Chapter 10

Food Fights and Fun

It had been Melody's first day of school and was supposed to have gone wonderfully. Key word in that sentence; supposed.

It had all started at breakfast. She had woken up early and was jittery and nervous, which led to her spilling her juice five times. Once on Lily, once on James, once on Remus, and twice on Sirius.

They're first class was Defense Against the Dark Arts (more affectionatly known as DADA among the students she learned) and Professor Archer had given them a little test to see what they remembered, and apart of what Melody had read in the books and practiced in her room the night before, she didn't know much. The second class was Charms and Professor Flitwick had decided to review the Levitation Charm, and had called on Melody to practice it in front of the whole class. As much as she didn't want to, Melody obeyed and got up in front of the class and feebly said the incantation. Her feather didn't move. Professor Flitwick asked her to do it again, and after several tries he gently told her to sit back down and that she had put in a good effort.

And so the rest of the day had gone as well as that. She has taken a few more "quizzes" several of which she was sure that she failed, covered herself in dirt and embaressed herself royally in Herbology. Then on the way to dinner some Seventh year Slytherins had decided to split her bag, spilling the contents everywhere. Sirius had shouted something rude back at them (something brave for a second year, but then again, he was Sirius Black) and Lily quickly repaired her bag.

When they had reached the Great Hall and found their seats, Melody collapsed and put her head in her hands. Lily patted her back.

"It's okay Melody, the first day always sucks. I know mine did."

Melody looked up. "It did?" She said, sounded hopeful.

"Yeah it did." Lily sent a glare in James' direction. "Potter over there decided I looked nice with green slop covered all over me."

"James!"

"What?" He tried to look innocent. "She did look good."

"Shut up Potter." Lily turned back to Melody. "That was only the beginning of Potter's endless pranks on me, but the point is that I had a horrible first day, and everything turned out alright."

"Yeah, and I'll help you practice spells we learned last year and with your homework." Sirius interjected, giving her the most charming grin a twelve year old could give.

Melody smiled, looking less gloomy than before. "Thanks guys."

"Hey, what are friends for?" Sirius replied.

"Not much else." James said jokingly.

"Shut up James." Sirius said, taking some of his mashed potatoes with a spoon and throwing them at James.

Now, this would have worked well and ensured a lot of laughs, if James had not chosen to move aside, and the mashed potatoes hit the boy behind him, who happened to be a Ravenclaw with a rather unpleasant disposition. He turned to glare at the offender holding the spoon (which was Sirius), picked up some of his potatoes and threw them a Sirius. So of course what did Sirius do? He stood up on his bench and screamed at the top of his lungs,

"FOOD FIGHT!"

It was as if a volcano had erupted. Everyone had stood up and obeyed Sirius' command. What teachers where in the Great Hall attempted to contain everyone and make all the food stop flying across the room.

At first Melody just sat there, awe struck that such a silly thing as a food fight could happen and one of the most prestigious and majestic schools in Europe. But then all her frustration about wanting to have such a wonderful experience, and it all going horribly exploded out of her and she stood up next to Sirius and screamed with laughter. She took a fistful of cranberries and threw them as far as she could, in the direction of the head table.

Suddenly, the whole hall went silent and Melody looked over to see none other than Albus Dumbledore covered in cranberries. All color left from her face as she realized that she had been the one that had nailed him. Nobody said a word, all staring open-mouthed at the Headmaster. Then Sirius, without thinking, (something that occurs often for those who are twelve) said,

"Wicked throw Melody."

Professor McGonagall choked on whatever food had been in her mouth and stared incredulously at Sirius. Then, to everyone's astonishment, Dumbledore began to laugh.

His laugh was unlike anything Melody had ever heard. It was a deep, joyful laugh, so much more than the occasional chuckle that most people heard from Dumbledore. He laughed for what seemed like the longest time, and once he stopped, he stood up and did not even say a word. He merely gestured for Melody to fallow him out of the hall.

Shaking, she stood up and fallowed him silently all the way to his office, not even looking behind her at James, Lily, Remus, Peter, Rebecca, and not even Sirius.

As soon as they reached Dumbledore's office and he sat down behind his desk, (the cranberries no longer all over him) Melody began to spout out apologies.

"Professor, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Dumbledore held up a hand observed her over his half moon spectacles. "Miss Cauldwell, I assure you that you are not in any trouble."

Melody stopped. "Oh, well. I still apologize."

Dumbledore chuckled softly and said, "I heard you did not have the first day you hoped to?" He raised his eyebrows in question.

"No, I don't suppose I did." Melody looked down, but a smile appared when she thought of the way it ended.

"But it probably ended alright didn't it?" He said lightly.

"It did." She paused. "Professor, don't think that I'm not grateful, because I am more grateful than I think you will ever realize."

"Of that I am sure." He replied. "I just wanted make sure you know that it will not always be easy for you these next few years…academically and otherwise." He looked her straight in the eyes. Knowing that she knew what he meant.

Melody nodded. "I know Professor, and I can assure you," She looked right back at him. "I will not be giving in any time soon."

Melody, with the help of the Hogwarts paintings found her way back to the Hogwarts common room in a decent amount of time. But once she got there, she realized that she couldn't remember the password.

"Er…hello."

The fat lady glanced at her. "Hello."

"I don't remember the password, is there any chance you might-"

"No."

"Oh." Melody sat there, thinking. What was the password?

She spent the next fifteen minutes trying to remember the password by guessing random words or wizarding objects. It was all getting quite tiring, when suddenly the portrait swung open to reveal Sirus coming out.

"Melody! There you are!" He beckoned her into the room and they walked in together. "Where've you been?"

The common room was mostly empty. James, Lily, Remus, Rebecca and Peter had already gone upstairs, and there were only four or five other people sitting at the tables and near the fire.

"In Dumbledore's office, then finding my way back here, and then trying to rememeber the password. The Fat Lady wouldn't tell me."

Sirius shook his head. "No, she wouldn't. What did Dumbledore say?"

Melody shrugged. "Not much. I'm not in trouble though."

"Well that's good." Sirius yawned. "Well, I guess we should head up. I don't know about you, but I am unusually tired, along with everyone else."

"I guess it must be the whole first day thing." Melody said as the reached where the staircase parted.

"Goodnight Melody." Sirius said and turned to go up the boy's staircase.

"Sirus?"

He turned back around. "Yeah?"

Melody took a step closer and gave him a quick hug. "Thanks…for everything." She smiled at him and then went up the girls staircase.

Sirius grinned to himself, suddenly feeling a lot happier than he had in a long time.

I'm sorry I haven't updated in forever, lifes just been busy, what with my first year of high school and everything, and it's been a little tough. But in any case. Another reason it took me so long to update was that I've been having a little block, and I need to get the story moving. What I was going to do is have a chapter describing each year up until seventh, where it'll go more slowly again. I'm not sure how well t hat will work, or how many people may not like me anymore. . It won't just be a bunch of long paragraphs though. More about Sirius' past and whatnot. I don't know if I'm going to do that, so if ya'll could just drop be a review to tell me what you thinkof that idea, that's be WONDERFUL.

Thanks so much.