Blaise Sabini: Sweater
It's 7 AM on September 1 and I wake up to the sound of the alarm clock. Even though it is still very early, I wake up immediately and jump out of bed enthusiastically. I've been waiting for this day for a long time, and I can't wait to see all my friends from school again and start the fourth year of Hogwarts. I jump in the shower and grab my last things. I notice my suitcase is very heavy as I lift it down the stairs, but at least I can assume that I haven't forgotten anything.
"Good morning mom and dad", I greet as I sit down at the dining table. I make a sandwich and eat some strawberries while I start talking enthusiastically about the coming year. "I am very curious about this year's lessons, it seems that the level is a lot higher than last year", I say with my mouth full. "I'm also looking forward to seeing Draco, Pansy and Blaise again." After we have had an extensive chat, it is time to leave for the station. I give my parents one last hug before I leave for the wall to get to platform 9 3/4. It's the fourth time I've done this, so I don't find it exciting anymore, but I still have a strange feeling in my gut. "Maybe a little nervous," I mutter to myself.
With the cart with my heavy suitcase on it, I take a run and two seconds later I'm on the busy platform next to the Hogwarts Express. Almost unnoticed, I cringe for a moment from the pain in my lower abdomen, but I still don't look very much into it. Despite the fact that it is very busy outside the train, there still seem to be enough empty compartments in the train. I walk in and drag my luggage with me, then I claim a compartment at the very back of the train. In order not to take up too much space, I decide to place my bags and suitcase in the rack above my head. I pick up my suitcase, but notice that I don't have as much strength as usual, and the rising stitches in my stomach don't exactly help either. I sigh as I look around. "Hey Lizzy, let me help you", I suddenly hear behind me. I turn and look directly into Blaise's face. "Hey Blaise!", I shout enthusiastically. "How are you doing?"
After Blaise has lifted my suitcase into the rack, he takes a seat in the compartment opposite me. Not much later, Pansy and Draco also join us and because of the fun we don't even notice that the train is slowly but surely leaving for school.
Despite that fun, the pain in my lower abdomen is getting worse. I pull up my knees to ease the pain and rest my head on them to look outside. I try to listen in on Draco, who has been talking nonstop about classmate Harry Potter for an hour. I sigh hard and roll my eyes. "Can you talk about something other than that crazy boy with the scar?" I ask grumpily. Draco frowns. "Well well, someone's in a bad mood," he grins. "Shut up Draco," Blaise and I snap together. I look up and see Blaise looking at me with concern. "Are you feeling alright, Lizzy?", he asks worriedly. My heart skips a beat. I've secretly had a crush on Blaise since second grade, but I can't think of telling him. Soon he will think I'm weird and he won't want to deal with me anymore, I want to avoid that at all costs.
I avert my eyes and nod. "Anything from the trolly, dear", I hear from the hallway. I'm not necessarily hungry, but suddenly I get a huge craving for chocolate. Draco pays for a can of butterbear and I hear Blaise ask for a chocolate frog. He pushes the chocolate towards me across the table in the middle. "I think you could use this," he whispers, giving me a wink. Surprised, I look up to see if Draco and Pansy have heard, but they are busy talking about Potter. "Thank you," I smile. And I take a bite of the frog.
With an hour of travel to go, my eyes are getting heavier and heavier and less than five minutes later I feel myself drifting off to sleep. I'm woken up by Draco and look around in surprise, only to come to the conclusion that almost all the students have already got off the train. "You guys better go to school," Draco emphasizes. "I need to sort something out here." After Blaise puts my suitcase on the floor, I grab the rest of my things and want to turn to walk down the tight aisle to the exit, when I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder. "Don't be shocked, but I think you have your monthly girlfriend visiting," says Blaise softly. I'm not quite awake yet and have to think about what he means, but suddenly I realize what happened. "Shit!" I shout a little too loudly. Suddenly I understand why I have such a stomach ache and why I could no longer lift my suitcase myself. I just had to get my period. I look at Blaise with wide eyes. The train is now empty and I see that there is still one carriage waiting for us outside. "It's okay," says Blaze. He ties his Slytherin Sweater around me so that the stain on my light pants is no longer visible. Then he follows me and helps me get on the carriage by taking my hand.
We approach the gates of Hogwarts and together we jump off the carriage. Although Blaise responded very sweetly, I feel increasingly uncomfortable with the stain on my pants. As soon as the carriage comes to a stop, I quickly say goodbye and I see in the corner of my eye that Blaise remains a bit surprised. I run two steps at a time to the Slytherin Dorm and plop myself into my regular bed with my face in my pillow. "What a disappointment", I cry as Pansy sits next to me in surprise. "What happened?" I hear her ask. I tell her the story and she smiles when she hears about the sweater. "But that's really sweet," she replies. "Give the sweater and pants here. If you go and freshen up now, I'll make sure this looks spick and span again later.
I put on sweatpants and lay on my back on the bed. The cramps in my stomach are getting worse and I pull my blankets tight around me to ease the pain. "Are you coming to the main hall for dinner?" Pansy asks. I shake no. "I think I'll lie down for a while, I feel sick," I reply. "I'll bring you some food," she promises, closing the door behind her. It is immediately quiet in the room and slowly I sink into a deep sleep.
It's 11:30 am when I wake up with cramps in my stomach. It is still quiet around me and when my eyes get used to the dark I see that all the girls have fallen asleep tired after the long journey. I want to turn over to continue sleeping when I suddenly see Blaise's sweater on the end of my bed. Neatly clean and folded thanks to Pansy. "Oh no", I think to myself. "Snape will punish Blaise anyway if he doesn't wear his jersey on his first day of school.
The only option may not be the smartest option, but I decide to put the sweater in front of the door of the Slytherin Dorm so that Blaise can find it in the morning. I quietly get out of bed and feel the cold wind coming in through the open window. With the sweater under my arm I walk towards the Slytherin common room, where I see a shadow sitting by the fire. My heart jumps again when I see that it is exactly the boy I need right now. "Hi Lizzy, why are you awake? Isn't it better if you have a good night's sleep?", he asks. I respond: "I still had your sweater and didn't want it to get you in trouble.." Blaise takes it but doesn't say anything. "Thanks for the loan, and sorry about this afternoon. I was embarrassed about the accident," I continue, looking down at my socks. You can't help it either. I don't think you want your period every month either." I nod laughing. "But how are you feeling now? I saw that you were really not feeling well this afternoon on the train. Does that bother you more often?". "Miserable", I sigh. "I have cramps in my lower abdomen and my lower back is starting to hurt too. One month it's worse than the other month, but normally the pain is pretty bad."
"I feel sorry for you, let me help you", Blaise replies. "Come here," and he grabs my hips and pulls me closer. He sits up against the cushions and I take a seat between his legs in surprise. I sigh and lay back against him. Suddenly I feel his warm hands slide under my shirt. I stiffen, but my body immediately relaxes as he gently massages my lower abdomen. "This feels so good," I moan. Blaise applies a little more pressure and slowly the cramps become less intense.
"From now on I promise to help you every month," Blaise whispers softly. And smiling we fall asleep together.