Inside My Mind (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter XLIII

Hogwarts, Unplottable Location, Scotland, Great Britain

Saturday the 5th of June 1995

8:00 AM

"Happy birthday!" Bella said, grinning. She threw her arms around her brother and he raised an eyebrow at her, though he reached around her and patted her back while hugging her.

"Get off me, youngun" Draco said, teasingly. Bella rolled her eyes at her newly fifteen-year-old brother before turning to Hermione whom was holding two nicely wrapped gifts. Bella snickered when she remembered the grief she had given Hermione to wrap her gift.

"Oh, shut up. You're only about a month older than me," Bella laughed. She guided him to the Gryffindor table where a bunch of first years, cleared off. They obviously still weren't used to a Slytherin sitting at the table. They had probably been told that that wasn't allowed.

"Actually, I'm a month and three weeks. I'm almost two months older than you. So, until you turn 15, you're a youngun" Draco said, sounding rather superior about it. Hermione rolled her eyes as she looked for Blaise. Hermione sighed.

"You get four gifts, Drake, from us. One from each of us and then one combined gift. You will not give us grief about your small gifts. Okay?" Hermione said, sternly. Draco rolled his eyes and gave a lazy wave of the hand. Hermione unsuccessfully tried to stifle her smile.

She handed him her gift first and he unwrapped it, quickly. He smirked at her and tugged her hair.

"Thank you. It's just like you."

The book looked brand new on the ground and it was in black leather. In Old English on the front cover was the word: Lícwíglung. The pages were yellowed and also in Old English. He touched it softly and adoring.

"You do know Old English, right?" Hermione asked, worriedly. Draco looked it over.

"Some. I wasn't as interested in it as I was in Latin. However, I will learn quickly. This books is near priceless. Where did you get it?" Draco asked. Hermione smirked, softly and looked to Bella who was whistling.

"Bella used her name to make Borgin from Borgin & Bourke's give it to her for a 10 galleons. I gave her the money and knew that you were interested in it. You're gifted in it, as a matter of fact, and you should know how to use your gift."

Draco smirked at her and leaned back.

"I'm starting to appreciate you more and more…infinitesimally, that is" Draco said, adding a sneer at the end. Bella rolled her eyes and Hermione and her exchanged looks. Bella shook her head and handed her smaller gift to Draco. Draco unwrapped it and looked at it with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't give me that look. It's manly looking" Bella said, defensively. Draco smirked and looked down at the single earring.

"What does it do? There's a faint magical signature on here. It feels like a mix of yours and…Tom's" Draco said, uttering Tom's first name for the first time. Bella smiled at that and tilted her head. She held up her wrist, her bracelet dangling.

"It's a Portkey. An illegal one, that is. Don't tell anyone. It's connected to my bracelet, the matching charm. It's password protected. I'll tell you later. But, it brings you to me wherever you are. We're stronger when we're together, even if we're formidable when separated" Bella said with a slight smile. Draco smirked.