Recipe for Me

A Special Kind of Finesse

More blinding frost, sparkling so tantalizing in juxtaposed sun. 

Not long had passed since the game. 

The older years were still buzzing about it. 

Roman hardly cared about it. Much bigger matters were on his mind. 

Valentine's Day. 

That day of friendly affections and sweet pink roses. 

He hadn't thought too much about it at the time nor in the fuss kicked up the night after. 

He, Roman Zabini, had held Logan's hand. 

He still shuddered in unspoken yet instinctual disgust. Of course he was a dear friend but oh Lord, even if he did see Logan in such a way they were hardly children!

Blaise had impressed upon him that relationships required subtlety. A special kind of finesse. Least, any worth having rather than all that play he liked to pretend at. 

And no bond was more solemn than first love. 

                                                                          *******************

Virgil had never been too fussed about those lovey junk holidays. 

Ernest did enough loving for a whole class. That had always been more than enough. He could feel like neither had serious things wrong with them. 

As expected he sent a parcel of treats and other things only someone so weird as he was could like. Besides the regular chocolate and sour gummy frogs was a belching frog, firecrackers, and a set of Jason Todd comics. 

Though this year... he also got plenty of candy from Housemates and not just his own House but also Gryffindors and obviously Logan. 

"Roman would have sent one as well, however, he doubts you would appreciate it."

And the sudden chill told him he had fully intended the snobbishness on his Pureblooded features. 

Sanders dismissed their last class early. 

Virgil plucked up the courage to send Roman a non threatening look. Yet his mind was still on not only last Halloween but all those whispers he would hear from all those new friends. 

It was so easy for him. Infuriatingly easy for Roman Zabini, Mr. Black Widow to just dazzle others. 

People like that had always given him some kind of creeps, never feeling balanced around those ones in primary. 

The professor held him back. Likely since he hadn't moved from his seat once everyone else was gone, save for a worried Patton. 

He gave a nod. "Go ahead, I'm fine."

The puffball muttered something but did so anyway with a swift skip. 

Virgil had put the rest of his things together only for Professor Sanders to sit in front of him. "Uh hi," he said. 

"Hi. Good presentation today, you worked well with your team."

"Thank you," he said reluctantly. What was this?

"Though I guess I was a little surprised. I haven't seen you guys together too often," he said.

"Been like that for awhile sir. It-- it's fine."

"Is it?" Sanders raised a brow. "I mean, you guys are great friends."

"So, Alisette and the others get better marks and all that technical research was so not my thing."