CHAPTER FIVE
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-: sixth year :-

── IN WHICH A HORSE RIDE
IS EMBARKED UPON

. . .

CERISE LIKED TO DRESS WELL. Not for her mother, her status or boyfriend, like many attempted to suggest before rapidly being put down and discouraged for speaking like that about her, but for herself. Dressing well made her feel more confident; more regal and thus, have a much better handle on her ability to rise above others in the pure-blooded way that people like her did. 

She liked to dress well, in high quality brands and materials, but she also liked to look good. She knew that having money didn't automatically confirm good style, however the Zabini was blessed with some form of gene or imagination that meant she actually knew what clothes would look good on her.

Which often to her looking amazing, but also meant that sometimes, she wasn't adequately dressed for certain occasions. And as a seasoned horse rider herself, even Cerise could tell that yellow sun dress that fluttered around her knees and had sleeves that looked like bluebells over her shoulders was perhaps not the best for the equestrian activity. But it did allow her to match with the colour of her nails and a woven hat and small chain bag that had an extendable charm and held absolutely everything she would ever need.

After all, Cerise had spent breakfast in the dining hall arranging for them - 'them' being Draco, Theo and Blaise - to spend the entire day out, which meant several conversations with house elves and then both Narcissa and Lucrezia in case they need to come back suddenly. But all severely doubted there would be another meeting of that volume so soon, and so without fail the four made their way down to the stables attached to the back-end of the Malfoy mansion and selected one each for the day.

Cerise had chosen an Andalucian that Lucius had acquired for a rather large sum of money several years ago, the gleaming white coat making her outfit seem even brighter and more luxurious in the morning summer glow. Before long they had set off, down the lane and past the home that the Zabinis lived in and into the countryside, where they were able to ride at their own pace.

"I'm not saying you have to ride in the right trousers.. but I am saying that it is a rather.. delicious choice to ride in a dress!" Theo waved his hands in the air in despair, having let go of the reins long ago as his horse plodded along at a comfortable, slow pace. "What is there not to get? And why are you all staring at me."

"I know flirting is your primary conversation choice, but he's my brother and he's my boyfriend." Cerise said pointedly, although she didn't mind so much that the sun was landing on her sun-cream covered thighs, that peeked out of the skirt of her dress that covered up the most important part.

"Yeah, excuse me for not agreeing." Blaise rolled his eyes. "Honestly, I don't need to hear this. Please refrain from describing how my sister looks to you."

"And.. I don't need other people to hear it." Draco was never so bothered by his flirting. He knew that Theo was harmless - Cerise had every opportunity with him (the comments and flirting had been around for many years between the two), and yet she had chosen the Malfoy. 

"I give up." Theo let out a dramatic sigh, leaning too far back in his seat. "I wish Adrian was here. He always agrees with me."

"Yeah, well you'll have him for a year longer and then you're alone on your pervy ventures." Cerise replied, a grin on her face as she tucked dark hair behind her ears, where earrings made from Renaissance pearls hung, a matching necklace rippling over her collarbones. "I'm calling for a subject change or else I'll go ahead and leave you boys to your own conversation."

"I'm trying to ignore anything to do with last night." Blaise swallowed, the bitter conversation he had with his friends earlier about how Draco and Cerise had been taken back to the meeting and left them behind still sat in his mind. "O.W.L grades?"

"Thank Merlin someone brought it up, I've been dying to brag about it." Theo chirped up, no longer feeling so diminished without the help of Adrian Pucey for now. "All 'O's with an 'E' in Potions and an 'A' in Divination."

"That's what you get for picking a phony subject." Draco sniped. "All 'O's.. with an 'E' in Care of Magical Creatures." He admitted when Cerise glared at him. "I've had an oaf of a teacher for three years, surely you weren't hoping me to be an over-achiever in everything." 

"I managed to achieve it. With a scar on my hand of course." Cerise replied, watching as a certain expression flickered over Draco's face. Theo grinned, though he hid it by turning his face away and making a point of picking up the reigns again. That had been quite the point of amusement over their fifth year; Cerise hated Umbridge and Draco made sure to emphasises and exaggerate his respect for her. 

Which had lead to sneering comments on behalf of his girlfriend that landed her in detention for weeks on end and fights between the Malfoy and Zabini that lasted for days. Obviously enough, they hadn't broken up despite Cerise making sure that he knew she knew about Harry Potter's little army that had been built up over the year - and had eventually been drove closer by Lucius's imprisonment. 

"So, all 'O's for the princess.. and the same for her brother?" Theo cocked an eyebrow, and got a firm nod from Blaise. "Perfect, we're all over-achievers, no need to be bitter about it, mate." He nodded in the Malfoy's direction, who looked so tense about everything they could hardly tell if he had brushed the conversation off. "Either way, you lot will be having fun in Potions and I-"

"Will be right there with us." Cerise finished his sentence, watching as Theo scanned them, trying to figure out if they were serious or not. "You don't know?" She asked, cocking her head and urging her horse forward so she was closer by him. "I know you've not been around for long but surely-"

"Alright, alright, just tell me." Theo, in the terms of this specific conversation, wasn't looking forward to a delayed gratification. Instead he just wanted to find out. He hadn't really seen his friends since the end of the summer, Cerise mostly taken up by Draco and the Death Eater business - especially after the battle at the Ministry, thus meaning that Blaise was around wherever she was as well. But now he would be there, staying in the West wing of the Zabini manor, he wouldn't be missing out on anything anymore. 

"Dumbledore got a new Potions teacher - the guy from when our parents attended?" Cerise offered. "Another Slytherin  - Horace Slughorn. He's gonna be all over us when we go.. he has this little club thing for people he considers to have notable value. So if and when we become even more famed than we already are he can produce a photo of us and announce that he knows us." 

"Ah, a social climber. I'm familiar." Theo nodded, thinking of the many, many girlfriends his father had acquired since his mother's death. He paused, eyes landing on Draco and Blaise behind them. "Stop itching, mate." He ordered the blond, who look embarrassed to have been caught itching the skin revealed by the short-sleeved button up he was wearing. Theo was wearing something similar, although he hadn't faltered to keep the buttons almost wholly undone. "And.. what about Snape."

"Finally managed to achieve his dream job, of course." Blaise's gaze glimmered with worry as it landed on the pink skin Draco was trying to hide, before looking towards his sister and best friend. 

"You don't mean good old Severus got the Defense position!" Theo exploded, a grin on his face. "Why, that is magnificent - we'll only have to put up with him for another year and then we'll never have to be taught by that beautiful, droning voice ever again."

"Aren't you just the comedian." Cerise hummed, as they urged the horses up to the tip of the hill, where their view of the valley below revealed their lake destination. "Race you all there? I'm looking for a bit of wind in my hair."

"And in your skirts as well?" Theo rose an eyebrow, finding that only got him a punch in each of his shoulders from both Blaise and Draco before they raced off ahead, Cerise laughing as she followed after them. Theo shook his head, nudging the underbelly of the horse with his feet as he followed. "I miss Adrian - you lot are no fun." He yelled after them, but there was a grin on his face.

Clearly he didn't mind that much.

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