"That was harsh," Zabini said, finally breaking the silence that had fallen over their room. Tracey, Zabini, Blake and Greengrass sat silently in the boys' room. Charlotte's old seat was still empty.
"It was deserved," Tracey said firmly. "I'm just sorry you didn't do more, Blake."
"So am I," Blake responded quietly.
"It's not about whether or not Malfoy deserved it, Merlin and Morgana know he did," Zabini countered. "What about your reputation, Renshaw? They think you're cruel now."
"I wouldn't say so," Greengrass interrupted calmly. "Everyone hates Malfoy. Even if they're critical of Renshaw for a while, it'll disappear as soon as Malfoy opens his mouth again."
"Even so, at the very least, they'll be apprehensive and whispering about him. It's not every day students see something like that - I doubt a lot of them will ever forget it."
"Who says that's a bad thing?" Blake said quietly. "People generally liked me before, mostly because of the homework thing. I doubt any of them will stop coming to me, they've grown reliant. When they see me next, I'll just say something vague about Malfoy insulting me or one of you or Charlotte. Besides, we're acting like all of the people that saw or heard about it will have a bad opinion of me for it. Plenty of people will think it's deserved too."
The conversation ended shortly after that.
The next few weeks went by in a blur for Blake. He could tell the general opinion of him had shifted after the duel, especially during the 4 days that Malfoy had been in the hospital (something about a harsh combination of spells and physical damage making it harder to treat), but no one from his business had cancelled. Whether that was out of fear, respect or nothing at all, Blake didn't know, but he didn't really care either - Malfoy would do or say something stupid sooner or later.
His relationship with the rest of his friends grew strange. They didn't laugh or smile nearly as much any more with the absence of Charlotte, but somehow, they grew closer - even Greengrass, who, last year, hadn't really spent much time with them compared to the rest. Blake suspected it had something to do with Tracey being particularly hurt by Charlotte's absence. Between the isolation from Slytherin and the loss of a close friend, it seemed like they were all that each other had, and it was hard not to grow closer.
Something Blake idly noticed, however, was that Greengrass was still sneaking off from time to time - albeit much less, but she was still doing it. And she's much better at it than last year too, Blake thought. The only reason he'd noticed was that Zabini and Tracey had been spending a lot more time together. As he'd been teasing them (a rare occasion nowadays), he'd suddenly realised Greengrass wasn't there with Tracey.
Still sneaking around, huh? Blake had a feeling that he didn't have to worry about Greengrass. It was hard to think she could do him any harm or ill, but he also knew better than to just trust his gut - especially after the blackmail for his Quill last year.
I'll begin tailing her as soon as I get Scriptum Exordia down.
Meanwhile, Blake had noticed that Hermione had recently been disappointed in him, as had McGonagall. They didn't say anything, of course, but he could tell, especially McGonagall. Blake felt a small twinge of guilt for that. Me hospitalising Malfoy for half a week probably wasn't what she had in mind when she sacrificed her evenings to teach me Defence. But I did what I had to do.
Harry and Ron, on the other hand, were the small, if not happier.
"You really showed him, Blake!" Ron whooped loudly. "Purist git deserved it!"
"But how'd you get so good?" Harry asked. "You're even better than you were against -" Harry looked around conspiratorally. "-against Quirrell!"
Blake had just smiled faintly, and laughed, brushing off his questions. He didn't need to explain anything to them - not yet, anyway.
There was one person, however, that he did owe an explanation too.
"I didn't know you were that good at magic," Connor said quietly.
Blake sighed.
"There was a reason I didn't want you to see that, Connor."
"Was there a reason you brutalised Malfoy so badly that he got hospitalised for like a week?"
"Yes."
Connor looked at him expectantly.
"Beyond him just being a prick?"
Blake sighed again.
"I promise, Connor, there was a reason, beyond him just being a prick."
"Ok, Blakey," Connor said, suddenly bright. "I believe you. But just so you know, I've heard a lot of people talk about it. Most of them say that he deserved it, but some of them say you took it too far."
Took it too far? I didn't do enough, Blake thought darkly.
"Oh well, they'll forget sooner or later."
"Maybe, maybe. Also, there was something else I heard, Blakey."
"Don't call me Blakey, Connor. What did you hear?"
His younger brother grinned in glee.
"You've been doing people's homework for money, haven't you? That's how you made so much! And you're charging a Galleon per essay! That's a fiver!"
Oh, for f*ck's sake.
"That's not-"
"You made 4,000 pounds from that? How come I never see you write them?"
"That's none of-"
"Whatever, I don't care. All I know is, if you don't write my Potions essays, I'm telling Mum!" Connor said in a sing-song voice.
"Fine."
"Huh?" Connor looked dumbfounded at Blake agreeing without argument.
"But here's the deal. If you don't get an Outstanding on the end of year exam, not only am I going to stop with the essays, but I'm also going to show everyone in Gryffindor that picture of you-"
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Connor hissed looking around. "Keep your voice down!"
Blake laughed loudly, as Connor swore at him. Maybe Hogwarts isn't so depressing right now.
But little did he know that somewhere in the castle, a first-year ginger haired girl was writing in her diary - all about them.
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