Malicia
Chapter 17
Hogsmeade weekend was looming fast, and Melissa was more frightened than she had been last time. Last time, she'd only been telling Evan about Viktor. There was no possibility that he would reject her, that he would hate her. But this time…this time was different.
This time he had every reason, every right to tell her to leave and never come back. He was right, she had used him in a sense, and she felt guilty as hell about it, sure, but that couldn't change anything. She only had three days to work out exactly what she was going to say, and it had to be perfect. There was no second chance after this, she knew that. Ginny, Draco and Pansy had been a big help. Well, Draco when he could without arising suspicion over his friendly behavior. They had all tried to help her figure it out, but when they left at the end of the night, she was alone, and she dwelled.
It wasn't something she did on purpose, it just sort of happened. She would lie down in her bed, blankets pulled up to her chin, yawning, fatigued and ready to sleep. But her eyes would not close. Every time they closed, they saw Evan, and her guilt washed over again like a cold shower. Every night she thought about how it used to be. Before Hogwarts, before Durmstrang, before Viktor. And she had messed it all up.
Worst of all, above it all, she couldn't work out just where her heart lay. She spoke to Viktor almost every day, and while she was writing, her heart was aching for Evan. He knew her. Every secret, every bad moment, every good moment. Every curve of her body, every freckle, every line…it all belonged to Evan. She knew that. And while her mind told her that she loved Viktor, her heart and body screamed for Evan. Time was running out, and she was lost.
A couple of days after the breakfast scene with Harry, Melissa had moved into the Slytherin Dorms. Permanently. She was given a room that was connected on one side to Draco's, and on the other side, to Blaise's. A week after this, Ginny joined her. They slept in two King sized beds in the room, and they were integrated into the group as if they were born there. And in her large, beautiful bed was where Melissa now lay, knowing she had to get up for class, but dying for a few more minutes to think.
What am I going to do? What do I say? I am in the biggest mess of all time, and I can't work out a bloody way to get myself out of it…
"Liss? Liss, get up!" Ginny yelled. "If you don't get up now I swear I'll hex you!"
"Alright, alright. I'm up," she replied, sitting up in bed and stretching widely, yawning.
"It's nearly breakfast time chicken, and we have to make an appearance at the Gryffindor Table or they will kill us. They aren't going to fall for our little lie much longer,"
For the past week, Melissa had told Harry, Ron and Hermione that they'd decided to get an extra half hours sleep and raid the kitchens for breakfast instead. They'd gone for it at first, but two nights ago, Harry had gone looking for the girls in Melissa's old room and they obviously hadn't been there. He'd flipped, accusing them of sleeping in the Slytherin Dorms. Ginny had said that they'd been in the Room of Requirement doing homework, but that hadn't sat well with him, and he'd been trying to catch them out ever since.
"Alright, alright. We should Floo into my old room and mess up the beds a little. I have no doubt they will continue to try and catch us out again,"
They through some powder into the fireplace, and stepped out of the fire and into Melissa's room. Melissa ran over and jumped on her bed, pulling the covers this way and that, while Ginny chucked some clothes across the floor. Then she went into the bathroom and made a little mess with some makeup while Melissa mussed up her bed too. Within minutes, there was a knock at the door. Ginny grinned.
"Come on in," she called.
Sure enough, Harry, Ron and Hermione opened the door, and walked in, looking this way and that to see if the room looked used.
"Hi guys, how you going?" Melissa asked sweetly.
"Good, and yourself?" Ron asked, lifting up the bed covers and peeking under the bed.
"Good. What are you doing Ron?" Ginny asked.
"Making sure there are no Slytherins hiding, waiting to ambush us," he replied, opening the wardrobe.
Harry walked over to Ginny and went to kiss her. She turned her head slightly so he only got her cheek, and she started talking to Melissa, pretending she hadn't noticed.
"Hey Liss, it's like they don't trust us or something!"
Melissa grinned at the helpless look on her friends face, and when Ginny wriggled out of Harry's arms, he looked slightly put out.
"Harry, let me breathe would you!"
"I'm sorry, I thought I would just say hi to my girlfriend," he replied, looking down at his shoes.
"So are you guys eating with us this morning?" Hermione asked, flipping through one of Melissa's books.
"Sure, why not? We should probably get dressed first though," Ginny pointed out.
"Oh, right. We'll go wait in the hallway," Harry replied, looking wistfully at Ginny, who was now studying her nails pointedly.
"Awesome. We'll be five minutes," Melissa replied, shoving them out the door. When they were gone, she turned to Ginny. "Risky business, giving Harry Potter the cold shoulder. You'll get burned,"
"He wouldn't hurt me," Ginny replied indignantly.
"No, but his loyal fans will. Come on, let's get dressed, before they think we're planning an attack on them or something!"
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The five of them arrived at breakfast, Harry holding on to Ginny's arm. As they walked past the Slytherin table, Malfoy, Blaise, Theo, Dean, Tristan, Pansy, Tempe, Mel and Del all smirked at them.
"Do they teach that in that house?" Ron whispered to Melissa.
She smirked at him in reply, and he simply sighed.
"Got it. Keep my mouth shut,"
Ginny looked over at Blaise, almost pleadingly. He just laughed and waved coyly.
"What does that prat want?" Harry hissed at her.
"Oh nothing Harry! He's just being stupid!"
Ever since Blaise had made a spectacle of Ginny, Harry had been extremely overprotective towards Ginny, and it was starting to bug her. They'd explained the situation, they'd actually told the truth, and Harry still didn't believe it! It was the first time they'd actually told the truth in near on two weeks. Ginny didn't think she'd ever been so untruthful in her life. She supposed was the part of her that the Sorting Hat had seen Slytherin in.
"Hey Gin, what's up first?" Melissa asked, pulling her away from Harry.
"I think I should go to Madam Pomfrey and get these bruises checked out!" she replied, glaring at Harry. He just shrugged and sat down next to Lavender, grabbing a piece of toast and shoving it in his mouth.
"Is that actually meant to be a turn on?" Ginny asked, and Melissa giggled.
"What's going on with you two?" Hermione asked Mel and Ginny.
"Absolutely nothing, we're just talking," Melissa replied. "Don't get your knickers in a knot," she added, under her breathe. Ginny giggled again, and they chose seats a few away from the Trio.
"Ron, have you noticed a slight change in our little friends?" Hermione asked.
"Maybe just a little," Ron replied, looking angrily at the two, who had their heads together and looked like they were scheming. "The worst part is that one of them is my sister. If it wasn't, I wouldn't really care!"
"Sister or no, if she hurts Harry, she'll get hurt herself,"
"Are you threatening my little sister? Wait, scratch that, are you threatening George's little sister? He'd kill you if he heard that!"
"I'm talking about the other girls in the school. They'll all be out for her blood if she hurts him,"
"No they won't, they'll fawn all over him trying to make sure he's okay. Don't stress Hermione. I'm more worried about my sister getting too out of control. I see a bit more of Slytherin in her every day,"
"Yeah, well we should probably try and ban her from hanging with them, don't you reckon?" Harry asked, sliding across and joining the conversation.
Hermione looked shocked, and Ron laughed and shook his head.
"Haven't you learnt yet? There's no banning Ginny from anything! You have to either let her be, or let her go. There's no controlling Ginny Weasley. Ask my mother,"
"Ron! I – "
"Harry, please don't try and control my sister. I'm not going to sit back and watch you make her cry," Ron said, opening the Daily Prophet, and taking a bite of his toast.
Harry and Hermione looked at him in shocked silence. Ron looked up at them.
"What? Listen, before I came to Hogwarts, Ginny and I were allies, we were friends. Everything changed when I got here, but I still love her, she's still my little sister, and I'm still her ally. George will tell you the same thing, so I suggest if you want to remain in your relationship, you stay out of whatever Harry plans,"
Hermione looked at Harry, looked back at Ron, and nodded, opening her own copy of the Daily Prophet.
"So I'm on my own?"
"Mate, if you love her, you won't try anything anyway," Ron replied, shrugging apologetically.
"I – I do," Harry replied. Hermione and Ron both looked at him.
"That was a little hesitant mate," Ron said quietly.
"Harry, is there anything you want to talk about?" Hermione asked.
"I – " he was cut off by a swarm of owls flying into the Great Hall. About fifty or so of them were the same jet-black eagle owl, forty eight of which landed at the Slytherin table. Two, however, landed in front of Melissa and Ginny.
"What the…?" Ron asked, watching the Slytherin table.
Malfoy had read his letter and shoveled food into his mouth in attempt to hide his need to laugh. Theo and Dean however, had no boundaries. They began to laugh, and then ran up to Blaise and thumped him on the back. He had his head in his hands and was shaking it from side to side, embarrassed about something.
All of a sudden, Melissa and Ginny began to laugh gleefully, and Harry, Ron and Hermione watched, astonished, as they walked slowly over to the Slytherin Table, and joined Theo and Dean in congratulating Blaise.
"What the hell is going on?" Ron asked, as he watched his little sister hug Blaise Zabini, who had brightened up slightly at the feel of the redheads arms around his neck.
Theo threw his arms around Melissa, and they were laughing as he whispered something in her ear. As Ginny moved away from Blaise, Melissa ruffled his hair and he looked over at her, smiling and laughing.
"This is just too much," Harry said, standing up.
"Sit down Harry!" Hermione screeched, and Ron grabbed his arm and yanked him down.
"You won't do yourself any good by getting involved," Ron said, going back to his paper.
"Doesn't that bother you!" Harry spat, watching Ginny interacting happily with Dean and Pansy.
"Why should it? House Interactivity, that's all," Hermione added, blushing.
Harry looked at them both, stunned.
"Well, it's nice to know where your loyalties lie," he said, looking slightly dejected. He walked off, and Hermione and Ron sighed.
"Is it really necessary to do this to him?" Hermione asked.
"He has to learn," Ron replied.
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Melissa and Ginny had been trying to figure out what Melissa was going to say to Evan, and what Ginny was going to say to Harry, when the owls had arrived in front of them. They watched all the owls land in front of members of the Slytherin table, and saw Blaise go bright red, Malfoy attempt to stuff his face so he didn't laugh, and all the other Slytherins looking rather gleeful.
They glanced at each quickly, before opening their letters.
You are cordially invited to the 17th birthday of
Blaise Amadeus Zabini
To be held on the 15th of March at the
Slytherin Common Rooms
Black Tie Event
All refreshments will be provided.
R.S.V.P. 20TH February
"Oh my God," Ginny whispered.
"Oh my God!" Melissa exclaimed.
They started to giggle, and then they began to outright laugh.
"Shall we go congratulate the birthday boy?" Melissa asked innocently.
"I mean I know his birthday is a few months away, but you know,"
They grinned impishly, and walked slowly over, jumping on him when they got there.
"You know Blaise, this wouldn't be quite so embarrassing if it weren't for the flashing baby pictures," Melissa said, laughing.
Theo wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug and whispered "he was so cute when he was little. Him and Drakey used to have 'nakey time'"
"Oh no you did not just tell her that," Draco growled, trying to remain impassive.
"Oh yes he did," Melissa replied, grinning. She ruffled Blaise's hair as Ginny pulled away. "We'd be delighted to come to your little party hon,"
"Gee thanks," he replied dryly.
"Pansy!" Ginny exclaimed, as the brunette removed herself from Dean's embrace.
"How ya going Gin?"
"Yeah good. Bit tired,"
"Yeah well, you guys did have to leave extra early this morning," Dean said, throwing an arm around Ginny.
They all watched as Harry stormed out of the hall, surprisingly leaving Ron and Hermione behind, looking very upset.
"What's going on there?" Melissa asked, looking over at Ginny.
"Oh, well, I'm not allowed to be friends with other guys I suppose. Anyway, we have class. See you later guys," she said, waving to everyone and hugging Blaise again.
"Yeah by guys. Hey Malfoy," Melissa whispered. "Don't crack a smile, you might hurt yourself,"
"Shut up Simmons, get to class!"
"Love you lots!" she replied, laughing at the look on his face.
Three days later, Melissa woke up bright and early, shaking and sweaty, not ready for what she had to do in Hogsmeade later on. She pulled on her tracksuit pants and a tank top, and snuck out of her room down to the kitchens, tickling the pear.
"Miss Simmons! Miss Simmons! What can Dobby do for you, miss?"
"Um…can I get a hot chocolate Dobby?" she asked, bending down and kissing his forehead.
"Certainly Miss. Any food this morning?"
"Um…pancakes would be nice?"
"Certainly miss!"
A few seconds later, around ten house elves came running over carrying large trays of blueberry pancakes with ice cream, cream and syrups, coffee and hot chocolate.
"There you go miss, is there anything else Dobby can help you with?"
"Not unless you provide counseling on what to do about boy troubles," Melissa grumbled, taking a bite of her pancake.
"Begging your pardon miss, but Dobby is just a house elf. I is not knowing about romance and boys,"
"Never mind. Thanks anyway Dobby,"
"You're welcome miss. May I suggest just telling Master Evan that you love him?" Dobby asking, bowing low and walking away.
"Now how on earth did he know that?" Melissa asked herself, chewing on another pancake.
She contemplated this advice for a minute. It was, essentially, utterly ridiculous. And yet, she couldn't get it out of her head. Evan was the one she turned to when something went wrong. He was her first love, her first…well everything. Had she ever really fallen out of love with him?
And then there was Viktor. Sweet bumbling Viktor, who couldn't string two sentences together when he saw her, simply through embarrassment. She loved him too. He was like a best friend, a big soft teddy bear that you could turn to whenever, and whose arms provided safety and care.
Gods, she was confused.
"Melissa? Are you okay?"
Ginny came up behind her and put her arms around her neck.
"Today is going to suck. Today is going to majorly suck,"
"You're going to be fine!" Ginny promised.
"No! No I'm not going to be fine. I still haven't worked out what I'm going to say. I haven't worked out who I want to be with even!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
"I have a thought…I'm going to try something okay?" Ginny asked.
"Well, that depends on what you're going to try," Melissa replied, wary.
"I'm going to hypnotize you and then try word association. You'll be aware of what you're saying, but you'll have no control over it at all. It might help you work out where you stand, okay?"
"If you say so…"
"Alright, sit tight! Hyponotiem!" she exclaimed, waving her wand at Melissa. Her eyes glazed over, and Ginny waved her hand in front of her face. "Liss you okay?"
Yes of course I am! Oh my God, I can't speak! Ah!
She nodded her head.
"Scary huh? You'll only be able to talk when I actually give you words, not sentences. Ok, here we go. Chocolate?"
"Drink,"
"Cookies,"
"Draco,"
"Smoothie,"
"Strawberry,"
"Harry,"
"Aggravation,"
"Hey! Whatever…Hermione,"
"Sweet,"
"Pansy,"
"Awesome,"
"Malfoy,"
"Blonde,"
"Blaise,"
"Hot!"
Ginny chuckled. "Ron,"
"Retarded,"
"Viktor,"
"Quidditch,"
"Evan,"
"Love,"
Ginny stopped and looked at her.
"Ok. I'm going to remove the spell now okay? Arresto Hypnotiem!"
"Oh my God,"
"You know what you said right?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah. Yeah I do…I just never imagined…"
"I think you have your answer,"
"Yeah…I just don't know what to do with it…"
A/N: Stay tuned for Melissa's Hogsmeade trip, and how it all goes with Evan! Also, just want to say thanks to:
werecool
sparklystar488
dracoissexe
You guys absolutely rock and I love you! Much Love To All xxx