Inside My Mind (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter XCII

Hogwarts, Unplottable Location, Scotland, Great Britain

Friday the 25th of June 1998

9:00 PM

"This is going to be the last night I spend here with you."

Tom looked over at the young woman and he couldn't help but admire how she looked in the dim moonlight. She had dragged him out to the lake and if he wanted to ogle her, he definitely had the right to. He tapped his guitar case, slowly and Bella smiled at him, softly.

"We didn't spend much time here in the first place. The first time we did, I tried to tell you that I was the Dark Lord. You told me to stop thinking," Tom said, flatly. Bella snorted and rolled her eyes. She leaned forward with a teasing look in her eyes.

"You're such a mood killer, Tommy-boy."

"Don't call me that. It's annoying," Tom snapped and Bella smiled before leaning back.

"I meant at Hogwarts, love."

"Ah…still quite untrue. You're welcome to come any time when I'm not teaching. Or, I will be frequently returning to London for sex," Tom said, flatly. Bella gave him an amused look and she tilted her head.

"You want me to marry you before we have sex."

"Very true. But, if we're engaged, that's fine too."

"You're such a moron, Tom," Bella laughed and she trailed off when she noticed that Tom didn't even look faintly amused. Bella swallowed, knowing that she was in for a serious conversation.

"What are you so afraid of?" Tom asked, quietly. Bella looked away towards the moonlit lake and she didn't say anything. The top of the lake did not ripple so that it looked like a thick sheet of black ice.

"I'm not afraid of anything."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not. Why did you bring out the guitar?" Bella asked, sharply and Tom gave her a cool look that properly chastised her. She looked down and cleared her throat.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. I brought my guitar because I wished to. I found sheet music in my rooms. You constantly leave things there. It was written for a guitar…I simply…tweaked a few things," Tom said, quietly and Bella looked at him in surprise. He had never played for her after that past Yule but she was definitely surprised that he was now. She nodded, patiently and she leaned forward, curiously.

He pulled his guitar out from the case and positioned it, slowly. He pulled out a pick and began to strum, quietly.

"Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry

You don't know how lovely you are

I had to find you, tell you I need you

Tell you I set you apart," Tom sang, quietly and Bella's eyes widened at the lyrics that he had attached to the song. He had never called her 'lovely' or called her out on her previous self-esteem issues. But, it wasn't in a bad way, however.