Blaise stared her down, looking as though he were biting something back — as if his throat was working around words he wanted to hiss at her. She stared blankly back at him.

He tore his gaze away. "What's your plan?"

The room was still. And then Draco licked his lips. "I just need twenty minutes during dinner—"

"There's no way you can be gone for twenty minutes." Hermione jumped as she turned to look at Pansy, her lips curled in distaste. "Lucius will be seated next to the Dark Lord, his wife and son on his other side. There's no good excuse for the prolonged absence of Lucius Malfoy's son."

"She's right." Blaise leaned back in his chair with a lazy smirk, all traces of tension gone. "Draco Malfoy can't disappear. But I can."

"No." Draco's voice was harsh. "I can't ask you to go in my place. It's far too great a risk—"

"Oh, fuck no." Blaise let out a chuckle. "I'm not going in your place. I've barely signed on. What I'm saying is that we have a year's supply of Polyjuice Potion downstairs."

"Blaise, quit being coy," Pansy snapped.

"We create a distraction that sidelines me — a bit too much to drink, perhaps — and I take the potion pretending to be you while you run off to the Chamber of Secrets." Blaise broke into a grin at the dawning horror on Draco's face. "Come on, mate. Let me be you for an hour."

Draco swallowed thickly. "It's an option. We can discuss others—"

"Nope." Blaise popped the "p" and tilted his head. "I'm only agreeing to put my life on the line if I get to play Draco Malfoy for twenty minutes. I've been preparing for this role my whole life."

"It doesn't sound like the worst plan," Hermione said quietly. She glanced up at Draco. "If I'm being honest, it's probably less risky than anything I could attempt. Blaise knows your mannerisms inside out."

Draco's fists slowly uncurled on his knees. A muscle twitched in his cheek. "Fine." He rolled his neck. "A few more things. Can you call Giuliana back?"

The mirth drained from Blaise's face. He cleared his throat and stood from his chair, moving to the hallway to call for her. Giuliana was in the doorway seconds later, staring up at Blaise with doe eyes. She followed Blaise as he returned to his chair and perched on the coffee table again. He grimaced as she brushed her knees against his, and Hermione's lips parted in silent realization.

Giuliana was infatuated with him.

Blaise quickly stood, offering Giuliana the chair so he could stand. She protested a bit before agreeing, a blush staining her cheeks. She asked him a question in Italian, and Blaise jabbered a response, waving his hand at Draco. Giuliana shifted to face them.

"Giuliana," Draco said, "What do you know about that tattoo on your arm?"

She said nothing, but a wrinkle appeared on her nose.

Draco's eyes flickered between her and Blaise. "I'm not sure if you remember, but it activated when you were first delivered to Blaise at his home."