4
The next morning, they decide to walk down to breakfast together. It's warm for October, but luckily the seventh years don't have to wear uniforms so Blaise is wearing a green polo-shirt with khaki shorts, while Hermione is wearing a red strappy vest with high waisted denim shorts and red high-tops with concealed wedges. She smiles at him as she walks out of her room, and says, "Have you done the Potions?" He nods and they begin a conversation about the difficulties they faced with the essay. When they enter the Great Hall, he says, "I'll see you back in the common room when we're supposed to be in Healing?" She shakes her head and asks, "Can we go up the tower?" He gives a kind nod, squeezes her wrist tightly and walks over to the Slytherin table.
Hermione sits down next to Ginny, who frowns slightly and hands her a copy of the Daily Prophet. "You need to see this," she says hesitantly, and Hermione unfolds the paper to see the massive headline, 'HOGWARTS'S GOLDEN GIRL REVEALED' with two pictures of her on the cover. One is of her out on the lash, drunk out of her mind, and the other is of her looking very professional but laughing her head off and practically sitting on Blaise's lap. She blushes and begins to read the article, but stops about two lines in, scoffing. "Hermione, this is serious. They're making you out to be some sort of whore, and if you actually read it, they're blaming the war, saying you've gone mad," Neville says and she spins to him in a rage.
"Who wrote the article?" she spits furiously and when Neville murmurs that it was in fact Rita Skeeter, she flies across the room to the Slytherin table, says something angrily to Blaise and they both disappear. Rumours fly around the hall and Professor McGonagall stands, saying, "Students. As you all know, everyone has been affected by the war in different ways and if these rumours are in fact true, we must give Miss Granger the privacy she deserves. She had it harder than any of us, and we must honour the sacrifices she made by respecting and supporting her." Everyone nods, and McGonagall sweeps out of the room, going straight to the Heads' quarters.
As she enters, only Blaise looks round. Hermione is furiously scrawling across parchment, quill puncturing holes with every other word. "Calm down, Mi, it needs to be legible," he says calmly and she lets out a growl but does slow down. "Who is she writing to?" McGonagall asks, but Hermione is the one who answers, as she signs off and quickly rolls up the parchment. "I am writing to Kingsley. I want Rita Skeeter fired – all she has ever done is made people's lives a misery and she's the last thing needed in the world right now. I'm not a whore, Professor, I went out once, and that thing with Blaise-" but Professor McGonagall cuts her off, placing a soothing hand on her arm and saying, "Hermione, I know you're not. The article is codswallop, anyone can see that. Why don't you go down to the Ministry and speak to Kingsley yourself? And don't worry about that meeting tonight; it's not important anymore. " Hermione nods and steps into the fire, vanishing instantly. "Right, Blaise, shouldn't you be off to Healing?" He shakes his head, explaining softly, "We had a problem with the class last time. We're gonna use the time to recover in our own way. Mi wanted to go up the tower this morning – I might go anyway. I have memories of my own to share." The Headmistress nods calmly and is about to walk out when Hermione reappears, swiftly followed by Bill, Charlie, George, Harry and Kingsley.
"Alright, Professor?" George says cheekily, and he winks at her. They all look at Blaise and frown but Hermione says, "Guys, he's cool. He's been so supportive since I've been back." Charlie slips an arm round her waist, and says, "It is ok, Mione, we're here. It'll all be ok." Kingsley gives a nod and then says, "What do you want me to do?" Suddenly she looks around as if she's heard a loud noise and asks, "Where's Ronald?" All five of them grimace and Bill explains quietly, "He's angry at you for going out with a Slytherin." She pulls a face, turns to Blaise, who shrugs, and then she says, "We weren't going out, we were just going out. Not that it's any of his business anyway; he's the one who dumped me!" Her eyes fill with angry tears and everyone moves to her side, but to their shock, it's Blaise who gets there first and he calms her down before saying, "You can give your brother a punch in the face from me. Can we get back to the matter at hand?" Everyone nods and Hermione sits, saying quietly, "Blaise, why don't you go to the tower? I'll meet you in Potions." He nods, kissing her forehead and then disappearing, swiftly followed by McGonagall.
"I want you to fire that cow. I want the Ministry to issue you a formal apology. I'm not having my name in the mud before my career has even started," she says and Kingsley tilts his head, before explaining, "The Ministry issuing an apology will make it seem like we've got something to hide. What I propose is an interview with the people close to you, showing the world how lovely you actually are. It'll be easier." She gives a small nod and he moves to the fire, saying officially, "Right, Miss Granger, if that's all. Mr Potter, if we could start with you. Bill, Charlie, George, you need to get back to work." He puts one foot in the fire and winks at her, murmuring, "Chin up," before disappearing completely. She beams, hugs the four men goodbye and then collapses on the sofa.
Moments later, Blaise enters and sits beside her, throwing an arm round her shoulder but looking away from her defiantly. "Blaise?" she says questioningly, but he shakes his head, fixing his gaze on a painting. She puts a gentle hand under his chin and spins his head to face her, unsurprised to see his eyes brimming. "Blaise, it is ok to cry, you know. I do it all the time." He gives a nod and pulls her into his chest so she can't see him break. She knows he is sobbing though, she is shaking from the vibrations of his chest, and her hair is wet from his tears. She struggles out of his embrace and kisses him lightly on the forehead, whispering, "It'll be ok, you know. I'll make sure of it." He places a hand on the side of her face, gently caressing her cheek. She raises her hand and mirrors his actions, wiping away his tears as she does so. Then he leans in and plants a gentle kiss on her lips, murmuring, "You're so amazing." She kisses him back, then pulls away and hugs him again, before saying, "You have no idea how long I've wanted you to do that. But we need to go to Potions now."
As they walk down to the dungeons, Hermione explains quietly what Kingsley said, and tells him about the older Weasleys, all of whom are like brothers to her. When they arrive, she sits beside him without thinking. Ginny comes over, asking, "Hey, Mi? You not sitting with us today? I wanted to talk to you about Harry." She nods in agreement, and gathers her things; she makes to follow Ginny but Blaise stops her, taking all of the things out of her arms. He pulls her close to him and kisses her lovingly, before stepping back and sitting down, saying, "You can go now." As she picks up her stuff and murmurs, "Possessive much?" he gives a cheeky wink and turns to face Draco, beginning a conversation about Quidditch of all things. She rolls her eyes and goes over to where Ginny and Luna are sitting open mouthed.
"Oh. My. God. When did that happen?" Ginny exclaims excitedly and Luna squeezes her wrist tightly, squealing, "Have you slept with him yet? Ooh I bet he's good in bed." She smiles slightly, and her cheeks warm as she replies, "Like half an hour ago. So no, I haven't slept with him and I'll thank you not to have dirty thoughts about my…boyfriend? Is that right? Oh my god, I'm in a relationship with Blaise Zabini. Do you remember when we saw him for the first time, and all of us like swooned?" Ginny laughs loudly at the memory and Luna sighs happily, before gushing, "Tell us how it happened!" Hermione nods in consent and leans forward to explain the whole story, before catching herself and saying, "Only if you talk to me about Harry after. And Luna, what is going on with you and Neville?" Both girls blush but nod and they fall into a long lesson of girly gossip.
Across the room, Draco watches carefully as Hermione walks away and as soon as she is out of earshot, he asks hurriedly, "When did that start? I swear I saw you like two days ago and you were barely friends." Blaise narrows his eyes and thinks back before smiling and explaining, "We had a fight because she wanted to go out and get drunk. Or rather, I was pissed that she wanted to go out and get drunk because she warned me that she might bring a boy back. Then that night she went out, when she came crawling back at about 3, she made me get into bed with her and she told me that she wanted to go out with me, and she kissed me. But then in the morning she didn't remember it, but I asked her out for a meal, just as friends, and I had a great time; she's so funny. And then this morning, after that article, she made me go up the tower alone and it was overwhelming. I was upset and she comforted me, and her face was really close to mine and I kissed her. And she kissed me back. And she's mine now. So hands off, ok Draco?" Draco raises an eyebrow at this hostility and says, "I'm not interested in stealing your Mudblood off you. Yes she's gorgeous, but she's bookish and dull." Blaise smiles at his ignorance but disregards the provocation, instead asking, "So Draco? What's happening with you and Daphne?" Draco looks away pointedly but eventually answers the question.
Overall, nobody did much work that Potions lesson.