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Title: Kissing Up

Contributors: pb_prince, chochang___, wings_of_charm

Edited by: Carla Lute

Posted: 2006-01-22 to 1-24

Game Date: September 11th

Disclaimer: No one at Levicorpus owns Harry Potter, the world or its characters. We just like to play in J.K. Rowling’s world.

* * * * * * *

Blaise took his broom out and made a few laps around the grounds, pushing the limits and thinking about dragons. He set down upon the grass between the school and the lake. He rubbed his eyes and rolled his neck and shoulders, his mind far away from Hogwarts.

Cho had just finished her talk with Harry, and she was making her way around the lake to get back to the castle when she saw Blaise sitting on the grass with his broom. She walked up beside him thinking that he hadn’t noticed her yet and said, "Any luck with leaving this place for the races?" She sat down next to him not making eye contact with him but just looking out at the lake.

Blaise stopped stretching and blinked a few times as though trying to get Cho in focus. "Afternoon, Professor," he said. "No, no luck."

"How many teachers have you asked?" Cho wondered out loud.

"How many are there?" Blaise asked. "Because that's how many I've gone to."

"How long do you have?"

"About a month and a half," Blaise said, slightly annoyed that he had to tell people when the Swedish broom race took place.

"Well, that should be enough time to do some kissing up to some teachers. One of them is bound to say something good about you to McGonagall, maybe that will change her mind," Cho said as she raised her hand up to shield the rays of the setting sun from her eyes.

Blaise lay back on the grass with his broom laying across in chest, one hand on the broom and one hand behind his head. He didn't kiss up to teachers. That was the sort of thing Draco did. Besides he had good marks and a spotless record, and McGonagall still had not thought any Slytherin worthwhile enough to become prefect this summer. It was hard to believe a few flattering words would change her mind.

He looked at Cho, half an idea forming. "You're a teacher," he said.

Cho knew this was coming "..and?.." she asked.

Blaise sat up. He hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward and gave Cho a passionless kiss.

Cho kissed him back for a second, and then realized what she was doing and pulled away. She sat there staring at Blaise, not sure which look she was giving him, a nice one, or a confused one. "That’s the thing Blaise" she said "I’m a teacher" and with that, she stood up, shook her head and said "I have to go…"

Blaise sat watching Cho's reaction without much expression. It wasn't exactly what he had been hoping for. As she started to turn away, he jumped to his feet and grabbed her arm. "You said to kiss up," he said in an almost challenging tone.

Cho laughed at Blaise’s remark. "You know I didn’t mean that literally," she smirked "What in the hell was that?"

Blaise blinked at Cho, rather confused by her laugh and dropped her arm. He dropped back onto the grass where he had left his broom. "Nevermind," he said rather sulkily.

Cho hated the word ‘nevermind’. She hated the way it sounded, the letters, and the meaning itself. Whenever someone said nevermind to her, she knew that meant that they didn’t want her to know. It didn’t mean that they forgot, or they were too lazy to explain it, it meant that they didn’t want her to know.

She sat down next to Blaise once again. She turned to face him and she said "I deserve an explanation don’t I? Or was my reaction that disappointing?"

Blaise just gripped his broom, his elbows propped on his knees, and stared down at the lake. He was breathing heavily, feeling a lot of things, but anger was the one he best recognized. About the time Cho seemed about to give up expecting an answer, he turned to her and spat, "Why don't you Act like a teacher?"

Cho was a bit annoyed by the change of subject and a bit puzzled by the question Blaise asked her.

"Think about it Blaise. I just got out of Hogwarts. The summer after, I come back to be a teacher. I’m not used to being a teacher yet. Straight out of Hogwarts, and I’m back."

Why don’t you act like a student? Not every student goes around kissing teachers, Cho thought to herself

The fact that her answer made sense helped Blaise lose some of his anger, but it wasn't helping him in general. "That’s all the more reason you should act like a teacher. If you don't, no one will respect you."

"Blaise what are you talking about? Everyone respects me, I have no problems with anyone." Cho wasn’t really angry up until now. They went from talking about the races, to kissing, to how she 'didn’t act like a teacher'. Cho didn’t know what he wanted from her, a friend or an enemy.

Blaise looked doubtfully at Cho. "You live in a bubble, Chang. Hardly anyone takes you seriously. You only get away with it because you’re mainly teaching first years. What would a real professor have done in that situation?"

"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM BLAISE? YOU’RE SKIPPING AROUND THE POINT! WHAT IS IT YOUR PROBLEM IF I LIVE IN A BUBBLE? DO YOU WATCH MY CLASSES? DO YOU INTERROGATE MY STUDENTS? HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY DONT TAKE ME SERIOUSLY?" She knew she had overdone it. Blaise had left her with so many questions that it was hard not to.

She stood up for a second time and said "Blaise Zabini, I will no longer talk to you until you can figure out what you want to say to me." She looked down at him with a nasty smirk and said, "Is that 'professor' enough for you?"

Blaise rolled his eyes and looked at the lake again. "No, it still sounds like teenage girl. What do I care if you don't talk to me?"

"Oh, and you act SO grown up Blaise." she said sarcastically "Now if you’ll excuse me, this teenage girl has dinner to go to" and walked off confused, angry, and about ready to do her favorite thing lately -- cry.

* * * * * * *

Promise was out giving Eclipse a little exercise when she noticed Cho stalking off across the courtyard. She considered going to her, but she didn't look very open to conversation. Promise looked taken aback, Cho was usually pretty cheerful when she saw her.

She cocked her head, looking confused. She was about to head back to the stable when Blaise caught her eye. Oddly enough the very upset Cho seemed to be stalking away from him. Promise shook her head in confusion then spurred Eclipse into a trot.

She jogged up to Blaise and stopped her horse. "What's Cho's problem?" she asked, sliding off of Eclipse's ridiculously tall back.

Blaise shrugged, not taking his eyes off the lake. Only his hands were working up and down the broomstick that rested against his shoulder.

Promise nodded knowingly, mocking that she completely understood, "Ah, I see...why'd you hit her in the face with your broom? Very rude." Charm rolled her eyes at Promise but didn't leave her shoulder.

"I didn't-" Blaise started to protest, looking up at Promise. He saw that she was joking, snorted, and went back to staring at the lake.

Charm peeped in a concerned manner, and Promise sighed, the amusement in her eyes being replaced by slight worry. Blaise didn't usually act that way. He usually either talked to her as normal or was cold, he never looked just…distant.

She leaned forward hesitantly, "Hey...you ok?"

Blaise shrugged. He seemed to have developed lockjaw.

Promise raised a brow, "I'll take that as a 'maybe'"

Charm made a sad sound and Promise scratched her behind the ears. "If you'd like me to leave you alone I have no problem with taking off. However you have m...er.. Charm a little concerned."

Blaise turned partway towards her again and held his hand up as though offering it to Charm.

Charm chirruped then flittered down to land on his hand. Upon doing so she slid down his arm as if it were a slide, crawled up to his face and nuzzled his chin.

Promise smiled very slightly and slid to the ground next to him, motioning to Eclipse that she was allowed to graze as she pleased. The horse shook out her mane and proceeded to do so then Promise leaned back a bit, supported by her hands out behind her. She didn't say anything, she'd made it known that he could talk to her if he wanted to. She was concerned, though, he didn't usually act that way. With Cho acting oddly AND Blaise acting oddly...her two closest Hogwarts friends...she didn't really know what to think.

Blaise gave Charm a small smile as she nuzzled him and laid the broom down again, so he could play with her with both hands.

Charm batted playfully at his fingers, peeping every now and again in a cheerful manner.

Promise looked out across the lake as well and remained that way for several minutes. Eclipse grew tired of wandering aimlessly eating grass, for she'd just been given grain which was FAR superior in her opinion, lay down next to Promise who began stroking her smooth fur.

She looked down at Blaise's broom, "It's very nice.." she said absently then looked very slightly startled at hearing her own voice and also at realizing she hadn't really specified what she was talking about. "Your broom, that is. I wish I was better at flying them. I mean I can function on one, but it's certainly not one of my more prominent talents."

"It's custom," Blaise said, tickling Charm's belly. "Italian made. I don't think I can just stick lemongrass randomly in the tail twigs, but I'll attach it somehow."

Promise inspected it and made a face, "You're right...if you need me to I can weave a little charm for the end of the broom for you to tie on. That would probably work. Any other ideas?" She made a mental note to ask if he had a plan to be allowed to take part in the race yet. And hopefully it was one that didn't involve getting expelled.

"No, charms," Blaise said. "You might throw off the balance. I'll find someplace to stick it. Maybe in my clothes."

Promise nodded and looked as if she was about to say something then hesitated. She was being fairly careful what she said since he wasn't in the best mood.

"...have you...come up with anything? Convincing the teachers to let you go to the race?"

Blaise's face twitched ever so slightly. "Maybe," he said. He continued to stroke Charm, but his smile had left again.

Promise looked at him oddly, he was certainly behaving strangely. "Care to fill me in?" She asked, rubbing Eclipse's nose idly. "Or does it involve expulsion and you know I'd become a bit bothered?"

"A bit of a bother," Blaise mumbled. He rubbed Charm's ear. "I don't know," he said. "It depends on what Professor Chang does."

Promise had an unreadable expression on her face then she looked at him in a scrutinizing manner. "Alright, I wasn't going to ask again but now I have to. What happened between you and Cho?"

Blaise blinked at Promise as though she had said something odd. "Nothing important," he said.

Promise rolled her eyes and even Charm looked a little irritated by his response. She then sighed, "Alright, fine, I won't pry any more."

Charm chirped and Promise nodded, looking very slightly annoyed, "Yeah I know Cho would probably tell me, but I don't think she's in a chatty mood right now. You saw her face before."

Charm plopped into a sitting position on the grass to pout. She was a feline, after all, and they tend to be known for their incredible curiosity.

Blaise let Charm go and turned his attention back to the lake. Not that he had really taken much notice of the lake since he had sat, but it was in the direction of his eyes. He rolled up his sleeve and looked at his forearm as though it was a curious thing. "Do you think it hurts?" he asked. "Getting a tattoo?"

Promise looked at him oddly over the change of subject then shook her head. "Depends on where you get it," she answered then shifted to a cross legged position and leaned her elbows against her knees with her chin resting in her hands for the other position was getting uncomfortable.

"The one on my shoulder blades hurt a bit but the one on my stomach didn't really hurt at all. Maybe a pinch here or there but for the majority of the time it actually KIND of tickled."

"You have some?" Blaise asked.

"Yeah," Promise said then turned and moved her hair (she's wearing a black tank top with lace fringe) On each shoulder blade was a little tribal wing. She then turned and pointed to her stomach, "Then I have another one right there." She lifted her shirt but only the top part of the little dragon could be seen. "They're kind of addicting actually. You feel really exhilarated after getting one. At least I do."

Blaise traced the top of one wing with his finger to see if the skin texture was any different. "Do they do anything? Or are they just the normal kind?"

Chills ran up and down Promise's arms when he traced a wing. She put her hands over her arms to cover the goose pimples. She was very ticklish, she just didn't like that fact getting out.

"The dragon moves if I want it to but the wings don't do anything. I figured if they flapped it would be more than a little tacky."
She looked over at him, "You considering getting one?"

"I'm considering it," Blaise said, touching his own forearm and then staring at the lake again.

"May I ask what you want to get?" Promise asked, pulling up several pieces of grass and beginning to weave them together idly.

"No," Blaise said pulling down his sleeve. "You probably wouldn't appreciate it."

Promise smiled ever so slightly then stood, Eclipse standing as well, "You'd be surprised what I'd appreciate." She said, then used a rock to launch herself on to Eclipse's back.

Charm rose to her shoulder and Promise said, "I'll be around later if you're bored." She steered Eclipse away but before she spurred her off toward the stable, more as an afterthought, really she turned around and said, "And Blaise? I can be fairly perceptive when I want to be...and I'd hold off on that tattoo for a while. Just a suggestion."

She then spurred Eclipse toward the stable and the horse loped a few paces before taking to the air.

Blaise decided he was tired of being outside. He took his broom and headed back into the castle.

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