A Subject's Horror - Book Two

Chapter Three

(Eris Zabini - their mother above)

Moving into our new home in England, one that was unplottable and outside of city areas, had taken less time than one would expect. Then again, we had magic to help speed up the process.

I had in that time fully relearned what Evelyn had originally known via her journals.

Even surpassing her own knowledge in fact due to my own intense urge to study.

Something that had made my tutors happy.

"Are you feeling better, little sparrow?" questioned Madre, Eris Zabini, as she reached out to brush a hand through my hair. "You've seemed to regain some color."

She was a woman that all but screamed elegance and seduction.

There had also been no doubt concerning the love she held for both of her children, something that couldn't be said concerning her husbands.

If she had any free time, she would spend it by my side and answering any questions I might have.

A fact I took full advantage of over the months I had been here.

It was also thanks to her that I knew more about how things worked that books just couldn't explain for me. Not that Blaise didn't also try to help me where he could.

"I'm feeling better, Madre," I answered with a warm smile even as I finished unpacking my personal items, leaving the rest to the house elves. "Though I was wondering if I could take up some muggle classes."

Mainly because the magical world was sorely lacking in normal subjects, and I would like to be able to blend into the muggle world. This would allow me to begin leaving a paper trail there as well that would allow me to apply for jobs or classes.

Not that I doubted the goblins on being able to create realistic fake documents.

I'd rather just have the chance to actually legally gain my accomplishments. Though it would all be new to me for a good part since it was done differently than how it was in the United States.

Which I looked forward to over the next year since I had plenty of time to kill.

"If that is what you want," agreed Madre without hesitation. "I'll have a look into it, see what tutors can be hired. Though that might mean I should hire some human servants."

Right, because we were filthy rich and nobility.

Two months later, and it was time for Blaise to leave for Hogwarts. I had almost been unable to hold my breath as we ambled through the entrance to get onto the platform.

Madre had wanted to use the floo or to apparate, but I had wanted to experience it this way.

I couldn't even deny how spoiled I had become in this world.

"You had better write to me," I ordered Blaise while fighting back my tears, my emotions had seemed to regress along with my age. "If you forget even once, I'll never forgive you."

"It's a promise, Sorella," agreed Blaise as he pulled me into a tight hug that spoke more than words could of his love for me. "Be good for Madre and try to do something other than read."

Which, he wasn't wrong since I had bought tons of books over the months I had been here and always had my face buried in one. This included my personal journals.

My room had gained a lot of large bookshelves in that time as well.

Ones that were filling up quickly.

"There is nothing wrong with reading," I shot back with a glare making him laugh as he pulled away so he could hug Madre. "You not only get the chance to expand your knowledge, but it can also be a great way to escape boredom."

Whole worlds were out there via fiction, something he had yet to truly enjoy.

More for me.

"Right," continued Madre with a clap of her hands as she stepped back away from Blaise, "it's time that you go ahead and get on the train. Make sure to make plenty of friends and memories here, and if you wish to go elsewhere next year just tell me."

Madre had only really brought up Hogwarts since it was where Blaise's father had attended, being from England, and so questioned if he also wanted to do so.

Even if she personally believed that Hogwarts wasn't the best option for us.

"I will," promised Blaise before he ambled forward, his trunk shrunken and, in his pocket, even as he gave us a backward wave. "Keep a look out for my letters."

We didn't stick around much longer after the train finally began to pull away.

An hour later and Madre was leaving to attend another business meeting for one of our investments. This meant I had the house to myself, other than for the house elves.

"Really," I breathed out inside my room, "this is likely going to be one long year."

~ Time Skip ~

Blaise made sure to write to us every week, a letter filled with his day-to-day goings and anything he found entertaining. He had also mentioned only once that he was in the same year as the Boy-Who-Lived and that he seemed to be very scrawny for a hero.

This was an easy sign of abuse.

"Blaise," I cried out with glee the second he ambled off the train making his head shoot up while his eyes locked with my own, "you're back!"

He only laughed as I shot forward and threw myself into his arms.

Right behind him was none other than Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter.

How that happened still left me reeling.

I had mentioned after his first letter that it sounded like there was more to the boy than what met the eye. He had taken that to mean I was interested in the other boy so had worked to befriend the leery child along with that of his two best friends.

Something that hadn't been easy due to his placement in Slytherin.

But it was his acceptance of Hermione that sold the other two.

That and he had been a big help during classes and when they dealt with trying to find out more about the sorcerer stone. This had also all been mentioned in Blaise's letters to me.

Never once did he think to hide things from me.

"Guys, this is my little sister," stated Blaise as he pulled us a bit further away from the train so others could move past us. "Sorella, these are my friends, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter. Though I have to say Hermione is my closest friend."

Which made sense considering he enjoyed intelligent conversations.

But really, this was so totally different from what had been canon that I could almost laugh. I didn't see how it really affected it though since they still had to deal with the trials to get the stone, with Blaise being left to wait outside the room due to the flames for Harry.

Truly, I couldn't wait to see what new changes would come when I joined them next year.