In the few days Draco was absent, much had happened to grasp the concerned Redwing's attention.

First, there was the ever-growing awkwardness between Hermione and Ron, thanks to Lavender.

Then, there was Dumbledore's disturbing and persistent request of Harry, to befriend Horus, and figure out why he tampered with his memory of Tom Riddle as a student. What was he trying to hide?

Last, there was the worst situation of all, which, ironically, started off as quite the joke. There was a girl, Romilda Vane, that had been crushing on Harry for a while now. And she was good at making love potions. You can see how that's a very bad combination.

She sent a chocolate box to the boys' dorms, entitled to Harry, but Ron, being Ron, ate it, falling madly in love with her.

Noting this, and not wanting to embarrass his friend any further, Harry takes Ron to professor Slughorn to hastily deal with the situation.

It was there that things turned dire. After curing Ron of his silliness, well, most of it, the professor offered him a drink to ease his nerves from the powerful potion.

Only one sip sent Ron into seizure. He'd been poisoned!

The professor, baffled, was frozen in place from shock, as Harry himself managed to save Ron's life using Bezoar, thanks to the notes in his trusty half-blood prince book.

The next morning, which was only two hours away, the girls and house-heads were informed of the situation.

Hearing what had happened, Melanie and Hermione stormed off to the hospital wing to check on their friend, who, in a daze, seemed wishing for Hermione's presence, which, thankfully ended things with Lavender quickly, even though he remembered nothing when he fully recovered, and Hermione refused to tell what had happened.

So, what really happened?

Apparently, someone had sent Horus the bottle, he could not recall who. He'd admitted to Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall, that he'd intended to gift it to none other than Dumbledore himself!

Now, hearing this, Harry had quite the guess as to who might have been the culprit, but he did not discuss this with the presence of Melanie.

Ironically, Melanie herself was well aware.

So, that's who was to be killed, the headmaster?!

It was beyond obvious why the Dark Lord would want him gone, but to ask a mere student like Draco to accomplish such a task?!

It was a suicide mission, something all knew, he would most likely fail.

It was clear now what Voldemort was doing. He wanted Draco to fail. He wanted to torment the Malfoys for Luscious's failure.

…..

The day afterwards, Melanie felt sick to her core. Her sour emotions were starting to physically affect her. She felt as though she'd erupt should she step out the dorm and have to deal with the day like nothing had happened. She had no strength to act.

Hermione tried to convince her to come to class, but she strictly refused.

It was the night before that Draco had finally arrived. He too spent most of his time indoors, unable to face anyone, unable to face her.

And when he'd finally decided to get over himself, he built up the courage, and entered the doors of the Great Hall.

And it as then that he saw her, Katie Bell, the girl who'd been on leave for at least six weeks, the girl he almost…

He felt himself start to choke up as she conversed with Harry, then turned to him, her mouth agape. She was confused to see him, but all he could see in her eyes was a reflection of what could have happened. He couldn't take it. He had to get out of there.

Harry witnessed the entire situation, a flame lit up in his chest. This absolute hatred towards the Malfoy. He couldn't control it.

As the distraught blonde hasted towards the bathroom, Harry followed.

Inside, Draco heads towards the sink, washing water down his face, it felt like ice on fire. His eyes caught sight of himself, his reflection.

What did it reflect? A boy? No. A murder. A cold-blooded murder. It was all he could see.

His breathing became heavy. He took his sweater off, undid the top buttons, in desperate need of air as tears stung his eyes like daggers to the accused.

Harry chose the worst of times to intervene. Draco was walking on glass shards, and Harry was pushing, eventually, causing the blonde to snap.

It all happened so fast. Draco threw the first shot. Just a warning. He wanted Harry gone, but he wasn't leaving. Not again. He wouldn't turn the blind eye again, for anyone.

Spell after spell, the boys threw. The situation was quickly getting out of hand. It needed to be stopped.

And it was then that Harry had decided to use a spell from that cursed book. To experiment in a moment of haste.

And he wished he didn't.

…..

"Melanie!" calls Hermione, bursting into the dorm door.
"Hermione, I told, I'm not coming out,"
"…It's Draco…"

…..

Making her way to the hospital wing, Melanie felt the world around her spin as her feet rushed and her heart hammered in her chest.

Hermione was beside her, having had explained the situation as she accompanied her.

Honestly, Melanie was barely listening, even when Hermione cautiously explained that it was Harry's fault, Melanie couldn't find it in her to get mad, or figure out why, or care to listen further.

She just wanted to see him, believe he was alright. She needed to see him.

And there he was.

Hermione stood by the doorway, watching Melanie approach him in dismay. Understanding, she let them be.

There were several curtains surrounding the only patient currently in the wing, per Snape's orders.

Pushing past one, Melanie approached his unconscious figure disbelievingly. The state he was in shook her to the core.

He was as pale as a ghost, eyes shut. And even in sleep, he looked scared.

Melanie exhaled sharply, attempting to calm her nerves as tears threatened to spill in fear for him.

No one ever would have guessed, this was where they would be in the end. At the doorway to death itself.

Melanie reached to caress his cheek.

In that moment, nothing mattered. Not what had happened, not what would happen. It didn't matter.

She loved him.

Nothing would change that.

To hell with his dark tasks. This was Draco. Her Draco. It wasn't his choice, and, to her, that was enough.

…..

An hour later, he awoke.

Draco rose with a jolt, breathing heavily and eyeing around madly in vigilance. Melanie hurriedly jumped to her feet.

"Hey. It's okay. It's alright." She told, cupping his face into her warm palms.
"Mel?" He asks as if in disbelief. She smiles assuring-ly at him.
"Yeah. It's me." She tells.

Draco is then reminded by everything that had happened.

He almost died, didn't he?

Yes.

And, do you know what scared him most? Leaving her behind, and having her think of him,

as a murderer.

Draco immediately tears up. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" he says in despair. Melanie's heart clenches. She pulls the Malfoy into her chest, rubbing his head as he cried heartedly in her arms, apologizing again and again.

She shuts her eyes at his pain, trying vigorously to hold her strength, for him to lean on. "It's okay. It's alright. Draco. Look at me." She pushes his glossy eyes up to meet hers. "There's nothing to be sorry for." She tells.

How could there not be? After everything he'd put her through. After everything he'd done.

Melanie could see reluctance in his eyes, causing her to speak more firmly. "I could never hate you." She smiles, fighting back her own tears as he refused to make contact. "Draco.

I love you."

At that, the Malfoy turns to her wide-eyed, having his heart hop at her words, words he couldn't believe hearing, words he doubted had escaped her mouth.

The Redwing herself was half-aware about what she'd just said. It was like her heart refused to hold back. It felt the need, and it acted upon it. And she didn't fight it.

"I love you, Draco." She repeated confidently, causing him to exhale as if in relief, or pain, he wasn't sure.

But he needed it. He needed her.

The two pushed against one another, locking lips like they'd longed to for days passed. And it was like a sole breath of fresh air, a soft breeze, that carried them far from the fog they'd been buried within and kept them from one another, by lies and broken hearts.

No more.

Melanie pushed onto the bed, placing her arms around his neck to pull him closer as she sat on her knees and he engaged an embrace. The kiss was so deep, and passionate, as if a way to draw strength from one another as their hearts rejoiced in a union more powerful than ever.

Only when out of breath, did they break apart, a mere inch, gazing into each other's eyes.

Draco observed the woman before him in such pride and admiration, causing her to blush as he brushed a strand of her soft, loose hair behind her ear to see her clearer, brighter.

"Words…cannot begin to express…the way I feel about you, Melanie…But, I know, you need to hear them, as much as I did…

I love you, Melanie Redwing,

more than ever possibly imagined." He says. Melanie giggles nervously, heart filling with overwhelming joy at mere words, bearing tears to her shimmering eyes as he smiled at her ever-brightness, locking lips with hers once more.

….