Authors Notes: Sorry, I didn't want to make you guys suffer (for those who read my stories) therefore here's the next chapter. Enjoy.
Chapter 10: Making Judgments
Hermione woke up to the sound of the owl tapping on her window. Hermione rolled over and groaned. She tried to block the sound out but then it tapped harder causing her to roll over once more and land on the floor.
"Ow!" Hermione got up and rubbed her bum. "This better be worth it." Hermione walked over and opened the window and took the parchment from the school owl. "Okay, let's see here." Hermione opened it and started to read what was written.
Dear Hermione,
Today is Saturday and our first Hogsmeade trip. Do you want to hang out with me? If your answer is yes, meet me at the Three Broomsticks at noon.
Blaise.
Hermione smiled and put the note away, she decided there was no harm in hanging out with Blaise. She picked out an outfit, although she wasn't into the whole dressy stuff. She took out a brown long sleeve dress shirt that had a pleaded pattern with a pair of washed out blue jeans she hardly wore. Hermione grabbed her bathroom things and ran down the steps to the bathroom. No one was around and the bathroom was empty so she decided to take her sweet old time.
After she had washed, cleaned and dressed herself. She walked out of the bathroom and found Draco in the common room. He was reading a magazine and Hermione didn't really care to bother with him. But the moment he saw her he got up.
"Hey, I need to talk to you."
"You always need to talk to me these days. What is it?"
"About last night, I don't know why you got so emotional but I'm sorry." Draco said sincerely. Hermione almost prayed that this was like some sick joke he was playing with her. Why would Draco be sorry? Were Malfoys even capable of having human emotions besides sexual desires?
"Ha ha. you're one hell of a joker." She said sarcastically.
"I'm not joking Granger."
"Well anyways I got somewhere to go. So later." Hermione replied and ran out the room. She couldn't deal with Draco right now. Hermione went to the Great Hall to find Harry, Ron and Ginny. Ron stared at her the whole time but she didn't look back at him. Harry on the other hand was having a conversation with Ginny.
"Hi guys." She said as she sat down next to Ron. Ron muttered something and Harry smiled up at her.
"Hey." Harry said happily. If only he knew what will happen in a week's time if she didn't think of something soon.
"Herms, coming to Hogsmeade with us?" Ginny asked.
"No, actually I'm kind of going with someone else."
"Oh, a date?" Ginny asked.
"No. More like hanging out." Hermione replied. She looked over at the Slytherin table and caught Blaise watching her, he gave her a smile and she turned back around.
"I hope he's not a Slytherin." Harry said noticing how she watched the Slytherin table.
"Actually he is. But don't worry, he's a nice guy." Hermione reassured.
"Hermione!" Ron said finally joining the conversation.
"What?" Hermione asked baffled at his outburst.
"You know Slytherins are nothing but scums." Ron said and disgustingly looked over at the table.
"Well like I said don't worry."
"We have to worry." Harry said.
"Exactly, we're you're best friends." Ron added.
"I know, I can take care of myself. Just trust me to make my own judgments." Hermione replied. Harry nodded reluctantly and Ron muttered something under his breath before returning to eat.
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Hermione came to the Three Broomsticks exactly at noon and found Blaise sitting next to Draco talking. Hermione groaned, she didn't want to spend time with Blaise if Draco was tagging along. Blaise saw her and gestured her over. Hermione walked over slowly and sat down next to Blaise. It seemed that all the Hogwarts student's were watching Hermione, Blaise and Draco. It's not everyday you see Slytherins and Gryfinders together in one place without something exploding from their wands.
"Hey cutie." Blaise said smiling oblivious to the many eyes staring. Hermione smiled back weakly and then saw Draco roll his eyes.
"Hi, Blaise."
"Blaise I'm off, tell me when you stop talking to mudbloods." Draco said as he got up to leave. Hermione expected that from him, as though he could actually be decent. Blaise nodded and let him leave.
"Sorry he's a pain in the ass sometimes." Blaise said after Draco left the shop.
"I know that first hand." Hermione replied. Blaise gave one of his sweet laughs and nodded. He finished drinking his drink and put the cup down then looked up at Hermione.
"What do you want to do?" Blaise asked.
"Anything really, wanna check out the other shops?" Hermione replied. She wanted to get out of this shop, there were far to many people watching her and Blaise. It made her feel uncomfortable.
"Too many watchers?" Blaise said noticing her squirming in her seat. Hermione nodded and he took her hand leading her outside of the shop. His hand was warm against hers and she felt rather happy that he didn't care if he showed any display of affection, not that this was affectionate. They both walked over to Honeydukes hand in hand.
"Want anything?" Blaise asked. Hermione shook her head and just looked around a bit. Blaise bought himself some candy and began to eat it as they walked outside for a while. Hermione saw Harry and Ron walking over to her, and they didn't look happy at all.
"Hermione, can we talk to you... " Harry asked then glared at Blaise. "...alone?" Blaise didn't seem to care how Harry was looking at him.
"Sure.." Hermione said and turned to look at Blaise. "..can you give me a second?" Hermione asked.
"No problem cutie." Blaise said and took off towards Goyle, Crabbe and Draco who happened to be watching them down the street. Harry stood in front of her blocking her view from Draco.
"Cutie?" Ron said screwing his face in disgust. "Please! Don't make me gag!"
"Shut up!" Hermione said sternly. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Him? That's who you wanted to 'hang' with?" Harry asked disappointedly.
"At least it's not Malfoy." Hermione replied. Why had she said that?
"So?" Ron said. "It's still a big deal. He's a Slytherin. S-L-Y-T-H-E-R-I-N."
"Ronald! Blaise is a nice guy." Hermione said irritated.
"Have you ever questioned his motives?" Harry asked. "Have you ever thought why would Blaise Zabini, Slytherin talk to Hermione Granger, Gryfinder out of the blue?"
"I did, at first but he hasn't done anything. He's been helping me in Tutoring as a partner." Hermione said. She never thought of the day she would be defending a Slytherin. Harry raised his hands up in surrender.
"Fine 'Mione, you win. Just be bloody careful." Harry said as he grabbed Ron's arm. "Let's go Ron."
"Hermione, please be careful." Ron said worriedly and walked off with Harry. She watched as they walked into the Three Broomsticks, she could tell Harry was arguing with Ron and Ron kept looking back. Once they were inside, she turned around to see Blaise waiting for her. He was leaning against the wall with Draco, Goyle and Crabbe. Draco never left his gaze from her as she walked over to them.
"So, Herm-"
"Don't call her that, she's a mudblood." Goyle said glaring at her. That word was seriously getting old but Hermione didn't bother with him. He wasn't worth her breath. But Malfoy is? Hermione wondered where that had come from but she brushed it aside.
"What's up with talking to a Gryfindor?" Crabbe asked. Blaise rolled his eyes at them. Hermione could tell he was having a hard time with his friends just like her.
"Shut up! She's cool. You guys seriously need a reality check." Blaise said angrily then looked over at Hermione who stood near him. "ANYWAYS Hermione, want to go somewhere else?" Hermione gave him a smile and nodded.
"I sure do." Hermione replied. She heard someone give a snort and she looked over at Draco who was pretending to eat some treats. Blaise seemed like he never heard and took her hand once again.
"Let's go." Blaise said quietly and dragged her through the street. They came upon a open field where the Shrieking Shack can be seen from. Blaise released his hand from her and stared into the distance. "So?" Blaise said breaking the awkward silence, Hermione decided to ask him what he really wanted from her.
"Blaise, why are you being so nice to me all of the sudden?" Hermione asked. Blaise looked over at her and smirked.
"Because you have a hot body." Blaise replied bluntly. Hermione's eyes widened a bit surprised. "I'M KIDDING!" Blaise said laughing at her expression. What was he kidding about? The fact that she didn't have a hot body or the fact that he wasn't being nice to her because of her body.
"Umm..sure. Just to let you know, I don't have sex." Hermione said sternly. She had no idea why she had said that, it's not like he was going to have sex with her. Or Was he?
"I'm not asking for sex or anything like that." Blaise said a bit startled. Hermione gave a sigh of relief.
"Okay. Then what are you asking for?" Hermione asked.
"Wow, you sure like to ask a lot of questions but I expect that from you. I like you, you're cool and I wanted to hang." Blaise said calmly.
"All right."
"Hermione, trust me. I don't want anything from you. You're a smart witch, better then the fools I've been with lately."
"Oh, okay." Hermione said. She had to agree, those friends of his were foul and beyond rude. For the next half hour, they talked about whatever came to their minds, she felt like he was not at all interested in hurting her but then again she wondered what could possibly happen between them? They continued talking about Quidditch, silly rumors and classes. Finally Blaise looked at his watch, which was quite odd for him to be caring around. Muggle contraptions were not anything worthy of pureblooded Slytherins but then again talking to one wasn't either.
"Hermione, I have to go. Got business to take care of." Blaise said after a while.
"Okay bye." Hermione said. Blaise gave her a quick hug and dashed off. Hermione was left alone to think. She sat down at some large rock and stared at the Shrieking Shack. She didn't know what to consider of Blaise. He was nice, cute and friendly but is that what she wanted? Hermione didn't really think about having a boyfriend before, she wasn't even sure if that's what Blaise wanted. Hermione gave out a frustrated sigh and rubbed her arms from the chilly wind. He said she was a cool person to be with, as a friend or something more? And Hermione wasn't even sure she was interested in either.
"Granger?" Hermione got up and turned around to face the person who called her. It was Draco and he had a strange expression on his face.
"What?" Hermione asked coldly.
"Calm down mudblood. I need to let you know something."
"And what could that possibly be?" Hermione asked annoyed. Draco moved closer to her, hands in his pocket watching her carefully.
"A bit hostile don't you think?"
"What do you want from me?"
"I'm just here to warn you. Stay away from Blaise."
"Why do you care?"
"If you want to get hurt go ahead and be with him."
"I don't want to be with him. He's just a friend." Hermione wrapped her arms across her chest and stared at him angrily. What was up with Draco these days?
"He's not the kind of friend you think he is."
"He's at least easier to talk to."
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into mudblood." Draco said calmly. Hermione had enough of him, he just had pushed her to the limit.
"FUCK YOU! I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK, I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR WARNINGS, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"I CAN'T, YOU IDIOT!" Draco yelled back, now hands out of his pockets and in the air.
"Why not?" Hermione asked calmly.
"Because." Draco replied. That wasn't even an answer for her so she persisted.
"Why bloody not?!" Hermione asked aggressively.
"I SAID BECAUSE!" Draco yelled.
"Because what?" Hermione asked. He was really messing with her again and she was having enough of him. She didn't wait for an answer. Hermione began to walk back up the trail to Hogwarts but Draco grabbed her and spun her around to face him.
"I hate you so much but I can't...I just can't." Draco said softly. Hermione arched her eye brow at him. Was Draco losing his mind? He didn't make any sense at all. Hermione tried to release his hold on her but one of his hands made it to her waist and the other to her chin. He tilted her head up and she was forced to stare into his grey eyes which was usually cold but now was glistening.
"Malfoy, what are you doing?" Hermione asked but she didn't move at all. She just watched him watching her. He studied her face like a book at the same time hungrily. He didn't hurt her this time, he just held her there. And Hermione was hoping for something to happened because the silence was unbearable.
"Mudblood, you talk too much." Draco whispered before leaning in to her face. The motion was painfully slow and Hermione for a split second wondered if he was ever going to kiss her. He was so close, yet so far away and his eyes were half way closed. Her hands which rested along her sides began to move upwards as she watched his lips. One of her hands came around his arm while the other behind his neck. If he was going to take so long to kiss her, she was going to help. Hermione pushed his head closer to her and their lips lightly brushed.
"Don't ever call me that name again, Malfoy." Hermione whispered back making sure her lips brushed against his and then she quickly pushed him away.
"What the hell?" Draco said a bit confused. Hermione stepped away from him, her senses came back. This was Draco, and her first kiss was not going to be like that. But then what did she expect? Hermione had no clue, all she could do was stare at the confused Draco.
"What is wrong with you?" Hermione asked.
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?" Draco asked angrily.
"You were the one trying to kiss me." Hermione replied.
"Damn you!"
"Fuck you!"
"You're nothing but a tease."
"Excuse me??" Hermione asked. "I left you alone, but you insist on bothering me." Draco rolled his eyes and walked closer to her, going back to his original position with his hands on her waist.
"Do you hate me?" Draco asked.
"Duh!" Hermione replied and he gave a smirk. Then he leaned his head closer to her once more placing his hand behind her head.
"How badly?" Draco asked at the same time not taking his eyes off her lips.
"Bad enough to-" Draco planted a soft kiss on her lips, she could feel the warmth of it move across her face. He had done it, he kissed her. She was experiencing her first kiss and..it wasn't that bad. Draco didn't move away, his lips were firmly pressed on her own. Hermione slowly closed her eyes and tried to enjoy something intimate with her enemy. Sure she was going to regret it later but right now her mind wasn't winning.
Draco bit her lower lip seductively causing her to moan. She had the urge to go further then this, heat was escalating her body and her mind was becoming numb. How was it possible he knew how to make her yearn after a minute of a simple kiss? Draco took his lips away from hers and stared at her. Hermione felt like he was reading her soul, which felt kind of nice.
"You were saying?" Draco asked smirking. Hermione snapped out of her moment, the piercing grey eyes watched her hungrily and she was beginning to regret what had just happened. It was wrong, it was scandalous and most importantly it was Draco Malfoy. Hermione pushed him back, giving her at least a few inches of space. She rubbed her neck and bit her lip praying this was just a really bad dream.
Draco arched his eye brow at her and waited for an answer. Hermione finally raised her eyes up to him and gave him the coldest glare possible.
"Don't ever come near me, Malfoy. Ever." Hermione warned and ran off back to the path to Hogwarts leaving Draco standing alone, stunned.
Authors Notes: I bet you guys are wondering what Blaise is doing up in this story but don't worry I have a purpose for him and it's not what you guys think. So keep reading. And Review!
Sneak Peak:
"It's about that night I followed you." Draco put his finger to her lips and dragged her inside making sure he looked down the hall. He then slammed the door shut and turned around to face her.
"You can't just talk about things like that in public." Draco said angrily.
"I didn't know the wall's had ears." Hermione replied sarcastically.
"Shut up and get to the point."
"It's about the night you're getting initiated."
"Yeah, not much to it. Get the dark mark become a death eater and kill mudbloods like yourself." Draco said bluntly. Hermione gave him a staggered look. How could he just say that as though it meant nothing.
"Can you reconsider becoming one?" Hermione asked.
Yeah! Review and I promise to upload the next chappie soon. Love and Peace!
