…Summer…
Second term ended and we were ecstatic to find out that Umbridge was fired and would not return next year. The Ministry and everyone now believed Harry saw the Dark Lord return.
Ginny had broken up with Michael and was now dating Dean Thomas. I helped Luna locate all of her 'misplaced' items. I'd already finished packing and my things were in the entrance hall. I sat in the courtyard. My friends came down the steps.
I leapt up and joined them. We took the carriages to the train. Draco and his goons were being their usual selves. They tried to jinx Harry, but the members of the DA had his back. I stepped over slug Draco and goons and boarded the train.
I hopped off the train and ran to give dad a hug. "Aww, she missed me Fae.", he chuckled, "Go tell your little boyfriend bye." "He's not…" I start to protest but mum and dad push me over. "Ahh, so this is the young miss. I'm that one's mother." she says pulling me into a hug. "Thank you for those lovely pictures of Blaise", she whispers. Blaise clears his throat nervously.
"I don't want the two of you conspiring anymore." he orders. His mum and I look at each other in mock shock. "Did you hear something?" I ask her jokingly. She shake her head "I thought he was going to say something, but I guess he decided to have some common sense and say nothing." We burst into laughter looking at Blaise's exasperated face. We continue chatting as we went through the barrier until I reach my family's car.
"Mrs. Zabini, these are my parents." I introduce them. They begin chatting and I felt someone poke me. I turn to see Ginny. We go to the end of the car. "You just lost me another bet. Introducing your parents." she whispers. Blaise was looking highly entertained again. "Well, maybe next year they'll start betting on your relationship." I reply. She flushes and stammers. "Is Charlotte not behaving herself?" Hermione asks. "How's Krum?" I ask deflecting.
Hermione goes red and smacks me playfully on the shoulder. "I'll see you guys later this summer." she waves and runs off to her parents. Ginny sigh sadly. "Don't worry. We'll see each other at the end of the summer.", I poke her face lightly as I speak. She grins. "I think you'll be too busy meeting someone else. I must go find Luna. Bye Blaise. Bye Char." she runs off.
I turn my head. "She's slightly right." he mumbles. "In what way?" I ask waving at some passing DA members. "You can meet me at the ice cream Parlour in Diagon Alley if you ever miss me too much." he nudges me with an arm. I scoff. "Your mum's nice." I say staring at her while she talked to my parents, "But if her letters are any indication, we should go separate them before they plan our wedding or something."
"What's the harm in that?" I hear him ask but he still helps me. Everyone said good-bye, and we piled into the car. We arrived at home. I unpacked and changed into some more comfortable clothes. I went down to dinner. Everyone was already seated. We enjoyed a nice dinner and played a few games in the living room before bed. As the others trudged up to bed mum and dad pulled me to the side.
We sit on the couch with me in between them. "You shouldn't stress him out like that.", mum starts, "We heard from his mum how worried he was at Christmas and then at the end of term." I nod. "I'm thankful that you kids were able to hold your own against Umbridge and those kids she had working for her." dad said. Mum hits him playfully. "I know. I could tell how worried he was. I already promised him I wouldn't get into any more trouble." I say patting mum's knee. She looks down at my hands.
"That's another thing. Mrs. Zabini told us about your detentions. Why didn't you say anything?" mum asks with tears in her eyes as she traced over the fading words on my hands. "I didn't want you to worry, just like Harry. Besides, it was just a petty detention." I reply. "A petty detention?" dad snorts. "I refused to disown Harry and stop being friends with Luna. I was in the DA. I didn't pay attention in her class. I broke a few rules. You know the usual." I grin at dad. He beams swelling with pride as he hugs me.
"Harry even taught us the Patronus charm." I told him. "What was yours?" he asked. "A lioness just like mum's!" dad looks at mum. "And you say she completely takes after me!" he gapes. "Oh please. Watch this. What was the memory you thought of?" she counters. "Driving dad's flying motorbike of course!" I reply. Dad made a sort of choking sound and stood. "I think it's time for bed young missy." he shoos me out of the room. I went to bed and fell asleep with a smile.
I put on a pair of jeans, a simple tee, and some sneakers and headed downstairs. I blinked as I stepped outside into the sunlight. I threw my bag over my shoulder and set off down the steps. I throw my hair into a high pony as I walk down the street.
I walked into an art supply store and began looking around. "Need help?" a familiar lazy tone asked. I look up. Blaise was standing in front of me wearing jeans and a white tee and sneakers. "Do you have a tracker on me or something?" I ask crouching down to look at calligraphy pens. "Charlotte radar?" he offers. I snicker. I put a set of pens in my basket.
"Opening an art studio?" he asks looking into my basket. "Art and music classes. Restocking time." I mumble looking at the different ink bottles. He snickers and puts something in the basket.
I went to the next aisle and grabbed paints and pencils. I sit down on the floor. I was debating between two different brands when I heard Blaise put more stuff into the basket. I looked in the basket then up at him.
"You carry around a lot of this stuff. I just remembered it." he rambles looking flustered. I choose a set of colored pencils and placed it into the basket. I stand up and went to check out. Once we were outside, I place my purchases inside my bag. He gave me a look. "Mum put an extension charm on some of our bags." I whisper as we walk down the street.
"What were you doing in there?" I ask as we turn a corner. "I was walking around and saw you walk in" he answers. We walk around for a bit before sitting on a park bench. All my purchases were in my bag. "This is nice.", he whispers as we watched the birds flitting from tree to tree, "Next year you'll be studying for O.W.L.s and I won't be able to see you as much."
I laugh "The next time you see my sister Izzy, you ask her if I study that much." He gives me a serious look. "What? I don't, and even if did all my notes are in my art." I explain.
He stands up. "Come on." he smiles. We walk hand in hand around the park until we reach the entrance. His mum was there and waving. He lets go of my hand and gives his mum a hug.
"I just got back from France." she beams happily. She gives me a warm hug. "What were you two up to?" she asks with a sly smile. "She was buying art supplies and I helped." he replies giving her a look. I watch their exchange with a smile.
"Well, I should be off. I must pick up your cousins from the station. I'll see you next Charlotte." she waves bye as she sets off down the street. We walk around chatting about any and everything. The sun was beginning to set. "You should get home. I bet your family is waiting for you." I tell him. "I'd rather stay with you, but I suppose I have to go." he sighs dramatically.
"Be a good boy and go home." I say giving him a hug. "You're my home." he whispers in my ear. I smile into his chest. "Go on. Behave yourself." I push him lightly down the street. He grins and starts walking down the street. I'd just turned to go home when I hear him run back. "Forgot something." he mumbles as he bends down to kiss me. I wrap my arms around his neck. "There. Now I can go. Don't worry. I'll behave." he whispers giving me one last kiss.
I blink as I stepped into Flourish and Blotts to buy my schoolbooks. Luna and Ginny ran over and hugged me. "Where's Hermione and Izzy?" I ask. "Ugh. No idea. They disappeared an hour ago." Ginny groaned.
We searched for them and found them in the history section. We bought our books and half-dragged them from the shop so we could get the rest of our supplies. We stopped by Fred and George's new shop.
We walked around gawking and looking at their inventory. The twins were teasing Ginny about Dean. I snickered and went to find Luna. We joined Hermione and Ginny. "Cormac McLaggen has been staring at you for 30 minutes 'Mione." Izzy wriggled her eyebrows. We looked over and sure enough. "Krum 2.0" I cough. Hermione hits my arm.
…Fifth year begins…
I walk through the barrier with my cousins, Edwin Smith, and Jessica Snape. We emerge on the other side and I helped them load their luggage onto the train.
"Seriously Char! How bad is the sorting?", Jess asked nervously playing with the hem of her shirt. They were the last of the cousins to start their schooling and heard numerous stories from the others. "You'll be fine." I reassured her as I gave her a comforting hug.
"Who's that?" she asked looking behind me. I turned. "That is Mr. Zabini. He's in Slytherin." I told her. I waved him over. "This is Jessica Snape and Edwin Smith. Could you please tell them that the sorting isn't that bad." I plead with my hands clasped together.
He looks down at them. "There aren't any dragons or trolls that you have to battle." he snickers. Edwin looks relieved, but Jess was still unsure. "Wait a second. Did you say Snape, Jessica Snape?" he gasps. "Yep. She'll be joining her sister and brother in Slytherin probably." I ruffle her hair. "Oh, if that's the case, then when the others hear your last name, they'll probably never bully you about in fear of your dad." he chuckles.
Jess pouts. "Dad is the nicest person I've ever met!" she states defiantly. Edwin looked at her out of the side of his eyes. She went off to join the others. "She's never even seen her father act mean that's why she's so confident." Ed scoffs rolling his eyes. He went to join the others too.
"Your family has the widest variety of eye colors I've ever seen.", he scoffed, "Silver, purple, bronze, black. What's next?" I laughed "You know not of what you dare to speak." I pointed as the last of the family made it through the barrier. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "Mind-numbing. So many different colors. This still doesn't even include your foreign cousins." he moans like he's in pain. I giggled. "Technicolor living." I gaze at their faces in amusement.
We say our good-byes and boarded the train. I sat with my siblings. "What? She is gracing us with her presence. I thought she'd be snogging that Blaise boy all the way to Hogwarts." Ava gasped dramatically. "Instead of acting like that you could've helped relieve some of Ed and Jess' tensions." I reply sitting by Izzy. Ava rolled her eyes and nudged Lucas. Izzy didn't stay long, she had to go to a tutor's meeting. "Seriously. What even are you two?" Lucas muttered as Izzy left.
I lean forward. "We are what we are until we decide otherwise." I stick out my tongue. "How do you think he'd react to that?" Lucas asked Ava as I leaned back onto the seat. I bought them some treats from the trolley to shut them up.
The train rolled into the station. I disembarked and led Jess and Ed over to Hagrid. They were so shocked by his height and size that they didn't notice when I left to join the others in the carriages.
The feast had started. Ed was in Raven claw with his siblings and Jess in Slytherin with hers. Hermione was hitting Ron with a book because he wasn't worried about how Harry was missing. I pointed at the door. Harry walked in covered in blood, his own. "Broken nose." he told Hermione as he sat down.
The feast ended and everyone trudged up to bed. I gave Ava a piggyback ride because she'd worn herself out. "What a problem child!" I whispered to Izzy.
I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. The morning light had just begun to filter through my window. I sat up and looked around. No one else was awake yet. I got dressed silently and went downstairs with my bag.
The common room had people still sleepy and walking around like zombies. I left the common room. I walked around the castle and took down my braid. I put my hair into a ponytail as I walked. I turned a corner and ran right into uncle Severus.
"Was Jess nervous?" he asked. "Of course, but Mr. Zabini talked to her and she seemed a bit better." I report. He nodded. "Nice boy. I'll have to thank him." he smiles mischievously. "Oh, he'll love that. You should make it painfully obvious too." I snap my fingers. He chuckles. "Go on now. I have classes to prepare for." he whooshed away down the hall.
I went to the Great Hall for breakfast. I sat with my friends and Luna joined us leaning her head on my shoulder. I was eating a croissant when a very harassed looking Blaise strode into the hall. I snicker. I couldn't look at him. I put my head on the table as I continued to shake with laughter.
"What you do?" Luna asked eagerly. I quickly filled them in. Blaise didn't look like a happy camper. I gave Luna a donut to keep her from saying something. It was almost time for the first class. I grabbed an extra éclair for the journey upstairs.
I was on my way to Quidditch when I was stopped. "You told your uncle." Blaise said stepping in my path to stop me. I feign innocence. He didn't buy it. "He's just like any other father. He just happens to be our Professor too. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a class to attend." I moved to step around him. "There's still 20 minutes." he spoke in a sly tone. He picked me up and carried me to an empty classroom.
"I'm not joking Charlotte. That was seriously nerve wracking." he complains as he places me on a desk. I hold up my hands in surrender "I apologize. Sincerely. I mean it." He gives me a once over. "It's perfectly fine when they just tease you about me, but I was not prepared to be teased personally." he mutters. I pull his face down to mine for a kiss. "Better?" I ask staring into his eyes. He shakes his head and pulls me into another kiss.
I was nearly late to class. After class I rushed up to the dorm. I grabbed my sketchbook so I could study. Ginny and Izzy walked in chatting. Ginny smirked when she saw me. "Why are you wearing a hoody?" she questions. I pulled the hoody down slightly showing my neck. There were three hickeys. I pulls the hoody back up.
"Damn. What'd you do?" Izzy asked opening up a piece of candy. "What do you mean what did I do? He was just flustered that uncle Severus wanted to thank him for calming down Jess yesterday." I complain. "And then she was nearly late for Quidditch." she smiles at Ginny. "You left lunch 30 minutes early. He really does take this seriously." she jokes. I throw a pillow at them. "Not funny. If I wasn't the perfect student that I am I probably be some lovestruck child." I state. They scoff at me.
"Merlin's beard, she doesn't know." Ginny collapsed into a fit of laughter. Izzy ran from the room and came back with Hermione. They filled Hermione in and all three proceeded to laugh. "Hermione you should be on my side." I complain. She held her hands up "I'm neutral." "What about that time that you came into the common room with those hickeys from Krum back when you guys dated a bit?" I counter. "That was different. We had officially decided to date. You're still not deciding." she waves a finger at me.
Izzy gasps "Krum's hickeys versus Blaise's!" Hermione grabs the pillow I'd thrown at them and hits Izzy over the head. "No." she mumbles. "It's not like we even have any evidence of those hickeys." Ginny sighs sadly.
I hold up my sketchbook. Ginny and Izzy smiles, and Hermione pales. I tear from the room and downstairs as she chases me. I jump out of the portrait hole and run full speed down the corridors. The chase continued onto the grounds. At some point Ginny had to get Luna's help to hold back Hermione. We were both breathless.
"What's going on?" Luna asked confused. Ginny filled her in. Ginny, Luna, and Izzy were holding Hermione back. I collapsed into the grass catching my breath. Once Hermione calmed down, she was released.
I opened my sketchbook to the page. Hermione blushed and looked at her feet. I don't know how, but in the chaos of the chase we'd both lost our shoes. We laugh at ourselves and give the pictures of Hickey Hermione to Hermione. We go inside to dinner, barefoot and all.
Classes were harder this year. I was lying on a courtyard bench early in the morning. My mind felt fuzzy and filled to bursting from all the things we'd been learning. I should have heeded Blaise's words of warning.
