A Looping of the Scales ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 84 ~ Plowing Ahead

Ginny was walking toward Boleskine house and saw Blaise walking toward her. She had just passed Susan and was on her way to let the boys know that the gatehouse was ready to be inhabited.

Blaise's dark eyes rested on the redhead, who looked back at him rather defiantly as they drew closer. The Slytherin blocked her path.

"Move, Blaise," Ginny hissed at him.

"So rude," he said softly. "I just want to know where I can get a sandwich."

"You don't deserve a sandwich. You've done nothing to help anyone," she snapped at him.

Blaise frowned at her.

"For your information, I'm taking the sandwich back to Boleskine house. I'm going to pull my weight. I only left earlier because I couldn't take everyone's 'better than thou' attitudes," the wizard told her. "And, I wanted to see if I could feel the demon influence in the house. I couldn't."

"That's probably because you're already evil," Ginny told him.

"I'm dark, not evil," Blaise said, his brown eyes drifting down her body. "Have you ever been with a dark wizard before, Ginny?"

"No. And I don't ever plan to be," she replied, trying to walk around him. He shifted over, still blocking her way.

"Don't make me take out my wand," she snarled at him.

Blaise smirked.

"You're so—reactive. A dangerous witch. I like that, because I'm a dangerous wizard as well. But—not totally bad, Ginny—in fact, I could be quite good to you."

"Good to me. Right."

Blaise's brown eyes shifted around the grounds for a moment, then fell back on Ginny.

"This morning—you felt me. I could see it in your eyes," he said softly. "If I could have gotten my hands on you, all you would have known was me. I want to shag you, Ginny. One time. One good time. No one would ever have to know—"

"I'd know! You have some nerve telling me that, knowing I go out with Harry," she said to him.

"I'm just being honest. I'm attracted to you. Harry doesn't mean anything to me, Ginny. He's already a has-been. His best days are behind him. He's dull, and he's always going to be dull. I bet you've already fell into a 'comfortable' pattern with him, like an old married couple. Friends, with privileges. You'd know I wasn't your 'friend' if you gave me a little time. A friend wouldn't shag you the way I would—"

"The demons have you," Ginny breathed at him.

Blaise shook his head.

"No. I've wanted you since Hogwarts. The only thing that has me—is you."

"Leave me alone, Blaise."

"I'll wait for you near the boathouse tonight. At two in the morning, Ginny," Blaise said, his eyes hot. "If you come, I'll give you something Potter never could, and it would be between us—forever."

Ginny started as she felt magic swirl around them. Blaise had taken an oath of Silence.

"That's how serious I am. I know you're hot for me, Ginny. Why fight it? You can stay with Harry if you want to, you'll have the rest of your life with him. But why not at least find out what it's like to be with someone like me? I know you're curious. Don't you want to do something—bad? It's in you. I'm as bad as they come."

"You're crazy if you think I'd come to the boathouse in the middle of the night so you could shag me. I love Harry," Ginny hissed at Blaise.

"I didn't say you didn't love him, Ginny," the wizard replied. "I'm just saying—look, I'll be there. If you don't come, then I'm wrong about you. I can live with that, but—can you? Are you really ready to just be with Harry for the rest of your life not knowing what it's like to be with another wizard at least once? I know you're a Gryffindor and you have your beliefs about what loyalty is. Sacrifice. But, I'm a Slytherin and I believe in being loyal and true to myself. If I'm not, I'm living a lie. Are you ready to live a lie, Ginny? If it's in you, you should do it and let it out. If you don't, you might regret it later, when I'm long gone."

"I guess that line of dragon dung works for you with other witches, eh, Blaise?"

"Like I said, I'm being honest. If you think being honest is dragon dung, then that's on you. But, I want you. I want you so much, Ginny, I can taste it. And I can feel that you're interested in taking a ride on the dark side with me. I promise, if you do—you won't be disappointed. I'm good, very good."

"No, Blaise," Ginny said, stalking around him and heading for Boleskine house.

He watched her walk for a second, then called out, "What about that sandwich?"

Ginny flung one hand in the direction of the gatehouse the wizards were going to occupy without looking back.

"I'll be at the boathouse, tonight," he called after her again. "At two."

Ginny kept going.

Blaise was out of his mind.

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By the time Blaise made it to the gatehouse, Susan and Hermione had put away the food.

"I can't believe what an idiot Draco is being," Hermione said to the Hufflepuff as she wiped down the large kitchen table. This gatehouse was larger than the one at the gate, although not as pretty.

"Well, believe it," Susan replied. "He's a prat with a capital 'P.' He really needs to leave the house before—"

Suddenly, she stopped talking as she saw Blaise standing in the doorway, his brown eyes resting on her.

"I'm here for a sandwich," he said, his eyes shifting to a scowling Hermione.

"You haven't been helping, Blaise. You shouldn't get anything to eat if you ask me," she said.

Blaise's face contorted.

"I'm not asking you," he retorted, his eyes shifting back to Susan.

"Sure, Blaise. Would you like me to make it for you?" Susan asked him pleasantly.

The Slytherin seemed a bit taken aback by her politeness. He had expected more grief from the witches.

"Yes," he responded, then added, "Please."

Both of Hermione's eyebrows rose. Did Blaise actually say please? The sky was going to fall.

"Have a seat," Susan told him, retrieving bread, cold cuts, toppings and condiments.

Blaise sat down at the table, ignoring Hermione's glare.

As she worked, Susan struck up a conversation with Blaise.

"Do you know how much sand they've moved?" she asked him. "I was at the house, but busy in the kitchen."

Hermione made herself scarce, going to check the bathroom again although it was spotless. She didn't care for Blaise much.

"They've done quite a bit," Blaise said. "I'll be going back to help after I have my sandwich. We have to spread it out evenly."

He watched as she stacked a generous amount of meat on the sandwich.

"I'm glad you decided to help," she said as she added tomatoes.

"I never intended not to help, although I think they're going about it all wrong," the wizard said as Susan slid the sandwich over to him.

"Pumpkin juice?"

"Yes, thank you."

Susan smiled slightly as she retrieved the juice. Respect was a two-way street. Blaise, as bad as he was, was still capable of being civil. Perhaps her being a Hufflepuff rather than a Gryffindor had something to do with it as well.

Hermione was heading back toward the kitchen when she heard Susan say, "So, you think they're going about clearing out the demons the wrong way, Blaise?"

What?

Hermione stalked into the kitchen just as Blaise took his first bite of his sandwich.

"So, what do you know about it, Blaise?" she asked him hotly.

The wizard looked surprised as he chewed and swallowed.

"About what?"

"About how to handle demons summoned by Muggle magic," she demanded

"I'm not saying I know anything about it, Granger," he replied, "but common sense dictates that—"

"We need more than common sense here, Blaise. Only knowledge is going to help us. I'm going to learn the banishing ritual and teach it to the rest of you. There's preparation involved—"

"You think too much, Granger," the wizard said, frowning.

"Apparently, you don't think enough," she shot back at him.

Blaise downed his pumpkin juice quickly, then picked up his sandwich, standing up.

"Forget it. Thanks for the sandwich, Susan," he said, then walked out of the kitchen, Hermione frowning after him.

"You know, he might have had something important to share, Hermione," Susan said softly as Hermione turned on her.

"I highly doubt it, Susan. Blaise isn't a team player and a pureblood. Not that that’s bad, but he doesn't understand the Muggle way very much. There's no way he could. You know Slytherins avoid Muggle Studies," she replied.

"Still," Susan said doubtfully.

"Trust me on this, Susan," Hermione responded. "Now, I'm going back to our gatehouse to do some reading about the ritual."

Hermione left the kitchen, Susan looking after her with a slight frown.

Hermione really didn't need demons to be arrogant. A Slytherin she didn't like would do.

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After spreading the sand on the terrace at Boleskine House, Snape, Harry, Ron and Blaise headed for the gatehouse and supper. They found the witches waiting for them. Snape had told Draco he was expected to show up as well to hear what Hermione had to tell them. Draco didn't want to come but Snape told him to either come or pack his bags.

They were all seated at the table in the kitchen, about to eat the spread Susan had laid out, when they heard something rolling across the ground. Ron stood up and looked out of the kitchen window.

"I don't bloody believe it," he said, shaking his head.

Everyone else stood up and looked outside.

Pulling up to the gatehouse was Sharptooth, carrying Draco along in what looked like a rickshaw.

"Oh . . . my . . . gods," Hermione said as Draco dismounted. Sharptooth looked completely out of sorts as the blond wizard passed him, then made an obscene gesture behind Draco's back.

"Doesn't look like Sharptooth appreciates being used for transportation," Snape said as Draco walked up to the house and entered. He walked into the kitchen and looked around.

"This place is a dump," he announced, frowning.

"You don't have to sleep here," Ron shot back at him as they all sat down again.

"Would you like to eat, Draco?" Susan asked him politely.

Draco's gray eyes rested on her disdainfully. She had some nerve asking him that after taking all the food from Boleskine House.

"No, I wouldn't like to eat. My servant has already fed me, and better fare than this," he said loftily.

"Fine, then just shut up," Ron growled at him. He still wanted to punch him in the nose.

Draco folded his arms as everyone filled their plates. They had fish and chips with peas, salt, vinegar and ketchup. It smelled delicious. Draco had steak for his dinner, perfectly cooked, with roast potatoes and a side of Brussels sprouts.

"Now, I've done some reading, and we have to get some supplies. Handmade white robes, holy water and other items. We're going to have to purify them and ourselves, meaning no sex for seven days once we start preparing.

"No sex!" Ron spluttered.

Harry and Snape didn't look too pleased either.

"For how long?" Harry asked for clarification.

"A week, starting tomorrow," Hermione said. "I'm going to go get what we need in the morning."

Wizards and witches looked at each other. That meant they had to get shagging out of their systems tonight. Blaise's eyes shifted to Ginny, who ignored him, looking at Harry. Draco just looked bored.

"But, we're in different gatehouses," Harry complained, looking at Ginny. How were they going to pull this off?

"Well, two couples can stay in the gatehouses, and one can find another place if they want privacy tonight," Hermione said, reddening.

"We can stay at Boleskine House, Hermione," Snape said softly. He wasn't affected by the demons, and if Hermione became arrogant again, he could show her his displeasure in a very physical, enjoyable and somewhat dominating way. In fact, he hoped she'd act up, just a little. He'd love to pound that arrogance right out of her.

"Can we move this along?" Blaise asked, frowning. He didn't care about them planning their conjugal visits. But this development definitely didn't bode well for his plans with Ginny.

Damn it.

"All right, Severus. Staying in Boleskine house for one night won't kill us, but I have to leave early in the morning, and we can't talk about our plans while we're there," she told him. "The demons will hear them."

"I'm sure the demons know something is going on with all the sand we put on the terrace," Draco sniffed.

"But not exactly what," Hermione replied, frowning at the pureblood.

Blaise just shook his head. He thought all of this was rather stupid. There was a simpler solution, he was sure. But Granger was such a blasted know-it-all, just let her handle it. She wasn't willing to listen earlier, and he wasn't about to repeat himself.

"Now," Hermione said importantly, "Here's what the actual banishing ritual consists of—"

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A/N: Okay, another transitional chapter. I've come up with an interesting scenario for the demon banishment, I think, but I'm wondering if I should insert an HG/SS lemon in the next chapter since we haven't had a detailed one in a while. What do you think? Sorry about the wait between chapters. Not at my best lately. Anyway, thanks for reading.