Disclaimer: I own nothing Harry Potter related

Chapter Four - New and Rekindled Love

For days now, Ron had been sitting around at Harry's place. He did nothing all day and followed that up with nothing all night except sleep. The break up was taking its toll on him and Harry was not blind to the effect that it was having on the already negative aura of the small cottage. Lavender was refusing to speak to him, and Ron would only stare blankly at the wall if you sat beside him and opened your mouth. Though Harry was a cynical man, this was too much for even him, at least when he never spoke to Lavender he could visit Ron, now he had him sitting, depressed on his couch. He never changed his clothes and he had the beginnings of what could become a full length beard. Between the depressed friend and the angry wife, Harry was feeling like the normal one in the home for once, but he knew that it couldn't go on. The first person that came to mind was Hermione. She could fix any problems and would be able to talk Ron into getting off the couch and getting back into life, but then he remembered that she was the reason they broke up. He doubted she cared whether he was depressed or not. Then he thought of telling the family, but he knew Ron didn't want them to know that the best thing that had ever happened to him had realised she could do so much better and had thrown him away like he deserved. Then his thoughts flashed to Ginny. Her beautiful face and joyful smile floated through his mind and he was momentarily lost in his thoughts of her and her perfection.

"Harry?" Ron squeaked from the couch, "Harry?"

"What?" Harry snapped out of his thoughts.

"Drink?" Anyone may have thought he was offering to make a drink but Harry knew he was expecting Harry to go to the kitchen and get one for him. He avoided the kitchen because Lavender was always in there. Harry avoided it too, he only saw his girlfriend before she went to bed most nights.

"Get it yourself", Harry said aggressively, "I'm going to see someone". He left quickly to avoid any other questions.

He apparated straight to Ginny and Draco's home. He hadn't been here in at least 2 years. He had a grudge against Draco still and he preferred not to see the perfect life he had that should have been Harry's. Instinctively he knocked on the door, feeling that she would be home while Draco was at work. He was correct.

"Harry? What are you doing here?" Ginny's look was that of utter surprise, but she quickly smiled and hugged him, "It's been forever!"

Harry smiled properly for the first time in months, "I know, I'm terrible". Ginny moved aside and allowed Harry to enter the house.

"Draco's at work, if that's who you were here to see", he added, closing the door behind him and following him to the kitchen.

"No , I'm not here to see him, I'm here to see you", Harry sat down at their kitchen table, "So he does work late. I assumed he would with that big fancy job of his".

Ginny went slightly red, "He's home surprisingly a lot. I'm beginning to think he really isn't doing his job", she giggled.

Harry smiled widely when she smiled, it was a moment before she interrupted asking why he was there again, "Oh, well, your brother is not in a good place right now".

Ginny sighed, "Yeah, I spoke to Hermione and she said she hasn't heard from him, nor does she care. But she said that Lavender was complaining that he was staying with you. I haven't been over because, to be honest, I hate her".

"That makes two of us". Ginny did not respond to his comment. She knew he hated her but she didn't want to get into that now, after a moment Harry knew she would not answer, he continued, "Anyway, Ron's really depressed. I can't get him off the couch, he's fucken expecting me to run around after him".

Ginny smirked, "Sounds like someone else I know".

Harry took the comment in stride, "The point is, I worried he's not going to do anything about it and waste away his life on my couch".

Ginny considered what Harry said, "So you want me to come talk sense into him? Well Harry I'd try come talk to him but your crazy ass girlfriend wont let me near the place so I cant".

"Don't worry about her", Harry said. He was now aware that they were sitting very close. He could reach out and stroke her face , but he wouldn't, "I miss you coming over".

Ginny smiled graciously, "I know. Me too, but when you left the course, Lavender spzzed out and blamed me for you getting...." Ginny didn't want to finish that sentence.

"I don't hate the world because of you", Harry looked down, "I hate the world for what it did to me".

Ginny felt his pain, she knew he needed help as well but she could give it to him. She put a comforting arm around him and smiled, "You remember when you and I were on a team and Ron and Fred were on a team playing Quidditch and Ron feel of him broom right in mid air?"

Harry smiled, "Yeah, he made so many excuses but we all knew it was because he was watching that girl and he lost his balance".

Ginny laughed, "He can be such a moron sometimes".

Harry nodded, "Yeah", then there was a silence, finally ended by Harry, "How's work, anyway?"

"Ok I guess, there's not much going since you put the biggest guy out of business".

"I should have needed training to get that job", Harry scowled.

"Harry they knew how good you were, they just knew you needed to learn procedure. That never really was your strong point, and they knew that", Ginny explained, "Was that why you left after the first year?"

Harry frowned, that wasn't why he left, but she wasn't going to know otherwise, "Yeah, I guess".

Ginny rubbed his back, "You should have carried on, and we could have worked together at the ministry. Instead I'm partnered with Luna, the moron wonder".

Harry actually laughed, "Luna passed the training?"

"Of course she did, you Meany", she wacked him roughly, "But its frustrating working with her. We've had a number of poisonings at the ministry and of course Luna thinks it Voldemort, coming back from the grave. I don't even think it's intentional but they've got us searching for the culprit".

Harry nodded, "What sort of poisonings?"

"It's weird but it seems like its getting worse. It started with some mild cases but now there are some seriously sick people. No one has died or anything, it's just weird as the doctors don't know what it's doing to them. A couple of the earlier ones recovered but the last few are in pretty bad shape".

"And you don't think it's intentional?" Harry said cynically.

Ginny frowned, "No, I'm looking into the possibility that there may be some water of food contamination that is accidental".

"I doubt they would have given an Auror this job unless they strongly believed a dark wizard was behind it".

"Harry, who's the qualified Auror?"

Harry sighed, "You".

"Thank you". It was just the pair heard the front door open and close again, Draco was home, "Drake, we're in here".

"I'm going to go", Harry stood up quickly as Draco came into the room.

"Harry?" He hadn't seen his friend/foe in a long time.

"Hi Draco, I was just about to leave".

"Ok", he gave him a funny look but then turned to his girlfriend, "Hey babe", he kissed he passionately.

Seeing this, Harry rushed from the room to the front door. As he got to it he heard Ginny call his name but he exited without a goodbye and apparated on the spot.

---------------

"Is she going to come?" Ginny was holding her jacket tightly around herself to keep out the cold. She was with Parvati and Hermione outside a small pub in Godric's hollow waiting for the fourth member of their party to arrive. It was not snowing or raining but the wind was blowing hard and the air was very chilled.

"She told me she would", Hermione answered, also dressed wisely for the cold night air.

"I may as well have gone with Malfoy and the boys into London", Ginny complained, "Rather than waiting for the psycho".

"Ginny stop calling her that", Hermione replied.

"I don't care", came a quiet and eerie voice behind them.

"Holy shit!", Ginny yelled hearing the voice. She turned on the spot and came face to face with Lavender who had just appeared behind them.

"She didn't mean it Lavender", Parvati said quickly, pulling her friend out of the reach of Ginny.

"Of course not", Ginny said with fake politeness.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to clean up the mess that our house guest made of the kitchen", she glared at Ginny momentarily before Hermione added, "Well, I'm getting really thirsty", leading the other three girls inside.

During the first drink the topic of conversation was on Ron, how his life was going and how Hermione didn't care. She really did care but it was easier to forget and move on if she said she didn't. Lavender had nothing nice to say for Ron. A few times Hermione had to pinch Ginny to stop her from lashing out at the girl insulting her brother. It wasn't long however before Ginny finally had her say, pointing out that Harry had visited her to see if she would help get Ron back on his feet. After that Lavender kept her mouth shut about Ron.

Hermione told the girls about her life as a single woman again (she hadn't been one in four years nearly) and laughed at them for all being cooped up with partners. Parvati pointed out that she was happy as a near married woman.

As the night grew on Lavender began having less and less drinks than the rest of the girls until she finally decided to head home. Ginny had calculated that she had had less than 4 drinks over 3 hours while the rest were really getting into it. Ginny herself was on 8. Though Parvati was enjoying herself she decided she better leave as well otherwise Seamus would worry about her.

It had been barely two minute after Parvati and Lavender left when Draco, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle entered the pub. It was nearing midnight but the two remaining girls were prepared to party all night.

Draco had to laugh as soon as he walked in. He had expected them all to be sitting quietly, giggling and gossiping but what he found was nothing like he expected. Hermione was wearing a very tight black singlet with tight jeans and Ginny was wearing a short dress that was blue and a black belt. Both girls were standing together, dancing arm in arm in the centre of the dance floor. The muggle males who were also in there were watching them greedily. Seeing this, Draco marched up to his girlfriend, watching the men and gently rubbed his girlfriends back to get her attention.

"Baby!" she cried drunkenly, hugging him tightly, "Why are you here?"

"London got boring", he said quickly pulling her back to the table that held their bags. Hermione followed, not wanting to be left alone.

"Hey", Blaise said as Hermione came towards the table, "Haven't seen you in a long time", he held his arms out for a hug which Hermione happily gave with a slight blush.

"Yes, I've been rather busy", she said, attempting to maintain her cool exterior to some success.
"Yeah? What are you doing these days. Last I heard you were in Magical Law enforcement", Blaise asked.

Hermione nodded, "Still am", she took a huge gulp of her drink.

Crabbe and Goyle sat quietly in the corner, they had not forgotten the hatred they once had for these goody goodies. The viewed Malfoy as a traitor to the cause, though there was no longer a cause to be traitorous to.

"Looks like you guys were having fun", Draco said with a serious face but he was laughing inside.

Ginny spluttered into her drink, "Hey, we are allowed to have fun...", she poked her finger roughly into his chest, "Mr. Malfoy".

A huge grin cracked on Draco's face due to the fierce but adorable nature of his drunken girlfriend, "I didn't say you couldn't".

"Yes, you told me I have to be good.... I'm not good", Ginny said with a slur in her words, the point of the sentence lost in the laughter emitting from Draco and Blaise.

"Aw, Gin you are so adorable when your drunk", he patted her head gently and then kissed her forehead.

"I love you", she said seriously, "We can't be Hermione and Ron", tears welling up in her eyes as she hung onto Draco for support in sitting on her chair.

"We aren't going to be like Hermione and Ron, but babe, I don't think that Hermione likes you talking about her relationship with Ron like that", Draco turned to Hermione expecting her agreement on the subject but noticed she was in conversation with Blaise. Her body language said it all. She was leaning on the table, one hand playing with her hair. She was facing him and giggling at things that a normal person would have merely smiled at. Even with her intoxication she maintained her composure.

The night dragged on for Crabbe and Goyle who were not impressed with their companions, but after an hour they bade the others goodbye and left swiftly.

"They didn't look impressed", Blaise laughed once they were gone.

"Probabably... I mean pro-bab-ly because they hate us", Hermione struggled to say.

"Yeah", Malfoy agreed. Hermione turned her head towards him and Ginny but found them embracing one another.

"Great", she said sarcastically.

"Hey they're just having fun", Blaise leaned in closer to Hermione, "God your beautiful", he had a serious look of his face, "I never really noticed that before".

Hermione blushed, "Thank.... thank you".

Blaise raised his hand and brushed a lock of hair from her face, "You were too good for him".

Hermione felt her stomach drop, she didn't want to think about Ron. Without warning, she threw her arms around Blaise and kissed him passionately. He willingly returned the kiss. When they broke apart, he smiled widely, "And you're a good kisser". Again Hermione blushed.

"Hey guys, I better take Ginny home", Draco was standing, arms around his girlfriend to hold her up, "Are you guys going to stay".

Hermione looked at Blaise and returned the hopeful, questioning look. Finally Hermione answered, "Yeah, we'll stay for a little while longer". Though they didn't. Once they had watched Ginny and Draco disappear Hermione turned to Blaise, "Want to come back to my place?"

"Now?"

"Yeah".

With a big grin on his face, Blaise nodded eagerly and grasped her hand, leading her outside to apparate.

---------------

BANG BANG BANG. "Hermione open up! It's my house as well!" Blaise woke to the sound of a male voice yelling. He didn't quite register what they were saying or who they were but he was determined to make them turn the volume down. His head was throbbing and his mouth was dry. He looked to his left and saw the outline of a slender woman next to him, gentle breathing coming from under the sheet that covered her head. For a moment he was confused but then flashes of the night before came back to him. The kiss in the bar. Hermione dropping her keys at the door because she was so drunk. Himself kissing her passionately on the bed. There was nothing after that.

As he was wearing no pants he assumed he had slept with Hermione, but he couldn't remember. He searched for them for a moment and found them on the floor at the foot of the bed. Once he had managed to put his pants on and his head was less fuzzy, he was able to direct himself to the banging and yelling. The front door was in the downstairs section of the rather small two storey cottage but it was easy enough to find. However he was not expecting what he found on the other side of the door.

"Thank you, I-", Ron stopped mid sentence.

"Ron", Blaise said cheerful that he recognised the face outside the house, "Um, do you want to come in?"

Ron did not reply. He stared at the man in front of him. He was shirtless with loose jeans. His hair was going in every direction and his eyes were bloodshot. He looked terrible despite his cheerfulness.

"Ron?"

Again Ron did not reply, he just looked at Blaise. Anger rising inside him.

"Are you after Hermione?" Blaise waited for a reply but he didn't get one, "Ok.... um, I think I'll just go get her, she's still sleeping. We had a bit of a crazy night, last night", he turned to walk back upstairs leaving the door open for Ron to come in.

Upstairs, Blaise gently nudged Hermione to wake her up, "Hermione? Wake up". He was sitting on the edge of her bed.

After a moment of groaning and trying to remain covered, Hermione finally opened her eyes as a huge bang and the sound of shuttering glass emitted from the lower level. Something large had been smashed.

"What the fuck was that?" she sat up quickly.

"Ron", Blaise said.

Hermione looked at Blaise, her eyes widened and then a look of shock crossed her face, "Blaise? What happened last night? Why are you here?" Hermione suddenly became aware she was naked and pulled the sheet up to her chin.

"You invited me. But if I were you I'd me more concerned with the angry ex-boyfriend downstairs", another smashing sound.

"He saw you?" Hermione's eyes widened again.

"I went down and opened the door because I could hear some one yelling and banging. I didn't really know what I was doing", Blaise explained. He stood up from the bed, "I'll let you get changed and try calm him down".

"No!" Hermione said loudly, "Um, you just wait in the hallway. Don't go downstairs".

Blaise nodded and did as he was told. Hermione quickly put some rough clothes on and raced out of the room, leaving Blaise leaning against a wall in the hallway.

"Ron! What are you doing?!" she screeched as she ran down the stairs and into the kitchen where he had a large dinner plate in his hand, ready to throw at the wall.

"What are you doing?!" he yelled back angrily, releasing the plate, allowing it to smash loudly on the lino floor.

"Why did you do that?!" Hermione scanned the room. It appeared he had thrown close to six plates. There was now a large dent in the wall, "Where's your respect?"

"Where's your respect?!!" He yelled, "One week! One week and you're fucking that tosser!"

"Ron, it's not what it looks like! I don't even know what happened last night!"

"Aw that's so much better!"

"Ron, we broke up. It doesn't matter what I do", she said quietly. She then bent down and began to pick up the large pieces of the plates.

"It doesn't matter?" anger was plastered across his face. He was beetroot red.

"No, it doesn't!" she said strongly, "We are going our own separate ways".

"Separate ways? Hermione I don't even remember us breaking up!"

"That's because you were drunk you fucking asshole!" she yelled, standing and throwing the pieces she had just picked up back on the floor, "You didn't even notice how miserable I was being with you and then at Parvati's you made a fool of yourself, but not only that, you abused me and Lavender!"

Ron opened his mouth but couldn't think of anything to say, eventually he said, "I still deserved an explanation!"

"No you didn't! Now what the fuck do you want?" she stood strongly with her hands on her hips, her face slightly red and her hair a mess.

Ron looked at the ground, his anger subsiding, "I left some stuff here. I wanted it", he said now timid, "And I wanted to know what we were going to do with the house".

"I'll sell it and we can split the money", Hermione said quickly.

"OK".

"Go find your stuff and leave", said Hermione.

Ron passed by her quickly, he had nothing more he could say. He then began to climb the stairs. Once he was out of the room, Hermione waved her wand and the broken plates began to fly backwards for the direction they had smashed and rejoin as if they had never been broken.

Hermione sighed loudly and put her head in her hands. She hating being so cruel to him but she had to be otherwise he'd try and weasel his way back into the relationship.

After a few minutes he came down the stairs. He paused as if he wanted to say something but Hermione quickly said, "I'll send you an owl when I know what's happening with the house".

"Ok, thanks", Ron then walk straight out the front door that he had left open, closing it gently once outside.

Tears began to well up in Hermione's eyes, she leaning against the wall because she couldn't hold herself up. Then the sobbing came as she slid down the wall, quietly first then loud and painfully. Blaise had crept down the stair with the intentions of leaving Hermione in peace but his heart wouldn't allow him to leave the girl alone in such pain. We walked to the kitchen and sat besides her, leaning against the wall as well. He expected she'd tell him to leave or refuse the offer of a hug, but instead she buried her tear streaked face into his chest, allowing him to put his arms around her. She sobbed loudly into his hug.

After 10 minutes of sitting together on the cold ground, Hermione finally lifted her head from Blaise's chest, "I'm so sorry you had to be here for that. And I'm sorry I don't remember inviting you home. I must have been really drunk". She sighed.

Blaise smiled kindly. With a look of understanding he wiped away the tears that still remained on her cheeks, "That's ok. I'm used to being the rebound guy".

"Your not the rebound guy", Hermione said quickly.

"Yes, I am. Or I was last night, but that's fine", he was still smiling.

Hermione shook her head, "What a mess. I don't know why I cried".

"Because you love him".

"No I-".

"Yes you do. But I can see that you seriously don't want to be with him anymore. He was holding you back", Blaise still had one arm around Hermione. She noticed this and was comforted by it.

"I know", tears welled up again but she wiped the away. The sat silently for a moment then Hermione said, "So, um, I have never really done this".

"Broken up with anyone?" Blaise looked confused.

"No", Hermione didn't really know how to say it so she just pointed to herself then to Blaise, "This".

"Aw, one night stand", Blaise laughed, "That's cool. If your done with me, you just send me home", he joked.

Hermione giggled, "You don't have to go".

"Ok, I wont then", he lost the smile and Hermione knew he was serious.

They looked at each other for a long time before Blaise said, "I meant it last night when I said you were beautiful".

"You said I was beautiful?" she asked gently.

"Yeah, it's why you kissed me and invited me home", he smiled.

"I kissed you?" Hermione was shocked at herself.

"Yeah, so I guess it's my turn", he bend his head down to hers and kissed her gently on the lips. Hermione felt her body tingle as she returned the kiss fiercely.

The pair quickly began to rip each others clothes off. Hermione pulled away in order to take off her bra, "I'll be honest with you", she let her bra drop. Blaise could barely contain himself. He had never realised how large her breasts had become.

"Yeah?" He said breathlessly. She was straddling him, her eyes still red but a naughty grin was on her face.

"I've only ever been with Ron", she said.

Blasie grinned, "That's cool". He still had boxers on, but even through them he could feel her getting wet sitting on top of hard cock.

She smiled and pulled his face to hers, kissing him gently on the lips then parting her lips and french kissed him passionately.

Blaise couldnt help it anymore, he picked her up and gently pushed her down onto the floor, pulling down his boxers as he did it.

"Blaise", she moaned as he continued to kiss her.

"Are you ready?" he asked, pulling away to look at her.

She nodded shyly before pulling him back to her, his dick plunging deep into her.