Chapter Seventeen
Back to Eden

The Christmas break was the shortest of which students were allowed to travel home for. Usually, for Bronwyn this was a sad thing, she usually didn't like the fact that before it had really begun it was all over. That she was returning to school too soon. But as she continued to feel change within herself. She didn't find the same sentiment. The two short weeks, well a little longer due to their special circumstances, were more than enough time before she wanted to return. If Bronwyn was being honest with herself she could have returned after the first three days. Sure Hogwarts wasn't exactly the safest place around, but she was sure the ancient wards were stronger than those at the Black house. Plus the shrieking voice of her mother was not present within the school walls as she scolded all in the house teenager and adult alike. 

Being back on the train was the best experience as of yet, she hadn't expected herself to be, but she was truly excited to be heading back. Her eyes searched the compartments for the curly hair of her best friend. Desperate to locate the missing older teenaged girl so she could talk to her about the mysterious gift. She wanted Hermione's much more level head to voice into the theory of whom it was from. After all, she had found herself compelled to put the necklace on and had yet to remove it since she had done so. It was beautiful and the person who had purchased it for her deserved a proper thanks. Not just a simple acknowledgement. And she just hoped Hermione also came to the same conclusion that she had about who 'B' was. 

Hermione's curly locks could be found in their usual compartment, the teenaged girl having her feet up on one of the seats a book propped in her lap. Hermione's natural habitat if she was being honest. And she looked comfortable in that manner. Bronwyn slid the heavy door open, noting that it squeaked upon her doing so, an ear grating sound which was enough to disturb the solo companion within the compartment. She watched as Hermione's head snapped around clearly prepared to send any non-welcomed travellers away. Yet the older witches eyes softened upon making contact with Bronwyn a bright smile upon her face. 

"Oh Winnie, I'm so happy to see you." Hermione cheered standing up to embrace the taller girl. Feeling as Bronwyn initially was a little tense but softened her posture almost immediately. She pulled back to look up at the younger girl waiting on some form of greeting. 

"'Mione. I have missed you." Bronwyn spoke gently back feeling herself as she was being tugged down to the bench Hermione had once occupied on her own. 

"Is it just you?" Hermione asked her eyes darting back to the entrance of the compartment but seeing nobody enter. A silent question as to where the once third member of their friendship group was. 

"Just me. I lost Harry upon boarding the train, I'm not sure if he went to be with Fred and George." Bronwyn shrugged with her own words not overly bothered, after all the last two weeks had proven just how awkward the friendship between the pair still was. And Bronwyn hadn't really made much of an effort to change that, despite the push from her mother. If Harry wanted to hang around her older brothers he was more than welcome to. She was sure they would scare the younger boy off rather quickly. Especially if they were both joined by their girlfriends. 

"Even better. How is your dad?"

"He's getting there luckily they got to him in time. No long term damage, but he just needs to be careful from now on. Especially as they've now worked out who he is." Bronwyn was evasive with some of the specifics but she knew Hermione was smart enough to connect the dots. 

"I'm happy to hear that. I was worried about all of you for the longest of time. Even if your letters said otherwise." Hermione voiced and Bronwyn was once again reminded just how much of a great friend she had found in the slightly older witch. 

The two would slip into conversation about one of the books Hermione had been reading over the holidays soon after. The older witch going into great detail about the specifics of the book, to the extent that Bronwyn knew she never needed to pick the book up herself to read as there was probably little else she could gather from reading the pages herself, not that Hermione had not informed her. That was until Hermione's eyesight caught upon the new necklace the girl was wearing. 

"Another gift from Grandma Weasley?" She guessed only to get a shake in response. The clear 'no'. 

"No, it came from 'B'." Bronwyn answered to get an eyebrow raise.

"'B'. You didn't get it for yourself?"

"If I had the money to spend on something like this I would be decked out in expensive jewellery." Bronwyn went to hold onto the emerald gently. 

"Well who else could 'B' be?" Hermione questioned and Bronwyn prepared to share the theory that had plagued her mind. 

"Call me crazy but what if it's from Blaise?" Bronwyn shared awaiting for some form of disbelief or mocking. 

"I should have thought of that. The Zabini family would be the kind to have this kind of money and ability to purchase it. Unless it came from their vaults."

"You think he would just give away a family heirloom like that, to me?" Bronwyn shook off the idea as soon as Hermione had presented it. She wasn't someone who deserved not just one family heirloom but two families worth. That was completely impossible. 

"You are more than worth that. I wouldn't be surprised he seemed completely besotted with you."

"No way I would have seen that before now. If that was the case." Bronwyn denied once again. 

"If you say so Winnie." Hermione agreed with her words but her tone was completely otherwise. 

Walking back from the dinner hall that evening Bronwyn once again came close to one of the few people within the school taller than her. His dark ebony skin shining against the moonlight. She initially went to apologise but she caught where his eyes were stuck. They seemed at first to be caught upon her cleavage and she nearly wanted to cover herself in embarassment. Noting that she was not in her usual very conservative school uniform. But that was when she took a little more notice. And his eyes were stuck upon the necklace she so proudly wore. 

"Green really is your colour... beautiful." The last of his words was a little more quiet but Bronwyn could clearly hear it. She bashfully hoped he was speaking about her and not the necklace. 

"Thank you, who ever got it for me really knew what they were choosing." Bronwyn studied him closely as she spoke to see if there was any chance that he might give away that he was the one who had gifted it to her, like she suspected. She was happy to see a small flicker of emotion cross his face, the emotion of pride. 

"Did they?"

"Yes I wish to thank whoever it was, deeply and intensely but they only left a letter of their name." Bronwyn put emphasis on her words hoping to crack him. 

"Oh that is a shame. How will you ever work it out?" Blaise had quickly picked up on her game and seemed to have started the volley back to her. 

"I will just have to go around and thank every single person in this school whose name starts with a B until I get the right person." Bronwyn acted clueless this time around to see if it would cause him to get enraged. And despite his facial expression remaining the same she noted that his hands closed tightly before realising, not just once but twice. She had caught him, confirming her own suspicions.

"I'm not sure that'll work what if he doesn't admit to sending it." Blaise shot himself in the foot. 

"I didn't say it was from a boy Blaise." Bronwyn teased a little pausing before she continued "You could just cut this back and forth now and admit it was from yourself." she added.

"But I'm really enjoying our little game."

"Of course you are." Bronwyn smiled brightly at him, watching as his own smile showed starting to match her own. "Thank you for by far one of the best gifts I have ever received." Bronwyn finally cut the game herself. 

"You by far are welcome my Raven." Blaise accepted her thanks and she paused, not many people knew the true meaning of her name. But he clearly had looked it up and the smile she had etched upon her features was not going anywhere anytime soon. Not if he continued this way. 

And as they parted ways that evening, Bronwyn left with the smile that had failed to leave her face the moment it had erupted. Blaise, he left more and more confident in what he was doing. The necklace had been brand new, something that was to be Bronwyn's and Bronwyn's alone. But his mind drifted to something else within the Zabini vault. Something he more so than before desperately wanted to give her.