.
"Put your wand away Granger. My mother is in the Prophet every other month, lauded for her donations to charity. At the same time, I have a new stepfather every month. Of course I know how to manage the media."
"How do I know this isn't a plot to discredit Harry?" Hermione's grip on her wand tightened. Zabini's wand may not have been out but it didn't mean he didn't have tricks up his sleeve.
"I hate Gryffindors. Just tell Potter I'm an expert if he ever needs one."
Zabini turned leaving his back unprotected, which was the only reason Hermioen felt safe enough to ask him a question.
"Zabini. Can we ever stop them?"
"You don't stop it, not when you're as famous as Potter, you just leverage enough power that you control the questions being asked. By the way Granger, leverage does not mean kidnapping and imprisoning an insect, no matter how sore your fingers were. When it gets worse, and it will, get him to contact me."
"What's in it for you?"
"There's a war on Granger, what do you think is in it for me?"