Hermione still held Melina's arm as they pulled up to the castle, both of them still reeling from the dementor and the aftermath of its appearance on the train. Harry looked a little peaky, too, but he avoided her eyes. Girls emotions weren't something he nor Ron were comfortable dealing with.

As they disembarked the carriage, Melina heard her name being called. She looked up to see Professor McGonnagel rushing over to her.

"Miss Velazquez, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, I need the three of you to come with me," she said.

The three of them balked, wondering what they had done so early in the term that warranted this.

"There's no need to look alarmed," she said, softer than usual. "I just need a quick word."

Telling Ron to move along, McGonagall ushered them up to her office, a large spacious room with a warm fire already in the grate.

"Professor Lupin sent an owl to say that you two took ill on the train," she said to Harry and Melina. Madame Pomfrey came in, muttering under her breath. She looked at Harry and sighed.

"Already hurting yourself and it's barely even the start of term," she said to him. "What was it this time?"

"A dementor," McGonagal said, her and Madame Pomfrey sharing a dark look.

"They affected you too, Miss Velazquez?" Madame Pomfrey asked, feeling her forehead while shaking her head.

"Not exactly," Melina replied.

"I was just about to ask her, what exactly happened on the train? Professor Lupin said it was like something he'd never seen," McGonagal asked.

With a sideways glance to Hermione, Melina began to explain her ordeal on the train. She trusted that McGonagal would not think she was crazy or needed professional help. She told her everything, including the weird healing light after the dementor left.

After she was done, McGonagal looked amazed.

"Miss Velazquez, I'm going to ask that you wait here. I think this is something the headmaster needs to discuss with you. Miss Granger, we'll talk about your course schedule after the feast," she said to Hermione.

Melina felt nervous as they all left, leaving her alone in McGonagal's office. Whatever was going on with her, it was big enough to warrant the headmaster's attention.

Melina had never spoken to Dumbledore one on one before, although she knew through Harry that he was fair and understanding. She tried to calm herself with that knowledge, and hoped that whatever it was, Dumbledore would be able to explain it.

A half hour later, McGonagal returned with Dumbledore and, to Melina's surprise, Professor Snape, the Potions instructor and head of Slytherin House. Dumbledore fixed her with a kind stare as he sat behind McGonagal's desk.

"Miss Velazquez, could you please explain to me what you explained to Professor McGonagal? Leave no detail out," he said calmly.

Once again, Melina told him what she had already explained to her Head of House. He nodded at certain points and after she was done, he glanced up at the two professors behind her.

"I never thought I'd see one, Albus," McGonagal said in awe.

"Nor I," admitted Snape. "You do think she is one, don't you headmaster?"

Melina snapped.

"One what? For God's sakes what is wrong with me?! Why are there so many people looking at me like I've got a wart on my head?!" she exclaimed, leaping up out of her chair.

"Melina," Dumbledore said, standing and touching her arm. "Nothing is wrong with you. Quite the contrary but before I tell you , I need you to calm down. It's important that you do that."

Melina glared at him, but sat down and focused on her breathing. Dumbledore sat back down and gave her a warm smile.

"Miss Velazquez, I believe you're what we in the wizarding world call an Empath," he said, patting her hand. "Empaths exist in the muggle world, but in the magical world, it's very different. True Empaths, which is what you seem to be, can feel every emotion in the area they're in, and can manipulate the emotional climate as well. You can make people feel things. Happiness, sadness, anger, you name it.

"The powers begin in adolescence, and are very unstable the first few months. Most experts believe it's due to the hormones that the Empath experiences growing up. Young Empaths experience mood swings but can't exactly control making others feel the same way they do."

"So I'm a freak right now?" Melina asked angrily. "I don't know how I got these powers! How do I control them?"

"Practice," Dumbledore said simply. "Starting this term, you will meet with me once a week to get these powers under control. I've had experience with this before. It's very rare but not exactly terrible to have. You actually have a beautiful gift, once you get it under control. You already used it for good on the train. You helped your friends recover from the dementor with just your gift. No chocolate, no hospital wing."

"While you work on control, I'll be brewing a Calming Solution. Once it's ready, it's imperative that you should take it when you feel overwhelmed," Snape said, not unkindly. "The headmaster is right, you do have a power some only dream of having."

Melina looked around at the adults in the room, and sighed.

"Okay," she said. "Just please help me get this under control."

"An Empath, Melina," Hermione whispered in awe. "That's incredibly rare."

They were in the dorm, getting ready for bed. They were whispering because while Melina was happy to know there was nothing wrong with her, everyone's reactions so far made her not want this news out in the open just yet. If it was important to control herself, she couldn't have everyone looking at her the same way they looked at-

"Now I know how Harry feels. People being amazed by me and me not understanding why," Melina replied. "Please don't tell anyone, Hermione. Not even Harry and Ron."

Hermione looked at her sympathetically.

"Of course I won't," she replied. "So tell me everything real quick before the others come up."

Melina nodded and filled her in on what Dumbledore and Snape had said. Hermione was shocked that Snape had showed interest in helping Melina when he went out of his way to show his disdain for most non-Slytherin students.

"He didn't act like it was a burden at all," Melina said. "Just...I don't know Hermione. Can I do this? Control this gift? And what if some Dark Wizard hears about me and wants to use me as a weapon?"

Melina started to shake and Hermione grabbed her hands.

"Calm down, Melina. Not many people know, and those that do aren't going to betray you. You just have to trust them, and trust yourself."

Lavender and Pavarti entered the dorm before Melina could reply, so she merely nodded and got into bed. However, sleep wouldn't come for some time, due to the doubts still echoing in her head.