Melanie returned from Diagon Alley smiling widely, she had had tons of fun, it was weird to hang out with Harry and his friends but it felt right, like they had just … Oh well she didn't know. It just felt right.
Smiling she ran to her room and packed her stuff into a trunk she had been given, she grinned as Ginny followed her giggling, she was flushed, her face only a few shades lighter than her coppery red hair.
"So what's the deal?" Melanie asked Ginny, who seemed caught off guard by her question.
"Huh?"
"You and my brother?" Melanie said laughing; it was completely obvious that something was going on there.
"Oh, nothing there never has been or will be. He thinks of me as Ron's little sister, you heard him introduce me last night," Ginny said smiling sadly, she stopped by her bed, the last light of the day glinting through the window brightening her doe brown eyes.
"Whatever, I know that there is more to the story then many believe," Melanie said. "I just get these things."
Ginny nodded and then dragged Melanie away so they could look through Witch Weekly.
Harry was pacing, he was so confused.
Only a week ago he was sibling-less, and fighting with his two best friends, but now he also had a little sister to look after, and he loved her instantly, because she was his little sister, and brilliant, but he was scared he would fail her in some way. How was he meant to protect her? When everything in his stomach told him she was in too much danger, that she should have remained hidden.
Not only would Voldemort and his followers want her but there would be boys as well, and that in particular was something he knew he couldn't handle.
"RON!" Harry called.
"What's up mate?' Ron asked clambering into their room.
"How do I keep boys from touching Melanie?" He asked, he'd deal with the smaller issues first.
Ron grinned.
"You pretend it isn't happening, I know for a fact though that no boy will dare touch Ginny, six brothers helps with that one," Ron said shrugging, happy for once he was able to advise his friend and not the other way around. Harry neglected to inform Ron that Harry had seen Ginny on three occasions up close and personal with Michael Corner, her ex from last year.
"But Melanie hasn't got six older brothers, she's got me," Harry said almost despairingly.
"Exactly." Ron replied. Harry looked at him curiously. "Mate, no one wants to mess with you, I mean really, tri-wizard tournament, Basilisks, Voldemort, and Deatheaters. Mate if you can beat them, then you'll be able to beat the living crap out of any teenage boy. Plus, you're close with the Weasleys and have Sirius Black as a godfather," Harry grinned at this, praying that it would be enough.
"I think she'll be safe," Harry said finally, feeling a small sense of relief. "We just need to get rid of Voldemort, get through sixth year, N.E.W.T's and then we'll be good." Harry said, with only a note of sarcasm.
Ron patted him on the back with a small smile and then left Harry to continue his pacing.
People were coming in and out of Grimmauld Place, Harry was trying his absolute best to keep Melanie out of the way, he didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, or to meet Snape who was giving regular reports.
Hermione was sitting reading in the living room, the fire was crackling when the door slammed open and Harry pushed Melanie into the room, causing the poor girl to topple over onto the floor with a painful sounding 'thunk'.
"Damn it Harry!" Melanie snapped. "I'm not a child! You don't need to hide me from everyone!" With that she got up and stalked towards Hermione, but not before hearing someone mutter 'just like her mother'.
It carried on like this however for the rest of the stay at Grimmauld Place, until they were let out on the Hogwarts Express, Melanie had been told she wouldn't have the glamour charm placed on her any more, she was glad for that. She had come to really like the way she looked, it was how she was meant to be, and enjoyed the constant reminders of looking like her mum.
Harry reached for his sisters hand as they walked towards the solid wall which Melanie was told would get her to the correct platform, as she was a little (Ok a lot) scared, he decided to try and comfort her, and he wasn't really sure how else. So they walked through the wall hand in hand, and without realising they had done it, they had sealed the deal. When either was scared the other would be there to guide them.
They waited on the other side for Ginny, Ron and Hermione. When they appeared they went together to get a compartment.
"So this is the famous train," Melanie said looking around the compartment, it was like any other old fashioned train compartment.
"Yeah," Ginny said looking unimpressed; it was after all the train she had taken for the last four years, she was overly used to it.
There was a knock at the door and Melanie turned to see a boy standing there, he was kinda plump, with a round face, and short brown hair, Melanie smiled at his nervous face.
"Hi Harry, do you mind if I sit here with you guys? There's no where else." The boy was shooting curious looks at Melanie; Harry nodded then noticed the looks.
"Neville this is my little sister, Melanie," Harry stated, introducing the pair.
"But you don't have a little sister," Neville stated, understandably not realising what had been going on, no one knew.
"Apparently I do, she's in Ginny's year," Harry replied grinning. "Melanie meet Neville, the one who was at the department of mysteries with me."
"Hey, that was cool, I can't believe I'm meeting you, Harry told me all about it," Melanie said sticking her hand out for Neville to shake, He did so and smiled at Melanie. He seemed relieved by her response to him, no one had said cool and Neville in the same sentence before.
Harry scowled as Neville raked his eyes over Melanie's body, though everyone's attention was drawn to the door again as it opened and a blonde girl stood there.
"Hello, Ronald, Harry, Ginny, Neville, and - Oh I don't know you," The girl said in a dreamy voice, she smiled slightly at Melanie, still standing in the door way.
"I'm Melanie, Melanie Potter," Melanie said sticking her hand out to Luna; the blonde girl shook her hand.
"Do you need somewhere to sit?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, it seems that there are fewer places this year," Luna said then took the seat to her right.
And so they set off, spending most of the time telling Melanie all about Hogwarts, and the other students.
When finally they arrived at Hogwarts Melanie was first off the train to find her self face to face with a very large man, he was huge, ten foot wide at least, and about twelve feet tall, with beady black eyes and wiry black hair and a matching beard. Melanie would have fainted with fear if it weren't for Harry behind her, pushing her towards him slightly.
"Firs' year! Over 'ere! Ah, Mel'nie is that yer?" He said looking down at the frightened Melanie before him. Melanie nodded.
"Hagrid, how are you?" Harry asked happily, and the giant before her grinned back.
"I'm alright 'Arry, yeh?" Hagrid asked merrily, and Melanie visibly relaxed.
"I'm great Hagrid, see you've met Melanie," Harry said nudging Melanie forward slightly.
"Yeah, sorry 'bout this but you're to come with the firs' years," Hagrid said to Melanie who nodded. To say she was shocked just a little bit of an understatement.
Everything was well… Well the school was a huge ancient castle, gleaming under the moonlight, with flakes of golden light shining through the windows. She was being bustled around by about four hundred students, and she was talking to a giant of a man.
Hermione passed her with a encouraging smile, and Ginny followed her with a quick hug, and then left Melanie to follow Hagrid. Harry went with her as far as he could but had to leave to get on the carriages, he gave her a big hug before allowing her to disappear with the first years.
When Melanie arrived before a pair of huge oak doors. They were led into an entrance way, it was huge, possibly able to fit a three bedroom
house in side, with flag stone flooring, candles hung from the wall, giving the entrance an golden glow.
Then Minerva McGonagall walked towards the group.
"Welcome, I am professor McGonagall; you will soon be led into the great hall, though Melanie, Dumbledore has asked for you to be sorted first," Minerva said the group before her.
She turned towards the oak door nodded then turned back to the group.
"It's time," She then led the group towards table at the far end of the hall, either side of the long line of first years and Melanie were two tables, with a flag above each, to her right there was a silver and green flag with a snake on, most of the students at this table had their noses in the air sneering at the students. Then there was a table with a gold and red flag with a lion on, Harry was sitting there waving at Melanie, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and some others smiling encouragingly at her, it seemed Harry had explained things to them. To her left there was a table with a blue and bronze flag with an eagle on it, Luna was sitting there on her own, smiling at Melanie, Melanie smiled right back at her. The there was a table with a yellow and black with a badger on it.
They came to a stop in front of a few steps leading to the main table, with what Melanie guessed to be teachers sitting at it.
Dumbledore was standing there, a stool next to him with a tatted hat upon it.
"Usually Professor McGonagall would do the sorting, today however, due to special circumstances I will do the sorting.
Dumbledore paused and looked towards the hat, which did the most astounding thing. It sang.
"Many a year ago,
When I was only years off new,
My owner and his friends three
Decided to do something before unheard of,
A school they started,
For those with special abilities,
Believed to never part,
For their common goal,
To pass on their own learning,
Not believing that they would soon be parted,
Never had there been friends quite like these,
Of Slytherin and Gryffindor,
And Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
It was their dream that torn them apart,
Slytherin had his own ideas,
As did his friends.
For proud Slytherin,
Purebloods were those alone worthy.
For brave Gryffindor,
Anyone with bravery in their heart.
For smart Ravenclaw,
Those with a knowledgeable brain.
For kind Hufflepuff,
Teach everyone just the same.
For the most part this didn't cause a strife,
For each could take whoever they please,
Slytherin took only purebloods,
Cunning like himself.
Gryffindor took the bravest,
And boldest.
Ravenclaw took only those,
With sharpest of minds,
And Hufflepuff,
Well she took the rest,
So for a while,
The friendship stayed strong,
Then the fighting begun,
And too soon Slytherin left,
Unable to stand his one best friend.
Leaving the other three quite disappointed,
Then it was left to I to sort,
I must split you,
But remember,
Alone we are weakest,
Together we must stand,
From the foes outside our walls,
But now that I have warned you…
Let the sorting begin."
There was an eerie silence after that, but most people realised that it was most likely refereeing to Voldemort.
"As many of you would have noticed, we have a new student. Melanie Potter, if you would," Dumbledore said lifting the hat. Melanie nodded and sat on the small stool, noticing the whispering going on around the hall.
"Ah Miss Potter..." The hat said into her mind, causing Melanie to jump. "Lets see now, kindness like that of your mothers, if not surpassing it, Hufflepuff would be suitable for that trait. And yet you are very cunning, you will do what is needed of you, and by whatever means, a trait a Slytherin would be proud of. And you a brain any Ravenclaw would envy, though you still need a bit of training up, Ravenclaw would be suitable. And yet you have bravery like only that of that brother of yours, and of course your parents, a true Gryffindor trait. So all four houses you belong, but in your heart, its seems you're a Gryffindor." The hat said. "So with no other option I must place you into GYRFFINDOR!" The hat yelled, roars erupted from the Gryffindor table, and Melanie ran to Harry, hugging him tightly.