A Future Uncertain

Chapter 10 Intentions Pt. II

"That's a long way to walk with food," she said carefully, hoping that his next statement wouldn't be what she thought it would.

"We'll just have the house elves bring it up." Blaise shrugged. "They don't have anything better to do." Hermione almost hexed him for saying such an insensitive thing. She was sick of being the only one who cared about magical creatures. Does anyone care about them besides me?

"They have lives outside of serving students and cleaning up after them Blaise," she chastised, putting her hands on her hips. "Why can't we just eat dinner like normal? I quite liked the kitchens."

She missed the point completely. Blaise wasn't sure how you asked someone on a date twice, especially after asking them the first time had somehow insulted them. Instead of asking again, he played along. "Fine. I just wanted to make sure we are having dinner together."

"Sure," Hermione said, giving him an odd look. She wasn't sure what he had meant by that, but she turned and left for Herbology.

That was an utter failure, Blaise thought. She just had to miss the meaning and focus on that one small detail. He'd never had trouble asking girls out before, but Hermione just had to be different. He turned around, and saw Draco leaning casually against a wall in a connecting hallway behind him. It was more than annoying that he had witnessed the event, and by the way Draco was smirking, there was no mistaking that he had seen it.

"That went well." Draco chuckled, kicking himself off the wall.

"Hmm." Blaise hummed. He hated when Draco listened to his conversations. Instead of reacting, he turned the attention away from himself. "She reacts interestingly when you're around. Did you know that?" Blaise attempted to read his reaction, but couldn't tell what he was thinking. He was almost sure that Draco wasn't into Hermione, but it never hurt to make sure.

Draco scoffed, "The bossy girl with wild hair that you're so infatuated with?"

Blaise kept his face as still as stone, willing himself not to give his feelings on the matter away. Draco didn't need to know how he felt about her.

Unlike Blaise, Draco hadn't noticed anything off about her. She was still loud mouthed and passionate to the point where he wanted to strangle her. She looked the same as she always had, which is why Draco couldn't figure out what Blaise saw in her. She was still just annoying, plain Jane Granger. He hadn't seen her act oddly, and he was almost positive that the comment was to get him to react... which he wouldn't.

Instead of denial, he responded passively and added an insult for good measure. "She can react in whatever way she wants. I wouldn't touch her with a 50 foot Basilisk."

Draco knew the comment would bother him. Soon he will- Draco thought, while Blaise turned on his heal -just walk away. Draco smirked and followed. For someone who thought they were in complete control of their every move, his actions were always predictable.

After dinner with Hermione, Blaise offered his arm. Dinner had been nice. It started with a heated disagreement- which they hadn't been able to compromise on- about the treatment of house elves, but ended with the normal conversation and teasing she was used to. They walked to the seventh floor together, arm in arm, to study group.

"I should probably ask for the room this time," he said, letting her hand fall and winking at her.

She moved out of the way, smiling and bowing slightly, giving him the go ahead with her hand.

The thought of coming back to the group should have made her feel anxious, but his nonchalant attitude was soothing, and she couldn't help but giggle. He walked slowly by the room-less wall, but turned on his heal sharply at the end of each march. All the while, grinning and never letting his eyes leave hers. Hermione couldn't help but smile broadly at his flirtations.