Chapter 10: Bed and Breakfast
Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction based on the Harry Potter universe by J.K. Rowling. We do not own anything, except the plot and a few characters created by us to further the plot line in the future.
There was a restrained feeling near her abdomen. There was no discomfort, but there was a sense of security. Hermione came to the conclusion that she was feeling strong chiseled arms sheltering her small baby bump. Hermione moved closer to the owner of the arms. She felt comfort having someone wrap their arms protectively around her. This is what she wanted to feel every single day. The only strange thing that Hermione couldn't put her finger on was who had their arm around her. Hermione turned to her other side, where she was facing the man's chest. Her eyes flutter open and still a little groggy she could have sworn she is cuddled up to Blaise.
"Blaise!" She screamed, horrified, "Why are you shirtless? Wait, did we... I mean... Did we, um..."
Blaise let out a small laugh as he flexed. Hermione's worries were put to the side when she saw his muscular biceps. She would deny her mouth being open if he asked.
"Relax Granger; don't get your knickers in a twist. Which I might add, you're still wearing."
Hermione looked at herself. She was still in her dress. It was unzipped, but she was still clothed.
"Oh thank Merlin, I thought we... You know?"
"Slept with each other? Nah." He said nonchalantly. Blaise soon found his shirt that was discarded at the edge of the bed. He just stared at it.
"Well? Aren't you going to put it on?"
"I think I will wait a minute the freedom is nice." Hermione rolled her eyes as she walked over to her curtains. The sun was out. Her clock said 8:42AM. It was quite unusual for Hermione to sleep in.
Hermione began to make the bed. The covers were all mangled on Blaise's side. He took the side she usually slept on. Hermione fluffed the pillow as she heard a crack from her dining room.
"Hermione you will not believe what I found!" Ginny said as she came hurling it, "Bloody hell!"
Hermione froze. She could feel Ginny's pissed face glaring at her.
"Are you serious! You slept with him? What are you trying to do? Complete some Slytherin Sex Saga?"
"I didn't sleep with him!"
"Likely story." Ginny said pointing to a shirtless Blaise. Ginny rolled her eyes, "Put a shirt on! Honestly!" Blaise ran over to the bed and covered himself. Sometimes Ginny was a fierce as Molly.
"Ginny," Hermione asked, "besides embarrassing us, Blaise and I didn't do anything. But why are you here?"
Ginny took offensive more than what was needed to the comment, but Hermione wasn't in the mood.
"I came here to tell you I found you a place to live."
"Ginny, I have a place to live." Hermione said gesturing to the flat.
"You can't be serious?" Ginny said looking around, "You can't raise a baby in here!"
"Why not?" Hermione asked looking around the room not noticing the flaws.
"You can barely fit yourself in here. You only moved here because it was in walking distance to the school."
"And because it's practical. I don't need anything big."
"You can stay with me." Blaise offered.
"You must be crazy to think, Hermione would go live with you!" Ginny retorted.
"Ginny you don't have a right to say where I live!"
"I'm just doing what seems best for you and your child!"
"Let Hermione decided what's best." Blaise said sternly.
"Why are you getting involved in this, it doesn't concern you." Ginny became angry. She was almost as red as her fiery red hair.
"It doesn't look like it concerns you either Weaselette." Blaise smirked.
Ginny's jaw dropped, "Hermione are you going to let him talk to me like that."
"Ginny, Blaise is right though you don't get a say on where I live. I prefer to stay in the muggle world until my son goes off to Hogwarts of course."
"So you are siding with a Slytherin. What happen to house loyalty?"
"Ginny, it's been years since house loyalty mattered. Times have changed, but I agree with Blaise, you have no say on where I live." Blaise looked at Ginny and just smirked. The type of smirk that said, I won. Hermione saw him smirk and smacked his arm.
"What was that for?" Blaise said rubbing his arm trying to sooth the pain.
"I saw that smirk, don't try to deny it. I know that smirk; I have seen it loads of times on Draco."
Blaise left Hermione's side and picked up Peter Pan. Blaise settled himself back on Hermione's bed and resumed reading.
"I'm sorry Gin, but I want you to leave, I'm not in the mood for fighting." Hermione said.
"So now you're kicking me out."
"If you are going to act like this, then yes. You can stay if you can control yourself." Hermione said sternly, "And you." She said pointing a Blaise. He looked up at her like a deer in the headlights, all innocently, "You need to stop teasing her. You know your baiting her to act like this."
Ginny rolled her eyes and Blaise groaned. Hermione felt proud of her peacemaker skills. They weren't friends, but Hermione knew that they would eventually. Blaise went back to reading as Ginny waited for Hermione to acknowledge her.
"Now, Ginny, what is the place you wanted to show me?" Ginny's anger fluttered away as she pulled out a newspaper type clipping from her pocket.
"Here it is!" Hermione took the paper from Ginny as looked at it. It was beautiful. Its location was unmistakably Diagon Alley. It must have been the residential area past Gringotts. She had never been over there before, mostly because she never knew anyone who lived there. Hermione saw the outside. It had a nice big display window next to a door that said vacant on the window of the door. It was decorated with hard mahogany wood that trailed around the frame of the place.
"Ginny, it's beautiful, but I think it's a shop." Ginny smiled and nodded, "It's a shop on the bottom and a two bedroom on the top!"
"That's great, but I don't need a shop. I am a teacher."
"You were a teacher. You can be a business woman now!"
"Ginny, I am just taking time off from teaching. I am using maternity leave now and using the vacation and sick days I've stocked up on to use when my son is born. I am not quitting my job."
"Hermione! Come on! It's a great place! You could literally work at home!"
"What would I sell? I don't have anything I can make. I am not good at potions,-"
"Draco's good at potions." Blaise told Hermione.
"Well, I am not Draco am I? Besides if I did live here. I would want the place to be mine. I don't want to rely on daddy's boy to make my inventory." Blaise chuckled as he returned to reading. He didn't even deny Hermione's insult.
"You could sell wands." Ginny offered.
"No, maybe something else. Besides nobody could make any money with Ollivanders just down the street."
"You could sell rare potion ingredients." Blaise interjected again.
"I am not joining the Black Market, Blaise."
"Hey, they make good money!"
"Something else." Hermione told him.
"I got it!" Blaise said.
"What?" Hermione asked curiously.
"This!" Blaise held up Hermione's copy of Peter Pan. Ginny looked confused. "Books? But there are so many bookshops in Diagon Alley."
Hermione knew what Blaise meant. "Blaise that's great idea. I wouldn't be able to sell just average books in Diagon Alley but selling Muggle books is perfect."
"You think there are enough HalfBloods and Muggleborns in the wizarding world?" Ginny asked.
"It wouldn't be limited to them. It's for everyone. Muggle books aren't all that different from wizard books." Hermione told Ginny, "Authors from the muggle world write about things that are considered normal for witches and wizards. It's called the fantasy genre. I think it would be a great idea to give the wizarding world a piece of the muggle world." Ginny seemed to be more convinced about the idea than before.
"You'd make a killing off of things like this!" Blaise said holding up the book, "You could put a bunch of children books in there. It would give children a chance to grow up accepting Muggleborns versus treating them like mud." Ginny was very surprised at how excited Blaise was about incorporating Muggle objects. She always assumed that Slytherins were bad. That's what she was taught.
"That's an amazing idea." Hermione said. She hugged Blaise. "Thank you."
"Ugh, can you keep the PDA on the down low please. You're making me want to gag." Ginny told them as they separated.
"Ginny, we are not together." Hermione reassured her friend, "right Blaise?"
Blaise looked saddened and hurt by her words, "Yeah... We are just friends." He forced out of his mouth.
"Ok Ginny, I will look at the place later, I will send you an owl when I go and see it." Hermione looked at Blaise.
"Ok I guess it's time for me to leave. I could feel the tension in the air."
Hermione looked confused, "Tension? What tension?" Ginny smirked at the oblivious Hermione and shook her head, "I should go check on Harry. I told him I wouldn't be gone for too long. He doesn't know what to do with James." Ginny told them. She walked over to a clear space by Hermione's door, "Let me know what you decided on about the house. I will see you soon!" Ginny told her, "Bye Hermione. Bye, Sabina."
"It was nice to formally meet you, Weaselette." Ginny rolled her eyes at her nickname as she disappeared with a crack.
"Well, that was interesting." Hermione told him as she walked around to her dresser. She pulled out a pair of jeans and a purple blouse and walked over to the bathroom.
"I am going to change real quick. I should get out of this dress."
"You sure you don't need help... Like last night?" Blaise joked.
"Blaise!" Hermione yelled in frustration as she slammed the door.
Blaise chuckled. "It's not funny Blaise!" Hermione yelled through the door. Hermione slid off the dress and changed into her top and bottom. The top was tight from her growing bump, but was flowy enough at the bottom to make it look appealing. Hermione walked out and hung the black dress in her closet.
"You look like nice, Hermione." Blaise complimented. Hermione looked down, knowing she didn't feel comfy, but said thank you anyway.
"I am starved, you want breakfast?" Hermione asked, walking into her kitchen.
"What kind of man says no to free food?"
"The kind who have tasted my cooking." Hermione joked, "There is a reason why Harry and Ron don't come over anymore."
"You poisoned them!" Blaise asked frightened.
"No! I was just kidding. I make decent meals. I am no five-star chef or anything." Hermione went rummaging through her pantry.
"So what do you feel like?" Hermione asked, looking at her options.
"I'll have mushroom omelet with bacon, cheese, and chives. An English muffin cut into fourths, and as a side I will take some pancakes made with blueberries and topped with syrup. And lastly a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice." Blaise said rehearsed.
Hermione poked her head out from her pantry and glared, "I have frozen waffles or cereal."
Blaise sat fascinated "Frozen waffles? I've never had that."
"Two frozen waffles then."
Blaise just nodded. Hermione placed two frozen waffles in the toaster. While the waffles were heating up Hermione poured herself a bowl of cereal. Blaise stared quite intently at the toaster, waiting for the waffles. Hermione set her bowl next to Blaise and walked to a cabinet and grabbed a plate. The toaster popped the waffles out and Blaise fell from his seat surprised from the sound. Hermione almost fell on the floor from laughing.
"That's not funny. The bloody contraption seems to have a mind of its own."
"Do you not have toasters at your house?"
"A toast what?"
"A toaster. It's an appliance that toasts things like bread or in this case, frozen waffles."
"Well I'm not sure. I've never step foot in the kitchen. All my meals were available to my convenience."
"You poor sheltered thing." Hermione cooed sarcastically as she set the waffles on individual plates.
Blaise just glared at Hermione. Hermione grab a fork and knife for each of them as set them on the table. She grabbed some paper towels and then administered the plates in front of his chair and hers. Blaise stared down at his food. He then looked over at Hermione who was slathering maple syrup on hers. Blaise then watched her get up and walk over to her fridge. She pulled out a gallon of milk and poured it into her cereal before placing it back. She set a spoon in the bowl when an owl hooted playfully through her room.
"Must be the Quibbler." Hermione said as she walked into her room. She didn't bother looking at it. She paid Luna's owl with a dead mouse, washed her hands and went back to eating.
"So is this a typical morning for you?" Blaise asked as he placed syrup on his waffle. He wasn't used to it coming out of a plastic bottle.
"For the most part, yes. When I am working, I normally do this at a condensed speed, trying to beat the bell."
"Do you like teaching?"
"Yes, I love it! I love working with children." Hermione then turned sad. Thinking of her class. "I miss my students."
"You have your own kid to think about now." He told her watching her eat.
"Yeah, but once I get past this, I want to get back to teaching."
"Well, if you need a babysitter." He winked.
"I think I would wait until I could get him enrolled in muggle primary school. Daycare maybe. I keep reading that the early years are the most memorable. I don't want to miss out on my child's life just because I want to work."
"Well, if you want date nights or time off, I am mostly likely available."
"If my son is anything like Ginny's son, I might take you up on that." Hermione joked as she grabbed a spoon full of cereal. Hermione looked down and noticed Blaise hadn't touched his waffle.
"Do you not want it?" She asked, gesturing to the plate of food.
"Oh no, I just was listening to your conversation." Blaise told her. Blaise then cut a sliver of syrup drenched waffle and placed it in his mouth.
"Merlin's beard! That's amazing!" He exclaimed cutting into the waffle, now with bigger pieces. Hermione was shocked to see what a love Blaise had for waffles.
"I am glad you like it." Hermione told him as placed a piece in her mouth. He began eating like a child. Picking up the waffle with his hands.
"Blaise, your hands are going to get all sticky!" Hermione chastised. Blaise ignored her until the whole thing was gone. He licked the tips of his fingers and smiled back at her.
"That was amazing!" He exclaimed. Hermione finished her plate and set them in the sink and began to wash them by hand.
"Why don't you use magic?" Blaise asked trying to wipe off the sticky consistency on his fingers. Hermione moved to the side so Blaise could wash his hands.
"Because I think hard work pays off. I don't want to rely on magic for everything. Same goes for my son. That's why I want to stay in Muggle London. He won't feel left out when everyone else carelessly waves their wand."
"But what if he feels disconnected? Young wizards can't control their magic until they get a wand."
"I don't plan on telling him about it until I am sure he's a wizard."
"What!" Blaise said shocked, "You're going to lie to him about his heritage? Hermione, the kid will be nine at the earliest before they show signs of magic! You are going to keep everything a secret for nine years?"
"If it gives him a normal childhood, then yes." Hermione nodded, "I don't him to end up like you pureblooded prats." Hermione regretted the words as they left her mouth. She didn't mean it.
"So this is why you don't want to move to the wizarding world. You don't want Draco to be around."
"I never said that. You are twisting my words."
"Hermione, I get you are trying to preserve your muggle heritage, but it almost seems like your trying to kick out Draco's."
"I am not trying too, but can you see why? Draco and his family are everything I want my son to avoid."
'What about Narcissa? She's not that bad."
"I will give you that, but everyone else? They are all pureblood supremacists."
Blaise stayed quite. He tried to defend Draco, but there is only so much he could twist to make him sound better than he was.
"Malfoy is just one of the many reasons why I want to raise my son the muggle way."
"You can't hold his hand forever, Mione. One day, your son will have to know about his father."
"Not if I can help it."
"If you send your child to Hogwarts, you think Malfoy won't visit him? You can't do anything about it in the wizarding world."
"At this moment, Draco is unaware and that's how it will stay."
"You honestly think Narcissa won't say anything? This is her son, her flesh and blood. He is the only thing that keeps her alive. You think she will keep this a secret for long?"
"Look, this is all scenarios. I will tell Malfoy... eventually.
"Whatever you say." Blaise told her, unconvinced.
"If I raise my son alongside constant use of magic I feel it will affect my relationship with him."
"What?" Blaise asked, not understanding her statement.
"I feel that magic affects family life. After I was eleven, I rarely saw my parents. I was at school learning something they didn't understand or comprehend. When I start going to school I saw them for about two and a half months every year. Our relationship was strained. It was hard coming home each summer and seeing how hard my parents worked while adults in the wizard world just waved their wand."
Blaise never thought of it like that. Even his mother didn't do that. She had people do all her dirty work.
"There is a reason I moved to Muggle London. I had no intention of permanently staying here. I did it from my parents."
"They were... what was that word? Dentists? Was that it?" Blaise asked recalling the memories of the Slug Club.
"Yeah, that's correct. During the war I was afraid that they would be a target. So I wiped their memories."
"You obliviated them?" Blaise said shocked.
"Yes, incase death eaters came knocking. I was worried that they would be captured and used against me as ransom for Harry. I relocated them to Australia, so they would be safe."
"Are they still there?"
"No, it was when the first things I did after the war. After I wiped their memories... They've never been the same. I still think that they're their aliases. They barely recognize me as their daughter. They know nothing about magic. As cliché as it sounds, I have a whole part of my life that they don't know about." Hermione was starting to tear up. She always turned her head around to do something else so she would be outright crying in front of Blaise.
"I never knew. You guys, the trio, looked so perfect on newspapers and magazines. I would have never guessed." Blaise told her, "I thought it was strange. Everyone thought you guys were going to be together forever, but then you disappeared. Potter married Weaselette and Weaselbee is off snogging that Brown girl."
"Don't remind me." Hermione said as she finished the dishes. Blaise helped her put them away after getting instructions on how to do so. It was like teaching a child life skills. Blaise knew nothing about domestic chores.
Hermione began working on the table. There was syrup drops all over Blaise's side of the table. Blaise truly had an inner child.
"So what happened after you left the wizarding world?" Blaise pressed wanting to know more.
"I was living with my parents for a while. I spent so much time trying to get them to remember things, but it seemed useless. I got a post-secondary education so I could teach. I wanted to be able to live an average life. When you are surrounded by so many normal people, it's easier to go with the flow, rather than trying to blend magic and normal together."
"Hey Hermione, why don't you bring your parents to St. Mungo's? They have a treatment that can reverse it. I saw it in the hospital lobby." Hermione face didn't even crack a smile.
"I already looked it up. There is only a fifty percent chance of success. Those who have been tested on either fully recovered or were permanently hospitalized because they lose everything. They don't remember anything, not even who they are. My parent's problems are focused around me. They have recollection about their childhood, their job, but they have no memory of me. If I leave them alone. They can at least function properly. I won't be a part of their lives, but they won't be confined to a hospital for the rest of it."
Blaise followed her back into her room where she flopped sideways of her bed. Her arms found her pillow which she snuggled tightly. Hermione had expected to be so depressed. She had never told anyone the whole story. Not even Ginny. Harry had too good of terms with Ron to trust him with something drastic as this.
"You are very easy to talk to." Hermione told him, "It felt like you actually cared."
Blaise joined her and the bed and looked at her seriously, "I do care. Honestly." Hermione smiled as she rested her chin in her pillow.
Blaise wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Hermione snuggled up to his chest. Blaise smiled and kissed the top of Hermione's forehead.
Hermione giggled. "Did he kick?" Blaise asked. Hermione nodded. She took his hand and placed it on the current spot where the baby was kicking.
"Hermione, have you thought of any names?"
"No, I haven't thought names. Maybe it's time to start." It hadn't occurred to Hermione, choosing a name was crucial.
"Do you want me to help pick out names, or do you want to do that yourself?"
"Baby names could wait. I have until late February early March to figure it out."
Blaise nodded. "But Blaise, we should get out of bed or else we will be here all day."
"That doesn't seem that bad." Blaise said burying his face in Hermione's hair.
"We need to be productive."
"We could be productive while staying inside." Blaise smirked.
Hermione slapped Blaise in the arm playfully. "There is no time for your innuendos, Blaise."
"There's always time for an innuendo." He winked which caused Hermione to giggle.
Hermione stood up from the bed, "Come on, get up."
"I don't want to." Blaise complained like a child.
"Come on Blaise I want to go buy things for my son. I'm going to need help." Blaise was being stubborn, and buried his face into Hermione's pillows. She tried to drag him off the bed, but he was too heavy, and being pregnant didn't help either. Finally after all the effort she put, Hermione pulled out her wand and pointed it to him. "Wingardium Leviosa." Blaise was lifted off the bed and set down on the floor.
"What happen to not relying on magic?" Blaise said standing up straight, clean off invisible dirt from his clothing.
"You left me no choice. You were acting like a child."
Blaise murmured something under his breath, so Hermione couldn't hear.
"Honestly how can someone like you," Hermione looked at him head to toe, turning a shade of pink, "act so immature."
"Someone like me? What do you mean by that Hermione?" Blaise stepped closer to her where he was directly in front of her. Hermione cheeks became even more red. Hermione shook her head, refusing to answer. "Come one Hermione you can't just say something without an explanation." Blaise brought his face closer hers. Hermione closed her eyes expecting a kiss. When she couldn't feel his presence near, she opened her eyes to see Blaise just grinning at her like the Mad Hatter, before he busted out laughing.
"It's not funny Blaise." Hermione said unamused and slightly annoyed.
"Is that what an immature person would do? Because you seem into it, being just friends and all."
"Don't be an enormous git." Hermione said. Blaise's smile grew. He went up to Hermione and hugged her.
"I'm sorry Hermione." He said with puppy dog eyes.
"You're forgiven, but you have to come baby shopping with me. I need someone to do heavy lifting." Blaise flexed, and Hermione laughed. Hermione left Blaise in his tracks for the bathroom.
"I am going to go get ready." Hermione told him as she pulled out her make-up bag from her cabinet drawer.
"I should too." He added with a groan.
"You want to borrow my lipstick?" She joked holding up the tube of the faint red.
Blaise shook his head violently, "Nah, there is some masculine shaving cream at my house I can use."
"You better come back!" Hermione warned him.
"I will just meet in you in Diagon." Blaise told her as he apparated away. Hermione was felt sad at his absence. She didn't know how she was going to convince anybody they were "just friends" if things keep escalating as quickly as they had been. He just had this energy that made each day special. Hermione looked for her blush, but it wasn't in her make-up bag. She checked the bathroom for it. It wasn't in her counter drawers or her medicine cabinet. Hermione held her tongue as an imaginary light bulb went on in her head. She walked over to her living space where it was sitting on the coffee table. Hermione remembered that Ginny left it there after doing finishing touches on her before she went to talk to Narcissa. Hermione held the container and held it up. Like a camera refocusing, her eyes looked to the bright red coming from her kitchen table. Hermione instantly recognized them as red roses. Hermione went closer to see them in thin glass vase with a folded note attached with a string around it. Hermione picked up the card.
"From one friend to another"
Hey Everyone! Sorry for the short chapter. We kind of slowed it down so we could focus on Blaise and Hermione's relationship more. Speaking of Hermione, how do you guys feel about her moving? Do you like the idea of her owning a muggle book store? Let us know what you think in a review. Thank you to all of you who have followed us, this story, and reviewed it! We read all of them and greatly appreciate the feedback!
Also, back to school is coming up for us in two weeks. August 4th will be our last time we update on Tuesdays. We will still continue to write, but after August 4th we are moving our update day to Saturday so it doesn't conflict with school. Thank you so much for reading Chapter 10 of "The Lion's Secret"! Until next Tuesday!
~AmatuerWriter98 and AnonymousMaknae