Tom Riddle and Morfin Jr.

-DICLASIMER:: I OWN NOTHING. ALL FROM J.K. ROWLING

EXCEPT MELODY!-

I ran towards the door at the end of the hall and turned another corner.

He's coming you idiot. I yelled at myself. You've no time to breath just run.

I woke with a start.

I was cold with sweat dipping down my neck.

I rubbed my eyes trying to remember what I was running from in my dream.

I looked around the dormitory.

Anyone who entered this room would have thought that a mild-mannered Cornish Pixie was let loose in the room.

My books were strewn over my bed and surrounding area, I had several empty ink bottles on my bed, my leather-bound journal open with a quill lying down on it, a bottle of half-drunk Butterbeer lying on my pillow, and my clothes were all over the room, discarded and forgotten.

I got up slowly and realised I still had a book onto of me too.

I tossed it away for it to become a part of the rubbish.

The door opened and in came Pansy.

Over the past 3 years she'd gotten used to my 'flaws' as she called them; my smarts, my disregard for the cleanliness of my side of the room, my carelessness of following her around like she was a goddess or my joining in, in her bulling of others and my little respect to join the other Slytherin's at he table in the Great Hall.

"Hi." she said in her usually icy tone she used when dealing with one of my 'flaws'.

I sighed "Would you like me to fetch Ally?"

"Yes." she replied icily.

"Ally." I said into the empty room.

Crack.

There was Ally.

"Hello Mistress Slytherin." she beamed, bowing low at me. "Pug-face." she said making a jerking movement towards Pansy.

I smiled weakly at Ally.

She had the same sense of humour and disregard towards Pansy's feelings as I did.

I rolled up my scrolls of my 5th year Transfiguration essay (even in my fourth year I was doing so well in school I was slightly farther ahead than Hermione).

"Pug wants my side cleaned." I explained calmly. "You know if I do anymore magic Dumbledore will collapse from my Ministry forms." I said smirking.

Ally nodded, snapped her fingers and everything flew into place.

Ally smiled pleased with herself. "Anything else, Mistress?"

I started to talk, but Pansy cut across me.

"No, Ally." she looked at me with her ever there pitting expression. "I think Miss. Gaunt will be coming with me to Hogsmean. She hasn't gone since last year, hasn't left this place for anything but classes and she needs to get a life." she said sternly to me expecting it to hit me.

It was true.

I haven't left the dormitory much and enjoyed avoiding every human but Harry, Ron and Hermione who I'd send owls to when (every cycle of being in my room for periods at a time) I was in one of my cycles.

I let the reality of my lame existence hit me again but it didn't even make a dent in me.

I couldn't even remember when my lame existence started, all I know is it came around the middle of the second year and has been haunting me since then, the dreams, the fear and the un-known.

I wiped my eyes for something to do.

I gave in

"Fine. I'll go. Ally can you have some hot-coco for when I get back?'

Chocolate was my comfort.

"Yes, Mistress."

And before Pansy could retort Ally was gone.

She sighed, "Get dressed."

I did reluctantly.

When we came out one of the many people I'd been avoiding was waiting for us, Draco,

along with Milly (Millicent), and Greg and Vinny (Goyle and Crabbe).

My heart leapt into my throat like it always had when I saw Draco.

I sighed.

"You got her out!" said Draco shocked.

I sighed again, and tired to ignore him.

But my ability to ignore seemed to have left me when I started this 'condition' as everyone liked to call it.

I nodded and avoided his eyes, afraid I'd see a dragon or the thing I was running from in my nightmares.

Everyone walked ahead, except Draco.

I wish he'd stop looking at me, I could feel his eyes on me every pace I took.

I felt my heart swell.

The moment we got into the Great Hall my plan fell into place and Pansy and the rest let their guard down.

I immediately made my mad dashes to the opposite side of the entrance hall.

But Draco was prepared and ran after me.

Then I'd instantly fell into my dream, but it was real.

I ran and ran till I reached what I knew to be the Room of Requirement.

I dashed into the room and locked it behind me.

I heard Draco pounding on the door, pleading for me to see reason.

"MELODY! PLEASE!" I heard him choke, he was crying.

"THIS ISN'T HEALTHY COME BACK OUT! I-I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU"

I felt a sting in my eyes too.

"Ally." I whispered softly into the dark room.

There was a crack.

"Mistress?" said Ally's concerned voice.

"Chocolate." I croaked as tears came down my face.

I felt Ally grab me, and then was in the kitchen.

I felt some chocolate brick being shoved into my hand.

I took it and ate.

The elves around me patted me.

They knew what was wrong with me, as did half the school that knew me.

No-one knew what It was or how to stop it.

I cried like I never did before.

I knew I'd get scolded by Hermione, Pansy and Dumbledore for "not understanding and accepting help" and "running and refusing to co-operate in our attempts to help".

Eventually I pulled myself together again.

"Back again, Ally." I whispered feebly at her.

I was then in a warm bed.

I felt Ally dress me and heard her sing me a lullaby about mermaids.

I then feel into sleep once more.

I was running and twisting through a maze of purple.

It then was flames.

I knew I needed to run though, even thought there was no way out.

Dragon, Draco. Must… run… away. I heard my head call out.

I then felt a cool hand on my head and jolted up.

Pansy was there, Milly was in the doorway.

I felt tears fall down my checks and lay back down.

I choked out "D-don't leave."

They stayed and I feel asleep again.

The dream flowed back again, the walls, and then they were flames, then snakes.

A tree then bloomed out it was red and pulsed like a heart.

One of the snakes reared up and flames came from its mouth.

I was screaming for the heart like tree, as I felt a burning in my heart.

I then woke up again.

No one was there this time.

I looked at Milly's calendar.

I'd been asleep for a full week.

I leapt up and collected my papers for classes.

"Ally?" I whispered again.

She appeared, and bowed.

"Yes, Mistress?"

I smiled weakly to reassure her I was feeling better.

"Please could you deliver my homework to my teachers and ask for next weeks work so I don't fall behind?"

Ally grabbed the scrolls and disappeared again.

I went to shower and change.

When I got back I noticed Hedwig out on the sill.

I opened the window and she flew in reluctantly.

There were 5 rolls attached to her legs (thankfully very tight, but still bulging).

I took them and she flew off.

The first was from Hagrid explaining what Harry and Ron's letter, and Hermione's were saying, 'you should start moving out of your room more', 'we care for you and this isn't healthy' and 'please talk to us'.

I threw them into my pile of old letters that were similar in thoughts but not in size.

The fourth letter was from Sirius (a.k.a. Snuffles).

Dear Musical-Mel,

You may be ignoring what Ron, Harry and Hermione are writing to you, so I'm going to say it.

THIS CONDITION ISN'T HEALTHY!

I'm notifying Dumbledore of this. He said he'll owl you as soon as possible. He wants to explain things you were too young to understand when you had last talked.

I hope you don't burn this letter after.

We love you and hope you get better.

Snuffles

I breathed and then looked cautiously at the last scroll.

The slanted writing un-mistakable, it was defiantly Dumbledore's.

I picked it up and opened it.

Dear Melody,

I'm not sure if you will read this letter, but I wish to tell you the truth about what's happening to you.

I'm bringing in Pro. Trelawney, and your favourite teacher, Pro. Snape.

I hope you will come to my office today.

Professor Dumbledore

P.S. I enjoy jelly slugs.

I chuckled at the end and submerged into thought.

There was then a knock at the dormitory door and Draco's voice came through the cracks.

"Melody, are you awake?"

I hissed "Ally!"

She instantly arrived.

"Dumbledore's office entrance please."

We were gone before the door opened.

There was a giant stone gargoyle and I said "Jelly Slugs."

It leapt aside and when I got to his door I ignored the voices and knocked.

"Come in."

I opened the door and oddly enough there was Snape and Trelawney who looked like they were talking to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore smiled at me "Glad to see you out of bed Miss. Gaunt."

I walked in and closed the door behind me.

I strolled to the desk and sat in the empty seat.

"We were just talking about how this meeting will go, you see." explained Dumbledore.

I nodded and Dumbledore pressed on.

"Melody you remember what I told you when we first met, about your parents?" he x-rayed me with his eyes.

"Yes." I said softly. "A man named Tom Riddle, who was my dad's cousin, killed them because he believed them to be a threat."

Dumbledore nodded. "And you know of Lord Voldemort I presume?"

I nodded, "The darkest wizard ever."

He smiled.

"That's only the beginning. But I guess we could start at the beginning of the whole thing by starting with Tom." he pressed on.

"Years ago, over 52 of them there was a sixteen year old boy named Tom Marvolo Riddle, he was not unlike you Melody. He grew up in an Orphanage, was sorted into Slytherin and was the last, or so he believed, of Salazar Slytherin's descendants.

"He was dark and handsome and smart, not like you though of course, and powerful. But, secretly and knowingly killed your grandfather, his uncle."

I felt my jaw drop, he pressed on.

"Yes, Morfin Gaunt. The last male descendant with the 'Gaunt' name. Secretly though he had spent a night with an un-known witch the night previous to Morfin's death and she held his child.

"In nine months she had your father. Un-knowingly to Tom, and your father was placed in the care of the Longbottom's."

I opened my mouth shocked; Neville's relatives had taken care of my father.

"Yes." said Dumbledore reading my mind again. "He took the name and came to Hogwart's; here he met your mother, who he became instant friends with your mother, Alexis Zabini."

Then before Dumbledore could press on Snape said "Headmaster, I believe we should just tell her he long and skinny of the story."

I felt relived at Snape's request.

"Yes, very well." said Dumbledore. He then looked at me the same way he did when I was 11 being told my parents were dead.

"Tom Riddle changed into Lord Voldemort and as Lord Voldemort he killed your parents, afraid that they'd contradict his "Heir of Slytherin" status."

I let it sink in, and for the first time in a long time it hit me and pounded me.

I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

"Voldemort killed my parents like he did Harry's?"

"Yes." said Dumbledore kindly. "Now, Severus, if you would?"

Snape got up and looked at me "Melody we need to find your weak spot that is causing this 'condition. I will penetrate your mind using Occlumency and find out the source of this problem, but first you must give me permission into your thoughts and dreams."

I nodded, "I-I give you permission."

"Legilimens!"

I then saw my dream, creeping.

The snakes weren't snakes this time though, they twisted and then they were a big Dragon, golden and with pale-blue eyes.

It smirked at me and it was cowering over a red figure that glowed with green veins.

I felt like vomiting but I noticed the figure change as I felt this, it looked like…

Then I moved for a closer look and the Dragon blew flames at me.

It was then gone.

I was on the floor crying.

"What was that!" Snape bellowed at me, he looked frightened.

"I-I don't know, I had d-dreams with the same place and the s-same snakes. But never…"

Dumbledore looked afraid at Snape's tone; he hadn't seen the dream, neither had Trelawney who was very quiet.

Snape took his wand to his temple and extracted a silver thing and put it into a basin I hadn't noticed on the desk.

Dumbledore grabbed Professor Trelawney and he touched the surface and they were gone, but only for a moment.

When they arrived back Dumbledore collapsed into his chair and Trelawney started pacing the room.

Trelawney stared at me, livid "That was your dream!?"

I nodded I didn't like her tone.

"Explain to her Sybil." said Dumbledore who obviously understood what I didn't.

"Miss. Gaunt, do you have feelings for Mr. Malfoy?"

My heart leapt to my brain.

NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It stretched at me.

I shrugged, "No, why?"

"Because this dream says you do!" she cried.

I felt odd, what did my dream say that I didn't hear.

She gasped livid, "The "DRAGON", Draco literally means dragon."

My heart was thudding Don't move a muscle.

"It has his eyes and the person it-it was your heart. Like you; un-protected, ashamed, green is your blood for envy of those who love freely and your pure-blood Slytherin descent.

It looked like you because it is you and you were running from the Dragon from his protection and obvious love."

I wanted to throw up. I remembered that she knew things being a seer, and then I felt it dawn on me.

Did I like Draco?…I mean we've know each other for four years and he's sweet when he wants to be and he cares for me…

I looked at them and sighed.

"Why is this important?"

Snape instantly grasped at his heart "It's very important!" he bellowed at me. "If Voldemort returns and finds out who you are he'll target people that you care about and care about you!"

"Severus." said Dumbledore, soft and pleadingly.

Snape instantly was silent but his chest heaved with anger.

Dumbledore looked at me, "Melody, if you love Draco that Voldemort may eventually target him to get to you."

My heart bleeding in my head, now screaming in agony THEY CAN'T KNOW! YOU'RE PROTECTED AS LONG AS THEY DON'T KNOW! SHUT UP! YOUR EXISTANCE IS POINTLESS IF THEY KNOW!

My brain finally took control.

"Yes, I don't know how exactly to describe it," (NOOOOO! My heart protested.) I said shaking but calm. "but I can't see him getting hurt and I hurt even more when I try to….to close off like I've done for the past 2 and a half years."

My heart was instantly muffled but sobbing.

No tears came to my eyes.

Trelawney nodded and Snape looked questioningly at me.

"Do you know when this condition started?" asked Dumbledore.

I shook my head, "All I know is that it started around Quittage season in second year."

Snape's eyes widened.

"Yes, Severus?" Dumbledore asked noticing his change in expression.

Snape looked at me. "This is my fault," he said, voice wavering. "I had Draco made seeker in that y-year. You m-must have gotten worried that he'd get in-injured and when you…when you realized you sn-snapped and made a cocoon, shielding yourself from pain of losing him."

I felt exposed, like I was naked in front of them.

Dumbledore nodded, "It makes sense Melody."

I closed my eyes and saw what I had last year with the Dementors; Draco lying on the field after getting knocked out of the air, and two years ago, when he called Hermione a mud-blood I had cursed him after Ron's had failed and had stared screaming at him, I had regretted doing it after but he forgave and forgot easily.

I felt a tear fall into my lap.

I opened my eyes.

Then there was a knock on the door.