Forever

*~*~*~*~*~~*~* Chapter Five *~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*

How does it feel to know you'll never have to be alone
when you get home?
There must be someplace here, that only you and I could go.
So I could show you, how I feel.

~ Maroon 5 "Sweetest Good-bye" (Love Actually soundtrack)

Blaise loosened his hold on Hermione as they Apparated to a spot close to the flat she shared with Harry and Ginny. They walked silently with her hand tucked in the junction of his arm. In his mind, Blaise's heart soared at the thought that she was wearing his engagement ring but at the same moment, it pained him to see the pain in her eyes. He knew it was hard for her to accept but she was doing great so far. He half-expected her to hex him when he brought out the ring as he poured out his heart to her on his estate.

The Zabini manor had felt so empty since his parents died and now he was there alone with just a squib servant that had been with his family since before he was born. A yawn to his right got his attention as he guided her up the stairs to her door. His heart melted as she gave him a shy smile and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. Normally, he would attempt a good-bye kiss but he thought it best to refrain. After all, she accepted his ring with a promise of a future and he was willing to wait for her heart for it would be well worth the wait.

As Blaise raised her left hand with his family's ring to his lips, the front door suddenly opened and there stood a very distressed Mrs. Weasley. She gave them an ashamed look for opening the door at a tender moment but then laid a hand on Hermione's shoulder as she stated, "You two need to come in. Something has happened."

He helped her unfasten her cloak as he surveyed the living room. On the couch, the twins sat on either side of Ginny, who was red-eyed with a tissue in her hand. A frantic and thoroughly pissed off Harry Potter paced in the middle of the room. Snape and Moody stood to the sidelines and watched the frazzled youth go back and forth. Mr. Weasley had his head stuck in the fireplace talking to someone at the Ministry as Bill and Charlie entered from the kitchen with two large bowls of snacks and a tray of butterbeers floating behind them.

Hermione went quickly to her best friend's side as she asked, "What's happened? Are you hurt? Was there an accident?"

Ginny sniffed and fiddled with her tissue as she raised her eyes to the brunette's eyes. "No, I am not hurt and no, there was not an accident. It's just that... I was... there was a letter... okay, really..."

"What Miss Weasley is trying to say," Professor Snape interrupted as the youngest Weasley started to cry on the shoulder of George at her right. "About an hour after you left on your date with Zabini, a letter arrived with your name and 'urgent' on it in my hand-writing. When Miss Weasley decided to open it, there was a black ribbon in the envelope that fell out. As it turned out, it was a portkey but the letter was not from me."

Hermione tried to piece everything together but her mind was still aching a little from the emotional night she had. As she sat back on her heels, Hermione asked, "Where was the portkey to?"

The girl in front of her sat up and dried her eyes as she answered, "It was to some open field where a Minister stood to perform a wedding ceremony. But I dropped the ribbon for a second and then picked it back up to get me back here."

"Wedding ceremony? Did you see who else was there?"

"Malfoy was there and as far as we can assume, he was going to force you to marry him before you had a chance to marry Blaise. I tried to use the portkey to get back to him after I knew Ginny was okay but it had been deactivated by that time. A shame really because it would be a pleasure to kill him with a good reason," Harry stated as walked behind the couch and rubbed his girlfriend's shoulders.

Shocked by that information, Hermione stood at her spot and her body seemed to wavier as if she was about to faint but Blaise stepped quickly behind her to support her with his body and presence. He placed an arm around her waist as she leaned back against him. It had already been a long day for her and the night was not getting any better. As his free arm comforted her with soft caresses on the arm, Blaise glanced at his former Head of House and asked, "And what is being done at the moment about this incident Severus?"

Over the years, Snape had changed from mentor to friend. Actually, he was the one that made Blaise come to terms that he was in love with a member of the Golden Trio in their sixth year. Snape had never judged him on his thoughts or ideals but guided him like an older brother. The Potions Master sighed before he sipped his brandy and then explained, "Mr. Weasley is contacting the Ministry and they have already set out an arrest order for Mr. Malfoy for the kidnapping of Miss Weasley and the attempt to kidnap of Miss Granger. As far as Draco Malfoy is concerned, we have done all we can at the moment."

"What about Hermione? You know he will not stop until he has her. There must be something we can do than just sit and wait," the raven haired wizard proclaimed as the woman in his arms turned to him and wrapped her arms around him. Her face nuzzled into his chest, he could tell she was upset. He stroked her long curls and whispered, "I will not let anything happen to you, love. I swear he will not touch a hair on your lovely head."

Severus walked to them as Blaise continued to hold her, the elder spoke directly to him in a soft tone for not everyone to hear. "Put her into hiding till the wedding. I'll be her secret keeper. Draco would assume either you or Harry but he would never guess me. She can be hidden in the muggle world for a few months..."

"I will not hide!" Hermione shouted as she faced the Potions Master.

He raised his eyebrow and took a step closer to them but she did not back down. An odd glint was in his eyes as he studied her and then looked to Blaise as Snape replied, "Then your only other choice is to marry as soon as possible."

"How soon are you thinking?"

"Tonight," he stated as the people around them started to react he rolled his eyes at the shouts from the room full of Gryffindors. "Enough. Fine, if not tonight, then next Saturday. We can keep her away from everyone for a week to plan the wedding."

Hermione's eyes were focused on the floor as a hand raised her face up to his indigo eyes. Blaise asked, "What do you want to do, Hermione? Severus would keep you safe till you are ready for the wedding. Or do you want to start planning the wedding for a week from today? The choice is yours."

His heart broke as she pulled her body out of his hold and hugged her arms around herself defensively. Hermione's words were cold and bitter but she had every reason to be upset. "No, I have no choice! I refuse to let that bastard rule my life. Fine, I'll be bride a week from today but I will not be any part of the planning for a wedding I do not want!"

Harry started to walk toward her as she stopped him and cried as she ran to her bedroom, "Leave me be!"

A firm hand on Blaise's shoulder got his attention from the closed door of the woman, who he was madly in love with but the situation was only getting worse. Severus stated, "Everything will turn out fine once the ceremony is over."

"Are you so certain?" Blaise asked due to his growing doubts about their future together.

"Maybe it will take time but everything will be fine. You are a good man Blaise. She knows that but it is hard on her. I know you love her. In time, she will see that as well. Now, plan this wedding and I need to go see if I can locate Mr. Malfoy," his former Head of House stated as he clasped his cloak around his neck and headed out the door of the flat.

Blaise wished with all his heart that his mentor was right about everything. He needed something to distract him. A late minute wedding to the love of his life was enough to keep his mind focused on the hopefully happy future they would live together. The mothering voice of Mrs. Weasley got everyone's attention. "Well, a week is not much time but a decent wedding can be done.

"Harry go put Ginny to bed. She has also had a long day. Ginny dear, you will go with Hermione sometime this week to pick out some dresses. Fred and George go back to the Burrow and bring me back my bag of wedding notes from Charlie's wedding and such from under the table in the corner. Bill and Charlie, both of you need to work with Moody on the security measures. Blaise, you and I need to start making some decisions," the redheaded mother stated as she cleared off the dinning room table. When she raised her eyes, no one had moved from shock of her sudden orders. "Well, what are you all doing just standing there? Get a move on. Remember, don't tell anyone about this wedding, unless Moody, Dumbledore, or Snape approve it. Now move it!"

The room bursted into movement as they all did what they were instructed to. Gently, she walked over to Blaise and tugged him toward the table commenting, "Severus is completely on the mark. She will come to love you once everything has calmed down. Now, let's get working. A week is not much time. Do you have any ideas of a place for a magnificent yet intimate ceremony?"

The planning began for the first wedding due to the Marriage Law and no one was going to know it was going to be done till it was over. Well, if all went well. Blaise chuckled as he sat down across from the fiery witch and shrugged off his cloak for it was going to be a long night. With a point of his wand, he placed a silencing spell on the two girl's doors so they would not be kept awake by the activity in the rest of the flat. He vowed to do everything in his power to make it the best wedding for Hermione. Everything about the wedding was going to be for her because he was already getting everything he ever dreamed of. Her.

~*~*~ To Be Continued ~*~*~*