Author's Note- Hey all! I'm sorry it took me so long to update! I've been borrowing a laptop because mine is busted so I haven't had access to a computer as often as I'd like. This is a fairly long chapter so I hope it tides you over until I get the next update out. I'll tell you more about that at the end. I really hope you enjoy! - Much Love, Sarah

Chapter Five

1:00 PM

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, his bedroom door opened and Gripa waddled in with a tray of pumpkin juice and butterbeer in her hands and a larger tray of sandwiches balanced on her head. Ginny, Ron, and Harry came trailing in after her.

"Thank you, Gripa," Blaise said, taking a butterbeer from the drink tray and gulping down some of it. Anything to rid this foul taste.

At Luna's suggestion, Gripa set the trays carefully on the rug. With a snap of her fingers, five plates appeared in a neat stack next to the sandwich tray. Satisfied with her work, she turned to her young master and gave him a curtsy before popping out.

Blaise sat and looked at the three newcomers before motioning to the empty space around the trays. "Well, don't just stand there," he urged, taking a plate and stacking a couple of sandwiches on it. "Dig in."

Ron closed his eyes and moaned. "Thank Merlin, I'm starving!" he expressed as he grabbed a ham and turkey sandwich and took a large bite.

Luna's lips quirked up into an affectionate grin as she shook her head and handed him a plate. Ron returned her smile with a quick kiss to her cheek. Harry filled a plate for Ginny while she poured pumpkin juice for Luna and herself. He then took a butterbeer and grabbed his own food.

Blaise chewed quietly for a few moments, regarding his friends, contemplating the fact that he was a fifth wheel of sorts. Seeing the two couples together, looking and feeling so in love, made him wish Beatrice had been able to come. He'd written her asking her to join them, but she had replied that unfortunately she had to attend a family event. As much as he wished she were with them at that moment, he understood the importance of family.

Family was the whole reason he'd initiated this meeting.

Setting his sandwich down, Blaise cleared his throat and wiped his mouth. "Thank you all for coming. I know it was short notice, but I appreciate you being here."

"Why are we here?" Ron questioned, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

"Ron," Luna chided softly.

"It's a fair question, Luna," Harry interjected.

Blaise raised a brow at him. "You didn't tell them?"

Harry shook his head. "This is all you, Mate."

Taking a deep breath, Blaise nodded and began explaining Inspector McMillan's visit the previous night. How the Ministry had no leads and were nowhere near catching the people responsible. "Of course they're not," Ginny stated. "They're imbeciles."

Harry and Blaise grinned at the vitriol in her voice. "So, I think it's time we took things into our own hands," Blaise went on. "Everyone on board?"

The four nodded in agreement. Blaise let out a breath of relief and grinned. "Great, because as much as I love mysteries, I'm shite at figuring them out."

Harry set aside his empty plate and pulled his legs up, resting his arms on his knees. "Hermione would tell us that we need all the facts," he said. He gestured at Blaise. "We already know what you know, Hermione's not here to tell us what she knows and the Grangers didn't see anything. There's only one other person that was there that night that can tell us what happened."

They all looked at each other. "Draco," they said in unison.

Blaise shifted his eyes to Luna. "How have things been with him?"

"Well, he's drinking and smoking less, talking a bit, so I'd say progress is being made."

Ron eyed her carefully, hearing the concern in her voice. "But?"

"But these things take time. I'm afraid if we push him, he'll shut down completely."

Blaise couldn't argue with that. Draco was a person that felt things very deeply, despite the fact that he rarely, if ever, showed his feelings. He had opened himself up to Hermione, allowing her to see a side of him he had never shown anyone. She had become his heart and someone had taken it, ripped it right from his chest. Of course, the same could be said of himself.

Ron straightened up, his ears slightly pink with frustration. "But, we just agreed he's-"

"I know," Blaise interjected calmly, "but Luna's right. We need to let her keep doing what she's doing."

"Why does it have to be her, eh? Why can't you do it?" Ron questioned hotly, dangerously close to jumping to his feet.

Luna put a hand on his arm. "Ron-"

He shook her off, turning to her with a slightly softened expression. "No, Luna. Malfoy needs us, I get that, but Blaise is his best mate." He pointed at the Slytherin. "He's the one who should be spending all his time trying to get Malfoy out of his… whatever it is!"

Blaise pointed to Luna. "She's the one Draco's responding to!" His lip curled in an angry snarl. "What's the matter, Weasley? Afraid your girlfriend's going to leave you?"

The two boys were on their feet and going for their wands. Harry, who had seen this coming, was faster. With a well timed Protection spell, Blaise and Ron fell backwards. "We don't have time for this!" Harry stated firmly. "We're supposed to be figuring out how to find Hermione and take down the people who took her. The only way we're going to do that is if we work together."

In silent agreement, they all sat back down. Blaise took a few calming breaths, uncertain if he, himself, was angry, or if he had been acting on Ron's anger. He was leaning toward the latter, but this ability was still so new that it was difficult to separate his feelings from those belonging to those around him. Regardless, he did have time to sort it out now.

Pushing her long, red hair over her shoulder, Ginny brought them all back to the reason they were all gathered in Blaise's room. Finding Hermione, Blaise reiterated to himself for the millionth time. It had practically become his mantra since that horrid night. Focus!

"You've mentioned that Draco had said Death Eaters took her," Ginny was saying.

Blaise nodded. "Yeah, he was rambling about it when I finally snapped him out of his shock."

"Okay, we know when and where Hermione was taken from," Ginny processed aloud. "Knowing Draco saw Death Eaters gives us who."

"And how," Luna added, seeing where Ginny was going. "All we need to do is figure out where Hermione was taken to and why she was taken in the first place."

"What if we tracked them?" Ron suggested. "We can get a list of all the Death Eaters and…"

Harry shook his head, ending Ron's thought. "There aren't enough of us. Besides, there's only one person who knows every Death Eater and there's no way he's telling."

Ron turned to Blaise questioningly. "Any chance your dad would give us the names of the ones he knows?"

"Not a chance. He's already forbidden me from doing exactly what we're doing… multiple times actually. Asking him for any help is a no go."

"Why don't we start making a list of all the Death Eaters we know of and go from there?" Ginny offered. "If anything, it can help us eliminate suspects."

"That's not a bad idea," Blaise concurred, pointing his wand at his desk. He paused and looked at each of them seriously before casting his spell. "Let's be clear, though… My parents are not suspects."

"That never even crossed our minds," Luna assured him.

"Yeah. Despite our history with your dad, it's obvious to us that he'd never do something like this to his own children," Harry added.

Blaise breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks."

With a soft swish, parchment, quill, and inkpot floated to the center of their minute circle. "So,who has the best writing?"

All fingers pointed at Ginny. Blaise gently guided the writing implements to her. "I guess these are for you, then."

The next several minutes were spent listing out every Death Eater they had ever heard of or come in contact with over the years. Some names were immediately dismissed once mentioned due to being dead, or imprisoned. Blaise surprised them with the number of names he put forth, and his knowledge of who was still around, and who was not.

He scoffed when Harry commented on this. "This is nothing. We should have Draco go over this list. He'll know more than me."

"What about Draco's parents?" Ron asked suddenly.

Blaise cocked his head at the thought. Before Draco's hospital stay, he would have said no on both counts. Lucius had been his father's best friend since they were children. He was practically an uncle to Blaise. But now? "I wouldn't put it past Lucius, but Narcissa? Not a chance. She would never do anything to hurt, or upset, Draco."

"I'd have to agree," Luna said. "Narcissa Malfoy is kind and loving to her son."

Ginny nodded and added Lucius Malfoy to their nearly parchment long list. "Okay, is that it for suspects?"

Ron shrugged. "I can't think of anyone else."

Apparently neither could anyone else because no one put forth any more names. "So, what's next?"

Everyone looked at Blaise. "Um, well, I suppose we should come up with some ideas about how to find Hermione?"

"What about your connection?" Harry questioned as Ron belched loudly. "Wouldn't that be the most likely way we'd find her? I mean; you two can literally talk to each other with your minds."

Blaise ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "That's actually why I had Luna over earlier than the rest of you. She was helping me with my telepathy." He drew his hand down his face. "Well, trying to, at least."

Ginny's brown eyes fixed on him. "It didn't go well."

It wasn't a question. "I'm trying, but it's not easy." He tore a bite from his sandwich and chewed. "We only just started learning about this before the holiday. Who's to say our connection even works at such distances?"

Luna put a hand on his arm and squeezed gently. "Like I told you earlier, we'll keep trying. You said it yourself, we've only just started."

Blaise's eyes drew to the spot where her hand rested on his forearm. As a familiar scorching heat spread from the point of their connection, everything else seemed to fade away. It was as though she had been pulled into sharp focus. Luna was all he could see. All he could feel.

As the heat consumed him, he realized that while it was intense, it was less so than when he'd experienced it with Hermione. Perhaps it's different with everyone, too, he reasoned.

His thoughts shifted as a subtle, yet sweet taste filled his mouth. Mmm… Blueberries.

"What?"

Blaise blinked out of his thoughts and looked up at Ron. "I'm sorry?"

"You said, blueberries," Ron explained.

Blaise's eyebrows shot up toward his hairline. "Oh. I didn't realize I said that out loud." He furrowed his brow and rubbed the back of his neck.

Before Luna had touched him, he'd been coming down from, what he called, his magical high. His senses were still heightened due to the herb they'd used, but not as out of control as they had been before everyone else had arrived. He had started to distinguish flavors of magical energy from each other. He wasn't able to put a flavor to an individual yet, though. Now he knew where the blueberry flavor belonged.

Or, better yet, who the flavor belonged to.

All right, I can explain this, he thought, taking a deep breath. "Luna's magic tastes like blueberries."

He immediately realized how unhelpful that explanation was and hurried to do a better job. He told them what Professor Firenze had told him and Hermione about magical energy and how it's unique to the person or object it belonged to. He pointed to Luna. "Blueberries."

Understanding lit their eyes. "What does our magic taste like?" Ginny wondered.

Blaise shrugged. "I'm not sure yet."

He then explained the herb they'd used and how it affected him. "So, everything's heightened right now. It's like I have a whole box of Bertie Bott's in my mouth. Everything's all mixed together," he concluded. "I actually think we might have used too much today because I'm still feeling the effects."

"Blaise, please be more careful," Ginny said softly. "I don't mean to put pressure on you, but I honestly believe you're the key to finding Hermione."

The others nodded in agreement. "Hermione would never forgive us if something happened to you that could have been prevented." Harry noted.

"Actually, she'd probably kill us," Ron added. "Then again, she thinks being expelled is worse than being killed. I've said it before and I'll say it again; that girl needs to sort out her priorities."

That caused a brief bout of laughter. Blaise quieted first, staring down at his nearly finished sandwich. Priorities. Right. We need to sort out our priorities. He lifted his head and looked at the three Gryffindors and Ravenclaw. Blimey, who'd have thought I'd have anyone but Slytherins in my room?

Determination shone through his eyes as he stared at them and asked, "If I promise to be more careful, can we get back to figuring out how to get my sister back?"

They all agreed. "All right, then, I promise. I'll also speak with Professor Firenze about Luna joining our lessons so that she can help me between them."

"We also need to figure out how we're going to do anything if we're back at Hogwarts on Sunday," Ginny noted. She aimed a pointed look at her brother and Harry. "That's two days away for those of you leaving your packing 'til the last second."

5:03 PM

After they racked their brains for ideas, and coming up with very little, the five teenagers decided to call it a night. While Blaise saw Harry, Ginny, and Ron to the door, like the good host he'd been raised to be, Luna remained behind. Blaise wanted to speak with her about continuing their sessions while at school. It occurred to him that he would probably be continuing his lessons with Professor Firenze, but he wanted to have a plan in place in case his lessons didn't continue.

For that, he needed Luna's help.

He watched from the porch as the three friends made their way down the long driveway to the gate. Most wizards had a sort of protection around their house so that no other wizards, or witches, could show up unannounced. His father had put one around the mansion and he knew the Malfoys had one around their manor. Therefore, visitors had to arrive and depart from the gate.

Ginny, who was sandwiched between her older brother and boyfriend, turned at the gate and gave him a wave. Blaise returned her wave and smiled as she slipped one hand into Harry's and the other into Ron's before they, too, waved and disappeared in a blink. He couldn't be sure, they'd been too far away to say with certainty, but he'd thought he heard Ron call, "Later, mate," before they'd Disapparated.

It made him smile wider.

He bounded up the stairs and back to his room. Luna was staring out the window, her back to him, as he entered. "I'm in the mood for some hot chocolate," he announced. "Would you li- Luna, is something wrong?"

He moved toward her as she turned to face him. A small smile lifted her lips. "No, everything's fine," she assured him. "I just… I was tidying up and I saw something that brought a few questions to mind."

Blaise gestured for her to go ahead and ask. It wasn't as though he had anything to hide. Besides, Luna was a friend. A fast, trustworthy friend.

"Are you a Legilimens?"

Confusion drew his brow down. "What? Why would you ask that?"

It only just registered to him that she was holding something in her hand when she lifted it and opened her palm. All expression and color left his face at the sight of the little bottle of purple potion that was all too familiar to him. He was usually so careful about keeping the potion put away until he was getting ready for bed. That morning, however, when he'd been re-stocking his nightstand drawer, he'd had to leave a bottle out because there wasn't room for it.

He licked his lips and swallowed hard. Apart from his family and the house staff, very few people knew about his nightmares. Six people, to be exact.

Another name was about to be added to that list, it seemed.

He stepped over and gently took the bottle from her. He placed it back on his nightstand and ran his hand through his hair nervously as he sat on his bed, exhaling a shaky breath. Come on, Blaise. It's Luna. You can tell her. One more deep breath and…

"I get nightmares," he told Luna quietly. "Nightly. I've had them as long as I can remember. That potion stops them happening so often."

Luna padded over and climbed onto the bed next to him. She sat facing him, knees drawn to her chest. "Does anyone else know?" she asked. "Outside of your family, I mean."

"The Malfoys," he replied. "Dumbledore, Snape, and Madam Pomfrey, too. Now you."

A smile lifted her lips. "I know I kind of put you on the spot but, thank you for trusting me enough to tell me." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "You don't talk about them much, do you?"

Blaise shook his head.

"Not even with Draco?" Luna questioned.

"He'd listen if I asked, but most of the time I don't remember them, but the ones I do…" He paused and inhaled an unsteady breath. "They're horrible."

"Are they recurring?"

"They're different every time." He locked eyes with her. "If you don't mind, I'd rather this stay between us, for now."

Luna reached out, placing her hand on his forearm. "I won't say anything, but, Blaise, I don't think that potion's for stopping nightmares."

"What do you…?"

She held up a finger, pausing his question, and went to her satchel. "I know it's in here somewhere," she muttered as she rummaged through the large bag.

"Luna?"

"Where is…? Got it." As she removed a book from her satchel, she looked up at Blaise as though only registering he'd spoken. "Huh?"

The corner of Blaise's mouth rose in amusement at her dreamy air. "Care to share what you're thinking? You said you don't think this potion's for stopping nightmares."

"I remember reading something in… Wait, this isn't the right book." She set the book aside and began rummaging in her bag again. "Did I bring it with me? I'm sure I did."

"Luna, focus, please."

"Right. I remember reading something in one of my school books, and based on the visual aspects, I'm pretty sure that potion is for suppressing abilities of the mind."

His mind was spinning. A potion for suppressing abilities of the mind? How could that be? He blinked at her. "Say that again."

She repeated her theory and added, "Or, more likely, a modified version."

He felt dizzy. In fact, if he wasn't already sitting down, he was pretty sure he'd have collapsed to the floor by now. Oh! His body hunched forward and the floor seemed to rise before he was suddenly hoisted into the air. Blinking, he found himself looking up at the ceiling.

Sitting up slightly, he found that he'd been laid out on his bed. To his left, large, blue orbs stared at him in concern. "What happened?" he asked softly.

"You fainted," Luna informed him, her voice a raspy whisper.

His brow furrowed. "I wh…?" He cut himself off when he remembered their conversation. Sitting up further, he took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he closed his eyes and said, "Tell me more about the potion, please."

"Are you sure you're all right? I could get you so-"

Blaise raised his weary eyes to her. "Luna, please, tell me what you know about that potion."

"Okay, so just hear me out. I've been reading this in the hopes of being prepared when the new term starts," she explained, holding up her Divination book.

Blaise rolled his eyes and gave her a look of skepticism. "You can't be serious."

"I know a lot of people think of Divination as a load of waffle, but it has it's uses," she said, flipping through the pages. "There's a chapter in here that discusses various forms of magical suppression. It doesn't go into explicit details, but it gives brief descriptions of each and one of them is a potion that's similar to the one you're taking.

She held the book out to him as she rolled closer to him on his desk chair that she'd perched herself while he'd briefly been unconscious. "It's what made me take a closer look at the potion."

He read over the section, his eyes flicking between the book and the bottle on his nightstand. Reaching for it, he held the bottle up to the light and squinted in inspection. He had never actually taken the time to look carefully at the potion before, he had simply tipped the bottle back and drunk. After reading the description Luna had pointed at and then looking closely at the potion, he couldn't deny her logic.

The evidence was there, plain as day. The light shone through the plum liquid, creating a pinkish shimmer effect that reminded him of the sun glittering off the Black Lake at Hogwarts. "Look at that," he said in wonder.

Furrowing his brow, he looked at the description again. "This mentions something about an opaque blue undertone, but the undertone of this is…"

"Pink," Luna finished. "Yes, that's what makes me believe this one has been modified."

Luna's comment about the lack of details didn't really surprise him. It was a Divination book, not a Potions book. At least there are citations listed. I wonder…

He was off the bed like a shot. Pocketing the potion, he set his questioning eyes on Luna. "Would you… Would you come with me to the library to see if we have any of the books cited in here?" he held up the, now closed, book and gave it a little shake.

Luna smiled and quickly got to her feet. "Lead the way, good sir," she said with a little curtsy.

Blaise chuckled. He really was becoming rather fond of Luna Lovegood. Sure, she was a little strange, but instead of that being one of her faults, as he'd originally believed, it was one of her most endearing qualities. He held out his hand for her. "Come on."

He led her out of his room, down one flight of stairs, and down the hall to the family library. "I'm sure we can find at least one of these books in here," Blaise stated confidently, pushing the doors open.

There was an awed gasp from his left. He looked at Luna and couldn't help chuckling at her wide-eyed expression. "Do you have any books on magical creatures?" Luna inquired.

"I think so, and I'll be happy to locate them for you after we've searched for the books with my potion in it."

Luna nodded in agreement. "All right."

Blaise rubbed the back of his head as he looked around. "Right, um, let's see… Books relating to potions will be over here." He pointed to a bookshelf along the far right wall. "Here, you read off the titles and I'll check if we have it."

Accepting his suggestion, Luna took the book from him, turning it so she could read it, and made herself comfortable. They carried on this way for several hours, only taking a break when Gripa brought them some Pumpkin Juice and a tray of goodies, insisting they eat. Though they didn't find all of the books referenced in the Divination book, they did manage to find a few of them.

"Oh, I think this is the one we really want," Luna exclaimed, flipping through the pages.

Blaise joined her, carrying a leatherbound book that wasn't listed as a reference. There was a slightly dazed, far away look in his eyes as he said, "I think this one might be useful, too. I've got a good feeling about it."

"Blaise, who are you talki… Oh, hello, Luna," Mrs. Zabini greeted with a smile. "I wasn't aware you were still here."

"Hello, Mrs. Zabini," Luna grinned.

Mrs. Zabini glanced between the two teens and the small pile of books. "Doing a bit of research for school?"

"Personal project," Blaise answered, adding the book in his hand to the pile.

"Oh, I see, well, I'll leave you to it, then."

Uneasiness had settled in his stomach the moment his mother had appeared and the cause sat in his pocket feeling much heavier than it actually was. He needed answers and one of the people that could give them was about to walk out the door. Quickly, he blurted, "Am I a Legilimens?"

Her steps faltered and there was a brief wave of panic before she turned back to him. "Of course you're not. Why would you think that?"

Her features were set in an expression of confusion but Blaise hadn't needed to see it to know that it was a lie. He was well accustomed to picking out a carefully chosen guise versus a real one. She was definitely hiding something and had been for quite some time, if she could so easily deflect.

Despite her outward appearance of calm, however, the anxiety radiating out of her was practically choking him, causing the realization that Luna's theory had been correct. He gave a stiff nod as the reality of what he had just discovered came crashing down on him.

Sensing that this was a conversation better left between family, Luna gathered her things and politely excused herself, saying that she would ask Gripa to get her home. She squeezed Blaise's hand as she passed him and received a light squeeze in return. Mrs. Zabini gave her a small, kind smile and mentioned that she hoped Luna would come visit again.

"I will, thank you, Mrs. Zabini," Luna replied, quietly taking her leave.

When he could no longer hear her footsteps, Blaise focused on his mother. "Mum," he prompted.

"I should go se-"

"Mum!" Blaise snapped, not letting her out of this much needed conversation. "I'm not a little boy who needs protecting. I'm of age and I deserve to know what's happening to me!"

This seemed to break his mother's mask. Resignation replaced her fear as she moved on shaky legs and sank into one of the armchairs. "Sit down," she requested gently. "Please."

It took him a moment, but Blaise finally sat in the armchair opposite his mother. "I suppose the best place to start would be the day Narcissa wrote to us about an incident that happened while you were under her care."

December 30, 1981

10:38 AM

Shrieking cries echoed loudly through the halls of Malfoy Manor. Narcissa hurried toward the nursery, the crying growing louder with each step. They weren't the usual cries of a hungry, or nappy soiled child. These were cries of fright. Hence, why she was hurrying.

When she opened the nursery door, she was greeted with a heartbreaking sight. Eighteen month old Blaise Zabini stood on chubby little legs, his tiny hands gripping tight to the top of her son's crib, tears streaming down his pudgy face. Marjorie had brought him over, upon Narcissa's insistence, for a playdate with Draco so that she could put the final touches on the Zabini's annual New Year's Eve party. The two boys had played the morning away and Narcissa had only put them down for a nap about an hour ago so something must have scared the sweet boy.

"Auntie Cissa," he wailed, reaching for her as she neared.

"Shh, Sweetling, it's all right," Narcissa cooed. "Auntie's right here."

Blaise quieted a bit as she lifted him from the crib and snuggled him to her chest. "Did you have a nightmare, Little Love?" she asked, stroking his head soothingly as she settled into the rocking chair a few feet from the crib.

She shifted Blaise into a supine position and gently wiped his face and nose with her handkerchief. He gripped her ring and pinky fingers in his little fist as he stared up at her. She couldn't help gazing back at him. The way he was looking at her pulled at her heartstrings. It was almost as though he was begging her to chase the monsters away.

If only I could, Little Love, she thought.

A sharp, needle-like pain shot through her eyes in a sudden burst. She tensed at the all too familiar feeling and narrowed her eyes at the toddler in her arms. How in the world, she wondered?

She shook her head, not believing what was happening. Oh for Heaven's sake, Narcissa! It's happening, she scolded herself. Now make it stop!

As the pain worsened she made several attempts at clearing her mind. None of them worked. Memories flashed so quickly through her mind that she couldn't focus on them. It was like she was staring out the window of a train except instead of looking out into the distance, she was stuck watching the wheels race along the track. It made her woozy.

Then suddenly, as though she were strolling through a pensieve, a memory became vividly clear.

She gasped as she watched herself with Draco. She was sitting in the exact same rocker, holding him close, precisely as she was currently doing to Blaise. Instead of cooing soft words to her son, as she'd been doing with Blaise, she was singing a soft lullaby.

Wordlessly, she lifted Blaise up a bit and pressed a light kiss to his head. Still holding him close, she began to quietly sing the same song, all the while gazing into Blaise's eyes. Slowly, the pain behind her eyes faded from needle-like to intense throbbing and finally a dull ache that spread through her whole head as Blaise drifted off to sleep with his thumb stuck between his lips.

Narcissa held and sang to him for more than an hour before placing him back in the crib with Draco. As she gently closed the nursery door behind her, she began to process everything that had happened. She wasn't exactly sure what had frightened Blaise so, but she was positive, without a doubt, that he was a natural Legilimens.

To be a Legilimens, or even an Occlumens, took great skill and practice. An average witch or wizard wouldn't be able to accomplish the task. Needless to say, learned Legilimens and Occlumens were few and difficult to find, but natural Legilimens and Occlumens? Those were rare to the point of non-existence.

Looks like you're well acquainted with one though, she mused. If the pounding in your head is any indication, that is.

Of course, she knew it was.

After taking more than the recommended dose of Pain Potion, Narcissa sat down at her little writing desk in the sitting room and penned a quick letter to Majorie. If she and Pietro didn't know about Blaise, Narcissa was certain they'd want to. He was their son, after all, and after they'd had to give up Hermione for her own health, Blaise had become their world.

Knowing how dangerous the knowledge of someone like Blaise could be, she was careful not to say exactly what had happened. She just mentioned that there was an incident they needed to be aware of and to please come at their earliest convenience. She hoped her words wouldn't cause too much panic for them, but she didn't want to risk saying anything in case the letter was intercepted. Not that it will be, she told herself. Better to be safe, though.

It wasn't even an hour after she had sent her letter off that Marjorie and Pietro were shown into the Manor and greeting her with worry etched on their faces. "We came as soon as we read your letter," Marjorie stated as she rushed over and gripped Narcissa's hands. "Is Blaise all right? What happened?"

Pietro joined them, calm as ever despite his worry. "Marjorie, darling, if you keep bombarding her with questions, she will not be able to tell us anything," he stated softly.

Narcissa smiled reassuringly at them both. "I promise you, Blaise is fine. He and Draco are still napping," she said, knowing they needed to hear this before anything else. "Why don't you sit and we'll have some tea while I explain what I was hesitant to write in my letter. Rookin, some tea, please."

The Zabinis sat on the small sofa Narcissa gestured to and waited anxiously for her to tell them what was going on. She cleared her throat and folded her hands on her lap as she said, "I believe Blaise is a Legilimens."

Pietro and Marjorie gasped and listened intently as Narcissa told them what had transpired earlier. At the end of her tale, they looked at each other with knowing, distraught expressions. "You knew," Narcissa realized.

"Not for certain," Pietro told her.

"We thought… He's always been so intuitive," Marjorie added. "At times it seemed like he could read our minds, but he's so young we didn't think… Are you sure?"

"Without a doubt."

Marjorie nodded resignedly and looked up at her husband. "What will we do?"

Pietro took a deep breath. "I do not believe there is any shame in Blaise being a Legilimens, but he is young. As a natural Legilimens, every mind will be open to him, every thought. He will never be able to turn it off the way a learned Legilmens can."

He turned his attention to Narcissa. "You mentioned a headache?"

"I'm fine now."

"But you might not have been. A Legilimens, if they are not careful, can rip a person's mind to shreds."

"Pietro, what are you saying? That our son meant to harm Narcissa?" Majorie questioned hotly. "He would never! He loves her!"

Pietro placed a calming hand over hers. "I know, but, again, he is young and has no control over his magic. You know as well as I that accidents happen."

Narcissa had an idea. She had been thinking of it since she sent off her letter. "Why don't you take Blaise to see Severus," she suggested.

"Severus Snape?" Pietro inquired.

"Yes, he's just accepted the post of Potions Master at Hogwarts. Perhaps he knows of a potion that can suppress Blaise's Legilimency until he's old enough to control it."

Marjorie chewed her lip nervously. "I don't know."

Pietro put his arm around his wife and kissed her head. "Severus can be trusted."

"I know he can be trusted. That's not… I don't like the idea of suppressing anything that makes up who our son is."

"Neither do I, but Blaise is a danger to others right now because of his age. You heard Narcissa say her attempts at Occlumency did not work?"

"Pietro, please don't use that as a reason to suppress Blaise's ability," Narcissa pleaded. "I'm not all that practiced at Occlumency, so it could've just been my lack of skill."

"And we will be sure to bring that up with Severus when we meet with him," Pietro acknowledged. "I have heard that in addition to his mastery of potions, he is quite an accomplished Occlumens as well."

"There's no other solution, is there?" Marjorie questioned flatly.

"I am sorry, my love, but this is our only option," Pietro replied regretfully.

Friday January 9, 1998

9:29 PM

"We took you to Severus that very day," Mrs. Zabini told her son. "He ran several tests on you and confirmed what we already knew deep down."

Blaise nodded, processing silently. There were so many descriptors that accompanied his name now. Twin. Empath. Telepath. And now…

"I'm a Legilimens."

Saying the words aloud didn't help quell the uncertainty he felt. Up until six months ago, he had been very sure of who he was. Blaise Dominic Zabini, son of Pietro and Marjorie Zabini. Then, his "long lost" sister had been brought home and his sense of self just flew right out the window.

No, don't do that. Don't blame Hermione, he told himself.

He didn't. She had done nothing to be blamed for. In fact, she had been facing a similar identity crisis having been brought into constant contact with him. Neither of them had known they had abilities that were nurtured by their connection to each other. No one had known.

Someone had known about this, though, he thought bitterly.

After taking a moment to keep his anger from exploding, he urged his mother to continue. "What happened next?"

Mrs. Zabini wiped a tear from her cheek and sniffled. "Severus told us that it would be tricky, but he might be able to modify a potion that would suppress your Legilimency."

Blaise took the small bottle from his pocket and stared at it. "All right," he said after a moment, "suppressing Legilimency in a toddler, I understand. We can't be taught control of anything at such a young age, much less a powerful ability like this. What I don't understand is why you never said a word about it."

"At first, we didn't say anything because you were so young. As you grew older, however… Well, there's really no excuse for not telling you. All I can say is that we were worried."

This confused Blaise. "Worried? Why? Legilimency isn't so uncommon that no one can do it."

"True," Mrs. Zabini agreed with a nod. "But, Blaise, when you entered Narcissa's mind, she tried several times to apply Occlumency. It didn't work."

She told him again how Mrs. Malfoy had explained that it was possibly her lack of skill that had kept her from shutting an eighteen month old out of her mind. "When Severus tested you," she went on, "he said he doubted Albus Dumbledore, himself, would be able to block you out, and you know what a powerful Occlumens Severus is."

Blaise nodded, dumbfounded. At not even two years-old, he had overpowered one of the most accomplished Occlumens he knew. On top of that, said Occlumens thought he, Blaise Zabini, was more powerful than the most powerful wizard of their time, Albus Dumbledore?

"This is madness," he muttered, bemused.

He shook his head at the thought of being more powerful than Dumbledore. Then, it hit him, why his parents would have been so concerned with hiding his ability. "You were worried what would happen if You-Know-Who found out."

Mrs. Zabini nodded. "You know he doesn't like anyone being more powerful than him. Blaise, if he finds out you're a natural Legilimens…"

Blaise understood her trailed off warning. Lord Voldemort was someone he had no inclination of meeting face to face. Ever. Of course, everyone knows what the road to hell is paved with.

"Maybe Professor Snape can help me learn to get control of this so I'm not accidentally answering something someone hasn't said aloud?" he wondered. "As you said, he's a powerful Occlumens, but he's also pretty accomplished at Legilimency."

Feeling his mother's surprised confusion, he explained. "Our last Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons before the holiday were on Occlumency. As a demonstration, he had us each take a turn at trying to keep him out of our mind. I was complete rubbish, by the way."

This was surprising news to Mrs. Zabini. Not that Severus Snape was a skilled Legilimens, but that he was teaching Occlumency. When she had been at Hogwarts, Occlumency and Legilimency were only mentioned briefly as supremely advanced skills only ever taught to those who showed aptitude.

"Has Severus been teaching this since he took up the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, or is it new this year?"

Blaise thought about that. "I don't remember hearing anyone mention it last year, but it could just be something he's teaching Seventh Years."

"And will he be teaching Legilimency as well?"

"We're supposed to start in the new term." He grinned slightly. "I think I'll excel in those lessons if I stop taking this."

He shook his bottle of potion and wiggled his eyebrows playfully. He sobered quickly, however, at the apprehension coming from his mother. "You don't want me to stop taking it."

It wasn't a question.

"No, I don't," she confirmed with regret. "I'm so sorry, but I really don't think you should."

He sighed heavily and ran his hands over his face. "I don't believe this!" he griped.

Mrs. Zabini slid out of her chair and kneeled in front of him with her hands on his knees. "Blaise, look at me," she urged.

When his blue eyes met her brown, she spoke. "If you want to stop taking the potion, your father and I will support you."

Blaise lifted an eyebrow. "But?"

"But I'm going to ask that you look into all of the risks and dangers of stopping after such prolonged usage of a potion like this," she cautioned. "I could tell you what I know, but, knowing you as I do, you won't be satisfied unless you find the answers on your own."

This caused the corners of Blaise's mouth to upturn. "You're probably right."

She took his hand and squeezed it. "Just promise me you won't just brush this off, that you'll actually take it seriously and look into it, eh?"

"I promise, Mum."

Mrs. Zabini nodded and stood, pressing a kiss to the top of Blaise's head. "I love you, and I'm so sorry we kept this from you for so long."

Blaise narrowed his eyes at her slightly. "Well, I'm still angry with you about that," he told her, earning him a nod of understanding, "but I love you, too. You're my mum. I'll always love you."

Saturday January 10, 1998

7:41 AM

As Draco lay on his bed, bleary eyed from drink, a soft knock sounded at the door. A muffled voice spoke to him. "Draco, it's Luna. Can I come in?"

Before he knew what he was doing, Draco was on his feet heading for his bedroom door. Seconds later, he was face to face with the odd blonde who smiled brightly at him. "Good morning, Draco," she said. "I like your pajamas."

Draco grunted in response and turned his back to her, walking over to his desk and picking up the empty bottle of Firewhisky and dropping it in the rubbish bin. He then pulled a cigarette from his partial pack and watched her with an expectant arch of his brow as he lit it, taking a deep drag.

Luna cleared her throat and reached into her satchel. "I've brought you something," she told him, pulling out a small mason jar and holding it up for him to inspect.

Inside the jar, sitting atop a twig, was an ugly, furry, caterpillar type insect with small dragonfly-like wings. "This is a Warbling Kira," Luna told him. "I know he doesn't look like much, but he's actually quite remarkable."

At his skeptical expression, Luna smiled. "I can see you doubt me, and that's okay, most people do," she said with a hint of sadness lacing her voice. She tapped the jar with her free hand and giggled when the little creature's wings fluttered happily. "Before you completely discredit me, however, I'd like you to do me a favor."

Draco let out a sigh. He had known Luna for six years now, but had only just begun getting to know her. From all that he'd seen of her, despite being odd and making people uncomfortable, she was a truly genuine person, and probably the only person to visit him that he didn't want to throw out on sight. He looked at the insect and then back up at her and nodded.

"I'd like you to hang onto this little guy for awhile," she said, extending her arm and holding the jar out to him.

"Why?" Draco questioned, his voice hoarse from disuse.

"I've been where you are," she said simply. "I've been so distraught over a lost love that I completely shut down. I didn't talk, I barely slept… I cried a lot. It wasn't until a Warbling Kira came around that I began to cheer up."

Draco took the jar from her and peered at the bug. "This ugly winged worm is supposed to cheer me up?"

"In time, yes."

He set the jar on his desk and eyed her carefully. She was winning him over, but he wanted to know more before he agreed to anything. "I'm not sold on the idea that some bug is supposed to make me feel better," he said. "Why don't you stay for a bit and convince me by telling me about this love you lost."

Luna beamed. Hearing his request had pleased her greatly. Sure, she had visited with him every day since New Year's Day, but this was the first time he had asked. All the other times he had simply tolerated her presence for a time. She lifted her satchel off of her shoulder and over her head, setting it on the floor by Draco's desk. Then, still smiling, she took the Warbling Kira and went over to the comfortable floor rug and sat, folding her legs in front of her. She blinked her wide, blue eyes at Draco and patted the floor.

Draco rolled his eyes as he stubbed out his cigarette, but complied, getting up and walking over to her with a sigh. He sat, legs stretched out in front of him and crossed, one over the other. He waved his hand. "All right, explain to me how this bug is going to make me feel better."

"My mother was a rather gifted witch," Luna began with a soft smile. "She was considered an innovator by many in our community; always trying out new spells."

Luna cleared her throat and tied her long, dirty blonde hair into a knot at the back of her head and stuck her wand through it. "I was nine when she died. One of her spell experiments had gone horribly wrong and suddenly I was left without a mother," she continued. "Dad did the best he could, but I couldn't get what I had seen out of my head. It terrified and saddened me to the point where I couldn't form words. All I would do was sit at my window and stare out at our garden."

She leaned forward a little and tapped the lid of the jar with the Warbling Kira fluttering inside. "I had the window open one day while I was looking at the garden and a creature just like this one flew in and crawled over my feet. My father and I have a fascination with magical creatures, as you know, so I found a little jar, filled it with some sticks and leaves, and trapped it so that I could study it."

She picked up the jar and opened it, sticking her finger inside. The tiny bug climbed onto her finger and settled itself comfortably. "I kept it in the jar for days, maybe weeks, learning everything I could, and one day, when I was feeling particularly sad, I took the Warbling Kira out of the jar and held it. The next thing I knew, the most beautiful and warm music filled me."

She held the bug up for Draco's closer inspection. "You see the smaller set of wings?"

Draco nodded.

"They're able to fold in such a way that the Warbling Kira can rub them together, much like a cricket, to create music. Unlike a cricket, however, they only perform when they've been around a person for a time, and that person needs cheering up," Luna explained. "Once they've played their song, you must release them, or they will become depressed and die."

"So, you expect me to take care of a bug for a while, let it sing to me, and let it go?"

Luna giggled. "I know you're skeptical, but I promise you, if you do this, you'll find the sadness within you much easier to bear."

Draco darted his gaze between the ugly Warbling Kira and Luna. He couldn't help thinking that she was insane, but a tiny voice in his head told him to trust her. "All right, I'll give it a try," he said finally. "On one condition."

"Oh?"

"Stay and have breakfast with me," Draco insisted. "I know it may not seem like it, but I've really appreciated your company over the past couple of weeks. I mean; everyone else that's come by has wanted me to just cheer up and be happy, but not you. You just show up, all smiles and chatter, and just sit, talking to me. You don't care if I talk back, or if I ignore you. You just keep showing up."

He took a breath and tilted his head, eying her with curiosity. "Why would you do something like that? I haven't exactly been the nicest of people to you, and yet you're persistent in helping me in your own, albeit crazy, way."

Luna smiled. "Quite simply, I thought back to when Mum died and what I'd wished someone would've done for me," she replied. "I was so lonely and so young, and I really needed that one person that would just hold me and let me be sad."

"Well, I'm glad you didn't hold me," Draco said with a soft chuckle, "but I'm also so thankful that you didn't allow me to push you away and that you kept coming round."

Luna smiled wider and put the Warbling Kira back in it's jar. "I consider you a friend, Draco, and, of course, I'll stay and have breakfast with you, ahem, but first…" she paused and looked him over with a wrinkled nose, "you have to shower and put on some clean clothes because you smell like a stale turnip."

Draco threw his head back and laughed. It was the most genuine, cathartic laugh he'd done since Hermione's disappearance and it felt incredible. "Done," he said when his laughter died down enough for him to speak.

He got to his feet and began going through his armoire for clean clothes. "I'll have some pumpkin juice sent up for you while I freshen up, shall I?"

"That would be lovely."

"Rookin!"

There was a pop and the elf appeared in the room, bowing low to Draco. "Yes, Master Draco?"

"A cold pitcher of pumpkin juice and some glasses, please."

Rookin's bulbous brown eyes sparkled. "Yes, Master Draco."

"And Luna will be staying for breakfast."

The elf looked over at the strange girl and smiled a near toothless smile. "Young Miss Luna is most welcome," he said with a little bow. "What shall Rookin prepare for breakfast, Master Draco?"

Draco turned, a perplexed expression on his face, and looked at Luna. "I like bacon and eggs," Luna voiced helpfully.

He looked back at Rookin. "Perhaps some scrambled eggs with a side of bacon and hashbrowns?" he suggested, glancing at Luna briefly for approval. "And toast with raspberry jam?"

"Sounds delightful," Luna agreed.

"It's settled then," Draco said with a nod, turning back to Rookin. "Rookin, if you would, please, see that my guest is well attended while I make myself presentable."

"Of course, Master Draco," Rookin replied, giving him a little bow. "Rookin will be right back with your pumpkin juice, Miss."

Luna smiled. "Thank you, Sir."

Rookin bowed a little and disappeared with a pop. "All right," Draco said, closing his armoire and throwing his clean clothes over his shoulder. "I'll be out in a bit. If you need anything, just let Rookin know; he'll take good care of you."

It wasn't anything Luna didn't already know, but she was pleased that Draco was finally sounding more like himself. "I'll be fine," she told him, going over to her bag and pulling out a book.

Draco shook his head, chuckling, and went into his bathroom. As the warm water cascaded down on him a few moments later, he had to admit that it felt good to wash off the dirt and grime that he'd allowed to build up in his depression. He had never been one to not shower daily, but then again, he had never been so distraught and heart heavy. Even on his lowest days after his father had torn him down, there had still been a spark of light within him, but with Hermione's abduction, that light had been completely stomped out.

He attributed that to Hermione having become the light within him. She had taught him what it means to love, and be loved in return, with a simple smile, or a twinkle in her eyes. That love being taken from him so abruptly had been such a shock to his system that it felt as if he had died. He supposed he had allowed himself to fall too deep into depression, but he didn't think it could've been helped.

He had never felt a love like the one he had for Hermione. It burned throughout him, consuming him like Fiend Fire. It breathed new life into someone who had been living his life for everyone but himself. Hermione had taught him that it was okay to stand up for what he believes in regardless of what others think. She had also taught him to live.

Thinking about it, he was pretty certain Hermione would be disappointed in him for shutting down and pushing his friends and family away instead of embracing them and using their strength to lift him up in his time of need. She would probably also be disappointed, and angry, with him for not being there for her two families. He felt it was time now to step up and take back control of himself and what he wanted.

He finished his shower and dressed quickly. When he walked out of the bathroom, he stopped short, looking around his room a little discombobulated. "Rookin thought your room needed cleaning," Luna said from the rug on his floor.

Draco joined her on the rug and took the glass of pumpkin juice she was now holding out to him. "He's not used to me being such a slob," he confessed. "I really should do something nice for him. I hope you weren't too bored waiting for me to come back."

Luna smiled sweetly at him. "Actually, I'm glad you went to shower like I suggested because you could have a Hippogriff die from the stench, I think."

Luna's candid honesty was so refreshing to him and reminded him of his Aunt Andromeda. "You know," he said after a moment, "we've been… friends… for a little while, and we've never had a proper chat, have we?"

"No, but I can be rather off putting," Luna admitted. "I think because I have a different way of seeing things that people think me odd and not what is typically considered normal."

Rookin waddled in just then, carrying two trays that held an individual cloche covered plate each, one in his hands, one on his head. He set the trays down and snapped his fingers, refilling the pitcher of pumpkin juice. "Thank you, Rookin, it looks delicious," Luna said, smiling.

"Thank you, Miss Luna," Rookin replied before popping out.

"You should write Blaise, or better yet, go see him," Luna said softly once she had filled Draco in on everything non Hermione or Blaise related he had missed.

At the mention of his best friend, Draco's heart sank. "How is he?"

Luna set down her knife and fork and looked up at him. "He's going through a lot. His sister's been abducted and there's been no progress made on finding her, his best mate has been in his own world of despair because of the same thing, and he's struggling with these new abilities of his," she told him, not unkindly.

Draco looked down at his hands, ashamed at having not been there for his friend. Luna placed her hand on the part of his outstretched legs she could reach, causing him to cut his eyes up at her. "We've all been doing our best to be there for him, but we're not his best friend. Blaise needs you, Draco."

He knew she was right. Anytime Draco had needed someone to talk to, Blaise had been right there, ready to listen. This time had been no different in that respect. What Draco had failed to comprehend through his own grief, is that Blaise needed someone to lean on. They needed to lean on each other.

"I need him, too," Draco confessed.

"All you need to do is reach out."

Draco nodded. "Thank you, Luna."

The longer they chatted, the more Draco began to wonder why he had never chatted with her before. He found Luna to be interesting, free-spirited, and full of knowledge about so many different topics. She was truly a delight to talk to with her off the wall perspective of things and way of thinking. It surprised him just how many things they were able to discuss at length. Before he knew it, the sun had gone down and Rookin was coming in to ask about dinner.

Luna sat up and checked her watch. "Merlin, I'd lost track of time," she exclaimed. "I'm supposed to have dinner at The Burrow. Ron's probably wondering why I'm not there yet."

"I'm sorry, Luna, I didn't realize we'd been chatting so long."

She smiled reassuringly. "Nothing to be sorry for," she told him. "If I felt I was needed here longer, I would owl Ron and cancel."

"I think I'll be okay, thank you. You go ahead to your dinner," Draco told her, getting to his feet and reaching down to help her up.

"Thank you. I had a lovely time," she said, taking his hand and using his help to stand.

"I did, too, actually, and I have no one but you to thank for that."

Luna gathered her satchel and glanced at the Warbling Kira. "You should name him," she suggested. "They tend to connect with you more when they have a name."

"I'll do that."

Draco then did something he had only ever done with a few people, and certainly never with Luna; he hugged her. Luna embraced his hug with full force, squeezing him comfortingly and allowing him to be the one to either keep, or break, the connection. "Thank you," he whispered. "For everything."

He broke the hug and looked her in the eyes. "I hope Weasley knows he's lucky to have a girlfriend as special as you."

Luna grinned. "He's reminded constantly by his sister and mother," she confirmed.

"Good," Draco laughed.

"All right, well, I should go, but if you ever need to talk, or just someone to sit with, let me know," she told him seriously.

"Will do. How are you getting to The Burrow, by the way?"

"Oh, your mother offered to Side-along me when I arrived this morning."

Draco chuckled. "Well, let's go find her."

They found Mrs. Malfoy in the sun room enjoying a cup of tea. Her face lit up at the sight of her son not only out of his room, but showered and dressed. She hugged him tightly, kissing his cheeks. "Mum," Draco said, only mildly embarrassed.

Mrs. Malfoy smiles, watery eyed as she looks up at her only child. "I'm sorry, I'm just…" She turns her gaze to Luna and dabs at her eyes. "Thank you. Thank you for giving me my son back."

"Oh, he would have some back eventually," Luna said in her airy way. "All I did was give him a push."

Before his mother could continue with her emotional rambling, Draco cleared his throat. "Mother, Luna mentioned you'd offered to side along her to The Burrow?"

"Yes, yes, of course," she answered, tucking away her handkerchief. "I'll just get my cloak and we'll be off."

Luna nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy."

When Draco got back to his room a few minutes later, he went to his desk and picked up the jar with his Warbling Kira. The tiny insect was happily sitting on a twig near the bottom of the jar, munching on a leaf. He held the jar closer to his face and noticed that his owl, Helios was eying the bug like prey. "Oh no you don't, Helios," Draco scolded mildly. "This little critter isn't for eating. He's a gift from Luna to cheer me up."

Helios hooted sadly and Draco laughed. "Here, you silly owl," he said, tossing him an owl treat.

Draco then went back to staring at his temporary pet, wondering what he was going to name him. The creature was uglier than a house elf, with eyes that bulged and nearly took over the face. If that can even be called a face. Do worms have faces?

Despite the ugliness of him, however, there did seem to be something rather comforting about him. "What to call you?" he wondered.

The Warbling Kira skittered closer and put a few of his little legs against the glass. His head tilted and the back half of his body did this weird wagging thing that reminded Draco of a dog wagging it's tail. Draco couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up and came out. "Well, I think that settles it," he said, chuckling. "Your name is Wags."

Author's note- Okay, so now that you've read this installment of The Pureblood: Dark Heart, I have some good news, and bad news. I'll start with the bad news. This is going to be the last chapter for a little while. I'm going to wait on posting anything until I get up through chapter 10 written and edited. Now, the good news is that I've already got Chapter 6 written, and I'm currently writing Chapter 7. It's just a couple sections away from being done and then I can move on to Chapter 8.

I've been dealing with some health issues, both physical and mental, so it's not always the easiest for me to sit down and write. I promise I'm doing the best I can. Also add in the fact that my laptop isn't working and need a new one, and I'm kind of up a creek. Lol. As I mentioned earlier, I have been borrowing a laptop, I just don't have use of it as much as I would if it were mine, so, writing is slow on that front, too. I just ask that you please be patient with me. :) I appreciate all the support y'all have given me and I really can't wait to get all of this story to you!

Much Love,

Sarah