Surprisingly Pure- mypseudonym
Chapter 14- NEWTs and Graduation
Christmas morning came slowly at the Malfoy house, as they were all still tired from the ball. Brenna got up around ten and climbed straight in the shower. She still was having trouble wrapping her head around the attraction she felt for the Potions Master. Sometimes it was easier to think and process under a spray of warm water.
While washing her hair thoroughly Brenna listed all of his faults to herself- he's practically middle aged, he's not a handsome prince, he has a tendency to be very mean, he was very mean to her up until this year, he never wears anything that isn't black or white, his hair looks greasy, he's her professor, and he's a friend of Father's. She went on and on. By the time she was finished showering, Brenna was convinced that she only appreciated the Potions Master's dancing abilities.
She dressed casually in jeans and a sweatshirt before she headed down to Christmas brunch. Compared to how the family generally looked, the Malfoys were decidedly more casual today. Draco stumbled into the dining room wearing sweat pants and a long-sleeved tee shirt. Mother wore dress pants and a sweater. Father was wearing his usual attire, but he'd neglected to button the top button and tuck in his shirt. They dug in at brunch, as dinner was a long time ago and unusually light because of the ball.
After brunch they had perked up a bit and they trooped downstairs to open gifts. The entryway was no longer sparkling after having a hundred or more witches and wizards tromp through it, but it would be clean again before too long. The family parlor was still bursting with Christmas cheer. Draco and Brenna set themselves to the task of separating the presents under the tree, piling them near each person's usual seat. When they finished they each sat down to their own piles of gifts.
Brenna received a book on etiquette and high society from Draco. Mother and Father gave her a new pair of gloves, a scarf and a hat. She also received several large boxes of gardening supplies- her own personal gardening tools, monogrammed smocks, hats, kneeling pad, watering can and more.
"Wow! Thank you Draco. Thank you Father and Mother." Brenna said. Mother and Father were looking very pleased with the gifts they'd received, and Draco was in awe over something in a small box.
"What are you looking at Draco?" Brenna asked.
"Did you really? Really, Father?" Draco asked, looking at Father gleefully.
"Yes, they're in your room as we speak. The house elves set them up during brunch." Father responded. He and Mother were both laughing. Draco sped out of the room, and Brenna finally got a peek at what was in the box. It was a photo of a drum set.
"Yours comes with more too, Brenna. When spring comes, we're going to set up a garden space just for you where you may grow anything you'd like." Mother said.
"My own garden? Really? Oh thank you, Mother. Thank you Father," she said, hugging them both. She gathered up the rest of her gifts carrying them upstairs. She kept thinking of all the wonderful plants she was going to grow.
The rest of Christmas day was spent relaxing and enjoying the gifts they had received before the formal Christmas dinner. In the middle of the afternoon, Brenna was trying on all of her different gardening smocks when she got the idea of going to show Mother how well they fit. She looked all over the second floor and in the family parlor before she heard Mother's voice in the Ladies parlor. She stepped through the doorway. Mother was indeed in there, but she was not alone. A woman sat across the room. Her hair was black and a little untamed looking. Her clothes were regal and black. Unfortunately, this was someone Brenna recognized.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mother. I didn't realize you had company." Brenna said quickly, ducking back out the door and hoping to avoid the current guest.
"Brenna, stop. Come in here." Mother said. Brenna obediently stepped back into the room. "Brenna, this is my sister, your Aunt Bella."
Brenna was familiar with Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black. This particular relative had tried on several occasions to kill her and her friends. She new that Narcissa Malfoy was originally a Black from her days spent at Grimmauld Place. It had never really occurred to her though, that the evil witch who was currently advancing on her was now her aunt.
"My my, the elusive kidnapped daughter. Cissy she looks quite like you. I suppose you are training her in the Pureblooded way of doing things." Bella said staring into Brenna's eyes while speaking to Mother.
"Of course, Bella. She's quite the quick study." Mother said. Brenna was scared to move.
"Do not be afraid of me, niece. I will not harm you.," she said, running a long finger down the side of Brenna's face. Brenna held in a shudder. She would not appear weak in front of her aunt. "Sit, child, have tea with us."
Brenna sat on the couch with her mother, watching Aunt Bella from across the room. The witch had not done anything objectionable yet, but it was clear she was not completely sane. Aunt Bella stayed for dinner with the family, which was an awkward experience. It was clear that no one was particularly fond of dear Aunt Bella. Fortunately, she left shortly after dinner. Brenna and Draco high tailed it up to Draco's room.
"Merlin, that woman is scary." Draco said, flinging himself on the bed.
"What, dear, sweet, Aunt Bella Le-Crazy?" Brenna said jovially. Now that the woman was gone it felt safe to joke about it. She kept forgetting why she found the woman so scary to begin with.
"Yeah. Fortunately we only see her on Christmas. Father doesn't like her, so she doesn't come around much other than that." Draco said.
"The fact that she has been in Azkaban for most of our lives and is now living on the run rather helps that too." Brenna replied, sitting backwards in Draco's desk chair.
"That too. Apparently she wasn't too crazy until she got thrown in the slammer. Mother has fond memories of her sisters from childhood." Draco said.
"Have you ever met Aunt Andromeda?" Brenna asked.
"No. Andromeda Tonks has been disowned for years. I've seen our cousin though, from a distance, a bit strange she is." Draco said. Brenna laughed. Tonks is indeed a bit strange, but not in at all the same way as Aunt Bella is a bit strange. Part of her rather missed dinners at Grimmauld Place, watching Tonks change her appearance just for her and Ginny's amusement.
"She is a little odd, but she's very funny." Brenna said.
"You've met her?" Draco asked, surprised.
"Hermione met her." Brenna replied vaguely, "but I don't really want to talk about it." Draco looked hopeful for a moment before clamming up. She had expected him to put up a bit of a fight. As much as she loved her family, Brenna couldn't talk about the Order around them. It was very odd to have a piece of her old life that she couldn't share even with her family.
Brenna vowed to ask Professor Snape about joining the Order after graduation.
The rest of Christmas vacation passed in a blur and soon Brenna and Draco were back on the Hogwarts Express ready to finish up their education.
For 7th years, the part of the year left after Christmas break is spent in frantic study mode. Classes continue, as does homework, but all free time becomes consumed in study. Draco and Brenna's normally very social group of friends became a group of study buddies. They were regulars at a table in the library. Brenna even saw Harry & Ron studying a few times.
NEWTs began a two weeks before the end of the year. Because of the nastily exhausting nature of NEWT exams, 7th years took no more than two of them a day. After an exam they would celebrate, relax, and prepare for the next exam. Towards the end of exams there was much more celebrating going on as 7th years became somewhat giddy from exam stress, spring fever, and a growing amount of free time.
People began to get excited about their post-graduation pursuits. She heard that Harry and Ron were accepted into Auror training. Daphne was going to work for her father at Gringotts. Many of the Slytherins had relatives getting them positions in various agencies. Father wrote saying he had positions in the Ministry for her and Draco, but he wouldn't tell them what until after graduation. She was a little disappointed that she was going to work in the Ministry. Brenna didn't know what she wanted to do, but climbing the corporate ladder was not it. Draco wasn't exactly thrilled either, but he would cope.
Brenna went to see Professor Snape after she finished her last NEWT.
"Miss Malfoy, what do you need?" he asked as she came into his office. She shut the door behind her, checking to make sure it shut completely.
"Professor, can I speak to you in strict confidence? As a friend of the family, not as my Potions professor?" she asked. Professor Snape looked at her and fired a locking spell at the door.
"What's wrong, Brenna?" he asked, sitting and gesturing for her to do the same.
"Do you know what my father has planned for me?" she asked, nervously biting her lower lip.
"I do, but I am sworn not to tell you." he replied simply, pinching the bridge of his nose. Brenna had learned that this was something the professor did when he was stressed. It was then that she noticed the stacks of exams on his desk.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you. I can see that you are very busy. I'll come back." she prattled, moving to leave rapidly.
"Brenna, sit down. I needed a break from grading anyway," he said. Brenna sat nervously. Snape conjured two glasses from his wand and pulled a bottle of Firewhiskey from his desk. He filled each glass to the halfway point and pushed one at Brenna. "Here. I know I need this, and you look as though you could use one as well."
"Will I like what he chose?" Brenna asked, reverting to their earlier conversation. She picked up the glass and sipped daintily from it. She had snuck drinks occasionally at home, but she'd never had this much before. It was nerve-wracking as well to drink in front of her professor.
"I don't think so, but it's a very good position, especially for someone who just finished school. I knew Lucius had ambitions of you becoming the next Minister of Magic, but I suppose he envisions it happening in the next ten years. What do you want to do, Brenna?" the dark wizard asked. Brenna took a big drink from her glass, praying that it give her the courage she needed.
"I want to join the Order," she said, hoping it sounded calm. Professor Snape didn't say anything for a moment.
"Have you considered this seriously?" he asked. Brenna considered it a plus since he wasn't laughing and he didn't appear to be angry.
"I've been thinking about it since Christmas. I recognize that it's dangerous, but I want to be a part of something."
"A part of something or a part of the Order?" he asked.
"A part of the Order." she clarified. He looked at her skeptically.
"Let me just tell you something before you make your decision. Right now, no one really knows how the war will end. I have a hand in both baskets, so I will be fine either way so long as my double life is never discovered. I pass the right amount of information back and forth to keep myself important to both sides. As a member of the Malfoy family you are expected to subscribe to the belief system of the Dark Lord. If you join the Order and things to not end well for that particular organization, you will be killed. There will be nothing that your father or I can do about it. If the Order wins the war you will be safe, but your family may suffer for your father's allegiences. Make no mistake in that. Changing sides would mean that you will meet the opposite end of the rest of your family no matter how the war ends." he said quietly.
"Professor I have to fight for what I think is right. I would like to join the Order." she said.
"I will speak to Albus about it, but he's not even planning on letting Potter or Weasley join before the end of the summer. He says they just aren't mature enough to handle it."
"They probably aren't, but surely you aren't comparing me to Harry and Ron." Brenna replied.
"If he approves it, I'll take you with me to the next meeting." Snape said, leaning back in his chair.
"Professor, do you think the Light will win the war?" she asked as he finished his drink.
"Brenna if you mention a word of this conversation to a soul outside this room I'll nail you upside-down to the door, but yes, I believe the Order will win this." Snape said. He put the glass down. "Now go before I change my mind about speaking to Albus on your behalf." he replied.
Brenna heard nothing from him before graduation, though she trusted that he had not forgotten. Graduation was a happy affair on the grounds. Families came to Hogwarts and celebrated with their children the end of their official schooling. Brenna celebrated as heartily as the others. At the end of the day, Draco and Brenna celebrated by running to Hogsmeade and apparating home alone.
They arrived home to find that the doors to the ballroom were once again open. They wandered down the hall to investigate. The room was shining again, this time decorated in green, silver, and white.
"I see you found your surprise." Father said. He and Mother had just arrived.
"What's going on?" Draco asked.
"We're throwing a party tomorrow night to celebrate your graduation." Narcissa said. "The invitations have been out for weeks."
"Tomorrow night?" Draco asked, incredulously.
"Tomorrow night!" Brenna cheered.
"Yes, and at your request Brenna we'll have more than ballroom dancing there. There will be Latin dances and American style ballroom as well." Narcissa said. Brenna had become quite the dancing aficionado courtesy of evening bursts of dance in the girls dormitories. Everyone knew how to do different dances, so they would teach each other and practice.
"What does that even mean?" Draco asked.
"Cha cha, salsa, meringue, tango, jive, and swing!" Brenna cheered, jumping.
"You may have trouble finding someone who can keep up with you on those." Draco said. He'd seen those dances before but had no idea how to do them.
"Yes, I'm afraid you may have to dance with Severus for those. No one else will know what to do." Narcissa said.
"How does Professor Snape know how to dance so well?" Brenna asked.
"His mother was a ballroom dance instructor. He's been doing all those dances since he could walk." Narcissa replied. "The rest of us just fumble through it."
"I'm so excited!" Brenna shouted, hugging her parents. Her face suddenly fell, "What will I wear?"
"You've both got new outfits lying on your beds." Lucius said. The two siblings looked at each other and raced upstairs.
Brenna cheered when she saw her dress. Draco was well pleased with his new suit as well.
AN: I'm really into Dancing with the Stars. Can you tell?