A/N: Another chapter's here! Thanks to PeopleWatchMePeopleWatching whose review helped me decide if I wanted to add a certain part or not. I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize from the Harry Potter series

Ginny usually always enjoyed playing with Teddy and Victoire, but when Hermione called Blaise away she found it hard to concentrate. She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw his eyes widen slightly across the room when they landed on Laura and she definitely noticed him tense up. She sent Bill an apologetic look and stood. "Mind if I go see what's going on?"

"Go Ginny," he smiled. "I think I can manage to watch my own daughter and her friend."

"Thanks Bill," she smiled. She reached Blaise just in time to hear him mutter a curse word. "What's going on over here?"

"Nothing," Hermione said quickly. Ginny raised an eyebrow and she sighed. "These two know each other."

"And this is a bad thing?" she questioned slowly.

"Laura is Daphne's cousin," Blaise explained.

"I see," Ginny nodded in understanding. "So it is a bad thing."

"It's not a bad thing that they know each other," Hermione sighed.

"Really?" Ginny asked. "Did you know that Blaise just broke up with Daphne a little over a week ago?"

"I didn't realize it was that recent no," Hermione frowned. "That's not the problem though. The problem is that when I was telling Harry who he was, saying he was your friend Blaise," she explained quickly, "Laura said, 'You should know him Harry, he's your age. Blaise Zabini.' Turns out Harry did remember him once he heard his last name."

"I didn't know that we weren't supposed to tell anyone," Laura shrugged carelessly. "Someone should have said."

"So what you're saying is that half of my family may have just learned that there's a Slytherin in their midst and I need to be careful?" Ginny clarified.

"I think so," Hermione nodded apologetically. "I asked Harry not to say anything, but you know how he gets sometimes when Slytherins are concerned – even if school ended years ago. He holds a pretty big grudge towards them all."

"Blaise is way different than he was at Hogwarts," Ginny defended him. "He used to be a stupid, haughty poser."

"Thank you for that," he said dryly.

"You knew how I felt about you then," she waved a dismissive hand at him. "Alright, so let's think this through. Bill likes him, that's a definite. Mum's already in love with him and Dad spent a good chunk of the afternoon with him so that's three. Three's not bad."

"I like him," Hermione added. "And Fleur probably did too, didn't she? I mean, if Bill likes him then Fleur's bound to give him a shot."

"I like him," Laura shrugged. "I don't like how he went about dumping Daphne," she added sharply, glaring at him so there was no confusion about her current feelings for him, "but I never had any other problem with him."

Ginny made a mental note to ask about that after, concentrating on the task at hand now. "Well that makes six then. Counting me we're at seven."

"I'm sorry," Blaise spoke up, shaking his head in confusion, "what are we adding people up for?"

"The people who are on your side," Ginny explained before turning back to Hermione. "Ron was getting along with him, but he holds a grudge almost as much as Harry so I don't know what to expect from him. Now, George barely talked to him, so he can only count as a maybe."

"Don't you think you're being a little ridiculous Ginny?" Blaise asked. "You should have a little more faith in your family. So I was in Slytherin, it doesn't mean sides are going to be drawn and a battle's about to commence. You can stop setting up the army."

"Oh Blaise," she smiled at him, "you have no idea what you got yourself into coming here today."

"Don't scare the man," Hermione rolled her eyes. She turned to Blaise and said reassuringly, "It's not like there's going to be an actual battle – just a figurative one."

"That's so much more reassuring," he deadpanned.

"You'll be fine," Ginny told him. "Laura, let's go find Harry. Hermione, can you keep Blaise company?" Hermione nodded and Blaise shook his head at the both of them. Before he could complain she turned and left for the kitchen, where she'd seen Harry go before, with Laura two steps behind. "What do you think is the best way to get Harry to keep quiet?" she asked over her shoulder. "Should we be nice about it or forceful?"

"Who said I was going to help you?" Laura raised an eyebrow, stopping in the hallway a few feet short of the kitchen door.

"I realize being Daphne's cousin may put a little strain on our friendship," Ginny stopped and turned back to face her, "but I need your help Laura."

"Daphne really liked Blaise you know," Laura said, crossing her arms.

"I sort of gathered as much since they were together."

"So why is he here as your date?"

"He's not here as my date," Ginny denied. "He's my friend and when he came by to talk to me mum invited him to stay."

Laura narrowed her eyes. "I'm not an idiot. I know it's more than just a friend thing. Why else would you be so concerned if everyone likes him or not? And Daphne told me how you two met at the club."

"I don't have time for this," Ginny sighed impatiently. She could understand where Laura was coming from, but she was wasting valuable time. "Are you going to help me or not?"

"I think not," Laura smiled. "Have fun."

Ginny shot her a glare before turning and entering the kitchen on her own. Ron was in there talking to their mum and Harry was pacing the length of the table. It appeared he hadn't had the chance to talk to them yet and she was relieved. It wasn't too late. "Harry?" she asked hesitantly. "Can I speak with you alone?"

Harry looked back to her mum and Ron once before nodding, "outside?"

Ginny nodded and the pair slipped silently out the back door with a practiced ease. Harry led her past the weedy garden and to the surrounding fence, leaning against it as he waited for her to speak. "I hear you may know my guest," she started conversationally. "Did you get a chance to say hello yet?"

"Ginny," he said sternly.

"Okay," she sighed. "No stalling."

"Blaise Zabini," he raised an eyebrow, getting right to the point for her.

"Blaise Zabini," she nodded in agreement. "And before you ask, no, no one other than Hermione realizes who he is. Ron didn't remember him and I doubt the others have ever seen him before."

"Laura knows who he is too," he added. "She's the one who told me before I even got a good look at him."

"I know," Ginny laughed dryly. "Did you know that she was Daphne Greengrass's cousin?"

"Laura?"

"Yup."

"I wasn't aware, no," he said. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Blaise used to date Daphne," Ginny said slowly. "He broke up with her… about a week ago."

Harry was silent for a moment and then nodded. "For you, huh?"

Ginny gave a small grin. "Possibly, I didn't really get any of the details on the subject."

"Is that's why he's here today," Harry asked. "Did he ask you out?" Ginny nodded silently. Harry looked at her seriously, "You need to tell everyone who he actually is."

"I will," Ginny shrugged, "eventually."

"Today Ginny," he said sharply. "If you don't, I will."

"Did you mean for that to sound like a poorly planned threat?" Ginny smirked.

Harry laughed. "That was pathetic wasn't it?"

"Only a lot."

Harry nudged her arm playfully, "watch it or I'll just go tell them now."

"Please don't Harry," she said. "I really want everyone to give him a chance before they just pass him off as an old Slytherin - you too. Forget what you know about him from the past and give him a chance."

Harry stared at her thoughtfully for a moment before asking, "You really like him?"

"I do," she answered right away. "And you know me Harry, if he was a bad guy I wouldn't even give him the time of day."

"Okay," he said slowly. "I'll give him a chance if you promise that by dessert you'll tell everyone who he is."

"Deal," Ginny smiled, sticking out her hand.

"Deal," he agreed, shaking on it. They both stood there for several minutes, leaning against the fence. Neither made a move to go back inside so Ginny decided to start a conversation.

"Do you think it'll go okay?" she asked, staring across the garden.

Harry turned from the garden to look at her but she didn't meet his gaze. "If you want it to then I'm sure it will."

She laughed softly. "Since when did you become so positive?"

"You said yourself if he was a bad guy you wouldn't bother," he shrugged. "Your family just wants you to find a good guy, so they'll like him."

"You really think?" she asked, turning to look at him finally.

"Depends," he grinned. "How much of a git is he really?"

"Harry!" Ginny laughed back. "You're supposed to be reassuring!"

"Let's get back inside," he shook his head, standing up straight from the fence. "I guess you should introduce me to him properly."

"Thanks Harry," she smiled brightly, "for giving him a chance."

"Just don't make me regret it," he smiled back.

When they joined the family in the sitting room again Ginny immediately sought out Blaise. She was expecting him to be with Hermione, so when she found Hermione in a debate with George she felt a little panicked. Her eyes swept the room again and didn't find him. Where could he have gone?

"Looking for Blaise?" her dad asked, walking into the room behind her with a drink in his hand.

She nodded. "I left him with Hermione and now I seem to have misplaced him."

"Check behind the couch," he said with an amused smile.

"Odd place to be," Harry commented as the two walked towards the couch. Once they were close enough that they could see over the top Ginny smiled. Bill and Victoire were settled with their backs against the arm chair and Bill was reading to her. Blaise had somehow ended up with Teddy and the two were on the floor with building blocks spread between them. "Huh," Harry said as he watched Blaise playing with his godson, "guess I kind of have to like him now."

"And how did this happen?" Ginny smiled, walking around the couch and sitting next to Blaise on the floor. Harry followed and sat beside Teddy, who immediately crawled closer.

"The ball went off course," Blaise explained. "I rolled it back and apparently that meant I was in the game. I'm not sure how we switched to blocks to be honest."

"That's kids for you," Ginny laughed. "They jump from toy to toy."

"Especially this one," Harry grinned down at Teddy. "If you show any interest in any thing it's his new favorite toy because he knows he's got someone to play with."

As Blaise chuckled along with Harry, Ginny decided it was the perfect opportunity to "introduce" the two. "Blaise, you remember Harry don't you?"

"He's hard to forget," Blaise smirked. "No matter how much you may want to."

"Be nice," she warned.

"I'm only joking Ginny," he rolled his eyes. "Of course I remember him. Good to see you again Harry."

Blaise offered his hand and Harry smiled and shook it. "I've heard some interesting things about you this afternoon."

"Hopefully nothing terrible," Blaise responded, sending a look to Ginny.

"Not terrible," Harry shrugged. "I should warn you though that by dessert the family will know who you actually are. I made Ginny promise."

"Good," Blaise said, surprising Ginny. "I personally thought she was being a little dramatic about the situation, but it's her family so I figured I'd let her do what she wants."

"As long as we're all on the same page," Harry chuckled. They fell into a moment of silence before Harry spoke again. "You looked a little nervous with Victoire earlier," he commented. "Not a big fan of kids?"

"Not used to them," Blaise clarified. "I don't really know what to do with them."

"Well thanks for playing with Teddy."

"It was easy. He made it known what he wanted to do," Blaise shrugged.

"He's good at that," Ginny smiled fondly. She reached across the circle to brush her hand over Teddy's vibrant hair.

"Ron said he was your godson," Blaise commented. "Do his parents not come to dinner as well?"

Ginny looked down uncomfortably as Harry cleared his throat. "They died shortly after Teddy was born. It was in the battle at Hogwarts."

"I didn't realize," Blaise said awkwardly. He looked to Ginny for help and she gave him a sad smile in response. "I apologize for mentioning it."

"You didn't know," Harry said sadly.

"It was Professor Lupin," Ginny told Blaise softly. "Do you remember him?"

"I do," he nodded.

"His wife was Nymphadora Tonks."

"Only you would never want her to catch you calling her Nymphadora," Harry added with a little smirk.

Ginny laughed lightly. "True, she wasn't quiet about her dislike of it."

"She wasn't quiet about her dislike of anything," Harry rolled his eyes fondly at the memory.

"They were both great," Ginny summed up, smiling sadly at Teddy.

"They were," Harry agreed.

Ginny looked up to Blaise to find him looking distinctly uncomfortable. He was concentrating very hard on the blocks in front of him and the small square building he was making out of them. She knew it must have been awkward for him, but there really was nothing she could say to make it any better for him. She was relieved when her mum called for them to start heading out to the table for dinner.