Chapter 1 ~ People, people, too many people…

"Hurry up dear! My grandmother could walk faster than you when she was a hundred and three… and let me tell you her hips weren't as good as they used to be" my mother told me a-matter-of-factly as we walked the busy streets of Diagon Alley. "Now, we need to get you quite a few things so we can't dawdle, dear. Robes, you need new robes. Blaise, dear, would you just stop growing, or I'll have to drop a brick on your head!" my mother laughed shrilly and many people turned their heads to watch her.

I shook my head, and walked the slightest bit faster to keep up with my all-too-energetic mother, and she hummed to herself, apparently completely naïve of the fact many were looking at us. I sighed and stuffed my hands in my pockets, keeping my head low. Suddenly my mother stopped in her tracks and I had to move off to the side so as not to crash into her. "Oh! Look at this Blaise! Its antique, I know it!" she exclaimed, but by the time I had a chance to look to see what 'it' was, she was already inside the shop.

"Thought we were in a rush" I muttered to myself as I made my way into the little shop, which smelt all too much of my Great Aunts strong perfume. Shuddering in memory of the first time I met her, I made my way over to my mother who was speaking to the owner of the shop about the little chest in the display. The shop keeper was an old woman, with a rather bored expression on her face, and I was glad to note she looked nothing like my Great Aunt.

"I do think it would go well in my bedroom" my mother explained to the woman, as she paid and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Like the one you bought three days ago?" I reminded her and she paused for a moment before giving me a smile and a wink. "Can never have too much antique furniture, Blaise. If there's a choice between the pretty and the antique, always go for the antique, my dear" she told me, and I raised my eyebrows. What did she think I was going to do with that information?

After a long discussion (with herself, partially in Italian) my mother decided she couldn't make me carry the chest all through Diagon alley so she would leave it at the little shop until we were ready to go back home. When we finally left the shop I was hurried to Madam Malkins, and it turns out I had indeed gone up two sizes in the last year. When my mother found out about this, she had laughed so hard a young girl in the store had pointed and cried.

We made our way around, and by the time we left that evening I was beat. Probably also because she had made me drag the bloody chest around all over the house until she had found the perfect spot for it, which had ended up to be in her room, exactly where she had wanted it in the first place. "Oh, thank you, Blaise…" my mother smiled at me and then made a shooing motion with her hand. "You can go now" she said, dismissively and I shook my head and walked out of the room. So much for thank you.

As I was packing my trunks I came across some of my things from the year before, but I quickly threw them away without a second glance. Who needed painful memories? The next day I would be going back to Hogwarts and that was a painful enough thought as it was. No freedom, homework and routine. Oh yes, Hogwarts was the life, especially with the added bonus of having to put up with all the people who I despised so much.

Slipping into my bed, I didn't bother with the covers, hoping I could at least get a few hours sleep before the night was up…

"Write to me at least once a day! You say you will every year and you never do! Is that how you treat the loving mother who raised you?!" my mother crossly exclaimed as I stood outside of the Hogwarts express, trunks in hand, ready to board. "Mother, I never tell you I'm going to write to you every day…" I tell her, though I know she isn't listening. "Alright, your train is about to leave, take care dear!"

"Stay out of the forbidden forest, I know it is tempting, but…" my mother continued but I had stopped listening, with a slight smirk, my head now filled with pictures of a reddish-brown coat, that- "Blaise!" my mother cut into my thoughts. "Are you listening to me?!" she asked, and she looked appalled of her son. "Have to go, train to catch" I murmured quietly, before turning with a dismissive wave.

Walking towards the Hogwarts express I could tell she was not pleased with me, but that didn't stop her from calling "Love you!" and waving whole-heartedly to me as I boarded. Groaning I turned and called "Bye" to her, abruptly, which sounded more dismissive and colder then I had meant it. Especially in public. Oh well.

I finally made my way down the train and stopped at a familiar compartment. Inside were seated Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe and Pansy Parkinson. Did I have the patience to put up with them today? I decided I did, seeing as I was with my mother all morning, and making my way in, I chucked my trunks into the luggage rack and sat down next to Crabbe and Goyle, leaving Parkinson with a seat to herself. I really can't stand her voice… Or her nose... "Hey Blaise" Parkinson said, and I gave her a slight nod in greeting.

It was only a few minutes after when Malfoy made his way into the compartment and I had immediately wished I had chosen a different one. The ignorant show off had little more brains then his owl. "Zabini, Goyle, Crabbe, Parkinson" he acknowledged us one by one, and I ignored him as Crabbe and Goyle grunted their hello's and Parkinson jumped up with an excited squeal as soon as she saw him.

He sat down next to Parkinson, and I noted she looked more like a loyal dog who would sit at his feet, than she did his girlfriend… The train began to move then, and I sighed, staring out the window as I always did on these train rides. The time passed slowly and surely, however an unexpected knock at the compartment door made everyone glance up. The door opened and a nervous looking third year walked in, holding out a parchment tied with a violet coloured ribbon.

Holding it out, I saw my name written on it, and I reached out and took it from her, quite confused as to what it was for. The girl darted off and I unrolled the parchment, to find a note that read;

'Mr. Blaise Zabini,

I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.

Sincerely, H.E.F Slughorn'

"Well, what is it?" Malfoy demanded as I stuffed the note into my pocket, and I glanced up at him. "Invitation" I replied with disinterest. Malfoy didn't seem too pleased, especially at my bored tone. "From who?" he asked, and I rolled my eyes and pulled out the invitation again, tossing it at him so as not to be disturbed any more then absolutely necessary.

He unrolled it and read it a few times over, his brow furrowing as he thought. Parkinson read it over his shoulder, at a much slower pace. Tossing it back at me, I once again shoved it into my pocket, hoping he would stay quiet, now his curiosity was satisfied, but of course he didn't. "Who's H.E.F Slughorn?" Parkinson asked and I shrugged, glancing back out the window. "Probably a new professor" I replied and she thought about this for a long moment.

"So, are you going?" Malfoy asked and I nodded, boredly. I'd do anything to get out of here for a few minutes.