Zacharias was a pounce, but wasn't he always? And for those of you that asked for Draco and Ginny, I hope you liked the way they finally get things straightened out. Wonder when Theo and Hermione are going to follow their footsteps? Let's see what this date has in store for Hermione…

"Just so you stop being a mother hen, know that I'm alive and I've reached my destination," Hermione said through the phone, walking towards the wine shop, ready to meet her date."Can you stop calling me now?"

"How would I know if you were okay or not?" Blaise whined through the phone, "You didn't answer my texts, and you only picked up after I called your grandma and she called you, and then, you answered my calls."

"I still can't believe you called my grandma so I could answer your call." Hermione laughed and stopped before entering the shop. "Don't you have work to do or something?"

"How can I focus on my work when you don't answer my calls and I have no idea if you're okay or not?" Blaise was getting louder, and Hermione could not help but laugh. "Don't laugh at me; you know what I mean."

"All right, I won't laugh, but can I go now?" Hermione said, looking at the man waiting inside. "I see that my date is already waiting for me. I promise to call you when I get back."

"If you don't call me, I'll call your grandmother! We're best friends, remember?" Blaise threatened, and Hermione laughed. "All right, have a nice date and give me a call afterwards."

As Hermione hung up, she was still laughing as she walked towards the shop, hoping to keep her sense of humour. "Hey, Adrian. Nice to meet you. I hope you didn't wait too long."

"Hello, Hermione. It's a pleasure to meet you, too. I arrived about ten minutes ago, I believe." Adrian Pucey seemed to be a decent enough man, so she was happy to meet him. "Are you ready to begin tasting wine?"

"I'm more than ready." She smiled and followed Adrian to the location of the wine tasting.

Despite never having attended a wine tasting before, Hermione was enjoying herself. The wines they tasted were some of the most delicious she had ever tasted.

"I definitely smell something floral in there," Hermione said, swirling and sniffing her wine. "Maybe a touch fruity?"

"I feel it too," Adrian said, smelling his wine and drinking a healthy amount. "I can't decide what it tastes like when I drink it."

Since Hermione knew they were supposed to sip their wine instead of drinking like they wanted to get drunk, she didn't scold him. Though she tried not to be judgmental, she was beginning to have doubts about Adrian.

"Maybe you should sip rather than drink a lot. If you sip, maybe you'll be able to taste the different flavours."

"Maybe you have a point," Adrian muttered, mocking Hermione. "I came here to have a good time, and this is how I'm going to spend mine."

Although Hermione huffed, she didn't say anything else to Adrian, choosing to continue drinking her wine despite the way he behaved. Although she tried to relax, she couldn't seem to connect with Adrian.

Hermione didn't want to be there, especially not with Adrian, but she was there because she was stubborn. It was clear to her that she didn't want to know anyone else, not after getting to know Theo better, but she wasn't sure he felt the same way.

She was trying to enjoy the date without thinking too much about Theo, while Adrian was getting drunker by the second and trying to cop a feeling.

Hermione almost choked when Adrian approached her and tried to wrap his arm around her. "What do you think about going home after we finish this tasting? I'm sure I can make you happy."

"Thanks, Adrian, but no thanks. I don't think I would enjoy going back to your house after this." Hermione grimaced, trying not to lash out.

"Come on, baby! Don't be like that," Adrian commanded, and Hermione shivered. "I know you want to have a good time with me."

"I don't think you understood what I said, but I'm not interested in going to your place after this." Hermione was taking deep breaths, trying not to panic.

Adrian was trying to be sensual and entice Hermione, but her response was not forthcoming. "You need to relax and have fun, and I can help you with that. I want to make you feel good."

Hermione had to stop her lunch from making an appearance; she knew that she had to make her intentions clear.

"Adrian, no matter what you say, we aren't going anywhere after this. I think we should end our date after the tasting is done." Hermione wasn't going anywhere with Adrian, especially since he was drunk as a skunk. "Why don't you get another glass of that Pinot Grigio you liked so much?"

Hermione watched Adrian sway as he walked towards the wine table, not feeling guilty about having thrown Adrian off. She wasn't sure if she should taste the remaining wines or leave now.

She made her decision when she saw Adrian flirting with the woman serving the wine. Grabbing her purse, she left discreetly, but not before buying two bottles of the wine she liked. She could get home and drink to her heart's content with good wine as company.

Some hours later, sprawled on the couch and drinking with her, Blaise said, "He sounds like a complete jerk. Who flirts with another person on a date?"

"Someone who gets drunk at a wine tasting?" Hermione asked, not bothering to think of an actual answer. "I don't even know why I went out with him. Maybe I was just trying something out."

"Would you like to share?" Blaise sat straight and smiled softly at her. "You know I would never judge you. I am never too busy to help you when you need me."

Hermione felt tears leaking from her eyes, but she wasn't sure if it was from what Blaise had said or the amount of wine she had consumed.

"I am getting tired of going on these dates, but at the same time, I want to finish this thing, you know? Maybe I just had terrible dates because the one meant for me hasn't found me yet." Hermione would blame the wine for her rambling, but she also felt free.

"My only goal was to have a good time, you know?" She rambled on, fortified by the wine, "Someone who wouldn't be so horrible or a jerk or like the horrible people I spent the last few weeks with. I wanted a good date, someone who would like me for who I am."

"Mione, don't worry, you will find someone who is perfect for you. You will find that he is everything you dreamed of." Blaise hugged Hermione. "You just need to be more patient."

Hermione squeezed Blaise's arm, "I don't want to wait, I want to be loved now!" She buried her face in his shoulder. "I'd like someone who could go to my family's Christmas party and remain with me afterwards."

Blaise gently brushed soothing circles on Hermione's back as she was beginning to calm down. "I know, sorellina, you just need to have a little more faith," he said. "Let's make a deal."

"A deal? What kind of deal?" Hermione asked, wiping away her tears. "I won't promise to marry you at thirty, Blaise, so don't even bother asking."

Blaise chuckled. "No, you weirdo, not that. Considering that there are only two dates left, I know you'll want to complete them. I know you're stubborn."

"You know me too well." Hermione smiled and raised an eyebrow at Blaise. "But what do you want?"

"If you haven't found anyone to go to the party with, I will come with you. I'll even stay by your side, and I won't gossip with your grandma," Blaise said with a small smile, which caused Hermione to laugh. "What do you say?"

Hermione considered what Blaise had said and decided she didn't have anything to lose by accepting his offer.

"All right, you have a deal." Hermione extended a hand to Blaise, who shook it. "If I can't find anyone else, I'll take you to my family's Christmas party."

"That's the spirit!" Blaise cried happily and poured another glass of wine. "Let's drink to that."

Hermione laughed and accepted the wine that Blaise had poured into her glass. Knowing that she'd have a date now, she wasn't as worried about the dates she still had to go on.

She didn't feel like showing up to work the following day, and since she was such a valuable worker, she knew she could get a day off. Hermione didn't mention that to Blaise, knowing he would try to take the day off to stay by her side, but she felt like she needed a break for herself, so she would take one.

Hermione clinked her glass with Blaise's and murmured, "I'll drink to that."