Chapter 8

Hermione slowly entered Blaise's luxurious office and closed the door behind her. She stood awkwardly on the spot and glanced round the office, taking in the number of paintings and other decorative pieces he had in his office.

She saw him sitting behind his large oak desk reading through a pile of parchments.

"You can sit" he told her pointing to lush chairs on the opposite side of his desk.

She walked slowly and sat down in the leather bound chair. She had no idea whatsoever how to start this conversation. Hermione didn't know that Blaise had planned a little of what he was going to say to her when the time came.

"Blaise…"

He held up his hand and looked up.

"No, please let me start"

She nodded.

He moved the pile of parchments out of his way. He cast a silencing and locking spell on his office door. This made Hermione weary.

"I hate you, I'm sure you can understand why"

Hermione flinched at the word hate, but nodded indicated she understood why he felt that way.

"You left me, just like that" he snapped his fingers.

"I know the death eaters were after you, and I hated that you didn't confide me, heck I was studying at the Wizengamot Hermione, which in case you didn't notice, is where I work now. I could have helped you. I would have caught those bastards and made them suffer in Azkaban and you want to know why?"

Hermione made no movement, he took it that she understood why.

"I loved Hermione, I was going to ask you to marry me, you were the love of my life, my girl, my everything"

He sighed before continuing.

"BUT NO THAT DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU! YOU WERE JUST SELFISH! YOU LEFT ME! AND SURE YOU SENT A LETTER, ONE SOLITARY LETTER AND WHO WAS THAT TOO, NOT ME, NOT YOUR PARENTS EVEN, IT WAS TO GINNY, HARRY AND I TRACED THE LETTER TO PARIS BUT WHEN WE GOT THERE YOU HAD ALREADY LEFT AND NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRIED WE COULDN'T FIND YOU" he roared at her.

Hermione just stared at the wizard, she had half expected him to blow up at her. And he was right she was selfish not only for leaving him but also for keeping their daughter from him.

"Switzerland, Geneva specifically" she told him quietly.

He snapped his head and looked at her ''Sorry?"

"I left Paris and went to Geneva" she replied.

"Why in Merlin's name did you go there?" he asked her.

"Because I was offered a job there" Hermione told him.

"What did you do?"

"I wrote for the newspaper, the Muggle one"

"So no one would find you?"

She nodded.

"Can I ask you something?" Blaise stared into her chocolate brown eyes.

"In these six years, did you ever think about me? Even if it was just how was I doing?"

Hermione nodded "More than you'll ever know, I thought about you on your birthday, Christmas, our anniversary, so many times Blaise" she told him with tears forming in her eyes.

She forgot to add she thought of him during her pregnancy, when Ally was born, all of her big moments growing up, the first time she crawled, walked and her first words, her first day at pre-school etc.

"Why didn't you come back Hermione?"

"I was scared"

"You know they are no longer a threat, Theo and most of his followers are dead or rotting away in Azkaban"

"I know, Daphne told me when she found me in LA last year"

He nodded "Right and speaking of Daphne and your work, how did you go from being an unspeakable to become a model?" he asked with his eyes scanning her body.

"When I first moved to LA, I got a job working at the LA times, so I was at this press event and I caught the eye of this photographer, who happened to be Muggle Born as well and it went from there" she told him.

"Right, and do you enjoy it?"

"I do enjoy it much, I mean I have to be strict with exercise and my diet, but it's what I do and I find it fun, so the hard work pays off" she smiled at him.

"I remember worrying about you not eating enough when were together" Blaise told her leaning back in his chair.

"I remember, but I'm fine now, so there's no need to worry"

"And what about exercise…. Have found the time during your stay here?

"yes, the hotel has a great gym, and visiting everyone is keep me active as well" she laughed.

After a minute of silence Blaise got up and walked around his desk, stopping and taking the seat next to her.

"You know you being here, not just in my office, but having seen you at Ginny's the other night, my anger towards you has decreased"

"Really how much?" she asked leaning forward. The move made Blaise's eyes momentarily flicker towards her chest. 'Why did she wear such a tight top today' he thought to himself.

"By only a miniscule amount, what kind of reaction were you expecting coming to see me today?"

"Well honestly I had no idea, I just knew that I had to talk to you"

"Right, so what do you want to happen now?"

"You mean between us?" Hermione asked.

"Yes between you and I, myself I would like us to work our way up to being friends"

Hermione was startled by this. She thought 'he wouldn't want to be friends with me after he finds out about Allison'

"Let's do that then" she said holding out her hand for a handshake.

"Let's, would you like to have dinner sometime, maybe tonight?" he asked her.

Her eyes bulged.

"Oh no, not in a date sense, just as acquaintances" he assured her.

Hermione thought for a moment. She and Ally were meant to have dinner with her parents tonight.

"Sure" she smiled at the wizard.

Hermione left Blaise's office and headed back to the hotel.

After having a protein shake for lunch, she went to the hotel's gym. When she got back to her room, her mobile rang. It was Ginny calling.

H: Hey Ginny.

G: Don't hey Ginny me, so how did got with Blaise?

H: Well he did blow up at me, I did sort of expect that.

G: Oh, are you alright?

H: I'm ok. We are….

G: don't tell you guys are back to dating already? Did you tell him about Ally?

H: What? No. And I haven't told him about Ally yet.

G: What do you me yet? Are you seeing him again?

H: Yes tonight we're going for dinner actually.

G: What really? I guess that's a good step.

H: Yeah I guess it is.

G: what are you going to wear?

H: Subtlety is not your forte is it Gin. I'm not sure what I'm wearing yet, Daphne is coming over to talk to me about something so I'll get her opinion.

G: Right well I hope dinner goes well. Just know you have support regardless of what happens. I want all the details of tonight.

H: Thanks Gin. I'll speak to you soon.

She next called her parents and explained what she was doing tonight and asked if Ally could stay overnight at their place. Not that she planned on Blaise coming back to her room after dinner. They happily obliged to look after their granddaughter until tomorrow

Hermione ended the call and went and took a shower.

As she came out of the shower, there was a knock on the door.

She opened it to find Daphne on the other side with some dress bags, an envelope and her own handbag.

"Hey, come in" Hermione said moving aside so she could enter.

"So Ginny called me and said you were having dinner with Blaise tonight, so I bought some dresses over for you"

"You aren't going to try and tell me it's a bad idea and talk me out of it?"

"No, I just hope it goes well for you, you going to tell him about Ally?"

Hermione nodded "I'm nervous as hell"

"Well I can understand that, do you want him back in your life or in Ally's life?"

"It's up to him if he wants to be in his our daughter's life, as for mine just don't know" Hermione replied flopping down into the arm chair.

"There is something else I want to speak to you about" Daphne told her.

"yes?" Hermione questioned sitting up.

"Well this is a proposal for you to move here to England and model for us here" Daphne said handing Hermione the envelope.

"Oh"

"you don't have decide right away, but we have the new autumn collection we'd like you to model for us at the end of the month"

Hermione pulled the proposal out from the envelope and started scanning the first page.

"This includes a new house, plus all relocation expenses, what about Ally?"

"Well once you chose to tell Blaise, I'll ask you if want the management at BeWitched also told about her, but if you agree, we'll get her settled into a nice magical primary school in September and if you want a Nanny can be arranged for her as well"

Hermione continued reading for a little bit "I'm not sure Daphne, let me have a look and think about it, I'll get back to you soon".

"That's fine Hun"

To say Hermione was nervous would be an understatement. She had no clue how agreed to dinner tonight with her former love.

After going through the dresses that Daphne had brought with her, she had decided on the off-shoulder straight cut dress in midnight blue.*

She slipped on her black heels and puller her hair into a high ponytail was fiddling through her mobile checking voicemail when she heard a knock on the door. She quickly flicked her wand so that Ally's toys that were in the living room would not be seen by Blaise.

She opened the door and saw he was wearing a black suit, crisp white shirt and a black and silver tie. Hermione tried her hardest not to gape at him, however she couldn't deny he looked hot!

"Ah Hello" she managed to say after checking him out.

"Hello, you look lovely tonight" he responded.

"Thank you" she replied hoping her cheeks weren't going pink.

"Shall we?" he smiled at her.

"Uh yeah sure"

"So where are we going?" she asked him on the lift ride down.

"I know this fantastic French Restaurant in Mayfair I hope you don't mind"

"No it sounds lovely"

The walked towards his black Mercedes parked in the Hotel's car park.

"So last I saw you, you didn't know how to drive" she told him as they drove to dinner.

"Yeah, Harry taught Draco and I to drive"

"Really? Well good for you both"

"Do you drive?" he asked her.

"I do, obviously not here, but in LA, I have a car" she told him. Of course having car made going around with a child.

The arrived at the restaurant and parked the car.

Blaise told the host about their reservation they were led to their table.

"How did you find this restaurant?" Hermione asked him.

"Oh my colleague suggested it for my mother's birthday about three years ago, we come here every year"

"Oh yes Harry and Ron told me about your mother getting sick, I sure hope she's much better now"

"She is doing fine now, she was happy to hear you were back in England?"

"She was?" Hermione asked in surprise.

Blaise nodded as he took a sip of his wine. "She loved you when…..you know"

"When we were together?" Hermione supplied.

"Yeah that"

"Do you know what you would like to eat?" he asked her trying t change the topic.

"Oh yum, what do you recommend?"

"Well the chicken or the duck are both nice, if you like them"

"Well I prefer chicken so I'll get that" she smiled at him.

"Great, I usually get the Salmon, so I'll stick with that" he told her, then handed their menus to the waiter

"So how is work going? Busy?" she asked him.

"Well yes, I have my busy times, what about you? When is your next photo shoot?" he asked.

Hermione pondered for a moment. "I'm not really sure to tell you the truth" she sighed.

"Oh why has something happened?" he asked quirking an eyebrow.

"This afternoon Daphne came by with a proposal for me stay in England and model for them here and around London" she told him.

"Oh, are you going to take it?" he asked sounding like he as genuinely interested in her answer.

"I'm not sure yet"

The waiter returned with their meals. Hermione took a bite of her chicken.

"You're right this is delicious"

He smirked back at her "I was going to suggest the dish to Hannah at the Cauldron"

"You should" Hermione insisted.

They finished their dinner and Blaise drove Hermione back to her hotel. He parked the car and began walking her back to the lobby.

"So you leave when?" he asked her.

"We leave on the 20th" Hermione replied without even thinking. And mentally slapped herself for saying 'we' instead of 'I '

Blaise stopped walking "what do you mean we? Who else is with you on your trip?"

"Blaise there is something I need to tell you"

"yes" he questioned controlling his breathing.

"I have a daughter, her name is Allison or Ally for short"

"Oh you do?"

Hermione nodded.

"So her father is someone you met in LA?"

Hermione shook head, no her father is English.

He was silent, Hermione could tell he was working it out.

After what seemed like eternity "That means, I…."

"Yes Blaise, you're Ally's father"

"How old is she Hermione?" he asked in an angry tone.

"She turned five in February"

"That means….." she knew what he was going to ask.

"Yes Blaise…she was conceived the night you finished your exams"

They were already in the hotel lobby and there were still a few other hotel guests around as well as employees.

"You kept my daughter from me for five and half years? YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU WERE PREGNANT" his tone changed dramatically

"I FOUND OUT THE MORNING I WROTE THAT LETTER TO GINNY AND I DIDN'T TELL HER EITHER" at this point Hermione didn't care if the whole hotel heard their screaming match or not.

"AND THAT MAKES IT ANY BETTER?"

"NO! OF COURSE IT DOESN'T, DO YOU KNOW HOW SCARED I WAS, HOW WAS I GOING TO BRING A CHILD INTO THIS WORLD WHEN I WAS BEING THREATENED"

"I WOULD HAVE HELPED YOU HERMIONE, AS THE FATHER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY JOB"

"WELL I HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB UP UNTIL NOW, SO I DON'T NEED YOU"

"YOU'RE RIGHT YOU DON'T NEED, YOU'RE JUST SELFISH, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU. GOODBYE"

And with that he stormed out of the hotel.

Hermione rushed through the lobby and to her room, ignoring calls to see if she was okay form hotel employees. Deep down she knew if she didn't need him, Ally need her father in her life.

When she got to her room, she removed her dress and shoes and crawled into bed and cried herself to sleep.

AN: *I got my idea for Hermione's dress to her dinner with Blaise, from the dress Emma Watson wore to the Gravity Premiere last year.

I hope you like the chapter. Review please