Chance Encounters

Chapter 6:

3 October (present day)

Porcelain cups and saucers clinked as Kieran sat at Hermione's kitchen table. "Here. Your favorite." He pushed the cup towards her. "Just the way you like it," he encouraged her to take it. The tea warmed the cup and from there Hermione's frigid fingers as she lifted it to her lips.

"He's just like the other Italians, isn't he?" Kieran asked. She explained the situation once they arrived at her flat. "I expected better of him. After all, he had a fine British education." He shared a small smile with Hermione. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. I was stupid. I fell into the same trap again." She shook her head. She began to speak again, but stopped when her breath caught. Pausing a moment, she waited to start again. "I really should have known better."

"What happened?" Kieran asked. "At school, that is. Obviously, something happened."

Hermione smiled to herself, stirring her tea she didn't look at Kieran when she admitted, "Actually, we were together in sixth year. No one knew, for obvious reasons."

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1 September 1996

Vibrant greens flew past the windows of the train as Hermione walked with Ron to the Prefects' car on the Hogwarts Express. Ron was grumbling about having to go to the rotten meetings all the time. "Oh, stuff it, Ronald."

Ron looked up sharply. He only got called 'Ronald' by his mother or Hermione, but only when she was in her snippiest of moods. "You all right?"

"Yes, I just have a headache and you aren't making it any better." Ron understood. With the two attacks that occurred in the last month, Hermione had been more on edge than ever. Everyone was, but as a Muggleborn the effect on her was more drastic.

Between his two best friends, Ron had quite a problem staying in any sort of good mood, but upon entering the front car he found the absence of one Draco Malfoy a comfort. The quiet Blaise Zabini sat next to Pansy Parkinson reading a book as the annoying blond talked incessantly.

"Look on the bright side, Hermione. That prat's gone."

"Hmm?" Hermione was distracted by Blaise's presence, but for different reasons than Ron.

"Malfoy. Looks like Dumbledore's got some brains about him after all. Serves him right, Death Eater son of a -"

"Ron!"

"Sorry." Ron hung his head before taking a seat next to Ernie MacMillian.

After the meeting concluded, Ron was eager to run back to the compartment they would share with Harry. He kept pulling on Hermione's sleeve as she talked with Hannah Abbott. "Go on without me," she said finally. "I'll be there soon enough." With this, Ron ran off towards freedom.

Finishing her conversation with Hannah, Hermione discovered that Ron wasn't the only one who was waiting for her. Blaise got up from his seat to talk with her the moment Hannah left. "Hey, how was your summer?"

"It was good, for the most part. My family and I went on holiday to Spain, which was lovely." Hermione shifted her weight on her feet and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear in nervous energy. "And you?"

"I enjoyed myself. We spent it at my family's villa in Italy." Blaise smiled sheepishly at her. He looked good for the summer in Italy, tan, tall, and toned. "I was wondering how you were. With all the, um ... recent news?"

Hermione's expression darkened with the renewed images of the summer once back in England brought to mind. "Physically, yeah, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't more than a little rattled."

Blaise's eyebrows formed a straight line and his eyes showed his concern. "I'm sorry. Unfortunately it's what comes with war." He rubbed her arm and she held his hand, her eyes watering. "It'll be all right." Both of them knew these were just words and that there was no longer any certainty, but he pulled her into a hug and for the moment, everything was more than all right.

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19 September 1996

"Happy Birthday." were the whispered words in Hermione's ear at the beginning of Ancient Runes. It caused excitement to run through her and she knew that the dark Slytherin that sat behind her in class was the cause of it.

Hermione took notes just as diligently as she ever had through Ancient Runes while Blaise did the same from his seat behind her. After class, he walked with her to her next class, under the ruse that he had a class in the same part of the castle.

He didn't.

"I was going to go over the translations we were given in class later tonight. Would you like to as well?" Blaise asked.

"Yeah, that would be great." Hermione smiled. Blaise lightly touched her shoulder before leaving for his next class sharing the smile.

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27 October 1996

"I didn't ask you, insufferable know-it-all," Snape spat at Hermione, an epithet that was uttered many a class period, yet still stung her. "Class dismissed," barely left the professor's lips before she grabbed her things and left the dungeons.

As the class let, out Blaise took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do. He trusted his head of House and felt a certain level of camaraderie with him, but there was still a stigma to break.

"Perhaps, sir, 'know-it-all' is not the most correct term and 'insufferable' seemed to put an edge on it that wasn't needed. With Hermione, that is. You can be a bit harsh on her if I may say so," Blaise said hurriedly, all in one breath. Apparently, Hermione was rubbing off on him.

"You may," he drawled. Snape looked at his pupil critically for a moment. He had known where the boy's allegiance lay for some time now, but never suspected him of this. "Be careful there, Zabini." His voice had lowered itself considerably. "You are stepping into treacherous territory and with events the way they are, you will want to make sure of your footing."

Blaise looked at his esteemed professor in shock at both his insight and straightforwardness. "I, uh," he shook his head clearly unsure of where he stood at that moment.

"Don't." The professor put up his hand to stop the boy from continuing. "I understand the ... temptations of a young heart," Blaise made a face that Snape waved away. "Don't give me that. I know where this is coming from. Just be careful. I know the difficulties you're bound to face." The older man seemed to be telling Blaise more than he could understand or the professor was at liberty to say, but he recognized a warning when he heard one.

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2 December 1996

Standing on the terrace outside the Prefects Common Room, Hermione let the cold surround her, clearing her head. It was well below freezing, but it did not bother her. The wind blew around her as snow fell from the sky.

The last Prefects Meeting of the year had just ended and Hermione came out to watch the snow fall. She liked the snow falling on her face leaving a light dusting across her shoulders and on her hair. Watching the grounds she enjoyed the peaceful beauty of it all. A soft click of the door to the commons alerted her to the arrival of another person on the terrace.

"A bit cold out, no?" Blaise asked once he'd come closer. He leaned back against the low wall. Turning to look at Hermione he saw the distant look in her eyes. She smiled, looking far off in the distance to the lake.

"I suppose, but it's nice." Hermione turned to look at Blaise. "It was hot inside. I just wanted to cool off."

"You aren't cold then?"

"Not yet. You?"

"I'm fine," Blaise said. "As long as you are near." He raised his eyebrows causing Hermione to laugh. "What?"

"That wasn't cheesy at all," she said sarcastically.

"All right," he conceded. "But it's true. I don't mind the cold."

The wintry weather brought out a healthy pink to both Hermione and Blaise's cheeks. He moved closer to her. Their breath mingled, crystallized in the frozen air. Looking at the full moon, Hermione sighed.

"What is it?" Blaise asked, placing a hand on hers.

"It's just beautiful."

"Yes," he agreed, looking at her instead of the moon. The magic that nature wielded invoked a small fear inside of him. The combination of anxiety and wonder that comes with the knowledge that something marvelous is about to happen. This feeling overwhelmed him at the moment and he was sure Hermione could feel it too as she finally shuddered, but he thought that might be due to the cold. "There's a halo around it," he pointed out. "You know what that means don't you?" he asked wickedly.

"It's going to precipitate?"

"No, you hopeless academic." He looked down at her, lowering his voice. "It's a benediction." A mischievous smile tugged at the corner his mouth. Hermione switched her gaze from the moon to catch his eyes. One eyebrow rose.

Hermione and Blaise were very close, their shoulders touched as they looked into each other's eyes. He reached out to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, leaving his hand there. In that quiet moment the wind blew, rustling the trees, but neither noticed, nor cared. He moved in and kissed her, gently at first. Tentative and unsure, they got comfortable with each other. Breaking apart for a moment, they smiled and laughed nervously.

The second kiss was deeper and more passionate. Blaise's hands went to Hermione's hair. Pulling away, Blaise took a moment to look into her eyes. She reached up to push a curl off his face and he could smell the fertile soil on her hands from Herbology earlier that day.

Looking up at Blaise, Hermione felt as if her heart would break into a million pieces, because she was sure that it was impossible to contain this much happiness in such a small space. She sighed as he moved in again. A moment before their lips reached each other a thestral burst from the trees over the forest, startling the two of them.

Blaise instinctively put his arms around Hermione protectively as she jumped, pressing herself further into them. She tried to calm her breathing as he smoothed her hair holding her close murmuring, "It's all right. Everything's okay." He looked around the grounds, assessing the situation as he tried to calm Hermione. He quickly realized that though there was no present threat, he recognized how vulnerable they were; how vulnerable Hermione was.

"We should go inside," Blaise whispered, his voice husky and breathless. She nodded against his chest. Releasing her grip, she looked up at Blaise. She was calmer and her breath was resuming its normal pace. "You all right?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She looked at him and blushed. "I was just startled."

Blaise brushed away some hair from Hermione's forehead and kissed her again. "We really should go inside," Hermione said. He nodded in perfect agreement, took her hand, and walked back to the castle with her.

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The next day in Ancient Runes, Blaise moved to the seat next to Hermione and no one said anything. They would barely talk, but exchanged quick glances when no one was looking and felt an electric spark between them whenever their arms grazed accidentally.

It was another week and a half before they could spend any time with each other and even then it was nothing more than studying in the library. They had agreed that it was smarter to wait weeks if they had to in order to spend time together rather than rush and make mistakes. The Room of Requirement kept creeping into the back of Hermione's mind, but she pushed it back out as she didn't see teenage hormones as a need.

They were in Advanced Transfiguration one afternoon, two months after their first encounter, when Malfoy walked in talking louder and brandishing the Daily Prophet like Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket. "Interesting news, Mudblood," he spat when he came even with Hermione's desk. "It's been such a long time since the last attack, many thought they'd ended," he drawled looking down his nose at her. "Guess not." With his final words he flopped the paper on her desk.

Hermione saw past Malfoy to where Blaise sat, anger welling up inside of him, growing red. But Blaise was no Ron, who was currently being held back by Harry behind Hermione. Instead, Blaise sat there controlling his temper as Hermione dealt with Malfoy. Picking up the paper, she threw it back at the pale blond. "Thanks, but I don't need a paper dirtied by your hands. I have my own."

Malfoy looked disgusted that Hermione would insinuate that he was the one that was tainted and not her, but before he could respond Professor McGonagall came into the room. "Malfoy, Weasley, sit," was enough to get the little ferret out of Hermione's hair.

As the professor began class, Hermione calmed her nerves while listening to Ron muttering obscenities under his breath. The news that morning had unsettled her. She thought the Order was doing better, but it didn't seem to be the case. Looking across the room her eyes came in contact with Blaise's who smiled at her reassuringly, making her feel worlds better.

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16 April 1997

Three students are dead, three students. The thought ran continuously through Hermione's head as she made her way through the castle. Trying to calm her nerves, she rationalized that three students out of a thousand were very good odds that Blaise was perfectly fine. But a worry still prickled in her mind.

It was five o'clock in the morning, but the entire school was awake and alert. Hermione remembered the sound of the first years crying as she left the Common Room ten minutes ago, leaving the other Prefects in charge. She couldn't handle the immensity of the situation. I have to find Blaise. It was the thought that pushed her into the abandoned hallways in the first place.

At midnight, a large group of Death Eaters attacked the school under the cloak of night. In the chaos, students were moved from place to place as Harry and other DA members tried to help the faculty by taking charge among the students. Four teachers were killed along with three students, though many more were hurt during the ensuing battle. Hermione had missed the brunt of it, but her nerves reminded her that she wasn't completely fine.

"I can't tell you which members of this school are hurt or worse at the moment," Hermione remembered Professor McGonagall telling the Gryffindors not half an hour ago. "We honestly don't know." The Head of House took a deep breath, "We do know that the damage is extensive. At least four professors and three students," another breath, "Are dead."

Hermione whispered something quickly to Ron before leaving the Tower dodging both his questions and the responsibility she should have taken for her House.

This is stupid, her mind scolded, reckless. Hermione knew it was, but knew that she had no choice but to look for him, she would never sleep if she didn't.

"Ahh, Miss Granger, I thought you would know better than to be sneaking around now," an eerily cold voice accosted her ears. Turning, Hermione found herself in the presence of Nearly Headless Nick and she gave a sigh of relief. "Students..." he tutted. "I would think after tonight's events you would all be happily hiding in your Houses, but no. You aren't the only one roaming around tonight."

Hermione's ears pricked up at this. "Who? Who else is up?" She looked around quickly to see if she could see anyone from here.

"Anxious aren't you?" Nick shook his head, which wobbled precariously. "Then I won't hold it from you, especially if that'll only keep you in harm's way longer."

"Who is it then?" Hermione was growing impatient.

"I saw Terry Boot headed toward the Hospital Wing. The Malfoy heir was creeping around the Ravenclaw entrance for a while. He found what he was looking for in a certain Ms. Patil." Hermione raised an eyebrow at this. "Edmee Stebbins wasn't in the Hufflepuff commons either, but I don't think that's who you are looking for, but if you go back up one floor you'll find Mr. Zabini. Don't look so shocked and hurry back to bed." Nick moved along his way muttering to himself about death-defying students running around at all hours of the night.

Hermione raced to the fifth floor, looking for Blaise. Her senses were heightened to their fullest potential as she heard someone ahead moving slowly in the corridor. Holding her breath, she waited for the person to come closer, fearing that all the Death Eaters hadn't really left the school.

"Hermione?" Blaise's voice reached out to her through the darkness.

Hermione's whole body relaxed hearing his voice. "Blaise?" Holding onto the wall they made their way towards each other meeting in front of a portrait of a group of nuns. "Blaise."

Blaise wrapped his arms around Hermione as if he never planned to let go. "Hermione," he breathed between kisses covering her face. "You're all right." Hermione heard the shakiness in his voice that she was sure was apparent in hers as well.

"Yeah, so are you." Relief washed over her. Her hand reached to feel his face, making sure it was real. His mouth captured hers ferociously causing the scandalized nuns to gasp.

"I was so worried," he said breathlessly after breaking apart.

"I don't want to even think about what I thought could have happened. I, oh, I'm so glad you're all right." They embraced again. Lips never parted as hands explored each other's bodies.

Hermione pulled up on his shirt, letting her fingers feel the warm flesh below. His lips traveled down the column of her neck, sucking softly on the tender soft tissue bringing moans to the surface from Hermione's throat.

Blaise began to unbutton Hermione's oxford like he had many times before, needing her now more than ever. Needing to be reminded how to live more than ever. His kisses returned to her mouth and she pulled his bottom lip into it.

It was easy to forget everything with him solidly before her. His fingers grazed her chest. The shivers the motion sent down her spine woke Hermione up to the reality they now faced.

"We have to stop."

"No," he moaned in her ear. "Not now."

"Yes, now," she disagreed, even though she felt the bulge of desire against her belly and the warmth between her thighs that ached for this. "We shouldn't be doing this," she said while Blaise sucked at her neck. "If anyone ever found out..."

"Shh, no one will find out."

Hermione pulled out of his grasp. "No, I'm serious. This is serious."

"What? I, what?" Blaise was beyond confused. Why was she doing this? Why was she buttoning her shirt? What did he do? "What did I do?"

"It's not you. It's this. It's us. It's tonight. It's everything." She was on the verge of crying. Seeing this, Blaise forgot about his more primal urges and took her into his arms. When he did, the tears that had threatened to release through the night poured out, her body shaking with the force of it.

"We can't stay together," Hermione said finally after a few minutes. "There is a war. And this?" Hermione gestured between them frantically. She was shaking and hysterical. "This means nothing to ruthless asshole Death Eaters."

"What are you saying?"

"We should break up," Hermione's voice betrayed her.

"No, you don't believe what you are saying."

"It only makes sense and I think that -"

"No, none of that. What does logic matter after four months? I love you, Hermione." Blaise pulled her close to him again, on the brink of tears himself.

Hermione pulled away. She had stopped crying. It wasn't the first time she heard those words from him, but it did make this harder. "It's no longer safe, Blaise."

"I need you. Don't you need me?" His eyes begged that the answer was yes. "We can get through this together. I want us to get through this together."

Hermione raised a hand to Blaise's cheek looking deep into his eyes. "I'm sorry." Hermione stoically held her resolve. It's for the best. It's the only way we'll be safe, she told herself, hoping it was true, but wishing she didn't have to follow through with it. "Please forgive me." She gave him one last kiss before leaving him in the corridor alone.

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3 October (present day)

The sun cast long, golden shadows across Hermione's living room where she and Kieran sat talking. She had long since retrieved her favorite blanket and wrapped it around her cold shoulders. Hermione shared a long look with her colleague and smiled sadly. "Needless to say, we broke up." Hermione took a long sip of tea.

"But he wanted to be with you." He shook his head. "I don't understand. There has to be more."

The fireplace burst into flame at that moment and Harry's head appeared in the fire. "Hullo!" he called cheerily until he got a good look at the scene in front of the fire. Hermione's red eyes and tear-stained cheeks were enough for him to know something had gone terribly wrong. "One minute." Harry's head disappeared and the fire died down. A moment later the fire came back larger than before followed shortly by the famous wizard himself. "What happened?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Kieran said quietly from his seat on the sofa.

"Oh, it's all the same, Harry." Hermione almost began crying again. "Remember seventh year?" Harry nodded. "It's all the same."

"That arse-faced weasel!" Harry paced the room a moment before noticing Kieran for the first time. "Oi! Who's this bloke?"

"Kieran, Harry. Harry, Kieran. Kieran's the Research Assistant in my office and went to Hogwarts a couple years behind us. Harry's the wizard that saved the world." Hermione hastily introduced them. They shared a look and a smile.

"Kieran?" Harry asked rolling the name around his tongue, getting a feel for it. "Good to meet you."

"I can't say that it's anything, but a delight to meet the famous Harry Potter." Kieran turned red immediately. "I didn't mean that. You aren't just Harry Potter and I kn--"

"It's all right. Mistakes happen," Harry cut the stuttering man off before making the situation worse. Hermione, in a better state of mind, would have been surprised by the little amount of offense Harry took to being celebratized. "You've been helping Hermione out then? I must say that I, unfortunately, haven't heard much about you before."

"Well, I'm just the office boy." Kieran smiled at Harry. Harry smiled at Kieran. Hermione let out a gracelessly ill-timed sob into her handkerchief reminding all parties why they were at her flat in the first place.

Harry turned to Hermione replacing the look of annoyance at her timing with one of compassion. "I warned that bastard not to mess with you. What did he do? I thought everything was going well."

Hermione was just about to go into her tirade of the atrocities the gorgeous Italian committed when a knock came from the front door. The three occupants of the flat stared at the door frozen.

"Answer the door, Hermione," Kieran whispered.

"No. I don't want to and you can't make me," she responded, equally quiet.

Harry rolled his eyes at her and went to the door. On the other side stood an oblivious Blaise Zabini with flowers in hand.

"Hi." Blaise said cheerily. "Is Hermione here?"

Harry looked the former Slytherin up and down and then swung at him.

"Fucking hell, Potter!"

"I told you to leave her alone!" Harry shouted before slamming the door shut.

"Harry!" Hermione jumped from her seat and ran for the door. She opening it to find blood coming out behind the hands Blaise used to cover his nose. The flowers he brought had fallen to the ground, forgotten and blood splattered. "Blaise? What are you doing here?"