speechless
.
It all started as a bit of a game. Subtly so; he was a Slytherin, after all, and he seemed intent on plaguing her... stealing her books, for example, only to return them, winking roguishly once Malfoy had passed. Or speaking with deliberate cordiality to her as they contributed in class… He chose mostly childish distractions, but they worked.
Damn it all, she mused, it was nice to be looked at as a girl for a change.
After a few weeks of this diversion, and hours spent trying to determine his angle (and drawing a complete blank) she curled up in the library, and outright refused to think of short black hair, dancing brown eyes, and a nose that would do a Greek hero proud. Reading profusely had doomed her, Hermione decided.
He found her thus, focusing fiercely on her upside-down book. "Looking for secrets?"
She flushed a brilliant red, eyes darting up to meet his only to flit downwards again. "Was there a matter you needed help with? I've heaps of homework..."
Uninvited, he sat down beside her, still careful to maintain distance. Hermione Granger wasn't afraid to defend herself, and he liked to think he was a cut above the Malfoy 'prince.' "Why won't you look at me?"
"Busy…" she murmured, her speech less formal. "Something you wanted, Zabini?"
Ah. Well… in for the penny, in for the pound. "If I said 'you,' you'd hex me to the Quidditch pitch, wouldn't you?"
She looked at him now, eyes sparking. "Probably."
A challenge was a challenge, he thought to himself. "And I like you more for it. You, then."
She hadn't been expecting the honesty behind his flippant words; for one second, his façade dropped, but it was enough. "I…you… complicated…Blaise…"
"Yeah," he replied. "So are the best things in life. Could be interesting, Hermione." Before she could reply, he leaned over and kissed the hand that had curled around the back of the book. "Give it some thought," he added quietly. "Perhaps while you're 'reading.' " Gracefully, he stood and walked out of the library, only turning at the door to wink back at her.
Watching him, she forgot she was the bookworm, the know-it-all… she was, however, speechless. And she rather liked it.
…fin…
Disclaimer: The realm of the Potterverse (characters, settings, etc) belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Sabriel's Scribbles: This was a challenge drabble for Tiny Q's Livejournal meme… Not quite drabble length, but these two are a surprisingly addictive duo to write, so it became a little more verbose. Thus the first sentence ("It all started as a bit of a game.") is © Tiny Q.
Comments and concrit are always appreciated; in the meanwhile, Cheers, and Starry Nights!