Melanie, Ginny and Luna were somewhat glad to be back at Hogwarts, things at the Potter home had gotten Serious, really serious. Hermione was being overworked, and all the times Sirius had tried to give her time off she was suddenly needed. Christopher was filling out loads of paperwork, Harry was always tired after training, Draco was stressed because as well as constantly creating a horribly difficult potion all the time he had to try and also create new ones, Keira was now working two jobs, one with the Quidditch team and one with the ministry to try and push new laws. Molly was always worried because her boys were working with the Order; Arthur was getting grief from some of the higher ranking staff members, unknown to Sirius.
The only person who didn't seem constantly stressed was Ethan. He helped when he was needed, but for the most part he strayed away from the ministry. Not because he didn't want to help, but more because he liked the muggle way of life, though he always kept his wand around.
Anyway Melanie was now planning her own wedding, she and Draco planned on getting married in summer, she, Ginny and Luna were looking through Bridal magazines for the perfect dresses, it was a bit difficult because Melanie wasn't sure how many bridesmaids she wanted, when she was younger she thought three at most, but now she wasn't so sure. Because there was Ginny, Luna, Hermione, Pansy and Keira. Four wouldn't hurt. She thought, but then there were also Draco's best men. Would he have just Blaise, or would Harry, Ethan, Ron and Neville play a part. Well maybe not Neville, they were friends, but not that close, were they?
Melanie felt awful now, she couldn't even figure out how close he was with members within their friendship group. But then ago, they were all really close, after all for the most part they lived together. There was also the guest list, Melanie had lots of friends at school, did she want to invite them? Draco really had only the people under the Potter roof, but Melanie was really popular (not in a boastful way) and a few of her friends from school she definitely wanted to come. Like Colin, Seamus and Dean.
Her head was spinning; thank Merlin for Ginny and Luna. Together, bless 'em, they had come up with a list of all of Melanie and Draco's friends. It was rather long, as it also included the family. But it helped Melanie see everything she needed to, and she realised pretty quick who she did and didn't want from the list. She'd have to send it to Draco to see if he wanted to make any changes, then compromise.
Then together they decided on food, as both Melanie and Draco loved Italian food, and it suited most people they were having Italian cuisine. Draco was happy with that. So pizza's and pasta's was the main sort of thing, but there was other stuff as well.
Finally as April came Melanie put a stop to her wedding plans and picked up a few baby presents, Fleur was meant to give birth any day. Melanie, Ginny and Luna were sent home for the event, they were all waiting in the living room with the Weasley boys, Molly had gone to St Mungo's with Bill and Arthur when Fleur's water broke. Fred and George were sitting there looking at the clock, their finger crossed, it was eleven pm now, they were wishing for her to born within the next hour.
However it wasn't until Six am on April the second that Molly jumped out of the fire place. And started screaming. Gotta love her.
"IT'S A GIRL!" Then she jumped back into the fire and went straight back. Ah the relief, the hugs and the cheers that broke out.
Ginny was clinging to Harry while she jumped up and down.
"I'm an aunt! I'm an aunt!" She was crying out happily, laughing and giggling.
About twelve hours later Fleur walked into the house carrying a small pink bundle.
"Ginny, come 'ere," Fleur said, Ginny excitedly ran to Fleur and Bill. She looked down at the small bundle and cooed.
"She's so gorgeous, what's her name?" Ginny asked.
"Juliet Weasley. We 'ave some news for you Ginny," Fleur said, she looked up at bill and smiled, he nodded his head. "We want to name you 'er Godmother." Fleur said softly. Ginny went blank for a second then looked up at Fleur's and Bill's smiling faces.
"Me, you want me to be her Godmother?" Ginny asked. Of course she knew that they were aware of the possibility she'd never have her own children. Was that the reason they were asking? Even if it was, they were asking her, she'd love to.
"Yes you Ginny," Bill said softly.
"Of course!" Ginny said happily.
"Well then I think its only right you get to hold her," Bill said as Fleur handed her the small child.
"Oh," Ginny breathed as she looked down at the bundle. "Wow."
Eventually Ginny gave Juliet back to Fleur and sat down on Harry's lap and rested her head on his shoulder, smiling.
"Y'know if anything ever does come of this, if I'm not killed; we've still got a chance. It's not impossible for you to have children, and I mean there's always adoption, giving a child who had been given away another chance. I mean look at Luna." And it was true, Luna was right now on the way to being adopted, and she had confided in Ginny that it made her feel wanted and more accepted, and even if it meant she was Luna Lupin rather then Luna Lovegood, she'd always be her daddy's little girl. And best thing was Remus and Belle completely supported her in that.
Three weeks later Ginny was replying to a weekly letter she got from Bill, telling her how Juliet was doing when Luna ran into the room, she'd gotten back from the adoption trial. There were tears pouring down her face, but she was beaming.
"They won! They still want me! I have a mum and dad!" Luna latched onto Ginny, still sobbing happily.
"That's fantastic Luna!" Ginny said as she hugged her friend. Just then Melanie walked in and smiled.
"Congratulations Luna!" Melanie said as she hugged her friend.
"I have to owl Ron! Tell him he's not dating Luna Lovegood anymore, but rather Luna Lupin!" And she was gone.
"I'm so happy for her," Ginny said as Melanie sat down beside her.
"This Werewolf Clinic has really made a difference," Melanie said. Ginny nodded, she couldn't agree more, it was actually starting to make a difference, more and more werewolves came each full moon, they were fed for the day before and after, received the potion three hours before the full moon, received medical attention if and when they needed it, not that they did because they were in their own rooms, and the next day when it came for them to go, they were given their clothes back completely fixed.
Because of all of this the werewolves were slightly more accepted, though they still had a way to go.
Since the birth of Juliet Melanie hadn't had much time at all to plan weddings simply because the Newt's were so close, not to mention she had to plan a ball, and do rounds, and tutor several kids in potions, charms and transfiguration. She was buried in work, and Michael Corner didn't help things at all.
"God Potter, you're only Head Girl, and you can't make yourself look decent!" Corner snapped at her as Melanie walked past wearing a hair of low rise jeans, a white tank top and fitted chequered shirt. She had enough.
"Will you just shut the hell up? You self righteous git!" Melanie snarled as she shoved him against the wall and walked off.
For the next couple of months Melanie was immersed in her studies, she had to stop the tutoring which Michael had neglected all together from the start, and pause wedding plans, although honestly she had most things planned out. And now all she had to do is get herself out of school and into a wedding dress. Why did she have a horrible feeling something was going to go wrong?
Melanie smiled as she took her place on the stage beside Albus; she beamed when she saw her friends, family and fiancé.
"I'm Melanie Lily Potter. Head Girl. Sister. Friend. Daughter. Niece. Goddaughter. Student. Adult. Tutor. Child. Enemy. Half-blood. Traitor. There are so many things that I am going to leave this school as, the good and bad. And I love it all. I am who I am, and that's thanks to the fantastic and not so fantastic people around me. If I hadn't been raised the way I was, and then had my whole life turned upside down, I wouldn't be what you see before you. And I'm proud of who I am. I want to thank the amazing teachers and the brilliant students, because in some way you all made me, me. I'm going to go now, fight a war that I was thrown into, you, well do what you like from now on. You'll hide; fight with me; or against me. Whatever it is, I wish you a happy life." Melanie walked off the stage to an astounded silence.
She sat down beside Ginny and waited patiently for her time to collect the little slip of paper that said she had graduated.
When eventually the ceremony was over, Ginny, Luna and Melanie ran down to their boyfriends, and hugged him, kissed them and acted like the girls they were.
"So still up for marrying me?" Draco asked with a smirk.
"Oh, I dunno, what do you think Luna, should I still marry him?" Melanie asked with her own little smirk.
"Hmm tough one, Ginny, what do you think? Should she go for it?" Luna asked with a grin.
"I dunno why not, I mean she could do worse," Ginny replied with her own grin as Harry chuckled.
"Well there you are then," Melanie said smirking, Draco scowled at her before leaning down and kissing her deeply.
Melanie was in heaven as she floated around the house, but still there was that little nagging thing in the back of her head, screaming at her something was wrong.
"I can feel it deep in my bones; something is going to go very wrong," Melanie stated to Emma as she paced around her room two days before the wedding.
"Are you sure it's not just cold feet?" Emma asked.
"Yes, because I know I want to marry him," Melanie replied.
"Maybe it's because you're so young, maybe you're just not ready," Emma suggested.
"No it's not that. I want to marry Draco with every fibre of my being. I want to marry him in two days. I just don't want him to know right now. I mean it's… I just don't want him to think I don't want to marry him, because I do. Everything in my life I want to be part of his. There is no one else out there for me. I love him." Melanie said, Emma nodded then left, there was no more she could say or do, Melanie wanted to marry him, she was just scared of something going horribly wrong.
That night as Melanie lie in her bed half asleep the door opened, her eyesight was blurry in her tired state and she couldn't recognise the person, but fear filled her as the person put his hand over her mouth.
"Hello Melanie," Lucius Malfoy drawled.
Melanie struggled against him, biting and clawing at him, but nothing worked and once again she found herself at the Malfoy manor, instantly she was shoved into a small cage, she curled herself into a ball in the corner, tears soon finding themselves pouring down her cheeks. She didn't want to go through this again.
Not seconds later there was another pop and the sounds of scuffle.
"GET OFF ME YOU MONSTER!" The voice of Keira screamed, then she was thrown into the cage with Melanie, when she saw her little sister, Keira reached for her and cradled the sobbing girl. "It's ok. It'll be ok. We'll be ok. It's ok." Keira said softly as she stroked her sisters' hair.
They could here muffled talking.
"What's taking them so long?" One of the Deatheaters suddenly exclaimed loudly.
"I dunno Yaxley," Another Deatheater replied bored.
Suddenly there was another pop and three pairs of feet appeared before the cage holding Keira and Melanie. Melanie instantly thought to Harry and Ginny, they shared a bed.
It was a shock, then, when Hermione was thrown into the cage, she was half dressed and crying.
"The Mudblood screamed. I found her in bed with him, had to take her with me!" Yelled one of the Deatheaters angrily.
Keira looked at Hermione shocked.
"You were in bed with Ethan?" She asked in a slightly accusing tone.
"No I wasn't!" Hermione hissed, her cheeks lightly flushed
"You were in bed with Harry?" Melanie asked now in total shock, Hermione wouldn't.
"No!" Hermione hissed.
"Chris?" Keira asked suddenly.
"Yes, we work together, we had a few drinks, we ended up in his room!" Hermione hissed.
"You lost it with Chris?" Melanie asked.
"NO!" Hermione hissed, this really wasn't the time.
"Melanie, look, we'll talk later," Keira said, and Melanie was upset that the distraction was gone.
As the three girls fell silent they heard a door slam open, the temperature dropped to freezing, all the air was sucked from the room.
"I assume everyone is back," Voldemort said.
"Actually my lord, no, Bella and Rodolphus, they haven't yet returned," Yaxley replied with a stutter.
"Well then, who have we got?" Snapped a cold, menacing voice.
"We have the two eldest and the youngest. The boy, he wasn't alone, we brought the Mudblood he was with," The Deatheater said.
"Well show me my prize." Before any of them registered anything the three girls were grabbed and pulled out of their cage, Keira gasped as she was stood before her worst nightmare, Melanie and Hermione turned away.
"Welcome back, Melanie," Voldemort drawled, an evil smiled twisted onto his features.
Just then there were two pops and Bellatrix and Rodolphus appeared, Bellatrix stalked up to Hermione and shoved her wand to the younger woman throat.
"Mudblood bitch! You awoke the whole house!" Bella snarled, and then slapped Hermione around the face, causing the girl to yelp.
"Now, Bella is that any way to treat our guests?" Voldemort drawled.
"The Mudblood, she ruined our plans, Dark Lord!" Bellatrix cried to Voldemort as she bowed down to him.
"Kill her!" Voldemort hissed.
"NO! DON'T YOU DARE! DON'T TOUCH HER!" Christopher bellowed as she fought against the hands of the two Deatheaters holding him, Keira and Melanie had wound there arms around Hermione, trying in vain to protect her.
"Bella, I think the eldest has feelings for the Mudblood," Voldemort said silkily. "Lower your wand." Bella did as she was told, though she had a glint in her eye which let Hermione know she wasn't happy.
"As for the youngest, well, there's the older girl now, she'll be more suited to me. Bella I want you to take her, prepare her. Do you understand me?" Voldemort said, Bellatrix nodded and started to drag Keira away.
"NO! DON'T!" Melanie screamed, she struggled away from her captor and ran towards Keira. She didn't make it far before she was on the ground, twisting and withering in pain, screaming, and screaming and screaming. Screams that drowned out those of Christopher, Keira's and Hermione's.
And as quickly as she felt the pain it was lifted, she moved feebly to try and get up, her head was spinning, she was going to be sick, she felt so dizzy, her head, it was so painful, she collapsed back to the floor and fell into darkness.
The next time Melanie opened her eyes she couldn't see, everything was extremely blurred, all she could make out was someone leaning over her. She could hear screaming, yelling, spells and curses being cast, but she couldn't tell what was going on, she was so confused, she blinked; still she couldn't make sense of any of it. And then she fell down limp again.
Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…
Melanie opened her eyes slowly, her head was so sore. She blinked, once twice, three times, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened then again she saw white, she turned to her left and she saw a machine, across the screen there was a line.
Beep… Beep… Beep…
She turned to her right and saw the most fantastic thing, there, slumped in a chair was the form of her sleeping fiancée. He had big purple bags under his eyes, he looked slightly sick, his eyes were red and puffy, there were tear stain streaking down his cheeks, there was light stubble covering his chin, his hair was dishevelled, and greasy, his clothes were rumpled and he smelt as if he had bathed or showered in weeks, but he looked brilliant to Melanie.
"Draco," She said in a whisper, but her voice came out scratchy, he didn't stir though, so Melanie called his name slightly louder. It awoke him, he looked so relieved.
"Promise me I'm not just dreaming again, that this is really you awake," Draco begged.
"It's me, I'm awake. Where's everyone else?" Melanie asked.
"Hold on, let me get the healer. We'll explain." Draco ran to the door and stuck his head out and called for a healer, when he returned he was followed by Emma.
"What are you doing here?" Melanie asked.
"In America I trained as a Healer after I finished school, I even worked there before coming back. Sirius decided he trusted no one else to look after yours and Hermione's health," Emma explained.
"How is Hermione? Is she alright? Christopher and Keira? What about them?" Melanie demanded.
"Cool it Mel, we don't want you over working it, you've been out for over a month," Emma said trying to calm down the young woman.
"What do you mean over a month?" Melanie asked.
"Mel, it's September thirtieth. You've been out for over a month..." Emma explained, Melanie fell back onto her bed looking shocked.
"But I'm meant to get married," Melanie said, Draco smiled at her and took her hand in his own.
"Don't worry about that, I'm just glad you're still here with me," He kissed her hand and smiled.
"But what of Christopher and Keira, and Hermione?' Melanie asked.
"Christopher is traumatised, he witnessed things that he shouldn't have, he'll heal, with time. He's at home, there was nothing we could have done for him here, other then give him dreamless sleep potions. Keira is ok, she's just shaken up," Emma said, she wore a sad, lost smile, the kind when you're holding something back, that you know you should tell, you just don't know how.
"Hermione?" Melanie asked fearfully.
"She didn't fare so well. She was seriously hurt. She's been put into intensive care. There's a lot of damage, the healers here don't want to fix anything because they don't know the real damage. Everyone is with her right now." Emma explained softly.
"I want to see her." Melanie stated.
"Maybe, if I feel you're up to it, but Melanie, remember, she's not looking like Hermione right now. There's a lot of damage."
After fifteen minutes of Emma waving her wand about and asking questions Draco helped Emma lower Melanie into a wheelchair.
Draco pushed her through the corridors, but Melanie was unaware of her surroundings, everything just seemed to float by.
Finally they reached the top floor and there was a large group of people outside one of the rooms. Belle and Remus were sitting on the chairs with Luna between them, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
Molly was leant against the wall beside them with silent tears pouring down her pale face.
The Weasley guys were scattered across the corridor, all looking pale and sickly, Charlie had tears in his eyes, threatening to spill. Fred had his face tucked away and George looked strangely blank.
Ginny walked out of the room, tears falling fast and heavy down her pale face, she looked really ill, like she hadn't slept in days. She looked like she was about to throw up. She did. Bent over she threw up in the middle of the corridor, Severus rushed forwards so she didn't collapse, but he didn't look much better himself.
Draco wouldn't enter the room with Melanie, so Emma wheeled her towards the bed, standing around Hermione were Pansy, Harry, Ron and Sirius. Melanie gasped when she saw the state her friend was in.
The right side of her face was burnt, the left side had a deep and wide slash going down, cutting through her eyebrow and down over her cheek. Her nose was completely broken, both her eyes were deep purple with bruising; her lip was split as if she had been punched or kicked. Along her throat there was a long cut, they had held a knife to her throat, hard enough to cut into her skin. Her arms were broken. Bruised, burnt and cut, her wrists broken, the palm of her hand was burnt.
Melanie looked horrified.
"When? When did they do this to her?" Melanie demanded as her eyes watered.
"After you blacked out. We got there three hours too late." Sirius said in a thick, scratched voice.
They had tried to ruin her. To break her.
Hermione was too strong to be broken, she'll pull through.
Melanie thought holding onto the faint flicker of hope.
"They will pay," Melanie stated as she looked down at one of her closest friends. "They won't ever get away with this! If I have to scream and fight I will do whatever it takes! They are not getting away with this." Melanie hissed.
When she left the room fifteen minutes later she smiled weakly at Draco before closing her eyes.
"They will pay."
It was mid October, and with it there was a mass amount of rain, it seemed to fit perfectly, seeing as no one dared shed a tear anymore. They didn't even speak about it for fear of cursing everything.
Ron had immersed himself into his Quidditch practice, he was now working as a back up for Chudley Cannons, twice now he'd been sent home and told to relax, that he was over working.
Blaise hadn't been seen since he went back to school two weeks ago, last they heard was that he was going to study.
Harry was busy anyway. He training was getting tougher as the threat started to get bigger and bigger.
Pansy was always hidden in her room under masses of parchment and material, Fleur was worried about her business partner.
Ginny had lost her self in her books and caring for the animals, she often spent a lot of time with the cats and pygmy puffs and owls.
Ethan was never home, at night he worked in the bar, during the day he worked in a café.
Luna had taken over her father's magazine and turned it inside out, with Dumbledore's permission it was the newspaper for the Order and anyone against Voldemort, sending out warnings, sighting, and theories.
The adults, they just tried to hold it together. They went to work, they came home, they visited Hermione. Then started the cycle once again.
Christopher saw it every night though, every time he closed his eyes he saw what they did to her.
"Hey Chris," Hermione said with a lazy smile as she walked into the Kitchen. She reached up into one of the cupboards and grabbed a wine glass, and then she went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of red wine.
"I keep forgetting you're old enough to drink," Christopher said as he watched her pour a glass for herself.
"I am nineteen. Hey, you want a glass?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah sure," Christopher said and watched Hermione grab another glass and pour a fair amount out. She sat beside him and sipped at her wine.
They started to talk about work, then friends and family, and soon enough they were talking about everything and anything, Hermione was laughing at something he had just said, her head was thrown back, and her hair swung smoothly side to side. He couldn't help it, when she looked him the eye once more, her coffee eyes sparkling mischievously he leant forward and captured her lips with his.
Christopher couldn't believe it when she kissed him back. Wrapping her arms around his neck, and allowing him to pull her onto his lap. They must have been like that for half an hour, before Hermione climbed off him and stood up, she took his hand and led him along the hallways until she reached the stairs, and dragged him up until they reached his room.
"Mione?" Chris asked, unsure if she would really want to do anything, but Hermione just grinned at him before pushing him into his own room and closing the door behind her.
She walked towards him and yanked his top over his head before kissing him deeply again.
Now Christopher had been attracted to Hermione for a while, but he hadn't expected this so he wasn't exactly sure where it all came from, so he asked.
Hermione laughed.
"I dated Viktor Krum in my fourth year, I might not have slept with him but I'm not that innocent," She grinned at Christopher's amazed face. "Don't tell anyone, only you and Ginny know that."
Soon they were on the bed.
Half naked.
Hands Everywhere.
Lips together.
The door opened.
Hermione screamed.
And that was all he could remember.
Melanie was sitting with Draco on the sofa in the front room, talking weddings.
"I dunno, I think we should wait for Hermione to wake up, but Emma told me that she might not wake up for years yet." Melanie said.
"I think Hermione would understand, I thought it would be nice to maybe have a, new years Wedding, y'know this year is the millennium," Draco said as Fleur rushed in carrying Juliet.
"I am so sorry, but eef you would watch 'er for an 'our or so. I need to talk to Pansy," Fleur said Melanie nodded her head and took the small baby from Fleur then sat back on the sofa, cooing at the seven month old.
"We need Hermione back. We can't loose someone else." Draco said softly.
"This is war Draco. We could loose everything. But we fight because we believe there is something to hold onto. And even if we loose everything, we fight because there are still people out there who haven't. We fight for those who can't." Melanie said, Draco looked at her and fell in love with her just that much more.
Time was passing and it had been decided that the wedding would be held at ten am on New Years.
So Melanie went to visit Hermione.
"Hey gorgeous," Melanie said quietly as she sat alone in the room. "I am getting married. And you know what that means. You have to wake up. The Healers don't want to heal you properly until you wake up, but hey, I think you're healing yourself, that cut, it looks much better. Hermione won't you just wake up. For me, for Harry and Ron, Ginny, for everyone. For Chris. Emma doesn't think he'll heal until you wake up, so it would be a great help." Melanie said with a weak smiled. "Come on babe, for my wedding."
And to her utter and total shock there was movement.
"Emma!" Melanie screamed.
Emma came running into the room and looked at Hermione's hand which Melanie was staring at.
"WE HAVE MOVEMENT!" Emma screamed out the door and about twenty healers ran in, Melanie was shoved out of the way, and then asked to leave completely. She did as she was told and waited outside, she paced nervously, and then she heard something.
The Beep…Beep…Beep wasn't beeping, it was one long beep. Melanie started to hyperventilate. This couldn't be happening. Then suddenly.
Beep…Beep…Beep…
"We've got her, we've got her," One of the healers yelled happily.
"Ok guys, we need to keep her breathing, Maisy, is she breathing on her own?" Emma demanded.
"Yes She's breathing!" the Healer replied.
"She's actually breathing?" Emma asked shocked.
"She's breathing."
"Alright then, this is what we're going to do, Franker, grab several vials of scar solution, Maisy get the blood replenishing, Collins I want you to get Head healer Smethwycks," The door burst open and three Healers ran out, Melanie stood there in shock. What the hell was happening?
"Melanie get in here!" Emma demanded. Melanie rushed to her Aunt's side instantly, she looked at her expectantly. "Make sure you're with her, she could wake up, but then again she might not." Emma said, Melanie nodded and went to the corner of the room, so not to be in the way, but so she could still be there.
"What's happening?" A woman asked, she looked concerned.
"She's waking up, and it isn't going down to well on her heart, I don't know what it is," Emma replied. "I'm feeding her potions for the scars and bleeding." Emma said as she poured potion after potion down Hermione's throat.
The Healers muttered spell after spell and before her eyes the cuts started to healed, the burns went down and new skin replaced them, and the bruises faded.
When they were finished roughly an hour later Hermione was nearly completely healed and awake. Well not awake but alive, breathing on her own.
"Will she heal?" Melanie asked as slowly but surely the room became less and less crowded.
"This was major improvement. We have high hopes."