Draco's New Lover
Chapter 9: An Unexpected Letter
Draco lay there, holding Melissa. Her breathing was still ragged from crying. Melissa was trying not to fall asleep but it was a losing battle. They had to get back to classes tomorrow and she was worried that if she fell asleep here she wouldn't wake up until tomorrow. She hadn't slept well for the past week. "You're allowed to go to sleep if you want. You look tired" Melissa looked up at him smiled but shook her head. "If I go to sleep feeling like this, I'll probably sleep until tomorrow. It's not very usual for me to go to sleep feeling safe." Draco smiled. "How about you go to sleep and I'll wake you up half an hour before dinner so you can get ready okay?" He asked Melissa smiled and nodded before getting comfortable in Draco's arms. Just before going to sleep she murmured, "Night Draco. I love you" She would've sat up and clapped her hand over her mouth if she hadn't been so tired. She hadn't meant to say the last bit. Draco smiled. He kissed the top of her head and murmured into her hair. "I love you too Melissa" Melissa had only just heard what he said before drifting off to sleep.
Draco looked at the sleeping girl in his arms. So much had happened to her and yet she still had the ability to smile and love. She really was amazing. Draco was still wondering how he had gotten her. But now that he had her, he would protect her. She looked so vulnerable like this. As he was thinking that last thought there was a knock on the door. He felt Melissa tense up next to him so he stroked her hair and made soothing sounds. After a few seconds she relaxed again. Draco walked over the door and opened it to find his godfather standing there. "Sorry to interrupt but id Melissa in here?" Draco nodded but put a finger to his lip to tell Snape to be quieter. Snape raised a quizzical eyebrow but nodded.
Draco let him in and Snape smiled at the sight. "Funny isn't it. I came to give her a sleeping potion. She said she's been having trouble getting to and staying asleep, and then when I go to give her the potion she's asleep. A sound came from the sleeping girl almost a whimper. Her breathing pattern changed and sweat started to immerge on her forehead. Draco went over to her and stroked her hair. She calmed down a little bit but not much. "Shh, it's okay Melissa, you're safe" Melissa sat up and looked terrified. Draco reached for her but she whimpered when he close. "Melissa what's wrong?" Melissa looked around frantically. "Draco?" She asked. Draco was confused. He was sitting right in front of her, so why was she asking if he was there. "You shouldn't be here. It's not safe for you. They'll hurt you" Melissa sounded scared. No not scared, she sounded terrified. Draco looked at Snape and asked hi, "Snape, what's happening?" Snape walked over and looked at her. He waved a hand in front of her face and she moved up against the headboard. "If I'm correct, she's having a night terror. She can hear us, but we're other people in her mind and instead of being here in bead she's somewhere else. These are extremely hard to get out of as your mind confuses dreams with reality" Snape made it sound as if it were obvious.
Melissa trembled and whimpered. She clamped her mouth shut but it didn't completely stop the scream from exiting her mouth. It just made it quieter. A cut appeared on Melissa's chest. Snape looked confused. "This usually doesn't happen, I think we might need to wake her up." Draco nodded and took hold of Melissa. It didn't help that she was thrashing against him. "Melissa, you need to wake up. This isn't real. You're safe; you're here with me in Hogwarts. You're brother and sister are here as well. Wake up Melissa." She started to calm down. "You don't understand Draco" Both adults looked at her. "What don't I understand?" He asked her confused. "I can't get out. I'm not allowed to" Draco and Snape looked at each other. "Yes you can, you're asleep. You can wake up." He said soothingly. "NO! That's what you don't understand. I'm not asleep." Draco looked at her. She took a deep breath in then looked around. She was breathing as if she had just run a marathon. "Thank god" She said quietly as she leaned against the headboard.
Snape looked at her. "Melissa, what did you mean when you said you weren't asleep?" Melissa looked at him. "I mean I wasn't asleep. I mean I was, but apparently our Lord has had a bad day. I don't exactly know how he does it, but it's as if, my body is taken to 2 places at once ad whatever happened to one body happens to the other. Which is why I could still hear you guys. I wanted the sleeping potion because I can modify it to stop him from being able to access my mind while I sleep." Snape nodded and handed her the potion. "Just be careful," He said as she took it from him. "Oh don't worry, I've been making this for three years. It works a lot better though, when a pro has made the sleeping potion. It makes it a lot easier." Snape nodded. Melissa went to rub her face and flinched when her fingers found the slice. "Forgot about that" She closed her eyes took a deep breath in and concentrated on healing her face. He could heal herself without the use of elements but it was a lot harder.
She opened her eyes and rubbed her face again. "I'm so tired" She complained. "It's been like this for the past week. Apparently he hasn't been having a good week." She wanted to get some sleep soon. With the ball next weekend, she needed it. She got off the bed and stretched. "Well I suppose I'll go and have a shower seeing as sleep is now out of the options." She smiled at the two men. "I'll see you guys later." Both men nodded. "Oh wait, Melissa, next weekend I expect to see you in the potions room, Sunday, 4:30pm" Melissa nodded. "Right, almost forgot about that, don't know how, but I did" Snape shook his head and Melissa walked out. "Did I miss something?" Draco asked not having any idea of what they had been talking about. "She's been pregnant a month on Saturday, but because that's the day of the ball, I told her she could come on Sunday." Draco smiled. "Right" Snape nodded. "Well, I have things to do, places to be and people to see. I'll see you later." Draco nodded. "Bye" Snape stood up and walked out.
Draco sat on the bed, not knowing what to do now. He lay down and just stared at the top of his bed. Melissa walked into her room and headed towards the bathroom. She got there, stripped off her clothes and got into the sower. She stood under the hot water for a few minutes, relaxing her tense muscles. She washed her hair with her favorite shampoo. By fluke it was that she had managed to find the shampoo that her mother used to buy. It reminded her of her mother. It smelt of Vanilla and a sweet flower that she could never name. She turned of the hot water and got out. She wrapped the towel around her and went to get fresh robes. There was a note on her bed. She walked over and picked it up. She almost dropped it in shock. The note was from someone she thought to be dead. She put it in her bedside table. She couldn't read it just yet.
She walked over to her wardrobe and got out a clean set of robes. She got dressed and went to her bathroom to dry and do her hair. She dried it and put it up in a simple braid. She looked at the clock and thankfully she'd taken long enough for it to be time to go to dinner. She was walking out of her room so engrossed in thought that she bumped into Draco. She jumped back. "Sorry Draco, I was just thinking and I'm sorry, I should've been paying more attention." She apologized. Draco smiled. "Don't worry about it. Shall I accompany you to the great hall?" He said very graciously while holding out his arm. "Why thank you fine man" She said just as graciously and took hold of his arm. They walked off holding their noses high and making their faces pinched up. Melissa looked at Draco and he looked at her. They had only looked at each other for about a second before they both burst out laughing. They were so busy laughing about each other's faces that they didn't notice Pansy walking up to them.
"What's so funny Draco? Did I miss a joke?" She asked sweetly holding her hands together in a way that squeezed her breasts, making them appear larger. Draco thought 'Oh lord help me survive'. Melissa heard this, took one look at Draco and burst out laughing again. Draco figured that she must have heard what he had thought. Draco looked at Pansy who was looking very agitated. She gave a death glare to Melissa who was recovering from a stitch from laughing so hard. She looked at Pansy and had to hold back from laughing. Pansy really hated her. "It's nothing Pans, an inside joke." Melissa accidently let a laugh escape as she heard what Pansy was thinking. 'She probably made an awful joke and he was just laughing so she wouldn't feel bad. He's so sweet. But I want to know why he's hanging out with her. I bet she's done something to him. Made him tell her all his secrets. Wait. I can get her to tell me all about him.'
"Well, can I walk with you guys to the hall?" She asked sweetly. Melissa spoke to Draco in his head. "Just go with this, I'll tell you about it later" Melissa looked back at Pansy. "Of course you can! I'd like to get to know you Pansy, Draco hasn't stopped talking about you, all the time I'm with him, and he just talks about you." She leant over so she could whisper in her ear, just loud enough for Draco to hear. "I found his diary the other day, and you would not believe what he's written about you. Meet me in the Slytherin common room tomorrow after classes, I'll tell you all about it" Pansy's face lit up and she nodded. "Cool, well, shall we go to diner?" Draco and Pansy nodded. Melissa linked her arm with Draco did the same to Pansy. 'Finally. I can find out more about Draco. I would've thought that Melissa was smarter than this' Melissa heard this and grinned. 'Oh if only you knew' she thought to herself.
They got quite a lot of stares when they walked into the great hall. There were whispers as to what they were all doing together. Melissa just smiled and walked towards the Slytherin table.
As they took their seats Sarah came up and handed Melisa a note. She grinned and added. "You should very well know what this is about. You should unless you've forgotten the plans we made the other day" Melissa smiled. "Nope I know what this is about" Sarah grinned. "Good, all the information is on there" She smiled at Melissa before going and taking her seat. Melissa opened the note. Draco tried to read what was on it but she turned it so he couldn't see. The note read
'Melissa,
Come to the girls dorm after dinner for a fashion show,
To show off our dresses, fix each other's hair take lots
Of photos and do our makeup.
Sarah and the girls
P.S You can tell Pansy to get her stuff ready for it as well
If you want.'
Melissa looked at Sarah and smiled. She tapped Pansy on the shoulder to get her attention. Pansy looked at her quizzically. Melissa handed her the note and looked at her. Pansy read the note; "Yeah, I'm not doing anything" Melissa smiled. "Great! I can't wait to see what you're wearing! Where did you get yours?" Melissa asked. She was really trying to make it feel as if she did trust Pansy and genuinely liked her. "Oh it's amazing! You know Madam Leaf's store in Hogsmeade?" Pansy asked. "Yeah! She did mine as well!" Pansy smiled. "I love her store. She never makes the same dress twice, so it's guaranteed you won't find someone else with the same dress!" Melissa smiled and nodded.
Draco stared as the two girls talked as if they were the best of friends. Draco knew that they were both up to something but he couldn't work out what it was. Melissa looked at Draco. "The Slytherin girls are getting together tonight to showcase their dresses, do their hair and makeup, take heaps of pictures and just basically have a girls night." Draco shook his head. "You girls and your makeup and hair." Melissa looked offended. "You boys and your hair products and your fancy colognes" She retorted. Draco grinned and shook his head. "Yeah that's right, I've seen your bathroom cupboard." She turned to Pansy; "It is full like I mean full of hair products and fancy colognes." Pansy stared at her. "You've seen the inside of his bathroom cupboard?" she looked jealous. Melissa nodded. My brother needed something and Draco was too busy doing, actually I don't remember what he was doing but apparently he couldn't take a minute break to go and get some stupid hair product so he sent me in to get it. I swear. I don't think I've seen so many hair products and colognes in my life!" Pansy nodded slowly. "So that's why you were in his room the other day?" she asked. Melissa nodded. "Yeah, we study together occasionally as well. Draco's really good at potions so he was helping me out." Melissa smiled at him. Draco smiled back. Pansy just stared at the two of them. "So I saw you two walking around Hogsmeade together, does that mean you've seen her dress Draco?" Draco shook his head. "Nope, she says she wants it to be a surprise for me. I swear, I don't get why you girls do that," He said shaking his head. "It's because there a rare times we get to truly feel beautiful and we want to make it special, for both of us" Melissa replied. Draco smiled and shook his head. "You girls are crazy. The whole bloody lot of you"
Melissa gave him a death glare. "We are not crazy! None of us are!" Draco put his hands up in surrender. "Whatever you saw sweetheart" Melissa looked at him suspiciously. "Don't sweetheart me, it won't make up for the fact you just called me and every other girl here crazy!" Draco thought Melissa looked crazy. Draco shook his head. "Fine. I'm sorry, we all good now?" Melissa looked at him disapprovingly. Draco did his best innocent puppy eyes face. Melissa rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Fine, I s'pose we're good" Draco smiled. Melissa looked at the note that was still on the table and it made her think to the note on her bed. She frowned. What could they want? She hadn't seen Jeremy and his mother since before her parents were taken. Why would they be contacting her now? A thought crossed Melissa's mind but she pushed it out. It would be crazy if Jeremy remembered the promised she made him when they were younger.
"You alright there Melissa?" Draco's voice snapped Melisa out of her thought. "What? Oh right yeah I'm good, just thinking about something I have to do later." Draco looked at her. "And what would that be?" He asked raising an eyebrow. Melissa shook her head. "It's nothing important I'm sure. Just don't worry about it" She gave Draco a smile but he wasn't buying it. "Okay" is what he said out loud but Melissa heard his thoughts loud and clear. "Talk to me later bout it okay?" Melissa looked at him and gave a small nod. The trio sat in silence for the rest of dinner. Melissa was still in deep thought over that letter. "Okay well I'm finished, what about you Melissa?" Melissa looked up at Pansy and nodded. "Yeah, I have to go to my room to pick my stuff up, you're welcome to come with me if you want." Pansy nodded. "Sure" She thought that this would be a great way to do some snooping around. Melissa smiled before looking at Draco. "I left the potion, the ingredients and the instructions on your bed, so if you have time would you be able to do that for me? I'd like to have a full night's sleep for once." She gave a sad smile and Draco nodded. "I s'pose I could do that for you" Melissa smiled before standing up. "See you later Draco" Draco smiled. "Have fun" This time it was Pansy's turn to reply apparently. "We will Draco, don't get to bored without us" Draco smiled. "I'm sure I'll find something to do" Pansy smiled and followed Melissa out of the hall.
Melissa waved her hand over the painting and spoke in some language Pansy hadn't ever heard of. "Make yourself at home while I get my stuff ready" Pansy nodded and started snooping around. Pansy thought that her room was very neat but it had a homey feel to it. Melissa walked to her bedside table to grab her bag. As she opened the drawer she saw the letter. She picked it up and turned it over in her hand shaking her hand. "You have a secret admirer do you Melissa?" Pansy said spotting the letter. "What? This? Oh no, it's not secret anyway." Pansy dreaded that the person who had sent that letter was Draco. "Who's it from?" she asked. "Oh just a childhood friend that I'd only remembered about this afternoon. Pansy smiled thankful it wasn't from Draco.
Melissa slipped the note into her bag before heading to the bathroom. She collected all her makeup, hair and nail stuff before heading back out into her room to collect her shoes and dress. She opened the dresser and felt Pansy peering in. She pulled out the dress and put it carefully into her bag and then grabbed her shoes before shutting the closet doors.
"Okay well I'm ready. Shall we?" Melissa asked. Pansy nodded and they left.
