Hermione sighed, turning this way and that in the mirror, smoothing down the dress Draco had gotten her. Almost everyone had been at the Burrow all day, attempting to build another one. She'd been filthy and had wanted to look like the lady Blaise claimed she was instead. Smiling at her reflection as it told her how beautiful she was, she headed for the Slytherins room where she knew Blaise and Draco had been twenty minutes ago. Ginny sat with them, talking quietly and catcalled as Hermione came in the door. The showers were still busy and she hadn't had her turn yet, so she stayed back. Hermione turned for them, feeling the soft fabrics sway.

"What do you think?"

"Beautiful." Blaise grinned. Draco pulled his lanky frame from the bed and bowed. Laughing, Hermione curtsied back.

"Let's make him jealous," Draco whispered, eyes twinkling, "shall we?" She took his hand and allowed him to spin her about. Ginny began to sing the Blue Danube by saying la la la. Blaise snorted, taking Hermione's hand and pulling her to him,

"I'm cutting in, Malfoy." He sneered, shooing Draco away with his hand, "Potter, get your dragon on a leash." Harry laughed in the door and bowed back to Draco before dancing with him. Ginny sang the entire time as they danced around. The ruckus soon attracted a nosy Zenobia and Harry's amused godfathers. Sirius skipped the bowing, pulling Remus into the dance before he could protest while Zenobia just disappeared.

"You're beautiful," Blaise whispered in Hermione's ear, "amazing. I adore you." She blushed, smiling up at him and Ginny stopped, standing,

"I am taking a shower now." And she sauntered out. Sirius tugged Remus toward the hall and the werewolf laughed, following. Then, Sirius was spinning him around there. Draco laughed and he and Harry went to get lunch.

"He's eccentric, but, I like him." Blaise grinned, pulling Hermione back into a slow waltz.

"Draco or Sirius?" she smiled.

"Both." Blaise said after careful consideration. She laughed again as he swept her back and up again, hands firmly going to her waist to lift her in a half spin before setting her down, "you do very well, mia." He complimented.

"Grazi."

"Blaise Zabini, you will cease this nonsense this instant." Zenobia had, apparently, gone to get Tilantha. Blaise did stop, turning to face them,

"Mama, the door is open. I do nothing uncouth."

"You know what I mean, Blaise." She said, leveling a glare at him. He looked down at Hermione, a dark look on his face, then at his mother and sister.

"Hermione, please, I wish you to join Harry and Draco. Mama and I need to chat." She nodded, gasping for air and fled from the room. Draco's head snapped up as she slammed into him, sobbing.

"Oh, Draco! Do you hate me?!"

"Ah, no." Draco frowned, holding her up, "Granger, what's happened?" As if on cue, Blaise's voice echoed down to them, shouting in Italian. It sounded angry and vulgar. "I see." He growled, "no, Granger, I do not hate you. Please, forgive me." She nodded, watching as Sirius and Remus slid in, eyes wide. Sirius scowled at the ceiling,

"that was vulgar."

"Yes." Draco nodded, looking up, "I do believe Blaise means to… ah. He is most displeased."

"What are they saying?" Ron asked.

"You don't want to know." Draco replied.

"I do." Hermione stressed, "Draco, tell me."

"I cannot. That would be a betrayal."

"I would like to apologize," Tilantha said coldly. Hermione jumped, startled and turned. She was sure she had closed the door. She sat down her dress and crossed her arms across her slip. Tilantha crossed hers as well, "clearly, Blaise cares deeply for you. He has never disobeyed me before."

"Yes, well," Hermione hissed, "Blaise is a gentleman."

"I thank you." she nodded, "he does very well. What are your intentions?"

"I have no idea!" Hermione growled, "I'm seventeen, I've only just discovered Blaise a few months ago. I do, however, adore him."

"I see." She smirked, nodding, "he has that affect on women as does his Gringotts account. Somehow, he does not see his beauty."

"He could be scarred about the face and poor, for all I care." Hermione snarled. "I don't know that you've noticed but I don't need his money. If I needed money it would be exceedingly easy to just ask one of my friends. I could get four thousand galleons from Sirius if I only asked. No strings attached. Blaise is mine and I am his and that is just how it is."

"I see." She glared, "I have apologized. You may have my approval when I see something to prove to me my approval is garnered. Ciao."

"Ciao."

"Ciao indeed." Blaise growled, most likely warned by someone. Tilantha stuck her nose up and swept off, ignoring him. He scowled and looked back to Hermione, curious, "what did she say to you?"

"She apologized and told me she would give me her approval when it was garnered." Hermione snorted, dropping her arms. Blaise grinned,

"She'll get over it, then." Then, he seemed to realize she was in a slip. He blinked owlishly, clearly looking, "I should go." He hissed with a sharp intake of breath.

"Are you alright?" she asked, clueless. "Did she say something terrible to you?"

"Mione, do not approach me. I will be fine."

"Blaise?" she continued her approach. He took a careful step back, eyes wide. He smiled, expression softening.

"Oh, Mia, you have no idea what you do." He purred, "you make it very difficult to remain a gentleman."

"Oh!" Hermione blushed and dodged for a pair of jeans, pulling them on as he left. She pulled off the slip and pulled on a shirt, hurrying after him as she tied her hair up. Blaise stood in his room, head against the window and looking out. "Blaise? I'm really sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for." He grinned. She nodded,

"We need to talk about this. Seriously talk. I have to tell you some things." He nodded, allowing her to lead him to the chair. He sat on his bed and she sat in the chair. She sat straight up, face firm and in lecture mode. Blaise groaned,

"Mia, tell me first that you are not leaving me."

"Don't be daft, Blaise." She snorted, "of course not. Now, we've already covered your… exploits, before. I do not mind, I really don't. In fact, I prefer it because you know what you're doing…" she paused, eyes searching his face, "but I don't. Blaise, I'm a virgin. Is… is… that a problem?" He sat up, looking highly interested,

"Bella, I assure you that your virginity is not a problem at all."

"You… like…it then?" He nodded,

"Si, mia, are you telling me I have that honor?" he quirked an eyebrow.

"I…" she blushed, "Let me finish then. See, I have no idea what I'm doing. I mean, I've read books and the girls at school have talked in front of me. I… I don't want to be terrible, you understand." She looked up under her eyelashes and he nodded, "that being said, I want to tell you a story…er, sort of."

"I am listening, mia."

"Muggles have… a cult sort of following of vampires. They're not your type of vampires at all. They usually have long hair and speak in foreign accents. They look just like you or me, completely human the majority of the time and are very romanticized. They're also charmers, lovers, and always beautiful. These vampires always have some… human girl they're chasing and trying to woo. Do you follow so far?"

"Si, you see me as one of these 'vampires', no?"

"Si." She nodded, blushing and worried he'd be offended.

"I am flattered, mia, go on." He smiled.

"Well, see, these vampires also turn into things. They can turn into bats or wolves and sometimes a foggy mist. Usually though, it's a bat. So, now, I want to show you something." She stood and straightened her shirt, tugging at the hem. Then, blushing, she cleared her throat and raised her wand to the ceiling about them, "Expecto patronum!"

A large misty bat fluttered about the ceiling as they both looked up to watch. It swooped and dived, doing a sort of aerial show. Hermione gave Blaise plenty of time to examine it before ending the spell and looking at him.

"My Patronus used to be an otter. For Ottery St. Catchpole."

"It has changed." He said solemnly. She nodded.

"When did it change?" He asked, still looking at the ceiling as though the bat would reappear.

"I… I only… I don't know when it changed but I discovered it the other day while going over my spellwork. Blaise, the patronuses changes for only one reason."

"You change?"

"No, something else, well, yes… it's a bit complicated. It's- do you know what animal that was?" She asked, taking a deep breath to steady herself. He nodded,

"it was a bat."

"A Vampire Bat, specifically." She corrected, "that's why he's so big. You see, Blaise, patronuses change when your heart changes…when you love someone or something more than the last. They change to represent what you love the most, in a way. I- see, I love you, Blaise." He had lowered his eyes to look at her as she spoke, realization dawning on, eyes widening. "Please, don't leave." She rasped. He hurried to her, pulling her to him.

"Oh, mia, sometimes you drive me mad with your extensive inspections. That is not complicated at all. Of course I will not leave you, I love you, as well, Bella." And then his lips were on hers and she sighed, relaxing against him. Blaise rarely used his tongue but he did now, coaxing hers out to play gently.

One hand pressed into her lower back, the other gently caressing her face. She slid both hands into his hair, entangling them in the silky mass. It was as though he was attempting to express his love to her in that kiss. He pulled back as someone knocked on his door and looked toward it, calling something out in husky Italian.

"Draco."

"Get lost, amico, I am busy." He scowled at the door. She barely registered the interaction, dazed. Then, Draco left and he was kissing the skin below her ear and down her neck. As he kissed her and nuzzed, he whispered over and over, "I love you." Then, he laughed at her dazed expression, picking her up against him and squeezing her tightly in a hug. "What would I do without you, bella?" he kissed her nose and then stepped back. Hermione blushed and cleared her throat. Her panties were suddenly very uncomfortable, deepening her blush and she cleared her throat again.

"Well, I hope that answered your question."

"Which?"

"That I would like to- er-"

"Have sex with me?" he grinned, "you wish me to be that man, then, Bella? The one to make love to you first?" she nodded, trembling. He shifted uncomfortably, "I would be honored, amour." "Now?" she squeaked, terrified.

"No, not now, love, there are too many people about! It should be special, your first time. I would hold you but I fear I may lose control and it would not be special at all." She nodded in understanding, fully hearing the warning.

"We should get out of your room then." She croaked, "it's not a good place. Lunch?"

"I would love to." He held out his arm and she took it, headed to the kitchens to eat and blatantly stare right back at a highly amused Draco and a confused Harry.