~Best and Worst of Times~
Summary: Before the start of the Seventh year term, Hermione is at home. When a Death-eater attacks. Sending her back in time. There she meets the love of her life.
Gryffindor Tower
Common Room
"So now Caroline and Lily you know my reasons for," huffs Melody as she gestures around her. "For that other thing we were talking about."
"What other thing," demands Frank. "Shouldn't I know I was here after all?"
"Frank I was trying to tell you," laughs Caroline. "In the dinning hall, before Erin joined us."
"What did you ladies talk about," wonders James as he stares at Lily causing her to blush.
"Dating choices," answers Lily.
Confused James mutters "ah." Then his face clears up as he demands, "So who does Melody like?"
"I plead the fifth," snickers Melody to James.
"The fifth?" questions Peter as Lily and Caroline snicker at his question.
Laughing out loud, Melody explains, "The fifth is an American term, for taking a vow of silence as to not incriminate oneself."
Humming Chloe looks at Melody before she demands, "Come on they know," gesturing to the girls. "Even if Frank doesn't. Give me a clue, please!"
Laughing at her puppy dog look Melody gives in. "Think task-master," getting a look of confusion. "Old school, task-master," still confusion holding up her hand to prevent Lily from saying anything. "Ok last clue, ready, idiot girl!"
Choking on her drink, Chloe coughs, "Did hell just freeze over and someone forget to inform me?"
"What you act like no-one from this house has ever dated anyone from that house," states Melody. Observing James, Sirius and Remus glance at each other then turn and glare at her.
"Why would you want to date someone from another house," comments Caroline as she gazes lovingly at Frank. "When we have the best men in all of the school. You can date someone from here."
"It's a Slytherin," growls Sirius. "She likes someone from Slytherin."
"Maybe I do and maybe I don't," laughs Melody as Sirius starts to pace the room. Easy boy this is for your benefit. Not mine. Smiling softly at Sirius, Melody asks, "What's so wrong with liking a Slytherin?"
"Oh," gasps Chloe getting in on the game. "How long have you been here?"
"Less then a day of school," replies Melody. "Otherwise I have been in the hospital wing. Why?"
Poking Remus with a finger. "You mean to tell me," growling at him. "No one told you about the Slytherins."
Struggling to keep her face blank. "No," swallowing hard at the room's surprise and obvious delight. "Why what's so wrong with them?" Looking at each person, whose eyes were gleaming. If I didn't know you guy were good, I'd almost think you're evil.
"Where to start," ponders James as he glances at Sirius, who echo's the sediment.
Laughing at their antics, Melody suggests, "How about the being? Like what did they do that was so bad?"
"It all started over a girl," declares Peter.
Shock and surprise hits Melody as she stutters "A girl?" Lily slowly raised her hand "You," pointing to Lily. "What do the Slytherin have against Lily?"
Squeaky Lily answers very quietly, "I'm a half-cast."
"A what?" questions Melody.
"A half- cast," echoes Sirius, staring him directly into his eyes making him understand that she didn't understand him. Trying several other terms and still not understanding him, he growls "A mudblood." Feeling the intensity of his gaze.
"That's it," says Melody amazed
"Come on you're kidding me." Looking around the room Melody could see everyone was indeed very serious. Some things don't change. "Wow how dumb are they?"
Sirius, James and Remus take turns telling tales that she has heard before, this time un-censored. Wow they sure do take this war seriously. So far thought its been only Malfoy and Snape they're talking about.
"Ok," laughs Melody. "Now, I think I have heard everything."
"Oh," groans Chloe. "Bloody hell, we forgot we have Transfiguration homework."
Leaping off Remus's lap Chloe runs upstairs and gets her stuff. "Hey! Lily you thought I was bad about my grades," snickers Chloe points a finger to Melody. "She's worst."
Gasping Melody looks affronted. "Am not. Just because I'm a straight A student doesn't make me obsessive."
"Sure," laughs Chloe. "Then I guess because you weren't here when the homework was assigned, you won't be doing it?"
"Are you crazy?" snaps Melody as she jumps to get her supplies, hearing Chloe's laughter chase her up the stairs.
Gryffindor Tower
Chloe and Melody's room
In her room, Melody gathers together her books and parchment. Chloe will have the ink and quills, so I guess I have everything. Heading out the door, Melody bumps into Sirius. "Oh, I'm sorry," whispers Melody. Clasping her school supplies tightly as so not to drop them. Bloody hell, Sirius you smell so good.
"Melody," purrs Sirius causing unknown goose bumps to form on her neck. "I'll teach you to fly."
"Yeah right," laughs Melody as she tries to pass him. Feeling his hand on her shoulder, she looks back at him.
"I mean it. Tomorrow before Quidditch practice at 5 p.m. We'll start." I think he's serious! . "We'll go directly from dinner. Ok?"
"Sure," agrees Melody as he lets go of her shoulder. Walking towards the girls who had identical books open. They were laughing as they talk about their homework. Smashing! I have girlfriends, besides Chloe. Smiling Melody joins the group.
Transfiguration Classroom
Professor McGonagal's class
Entering Professor McGonagal's classroom, apprehension coils in Melody's stomach. Where am I going to sit? Professor McGonagal usually has assigned seats. Hesitating at the front of the room, Melody could feel everyone's eyes on her.
"Miss St. James," turning her head towards Professor McGonagal. "You will sit next to Miss Bane." Handing the professor the assigned homework only causes the professor's eyebrows to rise. "Miss Bane kindly show her where she is sitting."
Following Chloe to her seat, Melody sits down beside her. At least I'm not sitting next to Malfoy and cronies. Loud grunt like snickers radiates from behind her, Melody spots the two goons Scotty and Court. Merlin, I hope they didn't jinx the chair! Wait this is Crabbe and Goyle you talking about. A low warning growl comes from right behind her, making her smile. I would know that growl anywhere. But damn, Sirius you have to watch your temper!
"All right class, today we're going to be working on changing books into organic things," states Professor McGonagal as she changes the books on her desk into a plot of flowers. "Then we will those organic things into something living," tapping the plot and turning it into a small squirrel. "And back to the organic and then back to the book. Now get out your wands and start."
As class continues, the professor goes around checking each student's work. "Mr. Malfoy," snaps Professor McGonagal. "Ten points from Slytherin." When Lucius tried to turn his flowers into a naked woman.
Taking her wand, Melody smoothly changes the book on her desk into a bush then to a small dog. Startling everyone when it starts to snarl and bark. Lunging to attack both Chloe and herself. Jumping up and out of their chairs, the grunt like snickers get louder.
Suddenly the dog changes into a rose bush. "Mr. Black," barks Professor McGonagal. "Well done, twenty points to Gryffindor. Mr. Coyle and Grabble, you both have detention." The rest of the class passes without any more instances. Students prepare to leave the room.
"God," groans Melody. "I just panicked." Putting her head in her hands, she starts to shake.
"Hey," laughs Sirius. "Come on it happens to everyone. No reason to be upset about it." Sirius wraps his arms around her when he sees tear drops on the papers below her face.
Telling jokes until he gets a shaky laugh from Melody. As she wipes her face with the back of her hand, Sirius pulls out a handkerchief of bright red and gold. Creating a fresh wave of laughter from Melody.
"Come on let's get out of here," suggests Sirius. "Before we get more homework." Taking her hand. They walk out, hand and hand. In the background, Professor McGonagal scrutinizes Sirius's treatment of Melody. What do you know? It seems that Mr. Black has finally met his match.
Gryffindor Tower
Common Room
Rushing into the common room, everyone laughs at just how dirty they had gotten in Magic Care class. Remus and James had started a dirt-throwing contest behind the teacher's back. Sirius not one to be left out, tried to out do both boy. This caused the girls to get just as dirty if not more dirty the boy, seeing how they were in the crossfire.
Taking steady breaths, Melody asks, "Are they always like this?"
Laughing, Lily response, "Yes, they are always finding ways to create trouble."
"Be trouble."
"Be in trouble."
Laughing group broke up to shower then change their cloths into some clean ones. Observing the others to following their lead, Melody grabs fresh cloths and towels and picks a stall to take a shower in.
Little annoying squeaky noises coming from around the door. Turning her head, Melody was just in time to catch a fat mouse or rat crawls into the room. That could be Peter! How gross! In a falsely high-pitched voice, Melody says, "Oh guys. There is a mouse in here!"
Glancing around the room, she sees everyone still in their dirty cloths. Melody screams, "Mouse!"
Gryffindor Tower
Boys Bathroom
Swinging the door closed, Frank hears loud shrieks coming from down the hall. Stopping clod, he blinks. "Ah guys I think there is a problem in the girls bathroom," Franks states as he races down there, followed by James, Remus and Sirius.
Knocking James pushes the door open slightly. "Everyone ok in there?"
"James," gushes Lily. "There is a rodent lose in here," when he doesn't answer right away. "JAMES POTTER! GET IN HERE!"
Swallowing hard, James and the gang walk into unfamiliar territory. Covering their eyes with their hands.
"Remus," snaps Chloe. "We are fully clothed. PLEASE remove the rat, so we can take our showers."
Removing their hands from their eyes, they see the girls standing on the benches in the shower room. Snickering softly they look about for the rodent.
After a while, James goes up to Sirius with something in his hand, "Hey," asks Melody. "Did you find it?" Watching Sirius scowl. I guess he did. "Did you?"
"Yes," James states. "Lovely ladies, we found your rodent."
"If you lovely ladies," purrs Sirius. "Don't mind, we will hand it from here." As they leave Sirius purrs, "And Melody don't think you're getting out of our date tonight."
Looking around the group of girls Lily was the first to ask, "What date?"
Until Later