CHAPTER 2: Feud over a Rendevous
"I am Zabini. Blaise Zabini."
"He's that one no one knows. The mystery character." Malachai muttered, almost inaudibly.
"What year are you in?" Alex said with obvious distaste.
"Sixth. And you?"
"The very same." Roxy answered with glee. I get to meet the ever elusive Blaise! The ever CUTE and elusive Blaise.
The boy quirked an eyebrow. "I have been here six years, and you expect me to believe you somehow escaped my line of vision in all of that time? Pitiful."
"We don't go to Hogwarts. And no, we can't tell you where it is we attend. That would be poor form. And that should present some challenge to the legendary mind of the..slytherin? You are, of course, a Slytherin?" Roxy said. She questioned his house because she didn't want to seem to well informed about the students of the school.
"Well, seeing as I have patch and tie in the colours of the Slytherin's, I would have to confirm.."
"Ay yah. So verbose." Alex observed. "Couldn't you just say 'yes'?"
"That would be so. . .dull. Dreary, boring. Conformist-like."
"Interesting. Well, we have work to do. I'm sure well see each other around." Alex was clearly trying to escape further talk with the Slytherin.
"Well, I certainly hope so. You're the most intelligent person we've met, aside from Hermione, of course. And by far the most interesting. Say we..plan on meeting? In the great hall? 'Round... eight-ish?" Roxy said. She was very interested in this boy. The boy who the entire Harry Potter fan-dom was going nuts over.
Blaise, in all of his Slythie-ness, thought this idea had it's perks. He could find out more of these new-comers. He'd have to find out what side they were really on.
"Agreed. But you had better keep away from the Slytherin table. I can not tell if you are, but Malfoy can practically smell pure bloods...and if you're not... well..welcome to Hogwarts."
"See you."
"At eight."
Blaise continued going in the direction they were coming from. Alex gave Roxy a dirty look.
Roxy took in the disapproving stare. "What? Aren't you with Hermione on this one: Inter-house unity? I just made peace with a Slytherin."
"Watch out for him. I don't like the look he had."
"Oh, you and your judgement. Malachai! Get the bloody hell on my side!" Roxy suddenly barked at her quiet companion.
"You know, I think I would like him. But I can't know for sure yet. I mean, he is in Slytherin, so we don't know what his motives are. In the books, absence of character is usually quite significant. Well, Zabini's missing from a lot of parts he should have been in. My instincts say that there's something rotten about this whole thing. Best ask the Gryffindors what they think of him."
"Oh, that's stupid. I like him. You two don't have to meet with him, but I'm going to." Knowing full well that Malachai's logic was infallible.
"Oh, nice try. You just want him alone because you think he's cute!" Alex pointed out.
"No. I don't want to go alone, I said I will goalone if I must. This is the most sought after character personality in the fan-dom, and you two are just going to let it pass by? Do what you want, but this is an opportunity I won't miss."
Malachai was already sensing trouble. When it came time to leave, Roxy would put up a fight. She was already thinking this was real. This couldn't really affect the outcome of the books. It's not real. But he didn't voice this, as he knew a shouting match would evolve from the simple suggestion of this, Roxy's dream -come-virtually-true, being a figment of their imagination's. "We should at least check him out first." is all he said
"I trust him."
"And how does that make it safe?"
"Make what safe?"
"She wants too– Harry? Where'd you come from?" Malachai realized who asked the question.
"The common room." he shrugged. "Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and I decided that we like you. And we were going to find you and invite you to the D.A. meetings."
This triggered a mix reaction in their minds. Of course, they would LOVE to join right up in the D.A. But there was one slight problem. They were muggles. But they were defying the laws of possibility...normality...reality... They were in a place that no one else in their world could get too. This was all in their heads... so what if..what if they could do magic as well? Malachai decided to bring this to the girl's attention.
"I think, we'd first like to observe. Maybe we'll participate if the project doesn't take up too much time. And after we get settled in, of course."
Harry nodded, hearing the answer Hermione predicted. "So, what's so unsafe?"
"Roxy wants too–"
"Roxy wants to do whatever she wants. And Roxy has decided to go alone. And I'm going to catch up with him to change the time and place. I'll have none of your biased nonsense."
Roxy turned on her heel, but both Harry and Malachai grabbed her arm. She slapped Chai's arm. "You won't go alone. Stop making it such a big deal." Roxy ignored him and stared at Harry. He was just too! damn! cute!
"Just who are you thinking about meeting?" Harry asked, concern in his voice. He didn't like his friends waltzing off to meet someone that her closest friends warned against. Especially in a time of war.
"No one." lied Roxy, glaring at Malachai.
"A slytherin," Malachai told them.
"MALFOY!" the quartet chorused.
"Hell no! What do you...think...I ...am..biased..won't give chance...Malfoy..." Roxy started off as offended, but it looked as if she had been obliviated mid-thought. Or at least that someone had scattered her thoughts and coherent speech.
"Have you suddenly gotten morals?" Alex asked sincerely.
Roxy snapped back to herself. "You know that the lowest form of life on the planet is prejudice, intolerant, scum. I'm one of them, if I don't give Malfoy a chance." Roxy said, not accepting the 5 full years of chances that Malfoy blew.
"But you said you weren't meeting him." Ginny pointed out.
"That's the truth."
"Then what slytherin are you meeting?"
"Blaise Zabini." Malachai provided, once he realized Roxy wasn't going to answer. She awarded him her glare that she normally reserved for her cousin Ellie, the tattle-tale. He only shivered slightly.
"Zabini?" Harry repeated, dumbstruck.
"You sure know how to pick 'em. Zabini is a mystery. He doesn't speak much to anyone in Slytherin, a good sign, I'm sure. But he refused our invitation to the D.A." Ginny explained. "You could have made it convenient for us and chosen one that has a reputation. Then we'd have some grounds for not letting you go. But, as his record is clean, all we can do is to warn you..." Ginny slowed, and then made everyone jump with a bark that sounded uncannily like Moody, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"
Everyone laughed after the initial shock wore off.
"I can meet him, though?" Roxy asked the students.
They reluctantly shrugged and nodded.
"Alone?" She asked the entire group.
"I dunno. What d'you reckon, Harry?" Ron asked.
"As long as Dumbledore is here...where are you meeting him?"
"Great Hall. At eight, to answer your next question."
"You call that alone? No privacy at all." Ron tod her.
"I MEAN, without the presence of people who will likely be accusing him of murder when he completes a sentence." Roxy explained.
"We won't! I just don't like the way he looked at us, that's all!" Alex moaned.
"'Cos he's slytherin." Roxy persisted.
"Fine. But we'll be at Gryffindor table if you need us." Ginny agreed.
"Well..." Hermione tried to lighten the silence. "What time is it? Around 3:00, I suppose?"
"3:10." corrected Harry, consulting his newest watch.
"Close enough. So, what do you do on a Saturday at 3:10?" Malachai asked.
"Err...normally? Nothing. A D.A. meet sometimes. Not today though. 5th years who don't have Hermione for a best friend have a tonne of homework." said Ginny smugly.
"SHHH!" Hermione hushed her, looking around for teachers.
"There's none there, I checked."
"Can't be too careful." Hermione stated warily.
"Well," said Malachai, peering out of a nearby window, "it is a clear day out. So why don't we go outside?"
The rest of the group voiced their approval of this idea, and walked lazily down the steps, talking loudly and cheerfully among themselves. If the muggle trio could only see exactly how much happiness they had just returned to the lives of the people that surrounded them...
They strode outside into a warm breezy day. The sight was another wonderful one to behold. It was beautiful and green, the massive mountains outlining the distant horizon, the giant lake shimmering, reflecting like glass the forbidden forest. And the quidditch pitch. Oh, wondrous, amazing, awe-inspiring sports field. An athlete's dream. Roxy's dream. Malachai's dream. Alex's nightmare.
Ron noticed with amusement the guest's faces. "You look as if you've never seen a pitch before." He observed.
The other three Hogwarts natives noticed the looks too. The look a first year had when he or she got the first glimpse of their new home away from home.
"Not one this big." admitted Roxy, mouth still agape.
"Do you play?" asked Harry with interest.
"I know how. I just..never actually did it. My mum, you see.." Roxy lied with ease. She didn't like lying. Not at all. Especially to her friends. And of all people: Harry Potter! But that still didn't make it any less convincing.
"I understand. I grew up with..."
"A family of Arses with–"
"RON!" Hermione screeched with anger. She promptly dislocated his toe. He winced. "Sorry, Harry, no offense.." he amended.
"None taken, mate. I agree. Anyway, they are muggles, you see. Don't like, accept, and only grudgingly believed in magic. I had never even seen an enchanted broom– an enchanted anything until I was 11."
Roxy winced. "Must have been hell."
"You have no idea."
Ohhh yes I do... "Couldn't even begin to imagine."
They came to a tree near the lake. Also near a ..clump..of .. bushes.. Lord. Sweet God. . Thought Roxy. The marauders sat at this very spot! I WORSHIP this ground. Sirius' very own teenage body had once touched this place. And James! And Remus! And..well..no one else of concern.
Roxy showed absolutely no outward signs of the inner sadness and joy she felt at seeing the tree. If she had, people may start...well...continue with more conviction.. questioning her sanity, or at least, her odd behaviour of kissing the ground at the foot of a seemingly normal tree.
They plopped down and absorbed the sun. Quietly discussing whatever came to mind. Hermione and Alex were engrossed in a conversation about S.P.E.W., Malachai and Ron were talking about quidditch moves, and Roxy and Ginny were busy conversing about the Weasley brothers. Harry listened to snatches of conversations, and a little piece of him said, "now THIS, is home." While Harry was at inner peace, Roxy was observing with practiced ease the other conversations. All according to plan, of course. It was amazing and uncanny that there personalities matched so well. It was perfect. Maybe it was fate. Maybe not. One could never be too sure about these things.
The conversations died out eventually, leaving them to enjoy a peaceful, undisturbed nap. Probably the last one they'd have for awhile. When they awoke, it was sunset. The beautiful pastel colours ranging from pink to orange spread across the darkening sky. A few stars were visible now. One of them was a bright star that Alex knew out of obsession, and the students knew from Astronomy, was Sirius. He winked down at the group of friends. They just smiled back up. Subtly, though. Not parading big cheesy grins, no... more of a secret smirk. Harry, uncharacteristically, felt that Sirius may be happy for him..as opposed to cursing the very existence of the boy-who-lived.
"Mmm." Ron stretched his long arms. "That was...relaxing." He was blinking rapidly so as to get the sleep out of his eyes. Hermione and, to Roxy's horror, Alex where smiling fondly at him.
Oh there's NO way in hell she's getting away with that one. Roxy thought angrily. After all, she did know the plan. Roxy gave Malachai a significant look. Once she caught his eyes, she nodded her head at Alex and glared indignantly at her. When she looked back at Malachai, however, he wasn't watching. The annoying prat was watching Ginny. Mutiny!
"What time is it, Harry?" Roxy asked, glaring at Malachai.
Harry, who had caught the silent looks that signified rowing, was glad to have something to talk about. Even if it was just the time.
"7:10. Why, you got a — oh. Er...You still have fifty minutes." Ron answered.
Roxy rolled her eyes, but the effect Ron's words had on Alex and Malachai just took Ron off the say-the-wrong-things-at-the-wrong-times-list...in Roxy's book, at least. "Look, Ron. It's not a date. Hardly. I don't even know him yet. I just–"
"Yet?" said Alex shrilly. "Yet? You mean you would date him?"
"Um... usually if one likes another of the opposite sex, then yes. That is what they do. Date. Wouldn't you willingly go out with someone that you liked? Honestly, Alex, that was a stupid question."
Alex looked sort of mad that her accusation was beaten down by logic.
"Look, I'm going to go on and get ready. Let me find Gryffindor tower on my own, okay? I need to be able to find it." Roxy said to Hermione, who had gotten up.
"Alright." She smiled, knowing only too well that if you had an independence streak, then you had better be able to exercise said independence. "We'll hang back for a few minutes. Give you a head start."
"Thanks. A few minutes? Oh, that's more then enough." She turned and ran towards the building, after seeing that Malachai wouldn't retort.
As she ran, she was thinking hard. In fact, she was thinking so hard, that she actually started talking to herself.
Well, Roxy, you've done it again.
"What?"
You have let the mission go out of hand. Horrible leader, you are.
"What? It's their fault! They went mutinous! They're falling for fictional characters."
It's your fault, you let them.
"What was I supposed to do! It's early in the game! This was totally out of the blue!"
Didn't you expect this?
"I talked to them. They usually listen."
Try hard as you like, but you can't make someone love who you want them to love.
"But.."
But nothing. Love is a complicated thing. You can't control it.
She came to the huge oak doors. It only took about two minutes. She ran inside and through the entrance hall. A few eyes caught hers, and she only vaguely recognized them. One pair of eyes belonged to who might very well be Susan Bones. Oh well. Time to meet her later. Roxy was determined to find Gryffindor tower. And find it she did. After a few wrong turns, admittedly, but no one else had to know that. And she would have asked for directions, but she felt that that would be cheating. That, and the only person she had passed that she could have asked directions from was Neville.
She was panting hard when she reached the Fat Lady.
"Fribble." she gasped.
The portrait swung open. She glanced avidly around the room to see if they had beaten her, and, to her complete and utter annoyance, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Malachai, and Alex were sitting around the fire, the latter two wearing superior smug grins.
"Good job." She said coldly to Alex and Malachai. "You managed to beat me. With the help of four long-term students. Great achievement, the both of you."
The grins slid right down into scowls. The desired effect being reached, Roxy turned to go into Hermione's dormitory. As soon as she was out of sight, she sat right down and listened to the conversation of her muggle companions.
"Do you three normally row like this?" she heard Hermione asked with interest.
"Never. We never fight." Alex tod her sadly.
"Well, what's the new development? How come you've started all of a sudden?"
"It wasn't us, was it?" Harry asked with concern.
Roxy snorted silently. Oh, get a grip, Harry. Like you could do anything to split us up.
"No, of course not. Like you could do anything to split us up. No, it's more that we don't like the look of Zabini. He might be. . dangerous. It is a time of war." Alex explained. She had been over this with Malachai. At first, he didn't think that there was much to worry about, it was, after all, not really happening. But, as Alex explained, you could get hurt in the game. That was what made it so real. The feeling. Okay, it's a given, the graphics help too.. But what's snow boarding with snow and no nervous system?
Oh... so that's it? That's why we're having a mini war? Pfft. Well, that's stupid. They'll see. He won't be dangerous. I shall be victorious once again!
"We can see them clear from the tables, right?" Malacahi asked.
"Yeah. No problem. We can spot trouble a mile away."
"Considering of course, that they don't move. To a more..secluded spot." Hermione told them.
"I'll bring the cloak down with me. If they move, I'll follow. Just to make sure"
"Good. It's a plan."
Roxy came down the steps, pretending she hadn't heard a thing. "Hey Hermione..." she said.
"Yes?" Hermione looked up from the book she was pretending to read.
"Can you come with me for a sec?"
"Alright." and Hermione got up and followed Roxy up the steps.
"Anything the matter?"
"Oh, no. I was just wondering whether you had..like..a set of old robes or something. I don't want to draw too much attraction to myself."
"Ohh... of course. And I'm sure Ginny has something for Alex...and well..Malachai's sort of in between Harry and Ron, isn't he? Oh, Ron's older robes will do. He grows ever so fast. He must have.. Say.. About four new pairs in the last year."
Roxy examined the look on Hermione's face. A soft kind of fondness...it was obvious. It was in her voice as well. For a moment, Roxy thought she'd take a bit of a risk and ask Hermione straight out if she did, in fact, like Ron as more than a friend. She held her tongue. It could ruin everything. Best wait.
Roxy thanked Hermione and changed into the surprisingly perfect fit of the black school robes. By the time the three of them changed and met again in the common room, it was about 7:50.
"Look, guys..It's not about me here, I'm going to find out if he supports Harry or Voldemort. Don't worry about me.."
"Yeah, alright. We good?"
Roxy knew he was only saying that because Harry would be tailing her with his cloak.
"Yeah, we good." She smiled.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny greeted them half a minute later.
"Hey, can Neville come with us to dinner? You guys won't mind, right?"
"Umm." Roxy appeared to be regarding Neville with a look of sheer distaste.
Her expression softened when she realized that he actually thought she was serious. She regarded him with a smile. "Ginny, why would you even ask? What I'd have to ask you is What would be dinner be like without him? Of course he can come."
Neville brightened up considerably.
They ambled down the many staircases and corridors, passing many a portrait and tapestry, chatting animatedly among themselves.
Alex adored her robes. Roxy found them to be annoying, she hated dresses, and robes were no different. But all the same, the made the experience more real. Malachai was grumbling because he kept tripping over his, he wasn't used to dressy things. After Ron laughed at his discomfort, Malachai snapped at him "Hey, I don't make it a point to wear dresses, ok?" Roxy's eyes went wide. Malachai realized what he said.
"What? You never wear robes?" Ron asked, perplexedly.
"Uh.." Malachai had to recover from this one. He was the king, though, he reassured himself. He could get himself out of anything..There's always a loophole. "No, It's just, these are really long for me. These are your oldest ones?"
Roxy and Alex let out a collective sigh.
I AM the king.
He is the king. Alex thought.
He could have blown the plan to smithereens. Thank the stars he thinks he's the king, because otherwise he wouldn't have pride to loose.
Ron's ears were read. Apparently, he's sensitive about his size.
"Well, I think it's a good height." Hermione said, to everyone's surprise, including her own. This didn't help return Ron's ears to their natural colours.In fact it did quite the opposite.They came to the Great Hall, and Roxy spotted Blaise. He was proably within in inch of Malachai and had icy blue eyes and medium length curly hair. He wore terribly ripped and torn jeans (very fashionable in the land of the recluse.), and a black shirt with writting they could not make out from a distance.
"Well," she said, looking around nervously, '' See you after dinner, then." and walked off.
"Where's she going?" Neville asked them.
"To meet a Slyhterin, you know.. that Zabini."
"Oh." and Neville said no more.
Truth be told, Roxy was a bit nervous, but all anxiety melted at the sight of Blaise smiling. He hadn't smiled before, and it was quite welcoming. She made her way to the Ravenclaw's table where he was standing, apparently wary of any Slytherin onlookers.
"Hey." he said.
"Hey." Roxy replied bracingly. "Your friends didn't want to come, did they?"
"No..No it's not how you think, though. Alex is very shy, and we've only just met Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She needs to warm up to them, first. And malachai...he promised Ginny Weasley he'd see her at dinner tonight. He did sound as if he regretted not coming." Roxy lied off the top of her head. Hey, the excuse sounded perfectly plausible.
"They just don't want to be caught talking to a Slytherin outcast." Blaise said coldly.
"Oh, now that's completely unfounded!" Roxy said, heart sinking. "Not all slytherin's are evil...and if you are an outcast, that means Malfoy can't be too happy with you." she added thoughtfully.
"How do you know him?" he asked suspiciously.
"Oh, please. With a voice like his? His dulcett tones carry around two continents. His words define his character well enough."
He seemed satisfied with that answer. He laguhed darkly. "Oh, his character runs deeper than you think."
"What do you mean?"
But Blaise refused to answer, so she dropped it.
She cast around for a different subject. She remembered his shirt. "What's that?" she asked.
"Oh..It's a logo for a band that I'm into. Freak Revalation (A/N: can i use the old band name? any objections to that?)."
"I've never heard of them. Are they popular?"
"Next to no one has heard of them. So, no, that would kind of hurt it's chances, don't you think?"
"Just a bit."
They got on well after that. They talked about the classes, quidditch, the people in Hogwarts..It was at this time that Blaise suggested they leave. Probably doesn't want to be overheard. Roxy thought reasonably. With a sidelong glance at her friends, who happened to be avidly watching the conversation progress, decided to see just how sneaky potter could be.
Malachai was making no effort at hiding his ghostly stare. Hermione was hissing at him. "You'll give it away!" but he didn't stop. Stepping back from the situation, Malachai acts pretty funny when he senses danger. He goes all stiff and angry. But, to what would be Moody's delight, he stays constantly vigilant.
Alex was nervously glancing at the pair with every two words that she spoke.
Harry, laughing inwardly at their behaviour. Very uptight. He shot a look at Dumbeldore nonetheless. "It will be fine. He can't be that bad."
"They're moving..." Alex warned.
Harry's head shot up from his plate. "Okay, I'm going."
There was a lot of noticing going on. In the space of 1 minute and 16.2 seconds, Malfoy spotted the Slytherin and stranger, Alex saw Blaise and Roxy leave, Malfoy noticed Harry get up, and then, following the line of vision, realized why. Then there was Hermione who noticed, Draco's gaze, nudged Ron. When Ron caught on, they shared a significant look. This was caught by Malachai.
"What was that?" he asked.
"What?" Ron asked innocently.
"That look. Don't lie."
"Okay, well...Blaise isn't going to be any trouble..."
"But?"
"Malfoy might be.."
Ouch. My hand hurts. Soo much typing..
Here. A/N's.
A/N: I am VERY glad she, that is to say Jo Rowling, has not given Blaise a personality as of yet. I mean, if he was mentioned as often as Parkinson and Malfoy, we very well couldn't have this character be whoever we want him (or her, if it fits in your story) to be...as easily, at least.
sorry for any typos! ill fix them later!
Ok. Thats done.
Did I forget something? Yeah, I did. I don't care though. Soup time.
Review Response:
ka– remy-moon. : Thanks! God, you liked it, didn't you? Enthusiasm. A lot of enthusiasm. Guess what? I updated. Faster than you. And my chapters are double length of yours. :)
Team Graecisso: Well I made some changes, hope you like them. I'm quite surprised that you liked it. Butt kicking comes later. Maybe. Depends. But I do have a fork in the road in my plot, it could either end peacefully or..not..depends on feedback...review appreciated. You have no idea how good it feels to be on this side of the review.
Farfumsane: Glad you liked it. And I'll finish your fic as soon as I find the time. Does it say something about me? Certainly not...
