Chapter 6: The source of insanity

Blaise Zabini was not happy. Sure he was rich, powerful, feared, and had shockingly good looks that made him irresistible to women. But still Blaise Zabini just wasn't content, far from it actually. You are probably thinking: it's all Ginerva Weasley's fault that this gorgeous Italian boy's face held a frown but Blaise would tell you you're wrong. You see Blaise had already decided how he would proceed with that mess.

His problem was Draco Malfoy. Of course, it wasn't that they were fighting over a girl, over who was the better Quidditch player, nor was it over the design for their upcoming party. No, they were fighting over the fact if whether or not Blaise was in the right state of mind (if he was crazy), which just so happened to be a very delicate subject. I shall explain how it all began.

7 minutes earlier…

Draco Malfoy sat beside Blaise Zabini in the familiar garden setting in the wide and well-kept backyard of the Zabini Manor. A tree from above gave both boys the right amount of shade and the pond in front of them gave them something to set their eyes on. But the perfect scene was soon to be shattered as Blaise Zabini decided to come clean to his best friend.

"I've decided to ask Ginerva Weasley to marry me." He stated not once faltering or trying to explain his reasons to Draco. That was all he said and that was why Draco decided to respond.

"Are you serious?" Draco asked his tone as calm as his friend's had been earlier. You see, when your friend announces that they want to marry an enemy you just can't jump to conclusions.

"Yes. I'm going to try to convince her again at the party tonight. I have sent them all invitations. The Golden Trio I mean, she doesn't go anywhere without them." answered Blaise as he watched a bird take flight out of the pond and into the sky.

"Again?" questioned Draco softly trying to see the logic, "You mean you've asked her before, she's refused, and you still want to ask her again?" This was in no way said sarcastically but just curiously as Draco only used sarcasm against people he didn't like, Ginerva Weasley for example.

"That's correct." here Blaise paused, "she is trying to fight it but she still isn't over Potter so I can always use that to my advantage."

"Since you are both serious and have put much thought into this topic I have concluded that you are slightly mad, and when I say slightly I really mean very." Draco's tone had changed from calm and collected to a tone used to scold an insolent child.

"I'm not even the slightest bit mad, maybe now it would be a good time to explain that you have no idea what I am going through!" Blaise huffed his hand running through his hair, "I have a woman out to destroy my life, a soon to beunwilling fiancée, and a best mate who thinks I'm loony! Really, do you have no sympathy?"

"Shall I take you to St. Mungo's then?"

This statement was met by silence.

Back to the Present…

After explaining to Draco numerous times about his desperate situation and what drove him to ask Ginerva for help Draco still told Blaise that his plan would be impossible to continue. After many guilt trips and the repeated mantra of "I would do it for you!" Draco Malfoy reluctantly gave him and decided to do the most despicable, vile, and unimaginable thing that a rich pure-blood like himself could actually do.

He was going to talk to Hermione Granger, and was going to be nice.

Now Blaise was happier than he had been 7 minutes ago and in retrospect we can all agree that really it was all Ginerva Weasley's fault. Yes, for centuries to come, people all over the wizarding world will sadly say that Ginerva Weasley was the one to drive Blaise Zabini insane.

Draco Malfoy stood in the waiting room of Extremely Rare Potions and Their Creation and he paused to collect himself. He knew what he had to do, be nice to Granger. Give her invitations, when she laughs in his face and proclaims that is the last thing she wants to do with her Friday night he shall give her Ginny as an excuse to come, guilt trip her into saying that she can't leave her friend to mop around herflat all day, and finally hurry to the bathroom and wash his mouth out with soap as he had been taught to do if he ever spoke kindly to amudblood of any status in society.

Draco walked up slowly so he wouldn't alert his prey as she wrote something down into a notebook her brow furrowed and just when he was ready to go for the kill she spoke, "Do you need something Malfoy? Or do you just enjoy slowly creeping your way up to people's desks in an unnerving manner."

Draco counted to ten so his temper wouldn't blow before answering, "Terribly sorry, Hermione. I hope this won't lower your opinion about me."this said in an ashamed voice, she frowned suspiciously before replying.

"You have nothing to worry about Malfoy my opinion of you is at the lowest it can ever be."

Don't yell, or reply with a scathing remark, just breathe and think of the letter you'll send her when this is all over about what you really think about her.

"I have an invitation for you, from Blaise…Zabini. It's for you, Ginerva, Potter, and Weasley. He wants you all to come." Draco tried to put a hint of cheeriness into his voice but it came out a bit fake sounding.

"Really Malfoy we all have better things to do with our Friday nights. Tell Zabini thanks but no thanks." She said still writing in her notebook, her brow still furrowed.

"Blaise just feels really bad about how mean he was to Ginerva the other day. He thought we'd all be over our childhood rivalries by now and that since she broke up with Potter that maybe it would be good for her to get out, stoping moping around,andboost her confidence."

"With Harry there?" asked Hermione holding on to the one flaw in the plan that she could see.

"Inviting him will enable Ginerva to strut her stuff without looking like she's trying too hard. This is Blaise's way of saying sorry, and it will be good for her so you should bring her." Draco paused as if deep in thought, "You might not want to mention Potter though. She might not want to go if you tell her that."

"I'll think about it." said Hermione looking up and once their eyes connected Draco saw that he had already won her over. Mission accomplished.

He bid her goodbye and slowly walked out of the room, once he was outside the office door he sprinted to the bathroom and promptly washed his mouth out with soap. It was a good half hour before he left the building yet he still hadn't shook of the dirty feeling of having been nice to a mudblood. He pondered whether he would ever be the same again.

This chapter was put together by theme, tinkerbell-goddess. Go check out my other story if you liked this chapter (its Hermione/Draco though just encase you are against that pairing-called I'm not who you think i am oh and read fire-and-dust's stores which are equally awesome, same sentiments for giverva zabini). Hope you like it and review so that you will fill us(co-authors) with the ultimate joy!