Spotted: Blaise Zabini going stag at the Three Broomsticks with two healthy servings of humble pie after yet another argument in public with Theodore Nott defending Daphne's honor.
He looks miserable, and he really shouldn't be alone. Misery loves company.
~xoxo, Gossip Witch
"We're getting ready to close," Rosmerta teased, wiping down the counter beside where Blaise was sitting. She laughed as she watched him stare at the glass of Firewhisky sitting untouched in front of him. Rosmerta looked him over and shook her head. "You've been here an awful lot lately. Everything okay?"
Blaise shook his head as he ran his fingers up and down the edge of the glass, wiping off the condensation that had started to form. He refused to look up from the glass, but he could feel Rosmerta's eyes observing his every move.
She was right. He had been spending a lot of time at the Three Broomsticks lately. It was the only place he could blend in and be left alone. Daphne's hideout of choice was the Leaky Cauldron when she needed to get away from the world, and she was the last person he wanted to see, so he came here in the hopes that he could drown out every memory of ever knowing her.
Blaise was sick of coming in second when it came to Daphne. It didn't matter if it was the second choice of who to love or the second choice of who to support. He was done letting Daphne and anyone else walk all over him. He was going to take a stand for himself and live his life to the fullest. But before he could do that, he needed to repair things with Nott and Malfoy - not that there was much left to salvage.
The three of them had been friends since before their invitations to Hogwarts came by posts. That was one of the only benefits Blaise could see from being associated with the Sacred 28. Other than that, he wished he could forget the ties that bind them together.
"Are you going to finish that?" Rosmerta asked, pulling Blaise out of his thoughts once more. He glanced up and noticed her smiling at him as she pointed to the glass in front of him.
"The longer I let it sit here undrank, the less time I have to spend in the castle surrounded by people that don't want anything to do with me," Blaise laughed, wrapping his hands around the glass in front of him once more.
"They won't hate you forever," Rosmerta replied, resting her elbows on the bar. She gave him a once over and reached for an empty glass. She grabbed the bottle of Ogden's and poured another glass. Rosemerta picked up the glass and tilted it towards him, nodding her head. "No one should drink alone. Cheers."
"Cheers," Blaise replied, lifting his glass in the air briefly before bringing it to his lips. The amber liquid burned its way down his throat as Blaise let out a sigh of relief.
"There's a room upstairs that's available if you need someplace to stay," Rosmerta said, offering him a smile. "But it's only a one-night deal. I've seen you in here with that witch of yours and your buddies."
"She's not my witch," Blaise sighed, taking another sip of his drink. "And I don't think they'd call me a friend at the moment."
"I've seen the way she looks at that Nott boy," Rosmerta replied, shrugging her shoulders. "She loves him."
"I know," Blaise replied, downing the rest of his drink.
"Then why do you fight her to be with you?" she asked, finishing off the last of her drink.
"Because he's no good for her," Blaise growled, pushing himself away from the bar. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to pass. I don't need your inquisition right now."
"The offer still stands," Rosmerta insisted, "even without the line of questioning."
Blaise shook his head as he made his way towards the door. "I really need to get back before someone comes looking for me. Thanks for everything, Rosmerta. But you should really mind your own business."
"It brings me joy knowing the ins and outs of everything going on in the castle," Rosmerta said, flashing a smile. "Have a good night, Blaise. Lock the door on your way out."
They say love conquers all. But maybe love never met Daphne Greengrass. Poor Zabini. It looks like our resident moral compass isn't such a straight arrow after all.
~xoxo, Gossip Witch ~
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