"C'mon," Marcus said softly, unwrapping his arms from around me so could grab my hand and start pulling me to the door. "After we get you some fresh air, we may as well start packing. You can help me write my parents so that they know what to expect."

That was when Madam Pomfrey briskly hurried out of her office toward us. Oh, what now?

"Don't tell me I need to stay?" I asked dreadfully.

"Let me see," she said, sitting me back down on the bed. With, "Lumos," she shined her wand in my face, asking me to follow the light with my eyes. "Any more headache or dizziness?" she asked.

"None," I said.

"Alright then…. You look good... you are free to go," she said.

"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," I said with a grin.

She smiled, allowing Marcus to take my hand and drag me out of there as quickly as possible.

As we wandered the halls, I whispered, "All your parents need to know is that no one is allowed to know about my knowledge and involvement concerning my dad. The only other person who knows anything about it is Lucius Malfoy."

Marcus burst into laughter.

"The heck is so funny?" I asked irritably, unable to pull away when he wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"I know something Malfoy doesn't… his own father even hides it from him…. Hah!"

"Oh shut up, already. I'm not proud of it," I grumbled.

He grinned, "Don't worry about it. I'm.. just happy you can trust me well enough for only me to know this about you."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Remember, I didn't have much of a choice."

Marcus led me outside, waving his free hand nonchalantly. "Details, details."

He led me out onto the grounds. I had never been so happy to be outside, basking in the sunlight. As I tilted my head to give the sun access to my cheeks, I noticed Remus walking toward a carriage with his suitcase. As well as an empty grindylow tank.

"I'll be right back," I said, quickly sprinting over to him.

"What? Some extra homework you forgot to do for him?" Marcus asked.

"Haha very funny!" I said, continuing toward the carriage. Once I was close enough, I shouted, "Remus!"

Remus turned around in surprise, just placing his suitcase and grindylow tank into the carriage.

"What, did you think you were leaving without saying good bye?" I asked jokingly, slowing to a stop next to him.

"Are you going to say what Harry said, and try to keep me here?" he asked with a smile.

So Harry went to him, too. "I don't know, how about you tell me after I've said it?" I asked breathlessly. "Even though you are a werewolf – which in my opinion shouldn't have to change anything – you have been the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had. Last night was a close call, but... Harry did happen to conjure a Patronus – a very strong one at that – thanks to you."

Remus was really at a loss for words... in a good way. He looked as though he was almost about to burst into happy tears – he was just as emotional as Sirius was when we saved him from a horrible fate. Widening his arms out, he captured me in a tight hug that I gladly returned.

Pulling away, he wiped his eyes and said, "We'll see each other again some day, Melody... thank you. And tell your mother I said 'hi.'"

"We better see each other again," I said warningly. He laughed some more. "I'm sure mom would be glad to hear that you're okay."

Slipping into the carriage and closing it behind him, he waved good bye, and so did I.

The last week at Hogwarts was full of rumors flying all over the place about what happened the night that Sirius and Buckbeak got away. My friends kept asking me about what happened, but I didn't tell them everything. What really happened that night was between Professor Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and myself.

The exam results came back and – as I already knew — I got full marks on everything. I spent a lot of time with my friends since they seemed to think that staying around me would keep me from more trouble. Becky kept with me at night – sleeping very lightly, might I add, to the point that getting up to go to the bathroom as her at my side like a sentry – and Marcus kept his arm around me pretty much all day long.

Marcus received a letter back from his parents claiming how proud they were of him. Of course, that was all he would tell me that they wrote because the rest of the letter was — as he so claims — mothering on how to pack everything for the safe return home. Oh, plus a surprise to him that they would be taking him with them to France over the summer for his father's business dealings. He tried to convince me to join them for more discussion on how they can also help my dad to power, but as I told him.. I had already made plans to help grandpa in the shop.

"Is the wand shop really that important?" he'd whined to me.

I rolled my eyes, "It's one summer, Marcus, you'll be fine."

He hugged me close, "But I've grown so attached to you. My heart will be kicking and screaming until I return."

"You're way too dramatic."

"I'm just in love."

"Whatever."

As the week quickly passed by, it was obvious that Severus was still upset about Sirius' escape. I went to talk to him a short while before the last feast of the school year, having to throw Marcus's arm off of me to run into his office, closing and locking it behind me.

"What?" he asked irritably.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked, feigning timidness as I went over and plopped down in the seat in front of him.

He sighed, "No."

"I meant what I said in the hospital wing – and don't think I haven't noticed how you've been acting around Harry this week... I never thought it was possible for you to hate him more than you already did." I said with a light chuckle.

He didn't respond.

"Hmm, does this have to do with Gryffindor winning the House Cup for the third year in a row?" I asked.

His hands clenched into tight fists, and his teeth seemed to be glued together as he said, "No."

He easily lets me get him angry. "Come on, Severus, spit it out."

"Melody, leave it alone!" he snapped.

I was treading dangerous ground here... I stood up, walked over behind his desk and hugged him.

"Melody, wha –"

"Shh..." I whispered, hugging him until he relaxed. Who knew hugs were the answer to all problems? The moment he relaxed, I said, "Heh, I knew you cared about me."

With one hand, he pushed me away from him. "Go away, Melody."

"Nuh uh, you care about me! You should've seen the way you looked at me while I was laying there with a concussion."

"That's because I know your mother's temper. I will be blamed if you're seriously injured on my watch."

"Whatever you say, Severus," I giggled, running out of the room.

The feast was a happy one – except for the Slytherins. Draco had been complaining all week about how furious he was that Professor Hagrid had outsmarted him and his dad. He believed to himself that Professor Hagrid had smuggled Buckbeak away so that he couldn't be beheaded. I knew how absurd it was but chose not to respond. It was just amazing to me how much angrier Draco was about that than about us losing the House Cup again.

The next day, we were packed up and on the train. I stared out the window, watching the castle disappear in the distance.

"What are you doing this summer?" Draco asked us.

Marcus pouted, leaning his face into my shoulder so his voice was muffled when he replied, "I'll be in France all summer."

"What a shame," Draco simpered half-heartedly. "What about you, Mel?"

"Same as last summer," I said distractedly. "Helping out at the wand shop."

"You can take a break, can't you?" he asked anxiously.

His tone of voice gave me reason to turn and give him my full attention. "Why do you ask?"

"The Quidditch World Cup is this summer! My father said I could invite anyone... we're going to be watching it in the Minister's box!"

I was intrigued. "That sounds like a lot of fun. I'll come with you for that."

Marcus shook his head, stuffing his hands underneath his legs to hide his clenched fists. I glanced at him, making sure he knew he couldn't hide his frustration from me.

Becky's mouth was a thin line, "I'm not interested in the Quidditch World Cup."

"I didn't ask you, Figgy."

…. Let's just say that ten minutes later, Becky glared out the window with a "Hmph!" as Draco nursed the back of his head and Marcus failed to hold back his snickers.

"All right," Draco said in an attempt to pretend that nothing happened. "So it'll just be you and me. Crabbe and Goyle will be with their parents at the game. You can be with me, mother and father."

Oh joy. Alone with the Malfoys. That oughta be interesting.

We reached King's Cross station and stepped back through the barrier of platform nine and three-quarters. I saw mom and Gerald instantly – Gerald looked to be holding my new baby brother.

"I'll see you all later," I said to my friends.

Marcus stopped me before I could continue forward, cupping my cheeks in his hands to keep eye contact. "Write me, okay?" he said.

"Of course," I said with a smile. "As long as you write me back."

He chuckled, "There's something we should do before we leave."

"Oh, really? And what's that, I wonder?" I asked teasingly.

He bent down and kissed me – a kiss to make up for two months' worth of not seeing each other. "I'll give a better one once we see each other again," he said, hurrying away toward his parents. "Bye!"

"Bye!" I said, waving frantically at him. Then I turned only to be engulfed in a hug by my mom.

"Oh, Melody, it's so good to see you!" she said, hugging me tightly.

"It's good to see you've shrunken down again," I responded, grinning as she lightly swatted my arm in protest. "I'm sorry, but I worry that I'll only ever see you with a stomach the size of a pumpkin."

"Shut up!" she said, pulling away with a soft push.

"What?! I'm never around for when you give birth!" I said, looking to Gerald. "And good to see you again, Mr. 'smart-arse'."

Mom raised a finger at me, chiding, "Language, honey."

"He says it!" I said, gesturing wildly at my uncle.

He rolled his eyes, and thrust the baby at me "Here, you hold Blake… smart arse."

I tsked, and gently took Blake from him. I was captivated by his bright silvery gray eyes – thank God those won over the blue eyes – and he had Gilderoy's golden locks. This was going to be a perfect baby. Much better than his dad long as I had a say in it. "Well, aren't you a looker?" I cooed.

"Oh, God," Gerald said, slapping his hand to his face.

Mom pushed him and said, "He's your nephew! Get used to him!"

"He'll look exactly like his pompous father!" he retorted childishly.

"Absolutely not!" I said, "He will not look like his dad, and most importantly he will not be like his dad!"

"Sure, whatever you say Melody," Gerald scoffed. "You can't change his face any more than you can change yours. But, of course, whether it's your father or your mother's face it's still ugly anyway, so whatever works."

Mom pulled out her wand on him.. only for him to grab Blake from me and start running, exclaiming that she couldn't risk hitting her son just to get to him.

It only made me wonder as I watched mom's hesitation, her wand arm dropping to her side in defeat. Was there a point in time where she wouldn't have hesitated to hit a child with a spell? The same way dad was willing to kill Harry?… How far did the darkness go?

This year was more simple concerning the things I was willing to do to help my father, but not only was it more complicated emotionally for me… it was also my last chance for normality.