A/N: Hey, everyone! This is a new possible cookie series. I'm liking the idea of it, so I hope you like it, too.
It was dark. It would be, though, since they were in a closet. It was also cold.
"Really, Granger? I hadn't noticed," Blaise Zabini commented sarcastically.
"What?" Hermione said. "Did I say that out loud?"
"Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have spoken."
Hermione shivered. She had been locked in a closet with Blaise Zabini. One second she was walking down the hallway to meet Harry and Ron for Care of Magical Creatures when a hand shot out and pushed her into the closet. Shortly after Zabini had landed on her with an "Oomph!"
"So…" she said. He glanced at her. "Where were you headed when you, er, got stuck here?"
"Are you talking to me, Granger?"
"Well, I wouldn't normally."
"Understandable, since I wouldn't either," he replied. "Though, I wonder why?"
"Why what?" she asked him incredulously.
"Why you couldn't normally talk to me."
"Well…" Hermione bit her lip, considering. "I suppose it's because you're, well… you're a Slytherin."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," he commented, crossing his long legs and pulling them up to his chest, tucking his cloak over them. When he glanced over at her, she was completely shocked. "You do think it was a bad thing, don't you?" He smirked.
"Um. Yes," she said. He shrugged.
"Most people do," he said. "But, then again, most people don't like eating raw garlic cloves."
She stared in horror. "You-"
He laughed. "No, I don't. But I have a friend who does. And it's not," he hurried on to say, "Draco."
"Er, I'm sure it isn't." Hermione squinted at her watch. "What time do you think it is?"
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Time," he said, pointing his wand at the wall.
"Ooh, I'm missing Ancient Runes!" Hermione exclaimed. "When I find whoever pushed me into here, I'm going to kill them!"
"Really? Tell me when you do, it'll be quite a show," Blaise commented, picking his fingernails.
She pushed him. "I'm serious! Today we were learning-"
"-the Runes from two thousand B.C. I know. I'm in your class, remember?" Blaise supplied.
"Oh. I'd forgotten. You always sit at the back of the class, don't you?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, I do."
"Why?" she asked.
"Mostly because the class is full of Ravenclaws, and you," he said. "And I didn't think anyone would want to sit with me, since, of course, I'm a Slytherin."
"I didn't mean to insult you," Hermione said, exasperated. "It's just that everyone thinks…"
"Everyone thinks were sadistic, conniving nuts who'll do anything to save our skin?" Blaise offered. Hermione blinked at him. "Well, we are. Mostly. But we can be normal, you realize."
"You're nuts," Hermione said, leaning up against the stone wall, wrapping her cloak around her tighter.
"Thank you," he replied. "That's sweet."
Hermione started to retort, but then realized that he had said something no one had ever said to her before. "Did you just say that I was sweet?"
"Uh- I-" He gulped. He hadn't meant to, but why pass up the opportunity? "Yes, yes I did."
She blinked at him. "No one's ever said that to me before. Not even once."
"I can't see why," Blaise said. "It's certainly true."
Hermione blushed. "Well, I- Um. Thank you, I guess."
"You 'guess'?" he asked. "What, no real thank you?"
"And what would that be- Mmph!" Before she could finish her sentence, Blaise leaned over and kissed her.
Light flooded into the small room. "Hermione! Are you okay? He didn't- Oh my God!" Ron exclaimed. "Get your hands off her, Zabini!"
Blaise stood up, offered Hermione a hand up, which was refused and dusted himself off. "Certainly, Weasley." He flicked a short glance at Hermione. "See you around, Granger." He hoisted his bag over his shoulder and walked away.
"Thanks Ron," Hermione said sarcastically, pushing past him and Harry. "That was really nice, ruining everything. Thanks a whole bunch."
Ten minutes later Ron ventured a question as they were entering the Great Hall, "Hermione, what's wrong?"
Hermione's eyes were fixed on Blaise, who was lounging in his seat next to Malfoy at the Slytherin table. He was laughing at something with his feet propped up on the table. His eyes met hers for a moment before his eyebrows went up in a condescending manner and he flashed her a pitying smile. "Everything, Ron," she said, sighing. "Everything."