Ginny rubbed Hermione's back soothingly as she sobbed, hands over her face.

"It's because I'm a muggle born!" she wailed, falling into Ginny, "none of this will ever work!"

"Now she gets it." Pansy Parkinson sneered. Blaise Zabini, at her side, scowled.

"Let that be a lesson, girl Weasley, Granger, in how not to act publicly. Merlin, Pansy, that was bloody rude, you're worse than Draco."

"I am not!"

"You are." He strolled over and crouched in front of Hermione who turned away, head on Ginny's shoulder, "Granger, look at me."

"How do you say no in Italian?"

"No."

"No."

He snickered,

"Granger, you shouldn't let other people's opinions affect you like this, si? Especially rude people like Pansy and Draco." He waited patiently for her to look at him but she wouldn't.

"It's not Pansy or Draco. They're just snobs." She huffed.

"I see." He nodded, "agreed then. If someone close to you has harmed you then, insulted where you come from, they are not worth your time. This is a fact." He then got back up and strolled off confidently, Pansy following behind and furious.

"Is he?"

"He's gone." Ginny nodded, bursting into laughter. Hermione shoved her, "he calls me girl Weasley, Hermione! That's hilarious!"

"It is not." Hermione scrubbed her face and then stopped, shrugging, "okay, it kind of is."

"Oh…oh no." Ginny moaned, looking out the window. Hermione spun. On the lawn outside, Harry and Ron were running, a huge black dog chasing them and barking. She burst out laughing and jumped up, hauling her bag onto her shoulder,

"Let's go, Gin! The calvary has arrived!"

Both girls went running as quickly as they could, ignoring Albus Dumbledore laughing at their excitement as they spilled out of the castle and onto the grounds. They stopped, looking around frantically and then heard distant barking, so they took off in that direction. Several other Gryffindors were watching, laughing their heads off. Sirius Black, in the form of Snuffles, had treed Harry and Ron. However, it just made them respect the two Gryffindor girls as they ran in.

"Look out, Mione!" Seamus warned, "Ron says it bites!"

"Oh it doesn't bite." Ginny scoffed, kneeling, "c'mere Snuffles! How'd you get here?" Snuffles turned from where he was trying to climb the tree after the other two boys and barked at them excitedly, wagging is tail. Both girls gushed and cooed and petted, scratching behind his ears.

"I see yeh've found Snuffles." Hagrid laughed, "ol' Remus brought 'im by for me teh watch while he goes outta town. Says he eats too much, I reckon."

"He's a good boy, yes he is." Hermione cuddled Snuffles, "Hagrid, he may have fleas. Do you have something for that?"

"I reckon I could whip somethin' up." Hagrid nodded.

"Come on Snuffs." Ginny cooed, "let's get you fixed up, yeah?" Both girls glared heatedly at Ron and Harry who climbed and jumped down, now thoroughly ignored by Sirius prancing between the two girls. Once in the cabin, he morphed, hugging both boys first,

"Now listen here, you made my two favorite girls cry. Don't do it again or I won't let you outrun me next time." He said, ruffling their hair. He then turned to the girls and pulled them both to him, "don't you worry, ladies, Andromeda told me everything. I certainly won't tell, not even Harry or Ron. I'm here to help."

"Help?" Hermione asked, "how?"

"Why, Hermione, I can do anything!"

"You're sure this will work?" Hermione asked.

Growl.

"I… I don't know how to talk to him though."

Growl.

"Fine, fine, I know. Alright," Hermione lifted her chin and stepped out of the shadows. Blaise Zabini sat not far off in the library, reading. At least, that's what the pilfered Marauders Map said. Hermione approached coolly and leaned on the table. Blaise looked up and his eyebrows shot up with surprise.

"Hello." Hermione smiled, "may I ask you a question?"

"You may." Blaise nodded curiously.

"Ginny isn't… doing very well… teaching me. I… I don't like Quidditch all that much. I would still like to learn though and I find that Chasing seems the easiest for me. I'm sure if I ever found the urge to play, that's the position I'd want. I thought, maybe, a different approach? Could you help me?"

Blaise tilted his head curiously and closed his book, leaning back and folding his hands on the desk,

"I cannot."

"Because I'm a muggle born?" She asked.

"No. I cannot help you because you are a Gryffindor, I am a Slytherin. You are best friends with Harry Potter, I am best friends with Draco. The potential for drama and chaos is too high and does not interest me."

"I see." She nodded, "could you perhaps suggest a book then?"

"I can." He nodded, "this way." He stood and led her down the aisles, occasionally looking back as though he expected her to disappear. "I have never been approached by a Gryffindor female before, I find that I am… how you say, too creepy?" he laughed as he stopped, scanning the shelves for a specific book, "you are very brave, Granger, for attempting this. However, it does not sit well with me. You have Dean Thomas as a Chaser, why not ask him?"

"Because Dean is an ass, to be quite frank. You aren't creepy, Zabini, the Hufflepuff Chasers are creepy. I don't know the Ravenclaw ones and I'd rather not speak with Rosier."

"Not a high opinion of our Chasers, only the position?"

"Precisely, it seems sort of… graceful, I suppose, and strategic all at once. Beaters are crass and Seekers just… sit there."

"Agreed then, ah, here you are." He handed her a book, 'Chasing Chasers: Quidditch Theory'.

"Grazi." She offered, hoping that was right before hurrying off. Sirius whined and slipped out of his dark spot. She nodded, shrugging, "it's okay, Pads, I get it. It is the potential for too much chaos. I don't know how I got talked into this anyway." Snuffles made a choking sound, his laugh and she laughed too, "I know! Ginny Weasley, negotiator extraordinaire! She could be a law wizard. I suppose that's what comes with having so many siblings."

"Granger!"

"Busted talking to a dog." She muttered, turning. Blaise caught up and handed her the book she'd brought in,

"You left this…were you just conversing with a dog?"

"I was," she said proudly, scratching the top of Snuffles head, "he's my friend, Zabini, he's not just a dog."

"Indeed. Bye, Granger." And he returned to the library.

"Chaos and crazy." She giggled, "I should have been a Black." Sirius laughed again.