Peculiar Perspectives

Blaise Zabini had had a… detached childhood. Not an unloved childhood, but a detached one. No matter how much his mother loved him, it wouldn’t be the same as being around those his age. Then there was the fact that his father had died when Blaise was young. Mother never truly recovered from the loss, and Blaise would never become the man he might have. He liked the first stepfather until he overheard him talk about business expenses and his father’s death in the same breath. A week later he’s being buried.

A tragic case of heart issues, the coroner had said.

Blaise knew the truth. He had seen the small vial that Mother had poured into his unattended goblet.

So, Baise had a detached childhood. And a bored childhood. When one has been surrounded by death for as long as one can remember it tends to lose much weight, beyond that of the body. He doesn’t begrudge Mother, however. He understands the need for revenge she has, the urge to dispose of everyone responsible for, and involved in, her husband’s death. Then of course there’s the position she has on the Italian High Council. Boring, but useful in helping him learn to taste the falsehoods in words, as well as hear the ring of their deception or truth. Of course, there were the children he lived near, but he thought them terribly droll.

It's when he’s in Diagon Alley, acquiring his supplies to attend his father’s alma mater, that he meets someone. Someone with a spark of intrigue, an ember that maybe, just maybe, might become a bit more of a flame of chaos. James Evans, he introduced himself as. Beyond being glad that he’s met someone who agrees with him about the inanity of things such as robes, if not for quite the same reasons, there’s something more. As he savors the name on his tongue, there’s a taste of untruth, though the words ring true. It’s an intriguing paradox.

He's quite delighted to be extended an invite to sit with him on the train. Perhaps Evans might finally draw him out of that ever-present apathy he finds himself drowning in.

Oh, how certain he becomes in their first conversation on the train. Because that same sickly-sweet taste of deception positively coats his words, while ringing truer than any other he had heard. And about ghosts, of all topics. Yes, he’s quite certain he won’t be bored any longer.

And he’s proven right as soon as their first year begins. When James Evans is revealed as Harry Potter. When Harry exorcises a professor, threatens to exorcise the poltergeist. When he compels a ghost. His own House’s taciturn ghost, no less. When he reveals himself a Hunter.

When he brings him along to fight and slay a troll.

 When he brings the three of them, for one Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom are part of their little group as well, to investigate the forbidden corridor, finding a cerberus of all things. When he takes them with him, to see what was in such dire need of guarding.

When he reveals the news of a fake prophecy.

It’s during their second year that Blaise decided. If ever there were a person he would willingly be with, that he wouldn’t mind loving, in due time of course, he is only fourteen, it would be Harry Potter. Because this year sees yet more intrigue. A new addition to their group in a Lovegood, mysterious petrifications, illicit soul magic, and eventually a basilisk being slain. All of that along with a half-mad house spirit bound by illegal and profane magic. Yes, Blaise wouldn’t mind falling in love with Harry.

Clearly, the concept is mutual, at least on the subconscious level, given the pet names they’ve both taken to using for each other. Which is rather good, as Blaise is of the opinion that he’s rather besotted by their third year, one filled with more borderline illegal magic, a werewolf professor, an escaped convict, unseen feats of magic and dangerous, devilish creatures. That alone would be enough, but along the way to the year’s end he, Harry, Luna and Hermione discover that Sirius Black is innocent and that a man had faked his death. And then Harry, beautiful, powerful but ludicrously oblivious Harry goes and exorcises a hundred dementors. And lies about it, face inscrutable to anyone who isn’t close to him, to the Minister.

Yes, Blaise is rather besotted.

Then there’s their fourth year. It manages to start off with a bang, even before they make it to the school proper. There’s a terror attack at the Quidditch World Cup, which led to an impromptu interrogation. And Harry threatens a government official, with actions more than words. Then there’s the actual school year. And the Triwizard Tournament.

That alone would have been intriguing, and fun to watch, but then Harry gets dragged into the Tournament. And he can’t back out because of the insanity of an ancient contract, that he was unwillingly entered into. Which, of course, means that Blaise is going to be involved as well. Along with the rest of their group. He’s rather unconcerned when he watches the First Task. A simple construct is rather inconsequential when compared to Harry’s other feats.

It's when a Ball is announced that Blaise is truly happy for the Tournament. Because with the Ball, comes dancing, which is mandatory for the Champions. And it’s because of those circumstances that Harry finally realizes that, in essence, he and Blaise have been dating for quite a while now.

It’s simply made an official state.

It’s quite an enjoyable night, filled with dancing and conversation. The following days are also rather enjoyable, going on the closest thing to dates that one can manage when attending a boarding school that only allows disparate outings to the local village. Of course, he does wind up being taken as a willing hostage for the Second Task, though it’s not much of an imposition. And then it’s the final Task.

And Harry is kidnapped.

Dumbledore is the only one taking it seriously, beyond the people close to Harry. Hermione is at the Judges’ Table citing relevant laws and statutes that she had dug up in her research of the Tournament’s history, whereas Neville and Luna are harassing Dumbledore and the rest of the professors.

Blaise is simply threatening to poison people. Chiefly the Minister. It’s his fault that this damnable event happened.

It’s when Frank gets a phone call that Blaise, after having swapped to threatening Professor Moody, actually follows through on his threats. One of the many methods that Blaise’s mother makes sure he takes to remain safe is carrying certain paralytic agents and other poisons and venoms that she had developed.

Blaise uses six of them to poison Moody.

Who, based on what replaces the mixture in his vial, isn’t actually Alastor Moody.

And then Harry returns, and Dumbledore keeps attempting to get him to go through what happened, and Blaise has to show a card in his deck of information, and Albus finally leaves. And then it’s the holidays and Blaise gets to reintroduce Harry to his mother, as his boyfriend. Naturally, she starts telling embarrassing stories from his childhood. Summer would have been sedate if normal didn’t include attempts on Harry’s life. More specifically, dementors are sent after his dearest. As well as a kangaroo court that failed to convict him. Hermione’s refrain truly had described the situation best.

Disturbingly fascistic.

That only becomes clearer when they make it to the castle, as one of their professors is a Ministry plant. Who refuses to teach them anything. That would have been tolerable. After all, it’s Hogwarts, they tend to have subpar professors.

But then she starts torturing children.

So, as a group, all five of them facilitate her swift departure from the mortal coil that is Earth. Naturally, alibis were a necessity, which involved a rather enjoyable activity. Of course, that was a preamble to Blaise’s part in the plan. Brewing a sedative.

They had agreed on Orphic Unction. A relatively simple and quick brew, though with decreased potency if not used in its recommended dosing method. Fortunately for their plot, it doesn’t have to last its maximum length. Just long enough. Blaise also prepares the aerosolizing vial. It’s rather finicky work, and bar Hermione he’s the best at precision transfiguration.

Everything went according to plan. Until suddenly it didn’t. They had expected the Aurors, thus the alibi preparation, but what they hadn’t accounted for, what they hadn’t thought to research was a spell specifically to find dead bodies. And then Neville reminded everyone about Albus’ blasted phoenix.

That was how he and Harry found themselves as fugitives, popping to three separate locations before appearing before Frank at The Hunter’s Moon. Looking over at his boyfriend, as he embraced Frank, presumably receiving and giving send-offs, Blaise could only think one thing.

Despite going on the run and leaving everything he knew behind to hop to America, and despite the multiple cases of possible near-death experiences, he wouldn’t have changed a single thing he had done.

Because at least he had the love of his life by his side. He could deal with anything so long as that was true.