RECKLESS FUN | Blaise Zabini | Au

40- SAINT VALENTINE'S QUARREL

ZOE WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING BEFORE DAWN. She had been doing it for every morning after spitting out the Mandrake leaf so her body's natural clock woke her up right before dawn. It took Zoe a while to realise where she was as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. She turned onto her side and had a sight of Blaise sleeping peacefully. For a minute Zoe watched the defined muscles on his back move as he breathed steadily. It was the first time Zoe had seen Blaise's face appear so peaceful, without any signs of arrogance or his well composed expression which revealed nothing to anyone.

Zoe felt an odd sensation of joy as she recalled the events of the previous night. Her name whispered on Blaise's lips as he moved swiftly on top of her. None of it felt real.

Zoe got up from the bed and the air felt cold against her bare legs. She edged the velvet curtain enough to create a crack she could see through outside the large window. Zoe stood there until she saw the first ray of light. Then she immediately lifted the tip of her wand over her heart.

"Amato Animo Animato Animagus." Zoe chanted, feeling a different sensation take over her body for a short moment: it made her very aware of her limbs and entire form.

Zoe regarded herself. She needed the clothes she had arrived which had been left behind in the walk-in wardrobe which stored Narcissa's old clothes. Zoe could not attend breakfast in Blaise's pyjama top or the gown she had been wearing the previous night.

So, Zoe decided to take the advantage of the fact everyone else in the Malfoy Manor must've been suffering from the indulging of alcohol thus definitely still asleep. She stole one final glance at the sleeping figure in the bed before her. He really looked like a finely carved statue even in his sleep.

Zoe walked through the Manor's corridors, looking curiously around herself while making her way to the wardrobe room. However, to her great disappointment she didn't find her clothes on the floor where she had left them. Zoe figured the house-elf must've gotten to them and taken them to the laundry room. She was left with no other choice but to go through the clothes in the room, hoping she'd find something appropriate enough for breakfast.

Zoe came across a black leather skirt, her eyes widening in excitement. She verbalised her thoughts to herself, "YES, AUNT NARCISSA!"

Zoe found a loose black knit sweater she could wear with the skirt and she dressed herself. The outfit felt like her which Zoe was happy about as she had been trying to mentally prepare herself for more preppy clothes than she normally preferred to wear. The type of clothes a young woman looking to make a respectable pureblood marriage would wear.

Zoe glanced at herself in the mirror. Her voluminous black hair was slightly messier than normally as she hadn't been able to brush it and it had been tangled in Blaise's hands only hours before. Zoe grimaced to herself and hoped it wouldn't reveal anything to anyone on the breakfast table about what she and Blaise had been up to during the night. Otherwise her appearance was normal even though her body felt sore.

Zoe decided she should head to the dining room for breakfast. She found herself to be the first one to arrive. It didn't take long when she was joined by yawning Adrian Pucey and hungover Cassius Warrington. They greeted her and seated opposite her on the long, dark wooden table.

"Good morning, gentlemen." Zoe grinned in amusement, delighted to see them suffering the effects of alcohol.

"How do you look absolutely fine? You were drinking as well last night." Warrington questioned, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"That was nothing. I'm not a lightweight like you. I can handle my drinks." Zoe said briskly.

"Theo definitely enjoyed himself. Him and Pansy disappeared for a suspiciously long time." Pucey remarked, a smirk on his face.