Holding his wrist, Elpis pulled Blaise along behind her. As she pushed open the wooden door to a deserted bathroom, she turned around, a sultry smirk on her face.
Walking back against the circle of sinks in the middle of the room, Elpis grabbed both of the hands of the tall, dark boy in front of her, a victorious grin on his handsome face. Blaise stepped forward, erasing the space between them, and grabbed Elpis hungrily by her hips. She let out a small gasp as he lifted her up on to the edge of the sink. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him against her.
He pressed his lips against hers, rolling his body as he stepped forward, one hand wandering to her back and the other sliding down to the soft skin of her thigh below the hem of her dark skirt. His lips slowly moved away from hers, tracing down her jaw line, resting on the space between her collar bones for a moment. Elpis let out a small moan as his full lips kissed her neck, closing her eyes as she reveled in the feeling of his body intertwined with hers, the heat radiating off of his skin.

His strong hand roamed further up her leg, disappearing beneath the fabric of her skirt. Surprised, Elpis raised her eyebrows as she kissed him back, her slender fingers resting on either side of his face. Feeling a tingle in the pit of her stomach, she swallowed nervously, her heartbeat racing even faster than it already had been from his presence.
"Blaise," she said quietly, speaking between their kisses. He didn't respond, his hand traveling freely beneath her skirt.

"Blaise," Elpis repeated, her voice firmer as she pulled away from their kissing. "Not...not now."
Letting out a dark chuckle, a primal noise deep from his throat, Blaise crashed his lips against hers again, pushing her back against the glass of the mirror behind her.
"No," she said, the word coming out as a weak cry as her fear consumed her, robbing her of her voice.
She felt his large hand close around the front of her throat, slamming her into the mirror as she tried to push him away.
Closing her eyes at the sound of the glass cracking and the pain searing at the back of her head, Elpis gasped. Clawing at his arm desperately, her words came out in almost a whisper as she found it nearly impossible to take a breath. "Stop, Blaise! Please, stop!"
As she opened her eyes again, every surface of the room was suddenly replaced with cracked glass, matching the mirror behind her. Though the image they reflected was refracted and shattered, Elpis recognized what she was seeing.
The person holding her against the cold glass, their hungry lips against her throat and their hand pulling at her clothing, wasn't Blaise. Elpis stared wide-eyed at her reflection, Draco Malfoy ravaging her, letting out another sadistic laugh.

As she screamed in her nightmare, the terror ripping out of her throat, Elpis bolted upright in her bed, the images and noises echoing in her mind.
'Just a dream,' she thought to herself, looking around the dark bedroom. It was the middle of the night. In their own four-post beds, the blue silk sheets reflecting the moonlight that streamed in through the windows, Luna and Padma slept soundly, unaware of their freezing fear that coursed through their roommate's veins. 'It was just a dream.'
Slowly lying back down, pulling her blankets up around her, Elpis stared at the dying embers in the fireplace across the room, steadying her breathing and trying to calm her racing heartbeat. She didn't know how much time passed before she fell into a restless sleep again, listening to the sound of the wind blowing outside of the Ravenclaw tower.

"So, what's your favorite poem then?" Elpis heard a deep, English voice say.
Looking up at Blaise, she furrowed her brow.
"Go away," she replied bluntly, her voice quiet. His usual mask of effortless nonchalance faltered for a moment as he stood beside her at the back of the potions room. Today in class, Professor Slughorn had given them the assignment of brewing Wiggenweld Potion, which, if done correctly, would serve as a healing potion with the power to awaken a person from a magically-induced sleep.
"We can be civil, you know," he replied simply. With a smirk, he added, "If not primal."
With her jaw locked as she dropped several drops of flobberworm mucus into the red, blood-like liquid in the cauldron they shared, Elpis squinted her eyes in irritation.
"Don't talk about it," she said sternly.
"I will say," Blaise continued, "you are quite a passionate kisser. You really get into it-"
"I'm going to give you another chance," Elpis interrupted, gently putting down the glass dropper on the table, still not looking at him. "If you don't leave me alone, I won't hesitate to spill this cauldron on you. The honey water hasn't been added yet, so it's still highly acidic. I don't know how well your shoes will stand up to it, but I don't think it would be enjoyable finding out."
Clearing his throat, Blaise looked back down at his potions book. Being two of the best students in class, Professor Slughorn had paired them up.
"Just trying to make friendly conversation," he said innocently, picking up the vial of salamander blood, as if that had been his objective in standing beside her. His hand brushed against hers, their fingers lightly touching, and Elpis knew it hadn't been an accident. Her body flinched away from him, a small and almost unnoticeable movement, but Blaise noticed, an expression of concern passing over his face for brief moment. "After all," he continued, "we were paired together. I'm sure it's just a coincidence though."
Scoffing, Elpis finally turned to look at him.
"And what else would it be?" she asked, a patronizing look on her face and her voice cold.

The corner's of his lips turned up ever so slightly as she watched him sprinkle the dark blood into the potion. Seeing this, Elpis frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. It wasn't a smirk, but a smile; a soft-hearted smile. She realized this as he looked up from the cauldron, meeting her gaze. His eyes were warm and affectionate, and Elpis straightened herself, uncrossing her arms and looking away. Blaise had smiled because he knew she was forcing herself to be cruel with him. She was a talented actress, but he recognized the lie now.

He had seen the softer side of Elpis, when she forgot about hiding and being afraid of onlookers, when everything else faded away and they were alone together. When she had been talking about poetry across the table from him, a spark in her dark brown eyes. When she let her mask drop away.

"Fate," Blaise answered simply.
"Oh my," Elpis replied dully, fixing her eyes on the cauldron as she slowly stirred its contents. "And here I was thinking -if anything -at least you were marginally sensible. But here you are, sounding like Trelawney."
"You're not a believer then?" Blaise asked, amusement in his voice. "A non-superstitious witch?"
"If I had to give whatever this," she replied, gesturing back and forth between the two of them, "is a description, I wouldn't say fate. I'd say it's more of the universe having a dark sense of humor."
"If you were referring to the fact that I am tall, dark, and handsome, then yes, I agree."
Elpis rolled her eyes, sighing as she sensed the boy beside her smirk.
"I was not referring to that," she said.
"So you agree that I'm handsome," Blaise responded.
Resisting the urge to growl, Elpis clenched her jaw.
"I shouldn't be surprised that you're twisting my words. What else would I expect of a snake?"
"If we're going down that path, a group of Ravens is known as an unkindness. But I know better than that. You're not an unkind person. And I'm not a-"
"Serpent," Elpis finished for him, raising an eyebrow. Lowering her voice, she continued. "Really? Untrustworthy. Greedy. Poisonous. I wonder who all those things apply to."
Smirking at her, Blaise nodded.
"If I'm remembering correctly, serpents also represent temptation. Desire."
Letting out a cold laugh, she shook her head at him.
"Suggesting what? That I desire you? Keep it up and you may just get bumped to the top of the list of arrogant people I know. You may even beat Knott. Maybe even Malfoy if you're really determined."
"I am not my friends," Blaise replied, turning to look at her. Elpis furrowed her brow, looking intently down at the table in front of her. Taking a shaky breath, the images from her nightmare from the night before flashed into her mind. Her own scream echoed in her head.
"Are you alright?" he asked, lowering his voice and stepping closer to her.
Swallowing, Elpis glanced up at him. He stood a whole head taller than her, as she barely reached his shoulders with her height.

"The Wiggenweld is done," she said, her eyes looking away to the cauldron. Looking down at the space between them, Blaise saw that she was right; the liquid in the copper pot had turned a bright green, meaning it was done brewing.
"Alright class!" Professor Slughorn called out excitedly as he began to walk around the room. "Sadly, our time together for today is coming to an end. But I am looking forward to seeing all of your lovely concoctions."
The noise of the all the students in the classroom beginning to pack their belongings filled the stone dungeon. Elpis turned away from Blaise, putting her potions book into her shoulder bag.

"You never did answer my question," he said to her. He did not look at her. Anyone looking at the two young wizards wouldn't know they had spoken a word all class.
"And what question would that be?" she asked, her voice uninterested.
"What's your favorite poem?"
She stopped cleaning up, her hand stopping over the jar of lionfish spines.
"You don't care," she said matter-of-factly.
Blaise almost laughed out loud, looking incredulously at the table.
"How thick is your skull?" he asked, glancing sideways at her. "I only ask because you're supposed to be a genius, but I find myself time and time again wondering how you can be so… mad."
"I assure you my skull is no thicker than the average human's skull," she said. "Given that I'm a 16 year old female, I'd say it's about 7 millimete-"
"Why do you always change the subject?" Blaise asked. He didn't play along this time, offering no witty rebuttal.
The mischief in Elpis' eyes faded away, being replaced with something that looked like pity. There was almost a hint of sadness, Blaise thought.
"I'm sure you can answer that," she said, again taking on the air of an instructor, looking down at her cauldron. Professor Slughorn walked over to their table, standing in between them. Placing an unconscious rat on the table, the teacher pulled a dropper out of his robe pocket. Collecting a small amount of the green liquid, he dropped one drop on to the small, brown creature. After a long moment, its leg twitched. Suddenly, the small rat jumped up, squeaking and twitching its nose. Elpis smiled at the little animal, and Blaise smiled at her joy.
"Excellent job!" Professor Slughorn exclaimed splendidly. "I do say you two make a wonderful team."
Elpis rolled her eyes, wishing he hadn't said that. Oblivious, the potions master patted the both of them on their backs with a warm grin on his face and walked away to evaluate another pair of students.

Reaching her hand out, she let the rat sniff her. As it put its front paws onto her palm, she scooped it up in her hands.
"I'm glad we didn't kill you," Elpis said quietly, smiling at the creature as she gently stroked its soft head with her fingertip.
Blaise scoffed. Looking up at him through her eyelashes, her eyes were intolerant, her patience wearing thin.
Holding his palms up, he shrugged.
"Sorry," he said, his voice sounding anything but, a smirk on his face. "I just find it interesting how you're nicer to a rat than you are me."
"This rat hasn't done anything wrong," Elpis told him, turning away. She walked across the room, placing him on Professor Slughorn's desk.
"Until next time," the soft-faced old man called out, "I bid you all adieu!"
The classroom emptied, all the young wizards filing out and up the stone steps that lead them away from the Hogwart's dungeons.

Merging into the crowd of the hallway, Blaise walked several feet behind Elle, watching her fade away into the crowd. Steeling his nerves, he rushed forward, pushing his way through the sea of people.
Grabbing her wrist, gentle enough to not hurt her but firm enough to pull her with him, he guided them into an empty classroom, their disappearance going unnoticed by their classmates. He heard her call out something in protest, but he didn't release her until he closed the door behind them. Pulling away from his grip with slightly too much effort, Elpis stumbled backwards, her eyes daggers as she caught herself on a desk.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she spat, her words loud and echoing in the room.
"I'm sorry," he said, stepping forward with his hands out. He wished she hadn't fallen. Now her temper would be even more unfavorable. She stepped back, pressing herself against the desk. Noticing this, along with the fear that flashed in her eyes before she scowled, Blaise frowned, a disappointed crease forming between his eyebrows.
"What would your friends think of us being alone together?" she said, her voice icy, harsh.
"I don't care what they think," he said sternly, his patience fading. Growing exasperated, he added with a desperation in his voice, "Their opinion doesn't matter! Why are you so obsessed with what other people think?"
"I'm NOT obsessed!" she shouted back, flames in her eyes. Elle knew she was being loud, but she was resting on the hope that the noise from the bustle of the rest of the school outside of their classroom would drown out their voices. Even if they didn't, she didn't care in that moment. He blood was running hot and she was finally going to let it all out.
"And I'm NOT crazy, either!" she continued, her hands balled into fists. It was the angriest Blaise had ever seen her, and he didn't try to interrupt her. He crossed his arms, letting her speak as she slammed her bag onto the table behind her and marched around the room, throwing her hands into the air and gesticulating furiously. "All you care about is what you think and what you want and you're so entitled and privileged that you can't even fathom the idea of needing to go through life actually needing to follow some rules! Because you know what? You wanna know why I'm playing hard to get? Because this isn't a game, Blaise! Maybe it is for you, but I don't get that luxury! I can't just do whatever I want! If I was stupid enough to go along with this-this, whatever this is, I would be the one to get burned! Okay? I would be the one who was left to deal with the consequences!"
Breathing heavy, she looked at him, her eyes frantic, and silence fell on the room.
"Did something happen?" he asked, his voice calm. The anger and passion in the room faded away, and Elpis leaned back against the desk, her hands gripping the edge on either side of her.
"No," she responded, her voice quiet. It was so small and soft compared to the words she had been wailing before, and Blaise frowned at her. Why was she lying? What did she have to lie about?
Walking over to where she stood, he leaned back against the table beside her, their arms almost touching. Almost. Elpis didn't move.
Laughing softly, shaking his head at the ground, Blaise smiled. Turning to look at him, Elpis furrowed her brow.
"And you say I'm mad," she stated, putting on an English accent as she mocked him on the last word. He met her eyes, raising his eyebrows.
"Was that your English accent?" he asked with disbelief, a smirk growing on his face. "That was horrendous."
Despite all the anger that had been rushing through her only moments before, she couldn't help but smile, holding the soft chuckle that bubbled up inside her in her throat.
"And you do a Northern accent, you know," he continued, the amusement still in his voice. "I'm not even Northern."
"I'm sure your American accent is just as bad as my English one," she said defensively, though her tone was light.
With soft smiles on their faces, they fell into a comfortable silence. Gently, Blaise inched his hand to the right, his fingers lightly resting on hers. She didn't pull her hand away. Neither of them acknowledged it. Closing her eyes, Elle liked feeling the warmth from him.

All her life, her hands were always cold. Her father would joke and say her blood just ran a little cold because of all the logic in her head. His were warm, all of the few times he had held her hand. It felt nice. It sent shivers through her body. The good kind.

"You know," he said after a moment, "I kept waiting for the right time, but we have this nasty habit of… well, we tend to disagree when we're together."
"Yeah," Elpis said with a breathy laugh. "Disagree."

They both stared at the ground in front of them.
"But what I've been meaning to do..." he went on, his words slow and cautious.

Leaning against the desk like that, he was so relaxed, so different. He wasn't the boy who all the girls in the grade joked would end up marrying his mirror. Or the boy who laughed as his friends spread strife through the school. He was the boy who was interested in what she was interested in, just because it was her. He was the boy who thought she was crazy and beautiful. He was the boy who liked to hold her hand. And that made her smile.
Elpis knew where he was going, and she knew she should stop him, but all she could do was smile softly, looking up at him.
"What it is you've been meaning to do?" she asked, her eyes understanding and sad.
"Ask you to Slughorn's Christmas Party," Blaise answered simply, looking down into her eyes.
"And then what?"
Blaise furrowed his brow, the confusion clear on his face.
"What do you mean?" he asked, shaking his head. "I'll tell you now, this isn't all just some elaborate plan to shag you."
Laughing softly, she nodded.
"Yeah, I got that. I just meant, after the Slug Club party. What then? We date?"
Blaise tilted his head to the side. Reading her tone, he knew she didn't want an answer. She was making a point.
"Is it really such a crime for me to like you?" he asked. Staring at the ground again, she took a deep breath. Blaise frowned as she stood, pulling her hand out from under his.
"Forget about me," she said, not unkindly. Grabbing her bag, she pulled its strap onto her shoulder and stood in front of him. "It's for the best."
Leaning forward, she kissed him gently on the cheek, her fingertips lightly touching his jaw. As she began to walk away, Blaise stood, his hand catching her wrist.
"Elle," he said. "I-"
"It wasn't a suggestion," she said, facing the door. Her voice was calm and even, but he couldn't see her face, or the pained expression that was on it. With an ache in her chest, Elpis pulled her hand away, walking to the door. "I mean it, Blaise. Forget about me."
Letting the door shut behind her, he was left alone in the room, the only thing audible being his breathing.

Walking quickly down the long corridors, her footsteps echoing on the stone ground and walls, Elpis breathed deeply, forcefully. The ache growing in her chest, she broke out into a run, clenching her teeth and blinking quickly, forcing the moisture in her eyes away. Maybe he wasn't all those bad things people said about him, but he was Blaise Zabini, and that, Elpis thought, matters. She wished it didn't.