Disclaimer: I own only the plot, not the characters, there J.K. Rowling's.

Train Ride Home

The lengthy train ride always was a time Blaise liked to use for thinking, collecting his thoughts, and relishing in the time he had to himself before immersed in his school role. This time however, he was trying frantically to block out all thoughts, for the simple reason, none that came to mind seemed worth thinking about. Except for the time he had spent with Hermione. His sister had kept him sane during their time spent in the basement. No one went down there at their house so they claimed it as their haven over the remaining days. Being ignored was the best thing that happened to them over the summer. Luckily, especially for Hermione, there was a door to the library connected to the basement. They spent the majority of their time doing homework and getting lost in the world of fiction. They got their meals from house elves. During her time as a recluse in her own house, Hermione found a book on house elves. It explained that serving others gave them a sense of belonging, and of being needed. This was a house elves main goal in life, to have a purpose, and being free would take that away from them. This finally convinced her to give up her S.P.E.W. efforts. Far be it for Hermione to question what's written in a book! Blaise was thankful for this and quite interested as well. Though he didn't care one way or another about house elves, he did always wonder why they never wanted to be free, especially when that's what he had been praying for himself for as long as he could remember.

He pulled out a book, The Diary of Anne Frank. Hermione had given it to him when she said their situation in the basement reminded her of how they had to live. He took an interest in it. She said it was really her diary. He never realized muggles would have problems like he faced. Well, he had a lot to learn, and Hermione had a lot to teach him. He smiled. They had become close during the summer. He really did see her as his little sister, and felt everything for her that came with it. He almost exploded on a sixth year Ravenclaw who was about to strut up to her and feed her a line. Fortunately he was man enough to settle for a menacing glare. The guy turned as if he forgot what he was walking towards, and all without Hermione noticing. He was good.

He ran a hand through his hair. Hermione had healed the gash on his head when she was sure he had recovered all the blood he lost, which was a couple days later. You wouldn't even be able to tell what happened to him if you looked at him, unless you inquired about his new glasses which were a result of his altered vision caused by a concussion and some other head trauma. They didn't hinder his features though. If anything, they enhanced them. They were small and rectangular. Sitting at the bridge of his nose, the frames were silver, which complemented his deep blue eyes and his high cheek bones. Actually, He could almost pass for Draco's twin. His hair was black, his eyes were blue, and he wore glasses to read, but those were the only main differences. They even glared the same. Yeah, Draco was his best friend, and they knew everything about each other. Draco even confided he had feelings for Hermione he couldn't figure out. He had never felt it before, but Blaise had a feeling he knew what it was. He wouldn't tell this suspicion to Draco though; he did value his life after all. Ah yes, ignorance is bliss. So, waiting for his comrades to finally arrive, he delved into the unsettlingly familiar pages of his book.

Hermione collapsed on the seat between her two best friends, ecstatic to have control over her life again.

"Rough summer?" Harry asked staring at her with concern. She wearily glanced back at him.

"You have no idea." She closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of her seat.

"Mione, what's wrong, you never answered any of our letters, we got worried so we went to visit you, but when we got there, there was a big wooden sign that said 'SOLD' on it. No one was there. What's going on with you?" Ron always did have a problem when it came to tact….

"Well, you see, about that. I couldn't write back, and you two had better get comfortable 'cause it's a long story and it's not fun to tell either." Both Harry and Ron sat forward to show she had their undivided attention and Harry nodded for her to continue. "Well, about a month ago, without warning me, my mom married Blaise Zabini's dad. I have no idea why mind you, but he is a bastard. He receives all incoming mail and decides if I should be aloud to see it or not. Then he won't let me have access to the owl to reply! I don't even know if I got all of your letters thanks to him. But anyways, we sold our house because we're living in Zabini's manor now. He refused to live in muggle London. He is the most violent jack-ass I've ever met too! You should have seen what he did to Blaise just because he doesn't want to work for him, I swear, if I had ignored my conscience like I wanted to, he'd be dead right now! Poor guy, he's had to live with it all his life." She was on the verge of tears at the memory but refused to let them fall. Her friends were staring dumbstruck.

"Well that definitely isn't what I was expecting," stated Harry bluntly.

"What the hell! That doesn't make any sense! None of it! You know this isn't funny Mione, we seriously got worried about you." Ron was red with anger. Why would she lie to him?

"Sorry Ron but it's the truth, and it makes no sense to me either but it's painfully real." The tears refused to stay put now. She furiously wiped at the few that escaped their confines behind her lashes. Harry put his arms around her shoulders.

"Don't worry, you're going back to Hogwarts now, it's your last year remember? You're free to do what you want after this year. We'll make sure it has nothing to do with the Zabini's." Harry said with a confident, yet reassuring smile.

"Blaise needs help too, he takes the worst of it," she replied stubbornly.

"Why do you care about Blaise?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Because he's my brother, and he cares about me. He said that I'm his little sister now, and it's his job to protect me. He and I are in this together."

"You're kidding right? He's a Slytherin! Since when do Slytherins care? And about a Gryffindor no less!" Ron was seething. His fists were balled baring white knuckles.

"He does care, and I care about him, so please just be nice to him. You don't even have to talk to him, just don't start anything." She was pleading to the two of them with her eyes.

"Don't worry Mione, we'll respect that."

"HARRY!" Ron turned to him, getting all the more red with anger.

"Ron, he's her brother, we have to respect that, and if not, we have to respect Hermione, she's old enough, not to mention smart enough to make her own decisions. She's proven it on countless occasions." He squeezed Hermione's shoulder and smiled at her. She gave him a big hug and whispered back, "thanks Harry."

"Sorry Hermione, I promise I won't start anything, it's just a bit hard to comprehend," he apologized sheepishly.

"Yeah, and you know how Ron gets when he has to think." Harry punched him in the arm playfully.

"Hey!" He said, but couldn't help joining in the laughter; he was after all, kind of right.

"Hey Blaise, you're summer as shitty as mine?" Draco strolled in flanked by his two cronies. Flopping down across from his best friend, he motioned for Crabbe and Goyle to do the same.

"Probably not. You'll never believe me when I tell you what happened," he smiled half-heartedly. Draco lifted a brow in interest.

"Ok, spill." Blaise sighed and sat back a bit, getting comfortable.

"Remember how I told you my dad was marrying a muggle?" Blaise gave his friend a questioning glance.

"Yeah, why? What happened?"

"Well, it was Hermione's mom, she's my sister now." Blaise studied his friend carefully. At first Draco didn't seem to know how to react. Then he smirked a bit.

"So now she won't freak out on me if I'm nice to her?" Blaise smiled.

"Nope, in fact, you'd better be nice to her. She's my sister after all, and the only one who kept me alive and sane over the summer." Draco scrunched his brow confused.

"What do you mean?" Blaise explained the accounts of the summer as Draco sat mesmerized at how well Hermione had handled the situation. Maybe he hadn't given her the credit she deserved.

A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter!

Key of F Major- yup, that spell check for ya, I swear, sometimes it can be more of a hindrance than a help.

DoNtLetMeGetMe- I don't think he would either, but hey, I guess we'll just have to see what happens eh:P