Alya fell gracelessly out of the fireplace and right into the arms of Blaise Zabini.
Instead of stepping away from him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hiding her face into his chest, she cried.
Blaise tightened his hold on her, enveloping her in his embrace, almost trying to hide her away and protect her from all the word. He let her cry, rubbing her back gently and speaking soothingly in her ear and randomly kissing her head.
It took the poor girl almost forty minutes to cry herself into exhaustion. When the uncontrollable crying stopped and all that remained were quiet sniffles, he bent his knees and hooking an arm behind her legs, he swung her up in his arms.
He could feel her tears wetting his skin, where her face was now tucked in the crook of his neck. Slowly, as to not jostle her too much, he walked out of the floo room and towards the first sitting room in his path.
Sitting in the long and comfortable sofa, he placed her in his lap and leaned back, waiting for her to be ready to talk. After a couple of minutes, he thought better and called for an elf to bring them some hot chocolate and cookies.
As soon as the elf popped away he could feel some movement from the petite girl.
"I'm so sorry.." she whispered from her hiding place. He could feel her fist clutching the back of his button down shirt.
"Shh. There's no need to apologize" he whispered back, as if afraid she would close back up if he spoke any louder
"I acted like a crazy hysterical.. thing." she protested weakly "I cried all over you, probably ruined your shirt"
"Who cares about the shirt?" he scoffed "You can cry all over my entire wardrobe if that will make you feel better."
"Thank you"
"You're welcome"
"No. I really mean it." She insisted "Thank you for allowing me to stay, thank you for dealing with my crazy self and for being so understanding. I don't know what I would have done without you. I had nowhere else to go"
"I'm glad I was able to help you. I told you already that I would have been by your side if anything were to happen and I meant every word. You don't need to thank me"
His only response was a quiet sniffle and a nod against his neck.
"How would you feel about some chocolate, mh?" he tried "You must have had a long and horrible day."
"Alright"
He gently coaxed her arms to release their iron tight hold on him before handling her a mug. He still kept her on his lap though. He didn't want her to be any farther away from him that she would be now to drink.
Looking at her like this, she seemed a completely different person from the fiery girl he met that day at the manor, the same one who ripped Draco a new one; the scary, and sexily so, little goddess who exuded such power. Gone was that girl and in her place was now a scared and vulnerable little kitten.
It made all of his protective instincts flare up. He was ready to lock her away in his manor to protect her, to kill anyone who dared to reduce her in such a state. She had to simply say the word and he would comply with her every demand.
"Come on, kitten. Drink some chocolate, you'll feel better" he encouraged her, caressing her wet cheek with the back of his finger.
She hummed and took a small sip.
They went on like this until she managed to drink half the cup, before he took it away and guided her to lean back down on his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.
He closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again she was asleep.
Quietly he called for the elf again and ordered him to prepare the guest room for Alya, having been too worried to do it earlier when she first called.
Slowly and carefully he got on his feet, keeping a secure hold on his precious cargo.
He was walking up the stair when he crossed paths with his mother.
The elegant woman arched a sculptured eyebrow at her son, never in her years expecting him to go around with a sleeping female in his arms with such ease. She knew that people believed her boy to be a Casanova, a womanizer, but in reality he held love on a pedestal.
It was probably her fault, with her numerous lovers and marriages, but Blaise wanted The One and no one else. He might flirt lightly with every woman he meets, but he wouldn't settle for anything less than True Love. Incredibly romantic, if not a bit naïve in her opinion. Years of pain and loneliness jaded her and made her distrust the idea that such kind of love existed.
Blaise mouthed 'I'll explain' to her before continuing on his way to the guest room.
He gently lowered Alya on the bed and covered her with the blankets. He sighed at the sight of her, with puffy eyes, red nose and curled tight on the bed. Before he realized he was even moving he was removing a lock of ebony hair form her face and caressing her from temple to chin.
When Alya woke up next she found herself in an unfamiliar room. It took her a moment to remember the events of the day before. Feeling her chest hurting and a new flood of tears threatening to spill, she got up from the bed and headed to the attached bathroom and took a long warm shower.
The water cascading on her body relaxed all her stiff muscles and cleared the fog from her mind. She still wanted to cry her heart out but she would not. She was stronger than that and it was time to show it. Yesterday she had broken down with Blaise, not even realizing that she had grown to trust him so much. She had refused to show any kind of vulnerability to her family even after years of being with them, while Blaise had managed to get past her walls in mere months. Unbelievable.
Removing her trunk form the pocket of the skirt she wore the day before, she took out fresh clothes and got dressed. Then she went in search of the boy who comforted with such care and gentleness when she was at her lowest. She blushed a bit thinking about it and how she was so closely wrapped around him.
Walking down the long marble corridors she admired the art displayed on the walls. Whomever chose the pieces had very good taste. The peaceful and colorful landscapes were reminiscent of a dream, the portraits of graceful ballerinas, pretty girls of noble origin or even the peculiar traits of the Japanese art. Every once in a while she would see a painting representing a battle or a proud warrior. It was all so beautiful.
The difference with her home was staggering. While Malfoy Manor resembled a museum with his opulent show of wealth, Zabini Manor was warm and inviting even with all the priceless beauty of its art.
"Buon giorno, Bella Addormentata" 'Good morning, Sleeping Beauty'
She turned on her heels, startled by the deep voice at her back and she found herself frozen and blushing madly.
Blaise was there, dressed only in a pair of sweatpants running low on his hips, his bare torso glistened with sweat and his hair was messy from whatever workout he just finished. 'Running' she reminded herself 'he liked running early morning'. She had always known he was handsome, but he looked even more so now.
She had failed to get a look at him the previous day but she could see it now. He was taller, having hit a grow spurt during the school year, and he was nicely muscled for a boy his age. Not bulky, but the kind of muscles that made you want to trace them with your fingers.
She mentally slapped herself for the thought, not believing that she was even able to think such a thing.
Maybe the hormones were catching up to her. Her aunt would say that it was high time it happened, but she found herself incredibly embarrassed.
"You alright?" he asked tilting his head to the side.
'Had his voice always been so deep and husky?' she thought
"Fine." She said quickly, repressing any squeaking noise that wanted to get out of her throat "You just scared me"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to"
Dear Mother of Merlin, didn't he realize the effect he had on her? She was practically self-combusting on the floor and didn't even have the grace to put on a shirt!
She nodded, unsure of how many words she would be able to say without dying of humiliation.
"Are you hungry?" he asked "I'll have the elves prepare breakfast on the terrace. The weather is lovely." He continued "Just give me ten minutes to shower"
"Sure"
Blaise smirked. He was trying hard to be courteous and ignore the way she was ogling him and blushing but she was making it so very difficult. Not only her reaction was flattering and a great stroke to his male ego, but seeing her so affected by him relieved him.
He knew that she was the kind of girl that was hard to get, but seeing so little response to his flirting in her letters, made him doubt himself and think that maybe she didn't like him at all. Maybe she just blushed easily or something.
Seeing her now, though, he knew that she definitely liked him. It couldn't be just shyness.
"Why don't I call an elf to show you to the terrace while I make myself presentable?" he proposed taking pity on her.
"Thank you"
Alya kept her head lowered, intent on studying her breakfast for the time being. She felt so silly but after what happened mere minutes earlier she just couldn't bring herself to face him.
Why of all times, why start now acting like such a girl?
Blaise pursed his lips, it was no good if she finally showed a little interest in him only to close back up right after.
"How did your OWLs go?" asked, deeming her exams a safe topic
"Oh. Well I think. I will receive the results in a week or so, maybe a little more since I have tested so many subjects"
"What do you think was your best subject?"
"Dueling, definitely. Though Spell crafting comes a close second along with potions"
Blaise whistled impressed "Spell crafting is extremely difficult and dangerous"
"It can be, if you don't know what you're doing or if you don't take the necessary precautions. I like it though"
"And your worst?" he smirked
Alya pouted "Divination" she said in distaste "To qualify for the program I have to take all subjects, including that useless crap. It ruins my record"
He let out a deep belly laugh at that "I don't envy you. If your divination teacher is anything like ours it must be awful. I refused to take the class but Draco says that she is a drunk old bat who likes to predict student's deaths."
"Oh, he told me about her" she nodded "I can't believe it. Ours maybe be loony and likes to talk in riddles but at least she tries to teach and make us understand the ramifications of her subject, as useless as it might be"
He chuckled at her final statement, happy that he was able to get her to be comfortable with him once again.
"What electives did you take?" She asked
"Ancient Runes and Arithmancy" he answered "If Dumbledore hadn't banned them decades ago, I would have probably taken Alchemy and Dueling too"
"And people wonder why Hogwarts fell off her pedestal of best school. The difference between the list of subject offered a century ago and the ones available now is staggering. Dumbledore slowly removed them from the curriculum and people don't even know about them now. The ministry too, what the hell did they think banning entire branches of magic just because muggleborns are squeamish about it or just plain ignorant?"
"That or they didn't want people to use such powerful magics when they aren't able to do the same"
"That too" she agreed
Alya finally took a look at her surroundings. From the terrace she could see the shimmering golden beach and the crystal waters of the sea, off to one side there were a group of cliffs while on the other it was full of greenery and trees.
"It's so beautiful here" she whispered
"It is, isn't it?" he smiled leaning back against his chair "This is the manor my father bought for him and my mother. He was never able to show it to her, she learned about it only when we met grandfather and then insisted it be put down on my name."
Alya looked at him sensing there was more to his words
He smiled sadly "She had never been able to stay here for more than two days straight. Too many memories and thoughts, I think. As for me, I love it here. It makes me feel close to him and it's so peaceful. This is where I usually live and spend my time off school while mother is off somewhere else with her husbands"
"You mean that you live here alone? That this is all yours?"
"Yes." Seeing her look of shock he elaborated "Mother is very caring with me and considers me her greatest treasure, but she is in a constant state un unrest, it seems to get worse the older I get. After I met Grandfather I would usually spend half a year with him and half with Mother. During the time alone she got used to living a certain kind of life, with less responsibilities and more freedom. I could see that it was hard for her to go back between taking care of me and being the frivolous woman her husbands expected her to be. So, when I was twelve I convinced her to let me live here. She was reluctant to agree but an army of house elves looking after me and the promise that both her and Grandfather could check up anytime they wanted made her cave."
"Part of me envies you" She admitted quietly staring at her hands in her lap.
"There are pros and cons, to living alone. It gets awfully lonely at times.."
"At least you won't ever risk being thrown out of what you considered your home because your father refused to recognize you and may be a danger to your life" she whispered
Blaise sighed deeply. He had wanted to believe things would go well for her, as it had for him. "I'm sorry, cara."
She smiled weakly "Not your fault."
"Come on." He encouraged rising to his feet and offering his hand to the girl "Let's take a walk on the beach. It's on the must do list, when you go to Italy" he said mock seriously.
"Sur.. Wait, did you say Italy?"
"Of course. Did you think I would spend my holidays in gray rainy England when I have a beautiful manor on the coast of Italy?" he scoffed "And wait until I show you the rest. I'll make this the best holiday you ever had" he promised.
"I look forward to it" She said with a big smile, laying her hand in his larger tanned one.
Blaise is slowly proving to Alya that he's a keeper, I'll say. I would certainly keep him... Cough..
