Hello! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day! To be honest, I'm having a bit of a weird one – my car is stuck at the shop until tomorrow because someone failed to call me before they closed/before my boyfriend had to go to work, and my phone strangely texted one of my closest yet far-away friends random characters and had her all kinds of concerned about me even though I was simply informing her that I was just posting her birthday picture. So, yeah, odd day.
"Boys seem to like the girls/ Who laugh at anything/ The ones who get undressed/ Before the second date/ Girls seem to like the boys/ Who don't appreciate/ All the money and the time that it takes/ To be fly as a mother/ Got my both eyes out for Mr. Right/ Guessing I just don't know where to find 'em/ But I hope they all come out tonight/ Hey! Where do the good boys go to hide away, hide away?/ I'm a good, good girl who needs a little company/ Looking high and low, someone let me know/ Where do the good boys go to hide away, hide away…?" – Daya, "Hide Away"
It had been several weeks since he'd last seen Hermione, but that didn't mean Blaise hadn't spoken to her in all of that time. He'd given her a copy of McGonagall's positive reply to their explanation and their plea, as it was mostly for Hermione anyway, but he did see that the former Transfiguration professor loved the younger woman quite a lot, perhaps even seeing her as her own daughter, and extended an invitation for tea and some planning whenever either had time. Apparently several of Hermione's brides were getting married in the weeks that he hadn't seen her, as she scribbled illegibly to him one night. Two had accidentally tried to book the same reception hall on the same day, and she'd had to deal with their screeching for an entire week before she finally snapped and told them to play some Muggle game to figure out who got it and who would have to find somewhere else.
Luckily, however, Hermione had found three lovely little days where she was free from clients, and offered one of them to Blaise's family. He'd sheepishly responded that his grandmother had been quite eager and demanded that they spend all three of her days in Italy, and he hoped she didn't mind too much. She'd sent back a very sarcastic reply, consisting of "Oh, yes, I'm terribly bothered by having to spend three glorious days in beautiful Italy, surrounded by wonderful architecture, art, food and good company. Curse you, Zabini."
So Blaise was seated on a chaise lounge in the Hotel Rialto in San Marco on Thursday in the late afternoon, waiting idly for Hermione to click in from work. He spread out his arms across the back of the furniture and lounged, glancing dully over the giggling girls that would shoot him hopeful looks before turning back to their friends. He sighed, looking around at the wide, open floor plan of the lobby, looking for the work bun and greyscale outfits he'd come to associate Hermione Granger with. He wondered and hummed as he considered getting Evangeline or his mother to drag her out shopping and insist on some color in her wardrobe, as it would be a good bonding exercise, right?
He saw the young witch clicking over to him, her eyes cast on a small, grey little box in her hand as she maneuvered through the crowd, sitting down primly next to him and frowning down at the box as the giggling girls suddenly grew somber and stalked away. Blaise gave a smug smile, looking over Hermione's shoulder at what could possibly be so interesting on the box, and discovered that there was a long list that she could swish through with a flick of her finger or thumb, declaring wedding things that she needed to accomplish. He blinked at it, deciding to ask her about it later, and instead tugged on one of the loose curls before flashing her a cheeky grin when she looked up at him curiously.
"Oh, hello, Blaise," she smiled sheepishly, setting the box in her lap, dressed in a form fitting yet classy black dress and black heels. He idly wondered if she was mourning anyone, and if so whom, before listening to her continue. "It's been ages, hasn't it? I'm sorry that I haven't had much time to see you."
He waved it off casually, even though he'd complained about it several times to a very annoyed Draco – who had, promptly on schedule, threatened to burn some very important bits off of the Italian at least three times – and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Don't worry about it, gattina."
She gave a small, soft snort and tried to work the loose curls back into the bun, "Well, still, it's hard not to worry about it, considering that we are getting married soon, and I don't know quite enough about you."
He flinched before nodding, smiling easily and watching as the tension dropped from her shoulders and she took a moment to relax into him and the chaise.
"Oh," she perked up after a few beats, "I need to check in."
"Err, about that," he began before she could stand, grimacing back at her, "My grandmother wouldn't hear of you staying in a hotel, so she cancelled your reservation for you. You're going to be staying at my grandmother's instead. Don't worry, you'll have your own room, bathroom, everything, it's just…she's trying to be welcoming, I guess, and she fears that if you stay in a hotel, that you'll just eat room service and never taste her cooking."
She gave a small laugh, her brown eyes sparkling back at him, "Blaise, you've gone on and on about her cooking, it would be insulting if I didn't. But, I've no problem with all of that. Lead the way?"
He beamed, glad that the conversation had been easier than he'd expected, and stood as he offered her his arm. She stood as well, taking it, and clicked out alongside him, weaving down streets and sidewalks and breathing out a gasp when she saw the Canal Grande, with gondolas gliding effortlessly along the crystal blue water.
"We have to go over on the other side, to San Polo," Blaise explained, leading her over to a bridge that would take them to the other side of the canal. He climbed the steps, taking her wrist and leading her, before pausing at the levelled, flat part of the bridge, letting her lean against the railing and gape at the scenery. The two leaned there together for a few minutes, staying silent and just watching the surrounding area. Even though Blaise had been here just as much as he had been in England, he still found Venice to be captivating and calming each and every time. Hermione, on her part, had been awed into silence.
After she seemed to have gotten her fill of the area, he took her wrist again and led her once more, twisting and turning before he came to a dead end and dully placed his palm against the white stone. At once, the white stone moved aside, much like the bricks did in Diagon Alley, and the wall opened up to a beautiful little courtyard. Blaise nudged her inside, making sure that the wall closed back up, and guided her into the area. It had once been a red brick, four story house with arching windows and airy spaces before the sun had bleached the brick and turned it a pale yellow. Ivy vines crawled up it, overtaking a few of the window panes and snaking its way through the pillars on the balcony of the library. Blaise breathed in a big sigh, already feeling at ease, and guided Hermione into the large living space that lit up with the sunlight.
"Ciao?" Blaise called, his voice echoing slightly, "Qualcuno ha deciso di nascondersi da noi?"
They waited in silence for only a few moments before little feet were clambering down the staircase, and Blaise immediately put Hermione behind him, whispered an "explain soon", and crouched down to force Lia to stop her one-person marathon as her little lungs screamed out "Blaise!" in one continuous breath.
"Lia!" he said, scooping her up into his arms and grinning at her, "Been behaving?"
"Always!" she chirped, and Blaise gave a snort before turning and having her face Hermione.
"Lia, this is Hermione, the young lady I was telling you about," Blaise began as the toddler gaped at the young woman before her. "She's my new friend, and since she's going to be married to me, she wanted to meet everybody."
Lia absentmindedly bobbed her head along to what her big brother was saying before sitting up in his arms and looking at her sweetly, "Ciao! Benvenuti nella nostra famiglia!"
Hermione grinned back, bending just a smidge to reach her eye level, "Thank you, Lia. You're very beautiful, and I think we're going to get along just fine."
"Thank you! You're very, very beautiful, and I think we're going to be great friends!" the little girl crowed, and Blaise watched as Hermione's eyes crinkled up and she nodded fervently. Merlin, this woman had a gift with children, he could tell. Perhaps he was jumping the wand a bit too early on that judgement, but who cares?
"Blaise, maybe you want to introduce her to the rest of your family, hmm?" a young woman asked, hands on her hips as she playfully glared at her younger siblings, her long, dark hair swaying as she descended the stairs. Evangeline had inherited all of her mother's traits, as did Lia, and Blaise had taken all of his father's to balance it out. Evangeline had those same full lips, the same big eyes, but wickedly prominent cheek and jaw bones that made her seem fierce and intimidating. He knew that in time they would grow softer with age, just as they had with their mother, but for now they grabbed positive attention and granted her the spotlight after a single glance.
"Hello, you must be Evangeline," Hermione said, extending her hand and smiling kindly to her future sister-in-law. "Blaise has spoken so much about you, I can't help but feel like I'm meeting a legend."
Evangeline had glared at Daphne the entire time of their first meeting, and had only granted the girl a sweet smile when the blonde stated that she was departing. However, Blaise couldn't help but notice his sister's genuine grin as she tossed her hand into Hermione's, sliding the other hand into the pocket of the paint splattered jeans.
"You feel like you're meeting one? Imagine how I feel," the older woman laughed, causing the brunette to blush. "We're very pleased to meet you, Hermione, welcome to our home and our family. Lia isn't quite aware that not everyone is bilingual as she is, and Blaise often forgets the need to translate, so if anything is confusing you, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, I'm afraid that Latin alone can only get me so far," she easily joked before the two grand and graceful women swept in from the staircase.
His mother stepped forward first, her head tilted as she appraised Hermione before giving her a soft smile, offering her hand for a handshake as well, "It's nice to finally meet you, Hermione. Thank you for taking time off of your busy schedule to meet us."
"Thank you for having me, Mrs. Zabini, it's beautiful here," she answered before Blaise's mother intervened.
"Call me 'Simone,'" she said with a gleaming grin. Daphne had never been permitted to call her as such, and his mother had thought of the whiny girl as their saving grace.
"Yes, ma'am," Hermione nodded before Simone stepped aside and allowed Damiana to step forward to the girl. Her skin was as dark as Blaise's, her lips thinner than her daughter-in-law's, but her eyes a deep and clear blue that matched the canal outside her front door. Although she was getting on in age, her back never drooped, and wrinkles were quaint and lovely on her skin. Her silver hair had been swept up and pinned, and her wedding ring still shone proudly in the sunlight.
Damiana had not spoken a word to Daphne during their entire visit. She hadn't even gone within three feet of the girl. So Blaise, not really knowing what to expect, found himself reeling when Damiana placed her thin, delicate hands on Hermione's shoulders and stared deeply into her eyes before breaking into a smile.
"Thank you, Hermione Granger," she said in heavily accented English, "You are brave."
Hermione, at a loss for words, simply gave a warm smile back, "Thank you for having me."
"Thanks for taking all of this like a champ," Evangeline spoke up, settling a hand on her grandmother's back and smiling kindly to Hermione. "We know this must be sending you for a whirlwind, especially since you didn't actually sign the contract."
"It is typical for the actual couple to sign their own contracts," Simone insisted before giving a harsh glare, "Not having some spell do it for them against their wills."
"But, sometimes those signing are pressured by their families to uphold tradition and make them proud," Blaise offered before he saw the question burning in Hermione's eyes, just as everyone older than five seemed to notice. For the time being, it was settled away for later as they moved on to a tour of the house.
Hermione was floored by the amount of books in the library, and he could already tell that she had a personal mission to read every single one of them. They wound themselves around, showing off Evangeline's studio up on the fourth floor as his older sister ripped off some drapes to reveal pieces to the brunette and ask for her opinion. Hermione was eager to tell her that they were amazing, and that she would pass along Evangeline's card to anyone she could think of that could use a painting for their homes or places of business, even asking if she would mind doing one for her parents for a Christmas present. This had earned the Gryffindor a massive hug before Evangeline bounced off to a corner to grab a notebook for ideas.
They came to a stop once they wound back down to the third floor, where most of the bedrooms were, and showed Hermione to hers before they seemed to notice a lack of bags. That was when the brunette sheepishly pulled out her wand and a small coin purse from a secret pocket in her dress, tapping it and having a black box float out of it before growing into small suitcase, practical for three days' use. She settled the coin purse on the aged white vanity before setting the suitcase neatly next to the bed.
"It's almost time for dinner," Damiana announced, causing the Zabinis to immediately head downstairs and towards the kitchens. The eldest woman stood before the brunette, smiling happily at her and walking with her behind the others. "I love having my family cook with me, or at the very least keep me company while I cook. A few, like Simone, who bakes better than she cooks, simply sit there and talk to me. Blaise and Evangeline help me cook, Evangeline more since she lives here and mainly works here. My husband, Piero, started the tradition and even cooked with me and my son, Niccolo, grew up cooking with me. I would love if you would keep me company while we cook, Hermione."
Hermione blinked, touched at the amount of love she was witnessing from the Zabinis, before nodding eagerly. "My dad is the one who cooks, and I would always help ever since I was deemed old enough to get near a fire or hold a knife. Half of the time I would do my homework with him while he cooked."
Damiana smiled warmly, patting the young woman's arm, as they reached the last step and began their way to the kitchen. "Food brings the love, and is always made best when done with love."
Hermione nodded her agreement, walking into the kitchen and finding Blaise, standing up on a counter and digging through a cabinet, calling out to his sisters below him.
"What are we making again and does it need flat noodles?" he asked dully, nudging things around on the top shelf.
"No, we're making cheese tortellini with alfredo sauce, now get the flour, Mama's getting the eggs and milk," Evangeline stated with a huff, hands on her hips and frowning up at her brother. Lia, seeing this, copied her stance and huffed as well, sending little strands of black hair up into the air.
"Why don't you just use your wand, Blaise?" Hermione questioned, finding this behavior odd from a Pureblood family. Even the Weasley matriarch Accio'd ingredients to her when needed. At this thought, Hermione blanched and turned her attention back to the Zabinis.
Blaise chuckled, amused with the witch, and grinned down at her as he passed his sister the flour, "Grandmother says that magic ruins the food."
"The Muggles in town do not use magic to make such fantastic food, so neither do I," Damiana insisted, boiling the water on the stove as Hermione awkwardly tried to find a space to remain out of the way. Blaise, seeing her distress, took her by her elbow and gently led her to the bar that overlooked the countertops and the stovetops, assisting her into a tall bar stool and taking the one next to her. Simone swept in, depositing the milk, eggs and cheese onto the counter top before taking the spot next to Hermione and giving the woman a smile.
"So, Hermione, what do your parents do for a living?" Simone asked as Evangeline and Damiana took to preparing the food.
"Oh, they're dentists, they fix and clean Muggles' teeth," Hermione explained, watching in fascination as their hands worked and shaped the tortellini before stuffing the cheese inside. Blaise chuckled back at her, watching how awed she looked and remembering his earliest memory of his grandmother cooking and having a similar look on his face.
"Oh, you are Muggleborn, aren't you?" Damiana asked as she worked, "Would you like to have a Muggle wedding or a wizarding one?"
"Oh, well, I haven't thought of that," Hermione paused, and Blaise hummed as he leaned towards the brunette, propping his head up by his arm.
"We do need to talk about all of that, don't we?" he frowned as she pulled a face. "We've only got the location and catering settled out, but talking about it is too much like work for you, isn't it?"
"Then we won't talk about any of that tonight," Simone insisted before sighing, "I remember how stressful planning a wedding can be. Should you need any help, however, I would be happy to do so."
"Yeah, Mama has probably made marriage a classified sport by now," Evangeline teased, and Damiana gently slapped at her granddaughter's hand.
"Respect your mother," she insisted, and the young woman sighed and complied and tried to fix the tortellini that had been squished by the slapping. Blaise chuckled at his family, and in no time everything was cooked and brought to the table.
Blaise had grown up with rich food daily, but Hermione was used to English dining and considered Italian food to be some special occasion. So, rather than digging into his own plate right away, he carefully watched as Hermione speared a tortellini and gently took it into her mouth, her eyes widening as she chewed. She made eye contact with Blaise, and he grinned back at her before waggling his eyebrows at her.
"This is amazing, Mrs. Zabini, I've never had anything like it," Hermione admitted, and Blaise looked up to find that everyone had caught his little display of affection for Hermione. Even he had acted differently when Daphne had first visited his grandmother's home, and had never given such a warm disposition to the cold Slytherin girl. Hermione, it seemed, brought it out in the Zabinis, and seemed to bring it out especially in Blaise.
"Thank you, tesorino, I am glad you like it," Damiana smiled softly, and Blaise, Evangeline and their mother all shared surprised glances before relaxing and smiling in Hermione's direction as she fawned over how amazing it was, unaware of the big gesture that had just taken place before her.
"So, Hermione, how's about we go out shopping tomorrow, explore Italy a bit, and then hit up the beach?" Evangeline asked.
"That sounds like a dream come true," the brunette laughed, "I feel like I've fallen asleep at my desk again."
"Well, honey, when you wake up tomorrow you won't have a killer pain in your neck," Evangeline chuckled before brightening, "Hey, there's an idea – how's about a painting of you at the beach for your parents, hmm? At sunset, that'd do wonders on your skin tone. I'm gonna get you nice and tan!"
"Oh no, I'm English, I don't tan," Hermione explained with a small laugh.
"Oh, tell me about it," Simone chuckled, "First time I spent a weekend with Niccolo, Damiana and Piero at the beach, and somehow ended up tinged with pink. Apparently having Italian parents was not a decent excuse for the sun."
"I remember that," Damiana laughed airily, "Niccolo was so afraid he'd damaged you somehow by having you out in the sun too much, worried he'd ruined everything with you. 'I've ruined it all, Mama, she's never going to want to be with me ever again!' 'Niccolo, cucciolo, it is just a simple sun burn, and it is not your fault.' 'She'll blame me and there goes your hope for grandchildren!'" She scoffed softly, eyeing her daughter-in-law with a smile, "He always was dramatic when it came to you, Simone."
"Didn't Dad freak out when you told him you were pregnant with me?" Evangeline questioned with an easy grin, twirling her fork around in the alfredo sauce. "Wouldn't say anything for over an hour, right?"
"He lost it completely when I told him about Blaise, too," Simone chuckled, remembering it fondly as she tangled a finger in Lia's hair. "'Another one, Simone?! I'm not sure I know what to do with the first one yet!'"
The two siblings laughed, and Hermione just sat there and enjoyed the warmth emanating off of the family. Blaise noticed how eagerly she listened to their stories, and how softly she smiled as she pictured every bit of it. Every story that was told was something to do about Blaise's father or Blaise himself in some way, and he was floored again and again by just how much love his family had for him, and even his late father. He'd seen pictures of him, had seen his smile and how he had laughed, but could not remember how his voice sounded or how it felt to be wrapped up in his arms before the Tickle Monster attacked. But he never doubted his father's love, for any of them in the room, even Lia, who was not even his, he would still love for the small fact that she was Simone's child.
He wondered what his father would think of Hermione. If he would be awed by her wit or her bravery first? Or would he spend the entire dinner nudging at Blaise and grinning conspiratorially at him and egging him on to make a move? Or would he have encouraged his son to follow his heart when he wrote to home in his first year about the smart girl with hair like a cloud that he really did like, and he would have been bringing Hermione to Italy for years now, and gotten her sunburned during a summer and lamented to his laughing parents that his relationship was all over and that they would never have grandchildren from him..?
Dinner and dishes were done, and Lia had been bathed and put to bed before the adults decided to head to sleep as well to get a head start on tomorrow. Blaise had walked Hermione to her room, informing her that he really was glad that she liked it here, and with drooping eyes and a soft smile, she informed him that she was really glad his family liked having her here. They quickly bid goodnight, as a long day at work and an evening of good food was quickly taking Hermione down, and Blaise walked alone to his room, feeling quite relaxed. He took a quick shower, tugging on a t-shirt and light pajama pants before pulling open the tall, narrow windows and breathing in the air. He slipped into bed and was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Until he heard screaming. He was up and running to the sound before he was fully awake and aware as to why he was running. But he already knew, and immediately headed for Hermione's door. He announced that he was coming in before unlocking it and slipping in and to her side, seeing Evangeline come flying down the stairs and his mother and grandmother making their way down the hall, all with wands while Blaise had neglected to bring his own.
Hermione was tangled up in the sheets, panting and breathing heavily and trying to get free of them as she screamed and shouted that she had simply found something, and please don't hurt her, please don't. Simone, the first to enter after Blaise, vanished the sheets as her son strode toward the girl, quickly knocking her wand off of the nightstand and onto the floor as he sat on the mattress.
"Hermione? Hermione, I need you to wake up and listen to me, okay?" he asked, trying to be loud and calming at the same time. "You're having a nightmare, you're in Italy with my family, and you're fine. You're okay, Hermione, but you need to wake up."
Hermione lurched upright, fists swinging, but Blaise quickly and expertly caught them. He silently thanked Draco for making him take a Keeper position when they played Quidditch, as he was fairly sure that was the only reason he wasn't knocked out cold. But for now, he watched as Hermione gained some recognition into her eyes, staring worriedly and blankly at his face before her chest heaved again.
"She was here, Blaise, she was – she was torturing me again," she explained, still half out of it as she pulled her hands from his gentle grasp and worried her fingers against the fabric of his shirt, seeming to tug at his shirt with just her fingers before rethinking her decision and then doing it all over again. "She was…she was here. Is Lia alright?" Blaise blinked at the question, surprised that she only seemed to be half aware of everything that was going on, like her nightmare had mixed with her reality at this point.
"I checked on her before I came here, dear," Simone announced softly, and Hermione blinked as she turned her head and looked to the three Zabini women. "She's alright, and perfectly fine."
"Is there anything you need?" Evangeline and Damiana asked, and neither seemed startled by the synchronization.
"Do we have any Dreamless Sleep?" Blaise asked, stroking her wild, tangled hair as she broke down into quiet, tired sobs against him. He rubbed her back with his other hand, holding her gently in case she decided she wanted to be let go of.
The two grimaced and exchanged glances, and Blaise sighed before nodding.
"I'll stay with her, and I'll keep the room silenced," he announced before tilting his head and looking to his sister. "Can you go grab my wand from my room?" The three gaped and blinked at him before nodding, and they all dispersed. Evangeline quickly returned, handing him his wand as he had sheets reappear and began to put the silencing charms on the room.
"You knew what she needed, didn't you?" Evangeline whispered as Hermione calmed down against her brother, having apparently exhausted herself with her tears. "You didn't even grab your wand. You didn't know if there actually was someone in here."
"I'll tell you about it later, but I kind of figured this was what it was," he shrugged, "Goodnight, Evangeline."
She took the cue and nodded, shutting the door behind her as Blaise pulled the Brightest Witch of Their Age up into his lap and had her rest her head on his shoulder. He swiftly checked her heartrate before settling her back into bed, happily noting that she slept on the right side while he slept on the left. As he was beginning to get up and deposit himself in the floor, she slid her fingers into his hand and looked up at him with shiny, yet clear eyes.
"Can you stay…please?" she asked, probably worried about how childish she sounded, or how foolish she seemed.
"Where do you want me?" he asked calmly, giving her a soft smile to let her know that he still respected her and thought of her as the strong witch he always knew she was. Well, that what he wanted to convey in that smile, he wasn't really sure if she caught the meaning.
She bit her lower lip and lowered her eyes, and even though it was dark, Blaise could see the lightest of blushes on her cheeks before he chuckled and laid down next to her, facing her and giving her a grin as he pulled the blankets up and around them. "Really, Hermione, there are easier ways to ask me into bed. No need to be embarrassed."
She scoffed and gave him a small grin, but she got that message loud and clear, and settled into the pillow and closed her eyes. He did the same, watching her for a moment before slipping his hand over hers, watching her relax further before he finally shut his eyes and went to sleep next to her.
Blaise slept more soundly than he had ever thought could be possible, and Hermione did the same.
Sorry that this chapter took so long, guys! Between the beginning author's note and now, I've had finals, moved out of my dorm and back home, and have been helping to clean house, decorate house, and dig around in the backyard for water piping and whatnot. It's been…exhausting, to say the least, and I do miss aspects of my dorm that I can't do at home. Namely having my boyfriend in there and having the best fucking naps ever when he was there. I dunno, there's just something really calming about having somebody else there that you care and trust about, especially after you've cried three times in one hour over three separate things.
College is soooo fuuuuun. /sarcasm/
Please review, as I enjoy them greatly and would love to have them as a Christmas present!