Welcome to Year Five! After the traumas of possession and Azkaban, Melissa tries to put the past behind her and live her life normally. Unfortunately, life has others plans. (aka, there's still four months left of 1993)

Enjoy!

Wednesday September 1st, 1993

After two months of non-stop travel, Harry found the quiet of the past twelve hours oddly relaxing. It was a full moon last night (with an equally strong moon tonight) so after an early, hearty buffet Sirius spent last night with Remus in a forested park somewhere around Norwich. Harry probably should have felt sad that Sirius isn't around to take him to Kings Cross, but it's not like it'll be much effort. He headed down from their flat, saying hello to various neighbours as he did so. Then, with a simple hop he took a floo from the lobby straight to Platform 9 and 3⁄4.

Another benefit to Sirius not being here, is the lack of… certain conversations related to coming back to Hogwarts. Though the man tried to hide it, his godfather gets shifty and nervous whenever school is brought up. Harry knows the reason why, of course, but it's not something to worry about. In fact, Harry's plan is to clear the air about it before the train even arrives at Hogwarts.

He found a compartment with a few of his housemates inside and made a bit of small talk with them. Then, shortly after the train headed out, he begged off to catch up with other friends on the train. He said hello to a few people on the way, but his main destination was filled with older teens in green ties.

"Hello Soros, Pierce, Flinton, Melly."

The former three all greeted him politely. Melly, on the other hand, looked nervous on seeing him. Uncomfortable. The thought made him sad, but she still smiled so he decided to take a page out of her book (a.k.a pretend that nothing is wrong.)

"Did you all have good summers?"

They all gave answers, but it wasn't long before Flinton rolled her eyes. "I think I'm gonna head out. Stretch my legs. Anyone wanna join me?"

It was the opposite of subtle, but everyone smiled at the hint. Soon enough the others left the compartment until it was just him and Melly. Luckily it didn't stay quiet long. "I missed you, Houdini."

"I missed you too, Melody. How are you holding up?"

She gave a hapless shrug, paired with a tired smile. "I'm alright. Probably going to take a nap in a bit, though. How about you? Got any new step-aunts since I've been away?"

"Just the one," Harry chuckled. "Thank goodness that didn't last."

"Oh, shit. Did they break up?"

"No. Uncle Sirius still writes to her, I just mean the marriage part. You should have seen his grandfather's face when he told him. Arcturus threw a fit!" Harry laughed. "At this point I'm half convinced he's still talking to Chiara just to annoy him."

"Somehow that seems very on-brand," she said with a wry smile, "but, who knows, you might end up being an uncle yourself in a couple of years."

Harry gave a snort. "Yeah, maybe. Doubtful." A lull fell between them. A good time for a segue, really. "Speaking of Sirius, I want to ask you something. Well, he wants to ask you something, but he's being an idiot about it."

"Okay? But I'm going to start off by saying No I'm not immune to dementors. That's just a conspiracy theory."

"What?!" He took a mental step back. "Well, no, I wasn't going to ask that. Though I really want to ask about that now-! What I was going to say is Sirius wants to know if his getting out of Azkaban… early is really such a bad thing?"

Her expression shifted into narrow slits, looking at him like he's daft. "The hell are you talking about? I never said that it's a bad thing."

"Back at the trial, you said that there are repercussions to him getting out, and that changing the future always has bad consequences."

Harry was almost relieved to see her roll her eyes. "I only said that because I needed to give a good reason for not warning Dumbledore about Voldemort's nonsense."

"Which you did because…"

"Because if I change things up, then I won't know if they'll get worse. Things can get worse, like how the Dursleys treated you; but they can also get better, like Sirius being able to adopt you."

A silence fell between them. Harry felt a war within himself. Ultimately, though, he went with the truth. "Melody, you know I love you like family, and try very hard to understand all the things you're going through…"

"I'm sensing a 'But' there."

He gave a nod, "but I also know that you lie as easily as you breathe."

There was a beat of quiet. Then, oddly, an impish smile grew on her face, along with a hands-raised shrug that said what can you do about it? "Got me in one, kid." The smile stayed, though it was now joined by an eyeroll. "Alright, fine… There's nothing wrong with Sirius being free. The repercussion is that Pettigrew's in prison, instead."

"...How is that a bad thing?"

"It's really not," she exasperated. "I just don't know certain futures anymore about Voldemort, since Pettigrew could have gone to help him. So, technically it's a good thing, since it means Voldemort's less likely to ever find help," her hands weighed like scales. "Comparing the outcomes, losing that bit of Sight is worth freeing your godfather, at the end of the day."

That… that actually makes sense. In its own twisted logic. …If she's telling the truth, that is. "That's all?"

"That's all."

"Promise?" He put his hand forward, wanting to shake on the deal.

Instead, Melly genuinely flinched back at the gesture. Her hands had moved back on reflex, eyeing his hand with a combination of alarm and disgust. Now why does that feel familiar…

"Please tell me Voldemort isn't possessing you. I swear, if I'm able to burn you-"

"God, no," she gave a snort. Then, not meeting his eye, put one hand into his and gave it a shake. Once released, she flicked her hand as she spoke, "Just- your invisibility cloak, like, exudes massive Creep Factor. Worse than usual, to be honest."

"What are you talking about? I don't have my cloak on me. I haven't worn it in a while."

"You sure? Because its vibe is," her hand waved in a circle, "all over you. Did you sleep in it, or something?"

"No." Then a thought occurred to him. "But that's not all you can sense. Is it?" It wasn't quite a question. Instead of waiting on an answer he pulled at a chain around his neck, lifting it over his head. "I think what's bothering you is this."

Melly stared at the necklace, at the clasp of black stone in the middle. Eyes flickered between the stone and himself over and over. "Yes and no," she murmured. Tilting her head, she looked at the stone longer in confusion. Then her eyes went wide. "Is that-?!" Now her whole face swivelled between him and the necklace, almost comically in her shock. "You- What- HOW?! WHAT?!"

She fell back against the seat, hands covering her face and groaning loudly. Harry offered an (unseen) apologetic smile. "I know. I was surprised, too."

"Could have fooled me!" The voice was muffled behind her hands. Hands which then fell onto the seat with a slap. "I can't even begin to figure out how you- wait-" Her eyes narrowed at him. "Put it beside you. Don't touch it."

"Okay?" Harry obliged, though found the continued scrutiny uncomfortable. She just kept staring at him. Saying nothing, but making small *tsks* with her tongue. "Found what you're looking for?"

"Apparently," she answered. Then spoke again with a huff. "...You've turned into the Master of Death. Mazel tov."

What? "No I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"Technically I only have two of them. The Cloak and the Stone."

"Well technically," she mocked, "you got the Wand's allegiance when you jinxed it out of Dumbledore's hand. So, no, Houdini. You've collected the whole set."

From- "Dumbledore has-"

"Yep. And you knocked it out of his hand when he tried to obliviate me. Remember?"

"Yeah, but-" Now his eyes went wide. "No!"

"Yep. Which makes you, Harry baby, official Master of the Creep Factor. Congratulations! You're now the strangest person in Hogwarts; and, considering who you're talking to, that's a damn high achievement!"

That is… his brain screeched to a halt and ran a mile a minute, all simultaneously. Panic and confusion and- okay, really just those two, on a constant loop without any true thought to lead to a conclusion. "...What does that mean, then?"

"Beats me. This is a whole new level of weird."

"But… you can feel it. Feel me, like I'm-"

"Death. Yeah. Creepy as hell. Even the ghosts at school aren't like this. I'd have to touch them to get anything like what you're radiating."

That wasn't reassuring in the slightest. "Does that mean I'm dead?"

"...Pretty sure you'd know if you were. This isn't The Sixth Sense, Houdini."

"The what?"

"Movie reference," She waved dismissively. "Just- you're alive, but, I don't know. I have no idea how magic like this works. I doubt anyone else has even noticed anything odd about you. Maybe the thestrals will treat you differently? I dunno; but there might be a way to look into it?"

"Maybe. Hopefully." He gave an involuntary shudder. His mind drifted first to the reptilian horses he saw at the end of term, then to Italy as Marcello explained his reasons to give the Resurrection Stone to Harry- descendant of the Third Brother, and to his dad as he told Harry stories of their family. That conversation brought a renewed ache to his heart.

Master of Death.

Maybe, hopefully, being the Master of Death isn't such a bad thing.

This isn't so bad, Melissa considered as she and the others found seats in the great hall. There were some people staring, sure, but not anymore than they did two years ago. If anything, most people seemed to be avoiding her eyes. Good. Maybe they'll keep that up until the novelty blows over. That'll be useful.

She settled in, using the pre-banquet time to chat with her housemates. "One of your sisters is starting this year, right?" She asked Garrick casually.

"Nerys is, and our cousin, Astoria," he smiled. "Hopefully they'll both be sorted into Slytherin."

"Fingers crossed!"

Said sorting came soon upon them. Professor McGonagall led the procession as the stream of first years came pouring in, and in, and in-

"Wow!" She gapped quietly. "How many are there? That's got to be double our year, at least!"

"No surprise there," Rusalka commented. "The war ended at the end of '81. Nine months later, the earliest celebrations came in July; but by September…"

"It's a new cohort," her eyes lit in understanding. "So that's- Wow!"

"Mhmm."

The hall watched as the magical baby boomers got under the Sorting Hat one by one.

Alton, James - Gryffindor!

Anderson, Felicia - Ravenclaw!

Ashford, Harrison - Hufflepuff!

Baker, Tom - Ravenclaw!

Batworthy, Lily - Slytherin!

Berrycloth, Abigail - Slytherin!

Birch, Lilian - Hufflepuff!

Broadmoor, Harry - Gryffindor!

Buchanan, James - Gryffindor!

Carter, James - Hufflepuff!

Clark, Diana - Gryffindor!

Cooper, Lilium - Hufflepuff!

Dawson, James - Hufflepuff!

Denbright, Harry -

"Am I imagining it, or are they-"

"You're not. They are."

"Oh dear god!"

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted.

"That's one Harry and Lily for us," Amy commented. "Think we can get the whole set?"

"At this rate, it's practically inevitable."

Doge, Harrison - Ravenclaw!

Dunn, Craig - Hufflepuff!

Edwards, Lilian - Ravenclaw!

Ellesmere, Harriet - Ravenclaw!

Entwhistle, Annabel - Hufflepuff!

Everly, Madison - Slytherin!

Fernsby, Potterina

"Oh, now, that's just cruel! Who names their kid Potterina?"

"Idiots."

"Dumblebore bootlickers."

"No arguments there."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"At least we've been spared that embarrassment!" Cassius scoffed. Something the entire table could agree with.

The roster thankfully calmed down a bit by the Gs. Astoria Greengrass ended up in Ravenclaw, but Slytherin got a few normal kids running from G to O, including Nerys, before the war-time names picked up again. There were a few debates over if names like Henry Trotter or Jameela Rahman counted. Though when it came to newly slytherin'ed Jamesetta Rabnott, they didn't even bother arguing because Amy insisted she "needs the whole set!" By the end of it, about 40% of the newest cohort revealed some variation of the Potter sacrifice.

Those poor kids. And poor Harry, while we're at it.

"I think for everyone's sake," Dom started, "VATIC needs to avoid name-based gifts this year."

"Amen to that!"

When the feast ended, Melissa was not surprised at getting a summons to the Headmaster's office. Maybe she should have, considering Torrero-Ramirez already cleared her of possession (and gave her an absolute earful in the process.) Though, sadly, considering the bizarreness that is now her life, she can't really be shocked that the man has more plans to reintegrate her into society.

"Lemon drop?"

"Sure, why not." She popped the offered candy in her mouth. A nice little dessert to chase after the rest she scarfed down. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"We'll discuss matters in a moment. First we must wait for our other arrivals."

Other arrivals?

A knock at the door cut the questioning short. It opened on Dumbledore's call, and Professor McGonagall walked in, followed by a nervous Hermione Granger.

Granger? Why is she- No! She had to muffle the groan before it could escape.

Dumbledore must have caught her expression, though he seemed more amused than anything. "I see that you understand, now, why I've called you here."

"I can guess." The other witches took their respective seats, conjured courtesy of McGonagall. In the wait, Melissa couldn't help but whine. "Do I have to?"

"At this point in time, Miss Bennett, I'm afraid it is no longer an option."

"Albus?"

"Minerva, Miss Granger," Dumbledore greeted them. His smile was ever jovial as he explained the intentions of this meeting. The intention being to have Melissa "accompany" Granger on time-turner hops in order to attend the Third Year's divination classes. "And, of course, you'll be taking the fifth year class as well. Sybill is aware of your situation and has also volunteered to tutor you through the Fourth Year syllabus."

Hell. This is literally Hell. "And the Ministry is just… OK with giving a convicted criminal access to time-travel?"

"She does have a point, Professor," Hermione added. "Not that I think you were guilty, mind you, but this is a very serious responsibility." She fiddled with the chain around her neck. "If something were to happen, we could get into a lot of trouble."

"It won't be an issue, my dear," said Dumbledore. "Certain members of the faculty will be informed of the time-turner's presence, and they will keep a sharp eye out for trouble."

Somehow that didn't feel reassuring. Not to mention the already daunting factor of taking THREE EXTRA CLASSES in her OWL year, of all things! "Okay, and what do we do when she inevitably drops the class?"

Hermione gasped, "I beg your pardon?!"

"Just saying, the logistics are bad enough without having to deal with what'll happen when this inevitably gets too much for you and you give up."

"I would NEVER-!"

"Children, please," Dumbledore sighed. "I'm sure you two can find a reasonable schedule to manage your revisits. I've done my best to make the fifth and third year classes near each other, so I have the utmost faith in you to work out a solution."

As if to prove his point, he gave them both copies of the schedules. Her own personalized to include both divination classes plus tutoring with Trelawney and Torrero-Ramirez. Essentially, the only school day time she doesn't have after-hours tutoring is the day she has Astronomy.

"Joy." The girls glanced at each other's schedules. Melissa looked at Hermione's oddly. "Three at once? Why not make one of those classes on its own. That's what you did with us for Ancient Runes."

"Elective classes are arranged by interest," McGonagall answered. "This year only a handful of students showed interest in taking a third class, or classes that conflicted with each other. Your year was a special circumstance. It's not often that so many students take an interest in multiple studies."

"Huh. Didn't realize that."

"That said, Albus, in light of this year's newest batch of students perhaps it's time we look into more flexible solutions to our staffing and schedules?"

"Perhaps, though that is a question for another day. Now, children, it's time you two return to your dorms. I would suggest coming up with a strategy as you make your way."

The girls accepted the dismissal, albeit reluctantly, and headed out of the office with their new schedules in hand. Once they got off the stairs, Granger whirled on her. "Why did you say I would drop my classes?!"

Melissa blinked a few times, then answered in a deadpan. "Because it's obvious? Speaking as someone who's also about to take on three classes more than necessary, it's way too much work and is going to be absolutely exhausting. Plus you're far too academic for a class like divination. When things get to be too much, and they will, that'll be the first one you strike off. Mark my words."

Granger gave a derisive sniff. "Well perhaps you're not as academically minded as I am, but I know I'll manage my classes. I placed first in my year in both years, and I'll do the same this year."

"Sure, kid." It's Hermione Granger. As if she could ever be persuaded from a wrong opinion. "Let's put it to a wager, then? I bet you… seven galleons that you'll drop divination before the final exam, and an extra seven that you'll drop another class from your fourth year schedule. Deal?"

"Hmph! Gambling is an ugly and ill-advised habit."

"A habit I will gladly submit failure to if you take on the bet and prove me wrong. What do you say, Miss Top-Of-The-Year? Have we got a deal?"

There was a slight growl in her throat as Hermione thought it over. "Fine, then!" She shook Melissa's hand. "A deal it is!"

"Brilliant! Best of luck to you, Granger." She'll need it. "So I guess we ought to talk about how we're arranging things tomorrow morning…"

Authors Commentary: FFN's stats have been broken for 4 weeks now, and my serotonin-deprived brain would appreciate it if you leave a review!