Before I knew it the Christmas holidays had arrived and Ginny and I decided to go into Hogsmeade together for Christmas shopping. When we had finished the presents, the usual flossing mints for my parents, a book on the greatest aurors of all time, a box of 100 chocolate frogs for Ron as a few new cards had been introduced and he had so far failed to get the one about himself and for Ginny I bought a pair of earrings. I had asked my parents to get a blue leather pad designed for watercolours that I had seen in a muggle art shop for Blaise.

"Hermione, do you mind if we shop for a dress now? It's just that the ball is coming up and I want to look good for Harry."

"No I don't mind at all, I need a dress too." I replied. "I can't be disappointing my date either." I added slyly.

"What!? You have a date!? Who!?"

"You needn't be so surprised I am allowed to have one, anyway it's not just a date Gin, a boyfriend"

"Since when!? You could have told me, who is it? How long have you been together?"

"I didn't tell you because you would tell Harry because you tell each other everything and Harry would tell Ron. We have been going out since November but I'm still not going to tell you who."

"Why? I won't tell anyone I promise."

"No you'll find out on Christmas Eve like everyone else, he'll be easy enough to spot because of that stupid new rule. You know the one where all the couples have to wear the exact same colour as each other." (A/N: Don't ask where that came from, my mind works in mysterious ways but as you will see later it fits in quite well.)

"Oh yeah that one, I was just going to get my dress and ask for a sample of the material so Harry can charm his dress robes to match."

"Good idea, it's so stupid I don't know why they thought of it, it's pointless."

"Well it's going to be colourful as no couple will be the same colour as anyone else, Harry and I have decided on green because it suits my hair and matches his eyes. What about you and the mystery man?"

"Either indigo or dark blue." I prayed that Ginny just thought it was because it was a nice colour and she had never noticed Blaise's eyes.

We entered the shop and began to search for the perfect dress for the perfect evening. Ginny found an emerald green strapless sating dress with a beaded bodice and a knee length skirt. I found a mole skin (A/N: the fabric not actual animal fur) midnight blue dress with wide straps, a v neck and silver sequins with a skirt that came to my ankles.

We left the shop with our dresses and sample material for Blaise and Harry. Walking back to the castle with arms loaded with presents we talked excitedly about the upcoming ball.


I awaited the approach of the ball with a certain amount of anxiety. Apart from being and outsider and not becoming a deatheater in time I had never really done anything to truly anger the Slytherins. This ball would be when I showed how I really felt, I had always been careful in the past but Hermione made me almost reckless.

She had changed my life in three months, I had been bitter that I had been born into a prominent deatheater family. I had spent my whole life a coward, trying to postpone becoming a deatheater by saying I wanted to finish school first rather than saying no and facing up to my actions. I had been too scared to show where my loyalties really lay, too scared to say no to Voldemort and too scared to fight for what I believed in. I was too scared to stand up to the Slytherins that made my life at school hell, the ones that meant I was constantly bruised and aching. I was born into a proud strong family but I couldn't live up to my name.

I was like the Cowardly Lion, just waiting to be given courage like it was something to be eaten or a possession; even though I knew that wasn't possible. I was wrong, oh so wrong. I had been given courage, in the form of a clever brown haired girl; she was all the courage I needed. It was because of that girl that I wasn't only nervous about revealing our relationship, I was excited. This was my chance to prove myself, to show I was no longer a coward. I was Blaise Zabini, standing up for what I believe in, breaking free from the shackles I had been in my whole life.

A week before the ball Hermione gave me a cutting of midnight blue material. "It's from my dress, your dress robes need to be this colour exactly."

"It's beautiful; you chose well it will look amazing on you."

"Thanks Blaise, the ball is next week it starts at seven."

"I know."

"Well Ginny, Lavender, Parvati and I are getting ready together so all four of us are meeting our dates by the doors. Harry, Ron and Seamus will be there so stand with them."

"Easier said than done."

That was how I found myself standing by the door in my finest dress robes, charmed to match Hermione's dress. I was waiting anxiously holding a small bunch of flowers consisting of two blue lilies and one white rose. We heard their voices and Harry, Ron, Seamus and I all straightened up expectantly.


Hey, you might have noticed that considering I submitted chapter 8 that I was back, clearly not as i only got 1 review. More apologies as usual, firstly alot of you don't like it that Blaise is being bullied i cant chage that cause it's kind of important. Secondly some people have said i have been overly dramatic, sorry I didn't realise I was trying not to be boring, I will try and cut down. Anyway the lack of reviews was shamef full and I kand of want to reach 30 by the end of the story wich will be chapter 13 I think so i will steal an idea, make me happy and follow the arrows

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