Chapter 13:
"Hello."
"Hey," I blushed.
He kissed my hand.
I blushed some more.
We hadn't talked in about a week. I think he's been avoiding me. I wanted to owl him but I was afraid my parents would find out. They've been setting me up with different people each week.
Yesterday it was Theo Nott.
He was kind, a bit lanky for my taste, but was friends with Draco and enjoyed talking about books. I enjoyed looking at the covers in the library but the words didn't make much sense. I had never learned to read. Father said it didn't matter because house witches didn't need to know how to read.
Mother told me though that I was to become a Death Eater. She promised that she'd hire me a tutor and I'd learn quickly. She said that father didn't want me becoming one and would've preferred that I just sit pretty. That only made me want to learn more. I would not demote myself to just a house witch. I would prove him wrong. I would prove everyone wrong. I'd already spent most of my life cleaning up and taking care of others and I wanted to do something more. I wanted to be powerful.
"I wanted to apologize for my sudden departure at Draco's," his shoulders hunched, uncharismatically, and cheeks pinkened just the tiniest bit. "I feel strangely… protective of you. Snape was always a douche and the thought of him hurting you… I just… I just couldn't handle it. I'm sorry if I scared you."
He scared me half to death. I wanted to be mad at him. I wanted to hit him and scream at him about how clueless he acted. I wanted to tell him how much I had missed him, how worried I was for him. But all I could do was nod my head. I was unused to apologies. No one ever apologized to me. I usually deserved everything I got.
"I saw Theo yesterday."
He quirked an eyebrow, an amused smile played at his lips.
Seriously, Hermione? Was that all you could say?
I mentally slapped myself in the face. I doubted he wanted to hear about another guy, I was being courted by.
"Nott?" he asked surprised. "He's one of my best mates- him and Draco."
"He's very nice," I said. "My mother said he's from a good English pureblood family and I'd be lucky to marry him."
I stared at the ground, a thousand thoughts ran through my head. Why was I so bloody awful at small talk?
"He's a good guy." Blaise smiled although his voice was slightly strained. "Perfect for a witch like you."
But I like you. I thought in my mind. I didn't want any other wizard. I was set to meet Evan Rosier tomorrow for afternoon tea and from what mother told me, we were second cousins. It didn't seem to bother her though. She and father were distantly related. All purebloods were.
"Would you like to take a walk in the gardens?" I asked, hopeful. "The tulips have bloomed. They're very pretty."
"Actually," he paused. "I was hoping you would accompany me to Parkinson Manor."
Parkinson? An image of the witch in the green dress from the party popped into mind. She made me nervous. Blaise must have seen the worried expression on my face because suddenly he was holding my hand, gently squeezing.
"Pansy is a good friend," he said. "She's just having a small get together and I figured you might want to meet some people your own age. It must be awfully lonely only having your parents and Missy-"
"Tulip." I cut him off.
"What?"
Tears burned at the back of my eyes. "Missy is dead. My mother killed her right in front of me."
"Why?" he sputtered, eyes wide.
I froze. He couldn't know what I tried to do. He'd leave me in a heartbeat.
"No reason." my voice was suddenly thick. "I'll have to ask my parents if I can go."
"Of course." he immediately said. "I'll wait here-"
"There will be no need." a voice said from behind.
I spun around to find my mother lurking, watching us with interest.
"Hello, Mr. Zabini." she feigned a smile, coming to stand beside me.
'Lady Lestrange." he bowed. "It's nice to see you again."
She sighed, her eyes roaming over his body and hand running through my tangled curls. "I hear you'd like to take my daughter out," she said.
His Adam's apple bobbed, nodding his head. "We're meeting at Parkinson manor- just Draco, Theo Nott, Adrian Pucey, Pansy, Lilia Selwyn, and Daphne and Astoria Greengrass."
My mother nodded, seemingly approving of the group. She turned to me and said, "you have to bring Tulip with you, We don't want another incident."
Blaise was confused.
I wasn't going to try to off myself again.
I nodded my head, reluctantly, not willing to explain to him. "Yes, mother." I quietly agreed.
"I'll let your father know where you've gone," she said, smoothing out my hair with her hand. "It'll be good for you to be surrounded by your own people. Perhaps, know you will learn our ways."
"Of course, mother." I bite down on my tongue, stopping myself from saying any more. If she meant becoming a raging blood supremacist then I wanted nothing to do with their ways.
I had no desire to fight in the middle of a war. I wanted to retire to a desolate beach with no other people and live in a little cottage and vegetable garden. I wanted to go where no one would ever find me. I was offered that choice but turned it down. I was stupid when I was young but I knew better now.
"Tulip!" she screeched.
The poor creature arrived, shaking in fear of her. "You will accompany your mistress to the Parkinson home. Keep a good eye on her."
She didn't have a chance to respond because my mother left suddenly.
ooOoo
Pansy Parkinson was just as intimidating as I remembered. She wore a flowy light blue dress robe, more casual and not as fancy. Her dark hair fell below her shoulders in soft waves and she looked less pug like without all the makeup on. There was a confidence and certainty about her personality that oozed off her body. She was the type of girl who knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it.
As soon as we stepped through the fireplace Blaise was greeted with a big hug and kiss on the cheek. I stood back, unsure of what to do. Her brown eyes landed on me, a moment later and brows arched, silently judging. I stood still, unsure of what else to do. Blaise's hand rested on the small of my back in what was meant to be a comforting gesture. My stomach rolled and I stared at her painted toenails.
After what felt like an eternity, she smiled. Blaise let out a noticeable sigh of relief.
"Welcome to Parkinson Manor," she said. Her hands folded together, resting on her stomach. "It's nice to see you again. I apologize we didn't get a chance to speak at your party… I was kind of preoccupied."
"HAH!" Blaise barked a laugh. "You had the entire quidditch team fighting to look at your tits-"
She punched him in the arm. Blaise smirked. I fought back the urge not to take a step back. I'd never been around friendly banter. Usually arguing lead to fighting and people ended up getting hurt but watching Blaise from the corner of my eye, he only smiled teasing her back, no anger in sight.
"I needed to let loose." she shrugged. "In a few weeks I'll be chained to Montague and we all know how possessive he can be."
"Your parents couldn't have been happy about that."
"No." she hummed. "They weren't."
Despite her airy voice, there was a fear in her eyes. But of who- Her parents? Montague? His name sounded familiar but I couldn't picture who he was. Both of them quieted as the conversation turned a dark corner, silently communicating with their eyes. It felt as if I was intruding on a private moment.
Her eyes flickered to me. Her hands suddenly clapped together, breaking the silence. There was a false airiness in her voice as she said, "Anyways! Let's head to the patio, the others are eating."
She took my hand, dragging me away from Blaise and out the open door. It was a small stone terrace and seated around the table were three girls, Draco, Theo, and the other boy I assumed to be Adrian Pucey. The men stood up, except Draco. He refused to even look in my direction. I assumed he was still angry because of my mother. I sat farthest away from him, in between Pansy and a blonde-haired girl.
"I'm Daphne," she smiled, her teeth pearly white. Everything about her screamed perfection from her perfectly braided golden blonde hair to blue eyes and sparkling dress. She looked as if she'd never worked a day in her life. Her hands were smooth, no callous in sight, and a fat shining diamond ring sat on her finger.
"This is my sister Astoria." she pointed toward the identical girl beside her. The only difference was that she looked to be a couple of years younger and had dark brown hair and fair skin, not as tan as her sister.
"Stori." she corrected her with a slight roll of her eyes. "I go by Stori."
I nodded my head. Opening my mouth to speak, it felt like something was stuck at the back of my throat. Everyone waited for a response but I said nothing.
They turned away, suddenly more interested in the biscuits on their plate.
"You know Theo, Draco, Blaise…" Pansy hesitantly spoke up in an attempt to curb the awkward silence. Blaise winked at me from across the table. I looked away, trying to hide the twitch of my lips. Was it silly of me to be this nervous around him?
"Have you met Adrian and Lilia?"
I had not.
Lilia was the third girl. She had dark brown eyes and long straight hair, almost black. Her face was narrow and cat-like eyes looked me over. She sat rigid in the chair, grasping Adrian's hand underneath the table. She seemed to think that she was better than me. She was judging me hard and I don't think she liked me very much. Hate was an emotion I knew well. I could handle hate.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lestrange," Adrian Pucey spoke for the both of them. He was courteous if not a bit cautious. His dark hair was swooped to the side, he had a strong jawline and dark brown eyes. He sat with the same confidence and regality as the rest of them. None of them had to say there richer or more superior than others, you just felt it.
"Th-thank you." I stammered.
I glanced at Draco but he was concentrated on Lilia's face. His mouth formed into a sneer, slouching at the table.
"Would anyone like some more pumpkin juice?" Pansy asked too sweetly.
Draco arched an eyebrow.
Her smile was forced.
I wanted to leave.
"Only if there's a shot a firewhisky." drawled Blaise.
Theo snickered, lightening up the mood.
I was about to say no but decided against it. I would only make myself look more like a fool. Tulip stood at the doorway, painfully quiet. Everyone else seemed to have forgotten about her presence but I was all too aware.
Pansy called for a house-elf and he arrived right away taking the pitcher and refilling it a moment later before disappearing again. Draco pulled a tiny bottle out of his pocket filled with liquid and poured it into the pitcher.
I didn't take a drink but everyone else did.
I shifted uncomfortably in the seat. The stench of alcohol burned my nose. My fingers tugged and pulled at the seams in my dress, unraveling a string. I counted backwards in my mind, trying to focus on anything else other than this.
Lilia Selwyn was already drunk and downed her glass in one gulp.
I wanted to leave.
Nobody seemed to notice.
"Are you coming to Hogwarts this year?" Stori suddenly asked.
Startled, my head shot up and I mumbled out a response. "N-no. I'm being homeschooled, I think, yeah, homeschooled."
"Oh," her voice faltered. "That's a shame."
"All Lestranges are in Slytherin," Pansy spoke up. "You most likely would've been a snake-like us. Slytherin is the best house."
That's something everyone seemed to agree on. Father said I spoke like a true Slytherin last night. After dinner, we talked more in his study about the Dark Lord's plans and he seemed to agree with what I had to say.
"My parents were saying that you're going to take the mark?" said Adrian.
"Yes."
Draco glanced at me, his jaw was clenched.
"Of course she is." Lilia rolled her eyes. "You've met her parents, haven't you?"
"Daddy says it's not a witch's place to fight battles." Daphne twirled a blonde lock around her finger. "I'm to marry Felix Rosier in a month. He's a Dragonologist."
I nodded as if I was remotely interested in what she had to say. Astoria giggled and Pansy huffed. Was this what witches did in their free time? Ginny Weasley and her friends always rode on their brooms. Sometimes they gossiped about boys but it was never anything interesting.
"What was it like?" Lilia suddenly turned toward me. "My parents say you were like, abused by the Order. You don't look abused though, you're just pale and skinny-"
"Lilia!" Blaise and Pansy barked at the same time.
"- and ugly," she smirked. "I don't get what's so special about you. You're probably just as bat shit crazy like your mother-"
She didn't have a chance to finish because Adrian roughly pulled her from the table, dragging her away.
"You're the prettiest one here!" Stori said unconvincingly.
My chest heaved up and down. Their voices blurred together as wet drops fell down my cheeks.
Take me away! Now!
"Hermione, listen to me!" Pansy grabbed my face, forcing me to stare at her. "She's just jealous, alright? Lilia has wanted to marry Adrian for the longest time and suddenly you appeared. She's afraid that he's going to leave her for you."
"I- I don't even know him!" my voice shook. I stood up suddenly, feeling as if I was about to puke. The food sat on my plate, untouched, and the ground below me swayed.
"Mistress Minny!" I was just briefly aware of Tulip tugging on my robes. "Let Tulip bring Mistress home! Mistress is sickly!"
I pulled away and Blaise and Draco now stood beside me. I turned to Blaise, completely ignoring my cousin. I wasn't ready to deal with him yet.
"Let me take you somewhere." his voice was warm, a soft whisper in my ear. "I can take us away from here, Hermione, just name the place."
"Barnton," I whispered.
Take me to Barnton.
ooOoo
Author's Note: Hey everybody! I know, double update! Thanks to those who've reviewed and read, it means so much to me! I really love seeing reviews, for please do! I'm trying to include more of Blaise and I apologize if anyone's been confused. Everything will make sense in the end! The next chapter should clear a few things up! I keep taking breaks from this story and then will come back and forget what I wrote before. I'm trying to put it more together and update it more frequently. I should update again soon but until then I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy!