Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Time's Up	By : Gotbooks00 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Blaise Views: 23286 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 6
Disclaimer: I own many things, but not any recognizable characters, things, or places in the Harry Potter series. Somehow, I doubt that JKR would agree to joint custody…shame, that. Also, no profit is being made from the writing or posti

Chapter List
- 1-Time's Up
- 2-TWO
- 3-THREE
- 4-FOUR
- 5-FIVE
- 6-SIX
- 7-SEVEN
- 8-EIGHT
- 9-NINE
- 10-TEN
- 11-ELEVEN
- 12-TWELVE
- 13-THIRTEEN
- 14-FOURTEEN
- 15-FIFTEEN
- 16-SIXTEEN
- 17-SEVENTEEN
- 18-EIGHTEEN
- 19-NINETEEN
- 20-TWENTY
- 21-TWENTY ONE
- 22-TWENTY TWO
- 23-TWENTY THREE
- 24-TWENTY FOUR
- 25-TWENTY FIVE
- 12
- 13
- 14
Time’s Up, by Gotbooks93

Summary: After successfully hiding the existence of her son for eight years, Hermione is out of luck and out of time. When the father of her child discovers her secret, their quiet worlds are changed forever. Will things become better, or worse? Join Hermione and Xander as they find out.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Hermione’s suitcase shut with a quiet click. Standing back, she surveyed the war zone that was her bedroom. Numerous articles of clothing were strewn about the room, and small stacks of books littered the floor. Hair products were scattered on the counter in her bathroom alongside her makeup, and shoes took up residence in highly unlikely places- on her nightstand, on the side table, and next to bedposts. Flicking her wand, she set the rooms to rights, sending clothing soaring back into the closet, marching shoes back into their proper places on the rack, and books flying back into their spots on the bookcases in the living room.

Xander ducked a worn copy of Hearing Helga: A Founder’s Story as he slid into the bedroom, with Selena loosely wrapped around his neck. His own suitcase dragged on the ground behind him. Muttering a feather- light charm on his suitcase, Hermione mentally ran over her mental checklist. She had informed McGonogall, Harry, Ron, and her parents she would be gone. Selena’s food, water, and heating rock were all packed away, and she had their passports in her satchel. Finally, she had gone by Flourish and Blott’s and picked up two books, So Your Child Has Extreme Childhood Energy Syndrome by Wallace Brickard and Power Before Puberty: A Parent’s Guide by Flourine Nighturne.

Looking around her room, Hermione eased her suitcase off the bed. “I suppose we’re ready, then?” She mused, Xander nodding in agreement.

She noticed Xander anxiously shifting his weight from foot to foot, obviously ready to leave. After casting a few standard wards on the door and windows, Hermione and Xander floo’ed to the Ministry of Magic.

Half an hour later, Hermione was seated in the Department of Magical Transportation. Blaise, who had met them shortly beforehand, had taken Xander to collect their international portkey from the front counter.

The woman sitting next to Hermione in the waiting room was cradling a fussy baby boy, and Hermione’s heart went out to her. Although Xander was now a well- behaved child, he had been a new mother’s nightmare as an infant. He had been a light sleeper and a picky eater, and had succumbed to countless ear infections. It was a wonder that Hermione had managed at all, if you asked her.

Seeing the baby’s face turn a deeper shade of pink as its cries became louder, Hermione surreptitiously looked for the cause. After a moment, her well- trained eyes landed on the infant’s small, chubby leg, which poked out of the blue blanket that covered him. Part of the little boy’s leg was an inflamed red color, and she quickly spotted the problem.

“Excuse me?” Hermione gently said, addressing the frazzled young mother.

The other woman, confused, turned to face her. She spoke over her child’s steadily increasing hollering, her voice tinged with distress. “I’m so sorry about the noise- he’s normally such a good baby. I can’t figure out what’s wrong with him!”

“I think I may know the problem.” Hermione said with a slight smile. “If I may?” she gestured toward the baby.

After a moment’s hesitation, the other woman gently handed over her squalling son. Flipping the blanket up, Hermione immediately found the laundry tag attached to the soft blanket. Giving her wand a flick, she vanished the tag from the blanket. She cast a mild cooling charm directly after, and the baby’s screams immediately began to fade. A moment later, the complacent baby was cooing happily, staring up at Hermione with red- rimmed eyes.

“Merlin, how did you know that was there?” asked the other mother as she accepted the child into her arms. She inspected the red patch of skin on her son’s leg, softly rubbing a finger over it.

“It comes with experience. Usually when babies fuss and you can’t find a reason it’s something small that you wouldn’t think of. Their soft skin is very sensitive to things like tags, but a cooling charm puts them to rights.” Said Hermione with a smile.

“Are you a mum, then?” asked the woman.

“I am,” confirmed Hermione. She pointed to Blaise and Xander, who were conversing as they waited at the counter. “That’s my little one over there.”

“What a handsome little boy!” the woman exclaimed. “How old is he?”

“He’s just turned eight.” Said Hermione, smiling softly as she watched them interact. Turning back, she gestured to the baby in the woman’s arms. “Treasure him while he’s young- before you know it, he’ll be grown up. Sometimes when I wake up, I half expect to hear a baby crying down the hall, and think it’s time to feed him.”

“I don’t know about that.” she said. “I would kill for a night of uninterrupted rest. My husband’s an auror, and he works the night shift, so he’s not around to take a turn getting up to feed the baby.”

Hermione nodded. “Try putting a cooling charm on the under- sheet in his crib during the summer.” She advised. “And if you have a spare wireless radio, keep it playing quietly as he sleeps. It will keep him from waking up at loud sounds after a few weeks. I did it with my son, and he is a very deep sleeper now.”

“And is that his father?” Asked the woman, her eyes taking in Blaise’s form appreciatively, despite the ring on her finger. At Hermione’s nod, she gave a wink, still watching Blaise and Xander . “You’re a lucky woman.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Hermione.

She got a small smirk in reply. “I think I would wind up with more than one baby if I had a man like that to wake up to.”

“Oh, no!” said Hermione, her face heating. “We’re not-”

“Oh, it’s all right love. You two can’t be more than thirty! I mean, I know having a child can put a damper on things, but all the books say a couple needs to make ‘alone time’ a priority.” The woman prattled on cheerily. Hermione realized she was quite the chatter, now that her kid was quiet.

“No, you don’t understand.” Hermione insisted. “Blaise is-”

“Ready to go, if you are.” Blaise cut in, as he walked up. Xander trailed behind him, closely examining what appeared to be a crushed toaster.

Snatching up her and Xander’s suitcases, Hermione stood. Glancing at Blaise’s face, she did a double- take.

His eyes were slowly sliding over the other woman’s body, pausing on her stomach, on the baby in her arms, and then on her greatly- enhanced cleavage. Hermione knew from experience that the size of her breasts was likely due to breast milk, but still felt a pang of jealousy. As Blaise’s eyes continued to rove over the other woman, Hermione felt her ire rising. It was one thing to glance, but quite another to linger this way!

“Blaise.” Hermione said through clenched teeth. “Let’s go.”

Blaise tore his gaze away from the other woman, seeming to come back to himself. He looked surprised at Hermione’s glare, and raised a single eyebrow in question. Casting a disdainful look at him, Hermione spun on her heel and started moving towards the designated take- off point. She didn’t bother to say good-bye to the other woman.

As she walked, Hermione couldn’t help but wonder when she had become such so jealous. ‘He obviously sees our intimacies as something casual.’ Hermione determined. ‘And everyone knows the person who cares less hold the power in a relationship. Snap out of it, Hermione! You’re too old to be getting attached to someone, especially if he clearly doesn’t feel the same way. Just enjoy this vacation- you’ve earned it. But keep your distance.’ She couldn’t help but feel that she had given herself this pep- talk before, and cursed Blaise for putting her out of sorts. This erratic behavior was starting to annoy even her.

During her mental inducement Hermione had neared the portkey point, and she took several deep breaths, forcing the green- eyed monster into the dark recess where it dwelled. Wiping her expression clean, she turned around.

“Are you ready?” Hermione asked Xander as he hurried up to her. “Now, remember what I told you- portkey travel is a bit disorienting, but it passes quickly. Try to gain your feet before the magic releases you, but I think they install automatic ground cushioning charms in these things nowadays, so it shouldn’t be too bad if you fall. Do you have Selena?” she asked, continuing when she saw the serpent’s head peek out of Xander’s shirt collar. “All right, get a firm grip.”

Hermione and Xander took a hold of the toaster, and Blaise reached out, his hand joining theirs. When his fingers brushed hers, Hermione’s eyes darted to meet with his. He looked confused, and a little more troubled than before. Hermione plastered a smile on her face, although the expression didn’t reach her eyes. “Here we go.” She said with forced enthusiasm.

A second later, the hook behind her navel jerked her forward, and Hermione took one last breath. As the ground dropped from under her feet, she shut her eyes tightly. The swirls of color and light always made her nausea worse.

After what seemed forever, she had the sensation of endlessly falling. Prying her eyes open, she saw the ground rushing up to meet her. She bent her knees a second before her feet hit the ground, only wobbling a little as she landed. Blaise, too, had landed on his feet, his suitcase still in hand.

Xander, however, was not so lucky. Landing on his back with a dull thud, he let out a little moan as he rolled on the ground. Sitting up, he clutched his head.

“Mother, I don’t feel so good.” He said as Hermione and Blaise each took an arm, hauling him up.

“It will pass, darling.” She tried to console him. “Take deep breaths.”

However, he continued to clutch his head, swaying uneasily on his feet. “I really don’t feel well.” He whimpered again.

A moment later, he leaned over, expelling the contents of his stomach. Directly onto Blaise’s shiny black shoes.

~(o)~

“Father, I’m sorry.” Xander said for the umpteenth time.

“Alexander, I told you, it’s not a big deal. They’re just shoes, and they were getting old, anyway.” Blaise said, a note of exasperation creeping into his voice.

“But I-” Xander began again, clutching his father’s hand.

Coming to an abrupt stop, Blaise crouched down so that he was at eye level with his son. “Alexander, did you vomit on my shoes on purpose?”

“No, of course not!” his son exclaimed, only to be cut off by Blaise’s hand motion.

“Then we have nothing left to discuss.” Blaise said, gently ruffling his hair as he stood.

Hermione looked around her. They were walking along a dirt road, lush green plants around them. The normal humidity of England was greatly reduced in Italy, and Hermione was grateful as she continued to trek uphill.

“I thought we were staying at a beach house.” Commented Hermione, still gazing around her. She was vaguely worried that the portkey had dropped them in the wrong place.

“We are. It’s just up ahead.” Blaise gestured forward, where the road reached its peak. Hearing this, Xander ran towards the crest of the road, apparently recovered from his traveling sickness.

“Hermione, is something wrong?” inquired Blaise, lowering his voice so Xander wouldn’t hear. “Your mood seems to have turned sour, and I’d like to know the reason.”

“My mood is fine.” Snapped Hermione, her happy façade slipping. “I’m on a bloody vacation, Blaise, why would I be in a rotten mood?”

“Hermione, I’d like to enjoy this vacation, and-”

“Look, Blaise, I’m sure we will both enjoy this vacation quite a bit. I get to spend with Xander, and I hear women run around nude on the beaches here, so you’ll have plenty to look at.” Hermione said in a scathing tone, keeping her eyes straight ahead. She was quickly realizing that jealousy was a very potent emotion- dangerous, too.

“Now hold on, cara!” Blaise began again, and Hermione turned her gaze to him, her eyes shooting knives. Normally, she didn’t mind his Italian endearments at all; they made her feel special, pretty. But now she knew they were just empty words. Along with his kisses that made her knees weak and the way his firm arms held her close. Just something to pass his time, it seemed.

“No, you hold on, Blaise Zabini!” Hermione spat. Opening her mouth to read him the riot act, she was cut off.

“Wow!” Xander exclaimed from his place at the top of the slope. “Look at the view! Mother, Mother come see this!”

Hermione’s smile was less forced this time as she hurried up the hill, hands still holding the feather- light suitcases. That would be her plan, she thought resolutely. She would enjoy the warm Italian sun with her child, and avoid conflict with his father. Xander was bound to pick up on it after a while, and she was determined not to spoil his vacation.

Reaching the top of the hill, Hermione’s breath caught in her lungs. Spread across the horizon was the sea. A deep, cerulean blue, she could see the tiny specks of white on its surface, sailboat owners enjoying the day. Smooth, light sand spread out across along the coast, a direct contrast to England’s rocky beaches. Sea gulls swooped through the air, although they were too far away to hear their cries. A breeze carried the smell of salt to them through the air, and the sun shone brightly.

“Benvenuti in Italia” murmured Blaise from behind her. “Welcome to Italy.”

~(o)~

Flopping onto the fluffy white comforter, Hermione let out a moan as the soft surface cradled her body. It had been a long day, and stressful at that.

Being angry took up a lot of energy.

After they finished admiring the view, Blaise had revealed their lodgings weren’t far. A well- paved stone path branched off the dirt road, and lead to a beautiful house, hidden in the trees.

Hermione thought it was much too large to be considered a ‘beach home’, with five bedrooms and bathrooms, a full kitchen, living room, dining room, sun room, parlor, and staff quarters. Out the back door was a small, clear pool, and Hermione thought she saw a car in the adjoining garage. The whole thing overlooked a long stretch of beach, which was five minutes’ walk away. Oh, to be absurdly wealthy.

The only staff on hand were an older Italian couple, Rosa and Johan. They lived in the house year- round, up keeping the home and surrounding garden. Neither spoke more than a few words of English, of course. Blaise immediately introduced Hermione as Xander’s mother, and they instantly identified Xander as Blaise’s son. Admittedly, the boy was a spitting image of his father. Hermione couldn’t help but liken the resulting din to the story of the prodigal son, come home at last.

Although Xander had feebly tried to explain that he spoke no Italian, Rosa continued to prattle on in the romantic tongue. She quickly escorted him into the kitchen, instantly placing a plate of sweet cakes in front of the boy. He had quickly stopped trying to explain their language barrier, and popped one of the cakes into his mouth, nodding along to whatever the Italian woman was saying.

Although the sun hadn’t set by the time they were settled in, the travelers opted for a night in, instead of venturing out to the beach. All three were tired from the portkey journey, the short trip wearing on them. After a brief tour and a quiet dinner, they had turned in for an early night. Hermione promised to take Xander to the beach directly after breakfast, and perhaps a local trip to the nearby town, if they were up to it.

Hermione’s room was painted a serene powder blue, with crisp white accents to adorn the room; and the quiet pad of her feet sounded nice as she walked across the wooden floorboards. After using the en suite bathroom to prepare for bed, Hermione slipped into the sleepwear she had packed: an indigo silk night dress, perfect for the hot summer nights. A matching house robe had come with the nightie, dyed in the same deep purple.

Admittedly, she had been in a more sensual frame of mind upon its purchase, the idea of Blaise’s attention making her daring. Now, she just felt a bit foolish.

‘I’ll just be sexy for myself’ thought Hermione determinedly as she pulled the hem of the nightdress, which came a few inches above her knees. She took her long, brown hair out of its elastic, shaking the curls free.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp lit the room, and Hermione pushed open the French doors that lead out to the balcony of her room. Relishing the light, warm gust of wind that blew in, Hermione was just climbing under the blanket when a quiet rap came from the door to her room.

Forgetting her house robe in her surprise, Hermione drew open the door, expecting Xander on the other side, awake from a nightmare, or Rosa with more towels. Instead, Blaise leaned against the door frame, his hazel eyes burning.

“Cara, I think we need to talk.”

Hey guys!

Raise your hand if you’d like an Italian hottie to visit you in your room late at night. I know I would! *Drool*

So, they’ve made it to Italy. The next 1-2 chapters should take place there, and there’ll be plenty going on. This is actually part one of the chapter- I’ll be posting the second half on Monday.

Hope everyone is doing well, and staying safe.

Caio,

Gotbooks93
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Time's Up