Part 49

The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. While Lily and Molly were in the kitchen cooking and Arthur, Sirius, Remus, James and Dorian were doing… something in the other room the children along with Bill and Percy were sitting in the family room. Percy was reading a report on something while the twins were huddled over a few pages of parchment. They were probably plotting something again, maybe a new prank or new invention. Ginny sat in a corner pretending to read a book and Blaise, Harry and Ron were sitting on the couch trying to not offend each other. Which was hard because Blaise's mere presence in the room seemed to offend Ron. Blaise tried to keep his mind off of it by looking around the room in interest. He had grown up in a mansion that was cold and organized. Everything was where it was supposed to be, nothing was out of place and there was never a mess of any sorts. The Burrow was the opposite. It was cluttered with things and Blaise found that he did not mind it at all. There were family pictures, books, clothes, toys, bric-a-bracs and little items strewn on every shelf. It was warm and cosy and… well looked like someone actually lived there. The place was full of sound and it had a strange soothing effect on him. The big clock caught his interest and he walked over to it and looked at it. There were nine golden hands on it and on each was the name of a Weasley family member. Eight of them were settled on home while the last was settled on work. Blaise read the name.

"Is Charlie not coming home for Christmas", he asked and turned to the Weasleys. Percy scoffed behind his report. Ginny glared at him. The twins shrugged. Ron glared as well and Bill smiled.

"No", he said. "There was an emergency at the preserve and they had to lock it down over the holidays. Charlie was quite pissed about it because he was about to go home when the lockdown happened."

"Why was it locked down?" Harry asked.

"Not sure, Charlie couldn't say."

"Have you spoken to him since?"

"No", Bill said and sighed. "When the preserve is in lockdown no fire calls, no letters, no one and nothing is allowed to leave the premises."

"Why?" Blaise asked.

"Because it's a lockdown idiot", Ron spat.

"Ron be nice", Bill scolded then turned to Blaise. "It's happened once before and Charlie told us that it was because of a dangerous virus that was spreading between the dragons. The virus was so volatile that it spread through letters and contact with anything that would leave the preserve was a health risk."

"Ouch", Harry said. "That's rough."

"Yeah…"

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah just pissed."

"Good, so humans can't get this virus?"

"They don't need to they are in deep trouble anyway", Percy spoke up.

"Perce", Bill warned.

"No", Percy said. "Don't Perce me William. Charlie and his dragon buddies only have themselves to blame for the lockdown. They are probably scared of humiliating themselves more after what happened at Hogwarts. So instead of leaving and facing the consequences of their actions they are hiding behind their big scaly friends and their fences."

"That's not what happened and you know it Percy!" Ginny said. "Those dragons did it! Not Charlie!"

"He should have kept them calmer, after all he's a dragon keeper. Shouldn't he be able to stop dragons from causing things like this?"

"When a dragon wants something it is bloody hard to keep them from getting it", Blaise said.

"Or a snake", Ron spat.

"Ron", Bill warned.

"Or a snake", Blaise agreed and everyone stared at him. "What? Slytherin is the house of ambition and cunning. Of course I get what I want because I work hard to get it. If I want to be friends with Harry no one can stop me except Harry and so far he hasn't. So I guess snakes do get what they want when they want to… except for Malfoy. But he's the exception that confirms the rule."

"See!" Ron yelled at his brothers and sister. "See I told you the snake is up to something!"

"Ron knock it off", Bill said. "Blaise is here as a guest. The least you could do is be polite to him."

"Polite? To him!? Bill he's a Slytherin! He's a villain!"

"How am I a villain?" Blaise asked. "That makes no sense!"

"You're a Slytherin!"

"So is Sirius' cousin Andromeda and she's not a villain", Harry spat.

"She is the exception that confirms the rule", Ron mocked Blaise with his own words. "Everyone else knows only dark and evil wizards came out of Slytherin."

"Merlin was a Slytherin", Blaise cut in.

"Also an exception!"

"And Quirrell was a Ravenclaw", Harry growled. "There is evil in all houses not just the House of the Snake."

"Why have you changed sides all of a sudden Harry!?" Ron yelled. "You used to agree with me that all Snakes are evil!"

"Yeah well that was before I got to know some of them."

"Harry's been hanging out in the snake pit", Ginny said. "It shows."

"Excuse me!?"

"Ginny and Ron shut up", Bill growled. "There is nothing wrong with the Slytherin House. Sure there are some evil wizards that had a place there. But there are just as many Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws who's been doing just as horrible things through the years."

"Yeah? But Zabini has inherited evil after all", Ron mocked.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Blaise asked.

"Two words for you", Ron spat. "Black. Widow."

The room got quiet. Blaise's eyes darkened and he could feel the wolf side of him wanting to break out and tear Ron's throat out. But he would not let his anger take over him. That would only give Ron more spells against him. I would say ammunition but Ron is not a Muggle so he probably has no idea what it means so. Blaise knew his mother was evil. He had seen it with his own eyes and had lived it. Still he was nothing like her. He was never going to be like her. She was evil and he was not. She was ambitious and cunning and resourceful, just like him. But she used it for evil and to get what she wanted. Well he did too but not in the same way. If he wanted the highest grades, he studied to get them. His mother would have used her body to get them. If someone stood in his way he would prepare himself to face them with a least a dozen of plans that would not kill them. His mother had no qualms in just killing the person in her way. She killed for what she wanted, Blaise worked for it. She bribed, lured, seduced and hurt people to get her wishes. Blaise planned, tried and worked for it. He knew he had inherited his cunning, resourcefulness, ambition and smarts from his mother. However it is what he chose to do with them that mattered and he had chosen not to be like his mother.

"I'm not her", Blaise said. "I will not deny that parts of my personality is inherited from her… but I choose to do things in a different way then her. If someone is in my way I move them aside. She would've killed them. I am not defending her, believe me no one hates her more than I do, but she was a resourceful woman who was not afraid to get what she wanted. The same ambition lies within me. However I have different methods to get what I want than her."

"It doesn't show", Ron spat. "You wanted Harry and got rid of the rest of us to have your way!"

"You did that all by yourself Weasley", Harry said. "You turned your back on me and then came crawling back as if nothing had happened. When everyone turned their back on me Blaise stayed even though I hadn't known him for nearly as long as I have known you."

"He's twisted your mind with his stupid Snake ways!"

"He has not! If anything he has opened my eyes to what real friends are supposed to be like and you are not a real friend Ron Weasley!"

"But Harry-"

"No buts! I told you after the whole dragon thing to stuff it! You abandoned me when I needed you most and whenever I tried to talk to you I was given the cold shoulder. You made it very clear to me that we are not friends and Blaise made it clear he is my friend."

"So you are seriously choosing a Snake over me!?"

"Yes."

"HE'S PUT A SPELL ON YOU!"

"He has not!"

"Then why are you acting like an idiot then!?"

"I am not. You are just being a cabbage head."

Ron glared at him then glared at Blaise.

"This is all your fault snake!" he yelled. Blaise did not raise to the bait. "What too good to talk to me? You are not better than the rest of us! In fact you are lower than the rest of us! You have no family! No home and the only people that wanted to look after you are werewolves! That is quite telling isn't it?"

"Leave my da-Dorian and Remus out of this", Blaise growled.

"Why? Because you are such scum that only werewolves, the lowest of low when it comes to dark creatures, would offer to take care of you? Face it Zabini you are only wanted by monsters."

Blaise's eyes darkened and he would have jumped Ron and clobbered him to death if not two pair of strong arms encircled his waist and chest. He knew who it was before looking. Dorian and Remus had him. He could feel their silent anger bristling around them and that only egged him on more. He struggled in their arms to get out and get to Ron. He wanted to bite him, wanted to claw him, wanted to scratch him, wanted to maim him, wanted to maul him, wanted to destroy him. Ron called his da-Dorian and Remus monsters. They were not monsters! They were the best people Blaise knew! They were the best! How dare Weasley call them monsters!?

"Blaise calm yourself", Remus growled. It had no effect. He and Dorian had come into the living room to fetch the kids since it was time for supper. However as soon as they entered they saw the signs. Blaise was about to attack Ron Weasley and they could not let that happen. So they had rushed forward with speed rivalling Sirius' flying bike. They'd caught him way before he could reach Ron. It was not a simple task holding the rage filled teen still though. He was using all his wolf muscles to get out of their grip so Dorian and Remus had to do the same to keep him there.

"They're not monsters!" Blaise screamed at Ron. "They're not!"

"The Ministry thinks otherwise", Ron spat.

"Well then bloody good thing we don't care about the Ministry!"

"You should", Percy said.

"Stuff it Percy", Bill said and stepped between Blaise and Ron. "Ron take back what you just said."

"No!" Ron spat. "Why are you siding with him?"

"Because he lost his temper because you acted like a prat", Bill said. He then turned to the two werewolves and the teen between them. "Sorry guys."

"No worries", Remus grunted out while struggling. "We're used to it."

"But you shouldn't have to be", a voice said and Molly Weasley walked into the living room. "You should not have to be used to be called monsters."

"Wow you certainly changed your tune lady", Dorian grunted while struggling holding Blaise in place.

"I know", Molly said and turned to Ron. "Ronald Weasley you should be ashamed of yourself."

"But mum-"

"Don't you mum me young man", Molly said and pointed a warning finger at him. "Remus and Dorian have done nothing to you and as far as I can tell neither has Blaise. You told me your version of the fight with Harry and Lily informed me of Harry's version. At first I didn't want to believe any child of mine could be so foolish. But now I hear it with my own ears and see it with my own eyes. I think that Harry chose the right friend when he chose Blaise here. You are acting quite childish Ronald."

"But mum he's a Slytherin!" Ron protested.

"So?" Molly said. "Not all Slytherins are horrible people."

"But he's friends with Malfoy!"

"Oh please I'm not friends with that parasite", Blaise scoffed. "Malfoy doesn't do friends only cronies and I am too intelligent to fall in line. My friends include Harry, Luna, Theo, Daphne and Tracey."

"As if! You're lying!"

"Ron", Molly said sharply. "Go to your room."

"What?! But mum!"

"Now!"

Ron stormed out of the room and soon they heard his bedroom door slam shut. Molly sighed and turned to their guests. Remus and Dorian had relaxed their grip on Blaise. Remus sighed.

"I guess we should leave?" he asked and Dorian nodded. "Get your coat Blaise." Blaise glared at the Weasleys before heading towards the kitchen where they had left their coats by the fireplace. Remus looked around the room.

"Thank you for having us over Molly", he said.

"Please don't go", Molly said.

"I'm afraid our mere presence is making your family uncomfortable. I get it, I do. We are after all used to rejection. It's really not your fault Molly. You were raised to fear us, so I understand if you do. But the thing is… what most werewolves want is to be accepted. Not feared, not shunned. We just want to show that we are not the monsters some of us are. We just want to be accepted. It's not too hard to understand is it?"

"No, it isn't", Molly said softly.

"When I joined the pack, Jemima told me something. He said that 'every night I lie in bed, the brightest colours fill my head. A million dreams are keeping me awake. I think of what the world could be. A vision of the one I see. A million dreams is all it's gonna take. A million dreams for the world we're gonna make'. A million dreams for the smile upon your face I added. Werewolves don't have much to smile about."

"Then let us change that shall we?" Molly said and took his arm. "It would glad me immensely if you and your family stayed with us tonight to have dinner."

"But-"

"No buts", Molly said. "I was a horrible person and I need to make it up to you and your family." She led Remus and the others out into the kitchen where Dorian and Blaise were waiting. Both looking quite put out. Molly smiled at them.

"Take those coats off and sit down", she said. "The food will get cold."

"Y… you want us to stay?" Dorian asked in disbelief. "You Mrs. Werewolves-Are-Dangerous-The-Kids-Are-At-Risk?"

"I admit I overreacted at the news", Molly said. "And I do apologize."

"You do", Dorian asked, doubt written all over his face.

"Yes. I admit I got horrified when I heard a werewolf was teaching at Hogwarts. But… then my children at Hogwarts, all of my children spoke so warmly of you and that has never happened before! They never agree on anything! Except Fred and George but that's because they share a brain between them."

"Oi!" the twins exclaimed.

"I listened to what they said and I spoke to Lily and James", she rolled her eyes. "And Sirius and some of the other parents and we all agreed that… we made a mistake. Quite a large mistake. I should have trusted you, both of you and for that I am sorry. Of course you would not cause any harm to the children. Of course you would make sure nobody got hurt. I should have trusted you like this young man here trusts you." She smiled at Blaise. "I was wrong and for that I am deeply sorry and I can see now that not only are you two honourable men… you are great fathers as well." Dorian and Remus both blushed and Harry, James and Sirius sniggered. "So… can you give me a chance and eat dinner with us, please?"

"You had me at I admit", Dorian said happily and hugged Mrs. Weasley who squeaked in surprise. Dorian then beamed at the others. "Let's eat!"

"Manners", Remus scolded him then smiled at Molly. "Thank you Molly."

"You're welcome Remus", she said and smiled at him.


TBC Sorry for the long wait, I have been focusing on my original writing.