Chapter Twenty Four
B&B

Bronwyn wasn't sure what to expect the following morning. Well the hangover was something she had half expected upon waking up, unsure of exactly how much she had to drink on her birthday. Probably a lot more than she should have considering George was mixing. And a heavy hand did he have. She had expected to wake to see her dorm mates absolutely trollied, she was sure Lavender was still a little drunk if she was being honest looking at her. Maybe more than a little drunk, that would be a hangover to last the weekend. But Bronwyn knew she had to get up, there was things to do, people to see. A person to see. 

Therefore, she forced herself into the shower, hoping that by freshening up she was going to wash off the remainders of the alcohol she had consumed the night before. The smell of fire whisky having perforated her skin. Actually she was sure she had been sweating it out in the most disgusting and vile way possible. She also felt as though she was rinsing any regret away, not that she surprisingly felt any for once. But it didn't hurt to at least try, or thats what she thought at most. Getting dressed in March was often an awkward thing, sure it was technically spring in the UK but the weather remained incredibly unpredictable. It was either still winter, or often days were hot enough it felt like summer had come early. Therefore, it was a matter of guess work as to what to wear, and like always Bronwyn found herself just hoping that she had made a decent enough decision upon leaving her dorm room. A couple spritzes of 'Sunflower' by Elizabeth Arden was enough to make herself happy before leaving her room. A perfume she would have to thank Hermione for gifting to her a year ago before she had become obsessed. 

Hermione was already gone from the dorm room by the time Bronwyn was ready to leave, Parvati remained fast asleep with no intent to wake up clearly, not that Bronwyn could blame the girl it was Saturday after all. Lavender had taken herself back to bed after whatever she was doing in the early hours of the morning. Therefore, she would head down to breakfast for the day and then decide just what she was supposed to do. After all she knew she had promised a day with Blaise but they hadn't actually made any formal plans so she was unsure exactly how the day was going to pan out. She hoped, selfishly might she add, that he had planned the entire day together that was something they had yet to do. And she wanted him all to herself for the day, she wouldn't even care if this meant at some point he dragged her to study with him. Rather she would find pleasure in it, there was just something about the boy that made everything better, more enjoyable even something which could often be incredibly boring such as studying.

Entering the great hall for breakfast alone was something that Bronwyn had gotten rather used to the year prior. During the time she had been feuding with Harry, and her and Hermione remained a bit on the outs because of it, she had worked up the courage and had to enter and eat alone. There often wasn't many other options to that, so now as she walked in alone to eat once again on her own it did not cause her to feel any particular negative feelings. Part of her almost liked the idea of being alone just a little bit, there had been a lot of people around her yesterday and whilst the gesture was heavily appreciated and she had felt so loved to see everyone come together to celebrate her it had drained a lot of the social battery she had been working so hard on to build up. Perhaps it was because it was rather early on a Saturday morning the tables were empty, and therefore she was allowed that morsel of silence as she chose a spot upon the Gryffindor table of which was empty. And as she looked at the space around her it made sense that not many people would choose to sit next to her as she counted maybe 15 students sat at the table. Therefore, as she was able to eat her breakfast in peace that was all that mattered. Until it didn't. The table jolted as a person sat opposite to Bronwyn, moving in the way it only would when someone forced themselves onto the bench. At first she decided to ignore them continuing to look down at her bowl. 

"Good morning Raven." But Bronwyn knew that voice and therefore, she brought herself to look.  For sat opposite her in all his glory was the boy she was technically courting. Blaise sat opposite her, dressed head to toe in black but even from where she sat she could tell the black turtleneck jumper he was wearing was not only more expensive than any item of clothing she owned but much much softer. His Gucci aftershave drifted across the table as it mixed with the strong smell of the coffee he was currently drinking. 

"Good morning Blaise." Her voice took on a soft tone as any immense distaste she had for someone sitting across from her instantly vanished upon taking into account just whom it was. 

"Hurry along beautiful we have places to be." Blaise seemed to not be playing around as his eyes drifted down to the remains of her cereal and back up. Part of Bronwyn was tempted to take her time and finish her food, but the part of her which was way too curious as to what he had planned very quickly found disinterest in what she had previously been eating. Her tea was also almost forgotten as she just wanted to move onto whatever else he was talking about. 

"You're going to need a coat." Blaise commented the moment she had stood from the table and she took notice that he was fully prepared to leave the castle walls and head to Hogsmeade, or at least that was where she was assuming where else would they go? He was at least a gentleman walking her to the Gryffindor Tower and waiting outside as she went inside to grab a coat. And remained silent when she exited the portrait in her nicest coat, even though it looked like it was older than she was which it most likely was considering it had belonged to her mother at one point. 

"Do they never buy you anything new?" Blaise questioned but it was more of a grumble as they were walking to whatever destination he had set out for them. She was unsure why he seemed so annoyed by the thought that most of her items were hand-me-downs it wasn't like the Weasley families struggle with money wasn't unknown in the pureblood community. It was half of the reason the blood supremacist were able to use the family as an example as to why you shouldn't support equality. 

"It's okay my ember, as soon as I have a job I'll be able to change that." Bronwyn shrugged as she replied to his question knowing he most likely didn't need a response in the first place. But when it didn't seem to break his muttering she reached out to take his hand. Feeling joy as he slotted their fingers together. And as she focused so much on that feeling she missed his words. 

"I'm going to spoil you so fucking much as soon as you're mine." 

Blaise used their conjoined hands to pull her in the direction of Hogsmeade. He pulled her through most of the shops but nothing seemed to take her fancy. And therefore, he pulled them finally into the Three Broomsticks Inn, taking a table towards the back of the room. It was strange that she hadn't eaten long before but he was taking her somewhere to sit and possibly eat again. 

"This place could use a café or something." Bronwyn threw out into the atmosphere the second they had both settled. She didn't want food, nor did she really want to attempt to drink another Butterbeer, not after feeling as though her stomach had finally settled. 

"Yeah you're not wrong." Blaise quickly agreed as he took his coat off, the inside of the dining area of the inn being much warmer than the outside of the building. Bronwyn went to follow in his motions but before she could continue to remove her coat a cold chill hit, and she remembered that her jumper was pretty thin and therefore, it wasn't doing much against the cold. When he stood to head towards the counter to order, Bronwyn didn't think much of it, assuming he would place his order and then she would get up to do hers once he was finished, that way saving the table they were currently sat on. Though he returned with two drinks and placed one in front of her. The smell of the camomile tea hitting her nose the moment it landed in front of her. 

"Thank you." Her cheeks tinted rosey pink as she looked at him in gratitude. 

"Treating my birthday girl." He shrugged her thanks off, before pulling something out of his coat pocket. Whatever it was, was shrunk and as he reanimated it to its normal size he placed it before her. But this wasn't the only thing he placed before her, as a second small box joined it before her. Bronwyn went to pick up the larger object first recognising the shape as one familiar to a book. She looked over to him noting his apprehensive look before she moved to opening it. 

A copy of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' stared back at her. She pondered the gift for a moment, he must have known she had a copy of the book. It was one she didn't really need to read at any point, having all of the stories memorised by the time she was eight. But still she opened it regardless, knowing that he had most likely found something special about the copy he had given to her. It didn't seem like him to just get something simple, at least that was what she had learnt in the time she had gotten to know him Blaise liked the exquisite things in life. And upon opening she quickly took note of the main difference, for the pages staring at her were blue. The same shade of blue she used to be able to read her textbooks, to complete her tests and fill out her homework. Inside the cover of the book she could see his handwriting, her eyes adjusting to the need to read this early on a Saturday morning. 

'Bronwyn
A copy for you to read to our children

Blaise.'

It was short it was sweet and much less formal than the last note he had left her. But the words caused her heart to quicken, it was clear what kind of future he imagined with her, and it was scary to think these things at sixteen. But then she supposed that as a pureblood when a lot of the world revolved around finding a match and securing the future of the family line, that this wasn't as scary. But the thought was still a little nerve-racking. But that didn't stop her wanting to tease him about the note.

"Our children her. You sound like you've got our future all planned out Zabini." Bronwyn teased wondering if he could match her jest.

"I dream of it every night." His reply flabbergasted her and Bronwyn wasn't sure she was going to be able to respond to anything else he said to her. Therefore, she chose to move her eyes to the second parcel. It was not wrapped like the first and something told her it was because the boy before her had not been the one to wrap it. There was a note attached to it. 

'Miss B. Weasley
We await to welcome you to our family. 
Lady S. Zabini.'

The note came with no formal lettering, so she couldn't assume that this was the second courting gift, the one of which was supposed to come from the family. She wasn't sure why Blaise's mum was sending her something especially not a birthday gift. But as she opened it inside she saw what must have been a very expensive crystal quill, if its looks were anything to judge the price upon. It was delicate and feminine and something she would have never thought to buy herself not in a million years. But it was spectacular. 

"Oh Blaise your mother didn't have to get me anything." Was all she could say in response to the gift, still unsure why she would receive something from a woman she had never met. But she knew that if she was anything like the son she had raised, that Lady Zabini was an amazing woman. 

"She's been desperate to spoil you from the moment I mentioned you in my first letter." Blaise went to hold Bronwyn's hand one she hadn't realised had been shaking since she had first read the note his mother had sent her. "She'd love to meet you this summer if you would be willing." He continued on and she was sure her eyes widened at this, she hadn't thought about how it would go when they met each others parents, that was something for much further down the line for her but it would seem different. It was not like she was embarrassed by the thought of him when it came to meeting her parents rather it was the other way around. She had never even taken into account what his mother would think of her. 

"What if she doesn't like me?"

"There's no way thats even a possibility."