Stammerer

Chapter One

"I will go down with this ship,

And I won't put my hands up and surrender.

There will be no white flag above my door,

I'm in love, and always will be."

Dido, "White Flag"

Caroline Hayes had learned at an early age that she had an affinity for Slytherins. Well, eleven did seem an early age, being now a mighty sixteen-year-old. And really it had been a simple thing to acquire: all you had to do was save one of their skins, and (ta-da!) you were in.

When she was eleven, 5'3" had been a good height to be; she was taller than many of the girls and just as tall as a lot of the guys. It was also a good thing Caroline was a fast learner and had a good memory. She could reel off hexes and jinxes like nobody's business. That was how she had been able to stand up to a Ravenclaw second year who was taunting her new friend, Rosemary Flint. In life, you win some, you lose some. And on that fateful day, the Ravenclaw didn't win. Though it's debatable whether the two girls won, for they were caught and had house points deducted (damn that Percy Weasley!) for fighting in the corridors. What wasn't debatable, however, was the fact that Caroline and Rosemary's friendship was cemented.

Not only that, but Rosemary's older brother, Marcus, heard of Caroline's ingenious use of the Nose-Hair Elongator Jinx (not to mention the fact that she rescued his sister), and promptly deemed her Acceptable. A few conversations with other prominent Slytherins, and she had soon reached Noteworthy without even trying. In one such conversation with Draco Malfoy, she had earned herself a higher rank simply by answering his question, "Why was she a Hufflepuff?", which others had asked many, many times before, with a resounding, "Because I'm so fucking loyal!!!" Predictably, Percy Weasley showed up at that very moment and Caroline prayed that her own house would not abandon her. Though at first put-off by the fact that she was a measly Hufflepuff, by her second year Marcus Flint (current King Slytherin) had given her the glorious title of Not Really So Bad, high praise for one in her lowly position.

Now it had gotten to the point that other houses would go to her to intervene for them in situations involving any Slytherins. She was respected by Gryffindor and Ravenclaw (once the original jinxing incident had blown over) almost as much as she was esteemed by Slytherin. Hufflepuff had crowned her its queen (they had attempted a coronation ceremony and everything, but she had quickly stamped the effort). She was the go-between, an admired diplomat who worked ceaselessly to achieve harmony between the houses. And a few extra knuts. Of course she charged for her services. Draco Malfoy still pondered aloud why the hell she was a Hufflepuff, but never in Caroline's presence.

Caroline was generally a quiet girl (when not yelling profanities down the hall). She was intelligent, a fast learner, as stated previously, a good listener, and not afraid to speak her mind. The latter trait led her to being something blunt, especially in regards to the people around her, whom she studied relentlessly. She was quick to pick up on motivations and thought processes, and could read most people like books.

'Most people,' however, did not mean 'all people.' Blaise Zabini, for one. She could read his moods for the most part, but rarely his thoughts or motivations. He often did things that were completely foreign to her and beyond her comprehension. He acted with no clear purpose, occasionally leaving Caroline wondering about his sanity. He was an enigma, through and through. A recent case in point would be the dissolution of the relationship with his girlfriend.

Blaise Zabini had broken up with his girlfriend. No one had been more shocked than the girl herself. It happened shortly after what the other houses had deemed the 'going Hufflepuff' of Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Zabini had out of the blue announced to the sixth-year Slytherin that he would like to end it. She wasn't entirely heartbroken... hell, she wasn't at all heartbroken. She had been eyeing Michael Corner since Pansy had dropped him (that boy certainly got around). But Blaise and the sixth year's relationship had been affable enough, and he provided no real reason for wanting to break it off. Rumors were circulating that he had found a new girl himself and was simply waiting for the right moment to make his move. Caroline snorted to herself when she heard this. She didn't figure that he was the kind of guy to wait around for anything. Another rumor was that he had finally realized that he was gay. Well, not so much a rumor as the dreamy musings of one (homosexual) Ravenclaw seventh year, *cough*Terry Boot*cough*. The idea never really took hold. Others even suggested that Zabini was 'going Hufflepuff,' but was biding his time so that it would not seem like he was following a fad. Caroline thought it rather pathetic that her house had turned into a fad. Damn that Madeline Higgins.

On the whole, however, Caroline did not like thinking about Blaise Zabini. It always got her rather warm and highly sensitized. She did not need random thoughts of the Slytherin sex god floating through her brain during her Transfiguration test, so she resolved to put him out of her mind completely. His actions and life were of no consequence to her. She didn't need to worry over him, and he didn't even know her name. Thinking about Blaise Zabini was a waste of time.

And damn the Gryffindors for making her waste her time.

Most of all, damn that Harry Potter. He was absolutely convinced that You-Know-Who was on the move, and, being the ultimate super hero that he was, it was his duty to stop him. And for some reason, that meant he needed to get information from the Slytherins. Of course a few seventeen-year-old school kids would be in on all the top-secret plans of the Dark Lord, never mind that several of them were not at all interested in following said Dark Lord. The Boy-Who-Lived-to-Be-a-Nuisance needed to know, and he needed to know now! And so, he approached Caroline.

"You think that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is in Majorca?" she asked incredulously. "Doesn't he know that too much sun can give you skin cancer?!?"

The Gryffindors were not amused. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger had tagged along, and were eyeing Harry slightly fearfully.

"Please, I need your help! I have to find out if the Slytherins know anything! Who knows who may die next if I don't-" Harry rambled desperately.

"All right, all right, Wonder Boy. But what makes you think that any of the seventh year Slytherins know anything anyway?"

Harry gave a blank look. "They're Slytherins-!"

Caroline sighed. Old prejudices die hard. She leaned back in the overstuffed armchair that she currently resided in. They were in the library, and Hermione was doing her damndest to get Potter to whisper, but he wasn't paying much attention.

"I'll pay you ten knuts-"

"Wait, wait, wait," interrupted Caroline. "Before we worry about payment, I should probably tell you that very few of the Slytherins are considering becoming Death Eaters. Malfoy's a definite no, Parkinson couldn't care less, Crabbe and Goyle don't ever attempt something if it involves too much effort or brain power, and Millicent Bulstrode has muggle cousins in America, so she's out too. Theodore Nott's still thinking about it, but he hates his mum, who's a thorough racist and Dark Lord supported, so he'd probably do anything to piss her off. And Zabini's just a wild card, so-"

"Zabini!" Harry latched onto the name, triumph in his eyes. "He must know something! He's the only I hadn't really thought about... and he's so... sneaky and underhanded."

Caroline raised a brow. "When have you ever caught him doing anything underhanded?"

"That's just it! He's never been caught but I'm sure he's done loads of things..."

"You do realize you're going off half-arsed?"

Hermione gave a look that said, "Wouldn't be the first time," but remained silent.

"Will you help us or not?" asked Weasley, more to the point.

"You want me to help you talk to Zabini?" she asked a little nervously. He was foreign territory, after all.

"Yes, that's it, just go with us when we go to question him," Harry said, nodding vigorously. "Ease the air a bit, you know? Ten knuts for you to just sit in on the conversation, all right?"

Caroline found herself sighing again. "All right. But only five knuts. You lot are vastly overrating my services. Besides which, I don't know how much of a help I'll be. Not exactly on easy relations with the fellow."

And suddenly, 5'3" seemed very short indeed. Granted, Zabini wasn't all that tall, and he was currently sitting down. Perhaps that was just his eyes on Caroline that were making her feel small. And warm. Very, very warm.

"Who needs five knuts, anyway?" she asked aloud, abruptly spinning, intending to leave, but Weasley and Potter grabbed her arms and brought her back around. Zabini had a slight predatory grin on his face.

"May I help you?" he asked smoothly, the question directed at Potter while he eyed the group assembled before him.

Harry took a seat directly across from Zabini, Ron sat to his left and Hermione to his right with Caroline pulling a chair slightly away from the table and next to Hermione. Estrogen needed to stick together, after all.

They had found Zabini in another section of the library, studying Transfiguration by the looks of it. He had caught them watching him and beckoned them forward.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush Zabini, just get straight to the point, because, of course, I don't trust you and would therefore like to spend as little time in your dubious company as possible," began Harry.

"Could you even define 'tact', Potter?" snorted Caroline, shaking her head. "I don't imagine insulting him is the best way to go about this."

"'Go about' what, exactly?" demanded Zabini, casting Caroline an amused glance.

"We need information," replied Harry, ignoring Caroline entirely.

"For Merlin's sake, lower your voice, Harry," scolded Hermione, glancing uncomfortably around them.

"Voldemort's up to something, and I need to know what. Do you know anything about it?" asked Harry, ignoring Hermione as well.

Zabini raised a brow. "You want me to tell you all I know about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? That's a dangerous question, Potter."

"I'll deal with the consequences," snapped Harry.

"Not dangerous for you, dangerous for me. You think spilling facts about You-Know-Who will make me popular?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "And what makes you think I know anything, anyway?"

Again with the blank look. "You're a Slytherin-!"

"Right," said Blaise, rolling his eyes. "Therefore slated to be a Death Eater. Got it. Okay, suppose I do answer your questions. What's in it for me? Information like this doesn't come cheap."

"I'll pay you," offered Harry.

Zabini stared at him for a moment. "Potter, you do realize that my family owns two villas in Italy and a small island off the coast of Greece that's protected by magical wards so that it's Unplottable and no muggles could ever find it? When I graduate, I will have my own flat in London and I probably won't have to work a day in my life."

Harry paused. "So money's no good, huh?"

"Damn spoiled rich kid," muttered Caroline under her breath.

"So then what do you want?" asked Weasley, looking thoroughly resentful.

Blaise placed his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand, gazing mischievously and quite pointedly at Caroline.

"You have got to be kidding me," she said, wide-eyed.

"You want her?" Harry asked curiously.

"I want a kiss from her-"

"Oh, hell no!"

"-for every question I have to answer," Zabini continued, ignoring Caroline, though smiling evilly. "And if you ask over ten questions, she has to go to Hogsmeade with me the next trip."

Harry seemed to consider it.

"I will not be used as a bargaining tool, thank you very much!" announced Caroline.

"Harry, you can't be serious," agreed Hermione.

"I'm not finished," added Zabini. "You have to play by my rules as well. Only you two," he pointed to Potter and Weasley, "can ask the questions. The ladies will have to keep their pretty mouths shut, and if they help at all, that's two Hogsmeade trips. I will collect after you lot are finished and have left." He looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself, and was leaning back in his seat with his arms folded behind his head.

"There is no way I'll-" began Caroline.

"Deal," interrupted Harry, reaching across the table to shake hands with Blaise.

"What?!?"

It was impossible for Zabini's smirk to be any smugger.