Sunlight was streaming in through the windows when I finally woke up.
Opening my eyes, I wished I hadn't; my head felt as if it was wrapped in
cotton-wool, and my eyes hurt when I moved them. Sunlight ought to be
outlawed this early in the morning. Pulling up the sheets with stiff
fingers, I attempted to bury myself under the covers again, but my attempt
was stopped quite abruptly. Hands pulled down the covers again, and I had
to bear the brunt of the sunlight in my face.
"Looks like our permanent visitor is awake again," Madame Pomfrey's voice proclaimed cheerfully.
"Bleargh." Was my first statement of the day.
"Breakfast? Alright, let me just get some for you," She flashed a smile before disappearing beyond the white drapes hanging around my bed.
"How are you feeling?" Lucas sounded immensely tired; I could read it even through his short question.
"Out of it. Sketchy. Blurry." I bent my neck and winced. Ten thousand years would give you such a crick in the neck. "Like someone ran over me with spikes in the soles of their shoes."
"As you should be. I'd be worried otherwise," Lucas sat up more in his chair. "Hungry?"
"Like a wolf." I agreed. Wincing as I sat up. I was aching in muscles I'd rather not think about. "My mind feels like it's been replaced with cotton. I couldn't think straight if I tried."
"Fortunately, you won't have to in the next few hours." He replied. "Your friends are obviously worried about you, but I've sent word to them that you will be back in a day or two. Bulstrode threatened to castrate me, but I stood my ground. Quite fearsome that girl is."
I chuckled, my voice sounding rustier than I remembered it ever being. Millicent was just the person who would threaten a teacher like that; I wasn't too surprised. What surprised me was the calm, almost amused way Lucas accepted it and talked about it as if it was normal. Madame Pomfrey entered with a tray laden with every breakfast food imaginable and a steaming cup of black coffee. She put the tray down in front of me, balanced on my knees, and I went for the coffee immediately.
"I love you Madame Pomfrey, will you marry me?" I asked with conviction after I finished the first few sips.
"You're a bit too young dear," Madame Pomfrey laughed good-naturedly, "But I'll keep the offer in mind. What prompted that reaction?"
"Coffee," I growled and downed the rest.
"Ah. Quite like you at that age, isn't he Vincent?" She chuckled, putting a hand on Lucas' shoulder and watched me down my breakfast faster than what was really necessary.
"I remember myself as having a bit more elegance," Lucas liked mildly insulted, though he appeared to be joking. I finished off the last few crumbs of the toast and leaned back on my pillows contentedly.
"Not after the O.W.L-week you hadn't," Pomfrey grinned, before heading off towards her office with the empty tray. Lucas watched her go with an odd half-smile on his face. He didn't smile very often, so it puzzled me for a bit, but it didn't matter very much at the moment.
"So." I piped up after several minutes of silence, "What exactly happened to me?"
"You have no clue whatsoever?" Lucas looked at me with an unreadable expression on his face. I shook my head mutely. "Has there been anything out of the ordinary these past few weeks? Anything that has seemed strange?"
"Nothing these past few weeks, no." I shook my head. "I can't think of anything. Wait. There is one thing, but that I'd had for a few months now. Ever since I duelled Potter, I've had a headache. Nothing major, but enough to be annoying. It got worse after I fought Weasley, and last night when you were telling me what he'd said, it got even worse. It's almost gone now."
"As I feared." Lucas mumbled, almost too low for me to hear. "You will be getting your detention on Friday, after lunch. I have cancelled the class to give you more time with your assignments, so there will be no lesson, and no one will ask where you have been when you disappear."
"Disappear?"
"We will be visiting friends of mine." Lucas informed me. That was all the information I could get out of him, no matter how much I prodded.
******'
Lucas left some hour later, and I was left lying there in my bed and stared at the ceiling. A Hufflepuff I didn't recognise came in later with a bleeding finger. He gave me a startled and slightly frightened look before being treated quickly by Pomfrey and sent on his way. Soon enough, I realised with a crooked smile, the whole school would know I was back in the hospital wing looking worse than ever. True to my assumptions, when Millicent, Cain, Gaspar and the others came to visit me, the word was all over Hogwarts.
"Hannah Abbott swears that you were here because you'd been fighting with Edward Stone. That you'd sent him back to the Common Room crying and bleeding and that he was too scared to go to Madame Pomfrey with his injuries." Millicent told me, occupying the chair Lucas had vacated some hours earlier.
"Millie, I don't even know who Edward Stone is," I said, raising my eyebrow and eating another of the chocolate pieces she'd brought me from the secret stash behind the bookcase in the Common Room. "Hufflepuffs are neurotic. Too much time holed up in the greenhouses."
"Probably. Why are you here though?" Gaspar asked me, obviously curious.
"Ah," I made a split-second decision to tell a white lie, "Weasley beat the living snot out of me, I am ashamed to admit, and after I got out of the infirmary, I had to go and meet Lucas. He told me what Weasley pretended had happened, and I blew a fuse. But in my justified rage I forgot that I'd just gotten healed, and some of my old injuries decided to come knocking again. Bit of a bitch really."
"Now now, Mr Zabini, no need to go insulting me like that," Pomfrey warned as she came by, "You really do change your mind quickly. Only a few hours ago you wanted to marry me. Ah, well, the youth of today."
Silence descended on the group when she left, and all of them stared at me with utter confusion and in Pansy's case acute terror on their faces, demanding explanation. Grinning, I held my hands out and tried to look innocent, but it was obvious I wasn't fooling anyone.
"Coffee." I said, as if that explained anything, "And it was a joke. I wouldn't marry Madame Pomfrey, however adorable she is for bringing me coffee. I thought I'd set my sights on someone more my age to begin with."
"Sounds like a good plan," Pansy nodded, relieved, "Who did you have in mind?"
"All the good ones are taken," I rolled my eyes, "and you're related to me, Pansy, so that's out of the question."
"Millie doesn't have a boyfriend, does she?" Gaspar said, clueless as always.
"Gaspar, you utter prat, if you speak another word, I swear I'll skin you alive and make paper out of your skin." I threatened, seeing the sad look on Millicent's face.
"What did I do?"
I would have replied but Lucas interrupted it all by appearing beside the bed silently. He had the same peculiar half-smile on his face as he'd worn some hours ago, watching Pomfrey walk away. I waved at him half-heartedly, not knowing why he was there.
"'Lo there, Professor. No papers to grade?" I asked.
"Not right now, Zabini." He shook his head, "Now what was this argument I heard?"
"Gaspar being an arse," I gestured to to the still puzzled Gaspar. "As usual. Nothing too serious though. Was there anything special?"
"Your detention for the Weasley-incident will begin right after lunch on Friday." Lucas shrugged, "And Poppy insisted you'd stay all of tomorrow, so no sneaking out."
"I promise I won't go anywhere. May I go to my Charms lesson on Friday?"
"Of course."
********'
I was finally allowed to leave the infirmary on Friday morning. I wandered out of there, my head still feeling wrapped up in cotton-wool, but no longer feeling my scratches and bruises. The one under my eye had left a small scar though, as it had been a glass-shard from a potions bottle doused with a certain potion, of which I'd forgotten the name. It wasn't important. Millicent had brought be my Charms books yesterday, and Pomfrey had given me breakfast, so I went directly to my lesson.
As I took my seat next to Millicent, I noticed everyone looking at me. Turning my head to ask Millicent why, I hadn't even opened my mouth before Flitwick came in and started the lesson. The tiny professor climbed the stack of books always present on his chair, and looked out over us with the same wide smile he always wore. And so the lesson began.
"Hello everyone!" Flitwich greeted us, "Today we will be studying flame- freezing charms!"
I stopped listening around that point, since I'd learned those over summer. Instead, I turned my attention to the window, and what was happening outside. Some poor class was down at Hagrid's hut having a Care of Magical Creatures lesson, in the pouring rain. Being November, the rain wasn't too unusual, but I pitied the poor sods who had to be out in it. Hopefully, my detention wouldn't mean going out in the rain. Pomfrey had warned me that if I ended up in her infirmary again due to being out in the rain, I'd leave through the window.
We practised the flame-freezing charm on a candle, and that took up most of the lesson. Millicent got it pretty quickly as well, and we spent the rest of the lesson talking quietly, as not to disturb the others and earn more points taken off. Not that Flitwick was probable to take off points for a bit of talking, but being careful never hurt anyone.
"So, what happened when I was gone?" I asked, toying with my quill.
"Agnes had a long and complicated rant about how horrible Weasley was, and Cain promised that when he got old enough he'd send Weasley running with a few well-aimed curses. Gaspar has been walking around look confused ever since you told him off, Theo is trying to get Agnes to calm down, Draco and Pansy are finally getting along again, and I'm sitting there in the middle with nothing to do." Millicent shrugged.
"Sounds like fun," I grinned, "But what I meant was how are all non- Slytherins reacting?"
"The Ravenclaws might be taking our side, since they were the ones Weasley turned his petty anger towards after you wound up in the infirmary. The Hufflepuffs are definitely with the Gryffindors, since the pretend that you beat up one of them. The Gryffindors are all against you, except, strangely enough, Granger. Mind explaining that?" She raised her eyebrow.
"No can do." I shook my head, "All I know is that she was shocked at Weasley's accusation that Slytherins slept with the professors."
"Odd that one." Millicent shook her head. "How are you feeling? No headaches? No ribs broken?"
"Not any more; Pomfrey knows what she's doing."
Conversation slowed after that, and I spent some time looking at the others. Granger, like us, had already mastered the charm, and was trying to instruct Longbottom on how to do it. Potter had finished as well, though he was having another go, probably just to see if he still got it. Or just to make sure he didn't forget how to do it. Most of the class was managing without trouble, except Weasley. He was sitting there with his wand, trying to pronounce the words correctly, but failing miserably, and Granger seemed unwilling to help him. Potter was too caught up in his won work, Longbottom was listening to Granger, and everyone else was busy, so Weasley was left to fend for himself. What made me wonder was how he spoke; it was as if he couldn't open his mouth properly, and he was lisping. Rather laughable really.
"What's with Weasley? He can't talk properly." I gestured towards the redhead.
"You socked him a good one; broke his jaw you did, and even though it's healed, it hurts when he talks and that's why he can't speak like a normal human being." Millicent fiddled with the candle.
"You mean he was able to before?" I snorted.
"Blaise, be nice. We don't want another fight, do we?"
"Why not? I'd win it."
That earned me a quill in the face, just as the lesson ended. We filed out of the classroom, and headed towards the Great Hall. Weasley was glaring at me; I could feel it, but I decided to ignore him. It was too early for fighting anyway. No other Gryffindors even spared me a glance, except Granger, who wore the same thoughtful expression as she had since Moon disappeared. Millicent dragged me away from the Charms corridor, claiming to be hungry, but I knew just as well as she did that she did so because she didn't want any fights.
*******'
The Slytherin table was quiet, but not empty. We'd been a lot more subdued after Snape disappeared. Even the die-hard Voldemort supporters were beginning to doubt they were safe, since they'd heard from their parents that Snape was loyal to their cause. I settled down next to Agnes, and opposite to Gaspar. Agnes still looked angry, and was glaring daggers at Weasley. If looks could kill, they would be hammering the last nails in his coffin. Waving a hand before her eyes, I watched as she started and looked up at me. I raised my eyebrow.
"Still mad, are you Agnes?" I asked.
"He ought to be hanged, that's what," Agnes muttered angrily, "He just about called me a slut! He dared to insinuate that I'd sleep with my teachers to get higher grades. The utter bastard! If it wasn't for the fact that he's two heads taller than me, I'd beat the living hell out of him! And then he dared to try and lie his way out of a detention! And succeeded. I hate Gryffindors. "
Chuckling at her fiery rant, I reached over and gave her a hug. It was amazing what a fist-fight could do for the loyalty in a House. Three days ago, I would never have imagined that Agnes Lestrange would stand up for me against Weasley, and still be angry two days later, but she was. Agnes looked a little shocked at the hug, but as soon as I let go, she smiled hesitantly. Patting her on the head, I went back to eating. I'd need all the energy I could get before my detention. As I ate, I watched the Head Table. Dumbledore was there, as usual, smiling at everyone and apparently telling Sprout a joke. Ataria Sinistra and Lucas were talking quietly to each other. It surprised me to see Lucas at the table; he was almost never there. In fact, it was the second time all term he'd been there. The first time had been early in the morning, as he was leaving the Great Hall just as I entered.
We'd been eating for about half an hour, when Lucas left the Head Table and headed for us. Not a rare occurrence for the head of House to walk by their own table, but everyone watched Lucas, since he was so rarely there, and not many knew he was the Head of Slytherin. He stopped just behind me, and knowing fully well why he was there, I stood up and followed him out of the Hall silently. Everyone watched, and just as we reached the door, I turned my head, and glared at Weasley. How he'd gotten out of detention was beyond me. No one was the stupid, but neither Dumbledore nor McGonagall wanted to see their little Gryffindors tarnished.
Lucas led me out through the Entrance Hall and out the door, down the stairs and across the grounds. It seemed we were heading towards the train, which puzzled me no end. Certain that I'd have to scrub trophies till kingdom come, I hadn't expected this. I had to almost run to keep up with Lucas, even though our legs were about the same length. He was in a hurry, that much was obvious. The only question remaining now was why he was in a hurry, and why we were heading for the train station.
"Where are we going?" I asked, still half-running.
"To see some friends of mine, as I told you," Lucas replied. "I've arranged with the Headmaster for you to leave the grounds. As you are in my company, he thought it all right. We have to hurry; we don't want to miss the train."
"The train?" I parroted. I couldn't help it; I was incredibly confused. Leaving the grounds, meeting friends of Lucas', getting permission from the Headmaster, none of it made sense.
"Yes, the train, and since Poppy would behead me if I made you run, We have to walk rather quickly to make it in time." Lucas flashed that lighting fast smile, "Now move."
We made it to the station just as the train from Hogsmeade ground to a halt in front of us. Lucas dragged me on it and found a compartment quickly. Unfortunately, since it wasn't the Hogwarts Express, it wasn't very large, so we had company. A tiny wizard and his equally tiny wife sat across from us, and a young woman and her boyfriend, who were arguing quite heatedly, sat beside us. I wrinkled my nose, and sank deeper in my seat. Fortunately I'd brought my book bag with me, and pulled out a book. It happened to be Hogwarts; A History. I'd been carrying it around for a week or so, intending to read it, but never getting the chance.
I flipped a few pages in, past the introduction, and began reading an account on how Hogwarts was built. Quite interesting reading, but not something that had me turning the pages faster and faster. After a while, I noticed Lucas reading over my shoulder silently. He hadn't brought a book then, for himself. In the background, I could hear the witch and her boyfriend arguing still, and the mumbling conversation of the old couple in front of us. After about a chapter of the book, I handed it over to Lucas silently, and settled in to sleep the rest of the way. Since he wasn't telling me anything anyway, I might as well sleep. But, I realised just before I fell asleep, there might be one question he could answer.
"Why didn't Weasley get detention?"
"Because McGonagall, even though she blames others for favouritism, has a lot of it herself." Lucas replied, not lifting his eyes from the book.
"No one could have mistaken that for me attacking him. I was the one who ended up in the infirmary with broken ribs, a broken nose and a black eye, remember?" I pointed out. "All he got was a broken jaw and some bruises courtesy of Agnes."
"I wondered why Weasley's story didn't sit well with your injuries," Lucas nodded, "Curiously enough only Potter said that story was true, and he didn't seem convinced even though he was there when it happened."
"Whatever. Everyone loves the perfect saints of Gryffindor, so obviously it was my fault. And Agnes's." I added as an afterthought. "Since a third year is so capable of assaulting Weasley."
"Miss Lestrange has been dealt with, and as soon as we get back to school I will tell McGonagall and the Headmaster what really happened, but at the moment I thought I'd read a bit. Would you mind keeping quiet?"
Scowling at him, I went back to staring at the window and trying to get some sleep. Even though I'd been sleeping for almost two days straight, I was tired. Slowly, lulled by the mumbled conversation of the old couple and the whisper-scream of the argument next to us, I drifted off to sleep, not caring that I could have the mother of all cricks in my neck when I woke up.
******'
As the train rolled into King's Cross, Lucas shook my shoulder to wake me up. I uncurled myself from the ridiculous position I'd ended up in, and stretched as I stood up. My neck popped audibly, and I winced before following Lucas out of the compartment. It felt strange to be back at King's Cross before the term was over. No little first years running around, no third years bragging about their Hogsmeade visits, no seventh years celebrating their graduation. Only a lot of awkward wizards and witches, on errands to London. Speaking of which, we were going to London as well, but I couldn't very well go there in my school uniform, with robes and all. A severe breach of Wizard Law, that would be.
"Sir, how are we supposed to get anywhere looking like this?" I gestured to my clothing.
"Ah. Disillusionment Charm for you, obviously." Lucas took out his wand, and knocked me over the head with it. I winced and whacked his hand away, and felt the cold trickle of the spell down my neck. Soon, I blended in with the background perfectly.
"Right. You then? You're hardly unnoticeable in those clothes." I pointed out. "There's no way the Muggles aren't going to notice you in that getup. You knew we were coming here, so what's the secret?"
"The best one there is," Lucas smiled distantly. "The Muggles are going to believe I'm just a regular freak who decided to dress up. My eyes they will pass off as coloured contact lenses, and my clothing is just going to be awfully strange and freakish. I've planned this, Zabini. I know what I'm doing."
"Muggles are odd," I complained as we walked through the barrier.
We walked straight past a security guard standing with his back against the wall, watching everyone walking to and from their trains. He gave Lucas a glance and looked away with a look of distaste, muttering something which sounded like ´Freak´. Grinning as I passed, I waved at him, testing my charm. He didn't give me a glance. Both of our disguises worked perfectly. All I had to do was follow closely behind Lucas and keep out of the way of Muggles. Quite easy since the Muggles kept away from Lucas. By the time we'd gotten a few blocks away from King's Cross, I was more or less certain of where we were going.
The Ministry of Magic.
*******'
Ending; the plot has long since been ripped to shreds, and I am currently trying to get it pieced together and back on track again. I think I'm at least halfway succeeding.
"Looks like our permanent visitor is awake again," Madame Pomfrey's voice proclaimed cheerfully.
"Bleargh." Was my first statement of the day.
"Breakfast? Alright, let me just get some for you," She flashed a smile before disappearing beyond the white drapes hanging around my bed.
"How are you feeling?" Lucas sounded immensely tired; I could read it even through his short question.
"Out of it. Sketchy. Blurry." I bent my neck and winced. Ten thousand years would give you such a crick in the neck. "Like someone ran over me with spikes in the soles of their shoes."
"As you should be. I'd be worried otherwise," Lucas sat up more in his chair. "Hungry?"
"Like a wolf." I agreed. Wincing as I sat up. I was aching in muscles I'd rather not think about. "My mind feels like it's been replaced with cotton. I couldn't think straight if I tried."
"Fortunately, you won't have to in the next few hours." He replied. "Your friends are obviously worried about you, but I've sent word to them that you will be back in a day or two. Bulstrode threatened to castrate me, but I stood my ground. Quite fearsome that girl is."
I chuckled, my voice sounding rustier than I remembered it ever being. Millicent was just the person who would threaten a teacher like that; I wasn't too surprised. What surprised me was the calm, almost amused way Lucas accepted it and talked about it as if it was normal. Madame Pomfrey entered with a tray laden with every breakfast food imaginable and a steaming cup of black coffee. She put the tray down in front of me, balanced on my knees, and I went for the coffee immediately.
"I love you Madame Pomfrey, will you marry me?" I asked with conviction after I finished the first few sips.
"You're a bit too young dear," Madame Pomfrey laughed good-naturedly, "But I'll keep the offer in mind. What prompted that reaction?"
"Coffee," I growled and downed the rest.
"Ah. Quite like you at that age, isn't he Vincent?" She chuckled, putting a hand on Lucas' shoulder and watched me down my breakfast faster than what was really necessary.
"I remember myself as having a bit more elegance," Lucas liked mildly insulted, though he appeared to be joking. I finished off the last few crumbs of the toast and leaned back on my pillows contentedly.
"Not after the O.W.L-week you hadn't," Pomfrey grinned, before heading off towards her office with the empty tray. Lucas watched her go with an odd half-smile on his face. He didn't smile very often, so it puzzled me for a bit, but it didn't matter very much at the moment.
"So." I piped up after several minutes of silence, "What exactly happened to me?"
"You have no clue whatsoever?" Lucas looked at me with an unreadable expression on his face. I shook my head mutely. "Has there been anything out of the ordinary these past few weeks? Anything that has seemed strange?"
"Nothing these past few weeks, no." I shook my head. "I can't think of anything. Wait. There is one thing, but that I'd had for a few months now. Ever since I duelled Potter, I've had a headache. Nothing major, but enough to be annoying. It got worse after I fought Weasley, and last night when you were telling me what he'd said, it got even worse. It's almost gone now."
"As I feared." Lucas mumbled, almost too low for me to hear. "You will be getting your detention on Friday, after lunch. I have cancelled the class to give you more time with your assignments, so there will be no lesson, and no one will ask where you have been when you disappear."
"Disappear?"
"We will be visiting friends of mine." Lucas informed me. That was all the information I could get out of him, no matter how much I prodded.
******'
Lucas left some hour later, and I was left lying there in my bed and stared at the ceiling. A Hufflepuff I didn't recognise came in later with a bleeding finger. He gave me a startled and slightly frightened look before being treated quickly by Pomfrey and sent on his way. Soon enough, I realised with a crooked smile, the whole school would know I was back in the hospital wing looking worse than ever. True to my assumptions, when Millicent, Cain, Gaspar and the others came to visit me, the word was all over Hogwarts.
"Hannah Abbott swears that you were here because you'd been fighting with Edward Stone. That you'd sent him back to the Common Room crying and bleeding and that he was too scared to go to Madame Pomfrey with his injuries." Millicent told me, occupying the chair Lucas had vacated some hours earlier.
"Millie, I don't even know who Edward Stone is," I said, raising my eyebrow and eating another of the chocolate pieces she'd brought me from the secret stash behind the bookcase in the Common Room. "Hufflepuffs are neurotic. Too much time holed up in the greenhouses."
"Probably. Why are you here though?" Gaspar asked me, obviously curious.
"Ah," I made a split-second decision to tell a white lie, "Weasley beat the living snot out of me, I am ashamed to admit, and after I got out of the infirmary, I had to go and meet Lucas. He told me what Weasley pretended had happened, and I blew a fuse. But in my justified rage I forgot that I'd just gotten healed, and some of my old injuries decided to come knocking again. Bit of a bitch really."
"Now now, Mr Zabini, no need to go insulting me like that," Pomfrey warned as she came by, "You really do change your mind quickly. Only a few hours ago you wanted to marry me. Ah, well, the youth of today."
Silence descended on the group when she left, and all of them stared at me with utter confusion and in Pansy's case acute terror on their faces, demanding explanation. Grinning, I held my hands out and tried to look innocent, but it was obvious I wasn't fooling anyone.
"Coffee." I said, as if that explained anything, "And it was a joke. I wouldn't marry Madame Pomfrey, however adorable she is for bringing me coffee. I thought I'd set my sights on someone more my age to begin with."
"Sounds like a good plan," Pansy nodded, relieved, "Who did you have in mind?"
"All the good ones are taken," I rolled my eyes, "and you're related to me, Pansy, so that's out of the question."
"Millie doesn't have a boyfriend, does she?" Gaspar said, clueless as always.
"Gaspar, you utter prat, if you speak another word, I swear I'll skin you alive and make paper out of your skin." I threatened, seeing the sad look on Millicent's face.
"What did I do?"
I would have replied but Lucas interrupted it all by appearing beside the bed silently. He had the same peculiar half-smile on his face as he'd worn some hours ago, watching Pomfrey walk away. I waved at him half-heartedly, not knowing why he was there.
"'Lo there, Professor. No papers to grade?" I asked.
"Not right now, Zabini." He shook his head, "Now what was this argument I heard?"
"Gaspar being an arse," I gestured to to the still puzzled Gaspar. "As usual. Nothing too serious though. Was there anything special?"
"Your detention for the Weasley-incident will begin right after lunch on Friday." Lucas shrugged, "And Poppy insisted you'd stay all of tomorrow, so no sneaking out."
"I promise I won't go anywhere. May I go to my Charms lesson on Friday?"
"Of course."
********'
I was finally allowed to leave the infirmary on Friday morning. I wandered out of there, my head still feeling wrapped up in cotton-wool, but no longer feeling my scratches and bruises. The one under my eye had left a small scar though, as it had been a glass-shard from a potions bottle doused with a certain potion, of which I'd forgotten the name. It wasn't important. Millicent had brought be my Charms books yesterday, and Pomfrey had given me breakfast, so I went directly to my lesson.
As I took my seat next to Millicent, I noticed everyone looking at me. Turning my head to ask Millicent why, I hadn't even opened my mouth before Flitwick came in and started the lesson. The tiny professor climbed the stack of books always present on his chair, and looked out over us with the same wide smile he always wore. And so the lesson began.
"Hello everyone!" Flitwich greeted us, "Today we will be studying flame- freezing charms!"
I stopped listening around that point, since I'd learned those over summer. Instead, I turned my attention to the window, and what was happening outside. Some poor class was down at Hagrid's hut having a Care of Magical Creatures lesson, in the pouring rain. Being November, the rain wasn't too unusual, but I pitied the poor sods who had to be out in it. Hopefully, my detention wouldn't mean going out in the rain. Pomfrey had warned me that if I ended up in her infirmary again due to being out in the rain, I'd leave through the window.
We practised the flame-freezing charm on a candle, and that took up most of the lesson. Millicent got it pretty quickly as well, and we spent the rest of the lesson talking quietly, as not to disturb the others and earn more points taken off. Not that Flitwick was probable to take off points for a bit of talking, but being careful never hurt anyone.
"So, what happened when I was gone?" I asked, toying with my quill.
"Agnes had a long and complicated rant about how horrible Weasley was, and Cain promised that when he got old enough he'd send Weasley running with a few well-aimed curses. Gaspar has been walking around look confused ever since you told him off, Theo is trying to get Agnes to calm down, Draco and Pansy are finally getting along again, and I'm sitting there in the middle with nothing to do." Millicent shrugged.
"Sounds like fun," I grinned, "But what I meant was how are all non- Slytherins reacting?"
"The Ravenclaws might be taking our side, since they were the ones Weasley turned his petty anger towards after you wound up in the infirmary. The Hufflepuffs are definitely with the Gryffindors, since the pretend that you beat up one of them. The Gryffindors are all against you, except, strangely enough, Granger. Mind explaining that?" She raised her eyebrow.
"No can do." I shook my head, "All I know is that she was shocked at Weasley's accusation that Slytherins slept with the professors."
"Odd that one." Millicent shook her head. "How are you feeling? No headaches? No ribs broken?"
"Not any more; Pomfrey knows what she's doing."
Conversation slowed after that, and I spent some time looking at the others. Granger, like us, had already mastered the charm, and was trying to instruct Longbottom on how to do it. Potter had finished as well, though he was having another go, probably just to see if he still got it. Or just to make sure he didn't forget how to do it. Most of the class was managing without trouble, except Weasley. He was sitting there with his wand, trying to pronounce the words correctly, but failing miserably, and Granger seemed unwilling to help him. Potter was too caught up in his won work, Longbottom was listening to Granger, and everyone else was busy, so Weasley was left to fend for himself. What made me wonder was how he spoke; it was as if he couldn't open his mouth properly, and he was lisping. Rather laughable really.
"What's with Weasley? He can't talk properly." I gestured towards the redhead.
"You socked him a good one; broke his jaw you did, and even though it's healed, it hurts when he talks and that's why he can't speak like a normal human being." Millicent fiddled with the candle.
"You mean he was able to before?" I snorted.
"Blaise, be nice. We don't want another fight, do we?"
"Why not? I'd win it."
That earned me a quill in the face, just as the lesson ended. We filed out of the classroom, and headed towards the Great Hall. Weasley was glaring at me; I could feel it, but I decided to ignore him. It was too early for fighting anyway. No other Gryffindors even spared me a glance, except Granger, who wore the same thoughtful expression as she had since Moon disappeared. Millicent dragged me away from the Charms corridor, claiming to be hungry, but I knew just as well as she did that she did so because she didn't want any fights.
*******'
The Slytherin table was quiet, but not empty. We'd been a lot more subdued after Snape disappeared. Even the die-hard Voldemort supporters were beginning to doubt they were safe, since they'd heard from their parents that Snape was loyal to their cause. I settled down next to Agnes, and opposite to Gaspar. Agnes still looked angry, and was glaring daggers at Weasley. If looks could kill, they would be hammering the last nails in his coffin. Waving a hand before her eyes, I watched as she started and looked up at me. I raised my eyebrow.
"Still mad, are you Agnes?" I asked.
"He ought to be hanged, that's what," Agnes muttered angrily, "He just about called me a slut! He dared to insinuate that I'd sleep with my teachers to get higher grades. The utter bastard! If it wasn't for the fact that he's two heads taller than me, I'd beat the living hell out of him! And then he dared to try and lie his way out of a detention! And succeeded. I hate Gryffindors. "
Chuckling at her fiery rant, I reached over and gave her a hug. It was amazing what a fist-fight could do for the loyalty in a House. Three days ago, I would never have imagined that Agnes Lestrange would stand up for me against Weasley, and still be angry two days later, but she was. Agnes looked a little shocked at the hug, but as soon as I let go, she smiled hesitantly. Patting her on the head, I went back to eating. I'd need all the energy I could get before my detention. As I ate, I watched the Head Table. Dumbledore was there, as usual, smiling at everyone and apparently telling Sprout a joke. Ataria Sinistra and Lucas were talking quietly to each other. It surprised me to see Lucas at the table; he was almost never there. In fact, it was the second time all term he'd been there. The first time had been early in the morning, as he was leaving the Great Hall just as I entered.
We'd been eating for about half an hour, when Lucas left the Head Table and headed for us. Not a rare occurrence for the head of House to walk by their own table, but everyone watched Lucas, since he was so rarely there, and not many knew he was the Head of Slytherin. He stopped just behind me, and knowing fully well why he was there, I stood up and followed him out of the Hall silently. Everyone watched, and just as we reached the door, I turned my head, and glared at Weasley. How he'd gotten out of detention was beyond me. No one was the stupid, but neither Dumbledore nor McGonagall wanted to see their little Gryffindors tarnished.
Lucas led me out through the Entrance Hall and out the door, down the stairs and across the grounds. It seemed we were heading towards the train, which puzzled me no end. Certain that I'd have to scrub trophies till kingdom come, I hadn't expected this. I had to almost run to keep up with Lucas, even though our legs were about the same length. He was in a hurry, that much was obvious. The only question remaining now was why he was in a hurry, and why we were heading for the train station.
"Where are we going?" I asked, still half-running.
"To see some friends of mine, as I told you," Lucas replied. "I've arranged with the Headmaster for you to leave the grounds. As you are in my company, he thought it all right. We have to hurry; we don't want to miss the train."
"The train?" I parroted. I couldn't help it; I was incredibly confused. Leaving the grounds, meeting friends of Lucas', getting permission from the Headmaster, none of it made sense.
"Yes, the train, and since Poppy would behead me if I made you run, We have to walk rather quickly to make it in time." Lucas flashed that lighting fast smile, "Now move."
We made it to the station just as the train from Hogsmeade ground to a halt in front of us. Lucas dragged me on it and found a compartment quickly. Unfortunately, since it wasn't the Hogwarts Express, it wasn't very large, so we had company. A tiny wizard and his equally tiny wife sat across from us, and a young woman and her boyfriend, who were arguing quite heatedly, sat beside us. I wrinkled my nose, and sank deeper in my seat. Fortunately I'd brought my book bag with me, and pulled out a book. It happened to be Hogwarts; A History. I'd been carrying it around for a week or so, intending to read it, but never getting the chance.
I flipped a few pages in, past the introduction, and began reading an account on how Hogwarts was built. Quite interesting reading, but not something that had me turning the pages faster and faster. After a while, I noticed Lucas reading over my shoulder silently. He hadn't brought a book then, for himself. In the background, I could hear the witch and her boyfriend arguing still, and the mumbling conversation of the old couple in front of us. After about a chapter of the book, I handed it over to Lucas silently, and settled in to sleep the rest of the way. Since he wasn't telling me anything anyway, I might as well sleep. But, I realised just before I fell asleep, there might be one question he could answer.
"Why didn't Weasley get detention?"
"Because McGonagall, even though she blames others for favouritism, has a lot of it herself." Lucas replied, not lifting his eyes from the book.
"No one could have mistaken that for me attacking him. I was the one who ended up in the infirmary with broken ribs, a broken nose and a black eye, remember?" I pointed out. "All he got was a broken jaw and some bruises courtesy of Agnes."
"I wondered why Weasley's story didn't sit well with your injuries," Lucas nodded, "Curiously enough only Potter said that story was true, and he didn't seem convinced even though he was there when it happened."
"Whatever. Everyone loves the perfect saints of Gryffindor, so obviously it was my fault. And Agnes's." I added as an afterthought. "Since a third year is so capable of assaulting Weasley."
"Miss Lestrange has been dealt with, and as soon as we get back to school I will tell McGonagall and the Headmaster what really happened, but at the moment I thought I'd read a bit. Would you mind keeping quiet?"
Scowling at him, I went back to staring at the window and trying to get some sleep. Even though I'd been sleeping for almost two days straight, I was tired. Slowly, lulled by the mumbled conversation of the old couple and the whisper-scream of the argument next to us, I drifted off to sleep, not caring that I could have the mother of all cricks in my neck when I woke up.
******'
As the train rolled into King's Cross, Lucas shook my shoulder to wake me up. I uncurled myself from the ridiculous position I'd ended up in, and stretched as I stood up. My neck popped audibly, and I winced before following Lucas out of the compartment. It felt strange to be back at King's Cross before the term was over. No little first years running around, no third years bragging about their Hogsmeade visits, no seventh years celebrating their graduation. Only a lot of awkward wizards and witches, on errands to London. Speaking of which, we were going to London as well, but I couldn't very well go there in my school uniform, with robes and all. A severe breach of Wizard Law, that would be.
"Sir, how are we supposed to get anywhere looking like this?" I gestured to my clothing.
"Ah. Disillusionment Charm for you, obviously." Lucas took out his wand, and knocked me over the head with it. I winced and whacked his hand away, and felt the cold trickle of the spell down my neck. Soon, I blended in with the background perfectly.
"Right. You then? You're hardly unnoticeable in those clothes." I pointed out. "There's no way the Muggles aren't going to notice you in that getup. You knew we were coming here, so what's the secret?"
"The best one there is," Lucas smiled distantly. "The Muggles are going to believe I'm just a regular freak who decided to dress up. My eyes they will pass off as coloured contact lenses, and my clothing is just going to be awfully strange and freakish. I've planned this, Zabini. I know what I'm doing."
"Muggles are odd," I complained as we walked through the barrier.
We walked straight past a security guard standing with his back against the wall, watching everyone walking to and from their trains. He gave Lucas a glance and looked away with a look of distaste, muttering something which sounded like ´Freak´. Grinning as I passed, I waved at him, testing my charm. He didn't give me a glance. Both of our disguises worked perfectly. All I had to do was follow closely behind Lucas and keep out of the way of Muggles. Quite easy since the Muggles kept away from Lucas. By the time we'd gotten a few blocks away from King's Cross, I was more or less certain of where we were going.
The Ministry of Magic.
*******'
Ending; the plot has long since been ripped to shreds, and I am currently trying to get it pieced together and back on track again. I think I'm at least halfway succeeding.