Blaise Zabini made his way to the Great Hall. Word had spread that the first day of classes were cancelled due to an "illness" amongst the teachers.
"Don't worry Hermione, you've waited almost two years to go back to class, you can wait another day." Ginny consoled Hermione as they walked to breakfast.
Blaise entered behind them and scanned the room. He breezed past the tables to the Slytherins. He saw Draco Malfoy nodding off at his plate and a few first-years looking nervous as ever, wondering if they would all die from the "illness" that struck the faculty. His Quidditch team was huddled at the table and waved him over.
Blaise politely smiled and waved at them, but grabbed a pastry and walked out the door. There was no one of interest to him there. Plus official tryouts were the next day. He would interact with them then.
He only returned as a courtesy to his mother who wanted him to finish his Hogwarts career to save face. He walked out to the courtyard and started towards the Black Lake.
He stopped halfway there and muttered to himself, "What's even the point?"
He sat on the ground and finished his breakfast. Blaise was at a loss. He had no idea what to do and felt so indifferent about Hogwarts. He walked out on the war, he hadn't made any real friends, and he truly felt that he didn't belong.
He looked around at the castle, everything was back to normal. You wouldn't even think the biggest wizarding war happened here just a few months ago. The only trace of the horror was the dark magic that seemed to leave a small scar throughout the grounds.
It wasn't a luring dark magic or a depressing one. It was just…there. There probably wasn't anything that could be done about it.
Something caught his eye near the forest. Someone with long dirty-blonde hair bounced their way into the forest.
Even Blaise Zabini knew who Luna Lovegood was. If he was being honest, she was his favorite Quidditch commentator.
She did a quick spin before she disappeared into the trees.
Blaise smiled and wondered what it would be like to live in her world.
He rolled his eyes, how could he think something like that?
What could she possibly be doing in that forest? She's bound to come running out soon.
Blaise decided that he didn't care and went back to sulking, making sure to adjust his position so he would "just so happen" to be facing the forest.
After a few minutes he decided that the sun was too bright and he wanted to sit next to the trees. He walked towards the opening Luna had wondered in, or maybe not. He didn't care where she entered.
The grass next to the trees was too bumpy and rough, he didn't want to sit anymore. But a walk sounded nice.
He started walking into the forest, alone. Wondering if he would run into anyone.
Blaise listened carefully as he ducked through the branches.
He could hear some birds in the trees above.
Small pit-pats of critters running around.
But nothing human.
Blaise let out a long sigh and thought to himself how dumb this was. He wasn't even following her. He quickly turned and smacked his head on a branch that hadn't seemed to be there before.
"Fuck!" He stumbled back and hit his head on another branch.
"Wha-" he couldn't finish because he tripped over root, hit the back of his head on two more branches and thumped down in a small circle of mud.
"Are you alright?" An angelic voice asked out.
Blaise looked up and saw Luna making her way through the branches. She smiled at him and Blaise fought to not smile back.
"I wasn't following you!" He blurted out.
Luna giggled, "Okay." She reached out for his hand, "Watch your head when you get up."
Without even thinking Blaise grabbed her hand and knew he didn't want to let go.
Say thank you! He thought, locked into her eyes, Say thank you say thank you say thank you!
"What are you even doing in here?" He finally sneered. Idiot!
"Meeting up with some old friends." Luna smiled and started to walk but was taken aback by Blaise still holding on to her. "Good idea," she squeezed his hand, "Don't want to get lost."
She lead him through the trees, making sure he didn't hit his head or trip over anything. Blaise didn't say a word the entire time. He just knew he didn't want to let go of her hand and didn't want to go back to the castle.
"See the light there? I can almost see the castle now," Luna pointed ahead, "And it's still fairly early, I'm glad-"
Blaise stopped walking, consequently tugging on Luna's arm and bringing her to a halt.
"Is everything alright?"
"Blaise," he said.
Luna just looked at him with her wide eyes.
"I'm Blaise," he continued, "I-"
"You're Blaise Zabini," Luna took a step closer to him and his heart skipped a beat, "you're a chaser on the Quidditch team, you're in Slytherin, you're in the Slug Club, you didn't follow me into the forest, and you're quite handsome."
Luna let out a small smile.
Blaise finally smiled back and took a step closer to Luna, now nearly inches from her, "You're Luna Lovegood, you're Hogwarts' best Quidditch commentator, you're in Ravenclaw, you went to the Slug Club party with Potter, you came into the forest to visit old friends, and you're ridiculously beautiful."
Luna blushed and Blaise had a new favorite shade of pink.
Blaise started to lower to her and drew back embarrassed. He stammered, "I…uhhh. Can I…"
Luna let go of him and put her hands on her hips, "Blaise if you're going to kiss me just do it already!"
Instinctively with her consent he put one arm around her waist and with his other hand he brushed the hair out of her face. Luna threw her arms around his neck and crossed them bracing herself for what was about to happen.
Blaise slowly lowered to her and Luna raced him, reaching him first. Blaise was surprised at first but melted in the moment. He felt her arms getting tighter around his neck as she pushed more into the kiss. His left hand met his right on the small of her back. He lifted her off the ground, but lost his balance on a stray rock and they both toppled over.
Blaise fell on his back and Luna toppled over him. She laughed, "Am I too heavy or are you too weak?"
He laughed with her, "I think I might be too clumsy."
He pulled her in closer and she smiled, "Who are you Blaise Zabini? I've never seen this side of you. Did someone slip you a potion this morning?"
He kissed her and pulled away, "Who are you Luna Lovegood to make me feel this way? I blame you."
He turned over and kissed her a little more aggressively this time.
"Ow!" She pushed him away from her.
"What did I do? Are you okay?" Blaise, full of embarrassment, pulled completely off her.
Luna laughed, "Not you, my hair is caught in the knotgrass."
Blaise sighed in relief and helped her get untangled. "I guess this isn't the ideal place to…" he trailed off.
"Probably not," Luna stood up and grabbed his hand, "Shall we get out of here before it takes us as a prisoner?"
Blaise followed her towards the clearing. Just before they reached the end of the forest she turned around and kissed him one last time. He didn't want it to end. He started to reach around her but she broke the connection too fast.
Luna let go of his hand and skipped out of the forest. Blaise slumped against the nearest tree and watched until he couldn't see her anymore.
Blaise made his way back to the Slytherin common room. He was having a hard time hiding his smile. This made no sense.
Did someone slip him a love potion this morning?
Did someone poison him and now he's hallucinating?
Before he had a chance to spiral with that thought someone crashed into him.
"Ugh," Draco stumbled and put his head in his hands.
"Alright?" Blaise said shaking Draco off of him, "You don't look-"
"I look fine!" Draco snapped back, but even that was too loud for him. He groaned again and covered his mouth.
"Don't vomit here!" Blaise looked around the hallway and quickly pulled Draco into the nearest classroom.
Draco slumped at a desk and Blaise looked around, "Well you're in luck. Professor Slughorn is bound to have a hangover cure somewhere in here."
Blaise began opening up cupboards while Draco was mumbling to himself.
"Antidote to the Common Poison. That might do. Alcohol is a poison." Blaise grabbed the bottle and set it next to his hurting classmate. "Drink up mate."
Draco fumbled the vile open and quickly closed it when the smell hit him. He sat up straight and looked at Blaise, "I'm not going to be able to stomach this."
"Alright," Blaise sat next to him. "So, what happened to you last night?"
"Pansy," Draco muttered.
"You and Pansy?" Blaise laughed.
"No, no. We're just mates. I didn't snog her, she's a right—" Draco's eyes got wide.
"What?" Blaise turned to him.
Draco looked almost frightened, "Who did I snog last night?"
"You can't remember?"
Draco looked around the room as if his hookup from the previous night was hanging around in a corner, "No. I remember going to Hogsmeade. And The Three Broomsticks. And a goat."
"You snogged a goat?"
"No!" Draco snapped, but he didn't make eye contact with Blaise, "I can't remember."
Blaise and Draco sat in silence.
Finally Draco shook his head, "Never mind. Why are you being so nice? Who poisoned you?"
"No one," Blaise scoffed, "just trying to help. Far be it from you to be thankful!"
Blaise stood up and walked to the door.
Draco called out to him with all his strength, "Thanks."
Blaise turned around as he reached the door, made eye contact, and gave a slight nod. He left the classroom and heard a hurling noise once he closed the door.
He was in a good mood, but not that good.
Blaise could hardly pay attention in potions class the following day. Not that he needed to. He'd already exceeded his classmates. He'd been studying dark potions and poisons ever since his mother married that wealthy potioneer who as obsessed with Zygmunt Budge.
That potioneer, whom he never bothered learning his name, taught him that the best way to make "the best poisons" is to know how to make all the antidotes. He died a few months after they married. Blaise quite liked that one.
In any case, he wasn't sure how he was expected to concentrate while Luna kept asking ridiculous questions about the ingredients and potions. Ridiculous, and cute.
"Yes Professor, I was wondering why we don't use thestral hair in any potions?"
"Ah Miss Lovegood," Professor Slughorn scratched his head, "one would have to get close to a thestral, gain it's trust, and face certain death."
"Why?"
"Because if one were to simply pluck a thestral hair, the creature will attack."
"But what would you be able to make with one?"
"The Elder Wand," Harry answered from the back of the classroom.
"Rightfully so, Mr. Potter!" Professor Slughorn gleefully tipped his hat to Harry.
Luna didn't turn around to see him, "I was asking about a potion, Harry Potter."
Blaise held back a laugh. Even though they were friendly, Luna was not charmed by Potter.
"Well, Miss Lovegood, I suppose we don't rightfully know." Professor Slughorn turned back to his cauldron to continue the lesson.
"Pity," Luna looked back down to her book.
"Blaise Zabini!" Luna said in a fright when he popped around the corner he had been waiting behind for a bit too long.
"Luna Lovegood," he smiled at her.
"Can I help you?" She smiled back.
"I think we can help each other," he turned to walk with her down the hallway. "You were asking a lot about using thestral hair in potions and I might just be the person who has answers for you."
Her face turned bright, "Really? Have you used them before?"
Blaise turned slightly red, "No, but I'm pretty good with potions…among other things." He smirked and pulled her into a nearby stairwell.
Luna giggled and kissed him.
As if by something stronger than magic Professor Slughorn awkwardly walked by clearing his throat, "Please. Uh, students. Go to class or something."
The pair laughed and quickly walked away.
"Do you want to do it now?" Luna asked eagerly.
Blaise was shocked, "Do what exactly?"
"Help me with my thestral question, of course."
He laughed, "Oh yes, of course."
Luna led him to the courtyard and towards the Forbidden Forest. He stopped suddenly and turned to the Quidditch Pitch. The Slytherin tryouts were about to start.
Luna looked back at him, "Do you need to be somewhere else?"
He turned back to her and grabbed her hand, "No. Let's go."