Title: The Firebrand Chronicles Book Two: After Dark
Summary: No one knew what awaited them upon returning to Hogwarts that year. No one expected a monster to attack the students, and certainly no one expected anyone to assume that Harry Potter was the party responsible. Blaise Zabini certainly didn't. This is his story. Book Two
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter any of its characters or events. They belong to J.K. Rowling
Author's Note: The third of the promised five.
Firebrand Chronicles
Book Two: After Dark
Chapter XIV
The morning of February fourteenth caused considerable confusion among the students as they entered the great hall to find it covered entirely in pink. Pink flowers lined the walls, pink table runners had been set out, and pink confetti was falling from the ceiling. Not surprisingly Lockhart's robes matched the decorations.
Fortunately I came in at the tail end of the man's longwinded speech just in time to hear something about dwarfs delivering valentines, and professors Snape and Flitwick humiliated. I never cared much for Valentine's Day myself, though my Mother loved it and I winced inwardly realizing that today would be especially hard for her. I decided to send her some flowers. Luckily for me keeping charms had been one of the first Flitwick had taught us during charms club. I was able to procure several roses from the school gardens and ensure they would last several weeks even after Mother had received them. I dispatched the dozen white roses to her by owl. White seemed appropriate if I understood the meaning of the colors correctly, red romantic love, pink admiration, yellow spoke of friendship and happiness, white, my personal favorite, spoke of purity, humility, and honor. It was also the color of remembrance. I meant the gesture to comfort her, and I later learned it had.
Classes that day were rather chaotic. Teachers became agitated as dwarfs popped in and out and sitting still became all but impossible. I didn't send or receive any though Draco did from a mysterious admirer who I was sure was Pansy.
Draco also managed to see Potter receive a sing-a-gram and the entire lunch table was treated to a rendition as Potter walked past. It was almost a relief when the day was over.
Term passed quickly from that point on. No one had been attacked in nearly four months, the mandrakes threw a party, and the Easter holidays approached far faster than anticipated. My genealogy research amounted to nothing, my observations lead to a list of Muggleborns, Muggle friends, and students who while not sympathetic were not capable of issuing an attack. That left a small list of others I did not know well enough and couldn't learn enough about to judge their character, and so I all but gave up.
Easter however brought something entirely new to worry about. It was time to choose our classes for next year. I kept my promise to grandfather and signed up for Muggle Studies. My affinity for numbers led me to sign up for arithmancy rather than care of magical creature like the rest of my male classmates, Theo very enthusiastically, choose, and my love for puzzles also led me to sign up for ancient ruins. One more then my friends, but considerably more manageable the Granger's schedule as I heard she had signed up for everything. But in the midst of the chaos we did have something to look forward to, Quidditch.
It wasn't long before the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match approached and the Slytherin team was still so steamed at their previous lose that I opted to spend the morning before the game in the library rather than listen to the constant complaining of my house mates. It was a constant speculation of what dirty tricks the Gryffindors would pull this time, and whether or not the Hufflepuffs were dense enough to fall for them. We needed Hufflepuff to win. If they didn't we'd be out of the running for the cup for sure. The silence of the library would be a pleasant relive from the incessant chatter of the Slytherin common room.
I could hear the crowds through the windows and I smiled thinking of the peace and quiet I was headed towards. True, I loved Quidditch, but I loved good Quidditch and with the present Hufflepuff team the game looked to be a sure thing, thus my lack of enthusiasm. As I walked I took Bandit's ball out of my pocket and with my asendere spell sent it whizzing along the corridor before me. I was paying so little attention knowing the rout by heart that as I rounded a corner a corridor away from the library I tripped headlong over something lying in the middle of the hall. It took me a moment to realize what it was that had caused me to stumble and when I did I could only stare horrified. Two girls, Granger and a Ravenclaw prefect who's name escaped me, lay unmoving and petrified in the against the wall I had rounded as if they had been peering around the corner minutes before. Had I been any earlier, coming from the direction I had, it would have been me lying there. The near escape only intensified the terror I was feeling at that moment. I scrambled backward until I hit the far wall. Panicking, mind racing. Potter had been blamed previously, but here I was, wand out pureblood of Slytherin house known associate of the sons of suspected Death Eaters, and my opinion on Muggleborns had been most likely made known ever since my conversation with Granger in the hospital wing. I didn't trust her to have the sense to keep something like that to herself, and as she was the one petrified . . . I had forgotten for the moment that Potter was also a parselmouth.
Pulling myself to my feet I took off running for the nearest stairwell. It never occurred to me to head to the library which was closer I had limited confidence in madam Pince's ability. No, the most logical person to tell was one of the Professors and that meant heading to the Quidditch match.
I had just reached the first floor corridor when I hear voices. "I'm sorry Severus" McGonagall's voice echoed, "but I cannot agree to reinstate Mr. Herring's Hogsmead privileges until he's proved he can behave while there!" I speed up to determined not to let them get too far away, rounded the corner meaning to call out and slammed into something the impact sending me sprawling backward into the floor. I rolled to my feet as Dr. Gertz had taught me and regained my balance to find Professor Snape looking rather shaken himself. What had felt like a brick wall had been his chest.
"Mr. Zabini what is the meaning of this?" McGonagall snapped "surely Quidditch . . ."
"Not Quidditch" I gasped. "Granger and Ravenclaw girl, Clear-something-or-other, near . . . near the library p . . Petrified!"
Professors Snape and McGonagall looked at each other and then sprinted past me, McGonagall ordering me to show them where. I ran with them, grateful Dr. Gertz had often made me run laps to build up my stamina and I was able to keep up
.
The scene was exactly as I had left it, both girls on the floor wide eyes shock painted across their faces and on the floor next to them was something I hadn't noticed earlier.
"Professor!" I pointed. Professor Snape swooped down and picked it up, the object that had caught my attention gleamed as it entered the light from a nearby torch.
"A mirror, Minerva." Face white with shock McGonagall visibly steeled herself.
"The match must be canceled. Safety measures must be taken. I'll see to it if you'll take them to Poppy."
"Very well" Snape looked at me. "Mr. Zabini, back to the common room."
"But-" I protested.
"NOW! Mr. Zabini."
McGonagall intervened. "Keep him with you Severus. I'd rather no student was left alone." He nodded conjuring stretchers under the girls as she left and I followed him to the hospital wing.
We all gathered around him in the common room later that day as Professor Snape read of the new regulations. "All Quidditch and evening activities will be canceled." That meant no more charms club, but that was the least of my worries at the moment. "All students will be escorted to lessons by a teacher. You will return to the dorms by 6pm and not leave after that time." I shifted around on the couch and Theo poked me in the ribs as I accidently stepped on his foot. "No student is to use the restrooms unaccompanied by a teacher."
"Well that could be awkward" Theo hissed. I didn't even crack a smile, I couldn't get the image of those two frozen girls out of my head.