Title: The Beggining of the End (09)

Author: Procella Nox noctis

Category: Humour

Sub Category: General

Keywords: Hermione, Blaise, Slytherins, poker

Summary: Summer brake had been his favourite time of year. Until he had to spend it with Hermione Granger. And that was just the beginning of the story.

Sneak-peek:"I really like this Granger better." Draco said while throwing a bean into his mouth.

"You would, she won you candy." Pansy stuck her tongue out, while she still comforted Millicent who was busy banging her head on the table now.


Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and unfortunately never will. No money is being made out of this story, which is a pity, it's really good.

A/N: This is the story that most reviews gets. I declare it my precious.[all Golum like] My preciousssssss. Thank you reviewers! As I've said before, this happens two weeks before school, because it was beginning to get a bit boring, day by day, so I'll push it forward a bit, after all I still got to do the whole school year. Well, read on!

Nine: Poker, Friends and School

"Letters!" Helene's voice woke up Hermione from where she was, up in the tree. In fact it woke her so sudden that she almost fell from the branch and from where she was comfortably positioned. Blaise's chest.

Blaise groaned a bit, the sound emanating from his chest, where Hermione had her head on. They stretched a bit, and climbed down from the tree going into the kitchen to get the letters from Hogwarts.

Hermione groaned as they reached the house. If a month ago the rain was driving her mad, today the heat was unbearable. The two kids staying at the Grangers' house were often found lying about on one of the branches of Hermione's tree. It was there, in the cool shadow of the tree where her parents often found the two, sleeping in each others' arms.

Today had not been different. Hermione often complained of her head ache, and Blaise complained about Hermione's whining. But today, two weeks before their last year at Hogwarts started, their spirits were on the low. They knew that once they got back to school, things would change. They would no longer be able to rest peacefully in the arms of the other. They would no longer be able to talk so freely. Hermione would not have the chance to get to know the Slytherins better anymore. And the worst of it all, even if they would not admit it, they wouldn't be able to act like lovers without a care in the world.

"So who's getting them?" Hermione asked once they were in the kitchen. It was clear to her that they were not allowed to go to Diagon Alley.

"Sirius will be getting Harry's as well, so he'll get yours too. It's so nice that he's a free man now. And a live on too." Helene Granger answered, eyeing her daughters hand in Blaise's own hand.

Hermione shrugged, and opened her letter, letting go of Blaise's hand, of course.

"I got Head girl!" she yelped in joy.

"Big surprise there." Blaise's cool voice came from behind her ear. He was reading over her shoulder. "If you really want to know a surprise, I got Prefect!"

Hermione squealed and hugged Blaise. She was so happy, now they were at least able to talk at meetings.

"Hermione dear, it says here that all Prefects and Heads will share a tower. This is wonderful, maybe now the quarrels will stop." Mr. Granger added reading the letter.

"If only, dad. I mean sure, Draco and co. aren't bad, but Harry and Ron won't be that perceptive to their theory. I wish I could convince them. Anyway, I have to go up and write them a letter. Coming Blaise?"

"Huh, oh yeah sure."

Helene watched her daughter leave upstairs. No sooner were they gone, she exploded.

"Are they blind? Do they not realise they're acting as if they were a couple? Why can't they just confess they like each other, and do our hearts a favour."

"This is war, dearest. Both are conscious that they cannot be involved, for if one dies, the pain will be harder to carry. I believe, once Voldemort is gone, they will go straight to the altar."

"Henry, now you're exaggerating. But it would be nice to have some grandchildren here and there."

"You're both exaggerating! This is the twenty first century! Children's minds are full of shagging the other kind, not making babies." Adelle interrupted.

"Yes mother, we know. But I just wish they'd realise they're better together than apart. I mean they sleep under a tree in the other's arms for god's sake, there must be something going on!"

"Well, remember, we must not interfere. Dumbledore said so, and we shall listen."

"You're right." Helene sighed, she just wished what was best for her daughter and the boy she had learned to love.

Two weeks later Hermione and Blaise were walking to the train station. They had about ten minutes left before the train left to find everybody and find an empty compartment.

"And just how am I supposed to cheer at Quidditch?" Hermione rambled. "Imagine in a Slytherin vs. Gryffindor game. I'll be like: go Blaise! Go Draco! Go Ron! Go Harry! Go Ginny! Thank god Pansy and Mills aren't in the team. I'll be going mad. Plus the Gryffindors will murder me when I cheer for you."

"Hermione, you can cheer for who you want I honestly don't mind." Blaise tried to calm the girl down.

"That translated in Blaise language means "Cheer for us or I'm not talking to you again" right?"

"Err, yeah actually it does. Oh come on, I'm your favourite Chaser, you're bound to cheer me to, cherry."

"Actually Ginny is my favourite Chaser. You're just my favourite Slytherin." Hermione grinned as they climbed on the train.

"Whoa, wait, who do we stay with?"

"Well, I want to say hi to Draco, Pansy and Millicent, but I guess I have to stay with the Gryffindors or else they'll send a search party to Taiwan for me."

"Good idea. Come on, I know where they are."

Hermione followed Blaise towards the Slytherin wagon, and entered a compartment. Inside Draco, Pansy and Millicent were playing poker.

"Hermione! Hello, want to join us?" Pansy asked as if they were best friends.

"No thanks I think I'll pass."

"Beaver, I need your help. What do I do with this?" Draco pulled Hermione down beside him and showed her his cards.

Hermione looked at the cards one second and grinned evilly. "What are you betting with?"

"Bertie Botts, why?" Millicent asked curiously, not liking the look the Gryffindor was giving Draco's cards.

"I'm helping Ferret." She decided, taking Draco's card into her own hands, and betting 50 Bertie Botts.

"Holy cow, what do you have? That's it, I want out." Pansy threw her cards.

"I think I'll put up 5 more." Millicent looked doubtable.

"That's the Slytherin spirit, Mills. We'll raise you 6 more." Hermione grinned, pinching Draco's knee when he looked like protesting. Blaise smirked, he knew what came next.

"I quit." Millicent threw her cards down too.

"HA! We win, 55 Bertie Botts, and here's our hand." Hermione placed the cards on her knees while the others gathered to see.

"Two pairs?" Millicent shouted.

"You were—"Pansy was flabbergasted.

"Bluffing, precisely." Hermione grinned.

"I had four kings!" Millicent began banging her head on Pansy's shoulder.

"Three kings." Pansy cried in mock pain.

"You were bluffing. Very Slytherinny of you Hermione." Blaise winked at the girl.

"Thank you. Now, I'll take my 28 beans, and go find Harry and Ron, before they send Aurors to find me."

"28? That isn't fifty-fifty, Granger!" Draco replied.

"I know, but after all, it was I who won you 27 beans, so one goes for the merit. See you at Hogwarts!" and with that she left four Slytherins open- mouthed.

"I really like this Granger better." Draco said while throwing a bean into his mouth.

"You would, she won you candy." Pansy stuck her tongue out, while she still comforted Millicent who was busy banging her head on the table now.

Draco made a face while he chewed on the bean. "Yuck, ear wax."

Back in the Gryffindor wagon, Hermione was happily discussing her vacation with Blaise to Harry and Ron. They listened to her quietly, and didn't believe her when she said Draco and co. acted nicely towards her. Then Hermione showed them the candy she had won at poker with them, and they started believing.

Later that evening they finally arrived at Hogwarts. Hermione sat beside Ginny in the Great Hall and listened to Dumbledore's speech and the Sorting. Every now and then she smiled at the Slytherin table, where Blaise winked at her.

That owned her some stares from Ginny, so she had to explain to the little Weasley her vacation. Virginia Weasley, who had developed some sort of crush over Draco Malfoy, was very pleased to hear the boy was capable of being friendly. Of course, Hermione never mentioned the conversation at Zabini Manor, because she had vowed not to. Instead she told her of the poker game, and some chance meeting while they were visiting Blaise's sisters.

Albus Dumbledore watched happily how his Head Girl was slowly but surely making her friends acknowledge the Slytherins weren't so bad, and making them accept them. The Headmaster hoped that those eight students grew to be friends, and finally stop the war between Gryffindor and Slytherin. He was also glad to see Prof. Sinistra's prediction was coming true, for it was obvious from the hidden glances Hermione and Blaise gave each other the spark was evolving into a flame.

He finally stood up to announce the new teachers and the Heads.

"Hogwarts' students, welcome to a new year of school. In these dark times, it's time you all put house wars apart and stand united. This year we have two new teachers. You are conscious that now that this war is coming you will have to be able to fight with a wand, and without one. Therefore, we have a new class, which all of you will take. I am talking of course, about Physical Training. The teacher has asked you to not be very afraid of her, yes her, for she doesn't bite. Much. Please welcome Ms. Amelia Watson." A thunk indicating Hermione's head had banged on the table, was followed by applause for the vampire.

"Also, your newest DADA teacher is nothing to be feared. True, when he wishes he can be mean, but he will not wish it now. Please welcome Sirius Black." This time more applause came, now that everybody knew Black was an innocent man. "Our Head Boy this year is Terry Boots, from Ravenclaw, and our Head girl Ms. Granger, from Gryffindor." Applauses exploded even from the Slytherin table, who were cheering for Hermione. Well at least four of them were the others just looked strangely at them.

"The seventh year Prefects are from Gryffindor: Ron Weasley. From Ravenclaw: Lisa Turpin. From Hufflepuff: Hannah Abbot and Ernie McMillican. And from Slytherin: Blaise Zabini and Millicent Bulstrode." Everybody applauded as Dumbledore went on with the 6th and 5th year's Prefects. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had only one Prefect in seventh year, because they had Head Boy/Girl.

The dinner went slowly on, and after that the Prefects had a meeting. They were taken to a tower in the west wing, where the Prefect's common room and rooms were settled. The Slytherins took the room at right to the Head Girl room. Ron and Lisa shared a room in the middle of the hallway, and the Hufflepuffs were at the right of Head Boy's room. [in this order: Slytherins, Hermione's room, Ron and Lisa, Terry's room, Hufflepuffs]

The other years were free to stay as they pleased. The common room had four corners decorated in house colours. They had a mini library and a fire place. Each room held the same things: bed, drawers, closet, desk and window. Only the Heads had some book shelves in them. The bathroom remained the same Prefect's bathroom as usual.

After talking a bit, unpacking and making the room as they pleased, they relatively went to sleep. That evening nothing had happened to indicate the coming war. But there was an entire year for that.

E/N: Well, I implant the element of doubt here. What will happen? Tell me if you liked the poker game, or the Prefect and stuff. Plus, a bit of comments on Blaise and Hermione's denial would be nice as well. How about the new teachers? Do you think it's wise to put a class for fighting without a wand? Did you notice Hermione's reaction when she heard Amelia, her mentor was going to give clases? Hermione lacked her famous T-shirts but they will come, do not worry. Please read the note at the beginning, and ask if you have doubts. I'm actually proud of this chapter. We're starting school here fellows! Well, they're starting it, I'm writing it. Only fifteen days until Blaise will be a initiated sorcerer. What do you think about this chapter? Don't forget to review. Thank you.