TOWER AND DUNGEON

Authors Note: Hey hey hey! Thank you all of the cool people who reviewed the story. Ummm…. Yup!

CHAPTER TWO

Silence ensued. Except for the sound of Ron choking on his food.

"But you may call me Melodie, should circumstances arise that you should have need of fouling my presence with your words." She finished.

More silence. Melodie turned to her food and delicately she took a spoonful of soup, then some bread. Finally she looked up again.

"Carry on! Stop watching me!" she waved an indignant hand and everyone went back to eating.

Up at the staff table, Hagrid shot a warning glance to McGonagall who whispered something into Firenze's ear. He nodded and then promptly trotted out of the Great hall at quietly as a centaur can. The end of the meal came soon enough and the students all trickled out to their dormitories. All except Melodie and a boy with brown hair that had been sitting with the Slytherins. When Melodie finally stood, she strode over to Professor McGonagall, who motioned her to follow.

They walked for many steps through the echoing and twisting hallways of high Hogwarts. When they reached a black door at the end of a hallway, McGonagall turned sharply to Melodie.

"Through this door and up the stairs are your chambers. You may protect them as you see fit. But you must tell no one where you are staying, understood?"

Melodie nodded and McGonagall quickly turned away and retreated back to the safety of her office. Melodie tapped the lock of the door with the ring finger of her left hand, and the door swung open.

Ginny unpacked her things quietly as Lavender and Hermione mused about just who, and what, Melodie could be,

"Maybe shes, like, a dark veela or something." Offered Lavender.

"Improbable…. vampire?" asked Hermione.

"Scary" giggled Lavender. "I hear she has a pet dragon!!!"

"Ya right, probably she has a pet… vampire!" laughed Hermione.

"ENOUGH!" cried Ginny.

Her two roommates looked at her, faces apologetic.

"You're forgetting that she is my sister," she said quietly.

Hermione put a hand on Ginny's shoulder.

"Sorry" she whispered.

Lavender smiled sadly at Ginny, who continued,

"Its ok… what I'm wondering is why she is so…" she paused, searching for a word.

"I'm better than you?" offered Lavender

"Cold" said Hermione.

Ginny nodded and went back to unpacking.

The hallways were slightly chilly as Firenze led the brown-haired boy down the silent and straight hallways of lower Hogwarts. His hoof beats were barely even heard, the boy, almost a man, was amazingly able to keep up with his four-legged companion without running. Finally Firenze stopped in front of a silver door at the end of the hallway.

"Through this door and down the stairs are your chambers. You may protect them as you wish but secrecy is vital, understand?"

The boy nodded and Firenze cantered away. The boy reached out and put his right hand flat on the center of the door and it swung open.

"Home sweet home" Melodie sighed as she surveyed her room.

It was very large and made entirely of black and white swirled marble. In the center of the room, jutting out from the wall, was Melodie's king size bed. Ebony, scarlet and snow blankets, pillows and wall hangings. On the left was another black door that led to her bathroom. On the right was a silver framed portrait, leaning against the wall. Next to it was the fireplace. But directly across the room from the bed was, as if its own shrine, the window. Six feet high, it opened onto a small balcony, if you could call it that. It was just a ledge of stone really. But the view! The other dormitories below, then the quidditch pitch, forbidden forest, Hogsmeade, and the mountains beyond that!

Melodie stood and breathed freedom. No more hiding. No more secrecy, she could live as a normal sixteen almost seventeen-year-old girl.

Ahem. Someone cleared their throat behind her. Melodie turned, smiled and ran over to the portrait. The man in the painting was tall, probably in his mid twenties with pronounced cheekbones and a high forehead. His hair was auburn and his eyes were dark amber. Haunted yet achingly sad.

"Well, how do you like it, Romu?" Melodie asked.

The man looked around and then smiled. He had snowy tooth and strangely elongated canines on both the top and bottom.

"It is very nice Wyn. I am happy for you."

His voice was a rich baritone. Shivers traveled up Melodie's spine. She smiled.

"I'm glad to be back with you, Romu"

The man smiled with his eyes.

"And I with you, Wyn."

Melodie rested her forehead against his painted one and closed her eyes. Their hands rested on eachothers, separated by only space and time.

A/N: tada!!! So how do you guys like Melodie and her mysterious painted boyfriend? Reviews please!