Author's Note: I hope this chapter doesn't seem too rushed. I hate it when my writing feels that way... Anyway, thank you for the reviews, and here's the sixth chapter. It didn't come as fast as the others, but it's here and I hope you enjoy. Also, there's a poll on my profile that will remain open until 'Take My Hand' is finished. I have some ideas and would like to know which ship to write for next. But, rest assured. 'Take My Hand' is not even nearly done. There are many chapters planned for this story, and a plot I hope you will all love.

Chapter 6

August 29th, 1996

Really, now. It wasn't exactly a surprise for Hermione to find herself in a secluded part of the library. Theo and Pansy were busy, and she never hung around Blaise unless those two were around. So, sitting herself down to read one of Pansy's highly recommended romance novels came easily. Although, almost every other chapter left her blushing and squirming uncomfortably in her seat, she was grateful when she heard the sound of someone approaching. Her shoulders tensed a little when she saw Blaise Zabini taking a seat opposite her. The book came to rest in her lap, page saved, and her hands laying on top of one another as she looked to him inquiringly.

"Pansy's birthday is tomorrow," he said through a forced gush of air, and his brown eyes finally looked to her, he almost seemed anxious. "I was thinking of throwing her a birthday party. I wanted it to be a surprise. Could you help me?"

Her brow slowly quirked as she considered his words. She knew of Pansy's birthday, they'd only discussed it the day before, and she knew the other girl didn't want anything big. "I suppose," she told him. "But, I don't think we should go all out..."

"Oh, I know," Blaise nodded, as he shifted into a more comfortable position. "I just thought maybe some streamers hung around the Slytherin common room. Maybe a cake, some presents... With just the five of us. I mean, who else would I ask to the celebration? Snape? McGonagall? Dumbledore?" He laughed and shook his head.

Her lips quirked into an small, amused smile and she agreed to his ideas with a tilt of her head. "That sounds nice, Blaise," she told him. After having heard Theo's story she saw past her prejudices again both Blaise and Malfoy, although the latter still got on her nerves. The bloody ferret...

"Yeah?" the look of excitement on his face, warmed her heart. He really did care for Pansy and she wished she had someone like him in her life. Someone that wanted to surprise her, love her, care for her, and take away all of her inner pain.

"Yeah," Hermione nodded, her expression more soft, as the tension slowly eased from her shoulders. But, she still had to give the boy the talk. "I see how you look at her. You care deeply for her. You better keep up your treatment of her because if you ever hurt her, emotionally or physically, I will castrate you," she said in the calmest voice, it made her words sound scary even to her ears.

Blaise's eyes widened slowly, making his aristocratic face seem commonly. He then laughed, albeit a bit nervously. "You're fucking scary, Granger," he breathed out, shaking his head at her while his face grew sober. "But, I'm glad you're around," he added, the quiet once again ensuing.

It was moment before Blaise spoke again, and Hermione watched his hands twitching nervously. "I would never hurt her. I could never... My mother went from man to man. I'm not going to pass Pansy aside once school starts and go from woman to woman, I promise that."

She noticed how both his tone as his face held a immense amount of determination and love. And once again she was envious. Pansy and Blaise were lucky to have one another, even if they were just at the beginning stages of their relationship.

Minutes ticked by, and Hermione began to wonder about Blaise and his mother. "Theo told me about what you all went through," she said, not sure she should bring this up now, but when could she again? "It was your mother who..."

"Yes," he said, frowning suddenly with a curt not. His eyes bore into her own and she tensed once again. At this he eased up his harsh look. "I'm sorry, it's a hard situation," he shifted uncomfortably at the change of topic. "Though I was lucky, Pansy too. My mother is only a fan of him. Pansy's father always is one to please as is her whoring mother," he said, rolling his eyes, while Hermione felt nothing but disgust. "I'm just glad Snape got her out of her situation before her mother could offer her up to the Dark Lord," he hissed.

"I'm so sorry for you all."

"Don't be, Granger," he shook his head and got to his feet. "Just be glad it wasn't you," he said, before pausing and looking to her, remembering seeing her at the beginning of August. And his look only caused her to remember, as well. She closed her eyes and shook away the feel of his touch, his breath on her neck, the feel of blood coating her skin. The pain, god the pain...

When she opened her eyes, he was so close and she couldn't help her body tensing in reaction. She looked up to his face, flinching when his hand reached forward. But, instead of a smack to her face, like her mind had sadly first thought of, she felt his thumb wiping away a stray tear.

"You don't have to fear me, I'd never hurt my friends."

/-/-/-/

Draco had worried about the Granger girl, but as days went along, he started growing angry at her. His friends, his family... It felt like she was taking them from him and he couldn't stand it. His mother was gone, and they were all he had left. Why couldn't she just leave them alone and wait for Potter and Weasley to get back? And better yet, why was Theo all of a sudden opening up to the bushy haired girl, huh? Telling her what they'd been through? If anyone was to tell her, it should have been him.

Then again... They weren't exactly on good terms. She seemed to tolerate him when he was around with the others, but when they'd bump into each other, he saw that inner fire surge forth each time his mouth opened. And truth be told, he purposely said those things to rile her up just so he could witness the lioness threatening to get out.

Sitting down in the leather chair in the common room after lunch with a book in his hand, he idly flipped through the pages. Wondering where the others were, and why they weren't hanging around in the dungeons like usual. Was it Granger, again? He didn't need an answer for that when all three of them walked through the portrait. There voices excited and happy and his lips slowly curved. He truly loved the sound.

But, it was when he heard her name – Hermione – That he blew his gasket and said the worst thing imaginable. "What's this then? All three of you are jumping for joy at a shot to get in the Mudblood's pants?" even as the words passed his lips, he knew he was in for it. He hated himself in that moment. How could he use that vile word, that name which always caused the girl to look so crestfallen? He could imagine how she'd look if she were in the room. God, why? Why do I have to be such a bloody ponce!

He didn't think he'd ever seen Theo move so fast. One moment he was across the room, the next he was all the way to Draco, a hand fisted in his shirt, and his fist coming down on his face. Draco didn't have time to react, hell, he didn't even see the point to defend himself. He deserved this. He deserved the bloody lip, the crack that signaled his nose was now broken, he deserved this pain for all the pain he'd caused her over the years. Maybe he hadn't been in control, but it was his mouth, his voice, but his damn father's words...

Then it stopped.

It took a moment for Draco to regain his focus, and he moaned quietly when his fingers brushed over his throbbing nose. He opened one eye to see Blaise trying to calm Theo down, and Pansy glaring at him with her hands on her hips.

"How dare you, Draco Malfoy," she spat at him. "Your mother would be ashamed," she said through her gritted teeth, trying to hold back on a harsher scolding that he wished she'd let loose. But those words hurt worse then Theo's punches. His mother would be ashamed. Hell, she was probably rolling in her grave. He looked down at his hands, seeing a few drops of blood on his palms.

Standing, he silently made his way up to his room to stop the bleeding.

/-/-/-/

It was just before dinner, Hermione laid out on the grass with a notebook in her lap and a quill in hand. She had been in Gryffindor tower, moving onto a defense book rather than that gruesome romance novel, when the Fat Lady appeared in a portrait and informed her of the three Slytherin's out in the hall. Theo had been so mad, with Blaise fuming, and Pansy irked. She invited them in, but the angry atmosphere only seemed to grow, so she had mentioned perhaps going out to the lake. To which, they all agreed.

So, now she sat, writing up the things they would need tomorrow for Pansy's birthday, while the others took out their frustrations splashing each other in the water. They asked her to join, and Theo even begged her with his puppy-dog eyes, but she refused and told him maybe some other time.

She only noticed the presence of the other boy when his foot shifted against the grass beneath his feet and she looked over to see Malfoy standing not so far away from her. She frowned when she saw his face. His lip split and swollen, his nose looking like he'd had a bad match in Quidditch.

She stared at him, while he watched his friend. She noticed how sad he seemed, and she had the urge to wrap her arms around him and tell him everything was okay. Gladly, she stayed put.

"What happened to your face?"

He didn't answer right away, so Hermione looked back out towards the lake.

"Theo decided I would be good target practice for his fists," came the silky smooth reply.

"Theo?" Hermione snapped her attention back to the blond with an incredulous expression. She couldn't believe it, was he so broken, he took it out with violence?

"Don't worry. He was defending you."

It didn't take long for Hermione's face to grow accusing. "Just what was he defending me from?"

Again silence strangled the air around them, and before Hermione could sigh with frustration, he spoke. "Me," he said returning her gaze.

Once again, she was spellbound by his gray orbs. So beautiful, so mysterious. Is that specks of blue? She wondered, tilting her head curiously. He didn't chuckle, he didn't smirk, he just stared back, while her heart did the tango in the cavity of her chest. Did he feel this way too? Or was she the only one with these forbidden feelings? God, she wished she could wish them away! He was a git and horribly mean an crude. Even though she knew the past years weren't his fault, he was still incredibly callous.

"I just don't want you taking them from me."

She was broken out of her haze with those words, unsure if she heard correctly. "I'm not taking anything from you," she told him, frowning.

"But, you are, Granger," he said, his voice so soft, so unbelievably sensual without meaning to be. "You are. You are taking what family I have left..." and he turned and walked away. Just like that. Nothing else said, he was gone.

/-/-/-/

It was when dinner strolled along, that Hermione noticed. Her spot at the table wasn't only just hers and Pansy's anymore. No, Blaise and Theo were all sitting with her as well. Malfoy sat farther down, with his head bent and pushing his turkey into his mashed potatoes. It was true. She had taken his friend. No, his family. They'd easily traded him for her and Hermione couldn't help feeling guilty. Even if they were mad at Malfoy, even if he had insulted her in front of them...

Slowly Hermione stood up and grabbed her plate. Three sets of eyes all locked onto her curiously. She nodded her head towards Malfoy, before she started to walk sown the aisle. Her face the expressionless mask it was when things weren't interesting. She sat her plate down and then took her seat across from him. He looked at her inquiringly, before he glanced around him to see Blaise, Pansy, and Theo all joining her to his side of the table. When his gaze connected with her once again, he saw the gentle quirk of her lips, and he returned it.