CHAPTER 9!

Remus was moved to St. Mungo's only hours later. Harry could be seen moping around the corridors for the rest of the day, snapping at people and abusing people from the younger years. But Melissa didn't see any of this. She was curled up in a ball on her bed, her doona wrapped around her, sobbing loudly. Whenever she closed her eyes she could see her parents (Sarah and Tony) being murdered, and a voice screaming out to her 'You will pay!'

She knew she had to go and see Dumbledore, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't want to move, she didn't want to speak. She was waiting for the floor to open up and swallow her whole, and she would welcome it with open arms, jump into it's bottomless pit and feel all the pain drift from her with ease. But she knew it wouldn't. She would have to get up in the morning and go to class, sit across from Ginny and pretend she knew nothing more of what had happened to Remus than anyone else did. Worst of all, she would have to sit across from Harry at breakfast, lunch and dinner and watch him eat his meal miserably, and listen to him plotting his revenge, knowing that eventually, she would have to tell him the truth.

He would hate her, she was sure of it.

How do you explain something like that to someone? Oh by the way Harry, you know the woman that killed your Godfather and gravely injured the only link to your father you had left? Yeah she's my Mum, hope you don't mind, can we still be friends? No? Okay then, bye bye!

She didn't think it would quite work like that.

No, Harry Potter would indeed hate her, as would the rest of her new friends. And she would be thrown into the same category as Malfoy and all of those prats.

What do I do? How in the world do I tell them? She thought. "They're going to find out Melissa, be strong," she said aloud.

"We're going to find out what?"

Melissa shrieked at the sound of Ginny's voice.

"Um, what? Oh, I mean we're going to find out why Remus was attacked. Yeah,"

"Mhmm, sure,"

"How can you say that? Of course we'll find out!"

"You really expect me to believe that that's what you meant? Melissa, do you really think I'm dumb? Be honest with me, please. Tell me the truth,"

"What truth, I was unaware I've been lying to you!"

"Unless you tell me the truth, you're going to destroy every bond of trust we have, so spill,"

"Why don't you just tell me what you want to hear and I'll relay it back to you, because that's all you're going to believe!"

"Malicia!"

"What! Shit…"

"Liss, who are you?"

"I'm me, ok that's all you need to know,"

"Melissa, don't bullshit me, I've had enough!"

"Okay, okay…I guess you know my name right? By the way, how did you know?"

"Fred and George,"

"How'd they know?"

"Apparently when you were a baby, before they found a home for you, you stayed at my place. They remembered you caz they thought you were our sister,"

"Right, the red hair. Do you know who my parents are?"

"Not a clue…do you?" Ginny asked, slightly intrigued.

"Unfortunately for me, yeah, I do."

"Well, who are they? I mean, all I know is that they were in Azkaban…"

"Yeah, they were. Look Ginny, you have to swear not to tell anyone, okay. I mean, it. Swear on our friendship,"

"I swear! What's the big deal anyway? Who were they?"

"The Lestranges. My parent's were the Lestranges,"

There was a long silence before Ginny finally spoke.

"Shit,"

"Ya think? You hate me?"

"Of course I don't hate you! Come here you twit!" Ginny pulled her into a hug and Melissa began to cry. She didn't hate her, she was comforting her. Thank God.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't want to tell anyone! Especially Harry! What will he think of me? I mean that woman…my mum, she killed Sirius! And now Remus was attacked and it's all my fault!" she sobbed into Ginny's shoulder.

"How on earth do you figure that out?" Ginny asked softly.

"They left a letter with Remus, Ginny. A letter to me,"

"What?" Ginny asked, pulling away. "What did it say?"

"It basically said come and join them and I'll be rewarded," she replied, sadly.

"Well, where is it? Can I see it?"

"I…I burned it. I didn't exactly realize the consequences of that when I did it,"

'Consequences?"

"Well, a) I can't show it to Dumbledore now,"

"Yeah, but he'll take your word for it," Ginny replied, shaking her head dismissively.

"And b) when I burned, it screamed at me,"

"What do you mean it screamed at you?"

"I mean it screamed You will pay at me. Oh Gin, what am I gunna do?" she moaned.

'You're going to tell Dumbledore. Liss, you could be in serious danger!"

"Maybe I should just give myself to them, that way everyone would be safe,"

"No, that's ridiculous. We wouldn't be safe. Voldemort would still be after Harry and Dumbledore, not to mention everyone else in the world…"

"But…"

"No buts! Come on, we're going to see Dumbledore!"

"But I don't know his password!" Malicia exclaimed.

"I do. I found a letter he sent to Harry. He enjoys Acid Pops," she giggled.

"He enjoys…? I'm so confused!" Malicia laughed.

"At least you're laughing! Now come on!" and Ginny dragged her out the door.

They walked slowly up to the seventh floor, Melissa telling Ginny as much as she knew about her family and it's history.

"I don't really know a lot. I mean, I've been trying to find stuff out…not that I care!" she added nervously.

"Liss, no matter who they are, they're your parents. You have a right to know who they are and who they were before they turned…well you know,"

"I don't think they turned that way; I think they just are. But oh well. At least I'm not," she grinned.

"Exactly!" Ginny agreed, laughing.

They reached the spot where a single gargoyle stood against he wall.

"Acid Pops," they said together, giggling. The gargoyle leapt aside; the wall behind it slid apart, and a moving spiral stone staircase was revealed, on to which they stepped so they were carried in smooth circles up to the door with the brass knocker that led to Dumbledore's office.

Ginny knocked.

"Come in," said Dumbledore's voice.

Melissa looked at Ginny nervously, and they opened the door.

"Ah, girls, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"We wanted to know how Remus is sir?" Melissa said. Ginny elbowed her.

"He's still unconscious. We're hoping he can be woken by magical means, but, if not, we just have to wait it out,"

"God! This is all my fault,"

"Melissa, don't be ridiculous, how could this possibly be your fault?"

"They…" Ginny nodded silently. "They left me a letter,"

"Who did?" Dumbledore asked, sitting up slightly in his seat.

"My…my parents," she mumbled. Dumbledore looked at Ginny.

"Am I to understand that Miss Weasley is aware of your heritage?" Melissa nodded slowly. "Alright then…what did the letter say? May I read it?"

"It said that if I went and joined them, I would be rewarded, and that she missed me, and she loved me," Melissa whispered. "But you can't see it,"

"Melissa – "

"No, you can't see it because I burned it,"

There was a long silence.

"I see…what happened when it burned Melissa?"

"It screamed at me,"

"What did it scream exactly?'

"It – it said you will pay," silent tears fell down her face, and Ginny put her arm around her.

"Right. Do you have any intention of informing Mr. Potter?"

'No!" she yelled.

"Alright, I was just asking. I think this wise anyway. What about Mr. Malfoy?"

"Why the hell would she tell Malfoy?" Ginny asked, spitting the name as if it were filth.

"He's my cousin Gin," Melissa replied, laughing at her friends disdain.

"Oh, got it. No more insulting him then…" Ginny said, looking sheepish.

"Meh, don't worry about it. But she's right, why would I tell him? He's probably one of the best blackmail artists this school has ever seen!"

"Ah, you underestimate the power of the Marauders," Dumbledore replied, with a twinkle in his eye. Ginny laughed, but Melissa looked confused.

"I'll tell you later," Ginny added, giggling.

"Melissa, are you at all worried about your safety in here?"

"No sir, Hogwarts is the safest place in the world for me,"

"Then until the time arrives for you to leave, are you happy to remain?"

"Hell yeah I am!"

"Good. I'll pass on your regards to Professor Lupin, and I'll let you know what will happen at Christmas holidays. I believe you've been invited to the Weasley's which is as safe a place as any,"

"Thank you sir," Melissa replied. Dumbledore nodded, and they took this to be their dismissal.

They opened the door and made their way down the stairs and through the opening in the wall, and continued on to Melissa's room.

"So anyway, forget all the drama that happened today – what happened with you and Krum?" Ginny asked, when they reached Melissa's room and changed into pj's.

"Oh my Gosh! Nothing happened! We just talked, that's all,"

"A little birdy told me you sung for him, and that you were good,"

"Meh, he asked me to,"

"So…?"

"So what?"

"So, are you two gunna, you know. Meet up?"

"I don't know…he's kinda cute…" Melissa replied sheepishly.

"I knew it!"

"But he's so not interested! I mean come on! Besides, he's friends with Evan, the dirty rat! I could never date one of Evan's friends,"

"Why not?"

"Because...well me and Evan broke up, but it was still like, well, friends with benefits. His friends probably know that, and besides, it would be so totally weird!"

"Speaking of Evan, he is totally hot!"

"Yeah, I know,"

"You think he'd be interested?" Ginny asked.

"Ah, ah, ah. Don't even think about it. You're with Dean remember? And besides, the only person you are going to be hooking up with (other than Dean, but I give that one more month) is Harry Potter!"

"What? No!"

"Oh yes, and besides, haven't you ever heard the cardinal law?"

"What cardinal law?" Ginny asked curiously.

"The Best Friends Cardinal Law; never go where your best friend has traveled,"

"You're best friend huh? So does that mean I'm your best friend?"

"Hell yeah it does!"

"What about those other chicks we went to the concert with?"

"They don't know me as well as you do…at least not anymore,"

"Aww, I'm flattered!" Ginny replied, batting her eyelashes.

"Shut up!" Melissa replied, throwing a pillow at her.

The news of Remus's attack traveled fast, and all the students were terrified. Remus had been everyone's favorite teacher, who was going to look after their lessons now?

"Do you reckon it'll be Snape?" Harry asked the next morning.

"Not sure, let's hope not!" Melissa replied, laughing.

"We'll let you know, we've got Defence first," Ginny added.

"Good luck, if it's Snape he'll be on a rampage," Hermione said. She'd arrived late and put her bags down.

"Why are you so late Mione?" Ron asked.

"I got held up in the corridor. Peeves snuck in to Snape's office and smashed everything so yeah,"

"So that's why Snape's in such a bad mood?" Melissa asked.

'Yep. Be careful," Hermione advised.

"Shit. Let's hope we don't have him first. We've got double Defence, then double Potions. How totally sucky!"

"Oh my God. Alright, we better shove off, don't want to be late. Especially if Snape's teaching!" Melissa said, with a grin.

She and Ginny grabbed their bags and left the Great Hall. When they got to the Defence room, there was no one there. They waited until everyone arrived, and everyone began to look restless.

"Do we even have a teacher?"

"Maybe they couldn't find us a replacement in such short time?"

"I doubt it, Dumbledore will have found someone," Melissa said.

The whispers continued however. Most students were not disappointed at the idea of not having a teacher though. They seemed to find it thoroughly exciting. Just as some of them were beginning to pack up their things and leave, a voice called out from the shadows.

"Don't even think about it!"

They all jumped and looked towards the front of the room. Kingsley Shacklebolt emerged from the shadows, laughing at them all.

"Good morning everyone, nice to see you show some initiative in a situation like this. How many times have you been told, if you don't have a teacher, go to the staff room and check,"

He looked over at Melissa and Ginny, who were laughing at the looks on their classmates faces.

"Weasley, I've got my eye on you,"

Ginny grinned sweetly. "Nice to know Professor," she replied.

"Enough with the Professor stuff, I hate it. And my other hate is being called sir," he added.

"So what do we call you?" Melissa asked. "Teacher dude?"

"Haha. No, call me Shackles," he grinned at them. They laughed. "Now, down to business. I'm an Auror who's technically on leave, but when I heard about Remus (Professor Lupin to you) I offered to help Dumbledore. Now, who can tell me what we're up to?"

"Please, Si – err, Shackles. We were starting to learn about protective jinxes," a Ravenclaw replied.

"Thanks, Miss – "

"Davenport. Melinda Davenport,"

"Thank you Miss Davenport. Now, who can tell me some protective jinxes?"

Zacharius Smith put up his hand. Ginny smirked. "Little wart!" she whispered.

"Miss Weasley!" Kingsley exclaimed.

"Sorry sir," she replied.

"Seeing as how you seem to wish to speak during my class, can you tell me the proper incantation for a Shield Charm?"

"Of course I can," she replied.

"Can you perform it?"

"Hell yeah I can,"

"Well, go on then," he beckoned her up the front of the class.

"Impedimenta!" he yelled, pointing his wand at her.

"Protego!" she yelled, and the jinx bounced off the invisible shield she'd created.

"Well done Miss Weasley. 20 points to Gryffindor," Ginny smiled and sat down in her spot. Melissa high fived her.

"Mr. Smith, can you tell me one?"

"Stupefy?"

"Can you perform it?"

"Sure," he stood up and walked to the front of the class. "Stupefy!" he yelled, his wand pointed at Kingsley.

"Protego!" Shacklebolt yelled. "I get the point, you can do it," he grinned. "20 points to Hufflepuff. Anyone else?"

Everyone looked around, none of them knowing what to say or do.

"No? What about Expelliarmus, no one knows that one?"

Zacharius Smith raised his hand.

"Please, um, Shackles, does that really count?"

"What is a wizards most valuable possession, Mr. Smith?"

"His wand,"

"And if a wand is removed from the wizard the wizard is…?"

He looked around the class and pointed at Melissa.

"Helpless," she replied.

"Exactly! As an Auror, the Disarming spell is one of the most important tools you can use. Write this down,"

They spent the rest of the lesson taking notes, and when they left, their hands were increasingly sore from writing, and they were not looking forward to Potions.

As predicted, Snape was in a horrible mood, and found problems with everyone's potions that day. They walked out of the dungeons, their feet shuffling along the floor.

"Well, that was a bitch of a lesson!" Ginny exclaimed, laughing.

"A bitch of a lesson. That was a disaster! I can't believe he's so pissed off! I mean, he gets a discount on all of his supplies, and he was NEVER going to get the Defence job anyway, what the hell is his problem?"

"My problem, Miss Simmons, is students who can't keep their attitude in check,"

"Oops," Melissa whispered to Ginny. She spun around one heel, "Sorry sir, I was just questioning your reasons for failing everyone,"

"I don't need you to question my teaching methods,"

"Well, as I wasn't questioning them to say, the school board, or the Headmaster, I really don't understand the problem,"

"The problem, is – "

"I mean, I could if you wanted me to. I'm sure they would want to know about teachers letting their personal feelings get in the way of their teaching. Especially when it was concerning certain students,"

"10 points from Gryffindor, and don't ever speak to me like that again!"

"Yes, sir!" she replied. He walked away and she saluted behind his back. Ginny stifled a giggle as they walked to lunch.

Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy and his friends were skipping lunch, and had raided the kitchens instead before returning to their common room.

"I can't believe he actually failed us. Us! We're supposed to be his favorite students!"

"Maybe he's just having a bad day. You know the Dark Lord is still angry at him,"

"Shut up Goyle! I don't give a rat's arse if the Dark Lord is angry with him, that mark could mean the end of it all,"

"Since when have you ever cared about your marks?" Crabbe asked.

"Mother dearest informed me last night, that if I didn't obtain good enough results, I wouldn't be able to join the ranks. She's talked father into it as well, and he managed to appeal to the Lord. So no mark for me unless I pass NEWTs,"

"Well, that sucks," Goyle said.

"Shut up," Malfoy moaned.

"Honey, you're a little tense, I think you need to relax. Come here," Pansy said. She pointed to her lap and he lay his head down on her legs. She began to massage the top of his skull. "It's all going to be alright,"

"How do you know?"

"I just know," she purred.

"Yeah, hang on I've just got to get something!" Melissa burst through the hole and everyone jumped.

"What are you doing here?" Malfoy snarled. "You don't live here anymore traitor,"

"Shut up ferret face. Pansy, I left a couple of my tops up in your room, can I grab them?"

"Yeah sure, shove love," she said to Malfoy. He didn't move. "Draco, move, please," he still didn't move. "Draco, move,"

He just grinned, not moving an inch. She stood up and his head rolled off her lap.

"I was comfortable," he moaned.

"Yeah, well, you'll get over it hun," Melissa said sweetly, following Pansy up the stairs.

"Bitch," Malfoy snarled.

Melissa blew him a kiss. Pansy laughed and grabbed her hand.

"So how have all your lessons been going?"

"Shit, yours?"

"Oh, Malfoy's steaming because Snape failed him this morning. Poor thing, he's worried about his grades,"

"Yeah, no sympathy. No offence!"

"None taken. None at all,"

"Hey, so I've been meaning to ask you, do you have a cousin called Evan?"

"Yeah, I do, how'd you know?"

"Oh my God he was telling the truth," Melissa whispered to herself. "Oh, we used to be friends. We met each other again at Hogsmeade last weekend, it was so weird. Neither of us knew about the other being you know 'magical' and all. It was so awkward,"

"Oh yeah, he brought Viktor. God he is so hot. I mean, sure I love Malfoy, but god I would love to take a piece out of that!"

"Pansy Parkinson!" Melissa laughed.

"What! I heard you guys got pretty close,"

"Mmm, who didn't? Nah nothing happened, he's nice,"

"Oh I know. I heard he was…well, I kinda don't want to say…"

"What?"

"I heard he was joining ranks," she whispered.

"What?" Melissa shrieked.

"Yeah, I have my sources,"

"Malfoy?" she asked. Pansy stayed quiet. "I can't believe it. Oh I am going to kill him!"

"Are you guys in contact then?"

"No, but we will be! Anyway, I've gotta go. Thanks for getting my tops for me, Ginny wants to borrow them. Well, I'll talk to you later okay? Why don't you drop by the room tonight? Party at mine,"

"Yeah, will all your Gryff friends be there?"

"Well, yeah, but…"

"I'll pass,"

"You know, you guys should at least try and get along – "

"Not gunna happen," Pansy cut across her, laughing.

"Fair enough, let's go!"

They wandered back down the stairs and Malfoy sneered at Melissa as she left the room.

"Do you mind Malfoy? She never did anything to you,"

'Apart from join the Gryffindors. God knows how many of those little bastards know our password…"

"Look, I highly doubt that she would tell them. I trust her, and you trust me right?"

Malfoy stared at her, sulking.

"Oh just get over it!"

"Pansy! Don't you dare speak to me like that!"

"Well, don't talk about my friends that way. I don't let people talk about you that way!"

"Oh really? And how do I know that?"

"Well, you're just going to have to trust me then, aren't you?"

"I don't do trust.," Malfoy sulked.

"We know," Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle said together, rolling their eyes and relaxing on the chairs and couches once more.

A/N: So how'd you like? Let me know if you hate it or love it (the underdogs on top) sorry I love that song! Anyways, R&R people, and let me know! Luv yaz all! Aimz –xxx-