Title: Summer of Uncertainty (5/?)

Author: granger2malfoy

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Disclaimer: I am not JK. But that's not what the voices in my head keep saying.

Summary: Due to threat on the Golden Trio and Hermione's family, desperate measures are taken the summer before their seventh year. How does this effect Blaise Zabini?

Previously in Chapter Four

Blaise came up from behind her and almost whispered into her ear. "How do you like it?"

A slight blush came to her cheeks as she went to the balcony that was also in her bedroom. She needed to put more space in between her body and his. For some reason, his voice sent a shiver through her body. With a smile, she turned to look at the young man who was doing so much for her. Yet, she did not know why but that would be for a conversation later during her stay. "All of this is just so perfect. Thank you for your hospitality and your family's as well."

"I am happy to do it. I like the idea of having some new company for the summer. Now, your trunks are on the other side of your bed. Go ahead and unpack. I'll be back in a half an hour for that tour."

He turned and left her alone in her new room for the summer. It had been a long day already but she almost felt like an heiress sleeping in such a beautiful room. Hermione found her trunk where he mentioned it was and started the task of unpacking her belongings.

Chapter Five

Blaise closed the door of Hermione's new room as he left her alone to let her start to get unpacked. He closed his eyes and leaned against the door of the room. He was starting to get doubts on whether her staying there with him was a good idea. Something about her started to get him nervous whenever he saw her.

His eyes opened as he remembered he had actually flirted with her outside and smack her arse. The fact she had a nice, firm arse was not the point. He shook his head as he moved away from the door. The kitchen could be seen from the balcony in front of their rooms. His mother was pulling out some cold drinks, crackers, fruit, and cheese. Always the proper hostess.

Blaise walked down the stairs next to Hermione's room and made his way down to his mother. He pulled out a barstool by the high counter of the black marble countertop and watched his mother. She smiled as she uncovered the plat with four different kinds of cheese. "Michael went to the store to get some more supplies that we will need with your friend and her family."

Michael was a squib that had worked for the family for years and was like an uncle he had never had. Tessa Zabini walked around the cherry wood bar and offered her hand to her son. He pushed the chair out and took his mother's hand as they walked pasted the small table in the kitchen. The large glass windows showed the sun would be due to set in a few hours.

His mother pushed open the glass door leading outside to the brick patio that faced the ocean. Blaise always loved coming out here when he needed to clear his head. He had a close relationship with his mother, though he would not consider himself a 'momma's boy.' Blaise had always listened to his mother and she had never judged him but always listened to him and gave her honest opinion.

She sat on a black rod iron lounge chair with a ivory covered padding as she motioned for him to sit next to her. With flick of her wrists, two ice lemonades appeared between them on a small glass table. Tessa took a sip and spoke, " Now, your letter spoke of why she and her family needed to be here. But I am wondering why you offered. I am glad to share our home with them. It seems odd how quickly you offered our home to the Order."

"Well, I guess I wanted to prove myself and my willingness to help the Order. They needed somewhere to hid and I figured this was the best place," Blaise answered as he laid back and sipped the cold beverage.

She continued to look out upon the ocean. "There was no other members able to take them in and protect them?"

"A few were being considered but this was the wisest possibility. It gives - all parties the things they need over the course of the summer."

Her fingers moved along the edge of her glass as she asked, "And what is it that you need, as you put it?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The condensation of the glass dipped onto his gray shirt but he did not pay any attention to it. "I guess the opportunity to do what I could for the Order."

"Anything else?"

His mother could read him like an open book. At times, that made talking to her easier but then it also made opening up harder. "It will be nice to have some company that is my age during the summer. Jane is very intelligent and teaching her some of the things I learned in my private sessions will be – a challenge."

"She is also very lovely," his mother stated.

Blaise turned his eyes to his mother's face as she continued to sip her cold drink. "That she is, but that is not the reason why I brought her here."

His mother moved her body to sit and face him. "Blaise, my son. You need to go out date some before you graduate. Be the teenager, you are. Go on dates, snogg on the couch, live a little. I knew you were never the carefree type, but don't put many feelings into it. Enjoy her company and presence. Just don't fall in love with her. It will only make things harder on the both of you in the end."

Blaise turned his eyes off his mother and back onto the still blue water of the calm ocean. He didn't want to think about what was to happen after graduation and didn't want to talk about Hermione any more. He got up from the lounge chair and went inside without saying another word to his mother.

End of Chapter Five