…Second Term…
After New Year's everyone went home to rest before school began again. I was in my room putting pictures in my scrapbook. I'd finished packing. I wrote a quick note. I went over to Blue. I gave her the note and sent her out into the night.
I was sitting on the train relaxing as I watched the train depart the station. The compartment door opened and closed. "Here you are.", Blaise mumbled as he sat down. I smiled and turned from the window to him. He held up the note. "Really? If you're going to challenge me do it in person.", he scoffed.
"So, you don't want to accept the challenge?", I asked sitting up. Blaise raised an eyebrow, "I just said challenge me person not by owl. I most definitely accept your challenge love." I grinned and sat back in the seat.
We arrived at Hogwarts and I rushed to put my things away. I went down to the Great Hall where students were reconnecting and playing games. Blaise was waiting with a game tucked under his arm.
We sat down joined by our friends. "What's going on?", Ron asked with interest. Blaise brought the monopoly game out. Izzy scoffed, "You two are really going through with this?" We nodded. "Blaise said he could finally beat her at this game, and she challenged him.", she explained to the others. Other students were coming over to check out the scene.
I pulled a jar out of my bag. "Loser downs the entire jar. First person to win 2 games wins the challenge.", I stated. Luna and Ava began to take bets. "What is in that jar Char?", Aderyn asked with Astoria right next to her nodding.
I chuckled darkly looking at Blaise, "It's a mixture I made. The worst Bertie Botts Beans flavors, licorice, habanero peppers, Scotch Bonnet peppers, pickles, baking soda, and durian." A couple students shuddered.
The game began. He almost won, but I was able to pull victory from underneath his feet. He won the second game. A few teachers had come over to watch. The final game began, and I did not go easy on him whatsoever. He'd gotten better since the last time we played.
I began to make the last of my moves and won the game. His face went blank. Izzy sighed and slid a clear glass to me, and I caught it. I unscrewed the jar slowly. The smell emanating from the jar was gut wrenching. I poured the thick mixture into the glass.
"And here I thought you loved me.", Blaise mumbled. "I do love you, but you challenged me. Now complete your punishment.", I slid the glass to him. Everyone watched in horror as he tried to drink it. Whenever he tried to put the glass down, I'd tilt it back up.
He finished it. I put the glass and jar away after cleaning them. "Are you ok mate?", Dean Thomas asked from where he stood with Seamus. Blaise had a hand clasped over his mouth. He shook and bolted from the hall. I high-fived Ava. "I hope that's the last time he pushes me from a zipline with no countdown.", I laughed as I sat with my friends.
The boys who were here that had participated in the punishment rushed from the hall like they were next. Everyone went back to what they were doing shaking their heads. Luna and Ava counted out the winnings and passed them out.
I started studying for my N.E.W.T.s whenever I could. I was by the lake drawing an assignment for art class when Blaise sat down. He'd been pouting and avoiding me since the monopoly game.
"Aww, my baby is back.", I shouted opening my arms and jumping him. He chuckled as I kissed his face. "If this your reaction I should pout more often.", he whispered. I kissed him. "I missed you.", I whispered. He kissed me and wrapped his arms around me.
I finished my assignment quickly and put it back in my bag. "You're real efficient when you want to be.", Blaise observed. "That's because I haven't gotten to spend time with you in like a month.", I whined. Blaise looked at me. "What do you want to do today?", he asked putting his hands over mine.
"Play games with you without you getting mad and avoiding me.", I whispered looking at the lake. Blaise kissed my neck, "I'm sorry I acted like that." I played with his hands while I stared at the lake.
After lunch we played games. "That's my limit.", I said as Blaise beat me at Wizard's Chess for the 8th time. "How about we play a round of Rummy?", he offered. I let out a laugh. "You'll play Rummy with me but not Poker. I didn't even say Strip Poker.", I stared at him watching him get flustered. I waved my wand and the Chess set disappeared. I grabbed a pack of cards and began shuffling.
"When did you learn to shuffle?", he asked regaining composure. "I told you before my mum and aunts sent my dad and uncles to Las Vegas. Not to mention that's where mum and dad spent their honeymoon. So naturally I've picked up a thing or two.", I explained demonstrating a Riffle, Mongean, Corgi, and Mexican Spiral shuffle.
After 5 rounds I gave up. Ava, Astoria, and Izzy had been watching. "Why don't you play Poker? Your good at Poker.", Ava stated in fascination. I waved at Blaise. Lucas, Dean, and Draco joined us. "Yeah Blaise it's just one game.", I promised.
Everyone looked at him. He gave a sigh. He waved his wand a poker set appeared. I gave a squeal of delight and pulled out a bag of money. "You did that like you've been wanting to for a while.", Ava scoffed. "I've been asking him to play Poker for a year.", I clapped my hands, "Do you guys want to play?"
I shuffled the cards. "Just one game.", Blaise stated passing out chips and the game began.
It was a battle of the sexes. Guys versus girls. The game lasted until dinner time and once again students came to watch. Astoria, Lucas, Ava, and Draco had already folded. Izzy and I placed our heads in our hands looking at the two remaining boys. We began humming the Jeopardy theme song.
"Your bluffing! You have to be!", Blaise scoffed. I looked sadly at my friends. I'd just upped the ante. "Maybe I am. After all Lady Luck has not been on my side this afternoon.", I sighed sadly looking at my depleted bag, "I've bet all I have left on this hand I have to win!"
Blaise and Dean looked at each other. They slowly pushed all their winnings to the center. "You're not going to win but at least see what could have won.", Dean joked. I placed my head on Izzy's shoulder. She was shaking in despair.
The other students started a drumroll as no more bets could be placed. Izzy looked at me as tears started to fall down her face. The boys showed their hands. Blaise had three of a kind and Dean had a pair. I let my head hit the table. Izzy made a choking sob-like noise.
Simultaneously we started laughing. Tears of mirth ran down our faces. Izzy showed them her straight flush and I stuck out my tongue as I showed them my royal flush. "What a wonderful game!", Izzy squealed collecting the money. "I'd love to play you guys again sometimes but according to Blaise here this was a one-time occurrence.", I winked.
Their jaws had dropped, and they weren't moving. I waved my wand and the game disappeared. Dinner was served and the students went to their tables to eat gossiping about the game.
Seamus patted Dean's shoulder as he passed shaking his head and muttering something about female pheromones. Dean eventually stood and made his way down the table to sit with Seamus.
Blaise made a choking sound. "Maybe I should take you to Italy. Gambling is illegal there.", he was still looking at where the game had been. I gave a horrified gasp. I put some steak and potatoes on his plate along with some cheese. He looked confused. "To go with your whine.", I stated obviously when he pointed at the cheese.
We kept joking through the rest of dinner. We left early because I wanted to put the money away. I skipped up the marble staircase. We turned a corner into a deserted hall.
"I found that game to be very informative, didn't you?", I asked with a sweet smile. "I prefer my methods.", he stated. I gave a great sigh and continued walking. I twirled around the hall. "Why did you bet so much we'd been losing all afternoon? That was weird. Were you trying to punish yourself?", I turned to him.
"I honestly thought you had a bad hand. Now I know that you can act very well when your losing. I'll have to be careful the next time I play any game with you little missy.", I scoffed as he spoke.
…Graduation…
Final examinations were upon us. I often accompanied Blaise to the library. I sat there studying up on Italy while he studied. I skipped out of my last exam. I rushed out onto the grounds happy to have no more tests. "She really is happy!", Luna observed as I did cartwheels across the grounds. My friends watched my gymnastics until I wore myself out.
"Somebody go and find Blaise and tell him he needs to come and get her.", Hermione sighed with a laugh. I rolled myself down the grounds. "Just in time! Your girlfriend has gone completely mad!", Ginny laughed. I was still rolling around gleefully.
I felt Blaise pick me up and we went back to the others. He sat down with me between his legs. Everyone relaxed as the summer breeze warmed them up.
"Why are you so giddy?", Ron asked at dinner. I smiled broadly. "I beat Blaise in 8 subjects instead of 6. That means he has to take me to Italy.", I danced in my seat. "That was the deal? The whole reason you finally studied?", Izzy had dropped her fork onto her plate.
"Why of course. I wouldn't agree to any old deal. No! He said if I beat him in 6 subjects, he'd take me to the best photography spots in Italy and the best food places.", I patted her head.
"Do mum and dad know?", Lucas asked reaching for a bread roll. I froze and all my excitement faded then returned. "You haven't told them?!", Hermione laughed.
"Dad's going to flip.", Lucas shook his head. "No, he won't. Mum already said once I became an adult I could go and would you looky there I just became a proper adult this past spring. Italy here I come.", I waved a finger at him.
"Dad's still going to flip.", Ava stated. "What if I send him to a motorcycle event just like mum did?", I tilted my head in thought. Ava thought about it and shrugged.
"Or I could just distract with the information that Izzy and Charlie may or may not be dating.", I shrugged as I took a bite of salad. Everyone went still. Ginny turned to Izzy. "What about Ava and Fred!", she shrieked trying to divert everyone's focus.
Everyone watched as Ava and Izzy both argued who should be the scapegoat. "Hold on a minute why are we covering for Char?!", Izzy gasped. "What about Madam Maxine and Hagrid?", I asked them. "Why do they call you Char?", Draco asked joining the table with Astoria and Blaise.
"You know our dad is a bit of a mischievous man.", Lucas started and everyone nodded, "They were playing a game of exploding snap in the garden after mum had grounded them from the flying motorbike incident, and Charlotte 'accidentally' made some flower bed catch fire." Everyone burst into laughter.
"I was a lovely child growing up. With hardly any incidents. I was nothing like the two of you.", I pointed at Ava and Lucas who had begun to act innocent.
"That's not true! Lucas is well behaved when he's not around Ava. However, Ava and Char. Well you're both like dad.", Izzy clarified as dessert appeared.
Ava and I held our hands to our hearts and shook our heads. "I don't believe my ears. You act like you've never pranked anyone in your life. You're the one I got all my edible pranks and punishments from in the first place. That makes you the perfect mix of mum and dad.", I countered.
"I did not!", she tried to deflect but her reddening face gave her away. "It's always the quite one's. I'd have never thought to use vegemite, squid ink, or scotch bonnets.", I nudged her.
The other watched with rapt interest. "I told you. The women in that family are dangerous.", I heard Blaise mutter. We went back to the food in front of us.
…The Last Train…
Everyone graduated and we took the boats back across the lake. I boarded the train. I sat in a compartment with Blaise. I had my legs in his lap. "So, you told your parents were going to Italy.", he mumbled. I nodded playing with his hands. He pulled me closer. "They'll love you.", he said reading my mind and hugged me.
I looked down. "Were you this nervous when you met my family?", I asked already knowing the answer. He kissed me and placed my head on his shoulder. "Deep breaths. You were so happy. They'll love you. Guess why. Cause I love you.", he whispered. "I love you too.", I whispered back.
The train pulled into the station and we got up. "Go on. Go say hi to your parents.", he nudged me to the door. I gave him a kiss before I left and got off the train.
As soon as I got off the train I burst into laughter. Dad had bright neon rainbow colored hair. My siblings and cousins got off the train and looked where I was looking. They fell out laughing. Dad was extremely embarrassed. "I got my revenge!", mum called as she saw us.
I ran over and hugged them. "Italy?", dad asked in a gruff voice. "Not now. At home. Later.", I whispered to him. I waved bye to the Zabini's. Dad had his arm around Harry as they walked through the barrier. I talked with mum as we went through the barrier. We got everything into the vehicle and went home.
I took my things upstairs and unpacked. I headed back down when I was done. I went to the kitchen. "Ready to talk now?", dad asked from where he sat at the table. Mum tsked at him.
I went to the fridge and grabbed some fruit and water. I sat across from dad. Once mum was done preparing lunch she sat next to dad with a hand on his leg.
I handed dad an orange. He took it looking very ready to talk. I took a deep breath. "We made a deal. If I could beat Blaise in 6 subjects, he'd take me to Italy. It was better than his original plan he tried to get me to agree to.", I started. "What plan was it?", mum asked with a smile as she stuffed an orange slice in dad's mouth. "That I meet his family only on his terms. However, with the new deal it would be my decision.", I smiled and turned to mum, "I studied really hard and beat him in 8 subjects."
Dad choked and mum's smile faltered. "You studied? You actually studied without being forced to?", dad spluttered. I nodded and ate some fruit. "Really?", mum whispered to herself. "You can ask the others if you don't believe me.", I huffed.
Mum and dad looked at each other. "Fine! I give in. Just. Just know we love you.", he croaked. "Aww, how very touching!", grandma Black squealed, "Why Italy though."
"What do you mean?", mum asked. The others entered the kitchen. "You should have seen it mum. Char finally got Blaise to play Poker with her. Then he tells her gambling is illegal in Italy.", Ava scoffed as she checked the contents of the pot on the stove. I gave a dramatic sigh.
"It wasn't all bad. She won a whole bunch of money from him and Dean.", Harry chimed in. mum smacked my hand. They began to fill her in on the punishments I had issued after the games. I stirred the pot on the stove and prepared a salad while they gossiped away.
"Charlotte Black!", grandma Black gasped, "That's just evil. You and your sister shouldn't have used those types of tactics for the game!" I waved a spoon menacingly at her. "Fine then! You guys decide what to do with the winnings.", I waved my wand, and the bag of money came rushing downstairs and placing itself on the table.
I served dinner and sat down. We talked of other things and went to bed sometime around 4 in the morning.
…Italian Studying and Work…
I woke up around mid-day. Someone had opened my curtains and was sitting on my desk. I sat up. "She's finally awake.", Blaise murmured. He came over and sat on my bed. I flung myself on his lap burying my face in his neck.
"Happy to see me.", he murmured. I answered him with a kiss. "Of course, Love.", I whispered. He grinned and I kissed him again. I trailed my finger up and down his arms. "Come on. Up you get. You have lessons.", he looked at me. I frowned and shook my head. He stood up with me still in his arms.
He went to my closet and put me down. "Get dressed.", he said crossing his arms. I muttered to myself as he went back to my desk. I changed in my closet throwing my pajamas out of my closet as I changed. I picked out some jeans, a tee, and some boots. I threw a jacket on top.
I walked out and sat on my bed. Blaise tsked and grabbed my bag and my hand leading me downstairs. We went out to his car and I got in. he went around to the driver's side and got in.
"What lessons could I possibly have.", I muttered. "Your mum called mine this morning and said you needed to learn Italian before you left so you have lessons.", he smiled. I kept muttering until we reached his house.
He closed the door as we entered his room. He pushed me lightly towards his desk. Lessons began as soon as I sat down.
"Focus.", he tapped a finger on my forehead as soon as I started to get distracted. I frowned and started really focusing.
He let me take a break after 3 straight hours of studying. I stretched. I walked to his couch and lied down. I stared up at the ceiling going over the words I'd learned. I heard a knock on the door. Blaise went to the door and came back with a tray that he put on the coffee table.
He was smiling again. "Mum has invited your family over for dinner and they accepted. They'll be here at 6.", he waved a note in the air.
I sat up quickly and muttered under my breath. Blaise smacked my shoulder lightly. I pouted at him. "I told you not to learn any swear words.", he reminded me. I waved him off and reached for a biscuit from the tray.
We went back to studying until we heard someone knocking on the front door. I hopped up. Blaise shook his head and grabbed my hand as we left the room.
As we descended the stairs Mrs. Zabini, and my family came into sight. We headed into the kitchen. Mrs. Zabini had made a lovely array of Italian dishes. Izzy, Ava, and Lucas were walking around the kitchen observing the food with rapt attention, so I followed them.
Blaise filled his mum and my parents in on my progress. I noticed they all spoke in Italian. Mum said something that made all of them nod in agreement. My face went hot. "I'm am not a stubborn learner.", I defended myself.
They looked over in shock. "You just spoke in Italian!", Ava gasped. "I'm more so shocked by how much she's learned.", mum stated as she took a seat at the table in between Blaise and dad.
I gave them all a look, "Are you ready to eat?" I waved the dishes over to the table and everyone sat down. Whenever they thought I wasn't paying attention they'd throw a question my way, but I'd answer with ease.
"Curious. It seems that she's finally using the smarts her mum passed down to her. I thought she would continue to under work herself forever.", dad sighed. Mum hit his shoulder, "It's not like she never studied. She just went about it a different way, right?"
Izzy nodded, "She hid all of her notes inside her artwork! You should have seen the looks she got every time she pulled out her sketchbook to study. Even Madam Pince was intrigued enough to come over and watch without shushing anyone."
"In your artwork?", Mrs. Zabini asked. "I got the idea from some renaissance art I aw once. There are many different messages hidden in artwork over time.", I explained, "There are even some pieces that have whole stories or songs hidden inside."
Dad's jaw dropped. "Hidden messages?", he seemed confused. "Yep. It varies. It seemed to be a very secretive way to pass rumors, gossip, stories, and such along without alerting authority figures.", I ticked the reasons off.
"I'd have never thought to look that deep into the art.", Mrs. Zabini whispered. I sent her a comforting look. "I looked into it because it's highly unexpected. You'd be surprised at the things some of those artists got away with, and there are still many secrets that haven't been decoded.", I explained.
Blaise smiled, "I think we just found out what little miss Charlotte is going to be doing now that she's graduated." I nodded.