Okay, guys, I know you're gonna say. "HOW FRIGGIN' LONG DID IT TAKE FOR YOU TO UPDATE!" and all to me, but I have a good reason. Kind of. Well, I have to study for exams, and I was banned from the computer for a while for skipping school.:( Not one of my best experiences, mind you.

Sorry it's pretty short and chuck-full of mushy bits... I've been braindead...

Blaise kept screaming, and he thought he was going to die. Or at least seriously injure himself.

The last thing he saw was Hermione waving her wand before he closed his eyes, and screamed louder.

'AAARGH!' he continued, but then landed on some bushes with a (very) loud thud. And when he looked at his right arm, it was bruised and bleeding slightly.

And he was grateful that he landed on the rose bushes. Of course, there are the thorns stabbing through his skin, but he didn't care about that now.

He was alive.

He never really appreciated how wonderful Life was. But he had to do something first…

Hermione couldn't deny the fact that she was relieved Blaise was alive. But her happiness disappeared when she remembered why she was out there in the first place.

'THEO! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!' Blaise yelled out, as Theo's little head poked out of the window.

'Aw, come on, Blaise, I was just giving you a little… encouragement!'

'Theo! That was very thoughtless of you!' Daphne's voice was heard. 'It's just like the kind of thing little kids like Xerxes do!'

'Hey!' Xerxes complained. 'I'm only a year younger than you guys!'

'You act like you're eight, though,' Theo pointed out.

'I do?'

'Let's go,' Daphne said.

'Why?' Xerxes asked.

'Soon Blaise is gonna apologise, and I don't want you two,' (she looked at Theo and Xerxes) 'to mess it up for him. Right, Derek?'

'Quit turning towards Derek and getting him to agree with you,' Xerxes commented.

'Actually, I think that we should go, too,' Derek added.

'I told you so!' Daphne said proudly. 'Thanks, Derek!'

'Hmm… how does Daphne Dunston sound? I think it's got a ring to it!' Xerxes said.

'I am Daphne Greengrass, and someone else will have the title of "Mrs Dunston", thanks,' Daphne answered.

'Let's just go!' Derek said, and the four Slytherins ran out of the office to return to the ball.

'Hey,' Blaise said. Hermione didn't reply.

'You've got to admit, that was pretty funny when I fell down, wasn't it?' Blaise continued, trying to start a conversation.

Hermione stayed quiet.

'Look, you're meant to say, "It's not funny, Zabini", or anything of the sort,' Blaise said. 'You've got to talk at some point! Hey, okay, I know I was being such an arsehole back then, but please, I beg you, PLEASE forgive me!'

Hermione merely coughed, then turned her back towards Blaise.

'For Merlin's sake, Granger, it's not that hard to talk to me! Man, didn't they say, "Forgive and forget"?'

Silence.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm—' Blaise chanted, and stopped when Hermione turned around.

'Zabini, I am NOT gonna forgive you, okay? Deal with it!' Hermione snapped.

'At least you managed to say something,' Blaise pointed out.

Hermione ignored him, and said coldly, 'What? Do you have anything else to say? Any other mudblood bitches for you to snap at?'

'YOU'RE NOT A MUDBLOOD… THAT!' Blaise shouted.

'CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT YOU SAID IT, YOU'RE CONTRADICTING YOURSELF!'

'No! I didn't mean it at all! It just came out because… because… I…'

'What?'

'Well… I didn't like it… that you're that desperate to go with Smith… well, I was already prepared to see you with Weasley… and well, it just came as a big shock when Smith… you know…' Blaise said.

'What does that have to do with you?'

'OF COURSE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ME! I asked you to go with me, too!'

'Here we go again…' Hermione muttered.

'Is there anything I can do to get you to forgive me?'

'Umm… let me think… NO.'

'There must be some way! I'll… I'll… stop acting like an idiot! I'll become especially nice to Muggle-borns! I'll stop joking around and focus on my schoolwork!'

'You know you don't mean it, Zabini, you're not that desperate to get me to forgive you…'

'I AM! Look, I don't care whether I have to say "Sorry" for eternity… wait, I would, but that's not the point! The point is, YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, Granger! I didn't mean to call you that!'

Hermione faced him.

'Do you mean it?'

'Hell, I do! I mean, yes, of course…'

'You won't act like how you were back there anymore?'

'Oh, for Merlin's sake… No, I won't!'

'Will you be willing to do me a favour after I forgive you, if I forgive you?'

'Do I have to say yes in order for you to forgive me?'

Hermione nodded, smirking.

'Does it involve something impossible to do, or something that would make me die or something?'

'No, probably not,' Hermione said coolly.

'Probably?' Blaise asked. 'Yeah, sure, why not…'

'Okay then. You can't back out of it, though. But I guess I have to forgive you now…'

'That's great. Now let's go back there and actually dance, like what people are meant to do.'

'Umm… Zabini, I can't go in there with puffy eyes!' Hermione denied. 'Everyone will stare at me!'

'Right… So what do you suggest we do?'

'You can go, Zabini, I'll just go back to the Common Room now,' Hermione suggested, then wiped her eyes. 'So much for dancing, though.'

'No,' Blaise said. 'Just dance here. With me.'

Hermione looked at him, stunned.

'Did I actually say that?' Blaise thought, just as shocked.