Melanie screamed painfully as the Healers adjusted her brace, it was painful, but no matter how many pain relieving spells they cast the thing was bloody well welded to her bloody spine, she could feel it. All of it. And hell was it painful. Sirius was sat beside the now sobbing girl, holding her hand and she tried not to shake too much because it only increased the pain. He too was wincing as the healer adjusted it, he looked just as bad as it sounded.

"Just a little more Mel, it'll be over soon," Sirius said softly to Melanie, she was pale and sweating slightly, the pain that was flashing across Melanie's face as she sobbed was making him feel, well, horrible. He shouldn't have let her get hurt in his mind.

Harry was pacing outside the room; he could hear her pained screaming, and it was driving him mad. That was his little sister in there. All he wanted was for her to be safe, and he knew in the long run this was for the best, but to hear her be like this was torture.

Remus stared at Harry with pity laced eyes, he himself wincing every time Melanie screamed.

Finally the pain eased slightly, Melanie nearly collapsed sobbing, Sirius wrapped his arms around her delicately, as the healer informed them that she would only need it for another week. Once the healer left the room Harry rushed in and was beside Melanie holding her hand. Ron and Hermione would have been there but they couldn't listen to the screams, it was just too much.

Finally when her sobbing came to an end she looked up at Sirius.

"I have- haven't thanked Draco. C-can I see him, and say thank you?" Melanie asked quietly, still reeling from the pain of having her back brace adjusted.

"Let's wait until you have this thing off, it's a little awkward still, so we'll wait till then, is that ok?" Sirius asked. Melanie nodded and agreed that the brace made things awkward.

The next few days Ginny was released from the hospital with slightly better news. Instantly the fifteen year old went to see Melanie, and collected Hermione for a good talk.

"I got released today," Ginny told Melanie and Hermione happily. She showed them the scar she had been left, it was quite big, starting from above her left hip and going right across to below her right hip. "The Healers told me that the scaring is what could prevent me from having children. However if I try that doesn't mean to say I won't succeed. I could have children, they'll give me a potion which will make me more fertile, later at least, and I have as much chance as anyone else!" Ginny cried happily. Hermione engulfed the redhead in a hug, and then Melanie tried her best seeing as she was in an awkward position.

"Oh I'm so happy for you!" Melanie squealed.

"I know it's fantastic, so now we're just waiting for you to be released. Dumbledore asked us to go back to school, he said we can visit you for an hour after lessons everyday, but I mean you've only got three more days in here then you're released as well." Ginny said thoughtfully, and then she eyed Melanie's brace warily. "I'm sure you'll be happy to get rid of that."

"Oh by the light of day I will be rejoicing when this piece of metal is removed. It drives me mad, do you realise how uncomfortable it is to sleep, most nights I just stay up and read, I mean I had all my work sent here, I've finished it already. At least that means I won't be spending days catching up, but y'know it drives me mad," Melanie growled as Sirius walked in looking, well, very serious.

"Sorry to cut this short girls, but I need to talk to Melanie," Sirius said, Hermione and Ginny nodded, hugged Melanie then left.

"Remember when we met, you asked if I was your Godfather?" Sirius asked, Melanie nodded. "Well as you know I'm not. Well Dumbledore now feels that you need more support, that I'm not enough," Sirius said bitterly. "You're Godfather, well; it's a teacher, Snape. The potions teacher, he's, well he's …."

"You mean Snape is my Godfather, as in that's who my mum and dad choose?" Melanie asked shocked, as far as she was aware Snape was a git.

"Your mum choose him, you see, back in Hogwarts they were friends, sort of, James never liked him much, but Lily, Lily liked everyone, and she and Snape were friends, she insisted on him being your Godfather, and James, he-he agreed, he'd have done anything for your mum," Sirius explained.

"Everyone told me that Snape was horrid, but he never was to me. He was always quite nice to me," Melanie said thoughtfully, looking beyond Sirius.

"Surprisingly in your first few days you were sent to live with him, until you could be found a home. Lily and James were already dead, so he took you in, he-he apparently still has your room, he had it decorated for you, he was …"

"Do I have a Godmother?" Melanie asked. "Does Harry have a Godmother?" Melanie asked.

"No, no Harry's Godmother died, there was an attack, and she-she was mur-murdered," Sirius said his eyes watering slightly. "Your Godmother had to run away, she was being followed by Deatheaters, they were going to get her, she had to escape, she'll be back soon though, and she's desperate to meet you now that you're fully grown."

"Not quite yet Sirius," She joked to him causing him to grin slightly, but his face fell again. "Y'know that I'll always think of you as my godfather as well right, I mean , come on, you're the first thing other then Harry which I could count as family, and even though my family now includes the Weasleys and everyone else, you're still right at the top." Melanie said to him, Sirius grinned at the girl and gave her a hug, kissing the top of her head.

"I think of you and Harry as my own. And I'm glad you think so highly of me." Sirius whispered before leaving Melanie.

And in the silence of her room, with nothing more then the gentle humming of machines, Melanie leaned back on her bed, a smile dancing on her face, knowing what this meant.

"Looks like the family is finally coming together."