Forever

*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Three *~*~*~*~*~

The trouble with love is
It doesn't care how fast you fall
And you can't refuse the call
See, you got no say at all

~ Kelly Clarkson -The Trouble with Love is (Love Actually Soundtrack)

Saturday afternoon was well on its way as Hermione laid on her stomach on her bed still her nightshirt from the night before. The past thirty hours had changed her life as she was now an engaged twenty-one year old witch. Just yesterday morning, she was not seeing anyone at all. The mass mess of papers spread all over her bed told her that she was to be married to Blaise Zabini. To her right, there was the four page petition for her hand in marriage where Blaise had to lined out all of his belongings, which since he was the only one still alive in his family from the war.

Not only was she marrying a handsome member of the Order and a pureblood at that, she was also marring an extremely wealthy young man. The list covered everything from the three summer homes around the European continent to the old Zabini estate in the heart of Wizarding Sicily. Stocks and bonds from the Muggle world amounted in more money than her parents could've ever made. Also, she was going to be part owner of several companies, beginning schools, and libraries from Rome to a small church in Ireland.

In front of her was an invitation to a dinner date from Blaise as to get to know each other better. The envelope that had held the invitation had also contained a diamond bracelet done in silver. It was beautiful and not overwhelming by any standards. Hermione had never been into big, flashy jewelry but preferred simple and elegant. Her future husband was going to pick her up at six o'clock for dinner and some talking. Ginny had been very supportive to her and helped pick out the outfit for the evening, since Hermione was still in shock of being forced to marry.

Yes, she had little doubt that Blaise would treat her bad. But being the strong personality she was, Hermione never took well to being told to doing something that affected her life in such a huge scale. At least it wasn't Malfoy was Harry response as he hugged and comforted his friend. Everyone tried to tell her they were sorry and that it was going to be okay. But damn it wasn't okay. Ron hadn't even been buried for two months yet and she was already promised to someone else. It wasn't fair. She hated the law to forcing people to do things that they didn't want too. She hated to Minister of Magic for passing it. She hated Malfoy for being one of the petitioners as he did it just to hurt her more.

Hermione lay back on the bed and held her stomach as it started to tighten with the feeling of tears coming back on. The chime from the small clock on her dresser told her that she had an hour before her date. Reluctantly, her body dragged her spirit off to the shower to start preparing for going out, which was the last thing she felt like doing.

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At six o'clock, there was a knock on that door of the flat that was shared by Ginny, Harry and Hermione. The redhead answered it and invited the prompt, Blaise Zabini, into their living room. A nervous pair of eyes peeked from the kitchen and watched the young man carefully. With his silky navy shirt and crisp black pants, the Italian was almost edible sight and gently held a single, long-stem white rose in his hand.

"I'm sure he doesn't bite," the whispered voice of the other best friend, Harry Potter, came from behind the shoulder of the peeping tom, Hermione Granger. Her hand swatted at him to back up and to be quiet. But he only chuckled and walked out of the dark kitchen as he stated, "Well, at least not on the first date."

The wooden blinds over the breakfast bar adjusted as Hermione released them to give a final straighten to her black dress. She had no idea why she was so nervous. Her nerves had not been that bad since taking N.E.W.T.s three years ago. Ginny had picked out a subtle, yet sexy dress that showed just the right amount of cleavage and hint of upper thigh from the slit on her right leg. With a final deep breath, Hermione left the sanctuary of the dark kitchen for the living room where her future stood.

Harry and Ginny practically beamed when Blaise had stopped mid-sentence and stared at her as she finally decided to join them. With a gentle, nervous smile, Hermione stepped to him as his mouth kept opening and closing as if trying to speak but nothing coming out. As Zabini handed her the delicate flower, his native tongue took over for him with his feelings of love spoke clearer than the unknown translation his words. "Bello non è abbastanza vicino descrivere come osservate." (Beautiful is not close enough to describe how you look.)

The curly-haired wizard shook his head as he realized she didn't know what he said and he tried being a little more subtle while using the English major. "You look wonderful, Hermione."

"Thank you, Blaise. I'm ready to go. Behave, you two," she stated to her friends as she grabbed her favorite black cloak, which her suitor took out of her hands and helped her own with it.

"Oh, we will," Ginny chuckled as she smacked away Harry's hand from playfully squeezing her arse. Luckily, Hermione was already out the door before the redhead was pulled into an intoxicating kiss and carried to her bedroom.

The brunette witch closed the door behind her and followed her finance down the steps of the building. Once they reached the bottom step, Blaise pushed opened the door gentlemanly for her and smiled warmly as she passed in front of him. The air was cold since it was middle of December but the sun began to set and sent beautiful hues of reds, pinks, and purples across the sky. They walked next to each other in silence as the headed to the direct of the Apparating point about a block away.

A large wooden bench in front of the park marked the point at which Apparation was possible. Blaise stepped in front of her and took her hands in his as they disappeared behind a large oak tree.

They re-appeared in front of a one level white restaurant with delicious Italian aromas wafted from the opened glass-doors. He continued to hold her smaller hand as he led the way into the establishment. The young dark-haired waitress spoke not a word as she held two menus in her arms and led them through the white table-clothed dinning room to a picturesque balcony with only five empty, private tables awaited them. As a true gentleman, Zabini pulled out a chair closest to the railing for her as she took her seat. The view over the railing was a beautiful blue lake and soft brown sandy shore.

With a menu in front of each of them, they waitress left them alone as she walked off to get some water for them. Hermione nervously twisted her hands in each other as she looked into the full dinning room inside and commented, "This seems like a nice place."

Blaise smiled gently as he scratched the spot between his right ear and his dark curls. "It's one of my favorites. For lunch, they have a much more relaxed atmosphere than in the evening. All the people know me here. I've been coming here since I was a child. It was my mother's favorite place for lunch."

Before she could say anything, the waitress came back with their water goblets and pulled her leather pad of paper out. "Do you need more time? Or can I take your order?"

Hermione glanced down at the order and a couple things caught her eye first off. "Yes, I'll have the salad with a side dish of French dressing. Then I think I'll take the House fish special for dinner."

"And what to drink, Miss?"

"May I suggest the white wine? They have spectacular wine cellar here," her fiancée replied as he handed his menu back to the girl.

She did the same as she replied, "Yes, I'll have a glass of the with my dinner."

Blaise sat back in his chair and stated, " Just bring us a bottle of your best and I'll have my usual."

With a slight nod, the waitress confirmed, "Yes, of course, Mr. Zabini."

Hermione lifted her water to her lips just before she said, "You do come here a lot. Don't you?"

"Since we left Hogwarts, I come here regularly, at least once a week. Never fail. Nice people, great food, and lovely view but even more beautiful with you with me, if I may be so bold to say so." His voice lowered to a whisper at the end as she slightly blushed but could not look at him eye to eye.

Hermione smiled and decided to change the topic. "So, what have you been up to since the end of the war? I have not seen you around the Order much."

He swished the water around the glass with his strong hand, which seemed to mesmerize her as he began, "Actually, I've been taking more of a step in my parent's business activities. Since their death, my uncle has been taking care of it until I was able to. With plenty of time on my hands, I stepped up to the plate and have been spending much time with him at the various businesses I now own a part of. There are firms in both the wizarding world and Muggle. I am hoping to be running them all from my house by the end of the month."

There was nothing to say to that. She knew he was a very intelligent young man, who was the third in their class. During the war, she saw his cunning mind at work but never in a harsh, evil way. Well, unless it was truly called for. "I see."

Slowly, he leaned over and reached for one of her hands across the table. Hermione let him hold it as his other hand tilted her head up to look into her eyes. Blaise whispered, "Hermione, I know that this marriage is forced. But since we are already friends to begin with, ... please don't see it as such a horrible thing."

Her eyes felt like crying but she refused to let him see that. It was not his fault and she knew that but it did not make it any easier on her.

"Being married to me," he continued, "will not stop you from pursing your dreams, whatever you wish to do. Be it going to any university, working at the bookstore, or going for a position at Ministry, I'll support you in anyway you want or need me to. ... I want to be happy, Hermione."

A single tear rolled down her cheek at that statement and she was touched to see the pain that droplet of water caused his compassionate, indigo eyes. His thumb lovingly smoothed away the tear as she murmured, "Thank-you."