Chapter Text
YEAR I
Resenting you
Blair eased open the cabin door, slipping inside to find Daphne and Pansy engaged in a heated argument with two other first-year students seated in front of them. As the train started to roll, she bid farewell to her father, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before he disappeared from view.
"Why the silence?" Draco, her cousin, inquired as he joined her. "I have a feeling I don't want to get caught up in whatever they're bickering about," she replied, her hand reaching into her pocket to retrieve the coins needed to purchase the candies she had just bought.
"Who are those two, anyway?" she casually inquired, popping open a box of chocolate frogs. "This is Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. I've known them since childhood," Draco introduced, settling back in his seat.
"I suppose you must be Blair, Draco's magical cousin," Blaise chimed in, confirming her assumption. Blair, her gaze sharpening, shot a displeased look at her cousin. "Magical? Really, Malfoy?" she retorted. "And yes, I am Blair. You must be Zabini, am I right?" she added, her eyes fixing on Blaise as he nodded in affirmation. The brunette boy beside him, however, seemed determined to maintain an air of indifference towards her.
"Well, you're just a delight to be around, aren't you?" Blair muttered, rolling her eyes. Pansy let out a derisive scoff. "Looks like he's in one of his moods," she remarked.
A few moments later, their arrival at Hogwarts brought a sense of familiarity to Blair as she stepped into the Great Hall, her mind flooded with stories her mother had shared about this enchanting place. It was truly magnificent, and everything felt like a surreal dream. She couldn't help but imagine how proud her late mother would have been. A fond smile crossed her face, accompanied by the sting of tears welling in her eyes.
"Oh, enough with the drama! Come on!" Pansy interlocked their arms and playfully tugged Blair towards the front, where the Sorting ceremony was about to commence. Anxiously, Blair longed to be chosen for Slytherin, fervently hoping her name would be called as her heart raced with anticipation.
As Blair's name echoed through the Great Hall, she settled onto the stool, the Sorting Hat descending upon her head. The surge of anxiety coursed through her veins as she waited, her thoughts whirling with uncertainty. The Sorting Hat's voice resonated in her mind, strangely familiar and laced with a cryptic warning, "Anxious, eh? My, my, you bear an uncanny resemblance. Let's hope you don't follow his path... SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat's declaration rang out, its words both a relief and a mystery.
Joining her newfound friends at the Slytherin table, Blair couldn't shake off the lingering curiosity. "Let's hope you don't end up as bad as he did," she pondered silently. What did the Sorting Hat mean by those enigmatic words? A wave of intrigue washed over her, compelling her to uncover the hidden truths that lay within her new house and the echoes of a mysterious past.
As the days passed, Blair found herself growing more and more at ease within the welcoming embrace of her newfound home at Hogwarts. She forged deeper connections with her companions, gradually becoming closer to her new circle of friends.
One afternoon, as she ventured out of her dormitory, Blair stumbled upon Theodore and Draco engaged in a spirited argument about their chess prowess. She couldn't help but eavesdrop on their banter, intrigued by their competitive spirit. However, referring to Theodore by his nickname, Theo, never felt comfortable for her. His demeanour, especially when interacting with her, had always been laced with a hint of arrogance and prickliness. It puzzled her why he directed such animosity solely towards her, while seemingly amiable with others.
"Well, maybe he has a crush on you," Daphne suggested playfully, followed by a mischievous chuckle from Pansy. "She might be onto something," Pansy added, sharing in the jest. Despite their persistent attempts to plant the seed of the idea that Theodore harboured romantic feelings for her, Blair remained staunchly resistant. The notion of him having a crush on her failed to resonate, as she found herself distinctly unimpressed by his demeanour and lacked any genuine interest in him.
Though her friends continued their playful endeavours to sway her perspective, Blair couldn't help but maintain her initial disdain for the idea. She simply couldn't fathom Theodore as anything more than an annoyance, and the concept of him expressing romantic interest in her seemed utterly incompatible with her own preferences and expectations.
Thus, even after days of their light-hearted brainwashing attempts, Blair steadfastly clung to her convictions. The notion of Theodore having feelings for her held no allure, as she believed him to be far from the type of person who could captivate her heart or stimulate her intellect. Her judgement remained resolute, and she remained resolutely uninterested in exploring any possibilities beyond their present dynamic.
With a curious stride, Blair approached the group of boys to investigate their activities. However, her attention was quickly drawn to the presence of a familiar first-year student, accompanied by an unfamiliar brunette boy who seemed to have joined their company. A hint of playful exasperation laced her words as she addressed her male friends, "Oh, Merlin, who have you boys managed to convince to befriend you now?"
Blaise and Draco shared a synchronised eye roll at Blair's remark, well acquainted with her tendency to tease them about their choice of companions. Sensing a desire to speak privately, Blaise motioned for Blair to join him, leading her aside from the group. "That new addition is Mattheo Riddle," Blaise revealed, his words causing Blair's eyes to widen in shock.
"Riddle? Bloody hell, are you out of your mind? Why would you associate yourself with someone whose father is nothing short of a notorious murderer?" Blair's silent exclamation reverberated in her mind, her disbelief palpable. The mere thought of being friends with the offspring of such infamy seemed utterly incomprehensible to her.
Blaise, however, attempted to offer a different perspective, hoping to assuage her concerns. "The guy is perfectly fine, Blair. Give him a chance. He's been joining us for Quidditch lately, and he's proven to be a good bloke. We can't hold him accountable for the sins of his father," he reasoned, hoping to challenge her preconceived notions.
Raising an eyebrow sceptically, Blair met Blaise's words with suspicion. "You presume he's different, Zabini? But you barely know the guy! You can't pass judgement on someone simply because they share similar interests or hobbies," she scolded, her voice filled with a mixture of admonishment and concern. In a momentary lapse, her hand instinctively met Blaise's arm in a swift smack, a physical manifestation of her frustration and disagreement.
Unfazed by Blair's rebuke, Blaise stood his ground, a scowl etching onto his features. "You can't tell me not to judge him when you yourself are doing the same. It's hypocritical," he retorted, highlighting the contradiction in her stance.
The tension between them hung in the air, their differing perspectives clashing like thunder and lightning. It was a familiar dynamic, the collision of their strong-willed personalities, reminding them of the complexities and challenges that came with friendship and understanding.