Blaise Zabini was currently sat in Potions class, half paying attention to what Professor Snape was saying as he twiddled his quill in between his fingers. The boy was deep in thought as he was looking at a certain Hufflepuff boy that he couldn't seem to shake out of his mind. The boy was, of course, Apollo Petrou, otherwise known as the one who had punched Blaise Zabini in the face. Blaise winced at the painful reminder as he subconsciously brushed his hand along the spot on his jaw where a large bruise had resided for several weeks. Thankfully, the hideous thing was gone now and Blaise's handsome face was still in tact.

The Slytherin boy didn't know what it was about Apollo that intrigued him so. Perhaps it was the fact that the Petrous were a well known Pureblood family and Apollo acted the complete opposite of someone who was from such a high standing. There was also the fact that the Hufflepuff had been going by another name: Nathaniel. Blaise hated the name and saying it was like poison on his tongue. He understood why Apollo wouldn't want to go by his true name as it was rather ridiculous, however, Blaise still enjoyed it as it was rather unique - just like the Petrou boy.

“Mr. Petrou, would you care to tell me why Ms. Greengrass seems to be doing all your work for you?” Professor Snape questioned monotonously, approaching the pair as Daphne ran about doing everything while Apollo simply sat back and observed his hands; the knuckles split open from his most recent fight.

“Well, professor, why don't you ask her? I mean, she is the one doing the work after all, maybe there's a reason for that. Perhaps, she gave me specific instructions not to do anything. Ever thought about that?” The boy questioned back plainly, not purposely giving their professor sass, but simply wishing he could be anywhere else than there at that moment. Blaise's lips twitched slightly as he observed the situation, Apollo's responses never failing to amuse him.

Professor Snape, on the other hand, didn't seen to find the situation so funny as he glared hard at the boy who never wavered under his gaze. “Ten points from Hufflepuff.” The other Hufflepuffs in the class groaned as their points diminished even further. They already were in fourth place in comparison to the other three houses therefore it was highly unlikely that they would be able to win the House Cup. Apollo, however, simply shrugged his shoulder in disinterest before looking back down at his hands; Daphne furiously muttering something to him as she continue to chop and mince and stir.

Blaise was thankful once class was signaled to be over, not having gotten very far with his potion that he concocted with Draco. Yet they didn't get reprimanded for not doing their work like Apollo, as Snape had always had a soft spot for the Slytherin students.

“Let's go to the Great Hall for lunch, I'm starved.” Draco announced as the two boys finished packing up their belongings. Blaise cast one last look at Apollo, who was already quickly exiting the classroom, before he was nodding his head in agreement.

“I can't believe Snape took points away from Hufflepuff. No one was doing their work, you could clearly see that. Plus he usually doesn't care so much about the Hufflepuffs.” Blaise commented as the walked down the Hogwarts halls, not yet flanked by Draco's cronies.

“Maybe he just doesn't like Petrou.” Draco responded carelessly, shrugging his shoulders as he did so.

Blaise was quiet for a moment as he thought over that entirely real possibility. Not many people, especially professors, seemed to like the angry boy. Although Blaise could tell that he was smart, he could also tell that Apollo didn't seem to care much about applying himself. Blaise pursed his lips at that. “And what about you?” He then asked, turning his head to glance over at Draco who’s blonde brows seemed to furrow at the question. “What do you think of Petrou?”

“Well he's a right prat.” Draco started, annoyance already seeping out of him as his eyes narrowed as though Apollo were standing right in front of him. “He just punched you out of nowhere - and he nearly did it again if it hadn't been for Greengrass!” He exclaimed, throwing his hands up and looking over at Blaise wildly. Blaise’s lips twitched in amusement as he watched Draco get riled up which was something that only ever happened with things concerning Harry Potter. “Also, can you believe his real name is Apollo? And he doesn't even go by that! My parents would kill me if I disrespected them like that, my view on the Petrou Family has really gone down.”

Draco wasn't wrong. For purebloods, their names were their greatest asset and to not go by what you were given by your family was simply blasphemous. That was the reason why most purebloods didn't even have nicknames.

“I like, Apollo better though.” Blaise spoke up. Draco looked over at him, a look of what seemed to be disgust taking over his features.

“It's still a ridiculous name - and I thought the Blacks had bad names.” The blonde haired boy nearly rolling his eyes as the pair entered the Great Hall.

Blaise didn't have anything to say to that and instead remained silent as the sat down at the Slytherin table. Pansy grinned once she saw them and left her group of friends to come and sit down next to them. “Hey, boys.” She greeted, smiling flirtatiously over at Draco. Blaise nearly gagged at that while Draco simply ignored her, either oblivious or uninterested. “What were you two talking about? Draco looks like he just drank his own piss.”

Draco glared over at the girl who blushed lightly but didn't shy away from the gaze. Blaise chuckled at that, drawing their attention back towards the darker skinned male. “We were talking about Petrou.” He informed, watching as Parkinson's brown eyes grew wide in interest.

“The guy who punched you? He is my personal hero.” Pansy teased, ignoring the two glares that were directed her way. At this rate, it was a mystery how the boys hadn't cast her out of their group.

“Yes, him.” Blaise grit out, jaw locked which caused him pain as even though the bruise had faded, he was still healing from the punch. “What do you think about him?” He decided to ask; it never hurt to get a second opinion.

Pansy sighed dreamily as she placed an elbow on the table, resting her head in her hand, looking over at the Hufflepuff table where their topic of conversation was sat, glaring (as usual). “Well, he has a lot of anger issues and a lot of people are scared of him. But I think that's kind of hot. I mean, what can get someone riled up more than a bad, brooding boy beating someone up?”

Draco looked over at the girl in concern. “You have some weird fantasies, Parkinson.”

Pansy looked between the two boys for a moment before bursting out in laughter. It was one of those loud and annoying laughs that contained gasps and snorts. It was the ugliest thing Blaise had ever heard and he flinched, never having liked ugly things.

“I was just messing with you guys,” Pansy choked out through laughter. Draco glared at her while Blaise merely rolled his eyes. It took a few more moments for Pansy to calm down, sighing a few times before looking at the two boys who were very much unimpressed. “Petrou is nowhere near my type.” She said, glancing over at Draco suggestively who offered no indication that he knew what she was referring to. “He is fit though.”

Blaise glanced over at the Hufflepuff table himself that time, eyes once more landing on the brooding male. Blaise couldn't deny that Pansy was right, afterall, it had been Apollo's handsome looks which had drawn the Slytherin towards him. Apollo was rather tall for their age, the only one coming near him im height being Ron Weasley. His skin was fair, looking so pure and untouched if one didn't notice the cuts and bruises that would sometimes be littered all over him, or how his knuckles always seemed to be split open. There were also small freckles and moles scattered about on him, something Blaise had noticed during one of the few times they were up close to one another. His nose wasn't thin but it was long and straight, pointing down towards perfectly pink and full lips. The hair on top of his head was of an auburn shade, and Blaise had noticed once that it turned golden orange when in direct contact with sunlight. Blaise sometimes imagined himself running his hands through Apollo's hair but he would quickly shake himself of the thought as soon as it arrived. He was sure Apollo would punch him before he ever got the chance.

Apollo glanced up then, feeling Blaise's stare on him. The two locked eyes, complete opposites clashing as they stared at one another. Apollo glared at the other male, something which seemed to be his automatic reaction to anything. Blaise - ignoring the conversation between Pansy and Draco that was slowly growing more and more heated - grinned back at Apollo, teasingly sending him a wink along with blowing him an air kiss.

Apollo's eyes widened in surprise, his glare murderous, as a light pink tint made itself known on his cheeks. What Blaise had expected Apollo to do was offer him a death glare before looking away, maybe even give him the middle finger for fun. What he hadn't been expecting, however, was for Apollo to send him a flirtatious smile as he pretended to grab the kiss out of thin air before placing it directly onto his mouth. Now it was Blaise's turn to be surprised, Apollo reveling in that fact. Apollo's responses always caught Blaise off guard, him having not been expecting that outcome. Apollo kept Blaise on his toes and that was exactly why he liked teasing him so much.