Chapter 27

A/N: I have no new excuses: writer's block, too much work/not enough time, etc. To anyone still reading this, you're awesome. I have a long weekend and am snowed in (yes, the snow is why I have a long weekend), so I have time to get some work done on this story. Please enjoy this short update and forgive me for my long hiatus.

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

September first was the opposite of what rest of the summer had been. Instead of sweltering hot with no escape from the sun, it was cool and grey with a threat of rain. Mel stood on the platform, people-watching as she waited for Cedric to return from stowing their trunks. The mood was different from years past. It was more subdued. Parents and children seemed less excited for the coming school year. The change in atmosphere was no doubt due to the rumors from the Prophet, though Mel half-hoped some believed Dumbledore, Harry and Cedric.

"Ready?" Cedric said, reappearing by her side. She smiled and took his arm. "Sorry that took so long. Mum came to see me off."

"How is she?"

"All right," he shrugged. "She's stressed."

"Worried about you and your dad more like," Mel said,

"And you," Cedric added, following her onto the train. "You're basically the daughter she never had."

Mel smiled. "Should we look for our friends or just head to the prefects' compartment?"

"Prefects' compartment. We can look for Ryan and the rest later."

They made their way to the front of the train to the compartment the prefects normally met in to discuss basic duties. The head boy and girl would schedule another meeting in a few days to work out patrol schedules for the year. The train was crowded with students searching for their friends, an empty compartment, or just stopping to chat before going to their seats. Mel and Cedric had to slowly push their way throw.

"Who's head girl again?" Mel asked, sliding the compartment door open.

"Edith Wesley. She's in Ravenclaw. One of the quiet ones that doesn't say much until she's in a leadership position," Cedric said, shutting the door.

"Wow. I can't remember her at all and you know all that?"

"Fourth year, group project. Not an experience I care to remember."

"She can't be that bad," Mel said, sliding along the bench until she was next to the window. Cedric only shrugged as he sat next to her.

"It's weird, isn't it?" she asked.

"That a bossy Ravenclaw's head girl? No, not really. What's weird is that she isn't in the Cedric Diggory fan club, as you call it."

Mel twisted her head so fast she was sure she pulled a muscle. It was the first joke Cedric had made in months. She was so shocked she didn't even laugh.

"What?" he asked, his brows knitted together in concern.

"Nothing," she said quietly. She went back to looking out the window, rubbing the left side of her neck.

"What's weird?" he prompted.

"Huh?" she asked, looking at him again. Remembering her original question she said, "Oh! Well, that this is our last year at school. It's a nerve-wracking and exciting, isn't it?"

"Sure," he said, kissing her forehead. He did not really feel nervous or excited by this being his last year. Honestly, he would have been fine not coming back for it. He was somewhat happy; though that was due to Mel being in higher spirits as of late. He didn't know why that was and it scared him. He had been trying to do better for her, and he knew she wouldn't leave him. However, he could not stop himself from wondering time to time that she was looking forward to school to get away from him, even if it was only for a few hours.

As the thought crossed his mind, he laced their fingers and squeezed her hand gently. She squeezed back, a small smile on her lips. He shook his head, silently admonishing himself for being so ridiculous.

XXX

"I can't believe you spent a month alone with your boyfriend!" Angela exclaimed. They were in their dormitory, telling each other everything that had happened over the summer. Well, Mel shared almost everything. She couldn't explain where she had been for the first month of the holiday with too much detail, and she didn't feel right talking about Cedric's issues. They weren't hers to talk about.

"It's not that big of a deal," Mel said, feeling heat rush to her cheeks. She fidgeted with Angela's bedspread, avoiding her friend's disbelieving eyes.

"Melissa Evans! It is a big deal and you know it!"

Mel laughed and shook her head, slightly embarrassed. She supposed it was a big deal, or should have been. But her and Cedric's living situation really hadn't seemed that different than normal. Instead of having little–to-no supervision at his house, they simply had no supervision. Their laughter died down and Angela grew serious.

"It's true, isn't it? What Dumbledore said at the end of last year, about…about You-Know-Who?" Angela asked, her voice the quietest Mel had ever heard it.

"Yes," Mel said. "You didn't believe them, did you?"

It was Angela's turn to avoid eye contact. She looked just over Mel's head as she spoke. "I didn't want to, not at first. Not for a while really, but eventually the Prophet's constant attacking on two students just didn't make sense. Why make Potter and Ced look bad, crazy even? It just felt like something was being covered up."

"I'm glad you realized that," Mel muttered.

"Lindsey feels the same," Angela said in a tone that suggested she was trying to be helpful.

Mel nodded. "Thanks, Cedric will appreciate the support."

"I'm sure. How is he?"

"He's…" Mel hesitated, unsure of how to say exactly how Cedric was. "He's working on getting through it all."

Angela nodded, as if she understood what Mel meant. Mel doubted she could even fathom what she meant by "getting through it." They said their goodnights, not wanting to risk oversleeping on the first day back. Besides, they had Defense with that horrible ministry woman first thing tomorrow. As Mel crawled into bed and pulled the blankets around her, she couldn't help feel a little lonely.