CHAPTER 15!

Melissa woke up the next morning with a headache, to the smell of breakfast. She pulled on her jeans and one of Evans old school shirts, and wandered into his kitchen.

"Morning sleepyhead," he said, flipping bacon over a frying pan.

"Hey, what's for breakfast?"

"Lot's of fatty foods. How much do you remember of last night?"

"Sex and Vodka. That's probably the extent of it. You tricked me into doing shooters?"

"It wasn't hard," he replied, chuckling. "And I resent the implication that I tricked you into anything. You were very inclined to the idea,"

"Whatever. What time is it?"

"Eleven,"

"Fuck! I have to get back to school, I'll miss my classes!"

"Dude, calm down! It's a Saturday, remember?"

She grinned sheepishly. "Got it,"

"And besides, you're not going anywhere. We need to talk,"

"Ah, the four most hated words in the English language. Generally spoken by females," she replied as he set down pancakes, eggs and bacon in front of her.

"Wow, almost as good as school,"

"I do try. Look, Liss, we gotta work out what's going on. Last night was a one off, it can't happen again,"

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,"

"What are you going to do about Viktor?"

"Lie my arse off?"

"Liss,"

"Look, he thinks I'm a virgin! He's all excited at the prospect of being my first! I can't do that to him!"

"It's not fair on him!" Evan exclaimed.

"Look, just leave me to make the decisions about my relationship ok?"

"There wouldn't be any decisions to make if you hadn't of used me like you always do!" he yelled.

She looked at him in awe. "Well, I guess that won't be a problem anymore. Will it?"

She left the kitchen, and returned a minute later wearing her own clothes, and everything else in her bag.

"If you tell him, Evan, I swear to God you will regret it," she hissed, and left.

"Well you've made a royal mess of things now haven't you?" he said to himself, staring at her untouched plate of food.

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When Melissa walked into her room, it was to find Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Pansy and Malfoy asleep on her floor.

"Um, what the?"

She walked over to Ginny, who was tangled in Harry, and nudged her softly. "Gin? Wake up!"

"Mph…Liss?" she exclaimed.

"Shh!" Melissa hissed.

"Where the hell have you been? Everyone's been looking for you! Even Malfoy!"

"I can tell, he's asleep on my floor! What are you all doing here?"

"Well, Harry, Ron, Hermione and I were looking for you, and then Malfoy and Pansy knocked on your door to see if you wanted to do something with them, and they just…stayed. You should have seen the looks on Harry and Ron's faces when they opened the door to find Malfoy!"

"Oh God, I can just imagine," Melissa groaned.

"So where have you been anyway?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I, erm, I went to see Evan,"

"What?" Ginny exclaimed.

"Relax! He just lives in Hogsmeade!"

"So you snuck into Hogsmeade to see Evan and didn't invite me? Bitch,"

"Believe me, you wouldn't have wanted to be there," Melissa replied. "We had a slight argument,"

"What about?" Ginny asked.

"I sort of, well…I made a mistake,"

Ginny looked at her speculatively for a second before letting out a small squeal.

"You didn't!"

"I did," Melissa replied.

"Did what?" said a sleepy voice from the corner. Malfoy was awake. "It's you. Do you understand how worried we were?"

"You were worried? Why on earth were you worried about me?"

"Because you went missing! That's why! Anyway, what did you do that's so heinous?"

"Girl stuff," Ginny replied quickly.

"It can't be that bad," Malfoy drawled. "Come on, I can keep a secret,"

"It's not much of a secret really. I snuck into Hogsmeade last night and got drunk," Melissa replied. Well it was only half a lie.

"Why on earth would you do that and not invite me?" Malfoy asked.

"Because I wanted to be on my own. And besides, it's your fault,"

"Why is it my fault?"

"Because I didn't want anyone to know! And then you go and find out!"

"Well that wasn't my fault!" he exclaimed indignantly.

"Find out what?" Harry asked, sitting up and stretching.

"Oh my God," Melissa whispered. "Nothing!" she snapped. "Secret girls' stuff!"

"Well how come Malfoy gets to know!"

"Because he's an official member of mine and Ginny's club," Melissa replied, too tired to deal with any of it.

"Oh and why aren't I?"

"Because we don't want you to be," Ginny replied coolly.

"Oh, great girlfriend you turned out to be," Harry grumbled.

"Shut up before I shoot you," Ginny said.

"Looks like you pissed off your girlfriend mate," Malfoy said, trying not to laugh.

"Do me a favor, Malfoy. Don't ever refer to me as 'mate' again,"

"At least he's trying," Melissa retorted.

"I'm not really," Malfoy said, turning to her. "It was a slip of the tongue actually,"

"What are my chances of telling you all to leave my room so I can get some sleep?" Melissa asked.

"Slim to none," Ginny replied.

"Ok, Harry, I love you, but can you wake up Ron and Hermione, assure them I'm fine and then leave?"

"What about – "

"Malfoy can you wake up Pansy and do the same?"

"If you insist,"

"I do," Melissa replied, gratefully. Malfoy walked over to Pansy and lay next to her, shaking her awake.

"Pans, wake up. She's back,"

"Oh my God, where was she?"

"She just snuck into Hogsmeade,"

"On her own? Is she crazy?"

"I think so. She wants us to go,"

"We're not going anywhere! We're hanging around until the dream team leave and then we're going to find out what the hell's going on. I'm really worried about her, and Evan asked me to look out for her. I haven't exactly done a good job have I?"

"It's not your fault Pansy," he replied soothingly.

"Whatever, just pretend to have fallen asleep,"

She put her arm around him and they closed their eyes.

"Oh crap, they've fallen asleep again. Oh well, as long as they're asleep I don't mind," Melissa whispered to Ginny, as Harry, Ron and Hermione descended upon them.

"Don't ever do that again Melissa Simmons!" Hermione exclaimed, hugging her.

"Sorry. It's no big deal though, seriously,"

"Mhmm, whatever. If you're having issues, talk to us. Don't run away," Ron said, hugging her after Hermione.

"I will, I promise," she replied. "I'll see you later okay?"

"Bye!" they called, opening the door and waving. As soon as the door was shut Pansy and Malfoy bolted upright, and Ginny and Melissa stared at them for a minute before bursting into laughter.

"You have no idea how comical that looked!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah. Shut up," Malfoy drawled.

"So why exactly did you leave Liss? And don't feed us this crap about getting drunk and shit. There's more to the story than that," Pansy said, yawning.

"Seriously guys. It's no big deal. I – "

"Where were you?" Malfoy cut across her.

"Evan's," she replied, not knowing quite what it was in his voice making her want to tell the truth.

"What on earth were you doing at his house?" Pansy screeched.

"Erm, well…"

"Oh," Malfoy replied, grinning. Pansy looked between them for a minute before it dawned on her, and she sat down on the bed.

"You cheated on Viktor,"

"Don't remind me," Melissa groaned, sitting next to her.

"You cheated on Viktor!" Malfoy repeated, almost laughing.

"It's not funny!" Pansy reprimanded, putting her arm around Melissa.

"Yeah. Stop being such a wanker!" Ginny added, putting another arm around Melissa.

"Guys seriously I'm fine,"

"Are you going to tell him? Viktor I mean," Pansy asked.

"I kind of can't," Melissa replied.

"Well why not?" Malfoy asked.

"Well, he kind of thinks I'm a virgin…"

"Oh. That's a problem then isn't it?" Pansy said quietly.

"Just slightly," Melissa replied.

"Do you know what I find really strange?" Ginny asked.

"What's that Weasley?"

"She couldn't think of anything worse than talking about this to Harry, Ron and Hermione, and yet she could talk to us three,"

"Yeah well, talking to you isn't a problem Gin, and Pansy was like my first ever bloody friend in Slytherin…it's him that confuses me!"

They all looked at Malfoy, and he shrugged. "Well I'll leave then," he said.

"No!" they all yelled, jumping on him.

"No!"

"Hey girls, he's ticklish in his ribs," Pansy whispered.

Malfoy jumped up and backed towards the door with his hands in the air. "Oh, no," he said.

"Oh yes," Ginny replied, and they jumped him.

"NOT FUNNY!" he screamed.

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Later, when Pansy and Malfoy left, Ginny and Melissa laid on the bed together, talking.

"He's going to hate me,"

"Who? Viktor?"

"No, Evan. I made it sound like I never wanted to speak to him again or something. I can't lose him over this," Melissa replied.

"You won't. Look, why don't you wait until the next Hogsmeade weekend, and then go and talk to him. Give him time to cool off,"

"I can't. What if he hates me?"

"Well, what if I go and talk to him first?"

"I'll think about it. When's Hogsmeade next?"

"Two weeks,"

"Whatever, I'll think about it. So anyway, what's going on with you and Harry?"

Ginny looked at her and smiled sadly.

"I don't think it's going to work out,"

Melissa sat up. "What? Why?"

"He's just so…there's no excitement. I had more fun with you guys this morning than I ever do with him,"

"Maybe he's just not your type," Melissa suggested.

"Maybe. Maybe I just became so obsessed with him after he saved me, I ignored what I really wanted,"

"It's possible. See, your dilemma is ten times worse than mine,"

"Melissa you just cheated on your boyfriend with your best friend, who you then jilted,"

"Yeah, but all I have to do is apologize and grovel at Evan's feet for a while. It's not like I'm actually going to tell Viktor, that would be suicide,"

"Mel,"

"No. I'm not telling him. Then he'd ask about whether I was really a virgin or not, and God only knows what he'd do for revenge!"

"Fair enough,"

"So what are you going to do about Harry?"

"I don't know. Give it a month, see if he works out a way to actually make me excited, if he can't, break it to him gently, if he can, then I'll get over it,"

"Do you like anyone else?"

"Not really,"

"Not really? That sounded very much like a 'yes but I don't want to tell you',"

"There might be a little bit of that…" Ginny teased. "Nah, I'm just joking. Really, there's no one else,"

"Ok. How weird was this morning? Like, with Malfoy and Pansy. Who would have guessed that Malfoy could be ticklish?" Melissa asked grinning.

"It's definitely something we could blackmail him with. Imagine what Hogwarts would think if they found out there was some emotion behind that ice wall!"

"I know! They'd be amazed. We actually make quite the foursome though, don't we?"

"Mmm, except I'm the only Gryffindor,"

"Yeah, well, that can't be helped," Melissa replied. "We pity you, don't worry,"

"You seem slightly happier about being a Slytherin lately,"

"Well, I kind of decided that it's harsh to judge a bunch of people by reputation. Most of them are actually quite nice. Well, to me anyway. And they're really loyal. And Blaise Zabini is so hot!"

"I can agree with that one actually!"

"Hehe, yeah. And something that Malfoy said actually got through to me. I mean seriously, do you think Harry and them will accept me for who I really am? I mean, Malicia Lestrange? Malfoy and Pansy have. Well, I'm assuming he's told her anyway. And the Slytherins don't seem to be all that judgmental,"

"Not judgmental? I think you've lost your mind. They teased me for ages because of my name remember?"

"Actually, I was talking to Blaise and – oh shut up," Melissa said, as Ginny choked on her drink.

"You were talking to Blaise Zabini? Like actually talking?"

"Yes he's quite nice. Anyway, we were talking about you, he thinks you're hot by the way, and he said that you mostly copped shit because you were a Gryff, the name was just kind of an added bonus,"

"Oh wow, I feel so much better. Blaise Zabini thinks I'm good looking?"

"The word was hot, actually. And then he saw that picture of you and I from the first Hogsmeade weekend and he was blown away. Apparently the whole Slytherin house think you've matured quite well,"

"I don't know whether to feel flattered or not…"

"Well, whatever. But yeah, they'd probably have nothing against you if you weren't a Gryffindor,"

"And if my brother didn't attack them all in the halls every chance he got,"

"You can't choose your relatives Gin, remember that," Melissa replied, laughing.

"True. So what are we going to do for the rest of the day?"

"I've got a thought. How do you feel about entering the Snake's Den?"

"What?" Ginny asked, slightly dumbfounded.

"Come with me," Melissa said, grabbing her hand.

They ran down to the dungeons and Melissa whispered the password. "Pure Blood," and asked Ginny to wait outside.

Ginny stood restlessly for a minute, taking little jumps from one foot to the other. It was cold down in the dungeons, and she was only wearing a thin jumper and jeans. After five minutes, she began to get impatient. It was after ten minutes she decided to leave. As she turned on her heel to go, the door slid open, to reveal Blaise Zabini.

"Weasley Junior," he said curtly.

She looked at him in surprise, before whimpering. "It's Ginny,"

He sauntered over to her and put his mouth near her ear. "Do you think you're brave, Ginny Weasley?" he whispered. "Do you think you're worth it?"

"What do you think Blaise?" she asked, her voice slightly husky. "Do you think I'm worth it?"

It was his turn to look surprised, and Ginny heard laughter. Behind him, Melissa and Malfoy were laughing, desperately clinging to each other as they tried to breath.

"I told you she had balls Blaise," Malfoy huffed, between odd barks of laughter.

"Hmm, it seems we underestimated you little Weasley. How would you like to come in?"

"How would I like to what?" she asked, confused.

"I did say enter the Snake's Den Gin, I was being literal," Melissa said, watching her friend.

Ginny looked from Blaise, to Melissa, to Malfoy, then back at Blaise again.

"Are you serious?"

"I never joke," he replied, his face as straight and emotionless as ever.

"Well in that case…" she whispered, and ran over to Melissa. "Don't you ever do that to me again!"

"I'm sorry," Melissa replied, holding her hands up in peace. "I didn't want to, but they wanted make you sweat!"

"Whatever. So what's it like in here anyway?" she asked. She walked in and gasped. It was magnificent.

Gryffindor Tower was fairly smart and casual, but this was something else. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, tapestries were on the walls. The decorations were elegant and strong. Silver, Black and Green was everywhere in this room, and it smelled of money.

"This is amazing," she whispered.

"Isn't it just?" Melissa replied. She grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her over to the crackling fire, where a bunch of Slytherins sat. "Ginny, you know Pansy. This is Mel and Del, Spira, Tempe, Crabbe, Goyle, Theo, Tristan and Dean,"

"Hi," Ginny said quietly. Tristan and Dean were grinning at her, and Pansy stood up.

"Liss pleaded your case, you would want to make a good impression,"

One of the younger girls stood up. "Pansy, leave her alone! She didn't do anything to you, that was her brother. No offence," she said, tilting her head towards Ginny.

"None taken, he's a prat," she replied.

The girl grinned. "I'm Tempe, or Temperance, but call me that and you die," she said, hugging Ginny.

Ginny grinned, and hugged her back, but she thought about the threat. Under normal circumstances, she would have considered it a joke, but considering where she was…well she was a little more careful.

"Hey Gin, I've just gotta ask Malfoy something, stay here and mingle, ok?" Melissa asked. Ginny was pleading with her eyes for Melissa to stay, but she just grinned, and shook her head slightly.

"I'll be one minute," and she left.

She strode over to where Malfoy and Blaise were watching Ginny.

"Enjoying the show?" she asked.

"I'm just interested to see how she copes," Malfoy replied, throwing an arm around her waist.

"It's amazing, a few weeks ago, I would have hexed you for that," she said dryly.

"And you probably would have hexed me for it too," Blaise added, throwing his arm around her shoulders.

"I still might," she replied. He was watching Ginny, and his eyes had glazed over slightly.

"Like what you see Zabini?" Malfoy asked. Blaise stayed quiet. "She's a bit of alright yeah?" yet again Blaise ignored him. "Blaise, Pansy's coming over, she said she wants to screw your brains out," Malfoy said, grinning.

Blaise snapped out of it and threw his head around in fear. "Where? What's the easiest way out?" he asked frantically. He looked at Draco and Melissa, who were once again, laughing, and whacked Malfoy on the shoulder. "That's not a funny thing to joke about,"

"Guys, she's still my friend!" Melissa reprimanded, trying to stop giggling.

"She's ours too, but she and Blaise had a little thing last year, and it ended badly,"

"Draco, she practically mauled me! I had bruises for weeks!" he protested. Melissa laughed again.

"You poor, poor boy. Half the girls in Hogwarts would be jealous,"

"Do you think she would be?" he asked, indicating Ginny. He seemed to realize what he'd said, and scowled. "Not that it matters,"

"Sure it doesn't," Malfoy drawled.

They watched Ginny for a while. It was taking the girls a while to warm up to her, but Tristan, Dean and Theo had her in fits of laughter, and she them, within ten minutes. She fit in with ease, and Melissa began to wonder why she wasn't in this house.

"She fits in doesn't she?" she asked Draco, who was watching the group by the fire also.

"Yeah, she does. It's a pity about the whole Gryffindor thing though,"

"What about the Weasley thing?" Melissa teased.

"The Weasley's are one of the oldest Pure Blood lines in the world. They're grouped together as a category of blood traitors. I get the feeling that one of them might be different," he replied.

"She's still a fan of muggles and muggle borns," Blaise pointed out.

"Yeah, but we can handle that. I mean there are Slytherins who are impartial aren't there?"

"There are?" Melissa asked, surprised.

"Yeah, for sure. Tristan and Dean are both half blood, and Theo was brought up by muggles until his eighth birthday. His mother died," he explained. Melissa nodded in understanding. The three of them looked back over at Ginny, who was being held down by Theo and Dean while Tristan tickled her. The other girls were laughing and jeering in encouragement.

"Never would have imagined Slytherins being so childish," Melissa said, grinning.

"You caught us on an off day," Malfoy replied. Melissa looked at him in disbelief. "No seriously. This is actually really weird. But we had some good news today, so we're all pretty happy,"

"What good news?" Melissa asked.

"Sorry babe, Slytherins only," Blaise replied. Melissa snorted in indignation and pulled a long chain from underneath her jumper. It bore a ring with the Slytherin crest on it, one that all Slytherins owned. It was a copy of Salazar Slytherin's, and all those of the house wore it with pride.

"I may not be able to be quite so vocal about it, but I am a Slytherin, so what's up?"

"Well, most of us Sixth years have known each other since birth. We played in the sandpit together, we were all in the same ward at St Mungo's when our parents had us," Draco replied. "Two of the family friend group were forced to go to Durmstrang, against their will of course. But anyway, Voldemort got his hands on them – "

"You don't know any of this by the way," Blaise threatened, cutting in.

" – and he's had them for a few weeks. They were rescued, and are pretty healthy considering the circumstances," Malfoy finished "But Blaise is right. If we find out that anyone outside this house knows about it, we'll have to kill you,"

"Cross my heart, I won't tell a soul," she replied.

"The strange thing is, I actually trust you," Blaise replied.

Ginny walked over to them at that point, her hair messy and panting loudly.

"Weasley, you look like you've just had hot and heavy sex," Malfoy said.

"You wish. I saw you watching me, I could see what you wanted," she replied, taking the drink Melissa handed to her. Malfoy laughed slightly, and Melissa looked at Ginny.

"Having fun?"

"They're actually quite nice. I wouldn't say they like me or anything, they actually seem to be quite drunk – "

"They are," Malfoy cut in.

"Well that would explain it," Ginny said, taking another drink of her water.

"So Weasley, consorting with the enemy? Potter can't be too happy about that," Blaise said.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," she replied.

"Doesn't seem like this relationship was meant to last,"

"No, it doesn't. But I'll live. It's all just a case of misinterpreted feelings that's all,"

"How does that work?" he asked.

"Well, he did save my life in my first year. I guess I just became a little obsessed after that. Misinterpreted it as love, figured it out too late. But I'm sure you don't really care,"

"Now that's not very nice, is it?"

Music started playing from nowhere and Melissa laughed.

"Hey Ginny, dance with me," she said, following Theo and Pansy onto the dance floor.

"Take this," Blaise whispered into Ginny's ear, handing her a small flask. "Never ending,"

She looked at it for a moment before taking it from him, and sharing a drink with Melissa. She tilted it in his direction, and nodded as if to say thanks.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were smitten," Malfoy said, looking at his friend.

"Well, it's lucky you know me better than that. She's a Gryffindor Draco,"

Draco handed him a small ring he always carried; a duplicate of the one belonging to himself and every other past and present Slytherin in the world.

"That can be changed mate, that can be changed," Malfoy replied.

Blaise held the ring in his hand and stared at it, before pocketing it and grabbing a drink off Malfoy.

"If only,"

Big thanks to sparklystar488, love u lots! Much Love xx