Unlikely Places Chapter 4: Ginny:Blaise, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: Okay, three reviews. I can work with that.

This is not definitely but probably the last update for a while. I'm afraid I won't be able to post while I'm on vacation for the next three and a half weeks or so, but I'll try to get a chapter out quickly when I get back. If I'm not on your Story/Author Alert, try checking around the thirtieth.

Dianna- Yeah, different was definitely what I was going for.

This chappie is Ginny and Blaise's.

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Blaise Zabini smiled as he untied the official-looking note from the leg of a haggard-looking tawny owl. This was so unlike him, really, this whole matchmaking thing, but perhaps it could really work out. It was worth a try, wasn't it? He handed the owl a cracker before sending it off and cutting open the letter's Ministry seal.

Ministry of Magic: January 22nd 2007

Dear Mr. Zabini,

We have received your application and have found a possible match for you.

She is a pureblood witch who describes herself as having a good sense of humor and loving Quidditch. ('Sounds like my type,' Blaise thought)

We have arranged for you to meet…

… at a reception for Ministry matches on Wednesday, January 24th. Please arrive at 5:30 p.m. to pick up name tags and find your prospective match. If you cannot make the reception, please write to your match using the owl who brought this letter.

Thank you for your interest in our matchmaking program.

Amelie Brout, Marriage Offices

Ginny held the letter for a moment, shocked. Then she grabbed a fistful of floo powder off her mantle.

"MUM!"

"Oh, hello Ginny dea—" Ginny's withering glare stopped Molly mid-sentence.

"YOU did this, didn't you?" She held out the slightly crumpled letter.

"Okay, yes, but before you—"

"What on God's great earth made you think this was in any way a good idea?"

"I knew you wouldn't do it yourself…"

"So you applied for me? You know why I wouldn't do it? Because I don't want a freaking blind date through magic-match-dot-com!"

"What's—"

"Muggle thing, Hermione… ah, I'm going off topic. There's no way I'm going to this thing, though. Too bad for Mr. Funny-Quidditch-Guy. I'm sure he's wonderful, but I'm going to write him right now and tell him I'm not coming."

"Oh, Ginevra, please…" Molly began, but Ginny was already halfway through the floo.

When she arrived back at her flat, however, she was distracted by a rather stupid-looking owl that was bumping into her kitchen window repeatedly. Opening the window, she let the poor bird in and gave it a treat while it recovered. She looked down at the roll of parchment fastened to its leg and detached it carefully. It hadn't been wax-sealed, but simply tied with a strip of navy blue satin ribbon. Carefully sliding the ribbon off, she stuffed it into her pocket to be used as a hair tie later and unrolled the curious letter.

Mystery girl-

Yes, this thing is kind of stupid, but I figured I'd try it out just because I hadn't any better ideas, and I'd assume that the same is true for you. ('not quite' Ginny thought…)

I could make that reception thing if you really wanted to go, but I'd rather just create our own meeting at a bar in muggle London tonight around half past eight. What do you say? You don't have to answer now- I'll be there regardless of whether you're coming or not. It's called Village East, on Bermondsey street. I'll be the tall, dark, and handsome guy at the bar wearing a white and blue striped button down and navy slacks.

See you there, hopefully.

It was unsigned. Ginny couldn't help but smile very slightly at the note. She had to admit, he sounded like a nice guy. She wasn't so sure now that she wanted to skip the meeting. Hesitating a moment, she folded up the parchment and stuffed it into her pocket to think about later.

Blaise tapped his fingers on the bar and ordered another scotch. He had long come to terms with the fact that Mystery girl was not going to show. It was 10:00, and he was feeling rather tipsy at this point.

Suddenly, he was woken from his drunken stupor by the unnecessarily loud opening of the door to his right. Looking up, he saw a rather attractive woman in her twenties enter the bar. She was very pale and very wet, dragging an inside-out umbrella behind her. It was raining for the fiftieth time that week. The woman tossed the umbrella into the trash can in the corner with a disgusted look on her face and ran her hand through her thick, flaming red hair. Wait…

"Ginny Weasley?"

"Yes. Oh… Blaise Zabini, that's it, right?"

"Yeah. This isn't going to work, is it?"

"Nope, doubt it."

Blaise turned back to his drink. It wasn't that he still kept old prejudices; it was just that the two of them were worlds apart. It could never work, simple as that. To his surprise, Ginny settled herself one stool away from him and ordered an apple martini.

"You're staying?"

She turned to stare at him. "I came all the way here, it's still raining, I don't even have a boyfriend and I'm supposed to get fucking married in less than two months. I think I deserve a drink."

"Fair enough."

She practically downed the delicate little cocktail in one gulp when the bartender brought it over.

"What I really need is some firewhiskey."

"Try vodka, straight up," Blaise offered. She followed his advice.

"Where were you… during the war…?" she asked a few minutes later after her third or fourth drink, her speech a bit slurred. Blaise knew what she meant- had he been beneath a Deatheater mask.

"In Australia, actually."

"Really?"

"Yep. I decided to stay out of it."

"Oh. Well, I guess that's better than…" she trailed off, and Blaise nodded and looked down at the amber liquid in his glass once more.

"I kind of feel bad about that. I've since learned that fleeing the country is not the way to deal with things." The corners of Ginny's mouth turned up ever so slightly. They sat in silence for a long while.

"So you like Quidditch?" Blaise asked awkwardly, wanting to start again on a lighter topic.

"I manage the Hollyhead Harpies." Ginny replied flatly.

"I should really stay on top of these things. Why aren't you playing? You were pretty good back at Hogwarts, if I remember correctly."

"Thanks. That's actually a long story involving jealousy, a debilitating knee injury, and Marcus Flint. An old buddy of yours?"

"Actually, I always hated the guy."

"Very funny."

"No, really. You know just because we're both Slytherins doesn't mean we have to like each other. I'm sure there were some people in Gryffindor who you couldn't stand."

Ginny coughed something that sounded vaguely like "Lavender Brown" and smiled.

"I better get going," she slurred later, "but it was… nice… talking to you…"

"No way."

"No way?"

"You may be a Weasley, but I'm still taking you home. You're drunk as an Irishman on St. Patrick's day."

"Wha's that supposed to mean? And you're drunk too…"

"Not half as drunk as you. Where's your flat?"

Ginevra Weasley woke up the next morning with the worst hangover she'd had since after she and Harry had broken up and no idea how she had made it home. She did vaguely remember what had brought her to the bar in the first place, and she abruptly realized that Blaise must have taken her back at the end of the night. Sure enough, she found a note from him and a small, dark blue glass bottle waiting on her kitchen counter.

Drink up, I promise it won't make it worse this time. It's a secret that was passed on from my ungodly mother to me when I came of age and started going out to pubs with Draco.

Shit, I probably shouldn't mention him around you, should I?

Blaise

Chuckling a bit before realizing that it made her head hurt, Ginny pulled the glass stopper out and sniffed the contents of the bottle. She contemplated checking for poison, but her pounding headache overruled her suspicions of former Slytherins and she downed the thick potion in one gulp. Her entire body suddenly felt pleasantly numb, and she grabbed the nearest quill and a scrap of parchment.

Alright, you've got to give me the recipe for that stuff. Write it down and bring it when you come with me to Luna's party next week. Knowing Luna I'd hazard a guess that she actually invited you, but if not than the info is on the attached paper. I promise I won't drink this time. Well, maybe one firewhiskey. But only one, I swear.

Ginny

She did actually invite me. I did think that was a bit strange. I wasn't going to go, but I suppose I will now. See you there.

Blaise

Have a lovely July, everyone! Good news is, I'm home for the next two days or so AND I will be able to get internet access for brief periods of time while on vacation, so I'll be able to read all your reviews (-:

So hurry up and review already!