Veronica didn't pay all that much attention to Dumbledore as she found the old woman, who handed her a pile of towels, and continued to tend with Longbottom. Walking back, she saw Dumbledore crouching down in front of the tank, and he seemed to be in deep convocation with himself.
Her little sister was on her back, looking at him, her gills and webbed fingers moving gently on the small current she'd created.
She cast her line of sight to Malfoy, who was staring smugly at the tank, No, not the tank, she corrected herself, Missy, he's staring at Missy. And he was. His washed out blue eyes were looking at her with sadness mixed with something else, and there was something odd about him, he seemed too; off guard.
Suddenly she remembered the convocation they'd had about him, and she flinched as she recounted. It was just after she'd gotten the note from Fred, and Missy and been overjoyed, more so than Vee had ever been.
"That's so cute, it's like Romeo and Juliet!"
"No sister, that's your play."
"I… what?"
"You and Mr Hugger, his family would hate you,"
"No, I…"
"Especially his dad. They'll ban you from seeing him, then he'll sneak to see you, and it'll all go downhill from there."
"Cheerful today, aren't you?" she smiled in an off way. "Look, it's not even what you think. There's nothing going on…"
"You swear?"
"I swear there is nothing going on between us right about now"

Well, Missy had sworn, but it looked to the eldest sister that Draco was no way inclined to make that promise. Vee knew Malfoy, they'd been friends in the first and second year – when she didn't know that Missy and her were related by a quarter – and before Malfoy had called Granger a Mudblood, then she'd given him a mouthful and left. She knew what he was like, and she also knew what he was and wasn't capable of.
She shivered, staying out of view, he'd hurt her. The mask he always wore proved it, Missy had constantly told her whilst Malfoy and Vee had been friends that he was unhappy, so he'd do drastic things to make himself feel loved.
Vee had complained and told her that he wasn't unhappy, and he could love anyone he wanted, but Missy had shaken her head. "He needs someone to care for him. That's not what you're doing. You're staying with him because it stops people targeting you, and I don't blame you for that. But I'm managing with being a target," she'd pulled aside her shirt to show her shoulder, where four long bruises like fingers had been forced into her skin. She'd quickly covered them up before anyone else could see.
"He will get over himself; he just needs to find someone he cares about enough to let them help him out"

Looked to Vee as though he'd found the one to let help him. She shook her hair back and tried to hide her emotions, even though she struggled with it, and walked quickly over to Malfoy, placing the towels on a nearby bed and tossing him one. "Thanks, Night." he muttered, not looking at her; his eyes still glued on Missy, who was now doing happy little flips, and making Dumbledore laugh.
"Nice, isn't she?" asked Vee, nodding to her sister, Draco didn't have time to catch himself.
"Yeah, she's so… shit!" he gasped and whirled on Veronica, who was trying not to smile, or frown.
"Why would I like a traitor like that?" he demanded angrily, trying to cover his mistakes, but Vee wasn't taking that; his mistakes were gonna be out in the open, even if it killed them both.
"I can see the way you look at her Malfoy, and I see the way she looks at you. I'm not blind"
"I'm hoping your sister is." he looked at his feet, shuffling them, and playing with his fingers.
"But you don't want that, do you?" The eldest sister couldn't believe she was trying to set her baby sister up with her ex best friend, but if it helped them both; she'd do it with all she could.
"Who would?" he muttered, and Vee could feel a smile under her mask. She'd never seen him like this; it was sort of, sweet. He was caring for someone, he was dropping the mask for her, and even gave her a hug; maybe he wasn't all that bad.
"Ugh, I can't believe I'm saying this" she grumbled, feeling disgust rise in her stomach, but she tried to swallow it down. "You've gotta get with my sister."
"I, wait – what?" Draco freaked out.
"You heard me, don't make me say it again boy" she grabbed his shoulders and pushed him towards the huge fish tank, of which Dumbledore was still talking to. Missy had her legs crossed and was floating, as though in meditation, but she was clicking like Draco had never heard before.
She pushed him hard in the back, and he skidded up to the tank, and smashed into it, shaking the water; knocking Missy off balance. He put his hands on the glass, trying to steady it, and failing; feeling self-conscious and Vee shook her head behind him.
"Ah, Mr Malfoy; just the man I need." Said Dumbledore, standing up, Malfoy shoved his hands in his pockets. "Sir?"
"It seems that young Miss Night can understand me, but alas, I cannot understand her. So, do you know who did this to her?" he waited whilst Draco thought. 'No' was the short answer to the headmaster; he hadn't an idea who could've done that to Missy.
But he did have his suspicions about Pansy, she hated her, and it seemed like something she'd do. Breathing deep, and keeping his eyes averted from Missy's painful gaze, He replied "Pansy Parkinson, sir."
Missy gave a muted gasp, and Draco could plainly see the shock on her face out the fringe of his vision. Dumbledore considered his words "Why would Miss Parkinson do a thing like this?" Draco flapped around in his head.
"Well" he said coolly, despite the chaos in his head. "She hates her, and I've often heard her talking about how she was going to teach her a lesson about her treason"
"Treason?" Asked Dumbledore reproachfully. Draco tried to be respectful, because he knew that Missy liked him. "I, err… don't think she likes the fact she talks and is friends with the other houses."
"Ahh" said Dumbledore, understandingly. Before turning on his heels and leaving, but not before saying "Thank you Mr Malfoy, if you could look after Miss Night until Madam Pomfrey gets back, I'm sure she'll be grateful for some company in this awful time."
He motioned to Veronica, who was stood smiling sadly at her sister. "Miss Kelly? Could you come with me please, I need to see you in my office." With a tight nod, Vee followed the headmaster out, and Missy cooed sadly to her.

"And now she's a fish!" Jessica finished, and the group around them burst into laughter, all except Hermione, who frowned in worry. "Really, that's horrible!" Fred and George were in tears of laughter, and rolling around on the floor. Hermione picked up her book and beat them with it "Oh would you two stop laughing?"
Fred and George didn't stop, but Ron grinned. "Oh come off it Hermione, its funny!" he said, and she stuck her tongue out at him. They were the only ones in the common room, and were in a small huddle around the fire.
"We've got go and see her" said Fred
"Yeah, we could take her some chips!" Jessica elbowed George, and he grinned, wrapping an arm around her waist. "C'mon guys! You gotta learn to take a joke." Amy fell against Ron, who hesitated, before hugging her, his ears going red. Hermione studied them, and shrugged, before standing up; taking her book with her.
"I'm off to bed, we have a test tomorrow! I've been studying for weeks; I really don't want to fail, unlike you guys!" She waved to them as she went up the stairs,
"Aww does poor ickle ronniekins have a test tomorrow?"
"Maybe you're ickle girlfriend can help you" George put in.
"She'll do more than help" Laughed Fred, and George punched his arm. Ron went red, but Amy seemed unfazed. "How long have you two been dating?" inquired Ginny.
"Oh we're not" – Ron argued
"A while" – Amy put in
- "We're dating?"
- "Wait, we're not?" they both stared at each other.

"Right, everybody move out then, this is gonna be awkward; and knowing Amy, it'll have a few punches." Fred and George stood up, dragging Jessica with him; George kissed her, before pushing her off to the stairs. "Cya later Jess!" confused and red in the face, she stumbled dizzily up the steps.

"A fish?" Harry repeated, following his girlfriend Ginny, and she whispered,
"We'll have to visit her tomorrow" He nodded, hugged her, and they went their separate ways; leaving Amy and Ron to argue over whether or not they were dating.

Missy laughed as the twins stepped into the hospital wing, carrying a bowl filled with chips, and in on hand they held a bottle of vinegar. "Hello Missy, wow" said Fred, his eyes widening at the sight of her. She clicked and cooed, holding her hand out of the water.
They walked closer and grabbed her hand. She tipped something sparkling into George's hand, and when he looked; he realised they were scales. "This is going to be one hell of an experiment… by the way, your hair looks better brown Miss" he grinned, and they all seemed to laugh.

The water dropped horribly cold when it got dark, and Missy'd fallen asleep in an odd position. Her now brown hair billowed and floated around her face towards the surface, much longer than ever before – if she stood up, it would reach the back of her knees – (it seemed as though fish people's hair grew fast; who knew?), and her pale blue face was almost hidden behind the strands.
Her butt was touching the bottom of the tank, and her legs and arms were held upwards with the water, her short skirt, striped socks, tie, robes and shirt holding her down.
Draco watched her from a hospital bed, feeling rage towards Parkinson, who had done this to her. To distract himself from his murderous thoughts, he thought about what Veronica had said; and he smiled at the possibilities.

Weeks passed, and Missy's condition remained the same. She often swam lengths, or slept; but being in the water depressed her, so she grew unhappy with the life of a fish. After the final of the ink colour left her hair, she grew more and more agitated. Blowing bubbles bored her, and Ron's constant tapping on the glass gave her a headache.
The only two people who watched what they did, and they were Hermione Granger and of course, Draco.
Lessons presumed, and it went through to December, and occasionally Missy had to scratch the ice off the walls, after a while nobody visited her. Even worse, Jess was neglecting her feeding duties. She'd overheard Madam Pomfrey telling the headmaster that she wasn't able to find a cure. Falling away inside herself, she was often curled up with her knees to her chest; huddled in the corner.
"A week before the dance" she moaned to herself, breathing out a sigh of bubbled and swimming up to the surface of the water, touching it with her fingers; drawing patterns.
"It would have been the closest we ever got to a date" A sudden urge filled her, and the overhead lights shimmering on the surface. I wonder what would happen if I go into the air? I haven't been out this water for ages… I suppose it can't hurt me. Taking an unnecessary breath through her gills, she pushed her face out the water, her skin shimmered and tingled, and her lips parted in relief.
"Finally" she breathed happily, closing her eyes, bringing her body up to float too.

Draco came bustling into the hospital wing In the early hours of the morning, carrying a can of coke, hoping she could find a way to drink it; and some food. He'd managed to sneak into the kitchen at one, and was now hurrying towards the tank. He stopped in confusion, unable to understand the odd feeling settling in the atmosphere.
He cast a glance at the tank, and dropped the food to the floor with a clatter, before falling to his knees. "OH MY GOD," He yelled in pain and horror, "SHE'S GONE BELLY UP!" He wrapped his arms around himself, and stared at the floor, he could almost feel his heart shattering inside his chest, splintering his ribs and lungs; making it hard to breathe.
Missy was dead, she shouldn't breath air, it would kill her, and it had done. He hadn't even told her anything, and now she was gone and for the first time in god knows how long; he cried.

Missy tore her eyes open slowly, and took a quiet gurgling gasp, touching her neck in shock. She could breathe again, and after raising her hand; she realised that she had her normal skin back. Over joyed, she pushed herself into standing position, barely aware of the sound of sobbing not too far away. Beaming wildly, she turned to the door; sun shining onto her face.
Her smile fell, and she saw Draco, curled into a tight ball where he'd collapsed. Shocked and with a slight worry deep inside her, she went under the water, the salt stinging her eyes, before thrusting her body upwards and onto the ledge; swinging her legs over either side to stay balanced. With the light feet of a dancer, she hopped down, her brown hair plastered to her face and her mascara running down her cheeks.
Although she'd been in ice like water for so long now, she still seemed to feel the cold as it wrapped itself around her wrists and pierced into her blood stream. Shivering and pushing her hair back, she made her way uneasily towards Draco, Kneeling down in front of him.

A pair of long and slender legs came into Draco Malfoy's view, covered with sopping wet green and black socks. A cold finger was placed under his chin, and guided his head upwards, so his eyes met those of a smiling girl, of who was happy. And alive.
Her face was pale and as smooth as ever, and she looked just like he remembered, except for the fact she now had a light brown hair colour, with red and chocolate streaks. He wondered how that worked, but then decided it didn't matter, because he liked it, it made her look softer.
The only other difference was that her hair was now straggled behind her back to just below her knees, and she had deep grey bags under her eyes from the lack of sleep. Excited and happy beyond belief, he threw his arms around her with a joyous cry, and she laughed as they fell onto the floor, hugging him back.
"Draco!" she said his name for the first time, and an odd feeling pulsed through him. He pulled his face from her hair and rested his forehead to hers, breathing hard. "Yeah Missy?" he asked in a rough voice, his fingers holding her close. "I'm soaking wet, I'm gonna ruin your shirt" She managed to say, astonished by the sudden contact. He laughed and hugged her again, rocking them from side to side, hopeful for the first time in weeks. "You know what?"
"What?"
"I'm looking forward to this dance." Missy giggled in his ear, her soft warm breath playing and blowing in his hair. He smiled despite himself. "Me too" he touched her hair and said, "By the way, I like the colour"