Chapter 14

Zabini and Parkinson

(same day)

Pansy Parkinson stepped through the fireplace and stopped short when she saw all of us gathered around in the living room.

The girl's eyes took in everybody in the room before settling her gaze on Malfoy with a surprised look. I suddenly didn't want her here. Feeling the urge to hurt her startled me. The only thing that calmed me was that she was bleeding from her face and arm.

Blaise Zabini came in after her. His face almost made me gasp in shock. His face was dripping blood. One eye was closed shut since it had a gash running down from his eyebrow to his jaw. He staggered and would have fallen to the floor, but Nott grabbed him around the waist.

Mother inhaled sharply. Narissa paled at seeing the state of his face. Ginny transfigured the couch next to her into a small hospital bed. I waved my wand towards the cabinet by the door and a large black box floated towards me as I made my way towards Parkinson and Zabini.

Remus left us to pick up Teddy, and Ginny moved away from the four Slytherins and mother while Narcissa checked Parkinson over.

It said a lot about Parkinson's willingness to allow my mother to attend to her. A muggle.

The box floated near my hip as I lowered myself next to Zabini. He looked at me with his good eye and grinned, "Granger, nice seeing you here."

Ignoring the stiffening of the two bodies on either side of him, I brushed his hair to the side and lightly smacked him on his shoulder.

"Already causing trouble?" I asked as I opened the box and pulled out several phials. I handed him two blood-replenishing potions and pointed my hand at his face. "Evanesco."

I waited for the blood to vanish before adding dittany to the wound. It healed quickly, the potion doing most of the work.

I passed the box to mum so that she could help Narcissa with Pansy Parkinson. Ignoring the two imposing bodies near us, I spoke to Zabini and asked what everybody in the room wanted to know.

"What happened?"

Zabini sighed as his face lost the slight smile on it. His eyes became shadowed as he spoke. "I was visiting mother for a couple of days and was about to leave. But a large blast sounded in the foyer. I had asked mum to wait for me, but she didn't. I saw Dolohov and Rowle standing in the foyer with their wands out. They killed mother instantly."

He leaned towards me a bit, and I mentally prepared myself for his touch. His shoulder brushed mine, seeking comfort from me. I suppressed the surprise I felt once I realized I didn't need to prepare myself. His touch didn't make me want to move away.

I glanced at Ginny, who had automatically zeroed in on that small fact. She raised her eyebrow at me but didn't comment. Mother moved over to both of us and gave Zabini a light hug. Zabini soaked in her motherly love and seemed to sink into her.

"I hit Rowle with a curse, but then Dolohov caught me with his curse. I saw somebody else with them. They stood in the back, but I couldn't see them." he said as he brought mother down with us. I saw Parkinson get up, and Malfoy went to her.

I gritted my teeth and glanced back at Nott. He raised an eyebrow in question. But his eyes gave away his true thoughts on my reaction.

Bastard.

I was still staring at him when Parkinson began speaking. "Goyle contacted father this morning and asked if he could come. Mother had overheard them talking and came to get me. Once Goyle killed my father, the wards around the house dropped. Yaxley apparated inside with a greasy fat man named Fletcher. They killed my mother next. I fought all three of them when my elves came in and took me to the kitchens. The use of the killing curse in the house brought the Aurors to the house." Parkinson looked at Malfoy's face. Something like murderous intent flashed across my mind.

I knew I shouldn't feel this way, but there it was. I hated feeling like I could and would snap if Parkinson showed interest towards Malfoy.

Something must have shown on my face since Ginny looked at me again.

Shite, I needed to learn how to control this new side of me. Occluding wasn't helping. I got up slowly. I waved at the box with my wand and sent it back to the cabinet. I turned towards the fireplace to avoid looking at anybody.

Zabini spoke, "I told Bliss, my house elf, to get to the Ministry. I was seen by a Weasley, the scared one, who helped me without question. He called Potter and apparated me to Potter's location. Which was Pansy's house."

There was that name again. I was getting riled up for no apparent reason. I wanted to growl my anger or snap at them so they wouldn't utter her name again. I was acting pitiful while others in the room had just lost family. I rubbed my eyes and snapped them open when the fireplace opened. Remus stepped through with Teddy in his arms.

Teddy looked around with wide eyes before his eyes halted on me. A large smile appeared on his face. He wiggled in his father's arms as he turned his whole body in my direction.

I forgot everybody else in the room and headed straight for him. I passed Parkinson but didn't even look at her. Or at Malfoy. Or Nott.

Careful not to touch Remus, I picked up Teddy, who babbled into my ear quietly as he looked around me and towards the others in the room. He smelled like a baby should, and now my nose could pick up the smell of Andromeda and apple juice on Teddy's breath. He grabbed a loose curl and tugged it lightly. I smiled down at him as he cuddled up into my chest.

I looked up when the fireplace opened again and saw Harry come through, followed by Ron. Harry looked around and saw me near the armchair against the wall with Teddy in my arms. Both of them were understandably angry and worried.

Harry started talking to the others, asking hard questions.

Ron headed over to me.

Ignoring everybody else in the room, Ron looked down at me with dark eyes. He searched my face twice before grabbing my arm and taking me out of the room and near the stairs. I could see Kreacher near the end of the hall near the door. He gave us a nasty glare before disappearing into the family tree room.

I glanced down at Teddy, who was fighting his sleep, but I knew he wouldn't be able to hold out for long.

Rocking him back and forth as I waited for Ron to speak, I glanced back into the room and paused as I met Nott's eyes. He was staring at the child in my arms with a thoughtful look.

I looked away and gently patted Teddy on the back.

"The cottage is safe, there wasn't any damage, but we don't want you back there. At least until the Death Eaters are caught. I don't know how they found it, but it won't be smart to go back there. For now, stay here. Harry wants the others to stay here as well. Remus doesn't mind, and Ginny- she needs somebody here. Snape is staying but will be with us most of the time due to the Death Eaters." He stared down at me for a bit before sighing. "I'm still upset with you. Especially about earlier. What were you thinking?"

I ceased rocking Teddy, "I did what Harry or you would have done. The smart thing. They didn't know that I hadn't been alone. I was the distraction that you lot needed."

Ron gave me a frustrated glare, "I know that. I do. That doesn't make me any less angry or worried. Neither did Harry, who, by the way, is heading this way." I turned to look, and yes, Harry was heading straight to me. More like glaring.

Giving a huff that ruffled Teddy's hair, I braced for another mini-lecture.

(Hours later)

After escaping both hotheads, I headed straight to my old room near the library. My room was the only bedroom on the floor due to the size of the library.

It had two doors, one connecting to the library and the other into the hallway, aside from the bathroom door. I stayed there until Teddy woke up.

My mind needed the rest due to the past couple of days. Teddy's steady breathing helped to calm my nerves.

His nap didn't last long, and he was up within an hour. But it'd been enough time to settle my mind and feelings.

Now I brought him into the kitchen, which was empty, and fixed a bit of oatmeal. Sitting him in his high chair,

I was about to feed it to Teddy when a deep voice reached my ears.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Nott standing there with Draco right behind him. I could see Zabini's tall form following closely behind.

Zabini gave me a questioning look as he glanced from both men to me. I shrugged carelessly. Whatever was going on wasn't his business.

Teddy swiped the bowel and tried to bury his face in it. I reached for a spoon and saved the oatmeal from Teddy's colourful hair.

Teddy grinned and opened his mouth like a baby bird. I fed him and waited for somebody to talk.

"That was foolish of you, Granger."

I raised my hand at Nott, palm facing him, and made a stopping motion. "I already got this talk with my boys. I don't need to hear it again. Plus, Greyback's bite changed a lot of things. I'm not so helpless anymore. Even without a wand, I can defend myself."

None of them knew what I was capable of doing. Greyback's attack had taken me by surprise. Of course, I hadn't reacted in time.

That didn't change the fact that I was a powerful witch. One that didn't need lecturing like a child.

Stuff happened without warning. Nobody was safe.

Especially when hunting for wayward Death Eaters.

That didn't mean I didn't understand where they were coming from when it came to their feelings. If either of them had been in my place, I would be acting the same. That didn't make it right, regardless of who it was.

The personal tension I had with Nott and Draco was too new and too fast to be dealt with logically.

Teddy stuck his fingers in his mouth, eyes wide as he checked out Zabini's tall form.

I shook my head when Zabini made to talk.

Nott gave me a flat look as he leaned against the table across from me while Zabini came around the table and rubbed against my side.

Malfoy stiffened and glared at Zabini.

I wanted to smirk at that but subdued the need. I wasn't like that. This bite changed a few things about me.

The things it was bringing out of me were new and felt too fast.

An animal's blunt way of dealing with emotions and actions was what was happening to me.

Which Bill had warned me to look out for, but it was still jarring to confirm with myself.

I pushed Zabini away, and he laughed lightly. I didn't have to look closely to see that he was grieving. He just wasn't one to show it. It was easy to see that many of the men in my life dealt with their emotions the same way.

Zabini was just a new addition to those men.

I missed Malfoy's dark look and turned to make myself a late sandwich dinner. Zabini watched me for a bit before speaking, "I don't want a burial for my 'mother'. She wasn't much of a mum. I don't want to deal with it. Your mother has been more of a mom than mine ever was."

The tightly held emotions sounded like they were choking him. For all his smooth smiles and remarks, he was grieving for what could've been.

And not for the mother that just died.

Leaving my sandwich on the counter, I grabbed his hands, "Mother would love and hate to hear that. She doesn't like talking ill of the dead. That doesn't change what is true. I'll ask Harry to look into it later." Zabini gave me a small smile before turning to Teddy, who was trying to paint his face with his food.

But at least most of the oatmeal was gone. I couldn't tell who ate more, his hair or him.

"Since when have you two been so chummy?" asked Malfoy in a low but firm voice.

I turned to face him, "Not that it's any of your business, but he sent me a letter in July wanting to apologize. I met up with him to talk about things. He was never friendly with me and never really spoke to me, but that was expected of a Slytherin back then. I had invited him over, and Mother spoke with him about certain stuff. Iskra met him before since his mother tried to get with her father, " I said as I ignored the flash of disgust that flashed across Zabini's face.

Both remembered Iskra's detailed seduction failure that she'd witnessed first-hand.

Malfoy stared at me for a bit longer before turning away and leaving the room altogether. Nott didn't even look at Zabini before following him.

Exasperated, I pushed my uneaten sandwich away.

Zabini laughed loudly and almost made me jump out of my skin. I glared at him, "What?"

He shot me an amused look, "Since when have those two ever spoken to you like that? Are they stealing you away from me, Piccola?"

I growled at him.

"I'm not your's, pig."

"Is he trying to flirt with you again?" Iskra asked as she walked into the kitchen.

I walked over to her and scowled, "Where have you been?"

Iskra laughed as she moved around me and handed Teddy a lolly. "I met up with a contact in the next town. Death Eaters are looking to build upon members. I think that's the reason they attacked this one and wanted to know about the Malfoys for a different reason."

Zabini shot me a look as I leaned back against the counter. "I'm guessing they wanted Parkinson and Malfoy for the money since the Black Market was a bust since Greyback blew their cover."

Handing her the sandwich I hadn't even touched. Iskra smirked as she took a bite out of it.

Zabini cleared his voice, "So, why was Malfoy trying to murder a block? Nott didn't have the usual friendly look either."

Iskra chuckled as she took another bite, "I wanted to ask that too. I passed them just now both looked like they wanted to say a couple of not-so-nice things."

Zabini and Iskra both stared at me, waiting for an explanation. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

I was so tired. I needed a nap.

Preferably without more emotional slaps from Greyback's bite.

"I think I may have feelings for both Malfoy and Nott. I don't know how to deal with it. I didn't want to acknowledge it, but the bite changed something within me. It's harder to control my feelings. But around them, it's hard to. Living with them doesn't help," I sighed and slumped further onto the counter, eyes still closed, "Logically, I shouldn't like either one of them. Malfoy used to bully me in school. That hadn't lasted long, but that doesn't change what he did. He hasn't said anything to me since our fourth year. The only reason he noticed me was because of Harry."

I glanced at Teddy, who was nodding off into his bowl. I used my wand to clean his mess and then checked his baby blue hair was oatmeal free.

My mother came in and took one look at the child before taking him with a warm bottle of milk. I waited until she was gone before speaking again.

"Nott was a whole different matter. He never said anything against me. But neither did he speak up for me, which I knew he couldn't. He hides his emotions so well that it's a surprise whenever he does slip up. I never really spoke to him directly. I bumped into him several times over the years but never said a word."

Zabini shook his head with a wide grin. "Nott has always had a thing for you. He once said that he had never met a smarter person than you. He was the third smartest student at the school. The second one was Malfoy. He always got that fact thrown in his face by his father. He didn't like you at first for that."

I nodded, understanding too well what it was like, but not by my parents. I heard whispers around the school sometimes from other students and portraits alike.

It was hard not to hear about Lucius Malfoy's angry shouting and harsh words. Especially since the Malfoy Manor had just as many portraits. Everybody knew how much those portraits liked to gossip.

"I need to straighten this out with them. This tension will soon get noticed by Harry and Ron. I rather deal with this before they find out." I was almost out the door when Zabini spoke, "They are on the third floor. Everybody else is on the second floor. Except for Pansy."

Her name made my nails curl into claws. I wanted to hurt somebody. Preferably her.

It was irrational and uncalled for, but that's what I felt.

Even considering the circumstances of Parkinson staying wasn't enough to soothe my ruffled feelings. Or the fact that the girl was probably mourning.

I was coming to find just how territorial I was.