Experience

ccrawley: I am so surprised you're vindictive to Blaise when it was Ron that betrayed her... oh well, I hope this chapter clears up the issue of Blaise.



citten: Be as passionate as you like... it's your passion that keeps me going.



Lady Lynn: Love triangles are my specialty.



Anathema: Lucius is like a little boy who's got a new toy isn't he. But he likes her... and yes some of the thoughts he's having about her aren't innocent...



lisa: If you are going to hate someone, hate Ron. This chapter will explain what I mean by that. Also, yeah Harry is pretty tortured but the week only gets worse. I hope you like this chapter.



liquidvamp: Do I get cookies and ice cream? I hope you like this and yes there is something special about the bird liking her.



angel: What is up with Blaise? Well, he's been an idiot, but I hope this chapter makes you forgive him.



Mary: Lucius is jealous but he's a forty four year old, so he might control it better than some.



Pam: I hope this is another great post.



Lyssa: Aww, you lot really have it in for Zabini... poor guy... don't worry Blaise I'll make you feel better... anyway here's more.



ShilohDarke: Wow, that information about the Eagle is really useful. Please email me with more details. I held a Golden Eagle when I was six years old, and they told me not to touch it but I did, well, let's just say that he was fine with it. Their feathers are really soft, and it was rather spiritual. The only other time I felt like that was when I had a Boa Constrictor wrapping herself around me... so, I have been adopted by Eagles, Snakes, and Spiders... what does that say about me? Okay, update.



Dee Dee: Please give Blaise the benefit of the doubt. This chapter should explain why. I hope you like it.



MistressMalfoy: FINALLY. A fellow Blaise lover - TEE HEE! I hope this pleases you Mistress Malfoy.



candymac: I think a dozen Peace Roses and the poetry was enough. Somehow poetry is personal. I think that he's sucked up enough.



Cecilia: I hope that you love this chapter. Yes, I prefer Redeemed Lucius to Evil Lucius.



La Bibliographe: I think that Hermione is being interested in the guy she thinks she should be interested in. Anyway here's more UST and please be kind about Blaise. He's well... As for that "The dog!" line, stolen directly from the Peter Pan movie. I love the way Jason said that line and I couldn't resist.



skye: Beats me. I've been on the LM/HG ship for a while now. I love them together. I hope this chapter makes you stay.



Annie: More here.



Sampdoria: Well, please. It is great Blaise said he was sorry. How many times has Ron said that? I hope this update is what you like.



BuckyKattGirl: I happen to like the Zabini jerk. Lucius still loves his dead wife... I can't blame him for feeling a little wary of his feelings for a girl young enough to be his daughter...



Cheri: The shared dream was pretty good, and ten points for spotting it. The Eagle thing does have a purpose.



Jan: Wait is over. Here's more.



Warning: Racist attacks and almost N/C sex in this chapter. If this squicks you then don't read this chapter!



Tuesday – Continued



Hermione was confused. The day progressed rather slowly after her ‘adoption’. She smiled when she saw the vase of flowers and read the message again. Blaise sure had a way with words. She then thought about the kiss. Hermione’s lips tingled at the thought of Blaise’s lips on hers. Then she thought of Lucius arm around her waist in the lift. She thought of the way his hand squeezed her stomach slightly as he steadied her on her feet. She smirked slightly as she remembered how safe she felt.



Hermione had written the replies and she had proofread some new rules for Aurors to follow. Lucius was the new Head of the Auror Department. She highly approved of them. She corrected the mistakes she could see. The door opened and Hermione checked her watch. His appointment with Umbridge surely was not finished yet? She was about to ask her boss if he wanted a cup of coffee when someone wrapped their hands around her eyes.



“Hello,” a dark voice whispered in her ear.



“Blaise?”



“The same,” he replied. “Listen, I don’t know where you’re staying so, how about I would pick you up after work?”



“I don’t think that would be possible,” Hermione said. “I have a beauty appointment at four.”



“Mr Malfoy has let you have a beauty appointment?”



“Yes,” Hermione said. “Yes, he booked it for me. He’s even offered to accompany me.”



“Why on earth are you going to have a beauty appointment? You’re pretty enough as it is.”



“Thanks,” Hermione sighed. “But Mr Malfoy thinks that I need to have my nails done at least.”



Blaise furrowed his usually smooth brow. Hermione looked at him. “Why is Lucius Malfoy interested in you so much?”



Hermione shrugged her shoulders. “Why, I don’t know. Do I like it? I am not sure. Do I want it to continue? No. Will it continue? Probably.”



“Well, you certainly taken care of all the questions I was going to ask,” Blaise said. “So, where is it?”



“Magicures,” Hermione replied. “Its at four.”



“Okay,” Blaise said perching his butt on the edge of her desk; he turned around and wrapped his arms around her body. “So, where is he?”



“Meeting with Umbridge,” Hermione said.



“Oh yes,” Blaise said. “That’ll take forever.”



“Absolutely,” Hermione agreed. Blaise leant over and started stroking her cheek. “Don’t you have work to do?”



“Yes, well, I should be working shouldn’t I?” Blaise asked. “But I can’t knowing you are two floors up from me looking all sexy in those yellow robes.”



Hermione smirked. “Thanks, Blaise, but I have a tonne of stuff to do before we leave.”



Blaise sighed. “If anyone should go with you to Magicures it should be me!”



Hermione sighed. “Listen, Blaise, see you at six in The Leaky Cauldron.”



“I’ll be there,” Blaise said.



“Where?” a silky drawl said from behind them. “I would appreciate it if you leave my secretary alone, Mr Blaise Zabini. Unlike some she does like to work hard.”



“Sure, Mr Malfoy,” Blaise smiled at Lucius showing two rows of perfect straight, white teeth. “Pick you up at six, okay.”



“Yes, okay,” Hermione said. “See you there.”



Blaise loped out of the room; Lucius scowled at the retreating back of the young rival... Boy. Not rival. He shook his head. He should be happy that there was a pretty, intelligent young woman being active in the dating game. It would have been a waste if she had not had a young man in her life. She should not be single... but she should definitely not be dating Blaise Zabini.



Truth is, he sighed. Hermione should be with someone older, mature and intelligent. Someone like me. But not me. Someone eerily familiar to me, though



He watched her look at her notes and suck her quill. All sorts of thoughts played through his brain as she drew the quill further into her mouth. He shifted in his seat.



“So,” Hermione sighed. “What did the pink poisonous toad say for herself?”



“She won’t lift the ban concerning Werewolf Employment,” Lucius said rubbing his face in his hands. “I’ve tried to talk to this woman. I was reasonable and kind and threw all sorts of explanations in her face that I felt were good.”



“And...?”



“I failed,” Lucius said. “Gods, Hermione, what a mess.”



“A mess? How can it be a mess?” Hermione asked.



“I promised Remus Lupin that he’d be able to work next Monday in my department,” Lucius said. “I thought that I could flash the old Malfoy charm. I must be rusty.”



Hermione got up and walked up to him and laid a tentative hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think you’re rusty.”



Lucius circled his shoulders together. Hermione felt the muscles tense up. She stepped closer to him and spread her hands on his shoulders. She pressed her thumb and fingers on the knotted muscles. Lucius leant back in the seat and relaxed into possibly the best shoulder massage he had ever had.



“You don’t?” Lucius asked.



“No,” Hermione said leaning down. “Umbridge is a big fat poisonous toad. They’re difficult to impress. Remus Lupin can still come into work and you can kick her ass down the stairs if she objects.”



Lucius chuckled. He reached up with one of his hands and grabbed it. Hermione was about to pull away but he dragged her fingers to his mouth and started sucking them. Hermione closed her eyes and tried so hard not to react. Lucius stop, she thought. Lucius please, stop. I am only flesh and blood; I’m a hormonal teenager. Please don’t continue... oh, that feels so good!



Lucius had sucked the middle finger causing her to sigh with pleasure. Lucius heard the sigh and pulled her fingers out of his mouth.



“Sorry,” he said. “Shouldn’t have done that.”



“That – that’s all right,” Hermione said uncertainly. She looked at her hand and wondered what was so fascinating about that hand. She walked back to her desk and picked up her letters and turned around. “Um, sir, here’s the letters you wanted me to reply to. I’ve also, er, read through the first few pages of your reforms.”



“Put the letters on the desk, and continue with the reforms,” he replied. He looked at his watch. “Actually, why don’t you leave the reforms; it’s half an hour until your appointment.”



“I can do a few more minutes,” Hermione said.



“No,” Lucius said. “You can, um, finish it off first thing in the morning.”



Hermione smiled. She put the reforms down and looked at her boss. That dream floated in her head as he stood up. She looked down on the hand that he had sucked. She turned it around a few times and contemplated the nails.



“Ready to go?” she asked him.



“Sure,” Lucius said. He offered her his arm but she shook her head. He let it down; his face not showing the disappointment at not having her touch. Merlin, Lucius, kiss the damn woman. What are you afraid of? She’s not going to bite!



Hermione looked at Lucius. She narrowed her eyes. “Are you all right?”



“Fine!” He snapped. “Absolutely fine. Shouldn’t I be?”



Hermione blinked. “Are you sure?”



“Fine!” he said again. “As fine as any man can be when he has a – a -!”



“A what?” Hermione asked still blinking.



“As fine as any man is when he has had a sleepless night and had a meeting with a woman that might give the Dark Lord a run for his money.”



Hermione narrowed her eyes at Lucius. That wasn’t what he wanted to say. He was about to say something else. She shrugged her shoulders.



“Well, if that’s it. Lets go.”



He nodded. He walked up to the door and opened it for her. She walked through it; he breathed in her scent and was this close to dragging her in his arms and not ever letting her go again.



Hermione smiled as she got to the lift. Lucius stepped into it and held out his hand. Please, Hermione, please accept my hand.



I wish that he wouldn’t do this, she thought. Please, Lucius, I can’t touch you. I can’t touch you! Her hand disobeyed her mind. She reached out and accepted his hand. Okay; I’m touching him! My heart is beating. He’s pulling me closer to him. My eyes are looking at you. I’m looking at you! YOU’RE HOT!



“Are you all right?” Lucius asked.



“Fine,” Hermione said a little stiffly. “Just fine!”



“You sure? You look a little flustered. Are you hot?”



“Some men might think,” Hermione muttered.



“What?”



“Nothing!” she exclaimed quickly. “No, I am not hot. I just feel a little warm.”



“Why?” Lucius asked.



Because I’m standing next to the hottest Wizard in the world, okay, I am DATING Blaise tonight! Blaise is hot. Blaise is hot. Blaise. Is. Hot!



“Mr Malfoy,” Hermione said. She turned around and made sure she was looking in his eyes. “Look, I have to say that I am – look, sir, what I mean to say is that – well,” the lift stopped and the doors opened. Arthur came into the lift. Arthur looked at Lucius.

“Hello, Mr Malfoy.”



“Afternoon, Mr Weasley.”



“Arthur,” Hermione said. “I’m going on a date tonight.”



“Yes,” Arthur said. “The young man in question would not happen to be a Slytherin would he?”



“So,” Hermione said. “What’s wrong with that? Slytherins need to date as well as Gryffindors you know.”



“Yeah, with their own kind!” Arthur said looking pointedly at Malfoy.



Hermione rolled her eyes. “Arthur, that can be just as prejudiced as their views on my kind.”



Lucius smiled. She looked at Arthur. “Well, if you’re sure?” Arthur asked.



“I’ve had sex with him already Arthur!” Hermione exclaimed. “So, yes, I’m pretty sure.”



Lucius arched an eyebrow at the young woman. She was flustered from indignation at the moment. He then turned around to see Arthur’s blustering at her. “WHAT? HOW COULD YOU BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE?”



“Well, perhaps you should ask your son why he went kissing the first girl he could lock lips with when we were still dating, Arthur. I was sad, hurt, upset and broken. Blaise was there and helped me to get worse. He’s fixing it, which is more than your son ever does.”



Arthur blushed. Lucius rolled his tongue inside his mouth. Hermione looked at Lucius.



“But Slyther -!”



“Are human too!” Hermione exclaimed. “You know, Arthur, I don’t like all this prejudice going around. If you can’t handle me going out with a Slytherin then perhaps I should find somewhere else to stay. I AM not staying single if the man I happen to like no one else does.”



“All right, Hermione, you can still stay with us. It’s just that I don’t want you to make a mistake.”



“I’ve made several of them already, Arthur, so what’s one more time!”

The lift stopped again and Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped into the lift. He looked at Arthur and smiled. He nodded at Lucius and he blushed when he set eyes on Hermione.



“Are – are you all right, Hermione?” he asked.



“I am fine,” she replied. “You?”



“Yeah, fine.”



Lucius looked at the Auror. He peered around and raised an eyebrow. “Where’s your charge?”



“Harry?” Kingsley asked, “coffee break.”



“How’s he getting along?” Hermione asked. She hoped it wasn’t bad; she didn’t want Harry’s only true dream to turn into a nightmare.



“He’s great,” Kingsley said trying not to look at her. “He’s a little rusty with Potions though.”



“Is that going to be a huge problem?” Hermione asked.



“Not a major problem,” Kingsley said. “It would be helpful, though.”



Hermione smiled. She looked straight ahead. Kingsley and Arthur spoke in whispers after that and Hermione and Lucius kept quiet. The lift ended up on the Ground Floor. Lucius, Arthur and Kingsley let Hermione through first, and then they all stepped out. Lucius caught up with Hermione.



“Kingsley,” Arthur said. “What’s the matter? You’ve been acting oddly around Hermione for a while now.”



“Arthur,” Kingsley sighed. “She’s absolute perfection. I think she’s beautiful anyway.”



Arthur shrugged his shoulders. He gave up on looking at other women since he married Molly. When you’ve seen labour seven times you cool off, Arthur thought. He felt sorry for Kingsley. He was a handsome Wizard who could have any Witch he wanted but somehow always looked at the ones that he couldn’t have.



“She’s going out with someone else,” Arthur said. “I’d forget about it if I were you.”



“Easy for you to say,” Kingsley said. “You’re happily married with children. I am not.”



Arthur looked at Hermione and Lucius leaving the Ministry together. Lucius holding the door open for her. Since when has he decided to act the gentleman? Arthur thought. Hermione looked at Lucius and smiled. He edged closer to the pair.



“So, Miss Granger, excited about your date?” Lucius asked.



“Very,” Hermione said, “I am so pleased that we’re sorted out because, well, to be perfectly honest; I have been thinking about him a lot recently.”



“Really,” Lucius said. He had mixed feelings about this confession.



They said nothing as they walked down to the Apparition point. They apparated to The Leaky Cauldron, and then they walked over to the brick wall. Lucius opened the gateway and they walked down the street. He smirked as he passed a lingerie shop called For Your Wizard. Some of the stuff in there would suit Hermione. He felt that even for him that would be going one-step too far. He felt a little turned on by it though.



They walked over to Magicures and Hermione walked into the shop.



“Ah! Hermione,” ‘Dolly Parton’ said, “take a seat.”



“Thanks,” Hermione said.



“My name’s Guinevere. But you can call me Gwynnie.”



“Thank you Gwynnie,” Hermione said. It was a little difficult to call this lady by that full name. Gwynnie seemed more appropriate.



“Don’t worry,” Gwynnie said. “I won’t do anything you wouldn’t like.”



“Well,” Hermione sighed. “I don’t want straight hair. I’ve got used to it looking like this.”



“Oh no you wouldn’t look right with straight hair anyway,” Gwynnie said. “We can put some gold highlights in here though. Oh yes,” Gwynnie said picking up her hair and letting it fall. “Relax, Hermione Granger, you’re going to be beautiful by the time I’m through with you.”



Hermione smiled weakly. Lucius watched offering suggestions leaving Hermione feeling like a lab experiment. She ended up shrugging her shoulders and letting Gwynnie and Lucius take over. Hermione let the two do what they did best. Lucius offered all sorts of suggestions and Gwynnie agreed with all of them; Hermione offered a weak smile and just let it all wash over her.



~*~*~



Two hours later Hermione walked out of Magicures she had looked at herself in the mirror and blinked. Her hair was shining in a way that it had not done before. Her nails were perfect and they were painted a nice gold colour. Her skin was glowing and Gwynnie had applied gold and silver make up to her face. Hermione had never felt more beautiful than this day. And what was odd was that she still looked recognisable as Hermione Granger.



Lucius squeezed her shoulder as he looked into her eyes and smiled. “Go on,” he said. “I believe you have a date.”



Hermione smiled at him and she walked into the Leaky Cauldron. She smiled as she walked into the pub. Lucius felt like a father sending his daughter into the big wide world. That was better situation for him to think about. If he thought of her as a daughter then, perhaps, these other more dangerous feelings might subside.



Blaise was sitting at the bar waiting for her. His mouth gaped wide open when he saw the beauty that was walking up to him.



“Hermione,” he gasped. “Wow.”



“Like it?” Hermione asked.



“Well, it looks like I’ll have a tough night on my hands,” he murmured dangerously. “Every man will want to pick a fight with me for you.”



Hermione blushed. Blaise took her hand and placed a rather possessive arm around her waist and led her out into the streets of muggle London.



“You brave man!” Tom exclaimed to Lucius Malfoy. “I don’t know if I’d let her in the arms of another man if I liked her myself.”



“There are reasons, Tom,” Lucius sighed. “She’ll be better off with a relatively harmless Slytherin to someone like me.”



“I don’t care what the papers dredge up,” Tom said. “They haven’t seen you all miserable the past few months. I believe that this time you mean it.”



“Thank you, Tom, but the word of a pub keeper won’t hold anything to her,” Lucius said. “She’s the best friend of Harry Potter, and her loyalty is to him. If he doesn’t want her to accept me there’d be no reason why she would.”



“Ho!” Tom exclaimed. “She’s stayed here several times. She and that redhead argued when they stayed and Potter took the redheads side. She’s possibly the one that actually has made Potter a success. I like the kid, don’t get me wrong, but he’s an idiot!”



Lucius smiled. “At least his idiocy hasn’t led the ones he loves the most into darkness, misery and murder.”



“Be that as it may, Lucius, he’s still an idiot.”



Lucius nodded and walked out of the pub to the nearest Alley where he could apparate. He apparated to his mansion and walked up to the front door and walked in the door; he took the steps two at a time and went straight to Narcissa’s portrait.



“Hello,” he said to her.



“How’s your day been today?” Narcissa asked.



Lucius told her all about it. He told her how Hermione had found a boyfriend; he was one of Draco’s friends, a Blaise Zabini. Narcissa smirked; she liked Blaise Zabini. But she heard the catch in Lucius voice.



“Narcissa, forgive me,” he said.



“For what, dear?”



“For, well, today Miss Granger massaged my shoulders and I got a little carried away and I sucked her fingers.”



The portrait laughed. “Oh, Lucius, that’s okay. You’re single. The sooner you get used to that fact the better. I don’t mind if you fall in love with someone else. You’re a gregarious person, Lucius. You need people.”



He smiled at her. “I didn’t say I was in love with her Cissy,” he said. “I’ve only known her for two days.”



“Yet, that hasn’t stopped you from buying her clothes and shoes; that hasn’t stopped you from giving her, her own vault, and that hasn’t stopped you from dreaming about her. Lucius, I loved you, but you are a lump head at times. You like the young woman.”



“I like her,” Lucius sighed. “But it’s still too soon, and I am not sure that she likes me.”



“Let me determine that,” Narcissa’s portrait said.



~*~*~



Hermione was thankful that she had a muggle bank account otherwise this would have been a boring date. She had taken Blaise to a Chinese Restaurant. Blaise looked at the Muggle money with confusion; he schooled it to a more knowledgeable frown when a waiter came by.



They ordered and Hermione smiled. She sipped at her water and they talked a little about themselves. They covered all sorts of interesting topics from music; they both liked Classical, but Blaise was more a Tchaikovsky fan whilst Hermione was mad on Stranvinsky and Beethoven - to books; Hermione loved Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, whilst Blaise preferred a Muggle Author called John Le Carre; at the mention of whom Hermione sighed and looked at Blaise with new eyes. Both admitted to liking P G Wodehouse. They laughed as they went over a particular scene of Gussy’s.



“I wish we had that at Hogwarts. Although, you’d probably win all the prizes, Hermione.”



“Probably,” she said with no modesty.



The waiter came up to them and presented them with the bill. Hermione paid the bill. The waiter raised a condescending eyebrow at Blaise.



“Our paydays are different,” he said. The waiter nodded and Hermione smiled at Blaise.



“I will pay you back,” Blaise said.



“Don’t worry about it, you bought all those flowers. Besides Mr Malfoy keeps buying me things. I want to feel capable of looking after myself sometimes, you know.”



Blaise nodded. “Only too well.”



When they had paid they left the restaurant and walked down the streets when a voice called from behind.



“Oi!” it exclaimed. Hermione turned around and looked at the person. The person had a gang behind it.



“What?” Hermione asked.



“What’s a pretty Caucasian like you doing with scum like him?”



“Is it any of your business,” Hermione said stiffly. “I choose to be with him.”



“I have a problem with that, don’t you see. Pretty Caucasians like you should be with Caucasian guys like me.”



“Hmm, well I don’t think like you,” Hermione said. The street was pretty empty. Hermione was not scared. Neither was Blaise.



The gang circled around Blaise and put his arms behind his back whilst their leader walked up to Hermione and tilted her chin up.



“I know who you are, you’re Hermione Granger. Remember me, David Smith. We used to hang out together?” Hermione peered closely at the leader and a shudder of fear crept through her entire body. She did remember David Smith. She remembered him all too well. “Ten years has certainly been your best friend hasn’t it, Hermione.” He circled her like a vulture does a carcass; with a hungry look in his eyes.



“You know this guy?” Blaise asked.



“Did I give you the permission to talk, slave?” David asked. “Oh yes, that’s all your kind ever will be,” David said. “Used to go to school with her. Although, she must be desperate to want to hang out with guys like you! Polkiss, beat him!”



Hermione’s ears sharpened at the name. “Piers Polkiss and Dudley Dursley; meet Hermione Granger. She was absolutely wicked. She was an excellent dirty little fighter, weren’t you, Pebble?”



“That nickname has no meaning for me anymore,” Hermione said harshly. “Now, let Blaise go. Please?”



“Blaise?” Dudley scoffed. “What sort of a name is that?”



“It’s better than being named after a dump of a town on the outskirts of Birmingham!” Hermione exclaimed. “Otherwise known as The Black Country.”



David slammed Hermione against the wall and leered at her. He looked at her breasts and practically drooled.



“Pebble, behave now,” he said.



“Leave her alone!” Blaise exclaimed trying to wriggle out of the two muggle boys clutches.



“Aww,” Piers said. “Does blacky want to play?”



Dudley punched Blaise in the stomach. “Isn’t this fun, Piers. Haven’t had this much fun since we played Punch bag Potter!”



Hermione looked at Blaise and shook her head. Blaise was about to enquire if they meant Harry Potter.



“What happened to that four eyed freak?”



“He’s left,” Dudley said. Punching Blaise with every word. Piers held the arms back.



“STOP IT!” Hermione screamed. “What do you want, David?”



“Oh, I think we ought to let the nigger watch how a man does it, don’t you?”



He twisted her arm behind her back and dragged her into a dark gloomy alleyway. There was a stack of bins and David shrugged his shoulders. Dudley and Piers smirked evilly, as they watched David bend Hermione over the bin.



“Oh, looks like we’ll have some fun tonight!”



Blaise had, had enough! He twisted his wrists out of Piers grip and kicked him in the shins. He then turned on Dudley and took a hold of his throat, and kicked him in the testicles. He then went to David and shoved him against the wall.



“That’s my girlfriend you’re hurting there!” he spat in David’s face.



“Yuk! I have nigger spit in my face.”



David pushed Blaise off him and looked at him with disdain. “I saw her first. She was my little Pebble. She’ll continue to be so.”



Blaise looked at David and was about to show his claws when a bang echoed around the alleyway. Blaise fell against the wall clutching hold of his arm.



“Bloody incompetent fools, what did you two think you’re doing?”



“He was annoying us!” Piers and Dudley said together.



Hermione slipped off the bin and turned around to see Blaise holding his arm. His face grimaced in pain.



“Come on,” Hermione said. “Lets get you to a hospital... we got to get that arm seen to.”



She led him out of the alleyway. “HELP!” Hermione exclaimed. “PLEASE!”



A black London taxicab drove up. The driver got out. “What’s the matter love?”



“My boyfriend,” Hermione began almost sobbing, “he got shot trying to defend my honour.”



“Ouch,” the cabman said. “Here get in. You all right, son? Of course you’re not. Here take the front seat.”



Hermione nodded. She helped him in the front of the cab. “What about you, love? Are you all right?”



“I’ll be fine,” Hermione said. She sat in the back and got out her purse. The driver looked at her. “No need, love, you don’t have to pay for this one.”



Hermione looked at the cab driver with gratitude shining in her eyes. The driver smiled. He had a daughter a bit like her. He looked at the young man.



“Racist attack was it?” the driver asked.

“Yes,” Hermione said.



“I can’t believe it. In this day in age there are still idiots that can’t accept variety; my wife is black and I love her very much.”



Blaise groaned. The driver stopped talking. He drove to the nearest hospital and helped the young man out of his seat and led him to the desk. Hermione followed. Hermione held up Blaise’s other side.



“Can’t get blood on that nice silk frock of yours, can we?” the driver asked.



“Thank you so much, sir. What is your name?”



“Sam,” the driver said. “Just you kids be careful where you roam in future, eh? Both of you look too posh for the streets of London. It hasn’t moved that much further on from Oliver Twist you know.”



Hermione nodded. The receptionist looked at the young couple. Hermione smiled weakly as she entered their names. She walked Blaise to the seat; the blood wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. Hermione wondered what she should do, when a doctor turned up.



“Mr Zabini,” he said. “You best follow me. Miss Granger, are you his next of kin?”



“I’m his girlfriend,” Hermione said. “We’ve been on and off for a couple of months now.”



“Well Mr Zabini do you have a blood relative?”



“A mum,” he said. The doctor nodded. “I suggest you get into contact with his mother, and any family you might have.”



Hermione nodded. She had no idea how to contact his mother. She shrugged her shoulders and wished that Mr Malfoy was here. She walked to the payphone and phoned up the Weasleys. That was the only option.



~*~*~



“Can someone get that, please?” Molly screamed. Harry sloped down the stairs and answered the phone.



“Harry speaking,” he said. “Hermione? What? Calm down. What’s the matter? Blaise got what? SHOT? In the arm? Where are you, Hermione? What happened exactly? You need to – okay, Hermione, I’ll try. Don’t worry; we’ll sort it out! See you as soon as possible.”



He put the phone back. “What’s wrong?” Molly asked.



“Blaise Zabini was shot in the arm by a muggle gun and he’s in a muggle hospital. Hermione’s scared. She say’s we’ve got to get hold of Blaise’s mum.”



Molly put the soapy frying pan down and untied her apron. “I know where she lives. We were friends at school. Despite her being a Slytherin we got on all right.”



Harry blinked. This was the first he heard of a successful friendship between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin.



“Right, she’s in St. Thomas hospital in London,” he said. Molly nodded. “I’ll get Arthur. And I suppose we need to get Mr Malfoy. I hate the guy but he is going to be my future boss.”



Molly nodded. Harry walked upstairs where he heard Arthur and Ron talking; Harry knocked on the door and walked in the room. “Blaise Zabini has been hurt by a muggle gun. Hermione’s in a muggle hospital, Mrs Weasley is off to find his mother. I have to go to Malfoy Manor. He’s going to be my boss and he’s already acting like Hermione’s.”



“We’ll finish this discussion later, Ronald Weasley.”



Ron looked at Harry moodily. Harry furrowed his brow. He walked down the stairs and grabbed his coat. He walked out of the house and apparated to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire.



~*~*~



“Sir,” Gloop, Lucius new elf said. “There’s a Mr Potter outside the Mansion. He wants to see you, sir?”



Lucius scowled. What was Harry Potter doing visiting here? He hardly thought it was a social call.



“Show him in, Gloop,” Lucius said. He stood up; he was wearing his green silk pyjamas and a smoking jacket. Harry was shown into Lucius study. He looked briefly around the room before he looked at the man.



“Blaise Zabini has been shot by a muggle gun,” Harry said. “Hermione’s in a muggle hospital. We need you to come and sort things out.”



Lucius nodded. He set his sherry down. “Give me a moment, Potter.”



~*~*~



Hermione was pacing up and down the waiting room trying not to bite her nails. She was about to go out for a bit of fresh air when she saw Molly Weasley turn up with a very graceful and beautiful black woman. Hermione gulped. She knew from the presence that she was Blaise’s mother.



“You are the girl that my son has been going on about?” the woman asked him. Hermione nodded. “One date with you and he gets hurt.”



Hermione chewed her lip. “He got shot because he was trying to protect my honour. I was going to be raped otherwise. He’s really brave, Mrs Zabini.”



The woman looked Hermione up and down and nodded. She walked past the girl and Molly hugged her. She could tell she had been through hell.



Harry had turned up with Lucius Malfoy later on. Hermione ran to Harry and started crying.



“Who shot him, Hermione?” Harry asked.



“It was – was -,” Hermione sniffed. “Piers Polkiss and Dudley Dursley.”



Harry stiffened against her body.



“Know those boys, Potter?” Malfoy asked.



“Yeah,” Harry said coolly. “One’s my cousin, and one used to bully me when I was at school.”



Harry walked away from Hermione. She was still crying. She looked a mess now. Lucius walked up to Hermione and tilted her chin up.



“Come here,” he said. He held her in his arms. Hermione rubbed up and down his back and he kissed the top of her head.



“I am so sorry, Mr Malfoy.”



“Ssh,” he said. “Be quiet now. We’ll sort everything out. Why was he shot?”



“He – he was defending my honour,” Hermione said. “I was going to be raped but he defended my honour.”



“A hero then,” Lucius said. He brushed aside some of her hair. He walked her steadily into the hospital and the rest of the evening Hermione was surrounded by policemen asking her questions; friends giving her support, and doctors telling her how Blaise was getting along. She got back to the Burrow miserable and tired.



She was not looking forward to the next day. She knew that from now on she would have no privacy. And poor Blaise was now stuck in a muggle hospital. The doctors wanted to keep him in for a couple of days.



Ron looked at Hermione and frowned. He knew she had gone through something terrible today so he decided to leave it, but he wasn’t happy that she told his dad what he did with Parvarti.



Hermione slept brokenly that night and her dreams were filled with the images of David Smith leering at her and drooling all over her. She ended up lying in bed staring up at the ceiling twiddling her fingers and trying to erase tonight from her mind.



A/N - Lets sit back and review! Poor Blaise. I hope you've all changed your minds about him now. I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to have racist comments said about me. Although, I was bullied for my religious beliefs. Ron's a doofus, and Hermione is now torn. Great image of Umbridge being kicked down the stairs though! What's going to happen to Dudley and Piers now? Is blood really thicker than water? Stay tuned.