Blair POV
The summer holidays had been long too long, I waned to be back at school, learning more than ever. My home felt like a cage, we hadn't really been anywhere since I had arrived home at Beauxbatons. The ministry had admitted the return of the dark lord after Harry Potter and his friends had fought some sort of battle with his followers at the ministry of magic. Cornelius fudge had been replaced as minister of magic by Rufus Scrimgeor, the wizarding world was in a sort of panic that was being placated by the ministry. My parents refused to answer any of my questions about the matter, it seemed like my mother was trying to pretend nothing was happening and Blaise was following her lead. My father was gone almost constantly and for some reason Draco hadn't been to visit Blaise. I could tell Blaise was worried about his friend and yet he would only ever say that the Malfoy's were on holiday and that's why he wasn't around. Mother wouldn't speak of it either, though I could have sworn I saw Narcissa crying in my father's study before the door was shut in my face. Things were weirder than ever and I longed to be at Hogwarts to have freedom again. It was finally the day before I started at the Hogwarts and I was beyond anxious to be there already. Mother had mentioned that today we were hosting many of our closest pureblood friends as a way to relieve tensions it seemed.
"BLAIR! Are you quite done yet?" my mother yelled from outside my bathroom door.
"Mum I'll be right out." I called back sighing, adjusting my hair in the mirror knowing that if it wasn't perfect for this party she would not be happy and I would end up right back in there to fix it again
"Blair, I have invited over the most prestigious of our friends, all great slytherins they can share with you their experiences like Blaise." She told me calmly gazing over my attire.
"But it's just school mother, I've been to school" I said shaking my hair slightly and moving out into the room to find the shoes my mother had picked out for me.
"Well I wanted you to know a little bit about Hogwarts and seeing as you haven't been before, all their children will be there, they will be your friends in slytherin." She finished, the whole idea seemed interesting but not something I was super excited about, I wanted to ask about what would happen if i wasn't a slytherin but thought better of it.
"Fine, Fine, When does this thing start?" I asked finally pulling on the tall black heels she had picked to match the black dress that she had also picked out for the evening.
"In five minutes." She replied the answer shocked me, I hadn't realized how long it had taken for her to be satisfied with my hair. Without waiting for any response from me she then exited the door, moments after her departure the door bell sounded and my mothers voice drifted up to my room.
"Welcome Narcissa, Lucius, Draco." I imagined the exchange of courtesy hugs as they greeted and entered the manor, these things were ever so predicatble. Sighing I flipped the light off to my room and followed my mothers example and descended the stairs to greet the Malfoys, Draco stood at the bottom staring at me, he seemed paler than the last time I had seen him.
"How nice to see you Rose, Cassius, Pansy dear, Welcome." The scene was just as I had imagined and I smiled widely, my mother was a wonderful hostess, and the next family moved into the foyer.
"Ambrosia, Malcolm, Astoria, Daphne, wonderful that you could make it." Blaize and my father appeared at this moment Blaise began chatting with Pansy and the girls, it had been years since I had really been around these families, I had been away at school most of the time. As I watched Astoria moved immediately to Draco and took his arm in hers, the action puzzled me but I disregarded the fact and faced my mother.
"No need to stand here, let's move on to the parlor." My father boomed smiling at us all and leading the way, as we walked I lagged behind and Blaise pulled back toward me.
"What's wrong?" he asked discretely, questioning written across his face.
"Nothing, I just don't know any of these people, it is just awkward." I replied not wanting to admit it, we were not supposed to be anything but elegant, graceful and social.
"Well Pansy will no doubt be a good friend, Astoria is has an ego bigger than Draco's and is a snob. Daphne is nice, she's younger and hasn't been around as much though." He whispered I was thankful for the tips as we moved into the parlor every one seating themselves around the rooms. The ballroom was decorated beautifully guest, food and music abounded in the room, and I knew my mother was no doubt thrilled with the turn out.
"Sweetheart, I always knew that you would be attending Hogwarts." my mother said, coming up and holding me at arms length. You look so beautiful."
"Thanks mum." I said smiling, she patted my cheek softly once before going off to chat with other guests. Blaise and Draco were chatting with those our age in a corner of the room, I recognized them, but there wasn't a closeness as I hadn't been to school with any of them and so I instead skirted around listening to the adults exchange pleasantries and stories. Everyone in the room I knew had been a Slytherin during their time at Hogwarts, I wish that there was more diversity so I could hear stories from the other houses. Time wore on and more food was brought out the adults sipping on wine. From a distance I saw Astoria pull Draco to the dance floor where a few couples were slow dancing to the music, he had great form, no doubt from his mother's training.
"Blair darling what do you think?" my mother asked finally after a long time of me hiding behind plants and avoiding socializing in general, most of these people made me feel uncomfortable.
"Its been lovely mum." I said slowly trying to force a tone of excitement that I didn't feel.
"Don't lie, I've seen you over here hiding." My mother said knowingly pulling my arm and leading me along over toward Blaise and Draco, I attempted to pull back but was completely unsuccessful.
"Its so lovely to see you again Pansy." My mother said sweetly interrupting conversation, I stood feeling beyond awkward holding my left arm loosely trying to appear less uncomfortable than I felt.
"Mrs. Zabini, your party is wonderful." Pansy replied politely tucking her dark black hair behind her ear.
"Blaise keep and eye on your sister will you." my mother said, and I internally cringed it made me sound so childlike.
"Mum, I'm fine." I hissed under my breath.
"Sit down Blair, we won't bite." Blaise said and I wanted to punch him.
"It's good to see you Blair." Draco said coming back with Astoria from the dance floor and my mother slipped away.
"So you're coming to Hogwarts now?" Pansy asked giving me some attention while everyone else continued their conversations.
"Yeah, after the whole attack, and everything this summer, it just makes sense." I said slowly.
"Don't worry it will be great, you'll love it. We're all friends and so it will be fun." Blaise said, and it was somewhat reassuring to know that he would be there. Conversations continued and I stood among them simply listening and trying to figure out the dynamics between everyone.
"Well aren't they just too cute." Pansy said sarcastically gesturing towards Draco and Astoria, her tone made me want to laugh.
"She seems a bit clingy." I said with a laugh, watching as Astoria made sure she was touching Draco in some way constantly.
"That's an understatement." Pansy replied.
"Let's pretend Draco doesn't love that she's falling all over him, he probably fancies himself more than she does." I said mocking him, Blaise burst into laughter alongside Pansy causing the rest of the group to look over. Eventually Draco shook himself free of Astoria for a moment and came over towards us he had an almost annoyed look on his face.
"Thanks for helping a mate out Blaise." Draco said lowly, Blaise only laughed prompting Draco to hit him in the arm.
"Oh come of it Draco, we all know you love that she does that." Pansy said with a laugh.
"Don't forget when you use to do that same Pans." Draco said mocking her, and I vaguely remembered Blaise talking of Pansy and Draco.
"Years ago Draco, I have much better taste now." Pansy finished, and I snorted at her words.
"She's coming now." Blaise said and I looked back over Draco's shoulder and saw Astoria coming towards us quickly.
"Blair would you like to dance? Great!" Draco said quickly not even waiting for a response he grabbed my hand and pulled me off onto the dance floor. Blaise and Pansy's laughter followed us there, along with an indignant huff from Astoria.
"You're ridiculous Draco Malfoy." I said shaking my head at him as he pulled me into dancing position. I was impressed at the strength in his arms and the confidence of his lead. He looked handsome tonight, I had to admit that, the way his blonde hair had been styled and yet almost flawlessly messy at the same time, his hair shorter and his strong jawline.
"And you're too uptight." he said causing me to raise an eyebrow at him, and we continued the dance in silence. When the dance finished my father thanked everyone for coming and we all went to see everyone off out the door. At the end of the festivities, there was a weird sort of feeling that abounded, the carefree night seemed to vanish instead being replace by heavy tension. Draco exchanged a few hushed words with Blaise and Narcissa gave my mother an almost pained look. I couldn't wait for the next day, to be back at school, to have the freedom that had been missing and perhaps even the answers that I had been looking for. In twenty four hours I would be sorted into a house at Hogwarts and I was excited to see what the next year had in store.