Chapter 10:: Fights Are Pointless Sometimes...
Ron was storming through the hallways and came across Elle.
"RON! Holy crap! What happened to you? You're covered in blood!"
Ron kept walking and didn't make eye contact with Elle. He was trying to find Melissa and tell her what had happened – but decided that if she saw him she would be quite frightened at his current state. So he settled on going to the infirmary instead to be fixed up, then he would go play Quidditch for a while to see if he couldn't work off some of the anger he felt.
. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .
Meanwhile, Melissa was in the girls' washroom being informed of Ron's state by Elle.
"His nose was all bloody, and so was the front part of his robes! Rather... well... toga thing. It was horrid! He stormed right past me! I think he was going to come find you, but he didn't come in this direction, he wouldn't have been able to find you. God Melissa... I'm so sorry that all this happened, and especially on the night that you told him how you felt." Elle wrapped her arms around a very silent Melissa.
"I don't even want to know what Hermione is going to do to me..." Melissa mumbled into Elle's clothing.
"I hope she doesn't break your nose, or worse... pull your hair out of that beautiful arrangement." Elle smiled at Melissa and placed her hand on her cheek. Melissa started laughing.
"You are such a goof Elle. You can't take anything seriously can you?"
"Yeah I can! I just choose not to." Elle flashed her a bright smile. "I have to get going back to my common room – I have astronomy tonight and I want to be able to get a couple hours sleep... okay? Will you be alight if I leave?"
"Yes. I'll be fine. Have fun." Melissa smiled and hugged Elle warmly. "See you at breakfast." Elle smiled and nodded – heading out the door.
Melissa walked over to the mirror. Her make-up was all over her face. She laughed at her reflection, took out her contacts, and replaced them with her glasses, which she had carried in her purse. She was wiping the mascara off of her cheeks as Hermione opened the door and walked towards Melissa.
"I need to speak with you."
The emotion in Hermione's voice sent shockwaves through Melissa's body. "... Yes?"
"You were kissing my boyfriend, right in front of me. What made you think that it was all right to do? Did you momentarily loose all of your brain capacity and common sense?"
"I was caught up in the moment Hermione. He wouldn't have made the first move if he didn't think it was all right." Melissa turned to face Hermione with her arms crossed.
"So you think, that because that stupid boy thought it was okay, it was okay? Melissa, I expected more from you. You're Head Girl – shouldn't you be setting an example for all those younger than you instead of slumming around with my boyfriend?"
Melissa glared at Hermione. "Hermione, don't throw that Head Girl bull at me. I know for a fact that you were jealous of me because I had gotten the position and you hadn't. You were jealous of the fact that I was actively spending more time with Ron than you were." Melissa walked towards Hermione speaking in a low growl. "Honestly Hermione. You're a smart person, why couldn't you see that he was falling for me right underneath your very nose?"
Hermione wound back and slapped Melissa as hard as she could. Melissa's cheek seared with pain, she hadn't noticed Hermione twirl the ring on her finger around so the jewel was closest to her palm. The cut on Melissa's cheek was long, and deep. Melissa put her hand up to her cheek by instinct, and within seconds, her hand was completely covered in blood. She looked wide-eyed at Hermione and then down at her hand.
"Do not speak to me in that tone. I did notice that you and Ron were..." Hermione curled her lip up. "Falling in love. I just didn't want to realize it because he was the only person I felt comfortable and safe with. Apparently, that didn't matter, as now he doesn't want a thing to do with me. You, Melissa... just ruined my only chance at being happy." Tears were starting to well up in Hermione's eyes.
"You think that you were the only one who ever felt something for anyone? NO ONE has ever spoke to me as freely as Ron has! I don't suspect now that anyone ever will again either. Hermione, people speak with you like a human should, they treat you like a normal teenage girl. They speak to me as if I may break; no one touches me, because they are afraid to. Hermione, you are beautiful inside and out – and everyone is in love with who you are and what you look like. Everyone loves me simply because of my face. For the first time in my life, I met someone who treated me like a person!" Melissa was crying. "I love Ron because he isn't afraid of me, Hermione! When you saw him hug me in the common room, it was because of the idea for the dance.... No one has ever hugged me like that... And I'm sorry for kissing him..." Melissa's words had trailed off - she was crying.
Hermione stood speechless. She didn't know that this is what went on inside of Melissa's head. She realized how selfish she was for saying that Melissa had ruined her only chance to be happy. Hermione pointed her want at Melissa's cheek and healed the wound.
"I'm sorry for how I acted Melissa. But I had every right to get mad. I knew that our relationship was going downhill; I just didn't want to see him kiss someone else, to really concrete that the relationship was over. But in the end, I suppose it was inevitable. We fight too much, and we're better off as friends." Hermione offered a smile at Melissa.
"That was lovely to watch... but do you mind getting out of my bathroom?" Moaning Myrtle was sitting in the windowsill.
"Yes. I'm sorry Myrtle." Hermione sighed.
"Me too. Enjoy your night..." Melissa took her things and followed Hermione out of the bathroom.