Draco Malfoy, Broken

Chapter 48 (I mean 52) - Hell Hath No Fury....

Published: 7/16/19

***TRIGGER WARNING*** For excessive swearing and offensive terminology

It had been a week since Blaise had gotten out of the hospital wing. His limp was almost gone and his magic had finally reasserted itself. Madam Pomfrey had not easily let him out of the ward. She almost forced an Unbreakable Vow on him to convince him not to use any strong magic until he had healed more. She threatened him with another week in the ward if he went too far. He did enjoy freaking a few key individuals out by just flicking his wand at them and watching them duck down, but he'd taken his healer's warning to heart and gave his word that he'd only use his magic if someone attacked him directly. He could wait a little longer. He had some planning left to do, anyway.

His sojourn in the ward had given him plenty of ideas. Some he had to hold back on. He had to play it right. As much as he would love to reduce them to quivering piles of hippogriff dung, he had to get away with it. He couldn't get expelled. Most of his plans had to scrapped and changed from immense pain to moderately mental scarring. He was required to make an example. People can't just go around touching him without consequences. So, it had been back to the drawing parchment and a little more time stewing.

No one had been crazy enough to try him, since he got out, and he did have back up with him wherever he went. Theo and Daphne were almost always with him, as well as the Draco and his boyfriend. He also picked up a few more escorts on a regular basis. Terry, Ernie, Hermione, Luna, and even Harry's Irish friend showed up every once in a while. Blaise did not like to be babysat, though. He had his wand back and the time was coming where he needed to stalk his prey alone.

It wasn't just about him anymore. Tracey and Alexus had attacked Daphne last week and she had joined him in the hospital ward for his last day in a good amount of pain with a message for him: 'Take it off'. Blaise would do no such thing, even if he could. Tracey was screwed. Daphne had assured him that she was alright, but he couldn't let it slide. He added it to their tab. Draco had also gotten caught alone again when Dawlish kicked him out at the start of class last Thursday and then let Smith and Wayne 'go to the bathroom'. Dawlish was asking for it, now. Blaise couldn't keep letting the insults slide. They had to pay. Nemo me impune lacessit. Draco, Daphne and Theo were his.

Blaise knew they were waiting for him to respond, no doubt wanting to get him kicked out. But Slytherins were cunning and ruthless. Smith and his gang didn't know that he could lace delayed-start into curses or put triggers into them, like the one Dean had. He had a few potions that would serve him well, too. Revenge takes time and he had to do it right. However, he also had other concerns. Draco had been in a surprising state of depression since Blaise had gotten out of the hospital. He couldn't break Draco out of or get him to talk about. Harry had no better luck. Draco nearly shut them out completely, which caused Harry to slip deeper into his own depression. If Blaise didn't know before that Harry was completely dependent on Draco, he did now.

The quidditch thing helped raise Draco's spirits, at least when he flew. Last Friday, when the tryouts came, Draco was nearly shaking with anxiety and nothing Harry could say would ease his mind. Madam Pomfrey had almost banned Blaise from attending the tryouts at all as he had only just gotten out of the hospital ward. He was still limping noticeably, and it was a long hike out to the fields. But he had to go to support Draco, who had a black eye and several new bruises courtesy of Smith and Wayne. He had a feeling that the two had guessed Draco was coming to the tryouts and wanted to rattle him.

But it didn't really matter, competition-wise. There were only four players who tried out for seeker position for the seventh/eighth-year teams. Draco barely had to try as the two seventh-year players didn't even see the snitch once and he found it seven times. Harry only caught it four times, though, Blaise didn't think Harry's heart was in it any more than Draco's was.

McGonagall had picked the two captains. Harry had removed himself from consideration from being a quidditch captain, with the explanation that he "practically hated every person (who wasn't Draco) trying out". Zacharias Smith, with six years of playing on the Hufflepuff team, was chosen for one team, and McGonagall choose Ginny Weasley to head the other team, despite being a seventh year. She and others the seventh years could also play on the House teams, too, like Harper decided to do, as there weren't enough eighth-year students to fill the teams, it was open to them.

In fact, Blaise really didn't think that there were enough quality players from the tryouts to even form one team much less two. The only ones who had played on the House teams, with any promise, were Smith, Harry, Draco, and the two Weasleys. There were a few others, Thomas, the Ravenclaw beaters from two years ago, and a big Hufflepuff chaser he thought was named Bibble or Buggins, but no other students had ever played competitively before. Maybe twenty students in all had shown up. No one from Slytherin besides Draco came, there were only a handful of seventh years, as the rest went for the glory of the House Cup rather the ambiguity of the 'exhibition' teams.

Blaise could see Draco was a nervous wreck when the two captains stepped forward to pick their team, one-by-one. The She-Weasley and Smith weren't exactly on their side, especially with Smith heading the "I hate Draco Malfoy" club. However, if there was one thing Weasley and Smith hated more than Draco, it was each other. They got into a loud shouting match over deciding who was picking first, before Ginny challenged Smith to a chaser match. They passed the quaffle back and forth at increasingly difficult and faster speeds until Smith finally dropped it.

She landed triumphantly, and with some superiority, and scanned the perspective players. Blaise and the rest of the audience expected her to pick Harry, or even her brother, but she surprised everyone by calling out "Malfoy".

Draco winced and looked to Harry, who smiled reassuringly, but was no less shocked.

"Let's go, Draco! I pick you!" she called.

Zacharias Smith laughed and sneered. "Picking the Death Eater?"

"You mean the seeker who caught the snitch the most?" she growled back at Smith, and Draco shakily walked over to the space behind her, giving her a wide berth. He looked terrified.

Blaise considered getting ready a hex ready for both Smith and her, but Smith choose his person, which turned out to be Ron, the best and only keeper of the group.

"Seamus," Ginny called next. Blaise thought he wasn't too terrible, but he hadn't played for any of the house teams. From what he gathered, Seamus played on a summer league in Ireland as a reserve.

"Cadwallader." So that was his name, Blaise thought, but leave it to Smith to pick the next best chaser.

"Terry," Ginny called. Blaise had never seen him play before. He had the build for a beater though. He was glad there were at two people to watch out for Draco on the team.

"Wayne," Smith said. Blaise laughed because the dick could barely hold the quaffle. With Cadwal-whatever Smith now had three Hufflepuffs on his team and the Weasel.

"Dean," She-Weasley said, picking her ex-boyfriend, who'd had filled in for one game two years ago. Dean stood by Seamus, as far away from Draco as possible. He could be a problem, Blaise noted, but the hex was still in place and Terry was already glancing darkly at Dean.

"Bradley," Smith called out and the Ravenclaw beater abruptly pushed by Harry to go over to Smith's team.

As he watched Harry mutter figurative curses at Bradley, Weasley called out suddenly, "Zabini!"

Blaise straightened up and looked around. There was no mistake that she had called him. "I didn't try out," he spat.

"Shut up and get over here!"

Blaise made his way slowly over to her, his wand at the ready. He wasn't in the mood for games. "What are you doing? I don't even like quidditch."

"You showed up. I pick you. Go stand by Malfoy, now," she ordered.

"I am not...."

"Hey, she picked you! My turn! I pick Chambers!" Smith said, picking the last good beater.

"Nott!" Ginny called out. Theo didn't argue with her and just came forward and stood by Draco. Blaise went over to them, now curious as to what her plan was. Draco looked up at him relieved and had they been alone, he probably would have hugged him.

"Potter," Smith said, as though happy about picking Harry last.

Harry wasn't happy at all about going over to Smith's team, and the rest of the potential players, not picked, left dejected, muttering about choices made by the She-Weasley, as their last hopes of playing quidditch dashed.

"Follow me," she said and led her team far away from others and turned around to face them.

"You are joking, right? I don't play quidditch," Blaise said, crossing his arms.

"That's not true. You used to play with Draco," she said, watching him.

Blaise looked at Draco, who shook his head in fear, like he didn't tell her. Blaise looked back to her and grunted, "That was well over five years ago." Before Flint, before the parties.

"Still, would you rather protect Draco in the air or in the stands?" she asked, pointedly.

Blaise tilted his head, annoyed more. "I'm going to be a beater?"

"Nah... chaser. You should be fast. Nott can be the beater."

"I don't own a broom and haven't flown since our first year," Theo said, flatly.

"Well, we will have a lot of training to do. Buy a broom or use the school ones, for all I care."

Dean suddenly interjected, "Hey, if Zabini is chaser... who's the keeper?"

"You are."

"I tried out for chaser!" he yelled.

"You weren't that good of a scorer two years ago. You were better at catching the ball than throwing it. So, shut it. Seamus and Z-Blaise are going to try out being chasers. On this team, you're the keeper!"

"Why are you doing this?" Blaise said, staring at her.

"Because I trust you to protect our seeker! I want to win and I can't worry about the team ripping each other apart."

"And you're not worried about me?" Thomas growled.

"You're just a keeper. Are you going to lose out of spite?" Weasley said, rounding on her ex.

"I'll beat ya up meself if ya do," Seamus grunted.

"I'll play with this team and I'll protect you," Terry said, looking at Draco, who still looked ready to bolt.

"See? We're going to get along fine!" Ginny said.

"Really?" Thomas grunted.

"Why'd you pick me, anyway? You wouldn't have to worry about anything if you just picked Harry," Draco murmured.

"You just proved you're the best, and besides, I want to rub Smith's overgrown nose in it. Freaking prick."

"You could have captained the Gryffindor team and had your whole house to pick from," Blaise pointed out.

"That wannabe Romilda Vane is the seeker. Peakes and Coote are the only beaters that they could find, and I've had enough of them. No, thanks. I already won the House Cup. I want a challenge. Three brand new players, two shaky ones and the best seeker and chaser in the school. We are going to have fun," she said, with a smile.

Draco looked at her, surprised by her praise, but looked back down. "Harry took it easy on me."

"I watched you two practicing before today. I had already decided I wanted you before tryouts, that's why I argued so much for the first pick."

Blaise felt uneasy. He didn't trust any of this. "Why are you doing this, Weasley?" he said, again, pulling out his wand.

"Calm down, Blaise. I convinced Ginny that this would work out," a quiet voice said, coming from behind him.

He turned around and said, in a resigned voice, "Luna."

"Meet our coach and mediator," Weasley said, waving her hand to present the small, blonde girl.

"Mediator?" Dean asked.

"Yes! I will help you all work together better!" Luna said, bouncing on her the toes of her feet. "Let's start by calling everyone by their first name from now on."

"Screw that! I'm not getting chummy with the Death Eaters!" Dean growled and Girl-Weasley cursed him faster than Blaise could.

The team was instantly on alert as she hit Dean with her legendary Bat-Bogey Hex. Blaise was impressed at the younger witch's skill as Dean had bats flying out of his nose and attacking him. He couldn't stop it and Seamus was laughing his 'arse' off.

"So, anyone else care to refuse? I'm going to be like an Auror drill sergeant. What I say goes! No one refuses, no one quits and no one insults their teammates!" she yelled over to Dean and performed the countercurse. She towered over the older Gryffindor threatening him with her wand. "What to try, again, Dean? No? So, what are their names?"

Dean wiped his nose and frowned. "Draco, Blaise and Theodore."

"Theo's fine, Dean," he growled. He had his wand out, too.

"See how well we are getting along, now? Draco?" Ginny said, turning to him.

But Draco was staring away from them, at the ground and shaking. Blaise moved forward, but Luna was already there. She brought her hand up to his face, only lightly touching it. Draco jerked from the contact. He was in a bad place in his head. What happened? Blaise needed to figure it out. The beating that Smith and Wayne gave him the day before, couldn't have been that bad, could it?

"Draco, look at me," Luna whispered, and he obeyed, showing everyone his prominent black eye. "What's my name?"

"Luna," he breathed.

"Yep... and what's her name?"

"Ginny."

"Good... it's good," Luna said and then hugged him, whispering more into his ear. He had tears in his eyes and he hugged her tighter. Blaise couldn't hear what he said back, but Luna didn't let go. She waved Ginny to continue.

"Alright, that's enough bonding. We'll meet up tomorrow morning at seven for our first practice. Anyone who's late is running laps around the pitch."

"You do know I broke my back, legs and arms last week when Dean's buddies decided to beat the fuck out of me and threw me down the grand staircase?" Blaise sneered. "Oh, yeah, I also am wearing an eye patch, if you hadn't noticed." He gestured to his eye. Hand-eye coordination was going to be a problem.

Dean's cheeks twinged a little darker. Terry glared at the Gryffindor, but Ginny gave Blaise a look over, as though deciding whether or not to hex him for his insolence. "You can't fly, yet?" she asked.

"Fly, sure. Running, catching quaffles and getting hit by bludgers is probably not in my recovery plan. Not to mention my lack of depth perception."

"You can work with Theo and fly laps until you both are comfortable on a broom, again. Our first match isn't until November. We won't use bludgers, yet, and Terry can play defense with Dean. Draco will look for the snitch. Plan acceptable?"

"Can Harry come?" Draco asked quietly from Luna's shoulder.

Ginny stared at him and nodded. "Sure, we won't be working on any game plays, not that I think he'd cheat."

"Thanks," Draco said, quietly.

Ginny nodded and said, in a clear voice, "The rest of you can leave, now."

Terry gave the She-Weasley a nod of respect and walked with Dean and Seamus back to the school. Blaise crossed his arms and Theo remained beside him.

"Leave. I want to talk to Draco and Luna alone," Ginny said, her wand still in her hand.

If he had been up to his usual strength, he wouldn't mind trying the small girl. She had survived the Department of Mysteries and the Battle of Hogwarts. She wasn't one to test lightly and he didn't want to be locked in the hospital ward by Madam Pomfrey for another week.

"Last warning, Blaise," she said, with a small smile.

Blaise looked at Draco, who nodded. "We'll be just out of earshot, Captain," he sneered.

"Fine," she said, waving one arm dismissively as they went.

When he had gotten far enough away, Blaise turned and watched. Ginny walked over to Draco, who had been released by Luna. Ginny talked for a bit, but Draco just bowed his head and didn't answer. After a few minutes of her talking, she put her hand forward. Draco slowly it took and nodded. Blaise wondered what brought that apology. Luna? Maybe. Draco hinted that Luna wasn't into guys, but the She-Weasley had been with Corner, Thomas and Potter. He really didn't have any right to judge, as he had more exes than anyone.

Luna took Draco's hand and brought him back to Blaise. "Unharmed and unhexed!" she announced.

"I think I still have a few curses in me," Draco murmured.

"Thank you, Luna. Have fun with Ginny," Blaise tried out his theory, watching her reaction.

"And you have fun with Neville, Blaise!" she shot back with a big smile and went back to Ginny, walking with her to the school.

"Dray, are you okay?" Blaise said, trying to get him to look up.

He nodded.

"That's not enough. Can you tell me what she said?"

Draco wouldn't lift his head, but spoke softly to their feet. "She said... that... she wanted to make up for what she did and would protect me. She said that she was sorry."

"Make up for what?" Blaise growled.

Draco didn't answer.

"What changed her mind?"

Again, nothing. Fucking, fuck. Blaise stepped in closer and took his hand. Draco clenched it tightly, he glanced up once, pleadingly, before lowering his head back down. And fuck some more, Blaise thought, irately.

"Let's go back," he said, and Draco let out a breath of relief, tears in his eyes. He was completely obedient, again. What the fuck happened?

Tryout Friday had been almost a week ago and Draco hadn't shown any signs of coming out of his funk. Every time Blaise tried to help him out of it, he got nothing but dead, unresponsive staring. Flying was the only thing that got his spirits up, but as soon as he saw or heard Dean, he'd shut off his emotions and any progress he made stopped. He wasn't immune from Ginny's presence, either, apology or not. Draco could barely look anyone in the eye and Harry was at his wit's end. Blaise was considering confronting him, again, but the time had come to start his schemes.

After he dropped Draco and Theo off at their classes, he turned to Daphne and said, "Would you like to go for a walk with me?"

"Anytime, Blaise. Where are we off to?"

"The library. We'll start with the small ones first."

"Please tell me it's Malcolm."

"They don't get much smaller than him," Blaise said, and his stalking had paid off when they found him.

Malcolm had taken up hiding in the library, since Harper and the other Slytherins had excommunicated him. He was working on his homework. He was almost innocent... almost. Blaise cast the spell and the trigger, as they walked up to him.

"Hey, Mel, mind if we sit with you?" Blaise said, like they were best buddies.

"No!"

"Oh, don't be like. We're old friends, right?" he cooed and both he and Daphne sat down across from him, his hands interlaced on the table.

"The hell we are!" he shrieked.

"Hush!" the librarian shushed him, angrily.

"I just thought after everything... we could reconcile... let bygones be bygones."

"Yeah, right! You trying to cast something, aren't you?" Malcolm spat, pulling his wand out.

"You could apologize, you know? I could be lenient. I could call off the other Slytherins," Blaise said, casually.

"You! You made them do that!" he half-shouted.

"How? I was in the hospital wing?" Blaise said, with a smile. He both his hands were still empty and in the open.

Witnesses were increasing. He couldn't get in trouble for what was surely about to happen. He laughed a little louder, staring intently at the fifteen-year-old kid

"Asshole!" Malcolm roared, and before the vulture-like librarian could admonish him, Malcolm aimed his wand, sending a wordless curse at him.

"Protego!" Daphne roared, and Malcolm's spell shot back at him, sending him sprawling to the floor.

He was screaming before anyone moved. Blaise smiled as his spell took effect, angry boils broke out all over his body, pus filling them at an excruciating fast pace. Some had burst, leaving rancid, open sores. Malcolm was crying in pain.

"Wow, thanks Daphne! That was a nasty spell you saved me from," Blaise said, in fake relief. "I couldn't get to my wand fast enough."

Daphne's mouth was hung open and she caught on. "Yeah, I can't believe that he would use that spell on you! We came here to make peace with him, too."

Madam Pince was not at all amused. "Mr. Braddock! How dare you try that kind of curse in my library! Detention! Fifty points from Slytherin! And I'm sure your family will hear about this!"

"B-But..." he stuttered in pain.

"But nothing... you two, get him to the hospital ward!" she pointed at two Ravenclaws looking at Malcolm with obvious disdain.

"Are you two alright?" she asked, in a surprisingly tender voice.

"Yes, thank you, I'm still in a lot of pain from my fall. I can't believe he would curse me like that," Blaise said, and put an emphasis on his limp when they walked out of the library. Down the hall, he glanced at Daphne and said, "That was pretty fast, by the way."

"You could have warned me!" she hissed. "Where next?"

"Alexus, but I want to see Fawley first."

"Fawley? Why?" she asked.

"You'll just have to wait and see," he said, giving her a smirk.

Keith Fawley, as pureblood as they make them, was on his way to lunch when they "ran" into him. Blaise was getting to know everyone's schedules well.

"Blaise! Are you doing alright? Nice eye patch," the Ravenclaw said, with a distinctive drawl.

"I do like it. Makes me look like a pirate," he responded.

"What's a pirate?"

"I don't know, but did you confirm it?" he asked, with a smile. Fawley had been one of the nicer ones, one who was inexperienced and on-the-fence sexually when Blaise got to him. He required some wooing, then anyway. Fawley had taken his spot as the resident slag since then.

"I did. I wrote to his older brother. They took him to a muggle fair when he was a kid. Never was the same after. That boggart exam at the end of his third year really unhinged him," Fawley said, waving his hand dramatically. He was clearly on the gay side of the fence, now.

"You didn't mention me?"

"Of course not! 'Sides I explained that his little bro' was being a major dick. He gladly spilled and said to have fun and to let him know what happened!"

"Thanks. I don't think that they would expel me, but I need to be careful."

"Anything for you, Zabini," Fawley said, raising his eyebrows and a wink.

"When you look at me like that, I think you want something," Blaise said, rolling his eyes. If it had happened last year, they would have already had their clothes off, but he had Neville and that was enough.

"I'm up for it... you were always amazing."

"Were. I'm trying out for abstinence," Blaise said, maintaining a healthy distance.

"Those roommates of yours... or is it her?" Fawley asked, glancing at Daphne.

"I'm with Theo," she growled, not sure how to respond to his obvious flirtations.

"You're walking with him, right now," Fawley chuckled. "...but cool your heels. Sorry, I didn't mean to push. There's a rather short list of available guys right now that swing my way."

"That never stopped me," Blaise bragged.

"No... clearly not. I didn't really... know. But you certainly have your ways, don't you? So, is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Any chance you want to brush up on Smith tomorrow sometime?" he asked.

"Full contact?" Fawley asked, with a hint of excitement.

"Make it public, but don't make it too obvious... and if you want to take it further... that's on you," Blaise said, keeping his eye on the outgoing seventh-year boy.

"I'd love to embarrass that knucklehead. He's got a large plug up his bum that I want to wiggle," he said, and Daphne went pale. Blaise sniggered. The kid had certainty grown up out of his parents' traditionalistic values. "Should've heard him bragging about 'his team' winning. Heard you got on a team. What's that about? I thought you only rode broomsticks on the ground?"

Daphne choked a little and Blaise chuckled, "Evidently not. But thanks, again, Fawley."

"Not a problem. You always make things interesting, Zabini."

As they walked away, Daphne shuddered. "I think I feel dirty after that conversation."

"He's not too bad. Squirmer, that one. But he was one of the few I tried to have a serious relationship with."

"You did?" she asked, trying not to sound surprised

"Yeah, in our sixth year, after I stopped the crazy shit. I still didn't like being alone... after everything. It took a lot to convince him to try, too, but we were together for about a month before we did anything and then stayed together for another two. But shit got bad with Draco and we only were off and on after that. Fawley understood and he went on searching for new experiences to explore his sexuality. It was an amicable break," Blaise explained, and she was quiet for a minute.

"Do you... regret breaking up with him?" she asked, cautiously, clearly feeling out the boundaries of their new 'friendship'.

He was glad that he had opened up to her. He couldn't talk about this stuff to Draco and Theo, who were generally unreceptive to relationship talks. Daphne was much easier to talk to. "No. I mean... it was... nice, but he was a little too wild for me. He wanted to get into the heavy stuff after a while... and I didn't. I had enough of it."

"I'm sorry," she said, stopping abruptly to face him.

"Don't... no one needs to apologize. You or Fawley could have hardly known. I was on a runaway broom back then, but Draco saw that I was going too far. He helped me come back."

"But I...."

"You didn't know. I'm not exactly an open book. I was... oh... there he is," Blaise said, abruptly, as he spotted Corner heading to the Great Hall.

He had line-of-sight on him and no one was around. His spell was nearly thirty seconds long and very complicated. It would feed on Michael's emotions as fear was a powerful tool for dark spells. Daphne took her wand out and cast a few wards to Disillusion them. Smart. He finally finished the spell and sent it toward his target. The way he staggered, Michael Corner felt it. He looked around, like he knew what it could have been. But he'd never expect this. Blaise knew that the curse could permanently damage him, mentally, but he had the ability to lift it at any time he wished. That power would come in handy.

Corner was still looking back and forth, like he was scared. The stupid idiot should be. He warned them. He warned them all.

"He felt that one," she noted, when he finally left.

"He's going to do more than feel it. It'll break him," he growled, viciously, remembering when Corner broke his arms.

She looked at him with raised, concerned eyebrows and he smirked.

"Don't worry, no physical pain, what-so-ever," he chanted.

"Why doesn't that reassure me?" she said, with a hint of fear.

"Wouldn't want to get expelled, now, right? But his might take a little bit to rev up. Now the girls."

"Can I help or am I just here to cover you?" she said, dryly.

"I was planning to spike Fay's drink with a potion, if you want to do that, but the spell I mean to send to Alexus is rather long and complicated."

Daphne frowned and Blaise smiled. "You could summon some water to douse them at lunch today."

"Why?"

"You'll see," he chuckled.

"Okay, I think I can get Fay's drink spiked, too. But I might need a distraction."

"I think there'll be one at lunch," Blaise said, headed back to Arithmancy.

Alexus and Tracey were about to get out of class and they had to avoid being seen by them and as well as Draco and Hermione. Blaise pulled Daphne to the side and pulled out a silvery fabric from his bag. "Come here, I borrowed this from Potter."

"An invisibility cloak?" she breathed as Blaise threw it over them.

"Yep, we might get a little..." he trailed off. The last time they were this close was the night they had sex.

"Yeah, no kidding, but you're not going to get frisky, are you?" she said, jokingly.

"I'll try to keep my hands to myself," he grunted and spotted them as they were coming out. Tracey was scowling and had more makeup on.

"Steady," he said to himself, more than Daphne. He formed the words as quickly as he could and cast it into Alexus's shoulder. She brushed her arm off and kept on walking. Blaise smiled. She hated bugs.

"Got her?" she whispered.

"Yep. Five more to go. We need to hurry. They'll hear about Malcolm and will be on the lookout."

"What about Tracey?" she asked, and he winced. He looked at her eyes, inches from him. "Sorry, Blaise... I...."

"It's fine. My mother got her for me. Not saying I couldn't join in on the fun, but my mom won't remove it for anything. Come on, we might be able to catch Wayne as he comes in from the outside... might get the others, too. This cloak is freaking awesome. I was worried that I'd be stuck trying to sneak up on the bastards."

"Well, shut up about it, idiot," she hissed, and he conceded that she had a point.

They had to be extra cautious when skirting around the halls, but they made it to the Great Hall and up against the wall facing the group of bad guys without getting caught. Michael already was pale and sweating and his eyes darting around, suspiciously. Blaise was all too happy to hit the rest of them, one at a time. Rivers got a trigger activation, while Zach and Wayne would feel theirs in about thirty minutes.

"D-Did you see that?" Michael asked Zach, suddenly. Blaise stopped moving.

"See what?" he asked, looking at him.

"It's over there!" he pointed to the far end of the Slytherin table where the door to the dungeons was.

Blaise grinned and silently handed Daphne the vial of Fay's personal present. She smiled and disillusioned it. She whispered the levitation spell and guided it under the cloak, up over their heads and Blaise lost track of it.

Smith said, concerned, "I don't see anything, Mike. Are you okay?"

"I... don't know...."

Blaise stared at Fay's pumpkin juice goblet and saw the potion being dumped in.

"Nice," he whispered. "Vanish it and let's go."

"Done," she breathed.

He led her to the hospital wing, taking the cloak off outside the door. He pulled her inside and found Malcolm was out like a candle flame. Blaise chuckled, looking at his pock-marked skin, but turned around as the matron came out.

"You are late!" she said, as he had another checkup.

"Hmmm... but I'm sure we arrived just after he passed out," Blaise said, pointing at Malcolm.

Madam Pomfrey put her hands on her hips and she stared at him. "Fine. He's been out for twenty-five minutes. Have a seat. Don't think I didn't hear about you joining the quidditch team. I thought you hated it."

"I do. Or did... or still do," he muttered, not sure anymore. "It wasn't my idea."

"What they forced you to play that dangerous game? Bludgers and quaffles flying around and children falling off brooms!"

Blaise nodded as there was little else he could do and submitted himself to her exams without compliant. She gave him two potions and sent him to lunch with more reprimands about flying around like a wild banshee and winding back in a hospital bed. Lucky for him, the fun in the Great Hall hadn't started, yet. Blaise 'limped' past Smith and the others and took his seat with Harry, Draco, Theo and Hermione.

"Where have you been?" Hermione asked.

"I was in the hospital wing for the last forty-five minutes getting a checkup," he announced, loud enough for Dean, Seamus and the Weasel to look over.

Luna laughed like it was funny and leaned in to share something with Ginny. Blaise didn't know what she would know.

"I saw it damnit! I'm not going crazy!" Michael said, louder and Blaise looked over, innocently. He quickly wiped his wand's memory, before he forgot.

Corner's friends were looking at him worried and confused. Blaise heard a rumor from their third-year exams. Michael had flipped out in the middle of the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam and ran away. It took little prodding to find out his great fear and what his boggart had turned into. Blaise felt his blood go cold as he remembered his. Most students had normal fears, bugs, mummies, vampires... he had people... and so did Draco and Theo. That was when he knew how close they really were. Michael might have ran, but he did nothing. Draco had to save him. The werewolf really wanted his class to cry themselves to sleep that night, but Blaise had to acknowledge that they had to know such evil things existed.

Corner was nearly hyperventilating, now, and looked like he was going to bolt, again, and Zacharias Smith was starting to look uncomfortable, too. Blaise had to work on keeping a straight face.

"How about now?" Daphne whispered.

Blaise looked over at Alexus, who had just stabbed a beetle with her knife, and her two partners-in-crime at her side: Tracey, her face covered in makeup, and Fay, was starting to show spots. It was then that Blaise realized that Pansy was no longer with them. He looked around the room and found her at the Slytherin table with Harper, Alex and Jules. He wondered long that had been going on. He had never gotten with the hot-tempered vixen of Slytherin, as she had tried to get Draco. She was also nothing like Tracey.

"Yeah, go ahead," he said, and his friends all looked up, worried.

"What are you about to do?" Draco said, cautiously. "You can't attack them in front of me." He was trembling.

Blaise grimaced and said, quietly, "Just a little water. People are looking... dry."

Draco didn't believe him and looked down at his food, like he wasn't allowed to watch. Fucking hell, he was going to have to lock him in the bathroom until he fessed up to what happened. Blaise's eyes darted to the Chosen One, looking equally downtrodden. Harry hadn't participated in conversation much in the last week, since Draco stopped communicating. He had jumped into his studies with a hardy interest in the hopes of distracting himself from everything. Potter had only slept over two nights since he had gotten out of the hospital and Draco had warded himself in his bed, where Blaise couldn't reach him. Draco went backwards too quick for Blaise's comfort and they needed answers. At least, Harry wasn't looking guilty. He'd hate to put him on the list, too.

Daphne pointed her wand surreptitiously at the ceiling. Blaise sighed. He really didn't want to get wet, but decided it was less conspicuous. Thunder echoed across the enchanted ceiling and the student body looked upward in surprise as the raindrops started falling.

"Get the doors, Theo," Blaise ordered.

"Pleasure," he said, spelling the doors shut.

Hermione threw a Repelling Charm over their heads. "Is this necessary?"

Down at the other end of the table, reason was lost as the girls struggled to cover themselves and their bags. Chaos erupted when Wayne Hopkins dropped to the floor screaming about his legs and Michael yelled that it was getting closer. Other students were in a panic trying to cover themselves and escape.

"What the hell is going on?" Hermione asked, and Blaise casually shrugged.

Daphne was staring at Tracey though and whispered, "Oh my magic... her face."

Blaise looked. Her makeup was coming off. Her right cheek was dried and cracked, almost hard-shelled. It was slightly green and it was spreading. Mother knows best. Tracey was going to be looking to hurt someone badly for it, too, and Daphne had been her first target.

"What is it?"

"I have no idea," Blaise said. Some kind of skin condition was all that he knew.

The others looked at them and then to where their eyes were. They only got a few seconds to look before Alexus yelped and told Tracey that her makeup had come off. She struggled to cover up.

"What is going on! Finite!" Dawlish shouted at the ceiling, but it did nothing. The other professors did nothing except keep themselves dry. Blaise smirked. It was like the fifth year all over again. But the entrance doors opened abruptly, and the headmistress aimed her wand at the ceiling, ending the storm. She dried off the student body and went over to Wayne lying on the ground unable to move.

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked.

"I don't know, Professor! My legs won't bend right... it's like a Jelly-Legs Jinx!"

"Mr. Smith, take him to the hospital wing. Is there something wrong?"

"No... no, Professor," he said, shaking. He was looking... frustrated and nearly moaned when Wayne leaned into him.

Blaise smirked.

"Ms. Davis?" McGonagall said, looking at Tracey. Her head now covered by her hood.

"Blaise cursed me!" she shrieked.

"When?"

"He... I don't know, but he did!"

"Ms. Davis, you can't just accuse other students with no proof. I suggest you go to the hospital wing, as well."

"I don't feel so good," Fay said, as Alexus swatted another insect that was flying around her head.

Smith looked at his posse and it clicked. He wrenched around and his eyes landed on him. Blaise gave him a two-finger salute. Smith muttered something to Rivers who pulled out his wand. Zach stopped him and then hauled Wayne up.

The headmistress walked down the table and stopped, looking down at Blaise. She tutted and went up to the head table. Dawlish argued with her, but she stared him down until he slumped back into his seat, glaring intently at Blaise. He was definitely planning reprisals.

But Daphne said, "That was awesome. What...."

"Don't," Draco said, poking his food.

Blaise grumbled under his breath, before he said, "I think Daw-douche forgot that we don't have detention on Fridays anymore. Harry, are you going to stay with Draco?"

Harry nodded. Despite the chaos that had arisen around him, the Chosen One remained apathetic, staring at his plate of food.

"Let's go for another walk," Blaise said and then said, "Coming, Theo?"

"Yeah, sure."

Blaise led them out of the hall. One to go. Dawlish, the hardest, trickiest one. He couldn't do anything to curse or poison the man. He checked his food on a regular basis now, and Blaise had no desire to be in detention with McGonagall for a month. He had to be careful, only target things around him. He could make the Auror's life miserable.

"Are you two ready for more detentions, if we get caught?" he asked.

"Yep," Theo said, taking Daphne's hand. She nodded.

"Alright, let's go to the kitchen."

Daphne perked up, seeing where this was going and whispered into Theo's ear. He actually smiled. They slipped past any observing students and went down the dungeons, going through the fruit bowl painting and into the cooking areas.

"Master Blaise!" squeaked an elf, bowing, and he disappeared briefly before Kreacher appeared.

"Friend of Draco has returned!" he announced.

"Yes, I have. I was wondering if you would help me, again?" Blaise asked.

"Help?" Kreacher said, tilting his head. "Harry said that he would get into trouble."

"We aren't going to attack or poison anyone... I just need you to get me into a room."

"A room?"

"Yes, in the staff corridor."

"The staff..." Daphne started, surprised and he gave her a look, but he noticed that Theo was staring incredulously at the ancient elf.

"The man who is hurting Draco?" Kreacher asked and the other house elves glowered at the thought.

"Yes."

"Draco is Harry's."

"He is. We need to get into that professor's room and back out."

"Okay!" Kreacher said, and grabbed Blaise and Theo, who had Daphne's hand, pulling them into his Apparition.

"Two minutes," Blaise said, scrambling to get his bearings in the room. Definitely Dawlish's room. "Daphne, spell the window so it won't lock."

Kreacher did it for her and Blaise cast a few key spells in Dawlish's wardrobe. Theo and Daphne conjured a few special crickets and other surprises for him, then they put a few Regurgitating Spells around the room and lastly, Blaise put a trace on his fireplace, complete with stringless Extendable Ears.

"He's coming!" squeaked the elf and they grabbed his outstretched hands, disappearing before the door opened.

They landed back in the kitchen and the other elves clapped happily. Blaise looked down at his helper. "Alright! Thank you, Kreacher!"

"You are welcome, friend of Draco!"

"We're actually friends with Harry, too," Blaise said.

Kreacher smiled widely and wiggled his hands excitedly. "I like Harry very much!"

Both Daphne and Theo looked at the house elf in surprise.

"We like him, too. Thanks, again! But we need to be getting back to our dorm, before...."

"Oh, let me! Friends of Harry!" Kreacher said and grabbed them, again.

"Whoa!" Blaise said, steadying himself as they landed in his dorm room.

Draco let out a surprised yelp and jumped off Harry, who was shirtless on his bed. Blaise grinned at Harry, who blushed slightly and was very annoyed. His neck was spluttered in fresh hickies.

"Hello, Harry!" Kreacher said, coming around the bed to see him.

"Hey, Kreacher. How are you?" Harry said, sitting up.

"I am fine! I a-sorry that... I didn't know you were..." Kreacher trailed off looking at Draco leaning against the wall, covering his red face with his hands.

"Snogging?" Blaise helpfully finished.

"Yes, thank you, Blaise," Harry said, shortly. "It's alright. Are you helping Blaise to cause mayhem?"

"Yes! Kr... I spelt the window, so it won't lock!" he announced proudly.

"That's good, thanks," Harry said, though he had no idea what he meant.

"But I is going to see Elsie! Call for Krea-me if Harry, or friends of you, need anything!" the elf said, before disappearing.

"Man, that is one weird elf," Theo said.

"Dobbie was weirder," Harry said, pulling his shirt back over his head.

Daphne gave a whistle. "Thanks for the show, Harry."

"I think you've seen my chest a few times, Daphne," he said, grumpily.

"But we haven't seen Draco straddling you..." Blaise said, leaning up against their bedpost and crossing his arms, smiling suggestively.

Draco lifted his head to glare at him. "We put locks on the door for a reason."

"Well, Harry's semi-crazy elf grabbed us before we could say anything, so it's really Potter's fault."

"Shut up, Zabini," Harry huffed, in good humor. "You are trying to get my house elf in trouble, again."

"I didn't poison or hex anyone."

"Darn it," Harry grunted.

A knock came from the door and everyone looked at it, confused. "I thought you said you locked it?"

"We did," Draco spat, still pissed.

Blaise answered the door, holding his wand and saw it was Luna and Ginny. "Yes?"

"Time to practice. Are you clear to try throw and catch the quaffle, yet?"

"I'm not even officially cleared to fly, Weasley."

"Ginny," she replied and looked at Theo. "Did you get a new broom, yet?"

He nodded, not sure about direct conversation with his captain, who had pressed him into service.

"Draco, how are you?" she said.

He didn't answer and looked away from her.

"My my, you guys are talkative this afternoon. What's with the rain at lunch?"

"What rain?" Daphne asked. None of them were interested in believing her, yet. She was too... untrustworthy at that point.

Ginny gave them a look and said, "Fine. Be outside in twenty or you are doing laps, no matter if you got a healer's note or not."

Blaise gave a mock salute to Ginny and she left. Luna was about to follow her and turned and said, "You can trust her, now. Draco saved her life. She's really sorry about everything."

Blaise, Theo and Daphne look at Draco, who remained still and withdrawn. Harry got up to whisper into his ear and he relaxed a little.

Luna tilted her head and stared at him, before saying, "Chop chop! She was not kidding about laps! You included Harry!" Then she walked out the door.

"I'm not on her team!" he called out, but then said he was going to grab his broom.

"Draco, are you alright? I was just messing with you," Blaise said, coming closer.

"I know," he said, lowering his head, submissively.

Blaise hated seeing him like this. It wasn't as bad as when he came back from that painful Easter Break last year, but it was close. He was so wound, so terrified. Anything and everything could set him off right now.

"It's going to be alright. We'll all be there, okay?"

Draco nodded. Blaise was kind of annoyed that they had interrupted them. Maybe a snogging and groping session with Potter would have helped things.

"Grab your stuff," Blaise said, quietly, and Draco immediately obeyed. Damnit.

They walked down to the common and then out to the pitch, barely making it on time. Dean and Seamus both had to run a lap.

"Stop jogging and run!" Ginny yelled at them as they slowed down at the halfway point.

Terry swallowed, clearly not wanting to set off his captain. "Orders?"

"We can't use the bludgers, yet, but I brought some regular, practice balls that you can try hitting at me and Seamus. Theo and Blaise... practice changing speeds, turns and stopping. Do some time trials. Draco and Harry, work on feinting and close-quarter racing, got it?"

They nodded and mounted their brooms as Dean and Seamus came to a panting stop.

"I'm... not... doing... that... again!" Dean wheezed, looking at her angrily.

"Oh really?" Ginny growled. "You can do another one right now!"

"I won't!" he yelled. "You can't make me!"

Ginny glared and, realizing that the whole team had stopped to watch, pulled out her wand. She transfigured one of the practice balls into a big, black Rottweiler, complete with sharp teeth and a menacing growl.

"I suggest you start running," she said, as the conjured dog stepped toward him with its ears perked up.

Dean ran and the dog followed, snapping his teeth in encouragement. Ginny had a smug smile on her face and Blaise walked up to her while the others took to the air.

"That was mildly impressive, Girl-Weasley."

"Thanks, but call me that again and you're next."

"Ginny, you seemed to enjoy making him do that," Blaise commented.

"Well, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, as the saying goes."

"Ironically, that's been my line today," Blaise laughed. "But didn't you dump him?"

"I did, but he pissed me off, because... why am I telling you this? Get up there and fly, unless you want to join him!"

"Yes, boss."

Ginny glared at him, but let him fly away unscathed. At least until halfway through practice she where started screaming at Theo and him to go faster and that she "better not catch them". Theo was really shaky on flying, so he definitely needed the whole week since tryouts to get his confidence. But he was racing alongside him now, with their drill sergeant on their heels, screaming at them to pick up the pace.

Luckily, the only person Ginny didn't tear into was Draco, even though he wasn't his usual calm, focused self. He still beat Harry to the snitch a few times, but Harry got more times today. They weren't talking either. They flew, side-by-side, never egging each other on or trading any words. Blaise hated it only slightly less than Potter did. Even their captain knew how off Draco was. When they landed, Ginny pulled him aside and Blaise walked up to where Harry was waiting, out of earshot of them.

"Harry," Blaise said, as a greeting.

"Hmm..." he grunted, staring at Draco, as Luna joined Draco and Ginny. They couldn't hear what they were saying.

Blaise tried again. "I am sorry about interrupting you guys. We just mentioned going back to the dorm and...."

Harry nodded. "He Apparated you there. I believe you. I'm fine about it. Draco's...."

Harry didn't finish and Blaise could see the pain in his eyes. He needed to soothe his worries. "He's not mad at you. He's just in pain, not that helps. Just give him a little more time."

"It's been over a week. I still don't know what happened. We were going great, and I came back from detention and he was.... He won't tell me anything. I think maybe Dawlish? Or he had a flashback? We did leave him alone for a long time."

"I can't get him to answer me, either, but I can give it another try," he offered.

Harry suddenly gave him a cold look and resumed staring at Draco, looking more than sulkier than ever.

"What was that for?" Blaise asked. They hadn't talked in a while, but Harry hadn't given him a look like that since... the first morning he woke up the Chosen One. Harry then was defensive and... jealous. "Alright... what happened?"

Harry stared at Draco, debating and then growled, "You lied to me."

"About what?" he said, grinning though there was nothing funny about the conversation. Draco had been a similar prissy bitch quite often in the first years of school.

"You said that you just kissed him, not that you slept with him."

Blaise looked at him confused as Harry turned his head to glare. It hit him. Draco... that fucking idiot had told Potter.... Salazar, the little shit could have warned him.

"I didn't sleep with him, Harry."

"Fine, have sex with him," he said, seething with resentfulness.

"We did not engage in any sexual relations, Potter," Blaise said, with some force.

Harry stared at him, trying to figure out if he was lying. "He said...."

"I'm sure he did. I warned you that he would lie. He probably just didn't want you to know he'd never been with anybody," Blaise said, evenly. He, at least, was a Slytherin and could come up with a lie on the spot, unlike a certain long-haired, blonde wizard he knew.

Harry was still looking at him and then out to Draco. Blaise could tell that the Boy Wonder was torn about trusting him. "I swear on Theo's life that Draco and I never did anything other than kissing. I mean... unless he obliviated me afterward."

Harry looked at him and nodded. "Thanks... umm... sorry."

"No problem. Draco's tricky like that. You probably caught him off guard. Can I ask when you guys talked about this?"

"The night before he stopped talking to me.... Do you think I... I didn't mean to ask him that... so abruptly... I asked... if he'd ever..." he whispered, pain oozing out of him. "It just... came out. I was so surprised when he said... that he did. I asked who and he said you. But this wasn't me, was it? Did I hurt him? I... didn't mean to... do it."

Does he think that Draco was mad at him? Blaise thought and then followed with, Morgana's left tit, do I have to console everyone? He was drawing the line at Hermione. "I don't think so. Relax, Harry. It wasn't your fault and I doubt that it what is wrong."

Harry just looked back at Draco, with an expression like he crash-landed in the middle of the pitch. He was shattered, like a heart-broken puppy. Fuck, those two fucking idiots are made for each other. He was going to have to fix this and it wasn't going to be pretty. Draco was about to have an unpleasant conversation.

Draco and Luna finally walked over. "We are going to go Odyl hunting, again. Is that okay, Harry?" she asked.

Harry tried to make eye contact with Draco, but couldn't get him to look up. Harry just said, "It's fine with me."

"Okay, I'll bring him back at ten, okay?"

"You're skipping dinner?" Harry asked.

"Ginny is going to bring us dinner."

"Ginny is coming? Can't I come?"

"Oh, Harry... I'm sorry. She's not coming. I just meant that she is just bringing us food and leaving," she replied, sadly, as though knowing her words were hurting him.

"Only if it's okay," Draco mumbled, not looking at any of them. He needed permission, now.

"You should go have fun, Draco. Luna will watch out for you," Blaise answered for Harry.

Harry glanced at him, but didn't object. Draco couldn't even say goodbye to them. Luna led him away toward the lake, holding his hand. Harry's shoulders dropped. He looked on the verge of tears. Morgana's right tit! Did Draco know how much power he had over Harry?

"Holy harpies, Harry. Did you have a lover's quarrel or something?" Ginny said, suddenly.

Harry jerked his head up to look at her in alarm. Blaise was eyeing her, too, as he had forgotten that she was there.

Ginny put her hands on her hips. "What? You guys are a little obvious. You were in his room today and share the same mood swings. Not to mention your stalker behavior when we were seeing each other. That was another reason why I used to hate him so much."

Harry stared at her. "I guess it's time for that awkward conversation."

"The one where you are gay and obsessively in love with your childhood rival?"

"There's that... and about what happened between you and me."

"You really want to have that one?"

"Want and should have are two different stories."

"Well then... I have no plans to discuss this in front of a crowd, so unless you need a babysitter, Zabini?" she said, and looked at Blaise with a raised eyebrow.

"How come you're allowed to call me by my last name?" When both of them glared at him, he said. "Oh, did you mean you want me to leave?"

"Yes, and I can call you that because I'm the boss, remember? Get going before I sic the dog on you."

"I'd like to see you try," he scoffed, but still slowly backed away.

He didn't want to get in a toss-up with the fiery redhead. Luna had chosen well, or perhaps it was the other way around. Blaise walked over to Theo and Daphne and explained where Draco was. He looked over and saw Dean muttering complaints to Seamus. The Irish boy rubbed his back supportively as they walked back to school and Blaise's eyes went wide. Salazar's wrinkly balls! They were a couple! That homophobic dick was a broomsheded gay! Oh, the irony! At least the Irish dork wasn't too bad. Maybe he talked some sense into the stupid hypocrite.

"What's so funny?" Daphne asked.

"I'll tell you later."

"So, what's the plan?"

"Everything is done. Now, I sit back and watch them squirm."

"What did you do to Smith?" Daphne asked, after setting up some spells.

"Let's just say... he's never going to have a peaceful sleep, again. Or make it through class without the need for release."

Daphne's mouth dropped. "You really... made him...."

"Hard? Almost semi-permanently? Yep. That dick will be stuck dealing with his dick for a long time."

"Oh Hecate, that's why you asked Fawley to mess with him...."

Blaise laughed. "Oh yeah, kinda interested to see if Zacha-riah gets desperate enough to go gay."

"That's an image," Theo said. "What'd Potter want?"

"Some reassurance. Then he decided to have the post-break-up talk with his old flame. Weirdo."

"Yeah... weird," Daphne said, giving him a look like 'yeah, normal people have those talks'.

"Stop staring at me. You're making me self-conscious."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."

"Let's go wait in the common room. See what happens," he said, getting jittery.

Blaise spent an hour writing in his book, while Theo and Daphne studied, until Zacharias Smith burst in the door with Oliver Rivers. Maybe, green would suit him, Blaise considered. He just stared up at the irate bastard from his chair.

"Take it off! NOW!" Smith screamed.

"Take what off?" Blaise said, leaning back and bringing his fingertips together, praying almost.

Ernie, head boy extraordinaire, got in between them. "Calm down, Zach. No good is going to come out of this!"

Hannah and Susan were standing up to. The Parvati twins, Sally Smith, Sue Li and Lisa Turpin were at another table watching the exchange, transfixed.

"You know exactly what! And fix Wayne, too! Madam Pomfrey says she can't get his bones to regrow!"

"That's very strange."

"Don't play games, Zabini! Remove your fucking curses!"

"I don't know what you are talking about Zach. Why would I curse you?" Blaise said, holding up his hands, in mock-ignorance.

"Stop fucking around, asshole! You know exactly why!"

Blaise slowly stood up, his wand in his hand. It was so hot it was burning him. He was so angry, but he didn't let go. "You damn right I know exactly why you, fucking piece of shit!"

"Don't call me that!"

"I'll call you whatever I want! You're the one who shattered my leg and fucked up my back! I almost lost my eye and the use of my legs. You had your fun, and now... it's my turn. I warned you that there would be consequences."

"Fuck you! You went below the belt on this one!"

"Well, you are not wrong... but... I was a fucking invalid for a week because of you. Then you hurt my friends... no Smith. Enjoy it... enjoy it so fucking much. I remember how much you got off hearing me scream, now I'm going to love watching you... struggle with it, day in and day out... because you'll have to beg me on your hands and knees to lift it."

"I'll never beg!"

"Well, enjoy your new relationship with your hand!" Blaise laughed.

"Fuck you!"

"No, that's your hand's job, now... or maybe your bitch sidekick, here. What about it, Rivers? Want to take up the job of dick puller?" Blaise sneered. "... or sucker."

"Fucking faggot!" Rivers growled, and his wand came up to eye-level.

It didn't matter what spell he was going to say. He already made a big mistake. As soon as Oliver targeted him, the trigger activated. He didn't scream, but he yelped in alarm.

"Olie! What's wro-" Smith started, but stopped when he saw River's eyes go cloudy white.

"I can't see!" he cried out, dropping his wand and rubbing his eyes.

"That's very, very strange," Blaise said, nonchalantly, as the common room went quiet.

"What did you do!" Zach yelled, pulling out his wand, too.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I did nothing. He aimed his wand at me," Blaise said, normally.

Rivers started crying immediately. "No! Please, I'm sorry! Give me my eyesight back."

"You squealed pretty quickly. And what did you call me before you tried to curse me?"

The blind kid sputtered and mumbled something unintelligible.

"A fucking faggot, if I remember right... so no. I'm not doing shit. You really liked cursing me, Rivers, when I was tied up," Blaise growled.

"This is going too far!" Zach cried.

"You went this far, Smith! You did. I sure as fuck didn't put myself in the hospital. I didn't throw myself down the steps. I didn't break twenty-three bones in my body. You just reaped what you sowed, and he just tried to curse me... again... while I'm on the mend. No... I'm not doing shit for you assholes. Enjoy your life." Blaise's voice went deeper, drawing upon his birthright: his clan, the old ways. He had power and everyone heard it, now. Smith backed up slightly.

Rivers started to sniffle and Zach recovered enough to lift his wand to attack. But Blaise just stared him down. He would love to curse him... again. Smith just grabbed his friend's hand, mumbled "this isn't over" and dragged him toward the portrait hole. Rivers hit his head of the way out, which made Blaise chuckled darkly. The other students in the room were looking at him in wide-eyed shock and fear.

"Well, that was fun. Ready for dinner?" he said, to Theo and Daphne, who were stunned, too.

Lisa Turpin unfroze first, came over to him and yelled, "You can't just blind him!"

"I did nothing. I just stood here."

"You permanently disabled him!" she cried, clenching her fists in rage.

"He disabled himself. Ready guys?"

"Sure," Theo said, grabbing Daphne's hand and following Blaise out the door.

"Are you really going to leave him like that?" she whispered, when they were on the sixth floor.

"Smith? Yeah."

"No, Rivers. You know what I meant," she said, annoyed slightly.

Blaise snorted. "It'll wear off in a week."

Daphne let out a breath of relief. "Thank, Hecate."

"I'm not that cruel. Mel's will wear off with time, too. The others... not so much."

They entered the Great Hall and Alexus came up ready to slap him, but Daphne put her arm up. "None of that, Lex."

"The bloody bugs keep finding me, Blaise! Wherever I go! They're in my hair, my school bag, my clothes! Make it stop!"

"You should shower more. Might keep them away," Blaise grunted and walked past her. Fay was crying as her face marred by a collection of freshly made, remover-resistant pimples.

Michael had his head face down on the table and was repeating the words, "It's not real. It's not real."

Most of the hall was staring at him as he took his seat at the front of the table. He could hear the whispering and smell the fear. He wasn't interested in food. He wanted to make his presence known. Make everyone remember who the fuck they were dealing with. He didn't take shit from anybody. They touch him... they all would pay.

Dawlish came down from the staff table. "Mr. Zabini! Why didn't you report for detention?"

"You gave me a month of detentions, professor. That ended last week," he said, evenly.

"You missed one while you were in the hospital!"

"You didn't say anything about making it up last week... Sir," he said, locking eyes with him, now.

"Don't try me, boy! Report to my...."

"Professor Dawlish," the headmistress called, coming down from the head table. "Mr. Zabini is excused from that detention. As he was attacked on school grounds, I think that is ample punishment for whatever perceived wrong he did. Don't you think?"

Dawlish looked like he swallowed a fire lizard. Blaise looked surprised at McGonagall. She said that she wouldn't get him out of detentions, but here she was. He tried to keep a straight face.

Dawlish finally recovered enough to say, "But someone was in my private room. It was him."

The headmistress's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any proof that anyone was even in your room?"

"The wards were tripped!" he seethed.

"That doesn't mean it was Mr. Zabini. You cannot punish him on a theory."

"Really? Haven't you talked with Madam Pomfrey? The number of students falling victim to elaborate curses... disfiguring curses... who do you think did that?"

"Again, if any student has proof... I will hear it. I will not hear conjecture, because if I did, those students may be facing punishment of their own, wouldn't they?" she said, and Dawlish's jaw dropped feebly in response. Professor McGonagall turned to him. "I hope your recovery is going well, Mr. Zabini."

"As well as it can. Thank you, Headmistress," he said, tilting his head in respect.

"Let me know if you receive any more harassment. Bullying is not to be tolerated."

"B-But... he...."

"No buts. Let's finish our dinner, Professor. Good day to you." She swept away, and Dawlish had no choice but to follow, shooting a glare at him. Blaise smirked in return. He was going to be fun to handle on Tuesday and handle him, he would.

"He's going to be a treacle tart to deal with next week," Daphne muttered.

"He's going to be put in his place."

"How long are we staying here?" Theo asked.

"Not long. Just long enough to make our point."

"Your point. No one cares about us," Theo said, dryly.

"We can change that...."

"No! I mean... I don't want people to pay attention to... us," Theo said, almost messing up the last word. 'Me' is what he meant. He hated people seeing him.

"It is a lot easier, but you remember what I said, about being the bigger targets, right?"

Theo nodded and lowered his head. Daphne took his hand. "I don't mind it... Smith and Corner...I don't mind being hurt or fighting them. It's just... Dawlish."

Blaise glared at their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and back to his best friend. "I can go remove the spells, Theo."

"Don't you dare! He'll put us in detention anyway and I'll need something to get us through it. I'd rather we get it for something we deserve." Theo's voice was low and Blaise could tell there was fear in it.

Theo always hated being alone. Blaise had to try everything during the summer to keep his mind occupied, off remembering. Daphne looked at them with tears in her eyes. He had to get rid of that asshole. Of course, his first thought would be to ask his mother, but that would be... messy. Plus, Dawlish would have to attack him in front of others, Blaise couldn't just rat him out. But he looked at Theo's defeated form and knew he had to do something. He needed a distraction. He couldn't be left to idle.

"Hey... there's that spell Neville used on Draco during the hearing... why don't I ask him about it? It could help. I think it helped Draco a bit."

"Aspecto..." Theo murmured. Daphne looked up, hopeful.

"Yeah... do you want me to try?"

Theo nodded, slightly relieved. Daphne leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"I'll be right next to you. Just be brave, okay?" she whispered.

Theo shuddered and Blaise watched his reaction curiously before his tight control over his emotions locked it down. He wondered what that was about. Theo was controlling his emotions when Daphne was being affectionate. How were they able to connect during... sex? He was concerned about Theo and could only trust that Daphne was watching out for him. Unfortunately, Draco seemed to be the bigger issue that he was worried about. The questions were piling up. Where was he? What was wrong with him and Potter? Why did he tell Potter that? What happened last Tuesday? It was Tuesday, wasn't it? Tuesday... he thought, again. Mentally adding math up. Was that what was wrong? Blaise had some thinking to do.

"Come on," Blaise said, standing up. He basked in the knowledge that almost the whole student body, turned to watch him leave.

Alexus had at least three insects flying around her head and another beetle ran across her plate. Blaise chuckled, and Alexus grabbed her wand. She stopped herself. Fay ran out of the room crying, her hands on her face. Corner was staring numbly at the table at his uneaten food. Blaise didn't feel sorry for him at all. Though the image Blaise had conjured up in his mind, would freak any normal person out. Especially, when it appeared and disappeared randomly and no one else could see it. Michael's bad luck was that he was apparently petrified of it. But this wasn't Lupin's exam. There was no running from this apparition and Corner had figured that out.

Blaise wasn't going to give him that long before he broke, or else somehow managing to conquer his fear. They walked out of the hall and up the stairs. Blaise turned and saw that Smith was guiding Wayne, now reduced to a chair charmed to float into the Great Hall. Harry staring absentmindedly at a book in the common room, when they arrived. Hermione wasn't too far away and the Weasel was with her.

"Let's go down to dinner, Ron," she said and Weasley locked eyes with him, but didn't say anything.

Fear. He could live with fear. "Scamper, Gryffindor," he growled, and the blockhead actually thought about hexing him, but his girlfriend stopped that immediately.

He swept off toward the portrait hole and Hermione gave him a meaningful nod toward Harry, before leaving. Gryffindors. Blaise sat next to him. Theo and Daphne waited nearby. They could hear him, but the privacy wards prevented anyone else from hearing.

"Sorry... about earlier," Potter muttered.

"Understandable."

"Heard about the others. Malcolm, Oliver and Wayne's still in the hospital wing."

"Actually, Wayne just got out. He's currently confined to a chair."

"A chair? You paralyze him?" Harry said, his voice sounded glad.

"No. I just decided that he really didn't need his kneecaps anymore. Technically, he could walk without them, but it'd take a bit of practice."

Harry looked at him with a smile he hadn't seen in a week and laughed. "You put a whole new meaning to kneecapping someone."

"I live to serve."

"You got the others?" Harry asked.

"Yeah... well, Dawlish is a work in progress. Can't hex him directly or poison him. But there's other ways to fuck with people. I'm settling with not letting him sleep for the time being. He might have an infestation problem, too."

Harry nodded. "You got everything handled, then? Got your revenge?"

"Yeah. Thanks for the loaner," he said, giving him back his cloak and Harry nodded, accepting it. "Well... the whole school seems petrified. I think I got the point across. Two of them got triggers on them. Should make them think twice about trying me."

"Hopefully," Harry said, his voice died down.

Draco. He was thinking about Draco. "Why don't you guys... have the room for the night?"

"What? Where are you going to sleep?"

"Theo and Daphne can sleep in her room, if the Head Girl doesn't mind. I'll sleep down here."

"You just hexed eight people!" Harry huffed.

"No, I didn't! It was only five," Blaise said, while a smile.

"Whatever. I'm not letting you sleep down here by yourself, Mr. Death Wish."

"I wasn't planning on sleeping. I can sleep during the day."

"I...."

"Stop, Potter. We need Draco better. Do what you can to break through to him, alright? I'll be fine."

"I'll stay down with you. Hermione scares me," Theo said and Blaise looked at him.

"We can have a sleepover. Just stay with Draco. Don't think that we aren't affected by his troubles either," Daphne added.

Harry nodded, mollified. "Thanks."

"Go up and wait for him. You can use my desk, while you wait."

"Thanks... I... this means a lot," Harry said, and packed up his things and went up the stairs.

"Honestly, he looks more... unhinged... then Draco does," Daphne said, after they heard the door shut.

"He is, in some ways. Draco's just had more experience in covering up how hurt he is."

Theo glowered and sat at one of the tables. Blaise pulled his book back out, determined to finish it within the next month. Daphne gave Theo his roll of parchment out of her bag, along with her own and then pulled out their Charms books to work on a lengthy assignment on portkeys.

Blaise always thought Charms was a soft option and went on writing in his book. He hated to think how behind he was in his homework, but he had better things to do. People filtered in and out, until Neville showed up and he got up to ask him about his mental charm. Neville was happy to show him and they set up a time tomorrow, while most of the school was at Hogsmeade. Neville just pointed out that he shouldn't be there when Smith and the others came, because he might be obligated to stop any fights. Blaise wished him goodnight and he barely sat down when Smith, Corner, Alexus and Wayne came in, or floated in, in Wayne's case.

"There you are!"

"I was not hiding, Zachy-boy," Blaise said, getting up. Daphne and Theo stood on either side of him.

"You have to take these off, Zabini."

"I don't have to do anything. I would never curse anyone!" he said, holding up his hands in surrender.

"Bullshit!"

"Yeah, and so is your request."

"You are healed," Smith said, and Corner was staring at the fire, in some amount of fear.

Blaise pointed to his eye. "This isn't. My back isn't. My fucking pride isn't. You assholes put me in the hospital for a week... a fucking week and have the audacity to order me to do anything?"

"We didn't permanently damage you!"

"Oh really? You could have, and even if I did heal up, you think you can just get away with it? No, take your punishment."

"And then get on my hands and knees and beg you to remove it?"

Blaise chuckled at the image.

"No, you want us to get down on all fours, so you can do... worse."

"With you? Never. I don't fuck assholes as big as you. But no, I won't do shit. Live with it. In your case, cut it off... that'll make it stop. Or just keep getting wood every hour. I hear it gets painful if you don't... take care of it."

"Maybe, I'll just make your boy tend to the problem," Smith said, coyly.

Blaise's head rose up and he stepped forward, inches from the Hufflepuff's face, his voice became deadly. "If you ever... ever touch Draco, Theo or Daphne like that... I will kill you. I don't make idle threats, Smith. Kill. I'll rip out your fucking entrails and shove them down your throat while you're still alive. Don't you fucking dare even threaten to do it, again, or it'll be the last thing your tongue says, cause I'll sever it with dark magic that I can't even repair. It's your problem, you solve it yourself, asshole."

Smith was shaking, but then said, "So, you don't care if we hurt you... like that?"

Blaise's eyes flashed dangerously. "I wouldn't kill you for it, but it'll be the biggest mistake you'll ever make. I suggest you stop listening to Tracey, Smith, before you wind up neutered or worse."

Smith went to argue, but Corner grabbed him. "It's fucking getting closer, damnit."

"It's not real, Mike. There's nothing there, it's just in your head!"

Corner didn't let go or stop glancing at the fireplace.

"And you think it's okay to fuck with his mind like this! You made him insane!"

"And you think it's okay to hound Draco every day since school started and send him into mental paralysis? Because that's what you did. No. You all got a piece of what we got. Have fun!"

"This is unacceptable! What do you want?"

"From you nothing. I wouldn't believe you anyway. Accept your punishment and expect more if you plan on continuing this war, but trust me, I'll win!" he spat.

Smith threw his hands up, flipped him off and stomped up the stairs in rage. Corner scrambled after him, his voice in a whispered panic, "It's following us. What if it comes into our room?"

"It's NOT real, Mike!" Smith said, leaving Wayne to direct his own chair to float up the steps.

Alexus stormed up her steps and spat, "It's fucking disgusting, Blaise."

"So's your morals, bitch," he shouted back as she disappeared.

"It didn't go that bad," Daphne said, dryly.

"Well, it didn't end in a reign of curses," Theo muttered.

"I was hoping..." Blaise said.

"Do I dare ask what's wrong with Corner?" Daphne asked.

"You probably wouldn't want to know," Blaise said.

Michael's childhood visit to the circus had sparked a crippling fear in the boy. Honestly, Blaise was almost feeling sorry enough for him to remove it... almost. Blaise had gone to the library and to look in the muggle books to really get the image right and add a few more details... like teeth... and a knife. Things to really get the imagination going. Corner's mind would adapt it to his own nightmare, anyway. The eyes, the facepaint, the voice, how it moves, and what it says were all from his mind. He would literally create his own nightmare to haunt him in his waking hours and it would never stop, at least when he was awake. Then his dreams would terrorize him.

Blaise understood the delicate balance needed. People don't just live normally while hallucinating their worst nightmare. Michael could completely lose it. It could wreck his psyche and break him for the rest of his life. Risks vs rewards. Corner would never think to try them after he lifted it. Blaise decided to give him a week and maybe he'd take it off, before any permanent mental damage set in. Blaise picked up his book, again, and waited for Draco and the others to show up.

Luckily or unluckily, there were no more confrontations. Fay slipped in and just ran up the steps crying. Hermione and Ron returned, and she just bid him goodnight, before going to her room. Ron glared at them and stomped up the steps to his room. Their friends from Hufflepuff and Terry came in, hung out for a bit, before retiring to bed. Eventually, Draco showed up, with Luna holding his hand. Draco looked about the same, maybe a little happier. They didn't tell him that Harry was waiting upstairs and just let him go up. Blaise could only pray to Hecate that Draco would open up to the Chosen One.

"He's very sad, right now," Luna said, and he tore his eyes off the steps to look at her.

"What happened?"

"Sorry... that's for me and Draco to know, but I took care of him, don't worry. He needs some space... you understand?"

"I don't think that he can't have it. I just want to know he's okay."

"He's as good as he can be."

"Luna, what's hurting him? Tell me and I'll fix it."

"I'm sure you would, Blaise. But he did not tell me. He's scared. Whatever it is, it frightened him very badly," she said, lowering her head and turned for the stairs. "He won't open up to me and I doubt Harry will get through to him, but he might to you, Blaise. Harry's his boyfriend, you're his brother. He trusts you. You have a bond that Harry hasn't made and may never make. You share something that Harry can't... understand completely."

Blaise understood, nodded and looked up toward the room. Luna slipped off with a quiet goodnight, before drifting upstairs to her room. Daphne and Theo made some small talk with him, before curling up together on the loveseat in front of the fire. Blaise added a few logs to it, to keep it strong throughout the night, before claiming a couch for his own.

He was just about to close his eye when he heard screaming from the stairway. "It fucking touched me! The fucking clown touched me!"

Blaise put his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling with a big grin. They fucked with the wrong person. Hell hath no fury... like a badass pirate.

Hey, look! I successfully time jumped a week! We need to get this 온라인카지노게임 going a bit faster. It's only just October in the 온라인카지노게임. The plot must go on. 

If you are wondering about the whole chapter 48 thing, I literally planned this to be 48, not 52, but came up with four more chapters in between. This is why outlines are pointless for me. I find tangents... and more tangents... and sub-tangents and tangents of the sub-tangents. I could go on.

How about Ginny, coming back to the good side? And aren't clowns fun? Especially with teeth and knives... he he he.

Good or bad news... I'm pretty sure Blaise is getting another chapter... maybe even a whole one, but there's no smut....

FYI this is where I mark the one-year anniversary of starting this 온라인카지노게임... it's been a whole year... and we are only in the second month of school. 890 pages, 390000 words according to Word. Just to be clear... we are scheduled to get through the end of the school year.