"YOU WHAT!" Harry screamed as Melanie walked past him, she smirked at his red face.
"Yes Harry, you either sit down and talk to Christopher, and I mean talk, nice stuff, and get along with him, or I am going to walk up to Draco Malfoy and snog him right in front of you, then I'm going to lead him to the Room of Requirements and I'm going to-"
"To hell you will!" Harry roared, they had everyone's attention now.
"Well then I suggest you sit down and talk to our dear brother, have a pleasant conversation and stop arguing, because brother dearest I really have wanted to-"
"You win for Merlin's sake!" With that Harry ran to Christopher and sat down beside him and started talking very quickly.
Hermione and Ginny were standing behind Melanie gripping to each other as they near peed themselves laughing; Melanie turned to them and grinned.
"He is so predictable," She drawled and sat down at the table for dinner.
"You shouldn't be so mean to my boyfriend," Ginny giggled when she finally sat herself down.
"So, he's my brother that trumps boyfriend," Melanie said. "Y'know same blood and all."
Ginny grinned at her friend and the three girls all settled down, occasionally giggling, as they turned to Harry who was in apparently deep conversation with Christopher. They were so caught up in themselves they hadn't realised that a small girl, a first year Hufflepuff, had come running into the school, that is until she collapsed to the floor and everyone stood up, Christopher being the closest was up and by the girls side instantly.
He checked for a pulse and it was there, just; along her back was a huge slash that was spilling blood.
No one noticed the figures gathering in the entrance hall, no one noticed their wands being drawn, no one noticed, until a scream echoed around the room and another young child withered in pain as his body was twisted into odd shapes.
Some ran to the back of the room as the teachers descended to the halls doors.
But there were those who came forward drawing their wands out too. Christopher, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Melanie, Neville, Luna, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Padma, Katie, and many more that she didn't know. For a second Melanie looked towards Draco, willing him to join them, but knew deep down it was too much to ask at the moment. And to be honest, she didn't even know what side he was on, was he even good? He had to be. She had seen it in his eyes.
The doors slammed shut with a wave of Dumbledore's wands, but everyone knew they wouldn't hold long.
"I ask you to only keep the students safe, there's no need to fight," Dumbledore said, but when no one moved, his eyes flashed with unspoken pride.
"Melanie, Ginny please just go to the back," Harry asked the pair quickly and quietly, if it hadn't been for the desperation in Harry's eyes Melanie would have argued, she turned to Christopher, the same look in his eyes, so she nodded, and took Ginny with her, and set to helping Madame Promfrey keeping the students calm and collected. They set the tables up so any spells that came their way hit the tables before the students, but Melanie couldn't see Draco. She was searching for him when she felt someone grab her arm.
Turning around she saw Draco at last and smiled at him, only it faded when she saw the look on his face, it was sad and angry and sorry all at the same time.
"For the last few months my mission was to get close to you and hand you to them, but I've failed, Melanie they're here for you," Draco told her quietly.
"What are you on about?" Melanie asked terrified.
"No please don't be scared of me," Draco begged. "I'm marked, one of them, but I didn't want to be, they took my mother, they told me to hand you to them or she'll die. But I can't… you're so brilliant, I can't do it, you are so amazing, and I don't know why the hell I'm telling you any of this now, but they're here for you and if they get you… if they get you, you'll be wishing they would just kill you. Do you understand me Melanie?" The door behind them flew open and members of the order including Sirius and Emma came running in.
"But I… Draco?" Melanie said softly, she reached forwards and rolled up his sleeve. And there it was, horridly dark green against his pale skin. "Oh."
"Please you've got to go!" Draco begged, for the first time in his life he was begging and it wasn't even totally for him, though he needed her to be safe.
"Melanie!" Emma called as she reached the two; she pulled out her wand and pointed it at Draco. "Get away!" Emma shouted, but Melanie wrapped her arms around him and clung onto him.
"We need to keep him safe, Emma we need to send help to His mum!" Melanie cried out, Ginny turned and stared at them, she wasn't surprised, she and Melanie had sat up all night a few times just talking and she knew that Melanie had almost certainly fallen for the Slytherin boy.
Ginny ran to Emma and grabbed her arm.
"Don't she really likes him..." Ginny said desperately. Emma stared at her as if she was mad then turned back to her niece who was still clinging to the pale boy, only now she wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Damn it Melanie don't do this to us. Melanie he's not … he's a Deatheater!" Emma cried out, there were many shouts as there was a blast against the large oak doors.
"So is Severus and you love him, you fell for him!" Melanie screamed over the noise, and Emma looked at her with shock.
"How do you know about that?" Emma asked gob smacked.
"I see it in the way you look at him," With that Emma pushed the pair towards the fire place, bringing Ginny with them and called out the destination. Melanie still clinging to Draco as if suddenly he would leave her.
When they fell out of the fireplace it was to land at the feet of a woman that Melanie remembered as Tonks, she smiled down at the three teenagers.
"Wotcher Ginny, Melanie. What's the Malfoy kid doing here?" Tonks asked wrinkling her nose but still grinning at Melanie and Draco's compromising position, but still Melanie was reluctant to let go.
"It's a very long story, in short, a Romeo and Juliet if you get the picture." Ginny informed Tonks who smiled like a mad woman.
"Ah it's a girl thing, from what I know of your parents Melanie they were a Romeo and Juliet, muggle and pureblood, my parents were the same. And you Ginny go bag yourself the most dangerous boy you could find, though you Melanie ain't done much better." Tonks said with a slight laugh.
"Nymphadora you need to send help to mum, she's in danger, they're going to kill her, I failed. They'll kill her." Draco pleaded once he got himself up and Melanie off of him.
Tonks' facial expression turned very serious and she stared at Draco.
"What's happened?"
Draco explained, everything, from his father, to him joining the Deatheaters, to the task he was set, to why he couldn't, to his mother now.
"Draco I'm sorry you're too late. Narcissa's body was found this morning, hence why people got to the school so quick, we thought something was going on and waited, I'm sorry," Tonks said softly, Draco just stared at his cousin, as if expecting her to jump and shout surprise, but she didn't, then he felt Melanie's arms wrap around him, and another hand on his arm. He just couldn't understand.
"But that's my mum, so you're lying. My mum can't be dead..." Draco croaked. "That means I have only father, and I can't go back to him." Melanie seemed to hold onto him tighter.
"You're staying with me," Ginny looked at Melanie very quickly, and Tonks looked very worried.
"You can't say that, Harry will blow up, and what about what's his name… Christopher, and Sirius, they'll go mad, and Emma. He can stay with Snape, he's his godfather," Tonks said quickly.
"I'll stay with Severus too," Melanie said, and Tonks smiled at the young girl.
"No you can't, Melanie listen to me, you can't," Draco said, But Melanie only smiled at the boy, leant up slightly and kissed him, a light brushing of lips, then walked off and got a glass of pumpkin juice, shaking ever so slightly, and waited patiently for her brothers to return.
Harry was tiring but then again so were the Deatheaters, he hadn't an idea where Hermione or Ron were, but he had been told that Melanie and Ginny had left Hogwarts all together. Christopher was to his right, and seemed determined to stay there, and random members of the DA and Order were scattered around and fighting. It continued for what seemed hours before a shriek pierced the shouting.
"She's not here lord!" The shrill voice of Bellatrix Lestrange screamed. Harry grinned to himself, 'stupid people', but then he was caught by the back of the neck and picked up off the floor.
"Where the hell is she Potter?" Snarled the Deatheater who had him.
"She's gone, away from Hogwarts, you're wasting your time here!" Harry snapped, and then kicked out at the Deatheater; he was dropped and rolled across the now bloodied floor.
"Potter! Kill him!" Another voice screamed and a green curse came hurtling towards him, before he was yanked away and the curse hit only an inch away from his stomach. Turning over he saw Christopher grinning.
"Try not to get yourself killed, Mel would never forgive me," The he turned and continued battling.
Harry grinned slightly before turning to the nearest Deatheater and stunning him. It continued for hours, or what at least seemed hours, before finally the Deatheaters and Voldemort realised that they couldn't win this one. They fled, leaving behind a bloody mess, four people had died, and many were seriously injured.
With a sigh Harry heaved himself up off the cold, stone floor. Christopher reached for him and helped him up.
"Not too hurt are you?" Christopher asked, inspecting Harry's bloodied face.
"I'm fine, just scratches," Harry muttered then made his way to Hermione. He found her sitting on the floor head in hands, sobbing. "Hermione?" Harry asked tentatively. But Hermione shook her head and continued to sob. Harry didn't have a clue what was wrong, she didn't look hurt, but she was sobbing, then Christopher came up behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder and indicated for him to just back off for a bit, Harry nodded and left Christopher to it.
"It wasn't your fault Hermione, he was put under the cruciatus, we can't break that, there was nothing you could do, he was a young kid, he couldn't withstand that much. You tried to help him Hermione, he'll be thankful for that, but it was just too much for him," Christopher said to the sobbing girl, beside her lay the body of an eleven year old boy, Hermione had stayed by his side to protect him, in the hopes he would live. He hadn't.
"Harry!" Called a panicked voice; Harry looked up to see Ron scrambling towards him, Luna Lovegood in his arms. "She needs help!" Harry turned to see Luna had a slash across her front, blood was dripping down her shirt, staining Ron's.
Luckily for them Emma appeared by their side.
"What was she hit with?" Emma asked quickly.
"I don't know, she was just battling and then she fell back, and the blood, it was every where," Ron said, Harry hadn't seen him so pale before.
Emma nodded, she waved her wand over Luna's wound, first the blood stopped seeping everywhere, then slowly, very slowly it stared to close.
"She'll need some more medical attention, make sure there's no scarring on her major organs, and something to possibly help get rid of that scar," Emma said as she inspected the scar Luna was left with; it travelled right across her chest, and was rather wide. Then Emma left and continued to healer others around them.
After everyone was stabilised and either sent to St Mungo's or their common rooms, Harry found himself wondering where exactly Melanie and Ginny were. He, Ron and Hermione were sat on the sofa before the fire, in silence when the portrait door opened and a ruffled looking Christopher.
"Melanie's causing problems," He told Harry then indicated for them to follow him, instantly Harry was by Christopher's side, Ron and Hermione trailing after them. They reached Dumbledore's office and could hear Melanie's screams.
"What are they doing up there?" Hermione gasped, it was the first time she had spoken since the battle five hours ago, it was evening now.
"Well Melanie's she's… Well… To be honest I'm not too sure, she keeps rambling," Christopher answered.
Harry opened the door and saw Melanie, Emma, Tonks, Sirius, Severus, Remus, Ginny, Draco and Dumbledore all in the room, Melanie was red in the face, tears pouring down her face and clinging to Draco Malfoy.
"You don't understand Melanie! He's a Deatheater! You're in danger being with him!" Sirius yelled.
"I'm not though! Draco wouldn't hurt me!" Melanie cried, Draco looked at her and shook his head. He leant down and whispered something to her but Harry couldn't hear what. "I'll do what I bloody well want!" Melanie snapped at him.
"Melanie listen to me, I know you really like Draco. I do. But this can't work. It won't." Emma said coming down to Melanie's level, she was knelt before the girl, and pried her off the pale boy, Emma cupped Melanie's face in her hands. "I know what you've seen Melanie, but everything's changed. Melanie I know you think this can work, but sweetie it can't. He's a Deatheater, he's admitted to it. We can't risk you, not when we know there's someone out there trying to either kill you or get you pregnant." Emma said. Then Melanie shook her head.
"I don't care. I really don't. I'm taking a potion; I can't get pregnant, Hermione and Ginny showed it to me," Melanie explained, Sirius looked flabbergasted.
"You mean to tell me you've been taking a Potion behind our backs?" Sirius exclaimed.
"Sirius, please, I think that's a rather good thing, now even if they do capture Melanie she can't get pregnant and we have time." Dumbledore said calmly then let Melanie continue.
"And I don't believe Draco wanted to be a Deatheater. I really don't think it was his choice." Melanie said desperately.
"Wait stop!" Harry yelled. "What's all this about Draco! Why are you so protective over that ferret!" Harry yelled, Melanie glared at him, then reached for Draco's hand, and held it within her own.
"Melanie, what's up?" Ron asked Melanie suspiciously. While Hermione stared at the younger girl wide eyed.
"Oh Melanie, you … You… Oh Merlin Melanie!" Hermione gasped.
"Hermione please don't yell at me." Melanie begged.
Hermione remained silent for a few seconds before sighing.
"Give him Veritaserum. It's the only way to find out the truth." Hermione said.
"Don't you think we've already thought of that?" Sirius yelled at Hermione.
"Well you've not done it! Have you! I mean you're too busy yelling at Melanie! She loves him!" Hermione shot at Sirius and to be honest it pretty much shocked everyone into action, Dumbledore summoned the bottle and a glass of water and added three drops of the Veritaserum.
"Just answer the questions, if you try to lie, you will fail." Dumbledore told Draco then fed him the water.
"You're name?"
"Draco Malfoy."
"What is your age?"
"Seventeen."
"Why are you here."
"Melanie."
"What does that mean?"
"She's clingy. And I love her and I want to protect her." Draco's eyes went wide, he tried to seal his mouth shut but the words just tumbled from his lips.
"What was your mission as a Deatheater?"
"To get Melanie to trust me so I could hand her to the other Deatheaters, but I couldn't. I failed."
"Why did you fail."
"Because every moment I spent with her she glowed, and the more time around her the more I like her, I knew they wouldn't have let her live long. I couldn't let them hurt her."
"How and why did you enter the Deatheaters ranks."
"I told father I didn't want to join until I finished school, really I hadn't wanted to join at all, it was just something I had to do. He got annoyed, he held me down while Bella marked me, I screamed at them not to, I didn't want it..." A lone tear travelled down Draco's pale cheek and silence devoured the room, Melanie step forward and grabbed both of Draco's hands.
"Oh bloody hell!" Sirius grumbled then smacked Draco over the head.
"What was that for?" Melanie shouted.
"For messing with my little girl." Sirius shot at her.
"I'm not your daughter!" Melanie snapped.
"You're as good as." Sirius snapped back.
By now Harry had given up and his forehead was resting on Ginny's shoulder, Ron was leant against the wall muttering about stinking Slytherin ferrets, and Christopher was just bemused by it all.
"She knows by the way Sev," Emma whispered to Severus as Remus tried to calm down Sirius.
"Knows?" Severus asked.
"Melanie knows... About us..." Emma said.
"Well at least it means we won't have to keep secrets from her, if only your brother knew, he would have killed me on the spot," Severus chuckled.
"Straight after killing the Malfoy kid for dating Melanie."