LIV. Protect

Blaise wasn't used to being approached by Hufflepuffs. Hufflepuffs were generally timid creatures who stayed as far away from scary Slytherins like himself as they possibly could, which was why he was more that a little surprised when Justin Finch-Fletchley approached him after Ancient Runes that afternoon. The boy was a Hufflepuff and a mudblood to boot, so by all rights he should have been running away from Blaise, not coming towards him. It was confusing.

"I heard about you and Susan," Justin said quietly.

Ah. Susan Bones. His latest conquest. That explained why a Hufflepuff was talking to him, though it didn't explain the look of pure depression in the boy's eyes. Whatever was that about?

"Look after her, Zabini. She deserves it."

Justin looked to totally crushed that Blaise wanted to say that yes, he would look after Susan, but he wasn't about to go making promises he couldn't keep. Instead he just smiled, refusing to look the Hufflepuff in the eye. Why did it feel as though he'd done something wrong? The whole affair with Susan was only going to be a game, and no one ever got hurt by games, did they?