Alya and Blaise kept writing to each other every chance they got, talking about their days, getting to know each other better and, as Blaise said he would, courting her.

With every letter he sent her, the boy sent a gift attached to the envelope. It wasn't always something expensive like the ruby necklace, but little gifts that showed his thoughtfulness or with sentimental value. His second courting gift had been a finely carved wooden box with blood red roses on the lid, so she could have somewhere to safely store all his letters. The second one had been a poem that he remembered reading years before but that reminded him of her beauty.

Alya found herself deeply touched every time she received a new owl and read his last words to her. The young man could be incredibly romantic, without having to fall in stupid clichés. But most of all he was just being himself, baring his mind and heart to her.

This last letter was different though, because after all the sweet words he had to warn her of something possibly bad.


It seems that your father has some kind of fixation for Halloween and theatrics. In the morning papers was the news that Azkaban has been breached and several death eaters had been freed. Among them Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange and many others.

I know that you are related to her, but she is bad news. The woman was batshit crazy at the time of the war, imagine after more than a decade in the dementors company. From what I know she was obsessed with the Dark Lord, wanting to be his lover and possibly bear him a child, even though everyone knows that she is sterile. I fear that if she were to learn of your existence, she would make it her mission to find you and kill you, for you represent the proof that her beloved Lord choose someone else above her.

Please, be careful. Even if you are behind the safe Academy wards, never let your guard down and prepare yourself for a possible confrontation. I will do anything in my power to protect you and keep the harpy away from you, of course, but I also realize that you are an incredibly stubborn and independent woman. You don't need a knight in shining armor to defend you like some damsel in distress. So I will stay behind in the shadows and stand ready, for the moment you give me the word I would shed blood without a second thought for you.

Draco tells me that the escaped death eaters have taken residence in Malfoy Manor, along with the Dark Lord. It seems more and more difficult for you to be able to go back, I'm sorry to say.

Now that he has his followers once again at his side, the man will only think about the war and his cause, whatever it may be. I fear that somewhere along the way, he lost too much of his sanity, and by now even he has lost sight of his initial goals.

I advise against trying to write to Lucius, the risk of your letter being intercepted is too great. Tell Draco to stop wiring about you home too, but have him pass you whatever information he has for he would probably not tell me all he knows, with me being firmly neutral in the war.

Love,

Blaise

His courting gift this time had been a little charm to attach to the bracelet he bought her the last summer. It was wolf shaped, made of pure silver and covered in every protective enchantments known to man. She smiled thinking of her overprotective boyfriend.

It still made her giggle like a silly girl to think of him as her boyfriend.

The news he gave her were worrying though. Things would end up badly if her father continued on this way.


Dear Blaise,

Tales of dear Aunt Bellatrix' madness are not new to me. She truly is a piece of work. Thing is, when ruled by madness you become weaker. Bellatrix will not be a threat to me, believe me.

I'm the Academy's dueling champion, I know magics beyond her wildest dreams and let's admit it…I'm the fucking Dark Lord's daughter, I'm the Dark Princess. What's a mere death eater in comparison?

Just a word against my person and I'll squash her like the bug she is. I'm really not in the mood to deal with the likes of her, when my godforsaken father still refuses to acknowledge me!

Sorry, I didn't mean to rant.

As much as I appreciate how willing you are to kill anyone who as much as looks wrong at me, you are getting me more and more curious as the time goes by. Will you ever share your secret with me?

I finally recognized my animagus form, cheeky bugger kept running circles around me for months!

I guess you were right, I'm beautiful, I'm graceful and I can be lethal. Most important of all, no one will ever be able to escape my sweet big eyes, I'll conquer the world!

After all who can deny the adorableness of an ocelot?

I can't wait to start transforming, I'm so excited!

Love,

Alya


Mio Amore,

Happy birthday! How does it feel to be fifteen?

I don't know if to be smug that I kind of guessed what you would be, since I always compared you to a kitten, or be afraid for my sake. After all you already are able to get me do anything, for you have me twisted around your little finger quite firmly, this addition could be the end of me.

On the other hand though, maybe you'll finally admit that you like to cuddle and allow me to keep you in my arms all day long, now. I bet you make an adorable little ocelot, cara.

I'm just about ready to attempt the full transformation, though I'll probably wait for the holidays to go home. If I were to be stuck, having my tutor nearby would be useful. I do not want people to know I am an animagus. McGonagall would immediately tell Dumbledore and insist I get registered, after a long scolding, and the old coot would try to blackmail me into fighting for his side of the war. Fat chance.

Knowing that you are so sure of your abilities and your ability to beat Bellatrix, not to mention the mental image of you squashing her with your heeled boots, is incredibly arousing and sexy.

You are the dueling champion? You've been holding out on me, Missy. No wonder you made me work so hard during our trainings together.

As for my secret, I have no intention of keeping it from you but I'm bound to silence. At least until I will be sure that you will be a stable part of my life. Not my rules, kitten.

It seems stupid, especially since my secret is a big one, the kind of secret that can make or end a couple. Something tells me that you wouldn't be too bothered about it, but you need to wait just a little more.

Back to your birthday. I couldn't make up my mind on what to get you, so I decided to take both. Be careful with the box, it's extremely fragile.

Love,

Blaise


Alya smiled, she was not bothered that he couldn't tell her his secret, she expected it. His comment about her being a 'stable part' of his life made her think. Could he be talking about engagement? Or maybe marriage? She blushed just thinking about it. She hadn't even kissed the boy yet and she was already dreaming about becoming Mrs. Zabini!

Eyeing the box, she pursed her lips. It was awfully big for a present. What the hell did he get her?

Pulling the bow on top, she carefully opened it and peered inside.

She let out an excited squeal, complete with jumping on the spot and clapping her hands like a little girl. Recomposing herself she reached inside, gently taking out the contents.

A fluffy creamy kitten with a huge blood red bow around its neck and a small snake with shockingly blue scales. She cuddled them close to her chest, cooing at how adorable and beautiful they were.

While nuzzling the soft kitten she realized that there was a small card attached to the box. Asking the snake to wrap around her neck, she took the note and read it.

The kitten is a little girl while the snake is male.

They'll keep you company while you're at school.

But as soon as summer comes, you're mine!

I hope you like your gift.


Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I know that a letter should be started with 'dear' but .. Oh Merlin! I love them so much! I love you so much!

I can't believe you got me such a thoughtful gift! It's what I always wished to have.

I decided to name the kitten Cassandra, or Cassy for short, and the snake Dion, for such a small thing he sure acts like he is God on Earth. He's going to grow into a very big and scary specimen, though, so the name fits.

I know you can't see me but for the reference, I'm looking starry eyed.

I love them so much that you don't even need to get me a Yule present. I'm serious.

Now that I've said a thousand times how much I love your gift. I'll move on a different subject.

Don't worry about your secret. I understand that you can't reveal it to me yet, especially if it doesn't concern you alone. I can be patient if I want to be.

I envy you, being able to leave school for the holidays and get a break. As it is, I'll spend them subjecting myself to a mock NEWTs. Joy!
Don't worry, even though I'm overworking, I'm still eating regularly and sleeping enough. Whenever I don't, I have Dion reminding me and threatening to bite me I don't get a move on. You got me quite the little enforcer there. Did you gave him instructions before sending him my way? Confess!

I got a letter from Draco, it seems that my father and the merry band of crazies are still at the Manor wreaking havoc. He's terrified of Bellatrix and said that he would spend the whole time barricaded in his room, cursing his mother who insisted he went back. I cannot blame him.

I have the feeling that something incredibly wrong happened to make my father so.. mad. He was described to me like a highly intelligent and cunning man, a charismatic one that wanted to better our world.. not destroy it.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, instead. Who knows what wandering for a decade in spirit form could do to a person's psyche.

I have attached your Yule gift.

Love

Alya


Mio Amore,

I knew that you would like them. I saw the kitten in the window shop among many other cats and I couldn't help but think that she was perfect for you. When I entered I saw the snake too and it reminded me of your beautiful eyes. There was no way I could leave one of them behind.

I really loved my Yule gift, thank you very much. I've been looking for that antique sword all over the place for two years.. Where did you find it? I can't believe I now own that original sword that Antonio il Magnifico 'The magnificent' used in his battles! That's a real piece of art not to mention history!

I want to kiss you so much right now!

Spending the holidays with NEWTs sounds dreadful.. it would be much better to be here at Zabini Manor, snuggled on the couch with me.

Draco has already tried several times asking me for asylum but his mother planted her feet and refused to let him go. He's such a mommy's boy.

Something is definitely wrong with your father, but it could have been anything. People react differently to a lot of things. Just look at my mother, she lost the love of her life and goes around changing husbands like she changes underwear! A more normal person would hurt and probably refuse to even think of looking at anyone else romantically for a while.

Try not to worry too much about it for now, whatever happens we will deal with it together.

Love,

Blaise


Dear Blaise,

I told you that I didn't need a Yule gift! You gave me too much already. And the diary of Miranda Reichs! She's one of the best spellcrafters that ever lived! There are all her notes and experiments in there! It's worth a fortune for her name alone.. but the sheer knowledge stored inside? Merlin..

There are dozens of ideas and spells she never could finish or perfect, the possibilities are endless with this material.

I don't know if hit you on the head and scold you for the amount of money I don't even want to know you spent, or if I should just kiss you.

You're spoiling me too much, really.

Love,

Alya