Collide

I melt every time you look at me that way
It never fails, anytime, any place
This burn in me's the coolest thing that I've ever felt
I melt

--Rascal Flatts

"As you're well aware the Vastodoc puzzle was created in 1896 by Sergei Vastodoc, a Russian wizard working for the..."

Blaise was sitting at a table off to one side watching as Hermione lectured a group of Unspeakables who were easily a decade or more older than she was. For all of her talk about getting nervous and speaking too much, she was doing a wonderful job. She was going to speak about the Vastodoc puzzle and the solution they'd come to together while he was supposed to speak about the implications from their solution. He'd listened to her part at least twenty times already and was sure he could recite it in his sleep. So instead of listening, he watched her. As she spoke, he found himself getting aroused. It wasn't as if she were dressed provocatively. Her hair was pulled back off her face in a bun secured with a quill or two. Her skirt was simple, black, and knee-length. Her top was flattering, but not revealing. All in all, he decided, she rather looked like a librarian.

'A librarian who is quite naughty after hours,' his brain offered up which, of course, didn't help his situation. Her eyes were sparkling as they did when she was passionate about something, whether it be Arithmancy, Runes, or snogging him. He remembered the low moan she'd made when he sucked her left earlobe into his mouth and Blaise shifted uncomfortably in his seat. And when he'd bit it lightly, she'd breathed his name. Without noticing, his own hand had come up to play with his left earlobe.

Hermione, whose attention had been focused on the members of the Department of Mysteries, perceived the tug he'd given his left earlobe. Remembering their conversation of last week, she quickly wrapped up her portion. "And now, Blaise Zabini will speak about the implications and uses of the solution," she said, nodding once at him.

'Shite,' he thought. There was no way that he could stand up now, not after thinking about Hermione. 'Quick, think of something completely unsexy,' his brain shouted. Hermione cast him an impatient look as he scrambled to think of something to help him with his problem. 'Snape snogging McGonagall. No, no, Snape snogging Hagrid while McGonagall watches,' he thought. 'That's it.'

"Thanks, Hermione," he said, finally standing. "Professor Vector mentioned that there are several older texts which seem to be encrypted. Hermione and I think that our solution to the Vastodoc puzzle may enable those texts to be decoded. As you can see here, if we..."

Hermione glanced from the older group of wizards to Blaise and back again. They were all listening raptly as he smoothly answered their questions. She wondered again how she'd ever overlooked him; his intelligence radiated from those piercing blue eyes. He was probably one of the most intelligent people she'd ever met. 'And he's funny and cute,' the seventeen-year-old girl part of her brain gushed.

A blush rose to her cheeks as she remembered their 'practice session' from Saturday night. As they sat on the couch in her common room, rehearsing what they'd say today, he'd suddenly leaned over and kissed her. The next thing she knew she was pressed between the arm of the couch and Blaise's ('firm,' her brain added) body, his mouth on her neck. She'd awoken Sunday morning to find several love bites on her neck. Embarrassed, she'd had to consult with Lavender on removal spells.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Zabini," Hesperia Jones said, "you've done a marvelous job. I know that you still have to take your N.E.W.T.s in June; however, I think it's safe to say that the Department of Mysteries would be very interested in having both of you join our staff after graduation."

"Thank you so much," Hermione said, trying ('and failing,' Blaise noted) not to gush as she shook hands with all of the wizards and witches in the conference room. He said nothing, merely shaking hands and nodding.

Several moments later, they were out on the street in front of the Ministry and she flung herself into his arms, squealing with delight. "Did you hear that? They're interested in having us work there!"

He laughed, "I heard." Kissing her lightly, he said, "You were brilliant."

"We were brilliant," she amended with a smile. Looking at her watch, she realized that their portkey to Hogsmeade wouldn't be activated for another forty-five minutes. A slow grin spread across her face. "Come on then. I'm buying you lunch."

"We don't have time to go to Diagon Alley," he protested.

"Have you ever been to a muggle pub?" she asked mischievously.

**************************************

"Herm--i--on--nee," Blaise said softly, stretching her name out.

They were tangled together on the couch in her common room. She'd assured him that Ernie would be occupied with patrols and a particularly nasty Potions essay that Snape had assigned. As she continued her soft kisses, he groaned and she smiled against his neck, secretly loving the feeling of power she had over him.

Two seconds later, she was the powerless one as he kissed her deeply and thoroughly enough to take her breath away. She could feel him against her thigh as their legs intertwined. Her hands came up to undo the rest of the buttons of his shirt and she was amazed to find that the chest hair she'd spotted on many occasions was really quite soft. A large patch of it covered his chest and then narrowed to a thin trail over his abdomen. Where it went after that, Hermione was certain she wasn't ready to discover.

As if she'd given him permission, Blaise's hands crept underneath the hem of her Weasley jumper. Caressing the soft skin of her abdomen, they slid upwards. He hesitated as his fingers brushed the cotton material of her bra. Gasping as her hand gently tweaked his nipple, he made a decision and allowed his hand to skim over her breast. Her soft moan spurred him on and, cautiously, he squeezed slightly. She arched against him so he squeezed a little harder.

"Blaise," she panted.

"Mmm, love," he replied, equally breathlessly. He'd never gone this far with anyone before and was astounded by how amazing her breast felt beneath his fingers. He was certain it would feel even more amazing without her bra. As his fingers dipped down to caress the bare skin, she suddenly stiffened.

"No," she said softly.

"What?"

"I said no!" She pushed him roughly and he fell off the couch, landing on the floor with a thud. "I think you should go," she said as she straightened her jumper.

"Hermione, I don't understand..."

"Go. Please."

He rose from the floor, confusion clearly evident in his eyes. As he buttoned up his shirt and looked for his shoes, he was startled when Hermione burst into tears.

"I'm sorry," she said, wrapping her arms protectively around her middle.

"Hermione," he said softly, "what's going on?"

"I just...I can't...you're not..." she choked out amidst her crying.

Realization hit Blaise like the proverbial ton of bricks. "Oh my gods," he said, stepping closer to her. "Hermione, when you were captured, your blouse was torn when I found you. Did they..." His voice trailed off, unable to even voice the question.

"They didn't rape me if that's what you're asking," she said, sniffling and wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper. He fished around in his pocket and handed her a handkerchief. She blew her nose loudly. "But...they...touched..."

Unsure of the right thing to say, Blaise opted for action. He enveloped her in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. "I'm so sorry, love. If only we'd figured out where you were sooner, then maybe..."

"Finding me when you did was probably the only thing that saved me from being violated," she said, voice muffled by his chest.

"That doesn't make me feel any less guilty."

She tilted her head back to look up at him. "You've nothing about which to feel guilty."

"I should have slit Draco open until he talked."

"Then you would've been no better than him," she said, never breaking eye contact with him.

He shrugged, still not entirely convinced that he wasn't to blame. "I don't want you to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable."

Hermione shook her head and settled back against his chest. "It's not that. I wanted you to...touch me...but then I remembered..." She stopped, unable to say more.

"Well, you can just tell me 'no,' all right?" He felt her nod. Dropping a kiss on her head, he added, "Just don't push me off the couch."