Eyes on the Stars Feet on the Ground

The Black Widow

"Welcome to my home Cielo," Blaise let Cielo pass through the gates guarding his mansion, "be thankful. You have received a privilege that few people, purebloods included, receive."

"I'm very thankful you've invited me over," Cielo responded, "although it's more the invitation than the location that makes me happy."

"You're such a sap," Blaise gagged, "whatever. Mother wishes to dine with you, so we'll be meeting her for dinner. In the meantime, we can use my quidditch pitch, play chess, or do something else."

"Chess it is," Cielo decided, "uhm, where's the chessboard?"

"In my room," Blaise rolled his eyes, "follow me you ridiculous child."

"I'm only a year younger than you," Cielo muttered under his breath. Blaise was as Blaise as ever.

"That's Blaise for you," Cielo chuckled at the vision, "he was so prickly then."

"He isn't prickly now?" Eleanor raised an eyebrow, to which Cielo conceded defeat. Blaise was prickly after all.

"I brought you a gift by the way," Cielo pulled a wrapped present out of his robes, "I saw it in the store, and immediately thought of you."

"Thank you," Blaise hesitantly took the gift, "Mother has procured a gift for you as well. I'll give it to you later."

'No need to feel so stifled,' Cielo thought, 'would it kill you to be nice about it?'

"Why are my thoughts being heard?" Cielo's eyes frantically moved between the vision and Eleanor, "Elly, did that thing just voice my internal thoughts?"

"I think so," Eleanor nervously replied, staring at the vision, "this is no good."

"He looks so upset," Bianca looked over the boy who was her son, "I don't like it."

"It will be alright Bianca," Regulus puts a reassuring hand on his younger sister's shoulder, "no need to panic."

"Thank you Regulus," Bianca appreciated the comfort Regulus brought her. Her older brother was a pillar of strength to lean on in times of stress, like learning you're going to have a kid and meeting his adult form. Regulus was great at supporting her during such moments.

"This is my room," Blaise showed Cielo into a medium sized bedroom, "I'll go get my chess set from the closet."

Cielo settled on the floor, unsure of how he should behave. This was his aunt and cousin's home, yet he felt more uncomfortable than he had ever felt at any press event Uncle Xeno had taken him to. He simply couldn't relax, especially with the his aunt's penchant for having the males around her dying.

"I found my father's set," Blaise settled next to Cielo, "white or black?"

"Black," Cielo took the chessman from the box, "how was your first day of Winter break?"

"Uneventful," Blaise set his pieces down, "alright men, set up we're doing strategy f."

"Yes General!" the little players saluted as they marched into the normal chess set up.

"I should have brought my men," Cielo pouted, "I have a disadvantage."

"He's so stiff," Eleanor complained, "where's the relaxed, chill, if not a little flirty, Blaise Zabini I know?"

"He hasn't grown up yet," Cielo smiled, "he never got much love as a child. His mother was too busy seducing and killing men. Having a cousin opened him up to a pipeline of feelings and affection he'd never experienced. At least that's what he told me."