Consequences

Chapter 11

One person whom Hermione had not encountered since the developing stages of her relationship with Blaise was Lavender Brown. Lavender had helped her get ready for her first date with Blaise, (something for which Hermione would be forever grateful,) but apart from that, Hermione had no tolerance for her. She was gossipy and girly, frivolous and flowery. She was not Hermione's type of person. She was Ginny personified (except Ginny was a lot smarter and didn't permanently gossip.) She was, in simple terms, a borderline airhead.

Hermione supposed the blonde hair had rotted her brain.

However, with Lavender being in her house and year, and therefore sharing Hermione's dormitory, it was inevitable they would come face to face eventually. It was not that this hadn't happened before, rather that they were usually half asleep or doing homework when they met. Hermione had little liking for Lavender and Lavender little for her. But one thing Lavender couldn't resist was a gossip and she seemed to think Hermione could supply her with plenty. It was for this reason that Hermione was accosted by Lavender one evening in their dormitory.

Lavender grinned and sat down next to Hermione on her bed. She made no move to talk to Hermione, even when Hermione lowered her book to look at her visitor.

"Yes," Hermione asked inquiringly.

Lavender looked for the world like she wasn't going to speak, but suddenly burst out. "Oh you know what!"

Hermione put her book down on her lap and looked intently at Lavender, seemingly perplexed.

"I do?" she asked confusedly, still staring at Lavender.

Lavender tutted and rolled her eyes. "Yes, silly. Your Slytherin boy, toy boy, delicious Greek God, smoothie, hottie-"

"Sometimes, only occasionally, known as "Blaise," Hermione stated, eyebrow raised, hating Lavender rather a lot for her frivolous ways.

"Yeah, him," she replied dismissively. "Anyways,." she rearranged herself on the bed looking eager, "how goes the relationship?"

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes; she really should have seen that coming.

"My business is my own, I don't think you-"

Lavender got vicious. "If I'm thinking correctly here I do need to know, it was me who practically made that date for you."

Hermione scoffed and replied, "You made nothing- you advised, yes, and I'm grateful, but Blaise complemented me on my beauty and not my clothes."

"You're beauty was your clothes," Lavender replied derisively.

"See, that's where you're wrong," Hermione contradicted, leaning forwards. "It's not all clothes and make-up. It's not all boys and gossip. And it's not the world which revolves around you. Go ahead, gossip, say what you want to other people, but you're getting nothing out of me. I can be a private person if I want, Blaise likes that about me. He likes me, not how you made me, not how you dressed me up- he likes me for me and he most certainly does not like me for you." Hermione's speech was taken with few breaths and by the end Lavender looked thoroughly blank.

"I don't know what to say," she replied, her voice hard, emotionless.

"Then I've done my job," spat Hermione, and with that she picked up her book and began to read once more. "You can get off my bed now."

Hermione's reaction may have seemed mean and uncalled for to Lavender, but to Hermione it was thoroughly justified. Since her first year Lavender had been nosy and gossipy. Hermione felt Lavender had got off lightly.

Feeling quite psyched up and fidgety, Hermione threw her book down. She felt thoroughly annoyed at Lavender for getting her into that state, but nothing could be done then. Instead she felt she had to occupy her mind with something else.

She walked out of the dormitory and through the common room, on her way to where, she didn't know. She was looking for Harry, Ron or Blaise. She was not in a Ginny mood- any form of gossip was likely to annoy her in the state she was in.

She walked on, seeing no one she knew and let her legs lead her automatically into the library. She walked down the aisles, looking at people on tables, hoping to find one of the boys. She was in luck; Blaise was sitting at a table just ahead of her, scribbling on a piece of parchment frantically, black glasses on his nose. Hermione walked across to his table and sat down opposite him. Blaise looked up immediately and smiled, talking off his glasses and putting them down with his quill. He then leaned across the table and took her hands in his.

"Hey beautiful, what you up too?" His voice was quite low and quiet and looked delighted to see her.

"I needed someone to talk too," she said matter of factly. "I just had a rant at Lavender for attempting to squeeze gossip out of me." Hermione appeared guilty and looked down.

Blaise lifted her chin up to him and replied. "Brown? It was probably the right thing - annoying blonde Gryffindor she is." His tone was derisive, as if he didn't care.

"Yeah - I'm just not a ranter. Anyway, how are you?"

"I'm fine - it's actually good you've just arrived, I needed to ask you something," Blaise replied.

"Oh? Go on."

Blaise blushed slightly and replied, "Well, you don't have to say yes to this, in fact I don't expect you too, I totally understand, it's just -"

"You seem like you've already decided I'll say no. Just spit it out," Hermione interrupted.

"Right, okay." Blaise took a deep breath. "Right, so - would you like to come over to Italy this summer to meet my parents and stay at the family house?" Blaise blushed red and looked at her expectantly. Hermione gaped at him.

"Are you serious?" she was incredulous.

"Only if you want to come - I unders-"

"Of course I want to come. Oh, Blaise!" And with that Hermione threw her arms around Blaise's neck. He looked utterly beside himself.

"Really? We have spare rooms- bring you cat and as much luggage as you want, I want to show you where I live." Blaise kissed her cheek and smiled brightly.

"Will your parents like me?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Of course they will, you're the epitome of a lady to them; smart, smart, smart."

Hermione smiled and kissed Blaise on the mouth.

"I'll just send an owl to my parents to check. Alright?"

Blaise grinned; he really hoped she could come.