Hello, everyone!
This outtake is for my Harry Potter fic, "Time's Up", which can be found on my profile. This chapter gives a little insight into Hermione and Blaise's earliest interactions, as I am rather reluctant with details in the main fic. I would not suggest this is read before the first several chapters of "Time's Up" but it's your life. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own many things, including a very large package of Ramen instant noodles. However, I do not own anyone or anything when it comes to the world of Harry Potter. JK Rowling does. The end.
'Time's Up"- Outtake Number One
"Okay, settle down people. See, this is why I hate having such a big class- this many people are hard to control." Professor said dramatically. Her students laughed… all eight of them.
"Obviously, sixth year Arithmancy isn't the most popular class in the school. You are all here because you're serious about the subject, and not because this is a required class. As such, I expect the best work you can give me. I've seen what all of you are capable of doing, and I know how you work. However, instead of working alone, such as you have in years past, you'll be working in groups. Before you start trying to figure out who your partner will be, don't bother. I've already assigned the pairs."
Hermione was worried. She detested working with a partner, relying one someone else to help achieve her grade. She did a quick head count of the assembled students, and relaxed. She was the only Gryffindor in the class, along with two Hufflepuffs, four Ravenclaws, and a Slytherin. The chances of her getting matched to the Slytherin were still relatively high, but surely Professor Vector would see the potential disaster there.
"I'll read off the pairs I've selected. When you hear your partner's name, move to sit with them, and get to know them. You'll be working with them on two different projects this year, so I hope you like them. If not, get over it." With that statement, Vector began to read off the pairings.
"Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger."
Horrified, Hermione sat frozen in her seat before turning slowly toward the back of the room. Blaise Zabini always sat in the back, no matter how many students were in the class.
'Just like a Slytherin.' Hermione thought spitefully.
As their eyes connected, Hermione couldn't help but notice the amber hue that lit Zabini's eyes. Giving a tiny smirk, the dark- haired boy crooked a finger at her, and Hermione bristled at the patronizing gesture. Angrily gathering up her things, she stormed to the top of the seats in the auditorium- style room. Slamming her books down next to him, Hermione fell into her chair, earning an amused look from Professor Vector.
"Well, isn't this a delight." A smooth, low voice said in her ear. Hermione jumped, never having heard Zabini talk before. "As overjoyed as I am to have the Gryffindor princess as a partner, I think maybe we should request a different pairing."
'His voice is like melted chocolate' thought Hermione in the back of her mind, just as she said "I completely agree. I'm sure Professor Vector made a mistake by pairing us together." Zabini gave a curt nod, and the pair stood. Hermione was somewhat startled about their vast height difference. Blaise was at least a foot taller that her, and easily outweighed her.
'For someone so tall, he sure is good at blending into the background.' Thought Hermione.
As they made their way over to the Professor's desk, Professor Vector glanced up, and held up her hand before they could even begin to speak.
"My pairings are final, you two. Live with it."
"But Professor, surely-" Hermione began, only to be cut off.
"My word is final, Miss Granger." Professor Vector said sternly.
With that, she stood up, and announced to the class that they were dismissed.
"We can meet on Wednesday in the library, near the Herbology section, and decide on our project topic." Zabini declared in his silky voice.
"What if I had class?" Hermione asked indignantly.
"You don't." said Zabini before he turned on his heal and left the classroom.
~(o)~
And so Wednesday nights were dedicated to the pursuit of an 'O' in Arithmancy. During class, Hermione and Blaise sat side by side, rarely talking. They would each find a portion of the project that needed to be calculated, and worked in near- silence for the entire class. The only exception to this quiet was when one of them requested a new sheet of parchment, or when they came to their final calculations.
They had decided upon the average grades of students, by year, as their topic. Their teachers obliged them their data, as long as the student's identities were anonymous. Hermione had been worried about getting the required data from Professor Snape, which Blaise had offered to collect. To her astonishment, he returned the next class with the data in hand, causing Hermione to let out a quiet, happy squeal. Blaise just looked at her strangely, but said nothing.
And that wasn't the only thing about Blaise Zabini that surprised her. While their classroom time was subdued and quiet, their evening library sessions held some variation. The change was subtle, so subtle that Hermione didn't notice it at first. Sitting at 'their table' near the Herbology section, Hermione and Blaise would continue to organize and calculate their data.
Usually, any words spoken would pertain strictly to the data. Hermione would comment on the trends she found in third year Transfiguration classes, and Blaise would idly remark on the upward slope of the fifth year's History of Magic grades.
But every now and then, usually near the end of their studies, Hermione would make an offhand mention of an essay due in Transfiguration, and Blaise would answer. Similarly, Blaise would make an observation about a potion they were brewing in class, and Hermione would agree or disagree with his observation. This often led to a spur-of-the-moment debate over the subject. Hermione relished the chance to stretch her mind with someone on her level.
Slowly, the subjects they discussed would no longer relate strictly to schoolwork. Their personal lives crept in.
One afternoon in early November, Hermione approached 'their' table, where Blaise had already settled in. Glancing up at her, he did a double take on her face. Her eyes were swollen and red, and her cheeks were a blotchy shade of pink. However, he refrained from commenting; knowing his pointing out Hermione's weakened state would only bring up her defenses. So the pair settled in to work on their project, most of which was very near to completion. As the sky grew dark, they began to collect their things. Blaise had just snapped his satchel closed when Hermione suddenly spun to face him.
"I had a fight with Ron." She said, instantly wishing she could suck the words back into her mouth. More than anything, she feared Blaise's ridicule.
"Ah, and what has the Weasel done this time?" he asked, staring steadily at her.
"It's that stupid cow, Lavender. She takes up all his time, and when I mentioned Ron hadn't been around much, he saw it as an attack on their relationship. Said I was jealous. As if I could be jealous of that airhead!" Hermione worked hard to inject a note of incredulousness into her voice in an effort to cover up the very real hurt.
"Hermione," Blaise said gently, "Neither that redheaded dunderhead, nor his harlot of a girlfriend is worth your notice. If he has any sense, he'll come to realize the value of your friendship. If not, you're better off without him. Now, dry your eyes and blow your nose. Being found in this state is going to feed the rumor mill, not starve it." He handed her his own handkerchief, which had the Zabini crest embroidered into the corner.
Hermione gratefully took the cloth, mopping her face. Quickly casting a scourigfy the wet cloth, Hermione handed it back to Blaise.
"Keep it," he said, refusing the now- clean handkerchief. "In case tears come upon you between here and your tower."
Hermione glanced up at his face, only to find him turned slightly away. Was that a blush staining his cheeks?
Hermione carefully folded the handkerchief before stowing in the pocket of her robes. "Thank you, Blaise- for the comfort and the hankie." With that, she turned and walked briskly away.
Blaise was left to see her stride out of the library, and out of sight.
What he didn't know, however, was that his handkerchief found itself under Hermione's pillow for the rest of the year, ready for lonely nights in Gryffindor tower.
~(o)~
Two days before the Yule holidays, Professor Vector was only vaguely surprised to find several of her sixth year students hovering around her office door. Giving a wan smile, she chuckled.
"If you're here for the grades to your term projects, they will be given to you only if you are a part of the group. Now, Miss Granger, would you like to get your grade first?"
Hermione nodded hurriedly, following Professor Vector into her office.
"And where is Mr. Zabini?" her instructor inquired, raising a brow.
"Oh, he's in an extended lab for Potions." Hermione said quickly, "I'll tell Blaise as soon as he finishes."
Vector refrained from cheering. If Hermione was referring to Mr. Zabini as 'Blaise' then her plan had worked. In an effort to bring the similarly-minded students together, she had paired them with high hopes. It looked like those hopes had paid off. She quickly gave Hermione the filled-out grading rubric, and called for the next student to enter.
Hurrying to the library, Hermione forced herself not to open the envelope which contained their grade. She made her way to the back of the room, praying that Blaise hadn't been kept over-long during his lab time.
But no, he was there, slouched in one of the chairs at the table, his left ankle braced over his right leg. He was reading, and only glanced up when she was a few feet away. Even though they had completed their project two weeks ago, Hermione and Blaise continued to meet to do homework, study, and talk. Hermione relished Blaise's company, and his opinions on various topics.
"Is that…" Blaise trailed off, his eyes fixed on the envelope in her hand.
"Yes. I heard Vector was giving them out early, so I went to get ours." Hermione replied quickly.
"Well?" Blaise asked, sitting up straight.
"Oh, I haven't opened it yet. Too nervous. You do it!"
"Coward. What kind of Gryffindor are you?"
"Don't call me that! Oh, fine, okay. On the count of three. One…"
"Two…"
"Three!" Hermione ripped the envelope open, scanning the page. Her eyes rested on a part near the bottom, and she was quiet for several seconds.
"Hermione?" Blaise asked worriedly, standing up and putting his hands on her shoulders. "Hermione, it's not the end of the world, I'm sure she had a good reason for her grading-"
He was suddenly cut off when Hermione threw her arms around him, a loud squeal escaping her lips. "Oh, Blaise, we did it! We got an O!" she squealed, earning a loud "Shhh!" from Madam Prince.
Holding Hermione in his arms, his brain barely registered her words. Putting on a broad smile when she pulled back, he congratulated her on their combined efforts. The pair sat down at the table, going over various parts of their grading. It wasn't until nine o'clock, when the library was starting to close, that the pair wandered out from the back recesses of the stacks.
"Are you going away for the holidays, then?" Hermione inquired, glancing at the tall, dark haired boy next to her.
"Unfortunately, yes." He replied, his tone resigned.
"I would have thought that you would be excited to see your mother." Hermione mentioned.
"I am. However, I suspect Husband Number Seven will be there, as well. I can't wait until Mother takes care of him. He's such a pompous fool; she'll be doing the rest of the world a favor." His tone was dry, waiting for her indignant squawk. He was not disappointed.
"Blaise Zabini!" Hermione reprimanded, only to stop herself when she saw his shoulders shaking with laughter. Swatting his larger arm with her hand, she tried to suppress her own giggles.
"Ah, cara, never change." Blaise said, unintentionally invoking the Italian word for 'darling'. Hermione was laughing in earnest, now, and didn't seem to catch his slip-up, much to his relief.
"Well, I better be getting back to Gryffindor tower before curfew." Hermione said, giggles still occasionally slipping out. She glanced over her shoulder as she began to walk away, looking back at her dark Slytherin.
"Goodnight, Blaise." She said softly.
"Sleep well, Hermione." he replied, turning and walking towards the dungeons. He had a letter to write to the goblins.
Hey Guys,
Well, what did you think? I'm quite anxious about the response to this outtake, as the timeline is rather rushed. But let me know in a review, and I'll continue to post more outtakes on "Time Flies". Between you and me, I have several already written, and they only get better from here. So let me know; positive reviews boost my self-confidence!
Peace out,
Gotbooks93
