Two chapters in one week...yay me!

It started with a whisper
And that was when I kissed her
And then she made my lips hurt
I can't even chitchat
Take me to your love shack
Mamas always gotta backtrack
When everybody talks

-Everybody Talks by Neon Trees

After leaving the classroom, Hermione decided that she couldn't go back to the Great Hall, so she decided to spend the rest of the lunch period in the library. She grabbed a seat way in the back, pulled out her potions book and attempted to work on her homework. She got to the third word of the first sentence when her mind drifted back to her 'experience' in the classroom; it had been intense, frantic and hot. She was really hoping that Blaise wasn't the kind of guy who shagged a girl, told everyone about it and then never spoke to her again, but she'd decided that if he was, it had been so worth it. She only had one other experience to compare this to, but she had a feeling that she would never forget this one; even twenty years down the road. She would never give Blaise's big ego the satisfaction of knowing that she definitely wanted to do it again if she had the chance, but she wasn't going to hold her breath; it was what it was. Hermione was attempting to read the same sentence for the tenth time when the library doors opened and she saw Ginny come though. She immediately found Hermione and came rushing over, plopping into the seat next to her.

"I knew you would be in here!" Ginny gave her a knowing look.

Hermione smiled, "I'm always in here, aren't I?"

"So..."

Hermione feigned ignorance, "So...what?"

Ginny growled, "You know what!? Did you...do it?"

Hermione smirked and Ginny squealed, "Yay! I'm so happy for you!"

Hermione looked around the room and shushed her friend, "Not so loud!"

Ginny ignored her, "So, how was it?"

"It was intense; I'm going to have to remember to thank Malfoy and Nott for interrupting us last night." Hermione gushed.

"Well, I already knew it had happened before I got here; Zabini had a very satisfied smirk on his face when he sauntered back into the Great Hall."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Here we go; I can just bet that I"m going to be the newest school slag by the end of day. He's probably telling everyone in Slytherin about our little tryst as we speak. Oh well, it is what it is."

Ginny arched a brow, "Really; it doesn't bother you?"

"Well, of course it does, but what can I do about it? I don't regret doing it and everyone else can just mind their own bloody business."

Ginny grinned, "That's my girl!"

Hermione smiled, "Well, you did give me some good advice I guess."

"Yes, I did." Ginny stated.

Hermione looked at her watch and sighed, "I guess we should get going."

Ginny frowned, "Well, we are going to continue this later."

"Sure thing." Hermione shoved everything back into her bag and followed her friend out the door.

As soon as Blaise sauntered up to their table, Draco and Theo knew something was up. He had much more pep in his step than he had when lunch had started, not to mention the way too cocky look he had on his face.

He sat down and they turned their attention to him, "So, what's her name?" Theo asked.

Blaise grabbed an apple and took a bite, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Theo punched his arm, "Bullshit you don't; finally got tired of waiting for the princess, did you?"

Blaise winked at him and took another bite.

Theo's mouth dropped, "Col cazzo." (No fucking way.)

Draco rolled his eyes, "He's just messing with you, Theo. There's no way that she would sneak off with you in the middle of the school day for a quickie. Have you forgotten who we're talking about?"

Blaise smirked, "Things change, mate."

Draco dropped his jaw also, "Beh, che io sia dannato. Non sapevo che aveva in lei." (Well, I'll be damned. I didn't know she had it in her.)

Blaise wiggled his eyebrows, "Oh, she had it in her alright."

Theo snickered, "So, how was it?"

"Bloody brilliant; she definitely has potential."

"So, this wasn't just a one off then?"

"No, definitely not. Like I said before, I've only just begun with the little leone." (Lion)

"So that's why she was sucking off that damn lollipop; she was trying to get your attention." Draco remembered the scene earlier and thought that she must have been completely oblivious to the fact that the entire male population was watching that little stunt.

Blaise snickered, "You saw that, did you?"

"We all saw that, mate. She's a bloody natural." Theo grinned.

The bell rang signaling the end of lunch and the three Slytherins groaned as they grabbed their bags and traipsed off to their next class.

After school, Hermione went back to her common room to drop off her bag and change her clothes. When she went back into the common room, she saw that it was a complete mess; there were books, parchment and quills strewn all over the place. Huffing at the mess, Hermione began to clean up. Since everything seemed to belong to Draco, Hermione stacked all of his belongings in front of his door and then she began putting the books away; one thing she couldn't stand was a messy room. The last available spot in the book shelf was on the top shelf and she reached and stretched as much as she could, but she couldn't reach it. She was about ready to give up and throw the book at Draco next time she saw him when she saw a hand reach up behind her, grab the book, and easily put it away.

She jumped at the newcomer, "Honestly Malfoy, did your mother never teach you to clean up after yourself?"

She turned around to continue to verbally berate him, but she sucked in a breath when she saw who it really was, "Blaise."

"Draco's always had house elves to clean up after him." he smiled.

Hermione tried to ignore their close proximity, "Well, I'm not going to be one of them. Um, what are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you, actually."

Hermione cocked her head to the side, "Really?"

Blaise chuckled, "You seem surprised."

"Well, I am. I thought that after what happened earlier, you'd be-"

"You thought that I'd be done with you?"

"Well, yeah. It is a widely known fact that you don't have girlfriends."

Blaise smirked, "Yet knowing that, you still sought me out today?"

Hermione blushed, "Well, we did have unfinished business after last night, didn't we? I may be a lot of things, but I'm not a tease."

Blaise stepped closer to her and closed the space between them, "Is that the only reason why you did it? Because you thought you owed it to me?"

"No, I did it because I wanted to." Hermione blushed.

Blaise smiled as he wrapped his hands around her waist, skimming the skin under her shirt, causing Hermione to shudder, "Good, because I did too. As a matter of fact, I want to do it again," he leaned down and kissed the sensitive skin just under her ear, "and again," he moved to her throat as she tilted her head back to lean against the bookcase to give him better access, "and again." He nipped at her collarbone and then kissed it.

Hermione could feel her insides starting to ignite, "With me?" She asked, barely in a whisper.

Blaise grinned, "Yes, with you, mia bella." (My lovely)

She blushed again and Blaise swooped down and kissed her, stealing her breath. She had no idea why Blaise Zabini of all people seemed to want her so much, but she was going to stop obsessing about it and just enjoy it; for whatever reason, he wanted her, and she most definitely wanted him to. She brought her hands up to tangle in his beautiful hair as she pulled him closer and deepened the kiss. Once again, they were so caught up in each other, neither one of them heard the door to the common room open.

"Christ, you two; just get a room already!"

Theo's voice brought the two horny teenagers back to Earth and Hermione untangled herself from Blaise and blushed. Theo was smirking at them, and Draco was giving them a look that she couldn't decipher. Blaise, however, knew exactly what that look was; a look of pure jealously.

Hermione remembered that she had had to clean up after him and she scowled at him, "Malfoy, I am not your bloody maid; clean up after yourself!" She pointed to the pile of his belongings that were sitting by his bedroom door.

Draco gave Hermione a once over and smirked,, "Are you sure you don't want to be my maid? You could get one of those little french maid uniforms."

Blaise quirked an eyebrow, "Hmm, I like the sound of that."

Theo grinned wickedly, "Yes, please; you can get one for that little red headed friend of yours as well."

They all turned to look at Theo and he smiled impishly, "You two in your little maid outfits would star in my dreams for weeks."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Goodnight boys."

All three Slytherins watched the sway of her hips as she left the room.

When she was gone, Blaise turned his attention to his blond friend, "You aren't very subtle, you know."

Draco sighed, "What are you talking about?"

"I saw the look on your face when you got here, Draco; you were jealous."

Draco groaned, "Not this again, Blaise!"

"It's getting more and more obvious that you have a thing for our favorite Gryffindor; it was bound to happen with you two living in such close quarters."

"He's right, mate." Theo added.

Draco glared at Blaise, "Alright, let's say you two wankers are right and I'm finally ready to admit it to her. Would you step aside and let me have her?"

Blaise didn't hesitate, "Absolutely."

Draco raised an eyebrow, "Really."

"In a heartbeat; I'll admit that I would be sad to end things, but I will never let a female come between me and my friends; now matter how addicting she is."

Draco desperately wanted to be pissed at the fact that Blaise was getting to live out his own fantasies with his own dream girl, rather than himself, but Blaise was right; no female was worth losing the best friendships he'd ever had.

Draco sighed dramatically, "Have at it, mate. If I can't have her, at least she'd not giving it up to Weasley."

Theo snorted, "That git wouldn't know what to do with her, if he did have her. I'm telling you; the only good thing that came out of that whole family is Little Red."

Blaise chuckled, "Since when do you have a thing for her?"

Theo wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.

"You know, you are the only one who seems to think that you can't have her." Blaise said to Draco.

Draco frowned, "I know enough to know that if she were able to look past all of the shit that I put her through these past years, and the fact that I'm a Death Eater and give me a chance, I'd never be able to let her go, and It's too dangerous for her to be a part of my world."

Theo smiled, "Are you finally admitting that you like her?'

Draco growled, "That's not the point, Theo! I've been infatuated with this woman since she slugged me in our third and it's just gotten worse since school started. I've been shagging every slag that so much as bats her bloody eyelashes at me in an attempt to get Granger out of my damn head."

Blaise smirked, "How's that working for you, mate?"

"It's not!" Draco barked.

"Just say the word and I'll back off." Blaise said.

"I'm not worried about what will happen to her if she's with you. She's better off with you than she would ever be with me; she wouldn't be safe with me. I still maintain the fact that if we were to get together, one of us would kill the other because she's so infuriating. And we can't forget the fact that the war is coming and the three of us could be called away at any moment. If my father ever found out that I was in love with Harry fucking Potter's best friend, he'd kill me on the spot."

Draco's face was red when he finished his rant.

Theo and Blaise both looked at Draco like he'd grown a second head, "You're in love with her?" They chorused.

Draco glowered at his best friends, effectively ending that conversation.

Draco ran his hands through his hair in frustration, "I'm done; I can't do this right now. I'll see you guys later."

Draco didn't wait for a response as he went to his room and slammed his door behind him.

Blaise and Theo just stood there and looked at his door for a moment.

Theo finally spoke up, "I've gotta say; I didn't see that coming."

Blaise kept looking at Draco's door, "Yeah, me neither."

Theo grinned, "Since he seems to be done for the evening, let's go loiter in the halls and mess with Peeve's."

Blaise rolled his eyes, "How old are you?"

"It's either that or we go back to Slytherin and have Parkinson hang all over us."

Blaise gestured towards the door, "Let's go find Peeves."

Draco slammed his door shut and then put a silencing charm on the room so that his friends wouldn't hear the tantrum he was about to throw. He punched the wall, shoved things off his dresser, knocked over his dresser, kicked the bed and then threw one of his shoes at the mirror, shattering it to bits. How could he be so damn stupid and let it slip that he was in love with her!? He knew Blaise and Theo knew about his feelings for the Head Girl to an extent, but he had been so careful to hide the rest of it, and in one fell swoop, it was all out.

Blood fucking hell.

Draco had no idea where his infatuation with the brilliant Gryffindor had come from, but it had just sneaked up on him out of nowhere and had gotten worse as the years wore on. He hid his feelings with sneers, sarcasm and insults, but inside he was dying to be the one to make her smile, make her laugh, touch her beautiful, soft skin, feel her lips on his; he was dying to trade places with Blaise. That would never be an option, though; his future was written in stone, and there was no way that Hermione Granger, best friend of Harry Potter could ever be a part of it.

He didn't blame Blaise for making a move on her, but it still pissed him off to see what he was knew that everything that Blaise was getting from her, psychically or otherwise, could have been his if he hadn't been such a wanker to her all these years. It was the best defense mechanism he had though; that was the only way that he could be sure that she would be out of his life and out of danger.

Draco finished throwing his tantrum, threw himself on his bed like a true five year old, and stayed there for twenty minutes before he came back to reality. He cleaned up the mess he had made, grabbed a book out of his bag and spent the rest of the night locked in his room; he was in no mood for company.

Hermione was practically skipping as she made her way to the Gryffindor tower. She had honestly thought that Blaise was in it just for a one off, but he had made his intentions clear just now and she was beyond excited. She still couldn't figure out for the life of her why he was so interested in a girl like her, but she certainly wasn't going to question it; she was going to thoroughly enjoy it.

Hermione got to the portrait of the Fat Lady, she muttered the password and walked inside when the door swung open. When she entered the common room, everyone looked her way and it suddenly was deathly silent for about thirty seconds. After that, the whispering started at breakneck speed and Hermione quirked an eyebrow at her former dorm mates. She spotted Ginny rushing over to her and she was just about to ask what was going on when Ginny grabbed her arm and pulled her into a corner.

"Someone saw you and Zabini coming out of that classroom today!" Ginny whispered fiercely.

Hermione paled, "What?"

"No one saw what you were actually doing in there, but you know this place; the rumors started running rampant!"

"How many people have heard this...rumor, Ginny?"

"Er...the whole school. I heard it from two first year Hufflepuffs." Ginny frowned.

Hermione started to panic, "So, that means that-"

"Oi, Hermione!"

Hermione whimpered at the sound of Ron's voice as he, Harry and Lavender came towards her.

"Yeah," Ginny confirmed, "They've heard."

Hermione closed her eyes, took a deep breath and prepared herself for the onslaught that she was sure was about to occur.

Ron stopped not two feet away from her, "What is all this nonsense about you and Blaise Zabini shagging in a classroom?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Hello to you too, Ron."

"Tell me it's not true!" He demanded.

"Of course it's not true, Ronald." She had no intention of letting the whole school in on the details of her private life.

Ron and Harry sighed in relief and Lavender giggled, "I tried to tell him it wasn't true, Hermione."

Lavender's voice grated on Hermione's nerves, "How would you know it isn't true, Lavender? Did you start the rumor?"

Lavender giggled again, "Of course not, silly! It's just, we're talking about Blaise Zabini."

Ginny glared at her brother's girlfriend, "Just what exactly is that supposed to mean, Lavender?"

Lavender looked at Hermione sympathetically, "No offense, Hermione; It's just...well, you are so not his type."

"It's true, 'Mione." Ron agreed and received death glares from both Hermione and Ginny.

Hermione hated that nickname.

"What type is that, exactly?" Hermione inquired.

"Well, you know...pretty girls." Lavender smiled shyly.

"Yeah." Ron said the word before he could stop himself.

Ginny gasped, and Hermione wanted to cry; was this really what everyone thought about her? No, it couldn't be true. Despite the fact that Hermione despised Lavender Brown with a passion, she was right about one thing; Blaise did not waste his time on...homely girls. Suddenly, the hurt that was coursing through Hermione's veins turned to anger and she glared viciously at Ron and Lavender.

"Actually, it is true." Hermione stated, and she saw Ginny grin.

Ron's look of relief turned to a glare, "What are you talking about, Hermione?"

"Well, Blaise and I weren't planning on telling anyone about us which is why we were sneaking around." She mentally patted herself on the back when she saw the looks on Ron's and Lavender's faces; she couldn't decipher Harry's look.

Lavender scoffed, "You're lying."

"I'm not, actually. Today at lunch, Blaise shagged my brains out."

Lavender's jaw dropped, and just about everyone else gasped.

"So, are you like...dating him now, or are you just a slag?" Ron spat.

The room was already deadly silent as everyone was listening intently to the confrontation, so when Hermione's hand connected with Ron's face, it made a very loud cracking sound; almost like a whip. Harry and Ginny grimaced, while Lavender and the rest of the room gasped. The look on Ron's face was a mix of anger and guilt, while Hermione was just plain livid.

"What I do in my private life, and who I do it with is absolutely none of your business. But, I can assure you that I am not a slag; you must be confusing me with some else." Hermione looked at Lavender as she said that last part.

Hermione was purposely implying that she and Blaise were dating, and she felt guilty; she was pulling Blaise into this childish nonsense and she was no doubt going to scare him off; she needed to talk to him...soon.

Lavender laughed viciously, "You are so deluded, sweetheart. I asked Blaise out last year and if he turned me down, then he must have had a bet going with some of his friends. I mean, why else would he want to touch you?"

Hermione was ready to pounce on Lavender when Ginny stepped in, "Ron, get your good for nothing, slag of a girlfriend out of Hermione's face before I permanently scar hers!"

Lavender glowered at Ginny and Ron pulled her away as he continued to glare at Ginny and Hermione. Harry had no idea what to say, so he just followed Ron. Hermione glared at the trio's retreating backs as an idea formed in her head.

A sly smile spread across her face and she turned to Ginny and whispered something in her ear. A grin broke out on Ginny's face and she nodded enthusiastically at her friend, "That's a fabulous idea! I'll be right back!"

She dashed up the stairs to the girls' dorm and reappeared not a minute later with a small bag and a book. She shot a nasty glare towards Ron and Lavender as she brushed by them and followed Hermione out of the room.

Hermione and Ginny were walking towards the Head's dorm when they spotted two figures further down the hall coming towards them. When Hermione saw their faces, she smiled. Blaise and Theo came to a halt in front of them with mischievous smiles on their faces.

"You two look like you've been up to no good." Hermione observed.

Blaise smirked, "We were messing with Peeves."

Ginny laughed, "That's so cute."

Ginny looked at Theo, and when he winked at her, she blushed and looked away.

Hermione remembered his earlier comment about Ginny in a french maid's uniform and she smirked, then looked at Blaise, "Since you're here, can I talk to you for a second?"

Blaise nodded, "Of course."

They looked at their friends and Theo grinned, "I'll take care of Little Red." He took her hand and pulled her down the hallway a bit to give them some privacy.

"What's up?" Blaise asked.

"Have you seen anyone else since you left my common room?"

"No, why?"

Hermione blushed, "Well, it seems that someone saw us coming out of the classroom at lunch and now the whole school is talking about it."

Blaise looked slightly amused, "Really?"

"Yeah, but there's more. I was getting bombarded by all the Gryffindors and Ron's horrible girlfriend had to open her filthy mouth and well, I was just so mad...I may have...I just wanted them to eat their words, so I kind of told them...that we are...dating. I'm so sorry, Blaise! It just came out; I swear I'll set the record straight tomorrow! I'm not one of those girls that starts refering to a guy as her boyfriend after one...incident. I know you aren't my boyfriend and I swear I'll tell everyone tomorrow." A tear was streaking down Hermione's face and and Blaise wiped it away with his thumb.

"Why are you crying?" He asked.

"Whatever this is between us...it's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time and I have thoroughly fucked it up already."

Blaise grinned at her use of profanity, "You haven't fucked anything up, love."

"I haven't?"

"No; I could care less what this school thinks about me, and I know that you aren't that kind of girl. You said what you had to say and I'll back you up."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, "Good, because I'm going to make them all eat their words tomorrow."

Blaise arched a brow, "Really; do tell."

"Nope; it's a surprise."

"Hmm." Blaise smiled and pulled Hermione towards him and kissed her.

There was a discreet cough and the couple pulled away and looked at Ginny and Theo.

Ginny smiled, "I hate to break this up, but curfew is in an hour, Hemione."

Hermione looked at her watch, "Right; I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiled at the Slytherins as she grabbed Ginny's hand and hauled her off towards her dorm.

"What was the about?" Theo asked as the girls disappeared around a corner.

"It seems someone saw us together at lunch." Blaise said.

"Hmm, that should make for an interesting day tomorrow."

Blaise snorted, "No shit."

When Blaise and Theo got back to their common room, all chatter quickly died as everyone gawked at the more-famous-than-usual Slytherin. He stared them all down, daring them to say something; quickly getting the hint, everyone's chatter resumed. Blaise shewed some second years off the couch and he and Theo took it over.

The next morning, Hermione got up thirty minutes earlier than usual so she could get started on her new look. After Lavender and Ron had basically told her that she was ugly, Hermione had decided that she'd had enough. Enough of Ron and his slag of a girlfriend, enough of gossiping teenagers, hell, she'd had enough of being a teenager. Hermione had borrowed a book from Ginny called "A Witches Guide to Beauty," as well as some makeup. She and Ginny had gone through the book and decided on a spell that would give Hermione smooth, wavy hair and a spell that would make her hair a rich, dark brown.. Hermione did her hair, put on a little black eyeliner to bring out her eyes and a blush pink lipstick. After that, she went to her closet and grabbed a clean uniform and set it on her bed. Pointing her wand at the garments, she shortened her skirt so that it came to the bottom of her thighs and she made her shirt one size smaller. As a finishing touch, she transfigured her clod hopper shoes into platform Mary Janes with two inch heels, and put a spell on them that would keep her from tripping; she never had been very graceful when it came to high heels. After she got dressed, she looked in the mirror and was very pleased with her reflection. While she had done this to put Ron and Lavender in their places, she actually couldn't wait to see Blaise's reaction. She put on her robes, but let them hang open and grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

Hermione got to the Great Hall and pulled the door open without a moment's hesitation; she was finished being intimidated by this place. She walked into the room and smirked as heads turned her way. When the whispers finally made their rounds, the room went quiet as Hermione made her way towards the Gryffindor table.

Over at the Slytherin table, Blaise was completely oblivious as he buttered a piece of toast.

"Gesù dolce." Theo kicked Blaise's shin and when he glared up at him, Theo nodded in Hermione's direction. (Sweet Jesus)

Blaise looked over and took in the sight that was Hermione Granger. He stared at her for a good thirty seconds before he broke out into a grin, "Sorpresa davvero." (Surprise indeed)

Draco looked over and felt his heart constrict at the sight of her.

At the Gryffindor table, Hermione came up and sat down next to Ginny who was grinning like an idiot, "You look bloody brilliant Hermione!"

Hermione smiled, "Thanks, Gin."

She refused to look at Ron and Lavender, but she knew that they were both staring at her with gaping mouths.

Harry smirked, "I think you've proved your point."

Hermione grinned at him and saw him nod his head in her direction as he looked over her head. She turned around and saw Blaise sauntering towards their table. Ginny practically shoved Neville so she could scoot over and make room for Blaise. He smiled at her and took a seat, turning towards Hermione.

"Hi." He smirked at her.

"Hi." She replied, blushing.

"You are a stunning creature." His ran his hand through her hair and she shuddered; he was an expert at taking her breath away. "Not that I'm complaining," he continued, "but, what brought on this transformation?"

"Someone," she glared in Ron's direction, "brought it to my attention that my physical appearance lacked a certain...je ne sais quoi; so here we are."

"Vous parlez français?" Blaise inquired. (You speak French?)

Hermione smiled, "Oui; J'ai appris l'été dernier." (Yes; I learned it last summer.)

"Eh bien dans ce cas, que dites-vous nous souffler potions et allons trouver une autre salle de classe?" (Well in that case, what do you say we blow off potions and go find another classroom?)

Hermione grinned, "As tempting as that is, Snape will crucify me if I miss class."

Blaise frowned, "Alright then, can I walk you?"

She nodded and he picked up her bag and slung it over his shoulder.

When she stood up, Blaise leaned forward, "I almost forgot something." He leaned over and kissed her and then whispered in her ear, "That should give them something to talk about."

Ginny looked very pleased, Harry was still smirking, Ron and Lavender looked thoroughly pissed, and Draco looked dejected. Hermione laughed and turned around to wink at Lavender before she followed Blaise out of the room.

As it was her last year of school, Hermione was going to go out with a bang.

Show me the love, people! (Constructive criticism is also appreciated.) :)