Chapter Twenty
D.A. Dumbass Anonymous 

Bronwyn wondered why she even bothered to attend the DA sessions which her friends had set up. She found herself learning less than she learnt in the classes being run by Professor Umbridge. Less than she did in Charms where she still switched off the moment she entered the classroom, despite a new understanding of the subject. If she was being honest, Bronwyn felt like the DA was just another adventure for Harry to boast about himself. Most of the sessions were planned around something he had done, a spell he had performed and included people asking way too many questions about each event.And as an individual who had lived through most of the events, and been injured in a lot of them. None of it was really that special to Bronwyn, and she would much rather prefer people just stop asking those questions. 

But because Hermione had put so much effort into the club, Bronwyn still attended. After all, Hermione had done the work to charm the coins which informed them of meeting dates and times. Hermione had attempted to set the curriculum trying to use the official one they were supposed to learn during their fifth year. Or above. And even though this curriculum was mostly ignored, it was the effort which Hermione had put into the group which brought Bronwyn back to each meeting. 

Even if she hadn't forgiven Harry for the way he spoke to her, the way he spoke about her. That he had thought he had some sort of claim upon her because he was nice to her before the sorting. Because he still saw her as a charity case. That was the hardest thing about it all, no matter how many years of friendship they had, the shorter boy still saw her as a charity case, someone he could fix up, make better. He had caused her to spiral many many times, and she pondered why she even tried to still be his friend. In her personal opinion, in that moment in time he had very little redeeming qualities, there was literally no real reason they should remain friends yet alone close friends. But there was a reason she had to remain friendly to him, despite everything that was testing their incredibly weak friendship. 

Her Mother. 

Bronwyn could not return home and face the wrath of her mother if she was to dissolve the friendship between Harry and herself. If she was to return home, she was unsure what her mother would do to her. Molly Weasley had never been a physically violent woman, that was not something Bronwyn was scared of. She knew compared to a lot of pureblood children she was incredibly lucky. Neither of her parents had ever raised a hand to her, something some of the children in Slytherin could not report. But Molly Weasley had a really great way of breaking her children down, making them feel incredibly small and imperfect. Perhaps it was because she wanted the best for her children. Yet it never came across in that manner. 

Every time Bronwyn thought about the relationship between her brothers and her mother. She could see why Bill, Charlie and Percy had all left home and not looked back. Bill hid out in wherever his job took him the exotic and highly secret curse breaking job was the perfect excuse away from his family. Away from the heavy pressures of being the oldest son, the next in line to take over the Weasley family head of house. Away from their mother telling him that his choice in job was stupid, dangerous and a waste of his talent. Charlie had fled to Romania, and sure he came back during the school holidays for short periods of time, but everyone was aware it was so he could check upon his younger siblings. For Charlie could not stand the way that their mother would grate upon each child the moment their test results would make it home. He would purposely make a spectacle of him coming home to take the attention away the afternoon of the results coming out. Bronwyn had never quite worked out just how he knew exactly what day this was going to be, considering there was no evidence of this ever being the same day. But still he did it to take the heat away from the younger children. Percy, Bronwyn felt sorry for her brother Percy. Forever made to feel as though he needed to hide who he truly was, Percy made himself the perfect pureblood son. He was head boy, he got a decent job in the ministry, worked on himself in the way a pureblood son should have. And because he was determined to take attention away from his true self, he threw himself into his work and didn't want to talk bad about his seniors in fear of losing his job, so he lost his mother instead. 

Bronwyn could place money on the fact that once the twins were finished with Hogwarts this year, that they too would leave and not come back. Bronwyn knew that their mother was possibly the harshest upon the twins, especially because they were not replicas of the long passed uncles they had been named after. In Molly's mind her twins were supposed to be replicas of the brothers she had lost. And when it turned out they weren't exactly that, well that was it. They were no longer good at anything, nothing either Fred nor George did was good enough or even worth their mother actually paying attention to. Bronwyn really hoped both Fred and George would leave, set up the joke shop they had been talking about since they were all kids and shove their mother's prejudice up her big...

BANG

Before Bronwyn could lament any more in her head, the mirrored walls of which hid the students away from prying eyes was blasted open. She stopped what she was doing immediately moving towards the safety of her older brothers. George was quick to pull his sister behind him hiding her tall figure with his slightly taller frame. Fred was just as fast as Bronwyn was over to his twin standing shoulder to shoulder so both boys were protecting their younger sister. Bronwyn was the soft soul of their siblings, and neither of them was going to let anything happen to her. 

And as people flooded into the room, Bronwyn looked around at the few members of staff and the additional students. Her eyes caught sight of what was supposed to be the inquisitor squad, a group of students mostly comprised of the most blood purist Slytherin students, who had come to assist in whatever was about to go down. 

"My my what do we have here? A large group of students meeting in an unsanctioned club. Why how many rules you have all broken." Professor Umbridge spoke and Bronwyn was reminded just how much she hated the clearly fake voice the woman put on as she spoke to the students. The horrible pink clothing she continued to wear, continuing to wash her out. 

As the professor continued to talk and talk, Bronwyn took a moment to look at the students whom were currently present. There were many familiar hard hitting faces, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott. But there was one from that friendship group who was very obviously not present. Her Blaise was not amongst the other students. Had he not joined with the rest of his friends, she supposed perhaps he didn't have the time to do so. 

Or had he known about the DA this entire time? It would make sense, Bronwyn had never exactly hid the coin from him, she could recall many times it would flash with the next meeting information in the middle of their study sessions. And when it heated up to let her know there was a new message it was too much to remain in her cloak pocket and she often took it out. It wasn't like her and Hermione were subtle when they spoke about the club whilst around him. Yeah he was probably more than aware that the club existed. Maybe that was why if he was part of the squad he wasn't there tonight. 

It wasn't until the students were being marched back to their respective common rooms that she would think about Blaise again. Well she would have no choice, when she was pulled out of the pack and into a rather dimly lit corridor. The corridor was a dead end, with little decoration other than a large torch and what looked like an empty portrait. The person who had pulled her aside was none other than the teenaged boy in question who looked her over in concern. Bronwyn let her face fall into one of confusion at his actions. 

"Did any of them touch you?" Blaise asked his eyes locking with her own as he tried to figure out if her words were truthful or not.

"No." Bronwyn responded noting he did not reply imminently rather waiting for her to add anything onto her short sentence. 

"Good, they know not to touch you." Blaise commented offhandedly as if this information was supposed to be something Bronwyn was already privy to. However, the heiress was confused, this made no sense to her, why would his friends, other members of his house and the inquisitor squad know not to touch her. 

"Why would they know that?" Bronwyn questioned knowing she needed the answers as soon as she could to stop herself from spiralling that night. 

"My sweet Raven." Blaise started but he soon stopped after and Bronwyn could watch as he worked out his next words. It was not something she admitted to seeing him do often, but it was clear in this moment that he needed to use the right words. "I will tell you in due course. Perhaps we could meet tomorrow afternoon after classes and discuss it a bit better." Blaise proposed and Bronwyn didn't feel like his response was what she wanted.

"Do you promise to tell me everything tomorrow."

"Of course Bronwyn, I do suppose though it's later today by now. Get some rest little bird." Blaise gave her a smile, something that made her tummy turn in circles before he left her standing alone in the corridor. 

"You could have at least walked me to the portrait." Bronwyn called after him, hearing a chuckle in response. 

However, Bronwyn was not able to meet Blaise at their promised time. Rather she found herself in detention. Along with all other members of the DA. Perhaps signing the sign up sheet all those months ago was a rather stupid idea, a bit more than just stupid when she thought about it. But a few hours later, Bronwyn was on a mission to search out the boy she had promised to miss. Determined to figure out just what was going on. Her right hand was bandaged, rather poorly by George but the intent was what mattered. It ached and she knew that from what Harry's last visit had with Professor Umbridge that those words now etched onto her hand were not going anywhere, possibly ever. 

"What happened to your hand?" Blaise voice came from a small cove he had been sat upon. The book in his hand he had once been reading long forgotten. 

"Umbitch." Bronwyn rolled her eyes using the nickname she had picked up from her brothers.

"This is her detention?" Blaise's voice was filled with horror as he quickly began to formulate a plan to get her removed from the school. He had no intention on having a member of staff who had hurt his girl still working there. Bronwyn only shrugged in response unsure of how she was supposed to answer his question. Rather taking to sitting down in the alcove next to Blaise turning her body so she was able to see him fully and not just stare at the side of his head. 

"I believe there is a specific reason for this meeting." Bronwyn had to jump to the chase, as despite his words that were supposed to calm her in the early hours of the morning she had struggled to sleep. Unable to get the thoughts away that there was something going on that she was unaware of, and it wasn't something good. 

"Of course little bird, maybe this will help you understand a bit more." Blaise spoke as he passed her an incredibly well wrapped parcel. It was a large looking box, but before she could even appraise the box further she noted the note attached to the front of it

'Dearest Bronwyn
A champion requires their own set.

Blaise Giovanni Zabini
The Noble and Ancient House of Zabini
Together As One'

Bronwyn looked over at Blaise with a look of shock on her face. Her brain eagerly recalling the books of which she had read countless times since the summer. Putting together what this gift was supposed to be. Gift one of traditional courting, the gift of interest. Was Blaise really showing her his potential interest in a courtship between the pair. She truly hoped so. Therefore, she attempted to remove the wrapping as gently as possible determined to keep the note forever. Hopefully as something one day she could show her grandchildren. 

Bronwyn could have dropped the box in shock the moment she looked at what was inside of it. It included something she had only ever dreamed about owning for herself before. For inside was one of the most sought after, exquisite chess sets available in the entire world. The limited edition wizarding chess set by J.Grahl was something any chess player wished to own. With carved pieces of ebony decorated in pure silver upon a truly astonishing ebony board, it was one of the most beautifully crafted sets to have ever been produced. She could feel the tears come to her eyes as she took the set in, nobody had ever gotten her such a personal gift. Something that was so much her, had always been her. 

"This, this is beautiful Blaise how did you even get a hold of a brand new set?" Bronwyn didn't need to ask about the money or the price, if she was being honest she didn't want to know. She didn't even want to comment on the price of anything, she just wanted to Basque in the fact that she was being spoilt so. Something her family could never do, they did not have the means to do so. And so she was going to enjoy every moment she could. Even if it made her seem conceited, and like a gold digger. 

"I know people." Blaise shrugged but deep down he was more prideful than ever. It was clear that this gift was to be accepted, and he had officially been allowed to begin the courting process.