Chapter 3: The Bet
For the next week, Blaise and Rashida both tried hard to avoid each other. For the most part, it was fairly easy. Rashida was with Ginny, Pansy, and Hermione doing bridal things, and Blaise was off with Draco, Ron and Harry doing groomsmen things.
The little times that they would interact, it would be a quick hello, or a joke or two. Nothing to have a full blown conversation over.
The day of the rehearsal dinner came, and while the wedding part of the rehearsal went through without a hitch, the reception part proved to be problematic very quickly.
Narcissa explained that the bride and groom would have the first dance, and after two minutes of the song had played, the groomsmen and bridesmaids would join in and dance as well. Days ago,unbeknownst to Blaise, it was agreed that Hermione would dance with him, and Rashida with Ron, to avoid any animosity. However, Ron seemed to have changed his mind.
"What do you mean you're dancing with me now?" said Hermione, very much confused.
"I just don't want to dance with Rashida anymore." said Ron. "No offense."
"Nome taken." laughed Rashida.
Hermione pulled Ron's tall frame down to ear level with her. "You know why we decided that you two would dance," she whispered harshly in his ear, " why are you changing your mind? Have you and Blaise talked?"
No, it's not that." said Ron, inwardly cringing. "I just want to dance with you."
"We have the whole reception to dance together, Ron. You're acting like Blaise is going to be my date or something. What's going on?"
"Hermione, please. Can we not argue about it? Please?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. She wasn't a fool.
"Fine. Whatever. But if something happens, it's on your head." said Hermione, pushing Ron back up.
Ron shot a look of death at Blaise, who simply shrugged.
"Are we sorted?" asked Narcissa, impatiently. "Now, everybody pair up so we can get this over with. Dinner will be starting in another two hours."
Rashida walked up to Blaise, trying not to melt at the smirk that he was giving her. He bowed in front of her and held out his hand. She put her hand in his, brought her other hand to his shoulder while he put his hand too comfortably on the small of her back, and music began.
The friends knew the steps, having watched Lucius and Narcissa do them the entire week before the rehearsal. Blaise and Rashida tried not to make eye contact as they waltzed around the small dancing space they were to stay in.
They danced silently the entire time, each one trying to think about the dance steps, and not that they were indeed dancing with each other. Rashida tried to keep focus on her footing while visions of when she used to hold onto Blaise's broad shoulders in a much different setting flooded her brain. Blaise was busy trying to control his lust filled thoughts as well, as his hand was at a place on Rashida's back that had been there many times before, in much more intimate circumstances.
After the dance was over, the two quickly parted ways to respectable sides of the room, their hearts pounding.
While they all went back the the rooms they were dressing in, Ron invaded Blaise's, his face determined.
"I'm telling Hermione." he said to Blaise in a non wavering tone.
"Are you mad?" exclaimed Blaise as he buttoned up his dress shirt. "She will ruin everything with her morals bullshit."
"It isn't bullshit, and she won't ruin anything. I just can't stand to lie to her. Especially when I shouldn't have to. I told you, you're not ruining my relationship with your problems, mate."
"You're right, you're right. Sorry. I was being selfish. You don't have to tell her anything, I'll just do this on my own." said Blaise as he sat down on the edge of the bed he was occupying.
Ron sighed. "I would help you mate, you know I would."
"You helped enough switching dance partners, Weasley."
"Did you two talk any?"
"No."
"And why not? You had her to where she would probably speak to you." said Ron, confused.
"I feel like tomorrow would be a better time to do it." said Blaise, putting on his tie. "More of a romantic setting if you will."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "You're really going to do this, aren't you?"
"Was there any doubt?"
"You do know Dean is going to be at this dinner, right?" said Ron.
"I know, and frankly I don't give a damn where he is. He's going to be at the wedding too, but guess who dances with her first? I don't need much. I've seen the way she looks at me. She doesn't want to get married." said Blaise, as he put on his shoes.
"To be completely honest, I don't think she wants to either." said Ron. "They got together back in October, and he proposed like in May."
Blaise stopped what he was doing. "It's fucking July."
"I know."
"So this is way too quick. Shida is not a girl for quickness, at least, she didn't used to be." said Blaise, sounding a bit worried.
Ron shrugged. "You really thought she would remain the same girl you met? We aren't 18 anymore, mate. We've all changed."
"I know her, Ron. She hasn't changed a bit." said Blaise, taking one last look in the mirror.
"But what if she has?"
"I have to at least try, don't I?" said Blaise, starting to get frustrated. "Can't I at least try?"
Ron sighed, but nodded. He knew Blaise's mind was made up. He wasn't about to try to convince him otherwise any further.
The rehearsal dinner was somewhat of a formal bore to the group. Narcissa had set up everything, and had droned on and on about how things were going to go the next day. She even put a curfew on the guys, stating that if they were going to have a stag night (Ginny had already had a girls night the weekend before), they were to either be in by 12 or have something at the Manor. Draco opted to just get wasted in the comfort of the Manor, as he knew that he probably wouldn't make it home by 12.
For the whole of the dinner, there was an unrecognized by everyone else tension between Blaise and Dean. Blaise had caught onto it the first time he had complimented Rashida on her attire, which was a deep purple gown that complimented her very well. For Rashida's sake, Blaise had shook Dean's hand, however, he felt as if his bones were crushed after the shake.
Throughout the dinner, Blaise felt Dean's eyes on him, and every now and then he would catch the man glaring at him when Rashida wasn't paying attention. Soon, Blaise had started purposely making Rashida laugh on occasion, just to see if it ruffled the Gryffindor's feathers. He was not disappointed, as every time Rashida chuckled, Dean looked as if he wanted to punch something.
Later on, when the girls had went their separate ways and the guys (adding on Theo Nott, Gregory Goyle, and Colin Creevey, whom Draco mildly tolerated for Ginny's sake)Dean decided to make a move.
"Zabini, a word?" he said as Blaise passed by him to go into Draco's parlor.
Blaise smirked and followed Dean to a balcony, where Dean pulled out a pack of muggle cigs.
"Fancy a fag, Zabini?" asked Dean, holding out the box towards Blaise.
"Hell no. Never touched the shit." said Blaise truthfully. "Hard to believe Shida lets you. She hates cigs from what I remember."
Dean stuck the cigarette in his mouth, lit the end of it with his wand, took a somewhat long drag, and then blew the smoke out into the night.
"Yeah, she doesn't like them. I smoke them when I'm not around her, out of respect." said Dean, flicking ashes over the balcony.
"Ah."
"Nice that you brought her up, Zabini. That's actually what I wanted to speak to you about."
"Really?" said Blaise in a sarcastic voice.
"As you can imagine." said Dean, smirking. "She told me how she invited you to our wedding next month."
"That she did. Kind of her, wasn't it?"
"Too kind, I'd say. But it is her wedding too of course."
"I'm sorry?"
"Let's be real about this." said Dean, taking another puff of the cig, then flicking the rest of it over the balcony. "I'm no fool. I've seen the way you look at her, Zabini. You fancy yourself still in love with her I gathered."
Blaise crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "So you Gryffs aren't blinded by pride to see the big picture."
"Well I love her too, just know that." grumbled Dean.
"Do you really? How the hell would you know? You haven't even been with a full year yet and you're getting married to her."
"I've fancied her since Hogwarts, I'll have you know." said Dean, standing up straight. "I had to sit back and watch her fawn over someone who didn't give a fuck about a witch."
"Correction: she never fawned over me." said Blaise. "If anything, I fawned over her. But that's neither here nor there."
"The point is, you didn't deserve her."
"Excuse me?" chuckled Blaise.
"You heard me, Zabini. You've been a fucking slag since you figured out what to do with a hard prick. Sticking it in everything that had a fucking vagina."
"Well I certainly didn't stick it in yours."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Got me fooled right now, Thomas. You're acting so much like a little bitch, that I have mistaken you for having a pussy."
"Fuck you."
"I'd rather fuck-"
"Don't say it!" said Dean, whipping out his wand, prompting Blaise to do the same.
"So, you're going to hex me for still wanting my ex? By all means, have at, Thomas. It won't change anything." said Blaise, pointing his wand at Dean's heart.
"I actually wanted to extend a proposition." said Dean, lowering his wand.
Blaise was confused as he lowered his wand. "Sorry?"
"Well you used to be a betting man, Zabini." sneered Dean. "Oh yeah. Rah told me all about the start of your relationship."
"And what of it?" asked Blaise.
"Care to make one? Regarding my fiancé?" asked Dean.
Blaise almost laughed. "You're serious?"
"As a heart attack, mate." said Dean. "I bet you that you can't convince Rashida to leave me and be with you by the time the minister says 'you may kiss the bride'."
Blaise was stunned. "You're really serious about this. Are you really giving me the chance to seduce your fiancé?" he asked, dumbstruck.
"Are you saying you can't do it?"
Blaise scoffed. "Hell no. But, Rashida wouldn't like it."
"She doesn't have to know."
"Bullshit, you'll tell her."
"No I won't. I'll be too busy watching you scrub the egg off your face when she rejects your dumbass."
Blaise thought about it. Clearly Dean was trying to play hardball, but was going about it all wrong.
"Conditions?" asked Blaise.
"If you win, of course you'll get what you wanted and you won't have to worry about me interfering in your relationship."
"And if I lose?"
Dean gave Blaise a dark smile. "If you lose, you leave here and never contact Rashida in any way, shape or form for the rest of your life."
Blaise shook his head immediately. "Hell no, not agreeing. I'm not cutting off my friendship because you're an intimidated little bitch."
"You'd be doing that anyways trying to force a woman to love you again, so you might as well. Besides, you got her with the first bet you made, who knows? You may get her with this one as well." said Dean, smirking as if the situation was laughable.
"I'm not doing it, and you can kiss my ass." said Blaise as he stormed off the balcony, with Dean looking on, eyes saying 'oh yes you will.".