Hermione spend several nights thinking over what Malfoy had told her. Should she believe him? She decided the best course of action would be to ask Theo. She got her chance a fortnight later. They were walking outside by the lake. Blaise was absent, having had homework, so that left the two siblings to their own devices.

"Theo?" she asked tentatively, not wanting to anger him.

"Hmm?" he answered absent-mindedly staring into the lake. She wasn't really sure how to approach the touchy subject.

"Is...umm... is Blaise a Death Eater?" She asked biting her lower lip. He whipped his head towards her quickly. "Where did you get that idea?" he asked sharply. She blushed.

"Well...er Malfoy told me he isn't all he claims to be, and be careful who I...uh trust." Theo stared at her for a moment before answering slowly and deliberately. "Blaise is not a Death Eater."

"But what did Malfoy mean then?" she questioned.

He sighed. "That's not my story to tell. He'll tell you when...and if he is ready."

Unfortunetly Theo's answer only made her more curious. For several weeks Hermione couldn't help but wonder what Theo had meant. As classes got more strenuous though, she paid more attention to her work and eventually forgot about their conversation.

After a particularly brutal Ancient Runes exam, Hermione decided to venture out towards the lake. Deep in thought, she didn't see the rock sticking out slightly from the ground. As her toe hit the edge of it, her body propelled forward and she instinctively threw her arms out to brace herself. Just before her face came into contact with the hard ground, a pair of warm arms snaked their way around her waist.

"Walk much?" she heard a deep masculine voice whisper in her ear. She huffed loudly. The man chuckled and set her upright, arms still wrapped tightly around her.

"Relax, cara. I am only playing with you."

She sighed. "Blaise, you scared me." She felt his arms still around her but didn't say anything—he was very warm.

"You fell because you were not paying attention, but because I startled you." he stated.

She rolled her eyes and gestured towards his arms. "Mind letting me go?"

He pulled his arms away and rubbed the back of his neck. "Err...right."

If she didn't know any better, she would have sworn he was blushing. Then he grinned at her and she was reminded of Seamus. Her traitorous eyes began to tear up. He looked at her concerned.

"Cara? What is wrong?" he asked.

She sniffled and shook her head. He sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He led her to a group of large rocks and sat her down.

He waited for her to calm down, rubbing soothing circles into her back.

"S-S-Seamus." was all she said.

He nodded sadly and pulled her closer to him. She buried her face into his chest. He held her there, and laid his chin on top of her head.

Compared to his 6'3 frame, she was tiny—but he noticed she fit perfectly in his arms. He pushed that thought into the back of his head. Here she was, the girl of his dreams crying in his arms about her dead friend—boyfriend—what ever, and he was thinking about how perfect they were.

After a few minutes Hermione pulled her head up and giggled. He raised his eyebrow.

"S-Sorry." she said through her giggle, which had now turned into a chuckle. He was convinced she had lost her mind. His perplexed look only made her laugh harder.

He took his face between his large hands and tipped her head from side to side looking for injuries. She batted his hands away. "Sorry Blaise. I was laughing because I got your shirt all wet."

He gave her a weird look. "Aaannddd...that's funny?" He asked.

She nodded and giggled again.

"Alright then." he replied in a tone that clearly feared for her sanity.

She smiled brightly at him. "You're such a good friend Blaise." She stood, up kissed him on the cheek and then she was gone.

He lifted his hand to his cheek and smiled sadly. "Such a great friend." he repeated softly.

He sat there for a while, then headed to his common room to talk to his best friend.

When he got there, he sat down next to Theo, who was reading a book. Feeling him sit down, Theo closed the book and looked up.

"We need to talk." Blaise said. Theo looked at him curiously.

The Italian sighed. "I am not sure how to say this."

"Let me guess. You have feelings for my sister, but think that she only thinks of you as a friend, and that I'm going to be mad at you if you pursue her?" Theo asked.

"Well, you hit the Centaur on the head." Blaise replied.

Theo nodded. "Right. Well, I won't be mad at you if you pursue her. I think she will think of you as more than a friend, but right now she is still grieving. I think you would make a good couple, but if you hurt her, you will be looking down the end of my wand."

Blaise gulped. "Right."

Theo patted him on the shoulder as he stood up. "Just be a friend to her right now. It's what she needs."

He walked away and down the stairs to his dorm.

Blaise sat there for a while when the bane of his existence walked in.

"Hello Zabini." he said smirking.

He sighed. "What do you want Malfoy?"

"What? Am I not allowed to greet my friend?" He sneered.

Blaise rolled his eyes. "We are not friends!"

"Well, I wouldn't mind being friends with Granger...if you know what I mean." The blonde replied.

Blaise stood up and walked over to him. "You stay away from her!" he said sharply.

Malfoy smirked at him. "Watch your tongue, Zabini. I might just slip up about you and..."

"SHUT UP!" Blaise roared. He generally didn't yell but Malfoy just got on his nerves.

"You say anything, and you will regret it!" Blaise promised.

Malfoy just smirked at him. "What? You don't want Granger to know you had sex with Ginny Weasley and Lavender Brown?"

AN: gh. I'm mad at myself for not getting this up sooner. I've been so busy it's not even funny. I have school work, I just got a second job, and I have to go to court. Oh boy. I hope this is up to your standards. Please review! :)