Having something forbidden is exciting, don't you agree? -Allan Dare Pearce
Gryffindor won against Slytherin. At least that's what Hermione gathered when the entire Gryffindor side started to cheer. She wasn't really paying attention, Quidditch wasn't really her thing, to begin with, and to make matters worse, Hermione couldn't help but notice that Blaise looked very attractive flying around on her broom. She had spent the entire game trying to ignore the Slytherin, however, she couldn't avoid him. She remembered that she used to think just last year that Ron looked very attractive when flying, now she had Draco Malfoy and apparently Blaise Zabini wrapped around her finger. So much had changed in the past few months that even Hermione was having a hard time comprehending all that was going on.
"Were you watching me, Granger?" Blaise smirked as he stepped in front of Hermione trying to find Harry and Ron.
"As if Zabini," Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest. She thought about making an escape but she realized that Blaise would probably stop her again like he did in the hallway.
"I'm excited for Christmas Party," Zabini winked at her and moved out of her way. Hermione exhaled loudly in exasperation as Blaise walked away.
"What were you and Blaise talking about?" Ginny asked Hermione as she came up next to Hermione.
Hermione shook her head. "Nothing important, just Slytherins being themselves."
Ginny frowned, "Hermione, you were blushing. I don't think that was nothing."
Hermione's heart began to beat rapidly. She didn't like Blaise. She didn't like anyone. She was just Hermione Granger, who was always on top of her emotions. She was better than mere crushes. There were more important things than crushing on Slytherins. "I have no idea what you're talking about Ginny," Hermione stated as she tried to look for Ron and Harry.
"Those Slytherins are dangerous Hermione. They don't care about you, no matter what they say," Ginny explained, concern filling her voice.
Hermione smiled at Ginny grateful for her concern as she walked away. She would find Harry and Ron in the common room. She couldn't talk about this anymore. Draco was the only one who understood her, Draco was the only one who gave any sense of solace. Draco was the only one where she could be herself, and yet prejudice says that he's dangerous and that he shouldn't care about her. Blaise was practically sacrificing his reputation in order to get to know her for Draco's sake. Blaise saw Hermione as the threat, thus proving that the world isn't just as black and white as it seemed. The Death Eaters thought the Order was evil just as much as the Order thought that the Death Eaters were evil.
Lavender was the first one to congratulate Ron in the celebratory party afterward, and Ron took her congratulations with so much appreciation that the two haven't stopped kissing since the game was one almost an hour ago. Hermione was standing in the back of the room trying to avoid being anywhere near Ron and Lavender, while also avoiding Ginny.
"Are you okay?" Harry questioned once he noticed Hermione standing alone in the back of the room.
Hermione smiled at her friend appreciatively. "Yeah, I'm fine," She lied. She couldn't just tell Harry that was stuck between feelings between Ron, Blaise, and Draco. She couldn't tell Harry that she was starting to think that Dumbledore wasn't the man that he made everyone think he was. She couldn't tell Harry that she was a marked Death Eater and that she was spending every day pretending that everything was okay. "I'm just going to get some fresh air."
Hermione left the common room, her head filled with so many different thoughts. She tried to logically process what Ginny was saying, had she really been blushing when Blaise talked to her? Hermione was going to the Christmas party with Blaise, but merely as friends. There was nothing romantic about their situation, and there never would be. Hermione couldn't be starting to get feelings for the boy. She didn't have time for a relationship, although Blaise could know everything about her. She wouldn't have to pretend with him, she could just be Hermione Granger. The only problem was Draco. Hermione would never do anything to hurt Draco, and if dating Blaise would mean hurting Draco she wouldn't do it.
Hermione sighed. Why would dating Blaise hurt Draco? Where did that idea come from? Hermione walked to the 7th-floor corridor and stood outside the Room of Requirement wall, with a heavy breath, Hermione screamed in frustration. She was beginning to fall apart at the seams. She needed to talk to someone, but there was no one to talk to. Her confidant was Draco, and she couldn't talk to Draco about dating his best friend. Taking a deep breath, Hermione paced three times and then entered the room as she tried to push her thoughts out of her head as she entered her safe place.
Hermione immediately moved to the table and sat down, Draco gave her a nod of acknowledgment as he continued to scribble notes and equations about the potion they were thinking of using. Hermione opened Secrets of the Darkest Art, her new favorite book. Silence filled the room, and Hermione felt at peace. A momentary silence from her problems.
"Blaise told me you were going to the Christmas party with him," Draco commented breaking the silence.
Hermione sighed. The one thing that she didn't want to talk about. "What if I am?"
Draco was shocked at her reaction. "Do you know how dangerous that is? What if someone figures out that you're a death eater! The Dark Lord will kill you!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Do you really think that people are going to think I'm a Death Eater because I go to a Christmas Party with Blaise Zabini? We've been careful about not being seen together, to most people this is my first encounter with Slytherins."
Draco sighed. "I don't like it."
Hermione scoffed. "Good thing I'm not asking for your approval." Hermione sighed and walked off to check their potion ingredients hoping to change the subject. Draco watched her walk away, his mind frozen in shock. For the first time, he realized that he might actually like Hermione Granger.
Later that night Hermione was sitting at the Gryffindor table for dinner when she was ambushed by Parvati Patil. Harry and Ron were stuffing food In their mouths, while Lavender watched Ron with intense concentration.
"Is it true that you're going to the Christmas Party with Blaise Zabini?" Harry and Ron turned their heads towards Hermione as fast as possible and looked at her with frantic wide eyes, their mouths full of food.
She rolled her eyes, trying to act casual. "Yeah."
"Hermione you're going with Blaise, Blaise Zabini? As in Slytherin, friends with Draco Malfoy." Ron asked slowly.
Hermione continued to feign disinterest. "Yes, that's the one Ronald. Is there a problem?"
Ron sputtered. "You can't go to the party with Blaise Zabini. He hates muggle-borns."
Hermione laughed. "You've never even cared a conversation with him before so how would you know?"
Ron continued to sit flabbergasted at the situations unfolding before them.
"I have to get ready. Blaise is meeting me at 8." Hermione stood and exited the hall heading to get ready.
At 8 o'clock Hermione met with Blaise who gladly began to tell her the immense frustration and jealousy that was coming from Draco Malfoy. Hermione laughed, but couldn't ignore the pang of guilt at Draco's jealousy. Draco was the only person she had ever trusted with her dark secret, and she couldn't help but feel like she was betraying him.
"Is Draco usually this dramatic?" Hermione questioned. Blaise chucked at her question and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Yes." Blaise retorted. Hermione giggled but soon became very aware of his arm around her waist. She didn't know why he was putting on a show, it made Hermione's head hurt with her mixed feelings. Blaise made her feel excited and energized, but Draco was safe and comfortable.
Hermione had to admit that she was really enjoying herself at the Party. Blaise was a perfect gentleman, and even Harry was pleasant when he ignored Hermione's date.
"Mr. Zabini, Ms. Granger. I would not have expected to see you both here together." Professor Snape drawled as he looked at their unusual closeness.
"I happen to think she's quite a lovely girl." Blaise retorted, causing Hermione blush.
"Is there a problem?" Hermione asked the Professor who only stared at the blooming couple with his typical accusing and skeptical look.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say that perhaps you've been spending too much time with the Slytherins, Ms. Granger. You're starting to act just like them." Professor Snape gave Hermione a pointed look. "Besides, don't you have more important things to do."
"Sir, I believe that we have it all under control."
Snape continued to stare her before he turned suddenly and walked towards Harry and Professor Slughorn with the hiss of his robes.
Blaise hid a smirk and Hermione laughed in his shoulders. "How embarrassing," She giggled.
"I don't think I've ever seen him so dumbfounded," Blaise chuckled. However, their enjoyment was interrupted by the sudden, loud arrival of Argus Filch and Draco Malfoy.
"Professor Slughorn," wheezed Filch. "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs. He claimed that he was heading to your party but got delayed."
The whole room grew silent as they stared at turned to Filch and the stowaway. Draco Malfoy struggled against Filch's grasp. Hermione's eyes grew wide and Blaise's arm went around her shoulders as he pulled her close. Draco's eyes narrowed as he looked at Professor Snape and as he saw Blaise and Hermione a sour look covered his face.
Slughorn approached Filch and Draco with his usual gleeful smile. "It's Christmas. You may stay Draco, no punishment." Filch fumed and left in a huff and Draco stood there with a look of half jealousy and half embarrassment.
Draco put on a fake smile. "Oh, Thank you, sir- "
"It's nothing, I knew your grandfather, you know," Slughorn commented.
"He adored you," Draco responded. Slughorn smiled at the praise and turned his attention towards someone that he hadn't talked to yet.
Draco made his way towards Hermione and Blaise, much to their chagrin. Hermione could see that Harry was watching her very closely from the other side of the room with Luna.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, once this dreadful event is over I need to have a word with both of you," Snape told the two young death eaters.
Hermione sighed and spat Draco a dirty look before removing herself from Blaise's grasp and walking towards Harry and Luna.
"You cannot tell me that you actually like Blaise Zabini," Harry exclaimed quietly once Hermione walked up.
"He's nice," Hermione shrugged. Harry's eyes grew wide and his lips tensed as he began to formulate a reply.
"I think it's great that you and Blaise are getting along," Luna replied in her typical sing-song voice.
Hermione smirked. "See your date thinks it's okay."
Harry protested silently before letting it go and changing the subject. "What did Snape want?"
Hermione felt alarm rise inside of her. "He wants to talk to Draco later, probably to get onto him for being irresponsible."
Harry scoffed. "Good, Malfoy deserves it. Do you see him? He doesn't look well."
Hermione turned to where Blaise and Draco were talking animatedly. He was right, Draco's hair was unkempt and his skin was pale. Hermione suddenly grew very scared; did she look like that too?
"I bet all his secret death eater stuff is making him sick." Harry retorted.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry, I highly doubt that Draco is a death eater."
"Have you ever asked him?" Harry retorted challenging Hermione. Hermione could hear Harry's challenging voice and she smirked before walking over to Blaise and Draco.
"Harry is insistent that you're a death eater. So, are you wearing your glamour?"
Draco gave Harry a weird look before replying. "Always,"
Hermione smiled. "Great, show him your bare arm."
"Happy to oblige, darling." Draco rolled up her sleeve and showed off his arm to Harry. Harry seethed. "Now, we should probably talk to Snape before he kills us." Draco gestured to the Professor standing in the corner watching them intently.
Hermione sighed. "Distract Harry for me?" She asked Blaise. Blaise made a face before nodding. "Thank you, be back soon." Hermione went to kiss Blaise on the cheek but stopped herself, she had only ever done that to Draco. However, she felt Draco watching them so exhaled and kissed Blaise on the cheek. Draco tensed behind her. Blaise smirked and winked at her. Hermione's heart beat rapidly and her hair stood up on her arm. What was she doing?
Draco and Hermione left the office and met Snape in the hallway. Snape's arms were folded across his chest and he seemed to be foaming at the mouth. "I want to know why you two thought that coming to some party instead of fulfilling the Dark Lord's orders was a promising idea."
Hermione and Draco exchanged guilty looks. "Sir, to be fair. We've worked out a potion that will help, but it will take a long time, so we can't start until after the break. We're also working on mastering charms to help us, which both of us have been working on all morning."
"You both cannot afford to make mistakes," Snape replied calmly. Draco's hands clenched into fists.
"We aren't making mistakes. Everything is carefully calculated." Draco retorted sharply.
"The incident with Ms. Bell was not a mistake? And Ms. Granger's insistence that it would be okay to suddenly be best friends with a Slytherin is not a mistake?" Snape replied.
Hermione felt Snape's sharply pointed attack, however, she knew better than to retort. Draco, on the other hand, lost it. "That wasn't my doing! And Hermione can date whoever she pleases! We don't need you interfering we have it all under control."
Snape nodded. "Of course, however, I made an unbreakable vow with your mother that I would protect you- "
"We have a plan! It's all taking shape, so you can just back off." Draco shouted back before turning and storming away.
"Ms. Granger, I thought you were supposed to keep this from becoming too stressful for him?" Snape replied as he watched Draco storm away but did not make any move to go after him.
Hermione felt guilty. Part of the reason Draco was losing it was because she had spent so much time with Blaise recently. "I'm sorry sir. I'll do better. We will not fail."
Snape nodded. "If I were you I wouldn't let your feelings get in the way of your success. Success in this mission should be your top priority."
"Of course, I understand sir," Hermione replied.
Snape nodded. "You may leave Ms. Granger."
Hermione nodded and went to reenter the party. As she walked through the door, she was stopped by Blaise and the magical barrier that came from being under Mistletoe. "Were you waiting for me?"
Blaise laughed. "Yeah, I'm really glad you came through first and not Professor Snape. That would've been awkward for everyone." Hermione giggled as she tried to imagine Blaise kissing Professor Snape. "Can I kiss you?"
Hermione nodded. Blaise smiled triumphantly and planted his lips against Hermione's. Glee filled Hermione as she kissed him back and tried to ignore the warning that Snape had just given her.
I wouldn't let your feelings get in the way of your success.
However, at this moment, Hermione didn't care that there was a magical cabinet that needed fixing or that there was a dark mark on her arm. All she cared about was the fact that someone cared about her enough to kiss her and cherish her instead of hurting her repeatedly. It felt so good.
A/N I just started College so I will try very hard to maintain a regular posting schedule but no promises, unfortunately.
But I love you all so much! Keep reading and reviewing!
