She could still feel the callous of his hands. The hidden strength that was behind them, she could feel it along her cheek bones, like a warning, as she looked in the mirror of the lavatory. His lips had been hard like his hands yet quick and her heart sped up as she reached to feel her own. Brushing over the curve of her bottom lip as she thought about last night. What had that been about. It was as if someone had lit a match inside of her at the contact, yet she had been so confused at the spreading of the fire. This was no fumbling kiss with Viktor on the lake, something that was easy and fun. Something she was able to understand. This was different, it left her guarded and so scared at what he might do next, what he might say in retaliation. There had been no warning, no need for what happened. Yet she could not get it out of her head, the guilt she felt before was now intensified.
She could not say that she was mad about it.
"I must be losing my mind" She whispered aloud slamming the compact she was holding on the counter top.
"I would agree with that." Ginny said walking up next to her. "Why didn't you tell me you weren't coming to the Burrow tomorrow?" she said crossing her arms in the reflection in the room. Hermione sighed and turned to her friend. She had forced herself to tell Harry she decided to stay here this Holiday, to clear her head and spend some time away from everyone. With her parents traveling this year, she could not lock herself in a cabin with her friends and not explode.
"Ginny, you know I can't spend the winter with…him. I just need a break is all, don't take it personally." Hermione said fixing the necklace around her neck.
"You're going to spend the whole holiday alone instead of just letting me curse him and be done with it?" Hermione sighed and nodded. Ginny rolled her eyes and began brushing her hair.
"Lets just go to this party of Slughorns, have a decent evening and a good Christmas. I just need time away Gin, I can't keep doing this."
"Okay Okay no need to cry about it. I still think I could just hex him personally." Ginny replied shrugging her shoulders and pulling Hermione away from the mirror and out the door.
This dinner was a nightmare.
Whatever Slughorn had intended for this party to be, a gathering of the greats, she could not have felt any more out of place. Brightest none Pure Blood witch of their age. She could practically feel the scoffs as they headed her way. She wanted nothing more than to hide in this corner until it was over, and she was free to mope the month away.
"Having fun Granger." Blaise said walking next to her and handing her a champagne glass.
"Loads" She replied tipping the fruity concoction into her mouth.
"Any words on how my little wager is going?" he asked smirking into the distance as he took a drink of his cup. What she would give to throw the whole glass in his face.
"This isn't fair, I feel like I've been thrown into something I know nothing about." She whispered into the cup.
"None of us do, Granger. That's the whole problem. He walks around like we do, talks like we do, but there has been no word on anything. Nothing to even throw them off his scent. Even neutral parties such as myself, and I am neutral do not forget that." He glared at her momentarily, trying to solidify his point. "Nothing we are getting would even make sense to those in the middle of it all I'm afraid."
"He's not right, mentally" She said after nodding and smiling at the few older couples walking past them.
"He never has been," Blaise replied taking a drink of his glass.
"So, has he kissed you then? Because running around kissing people is totally normal behavior, right?" Blaise choked on the drink mid swallow, diving into a coughing fit attracting some stares their direction, she patted his back mindlessly while trying to melt further into the corner.
"Did he really?" Blaise asked recovering finally.
"Yes. But don't take it to mean anything, he wasn't all there I don't think. Something wasn't right." She rushed out as she spotted Ginny walking their way from across the room. "Don't you dare say a word about it. I'm warning you." She said setting her glass down on the table next to them and walking to meet Ginny half way.
"What did he want?" Ginny asked grabbing Hermione's arm and looking over her shoulders at the man.
"Nothing Ginny, just being a Slytherin."