29th

2 days had passed and Ginny was loving every bit of the holiday. She found the time to complete some of her assignments and Blaise took her on a tour of places he loved in Rome. They spent most of their time together actually, and she got to see his mother twice, if only for short periods. It seemed his mother was quite a busy lady. Blaise later told her she sometimes worked as an event planner and one of his father's advisories. The important one. He also explained why she hadn't met the man as well. Apparently, the day she had gotten there, his father left for an important meeting in the U.S.

Today, the 29th, Blaise told her he had arranged a little hangout so he could introduce her to his 3 friends her in Rome. All purebloods. They'd be having a Jacuzzi party it seemed. While Ginny was extra nervous, she also felt excited. She wanted to meet his friends and she desperately hoped they weren't asses like Blaise was.

Changing, she wore a beautiful tropical black one-piece swimsuit with an off-shoulder cape and colorful flowery prints on it. Modest but accentuating her beautiful shape.

She left her hair to overflow and then Giulia escorted her to the Jacuzzi.

It was situated in an outdoor looking area, looking out to the hills and real large. It was bubbling with the temperature appropriate water and 2 unfamiliar guys were in it with Blaise. One had darkish brown hair that was pretty long but tied at the nape of his neck. He was laughing at something Blaise had said, a glass cup of wine in his hand that he twirled. He was really tanned and seemed muscular from what he could see of his hands. The second was a brown haired whose hair was in a buzz cut kind of style. From where she stood, she could see he had a Playboy sort of look. A cocky smirk and his baby blue eyes which would probably draw a lot of girls in. He had a tattoo on his left chest of a Crest, possibly his family's and spotted a similar tan to the other guys'.

Blaise looked up soon enough and she saw his eyes rake up and down her body and she had to force down the blush that had threatened to take over. Oh she knew she had a great body. Tons of quidditch training had given her a tiny waist, perky boobs and a delectable ass that she was quite fond of, but she still wasn't sure about her swimsuit. She chose this one because she knew better than to select a more provocative one while still living under the roof of her mother. One of her plans after graduation and once she moved out was getting some new things added to her wardrobe to make her feel like the adult she now was.

Blaise smirked a bit and Rose from the Jacuzzi and she felt her throat dry as water leaked down his muscular body as he was damn shirtless! Her eyes raked over his physique in admiration before she realized what she was doing, not before her caught her though, and invited her over with a nod off his head which she answered and made the two other guys realize her presence.

The player looking one whistled while the long-haired one which she realized had smoldering brown eyes smiled a bit.

"Where has she been all my life!"

The player, as she had now dubbed him, muttered something in Italian which she didn't understand but Blaise had a tiny twitch of amusement for a bit and it disappeared.

Blaise helped her into the Jacuzzi and situated her in the middle of him and the long-haired guy. Thankfully away from the perverted looking one, but hey! Sometimes you choose friends you don't understand.

"Ginny, I'd like you to meet 2 of my friends, Marco De Genova and Dante Umbro. Guys, this is Ginevra Weasley"

"Call me Ginny" she said, inwardly beaming as he called her Ginny! For the first time!

The player now known as Dante smirked.

"Ooh! A feisty little one there, I'd love to know you more"

He said suggestively, his accent quite strong and Ginny had to inwardly barf at his forwardness.

"Thank you for the… suggestion, but I suggest we leave it at just that. A suggestion."

Marco who had downed his glass and was pouring himself another barked out a laugh.

"I like her already! You never choose less hunh Blaise? It's nice to meet you miss Weasley"

Ginny smiled. This guy she could like.

"You too. And call me Ginny"

He nodded before turning to a still smirking Dante.

"just when is Enrico getting here anyways? He sure is taking his bloody time isn't he?"

Before any of them could answer though, another voice answered.

"Well my handsome features don't just take minutes to prepare brothers"

And the 4 turned to look at the newcomer and even Ginny had to admit he was real handsome.

He had dark black wavy hair that fell to the nape of his neck and silver eyes and a tan skin.

"Guess who's back from Spain guys?"

He gestured behind him and a girl, no, lady sauntered past him, moving her hips like a vixen and wearing a really sexy bikini that made Ginny immediately feel too covered. It basically left less to the imagination, all strings and ropes that Ginny knew without doubt that she could never wear. Not because she'd never be able to rock it, but more because it literarily left nothing to the imagination.

But hey, to each her own.

She had similar features to the guy next to her. The same silver eyes meaning. And she was more tanned than the guy. She had black hair that fell to her shoulder tips, styled in a side parting.

Ginny saw her as an exquisite beauty, immediately reminding her of Cho Chang but a much more beautiful version and confident with the way she sauntered like she owned the Manor.

Just who was this girl?

The other boys stood up to greet her and out the Jacuzzi. The other guys placed kisses on both of her cheeks but when it got to Blaise, she hugged him and placed a kiss next to his mouth, so close to his lips and Ginny's eyes narrowed marginally.

The new guy soon noticed her and walked over to the Jacuzzi.

"And who are you miss?"

He asked curiously as he settled in next to her but not too close.

"Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley"

He smiled and nodded.

"A pleasure to meet you, I'm Enrico Tuscany. Call me Rico, that's cousin, Corinna"

He gestured as everyone settled in the water, Blaise settling next to her and the girl immediately moving to sit next to him. Extra close.

"So Ginny!"

Dante started.

"How exactly did you become friends with an icy person like Blaise Zabini?"

He smirked and Ginny shrugged, trying to ignore the girl who was basically snuggling into Blaise, and he wasn't even doing anything about it!

"Oh! Um, well he was kind of a nuisance in the beginning"

Blaise scoffed at that and butted in.

"More like you were always in need of my help. She seems to always be in trouble"

"So you have some kind of princess in danger complex?"

Rico said jokingly.

"Well that's our Blaise boys, always trying to help out the little girls"

The Corinna girl smirked, making eye contact with Ginny as something passed through her eyes and Ginny seethed.

Really! Just who the hell was this girl?!?

"I highly doubtful Blaise has some hero complex in him though. He looks like one of those bastards who'd rather buy your soul"

Rico chuckled and Marco nodded. He seemed like the quiet one in the group.

Blaise smirked.

"That's if it was even worth anything"

"Geez. Harsh!"

Dante replied him and he just shrugged while Corinna giggled, pressing her boobs to his side.

"So I guess since Blaise is graduating next year when he should have done that this year, we should continue our plans"

"Plans?"

Ginny asked, trying to see if she could get along with this girl. Maybe she was just a friend of Blaise or something. Ginny thought maybe her brain was just making things up.

"Oh yeah!" Rico said.

"We planned to travel to 7 countries for a month after graduation but with what had been happening in Great Britain last year, it wasn't possible"

"Hm… but I'm sure we can go now. I was really looking forward to spending it with you Blaise"

Corinna whined and Marco muttered under his breath.

"Like we didn't all know"

Which Ginny heard and made her curious and utterly jealous of her. Really, who was this girl and why was Blaise not even doing anything about her?? She was basically being a nuisance, and Ginny, deep down, had always thought she and Blaise connected in some way, especially at Hogwarts. Was this experience trying to show her that they wouldn't work in the real world? Was she really doomed to be heartbroken again??

She sighed. Maybe she shouldn't have come for this holiday.

"Hey, you okay?"

Blaise asked her curiously and she faked a smile and nodded.

"Yeah… Yeah, I'm fine."

Conversation took up again and Ginny could only watch helplessly as the 5 who seemed to know each other quite well laughed and joked about things, the Corinna girl sometimes staring at her with such intensity she had tried to avoid making eye contact with her a number of times.

Sometimes they'd forget and slip into the Italian language that it was when one of the guys pointed her out or when Corinna teasingly dissed her about not knowing Italian, that they'd all go back to English once more.

Ginny vowed to learn it soon.

It was a bit past evening now and Ginny wasn't really feeling herself anymore and she excused herself from the Jacuzzi.

She didn't notice a quite worried pair of eyes watch her go.

As she walked around the Manor, towel wrapped around her waist to go to her room, she bumped into Mrs. Zabini. She wore a sleeveless mint green jumpsuit and a silver high heel, her hair in a high ponytail and make up free but looking youthful as ever.

Mrs. Zabini, or Esme smiled when she saw Ginny.

"Ah! Ginny! I see you're just getting out of the Jacuzzi. Where are the others?"

"Oh, well um, they're still there, talking to Corinna"

Ginny who had been keeping in all her tears so she could go cry in her room felt part of her resolve crumble a bit. Why was she feeling like this? Like her whole heart was about to burn.

Mrs. Zabini's face lost its smile and she pursed her lips in disapproval.

"Oh. So she's around. Hm…"

Ginny looked at her curiously.

"Is something wrong Esme?"

Esme smiled a bit.

"Not per say. It's just I've never approved of the girl… she clings to Blaise like a fungus"

"Oh… did they ever…"

"Date? No, sadly it appears my dear son is the non-dating kind, but thankfully he hasn't dated her. She isn't exactly the kind to bring home for your parents, especially parents who know how loose her morals are. But it doesn't mean they aren't… close"

She said, making it have a double minded meaning.

Oh.

So, they've had sex.

That was even worse.

"So Ginny dear, I'm sure you know about the Ball, I wonder though, did you bring anything to wear?"

Ginny shook her head apologetically.

"No Esme. Blaise didn't see it fit to tell me before I came here"

She rolled her eyes a bit, smiling as his mother scoffed.

"That boy. Why am I not surprised. Well, in that case, I'll send Giulia to come check your body measurements and take it to my designer. A great one I assure you"

"No! You don't have to, really. I could just stay in my room the whole night"

But Esme was having none of it.

"No, no my dear. You're a visitor in this house, and you can just see it as a thank you present for gracing us with your presence here in Italy."

Esme didn't let her say no until she finally acquiesced and the woman smiled a beautiful smile that Ginny just had to return.

"Great! I have somewhere to be at now, why don't we spend tomorrow morning at a nice spa I booked for, hm? It'd be nice for some girl time before the Ball"

Ginny nodded and Esme turned to go before she stopped.

"Oh, and Ginny, don't give up on Blaise. He might look all hard on his exterior but he really is soft in the interior"

And with that, she walked away, leaving Ginny in her thoughts.

Ginny was on her bed that night, staring at the ceiling, in her PJs when she heard a knock on her door and she quickly stood up to open it.

It was Blaise.

He wore a white round-neck shirt and Ash colored sweatpants, his hair a bit messy and to Ginny, he looked perfect.

"Hey"

"Hi…"

She muttered, resting on the door entrance.

"Are you okay? You left quite early today…"

She sighed a bit and mumbled.

"Sorry… it's just, you seemed to be having a good time with your friends and I seemed to be getting in the way, so…"

She shrugged and Blaise raised an eyebrow.

"You know little Weasley, if I didn't want your presence around I'd have not invited you over here"

She smiled a little, before smirking in triumph at something.

"You called me Ginny this afternoon"

He smirked down at her

"Well I didn't want anyone stealing my name for you now did I?"

He spoke lowly and she blushed.

"So… Corinna… you both seem to hit it off"

She said in a seemingly calm voice.

"Hm, she's a friend I guess"

"Oh… just, a friend?"

She mumbled and he looked at her carefully and he soon chuckled.

"Yes, just a friend. And little Weasley, I'd have thought jealousy is beneath you, your highness"

Ginny scowled at him before shivering a bit.

"You're cold? Perhaps we should shift our discussion till tomorrow—"

"No! No, you can… Come in"

She gestured aside. She didn't know why, but she really wanted to talk to him.

He had an expression on his face that Ginny couldn't quite catch before he nodded and entered. They walked over to one of the comfy couches in her room and sat side by side, turning to face each other and Ginny feeling a bit mischievous, placed her legs on Blaise' lap. He looked at her legs which she'd worn her cute bunny pink sock on because of a bit of the cold and turned to stare at her.

"Jealous and a bit crazy"

She chuckled a bit.

"I'm not jealous okay? Besides, you just said she was a friend"

He looked at her closely.

"So, if she wasn't just a friend, you'd have been an angry witch"

She sputtered in indignation.

"W-what?? No! I was just… Asking!"

He smirked.

"Say the truth little--"

"don't call me that! And… I suppose, maybe, it's possible, I don't know, I guess… I might have been"

She sighed, mumbling the last part as she played with her fingers. Might as well let him know he won that little bet they had done before. With him saying she shouldn't fall in love with him. But first, was this even love?

But it seemed impossible now. She had no idea why he never had a girlfriend before. He was quite a great guy, once you've seen through his exterior and understand just who he is.

He seemed to like it when people saw him as some bad guy. But Ginny, months ago, she'd have just seen him as some mysterious attractive Slytherin she'd run into a couple of times, but now… now she felt like she was connected to him. Like she was used to being around him now.

Ginny, looked up to see him smiling a side smile before he nodded, more likely to himself.

She frowned and asked him.

"What? Why are you smiling"

He chuckled a bit.

"Nothing, you just seem to… make me question some decisions sometimes"

And he closed his eyes, resting his head and Ginny was confused and flustered.

The quietness of the room was quite comfortable and relaxing and while it was nice, she didn't need it.

"Oof!"

Blaise let out, as a feather pillow landed on his face and he heard a giggle.

He sighed as he lifted it up and Ginny spoke up.

"Haven't heard you let out such a noise before"

He looked to see her standing in front of him, a hand on her waist and the other lazily playing with her luscious Ruby hair.

She wore a dark blue spaghetti night gown that fell to just above her knees.

He smirked as he grabbed the pillow.

"Well, I'm curious to find out what kind of sound can come out of your mouth as well"

He said cockily and double mindedly as he stood up and she blushed at what he implied before he hit her not too much, with her feathered pillow making her squeak.

"Hey! You aren't supposed to hit girls you know!"

She said as she blew her hair out of her face.

"O hush. It's a feathered pillow and you know it doesn't hurt"

Immediately, she grabbed the pillow with such fast reflexes and began hitting him with it as she began laughing.

He shifted back a bit and she came closer still hitting him. He soon gained balance and came after her, she hit the back of her bed, letting out a squeak as she struggled to hold unto anything but she grabbed Blaise and they both fell on her bed, Blaise on top of her.

Ginny was still in shock as she looked up, staring at the close proximity she shared with him.. his eyes were really beautiful.

At that moment, they shifted apart, both standing and something flashed through Blaise' eyes and Ginny hoped it wasn't anger.

"I should get going now. My mum told me you both have somewhere to be tomorrow?"

"Hm? Oh yes. She's taking me to her spa or something. I think it'd be fun."

She said, trying to hide her disappointment.

Blaise smiled a bit.

"Well, I'll leave you to rest up then, goodnight"

He said, pressing a kiss to her left knuckles before leaving the room. Ginny continued staring at the door for more minutes, as she thought of what exactly was going on between Blaise Zabini and herself.