Chapter Nineteen
Hermione anxiously dragged herself through the rest of the week. She had taken to reading on her balcony most nights in case Nott or Zabini sent her an owl but for the last three days all had been quiet. She had gotten a fair bit of work done during her late night vigils. She had found some interesting threads of potential to follow regarding alterations to Dreamless Sleep and a few other potions which might be able to be altered to suit their needs.
She had secretly hoped Zabini would have at least sent her a note about how Malfoy was doing but she was hesitant to be the one to break the silence. She didn't want to seem overly concerned about his recovery, that would be weird for all of them. Not that their current alliance wasn't weird enough on its own.
The large clock in the office chimed five and June popped her head into Hermione's office. "Need anything before we head out Boss?" She asked.
Hermione shook her head "No, you two get out of here on time, I'm just finishing up."
June saluted and ducked out before reappearing a moment later. "Oh! Ginny Weasley stopped by while you were in that meeting with that supplier going over his contract. She told me to tell you that she would be at your house at six thirty sharp and that the reservation is at eight."
Hermione groaned. She had forgotten about her promise to attend girls night.
"She also told me to tell you that it's no use trying to get out of it because she knows where you work and where you live and she will find you." said June apologetically.
"Thanks June" sighed Hermione and June gave her a thumbs up before disapearing again.
True to her word at six thirty sharp Ginny breezed into her living room carrying armloads of clothing and a canvas bag full of wine and snacks.
Ginny loved going out but Hermione enjoyed the time at home before rather than the actual event.
Ginny sitting behind her on the bed, coaxing her curls into styles she never would have tried herself. Drinking wine and laughing over Ginny's hilarious recounting of the Quidditch teams drama. Trying on dresses and heels, it was all good fun until she had to actually walk out the door and into public.
Ginny had brought her usual array of dresses, all fully appropriate for a night out but nothing that Hermione would be even remotely comfortable in. Her friend had already chosen a one shouldered silver grey dress which flowed around her body, accenting all the right spots,but Hermione was having little luck finding something she'd be comfortable in all evening.
"You know, you just need to live a little." Ginny said, sifting through the pile of dresses on Hermione's bed. "It wouldn't hurt you once in a while to turn up the sex appeal just a little. It would probably help you get laid."
"I'm not looking to get laid during a girls night out. That kind of defeats the entire point of a girls night out." Hermione pointed out.
"That is rubbish, a girls night out is for helping your single girlfriends find guys." Ginny told her. "What about this one?" She offered Hermione a dress.
Hermione considered it. It wasn't as outrageous as some of the other dresses in Ginny's collection. It was black satin, spaghetti strapped, mid-thigh, practically a nun's robe compared to some of the things in Ginny's closet.
"We're going to be late if you don't pick something soon, so go try that one on." Ginny said, shooing her towards the bathroom.
Hermione dutifully went and slipped the dress on. It fit her wonderfully. Since her hips were narrower than Ginny's the dress fell a little longer, covering more of her legs which suited Hermione just fine. She frowned down at the dress, it wasn't black as she had assumed from the lighting in the bedroom but a very dark forest green.
"Hurry up Mione!" Ginny called. When Hermione exited the bathroom she gave an appreciative whistle and handed her a pair of heels and a set of silver jewellery that Hermione had worn to Bill and Fluer's wedding.
"Silver and green?" Hermione asked her friend with a raised eyebrow. "Isn't that a touch too Slytherin to wear out to a restaurant?"
"Oh, nonsense. It looked black to me when I bought it and it will look black to everyone else. It's not like the public expects you to be wearing Luna's Gryffindor Lion hat every time you go out. Don't be so paranoid, you look smashing and we need to go." Said Ginny with a grin.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at her friend who blew her a kiss and waltzed out of the room to grab their coats.
"Oh my god! Hermione! Ginny I can't believe you actually got her to come!" Screamed Pavarti as they appeared in front of the Black Cat five minutes later. She immediately engulfed them both in a bone crushing hug.
"If you don't let them go I think Hermione might pass out." Said Katie dryly behind them walking arm and arm with Lavender.
"Let's get inside, I'm freezing!" Lavender shivered and pushed past them to lead the way.
The Black Cat was a new restaurant that Hermione had been dying to try and was one of the more compelling reasons for accepting the girls night out invitation. Apparently, Lavender, who worked in the minister of magic's office, had pulled a few strings to get them the reservation as it had been booked full since it opened six months ago.
The host checked their reservation and led them around a corner to their table. Hermione, distracted while rummaging in her purse, walked straight into someone coming around the corner.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" She began.
"Chiedo Venia-"
She froze, she knew that voice. Shocked, she looked up at the person she ran into. "Blaise?"
He looked just as surprised as she was. "Hermione?"
Apparently they were on a first name basis now. Hermione tucked that revilation away to deal with later.
The other girls had been oblivious to her mishap and had been sat at a table further into the room. Now they were all watching her with expressions ranging from discrete curiosity to unabashed interest.
"oh -um- how are you?" She asked awkwardly.
He looked better than the desperate dishevelled mess he had been the last time she had seen him. The dark bruising crescents under his eyes were gone, his curls once again untangled and roguishly styled and he was dressed in a beautifully tailored cream suit.
His dark eyes flicked over to her waiting group and then back to her. He raised one eyebrow as if asking her if she was sure she wanted to be standing in public talking to him, in full view of her friends.
She felt a blush threaten to rise to her cheeks but she tipped her chin up and met his eyes defiantly. It wasn't like they were illicit lovers meeting in a back alley, they weren't doing anything wrong having a polite conversation in public. If she was going to champion social reform about how society treated former Death Eaters she needed to lead by example.
A slow smile spread across Blaise's angular face as he realised she wasn't going to scurry away. Hermione had noticed that he was hardly ever without a grin on his lips but she was fairly certain this was the first time she had seen a genuine smile from him. And, it was breathtaking.
"I am well, grazie." He said "I just stepped out to pick up some dinner for a friend who is under the weather."
Hermione chewed her lip nervously. "oh, I hope your.. friend feels better." She let the implied question hang between them.
She might be talking to him openly but asking about Malfoy's condition seemed like taking it a step too far, especially with her friends watching them a few feet away.
"Si, yes I believe he will be good as new in a few days. I will let him know you inquired after his health." Blaise told her, his eyes flashed over her shoulder where Ginny had just gotten to her feet. "Perdonami, I am keeping you from your dinner and your friends, I will take my leave. Goodnight Hermione"
He never took his eyes away from hers as he took her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles, this time Hermione did blush.
"And by the way, Hermione." He told her, straightening up. "You look stunning in green" He gave her a wink.
Ginny came and slid her arm though Hermione's as they watched Blasie leave.
"Well that was… something. You didn't tell me that Zabini turned out looking like that. Shoot, I'd volunteer to help with your little side quest just to get an eyeful of him if I didn't have the world's most amazing boyfriend already." Ginny said, grinning. "Need to tell me anything before we head back to our table and you get flayed alive for information? Because I'm pretty sure Lavender is going to have an aneurysm if we don't get back to the table."
Hermione shook her head, her cheeks still warm.
"Right, well then good luck" Ginny whispered as they headed back to the table.
Hermione thought she had navigated the birage of questions the other girls bombarded her with rather well.
Lavender wanted to know how they knew each other. We ran into each other at the Ministry a few days ago.
Katie wanted to know why he was in town. I'm not sure, probably something to do with business, it really didn't come up in conversation.
Pavarti wanted to know if he was single. Honestly Pavarti, how would I know that?
Ginny merely sipped her martini and smiled, refraining from engaging with the other girl's interrogation.
Eventually, with some guidance from Ginny, the conversation moved on to other things. No longer the centre of scrutiny, Hermione relaxed and let the conversation move around her as she contemplated her interaction with Blaise.
Apparently they were now on a first name basis. After what they had gone through with Malfoy she couldn't be really surprised and she found that it didn't really didn't bother her as it once might have. She found that she was starting to like Blasie, he was very different from the memories she had of him from school.
Maybe it was his easy charm, or maybe it was his quick wit and the way he seemed to laugh at everyone, including himself. Or maybe it was the way that when she had seen him with Malfoy that night, she had seen a reflection of the devotion and desperation she had felt anytime Harry was in danger.
Hermione wished that Blaise had been able to tell her more but Malfoy was obviously recovering and in good hands. Oddly more at peace than she had been before the night started, Hermione brought her attention back to her group of friends. It was girls night and she resolved not to think about the three Slytherins for the rest of the evening.
A/N: I promise I havent forgotten the story! I'm hoping to be bc publising more regularly after his week 3 Thank you for your patience!