Hermione saw that Melanie was still asleep before lunchtime, and woke her up. She convinced her to go down to the Great Hall and eat something, but barely got five words out of her. Melanie only glanced at the Head Table, saw that Snape was there, and did not look up from her food anymore.
As they were leaving the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall stopped Melanie, "Dumbledore would like a word with you in his office."
Melanie was so emotionally drained that she simply nodded and slowly headed to the headmaster's office.
"Come in," Dumbledore said, even before she knocked. Melanie pushed the door open, and stepped inside, now beginning to wonder if he knew about her visits with Snape and her discovery about his past.
"Miss Patch," Dumbledore said, "How do you like Hogwarts so far?"
"Oh, it's been wonderful!" she partially lied, then thought that maybe that was all he wanted to know—how she was adjusting to the school.
"No sudden surprises of any kind? You like the professors for all of your classes?"
"My classes are fine," Melanie replied, now thinking that he did know about her and Snape.
"Alright...you may go. But a word of wisdom for you: people can change. And if I trust that they have, there is no reason for you not to."
"Thank you," Melanie said, walking towards the door. While still facing it, she asked, "Why can't he fully lose his connections with Voldemort?"
"Punishment from the Dark Lord for that would be far greater than simply returning to his side. Voldemort despises those who abandon him."
"But how do you know that you can trust Snape?" Melanie asked, returning to her seat, "I mean, wouldn't it just be easy for him to say 'good-bye Hogwarts' and tell Voldemort everything?"
"Yes, I imagine it would be quite easy. But that's where my faith in Severus comes in. I have never encountered a better potions teacher or head of Slytherin than him."
"May I please be excused? I need to talk to a few people," Melanie said. Dumbledore nodded and smiled as she let her self out and headed down to Snape's dungeons.
Somehow, just saying the password and walking in on the person she stormed out on the night before didn't seem right. So Melanie knocked a few times, heard Snape resignedly call "come in," and then let herself in his office.
"Hello professor," Melanie said, again sounding very meek.
"I thought you preferred never to see me again?" Snape asked, barely looking up from the papers he was correcting.
"I talked to Dumbledore." Melanie replied. "I don't know exactly why he trusts you, but I think that he is very wise to."
"Listen...if you just want to forget that you learned everything, I can easily make you a potion." Snape said, heading over to a shelf of ingredients.
"No, no. I actually think I'm happier knowing all this about you."
"Really." Snape replied.
"Yeah...it's great to know how much a person can change, and how much trust you can have in someone. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go regain my trust with Hermione, Ron, and Harry."
Snape actually smiled a broad smile as she left, and called out, "You're welcome here anytime!!"
----
"Now, you three might already know parts of what I'm going to tell you," Melanie said. She had found the three in their usual places in the Gryffindor common room, and told them that she had a lot to sad. "But please don't tell anyone else anything." She then proceeded to explain her absences at meals, Snape's past (which they already knew most of), and then asked if they could start their friendship over. They agreed, Harry thanking her and saying that he was going to think of Snape differently from then on. Melanie grinned her usual smile and walked away, humming a Muggle showtune. Harry and Ron resumed their gaping, and Hermione just laughed, saying "Boys will be boys!"
