Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Hermione grumbled quite audibly as she stormed down the stairs towards the dungeons where all the Dreaded Meetings were held. She didn't remember being in such an angry mood since Sirius died and there was a rather high possibility that she felt worse. She couldn't believe that her very own best friend betrayed her trust. How could Harry just set Quidditch Practise on the Dreaded Meeting knowing full well that it meant he and Ginny couldn't make it, leaving her alone, re-emphasize alone, with a Slytherin who would hate her just for being muggle-born?
She supposed it could be worse, like if she had to deal with Draco Malfoy. She would jump off the building! Or not... he wasn't worth it anyway. She supposed she could always pretend he doesn't exist but what did Professor Slughorn want them to do anyway. He has only got two... oh no no, there was no way she'd do extra potions with a Slytherin. Firstly, the NEWT syllables are stressful enough. Maybe he would allow them to do their own homework and she could peacefully ignore Zabini.
"Ah, Hermione," Professor Slughorn said happily as she walked in. "Blaise is not here yet. Perhaps he's late. Slytherin's don't exactly have a reputation for being early." He chuckled at his own statement.
"Maybe he wouldn't come," Hermione muttered hopefully, more to herself then the Professor but he overheard her.
"Oho!" he exclaimed. "Slytherin's and Gryffindor's don't get to get along too well, eh?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes, "We'll see about that." If Hermione didn't know better, she would think that Professor Slughorn was trying to matchmake Blaise and herself but that was impossible, right? Because there was the whole Gryffindor/Slytherin rivalry and Professor Slughorn was a Slytherin in the past. He would never matchmake them. She would be lying if she didn't say she was holding on to that.
At that precise moment, Zabini sauntered in. Well, he didn't saunter but she could almost imagine him sauntering the way Malfoy would. He walked in rather dejectedly, like he was depressed to be coming here. He probably was since he believed he would be facing three Gryffindor's. Key word, believed. She fumed again and cursed Harry in her head and partially Ginny, just for joining the team. He looked surprised at the fact the only she was there but only mildly for barely three seconds before his face morphed into a bored expression and he sat down.
"Ah, you've arrived, Blaise!" Professor Slughorn commented, just as happily as before. "Good, good, everybody's here then."
Blaise frowned. "What about Potter and the Weasley girl?" He felt weird just saying Weasley because that made it seem like he was talking about Ronald. Not that he was unhappy that they weren't here. He was merely curious because... well, he thought that they were friends of Granger and as far as he was concerned, Gryffindor's were very mushy and always stuck up for one another. Unlike that bastard he had for a best friend who decided that he would not set Quidditch practises on the days he had to attend the Slug Club.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him as though asking him why he cared and there was probably the hidden accusing bitter question of 'Shouldn't you be happy?'. At that point, he had a childish urge to stuck out his tongue at her and retort that it was none of her business but he refrained himself and pretended he didn't see her. He heard her huff angrily at the fact he just completely ignore her, not like she didn't expect it though.
"Ah, they had... Quidditch practise today," Professor Slughorn said, obviously a little discomforted. "Harry is the captain and he thinks he can avoid this meeting by setting Quidditch. Don't worry, he can't set it forever." Professor Slughorn had a firm voice, as though they should really be worried and to Blaise, he would only be worried if he didn't manage to set it. He wished Granger was part of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Wait, scratch that. She was too smart and then they'd have a loads of proper strategy. No, thank you. He'd rather deal with her in the Slug Club. Plus, he didn't want to be the lone student attending ever and he'd much rather have a Gryffindor company, yes, even a muggleborn.
Don't look so surprise. Blaise had never had any real problems with muggleborns since his mother dealt with muggles sometimes when she had to take care of her current husbands business. Actually, if she found a dumb muggle who was rich enough to marry, she would probably do it. The problem was that they were always suspicious of her since she had married before and they were very superstitious. Religions were still foreign and weird to him as far as he was concern.
"Anyway," Professor Slughorn added after a few moments of silence and Granger cursing Potter and the Weasley girl under her breath (she probably thought he didn't hear her). "Two is always better for interaction. You can get to know each other better, can't you? Afterwards, would you perhaps like to play Wizarding Chess for a while? Then you can work together on your homeworks if you wish to." Professor Slughorn had used questions but his tone made it rather clear that there was no other option.
Since there was clearly no way out. Both parties nodded. Professor Slughorn beamed at them. "Wonderful. Let's get started then. First, you say your name, followed by birthday, what your parents' work as, hobbies, likes, dislikes and best friends." Great, now they had to spill personal secrets, Hermione thought bitterly. To make it worst, to a Slytherin. She briefly wondered if he would answer honestly. Probably not seeing as she was dealing with a Slytherin.
As though Professor Slughorn could read her mind, he added, "Truthfully and believe me, I am a Slytherin. I would know if it was a lie. Let's start with Blaise." Hermione swore she saw Blaise mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like "Damn it!" She wasn't sure it was at the lying part or the starting with him part.
"But, sir," he protested. "Haven't we always been taught ladies first?"
Professor Slughorn chuckled at that. "Sneaking out of this one, aren't you? Alrighty then, Hermione first."
Hermione frowned. "Be a gentlemen," she told Blaise. "Don't force the lady to talk against her will. After all, do not speak unless you're spokem to."
The Professor looked amused at this argument but did nothing to stop them. Blaise, seeing that he would have to win this herself, turned to her. "That was ancient!"
"So is ladies first!"
"That's supposed to be polite!"
"Or you're just scared?" Just like she expected, he turned red at that statement and she had to thank the man's stupid ego for his reply.
"Fine! Blaise Zabini, September 30 1980, nothing, Quidditch, lake, step-fathers, Draco and Theo," he said it so fast that Hermione stared at him for five whole seconds before registering everything. If he wanted to play that way, so would she.
"Hermione Granger, September 19 1980, dentists, reading, studying, Quidditch, Harry and Ron," she replied just as fast. It took him just as much time to comprehend her. She retraced suddenly. Did he just said his best friend was Draco Malfoy? That just totally gives her another reason to hate her. She racked her braing trying to remember where she heard Theo... Right, Theodore Nott. His father was a Death Eater too. This gave her practically every reason in the world to hate him. Well, not really but at least in her mind.
"That was... fast," Slughorn announced but he didn't seem very put out. "Now," he took out his set of Wizarding Chess as he spoke. "I'll let you two enjoy a game of Wizarding Chess." Great, Hermione thought annoyed. She hated Wizarding Chess. She couldn't beat Ron even if Harry and her played together. It completely ruins her reputation of the Brightest Witch of the Year. Okay, not really but in her head, totally.
They spent ages staring at each other, neither making the first move. After about a million years (or just two minutes), Blaise snapped, "Just start already mug... mudblood!" He corrected himself right in time. He didn't want people to think he didn't belong in Slytherin since that was the Slytherin reputation. Or maybe he didn't do it right in time because Granger was giving him raised eybrows. Again. This was so not his day.
Halfway through the game and neither looked like they were winning, Hermione finally got enough of that curiousity that have been egging on her for just about ever. That simple slip that had her hatred slipping more and more by seconds. "You almost called me a muggleborn, why?" she asked.
Damn, Blaise thought. He had believed (or a more proper term would be hoped) that she had forgotten about that but right at the moment he was beginning to relax, she decides it's the perfect time to bring it up. "I.. I didn't!" he retorted, trying to sound as annoyed as possible and not a little bit nervous. The stutter did not help and it wasn't like he was nervous or anything. Nah, he was just... umm... nothing. He was perfectly fine.
Hermione gave him a half smile. "Oh no, you totally didn't," she replied sarcastically.
Blaise sighed. "I just... don't see the point of calling you mudblood, alright. Nothing big anyway."
"It seems pretty big to me," she told him. "A Slytherin who didn't call me a mudblood... almost didn't at least."
Blaise was tempted to smile at the fact that he made her happy and he couldn't understand why he even thought like that but he bit his lip to prevent it. Wait, wait, cancel that last sentence! What was wrong with him? He mentally knocked his own head. "Funny you think like that, huh? And you call us prejudice?" he asked her. He couldn't help but notice how accusatory he sounded. He didn't really mean it, he just couldn't think of any other good comebacks at that. Cancel! Cancel! He totally meant it. He was accusing her... yes, that's it. Merlin, what happened to that Blaise Zabini that was usually smooth with ladies?
She gave him a full smile this time. "True," she muttered. "I ought to be less biased." Blaise nearly gasped. Did the Gryffindor Princess just agree with him?
About two hours later, after Blaise won thrice and Hermione stomped her foot angrily. "I change what I said earlier. I don't hate Quidditch anymore. I hate chess!"
At her statement, Blaise found himself chuckling. Wait, he did not just do that. Granger was giving him strange looks again! This was totally Malfoy's fault. He was so going to pay later. Hmm... maybe he could get a certain brunette in front of him to help him think of a evil prank... wait, no! He did not think that. He was beginning to hate his thoughts, really. "It's not that hard really," he told her. "I can teach you," he suggested. And his big mouth too.
"Really?" she asked hopefully. "Because Ron will never teach me. He says it's to prevent me beating him in future," she told him rather truthfully. She honestly don't know why she was being so open with the Slytherin and it probably has nothing whatsoever to do with him almost not calling her mudblood. Like real, Her brain retorted with a slight evil laugh.
Blaise snorted. "Weasley's such a sore loser?" Hermione knew she ought to get angry but she can't help realizing how totally true that is and she laughed along with him. Traitor, she scolded herself. Laughing at your best friend. Then again, Ron always laughs at you, even when you make the tiniest mistake and Harry did just abandon you. You totally have the rights to laugh.
Hermione desperately tried to ignore that. "I suppose you could say that," she finally replied.
Before she got to say anything else, Blaise spoke. "Come here, I'll show you some tricks." Without hesitation, which she probably should have, she walked over and sat beside him instead of opposite him and she found herself not bothering to stay as far as possible.
In the end, they spend the whole day discussing Chess strategy after Blaise taught her every move he knew. Their homeworks were left untouched and Professor Slughorn grinned. What happened to what the girl saying she didn't want him to come, eh?