Grim Decisions

Blaise Zabini walked down Diagon alley, Pansy Parkinson at her side.

"So I said to him-" Pansy blabbered on.

Blaise rolled her eyes.

All Pansy ever talked about was Draco Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy was another Slytherin, with fine silver blonde hair and gray eyes.

Most the Slytherin girls fancied him, apart from Blaise.

"Will you shut up about Draco? What's so good about him anyway?" Blaise said, as they walked into Eeylops Owl Emporium.

Pansy scowled then her face lightened up as she saw an eagle owl perched near them.

"That's the sort of owl Draco's got," Pansy beamed, "But nothings as good as him, everything about him is perfect."

Blaise snorted, "Yeah his families really perfect.." she said, whilst examining a black and white rat.

Pansy glared at her, "What's got into you? I thought you liked Draco."

"I do. But that doesn't mean I have to talk about him all the time, and I don't love Draco-" Blaise began, but Pansy elbowed her in the ribs.

"What did you do-" Blaise said, but realized Draco Malfoy had just entered the shop with his father, Lucius Malfoy.

"Hello Draco," Pansy said, smiling widely.

"Hi Pansy, Father I believe you know Pansy Parkinson," Draco said, obviously showing off.

"Yes. Hello Miss Parkinson. I see we meet again," Lucius said in his slow calm voice, "Ah is this young lady another of your friends?" he asked, looking at Blaise.

"Yeah, this is Blaise Zabini, she's also in Slytherin," Draco said, eyeing Blaise.

"Hello.." Blaise said, feeling awkward.

Lucius bowed slightly and kissed her hand.

Blaise blushed and quickly withdrew her hand.

"Your mother isn't Kayla Zabini, is she?" Lucius asked, looking at Blaise.

Blaise nodded.

"And Erik Zabini your father?" Lucius asked.

"Yes," Blaise said.

"Ah, Erik and I have been friends since we were in Hogwarts. We were both in Slytherin, we're both purebloods and we both despise Mudbloods," Lucius said, smiling slightly.

Blaise merely looked at him, she hated her father. He expected her to marry some pureblood, and told her if he caught her with any muggle borns then he would kill her.

And Blaise knew very well he meant it. Her father liked to keep the Zabini family pride.

That's why Blaise didn't further her friendship with Hermione Granger.

"You would do well to marry someone like Miss Zabini here," Lucius said to Draco.

"I'm pure blood too," Pansy said, hoping for him to suggest to Draco to marry her.

But Lucius acted as though he hadn't heard her. "Well, Draco and myself must go, many places to go, good day Miss Zabini and err Miss Parkinson," he said and turned on his heel exciting the shop.

Draco waved bye to them both and followed after his father.

"What was the point of them coming in?" Pansy scowled, "They didn't even buy anything."

Blaise smirked, "Your just jealous because Lucius prefers me to you."

Pansy opened her mouth as if to object, but instead looked away, knowing what Blaise had said was true.

Blaise looked again at the black at white rat, considering whether to buy it or not.

"Why do you want a rat for?" Pansy snorted, "They're useless."

"Just like you then," Blaise muttered.

But Pansy being as dippy as she was didn't hear and instead starting complaining that the shop smelt bad.

Blaise picked up the rat and put it on the till.

"So you're going to buy it?" Pansy said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

"Yeah and when your asleep I'll put it in your bed, not to worry, I'm sure its teeth aren't that sharp," Blaise said, grinning at Pansy's expression.

Blaise paid the shopkeeper some money then walked out the shop, holding the rat.

"Aren't you going to cage that...that thing," Pansy asked, looking at the rat with great dislike.

"Shame.." Blaise said, "I was going to call it Pansy."

Pansy's mouth gasped in horror, "You were going to call that dirty rat after me! Why? I don't even look like that!"

Blaise laughed quietly to herself.

Blaise and Pansy sat down on a bench, watching all the Hogwarts students rush past.

"Lucky we got our school things yesterday, look at it today, packed with Hogwarts students," Pansy said.

Blaise ignored her, stroking her rat.

Pansy looked at the rat then at Blaise, "So what's its name?" she asked.

"Pansy," Blaise said, pretending to look startled, "and I didn't think you cared."

Pansy gasped at her, "You actually called that rat Pansy!"

Blaise laughed, "Why would I want to do that?"

Pansy scowled and continued staring at the rat.

"If you must know it's called Aerie," Blaise said, watching a little witch being told of by her mum.

"Aerie?" Pansy asked, raising an eyebrow, "What kind of name's that?"

Blaise was going to say something about the name Pansy but decided not too.

"I can't wait till we go to Hogwarts," Pansy said, smiling.

"You just can't wait to see Draco," Blaise said, rolling her eyes.

"True, but I do miss old Hogwarts," Pansy said, looking innocent.

"I think we should go back to my house, it's going to get dark soon," Blaise said, getting up.

"Okay," Pansy sighed.

"My house isn't that bad," Blaise said, frowning.

"No its not that," Pansy said quickly, "I just wanted to catch another peek of Draco."

Blaise laughed, "Your obsessed," she grinned.

"Tell me something I don't know!" Pansy giggled.

: -

Blaise and Pansy sat down at the dinner table that night.

The table was full of roast potatoes, mash potato, green beans, carrots, Yorkshire puddings and a whole range of other food.

"How did you cook all this, Mrs. Zabini?" Pansy asked, as she put some Yorkshire pudding's on her plate.

Mrs. Zabini laughed slightly, "I can't cook, our house elves make the dinner and clean the house, not me!" she smiled.

Pansy blushed slightly and dug into her dinner.

"Mother, did you know Lucius Malfoy?" Blaise asked.

Mrs. Zabini blushed, "Yes of course I knew him, we dated a few times too."

"You dated Lucius Malfoy?" Blaise and Pansy both asked at the same time.

"Yes dears, he was rather good looking in those days and unless I'm mistaken, he still is," Kayla Zabini said.

Mrs. Zabini looked at both their faces and added, "Why do you ask, dears?"

"Well.." Blaise said, fiddling with her shirt nervously, "Draco, Lucius's son, is in Slytherin too and Lucius said he knew father and you."

"Ah yes," Mrs. Zabini said, smiling, "Lucius and your father are good friends, just like me and Narcissa are."

"Narcissa?" Blaise asked.

"Draco's mother, dear," Mrs. Zabini said.

They ate the rest of the meal in silence, when everyone had finished Mrs. Zabini stood up and cleared her throat "Anyway, you two best be off to bed, we don't want you missing the train tomorrow."

Blaise and Pansy said goodnight and both went upstairs.

: -

"Come along Blaise!" Mrs. Zabini shouted as she walked quickly to the barrier where 9 and three quarters was.

Blaise and Pansy came into view, both running to Mrs. Zabini.

"Go on," Mrs. Zabini said, "Both of you at the same time, we don't have much time left."

Blaise and Pansy leant against the barrier and slid into platform nine and three quarters.

They instantly saw Hogwarts students saying goodbye to their parents, or checking they hadn't left anything.

Mrs. Zabini appeared by Blaise and Pansy.

"Goodbye dears," Mrs. Zabini said, kissing them both of the cheek.

"Mother!" Blaise frowned, wiping the lipstick off her cheek.

The Hogwarts express beeped loudly.

"Now go on dears, see you next term," Mrs. Zabini said.

Blaise and Pansy clutched their luggage and got on the Hogwarts express.

They got into an empty compartment, putting their luggage, Pansy's owl's cage, and Blaise's cat and rat cage on the empty seats.

Blaise quickly slid open the window, "Bye mother!" she shouted.

"Thank you for having me stay!" Pansy shouted, smiling.

"My pleasure dear!" Mrs. Zabini shouted back, "See you next term!"

And Mrs. Zabini got smaller and smaller as the Hogwarts express set off.

Blaise sat in a seat and Pansy sat in the opposite one so they were facing each other.

Blaise's Siamese kitten with blue eyes, peered into Aerie's cage.

"Amour!" Blaise hissed and grabbed the kitten away from the squeaking rat.

Blaise had called her kitten Amour, simply because she loved the French language, and Amour meant love in French.

Pansy flared her nostrils, "It was pretty obvious if you brought a rat then Amour would want to try eat it."

Blaise glared at her, "Keep your mouth shut for a change."

There was an odd silence for a few minutes until the compartment door opened and in came Draco Malfoy.

"Draco!" Pansy squealed, happy to see him, "What an odd surprise!"

Blaise rolled her eyes and looked out the window.

"Don't mind if I join you lovely ladies, do you?" Draco asked.

Pansy said "No." at the same time Blaise said, "Yes."

Pansy shot a glare at Blaise, "Blaise dearest, where are your manners?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"I think I left them back in Eeylops owl Emporium and replaced them with disgust," Blaise said.

Pansy looked at Draco, "Ignore her," she said.

But Draco wasn't looking at Pansy; he was instead, looking at Blaise.

Such lovely curves, a magnificent face, lovely hair, and beautiful eyes.. Draco thought I think I'm in love..

Blaise looked into Draco's eyes and noticed something she hadn't seen before..

My god! He has a lipstick mark on his cheek.

Draco quickly wiped his cheek as if he heard her, "My mother.." he muttered.

Blaise turned away from him and closed her eyes, preferring to fall asleep then hearing Pansy flirt with Draco.

: -

The Great hall was covered in its usual brilliant décor and the teachers all sat at the teacher's table.

Blaise sat down at the Slytherin table; Draco and Pansy sat either side of her.

Dumbledore smiled at them all, "Another year has begun and I bet your all hungry so I have one more thing to say, tuck in."

Dumbledore sat back down and immediately the plates began to fill with magnificent food.

Blaise began to eat quickly, her tummy was rumbling, when she suddenly felt someone's hand on her leg.

She looked at Draco and noticed he was smirking and that the hand belonged to him.

I suppose he is quite good looking.. Blaise thought and continued eating.

: -

Later that night Blaise sat on a chair in the Slytherin common room, people were starting to go to bed.

I don't blame them.. Blaise thought It is 2am in the morning after all..

Blaise, Draco and Pansy remained the only people still awake.

"Where are your goons, Draco?" Blaise asked.

"You mean Crabbe and Goyle?" Draco asked.

Blaise nodded.

"Oh, they went to bed ages ago," Draco said.

"Yes, I best be off to bed," Pansy said, winking at Draco.

Draco, however, took no hint.

"Goodnight Pansy," Draco said, and he turned to Blaise.

Pansy pouted, "Actually I might stay."

"Well I need a word with Blaise.." Draco said.

He needs a word with me? What could that be about? Blaise thought.

"Well you can say a "word" in front of me," Pansy said.

Draco sighed, "Come on Blaise, follow me."

Draco went out the common room and through the portrait hole.

Blaise followed, hundreds of questions running through her head.

Pansy looked alarmed and followed quietly, hoping to eavesdrop.

Pansy poked her head out the portrait hole, watching them, neither of them realised she was there.

"What is it?" Blaise asked, staring at Draco.

"Well-" Draco said, but his lips touched Blaise's.

Blaise was bewildered but kissed him passionately.

Their tongues collided.

Unaware of the silent tears that were running down Pansy's face, as she watched in horror.