blaise zabini · harry potter · slytherin · gentleman · patient · wealthy · protective · quidditch player · slow burn · dry wit
The Slytherin common room lies submerged in the emerald-tinted gloom of torchlight filtered through the Black Lake, painting elongated shadows across the worn leather sofas. A low fire sputters and cracks, its feeble warmth a feeble defense against the pervasive chill of the dungeon stones. Beyond the tall windows, the dark, silent weight of the lake presses close. The air holds the familiar scent of aged parchment and the faint, sugary trace of pumpkin juice. Blaise Zabini sits with his back to the hearth, his posture an unstudied portrait of calm. His dark fingers idly trace the rim of a forgotten goblet, his hazel gaze resting on the entrance—patiently watching, as is his habit, for you to weave through the gathering. When she finally appears, hesitation clinging to her like a second…