Chapter Text
When we came back the following year, he didn’t return. He never returned. One year turned into two, two into three. The gang fell apart the moment he left. My friends started drifting away from one another, and I was caught in the middle. I never chose between Draco and Pansy or the Weasleys and Hermione. I was never able to fix us, to bring us back together, like Dazai did. It’s as though he vanished completely.
“Blaise!”
Blaise lifted his gaze, calm as ever. Draco and Pansy were standing nearby.
“Are you alright?” Pansy asked. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about that mudblo-”
“Ouch! What was that for?”
Draco shot her a sharp look. “I told you not to talk about him around Blaise. You know how sensitive he gets,” he muttered, still loud enough for Blaise to hear.
“I’m fine,” Blaise replied evenly. “I was just thinking.”
“I know you miss him,” Draco said more quietly, “but you’ve got to stop sounding like him, mate.”
Blaise was the same, and so were the others. The only real difference was that they were no longer children. They were fifteen now. Dazai was fifteen too, wherever he was.
Dazai had changed him. He cared about people. Sometimes Blaise wished he didn’t, wished he could turn it off like a switch. Perhaps then it wouldn’t hurt so much, knowing that Dazai had left after everything they had been through. He had promised he would stay.
Despite the turmoil beneath the surface, Blaise still wore his usual blank expression.
“I’ve got to go. See you around.”
“Meeting the twins again?” Draco asked.
Blaise nodded.
“I don’t understand you, Blaise,” Pansy said. “Why are you still spending time with those blood traitors? You’re above them.”
“Tell them I said hello,” Draco added, his voice noticeably softer.
He still cared, but he could not be seen with them. Without Dazai dragging him along, he felt embarrassed to approach them. It was no longer about the Malfoy name, not really. It was something else. Perhaps this was how he coped with Dazai’s absence. Maybe that was why he had detached himself, to forget.
“Will do, friend,” Blaise said as he walked away.
He was lost in thought, forming plans and slipping into memories of the past.
“Hi, Blaise.”
Two voices called out to him. Fred and George Weasley stood before him, still the same chaotic duo, only taller now. They flanked him, Fred on one side, George on the other.
“How’ve you been, buddy?” Fred asked cheerfully.
“Preparing for finals.”
“Oh, I forgot those were coming up,” George said unconcerned.
“There’s barely any time left to study. I hope you two have a few tricks hidden in your robes.”
The twins exchanged a look, their grins faltering briefly into frowns before returning to their usual expressions.
“I think it’s time to bring back some old tricks, don’t you think, brother of mine?” Fred said.
“One step ahead, brother.”
Blaise recognised that change in expression. He had seen it before. Those frowns had only appeared since the moment Dazai left. He suspected that was when they remembered their “little brother” and their shared mischief. To them, Dazai had truly become family.
“Hey,” Blaise said quietly, hesitant.
The twins paused, abandoning their scheming to listen.
“I have a stupid idea. Do you have any plans for this summer?”
They exchanged a look Blaise couldn’t quite read.
“A few pranks here and there,” George said. “Nothing important enough that we couldn’t make adjustments. Why?”
“I was thinking,” Blaise began, “would you like to visit another country? Say, for example, Japan?”
They stopped walking.
Fred’s mouth fell open, followed quickly by George’s. Then understanding dawned, and they looked at him with softer expressions.
“You miss him, don’t you?” Fred said quietly.
“We do too,” George added.
“I’m just saying we never checked ourselves, did we?” Blaise continued. “And it could be a chance to bring the gang back together.”
“It would be nice to have our little group back,” Fred said nostalgically, before straightening. “But how on earth are we supposed to get permission?”
“Fred,” George said, “I barely recognise you. Since when do we ask for permission?”
“You speak the truth, brother of mine.”
Blaise raised a hand. “I’ve thought this through. If we get Snape on our side, we can manage it. He’ll tell our parents it’s a school activity.”
They walked in silence for a moment.
“So,” Blaise asked, “are we doing this?”
The twins grinned. “We’re in.”
“Are you three completely out of your minds?” Hermione snapped. “For Merlin’s sake, how did you even come up with such a horrendous idea? I knew these two were idiots, but I didn’t expect it from you, Blaise.”
“Come on, Hermione,” George said lightly. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
“Let me guess,” she replied sharply, “a lot. I understand wanting to see him again, Blaise, I really do, but this is incredibly risky. You can’t just go there like that.”
Blaise placed a hand on her shoulder. “I already have a plan. I’m doing this either way. Are you with us?”
“You’ve lost your mind. And even if you get everyone back together, how do you plan on convincing Snape?”
Blaise’s poker face softened into a faint smile. “I have my ways. You’ll have to trust me.”
Hermione studied him, then sighed. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just a lot to take in.”
She folded her arms. “Alright. I’ll come, but the moment something goes wrong, I’m out. Plus, someone has to make sure you don’t do anything reckless.”
Fred and George stared at them.
“Well, I’ll be,” Fred said. “Who knew Blaise was so persuasive?”
“Dazai would be proud,” George added.
Hermione shot them a sharp look. “Enough. I’ll talk to Ron myself. Who else needs to know?”
“Ginny and Luna were never official members,” Fred said, “and we can’t just recruit people like we’re in charge.”
“Pansy and Draco,” Blaise said.
“Alright,” Hermione agreed. “Let’s meet in the gang’s room before dinner.”
“I trust you can convince them too, if you managed to get Hermione on board,” George said.
With a nod, Blaise left.
“Are you serious, Blaise?” Pansy exclaimed. “You can’t honestly be thinking of doing this.”
“I’m,” Draco began, then paused. “Sign me up.”
Pansy stared at him, her face paling. “Draco, you can’t possibly agree with this. No, both of you have completely lost your minds.”
“So, are you coming with us?” Blaise asked.
She sighed. “Of course I am. I’m not letting my friends disappear or die like that slug did. Honestly, meeting Dazai again, that place is probably hell. Just imagine an entire country full of Dazais, I’m already getting goosebumps.”
“I expected you to put up more of a fuss,” Blaise said lightly. “I can’t say I dislike this turn of events.”
“No,” Pansy replied, “seriously, stop acting like Dazai. You’re giving me chills.”
Draco was smiling, brighter than he had in a long time.
-
The scent of freshly brewed tea lingered in the air, while wisps of smoke swirled carelessly around the room. Snape sat hunched over a towering stack of papers, his gaze fixed intently on the pile before him. His eyes were heavy, dark circles shadowing them. He hadn't allowed himself a moment of rest,not until he found Dazai. It felt as though the child had vanished from the earth itself, with no trace left behind. But Snape was certain he was still out there, somewhere, frightened, in need of help. The thought ate at him, stirring an unsettling knot in his stomach.
He had searched relentlessly, even traveling all the way to Yokohama, only to be turned away. The city had shut its doors to outsiders, but this year was different. New regulations allowed foreigners to visit, and for the first time in a long while, Snape saw an opportunity.
He took a slow sip of his tea, savoring the warmth, but the brief moment of peace was interrupted by a knock at the door. 'Come in'. Blaise Zabini entered the office. After offering the professor a respectful salute, he took the chair opposite him.
“Sir, I have a proposition for you. As you’re aware, Dazai hasn’t returned this year, and I can’t help but be concerned.”
At the mention of the name, Severus’s eyes lifted at once, sharp with curiosity and unmistakable worry.
“You’re not attempting to stir up trouble, are you?” he asked coldly. “As for Mister Dazai, there is no need for you to concern yourself. I have the situation under control.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Blaise interrupted, unbothered, “but I truly believe this is important. You know how the Yokohama system operates, how secretive it is. The Malfoy family possesses the information and the connections required to infiltrate it as recognised regulars.”
Snape studied the boy carefully, concerned by the fact that he was listening at all, fully aware of where this conversation was heading. Perhaps the strain and lack of sleep were finally catching up with him. The need for answers and for genuine assistance in extracting the boy from that environment pressed heavily upon him.
“We believe that together, we could bring him back,” Blaise continued. “I’ve managed to obtain a layout of the city and the specific location where we’re likely to find him. All we require is your agreement to take us with you.”
Snape regarded him thoughtfully. “You do realise the gravity of what you’re proposing, boy? And the dangers you would be placing yourselves in? I cannot simply gamble with my students’ lives. As your professor-”
“Sir,” Blaise interjected again, more firmly this time, “with all due respect, for the past three years you haven’t made any tangible progress in finding him, nor achieved any part of what you’d intended. I genuinely believe this is our best chance, if you’ll only allow us to help. All you need to do is inform our parents that we’ve been nominated to attend a summer programme after winning a potions competition, and that we’ll be travelling to Japan. In short, vouch for our whereabouts.”
Severus felt his composure fraying, irritated by the uncomfortable truth of the boy’s words. There was no question that the plan was reckless, yet his alternatives were rapidly running thin. Much as he wished to refuse, this may well have been the only viable course left to him.
“If, and I mean if, I agree to this absurd plan of yours,” Snape said at last, “you will obey every instruction I give without question. That includes leaving immediately should I order it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Then gather your friends and meet me in my classroom tomorrow at three o’clock sharp. Do not be late. We have allot to discuss.”
He had, without question, completely lost his mind.