And before you knew it, you were back at Hogwarts. Everyone was still talking about your party. It was probably the biggest event of the year. Routine easily settled back into place once you were back into school. You like having a routine simply because you liked to know what was going to happen. Bad surprises bothered you more than anything. You were still having a bit of trouble with Potions, but as always, Draco was helping you through it.
It was January tenth. It seemed to be another completely ordinary day. You walked in to Potions and sat down next to Draco. You could tell by the look in his eye that something was wrong. He looked like he was in complete shock.
"Oh my god, Draco, what's wrong?" you asked him. You took his hands.
His expression became less sharp as he looked at you. He sighed. "I guess it's best that I tell you if you don't already know," he said.
You could tell something was really wrong. "Draco, what is it?" You were started to fear the worst.
He must have noticed the look in your eye. "Oh, Marisa, it's nothing about me. Relax." he pulled you closer to him. "It's about one of our friends."
"Who?" you said. "What happened? Is everyone alright?" You had seen Sam and Katie this morning, so it couldn't be them.
"It's Blaise," he said. "Have you ever met his parents?"
"No," you said.
"Well, everyone always thought he was pureblood because Zambini is a long line of pureblood wizards," He said. "But it turns out that he's not. He's halfblood. His mother's a muggle."
You gasped. A few people turned around and looked at you. "And he never told anyone? How did you find out?" you asked.
He pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet and pointed to a side article on page six in really small print. It was one of those things about someone's birthday or something that no one read. It said that Blaise Zambini had singlehandedly won the most recent game of Quidditch at Hogwarts. It went a little into his life, saying that his father was Greg Zambini of the pureblood Zambini family and his mother, Elizabeth Zambini, was a muggle from inner London.
"Oh my goodness," you said. "Who noticed this?"
"Pansy," Draco said. "It's just like her to want to ruin someone's life. Everyone knows thanks to her."
"Why didn't he tell anyone?" You asked.
"You know Blaise, Marisa," Draco said. "He's quiet, and timid. He was scared that people would think badly of him. And for good reason."
"Well, do you think differently about him now?" you asked Draco. You knew he could be a bit prejudiced sometimes. "He's been your friend forever."
Draco looked into his lap. "I don't think so," he said. "I guess this puts things into perspective for me. He's the same person as before. Maybe blood doesn't matter."
You looked at him. You threw your arms around Draco's neck and kissed him. "I knew I loved you," you said.
"I love you too," he said. "But we need to go on a mission."
"What kind of mission?" you asked. You knew this whole Blaise thing could go no where but down.
"Does Sam know?" he asked.
"Oh no," you said. Your pupils got small. Sam would freak out when she found out. She was no muggle lover. "Let's go."
You both ran out of Potions (which was over now) and towards the common room. On the way, you ran into Blaise, who looked like he was on the verge of tears.
You pulled him into a corner with Draco at your side.
"Man, what happened?" Draco asked Blaise. "What's wrong?"
"I told Sam," he said. "I figured it would be best if I told her. She completely freaked out. She started yelling that she didn't know who the hell I was, and that she never wanted to see my face again." He was trying really hard not to break down.
"Draco, I'll see you later," you said. You had to take Blaise somewhere so he wouldn't be afraid to break down. He was trying to be a man in front of Draco me:: why do guys do that. Its stupid You took Blaise by the arms and waved your wand above your heads.
You were standing in front of the room of requirement. You paced three times in front of the wall and a door appeared.
"Where are we?" Blaise asked. You were in a room with a nice large couch, a nice warm fire, and a box of tissues.
"It's called the Room of Requirement," you said. "Harry told me about fifth year."
You pulled Blaise to the couch and sat him down. "BLAISE, how could you not tell anyone about this?" you asked.
"I don't know," Blaise said. "I was afraid. You know how Draco is. I didn't want to be deserted."
Blaise was really a lot like you used to be. "Blaise, I know. I have always had a hard time trusting people too. Its hard to make friends when your carrying a heavy secret. But you need to trust people. In this, I mean especially Sam. Right now, she's probably more hurt because you didn't tell her than mad because you're not pureblood," you said.
"How do you know this?" he asked.
"Because, Blaise, I'm like you. Or I used to be. First I met Sam, which helped, and then I met Draco, which sealed the deal. Draco is your best friend, and believe me, he thinks no less of you. I just talked to him, and this is actually showing him how silly it is to track people's blood," you said.
"But what about Sam?" he said. He looked like he had never lost so much in his life.
"Listen to me Blaise!" you said. "Sam loves you, I know that. You cannot imagine the way she talks about you. You are the first guy she's ever gone out with that treats he like his equal. It means everything to her. You mean everything to her," you said to him. You learned all this from late night interpersonal talks with Sam in the dark.
"Marisa, I love her," Blaise said, tears coming to his eyes and streaking his face. "I don't want to lose her, now or ever." He looked in his lap as tears fell from his face.
You pulled him into a hug. "Blaise I know," you said. "We're going to sort this out." You took him away from your shoulder (that was damp) and looked straight at his face. "But this is what I need you to do. Go find Draco, and tell him how you feel, and not something made up. For real, tell him stuff. You guys are the same. He will understand every word that comes out of your mouth. I am going to go find Sam and talk to her about all of this."
You both walked out the door of the Room of Requirement. Before Blaise turned to walk in the opposite direction as you, you pulled him into another hug. You said into his ear, "Everything's okay. Everything's going to be fine. I know as I say it to you now, you think it's a lie. I know because I've been where you are. But trust me, everything blows over and everything turns out well.
"You are a good friend, Marisa," he said as you guys stopped hugging.
"That's what they say," you said as you walked away.
You burst into your dorm to see Sam on her bed with er chin on her knees, all curled up.
"Sam, we need to talk," you said, sitting next to her. "How could you say that to Blaise? You love him, and he loves you. You damn near broke his heart to pieces."
"HOW COULD HE NOT TELL ME?" she yelled at you.
"Sam you need to calm down," you said. "Your going to have to understand his point of view! Considering the way everyone is reacting, don't you think he should have a reason to be a little scared to tell people?"
"He should be able to trust me," Sam said.
"Sam, he's like me. When we first became friends, it took me a long time to open up to you. And its even harder when your romantically involved with someone. He has everything to lose with you," you said. "He put himself out there to open to you as much as he could. He hasn't told anyone about this before."
"I feel like I don't know who he is anymore," Sam said. "He's not a pureblood? Do we know anyone who's not a pureblood?"
"Harry. Hermione. Tons of people. Our friends!" you said. "Sam, you love Blaise! He's everything to you. You always told how you could feel how special your relationship was."
"Well that was before he was halfblood," Sam said. "Everything's different now. I'm not associated with him anymore."
"Your just going to give up your whole relationship with him?" you said.
"Yes," Sam replied.
"Sam, you guys have something special. You have something life changing. If you let your silly prejudiced get in between you two, It will completely destroy him. He felt like he could trust you and you freaking out will ruin that!" you said.
"I don't care," Sam said.
You sighed. You were done with trying to deal with Sam. She was acting like she had no heart at all. "Listen, Samantha, your being ridiculous and unbelievable. Your also being very stupid if your going to lose Blaise over this. He's the only guy who ever treated you right and I know you pictured you with him on your wedding day. So I'm going to spend tonight with Draco and I'll tell Katie to go stay with Marcus or something. You need to think about everything you and Blaise have and everything you will lose if you are unable to deal with who Blaise is. He didn't ask to be halfblood, and all he ever did to you was love you. And please know that I will think much less of you if you continue to act so insensitive, and this could ruin our friendship. I know I'm being mean Sam, but it's only because I love you, and I need you to be happy. I know your better than how your acting right now, and I won't let you make such an enormous mistake." You flick your wand. "Here's your dinner," you continued, "I have one last thing to say. Just know that if you let Blaise go, he will never come back. If that happens, you will be facing the rest of your life alone, and Blaise and myself will be facing the rest of our lives without you. And that's something all three of us don't want. Goodnight." You walked out the door, closed it, and locked it.
You walked into the common room and found Katie. "Hey Katie," you said. "Listen, you need to spend the night somewhere not in our dorm because Sam needs alone time to think about a big mistake I'm trying to keep her from making."
She looked a bit confused, but said, "Alright," anyway. She knew that you and Sam had your episodes sometimes.
You found Draco. It was quite late by now and the sadness was hitting you hard.
Draco recognized the weary look in your eyes and led you to his bedroom. You both got in bed and snuggled up.
The moment you looked into Draco's eyes, you started crying. He pulled you into his chest and stroked your hair. "Marisa, it's okay. Stop crying," he said.
You looked into his eyes. "I just can't believe how lucky I am to have you," you said. "Sam is so lucky to have Blaise, and she's ready to throw it away over something very stupid."
He pulled you back into his chest and said, "I love you, Reese. You had a long day. Go to sleep, baby. It will be better in the morning."
You immediately closed your eyes and went to sleep, hoping Draco was right.
