Author's Note: Just a short chapter this time! I've been pretty busy lately. But don't worry! The next chapters should be normal length if not longer.


When Hermione woke up she noticed a few things. The first, was that she realized she didn't have nightmares for the first time in months. The second, was that her eyes stung from crying. And the third, was that she was wrapped very tightly in someone's arms. Surprisingly muscular arms. Uh oh.

She followed the long arms around her waist up to their broad shoulders and up to a peacefully sleeping Blaise Zabini. He was breathing peacefully and his chest rose evenly, the exact opposite of how she normally found him when he was having nightmares. She also noticed in the moment that his eyelashes were extremely long. She couldn't help but notice how comfortable she was. Being in Blaise's arms felt…right. Heat rose to her face as she blushed deeply at their position, but certainly made no effort to move.

The events of hours before came back to her mind and she frowned, slightly embarrassed that Blaise had caught her in such a moment of weakness. He was so caring and gentle that it made her heart flutter a bit as she realized how lucky she was to have a friend like him. Even in a time when she felt alone in the world, he was a wonderful reminder that there was always light in darkness. Blaise was that light for her.

But it was more than that. He was intelligent and handsome. Caring and kind. Broken but not defeated. And somehow the universe had put them together to help them rebuild themselves. Blaise wasn't just a friend to her. Hermione cared about Blaise more than that.

Just as she came to this realization, Blaise slowly opened his eyes.

"Hey," he said tiredly. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she admitted, slightly tightening her arms around his waist and laying her head back on his chest. "I'm worried, Blaise."

He ran his hand through the back of her hair gently. "I know. I am too. If Potter is missing, something bad is going on."

"The Ministry said there's nothing we can do to help."

"The ministry is incompetent then. He's been missing for months and they haven't found him. I think it's time to do a little investigating of our own," Blaise said decisively.

"You're going to help me find him?"

"Absolutely. It's about time I do something useful to the wizarding world."

Hermione smiled. "That means a lot to me, Blaise." He answered by tightening his grip around her and giving her a light hug. They lay there for a few minutes in silence, lost in their own thoughts.

She shifted slightly, making sure to keep her hair out of his face. "What time is it?"

"I believe it's about nine," he answered unbothered and closed his eyes again as if he was going to go back to sleep.

"I guess we've missed dinner. Shall we go to the kitchens and see if the house elves are willing to cook us something quick?" She suggested.

Blaise seemed reluctant to get up, but nodded and loosened his grip to help her stand up. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

Hermione led the way to the kitchens to be greeted by a cheerful house elf handing a pear to a familiar-looking first year.

"Andy?" Blaise called out. Andy whipped his head around so fast Hermione thought it might twist off as he grinned at them looking rather guilty.

"Oh h-hey. I was just getting a snack," he explained quickly. Blaise and Hermione looked at each other and smiled before turning back to him.

"It's alright this time, Andy. After all, we're getting one too. But you'd better get back to your dorm in case any prefects catch you out of bed at this time." He nodded enthusiastically and took his fruit with him as he made his way out of the kitchens.

The house elf now turned to them. "How may Jinxie assist you?"

"Jinxie, we missed dinner by accident. Could you possibly make the two of us something?" Hermione asked politely, smiling at the cute little elf.

"Of course! I'll make you some soup and sandwiches." The house elf scurried into the kitchen as they sat on a bench against the wall.

Blaise leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. "You're lucky it's Saturday you know. Otherwise you would have missed all your classes."

"My worst nightmare," Hermione half-joked. "The auror told us to report anything suspicious at Hogwarts…do you remember how weird Malfoy was acting that one time?"

"Yeah but I'm hesitant to jump to any conclusions. Besides, Draco isn't capable of leaving Hogwarts. He's only here on strict orders from the Ministry," he pointed out.

"Yes, but what about Parkinson and Nott? You said yourself that they keep looking at him. They don't have any restrictions on apparating in and out of Hogwarts."

Blaise seemed to consider this for a moment before opening his eyes and nodding. "True. But I'm not sure what Pansy would have to gain from kidnapping Harry, or Theo for that matter."

"Let's keep an eye on them this week before we decide to talk to McGonagall," Hermione said as the house elf came back with two trays of hot vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. "This looks great, Jinxie." The house elf nodded excitedly and went back to the kitchen.

Blaise made a sound of appreciation as he tasted his soup. "My mother used to make me soup like this when I was younger, although with a few more Italian seasonings."

"Whenever I was sick my mother made me chicken noodle soup to feel better."

"Chicken noodle soup?" Blaise asked. "How would that make you feel better?"

She laughed and took a bite of her sandwich. "It's a muggle thing I suppose." It was always amusing to her when wizards couldn't understand common muggleborn expressions or technology.

"You never talk about your parents," he pointed out suddenly.

Hermione shifted slightly in her seat and looked intently at her soup. "And?"

Blaise just shrugged. "I just wondered why."

She took a few minutes to gather her thoughts as they ate in silence. "They don't remember me," she mumbled quietly.

He put down his tray and turned to sit facing her. "Why not? Did something happen?"

"I obliviated them," she confessed. "I didn't want them to be in danger during the war. You know what Voldemort did to muggles he found in connection with the order. I erased any memories of me from their minds. Apparently the last thing on their minds before I was born was to go live in Australia…and that's what they did. The ministry discreetly gave them new identities and new lives without them knowing."

Blaise was shocked hearing this, but he understood. He took her hand gently, "It was the right thing to do."

"They're safe and happy now," she said giving his hand a light squeeze. "I don't want to come back into their lives after everything if they're truly happy and mess it up for them."

"Aren't you a little bit curious as to where they are?"

"All the time. But after they assumed new lives the ministry lost track of them. I have no idea where they are or what they're doing now."

Blaise frowned at this. The ministry seemed to be mucking everything up lately. "Maybe when this year is over we can find them…together."

Her eyes widened in surprise. Could he really mean that? "You would do that for me?"

"Yes. Let's focus on Potter first though."

"Agreed." Blaise gave her one of his handsomest smiles and she couldn't ignore the butterflies in her stomach and turned away to hide her blush.