𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 | f. weasley

sixty-four

FRED HAD SOMEHOW MAGICALLY CONVINCED the Tykes to let himself, George and Lee accompany them to Hogsmeade. Considering this was the first time Cassie was going there (from school, with all her friends), he wanted to be a part of this glorious moment of her life. Dean and Delilah had been the quickest to agree, Blaise being the one to gatekeep the 'group quality time'; this was the first time they'd been hanging out since the announcement of the winners and the last thing Blaise Zabini needed was Fred Weasley bum-chumming his way into the group. 

After Cassie's puppy eyes and pouts, Blaise had melted (much against his will) and agreed to Fred and his disastrous prankster trio to join the Tykes. Nothing could beat the pure joy on Cassie's face when Blaise groaned and mumbled 'Fine, they can come'. 

And that's how Blaise was stuck in this situation, crammed between Fred and George in a booth of the Three Broomsticks, Fred conveniently hogging his usual spot beside Cassie. He wasn't jealous or anything — everyone in the Tykes (with the oblivious exception of Cassie) knew that Fred fancied the girl — yet he found himself furthermore annoyed at the two of them together. 

So giggly. 

So touchy. 

Ugh. 

Couldn't they get a room already?

"So, Zabini, what are your thoughts on Malfoy?" George turned to face Blaise.

"Why do you want to know?" Blaise gulped. George looked rather intimidating at the moment. It had just come to his attention how big and buffed the Weasley was. 

"It changes everything we feel about you," George shrugged truthfully. 

There were two ways to answer this. 

One was to take their side and shit-talk about Draco which would mean Blaise was officially in their good books but get cast aside by every Slytherin to ever exist (since Draco called the shots).

The second was to defend his (second) best friend of eight years and remain in his good books but be forever looked down upon by Cassie's possible future boyfriend and his family. 

Actually, there was one more option...

"Look I'm going to be honest," he began, turning to look at George in the eye, "Draco's been my best friend since childhood. If you expect me to shit-talk about him, you're mistaken. I'll admit, he's not the best person and has been awful to you and your family and I'm not going to defend or stand by those actions. But regardless, he is still my friend and I care about him a lot. He has a huge scope for improvement. I just hope he realises and works on that soon,"

There was a beat of silence. 

George turned around to look at Lee who had been listening in on the conversation and exchanged a few unspoken words and then return to settle his scrutinizing eyes on Zabini. 

"Blaise," he began, building on the tension created. Blaise noted how George used his first name instead of his last. Hopefully, this was a good sign. 

"We like you," George nodded, breaking into a grin. 

"Wait, really?" Blaise was shocked. He didn't expect the truth to work. Well, the truth always works but he didn't think it'd work with them. 

"Wait, we like Blaise Zabini?" Fred suddenly said, turning to this conversation and away from the one he was having with Delilah and Cassie. Cassie jabbed him in the stomach with a bemused smile to which Fred spun around and sassed saying, "Everyone gets to make their own decisions okay, don't rush the process,"

"Yes," George gave an affirmative nod to Fred. Once again, they shared a look with each other, as if telepathically communicating over whether he was worth their friendship.