T
Title: Inside My Mind
Pairing: TMR/FemHP, George W/DM/FW, HG/BZ
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the quotes. I also kind of took the quote idea from another story. I don't own the language, Druhir. I also don't own the Ancient Language from Eragon. I just need them for my story to work and I don't fancy making up a language. I'm dedicated but not that dedicated.
Most of this language will not be mine and will be taken from various sources. The list goes on and on so I will not list them but as previously stated and now reiterated, the Elvish language is not mine. See…that rhymed.
Note: So…it's on to Book 2!
Inside My Mind
By: Sistersgrimmlover
Chapter IX
"What is love?
Love is when one person knows all of your secrets...
Your deepest, darkest, most dreadful secrets
Of which no one else in the world knows...
And yet in the end, that one person does not think any less of you;
Even if the rest of the world does."
Anonymous
Number 12, Grimmauld Place, London, England, Great Britain
Friday the 31st of July 1992
11:30 AM
Bella stood in the loo staring at the mirror, trying to find something that looked different about her. She was twelve now and she couldn't see any difference. She was the youngest of her closest friends, meaning she was the last to turn twelve and it was highly annoying.
She might have been a little taller but that only made her look rather awkward. Her hair had grown from the small of her back to her waist but she was sure Sirius would make her cut it again; not considering how much she liked it long. What was even worse was her hair had become even more untamable and it took her 10 minutes alone to brush through it.
"Bella! Are you dressed yet? You've been in there forever!"Sirius yelled from down the hall. Bella sighed and stuck her head out.
"I don't see why you need to rush me! You have your own bathroom for Merlin's sake, Uncle Sirius!" Bella snapped. She gaped in surprise when she saw who was sitting on her bed. Sirius was grinning in the doorway at her.
Ron and Hermione were sitting on her bed; Bella gaped at them before launching herself at them and hugging them tightly.
"Ron! Hermione!" she cried out in surprise, hugging them tightly.
"Happy birthday!" they responded in unison Bella laughed and shot a look at Sirius who smirking at her now.
"I think I deserve an apology. I got your friends here and the Weasleys are here too. Surprise!" Sirius said, making jazz hands. Bella snorted before hugging him tightly.
"First, you're not getting an apology when you forced me into this stupid pureblood dress thing. You're actually supposed to say surprise when we get downstairs but that's all right. Thank you, Uncle Sirius" Bella murmured as Sirius hugged her back just as tightly and tapped her right over her scar.
"Just for you, Doe, and the dress is customary for someone who is Heiress to the Black line to wear. Suck it up and let's go downstairs" Sirius said. Bella glanced in the vanity by the wall and sighed.
The white dress she wore was beautiful and elegant over it she had on a crimson corset with black laces and a darker red tailcoat. It was all right she decided but it didn't mean she had to like it.
"I thought you hated tradition" Bella grumbled Sirius nodded, sagely and Bella looked at him with a look of complete outrage.
"I do but the dress it looks adorable on you" Sirius cooed teasingly and Bella snarled at him before turning away and looking at her friends.
"Bell, it does look nice on you" Hermione reassured her Bella looked at Hermione's face and saw nothing but complete honesty although she could see several traces of amusement. She decided to pick her battles and just sighed.
"Thanks, Mione. I don't think I've met your younger siblings, Ron. Would you introduce me?" Bella asked, trying to bring the subject off herself and the dress. Ron grimaced slightly and Bella looked at him quizzically.
"Er…well…you'll see…" Ron said, looking faintly embarrassed. Hermione and Sirius seemed to know about what he was talking about. They were both snickering under their breaths. When they finally walked down the stairs and into the dining room, she knew why Ron wouldn't say anything.
"Merlin! I'm in Bella Potter's house! I'm touching her stuff…this is bloody amazing!" the redheaded boy sighed. He was holding hands with a girl that could most definitely be his twin who was pretty in her own right.
"Don't go barmy in front of her! She's an amazing Quidditch player and she got on the team in her first year! I think she'll have higher standards than you, Gideon" the girl said. Gideon sneered at his sister and jerked his hand from her.
"You don't know that! Don't be such a prat, Ginny" Gideon snapped. Bella cleared her throat and both children turned to look at her. The effect was instant and had Bella laughing.
"BELLA POTTER!" they shouted together. Ginny's expression was one of awe and admiration. Gideon's expression was one of complete infatuation. This made Bella blush.
"Hi, Gideon and Ginny Weasley" Bella said, smirking. Ginny squealed and started jumping up and down. Gideon paled, considerably.
"She knows our names!" Ginny squealed. Bella snorted again and leaned back.
"I heard you guys were down here…hi, I'm Bella Potter…as you seem to know that already" Bella said, extending her hand. Ginny pushed Gideon aside and shook it, readily as she grinned up at Bella.
"Hi, I'm Ginny! You're biggest, biggest, BIGGEST fan!" Ginny said. Fred and George were snickering by the wall and Mrs. Weasley was sitting down near the front of the table, looking half cross and half amused. A redheaded man who was balding looked highly amused at the situation . Bella assumed that it was Mr. Weasley.
"She'll be wanting your autograph!" Fred called.
"She seriously is your biggest fan. For Halloween she dressed up like you" Ron said, with a grin. Bella stared at the girl in shock. Said girl blushed deep red and looked away pointedly while everyone else laughed.
"Really? Did she have the lightning bolt?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded, laughing loudly now. Gideon was patting his sister on the shoulder, comfortingly. Everyone was laughing except for Bella, Gideon, and Ginny.
" Yep right in the center of her forehead!" George answered. The laughing got louder. Bella glared at them as they stared at her in shock.
"It's not funny!" she snapped, annoyed. She turned back to the shocked younger set of twins.
"It's not funny…Ginny, the scar is a little off-center. But I'm immensely flattered. It's nice to know that I'm idolized by someone" Bella said, smiling kindly. She didn't notice how everyone was looking over her shoulder or how the flames in the fireplace turned emerald. She was surprised as Gideon swept into a low bow and kissed her knuckles. Sirius was snickering even more but she was confused that it wasn't directed at her or Gideon.
"I am Gideon Weasley, Lady Black" Gideon said, sounding overly formal. Bella smirked and she mock-curtsied. Her head suddenly flew forward. She gaped and spun around. She stared wide-eyed with the other kids at the man standing behind her.
"She's not a lady yet but if you must that's Lady Slytherin to you, Mr. Weasley. And don't get a big head over that one, brat. Or any bigger I might say."
"Shut up, Marvolo!" Bella snapped. Tom Riddle smirked down at her and raised an eyebrow. She glared at him with her hands on her hips.
"Brat. Crimson?" he questioned with a smirk. Bella looked away, pointedly with pursed lips.
"I happen to like crimson. My aura is crimson" Bella snapped before turning to the snickering crowd. She crossed her arms.
"Whose idea was it to invite this thing?" Bella demanded while pointing at Tom however just looked rather amused and he leaned on the wall near the fireplace. Sirius raised his hand and she looked at him in shock.
"Guilty as charged Bella He does have a right to be here seeing as he's the Heir of Slytherin and your magical guardian, he should be here for your birthday" Sirius said, smirking as Bella shook her head in disgust.
"Can we just eat breakfast? Merlin! I'm hungry and Kreacher wouldn't let me eat" Bella said. Tom froze at the name and turned to see an elderly house-elf enter the room. The house elf's eyes landed on him and narrowed in recognition but said nothing.
"Fine, fine. Sit down so we can eat" Sirius sighed. He sat at the head of the table and Bella sat at the other head. Ron sat to her left as Gideon had tried to score the seat on her right but Hermione beat him to that seat. That left Gideon next to Hermione and Ginny next to Gideon. Fred and George sat next to Ron. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat across from each other and on each of Sirius' sides. Tom didn't even bother he set down a tiny parcel in front of her and rapped it once with his wand. It enlarged and Bella stared at it in surprise.
"I expect you to have read the book by the time you get your next detention…meaning the day after you arrive back at Hogwarts" Tom smirked as he took long strides towards the fireplace as Bella opened the parcel carefully. A sharp gasp escaped her lips.
"Elven texts? Is this a tome on parselmagic? And what's this?" Bella murmured, running her hand over the ancient texts and scrolls. There were at least four scrolls on Elven culture and a large tome on parselmagic. The last was an unmarked and nondescript leather bound book. In the corner on the bottom there seemed to be initials but they disappeared as soon as Bella tried to get a closer look at it.
Tom hid his smirk well.
"Yes to the first question. It's not only a tome on parselmagic. It had almost a complete set of Salazar's notes in it. And that…that's just a notebook to take notes in. I'm aware that your old one is used for other things. Happy birthday, brat" he said before walking briskly towards the emerald flames. Bella ran her hand over the books while Hermione was practically salivating over them.
"Marvolo? How old are they?" she asked distractedly as he stopped in his stride and turned to look at her.
"Absolutely ancient the tome is about Slytherin's age. The scrolls are even older and come from the hidden books under the Library of Alexandria. I've made them waterproof and as resistant as possible. Have fun making sense of what it says" Tom said, almost cheerfully but definitely smugly as he slipped into the emerald flames and declared his destination under his breath.
Hermione ran her hand over the Parseltongue tome and she breathed deeply as if she had just had a huge relief. Everyone looked at Bella in surprise. She was sighing in content every time she touched the plain black book.
"Bella, this is amazing! You have to translate it for me. It might have amazing battle strategies. I know that Rowena Ravenclaw was said to be an amazing strategist" Hermione said, reverently. She got strange looked but Bella was used to it by now.
"Yes, well, Salazar was the battle tactician. I'll have to give you some of the translations. Yes…but the other scrolls…he must have paid an arm and a leg for these. Unless he found them in the vault. They're absolutely beautiful" Bella murmured. Ron looked at her strangely.
"Since when were you into books? I thought Hermione was the bookworm" Sirius said. Bella looked at her uncle with a defensive look on her face.
"I like to read on certain subjects. What do you think I do when I get detentions with Marvolo? He has an amazing library" Bella said, defensively as Sirius just held up his hands and laughed at her while she was frowning.
"Whoa Bella…no need to go on defense! Let's eat before we wish the birthday girl a happy birthday" Sirius said. With these words, food appeared along the entire long table and soon everybody was enjoying themselves. Bella had asked creature to move the books to the study off the library.
"Who's Marvolo? It's such a funny little name" Ginny said, giggling by just saying his name. Bella smirked at her and tilted her head.
"Don't let him hear you say that. You'll know him as Professor Riddle. He's the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He's a great teacher but he's rather mean to me and he calls me brat so I call him Marvolo. Usually, only in Parseltongue but well…" Bella trailed off. Gideon and Ginny's eyes widened together and Bella laughed, under her breath.
"You're a Parseltongue? Ron told me that all Parselmouths are evil" Gideon said, almost accusingly and Ron flushed. Hermione shook her head.
"Salazar Slytherin wasn't evil. He just had a different way of looking at things, To you what he did and what he believed may have seemed evil, however to the people who also believed in what he said, he was trying to incorporate systems that he thought would work better. He was working for… the lack of a better phrase, the greater good" Hermione explained and Gideon frowned.
"But what does that have to do with being evil and a Parselmouth?" he asked, confused. Bella winked at him and pink spread on his cheeks.
"That's the point. What does it have to be with being evil? I'm not evil. And I speak Parseltongue rather openly. It only seems unnatural to those who cannot speak it. It's like you speak English and someone else may speak French. It's the same thing but I can communicate with a different species entirely" Bella added on. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"But I think it's unnatural that you can speak to another species. I mean their only snakes. Snakes are evil omens" Ron said, rather thickly. Bella hissed at him and the room got quieter.
"If Nagini heard you…she does understand English you know. Snakes are not any less intelligent than humans in reality they're much more observant. I don't appreciate you calling them evil. You do know that I'm more or less part snake, right? Have you not noticed that when my eyes go red that they become silted? I speak the language as well. I'm incredibly insulted by your lack of tact" Bella said, rather passionately. There was snorts and snickers through the entire table. Mrs. Weasley was glaring at Ron in annoyance.
"Ron! You should watch you say I'm sorry, dear. Now, what do you mean, your eyes go red? They become bloodshot? I believe I can find something in a book to correct that problem" Mrs. Weasley asked, kindly. Fred and George grinned viciously.
"No, Mum. They really go red like all red" Fred said, enthusiastically. Mrs. Weasley's eyes widened. George nodded in agreement.
"They are wicked scary! In her first Quidditch game, she almost fell off her broom because Quirrell threw a Dark curse at it!" George said before pausing for suspense. All that weren't there drew a sharp breath. Bella had never gone into detail of what happened during that Quidditch matcg.
"And then, Hermione set the end of Snape's robes on fire and broke Quirrell's concentration!" Ron added. Everyone's eyes turned to the bushy haired girl. She blushed and looked away.
"Well…I supposed I did but I didn't save her!" objected Hermione. Gideon and Ginny leaned forward.
"What did you do next?" Gideon asked Bella excitedly.
"Did you use super cool powers that you used to defeat Grindelwald?" Ginny asked, just as interested and captivated by the story. Bella gave a nervous laugh.
"No, no. I don't have any cool superpowers. I'm just a regular witch. It was…" Bella said. Fred and George apparently didn't want the story to end so they leaned forward and interrupted.
"Then…she was dangling and her fingers were slipping. We were circling underneath her to catch her when suddenly there was high pitched hiss. Her eyes went red and then she shot up onto her broom and took off towards the teacher's stand. She said something before going into a spectacular dive and caught the Snitch!" Fred ended. George nodded in enthusiasm before casting Bella a sly look.
"In her mouth…she was almost sick right there on the pitch" he laughed. Bella flushed lightly. She looked away before sighing.
"At least, we won…"
Leaky Cauldron, London, England
Wednesday the 19th of August 1992
10:00 AM
Bella and Sirius walked through the pub, ignoring the murmurs. Bella's head was held up high. Her long black hair was pulled up in a ponytail on the very top of her head. She wore dark blue robes that were almost black in color. Her bangs were down to cover her scar but everyone was now familiar with what she looked like. The pair stopped in front of the renowned Hogwarts professor.
"Riddle."
"Black."
"Marvolo."
"Brat."
Those were the meeting words that had the entire party scowling. The pub got louder as they went into the back to open the gateway to Diagon Alley. Tom opened the doorway and they walked into the always amazing Alley.
"I don't want to go to the Alley with you" Bella said, bluntly as soon as they stepped foot into the crowded and bright Alley. Tom glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes.
"I'm not enjoying the fact that I have to take time out of my day either. But why are you so angry? Don't you enjoy annoying me?" Tom asked, curiously. Bella nodded, enthusiasm shining through her at this point.
"I do. But…those were the most ridiculous books you put on the booklist!" Bella snapped in anger. She thrust a piece of parchment at Tom and he pushed it back, already knowing the contents. Bella examined the parchment once more.
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart
"I didn't put them on there don't worry you'll find out soon enough" Tom snapped. Bella sighed and nodded. They continued to walk down the road, intent on getting to Gringotts.
"I don't like this at all I've heard about those books. Complete rubbish if you ask me" Sirius said with disgust on his face. Bella nodded in agreement and shook her head as she thought about.
"Absolutely stupid, I agree I'll look over the books anyway" Bella decided. Sirius shrugged and they made it to Gringotts and Bella gasped in surprise to see Hermione and two people that she assumed were her parents standing there, looking around in excitement. Hermione smiled brightly.
"Bella!" she cried out, enthusiastically. Bella and Hermione hugged before Hermione all but dragged the girl to her parents.
"Mum, Dad, this is Bella Potter. She's the Girl-Who-Lived. I went to her birthday party" Hermione clarified. The two looked at her in surprise before smiling.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Granger but just call me Mrs. Granger. It'll be much easier to distinguish who you're speaking with" Hermione's mum said kindly. She stuck out her hand and Bella took it before shaking it.
"Hello, I'm Sirius Black, Bella's guardian. I met you when I came to collect Hermione" Sirius said. Dr. Granger and Mrs. Granger nodded in recognition before turning to Tom who had been standing there, inspecting his nails and cleaning them on his robes.
"Oh…Professor Riddle? Mum, Dad, this is Professor Riddle" Hermione said, surprised that she hadn't noticed him there. Tom looked up and swooped down and kissed Mrs. Granger's hand before shaking Dr. Granger's. Dr. Granger looked slightly offended but Tom's face held the smallest hint of a smug smile. Bella rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Hello, I'm the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and the Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts" Tom said, eloquently. They nodded in understanding and Dr. Granger pulled out a stack of ten-pound notes.
"We should go in and exchange this…" Dr. Granger trailed off, awkwardly while Tom nodded and looked over at Bella.
"Brat, be proper and greet the goblins properly" Tom snapped. Hermione's parents gaped at his treatment of her. Sirius smirked, knowing he only meant it in jest, even if Bella didn't realize it. Hermione was snickering. Bella only scowled.
"Well aware of this, Marvolo" she snapped before throwing her head back and adopting the attitude of a pureblood Heiress. She walked into the bank with a sense of purpose and the Granger parents observed her. She approached the teller box and looked up at the teller box.
"Merry meet, Bogrod" she said, giving a low curtsey. Bogrod examined the girl in front of them. Hermione watched with a growing smirk.
"Merry meet, Lady Slytherin."
"Merry meet, Bogrod" Tom said, greeting the goblin. The goblin's eyes widened and Tom gave him a warning look.
"Merry meet, Lord Slytherin."
This got some reactions from the Grangers but mostly confusion. Hermione leaned over and explained that Tom was her magical guardian and what I meant and such. They soon understood.
"Which vault, Lord?" Bogrod asked. Tom tilted his head before giving a grim smile.
"Vault 1069" Tom answered. Bogrod's eyes widened and he tilted his head.
"The library?" he asked. Bella's eyes widened as Tom nodded.
"Miss Granger, would you like to come along? I'm afraid it only fits four people, however. Would this be alright with you, Dr. Granger, Mrs. Granger?" Tom asked. Hermione turned to her parents.
"Please, please, please Mum! They have books from the Library of Alexandria! Please?" Hermione begged. Mrs. Granger's eyes widened.
"Really? The Library of Alexandria? That's fascinating " Dr. Granger asked, almost disbelievingly as Tom merely nodded his head.
"There was a hidden room that was fire resistant; a spell was cast over it I believe. It had the entire library copied there. Salazar Slytherin got his fair share…or more than fair, I suppose. He acquired half of it. The other half is scattered through the wizarding world, some to old families, and some are in the Department of Mysteries" Tom explained. The Grangers didn't quite know what the Department of Mysteries was but they nodded anyway.
"We must depart. It is a long ride down there."
Flourish & Blotts, Diagon Alley, London, England
Wednesday the 19th of August 1992
12:30 PM
The Weasleys, who had met up with them after they explored the vaults, group all made there way into the already crowded Flourish & Blotts. Ron groaned in annoyance.
"Why are there so many people here?" he moaned. Hermione pointed at the sign and made a huge squeal. Bella looked at the girl in alarm.
"Gilderoy Lockhart will be here! He's signing copies of his new book, Magical Me! I read it and it was absolutely inspiring" she sighed, looking completely awestruck and in addition to that, lovestruck. Bella made a nose of disgust in the back of her throat that most of the men echoed.
"We'll be able to see him in a minute…" Mrs. Weasley said, sounding rather excited. She was patting down her hair and Bella rolled her eyes. Hermione looked just as excited and it seemed like Bella was alone there. Even Ginny looked excited.
"This is ridiculous…" Bella murmured to Gideon who was standing closest to her. Gideon nodded in agreement, though he'd probably agree with the girl about everything.
Before Gideon could properly respond, Gilderoy Lockhart came into view. He had shoulder length gold hair that was in impossible curls and he looked like he spends hours doing it every morning. Bella could see why some women would consider him handsome. He was tanned and had a bright smile and eyes the shade of forget-me-not that matched his robes. But she didn't personally feel attracted to him.
"Out of the way, there! This is for the Prophet" an irritable little man snarled. He was taking pictures. About a dozen by the minute if Bella judged correctly. Ron moved out of the man's way and shot him a scathing look.
"Big deal! Lockhart's not that great anyway" Ron spat. Apparently, Lockhart heard him and looked up.
"It can't be…Bella Potter?" Lockhart shouted, shooting her a smile. She lifted one eyebrow and put one hand on her hip. The crowd parted and someone pushed her forward. She turned on the person and sneered.
"Don't push me!" she hissed before looking up at the flamboyant man in front of her with her head held high. She extended a graceful hand to Lockhart with an appraising and cold look that she had learned from Walburga. The woman in the portrait had taken a liking to her. Lockhart's big grin faltered for a split second before shaking her hand vigorously.
The entire shop burst into applause and Bella was pulled next to him as the Prophet photographer took photo after photo of the two. Lockhart threw his arm around her.
"Big smile, Bella. Together, you and I are worth the front page" Lockhart hissed through his unnaturally white teeth. Bella gave a pained smile and she looked for a familiar face.
She found one with her a smug smile and an amused expression. This had her instantly scowling and Lockhart jostled her again and she regained her pained and forced smile.
"Ladies and gentlemen! What an extraordinary moment this is! Two of the most famous people in the wizarding world happen to be in Flourish & Blotts at the same time. It's such an amazing moment that I think I make an equally amazing announcement" Lockhart said. Tom's smile slipped off and his eyes narrowed. Lockhart hadn't seen him yet but if he had…he would've dropped dead at the venomous glare.
"When young Bella here stepped into Flourish & Blotts today, she only wanted to buy my autobiography. However, she won't have to buy it. She will get a regular edition and a first edition, signed by me! In fact, she'll get two whole sets of my books—" Lockhart continued as he dumped the books into her arms. Bella staggered under the weight. The entire shop burst into applause.
"She had no idea that she would be getting much, much more than my well-written and beautifully crafted books. She and her schoolmates will be, in fact, getting the real magical me. I have great pleasure and pride in announcing that this September, I will be assuming the newly invented post, which was invented just for me, of the assistant Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" Lockhart announced. Cheers erupted through the entire shop. Bella froze and her eyes locked with Tom's. They were accusatory as her words.
"Why in the bloody hell are you letting this prat teach in your classroom?" she snapped. Tom looked at her and his left eyes twitched. Lockhart seemed to suddenly realize that Tom was there and flinched at his vicious glare. Tom's hand shot out and pulled Bella out of the massive crowd.
"Are you serious? The guy is a fraud!" Sirius protested. He held half of Bella's books. Bella sighed and shook her head before taking the books from Sirius who didn't seem to realize while he was ranting to the Grangers, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Tom. She walked towards the side where Gideon and Ginny were talking. Bella dumped one set of books into Ginny's cauldron and another set in Gideon's. They looked are her wide-eyed.
"You have these. I'll buy my own…" she said, quietly.
"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" a voice said. Bella didn't even have to turn to recognize the patronizing tone. She turned away to confront the platinum haired Draco Malfoy.
"Famous Bella Potter, Can't even go into a bookshop without being on the front page. You're just starved for attention aren't you?" Malfoy sneered. Bella rolled her eyes and couldn't respond when suddenly Gideon pushed forward with Ginny.
"Leave her alone!" Gideon snapped.
"Yeah, she didn't want all that!" Ginny agreed. Malfoy smirked.
"Potter, you've got yourself a little knight in shining armor and a lady-in-waiting. Aren't you the little princess?" Malfoy hissed. Gideon and Ginny flushed a bright red. Bella sneered back at him and lifted her head higher.
"No but I am your lady. Maybe it's time you show some respect" Bella drawled. Malfoy glared at her.
"Oh, it's you bet you're surprised Bella's here?" Ron asked, his voice straining to sound pleasant. Malfoy however held no such pretenses. He looked at Ron as if he were the street he walked on.
"No. But I'm surprised that you are. I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all those" Malfoy snapped, irritably. Ron turned red and started forward when Hermione grabbed the back of his jacket and pulled him back. Her inhumane strength showed again for a girl about a head shorter than the soon to be second year.
"Ron! We're going to leave now? Come on, let's go outside" Mr. Weasley said, fighting his way over.
"Well, well, well If it isn't Arthur Weasley."
The drawl was remarkably similar to Draco's and Bella looked up to see a carbon copy of the boy. He was taller and older and he had longer hair but that was as far as the differences went. Wait, no, she noticed. The older man's eyes went icy blue in the light, it seemed.
"Lucius" Mr. Weasley said, coolly.
"Busy time at the Ministry, it seems. All those raids…I hope they're paying you overtime" Mr. Malfoy said. His eyes connected with crimson ones for a split second before his hand dipped into Gideon's cauldron and pulled out an old and battered copy of A Beginner's Guide To Transfiguration. He looked at it with disdain.
"Obviously not. Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace for a wizard if you aren't even paid well for the humiliation of it?" he said. His voice was aristocratic and lilting. He didn't seem concerned at all but there was a malicious undertone there.
Mr. Weasley flushed darker than his three other children.
"We must have very different ideas what disgraces a wizard, Malfoy" he said.
"Clearly. The company you keep…your status as a disgraced wizard may be raised by the fact that you're sorry excuse for a son is friends with Lady Slytherin, but it seems that the Mudblood…you family could sink no longer, it seems" Malfoy said. It wasn't Mr. Weasley who launched himself at Malfoy. It was Ron Malfoy easily threw him off and Mr. Weasley attacked him too. He knocked the other man backwards into a bookshelf and books came tumbling down.
Hermione stood frozen, looking down with wide eyes but a vicious smile spreading on her face.
"Break it up! Arthur, this ends now!" Sirius said. He grabbed the red headed man and pulled him off of Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy straightened and patted his hair back down. He was still holding her book and Bella thought she saw a flash of gold but she couldn't be sure. Mr. Malfoy dropped the book back into Gideon's cauldron.
"Take it boy. It seems that your father isn't worth looking up to if he resorts to Muggle dueling. He's a disgrace, just like the rest of your blood traitor family" Mr. Malfoy hissed before leaving the shop, Draco and another boy trailing after him. Hermione stiffened when her eyes fell on the other boy before she relaxed.
Bella looked at her friend strangely before exiting.
Platform 9 ¾ , King's Cross, London, England, Great Britain
Tuesday the 1st of September 1992
10:45 AM
Hermione Granger sat on the train, waving to her parents she knew Ron and his family would be coming through the barrier at the last possible minute. Bella and Sirius would be running in at the last possible second. According to Bella, Sirius loved to be late especially when it had something to do with her.
"Ciao, bella ragazza."
The face made Hermione look up and she saw the same boy from before. It was the same boy who had been with both Malfoys. She really looked at him and couldn't help the blush that spread on her cheeks.
His skin was tanned and he had silky dark hair that fell elegantly to his shoulders. The way he held himself told her that he was a pureblood. This didn't make her stomach feel any better.
"Oh…er, my name's not Bella. That's Bella Potter. I'm just her Muggleborn friend" Hermione said in one of her rare and finest moment of ineloquence. The boy in front of her laughed.
"I know who the proclaimed Girl-Who-lived is, bella ragazza" he said, again. Hermione's eyes widened at his thick Mediterranean accent in his voice. Hermione cleared her throat, awkwardly.
"Er…right. Um…what are you doing here?" Hermione asked, slowly. The boy tilted his head and gestured to his trunk.
"I was looking for a compartment. It seems I haven't found one yet, judging from my trunk still being in my possession. Sì?" the boy asked. Hermione's cheeks turned pink and she looked away.
"Well, this compartment's taken. I'm waiting for my friends" Hermione said. The boy nodded in agreement and took a step back.
"Well, I will leave you to wait. Arriverdeci, bella ragazza."
Hermione's flushed deepened as he bowed to her before leaving. And that is how her friends found her.
"Mione, why are you blushing?"
"Shut up, Bella" was Hermione's response before blushing even harder.
:::
A/N: Well, well, well. We are starting Book 2 and it's starting much more differently than Chamber of Secrets. Have any of you figured out what the creature is that knows all but knows nothing? Well…it doesn't matter if you have because you won't be meeting that creature for only God knows how long.
