A/N: The flashback narrative is told in no one's POV in particular. It's exactly what it says it is: a narrative. Enjoy:o)

November 15

"Weeks later and you tell me this."

"It wasn't like I planned for this to happen, it just did."

Sometimes, I think that my best mate is the most brilliant yet stupidest bloke in the world. Yes, that's exactly what Blaise Amadeus Zabini is.

Brilliant, yet utterly stupid.

I shook my head sadly. "You didn't think B. Now, she is going to think you love her."

Blaise crossed his arms defensively. He knew that he committed a serious faux pas, but he wasn't admitting anything anytime soon. "We only went out a few times."

I moved from the one of the many couches in the head's common room to place my robes and schoolbooks into my room. Blaise had come early to hang out a bit before dinner.

I snorted aloud as I returned. "Remember whom you are speaking with. You've been on TWELVE outings with Lovegood."

Blaise shrugged in a non-committal fashion. "Few, twelve. So what?"

I wasn't stupid; I knew exactly what was happening.

Blaise, in his pursuit of the elusive, has been caught. It's been a while since Halloween, so allow me to fill you in on what happened to our dear Blaise….

-Flashback narrative-

Not too long after Draco left, Blaise departed from the great hall to go towards the room of requirement. It was the longest yet shortest 10 minutes of his life, for each step towards her felt like it was taking an eternity—then as fast as the speed of light. He could feel the blood pounding in his ears as he finally reached his destination. It was strange indeed…

As he willingly and purposefully set these chain of events in motion—set forth to prove his hypothesis true.

So with that his boldness returned as he plunged into the dark recesses of the room. He took pause as the door clicked shut.

Dark?

A familiar voice spoke out. "You're late."

A semblance of a grin graced Blaise's features as he walked towards her. He had the instincts akin to the snake which his house stood for. His tongue quickly sampled the air—he could sense exactly where she was.

"Two minutes, but I'll more than make up for that Good Lovin'…."

Underestimating her foes abilities, Luna gasped in surprise as she suddenly found herself in a pair of very strong arms. His subtle scent of lemon and sandalwood assailed her senses as she felt herself reflexively tilt her head upwards to meet his eyes.

But neither could see the other, only feel.

So she closed her eyes as her male counterpart leaned towards her ear, brushing his cheek against hers simultaneously. Something hot and wet caressed her earlobe, suckling it lightly. Luna knew that she was dangerously close to slipping away, her body responded against her will.

An amused voice breathes. "My little spitfire, would you like to explain why we are in the dark?"

Blaise could feel every delicious curve of the object of his desire as she attempted to squirm out of his reach. In response, he drew her in even more, bringing his left hand down to lightly squeeze her bottom. He was confident in his victory.

Luna, with little reserve she had, tried to slap his hand away from her bottom, but was unsuccessful. "If I had to do this, then I wanted it to be on my own terms."

"If it were your terms, you wouldn't be doing this at all."

"Exactly, but I don't have a choice now...do I?" She sighed defeatedly. "Let's just get this over with blue eyes."

Blaise took pause at this as he released Luna from his grasp, since there was never a moment such as this between them; never a moment where she sounded so lifeless.

"Lumos."

His wand provided a small source of light as he peered into her eyes, which were brimmed with tears. It was then that his sense of fair play kicked in…that he finally sobered up.

'She desires me, but she doesn't want me…she doesn't want this.'

Although Blaise was well known for being a rogue, he still maintained certain ideals of a gentleman. Mentally cursing himself for underestimating the situation in the first place, he did the only thing he knew he could do.

He used his wand to conjure a piece of paper and carelessly handed it to now very much confused Luna. He was almost to the door as Luna yelled at him.

"Where are you going? What's this?"

Not bothering to turn around, he replied tonelessly: "The countercurse. It should be easy enough to perform." Blaise was in the process of turning the door handle when he heard footsteps running towards him. A hand roughly grasped his shoulder.

A flabbergasted Luna spoke. "So that's it? A bloody piece of paper? You BASTARD?"

By this time, Blaise had spun around to gaze with incredulity at the explosive female before him. Lost in thought, he barely felt her pummeling his chest. 'I'm trying to be noble and she wants to be a bitch?' Luna finally slapped his face, bringing him out of his reverie.

'What the fuck….'

Now very pissed, Blaise grabbed both of her hands to forcefully yank her against his body. It was still dark within the room of requirement, but they both could feel each others anger. Their energies mingled, making the tension between them even more palpable. With barely contained anger, Blaise spoke first:

"Merlin woman, what the HELL do you want from me! You've been begging for release and now you have it!" This was seriously fucked up, as Blaise had never had to raise his voice to any woman. He was always the cool and collected one.

Yet here he was, with Luna, being anything but.

Luna struggled against the binds of his hands as she gritted through her teeth. "You did this you wanker, so UNDO it!"

With that, Blaise bent his head until his lips were inches from Luna's. This was indeed a very strange woman he had chosen. Never one to be angry for long, he grinned before replying. "You have no idea what you're asking me to do sweeting. You should run while you have the chance. I'm not a man to deny a blatant invitation."

Luna tossed her hair back in defiance. "This isn't a blatant invitation, this is unfinished business. UNDO it."

Blaise still couldn't believe it. The girl did want him. All this dashed nonsense because she had too much pride to tell him. He chuckled to himself, he knew that this was as close to an admission as he would get.

'For now' he thought, as he finally captured Luna's lips in a searing kiss.

His hands caressing her heart-shaped face, the environment suddenly changed into a candlelit room. The light from the candles, with that of the roaring fireplace accented a beautiful mahogany sleigh bed, which Blaise gently laid Luna upon. She felt the cool satin sheets on her back as the feather mattress conformed to the contour of their bodies.

Blaise was finally able to see her clearly. She was wearing a white toga and her dirty blonde hair was in a halo of curls crowned by a circlet of gold plated leaves. He raised his eyebrow inquisitively.

Luna rolled her eyes at him. "Athena."

He smirked. "Goddess of Wisdom?"

The joke was not lost on Luna as she used her hands to explore Blaise's upper body. She could not deny that he was a fine specimen of a man, well-built in every way; but it was foolish to become involved with him. Nothing mattered now though, as this man made her feel things—things that she never thought possible.

Tearing open his dress shirt, buttons sailed across the room as Luna's pulled Blaise closer to her. She would place her reservations on the shelf, because for now she had him. He was hers.

"Ravenclaws are smart, not wise" she seductively whispered as she raised her body up the rest of the way to kiss his lips. Their tongues met as their hands moved to feel one another. Blaise undid the top portion of Luna's toga to expose her breasts, heavy and aroused by their passionate kissing. He swirled his tongue around the aureole before flicking his tongue across her right nipple. Luna gasped in surprise as the sensation is new to her, moaning her pleasure as Blaise finally latched onto her breasts. She could feel an inexplicable heat rising within her core as he laved attention on the other breast, stroking the underside as he did so.

Mews of contentment could be heard from Luna as she cradled Blaise to her breasts. In an effort of relieve the heat between her thighs Luna spreads her legs, allowing Blaise to come between them and in one fell swoop use his free hand to cup her thong covered sex. His thumb brushes her clit through the cloth, causing Luna to gyrate against the source of her pleasure. Blaise could feel her wetness as he kissed his way down the body of his prize, undoing the waist of the toga so her body now lay completely exposed.

'Merlin have mercy' he thought as he raised himself up to look down at her. Her body was that of a goddess, with porcelain skin framing rounded hips and thighs. Her belly was flat and smooth with the outer lines of the makings of a six-pack, Dusky pink nipples top full breasts. Blaise's eyes travel down to the very thing that has plagued his dreams, what he was desperate to possess. It was hidden under a spell of his own making, but it called to him, the heady scent of nectar that emitted from it aroused him.

He licked his lips in anticipation as he prepared to lower himself once more. A hand reached out to stop him.

Twinkling eyes met his own. "Turn about is fair play blue eyes. Show me the goods." Never one to hold her tongue, Luna said what was on her mind. She wanted to know what she was getting into. Especially since….

What she felt on her upper thigh seemed pretty……involved.

Blaise, noticing her eyes quickly flitting to his middle and back again, chuckled to himself. She was bold, but he knew she wasn't anywhere near ready for what he wanted to give her. He needed to distract her.

So he increased the pressure of his thumb, resuming its activity as it had not changed from its previous position. A moan unwittingly escaped from Luna's lips which were transmitted to Blaise's own as he covered her mouth with his own. All rational thought left them as they savored their kiss. Luna bucked against the ministrations of his hand, opening herself to him. The scent of her sex assailed his senses once again, causing him to lower himself where he his face was directly positioned opposite her sex.

With reptilian precision, his tongue extended out to caress the satiny crotch of her thong. Starting from the bottom, he slowly dragged his tongue upwards to her waiting nub. Tilting his head to the right, his tongue began to trace loops over the already moistened fabric, followed by a zigzag formation. Once completed, Blaise used his tongue to finally plunge into her depths—to savor his victory.

Taken by surprise, Luna jerked upright at the action.

"ZABINI!"

Of course, as our young Slytherin was enjoying his new discovery, he was oblivious to Luna's vocal reaction. All he noticed was that whatever move she made; it brought her closer to his face—improved his access. So he used his hands to hold her there while he nuzzled her clit with his nose and licked it; alternating for a minute before placing his whole mouth over her. Barely supporting herself, her hands behind her roughly gripping the sheets, Luna squealed and cried out in delight. She could feel herself coming to a familiar point. She knew she was close.

As her thighs began to shake, Blaise could feel it too as he wriggled his tongue inside her. Teasing the upper portion of her walls, he felt her beginning to spasm. He began to lap up her juices in accord.

"OH! OH BLAISE!" She shouted as she forcefully came into his mouth.

And so it ends. She finally came, on the real thing.

He couldn't have been more pleased.

-fin-

I laughed aloud as I sat opposite Blaise once more. This was ridiculous.

"Whatever B, in the light of day, you know what all of this adds up to. You are dating a girl that you had a chance to sleep with, but didn't. TWELVE dates since Halloween… mate it's the FIFTEENTH of NOVEMBER and it's the first time I've spoken to you since that night! Do the math."

Blaise looked at me quizzically. "Yeah, I could see how that would look especially incriminating, but I don't love her. I just like her. I like having her around."

"Whatever." I sigh in defeat. "I give up. Just don't say I didn't warn you mate."

Didn't I tell you? Brilliant, yet utterly stupid. Who could blame him though?

He is young. I am young.

Although we have been forced to act mature for most of our lives, carrying the weight of honor and duty on our shoulders, we are still children—still growing and learning about ourselves.

Living in the age of our innocence. Grasping what little of it we have left to enjoy…

Before it is no more.

It was with those thoughts that Blaise and I sat in the great hall for dinner. I allowed my eyes to stray to the Gryffindor table, where she sat. She was, as I, eating and drinking with her friends. Under hooded lids, I studied the contours of her face, the way she smiled and laughed.

It stood to reason that I could enjoy her…feed on her innocence….her vitality. She was there, ripe for the picking.

She wanted to be picked.

Why couldn't I? What was stopping me?

Nothing. That's what.

I abruptly stood up and left the table to walk the distance to the opposite end of the great hall until I faced her. She looked at me in surprise, as we had been avoiding each other for weeks. I knew she was wondering what the hell I was doing there...

But she would soon find out.

The weasel was the first to speak. "What the hell do you want Malfoy?"

Maintaining eye contact with Granger, I addressed her. "We need to talk. NOW."

Potter butted in. "Fuck off Mal"

Granger cut in impatiently. "What do you want Malfoy? Can't it wait?"

My voice brooked no refusal. "No". She's a smart witch. I wouldn't have come over here unless it was pressing.

Granger gritted her teeth. "Fine, I'm coming. Harry, Ron, I'll see you later ok?"

Potter and Weasel, maintaining a look of utter mutiny, grunted an affirmatory response of some sort before we left the great hall. 'Dumbasses' I thought as we walked towards the common room. We didn't quite make it there, as Granger stopped in the middle of the hallway.

"What's up Malfoy? What was so bloody important that I had to leave my friends and my dinner unfinished? And no bullshit, because I don't have time fo"

Before she could finish her sentence, I forcefully drew her tightly into my arms, using one hand to cradle her head. Her eyes widened in surprise as I penetrated her with my steely gaze. Our lips tickled one another's as I spoke. Her hands were splayed against my chest. I had her attention.

"Granger, now would be a good time for you to be quiet."

So there we stood in the open, quiet, our lips barely touching, our breath mingling. My nearness was affecting her, as I heard her sigh. Even I had to admit, I had no idea why I hadn't done this before. What took me so long…

She felt good in my arms…good like this. It was time to put it to the test.

I closed the slight distance between us to seal the kiss and it was like a shock of electricity as we came together. She struggled against my grasp to free her hands, which she used to gently caress my face. Granger moaned into my mouth as I sucked on her tongue and rubbed our pelvises together so show her the burgeoning evidence of my arousal.

It was short-lived however, as we were interrupted by footsteps approaching from afar.

To avoid being caught in a compromising situation, I quickly released Granger, who was still a little dazed from our encounter, but was easily able to compose herself. We looked at each other, both without expression, trying to figure out exactly what happened a few seconds ago.

I had an idea, but it was pointless, as the answer wasn't framed by the right question.

"Hermione…" a voice called out to her from a few feet away.

I know to whom the voice belongs, as I had heard it many times over the last few months.

She walked past me to approach him. "Hey Cam, I thought you had practice until late tonight."

He kissed her forehead, warily eyeing me. "Supposedly, but one of our beaters got sick, so we had to cut it short." He inclined his head towards me. "Malfoy." He thenleaned down to kiss Granger on the lips, distracting her even further.

I didn't hang around for the rest.

As I laid on my bed staring aimlessly at the ceiling, I wondered what exactly was I trying to accomplish back there? Was I trying to reclaim my own innocence?

Or was I attempting to recover something else—something less defined.

I'd have to wait for the answer, as the ball was now in Granger's court.

Hopefully, I wouldn't have to wait long.

Dedicated to Hafthand and Lorett: Ally and Lorett..recall me saying that there has to be a reason. This is part of it. The answer is in here somewhere. I leave it to you to find it. :o) Thanks for everything. I love you both dearly!

A/N: After over a month, here it is: Age of Innocence. I hope everyone enjoys it. Writing this was a bit challenging because I had to fill in some blanks and bridge a few gaps. It gets better though, I promise!

Again, I have to be up at 3am (for Surgery, since I am on my Surgical rotation in medical school at this point. I start on the Trauma service in less than 8 hrs! I am soo excited!) so I apologize in advance for not posting individual shout-outs. Please know however, that I have read and cherished each and every review that has been posted. I appreciate you all for sticking with me. Even those who have read and reviewed my other story: Celebrity Skin, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Ok... I'm off to bed so I can save lives in the morning. Cheers and don't forget to review and say hello!

NB