Tarra ~Blaise Zabini

Chapter 23

Tarra Williams got sent back to the infirmary that very day. The day had passed into the night by the time the hexes faded. Her friends didn't visit. She mulled this over as her fingers ran through her fur-covered arm. It was a jink from a second year. The calmest that the group hit her with.

She shivered. She was helpless without her wand as the group raged on her, the mudblood Slytherin. They punched and cursed and hexed and ran away the moment that someone else noticed. True Slyerthins ran before trouble could brew for them.

Tarra hadn't given the names yet. It wasn't out of fear but rather deliberation. She glanced at the Weasley girl. Her red hair splayed across the pillow. Her Gryffindor tie lay on at her bedside. Tarra tugged at her own silver and green tie.

She was a Slytherin and that fact had not changed even when the other Slytherins hated her being. She yanked at the tie. She wanted to be a Slytherin, she thought. She had picked the house herself. She wanted to prove her worth as a muggle-born witch and make them see that she was just as good as them.

That idea felt much more pleasant when she wasn't on the receiving end of curses. Her plan would have to shift from changing deep-rooted opinions to not becoming fish chum.

She wanted to tell Blaise that he was right. She never should have wanted to be in Slytherin with these cruel people. What did everyone else say? There wasn't a witch or wizard that's gone bad that wasn't in Slytherin.

She hugged her knees to her chest. In the dark infirmary, she felt the weight of the fight before her. She thought of the curses that would come and the cruel smiles of her housemates. She doubted that she would make it through the six years ahead of her. She was an incompetent witch who struggled with spells and curses. She could not protect herself.

The infirmary door shifted open. Tarra flinched when she saw the flash of green detailing on the robes. However, when she saw the flash of the diamond necklace she threw the covers off and dashed forward. She flung her arms around Blaise.

He stiffened then he wrapped his arms around her. They embraced.

"You came!" Tarra managed to keep her voice to an excited whisper. She did not want to wake the Weasley Girl and risk scaring Blaise off.

He gave her a stiff and awkward nod.

Her glee ebbed at his solemn expression. He sat on the edge of her bed and put his face in his hands.

Tarra's heart froze. She sat beside him.

"You look like a marble statue. You always do. You become the pinnacle of human beauty in anger, joy, and... grief."

Tarra put her hand on his shoulder. He did not move.

"You were right. I should never have wanted to be a Slytherin. Only a mad person would want to join a house where the founder hated them and the people liked them enough to set a monster loose. And you were right that that hatred still runs deep within the bones and blood of every Slytherin."

Tarra licked her lips.

"I was wrong in wanting to be a Slytherin, but I want to fix my mistake. I want to be happy in Slytherin. I don't want to..."

Tarra shook her head and looked down at her hands.

"I am not a snake like the rest of them. I don't know what to do."

Blaise shifted. A fierce determination overtook the sadness.

"But I am."

An ounce of joy sprung through Tarra at his words. She would not have to face this alone.

She grasped his hand and asked, "So what is the plan, my snake?"

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Man, my writing is rusty.