Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart, or burn down your house, you can never tell. - Anonymous
Your Beautiful Ending by Astraea97
Chapter Two
He had given her his soul. To be more technical, she had stolen it. With her fire and her passion and her touch, she had taken the one thing that he had guarded so relentlessly. He had unwillingly fallen in love with her, the lines between desire and affection becoming blurred the more time he spent in her presence. Because she was intoxicating, he found.
"That wench, how dare she accuse me of following the Dark Lord! 'Brightest witch of our age' my arse! And the mouth on her, it's unbelievable."
"Now Blaise, let's paint a mental picture for ourselves, shall we? Imagine that 'unbelievable' mouth of hers wrapped around your -"
"Malfoy! Would you mind refraining from being a sex-crazed git for maybe the whole of let's say ... Five minutes?"
"I'm afraid that's impossible, my friend. You couldn't possibly ask me to stifle this personality of mine that you love so much, could you?"
"What makes you think that I'm at all fond of you?"
"Seventeen years of unyielding friendship."
Blaise narrowed his eyes at his friend, who had taken the pause as a chance to lay himself down on his bed and close his eyes.
"Ah, finally. Silence," the blond smirked.
"You're insufferable, Draco."
"Because you know I'm right. Deep down, when Granger walks into the room, it takes all your strength not to jump on her and ravish her right there."
"That is, without a doubt, the farthest thing from the truth I've ever heard," Blaise scoffed.
"She's your Achilles' heel. You can't stand her but just the thought of her gives you a rush that makes you -" Draco was cut off by the slamming of their dormitory door. His smirk widened.
Hermione couldn't stop thinking about it. About him. About how just the thought of him angered her down to her core and filled her with pure loathing. About how his hand felt caressing her side, bringing a shiver to her spine and a fire to her body that had warmed her long after he had left her there, shaking. He was dangerous and she despised him, and yet she couldn't help but acknowledge that he sparked a fire within her that she hadn't felt for a long while. Ever since the end of the war, the wizarding world had been concentrated on a single goal: to rebuild what had been lost, what had once stood so gloriously. She'd been so focused on healing that she'd denied herself passion. And it exasperated her like nothing else to know that Blaise Zabini had been the one to ignite it within her once again.
She sighed in frustration and drummed her fingers along the edge on her desk, restless and not entirely in the mood for Professor Vector's lecture on the magical properties of the number ninety-seven. Turning in her seat to eye the clock, she squinted and noted with excitement that the class would soon be over. She packed up her things silently, trying her best to be polite while the lecture was still ongoing. She fiddled with the clasp on her bag for a few long moments, and then eagerly shoved her books in as the lecture came to a close.
As she made her way up to the Gryffindor Tower, she discerned dully that she was being eyed quite unsubtly by most of the boys she passed. She in turn chose to glare at them all, which seemed to only amuse them further.
"Hey, Granger! How about we give it a go?"
She spun to find Michael Corner leering at her with his friends laughing from behind him. Her cheeks flushed pink in anger.
"Excuse me?" she hissed as she advanced on him.
"I'm sure you heard me perfectly fine, pet," he smirked.
As his friends laughed in amusement, Hermione scoffed and raised her eyebrow in disbelief, "What makes you think I'm at all interested in you?"
He took a moment to attempt to step closer to her, to which she stepped back firmly.
"Don't be shy. You don't have to play hard to get, love."
"I'm not particularly one to play games, especially with the likes of you." She made to turn around, only to have him grab her wrist in an attempt to stop her.
"No one denies me, Granger," he growled, his eyes dangerous.
"I believe I just did," she stated evenly, eyeing him with disinterest.
"You little bitch!"
He yanked her towards him again, smirking as he watched her surprise. He moved his mouth towards hers as he whispered, "I said, no one."
Hermione leaned back and eyed him coolly, regarding the way his hand was still clenched around her wrist. In one swift movement, her wand was at his throat. "Let go of my arm, Corner," she growled.
She saw uncertainty flash in his eyes. Still, his grip held firm as he grinned down at her.
"Corner, back off."
Both Hermione and Michael stilled, turning their heads towards the onlooker.
"What's it to you?"
"Assault isn't particularly high on my list of things to witness between classes."
Michael narrowed his eyes, forgetting about Hermione and turning to face the Slytherin standing before him. "What do you care? You hate her."
Blaise's eyes lingered on her momentarily, "Yes, I do."
"So what's it to you, then?"
"Unlike you, evidently, I was raised in a household where dignity and respect are held in far higher esteem than disempowering women," Blaise stated as regarded the Ravenclaw with disgust apparent in his eyes.
Michael paused, something forming in his gaze, "You would know about assault, wouldn't you? All of those innocent-"
And before she could fully process what had happened, Blaise had Michael pinned against the wall, gasping desperately for breath.
"You would be wise not to talk of which you know nothing about," Blaise spat sharply, nearly shaking with anger. He released Michael roughly, shoving him to the ground before turning to lead Hermione away. "Get out of here Corner, and take your pathetic friends with you."
Hermione turned away from the group of boys trying to help their friend up and placed her wand back in to her pocket. She was reluctant to face the Slytherin, knowing full well that something would soon need to be said in order to break the impending silence that would soon be upon them.
"I don't need your help, Zabini."
To her surprise, the corners of Blaise's lips tugged upwards. "Yes, I'm quite aware that Hermione Granger is capable of taking care of herself. Let's just say that I don't take well to men who believe they are entitled to a woman's body."
He took a step towards her, slowly. It amused him to note the flash of uncertainty in her eyes before she masked it, as she was so accustomed to in his presence.
"Perhaps, Granger, it's time you opened your eyes to how the boys in this school perceive you. You're far more attractive than you give yourself credit for."
He stepped away from her and began down the hall, shoving his hands in his pockets and shrugging his shoulder bag into a more comfortable position.
"And Granger? You're welcome."
With that he turned the corner, leaving her to revel in his words once again.
She sighed in frustration and turned her attention back to Harry and Ron, who were in front of her playing a game of chess. Although Ron was undoubtedly winning, she regarded the way Harry's brows came together as he calculated his next move ever so meticulously. He was patient and dedicated, like a true hero should be. His moves weren't impulsive like Ron's, but well thought out and made after attentive consideration. As she looked closer, she could see contentment in their eyes and she couldn't help but smile. Gone were Harry's worries of the battle between good and evil. He was able to be a normal teenage boy whose worries revolved around his potions essays and of course, Ginny Weasley.
She was glad that the two of them had been brought together. She'd watched Harry suffer during war, feeling lonely and misunderstood. She'd also watched as Ginny had healed his anguish with her love. It was a truly touching, the way they looked at each other now, knowing already that they'd found their counterpart. It was beautiful and Hermione could only hope that she would one day find what they had.
After the war, a tentative divide had formed between her and her two best friends. She felt as though Harry's world was now filled with happiness so profound that she didn't dare penetrate through the haze, when she herself had trouble remembering a time when she'd been at peace. And Ron, he'd been so tormented by the death of Lavender Brown that he was only now starting to allow himself to pick up the pieces that had been laying, ignored, since the war had ended. She'd grown accustomed to it being the four of them – Ginny, Harry, Ron and herself. Over the past few months Ginny had become her confidant, the one she turned to when her thoughts became too heavy a burden. And now, with Ginny looking at her with knowing eyes, she could barely stand to meet her gaze.
Hermione watched as Ginny stood and felt herself rising as well. She smiled as the redhead linked their arms together as they made to leave the common room.
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours, 'Mione?"
"Zabini."
Ginny's brow furrowed, "Pardon?"
"He's so frustrating, Gin! He's such a self-righteous pig-headed git. And I hate his stupid smirk," she growled.
"Wait, back up. Where did all this come from?"
And so Hermione proceeded to explain their heated arguments, the way his hands had felt trailing fire down her body and his act of attempted heroism earlier in the day. She desperately hoped Ginny could provide some sort of insight and help her sort out what exactly was going on inside of her, because Merlin knew she needed it.
"Have you checked out that boy's arse? I'd eat off him," was what she said instead.
Hermione sputtered, "What? What about Harry!"
"I have eyes, Hermione," Ginny shrugged.
"Gin! That isn't at all relevant to anything I just told you and that doesn't help me one bit!"
"Yes it does. Just get the sexual frustration out of the way and you two can continue on like nothing ever happened!" Ginny grinned mischievously.
Hermione sighed, exasperated.
"Oh come on now, 'Mione. That boy has got some serious issues, and obviously you were just the first person that's riled him up enough for him to take it out on. He's just a Slytherin with a nice ass, don't pay him any mind," she comforted.
"I think I just need some time to myself right now. I'll see you inside, okay?" Hermione's voice was steady, and although Ginny knew her friend to be struggling, her assertiveness was steadfast as ever.
"Okay."
"Would it be an appropriate time for me to say I told you so?"
Blaise glanced up distractedly, "What are you on about, Draco?"
"You rescued Granger today! I knew you had a thing for her," Draco smirked.
Blaise reddened considerably, his temper flaring as he sat up from his bed. "I didn't rescue her. Is that what people are saying?"
"No, but you're my best mate. I know you inside out, my dear friend. I mean I didn't quite take you for the knight in shining armor type, but I can say it does suit you once you look past the cynic narcissism. What with your valiant charm, I'd say you're –"
Now why was Blaise always walking out on him like that?
He found her sitting by the lake, watching the sunset with her arms wrapped around her body like always, looking so lovely that it sparked his anger even further.
"Granger!" he barked.
She turned, looking weary but quickly gaining her composure. "What do you want this time?"
"I'm not your knight in shining armor."
"Did I ever say you were?" she raised her eyebrow at him, keeping her calm.
"You're such an ungrateful little bitch," he snarled.
"Why would I be grateful to you?"
"Oh that's right, I forgot about that Gryffindor bravery. Always putting on such a front, when deep down you're just as fucked up as the rest of us."
She pushed herself up and approached him quickly, her face contorted with rage.
"You know nothing of bravery, Zabini. You think because you know how to use your words to break people's resolves and intimidate them that it makes you courageous? Because all I see is a child who hides behind his words because he's much too scared to do otherwise."
There it was, what he'd been waiting for. Gone was the second-guessing, the desire to knead her lower lip between his own until she was begging for more, to have her moaning underneath him and crying out his name… This was why he'd sought her out, to feel that familiar fury envelop him until he could think of nothing but his hatred towards her.
"I should have left you to Corner and his friends," he spat. "I bet you would have enjoyed it." To his surprise, her lips slid slowly into a smirk and he couldn't help but think of the things he'd like to do to them.
"Look what you're doing, Zabini. Trying to belittle me when we've just discussed how you do that to shelter yourself." She cocked her head to the side, a playful smile on her lips, "Do you really find yourself that despicable?"
His eyes narrowed, "The only one I find despicable here is you."
"Well good," she sneered, determined to have the upper hand this time, "because I find you despicable as well."
With that, she sauntered away from him. If it was a war he wanted, then it was one he would get. Besides, she was much more experienced in the matter.
