Melanie grinned she was so happy to be at Hogwarts, it was getting colder now that Christmas was nearing, but the grounds always looked beautiful under a layer of snow or frost. It was late November, she realised and knew she needed to get presents for her friends and family, then she remembered Draco Malfoy, as it was a Saturday and there were no classes she went down to the Slytherin Common rooms, only to realise she didn't know where they were.
"Oh great now I'm walking around stupid dark, damp corridors with no idea where I'm going," Melanie muttered to herself with a frown, only to hear someone laughing behind her, she whipped around to be faced with her godfather, lunging forwards she hugged him fiercely. "Uncle! Oh thank Merlin! I need to find Draco Malfoy!"
Severus patted the girl on the shoulder then cleared his throat.
"If you let go I can lead you to the common room, he'll most likely be there," Severus said, and then added as an afterthought. "I'll go with you." The Slytherin common rooms where somewhat dangerous for an innocent Gryffindor, or a pretty female.
Severus led Melanie through the corridors in a comfortable silence until they reached a portrait of Salazar Slytherin, he gave the password and allowed Melanie in.
He heard a hiss from one of the nearby girls, and glared at the student. He searched the room and realised that Draco was in his room, an inner struggle started within Severus, let his Goddaughter enter the room of Draco Malfoy, as fond as he was of the boy, as Draco was also his godchild, but he wasn't sure he trusted him with Melanie. But then he gave in, trusting Melanie to be strong.
"He's in his room, knock before entering, it's over there," Melanie nodded and smiled at Severus before hugging him again and leaving towards Draco's room. Severus shook his head then left Melanie to it.
When Melanie reached the door she knocked as told and heard Draco's lazy drawl giving her permission to enter. She walked into quietly and closed the door behind her.
"Draco?" Melanie asked softly, he was lying on his bed, he turned to her, and realising who it was he shot up and smirked at her.
"What's a Potter doing in my personal room?" Draco drawled, causing Melanie to blush.
"I-I wanted to thank you for saving me," Melanie said softly, something passed through Draco's eyes but Melanie didn't catch what.
"It was nothing, certainly not a big enough for a Gryffindor to come to my room." Draco drawled at her.
"Professor Snape, he let me in, he's my Godfather and knew I wanted to say thank you," Melanie muttered, and Draco looked at her incredulously.
"He's my Godfather too. That doesn't make sense." Draco said, though more to himself then anything.
"Well I just wanted to give you this," Melanie said handing Draco a card, he recognised it as hand made, but it was a beautiful piece of work.
Dear Draco,
I know you needn't have saved me, but thank you,
I would have died without your help, and to be honest I never expected it,
But once again thank you, I hope that one day I could return the favour until then here you are.
Love Melanie.
Inside the card there was a necklace of sorts, it had a gem of some sort hanging from it, the tag had a single word written on it. Hope.
"I got one from a friend, they are meant to be good for you, I thought maybe, I dunno," Melanie said softly, she looked away from Draco, embarrassed.
"Thank you." Draco said softly, Melanie looked back up at the boy to find he was staring at the necklace.
"Draco I was wondering, well I don't know you very well, as part of me saying thank you, well, I wonder if maybe you might want to well go to Hogsmeade one day? I'll buy the drinks." Melanie said hopefully.
Draco looked up at the girl before him, beautiful in way where she knew it but didn't flaunt it, she wore makeup that suited her mood not to entice a rich partner, she was so... UN Slytherin.
"Um, yeah, sure. I don't see how one drink would hurt," Draco said trying to regain his composure. Melanie smiled at him before leaving the sixteen year old to stare in wonder and such a thoughtful present.
Harry was sitting on the sofa before the fireplace in Gryffindor common room when Melanie came bounding in, she kissed him on the cheek, grabbed Ginny from beside him and went dancing up the girls staircase, bringing the girlfriend he was quite happily snuggling with.
"What on earth! Melanie I want her back!" Harry called after his beaming little sister, causing Ginny to laugh, the sound floating down to him until their dorm room door slammed shut. "Mental that one." Harry muttered to himself as Ron came and sat down beside him.
"Quidditch practice tomorrow?" Ron asked.
"Yeah Ginny, Demelza, Katie, they need to practice together a bit more, Jimmy and Ritchie need to work on their aim, I want you to make the chasers job difficult, and I want to work on getting the snitch in three minutes," Harry explained.
"I hope we win this year." Ron mused.
"Indeed, I don't want to fail on my first year as captain," Ron nodded then grinned. "At least this is one thing you know Melanie can't get hurt in."
Melanie was sat in the stands watching Harry, Ginny and Ron practice, she was amazed by the tactics they were using, Hermione was beside her, as was Luna who had nothing else to do today.
"It's quite fascinating don't you think Luna?" Melanie asked.
"Yes, it is, these cloud formations really do point to Gryffindor winning, don't you think?" Luna answered, from the corner of her eye Melanie saw Hermione roll her eyes but smile none the less.
"Yes Luna, I totally agree with you," Melanie answered before giggling and hugging the blonde girl.
The three girls watched the rest of the practice until dinner time came and they all went into the great hall. Ginny and Harry were wrapped up in each other, Hermione and Ron were arguing about something, Katie Bell was watching in amusement, Luna was talking with Ritchie, Jimmy and Demelza, so Melanie decided to talk to Katie.
"Hey Katie!" Melanie said cheerfully.
"Hey Mel, how are ya?" Katie asked grinning.
"Hungry." Melanie answered.
"Yeah, me too, Quidditch does that to ya. So are you enjoying Hogwarts?" Katie asked interested.
"Yeah it seems great. So what are you doing over Christmas?" Melanie asked.
"Going to see my parents, most likely visit some of the members of the old team," Katie said as they reached the great Hall. "See ya Mel." She called as she walked off to sit with her friends.
Melanie walked up to Harry and Ginny she smiled at them, they were so cute, and scarily they looked like pictures she had seen of Lily and James. Melanie smiled, at her brother, as he picked up Ginny before letting her sit down, demanding a kiss to be let down. Ginny giggled and struggled until eventually Professor McGonagall told Harry to put Ginny down. Melanie laughed at their red faces; Ron scowled at his sister, but let it pass.
Harry was laughing when he turned his head towards staff table, when he noticed that there was an extra person sitting there, a young man, with raven black hair, it was very neat, he also wore glasses, square frames, he had a strong jaw line, he was well built, but not in a bulky way. He certainly didn't look like the other teachers, wearing a fitting black jumper and scruffy jeans.
When Ginny noticed she didn't have Harry's full attention she turned to where he was staring and nearly fell off her chair, the guy he was looking at was gorgeous!
"Hermione! Look at the guy beside Dumbledore!" Ginny whispered frantically, not taking her eyes from the man who was in deep conversation with the headmaster.
"Oh!" Hermione squeaked, causing Melanie to laugh, seeing as Hermione wasn't the type to usually get flustered over boys.
Ron shook his head and looked around the hall, noticing that nearly half the girls were staring at the stranger.
"I don't know what you're all staring at, there nothing special about him!" Ron snapped.
"Tall, dark, handsome, gorgeous body, strong arms, he looks intelligent... And he might actually be at our maturity level," Ginny replied in a slightly dreamy voice. Harry looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Of course you're tall, dark and handsome, too Harry." Ginny said sheepishly, Harry shook his head then settled in for his dinner.
Melanie smirked, she seemed to one of the few that weren't affected by his good looks, yeah he was good looking, but it was like how she thought of Harry and Sirius and Ron. You accept that they are good looking, but that's really it. Though, Melanie had seen pictures of Sirius when he was younger, and had she been his age back then… Not that he wasn't handsome now.
Eventually when the group found themselves back up in the common room Ginny and Harry where cuddle up on the sofa, Hermione was reading, but Ron was just sat in the armchair. And not having had much chance to bond with Ron Melanie got up and sat on the arm of his chair.
"Hey Melanie," Ron said with a smile at the younger girl.
"Hiya, I really haven't had much chance to talk to you alone, not like with Harry and Hermione," Melanie stated as she made herself comfortable. And for the next hour or so Melanie got to know Ron, and when they all went up to their dorms, Ron hugged Melanie as he had Ginny and kissed her head, as he had with Ginny, treating the younger girl as if she were his sister too, it didn't go unnoticed by other two girls.
"I'm happy; it means he won't be watching me all the time," Ginny said with a smile.
"It also means that Melanie is in for hell," Hermione chuckled, leaving the girls to enter their fifth year dorms while Hermione went up to the sixth years.