Chapter 21: Hogsmeade
It had been a month since Hermione's run in with Ron, now it was December and Hermione was tense. Hermione had told her little secret and it came down to the fact that the entire Gryffindor house was divided because of it, mostly the fifth years but it did effect the whole house; some didn't know what to say, some sided with her and some sided with Ron. It got to the point that she didn't want anyone to get in trouble because of her, those that were on the fence and sided with Hermione, were told to just go along with it; she didn't want a fight over her. Enough people had come up to her since and told her that they would always be there for her, even if Ron was being a prick, but they couldn't take the interhouse rivalry, it was a sure way to lose the house cup, and she respected that. The other houses had pretty much done the same thing; Hufflepuffs were divided on which side had the most logic and reason to their argument, Ravenclaw attempted to stay out of the fight as much as possible, and Slytherin was divided on the loyalties of the Malfoy family. However now she had other things on her mind, like what to get everyone for Christmas.
Since the incident in the Great Hall with Ron, Hermione had taken to studying in the Library with Harry, Ginny, Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle. It was nice, they knew that while they were studying, it was best to leave Hermione to get hers done first before asking her a question. At meals she sat with the twins, Harry and Ginny. Classes went normal enough; Harry and Hermione had decided that they would sit together during Classes so as to avoid any arguments. During her free time, Hermione spent a lot of time with her brother in Slytherin or out by the lake. A few times they ran into Umbridge and Draco easily lied for the both of them, it was great.
Hermione had also decided that with the Dark Lord's return, the student's needed to learn how to defend them and her and Harry created Dumbledore's Army. Members included all of the Gryffindor Quiddich team, Luna Lovegood, Ginny, Fred, George, Dean, Neville, Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle and a few of the older Gryffindores that had decided early on to support Hermione. They had learned numerous defenses and fighting spells and up until the last meeting, they had discussed learning the partronous charm. Harry had decided to save that for after the holiday but agreed none the less to help them master the spell. Of course, it wasn't that simple, they had been practicing in the room of requirement at least once a week, and Umbridge was getting suspicious, so she started the High Inquisitor Extra Credit program which Ron, Seamas and a few other students had taken to signing up for. They had tried to bust the group numerous times but failed, Umbridge wasn't happy.
Now the group did their best to maintain a low profile by not hanging out in excessively large groups, so when traveling to Hogsmeade, Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Hermione, Ginny and Harry went together because Crabbe and Goyle both didn't want to go. The girls went one way while the boys went the other to pick out the other groups gift and then Draco and Hermione would go get stuff for the others while they went and looked for the siblings. Soon they all met up for lunch and ate and talked about everything, what they were most excited for when they went home, the OWLs the current events, the works. Hermione couldn't lie, she was content with her life, happy even, that was not something she expected. When the day was done, they followed Professor McGonagall back toward the castle and quickly put away all of their things before hitting the library. That's where they stayed until dinner.
After dinner, Blaise got up the courage to ask Hermione to go on a walk.
"Sure."
They grabbed their cloaks and headed off toward the lake, "Hermione, how are you."
"I'm good; actually, I'm better than good. I know who my real friends are, I am enjoying school, I'm going to have a big Christmas and I am Happy."
"I think that's all we could ever ask for."
"Yeah, what about you, how are you doing?"
"I'm alright."
"Just alright?"
"Yeah, well actually I have a delema."
"Care to share?"
"Sure, well there's this girl that I really like but I am afraid that she won't go out with me."
"Have you talked to her?"
"Yeah."
"Well you won't know until you try."
"Yeah I suppose your right."
"So are you coming to the house for Christmas?"
"Yeah, are you going to Grimwald Place?"
"Yeah for the day anyway, I don't know if I would feel alright staying the night just yet. Ronald has been better but I can still feel the hate radiating off of him when he looks at me."
"That's probably true."
"So are you going to tell me who this girl is?"
"No, it's a secret, I don't know if her family would approve yet."
"Oh, well will I be the first to know?"
"I bet we could make an arrangement."
"Good," Hermione smiled at the boy that had become her friend. He hadn't filled the hole that Ron had left but he was easy to talk to and he made her smile, that was what she needed right now.
They wrapped up their conversations just in time for the cold to hit so they headed back up to the castle. Blaise walked Hermione to the Tower before escorting himself down to the dungeons, once there he sought out Draco. He found him in their room curled up with a book.
"Hey mate, can I talk to you about something?"
"Shoot."
"It's about Hermione." Draco sat up straighter and put down his book signaling that his best friend had his full attention. "Draco…."
"Mate, you want to go out with her don't you?"
"Yeah, how'd you guess?"
"You stare."
"I do not."
"Do too!"
"Ok fine I stare, so you're cool with it?"
"Yeah, of course. Just know that if you break her heart, I will break your face, and every other bone in your body."
"Got it, Draco, thank you."
"Yep, so when are you going to ask her?"
"Tomorrow."
"Good plan."
"I thought so."
Blaise had met Hermione in the library around ten, he was nervous, what if she said no? What if she said yes, then what? Oh hell, he had already come this far, why back out now? He and Hermione walked to a secluded table in the corner where it was quiet. After a fifteen minute study session he broke the ice.
"Hermione?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Umm… well… will you be my girlfriend?"
"Blaise, I don't…. I don't know. Don't you think that that will be awkward?"
"Why would that be awkward?"
"Well I don't know, I mean, your Father is my godfather, you are my god-brother, that would just be, I don't know strange." Seeing the look on his face, Hermione felt inclined to defend herself. "It's not that I don't like you Blaise, I do, it's just that well, and I don't want us entering anything you know? I love talking to you and hanging out with you and I don't want anything to ruin that."
"Yeah sure I understand."
"Blaise, are you ok? Are we ok?"
"Me, I don't know, I suppose that I am just a bit shocked, I really like you but I never thought what that might look like in the eyes of an outsider. As for us, yeah we are ok, no we are better than ok, we are great!"
"Good."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Making this awkward."
"Don't worry Blaise, you'll find other things to make our relationship awkward and this will all seem ridiculous in comparison." Hermione joked.
Blaise thought about this for a moment, "yeah probably," he said nodding his head, he looked at Hermione and they both laughed before returning to their books.