Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize, J.K. Rowling does.

A/N: I'm soo sorry for the long update. My power went off for almost a weak. Just came back on. I would just like to thank all my reviewers so much. I usually don't like to write but your reviews encourage me a lot. At first I didn't think anyone would like my stories, but it seems that some people do for which I'm extremely happy! So thank again and on with the chapter.

Chapter 3

Neighbors and Pitching Tents

Hermione stomped all the way down the path still fuming. 'How dare he! The Nerve. To even think something like that. I hate him! I…want…to…throttle…him.' She even held her hands out in front of her wringing them, imagining his neck being there for good measure.

While still imagining the demise of Malfoy, muttering under her breath; things like "despicable" and "arrogant, egotistical, bloody prat," she stomped into another clearing. Once she realized where she was, her anger faded away and was replaced with excitement. She turned around and spotted Harry. 'Oh what a relief.' Someone she could talk to when Malfoy annoyed her. She ran to him and bowled him over in an effort to hug him.

"Oh thank heavens you're here Harry. Al least there's one good thing so far."

He sat up and righted his glasses. "It's good to see you too Hermione. Has something happened? Who are you with? They can't be that bad." At a look from Hermione he added, "They can?"

"Yes! I have to stay with Malfoy and Parvati! And Malfoy already started with the insults. He had the nerve to demand that Parvati and I pitch the tents while he and Blaise just sit on their asses." She was starting to get going, so he decided to throw her off her track a little.

"Wait. Who is this Blaise character?"

"Oh. Blaise Zabini. He's the other person in our group. He's not that bad. He's nothing like Malfoy so far and…" she trailed off and blushed thinking of how handsome he was. He was so unlike Malfoy in every way. He was of average height and he had a naturally tanned complexion with pitch black hair. His hair was cut short and the very tips were electric blue. Harry noticed her blush and wondered,

"And?"

She quickly looked at him and noticed a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, not unlike Dumbledore's.

"Nothing," she said almost too quickly.

She was saved from him asking further by an obnoxiously high-pitched voice,

"Potter who the hell are you talking to?"

She came out of a tent and looked around. Her eyes landed on Hermione. They instantly turned cold and hard. She straightened up and flipped her black hair over her shoulder.

"Oh. It's the mudblood. Why don't-

Hermione cut in, "Shut the fuck up Parkinson. I am not in the mood to deal with you right now. Go away; I might have time for you later."

Everyone stood in shock looking at Hermione. Neville and Millicent had come from another tent to see what the commotion was. Harry and Neville were standing there, eyes wide and mouth gaping like a fish; they had never seen her act like this before. The Slytherins always pushed her buttons, but she never swore before. Well, maybe it was because Dumbledore and all the other professors weren't here to punish them. Hermione herself stood in shock. She had never before lost this much control over her temper.

Pansy just huffed, too astonished to actually reply. She clenched her fists at her sides with rage, stalked to the tent, and disappeared from sight. Millicent followed not to long after, but not before throwing Hermione an evil death ray. (A/n: He! He! I got this from a commercial I saw on TV and just couldn't help myself)

Harry was the first to sober up. He went to Hermione and gave her a comforting hug.

"So Malfoy was that bad huh?"

"Yeah. I don't know why he got to me so much. I wanted to physically hurt him. I already slapped him;" Harry's eyes widened then turned victorious. "Twice." His grin widened. He patted her on the back.

"Good job Mione! I'll have no worries that you can't take care of yourself." Hermione looked at him. Seeing the dangerous look in her eyes he added, "Not that you couldn't before, but I've always been worried about. I don't want anything to happen to you."

She smiled. "Thanks Harry, you're too sweet, but don't worry about me. I probably should get back to see if they can pitch a tent at all."

"Okay, I'll be here anytime anyone or anything for that matter plagues you."

"Thanks again. I'll stay longer next time, I promise." She gave Harry a last hug and departed saying good-bye to Neville on the way.

She walked back to her camp still slightly astonished at herself. Maybe she should try that on Malfoy sometime. It would be highly amusing if he was rendered speechless.

She walked into the clearing and wasn't surprised to see Malfoy sitting on a stump like it was his throne. Blaise was sitting on the ground, his back up against the log Malfoy was sitting on, playing with a little stick. Hermione blushed slightly looking at Blaise. He looked up as she walked into the camp. He flashed a hint of a smile at her, but it was gone when Malfoy looked up. She then noticed Parvati wasn't in sight and immediately spoke,

"Where did Parvati go?"

Malfoy sneered. "How would I know? I don't keep tabs on mudbloods."

Hermione was getting angry again. It seems that just looking at him sneering infuriated her, and him calling her a mudblood never helped. If things kept going like they were, she would end up doing a Ron and attack him. She clenched and unclenched her fists at her sides to calm herself down. As she was about to retort, a semi deep calm and alluring voice broke through her thoughts,

"Your friend, Parvati, went down the pathway next to the one you took."

Her eyes widened, and she turned her head to the speaker. She blushed slightly, her anger ebbing away. She hoped he wouldn't notice her blush or he would take it as anger toward Malfoy. She bit her tongue and composed herself. She looked confidently into his eyes and almost faltered. Those amazing deep azure eyes looked back at her; without malice, without the hatred she was expecting. They weren't cold and mask like; like he was hiding his emotions. They were in fact quite warm, and he looked highly amused. 'How in Merlin's name could a boy this…this warm (for lack of better word) be in Slytherin? And be friends with Malfoy? Merlin, he must be talented.' Barely missing a beat she responded, "Thank You."

She disappeared down the path her friend took moments before.

Blaise watched as Hermione disappeared down the path. 'Well she's definitely not as bad as the other little chit. She was practically throwing herself at Draco.'

Draco, next to him spoke. "Mate, do you have eyes for Granger or something?" She turned on his stump to look at Blaise. He looked calm and content. The question didn't even faze him.

"No, why?" he said lightly, even more amused.

"Because she's a mudblood," he exploded, "and you were acting nice to her. You're supposed to hate mudbloods."

"Well I don't. I don't hate someone I don't know. So what, she doesn't have pure magical blood, she had magical blood just the same; same color and there's no dirt in it (I checked once). And if I'm not mistaken she's an even better witch than you are a wizard."

Draco scoffed, "Whatever mate, believe what you want. I still think you fancy her. You were acting almost friendly," he shuddered, "to a bloody Gryffindor."

"Just because I didn't scream and call her a mudblood doesn't mean I fancy her. And at least I have my own beliefs."

Draco stood up, fists clenched, glaring down at Blaise, who still looked unfazed. "I DO have my own beliefs!"

Blaise stood up in one fluid motion. He looked at Draco straight in the eyes and said very calmly; his content and carefree demeanor gone. "No Draco, you don't. Those are your father's beliefs. They were drilled into your head from birth."

"Yes I do," Draco said sounding almost desperate. His shoulders slumped a little; and he looked to the ground.

"Then why do you hate muggleborns so much? Why do you always belittle them, and Potter and Weasley and Granger? As I recall they've done nothing to you."

Draco then looked up at Blaise; eyes alight with fire once again. "Potter lost my respect when he declined my friendship during our first year. And Weasley when he laughed at my name."

Blaise put a comforting hand on Draco's shoulder. "That's okay; I understand, but what about Granger and muggleborns in general?"

Draco's shoulders completely slumped. He sighed defeated. "I can't best her," he sighed again, "I can't beat her at anything; with the exception of quidditch. That's only because she fears flying which is fine because I used to fearit too whenI was little. When I don't best her at school I get punished by father." He paused as if deciding to say something else. "Father told me that I'll be joining him soon. I was supposed to join this summer, but will this…reconciliation of Gryffindor and Slytherin I couldn't get the mark." He hesitated once again, "But I'm kind of glad." He finished whispering. Blaise didn't know how to react. Draco almost never opened up and talked about his father. This was the first time he shared anything about his hate for Granger.

"I understand that; all of it and you don't have to join him if you don't want to, but not all muggleborns are that bad. Think how they feel if you want understand. They don't really fit in anywhere. They can do magic, but then people like you and your father degrade them because their heritage, which they can't even choose. If they go into the muggle world, they're accepted until one of them accidentally use magic and the muggles find out. Then the witch or wizard is thought crazy and then the Ministry had to get involved. So how would you feel, not being able to be accepted in either world? Why do you think Granger fights so hard to be the best at everything? She probably feels she had to prove to everyone that she's just as good as you or me. Until she does that she or any other muggleborn for that matter won't back down. That's why I have my own set of beliefs, and I will never side with Voldemort." Draco visibly stiffened at the mention of him.

As Draco listened to Blaise speaking so passionately about his beliefs a sense of remorse washed over him. He wanted to have his own beliefs like Blaise had. Instead he was bullied into believing someone else's beliefs that he didn't particularly like, but thought that they were correct. 'He's right. I have no beliefs. They are his' He then made a resolve to make his own. 'I will make my own choices, and I will not follow Voldemort!' Then with a small pang of guilt he realized just how rude he'd been to Granger and the other little chit Parvati. He shook it off thought and turned to Blaise again.

He sighed, "You're right. I don't have my own beliefs and I didn't understand how mudbloods felt. I'm going to make my own beliefs and I'm going to try to change. I'm not going to be friendly or nice to Granger or anyone else over night. It may take awhile, but I don't care. And I won't join the Dark Lord…or my father"

Blaise clapped Draco on the shoulder. "Good on ya mate. I'm really glad you're trying to do this."

"Hey, don't get too excited mate. I told you its going to take awhile. I'm not going to go up to Granger and apologize and be all nice to her."

Blaise opened his mouth to respond, but a twig snapped behind them. They both whipped around to see who it was. The Gryffindors had returned. Blaise looked indifferent, but Draco scowled at them.

"Oh your back," he spat.

Hermione looked a lot calmer; calmer than she did before. She just rose and eyebrow. "Well that's not stating the obvious or anything," she said sarcastically.

"Shut up mudb-Granger!" he said through gritted teeth.

Hermione's eyebrow rose further as he stopped himself from saying mudblood. She opened her mouth to speak, but Blaise spoke up to avoid any more confrontation, and to change the subject. "Don't we have to set up tents and decide who is sleeping where?"

"Yes, I suppose we do. Why don't we decide who is sleeping in each tent so each pair can set up their own tents?"

Everyone nodded, thought Malfoy grudgingly, seeing the sense in her words. He was the first to speak up.

"I don't particularly fancy sleeping in the same tent as Granger." Then he looked at Parvati-who was beaming and was almost squealing and jumping up and down with joy- and looked as if he wanted to change his mind.

"I don't fancy being in the same cap area with Malfoy, let alone in the same tent as him. He would drive me insane," she said, panicking.

Blaise hurriedly cut in, "Fine Draco, you and Patil will share a tent, and me and Granger will. So grab a tent and get started," he paused to look at Draco. He had a blank expression on his face. He snickered and added, "I believe there are directions for those who don't know how."

For the next hour the two pairs worked on erecting their tents. Blaise and Hermione quietly talked the time trying to get to know one another a little more. Hermione found that Blaise was unlike any other Slytherin she had unfortunately met. He was willingly talking to a Gryffindor and even laughing with one!

Blaise found that Hermione wasn't like the usually stereotypical Gryffindor either. She would easily fit into all four houses. 'And hey, she kind of cute too.' He thought smirking.

Their conversation would be interrupted by an occasional growl of frustration. Obviously Malfoy and Parvati were having a bit of a problem pitching their tent. Hermione looked over to their group and choked on a giggle struggling to erupt from her mouth. Parvati was chattering away to Malfoy while assembling the tent with ease. Malfoy on the hand, wasn't paying one bit of attention to Parvati- who didn't seem to notice and kept jabbering on-but looked ready to pick up one of the metal rods and start hitting himself repeatedly over the head. He would read the directions, try doing what it said, and growl when he didn't do it right. She choked back another giggle and returned to her work.

Five minutes later they were almost done, but Hermione was having trouble getting her last stake in the right place so the tent would stay put. It was to close to the tent making it lean precariously to one side. She tried to pull it out, but it was stuck. Blaise walked over to her dusting his hands off. He watched her pitiful efforts with a raised eyebrow.

"Do you need a hand?" he asked her.

"Actually two would be great. Thank you."

He chuckled and positioned himself next to Hermione. He put his hands just below her hands, the top one slightly touching her bottom one. She blushed which didn't go unnoticed by Blaise, buthe pushed his queries away and said,

"On the count of three pull straight up ok?" Hermione nodded, "One. Two. Three!" They pulled, but nothing happened. All of a sudden the stake came loose and with the strength at which they were pulling, it went flying out of the ground. Hermione, whose hands still gripped the stake, went flying into Blaise with and "eep!" As he was stronger than her, he controlled which way the stake went. He was thrown to the ground by the force of her impact. Out of instinct he grabbed her around the waist to soften her landing on him. He landed with a grunt. Hermione landed on top of him, her hands clutching his shirt.

Hermione took a few seconds to get her breath back. She sat up coincidentally straddling Blaise. She blushed crimson realizing the position they were in. 'It's a good thing we fell behind the tent. I would get it so bad from Malfoy and Parvati. Some luck at last!' She tried to get off of him, but she couldn't. A pair of arms were restricting her. She blushed even harder. 'Why am I always blushing around him? I don't even like him!' Blaise had his eyes closed in obvious pain trying to get his breath back. Without opening his eyes he asked amused,

"I know I'm quite the stud, but could you please get off of me?"

"Um…I believe you're the one holding me here." She paused as he opened his eyes looking at his arms firmly wrapped around her. "And who said I thought you were a stud?"

"Everyone thinks I'm a stud," he said confidently forgetting that he still held the little Gryffindor. She wriggled trying to get out of his grasp, inadvertently causing him to have to stifle a groan; and not from pain. Now it was his turn to blush. He let her go, not wanting her to feel any reaction that might occur if she didn't stop moving against him. She scrambled off and he sat up.

"So you don't think I'm a stud," he asked pouting.

Hermione got up, dusted herself off and laughed. "Oh shut up and let's check out the tent."

She got up and walked to the tent's opening, noticing that Malfoy and Parvati's tents was already erected and they were no where to be found. She shrugged and walked into the tent. She gasped. It looked very unlike the out side. Instead of the plain canvas coloring it was a mix of red and silver. The tent looked like it was made for her and Blaise. There were two cots with sleeping bags on them and a pillow. One sleeping bag was silver and other one, you guessed it, was red. There was a little cupboard, which Hermione found to full of easy to make food, after opening it. Almost nothing else was in the room except two places, at the end of each cot, to put clothes and such. Opposite the food cupboard there was a slightly larger one. It almost looked like a door. Hermione walked over to it and turned the handle, but it wouldn't open. She shrugged and went about unpacking her things.

Blaise walked in shortly after. Hermione had finished her unpacking and was on her cot (the silver one) reading a book. 'Cute; even when she's camping trying to become friendly with Slytherins she still finds time to read.' Blaise looked around their dwelling place for the next week. 'Not too bad given that we're supposed to be muggle camping.' He walked over to his cot and flopped down on it gazing at the ceiling. His eyes started drooping and before he could fight it off, sleep over took him.

A/N: Tell me what you think! Again so sorry it took so long to update. I should be able to update sooner. Going to be having a bit of a vacation from school. Please review and tell me what you think. It really encourages me to write. You can also check out my profile I've finally decided to write something for it. Until next time review!  Tootals!

Princess Squishy