"How is this the story of how you were thrown in here?" Charles asked. Sirius growled at him.
"Do you want to hear the story or not?" he snapped. Charles, pursed his lips and nodded. "Alright."
"But who is the Melody girl your talking about. I don't remember ever hearing about her…"
"That's because it was never publicly announced until it was too late." Sirius swallowed thickly, his eyes glazed over with some horrible image. "And if you'd let me continue with the story, you'll find out." he snapped. Charles lowered his eyes abashedly and nodded. Sirius sighed and brushed his hair back from his face. "I guess the night passed peacefully enough, after my friends calmed down enough to go to sleep…"
The room was in shambles. Clothes, papers, and other various items were strewn everywhere. It was difficult to tell what went to who, but we did our best.
"James, do you have my comb?" Remus asked. James tossed Remus the small black comb and resumed gathering his things. It was the… well. We all called it the 'Last Minute Scramble.' Melody, and her best friend Lily Evans called it 'Procrastinating.' When they said that, we complained about them using big words. We finally got everything packed and put our trunks up on the bed, so they'd get put on the train, just like we did every year. I slung my bag over my shoulder and nodded to James.
"We're gonna go down and get some breakfast. Kay guys?" James said. Peter and Remus nodded, throwing clothes into their trunks. I headed out the door and trotted down the stairs, nearly colliding with Melody.
"Oh! Hey Sirius." She said quietly, a blush coloring her cheeks as I gripped her arm to keep her from falling. I grinned, and opened my mouth to reply when Lily came down the stairs.
"You ready to go to breakfast?" Lily asked, finally catching sight of James and I.
"Yeah." Melody answered, tucking her wand into her shoe and pulling her pant leg down over it.
"How can you walk with your wand in your shoe like that?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow. Melody shrugged.
"Keeps it out of the way I guess."
"May we escort you fine ladies on this fine morning?" James asked, mock bowing in Lily's direction. She scoffed and rolled her eyes, taking Melody's arm in hers.
"Hardly." She said, and they walked away. James stood, looked at me and we both shrugged, taking each others arm and walking after them. Melody and Lily knew we were following them and grinned at each other.
"Pig headed…" Melody scoffed.
"Ill-mannered…" Lily growled
"Pompous brats." they laughed together. James and I looked at each other and shrugged.
"At least we're not a couple of silly girls." James said, tugging on Lily's ponytail. She gasped and whirled around.
"I resent that comment. Every word." Melody grinned at him. James just rolled his eyes and mussed her hair. "But your still Pig headed, Ill-mannered, and pompous. Even Ethan agrees." She said happily.
"Ethan has never liked me." James growled.
"Maybe if you didn't threaten him as much, he might warm up to you." Melody giggled. We continued walking down the stairs in a small group, instead of two separate pairs.
"Who's Ethan?" I asked.
"Melody's muggle boyfriend." James snorted.
"And what's wrong with muggles?" Lily snapped. James pursed his lips.
"Nothing… nothing at all. I was just saying…" James tried to stutter out, but Lily put her hands on her hips.
"I know what you were saying James Potter." Lily glared up at him.
"Wait… boyfriend!" I nearly screeched. Everyone stopped and looked at me. I cleared my throat and scratched behind my ear. "Sorry." I muttered. Lilly sneered and rolled her eyes, continuing the banter with James. I moved to follow them as they walked down the stairs, but a hand on my arm made me look up at Melody. She was smiling, a look of amusement on her face.
"Let them quarrel in peace." She giggled. I smiled up at her and held out my arm. She slipped her hand into the crook of my elbow and we made our way down towards the Grand Hall.
"You realize that's the most contradictory statement I've ever heard." I murmured, looking down at her. She giggled, and looked up into my face, my heart pounding when her sparkling eyes met my own.
"Ms. Potter." We both jumped at the sound of her sure name. Professor McGonagall was making her way towards us from the common room. "Ms. Potter, the Headmaster needs to speak with you right away." She said quietly. Melody nodded, and headed after her. "I suggest you bring Mr. Black with you." I felt a twinge of fear. What could Professor Dumbledore want with the both of us? We walked silently after Professor McGonagall, and when we reached the Headmasters office she swiftly said the password, and ushering us up the spiral staircase. Melody took in a deep breath before she opened the door. We walked into the familiar office. Well. Familiar to me. I suppose I'd been in here more times than any of the teachers. Along with James, Remus, and Peter. "Have a seat." McGonagall said gravely. Albus Dumbledore looked up from his desk and slipped his half moon glasses off his aged face.
"I suppose your wondering why you're here?" He said quietly. Melody gulped, and Dumbledore chuckled. "Your not in trouble dear girl, so you can stop worrying now." Melody relaxed visibly and a small smile touched her lips. Dumbledore waved for us to sit, and we both sat in two of the chairs set around his desk.
"Yes. I am wondering why." Melody answered softly, tucking a leg underneath her.
"I'm afraid I have very bad news to tell you Ms. Potter." Dumbledore put his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together, resting his chin on his fists. I swallowed thickly and put a hand over Melody's, trying to give her some comfort. "You've heard of Tom Riddle have you not?" Melody let out a low hiss, and I sneered at the name.
"I've heard of him. The bastard." Melody growled. Dumbledore gestured for peace. Melody closed her mouth and let her tense shoulders relax.
"You also know that there is a chosen one. The one person prophesized to defeat him." Melody slowly shook her head. I remember the Order talking about this.
"I know." I said suddenly. Three pairs of eyes were on me. "Henry and Charlotte were talking about it one day with James and I." I looked at each one of them. "They said the 'chosen one' would best Voldemort in a final duel to the death." McGonagall reeled slightly at the open use of his name. Melody caught this and smiled softly.
"Fear of the name only fuels the fear of the person Professor." She said methodically, causing Dumbledore to chuckle lightly. I grinned at her and she grinned back.
"Melody, do you realize the gravity of this situation?" McGonagall asked sharply, and she sighed, sitting down wearily on one of the faded settee's. She folded her hands on her lap and stared forlornly at her fingers as she twisted them together. "Things are not going to be the same. He is getting stronger by the day." she spoke vehemently, but I knew there was more of a meaning to her words than just what she was saying.
"I realize this." Melody murmured, her face becoming drawn. "I can sense his power every day, it's like a stench that hangs in the air." Melody stood and walked over to the window, leaning against the stone edge and folding her arms over her chest. I watched her as the action made her look much older than just a fifteen year old girl. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm alone when I feel these things. At the most random of moments I will feel angry, and hatred towards nothing in particular, then when I read of a death in the Daily Prophet, I wonder…" she looked at Dumbledore.
"You are a very perceptive girl." Dumbledore murmured, something more behind his words.
"But nothing more." I stood and walked over to Melody, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You are sensitive to emotions, and you always have been. How many people can know exactly when I need a smack to the back of the head?" I murmured softly. Melody smiled up at me and nodded slowly. But I could see it didn't reach her eyes and she sighed slowly.
"I'm guessing there's a reason to this meeting?" Melody asked looking around me at Dumbledore.
"I think you know." Dumbledore spoke softly. Melody pursed her lips and looked out the window again.
"I'm It aren't I? This Chosen One that will battle Voldemort?" I swallowed back a terrible taste in the back of my throat as Dumbledore nodded.
"But, it can't be her." I denied. Melody slipped her hand into mine and smiled reassuringly.
"It's truly alright Sirius." she whispered, but it wasn't. It couldn't be her. She was too young. Too vulnerable. She couldn't even use magic outside the castle grounds without being expelled!
"She's too young." I shook my head slowly, squeezing her hand. Dumbledore stood, leaning heavily against his desk. "She can't protect herself if someone decides to attack her!" I roared.
"It's terrible of us to ask this of her we know that." he spoke slowly and deliberately. "But think of the other's just like her who will fall prey to Voldemort if we do not do something to stop him. She has gone to Professor Trelawney in these past few months, speaking of dreams that she could not have possible known, for they were things that happened well before her time." it was the most I'd heard him speak since the beginning of the year, when he made his usual speech.
"You're saying it yourself, it's too dangerous!" I moved towards Dumbledore and pounded my fists against his desk. "She's just a child!"
"I realize this Sirius." Dumbledore spoke softly, so quietly that I hardly heard him. "If I could ask anyone else I would…" I turned to look at Melody, my heart wrenching when I saw her furiously trying to keep back tears.
"I think I need a minute." she whispered, and fled from the room. I watched her leave, and knew I should go after her, but I wasn't done yelling at Dumbledore. How dare he ask this of a fifteen year old girl?
"You should go to her Sirius." McGonagall murmured, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Minerva is right." Dumbledore nodded, my anger towards him flaring. "She'll need your strength. I take it you think of her as more than a sister?" I blanched. No. I couldn't. She was a clingy little girl that James and I couldn't wait to get rid of. She was the same girl that played endless pranks on us when we put hair dye in her shampoo. The same girl that was the top of her class, and two years younger than me! She was only a little sister I could be proud of… wasn't she?
"No." I denied his charge. "She's James' little sister. I only see her as that." I confirmed, but it left me uneasy. Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged glances, but didn't say anything more.
"Go on Mr. Black. I'm sure Melody needs someone at the moment." I nodded and headed out the door to find Melody.