Title: The Game

Author: Metallicafangirl

It was a normal day in the Zabini household, around dinner time. The food was on the table, the family in their seats, and the Spanish Inquisition just around the corner. Blaise suppressed a sigh; his parents twenty-questions round made an appearance every day at dinner, and he'd answer with the same non-comittical grunts as he always did. This time, however, they were in for a surprise; this time he'd answer their questions.

Not five minutes into the meal, the first question was fired his way.

"Blaise dear, have you done your homework?"

"Mhm." His mother could be dim sometimes; he'd done his homework on the first day back, and she'd asked the same question then.

"Well, my son, have you thought about what you're going to do after graduation?" His father this time, with another standard question.

"Mhm." He was going to work his way into the Ministry and pass a law that illegalised parental invervention.

And then, the question that had been on their list for nearly three years now... Any minute now...

"Tell me, dear, do you have a girlfriend?" It was amazing how his mother managed to sounds so utterly stupid by asking just one question.

"Yes." See if that gets them going.

"Have you--" It was almost funny to see his father start one question, then abruptly stop and nearly choke on his dinner.

Silence settled over the table, and he kept eating quite happily, amused by his parents reaction. His father had managed to swallow his food, and was now drinking quite rapidly, while his mother was just staring at him. He should do this more often. He valued silence when he ate. He put down the cutlery and leaned back in his chair, aware that he was not allowed to leave the table until everyone was finished.

And the game had taken a new turn.

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