Malicia
Chapter 19!
Now that she was back on track with Evan (finally) it was time to talk to Viktor. After learning that he had no free weekends that she could see him on, she sent him an owl, offering the most sincere apology that she could, but he just wasn't the right guy for her. He sent her one back with everything she had ever bought him, and asked for his book and quill back.
"Well, that could have been worse," she said, shrugging.
"I don't see how," Ginny replied.
"Well, it could have been in person. He either would have cried, done nothing, or lashed out and tried to kill me. Either way, I think it would have broken my heart to see him like it,"
"Righto. Do you know how much guys hate to be broken up with by owl?" Malfoy asked.
"Almost as much as girls despise being second guessed when they know they're doing the right thing!" Melissa snapped.
"Alright children, lets all just calm down slightly. We have another problem at hand," Blaise interrupted.
"Really?" Pansy asked. "What?"
"Our fathers owled us," Draco replied. Pansy dropped her goblet of pumpkin juice.
"Does that mean…"
"Yes. They want us to join them. Technically they requested us to join them. But to decline would mean a very hairy death," Blaise replied.
"But, you're only students! What's the point?" Ginny asked.
"They want as many people inside Hogwarts as they can have," Theo answered. Draco looked at him, puzzled.
"Us too," Dean said, holding up the letters he and Theo had just received.
"Melissa, Aunt Bella wants you too," Draco said, backing up slightly in case she decided to hurt him.
"Good luck to her. I'm not going anywhere near that woman or her pathetic cause!"
"Melissa…"
"No! I won't do it. It's pointless, it's not like he's going to win anyway!"
"He might!" Draco shot back. "And what's wrong with that? No more muggles, muggle borns or muggle lovers!"
Tears fell down Ginny's face as Draco and Melissa eyed each other off. Finally, Blaise noticed her.
"Ginny? Ginny what's wrong?" he asked.
"My parents are muggle lovers. They'd be killed. Is that what you want?" she said softly, fighting back her tears.
"Ginny, that's not what I meant!" Draco exclaimed, worried.
"I think I might go sit at my own table now," she whispered, and stood up. "Melissa, are you coming?"
"Yeah sweetie, I am," she pulled the Slytherin ring off her finger and threw it at Draco. "If wearing this means I have to support your little cause, and kill off people I love, including the Weasley's and my muggle friends, then I'll see you at war Draco Malfoy. I'll be on the winning side,"
And they walked away.
Pansy smacked him over the back of the head.
"Good going idiot. Now we're back to where we started! You don't even bloody want to join them anyway! What is you problem?" she yelled. She turned her back to the boys and began talking to Tempe and Del.
"That went well," Blaise said, his head in his hands.
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Harry, Ron and Hermione couldn't hide their surprise when Ginny and Melissa joined them at their table a few seconds later. They didn't know quite what to make of it. It took a few seconds for Hermione to notice that Ginny was crying, and Melissa was close to it.
"What happened?" she asked, worried.
"Slytherins suck!" Ginny exclaimed, letting her tears flow freely. Harry put his arms around her, and she leaned into him, sobbing.
"Melissa?"
"They started talking about the war, and about how it would be no great loss if muggles, muggle borns and muggle lovers were wiped out. That would include you, Hermione, Ron's family, and all my muggle friends, not to mention a million others who can't help the fact that they weren't born into magic. God I could kill them!"
Ron hugged her.
"Don't stress out, it'll be okay,"
"I'm so sorry we were so mean to you guys," Ginny sniffed.
"Don't even think on it. We figured it was just a phase," Hermione replied, waving her hand in dismissal.
Just then, a small brown owl landed in Harry's eggs, spraying yolk everywhere.
"I hate it when they do that!" he sighed, wiping egg yolk off his tie. "It's from Dumbledore!"
"What does it say?" Ron asked, pulling Melissa over to read the letter.
"Harry,
I request the pleasure of your company in my office tonight at 8 o'clock. Please bring Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley and Miss Simmons with you. I do love company. And Sugar Quills. I adore Sugar Quills.
Albus Dumbledore."
"He wants all of us?" Ginny asked, wiping her face.
"Yeah. That's a little strange don't you think?" Ron replied looking over the letter again.
"Ron, no matter how many times you read it, it's not going to change. Come on you guys, we have a Potions test," Hermione said, snatching the letter off Ron and stowing it into her bag.
"And we have Defence," Ginny added, grabbing her bag in one hand, and Melissa's hand in the other.
"But I don't ever want to see another Slytherin, EVER again!" Melissa whined.
"We have to anyway, we have to get our stuff from the Common Room," Ginny replied as they walked up the stairs to the Defence Room.
"Damn. I could always get Pansy to do it, she wasn't as mean as the others," Melissa said hopefully.
"No, we're going to do it ourselves. We're going to show them that they can't beat us. Because they suck, and we rock,"
"That's the attitude," Melissa replied, not feeling any of it.
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"Ginny please stay! Please! Draco didn't mean any of it!"
Blaise Zabini had never begged in his entire life. But he had also never been in love before either. So when Ginny Weasley had walked through the portrait hole to pick up her things while Melissa was in class, he had almost cried out in happiness to see her. But as soon as he learned the purpose of her visit, he had reduced himself to begging. He would have been on his hands and knee if he thought it would help.
"Ginny please! I want you to stay," he said quietly.
"Blaise I can't. Neither of us can. I was stupid to think I would ever fit in here. I love my family too much. You guys are going to be Death Eaters, the very people who are plotting to kill off my family and my friends. Not to mention my boyfriend," she added.
"But you do fit in here! You could remain neutral! You don't have to pick a side!"
"Yes, I do. There is no way that I could have just remained in the middle while my family and my friends fought to the death. This is a war, everyone has a side. I had to choose, and I did,"
"Ginny…"
"Blaise I'm sorry. I really am," she whispered, holding his face in her hand. She hugged him, and picked up her small suitcase.
"Weasley, what are you doing?" Malfoy's voice drawled from the door.
"She's leaving Draco. She's leaving," Blaise answered.
"So, you're actually going through with it then?"
"You left me no choice, Draco. I can't stand by and watch you kill the people I love,"
"Are you going to be a good little traitor and run and tell Dumbledore then?" he asked.
"No, Draco. Dumbledore has more eyes and ears in this castle than you will ever know. He already knows. There would be no point in me telling him,"
"How on earth would he know?"
"These walls have ears Draco, they listen to every word that is said. The paintings have eyes. They see every move you make, everything you do, and they report it. Soon, it's all over the castle,"
"Do you think Potter would approve of his little girlfriends late night parties and drunken blasts? Do you think he would approve of the things you did, the things you said?"
"He will never know. What happens in Slytherin stays in Slytherin," she replied, smiling.
"Apparently not, seeing as how the walls have ears," Draco replied, smiling.
"Draco, we're going around in circles here, and frankly, I don't have the energy to deal with you anymore. When I look at you, both of you, I see nothing but an ugly brand. I see two of the strongest boys I know, about to go into servitude, when it should be others who are serving them. Soon you will reflect nothing but the mark on your arm. And then it will be too late,"
"What do you mean too late?" Blaise asked.
"It will be too late for me to save you,"
Draco was fuming.
"And what about you?" he yelled. "You're going into servitude! You're going to run and join that puffed up old fool and fight against us! If it came to it, you would probably kill us!"
"To save my family!" she yelled back. "To save the people who raised me! Who loved me! The people who taught me everything I know and showed me more love than even the universe can hold! What are you fighting for Draco? Blaise? Is the so-called purification of the world all you need? Well I'm sorry, but it's not enough for me!"
"So you would kill us in war?" Blaise asked sadly.
"If you threatened or hurt anyone I loved, in any way shape or form, if you threatened to destroy life as I know it, yes, I would kill you,"
"Oh really? And if we joined Dumbledore too? Would that stop you from killing us?" Draco asked, laughing.
"If you joined us?" she asked, smiling sadly. "Then yes, it would stop me from killing you. Because I would be killing those who tried to kill you,"
She walked slowly and sadly from the room, tears falling down her face at the cruel truth she had just faced them with. The worst part of all, was that it was not a lie. She would kill just about anyone who threatened her family or her way of life.
"Gin, don't go," Pansy said, stopping her at the doorway. Ginny smiled and hugged the girl sadly.
"See you around Pansy,"
"Bye Gin,"
"Melissa will probably come and get her stuff tonight. Can you make sure the boys leave her alone?"
"Sure thing," Pansy replied. She hugged Ginny one last time, and then walked over to the fireplace.
Ginny took one last look at the Slytherin Common Room. The place where she had found some of the only true friends she would ever have. And then she closed the door on that part of her life, praying that one day she could open it again.
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"You're probably wondering why I've asked you all here tonight," Dumbledore began.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Melissa and Ginny were sitting in chairs in front of his desk, all of them still extremely confused as to why they were there. They nodded.
"It is because all of you show an aptness for a study taught at this school. You all show a certain talent in an area that I believe can help us in the following weeks,"
"Sir?" Ron asked, putting his hand up. "I don't have any talent,"
"True, you may not have realized it, but Professor Sprout assures me that you are doing quite well in Herbology this year, without Miss Grangers help,"
Ron grinned. "Ok, maybe I do have a talent. Continue,"
"Thank you Mr. Weasley. As I was saying, you are all very talented students, the highest in your years in fact, in at least on subject. Miss Granger, you have always received high marks in everything, but particularly Transfiguration. Mr. Potter has always excelled in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Mr. Weasley, Herbology, Miss Weasley, Charms. And last but not least, Miss Simmons in Potions,"
The five of them looked at each other grinning. After the past few weeks events, it was nice to get some praise about something.
"Through channels that you need not concern yourselves with, I have learnt that Voldemort is planning the final battle to be four weeks from today," Dumbledore said solemnly.
"WHAT?" Harry yelled. "Four weeks?"'
"Yes Harry, four weeks. Not a long time to be sure. The idea though, was to train his newest recruits, and to give us no time to react. Thank goodness we have as many, if not more spies in his ranks as he had in ours,"
"If he has spies within us, then won't he know that we know?"
"Not necessarily. Those that I trust the most, are my teachers, my Order members, and now you. I've ensured that all of these people are completely trustworthy, and therefore are the only ones that know of this information. Now, back to my point. You five show a particular aptitude in your specific areas, and what I am asking you to do will be very difficult. I need you to work together to teach each other what you know. Over the next few weeks, we will need certain things made, certain things done, that call for the best. You five are the best,"
He looked at them from over the top of his glasses.
"Mr. Weasley and Miss Simmons. I will need you two to work together to make the following potions – " he handed them a list. "And then to teach them to the others. Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley and Miss Granger, I have a large list of spells here that I need you to learn, and then teach to Melissa and Ron. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yes sir," Hermione replied, her shaky hand taking the list. "But why us? Surely there must be people in the above years that are better than us?"
"Yes, but none that I trust more. Also, there is something else that has greatly influence my choice. Harry, you know that it is your duty to defeat Voldemort, correct?"
"Yes. I've rather resigned myself to it actually," Harry replied in a dull monotone.
"And I am so sorry for that. Ron, Hermione, you would do anything to protect Harry, whether I gave you permission or not, correct?"
"Yes sir," they replied together.
"Ginny, you've always shown a strong spirit, and not only would you die to help or protect your brother in any way possible, but also your boyfriend, correct?"
Ginny smiled. "You know I would die for them both sir,"
He grinned at her, and Harry took her hand in his. "And Melissa, you lost your family at the start of the year. As such, you have gained a new one, the one that currently resides in this room. How do you feel about them?"
"I would die for each and every one of them,"
"Precisely. So if I told either or all of the four of you to stay away from the battle, would you listen to me?"
"No sir," they echoed.
"Well, you understand why I decided it would be more productive to have you help us then?" he asked. They all grinned at him. This old man was smarter than they gave him credit for.
"Excellent," Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together. "Now, for the last part. While for the three of you – " he indicated Ginny, Harry and Hermione, " – your part is fairly straightforward – you learn the spells and you teach them. But Melissa and Ron, for you to correctly brew these potions, you need to understand each and every ingredient, to the point that you can teach it. It will be difficult, I'm not pretending otherwise. Your head will swim, and you will grow to hate me for it,"
"Yes sir," Melissa replied, grinning.
"But in the end these potions will be very useful. Are there any questions?"
"No sir, everything's fine," Ron replied.
"Very good. And now you are all dismissed. Oh, wait. Ginny, Melissa, may I have a word?"
The girls looked at each other quizzically. What the hell?
"We'll see you back in the common room ok?" Ginny said, waving the others away.
"What's up Professor?"
"The Slytherins aren't very happy with you," he said, smiling.
"We're not very happy with the Slytherins," Ginny replied indignantly. "Besides, if they hadn't – "
"Sh!" Melissa hissed at her. She smiled apologetically at Dumbledore. "Sorry sir. Not our business,"
Ginny thought of her promise to Malfoy this morning and cringed. She had almost messed up.
"It's quite alright. I am well aware of the intentions of Voldemort to initiate the Slytherins. The walls do indeed have ears Miss Weasley,"
Ginny grinned at him. "I figured as much,"
"Mostly, this is just a warning to both of you. The older Slytherins appreciate where you are coming from. You are fighting for your families just as they are theirs. But the younger Slytherins, those with a lack of life experience, are out for your blood. Please be careful,"
"Will do sir, you don't have to worry about us," Ginny replied.
"I didn't think so. Also Melissa, I believe the time is approaching when you will need to inform the others of your real lineage,"
Melissa's jaw dropped. "Why? Why do they have to know?"
"You mean apart from the fact that Bellatrix Lestrange is attempting to bring you over to the dark side?"
"Yes, apart from that,"
"Because of this,"
Dumbledore removed his Pensieve from the cupboard and set it on the table, swirling the contents with his wand. Instantly, Professor Trelawney arose from the mist.
"A daughter of the dark will be slain by blood at the dawn of the new world. The marked will fight by the Dragon and the Moon and those of the dark will burn,"
Professor Trelawney sunk back down into the Pensieve, and Dumbledore looked at them sadly.
"We don't exactly know what it means, but obviously Harry is the marked, and between Professor McGonagall and I, we deduced that you are the daughter of the dark,"
"Why me?"
"Well there were three main options: Millicent Bulstrode, Pansy Parkinson, and you. But out of the three of you, the only one likely to be 'slain by blood' by Voldemort is you,"
"Slain by blood…oh my god…"
"What?" Ginny asked, looking between the two of them.
"Does that…does that mean I'm going to die?" Melissa asked, her face paling.
"We don't believe so," Dumbledore replied.
"Well how do you know?"
"Because we don't believe that your mother would let you die," Dumbledore replied simply.
"If she dies, I'll kill you," Ginny stated, her face pale also.
"I'll do my best to avoid that. However, everyone dies Ginevra,"
"Whatever. I'm out of here. You would want to make sure I don't die, because if I do, my blood is on your hands," Melissa whispered angrily.
She allowed Ginny to walk ahead of her, and then slammed the door behind her.
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The graveyard was full of bright lights and dark shadows. She knew that the shadows were people, but she could no longer see their faces. She was trapped. Trapped against an old headstone by a moving statue. The statue read Tom Riddle, whoever that was, Melissa didn't know.
She had given up screaming a long time ago, the others could not see her, nor could they hear her. No one could help her now. A face in the darkness approached her, and she wished to god she could hide from this face. The red eyes were enough to scare anyone, but the snakelike features in themselves were enough to scare anyone.
"My dear Malicia. Your mother has given you to me. A gift, you might say, to help bring about the downfall of that wretched boy. But I find that you come to me not completely whole. Release her hands!" he yelled, and the statue shifted so that Melissa's arms were free. She attempted to struggle, but it was useless; the statue was stronger than she was.
"Slitting your wrists. Tut, tut. A deadly habit,"
"An old habit," she spat. It was true. It had been years ago.
"One that will be resurrected tonight, I fear,"
Suddenly, the shadows around her became faces. They could not move, they could not speak. Every part of them was frozen in fear, other than their eyes. Even the Death Eaters could not move, for Voldemort wanted his greatest show to be viewed, and remembered by all.
"My friends, my enemies! Tonight you bear witness to the end of the world as we know it! But for my friends, I have a little gift,"
The spell shielding Melissa from everyone's eyes was broken. They could now see her, and hear her. But they could not move. She saw Harry, his eyes filled with fear, and panic. She found Ginny, Ron and Hermione. And as she looked around she saw her Slytherin friends. Pansy, Blaise, Draco, Theo, Dean…they were all looking at her, too stunned to speak. They had not known. They could not know.
"Tonight we witness the fall of Dumbledore's Angel. A sacrifice…a gift, from one of our very own! Watch friends, and see…"
He removed a knife from his robe and held it to her throat.
"For a long time, I tried to work out why you were so important. Why you had to die. And then I figured it out. You were the one who would unite the houses. You alone could save the wizarding world, and destroy our prejudices. So you die. But how? And then when I found you, I looked into your mind, and there it was. The perfect revenge. Now maybe you will learn what happens when you cross me. It's so sad that it's much too late,"
In one quick movement, he slid the knife across her wrists. They began to bleed, fast and flowing. Her blood flowed blue, straight out of the arteries, and she screamed. Screamed for all she was worth. Screamed for her parents…screamed for her friends.
Her friends who watched with fear and anger, and sadness as she screamed. The Slytherins, her Slytherins, watched on in horror as one of their own was murdered. The Gryffindors watched, immobilized as tears fell down their faces. They could do nothing.
And then the screaming stopped. And she fell to the ground, the statue feeling the lack of heartbeat in her chest, and releasing her dead body. And then everyone was free. Free to move, free to fight. And the Marked, the Dragon and the Moon ran to her in anger. Drawing their wands, and killing the man who had destroyed the one they loved…
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Melissa woke up sweating and screaming. It had all seemed so real…
And then it hit her. Slain by blood…
She had just watched herself die…
Thanks to dracoissesxe...my ONLY reviewer for chapter 18...but oh well, lol, if anything i love her. Anyway, review, let me know what you're thinking. Aimz x