"Never mind that Crabble and Goyle are the dead lasts of our year." At Blaise's nod of approbation, she continued. "That doesn't explain why you are addressing yourself to me? There are a lot of Ravenclaws who love nothing but study. 'Bookworms' like one Ron Weasley loves to nickname us. One of the third or fourth-years would make an excellent tutor I'm sure."
"That's true." admitted Blaise."The problem is, unless I forced one of them to accept an Oath of Silence about what they are teaching me, my strengths and my weaknesses would be available to whatever political faction they belong."
Alexandra posed a moment to consider about Blaise was saying. As the Potter Heiress was an outcast in Ravenclaw House, she had big difficulties to keep a civil conversation with any of her housemates for any length of time. The difficulty increased if the subject was not Quidditch or what you thought about the classes of this week. Thus, Alexandra had really little information related to the persons in her year. She certainly knew nothing about their politic affiliations. This was not the kind of thing you spoke about to a complete stranger. Perhaps what Zabini said was completely bogus. But it could also be right. No way to judge.
"Assuming you speak the truth, why should I say yes? When the news will break out and they will, Malfoy will send all his lackeys after me. I have already my own House complotting to kill me. I really don't feel happy at the idea of adding another quarter of the school to the list of people I must fight."
"Malfoy will never be your ally." Remarked Blaise.
"True. But are you ready to stand with me when this blonde slimy snake comes after me with his two gorillas? Thought not." Alexandra affirmed when Zabini 's eyes refused to meet her directly as she spoke.
"I could pay you." The pureblood voice has become almost inaudible.
"Money isn't everything Zabini. And gold is unimportant when you're dead. Besides, while I'm not wealthy like a Malfoy, I am not poor."
"So why do you wear these Muggle drags when you're out of class? You love being seen in the same category as the Weasleys?"
"I will pretend I did not hear this last remark, Zabini. But for your information, these 'Muggle drags' as you called them are a lot more practical when you are attacked than the robes you're wearing. And unlike the rest of you, I'm not wearing things which are two centuries out of fashion." Alexandra drew her wand from the holster on her right arm in a fluid and rapid move, a feat nearly impossible in execution with the bulky witches' robes.
Silence came between Blaise and Alexandra, each side seemingly pausing to consider what the other has said in the conversation. Personally, Alexandra didn't like what she had been forced to listen. Unlike Hermione and Nigel who had the nobility wells of the Gryffindors in them, Blaise Zabini had not an ounce of loyalty in him. To say the truth, Alexandra suspected the meaning of the word was unknown to him. In a fight, he would be next to useless at best, the weekly Gryffindors-Slytherins ambushes had proven that beyond doubt. At worse, he would stab her in the back as soon as she had not her eyes on him anymore. Academically, Zabini was in the last quarter of the rankings and was only decent in Potions and Astronomy. Rumours and whispers were telling his only specialty was in undetectable poisons like his mother. Did Alexandra want to be friend with someone like that? In her own mind, she knew the answer was a loud 'NO!'. Living at the Dursleys had taught Alexandra how cruel people could be when they had not your best interests at her. Blaise was only searching for a way not to fail in half of his classes. This was hardly what Alexandra would recognise as her 'best interests'. Assuming of course, it was not just a plot of a certain blond first-year Slytherin to put her in trouble. Those sorted in the House of Snakes were hardly subtle, but there was always a possibility someone started to use his brain. Stranger things had happened.
"I am going to have to decline your offer, Zabini. You will have to find another tutor." Alexandra said, in her best neutral tone.
"You can't refuse my offer like that!" The exclamation of the dark-skinned boy was incredulous, like he had not seriously expected her to decline his offer. His tone then calmed a bit, in a furious whisper. "If my mother..."
"Discover you passed your whole time sneering and cursing the students who are too weak to defend themselves against you instead of studying? Too bad for you." Alexandra had taken a disapproving voice. While Blaise Zabini was far from the most assiduous follower of Draco Malfoy, he participated like the rest of House Slytherin in verbal abuse towards the students having no 'pure' ancestry and those of lower standing than him. Well, it seemed these hours passed to bully his way in the corridors had not been profitable to his performances on the academic field.
Ranging her affairs and bringing back to their rows the books she had used for her essay, Alexandra prepared to leave the wing. Blaise had still not moved from his chair.
"I would be careful if I were you outside Potter." Blaise whispered.
"Is that a threat?" Alexandra asked, wondering internally if she would have to ask Flitwick the spells to verify if her food and her drinks weren't poisoned.
But the first-year Slytherin refused to say more, glancing quickly to see if there were others students around to hear their conversation. After ten seconds, his only reply was a "Good luck Potter" and he departed, not running but walking rapidly like he had suddenly an emergency of some kind.
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