Blaise Zabini and the Magical Cat

When they returned to the Gryffindor Tower, they all went upstairs to change into holiday robes, except for Blaise, who was forced to go to Slytherin dormitories to change. As the Gryffindors went upstairs, Balkis and Blaise remained in the Gryffindor Common room alone. Blaise said:

'Meet me outside of the castle doors'.

'Yess, Blaise, caro, I will,' Balkis said.

Blaise went out of the Gryffindor Common Room, and Balkis followed him some time after he left, descended to the first floor, went out of the great door and sat outside on the lawn, waiting for Blaise. Some time later he appeared, in silk crimson robes with gold lining.

'Oh, Blaise, you arre inimitable!' Balkis said. Blaise blushed and said:

'I am glad you think so, Balkis.'

Balkis changed into her human form.

'And what do you think of me?' she asked.

'You are amazing,' Blaise said.

'Thank you, Blaise,' Balkis said.

'It's only truth.' Blaise smiled. 'Let's go.'

Hr offered Balkis his hand. She took it, and they descended the rocks, on which Hogwarts castle stood, and then went by a road along the shore of the Hogwarts Lake, among fields, meadows and groves. The blue lake glittered in the distance. After some time they reached the other end of the lake, Balkis saw the bay behind a willow grove, and a long mound with two long iron rails with wooden planks laid across then, reaching as far as she could see.

'What is it, Blaise?' Balkis asked.

'Railway,' Blaise answered. 'On these railways move many vehicles united into one chain, and the first vehicle pulls the rest. Such chains of vehicles are called trains. They are used for carrying many people from one place to another. All countries in my world are spanned by railways. Hogsmeade is a station - an appointed place where trains stop. Students arrive by train to Hogsmeade from London, the capital of this land'.

'So this London is where the King of this land lives?' Balkis asked. Blaise answered:

'Yes, the Kings of England live in London, but right now it is a Queen who rules England. Her name is Elizabeth, Elizabeth the Second'.

'Is her castle as big as Hogwarts?' Balkis asked.

'No. Hogwarts is a very big castle, the Buckingham Palace, the Queen's residence, is not so large,' Blaise said.

'The Founders were thorough,' Balkis said.

'Yes, they made this school the best,' Blaise said.

Blaise and Balkis crossed the mound, walked a little while yet, and then Balkis saw houses - white, with pitched red roofs.

'This is Hogsmeade,' Blaise said. 'The inn, the Three Broomsticks, is on the outskirts'.

'I won't be noticed?' Balkis asked anxiously.

'Of course not,' Blaise said. 'There is about a thousand of students in this school, some of them pretty Asian girls.'

'Such as?' Balkis asked a bit shortly.

'Well, Parvati Patil of Gryffindor and Padma Patil of Ravenclaw, twins. They're Indian. Or Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Seeker. She's Chinese,' Blaise said. 'Or Sukhian Moon, of Hufflepuff, a Korean. But you are the prettiest'.

'Thank you, Blaise.' Balkis smiled.

They entered the village, and Balkis saw one of the first houses had a sign with three crossed broomsticks. Blaise led her inside the house. There were wooden tables and stools inside, and a fireplace in which fire roared, casting orange flicks on all about, and a wooden counter behind which a plump, rosy woman in red robes stood. At the tables men and women in robes of various colors were sitting. There were many students, judging by their age.

'Here is a vacant table in the corner,' Blaise said and led Balkis to the table.

'Seat yourself, and I'll bring something to drink for both of us,' Blaise said. 'They serve butterbeer, gillywater, mulled mead, red currant rum and cherry syrup with ice and umbrella here. What shall I bring for you?'

'Mulled mead,' Balkis answered.

'Mulled mead it is, then,' Blaise said. 'And I'll have a butterbeer, with your leave.'

Balkis sat down on one of the stools by the table, and Blaise went to the counter.

'One butterbeer and one mulled mead, please, Madam Rosmerta,' he said.

'What, do you have company, Mr. Zabini?' Madam Rosmerta smiled. 'Anyone I know?'

'I don't think so.' Blaise smiled. 'This is a big school. But she is a sweet girl and a true Ravenclaw. Her name is Balkis.'

'Balkis, eh?' Madam Rosmerta said and, looking about, saw Balkis sitting alone. 'Her?'

'Yes,' Blaise blushed. 'That is her.'

'A pretty girl, in the Asian way,' Madam Rosmerta said. 'She's not from Far East.'

'No, she's from Central Asia.' Blaise said. 'Not quite European and not quite Asian.'

Well, good luck to it,' Madam Rosmerta said. 'One butterbeer and one mulled mead, you said?'

'Yes,' Blaise said. Madam Rosmerta poured for him a glass of golden clear liquor from a barrel and another of dark gold liquor from another barrel and put them on the counter. Blaise searched in his pocket produced some coins, put some on the counter and some back in his pocket. Madam Rosmerta took the coins from the counter. Blaise took the glasses in both hands and went to the table where Balkis sat, and there put them on the table.

'Your mulled mead, ma'am,' he said with a smile. 'And a plain butterbeer for yours truly.'

He sat down and took his glass in his hand. Balkis took her glass in her hand too and tasted.

'Well, how do you like it here?' Blaise whispered.

'Very much,' Balkis whispered in answer.

'And mulled mead?' Blaise asked.

'It's very good,' Balkis answered.

'It's an old recipe, Balkis, an old Welsh recipe. Light clover honey, yeast, crushed fennel, anise, caraway, clove seeds, cinnamon bark, lemon grass and fresh grated ginger come into it,' Blaise explained. 'Very delicious.'

'Very,' Balkis said. 'I feel their taste.'

'I'm glad you like it,' Blaise said. 'It's very salutary, too. The Welsh call it Metheglin, or Meddyglin, from Welsh "meddyg", a physician.'

'Oh, do they?' Balkis said.

'Mead, butterbeer and red currant rum are all mild drinks,' Blaise said. 'Strong drinks are served in the Hog's Head tavern, a little further on, in a side lane. The students don't go there. It is a place for older people.'

'Hog's Head?' Balkis asked.

'A hogshead is a large barrel, and a measure of liquor, fifty-five gallons. The name is also a pun on the name of the village.'

'I see,' Balkis said. 'Fifty-five gallons? That is a very big barrel.'

'Very big indeed,' Blaise smiled.

'What's 'very big', Zabini?' a drawling, supercilious voice said behind their backs, and Balkis, turning, saw Draco Malfoy. 'Your wand? Did you find a girlfriend at last?'

Blaise flushed violently and stood up, snatched his wand out of his pocket, took it at the ready and said through set teeth:

'Apologize to this lady at once, Malfoy, or I will hex you into next year. You know I mean it. Well? I am waiting, Malfoy.'

'I apologize,' Malfoy managed to speak. Blaise put his wand back in his pocket and said:

"Very good, Malfoy. Now go away and don't bother my lady friend any more.'

Malfoy went away. Blaise sat down.

'Blaise, you are so brave!' Balkis said.

'Malfoy doesn't know where to stop,' Blaise said, breathing heavily. 'To say such filthy things about you!'

'Yes, that was very rude,' Balkis said.

'Don't worry, now he won't do that again,' Blaise said confidently. 'Be of ease'.

'I will, thank you, Blaise.' Balkis smiled. Blaise blushed and suddenly became very interested in the outlines of his glass.

'I don't see any first or second years here,' Balkis remarked.

'The first and second years aren't allowed to Hogsmeade,' Blaise explained. 'Only the students from the third year and older. And one must have a signed permission from one's parent or guardian to go to Hogsmeade. Harry didn't get his signed in his third year because his uncle, with whom he lives, is a mean git. He hates Harry for his gift, himself being one of those Muggles who despise magic. Fortunately Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black, turned up, and signed the permission for the next years, so this is all settled.'

'Pity Mortie and Fergal can't be here, then,' Balkis said. 'But all the rest will show, I hope?'

'Here they are,' Blaise said. 'Hi Harry, Ron, 'Mione! Long time no see! Join us!'

The three Gryffindors, who entered the inn, heard him, turned their heads and came up to the table he and Balkis were at.

'Hi Blaise, Balkis,' they said.

'What took you so long?' Blaise asked.

'Mione was dressing.' Harry smiled. Balkis looked at Hermione. She was wearing beautiful robes of light blue silk, showing her lovely shapes, a pair of velvet black high-heeled shoes, and a silver comb in her hazel hair, falling in a wave on her shoulders. Harry was wearing robes of green velvet, matching his wonderful eyes, and Ron robes of black velvet. Balkis said:

'You look splendid, 'Mione!'

'Thank you,' Hermione answered. 'You too.'

'Thank you, 'Mione.' Balkis answered. 'These green robes suit you very much, Harry'.

'Thank you, Balkis.' Harry smiled. 'You're lovely.'

'Thank you, Harry,' Balkis said. 'And you, Ron, are very handsome in black.'

Ron went red and said:

'Thank you, Balkis. You are terrific.'

Balkis gathered it was a compliment.

'Thank you, Ron,' she answered.

'So, what will you have?' Blaise asked.

'Butterbeer,' Harry and Ron said.

'A cherry syrup.' Hermione said.

'Very well.' Blaise said. 'I'll fetch them.'

Blaise brought the drinks for the Gryffindors, and they seated themselves at the table with Blaise and Balkis.

'Amazing - a Gryffindor wearing green, a Slytherin wearing crimson, a Gryffindor wearing blue and a Ravenclaw wearing red,' Blaise said, sipping his butterbeer.

'Well, if green goes well with my eyes, and you like crimson,' Harry smiled. 'As to 'Mione and Balkis, you know, they would fit equally into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw'.

Balkis and Hermione smiled proudly.

'Gryffinclaws, eh?' Blaise said.

'That's a good one, Blaise!' Ron said.

'So, we have here two Gryffindors, one Slytherin and two Gryffinclaws,' Harry said.

'A good set, isn't it?' Blaise smiled.

'Good indeed.' Harry smiled. 'Here's to it!'

He raised his glass, and so did his friends. They touched glasses with each other.