Chapter 25

AN PLEASE READ: I'm so SORRY that I haven't updated in forever. I started my upper levels for my journalism degree this semester (I start my upper levels for business next semester). One of my "classes" involves writing articles (that do get published) for a local paper. It takes a lot of time, and I still have other classes to do.

I work for the newspaper about 30 hours a week, plus 9 hours of classes a week, and 10-15 at my paying job. I'm often very tired, and don't have a lot of energy (plus I've had some horrible writer's block as of late).

I just want you all to know that I AM NOT abandoning this story. Updates will probably just be few and far until December (when this class is over). I appreciate you all who are still reading this, and I apologize again for taking so long to update.

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter and co. I created Melissa.

The next few days passed slowly and quietly. Melissa spent the time catching up on summer homework. She had more than enough time to mediate and call visions. She saw nothing for days, which she found unnerving. Where was Voldemort? Sean? Why were things so quiet?

She was half-tempted to write Dumbledore and ask if he knew anything, but her pride and anger kept her from doing so. Mel could not get over or understand his decision to constantly keep Harry in the dark. Whether it was about her, Voldemort's current actions (or lack there of), or the catalyst for everything that had happened to Harry. Mel had recently learned of Trelawney's prediction, which basically said Harry and Voldemort would kill each other. She understood that Dumbledore did not want to burden Harry any more than necessary, but the longer he waited to tell him, the harder it would be for Harry to hear. Mel was thinking of ways to subtly suggest to Harry what was unavoidable. To her, this was obvious: It was why she had not been able to stop Voldemort's return in the first place. However, she did not think Harry truly understood that yet either because he had not thought of it that way or was just not ready to accept it.

Cedric still was not himself, though Mel doubted he ever would be. He had seen something traumatic, which, unlike Harry, was not a regular occurrence in his life. He was quieter than he had ever been and his mood swings sometimes gave her whiplash. She tried not to complain or be too hard on him. She still blamed herself for what he was going through. She should have been able to stop him from seeing everything. She should have been stronger….

"Mrs. Weasley is inviting us for dinner tomorrow night," Cedric said, entering the one-roomed house. Aurora was perched on his shoulder. She must have arrived while Cedric was out running. "Our Hogwarts letters are here too."

Mel got up from the floor and jumped over her scattered schoolbooks. She took her Hogwarts letter and Mrs. Weasley's from him. "Do you want to go to dinner with me?"

He shrugged as he opened his letter. "If you that's what you want."

"You don't have to, but I promised Harry I would come see him," Mel said, working to keep the frustration out of her voice. She wanted him to want or not want to go. She wanted him to be less passive.

"Sure, why not," he said, shrugging again. Mel looked down at her letter and turned away from him, so he would not see her frown. When she heard him sigh loudly, she had to count to ten before speaking to him.

"What is it?" she asked, facing him with her arms folded in front of her.

He held up a gold badge with the letters "HB" engraved on it.

"Head Boy, congratulations," she said, giving him a genuine smile. He grimaced and set the badge and letter on the table. "This is a good thing. You should be happy."

"Did I earn it though? Or did Dumbledore just feel sorry for me? I'm tired of people being nice out of pity."

"Who's been nice out of pity? I doubt you've seen anyone long enough for that," she scoffed.

"It's just one more thing to worry about…."

Mel took a deep, trying to keep calm. "Cedric, you did earn that badge. You've been an excellent role model and student for the past six years. The fact that you still got it, even after all the crap the Prophet's written about you this summer, means that all the professors still think well of you and stand behind you."

Cedric remained silent for a couple of minutes, avoiding her eyes. He stared blankly over her head and said, "I'll go to dinner with you."

He set the badge down on the table and left. Mel stood frozen in the middle of the small house. She felt defeated. He was shutting her out now. What was she supposed to do? Get mad at him? What good would that do?

She went back to her pile of books and cleaned everything up, setting it all on the kitchen table. Pulling a blanket around her, she curled up on the small couch and watched the flames of the fire until she fell asleep.

She was not sure how long she had been sleeping, but she was sure she did not want to open her eyes. Mel listened as Cedric tried to be quiet while shuffling around the room. She heard him walk over to her.

"Mel," he whispered, shaking her slightly. She feigned sleep, not wanting to talk. She heard him sigh and felt herself lifted off the couch. He carried her over to the bed and set her down gently. She felt the bed sink as he lay down next to her. The rustling of the sheets let her know he was trying to cover them. When he finished, he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the side of her head. He smelled like the outdoors, which was better than him smelling like firewhiskey.

"I'm sorry about today, love," he whispered. "Tomorrow will be better."

Mel shifted herself a little closer to him, hoping he still believed her to be asleep. He must have because after a few minutes she heard his steady breathing.

XXX

Sleep was not easy that night. Mel tossed and turned as she dreamt about endless hallways and locked doors, the graveyard, and vague dark scenes all staring a smirking Sean. Her distress must have manifested itself physically because, at some point in the night, Cedric shook her awake.

"What's wrong?" he asked groggily. "Was it a vision?"

"No," she said, sitting up. She held her head in her hands, "It was just a nightmare."

She heard him move beside her and then felt him place his head against her shoulder.

"About what?" he mumbled into her skin.

"Not sure," she said, lying down on her side. "There was a lot. I'm sorry for waking you."

Cedric sighed and pushed her over on her back, so she was looking up at him.

"What?" she asked, growing annoyed. She just wanted to sleep. They could talk in the morning.

"Don't apologize to me," he said. "I know I'm making your life difficult. I can't help it. I'm sorry."

Mel, too tired to say anything, motioned for him to lie down and snuggled up next to him.

"Why do you love me?" he asked.

"Because you love me, take of me, and put up with me no matter how crazy I get," she said, yawning slightly. "If the situation was reversed, you'd do the same for me. Now go to sleep, I'm exhausted."

He gave a small chuckle and hugged her tightly.

"Good night, love."

XXX

"Ready?" Mel asked the next evening as she straightened her blouse.

"Yes, tough I don't understand why we needed to dress up," he asked, flattening the collar of his button-up shirt.

"We're not dressed up. We're just dressed nicely," she said lightly. "And it's because I wanted too."

"Whatever," Cedric muttered. He opened the front door for her, and they walked to the edge of the property together. He took her hand when they stopped, and they apparated to headquarters together.

They appeared on the front step of a very old, decrepit looking house. Mel knocked on the door, remembering Mrs. Weasley had asked them not to use the bell.

"This doesn't seem weird to you?" Cedric asked, balancing on his heels.

"How so?"

"I mean, we're essentially eating with the 'family' that couldn't be bothered to take care of you or didn't know about you, and their very close friends."

"We've talked about this before," Mel sighed, slightly annoyed. "Sirius was in Azkaban, and Lupin thought it would be easier for me if he wasn't around, given that he is a werewolf. Surprisingly, Harry's been very accepting of the whole situation."

"Including your abandonment?" Cedric pushed.

Mel grimaced. No, Harry was upset they had put her in an orphanage and acted like she was no one until they needed her to help him. "He shares your opinion in this matter. Though, we may not be together if things had been different."

"Not true," Cedric said defiantly. "I would have wanted to be with you no matter the circumstances."

Mel smiled as the door opened, and Mrs. Weasley let them in. The inside of the house was not much better than the outside. It was poorly lit and very grey. It showed signs of not being lived in for a very long time. The chandeliers and light sconces were of snakes, and there was decapitated heads of house elves. Mel got the feeling either pureblood extremists or dark wizards had lived there. Mrs. Weasley led them down the narrow and down a flight of stairs.

"I hope you've both been well," she said. "We've been very busy here. Trying to make this place habitable for human beings."

"We're fine," Mel said—a little too quickly. She glanced at Cedric, who had his jaw clenched, and sighed. It was going to be a long night. "Why is this headquarters?"

"It's very well protected, especially since Dumbledore put the Fidelius Charm on it. It's Sirius' family home," she said, her tone disapproving.

"Here," she said, leading them into a dining room. "Take a seat, the rest will be down in just a minute."

Dinner was far from enjoyable. It was clear that there was tension between Mrs. Weasley and Sirius, both were being too civil to each other. Cedric kept avoided speaking, though the muscle in his jaw twitched every time Sirius or Remus spoke to her. About halfway through dinner, he excused himself. Harry shot her a questioning look, but Mel just shrugged. When he did not return by dessert, she excused herself to find him.

She walked back up the stairs and the hallway they had come from, checking doors and rooms as she went. Mel continued up the next set of stairs when she did not find him. On the next landing, she found a door a jar and poked her head in. Cedric was standing over the fireplace with his back to the door.

"Hey," she said gently. He turned his head to look at her, nodded, and went back to staring at the flames. "Do you want to join us for dessert, or just go home?"

"I will. You should go back down, spend time with Harry," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. She sighed and walked to stand beside him.

"They act like they didn't abandon you, like they've been there for you this whole time," he said stiffly.

"Let's just go home," she said. "I'll just say I don't feel well."

His jaw clenched and Mel braced herself for the angry tirade that was about to follow.

"They act like they've done nothing wrong!" Cedric said fiercely. "Like they didn't abandon you and leave you helpless in that orphanage."

"Cedric, I don't want to do this now," Mel said, straining to keep her voice low. "Let's just go home."

"I don't understand why you ignore how they've treated you," he muttered, as she walked away from them.

"I don't ignore it!" she yelled, finally losing her control. "I don't like what they did, but I can't change it! And they did the best they could."

Cedric's jaw clenched again and he stared stoically in her direction.

Mel let out a groan of frustration. "I'm leaving. Don't follow me."

Mel half-ran out of the room and down the stairs. She had hoped to get out without running into anyone, but Harry was by the front door as she descended the last flight of stairs.

"Mel, what's wrong?" he asked.

"It's nothing, just a dumb fight," Mel said, trying to wipe her eyes. " Listen, I'm sorry, but I have to go. I just need to clear my head. See you soon, ok?"

Harry was clearly confused, but nodded his head anyway.

"Thank you," Mel whispered, hugging him good-bye. Mel slipped out the door and onto the dimly lit street. She wiped her eyes, so that anyone who was out wouldn't pay her any extra attention, and started walking toward the center of town.

I hope you enjoyed it. And sorry for the wait. Please be patient!