Malicia!
Chapter 20!
"Ok, so we add the hellebore and then stir 4 times anticlockwise right?" Melissa asked Ron, checking the directions Dumbledore had given them.
"Yeah, that sounds right," he looked at the directions also. "Yep that's it. But hang on…"
"What?"
"Well during Potions this year, we were brewing something, and I heard Snape tell Malfoy to add a clockwise stir after seven anticlockwise turns. Maybe that would work here…"
"Well we've got enough ingredients if we need to start again. What the hell, let's try it," Melissa replied, stirring four times anticlockwise and then once clockwise. Immediately turned a deep purple.
"Is that what it's meant to look like?" she asked.
"That's the colour described," Ron replied. He jotted down the new instructions on another piece of parchment. "Next time you do it, it should turn – "
"Green," Melissa finished for him, as she added the clockwise stir. "Perfect,"
"What now?"
"Now we leave it to rest for the night, like the instructions say, come back in the morning and bottle it. Then we go through the whole process again teaching the others how to make it," she replied.
"Well at least we know it will come in handy. I mean, who doesn't need a shielding potion in a war. Lasts longer than your average shielding spell," Ron said, locking the door behind them.
"True. But it's not going to protect from anything big. If someone get hits with the killing curse or another Unforgiveable, it's not going to make any difference whether they took a shielding potion or not,"
"That sucks," Ron replied. "So how's Evan?"
"He's good. He's working at the Three Broomsticks, so he's a bit busy lately. And this is taking up most of my free time so we don't get to see each other much,"
"What about the Hogsmeade weekend this weekend?"
"There's a Hogsmeade weekend?"
"Yeah. Hermione's meeting up with George, and Harry and Ginny are going together, now that they've finally patched things up, why don't you see if Evan can get it off work and meet us,"
"But what about you? Then you'll be alone in the midst of three couples!"
"Er…"
"Ronald Weasley, don't tell me you have a date?"
"Yeah well Luna asked if I wanted to go so…"
"Luna? As in Luna Lovegood? Aww how cute!"
"Shut up! Anyway it's not a date. I'm kind of into someone else,"
"Ooooh who? You have to tell me,"
"Or, I could not. I like that idea better!"
"Well…is she in my year?"
"No, she's in mine,"
"Is she in Gryffindor?"
"Maybe! I'm not telling you anymore, got it?"
"Ok, ok. I'm sorry. Well whoever she is, she's a very lucky girl,"
"Whatever,"
"No I'm serious. You're not a bad catch Ron,"
"Listen, I can actually see myself in reflective surfaces ok?"
"You're not ugly Ron," Melissa reprimanded.
"Yeah, there's just that little issue of you being a Weasley," Malfoy drawled, coming to a halt in front of them.
"Draco go away,"
"First name basis hey? Well I guess that's only because you don't want me to use your last name," he replied. Melissa went as pale as porcelain.
"Draco Malfoy…"
"Why would she care about her using her last name Ferret?" Ron snarled.
"Keep a leash on your animal, or I might just have to answer his question love, and we don't want that now do we?"
"It's going to happen eventually Malfoy," she said softly, so Ron couldn't hear her as she led him away. "Tell whoever you like,"
"You sure about that Lestrange?"
"And you wonder why I think you're evil," she replied, following Ron down the hallway.
She could feel her hands shaking, and Ron looked at her strangely.
"Are you okay?"
"I think so," she replied.
"Is Simmons your real name?" he asked, hesitantly.
"No Ron, it's not. Just let me get through this weekend and I'll explain everything ok?"
"Promise?"
"I promise. Listen I'm gunna see if I can find anything on the other potions we have to make. Why don't you go get the others and I'll meet you in the library ok?"
"Yeah…sure,"
She walked off in the other direction, leaving Ron to his thoughts. He walked quickly through the corridors and up the stairs until he reached the Fat Lady.
"Password?"
"Mimbulus Mimbletonia,"
The door swung open, and Ron walked in, spotting Harry, Ginny and Hermione immediately.
"Hey guys, how'd you go today?"
"Yeah okay. How about you?"
"Good actually. We finished the shielding potion. Melissa's in the library waiting for us. Speaking of, did any of you know that Simmons isn't her real last name?"
Harry and Hermione shook their heads no, and they all looked at Ginny.
"What? Of course I didn't know! I would have told you if I did. Did she say what her real one is?"
"No. She seemed really upset and stressed out though. Probably because we'd just come face to face with Malfoy,"
"Why wouldn't she tell us something like that?" Hermione asked, standing up and stretching.
"I don't know. Maybe she's ashamed or something. Anyway, I'm sure she'll tell us in her own good time. We should go," Harry replied.
Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. Realistically, they would never guess, but still…how could Draco do something like that? Ginny assumed that he had brought it up, because Melissa never would have. She dreaded what the Slytherins were going to do now that they had aligned themselves with Dumbledore…
The Hogsmeade weekend arrived much too slowly for Melissa's liking. The days seemed to drag, and she was so worried that the others would find out the truth about her, now that Malfoy had brought up the subject. Ginny had let her know that Ron had told them all, and Melissa was grateful that she hadn't said anything. That would make like a little easier.
She got dressed slowly, pulling on jeans and a jumper. School would be over in a few weeks, and it was supposed to be summer, but outside there was a biting wind that Melissa wanted to protect herself from. She had spent the last week helping Ron mix potions, and learning the different spells that Harry, Hermione and Ginny had been told to teach them, and she hadn't had any time to herself. She wanted to see Evan. She wanted to tell him the truth. In a few weeks, the war would be over, and she would be dead.
How do you explain to someone that you saw yourself die? That you know in your heart that that is what has to happen. How do you even come to terms with that yourself? She hadn't. She couldn't convince herself that she needed to die. And how had Voldemort known about the pain cuts, anyway? It had been years and years ago, after Evan had left. Nothing made any sense anymore. She had to tell Evan…didn't she? Did she have to tell anyone? She had seen it, people had avenged her death with anger and pain. Would the pain be as real if they knew what was going to happen beforehand? Or would they just try and act out what she told them, and screw it up altogether.
The other problem was who actually avenged her death. Obviously one of them was Harry. But the other two she wasn't so sure about. They had only been shadows in her dream…
"Screw it. I'm just going to tell Dumbledore. That's the only thing to do," she said to herself, looking around the empty room.
She picked up her bag, put on her shoes and went downstairs, with every intention of sneaking out of the Tower and then coming back when she was supposed to meet the others. That plan was thwarted however, when she got downstairs and they were all sitting on the couches.
"Crap," she muttered.
"Hey Liss, you ready to go?" Ginny asked.
"Actually no. I left my phone in the classroom last night, and I need it just in case Evan calls. You guys go ahead and I'll meet you there okay?"
She gave Ginny a look, and the girl opened her mouth slightly in understanding.
"Sounds like a plan to me," she said, jumping up and ushering the others out of the Common Room. "We'll meet you in the Three Broomsticks ok?"
"Sure," she replied, heading out the door in the opposite direction. She ran straight to Dumbledore's office, whispered this weeks password and took the stairs two at a time.
"Professor, are you here?" she called, knocking on the door.
"Come in," he replied from inside.
"Hi. Sorry to intrude Professor, but I need to talk to you,"
"Certainly. What's on your mind?" he asked, indicating the chair in front of his desk. She took a seat and sighed.
"I'm going to die," she replied abruptly.
He stared at her for a couple of seconds, then blinked.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm going to die. You're right, I'm the one who is slain by blood. I'm going to be given to Voldemort as a gift from my mother,"
"I don't understand, how do you know this?"
"I dreamt it. But it wasn't a normal dream. I'm telling you it was like a…well a premonition or something. But I'm going to die, I know it,"
"Well then, we just have to make sure that you aren't at the final battle," Dumbledore replied, interlocking his fingers.
"You don't understand Professor, without my death, Voldemort will win,"
He looked at her strangely, and she quickly recounted the whole thing.
"…So you see, I have to be there. I have to die!"
"And you're…okay with this?"
"Of course not! Are you hearing what I'm telling you? I. Am. Going. To. Die! That's not okay under any circumstances!"
"We have to work out a way to prevent this," Dumbledore said simply.
Melissa sighed. "You just don't get it. I have to go,"
"Melissa,"
"No, I really do have to go! I'm late. Thanks for listening Professor,"
She left the room, and this time she couldn't be bothered rushing. She walked slowly through the castle, out the front doors, and made her way into Hogsmeade, her mind running through the events that surrounded her death.
I wonder if it will be exactly like that? Is that exactly what he'll say? Is there more to it? How did I even end up trapped by a freaking statue of all things?! And who the hell are the Dragon and the Moon?
"Melissa?"
She turned around and came face to face with Blaise.
"I don't think I should be talking to you," she said, turning around.
"Melissa please. You know that you belong with us,"
She turned back around, a pained expression on her face.
"The sad part is Blaise, that I don't just belong with you. I belong with everybody. I mingle, I make friends with everyone, pure or not. I chose this side because this side didn't threaten me, and because I truly believe that what you're doing is wrong,"
"You really think so?"
"Yes I do. Look I have to go. I'm sorry Blaise, I really am,"
"Say hi to Ginny for me," he replied, starting to walk away.
"You still love her don't you?" Melissa asked. He stopped.
"You of all people should know that a person doesn't just fall out of love," he replied, and walked away.
"Speaking of love, I'm even more late to meet Evan than I was before!"
She ran the rest of the way to the Three Broomsticks, and arrived tired and puffed. She opened the door to see all of her friends and her boyfriend, laughing and drinking Butterbeer.
"Well you guys seem to be enjoying yourselves without me," she said, taking the seat next to Evan.
"Where have you been?" he asked, leaning over to kiss her.
"I had some things to do, sorry. Hey guys, hows it going?"
"Good," Hermione replied. "Did you find your phone?"
"Yeah I did, took me forever though. How are you George?" Melissa replied.
"I'm good. Business is booming!"
"Where's Fred?"
"He's just gone to Honeydukes. It's his girlfriends birthday so he's getting her some chocolate,"
"I'm sure she'll love that," Hermione said, grinning. "Just for the record, I LOVE chocolate,"
"Wink, wink, nudge, nudge? Is that a hint?" he asked.
"Of course it's a hint. I was never very subtle!"
"Ok, I'm going to go a drink. Be back in a sec," Melissa said, standing up again.
"Ooh, I'm coming, I've finished this one," Ginny said, standing up as well.
When they got a fair way away from the table, Ginny turned to her.
"So where did you really go?"
"I had to go see Dumbledore," she replied, waving at Madame Rosmerta
"What about?"
"Malfoy's threats," the lie rolled easily off her tongue, and she felt guilty, but there was no way she could tell Ginny the truth.
"Ah. But you don't think he'd seriously tell do you? Oh, 2 Butterbeers thanks," Ginny said to Rosmerta.
"Here you go ladies. How's everything going?"
"Really good thanks Rosie, how are you?" Melissa asked, smiling at the bartender.
"I'm good. Business is booming, surprisingly. But I'm not complaining!"
"Excellent. Well I'm sure we'll see you in a minute. Those boys never could get their own drinks," Ginny said, grinning.
"See you ladies,"
They waved goodbye, and began to walk slowly back to the table.
"I don't know if Malfoy would tell, but everyone in Slytherin knows who I am, and as Dumbledore said, it's not the older students who are out for my blood,"
They got back to the table, to find two second year Slytherins standing next to the others. They were twins, who had always been allowed into the parties because they were Dean's little brothers.
"Sammy, John. What are you doing?" Melissa asked.
"Shouldn't you be over there with the rest of your friends?" Ginny asked.
"There she is!" John exclaimed, a malicious grin on his face.
"Malicia Lestrange! Here you go Liss, Aunt Bella told us to give you this," Sammy added.
Melissa looked at the letter, not wanting to look at the others around her.
"I don't want anything she has to give,"
"If you would just accept who you are – "
"Listen you feral little fuckers, go back to your scummy Slytherin friends and leave her alone!" Ginny exclaimed, taking the letter from him and whacking them both over the head with it. "Go on! Piss off!"
They scampered away, laughing, and Ginny stroked Melissa's hair.
"Ginny…what am I going to do?" she whispered.
"Lestrange?" she heard from behind her. She couldn't avoid it now, she knew. She turned around, to see her friends all staring at her with hurt faces. The only one who didn't look phased was Evan.
"Harry I'm so sorry, I was going to tell you – "
"When? When were you going to tell me you were related to the second most evil being in the world huh? What are you, her sister? Cousin?" he spat.
"I'm…I'm her daughter," she replied, looking down.
"You okay Pup? Look it doesn't matter – "
"Well of course it bloody matters!" Harry yelled.
"Harry calm down," Hermione whispered. George had an arm around her shoulders, and she looked very pale.
"Yeah mate, she's still our friend," Ron added.
"Not mine! Any relation of that bitch ahs to be pure evil!" Harry exclaimed.
"Melissa are you okay?" George asked, looking concerned.
"What do you care? I'm just pure evil right?"
"He didn't mean that, and you've never been evil, you don't have an evil bone in your body," Evan assured her.
Harry stood up in disgust, and looked at Ginny, who had an arm around Melissa's waist and was still stroking her hair with the other.
"Ginny, please tell me you didn't know?"
"Of course I knew Harry, I'm her best friend, or one of two at least. I was the first person she told," Ginny replied.
"How could you? How could you be friends with her and not tell me?"
"It wasn't my story to tell!"
"Look Harry," George said softly. "Bellatrix Lestrange killed Melissa's parents, or foster parents at least. Even a name can't change that. Melissa doesn't even like her,"
"Don't tell me you knew as well!" Harry demanded.
"George how could you possibly know?" Hermione asked.
"She came to stay with us when she was a baby. Until they found a family. And then when she was two she stayed with us again. Briefly, but it was enough. When Ginny asked me if I knew the name, it clicked,"
"When was that?" Melissa asked, looking at Ginny.
"Just after Remus was attacked, before I worked it out,"
"What does Remus being attacked have to do with any of this?" Hermione asked, and then it dawned on her. "Oh God…"
"What?" Harry asked.
"He was attacked by the Lestranges…" she replied.
Everyone turned and looked at Harry, who was going red with anger. He pushed his chair back and walked away, pausing at where Melissa, Ginny and Evan stood.
"You disgust me. And you," he said, pointing at Ginny. "I can't be with a liar," and he left.
The three of them looked at Ron and Hermione.
"Melissa I'm sorry," Hermione said, following Harry.
"I'll owl you tomorrow," George said after her.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea," Hermione replied, without turning around.
Ron stood up and walked over to them. Melissa was almost afraid of what he would say…instead, he amazed her.
"I'll see you in the Potions room tonight, yeah?"
Melissa smiled and hugged him tight. "Of course you will,"
He smiled at her, and ran after Harry and Hermione. Melissa looked over at George.
"I am so sorry," she said.
"Don't worry about it. It'll sort itself out. I love Hermione, she'll come around. And I don't think she hates you,"
"I hope not,"
He gave her a kiss on the cheek and left. Melissa, Ginny and Evan sat down next to Luna.
"Maybe we should leave," Evan said quietly.
They all nodded, stood up, and walked out the door. Evan walked them to the school gates, and then kissed Melissa softly, before telling her he loved her, and he'd call her tomorrow. She waved goodbye, and looked at Ginny and Luna.
"That was so not the kind of day I was imagining,"
A/N: SOO...i finally got around to it. Sorry it took me so long, hope you liked it. Thanks much to:
kathleen-chan
littleOne
werecool
LeTicIa92SLyTHeriN
neopanther
dracoissexe
Love you guys heaps! Next chapter should be up soon, but there isnt much left!! YAY its almost over lol .xxx.