Hermione guides Melanie to the dorms. The more they walked, the more she regained some of her control back, opening a door of thoughts to her eyes, thoughts she'd kept locked up tight, thoughts that needed a push, and that was the push.

In the dorms, Hermione attempts to comfort Melanie, who became warily quiet. Even weirder when she asked Hermione to leave her be for a bit. Reluctantly, Hermione obliged.

The boys entered the dorm later, together. Hermione and Ron weren't on talking terms per se, but this was Melanie. Their personal problems were set far aside. She told them what had happened. Harry pointed out that he knew this would have happened, and made several other accusations. Ron inquired what to do, what they should do, what she would do now.

That was when she herself came out of the room, an unreadable expression on her face, but it was evident she was crying, tears that had dried at least an hour ago.

She thought long and hard about her decision. She had to confront him. It was the healthiest course of action in any relationship. She wasn't weak. She wasn't stupid. She wouldn't cry her eyes out all day. If there was a problem between them, it was their problem. No one else should intervene, and, by far, the problem should not be ignored.

"Melanie." Hermione noted.
"You alright?" Ron inquired. She nodded firmly.
"I'm fine." The Redwing assured, walking off.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asks perplexedly.

Melanie halts her steps, turns on her heel, and faces them. "To talk to him." She stated seriously. They remain silent. "If he's hiding something from me, I intent to find out what it is."
"…Be careful, Mel." Harry tells. She nods slowly at him, then being reminded of Harry's colorful opinions on Draco as she walked out of the room, and she couldn't help the question, what if he was right?

But no. No guessing. No dark thoughts. She would simply find out.

But…simple…was the last thing…this was going to be.

…

In the Slytherin Common Room, Pike opens up the door irritably, only to be disgusted by the sight of a Gryffindor.

"Ugh! What are you doing here?" He asks suspiciously.

Blaise was on his favorite arm chair, reading as usual. The question had caught his attention, and he tilted forward slightly to catch sight of the intruder.

"I'm here to see Draco." She notes tiredly, honestly in no mood to put up with shit.
"Sorry! No Gryffindor slime allowed! Bugger o-"

Pike was cut off by a firm hand on his shoulder. He turns to see Blaise, and immediately tones down. Almost all Slytherin boys were jealous of Blaise, and those who weren't, respected him. Pike wasn't one of those few, but those jealous were also afraid. Blaise was unpredictable and fairly intimidating.

"Take a walk, Pike. I'll take care of our guest here." He told, more commanded. In all honestly, Melanie was grateful Blaise was around. At least she trusted him, and didn't have to constantly be vigilant around him.

Blaise walked her out of the room and closed the door behind him. He stood tall across her, studying her closely, like he ordinarily did, ordinary for him at least. With the look on her face and her tired eyes, he'd managed to deduce exactly what she would say, yet, still, he played dumb to get the most honest results.

"What can I help you with, Redwing?" He asked casually.
"Where is he, Blaise?" She asked impatiently. She knows Zabini knows she's here for him. Instead of talking to her himself, he would have called Draco, but he didn't. The only explanation was that Draco wasn't even in the room, so where in the world was he?

Blaise clenches his jaw. She wasn't going to make this easy. "How should I know?" He asked instead, feigning annoyance, though he knew exactly where the Malfoy was.

Melanie would have believed him, had she not seen with her own eyes how close the two had become this year. Blaise was lying too, though less clearly, she could still see it. No more beating around the bush. "Blaise. What's going on?" She questioned strictly.

As if he pulled down a mask, Blaise's expression changed incomprehensively. He locked eyes with the Redwing intensely and spoke firmly, nearing inches, sending shivers up her spine at his sudden flip. "Ignorance. Is. Bliss." He uttered. It took her a second to get that. "You don't have to know everything, Redwing. And if you really do care about him. If. You. Want. To see him unharmed. You'll stop asking questions." He told, causing her to freeze, in fear and confusion.

Blaise steps back and grabs the door knob, readying to leave, but not without those last words. "When the truth comes out. And it will. Remember. One. Thing…There was never…a choice."

And at that, he opened the door, disappeared inside, and shut it behind him, hoping he'd succeeded in keeping her at bay willingly.

Melanie was at loss for words. At loss for thoughts. She was given too much information to process at once, too shocking to find the strength to face Blaise with more questions.

Never had she ever been more confused…or scared.

…

When Melanie went back to her dorms. She'd found that her friends had been anxiously waiting for her return with the newly found information they were sure she got, but she didn't say anything other than the fact that Draco wasn't there, and left it at that, claiming she was tried and needed sleep.

She didn't tell them, because she herself didn't understand anything from what Blaise had said. More so, Harry's reaction to Zabini's words also concerned her. She didn't need to hear any more accusations from anyone. She just didn't have the energy to deal.

The Redwing feigned sleep all night. It was simply impossible for her to put her working, mad-going mind at ease, but at the same time, she didn't want to be asked about it.

It was like trying to fit puzzle pieces from different pictures. The lies. Why the lies? What were they hiding? What in the world's name were they doing?!

Death Eater…..No. It couldn't be…..But it could.

And that one thought sent her into another fit of silent tears on her soaked pillow case. She was losing him, wasn't she? No. She couldn't. She wouldn't! How could he?! How could he what?...

Her charged thoughts eventually wore her out, and alas, her body and mind gave into the wide embrace of empty sleep.

When Draco had come back from his daily cabinet attempts, that Blaise sometimes joined in, Zabini had already warned Pike about saying a word to the Malfoy about Melanie's visit. And he said nothing himself. There was so much he was keeping from Draco, for the sake of insuring he stayed focused enough to keep his family and himself alive. Blaise'd be damned if he let Draco slip after all this time, after all this trying.

But there was only so much one man could do.

…
The next day, Hermione attempts to wake Melanie up. She rose in stun, as if a bucket of ice had been emptied on her. Hermione was taking notes, trying to deduce anything that made sense, as, since the day before, Melanie hadn't been making any. The Granger asked her friend if she was okay, and Melanie nodded as if automatically.

The day's passing was heavy to all but Melanie, who was practically in a whole other world. Lost in thought, in hurt, confusion, and, most of all, fear.

Fear of what? She wasn't sure yet. Was it fear of a loss yet to come, or fear of facing truth, of facing a reality she'd tried so hard to avoid?

No one had seen sight of Draco the whole day, that was something that hadn't passed Melanie's sight. It only helped to feed into her doubts.

Where was he? What was he doing?! Hours in classes left room for more questions. They just kept piling up, she could physically feel it on her chest, but still, in a semi-state of denial.

Until the party.

Hermione was surprised to find that Melanie was intent on going, saying that she just needed to, something Hermione didn't quite understand.

But Melanie knew, if she was to be left alone in her room, she would collapse. And the last thing she wanted on this earth was for it to be because of Draco. Not him.

So she went, partially in hopes of avoiding the problem further, but then, the problem came to her.

She was at the corner of Slughorn's office, where the party was held, half-heartedly attempting to finish the cup in her hand, standing there like a lost beauty, in her knee-length, wine-colored, strapped dress. Hair loose and resting on one shoulder in smooth, brown waves. Barely any make up on.

Twenty minutes into the party, it happened. "Take your hands off me!" Yells a voice, a voice she knew all too well.

Melanie furrows her eyebrows. She attempts to make her way to the front, where the yelling was, then she saw him, and froze in spot, partially hidden by the crowd.

Slughorn is at the front, frowning at the interruption. "Professor Slughorn, sir!" Professor Filch calls, releasing Draco's jacket collar harshly. "I've just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor! He claims to have been invited to your party."

Draco was about to retort, then, he caught glimpse of her, and he too froze. mesmerized by the Redwing's ever-growing beauty, it takes Draco a moment to note the look on her face.

Oh god…was the only thought that stormed past his mind, as a dark, dark fact made itself clear that very night.

Melanie eyed him with a look of deep hurt in her eyes, a look he'd only ever seen once before, when she'd found the truth of her parents' death, only now, it looked much, much worse, combined by a sense of betrayal. And it could only mean one thing…She knew.

Blaise was also present in the room, observing everything awfully warily. He didn't know what to do, as much as Melanie's friends didn't either. The tension was as thick as a cloud of smoke.

"I'll escort him out." Stated Snape firmly, snapping most of those present out of it. He took hold of Draco's shoulder strictly and led him out, but Draco was barely able to concentrate on anything but her, and the hurt behind her eyes.

The minute Draco was out of sight, Melanie felt as aware as could be. All of her senses kicked back in. This was one chance she wasn't going to miss. They were leaving for the Christmas break after this, and there was no way she would leave as a fool. She had to know, once and for all, who Draco Malfoy really was.

…

On the way out, Melanie pulls a confused Harry along with her in hast. Hand in hand, the two jog down the corridor, then hide behind a pillar, and listen in on Snape and Draco's conversation.

"I don't need your help, Snape. Leave. Me. Alone." Draco tells tiredly.
"Yes. That is quite evident with the most obvious path of failure you insist to follow." Severus spits.
"You have no idea what you're talking about!" Draco whisper-yells harshly. Who was Snape do judge, to guess?! He had no idea what he'd been through. He had no idea how hard this was!
"Really? So you weren't the reason Katie Bell was hexed?" He asks sarcastically. At that, Draco snaps. How did he know about that? What in the world else did Severus know?!

From the behind the pillar, Melanie and Harry waited impatiently for the Malfoy's reply, each for their own reasons.

Draco would take all the mockery, but Snape was going too far. Almost murdering someone wasn't something one would forget, but it wasn't something one wished to be constantly reminded of, by people like Snape no less.

Draco was far from in a mood to argue. All he wanted was for Snape to be gone. "Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. All the same. It's none of your concern!" Draco tells harshly, completely oblivious to all those present.

Upon hearing that one statement, Melanie felt her heart crack. She closed her eyes to the tears that washed down, tears she'd been keeping in all day, tears that were waiting. Harry eyes her sympathetically and places a hand on her shoulder. He had no idea how she must be feeling right now.

Snape had had enough of Draco's attitude. He shoves him into the nearest wall. Ice in his tone. "I swore to protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow!" Severus exclaims.

Melanie and Harry furrow their eyebrows at this. Of course, Draco knew what his mother had planned with Snape, but, honestly, what could Severus do?

"I don't need your protection!" Draco shouts, barely able to hold it together any more. Snape's eyes grow soft.
"You're afraid, Draco. You attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious. Let me assist you." He tells.

At that, Melanie dares a peek, as if needing to see for herself, if what Snape had noted was true. She needed to see. Anything. Anything to prove those words. Those words Blaise had pointed at her as a must know. There was…no choice.

Tears glimmer Draco's eyes, no matter how hard he fought them. "There's…nothing…you can do." He utters tensely.

When Snape loosens his grip in realization, Draco pushes past him. "Just leave me alone." He tells angrily, but anger Snape knew wasn't directed at him. Draco walks away. Severus doesn't follow. There was only one thing Snape knew to do now.

Melanie and Harry could hear Draco's footsteps nearing them. That was when Melanie decided to move, worrying Harry extremely as he tried to pull her back, but couldn't.

Draco halts upon seeing her. Her red, glossy eyes. Her drenched cheeks. Her sadness. He saw it all. It was too much to bear. It broke him, knowing he was the reason why.

For a moment, neither said a word. Then, she spoke. "…Show me the mark." She demanded quietly, voice hoarse.

There was no more wonder now. She knew. If he could at least try to explain. "Melanie, I-"
"Just…show it to me." She plead almost painfully.

And so, he did. Draco rolled up his sleeve, hands shaking. So much anger. So much fear. So much pain.

And there it was. The snake and the skull, slithering across his forearm. Melanie's eyes went slightly wide. He tried reading her expression. He couldn't tell what she was thinking. He could barely think himself.

She inched closer to him, took hold of his arm almost disappointedly, brushing her fingers over it. That touch. That soft, gentle touch. It drove him mad, thinking he'd never be able to feel it again.

Melanie locked eyes with him once more. "Tell me…tell me you had to, Draco. Tell me…there was no choice." She uttered.

Draco couldn't believe what he was hearing. Even after everything he now knew she heard. After the truth. After the mark. Still, she tried to prove his innocence. Her. His rock. His Light In The Dark.

But change. That wasn't something they could achieve. Not at this point. Not after everything. Draco shook his head softly. "It doesn't matter…It won't change what I have to do." He replied regretfully. She cocked an eyebrow, tears she couldn't and stopped trying to hold back sliding down her face.
"What do you have to do, Draco?" She asked reluctantly. A huge part of her refusing to take his answer to that, refusing to hear the truth, but another part almost needed to hear it.

He shook his head again, this time, a flash of fear passed by his eyes that she didn't ignore. "I can't tell you that. I can't." He told, pushing her further tears as his fell too. Draco took hold of her hands as if in need of strength to go on. "You have to understand. It's not just me…My mum. My dad." He told, cracking with every word, and she could tell, he was falling apart, and couldn't hold on any more. Blaise was right. There was no choice.

She shook her head at him, taking his face in her palms, wiping at his hurting tears. "I'll help you, Draco. We'll get through this together." She told firmly as he shook his own head strictly.
"No. No. I won't pull you through this."
"Draco-"
"I won't." He stressed, placing his head on hers as she cried harder, him shushing her softly, caressing her face and wiping at her own tears.

But this was one thing he wouldn't dare change. There was no way he was involving her in any of this.

In that very moment. In that very second. They wanted to say it, as if hurriedly, before they no longer could.

He wanted to tell her so bad, but he knew, it would only succeed in making things worse, for both of them. He didn't want to widen her hurt. He'd hurt her enough already. He never, ever wanted it to be this way. But it was. And so, he said nothing.

But she didn't see it that way. She loved him. She always had, and she always will. She loved Draco Malfoy. And in that godforsaken moment she knew, she had to say it. She had to.

But she didn't get the chance.

Hasting footsteps could be heard, not too far, making both of them highly alert. Harry too, who was still behind the pillar, listening to every word, and missing some, due to their whispering.

Melanie and Draco pulled back an inch, both looking behind her, at the arriving shadows. Melanie turns back to him drastically, as if begging him not to leave her. But he didn't have a choice. He placed one last kiss on her forehead, then began walking back, leaving her behind. "No…" She uttered.

At the end of the hall, he tore his eyes form hers, and it was then that she collapsed, feeling her heart crush in her chest.

The shadows arrive and are revealed to be Hermione, Ron, and Blaise himself. He sees the situation, and catches a glimpse of the fleeing figure, then rushes after him, leaving the three others with a much hurting Melanie.

Harry comes out of hiding and immediately pulls Melanie into his arms as she cried heartedly.

….