Following an increasingly persistent volume of violet ribboned invites from Professor Slughorn and a stern word from Perry about being mannerly towards Hogwarts staff, Sapphy grudgingly admitted that she couldn't avoid showing her face at the so-called 'Slug Club' any longer. So in the Entrance Hall on Wednesday evening she parted from her fellow Ravenclaws who were laughing and joking loudly on their way to dinner and grudgingly began the climb up the marble staircase with Perry instead.

"It's really not so bad," he sighed, his glum tone not quite matching his words. "Last week he brought Gwenog Jones along. From the Holyhead Harpies."

"Perry, you care about Quidditch even less than I do," scoffed Sapphy as she stomped up the steps.

"Alright then, yes it's a bore, but-"

"I don't need another lecture," Sapphy interrupted snippily. "I'm going, aren't I?"

He rolled his eyes and the rest of the walk to Slughorn's office on the sixth floor passed in frosty silence.

"Ah! Both Fancourts at long last!" Slughorn cried happily as he ushered them in. "Peregrine is a sheer delight but I am glad to have finally collected the set," he mused, patting Sapphy's hand. "Your brother has of course told me that it is your dedication to your studies that has kept you. Admirable though you are, one must find time for a little fun now and then!" He chuckled and Sapphy could feel herself turning very red as she felt all eyes follow her making her way to the lavishly set dining table.

The room was spacious and warmed by a fire dancing merrily in a large, marble fireplace opposite them. A spectacular chandelier hung overhead and the moss green wallpaper was barely visible behind the many framed photographs that covered the walls. Various witches and wizards smiled winningly as a Slughorn of gradually larger and larger size shook their hands. The unmistakable sound of Celestina Warbeck was issuing loudly from a gramophone in one corner.

Sapphy took a seat beside Melinda Bobbin, Head Girl from Hufflepuff. She noticed that Melinda was gazing rather soppily at Perry as he sat on her other side and she coughed to cover her grin as she took a look around the table at the other guests. She recognised Hermione Granger at once as well as Cormac McLaggen who seemed to be bearing down on Hermione rather intently on her right. The other girls, Slytherin seventh year twins, Sapphy only knew by sight. They looked her up and down rather pointedly.

"You know the Carrows, Sapphire? Flora and Hestia, this is Peregrine's charming younger sister!" The beady eyed Carrows shook her hand limply in turn.

"And Miss Granger has informed me," said Slughorn, heaving himself into his chair "that the elusive Mr. Potter has been waylaid by Quidditch practise once again, along with Miss Weasley!" Cormac McLaggen crumpled up a napkin rather forcefully at this.

"As for Blaise…" Slughorn trailed off, looking hopefully towards the door of his study. "I've had no word from him."

Slughorn checked a gleaming gold pocket watch and frowned. "Well, we mustn't allow ourselves to starve as we wait. No doubt you are all famished from a hard day's toil!" He waved in a team of house elves who began to serve them all elaborately decorated prawn cocktail.

Sapphy was feeling a peculiar mixture of relief and disappointment as she gazed at the empty chair opposite her over her mountain of prawns. One positive thing she had thought about the Slug Club was that she had been sure she would be able to catch Zabini alone after dinner and finally offer him her help after putting it off for so long. If she didn't do it soon she was afraid that her courage would fail her altogether.

"So, Sapphire," boomed Slughorn, jolting her back into the room. "Your reputation as a burgeoning Seer proceeds you!"

She froze, a spoon of pink glop hovering halfway to her mouth.

"The general consensus among staff and students alike is that you have certainly inherited darling Ocean's talent." Slughorn was beaming at her expectantly.

"Er…" was all she could manage.

"Perhaps, after dinner," he suggested, eyes twinkling over his handlebar moustache, "you might illuminate your fellow Slugs about what lies ahead for the coming year? Such an impressive party trick shouldn't be wasted!"

Perry seemed pained on her behalf but most of the others were looking at her with interest. Hermione Granger however was wearing an expression of veiled scepticism as she pretended to be engrossed by her starter. Sapphy fixed a pleasant smile on her face.

"Unfortunately, Professor, I haven't brought any of my necessary equipment…"

"No matter, Sapphire!" Slughorn laughed. "They can be fetched with a simple summoning charm!"

And so, after seven long courses of overly rich food, Sapphy found herself in the nearest classroom to Slughorn's study with her crystal ball on the desk in front of her. The readings had not gone well. Melinda Bobbin had been driven to tears and one of the Carrows had stormed out. She had just told a bemused McLaggen that he was set to be unlucky in love for the next few months and was heartily glad that she only had one student left to see.

Hermione Granger entered the room, smiling shyly. Sapphy had never forgotten Hermione's dramatic exit from Divination in their third year and, feeling sure that she didn't desire a reading, began to talk about their latest Ancient Runes essay as Hermione sat down opposite her.

After a few minutes there was a lull in the conversation. Hermione looked extremely uncomfortable all of a sudden and as though she were steeling herself to say something.

"So you would like a reading!" Sapphire exclaimed in surprise.

"Well… of sorts," Hermione admitted. "It's silly really. I was wondering if… well…" She was fidgeting with her wand nervously. "Whether you might have an idea as to who gave Katie Bell that cursed necklace?"

Sapphy's stomach dropped. Of course she had wondered who it may have been. Late at night, as the others slept in the dormitory around her she had closed her eyes and concentrated on the question, but the woman's face who swam before her eyes was so obvious, yet so unlikely, that she didn't trust this self given answer.

Hermione was looking at her in an apologetic sort of way.

"I'm afraid not," Sapphy replied eventually. "No idea at all."

Hermione nodded, looking disappointed but unsurprised. She smiled at Sapphy kindly before rising from her chair to leave.

ooOOOoo

"So you really can't tell me if we'll beat Slytherin?" asked Noah for what felt like the hundredth time as he and Sapphy made their way through the chilly grounds to the Quidditch pitch.

"You know I can't," she said, grabbing on to his arm and huddling closer for warmth. "I've been banned from making Quidditch predictions since that debacle when Kevin won all the bets he made with Duncan Inglebee." She sighed, remembering Perry's disappointment in her. "Anyway, how would it be fun if you always knew who was going to win? It's pretty boring, let me tell you."

"I'd love to be bored… boredom beats nerves anyday. I keep having this dream where I vomit off my broomstick," said Noah, rubbing his stomach.

"Well, at least you can aim for the Slytherins," she smirked. "Look, I can't tell you who'll win. But I can tell you you'll play really well."

He smiled down at her. "You should probably get back up to school," he said as they reached the Gryffindor changing rooms. "It's too cold to sit in the stands."

He took her face in his big, warm, Quidditch calloused hands and kissed her gently. As she ran her fingers over his forehead, into his hair, he closed his eyes in bliss.

"I love it when you do that…" he whispered.

"Oi, Proudlock!" came a raspy shout, startling them both. "Leave some of that pure-blood pussy for us." It was Urquart, the Slytherin captain, covered in mud and surrounded by five other sniggering team-mates. Zabini, Sapphy saw with a lurch in her stomach, was lagging behind them. He was stony-faced. She felt Noah stiffen.

"I very much doubt you'll be getting any pussy any time soon, Urquart." Sapphy said, as calmly as she could manage. "Pure-blood or otherwise. Not with a mug like that." Noah laughed and she could have sworn she saw Zabini's blank expression twitch into a smile for a second.

"Shut your mouth, you blood traitor slut," growled Urquart, and he spat a glob of disgusting phlegm at her. It landed an inch away from the hem of her robes. Noah made a dash for him.

"Noah, no!" she warned, trying to restrain him as the Slytherins guffawed. Noah pulled free and slammed Urquart against the wall. His leering grin disappeared instantly.

"Proudlock, stop!"

Sapphy wheeled around to see Dean Thomas, Demelza Robbins and and Ginny Weasley, striding over in their Quidditch gear from the door of the changing rooms. Dean and Demelza grabbed Noah's robes and pulled him away. His face was bright red with rage. Zabini had restrained Urquart and was still holding him back.

"The pitch is booked for our practice," Ginny told him angrily. "You're not supposed to be here. Go on, get lost!"

Urquart eyed Ginny menacingly for a second, before pushing Zabini off. He skulked away towards the castle, followed by his cronies who made kissing noises at Sapphy as they passed.

Noah had been dragged out of sight and Ginny looked at Sapphy worriedly. "Maybe you shouldn't walk by yourself," she said, eyeing the bulky backs of the Slytherins.

"I'll walk with her," said Zabini, who hadn't moved. They both turned to him in alarm. "I'm not quite as big of a scumbag as Urquart," he said, rolling his eyes at their expressions.

Ginny seemed about to retort sharply, but Sapphy stopped her.

"It's fine, Ginny, thanks," she said quickly. "We... know each other."

Looking confused, Ginny shrugged and mounted her broom before soaring upwards and arcing gracefully across the pitch with speed.

Sapphy could feel her heart beating nervously as she fell into step with Blaise and they began to walk awkwardly away from the pitch. There was a long, excruciating silence. Once she told him , she thought to herself, it would be much more difficult to back out. Was it really the right thing to do? To involve herself in his gory family history, just because of a dream she had?

"Urquart is scum," Blaise said suddenly. She stared at him. "I mean, with some of the others, I can understand why they are the way they are. If you have a mother like mine it's pretty much guaranteed that you're going to be an asshole. But I think Urquart would have turned out to be an asshole no matter what." He paused, taking a deep sigh. His aura seemed to contract around him. "You said I was prejudiced, that day in Astronomy."

Sapphy didn't bother answering.

"Well, I am… I was. But now that I have proof of what a lying sociopath my mother really is… I'm not so sure whether I give a shit about her purist beliefs anymore."

They were nearing the big oak doors to the entrance hall which had been flanked by huge, elaborately carved Hallowe'en lanterns in preparation for the following night. Sapphy came to a halt in their flickering glow and he stopped too, staring at the ground and looking deeply uncomfortable.

"You don't need to do this," she said coolly. "Try to manipulate me, I mean."

He glanced up sharply, his eyes meeting hers. They burned brightly in the dying light of the evening.

"I've decided to help you," she said curtly. "To try at least. I can't promise anything."

Blaise nodded. He looked dazed.

"There's a spell I've found that might allow us to get in contact with your father," she said, watching him intently. She was hoping he would be outraged or scared and refuse point blank. But he swallowed hard and jerked his head once to indicate his consent.

"We'll need to do it on Hallowe'en night, then. It's the best time."

"The night of the dead," he murmured. "Makes sense."

"And you tell no-one," she said firmly. "You may remember calling my best friend a mudblood in second year and I'm sure you can understand why I would prefer if she didn't see me in your company."

"This isn't exactly something I want publicized either," he retorted before sighing heavily. "I'll keep away from you in public. Whatever you want."

"Meet me here just before the Feast then. Hopefully no-one will notice us that way."

She turned to leave but he spoke again. "For the record, Sapphire. I was trying to manipulate you, but that doesn't mean what I said is untrue."

He watched her as she climbed the marble staircase towards her tower before turning and beginning his descent to the dungeons.

On the walk back to her common room, she reflected on the third part of his story that Daphne had told her…

A History of Zabini Part III

Not long after her fifth husband's gruesome murder, Madame Zabini discovered that she was with child. Retreating to the country house she had inherited from Selwyn, she lay quiet for a spell until her new son was old and healthy enough to be left in Blaise's care. She named him Sebastian, after the husband she had been fondest of.

During a particularly balmy summer when Blaise was conveniently home after his first year at Hogwarts, Madam Zabini met a muggle by the name of Vincent Galahad who, by all accounts, was not the brightest sickle in the bag but had recently inherited a fortune larger than those of all her previous husbands' added together. Galahad had been looking for something to spend his new money on and Madam Zabini didn't mind obliging him with that in the least. Their romance blossomed quickly into marriage but tragedy struck once again in St. Barts on the first night of their Honeymoon. Galahad's death by drowning shocked his muggle friends and family, while Madam Zabini's merely rolled their eyes at needing to press their funeral clothes again so soon.

After winning a tedious legal battle with Galahad's relatives and inheriting his lucrative estate, Madam Zabini seemed satiated at last and three years passed without addition to her little family. While attending the Triwizard tournament, however, she was introduced to a man named Pietr Poliakoff, a handsome, grey haired Russian who had a passion for strong vodka and an accompanying nasty temper. Seemingly charmed by his volatility, Madam Zabini packed up the family and moved to Russia to have a lavishly decadent wedding. She wished Blaise to attend Durmstrang, where Pietr had sent his own sons, but Blaise refused and instead chose to remain at Hogwarts.

It didn't take long for the paradise in the Poliakoff household to show signs of trouble. After receiving some concerning letters from Sebastian, Blaise decided to pay his mother and stepfather a little Christmas visit, unannounced. His lack of fanfare in arrival allowed him to witness a violent incident that resulted in his latest stepfather getting in the way of a killing curse. Upon performing priori incantem with the wands found of the scene, the authorities recognised that Blaise had been acting in self defence, and he was cleared of all wrongdoing. But the undeniable reality was that Sapphy had just agreed to help a killer.