CLOUDGAZING - blaise zabini

fourteen

Blaise frantically flipped through pages in his textbook, seeming a bit unfocused as he scrambled for bits of information to plaster into his essay. He scratched his head every minute or so, tapping on his books and biting his lip as well.

Aurora smirked as she calmly added flourishy words into her essay, reading from a textbook every now and again.

The pair had been in silence for at least twenty minutes now. Aurora looking focused, Blaise looking flustered. Unsurprisingly, several other students from their charms class were scattered about the room, cramming on the very same assignment.

"You alright there, Blaisey?" Aurora whispered, knowing that he was flustered as a first year after their kiss. He'd even tripped over his own pristine slytherin scarf as they'd exited the corridor.

"Perfectly fine, thanks," Blaise spat as he knocked one of his books off the desk by accident. A young Ravenclaw sitting at a nearby table turned to glare at them.

"You sure?" Aurora asked again, enjoying this little game. Flustered Blaise might just have been her favorite Blaise.

"Don't play this game with me," Blaise tried to hold back a smile as he scribbled nearly illegible words onto his page. He was almost finished, thank Merlin.

"What game?" Aurora spoke as she scooted her leg closer to Blaises, brushing up against him. She dropped her pen on the table as she finished her hasty essay.

"Shit, Aurora," Blaise muttered. It was nearly nine now, and curfew was at ten thirty. He wrote even faster, wanting to be done with the assignment. Aurora laughed quietly and began to pack up her things, Blaise finally scratching the last words about his charm onto the parchment.

"Thank god," he sighed, neatly placing his paper in his bag. Aurora held up her hand for a high five, the relief that comes with finishing homework washing over her her, making her temporarily forget about teasing Blaise. He high fived her as gently as possible, hoping to not attract any unwanted attention from the librarian.

"Can I walk you back?" Blaise asked softly. He slung his bag over his shoulder, pushing both his and Aurora's chairs in as she stood up.

"Of course," Aurora replied, stooping down to pick up the book Blaise had haphazardly knocked over. "If you've got the strength to do it," she laughed.

"Oh, shove it," Blaise joked. "I'm completely fine now."

They weaved through the many desks and shelves as quietly as possible, Aurora waving at a few of her friends on the way out. Stepping out of the dim library, Blaise blinked quickly as they made their way back to the center of the castle.

"I've been meaning to talk to you," Blaise said as they went up one of the many staircases. His tone was serious, his brows furrowed. "I need some advice."

"I'm honored," Aurora replied with a smile. "What's up?" Blaise had two distinct moods— he was either cracking jokes or was dead serious.

"I've just been thinking lately," Blaise started, speaking quietly. "I just feel like I've wasted my time here, up until now, you know."

"What do you mean? Blaise, you're incredible. Talented artist, kind, smart— you're so lovable!" Aurora said honestly.

"All I do is hang out with shitbags like Malfoy and his groupies," he spoke.

"You can change that, you know," Aurora responded, looking up at him and smiling. They were almost to the Fat Lady now, and they were the only two on the staircases, other than a rather depressed-looking ghost a few flights above them. "I know some great guys in Gryffindor!" Aurora said excitedly, "and I bet you'd love this guy in Hufflepuff I know, his name's Andrew Warren!"

"You'll have to introduce me," Blaise said with a smile, grateful for Aurora's encouragement. They arrived at the portrait, a sinking feeling in Blaises chest that their night was nearly over.

"Thanks for walking with me," Aurora said, turning to face Blaise.

"Anytime," Blaise said smoothly, finally recovering his cool after the kiss. "Goodnight kiss?" he asked, ignoring his rapid heartbeat.

Aurora looked around, to be sure nobody was watching. She pressed her lips gently to his before waving quickly, turning to the portrait, turning back around, kissing his cheek quickly once more, and then heading into the common room, her blushed face aglow in the warm light of the room.

+++

Absentmindedly fiddling with his robes on his way to the Slytherin common room, Blaise pondered Aurora's advice. Was it too late to make a fresh start? To show people a new side of him?

He thought back to the terrible deeds he'd been associated with, mostly just for hanging around Draco. Mocking first years, lying to teachers, making horrible jokes about peoples families-- all just to ensure he had friends to hang around with.

His heart ached with the weight of his past actions, and he knew he had to change for the better.

The light around him dimmed as he approached the dungeons, the walls growing a bit musty as Blaise stepped on the chilly stone floor.

As he had done so many times during the past six years, he started to enter the Slytherin common room. But just as he was about to step inside, someone tapped his shoulder, and a cool whisper rung out in the hallways.

"Blaise," Draco said.

Blaise whipped around to see the tall boy right behind him, his undereyes dark and his skin paler than ever, even in the dim lighting.

"What do you want," Blaise said, reaching for his wand inside his coat. Something inside him was aching for a change, and he wouldn't tolerate Draco any longer.

"I need your help," Draco hissed, his hand still clutching Blaise's shoulder. He shrugged it off. "I can't go on like this alone."

"The hell?" Blaise spat, "you've been kicking me around as long as you've known me and all of a sudden your asking for my help? Get off your high horse, Malfoy." He turned away from Draco, about to enter the common room, but a blast of magic slammed the door shut, blocking Blaise from entering.

"You've been awful cozy with that Bennett girl, haven't you," Draco sneered, the malice in his voice ringing out in the echoey hall. "Aurora, isn't it?"

Blaise narrowed his eyes, "what about it?"

Draco smirked. "I just, you know, wouldn't want anything to happen to her— if for some reason you wouldn't want to help me out."

"Is that a threat?" Blaise's eyebrows shot up, anger boiling in his chest.

"Just saying, Blaisey," Draco turned to walk away, hands in his pockets and a smirk still on his face.

"Wait, Draco," Blaise called, a sinking feeling in his chest. "what's the job?"

A/N: I'm so so excited to be writing this book again!! I forgot how therapeutic writing can be :) These times are crazy, and it's so nice to have a little escape!

I hope you all are doing well, I appreciate your sweet comments and votes very much!! It always makes my day <3

Also, I've been thinking about starting a Harry Potter zine/webzine sometime soon!! Would any of you guys be interested in that?? Just an idea!!

Thanks again for reading guys, it means the world!