Unintended, ch. X

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I'm just writing this for fun, not money.

Pairings: eventually Harry/Blaise, mentions of Theo/Daphne and some others.

Warnings/classifications: Nothing, really, in this chapter

Author's notes: I'm really extremely sorry that it took me so long to update and that it's so short (only 3,000 words or so). First there was the Harry/Blaise Summer Challenge in which I participated (Forgotten can be found here, and Starlight might be uploaded soon), and then Real Life got in the way. Sigh. At the moment I'm procrastinating on a paper on remarriage in Rome. It's unbelievable how inspired I get when I should be doing other things, haha. Again: I'm really sorry. I hope it won't happen again, but I can't guarantee anything, seeing as I have about 8 exams in the next two months or so...

Thanks to wolfofsummerbreeze, BrownElvishEyes, Terre, CogniDi, IronFist Shady Gurl, amethyst sylph, xSheshemex, pen pencil whatever, Born of Hatred and Gabwr for reviewing chapter IX! It really means a lot to me:)

This fic contains SLASH: boyxboy. Don't like? Don't read.

XxX

"So... are you?" He raises his green eyes to meet mine, but averts them just as quickly. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked that. That's private."

"It is," I calmly, though slightly coldly, agree.

As we walk on, Harry gives me a sideways glance. "Why haven't you denied anything?"

I raise an eye-brow. "Would anyone have believed me? They'd just have thought I'm in denial or something." I shrug.

"Probably true." He smiles slightly and changes the subject. "How's your mother?"

I marvel at the absurdity of the situation, then reply indifferently, "Same as usual. Seducing her next victim."

Harry rolls his eyes. "I'm amazed that she wasn't totally put off of men because of my uncle."

I give an amused snort, and the Weasley girl, who just walks by, throws me a filthy look.

As we reach the point where the Gryffindors should turn right to their common room, and the Slytherins should go straight ahead to the dungeons, Harry halts. "Anyway, just think about it what I said about SHADE and the DA, 'kay? See what your House-mates think."

"Okay," I say, and Harry and I each go our ways.

Finally back in Slytherin territory. No more people I have never spoken civilly with before suddenly talking my head off and no more war-related stuff for a while.

However, when I enter the common room, I'm greeted with a barrage of questions.

"What did Potter want?"

"Why did he talk to you and not one of us anyway?" Pansy asks, slightly miffed. "It's not like he knows you better than any of us, or anything."

"You might be wrong about that," I mutter. Absently, I notice that Daphne is not participating in the discussion, but rather sitting alone in front of the fire-place. "Anyway, he suggested the DA and SHADE be merged. Since we're obviously on the same side and all that.

"Oohh, but he was in the Slug Club too, wasn't he?" Pansy suddenly remembers.

"He was," I say shortly, while starting to walk away. "Anyway, you discuss it. I'm going to bed."

"But it's only -" Pansy begins, but Daphne silences her with a quick look.

"Sure. Good night."

With a sigh of relief I close the door behind me. Solitude at last. I flop down onto my bed and get my - lately neglected - copy of Practical Uses of Arithmancy.

But this evening, Cassander's laws for Arithmancy-based Rune-structures seem to be unable to hold my attention. I sigh and lay the heavy book aside.

So much has happened today. First Pansy got released from the hospital wing, hen we had to sit with the other Houses at dinner, and finally I had a conversation with Harry, as I can now legally call him. Who would have ever thought that a Slytherin like me would ever have civil conversations with Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, and call them by their first names?

I wouldn't have.

Unbelievable that that stupid plan of my mother's changed so much. Of course Theo would still have joined the Death Eaters, and Moon and her lot would have left too, but I probably would have remained neutral. Daphne would, presumably, also have been neutral, and Pansy and Millicent wouldn't have been disowned or hurt in the fight.

But thinking about what could have been is no use. It can't be changed anymore anyway.

I fold my hands behind my head and look at the ceiling, which - like the ceiling of the Great Hall - has been charmed to reflect the outside sky, to compensate for the lack of windows here in the dungeons.

It's cloudless, but the stars seem a bit obscured. Maybe it's a bit foggy.

I'm unpleasantly reminded of the mist I saw in London this summer, caused by breeding Dementors. I shiver involuntarily; those creatures creep the hell out of me. It took all of my self-control to walk calmly past the Dementors, back in third year, with Hogsmeade weekends, instead of turning and running back to Hogwarts, or racing past them. Letting my House-mates see I was scared was out of the question, of course, although I think most - if not all - of them felt the same.

A knock on the door interrupts my ponderings.

"Come in," I call, after yet another sigh.

Daphne enters the room, looking at the floor. She hesitantly raises her eyes. "Hey, how are you?"

I continue to stare at the ceiling. "Fine. Just needed some time alone," I say, hoping she'll catch the hint.

She does, but doesn't act upon it and leave me alone. Instead she just smiles apologetically. "I... I just... wanted to talk, I guess."

Something in her voice makes me look at her, just in time to see a single tear fall down. I sit up. "What's wrong?" I ask, startled.

Daphne sits down on the bed next to mine - Goyle's - and hides her face in her hands. Her slightly shaking shoulders betray that she is now really crying.

What is it with girls and breakdowns lately? First Pansy, and now Daphne! Sure, I can understand why - just fifteen minutes ago I was doubting my decisions as well - but to show your emotions so openly... isn't that a sigh of weakness? My experiences with my mother and her husbands have taught me that it's better to keep your emotions in check, or else others will use them against you.

But Daphne is my friend, and thus I put considerations like those aside, and sit down next to her. I put my arm around her, and let her lean against me. I sigh and pat her awkwardly on the back.

Her sobs subside, and she sniffs: "I'm sorry. Now your shirt is all wet." She gives me a watery smile.

"Has this something to do with your mother?" I ask, quietly. It would be a fairly delayed reaction, but I can't really think of something else. Well, nothing recent, anyway. And who knows what she and her mother discussed while I wasn't there...

She shrugs her shoulders, staring at her hands, which are now folded in her lap. "No. Yes. I don't know."

A bit more precise wouldn't hurt, I can't help but think. But outwardly I remain patient, and wait for her to elaborate.

"I... I thought we were doing the right thing, you know? But she... she made me feel like I'm just a stupid, stubborn kid or something..."

I remove my arm after a last, comforting pat. "I'm sure she was just... surprised. I bet she's proud of you for making such a brave decision."

Daphne sniffs again. "But I'm not brave at all! I... I just stayed there -" indicating the hiding room, "- while Pansy almost got killed! She should've been in my place!"

"But she didn't want to. And Slughorn asked you."

She ignores me. "And all because I was so damn selfish! I didn't want to fight Theo -"

"Daphne!" I say, standing up and gently forcing her to look at me. "You're not to blame. And even if you were, it's too late to change something about it anyway."

Her ice-blue eyes harden as she jumps up - we're almost nose-to-nose now - and glares at me. "You can be such an insensitive bastard sometimes!"

I feel my temper rising too, but force myself to speak evenly: "Just realistic."

Daphne continues to glare for a while, but suddenly slumps and casts down her eyes, her lower lip trembling slightly. "I'm sorry..."

My temper, which rose so suddenly, calms down equally fast. "It's okay. I'm not in the best of moods either."

She looks up hesitantly. "You're the best friend I have..." She tilts her head a bit, and - closing her eyes - leans in slightly.

When I realise what she's about to do, I hastily take a step back and avert my eyes. "I - don't think this is a good idea."

Daphne seems to come to herself again. "I - I keep on apologising today, don't I?" She lowers her eyes again. "I have no idea why I did that."

"Don't worry about it. Nothing happened," I say shortly.

"I'll just... go. Sleep well," she mumbles.

I stare at her back, when she leaves the dormitory, and gloomily think that I probably should've felt differently about one of Hogwart's prettiest girls wanting to kiss me.

I collapse onto my bed. What a day...

XxX

I wake up the next morning, discover that I'm still wearing the clothes I wore the day before, and repeat my sentiments of the day before: "What a day..." I mutter.

I quickly take a shower and dress, utter a sigh and enter the common room. I'm a bit later than usual, and everyone - not that there are many of us left... - is already there.

My eyes wander off in Daphne's direction. She avoids my eyes.

Morag raises an eyebrow. I ignore it.

"So... have you discussed the SHADE thing?" I say, in an attempt to break the uncomfortable silence. Everyone has probably seen Daphne go to my dormitory, and must be wondering what happened, since Daphne is now so obviously acting differently around me.

Pansy glances from me to Daphne and back, and says, "Yeah. We rather thought it's a good idea."

"But don't you think things are going too fast? I mean... just weeks ago all Slytherins were the enemy, in the eyes of the other Houses," I say.

"The Ravenclaws were friendly," Millicent comments quietly.

"And I believe Alex here is on rather... friendly terms with a certain Gryffindor. What's her name again? Robins or something?" Pansy grins.

Alex Vaisey smirks. "Demelza Robins."

Is that so? I must have been not paying attention. Well, I suppose it's only natural that the few sixth-years that are left hang out together a bit.

"Oh, and before I forget, Harry wants us all to address each other by first names," I say as I remember that.

Daphne sends me a quick look, and the others look at me weirdly.

"I thought I'd better set the example." I shrug. "See you at breakfast," I add shortly and leave the common room.

XxX

"Hey, Blaise. Join us in a game of Exploding Snap?" Pansy asks, two days later. Things have been tense over the past few days. Daphne seems to be evading me - as, I have to admit, I'm evading her - and the others have picked up on that. Also, Harry and his friends are nowhere to be seen, and no one knows where they are. Well, no one I'd be willing to talk to, anyway.

I glance at Daphne, who quickly looked away. "No, sorry. I'm going for a short walk," I say, slightly colder than intended. Pansy and Millicent share a curious look, and as I walk out of the door, I hear Pansy whisper, "What happened between you two, Daph?"

"Nothing," Daphne replies, icily.

The door slams shut behind me. "Oops," I say, mockingly.

I haven't visited my owl Euclides for a while, and I have no idea where else to go, so I decide to go there. However, when I enter the Owlery, I see that I'm not the only one there: near one of the windows is no other than the Boy Who Lived, petting his snow-white owl. I halt abruptly, pondering whether or not to go further. I decide that I have just as much of a right to be here as he has, shrug and walk to Eucli.

Harry looks up. "Hey," he says, in the soft tone that everyone seems to use in the Owlery. I don't think I've ever heard someone talk in a normal volume here.

"Hullo," I reply, suddenly feeling inexplicably nervous. I quickly turn to Eucli. "Hi Eucli. Sorry that I haven't been visiting you much." I feel a bit silly for talking to an owl like that, but then again, owls also seem to understand when you tell them where to bring a letter, so maybe he understands.

Eucli hoots and bites my finger, obviously agreeing that I have neglected him. "I guess I deserved that, huh?"

Harry chuckles. "Owls can be quite demanding."

"Yeah," I say, looking up and meeting Harry's eyes from the other side of the room. I avert my eyes and cough, trying to hide my unease. "So uhm... what've you been up to, lately?" I might as well try to figure out where he's been the last two days.

He smiles slightly. "Nothing, really."

"I find that hard to believe."

Harry steps away from his owl and instead leans against the wall next to one of the windows. "I bet you do." He smirks.

"You should've been in Slytherin." It escapes me before I can stop myself.

At his puzzled - though not insulted, as I had half-expected - look, I explain, "You just smirked."

"Oh." He laughs. "I hadn't noticed. Well, I almost was sorted into Slytherin."

"No way. Gryffindor's Golden Boy?" I ask in surprise.

Harry shrugs. "The Sorting Hat told me Slytherin would be good for me, help me on 'my way to greatness'," he says, making quotation marks in the air, "but I asked to be put in Gryffindor."

I sit down on a windowsill near Eucli, after having carefully checked it's clean. "Why?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Why do you think? I'm surprised you're a Slytherin, by the way."

"Because I'm so loyal and hardworking?" I say innocently.

He laughs again. "I wouldn't know about that. But I'm sure you could've been a Ravenclaw. Or a Gryffindor. I mean, it must've taken a lot of courage to stand up to some of your House-mates like that."

I shrug. "I prefer the term 'insanity'."

"Hmmyeah, you must be pretty insane to not want to be Voldemort's slave," Harry agrees, nodding mock-seriously.

"Exactly. My brain cells must've been affected by my brief but traumatising encounter with your uncle more than I thought." Now why the hell did I bring that up again? I mentally groan.

"Eurgh. I still can't believe you did that." He shudders.

"Well, as I said, my mother would've disowned me if I hadn't played along."

"I'm sure she can't be that heartless."

"Believe me, she is," I mutter darkly. "She even wants to repeat it this summer."

"You -" he begins.

"Of course not," I say with an eye roll.

Suddenly I don't know what to say anymore. The conversation, which flowed so naturally, abruptly comes to a halt. Apparently, Harry has the same problem. We just stare at each other, helplessly, for a moment.

"I, uh..." I begin. "Er... How about a rematch Wizard Chess?" Lame, Blaise, very lame, my subconscious scolds me.

To my surprise, however, Harry smiles brightly and says "Sure!"

XxX

And thus, a couple of minutes later, I find myself in the Great Hall, Harry sitting opposite me, and a chess board on the table between us. A few people who were doing whatever it was they were doing in the Great Hall give us interested looks.

Before anyone can open their mouth, Harry declares, "I challenged him to a game of Wizard Chess," which is, technically, not entirely true.

He gets a chessboard and pawns, and we start playing. At first, I'm feeling a bit awkward playing Wizard Chess against a Gryffindor at Hogwarts, but as the game progresses, I gradually forget about my surroundings. I only half notice the group of people that gathers around us during the game. "Ha! I won!" I exclaim a while later.

"Ah, it's not fair," Harry says, sighing comically.

"You're pretty good, actually," Weasley says, surprised.

"From him, that's a pretty big compliment," Harry comments. "Ron's great at Wizard Chess."

Weasley blushes and coughs. "Well..."

"Why don't you two play each other?" Harry suggests.

"Er..." I look around, panicking slightly. I'm not so sure this is a good idea...

Weasley, however, grins and switches place with Harry. "I'll let you begin."

I regain composition a bit and raise an eyebrow. "Confident, are we?"

Weasley just grins. "Bring it on, Zabini."

"Blaise. His name is Blaise," Harry interjects.

All heads simultaneously snap in his direction. "What?" Harry says defensively. "We're on the same side! Why stick with the last names?"

I recognise a potentially awkward situation. I clear my throat and move my first pawn.

I discover that Weasley has good reason to be confident. I can't afford any mistakes, or he will use them against me.

When Weasley is pondering his next move, I see Alex Vaisey enter the Great Hall. He seems to be looking for something - or someone.

A girl jumps up from where she was sitting and exclaims, "Oh, sorry, Alex! I was watching the game and totally forgot the time."

His eyes fall on me, and he raises an eyebrow, just as Weasley announces, "Check mate!"

I raise my hands in defeat. "Harry was right, you're really good."

My mentioning of Harry's first name causes yet another uncomfortable silence. "You should play Morag some time," I add quickly. "She's much better than I am."

The Great Hall slowly empties, and I stand up, too.

"Blaise."

I halt and turn around. Have I forgotten something?

"Have you talked with your House-mates about the trainings?" Harry asks.

I could slap myself in the face. How could I forget about that? "Um. Yeah. Sorry," I say, cursing my non-eloquence. "They think it's a good idea."

Harry smiles. "Great! First training will be tomorrow."

To be continued...

XxX

Next chapter: SHADE and the DA have their first training together. What will happen?

I hope this chapter wasn't too disappointing...