A day in the life of a fanfic writer:

"Alright, based on this outline, 1994 will start on 120. I just need to finish writing chapters 118 and 119 and I'm all set!"

*Writes chapters, compares them to outline*

"...Okay, 1994 should start on 122. …Maybe. …Hopefully?"

Sunday February 14th, 1993

The time leading up to Valentine's Day was the most frustrating week Harry has dealt with since leaving the Dursleys. Scratch that, Melly is being the most frustrating she's ever been in his life! Like him, everyone in VATIC was understandably worried for her after they heard about the attack. Melly, though, acted like it just… didn't matter. Coming to their next meeting she was all smiles and laughter, like usual. Like normal. Playing off the attack like a one-off issue.

Then, despite Patil's offer that the group shun the attackers on Valentine's Day, Melly insisted against it. Calling the gift-giving sacred, of all things! She claimed that everyone at Hogwarts must have a gift on Valentine's Day; because any exception to that will destroy the good VATIC has built towards. Harry didn't accept that line of thinking; but Egalitaire and Flinton rallied to her reasoning and the other fourth years fell in line, so there was nothing he could do about it.

Valentine's Day itself was an ordeal to go through. Firstly, because Lockhart still managed to sink his pearly-white teeth into the holiday, flooding the Great Hall with lurid bright pink decorations and hiring dwarves to deliver people's Valentine letters. Secondly, having these deliveries had the unfortunate consequences of several dwarves following him around over the course of the day! After last year's pile, Harry thought he was ready for what this year would bring. But no, he was most certainly not ready to have random men in cupid outfits reciting bad poetry and love confessions to him. It was outstandingly embarrassing and it took every ounce of willpower not to flee at the sight of each approaching dwarf.

Then thirdly, as if the day wasn't frustrating enough, his role this year was to accompany Lovegood in delivering the good-mood rings to everyone in Ravenclaw. That experience was... eye opening. At first it went well, as upper years took up most of the spots closest to the door. Though once he got to his yearmates he noticed a change in the Ravenclaws. Not towards him, but towards Lovegood. Some of them were hesitant to take a ring from her, or had strained smiles during the exchange. Then they got to the first years, where the boys cringed and the girls sneered at the gift and outright refused to take it from her! One girl even had the gall to demand that Harry give a ring to her instead. To his credit, Harry plastered on a fake smile and apologized that he only had enough rings for his row (a lie, but who cares about this girl's expense.) Then Lovegood, in her ever-dreamlike sweetness, acted as if some creature was responsible for the girl's rude behaviour and left the ring in front of her with pleasant well-wishes for the holiday.

The exchange caused Harry to grit his teeth. Seeing that, both their rudeness and Lovegood's lack of reaction, was all too close to the frustrations that Harry has been feeling all week. He could hardly hold himself back. Because of that, as the twelve members convened to exchange rings, Harry made sure to step in close to Lovegood.

"Is that normal, how they treat you?" He whispered to her.

Her large, pale eyes blinked up at him as she pondered the question. "I wouldn't call it normal, no; but it's not unusual."

Not unusual. So, usual, then. After the fight he had last week, Harry has urged his mind to be better primed in understanding a non-answer for its truth. There was something else, too, in how Lovegood dismissed the sneering girl. That creature she mentioned… nargles? She blamed the rudeness on that instead of the girl's personality. Was that her method? Are imaginary creatures Lovegood's equivalent to a "prank gone wrong"?

As he silently pondered the situation, Lovegood shifted to leave. Seeing this, Harry caught her forearm in a firm yet gentle hold. "We can stop it." His eyes burned in a green inferno. "You don't have to go through this alone. I can help."

For a flash of a moment, a look of worry crossed her features; but in half a blink it was gone, replaced by a gentle, placating smile. "You have nothing to worry about, Harry Potter. The nargles can't hurt you."

"But they hurt you." He retorted.

She shook her head. "No. They can't hurt me. I have protection, see?" She pulled up her necklace, a string of butterbeer corks, for emphasis. She must have caught as Harry's frown deepened, as she let go of the necklace to pat him on the arm holding her in place. "You should really put on your ring, now. Otherwise you may end up attracting wrackspurts."

With a sense of defeat, Harry let go of her arm. She didn't leave right away. Instead she took time to put on her own ring, tilting her head back and sighing happily as the cheering matrix took hold. "Ah! That's much better!" She looked back at him with a blissful smile. "Have a very happy Valentine's Day, Harry Potter."

Harry could only mutter a small reply as she glided away, over to the edge of the Ravenclaw benches where her yearmates avoided with a wide berth. He eyed the arrangement with disgust. How can bullies get away with this? Why is nobody doing anything about it? It can stop if she just TELLS someone about it, so why can't they just ADMIT THAT PEOPLE ARE HURTING THEM?-

A hard hand clasped onto his shoulder, and a harsh voice grated against his ear as Soros growled in warning. "Put on your ring. You're making your anger obvious."

Harry flashed his anger towards Soros, yet the older boy looked uncaring as he nodded to Harry's other side. Harry followed the glance to find others in the group were looking at him with worried expressions. The grip tightened on his shoulder, an extra warning that now is not the time.

So, with a forced smile and nod towards the others, Harry relented and slid the ring onto his finger. The effect was instantaneous. He knew that the bullying was a problem, as was the inaction of their victims; yet the anger and frustration towards it just… melted away. Actually, why bother worrying about that, anyways? He just finished his first big event, after all! Everyone's in such a good mood. It's time to celebrate!

"This is great! Thanks, Soros!"

Soros smiled back at him. An odd little thing that didn't reach his eyes. What a funny boy. "My pleasure. Can I speak with you after dinner? I have a fun surprise to show you near the kitchen. But you have to keep it a secret."

"Sure! That sounds great!" A holiday and a secret surprise? What a fun day this has been!

After meeting up at the painting in front of the kitchens, Soros led Harry deeper into the corridor. Harry drank in the sights around him. This hallway has a few different food-based paintings. Some are just for decoration, but others lead to supply closets and pantries and all sorts of lovely things. I should really come here more often. Isn't there a secret entrance nearby that Uncle Sirius and Dad used to use to grab extra sweets?-

"You can take your ring off, now." Soros advised, reigniting his eyeless smile as he led Harry into a supply closet full of fancy china. Wow! These sets are really posh! I wonder when these ever get used-

"-Potter, if you take off your ring, you'll get your surprise."

"Oh! Alright!" Harry answered cheerily. He pulled off the ring and-

-awareness came crashing down around him.

Rings- Sneers- Luna- Smiles- Nargles- Pranks- Melly- Fake- Lies- Blood-

Harry stumbled into the china cabinet. The sound of glass shuddered precariously against their hooks and holdings. With the onslaught of intrusive thoughts, Harry barely caught as Soros spoke to him.

"Be calm, Potter. If anything breaks, the prefects will find us."

He took in a breath and right himself upwards. Deep breaths, like meditation, like clearing your mind for occlumency. He wasn't the best at it, but a summer and nights of practice helped Harry to realign the chaotic emotions he was feeling. As the haze lifted, he looked down at the ring in annoyance as he realized what happened. "They didn't work like this when we tested them!"

"They work like this." Soros answered pointedly. "You are just too angry for the effect to be smooth."

Harry narrowed his eyes at him. "And what about you? I don't see you smiling like an idiot or falling against a wall!"

The smile returned, this time his dark amusement appeared genuine. "That is because I have enough control and wisdom to not use the ring yet. Once I leave I will put the ring on so no one suspects me. For now, I do what is needed."

Again, annoyance flashed in his mind. Though Harry chose to bite his tongue since Soros did have a point. "Right. What's needed. Let's focus on that. You have the names?"

"I do."

Soros took a roll of parchment out of his satchel and handed it to him. Harry unfurled it to find sketches of multiple students, with names and houses hastily written beside each one. This was… a lot more than the seven they encountered.

"I made sure to add people from last year, as then was the most of it." Soros supplied.

"Even people from Gryffindor?" Harry was genuinely surprised to find a fair few from that house. A bit of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, sure, since blood prejudice isn't limited to Slytherin. Still, he never took the lions for caring so much about that.

Soros scoffed at his surprise. "Yes. Though not because of her family."

Harry looked up from the parchment to find Soros glaring daggers at him. "What?"

Soros closed his eyes briefly and took a breath. When his eyes opened they appeared more settled. "Is nothing. I apologize… Just… people can be judged and treated cruelly for their reputations and …associations. Even those made before-" He cut himself off. Soros tried to offer Harry a placating smile, but the expression felt forced, especially with the chilling hardness hiding behind his eyes. "Well, I suppose each man has his reason. No matter. Just remember, when your plan is ready for execution, Amy, Jacqueline and I are to take part. No exceptions."

Harry swallowed nervously for a reason he wasn't wholly aware of. "Of course. I remember."

"Good."

With a nod, Soros turned and closed the door behind him as he left the room, leaving Harry to his thoughts. Very uncomfortable thoughts, truthfully, as he began to piece together the many implications that were made tonight.

Author's Commentary/Question

On rare occasion I get semi-complimentary reviews that get me thinking about the pros & cons of how this story is written. The one setting off this commentary is the occasional "I preferred Melissa's story/friendships pre-canon, now it's all about Harry." And, honestly, I see what they mean because the pre-canon part of the story is very cute and fun. The fact that I like working within the confines of canon is both a blessing and a curse in that regard; because, while it's easier for me to get plot ideas from what seems 'logical' with canon influences (Voldemort, Dumbledore, etc.), it has caused a detraction from her character's original goal of just having a fun and laidback life. On the other hand, when I realized that canon plots would end in 1992 and not really start back up until GOF, what I ended up writing for 1993 is VERY different from her first two years.

All that considered, it's got me thinking about what should happen for 1994 and the rest of the story. Do I swing back to focusing on Melissa's friendships and cohorts, or maybe see her work on new projects, or perhaps something else I haven't even considered? I know how this story ends, but the journey is still being written. Perhaps it's best I ask this question over the summer, once you've seen Year Four's finale, but I'm curious to hear your opinions, if you have any, towards what you'd like to see in the future? Let me know your thoughts!