Serendipity

Ron did not speak to Hermione for a full week before he broke down and apologized. Hermione accepted, but wondered how long Ron would have waited to apologize had she admitted to liking Blaise. The next meeting of DA was also on the last day of the term. With most of the members showing up, Blaise would hopefully be lost in the crowd, not causing much of a fuss.

Along with the DA meeting on Thursday, the first week of December brought two announcements, one for a Hogsmeade weekend and another about the Winter Ball, the second prefect event. Hannah Abbot's group had gone with their idea for a dance, bringing excitement to the school. Unlike the Yule Ball, this dance was open to the entire school, and was due to occur before the students left for the holidays.

The days leading up to DA renewed the tension between Ron and Hermione. They were perfectly civil, but Harry felt caught between the two. Hermione worried for Blaise's sake, while knowing he would be a good addition to the group.

That Thursday, Hermione met up with Blaise outside the Prefects Commons. "Ready?" she asked.

"We'll find out, won't we," he smiled, but looked a little nervous. They talked about the details of their festival as they walked before getting quiet at the Room of Requirement. Hermione had made sure they would arrive in the middle, not too early and not too late to be noticed in any way.

There were about twenty people in the room when they arrived. Harry nodded to them as Ron glared at Blaise. The few others that noticed Blaise did not say anything, but watched him constantly. As more people drifted in, the mood became more festive. Dobby had decorated again for the season and set out some treats for the group.

It looked as if no one would mention the Slytherin's presence, but that all changed when Zacharias Smith arrived. The sixth year Hufflepuff could not have held his tongue even if someone had glued his fingers to it. "What are you doing here?" Zacharias swaggered right up to Hermione and Blaise. "Don't you know this is Defense Against the Dark Arts? Not practice to do Dark Arts."

"Stop it, Zacharias. Blaise is here to learn how to defend himself, just like everyone else," Hermione stated. Blaise put his hand on her arm as if to stop her from fighting.

Zacharias laughed to a friend of his behind him. "That's likely."

"Shove it, Smith." Ron was standing up for Blaise. Hermione could not believe her eyes. Ron glared at Zacharias, daring him to say something else.

"He's in Slytherin." Zacharias looked around, his hands out as if this was such simple logic; no one should want him in the group.

"And you're in Hufflepuff. Your point?" Harry stepped in between Blaise and Zacharias. "He is already here and has signed our agreement. He follows the same rules as everyone else. Rules that do not include room for fighting among members." Harry looked pointedly at Zacharias, then at the rest of the group. "It looks like we're mostly here, so let's get started. I thought we'd practice the Patronus charm for the new guys. We'll begin new stuff next term."

People separated into smaller groups to practice. Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Blaise remained near the front for another moment. "Good, that should be settled," Hermione said, relieved.

"It's all right. I never expected to be welcomed with open arms." Blaise had been quiet throughout the whole incident, as if not wanting to cause more trouble.

"For now, at least, everyone seems okay. I'm going to check up on everyone. You three all right?" When the others nodded, Harry left to check on Lavender and Parvati's progress, before they, too separated. Hermione worked with Blaise and two fourth years for the duration of the meeting.

After an hour, Harry called for people to wrap up. Many left quickly, as there was still two weeks until the holidays. Zacharias had stayed in a bad mood most of the night, but surprisingly came up to shake Blaise's hand and apologize before leaving.

Hermione and Blaise left together. "That went well, no?" Hermione was nervous about his reaction.

"That was brilliant. How long have you been able to produce a Patronus?" he asked.

"Just last year, thanks to Harry. So, you enjoyed yourself?" Hermione looked up at Blaise.

"I loved it." He touched her arm, just like when she was arguing with Zacharias. She stopped and turned to him. "Uh, thanks." He seemed nervous, too. "Thanks for standing up for me with Zacharias. You didn't have to, but -"

"I did. Don't worry about it. I know you could have handled it yourself -"

"No, it was fine. Thank you." He brushed his hair out of his eyes only to have it fall back into place. "I was wondering something actually."

"Yes?" The tension between them was pleasant with anticipation.

"The second prefect event is next week. I thought - that is, I was wondering, if -" He kept stopping, driving Hermione crazy. "Are you going?"

"I was planning on it, but -" At that moment someone called her name from down the hall. Ron turned a corner seconds later. Hermione groaned inwardly. "Oh, hi, Ron." She gave him a look telling him that now was not the time.

"How are ya, mate?" Blaise tried to play nice with the redhead even as Ron glared at him. Hermione thought Blaise's cheeks looked slightly pink, but maybe that was the lighting.

"Fine." Ron did not seem to have time for the dark haired boy. "Where are you off to, Hermione? You're miles away from the tower."

Hermione realized that she had no clue as to where she was headed. "I was just about to head back there," she lied. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Ron seemed to be in less of a rush than before. "Just wanted to walk back with you."

"I see," she looked at Blaise and back at Ron. It did not look like there was much of a way out of it. "All right then. Goodnight, Blaise. I'm glad you came. See you on Tuesday?"

"If not before then." Nodding his head, Blaise ducked out of the hallway under Ron's watchful eyes.

Hermione was not sure what was about to happen moments before Ron arrived, but she liked the way Blaise's hand felt on her arm and the feeling she got in the pit of her stomach when she looked into his eyes. It did not matter what could have happened as Ron now diverted her attention. "So, what's new?" she asked.

"Not much. Good meeting tonight, huh? That is, with the exception of Smith, but he's an ass." Ron put his arm around Hermione.

"Ron!" Hermione slipped out of his embrace, stepping back looking shocked.

"What?" he grinned at her.

Hermione decided that she liked being on Ron's good side, and now that he was speaking to her again she would stay there if she could help it. "I thought you didn't like that Blaise was coming to DA. Thanks for sticking up for him to Zacharias."

"Yeah, I guess I did." He looked uncertain and scratched his head. "I still don't know about him, Hermione. But everything about Smith bugs me, so it was a, uh, a choosing between two evils. I guess I just decided Zabini's better than Smith, if only by a little." He smiled at her. He seemed to be in a right jolly mood now that Blaise had left.

"Overall, I think the evening went very well," Hermione assessed.

"Next week should be great. Hogsmeade and the dance the night before the holidays," Ron, put his arm around Hermione again. "Are you going to the dance?"

Hermione thought of Blaise. He had asked that very question when Ron interrupted. "Planning on it."

He looked at her sideways and seemed a bit unsure of himself. "Wannagowithme?"

She did not answer right away. It seemed to her that Blaise was about to ask that question of her minutes ago, but he had not officially asked. She was not bound to his almost question. Instead, she was faced with an invitation that would have had her floating on air, if it had been two years earlier.

Deciding that any date was better than a possibility of no date, she answered Ron. "I would like that a lot." She paused when she saw him beam. "It should be lots of fun to go with a good friend."

She saw his face fall and knew she said the right thing. Ron had feelings for her that she could not reciprocate. It was unfair to him if she lead him on thinking this date was anything more than a night out with a friend.

"Darling, you please me so with your acceptance." Ron was playing off his hurt by using his brothers' favorite tactic: humor. They had arrived at the Fat Lady's portrait who opened up quite willingly, not seeming to care about their late night wanderings.

She curtsied to him, playing along with his joke. "No, kind sir, you flatter me with your invitation." She came back up again and smiled. "Thank you. I'm looking forward to it."

"It should be good," Ron said, still trying to keep up appearances.

"Goodnight, Ron." They separated in the Common Room to go to bed. Hermione felt horrible about what had just happened. She had accepted his invitation, but she still felt like she had hurt him. Thinking about Blaise earlier that night made her feel better. Hermione had felt special in his gaze. How one person could make her pulse race and another leave her feeling nothing with the very same words, Hermione would never understand.

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Before the dance, everyone paired off. It seemed that Harry asked Lavender after DA the other night and the two could be seen exchanging quick, embarrassed glances across the Common Room at each other. Others paired up as well. Malfoy was going with Pansy, who was not quiet in her attempt to let everyone know this. Ron had come to accept that Ginny was going with Dean and that Dean was a decent enough human being to take out his little sister. He was, after all, more concerned with making the best impression on Hermione the night of the dance.

Hermione's Prefect group that Tuesday would be the last for the term. Hermione and Blaise decided to get some treats from the kitchens for their group in celebration. They spent the short meeting looking over contracts and making plans for the next term as crunch time was quickly approaching. Afterwards, Hermione stayed to help Blaise clean up the Commons.

He cleared his throat after a few minutes. "I was going to ask you something the other night." Hermione looked at him from across the room where she had been gathering plates. "Um, if you aren't going to the dance with anyone," Hermione's heart fell as she realized she had missed her chance. He brought his eyes even with hers. "Do you want to go wi-"

"Ron asked me the other night." Hermione hurriedly cut him off. She could not bear to hear him finish the invitation. It was better somehow if the question was never completed, if only in her mind. "We're going as friends." She silently cursed Ron's timing.

"I see," Blaise continued cleaning up. He cleared his throat. "I hope I'll be able to steal a dance, then?" He asked with a small smile.

Hermione smiled back at him. "I think I can fit that in." She then handed him a plate of sweets that was to go back to the kitchens.

"Good." They locked eyes and stood there next to each other not moving for a moment with only the plate between them. Blaise's head had just begun to incline towards hers when the clock struck eleven.

"Curfew," she said as she pulled back. They said goodnight and left the Commons separately, but both a bit more flustered than when they had arrived. Hermione wondered exactly what was happening between her and her new friend, but decided that whatever it was she liked it.

Harry noticed when she arrived at the Gryffindor Tower. "Good night?" he asked.

Hermione flopped on the couch next to him. "How did you know?"

"The big grin, pink flush, general giddiness. Honestly, Hermione, it wasn't hard to spot." He put down the book he was reading. "How's Blaise?"

"Harry, it's not -" She was cut off by Harry.

"Tell the truth."

"He's," she thought of all the things he was and settled on, "he's good."

"Is he?" Harry laughed at Hermione.

"Not like that." Hermione's blush increased.

"So, Lavender said yes?" She changed subjects so that it was Harry's turn to blush.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to this dance more than in fourth year."

"You don't have to be a featured dancer this time," she pointed out.

"You said yes to Ron, you know." Harry had been meaning to ask about this for a few days now.

"I know. We're going as friends."

"Does he know?"

"I told him. What did he tell you?" Hermione looked worried.

"I think he seems to think he can change your mind if he impresses you Saturday." Harry shared her worried look. "I like having my two best friends talking to each other. Don't lead him on, but don't hurt him, either."

"Harry, I -"

"You know better than that, I know. I just had to say it, in case." Harry looked slightly embarrassed.

"Thank you, Harry. I don't want to hurt him either." Hermione picked up her books again. "I do need to go to bed, though. And as we are the only ones seemingly still awake, I think perhaps you should also try sleeping." She looked at the bags under his eyes and knew he had not been sleeping. "You will, won't you?"

"I'll go up in a minute." She felt he was lying, but could not do anything about it.

"Goodnight, then." She headed upstairs, thinking dreamily about her conversation with Blaise despite worrying over her two best friends.

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The Winter Ball was all that the Yule Ball was, without the champions' featured dancing. Organized by three girls and Colin Creevey, the event was full of the "mushy stuff" that both Ron and Harry feared. Fairy lights were outside in the rose bushes, a D.J. played music for dancing, and the couples nervously flirted throughout the night.

Hermione spent less time getting ready for this event than she had for the Yule Ball. Being a featured dancer was enough pressure for even the most confident of girls to wonder if they looked their best. This year she wore simple, but elegant dress robes of dark blue. She had attempted to tame her hair with more pins than she could count until she received the approval of her dorm mates.

Ron had cleaned himself up a bit with robes his brothers had bought him. He had also purchased a corsage for Hermione. He anxiously waited for her in the Common Room with Harry and Lavender. When she came down the stairs from her dorm, she noticed the corsage and felt extremely touched that Ron would think of such a thing. The four walked to the Great Hall as a group; Harry and Lavender left to dance quickly after arriving.

Ron then turned to Hermione asking her to dance. They danced a couple of fast songs, before a slow dance confronted them. Ron looked awkward as he asked Hermione to dance once more, which she accepted.

'The problem with slow dances is the intimacy,' Hermione thought. 'While dancing, there are few places to look.' Hermione felt awkward looking directly at Ron and rude when she did not maintain eye contact. However, she found that she was more comfortable being rude.

Looking around the dance floor her eyes found Blaise. Standing with Theodore and Millicent, he watched others dancing and seemed quite content not participating. He looked rather dazzling in his classically styled dress robes of burgundy. Her insides ached slightly. She could have been here with him, but instead she was clumsily making her way through the dance floor with Ron.

"Hermione? Are you all right?"

She looked up at Ron. "Hmm?"

"That was the third time I stepped on your toes. Are you all right?" His forehead creased with lines of worry.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine." She had to learn to pay attention to her date.

"You don't want to be here with me," voicing her exact thoughts.

"No, Ron. I -"

"Want to be here with Blaise. Don't you?" Ron looked her in the eyes. "Tell me the truth." She could see pain in his eyes, but they were lacking any anger that she usually found there whenever boys came up.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Go on over, spend some time with the guy." He tried to smile. "I don't like it, but maybe you two still can have some fun." He adjusted his robes. "Besides, it's better that I'm single tonight. That way I don't have to spread myself too thin for all the ladies." Ron attempted another weak smile.

She laughed. "Thank you."

Hermione was taken aback by his understanding. Two things amazed her by his reaction to her feelings for Blaise. As long as she had known Ron, he had hated Slytherins of any kind and ever since fourth year, he had hated any boy that was interested in her. Yet, here Ron was, giving his blessing for Hermione to spend the rest of their date with another boy.

Hermione walked over to the table in the back corner of the hall. She was not sure what to do. It did not seem possible for her to simply walk up to Blaise after that. Instead, she people-watched.

"It's not every day you see so many colors in the Great Hall." She turned to find that it was Blaise who had whispered in her ear. It seemed that her observation skills were not what they should have been. Hermione never noticed Blaise slip away from his group.

She smiled. "Hi," she said lamely.

"Want to go for a walk?" She had expected him to ask her for a dance, but Hermione had come to realize that her expectations were being knocked down one by one, like bowling pins in a Muggle bowling alley. She nodded her agreement and the two left the Great Hall together, his hand on the small of her back.

"Having a good time?" Hermione asked as they walked outside, glad she had brought her warm cloak.

He shrugged. "As good as you can when you don't dance." He smiled. "Yourself?"

"As good as you can when you've just let a good friend down." It was her turn to shrug as he looked at her with concern. "It's all right."

"Ron didn't think you two were going just as friends." It was a statement more than a question.

"I told him, but I guess he didn't believe me." She looked up at him.

"How did he take it?"

"Better than expected. I felt bad that he still thought of it as a real date."

"He probably couldn't help himself." Blaise's face reflected the surprise that Hermione felt. He seemed, for once, as if he did not have control over his own tongue. There went another one of her expectations.

Looking at the sky, Hermione changed topics. "The stars are amazing. It's such a clear night."

His crooked smile told her that he saw right through her attempt to change the subject. "You can't be everything to everyone."

"I know that. I just wish things wouldn't change."

"Really?" Blaise looked doubtful.

"In regards to Ron." She walked towards a rose bush. "Thank you for inviting me. I meant to tell you that. Even though we aren't really here together, I wish we were." They had not talked about the invitation when they had seen each other this week, but Hermione thought now was as good a time as ever to put it on the table.

"It's better in a way." He walked next to her. "Millicent pointed out that it wouldn't really work the way we'd want, would it?"

She stopped walking to look at him. "You aren't making sense. What do you mean, we wouldn't work out?"

"Smith said it last week." He scrunched up his hair in frustration. "I'm in Slytherin. There are certain rules you follow, even if you aren't into the whole conformity thing."

"You're glad I didn't accept your invitation?" She looked at him beyond confusion.

"No, not like that, Hermione, I didn't mean that," Blaise rushed to calm her down. "It just doesn't work that way all the time."

"It's because I'm Muggleborn, isn't it?" The question hung in the air for a moment.

"What?" Blaise was not sure where he went wrong, but he was sure somehow that this was all his fault. Sixteen years with twin sisters had taught him this much. "That's not how I think of you. It has nothing to do with blood so much as Houses, Hermione. There is a kind of code in Slytherin. Not so much a code of ethics, because we don't really do ethics, but more of survival." He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "I've liked getting to know you this term. I don't want that friendship to end before it really begins. Not because of other people."

"I don't need your protection." She paused. "What are we doing with our group if not trying to bring the Houses together?" Her voice had been quiet until now. "What are you doing if you just go along with this separatist crap?" She angrily pulled away from his embrace.

"Hermione, I still would like to be here with you. I thought I had proved that to you by now," he looked desperate to end the argument he never intended to begin. "I may be in Slytherin, but I am no Malfoy. Zabinis have a bit more class than that." He smiled at her, trying to joke around. "I know you don't need my protection. I know you are more than your parents, just as I hoped I was more than mine." He laid a tentative hand on her shoulder. "Believe me."

She looked up at his eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm overreacting." She shook her head. "Not entirely though." He looked at her confusedly. "The boy I've been becoming friends with doesn't care about House boundaries. Why does that matter to you now?"

"It didn't." His eyes pleaded with her to forgive him. "Not until you said you couldn't come with me. If anything, what Millicent said made it seem better, easier somehow. Had you said yes, we wouldn't be having this fight."

"I'm sorry. I know you aren't like that. I'm just so confused." She felt a bit awkward now after her outburst.

"Don't be sorry." Blaise moved closer. "It happens. Are you all right?"

She nodded. Looking into his eyes she saw something she had not seen before. He moved closer and she just barely realized what was about to happen. As his lips brushed hers, she jumped back, alarm bells ringing in her head.

Hermione found that she still had lots to think about concerning their friendship. Her feelings for Blaise were still there; thus, she startled herself by not going through with the kiss. This fear in the back of her mind had been present with Viktor Krum as well. Getting close with someone just to lose him was not what Hermione was looking for.

Blaise looked at her, puzzled. They kept eye contact, both unsure as to what to do now. Hermione realized her reaction to his words tonight had nothing to do with Blaise and everything to do with her.

Hermione had not been ready for her relationship with Viktor in fourth year and found that she was now more likely to avoid relationships altogether because of it. She did not know why part of her feared intimacy, but she found herself trusting Blaise as she looked into his eyes. His eyes gave Hermione the assurance that she needed to try again.

Taking a breath, Hermione leaned in towards Blaise as he also leaned closer, their lips meeting in a kiss. Hermione's heart raced. For once in her life, her mind was certain that this was where she was supposed to be at this very moment in a way that she had never been so certain of before.

They held each other in the kiss for barely three seconds, but it felt as if life slowed down to enjoy this moment. When their lips parted, Blaise leaned his forehead against hers. They stared into each other's eyes, not saying anything, just smiling at each other. Blaise moved in for another kiss, much like the first, a simple exchange of feelings for each other.

When they parted this time, Blaise's hand remained on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione looked away over the grounds before Blaise moved in again. She smiled and leaned closer as well, before stopping when something caught her eye. "Everything all right?" His voice was breathy and low.

"Shh," Hermione placed a finger on his lips, smiling back at him. "Quiet," she mouthed.

Behind Blaise and down the main hill there was a group of people. Hermione could not make out who it was in the darkness, but the feeling in the pit of her stomach told her it was not good. She cursed in her head. Everything was perfect and here was the real world barging into the safe haven of the Wizarding world during her perfect moment.

She clung to Blaise, moving her mouth to his ear to whisper. "We need to go inside now and get Dumbledore. Don't look panicked. Just move as if it was our plan all along." His head moved jerkily to look at her. His eyes lost all the mistiness of romance, now starkly serious. Blaise nodded briskly, took her hand, and the two walked to the entrance of the school as casually as either could muster.