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Blaise sat by the fireplace in the Slytherin Common room, going over the work for the classes he hadn't been able to study for the other night when he was trying to come up with an idea for McGonagall's project.
His eyes felt heavy as he went over his Alchemy books, not having gotten any sleep the previous night either while he was coming up with a presentation for the Headmistress.
He wasn't as used to pulling long nights anymore, like he was when he'd first been made Head boy. Since the beginning of the year, he'd gotten better at managing his studying time and the odd jobs McGonagall gave him and Granger, so he was rarely up through to morning. Staying up two nights in a row was beginning to wear on him.
He set the Alchemy book down on the table in front of the silver chair he sat in and pinched the bridge of his nose, shutting his eyes tight so they stopped burning before rubbing his face.
He looked out the windows as the Giant squid passed by, the light of the sun shining in through the water and alerting him that breakfast was probably almost over. He stood up and stretched as Malfoy and a couple other students came downstairs.
Draco ignored him and had reached the common room entrance when Blaise noticed him.
"Draco." Blaise called, deciding he wanted to try and get on his good side. He paused for a brief moment before looking back at Blaise, who waved him over.
Draco paused a second longer. "I do have other things to do besides talk to you, Zabini." he said, though he sent the other two Slytherins ahead of him and walked over.
"How long are you planning on holding a grudge?" Blaise asked casually.
Draco's eyes narrowed. "Why on earth would I be holding a grudge?"
Blaise stared back, trying not to sound confrontational when he said. "If you didn't want me to sleep with Parkinson, you should have said so."
"I couldn't care either way." Draco said coolly. "About her, or you, for that matter. It wasn't as if we were ever really friends Zabini. You really aren't as important as you think."
His own eyes narrowed and he scoffed at him. "Is that right?"
"Yeah," Draco replied, "it is."
Blaise nodded and turned away with a shrug. Forget it, he didn't need him. "Good to know I don't need to waste my time on you, then."
"Right." Draco sneered. "Because Merlin knows you're way too good for that." Blaise ignored him and started packing up his things. "I don't know what makes you think you're so much better than the rest of us."
"I am though." Blaise said, stopping to turn around and look at him haughtily. "Better than you, anyway. You want to stand there and tell me you don't give a rat's arse about Parkinson when we both know that isn't true. You're just peeved because you thought she'd wait on you forever and didn't, even though you never cared about her."
He scowled. "And you do?"
"Of course I don't." Blaise said scornfully. "But I didn't feed her lies saying I did. At least with me she knew what she was getting."
He walked past him as Draco glared darkly, and headed for the door to get breakfast.
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