Chapter 4 – Facing The School

The alarm clock beeped and woke Meli from her dreams. Groaning she realized that it was only six am and didn't want to get up. With a sigh she got up and entered the bathroom without knocking. Slowly she undressed and climbed into the warm shower. Lathering her hair with the ginger and cinnamon shampoo that she made herself her mind wandered over the events of the last few days. Malfoy's behavior had gone from almost nice and caring to back to the same git he had always been. Rinsing and finishing her shower she stepped out and wrapped a black towel around her body. Magically drying her hair she straightened her curls and did a little make-up. Not that she ever used much but it didn't hurt every once in a while. Besides her scar wasn't as noticeable with make-up on and hoped no one would notice yet. A door opened and in came Draco. Turning around her face turned red with embarrassment and she glared at him. "Ever heard of knocking you perv?" she snapped hugging herself to hide her body. Getting fed up with him just standing there without answering her she rushed to her bedroom and slammed the door.

Wow! She looks good. No wonder Weasley had wanted her for his girl. Wait am I really thinking these things about Potter? Impossible. I'll blame the hormones. He must have been lost in his thoughts because the slamming of a door made him notice the Meli had left the room. Shrugging it off he climbed in for a quick shower. By the time he had gotten out and dressed Potter was gone. No doubt to go see Mudblood and that Potty of a brother. Grabbing his school things he hurried down to the Great Hall for some breakfast. That didn't contain fruit loops. Honestly the things muggles ate were weird.

While Malfoy was showering Meli had snuck out and went to the Head's Room. She didn't knock since she knew the password and was very sorry for not knocking. On the common room couch was her brother and Hermione kissing. And it looked like it was about to go farther. The moment she had walked in they stopped and looked unable to explain. "So sorry." She squeaked and ran from the room truly embarrassed. Running down to the Great Hall she entered behind Malfoy. Seeing him unsure of where to sit she felt sorry for him. The only friends he had ever known betrayed him without so much of a second thought. Bravely she came up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder. All the students in the Great Hall stopped talking and watched her in shock. "Come on Malfoy. You can sit with me." She said softly. It looked like he would refuse but when she took his hand and led him to the Gryffindor table she looked around daring one of them to say something. Pushing him down on a bench she sat down beside him. The Gryffindors looked angry at this but said nothing. No one wanted to get on Meli's bad side.

Harry and Hermione came in together and sat down at the table glaring at Malfoy. They said nothing because they were afraid that Meli would say something about the situation she had found them in earlier and they weren't ready for anyone to know yet. When Ronald sat down at the table he was tactless. "Oi Meli what brings Ferret Face here?" he asked shoveling food into his mouth. Taking a drink of her pumpkin juice she stared at him disgusted. "For your information Ronald I invited him to sit with me." She said. Looking over at him it looked like he would like nothing more to get up and leave. But the slytherins weren't too kind to let a outsider sit at their table and he hadn't been to nice to anyone. She wasn't even sure why she was being as nice to him as she was. "Why would you do that Meli?" he asked with his mouth full. "She already said she invited me. And don't chew with your mouth full Weaselbee." Draco finally said before Meli could say anything. Ron's face turned a deep shade of scarlet and faced Meli. "You let this ferret speak for you now? What happened to your love for my brother?" he asked angrily.

Hermione gasped and covered her mouth while Harry looked like he would like to thump Ron thoroughly. "Don't speak to her like that." Draco said quietly and forcefully. Meli didn't answer Ron she just looked at her oatmeal with tears in her eyes. Quietly and without a word she through her oatmeal in Ron's face and stormed angrily from the Great Hall. Potions was her first class so she sat down outside of the door waiting for Snape to let her in.

Draco, Hermione, and Harry watched Meli leave. "You're supposed to be her brother yet you don't defend her. What Weasley said to her was uncalled for and you know it." Draco said loudly. Again all eyes in the great hall were on the gryffindor table. Picking up his bag he was about to go after her when a voice stopped him. "You have no right to defend her Malfoy." Harry had finally spoken. "But someone has to." Draco answered shortly. Leaving the great hall he wondered why he was defending her when she had a brother to do so. She has no one to defend her. Not really. I saw the way her brother just sat there and let Weasel talk to her. And mudblood. If anyone should have defended Meli it should have been her. But no he defended her and he didn't know why. Realizing his slip up he wondered when he had started a first name basis with her. Nearing the potions classroom he sat down next to her. "I'm sorry about that idiot Weasel. Ignore that wanker." He advised.

Looking up at him with teary eyes she said, "Just leave me alone. No one else cares about what I do or me. Why do you?" Looking at her he was flabbergasted. The one question she asked was one he didn't have an answer to. "Some people change Meli. It was about time you realized that. Besides you helped me when I needed a friend. I couldn't let weasel talk to you like that. It showed lack of manners and feelings." He answered finally. What would my father say if he saw me so close to one he considered an enemy? "Malfoy I thank you for defending me. It couldn't have been easy." She said. Giving a hint of a smile it faded the moment Professor Snape opened the dungeon door. "Potter, Malfoy what are you doing here already?" he asked. "Sorry sir, my prat brother's friends are wankers." She said boldly. Snape had a look of amusement on her face. She may have looked like James Potter but her personality is what reminded him of Lily Potter. He may not have liked her back in their school days but she had defended him when no one else would. That's why he wasn't as harsh on her as he was on her brother. "For finally admitting that I should award you five points but I won't." he said. He stepped aside and Draco and Meli walked in.

She sat down at a table in the back and to her surprise Draco sat beside her. They sat in silence for a few minutes and she studied him. Even with the scars on his face he was still the cutest boy in the year. His platinum blonde hair and gray eyes made all the girls swoon. Why am I thinking these things? They are oh so wrong. Malfoy had noticed her staring at him but before he could say anything the golden trio walked in together and sat down. Glowering at them Meli opened her potions book to pretend she was interested when she wasn't. She would like nothing more than to smack them all. For some reason, which he couldn't understand, Malfoy actually felt sorry for her. The man that she had loved died in the war and his prat of a brother was giving her a hard time. She was attacked for being nice to him and helping him when he needed a friend. It was only right that he tried to make things right. Hesitantly he took her hand and held it tightly. For what seemed like the first time she gave a genuine smile to him and thanked him quietly. It of course didn't last long. The second a group of slytherins walked in he jerked his hand away and looked at his book as well. This is going to be a great lesson. She thought to herself sarcastically.

After a whole day of classes and her once friends not speaking to her, Meli ran back to her new room. Lying under her covers she sighed and decided to once again skive off dinner. She had nowhere to sit anyway and quite frankly hoped that Malfoy didn't bug her tonight. She was in no mood with his friendly attitude or his bad one for that matter. A smirk crept across her features and she hopped up to rummage through her trunk. Finding the vial she was looking for her smirk grew larger. Yes he needed a change of attitude and she new just how to bring about this change. Changing into her pajama bottoms and tank top she hid the vial on her person and curled on a chair near the fire. Draco entered and raised an eyebrow at her. "Isn't it a bit early to be dressed for bed Potter?" he asked snidely. To give her time to think of a retort he went to his room and changed out of his school robes. Coming back out he sat on the couch and saw that she didn't move or even seem to care. "What's wrong with you?" he asked. Finally he got a reaction. Very slowly she turned to him and gave him a glare that would have killed him if it was possible. "What do you care? Don't you have some slytherins to impress?" she asked evenly. Remembering earlier he flushed and knew he probably had been a bit rude. "I'm sorry about that." He said not meeting her eyes.

"Forget it." Getting up she crossed the room and took out a bottle of firewhiskey and a glass. Pouring herself a glass she sat down with both the glass and the bottle. "Ain't gonna share?" he asked. Concealing a grin she said, "Sure if I must. I'll go get you a glass." Not expecting anything in the least from her he didn't bother to watch her make his drink. She took down a glass and poured some of the potion she had found earlier in with the whiskey. "Here you go." She said. Watching him closely to note the change she couldn't stop the snort of laughter that escaped. She couldn't believe the potion she had invented had actually worked. Malfoy was oblivious to the change to his skin and hair but she definitely wasn't. The potion was invented as a present for Fred but this was a much better use. It was designed to change the person's hair and skin a nice shade of pink. Ah the fun she would have giving this to George. Too bad she didn't know how to reverse it. "Potter what is so dame funny?" he asked noting her laughter and the fact that she could not stop smirking at him. "Why don't you go look in the mirror Malfoy?" she suggested. Suddenly fearing what had happened he rushed to the bathroom. "POTTER!!! YOU ARE SO DEAD!!!" he yelled from the bathroom. Rolling her eyes she laid back and closed her eyes wondering how long it would take him to retaliate.

AN: Alright not one of my longest chapters but I wanted to get an update in. Thanks to invisiblelilacnights for her suggestions. I pretty much know what Meli is going as. Now voting time. Should Malfoy go as a cowboy or as zorro? Hmmm What do you think? Anyway please review. I've had a bad weekend and lots of reviews would cheer me up.

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