Too Sweet || Blaise Zabini

Most of us are gentlemen now.

The Zabini estate was big. The house resides in the middle, brown bricks and huge windows. The ceiling was high, Blaise wasn't even close to touching it. The grounds that covered the space around the house were green and lush, magic ensuring it never looked dull.

Mrs. Zabini got her house from her mother when she passed, and she has taken care of it like it was her lifeline. She prided herself on her surroundings, even if nobody was visiting the family. You never know when someone will stop by and judge where you live.

Blaise enjoyed the cleanliness of his house, a sharp contrast to the boy's dorm at Hogwarts. He was pretty clean and his roommates too, but nothing like the freshest smell his home always seemed to have. No matter what was cooking, it always smelled like linens, something that was unachievable at his dorm. Trust him, he had tried many many times.

He apparated in front of the wooden door that opened to his mother's sanctuary. He was wearing a fancy outfit, a buttoned shirt and some trousers. His mum always requested he looked sharp, and he didn't want to upset her, especially if he was meeting the new addition to his family. He sighed and knocked on the door, not wanting to startle the people inside.

In an instant, his mother was greeting him. Her curly hair was tied back in a bun and her evening gown was immaculate. She had a little extra height thanks to the heels that adorned her feet.

"Hello, my darling." Her voice was smooth as silk. "Is that the shirt I bought you?" She ran her hands through his arms, brushing away wrinkles that were not there.

"Hey, mum." Blaise hugged her, being way taller than her by a few inches. He missed her, he noticed. This year had been weird at school, and this familiar setting was calming him down.

That calmness was short-lived when a voice called from inside. "Is that him, lover?"

She grinned at her son and pulled him inside. Almost dragging him, she led him to the sitting room where Mr. Wadsworth was waiting. The man has fair skin and a big mustache. Blaise thought it looked a bit ridiculous, but he wasn't going to say anything. The older man was looking at him expectantly, but when Blaise didn't make a move to approach him, he extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Blaise." He gave him a firm handshake, maintaining eye contact. "You can call me Barnaby."

Blaise nodded once. "Okay." He said, his voice quiet. This was always so awkward for him that he completely forgets how to function.

His mother noticed the silence and clapped her hands once. "Shall we have dinner?" She asked, a smile on her face.

Barnaby was up and followed her to the dining room, where some food was already waiting. It was some sort of beef stew with mashed potatoes, a very classic English dish. Blaise was on his way to his usual chair when Mr. Wadsworth took his space.

He reared back and stared at his mum, she just shook her head at him, conveying her words with her gestures. With another sigh, he sat down on a chair he didn't like for the sake of her.

Everyone started eating, the silence heavy in the air. The estate was a bit cold, even when the weather was warmer. A chill ran down Blaise's spine before the conversation started.

"So, Blaise, how has school been?" This was Barnaby, desperately trying to fill the silence.

Blaise was always proper, even when he didn't want to be. "It's been good. Quidditch has been difficult, but we have been having fun."

This made the other man scrunch his nose and take a very telling bite of food. His demeanor changed.

"Barnaby doesn't like quidditch." Mrs. Zabini placed her hands on Barnaby's.

"It's not about the sport, it's about the players." He took a deep breath, which Blaise almost laughed at. "One of them broke my daughter's heart when she was at school and I'm afraid I can't look at the game the same."

Blaise analized his words. He could see where he's coming from but he knew that Blaise was the Slytherin captain. "Times have changed. Most of us are gentlemen now." He meant for this to be funny but no one laughed.

"I raised my son correctly." Mrs. Zabini lightened the mood. "Although he's never brought me a girl home."

"That's what happened with my little Cindy. He never took her seriously." Barnaby said with anger in his tone.

Blaise was weighing his decisions. He could choke himself or Avada Kedavra himself quickly. Then, he came up with the best idea since quidditch. "Actually I'm bringing my girlfriend to the wedding."

His mum stared at him wide eyed. The smile that broke on her face was huge. "Oh, that is just great. What's her name?"

Blaise cleared his throat. "Kali Swan."

This made her gasp, her hand going to her pearls delicately. "The girl that lives over the hills from us? She is just a sweetheart."

"Yup." Blaise popped the P, bored with this whole ordeal.

"Let's meet her, son, and we'll see if my opinion on quidditch players changes." There it was, the same word that all of her boyfriends decided to use on him, even when they didn't know him.

The word son has haunted him for years. Used by men that have no right to call him that, they just use it as a way to get closer to his mum. Blaise has never met his real father if he's even alive.

His mother refuses to talk to him about his biological father and he just has to live with that. He has searched for years and has failed to find him, which means he doesn't want to be found. It's something he has to live with, but he hates random men calling him son, like they raised him.

His mum noticed the way his posture changed and his features tightened. "We are so excited to meet her, darling."

Blaise just nods, staring at the table. He stands up suddenly. "I just remember Camden has an appointment for his leg and he doesn't want to go alone." It was an obvious lie, but he didn't care. "I have to go."

He kissed his mum's cheek and shook Barnaby's hand. "Sorry, I will see you at the wedding. Please remember my three guests."

Without saying anything else he apparates into Hogwarts, leaving his home behind. Now, away from that, he could breathe.