Forever

*~*~*~*~*~~*~* Chapter Four *~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*

I didn't hear you leave
I wonder how am I still here
I don't want to move a thing
It might change my memory

~Dido 'Here with Me' (Love Actually Soundtrack)

The light breeze blew Hermione's long curls away from her face as she looked out on the beautiful garden below her. Still on her first date with her fiancée, Blaise Zabini, and currently a mile from the restaurant were they just had dinner. After the delicious meal, they walked side-by-side along the sandy edge of the lake till the reached the iron gates of a large estate, his estate as a matter of fact. The immense estate and manor house had been in his family for over five hundred years. Blaise had just finished the tour and left to order some tea as she took it all in from a balcony of the room that once had been his mother's private rooms.

Everything about the grounds and large house was admirable, as if it were picked from one of her dream homes. What was even more odd about it, she felt welcome there as if she had finely come home. This is what caused her the most anguish at the moment. Fate had forced her into a marriage that she had neither wanted nor asked for. Then it had the nerve to make it feel right to her soul. As a strong woman, she was not supposed to be content to be forced to do anything. But the house had captured her heart with each footstep she took and every corner she turned.

Right or wrong as the situation was, the Zabini manor was to be her home for the rest of her life. Some how Hermione felt that it would be easy enough to accept but must her traitorous heart give in so easily. Her eyes closed as she let herself feel the gentle breeze. For some reason, wind had always made her feel relaxed, as if it's only purpose was to sooth any part of her, whether it be her heart, body, or soul.

A soft click from behind announced she was no longer alone. She remained standing with her eyes closed and tried to keep her body relaxed. A new scent swept around her by the wind as she felt it move over her body. It was his scent, Blaise's scent, and it made her body ache as it seemed to intoxicate all of her senses. Hermione felt the warmth on her right side as he stood next to her by the railing.

She slowly opened her eyes and turned to look at him. His soft, enchanting indigo eyes appeared to be entranced by the gentle movements of her fingers on the railing. Her mind had often as of recent tried to feel around if she could one day truly love the man next to her. Intelligent, handsome, and polite were always the first words that came to her mind when she thought of him.

But there was so much more she had begun to notice. During dinner, his manners were impeccable and made her feel like a lady. That was a new feeling for her. Being best friends with guys since her youth, Hermione had always felt like one of them. Yes, when she put on a pretty dress or took the time to look nice, she felt different but more like a little girl playing dress-up than a real woman. Yet, whenever Blaise was around, he opened doors, pulled out her chair, and just the way he looked at her made her feel like a true woman. In a way it was frightening but empowering as well.

He smiled as he felt her eyes on him and raised his eyes to hers. The wind continued to whip around them and seemed to magically pull them closer to each other. Not closer in the matter of space, the invisible energy of the breeze had brought their souls closer together in that moment. Slowly he dipped his large hand under hers on the railing and brought it to his sensuous lips. The air in her chest caught at the feel of his breath and lips on her hand. Blaise brought their other hands together, repeating the kiss on that hand as well.

As she opened her eyes, Hermione watched him drop to one knee, still holding her left-hand in his. From the inside his jacket, a small hint of silver caught her attention as realized what was going on. She did not know if she was ready for his proposal, the act would make it all real, permanent. Unsure if it was her nerves or his that was causing their hands to shake, but the look in his eyes was enough to relax her body as he slipped a simple, yet elegant ring onto her ring finger. Two diamonds set into two linked hearts.

In his eyes, Hermione felt as if he was bearing his soul to her. Within the depths of a mixture of dark blues and purples, the feeling of uncertainty, desperation, and - love laid out for her as he held the ring on her knuckle. From his kneeling position, he gently spoke, "Hermione, I know that this is not the way I would have wanted to gain your attention I had so desperately wanted for the past few years. But I want you to know now that I will do everything and anything to make you happy. One day, I hope selfishly for you to love me but for now please accept this token as a pledge of unwavering love and devotion to you.

"This ring has been in my family to over three centuries and I give it to you as a symbol of my present and future love for you. Will you please accept this as a sign of being my future and only life mate Hermione Jane Granger?" Blaise asked as a tear threatened to fall.

Unable to speak from all the emotions that flowed through her veins, she nodded twice and he slipped the ring into position. Again he kissed the top of her hands and stood to pull her into a hug. Feeling the compassion in her embrace, she let the tears flow as he held her and whispered words of praise and understanding.

In many ways, she felt as if she did not deserve such a caring man. But at the same time, it pained her to know that not even a month ago she wore the engagement ring of another. This man that held her made her feel so loved and how she wished that she could return that love. Unfair was not even close to describing how the situation was for both her and the young man that spoke such beautiful words of love. Her heart wept as tears fell. In his arms there on the balcony of the place she was to call home some time within the year, she wept for her past, present, and future.