Rain

By forbiddenlight

Disclaimer: Let me say this: if I owned Harry Potter, would I really even be here? I'd be enjoying my spoils. Enough said.

A/N: Thank you to all those who reviewed! Man, 5 reviews and I just posted it! You guys are awesome! Also, please check out my c2 archive, Hogwarts Romantic Fiction and see if it's right for you! (Okay, that was extremely hokey) Also, this is a vital chapter and please enjoy. Next chapter will be even better!

CareBearErin: I know. I'm planning on writing a fic in the future starring Luna. It's going to be insane.

Kichou: Now, this may change later on, but I'm pretty sure that Draco doesn't like her like that- he's just worried. He's trying to scare Herm away from Blaise, because after finding out that Blaise hates Voldemort, he has no idea what to do, but try his best to get Hermione away from Blaise, so he can persuade his best friend to be evil.

I-Lurve-Harry: Soon enough?

Athena: I know, yuck. Hermione definitely didn't have fun. I'll be sure to update ASAP.

Nerfi-Tiri: Thank you for reviewing! A new reviewer, I can't complain. They do make a cute couple!

Da-Manta-Ray: Thank you for reviewing! I am ecstatic that you love my story. Thank you for reading and please enjoy!

Also, please be aware of the names in bold. They are vital to the story.

Genre: Drama/Romance

Ship: Hermione/Blaise

Chapter Fourteen: The Dark Mark Escort

Blaise

Blaise's fingers shook as he finished his history essay. It was Wednesday the fifth, and in three days his mother would arrive to pick him up and escort him to Voldemort, and he would get the Dark Mark.

He wouldn't go. He couldn't go.

It was pouring outside the castle. Blaise looked around the History of Magic classroom and met Hermione's eyes. She smiled at him. He gave her a weak one in return. He was truly nervous, and, for the third time in his life, scared.

The bell rang, and Blaise met Hermione outside the room. They walked out of the double doors and into the rain out on the grounds. They held hands and walked.

"Hermione, I-I'm nervous," he confessed, not meeting her eyes. "My mother, Janetta Zabini, is coming on Saturday, the day before my birthday, to take me to get the Dark Mark."

Hermione was looking at her shoes. "Can't you tell her that you don't want to be a Death Eater?"

Blaise stopped walking. He and Hermione were both soaked, but neither of them seemed to care. Blaise was glad he was soaked, as it's hard to tell when you are crying when it's raining. And he was crying… So hard…

"I can't just do that, Hermione," he explained softly. The rain pitter-pattered onto every surface around them, making him hard to hear, but he knew Hermione caught every word. He loved Hermione for that reason. "My father is Jorge Zabini! He's wanted by the ministry for too many things to count… My mother expects me to be just like my idiotic father…but I won't! I can't get the Dark Mark!"

Hermione let go of his hand and pulled him into a hug. "It's okay," she whispered above the rain. "It will be alright…"

They kissed softly, but Blaise didn't feel any better. Hermione couldn't understand what he was going through. She might never understand…

XXXXX

Hermione

She met him outside the dungeons early Saturday morning. The sun was shining and lit up the inside of Hogwarts through the windows. Blaise was quiet.

"She'll be here in about twenty minutes, Hermione. I still have no idea what I am going to do." Blaise sighed.

Hermione felt her eyes mist over. She ached for him. "Just don't go… Tell her you can't…"

Blaise looked into her eyes. "If only it were that easy," he replied. "I'll see you Sunday, Hermione… I- I love you."

Hermione's heart swelled. The tears began to fall, realizing just how hard this must be for Blaise. "I love you too.

Blaise

He watched Hermione walk away. Her footsteps echoed throughout the hall. He couldn't help it. He couldn't stop the tears from falling.

I'm supposed to be strong, he told himself. So why the heck am I crying?

Then a thought lodged itself into his brain. Because Hermione loves me because I am sensitive, because I don't care whether or not I cry.

The minutes past slower and slower. Blaise felt as though an entire eternity was lost in those twenty minutes he waited for his mother. She was coming. She would take him to Voldemort…

He would not get it.

He could not get it.

The double doors to Hogwarts suddenly opened, and the sunlight got much brighter, pouring into the castle. Mrs. Janetta Zabini walked inside, saw her son, and ran up to him to hug him. Blaise hugged her back, although his heart was weighing heavy.

"Mom, I-." He began, but was cut off.

"I can't believe you, Blaise Zabini!" Pansy Parkinson shouted from ten feet away. Her heels clicked and her eyes flashed dangerously. "I can't believe you would choose a filthy mudblood over me! I can't believe you would then let Hermione Granger veer you away from the dark side! You have to be a death eater! But no, Hermione Granger's too good to let her man be a Death Eater. Blaise, she took you away! Away from your true calling! That filthy Mudblood!"

Pansy's voice wavered and tears poured down her cheeks. "I loved you! But I don't know anymore! How can I love someone who follows Dumbledore? Who hates Lord Voldemort!"

Pansy turned on her heel and flew the hall. Blaise watched her go.

"Don't tell me Blaise," his mother begged him. "Don't tell me what Parkinson's daughter said is true."

Blaise's eyes fell to the floor. "It is, Mom. Every word. Except-."

He tried to tell her it had been his decision to not follow Voldemort, and that Hermione had nothing to do with it, but Mrs. Zabini cut him off.

"Oh, my lord! What have you done to my son!" she screamed. "You wait till your father hears this, Blaise. I have never been more disgraced in my life!"

And she fled Hogwarts. And she too cried.

forbiddenlight