The day after the 'near kiss' Hermione seemed to run into Blaise everywhere. Quite literally.

Hermione was rushing to Arithmacy and scribbling on a piece of parchment, when she ran straight into someone. She dropped all her books and sank to her knees to pick them up.

"Sorry," Said the person she ran into. He was also on his knees, helping her pick up her books.

"Never mind," Hermione said. She didn't know who this mysterious boy was, and quite frankly, she didn't care!

Hermione had all her books back in her bag when she noticed a quill. She reached out to grab it and the boy did too. Her hand landed on top of his. Hermione glanced up, brown eyes meeting blue.

She pulled her hand back, as if she'd been burned. "Gotta go,"

And with that, Hermione left the corridor, leaving her quill in the hand of Blaise Zabini.

Blaise was walking along the corridors by himself, minding his own business, when a certain teary Hermione burst out of a classroom. Blaise thought he could hear birds from inside the classroom, but he wasn't sure.

What he was sure of was that he didn't like seeing Hermione cry. They both froze when they saw each other. Blaise's arm itched to brush away her tears, but he restrained himself.

Hermione stumbled forward a few steps and Blaise opened his mouth to say something when Ron Weasley and Harry Potter walked through the door, with a little yellow bird following them. They also froze. Then with a dirty look at Hermione, Ron walked down the corridor, yellow bird and all.

"You right, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, fine. Lets just go," Hermione answered. She shot Blaise a look and they followed Ron down the corridor, leaving Blaise to his thoughts.

What kind of a look was that? What did it mean?

Then, Blaise took a deep breath, turned and walked back to the common room, muttering, "Girls,"

Hermione was late for class yet again. She had no idea why she was so late all of a sudden. She was Hermione Granger and she was never late, so why was she? A little voice at the back of her head told her that she knew why.

He's just a boy! And I don't even like him! So why can't I stop thinking about -

SMASH!

Hermione ran straight into the arms of Blaise, of course. He looked into her eyes with a half smile splaying on his full lips.

"We really need to stop running into each other," Blaise whispered in Hermione's ear, brushing some hair out of her face.

Hermione nodded and tears ran down her face.

Oh crap. I've never known what to do with crying girls.

Blaise put Hermione back onto her feet, laced her fingers with his and pulled her down to the lake. Blaise sat down first and then Hermione. She sat so close to him that their knees were touching. Tears were still sliding down her cheeks.

"Whats the matter?" Blaise asked gently, gazing straight into her eyes. He was so close, Hermione could feel his breath on her cheek.

"I'm just so confused," Hermione answered, in a weak voice.

"About what?" Blaise reached out and slowly brushed her tears away with his thumb.

"About that," Hermione said. She caught his hand with her own and laced her fingers with his, once more.

"What about it?"

"I like you, but you're off limits. You're a Slytherin.." She said, playing with his fingers.

"I like you too," Blaise whispered.

"But I'm in Gryffindor. What would your friends say?" Hermione asked.

"I don't care what they say. I'm nothing like them," Blaise told her. "Just do what you think is right,"

So Hermione did. She leaned in and their lips met. Just as Blaise was about to deepen their kiss, he felt a blinding pain on the side of his face. He pulled back and jumped to his feet.

"Get your hands off her!" Shouted a voice.

Ron Weasley stood above them with a murderous look on his face. His hand moved towards his pocket, but Blaise was too quick for him.

Ron was thrown into the air, an invisible rope holding his ankle. With one last glance at Hermione, Blaise left. Just as he was about to re-enter the castle, Hermione saw him flick his wand and Ron fell crashing to the ground.

"What were you thinking!? What the hell were you thinking!?" Ron yelled at Hermione. She flinched at his rough voice.

"What was I thinking!? What were you thinking!?"

"I wasn't the one kissing a Slytherin,"

"Leave me alone," Hermione hissed at him, walking back to the castle as well.

"Don't walk away from me!" Ron yelled. Bad move. Hermione flicked her wand and Ron was in the air once again.

That night Hermione skipped dinner. She avoided Ron and Harry who had absolutely no idea as to what was going on.

She was lying stomach down on her bed, her face in her pillow. She decided to get into bed, so she pulled back her covers.

There, underneath her blankets, lay a note with a beautiful white rose beside it. Hermione smelt the rose, then read the note, with fresh tears sliding down her face.

Dear Hermione,

I'm sorry but by Weasley's reaction to us this afternoon, I'm not sure if we should continue whatever it is we're doing. I would love to be with you, but I don't want you to lose your friends over me. Please write back quickly, so I know what you think.

Love,

Blaise.

PS. The rose is nearly as beautiful as you.

PPS. You should go down to the kitchens to get some food. I know you skipped dinner.

The note made Hermione sad at first but then she felt angry. Not at Blaise, but at Ron. She thought it was incredibly sweet of him to think of her over him, and the rose was gorgeous. But Ron. It was all his fault!

Hermione stormed down to the common room. She spotted Harry playing chess with Neville, no sign of Ron.

"Harry, wheres Ron?"

"In the dorm. Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked. She looked a mess. Her eyes were red and puffy and her hair was messy.

"Fine," Hermione said, walking up to the boys dorm. Harry got up and followed cautiously.

When Hermione reached the dorm, Ron was the only person in it. He was laying on his bed. He jumped up when he saw who had entered.

"You idiot!" Hermione yelled at him. She slapped him across the cheek and ran out of the dorm. Harry gave Ron a questioning look, before taking off after Hermione.

Hermione ran straight past Blaise. He was leaning against a tree trunk, in the shadows. He was about to go after her when Potter called her name. She stopped and turned around, looking helpless.

"Mione, what happened?"

"Ron ruined everything!" Hermione said, but not loud enough for Blaise to hear.

Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her down to the lake. Blaise followed, watching curiously. When they sat down, Harry put his arm around Hermione.

"What happened?" Harry repeated, brushing the hair out of her eyes. Jealously soared through Blaise's veins.

Hermione told Harry everything. After a few minutes of silence, Harry decided that Hermione's happiness was more important than the person who made her happy (a Slytherin.)

"Don't worry about Ron. I'll talk to him. If you really like Zabini then tell him," Harry said quietly.

Smiling, Hermione hugged Harry.

Blaise felt stupid. She never even liked me. She liked him all along.

Shaking his head, he turned on his heel, and walked away.

So is Blaise walking away for good, or is he coming back?

Keep reading to find out!

hehehe.

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