Disclaimer: Potty, Weasel, and the Mudblood belong to me… thanks.

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Hermione had never moved so fast. She broke her kiss with Blaise and stared horrified at the door. There stood Harry with a mangled look of revulsion, betrayal, and hurt. Hermione stood mouth open, a look that said, "What have I done?"

"Harry, how did you get in here?"

"Hermione…" Harry's voice sounded so small, so hurt, so angry. Hermione could see his brain racking, how was he to deal with this? His first instinct, anger, won out.

He exploded. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS? HERMIONE!!! YOU'RE A GRYFFINDOR!! YOU'RE SHAMING OUR HOUSE! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US, TO ME!?!?! IS THIS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE ALONE WITH HIM?! IS THIS HOW YOU USE YOUR 'SLYTHERINE ON DEMAND'?" he was yelling like a mad man, his face red with anger.

"Harry you have to try and understand…" but Harry cut her off.

"NO HERMIONE, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND!!!" his voice was fading, "How could you."

"Ron is sleeping with Pansy." She couldn't help it. It just came out. She had no idea why she said it, and immediately regretted it. She put a hand over her mouth, horrified.

Harry looked dejected.

"First you snog a Slytherin, and now you lie to me? What's gotten into you Hermione?"

Hermione stood stock-still. Harry turned to leave but not before Hermione ran to him, free of her momentary paralysis, clutching at his back, tears swimming in her eyes.

"Harry," her voice was so small, so hurt, "you have to believe me. I needed his help, I couldn't force him, I'm not strong enough, and I couldn't. I need you Harry. Please, let me explain."

"No Hermione, you lost your chance to explain when you lied."

And with that he was out the door, leaving behind the emotionally unstable Hermione.

Fury reigned. She whipped around and stood face to face with one surprised looking Blaise Zabini. His cool façade long gone.

"What have you done? You've ruined my friendship with Harry and most likely Ron also. Why did you do this? Why do you keep kissing me? Why can't you just leave me alone?" Hermione asked him pleadingly.

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Blaise made sure his facial expressions were under control. He allowed her that one glimpse of surprise to… well he wasn't quite sure why but it was already done. He tried to keep his face blank. What was he supposed to say to that girl?

"Why do you keep taunting me, flirting with me?" she asked him. Wow, she's losing it.

"You're hurting me." She concluded in a small voice. It was almost a whisper. Almost. Suddenly she straightened, a gleam of shock and not-so-well-hidden regret shone in her eyes.

She didn't say anything, she didn't have to, her eyes said it all. What have I done? You have just lost control Hermione, that's what.

Finally, as if making up her mind she spoke.

"I will ask you to never speak of this again. You know what, I never want to speak to you again. JUST DON'T LOOK AT ME!"

She really is crazy. Maybe he should just give up on this mission thing. No. Blaise Zabini is many things, and a quitter is not one of them.

He took a step towards her. Hermione, seeing this, took two frantic steps back, shaking her head muttering "no, no, no."

"Hermione," Blaise purred, trying to charm the lady on last time. Her head shot up at her name. Was this the first time he said it? She couldn't remember. She was suddenly exhausted. Tears threatened to spill as she continued to back away.

"Please just leave me alone." She sank to the floor against her bedroom door. When had she crossed the room? Probably sometime right after Harry left. She fell apart. She sobbed and screamed. Mourning the loss of her friendship with Harry (and probably Ron). She was vaguely aware of strong arms wrapping around her. She sobbed into a shoulder grabbing her holder's shirt and held it with a death grip. Her body racking with the sobs she gave. And everything went black.

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When Hermione woke she was momentarily confused. Where was she again? In her bed. Oh yeah, where else would she be? Who knows? But how in Merlin's good name did she get there? That part was a bit blurry. She just remembered strong arms and broad shoulders.

Oh God, she didn't.

She had literally cried on Blaise Zabini's shoulder. Somebody Avada Kedavra her please. What was she supposed to do now?

Hermione sighed. She had to end this…this... whatever thing they had going on. And she had to end it soon.

And so with a huff Hermione kicked her sheets back. She swung her legs over the edge of her bed and sat. Wait, what was she going to say again? She really had to start thinking these things through. I mean, come on!

Okay so. Hmm, the best way to approach this situation is to…be direct? Yes. Bluntness works most of the time right?

Hermione jumped down from her bed.

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Hermione stepped out into the common room she and Blaise shared. Blaise's seemingly lifeless form was draped over a silken green sofa. Hermione fondly thought that he looked adorable, but only because he was drooling.

'So he is human,' she mused dryly.

Hermione found her feet carrying her over to the couch he was passed out on. She knelt and reached a hand out towards his face. She hesitated and lowered her hand to his shoulder and shook him.

Blaise woke with a start.

"Hi," Hermione said in a small, soft voice.

"Hi," Blaise repeated, sounding slightly confused.

"I was wondering if we could…talk."

Blaise, still half asleep, couldn't hide his surprise, "Sure," was his reply.

Hermione was fidgety and slightly nervous. She really didn't want it to come to this.

"I want you to stop… pursuing me, if you will." she said in a hushed tone.

Blaise's eyes widened, one eyebrow cocked. He was about to respond with probably some arrogant retort, but she quickly added,

"No please, take me seriously. You don't get what I have lost...because you wanted to...what, sexually exploit me? I need you to leave me alone. Please. We can still do Head duties but, but I need you to stop this…madness."

Blaise was thinking fast, he had certainly not expected this.

"So you're calling my affections madness."

Hermione's face fell, "If you felt anything like affection for me, you should have tried to do things a different way."

Blaise said, "But what if I really feel something for you?"

Hermione's hand went up and swept his hair out of his face, "Then you should know, it's not out time."

And with that she stood and headed towards her room.

Blaise tried one last attempt, "Hermione wait!" she stopped. "This will happen, it is inevitable."

She turned and gave him that sad look. "Nothing is inevitable."

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Graduation

Months later

Blaise Zabini stood behind and a little to the left of Hermione. Who was, currently, giving a farewell speech to her fellow peers.

He had seen her slowly rebuild her life after "the incident." He had seen how she only sat with Weasellette at meals. He had seen how she either sat alone or with Longbottom during classes. He had seen her approach Potter and Weasley and beg for their forgiveness. He had seen them walk away.

And he knew it was his fault. And even though he was a Slytherin, Blaise couldn't help but feel bad. But not enough to put off his "mission," that was merely postponed. Like she had said, it wasn't their time. If they had a time. Who knows?

He sighed, he had already given his speech but Granger's clearly out did his. Even throughout all her pain, she still managed to be that pain in the arse, know it all, smarty-pants. He had gotten rid of the title "Goody two shoes" a long time ago. Not after what he had been through with her.

Thinking of this a small smirk appeared on his face. A small part of his mind wondered if she had kissed anyone since him. And another part knew she hadn't. They had basically ignored each other for the rest of the year, Head duties aside. It seemed to work out fine with both of them. Blaise had time for actual sex and she had time for studies.

Well, all things aside, it had been a good year. He was going to be an intern for a ministry official after the end of school. Which was really in about 6 hours. But he was basically set for the future, he was going flat shopping on Saturday. There was no way he was going to stay with his mother for longer than necessary.

Hermione's speech concluded and she stepped down for the podium to allow Professor McGonagall up.

She stood next to Blaise as they listened to the final farewell. He could see her eyes lined with tears. He himself also felt sad for leaving. But he was still very happy for having made it this far, and one of the top students too.

Professor McGonagall concluded what she was saying and everyone in the crowd of families and friends applauded them. Hermione and Blaise both shook hands with the Headmistress and then each other. Their looks never faulted. Finally a crowd swept them down into the rushing audience of familiar faces. Blaise went to his mother and step father (most recent addition to the family.) and Hermione went over to her parents. Blaise saw the cheery sequence of congratulations. Then he looked at his own pathetic excuse of a family. What had happened?

He and his "family" headed towards the exit without a word to each other. Blaise turned to get one last look at his home for the past seven-year and the group of his peers with whom he had boarded. His eyes found a curly head of brown and his eyes met hers. The look she sent him said everything that had not been said.

Goodbye.

Fin

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A/N: AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS FOLKS!! Yes, it is over. This is the end of "A Different Way." And I apologize deeply for not updating. I am one noncommittal SOB. I don't feel sad, well kind of. I jumped into this story head first without any idea what I was doing. I don't think I have ever even read it all the way through. I guess I will have to do that at some point. There will be a sequel, but don't expect it till summer and don't expect anything longer than a one shot. I have a bad habit of not updating and I feel bad if I don't. I am currently in the middle of like four Avatar: the last Airbender fan fictions so…. Well, you can see where my commitment falters. I would like to add that I am eternally grateful for any and all reviewers and readers. It touches my heart to hear you liked my writing. And I am aware that Hermione is severally bipolar in this chapter, anguished, furious, sad, desperate, caring, EMPATHETIC!! Jeez shoot me now. Well I like the sappy part at the end where she's like "Not our time." Yes, that part isn't bad I guess. This chapter was all very rushed. I know you're all like "WTF IT TOOK YOU LIKE 2 MONTHS TO UPDATE HOW DID YOU FEEL RUSHED!?!?!?Q.WHJEQKJGRHQKHNFRKLAF" and I completely understand, honestly. I would break out the pitchforks and torches too. I was sorely tempted to abandon this. But I felt that that would have been a bad start to my writing career. And I didn't want to disappoint my readers :D

OMG I HAVE READERS!!!  Great moment just then.

Bows we will meet again.

Hopefully, theOVERMAN is going to take some commitment courses from her mother. Or is she too far gone?

OH yeah, I am a she by the way. If you couldn't tell. Which I hope you could. Jeez I have to stop telling my life story here.

See you, I guess…Bye?