Ivy Potter, Year Four | Raised By The Malfoys

Chapter Six: Magic

          After dinner, I helped Mrs. Weasley and Ginny clean up the table and the twins kept pulling on my long hair. They were amused every time I stuck my tongue out at them and Ron couldn't stop staring at my tattoo. Once the table was cleared, I slid the books down the table. They were open to the chapters that were relevant to my situation. Each one of the members read some parts out loud and Mr. Weasley and Percy were relieved to know that it wasn't dark magic. I explained to them that I met Lilith when I was about to turn eleven and she had magic properties since she could speak Parseltongue with me.

          "I changed her name only in spelling. Since I look like my mum so much, I just put the 'th' after Lily. Her name is still Lilyth. Would you like to see why my tattoo is more than a tattoo?" I asked the table.

         The twins and Ron were the most vocal and encouraged it. Mrs. Weasley seemed the most nervous. Glancing at Charlie, he looked interested but he was awfully quiet. Bill winked at me and I blushed.

          I raised my right arm, "Nake, snake. Cobra, cobra. Nake, snake. Cobra, cobra. Aitrosnepres."

          Mrs. Weasley nearly screamed when my tattoo began to peel off my skin. Lilyth's head emerged from my shoulder and her body followed. It felt like a snake was crawling under my skin and out of my shoulder. The sensation was making me shiver but it wasn't painful. Her head became three dimensional and she rested it on my left hand. The rest of her body was circular dots and I flicked my tongue out with her. Mr. Weasley's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his skull and Ron was whimpering next to me.

          "She's harmless, I swear. I can put her right back," I said softly.

          "Please do, dear," Mrs. Weasley said.

          I felt bad because she looked like she was about to faint. The twins snapped out of their trance and protested me putting Lilyth back in her tattoo form. Percy argued with them and Ginny was looking between me and Charlie. I blushed again and pet Lilyth.

          "Charlie?" she asked loudly, "What's wrong? I've never heard you so quiet before."

          Charlie turned red and I waved my right hand, "I'm, um, going to go outside with Salem and Lilyth. I'd rather not scare your mum further with the tattoo process."

           Ron relaxed but joined me outside with my snake and cat. The twins followed with Ginny and Charlie behind them. In the moonlight, Lilyth explored the grounds with Salem. I whistled loudly for Ron's owl from Sirius. He flew to me and landed on my head.

          "Animals sure do like you, Ive," Ron said as his owl flew to his shoulder.

          "It's easier talking to them sometimes," I replied and glanced at Charlie.

          "So, since you bonded with Lilyth, that's why your teeth and tongue changed?" Ginny asked.

          "Changed how?" Charlie finally spoke up.

          I opened my mouth to expose my fangs and stuck out my tongue. For some reason, it was embarrassing showing him despite showing the twins only hours ago. Charlie approached me and I realized he was over six feet tall, taller than the twins. His hands were rough as he put them on my cheeks. He tilted my head around and he was muttering something under his breath. I looked at the twins and they didn't seem bothered by it. As a matter of fact, Ginny and Ron also didn't look surprised. It was probably normal. Charlie made eye contact with me and quickly pulled away.

          "S-Sorry. I just, I never knew such a thing was possible," he said without looking at me.

          Now his siblings exchanged glances. Uh oh. I gulped and stepped back from him. Was I embarrassing him?

          "Charlie? Are... Are you shy?" Ginny asked with wide eyes.

          Ron and the twins started laughing and I turned red with Charlie. Ginny started to tease Charlie about liking me and I called Lilyth back with Salem. I stroked Lilyth's head and she said she didn't mind being a tattoo since I could use her whenever I needed and she didn't have to hunt since she was bound to me. I kept my right hand under her mouth and felt the wind pick up my hair from my body. Everyone's eyes were caught by it in the moonlight.

          I whispered, "Nake, snake. Cobra, cobra. Aitrosnepres."

          Her head flattened and entered my palm. She spiraled up my arm and stopped at my shoulder. I rubbed my arm with my left hand and looked up to see everyone looking back at me. I blinked a few times and jumped at Ron and Ginny.

          "Hiss!" I yelled and showed my fangs with my tongue out.

          He screamed with Ginny and the twins and Charlie began to laugh at me for scaring them. I ran inside with Ron and Ginny chasing me and telling me that it wasn't funny. It totally was. The twins came in with Charlie and Salem.