AN (07-03-18) : Hey guys! So for some reason this chapter has been nagging at me since I published it last month. So I have completely rewritten it. It fills out Blaise's character a little more and overall, I just enjoy it a lot more. I hope you do too. As always, please review! I would love to hear from you! Thanks for reading! - Ali

Drip..Drip..Drip.. I felt the drops hit my face, waking me from the horrible sleep that I had finally found. The floor was cold, which was nothing new, but the added rain had soaked my clothes. The frigidness of it was causing me to shake. I pulled myself into a sitting position and pulled my knees into my chest, trying to get body heat to help warm me up. I glanced around me and was terrified to see that I could just barely make out the door on the far side of my prison.

The light shining beneath the opening was only on when I was to receive a 'visitor'. I buried my head in my hands. Who was I to see tonight? What kind of torture shall I endure? It had been 5 days since they last cursed me, they called in a light session, but I had never been closer to begging for death. My body started trembling as I heard the scuffle of the key in the lock.

Let this be the end. Let them kill me tonight. I repeated the mantra in my head like a prayer. I was bruised, I was tired, and my spirit was on the verge of breaking. I just wanted to be free and feel something besides the death in the air. I flinched from the brightness of the light when the door finally opened. I squeezed my eyes shut and listened to the door shut, as the person just stood in front of me for a moment. Let it be over.

"Lumos." I knew that voice and relaxed completely. I was relieved that I wasn't going to be subjected to unspeakable things tonight, though a small twinge deep in my heart was disappointed that I was still trapped here. "Come on, Granger, you know that it will only get worse if you don't let your eyes adjust."

"Whatever, Zabini." My voice was raw and barely a whisper, but he chuckled anyway. I knew he was right and slowly, and with much protest, opened my eyes. The beam of light from his wand lit the cell fairly well. I could see everything. My world suddenly seemed so much smaller. In the dark I could close my eyes and pretend that I was camping out in the woods with-

No. I shook my head. Don't. Go. There.

I turned to Blaise, his eyes were dark, heavy bags were still there despite the fact that I knew he knew how to do cosmetic charms. He looked skinnier than usual; his face lost some more of its roundness. His black robes had extra space as they hung off his body, despite the fact that there were soaked from the downpour. He was becoming a whisper of himself- he was out in the world! It made me afraid of what he saw when he looked at me. He held his hand out to me and helped me stand on my feet.

"You look like you are freezing." He muttered before waving his want and drying my clothes, as well as the cell. He then put a shield charm on the opening of the roof and quickly cast a warming spell. I closed my eyes to savoir these moments, knowing when he left they leave pulled me into a tight hug, something that always made me choke up with emotion. It was the only time anyone ever paid me a second of kindness and I appreciated it more than words could express. I clung to him for several moments before pushing away and hastily wiping my eyes.

"I brought some food for you." He spoke quietly and handed me a small sack.

I gave him a small, strained smile and walked back to the brick wall to sit. Blaise laid his wand in the middle of the room before coming over to join me. We were there in a comfortable silence for a few moments, before my curiosity got the best.

"So," my voice felt funny after being inactive for so long, "How is he?"

"He's not doing well, Granger. Not at all." Blaise wouldn't look me in the eyes and instead chose to stare at the candle. I wasn't sure what it was about the way he said it, but something made me realize that he was still sugar coating it. I suddenly lost my appetite and lowered the food from my mouth. Blaise noticed immediately. "No, you need to keep eating. That was the deal, you eat and I tell you how he is doing." I brought the roll back up to my mouth and took a very small bite, barely tasting the food."I don't know what to do. I have tried everything to help him, but I've hit a wall." Blaise glanced at me and I swallowed.

"Is he still looking for me?" This is was the hardest question that I had to ask every time Blaise came to see me. I was always torn between hoping that he still cared about me, was still looking for me, and wishing he would let go of me. It twisted my gut and nearly made my heart stop to think that he would move on and leave me in the past, but more than anything I just wanted him to be safe. But even I knew that was a tall order nowadays.

"Of course he is, Hermione." The emotion in Blaise voice clearly conveyed lack of patience, as well as worry and panic. "He is getting less and less stealthy about it. Last time Potter was spotted, you were the first thing he asked about. I am sure that people are starting to put together why he is so concerned about you."

Now, I really did push away the food. The guilt and panic in my stomach was going to make me sick. I put my head against my knees and took several deep, shaky breaths. That was one of the biggest fears that I have had, since we had to say goodbye. I knew that he would be worried when I hadn't been spotted, but the fact that he is getting so bad at hiding his concern was bloody terrifying.

"Hermione, don't you think that it is time I told him where you were?"

"No!" The exclamation nearly ripped my sensitive vocal cords. My head flew up to look at him. His eyes were tired and sad, but unsurprised by my emotional reaction. I grabbed his hand in mine, my grip was weak but I held as tightly as I could, imploring him to understand. "Blaise, if he is already causing suspicion just based on me not being seen with Harry, imagine what he would do if he found out I was here. There would be no doubt in my mind that the very first thing that he would do in come down here in a know as well as I do that if he were to do that, he would end up being tortured or killed. He must never know that I am here."

Blaise rubbed at his eyes and covered his face with his hand. I could see that this was hurting him too, both of us cared about him too much to let anything happen to him. Blaise had been his best friend for years. Besides myself, Blaise was the only other person to know how much regret was in his heart about the side of the war he is on. He squeezed my hand.

"He loves you, you know." I did know. "Tell me how that happened."

"You were there." I said with a sigh, but I already started having the memories flow around me.

"You two were very sneaky, I really don't know." Blaise countered. "Tell me, before..." The 'you can't' part hung between us, unspoken but deeply understood. I sighed and laid my head against the brick wall. He had been asking for this story for months, I don't know why its so important to him, or why it matters at all, but with the emotions in the air I feel like its just time.

"I want to start by saying, its not a fast story and I never meant to fall in love with him. But Draco Malfoy just has that way of getting under your skin and all your defenses. The bloody git." Blaise cracked a smile and I continued on. "It really started at the beginning of sixth year, when Slughorn told him to get help in potions."