Disclaimer: All the usual, don't own anything but this absolutely amazing plot (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit). It all belongs to the fabulous J.K. Rowling.
A/N: please be kind, this is my first attempt at a Blaise/Hermione. Oh, and just thought I'd warn you: I've been told I'm better off writing humor (those of you who've read my other fics can testify to that!) than fluff. So this is just about as fluffy as it's going to get, unless of course I can get some help, maybe from a beta (hint, hint!).
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"But you kissed me!"
Blaise Zabini's long stride carried him farther down the corridor and away from the girl behind him who was now running to catch up. He turned unexpectedly into another passageway. He didn't have to concentrate, he knew Hogwarts like the back of his hand. He looked up and saw raindrops streaming down the window. Not at all a good day for flying….
Blaise stopped abruptly, causing the girl to almost run into his back. He turned swiftly and grabbed her shoulders, steadying her.
"We're in the middle of a war, Granger," he said simply, looking down at her and watching her brown eyes flash.
"So? That didn't seem to matter last night," Granger replied heatedly, folding her arms against her chest defiantly.
Blaise blinked in shock. How dare she! They'd both agreed to not mention last night and here was Granger, Gryffindor's golden girl, going back on her word? Unbelievable.
He released her, still gazing at her in utter surprise.
"Hermione—"
"Oh, don't even start! Don't even think about 'Hermione'ing me! You said—"
"Granger! Listen to me: we're in the middle of a war. The only way to ensure survival is to not get involved, to not get too close. That's the best way."
"Dammit, Zabini, you said you loved me!" Hermione took a step closer, her eyes narrowed, and put her index finger against his chest, punctuating her next words with a few sharp jabs. "But none of that — really— meant anything to you — did it?"
Blaise rubbed the spot she'd been poking at.
"No, Hermione, it meant plenty to me," he said wearily, but smiling slightly as she glared at the use of her first name. "It's just better for both of us if I leave."
Hot tears rolled down Hermione's cheeks. She knew his decision was final and that there was nothing she could do to stop him. He was leaving, disappearing like every other good thing in her life.
He brushed her tears gently away with his thumb, resting his hand on her cheek momentarily before pulling her into a hug.
She leaned her head against his shoulder, taking comfort in the feeling of safety. He bent his head to whisper soothingly into her ear, "None of that now. There, stop crying, Hermione. Your face will get all red."
She smiled faintly up at him, "you'll come back though, won't you?"
Blaise kissed her forehead and replied, "I really don't know."
With that he turned and left her standing there, in an empty Hogwarts corridor, very much alone.
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Short, I know, but think of it as an appetizer! Hmm, that wasn't the greatest analogy….
Anyway, reviews are appreciated. And in case you didn't catch my hint at the beginning, anyone interested in beta-ing, please PM me or say so in your review!
Now review, it's rather easy, you just click the purple button marked 'go' in the bottom left corner, type nice things about how wonderful I am, and then you click submit. See? This isn't terribly difficult is it?