CHAPTER 3

I'll believe

All your lies

Just pretend you love me

-Anything For You by Evanescence

I didn't go back to Borgin & Burke's until the Christmas holidays. I was honestly glad to be going away for break; I didn't have any friends to spend it with, and I didn't like an empty Hogwarts. Nor did I want to go back to the orphanage where I would have to clean anyway, but without pay. Burke wasn't much company, but he was better than no one.

Draco Malfoy, I knew, was staying for the holidays. I didn't know or care why he was staying, but I was glad to get away from his eyes. We hadn't spoken since that day (I still blush when I think about it), but he seemed to notice me when others didn't. He would stare at me and smirk until my face turned red. It was unnerving, to say the least.

Burke had let the shop collect dust in my absence (although, I could hardly blame him since he was probably as old as dirt itself), but the lobby was much easier to clean the second time around. The storage area behind the lobby, the attic, and the basement, however, were cluttered and messy with boxes piled everywhere.

Each box had a label on it marking where it was from and a brief description of the object. Based on this, I first organized everything into three categories: Dangerous, Very dangerous, and Only-buy-this-if-you're-trying-to-kill-someone, and then separated them into three rooms so they wouldn't get mixed up. After that, we decided to go through everything and make an inventory and decide if an object was to go in the lobby for display, or back into storage. The work was time consuming, but not unpleasant.

I stayed in a "spare bedroom," which was actually just the attic. Burke had me clear it out and he bought me furniture from Diagon Alley. All of the pieces were old and well used, but they were in good condition and my bed was soft, so I was happy. I finally had a room all too myself, instead of two or three other kids.

I worked hard through the break, but that was perfectly fine with me. I liked being useful, the pay was good, and Burke wasn't as unpleasant as he wanted people to think. He was pretty laid back and seemed to appreciate my efforts.

I had daydreams about Burke adopting me so I could take care of him and help run the shop. I was growing quite fond of the old man and I was happier than I had been in a long time. I never voiced these thoughts out loud, thinking he would laugh at me and say I was being ridiculous.

I did demand that we have Christmas dinner the proper way with a goose and everything. I even cooked the muggle way, no magic (I didn't tell Burke that I didn't know many household spells, though, so he was impressed), and it wasn't half-bad. I think Burke enjoyed it; he said it had been at least ten years since he'd had a home cooked meal. I also found that I really enjoy cooking, and I couldn't wait to learn how to cook with magic.

The day before I was to leave, Burke and I were sorting old artifacts and categorizing them, much like we did all break. Then, I found a jewelry box with no description and opened it, finding nothing inside but a single bracelet. The box was a dark, pretty ebony wood and was unadorned of any decoration besides a single silver emblem on the top that had an "S" on it, with a matching silver lock and hinges.

The bracelet was beautiful. It was pure sterling silver molded into tiny, intricate snakes. Each snake had the tail of the previous snake in its mouth, forming an unbroken circle. When the bracelet moved, they appeared as if they were dancing. Each snake had a tiny, sparkling emerald eye.

Burke glanced over at me and noticed I was staring at it intently and put down a cursed musical box he had been examining.

"Where did yeh get that?" he asked, glancing questioningly between me and the bracelet. Unable to look away from the fragile thing in my fingers, I pointed to the simple jewelry box, not saying a word.

Burke looked to where I was pointing and looked back at me, startled. "No one was able to open this box, save fer you, lass. I think its meant fer yeh…" After getting no response, he snapped his fingers in front of my face, bringing me out of whatever trance I had been in.

"Wha…?" I looked around, blinking in confusion.

Burke chuckled darkly, and patted me on the head. "Keep it. Will look beautiful on yeh." He then picked it from my hand and slipped it over my left wrist. It immediately tightened to fit me snugly, and it wouldn't budge when I tried to take it off. The snakes danced happily, and I could almost hear them whispering to me.

I went to bed that night and dreamt of silver snakes with green eyes that whispered in my ear and slithered all over and around my body. Somehow, it was the most comforting dream I had ever had.

A/N:

Thankstomytworeviewers!Ryan,thankyouforbeingagoodfriendandgivingmecritisism=)Ithelps.AndtoAvengedchocolateangel:Thanksforreviewing!AndI'mverygladyoulikethisstory

Thischapterwasveryshort,butthenextonewillbelonger,andwillhaveourfavouriteblonde-hairedwizardinit.=3