12: All we can do is Wait
**Fred's POV**
"Melissa?" Fred called. Nothing. The group spread out, searching for her. Just as they were about to give up, Fred felt something brushing against his leg. Looking down, he saw a large black dog.
"Guys!" He called. All of them raced back and Harry gasped in shock.
"Sirius?" He asked. "It's safe." Sirius changed back and smiled at the seven of them, all looking at him in shock.
"It's ok. Before you say anything. Dumbledore knows I'm here and – Jason is that you?" He asked, noticing Jason for the first time.
"Hey, Sirius." Jason replied. The two embraced briefly and Harry looked at his godfather in shock.
"You two know each other?" He asked.
"Yeah, Jason and Melissa are my other two godchildren." He explained.
"Speaking of which, where is she?" Hermione asked, smiling at Sirius in greeting.
"She left this and said that she'd gone for a fly, nowhere special, just to clear her head." He replied. Jason took the note from Sirius and read it, passing it around. As soon as it had been passed round, he crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the fire.
"Well, all we can do is wait for her return." He sighed, sitting on the chair by the fire. The rest of them followed suit, taking a seat around the fire. It was silent at first, but they soon began talking to Sirius and Jason about their pasts and how they met.
**Melissa's POV**
When Draco had landed, they were by the lake, just a little further round than anyone actually came. The two of them sat down and stared out at the water, talking about random things including classes and which teachers Melissa would like or dislike.
"Melissa –" Draco started but she cut him off.
"Call me Mel."
"Mel, I want to apologise for what I did earlier. I shouldn't have laughed but I knew that I'd get it big time if I didn't at least ACT like a Slytherin once in a while. Keep up appearances and all that." He explained. Melissa sighed; she knew that this would come up sooner or later.
"I understand. But what I don't understand is why Slytherins are so mean to other houses." She said.
"I don't know Mel. I honestly don't, but if my father finds out that I'm hanging out with a Gryffindor girl, then I don't think I'd be coming here much longer."
"I understand but –"
"No," Draco cut her off. "You don't understand. I don't mean that I'd transfer. I mean that I wouldn't be around anymore."
"He beats you?" Mel asked. Draco shook his head.
"We don't have a good relationship. I just know that he'd hurt me if he finds out."
"Draco, you have to tell someone!"
"NO! You can't tell anyone." Draco looked into her eyes and she saw the pleading in them.
"I won't but you need to."
"No. 'Cause when I leave school I'm going to become an auror and move out of the house. I won't have to see him again." He explained. Mel smiled; he'd got a future planned out already. "What about you? What are you going to do when you leave school?"
"I dunno. Haven't really thought about it. I might become an auror or maybe a quidditch player." She shrugged.
"Or both." He suggested,
"Or both." She agreed, laughing. Just then, Draco tickled her. Mel screamed slightly and tired to move away, but Draco held her firm and began tickling her until she was crying from laughter.
"Please Draco." She gasped between laughter. With her free hand, Mel managed to reach his hair and she messed it up slightly.
"Oh, you didn't just mess up my hair." He said,
"I'll do it again if you don't stop." Mel threatened. Draco smirked and let her go. Mel stayed where she was lying and Draco, who was on top of her, didn't move either. Then two of them lay there, in silence, staring into each other's eyes. Draco began to lower his head and soon he was only an inch or so away from her mouth and she could feel his hot breath on her lips. She suddenly couldn't take it anymore and lifted her head, closing the gap between her and Draco.
