By Reason Of Birth

The kickass Valady made me a banner for this fic, which you can find at http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r235/redheadfaerie/fanfic%20pics/?action=view¤t=BROBAniBanner.gif . The Blaise looks slightly off because he's not wearing a shirt, but since he fit like every description i had written, i had to use him!


The next two days passed for Hermione in a bundle of nerves and excitement. Daphne had come over and the two girls had made a day of it; their easy rapport had amazed Hermione, who was used to being the only girl amongst many guys. The other day, she had spent time with her family, visiting Caoilinn in her greenhouse, and later talking with Brisco about various books in the library.

It was on Monday, three days after going out to Quicksilver, that Hermione was in her room, getting ready for her date with Blaise. She had gotten a blessing as well as a warning from Theo. Brisco seemed to be upset, as though he hadn't realised that raising a teenage daughter would entail something like letting her go out on dates rather than keeping her in a cage and away from boys. Although she often thought that his biggest problem was that she had already broken the rules by having Blaise in her room with the door closed, and he was afraid of what the future held.

Caoilinn, on the other hand, was absolutely ecstatic for the match, and hoped it would work out and last past the courtship stage. If it hadn't been for the fact that Theo was a boy and they hadn't wanted anyone to know about Hermione, she would have had one of her children betrothed to Blaise long ago. Socially, it would be a good match, and personally, Zarina was amongst her closest friends, so she couldn't ask for better in-laws for her only daughter. She had been pleased when Zarina had mentioned Blaise's crush on Hermione years ago, not knowing her true relationship with the young witch, but she had expected it to fizzle out quickly, the way teenage lusts will do.

When Blaise arrived at Nott Cottage, Brisco pulled him into the library to have a "chat." After they had settled down into their chairs, Brisco swirled his bourbon around in his glass. "Blaise," he said conversationally, "you have been a regular fixture in this house since before you could walk, and I have often viewed you as a son.

"That said, and no matter how new the current situation is, Hermione is my daughter. You will treat her with only the utmost respect."

"Brisco, that is one matter you can rest assured on," Blaise interrupted. "I have never treated Hermione with anything other than respect in the entire time I have known her. The first few years I knew her, I didn't care for her either way. But, whereas her intelligence put many people off, resulting in them ridiculing her, eventually I came to respect her for the dedication she put into her work.

"Many people saw her as stuck up or a show off, but I always thought that she was just trying to be the best student she could be. I could see that she took joy in sharing her knowledge, not to prove that she was smart, but to help others learn. Actually, I think she'd make a rather good professor someday," he mused, coming to a halt, realising that he had been rambling. It wasn't something he often did, and only in company he was comfortable with, but he still felt embarrassed at his inability to shut his mouth.

Brisco looked at the teen, slightly amused, as well as taken aback. He had known that Blaise had been enamored with his daughter; it was one of the reasons he had been so strict about him and so deep, which he judged not by Blaise's words, but by his voice and his face as he spoke them.

Satisfied that Blaise was genuine in his motive for courting Hermione, Brisco nodded his head slightly and stood up to escort Blaise to the lounge to wait for Hermione. They were about to leave the room when Brisco put his hand on Blaise's shoulder, stopping him.

"One more thing, Blaise. If you are to ever do something that you know may hurt my daughter, either physically or emotionally, I want you to think about me." Brisco's voice was hard and threatening, and it caught Blaise's attention in a way that nothing else had during their conversation. "I want you to remember that while I may not have wanted to continue my reign as a Death Eater, my mark was not for show. If it was, I would not be alive right now."

Understanding his meaning, Blaise gulped audibly and nodded his head. "Yes, sir," he responded, "but I have no intention of doing any such thing."

"Good. I suggest you keep it that way."

~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~

Blaise was relieved when Hermione entered the lounge five minutes later. He had never been so uneasy and nervous in his second home before, and he hoped that things didn't stay that way. He assumed it wouldn't, and that the feelings just came from being in the room with both Caoilinn and Brisco, waiting to take their only daughter out on her first date since moving in with them.

When she entered the room, he breathed in sharply. He had always found her pretty, but today, she was beautiful. She wore minimal makeup; he wasn't even sure she was wearing any, but he thought she was wearing some sort of eye makeup because their brilliance seemed to jump off her face and it made him smile to be caught in their trap. Her curls had been tamed into an updo, held by a series of silver sticks with a purple rose on each end. She wore lilac robes in a light fabric, and it swished around her as she walked, the sheer sleeves ending at her elbows.

He stood up and bowed slightly to her, brushing his lips ever so slightly against her knuckles. "You look amazing," he murmured to her, and her cheeks stained pink as she smiled up at him. The teens both looked over to Hermione's parents, and, after a nod from Caoilinn, excused themselves.

"Where are you taking me?" Hermione asked as they walked hand in hand down the front path to the Apparation Point.

"You'll see soon enough," he teased, slowing his gait.

"Blaise Zabini," she huffed, pulling him forward. "You are not going to make me wait longer by walking slower."

"Are you sure about that?" At her glare, he grinned and walked faster, matching her pace. When they were in the copse of trees, he pulled her to him, holding her tightly, and disappeared.

"You brought me to a library?" Hermione asked, amused, as she looked around the room they had reappeared in.

"No," he answered. "This is the first stop- my house. Our destination has only one means of arrival. While it is linked to the Floo system, it is warded so that access is only allowed from this house."

"That's rather complicated," she commented.

Blaise just shrugged his shoulders as he led her to the large fireplace that was the centerpiece of the wall farthest from where they were standing. He took a handful of Floo Powder, and held her hand with his free one. They stepped into the fireplace and disappeared into the green flames, the echo of Blaise's voice calling out "Chez Asmaoui" following them into the fire.

It seemed to Hermione that they were travelling across the grates for an eternity, but finally they arrived at their destination, and they stepped out into a large indoor courtyard.

The first thing Hermione noticed was the difference in the air. It was hot, but crisp, not even the barest hint of the mugginess they had left in England. She looked around the courtyard and quickly sucked in her breath. The stucco walls had been painted a muted yellow; the floor tiled in a geometric pattern with the blue, yellow, and white tiles continuing onto the fountain that was in the center of the yard. There were rounded archways to various rooms on every wall, each door underneath them painted a bright blue.

"Where are we?" she breathed in awe.


Chapter End Notes:
a bajillion thanks go to lupie, who worked hard on betaing this one.. i dont think ive ever gotten a chapter back with so much red before, lol! and thanks to all the readers and reviewers, as always.