A/N: Rated T for some things that may come up later. Also for the occasional immensely violent duel, and language… Anyways!
Blaise, Draco, and the rest of the Slytherin first years arrived at Professor McGonagall's classroom, ready for a full class of Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws. Blaise was practically the only person out of all of the 2 houses that did not seem ready.
Whispers of, "His dad's dead" and "Wow, I thought he'd leave immediately" filled the hall in front of McGonagall's class.
Blaise glared at the Ravenclaws, the ones that happened to be saying everything, "Back off." He said, taking out his wand, ready for anything. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle took out their wands as well.
"Zabini, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle. You do not need your wands until you are in my classroom." Professor McGonagall said as she approached the mini-mob in front of her classroom.
"Yes Professor." The four of them said in unison. Blaise was shocked by the fact that Crabbe and Goyle had actually spoken.
They followed the Ravenclaws and other Slytherins into the classroom, sitting in their usual spot in the back of the room.
Professor McGonagall began talking about turning hedgehogs into pincushions, and handed out a hedgehog to each student. When she got to the table where the four Slytherin boys were sitting, she looked at Blaise, "Come see me after class." She said, a hint of sympathy in her voice.
"I told you." Blaise said to the other three as soon as she walked away, "I most definitely told you."
Draco smirked, "Yeah, you were right Blaise." He shook his head, "Think all the teachers will be like that?"
"Not Snape." Blaise replied, "Luckily."
"I'm going to laugh so hard if you are wrong about Snape." Draco told him, holding back a laugh.
"I won't laugh I'll be scared." Blaise exclaimed, shaking his head. "It would show that Snape has emotions." He added, successfully turning his hedgehog into a pincushion on his first attempt.
Draco glared at Blaise, "How are you so dang smart?" He asked.
Blaise shrugged. "I dunno. I guess… It's natural?"
Class ended, and Draco had successfully turned his hedgehog into a pincushion on his 9th attempt.
"I told you it takes time." Blaise said, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "And now, I have to go see McGonagall… Ugh. This'll be great."
"We'll wait outside." Draco told his friend. And with that, him, Crabbe, and Goyle walked outside of the classroom, and waited.
Blaise walked up to Professor McGonagall, "You wanted to see me Professor?"
"Yes. Blaise. I did." She said, pushing her glasses up on her nose, "I was wondering how you were feeling about your father's murder."
Blaise said nothing. 'I knew it.' He thought to himself, he then spoke up. "I feel like crap, but I'm not gonna let it get in the way of my school work. It's what he would've wanted. Can I go now?"
"Yes Mister Zabini." Professor McGonagall said, "You are dismissed."
Blaise walked out the door, walking over to Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle, "Feelings. Why do people always want to talk about feelings?"
"Because they suppose that you are a depressed individual since your wonderful father died." Draco said, sarcastically.
"Shut up Malfoy."
Draco smirked, "We better get to Charms, don't wanna be late now."
"Oh, most definitely not. Another talk about my feelings, don't want to miss that."
"Poor Blaise. Being forced to talk to teachers now."
"Yes! I am. And I don't like it too much." Blaise exclaimed as he entered the Charms classroom, followed by Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle.
The Slytherins shared their Charms class with the Gryffindors. A very unfortunate event, for Draco and Blaise had a way to detest every single Gryffindor in there.
Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaise sat down at a table in the back of the classroom, as usual, and awaited the beginning of the lesson.
This lesson began the same way; Flitwick explained the lesson and walked around, explaining it in more detail.
Once Professor Flitwick got to the back table he looked at Blaise, "See me after class." He squeaked, as he went back to the front of the room.
Blaise looked directly at Draco, "And we all know what he wants to talk about."
Draco smirked. "Man, I feel so bad for you."
"Gee, thanks." Blaise replied sarcastically, "Your feelings are greatly appreciated."
As the lesson ended the three Slytherins, minus Blaise, walked out of the class, waiting for Blaise outside the door.
"Blaise, are you feeling okay?" Professor Flitwick asked him.
"Yes. I feel fine. I know I should be all depressed and stuff because my dad died, but I'm not. Because my dad would want me to keep going with my schoolwork." Blaise said, sitting on a table in the front of the room.
"Yes, I believe Christopher would say something like that." Flitwick said, nodding his head, "You can be off now." He added.
Blaise took this as an escape hint and left the room, "One more lecture about my feelings and I am going to scream." He snapped, as soon as he exited the room.
"Don't worry Zabini. We have Potions next, Snape won't bug you about your 'feelings'." Draco said, sticking his tongue out at Blaise.
"Good!" Blaise exclaimed, normally he wouldn't have taken Draco's crap, but at the moment he'd rather just agree. "Because I'm sick of these teachers trying to make me act all sad." Blaise actually did feel upset. He just wasn't going to let it show, he felt it would be better that way.
The walk down to the dungeons for potions was silent. When they entered the instantly began working on the instructions on the board, they had been late. And apparently Snape hadn't noticed.
Blaise perfected his potion by the end of the class. And with a little help from Blaise, Draco had as well.
Crabbe and Goyle's were far from perfect. But Snape still accepted them, even though he hadn't accepted Harry's, and Harry's had been close to perfect.
As soon as they had cleaned up Blaise, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle bolted out of potions so fast, Snape had no chance to talk to Blaise, even if he had wanted to, which he didn't.
Lunch was the same as breakfast for them. Teachers, students, and anyone who had read the Prophet that morning were staring at them, but not all of them. Just Blaise, which Blaise decided he was going to have to get used to.
The four friends walked up to their next class, History of Magic. Argus Filch entered and looked at Professor Binns, "Binns, I have a request from the headmaster to take Mister Zabini up to his office."
All eyes were either looking at Filch, Binns, or Blaise. Professor Binns spoke, "Go ahead." He said, and then he continued his lecture on Giant Wars.
Blaise stood up, gathered his things and walked over to Filch. As soon as they were in the hall, Filch began talking to him, "You must've done something pretty bad to be dealt with by the Headmaster directly. Instead of being sent to your head of house."
Red sparks flew from the tip of Blaise's wand, "I didn't do anything."
"That's what they all say." Filch said as they arrived at Dumbledore's office. "Fizzing Whisbee." He said, the gargoyle sprung to the side and Blaise knocked.
Dumbledore's voice appeared, "Enter."
Blaise walked in, "You wanted to see me Professor?"
"Yes. I'd like to talk about your father."
Both Professor Snape and McGonagall were there. Blaise's eyes grew wide, "Um… He's dead.. He was a great guy… Um.. What else is there to say?"
"Plenty." Dumbledore said, "Take a seat." He waved his wand and a squishy chintz armchair appeared in between Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall.
Blaise sat down and waited for the headmaster to continue.
Dumbledore spoke, "From what I see you have an idea of who killed your father. Would you like to tell us your suspicion?"
Blaise grew a shade lighter, being black though no one could really tell, "Suspicion?" He said, "What suspicion?"
"Mister Zabini. I am a fully qualified legilimens. I can easily tell that you aren't telling the truth." Dumbledore said, his tone staying the same. "Would you tell me if Professors McGonagall and Snape were gone?" He asked.
Blaise shrugged.
"Severus, Minerva, you two may leave. I'll call you back if needed." Dumbledore said. The two professors left. "Now. Blaise. What are your suspicions?"
"I think… I think it was my mom."
"Where would you get an idea like that?" Dumbledore asked.
"By the fact that they were on the verge of divorce, and she'd be left with nothing, including me, if the divorce went through…" Blaise said, staring at his feet.
"I see. Very interesting suspicion." Dumbledore replied, nodding his head. "You may return to class now."
'That was all? Dumbledore just wanted to see if I was a crackpot? Well, isn't that just great…' Blaise thought to himself as he exited the office. He checked the time, "History of Magic is over, I get to go to DADA now." He walked to the class where he was late. He sat down next to Draco.
"Well!"
"Just wanted to find out my suspicion…" Blaise whispered, "Basically, checking if I was a crackpot."
"Oh." Draco said, "Well this class is useless as usual."
"Surprise, surprise."
((A/N: Review pleases!))