"So, I was wondering, how did you meet Jacqueline?" Hermione asked Blaise as she finally captured his king. "Checkmate," she added, smiling.
They were sitting in the chateau's library. Jacqueline was upstairs, sick again with strep throat apparently. Hermione couldn't understand why the girl didn't keep more potions on hand, and since she didn't have the proper herbs, Hermione couldn't even assist her in brewing medicine. She spent more time with Blaise than his own fiancée did. Not that she minded spending more time with Blaise, but it was becoming a habit. She didn't wish anything ill on Jacqueline, but she also didn't mind enjoying the benefits of the girl being away.
Blaise had suggested a friendly game of chess after he had found her curled in one of the library's big squishy chairs, reading Jane Eyre. It was raining pretty heavily outside, and instead of a walk or a horse ride, they sat at a small table. A crackling fire took the small bit of chill out of the air, and added a touch of ambiance to the rather austere room.
Blaise looked away from the board, meeting her brown eyes. "Um, Well," he said, stalling a bit, wondering how much to tell her. "My mother introduced us," he finally said, "Bernard and Ophelia are former business acquaintances." He didn't add that that Bernard had actually been a business acquaintance of Ophelia's, first husband's cousin, and that he was actually under the impression that Ophelia was a decent sort.
"You call your mum Ophelia?" Hermione asked raising a brow.
He shrugged, raising his glass of water to his mouth. "Ophelia isn't your run of the mill mum."
There is more to that story, Hermione thought before saying, "Well, that's only part of what I want to know. When did you fall in love?"
Blaise sputtered on the drink of water he had just taken. Coughing a little, he answered with a hoarse voice, "We just had similar interests I suppose. It just seemed like the thing to do." It bothered him a bit that he didn't feel ready to tell her the whole story. They had become rather close. He fancied that they were friends, at least as friendly as you could get while engaged to one witch, but wanting to shag another. The problem, besides the engagement and blackmail, was that he found that he wanted more than friendship with Hermione. More than just a shag. He actually cared about her. A month ago the thought would have had him running for the hills, but surprisingly he was actually okay with the feeling. Even if he didn't want to place the correct name on it.
Hermione was disappointed in his answer. Oh, she didn't want him to say that he was in love with Jacqueline, or even that he was in serious lust with the girl, but she did wonder at why he wanted to get married so young.
Hermione was Muggle-born after all, and despite her many years living within the wizarding world, she still found it odd when people married right out of Hogwarts. It was equal to being married right after secondary school, a thought that she had never entertained for herself. Even when she had been with Ron, she hadn't contemplated marriage happening until she was at least twenty-three, and now she didn't know if it would ever happen. There wasn't much to be said about being in love with a man already engaged to another woman.
"I'm sorry, it's not really my business. I just wondered," she said. And she really did wonder. Jacqueline wasn't a really a reliable source, even when discussing her own engagement. It was almost like she was playing a part. Hermione couldn't probe her for any answers about Blaise for long before she changed the subject, yammering on about a wedding detail or some other nonsense. The girl was terribly vague about what she did say, or perhaps embarrassed that she didn't know much about Blaise.
The atmosphere in the library had gotten a bit awkward. Standing up, Hermione said, "Do you feel like a snack? We still have about three hours until dinner."
Blaise stood, stretching a bit. "I wouldn't mind one. What do you feel like?"
"Puppy Chow," Hermione said with a grin.
Blaise looked disgusted. "You want the house-elves to feed us dog food?!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, I don't want the house-elves to feed us dog food. I don't want them to feed us anything. We are going to make it ourselves, and Puppy Chow is not dog food. You'll like it, I promise," she said grabbing his hand and pulling him from the room.
Apparating to her cottage with Blaise in tow, she went to the cupboard. Pulling out a box of Chex, a jar of peanut butter, and some confectioner's sugar, she sat them on the small kitchen island. Turning to her fridge she grabbed a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
From the other side of the island, Blaise eyed both the ingredients and her with suspicion. "I'm not sure about this, Hermione."
She laughed a bit. "Just trust me. Or are only Gryffindor's blessed with courage?" She asked saucily.
Well, that stung a bit, Blaise thought. She had neatly insulted both his manhood and his house in one fell swoop.
It was not to be borne. Deciding to put her in her place, he decided to do more than watch, he would help. "How can I help?" he asked, chuckling a bit at her look of shock.
"Um, well I guess you can get the zip lock bag ready for me," she said looking at him with one brow raised.
"Zip lock?"
"Oh, yeah. You wouldn't know what that is. Look in the cupboard. It's a box labeled Zip lock."
He walked to the cupboard and removed the blue box. Freezer bag? Pulling one of the clear bags out, he pried the top loose and pinched it back together. Hmm, nice, he thought, walking back to Hermione and placing the bag on the island.
"Oh, can you reach up and grab a saucepan for me? I hate that the pot rack is so high in here, and you are so tall that I can maintain my dignity by not standing on a chair," she said with a giggle.
He easily reached for the pot, setting it on the counter beside the zip lock bag.
"So, how is this made?"
Hermione emptied the chocolate chips and spooned peanut butter into the pan. She didn't measure, she just eyeballed it. In potions she was strict about her measurements, but while cooking Hermione preferred a laid back approach.
"Basically, you just melt chocolate and peanut butter together," she said adding the pot to the stove over low heat. "When it's melted, you stir in the cereal. Can you put some powdered sugar in the zip lock?"
Opening the box of sugar, he poured a good amount into the bag. "So, I assume that the sugar is so your hands don't get sticky?" he asked.
"Pretty much, even though when you taste how good these are you won't mind if they are a little messy," she said, smiling.
When the peanut butter and chocolate mixture was completely melted together she added the cereal, stirring to coat the little squares. When she was satisfied that they were coated, using a large spoon she added the cereal to the zip lock bag.
"I'll let you shake them. Just make sure that the bag is all the way-" He was already vigorously shaking the bag, and when a blast of powdered sugar hit his face Hermione valiantly tried to restrain her laughter, but the look of slack-mouthed shock on his face was too much. The giggles spurted past her lips. Slapping a hand against her mouth, she tried to muffle the peals of laughter to no avail.
"Here," she said still giggling, and reached out to pinch the bag completely closed.
Blaise tried to look menacing, but seeing his reflection in one of the hanging pots, he surrendered to laughter as well, his rich chuckle filling the room.
After he finished shaking the cereal, Hermione ran a dishtowel under warm water. Reaching toward his face, she gently wiped away the sugar. Their eyes connected, the tips of her fingers touching his clean shaven face.
Hermione cleared her throat and stepped away from him, trying to clear away the faint scent of the sandalwood cologne he wore. The smell that she remembered so well. She wanted to rise to her tip toes and bury her face in his neck and smell the scent against warm skin, and to kiss his strong jawline.
"I'm afraid that there isn't anything to be done for your shirt," she said, her voice a bit husky. The sugar had done a number on his black shirt, spotting it with white all over. "Unless you take it off, and let me wash it."
Blaise's eyes darkened a bit. He contemplated taking off the shirt, but he didn't think his control could withstand it. "Um, I think it will be okay."
Slightly disappointed, Hermione said, "Well, the puppy chow is done. Come sit on the couch."
Moving to the couch, she opened the bag and reached in, pulling out one sugar coated square. She pushed it toward Blaise's mouth.
Slightly hesitant, he leaned his head back dodging the morsel.
"Come on, just try it," she said.
He opened his mouth to protest, and she took the opportunity to shove the bite into his mouth.
Chewing, his eyes widened. "Hermione, these are brilliant!" He reached into the bag, grabbing a handful he shoved them into his mouth.
Hermione decided not to tell him that his mouth was covered in sugar. It was actually kind of cute, and was a delightful contrast to his usual perfectly groomed look. "I told you. From this point on, you should always trust me in any and all culinary adventures," she quipped, not realizing that she had implied that there would be more 'adventures'.
He only nodded in agreement, reaching into the bag once more. "I don't get it though. Why are they called Puppy Chow?"
Hermione reached into the bag. She thought that she had better get some before he polished off the entire bag. Crunching on the cereal, she said, "I actually don't know. When I was in primary school I had an American teacher. Year Two. Her name was Ms. James. She made them once for the entire class. I think she said she learned it in Girl Scouts." At his inquiring look she added, "Girl Scouts are a Muggle organization for girls. A way to meet friends and learn skills. I don't know a lot about them as I never was one."
"Hmm, well these are really good, despite the disgusting name," he said smiling. "Muggles do come up with interesting things."
"I'm surprised that you think so. That isn't a notion that you hear from many purebloods," she said looking at him.
He grimaced. "I don't hate Muggles or Muggle-borns, Hermione. Look, I know that I wasn't the nicest bloke in school, but I'm not that person anymore. Life, and well, circumstances have changed me."
"So, are you ever going to tell me about the mysterious business ventures that you leave for, staying away for days on end?" Hermione asked changing the subject. She was beyond curious about his 'business'.
"Well, I like to maintain a bit of intrigue. Otherwise, people lose interest. Then my entire reputation goes to pot. We can't have that can we?" he quipped.
Hermione recognized an evasion when she heard it. Sighing, she decided not to probe. "Well, I could use a drink. How about you?"
"Yes. What do you have?"
Looking in the refrigerator she called back, "I have milk, spring water, apple and orange juice, and cola."
"I think I'll have water, I've had enough sweet for a while."
"Really, Mr. Caramel? I'm shocked," she said looking back at him with a grin.
He chuckled.
Returning with two cold glasses of water she handed one to him.
He took a sip then asked, "Well since you have asked me question after question, maybe I can ask a few?"
Settling back into the cushion she said warily, "Okay, but I reserve the right not to answer. "
"Fair enough. So, why are you here? I would have thought that you would be at Uni, or living it up in London or something. Surely spending time with Potter and Weasley?"
"Um, well I just felt like a change. I don't know, honestly, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and bogged down by school. It was difficult decision, but I had decided that I was going to take a break when Headmistress McGonagall contacted me. She is friends with Bernard. She thought of me, since I speak a few different languages, and honestly, I needed the change." she evaded. Not like I could just tell him that sleeping with him turned my mind into goo, she thought.
He tilted his head in contemplation. In Italian, he asked her how many languages she spoke.
In perfectly pronounced Italian she replied that she spoke French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, and of course, Italian.
Blaise was impressed. "Well, I'm glad that you decided to come here. You have given me a much needed break from boredom." Realizing what he had just admitted he hastily added, "Not that Jacqueline is boring. The girl is just sick all the time," he ended lamely. It wasn't sporting to publicly admit that one found one's fiancée a bore. He felt bad. Jacqueline was just so young. Even though they were of a similar age, it seemed like there was a gulf between them. A gulf labeled experience. Not to mention that Jacqueline wasn't the brightest girl ever.
Hermione only hummed a bit in thought. "So, that's all you have to ask me? I would have thought that you had more questions."
He reclined a bit against the couch. "Oh, I do. So, are you still with Weasley? Last I heard you two were still joined at the hip. Not that my gossip is very up to date." Draco, his usual informant on all things Golden Trio, had actually found more to do with his life, like being wound around Astoria Greengrass's little finger.
Hermione looked uncomfortable for a minute. "No, Ron and I aren't together anymore. He is actually with Lavender Brown. They seem very happy."
Blaise's face scrunched a bit in irritation at himself. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."
"Its fine," she assured him. Rallying, she tilted her head a bit and smiled. "Why so interested, Mr. Zabini?"
He actually blushed a bit. "Um...Well. I'm not...I was just curious."
"Okay," she said. Still smiling, she reached for her glass and sipped a bit of water.
Blaise was suddenly nervous, which was completely odd for him. Standing quickly, he sat down his glass. "Well, I think I should head back. Thanks for the Puppy Chow. I enjoyed it."
Hermione frowned. "Okay, well I guess I'll see you tomorrow," she said walking him to the door, where he promptly Apparated, without a goodbye.
She opened the door. Looking out at the driving sheets of rain, she sighed. "It doesn't look like it's going to let up. Oh, well. I need to call Ginny with a very overdue apology," she said out loud, breaking the relative quiet of the room. Talking to herself had never been a habit that she was able to break.
Just as she was about to close the door, she noticed a hooded figure sprinting toward the veterinary clinic. It looked suspiciously like Jacqueline's forest green rain coat. Now what was she doing out in the rain with strep throat, Hermione thought; and to the clinic of all places.
Being curious in nature, Hermione reached for her own blue raincoat, pulling it from the coat hook near the door.
I guess I'm going to find out, she thought to herself, and stepped out into the rain.