With a shaky breath and a steady hand, Hermione looked at the boy standing a head taller in front of her. He was gorgeous, with mixed chocolate skin and a head of black curls, and misty blue-grey eyes. She'd felt those eyes on her when she left the headmaster's office, and felt the presence trailing behind her since. She's gotten far too used to watching her back while running with Ron and Harry.
She clenched her jaw. Now's not the time to be thinking about them.
"Who are you, and why have you been following me?" Hermione questioned, wand never wavering- though her voice made up for it in full. She swallowed, attempting to calm her nerves.
Lifting his arms in a defensive manner, the boy took a step back. "Zabini. Nicolas Zabini. I'm just curious as to who you are, that's all."
She blinked a bit at the name, recalling the other Zabini she knew in her time. Was this guy Blaise's father? Gathering her thoughts, she retorted, "Curious enough to have been stalking me here?"
"Curiosity has gotten me in trouble over matters far less intriguing than you are, my dear. I couldn't help myself." He said, giving her a cheery smile.
"You should watch yourself if you care about your safety." She glared.
"Oh, now that sounds like quite a powerful threat. I might even be angered if I cared about my life." He said, with a soft grin.
What did he mean? He can't possibly mean that.
Not pausing, he continued, "I can promise you I am not a threat… I'd bet my family name you could easily overpower me without blinking an eye. Besides, you're far too interesting." Reaching his hand out, he gently pushed the wand out of his face.
She gave little resistance as she eyed him up and let him move her wand before sheathing it back in her robes. Maybe he wasn't so bad? Sure, she knew little to nothing about Blaise Zabini in her time, but she didn't hold any grudges towards him, aside from his association with Malfoy. Regardless, everyone should be given a chance, it isn't fair to judge someone based on their family.
"Who are you, ragazza misteriosa1?" He asked, taking step forward, bringing them even closer, softly and curiously.
"No one." She replied, far too quickly with a hint of flush on her face, unconsciously taking a step back. She cursed herself for reacting to him, she was not in an emotionally stable spot right now. She really needed to get some quiet time to gather herself.
Pausing and eying her reaction, he continued, "Tell me who you are, tell me your secrets, my love, I'll keep them with me until death." He whispered, advancing, reaching out with his hand towards her cheek.
She felt paralyzed as she looked into his stormy eyes, as if she'd break at any moment and tell him everything he wanted to know, before the hand stopped its progress. A person had appeared without her sensing them, maybe she was too distracted.
With a crack echoing from Nicolas' wrist, a rough voice said, "Stop." with its vicelike grip possibly breaking his bones.
Hermione watched as a flood of emotions ran through Nicolas' face for a split second before he settled at a tight grin, "Ah, Lupin, what a pleasure to see you." As his trapped hand clenched into a fist.
Remus Lupin stood there, younger, with less of a haunted look, but rather with a feral anger directed towards the other man. She felt safe now, her professor was here, and she found her legs as she stepped back from Nicolas.
"Pleasure is the exact opposite of the word I'm feeling right now." He growled. "Leave."
"I was having a wonderful discussion with my lady here-"
Remus' knuckles grew whiter. "Leave." He said with more conviction.
Nicolas fell silent and the two faced each other off, the air growing tense with magic before Nicolas twisted his arm back towards himself, out of Remus' grip and rubbed it. He cast another glare at Remus, before casting a more lighthearted grin towards Hermione. "I'll see you later, ragazza misteriosa."
He turned around the corner he came from and his footsteps faded out. She can't say she'd ever experienced someone with advances that were so direct. She only then realized her hands were tightly balled, with indents from her fingernails pressing white into her skin. She examined them before remembering that Remus was there, and looked up to him. He was still glaring at where Nicolas was last seen turning the corner.
Remus was just exiting the common room in a fresh set of robes when he'd sensed something was off. He wasn't quite sure what it was but he knew he had to be there, now. He sprinted down a few corridors as the sense grew stronger, until he made his way around a corner, where the Zabini fucker was reaching out for the girl.
The exchange happened, and now he was alone with her.
"Thank you. I- I was really scared." She said.
The only thing that was going through his head then was to protect. The girl was not to be mistreated by anyone. He couldn't make sense out of why Mooney- no, why they both wanted to protect her so badly, but he didn't question it. Now wasn't the time.
He realized, suddenly, he didn't know her name. He opened his mouth to ask, but she beat him to it.
"Hermione Granger." She said, softly, as if reading his mind.
"It's a pretty name. Mine is Remus Lupin." He said, and stuck his hand out to shake. But as soon as her skin touched his he felt Mooney rise up again, wanting to touch her more, to hug her, to fuck- NO. He dropped her hand like he was scalded, but she didn't seem to notice.
"I'm a Gryffindor, now too. If I remembered the name correctly." She said, gesturing at their ties.
Trying his best to shove his emotions away, he asked, "You talked to Dumbledore then, I take it?"
She nodded, a ringlet of her hair falling forward from behind her ear. He had to physically restrain the urge to push it back.
"Yes. I'll be starting classes tomorrow, I think." She paused. "Seriously, though, I don't know what would've happened if you didn't come along. I hope we can be friends?" She asked hesitantly.
"Yes, of course." He said, smiling genuinely. "That would be great."