Chapter 7
30/06/2006
It was the morning after, Blaise had seen Hermione at Dean and Ginny's last night after six years. He was in too much shock, that he couldn't muster the courage to say more than one word to her. All that came out was a 'hi'
When he got home last night he did admit to himself, that she did look a lot better in person than on TV or in magazine. She was simply beautiful to him. But just couldn't get past the anger that he was feeling towards her.
He made his way over to Harry's office.
He knocked and heard him say 'Come In'
He walked in and found he wasn't alone. Teddy was spending the day at the ministry with his Godfather.
"Hi Harry, Hey Teddy, how are you?"
The eight-year old changed his hair from his normal turquoise to match Blaise's black hair.
"Sorry about that" the little boy blushed.
"That's okay mate, so what have you got on today?"
"I'm spending the day with Uncle Harry, he says Aunt Astoria is coming for lunch with us" Teddy told him before returning to his book.
"It's important that Tori and I spend time alone with him, he gets Jealous a lot of James and Al" Harry told Blaise.
"Right, listen can I talk to you for a moment?" Blaise asked.
"Uh yeah sure, Teddy, why don't you go see Mr Finnegan is in his office" the Head Auror told his godson. Seamus was the head of the Invisibility task force and his office was a few doors down from Harry's.
"Yes, do you think he can put a spell to make my head invisible so I can scare Victoire?"
"You want to scare your girlfriend?" Blaise asked him teasingly.
"She's not my girlfriend Uncle Blaise!" the young boy declared before running out of the room.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Harry asked seeing Blaise placing a lock and silencing charm on his office door.
"Hermione" he replied.
Harry nodded "I assumed as much"
"Why didn't you tell me you were all having dinner with her last night?"
"Because we knew how you would react" Harry answered
"How would I react exactly?" Blaise snapped back.
"More or less like you just did"
"Well can you blame me?"
"No we cant, we saw how much she hurt you"
"Why is she still here? Isn't her parents anniversary over?"
Harry nodded "But she stayed for another reason, she'll be gone in two weeks"
"What's the reason?"
"You, she wants to see you"
"WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO SEE HER!" Blaise shouted back.
"That's your choice, but that is why she is here"
"Sorry for shouting at you, I need some time to think, see you later" Blaise yanking open Harry's door to find a startled Astoria on the other side.
"Blaise? Hello didn't expect to see you" said recovered from her shock.
"Hi Astoria, just had to speak to Harry about something" he said before walking away.
Astoria stepped into her husband's office.
"Was that about Hermione? She asked him.
"Yes" he answered.
02/07/2006
Hermione had found a spot behind the Hilton hotel where she and Ally could apparate from. Today mother and daughter were going to lunch at the Longbottom's house in Hogsmeade. Neville worked as the Herbology professor at Hogwarts and Pansy now managed Gladrag's.
Hermione and Ally stepped into the lift to head down to the lobby.
"Mummy, are we going to see more of your friends today?"
"Yes we are, I hope that's okay with you?"
"Oh yes, it's lots of fun" Ally smiled up at her mother.
"I'm glad to hear that baby"
They walked out of the lift and to the apparition spot in the alleyway.
"Now baby, you need to hold onto me tight" Hermione told her daughter hoisting her onto her hip.
"Okay mummy"
Hermione spun on the spot and the duo left London and landed in Hogsmeade just south of the Wheezes Hogsmeade Branch.
She set Ally down on the ground and tried to get her bearings.
"Mummy where are we?"
"This is Hogsmeade. It's close to where I went to school"
"Oh"
"Hey, since we are here, would you like to visit Uncle Ron's brother?"
"He has a brother?"
"He has a few brothers" laughed Hermione as she led her daughter down the street.
They both entered the store which was quieter than normal due to it being summer.
Hermione spotted the familiar red hair of George Weasley behind the counter.
"Hello George"
He spun around a little too quickly and nearly fell over causing Ally to Giggle.
"Hermione Granger, well aren't you a sight for sore eyes" he said coming around the counter to hug her.
"Nice to see you George"
"You too, ah you must be Allison, Ron told me about you" he said crouching to the little girl's height.
"Say hello Ally" Hermione encouraged her.
"Hello Mr Weely" she said quietly.
"It's Weasley darling, but hey close enough, it's nice to meet you" he said standing up again.
"How is Angelina?" Hermione asked
"Oh she's fine, she'll be miffed she missed you, she was taking Fred to Mum's for lunch"
"How come you didn't go?"
"Now with School holidays on, I can do stocktake" the red head grinned back.
"Can I get something for you?" he asked.
"Well, we're having lunch with Pansy and Neville and I was hoping to get something for their daughter"
"Ah yes, Nicole is cutie, not sure how that happened with Pansy being her mother" he laughed walking down an aisle to retrieve something.
"George Weasley!" Hermione scolded him playfully.
"Relax, I'm only joking" he said holding up his hands in surrender.
"Anyway here is something for Nicole" he said handing the witch a toy which made bubbles in different shapes with the use of a charm.
"Thanks George"
Hermione and Ally left the store and walked down the road to the Longbottom's cottage.
She knocked on the door.
Neville opened the door "Hello Hermione, nice to see you again after so long" he greeted her.
"You too Neville" she replied moving to hug the wizard.
"This is my daughter Allison or Ally" she added
"Nice to meet you darling" Neville smiled down at the little girl
"Hi" Ally said to him.
"Come meet our Nicole, she's been helping Pansy with lunch" Neville said directing them to kitchen where his wife was finishing preparing lunch.
Hermione and Ally walked into the kitchen to find Pansy draining off the rice she had just finished boiling. She looked at the dining table where a small girl was walking around making sure it was set properly.
"Ah Hermione, so nice to see you" Pansy smiled at her.
"Nice to see you as well"
"Nicole, come here please" the raven haired witch addressed her daughter.
The little girl skipped to her mother's side.
"Nicole this is Miss Granger and her daughter"
Nicole Longbottom smiled up at Hermione then at Ally.
"Hello darling, how old are you are?" Hermione asked crouching down to her level.
She held up two fingers.
"I'm older than her mummy" Ally sated. She had worked out the math in her head.
"You can tell for sure whose daughter she is" Pansy whispered to her husband.
Neville smiled back at her.
"So shall we start lunch? I hope you don't mind Rice? I found this delicious Thai Beef curry a few weeks ago, that I had to try out"
"That sounds fine Pansy" Hermione smiled back at her.
They continued to enjoy their afternoon with Pansy and Neville.
The following morning Hermione was meeting Ginny at the Ministry, so that her name could be added as Mia's Godmother. She dropped Ally off with her parents and apparated to the ministry.
She apparated to a spot around the corner from the Muggle entrance of the Leaky Cauldron and made her way inside the magical pub.
"Hermione Granger?" she heard her name.
She turned and saw Hannah Abbot behind the bar.
"Abbot?" Hermione smiled at her.
"Actually it's Boot now, so good to see you" the blond replied.
"Likewise, listen I would to stay and chat but I'll see you soon" the brunette smiled as she made her way to through the pub and into Diagon alley.
She walked along the busy magical street, with many memories coming back to her from when she would visit every year before school started to pick up her supplies.
Hermione spotted a familiar face holding the hand of a little boy looking into Eeylop's. She walked up to the witch and tapped her on the shoulder.
The other witch turned around and shrieked happily and quickly hugged her.
"Oh my goodness, I knew you were back, but I didn't think I'd get to see you, Hermione Granger we have a lot to catch up on"
"Indeed we do, it's so great to see you Tracey Davis!" they had been work colleagues before Hermione left.
"Actually it's Malfoy now, this is our son Orion"
"Well, good for you, and hello Orion" she smiled down at the small boy.
"So what brings you here?"
"Just meeting up with Ginny"
After Hermione spoke to Tracey for a few more minutes she made her way to the ministry.
She stepped into the lift, with Seamus Finnegan entering after her.
"Hello Seamus" she addressed him.
He looked up and his eyebrows rose.
"Hermione? Well it's good to see you" he said moving to hug the witch.
After they caught up a bit, she got out of the lift at her designate floor.
She signed the paperwork with Ginny and chatted with Mia for a little bit.
"Ginny, can I ask you something?"
"Sure"
"Do you think it's a good idea that I see Blaise, since I'm here at the ministry and he works here"
"Hermione, you and I both know, no matter what I tell, you will always do what you want and also you are very stubborn" the red head replied smiling.
"I'm not stubborn"
Ginny's eyebrows rose.
"Okay perhaps a little, do you know where Blaise's office is?"
"Sure, c'mon, it's just up this corridor" Ginny replied.
They reached an area where there were about four offices each with a secretary all outside their door.
"His office is the last one" the red head told Hermione quietly.
She walked up the secretary.
"Hello, I was wondering if Mr Zabini is in"
"He might be, depends on who's asking" the young blonde secretary asked not looking up from the copy of Witch Weekly she was reading.
Hermione was a little taken back by her attitude. She looked down and spotted that the page the Secretary was currently looking at had few photos of her from her appearance on Lavender's show a few weeks ago.
"I'm Hermione Granger" she said simply.
The blonde looked up and her eyes widened.
"Hi Ms Granger, so nice to see you in person, one moment let me just see if Mr Zabini is free or not" she standing up very quickly and poking her head in his office.
Hermione waited.
"He says you may come in" his secretary told her before sitting down at her desk again.
Hermione turned around and smiled at Ginny.
'Good luck' the red head mouthed to her.
The brunette approached the door slowly not sure of what reception she would receive.
A/N: I hope you liked the chapter. Let me know what you think.