I. social casualty | blaise zabini ✔️

SACKED

CHAPTER 31

SACKED

When Lyra returns from her weekend at home, she's different. She doesn't smile as much, she doesn't mess around. It's like a part of her has begun to give up. So, Blaise does everything to keep her in a good mood, with varying success. There are days when he can brighten her up again, but there are also days where nothing gets her happy.

During an Astronomy class, a few hours after a meet up where Blaise couldn't do anything to get her to stop frowning, he stares at her, worry wrinkling at his brow. In his head he can hear his mother's voice:

"No frowning and no smiling, figlio. It gives you wrinkles, imperfezioni in the face."

Blaise immediately smooths out his brow. And suddenly he feels a note between his fingers.

She got in a fight with her dad and Fay.

He looks up to see Dougherty looking back at him, nodding at the paper before turning back to her telescope, trying to talk with his girlfriend.

He then turned to Dunbar, who was seated with Patil and Brown. Every once in a while she would turn to Lyra, sometimes with a frown, sometimes with a glare.

He asked her about it the next day and it didn't exactly go as planned.

"So, what's going on with you and Dunbar?"

Lyra tensed up in his arms, pulling away, "Nothing. Why?"

Blaise shrugged as nonchalant as possible, "No reason. I just noticed that you guys aren't as close anymore... And- maybe that... affecting your mood."

Lyra's face scrunched up in anger, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Blaise responded quickly, knowing he was in deep shit for that, "You just... seem sadder and Dunbar is always looking at you, and you aren't talking with each other anymore."

Lyra began walking away, "It's none of your business, Blaise. Just stay out of it."

Blaise felt a bit of hot rage down his spine, "Why? Can't you just tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong." They're voices were now echoing in the hidden corridor, nearly yelling. "And even if there was, it's none of your business."

"Yes it is. You are my girlfriend and I'm worried about you."

"Well don't be and stay out of it." She snapped, leaving Blaise standing in the corridor, flabbergasted.

Lyra didn't talk to Blaise for another few days and Valentine's day was coming. Blaise didn't know what to do, desperation clawing at him.

His answer came in the answer of Zara Dougherty. She had pulled him into an empty classroom after Herbology with the Slytherins and Ravenclaws.

"What the hell," He said when she had shut the door.

"Look, you need to talk to Lyra." She said, not bothering with pleasantries.

"Why?"

"Come off it, Zabini, she's miserable and struggling."

Blaise rolled his eyes, "Look, I tired talking to her and she snapped at me. I don't know what you want me to do."

"Just listen to her. I know you think she's just arguing with you but she doesn't know how to explain what she's going through."

"And what exactly is she going through?" He asked, with a slightly raised eyebrow.