Summer has just started and I am sitting inside waiting for an old man I had just met to tell me the truth, well, about me. Does that make sense? Nothing makes sense. I thought by now I might know myself, but that is so far from true, all these new things are confusing, and yet there is this feeling in my chest, a feeling that tells me something about all this… It's just right.
I love mum and dad for raising me well. But I want to know my real family, but I don't know how to do that. How do you meet the family that don't think you're here? In this world, in their world?
My mind's a mess. And for some reason, I don't think it's going to get any better.
Melanie sat in the living room the next day, looking outside at the window, waiting for the man to appear once again. Which explains why she was terrified and almost screamed when he did appear, as if out of thin air with a pop, causing her to jump a mile high, clutching at her chest.
"So sorry about that," Albus said cheerfully, seeming amused by her reaction. Melanie nodded as she tried to control her breathing.
"Alright," Melanie said sinking back into the tartan sofa, as Minerva breezed into the room, she looked pleased to see Albus, it was clear they were good friends.
"Albus, you're here," She said smiling at the man standing before her.
"Indeed, I have come to talk to Melanie and her parents, about arrangements for the rest of the summer. Also to reveal some minor details to Melanie," Albus said smiling lightly, he seemed pleased with how this was going.
Simon and Julie walked in seconds later Julie carrying a tray of drinks and Simon a tray of snacks, they both looked a little surprised at his presence, but Simon brushed it aside and calmly placed the trays down on the table.
"Dumbledore, you're back," Julie muttered, sounding somewhat detached.
"Yes, I am. Now you may want to sit down for this."
Julie and Simon sat down either side of Melanie; Minerva sat next to her brother leaving Dumbledore the seat in front of them, it was like he was leading some sort of court.
"Now, Melanie, this may be somewhat of a shock, but you have had a long lasting glamour charm placed on you. What this means is that you effectively that what you look like naturally does is not what you look like currently. We only changed a few details though, would you like me to reverse the glamour charm, for now at least?" Dumbledore asked a bewildered Melanie, she nodded dumbly, not sure what to expect, she'd come to like the way she looked, she was pretty, would she be the same if she changed?
Dumbledore pointed his wand at the young girl and before him she begun to change, it happened so slowly that if you weren't aware of it perhaps you'd not noticed at first. Her white blonde hair begun to darken slowly, turning to brown and then settling at the darkest shade of black, the long lngth begun to shorten and twist into large curls. Big blue slowly turned into a deep shade of brilliant green, as her slightly rounded face lengthened slightly, creating a more oval shape. Her nose became thinner as her face lengthened, a rounded tip becoming slightly morepointed. When she looked into the mirror over the fireplace, she let out a small scream.
"I look…Different," Melanie muttered, her fingers prodding at the face that looked back at her, she was so different to the girl that Melanie was used to. She was pretty though, extremely so, she looked like a model, she still had the same lean figure that managed to still be womanly in a manner.
"There's something else as well," Pointing his wand at her once more a small scar appeared on her collar bone, it was small, shaped like a lightning bolt, for a second it glowed silvery before fading once more, settling as a thin red line.
"How did I get that?" Melanie asked tracing the scar with her index finger, looking at it in wonder.
"That is a very long story."
"Well it's good that I've got all day then, isn't it." Melanie replied casually, Albus smiled with amusement.
"Years ago there was a man who came to power; he was twisted into a being of evil. He gathered many supporters through blackmail, and brute force. His aim was to rid the world of Muggles, or non magical people. He killed hundreds, Muggles and wizards. I and a group of people fought him, your parents included. When they married we got hold of some important information. They were in danger as were their children, including your brother Harry," Albus explained to Melanie, his face suddenly ageing hundreds of years as the sorrow and pain stained his features. "Your parents would have given up everything for you, absolutely everything; sadly they had to give their lives to protect you."
"My real mum and dad are dead?" Melanie croaked, her eyes watering. This seemed too unfair; she was going into a world where she was nothing more than an orphan.
"I'm sorry Melanie."
"What about my brother?" Melanie asked hopefully, yet the tears still fell from her now emerald eyes.
"I am just about to come onto that, you see your brother lives with your aunt and uncle, they also have a son. However right now he is staying at the Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix, who keep him and you safe," Dumbledore told Melanie, who seemed to perk up at the mention of more family.
"Will I get to see him?"
"I am hoping to take you there in two days."
"We've only got two days?" Simon said his voice cracking; he looked positively heartbroken at the prospect.
"No, you'll always have me; just I won't be right in front of you. But I'll always be around," Melanie said smiling sadly.
A couple of days later Melanie could be found sitting in the living room of her suburban home waiting anxiously for the arrival of Dumbledore. She hadn't known what to wear or how to do her hair, she was a nervous wreck. She did eventually decided that low rise, baggy jeans, red converses and black crop top was suitable with her hair in a messy bun, and usual black eyeliner and eye shadow, with lip gloss.
A suitcase lay at her feet, bursting with clothes.
She heard a familiar pop and turned to smile at Dumbledore standing beside her.
"All packed?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"Well then let us leave, though I feel you may need to bid farewell your parents," Dumbledore said smiling kindly at Melanie.
Hugging both Julie and Simon good bye Melanie cried a little before standing by Dumbledore's side. He waved what Melanie assumed to be a wand and her stuff disappeared.
"Hold onto my arm tight," He told her then they were gone with a pop.
Melanie appeared in the middle of a street gasping for breath; it had felt like the air had been pushed from her lungs for a few seconds too long. It was sunny out, but no one was out, it wasn't what she would consider normal, but what was normal?
"Read this," Dumbledore instructed handing Melanie a piece of parchment.
The Headquarter of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.
Melanie read the note then handed it back to Dumbledore, she looked around expecting to see the house, but it wasn't there, number eleven, then number thirteen. She looked around all the house numbers were around, it appeared only number twelve was missing.
"But-" However Melanie stopped when before her eyes a house squeezed it way between number eleven and thirteen. "Err..."
Dumbledore smiled at the girl and led her towards the house; he knocked the large knocker against the black door, before pushing it open, revealing a large dark entrance way. Inside the house was surprisingly dank, too dank for people to be living there comfortably, portraits hung around the room the hallway which was painted in deep greens, it looked like it was once a beautiful room that had fallen into a state from years of neglect. There was a large stair case, and across from her the sound of a woman's voice talking animatedly.
Melanie stepped inside and looked around cautiously not sure what she should expect, and then her eye caught something. The person to her left scratched his nose, only it wasn't a person, it was a portrait of a person.
Melanie screamed Dumbledore whipped around to see Melanie starring horror struck at the portrait before her, and then the curtains over another portrait whipped open revealing the plaque 'Walburga Black' and an old woman who was screaming terribly.
"BLOOD TRAITORS! SCUM! INFESTING MY HOUSE! THAT AWFUL SON OF MINE! DUMBLEDORE!" The portrait screamed, only causing Melanie to scream more in her utter terror. "MUDBLOODS!" The sound of running could be faintly heard then the doors of surrounding room flew open as three men tackled the curtains to shut them.
The screaming stopped once the curtains had been pulled together, and Melanie stared around the room terrified, feeling dizzy as she tried to regain her breathing.
"Ever so sorry about that, I should have warned you," Dumbledore said calmly.
Everyone stared at Melanie, like she was an alien with bright green skin and purple hair. At this point in time she felt like it, standing there in the middle of the entrance way breathing heavily, with the living portraits surrounding her.
"Albus?" A woman asked she was older, with greying bright red hair; she was plump, with a kind face.
Melanie stared at Dumbledore.
"I would like you to meet Melanie Potter."