Inside My Mind (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter XXXII

Gringotts, Diagon Alley, London, England, Great Britain

Thursday the 31st of July 1994

12:30 PM

Penelope watched in fascination as Hermione, Bella, and Maya curtsied to the little weird creatures at the teller box. Sirius had swept into a low bow and had given a devilish smile.

"Merry meet, Gornhorg" they had said in unison. The goblin gave a twisted version of a smile and nodded.

"And merry meet, Miss Granger, Ms. Granger, Lord Black, and Lady Slytherin."

Bella had frozen at the title and maintained her polite smile even though they had obviously addressed her as something weird.

"We're here to enter a vault. Vault 1069 please. I have the key. May I borrow a knife?" asked Bella. Gornhorg nodded and Bella slid a key that she had on a bangle onto the table. Gornhorg took it and then looked at Bella.

"Lady Slytherin, my Lord is in the library at the moment. Should I alert him?" Gornhorg asked. Bella shook her head.

"Please. Don't. He'll have a cardiac arrest if he realizes that I'm escorting Muggles into his precious Library of Alexandria. Lord Slytherin will have to be kept unaware at the moment. Come on" Bella said. Gornhorg had nodded.

Penelope arrived in front of a vault fifteen minutes later, feeling a little sick. Bella walked up to the large silver doors and had taken a knife from Gornhorg's hand. She slashed at her hand and smeared her blood on it. The door had hissed and then Bella had run her hand over the doors and began chanting.

"Speak to me Salazar Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four. Speak to she who holds you in highest regard. Speak to me and reveal knowledge once hidden in silence," she murmured, pacing back and forth. The large doors slid open in silence. Hermione looked at the girl, strangely.

"It made a lot of noise before."

"Well, right now, I don't want Tom to know I have two Muggles in his vault. It's like me inviting Dumbledore into his money vault. He'd murder me before committing suicide" Bella said with a smile. Penelope watched her as she glided in and then Penelope looked around. She gaped.

"What is this place?" Helen asked in awe.

"This is the Library of Alexandria. Well, what Salazar Slytherin salvaged of it. It's almost the complete library and a few additional books. Don't touch anything. There might be some curses on it. Get Uncle Sirius to check first. I'll be back. I have to pick up a few things" Bella said, matter-of-factly. Helen and Penelope frowned.

"Why does she talk to people like that?" Helen asked Sirius. He sighed, looking rather resigned.

"She's a little moody right now. And this is technically her Library. She can set her own rules. And it's true. It might be cursed. Riddle is rather…Dark. He'll do anything to keep his possessions safe."

"Including Bella" Hermione said. Sirius ignored her.

Penelope followed Bella silently as she made her way to the back of the Library. She didn't understand the girl. She was shuddering with every step she took to a dim light. Bella's smile was turning more into a smirk every time she got closer to the light. She stopped suddenly and Penelope slid behind a large bookcase to watch.