…The Response…
That weekend I decide to respond to Mrs. Zabini, but first I had to cut my hair. I put my hair into the proper sections while Ginny and Izzy ran down to the Great Hall to get me some food. I was halfway done when thy returned. They watched mournfully as I finished the last half. "I don't know why you two are sad. Especially you Izzy. You know my hair grows as fast as mum's does." I snap lightly at them as I collect the hair. It was no longer knee length but hip length now.
We discard the hair into the common room fire. Izzy had tutorials and Ginny had a date. I walk onto the grounds alone and found a shady spot beneath a tree out of sight. I read over Mrs. Zabini's letter over and over. Finally, I took out my ink, quill, and parchment and begin to write.
Her questions were simple, and she never seemed to go over the line or press to much. I'd just finished when I hear footsteps. "You cut your hair." Blaise states surveying the scene. I nod. He sits down beside me looking around. "My mum sent you a letter?" he asks incredulously. "A while ago yes. I've spent the whole week thinking about how to properly respond." I say proudly holding my response letter in the air.
He reads both his mum's and my letter. He nods at times and shakes his head at others. He hands me back the letters and stands. "Time for you to send them off." he says picking up my things. I stand and follow him to the Owlry.
I send my mum a letter first using Blue. Then I turn to my cousins' owls that were in the owlry. Seeing Blaise's confused face, I shook my head. "Sending my cousins some letters. America, Japan, France, and Russia." I explain pointing to each of the birds as I named their country. I sent them off with their letters.
Blaise whistled a short tune, and the familiar owl flew down to him. It gave him an irritated hoot as it landed in front of him. Blaise pointed at me and the owl gave a happy hoot and started bobbing up and down. "Ok, ok. Just one treat." I laugh puling out the treat bag. I gave the owl one and while it pecked at it, I secured the letter and a picture. The owl took off into the sky.
"You'll spoil him rotten. What was that picture you attached?" he asked as we left the owlry. I pull out my filled sketchbook and flip through. I land on the page with Blaise's picture and his first note. I showed him the picture "Pretty accurate, right?"
He closes the book and puts it back into my bag. "The little artist is a dangerous one.", he murmurs, "I wonder if she knows the things she whispers in her sleep." I gape at him. He snickers slightly. "What did I say?" I question, but Blaise just starts walking away. "I have to go look something up. We'll have to talk about that later." he waves and walks off whistling a cheerful tune.
…Umbridge…
I was still highly confused by dinner that night. "No Wrackspurts tonight." Luna reports to Hermione. I ponder what on earth Blaise could have been talking about as I ate. "What happened?", Izzy asks with a sigh, "He's been looking to happy for my tastes." They all leaned in closer, and I told them about what happened. "Damn, at this point he knows more than you do. I'd tell you to avoid him for a bit, but I don't think he's fond of that idea.", Hermione mutters. I shrug and glance at him when I was sure he wouldn't notice. He was smirking.
I had a hard time focusing on my classes. Umbridge was also in numerous classes evaluating teachers. The bell had wrung signaling the end of class. Everyone stretched and started to leave the room. "Miss Black might have a word with you in private?", she asked in a voice that gave me chills. I didn't have time to respond as she was already headed out the room.
I followed her to her office. She beckoned me to sit and I did. She sat in her chair. "I saw you in class. You seem rather distracted. Care to tell me why?" she asks taking a sip of tea. "No, not really. Nothing bothers me much. I was just thinking." I reply. Disappointment flashed across her face. "Well then. How are your parents? Are they well?" she questions. "I should guess they are. After all, I'm at school not home." I reply lazily wanting to leave.
She clears her throat. "I've heard some rumors about you miss Black. I think you of all people should choose your friends wisely. Not people like Luna Lovegood and Harry Potter. Oh, don't get me wrong. I know Harry is like family to you and yours, but everyone knows you can disown family." she gave me a 'sweet' smile. I stand abruptly and leave the room without a word.
I go down into the Great Hall for lunch. "I just heard from Luna. Umbridge asked to speak to you. What'd she say?" Hermione ask in concern as I threw my bag down. Luna, Harry, Izzy, Hermione, and the Weasley's all leaned in. "She wants me and my family to disown Harry, and for me to stop being friends with Luna. Said i could do better." I shake with anger.
"That's too far!", Hermione gasps, "Can she do that? Can she say things like that?" I shrug and try to shake the meeting from my mind. Harry laughs. Everyone looks at him. "When you shake your head like that you remind me of Sirius." he explains still laughing. Everyone laughs as I shake my head again.
"Did you ever find out what you were talking about in your sleep?" Hermione asks as we left the after lunch. I scoff and look around. "He probably just said it because I sent his mum a picture of the drawing of him." I smile brightly. "I seriously can't tell how you two manage this game of yours." Ginny shakes her head in confusion. Her confusion makes me confused.
…The Gift…
Two weeks passed. I sat in the Great Hall enjoying croissants with my friends. The now familiar Zabini family owl soared down to me. He chirped happily as he landed on my shoulder and I gave him a treat. I unrolled the letter. My hands flew to my mouth to stop an excited squeal from escaping.
I gave the owl an extra treat before he flew off. "This is just divine!" I squeal reading the letter in delight. I pick up my bag skipping and twirling out of the hall and up the marble steps. I hurry up to Gryffindor Tower and put the letter and its contents in my trunk.
I go back down to the hall to get my friends before class. Harry and Ron look at me apprehensively like I might explode into giggles and fits. I ignore them sitting on Izzy's lap. "Guess what she sent me in return for the picture of Blaise." I giggle. Luna and Hermione exchange glances and pull out their copies of bets. I roll my eyes. "A thank-you letter." Ginny said like it was common sense.
"Well of course she sent me a thank-you letter, but it was what was inside the letter that I want you to guess." I clap my hands together. They all looked confused. "His baby photos!" I squeal in delight. They burst into laughter. "No! No way. You sent her a drawing of her son and she sent you his baby photos." Ginny gasped grabbing at a stitch in her side. I wriggle my eyebrows "I do believe I have the upper hand now."
They finished eating and we went to class. At lunch we hurried to the common room and I rushed upstairs for the letter. I rushed back down and showed the letter to them. Sure enough, Blaise's mum had included several photos of a very adorable baby Blaise. I took it back upstairs and we went to lunch.
"I can't believe she actually sent it." Izzy said in amazement. I pick up a ham sandwich. "I can. She knows how her son is. Very calculative and serious." I explain. We eat and try to figure out how the adorable baby turned into the boy we now knew at Hogwarts.
