Ch. 23

Blaise recovered quickly and he was able to leave the Hospital Wing the next morning, much to the others' delight. Ginny was by his side the entire time, only leaving him during to attend classes, and even then they were at each other's sides in between their different classes. They had ended up taking up residence on Draco and Hermione's common room couches, transfiguring them into a bed at night and then back into couches in the morning.

The four of them even started eating together, switching back and forth between tables every other day. The other houses soon became used to this, and they no longer received stares as the group entered the Great Hall, only the occasional glare from a few people at whichever table they decided to sit at that day.

It was about the third week of October when during breakfast, the Headmistress approached the group at the end of the Gryffindor table.

"It has come to my attention," She started sternly, "That Miss Weasley and Mister Zabini have been staying in the Head Dorm instead of their own dorms."

Blaise and Ginny looked at each other nervously, unsure of how she found out where they had been staying. Blaise looked up at her and replied, "Professor, Ginny has been worried about us being apart since the last time I was in the Hospital Wing, so yes, we have been staying in the Head Dorm together."

"Mister Zabini, as appreciative as I am of your straightforwardness, the Head Dorm is only to be used by the Head Boy and Head Girl," She said in a matter-of-factly tone.

Blaise bowed his head and Ginny looked at Hermione, as if she would be able to fix the situation. But Hermione only returned the panicked look her friend had given her before looking up at Professor McGonagall and saying, "Professor, I didn't...I mean, we didn't...."

A quick look from McGonagall silenced her and the Headmistress continued with a wave of her hand. "Follow me, please."

The group hesitated before standing up and following the Headmistress as she led them out of the Great Hall and down the corridor. They all walked in silence to the Head Dorm's portrait, where the Headmistress gave the password and motioned for them to go in. Blaise's mind was in a whirlwind; he didn't care if he would be expelled, but he was immensely worried about Ginny being expelled. After all, he was the one who brought up the idea of them staying together in the Head Dorm.

When the four of them entered the room, they all noticed that immediately to the right of the entrance inside the dorm was a new staircase, similar to the two staircases on the back wall that lead to Draco and Hermione's room but smaller in size. This one led to another portrait of a young woman. Ginny recognized her instantly.

"Oh, it's you!" She exclaimed happily. Then she looked back at the Headmistress with a confused look. "But...I don't understand."

"Well, Miss Weasley, I saw it only fit that since neither nor Mister Zabini are of Head status, you should instead receive a dorm of your own."

"But Headmistress-" Blaise started to argue before it sunk it and he paused. "Wait, what?"

She gave him a small smile. "Yes, Mister Zabini. Considering your unusual circumstances, I deem it only necessary that you two should not be separated, as we cannot afford for either of you to miss classes again or to have something worse happen. Now, since it would be easier to have you two," She nodded towards Draco and Blaise, "In the same area to keep track of you, I have made the new dorm right next to the Head Dorm. In order to make sure that the other students do not catch on to the fact that you two are sharing a dorm, the entrance to your dorm will be through the Head Dorm."

The four of them simply gaped at her, and she looked between the four of them over the rim of her glasses. "I trust that you will keep this information to yourselves; I don't want other students coming to me and asking for the same liberties."

The group nodded and she smiled at them. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must go prepare for today's classes. Your password, by the way, is Butterbeer."

And with that, she left the dorm, leaving the four of them smiling happily at each other. Ginny and Blaise both turned to their portrait and Ginny bounded up the stairs.

The girl in the portrait smiled and waved slightly at her. "Hello again, little Gryffindor. I see that you found your Slytherin."

Ginny nodded happily and gave the password, rushing into the dorm excitedly. Draco and Hermione followed Blaise and Ginny into the new dorm and the four of them explored happily.

It was almost an exact copy of the Head Dorm, except everything was flipped to the opposite side. The fireplace was on the other side of the wall where the one in the Head Dorm would be, with the same two grey couches next to it with a coffee table in between them. Then the kitchen on the other side of the room, set up exactly like Draco and Hermione's, and two stair cases on the back wall leading to the rooms.

Blaise scoffed at the staircases. "Was it really necessary to put in two? We're already sharing a bed."

"Maybe she didn't want to assume anything," Hermione said, shrugging. "Besides, having two bedrooms isn't so bad."

"So you two aren't sleeping together yet?" Blaise asked jokingly, raising an eyebrow at her.

She blushed and shook her head. Draco scowled at the other Veela and said, "We haven't gotten to that point in our relationship yet."

There was a sudden knocking from the main dorm's portrait, and Draco went to go see who it was while Hermione and Ginny explored Ginny's new room.

"Sir," The knight started as he appeared into the portrait. "It's the yelling woman again."

Draco groaned as Blaise appeared next to him and asked, "The yelling woman?"

"Pansy," Draco said unhappily.

Blaise's face scrunched in annoyance. "What does she want?"

"She wants to speak to the Head Boy," The knight said.

The two boys looked at each other and then Draco sighed. "Might as well see what she wants. If anything we can just tell her again that neither one of us is interested in her."

"Mate, she only tries for me to make you jealous," Blaise grimaced. "Remember, don't mention the other dorm."

"Oh, you mean you want her knowing?" Draco asked sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. He then leaned back and yelled to the girls, "We'll be right back!"

There was a faint reply of "Okay!" before they both stepped outside of the portrait hole, meeting a smug-looking Pansy.

"So, did the girls get in trouble?" She asked instantly, bouncing up and down in excitement.

Draco narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you talking about?"

She simply smirked as she went on. "Well I know that the Mudblood has been allowing her Weasley friend to stay in the dorm with her, and I knew you wouldn't stand them both being there bothering you, so I went and told McGonagall for you!"

Draco bristled at the name she had called his mate and growled. "Do call her that, Pansy!"

She ignored him and went on. "I left out that you were allowing Blaise to stay, since I didn't want you two to get in trouble but I don't think she figured that out anyway. So what happened? Did Granger get demoted? Sent back to the Gryffindor dorm?"

"She's still Head Girl, and did not get in trouble," Blaise stated. "Why would you do that, Pansy?"

She gave him a confused look. "You really have to ask that? I wanted Granger gone so I could spend more time with Draco! I've been hearing horrible rumors going around about you and Granger being together, and I just wanted to make sure everyone knew the truth, that we were together!"

She then flung her arms around Draco's neck, and he struggled while pulling them off. "Pansy...get..."

He pushed her away and growled. "Hermione and I together, you daft woman!"

"Draco, what are you saying?" Pansy asked with a hurt expression. Then her expression turned to anger. "She slipped you a love potion, didn't she? I'm going to hex her when I see her!"

Blaise looked at Draco who was fuming. His eyes were starting to turn black, but Blaise put a hand on his shoulder and muttered, "Calm down, mate; you're changing."

Draco closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, turning his head to look up with his eyes still closed. Pansy watched everything with a shocked expression on her face. "What's happening to him?"

Blaise turned to Pansy. "Pansy, you need to listen to me. Draco is not under a love potion. He really is together with Hermione. And if you were smart, you would realize that Draco is not going to be with you ever, and you will move on."

Pansy glared at him. "What happened to you, Blaise? You used to hate her just as much as Draco and I did; and now you're calling her by her first name? I'm ashamed to even be associated with you!"

"I'd rather hang out with Hermione than you," Blaise stated angrily. "She happens to be a wonderful person who has more planned out for her life than marrying the richest wizard she can find."

Pansy gasped and looked at Draco, who had since calmed down and was watching them again, his eye back to normal. "How can you let him speak to me like that, Draco?"

"Because it's the truth," Draco shrugged. "You are after me mostly for my money, and in the beginning I was alright with that because you put out and it wasn't half-bad. But now I want more than just a good fuck in the sheets. I want love. And I have it with Hermione. So please, for yourself Pansy, move on. Find another wizard who will give you the love and attention that you want, because it isn't and will not be me."

Pansy gaped at him, tears welling up in her eyes. Without another word she turned and ran off, her sobs filling the corridor. Blaise looked over at Draco and said, "That was a bit harsh."

"It needed to be said and it's the truth," Draco sighed while rubbing the back of his neck. "I can't afford for her to try and bother us. And what if she really does hurt Hermione?"

"Merlin help her if she does," Blaise muttered as they walked back through the portrait.

Hermione and Ginny were sitting on the couches in the new dorm, chatting happily. They both looked up as the boys came back in, and Ginny asked, "Where did you go?"

Blaise made his way over to her and kissed her cheek. "Just had something to take care of. Come on, ladies; we should get to Potions before Slughorn counts us late."