Chapter 2
A/N: Thanks you guys for all those AWESOME reviews!!! We are both thrilled you guys like this fic so much!!!
Fledge: Well we did mix up the houses on purpose, that's why it's an Alternate Universe fic. Things are going to be a little different. And if you want to know how Hermione became best friends with Blaise, read the fic ;-)
Hermione looked at the clock and noticed that class was about to end. She began packing her books neatly away in her bag.
"So do you want to start working on the project tonight, or would you rather start tomorrow?" Harry asked, putting his own books away.
"Well whenever is a good time for you, when would you like to work on it?" Hermione said trying not to sound to eager.
"Tonight would be fine, then." Harry smiled at her. "Say we walk over together from the Great Hall."
On the inside Hermione was doing flips and had to keep from screaming out her joy. She played it calm and cool on the outside. "Sure why not." She hoped her voice wasn't trembling, but she was so excited she couldn't tell.
"Great." Harry said, giving her arm a squeeze. "I'll see you later then." he smiled at her one more time before joining Seamus and Dean.
Hermione felt her knees go weak; she had to sit down a minute. She watched as Harry left with his friends. She had to take in a few breaths. Her mind was shouting 'He touched me, he touched me!' A large happy grin could be seen plastered across her face.
Blaise watched the whole exchange, and then went over to her best friend. "So I see that the plan has been set into motion hmm?" she asked innocently, examining her nails.
Hermione looked at Blaise in confusion. "Plan... what plan?" She couldn't remember anything she was still in a daze.
"Your seduction plans, of course!" Blaise said quietly as the two girls left the classroom. Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but shut it as she heard her name being mentioned.
"Boy you really lucked out Harry." The two girls heard Seamus Finnigan say. "Having Hermione Granger as a partner really lets you off easy."
"Yeah man, I mean you won't have to do anything at all, that walking disaster will probably do all the work." Dean Thomas said.
Dean's remark made Blaise angry, she was about to go over and tell them off when Harry's voice made her stop.
"That's horrible of you to say. She's not that bad, she seems like a really nice person. Just because she studies hard and is in the library a lot doesn't make her a disaster." his tone relayed his annoyance at his friend's ignorance. He stalked off ahead of the other two.
Blaise looked at Hermione who was smiling adoringly. "I suppose you heard what he said?"
"Yeah," Hermione said wistfully.
Blaise grabbed Hermione's arm and started pulling her towards the door. "Come on lover girl, we have class to get to."
The rest of that day, Hermione felt like she was in a daze. It was unusual for her not to pay attention in class, but every time she tried to focus on her teacher, her mind would drift back to Harry. Harry and his green eyes, his black hair that she longed to run her fingers through, and his lips that she was dying to have pressed against hers.
At the thought of how they would feel on hers, she absentmindedly ran her tongue along her bottom lip. Hermione sighed and looked up at the clock. Two hours till dinner, she didn't know if she could last that long, thinking about Harry was putting a strain on her studies.
That night, at dinner, Hermione surreptitiously stole looks at Harry at every chance she got, much to Blaise's amusement.
"Why don't you say something to him tonight?" Blaise asked as she sipped from her goblet. "I mean, he obviously likes you, he defended you today."
Hermione snapped her head away from the direction of the Gryffindor table. "I wish." she said.
"Fine, don't believe me." Blaise said, sitting back and picking up her fork. "But you know I'm right."
Hermione sighed. "Maybe...but I doubt he likes me as more than a friend."
Blaise smirked at Hermione's remark. "Don't be silly. If you just listen to me, you'll have him begging in no time."
Hermione frowned. "I'm not into those games like you are."
Blaise looked at Hermione while popping an olive into her mouth. "Come on, everyone is into those kinds of games to some extent."
"Yeah well not me." Hermione said picking at her food.
"You need to eat Hermione, you need your energy for tonight." Blaise wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"Blaise! I can't believe what you are saying. You are so so naughty." Hermione couldn't help but laugh a little.
"If I know you, you know where all the best snogging places are in the library." Blaise said with a straight face. "I should have you make me a list sometime."
Hermione smirked at Blaise and turned to take another peek at Harry but as she turned to look at him, she found his piercing emerald gaze already looking in her direction. He smiled lightly before she turned around. "Blaise, why didn't you tell me he was looking over here?"
Blaise looked at her friend for a long moment. "Hermione, you're not still thinking of what those two jerks said after History of Magic are you? You know it's not true."
"Ye--Of course not Blaise, don't be ridiculous." Hermione said looking away so her friend couldn't see she was lying.
"Hermione, don't think about them. Harry obviously disagrees with what they said, and so do I." Blaise argued. "You're not a walking disaster, how could they say that they don't even know you!"
"Yeah well it still hurts Blaise, I don't know. Maybe I'm not cut out for this. Harry deserves someone at least jinx free." Hermione said with a tiny laugh.
Blaise leaned forward, her eyes giving off dangerous sparks. "I have half a mind to go give them a piece of my mind for putting those thoughts in your head. If you're jinxed then so am I."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak but she didn't have time for Harry came over to her table, smiling.
"Are you ready to go, or do you need time to finish your dinner?" he asked, looking at her almost full plate.
Hermione didn't feel much like eating anyway. "No, I'm all finished."
"Great." Harry said. "Let's go read about witches!" he joked and Hermione laughed, waving to Blaise as they walked off together.
Blaise smiled thoughtfully at the two of them as they left, and then her gaze narrowed in on two boys still eating at the Gryffindor table. Shoving her unfinished dinner aside, she stalked over.
"Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan, right?" she asked, her brightest smile stretched across her face. Both boys stopped shovelling food in their mouths and gaped at her. Seamus had mashed potatoes dripping down his chin, and when Dean smiled back at Blaise, he had something green stuck between his teeth.
"Might I have a word with you two, somewhere private?" she asked, trying to control her revulsion as she lightly traced her index fingers across their shoulders. The boys tried to keep from giggling, but they couldn't help it.
"Sure." Seamus finally said, and he and Dean got up, both shooting looks at one another. They both thought this must be their lucky night, Blaise Zabini was one of the most sought after witches in the school.
"Just let me do all the talking" Dean said quietly to his friend as Blaise led them into the hallway.
"Why do you get to do all the talking?" Seamus asked, a little peeved.
"Because you always get tongue tied and then you start making an ass out of yourself. That's why." Dean said confidently. "Just let me handle this I know all about women, she'll be putty in my hands" He grinned.
Dean cleared his throat. "So Blaise, can I call you Blaise?" He smiled widely.
"Of course." Blaise purred sweetly.
Dean felt more confident now. "You know I was thinking that maybe you and I could spend some time together."
"All three of us?" Blaise asked innocently, pursing her lips and touching a finger to her cheek.
"Well, I was actually thinking more one on one, if you know what I mean..." Dean grinned and she saw the green piece of food in his teeth again.
"Ugh, what in the world. How long has that been there?" Blaise thought to herself.
However, she forced herself to smile sweetly once more as Dean kept grinning. Seamus stood to the side, sulking.
"So what do you say?" Dean's grin was even wider and more foolish looking than before.
"I say you must be crazy to think I'm really interested in someone like you!" Blaise couldn't keep up her act any longer.
Dean and Seamus's jaws dropped practically to the floor in shock as Blaise raged.
"How dare you say those things about my best friend today. Don't you know she heard every word you said? I don't think EITHER of you realizes just how bad you hurt her!" Blaise nearly screamed.
Dean and Seamus lowered their heads in shame. "We didn't mean for you to hear it." Dean blurted out.
"That doesn't make it any better!" Blaise lowered her voice to a hiss. "If you two would just take your eyes and look at her, you'd realize she's the farthest thing from a walking disaster and she's a lot better person than either of you!" Blaise turned on her heel and began to stalk away, then turned back. "By the way..." she added, pointing at Dean. "You have something in your teeth!" Blaise flipped her hair back around and flounced away.
"Okay, what about Sarah Goode, I know she was convicted of being a witch in 1607, but what was the date of her burning?" Harry asked, flipping through a thick dusty book.
Hermione looked up. "Try page two hundred fifty six." She replied. Harry quickly turned that to that page, and to his amazement, she was right.
"Wow! How did you know that?" Harry asked in awe, looking at her with respect.
"Well I'm really good with numbers, you know if I went to Monte Carlo I could make a fortune." Hermione grinned.
"I'll keep that in mind." Harry joked. "Just in case I ever need a loan."
Hermione smiled back, then looked down at her parchment. Harry watched her a minute more then got back to work himself.
They worked diligently for another hour or so, until Harry shut his book with a loud snap. "I don't know about you, but I can't stand looking at one more date!" he said, sitting back in his chair.
Hermione nodded, "So do you want to head back to our dorms or something, I mean it's only…" She looked up at the clock, which said 'Too early to go to bed'. "But if you want to leave its fine."
"No... no I don't want to leave yet." Harry said, stretching his arms above his head. Hermione couldn't help but look at his abs, which were exposed as his jumper rose.
Her face flushed slightly pink. "All right." she said, trying to keep her voice from squeaking. "What do you want to do?"
"Just talk, I suppose. Get to know each other better. Where did you grow up before you came to Hogwarts?" Harry asked pleasantly leaning his arm on the table, propping his head up giving her his attention.
He looked so cute with his chin resting on his hand that she nearly couldn't answer him. "London." Hermione finally answered. "I lived there all my life until I came here. What about you?"
"Little Whinging." He said. "I live with my aunt and uncle."
"Right." Hermione said. She knew all about his parents. "Are they nice?"
Harry snorted. "Not really. I don't get on with them. They're afraid of anything magic, and that includes me."
"I suppose you could get whatever you wanted from them if you just say 'I'll curse you if you don't.'" Hermione said, grinning and Harry laughed.
"I did that for awhile, after first year, but then they found out that I wasn't allowed to do magic outside school so my fun ended." Harry pouted playfully and Hermione nearly fell off her chair.
"What are you planning to do after you leave Hogwarts?" she asked, holding on to the table in case he made some other endearing face.
"Well I think everyone expects me to become an Auror or a professional Quidditch player, but what I'd really like to do is become an artist." Harry said.
"Really?" Hermione looked surprised.
"I've never told anyone that before." Harry confessed. "Do you think it sounds stupid?"
"No it sounds wonderful." Hermione replied eagerly.
"What about you?" Harry asked, looking at her intently. "You strike me as the type to want to work in research, or a medi-wizard."
"Well I suppose that would be nice, but I'd really like to be an archaeologist." Hermione said.
"Now you sound like me." Harry teased. "You just turned artist into archaeologist."
Hermione's mouth fell open. "I did not!" she claimed, but she was grinning. "I've always wanted to be an archaeologist! You copied off ME!"
Harry's grin got wider. "Prove it." He challenged. They both started laughing when a snide voice interrupted.
"So, only a month out of our relationship, and you're already hitting on the next guy in line." Justin Finch Fletchley sneered, and Hermione's smile disappeared.
"Go away Justin." Hermione said. "I don't have time to argue with you right now." She turned away as if to dismiss him.
Justin's lip curled up. "Don't you speak to me like that." he grabbed her arm and tried to pull her up. She yelped in surprise and pain.
"Ow!" she cried. "Leave me alone Justin! Why can't you get it through your thick head that I don't want to go out with you anymore?" she tried to yank her arm away but he had too firm a firm grip.
In one swift move, Harry leapt across the table. "I believe she asked you to leave her alone." he said darkly, pushing Justin away from Hermione.
Justin glared at him, then at Hermione. "This isn't over." he spat, then turned on his heel and angrily left the library.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked as Hermione sat back down. He took the chair next to her and put his hand on her arm. "Are you all right?"
"Oh...he's just a big jerk that I made the mistake of going out with." Hermione replied. "He thinks just because he apologised for cheating on me that I should take him back." Small tears formed in her eyes as she remembered how worthless she felt when Justin had told her what he had done.
"You shouldn't have to take that kind of treatment from anyone." Harry said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You'll find someone who treats you like you deserve." His hand moved from her shoulder to her back, where he rubbed it in small, gentle circles.
Hermione sniffed as two tears ran down her cheeks, then without really realising what she was doing, turned and threw her arms around Harry's neck. She began to cry hard into his shoulder.
"Shhh…" Harry said, continuing to stroke her back softly. He realised just how badly Justin had hurt Hermione, and it was probably the first opportunity she had to let her feelings out. "It'll be all right..." he continued to let her cry, and after awhile her shoulders stopped shaking.
Hermione sniffed, feeling better that she finally had a good cry over the situation. Then she realised just what she was doing, and pulled back. "I'm so sorry!" she gasped, mortified. "I didn't mean to lay that on you the way I did."
"It's all right." Harry said.
"I should probably go back..." Hermione said reluctantly. Her head was spinning now.
"Uh...yeah me too." Harry said with a tiny smile, hoping that she was feeling better now.
They both gathered their books and walked out together. "Look," he said as they were about to part. "If you should ever want to talk again, I'm here okay?"
"Thanks." Hermione said, giving him a tiny smile. "I appreciate it."
"Anytime." Harry replied. He patted her arm. "I'll see you tomorrow." He grinned and went in the direction of Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione walked a moment then turned and leaned against the wall, watching him walk up the stairs. She wished so hard at that moment she had agreed with the Sorting Hat when it wanted to put her in Gryffindor.
~*~*~*Flashback*~*~*~
Hermione stared up at the train. Since her parents were Muggles, they had had to leave her outside the barrier, so she was all alone. She steered her cart over to the train, narrowly missing a boy who was trying to catch his toad. "Sorry!" she called back.
She managed to stop her cart before it smashed into the side of the train, and tried to pull her trunk off. "Ow!" she cried as it fell down on her big toe.
"Need some help?" a voice said from behind her. A boy came around and lifted her trunk.
"Thanks." Hermione replied. With his help, she was able to push it onto the train. This boy seemed really nice. "I'm Hermione Granger." She said, sticking out her hand.
The boy blinked, then took it. "Justin Finch Fletchley." He replied. "Nice to meet you." Justin's eyes flickered off to the left. "I'll see you at school…" he said, dashing off.
Hermione swallowed her disappointment and boarded the train. She went down the hallways, looking for a compartment that didn't already have tons of people in it. She came across one with the boy she'd almost run down.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" she asked shyly.
"Uh...uh…" the boy stuttered. "Sure." He said finally. With relief, Hermione sat down.
"I'm Hermione Granger." She introduced herself for the second time that day. She hoped this time her greeting would be better accepted.
"Ne... Neville Longbottom." The boy said, trying to keep his toad in his pocket. He was unsuccessful, however, and the toad slipped through and hopped out the compartment door. "Oh no!" he wailed, running after it.
"Well I certainly hope he finds it." Hermione said quietly to herself as the train started to move. She spent the first hour or so of the journey to read 'Hogwarts, A History'.
"What a fascinating book!" Hermione said to herself. A rumbling in her stomach distracted her. "I suppose I should see if there's something to eat somewhere."
Still reading her book, she got up and opened the compartment door. "Ow!" she cried.
Hermione had bumped into a large cart being pushed by a plump witch. Stacks of candy and sweets fell off.
"I am so sorry!" she cried, flinging her book aside and dropping to her knees to clean up the mess.
"Quite all right dear." The witch said kindly. Hermione bent her head down and started picking up chocolate frogs.
"Oops!" Another voice broke through her haze of shame. Hermione looked up to see a pretty girl with reddish gold hair helping her. "Looks like we grabbed the same frog!" she said.
"I uh...yeah." Hermione answered dully. She was so embarrassed. "Thanks for helping me." She said once they'd finished and the witch had moved on.
"Sure." The girl smiled at her again. "My name is Blaise Zabini, what's yours?"
"Hermione Granger." She replied.
"Would you like to come sit with me?" Blaise asked, motioning to her compartment. It was across from Hermione's and down one.
"Really?" Hermione asked incredulously. "You want me to come sit with you?"
"Sure silly!" Blaise said, tugging on her sleeve. "Come on!"
The rest of the ride passed by very enjoyably for Hermione. She was so thrilled to have made a friend that she forgot about her earlier troubles with the two boys.
"So what House are you hoping to be in?" Blaise asked as they stepped down from the train.
"I don't know I- ACK!" Hermione tripped and nearly fell flat on her face. A couple students around her giggled at her. "Sorry." She muttered.
"It's okay." Blaise said. "I'm clumsy sometimes too."
Hermione didn't think that was possible. Blaise was almost…. elegant, especially for an eleven year old.
Blaise helped Hermione up off the ground, "There now, you're all right." She smiled.
Hermione nodded "Thanks, so what was it you were saying about houses?"
"Well there are four house, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I want to be in Slytherin, both my parents were. They have really good jobs now." Blaise smiled a bit.
Hermione nodded, "How do you get sorted?"
"My mom said you have to fight a dragon, but then my father said you have to swim a mile with the giant squid." Blaise answered nervously.
Hermione hoped it wasn't as bad as Blaise described. She saw her getting into a boat to go across the lake. She moved to the edge and stepped over into it, and the boat started rocking a bit.
"Oh no." Hermione breathed out, as it started rocking back and forth a lot, it was going to tip over.
"Hey sit down!" a boy yelled. "You're going to send us all overboard!"
"Look I'm sorry." Hermione shouted back, she saw Blaise laughing lightly.
"It's all right Hermione just relax, stand in one spot and just sit down."
Blaise talked her through it and Hermione managed to sit down without sending everyone into the lake.
"Thanks for helping me back there Blaise." Hermione said as she successfully managed to get off the boat without rocking it.
"Anything for a friend." Blaise replied. Hermione grinned back at her. The two girls went through the large doors, gaping at everything they saw. A stern middle-aged witch met them at the top of a stairwell.
"Welcome to Hogwarts! In a few moments you'll be led through these doors to be sorted into your Houses." The woman went on to name the four houses and told them to wait quietly.
Hermione and Blaise looked nervously at one another. They both wondered what they would have to do to prove what House they belonged in. Before they could voice their thoughts, the woman came back and led them into the Great Hall.
The girl in front of Hermione pointed up at the ceiling with a gasp.
"It's not real, the ceiling." Hermione told her. "It's bewitched, to look like the night sky. You can read all about it in 'Hogwarts, a History'."
They all reached the front of the room where they gathered in a big group. The woman started calling off names. Hermione watched as Draco Malfoy was put in Ravenclaw, Ronald Weasley in Gryffindor, Susan Bones in Hufflepuff, Neville Longbottom in Gryffindor, and many others in the various four Houses. Finally it was Blaise's turn.
"Wish me luck." She whispered as she went forward confidently and put the hat on her head. It seemed to wriggle around a bit, but after a moment yelled out 'SLYTHERIN!'
Blaise hopped off the chair with a large smile and trounced off to the Slytherin table.
"Hermione Granger!" the woman called out next. Hermione took a deep breath and went up to the front. She sat on the stool and pulled the hat down over her eyes.
"Hmmmm…." A voice said in her ear, making her jump. "What a clever little mind we have here. Very smart, not very cunning, but loyal and lots of bravery. Shy too, I see. Gryffindor might suit you quite well."
"No please." Hermione said quietly and desperately. "I want to be in Slytherin."
"I don't know if that House would suit you well." The hat said.
"Please, I don't want to be in Gryffindor I want to be in Slytherin." Hermione pressed the issue.
The hat seemed to relent. "Only if you're sure dear."
"I am." Hermione said. "I'm sure."
"Slytherin may wind up being good for you…." The hat said, then shouted out "SLYTHERIN!" for the whole Hall to hear. Hermione grinned and hopped off the chair and over to Blaise.
"This is great!" Blaise whispered. "Now we can room together, have classes together, we'll be best friends!" ~*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*~
Hermione took a deep sigh as she came to the Slytherin Common Room. She spoke the password and went inside. She briefly considered just going right to bed but she knew Blaise would be waiting to hear about her night in the library with Harry, so she detoured up to the Head Girl's room.
"Blaise? You still up?" Hermione asked, tapping lightly on the door.
"Come in!" Blaise replied as the door swung open. "So how was it…what happened?" she asked, seeing her friend's tearstained cheeks.
Hermione looked at her sourly as she flopped down on the bed. "The return of Justin, that's all." She said, falling back heavily.
"Oh that slimy git!" Blaise said angrily. "I have a notion to give him a real piece of my mind!"
"No, it's okay." Hermione gave a half smile, which faded. "I lost it in front of Harry though, but he was so nice about it."
Blaise stifled a laugh. "See, what did I tell you earlier?" she asked. "I think he likes you."
Hermione gave her another half smile. "I doubt it, but he was awfully friendly, and he said I could talk to him anytime."
"Well that's great." Blaise said. "It's only the beginning for you guys." She said, hugging Hermione.
Over in the Gryffindor Tower, Harry had just entered the boy's dormitory. Seamus and Dean were in there, getting in a game of Exploding Snap before going to bed.
"Hi guys." Harry said tiredly, tossing his books down on the dresser and falling into his bed.
"Harry!" the boys abandoned their game and came over to him.
"Look, Harry…" Dean said, looking at Seamus. "We wanted to apologise for the things we said to you about Hermione earlier."
Harry raised his face off the mattress. "Oh?" he asked.
"Yeah." Seamus spoke. "We shouldn't have said she was a walking disaster, and we're really sorry."
"Well…thanks." Harry said to his friends. Dean looked at Seamus again.
"So…are you going to score with her or not?" he asked, unable to control his laughter. Harry sprang up and grabbed his pillow.
"You're going to pay for that one Thomas!" he threatened playfully, and soon the Boys Dormitory was covered with flying feathers.
A/N: PHEW!!! Rushed it a bit to get this chapter to you guys!!
More romantic stuff coming up, but we have to establish their friendship first. Hope you've enjoyed, and leave a review!!
Oh yeah…don't forget once again, this is an AU FIC!!!!