Here we go. If I wasn't doing song lyrics as chapter titles, just know that the title of this chapter would be Blinny. I ship them so hard guys, it's not even funny. I feel like a lot of you have been waiting for this chapter, whether you knew it or not, so here, for all of you patient folks.
Also, the Ch. 17 sneak peek is very short and possibly misleading(?), so don't get too excited lol.
Disclaimer: I Own Nothing
Hermione took a deep, shaky breath before hesitantly bringing her fist up and knocking on the door. She heard movement from inside of the room and shuffled on her feet, holding the tray steady with her other hand. She could feel her nervousness increase as she heard soft voices before the sound of footsteps could be heard nearing the door. The door opened and Hermione took a step back, resisting the urge to look down.
If looks could kill, then Hermione would have been six feet under because Blaise Zabini was staring at her as if she were the foulest scum on earth. Hermione blinked, holding his gaze, desperately trying to convey how sorry she was. She didn't dare speak to him, that didn't exactly go well the last time.
"Let her in, Blaise," a soft voice said.
Blaise's jaw clenched and his eyes darkened, but he eventually opened the door wider and stepped aside. Hermione did her best to avoid his eyes as she passed him, but she could feel his burning gaze on her back. As she walked over to the nightstand beside the bed, she could hear him following behind her before stopping beside the huge frame. Hermione glanced over her shoulder.
Blaise hovered over Ginny, running his hand through her hair as he whispered something to her. Hermione looked away, setting the tray down onto the nightstand and tucking her hair behind her ear.
"I'll be downstairs. Just send her if you need anything," he said.
Hermione turned around and Blaise threw her one last venomous look before walking out. Hermione swallowed before heaving a small sigh. Blaise…hated her. He absolutely hated her and Hermione couldn't blame him one bit.
"He'll come around," Ginny whispered.
Hermione looked up to see Ginny gazing at her from underneath the huge comforter and piles of pillows.
"I wouldn't blame him if he didn't," Hermione said.
She looked away towards the nightstand, adjusting the tray.
"I brought you something to eat. I know that you haven't been keeping much of anything down these past few days, but…you need to try and eat something," Hermione quietly said.
Ginny didn't reply and Hermione turned to see her staring past Hermione, her gaze fixed on the door. Hermione sighed and walked around to the other side of the bed. She pushed the pillows out of the way and pulled the comforter back before sliding in. Ginny immediately turned around, resting her head in Hermione's lap. Hermione slowly glanced up, her eyes landing on the bathroom door.
...
"Ginny…Ginny, we need to…," Hermione trailed off.
Ginny's hands clung to her waist, hanging onto Hermione for dear life as she cried her eyes out. She could still hear Blaise yelling in the bedroom and Hermione knew that it would only be a matter of time before he broke free from Draco.
"Ginny, we need to clean you up-."
"No!"
Hermione had said the wrong thing, she could see that now as Ginny sat up and dragged her hands along the bloody floor.
"No, no," she chanted.
Her fingers gripped at the blood, desperately trying to hold it, trying to hold something that wasn't there. She screamed, clutching at the floor and hunching over, wet hair clinging to her face.
"No," Ginny shrieked as Hermione got closer.
Suddenly, Hermione was being shoved out of the way and staring at the face of one angry Blaise Zabini. Hermione gulped.
"Blaise-"
"Get. Out," he snarled.
Hermione briefly glanced at Ginny, frowning.
"Blaise, please. I'm just trying to-"
"Don't go near her. You've done enough. Now, get the hell out," he spat before turning around and kneeling beside Ginny.
Hermione watched as he rested his hand on her shoulder before pulling her into his arms. He pushed her hair away from her face and leaned down, pressing his lips to the top of her head as he rocked her back and forth. Hermione felt hands gently grip her arms before leading her out of the bathroom.
She looked down as Draco walked them out of the room and into the hallway. She closed her eyes as Ginny screamed again, the sound ringing all throughout the wing. Draco turned her around to face him.
"I didn't want this to happen. I never wanted this to happen," she tearfully whispered.
"I know."
She looked up into his eyes, tears running down her face.
"She's going to hate me. Blaise hates me, I hate me-," she said, cutting herself off with a sob.
He pulled her into his arms, cradling her head against his chest.
"I don't hate you," he said.
Hermione flinched and squeezed her eyes shut as another scream came from inside of the bedroom.
"They're going to be okay."
Hermione sobbed against his chest and for a moment, she forgot about everything and wrapped her arms around him, allowing him to hold her while she cried for her friend.
...
"I'm so sorry, Ginny," Hermione eventually said.
Ginny began to tremble and Hermione heard her sniffle.
"No offense, Hermione…but you didn't even want this for me," Ginny said with a tearful, humorless laugh.
Hermione looked away, closing her eyes. It was the truth; Hermione hadn't wanted this for Ginny. Ginny had been right when she said that she had been displacing her feelings onto Ginny and now Hermione wished that she could just go back.
"I…I know and I'm sorry. I-"
"Why? Why," Ginny suddenly yelled, surprising Hermione by sitting up and facing her.
Her normally vibrant red hair looked dull and lifeless, pulled back into a ponytail. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying and the bags underneath them were more prominent than they were the day before. She looked at Hermione, eyes inquiring.
"I...I was angry, okay? I was angry at Draco, myself, you, and Blaise and Harry. I was just…so angry, Ginny, at everyone. That doesn't excuse my behavior at all, I know that-"
"You weren't just angry, you were cruel! You were so mean and…and you were acting like…like…like a bitch. You were acting like a cold hearted bitch and in the beginning I thought that I deserved it," Ginny interrupted.
Hermione frowned, throat thick with emotion.
"Ginny…"
"I felt like I had done something wrong and so I took it. I took it because you needed to go through that. I felt like it was necessary for you…," Ginny said.
"I thought that I had more time. I thought I had more time to warm up to the idea… It was selfish. I was only thinking about myself and never did I think…never did I expect…," Hermione tearfully trailed off.
Ginny looked down, bringing her hand up and placing it on her stomach.
"Me either," Ginny whispered.
"I'm so sorry, Ginny," Hermione said again.
Ginny rapidly blinked, tears falling one by one as she nodded.
"I know," she said and Hermione pulled her into her arms.
"Blaise was so excited, you know? I had never seen him that happy before. He smiled so big and just picked me up and spun me around and around," Ginny said with a small smile.
Hermione found herself smiling too. Ginny suddenly laughed, sniffling.
"Then he got all worried about hurting the baby and put me down. He wouldn't let me get out of bed for anything. He stood by the door every time I went to the bathroom. He was so protective it was suffocating, but I know he did it out of love," Ginny whispered.
Hermione stared at the younger girl as Ginny suddenly swallowed, her smile disappearing. There was a short, awkward silence.
"You know that long list of baby names that I mentioned? Only about four of them were mine. He went crazy, staying up all night and when I woke up the next morning, he'd had two parchments full of possible names. We didn't want to know the sex because we wanted to be surprised…"
Ginny suddenly sighed.
"We were going to leave…," she quietly began.
Hermione perked up at this. Hermione didn't know that.
"What…?"
Ginny looked at her.
"His mum has a vacation house in the States. We were going to leave because of…well, you know. Blaise didn't want me around any of this, rightly so and we were going to get away. We were going to come back when everything was settled, however long that took."
Ginny fingered her hair.
"Maybe this was for the best…," Ginny suddenly said.
Hermione's eyes widened and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, reaching out towards her.
"What? No. Ginny, how can you even say that?"
"Everything happens for a reason, Hermione. Having a baby now, with the way things are?"
Ginny shook her head.
"It would be too dangerous, too hard. It would have just been something else that someone could use against Blaise…or me. Besides, I wouldn't want to bring a child into this world right now, anyway. So, yeah, I do think that this was for the best," Ginny replied.
Hermione looked away, mulling over Ginny's words. Maybe she was right…and then again maybe she wasn't. There was no telling what would have happened…but it's not like they'd ever find out. Hermione gazed at the window, the sunlight streaming in and basking the room in its glow. She suddenly stood up and walked over to the window. Her eyes immediately fell onto Blaise and Draco in the backyard. Blaise was kneeling, his head in his hands and Draco stood beside him, his hand on his friend's shoulder.
Hermione's heart clenched at the sight and she forced herself to look away. Blaise really cared about Ginny, that much was obvious and she him. They were in love, they were happy, and now that happiness was ruined because of her. All Ginny had wanted was a little understanding. She hadn't been unrealistic and expected Hermione's blessing or something. She had just wanted Hermione to not act like a judgmental bint and she couldn't even do that. How could I? She had thought Ginny to completely be in harm's way, at the very worst, dead. It was not only shocking, but also confusing as hell to find out the truth the way she had. Plus, it didn't help that Ginny had been right when she said that Hermione felt like she was looking in a mirror.
When she had seen Blaise and Ginny kissing that day, it was like watching her and Draco and Hermione didn't like it one bit. She had taken it out on Ginny. The healer had said that an abundant amount of stress was the primary cause of the miscarriage. Hermione had felt sick as she heard those words and the look that Blaise had given her hadn't made her feel any better. It was her fault. She had been too harsh, she realized that now, but she wished that she would have realized it sooner. Hermione looked over her shoulder as Ginny whispered something.
"What did you say," Hermione asked, fully facing her now.
She saw Ginny take a deep breath, shoulders trembling as she exhaled. She blinked before slowly looking up at Hermione.
"Blaise was the first person that I had ever had sex with," Ginny slowly said, a bit louder this time.
Hermione blinked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. What? Hermione opened and closed her mouth several times, no doubt resembling a fish. She couldn't have heard Ginny right. That didn't make any sense. Hermione shook her head.
"No, no. You…and Dean. You and Dean-"
"Everyone assumed that it was Dean who… So, I just let them," Ginny said with a shrug.
"I didn't assume, Ginny. That was what you told me," Hermione whispered.
Hermione didn't understand this, any of this. Ginny wiped at her face.
"Dean and I were so off and on. We were always fighting and one night, after a particularly horrendous fight, I went up to the Astronomy Tower. He had said some pretty…heinous things and I was just crying my eyes out. I was angry and sad and…and I just wanted to feel better…," Ginny said.
Hermione hesitantly sat on the bed, staring at Ginny in interest as she confessed all of this.
"Blaise was up there too doing whatever it was that the great Blaise Zabini did. Contemplating life or some crap, I don't know," Ginny said with a chuckle.
She smiled, playing with her hair.
"He saw me, well, he heard me and asked me what was wrong. Of course, I'm sure that you can guess my initial thought. Blaise Zabini was talking to me and wanted to know all about my problems. He was actually being nice…or so I thought..."
Ginny's smile vanished as she looked towards the window.
"So, he asked what was wrong and I told him…everything. I told him about how unhappy I was with Dean because Dean wasn't the one that I really wanted. The one that I really wanted never even saw me and here I was trying to force a relationship. A relationship in which I would always compare Dean to someone else. It was wrong, but I didn't care. I wanted to get over Harry, but at the same time I wanted him to notice me," Ginny said.
She shook her head.
"I didn't know what I wanted and Blaise told me exactly that. I couldn't even argue because it was the truth. He told me that I was beautiful and that I deserved better…and then I kissed him. Here was this handsome, older guy telling me that I was pretty and basically saying everything that a girl wanted to hear. So I kissed him, he kissed me back and one thing led to another. That is the story of how I lost my virginity at the top of the Astronomy Tower," Ginny said with mock pride.
Hermione blinked, trying to piece everything together.
"It was the best night of my life, Hermione. I don't know what I expected with him, but it wasn't…that. He was patient and attentive and…it was just really sweet. We kissed and then went to our houses. I was on cloud nine, I was so happy and then…," Ginny trailed off.
"Then what," Hermione asked, transfixed.
Ginny's swallowed, eyes watering.
"Then the next day he looked right through me," Ginny whispered.
"Ginny…," Hermione said with a frown.
"I felt…dirty. I felt cheap, like garbage, like absolute trash. He made me feel so…disgusted with myself and I hated him for it," Ginny tearfully spat.
Hermione swallowed.
"He said what I wanted to hear to get what he wanted and I fell for it like an idiot. I don't know what I expected, I don't know what I was thinking… I went back to Dean, reluctantly, and he had a new girl on his arm every other day. He didn't look at me not once and it drove me insane. I really do believe that it drove me insane because two weeks later I was in his bed," Ginny said.
Ginny wrapped her arms around herself.
"It was late, we had run into each other and…I…just…snapped. I was yelling at him, calling him all sorts of vile things. I was so angry…at him, but mostly at myself. He didn't say a word, not one word and that just made me angrier. I slapped him…and then he kissed me and that was that. A week after that we were at it again. Soon we started meeting three, four times a week. It was wrong what I was doing to Dean, he didn't deserve that, but I…I couldn't help it."
Ginny took a shaky breath.
"I'd open my legs for him again and again and every day afterwards he'd pretend like I didn't exist. He'd be cozied up with someone else and it would break my heart over and over again," Ginny cried.
"Ginny, why-"
"You don't understand, Hermione. You don't get it. When we were alone…he was different. We'd laugh and joke around with each other. Afterwards, we would just lay there, talking about any and everything that came to our minds. I would lay there with my head on his chest and he'd run his fingers through my hair, telling me about his mum and his home life. Sometimes we wouldn't even get to having sex because we'd be too busy just being complete idiots…," she sobbed.
"And he'd look at me…with this…this look. His eyes would light up a certain way and…he just made me feel special. I fell in love and every day he'd break my heart."
"What…what happened?"
"I had a pregnancy scare. I wasn't, but for a minute there I thought that I was. It put everything into perspective, you know? Did I really want to have a kid with someone who treated me like…like I wasn't worthy or something? So I broke it off. I had tried to before, but always failed. This time, I made it clear that we were done. I told him the same thing that he had told me that night; that I was beautiful and I deserved better. That was the end of that…"
"I stayed with Dean like nothing had ever happened and next year I tried to force myself to move on with the one that I had wanted all along. When that didn't work, I wasn't even that upset. I mean, I was upset, but mostly because I wasn't as upset as I felt I should have been. Which meant that I had fallen for this beautiful bastard who had treated me like shit," Ginny said.
Hermione frowned in confusion.
"How did you end up here then?"
Ginny gave a sheepish smile.
"The night that Draco let Death Eaters into the school, I ran into Blaise. I wanted to curse him for a number of reasons, but he told me that you were in trouble. I believed him. Despite everything, I did have a connection with him and I trusted him when he said that something was wrong with you. He knew how much you meant to me. I followed him outside and the next thing I know, I'm waking up here. I was…furious. Furious and confused…"
"I demanded that he tell me what the hell was going on…and he did. He admitted that he had been a coward. He told me that that year we'd spent together meant everything to him and that he loved me, but was too afraid to admit it. He said that he had hated seeing me with Dean and then with Harry, but he knew that he had no right. He all but proposed to me, declaring that he'd spend the rest of our lives making it up to me and making me happy," Ginny said.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I didn't accept, of course. I was too angry. Hell, he had called Draco for backup. He had kidnapped me, keeping me away from everyone when you all needed me the most. I was angry with everything that he had done, but…I was happy that he had finally told me what I had wanted to hear for so long. I was conflicted, Hermione. I didn't know what to do…"
"Then one night, I had a nightmare. He had heard me screaming and came in, wand at the ready. He looked absolutely ridiculous and…and I laughed at him and then I kissed him. He stayed the night. We didn't have sex, just laid there and talked. I was just happy to be in his arms again," Ginny said, a tear skipping down her cheek.
Hermione swallowed, taking it all in, everything that Ginny had just told her. After it all though, Hermione just had one question on her mind.
"Why didn't you ever tell me…?"
Hermione didn't mean for it to come out so pathetic sounding, but here was her best friend who had gone through…a pretty heartbreaking relationship and Hermione had been none the wiser. She'd had absolutely no inkling.
"Really, Hermione? This wasn't when Draco got a hold of you and you finally stopped seeing things in so much black and white. You wouldn't have understood. You would have told me that I was being foolish, that I was completely mental for ever getting involved with a Slytherin," Ginny replied.
Hermione frowned. That wasn't true, was it? Hermione didn't think that she had ever been that bad, but if she was being perfectly honest here… The truth was that if Ginny had told her all of this when it had happened, she probably would have judged her. She probably would have told her what a life threatening mistake she was making. She might have even told Ron because she was so far up his arse during this time. Hermione heaved a defeated sigh and nodded.
"You really love him…don't you?"
Ginny stood up and walked over to the window, placing her hand on the glass as she gazed outside.
"I really do."
Ginny looked over her shoulder at Hermione with a small smile.
"I'm going to marry that boy someday…"
After Ginny had gotten back into bed, she had eaten all of the food that Hermione had gotten for her. The fiery headed girl had immediately turned over and went to sleep, suddenly tired. So Hermione had taken it upon herself to go downstairs and fix something else for her. She was happy that Ginny's appetite had returned, even if it was only temporary. Hermione wasn't naïve enough to think that Ginny was all better, she was far from it actually. Her spirits had been lifted, but more than likely only for a short while.
Ginny had lost her baby. The baby that she had conceived with the man she loved. A potential life suddenly just gone. Hermione didn't even want to imagine what that was like, to have this life growing inside of you, to be super excited about it, about being a mom and then in a flash it's just…gone. Hermione didn't want to imagine what Blaise and Ginny were going through. To think that Hermione had caused this. She and her selfish, stubborn ways. If Ginny had explained from the beginning…
You never gave her a chance. Hermione acknowledged the truth in this thought with shame. No, she had never even given Ginny a chance. Hermione should have known, should have guessed that there was more to the story. Ginny wasn't stupid nor easily manipulated. Hermione had not given her friend enough credit and she hated herself for that. With a sigh, Hermione fixed up the tray of food, making sure that it had every food group necessity. She turned around and her eyes widened with a gasp.
Theodore Nott had just walked into the kitchen and looked just as surprised about seeing her as she was him. He looked much better than the last time she saw him, which was when Draco had his hands around his neck. Hermione gave a polite smile.
"How are you? I heard about Ginny…," he said.
"I'm fine. She's…not so good as I'm sure you can imagine," Hermione awkwardly replied.
He solemnly nodded and Hermione went to leave, not only wanting to escape the awkwardness, but also worried that Draco was right around the corner. Theo suddenly reached out, grabbing the tray and setting it down on the counter. Hermione frowned in confusion as he turned to face her.
"Look, it's out there, Hermione. It's out there and what are you going to do about it?"
"What? I don't understand," Hermione said, blinking.
Theo suddenly grabbed her hands, pulling her closer and Hermione's eyes widened.
"I can get you out of here," he whispered.
Hermione's heart skipped a beat within her chest. She knew without a doubt that it was from fear because Theo was suddenly playing a dangerous game.
"Theo…don't…"
"Just say the word. All you have to do is ask and I can get you far away from him. You won't ever have to see him again," he said.
Hermione shook her head. If Theo had told her this weeks ago, she would have jumped at the opportunity, but now…
"I can't leave. Ginny needs me. I've been a shit so called best friend and she needs me now more than ever. I'm not letting her down again. I'm sorry," she said.
"I can wait. When she's all better, we can go. She has Blaise. She loves Blaise and he loves her. I can help you, Hermione."
Hermione shook her head.
"Is she the only reason that you don't want to go?"
"What other reason could there possibly be?"
Theo gave her a look and she looked away, avoiding his eyes. He reached up, gently gripping her chin and turning her to face him.
"Don't do this, Hermione. Don't let him twist your mind. You need to get out of here, away from him and I can help," he repeated.
"…I suppose that this isn't just coming out of the goodness of your heart," she whispered.
Theo licked his lips, gazing into her eyes.
"I can make you happy-"
"Theo, no," she said, trying to turn away, but his grip held.
"I know I can. I have always loved you. I can treat you a million times better than he can," he said.
"Theo, please. You have to leave-"
Hermione was cut off as he pressed his lips against hers. Her eyes widened as he brought his hands up to rest on either side of her face as he moved his mouth against hers. It was gentle, it was sweet, it was…wrong. Theo was practically perfect in every way, the kind of guy any girl would dream of and it felt all wrong.
She pulled away, shaking her head and backing up. She pressed her hand to her mouth.
"You shouldn't have done that," she whispered.
"Hermione…I-"
"What's going on in here?"
Don't kill me. I might do the Blinny story in a oneshot. Who knows. I've had their story in my head since forever and if you go back to C&B, there are subtle hints. VERY subtle. You'd only notice after reading this. Let me know what you think!
Sneak Peek:
Hermione stared through the rain at Theo, one side of his face completely bruised as Blaise held him in an iron grip. She turned to face Draco in confusion, eyes wide and questioning. He looked down at her, eyes devoid of all emotion as a slow smirk graced his lips before speaking.
"Ladies and gentlemen...we are gathered here today to celebrate the short, yet pathetic life of one Theodore Nott Jr."