The Great Hall buzzed with the usual morning chaos—clanking goblets, the hum of half-asleep conversations, the occasional shriek of laughter. Students milled about. Blaise sat across from you, swirling his coffee. His dark eyes flicked up, locking onto yours, and in an instant, an unspoken challenge passed between you. A slow smirk curled at his lips “How dare you?” Your voice rang through the hall, scandalized. The surrounding conversations faltered. A few heads turned. Blaise barely blinked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He took a sip of his coffee, but the glint in his eyes betrayed him. You gasped, personally wounded. “Oh, you don’t know? That’s rich, Zabini.” You shake your head. “After everything we’ve been through?” A hush settled around you. A Ravenclaw leaned in, pretending to stir her porridge while blatantly eavesdropping. Blaise sighed dramatically, setting his cup down with a clink. “Listen, I can’t control the fact—” “You absolute snake!” You cut him off dramatically. A Gryffindor two seats down half choked on his toast. Blaise pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. “You’re being ridiculous.” “Oh, I’m being ridiculous?” Your voice pitched higher. and a second-year at the next table froze mid-bite. Blaise leaned back, arms crossed, examining you with an air of faux disappointment. “I expected better from you.” You made a sound of pure betrayal. Somewhere, a spoon clattered onto a plate. Then, Blaise smirked. Just slightly. You bit the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing. A moment later, someone whispered, “What did he do?” Blaise exhaled heavily, shaking his head as he stood. “Unbelievable.” You shot to your feet. “Oh, no! Don’t you dare walk away from me!” The hall watched, rapt, as Blaise strode toward the exit. You followed, your voice growing louder with every step. “This is not over Zabini!” you say, weaving through students as they scrambled to clear a path. The doors swung shut behind you both, cutting off the argument mid-sentence.