Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Another Blaise/Hermione one shot. Involves flirting, cello-playing!Blaise and flustered!Hermione.

SLYTHERIN CLAIMS
A Blaise Zabini/Hermione Granger One Shot

Pieces of parchment littered the floor. A bottle of ink had smashed and several books contributed to the carnage.

"You really should watch where you're going, Zabini," Hermione Granger grumbled crossly, stooping down to retrieve the books that had been dislodged from her grasp when she had collided with the Slytherin boy.

"It's not my fault you had your nose in a book and couldn't see one foot in front of the other," Blaise Zabini replied lightly, pulling his wand from the pocket of his robes. "Scourgify." The spilled ink disappeared with a wave of his wand.

Hermione paused as her hand picked up a stray piece of parchment. She looked first at the parchment, and then at her fellow seventh year. "I didn't know you played the cello," she commented, handing the music back to him. A slight blush crept onto his cheeks.

"Well, yes. When I was seven my mother decided it was a refined and gentlemanly enough hobby for me to pursue."

The Gryffindor retrieved her copy of Advanced Transfiguration from where it was lying open at page 167. "I've never really seen the cello as a masculine instrument," was her remark as she smoothed the crumpled page down.

"A powerful instrument between your legs?" Blaise asked with raised eyebrows. "How could it not be masculine?" At this, Hermione pulled a face.

"Still," she said, changing the subject, "I never expected someone like you to be musical."

"What can I say?" Blaise said, feigning an indignant tone, "I'm a man of many depths."

"Does shallow classify as a depth?" Hermione mused.

Blaise ignored this comment as he passed Hermione her worn copy of Hogwarts, a History. "Not only can I play the cello, but I have recently taken up the bass guitar, I am fairly proficient at Italian, I can say the alphabet backwards and, I have it on very good authority, I am I very good kisser."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Why shouldn't you. I'll prove it: Z, Y, X…"

"Not that, Zabini," she said sharply, "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt about that." She shook her head, partly in amusement, and partly in disbelief. "Honestly, Zabini," she continued, "you shouldn't go making claims that you can't live up to. I suppose I should have expected that from a Slytherin."

Blaise gave her a wicked smile.

When Hermione arrived in Transfiguration a couple of minutes late, flustered and her face red, Harry and Ron pestered her, asking if something had happened to her. Hermione, however, would not say a word, although they were sure that they could hear her trying to recite the alphabet backwards as she copied notes from her Transfiguration book.

THE END

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed it. If you like Blaise/Hermione, why not head over to the shipping thread on FictionAlley, or the Blaise/Hermione LiveJournal community? Find links to them in my profile.

Love and hugs and coffee,
silverphoenix