[Open] I woke up this morning feelin' alright.

[Ariana Shallow]

The similar smell of the air around her made the freedom she much needed come out. No it wasn't home where her grieving mother was, it was her home. Her small group of friends hung around even though she didn’t really do much or say much. The clicking of feet became more rapid as she paced down the hall, heels clicking at each step. Ariana's face was calm and sullen as it normally was, except anyone who knew her close enough that this was just a facade.

The porcelain skin made her way towards the large doors of the Slytherin Common Room and took a breath. She was out of her mom's grasp by the time she had come in late for school. Charlotte wasn't able to let go but oddly enough, Ariana didn't care. She didn't miss him one bit, he gave her whole family trouble that was unneeded. Her slim hand reached out and touched the door as she whispered the password softly in no hurry to get inside.

The long black curled hair bounced slightly against her bare shoulders, her black dress clung to her side as she walked into the Common room. Part of her mind raced to her...friend? Would she call them that? Weird things happen at night so she wasn't so sure. Ariana cleared her throat slightly before walking into the green lights dancing around the cold and dark room, her greenish gray eye's followed every movement of the lights and the small dim shadows that disappeared and moved around every now and then because of the fish swimming above.

"Uh hello?" She managed to whisper quietly. She was positive that no one could hear her.

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[Blaise Zabini]

Naturally Blaise had been spending a lot of his time brooding by himself. There weren't a lot of people that he liked to associate with even in his own house, and those that he did like to speak to seemed to be making themselves scarce lately. Normally he didn't mind not having any company... But it was his last year in the school, and frankly, people were driving him crazy. The Carrows, the other students who were either cowering in their common rooms or looking for any excuse to torture each other, and oddly enough, he was even annoyed that all that was left at the school were pure-bloods and some half-bloods. He thought this would be a good thing. But it was the diversity that made him feel apart from everyone else, and better than them.

He had initially thought that the only thing that really bothered him was the fact that he wasn't in control of his own life anymore. It still played a huge part in his decision to turn against the Death Eaters should the time come, but the same love of self had him thinking that he should be cautious about it and only do it if there was no other choice. It seemed like some of his determination was robbed by the absence of the people he cared about. Draco being busy with his own Death Eater business, Ariana gone... who knows where. And he hadn't even gotten to speak with the rest of his friends this year.

He sat in the common room and took out a book. It was something about knights and wizards, the sort of things that muggles generally cared more about than the real magic world, yet it had been written by a wizard to copy the style. Blaise thought that was silly but he was, deep down, a little interested in it. The muggles had a different idea of what magic was like than wizards did. They seemed so captivated by it, using it as an escape from their own reality. Right now he thought that was a wonderful idea. Did wizards write books about how they thought muggles lived? He wasn't sure except that he wouldn't dare read something like that right now. Actually, he was probably not supposed to read something based a bit on muggle books anyway. He supposed this new interest in muggle literature was completely due to Blaise wanting to break a rule or two that wouldn't be too obvious. He hated being controlled. They couldn't control everything.

He nearly jumped when he heard a voice. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. In this time, that could be dangerous... But it was alright. This time. He knew that voice. He stood up quickly, dropping the book to the ground when he did so. He didn't like people to see him in any state of disgrace but he was too distracted to care. “Ariana?”

[Ariana Shallow]

Ariana spent the quiet time reviewing what and who she had seen in the hallway before her. It wasn't crowded anymore. Barely any Hufflepuffs around and the red and gold have gone down a lot, no matter how much she loathed the Gryffindorks, she was feeling out of place with everyone gone. She didn't feel as high in power anymore, just normal among the rest. The scariest part was that now that the Muggle borns and most half-bloods have left, everyone that had pureblood would attempt to down grade others with what they know. Or even in the darkest of the pure gang, turn to death eaters. Not that she cared about what happened to the other beings in this place, it was just a concern if it was going to affect her future. That is something Ariana wouldn't stand for.

Given the choice to stay at home by her worry wart mother… She would have said yes, if it wasn't for her friends. There weren't many, yes, but she cherished them more than she would ever show anyone, even her friends. It was her own little secret she enjoyed with herself, even if Ariana found herself disgusted that she would even think that she would care that much to someone that wasn't herself. Part of her wanted to be back where she was safer, but she was here, and that is all that matters in the moment, right? The Carrows... they always had eyes...somewhere looking for something to torture them. It wasn't fair for them to have it their way all the time, it wasn't how things worked. Ever. It's the world that is suddenly revolving around every single move the Death eaters made.

Ariana took a cautious step back before pressing herself into the shadows. All the thoughts that raced through her head about the Carrows made her flinch. What happened with that pink overweight fuzz freak way back in fifth year was something she wouldn't relive. Professor Umbridge had single handed made her school year a living hell, giving her a scar on her hand that was a reminder of when she spoke back to the...thing... But she knew for a fact that the Carrows could go much, much farther and have more power than she ever did. She wasn't a by the book follower at all, but that's what the Carrows wanted, and she wasn't going to give them that. A smirk grew on her face as the shadows danced around her, the plan was to play it safe in the beginning and slowly, but surely make more and more rules be broken. Her last plan was to join the death eaters, that's if all else fails and she was about to be killed. It would be hard to do since being told what to do every single moment of the day of people you dislike, is like you are a puppet. Just a fool doing everything as they say.

Slowly she put her hand on the cold stone wall and walked forward and made a quick look around. No one was in there. But on the other side of this wall could be the Carrows or students looking for a victim. Ariana took in a sharp breathe as she turned her head towards the couch where she spent many nights in the past. The silhouette of a man on the couch hunched over looking at his lap. She kept her gaze on him and made her way out of the shadows quietly. When she spoke, she saw him get up in a quick movement. The emotion she hated the most raced through her brain, fear. The Carrows… On the edge of every noise because she wasn't sure who it was until she blinked, the noise of the book startled her to the point that she stood up straighter, paling a bit more than she already was she kept a face full of well nothing. Once she heard the voice and her ridgedness was gone. Blaise! She thought with relief. Actions she didn't stop herself before thinking about them, she raced forward quickly and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank god it’s you…" she muttered quietly. A few moments after she realized what she was doing she let go and stepped back a step so it wasn't awkwardly close. A small smile graced the porcelain girl's face, opening her mouth to think of something to say to cover up the actions she just did. Nothing came out until she was able to gather her own thoughts, "I'm sorry when I came in I thought you were a Carrow when you weren't I was...well relieved it was you."

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[Blaise Zabini]

Blaise was, understandably, startled when Ariana threw her arms around him. It wasn't simply that he wasn't used to the physical contact, though that wouldn't be far from the truth. He had become slightly more accustomed to it lately. It seemed like various people around him were convinced that one day, he would open up and become more physically affectionate himself. It was unlikely to happen if it hadn't even been there when he was a little boy (he tended to sulk away from others during family get togethers so that he would seem too grumpy to deal with for all but the most daring) but there seemed to be no shortage of people willing to try. Ariana wouldn't do that, though. She seemed just as non-physical as he was for the most part. It was one of the many things that they shared... Well, okay, maybe they didn't have that much in common but after Blaise had been forced to be around pure-blood maniacs and the people who cowered from them for so long, it was a relief to have Ariana there. What actually had him startled was the fact that she was here again at all. He hadn't been told anything about where she went. No one had mentioned it to him, and he hadn't asked. Why put himself out there if there was possibly no reason to? But he had started to think that maybe Ariana had done something stupid and unpredictable and had been punished by the Carrows for it. Or even put to death... Especially from what Blaise remembered about her family and Ariana's old friend (at least, he thought that it was a friend. The details were hazy because of the way that Ariana had freaked out during that dinner).

At 'thank god it's you' Blaise found himself smirking and almost looking proud of that. She remembered him, obviously, but then who could forget after the way that they had formally met? It was sort of a shame that they had gone so many years knowing of each other but really knowing nothing about each others' character. Ariana had pegged him for one of Draco's boys which was untrue despite their friendship, and Blaise had basically written her off as one of the gossiping Slytherin girls. By the end of that evening their respective stereotypes had seemed to be trumped. Then their conversation in the common room had made him feel more at ease with the situation rather than what usually happened, finding out that she had some other deal-breaker about her... Finally, after all of these years, he had found someone that his mother associated with that he actually didn't mind. She must be thinking along the same lines...

But that ended up not being the complete reason that Ariana would say that. When Ariana stepped back, Blaise fought to think of something to say. The only thing that could make this moment more awkward than it already was was to remain silent. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, though he hadn't decided what and it was up to debate whether he would actually get it out at all, Ariana spoke first. “You thought that I was a Carrow?” Blaise repeated, raising an eyebrow and looking at her skeptically. For a moment his emotions were at war with each other. Be amused at her confusion and paranoia (especially since there was no way that had she seen his silhouette like he expected he could be that midget WOMAN Alecto) or be offended that she would ever confuse him with the two. He settled for the only logical reaction. He laughed first, then shook his head. “You really need to get your eyes examined, Ariana...”

He looked at her for a moment before he sank back down into the couch. The moment was over, after all. He considered what to say to her once again, expecting not to be surprised in any way. Then again, she was good at keeping him off his guard. “Where have you been? I mean... You aren't exactly allowed to skip on classes once the school year has started. Especially this year.” Not that he cared either way if she had skipped classes. Thankfully she didn't seem the type that had to be rebellious all of the time... Only sometimes. And maybe with a good degree of common sense. Realizing that he had the book on the ground still he picked it up and put it beside him. Then remembering that it was a muggle-like book, he picked it up and instead held it so that his hand was over the cover. He spoke again to draw her attention from it. “Was there something wrong at home?”

[Ariana Shallow]

The porcelain skinned girl suppressed a blush as he became quiet. God…I didn’t mean too… Straighting up, she pulled at the side of her dress and became self conscious letting the quiet silence. It wasn’t like her to give affection to most everyone not even her own family. Heh not like she would even feel good about herself if she did get any affection other than being told to straighten up, no slouching, no doing this, no doing that… It was always rules and proper ways, it was the way Ariana grew accustom too. She knew that it was part of the pureblood ways but sometimes it was just annoying to have to be ready to go out anywhere or do anything at anytime of the day. If you made one wrong move, everyone looks down on you. That is honestly part of the reason she won’t even go talk to a muggle born without being forced too other than seeing that they had bad blood. It’s not like she shunned people away from talking to her, it was just something people never tried. It’s not like she had the newest cancer or something like that. It was the difference between Blaise and her. She could be opened up but it would be a hard and painful place for the person to open it, it was her security blanket so to say of her life and personality that got her through the hard times when no one else could. But it felt awkward when people were hugging and snogging throughout the halls. It was the thing she never got, why be so willing to give affection to another person who isn’t going to be there the rest of their life. Blaise and her…well she didn’t know what was going to happen to them in the oncoming days and months with the situation getting way out of hand already. She hoped he would stay with her side so she wasn’t completely alone during this war. Alone was something they had in common, they were both alone somehow. Except they didn’t even mind that fact that they were so alone at the moment. Though right now that she had someone, she didn’t want to be alone during this whole thing.

Looking up the see the smirk on his face a smirk grew on hers. Ariana made him feel important just through the second she got back to Hogwarts. Honestly she tried to let go of the way the met and wished he would to. But she knew if she was in his shoes she would never forget the way she acted. But somehow it felt odd just meeting him formally in his house. The thought of it made her cheeks turn into a rosy blush. But the thing she thought she would always mention if anyone asked them how they met, she would say in the common room. Ariana would always think that in the common room at night was the place they met correctly. Every single stereotype she had him pinned on was vanished. Despite him seeming anti social to everyone made her just a little bit more intrigued by him. Out of all the high on power Purebloods around her and the ones her mom tends to talk to and invite her and her daughter over to their house, she found someone who wasn’t that high on their horse.

The watching of him to try to make his mind up and try to talk right before her…well she couldn’t help but let out a small giggle. If people really tried to make it less awkward if they spoke right after one has just spoken only small words. You thought that I was a Carrow? His voice alone made the statement seem so… wrong to say. Calling someone that they looked like a Carrow was like calling a pretty animal a mangled rat. Her gaze rose to his for the time and she shook her head slowly, ”That’s what I said, wasn’t it? Do you want me to repeat those hard words more slowly for you?” she teased. Though she was obviously harsh about her wording, it didn’t hold the bite to it. What he said next was something she should have been expecting him to say, but it caught her off guard. ”Why would I want to if I was in the presence of mangled rat one and two? If it’s worse than what I am seeing right now… I pass that offer.”

Ariana looked towards the ground to see that book that made the large noise on the ground. It was Blaises, no doubt about it. Whenever he was on a couch in her eyes, he always had a book or something near him. Makes it easier to make people go away without having to talk. It was her turn to raise her eyebrows at the cover… a muggle looking cover on it she sat down slowly as he picked it up. It suddenly dawned on her that he was sitting down and asked a question. Sitting down on the couch far enough from Blaise it wasn’t like they weren’t breathing down each others necks and not to far that it was going to be like they weren’t…friends? ”…Oh! I’ve been at home with my mother breathing down my neck watching and being alone. She needed someone with her at the moment.” Pausing at that she looked up and tilted her head towards him with a puppy dog look on her face, ”Did someone miss me, Blaise?” It wasn’t really a question she put out for him; it was just something she caught in her own mind at his question. Returning her gaze back to the book her eyebrows rose again as it was turned over. A smirk grew on her face as she got lost in her own thoughts, ”You’re going soft! There must be another way to rebel than read muggle books!” She laughed. Her gaze slowly moved up when he spoke again. Shrugging her shoulders at his words she leaned back into the couch and spoke very honestly, “I really don’t care about my father. So I didn’t care that he was taken to some place different. Mother was lonely so she forced me to stay home. He disappeared, probably to Askaban. I don’t know what happened nor do I care what happened. Just as long as he gone and done with giving our family problems that’s all I need.”

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[Blaise Zabini]

Blaise just stared at Ariana for an extended moment. First because she wasn't making up any excuses for what she had said to him, and second because she had such an attitude in response. Well, he didn't mind that too much, it was something that one got used to when you were in Slytherin house. Blaise would consider himself friends with Draco Malfoy, for instance, and they basically tossed back the mama's boy insult and generally picked on each other. Ever since Lucius was disgraced and put into Azkaban the job was made easier for Zabini, but he usually avoided talking about that. Family issues were family issues, and shouldn't be exploited for sadistic enjoyment. Unless, of course, the person in question was a muggle-born or squib, in which case it was almost a crime not to say or do anything at all because it was so easy. His train of thought had veered wildly off track but he brought himself back with ease.

“Your eyes really are bad. This is Blaise you're talking to - I'm not Crabbe or Goyle,” he said, waving his hand a little bit. He didn't like when people treated him like he was stupid, in part because it reinforced the follower stereotype but mostly because his intelligence was his most prized possession. And that was saying something, considering Blaise was rather materialistic. Most things were replaceable. Even family heirlooms didn't matter that much because there were only a few members of his family that Blaise cared to preserve the memory of. Most things were there only to impress other people. Things like intelligence would be there much longer than anything gained from reputation and money. “What is that supposed to mean? 'Worse than what you're seeing right now?'” he repeated. He wasn't sure if that was meant to be another knock at his appearance or if she meant worse than when she did see the Carrows. Either way, he had no problem with misunderstanding her if it meant pretending to be offended. Sadly most of his friendships were based on conflict. It was a different sort of conflict than he had with his mother, though, which made it alright.

Blaise thought about Ariana's mother, and thought back to what he had found out about her family. He didn't know what situation might have called Ariana away this time, but he was sure that he would hear about it at one point. Ariana seemed to be the sort of person that bottled things up until she couldn't take it anymore, then she would explode at the nearest person to her. He didn't know if that was the case at all since he had only been around her a few times other than the years of school they had spent never socializing. Just as it was Blaise's way, it seems, to meet people later on in life that he realized wouldn't have been so bad to have around earlier. Without friends, random people tended to come over to him and try being social. Oh well, though, it was his last year and he had made it through fine without many friends. “What happened with your mother? I know that she always tried to keep her eye on you, but I didn't expect you to avoid school because of it. Was it something to do with what happened with your brother?” he asked. He had to try very hard not to smile during this serious question because of the way that the beginning and the end of what he said rhymed. When she asked if he had missed her, he made a clicking noise with his mouth and shook his head. “I don't know about that. I mean, things are the same here whether you're here or not. I suppose that I thought something had happened to you... You know.” He looked her in the eye, wondering if she would have something sarcastic to say to that as well, because often times it seemed like she did when he was being serious. Without actually wording it that way, he was trying to tell her that he had been worried about her. It wouldn't be the first time that someone had disappeared for a while with the new Hogwarts.

He looked at the book when she called attention to it. Apparently, despite his efforts, she had noticed what it was. “It wasn't written by a muggle, you know,” he said defensively, because that part at least was true. He ran his hand down the cover which showed a knight, a wizard, and a lady in a flowing dress. People in the wizarding world maybe dressed a little bit like this, but he would have been embarrassed for the wizard who wore dark blue robes and the pointed hat with golden and white stars on it. Then again, maybe that was something that Dumbledore would have read. The thought made him feel a bit strange. He wasn't exactly sad, nor was he triumphant. He just felt odd to think about someone that he knew was dead. And to know what ideals of his had been destroyed by the new year. The book as an escape did its job against the pulling misery of this place so he gave Ariana an irritated look. “It's about knights and wizards. It isn't a muggle book, it was written by a wizard. I thought that it was interesting... Just because I haven't the need to run out and associate with real muggles doesn't mean that I don't want to know what they think of us. Wizards know about muggles, and we expect that muggles don't know anything about wizards. But they write things like this wizard has, you see? How much might they really know?” He didn't comment about rebelling because she was exactly right about that part.

Now Ariana was explaining just a little bit of what had happened to her family. Blaise didn't quite understand it still. Disappeared? What was he, then, a muggle-born or blood traitor? These days places like the Ministry and Azkaban were used for completely different things than they were just a year ago. Whatever the situation Blaise was glad (for about the millionth time) that he didn't have a father to worry about, only a fretting mother that wouldn't have done anything to put herself and Blaise in danger. There wasn't much concern that she would be gone when he got back from school. At this point Blaise was much more worried about himself than he was her!

[Ariana Shallow]

Ariana watched him and a smug look on her face grew. She didn’t mean to be harsh or anything, that’s just how it came out. Fighting back many sarcastic comments on his tone she just went deep into her thoughts. It was obvious to her that she needed someone to talk to and have a friendship with or she would of course not be able to move on with so much on her shoulders. It’s not like she was going to be all outgoing and happy to everyone. Her and Blaises relationship was often with fights and bickerments here and there, though she had some hopes that they would get over it at some point. But right now it was perfectly fine having their arguments because it’s just who they were, proud and a quiet kind of cocky. That’s why they were put into Slytherin.

Ariana smiled at his sudden defense of words. Honestly she would have laughed her head off at the boys’ sudden defiance to his knowledge. ”Well at least I’m not blind enough to see you aren’t hard on the eyes. Of course I know it’s you Blaise! I don’t hug anybody, ever. Even if the situation was Goyle or Crabbe… I wouldn’t have hugged them or even talk to them.” A complement was right out in the air, but it was true. He wasn’t horrible looking at all. A sly grin grew on her face as she leaned back into a comfortable spot to relax. He was so easy to get too, just so easy to make him defend himself. Even if people didn’t know it, she had always find the strings to pluck and off he goes. He wasn’t the person to let things slide at least that’s what she knew. Her eyebrows rose and she let out a snort of laughter, “Blaise. You take what I say too much to heart, I am not talking about you. I’m talking about the looks of the Carrows. If I do have what you think is bad vision, I can’t even imagine how bad the two would look.” Her gaze left and she stared at the fireplace for a few moments.

The own thought of her mother made Ariana give a full body shudder. It wasn’t fun being clung to by her mother and asking her what she’s doing at every moment. Actually at that thought a small sarcastic comment came in her head, I’m surprised that she hasn’t owled me just yet. Forcing back a smile she looked at him and gave a straight face. ”She’s just scared I’m going to be the next to go missing. Yeah I thought that too since school was hers and kind of my number one priority. I even wasn’t ready for her to have a panic attack and keep me with her at all time. It’s sad. I didn’t even stay in my room the whole time.” Pausing to answer the next part of his question she stopped to think about what and how to word it. Honestly, she didn’t even a clue with what happened. All she knew was that she was of course a pureblood by heart and her father despised muggles. ”No nothing about my brother, it was my father. I don’t know what he did but as soon as I find out I don’t know what I would do. You know as much as I know.”

Arianas face twisted into a concerned look at Blaise at the noise he made. Giving him a confused look before his talking. Her face went completely blank by the time he started to talk, not knowing which emotion to show to the reaction. Holding back a flinch as he looked her in the eye, it didn’t scare her so to say…it was just that he was one of those people who seemed to always look into your eyes just to be proper when speaking. But Blaise actually attempting to do it was different. ”Could have been dead? You would of heard from my mother from your mother…” The words spilled out of her mouth before she could finish the thoughts of the next half to say to him. Turning her attention on her hem of her dress, she played with it before managing to finally think of something to say. ”No need to fret over if I’m gone. I can take care of myself.” Her words weren’t harsh, she felt like a complete idiot for staying quiet. Her thoughts that raced through her head for a quick second before she opened her mouth and turned to him. Closing it quickly before thinking better of what she was going to say. It wasn’t like her to be so… quiet and feeling rather soft. Thank you for giving me some assurance that if I did die… someone… just one person would care.

Moving her gaze back to the book and she shook her head slightly and looked at the cover. She was shocked it wasn’t made by a muggle, but he wasn’t going to know that anytime soon. ”Muggle books look different.” Wow. Lamely spoken but it came out she knew she would just have to go with it. The cover looked curious, it was just somehow similar to what they wore, but yet so different. Her gaze fell on the wizard and a smile grew to her face. A fond memory raced through her head when she first came into the school, Dumbledore was wearing something familiar. Dumbledore… She had something against him throughout her whole life at Hogwarts, but yet part of her made it so that she trusted him because he was the Head Master. Mixed feelings at his death, but she was of course sad, but she didn’t show it. ”Looks like something Dumbledore would have worn when we were in our first year, doesn’t it?” She whispered quietly while pointing her finger towards the wizard. Moving her gaze up towards him just to see his reaction, but she was just in time to see the irritated look. ”Don’t give me that look, Blaise.” She said with an equal look on her face after he finished ”I didn’t accuse you of loving muggles now did I? I was just stating I would have never expected you reading that. My opinion is that they know some things, but to their brains it isn’t possible. Because it scared them.” Her green gray eyes flashed with some anger, but it disappeared soon after.

[Blaise Zabini]

Blaise laughed at Ariana's wording. It was probably a mistake on her part not to think through the way that she put that before she said it out loud. “Wait a minute... Even if the situation was Crabbe or Goyle? Meaning that you would rather hug them than most of the other Slytherins? I don't blame you, though, for thinking that I am most attractive.” She hadn't said that now but he knew that it was true regardless. Ariana, as far as he knew, had not yet said that any other Slytherin boys were attractive. He was proud that she would say that he wasn't hard on the eyes though he remembered when she said that he was smarter than the other Slytherins. While it was nice to be called attractive (in different wording) it was even better to be acknowledged by his intelligence. Anything that she said today in the contrary was obviously meant to upset him and he wasn't going to let that happen. Again. Blaise grinned at her when she explained about the Carrows. “Imagine how good-looking I must be if your eyes are bad,” he said conversationally, before leaning back himself. Now that she was here he found that he could relax better within the common room. There was definitely something to not being alone in this new incarnation of Hogwarts.

“You didn't stay in your room out of choice or because your mother made you come out to be around her?” Blaise asked. He thought that it was more likely that her mother would force her to come out, but then that might just have been him thinking about his own mother. He assumed also that she meant it was a bad thing not to be in the room the whole time because of the way that she worded it. Then again she had worded things in a confusing way already. He couldn't blame her with a break from school as she had. “Do you think that he was a Death Eater who did something wrong?” he asked. He actually didn't know enough to make an educated guess about this but he considered the state of the world and realized that Death Eaters and Snatchers were the only real concerns that they would have right now. Sure there were other witches and wizards technically that could have done something to upset her family but he doubted it. He looked toward the ceiling as he thought again what sort of a mess they were in right now.

Blaise was quiet for a moment. “Maybe I would know if you were dead. But maybe they would watch the mail and not want me to find out, for whatever reason. To keep me on their side. But it isn't only death that could take you... They could just have tortured you to a point that you couldn't come back from.” He looked at her from the side now, not exactly avoiding her eyes but nervous to meet them because his own were slightly fearful. He was actually terrified of what could happen to the people that he cared about but such emotions were alien to him, and he didn't have any trouble at all hiding them most of the time. Now he just couldn't help it, and it showed through just slightly. “I don't know everything that the Death Eaters do here but to have someone disappear could mean several things. I don't have that many people here that I want to be around. But I do want to be around you.” This was extremely personal for Blaise to say. It was basically saying that he considered her a friend, but somehow more personal than those words alone. He was admitting that he relied on her to be in his life. He hated sounding vulnerable in the way that he did. Yet, funny as it was, he didn't care so much as long as one of his male friends like Draco didn't see him this way. Ariana was in some ways like one of the guys though for how she could upset and make him uncomfortable.

He watched her expression when she looked at the book. It didn't show that well throughout but her smile told him that there was something about the book that she liked. He looked back at the book while she took the cover in. He assumed that she liked the book's cover or something and that was why she was smiling. But then, she mentioned Dumbledore. It was one of those moments where he was completely unsure of what to say. He had, in his own way, grown to accept Dumbledore's being there so much that he felt some kind of emptiness now that he was gone. It was easy to hate a man with such different ideals from you... But the school that Blaise had loved had been run by Dumbledore. Now the Death Eaters had made a mockery of it. “Our first year,” he said, without adding any emotion to it. The fact that there was no real hate or anger, or even annoyance, said as much as if he had said it fondly. “You should be careful about saying his name. I don't imagine that the new staff like that very much... Or you-know-who himself,” Blaise warned, though he didn't care what they thought. Only what they might do about it. He sighed a little bit. “Are you surprised that it scares them? Anyway... I wonder what sort of things we would learn from them. Right now the wizarding world isn't exactly...” he trailed off. What in Hell was he saying? He backtracked, trying to adjust his feelings on the matter. “I mean only that... Well, I guess there isn't much to learn from them at all. They have more wars than we do.” He shook his head. Since he didn't study muggles he didn't know if that was true, but his aunt had told him as much.

[Ariana Shallow]

A smile graced Arianas face as she laid back, just listening to everything. It felt so good to be where she called home. No not the same Hogwarts she knew, but the home where she could talk to her friends and just take in everything they had to say other than nagging from her mom. The laughter that came from Blaise made her think of how much she would miss Hogwarts after everything is over. Giving an eye roll at his correction Ariana spoke with a bit of a laugh,”I meant that if they were the person sitting on the couch I saw, I wouldn’t hug them if I knew who it was no matter how relieved I was when it wasn’t a Carrow.” Her pause was filled with laughter at the boys’ sudden question that she would rather hug Crabbe and Goyle over most of Slytherin. "You know me. I don't hug a lot of people. Not even my mother. I have only hugged you in the past few years." Turning towards him, she gave a straight face that looked cold as stone. The only thing that would show she was kidding about what she was going to say was her eyes, and the small tone of happiness in her voice, "Watch your head on the way out. It might swell up more than it already is." Her face broke into a true smile when he started to talk about himself right after the Carrows. Keeping herself from imagining what he would look like, just in-case anything she didn't want to be put in her mind while talking to him, Ariana felt the need to speak in a sarcastic manner, "So attractive that I would just fall over and die in your presence?" Her green gray eyes twinkled as she shook her head, "Actually I don't know what you would look like. But if I do ever get my eyes fixed, I'll be sure to tell you when I do." With a small wink of her eye she looked back to the logs in the fireplace. She had tons of things mixed with what would happen between her and Blaise just in a few moments of time.

A small look of a frown grew on her face as he mentioned her room. The only secure place she actually has in her house was taken from her because her mom didn't want her out of her sight, "Oh she wouldn't let me out of her sight. So I stood in her room on a good extra bed she found so we couldn't be separated. I swear she had me on a leash." A sigh was released from her chest as she thought about the dreadful moments she had with her. There were just some people that had ways of annoying her quicker than anyone else could and frankly Charlotte was one of them. Getting dragged out of the thoughts that could of made her angry... She blinked her eyes and then slightly parted her lips deep in thought. "I never really thought of that... I am not sure. But he did give my mom a hard time about moving and everything after my brother...." She really wasn't speaking directly towards him she was of course just speaking out loud. Her gaze fell on the dark skinned boy and some thoughts raced through her head absently. Part of her wondered what raced through his head at times.

Ariana blinked at his sudden words, so much that came from him made her feel... worried and nervous about what could happen in the future. Slowly she hesitantly reached her hand and put it on his upper arm and sighed, "They can do many things to many people. Truly if they even did torture me to the point I couldn't go back...I'd always try too..." Her voice broke in the nervous worry of what could happen tomorrow. No matter how awkward it might be, all she need was someone to be there for her and have some faith to see that she could do her own things without anyone elses help. She moved her body a little closer and she let out a shaken sigh as he spoke again. A smile grew on her lips as she heard that she actually made it to be his friend. "I wanna be around you too... I never got to say this earlier but I'm glad you're still here and safe." She stopped her mouth before adding in her head as an after thought because I don't know how I could do this year without you. Ariana was honestly touched by his sudden openness and she just felt comfortable with it. She knew him but she still enjoyed teasing him. Moving her hand off his arm, she put it on her lap and sighed.

She just had her moments when over thought things but now she was staring back at the book, so much like Dumbledore she didn't even know what emotion to put into it. Blaise's voice made her jump slightly, his voice didn't even hold any apparent emotion and it made her nervous. Staying quiet through his whole speak she finally decided to speak. "The wizarding world is hell. Just admit it to yourself. I see it too. I may judge a lot but this is something I can't handle, neither can you. Yes I think about the ways me night be able to learn from them but honestly through that one year I was forced into muggle studies, I learned that they have less dangerous weapons than us. We have the three forbidden spells that the death eaters will use any time anywhere while they have the guns and things that could injure but not kill right away. I'm even scared because of this..." Her voice was unusually calm for the things she said but her eyes twinkled with fear and nervousness.

Her mind was thinking of so many things she could say…but now the only thing that came to her mind, yes it was out of nowhere but part of her really wanted him to know. She did hold things back from him, not a lot but her secrets were hers. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she thought of how to say this. She felt some sort of mutual trust, except on her part it wasn’t full. ”Hey Blaise…can I be honest with you?” Her eye contact was on her hands, she knew it would be out of the blue to even think of something at this moment. It was an unusual sight to see her not look someone in the eye or even at them.

[Blaise Zabini]

Blaise smirked. “Crabbe and Goyle are too busy minding the new rules to be sitting in the common room at this time. You wouldn’t believe it – they’re doing better in their studies than I am.” He looked terribly offended at the idea. Crabbe and Goyle, who he had consistently referred to himself as the opposite of, were suddenly better at something than he was. The only thing keeping Blaise from full-on anger was the fact that Crabbe and Goyle being better than him only sounded much worse than it really was; they were only doing well because the death eaters didn’t know how to properly run a school. And they were against doing so regardless. Pathetic. Blaise didn’t mind so much when he had only Draco Malfoy and Ravenclaws as rivals to his intelligence. No offense meant to Ariana but despite the fact that he found her to be more intelligent than most girls he knew she was probably not as intelligent as Hermione Granger and thus not a threat to him. “I don’t hug people either. I imagine that I’m not as comfortable to hug as they are,” he said slowly, thinking about the padding that Crabbe and Goyle had. A lot of it was muscle, but when it wasn’t being flexed it felt almost the same anyway. More than the skin and bones that Blaise was. In a small way he was making fun of himself while still saying he preferred the way that he looked. He pretended to be annoyed when she made the comment about his head swelling up, but really, he didn’t mind what she said. Now that they were in a slightly more comfortable relationship (something bordering on friendship, he imagined) he could tell when she was joking and when she really did mean to offend him. Blaise watched her expression when he talked about himself in her ‘fixed’ eyes. “Attractive enough that you won’t think about anyone else for a long time, I think,” he said in a slow voice, already deciding that he hadn’t seen her around many guys so this was a safe assumption to make. “If your eyes mess up my appearance then I will have to find a way to revert them. There is no way that it could make me look bad.” He smirked. It was a strange conversation to be having when she first arrived to the dorm but given the fact that Blaise should have been sleeping or something, it was pretty well thought out. Sort of.

He looked at her for a moment with something like worry. .. Ariana had obviously had a hard time at home, and it had nothing to do with her father. Funny the way that things worked sometimes. He reached out and touched her cheek, deciding that he would risk her getting angry with him again. Because maybe it would have the opposite effect of making her feel better. It was just calling on old habits, calling out the way that she worded something strangely. It would get annoying for her eventually, and maybe make her not want to talk to him at all in fear of being corrected. But this time it was too good to pass up! “You mean that…” He began in a dramatic voice. “You stood on the bed the whole time? I guess that is one way of rebelling against your mother.” He winked at her after to show that he was kidding, then replaced the silly expression with a comforting look that was foreign to his face. He listened to her speak about her family, wondering if she was speaking more to him or to herself. He would guess the latter because of the expression on her face… “What sort of a hard time?” he asked just to have something to say, because for whatever reason her looking at him was startling. Mostly because she still looked so in thought doing it, he wondered if she really saw him there.

It was only too late that Blaise really thought about the fact that his words might worry or hurt Ariana. When she put her hand on his arm he felt reassured further than just seeing her there. A touch couldn’t be denied. “I’m sure that you would,” Blaise said quietly. “It may not be the same thing, but you were able to come back to school this year. Under different circumstances than everyone else here.” He thought on the validity of that statement. Was it really that different from the others? Maybe, but maybe there were other people who were going through something similar to Ariana. The Death Eaters were claiming more victims than they had ever before, at least as long as they were old enough to notice. Several people probably lost their parents over the summer and the beginning of the school year. And Blaise wondered how many of them even knew. “We’re getting awfully sentimental,” Blaise said with a smile on his face. “But I guess that once in a while I don’t mind that.” He was slightly disappointed that she would move her hand. Well, they had their comradely moment, he supposed, and now it was over. He thought over again what she said. “It’s strange that I can fight my mother’s rule so often at home but I am rather good at just accepting what happens here. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be the other way around or not.” He looked at Ariana questioningly.

Blaise listened to Ariana talk about muggles. She had taken muggle studies. On any other occasion he might have made fun of her for it but he was too fascinated by what she was talking about. Fascinated by muggles…? There had to be something wrong with that. But he didn’t allow himself to think on it for very long. “Do you really think that it’s better their weapons don’t kill immediately?” he asked, considering both worlds and the limited knowledge that he had on muggle weaponry before continuing. “I mean, one could be injured beyond repair and still not be able to die yet.” The use of ‘repair’ in terms of bodies did make sense in the wizarding world to some extent, as in mending bones and the like. The only thing that Blaise could think of that was comparable to such a fate was when people were tortured to the point that their minds were no longer functioning. “Whatever happens, at least since we’re not very important in the eyes of the Dark Lord… Should we be killed, it would probably be a painless death. It’s people like Longbottom that are going to have trouble in squaring with the Dark Lord.” He was uncomfortable with the idea of anyone being murdered at Hogwarts. But still, better Neville than Blaise himself or Ariana.

Blaise looked at Ariana when suddenly she asked him something he found strange. Be honest? To what degree? Usually when someone said something like that it was the beginning of a confession to something that they shouldn’t have done, or thought, or that something they said earlier was a lie. It was no surprise then that Blaise hesitated before answering. “I don’t know why not. I haven’t really got anyone else to tell, do I?” he asked, assuming that she was going to be telling him a secret. He didn’t show how nervous he was about her words.

[Ariana Shallow]

”You’ve got to be kidding me. I think I am finer with Granger girl being top student than those two bricks.” Ariana couldn’t help but not give a small look of sympathy towards the Slytherin. ”Sorry to hear that, Blaise.” Though it shocked her that the stupidest kids in the school where on top, and the fact that Ariana would probably find herself falling into the lower end of the ‘intelligence’ from the school. Not that the thought of her being below in her studies, she gave a softened look and slightly shrugged, ”Hopefully they will have this war over before NEWTS so you don’t have to have that screwed it…if Potter wins of course.” Blaise prided himself in his own intelligence and it was hard to see the thing you prided yourself in being taken away from you freely and not being able to help it. The softened look was taken away by his comment on the hugging. ”I was surprised you hugged back, you’re comfortable to me.” Only giving a slight shrug of her shoulders at his comment. To be honest, she wouldn’t hug Blaise if he was as big as Goyle and Crabbe, no matter how relieved she was. Ariana gave a slight look of satisfactory when he faked anger, he could take her joke without getting butt hurt. ”I’m sure you would love that.” Ariana snickered and gave a slight roll of the eyes. At his next comment, she couldn’t help but give an over concerned stare. ”Would you date yourself if it was possible, Blaise?” Ignoring the fact that it was an odd conversation to have with someone when the world around you is basically crumbling, Ariana’s lip twitched slightly upwards. ”You don’t look bad in my head. Never said you looked bad in the first place.” Giving a wink and a smirk.

An honest smile grew on her face, feeling the reassurance that he understood that her father wasn’t her problem. The thing that shocked her was the fact he would just touched her cheek also the fact was she didn’t pull away. It may be because she took it as a way in her mind that she was cared about enough that he was glad she was back. The thoughts of her mother and the troubles faded as quickly as they came and she felt her body fully relax into the couch and into his touch. Knitting her eyebrows together when he spoke in a dramatic voice she let out a laugh. Blaise had an off sense of humor which made it easy for her to laugh, ”Of course I stood on the bed the whole time! I mean because my mom would totally be taken aback if I stood on my bed.” Ariana blinked twice to make sure her eyes weren’t fooling her, Blaise looked as if he cared about her issues or just wanted to feel like it was okay. A long pause was drawn out so the thoughts could produce words in a simple way. ”Just screaming and fighting with me and my mother. He scared my mother into moving to the Canaries by his attitude and sudden rage fits with throwing and breaking things… With me he acted as if the whole thing about Carters death was my fault. Giving me looks with hatred and just being silent. Even he took me out one day and his partner in work asked who I was.” Her face suddenly sparked with anger at the memory before disappearing as a salty tear raced down her cheek and hit his finger. It wasn’t a sign of her about to break down into a mess like she did before; it was just something that came out randomly. Muttering a quick sorry before averting her eyes to the ceiling and then back, more than determined to finish her story. ”My own father told him he was a friend of my mothers’ child and that his daughter was out of the country.” Letting her lip quiver and give out a shaky breath, Ariana gave a fake smile to cover the true hurt she felt. ”It’s not a big deal you know. Just having to be told you were disowned in your father’s eyes. No need to worry.”

Ariana felt her face heat up with embarrassment, as stubbornly as she tried to force it down. The shade of pink was visible on her cheeks, at his slight reassurance that he had trust in her. It was true; she put on a cold, strong face and attitude whenever she met someone. It wasn’t that she was weak or anything; she just had a breaking point where someone somewhere would hear all her troubles she’s built up in the past few years. ”I’m glad they let me back or I would have done something stupid if I had my mother breathe down my neck any longer.” Now that she had some more experience with her father and his disappearance, she felt some sort of new emotion towards others that were in the same situation, even though they probably wouldn’t be able to know. They were at a school where Death eaters ran everything, the Owlery was probably filled with people reading letters and keeping them. Anyone at school probably would lose someone and they wouldn’t even have a clue. Being brought out of her depressing thoughts, Ariana was glad to see a smile gracing the face of Blaise. ”For once, I could care less about how sentimental we get.” That was true. They could talk about something that Ariana usually blocked out and it wouldn’t bug her as long as he wouldn’t tell. ”It’s common I’m guessing. I guess we all have some sort of attachment to the one we’ve stood next to the longest and seeing that if you rebelled, they wouldn’t do anything to harm you physically other than a smack or something. At school… I try not to make myself noticed, especially with the drama going about right now. One simple word that came out or taken the wrong way could leave you getting in situations that could harm you even more…. But that’s just what I think.”

Her stormy gray eyes stared at the dark colored boy in front of her with curiosity. Though the subject of muggles one that they wouldn’t talk about on a normal basis, her previous thoughts if this talk has happened at a different time…he would give a disgusted look and just leave. Blaise was smart enough to keep a good conversation going and keep most awkward situations at a normal level. Hell last time they spoke they talked about relationships, and that alone wasn’t a seemingly big deal. Ariana bit her lip deep in thought at his logic, ”Well… it would honestly depend on the chance if you would be able to move and talk again.” There was more that raced through her head could have spoken but his voice lingered towards her ears once more. A slight nod of the head was her response, ”I get that…but don’t they have some sense if someone can’t do anything…can’t they just let them go? Also, they don’t have to worry about someone suddenly killing them with a gun because not everyone carries guns around. While we have to be aware of our surroundings since everyone carries a wand.” A small frown etched into her pale skin, why was the years they lived in so hard and difficult? They were still purebloods but the fear of being caught not on the ‘right’ side could cause them their life. ”I’m glad we aren’t,” pausing and taking in a breath and speaking hesitantly, ”Don’t hang around Draco too much, okay? I don’t want you to suddenly become important in the eyes of the Dark Lord.” Most of what the words she spoke was her trying to tell and show she cared what could happen to him. The second thing was for her being worried about her own safety. The thought of her getting killed in the place she really called her second home, was able to chill her to the bone. ”Sometimes I pity him and how his life is. Better him than us though.”

”Well… this came out of the blue but I think I should tell you this anyway” Her gaze was still at her knees, knowing she would ramble. ”Don’t take any of this the wrong way… it’s just what I feel…” Arianas lips slightly frowned at what she was going to say, Get on with it already she thought harshly towards herself. Moving her legs up so she could wrap her arms around them, she looked him in the eye and began to speak, and she was being serious about this and hoped he would catch on. ”Friends trust each other; I think we both know that by just watching. I just find it hard to trust someone it doesn’t matter who they are because of who’s out there. We are surrounded by liars, cheaters, stealers, murders… we’re surrounded by a messed up world. But to me, that’s not even it. That’s just a small factor. Part of me wishes that people could understand that I’m tired of being hurt. I’m scared that if I do get to trust you I would let my guard down and stop protecting myself, you might walk away. If I give my trust, I’ll lose you. That’s all I’ve ever known my entire life. Everyone has walked away from me or disappears. No one knows how to stick around through all my crap. I never told anyone that I was easy to deal with but my secrets and well… the real me are obviously enough to scare anyone because of the fact that no one has yet proven to me that I’m worth sticking a-around for…” that was it. She told him her biggest fear; she was able to let it out. But what could happen scared her the most. Ariana stared at Blaise for a few more seconds before putting her gaze back on her knees, before managing to let out a whisper, ”I want to trust you…” There you had it, the true feelings she felt about everything. He didn’t have to know it was her biggest insecurity and fear when it came to trust. For all the big talk that Ariana normally let out was her protecting her inner self but right now she felt and looked as vulnerable as a sad kid.

[Blaise Zabini]

Blaise made a little face when she mentioned Hermione, even though she had crossed his mind as well when talking about classes. While he had indeed come to admire the Gryffindor in a way, there was no denying that he was jealous of her as well because of the praise that she received (some of it quite unnecessary in his eyes) and disgusted by the company that she kept. If it wasn't bad enough that she was a mudblood she had to associate with the worst sort of blood traitors imaginable. In fact, because of her intellect if not for her hanging around the Weasleys Blaise could almost have forgiven her blood status completely. This was all very amusing considering how little they interacted... Blaise shrugged when she apologized for it. “Well, it isn't all that bad, I suppose. If they were teaching properly and I was falling more behind then I would be worried.” He glanced at her from the side, a bit of amusement on his face. “Oh, Ariana, are you sure that you're not a Ravenclaw? Worrying about the NEWTs at a time like this...” He shook his head as though it was shameful, though on more than one occasion since this whole thing started his thoughts were in the same place. He just liked to tease her, and she knew that by now. Though... Maybe it was hard to tell once in a while, since Blaise had such little sense of humor most of the time that it just seemed like he was talking ordinarily. He also just didn't want to think about what would happen if he didn't pass his NEWTs. It was more a personal goal that he had set than anything because he still didn't know where he would find himself in the future.

When she said that she was surprised that he hugged back, Blaise laughed a little bit. No one would ever be as surprised about that as Blaise was, no matter how many times that it happened. It was usually awkward to receive a hug from Blaise, and it was even more awkward for him to do it... He realized he should just be relieved that she didn't make a big spectacle of it. Of course he could have done the same to her in return, so that probably had a little bit to do with it. He shrugged a little bit, feeling strangely playful even as he thought about what his mother would think of this situation. “Well, if my mother has her way, then it would be best if my future wife didn't have wandering eyes, wouldn't it?” He didn't know whether he was the jealous sort but imagined once he was married he would be, to an extent. Where he was sure that his wife was looking at other men. He didn't imagine he would be the sort of man that would see betrayal in every glance. Wait, why was he thinking that way? It wasn't likely that his mother would succeed in her plans to get him hitched, anyway. Her next words made him just stare at her for a moment before cracking up. Was she seriously asking him if he would date himself? “Hm... I don't know. I haven't ever found myself attracted to other men,” he said slowly as if truly considering it, which didn't work that well when already he had laughed at her question. “I think I would make an exception for myself, though. But why do that when I can make someone else really happy?” He tweaked her cheek. “Now, no need to be jealous of me, myself, and I, Ariana.”

He was happy to see her relax some. For some reason, that helped in calming him down as well. He told himself that it was because they were in the common room together and it would be awkward for her to get hysterical over something again, and this time wake up the rest of the boys and girls sleeping in the dorms. In reality though he knew that he was just worried about her. He had been the sort of big brother to a lot of the girls he became friends with over the years. The big brother thing seemed to stop at Ariana, though he still wanted her to feel better. “It would my mother,” Blaise said, imagining what his mother's face would be if he just stood on his bed and refused to come down. He looked away when he saw the way that she was looking at him, as though making sure that she was seeing things properly. That was sure to make him feel a little self-conscious about himself. He listened to her continuation on the family drama. It was great that he didn't have a father, because Blaise could only imagine the arguments that would erupt at home. His mother was strong-willed, Blaise was strong-willed, and something told him that his father probably had been before too. “That's stupid,” Blaise interrupted when she said that he blamed her for her brother's death. “I mean, there wasn't anything that you could do to prevent it or stop it, so there is no logical reason for him to blame you.” He recalled that it was Ariana's friend that had done it, but that wasn't enough reason. If Draco Malfoy had killed someone, truly, then he doubted that Blaise would be blamed. It was probably not at all the same thing but he was defensive of Ariana at this moment. Blaise put his arm around Ariana's shoulders in what would be a one-armed hug if only he brought his arms in a little more. “If you ask me... Then that's the best thing that could have happened. You don't really need someone like that in your life.” She deserved better, the crazy wreck that she could be!

“Practicing dark arts on relatives is probably not a good idea,” Blaise half-teased, not sure what she was meaning that she would do if she had to stay there longer. Was she saying that she would run away? Hurt herself? Hurt her mother? He didn't know, and it was good that she got to come back to the school before someone in that family became the new story in the Prophet. “Although... to learn the best of them you would have been attending school. I honestly never thought that we would be learning spells like that in school... I always thought that even if the Death Eaters were to take over, Hogwarts would be the one safe place. I guess that's pretty stupid to think since there are miniature Death Eaters in the school.” He thought about what Draco had said on the train in his sixth year, and he hadn't really taken him seriously then. Maybe if he would have done or said something then... No, it probably wouldn't have made a difference at all. Now even the people who were supposed to be protected under Voldemort's rule were in danger. It was all backwards, and the Death Eaters were taking their jobs as more sport than control.

Blaise was only alright with being sentimental with Ariana because no one was around, and because... though he wouldn't admit it... it made him feel better. Everyone hid away in the common rooms, some of them too obviously scared of what was going on, and some pretending like there was nothing wrong in the world. Blaise fell more into the latter. He didn't mind pretending that nothing was wrong because usually that got the Death Eaters and everyone else to move along and ignore him, too; but sometimes, he did feel lonely. It was an emotion that was foreign to him before now, and still he hadn't given it such a name. “I think that we're the same in that way. If you don't do anything to be noticed then you're more likely to be safe... as are the people that you associate with. It hasn't happened to me yet but I'm sure that they would gladly put in one of your friends in place of the first years that you are meant to practice spells on.” That wasn't all that they did, but it stood out. It was still amazing to Blaise how small first years looked when once he had been one. Especially when they were writhing in pain. He wanted to get the thought out of his head but didn't know how to go about it. “It's better not to speak at all, isn't it? Perhaps we should practice the silencing spell on each other before we go to class. Then we'll have an excuse until they realize what we're up to... If they realize it... Silent obedience seems to do the job around here.” Boy he hated having to be obedient in the first place, especially when he didn't at all agree with the outcome.

He considered Ariana's words for a moment. The muggles were, apparently, much more powerful than the wizards and witches gave them credit for, and the thought kept passing in his mind like a banner. What would happen if the Death Eaters tried to go into the muggle world to take over? To kill everyone? Unless they had enough followers they would be putting themselves in danger by not knowing all there was to know about at least muggle weaponry. Not that Blaise cared. The muggles and Death Eaters could wipe each other out, and hopefully their places would still remain secret. Kind of too much to hope for, all things considered. Blaise shook his head, not wanting to think about a life without being able to move or talk. Honestly he thought he would want to die anyway. “Well... You are right. But that's something I think will be a problem if they keep killing people. Muggles are obviously pretty thick but anyone would make the connection eventually. I live in a place where there are muggles and wizards. You know, not right on the same street, but we do have to do anti-muggle charms. And some of the things that I have seen them do, I have no idea what it is or why they are doing it... And that would be a problem if they found out about our world. They have done witch hunts before.” He assumed that meant that they had some idea about it before. All the wizarding world had going for it was that muggles had decided that it was wrong to jump to conclusions and they now believed that witches and wizards were not real. At least not their sort. He wondered how he remembered this anyway. Maybe he didn't sleep through all of Binns' classes after all. Blaise looked startled when she said not to hang around Draco. It would probably get him a little suspicion, but... “I don't that often anymore, really. He isn't the same as he used to be. Besides... How could I ever be important to the dark lord when I try to fade into the background? If it ever does happen, though, for whatever reason, I won't associate with you anymore.” He assumed that was what she wanted, so that she wouldn't get killed.

“How could I take that the wrong way? You're only protecting yourself, and that's the best thing that you can do right now,” Blaise said, though sometimes his nature told him to do something else, to watch out for someone that he knew was less important than he was... to himself, anyway. It was unnerving to know that you might not have your own best interests at heart. Blaise would have reached out reassuringly but because of the way that she was sitting that was next to impossible. “I think that... to some extent, you already do trust me. Otherwise I don't think that you would have told me about your family, or told me about your trust issues, for that matter.” He smirked at her, though it wasn't in a cruel way, just a bit amused without it being at her expense. Not that she would necessarily realize the difference but it was there. “I already told you that I haven't got anyone to tell things to, for one thing, and for another... I know that you and I are on the same page. If I have talked to you about so many things already, do you honestly think that I would just walk away? I've seen you at, I hope, one of your most insane moments, and I still stuck around. I'm always going to.” That was a big commitment but Blaise could see them being in contact beyond school as long as she was willing to as well. It usually took him years of knowing someone to come to that conclusion but in this case it was two people who had gone to classes together, fading into obscurity, until the situation drew them out of their respective shells and forced them to get to know each other.

[Ariana Shallow]

Shrugging off Blaise’s facial expression, she let herself stay quiet not to interrupt his thoughts. To let her own mind wonder of the intelligent people in the school, Ariana immediately thought of three people. Blaise, Draco and Hermione. Blaise was one of the smartest kids she knew and liked as a friend, odd thing about it was that he was the most modest in a way. Though of course he prided himself through and through with his intellect and mind, he wasn’t always the first person that someone would think of because he is good at blending in. Draco… well he was just Draco and a Slytherin, he had a mind that thought of plans and witty comments quicker than she could think of just one. Apparently he’s done magic about his own year, which Ariana was informed this by no other than Blaise. Hermione was always the first one that popped into people’s heads when they thought of smart people in the school, but in the raven haired girls mind she always ended up last on the list. ”I had a feeling Death Eaters didn’t know a thing when it came to school. They probably can’t fend for themselves is the Dark Lord died.” She smirked at that, it has always been something in her head. Followers are dead with out their leaders or lost. ”Nope. I lied. I’m a Ravenclaw and I know the Slytherin common room password. But I’m in no doubt you haven’t thought about it at least once.” Although her words were laced heavily with sarcasm, the last thing she did say wasn’t a joking around statement. Part of her knew that he wouldn’t just be able to take in his mother’s money and do nothing. While on the other part, she didn’t know if what she thought about him was accurate.

Raising her eyebrows slightly at Blaise when he laughed at her telling him that she was surprised, Ariana couldn’t help but let her mouth run, ”Did something amuse you?” Not really finding the humor in it. For them to hug was like… well there wasn’t something you could compare it too. To many people, prude could easily sum up how they acted towards others. Though Ariana did use her body to get her ways in the past, she would never. Ever. Let anyone touch her. The two of them together and if someone saw them give each other a hug, they would probably die on the floor. Just kidding, over exaggeration, but honestly the person would be in shock. Ariana’s expression blanked for a moment trying to think of what he just said. If his mother had his way? What way? She thought quickly before hearing the rest of the sentence and gave a laugh. How could she forget her mother and his mother having plans getting to see them married in the future…the world may never know. Giving a playful smile, Ariana rolled her eyes. ”I bet you would love having a wife that could only look at you. Boost your ever large ego a little more.” Though her voice was filled with laughter and joke. Ariana knew who she was and who she will always be in a relationship, a loyal person who wouldn’t dare think of someone else attractive nor have wondering thoughts about being disloyal. Even if the relationship was just a small petty relationship in Hogwarts she was attached. Feeling the dark brown eyes peering at her face… she couldn’t react the way she wanted too. Of course Blaise has laughed lightly about something she said or some idiotic thing he pointed out, but hearing him crack up was shocking. Ariana found herself looking at him with an incredulous look before his words came out of his mouth a rather fond memory she had when she spoke to Lindsey about him. Her body took a moment to twist her face out of shock into full on giddiness and laughter. When they first met, to her and her normal incidences with other Slytherin boys ending up gawking. Blaise didn’t which made her sprinkle in on the thought that he might actually fancy guys. Biting her lip to help herself calm down from her fit of laughter. ”Who told you that they needed you to be really happy?” She challenged, it didn’t have the bitter tone it seemed like that sentence would hold too it. Dismissing the nagging thought in the back of her head that said you do. Scrunching her nose when he tweaked her cheek, Ariana stuck out her tongue in a childish way. ”Because that is one hell of a party right there, Blaise. I can’t even control my jealousy.”

Relaxing was become natural around Blaise. He had a level head and would listen, tease, and nag at her when she wasn’t even in the mood to laugh or so anything. But somehow after some smart comment flies out of his mouth, Ariana found herself lighten up and forget the reason why she was sad/mad. Not pressing the thoughts in her head, passing it off as just her wanting to keep someone close to her in the time of need. Woah, has she really grown to be that comfortable around him after only a little bit. A smug look was put onto her face when he said it would annoy his mother. ”There you go, I gave you another way to annoy your mother.” She was into her own story, seeing the whole thing she didn’t notice him look away. The thought slipped into her head nearly after she spoke of another drama story in her life, she felt bad for him. Looking up to see that he wasn’t looking at her when he interrupted her and at his sudden jumping to defense even though her father wasn’t part of her life anymore. Just giving a weak nod before thinking of words to reply. ”I don’t know. I guess he would find blame in me because he was my friend… also I am the only child left. Even I stop to wonder why I wasn’t also killed.” Pausing and she gave a small heartless laugh and gave a whisper adding on to her previous thoughts, ”It would have made life a lot less hectic, wouldn’t it?” Feeling his arm wrap behind her shoulders, her breathing stopped for a quick moment. All the sad thoughts vanished as she began to wonder if she was imagining this, turning her head to the side so she could get a full look at him and gave him a smile. ”I guess so. I feel bad for you having to listen to my problems, they just kind of spill out. I’m not always this emotionally wrecked.” She was thankful for him to actually listen to her, and for that she couldn’t repay him more. One day when her drama was gone, he would experience the teenager she was. One day.

Shaking her head with a sigh, ”I wouldn’t stoop that low.” It was true; she’s seen dark magic happen to her family in her face. It scared her slightly that someone would be that ruthless and just do whatever they please in her house and to people. Just listening towards his thoughts about how the school turned into the place no one thought it would even become. Though the thoughts that raced through her head were just the thoughts he spoke about the school suddenly becoming unsafe. ”Moody taught us…well told us and showed. This place has always seemed safe to me, still seems like one of the safer place to be in the wizarding world at the moment. The death eaters are just pawns in a game. They are in as much danger as we are.” That was true, though the Death Eaters didn’t know it. Voldemort wasn’t going to grow attached to his followers; it seemed as if he killed them if one did a minuscule thing wrong. The purebloods even began to fear sending their children to school, but Ariana didn’t see the Death Eaters as a major threat in her life anymore. She’s grown accustomed to it.

Thankful that no student has grown enough strength to come down stairs or come into the common room, Ariana was glad that Blaise was awake and well. Though she knew the closeness moment could easily be ruining by a single distant footstep that wasn’t theirs. Ariana was glad she wasn’t living in the horrible fear already, maybe giving her some sort of advantage. Though the time of finding yourself being alone was nearly impossible with everyone being watched over and covering in fear. Though ignoring was the best way to go, talking when they ask is something you should do if you didn’t want to go into severe punishment. Probably she would find some girl crying because of something in stupid in the Dormitory, forced to stay in there with the sad wails of the girl. That thought alone was enough for Ariana to go into the guy Dormitory and stay in there with the risk of many things. Visibly flinching at the thought of her doing dark magic on her friend and even first years was something that wouldn’t cross her mind. ”That’s just down right morbid. Even though I dislike the first years with a passion… something could go wrong very quickly and they are weaker than the rest of us. We could kill them.” She found herself sliding into the side of Blaise. Though she was a Slytherin with a cunning and need for power. Ariana couldn’t possibly imagine herself doing dark magic on a friend or anyone for that matter. Once you see what happens and aren’t really experienced to it again. It sinks into your skin like some illness, draining the way you think about things. This didn’t mean she wouldn’t do anything dark if put into the situation, but she wouldn’t do it to get satisfaction. Just giving a nod at his logic, ”Sounds good to me… but we have to be able to get out of the spell so we can answer questions and things.” Ignoring the sudden possibilities of what could happen if they got caught doing spells.

Looking at her bare leg just considering on how much life would be different if she was in fact living in the muggle world. They probably have noticed how much darker and sullen it’s gotten. Other than that they probably went on through out their day just normally. A flash of a dark look went over her face for only a second before vanishing into the thoughtful look. It wasn’t fair; Muggles had it easier at the moment while the Wizarding World was close to perishing. They had always been confusing creatures. Just doing whatever with their magic less self pleased, it slightly angered her. Her thought went on to why the muggles were such a bad thing in the first place. Couldn’t they just oblivate them once they took their child into Hogwarts? Surely that would be enough to keep them out of the magical world. The sudden movement of Blaise shaking her head brought her back from her thoughts. Nodding slightly at his logic about the muggles made her go into her thoughts once again. If they were so thick, what’s the problem? ”Couldn’t we just Oblivate them instead of kill?” She spoke quietly. Ariana gave a small smirk before turning her gaze up to look at him. ”I know that about your house already. If they do witch hunts, then why do muggles write books like that,” Flicking her finger over to the book he was reading. ”It confuses me. They are terrified and intrigued by magic? Then again I think their witch hunts aren’t much different than what we are doing to them right as we speak. Besides, couldn’t they fake pain being a witch to get away from being killed? While the death eaters just kill because they are in the muggle world.” Her quick silver eyes watched slightly at his small startled expression and she felt another wall of rambled words building up inside her but he spoke instead. Ariana really didn’t mean to sound so controlling, he could do as he pleased but she was comfortable with him not being as close with the Malfoys. ”I don’t know how, but he manages to do it with others. Thanks I guess?” A small pout formed on her glossed lips when she thought of them not talk to each other. But her side of hope told her there is a very slim chance they would become death eaters.

”I don’t know, honestly. It just kind of slipped out of my mouth.” She muttered quietly before adding in her head that it was because she didn’t want to say something stupid and make him leave. Giving a small look of gratitude towards Blaise, he was a good listener and had no outrageously stupid things to say. Biting her lip suddenly at his mention of trust she had with him, Ariana smiled at his smirk. ”You’ve been the only one to listen. I honestly should stop bring my problems to you…I bet you’re annoyed with my dramatic life.” She added honestly before her smile faltering slightly into a puzzled look at his smirk. No it didn’t annoy her; it made her wonder why he was so different than all the others. ”Not really, Blaise. After a while of people leaving, I’ve become accustomed to people just doing that. Sharing their life and getting to know me and going off and just forgetting me.” Pausing before putting her hand lightly on his cheek she gave a slight moment to think if she really was going to promise this or not. ”One day. I promise you. You will meet the Ariana Shallow that I used to be. Not the mess I am now.” She hoped they would get to see each other out of school. Probably he was the one keeping her sane, and she would be forever in debut that she could never repay for that alone.