A Declaration
The ruffling of feathers and cooing of owls signaled the morning post had arrived. Blaise ignored the commotion, opting to savor a bite of warm cheesy eggs. Soon, however, the typical happy squeals of firsties receiving care packages from their mums were overshadowed by louder, more emphatic cries. A shadow fell upon him, and Blaise looked up to find a trunk carried by no less than eight eagle owls hovering just above his head.
“Looks like you have a rather large package,” Pansy said, shooting him a wink.
Blaise rolled his eyes. “Come off it, Pans.”
Draco stood looking up at the hovering trunk. “No, but really, mate, what the hell is that?”
“I haven’t the foggiest,” Blaise answered honestly. He stepped back, giving the owls room to set the delivery down at his feet. He stared at the nondescript leather-covered trunk. It had no name or tag to provide any clue as to the sender or contents.
“Well, open it,” Draco said, nudging Blaise forward.
He bent down and, finding the trunk unlocked, opened the lid. Inside, the trunk was filled to the brim with quidditch balls: Quaffles, Bludgers, and even a few glittering golden Snitches. Sitting atop the pile was a simple white length of parchment with the words ‘From Ginny’ scrawled across it.
Blaise stood, his eyes searching across the room and finding the gorgeous redhead smiling at him from where she sat at the Gryffindor table.
“Ginevra,” Blaise yelled across the room. “Why the hell have you sent me a bunch of Quidditch balls? I don’t even play that damned game. You do.”
Without the slightest hesitation, she stood and called out right back. “Well, you seemed like you needed them. Since you’re the one who’s always playing games, Blaise. I thought maybe if I got you some balls, you’d have the courage to finally make a move.”
Gasps and tittering laughter filled the hall. All eyes were focused on Blaise, waiting to see how he’d respond.
He sauntered over to her, his steps echoing on the stone. As he took the final steps to meet her face-to-face, he could see Ginny’s smile falter.
He leaned in, kissing her deeply. She opened eagerly, deepening their kiss and sucking on his tongue, but Blaise pulled back.
She looked up at him questioningly.
“Ginny, love, this means war.”