Iris and the rest of the sixsome filed into the potions class with the other Slytherins, sitting on the opposite side of the room as their yearmates in Gryffindor. Iris made to partner with Blaise, but she quickly sat down next to Dante. Before Iris could work up a proper moping, Snape began the class.

"Students," Snape said from the front of the classroom, stepping up to the podium without introduction, "The day has finally come, the section of this class devoted solely to memorization and parchmentwork is over. Today, you will all begin brew your first potion."

Excited chattering swept through the room, as Snape stalked over to his desk. Iris tried to catch Blaise's attention, but she was studiously avoiding her gaze.

"Silence!"

"As you all know, potions-making is by far the most delicate of the arts you will be practicing in your first year, and consequently, it is by far the most dangerous."

"Mr. MacGowan! Why is this so?"

The Gryffindor brother of one of the 'light Slytherins' began to fidget in his seat.

"Um… is it because some ingredients are likely to explode if mixed wrong, sir? That's what we've been studying all those reaction tables for, right?"

"Partially correct, Mr. MacGoawn, but not sufficient, as the full answer is found on page fifty-five of your textbook."

The Slytherins giggled.

"Now, without opening their books to that page, who can tell me the answer?"

Hermione's hand shot into the air, before Snape had even finished talking. Iris scowled, not nearly over the fight that led to the end of their friendship. Why did it seem like every girl she had a crush on was destined to disappoint her?

"Ms. Granger!"

"It's because the various magical properties of the ingredients may interact poorly with each other, or with the stirring and heat regimens of the potion, sir. That's why you've had us study reaction tables for semester up until this point."

"Correct, Ms. Granger. Five points to Gryffindor."

"However", he said, beginning to pace the classroom, "there is one other reason."

"It is because as young and oftentimes foolish as you all are, many of you will be tempted to experiment with different ingredients and regimens, or to"—he sneered—"prank each other's potions by throwing in ingredients, or purposefully disturbing the stirring process ."

"The studying and memorization of reaction tables is not only to prepare you to adequately brew potions, as Ms. Granger said, but also to demonstrate to you why exactly this is such a poor idea."

"Malfoy! What happens when one is to mix porcupine quills with doxy eggs?"

"At what heat, sir?"

"Very good answer Malfoy, take fifteen points to Slytherin. Assume at a low heat."

"Well sir, the ingredients would turn into an acidic mixture, and dissolve the cauldron, along with whatever was under it."

"Correct. Mr. Longbottom! Why does this effect happen?"

"Um, because doxy eggs are poisonous, and porcupine quills are protective?"

"Why is that relevant?"

"And uh… and that means that they don't mix well, because poison and protection are contrary to each other!"

"Correct, Mr. Longbottom, take five points for Gryffindor."

"Greasy git" Iris heard Danny loudly whisper from his seat at the front of the classroom.

"It seems," Snape said, pointedly ignoring Danny's sniggers, "that most of you, at least, have studied the necessary background information. Congratulations."

"Do not be relived just yet," he said, with a slight sneer, "I absolutely guarantee that in this very class, at least one of you will attempt some improper mixture or mistaken stirring which would cause most… undesirable results. If this unlucky student is you, you will quickly find yourself writing a twenty-inch essay on your mistake, and the methods you could have used to correct it."

"Potions making is dangerous, children. That is why you have all waited for so long to begin your practical work, in comparison with many of your other classes. I know many of you find me intimidating, or strict, or whatever other childish insults may pass through your undeveloped brains,"—the Slytherins snickered as he looked at Danny—"but I assure you, that when my vigilance and attention are saving your life from an ignorant mistake, you will be thanking whatever deity you pray to that I am so attentive to your errors."

"Now", he said, "I believe it is time for us to begin our first practical session.

He waved his wand, and a set of instructions titles "The Herbicide Potion" shimmered into existence on the board


"Psst, Neville. Should I turn the heat off before dropping in the bile?"

Iris could hear Danny's whisper from the row in front of her.

"I can't see your potion mate, what stage are you on?"

Danny squinted his eyes at the board, and then frowned at his muddy-brown potion.

"I just added the Alyssum petals"

"Jesus Chr–!"

"Ah, Mr. Potter, I would highly advise against dropping your ladle"

Danny stilled, and slowly turned around to look up at Snape's looming figure.

"Why not, Sniv– oh sorry, sir."

Snape just quirked an eyebrow.

"It seems as if someone hasn't been studying their reaction tables, Mr. Potter. Congratulations class, Mr. Potter seems to be today's lucky winner. You've all just witnessed your very first averted explosion. I've heard he has a proclivity for such things."

Danny paled, and then flushed with anger as Snape's final comment registered.

"Could you tell me Mr. Potter," Snape said, turning his head to partially look at the class, "why exactly you felt you should have added fire salamander bile at this stage of the potion?"

Danny flushed further, scowling at the Head of Slytherin.

"I don't know, your instructions were too small, Death E–… sorry, Professor."

Most of the class looked at Danny in confusion, bordering on shock.

Snape just looked unfazed.

"Ah, well then, who can tell me why Mr. Potter shouldn't have added the bile?"

Hermione's hand shot up in the air again.

"Ms. Granger, you believe you can?"

"Yes sir! Well, the fire salamander is, as the name suggests, a creature of fire. Therefore, any of its body parts will react incredibly violently in the presence of almost any heat in a cauldron! This is because–"

"Correct Ms. Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor. Let's save the rest of the explanation for… How about Ms. Potter? Can the Slytherin twin tell me why Fire Salamanders are considered 'creatures of fire', as Ms. Granger put it?"

"Besides the name, obviously." he said, when Danny was about to open his mouth.

Danny's crimson face just turned even splotchier.

What was…

Hey, that's right, Iris remembered the answer to this! It was in…

Oh.

This was going to be beautiful.

"Well sir" Iris said, smirk becoming positively Blaise-worthy, "I don't recall salamanders from any of our textbooks, but I do remember them being a central plot-point in the 'Boy-Who-Lived Adventure Novels'. I believe that they were said to be able to regenerate by walking into flames, a property the Danny Potter character used to save one of his friends when they were grievously injured."

Danny's expression turned murderous as many of the Gryffindors fixed him with confused expressions, some even breaking out into whispers.

"Ah yes, I recall those novels. I assure you, Mr. Potter, that in your twenty-inch essay, you may not use your… ahem, 'lived experience' as any sort of reference. I do not accept sources of dubious veracity, after all…"

Dante, Iris's partner for the lesson, was almost vibrating with restrained laughter.

"Now that the class has elucidated a portion of your error, Mr. Potter, would you share with us why exactly your potentially lethal decision was, indeed, potentially lethal?"

"Fuck you, you slimy bastard!"

The whole class, even the Slytherins, stared at Danny in complete stupefaction.

Snape finally smirked.

"Oh, Mr. Potter? Do go on. I assure you, your words will most likely never compare to the numerous insults your father and his associates hurled at me during my own years of schooling."

The Slytherin's shock very quickly turned into glee: Snape had a reputation for never showing amusement in his classroom.

"Oh really? I think my dad went to easy on you, you slithery git! You were a dark wizard even back then, from what he's told me, but you're obviously an even darker one now! Just where do you get off, thinking you can attack the Boy-Who-Lived in front of a crowd of Lions!"

Unfortunately for Danny, the rest of the Gryffindors weren't brought up from a young age with stories of the heroic Marauders defeating the evil dark wizard Snivellus. They weren't raised in a house where "Snape" and "shit" were almost synonyms. They hadn't even fostered a minor academic resentment of the man as one of Hogwarts' strictest professors, as most of that legendary strictness came during the brewing sections of the class.

Whoops.

"You think you can just get away with being all evil in your classroom, under Grampa Dumbledore's protection?" Think again! My dad and uncles vanished your clothes in the Great Hall, but I'll do worse! I'll burn all your clothes, and let the whole world see your Dark Mark, Death Eater! I bet you let Voldemort fuck you up the ass every day!"

The class gasped.

Snape stared, and rolled up both his sleeves, showing two bare forearms, and quirked a single eyebrow.

Danny just got redder and splotchier, and his voice raised to a high-pitched shriek.

"You fucking PRICK, how DARE you hide your evilness in this class! I'm the Boy-Who-Lived, I could get you kicked out of this school with a snap of my damn FINGERS! I'll prank you so hard, you won't even remember your own NAME you bastard! I'LL RUN YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING DUNGEON! LIONS, WHO'S WITH ME!?"

With that, Danny turned around, he expected a horde of cheers and applause, and a furious crowd ready to storm out of the evil Dark Lord Snivellus's classroom.

Instead… well, at least he got the "furious" part right.

The shock-white faces of his housemates really did contrast awfully with the enraged red tinting their cheeks, Iris thought.

"300 points from Gryffindor for your tantrum, Mr. Potter. And because I know your 'Grandpa' will reimburse you for most of them, let's say… detention until the end of the semester, hmm?"

With that, Snape turned on his heel and swept past the still-gaping Danny.

"Now class, shall we continue?"

The Slytherins burst into laughter.


"God, did you see the asshole's face when he turned around! It was like he learned that Santa isn't real!"

"I know! I could swear he was about to faint in shock by the end of the lesson!"

"Wait, what's a 'santa'?"

"Oh, it's a mud thing Draco."

"I know, but what is it?"

"Doesn't matter, did you see his face!".

"Oh Merlin, look at him! He looks like he's seen a ghost!"

The only ones who would walk near Danny as he stumbled down the hallway to him were Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom, and even they were shooting Danny slightly fearful and angry glances.

Danny's actions hadn't caused Gryffindor to drop out of the race for House Cup, as true to Snape's prediction, Dumbledore had given Danny back 250 of the 300 points. However, this actually caused most students to dislike him more, as evidenced by the constant glares and mutters of favoritism being thrown at him by even his own housemates.


The evening of his embarrassment in potions class, Iris had left the Slytherin common room, going off on her own to mope and complete her work in the library. Unfortunately, at the same time Iris just so happened to be walking back from the library, brooding over Blaise's cold shoulder, her twin was going on a rampage.

Over the past few hours Danny had moved from denial, and straight into anger. Cursing and yelling at anyone who wronged him even slightly, the Boy-Who-Lived was sitting with his friends and ranting about all the injustices he had to suffer. Whatever you might say about Danny's friends, they were exceptionally loyal to their leader (as well as a bit dim), and so soon Ron, Neville, and Seamus had abandoned their books, and were ranting and stirring each other's anger over every imagined slight by someone in green and silver.

After supper, they stalked through the hallways, spitting vicious insults, diatribes, and the occasional prank spell at anyone and everyone even remotely associated with Slytherin house, and even some notable non-Slytherin Rells.

Fantastic, Iris thought to herself as Danny stormed over, her shitty week was about to get even shittier. Hell, why not make a party out of it, and invite Hermione to lecture her about "dangerous creatures" too? Just to complete the angst-set.

"YOU!" Danny yelled, stopping her in her path.

"You UTTER… Ugh!" Danny yelled, stopping so close to her she could smell his harsh, stabbing breaths.

"Mom and Dad did everything they could to try to include you in the family and you threw it back in their FACES! Do you know how miserable Dad was whenever you were cooped up in the library, avoiding him? You're such… such a fucking brat!"

Iris saw red, all the cumulative frustrations of the past few weeks seeming to well up inside her.

"A BRAT? A BRAT?! If anyone's a brat here, it's you! I bet you can't even take a shit without giving someone an autograph to wipe your arse! What, are you so angry because you're constipated, because your fanclub all abandoned you after potions? Morgana, I was starved and beaten for twelve years, and I think I'm more well-adjusted than you!"

Shen was going to tear her spoiled, arrogant, mud-loving brute of a twin a new arsehole, even if it was the last thing she'd ever do.

"How DARE you, you utter BITCH! Do you know how much of a burden my fame is!? I can't even go to a restaurant without a crowd swarming me! No, you don't know, because you grew up with a family of nice muggles you're trying to throw under the bus for your new dark friends!"

Oh boo hoo, the poor celebrity has to shake hands with the masses. The Tigris and the Euphrates couldn't contain her tears.

"Circe you are just so fucking BLIND! You won't let anything taint your precious muggles! You insist those barbarians are angels who can do no wrong, even when that wrong is staring you directly in the face!"

"You can't blame them for that, you know that was to keep you safe! Besides, I thought you'd moved past that and forgiven them! OR you had, until you started hanging out with those fucking creatures! You're better than this, you forgave them, you understood, until you started acting all dark and angry!"

Iris took a step back, breathing in deeply.

"Understand this, Danny Potter. I never forgave them, never understood. I went through twelve years of hell, and they never even once APOLOGIZED! James and Miriam Potter are COMPLETE and UTTER CUN–"

"docufah tavdufcag bic qaron biwi!"

Enraged by her treatment of figures who he saw as an Aunt and Uncle, Ron slashed his wand at Iris knocking her back three feet, horns starting to sprout from her head.

Damn, that hurt! God, did she break her arm? Oh shit, that's bone! She hadn't been hurt like this since…

Since…

Oh no…

"You burnt this on purpose, didn't you, freak!"

Since THEM.

"Lazy, filthy monster! Your mother should have aborted you!"

Iris was trying to stand up, but her hooves kept slipping against the onslaught of spells. Wait, hooves? When did she get those? Doesn't matter, she just got hit with a banisher, and she could feel her nose breaking.

"Little cunt! Do you know how much we spent just to keep your filthy carcass alive?!"

She needed to calm down, to run away, to spit back a taunt at her twin, to do anything but sit and curl up into a ball!

"Hey Potter, bet you can't outlast all of us with your freaky fast legs! Run away, little freak, I'm coming!"

But Iris was too hurt, to tired, in too much pain.

She couldn't do anything but wait for the pain to end.

Distantly, as she felt the flow of curses stop, she could hear Seamus yelling at Danny and Ron in a panic, making plans to use the cloak to leave her outside the hospital wing.

It didn't matter though, because all Iris could see was darkness.


Iris snapped awake, her head ringing with the taunts of Danny and Dudley, mixed together by her panicked brain.

She almost tore a ligament in her neck whipping her head around, but she had to see that she was away, that she was safe, that she was–…

In the hospital wing, apparently.

Thankfully, Danny, Ron, and Seamus were nowhere in sight. In fact, she thought she could vaguely recall–

OH SWEET CIRCE SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL WING.

Iris's panic returned with a vengeance as her mind finally registered her location, and remembered exactly what had happened the last time she'd been laid up in bed.

Thankfully for Iris's heart, Dumbledore wasn't around, but Iris knew that HE COULD BE HERE ANY SECOND OH MOTHER MAGIC PROTECT HER SHE WAS–

Ok, ok, she had to calm down, and get out of bed. Well, at least get calmer; this panicking wasn't helping anything. She had to think, think, think. What if Dumbledore got concerned about her, because of whatever strange reason he had for his preoccupation with her life? Would he consider an prank-related injury worthy of his attention? Iris knew he hadn't been there when she went to get a potion for her period cramps, so there was obviously some threshold for his attention. Alright, so step one, assess the damage; step two, figure out what Dumbledore's likely response would be.

Iris could tell that she was only barely hanging on to her veneer of calmness. Her brain was firing at a speed that would put running unicorns to shame: all of her analyzing was done in the time it took her to rise from her prone position and dangle her legs off the edge of her bed. She felt like she was an observer in her own body, a ghostly puppeteer directing the actions of a marionette.

Right, so injuries. At least these instincts were old and well-used from her time at her relatives. She felt completely fine now, but she could remember that she had most likely come in with a concussion, and several bruised ribs from the banishing curse (bruised, not broken: she'd never forget what the latter felt like).

Regular injuries probably wouldn't merit Dumbledore's attention, there was nothing unique about them, nothing to learn that he hadn't already learned from other exams. She started hyperventilating as she wondered about her unusual injuries from Danny's "prank" spells?

She remembered feeling antlers on her head, and hooves instead of hands, would either of those merit a visit from the Headmaster?

Hooves first. There was nothing special about her hands, so that was out, but he might be interested into the effects of human transfiguration on her, if her physical body (ew) had something to do with his interest. She couldn't think of anything which physically distinguished her from any other changeling, so she didn't think that was why he was so creepily involved in her life. However, it wasn't outside the realm of possibility: he was a master of transfiguration after all.

Now Horns. Right, what's special about the horns? Same deal as the hooves in regard to human transfiguration: unlikely, but not outside of the realm of possibility. There was nothing special about her forehead eith– HER SCAR CIRCE WHAT IF SHE RUNS THE SCAN AGAIN AND DUMBLEDORE COMES BACK AND HE BRAINWASHES HER AND–

Oh SHIT this was BAD THIS WAS REALLY BAD FUCK DANNY AND FUCK HIS BEARDY PEDOPHILE PSEUDO-GRANDPA FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK SHE WAS DEAD SO DEAD OH BLOODY FUCKING GILGAMUS SHE WOULD FORGET BLAISE AND ALL HER FRIENDS AND HE WOULD LOOK IN HER MIND AND FIND THEIR SECRETS FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK FUCK FUCK fuck… fuck!

Gasping, Iris managed to slowly reign in her terrified thoughts. Mother of MERLIN, she needed to get a hold of herself! She wouldn't be of use to anyone like this, having a panic attack in the hospital wing would be as good as handing herself to Dumbledore's spells on a silver PLATTER MORGANNA SHE WAS GOING TO BE WIPED AWAY AND SENT BACK–

NO! Calm down, breathe!

She needed to calm down, to think, to be comforted, to heal, to cry, to–…

She needed Blaise.

And without another thought, Iris had dashed out of the hospital wing, not even noticing her torn and ragged clothes, or the bruises that bloomed like ugly violets all across her body.


Iris burst past the common room door, eyes roving the couches for the sight of her best friend. Unfortunately, Blaise wasn't sitting on any of the numerous couches in the room, making Iris tear up the staircase to the girl's wing, and bang on Blaise's door.

"Iris?" Blaise half-yawned, opening the door in her nightdress, "is something the matter?"

"BlaiseI'msosorryforwhateverIdidohMerlintheygotmehe'sgotmeohMerlinohMerlinpleaseforgivemeI'msosorryIlo–"

Iris's frantic stream of thought was cut off by the sensation of soft, feminine arms wrapping around her, and the warm, familiar feeling of Blaise's magic.

"Shhh, shhh," Blaise cooed, pulling Iris onto her bed, "what's wrong darling? You're safe now, here with me, can't you feel it?"

She began to stroke her finger through Iris's hair. "So warm, so safe, so secure. I'll take care of you, I'll treasure you, I'll love you, no one will ever hurt you here."

"You're my treasure Iris, do you know that? I care about you so much sweetie, don't know you? And not just me either: Dante, Draco, Theo, Daphne; all of us care about you so much, we'll defend you, and protect you, and give you all the warmth and affection you deserve."

As Blaise cooed and stroked her fingers through her hair, Iris slowly began to calm down from her panic, Blaise's allure like a anesthetic for her panicked mind.

"Do you hear that, sweetie?" Blaise said, moving Iris head to her collarbone, right over her heart.

Slowly, Iris nodded, sniffling and hiccuping.

"That's my heartbeat Iris, I was you to count each beat, can you do that for me? One, two three… Count along with me."

Iris thought that just about anything would be better than remaining in her own head right now, so she nodded again, burying her face further into Blaise's loving embrace. Alright; don't think, just count.

Just count.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

Five…

Six…

Seven…

Eight…

Slowly, Iris's sobs and sniffles died out, and her panic was replaced with a pleasant warmth. This was the first time Blaise had used her allure on her since Samhain, and she could swear the effect had actually gotten more comforting. The combination of feeling Blaise's overwhelming love through her allure and her aura was pure bliss.

Wait, "love"?

With her improved ability to connect with Blaise through her aura, Iris could sense that the feelings radiated off of Blaise were… different than what she had felt from her other friends. In fact, the only time she could recall something remotely similar was when Blaise was cuddling with Dante…

Huh.

Definitely coming back around to that once this crisis is over.

Regardless, the combination of her tentatively-giddy train of thought and Blaise's affection (both physical and magical) was enough to switch Iris's brain away from the pure gibbering panic she had felt in th–… the Hospital Wing.

She slowly grew aware of the outside world, her mind coming out of the pleasant, detached state imposed by Blaise's aura.

Huh, Blaise was still stroking her hair and muttering to her.

And head was right on… doesn't matter now, but she's coming back to that later too.

As Iris began to shift from her supremely comfortable position, Blaise took her hand out of her hair, to Iris's mild disappointment.

"You back with me sweetie?" She said, smiling down at Iris.

Merlin, she was radiant.

"Iris? Do you want to talk about what happened"

Shocked out her thoughts by the question, Iris flinched, which led to Blaise squeezing her tighter, and starting to stroke her hair again.

…If anyone asks, that wasn't why she started talking, no siree.

"I-I was w-walking back from the l-library alone, and I saw Danny and his friends and he was so angry and they started cursing me and–"

Blaise's hand drifted down to cover Iris's mouth as she began to ramble.

"Breathe, darling, just breathe… Focus on my heartbeat…"

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

Hah, that's better.

"R-right" Iris said, letting out a great breath, "I was walking back from the library, a-alone, when Danny and his goon squad came up to me, ranting and raving. H-He said that I was a brat, and that I was purposefully hurting James and Miriam, because my 'dark friends' corrupted me."

Blaise let out a light chuckle, and despite herself, Iris's lips quirked into a grin.

"I know, right? It was ridiculous."

"What happened next, darling?"

"Well, I basically told him to go fuck himself…"

"…That all?"

She could almost feel Blaise's eyebrow quirking in amusement.

"I told him that he couldn't take a shit without his fan club wiping his ass, and that he must have been angry because they all abandoned him, so he's constipated."

Blaise started to giggle, and Iris joined her: it really was a funny insult. After a few minutes, they calmed down, and Iris began to tell her story again, mood rapidly turning somber.

"Well… Uh, then, they started casting all sorts of spells at me"

Iris could feel Blaise's arms tighten around her protectively.

"So Weasley started off with a spell that threw me back, and made me sprout antlers." Iris sneered. "I'm sure he learned that 'hilarious prank' from James."

"Then., they just kept casting and casting all these 'prank' spells: I remember that my hands and feet had been turned to hooves at some point… Then, one of them just s-started pounding me, hitting me with banishers until I bruised my ribs and broke my nose... Blaise I flashed back to the D-Dursleys, I couldn't move, I couldn't s-speak, all I could see w-was them, what's w-w-wrong with me!"

As Iris broke down into sobs once again, Blaise's arms tighten around her to an almost painful pressure, and her jaw was clenched with tension.

"There's nothing wrong with you darling, it's them!" she spat. "It's Danny that's responsible, him and those monsters!"

Quickly, the rest of the story fell half-choked from Iris's mouth, before she could completely break down again.

"M-Merlin Blaise they t-took me to the H-Hospital W-Wing! I k-kept thinking that D-Dumbledore would come in and try to wipe my memory like the last time and then I realized there were antlers on my forehead and that's where my scar is and he brainwashed Pomfrey last time because of it and Merlin Blaise I was so terrified!" At this point Iris trailed off, her frantic babbling dissolving into sobs.

A few minutes later (and with some judicious application of Blaise's allure), Iris had calmed down enough to where she tried to move the conversation onwards.

"Anyway, so then I came to find you, and now here we are." she said, snuggling deeper into Blaise's loving embrace.

Blaise stilled.

"…why?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you come straight to me, and not to anyone else? I'm not powerful enough magically or politically to protect you from the Headmaster, why not go to Snape? Or Draco? Their family has more than enough money to protect you."

Iris thought for a moments, sniffles trailing off, and then responded: "I don't know, I guess because out of anyone you make me feel like I'm safe and secure? I just wanted to feel protected…"

Blaise hummed in affirmation, a small mote of happiness sparking in her aura.

For the next few minutes, Iris just luxuriated in Blaise's embrace, melting under her hands stroking her hair. She was right, Blaise really did make her feel safe. Blissfully, she snuggled deeper into Blaise's arms. Blaise had mostly turned down her allure, but Iris could still feel affection and adoration radiating from her aura. It almost felt like when she was looking at–"

Suddenly, Iris realized that something in Blaise's room was off.

"Wait!", she said, startled, "where's Dante? Don't you two share a room?"

Strangely enough, Blaise actually blushed, bringing an adorable shade of red to her marble-colored cheeks.

"He's… Um, he's staying over with Daphne…"

"Blaise, are you telling me that they didn't want to sleep with you? Morgana, are they completely mad?"

Shit, that slipped out. And Blaise definitely noticed.

"No, no! It was me, I… wasn't in the mood."

"Wait, what? Blaise, is everything alright?"

"Oh, nothing…"

"You can tell me! You do so much to comfort me; I lo– care about you too, I want to repay the favor!"

Blaise's eyes seemed undecided on whether to look at Iris or the ground, switching back and forth with every second.

"No, no, it's… well, Dante said I was 'brooding', and had to 'figure myself out'. I don't know, it was ridiculous, I've just been thinking about something."

Blaise's blush had spread to her whole head now.

…Wait, what was that thought she had put aside coming down from her panic attack? Blaise's aura? She could still feel some of those same feelings now, mixed with a healthy dose of embarrassment, guilt, and even a swiftly growing spark of hope.

Wait, hope?

Was she right? Did Blaise really…

"Wh-what were you thinking about?"

"Oh, j-just that… There's been someone I really admire, and I think recently my feelings for them have grown to something… beyond friendship."

Iris was startled out of her thoughts by the sudden realization that Blaise's face was very, very close to hers indeed. Was she always sitting here?

"I know she's attracted to me physically, but I was so scared that she wouldn't want an actual relationship."

"Isn't… Isn't that what you normally like in a partner?", Iris said. They were both barley whispering at this point, Iris felt like she had been transported to some special location outside time and space. Her whole world was this room, just her and Blaise. Alone. Together.

"Yeah, normally, but this girl… She's something special. It would break my heart if she didn't… didn't love me like I love her."

Was someone playing the finale of 1812 Overture? Wait no, that was Iris's heartbeat. Beating that fast and strong has to be unhealthy.

"Why… why do you love her?" Iris breaths were coming short, like little huffs that she could see ruffling the hair hanging down around Blaise's face.

"Well… she's been through so much in her life, stuff that would break me a dozen times over… But y– she survived! She's still such a sweet and loving person, even though the whole world was against her…"

Iris could feel Blaise's breaths on her face, hot puffs of air caressing her cheeks.

"She isn't a wilting flower either… I've seen y– her grow from someone that could barely speak without stuttering, to a brave, wonderful, kind girl, who has a heart big enough to love the whole world, to accept me and my mate and my friends without reservation, when she had every reason in the world not to, and the pureness of heart to stand up for us even when she's terrified."

"She… She sounds like quite the girl…" Iris said, heart beating out of her chest.

Blaise's gaze was flicking back and forth between Iris's lips, and her eyes.

"Yeah… you are…"

And then suddenly, Blaise was kissing her, and Iris's whole world was pure bliss.

Iris considers herself someone that doesn't put much stock in common romance tropes. Or rather, she didn't, because right now the feeling of Blaise's petal-soft lips on hers were proving all of them true.

It was like the world had stopped turning, but also started spinning out of control. Iris felt hot and cold, fireworks and butterflies throughout her entire body. Her mind was a neverending torrent of pure sensation.

Blaise's skin was even softer than in her dreams.

She could feel the tiny, invisible hairs on Blaise's cheeks brushing her hands.

She couldn't figure out what to call the exact taste of Blaise's lips, but she knew it was her new favorite flavor.

She could feel the outline of Blaise's fangs through the skin of her lips.

She could do this forever.

She felt every hair on her body standing straight up, like an electric current ran straight through her body.

Iris slowly pulled back from the kiss, feeling like her brain was soaked in a vat of oxytocin. She opened her eyes to see Blaise looking back at her, pale face flushed, pupils blown wide, fangs extended.

Incredibly, Blaise started to giggle, which of course set Iris giggling as well. As Blaise giddily collapsed to rest her head in the crook of Iris's neck, Iris realized that surprisingly, she wasn't panicking at all. She was calm, the feeling of pure joy at her crush returning her affections brushing away all the anxious thoughts that would normally clutter her head.

"So…" Blaise said, uncharacteristically shy, "d-does this mean you like me back?"

"Yeah…" Iris didn't even have to think as she gave her response.

Blaise continued "I mean, I know all this is new to you, but I really lo– like you, and I want to be with you. Romantically I mean, not–… wait, 'yes'? Really!"

Iris started laughing, and cradled Blaise's head in her hands, leaving a feather-light kiss on her lips.

Merlin, she was soft.

"Yes, you dummy, I want to date you. I can't think of anything in the world that would make me happier…"

For the next few minutes, Blaise and Iris simply held each other, luxuriating in their shared emotions. Eventually, Blaise could hear the prefects starting to patrol the second years' hallway, which meant as much as neither of them wanted to separate, Iris had to return to her room before they got to the first years'.

Their faces overcome with brilliant smiles, they shared one last quick kiss before Iris rushed off, whispering a quick "bye… girlfriend" to a giddy Blaise.

All was well.


If you want an illustration of how Iris and Blaise are behaving after they kiss, google the panel "Kiss 2" from Dumbing of Age. They're both Dina, the girl in the dinosaur hoodie.

Direct link: /2015/comic(/)book-5(/)04-walking-with-dina(/)kiss-2

Title is from the entry for primrose in the sacrificial compendium, which deals with the revelation of secrets.

Fanfic recommendation for this chapter is the Mind Body Heart Technique (and its sequel) by TimeLoopedPowerGamer; in my mind it's the gold standard for the sweet, loving dom/sub dynamics and fluff I try to display between Blaise and Iris.

Song rec is "Life on Mars?" by David Bowie, I was listening to it recently.