Okay, so I wrote one version story thing for this challenge, hated it and another idea hit me while I was in the car yesterday. Crazy muses. Anyway, here goes!

Prologue

Contemplations

Life makes one wonder why. Why does the sun rise and set? Why does the grass grow? Why does the world turn? Why do things happen the way they do? Why are hearts so confusing? And why am I always contemplating things like this? I find it enough to make one mad.

I shook my head and ran my fingers through my short, but spikey, black hair. Flicking a glance at the mirror, I was slightly startled by the brillant blue eyes looking out at me. I still wasn't sure where I had inherited them from. Glancing through family albums didn't help. Most of the pictures glared at me and turned away, their noses in the air. I hated my family as much as they hated me. Of course, they might have had reason. But my choice in love shouldn't have been one of them.

Hermione Granger. Love of my life and the only reason I am still alive and not a Death-Eater. She was also the reason Draco Malfoy is still alive and kicking. Damn him. Somehow he had managed to get us all out of a very sticky situation and pulled my 'Mione under his spell. But I'm a better man and I won't kill him for it. Yet.

Still, looking back, I'm surprised we're all still alive. I know Lucius and Voldemort are still looking for us and I won't let them find her. Draco would protect her til the end of his life, he's proved that already. But I will be there when he fails. Hermione's too precious and the life growing inside her is more precious than all the money in the world. And mine.

Surprised? Yeah, I was too. Hermione knows he's mine, but tells Draco it's his. And he believes her. I clap him on the back with congratulations, but know the child will probably never know who his real father is. But I'll always be there, the cool 'Uncle' Blaise. Hermione promised me that much, that I'll always be a part of his life.

I hope he has my eyes.

Summer, three years after Graduation

I hate ministry work. I don't know why I ever took this damnable job. This damn desk. I rarely get out from behind it. Even at lunch I end up with more paperwork than I can hope to finish in a lifetime. I barely make it down to the office cafeteria long enough to grab a sandwich and eat it on the way back to my cubicle. I hate cubicles too. Nasty little things designed to supposedly increase productivity. They only succeeded in pissing me off on a normal basis. And I still couldn't get away from them. Damn Malfoy and his office. Damn his father for being so rich. And evil. I know Draco wasn't as bad, having been friends with him for years. Somehow he had managed to delay his initiation this long though. How I had yet to figure it out. His father wanted him inducted straight out of Hogwarts, but he claimed he would get higher in the Ministry's ranks if he could keep his sleeves rolled up. Complete bullshit and how he convinced his father it was true I'll never know either. But his time is running out. He'll be running for Minister of Magic in the next month. If he wins, he'll be initiated. If he loses, while, that isn't a possibility. This is another one of those 'Win or Die' situations.

I straightened out a few things on my desk and pulled my sportcoat off its hook. It may be muggle, but it looks good. Traditional robes are slowly going out of style now that muggle clothes are more fashionable. I walked out the main door and onto the muggle street. My flat was a few blocks away and I had some dry cleaning to pick up on the way home. My life had gotten incredibly boring.

I arrived home ten or so minutes later and headed for the shower, dropping my clothes on the floor as I went. It was Friday and I need a relief from the mundane. A little casual sex wouldn't hurt either. It had been awhile since I broke up with Cassie and I hadn't seen anyone since. Draco, meanwhile, had gone through four girls. I still didn't understand why they still went for him when the entire female population already knew he never committed. I shook my head and turned off the water. Stepping out, I towled off and was about to wrap a towel around my waist when I remembered I lived alone. I opened the door and stepped out, then stopped short. Meaghan, an ex, was standing near the bar, an amused look on her face. I reached behind me for a towel and she laughed.

"It's not like I haven't seen it before, Blaise." I glared at her.

"What are you doing here and how did you get in?"

"Your door was unlocked and I have a job for you." She checked her nails while she said it, and then looked up at me.

"I work enough, thanks."

"Oh, stop being bitter. My reason for dumping you was a good one."

"If I can remind you, you didn't dump me. You cheated on me and I didn't call you again. That's not dumping."

"Stop whining, you're beginning to sound like Draco and his big-headed pride."

"You should know. He was the one you were doing when I walked in." Meaghan sighed and put a hand to her head.

"Whatever, it doesn't matter. What's done is done."

"Exactly, now why are you here?"

"Well, I had plans to go out with one of my gal pals tonight, but Viktor called to say he was in town."

"You're dating Viktor Krum!?!? The guys a Neanderthal!"

"He's also famous and great in bed." I shook my head in disgust.

"That's just wrong and more information than I wanted to know."

"You're just jealous."

"OF KRUM?!?!" she laughed again. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Relax, darling. I wasn't inviting you to join us." I almost gagged. She rolled her eyes then turned serious. "I need you to do me a favor."

"Why should I?" She stepped across the room and stopped mere centimeters from me.

"Because I know what I do to you. And you know what I do to you." I didn't say anything, just looked at her. She set her palms against my chest and slowly ran them down to the edge of the towel I had around my waist. "And the evening could end very rewarding for you if you do."

"Sex won't help your case."

"You know you still want me." I couldn't lie. My body still did, but my heart was yelling to get away. "You can't deny it." I sighed heavily.

"What do you want me to do?" she smiled happily.

"I want you to meet my friend tonight at a muggle club."

"Why muggle?"

"Because it was her turn to pick our meeting spot. I already told her I couldn't meet her, but that I was sending a very sexy replacement."

"You knew I'd do this?"

"I knew I could convince you. You're not a hard person to convince, Blaise." I looked away angrily. "Don't be angry with me. Just get dressed in that blue shirt I know looks fantastic on and off you and go to this club." She slipped a piece of paper into the edge of the towel and pulled my lips to hers. I pulled away.

"We're through."

"I don't want you to hate me."

"I don't hate you. I just want you to go." She sighed and moved toward the door and opened it.

"Oh, and make sure you bring a single black rose. I told her that's how she'd recognize you. Thanks, Blaise. You're the best." She blew me an air kiss and swept out the door. I shook my head and moved toward my bedroom and stopped short. She never told me who I was meeting.