Hours pass, and night falls. The nurse walks in on Melanie with eyes shut, sleeping next to the fatigued blonde.

Softly, the nurse wakes Melanie up, telling her it was time to go. Very reluctantly, and even though Draco assured her it was fine, she left.

Melanie enters the door to the Common room, to find her friends up late, waiting for her, and Harry, tense with guilt.

"Melanie! I'm…so sorry...I don't know what came over m-"
"It's…It's alright Harry…I don't care." She smiles calmly. The others furrow their eyebrows at her in confusion, Ron cross-legged on the floor, Hermione leaning on an arm-chair, and Harry standing.
"What…do you mean?" Asks Hermione warily.
"I mean I don't care. About any of it. Not what Harry did, not what Draco's supposed to do. I don't care."
"How can you not care?" Ron questions in bewilderment.
"Because. Harry's my best friend, and a practical brother." At that, Harry's heart struggles with more guilt. "He made a mistake. And he's sorry…And…

I love Draco." She says. Her friends widen their eyes as she smiles ecstatically, playing back the moment in her thoughts. "Nothing to come will change that." She tells firmly.

The friends find this more troubling than reassuring. They each process her words separately. Hermione finds them heart-warming, the loyalty Melanie upheld for him. Ron was impressed for the same reason. But Harry, he was madly worried then.

Still, no one's opinion would matter to her now, especially after claiming her love for him. So, as she bid them goodnight, and made way to the dorms, no one spoke a word.

…..

The day after, Ginny took Harry to the Room of Requirements, none-the-wiser about Draco's use for it. There, they hide the cursed book of spells and potions, never to be found again. And shared a moment.

During that time, Melanie had been attempting a semi-fair balance between classes and the bed-ridden Malfoy, more Malfoy than classes obviously. And though he ought to argue, advise her to attend, he couldn't find it in him.

Was he being selfish? Should he have pushed her away from the start, kept her from the dangers of his life, from the lies and torments? And if he had, would he also have been able to erase years of history together from her mind, better yet, her heart?

No. He would have had to rip them out, and that would have killed her. He would never do that to her.

But wouldn't she at least have been safe? Maybe. In the end, would that really have mattered, when the Dark Lord took over?

…..

Two days later, after mid-classes and at the start of sunset, Melanie receives a quick note, requesting her presence at the Astronomy tower.

Recognizing the hand-writing, Melanie rushed through her final class, and roamed off to do just that.

In the meantime, Harry had decided to use the liquid luck he'd held onto since the beginning of the year on himself, to get Slughorn talking alas.

And as he attempted to do so, and eventually succeeded, Melanie made her way to the tower.

Climbing up the many stairs, Melanie reaches the top, panting heavily. She eyes around suspiciously. Nothing. Where was he?

She turns, then suddenly bumps into someone, letting out a small scream of shock. "Easy, love." Draco smiles, taking hold of her shoulders to steady her. She laughs out.
"You scared me." She grins.

Melanie looks up to meet his eyes, only to find that his expression was quite troubling. "What's wrong?" She asks. Draco shakes his head at her.
"It's nothing." He tells, walking off to place a hand on the rails at the edge.

Melanie follows after him determinedly. She places her hand on his. He eyes it yearningly. "Tell me." She tells.

Tell her? Melanie. Yes. Tell her everything. He wanted to. And he would. He just…couldn't find the words.

"It's happening…tonight." He utters grimly. Melanie's face falls with realization. Her heart clenches.
"What's happening?" She asks semi-wanting to listen. Draco shakes his head once more.
"The less you know, the better." He tells. "Just. Promise me…you won't leave your room tonight."
"Draco, I-"

The Malfoy cuts her off by decreasing the distance between them to an inch, cupping her face and caressing softly as if in need of her touch.

"Promise me." He repeats desperately.

The Redwing could see fear in her lover's eyes. Fear for her. She would not become another burden for him to carry.

Though she could not help him, she would do as he asked. "Okay." She said, causing his features to ease in relief.

Draco pulls back a bit, pulling a small, long box out of his pant pocket. "What's that?" She asks curiously. Draco smiles at her momentarily, a tired smile.
"Call it…an early birthday present." He said, opening the box to reveal a silver-made necklace, with a small black pendant that reflected the moonlight, bearing light to the girl's eyes.

"It's beautiful." She tells, turning and pulling up her hair as he placed it gently around her neck.
"It's also enchanted." At that, she turns, cocking an eyebrow. "They come in two, you see, the pendant. And, on occasion, and only in sleep, do they allow the wearers." He pulls his out from under his shirt. "To meet…in dreams." He smiles as she grows to grin excitedly.

Then, her face falls. "Draco. Why are you really giving me this now?" She asks in concern. Draco's mask falls, to reveal exhaustion, and wariness.
"Because…after tonight, we might not see each other for a while." He tells.

Understanding, Melanie shuts her mouth and heart at the sadness that threatened to consume her, refusing to fall apart in front of him when he could not bear.

The horrors of what was to come, were still there. Melanie was furious, furious for him, for all that was happening to him. What could she do? How could she help?

No, she couldn't. There was nothing she could do. And she knew, even if there was, he wouldn't let her. But, maybe there was something she could say.

"Hey." She starts, putting both hands on his shoulders and massaging them. He locks teary eyes with hers once more. "It's going to be okay, Draco. You're…you're the bravest man I know. You'll pull through this. I know you will…And I will be right here, waiting for you." She smiles, unable to block her own tears from spilling in hidden fear that he failed to note, listening intently to her words.

And, coming from her of all people, it was almost reassuring. But coming from her. His Melanie.

"God I love you." He breathed,

locking lips with hers

one last time.

….