The Magic of a Book

Chapter 5

Hermione's plan was not altogether unoriginal, nor particularly cunning; she was, after all, a Gryffindor. She was counting a large part on Blaise actually being there, him having the book, and Ginny managing to distract him. In a word, she was relying on luck. However, she was determined and knew that there would be other nights on which Blaise would be in the library. But in all honesty, she wanted her book then.

She met Ginny in the library straight after dinner, only to have Ginny drag her off to the girls' bathrooms.

"I need your help," Ginny explained, shrugging off her coat and digging a toiletries pouch out of her bag. She walked over to the mirror and scrutinised her hair.

"What for?" Surely she doesn't expect me to know how to make her up?

"I know what I'm doing with my make-up, but what should I do with my hair?"

Hermione paused, trying to think about it logically. "Well, you usually wear it straight, so make it curly." Hermione really wasn't speaking from a girly point of view; but from a logical one.

Ginny picked up her wand and nodded her head, "Yeah, good idea, I know a curling spell, but I usually can't be bothered with it." Ginny muttered a few words and pointed her wand at her hair, which immediately set itself into loose curls.

"That looks nice," Hermione commented.

"I'm not going for nice, I'm going for seductive," Ginny countered.

"You don't need to go for seductive; you just need to draw him away for a bit."

"True, I'll start my make-up."

"So, know what you're doing?" Hermione asked, as Ginny applied her make-up.

"Yes. God, Hermione, I know what I'm doing; don't be so damn nervous."

"I'm not; I just want this to go right."

"It will, I'll give you at least five minuets, which is more than enough. After about that long I'll say I understand, thank him and he'll walk off, perfect." Ginny started putting red lipstick on, which stood out brightly against her pale skin.

"Good, right." Hermione started fidgeting as Ginny undid the top couple of buttons of her blouse. "Please don't tell me you're rolling your skirt up," Hermione said, with a roll of her eyes.

"Of course not," Ginny replied in a dignified voice. "We'll be sitting at a desk, what's the point?"

Hermione rolled her eyes yet again, as Ginny popped her things away.

"Ready?"

Ginny walked to the mirror and smoothed out her skirt. "Brilliant, yes, I'm ready, let's go."

The girls picked up their bags and entered the library through the back, so as to not be seen together by Blaise. Ginny took a table near the back and Hermione walked on until she saw Blaise seated near the restricted section. Not looking at him, or at least trying not to, Hermione sat at a table a couple away from his and pulled out her Transfiguration essay. Blaise looked at her briefly, before continuing to make notes from his book. Hermione looked back to her own desk and started her essay; she may as well.

She and Ginny had agreed to leave it fifteen minutes from their coming in before Ginny actually wandering over to Blaise. Hermione was halfway through her second paragraph before Ginny went up to Blaise. She watched closely; Blaise didn't seem to be paying Ginny's chest or hair a blind bit of notice, for which Hermione was pleased. He stood up after Ginny had explained and followed her back to her table, as she explained to him what was wrong.

Once they were out of sight Hermione began putting her books, essay and quill into her bag. She closed the bag, stood up, swung it over her shoulder and walked in the general direction of Blaise's table. There were a couple of fourth year Ravenclaws nearby, but they didn't seem particularly interested in her. Hermione stopped at the table, put down her bag and leaned down as if she were tying her shoelace, while actually scanning the spines of the books in Blaise's bag.

When she got to the fifth book she found it, with a big bookmark in it and a slightly thumbed cover. She pulled it out surreptitiously, straightened and picked up her bag. The Ravenclaw's seemed to have noticed nothing out of the ordinary and so Hermione walked calmly out of the library. She walked through the entrance hall and up the staircase, onto the first floor corridor, feeling thoroughly pleased; the plan had worked and she had her book.

"That was a bloody stupid stunt you just pulled, Granger."

Hermione froze at the sound of Blaise Zabini's voice. She turned around to face him, defiant. He didn't look at all angry, more calculating. He took a step towards her. Hermione took a step back. He eyed the book in her hand with a smirk on his face.

"You really want that book, don't you Hermione?"

Hermione wasn't sure what to say, so she said nothing, as he took another step towards her. She tried to take another step back, but bumped into the wall. Blaise stood about six inches in front of her and leaned with a hand on the wall, trapping Hermione.

"That was one of the worst plans I've ever seen, Granger. It had no cunningness, no plot; you relied too much on luck." He paused. "Not to mention that Ginny Weasley is a crap actress."

"I thought it was fine," Hermione replied primly.

Blaise snorted. "It clearly wasn't if you got caught."

Hermione said nothing. Just stared at Blaise's eyes. Blaise stared back. Hermione flushed, remembering what Malfoy had said about him fancying her.

"Just take the book back and leave me alone." Hermione had crumbled, her voice tired.

Blaise looked at her. "No."

Hermione was startled. "Why not?"

"Because you, Hermione Granger, are a challenge."

Hermione stared. What does that mean?

"And I like a challenge," Blaise finished smoothly. He touched Hermione's hand briefly, looked into her eyes and walked off. Leaving one very confused and dazed Hermione Granger.