Two days had passed before Blaise saw Draco once more and when he did he could see immediately that his friend's good mood had vanished. It was two am when he'd arrived at their small common room where he now sat scowling from the armchair sipping on Fire whisky and refusing to make any direct eye contact with him. It reminded Blaise of his younger years, Draco looked just how he did when he used to appear in the early hours and sulk in the common room as a child. Minus the Fire whisky of course.
When Draco was unhappy, everyone was unhappy there was no containing his feelings or putting on a brave face for Draco. Blaise had considered waking the others but given prior experience of Draco in this mood he thought otherwise. It was always the same, he's sit and skulk in the light of the flames from the fire, dramatically build the tension in the room until everyone felt as uncomfortable as physically possible, before he snapped over a little comment made of action taken by someone, erupted into fifteen minutes of scaving verbal abuse and then admitted defeat and told them what was bothering him. In the past it had always been the same, his father's latest cruel lecture, Potter's latest triumph or his own secret projects having failed. Blaise knew he was the only person here who saw Draco for what he was, a brilliant wizard and man born into a terrible legacy. A lonely boy deprived of friends or family who since childhood had been fed on by all those around him, be it for leadership or to be used as a pawn in their terrible games. He knew that Draco's biggest regret was not having changed sides earlier on in the battle. It had taken watching his classmates die around him for him to realise the devastation of what he had once admired. He remembered clearly Draco pulling them all to one side Daphne, Pansy, Crabbe and Doyle. He could still see Draco's face, strong with adrenaline but eyes filled with fear, ash darkening his pale complexion and blood trickling down the side of his forehead landing softly on his black suit as the castle came crashing down around them. He could hear his voice, it was the scariest moment in all of their young lives and the one which had finally shown Draco for the leader he had known he could be. "Don't you see? This is making us weak! Following them is making us weak! This is not our fight, not our cause, it's theirs. Make your choice now, go and join your parents or follow me." Blaise could clearly remember Draco's words before he disappeared down the corridor to offer himself to stand by Potters side. The moment Draco Malfoy had fulfilled his potential and become the followed instead of the follower. What would have happened to them had they not followed him in that moment was beyond comprehension. His attention was brought swiftly back to the room when he heard Draco finally speak. "I gave her accelerator potion" his tone low his eyes never leaving his glass.
"I'd figured that one out mate" Blaise couldn't help the uneasy feeling about Draco's sudden confession, he was spiralling into one of his infamous dark nights. "It's my fault that this is happening to her…to my child. I can't give her anything else it's too risky..what if….what happens when her head clears. You know how it works Blaise, it makes her…suggestable, easier to handle. Granger's going to kill me when she realises and she will realise. Brightest witch of her age, I just couldn't help myself could I?" Blaise could hear the sorrow and fear in his words. Of course he knew how it worked, accelerator potion was passed down through generations of pureblood men. It was common practise to drug their new brides…until they learnt how to behave properly. He found it all a bit sickening really but it was a well-guarded secret amongst their kind. "It's not the best situation but it has been a while now, its effects should have all but worn off and she still married you. So whatever happens you have that, the Malfoy marriage bond is unbreakable." Draco smirked "Not if she actually kills me." Blaise couldn't help but let out a deep chuckle "I'd practise your defensive spells, you might be needing them." He thought for a moment before continuing in an apprehensive voice. "Have you considered…No never mind" Draco shot him a stony glare and instantly Blaise knew he had no option but to continue "Have you considered… that perhaps…she might already have an idea." Draco's eye brow raised in interest "I mean, she lost her entire family Draco, her parents are on the other side of the world with no idea who she is. Your parents are….. well…perhaps you both wanted each other, both sort of needed each other but just …don't want to admit it to each other. Accelerator doesn't create something that isn't there, don't forget that." The room was silent for a few moments while they sat there, he could feel the tension building as he waited for Draco's explosion of misplaced feelings and anger but none came. Eventually something deep inside of Blaise snapped and he asked the one question he knew would push Draco over the edge and get his eruption out of the way "Have you fallen in love with Granger?" his voice almost teasing he gripped the sofa and braced himself in anticipation. Draco's eyes burned as he looked over from his glass and locked his dark grey eyes with Blaise's. Saying nothing he took a sip from the glass scowling back down at the amber liquid and speaking in a low monotone "Yes".