Several days pass and its almost Christmas! Melanie's grandmother mailed her two boxes of freshly baked cookies to share with her friends before she left for home, and so, Melanie was off doing just that. After distributing the first box with her Gryffindor friends, Melanie was off in the Quart Yard, spreading out the second.

"Redwing." A voice called, one that immediately sent her heart jumping. It had been several days since they'd spoken, several days since their almost-kiss. Melanie still didn't know what to think, nor what to do about it, so she wasn't prepared to face him just yet. One thing she did know, however, was that a part of her greatly felt for the Slytherin prince, and his behavior around her said he felt the same way.

He too was just as confused about what was going on between them as she was. He liked her, very much, and didn't really know what that would amount to. Would they become a couple? Would it last? What if it didn't, and it just ended up ruining a friendship they both cherished? But Draco was one for taking risks, and he would risk their friendship for something so much more meaningful and beautiful.

Approaching her, he noticed her tense posture and her reddening face. He smirked. "Bit nervous, are we?" He teased, which only resulted in her further embarrassment, but it also brought back the familiar air of playfulness between them. She rolled her eyes at his cockiness.
"Is there something I can help you with, Draco?" She asked, a basket filled with the cookies Madeline sent hanging from her arm, their sweet smell evading Draco's senses. He eyed the treats suspiciously, not really used to being around such delicacies.
"What on earth are you doing?" He questioned curiously, giving a pointed look at the basket. She smirked.
"Spreading the Christmas joy. Want one?" She asked back.
"I'll pass." He replied, not wanting to seem silly, but she could see the yearning in his eyes.
"Right. Let me rephrase that. You are going to take one." She handed him the baked good, nearly shoved it to him. He reluctantly took it as she walked passed him, signaling him to follow as she distributed some more.

He examined it thoroughly. Knowing Melanie, he kept in mind that this particular cookie would probably make all other sweets he'd ever had seem like dirt. And he was right.

After taking a cautious bite, millions of flavors exploded in his mouth. He could feel the soft crunchiness of the dough's texture, he could taste the sweet, melting chocolate chips, he could sense the sugary particles running all over his tongue, it was heavenly.

He hurried after the Joy Spreader. "What on earth did your grandmother make them from? Unicorn dust?!" He exclaimed, making her chuckle at his reaction.
"I'm glad you like it." She commented happily as he moaned with another bite.
"Right." He started, downing the last piece. "We need to talk." Melanie froze in place, suddenly going pale as the awkwardness returned and the churning in her stomach.

He caught the look on her face and stopped as well, letting out a laugh. "No, Redwing. We're not having that talk…yet." He explained, which only rushed the blood to her cheeks, but he continued before she could ask what he meant, even though she knew exactly what he was talking about: them. "You see, there's something I'd like to know. And I think you can help me with it." He said.

Melanie recomposed her thoughts, and feelings, then turned to him curiously. "And what would that be?" She asked. He eyed around them momentarily. Knowing Melanie, she probably wouldn't answer a question like that in public, so he grabbed her upper arm lightly, sending shivers up her spine from his touch, and he smirked knowingly, but what he wanted to talk about was too serious to turn into flirting with the attractive Redwing.

He led her away from the crowd, to a wall outside the Quart Yard, where they were partially seen, but more importantly, unheard. "Alright, Redwing, spill. What the hell do you and the losers do in the Room of Requirements?" He questioned, more curious than serious. Melanie looked a bit taken aback by the question, but she figured he would ask her about it soon, after all, he'd become part of Umbridge's pathetic squad of Inquisitorials, chasing after her and her friends in attempt to gain entry to said room.
"Why on earth should I tell you?!" She exclaimed.
"Ouch. That hurt." He joked, also knowing that she wouldn't give in that easily. She rolled her eyes. She couldn't tell him even if she wanted to, for too many reasons. "Come now, Redwing. I thought we were friends." He pouted.
"Friends don't work with the enemy of their friends." She told disapprovingly.
"The woman gave a compelling offer! She's giving each one of us five extra marks on each subject just to follow you guys around. How could I refuse?!" He defended.
"Like this: 'No'." She illustrated, though he had a point, it was a compelling offer. "Why do you want to know, anyways. So you could run off and tell her, hoping she'll give you another five marks?" She asked mockingly. He sighed irritably.
"The first five are more than enough, thank you very much." He started.
"Then why do you want to know?!" She pushed.
"I just do! What's the big deal?!" He asked. Draco truly was just curious. He'd been dying to know what they've been doing for weeks! He might even be jealous for not being part of it.

Melanie sighed and rolled her eyes for the tenth time. "Look. I know I haven't completely earned your trust, so consider this a chance to do so. You tell me, and I promise I won't say a word about it to Umbridge." He told, making sure no one heard a word.

She wanted to, she really wanted to tell him. She thought deeply about it. She wanted to believe she could trust him, Draco Malfoy, but how could she be sure? It wasn't like he had a trustworthy reputation. Well, he did say to give him the chance, and to risk doing so suddenly didn't seem like such a big deal indeed. If she did tell him, and if he actually kept her secret, then win-win, if not, then he would have hell to pay. And as for Umbridge, she'll find out eventually, with or without Draco's help.

As she was thinking, Draco reached his hand in the basket of tasty treats, only for it to be slapped back in place as Melanie glared at him. He looked at her innocently. Curse his mesmerizing eyes!

She sighed tiredly. "Hermione's going to kill me." She whispered to herself. He smirked in victory.
"Then don't tell her." He said simply. She cocked an eyebrow at him.
"You're a bad influence, Malfoy." She told with her own smirk.
"And you like it." He retorted, making her cheeks redden, she looked away momentarily and shook her head in disbelieve, then turned back to his moon like orbs.
"Alright, fine…We use the room for…training. With magic." She explained hesitantly. He raised his eyebrows knowingly, then grinned widely. No wonder they didn't want Umbridge knowing.
"Ahhh, I see! I can also see why you'd want to keep that hidden. But, just one thing: Why?" He asked, wanting the full picture.
"Why else, genius?!" She questioned annoyingly, looking around her in concern, then turning back to him. "You-know-who is back, Draco. You know it, I know it. We can't just sit around with no possible way of protecting ourselves!" She whisper-yelled.

Draco's face hardened. "He's not going to hurt you, Redwing. The only person he wants is that scarred block-head with glasses, no one else." He stressed, irritating her as he made fun of her friend, but she said nothing, at least he did it less often every day.
"And what about all the people he intendeds to kill to get what he wants, the ones who just happen to be in his way?" She asked seriously. He stayed quite. Voldemort had done it before, who's to say he wouldn't do it again? "Draco, we need this. You and your family might be safe, but we aren't."

He shook his head dismissively and placed his hands on her shoulders firmly, making her heart skip a beat as he looked into her eyes deeply. "Listen to me, Redwing. Nothing is going to happen to you. You hear me?...I won't let him." He assured strongly, really believing it too, but Melanie knew there was nothing he could ever do to stop the Dark Lord from getting what he wants, even if that meant killing her.

She smiled at his concern. She could see it in his eyes, feel it from his hands, and sense it in his voice. He truly cared. "That's one thing you can't promise me, Draco." She dismissed as nicely as possible, his face falling as he too acknowledged the truth in her words. He would never stand a chance against the Dark Lord. "But, if you truly care, there is a way you could help." He arched an eyebrow at that. In that moment, he was willing to do whatever was necessary, but there was no way in hell he'd just deny the fact that there might be the smallest of chances for his Melanie to get hurt in the cross-fire.

She smirked as a plan formed in her mind. "Maybe you working for Umbridge isn't such a bad thing. We could use that to our advantage." She explained. Cocking an eyebrow, he brought his hands back to his side, her a bit disappointed at that, but it wasn't like he could hold her forever, no matter how badly she wanted him to.

…..

"So, you're telling me, he's helping us now?!" Hermione questioned in utter bewilderment from beside Melanie at their house table in the Great Hall, Ron and Harry across from them, both equally shocked. Melanie only told them that she'd asked Draco to help, and he agreed, leaving out everything else! Especially the fact that she'd told him about what they did in the Room of Requirements.
"Mmhm." Melanie replied simply, picking at her salad.
"Impossible." Ron refused.
"Well, it isn't." She replied, her eyes wondering over to the blonde's table. He was watching her as well, making her shyly look down to the plate as a blush crept up her cheeks, hoping it went unnoticed. It wasn't. The three friends eye the Slytherin as well, then turn back to Melanie.
"Well, that makes more sense." Harry says. Melanie realizes they did notice, and plays dumb.
"What does?" She asks innocently.
"Oh, for god's sake, Melanie! We get it! You and Draco Malfoy are officially together now, aren't you?" Hermione interrogates, whispering the last words so as not to be killed by the Redwing. Melanie's taken aback.
"What?! No, we just…" She trails off, noticing the looks on her friends' faces, the looks that said they weren't going to believe anything else anymore. "Alright, fine."
"I knew it!" Ron suddenly yelled, making people eye him in annoyance. He ignored them and apologized to his friends.
"So, you really are together?" Hermione asked, a bit disbelieving now. She never thought she'd actually hear Melanie admit it.
"No, not exactly." They eyed her quizzically. She explained further. "There's definitely something between us, but nothing too serious, yet." She said, remembering their earlier conversation. Ron scoffed.
"That makes no sense to me." He said.
"Doesn't surprise us, Ron." Harry joked.
"Hey!" Ron scolded.

Hermione was far from listening to the two bickering boys, she was too confused. Her best friend and the bully whose father is a Death Eater. How does that make sense? She didn't know, but there was nothing she could do about it anymore. No matter what, Melanie won't listen to any accusations against him, and since keeping her away from him before was hard, it was now impossible. Hermione had no choice but to hope for the best, and that somewhere in that cold, cruelness, Draco truly had a Heart.

...