CHAPTER 6!
On September 1st, Melissa awoke from a strange dream at 4:00 in the morning, and could not get back to sleep. She dreamt she was at the site of a grave, standing on a gravestone that had the name Tom Riddle on it. She couldn't move anything except her head, and when she looked down, she was bleeding from the wrists. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. The world slowly faded and turned black…and then she had woken up.
She didn't know what to make of it, so she just tried to forget about it. She crept down the stairs and made herself some hot chocolate. She didn't ever remember having a dream like that before. Mostly her dreams circulated around her friends, boys and the nightclub she one day hoped to own. It had terrified her, but she knew better than to dwell on it. She sat at the table for a few hours, thinking about Hogwarts and how weird it would be, not to mention hard, until she heard stirring in the Dursley's room. She ran to the cupboard under the stairs and hid there until Mr. Dursley had retreated to the kitchen, then she ran quietly up the stairs and into Harry's room, climbing into the warmth of her bed. When Harry awoke at 9, she pretended to have enjoyed a wonderful sleep, and he did not question her.
"Are you excited?" he asked.
"Oh, you know, a little bit. I'm a bit worried about how far behind I am!"
"You'll be fine! Look, go have a shower - I don't mind going second – and meet me downstairs for breakfast okay?"
"Yeah sure," she grabbed her clothes, towel, and toiletry bag, and went to the bathroom. Dudley had been heading towards it, but when he saw her he gave a squeak and ran back into his bedroom. She grinned and turned the taps on.
As the water ran over her hair and down her back, she smiled. It was warm and comforting. She wiped her face with her hands and looked down.
"AAAGH!" she screamed. There was blood all over her hands. She kept screaming, and Harry ran into the bathroom with a towel in front of his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked over her screams.
"Do I look okay!" she screamed at him.
"I don't know I'm trying not to look!" he yelled back, turning the taps off and wrapping the towel over her. She wiped it repeatedly over her hands, shaking.
"Get it off…get it off," she said, over and over, crying.
"Hey. Hey!" Harry exclaimed. She looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "It's okay, there's nothing there,"
She looked down at her hands and saw he was right. No trace of anything. No blood on the floor or the towel where she had seen it before.
"But…I saw – there was…"
"It's okay. Anything that was there before, isn't there now," he said soothingly. The racket had brought the Dursley's to the bathroom, and Vernon was leering at them.
"If the neighbors heard one single scream, you will not EVER set foot in my house again! You OR your crazy girlfriend," he said to Harry. Melissa looked at him in disgust, still shaking. Harry led her out slowly. Dudley smirked at them as they passed, and Harry gave him the finger and led Melissa into the bedroom.
He sat her down on the bed and wrapped a dressing gown around her and put a towel over her hair.
"Are you okay? What happened?"
"I – I was in the sh – shower and I s – saw b – b – blood and I p – panicked and, and yeah," she said, still shaking and crying.
"Liss, there was no blood," Harry said slowly.
"There was! There had to be!" she exclaimed.
"I swear to you, there was nothing," he replied.
"But…but how could there be no blood? I know what I saw!"
"I don't know…" Harry replied. He thought for a second. He'd always felt like that when connected with Voldemort, but never had the vision been on himself before.
"You swear you saw nothing?"
"I swear it. Maybe we can ask Hermione later…"
"NO! I'm fine, I'm not crazy, it was probably just a fleeting memory from my dream," she replied, standing up and moving over to the mirror.
"What dream?" Harry asked, worried.
"I just had strange dream okay? Just go and have your shower, I want to get dressed!" she snapped. He grabbed his towel and clothes and left obligingly. She stared at her reflection for a minute, before declaring to nobody in particular. "I'm NOT crazy,"
When Harry entered the room again, it was to find a completely different Melissa. She was smiling and chirpy again, and while Harry was somewhat glad, he was still very worried.
She was dressed in a 'BAM' singlet, the same tight black jeans Hermione had worn the week before and a pair of 'Emily the Strange' hightops. She had a studded belt on, and her make up was dark, yet simple again. Her hair was up in a curly bun, and Harry swore she was wearing like, ten necklaces.
"Hey you, what do you think?" she asked, twirling around.
"Very nice, the boys will love you," Harry replied, laughing at her.
"Yes well, that's the idea, no? I decided to go with the sexy skater girl look today," she explained, seeing him look at the singlet and belt.
"Ah, got it. Well, we had better get your stuff packed,"
"Mine? What about yours?" she asked.
"I'm packed! And besides, you're probably going to need to use my trunk as well with all the clothes you have," he mused.
"Nah, you'd be amazed at what us girls can do," she replied, proceeding to pack all of her clothes in her trunk. When she was done, the lid wouldn't close, and Harry laughed at her, thinking his point was proved. But she smirked at him and jumped on the top. The lid snapped down, and she buckled it quickly. Harry looked at her in amazement.
"I told you, you'd be amazed at what us girls know,"
"I can see now that I was wrong to underestimate you. Please accept my sincerest apologies," he replied, still gaping.
"So not, c'mon, help me with this,"
He helped her drag her trunk down the stairs and out the front door. Vernon Dursley slammed the door hard behind them, and watched them outside the window. Just to aggravate him (as they knew it would) they both turned and smiled at him, waving quickly. Melissa had just pulled out her phone to call a cab to King's Cross when a car shot down the street and stopped in front of them. Remus Lupin got out and grinned at the astonished look on Harry's face.
"You didn't think we'd let you go alone did you? Come on, hop in,"
"Hi," Melissa said.
"Good morning," Remus replied stiffly. Melissa watched him strangely.
"How have you been going Remus?" Harry asked.
"Oh yeah, you know. I'm still here,"
"What's the matter with you?" Melissa asked.
"I have a badly behaved rabbit, it keeps me awake some nights," Remus replied. Harry snorted loudly.
"O…k. I don't get it," Melissa replied.
"Don't worry about it. Maybe we'll tell you one day,"
"Meanwhile, I'm sure you know everyone has their little secrets," Remus replied. Melissa looked at him for a moment then her mouth formed a big 'O'. He knows about my mum! she thought.
"Um, am I missing something here?" Harry asked, looking from Remus to Melissa, who were now staring at each other meaningfully.
"No of course not Harry," Melissa replied sweetly. "We're just having a conversation! One which you started I might add,"
"Oh yeah, right,"
Harry stared out the window. The trees were rushing past at an alarming rate, it was almost making him dizzy. Then all of a sudden, it felt like time slowed to a crawl, and a shaggy black dog appeared about of nowhere, watching the car mournfully. Harry stared at it, and the dog stared back, when all of a sudden it turned into the form of a man. Harry sat up so fast that he bumped his head on the roof of the car, and the man disappeared.
"Ow!" he moaned.
"Are you okay?" Remus asked, alarmed.
"Yeah I'm fine," Harry replied, rubbing his head and staring out the window. The trees were once again rushing past, and Harry wondered exactly what he'd seen, and if it were just his mind, begging for Sirius again. He'd been doing that a lot lately.
"Did you have another…daydream?" Remus asked, not sure if Harry had told Melissa about his visions yet.
"Daydream? Oh!" Harry said, catching on. "Uh, not really. It was just a little thing about Snuffles," he replied.
"Oh," Remus said, a little dejected.
"I know," Harry said simply.
Melissa looked at the two of them and slumped down in her seat. "I am so incredibly confused,"
Harry and Remus just laughed at her.
When they reached the station, Melissa looked around for a platform 93/4 but could not find it anywhere. Harry laughed at her confusion, and lent against a barrier.
"Come here!" he exclaimed, pulling her towards him. As soon as she was near him, he pulled her through the barrier and onto the platform.
"Oh my God!" she screeched, laughing. "I just walked through a wall!"
"Good observation!" Harry replied, grinning. She was laughing hysterically when someone cam e up behind her and jumped on her. It was Ginny.
"Hey!" Melissa yelled, throwing her arms around her.
"Hey yourself!" Ginny replied, returning the hug. Ron came up and stood next to Harry.
"Melissa," he said, with a nod.
"Oh my Gosh, the wog nod," Melissa mumbled. "Hi Ron, how are you?"
"Oh yeah, ya know. Pretty good,"
"That's good, where's Hermione?" Melissa asked, as Hermione ran up next to them. More hugs followed, then the three girls linked arms and walked over to where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were standing with Hermione's parents.
"Brushed off!" Ron said to Harry, who just nodded.
"Mum, Dad, this is Melissa, Melissa this is my Mum, Molly and my Dad Arthur," Ginny said proudly. "Melissa did my hair," she explained.
"Oh, well, it's very nice to meet you! We're glad our Ginny's coming out of her shell," Molly said to Melissa, shaking her hand.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Weasley," Melissa replied.
"Oh please! Call my Molly!"
"Yes, and call me Arthur. It's wonderful to meet you!" Arthur added.
"You too sir," Arthur tilted his head at her. "Sorry, Arthur,"
She grinned. Suddenly the train whistled.
"Come on! We've got to get on! We got us a carriage earlier. Bye Mum, bye Dad!" Ginny yelled, pulling Melissa onto the train.
"By Molly, bye Arthur!" she called out. They waved merrily and Melissa dragged her trunk behind her.
They led her to an almost empty carriage. A boy and a girl sat there, discussing something animatedly.
"Hi Luna, Hi Neville. Guys this is Melissa Simmons, Melissa this is Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom,"
"Hi, nice to meet you," Melissa replied.
"Hello, we're just having a little discussion about animals. What do you think about the Crumple Horned Snorkacks?" Luna asked.
"Um, well, I'm not really – "
"Hey guys!" Harry exclaimed, saving Melissa from her confusion. "Nice of you to wait for us,"
"Oh, yeah, sorry!" she replied sheepishly.
"How are you Luna? Neville?"
"Good thanks, how are you?" Neville replied.
"Oh I'm alright,"
"Harry, I have to ask, and I'm really sorry, but was Sirius Black a friend of yours?" Neville asked.
Harry looked forlorn. "Yes, Neville. He was my dad's best friend, and my Godfather. He was the closest thing to a parent I've ever known," he replied. Ginny put her arm around him, but seeing the look on Ron's face, retracted it quickly. Melissa took her place.
"It's alright, Harry, you know that?" she asked.
"Yeah. I know," Harry replied, grinning at her and Ginny.
"Hey mate, food trolley!" Ron said, whacking Harry. Sure enough, the nice lady with the trolley knocked on the carriage door.
"Awesome, I could kill for a Mars Bar!" Melissa exclaimed. Harry looked at her, amused. "No Mars Bars?" she asked.
"No Mars Bars," he replied.
"What is there then?"
"Well…" Harry began, but Ron had a better idea.
"How about we pool our money, and buy a lot of everything, that way she can try it all!" he exclaimed.
20 Sickles and forty chocolate frogs, 5 packets of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, 21 licorice wands and 12 pumpkin pasties later, they were all stuffed.
"It all tastes so good!" Melissa exclaimed. "Except for that earwax flavored Jelly Bean,"
"Yeah, well, you get those. But then you got the chocolate one, and the boysenberry ones too," Harry replied.
"Don't forget the toast flavored one too!" Ginny pointed out.
"Yeah, that's true!" Melissa said, laughing.
"Hey Hermione, you wanna pull your head out of your book for a while and talk to us?" Ron asked.
"Well, if I put my book down, then you guys have to have a conversation that I will gladly take part in. Basically, no Quidditch, and no Voldemort," she replied. They looked at her for a moment.
"Well, smarty, what would you like us to talk about?" Harry asked.
"Um, well, how about we inform Melissa about Hogsmeade…oh wait, you won't have gotten a signed form…" Hermione said slowly.
"Huh?" Melissa asked, looking at Ginny.
"Well, to get into Hogsmeade you need a permission form signed by your parent or guardian," Ginny explained.
'But I don't have either," Melissa replied miserably.
"Then I don't know what we'll do," Ginny said, looking at Harry.
"I'm sure Dumbledore will take that into consideration," Harry reassured her.
"Cool, so what's Hogsmeade?" Melissa asked.
The others launched into a long explanation about Hogsmeade. Telling her all about the Three Broomsticks ("Ron has a crush on the bartender, Madam Rosmerta," Hermione said.), Honeydukes Sweet Shop ("Best chocolate EVER!" Ginny added. "Not to mention everything else!"), Zonko's Joke Shop ("Second only to Weasley's Wizarding Weezes," Harry said.) and the Shrieking Shack. Half way through, Malfoy pulled their carriage door open and sauntered in with Crabbe and Goyle.
"Well, if it isn't Potty, the Mudblood and the Weasels! Not to mention the little tart over there," he said, pointing at Melissa.
"Hey it's you, how are you?" Melissa asked. Malfoy was taken aback.
"I'm…good, I think. Why?" he asked, suspicious.
"It's called being nice, Malfoy, you should try it one day," she replied.
"Haha, very funny. Did you hear the news Potter? My dad's out of Azkaban,"
"What difference does it make to me? Personally I'm just happy the whole world knows what an arsehole he is," Harry replied indifferently.
"You're real brave Potter, but watch your back. Father and Auntie Bella are out for your blood. Although I guess Aunt Bella did pretty well, getting the blood traitor and all,"
"Why you little – " Harry growled. Ron and Hermione held him back.
"Aunt Bella?" Melissa asked.
"Yes, Aunt Bella. Bellatrix Lestrange. Educate yourself before you speak to me again girlie,"
"You've got to be kidding me," Melissa mumbled. Malfoy was her cousin? Woo fun! Not…
"Pardon? Don't mumble to your superiors," Malfoy replied regally.
"You know, you keep saying that Malfoy, but I've never seen any part of you that's superior, only the pathetic scumbag bits. I must be missing something," Ginny said sweetly.
"Don't speak to me Weasel Junior. I'm not interested," Malfoy replied, walking out and slamming the door behind him.
"I'll kill him!" Harry snarled.
"No, you won't. You're going to sit down, and chill before I summon a bucket of water and dump it on your head. Calm down," Hermione replied.
"But Hermione! You heard what he said!"
"Yes I did, but you take things too personally Harry. He's just another pompous piece of shit okay? Now calm!" Hermione exclaimed. Harry sat back and sulked.
An hour later they got changed into their robes and the train pulled into Hogsmeade station. They exited the train and walked to the Thestral pulled carriages that would take them to Hogwarts.
"What's with the weird horses?" Melissa asked.
"They're Thestrals. You can only see them once you've witnessed someone die," Hermione replied. "I guess we all have now, because I can see them.
"Me too," Ron replied.
"And me," Ginny added.
"They're really…weird. Yet strangely beautiful," Melissa replied.
"I don't really see that, but ok, if you insist!" Harry exclaimed, laughing.
The journey to the castle was quiet. Except for when Melissa saw one of the tentacles from the Giant Squid and squealed in Harry's ear. They entered the school, and Professor McGonagall pulled Melissa aside and told her to go with the First years.
"You have to be sorted," she explained.
"Oh, right. Gotcha. Bye guys!" Melissa waved happily, and left with McGonagall.
"Do you reckon she'll be in Gryffindor?" Ginny asked.
"Oh yeah, no question," Harry replied, entering the Hall. They could tell from the ceiling it had started raining outside, and were quite thankful they had gotten inside before it started; they were cold enough. They chatted for a while, before Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat.
"I'm sure you're all eagerly awaiting your wonderful feast, so I'll not delay in our ceremony. Let the sorting begin!"
McGonagall opened the door and a bunch of first years came slowly in, looking quite frightened. McGonagall told Melissa to stay in the room.
She sat on her own for a while, listening to other people being sorted, and laughing at some of the strange names, like 'Suwanna Lefebvre', but then she realized her own name was not exactly that normal, in fact she was sure 'Malicia' was something like the Mafia in another country. What the hell had her mother been thinking? Her mother…that was a strange thing to think. The only mother she'd ever known was dead, and had been killed by her real mother. Harry's godfather had been her cousin, and his arch nemesis was her other cousin. He'd be real happy about that when she told him the truth. If she told him the truth.
"Melissa? We're ready for you now," McGonagall stuck her head in the room and Melissa walked out as the doors opened the full way. Dumbledore had obviously announced her, but she hadn't been listening.
She felt thousands of sets of eyes watching her as she walked out, and she suddenly felt very vulnerable. She didn't know what to do. McGonagall led her over to the stool and placed the hat over her head, and Melissa was grateful for the darkness.
"So, a Lestrange huh?" said a voice in her head. Melissa dearly hoped the rest of the school couldn't hear what she could. "You seem to have a lot of spirit, you'd do well in Gryffindor, fairly intelligent, possibly a Ravenclaw. I'm not sure what to do with you…I think it best to put you with the rest of your stock. SLYTHERIN!"
The last word was shouted for the whole school to hear. Everyone was silent, and as Melissa walked over to the Slytherin table feeling utterly miserable, she heard Harry's sharp intake of breathe, saw the looks on Ginny, Hermione's and Ron's faces, and put her head in her hands to cry.