"Blaise Zabini"

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Draco held out his hand, offering support as I stepped onto the cart. He took a seat next to me, Crabbe and Goyle still muttering between themselves. "Draco...Draco" I tapped his shoulder, looking at the creature attached to the cart. There was a small jerk before it started, the creature trotting along.

"What?" He asked, his hand resting between my thighs.

Flitting between his pale face and the unknown creature, I spoke. "What's that creature pulling the cart?!" I gasped.

"Oli, there's nothing there.." He said slowly, inspecting the carriage as we were pulled closer to Hogwarts.

"There is, Draco, I can see it!" I hissed, panic setting in. What if I was seeing things?

He turned his body to face me, grabbing both my hands, holding them with a tight grip. "Oli, look at me, there's nothing there..I know your scared but just, calm down, please" He said, his voice quiet as Crabbe and Goyle continued to bicker.

Pausing, I processed his words, "Okay.." I nodded, causing him to let out a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry.."

Slumping back into his normal position, he placed his hand between my thighs once again. "It's fine, don't worry" He sighed.

I had no word left to say as the rest of the journey was silent, the only sounds to be heard were the sounds of the forest around us.

We all hopped of the cart, Draco being the gentleman he was, offered me a hand as I clambered down, my feet landing on the stone of the courtyard. The sun had disappeared and the night had taken over, no remains of what the sun had left behind.

Following the herd of people, we wandered into the Great Hall but as we did, I was shot a few unpleasant glances, causing me to hang my head down low. "Hey, ignore them. If they say anything they can speak to me, alright?" Draco said, noticing my head fall. He grabbed my chin, lifting my face up to look at him.

I only nodded before he kissed my forehead, allowing me to part and head to the Gryffindor table, though I was not welcomed as I usually was. Harsh glances filled with daggers and pointed knives met me as I took a seat next to Seamus.

"Good summer...Seamus?" I asked slowly, the Weasley twins looking at us.

He ignored me so I sighed. "It's true then? You 'n' Malfoy?" He snarled, his head in a copy of the Daily Prophet.

Nodding slowly, I looked at him, but he didn't look at me, he kept his head low. "Could've told me" He grunted.

"I wanted to but-Well-I didn't know how you'd react.." I muttered.

"I'm supposed to be your best mate and I didn't hear a word from you all summer!" He snapped finally raising his head from the newspaper. "The Daily Prophets saying a lot about you, Harry and Dumbledore, then you don't write to me like you usually do, what was I gonna think?" He shouted. Everyone's heads turned an watched us as more people poured in.

Slowly glancing around, I shrugged. "Well, if you don't know, how am I supposed to know?" He growled, shooting sideways glances at people that stopped to look at us.

"It's not true, what the Daily Prophets saying.." I mumbled quietly.

He scoffed. "Oh and that makes it all better?" He shuffled around to face the food laid out in front of us.

"Seamus, I'm sorry-"

"-Save it" He snapped. Hurt, I left it there.

Draco's POV

"I'm supposed to be your best mate and I didn't hear a word from you all summer!" A voice shouted from the Gryffindor table. Immediately, everyone rose from their seat. "The Daily Prophets saying a lot about you, Harry and Dumbledore, then you don't write to me like you usually do, what was I gonna think?" I saw Seamus and Olivia.

Olivia had her head hung low and Seamus looked furious. Rage slowly poured in as I set off towards the Gryffindor table but a hand landed on my arm. "Wouldn't it be better if you stayed sat here?" A voice mumbled from the side of me.

Turning my head, I saw a fellow Slytherin. "What? I'm not just gonna sit here and let him attack my girlfriend!" I snapped.

The boy with a small, tight, short curls shook his head with a small chuckle. "If you get involved he'll be angrier, let her deal with it.." He said, his voice strong.

Sighing, I admitted defeat and sat down, my head falling into my hands as I rested my elbows on the table. "Who are you, anyway?" I mumbled as he sat beside me.

"Blaise Zabini" He smiled, putting some peas onto his plate.

I nodded slowly, going back to my food.

Olivia's POV

"Ahem" Dumbledore cleared his throat as we all put our food down and turned to face him. "Good evening, children!" He smiled, greeting us with his usual warmth. "Now we have two changes in staffing, this year" He stated.

"We're pleased to welcome back, Professor Grubbly-Plank, who'll be taking care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave" He smiled as the teachers turned to face the Professor and smile. "We also wish to welcome, our new Defense Against The Dark Arts professor, Professor Dolores Umbridge, and I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the Professor, good luck" Dumbledore said, however, his words weren't sincere.

"Now, as usual, our Caretaker, Mr Filch, has asked me to remind you that the corridor on the 5th floor is forbidden" There was a small giggle from the end of the table where all the teachers sat.

Slowly, Snape and Professor McGonagalls heads turned, watching the woman dressed in pink as she stood up, wandering over to where Professor Dumbledore was stood. "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome" She smiled at Dumbledore who politely bowed. "And how lovely to see all you bright, happy faces, smiling up at me" She clasped her hands together and looked around the hall at everyone.

We were all looking at her intently, listening to her proposition. "I'm sure we're all going to be good friends" She said, half giggling at the end.

"That's likely" George and Fred mumbled from across from me, causing me to laugh.

Umbridge looked at them both, ignoring them as she carried on. "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance" She smiled, beginning to pace back and forth. "Although each Headmaster has brought something new to this, historic school.." She looked over at Dumbledore who nodded again.

"Progress for the sake of progress, must be discouraged. Let us preserve what can be preserved, perfect what can be perfected.." She grinned, clearly trying to administer her authority. "..And prune practices that ought to be..Prohibited" Her final words were quiet until they reached a whisper before she giggled.

Dumbledore looked around, looking as if he wanted to roll his eyes but instead, he began clapping, urging everyone else to do the same, which we did. "Thank you, Professor Umbridge.." He began as the clapping died down and she waddled back to her seat. "That really was most illuminating" Dumbledore said as we all began to mutter amongst ourselves.

"Yeah, I can see myself getting along with her" I rolled my eyes as sarcasm dripped from my tone.

Seamus scoffed from the side of me, "Well, you seem to get along well with Malfoy, he and she don't seem too different" He snarled. It was clear that I had hurt him, and it made me feel even more alone.

Dumbledore continued, despite multiple students mumbling under their breaths. "I'd just like to remind you that magic on the corridor is forbidden" He looked around at the 4 long tables. After a few more minutes he dismissed us, allowing us to eat.

Guilt was eating away at me. "Look, Seamus, I'm sorry, I really am. I was still in pain from the 3rd task and things were a bit crazy-"

"-Leave it, Olivia" Someone mumbled as a hand was placed on my shoulder. I glanced at the hand from the corner of my eye, it was pale and cold.

Seamus shook his head, twiddling his fork in his hand. "Straight to your rescue, huh" He grumbled as I stood up, looking at Draco. Draco nodded his head for me to follow.

Stood outside the Great Hall was a Slytherin boy, one I hadn't noticed before. "This is Blaise Zabini" Draco introduced us. "Blaise, this is Olivia Wales-"

"I'm well aware of who she is, my mother has somewhat of an interest in you and the Dark Lord's relationship" He smiled, offering his hand out for me to shake. Slowly and hesitantly, I shook it which caused him to grin even more. "Can't say I share the same obsession, I don't have much time for fairy stories" He nodded.

Draco seemed to growl slightly under his breath before he spoke. "Should you need me but can't find me. Find Blaise, he'll get you to me, alright?" Slowly I nodded.

"Good" He smiled, kissing my forehead briefly before he allowed me back into the Great Hall.

As I perched myself next to Seamus, he began his small assault. "What did he want then? To tell you to stay away from me?" He growled.

I sighed. "No, actually, he..he.." I hesitated before continuing. "He wanted me to tell you that he was sorry for anything he may have done.." I lied.

Seamus shook his head, obviously not believing me which caused me to drop my head and sigh.

Draco's POV

Once I watched her sit down, I threw Blaise into the wall, holding him there by his collar. "You hurt her, or she turns up to me with a single scratch and you'll be sorry, got it?" I snarled, my voice low and deep.

Blaise chuckled. "I thought I made it clear that I'm not the one with the obsession with her" He smirked causing me to push against him harder.

"Well, you're mother has been married 7 times before and each time her husbands died in suspicious circumstances, maybe she wants you to get Olivia to her for a little science experiment, but if she goes missing for an hour and she was last seen with you, I will hunt you" His face showed no fear, no regret. "You better protect her like your life depends on it, because it does. The only reason I'm letting you in, is because Snape trusts you, understand!?" I threatened, finally allowing him to drop from my grasp.

As I walked away he laughed. "You think I want her, you're wrong. But you have my word, I will look after her" He said, standing up straight.

I nodded. "Well then we wont have any problems" I said, ending the conversation.

A/N

Sorry this took a while.

Tuesday I went to my grandads funeral

Wednesday I had loads of school work so I had no time at all!

Thanks for all the support!