Madness

POV: Blaise Zabini

While sitting with my fellow Slytherin third-years waiting for the feast that marks the start of the school year, I couldn't help myself from trying to catch quick glimpses of Cassiopeia. Knowing I had a betrothed and writing my betrothed was a whole different game of quidditch than meeting her. I watched as tiny bodies stared in awe as the star-covered glass ceiling began moving into the Great Hall. The floating candles bobbed up and down, casting a gentle glow on all below. Observing Cassiopeia entering the hall on the arm of a proper-looking boy with awkward mannerisms, I watched as unlike the other first years who were gawking, the girl was talking to the air.

It wasn't that I didn't know the rumors that my future wife was mad, but seeing the proof in person gave me an excited tingle down my spine. I hated boring, and having such a unique person to spend the rest of my life with gave me a mad shiver of delight.

If anyone had been looking at the Zabini heir, then they would have seen the mad obsession that flashed in my eyes.

Since I was a boy, my mother, a famous witch due to her status as a black widow, would quote, "Men who love their mothers treat women wonderfully. And they have enormous respect for women". She once told me that she took that saying from a famous American muggle actress' mind who she met at a London bar while the actress was inheriting big from her divorce. The inheritance gave my mother the idea that would inevitability lead to her having seven husbands, who all died from mysterious circumstances and enabling the Zabini line to be one of the wealthiest wizarding families in Europe.

I think about that quote while staring at Cassiopiea from across the hall and knowing that my life has changed course due to an elderly Great-Grandfather's foresight to protect his granddaughter.

Cassiopeia did not know it then, but Blaise Zabini would be her biggest supporter.

Blaise vividly watched his betrothed, ignoring the sorting hats' attempt to sing. He cataloged her by noticing her bright white hair, skinny build, and pale complexion. She still looked like a child, but her features highlighted one main fact, Baizes' wife would never look dull.

Her skin color would contrast so nicely against his inspiring him to draw her. His hand started to twitch with the need to get to his charcoals to showcase her on his sketchpad.

Blaize couldn't have cared less where the first years were sorted and only kept half his attention on the hat while waiting for her turn.

When Professor McGonagall, the firm transfiguration teacher, yelled, "Black", the whole hall quieted down to where you could hear a whisper being spoken. Cassiopeia seemed to be in her own little world, staring at something only she could see before jumping at the shout. Several people giggled at her, and he wanted to hex them. Her pureblood training kicked in, and she elegantly sashayed up to the stool before promptly sitting down. The hat was too big on her, giving the adorable effect of riding down over her eyes.

The hat and Cassiopeia seemed to chat for a minute before she was sorted. The hall seemed to be holding its breath as one of the last Blacks, and a mad one at that was about to be placed into one of the four Hogwarts houses. The houses included the Gryffindors, who welcomed the brave, the Ravenclaws, who enjoyed the studious, the Slytherins, who accepted the clever; and the Hufflepuffs, who embraced the loyal.

I could tell by the whispers that the only reason half the student body, the half-bloods, and muggleborns, even knew of the Black name was the recent articles highlighting the lawsuit between Lady Malfoy and Cassiopeia.

The Slytherins gave each other subtle looks and passed gallons under the table while the hat and Cassiopeia chatted. When the hat called "Ravenclaw.", the hall went wild. Friends instantly turned to friends and chatted while the Ravenclaws clapped half-heartedly for their new housemate, being undecided if they were happy or not to have the mad black in their house.

I was unsurprised due to Cassiopeia being an abnormal Black and growing up a Lovegood. The Lovegood line has historically been Ravenclaw with a few Slytherins mixed in.

Cassiopeia looked to be scanning the hall before her eyes met mine. We stared at each other for a long moment before the spell was broken due to the hat coughing. After our moment, Cassiopeia smiled at Longbottom and went to join her new housemates at the bronze and blue table.

He watched as her friend, apparently heir Longbottom, was called for sorting after several first years went after Cassiopeia. He only knew who the first year was due to his last name because of his quintessential pureblood tutoring sessions growing up.

Watching as the boy with a toad on his shoulder smiled at Cassiopeia nervously before walking over to the stool, the hat rested on. He had to hold his laugh as the boy tripped on the first step before catching himself. Longbottom's ears turned bright red before looking at my betrothed for reassurance. While watching their relationship from afar, I felt thankful that the lonely girl I had corresponded with in letters for years had finally made a friend.

The hat only took a few seconds before loudly shouting, "Gryffindor.", causing Cassiopeia to grin with her full white teeth on display. The boy walked quickly over to the clapping table decked out in gold and red, located two rows over from the Slytherins. You could hear wolf whistles as the rambunctious house welcomed its new member.
The rest of the first years were sorted, and then the students were given the welcome speech by Headmaster Dumbledore. The aging wizard was said to be one of the most powerful and influential wizards in Britain. Still, the Zabini's had never been a fan. The headmasters' policies against the Wiccan religion and traditions made the light wizard a persona non grata in the Zabini household.

After Dumbledore bizarrely finished explaining that the third-floor corridor was out of bounds, the food appeared. You could smell the heavenly aroma as soon as the food hit the plates making my mouth water. Due to hunger, I wanted to start eating quickly but patiently waited for the others in green to sacrifice a portion and say a prayer before eating.

You could tell the purebloods from the muggleborns and half-bloods due to offerings being made to the nearby sacrificial fires by those raised in the wizarding culture and the elegant manners of those who grew up in the wizarding world. You could tell that most of the older family's children were in Slytherin due to the staggering number of offerings made to Lady Magic and other magical Gods.

My best friend, Alec Nott, brother to a first-year who joined Slytherin, Theodore Nott, gave me a smile after my offerings to Lord Death. He said, "Is that her, Zabini?", while looking at Cassiopeia. I replied in a bored tone, "Yes, that is my betrothed." I tried to mask my feelings of contentment due to the number of others listening. Still, I could tell he knew me well enough to know that I was pleased with the sight of Cassiopeia. He caught on to my tone and replied, "Ah, I see.", and went back to looking after his younger brother. The rest of dinner went well, with me discussing our summer break with other Slytherins.

On the way back to the Slytherin common rooms, I decided to host a party to welcome back my fellow students since classes were not starting for another couple of days. I called for my elf Pinky whose entrance was only allowed into Hogwarts due to her previous status as a school elf before my family acquired her. Something only most Purebloods know is that Hogwarts is stacked full of house elf's waiting for wizarding families to need help due to the elf species' need to live off magic. This need is why so many elves work in high magic-centered areas such as Hogwarts or the ministry. Pinky popped into existence just across from me, scaring my roommates, Nott and Pucey, though they tried to hide it. Pinky was all smiles as she stared at me with awe on her face and her hands bunched up to her chest. She spoke in a squeaky tone, "Hello, Master Zabini, yous being calling me already; how can Pinks be helps you?". I replied in a tone of boredom, as I was used to her style, "Thanks Pinky. I decided to host a Welcome Back Party. Will you help me set up the party?". Pinky just about hopped out of her pillowcase as she was giddy with excitement before replying, "Oh, Master Zabini, a party!" and popped out of existence. Pinky had previously helped me set up these get-togethers and knew how I liked things. I grabbed a case of fire whiskey from my extended trunk, which was in the bottom of my bag, before telling the guys to invite the upperclassmen.

When we got to the designated party room, previous Slytherin alumni had warded for us; it even fooled the Professors, who didn't know what was happening. A portrait of the king of wizard parties, Alexander Winecrest, guarded the entrance. His descendants have been making wizarding wine for centuries and are known as a household wine-making family. The portrait in his sixteenth-century getup looked up from the glass of brandy in his hand and smiled with mischief once he saw who was there. I knew this party would be great as Pinky was already grabbing the magical fireworks and food.

Twenty minutes later, the party room was decorated to the gills with Pinky's favorite theme of all white, the boys finished spelling a charm to make the music from my top of the wizarding line record player boom, and the boos were magiced to have sparkles in them and were in an enchanted bowl designed to prevent tampering.

The first of the Slytherins came through the portrait within ten minutes, and soon everyone from my grade of third years and up was socializing, Meeting the few first years who were allowed to come due to Nott inviting his brother. I could already tell Cassiopeia had her work cut out for her while dealing with strong personalities. Especially Malfoy. I liked Nott, though his personality reminded me of his loyal and ruthless brother. Right then, I decided to push Cassiopeia to befriend the young Nott.

The party went how I expected, and I felt almost high without any influences due to my joy at being around my buddies again. I loved my mother, who I spent the summer with, but friends always gave you something you didn't know you needed.

I was excited for the year to come; if only I knew the drama that would take place over the next few years.