Melody Chancelle pulled her Mercedes into the garage. The back seat was filled with bags of things for the coming school year. She was going into her sixth year of wizarding school, but this was going to be her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in England.

For the last five years, Melody had gone to Beauxbaton Academy of Magic in France. Now that her family had moved back to Beverly Hills California, she had transferred to Hogwarts. Everything was going to be different this year -- everything.

After Melody gathered all the bags from the backseat she carried them inside, to the side entry. Her first trip to Ozzette Square had been a wreck. Thing were easier when she went to Beauxbaton. Everything was ordered and sent straight to the school. Hogwarts was a whole other story. Today had been her second trip to Ozzette Square.

A simple shopping trip took one hour to get there and about another hour to get in. You had to go into the local bookshop, find the book called One Thousand Facts About Nuclear Science (the title was supposed to repel Muggles), then bring the book to the shelf in the back-right corner of the store and read the second-to-last page. It was all a hassle.

Melody dropped the bags on the floor in the entry and pushed the caramel locks of her hair out of her eyes. After a minute or so, one of the maids, Genevieve, hurried to retrieve the bags and bring them upstairs. Melody thanked her and kicked off her Italian boots before walking through the hall into the kitchen.

Anna, the housekeeper, was standing at the stove making supper. She turned when Melody entered and greeted her with a smile. Her aged face lit up every time she saw Melody. Melody was like a daughter to Anna, and she like a mother.

“You’re back! Did you get all the things you need?” Anna said as she turned to stir the pot.

“Yeah, finally. Are you still going to help me pack?” Melody said as she leaned over the pot to see what was cooking.

Anna quickly covered the pot, snapping it inches from Melody’s face.

“It’s a surprise, and of course I’ll help you pack. I’ll be up in a little while,” Anna said as she lead Melody away from the stove.

Melody left the kitchen, walked through the formal dining room, and crossed the formal living room into the grand entry. She ascended the stairs and as she passed her mother’s office, her mother called her in. She entered and closed the door behind her.

“Yes, Mama,” Melody said sweetly to her mother.

Her mother was sitting at her desk reading to herself in French. Mrs. Chancelle had lived in France for most of her life. She went to college in the United States and remained there until Melody was ten, when they moved to Paris again. Now, back in the United States, she was slowly adapting to the change.

“Did you aller faire des courses* -- sorry -- go shopping, again?"

“Yes, Mama.”

Her mother rose from her seat. She rounded and the desk and put her arm around Melody’s waist.

“I can’t believe you are going to ‘ogwarts this year. Zat is where your father went, you know. Too bad he is not ‘ere to see you off,” she said as she brushed the hair from Melody’s eyes, “You do understand why ‘e isn’t ‘ere, right?”

“Yes, Mama.”

Melody’s father was never around. He worked all week and every Saturday. Sundays he spent in his office reading and deciphering old spell books.

“Good. ‘e really did want to be ‘ere zough.”

“I know, Mama.”

Melody gave her mom a convincing smile and her mother pulled away, returning to her French novel. Melody hesitated for a moment and then left the room. She hurried down the hall and entered her room. Scattered all over the room were unpacked boxes of clothing. On her bed lay the bags that Genevieve had brought in. They had only been in the house for a month, and Melody had put off unpacking most personal things the longest.

There was a knock on the door, and Anna walked in. She was carrying a long case that housed her Astroid 5000, the latest model in racing brooms. Anna placed the case gingerly next to one of Melody’s school trunks.

Anna looked around the room.

“Mel, honey, you have to finish unpacking before you leave. Why don’t you do that while I gather your school supplies?”

“Sure, Anna,” Melody said as she walked to the nearest box and ripped the tape off.

The first thing she saw when she flapped open the box was a picture frame that had a picture and her and Celeste, her best friend from Beauxbaton.

A tear formed in her eye as she placed the picture on her nightstand. She turned away from Anna when she passed by on the way to the bookshelves. Melody hurried back to the box and continued putting things away without thinking about the friends and life she had left behind. When she had finally finished, Anna was just folding up her last school robe.

“Which dress robes would you like to pack?” Anna asked, holding Melody’s school letter.

Excitement rushed through Melody. Dress robes meant a formal of some sort, usually a ball. She beamed when she looked up at Anna.

“What do I need them for?!” Melody asked enthusiastically.

“It doesn’t say, but I’m sure you will find out when you get there. So which ones are you going to bring?”

Melody rushed into the closet and retrieved her ice blue robes, marigold robes and burgundy robes. Carrying them out to the trunks, she nearly ran into Anna who was on the way into the walk-in closet.

“You need to pick your weekend clothes, too,” Anna said, looking at the shelves in the closet as Melody folded and packed the dress robes.

“The clothes I bought today are for weekends. We can just pack all of those,” Melody said as Anna exited the closet.

Anna looked at the many bags on the bed. She laughed and then brought out her wand to magically fold and pack the clothes.

When they were finally done packing all of her things, they both headed downstairs for supper. Melody entered the casual dining room to find only one place setting out. She sighed, discouraged.

“Mom had to go to work, didn’t she,” Melody said as she sat in her lonely seat.

Anna nodded sympathetically. She placed Melody’s plate in front of her and disappeared into the kitchen.

“Anna!” Melody called.

Anna hurried into the room.

“Will you eat with me?” Melody asked.

Anna smiled, and that night, Melody ate her last dinner at home with the one person who cared for her the most.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

The next morning, Melody and Anna, boarded a charter plane her father had scheduled for them. Anna was coming along to see to it that Melody got on the train all right. In the airport, many clerks offered to show Melody around. Anna brushed them off, and she and Melody continued on alone.

The plane ride was long and uneventful. The computer and television kept Melody busy, and Anna sat and read her novel. That night they slept in bedrooms in the back of the plane and woke to find they were an hour out of London. They quickly packed their things and prepared to land.

Once the plane was on the ground, they got off and got into the car that was waiting to take them to their hotel. Melody gazed out the window as they passed through London. The old architecture reminded Melody of France. She took her eyes away from the window and placed their gaze upon her folded hands. When she looked up, Melody caught her reflection in the dark window that separated them from the driver. She smiled to herself.

Melody was a striking beauty for a girl of sixteen. She had piercing, light blue eyes that accented her golden complexion beautifully. Her caramel-colored hairs had a natural curl that was very becoming. It was no wonder the boys she met couldn’t help but smile.

After the long car ride, they entered the hotel lobby. The bellhops admired Melody when she entered, and hurried to claim her bags. Melody giggled innocently.

“You would think you were a veela the way those boys drool over you,” Anna laughed as they waited for their room keys.

“No, that would be Fluer,” Melody said in reference to Fluer Delacour, a former student at Beauxbaton who was part veela.

The desk clerk gave Anna their room keys just as Melody saw a girl with long, brown hair sitting in a chair in the lobby reading Hogwarts: A History.

“Anna, look at that girl sitting over there,” Melody said, excited at the chance to meet the Hogwarts student.

Anna looked up from her purse to see the same sight Melody had.

“Perhaps, you should go over there and talk to her. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone to talk to when you get on the train. You go over there and talk to her. I’ll be up in the room.”

Melody nodded and crossed the lobby to where the girl sat. She didn’t want to interrupt her reading, so she sat in the seat next to her until the girl closed the book and began looking around. Melody turned to her casually.

“Excuse me, but I couldn’t help but notice the title of the book you are reading,” Melody said in a gentle tone.

The girl began to look nervous as she tried to hide the book.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not a Muggle,” Melody said quietly.

The girl looked relieved.

“You frightened me,” she said as she pulled out the book once again.

“Sorry,” Melody said nervously, “my name is Melody Chancelle.”

“I’m Hermione Granger. Nice to meet you. Do you go to Hogwarts?”

Melody smiled, “Now I do.”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked.

“Well, this will be my first year there.”

“You mean, you’re a first year?!”

“Oh no! I transferred over the summer. I’m going to be a sixth year.”

Hermione laughed, “I’m a sixth year as well. Where did you transfer from?”

“I went to Beauxbaton for the last five years.”

“But you don’t have a French accent,” Hermione said very observantly.

“I wasn’t born in France. We moved there when I was ten.”

“Oh, I see.”

They sat in silence for a few moments until Hermione stood up.

“Sorry, but I have to get back to my room. I’m meeting some friends in a little while,” she said as she gathered her things.

“Oh, OK. Well, it was nice meeting you,” Melody said as she too stood.

“Actually, why don’t you come too?”

“Really?”

“Sure, they wouldn’t mind.”

“I’ll have to ask Anna, but I’m sure I can.”

“OK, why don’t you meet me down here in an hour? I’ll wait fifteen minutes for you, but then I’ll have to get going.”

“OK, so I’ll see you in an hour.”

Hermione smiled before she turned and left.

---------
*aller faire des courses means “go shopping” in French

Melody hurried upstairs into the hotel room. Anna was in the room Melody would sleep in, unpacking Melody’s clothes for the next day.

“There you are. You were down there a long time,” she said as she placed Melody’s cashmere sweater with her favorite jeans.

“Oh, I know, sorry,” Melody fiddled with her hands before asking, “Can I please go with Hermione to meet her friends?”

“Is Hermione the girl from downstairs?”

“Yeah, she is really nice.”

“Well, I suppose, but you have to bring you cell phone and you can take the car. I don’t want you riding the Underground without me there.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!!” Melody said as she tackled Anna with a hug.

Melody hurried into the bathroom. She showered and changed in time to get her purse and hurry downstairs to meet Hermione.

When she reached the lobby, she saw Hermione sitting in the same chair reading the same book. Hermione looked up and rose to meet her.

“Ready to go?” Hermione asked as she fiddled with her purse.

“Sure, but you don’t mind if we take my car, do you? Anna doesn’t want me going on the Underground.”

Hermione hesitated before saying, “I suppose. I’ll give you directions.”

“Oh I won’t need them. You can give them to the driver,” Melody said as they walked out the front door.

Hermione paused in her steps before noticing the limousine that had just pulled up. The driver hurried around to open the door, and as Melody got in she called to Hermione.

“Are you coming or what?”

Hermione nodded her head and then climbed in. The driver paused at the door to find out where to go. Unfortunately, Hermione was still in shock.

“Hermione? Are you going to tell him where to go?” Melody asked.

“Oh, sorry. Can you take us to Thylerson’s Books?”

The driver nodded and then closed the door on a very overwhelmed Hermione.

“You drive around in a limousine?” Hermione asked, finally coming out of her daze.

“Well, at home -- in California -- I drive my car.”

“You’re sixteen then?”

“Yeah, I got the car for my birthday.”

Hermione looked around the car, and then her eyes fell on the diamond watch Melody was wearing.

“It’s lucky I met you, Hermione. Otherwise, I would be totally lost when it came time to find my way around the castle. Well, I understand that it’s a castle,” Melody said as she slipped her watch into her purse.

“Yes, Hogwarts Castle is easy to get lost in. You don’t have to worry about that, though. I’ll help you around.”

“Thanks.”

They continued to chat until they reached the bookstore.

“Why are we here?” Melody asked after telling the driver to wait till she called him to return. “Are we meeting your friends in this bookstore?”

“No, we’re meeting them in here.” Hermione said pointing to a particularly grungy looking building that sat next to the bookstore. “Haven’t you ever been to Diagon Alley?”

“No, is it in there?” Melody asked nervously.

“You’ll see,” Hermione said as she opened the door and entered.

The inside wasn’t much better. It was dark and smelled of smoke, causing Melody to cough as she followed Hermione to the back. From there, they went out the back door and were standing in a small, enclosed area.

“What are we doing here?” Melody asked, confused.

Hermione laughed as she pulled out her wand. Melody took a step back and reached for her own wand in her purse.

Hermione tapped on a series of bricks and suddenly all the bricks reformed into an archway that revealed what looked like a small village of shops.

“Here we are. This is Diagon Alley,” Hermione said, stepping under the archway.

Melody followed closely behind so that she wouldn’t lose Hermione, who was traveling quickly through the swarms of people. She soon led Melody to what looked like an ice cream shop. As soon as they entered, Melody heard a boy call Hermione’s name.

She scanned the room and saw two boys waving to Hermione to join them. One had jet-black hair and seemed terribly familiar. The other had vibrant red hair and was very tall. Hermione hurried over to their table and sat after pulling up another chair for Melody.

The two boys glanced nervously from Melody to Hermione, obviously confused, but pleased with the presence of such a pretty girl.

“Harry, Ron -- this is Melody Chancelle. She went to Beauxbaton, but now she is going to be at Hogwarts,” Hermione said introducing Melody to the boys.

“Hello,” Melody said kindly.

The boy with black hair spoke up.

“Hi, I’m Harry Potter,” he said as he held out his hand.

Melody suddenly noticed the lightening bolt scar and became as nervous as the boy with red hair, Ron. She was sitting at a table in an ice cream parlor with the famous Harry Potter. All her life she had heard things about him. Saving the Sorceror’s Stone, winning the Tri-Wizarding Tournament when he was only fourteen and -- more importantly -- proving Lord Voldemort had returned were just some of the things he had done.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Melody said as smoothly as possible.

“This is Ron Weasley. He’s a little shy around new people, let alone girls,” Harry said.

Ron’s face turned bright red from his ears to his chin, and he looked down at his menu. A waitress soon came to take their orders. Ron barely choked his out, and was again silent when she left.

“So, you went to Beauxbaton?” Harry asked after giving Ron a peculiar look.

Melody nodded, “I assume you know Fluer.”

“Oh, yeah,” Harry said as the waitress placed their treats in front of them.

“She was in the same house as me,” Melody said before taking a bite of ice cream.

They finished their ice cream. Melody pulled out her French wizarding money. Harry must have noticed because he paid for everyone’s, and they left.

Hermione walked ahead with Ron who was still acting a little odd, while Harry hung back with Melody.

“That was really nice of you, but I can pay you back after I go to the bank,” Melody said as they walked.

“Don’t worry about it. Call it a welcoming gift,” Harry said as he paused at a window displaying the Asteroid 5000.

Hermione glanced back and caught Ron before he walked too far.

“Ron, look at this thing. It’s brilliant,” Harry said as Ron reached the window.

“It’s OK, but on mine the footrests are far too large,” Melody said without thinking.

“Well, I read that those are adjus-- wait!” Harry said, realizing what she had just said.

“You have an Asteroid 5000?” Ron said as Harry continued to stare.

“My dad bought it for me, he knows the owner of Broomstix Inc.”

“You have an Asteroid 5000?” Ron repeated, totally ignoring Melody’s statement.

Melody laughed, “Yes, if you come back to my hotel I can show it to you if you need that much proof.”

“OK,” both boys said in unison.

Before Melody knew it, she was on the phone calling the driver to come get them. She hurried to Gringotts to exchange her money, and they headed back through the Leaky Cauldron and were again standing outside the bookstore. Ron and Harry hurried back inside quickly to tell Mrs. Weasley where they were going.

“Do you think I should have told them about the car?” Melody asked Hermione as they waited for the boys after the car had pulled up.

“It can be a surprise,” Hermione laughed as the door opened and the boys piled out.

They had a similar reaction to the one Hermione had, but snapped out of it quickly when Melody reminded them about the Asteroid.

Once in the car, Melody called Anna to tell her she was bringing the boys and Hermione back. When she told Anna about Harry, Anna nearly dropped the phone. Melody hung up just as Harry and Ron were playing with the TV in the car.

“Do you always drive around like this?” Harry asked, still taking in the sight of the limousine.

“Only when I’m away from home,” Melody replied as Ron discovered the mini fridge.

He looked from Harry, to the fridge, to Melody, and back to the fridge before Melody answered his obvious question.

“You can eat whatever you want,” she said nonchalantly.

They talked and Ron ate until they pulled up at the hotel. The boys followed Hermione and Melody in as they walked across the lobby to the elevator. Some of the bellboys threw Ron and Harry nasty looks as the door closed behind them.

They rode the elevator to the top floor, and everyone followed Melody to the suite. She opened the door and put her purse down on the side table. Ron and Harry looked around in amazement as Anna walked into the living room.

“Anna, will you please get my Asteroid. These boys don’t believe that I have one,” Melody said as Ron stared at the fish tank built into the wall.

Anna quickly returned holding the case the housed the broom. Melody thanked her and opened the case immediately.

“Here, boys. Knock yourselves out,” Melody said as she motioned for Hermione to come into her room. Once inside she said, “I thought this would interest you more than the Asteroid,” Melody said, pulling out Beauxbaton: The Book.

Hermione squealed with delight at the site of the book and rushed into the living room to begin reading it. When Melody entered the room, the boys were still examining the Asteroid. She laughed and they looked up.

“How does it handle?” Harry asked looking up.

“Why don’t you take it for a little spin around the room?” Melody said causing Harry to drop the broom.

“Be careful!” Ron exclaimed before once again looking over the broom with great care.

Harry pushed him aside and mounted the broom. He slowly flew it around the couch where Hermione was enthusiastically devouring the book. Harry landed the broom a few feet in front of Melody and got off.

“It’s bloody brilliant, Ron!” Harry said as he caught Melody’s eye.

He smiled, and Melody turned away as she felt her face growing hot.

The boys continued to examine the broom while Hermione bombarded Melody with questions about Beauxbaton. She was just asking about Defense Against the Dark Arts, or Defensive Magic, at Beauxbaton, when Anna reminded them of the big day ahead. Harry and Ron, finally looking up from the broom, glanced at the clock. It was well into evening.

“We promised Mum we’d be back by supper,” Ron said taking one last look at the broom.

Harry nodded, “He’s right. We better be going back.”

“I’ll call down to the driver to tell him you are coming down,” Anna said before going into the other room to use the phone.

The three teenagers stood looking at each other for a moment until Harry broke the silence.

“It was nice meeting you, Melody.”

“You too, Harry, and you as well Ron,” Melody said.

Anna returned and announced that the car was waiting outside the lobby. Hermione volunteered to walk the boys down and gathered her things. She began to hand Melody Beauxbaton: The Book, but Melody told her to finish it first. The trio was soon gone.

Melody hugged herself, thinking about the day, and her new friends.

The next morning Melody woke up to find Anna hurrying around the room packing things up again.

“Good, you’re up. We have to leave in half an hour. You better get ready!” Anna said as Melody jumped out of bed and hurried for the shower.

She showered quickly and dried her hair. When she reappeared in the living room, Anna was closing the door behind the bellhop.

“Hurry Melody, you can’t miss the train,” Anna said handing Melody her purse.

Within minutes, they were at the front desk checking out. Anna hurried her through the lobby and into the car.

When they reached King’s Cross Station, Anna led her to a brick barrier and told her to wait and watch someone else get onto the platform. Melody looked between platforms nine and ten, anticipating some magical train to pop up. Anna nudged her and nodded toward the barrier again. A girl pushing a large trunk like Melody’s ran toward the barrier. Melody gasped seconds before she disappeared into the barrier.

“Now, you do just like she did, and don’t worry,” Anna said as she pointed Melody in the direction of the barrier.

Melody’s heart raced as she began to inch toward the platform.

Anna laughed, “Run, Melody. It’s much easier.”

Melody began to jog and was into a full run when she found herself at a new platform. There was a deep-red train sitting on the rails.

Anna soon appeared next to her, and they approached the train. Melody was just about to give a worker her trunks when she heard her name.

Hermione, Harry and Ron were pushing through the crowd to get to where Melody stood inches from Anna. Melody smiled and took a step forward.

“Melody, you’d better hurry. The train will be leaving soon,” Hermione said as she passed Melody and approached the train, “We’ll be in this compartment when you are ready.”

The three disappeared into the train. Melody turned to Anna, and hugged her. Anna kissed her forehead and pushed her off to get on the train.

Melody entered the compartment and found that Hermione, Ron and Harry had been joined by two other boys. Both boys' eyes widened as Melody looked around. They looked at Harry and then at Ron. They smirked and arrogantly shrugged their shoulders. Melody’s beauty shocked the boys, and they scrambled to sit nearest her.

“Hi, I’m Seamus,” one of the boys said as he sat. “This is Neville.”

The other boy turned red and took a seat next to Harry.

“Hello, Seamus. Hello, Neville,” Melody said sweetly.

Seamus looked back at Ron and continued to question Melody. “Are you new to Hogwarts?”

“Yes.”

“You can’t be a first year, so what brings you to Hogwarts?”

“I’ve just transferred here from Beauxbaton.”

“Really?” the bashful Neville piped up before returning to his silent state.

“Yes, Neville, Melody is from Beauxbaton. Now, would you two please leave her alone!?” Hermione said noticing how uncomfortable Melody was.

Seamus rose and rolled his eyes at Hermione. Neville followed him and together they exited the compartment. The train began to move.

“Talkative, that one!” Melody said referring to Seamus.

“Only around girls, especially ones as -- ” Harry said before cutting out.

The trio began to fill Melody in on everything about the school, from the houses to the trick steps on the staircases. They were interrupted by the compartment door's sliding open once again. It revealed a very blond boy followed by two thuggish guys.

“So, it’s true. Harry and Ron have brought on a French beauty,” the blond-haired boy said smiling at Melody. “I’m Draco Malfoy.”

He offered a hand and when Melody took it he pulled her up from her seat. He kissed her hand and slowly let it go. Melody giggled as his thugs shook nervously.

“Nice to meet you, Draco. My name is Melody Chancelle,” Melody said as one of Draco’s posse coughed.

“Oh, this is Crabbe, and this is Goyle,” Draco said before he gave Melody a smile that made her melt.

There was something about him that made her not trust him, but she couldn’t help but feel attracted to him. His charm was unmatched by any of the boys at Beauxbaton.

“Now, why don’t you come and spend the remainder of the ride with me in my compartment,” Draco said looking over the occupants of this one, “I think you would be better-suited spending time with myself.”

Melody looked at Hermione and then Ron and Harry. All of them glared at Draco. There was something she didn’t know about him.

“Well, I’m sure I will have a fine time here,” Melody said as Draco prepared to leave the compartment.

Draco spun around looking shocked, “What?”

Ron, bursting with new found courage, rose. "She said she didn’t want to go with you!” he said as his fist clenched.

Draco glared at Ron and as Ron was taking a step closer to him, Melody held him back.

“Calm down, boys. I’ll be here all term!” Melody said as Ron turned red and sat down again.

“Fine then!” Draco said. “We can talk later.”

He departed taking his gawking thugs with him. Melody sighed and then took a seat next to Hermione.

“Draco’s nothing but trouble. His father … never mind,” Hermione said before catching herself.

“His father is a Death Eater. Honestly, you’d think we don’t get any news in France!” Melody giggled.

The compartment filled with mild laughter. Rising from her seat, Hermione grabbed her bag from the rack above. She opened it and pulled out a set of Hogwarts robes.

“We’d better change now,” Hermione said giving the boys a particularly strong look.

Harry and Ron rose and in unison said, “We’re going.”

Melody smiled at them and then reached for her own bag. The girls changed and opened the compartment door once again so the boys could return. They too had changed.

“The driver said we’ll arrive in a few minutes,” Harry said upon returning to his seat.

Melody reached for her owl, Sparx, cage, but Hermione stopped her.

“Leave everything here.”

Melody nodded and the train came to a stop. The four stood and straightened their robes. Harry and Hermione anxiously left while Ron waited for Melody to step out before him. She smiled, but took his arm instead and together they walked out.

Ron beamed as they approached the carriages. He helped her as she stepped into the carriage. They rode for a few moments until they were at the castle. Melody looked up in amazement at the stone building. It was magnificent.

At the castle door a very stern-looking witch was calling her name, apparently there to greet her.

“Professor McGonagall wants you,” Ron said before letting go of Melody’s arm as he pointed at the witch.

“Thank you, Ron,” Melody said causing Ron to once again turn red.

Melody approached the witch and introduced herself.

“I’m Professor McGonagall, assistant headmistress. I’m going to take you in to be sorted into your house before the first years arrive. I see you have already made friends with Mr. Weasley, so I assume that he told you about the four houses,” Professor McGonagall said as she hurried some straggling students inside.

“Yes, on the train.”

“Good. Follow me please. We are very excited to have you with us this year.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.”

McGonagall led her into a large entrance hall and swiftly led her to two large doors that would take them to the Great Hall. Once inside, Melody saw that all the students were seated at tables. Harry had informed her that they were seated by house.

The room grew silent as McGonagall led Melody to the front of the room. They walked until Melody and McGonagall stood directly in front of what appeared to be the staff table. Melody was particularly startled by a rather large, gruff-looking man, Rubeus Hagrid. Two seats from him sat Fleur Delacour. Melody was overjoyed to see a fellow Beauxbaton.

McGonagall wasted no time, “Students, this is Melody Chancelle. She is in her sixth year and will be joining us from Beauxbaton.”

Melody smiled at the room and found many of the boys nervously smiling at her. When her eyes fell on Ron, she winked, and he grew red for yet another time.

McGonagall placed a stool behind her and removed the hat that was placed on it. She motioned for Melody to sit and she obliged. McGonagall stood holding the ragged, dirty hat for a moment before placing it on Melody’s head. Grimacing at the thought of the filthy hat on her head, Melody began to hear a voice coming from it.

“Well … a Beauxbaton at Hogwarts? She is clever, loyal and obviously beautiful, but her bravery is great and strong. Hmm … GRYFFINDOR!!”

The Gryffindors exploded with applause, and McGonagall hurried out of the hall. Ron clapped the loudest and pushed the person next to him down to make room for Melody. She took the seat graciously.

Just as she was being seated, McGonagall returned with a large group of young students.

“Firstyears,” Ron whispered in her ear.
They, too, were sorted. After they were all seated, Dumbledore rose to announce something.

“Welcome new students, especially Miss Chancelle, who will be pleased to learn that she will be joined by a fellow Beauxbaton. Miss Delacour will be taking up the vacant Defense Against the Dark Arts post,” he said to great applause.

Fleur rose gracefully and then sat again. Knowing the she was part veela, many of the older boys lost interest in her presence quickly, but the younger ones stumbled over themselves.

Dumbledore finished his announcements, and the feast began. The food magically appeared on the plates, and the Great Hall was soon filled with noise.

Melody wasted no time warming up to the boys of Hogwarts. Daily, boys asked her to join them for moonlight stoles and dips in the lake. Melody always refused, informing them that she was still new and knew very few of them. Soon, they asked her less frequently, and Melody began to feel at home. She was later informed that Harry and Ron had told the boys to back off.

Harry and Ron soon became older-brother figures for Melody. When they walked with her, they glared at boys that stared at her and warned them to leave her alone. Everywhere she went, she was ensured comfort as long as Hermione, Ron or Harry were there. The trio soon became a quartet, and Melody couldn’t have been happier.

Many nights, the four snuck down to the prefect bathroom to relax and chat. Soon it became a weekly occurrence. One particular night, Harry and Hermione couldn’t go, leaving Ron and Melody alone together. They secretly slid through the hallways and into the bathroom.

Once inside, they both changed into their bathing suits, of course in separate stalls, and reappeared ready to swim. Melody’s toned body was a bit too much for Ron, and he struggled to keep from looking at her.

After filling the bath, Melody jumped in and beckoned for Ron to follow. He eventually did, and they slowly slinked through the water in silence. When both had surfaced, they were leaning on opposite sides of the bath. They caught each other’s eye and within seconds Melody was swimming to the other side.

When she reached him, he grabbed her waist under the water and pulled her closer to him. Ron’s hand on her waist was nervously looking for the right place to lie. Melody giggled and put her arms around his neck.

The kiss was perfect. Ron lost all self-consciousness and wrapped his arms around Melody. Melody tousled his dripping hair and they remained there for many moments. When Melody pulled out of the kiss, Ron’s expression once again took on the red tone.

“Erm … Melody, would you … I mean, do you want to be my girlfriend?” Ron asked as she lay in his arms.

Melody faced him and kissed him gently on the cheek.

“I think that answers that,” she said before they both got out of the pool and changed back into their robes.

They held hands as they snuck back up to the common room. After rounding a particularly sharp corner, Melody was swung around, and Ron snatched her up in his arms and kissed her forehead. Melody giggled and they ran off to the Gryffindor tower.

Before passing through the portrait hole, Ron passionately kissed Melody and held her close.

“I’ll tell Harry and 'Mione,” Ron said sweetly as he looked down at her.

Melody smiled up at him and kissed his cheek before they stepped through the portrait hole.

*****

The next morning, Melody hurried down the dormitory stairs to find Ron waiting by the fire for her. His face brightened at the sight of her and she quickened her pace.

Melody had never felt such strong feelings for anyone in such a short time. Ron was everything she ever wanted or needed. She smiled to herself as she fell into his open arms.

“Did you tell them?”

“I told Harry, but Hermione had already gone to bed when we got back,” Ron said as he scanned the room for her.

She soon appeared from the dormitory stairs and stopped abruptly when she saw Ron and Melody sharing a quick kiss. When Ron saw her, he pulled Melody to his side and gestured for Hermione to come over.

Slowly, but surely, she did, and Ron explained what was going on. She smiled, but Melody sensed something was wrong. She brushed it off and once again took Ron’s hand as they walked to breakfast.

Melody and Ron shocked the entire school when they entered the Great Hall holding hands. Most of all, they shocked Malfoy. He rose from where he sat and snarled at Crabbe and Goyle to come along. The three rounded their table and approached Melody.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? Weasley can’t be paying you, so you must be doing this out of pity,” Malfoy snarled as Ron reached for his wand.

Just then, Harry had entered the Great Hall. He saw Malfoy and knew there was trouble afoot. Hurrying to where Malfoy stood, Harry saw Ron point his wand at Malfoy’s chest.

“Ron, no!” Harry yelled.

Ron lowered his wand and Melody told him to sit down again.

“Is there a problem here, Malfoy?” Harry asked Malfoy.

“Only you,” Draco said as he turned on his heels and returned to his table.

Harry took a seat next to Hermione across from Ron.

“Ron, you know better than that. We can’t mess around anymore!” Harry said urgently.

“I know, mate, but you didn’t hear what he said,” Ron said, looking at his plate.

“No matter how bad it was, it’s not worth getting his father more mad at you.”

Melody knew what they were talking about. Her cousin Tonks filled her in weekly about the Order. Melody found this the best time to fill the boys and Hermione in on this little secret.

“Yeah Ron, you don’t want a visit from Moody and Lupin,” she said as she tried to make him look at her.

The three sat stunned at her knowledge of the members of the Order.

“You know about the Order?” Hermione asked quietly, having just dropped her fork.

Melody nodded, “My cousin, Tonks, tells me all about it.”

“Fantastic! We can talk about it around you, then,” Ron said forgetting about the almost-fight.

Hermione muttered something under her breath, but Melody didn’t even want to know.

“My parents worked for the Order in France. My father led search parties,” Melody said ignoring Hermione’s comment.

“Really, Dumbledore told me about some people who were working in other countries,” Harry said as he took a bite of bacon.

Ron placed his arm around Melody’s waist and she leaned on him. Hermione looked up from her food and threw her fork down. She was about to say something, but instead she stood and ran out of the hall.

Harry, Ron and Melody looked at each other until Ron rose to go after her.

“I think this has something to do with me. I better go,” he said as he turned to leave.

“See you in Transfigurations,” Melody said.

He nodded and then hurried out of the room to find Hermione. Harry began to eat and avoided looking at Melody.

“You know what is going on, don’t you?” Melody said when she finally caught his attention.

Harry half-nodded and began to gather his school bags.

“Harry, tell me.”

“Hermione wouldn’t like it if I told you. Ron will,” he said as he got up and left.

Melody sat for a few moments before Seamus came up and sat very close to her.

“So, when this whole thing with Ron is over, you just know I’ll be waiting,” he said as he winked repeatedly.

“OK, Seamus, I’ll try to remember that,” Melody said before quickly gathering her things and departing from the Great Hall.

*****

Melody sat anxiously before Transfigurations. Ron would come back any moment and he would explain the Hermione situation. She nearly died saving his seat next to her, but eventually he came and sat in it.

“Is everything OK?” she asked as he pulled out his book.

“No. Hermione is a little jealous … of you,” he said, a little shocked with the entire concept.

Melody frowned, “She likes you?”

“That is what I understood.”

“Oh no. My first friend here already hates me over a boy.”

Ron kissed her forehead, and McGonagall began class. Melody paid no attention to the lesson. She was too disheartened by Hermione's reaction to Ron's and her relationship. If only she had known.

After class, Ron took her hand and they went to lunch.

*****

Ron and Melody spent every evening together for a month and then one night, Ron and Melody went for a walk along the lake. They talked while the moonlight flattered Melody’s features. When they reached a large willow, they sat below it and cuddled.

They sat in peace for over an hour when they heard a noise on the other side of the tree. Melody and Ron both rose, but Ron put himself in front of Melody. She shook with fear and Ron slowly pulled his wand from his pocket.

“Who goes there?” he asked fearfully.

They sat for a moment and a figure rounded the tree trunk.

Melody shook as the figure took a step closer to Ron. Finally, the moonlight hit the girl’s face to reveal Hermione.

“Damn, Hermione! What are you doing sneaking around late at night?” Ron said, putting away his wand.

“I could ask you the same thing. I’m only here looking for you,” Hermione said angrily.

Melody stepped forward so that she stood in line with Ron.

“Maybe I should go,” she said, about to leave.

“No, you stay,” Hermione said coldly.

Melody returned to her place next to Ron, and he placed his arm around her waist.

“What is it?” Ron asked curiously.

Hermione took a step to the side and said, “Dumbledore wants to see you … and Melody.”

Ron looked at Melody and she returned his confused look.

“Did he say why?” Ron asked.

“No. But you'd better hurry, he’s waiting for you in the entrance hall.”

“Thank you, Hermione,” Melody said as Ron pulled her toward the castle.

Ron and Melody raced to the castle. Once inside the entrance hall, they found the headmaster waiting near the grand staircase.

“You wanted to speak with us, Professor?” Ron asked calmly.

“Yes, Mr. Weasley, follow me,” Dumbledore said with a hint of worry in his voice.

They hurried to keep up with Dumbledore’s great strides. Melody felt Ron’s hand grow cold as they approached the headmaster’s office.

Dumbledore spoke the password ("pumpkin juice") and then stepped onto the spiraling staircase. Ron and Melody followed closely behind. Once they were in the office, Dumbledore summoned two chairs for them.

“Please, sit,” Dumbledore said as Ron let go of Melody’s hand. “Now, I know you’re wondering why you are here, so I’ll get to the point. It has come to my attention that you two are … well, and item. Do you kids use that term anymore?”

Ron and Melody shrugged, still confused as to why they were even there -- and what their relationship would have to do with whatever it was.

“Well, whatever you are, you must be cautious, especially you, Melody. Professor Snape has informed me that Mr. Malfoy is not at all pleased with this … um, situation. Ronald, you know that Malfoy can be very jealous, so I’m going to have to ask you to either hide or terminate this relationship. We don’t need Malfoy going to his father, putting both of you in danger.”

“Are you telling us we have to break it off?” Ron asked disheartened.

“No, of course not, I just ask that you make Draco believe that you have ended it,” Dumbledore said sadly.

“What should I do if he makes advances again? Do you want me to accept them?” Melody said nervously.

“Just treat him with dignity and coddle his ego,” Dumbledore answered. “Do it for the Order.”

Melody looked down at her feet, trying to fight back an outburst. Hard times were on the way, and she couldn’t even look to Ron for condolence.

Dumbledore dismissed them and both rose. Ron was about to offer his hand, but stopped himself. They hurried out of the office and down the staircase.

In the hall, Melody broke down.

“It’s not fair!”

Ron wrapped his arms around her, “I know, Mel. We just have to pretend that we have broken up around everyone else. It’ll be fine.”

Melody let out a little sob, and Ron kissed her head. For a few moments, Ron held Melody as tears fell from her eyes. When she calmed down, they walked down the hall and discussed the mock fight they would have the next day.

“What would be the most likely reason we would break up?” Melody asked as she tucked some hair behind her ear.

“You found someone better,” Ron said gently.

Melody stopped him and looked deep into his sad eyes.

“Is that what you think would happen?” she said taking Ron’s right hand in both of hers.

Ron shrugged, but Melody put her hand on his cheek and pulled him in for a kiss.

“Damn, why did it all have to happen like this?” Ron yelled, stamping his foot.

“I don’t know, Ron. We’ll have to try our best.”

“Maybe Hermione would help us.”

“What do you mean?”

“We could act like you caught me and her together by the lake,” Ron said, proud of his quick thinking.

“Then I would have to pretend to be angry with her, too.”

Ron sighed, “You’re right. We should just go with the thing about finding someone better.”

“That’s it! I could pretend to have a thing for Draco! Ron, you’re brilliant!!” Melody said as she jumped up and hugged him.

Ron blushed and they hurried off to the Gryffindor tower.

***

The next morning, Saturday morning, Melody and Ron put the plan into action. They both got up extra early, but waited until everyone had gone down for breakfast. When she was sure all the boys had left, Melody snuck into Ron’s dorm. Her was waiting for her on his bed, but rose when she entered.

“Are you ready to dump me?” Ron asked trying to remain upbeat.

“I suppose so,” Melody answered as she wrapped her arms around his waist, “We better get down to the entrance hall.”

They both hurried down the dormitory stairs pretending to argue for any people in the common room. Many students looked up as they snarled and snapped at each other. What those watching didn’t know was that, inside, they were longing to be together.

When they reached the entrance hall, they made sure to yell loud enough for Malfoy or at least the nosey students to hear.

“IT’S OVER RONALD, DEAL WITH IT!!” Melody screamed convincingly.

“Why would you choose him over me? I mean, he’s a Slytherin!” Ron snapped at her.

A small group of students was gathering around them. They were pleased when they heard the familiar voice snarling at people to move out of his way. Draco had arrived.

“FINE, HAVE HIM!!” Ron said before turning on his heels and fighting his way through the crowd.

Melody exited on the other side of the crowd and ran back upstairs to wait for Ron in the common room. She sat for a few moments, when she heard the portrait hole open.

“Good, you’re back. That went well,” she said before she saw that it was Harry.

She laughed, and Harry took a seat next to her by the fire.

“You mean, that wasn’t real, Mel?”

“Nope, all staged.”

“Good! For a moment, I thought you had a thing for Draco.”

Melody laughed, “No, Dumbledore said Ron and I were putting ourselves in danger by flaunting out relationship in front of him.”

“I see. You were both very convincing, then. The Great Hall is buzzing with gossip of who the mysterious Slytherin is.”

Melody laughed again as Ron came into the room. She jumped from her spot and jumped into Ron’s open arms. He twirled her around and placed her gently on the ground.

“You were bloody brilliant, Mel!” he said enthusiastically.

“You weren’t too bad yourself,” Melody said sweetly.

“Does this mean that you have to pretend to have broken up in front of everyone else?” Harry asked, still quite confused.

Ron and Melody’s happiness turned into depression at the thought of not being able to be around each other most of the time.

“Yeah, mate,” Ron, said as he took a seat in a plush chair.

There was a rustle from the portrait hole, and Melody fled up to her dorm. She couldn’t be seen with Ron or Harry at the moment. Once alone in the dorm, she pulled out a quill and some paper. She began writing a letter to Celeste back in France:

Dear Celeste,

Hello. Oh, Celeste, things are spiraling downward for me here. Everything had been going my way until last night. I told you that Ron and I were dating, right? Well, last night, we found out we have to hide our relationship now, so that Malfoy’s son doesn’t get too jealous. I want to be back at Beauxbaton, without care and with you. The only things that kept me going was Ron, Harry and Hermione. Now Hermione is mad because I stole Ron from her, I can’t be with Ron whenever I want, and Harry has far too many things on his mind for me to bother him. Life is so unfair.

Write back soon!

Love,
Melody

Melody called Sparx over and tied the letter to her leg. As soon as the letter was secure, Sparx flew off to France … home.

The next day, Melody threw Ron nasty looks to prove to everyone that they were in fact no longer together. It killed her inside to see other girls comfort him, as it killed him to see the boys flock to Melody.

One particular boy, Draco, was quickly learning that he was the mysterious Slytherin the argument was about. Whenever he encountered Melody in the hall, he threw her a charming smile.

It wasn’t until three days later that he made his move. Melody was walking through the second floor main corridor when Malfoy jumped from an empty classroom and pulled her in.

He hushed her as he closed the door behind them.

“I know I’m the Slytherin Weasley was talking about. You can’t fool me. I knew ever since the day on the train that you wanted me, and now you can,” he said as he pressed her against the wall.

Melody had little time for remark before Draco was placing his lips on hers. Melody, disgusted, tried to casually pull out of the kiss, but she was up against the wall. She had to surrender to Draco’s will and accept his display of emotion convincingly.

Eventually, he pulled away.

“There, you got what you wanted,” he smirked as he put his hand through her hair. She was about to jerk away when she remembered Dumbledore’s warning. Instead she smiled at him and placed her hand on his arm. She led his arm down and it returned to its place on the wall.

“Draco, we must not do this here. Mr. Filch comes in here often,” Melody said as an excuse to escape.

Draco nodded, “You’re right. You should meet me in our common room from now on. No one will see you there. Besides, we can always go up to my dorm.”

Melody was disgusted by the very thought of being alone with Draco in his dorm, but she smiled and slinked out of the room. She thought she was home-free until Draco came running after her down the hall.

“You need to know the password, Sweetie,” he said as he caught up to her.

Melody cringed at the pet name. The only person she wanted calling her "Sweetie" was Ron. Thinking about Ron only made things worse as Draco took her hand. The coldness of his hand made Melody shiver with discomfort. Draco sensed this and stopped her in her tracks.

“What’s wrong,” Draco asked nastily.

Melody thought fast and answered, “Don’t you get nervous around people you like?”

Draco again leaned in for a kiss and then led her to the Great Hall, where she took a seat next to Harry.


***

A week of this charade passed, and Melody ached to kiss Ron and be held in his arms. Harry pitied them and one night set up an exploding snaps tournament to keep all the boys busy while Melody snuck into their dorm to meet with Ron.

After locking the door behind her, she raced into Ron’s open arms. He lifted her up and twirled her before he pulled her into a passionate kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed for many minutes. Neither wanted to let go.

The exploding snaps continued down the stairs as Ron and Melody fell onto his bed. Without even realizing it, Ron was on top of Melody kissing her deeply and zealously. He stopped for a moment, and began to move off of Melody thinking she was uncomfortable. Melody pulled him back and they remained there until Harry knocked on the door warning them that the boys were losing interest in the tournament. Melody rose and straightened herself out. She kissed Ron on the cheek and was gone.

When she returned to her bed, tears covered her face as she thought of sneaking around to be with him. She decided that she would go see Dumbledore the next day.


***

Dumbledore sat in his large chair when Melody entered.

“I thought I would be seeing you soon, Ms. Chancelle,” he said as he looked up from his work.

“I’m sorry to bother you, Headmaster,” Melody said timidly.

“No worry. Now, tell me, how is the Malfoy situation going?”

Melody sobbed as she replied, “I don’t think I can handle much more, sir.”

Dumbledore rose and rounded the desk to where Melody stood. He placed his hand on her shoulder as Melody let out a silent sob.

“I’m sorry for forcing this on you, but by doing this you are only helping Ron. It will all pay off in the long run,” Dumbledore said as he returned to his chair.

“But, I think Malfoy is going to make me … never mind.”

“What is he going to make you do?”

“It is silly. I’m sorry I bothered you, sir.”

Melody ran from the room as tears filled her eyes. Even thinking about what Draco really wanted made her sick. Running down the hall, she ran into Ron, who was on his way to the library.

Seeing the tears in her eyes, he held her close and tried to comfort her.

“What is it, Mel?”

“I don’t want to even go near him, let alone let him kiss me!” Melody screamed as Ron stroked her hair.

Ron sighed, “That bastard better not touch you. I’ll kill him.”

Melody felt Ron’s arms tense as he pulled her in a little closer.

“I want out, Ron. I want him away from me.”

“I know, me too.”

They held each other closely, but didn’t know that around the corner, Draco sat, having walked by looking for her.

***

Seeing as it was Draco, he soon formed a plan to blackmail Ron and Melody. He grabbed her in the hall and then pulled her into a vacant classroom.

“I should have known you were lying when you refused to come to the common room!!” he said, causing Melody to tremble.

“What are you talking about, Draco?” she said as she played with his robes.

“I know that you and Ron are still together. I SAW YOU!”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Draco chuckled, “Don’t play dumb with me! I saw you outside of Dumbledore’s office. I know that you are doing it so I won’t make my father angry with you or Ron. Clever on Dumbledore’s part, but he placed his trust in the wrong hands. You can’t even stay away from Ron for one day without being all over him!”

Melody began to cry as Draco pressed her once again up to the wall.

“Draco, please! Don’t tell your father! At least, leave Ron out of it.”

“Giving up your security for him. You must love him, which makes my plan even more appealing to me, and more painful for you!” Draco snarled as he began to pace the room.

Melody hesitated before asking, “What are you talking about?”

“I promise not to tell my father, if you will do something for me,” Draco said emphasizing "something."

“What do I have to do?”

“Oh, I think you know very well what I want you to do,” he said as he pressed his body against hers, making obvious what he wanted, “I’ll give you till midnight tomorrow to decide.”

Draco left leaving Melody alone to choose between her chastity and saving herself and Ron from Lucius Malfoy’s wrath. Her back slid against the wall as she wept.

***

The next morning, Melody woke to find Hermione sitting on the edge of her own bed. She rose as Melody sat up in her own.

“I’m sorry, Melody! I never should have been angry over Ron. He told me the situation last night. It must be awful!” she said causing Melody’s eyes to once again fill with tears. “What’s wrong, Mel?”

Melody spilled about Malfoy and the choice she had to make. When she had finished, both her and Hermione were in tears. Hermione hugged her, and Melody was glad to have someone to help her again.

“What should I do, 'Mione? Either way, I lose.”

“I don’t know. I think we have to go see Dumbledore.”

“No! I couldn’t tell him about this. I need Tonks.”

“How are we going to talk to Tonks?”

Melody opened her trunk and pulled out a hand mirror. She dusted it odd and then whispered, “Tonks! Tonks, are you there? It’s Melody.”

There was a brief moment of silence and then Tonks’ bright pink hair appeared in the mirror.

“What is it Melody? Is there something wrong?”

“Yes!” Melody said before explaining her situation.

Tonks shook her head, “Mel, there is nothing to worry about! Lucius is in Azkaban!”

“Then why did Dumbledore seem so worried?” Melody snapped.

“I don’t know Melody … wait, I think I have an idea!”

Hermione and Melody huddled over the mirror as Tonks explained a plan to use a memory charm on Malfoy. Once that was done, Melody would use a spell to make him lose interest in her.

“Thank you, Tonks!” Melody squealed into the mirror before putting it away, “I’m especially good with memory charms! I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. That tricky part is going to be the anti-love spell.”

“We just learned that in Advanced Charms. I can teach it to you.”

They spent the rest of the day practicing the charm on Seamus.

By nightfall, Seamus had fallen in and out of love with Melody a total of 74 times. Melody felt confident when Seamus left rather confused and dazed. The common room laughed as Seamus starting dancing with a cloak rack. Hermione flicked her wand, and he snapped out of it.

“Hopefully, the same will happen to Draco,’ Melody said as she put her wand in her robes.

Hermione frowned, “I doubt it. He is a very strong wizard. It’s going to take much more to sway him.”

“I suppose.”

***

The next morning, Melody woke and carried on through her day as usual. Draco made suggestive comments, but she simply ignored them until after Defense Against the Dark Arts. He stopped her on he way out.

“So, have you made your decision?” he asked sharply.

“I’ll be in your common room at midnight. Make sure no one is there,” Melody said softly, suggesting that she was going to surrender to his will.

“Good. I’ll see you then,” he said as he caught up with Crabbe and Goyle.

Melody smirked when he was out of view. Ron turned the corner and Melody casually walked beside him. Melody still hadn’t told Ron what Draco wanted, and she planned to keep it that way, but Draco had other plans.

That night at dinner, Draco approached Ron and Melody.

“I’ll see you later tonight,” he said to Melody, “Isn’t that right Ron?”

Ron’s arm tensed but Melody placed her hand on it to keep him from erupting, and blowing the little cover they had left. At lunch that day, they had staged reconciliation and were now friends in they eyes of all students.

“What are you talking about, Malfoy?” Ron asked through clenched teeth.

Melody looked up at Draco with pleading eyes. He only scoffed and continued, “Well, Melody and I have planned a little meeting in my dorm this evening. I’m sure you know what I mean by that.”

Draco laughed and hurried of to his own seat. Ron’s face fell once he comprehended what was going on. Melody began to speak, but he was gone. He rose from his seat and exited the Great Hall. Melody looked down at her plate as tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t even run after him -- it would just be too obvious to risk.

***

That night, she walked the dungeon and found the Slytherin common room. She spoke the password and was in. Malfoy was sitting on a black leather couch looking very smug as she entered.

“You know, you are making the right decision by coming,” he said as he removed his top robe.

Melody wasted no time, and in seconds she was screaming the memory incantation. Once Draco had forgotten that he had seen Melody and Ron, Melody spoke another incantation to make him lose interest in her. She said this one as she backed to the door. She would have to hurry out before he saw her. Otherwise, he would wonder what she was doing in their common room.

“Ricardum Aphrodition!” Melody screamed before running out of the room. She sprinted to the stairs that would bring her back to Gryffindor tower.

She passed through the portrait hole and saw Ron pacing the common room waiting for her. Melody saw that his face was red from tears. He shook his head and slumped into a couch.

Melody ran to the couch and sat next to him. He tried to look away, but couldn’t.

“I can’t believe you would do that!” he finally erupted.

His head was in his hands as Melody placed her hand on his knee.

“Ron, listen to me. That was never the plan.”

“Then why did he talk about it at supper?”

“He thought that was why I was going to his common room -- really. It was just a lie to get him alone. I used a memory charm on him. He doesn’t remember seeing us.”

“He still wants you,” Ron said, finally looking at Melody.

“Hermione taught me a charm to make him lose interest in me. It’s all over, Ron! We can go back to the way it was.”

Ron’s face brightened as Melody swung her arms around his neck.

“It’s really over?”

Melody nodded and kissed Ron’s cheek.

***

The next day was the test to see if her last incantation had worked. Ron’s arm was around Melody’s waist as they saw Draco at the end of the corridor. They walked passed him without him saying anything. Melody jumped up and kissed Ron. They ran up to Dumbledore’s office to tell him the good news, but Dumbledore was already there coming out of the library.

“Headmaster! Melody solved the problem,” Ron said as his words echoed through the empty corridor.

“What have you done?” Dumbledore asked interested.

“I used a simple memory charm and an anti-love spell,” Melody said proudly.

“Well done, Miss Chancelle, well done,” Dumbledore said as he headed off to the Great Hall.

When he was out of sight, Ron grabbed Melody in his arms and kissed her passionately.

***

That afternoon, Ron and Melody went for a walk along the lake.

“I missed our walks,” Ron said as they passed the willow that they had sat under the night Dumbledore warned them about Malfoy.

“Me too,” Melody said sweetly as she took his hand in both of hers.

They walked for nearly an hour before they headed back to the castle for supper. They took two seats across from Hermione and Harry as Dumbledore rose to make an announcement.

“Students, I am pleased to announce that for Halloween this year, we shall be holding a dance. This will be a formal event so please dress accordingly in your dress robes,” he said before again taking his seat.

The Great Hall buzzed with excitement as people discussed the upcoming event, but Melody was in her own world. Nothing else mattered on this day. Finally, she had Ron and her dignity. Everything was going her way again -- everything.

Chatter about the ball filled the halls throughout the month. Girls discussed their hairstyles and dates while the guys nervously sought theirs. Enthusiasm only increased as Dumbledore and the other professors decorated the Great Hall for the Halloween ball.

Melody dug in her trunk and found the three sets of dress robes she had eagerly packed. Knowing that Ron’s robes were a deep red, she chose to wear her ice blue robe so she would compliment his. Hermione was impressed by Melody’s small collection of robes. Melody caught Hermione eyeing the marigold ones and willingly offered them to her.

“By the way, who are you going with?” Melody asked as she folded and packed the burgundy robes.

Hermione blushed as she laid the marigold robes on her bed, “Well, Seamus asked me. I haven’t accepted yet.”

“Seamus, would be a good date. I’m sure you would have fun.”

“Yes, I suppose.”

While Melody packed up the things lying around her bed, her eye caught the Asteroid. She had planned on trying out for the house team, but she was taught to play Seeker, which was already filled. She had resolved to give it to Ron at the ball. No one knew but her.

***

The ball approached quickly and many girls scurried around to common room conversing over the same topics day after day. Melody found her solace sitting on the couch next to Ron and simply holding his hand. Everything for the ball was set. She had her robes pressed and she had memorized the incantation for shinier hair. Most importantly, she had buffed the Asteroid, so it would shine when she gave it to Ron.

The thought of his face when he received it warmed Melody inside, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“What are you so cheerful about?” Ron asked noticing her constant grin.

“Nothing. I’m just excited for the ball.”

“Oh, yeah, about that. Just so you know, I’m a terrible dancer.”

Melody laughed as she said, “That’s fine.”

Now that things were back to normal, she felt comfortable once again at Hogwarts. She had written Celeste telling her things were beginning to look up.

***

Finally, the day of the ball arrived. After three o’clock, you wouldn’t be able to find a girl if you tried. All of them were locked up in their dorms preparing for the evening. Melody spent most of this time cleaning the Asteroid yet again.

“Why are you cleaning that now?” Hermione asked as she was transforming her bushy mess of hair into smooth, wavy locks.

Melody smiled down at the broom, “No reason.”

At seven o’clock, Melody descended the stairs to the common room to find Ron searching through the mass of people leaving.

“What, did you think I would leave without you?” Melody asked as she took his arm.

Ron glanced down at her long enough to say, “No silly, I’m trying to see who Harry is taking to the ball. He refused to tell me all week,” before he resumed his search of the common room.

Melody giggled because she knew whom Harry had decided to invite. She had sworn she wouldn’t tell and she continued to keep her word. Finally, Ron shrugged and they were off.

The Great Hall was alight with thousands of jack-o-lanterns. The students took their seats for the feast that would procede the dance. All ate quickly so that the dancing could begin. When it was clear that everyone had finished, even Ron, who was taking his dear time, Dumbledore raised his arms and the tables vanished and smaller tables appeared outside an area set aside for the dance. The music began and certain courageous students and teachers took to the dance floor. Male students flocked to the remaining staff table to ask Fleur for a single dance. She declined many but accepted the particularly handsome ones -- which was very much Fleur's way.

The dances passed and with each Melody begged Ron to try. Once she finally got him to stand, it was nine o’clock. She had planned to give Ron the Asteroid at nine-thirty.

They danced through two very painful songs, as Ron repeatedly stepped on Melody’s toes, before Melody announced she forgot something in her dorm and hurried off the retrieve the broom.

In the entrance hall, she ran into Harry who was standing with a very pretty girl with long, black hair. He introduced her as Cho Chang, and Melody apologized for hurrying off. She resumed her path up to the dorm and got the broom. Excited to see his reaction, Melody nearly ran the entire way back to the ball.

When she again reached the entrance hall, she found Harry alone.

“Where did Cho go?” Melody asked exasperated.

“Well, they are doing a Flip-Flop dance. I guess the girls have to find a new partner to dance with,” he said as he noticed the Asteroid in her hand. “What is that for?”

“Well, I’m going to give it to Ron. I have no need for it, right?”

Harry’s jaw dropped as she told him. Melody just smiled and scurried off to the Great hall. What she saw made her turn around and run out the front door with tears in her eyes.

***

The moonlight danced over the lake as Melody sat under the willow. Timid sobs escaped her as she wrapped herself in a ball and cried into her knees. The Asteroid sat about five feet away, for she had kicked it out of anger. She sat there for many moments until she heard approaching footsteps.

The footsteps became louder as Melody rounded the tree to escape the stranger’s view. Within seconds she knew who it was, and wished she were anywhere but there.

“I know it’s you, Melody. Please talk to me. At least let me explain,” Ron said from the other side of the willow.

Rain began to fall gently on the lake as Melody rose to run for the castle. Ron caught her as she attempted escape.

“Let me go, you two-timing … ” Melody screamed, and he only held tighter.

“Calm down, Mel”

“Why should I? I think I have the right to be mad!”

“If you would let me explain!” Ron said, struggling to restrain Melody.

“Fine then! Explain why I saw you kissing Hermione. I can’t believe you. Why were you even dancing with her in the first place?” Melody sobbed, lessening her fight to break free.

“Well, they were doing that Flip-Flop dance thing and Luna was going to ask me, so I grabbed Hermione to make Luna think I was going to dance with her. Then, Luna wouldn’t leave so we ended up dancing. It was purely innocent,” Ron said loosening his grip on Melody.

“I don’t see how that turns into kissing, Ronald!”

“Let me finish first. Well, as we danced Hermione and I got to talking. She explained what she thought of me and one thing led to another. Before I knew it, she was kissing me,” Ron said letting go of Melody all together.

Melody’s vision blurred and she could no longer see Ron’s face, “Why didn’t you pull away, Ron?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m sorry, Ron, but I can’t forgive you for this,” Melody said as she picked up the Asteroid, “I was going to give this to you tonight, and this is how you repay me? Forget it. We’re through.”

Melody ran off with the broom grasped in her hand. Anger swelled inside her, and she tensed as she passed people in the entrance hall. She was soaking from head to toe, and inside her, it was raining even harder.

The next morning, Melody found her marigold dress robes sitting neatly folded on her trunk. Instead of putting them away, she picked them up and ripped them in half. Anna would be furious, but nothing could control Melody’s anger at that moment.

She dressed quickly and went for a walk to calm herself down. Outside, she ran into Malfoy and his goons.

“I heard what happened last night, Chancelle. Tough break. Perhaps you would like to join me and some others to … well, ease your mind,” he said as she cracked his knuckles.

Melody contemplated the offer in her mind. Seeing as this was Malfoy, this little meeting could be anything. As she thought it through, vulnerability and rebellion welled up inside her. In her mind, she felt as though she had nothing to live for, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a risk and try to forget Ron -- and especially his actions.

***

That night at one o’clock, she snuck through the portrait hole and down to the lake. She found Malfoy and a small group of Slytherins sitting under the willow and passing around what looked like a large brandy bottle. When Melody approached, many of the people glared up at her, but Draco rose to greet her.

“Don’t worry, she’s one of us. Guys, this is our newest member, Melody,” he said as he was handed the bottle.

He offered it to Melody and she willingly took a generous gulp of it. It burnt as it went down, and Melody coughed slightly.

“Be careful, Chancelle. This is only your first time!” Draco laughed as both he and Melody sat.

This night was only the first of many. Every Saturday night, the little group met and passed that bottle around. Some nights, they pulled pranks and others they just sat, drank and laughed at each other. Melody soon withdrew herself from everyone except those few in the group. She was seen walking the halls on Draco’s arm. They all laughed at her jokes and respected her, but they would be her downfall. With every Saturday night, she grew a little more ill from the alcohol and each week they got a little more intoxicated than they had the previous. Melody put herself in great danger trying to forget Ron.

One Saturday night, Draco and Melody hung back after all the other people had gone. Both drunk, they began to kiss. For many hours they remained there until Melody snapped out of it and pushed him off. She ran to the castle and up to the tower.

***

Melody woke the next morning with little recollection of what had happened. All she knew is that things had gone too far with Draco, and she would have to face him today.

Her chance came quickly as he met her in the hall on the way to breakfast. Placing his arm around her shoulder, he led her into a vacant classroom.

With a hushed voice, Draco said, “Last night shouldn’t have happened.”

“I know.”

“Good, because Pansy would be furious if she knew I cheated on her.”

“Exactly.”

That was all that was said, and that was all that needed to be said. They left the classroom and acted as natural as possible. Melody held Draco’s arm in a most friendly way, and they walked down to the Great Hall for some breakfast. All appeared normal.

At breakfast, Melody sat with the Slytherins. She acted as she always had in the previous weeks, but was still anxious about the incident with Malfoy.

In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Draco nervously glanced at Melody a number of times but she remained calm and attentive. She listened to Fleur’s lecture soundly, until her head began to throb. The room began to spin and her hands began to shake. Melody grew scared and within minutes fainted onto the floor.

***

She woke in the hospital wing. Harry was sitting over her, looking very concerned.

“What are you doing here?” Melody asked in her recent nasty persona. She hadn’t talked to Harry since the ball, and Draco had nearly brainwashed her to hate him.

“Fine, I’ll leave then,” Harry said sharply as he began to leave.

The last bit of the old Melody was revived and she apologized.

“I’m sorry, Harry. Please don’t go.”

“OK, then. I won’t, but you have to tell me what has been going on with you lately. You’re a mess.”

Melody felt her eyes beginning to burn with tears as she spilled about the drinking and the secret parties. She left out the part about Draco, but Harry still looked down at her in sheer shock. The perfectly innocent Melody he had known had turned into a horror story.

He shook his head, “Mel, what were you thinking? It’s Malfoy! You know better than that! This doesn’t have anything to do with Ron, does it?”

At the mention of Ron’s name, Melody tensed. Her teeth clench as she tried her best to remain calm. The thought of what he had done to her stung. Pictures of his face filled her head, and she remembered the night in the prefect bathroom when they had first kissed. Memories of their relationship played in her head as she broke down.

“Harry, you don’t know how bad he hurt me. It only made things worse that it was with Hermione. Two of my best friends betrayed me in one night -- wouldn’t you be upset and a little vulnerable?”

“You could have come to me,” Harry said sweetly.

Shame draped over Melody as Harry looked down at her. Of the “friends” she had made through Malfoy, none of them were here. Her ex-boyfriend’s best friend was. She thought of the way she had treated Harry in the last few weeks. Harry had been nothing but kind to her, even when he had enough to deal with himself. Melody sobbed as she cried out, “Harry, I need your help now.”

Harry nodded and took her hand in his own.

Melody remained in the hospital wing for the remainder of the day until Madam Pomfrey decided she simply had a dizzy spell and released her. Harry was waiting outside the large doors when Melody surfaced.

“Now, what are we going to do about this Draco problem?” he asked as he offered his arm for a still-shaky Melody.

Melody shrugged as they walked down the stairs to the Great Hall. Being as weak as she was, Harry lifted her as they passed a trick step and placed her on the ground at the landing. She smiled at him, and they continued down the stairs. They talked continually as they walked.

“I don’t think he will mind as long as I promise not to reveal their meetings. I have something on him now,” Melody said as the reached the entrance hall.

Harry nodded and they walked into the Great Hall. Draco rose from his seat along with many of the other Slytherins involved in the meetings. After snarling at them to sit, Draco approached where Melody had taken a seat.

“We need to discuss a few things, Melody,” Draco said reaching out a hand to help her up.

Harry stood instead and stepped closer to Draco, “I don’t think that will be necessary, Malfoy.”

“How would you know, Potter?”

Melody stood and pulled Draco aside.

“Here’s the deal. I don’t tell anyone about your meetings. You stay away from me … and Harry,” she said looking back at Harry.

“Is Potter your little saint now, saving you from the big bad Malfoy?”

“Drop it, or I’ll go tell McGonagall about your little club,” Melody said sharply.

Draco hesitated but turned and took his seat at the Slytherin table once again. Melody took her seat next to Harry and began to force down food. Seconds later, Ron entered the Great Hall and took his usual seat across from Harry. Melody had been looking down, and when she saw Ron she nearly vomited. Before she could say anything, she forced herself to stand and leave. Harry stood to accompany her, but she raised her hand.

“No, Harry, I’ll be fine on my own. Thank you,” she said as she stomped off.

The deserted hallways were a welcome change from the buzz of the Great Hall. There was absolutely no one she wanted to speak with. She hurried through the portrait hole, and up to her dorm.

She hadn’t talked to Hermione since the night of the ball, and didn’t intend to for a very long time. Every morning, Melody had hastily dressed before Hermione could get one word out. It had all worked until she opened the door to their dorm and found Hermione sitting on the end of her bed, obviously waiting for her.

Melody rolled her eyes and quickly gathered her school bag and books.

“How are you?” Hermione asked to no response.

Melody simply got another quill from her trunk and exited the dorm to the common room. Unfortunately, Hermione wasn’t giving up that easily. She followed Melody and stood only feet away from where Melody sat.

Melody’s nostrils flared with anger as Hermione stood over her, until she finally erupted.

“Can I help you?!”

“We need to talk, Mel.”

“My name's Melody, and I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Too bad, you are right now,” Hermione said smugly.

Melody rose from her seat and turned to Hermione.

“You’ve got some nerve! Coming up here and forcing me to talk to you.”

Melody felt her hand reach for her wand, but Hermione continued to egg her on.

“I’m not forcing you, you’re doing pretty well yourself.”

Melody howled with anger. She finally pulled out the wand and put it up to Hermione’s chest. The smug look on Hermione’s face changed to sheer terror as she too reached for her wand.

“Don’t even think about it! Now, leave me alone or you’ll be sorry!” Melody said as Ron and Harry came in through the portrait hole.

Their jaws dropped and they raced over the pull the girls apart. Melody continued to glare viciously as Ron gently pulled Hermione away.

“That’s right. Take care of your precious Hermione! You can go to hell, Ronald Weasley! Out of my way, Harry!” Melody snarled as she ran up to the dorm.

***

After a night’s rest, Melody felt much better and simply ignored Hermione as she passed her bed rather than whipping out her wand. She entered the common room to find Harry sitting gazing into the fire. The firelight flattered his features as Melody crossed the room to take a seat next to him.

“Harry, I just wanted to thank you for taking care of me yesterday, and I’m sorry about Hermione,” Melody said as she took the seat.

“It’s fine. No one was hurt. It’s not like you to fight,” Harry said shooting her a sharp look.

Melody lowered her head in shame, “I know. I’m quite impulsive when I’m angry.”

“I guess so.”

They sat there looking at the dancing flames as other Gryffindors rose and slumped off to breakfast. Ron and Hermione hurried through the room trying to avoid Melody.

“You better go catch up with them,” Melody said.

“No, Mel. I don’t want to talk to them, either.”

“Don’t be angry with them over me. Those are your best friends.”

“Yeah, but now I would be nothing but a third wheel right now. It would all be too awkward.”

Melody nodded as Harry ruffled the hair on the back of his head.

“You do that to be like you father don’t you?” Melody asked tenderly.

“I suppose. What do you know about my father?” Harry asked, still in his dreamy state.

“Only that he and my father we on the Quiddich team together. The house team has begun practice, I believe.”

“Yeah, last Monday. Ron could really use that Aster--sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

They sat there for a few more moments.

Melody finally broke the silence and said, “It’s a shame it will go to waste now.”

“Not to be rude or anything, but why did your dad buy it for you then?” Harry asked playing with his robes.

“Well, he bought it before we moved to Beverly Hills. Back at Beauxbaton, I played for my house team as well.”

“You played Quidditch?” Harry asked, waking from the daze.

“Ever since my first year, thank you.”

“If you’re so good, why didn’t you try out for the house team then?”

“Well, my position was already filled.”

“And what position was that?” Harry asked still attempting to comprehend.

“Seeker.”

Harry burst out laughing at this, and Melody shot him a nasty glare.
“I’m sorry, it’s just, you don’t seem like the kind of girl who would play Quiddich,” Harry said apologetically.

“Well, I am. You honestly don’t believe me?”

Harry shook his head, and Melody playfully punched him in the arm. She, too, began to laugh, and they spilled into a conversation dominated by favorite Quidditch teams.

When Harry and Melody finally realized how long they had been there, they learned that they were late for class. Melody had missed half of Double Arithmancy before she finally walked in complaining of another fainting spell. She got off fine, but McGonagall was not as forgiving with Harry. He spent the larger portion of that evening in McGonagall’s office transfiguring pencils into wristwatches.

That weekend, Harry and Melody made their way out to the pitch. The night before, it had snowed for the first time, and the snow crunched under their feet as they neared the pitch. The Asteroid safely in tow, she was ready to prove to Harry she was just as good as he. In her hand, Melody held a practice snitch from Beauxbaton. She remembered how Celeste and she had stolen it as a farewell prank.

Once in the center of the pitch, both mounted their brooms, and Melody released the snitch. Melody shot upward to get a better look, while Harry clumsily combed the air searching. Within a few minutes, Melody spotted the snitch and whirled through the air after it. Harry had just realized Melody found it when she wrapped her finger around it.

“Is that the best you can do?” Melody asked once they were in the center of the pitch again, “I expected more from the youngest Seeker in a century, but that’s only because I’m a week older.”

Harry laughed sarcastically and they started again. In a short time, Melody had won again. Harry was growing very irritated and nearly ran into Melody upon returning to the center.

“It’s the broom!” Harry exclaimed.

“Fine, we can switch then,” Melody, said lowering her broom to the ground.

They made the switch, and Melody once again released the snitch. She laughed as Harry mimicked every motion she made. After pulling a few loops, she spotted the snitch and once again caught it before Harry.

It began to snow, so they dismounted their brooms and walked to the castle. Harry attempted to defend himself, but found himself without reason.

“You’re pretty good,” he said quietly as they entered the front doors.

“Pretty good? You better be talking about my looks! I pummeled you out there!” Melody interjected.

They laughed and hurried up to Gryffindor Tower. Once they had changed into dry clothes and gathered some school things, they left for the Great Hall. They found seats at the table and set down to get some homework done.

Melody was just making fun of Harry’s pictures for Care of Magical Creatures when the usual swarm of owls flew into the hall. Sparx swooped down and rested next to Melody’s Arithmancy book to deliver a letter.

Harry turned back to his drawings as Melody read:

Dear Melody,

I hope term has been going well. You mother asked me to write you and remind you about holiday plans. I’ll be picking you up from Hogwarts at noon the day after term ends. From there, we will get on the charter flight to Paris. I know you have been looking forward to Christmas holiday, and I can’t wait to hear about your term so far!

All my Love,
Anna

Melody looked up at Harry, who was attempting to save the drawings. She had forgotten that she was going away for vacation soon. She wondered if Harry would be staying at Hogwarts over break.

Harry had simply given up on the drawings when he looked up.

“Letter from home?” he asked shoving the papers in his bag.

“Yeah, about Christmas break.”

“What are you doing?”

“My parents, Anna and I are going to Paris.”

“That’ll be nice,” Harry said examining a rip on his parchment.

“What are you going to be doing?”

“I was supposed to go home with Ron, but by the looks of it, that might have complications.”

Melody frowned. It was her fault that Harry and Ron were not getting along well.

“Oh well, it is better than staying here. Besides, the Order wants me to be around them over the holiday.”

“Oh, I suppose,” Melody said, nervously gathering her books, “I better go get that vampire book from the library.”

“Yeah.”

Melody hesitated, but turned and left. It would be odd to ask Harry to spend holiday with her.

***

That night, Melody pulled out some parchment and responded to Anna’s letter:

Dear Anna,

I have a lot to tell you about when I see you.

I know this is short notice, but could I bring a friend on holiday with me? He kind of has no place to go, and … well, it’s Harry. I’m sure the Order would be fine with his coming with us, wouldn’t it?

Please reply soon!

XOXO,
Melody

***

Anna’s letter came back soon saying that she would like permission from Dumbledore before she made plans for Harry. Melody was delighted as she bounded up the steps leading to Dumbledore’s office.

Dumbledore stood pacing near his desk when Melody entered, but was pleased to see her.

“Hello, Miss Chancelle. I know why you’re here, so say no more. I’m sure Harry will have a nice holiday with you and your parents in Paris,” Dumbledore said as he took a seat. “I’ve already replied to your father’s letter telling him the proper procedures.”

“My father wrote you about this?”

“Yes, is that so odd?”

“Well, I assumed that Anna would write it. She usually takes care of things when it comes to me,” Melody said before looking down at her feet. The holiday only brought thoughts of home.

Dumbledore slowly rose from his desk and placed a hand on Melody’s shoulder.

“Melody, I know you feel your father is always working, but he is doing good. In the last year he has given us five leads on Voldemort’s location. You must understand, what he lacks as a father, he makes up in honor.”

Melody smiled half-heartedly and exited the office. Honor was no good to her. She wanted a father who was around enough to, say, see her off to school.

***

Her next challenge was going to be asking Harry in the least-awkward way. She found him the next day sitting in the common room reading over his paper on vampires. For ten minutes, she casually strolled the common room before working up enough courage to ask him. Why was this so hard? It was just Harry, after all.

Once she had straightened herself out, she took the seat across from Harry and waited for him to look up.

“Hi, Mel,” he said before returning his focus to the paper, “I have to get a good mark on this, and Fleur is brutal.”

Melody laughed and fidgeted with her thumbs. She let him finish looking over his paper before bringing up break.

“So, you still going to the Weasleys' for Christmas?” she asked smoothly.

“I guess -- I don't really have anywhere else to go.”

“Actually, that’s not your only option,” Melody said, causing Harry to look up.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, you could come to Paris with my parents and me,” Melody said anxiously.

Harry’s eyes widened, “Really?”

“Sure, Anna already checked it with Dumbledore. He thinks it’s perfectly safe, and everyone would rather you enjoyed you break,” Melody said, starting a brigade of other reasons until she realized there had been no change in Harry’s expression, “Only if you want to of course.”

They sat there for a few moments in silence until Melody stood.

“Well, I understand. I didn’t expect you to want to spend Christmas with -- erm, my family,” she said discouraged.

“No, I’m sure I’d enjoy Christmas a lot more with you … and your family, of course,” Harry said awkwardly.

“Good, I’d better go write to Anna to tell her your coming,” Melody said about to run up to her dorm.

Harry rose too, “I suppose I better get packing. End of term is tomorrow.”

They walked up to the dorms, but glanced at each other as they disappeared behind doors.

The last day of classes came and went as both Melody and Harry anticipated the coming days. Melody and Harry spent much of their evening doing a bit of last-minute packing.

“Can you believe how much homework Fleur gave us again? Honestly, I thought she would be easy on us,” Harry said after throwing his bag on the ground in the common room to make space for Melody.

“The woman is crazy,” Melody laughed.

“What time do you think we’ll be leaving tomorrow?” Harry asked, tenderly bringing up the topic of break.

“Anna said she would be here at noon, but knowing her, she’ll be here at eleven.”

Harry laughed, “It must be nice.”

Confused, Melody cocked her head and asked, “What’s nice?”

“Having someone like Anna around, of course,” Harry said blankly.

“Oh, yeah. Someone had to make up for my parents, or lack of.”

Before Melody had realized what she said, it was too late. Harry had again looked down at his feet.

“I’m sorry, Harry. I didn’t mean to--”

Harry sighed and looked at Melody.

“I know. Don’t worry about it, Mel.”

Melody’s heart ached to watch a sixteen-year-old boy fight back tears. Harry hid them well as he ran his fingers through his hair. He was attempting to flatten it, but Melody grabbed his arm to stop him.

“Leave it. It looks nice,” she said as he half-smiled.

Without Melody's realizing it, she was still holding his arm.

***

The next morning at breakfast, Melody could barely contain her excitement. Not only was she going to see Anna, with Harry along, Celeste was meeting them in Paris. She hadn’t slept a wink the night before, but she had never been more awake in her life.

Lavender Brown was across the table telling Melody all her plans for the holiday when Harry entered the Great Hall. He hurried over to where Melody sat and announced that Anna had arrived. Rising from her seat, Melody heard a small giggle from Lavender. She shot her a sharp look and then exited the room.

She was in the entrance hall when she remembered she forgot her purse in the Great Hall. After telling Harry to go on up to the Gryffindor Common Room to gather his things, she hurried back through the huge doors. She was only a step in the door when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her aside.

“We need to talk before you leave,” Ron said.

“Let me go. Anna is waiting for me,” Melody said, shaking her arm free.

Ron only talked louder as he called after her, “I just wanted to be friends.”

Purse in hand, Melody rushed Ron into the entrance hall to avoid making a scene.

“The day I forgive Hermione is the day I forgive you, and trust me, that won’t be anytime soon,” Melody snarled as she turned to leave.

“What is your problem?” Ron asked, growing irritated.

Melody whipped around and tried her hardest to calm herself.

“What is my problem?! Why don’t you go take a look in the mirror?!” she said as her temper boiled.

“Melody, I’ve had enough of this! Won’t you get over it?”

Melody nearly screamed as she ran up the stairs. The attempts to appease herself failed, and she entered the common room in a very bad mood. Not even Anna, who was peacefully sitting on the couch, could make her feel better.

Anna rose and danced over to hug Melody, but was surprised when Melody only received it mildly.

“Is something wrong, Melody?” Anna asked as she let go of Melody.

“I don’t want to talk about it. It’s a long story,” Melody said as Harry appeared from the dormitory staircase, lugging his trunk behind him.

“Good, you’re here. I’d get your trunk, but I can’t go up to your dorm,” he said kindly.

Pulling out her wand, Anna said, “Not to worry. Accio Trunk!”

Harry ducked as the trunk zoomed over him and landed at Anna’s feet.

Pointing her wand at Melody’s and then Harry’s trunk, Anna chanted and incantation and they followed her as she exited the common room through the portrait hole.

***

The plane ride was long, but Melody’s mood had improved now that she was on her way to see Celeste. Harry also entertained her with his exploration of the plane. Naturally, he had never been on a plane, especially a luxury charter.

Once he had finally settled down, Melody brought out her miniature Quidditch pitch. They rest of the flight they spent playing miniature games.

During landing, Harry nervously clung to his armrests. Melody assured him the shakiness was normal, and he tried to act nonchalant. As Anna gathered their things, Melody and Harry climbed down the steps to the runway. In seconds, Melody was wrapped up tight in Celeste’s arms. Celeste squealed with delight and released her.

“Oh, Mel! It’s so nice to see you!” Celeste sang.

“You too, Celeste! This is Harry,” Melody said stepping aside so Celeste could get a better view of Harry.

She eyed him and winked at Melody.

“’e’s even more ‘andsome zan you said, Melody!” Celeste joked.

Harry blushed even more than Melody.

“I’m zhust kidding!” Celeste said, relieving the awkwardness. “Come wiz me, ‘arry.”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him off. Melody only laughed as Harry looked back at her with a look of terror on his face.

Celeste always was the outgoing type, but her bluntness only made people love her more, especially Melody. Turning back around, Celeste paused so Melody could catch up.

“Well, are you coming or what? You mozzer is waiting!” Celeste tapped her foot. “I’m sure ‘arry would like it much more if you were along for ‘oliday.”

Melody laughed and Celeste released Harry’s arm, much to his comfort. Still a bit shaken from the strong personality that had met him, he flattened his hair before they entered the terminal.

Once again Melody noticed and stopped him. Celeste caught this display and smiled.

“Yes, listen to your beau,” she said causing another mutual blush between Harry and Melody.

“Celeste, that is enough now. Be nice!” Melody scolded.

“I’m always nice!” Celeste said just as Melody’s parents spotted her.

Her mother’s open arms neared her and her father’s followed closely behind.

“Oh, mi amour! I ‘ope term ‘as been good!” her mother said sweetly.

Her mother stepped aside, and her father stepped forward. He wrapped a large arm around Melody’s shoulders and kissed her forehead.

Before Melody could say anything, her mother was already smothering Harry.

“Zis must be ‘arry!”

Harry nodded, and Melody’s mother enveloped him in a sturdy hug.

“Mama, let him breathe. He doesn’t even know you!” Melody said, stifling laughter. Celeste couldn’t contain herself and chuckled at Harry’s face.

In a deep voice, Melody’s father greeted Harry and offered a hand to shake. He then aggressively led Harry toward the exits. Mrs. Chancelle hung back for Anna, while Melody and Celeste giggled to themselves as they followed the men.

“You didn’t tell me ‘arry was so cute!” Celeste snickered.

“That’s because he is my friend, Celeste.”

“Is zat what you call it now?”

Melody elbowed Celeste in the side and she howled with laughter. They were nearly outside when Mr. Chancelle let Harry go while he summoned the driver. He warily slumped back to Melody, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m sorry. They get a little enthusiastic,” Melody said sweetly.

Then and there Harry gave his first opinion of France in three words: “You’re all insane.”

That night, Melody, Celeste and Harry lounged in the sitting room of Harry’s suit. Harry was once again fascinated with the miniature Quiddich set as Celeste and Melody caught up.

“You’re not playing Seeker?! Zen, what loser do zey ‘ave instead?” Celeste said as Melody tried to quiet her.

Harry looked up as Melody burst out laughing. Celeste glanced around the room confused.

“I’m the loser,” Harry said raising his hand.

“Oh, I’m sorry ‘arry!” Celeste said repetitively.

Harry just shook his head and returned to the small Quddich players. Celeste flushed slightly before gathering her things.

“We better get going. Zee shops will close soon,” she said as she rose to leave.

“We’re going shopping?” Harry asked, unenthused.

Melody nodded, “I thought you would like to see Ozzette Square. Of course, you don’t have to go.”

“Ozzette Square?” Harry asked, letting the miniature players fall from their levitation.

“It’s like Diagon Alley. I’m sure you’ll find something that interests you there,” Melody said placing her hand on the door handle.

Harry shrugged and followed.

***

Ozzette Square’s familiarities rushed over Melody as the three passed through the book portkey to the frantic plaza. Harry’s mood didn’t lift until they entered the popular Quidditch shop. It was particularly full this day, but Melody fought her way through the crowds to show Harry the book about Quidditch at Beauxbaton. She almost had it in her reach when someone called her name from somewhere in the massive crowd.

A boy stepped out of the group and Melody’s eyes widened.

“Marcus! Oh, it’s so nice to see you,” she shrieked as Marcus locked her in a friendly hug.

“Isn’t it?” he joked, “What are you doing here? I thought you were over at Hogwarts.”

“I’m on break, silly. How has your term been?” Melody asked as Harry took deep interest in the book and Celeste tried to keep him interested.

“Not as well wizzout our star Seeker,” Marcus said.

Melody flushed and finally noticed how awkward Harry felt. She grabbed Marcus’s arm and took a few steps closer to Harry.

“I’m sorry. This is Marcus Grannery. He was on the same Quidditch team as I was,” Melody said pulling the book out of Harry’s hands.

Marcus gave him a toothy grin and reached out a hand. Harry shook it, but looked neither pleased nor excited to meet Marcus.

“Already bringing zee boys back wiz you, Mel? Honestly, zey can’t stay away for a whole ‘oliday!” Marcus joked, bruising Harry’s ego.

“Stop it! This is Harry Potter, my friend,” Melody said distinctively.

“’arry Potter?!” Marcus said, causing many people to turn around him and look at Harry. The room went silent as Harry tried to hide behind Celeste.

“Hush, Marcus,” Melody said, glancing at Harry, who was slowly being pressed up against the wall by curious Frenchmen and women.

There was a loud sound and Melody's father appeared next to Harry. Holding his wand out, he warned the people to step away as he took Harry out. Melody smiled nervously at Marcus before quickly hugging him good bye and following her father out the door.

Harry sat on a bench next to Mr. Chancelle. The look on her father’s face told Melody to be cautious.

“What were you thinking taking Harry out in public without protection?!” her father roared as he rose. “How irresponsible can one be?”

Her father’s chest heaved with anger, and Melody stared at the crack in the tile she was standing on.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Melody said innocently.

“Don’t you ‘Daddy’ me! I’m taking Harry back to the hotel. You’re so foolish! I thought you were smarter than this!” he bellowed as he and Harry disappeared.

Melody wiped the tears from her eyes and returned to the shop to get Celeste. After finding her, they exited.

“He yelled again?” Celeste asked gently as they passed shops.

Celeste placed her arm around Melody’s shoulder.

They quickly picked up the things they needed and hurried back to the portkey. Melody hurried to the car and once inside she told Celeste all about Ron and Hermione. Usually, a little scolding wouldn’t phase Melody, but everything was beginning to pile up in her head, and she needed to release it.

“ … And now he told you to get over it?” Celeste asked to clear the facts.

Melody nodded and Celeste hugged her.

“Oh, I wish you were back at Beauxbaton. Things were better before you left,” Celeste said as Melody stepped out of the car.

They walked up to their room and Melody dropped the bags of gifts on the couch. She didn’t hesitate before knocking on the door that connected the room with Harry’s.

Melody slung her arms around his neck when he opened the door nearly knocking him over.

“I’m so sorry, Harry! I can’t believe I was so stupid. Are you OK?”

“I’m fine. Nothing happened.”

Melody let go of him, and he led her to the couch.

“What if something had happened? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself knowing, I put you in danger,” Melody said near tears.

Harry stood. He crossed the room and leaned against the wall before stepping forward to speak, “Why does everyone think I can’t take care of myself!?”

“Harry, I never said that.”

“It’s what you meant. I can handle a little crowd of people!”

“My father was only trying to help. You shouldn’t have been there,” said pleadingly.

“Why not? Am I not supposed to have a normal life?”

“Harry, calm down.”

“I won’t be treated like a baby,” Harry said quietly.

Melody rose from her seat and placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder.

“I … as well as everyone else, just want you safe.”

“I can watch my own arse,” Harry snapped, jerking away. He stood in front of a mirror and gazed at his reflection.

“I know.”

“No. You don’t. You weren’t there when I was in the Chamber of Secrets. You weren’t there in the Shrieking Shack. Dammit, Melody, you weren’t even there when we all fought at the Ministry,” Harry snarled.

He had hit Melody hard, and she fought back the tears.

“I may not have been there, but I’ll be damned if I’m the one to lead you to Voldemort!” Melody said through clenched teeth. Harry wheeled and headed to his room. He slammed the door behind him, shaking the walls and sending the mirror he had just been looking at tumbling to the floor, where it shattered.

Her temper flared as Anna came running in.

“What is going on in here? What’s wrong, Melody?”

Melody was kneeling on the floor, drowning in tears. Anna rushed over to her.

“Melody, tell me what’s wrong,” Anna demanded as she brushed hair from Melody’s face.

For the next hour, Melody spilled about the argument and everything that had gone wrong this term. Anna picked up the shards of glass as Melody took a shower. When she reappeared, the room was in its original state. Celeste sat at the table wrapping a gift. She rose when Melody entered, but Melody raised a hand to her.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Melody said as she turned and walked into her bedroom.

“You don’t 'ave to. 'arry did.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking. For a while I thought I … never mind,” Melody said as she pulled her hair into a ponytail.

“Melody, you don’t 'ave to lie to me. I know you have feelings for 'arry. You can see it every time you look at 'im, and 'ow you always talk about 'im. Melody, you're crazy about 'im,” Celeste said taking Melody at both shoulders.

Melody fell onto her bed and hung her head on Celeste’s shoulder.

“I know,” she said in near-silence.

Celeste stroked her hair and tiny sobs escaped Melody.

The afternoon’s events were ignored at supper. No one spoke of anything, not even the coming Christmas Eve.

Melody gazed at Harry as he looked down at his plate and at others, but never when he glanced at her. Their eyes never met at that meal except once. Harry caught Melody’s eye as Celeste asked him burdening questions. Just looking into his deep green eyes brought tears to Melody's. She rose from the table and excused herself in French and ran down the hall to her and Celeste’s room.

Closing the door behind her, she mopped up the tears on her face. There was a knock on the door, but she hesitated. Once she opened the door, she regretted it. Harry leaned against the doorway looking blankly into the room.

“May I come in?” he asked looking at Melody.

“Why? I’m not Hermione,” Melody snarled.

“Melody, you know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You could have fooled me.”

“Are you going to let me in?”

Melody paused, but stepped aside and shut the door behind him.

“I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It’s just that not having Ron and Hermione around is hard. They were my best friends,” he said as Melody passed him and looked out the window.

“I told you, you could go back anytime.”

“That doesn’t mean I want to.”

“You should.”

“I thought you were angry with them.”

“That doesn’t mean that I should keep you away from them. I’d kill to be back at Beauxbaton with Celeste and all my friends. You have no idea how hard it was for me to leave. At Beauxbaton, I was the vision of perfection. People wanted to be me, Harry. I never envied anyone,” Melody said gently. “Now that I’m at Hogwarts, I envy everyone I meet, because they have their friends.”

Melody took Harry’s hand in her own and looked into his eyes.

“Don’t lose Ron and Hermione over me. It’s not worth it,” she said in tears.

She dropped his hand and turned away. Taking a step forward, Harry grabbed her arm and spun her around, “Melody, you have friends at Hogwarts. You have Lavender, Parvati, Neville … and you have me. If going back to Ron and Hermione means losing you, then that’s not worth it,” he said as he brushed some hair from her face, “Dammit, Mel, don’t you get it? I’ve been mad about you since that day at Diagon Alley. You’re all I think about. Every night I go to bed, I try to clear my mind, but it’s impossible as long as you aren’t mine. I love you, Melody.”

Melody stood in shock for a few moments. Harry looked down at his feet, but Melody placed her hand under her chin and lifted it. She pulled his face closer to hers and she kissed him. With every second, the kiss became more passionate as Harry held her closer. The tears filling Melody’s eyes changed to tears of joy. She was at home in Harry’s arms.

***

There was a rustle from the hallway and Melody pulled away from Harry. She pulled him out onto the balcony and closed the door just as Celeste entered the room.
Harry refused to let go of her hand as she peeked through the window drapes. He pulled her back into him and he held her close. They could hear Celeste calling for them between the two rooms, but nothing could pull them away.

It wasn’t until Celeste walked out unto Harry’s balcony that they moved. They jumped from each other, but it was far too late for that. They couldn’t fool Celeste.

“I could ‘ave seen zis coming from a mile away!” she laughed.

Melody only smiled at her and took Harry’s hand. He laced his fingers with hers and led her back into the sitting room. Celeste soon appeared through the connecting door and took a seat on the sofa. Her eyes were wide as Melody kissed Harry good night.

Harry disappeared to his own room and Celeste squealed with approval.

“I thought you were just friends.”

Melody provided no comeback as nothing could take her mind off Harry. He had loved her all along and there was nothing more precious to her in the world.

“I sure ‘ope you got ‘im a gift!” Celeste joked.

Melody smiled to herself, “Oh, I’ve had something for him if this happened or not. I’m giving him the Asteroid.”

Celeste’s jaw dropped in disbelief, “You are giving ‘im your Asteroid? Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. He has more use for it that I do.”
“But, Melody, what about your contract wiz zee France Fire-Breathers? You’re going to need zat broom in a year or two!”

“Celeste, drop it. I’m giving Harry the Asteroid. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’m off to bed!”

Harry and Melody sat on the couch watching a movie late Christmas Eve night when Celeste came in under piles of gifts.

"The owls ‘ave arrived,” she said timidly as she neared the table.

Both Melody and Harry rose from their seats, but Celeste was gone in minutes muttering about something in French. Melody was gently dragging her fingers over the tops of the gifts until her index finger fell on one from Marcus. She glanced at Harry, and swiftly buried the gift with others.

Things seemed awkward now that they had kissed. Neither of them had even mentioned the night since. Harry occasionally kissed her forehead, but neither of them talked about what Harry had told her, until now.

“Melody, you remember what I said the other night, about loving you?” Harry said gently.

“Of course,” Melody whispered as she placed her head on his shoulder.

“You never told me if … if you loved me.”

Melody froze. Certainly, she loved Harry, he had been all she thought about, but this was sudden. She had never even told Ron she loved him, but then again, Melody was almost certain, that wasn’t love. Harry had prepared himself for days to say those three little words. Now, Melody had seconds.

“Those are big words,” Melody finally choked out.

“You’re telling me! I’m the one who said them.”

Harry’s humor reminded Melody why she loved him. All caution was erased from her head as she said, “I do love you, Harry.”

*****

Melody woke the next morning, showered and dressed quickly. She hurried out into the sitting room and found Harry placing a small package under the tree.

"What's that?" Melody said sweetly.

"It's for you."

"Really?"

Harry nodded but noticed that behind her back, Melody held a large present.

"What's that?" Harry asked mischeiviously.

Melody kneeled next to Harry and placed the Asteroid under the tree. Startling her, Harry kissed her cheek and stood. He returned to his own room and Melody took a seat on the couch.

Melody's parents were visiting relatives, so the three teenagers were left alone to open gifts. Once Celeste was up and Harry had returned, they began to make their way through the stack of packages.

Simply throwing the gifts from her parents aside, Melody first opened the one from Marcus. Harry was occupied with gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, so there was a chance he wouldn't notice.

Marcus was Melody's ex-boyfriend. The only other boyfriend she told she loved. Christmas was not the right time to tell Harry that he wasn't her first love.

Inside the box, was a photo album filled with pictures from Melody's last year at Beauxbaton. Struggling to fight back tears, Melody quickly placed the album under the gifts from her parents, and watched as Harry opened his gift from Hagrid.

Eventually, Melody had opened all her gifts, even the ones from her parents, and all that remained was the one from Harry. Harry had also saved Melody's for last and waited patiently until she was ready to open hers.

Celeste noticed the sincerity of these gifts and casually strolled into the other room. Melody took the small box in her hand and played with the ribbon.

"You open first," Harry said anxiously.

Melody giggled and ripped away the shiny paper. A small black box was revealed and Melody delicately opened it. It was a small locket with two small music notes.

Looking up at Harry, Melody saw his delight as she put it on. She reached over and kissed him deeply on the lips.

"I hope'd you'd like it," Harry said beaming.

"It's perfect, Harry."

She kissed him again and then urged him to open his own gift. Excitement rushed over him as he tore the paper away. In seconds he knew what it was. His jaw dropped.

"I thought you might need this to win the Inter-House Cup," Melody said as Harry swiped his hand over the handle.

"What about you? Did you get a new broom?"

"No, I think I'm done with Quidditch."

Harry stared at her for many moments before he spoke again, "Melody, I was reading this book Ron gave me for my birthday about Quidditch teams all over the world. In there it lists future prospects and you were listed under the French Fire-Breathers."

"I know."

"Won't you need this then?"

"There are more important things that Quidditch, Harry. Besides, I think you will make better use of it that I would this year."

"You're giving up Quiddich?"

"Yes."

Harry was stunned. He had seen Melody glide through the air on the Asteroid. He knew how important Quidditch was to her, and now she was giving it up for him. There were no words, just silence.

The rest of the holiday was spent admiring each other’s gifts and drinking hot chocolate. It passed quickly as Harry and Melody only grew closer. It wasn’t until they were all packing that they realized they would soon be returning to school and all the anguish it stored.

Harry held Melody’s hand on the plane, and they tried desperately to hide it from Anna. Whenever Anna would go speak with the captain or disappear into the back room, Harry would steal a kiss.

Harry placed his arm around Melody as they walked up to Gryffindor Tower. They were nearly there when McGonagall came rushing around the corner.

“Good! You’re back! Dumbledore needs to speak with you. Follow me,” she said wasting no time.

Harry glanced down at Melody, but they followed without a word. Memories of the night by the willow flooded Melody’s mind as they reached the gargoyle, and she tensed. This time she wasn't going to run and hide.

Dumbledore sat as his desk leafing through an ancient spell book when Harry and Melody entered behind Professor McGonagall. Harry squeezed Melody’s hand quickly before letting go.

“Headmaster, Potter and Miss Chancelle,” McGonagall said grabbing Dumbledore’s attention.

“Thank you, Minerva. That will be all,” Dumbledore said.

McGonagall turned on her heels and was gone in seconds. Resuming his study of the spell book, Dumbledore created silence in the large office. Melody looked at the many portraits surrounding her. She could have sworn she heard a kissing sound, but she refused to argue with a picture. Dumbledore continued to page through the spell book until he spoke after many moments.

“I hope you two enjoyed the holidays in France.”

“Thank you sir,” Melody replied timidly. Her voice nearly shook, but she held a strong composure.

“Is there something wrong, Headmaster?” Harry finally asked growing impatient.

“No, Harry, just making sure you got home in one piece. Melody’s father contacted me about the Ozzette Square occasion, but apparently, it was nothing. You’re dismissed,” Dumbledore said before both Melody and Harry turned to leave, “No, Melody. I need to speak with you in private.

Harry hesitated, but obeyed Dumbledore’s plea of privacy. Looking desperately at him, Melody took a seat near the desk. She heard the door shut and knew that Harry was gone. Gripping the edge of her seat, she anticipated Dumbledore’s request.

“It seems every time you are in my office I have to speak with you about a boy. Just like your mother, I would assume. You have your mother’s beauty, but you are filled with your father’s ambitions,” Dumbledore finally said, “With all that ambition, one could find themselves in trouble.”

Dumbledore looked over his glasses at Melody, but paused.

‘What kind of trouble, sir?” Melody asked feeling her stomach turn.
“Know this. The Dark Lord knows more than anyone of us could imagine and will always strike where his enemies are weak.”

Melody looked up at the aged man before her and asked, “But you know everything he know, right?”

“I only wish.”


Dumbledore’s words began to sink in as Melody walked to the common room. He had been vague, but Melody knew this was a warning for her. Voldemort would soon know about her and Harry and like many times before, he would hit Harry where it hurt the most, the heart.

She passed through the portrait hole and scanned the room for Harry. When she didn’t see him, she crossed the room to the dormitory stairs. Climbing to the top and opening the door to Harry’s dorm, she found him standing over his trunk unpacking things. He looked up as she began to walk towards him. She simply walked over and sat down on the edge of his bed and said nothing.

“What did he say?” Harry asked after many moments of silence.

Melody repeated what Dumbledore told her and Harry’s eyes filled with worry. His body tensed as he sat down next to Melody.

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here no one will touch you,” he said wrapping an arm around her shoulder and kissing her forehead.

Just as Harry’s lips touched Melody’s head, Seamus came into the dorm. A smirk played across his face as he pausing feet from the doorway.

“Why is it that every other boy in this school gets a chance with you?” he laughed taking a step closer to his own bed.

Harry removed his arm from Melody and rose. His strides were stiff as he neared Seamus. Infuriated, Harry pushed him against the wall with a single hand.

“What was that?” he asked placing his hand loosely around Seamus’s quivering neck.

“I just meant that she would chose anyone over me,” Seamus choked out.

Melody, seeing the anger in Harry’s eyes, rushed over. Harry was pressing harder on Seamus’s neck when Melody placed a hand on his wrist.

“Calm down, Harry. He was just joking,” she said turning Harry to face her.

“Well, he isn’t funny,” Harry snarled, “Stay away from her, Seamus.”

Seamus shrugged, “I never did anything!”

Melody once again told Harry to calm down and she lead him down into the common room. She could almost feel the heat of his temper radiating from his skin.

“What is wrong with you?! Seamus never did anything!” Melody yelled once they were sitting near the fire.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, not after Sirius. I won’t be tricked again!”

“Harry, it was just Seamus, innocent Seamus. He never hurt anyone.”

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but the room filled with Gryffindors returning from dinner.


Once term resumed, Quidditch came into full stride. With the Asteroid and Melody’s advice, Harry was unbeatable. Melody would watch him practice from the top box around the pitch and silently cheer him on. She didn’t want to distract him when he was the Quidditch star. She had given up the sport for him, and wanted nothing to get in the way of his success. She waited peacefully as Harry and the others changed in the locker room. In minutes, Harry would be climbing the stairs to the box. Like every night, they would sit and talk as he held her until nightfall. These meetings were what kept Melody sane, as the days grew harder at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

They had decided not to flaunt this relationship, but neither of them hid it. If they kissed, it was a quick peck on the cheek, so news didn’t start to spread until Lavender, Padma, and Parvati spotted Harry and Melody kissing by the lake. They giggled from group to group of girls and told what they had seen.

When word got to Ron and Hermione, they were seen all over the castle kissing and hugging. Melody tried earnestly to divert her eyes as Ron swung Hermione’s hand in the hall, but remaining anger flared and she always clenched a fist as she passed. A period of bitterness and cold looks was born between the two pairs, widening the gap between the four of them. Best friend glared at best friend and old flings brought on nasty emotions.

Melody hurried down the hall to Charms. She had already been late twice this week, so she was frantically taking books out of her bag as she walked. While looking down at her bag, she ran into someone. Both dropped to the floor to gather things, but stopped abruptly when they learned who the other was.

Ron and Melody were again face-to-face. Ron thrust the book in his hand at Melody and stood.

“Sorry, I thought you were someone who mattered,” he snapped.

“Someone’s a little saucy today!” Melody snarled back.

“Well, at least I’m not running off to Harry every second.”

Melody paused. Ron was finally experiencing the anger she had initially gotten after the ball. Now that he had been replaced, he was not at all friendly with Melody or Harry.

“Great feeling, isn’t it?!” Melody said smugly.

“What feeling is that?”

“Being replaced. Now get out of my sight,” Melody said continuing her journey to Charms. Ron and she threw nothing but nasty comments at each other in the halls, and it was finally starting to affect Melody: Emotionally, she was tired.

She told Harry all about the encounter that night after practice. They sat in their box and talked well into night. Melody couldn’t help but spill everything about Ron and her argument, and Harry was glad to have the opportunity to say a few choice things about Ron.

As angry as Melody was with Ron, she couldn’t help feel guilty that she had broken up their friendship. Though she liked having Harry all to herself, she didn’t want any unhappiness of Harry’s on her conscience.

Exhausted from the ranting, they hurried back to the castle. The invisibility cloak surrounded them as they passed through the deserted halls. They were nearing the tower when they heard footsteps behind them. Harry hushed Melody and they stood stills.

Snape rounded the corner with his wand raised.

“Damn!” Harry whispered.

“Potter, I know it’s you so why don’t you just come out and we can get this over with, so we both can go to bed,” Snape snarled as he looked directly at them. “You aren’t going to come easy? Well, then, I guess I must …Tranible Revow.”

The cloak flew off of Harry and Melody as Harry attempted to hide Melody behind himself.

“Mr. Potter, wandering the halls at night? Oh, and look here, you brought Miss Chancelle along with you. Thirty points each! Also, you will meet me in my office to serve your detention tomorrow.”

Harry growled before he could catch himself.

“Perhaps you would like detention all week, then? No? Maybe Miss Chancelle would like to serve it for you then? Still no? Ok then, I'll see both of you tomorrow, and we can discuss the rest of the week then.”

Snape turned on his heels and strode down the hall. Kicking the ground, Harry howled with anger.

“Ooo, I hate that man!” Harry snarled throwing the invisibility cloak. “I’m sorry you got detention, Mel.”

“It’s fine. For a while there, I felt like a goody-two-shoes.”

“A what?”

“Nothing, just an American saying.”

***

Detention was not at all enjoyable once they were there. They walked into Snape’s office to find Ron sitting in a desk scribbling down some homework.

“This just gets better and better,” Harry muttered as they stood at the other side of the room.

Snape entered in his usual dramatic way and stopped between the students.

“Good, you’re all here. Now, if Miss Chancelle would come with me … ” Snape uttered as Harry looked up.

Harry quickly cut him off, “Sir, I thought we were all here serving detention.”

“You are, but do you think I’d let you spend it with Miss Chancelle?” Snape said with an odd sense of satisfaction. “You must think I’m pretty dense. No, you shall stay in here with Mr. Weasley while Miss Chancelle spends her detention in the other room.”

Snape motioned for her to follow, and slowly she did. He led her out of the room and she trotted to keep up with his aggressive strides. Opening the door only a few from where they came, Snape let her step in.

“There, Miss Chancelle. I’ll lock you in. If you direly need something, please send the owl over there to the third dungeon,” Snape said closing the door sharply behind him.

She sat in silence for a few moments before she heard voices coming from a window or two over. She recognized Harry’s and rushed to the window to attempt to talk to him, but he was in a discussion with Ron. In moments Melody, found they were talking about her.

Ron’s voice wafted into the room and met Melody’s ears, “ … I mean, it’s not like you’ll be together much longer anyway.”

“What did you say?” Melody heard Harry ask. She was soon lost in the conversation.

“Come on, mate. You can’t honestly think you’re going to marry this girl!” Ron said laughing.

“And you’re going to marry Hermione?”

“Hermione isn’t like Melody.”

“What do you mean?”

“We both know Melody isn’t the kind of girl you bring home to the family,” Ron said as a chair slid on the floor. Melody assumed one of them had stood up and leaned out the window to see into the dungeon. She could see nothing.

“Well, I don’t have any family to impress now, do I?” Harry said.

“You used to have mine, but not since she came along.”

“Maybe it’s for the best, then.”

There was another scratch against the floor and Ron said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ron, you’re the one who broke her heart!”

“It wasn’t my fault!”

“I know! It was Hermione’s, and you’re telling me that Melody is the one with faults!”

Ron’s voice shook slightly as he said, “Don’t bring Hermione into this!”

“Then leave Melody out of it!”

“Harry! Think a little! If she hadn’t come here, none of this would have happened! Dammit, Harry! She’s going to be your ruin!”

What came next happened too fast for Melody to assume what was going on. She heard a few chairs slide and then a green flash of light came from the window.

Immediately, Melody called out the window to Harry. Few moments passed before he popped his head out. He was breathing heavily and his eyes were wide.

“What happened?” Melody said anxiously.

“Did you hear what he said?”

Melody nodded.

“Well, then, you know he deserved it.”

“Deserved what?!”

“Well, you know how I blew up at Seamus,” Harry said timidly. “Let’s just say it’s a bit more serious than that.”

“What did you do?” Melody said, her voice tensing slowly.

“Erm … I sort of stunned him.”

“YOU WHAT?!”

“I didn’t plan on it. It just happened.”

“Hurry, levitate his body out onto the ground. Snape will be back soon to check on us,” Melody pleaded before Harry disappeared into the room once again.

Ron’s solid body began to float out the window as Melody heard keys messing with the lock.

“Harry! It’s Snape!” she hissed as Harry lowered Ron to the ground.

Melody was right, and Snape was soon bounding into the room.

“You may go, Chancelle, but I better not catch you sneaking around the halls late at night again, especially not with young gentlemen such as Potter.”

Melody nodded and walked out of the room as quickly as she could without drawing attention. She raced through the halls and out onto the grounds. Ron’s body was lying motionless under the window.

Sitting down beside it, she pulled out her wand and revived him. His eyes soon opened, and he saw that it was Melody standing over him.

She was looking over her boyfriend’s best friend. Harry had just attacked his best friend -- defending her.

No matter how much she tried to sleep that night, she couldn’t. Guilt was rushing through her and it seemed there was only one way to get rid of it: Let Harry be.

Guilt hung over Melody for the next few days. It became so strong that she couldn’t even bear to look Harry in the eye, let alone Ron. Ron was right; she would be his ruin.

It wasn’t till one night that Harry mentioned it. Melody had once again not shown up at the box, and he was growing concerned. She sat in a chair by the fire when he returned from the grounds wet from rain.

“Where were you?” Harry asked coldly.

“I’m sorry, Harry,” Melody said gently looking down at the fire.

Harry pulled another armchair near the fire and sat. Melody fidgeted slightly in her chair.

“What’s wrong, Mel?” Harry asked.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me. There has to be something bothering you.”

Melody hesitated and then finally looked into his eyes. They were full of deep concern. His striking green eyes had gotten to her again, and she looked away to hide the tears.

“It’s all my fault,” she quietly choked out.

“What is?” Harry asked pulling his chair a little closer to Melody’s.

Melody wiped her face and turned to Harry.

“You wouldn’t have attacked Ron if I weren’t here,” she said quickly.

“Don’t listen to what he said, Mel. This is between him and me. There’s no reason for you to worry about it,” Harry said taking her hand.

Melody nodded to satisfy him, but she still didn’t look him in the eyes. Nothing he could say would make her feel better. She ached inside as memories of her first month at Hogwarts ran through her mind. That was before any of the drama, when Harry and Ron insisted on being big brothers to her. She smiled, remembering the first time she met them. It all seemed so far away.

***

Melody was again looking into the two-way mirror.

“Tonks,” Melody hissed into the glass, “Tonks, I really need to talk to you.”

A few moments passed until Tonks’ reflection appeared.

“What is it, Mel? I’m a little busy,” Tonks said very distracted.

"Why? What is it?” Melody heard herself asking.

“Don’t tell anyone, but there has been a sighting.”

“Death Eaters?” Melody asked.

Tonks sighed as her face fell. “No, worse.”

“You don’t mean … ” Melody faded off.

Frowning, Tonks replied, “Yes. I’m sorry, Mel. I really have to go. What is it that you needed?”

Melody sensed the urgency in her voice and decided it wasn’t the right time.

“It is nothing. Go,” Melody said genuinely.

Tonks hesitated, but then was gone. Melody placed the mirror back in her trunk and sat on her bed. Voldemort was back, and Harry was in danger. It was time to take matters into her own hands and help Harry the only way she could. Harry had to forget about her.

***

Moonlight draped into Melody’s dorm as she rose from her sleepless state. Tonight, she would again perform the anti-love spell on another … Harry. If he forgot about Melody, he could focus his energy on more important things.

Her hands shook as she picked up her wand. Putting her cloak on, she prepared herself for the pain. Letting Harry go was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done.

She stood outside in front of Harry’s door. Her finger traced the outline of the handle as she forced herself to carry out the plan. It would only help in the end. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped into the unlit room.

The five beds held sleeping figures that moved gently in their slumber. Her eyes fell on Harry as he turned to lie on his back. Raising her wand above her head, she spun it around the room and everything was still. She sat on the edge of Harry’s bed and peered down at him.

Placing her hand in his, she used the other to twist a strand of his hair. Her hand fell on his scar and she was reminded of her intention.

“It’s for the best,” Melody said placing a hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry, Harry, but you would understand. I only want you safe.”

Melody gazed at Harry’s frozen form as she placed her second hand on Harry’s.

“You can’t even hear me, but when you wake up…I guess, it won’t matter … I love you, Harry.”

Tears ran down her face as she leaned down and kissed Harry on the cheek. After a moment, she pulled her wand from her cloak and pointed it at Harry’s chest. She cast the spell that would end the devotion and take him away.

The room blurred as she quickly unfroze it. She ran from the room in silence, but broke down outside the closed door. Falling to her knees, she buried her face in her hand. Harry was gone.

***

Melody wrapped her arms around herself as she crossed the grounds the next day. Lavender's chatter became mumblings while they neared the Quiddich pitch. Gryffindor played Slytherin, and Melody couldn’t convince Lavender of any reason she wouldn’t go. Her fingertips dug into her ribs as they got closer. She knew the time would come when she would see Harry again, but she didn’t expect it to happen so soon, or in such a sentimental place.

The teams flew onto the field as Melody diverted her eyes in all directions except the field. The students around her chanted as she pushed her hair behind her ear. When she looked up, Harry was flying past her.

It felt like she had gotten the wind knocked out of her. She struggled to breathe as tears formed deep in her eyes. Fighting them, she pulled her cloak closer around her. She didn’t watch anymore of the game and it was soon over.

After reaching the bottom of the stairs, she turned instead of walking straight to the castle. She caught herself walking to the box as she had many times before. This time she would just sit and watch Gryffindors congratulate Harry. He stuck out as he beamed with excitement.

The crowd cleared and the team disappeared into the locker room. She curled into a ball on the bench and sat there until she heard a noise on the stairway, of someone approaching.

The door swung open and Harry trotted in holding the trophy.

“Look, Mel! We did it we won!” Harry exclaimed as he gathered an astounded Melody up in his arms.

She stood in shock as he tried to summon a reaction from her.

“Helloooo ... Mel? Gryffindor just won and you’re just going to stand there?! Let’s go to the party!”

Melody finally woke from her frozen state. “Harry? Do you love me?”

Laughing, Harry shook his head, “I think we’ve gone over this numerous times, but yes. I do.”

“But why?” Melody said, mostly to herself.

“Do I have to go through the list?” Harry asked, growing slightly confused.

“No, I just don’t get it!”

“Get what? Of course I love you.”

“But last night … ”

“What about last night?” Harry said, his suspicion growing.
“It didn’t work?”

“What didn’t work?” Harry asked nervously.

“Harry, sit.”

She led him to a seat in the box and then sat down next to him.

“Before you get angry, I have to explain why I did it, OK?” she said placing her hand on his like she had the previous night.

“Did what?”

“Harry, last night … I performed an anti-love spell on you,” Melody said, looking down at her feet.

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Melody silenced him.

“Listen. I talked to Tonks the other night, and she told me there has been a Voldemort sighting. Well, I was already a little distraught from the whole Ron thing and then this came along ... which only reminded me of how much you have to focus. Harry, I thought if I weren’t a factor anymore that you would be safe.”

Harry was silent. He stood and walked to the corner of the box. Doing the same, Melody slid her arm around his.

“Why didn’t you tell me anything?” he finally said softly.

“I knew you would have just stopped me.”

“Well, it apparently didn’t work anyways.”

Thinking out loud, Melody said, “No. It didn’t.”

Harry turned to Melody and placed his hands on her waist.

“Mel, I’d easily risk my life for you, and you need to understand that.”

“I don’t want you to risk your life for me. Even if it means I can’t have you, I still want you alive.”

“That’s sweet, Mel, but you’re the best part of my life, and if that was taken away from me, there would be no reason left to live.”

“So you think you can beat this thing?”

“What thing?”

“Harry, you and I both know that Voldemort is going to come after you. It may be tomorrow, it may be ten years from now, but you need to be ready.”

“I will be, but not having you isn’t going to help anything. As long as you’re here, I have something to fight for.”

He held her close and stroked her hair. Melody burst into tears.

“I didn’t want the spell to work, Harry. I really didn’t.”

“That’s probably why it didn’t.”

“I’m glad it failed,” Melody said quietly.

***

The weeks melted together, and end-of-the-year exams were soon upon them. Melody and Harry spent less and less time together as they neared, and when they were together, Melody was frantically looking through her notes or a textbook.

Harry brushed off the exams as nothing. According to him, if they could handle O.W.L.s, then he could easily pass these exams. As hard as Melody tried to convince him to study, he refused until exams were only days away.

They walked into Defense Against the Dark Arts the morning of the test. Fleur sat behind the desk leafing through a pile of exams. Harry and Melody found some seats near the back and sat. They dug in the bags for quills and Fleur stood.

“OK, students, zis will be like any ozzer exam, zo let’s get started,” she said as the class frantically scanned their notes.

The tests were passed out and the scratching of quills soon filled the room. Gazing at the questions, Melody seemed to notice a few similarities. Most of the questions she came across were based on facing combat.

After she finished the exam, Melody placed it on Fleur’s desk.

“’ow’d zee test go, Melody?” Fleur asked leaning over her desk.

“Well, Fle…I mean, Professor Delacour, I couldn’t help, but notice that the questions seemed to be geared toward the same thing.”

Fleur nodded, “Zat is how zee ‘eadmaster wanted it.”

Melody opened her mouth to say something, but other students were gathering about the desk waiting to hand in their exam. Instead, she turned and exited the room. Harry was waiting outside when she surfaced.

“That was odd,” he said taking her hand.

“You noticed too, then?” Melody asked, waving to Lavender and Padma.

“I’ve never seen an entire exam about the same area of a subject.”

“Me neither. Fluer said Dumbledore wanted it that way.”

“I see,” Harry said quietly.

“What do you think he meant by that?”

“I think he knows something.”

Melody looked up at Harry, but his eyes were fixed on the wall in the distance. Just by looking at him, Melody could see that something was worrying him.

***

The next day Melody wearily stepped out of the Arithmancy room. Exams had taken a lot out of her and she was glad to see them come to an end. At the moment, there was a party in the Gryffindor common room awaiting her and she trotted along quickly.

Just outside the portrait hole, she was startled as Seamus jumped from his seat.

“Don’t do that, Seamus! You scared me to death!” Melody snarled as Seamus chuckled.

“Sorry, Mel,” Seamus said halting his laughter, “ I just wanted to make sure you got this. Harry wanted me to give it to you before you got caught up in the party.”

“Oh, thank you, Seamus.”

He handed Melody a small bit of parchment and hurried back into the common room. Melody took a seat on the bench and unfolded the paper.

Mel,

Meet me at our spot. I have a surprise for you. See you soon.

Harry

She shoved the note into her bag and hurried back down the hall. She was filled with excitement as she walked out onto the grounds. With this, she stepped into the hardest night of her life so far.

Melody hurried across the damp ground toward the Quidditch pitch. She swelled with excitement as she got closer and closer to the box. Unfortunately, she didn’t know what awaited her. The rain made it gloomy and dark and the fog blurred her vision, but she refused to turn back.

The shadow of the pitch came into sight as she quickened her pace. Something felt wrong about the afternoon. It was far too dark. She wrapped her arms around herself as the pitch came more clearly into view.

She was finally outside the gates when a cloaked figure appeared and a flash of light knocked Melody out.

***

Whispers penetrated the air as Melody struggled to regain full consciousness. Her hands and feet where tied, and a rope around her waist restrained her to a post. A small light appeared in a block of darkness. Once her view cleared, she saw that it was a single wand’s light being muffled by bodies swarming around it.

“I want that last line!” a sharp voice hissed as many of the bodies hurried around the clearing.

Melody was finally taking in her surroundings when the voice’s owner found she was awake.

“Finally, you’re awake,” the voice hissed as he stepped forward.

He pulled the lit wand near his face, and Melody nearly fainted. Before her, stood Harry’s enemy … Voldemort.

“You know, it was quite lucky that you fell for the note,” Voldemort snapped as he began to pace in front of Melody. “If you hadn’t, what would I use for bait?!”

Melody shook, “He won’t fall for that trick twice.”

“He won’t? Oh, but, my dear, he already has. At this very moment he is mounting his broom and coming this way. You don’t think he would miss a chance to be hero, do you?”

To herself, Melody said, “No, Harry.”

“Yes, you had the right idea when you tried to make him forget about you. It’s true. I always hit where it hurts the most.”

Voldemort turned to the cloaked persons pacing the clearing.

“Potter is near! GET HIM!” he shouted.

The Death Eaters hurried away as Voldemort's chortles filled the air. He again approached Melody.

“Perhaps you can help me,” he laughed. “I’ve been informed that there is another line of the prophecy that I think you know. Tell me, Melody … what is it?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Fine. I’ll just get it from your little boyfriend.”

Frantically, Melody said, “He doesn’t know anything either. He never told me anything.”

“Maybe Harry doesn’t want to tell you everything.”

Melody pointed her glare at Voldemort for a long moment until he placed his hand on her cheek.

“Such a pretty girl. Hard to think that your father would do such an ugly thing,” he laughed.

Melody glared, “What are you talking about?”

“Well, you must have noticed it was odd that they moved you to Hogwarts just this year.”

“My father was through with his work in France.”

“Oh, no, dear. His work had just begun.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Voldemort laughed again, “Your father is no more than a pawn. He’s my spy into the Order.”

Melody gasped, “He can’t be.”

“Oh, but he is. I told him to bring you to Hogwarts, and perhaps encourage Harry's and your relationship. Obviously, my plan worked, and you are here.”

“My father would never work for you!"

“You must not know your father then, or your friends.”

Melody was silent a moment until it hit her … Seamus. She looked up in disbelief.

“Yes, innocent little Seamus. I bet you never thought he would turn on you. Well, it seems you can trust no one.”

“The only people I don’t trust are the people who follow you.”

“Yes, but I have again tricked Harry into coming to me by getting him to follow his heart. It seems even that can be misleading.”

A sob escaped Melody as she spoke, “What about Mama? Is she in on this as well?”

“Unfortunately, no, but your father is good with secrets.”

“Stop talking about him!” Melody snapped.

“What? Does it sting to know your father is nothing but a traitor?”

Speaking mostly to herself, Melody said, “But, he was so worried about Harry at Ozzette Square.”

“Yes, but imagine what I would have done if he had let someone else get Harry!”

Melody could hold it no longer and she burst into tears. Her “Daddy” had never said a true word to her in her life. She’d been betrayed.

There was a rustling in the trees and Voldemort turned as several Death Eaters emerged. One carried Harry’s body.

“Harry!” Melody howled.

“Don’t worry, Sweetie, he’s not dead … yet,” Voldemort hissed.

“Let him go! Please, don’t kill him. I’m begging you. You’ve already taken my father. Don’t take Harry too,” Melody pleaded.

Voldemort chuckled and the Death Eaters began to rustle. Melody saw Harry fighting his way through them with his wand at the ready. They held him back as Voldemort grew serious.

“Good, he has his wand -- this way, I can prove to the world that I, Voldemort, can beat Harry Potter even when he is armed!”

“Let Melody go!” Harry yelled.

“But we’ve been having such a nice chat. I think I’ll let her stay,” Voldemort scoffed, “But I’ll let her go if you cooperate, Potter.”

“What do you want?” Harry asked sharply.

“Come on, Potter. I think we both know.”

Harry was confused, “No, I don't. So just let Melody go.”

Voldemort’s voice turned very cold, “Well, then, I think we are going to have to use force,” Voldemort turned to his Death Eaters. “GET ME THAT LINE!!”

The Death Eaters surrounded Harry. Melody howled in anguish as they crowded in closer. She hung her head just as there was another rustle in the trees.

“Good, Bellatrix is here!” Voldemort said stepping toward the trees.

Ron and Hermione stepped out.

“Think again,” Ron said as Hermione began stunning Death Eaters.

Like true friends, they rushed to Harry’s aid. There were flashes of light all over. Ron, Hermione and Harry fought brilliantly until all that were left standing were the three and Voldemort.

“Foolish children,” Voldemort snarled as he pulled his wand from his robes and stunned both Ron and Hermione. They fell to the ground and Voldemort turned his wand to Harry, “It seems you have no help once again, Potter. It’s just you and me … but from now on it shall be just me! Avada-“

Melody screamed and looked away.

“Hold it Voldemort! Stop right there!” a voice said behind Melody.

Moody hobbled forward and was followed by Lupin, Tonks, Mr. Weasley and Snape. All five wands were pointed directly at Voldemort, and the Order soon surrounded Voldemort.

“I’m not afraid of a little riffraff. Get out of my way!” Voldemort hissed.

“No, but you should be,” Lupin smirked.
Dumbledore stepped forward. Taking a step back, Voldemort cringed in Dumbledore’s shadow.

“No, you won’t take me like this,” he hissed, and with a twirl of his cape Voldemort Disapparated.

Melody woke the next day in the hospital wing. Only two beds away from her, lay Harry. He was leafing through a book as Melody sat up.

“You’re up,” he said putting the book down.

“What happened?”

“You fainted after Voldemort Disapparated,” he answered through clenched teeth.

“He got away?”

Harry nodded, “Right before I got the chance to kill him too.”

Those words sat with Harry awhile as Melody struggled to remember the night before. After a few moments, she recalled the events of the night.

“Harry, I’ve got to speak with Dumbledore. My father is a spy!”

“Dumbledore knows, and your father was sent to Azkaban this morning,” Harry said.

“What are you doing in here? You look fine,” Melody said after a short pause.

“I don’t know. I would be here anyway,” he said smiling at Melody.

“Don’t get corny on me now,” Melody joked.

They laughed as Dumbledore entered the wing.

“Good to see you are both in good spirits,” he said calmly, taking a seat near Melody’s bed.

“Yes, sir,” Melody replied.

“Harry, will you please excuse us?” Dumbledore asked.

Harry nodded and exited the room.

“I’m sorry about your father, Melody,” Dumbledore said stroking his beard.

Melody nodded, “I can’t believe him.”

“Neither can I,” Dumbledore said softly, “Your mother is taking it quite hard.”

“Is she okay, Headmaster?”

“Yes, but…she wanted me to tell you that she is sending you back to Beauxbaton.”

Melody’s heart sank. She was afraid this would happen. Her mother had always wanted to live in France permanently, but why did it have to happen now.

“Why is she sending me back?” Melody finally choked out.

“She is going home to live with her sister, and she wants you near her.”

“No! I won’t go,” Melody howled.

“I wish she would change her mind as well. There is something you can help me with.”

Melody was so distraught that she didn’t catch the last line. Too many things were rushing through her mind. Her breathing was heavy, and her hands shook.

“She will be here to get you tomorrow,” Dumbledore said as he rose.

“I can’t even stay for the feast?”

Dumbledore shook his head, “Your mother wants you to get settled immediately,” and then he left. Harry walked in the doors and took a seat on the edge of Melody’s bed.

Noticing her tearstained face, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“My mother is sending me back to Beauxbaton.”

“What?!”

“I’m sorry, Harry. I have to leave tomorrow.”

Harry looked as if Melody had once again performed the freezing charm on the room, and Melody cried into his shoulder. He tried his best to calm her, but nothing worked and for a brief second, Melody was certain she heard a sob escape his lips.


They plane was filled with voices, but none of it came from Melody. She refused to speak to her mother until they were riding the train to her aunt’s town.

“Why’d you have to transfer me?” Melody finally said through clenched teeth.

Her mother looked up from her magazine, “I just wanted you to be near me, ‘oney. We ‘ave to stick togezzer now,” her mother said, reaching a hand to stroke her hair, but Melody jerked away.

“Mother, you just ripped me away from everything that mattered to me. I hope you’re happy.”

“Oh, Melody, it was just a boy. Zere are plenty ozzer fish in zee sea. What about Marcus?”

“Marcus? Mama, you don’t get it!”

“Melody, he is a fine boy. I think it would be better if you stayed away from Harry.”

Melody was heaving with anger, “Mother, I can’t believe you! You must never have love Father. If you had, you would actually know what I feel like.”

“Melody,” her mother snapped, “before you make your judgments about me, remember that I am the one that was hurt most in all of this.”

“You aren’t listening to me! I love Harry, and if you have a problem with it just say so!”

“Fine! I have a problem with you endangering yourself by being around him!”

Melody jumped to her feet and hovered over her mother, “You know what, Mother. I am not going to take romance advice from someone who can’t even pick a good husband!”

Melody had finally gone too far. Her mother burst into tears as Melody calmed herself and took her seat. After composing herself, her mother said, “You are going to Beauxbaton, and that is final, Melody.”

“I hate you,” Melody said under her breath.

Her mother looked up but said nothing to her. The train came to a stop and her mother gathered her bags. No words were said as they walked into Melody’s aunt’s home.

Melody stiffly walked up to the room prepared for her. She threw her purse on the bed and opened her trunk to unpack. There was no way she could convince her mother to let her go back to Hogwarts. The trunk before her was filled with objects that only reminded her of home. She attempted to unpack, but her rage got the best of her and she threw her trunk, sending everything flying. She could hear people moving downstairs, but she hurried to lock the door. Her chest heaved as she paced the room trying to calm her. Shards of glass lay on the floor, because of a framed picture.

A portrait of Harry, Ron and Hermione was lying on the floor next to a destroyed frame. She quickly began picking up and discarding of the pieces. Once the floor was clear of the hazards, her hand fell upon the photo. She sunk from her knees to the floor and sat gazing at the picture. No matter what, she would again be in Harry’s arms. Soon he would be at Grimmauld Place, and she would be able to sneak away to see him. In weeks, she would be able to Disapparate, and nothing could stop her from looking into his perfect green eyes.