Ch. 22

Ginny woke up the next morning with her head on Blaise's chest, and she sat up, startled. She didn't remember falling asleep like that, but when she saw that he was still unconscious she sighed unhappily.

She sat cross-legged next to him, holding his hand as she tried to read one of the books that Hermione had brought her. She wasn't able to focus though as her worry for Blaise increased every minute that passed with him still unconscious. 

With a huff she closed the book and set it down next to her, looking back at Blaise and wrapping both of her hands around the one she was holding. She wanted so badly for him to wake up so that she could apologize. Would he even still want her though after his Veela felt rejected?

A sudden commotion outside of the hospital wing caught her attention and she could hear raised voices making their way through the corridor. She recognized one as Professor McGonagall's voice, but the other was a woman's voice that she didn't know.

The two woman burst through the wing doors, and when Ginny realized they were making their way to where she was, she jumped off the bed in shock and stood up, still holding on to Blaise's hand.

The other woman with the Headmistress was one of the most beautiful women that Ginny had ever seen. She had very high cheekbones and flawless dark skin, with a small beauty mark just beneath her right eye. She was wearing a beautiful floor-length green dress that showed her wealth, as Ginny knew that dress possibly had to cost more than her family's home. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun with a metal ring holding it in place. The woman's eyes reminded her of Blaise's own dark ones, but these were filled with fire as she caught sight of the unconscious wizard.

"What happened to him?" She demanded. Her eyes flicked to Ginny's hand holding Blaise's and she sneered. "And what, pray tell, are doing here?"

Ginny was caught off guard by the woman's iciness, and she stuttered as she tried to answer, faltering under the woman's cold gaze. The woman stopped right in front of her, glaring down at the red head. "I would advise that you let go of my son's hand immediately."

"Aster," Professor McGonagall interrupted. "Based off of recent events, I'm afraid it would be in your son's best interests for Miss Weasley here to let go of his hand. After all, she is his mate."

The woman whirled around angrily. "Are you really trying to tell me that this..., is my son's mate? With all due respect, Minerva, my son's Veela would not have chosen someone of her stature!"

The headmistress's eyes narrowed. "Considering that your son is in here because he was unable to be with her for four days, Aster, I would say yes; your son's Veela has chosen Miss Weasley."

Mrs. Zabini turned and glared at Ginny, who stood up straight and held onto Blaise's hand still despite the murderous look the woman was giving her. She looked Ginny up and down before sneering again, "He's in here because of you? I should have known! What did you do to him, you filthy little-"

"Mother..."

Everyone jumped and moved immediately to see Blaise breathing deeply and turning his head towards the group, his eyes barely open. "Please stop interrogating my mate."

Mrs. Zabini looked very conflicted, torn between happiness of her son being awake and hatred for the red headed girl who flung her arms around Blaise's neck. Ginny gave a cry of happiness as Blaise wrapped an arm around her, smiling weakly.

Madam Pomfrey immediately rushed over to inspect Blaise, ignoring the three women worrying over him. After a few minutes, she stood up straight and smiled at the couple. "Well, Miss Weasley, as I said yesterday, we caught him just in time. Welcome back, Mister Zabini. How are you feeling?"

"Very sore," He said quietly, struggling to get the words out. "And exhausted."

Madam Pomfrey nodded. "You still need to rest for at least another day, but I suspect you should be healing at a much faster rate than normal students. I will be back shortly with some pain potions and I would advise that any sort of questioning be put off until he is back to full health."

This last statement was aimed towards his mother, and Mrs. Zabini glared at Madam Pomfrey. "He is my son!"

"And my patient," The Matron returned simply. "Visiting hours are also over now, so I would advise that he be left in peace so that his recovery can begin."

Mrs. Zabini huffed at the audacity of the Matron, crossing her arms across her chest indignantly. The Headmistress nodded and cleared her throat as she said, "I suppose it is best that we leave. I shall send notice when your son is fully recovered, Aster."

Mrs. Zabini didn't respond, going over to the other side of the bed and giving her son a quick hug and kissing his forehead. "I will be waiting for an owl, son."

Completely ignoring Ginny, the proud woman strode out of the Hospital Wing with the Headmistress close behind her, and when the doors closed Ginny let out the breath that she was holding.

"So, I see you've met my mother," Blaise started, smiling weakly at Ginny.

"She isn't very fond of me," Ginny said sadly, turning back to him. "I even think she hates me."

"She doesn't hate you," Blaise said reassuringly as he shook his head. "She's just very much stuck in her ways, and I think if you two had met under better circumstances she would have had a better response."

Ginny sighed and sat down on the bed next to Blaise, her hand resting gently on his cheek. "I'm so sorry, Blaise."

"Why, Red?" He smiled.

She shook her head. "If I hadn't been so stubborn-"

"Ginny," He cut her off. "Please don't blame yourself. I put you in a tough spot with basically thrusting the information on to you. I was worried that you would find out another way and I wanted to make sure I was the one who told you. I just picked the wrong time to do it."

She squeezed his hand slightly. "I didn't help by running off."

"And I didn't help by avoiding you for so long." He shifted slightly and tried to sit up, slowly succeeding. He caught sight of the books on the bed and smiled. "Have you been doing research?"

"Yes," She looked down at the books scattered around the bed and the bedside table. "As soon as I had free time, I read everything I could find with Hermione. It wasn't much though, unfortunately...I should have talked to you Monday night; I was such a stubborn idiot."

Blaise simply shook his head and squeezed her hand. "I'm just happy you're here now. And I want you to know that I'll be happy with whichever decision you make, even if it's not with me."

"Honestly it took me nearly losing you to realize that I want this," She said. "I was so scared that I had waited too long, and when Draco came to get me saying you were in the hospital..."

He was grinning as he watched her look down at their hands. His Veela was soaring in his chest from what she had said, and when she lifted her head he realized that she had been crying again. She wiped her tears and gave him a confused look. "Why are you grinning?"

"You said you wanted this," He answered, reaching out to wipe one of the tears she had missed. "I really need to buy you some waterproof mascara."

She snorted slightly, shaking her head. "And of course I want this. I want to be with you."

His grin widened and he gently pulled her to him, her head resting on his chest as she lay down next to him, wrapping her arm around his stomach. He wrapped one around her shoulders and held the hand that she had just draped across him, kissing her forehead.

"You have no idea how happy you've just made me, Ginny Weasley," He said quietly.

She smiled and looked up at him. "I'm going to make it up to you, you know that right?"

"I thought it was the Veela's job to make their mate happy, not the other way around," He laughed.

"Well I guess you won't be taking the Firebolt out for a spin then," She retorted.

"Aw, that's not fair! I bought it for you!"

They laughed quietly together and soon Madam Pomfrey had made her way back to the bed, smiling to herself as she gave Blaise the pain potions to put him at ease.

After she had left, Blaise squeezed Ginny's shoulder and asked, "Oh, how did Quidditch tryouts go?"

She grinned at him. "I made captain!"

"I told you!" He grinned in return. "Now I have to make sure that I can keep up with you during the matches."

"You better not use your Veela abilities to your advantage," She said.

"I'll have to now that you have the Firebolt," He laughed. "Otherwise it wouldn't be fair."

"When are your tryouts?" She asked. "I want to go watch them."

He smiled. "Why? So you can distract me?"

She smirked. "I would never!"

"Oh trust me, Red," He laughed. "Just you being there would distract me, but I would love it either way. I believe they're next week, which is perfect so I can have time to rest before then."

"You have a sped-up healing process though according to Madam Pomfrey," Ginny said. "You should be alright in the next couple of days."

He smiled. "I know, but if I play it right I can get all sorts of pity!"

She smacked him slightly and they laughed at each other.