Must be done soon. Write fast! Oh, and chapter one was included with the prologue thing.
Chapter Two
Well Met
After shrugging on the blue shirt and a pair of black slacks and the coat I had worn earlier, I looked at the paper I had dropped on my dresser. It said: La Velana, 7:00 PM. I wasn't completely sure where it was, but I had a vague idea. But I was still a bit apprehensive. A blind date was never a good idea, and one set up by Meaghan was certain to be disaster. It was probably some airhead she went to school with in Beaubaxtons and a complete moron. I contemplated changing into sweatpants and standing up this mystery girl. I sighed, then headed out the door. I had a damn flower to buy.
Ten minutes later I was standing outside the club, the black rose in my hand. The woman behind the counter had given me an odd look when I asked for it. My explanation that it was for a blind date only worried her more. I shook my head at the memory and continued to stand there looking like an idiot. Why the hell was I doing this? Meaghan had never done more for me than break my heart and lie. I was ready to leave. I turned around and bumped into a beautiful woman at least eight inches shorter than me and almost sent us both flying. She blushed.
"I'm so sorry. I'm a complete klutz." She looked up at me, tawny brown eyes bright with laughter and embarrassment. She tucked a few strands of long, shiny brown hair behind her ear. "Um, I was wondering, have you seen a man standing out here with a black rose?" I was shocked. This was the airhead I had been expecting? When I didn't say anything she blushed again. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bothered you. Sorry for bumping into you." She went to move past me but I finally got my voice back.
"Wait!" She turned back to face me. "I'm the one you're supposed to meet." A childish grin on my face. She laughed and blushed again. I held out the rose. "I'm Blaise Zabini. It's a pleasure to bump into you." She laughed again and reached for the rose, then stopped short.
"Did you say your name was Blaise Zabini?" I was confused.
"Yes, why?" Her jaw dropped, then a flash of anger flew across her face.
"I'm going to kill Meaghan." I was bewildered.
"What is it?"
"I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger." I felt my jaw drop. "I'm sorry. Meaghan didn't tell me who I was meeting, only that he was incredibly handsome and one of her exes. I'll go." She turned to leave, but I put my hand on her arm and stopped her.
"Wait." I wasn't sure what I was doing, but I knew I didn't want her to leave. She turned, confusion clear on her face. My mind racing, I finally came up with something not completely corny. "Well, we should at least have dinner as long as we're here. I haven't been out in awhile, and I'd rather not go home to cold pizza."
"I'm not sure, Zabini." She looked pretty apprehensive.
"Please, call me Blaise. We're not in Hogwarts anymore." I gave her a smile and she returned it, apprehension still clear on her features. "Please, Hermione. I know of a little café around the corner that has excellent pasta. Will you join me?" I was pleading. "Please?" She stood there for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision.
"Alright. Let's go, I'm starving." She gave me a bright smile and I almost melted. Pulling myself together I offered her my arm.
"Great. It's only a few blocks." She took my arm and I felt shivers run up and down my spine. This was crazy, but I was going to run with it.
Three hours later.
Dinner had been fantastic. Hermione was as smart as ever and had a sharp sense of humor. We laughed and reminisced through the entire meal. I was on my third cup of coffee and didn't want to leave.
"So what have you really been up to since leaving Hogwarts, Blaise? Still in contact with the ferret?" I laughed. Draco still hadn't lived that name down.
"Well, I have a wonderful job in the Ministry where I get to travel the world and meet fabulous people."
"It sucks, doesn't it?" I nodded. "I figured life after Hogwarts would be full of fun and excitement. New experiences and new people. Never the same thing twice." She half-laughed. "I was wrong. I sit at a desk all day filling out paperwork that will probably never do anyone any good. At least Harry became an Auror, he's also playing for England's Quidditch team, and Ron is doing odd jobs for the Order. And I sit behind a desk." She sighed and looked out the window. Unsure of what I was doing, I gently placed my hand over hers on the table. She turned back to me with a small gasp.
"Why didn't you become a teacher? You're the smartest witch to come out of Hogwarts in years." She blushed. "Hermione, you could do anything. The entire world is open to you. Go out and find it."
"I can't." She looked down at the table, a sadness in her eyes that made my heart break.
"Why not? You're beautiful, smart, funny, anyone would be lucky to know you and spend time around you." She shook her head.
"I'm not any of those things. Book-smarts don't get you very far."
"Hermione, what are you saying?" She looked up at me, tears in her eyes.
"I'm a chicken. I've always been afraid of everything. Harry and Ron were the ones who gave me my courage. Now I'm lucky to see them once a year. There's no one around anymore. Everyone fell apart after Hogwarts." A tear was slipping slowly down her cheek and I gently brushed it away and her eyes met mine. "I'm alone in the world now."
"I'm here." She smiled sadly and shook her head. "I'm serious. I'm here." I squeezed her hand and stood up. "Come on, we're going to break this mood."
"I'm fine. I'm just going to go home. I'm sorry I dumped this on you." She tried to pull her hand out of mine, but I just laced my fingers through hers.
"Nope, you're coming with me. I know just the place to go." I dropped a few galleons on the table and pulled her toward the door.
"Blaise, what are you talking about?" I gave her a smirk.
"Don't ask questions, just come on." I pulled her out of the café and onto the street and broke into a jog. She laughed and followed.
I pulled us both into an alley and apparated. We were now standing on top of the Eiffel Tower. Hermione gasped.
"It-it's beautiful!" she pulled me over to a railing. "I've never been here." I turned to her, shocked.
"What do you mean? How could you not?"
"I'm not sure."
"You can apparate, right?" She turned to me with a nod.
"It just never dawned on me. I am muggle-born, remember?"
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense, now come one, I want to show you something else." I held out my hand and she put hers in mine after a moments hesistation. I pulled her closer and whispered in her ear. "I don't bite…hard." She laughed and we apparated again.
"Where are we?" Hermione's voice was quiet in the dark but it still echoed.
"Hold on a moment." I lit my wand and she gasped.
"Is this-?" she looked at me, eyes huge in amazement.
"The library in Alexandria?" her jaw dropped. "What? I figured you'd like it." She stepped away from me, a bit dazed.
"I've wanted to come here since they found it but I couldn't find time." She looked around in amazement and walked over to one of the thousands of bookcases and ran a hand reverently over the spines. She turned back to me with a huge smile on her face. "Thank you, Blaise." I smiled back.
"You're welcome, Hermione." She stepped a bit closer and slipped her small hand in mine.
"Come on, let's go to Venice. I heard it's absolutely beautiful at night."
"Sounds fantastic."
We wandered up and down various canals and got ourselves completely lost. It was fantastic. Finally, Hermione glanced at her watch.
"Oh my god! It's one in the morning!"
"You can't be serious."
"No, I am. Look." She held her watch up to me. Wow. She tightened her grip on my hand and leaned against my shoulder. "I don't want to go home."
"Me either, but I have to meet up with Draco tomorrow." She sighed and moved away.
"Is he still a prat?" I laughed.
"Worse than ever." She laughed with me and I apparated us with a POP! We were back on the street in front of La Velana. "Do you live far from here?" She shook her head.
"Only a few blocks."
"Would you like me to walk you home? It's late and we don't know what's out here." She nodded and smiled. We walked slowly, not talking, just enjoying each others company. Finally she stopped in front of a large apartment complex.
"This is it. I live on the third floor."
"Would you like me to walk you up?"
"No, I'll be fine. And Mrs. Fenley will worry if she hears heavy steps this late." She smiled. "Thank you for the wonderful evening."
"Don't thank me, thank Meaghan. It's her fault." We both laughed, but it ended quickly. Neither of us moved for a moment, then Hermione took a step away.
"Well, good night." She turned and stepped up the few steps to the door. I felt lost and the uncontrollable need to do something. She opened the door and I ran up the stairs and placed my hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she turned around. I leaned down slowly and caught her lips in mine. We stood there for what seemed like forever before I pulled away. Hermione slowly opened her beautiful brown eyes and smiled softly. I moved back, face red.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" She placed a finger to my lips. Pulling a pen out of her purse, she took my hand and wrote something on it.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening." She placed a small kiss on my cheek and stepped inside and closed the door. I stood there a moment, bewildered. Looking at my hand I smiled. There was a phone number written on it. I skipped down the steps and up the road, elation coursing through my veins. Life was finally getting better.
~*~
Sorry, I'm not very good at the fluffy stuff. Anyway, next chapter, we get to meet the Sexy!Draco Malfoy. Gotta love him. Au Revoir!