Disclaimer: I do not own anything created by J.K Rowling so don't sue. I own nothing but the plot.

Thanks again to all my reviewers! I love reading what people have to say!

Gwynn-Potter: Muhuhahahaha...I'm evil, pure evil. Lol, but here's the next chapter so you can find out who it was!

Kichou: Hahaha! Is it Harry, Ron or could it be someone else? Here's the next chapter! Read and find out!

Fantasy Loremaster: Yes, I assure you Blaise does have an agenda but I'm going to start bringing that in possibly the next chapter, not this one. We'll find out what Blaise is up to soon enough. As for if it's Ron, maybe, maybe not you'll have to read and find out.

DracosChick24: I'm glad you liked it thanks for reviewing!

HPFreak2gd4u: I'm glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing!

Jen: Jen we've been through this before and you of all people should know I'm evil lol. As for Blaise maybe he is and maybe he isn't we'll just have to wait and find out. Now I have to yell at you a bit because you totally forgot to call me back the other night! Oh, well I'll just talk to you some other time this week I feel so loved...

Pippin1177: I'm glad you liked it! This chapters a littlebit angstier than my other ones but after this one I'm going to try to keep things light, I had to do it to move along the plot though. Thanks for reviewing!

knivesgirl347: Yeah, I know what that's like. It happens to me all the time. I'll be thinking about doing something and then I shrug it off and it turns out that if I'd actually done it, it would have saved me alot of time. Yup, well now they have to deal with the consequences so this chapter is going to be a little more angsty than my other ones. It'll get better though.

Weaselbee: Haha, you just have to read and find out. Glad you liked the last chapter! Thanks for reviewing and here's the next update.

flaming-amber: I'm a romantic sap at heart too. I can't help it. Anyways you'll have to find out about Harry and Ron.

mrsbnmof09: I'm glad you like my story. Lol, I wish I could answer your question, sorry. Apparently he's only got like one line, I have no idea what or where it is though. I like writing with him because I can make him whatever I want, gives me some creative freedom. Sorry I couldn't help you out though.

Ehlonna: Haha, maybe, maybe not. Thanks for reviewing.

Faery's Delight: I'm glad your interested, I hope I can keep it that way. Thanks for reviewing.

Thanks again to everyone who reviewed. Don't forget to R&R for those who didn't. Now on with the Story!

Chapter 7

You know when you become so wrapped up in a moment that everything else around you seems to disappear and there's nothing else around you. I was thrust from a moment just like that…and everything seemed to turn to slow motion. I was thrown to the dirt and reality seemed to come crashing back down. I shook my head and rubbed my arm that was so violently pulled. I then looked up at the cruel person who would take me from that moment that felt like heaven. I looked up and saw the face of Draco Malfoy.

He was facing away from me but who could mistake that platinum blonde hair? He looked furious although I couldn't see a reason why he would be upset. It was clear that he and Blaise weren't friends so why should he care what he did?

"What the bloody hell are you doing Zabini? Associating with mudbloods? No you were snogging the mudblood! You are a disgrace to the house of Slytherin! How dare you even call yourself one? Or perhaps she's your whore... is that it? You're using her…because if it is then let me have a go." He said turning back to me with a sneer and a gaze of intense hatred. I was petrified, what was he going to do with me? I didn't see that Zabini had gotten up until he whirled Malfoy around and punched him square in the jaw.

"She is not a whore, and if you touch her you'll be answering to me. You have no idea what I can do Malfoy but I assure you that what I will do to you will be worse than death." He said glaring down at the fallen Malfoy. Blaise's eyes had darkened so much they were almost black.

Blaise turned back to me and I could see his gaze soften slightly as he offered me his hand. I realized I was still on the ground and hadn't gotten up during all the excitement. Malfoy was still rolling around on the ground. I took his hand and he pulled me up but I stumbled on a branch and wound up in his arms. I looked into his eyes timidly and he looked at me with concern, which softened when he saw I was o.k.

"OY! Get your filthy Slytherin hands off Hermione!" I heard someone shout from behind. I knew that voice from anywhere it was Ron. I slowly turned around and was face to face with Ron. He looked absolutely insane with madness. There was nothing standing between him and Blaise except for me. I positioned myself so that he couldn't get to Blaise and wrapped my arms behind me and around Blaises' waist. "Oh, so that's how it is Hermione. You're a traitor to Gryffindor. Do you trust him? Do you love him?" He said with a sneer of disgust. "I assure you he's feeding you lies. All lies. He's Slytherin, they lie, and they cheat and are scum. He'll hurt you Hermione and when he does don't come crying back to us because we won't take you back." I just stared at him in shock. He was making me choose between them. It was cruel. I took Blaise's hand and started walking away.

"You leave now Hermione and it's over, forever!" Harry shouted down the corridor. I just held fast to Blaises' hand and continued down the hall. I had no idea where we were going. Blaise pulled out of the death grip I had on his hand and put his arm around me. I leaned into him but I was determined not to cry. He just led me out of the castle to the lake. He sat on the boulder and gently pulled me into his lap. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I was just disowned by my friends! I was still slightly shocked that they'd do that to me. I just cried into Blaises' chest. He simply hugged me and rubbed my back. It was comforting to know there was someone there and I wasn't in this alone. We were now both officially outcasts, the loner and the bookworm. It reminded me of the play Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers pulled apart by two enemy houses. Doomed right from the start.

I finally calmed down and pulled my head out of his robes so I could see him. He had a grim expression on his face and looked like he was deep in thought. He must have felt my eyes gazing at him because he looked down into my eyes. "Thank you." I said softly. He just moved his head down and kissed each of my eyes while his thumbs wiped away my tears. Then he moved back so he could see my face and when I opened my eyes again he leaned in and kissed me. It was a warm passionate kiss that could never be described; you had to experience it for yourself to know. We broke apart and I just stared at him. He looked at me and no words needed to be said, we both saw the world in each other's eyes and nothing else mattered. We would get through this together.

For a while we stared at the lake lost in our own thoughts and when twilight came we decided it was time to go back into the castle. We walked in hand in hand ignoring the glares we were receiving. I wasn't going to go back to the head common room and I knew Blaise wouldn't let me, after all if I did we both knew Malfoy would kill me. So we headed to Dumbledore's office. When we got to the gargoyle we gave it the password and walked up to the office where Dumbledore was seated at his desk.

"Ahh... I knew I'd being seeing you both tonight. Take a seat, take a seat. Lemon drop?" We both shook our heads. "Ahh well, more for me. So what would you like to speak to me about?" He said his eyes shining brightly.

"Well, umm…you see I don't think I should be living in the head dorms anymore, actually I don't think I should go back to the Gryffindor tower either. I don't think Blaise should be going back to the Slytherin common room either." I said confidently.

"You're right, I entirely agree. I will have a new dorm set up for you and Blaise immediately and have your things transferred. In the meantime, I do believe we have a few incidents to discuss. I'm afraid I must take 20 points from Slytherin for harming another student and a week's detention with Professor Snape. I'm sorry Mr. Zabini but stunts like that cannot go unpunished, no matter how much they may have deserved it." Said the headmaster with that damned twinkle in his eyes. I smiled at him. "While I'm taking care of details for the new dorms you two must be off to dinner I will have Professor Snape meet you both after dinner to take you to your new rooms. Have a nice evening and I shall see you at dinner." He said and shooed us out the door. As we were descending down the staircase I heard a Dumbledore say ever so softly, "40 points to Slytherin for defending Ms. Grangers honor." And with that the gargoyle closed. I smiled and turned to Blaise and saw that he'd heard it too. We smiled at each other and walked the great hall. There would be much to discuss later but for now silence was appreciated. When we reached the great hall we parted and went to our tables. I took a seat next to Ginny who gave me a sympathetic look but said nothing. I knew she'd be asking about it later but for now she let it lie.

I ate my dinner silently ignoring the death glares I was receiving from the table. My mind was elsewhere. What were we going to do? Could we go through the rest of the year as outcasts? Would it be worth it? The thoughts plagued my mind all through dinner. After as I was exiting the great hall Professor Snape pulled me aside and we waited for Blaise to exit as well. When we did he told us he would escort us to our rooms. We walked for quite awhile until we came to a portrait of what seemed to be a rose that was tearing apart and inside it held a single teardrop. "This is where I leave you, the password is 'unity'. Zabini your detention is tomorrow evening 8 sharp. You'd best be on time." He said with a malicious sneer and left.

We spoke the password and walked into our new home. It was absolutely breath taking. It had a splendid mixture of colors like crimson, gold, forest green and grey all blended together perfectly. There were three very large couches and one whole wall was a bookcase! I was so excited we actually got our own bookcase filled with books! Not even the head dorm had this! I turned back to Blaise whose mouth was hanging wide open. We both immediately ran to our rooms to see what treasures it might hold. I walked in and saw that it was beautiful; I had a mahogany bed with a deep burgundy comforter. The walls were a creamy gold. I couldn't believe it. The room was so much better than the head dorm. I walked into the bathroom which was connected my room and saw it was huge with a bath to hold at least 5 people at once! It also had a shower and two sinks. I finally noticed that Blaise had joined me in the bathroom and we both stared at each other for a minute before we did happy dances.

"I never thought I'd see the day that I saw a Slytherin do a happy dance." I said laughing uncontrollably. He just laughed along with me. I walked over to his room to check it out and saw that it was pretty much the same as mine only the comforter was forest green and the walls were grayish silver. He seemed to have done the same and we both met in the bathroom again.

"Wow, Dumbledore must have really gone all out to promote our inner house unity. Either that or he felt bad that we'd become outcasts." He said smirking slightly. I grinned at him.

"Well I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. It's been a long, emotionally draining day. We should probably discuss all of this tomorrow, after all it is Saturday and it's not like we have friends to hang out with." I said trying to keep the tone light but it wasn't working very well.

"Yes, I suppose you're right. Let me know when you're done with your shower so I can take my own…unless you'd like me to join you?" He said waggling his eyebrows. I just laughed at him.

"Out! Mr. I'm-too-damn-cute-for-my-own-good, it's not going to work this time. Nope, out you go I'll let you know when I'm done." I said as I pushed him out the door. After he left I decided against a shower and instead started a bath for myself and I turned the knob on the tub for bubbles and charmed it to smell like green tea. I climbed in and started to relax. It really had been a long day and the exhaustion was beginning to hit me full force. After an hour I climbed out and wrapped a towel around myself. I walked over to Blaises' door and poked my head through telling him it was his turn. I walked back to my room put on my comfiest pajamas, which consisted of flannel pants, and a t-shirt and I climbed into bed knowing that tomorrow was going to be a better day.