Breakfast was a peaceful thirty minutes. Belay had helped himself to a jelly donut—one of the few things muggles had done right—and all the other first years seemed to be getting along quite well. Nott seemed to have settled for ignoring him and Flint wouldn't even look him in the eye. Belay received a letter from his father telling him that he was in Mongolia and neither owls nor snakes would be able to reach him for a while. When the bell rang he crammed the not into his bag, as did Draco with his care package and a note from his parents. The blonde's pale face should have been a warning enough that the day would not be the best.
Draco escorted him everywhere, not leaving him on his own for a moment and Belay assumed it was because of the day before. However, he certainly did not enjoy having his friend cling to him every waking moment. It irked him that Blaise stuck by his side as well though neither of them spoke too much. It wasn't until Charms class that Belay had the chance to get away from them and consult Neville about the night before.
"Everyone get into the pairs you were assigned first class, come see me if you've forgotten," Potter instructed. "We'll be working on changing each others skin color today."
Belay and Neville moved into a desk in the back corner of the room, far away from the rest of the class, and began to whisper. "Why do you think it was in the school?" Neville asked a bit nervously.
"I don't know," Belay replied. "But that nut of a Headmaster must be hiding something." The Gryffindor boy looked at him questioningly. "It isn't just muggle myths, you know. An incredibly large cerberus did guard the gates of Hell—It was city of ghost though, and the three headed dog was to keep anyone alive out, not the ghosts in."
"Through out history the cerberus has been used to guard the most important places and objects; there's got to be something pretty valuable in that room for Dumbledore to have kept it safe with such a creature."
Potter glanced at them and Belay caught her deepening scowl. "We better do a little practice," he said and pointed his wand at Neville. "Coloris Roseum!" Neville leapt from his seat as he turned a bright, Gryffindor red—hair and all. He looked down at his uninjured hand and wiggled his fingers in shock. He giggled a bit and pointed his wand at Belay. "Coloris-"
Draco leapt across the room in front of Belay, nearly snarling. "There's no way I'd ever let you, Longbottom, point your wand at Belay!" Potter stormed over to them and the entire class watching as she grabbed Draco's wrist—a look of fury over her face and her eyes dangerous—and dragged him out of the room. "Granger!" she called over her shoulder and Hermione snapped out of the trance that she and the rest of the class had been drawn into. "You are in control of the class until I get back, got it!" The girl stuttered a 'yes' but Potter was long gone.
Belay looked back to Neville and saw large tears brimming in his eyes. "Don't listen Draco, Neville!" Belay said as comfortingly as he could with the rest of the class still watching the,. "Draco's just being a prat, don't get upset!" But it was too late for that, and Neville sunk deeper into his chair, trying to hide his flushed face.
Turning to the rest of the class, Belay hissed, "What are you all looking at! Get back to your work!" Hermione seemed about to oppose this, undoubtedly planning on saying that they shouldn't perform any magic without a teacher, but glancing at Neville one last time she backed off.
Blaise abandoned Parkinson and came over to where Belay had started rubbing Neville's back. Apparently, the frustration that was nearing the surface of his heart was evident in his eyes as Blaise recoiled when he looked at the red spheres. "What's Draco's problem!?" He nearly snarled and Neville's sniffles had slowly turned into quiet sobbing. "Why won't he leave Neville alone?" Blaise shifted uncomfortable.
"Draco's grown up being taught that the Longbottom's are blood traitor's," he mumbled. "His dad, you met him this summer right? Well, he's a bit…" Blaise paused.
"Conceited, arrogant, self-important?" Belay offered snidely and Blaise nodded reluctantly. "Well he's either going to have to get over it or give up our friendship." It sounded cruel when said aloud but the truth was often hard to accept. Neville peered at him with wide eyes, not believing someone was truly standing up for him. "I won't be friends with an arse." Blaise's eyes bugged out after a moment began to snicker. "What?" Belay asked irately.
"You swore!" Blaise chortled. "You swore in public!" Belay frowned deeply at his confidant but shrugged.
By the time Potter and Draco returned, Neville had calmed down and Belay had coaxed him into turning him a lovely shad of green. They had already reverted their skin and hair back to normal and Blaise had returned to his partner when the teacher and student swept back into the classroom. Draco was red faced and looked like he was going to cry now. Belay sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. It was only their second class too.
When the bell rang, Belay was the first out of the room; unsure of whether he wanted to beat Draco over the head for making him angry again or comfort him. He chose to do neither. Daphne sat beside him at the Slytherin table for lunch and he had made sure to take an end seat. "Draco's really losing it," his friend said as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "He hasn't acted so silly since we were eight and he wanted to play in the mud."
Belay fought the smile that crept onto his face at the mental image that was forming but he had to agree. Draco was acting silly—no, absolutely ridiculous and Belay would have to tell him that instead of running away from him.
Blaise and Draco entered the Great Hall then, the blonde's eyes red rimmed and Blaise hissing quietly at him. The blonde was staring at the ground and seemed to be trying to hide behind his bangs as they moved to the table. Blaise snapped his mouth shut as he noticed Belay and quickly stole a seat nearby him. Draco situated himself on the bench and went about filling his plate, refusing to look at anyone—least of all Belay.
Getting fed up with the tense pocket of silence around him, Belay abandoned his food and left the hall in a bit of a rush. He stormed down the corridor to the Slytherin's dorms with a deep, angry scowl marring his otherwise flawless face. Why did Draco always have to get upset? Belay was the one who she be looking like a betrayed puppy, or at least Neville seeing as he was the real victim in the whole situation. Draco, as the instigator, should have been looking guilty, not beaten and depressed.
Belay's fast pace left him a little out of breath by the time he reached the portrait hole and he stood there for a moment to catch his breath. The sound of pounding footsteps reached his ears and Draco slid around the corner and into sight. "Belay," he gasped. "Belay, I'm sorry, I really am! I just don't want Longbottom to accidentally curse you or something-"
Belay threw his arms up into the air. "Get OVER yourself already!" he snarled. "Neville was not going to accidentally curse me and even if he did I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, or have you forgotten about Nott?"
Draco paled instantly and gave a shudder of remembrance but Belay wasn't at all bothered by it. "This is so stupid! You've managed to make me want to sock you in the gut twice in one week, and I don't get angry Draco! I just don't! I've never been so…so…so furious at someone in my life!"
'It's true,' he thought. 'But it's also true that I've never been around people for so long.' A sudden throb in his chest made him ache for home, the castle he used to call grungy and boring. Only now it he sorely missed the comforting flicker of the fire in his room and the sitting area his father and he used to sit in and enjoy one another's company until the time came for Lord Voldemort to hit the road again.
Draco now stood before him looking beaten down and miserable. Belay sorely wished he could just let it go but it was too soon and he knew his friend needed to realize that he wouldn't just let him be a prick. "Stay away from me Draco," Belay bit out. "I don't want to talk to you until you've realized that you were wrong to be so mean to Neville. I can't be friends with a bully."
Without looking to see Draco's reaction, he turned around and entered through the portrait hole to the Slytherin common room. He retrieved his bag from the dorm and started to write his Herbology report that would be due next Thursday.
The rest of the week was quiet, Draco avoiding Belay as he had been told and Blaise seemed torn between his two friends. While he had obviously known Draco longer he had sworn to be Belay's right hand man and to betray that so easily would be detrimental for his future. Any Slytherin would choose to think ahead rather than to think back.
So Draco had been ostracized. Crabbe and Goyle were too closely knit to provide him company and he had refused Nott's over eagerness to become allies against the 'Poncey Riddle'. So, he was on his own. Classes had been long and lonely, homework difficult and unrewarding, and his sleep hard to attain.
The first month of school had passed, and while he still hadn't spoken so much as a word to Belay, he had taken up the hobby of following him at a distance in the halls. His frosty expression and rigid posture reflected his father's teachings and Belay began to feel a bit self conscious about his own pureblood teachings. He made sure to do the Riddle's proud after the first week of Draco's transformation.
In the meantime, Neville had improved his spell work exponentially. His only downfall was Potions as Professor Snape had succeeded in frightening the to tears and it was all he could do to stop his hands from shaking during the class.
When the top students were posted on the bulletin board in the Slytherin common room, it was unsurprising that Belay was number one of his year, followed by Granger and Draco had managed to scrounge up fifth place. It was with a wince that the young Riddle realized that the boy's father would undoubtedly be furious that he'd fallen behind a muggleborn; Lucius would likely give him a lecture over the Winter Break.
It was on the first Friday of October that Draco finally approached Belay. He had just seated himself up front for Transfiguration and he was surprised that Blaise opted to sit besid Pansy rather than him. Of course, he realized what was going on the moment Draco took the empty spot.
They sat in silence while the room filled and the blonde spent several minutes fiddling with his quill as he gathered the courage to speak to Belay, who twirled his hair around a finger and pretended not to notice him.
"I," Draco started, biting his lip. "I'm sorry Belay." Peering through one slitted eye, Belay stared at him and he choked out the rest. "For being rude to Longbotttom."
"And?"
Draco frowned. "And, what?" Belay huffed in irritation.
"And what are you going to do about this little situation?" Draco's confusion didn't dissipate. "How are you going to prevent this from happening again?"
"Well I…" Draco hesitated and Belay glared daggers at him. "I…I'll trust your choices and decisions. From now on, I swear."
It wasn't quite what he'd been hoping for but Belay thought Draco had gone through enough. "Very well," he sniffed. "Make sure you don't do stuff like that again or I won't forgive you Draco." He didn't need to look at him for Draco to know the other boy still had a viscous coldness in his eyes.
The blonde nodded and turned forward as the teacher came in. McGonagall walked up to her desk while levitating a squeaking box onto its surface.
"We'll be trying something new today," she sxplained. "I would like you all to change these mice," she opened the box and lifted a black and white spotted mouse out by the tail. "Into a color of your choice. I expect all of you to manage the spell the end of the class. You are to use the same incantation that we've been using and merely keep the color in mind while performing the wand movements. I want you all to work on your own today."
The class all scurried to get their mice, and Draco managed to get a hold of a healthy one. Across the room he could hear Weasley grumbling about how he should have brought his rodent with him rather than get stuck with the pile of bones that he had been saddled with.
"How am I going to know if the bloody spell works," the red-head said, scowling to his friend. "There's barely got any fur as it is…"
"You're turning the whole mice a different color, Ronald," Granger piped up, sounding ready to start a lecture. "The fur isn't the only part you're changing."
"Of course," Ron bit back. "Why don't you work on you own mouse, know-it-all." The girl looked hurt and Zaniel turned a stern eye on his friend. "Ron," he said darkly. "That's not fair, she's only trying to help you."
Weasley snorted. "McGonagall said we can't work together anyway so what does it matter?"
"Ron," Zaniel growled warningly, eyes flashing—was that gold? No, Draco corrected himself. It must have been a trick of the light.
Weasley flinched, realizing he had angered his best mate and quickly apologized to both Granger and Zaniel. The blonde Gryffindor's sour expression melted off his face like butter as a warm smile broke through the gloom. In minutes, the two were chummy as ever.
A prod to his side startled him out of his observations and he swung his head around to see Belay grinning mischievously at him. A blush rose on his face and he realized all was forgiven. "Look at this Draco," Belay whispered in a chirpy voice and pointed to his mouse. Draco bit back a laugh as he realized the once dark brown mouse had been turned a pale blonde like his own hair.
It was only as Belay turned his head and went back to working with the spell that Draco realized how similar he and his friends were to that Gryffindor trio across the room.
Belay lay on his bed the next day, Peru coiled on his stomach and his Charms text in his hands. He absently sucked on a blood pop he had saved from the trolley on the Hogwarts Express and turned another page of the book. It had been pleasant weekend, all of the third years and older had gone to Hogsmeade for both days, leaving the second years to feel they had a duty take control of the couches in the common room. Not that Belay cared, he preferred the quieter and much more private dorms to the common room any day.
Draco and Blaise had gone off to the library to do their History report that was due the next day, Draco complaining that there was no point in doing it seeing as Binns was too dead to bother grading them.
"Well," Belay had said matter-of-fact-ly. "If he was too dead to grade them, he'd be too dead to assign them, now wouldn't he?" Blaise had dragged the stunned boy out before he could come up with a good response, leaving Belay all by his lonesome self.
Well, not so lonesome. Nott was curled up in his bed, sleeping in. Belay kept a wary on him anyway,
Peru lifted his head and flicked his forked tongue. (Nagini, Master.) He hissed to Belay. (Shall I meet her?)
(How far away is she?) Belay asked with a frown.
(I'd guess just by the edge of the forest, Master) Peru answered.
(I'll go then.) Belay stood and waited for Peru to curl up his arm. With a suspicious glance at Nott's snoring form on the other end of the dorm, Belay left and climbed up the spiral staircase.
As he passed the second year boys, Malcolm Ducely watched him out of the corner of his eye dazedly. He flexed his few muscles subtly and straightened his posture before sending him a toothy grin. Belay rolled his eyes and continued out the portrait hole.
Most of the students here were easy to get the hang of. His fear of being raped had long since been relieved as each new threat posed less danger than the last. He had taken to show aggression in small bursts, hardly noticeable but one's instincts would catch on keep the humans away. Ducely would likely stay far away from him before winter vacation rolled around.
"Now where's Nagini," he muttered to himself.
Standing outside the double doors of the castle, he scanned the grounds for any sign of movement. He saw none but a hiss reached his ears. Following it toward the lake, he found Nagini slithering around the tree he and his friends had frequented before the cooler weather had settled in.
Speaking of cooler weather, he wished he'd grabbed a cloak before storming out of the castle.
(Nigini) He hissed pleasantly. (Father sent you?)
(Yes) she replied tiredly. (May I stay here for rest? Master has moved to a greater distance and I am weak)
(Sure) Belay replied and pet her between the eyes. She hissed happily.
Belay removed the scroll tied to her belly and let her curl around his body for warmth. Unrolling the parchment, he read what his father had to say.
Dear son,
I applaud you for your fabulous grades,
Belay felt a rising pride swell inside him, overjoyed that he'd earned his father's approval yet again.
and I expect you to maintain them. I have a special gift coming for your birthday, but you'll have to keep out of trouble and no slacking on you homework.
Lucius tells me his son wasn't doing quite so well in his classes as he'd like, why don't you tutor him some?
Your Loving Father.
Belay was frowning by the end. That was a hidden message if he ever read one. The special gift surely wasn't what he'd been warned about earlier this year, surely it was too soon for whatever he had planned involving Professor Snape.
He knew what his 'homework' was, no doubt about that. He'd been sent to Hogwarrts to rattle Dumbledore but there was more to it than that. He was to observe the activities of the Headmaster and his staff. Proffessor Snape was a double agent, and could only be trusted so much with his information. Belay was there to validate what he could and keep an eye on the Potions Master.
Nagini shifted closer to him as a particularly cool breeze swept over them and Belay shivered, remembering where he was.
(Will you be alright, Nagini?) He asked the snake.
(Yes young Master.) She replied. (I'll catch a few rodents in the forest.)
(Do you know where father is right now?) The snake hissed what sounded like a chuckle.
(I cannot tell you that, young Master. You know this.)
Belay nodded sadly and gave her another pet before sending her off, his father's letter scrunched in his hand. He set it on the ground and made it burn.
"Where were you?"
Belay had just snuck into the dorms, having slipped past the students who had come back from Hogsmeade since his leaving, when his two friends affronted him. He noted that Nott was gone and quickly roved his eyes over his bedding area to make sure there weren't any alterations.
"Outside."
Draco scoffed and grabbed one of his hands. "Without a cloak? I can't leave you alone for a minute!"
"two hours, actually," Blaise piped up from atop his bed. "But aside from Belay being incapable of taking proper care of himself-" the incubus made a noise of protest."-we need to get to dinner. I heard Dumbledore's got a big announcement."
That caught Belay's attention. "About what?"
"Not a clue, all the older years looked like they knew something too. Wouldn't tell us anything though."
"They said we'd just have to find out for ourselves."
"Well then," Belay began. "Shouldn't we hurry up then? We've got about five minutes to get to the Great Hall and you know how everyone tends to get the idea to leave at the same time."
"Yes, yes," Blaise mumbled and stood. Just let me take this bloody tie off. Absolutely ridiculous making us wear it."
"I know, honestly," Draco agreed. "Only a muggle would want to ready a noose around their neck."
"They aren't the most intelligent," Belay quietly added. "My father took me to Paris once, on business," he added quickly as they both rose a brow at him. "We had to portkey into a muggle street first and I saw these awful things. Father called them shoes but I don't think I can believe him. He called them stiltos."
Blaise looked thoughtful for a moment. "I think it's stilettos, Belay," he snickered. Draco snorted into his sleeve.
"Where were you two that you saw those!" Belay crunched up his nose and tilted his head.
"What? What are they?" He scowled as his friends just continued to laugh at him. "Seriously! What are they?"
"If they're anything like you, they're late."
The three jumped as Flint glared at them in the doorway. "Hurry it up! Professor Snape said everyone had to be in the Great Hall for dinner tonight and it's my head if you aren't there."
Well, they certainty would want that.
The burly boy led them out into the hall and kept a fast pace. None of them wanted to risk his ire so they had to run after him the whole way. They were the last to arrive and had to take seats near the center of the table, noticing it was bereft of any food.
"Good evening, everyone," Dumbledore began, arms wide and welcoming as they were when they first got sorted. "Before your meals I have a grand announcement to make." It was now that most of the upper years whooped and hooted, leaving all the first years lost and confused. Glancing across the room at the Gryffindor table however, Belay saw that Zaniel seemed pretty smug about something as well.
"Now, now, students," the old man chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if you all spoiled the surprise."
"Every year, Hogwarts hosts a Masquerade ball for all years." Draco spun on Belay and looked giddy with excitement, Belay was almost afraid the boy would wet himself. "As it has been for every year, I ask for you all to respect the age range and refrain from public displays." Here, he flushed a pink and coughed into his fist pleasantly. "Such as those that were projected last year."
"I believe you know who you are."
The Weasley twins high-fived and looked proud of themselves as most of the Gryffindor house cracked up.
"The only requirements are to have a mask and costume, and to have as much fun as at all possible!" McGonagall gave the headmaster a stern look and cleared her throat. "Ah, yes. Do remember that school rules are to be abided and to keep things safe. The Heads of Houses, and any other teacher who wishes to come, as well as myself will be attending to keep you all from having a little too much fun, I'm afraid."
"Next Saturday all students who desire to will accompany their heads of houses to Hogsmeade and purchase what materials they need. And now," Dumbledore clapped his hands and the tables were landened with dinner. "Enjoy your meals!"
"A Masquerade!" Draco said as he nearly bounced in his seat. "This will be great! Father had be thinking that first years never got to do anything!"
"It seems like it will be interesting," Belay conceded with much less enthusiasm. The only masquerade he had been to was that time in Paris he'd mentioned earlier. It had been the only time he wished he wasn't stuck with his father.
"Oh, lighten up, Bel!" Blaise said cheerfully. "Masquerades aren't nearly so stuffy as they'd seem when you're with friends." He looked up from his potato to see both Belay and Draco staring at him. "What?"
"Bel!" Draco hissed. "Where on earth did you come up with that?" Blaise flushed.
"I figured it was just simpler."
"Okay, sure. Whatever keeps you happy Blaise," Belay said, turning back to his vegetables and pushing them around boredly. It was so bland…
"Good."
Draco rolled his eyes and asked, "What do you guys want to dress up as?"
"I don't know," Blasie replied and tapped his chin. "Something simple, I guess."
"Me too."
"Oh, come on!"
"Why bother," Belay asked. "It's just going to be a bunch of stupid kids running around in masks." Draco spluttered indignantly.
"It is not! This is perfect training for the future! My father says I need to be prepared for any type of social event. He and Mother go to as many as they can to keep up relations."
That made sense, Belay supposed. But…
"Does that mean I'll…" His friends both nodded and Belay groaned. "Bloody brilliant."
"I know," Draco chirped, grinning ear to ear. "Isn't it?"
"Stick close," Professor Snape hissed at them, sallow face knotted together in a scowl. "I will not be held responsible if you get lost but I will be taking roll call when we get back—anyone who's missing drops a letter grad in Potions this term."
Several older years groaned and the Potion's Master turned on them. "You should have gotten your thing last Hogsmeade weekend!" They all winced and looked a bit embarrassed.
Daphne joined Belay, Draco and Blaise on their walk out of the castle, claiming that, "That bint, Parkinson," was too much to stand. They'd clearly gotten into another fight and Belay couldn't help but feel that they might be perfect for one another—he bit back a smirk as he the blonde girl shouted hissed something at Daphne—or not…
Belay was glad to have wrapped himself up in a warm cloak and had his Slytherin scarf tied around his face. When they got outside it was to be hit by a tremendous gust of wind that nearly knocked one of the smaller second year girls off her feet.
The Slytherin band trooped toward Hogsmeade slowly and steadily as the slope down to the school gates was wet and slippery from the weeks-worth of rain they had gotten. It gave Belay plenty of time to get his first real look at Hogsmeade. The village was quaint, calming really. He wondered what would happen to it when his father captured Hogwarts…maybe he could convince him to keep it the way it was.
Obnoxious laughter reached his ears and when he turned Belay realized that the McGonagall was leading her merry band of misfits out of the castle after them and the Weasleys were front and center. Glasses perched on his nose, lifted high as though he smelled something rotten, the boy marched three pace behind his head of house and tried to keep the twins from harassing his youngest brother.
Zaniel Potter watched on while chatting with a large group of the first years, all getting along fantastically.
Belay turned his head forward again and walked on in silence.
Before releasing them, Professor Snape told them all to meet back in front of the Three BroomSticks pub, which he pointed out, and that they'd be left behind if they weren't there in two hours.
They scattered and Belay headed to the first clothing shop he could find. Unsurprisingly, the shop owners seemed perfectly aware of the school's tradition and had an entire inventory laid out displaying their finest costume materials.
"Hey, Bel. What about this?" Blaise held a Victorian ruffle shirt in his hands, stroking the material fondly. "It would go great with a more classic sort of mask." Belay only shrugged. He really wasn't interested.
"Don't be a downer," Draco chastised him and pulled his friend to a bin of blank masks.
"We can make our own rather than get something ordinary," the blonde sneered at the last word. Clearly he believed everything should be completely unique. Maybe that was why Belay had to revise so much of his essays for him. "They have all the materials here?" He asked.
Draco nodded and gestured to the other side of the store which held an abundance of craft materials, though Belay doubted you'd ever see them in—what the Malfoys would no doubt call—a plebian market. The sequins shone far too brightly to be considered cheap plastic and the feathers seemed authentic. Belay stroked a peacock feather with interest. Maybe this wouldn't be so dull.
Blaise joined them in choosing the pieces they would add to their masks, though neither he nor Belay had chosen the type they'd replicate. Draco had, unsurprisingly, decided to go with something extravagant.
He twirled around them in a velvet cape and cotton trousers, A ruffle hanging from his neck and holding his half-mask by the thin rod it was attached to. Blaise laughed heartily and told him to stop being a ponce. Affronted, the blonde continued to look through the cloth and garments supplied by the store owner.
The cashier, a weedy looking squib seeing as he didn't look old enough to be out of school but clearly didn't attend due to his being there, ignored them, only glancing up every once in a while to make sure they weren't doing anything that would get him fired.
"We've got ten minutes!" Belay cried and gathered up all his purchases and putting them on the counter.
"What?" Draco whined. "I still haven't finished-"
"Send your dad a note then," Blaise told him and nervously looked out the shop window to make sure Professor Snape was still there and swore.
"What?"
"Nearly everyone's there already!"
"Three galleons and ten sickles," they cashier said, barely glancing at Belay. That was definitely a nice change. He dug out the coins from his pouch and handed it to him. The young man placed his purchases in a box and did the same for Blaise and Draco.
"Hurry it up!" Belay told them as they scrambled out of the shop, he could just see the rest of the Slytherins gathered around the front of the pub. "You three were nearly late!" Daphne hissed and eyed Professor Snape. "Everyone knows that when Professor Snape says to be somewhere, you've got to get there early or he'll be furious!"
"We made it though, didn't we?" Belay said in mock optimism. Daphne snickered but then, very seriously, informed them that Nott still hadn't gotten there.
"Crabbe and Goyle swear he was with them but he wasn't when they got here. I suppose he's up to something."
Belay nodded in agreement and Snape had them marching back up to the castle. The Gryffindors were still in Hogsmeade, McGonagall not wanting to leave until she was sure all her students were there.
"Let the those who lag stay," Professor Snape sneered. "It will teach them to be on time." The aging woman frowned and didn't look like she agreed with him at all.
Back inside the Slytherin Common Room, their head of house pulled out the roll call as promised and when he got to Nott and there was no answer, he scowled. "Our first and hopefully last person to be late." Belay had a sneaking suspicion that the man would take out his irritation on the boy when he got back.
Professor Snape left them to spend their hour before dinner doing as they pleased and when the time came for them to gather in the Great Hall, they noticed he wasn't at the head table.
"Taking care of Nott, no doubt," Blaise muttered.
They didn't see the boy when they turned in but he was there in the morning and Draco claimed that that he heard him come in around two in the morning, grumbling about having to clean cauldrons.
Most of everyone's time was spent on working on their costume for the masquerade. According to Daphne, most people had decided to build their own mask, though several fifth and seventh years chose to buy theirs pre-made. "They've got O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s," She said smartly. "They don't have the time for such a project. Of course," she added. "They shouldn't have the time to attend the masquerade either but I suppose everyone needs a break."
Charms class was decent, Professor Potter was too busy teaching to give Belay grief about whatever quirks he had or to keep to close an eye on him. She must have delegated that duty to her son though, as Zaniel was watching him a bit more excessively than what would be considered normal.
"I think Potter's got a crush on you," Draco told him boldly one day, his face contorted into a cross between irritation and worry. It was enough to send Belay into spiels of laughter that caused heads to turn in their study hall and the teacher overseeing it to shush at him.
"I doubt that, Draco," he whispered later. "I'm sure it's something else."
The blonde didn't look so sure but kept his promise to trust in him.
The first year Slytherins got together the Tuesday before Halloween to celebrate Millicent Bulstrode's birthday. Pansy had decided that her friend should have a big get together despite her own issues with Daphne, though maybe the idea of Draco being around was enough to get her to put together the idea. Either way, they were all celebrating in the boys' dorm, seeing as the girls were able to go down their staircase an dthe common room was already dominated by the other Slytheirns.
No one had any real gifts for the girl, not having known her before hand, but fifth year named Adrian Pucey had showed them how to get into the kitchens. The house elves had been glad to provide them with plenty of sweets, though Belay had not appreciated the looks they had given him with their large, beady eyes.
"When is your birthday, Belay?" Daphne asked curiously. "I know everyone's now but yours."
"Halloween," he said carelessly.
"What!" Draco looked furious. "Why didn't you tell me so that I could have gotten you something while we were in Hogsmeade?" Belay shrugged innocently.
"Doesn't really matter." The others all stared at him flabbergasted and he narrowed his eyes at them. "Really," he said. "I don't see what is so great about the day you were born that you have to celebrate it every year. Seems a bit daunting if you ask me." They were shaking their heads now and Belay frowned deeply.
It wasn't his real birthday, it was just the day he had been taken in by his father, but it would be very stupid to go about claiming his birthday to be the same as Zaniel Potter's. They had messed with Dumbledore's head and to make a mistake now when he was so close to him would prove fatal for Belay and possibly Lord Voldemort.
"Well we'll have to do something on Halloween then," Draco said determinedly. "The masquerade isn't enough."
Belay rolled his eyes but let his friend do as he pleased. As long as it didn't irritate him it was fine.