Hello! I can't believe how long it's been, if you've all abandoned this fic it's entirely understandable. I'd completely forgotten about it, but I had a free afternoon and some inspiration so this is the result. A thousand apologies!

"What's wrong?" Blaise replaced a strand of Ginny's hair behind her ear, his face filled with concern.

"It's Hermione." She sighed, turning in his arms.

They had the Common Room to themselves, and were curled in the largest chair. The remains of an impromptu snack littered the table in front of them, and abandoned homework lay desolately amidst chocolate frog wrappers, and remnants of éclair.

"I know, I'm not happy about her and Malfoy either. But she's a big girl Gin; she can take care of herself."

"Don't call me Gin."

"It's sweet."

"It's irritating."

Blaise nuzzled into her neck, moving his lips closer to her ear.

"Sorry," He breathed, smiling. She ignored him.

"I can't think why she doesn't see what a scumbag he is."

"That's love for you. Side effects include selective sight and a sudden liking for poetry."

"Can't you take this seriously? She's in real trouble here."

Smile fading Blaise stood, gently extricating himself from behind Ginny and stretching.

"Where are you going?" She sounded baffled, annoyed at losing her favourite cushion.

"Much as I adore listening to you snap at everything I say, I have work to do."

He climbed out of the porthole without a backwards glance. Ginny slumped back in the chair. She knew she'd been tetchy lately, but she couldn't help it. Everywhere she went Draco was there, smiling at her over her best friend's head or loudly musing where they would go on their next date. Even in the dormitory there was no escape, Hermione was constantly reading one of the Slytherin's love letters. She kept each one in a box under her bed, and all the while Ginny longed to grab her by the arms and tell her that Malfoy was using her. Blaise's attitude didn't help. He refused to see the problem, insisting that whatever his friend's many faults, he wasn't evil. Of course, Blaise didn't know the whole story, but Ginny wasn't about to confess that Draco was actually pursuing her. It was a mess, one that she couldn't find a solution too.

She put her head in her arms and sighed. She'd already lost her best friend. Was she driving Blaise away too?

Blaise stalked down the corridor, angry with Ginny for being so prickly, angry with Malfoy for causing the problem, angry with himself for not staying. He stopped, on the point of turning back, before swearing and continuing towards his own common room. It too was practically empty, save for a couple of first year's playing cards in front of the fire. He stormed up the stairs to the dorm, throwing himself on his bed and staring testily at the ceiling.

"Problem?"

"Bloody- You scared the life out of me."

Draco grinned, returning to his book.

"So sorry."

"Could you try and sound any more insincere? I almost believed there was a scrap of genuine feeling for a moment." Blaise scrutinised the languid figure. "Are you reading?"

"Apparently so."

"I didn't know you could."

"Hahaha. Oh dear, there go my sides."

"What's the book?"

"Collection of Shakespeare's sonnets."

There was a pause.

"You're reading a muggle's work?"

"It's good."

"I think the world is ending."

"Look, Hermione likes him. So, I'm being a dutiful boyfriend and trying to like him as well."

"Yeah, listen, I need to talk to you about Hermione."

"Oh?" Malfoy looked over his book, eyebrows raised.

"Why? You don't do relationships. You utilise a room in the astrology tower and move on to the next girl."

"Well I've changed. That's not a crime is it?"

"Not that I'm aware, just highly unlikely. Come on Draco, you can tell me."

This was received with a snort of derisive laughter.

"Blaise, of all the people I could tell, you are the very last." His face appeared again, looking at his friend with sly malice. "Why not ask Ginny? She knows a good deal more about everything than she's letting on, you know."

R and R : )