Chapter Two

I ran a hand over my pet cat, Mia. She was a White Persian Angora bred from some of the most talented caretakers in the wizarding world. Lydia had gifted her to me on my eighth birthday and she had proved a loyal pet since. She may have been lazy and quite parvenu for a cat, but I loved her all the same. I ran my manicured nails behind her ears and listened to the sweet purr coming from her. She wore a white thin collar around her neck that was embellished with diamonds. I couldn't resist enjoying a lavish lifestyle after my upbringing with the Taylor's and it seemed neither could my cat.

"And then Astoria did it, and he didn't even care!" Daphne exclaimed. I returned my attention to her story from over the summer.

"The blessing of being the younger sibling." I said as my hands continued to run over Mia.

Daphne Greengrass. She had been one of my oldest and truest friends and was a part of my earliest memories while I was growing up. Being a part of the prestigious pure-blood society, our families saw each other often and Lydia was close with her mother. She had stronger views on blood status than I did and I suppose that was owing to the fact she actually was a pure-blood. Nevertheless, she was one of the kindliest and well spirited pure-bloods I had ever met. We had each other's back every year at Hogwarts and I expected this year to be the same. Admittedly, she had my back more than I had hers, as I was the one to cop prejudice comments in the halls. Not to mention, I was far wimpier than she was.

Her diamond clad hand reached over to pet Mia. "Besides that incident, it wasn't too bad. Can't say I'll miss them this year though. They've been so strict lately, even with the tiniest things. It drove me senseless over the summer."

I hummed in agreement. "I don't know what has Lydia and Ezra so on edge, but it was like walking on eggshells the past two months. Even if I slammed a door loudly, they'd lose it."

"Maybe things are tense at the Ministry," Daphne wondered. Her father was also involved in similar operations as Ezra - to our belief at least. "I mean... especially since the attack at the Cup." She said carefully, knowing anything on the topic of Death Eaters and You-Know-Who was sensitive around me.

"It will keep them busy, that's for sure." I said halfheartedly.

"Anyway! How was the quidditch? You know, besides the riot." She said, trying to uplift the mood in our compartment.

"It was quidditch, I guess." I shrugged. "We had nice seats, but the group Ezra sat us with was hard to tolerate."

"Let me guess, Ministry this- Muggle that-" Daphne weighed.

I nodded with a giggle and looked out the window while Daphne began another summer story. The scenery whooshed by in streaks of colour and I longed to be in the fine weather than this stuffy compartment. I was anticipating a rough start to the year at Hogwarts. Ezra had warned me that people may question the riot. The scent of smoke from the camp grounds was still lingering in my nose. The vision of tents collapsing into embers and people's belongings scattered everywhere on the grounds just as vivid. The screams had kept me awake for the rest of that night. It wasn't a memory I wanted to recall and I was dreading the moment someone would confront me in the halls.

Ezra had even marveled they might think I organized the riot. Lydia had been angry at the comment, but it did plant a couple cringe scenarios in my imagination. Thankfully the Ministry had completely dismissed the idea that 14-year-old me was leading an army of Death Eaters, but it still wouldn't seize the rumors between gossip ridden students. I sighed, knowing I just had to tolerate it until the fad faded. Tucking a strand of hair behind my pierced ear, I looked down at Mia resting peacefully in my lap. At least someone was having a pleasant time.

"Mel?" Daphne's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

"Did you listen to anything I just said," she tilted her head skeptically at me, a small indent between her brows.

I pulled on a sheepish smile. "Can you please repeat it?"

She shook her head. "Never mind, it wasn't important." She dismissed and then looked at me cynically with her round brown eyes. "Are you… okay?"

My eyes focused on the smudges of colour outside the window again. "Yeah," I said tiredly, "I will be. I'm just not looking forward to the jinxes headed my way this year."

She turned to me seriously now, elbow perched on the cushion top and hand supporting the back of her head. "Melody, everyone knows you had nothing to do with it. As far as we all know, he's gone and they were just drunk followers who hated Muggles and the like."

It wasn't the strongest theory, she never was the brightest witch, but I was grateful for Daphne's comfort. "Thanks Daph," I forced a closed-mouth smile. Mia meowed beneath my hands as I stopped petting her. "I wonder who will be taking Defense this year, have you heard anything?" My hands returned to grooming my spoilt pet.

She shook her head, "I'll miss Professor Lupin, he made class fun. I actually enjoyed going."

"Maybe Snape will finally have his dream come true," I remarked.

"I need all the extra marks I can get in Potions so hopefully not." Daphne said. It wasn't a secret about how Snape always did favor Slytherin's.

"You could do with those extra marks in D.A.D.A," I mentioned smartly. Daphne wasn't the most talented witch when it came to anything practical. She was better at the theoretical classes or should I say she was better at surmising a Ravenclaw to do her theoretical work. In contrast, I was more gifted in magic and failed anything that required me to have a quill in my hand. I enjoyed reading – losing myself in poetry was one of my favourite past times and how I spent most of my summer. But textbooks were my weakness and any subject that required copious amounts of reading most likely had me failing. The words would just stare at me arrogantly on the page while I struggled to pull meaning from them. Hermione had considered I may be partly dyslexic.

The compartment door slid open to reveal an arrogant looking Malfoy with his goons Crabbe and Goyle behind him. "Ladies," he addressed us.

"Malfoy," I sighed in greeting.

"How was your summer?" Daphne asked as he entered the compartment and sat opposite us, his goons either side of him.

"Splendid, Greengrass. Father took us to us to the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy and then we stayed in our Manor in Monaco."

"The food in Italy is my favourite," Daphne commented as she leant forward and settled her chin in her hand.

"The wine is mine," he smirked and our eyes both widened.

"How much gold did that cost you?" I exasperated. The Malfoy's were a remarkably powerful family. They easily avoided the law if they put their hands deep enough in their pockets.

"Enough to get me legless for the first time." He recounted as he happily cast his eyes out the window.

"I had a sip of my dad's firewhisky on his birthday," Daphne's face screwed up in disgust, "I don't understand how people drink that stuff."

"Father has been on it almost every night. I think work has him stressed out or some shit." He said.

I looked at him with curious narrow eyes. That was interesting to hear considering what Daphne had said before. It eased me a little to know Ezra wasn't the only Ministry Official being overworked. Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini then slid open the door and joined us. They nodded in greeting and Daphne and I shuffled further down the seat to make room. There was no way they would squeeze onto Malfoy's side with his two oversized loafs taking up space. Mia jumped off my lap and curled between my feet. My cheek was now inches from the window glass as I attempted to make myself comfortable in the compact spot.

"How was the Cup, Draco?" Blaise asked as he made himself comfortable.

"Brilliant," his eyes sparkled and a nasty smirk enveloped his face. "Even better when the Mudblood's were terrorized." Crabbe and Goyle laughed, giving Malfoy a look of pure awe.

I focused my attention on Mia between my feet, her sparkling collar catching the light cascading through the window, as Malfoy and Blaise began to talk Quidditch. Daphne seemed to have lost interest too and was picking at her nails in boredom.

"Did you know Krum goes to Durmstrang? Father considered taking me there. He knows their Headmaster and well, you know his opinion on Dumblebore." He trailed. "Durmstrang has standards as well, they don't allow crap into their school."

"Don't they teach Dark Arts at Durmstrang?" Nott queried and Malfoy nodded.

"Not the defensive bullshit we do."

"Well we'll be sharing quarters with them this year," Blaise said as he flexed his fingers.

"I'm going to enter," Malfoy said animatedly as he sat straighter. "I've got the brilliance, the skills and the courage to be champion."

"You weren't so brave at the World Cup," I muttered and unfortunately he heard me.

"Want to say that again, Taylor?" He snapped with furrowed eyebrows. "As if I wanted to waste my time defending Muggles. It had nothing to do with fear."

Blaise looked at me inquisitively. "You were in the riot, Melody?"

I gulped nervously, "I observed it."

"But she wasn't involved," Daphne added.

"I never accused she was, just a question." Blaise countered as he and Daphne made eyes with each other.

"No, I hid in the trees with Malfoy." I smirked at Malfoy narrowing his eyes at me. Whether he wanted to help the Muggles or not, he still hid away from the Death Eaters.

"Wonder what would happen if they saw you," Nott thought aloud twiddling his thumbs.

"I choose to not think about it."

"Why will we be housing Durmstrang students?" Daphne asked, moving back to Blaise's initial conversation.

"The Triwizard Tournament," Blaise said casually. He shifted to make himself more comfortable and swung an arm to rest on the seat behind Daphne.

The lunch trolley came past and Daphne bought us simple sandwiches. Bland, almost dry bread sat either side of a slice of salty ham and fresh salad. I chewed on mine, ripping a piece of bread off for Mia who mewed gratefully. I tried to ignore the uncouth way Crabbe was munching on his food across from me, crumbs flying from his mouth and sprawling over her chest. We were nearing Hogwarts now and before I knew it I would be settling into my dorm.

"Will you enter?" Daphne asked Blaise as she picked at her sandwich.

He shook his head. "No way. People die in those things."

"Wouldn't want to harm the money-maker, would you?" I teased. Blaise was as cocky as Malfoy when it came to his looks, but acted nowhere near superior as he did. That was what made him more bearable to be around.

He smirked, "and yourself, Taylor? Will you be chasing the Champion title?"

I laughed. Ezra had mentioned it briefly to me before during the summer, but all I cared about was that we would get time out of classes watching them compete. "Ask me again when I have a death wish."

Malfoy finished off his tomato tart and stood up, clapping his hands together to free the crumbs. "Let's go, I'm bored." He ordered his cronies and they filed out of the compartment licking their fingers. Blaise and Nott shifted to the now available space across from us and we all readjusted into more liberating positions. My back now leant on the window, a leg tucked onto the seat and my other one swinging free. Mia jumped up to fill the space between Daphne and I.

Nott and Blaise started sharing stories from their summer holidays. Daphne was enthusiastically involved while I spent the rest of the train journey smothered in my own thoughts. I tried to keep my mind from thinking about the World Cup riots and how they would impact me at Hogwarts, but it was useless. Instead, I envisioned how to respond and started to already prepare my defensive speeches. Everything I played in my mind kept resulting in a negative outcome and I started to dread returning to school.

"We'll be at Hogwarts soon," Nott spoke, his big blue eyes cast out the window.

"We should get into our robes," Daphne said to me and I nodded, picking up my hand carry bag and following her through the train. Turns out everyone else had the same idea and we found ourselves in line for the ladies. I wasn't seeking anything in particular when I started to survey the area until my eyes accidentally met warm grey ones and I noticed the sixth year Hufflepuff prefect, Cedric Diggory. He was shuffling past the long line, having just changed into his golden robes. He noticed the eye contact and smiled at me slightly. I politely returned a small toothless one back. We had spoken once before in second year when Lukas Irwin accused me of being a murderer; Cedric stood up for me, I would never forget it. Half the school was in uproar believing I commanded a monster to petrify Muggle borns. Turns out it was You-Know-Who's memory trapped in a diary. That was a tough couple of months for me. My eyes stayed glued to Cedric as he disappeared into one of the Hufflepuff compartments.

"Cute, isn't he?" Daphne smirked and I rolled my eyes. We hadn't been interested in boys until the end of last year. Madam Pomfrey's sexual education lessons were right when she said hormones hit like a Knight Bus. Eventually, the line kept moving and Daphne and I soon found ourselves returning to our compartment, donning our green and silver robes.


The weather made it feel later than it was. The sky restlessly grumbled while a heavy downpour slammed against the ground. I hesitantly stepped off the train, in seconds my robes were sodden and my hair wet. The world blurred and I squinted hard trying to see Daphne through the hammering rain. Mia struggled between my arm and side, trying to snuggle for more warmth under my robes. She immediately looked like a drowned rat. Defeated, I walked to the horseless carriages alone and provided my name for Professor Flitwick.

"I wouldn't want to cross the lake in this weather," I heard Hermione say behind me as she gazed out to the first years lining by Hagrid.

I sniffed, the weather was already getting to me. I saw Pansy sitting in one of the carriages with Millicent, she was complaining deafeningly about her robes getting wet. Millicent uselessly tried to shield her from the rain with her arms only to be batted away from Pansy. "You're making it harder to see!" She squeaked. I climbed up onto their carriage shivering. It was even worse sitting on wet seats. Water was freely running down my face as I tried to blink my sight clear. "Who is that?" Her nasally voice shouted, "Taylor?"

"Evening, Parkinson." I said above the sound of splashing. I pulled my drenched robes closer, but it didn't make me warmer. I should have worn more layers.

"Why isn't this thing moving!? Let's go!" Pansy screamed with animated arms. She was like a spoilt princess having a tantrum.

Pansy Parkinson and I weren't the closest of pals, nothing like Daphne and I, but she was tolerable enough to sit with in classes. She was the typical bully, putting others down to put herself up and over the years I had grown used to her constant displays of hate. It seemed the feeling was mutual. I looked over at her trusty lapdog beside her, Millicent Bulstrode, who wasn't bothered by the weather. Daphne and Nott came running up to the carriage and he climbed up, giving Daphne a hand after. Once they sat down the carriage started to move and the roof above us closed.

"Finally!" Pansy's voice rung through the storm.

Even though the rain was no longer pelting down on us I was still freezing. Mia wiggled out of my arms and shook herself dry. Nott pulled out his wand and tapped it to produce a Hot-Air Charm. Immediately the carriage filled with warmth. I pulled out my wand and replicated the Charm towards myself and then Mia. It didn't dry me completely, my robes were still relatively damp, but it helped calm my shivering.

"Oh, do me!" Daphne chirped since she lacked skill in the Charms department. Nott cast it over her and she closed her eyes happily as she relished the warm air.

"Hmph, not good enough." Pansy whined as she kept tapping her wand on herself.

"Let me," I said and cast the spell with more patience. I watched as her wet frizzy hair began to relax with dryness. Charms was my best class at Hogwarts and I found them the most useful during day-to-day operations so I spent more time practicing them than others. Most students preferred bigger spells they learnt in Defense Against the Dark Art's, but Ezra always taught me to master the basics before rushing to try tackle a huge spell.

The ride was long with the muddy wet ground slowing the carriages down. Once we reached the castle we all climbed out and headed for the entrance. I was following Daphne and Nott when I noticed a large yellow water bomb fly towards us. It went straight for Daphne's shoulder, soaking her again and she turned, fearfully at first, and then angry at the realisation. Another one dived near us and I could hear McGonagall's voice ringing through the air at the perpetrator.

"Peeves, come down here at once!" She yapped and I pushed Daphne by her shoulders into the Great Hall before she could yell at the ghost.


Silence swathed the room as we all watched Professor McGonagall lead the first years in. We quietly watched the Sorting Ceremony and listened to the Sorting Hat's yearly song. I was seated beside Daphne and across from two of my next closest friends, Payton Miles and Faye Harper. They quietly snickered over a joke as they listened to the Sorting Hat. Pansy was to my right with Millicent on the other side of her while the boys filled up the next space. We were all eyeing the delicious meals in front of us and soon after the Sorting Hat finished singing we dug in.

"Did you see how pretty the horses were from Beauxbatons?" Faye's eyes shone as she recounted seeing the other schools arrivals.

"They weren't just any normal horses," Payton said matter-of-factedly. "They were winged horses."

"They flew in!" Faye bounced.

"I suppose if half the sky wasn't falling down we would have seen," Daphne huffed.

"They nearly took out Hagrid," Faye laughed as she cut into her juicy chicken.

"Too bad they didn't," a familiar voice drawled further down. "I can't believe that gargantuan oaf is still teaching classes after his stupid chicken tried to kill me last year."

"Too bad that didn't." Daphne said under her breath so only Payton, Faye and myself heard. We shared a quiet giggle as we continued on with our meals.

"Now that we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement." Dumbledore's voice rang through the Great Hall and chatter between the Houses began to fade. I placed my knife and fork down and dabbed a napkin against my lips. "This castle will not only be your home this year, but home to some very special guests as well." I looked over at Blaise who was watching Dumbledore intently. "You see Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event." His voice drawled. "The Triwizard Tournament."

A murmur of excited whispers suddenly lifted in the room and student's heads were moving excitedly at their friends.

"To those of you who do not know, the tournament brings together three different schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single student is selected to compete. Let me be clear," he then eyed the room carefully. "If chosen, you stand alone and trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint hearted."

I leant over towards where Malfoy was listening keenly. "I guess that rules you out, Malfoy." I flashed a fake smile and he threw me a cheesy smirk before looking back at the headmaster with his nose up in the air.

"Please join me in welcoming our guest schools, the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and our friends from the North, the proud sons of Durmstrang."

First, rows of beautiful girls filed into the Grand Hall, swaying and sighing at us before starting to run delicately to the front. The boys around us all sat up trying to catch a view of the gorgeous debutante's. Pansy's shoulders slumped as she watched Malfoy admire them. Daphne, Payton, Faye and I shared envious looks at eachother. I had never felt uglier.

The tables then turned as the Durmstrang boys entered with an air of confidence. They slammed their staves on the ground and broke into sprints. Gasps emitted from all of us as we fought to get a view. I stood up slightly, as did Daphne, and watched as the Bulgarian seeker from the Quidditch World Cup strode in. My, he was handsome up close. One of the boys then blew a fiery phoenix off the top of their staff and I realised just how little magic I was capable of.

"Dibs curly," Payton announced.

"I want phoenix man," Faye sighed as she lent on her hand.

After introductions, the Durmstrang boys seated themselves at the end of the Slytherin table and the Beauxbatons joined the Ravenclaws. Dessert started to appear on the plates in front of us and my brown eyes lit up happily.

"My favourite part of the day," I chimed as I leaned over to grab a salted caramel sundae.

Faye picked a strawberry off her ice cream and sucked on it. "Okay so my goal this year is to bag phoenix man." She mumbled with the strawberry between her lips. Faye was never shy to express her affections towards the opposite sex.

"Help me get curly and it's a done deal," Payton jested.

"Hey Taylor," I looked up to see a fifth year that I didn't know the name of addressing me. "Nice attack after the World Cup," he grinned and I felt my ears redden beneath my brown locks. "Orchestrate that one all by yourself?"

"Shut up, Sutton." Payton sneered, thankfully knowing the guy for me.

I looked shamefully down at my sundae, suddenly losing my appetite. How long had I been at Hogwarts for? Maybe two hours? Plus that was just a Slytherin, the other Houses would have a lot worse to say. Sutton laughed and I was very aware of all the eyes around me watching, waiting for me to say something.

"Your attention, please." Dumbledore called again, bringing everyone's eyes back to him. A weight lifted off my shoulders as they turned their heads to him. "I would like to say a few words. Eternal glory," anyone who hadn't been listening was definitely listening now. "That is what awaits the winner of the Triwizard Tournament. But in order to be crowned champion, you must complete three tasks. Three very dangerous tasks."

A confused expression broke on my face. Who would be so desperate to admit themselves into such a tournament?

"For this reason, the Ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule." An Official from the Ministry stood from his seat behind Dumbledore and began to walk to the front. "To explain all of this we have Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Mr. Bartemius Crouch."

A crack of thunder came from the magical ceiling and I ducked thinking it was about to pour rain. Luckily a figure in the corner calmed it down with a quick jab from his wand. I sat up straighter to see the saviour and my heart thundered to see it was Mad Eye Moody. I had heard many stories about him and how he was notorious for his works as an Auror. An uncomfortable feeling tugged at my gut and never left as I watched Dumbledore greet him.

"After due consideration, the Ministry has decided that for their own safety no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the Triwizard tournament, this decision is final." The room was in uproar, particularly from the men of the Houses. Malfoy was half standing up and shouting colourful words of abuse along with several other Slytherin men.

"Silence!" Dumbeldore's voice boomed off the walls and everyone quietened. Once the room stilled, he moved his wand to reveal a majestic and large goblet. It's gold glistened under the candles that floated above with intricate carvings adorning it's base. Blue fire eminated at the top and danced vividly in our view. I was amazed to say the least. "The Goblet of Fire," he introduced and my eyes sparkled. "Anyone wishing to submit themselves into the tournament, merely write their name of a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly, if chosen... there's no turning back."


Mia slept peacefully on my pillow as I magically unpacked my bags. I shared a dorm with Daphne, Pansy, Millicent and Tracey Davis. Tracey always kept to herself, but I had a strong feeling she didn't like to associate with me in particular because of her Muggle mother and beliefs. Behind my back, Daphne, Payton and Faye tried to explain to her that I was nothing like him and probably hated him more than anyone else did. It was hard for me to discuss my feelings on the subject with anyone. The only one I truly opened up to about it was Harry, because he had a level of understanding no one else did.

I wanted to hate him. I wanted to feel a deep disgust and despise the thought of him. And as much as it chilled my bones to think about the monster everyone described him to be, I couldn't. I would never admit that to anyone. He had brought me to this world, he had given me life. But it wasn't just owing to that reason that I couldn't despise him. I wanted to know why. Why was I born? What purpose did I serve? My heart felt strained as the thoughts of my birth father plagued my mind. Ezra and Lydia were exceptionally quiet on the topic. Lydia preferred to never mention it and Ezra would dance around the topic. They told me nothing about it. I was determined to believe that there was another side to him. Maybe I was biased, I was his daughter after all.

Tracey quietly exited the bathroom and sat on her bed, immediately drawing the green thick curtains down and avoiding eye contact with me. I may have wanted to know him, but I was steadfast to be nothing like him. My views on blood status were not like other pure-blood Slytherins. I would never consider a non-magic being as anything less than human, it was not their fault they were born without magic. When Hermione had discovered my belief she was shocked, but if she had been raised and heard about how cruel and malevolent he was, she would most likely adopt opposing views as well. I didn't want to be cruel and malevolent. I just wanted to be me.

Daphne then exited the bathroom and nodded to me, letting me know it was my turn to unpack my toiletries and makeup. I levitated all my products to my designated shelf in the marble built bathroom and then brushed my teeth. I observed myself in the mirror for a moment. My dark brown hair fell down in relaxed, layered waves. They framed my pointed face and made my pearly cream skin look even lighter than it really was. Thick lashes bordered my eyes, the colour of dampened soil in the summer, and I secretly wondered if I had inherited my eyes from my mother or him. After the war, all images were disposed of him and it left me having no clue who I resembled. I finally spit the minty paste out and wiped a soft towel over my plump lips.

The girls had all drawn their curtains and were in bed when I returned. I pulled mine across and stripped into my black silky pyjamas. Lydia had bought them when we last went school shopping and this was the first time I was going to sleep in them. I nestled my head on my cushiony pillow and felt Mia's feathery body as she curled up beside me. Sleep took a hold of me quickly as I imagined what the next year would bring.


Yawn! I know guys, so much plot setting up and I hate shoe-horning movie/book scenes in, but it's all important for the plot when it comes to Melody. This chapter's not my favourite out of the ones I have written so far, but hopefully you enjoyed! Tell me what you think in the reviews. Thank you for reading xx