Harry watched the two Slytherins approach hand in hand. Their casual intimacy was something that Harry struggled to understand. He was sure they weren't together, but they interacted with each other with such an ease that Harry envied. While he wasn't awkward around Ginny, he wasn't that comfortable with her either. Harry felt like slapping himself, talking about himself and Ginny like they were already together.

"About time," Hermione said. "We were starting to think you weren't coming."

Blaise nodded to Harry around his glass. Having watched Blaise drink his wine on and off over the course of the evening, Harry felt it was good at least someone liked the wine Slughorn had provided. No one on his table was touching it. Wine was just not to any of their tastes.

As Tracey went to take Luna's seat, the Ravenclaw appeared with a glass of water.

"Oh, sorry," Tracey said. "Didn't know this was your seat."

With a tap of her wand, Luna turned the chair into a small love-seat. "I think it's deeply unethical to excessively conjure things. Don't you agree, Tracey?"

Tracey slowly sank next to Luna, surprisingly silent for once.

Luna peered up at the tall brunette she was sharing her seat with, smiling in her absent-minded way. "Hmm?"

"Of course, Lovegood," Davis said, but not without a quick, bewildered glance at Blaise. "Someone else might need it."

"Exactly," Luna said with a nod.

Harry shared a look with Ginny. He was always happy to have someone suffering in silence with him.

"Someone else might need it," Blaise repeated, and Harry barely stifled a chuckle at the quizzical tilt to Blaise's eyebrows. "Well, that explains everything."

"Neville, you alright?" Harry asked. He'd been silent all night.

"Fine," Neville said. Though he sounded as he said, Harry didn't miss his askance look at Blaise sat next to him.

"We don't bite," Davis murmured.

"Tracey is more of a licker," Blaise remarked with a disgusted look at his friend.

Davis folded her arms tightly against her chest. "It was just once," she said. Davis attempted to elbow Blaise who caught it without even a blink. "Don't tell them all my secrets, Blaise."

"Licking is a lot more sanitary than biting," Luna added. "Besides, dental health is always important with the Rotfang Conspiracy in – "

Hermione groaned. Tracey stared at her neighbour, and Blaise nursed his wine with what Harry thought to be the faintest edge of desperation.

"Are you two making fun of me?" Neville interjected, staring at the Slytherins. Harry gave Luna a sympathetic smile at the downcast look in her eyes at the interruption, though inside he was quite pleased. He didn't want to see the Slytherins react to Quibbler conspiracy theories. Personally, he was willing to be accommodating, but that didn't really mean he was interested.

"No, Nev," Ron said with a long drawn out sigh. "That's just… how they are."

"Oh," Neville said in response.

Harry felt an instinctual sense of kinship with Neville's reaction. Witnessing Davis and Blaise interact was very much an 'oh' type of thing.

Davis reminded him a lot of Cho when it came to looks, though her skin was a warm tan compared to Cho's pale porcelain. She was incredibly pretty, but the comparison completely fell apart when it came to her personality. Harry was certain she was plain off her rocker, so it was a source of bewilderment to watch her routine with Blaise who he wouldn't describe as normal, but very much not, well, crazy. Thinking back to Blaise's comment about his 'wand', Harry decided that perhaps they were far more well-matched than he was giving them credit.

"Right…" Ginny murmured to herself. "Well, Harry sure knows how to choose his Slytherins."

"Finest taste," Blaise added, and as if to temper the compliment he added. "Surprisingly."

"Impressive for a Gryffindor," Tracey said.

Hermione snorted. "Damned by faint praise, Harry."

"Getting used to it," Harry said.

"Well, what about you, Zabini?" Ginny asked. "Do you do anything?"

"Of course," Blaise drawled. The default curl to his lip intensified. "Weasley, I can assure you that I don't bite or lick." His gaze turned downright vicious. "Potter can vouch."

The table fell silent at that.

Harry met the Slytherin's now blank expression. Looking carefully, he recognised the gleam of mischief in his eye as the one he'd had on the stairs not even two days ago. Blaise gave Harry a quick smile, a mocking echo of the one he'd given Harry in the hollow. Harry felt like Saint Potter with the potty mouth, as Blaise had prophesised, was very much on the verge of making an appearance.

"Do tell, Potter," Tracey murmured.

Hermione looked between him and the Slytherin before her lips parted into an o shape. Harry had no idea what she was concluding, but he didn't think it boded particularly well for him.

Luna leaned over Davis and patted Blaise on the shoulder in congratulations. He just stared at her, ignoring the suddenness of Davis and Ginny's frantic giggling and Ron's resultant wheeze.

"Good for you. It must have been difficult to control the urge to bite Harry," Luna said.

Harry shook at the sight of Blaise. The black teen was frozen, staring at the shoulder she'd touched with an expression that teemed with disbelief and disgust. As Luna sat back in her seat, she gave Blaise a radiant smile that wasn't even registered. He was fixated, perhaps hoping that answers laid in the lingering feeling of Luna's touch.

"What?" Blaise asked curtly. Neville broke also, chuckling into his napkin. Harry was sure the bewilderment in his tone wasn't feigned as he smoothed his shoulder with his hand. "What was that?" And the dam finally broke for Harry, he guffawed with the rest of the table. It was almost as if the Slytherin thought Luna had left a lingering taint on his person, and Harry would have laughed himself silly if Ginny hadn't nudged him, bringing him back to the reality of the situation.

"So, Harry," Ron said. "What's this about you being able to vouch?"

Harry cursed the dark-skinned Slytherin relaxing in his seat. They'd all been fooled by Blaise's pantomime. It was like the dust in the secret passage. Blaise took the opportunity of the loss of scrutiny to hail a waiter for more wine, wine that would likely provide a nice cap to Harry's embarrassment.

"Harry?" Ginny asked.

"Yes?"

"Care to explain?" Ginny prodded.

Hermione was giving him a sympathetic look that Harry couldn't parse. Ron was amused but more preoccupied with glancing at his bushy-haired neighbour when he thought she wasn't looking. Neville was visibly done with the lot of them, eating his egg roll with a determination that Harry hadn't seen since the fight in the Ministry.

Harry decided that he'd take a leaf out of Blaise's book and try the silent and cold treatment. Going by Neville's incredulous smirk, he didn't do a particularly good job of looking uninviting.

"Well, I think it's admirable that one of Elizabeth Báthory's descendants can resist the allure of Harry's potent blood," Luna explained with a wealth of patience that Harry chuckled at.

Harry had no idea who Elizabeth Báthory even was, but the mention of his 'potent blood' made enough to make him want to find a hole to hide in. Ron was watching him with a broad grin, clearly not interested in being of any help.

"That type of biting," Ginny said with a profound gravitas. She nodded in confirmation. "I see."

Blaise drained the rest of his glass in one. Harry was a little impressed and more than a little pleased to no longer be the focus of everyone's attention anymore. "Báthory. Really?" The Slytherin drawled.

"Báthory's a vampire, right?" Ginny asked pleasantly. She smirked at the black Slytherin, making her innocent question seem like a weapon. Leaning into the back of his chair, Blaise looked a little like he'd been slapped.

"Yes, though it was said she also had cambion tendencies." Luna looked closely at Blaise, taking in his incredibly sharp gaze. "It must be nice being immune to Wrackspurts," Luna said.

It was clearly meant to be a compliment, but Blaise's continued flat expression did nothing to halt Luna's inquisition. Harry wondered if he should speak up, yet Tracey's faint smile of amusement made him stop. She knew Blaise far better than he did.

"Must be nice," Ginny agreed.

Blaise glared at Luna. "You think my mother is a vampire with… cambion heritage?"

"Know," Luna corrected with a smile. From the satchel at her hip, she brought out some Blood Pops. "I was hoping Count Sanguini was coming, but if you ever find the urge too great – "

Ginny burst into laughter. In her mirth, she leaned into Harry's shoulder, leaving him only able to think of the press of her bare shoulder against his dress robes.

"Enough," Tracey said.

"I think I'll go and get a refill," Blaise drawled.

Without another word, Blaise took his glass, rose to his feet and walked away. Harry stared at the back of the Slytherin as he vanished into the crowd, feeling terribly guilty. At least he now knew that he'd been right to not ever mention Blaise's mother.

"I didn't mean to cause offense," Luna whispered. Tracey turned to whisper in Luna's ear, looking oddly stern, and whatever she said made Luna deflate further.

"Wow," Ginny stated.

Davis gave Harry a surprisingly cold look, but it quickly thawed and the smile she plastered on didn't convince Harry one bit. He didn't have any idea why she was even blaming him, but there was a fragment of himself that said he should have said something. "You couldn't have known better." Harry would have thought she was addressing Luna, but she was still looking at him. It was both oddly cryptic and direct, in a way. Davis turned instead to Ginny and the smile vanished. "Watch yourself, Weasley."

She hurried away also. Watching the retreating brunette, Ginny quirked an eyebrow in response. "What did I do?"

"Don't talk to my sister like that," Ron called to the kimono-clad girl. Turning to his sister, he grimaced. "You know what you did, Ginny. You were egging Luna on."

"A bit," Ginny admitted. "I didn't expect him to react that badly."

Harry disagreed. He believed Blaise had underreacted. In fact, Harry was a little impressed that rather than lose his temper, the Slytherin had excused himself.

Hermione was chewing her lip slowly, feeling a little bad for the Slytherin. "That was a bit tactless, Ginny. You know what Luna is like."

"Please don't talk about me like I'm not here," Luna said quietly. There was an uncomfortable edge to her voice that had Harry on alert.

Hermione winced. "Sorry about that."

Luna rose to her feet, smoothing down her gown that looked oddly enough like stylised chainmail. Compared to her spangled dress at the Christmas party, Harry thought it was an upgrade. "I should go and apologise to Blaise."

"Well. Great start," Ron said.

Seeing the beginnings of a bicker-fest between Ron and Hermione about to take shape, Harry decided that he wasn't in the mood to play mediator. He investigated the crowd, not finding Davis' colourful kimono, Luna's shimmering gown, or Blaise's tan blazer.

"I think I'm going to go and make sure Luna is okay," he fibbed.

"I'd come with, but Zabini is probably angry with me," Ginny said with an eye roll. "Didn't think he'd be so sensitive."

Harry absently nodded. "I shouldn't be long."

He found himself on auto-pilot, easily weaving past the heavy foot traffic and people wanting to have a quick word with the Chosen One. It wasn't even a minute before he found himself outside, away from the constant chatter and bickering couples. It was a source of relief.

"Potter?"

Blaise was stood on the other end of the corridor, posed as if he were contemplating the merits of the painting he was stood opposite. Not as if he'd left the party in a huff.

"Are you alright?"

Blaise just nodded slowly, staring into the dregs at the bottom of his wine glass. "It's been a long week."

"It has," Harry agreed. "I'm sorry about Luna. She didn't mean to upset you."

Blaise vanished his glass with a flick of his wand before giving Harry his full attention. "It seemed a better idea to leave than to say something that would make you angry."

Something in Harry jumped at that. Really, he should be calling out Blaise's lack of concern for Luna or any other of his friends, but a selfish part of him liked that the Slytherin's concerns were purely centred around him. That was why he never put up a fuss about Blaise's clear disinterest in being nice to Ron and Hermione, let alone befriending them. Harry realised that he quite liked the idea of having a friend that was purely his own, especially with how much Blaise had stated that he had Harry's back. Time would tell, but there was a strange form of possessiveness when Harry considered that Blaise was only interested in him.

"I should have expected she'd have some insanity to share," Blaise said dryly, "but as I said, it's been a long week."

Monday in the Hospital Wing, Wednesday in Flitwick's practice room, and today in Slughorn's party. Harry felt he'd seen quite enough of Blaise and that was without thinking of the detention with Flitwick tomorrow evening.

"Still got Friday and something could happen over the weekend," he teased.

"You have such a gift for saying the wrong thing, Potter," Blaise said with a little groan.

Blaise smiled a little, pushing himself away from the wall. It made him seem a lot more inviting and Harry incredibly aware of the space between them. Harry hated when people treated him like a bomb, so he moved towards Blaise, wanting to communicate that everything was still fine. Now within arms-length of Blaise, he was once again uncomfortably aware of how good he smelt. It was an intrusive thought and one that he hoped to ignore.

"I'm not mad," Harry said.

Blaise stepped a little closer, making the scent of him even stronger. The gentle smile on his face lingered. "I know. You're awfully accommodating of me," he murmured. "Why?"

Harry swallowed a little at the warmth in Blaise's eyes. "I want this to work out."

"This?"

"I don't want you to feel helpless. I know all about helplessness," Harry spat, thinking about his summer house arrest with the Dursleys, seeing Sirius at Grimmauld Place, and watching him fall through the veil. It was still a violent jolt to think of Sirius, like breathing through the twisting of a knife. "I wouldn't want someone else to go through that, especially someone willing to help me."

Silence descended upon them as Blaise considered his words.

"You're a modern-day saint, Potter," Blaise said, shaking his head not in disbelief, but a sort of amused acceptance. "Everyone knows you have a temper, so I'm a little confused as to why you give me so much leeway."

Harry thought of Hermione's never-ending nagging and zeal for authority and Ron's jealous stints. "Part of friendship is that you accept your friend's flaws," he said with a shrug.

"And it's entirely your fault, you know?" Blaise said.

"Oh?"

"Let's say I have… these flaws you speak of." Blaise rolled his eyes as if the idea was ludicrous, and Harry smiled because this was the Blaise he was most familiar and comfortable with. Arrogant, snide and occasionally funny. The warmth in his eyes wasn't something he thought he could handle. "You're the one putting in so much effort to try and be friends with me," Blaise said.

Compared to Ron and Hermione, Harry found himself contemplating the nature of his responses far more with Blaise. It wasn't like navigating a minefield, but Blaise in a way had become a sort of pet project of Harry's. There was a sincerity to Blaise behind the conceit, and Harry enjoyed seeing the cracks in the Slytherin's armour.

"Sometimes, the things in life that pay off the most require the most effort. The struggle can be just as rewarding as the result, you know."

Blaise peered at him and Harry half-expected an answering sneer to accompany that deep look, but he smiled. "You're lucky I'm a little tipsy or I'd have laughed otherwise," came Blaise's drawled reply. He stared at his empty hand. "I shouldn't have vanished that glass."

Despite that dismissive reply, Harry knew that Blaise's smile had been genuine. That was enough for him. Baby steps. "Do you even like the wine?"

"It's far too sweet and tart for my tastes," he said with a laugh, "but if I'm to be the descendant of a mass-murdering vampire duchess, I deserve to be a little drunk."

Harry shrugged, conceding that Blaise needed this little out. Though, Harry would freely admit if asked that he wanted to see him drunk. "If thinking that makes you feel better."

Nodding back down the corridor, Harry walked back towards Slughorn's office, pleased that Blaise followed him without question.

"It only gets worse from here on, doesn't it? All the insanity you're involved in reaches its height at the end of the year," Blaise said. "Fuck, it's May."

"Language and stop being dramatic," Harry deadpanned. Thinking of something that would get Blaise to wipe the anxious frown on his face, he said the first thing that came to mind. "Stop worrying, it's unattractive."

It was ironic for him to be saying this. Katie Bell had returned this morning, and she'd clearly been Obliviated and subject to the Imperius Curse. Malfoy would, and should, be consuming his every thought, but he found himself incredibly distracted lately. That didn't mean he wasn't worried, but it wasn't consuming every idle thought. The shrunken book in his pocket, The Intrepid Duellist's Essentials, was but one source of distraction.

"Sod off, Potter," Blaise said, a little louder than perhaps necessary.

A Ravenclaw girl they passed gave Blaise an offended look as if Blaise had offended her with his words. Harry, meanwhile, just smiled. "Hopefully no Death Eaters make a sudden appearance."

"I'm always attractive," Blaise muttered to himself.

Harry wisely kept his silence.

They made an interesting duo as they returned to the party. At least that much was made clear by the eyes that followed them as they made their way back to the table.

"Where'd Neville go?" Harry asked in question to the empty seat beside his own.

"Herbology first thing tomorrow," Ron explained.

"Probably tired of all the melodrama," Hermione said. "Merlin knows I am."

Davis now sat in Blaise's seat, looked at Blaise, tilting her head in question. Blaise gave her a single head shake and settled into the seat next to Harry, looking entirely unruffled. Her lips thinned in response to his silence, and she sighed.

"You took your time," she stated.

"I'm sure you had some thrilling conversation without me," he said.

"No, Ron and Hermione were just arguing to cover up their attraction to each other," Luna said.

Hermione stared at the petite blonde, doing her utmost to ignore the blushing redhead at her side. "Pardon?"

"Kiss already," Davis said, leaning forward on her elbows with a smirk. "Please put us out of our misery."

Harry looked at his blushing friends. "It'd be about time."

Surveying the table, he noticed that Blaise was watching Ron and Hermione with the pinched expression of someone watching a catastrophic car crash, Luna was now smiling vacantly at the chandelier above them, and Ginny met his eyes with a slow smirk that derailed Harry's thought process. He knew it was clearly some lip gloss, but her lips had never been so kissable. Looking beyond the cupid's bow beckoning him, he met Ginny's hooded eyes.

Throwing caution to the wind, Harry moved to meet her, delighting in the sudden look of surprise in Ginny's bright brown eyes. It was a chaste kiss, but it had heat pooling in Harry's groin all the same.

Ron nodded at Harry, and he sighed in relief. Harry wasn't sure he'd be accommodating of Ron's sudden need to be a good big brother.

Hermione smiled at him brilliantly. "About time, Harry."

"Lovely," Luna said with a clap.

"At least the queue is gone," Blaise muttered to Davis.

The moment broke with Blaise's snide comment, but he didn't move to retort when Ginny's foot pressed against his own.

They all turned to face Ron and Hermione, the latter taking up a disposition more akin to a soldier under siege than a teenage girl being asked to kiss her crush. "What."

"Hermione is just a little nervous," Luna said. "The Wrackspurts are congregating around her."

"No, I'm not!" Hermione glared at them all. "Absolutely not."

"What's a Wrackspurt?" Tracey muttered.

"Don't ask," Blaise said desperately. Harry was certain if he had his wine glass he'd be taking another long sip. Blaise cleared his throat. "Hurry up, will you?"

Ron brought his hands to his chest and sighed dramatically. Despite the faint blush on his face, he seemed surprisingly confident to Harry. "I guess I'll have to go find Lav – "

"Don't you dare!" Hermione growled.

Ron grinned and leaned in. "Well?"

"Come on, come on, come on," Harry muttered under his breath. His pleas drew a snort from Ginny.

Ron quickly snuck a smooch that Hermione half-fought, half-melted into. It wasn't as romantic as Harry and Ginny's kiss, at least in Harry's opinion, but it was oddly fitting.

Blaise threw a couple of galleons at Davis with an ugly grimace. "I'd be annoyed about losing our bet, but I'm happy enough that this pussyfooting has ended," he said.

"Honeydukes, here I come," Tracey sang.

"With that, me and Luna better leave to make curfew," Ginny said. She kissed Harry once more, frazzling what little thought process he had going. "I'll see you tomorrow, Harry."

She waved. "Goodnight everyone."

"Bye everyone," Luna said. "I hope you all sleep well but beware of Hypnos' thrall. It's strongest during late spring."

"Sure," Blaise said slowly. "Sleep well."

Luna looked like she was on the urge of hugging the Slytherin, but she thought better of it and waved at him. "I'm sorry."

Blaise waved her off with a smirk.

"She's precious," Davis said after they'd left, sounding like she wanted to laugh.

"Very," Hermione said flatly.

Ron coughed.

"I don't need to give you the speech, do I Harry?"

"I won't hurt her," Harry said.

"She has six brothers."

"I know."

"Good."

"Now that that is out of the way, let's get to business," Blaise said.

He cast a spell unfamiliar to Harry, turning the surrounding sounds into near silence. "If you have any of your own privacy spells, please share."

Tracey flicked her own wand. "Local Confundus. Anyone who walks to our table will feel a strange sense of vertigo."

Harry smirked. "Muffliato."

"What's that?" Blaise asked.

"Lean out of your chair."

Davis leaned further and further out of her chair. "Like static," she remarked. "You have to teach us that."

Blaise leaned as well. "I agree."

"Make it worth my while," he said to the Slytherins.

"I'll think of something," Blaise said with an intense squint at him.

"Pity you're a taken man," Davis said, blowing a kiss at him.

"Remember my sister, Harry," Ron said dryly.

Eyeing the smirk Blaise and Davis were sharing, Harry snorted. "I don't think you have anything to worry about Ron."

"From Davis at least," Hermione said.

"Let's stop with the last names. I'm Tracey," she said, pointing to herself. "This is Blaise."

"You forget sometimes, huh?" Ron asked.

Tracey nodded. "My memory is under Hypnos' thrall. Or something."

Hermione gave Tracey a wry smile, not wanting to let her get going. "Let's… see this list then."

Abbott, Hannah

Nice girl, aspiring healer. Not currently in Hogwarts. Get in touch? E.

"I can't read Greengrass' handwriting," Harry stated. He wasn't sure it was Daphne's, but he thought it was a good guess. He knew Blaise's was a legible cursive and such an ornate script didn't seem to be Tracey's style.

Tracey laughed pleasantly. "I can't either. She's Daphne now, remember?"

"Right, Daphne's handwriting," Harry said.

Hermione tapped her wand against the parchment and Greengrass' spidery handwriting became legible.

Her mother is well-connected amongst the Ministry. I would recommend at least sending an owl. I agree with Tracey - E.

Bones, Susan

Strong sense of right and wrong. Very good with a wand, likely courtesy of her late Aunt. Priority. I highly doubt she'll be antagonistic, but if nothing else, I can serve as a go-between as we're friendly. Though if you were to convince Macmillan, she'd follow 100%. They're close, let's say. O+

Boot, Trevor

I'll speak to him. O.

"What does that even mean?" Hermione asked, eyeing Blaise weirdly.

"Don't worry your little, bushy head about it, Granger," Blaise said.

"Hermione," she corrected.

Blaise hummed in answer.

Harry had a lot of questions, but Tracey's immediate eye roll had made him realise that if it was something that even Tracey didn't want to touch, he didn't want to touch it either. At least not now.

Brocklehurst, Mandy

Very unlikely. After Edgecombe's little accident with Granger's cursed parchment, the odds of any alliance are slim. Her mother is a cousin of Edgecombe's mother and is very determined that her daughter keeps her head down, particularly with the Dark Lord about. If an opportunity arises, I would recommend not taking it. Don't even think about it actually. T.

Brown, Lavender

Archetypical Gryffindor. O.

"What's this meant to mean, Tracey?" Ron asked.

"It's self-explanatory," Tracey and Hermione said in unison.

They both stared at each other, bewildered.

"Though stereotypical," Hermione added, seeking to distance herself from the Slytherin.

Bulstrode, Millicent

If there ever were a Slytherin to ally with Potter who wasn't brain-dead, like us, it would be her. Too bad her family is practically in vassalage to the Parkinsons. D.

Corner, Michael

Terry's friend. He goes where he follows, and if his ex-girlfriend, Weasley for those with poor memories, is involved, he won't hesitate. O.

Harry grit his jaw.

Cornfoot, Stephen

Who? Hufflepuff in my Herbology class, Tracey. He's pure-blood and ambivalent to anything other than attempting to show up Longbottom. Perhaps use Longbottom's involvement as a means to provide Cornfoot another way to explore his one-sided rivalry. Either way, it'll be a difficult case. A.

Crabbe, Vincent

Ha. Of course. O. If he's convinced, I'll actually snap my wand and become an ascetic. T minus.

Davis, Tracey

C'est moi. Idiot. Don't be rude, Blaise. Our idiot. I resent this.

Entwhistle, Kevin

How he's still at Hogwarts is beyond me. Absolutely hopeless. Recruit him at your peril. A. What Blaise is trying to say is that Entwhistle is just completely useless with a wand. I don't think he's worth the effort.

Finch-Fletchley, Justin

Muggleborn with a tendency to ramble on and on about how broken Wizarding society is. Peddle some nonsense about revolution. E.

Finnigan, Seamus

Thomas' best friend. He'll follow. O.

Goldstein, Anthony

American ancestry. He's a fan of Potter's, to be blunt. O.

"A fan?"

"According to Daphne, he finds your resolution in face of the Ministry inspiring," Blaise explained.

Harry was quite flattered, honestly.

Goyle, Gregory See Crabbe.

Granger, Hermione

OOOOOOOOOOE. Yes.

"Those are my grades," Hermione pointed out.

"Yes," Tracey repeated.

"It's a good analogy for your commitment to Potter and Weasley," Blaise joked.

"Harry and Ron," Hermione corrected.

Blaise just sighed.

Greengrass, Daphne

A reluctant E. Just an E? Please, you're lucky she's even going along with this.

Hopkins, Wayne

Like Entwhistle, he's a complete dud with a wand. It's up to you, Potter. I say don't bother. D.

"People can be taught, you know?" Hermione said.

"Do you have the time to do that?" Tracey retorted.

Jones, Megan

Great fun like me. Hufflepuff Chaser, so she automatically admires Potter's Quidditch ability. She's fairly close with Susan and Ernie, so it shouldn't be a large stretch to get her into the fold. E+.

Li, Sue

First violinist in Flitwick's quartet. She's done a very good job of staying under the radar; great marks in Charms, Arithmancy and Herbology. I'd love to say that she'd be a good prospect, but she's very skittish. A. This is code for Blaise tried to flirt with her and she didn't immediately fall for his charms. I don't really know much about her. She's the daughter of a well-respected Hit Wizard, Cheng Li, and a Muggle. I'll have to go with Blaise.

Longbottom, Neville

Surprisingly competent these days. I've noticed that his wandwork in DADA has improved massively. He would jump to assist Potter – revenge is a tempting mistress. O. New wand, Daphne. I think the old one was just a terrible fit. O. He has strong morals and is Potter's friend. O+.

MacDougal, Isobel She's in our study group for Arithmancy. Very serious, very smart, and very apolitical. The only thing she cares about is becoming an Unspeakable. It'd be a hard sell. A/P.

"You have a study group for Arithmancy?" Hermione asked cautiously.

Blaise hummed. "You handle this, Tracey."

Tracey gave Hermione a cool look. "Interested?"

"If you don't mind?"

"You don't need them, Hermione," Ron said with a snort.

Harry was inclined to agree. She was top of the year without needing any outside help.

"It'd be nice to have people to study with for our exams," Hermione said with a blush.

Tracey and Blaise shared a long look, both blank-faced and deadly serious.

The brunette broke first, smirking deeply. "We'll put you on probation," Tracey said with audible relish. "No lecturing, no look-at-me-Professor-Vector-I'm-so-smart-and-everyone-else-is-hopeless, and no nagging."

"We've seen how you act around Harry and Ron," Blaise explained with a smile at Hermione's aghast blush. "We're not going to put up with it."

Ron looked at the Slytherins with awe and respect. "You mind extending those conditions to her everyday interactions with us?"

"I can consider it," Tracey said with a wicked smirk at Blaise.

"Avis."

Ron jumped in his seat, half-expecting a fleet of canaries to bombard him, yet Hermione hadn't even lifted her wand.

"That was mean," Harry said, laughing hard.

Hermione was still blushing violently, but she chuckled a little herself. "Just a little."

"There's a story there," Tracey remarked.

Blaise's gaze rotated between Ron and Hermione. "An abusive story."

Ron's look of vindication had Harry snickering.

Macmillan, Ernest

A bit snobbish (nothing compared to Blaise), but he's decent enough. He's fond of Potter. O. I resent that.

Malfoy, Draco

Absolutely not.

Harry agreed with that. Absolutely not indeed.

Malone, Roger

Who? Yes. Who? There's only 40 people in our year, and it's frighteningly easy to just… not know people. Strange. Irish Ravenclaw. He's Muggleborn, and he's struggling to keep up with NEWT standard. I don't know anything else honestly. I'll say P. P for Piss Poor. Witty.

"And you were on my case about my lack of wits," Ron said with a laugh.

Tracey shrugged. "We all have our bad days."

Moon, Lily

I think she's a Gryffindor? That's about it. I have nothing. Pureblood from New Zealand. Quite shy. We were partners in Ancient Runes. She was very unremarkable, and I get the feeling that she just doesn't want to interact with people. D.

"Lily's like that," Hermione said with a sad smile. Nott, Theodore

Would sooner castrate himself than be remotely associated with Dumbledore (and that means you, Potter). Absolutely a T. Apt. Far too graphic.

"That's disgusting," Hermione muttered, "but I can believe it. He's always leering at me when I'm in the Library."

"What?" Ron demanded.

"Save the caveman routine for later please," Blaise said. Parkinson, Pansy

Of us three, I know Pansy the best. No. Way. T-.

Patel, Parvati

Another archetypical Gryffindor. O. She'll join if her sister joins. They have a bit of a rivalry going on. O.

Patel, Padma

I'll speak to her. O. Again, everyone but Tracey stared at Blaise. He smirked back.

"I think I get it," Hermione said, giving Blaise the gimlet eye. "Don't lead them on."

"Hermione being pragmatic," Tracey said with a smile. She nodded appreciatively. "About time."

Harry thought back to the other names in the list. It hit him like a Bludger. "You and… Terry?" Harry asked.

"You're gay?!" Ron yelled.

Harry, still gobsmacked, sighed with relief that the muffliato held.

Making eye contact with Harry, Blaise shrugged. "Is that a problem? If it makes you feel better, I'll remind you that Padma is a girl's name."

Harry gulped, feeling incredibly anxious for a reason beyond his understanding. Surely, Blaise should be the one feeling under pressure, not Harry. "No… no problem at all."

Ron blushed violently at the cold look in Hermione's eye. "No. I'm glad you like blokes."

Blaise's eyebrows did their trademark ascent. "Really?"

"Oh yeah," Ron said in a conciliatory tone.

Tracey and Hermione just stared at Ron.

"And girls," Ron murmured into the silence.

"Wow," Tracey said in a trailing whisper. "Amazing. Ron the pillar of acceptance."

"Exactly," Ron confirmed.

When Blaise stopped watching Harry, he allowed himself the luxury of breathing before looking back to the parchment.

Perks, Sally-Anne

Left for Ilvermorny in the middle of first year. I only thought to include her for completeness. Anal-retentiveness. Daphne is very anal. If you've read this far, Tracey is currently admiring her new tail.

"Daphne is very good at human Transfiguration," Tracey said in response to Hermione's horror.

"That's horrible! What if she messes up and – "

"Grang – " Blaise halted at Harry's sharp look. "Hermione, she's gotten a lot of practice. Believe me."

"That's still not right."

Potter, Harry

The boy wonder himself. Blaise, what have you gotten us into? Insanity.

Harry, feeling the eyes of the others on him, just snorted.

Rivers, Oliver

See Lisa Turpin since Tracey decided to skip ahead.

Roper, Sophie

Our dormmate. Pansy's lackey. T.

Smith, Zacharias

Try not to mention my involvement. We're not on good terms. E+. Oh. Blaise has always had a talent for understatement. As far as Smith is concerned, Blaise doesn't exist, so bear that in mind if you try and approach him. Though with the rumours flying around the school… A+ at best and D at worst.

"Another?" Harry asked, torn between disbelief and annoyance.

Blaise actually looked a little embarrassed. "I'd rather not contemplate Smith's existence right now if you don't mind."

Thomas, Dean

We were partners for a project in Ancient Runes in fifth year. He was very nice, and we all know how he stood up for Potter to Umbridge. O+. Glowing commendation, Tracey. I agree though. O. Crush? You could do far worse. Parkinson would eat me alive. Also, don't hex me, but go fuck yourself, Daph. 😊

"Daphne sometimes needs a firm hand," Tracey explained in response to Hermione's grimace and Ron's chortle.

"Right," Blaise deadpanned. "The only firm hand she needed was on her wand when she replaced all your fingers with thumbs."

"Daphne seems scary," Ron offered.

Tracey rolled her eyes. "By Daphne's standards that was mild."

"That makes it better?" Hermione asked.

"Well, it was easy to reverse," Tracey said matter-of-factly.

Turpin, Lisa

Ravenclaw. Loner apart from her boyfriend, Oliver. You'd somehow have to convince both of them. I don't think it's likely though. They just want to be left alone. D. Her father was murdered not even a week ago. You could capitalise on the grief, but I don't think she'd respond well to that. Let her come to you, as unlikely as it is. D.

Weasley, Ronald

O.

"I'm kind of disappointed," Ron admitted.

"Get used to it," Tracey said with a sniff.

Zabini, Blaise

And the catalyst for all of this. O+++. Found your sense of humour, Daphne? I'm committed as Potter knows. O++++ The things I do for my one true love, Blaise. How I love him. O+++++. You are actually revolting.

"Well, that was a fun read," Hermione said with a pleasant smile. "We have our targets for reviving the DA."

It was. Harry had a particularly vivid image of the three of them crowded around a scroll of parchment, jostling each other, laughing, and hexing each other before putting quill to parchment.

"Your little Defense group," Tracey stated.

"We're going to revive it over the weekend," Harry confirmed.

Tracey shrugged. "It's a start."

"I'd say keep us posted, but we're going to be seeing each other tomorrow in detention," Blaise said with an eye roll.

"Can I ask a question?" Ron asked.

"I encourage you to ask as many as you can, Wea – Ron," Blaise drawled.

Ron didn't even react to his comment. "Are you two…?"

"Absolutely not," Blaise repeated. He turned to Tracey with an accusing look. "I only took... forty minutes to get ready?"

Ron and Harry snickered at the uncertainty in Blaise's voice.

"Another reason I wouldn't date him," Tracey said with a snort. "Blatant lies. More like well over an hour."

Hermione offered her own barbed comment. "Well, you do give off the impression of putting in a lot of... effort."

Taking in Blaise's figure-hugging suit and the way he carried himself, Harry could only agree with her. He strutted about like Fleur had used to. "He really does," Harry said.

"What have I done to deserve this?" Blaise muttered lowly, once more reflexively reaching for a glass that wasn't there.

"Exist," Harry said blandly.

"Yes, I'm coming to the conclusion that existing has been the point of difficulty in my life," Blaise drawled.

"That's a bit... dark," Tracey offered in the ensuing silence.

"I'm still tipsy. I can be as morbid as I want," Blaise snapped. He shook his head impatiently, seeming to have gained a moment of lucidity. To Harry, he still didn't seem that drunk to begin with. "Besides, this is all Harry's fault. Seriously."

Harry jerked a little at the smoothness of Blaise's baritone around his name, and thinking of Ginny, he decided that he may just have a big problem.