AN: New Chapter! First of all, thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! The support has been amazing! Second, I really hope you guys enjoy this one!
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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to him. They are the sole property of J. K. Rowling. However Melanie and the characters from the orphanage are mine.
Chapter 7: Snakes and Illegally Brewed Potions
The Polyjuice Potion was just as complicated as Hermione said it would be. But it would turn them into anyone they wanted, and for Harry and Ron that meant they could be Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy would tell them anything! The ingredients were some that Melanie had never used before, plus the fact that it would take a month to brew properly, but it was the best idea they had.
So everyday Melanie and Hermione gathered the ingredients while the boys figured out a way to get a bit of whoever they were going to change into. Hermione had decided to change into Millicent Bulstrode and Melanie was going to turn into Pansy Parkinson. As terrible as that sounded, they were the two girls who could be near Malfoy without him becoming suspicious.
Along with the brewing of the potion and the rumors still flying around Hogwarts, the end of November gave Harry the first Quidditch game of the season to worry about. Gryffindor was playing Slytherin, a rivalry match, and Oliver Wood was making victory the most important thing in the players' lives.
So naturally, the day of the match Harry was a ball of nerves. Like every morning before a match, he didn't eat anything and he was nervous the entire way down to the pitch. Melanie, Hermione, and Ron found a place in the stands next to Hagrid and soon enough the game began.
Harry was circling the pitch as he looked for the Golden Snitch and it was then that Melanie saw Malfoy, all high and mighty on his new broom, fly up beside him. She couldn't hear what they were saying over the screaming of the crowd, but she shouted out when a Bludger came zooming up behind Harry. He rolled on his broom at the last second, narrowly missing the Bludger, and George batted it away.
But to their shocked amazement, the Bludger turned right around and went after Harry again, who fly away in the opposite direction.
"Blimey," Hagrid said. "Harry's got 'imself a Rogue Bludger!"
"Rogue Bludger?" Ron asked.
"Look fer yerself! It's bin' tampered with, tha' has!" Hagrid said passing Ron his pair of huge binoculars.
Melanie watched as Harry weaved and rolled trying to shake off the Bludger, but no matter what he did it followed. Ron made to draw his wand, but Hermione put out a hand to stop him.
"You're joking right?" she asked. "Even with a proper wand, it's too risky. You could hit Harry."
Melanie watched hopelessly as the Bludger followed Harry, but suddenly he caught sight of something behind Malfoy, who had been taunting him. Harry flew after the Golden Snitch with Malfoy right next to him, and the Bludger not far behind. They disappeared from her sight; actually flying underneath the pitch! They waited and the knot in Melanie's stomach grew tighter and tighter as time passed. Suddenly Malfoy fly out from under the pitch, broomless, and landed on the pitch flat on his back.
Harry flew out soon after, his fingertips inches from the snitch and the Bludger still close on his heels. He was so close! Just a little further!
The Bludger zoomed around and smashed into Harry's outstretched arm, sending him off balance and swerving. Melanie's hands flew to her mouth in shock and she wondered how it was possible that he kept going. Sure enough, with his broken arm tucked into his chest, Harry raced after the snitch. With a brilliant move, he snatched it from the air with his good arm, but lost control and hit the ground with a sickening thud.
"C'mon!" Melanie shouted at the others and they left the stands to race down to the pitch.
The Bludger was still after Harry, it shot right down at him and only because of Harry's rolling around did it miss him. It was about to come down on him again, but Hermione raised her wand at the Bludger.
"Finite Incantatem!" she cried.
The Bludger exploded in mid-plumet and Harry let out a relieved sigh, before the pain in his arm became the main focus of his attention. Melanie ran over to him and knelt at his side, her face full of concern.
"Harry, are you okay?" she asked.
"I think it's broken," he replied, wincing as the pain shot repeatedly through his arm.
Melanie gingerly touched his arm and he screamed in pain. She shushed him and told him that they would get Madam Pomfrey, just when Lockhart appeared on Harry's other side.
"Not to worry, Harry," he said, pushing back his sleeves. "I'll fix that arm of yours straight away."
"No…no…not you," Harry said, his voice sounding pleading.
"Professor," Melanie said. "Maybe we should wait for Madam Pomfrey?"
"No, no. Poor boy doesn't know what he's saying. This won't hurt a bit…"
Having no other choice, Melanie watched as Lockhart pointed his wand at Harry's arm.
"Brakium Umendum."
Lockhart went to check Harry's arm, and to Melanie and the others' horror, his arm flopped around like rubber.
"Ah, yes," Lockhart said. "Well, that can sometimes happen. The point is," he bent Harry's arm all the way back, "clearly, the bones are no longer broken."
"Broken?" Hagrid said irritably. "He doesn't 'ave any bones at all!"
Harry was brought to the Hospital Wing, sometime after Professor Lockhart disappeared from an irate Madam Pomfrey. Irate was an understatement.
"He should have been brought straight to me!" Madam Pomfrey berated. "I can mend bones in a heartbeat, but growing them back…"
"You will be able to, won't you?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, I'll be able to, certainly, but it will be painful. You're in for a rough night, Potter. Re-growing bones is a nasty business," she told him as she handed him a steaming cup of Skele-Gro.
Harry drank it and grimiced. Melanie could only wonder at how awful a bone-growing potion must taste. She could barely handle Muggle cough syrup.
"Well, what did you expect… pumpkin juice?" Madam Pomfrey said.
The group of Gryffindor well-wishers around his bed chuckled. Colin Creevey
happened to be one of the visitors and he of course brought his camera.
"That was brilliant today, Harry! Brilliant!" he said as he took a picture.
Madam Pomfrey wasn't too fond of this and so she began to dismiss them. "Out! All of you! This boy's got thirty-three bones to re-grow!"
Harry groaned and Melanie smiled at him. "Good luck, Harry," she joked.
He just glared at her playfully before she left with Ron and Hermione.
Melanie met Harry the day he was released from the Hospital Wing. She was alone because Hermione and Ron were already starting to make the Polyjuice Potion and Melanie was supposed to bring Harry there. He, however, created a distraction for her when he came out.
"Mel, I have to tell you something," were the first words out of his mouth.
She looked at him inquiringly. "What is it?"
"I saw Dobby last night," he told her.
"Wait, Dobby? The elf that was at your Uncle's house over the summer?" Melanie asked. Harry had told them about the house elf, Dobby, who actually belonged to the Malfoy family. Dobby had tried to stop Harry from returning to Hogwarts that year, even going to the extent of taking all of Harry's letters from his friends to make him think they'd forgotten him. When Melanie had first asked Harry why Dobby would do that, Harry told her that the elf said it was dangerous for him.
"Yes," Harry said. "He was in the Hospital Wing with me. It turns out he made Ron and I miss the train. He stopped us from getting through the barrier. And the Bludger! He made it come after me!"
"Harry that Bludger could have killed you," Melanie said. "As determined as Dobby seems, I don't think he would go that far."
"He did, but he said he didn't want to kill me. He said that I can't stay here. He said that history was going to repeat itself," Harry told her.
"Repeat itself?"
"These attacks… they've happened before, Melanie. Long ago."
Melanie sighed. "We can't be sure Harry. I mean there's only been one attack. Mrs. Norris…why are you shaking your head?"
All the time she was saying this Harry had been shaking his head at her.
"There was another attack," he told her. "Last night."
Melanie gasped. "Who?"
"Colin Creevey."
"Colin!" Melanie exclaimed.
"The school's not safe anymore. Dumbledore said so himself. We have to figure out who the Heir of Slytherin is and stop them before someone dies."
After this new information, Melanie took Harry up to the unused girls' bathroom, where Hermione and Ron were waiting. Harry told them all that he had told Melanie, while they began working on the potion.
"Again?" Hermione asked as she added a few ingredients to the bubbling cauldron. "You mean the Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?"
"Of course!" Ron exclaimed. "Don't you see? Lucius Malfoy must've opened it when he was at school here, and now he's told Draco how to do it."
"Maybe," said Hermione. "We'll have to wait for the Polyjuice Potion to know for sure."
"Enlighten me. Why are we brewing this potion in broad daylight, in the middle of a girls' lavatory? Don't you think we'll get caught?" Ron asked.
"Never," Melanie answered. "No one ever comes in here."
"Why?" Ron asked.
"Moaning Myrtle," Hermione told him.
Ron gave her a weird look. "Who's Moaning Myrtle?"
A loud wail echoed throughout the bathroom and the ghost of a young girl appeared behind him.
"I'm Moaning Myrtle," she cried, her voice sounding depressingly sad. "I wouldn't expect you to know me. Who would ever talk about fat, ugly, miserable, moping, moaning Myrtle?"
Myrtle began sobbing and screeched loudly before diving headfirst into a toilet.
"She's a little sensitive," Hermione said.
They continued brewing the potion through the beginning of December and only a few weeks in, a notice appeared on the Gryffindor Common Room Notice Board:
DUELING CLUB! First Meeting Tonight.
Melanie and the others decided to go, even if Lockhart was heading it, because they figured they would need all the practice they could get while the Slytherin Heir was on the lose. So that day after classes they made their way to the Great Hall, which had been transformed into a wide space with a long golden stage in the center.
Before long the meeting began, and Melanie watched as Professor Lockhart stepped onto the stage and threw his cloak into the crowd. Several older girls caught it and began giggling and whispering to each other dreamily.
"Gather round! Gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent!" Lockhart began. "In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club, to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions…for full details, see my published works."
Melanie rolled her eyes.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape. He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now I don't want any of you youngsters to worry. You'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
"What's the fun in that?" Ron said.
Snape stepped up onto the stage, his black cloak billowing around him, but did not make any move to teach or instruct. Both teachers faced each other, turned and walked ten paces, then turned back to face each other, wands poised in the air.
"As you can see," Lockhart said, "we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position. On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
As he eyed Snape warily, Harry said, "I wouldn't bet on that."
With that Lockhart began his counting. "One…two…three…"
"Expelliarmus!" Snape cried.
A scarlet light burst from Snape's wand and knocked Lockhart right off his feet.
"Do you think he's all right?" Hermione asked worriedly.
Simultaneously, Melanie, Harry, and Ron said, "Who cares?"
Lockhart did get up, though unsteadily. "An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind me saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you, it would have been only too easy…"
"Perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students to block unfriendly spells, Professor," Snape sneered.
"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape," Lockhart said. "Let's have a volunteer pair. Potter, Weasley, how about you?"
"Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending Potter to the Hospital Wing in a matchbox," Snape said.
Ron frowned, but he had to admit that it was a little bit true.
"Might I suggest someone from my own house," Snape continued. "Malfoy perhaps?"
Melanie sighed. This would be bad.
Harry and Malfoy climbed onto the stage at either end and eyed each other malevolently as they took their places.
"This is not going to be good," Melanie said to Ron and Hermione, who both nodded in agreement.
Unwillingly, Harry and Malfoy bowed to each other.
"Scared Potter?" Melanie heard Malfoy ask Harry.
"You wish."
Melanie knew Harry had a fighting spirit and that he'd come out okay, but she was still worried. Malfoy was an evil twit, who knew what he was capable of?
They turned away from each other and walked ten paces. Again they turned, their wands at the ready.
"When I count to three, cast you charms to disarm your opponent, only to disarm!" Lockhart instructed as he left the stage. "We don't want any accidents! One…two…"
Malfoy fired early and knocked Harry backwards. Melanie was about to shout out about the unfairness, but Harry was up and had his wand pointed at Malfoy in a matter of seconds.
"Rictusempra!" Harry yelled.
Malfoy was hit in the stomach and flew into the air, landing hard. He got up slowly and turned to Harry, while Lockhart shouted, "I said disarm only!"
"Serpensortia!" Malfoy cried.
To Melanie's horror, after the tip of Malfoy's wand exploded, a long black snake slithered from it. The venomous looking snake hissed and began to slide forward.
Snape, who had looked amused up until this point, stepped forward. "Don't move, Potter. I'll get rid of it for you."
"Allow me!" Lockhart interrupted, flicking his wand at the snake. However instead of making the snake disappear, he made it fly up into the air and land back down, angering it further. It hissed and turned on a boy close to Melanie, who she knew to be Justin Finch-Fletchley.
Students began to back away from the snake, but Justin seemed scared to the spot. Melanie waited for Snape to do something, but instead Harry stepped towards the snake calmly, just as the snake rose up to strike Justin.
'Leave him!'
It sounded like the voice from before, but Melanie was sure it had come from Harry. The snake paused and turned to look at Harry, who was staring at it in a trance-like state.
The snake turned back to Justin and bared its fangs, but Harry yelled again.
'LEAVE HIM!'
To everyone's amazement, the snake slumped to the floor. Harry blinked a couple times, as if he were just waking up from sleeping. He turned to Justin, who looked at him with terrified eyes.
"What are you playing at?" Justin asked, as he backed away from Harry.
It seemed that Harry had no idea what he had done, or what he was being accused of, and neither did Melanie. But everyone else in the room looked either shocked or terrified. Snape finally made the snake vanish, and looked at Harry with a thoughtful and shrewd gaze.
Without realizing it, Melanie had been pushed by Ron and Hermione towards the door. Ron grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him along as well and they left the Great Hall as quickly as they could.
They did not stop for anything or speak until they reached the Common Room, which was strangely deserted. Ron and Hermione ushered Harry inside, while Melanie followed at a distance.
"You're a Parselmouth! Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked in amazement.
"I'm a what?"
"You can talk to snakes," Hermione said.
Casually, Harry said, "I know. I mean, I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once. But so what? I bet loads of people here can do it."
"No. They can't," Hermione told him. "It's not a very common gift, Harry. This is bad."
"Why's it bad? He was trying to stop the snake from attacking Justin," Melanie said.
Suddenly their eyes were on her.
"Wait… you could hear him?" Hermione asked.
Melanie nodded. "I could hear that voice too, the one you heard before. I just didn't say anything. I was scared."
"Melanie, you're one too! You're a Parselmouth!" Ron exclaimed.
"This really isn't good," Hermione said, beginning to panic.
Harry let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't understand what's so bad! If I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin…"
"Oh, that's what you said to it," Ron said.
"You were there! You heard me!"
"I heard you speaking Parseltongue. Snake language," Ron told him.
Harry gaped. "I spoke a different language? But I didn't realize… how can I speak a language without knowing I can?"
"I don't know Harry," Hermione said. "But it sounded like you were egging the snake on or something. It was…creepy.
"Harry, listen to me. There's a reason the symbol of Slytherin house is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth. He could talk to snakes too."
"Exactly," Ron said. "And now the whole school's going to think you're his great-great-great grandson or something."
"But I'm not," Harry protested. "I…can't be."
"He lived a thousand years ago," Hermione said. "For all we know… you could be."
"Hermione, you're forgetting that I'm a Parselmouth, too," Melanie said. "If Harry has even the slightest chance of being the Heir, which I highly doubt, then I am definitely eligible. Not trying to add to my bad luck or anything, but I have no clue what my past is. For all we know…I could be related to…Voldemort!"
"That's not funny, Melanie," Harry said.
"Look Harry, don't worry about it. We all know you're not the Heir of Slytherin. We don't know why either of us can speak Parseltongue, but it doesn't matter. We're Gryffindors," Melanie told him.
Harry forced a smile, still looking doubtful.
Snow fell around Hogwarts as December continued, but Melanie didn't find the joy in it as she usually would. She could tell that Harry was constantly thinking about the fact that the school suspected him of being the Heir of Slytherin, and it bugged her. She had told him it was impossible! Even if by some chance he was Slytherin's Heir, he would never have the heart to attack people.
Harry finally snapped one day in the library. The four of them were studying and Melanie saw Harry look up at Ron. Ron smiled, and then Hermione, but even to her both seemed forced. Other people around them were whispering and looking at him, and it was too much for Harry to handle. He grabbed his books and left the table, heading out of the library.
Melanie looked at Ron and Hermione before chasing after him, not caring that other students watched as she left. She caught up with Harry in the hall, where he had stopped. She slowly approached him and heard voices coming from an empty classroom, and Melanie realized that he was listening.
"So, anyway, I told Justin to hide up in our dormitory. I mean to say, if Potter's marked him down as his next victim, it's best he keep a low profile for a while," said a voice. Melanie frowned as she recognized Ernie, a Hufflepuff boy she got on generally fine with. Up until now.
"But why would he want to attack Justin?" asked another voice. Melanie was disappointed again to hear Hannah's voice, a sweet girl in Hufflepuff as well.
"Justin let it slip to Potter that he was Muggle-born," Ernie said.
"And you definitely think Potter's the Heir of Slytherin?" Hannah asked uncertainly.
"Hannah, he's a Parselmouth," Ernie said. "Everyone knows that's the mark of a dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue."
Then his whisper became dark. "Remember what was written on the wall: Enemies of the Heir Beware. Potter had some sort of run-in with Filch. Next thing we know, Filch's cat's attacked. That first-year Creevey's been annoying Potter. Then Creevey's attacked."
"He always seems so nice, though," Hannah said. "And, after all, he is the one who made You-Know-Who disappear."
Ernie sighed. "That's probably why You-Know-Who wanted to kill him in the first place. Didn't want another Dark Lord competing with him."
Not being able to bare anymore, Harry stormed off again, Melanie following close behind. She quickly realized that they were headed towards Hagrid's hut and she tried to catch up with Harry.
"Harry! Hold on! Harry, wait!"
"Go away, Mel! Go back to the rest of them!" he shouted back.
"Harry, stop!" Melanie cried. She finally reached him and attempted to stop him, but in his anger he only pushed her away.
"Harry, stop acting like a child! I believe you so stop trying to walk away from me!"
Harry finally stopped and looked at her. "You don't understand. All the staring and the whispering. You don't know how hard it is," he told her.
"They only believe that you're the Heir because they can't think of anything better! If something else strange popped up that pointed at someone else, they'd leave you alone," Melanie said.
"Well, too bad that won't happen," Harry replied grumpily.
Melanie sighed. "Look, Harry. They may not believe you, but I do. I know you're not the Heir. And as long as I'm here I won't let them overpower you. Okay?"
Harry nodded just as Hagrid walked up to them, a dead rooster dangling in his hand.
"All righ', Harry? Melanie?" he asked.
"Hagrid... what're you doing?" Harry asked.
Hagrid held up the rooster in his hand, not realizing how close it was dangling to their faces. "Second one killed this term," he told them. "Reckon it's either foxes or a Blood-Suckin' Bugbear. Need Dumbledore's permission ter put a charm round the hen-coop. Yeh sure yeh're all righ', Harry? Yeh look all hot an' bothered."
"It's nothing," Harry told him. "We'd better get going. We've got a lot of studying..."
Hagrid nodded and left them, while Melanie and Harry made their way back to the school. It was dark inside the castle now, the only light coming from the lighted torches, and it was completely deserted.
"We better hurry or we'll be caught after hours," Melanie said while quickening her pace.
They rounded the corridor and they both saw something dark lying in the corridor. The light flickered and went out, casting them both into darkness. With Harry leading, they stepped towards the dark shape and what Melanie found nearly made her scream.
"Oh, God!"
Justin Finch-Fletchley was lying rigid on the floor with a look of shock and fear on his face. A few feet away, Nearly Headless Nick was floating; he had been petrified too. Harry knelt down next to Justin's body.
"Look," he said.
Melanie walked closer to him and peered down at what Harry was pointing at. A trail of spiders was scuttling away from Justin's body and out the loose windowpane.
"More spiders…," she whispered.
Footsteps were heard behind them and Melanie turned to find Professor McGonagall looking at them both with a shocked expression.
"Professor, I swear I didn't…," Harry said.
"This is out of my hands, Potter," McGonagall said. "Mr. Filch, will you take care of this, please?"
Filch appeared out of the shadows and walked over to Harry.
"Caught in the act. I'll have you out this time, Potter. Mark my words..."
"Follow me, Potter," McGonagall said firmly. "You too, Danielson."
Melanie and Harry had no choice but to follow her and in silence they found themselves being led towards Dumbledore's office. Professor McGonagall marched them down a corridor to a tall stone gargoyle.
"Sherbet lemon," Professor McGonagall said.
To Melanie's astonishment the gargoyle sprung to life, its wings opening up wide.
Professor McGonagall turned to them. "Professor Dumbledore will be waiting for you," she said.
Both Melanie and Harry nodded and McGonagall ushered them inside onto the gargoyle, which was like a Muggle elevator. The gargoyle's wings closed and Melanie and Harry rose up to a higher floor.
When they stepped out of the stairway, they came upon a large, circular room. Melanie did not see Dumbledore anywhere, so she felt safe in looking around. There were many strange objects in his office, many which she did not recognize as anything. One thing she did recognize, as well as Harry, was the Sorting Hat, which was sitting on a nearby shelf. Melanie watched carefully as Harry approached the Hat and as he did, the Hat 'looked' down at him.
"Bee in your bonnet, Potter?" the Hat asked.
"Well, you see, I was wondering..."
"If I put you in the right house?" the Hat finished for him. "Yes... you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what I said last year... you would have done well in Slytherin."
Harry shook his head. "You're wrong."
The hat said no more, and before further inquiries were made, Melanie and Harry heard a gagging sound in the office. She looked back and saw a dazzling gold and red bird, sitting atop a golden perch. The beautiful bird, however, did not look healthy at all, and before Melanie or Harry could do anything to stop it, the bird wobbled and burst into flame.
Melanie was horror-stricken! Dumbledore's bird…it just…blew up!
The door opened behind them and both Melanie and Harry spun around to see Dumbledore himself enter the office. They both looked from him to the ash-filled perch and back again.
"Professor," Harry said, "your bird… we couldn't do anything… he just caught fire."
"About time too," Dumbledore said casually as he walked over to them. "He's been looking dreadful for days."
Melanie looked at him in amazement. His bird just died and he wasn't the least bit saddened. What was wrong with the world?
"Pity you had to see him on his Burning Day. He's really very handsome most of the time," Dumbledore said as he stood beside the golden perch.
He must have seen Melanie and Harry's bewildered looks because he smiled slightly. "Fawkes is a phoenix. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes," he told them.
As if upon his words, the ashes began to swirl and climb like smoke. A smaller version of Fawkes emerged from the flames, reborn just as Dumbledore had said.
"Fascinating creatures phoenixes," Dumbledore said as he stroked the frail birds head. "They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets."
He was suddenly interrupted when the office door flew open and Hagrid forced himself into the office, still carrying the dead rooster in his hand.
"It wasn't Harry, Professor Dumbledore!" he exclaimed, seemingly out of breath.
"Hagrid…"
"I was talkin' ter them both jus' before that kid was found. It can't've been bin them!" Hagrid continued.
"Hagrid…"
"I'll swear ter it in front o' the Ministry o' Magic!"
"Hagrid!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "I do not think that Harry, or Melanie for that matter, attacked anyone."
A blush grew in Hagrid's cheeks after realizing how rash he had been. "Oh. Right. I'll… I'll wait outside then," he said.
Hagrid left the office and Melanie smiled at Dumbledore.
"You do think it was me, Professor?" Harry asked hopefully.
"No Harry," he answered with a smile of his own. "But I must ask you… is there anything you'd like to tell me? Anything at all?"
Melanie wondered if Dumbledore already knew that Harry was a Parselmouth. Did he already know that she was one too?
She looked over at Harry, who was clearly thinking the same thing, and wondering if he should tell Dumbledore. In the end, he decided not too.
"No, Professor. Nothing," he said.
Dumbledore watched him for a moment before turning to Melanie. "What about you, Melanie? Anything you would like to tell me?"
Melanie shook her head.
Dumbledore dismissed them, though Melanie was almost positive that he was curious of them still. They were Parselmouths, but they weren't evil. Even Dumbledore knew that. Otherwise she was sure he could have forced an answer out of them.
"It was right, not telling him. Wasn't it?" Harry asked her as they made their way back to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"I don't know Harry. But I do know that things are about to get much more complicated."
Melanie was right, the next day brought on more whispers and rumors from other students. But they weren't just for Harry anymore.
"She was with him. I think they did it together."
"Maybe she's the real Heir."
"Didn't you hear? Potter told her to do it. They're in it together."
The staring was unbearable! Melanie was making her way back from the library and it seemed that the entire attention of the school was focused on her. Wherever she went, people were staring and whispering, and she wasn't enjoying it one bit. She suddenly realized why Harry was so annoyed all the time.
She was planning to just go back to her dorm room and hide for the rest of the year when a loud voice caught her attention.
"Make way for the Heir of Slytherin! Seriously evil wizard coming through!"
Melanie looked ahead of her to where Fred and George where pushing a path through the crowd, so that Harry could get through. She was sure they were having a laugh, but Harry looked anything but amused.
She walked towards them, and the twins suddenly stopped, mock fear in their faces.
Both bowed deeply and said, "All hail her evilness!"
"Stop," Melanie ordered, though she didn't mean it to sound that way.
Fred and George saluted her before going back to clearing a path for Harry.
"Is that really necessary?" she shouted after them.
"Oh, c'mon Melanie," Ron said. "They're just having a laugh."
"They're the only ones," Harry said.
"Okay, so half the school thinks you're nipping off to the Chamber of Secrets every night," Ron said to him. "And the other half thinks you're second-in-command," he added to Melanie. "Who cares?"
"Maybe they're right," Harry said.
"Harry!" Hermione scolded reproachfully.
Harry turned on her, frustrated. "I didn't know I could speak Parseltongue. What else don't I know about myself? Maybe you can do something… even something horrible… and not know you did it."
Hermione looked at him sympathetically. "You don't believe that Harry. I know you don't. And if it makes you feel better, I just heard that Malfoy's over the holidays too," she said.
"Why would that make anyone feel better?" Ron asked, clearly not understanding her.
"Because, in a few days, the Polyjuice Potion will be ready. In a few days… we may truly know who the Heir of Slytherin is."
Melanie turned to Harry, who still looked glum. "Look on the bright side," she said causing him to look up. "At least now you're not alone."
Christmas finally came to Hogwarts and many students had returned home for the holidays. Melanie, though it had pained her to do so, had sent a letter to Mrs. Danielson telling her that she would be staying for the holidays. Melanie knew that Faye would be very upset with her, only adding fuel to the already smoldering fire, but Harry and the others needed her help. It was a sacrifice she had to make.
Melanie was sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room by herself, she had told the others that she would meet them in the girls' bathroom later, and was taking the time to think. It shocked her how quickly people changed once they were persuaded by rumors. Seamus and Dean, who she had considered to be good friends, no longer looked at her, never mind talked to her. Even Neville, who had a genuinely kind soul, was trying to avoid her as much as he could. But they weren't the people she was worrying about.
She had noticed over the last few months, that Ginny had become rather sick-looking and jumpy. Melanie wasn't sure what was causing it, but just the other day when she tried to talk to the girl, Ginny yelled at her for interrupting and ran off with her books. Melanie had thought of telling Ron, but knowing him he would over-react and Ginny would dislike her more.
She was about to leave the Common Room, when Ginny walked through the Portrait hole, muttering to herself. Melanie was about to say something, but Ginny seemed completely lost in thought. So Melanie just watched as she walked past her and made her way up the stairs. Confused, Melanie left the Common Room to meet the others, though the entire way she was thinking of a way to help the poor first year.
The day of the Christmas feast arrived and Melanie found herself sitting beside Hermione, across from the boys, as they made their final plans.
"Everything's set," Hermione told them. "We just need a bit of who you're changing into."
"Crabbe and Goyle," Harry stated.
With a nod, Hermione continued. "And we also need to make sure that the real Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating Malfoy."
"How?" Ron asked.
Hermione smiled and Melanie held up two delicious-looking cakes.
"I've got it all worked out," Hermione told the boys. "I've filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught. Simple, but powerful."
"Now," Melanie began, "once they're asleep, hid them in a broom cupboard and pull out a few of their hairs."
"And who's hair are you ripping out?"
"We've already got ours," Hermione said, holding up a small vile. "Millicent Bulstrode. I got this off her robes."
"And I've got mine," Melanie said as she too pulled out a small vile. "Parkinson was stupid enough to shove me in the hallway. She didn't even know I pulled these off her."
Hermione stood from her seat, Melanie following. "All right then… we're going to go check on the potion."
Melanie placed the cakes on the table, one in front of both Harry and Ron. "Just make sure Crabbe and Goyle find these."
She left the Great Hall with Hermione, who had a look of determination on her face. Melanie couldn't remember the last time she saw Hermione 'okay' with breaking the rules.
The Polyjuice Potion was exactly the way it was supposed to be and Melanie praised Hermione for her good work. As they waited for the boys to show up, they decided to pass the time by talking about their lives outside of the magical world of Hogwarts.
"I know Faye will be mad at me for missing the holidays, but I couldn't just leave you and the others. Besides just the thought of tricking Malfoy was enough to make me stay," Melanie said.
"I'm sure she'll forgive you," Hermione said. "From what I heard she's a nice girl."
Melanie nodded, knowing that Hermione was right.
"I can't imagine what it would be like having so many sisters," Hermione said. "Just being around Ron with his family is overwhelming!"
Melanie laughed. "It can be chaotic sometimes. What is it like being an only-child?"
Hermione shrugged. "It's okay. I have a good relationship with my parents, I suppose. Sometimes I wish I had a little sister though. Someone I could teach magic to."
"Yeah…" Melanie said distractedly. As soon as Hermione had said, 'I have a good relationship with my parents,' Melanie began to think. Had they been around, would she have had a strong relationship with her own parents? Would she have had real siblings? Maybe a little sister or brother that she could teach…
"Did you get it?"
Melanie looked up from her dead gaze to see Harry and Ron run into the bathroom, each of their hands clasped tightly. Hermione nodded and went to stand by the bubbling cauldron, first pointing to a pile of Slytherin robes. "I sneaked those out of the laundry," she said.
Melanie, already wearing her stolen Slytherin robes, joined the others at the cauldron, in which the mud-like potion was frothing.
"I'm sure I've done everything right," Hermione said. "It looks like the book said it should. Once we've drunk it, we'll have exactly one hour before we change back into ourselves."
The others nodded their understanding. One hour to find the Slytherin Common Room, get inside, and get enough information out of Malfoy to satisfy them. So simple.
"Now what?" Ron asked.
"We separate it into four glasses and add the hairs," Hermione told him.
As the boys went to change into the Slytherin robes, Melanie helped Hermione pour the disgusting potion into four glasses. They just finished as the boys came out.
Ron grimaced.
"I like ours better."
Melanie gave each of them a glass and took one for herself, before pulling Parkinson's hairs out of the small glass vile.
"Now we add the hairs…"
Melanie dropped the hairs into the glass and turned away at the smell. She could believe she was going to drink this!
"Ugh," Ron exclaimed. "Essence of Crabbe."
"On three?" Melanie suggested.
The other three nodded and looked at her to start the countdown.
"Okay. One…two…three."
She raised the glass to her lips and as quickly as she could she chugged it back. At first she didn't feel anything, though it tasted horrible, and she looked at the others, who seemed to be getting the same effect.
Ron suddenly doubled over and groaned. "I think I'm gonna be sick," he said before running into one of the bathroom stalls.
Hermione's hand went to her mouth and she too ran into a stall.
Melanie suddenly felt as though she was going to vomit. "Me too," she said as she ran into the next stall.
She swore to never drink that stuff again.
When she was finally feeling better, Melanie stepped out of the stall and came face-to-face with Goyle, who was actually Harry.
"Melanie?"
"Harry?"
"Yeah, it's me," Harry said.
"This is weird," Melanie told him.
Just then Ron stepped out of his stall, an exact image of Crabbe.
"Harry?" he asked.
"Ron?"
"Melanie?"
"Yes, now stop before I get a headache," Melanie told them.
"We still sound like ourselves," Harry said. "You need to sound more like Crabbe," he told Ron.
"Bloody hell," Ron said in an imitation of Crabbe.
"Lower," Harry told him.
Clearing his throat Ron repeated, "Bloody hell." It was even lower this time, but still not quite right.
"Less intelligent," Harry said.
Melanie laughed as Ron said "Bloody hell," for the third time, dumbing his voice down.
"Excellent," Harry said grinning.
"Where's Hermione?" Melanie asked.
"I…I don't think I'm going!"
Melanie turned to look at the stall that Hermione had entered, and not yet come out from.
"You go on without me," Hermione told them.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked.
"Just go! You're wasting time!"
Melanie pushed the boys towards the door, along the way catching her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was darker, almost black, and much shorter than usual. Her eyes were no longer blue either, instead they were dark brown. Her face was rounder, but not fat, and Melanie was slightly thankful that Pansy and her were about the same size.
She hurried along the corridor with Harry and Ron, who were still correcting things about the other.
"Don't swing your arms like that," Ron told Harry. "Goyle hold them sort of stiff."
After Harry adjusted, Ron said, "Yeah. That's better."
"Would you two stop and help me figure out where the Slytherin Common Room is?" Melanie snapped. She was growing slightly annoyed, possible from all the pressure that was on them.
"That was good," Ron said.
Melanie rolled her eyes. "That wasn't an impression, Ron."
They turned the corner and suddenly heard footsteps. They were about to turn around when Ron's older brother, Percy Weasley, appeared at the end of the corridor and saw them.
"Excuse me!" he said as he walked towards them.
"What're you doing down here?" Ron asked.
Melanie nearly kicked herself. He still sounded like himself.
Percy seemed confused by this too and gave him and odd look. Harry quickly nudged Ron in the ribs.
Ron cleared his throat and in a much lower voice asked, "What're you doing down here?"
"I happen to be a Prefect," Percy said. "You, on the other hand, have no business wandering the corridors at night."
The three of them nodded, not exactly sure how to get out of the current situation.
Percy looked at them strangely. "What're your names again?"
"Crabbe! Goyle!"
Melanie looked behind her to see Malfoy walking towards them, an irritated sneer in his face.
"Where've you been?" he asked Harry and Ron. "Pigging out in the Great Hall all this time?"
Harry and Ron nodded stupidly, not knowing what else to do. Malfoy looked at Harry, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why are you wearing glasses?" he asked.
Melanie looked at Harry. He was still wearing his glasses! She hadn't noticed until now!
Harry quickly swiped them off and put them in his pocket. "Oh…um… reading," he told Malfoy.
"Reading?" Malfoy repeated. "I didn't know you could read."
Then Malfoy turned to Melanie. "And you. I've been looking for you everywhere," he said. Also not able to think of anything else to do, Melanie nodded and looked at her feet.
Malfoy glared at Percy. "And what are you doing here, Weasley?"
"Mind your attitude, Malfoy," Percy countered. "You might want to show a little more respect to a school Prefect!"
Malfoy just sneered at him before turning and walking away. Melanie and the boys followed cautiously, only assuming that he was leading them to the Common Room. Thankfully he did. Malfoy fell onto a couch across from them, comfortably sprawled out, but not knowing what to do with themselves, Melanie, Harry, and Ron remained standing.
"Well, sit down."
Melanie sat down on a cold, green, leather couch between Ron and Harry, folding her hands nervously in her lap.
Unfortunately for her, Malfoy turned to Melanie first. "How's that essay for McGonagall going?" he asked.
Melanie looked at him and then the other two. What was she supposed to say?
"Well?" Malfoy pressed. "Is it done or not?"
"It's nothing you should worry about Malf-Draco," Melanie answered, hoping it was a good enough answer.
He looked at her critically for a moment before smirking. "Good," he said.
Then he moved on to a different subject. "You'd never know the Weasleys were pureblood's," Malfoy started. "The way they behave. They're an embarrassment to the wizarding world…all of them."
Beside her, Ron clenched his fist, looking about reading to hit Malfoy any second. She just gave him a warning look.
Malfoy, however, saw this. "What's wrong with you Crabbe?" he asked.
"Stomachache."
"You know," Malfoy continued, uncaringly, "I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't done a report on all these attacks. I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all up. Father always said that Dumbledore was the worst thing that ever happened to this place."
"You're wrong!" Harry said defensively.
Melanie groaned inwardly. At this rate, Malfoy would figure out who they were without them having to look like themselves.
Malfoy stood up and glared at Harry. "What?" he demanded. "You think there's someone here who's worse than Dumbledore?"
Harry took a few seconds to think of an answer that could save them. "Harry Potter?" he said.
Malfoy grinned. "Good one, Goyle. You're absolutely right. Saint Potter. And people actually think that he's the Heir of Slytherin?"
"But then you must have some idea of who's behind it all?" Harry asked.
"You know I don't Goyle," Malfoy said as he made his way over to a table and picked up a wrapped gift. Melanie had an inkling that it wasn't his present. "I told you yesterday. How many times do I have to tell you?"
He shook the present for a sign of what it was and looked at the three of them. "Is this yours?" he asked them. They all shook there heads and Malfoy pocketed the gift.
"But my father did say this," Malfoy continued. "It's been fifty years since the Chamber was opened. He wouldn't tell me who opened it, only that they were expelled. The last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died."
Melanie hand flinched towards her pocket, where her wand was kept.
"So it's only a matter of time before one of them is killed this time. AS for me, I hope its Granger."
Ron jumped from his seat and only Harry and Melanie stopped him from attacking Malfoy.
"What's the matter with you three?" Malfoy asked. "You're acting very… odd."
"It's his stomachache," Harry answered.
While Malfoy was turned away, he was opening the present now, Harry turned to Ron. "Calm down," he whispered.
Ron, however, wasn't paying much attention. He was staring at Harry's forehead. "Sc-scar," he stuttered.
Melanie looked at Harry's forehead as well and saw the faint mark returning. She turned to Ron and saw that his hair was beginning to grow longer again and was returning to its usual ginger colour.
They both looked at Melanie and muttered, "Your eyes," and she could only assume that her eyes were blue again.
Their hour was up.
The three of them made there way to the exit, not daring to look back when Malfoy called after them.
Melanie ran along-side them as they began to transform into themselves again. She felt her hair brush her shoulders and knew it wasn't short anymore and the tingling in her face told her that it was changing back too.
By the time they reached the bathroom they were all fully returned to normal.
"That was close!" Ron exclaimed as he rested against one of the stall doors.
"Hermione! Come out, we've got loads to tell you!" Harry called.
"Go away!" she called back. Melanie frowned in confusion. Why was she still inside the stall, an hour after they had left?
"Hermione? Is everything alright?" Melanie asked.
She jumped back in surprise as Moaning Myrtle floated through the closed door and giggled. "Wait 'till you see! It's awful!" she told them before drifting away.
Melanie looked at the boys, who just nodded their heads. "Hermione?" she asked gently as she slowly pushed the door open.
There was no light in the bathroom, so the stall was dark, but Melanie could tell that something was wrong. "Do you remember me telling you, the Polyjuice Potion was only for human transformations?" Hermione asked. "It was cat hair I plucked off Millicent Bulstrode's robes!"
Slowly Hermione turned to face them and Melanie's hands flew over her mouth. Hermione's face was covered in hair and she unmistakably had cat eyes and ears.
"Look at my face!" she said.
Behind them, Moaning Myrtle was laughing hysterically, but it was Ron who said, "Look at your tail!"
Melanie hit him on the arm and went to comfort Hermione, who was positively distraught.
"Shh, it's really not that bad, Hermione," Melanie said. "I'm sure Madam Pomfrey could fix this up. You'll forget it ever happened."
"Doubt it."
"Ron!"
