Hermione arrived at her last class of the day – Arithmacy – the Monday after the Hogsmeade trip more than a little flustered. Blaise watched her from beneath his bangs as she deposited her bag on the desk, making a loud "thwmp", and began to rifle through her things. He had deliberately arrived in class early after waiting since Sunday morning for a chance to talk with her. Now he was just biding time. After all, all things worth doing were worth waiting for.
How much did she remember from Saturday night in the library? Did she remember their kiss? Had Nicola told him about his kiss with her? He sincerely doubted the latter, Hermione and Nicola were hardly on sharing terms.
Blaise blinked and frowned as Hermione pulled out her notebook and began to write some notes. A bright blush coloured her cheeks in pink and Blaise grudgingly admitted to himself she looked quite pretty when she was uncomfortable. He was also happy to note that if she was blushing she was embarrassed. If she was embarrassed she remembered, at least partly, what had happened.
After waiting a few moments more Blaise finally took the initiative and spoke to Hermione – after all, she certainly didn't seem in any hurry to talk to him.
"Afternoon, Granger." He dipped his head in greeting and leaned forward in his chair.
"Zabini." Short. Sweet. And to the point. Blaise raised an eyebrow in amusement.
Neither said a word for another few minutes. Students were starting to wander into the class. Time was almost up. Blaise tried again. "Granger, about Sat-"
She turned to look at him so fast he was surprised she didn't give herself whiplash. "Later!" she hissed before turning back to her notebook, ignoring him.
Blaise couldn't help himself. He laughed out loud, earning himself a glare from Hermione and a few curious looks from other students. Blaise Zabini rarely laughed out loud. He chuckled, he smirked and he snickered, but an out right show of mirth was just not something Zabini's did. Especially when conversing with a Gryffindor.
Blaise turned away from Hermione's glares before he could laugh again and stared straight ahead. Professor Vector entered the room and all the students conversations died down. Seventh year, NEWT year was far too important to waste valuable class time with idle chattering. Class began.
Normally a good student Blaise was annoyed to find himself tuning out the teacher fifteen minutes into the start of class. His hooded eyes watching Hermione from beneath his bangs as she wrote away furiously taking notes. This little witch, this Gryffindor over-achiever, how had she become so adept at stealing his attention? How was she so unaware of the frustrated tension coursing through him? How had she become so beautiful?
Shock seared his brain as effectively as Artic waters. Hermione Granger was not beautiful. Or at least he had never noticed it before.
"Zabini? Mr. Zabini?!" Professor Vector spoke again, annoyance evident on her usually friendly features.
Blaise straightened in his chair and had to stop himself from groaning aloud. "Yes Professor?" Blaise answered, aware of everyone's eyes on him. Aware of her eyes on him.
"I asked you how your project is coming along." Professor Vector raised her eyebrow in question and shifted so she could catch Hermione, his partner, in her gaze as well.
"We've been making progress." In truth Blaise and Hermione were almost done, but no fool would ever tell that to a NEWT teacher unless they wanted more work to do. More work to do, more time spent with Hermione. "Actually we're almost done."
Blaise could've kicked himself but was saved from having to do it by a swift kick in the shins from Hermione. He winced but said nothing, he definitely deserved that. Why had he just done that? Blaise's frustration with himself doubled.
The Professor smiled, obviously impressed with his honesty and willing to excuse him for his previous lack of attention. "That's refreshing to hear especially when we're barely half way through the semester and most of the class has already asked for an extension. Mr. Zabini, Ms Granger. Please stay after class and we'll see if we can't work something out to keep you two from getting bored. It seems you two make a good team." Hermione shot daggers at him with her eyes as Professor Vector turned away and he shrugged, just as upset with himself as she was.
At the end of class Professor Vector was true to her word. There was no way Blaise or Hermione would get bored – or sleep – with the amount of work she'd just assigned to them. The amount of partner work. As both students walked out of class carrying three more thick booklets to be completed for Arithmacy Blaise tried to apologize but Hermione cut him off before he could even open his mouth.
"Zabini! What were you thinking? This is our NEWTs year and I've got more than enough homework to keep me occupied all hours of the night without you adding to it! What were you thinking?" Hermione knelt down on the floor while she berated him, carefully organizing all her books into her bag.
Blaise wasn't sure how to answer that. After all, he really had no idea what he'd been thinking. He'd rashly responded to the idea of spending more time with her, something that bothered and frightened him. "I'm not sure; I guess I was just being honest?" He half smiled at her, trying to break the ice as she stood up, dusting off her knees.
Hermione sighed. "Well you'll have to meet me in the library tonight after supper." She scrunched up her face in frustration. Christ her nose was cute like that,
"What?" Blaise said, half to her suggestion and half to himself. Since when did he think Hermione Granger had a cute nose?
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "Library Blaise. A place to read books and study-"
"I know what a Library is," Blaise was exasperated with her.
"Of course you do," Hermione looked down at her watch and Blaise stared at her. Her eyes were browner then he'd thought, with a hint of blue around the pupil – he shook his head to clear it of her. "Well, I managed to get a bit ahead in my homework on the weekend and I want to take this opportunity to finish our Arithmacy project tonight so we can start on these new projects you just earned us," another glare. "Meet me in the library at my spot at seven sharp."
She didn't even wait for a reply, just stalked off leaving Blaise alone and bewildered.
What had he gotten himself into with this girl?