Disclaimer:  No, they still don't belong to me.  Yes, I still cry myself to sleep over that fact.

A/N  My computer is working!!! It's rather exciting. Solesse – pink is cool.  This may be the shortest note I've ever posted.  The excitement just doesn't stop!  Oh, by the way, the titles of these chapters have no relevance to the story, they are just lines from a song that my mates made up for the 10 minute versions of Agamemnon, Antigone and Oedipus the King that my Classics class put on last year.  Googly eyes were also involved.  Ah, memories.  Damn, this note is long now.  Ah well, shit happens.

The Man In Pink was clinging to the rock face, struggling to get a foothold.

'He's got good arms' said Blaise, barely able to contain the drooling at the sight of those arms, and the strength concealed in them.

The Man In Pink began slowly to haul himself up the sheer cliff face, still not using his legs, so his powerful arms were all that stood (or rather, clung) between him and a rather painful splattering death.

'Merciful Heavens! He's climbing!' exclaimed Blaise, earning himself some rather odd looks from the others.  'Mmmmmm….'

'No matter, he's seen us with Potter and must therefore die.' replied Snape, regretfully.  Blaise pouted.  Snape ignored him.  'Goyle, grab Potter, we'll carry on.  Blaise, you stay here.  If he falls, then good.  If not, the wand.'

'I'm going to do him left handed.' said Blaise, at which point Vince and Greg began sniggering.

'Oh, grow up!' snapped Snape; rounding on Blaise he growled 'Why?  You know what a hurry we're in!'

'It's the only way I can be satisfied,' replied Blaise, to more hysterical giggles from Vince and Greg.  Ignoring them, although looking distinctly flushed he continued 'If I use my right then it's over too quickly.'

'Fine, whatever' Snape started marching briskly towards Durmstrang, followed by Vince and Greg, Vince coming back thirty seconds later to collect Harry.

Blaise took out his wand, and began gesturing.  Then, remembering the Man In Pink's arms, conjured himself a mirror and some hair gel and sat down on a handy rock.  Twenty minutes later, when he was satisfied that he looked as devilishly handsome as was humanly possible, he went to the edge of the cliff.  He was about to call down when he felt faint with lust, so went and sat down again.  Another half hour later he closed his eyes, got down on hands and knees and felt his way to the edge. 

'I don't suppose you want to speed things up?' he asked.

'Look, this isn't as easy as it looks, so I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't distract me?' replied the Man In Pink.  His voice was deep (but not Snape-serial killer deep), and there was a hint of a pout in his tone, implying he was used to getting what he wanted.  This thought paralysed Blaise again, so he sat fanning himself until he heard the man's voice again.  'Look, I don't suppose you can open the staircase, or make me a rope, or find something useful to do?'

'I could do that!' said Blaise brightly.  'But, I don't think it would be much use, since I'm only waiting here to kill you.'

'That does put a dampener on our relationship.'

Blaise was incapacitated for another 10 minutes at the thought of a relationship with this hunk of pink goodness.

'How can I trust that you won't chuck me off or something?' the Man In Pink asked.

'I swear to you on my father's life that I will help you, ' he said.

'Oh, yeah, ok, sure.' said the Man in Pink.  'And I bet you hate your father, and he disowned you about three years ago.'  This shook Blaise slightly, as it was in fact true.

'Is there any way you will trust me?' he asked, desperately.

'Nothing comes to mind' panted the Man In Pink, who was by this point holding on to the rock with one hand, and swinging wildly around trying to get a grip with the other.

'I swear to you as a Slytherin that you will reach the top alive'

'Good enough.  Open the bloody staircase.'

Blaise did so, and the Man In Pink ran up tiredly, drawing his wand as he approached.

'No, wait until you're ready' urged Blaise, who was one again sitting down, looking at the Man In Pink with his mouth hanging unattractively open.

'Thank you'

'I don't suppose you have the Dark Mark on your arm, do you?' asked Blaise, once he had recovered sufficiently to talk. 

The Man In Pink looked slightly confused.  'Do you always begin conversations this way?'

'My brother was killed by a Death Eater'

The Man In Pink looked directly at Blaise and pulled up the sleeve of his top, to show….pale skin, untouched. Blaise almost fainted with lust.

'My brother was a wand maker.  The Death Eater came and demanded a special wand.  They wanted to use it to revive You-Know-Who, so it had to be powerful.  It was a year before it was finished.  The Death Eater returned and demanded it, but at 1/10 his promised price.  My brother refused.  The Death Eater performed the Killing Curse on him.  I tried to kill him, but he beat me.  The Death Eater left me alive, but he gave me these'  Blaise showed the Man In Pink two scars running across his chest, n the shape of a V.  'I left them so I would always remember my brother, I have been training and teaching myself spells since I was seven in preparation for the battle.  But I have been unsuccessful in finding him.  One day I will find him, I will look him in the eye and say "Hello.  My name is Blaise Zabini.  You killed my brother.  Prepare to die."'

'Well, I hope you find him' said the Man In  Pink.

'You're ready then?' asked Blaise.

'Even if I'm not, you've been more than fair.'

'You seem a really nice guy.  I hate to have to kill you.

'You seem a really nice guy.  I hate to die.'

'Begin'.

And so the battle began.