Title: Summer of Uncertainty (6/?)

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 Five

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.

Chapter Six

Knock. Knock.

"Come in," Hermione called out as she pulled her textbooks out of her school trunk. The large bed was covered in a variety books and different colored parchment.

Blaise entered her bedroom as she used her wand to expand the short bookshelf above the writing desk. He shook his head as he watched her load the bookshelf with her multiple volumes. "Need a hand with that or right spell to make it go a lot faster."

"No, I do not need a hand. No, I am familiar with plenty of spells. But I prefer to do this by hand so I remember the texts I brought with me and which I left at home," she replied as she lifted another stack of books off the bed and arranged them on the wooden shelf.

Blaise picked up the last stack and placed it on the desk next to her. "You mean this isn't all of them. Please remind me to invest in Flourish and Blotts tomorrow."

Being very lady-like, Hermione stuck out her pink tongue at him, which earned her a chuckle for her Slytherin companion. Within a few more minutes, all the books were properly placed and all parchment placed in their proper boxes that she brought with her.

"So, you ready for tour, my lady," he asked as he lowered his head to bow. Hermione laughed as she grabbed his arm and dragged him out of her rooms.

Once in the hallway, he led her down the stair next to her room that overlooked the kitchen and living room area. The kitchen was very large with its high ceiling and large working area. The workspace was done in black marble countertops and the same cherry wood for the cabinets. An older man in his late fifties was stirring over a tall pan with his back to them. He was an average height with salt-n-paper hair in a pair of Muggle jeans and a tan tee shirt.

"Ciao, Michael. È meraviglioso vederlo ancora," Blaise stated as he went over to the man.

Michael turned to Blaise and had a huge smile on his lips as he pulled the younger into a hug. She saw Blaise playful-wince at the showing of affection to the older man. Michael pulled back and spoke in Italian, "È grande da vederli, il mio ragazzo. Osservate bene. E chi è questa signora giovane bella?"

Blaise stepped over to Hermione and grabbed her hand to pull her to the man. "This is Jane Goode. She is the daughter of the family that will be staying with us."

The young man looked back toward her and stated, "This is Michael. He works for us and speaks little English. He is a squib but able to do a little magic. I can teach you a spell to make your words come out Italian when you need to speak with him. He does the cleaning, washing, and most of the time the cooking. But we all take turns cooking."

"All of you? I didn't know you could cook," Hermione said with an amused look on her face.

He led her into the connecting living room as he spoke, "Yes, I can cook and you will be cooking this summer. I can assure you of that."

She stopped in mid-step and bit my bottom lip nervously. "What's wrong, Jane?"

"Okay, cooking is one thing I cannot do. How about I do the dishes? That was usually my job at home," Hermione admitted.

Blaise turned her to face him and smiled ever so gently. "Well, I guess that will be another thing you will learn to do while you are here. No one will criticize your cooking and we can start you with the basics."

She nodded in agreement and looked around the room. There were two overstuffed plum-colored couches that meet at one corner to form a ninety-degree angle. In the middle of the room, there was a large low table in the middle with several different Wizarding magazines on it. Against one wall, there was a tall set of windows that almost reached to vaulted ceiling with the breathtaking view of the ocean.

A large stone fireplace faced one of the couches and a large painting was above the mantle. It was a portrait of the Zabini family. Blaise looked a few years younger and next to him stood an older girl, who must've been his sister. She had long black hair that was tied back and her eyes were almost black with a hint of green. The older woman, Tessa Zabini, placed a hand on her shoulder and had the same color eyes as the daughter. Next to the mother, Mr. Zabini stood with his hand on Blaise's shoulder and short straight black hair but with perfect indigo eyes, like his son's eyes. He was very handsome with a tall lean build, very Italian. Hermione smiled at the idea that the young man that stood to her left may one day grew to look that handsome. Because he was well on his way and looked very attracted for a teenage young man.

"Yes, that's my family. My mother you meet earlier. That is my sister, Felice, and my father, who will most likely ask you to call him by his given name, Dominic," Blaise explained as he stood under the painting and had watched her expressions as she looked at the family portrait.

Hermione smiled at him for a moment and saw the glimpse of pride in his facial features. "About how long ago was that painting done?"

He walked over to her and looked back up. "It was done about a year and a half ago. Ready to continue our tour?"

"Yes, please. Led the way."

End of chapter Six

Ciao, Michael. È meraviglioso vederlo ancora Hello, Michael. It is wonderful to see you again

È grande da vederli, il mio ragazzo. Osservate bene. E chi è questa signora giovane bella?

It is great to see you, my boy. You look well. And who is this lovely young lady?