As Tracey berated Daphne for her rudeness, Blake nudged Zabini.
"D'you reckon anyone's had a go at our room?" he whispered. The halfblood shook his head in response.
"But even so, we should check with your Muggle method." The two boys quickly excused themselves after they finished their meals, and rushed to their dorm. The paper was still there.
"Now that I think about it, that is a good idea," Zabini said begrudgingly. "I would never pick up such a small detail, and neither would most other wizards. Fair enough, Renshaw."
"Cheers," Blake said, stretching his arms out slightly. "I'm gonna take a shower - I'll see you outside with the others?"
Zabini was silent for a second.
"You think hanging around them for the rest of Hogwarts is a good idea?"
Blake looked at Zabini, who met his gaze, neutral as always.
"Well, we can't just stay in a pair for all this time. We need a group, and honestly? The way Slytherin is right now, they're the best we'll get, don't you think?"
Zabini nodded slowly.
"True."
"And besides," Blake continued, smirking slightly. "I know you want to hang around Tracey, don't you?"
The muggleborn was quick to close the bathroom door, narrowly avoiding the hex Zabini sent at him. While he laughed and hopped into the shower, however, Zabini retorted.
"You're one to talk, Renshaw! Don't think we didn't notice the way you and Greengrass were staring into each other's eyes!"
"Don't think we didn't notice, huh? So who's we? You and Tracey already gossiping, are you?" As Zabini decided to continue his accusations and jabs at Blake, the latter smiled. For all Zabini's acting in front of others, he wasn't truly as unbothered as he seemed - instead, it appeared that he genuinely either couldn't be bothered to deal with most people, or knew that ignoring or maintaining civility with them would be easier for him. Probably the latter. Either way, it's good to know that he's not a robot. Maybe even one day…
3 loud knocks startled Blake out of his thoughts. Someone's at the dorm door? And there's no peephole either. Blake rapidly dried himself off and dressed quickly, and exited the bathroom with wand in hand. Zabini too held his wand, cautious. Just before they could open the door, however, a voice rang out.
"Open the door, you useless monkeys!" Tracey's loud whisper came from the other side. How the hell are they allowed past the boys' staircase? When I tried…
Zabini reluctantly opened the door, and with no hesitation, Tracey barged past him, flopping onto his bed, much to the boy's indignation. She was closely followed by the still shy Charlotte, and finally, and very surprisingly, by Greengrass, who immediately Accio'd a nearby chair, and sat down. Not surprised by that, at least.
"Sit down, Charlotte," Blake said, gesturing to a free chair, while he sat down on his bed.
"You're all very neat," Tracey observed. "I thought boys' rooms were messy and disgusting."
Blake smiled at his words, while Zabini did his best to act like he hadn't heard her. Of course, Tracey noticed, and proceeded to capitalize on it, accusing him of pretending to be 'cool', and so an argument ensued, and eventually, Blake and Charlotte joined in, doing their best to instigate.
"Shut up, Renshaw - don't think I didn't see all that weird stuff you put in your hair! Are you a girl?"
"You use hair products, Blake?"
"I wanna see them!"
"You guys use hair products? I would have thought that wizards use magic for that."
"We can."
"Then why don't you, Zabini? Your hair looks like it got washed with Snape's number 2s!"
As the conversation ensued, Blake found himself glad - these were definitely people he could get along with, at least for right now.
"A friend isn't just someone that you can laugh or smile with."
I've only known them for less than a day, Blake reminded himself. Let's not get hasty. But it does seem like they're good people - even Zabini, but as of right now, none of them are my friends. But how will I know they're my friends?
"A friend is someone that sees you for you, in your best and worst moments, and chooses to love you anyway."
But Dad, how can I show them myself in my worst moments? How will I know that they'll love me even then? What if they don't want to be friends after that? What if they…
Blake shook his head. Why was he thinking like such a chicken? Besides, there are bigger problems to focus on right now, he thought, looking over at Greengrass, who was still looking like she was simply above being here, which very much rubbed Blake the wrong way. What's going on? Why would she agree to come here? It's not like Tracey could've forced her or anything. Blake made sure not to make the same mistake twice, and didn't make eye contact or even look at the princess-like girl, and instead tried to think of another tactic.
Suddenly, Blake realised something - the girls, regardless of whose idea it is - had come to their dorm room, rather than the common room. So at least one of them realised that it would probably be asking for trouble for me and Zabini to be in the common room, and so they're in a much smaller, cramped and less comfortable room instead. Blake smiled internally, grateful that they were actively making an effort to get closer and / or be friends. I should do the same - actually, I can use this to rattle Greengrass too, maybe get something on her.
"What's your guys' favourite subject from today?" he said, looking at Charlotte expectantly.
"Probably Charms," she responded. That's nice, no hesitation. She's getting more comfortable.
"Defence for me! That lesson was amazing - the way he just ran out - mwah! No work done at all!" Tracey enthusiastically inputted.
"You're happy that you're gonna fail Defence?" Zabini grumbled.
"What's your favourite then, Blaise? I want to hear this."
"Don't have one."
"Say, or you agree that I've successfully rattled you."
Zabini glared at her. "History of Magic." His words were met with confused outrage from the rest of the group - even Greengrass raised an eyebrow.
"I can sleep, can't I?"
"You didn't sleep this lesson," Blake pointed out.
"There was something I had to do first," he smirked to himself, much to Tracey's chagrin, who promised revenge.
"What about you, Renshaw?"
"Probably Potions." Blake got exactly what he wanted - at his words, Greengrass shifted ever so slightly. So she is interested in Potions? Knew it.
"Really?" Uh oh. Why's she talking?
"Uh, ye-"
"Same." Greengrass's face was perfectly neutral, but intensely watching his face for any sign of reaction.
"That's nice. How come?"
"Just interested in the subject, and I think I'm quite good at it naturally. How about you? Why are you interested, Renshaw?"
Unfortunately for you, princess, I'm not that stupid that I would ask a question that's meant to provoke you and not have an answer.
"Kind of the same, to be honest. There's a lot of potential real world applications for Potions so it's useful to have it as an option, and it's interesting too. Can't tell if I'm naturally good at it though."
Greengrass looked at him again for a brief moment, before taking that same, neutral, almost bored face.
"Fair enough."
"See, Daph! I told you this wouldn't be boring!" Tracey beamed, apparently happy that her friend was finally participating.
"Shut up, Tracey."
Tracey pouted at her words, while Charlotte snickered.
"Something funny, Char?" she asked haughtily, as the other girl quickly shook her head.
"Yeah, it is," Zabini butted in. "About time someone told you to shut up."
"Oh, Blaise, dear, I really get on your nerves, don't I?"
"Don't call me dear!"
"Ok, sugar plum!"
As the rest of the group laughed, and even Greengrass smiled, Blake smiled internally, content. I can get along with everyone here, for once. Well, apart from her. But y'know what? That's fine.
It's good for Greengrass to be in my group - because even if Malfoy's dad secretly runs the Ministry, or Harry Potter is the Chosen One, or Granger is the cleverest in our year, it doesn't matter.
I don't just think of her as a 'princess' for the way she looks. No. She's been watching everyone since the second we've got here, and she's good at it too. Not to mention she'll be in good standing with the teachers in Hogwarts and in wider society - even Malfoy's left her alone.
I'll need to watch out for her the most.
I know what I have to do, and I won't let anyone - princess or not - slow me down.
AN: If you would like to view up to 20 more bonus chapters on all my fics so far including this one, and would also like to support me, please visit my P@TR30N, at pa tr eon.com / GhidorahWriter (remove the spaces). Thanks for reading and make sure ADD to your COLLECTION and VOTE with POWER STONES! The target is 100 POWER STONES for the next BONUS CHAPTER!