"Hermione Granger." I spun around to see a face I had not seen since the war.

"Blaise Zabini." For a moment I stood there and just took him in. He was tall, lean with very toned muscles. He could be a model for any cologne of his choosing. He had on a crisp white button up under a slate grey tailored jacket and form-fitting dark jeans. Muggle attire suited him very well.

"It's been what, 5 maybe 6 years?" he smiled down at me.

"That's about right." I smiled back, "I'm just about to order some tea. Would you like some coffee?"

"Of course, allow me." He stepped just slightly in front me as he placed a hand on the small of my back like it was the most natural thing. It surprised me. I would have never taken Blaise to be that type. Then again I don't really know him now do I?

The young woman at the counter turned just a shade brighter just from being in his presence. He was quite definitely the charmer.

"Hello. I would like a small cup of your strongest espresso. One cream, one sugar. For this lovely woman a..." He gestured to me with a smile and I answered, "Small Pennyroyal two sugars please."

He smiled at the young woman and refused to let me pay. "My treat. Shall we?" He gestured for us to get a seat as he led me with his hand still at the small of my back. I wasn't sure why it felt so odd. He was being awfully nice and I appreciated it, really I did. I just wasn't sure about it and everyone knows how I love to over analyze.

We sat and he started the conversation right up. "So how have you been?"

"Well & you?" I asked politely.

"I don't complain. Pansy said something about you and Weasley calling it quits. How are you holding up?" he took a sip of his coffee.

Well that was news to me. How had Pansy found out about it and why would she tell Blaise about it? Does the whole of the wizarding world know everything that happened in my life?

I shifted uncomfortably. It really was a touchy subject.

"Oh I'm sorry sometimes I forget I'm not at work. I'm used to asking a lot of questions, it's part of my profession."

"Oh. What do you do?" I asked just to change the subject.

"I'm a prosecutor for the Wizengamot. So is Malfoy."

Now that's a face I haven't seen in over two years. I heard that he was working at the Ministry but never thought much of it.

"So how are you?" he asks again.

"I'm alright I suppose. Why did Pansy tell you?"

"Probably because she's my wife and they work together. She heard it in passing. She does still like her gossip here and there but nothing like when we were in school. You can't trust any of those magazines but when she actually heard it from one of the people he works with she figured it were true. I'm really sorry. The whole wizarding world was hoping for an invite to your wedding. " He smiled and made it known that he wasn't prying. He seemed genuine and I really needed someone unbiased to speak to.

"You don't mind?" I asked unsure.

"Of course not. We are adults here. The last time I saw you I was a bitter and confused teenage boy. Not anymore. I'm guessing you want a second opinion? I'm not good at the emotional bit but I'm sure Pansy would be more than happy to help. I am a very good listener though." That smile of his was quite amazing.

"Okay. Well the rumors are true, we are over but nothing they tell you in the magazines is true. Ronald is just immature and he thinks that I'm being irrational. When he asked me to marry him I thought he was ready for the commitment and he just wasn't. I think that all he wanted was to keep me. I know we are young but going to a bar or club every other night is just unacceptable. I have had to patch him up more times than I care to mention because he was too drunk to apparate home properly so he had splinched himself. I love him dearly but we just don't work. We have tried. There are other things I won't tolerate but that's an entirely different story." I took a sip of my tea. "That's not the reason I left him but that's why I will never go back."

He took a sip of his coffee and looked over at me. "Well, it sounds like you have everything worked out. You know what you will and won't deal with and he crossed those lines. If he didn't treat you like a princess then he never deserved you in the first place." He smiled at me again and just that quick I became rather attached to that smile of his. It made me never want to frown.

"Thank you."

"Anytime." he sipped his coffee as I did with my tea. We sat comfortably for a few minutes until he broke the silence.

"Hermione?" he asked and I looked up at him. He seemed to be contemplating something rather important.

"Yes?"

"I hope I'm not crossing any lines here but I was wondering about something. May I ask?" Looking at him with that smile and such warm eyes I can definitely understand how Pansy fell in love him.

"Of course." I matched his smile.

"My birthday is tomorrow and I'm having a small get together at a pub and restaurant in Diagon Alley. You know the new one that opened up almost a year ago? Well I would love it if you could join us. We are meeting up at eight pm. Pansy would love to see you and I would love for you to be there. It's my 24th birthday, please say you will."

I was shocked quite honestly. I would never have thought that he would invite me to something so personal. Coffee and tea were one thing but a party was completely different. I was honored really. Blaise sure was doing something for my self-esteem. I hadn't been out since Ginny's birthday close to six months ago. I am overdue for some fun. Plus, my "friends" aren't exactly going out of their way to invite me to the parties they were trying to hide from me. That smile of Zabini's was enough to make me say yes.

"Are you sure Pansy wants to see me? We were never exactly friends. Also, how many people are we talking?" I wasn't fond of being swallowed in a crowd. It has happened one too many times for my liking.

"Pansy has changed. We both have. She talks about you a lot. She once told me that she would love to be your friend just from how Ron talked about you. I'm guessing that's when things were better between the two of you. She just never got the courage up to ask him. He was never friendly towards her. Oh yes to answer your question I invited ten people, half will probably show."

"Yeah well Ron has his perceptions of people and they never really change. I'm not making any promises but I will try to make it." I smiled. I wasn't sure about this at all. I didn't want to say yes then get cold feet and back out.

"Ok. I can work with that. I have to get to work. I have a meeting at one thirty. It was so good to see you. I can't wait to tell Pansy." We stood and walked out of the café together. Before he turned to walk away he looked at me and said," You know, you are a very beautiful woman. Ronald Weasley is an idiot. You could do so much better. Don't let what he did to you ruin what you could have with a good man." Then he was gone.

I just stood there a few more moments unsure of how I should feel. I mean, Ron was an idiot that was true but she had never been told to not let him ruin her. Was that what I was doing? Letting him ruin me? I hadn't even thought about another man. Would I even know what to do if someone approached me? Would I compare him to Ron? Yes, yes I would and it's frustrating to know that.

I am definitely going to this party now. Ron is not going to ruin me. I refuse to let him.