I TOLD YOU I WAS BACK!

Enjoy a little bit about our dearest Blaise (and a hinnnnnt of Blinny)

Monday, October 13, 1998

Monday was back to normal, well as normal as any Monday during this war had been. All three of the Malfoy-Notts went off to work at their educational institution while Jean and Richard puttered around the house.

Blaise, the newest resident of Mitternacht, was finding ways to keep himself busy. He'd decided to have the Zabini elves transfer over some of his plants to a formerly abandoned greenhouse in the back. He, like any good Poisoneer, believed in growing his own stock.

When Hermione and Theo arrived home, Blaise was sitting on the couch staring at a photograph. Hermione spotted the telltale flash of red hair and looked closer to see that the photo featured Blaise spinning Ginny around, both laughing.

"Have you talked to her?" she asked quietly.

Blaise sighed, "Not much. She needs time, she needs time to explore, to be herself and find herself."

"And you?" she asked.

"All the fairytales say you'll know when you meet your person, and I often think she is my person, but maybe it's the wrong time?" He groaned. "I don't know what to do, I never want her to feel caged in but also…"

"Let me give you a good price of advice that I told her once. Stop waiting on her to give you the attention you want. Pursue other things, other people. You can't just wait until she's made a decision to start living."

"I have been," he replied, a bit defensive.

"Have you really?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "I love Ginny, but she's not ready to settle down. She needs to explore. And you, I think you need to explore too."

"Pregnancy is making you too wise," he said with a small smile.

"Tell me about what your plans are for after the war," she replied and then cut him off before he began to speak, "without mentioning Ginny!"

He smiled ruefully. "Alright, well I suppose I've always wanted to go into Healing, probably into Antivenin Research. My Mother obviously isn't into the idea of me working. But the more I think about her the more I'm disappointed. I know she wants to protect me but…"

"Parents don't always have the best way of showing it," Richard said as he walked into the room. "Obviously Jean and I are perfect, but my own parents had a hard time accepting us."

Blaise looked intrigued as Richard sat. "I'm the Wizarding World it's about blood," Richard continued, "in the Muggle it's about skin colour. There are lots of false narratives out there. My parents and grandparents bought into many of them."

"There's a bit of that where my mother is from," Blaise said with a nod, "many a relative lamented how dark I am. Telling my mother she should have had a baby with someone lighter."

Hermione huffed, "That's so silly! I mean I've obviously heard the same things, but who cares. Our melanin protects us and makes us who we are!"

"Maybe you should see what she has to say," Richard said, gesturing to the unopened letter on the table in front of them.

Blaise stared at the paper like it was going to bite him. Shakily he reached for the envelope and opened it.

My dearest,

This has gone on long enough. You must see that everything I do I do for you. Let's talk, over tea perhaps?

Mother

Blaise scoffed and threw the letter down. Hermione grimaced at the unemotional tone. "Well , I suppose we must beat her at her own game. All of us will be present and show her a United front," Hermione tutted. "Let's say tomorrow?"

Blaise barked out a laugh. "I'll let her know, tomorrow it is."

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!

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