CHAPTER 16!

When Melissa and Ginny awoke, it was to find they were strewn across one another, in a strange bed, in an equally as strange room, decorated in Silver, Black and Green.

"What did we do?" Melissa asked sleepily.

"Better question: how are we going to function today, now knowing what we did, and on lack of sleep?"

"Morning ladies,"

Draco stood at the door with two mugs of coffee, staring at them with a bemused smile.

"Mm, coffee!" Ginny mumbled, rolling off the bed and crawling over to him.

"I always knew somehow you'd ending crawling at my feet Weasley," he sneered.

"Coffee!" she screeched, holding her arm up for the cup. He handed it to her, and moved over to the bed. She stood up begrudgingly.

"Oh, so you go there now! Two seconds ago I wouldn't have had to move!"

"You have to move anyway. You have half an hour to get ready for breakfast,"

"What time is it?" Melissa asked, taking the coffee and smiling gratefully at him.

"It's 8 o'clock. I let you sleep in an hour. Figured it wouldn't take you that long to get ready. You can borrow two of Pansy's uniform sets,"

"Um, I hate to mention this, but won't they be Slytherin?" Ginny asked.

"Ah," Malfoy said, looking at her like he'd only just remembered. "That presents a problem. No matter, we'll transfigure them for today, then change them back tonight,"

"Thank you so much,"

"So, our sleeping beauties are awake?" Blaise said from the door, holding his own mug of coffee.

"Can someone actually tell me what happened last night?"

"We all partied a little too hard. Draco's lying to you, because we only woke up about 5 minutes ago ourselves,"

"Do you guys normally party when you have school the next day?" Ginny asked.

"Honestly?" Draco replied. "No. Contrary to the stories, we're usually well behaved during the week. Last night we just let go a bit too much. Anyway, you guys should get up,"

"And we should all get dressed," Blaise added, indicating himself and Draco, who were both shirtless and wearing hip riding pajama pants. Melissa and Ginny grinned.

"We like you better as you are," Ginny said, smiling sweetly.

"Why you little minx you," Blaise replied, as she walked out of the room to get some clothes from Pansy. He followed her, and Draco turned to Melissa.

"He's fallen for her,"

"Poor guy. If only she weren't going out with Harry,"

"Yeah. He even overlooked the fact that she's a Gryffindor!"

"Yeah, well. Don't ever mention this, but methinks that Harry and Ginny isn't going to last much longer, as sad as that is,"

"It's not that sad," Draco replied.

"It is for them. Anyway, what are we going to do about her and Blaise? We know he's smitten, and she definitely thinks he's hot. Oh and she blushed when I said he thought she was cute,"

"Well, personally, I think we should make it our little project,"

"What? Getting them together?"

"Yeah, exactly. Come on, it could be entertaining!"

"Only after Harry and Ginny break up," Melissa agreed. They shook hands and smiled just as Ginny and Blaise walked back in. Ginny threw a uniform at Melissa and they both looked questionably at Draco and Blaise.

"Do you mind?" Ginny asked.

"No," they replied.

It took two steaming coffee mugs hurtling in their direction to convince them to leave.

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Melissa didn't think she'd ever gotten ready that fast. She hated the uniform to be sure, but over the months, it had taken her less and less time to get it on.

"Hey Liss, you ready?" Ginny asked, coming into the room.

"Yeah, almost. Gotta get my trusty m:robe right?"

"I still can't believe Dumbledore enchanted that thing for you!"

"Yeah well, I added some features myself. I can put unlimited songs on now, and I can get a song on it just by thinking of it. Oh and I can also make the headphones invisible so I can listen to it in class,"

"Oh my God, I wish I had all my classes with you!"

"Everyone wishes that, coz I'm such a star!"

"You wish Simmons," Malfoy said, standing in the door.

"You know you love it cuz,"

"Cuz? Look, we may be related, but skip the vulgar nicknames,"

"I can think of much worse, Drakie-kins,"

"Oh no you wouldn't!"

"Oh yes I would. And worst of all, I could broadcast it – cuz," she said, adding extra emphasis on the word.

"Bloody hell. You're only safe because I promised not to hex you,"

"Well I guess my ma did one thing right,"

"Yeah. She certainly screwed up our line by having you,"

"The line was tainted before I came along Drakie-kins!" she exclaimed, running out the door.

He lunged after her, but missed, and landed on Ginny instead.

"Ugh, Malfoy please! You weigh more than I would have imagined!"

"I do not!" he exclaimed indignantly, brushing off his robes and helping her up. "I'm like a feather. Mummy told me,"

"Mummy lied," Ginny replied, running after Melissa.

Malfoy walked out of the room, shaking his head in disgust. Melissa and Ginny were hiding behind Blaise and Theo.

"Give them up boys. You'll never win against me!"

"Oh really? Well, why don't you try it?" Theo sneered.

"Honestly! Just stop!" Pansy said, running over and standing between the three boys. "If we don't get down to breakfast soon, the little shits will have eaten everything. Or even worse, there'll be no time and you'll have to go to Potions on an empty stomach,"

She looked from Draco, to Blaise, to Theo and back to Draco again. "And do you really want that?"

"No," they replied simultaneously. It was almost impossible to concentrate in Potions without breakfast.

"Hey Gin, what do we have?" Melissa asked, coming out from behind Theo.

"Um, I think we have Defence,"

"With Lupin? Oh that's easy!"

"Dude, we're just lucky he likes us!"

"Why does he like you?" Dean pouted. "He hates us!"

"That's simple," replied Ginny,

"You're a bunch of Slytherin gits, and we're friends with Harry!" Melissa finished.

"Simmons, you're really asking for it, you know that? And may I remind you, once again, that you are a Slytherin git also," Blaise said, smirking.

"Ah, but I'm also a friend of the great Harry Potter! That cancels out the first one,"

"Oh really. Well then, you can just stick to Gryffindor Tower then, yeah?" Pansy asked innocently. Melissa's face dropped.

"Please no! They're all goody-goody's and they study!" she whined.

Ginny looked at her in surprise.

"Ok, well maybe I'm a little more suited to Slytherin than I realized at first…" Melissa whispered sheepishly.

"Well, if I'm actually honest, the Sorting Hat's first choice for me was Slytherin, but I told it that if it put me there, I'd feed it to one of Hagrid's pets,"

They all looked at her in shock, and finally, Blaise said, to no one in particular:

"I knew she was different,"

Ginny grinned and took Melissa's hand, and throwing an arm around Blaise's waist. He reciprocated.

"I told you there was a reason you guys loved me!"

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"Hey, have you guys seen Ginny?" Harry asked, sitting at the breakfast table.

"Nah, she might have stayed in Mel's room," Ron replied.

"Yeah. I went there, and the beds were a little messed up…"

"Harry, they're in one of the safest places in the world, where can they go?"

"Um has anyone forgotten the fact that Melissa actually disappeared yesterday? She managed to get out pretty easily!" Hermione said, not looking up from the Daily Prophet.

"Fair point. Look, I'm sure they're fine. Speaking of yesterday, is the weirdness of that actually hitting anyone?" Harry asked.

"What do you mean?" said Ron, spitting toast crumbs everywhere.

"Ew, Ron. Anyway, Malfoy and Pansy didn't throw one insult at us. They were actually worried about Melissa. Malfoy was worried about something other than messing up his own hair. I don't get it. He hated her not that long ago,"

"People change. They're in the same house, they share the same friends. It was bound to happen," Hermione interjected. "Besides, he may have just been there because Pansy forced him to be,"

"Yeah, ok. It just seems weird to me,"

"If you want weird," Seamus interrupted from across the table. "Has anyone else noticed that half of Slytherin are missing?"

"That is strange," Lavender said. "Ah, who cares. Do you think it would bother them if half of us went missing at breakfast?"

"Actually, I think they'd care a lot. They'd probably care enough to throw a party," Parvati replied.

"I wouldn't put it past them," Neville replied soberly.

"Whatever. We've got bigger fish to fry. Is anyone actually prepared for Potions? I mean, Snape is going to kill us if we don't all perfect this bloody potion!" Dean said, flipping through his Potions book.

"Mate, is anyone ever really ready for a Potions lesson taught by him? It's not the Potion, it's the bloody pressure!" Seamus replied.

"I'll never understand how you do it Hermione," Ron said, appreciatively.

Hermione finally looked up. "Oh Ron, I – oh!" she gasped, looking at the doors leading to Great Hall.

Ginny and Melissa had just walked though, accompanied by Malfoy and Blaise, who had an arm around each girl. Pansy and Millicent were behind them, next to Tristan, Dean and Theo. Crabbe and Goyle brought up the rear, looking every bit the bodyguards they were.

"No way. No WAY is my sister with those prats!" Ron screamed.

They watched as Ginny and Melissa laughed and joked, then signaled to the Gryffindor table. Everyone waved goodbye, and the girls' walked over.

"Hi guys, what's up?" Melissa asked, sitting next to Lavender and grabbing a piece of toast,

"Why exactly did you just come into breakfast looking all chummy with Draco Malfoy?" Harry hissed at Ginny.

"I stayed with Liss last night, and we ran into them on the way in. They were just being nice is all,"

"They're Slytherins Ginny! They don't do nice!" he exclaimed.

"Hey!" Melissa shouted. "I resent that!"

"But you don't even want to be a Slytherin," Ron said, patronizingly.

Melissa ripped the necklace off her neck, pulled off the ring and shoved it on her finger.

"Well maybe now I do,"

Everyone looked at them in shock, and for the second time in a matter of minutes, Ginny felt very uncomfortable.

"Melissa…I'm sorry. I'm just a little shocked by all this," Hermione said softly.

"Why? I have a house, you have a house. We're still friends. We're promoting inter-house relationships. I would have thought you'd be okay with that," Melissa replied.

"I am! It just confuses me. I mean, I never thought anyone would actually do anything about it,"

"Well, I for one don't mind," Seamus said loudly, cutting off Harry who looked like he was about to yell at Ginny again. "Liss, you can be a Slytherin and an honorary Gryff for all you like to me! As long as you still make those weekly, night time trips to my bed…" he whispered dramatically. The table laughed, and Melissa was thankful for the distraction.

"Well, that went well," Ginny whispered.

"Mmm, I know. Thank God they still think we slept in my room, hey?"

"It really is a Godsend that they're so gullible,"

"Isn't it just?"

They both laughed, and grabbed some bacon off the tray in front of Harry.

"So what do you girls have?" Lavender asked.

"Um, Defence. I – "

"Hey Weasley!"

Ginny turned around to see Blaise yelling at her from the Slytherin table.

"Oh no," she whispered. She signaled to sit down, but he didn't, throwing something at her. Her seeking reflexes kicked in, and she caught it.

"My wand? How did he – "

"You left in my room last night. Thought I should return it before classes!"

The entire hall stopped eating simultaneously, and looked at Ginny.

"Blaise Zabini you are a prat!" Melissa yelled to him.

"Ginny, when were you anywhere near his room?" Harry hissed menacingly.

"Um…Mel was showing me around the Slytherin Common Room, and we stopped for a bit in Blaise's bedroom…"

"That's quite possibly the worst lie you've ever told," Ron said quietly.

"Guys, don't. It was my fault," Melissa said loudly. She turned back to the Slytherin table and sneered at Malfoy and Blaise, who were doing impressions of Harry.

"I was bored, and I wanted to visit Pansy, so I convinced Ginny to come down to the Dorms with me. We ended up staying pretty late, and Ginny fell asleep. Draco and Blaise put her in Blaise's room, and we both slept in there. He slept on the couch in the Common Room," she finished, indicating at Ginny to agree.

"Is that really what happened, Ginny?"

"Yes, Harry," she sad softly.

"I can't believe you actually did that! You should have known better Melissa, I'm surprised they didn't hex her right there on the spot!"

"Ginny, your robes. They're…different," Ron said, looking at the state of her.

Melissa had to admit she looked good. She looked born into wealth, and Ron was shocked.

"I had to borrow a set,"

"From who?" Harry demanded.

"Um…Pansy,"

"Parkinson?" Hermione screeched. "Your wearing robes that belong to that pug-faced cow!"

They all turned and looked at her, while Melissa turned back to the Slytherin table. The entire hall had gone quiet again, and Pansy was shaking. Melissa stood up, she'd had enough.

"Right. That's it! I've had enough! I invited Ginny to come down to my dormitory, to visit my friends! And you know what? We had fun! She fit in, and everyone loved her! They treated her right and she wasn't like a fourth wheel or anything! She was one of us! So you leave her alone, or I swear there'll be hell to pay! We Slytherins are very protective of those we care about,"

Melissa snatched up her bag, and looked at Ginny. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah. Thanks Liss. I'm glad someone finally understands how I feel,"

She looked at Harry.

"I'm sorry Harry, but Melissa's right; I did have fun. For the first time in my life, I have friends that are just mine! And I like that. Please don't make me choose," she whispered. A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she looked away, stepping over the chair and following Melissa out of the Great Hall.

After about a minute of discussion, Pansy, Malfoy and Blaise walked out of the hall, and when the doors shut, they broke into a run after them. Harry, Ron and Hermione watched them in amazement.

"Simmons! Weasley! Wait!" Draco called. Melissa and Ginny stopped and looked back.

"Oh, thank god. Malfoy's don't run,"

"What do you want? We have class!" Melissa asked.

"Ginny, I'm so sorry! I didn't even think! I honestly wasn't trying to embarrass you or anything like that, I think I'm still half tanked!" Blaise apologized. Ginny considered this for a minute.

"Paybacks a bitch Zabini. Remember that," she said softly, and hugged him. "Otherwise, don't even stress. It's about time I grew up and stood up for myself,"

"Well, look; we should probably all get to class, but just to let you know, you're welcome to join us in the Common Room whenever you like. I know it's probably weird considering our harshness towards Gryffindors and Weasley's alike, but – "

"You're different," Malfoy finished.

"You're almost like one of us," Blaise added.

"Thanks guys. We'll probably spend most of our time in my room anyway, but thanks," Melisa replied.

"Yeah, from me too. It'd be nice to have somewhere to escape to," Ginny agreed.

"Well, yeah. Anyway, class," Pansy said.

"Oh, and Weasley? Don't you dare tell anyone that I've gone a bit soft okay?" Malfoy asked.

"Why? Bad boy Malfoy have to keep up his image?"

"More than you know. If my father finds out, he'll kill us all,"

"Nice guy," Melissa said dryly.

"Not really," Malfoy replied. "See you guys later,"

"Bye!" they said together, and they set off down the hall.

The three Slytherins watched them turn the corner, before heading off in the opposite direction.