<*> Don't You Trust Me? <*>

Don't You Trust Me?

Maturity: Kissing, death scene, blood. Basically the same thing you find in the HP books.
Fantasy: Wizards and witches, werewolves, etc; As mentioned above, HP stuff.


I strolled through the hilly countryside, my head filled with absent-minded thoughts. I was in a very vague mood, and for some silly reason, I sensed excitement and adventure in the upcoming moments of this sunny September Saturday.
I gazed out at the castle, wishing Mum and Dad would have let me go. But no. The best school in all of England - in the whole world, probably - was not good enough for their gifted daughter. She had to be taught by highly trained private tutors.
I clenched my left hand tightly around the polished cherry wood wand, and it emitted green sparks. I sighed, hoping no one at Hogsmade had seen. Or even Hogwarts, for that matter! I was pretty close, I wouldn’t be surprised if -
Suddenly, voices and the sound of whooshing broomsticks filled the air. I panicked and dove behind a bush, but I knew someone had already seen me. The conversation that came next confirmed that.
“What’s wrong, Draco?” a thick voice asked.
“Yeah, why’d you stop?” Another voice replied, sounding quite as stupid as the last.
I crunched down lower, my eyes squeezed shut.
“Crabbe, Goyle, go back.” a drawling voice commanded casually. The whooshing sound of broomsticks growing quieter told me that Crabbe and Goyle had obediently left. I stayed crouched behind the bush.
“I saw you go dive behind the bush, I know you’re here.” the drawling voice said again. I heard footsteps coming closer and decided it would be best to give in and just show myself.
I stood up and slowly turned to face the boy. He was tall and thin, with hair such a light shade of blonde that at first glance it looked white. This would have made any other person look downright horrible and ghastly, but it suited this boy well. He looked to be about 16, same age as me. His eyes were searching me, taking in my appearance. I let my left hand fall from behind my back and I saw him staring at the wand, comprehending that I was, indeed, a witch.
“You don’t go to Hogwarts, by any chance?” the boy inquired, taking a step forward so that he was about two feet away from me.
“No… I wish… but my parents… what’s your name?” I finally asked.
“Malfoy. Draco Malfoy.” the boy smiled, which enhanced his good looks.
Malfoy… I had heard the name before. His father must work for the ministry, like mine. I thought.
“And yours?” Draco asked, leaning on his broomstick and staring at me with curiosity.
“Oh, yes, sorry. My name is Melody, Melody Carnka.” I said, nervously awaiting his reply.
“You wouldn’t happen to be… the Melody Carnka, teenage witch prodigy, would you?” Draco asked with a smile. I was surprised. Usually, when I told people who I was, they either fainted or asked for my autograph.
“Yes… I do happen to be… the Melody Carnka.” I said with a dramatic flourish, throwing my arms out. Draco laughed.
“So, what are you doing out here?”
“I could ask you the same question, but, nevertheless. I live nearby, just thought I’d take a walk, let the stress off… but I’d never imagined I’d meet a Hogwarts student. You’re in Slytherin?” I assumed, pointing at the Slytherin emblem on his robes.
Draco nodded with a smile.
“You know,” I said, “my Mum had the Sorting Hat brought over to my house about a month before the first year would’ve started, and had me sorted..” I paused.
“Le’me guess,” Draco asked, “Ravenclaw?”
I smirked. “That’s what my parents wanted me to be in. Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, that is. But the hat… placed me in Slytherin.”
Draco looked up in surprise. “Really?”
I nodded proudly. “Yes. I was quite pleased - after all, only the best get into Slytherin.” I paused, waiting for Draco to take that in. He smiled at the hidden compliment, and I continued. “Of course, Mum and Dad would not settle for anything besides Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, so they got me private tutors. I’ve spent these past six years wishing I had been allowed to be in Slytherin, so I could be in Hogwarts.”
Silence fell between us for a few moments.
“So, you would’ve been a sixth year - I am, too - and we would’ve been in the same house.” Draco said rather sullenly, looking a little like he was mad at my parents for not allowing me to go to Hogwarts.
I nodded.
Several minutes later, Draco broke the silence.
“Have you ever ridden a broomstick before?”
I indeed had, in fact, I had my own private Quidditch tutor. However, I shook my head no.
“I have my broom, we can go for a ride, if you want.” Draco offered. I smiled. This was the response I had been hoping for.
“I’d like that.”

[Chapter 2: Under the Stars]

The wind was roaring in my ears. I was riding on the back of Draco's broom, holding onto him, so that I wouldn’t fall off. That was my excuse, anyway.
Draco was a great flier. Every now and then, he'd do a reckless stunt to impress me (or get me to hold on tighter - I wasn't sure which.) I was doing a good job of pretending I had never flown before - screaming and holding on tightly when Draco flipped the broom upside-down or went into a fast, steep dive.
We had been flying for nearly an hour now, over Hogsmade and around the mountains. Draco pulled the broom into a dive and I screamed again. It was quite enjoyable pretending to be helpless.
The broom slowed and we stopped just above the ground. We stayed hovering in midair for a moment, and Draco looked back at me with a grin. I returned the smile, then reluctantly released him and stepped back onto solid ground.
"So how did you like your first broom ride?" Draco asked, sitting down beside me on the grassy hill.
"It was excellent. You're a great flier, Draco." I replied with a smile.
"I'd bet you'd be better." Draco murmured.
I knew this was a huge compliment - Draco did not seem the type of person who liked to admit that they weren't better than everyone else.
"Can you teach me how to fly?" I asked. Draco's eyes lit up.
"Oh, yeah, sure!" He exclaimed, jumping up. "I'll demonstrate some moves first and explain them."
I nodded. Draco mounted the broom and kicked off, rising higher and higher. I watched him fly around, shouting the names of the moves and how to perform them. I wasn't really listening - I knew it all by heart. I gazed at Draco, sitting high in the slowly darkening sky atop his broom, talking and not knowing that I wasn't paying any attention. I let my mind slip into daydream mode, my imagination roaming free.
The next thing I knew, Draco was landing, telling me to just fly around a little bit to get the hang of it. I smiled and took the broom.
I kicked off, rising high into the air. I floated around slowly, gazing down at Draco. "I'm going to dive." I announced.
"What?! Melody, no, don't, you'll kill yourself - !" Draco yelled, looking extremely worried. Of course, he didn't know that I had spent years learning to fly with an instructor that was on a professional Quidditch team.
I angled the broom downwards and started picking up speed as I dove. A foot from the ground I pulled the broom back up sharply, then slowly floated back down. As I touched the ground, I grinned at Draco's gaping face.
"You just - that was - I thought you would - wow!" Draco stuttered, impressed. I jumped off the broom and hugged him. "You're a great teacher, Draco!" I exclaimed. Draco flushed slightly and smiled.
I sat down on the grassy hill once again and stared at the Hogwarts castle in the distance.
"How'd you get out here, anyway? Isn't there security?" I asked.
"Secret passageway into Hogsmade. Crabbe, Goyle, and I snuck out." Draco informed me with a mischievous grin.
"Well, I'm glad you did. Today was amazing..."

Some time later, the sun was setting. Draco and I had been so caught up in talking; we had hardly realized how late it was getting. After Draco finished telling a story about the time Buckbeak had attacked him, we sat in silence, watching the sun set.
It was a beautiful sight. A glowing orange orb, sinking behind the majestic mountain range. The glimmering rays disappeared one by one, until there was just a sliver of sun left to be seen.
"I’d better be getting back." Draco said with a sigh, standing up.
"Me, too." I murmured, standing also.
"I may or may not be able to come tomorrow; I've got loads of homework to do. Three essays and it's only the first week! I hope I can come, though. If not, I'll be back next Saturday." Draco sighed, staring back at the castle. It was glowing through the darkness, the only thing lighting the sky, seeing as the sun had set.
"Although..." Draco said, turning back to me slowly, a grin on his face, "I don't think one more ride on my broom could do much harm."
I giggled. "So get on!"
Draco mounted the broom and I got on behind him. We rose up into the sky, flying in the glistening light of the crescent moon. The stars twinkled in the distance. We spiraled and dipped, but this time I did not scream, just held on to him tighter. Draco guided the broom higher and higher up, and then slowly we drifted back down. I leaned my head on his back and let my imagination roam free once again, although I didn’t see how my daydreams could get much better than this.
When we said our goodbyes, before he left, I added, "Just so you know... I've been playing Quidditch since I was five." I said simply. "That wasn't my first time on a broomstick."
"But, why'd you tell me it was? And you seemed so scared, clinging onto me like that!" Draco said, surprised and confused.
"I'm a good actress, Draco. After all, you did think I was holding onto you because I was scared..." I smiled, turned around, and skipped of into the night, but not before I saw the huge smile break out across Draco's face.

[Chapter 3: Rules and Punishment]

I skipped through the front door of our manor joyfully, reminiscing the past evening. Flying under the stars with Draco... it had been wonderful.
"Where have you been?!" My father's angry voiced roused me out of the fond memories. He was standing in the hallway outside my bedroom, my worried Mum behind him.
I bit my lip. Uh-oh.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?!" Father asked, his face reddening.
"Uhm, no, actually, I don't." I replied calmly.
"It's nine o’clock!" Father screamed, "You missed dinner!! Your mother was worried sick!! What the heck were you doing out there?!"
"I... I was practicing." I lied. "I was working on the new spells I learned yesterday."
"Well don't do that again!! Your curfew... back... dinner..." Father started to sway on the spot a little and Mum held him upright.
"I'm sorry, Melody, sweetie, he had a bit too much drink, he's a tad overexcited. Please just remember to come back for dinner next time..."
I nodded. Mum smiled and gently escorted Father (who was now blubbering nonsense) back into their room.
I sighed, relieved that I hadn't been punished, and walked into my room.
It was decorated all in green and silver, a constant reminder to my parents that they had kept me from Slytherin - and from Hogwarts. There was a crackling fireplace on one wall, a queen-size bed (with green and silver sheets), a bookcase, a desk, a green rug, a tall mirror, and my owl's cage. On the walls I had hung a banner with the Slytherin emblem on it. Needless to say, my parents hated my room.
I stood in front of the mirror and examined my reflection. I was wearing jeans, a dark green three-quarter-sleeve shirt, and green Converse shoes. My bright green eyes were sparkling with the memories of tonight. My curly chestnut hair was up in a bun, and two ringlets had fallen out, framing my face. I didn't want to sound vain, but I looked gorgeous.
I sat down at my desk and pulled out a small piece of parchment and a silvery quill. I sat thoughtfully for a moment, gazing out the window, and then wrote:

Draco - I just wanted to say again what an excellent time I had with you. Even though it wasn't my first broom ride, it was my favorite. I hope to see you tomorrow. I can meet at 7 PM, what about you? Please reply. Love, Melody

I read the note over several times. My handwriting was small, neat, and written in emerald green ink.
I glanced over at my owl, Mischief. She was a beautiful black owl, and was staring at me intently with her large eyes, ready to deliver the letter.
I opened her cage and held out my arm. She landed on it and held out her leg for me to tie the letter on. I did so, then opened my window.
"Take this to Draco Malfoy. He's at Hogwarts." I whispered. Mischief blinked to show that she understood, then took off out the window, flying in the direction of Hogwarts.
Just then, my door opened.
"Who are you writing to, Melody?" Mum asked. I noticed how her voice was loving and calm, not tense and strict as usual.
"Well... first of all, Mum, I want to tell you that tonight, I wasn't practicing -"
"Yes, sweetie, it was quite obvious. So what were you really doing?" Mum asked, sitting down on my queen-sized bed.
"Well, I was just walking, and then..." I paused, and then said dramatically, "He came."
"He who?" Mum asked with a smile. I sat down next to her.
"Draco. Draco Malfoy." I said, sighing dreamily.
Mum's smile faltered. "Melody, you should know that Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, is a Death Eater, and I wouldn't be surprised if Draco is, too."
"No, Mum, Draco's much too nice for that! He was very kind to me, and he's so funny and caring too! We flew on his broom, and - !"
"You flew on his broom with him?!" Mum looked startled. "Melody, he could've abducted you and brought you to You-Know-Who, and goodness knows what would've happened!" Mum shrieked.
"Mum! Draco's not a Death Eater!" I exclaimed. "Just because his father -"
"Melody, I do not like you seeing this Draco Malfoy!"
"Mum!! Just listen, please - !"
"I forbid you to see Draco Malfoy and that is final!" Mum shouted. She walked swiftly out of my room, slamming the door behind her.
I threw myself facedown onto my bed and let the tears come. This wasn't fair! I really liked Draco, and just because his father's a Death Eater doesn't mean Draco is dangerous, too!
A rush of wings and a familiar hoot made me roll over. Mischief was perched on the windowsill, a note tied to her leg. I got up and untied it, thanked her, and walked back over to my bed, reading the note.

Melody - I’ll be there. Love, Draco

It was scrawled on a piece of scrap parchment, and looked like it had been written quickly before anyone had the chance to read it. I smiled and hid the paper in my diary.
I was going to be there, too - no matter what Mum said.




Table Of Contents
Chapters 1 to 15: all of page 1 & post #1 of page 2
Chapter 16: page 8, post #1
Chapter 17: page 18, post #3
Chapter 18: page 18, post #8


Charrie Pictures! This is just so fun I can't resist making all the characters xD
Melody!
Astoria!
Draco! Sort of! xD
Potter. *shudders with dislike* xD

[Chapter 4: A First Impression]

I pulled the hood of my emerald green cloak over my head and stowed my wand in my pocket. Mum and Dad were out tonight; it was their anniversary; I was free to do as I pleased.
I sprinted all the way to the bush where Draco and I had first met. I collapsed on the ground, clutching a stitch in my side, wishing I could Apparate. A few moments later, Draco showed up on his broom.
"Why didn't you just fly here?" he asked, helping me up.
"I wanted an excuse to fly with you again." I smiled slyly. Draco grinned.
"Then let's fly."
I pulled my cloak off, making sure my wand was still in the pocket of my jeans, and then got on the broom behind Draco.
And we took off into the night sky once again.
"You know, my Mum forbid me to see you. But I snuck out anyway." I told Draco.
"Why'd she forbid you to see me?" he asked, looking slightly apprehensive.
"Well... she said... she said your father was a Death Eater." I said quietly. Draco did not reply. I took a deep breath and added in one quick rush, "And she said that you were probably a Death Eater too."
Draco gasped and lost control of the broom. His face was frozen with fear. The broom started falling, roaming side to side freely. I grabbed the broom from behind Draco and steadied it. Draco blinked quickly a few times, and then regained control.
"Sorry..." he mumbled, flushing deeply.
"You... you're not a Death Eater, are you?" I asked quietly.
Before Draco could respond, there was a commotion from the ground. Three people were standing below us, one of them shouting and pointing. Draco took one look at them and scowled.
"Potter." he said scathingly.
We dipped down and hovered about ten feet above the ground. I peered over Draco's shoulder and got a closer look at these three snoops.
Harry Potter was indeed one of them. His lightning scar was visible through his untidy black hair, his green eyes bright as he laughed at Draco, something about "finally caught you in the act". A tall and gangly red-head boy was standing next to Harry, a slightly amused and exasperated look on his face. Finally, a girl with bushy brown hair was staring at me and Draco, with a puzzled expression.
Draco finally spoke, cutting Harry's jeers off.
"Get a life, Potter. Got nothing better to do with your time than spy on me, now? Your jealousy has reached a new level. And you, Weasly, " Draco sneered, talking now to the red-head boy, "did Potter say he'd pay you if you tagged along? He could give you one of those signed photos from back in second year, it'd still be worth more than your whole house." Draco laughed. Weasly grew very red in the face and lunged at Draco, but the bushy-haired girl held him back. "Mudblood Granger, keeping your ickle Ronniekins from a fight? It's too bad - I was hoping his wand would backfire and he'd spend all day barfing slugs again." Draco laughed, reminiscing.
I was slightly taken aback. Not that this wasn't extremely funny, but it was a whole different side of Draco I had never seen. I must've been staring at him incredulously, because Granger spoke up.
"I don't think your girlfriend likes your attitude." she said quietly. I flushed.
"She's not my -" Draco stopped mid-sentence, and then said, "Leave Melody out of this!"
Granger's eyes widened. "Do you mean... is that really... I thought so but I wasn't sure... that's Melody Carnka! Oh, I've always wanted to meet her!" Granger gasped.
"Well, you can't like her now!" Harry spat ferociously, "She's with Malfoy! She's the enemy!"
I snorted, but quickly blushed, seeing as no one else found this funny.
"What're you doing out here, anyway, Malfoy? Eh?" Weasly demanded, staring at Draco suspiciously. Draco glanced at me, not sure what to tell him. I turned to Weasly, narrowing my eyes.
"He came to see me, do you have a problem with that, Weasly? And I suggest you all get out of here before Granger pees herself, she's so excited to see me." I snarled. Granger flushed with embarrassment.
"Spoken like a true Slytherin." Draco murmured, smiling at me. Both of us were so caught up in staring at each other that we didn't notice Weasly and Potter pointing their wands at us.
"STUPEFY!" Weasly roared, the curse missing my right ear by inches.
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Potter roared. The jinx hit me squarely in the forehead and I felt my body stiffening up. My arms snapped to my sides, my head locked in place. My legs bound together and I fell sideways off the broom. I fell to the ground with a sickening crunch, and stared up at Potter with loathing, my eyes the only thing able to move. Draco stared at me in horror for a moment, then jumped off the broom, pulling his wand out as he went, and started shooting curses and jinxes at Potter and Weasly.
Suddenly, a loud voice boomed over the fight. "Dueling, are we?" Severus Snape (my Occlumency teacher) said, standing in between Draco, Potter, and Weasly.
"Mr. Malfoy, please explain yourself. Including why you are off castle grounds." Snape said, turning to Draco.
"I was, er, here to see Melody, Professor, sir. Then Potter and Weasly attacked, and I think Granger was probably egging them on -"
"LIAR!" Weasly roared.
" - and Potter did a Body-Bind on Melody, sir, and I had to fight back after that, Professor, sir."
Snape's eyes traveled to where I was lying, motionless, on the ground. "Ah. Miss Carnka." he walked swiftly over to me and performing the counter-curse. I jumped up and ran to Draco's side, ignoring the shooting pain in my right arm.
"Draco's telling the truth, Professor! We were just minding our own business, flying on his broom, and then they showed up and started yelling at us! W-we told them to p-please go away," I stuttered in an upset voice, my acting skills kicking in, "b-but, they j-just hit us w-with c-c-curses!" I sobbed, then buried my head in Draco's shoulder and preformed my highly believable fake-crying act (complete with tears and sniffles).
"I see. Potter, Granger, Weasly, I will inform Professor McGonagall of your off-campus wanderings. I'll suggest a week's worth of detention, at the very least." Snape said, smiling evilly. "And Draco, I supposed I'll have to punish you, also... yes, detention with me tomorrow night."
Draco smirked at the others, who were making noises of protest.
"All right, the four of you, I will escort you back to the castle." Snape said, starting to walk away, "And Miss Carnka, I suggest you head back home."
Potter, Weasly, and Granger disgruntledly followed Snape down the hill to Hogsmade, complaining loudly about Snape's biased punishment. Draco gathered his broom and cloak, and I sighed.
"Well, I guess this means we won't be seeing each other again." I said sadly.
"Are you kidding?! You think one detention with Snape is gonna stop me from sneaking out?!" Draco laughed. I smiled. He was such the bad-boy type, but I liked that about him.
"Alright! I'll send you an owl." I said brightly.
"Okay! See ya." Draco turned and sprinted down the hill to catch up with the others; Snape had threatened him with another detention if he didn't get down there immediately.
I smiled, even though my right arm was hurting even more now. I picked my cloak up in my left hand and headed back home, the day’s events crashing around in my head like breaking waves on a sunny beach.

[Chapter 5: Break and Mend]

Upon looking at my arm, I discovered that it was now far more bent back than it was supposed to be. The pain was unbearable, and by the time I reached the doorway, I was in tears. I let myself in the manor with my left hand and ran through the hallways, screaming for help.
A pair of huge green eyes peered out from a doorway, and then my house elf came rushing over to me.
"Twinkly!" I exclaimed, "I think I've broken my arm!"
The pinkish elf teetered slightly where she stood. "Oh, no. Master gave Twinkly orders to make sure Mistress was safe, and she has hurt herself. Twinkly has failed her master! Twinkly is a bad house elf! Twinkly must now go throw herself out of the highest window, for Twinkly is a bad house-elf, and she deserves to be punished!"
"Twinkly! Don't do that, it's a waste of time, and besides, you would kill yourself. Just take me to Hogwarts! They can help me there!"
"Bad - Twink - ly - bad - Twink - ly - bad -"
"TWINKLY!" I screeched, pulling the elf away from the wall upon which she was banging her head. "Take me to Hogwarts! That's an order!"
"Y-yes, Mistress!" Twinkly said, rushing to my side and grabbing onto the leg of my jeans. There was a loud crack and the next thing I knew, we were standing in the entry hall to Hogwarts.
I rushed forward but stumbled, weakened by the injury and feeling faint from looking at it. Just then, Draco was walking up from the dungeons.
"Melody! Oh, my God, your arm, Potter, I'll get him for that - we gotta get you to Madam Pomfery!" Draco said, grabbing my unbroken arm and leading me up to the hospital wing.
People gaped at us as we passed.
"I could've sworn that was Melody Carnka!" one Ravenclaw fourth-year whispered excitingly to her friend. "But why was she with Malfoy?"
"Hey, look, there's Draco, I heard he got detention for dueling Potter - "A Slytherin seventh-year informed his posse.
We even passed right by Granger, who went white at the sight of my arm.
Finally, we reached the hospital wing.
"Madam Pomfery, this is Melody, Melody Carnka, she fell off a broom when Potter cursed her, and she broke her arm, I think."
"Another broomstick accident! I keep telling people to just stop flying, it's much too dangerous! Come here dear, let me see your arm..." Madam Pomfery pointed to a bed, which I sat down on as she examined my arm.
"Yes, you broke your elbow, looks quite serious, bending it back like that, but I can fix it in a jiff. I'll be keeping you overnight, just to be safe." Madam Pomfery took out her wand and tapped my arm, muttering a spell that I couldn't hear. My arm snapped back to it's proper location and most of the pain subsided immediately.
"Now, you need rest!" Madam Pomfery said, waving her wand. The blankets on the bed sprang up and flew on top of me, even though I was still sitting up.
"Lay down! Don't be ridiculous and sit there with a blanket over your head..." Madam Pomfery said with a hint of laughter in her voice.
I did as I was instructed, then asked, "Can Draco stay?"
Madam Pomfery sighed. "Alright, but only for a few minutes. Malfoy, don't overexcite her!" Madam Pomfery warned, then went into her office and shut the door.
"Potter better be happy he broke your arm, because when I get my hands on him, I swear I'll -"
"Draco! I think you've gotten into enough trouble for the week." I smiled.
"But if I just hex him from behind, he'll never know what hit him!"
"No." I said firmly.
"But he broke your arm! That must've hurt a lot, I would want revenge if I were you!"
"I do, trust me. But I just don't want you picking a fight, you could get hurt!"
Draco sighed. "Alright, I won't fight Potter."
"Or Weasly." I added, catching the mischievous 'I found a loophole' grin in Draco's eye.
"Darn, I was hoping you wouldn't catch that."
We both burst out laughing. Just then the hospital doors opened and Granger burst in, dragging a struggling Potter and Weasly behind her. As soon as she let go of them, they tried to make a break for it, but Hermione caught them by the back of their robes and dragged them back.
"Harry would like to apologize for jinxing you-"
"No I wouldn't! I'm glad I did! She was being -"
"And Ron," Granger continued as if she hadn't heard Potter, "says he's sorry for starting the fight in the first place - "
"What?! I didn't start the bloody thing - "
"And, " Granger pressed on, now shouting over the other two's complaints, "I would like to inform you that we've all received two weeks of detention."
"Why tell her that?! Hermione, come on, let's go!" Harry broke free of Granger's grip and bolted out of the hospital wing.
It was already funny enough, but it just completed the whole thing when Madam Pomfery can running out of her office and promptly kicked Granger out of the hospital wing; Weasly and Potter were already long gone. Draco and I were doubled over laughing.
"Enough laughing! Melody needs rest!" Madam Pomfery exclaimed.
"No, really, I'm not tired - "
"Rest!! You! Malfoy! You have one more minute!" Madam Pomfery yelled, and then bustled back into her office, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "deranged teenagers".
"Does your arm still hurt?" Draco asked.
"Not really. Not nearly as much as it did before." I replied. I propped myself up on a pillow, a few curly tresses of my chestnut hair coming untucked from behind my ear and falling in front of my eye.
Draco sat down next to me and gently pushed the hair out of my face, gazing deeply into my eyes. He was awfully close to me. My imagination produced an image of Draco and I kissing, but, as fantastic as it was, I shook it out of my head.
"What?" Draco asked, pulling back slightly.
"Huh?"
"You shook your head."
I slapped my hand to my forehead several times. Before I could do it a fourth time, Draco grabbed my hand and stopped me.
"Stop it! You're hurting yourself! What's wrong?" he asked, looking very concerned.
"Uh, oh, um, nothing." I replied quickly, flushing. I glanced down at my hand and my heart leapt with joy - Draco was still holding it.
"Malfoy! Your time is up! Get out! Out!" Madam Pomfery exclaimed.
"Bye. I'll come to see you tomorrow." Draco whispered, giving my hand a quick squeeze. “Okay! Okay! I'm going!" he exclaimed as Madam Pomfery grabbed his ear and started pulling him towards the door. I giggled.
"Now, Melody, get some sleep." she said rather wearily as she waved her wand, extinguishing the lights.
I rolled over on my side, eyes staring blankly ahead, my imagination soaring.

[Chapter 6: A Decision]
I awoke slowly, not opening my eyes right away. I was feeling very peaceful, and I didn't want the world outside my body to disrupt that peace.
Gradually, I became aware that someone was sitting next to me. I could hear their breathing. I assumed it was my parents.
A hand gently took my hand and held it, a hand that most certainly did not belong to my mother or father. My heart raced, and last night's images came flooding back into my head. With some difficulty, I concealed my smile.
"You must really like that girl, Malfoy - you've been here for at least forty five minutes and she isn't about to wake up." I heard Madam Pomery chuckle.
"Yeah..." Draco replied absentmindedly, and his fingers intertwined with mine. I felt his other hand push my hair back and start stroking my cheek. I couldn't stop myself any longer; I let a smile break out on my face.
Quite suddenly, there was a loud noise that I assumed to be the hospital wing door bursting open. A moment later I heard my father roar, "Get away from my daughter!" and Draco's hands pulled away quickly.
I heard my parents rushing over.
"How dare you," Mum screeched, obviously talking to Draco, "how dare you lay a hand on my daughter! I specifically told Melody that you were dangerous, that you weren't to be trusted - in fact, I forbid her to see you! And now here you are, holding her hand while she unsuspectingly sleeps! If Melody were awake right now, she would be disgusted!"
I was fuming. How heartless could Mum be?!
Draco spoke up, sounding a little frightened, "Actually, Ma'am, I don't think she would be disgusted. Last night - "
"I bet you were the one who broke her arm, weren't you?!" Mum roared.
"That was POTTER! Potter jinxed her, Potter was the one who made her break her arm - "
"Potter?! Harry Potter?! As if!" Mum snorted. "You, on the other hand, are a rotten, evil, slime ball of a person, and this sort of thing is exactly what I would expect from -"
I couldn’t take it any longer. "MUM!" I screamed, sitting up and opening my eyes. "Stop yelling at Draco!" I demanded.
"But Melody, you don't understand!" Mum exclaimed. "While you were asleep - "
"I've been awake for the past five minutes! I heard everything! I understand perfectly! And yes, Potter was the one who broke my arm! It wasn't Draco at all - in fact, he was protecting me!" I yelled. Tears were streaming down my face.
"Protecting -" Mum sputtered, "He was protecting you?!" she asked in disbelief.
"Yes! He's so kind, so much better than that wretched Harry Potter! Potter jinxed me out of hatred for Draco, just to provoke him!"
"But I simply cannot let you befriend this Malfoy boy, no matter what!" Mum exclaimed.
"Why won't you let me just be happy, just for once?!" I sobbed, a bit dramatically.
"But sweetie, you always seem so cheerful! You're always smiling, and, and, and you never told us... aren't you always happy?" Mum asked stupidly.
"Always happy?! Mum, I haven’t been truthfully happy since the day you told me I wasn't allowed to go to Hogwarts. I've been faking smiles... for six years..." I sobbed even harder, getting a bit carried away, "But these last few days, I've been so close to real happiness, and now you're just ripping it away all over again!" I sobbed hysterically. Okay, so I was really overreacting at this point.
"I had no idea..." Mum was at a loss for words.
"Well..." Father said slowly, "If it's Hogwarts you want... I suppose we've kept you away long enough..."
"Oh, thank you, Father!" I exclaimed, hugging him. "Thank you so much!"
Mum looked disturbed. "But we can't have her walking around with this Malfoy scum!" she exclaimed in horror.
"I'm still here..." Draco quietly pointed out.
"Mum! Please! Draco can be trusted!" I pleaded. Draco nodded vigorously, and I laughed.
"Well of course he wants you to believe that! Death Eaters are trained to be deceptive, Melody!" Mum cried.
There was a sharp gasp from Madam Pomfery, who was standing in the middle of the room. "That is a very grave accusation to make! You have just suggested that a sixteen-year-old Hogwarts student is a trained minion of You-Know-Who!" Madam Pomfery looked thoroughly disturbed.
"Look at the boy!" Mum contradicted loudly, "Look at his history! His father is a Death Eater, and he's in Azkaban, in fact! His entire family is rooted so deeply in the Dark Arts -"
"Enough!" Madam Pomfery declared ferociously. "The poor boy! How frightened you've made him!"
Indeed, Draco was extremely pale, and his ice-blue eyes were wide with horror. He was practically shaking.
"Yes, Penny, you were a bit harsh..." Father said quietly.
"You aren't seriously going to allow her to go to Hogwarts, are you?!" Mum cried desperately.
"Yes, I am." Father said. "I suppose I should go see Dumbledore about this, but I am positive he will allow it. Yes, now, Twinkly?"
There was a loud crack and Twinkly appeared.
"Master called?" she asked.
"Yes, thank you. Please go gather Melody's belongings - she will be staying at Hogwarts this year." Father said.
"Can't she at least be in Ravenclaw?!" Mum pleaded as Twinkly disapparated.
"Come on, dear. Let's go speak to Dumbledore..." Father lead Mum, who was quite nearly in hysterics, out of the hospital wing.
As soon as they left, I jumped up and threw my arms around Draco.
"Isn't this fantastic?! I'm staying at Hogwarts!"

[Chapter 7: The Truth Is Hidden]
"No, Draco, you spelled it wrong again. It's i-n-f-e-i-r-i not i-n-f-e-e-r-i." I tapped the misspelled word with my wand and it self corrected of the parchment.
Draco and I were sitting in two green velvet armchairs by the fireplace in the Slytherin common room. I was looking over his essay for Snape on Infeiri, which was due tomorrow.
"Hi, Draco!" Pansy giggled, bouncing up behind Draco's chair. Her smile faltered when she saw me.
"What is she doing here?" Pansy hurriedly asked.
"Correcting my essay..." Draco replied with no emotion. He seemed used to this. I felt bad for him.
"I can help you!" Pansy practically killed herself trying to grab the parchment, but I snatched it off the side table and rolled it up.
"Okay, Draco, it's all corrected." I said as I handed it back to him, watching Pansy warily.
"Thanks. You're a lifesaver, Mel." Draco replied with a grin.
"What about me?! Aren't I just amazing Draco?! And why does she get a cute 3-letter nick-name?! I want one!!" Pansy was nearly hyperventilating.
"Erm... you're cool too... Pan." Draco snickered. He and I burst out laughing as Pansy scowled.
"Not funny!" she exclaimed shrilly, then stormed off in a huff.
"Ha-ha that was funny... Pan..." I laughed. Draco chuckled alongside me, then suddenly stopped, wincing and clutching his left forearm.
"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned.
"Erm... growing pains?" Draco said, sounding more like he was asking me rather than telling me.
"Growing pains at 16... okay..." I shrugged. "So, you're playing in the next Quidditch match, right?" I asked, "I can't wait to see you -”
"Erm, actually, I won't be playing... I've got... er... detention." Draco said rather awkwardly.
"Oh. That's a shame, you're such a great flier, I'd bet you're the best seeker in the school." I grinned, but to my surprise, Draco scowled.
"Potter's already claimed that title." he said bitterly. "Stupid, arrogant Potter, always getting famous everywhere you turn. 'Oh, Potter did this!' 'Potter won that!' 'Potter saved whoever from whatever!' 'Potter's such a hero!' It's pathetic." Draco snarled. I joined in on his rant. Making fun of Potter was a favorite pastime of us Slytherins.
"I know! He thinks he can do anything because of that stupid scar. I don't think having a scar makes a person special, but Potter seems to believe it does." I exclaimed. I, in fact, had a scar on my right ankle in the shape of a crescent moon, but you don't see me acting better than everyone else because of it. That just runs in Slytherin blood.
"One of these days, I'd just love to see the Dark Lord finish him off..." Draco muttered quietly. I gasped, eyes wide.
"You - you don't mean that, do you?" I asked. Draco may hate Potter's guts, but I never though he'd want him dead.
"Well... no... but I really do hate Potter..." Draco said quickly.
"I know. So do I." I replied.
We sat in silence for a few moments, watching the fire crackling merrily in the marble fireplace.
"So..." Draco said slowly, searching around for something to talk about.
"Mum keeps writing me, telling me to stay away from you... yesterday I finally just told her to shut it, because she's horrible, she really is. She just assumes..."
"Oh. Yeah."
"Yeah... she's just been so closed-minded and.. ugh."
"Mhmm."
"You know, Draco, my Mum never did let me make friends. She kept me isolated."
"My parents did the same to me, before I came to Hogwarts..."
"You were my first real friend, Draco."
"You were mine, too." Draco smiled. "Well, you don't have to worry about friends anymore, you're plenty popular here... I know at least twenty boys like you..." Draco mumbled.
"Do they really?" I asked, mildly interested. "Such as who?"
"Oh... you know... a lot of Slytherins... Crabbe does," Draco snickered, "And this bloke from Hufflepuff was staring at you in Herbology the other day..." Draco paused for a moment. You were staring at me in Herbology, too... I thought, concealing my smile. "A few Ravenclaws, too... oh, yeah, and Russell Greenslate, I heard him talking to his friends."
"Ohmigosh, wow."
"I know. It's only been a little while and you're so pop- "
"No, I meant, I can't believe Russell likes me..." I trailed off. Russell was probably the most gorgeous boy any of us had ever seen, and not only was he good-looking, he was smart, funny, kind, and brave; the last was no surprise, as he was in Gryffindor.
"Oh... you like him, then?" Draco asked sullenly.
"Not really... no, I don't. As friends, sure, but not like that." I replied.
"Oh." Draco said, relieved.
"I do like blonde guys, but Russell has dirty-blonde hair and brown eyes. I'm more into the light-blonde hair, blue-eyes type." I smiled slyly, and Draco's ice-blue eyes lit up.
"Any blonde-haired blue-eyed boys you had in mind?" he grinned, coming closer.
"Oh, you know it." I whispered. Draco inched closer, closer, closer...
Two seconds before our lips met, I turned away, not knowing why and hating myself for doing so.
"Well, I suppose I should be... erm... going to bed." I said.
"It's only 11..." Draco pointed out, disappointed.
"Well, you never know, Snape could give a pop quiz, gotta get a good nights sleep." I said stupidly, thinking of the first thing that came to mind. I quickly ran into the girls’ dormitory before I could contemplate going back.
I burst into the room and shut the door behind me quickly. The dormitory already felt like home. The walls were stone, there was a silvery velvet carpet on the floor, and the four beds that stood in the small dorm were round and low to the ground, with green velvet sheets that had the Slytherin 'S' embroidered on them in silver.
I was regretting turning away and even more so regretting leaving Draco alone in the common room, where Pansy could bother him all night. I sat down on my bed, and drew my legs up to my chest and hugged them, my head resting on my knees. I allowed my mind to wander aimlessly, however, it stayed stuck on one person: Draco.
His crystal eyes, piercing, yet so caring at the same time. His cheerful smile, brightening up his face, and which people said they were seeing a lot more of now that I was around...
Suddenly the doors of the dormitory flew opened and Pansy walked in, a smirk on her face. Her eyes glittered deviously when she saw me.
"What?" I asked. She was standing by her bed, just staring at me, and it was downright creepy.
"Oh, nothing... I was just talking to Draco..." she said, opening her diary and staring at one of the many pictures of him she kept there.
"No surprise there..." I muttered under my breath, then said, "And..."
"Oh... nothing... he just told me something..."
"Okay..."
"It's a secret."
"I'm sure it is." I said, rolling my eyes.
"Yes... I can't tell anybody, though, he doesn't want anybody untrustworthy to know..." Pansy started directly at me when she said 'untrustworthy'
"Well, he trusts me, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you told me." I said, unable to hide my interest any longer.
"Sorry, I can't." Pansy smirked.
"Tell me!"
"Nope..." said Pansy, milking this for all it was worth, "I'm just saying... I know something about Draco that you don't."

[Chapter 8: I Have My Suspicions]

I adjusted my messenger bag on my shoulder and proceeded out of the Slytherin common room, my mind swirling. After what happened last night, I wasn't sure what to say to Draco. If I said the wrong thing, everything would be really awkward between us.
Hi Draco, sorry about last night, I got nervous -
No. That wasn't true.
Hey Drakey, last night -
Ew no. Too mushy. It's not like we were dating or anything...
Hey Draco.
That would work. We could just forget last night altogether. That would be much less awkward and -
"Hey Melody!"
"Hey Draco!" I said automatically, and then blushed; it wasn't Draco standing in front of me, but Russell.
"Er, I meant, hi Russell. Sorry, I just - "
"It's okay. Got stuff on your mind?" he said, shaking his bangs out of his adorable dark brown eyes.
"Uh... no?" I said uncertainly.
"Oh. Well, erm, Melody, listen..." Russell looked down at his feet nervously.
"Listening." I said with a slight smile.
"Um, I just wanted to tell you... that I really like you, and, er, yeah." Russell said awkwardly. "But, I mean, it's okay if you don't like me, I mean, not many people do, so erm, yeah." he finished when I didn't reply.
I smiled at his modesty. "Russell, almost every girl likes you. I mean, look at them!" I pointed to a couple of 5th-year Ravenclaws who were staring at Russell and giggling as they passed. They flushed furiously and hurried away when they heard my comment. Russell chuckled a little bit, but quickly silenced.
"If you don't like me you can just say it." he looked forlorn.
I sighed. "Well, the thing is, I'm not sure! I do like you, I do, but, I like someone else more... I really don't know."
"Oh."
"But let's still be friends, okay?" I said hurriedly.
"Okay!" Russell smiled.
We walked down the hallway in silence for a few moments, and then I said, "Russell, you don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but I was just wondering - why do you like me?"
"Oh, well, a lot of reasons." Russell blushed again, but continued, "You're smart, and funny, and you can be really nice, and you're not afraid to be yourself or stand up to anyone, and, also... you're beautiful."
"Aw! Thanks!" I gave him a quick hug as the two of us walked into the Great Hall.
"Well it's true... anyway, see ya around."
"Yup. Bye!" I waved as headed for the Slytherin table and Russell headed for the Gryffindor table. Suddenly, I became aware that about fifty pairs of eyes, fifty pairs of girls' eyes, fifty pairs of jealous-looking girls' eyes, were staring at me. Glaring at me, more specifically.
"Why is everyone staring at me?!" I hissed at my friend Astoria Greengrass as I sat down between her and Draco.
"Uh, hello - you and Russell!" Astoria exclaimed, and I felt a lurch in the pit of my stomach. I glanced worriedly at Draco, who was stabbing a bit of sausage with his fork quite violently, an upset and angered expression on his face.
"Oh, I swear, we're not together! He, erm, he told me that he liked me, and I told him we could be friends, that's all." I tried to stay calm.
"So where did the hugging come in exactly?" Astoria asked suspiciously, twirling a strand of her curly white-blonde hair around her finger, her crystal blue eyes boring into my green ones.
"Well. Erm... he told me... he told me I was beautiful." I said the last part in a rush, praying that this conversation would be over as soon as possible.
"Hmm..." Astoria said thoughtfully, staring blankly at her pumpkin juice as she got lost in thought. Draco looked ready to hit himself for not calling me beautiful before Russell did.
"Erm, anyway, moving on. What classes do we have today?" I asked. Draco looked marginally less upset as I changed the subject.
"Wha - oh, hang on." Astoria snapped out of her trance and searched through her bag for her schedule.
"Herbology with the Ravenclaws." Astoria said after taking a glance at the schedule. She carelessly shoved it back into her bag after I had verified that she hadn't gotten the days mixed up. Again. Get this straight - she is not a dumb blonde, anything but, in fact, but she has her blonde moments.
"Ugh, I heard we're working on Snargaluff stumps. They're dreadful..." I moaned. The bell rang and Astoria, Draco and I reluctantly got up out of our seats and headed for the greenhouses.
"Did you hear about Katie Bell?" Astoria asked in a hushed voice as we stepped out onto the snowy grounds. Draco suddenly went chalk-white and his grey eyes got wide.
"Yeah that was really weir- Draco! Oh, my gosh, what's wrong?!" I exclaimed, catching sight of him.
"I - I - I - " Draco stuttered.
"What?!" I gasped. I had never seen Draco this freaked.
"Cold." Draco muttered unconvincingly. Astoria narrowed her eyes, and I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she, once again, used her incredible logic (the only smart-factor Astoria beat me at) to figure something out that most people would not.
We stepped inside the greenhouse and the warmth flooded over us; however, Draco was still shaking.
"I have a hunch... but I'm not sure... either that, or his mind is just messed up." Astoria said as the three of us sat down at a Snargaluff stump.
"His mind is not messed up!" I said defiantly, giving Astoria a playful push. She pushed me back. A minute later, we were slapping each others hands in midair in a foolish, girly catfight.
"If you're quite done girls, get to work! Mr. Malfoy might have even finished by now!" Professor Sprout exclaimed. Draco looked up in surprise; he had been zoned out, clearly accomplishing nothing at all.
Astoria, Draco and I sighed and grudgingly picked up out protective goggles, Astoria holding hers at arms length at first as though unfashionableness was a deadly disease. After about a minute of procrastinating (and getting yelled at by Professor Sprout) we all had out goggles on and were sitting around the stump, none of us exactly wanting to dive at it and get scratched up.
"So Melody, you invited to another Slug party?" Astoria asked, prodding the stump warily with her History of Magic textbook.
"Yeah, a Christmas party. I expect it to be quite dull; the only mildly exciting thing that happened so far was that Slughorn introduced us to Gwenog Jones, but of course, as with you both, my family is very well connected, so I had already met Gwenog on several occasions. Plus, Potter's always trailing me and asking me if Draco's up to something. It's getting really irritating..." I rolled my eyes.
"Are you up to something, Draco?" Astoria asked with a smirk.
"No." Draco snapped immediately. For a moment I thought I saw a fleeting look of guilt cross his face. Astoria must've seen it, too; she was narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously.
"Are you sure?" She questioned.
"I'm sure!" Draco exclaimed hotly. To end the conversation, or out of anger, he grabbed Astoria's textbook and dropped it on the Snargaluff stump. The plant promptly tried to rip the book to shreds.
"Hey! Ugh, well, you're acting suspicious." Astoria said while she wrestled the stump for her textbook.
"Give it a break, Astoria. Besides, you're always up to something, too. I mean, we're Slytherins! When are we not up to something?" I laughed.
"What - if - he's - up - to - something - Dark - " Astoria panted, finally freeing her book from the plant. Draco grabbed her Transfiguration paper and shoved it into the stump. Astoria moaned.
"So what if he's up to something Dark? I would still like him even if he was..." I defended Draco. Some of the color returned to his face and he smiled.
"Thanks... that means a lot." he said quietly. He reached his arm across the table and took my hand in his. Warmth spread through my fingers and my heart skipped a beat. We both leaned in a little closer, but suddenly, Astoria put her face in between ours, smirking.
"Hey! You guys give me a great idea. I'm gonna write a book!" Astoria took out a piece of scrap parchment and wrote:
Title of book: Snogging Over The Snargaluff.
Me and Draco burst out laughing and pulled away from each other, but the magic was still there.
The combination of Astoria's shredded essay, her "book", and Draco holding my hand had made my day, and it seemed that nothing could bring me down.

[Chapter 9: A Secret Revealed - Or Not.]
Astoria and I strolled across the frosty grounds in the direction of the Quidditch pitch. Today was the Gryffindor/Slytherin match, so naturally, it was the entire school against us. On our way there, we passed Potter and Weasly. They were talking to Ginny, who, to her brother and Potter's horror, was friends with me.
"...too sore to play!" Ginny was saying, "And even better than that, Malfoy's gone off sick, too!"
I walked closer to Ginny, curious and confused. Sick? Draco said he had detention...
"He's ill? What's wrong with him?" Potter asked sharply, clearly thinking something along the lines of his Draco-is-up-to-something-and-I'm-going-to-find-out-what-it-is scheme.
I walked up to Ginny and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hi, Ginny!"
"Oh, hey Melody! Bad news for your team, two of your best players off." Ginny barely concealed her grin.
"Yes, Draco is good isn't he?" I smiled serenely. "You said he was off sick, right?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"Yup, he's off sick." Ginny said brightly, "Anyway, I gotta go! See you later, Melody!" Ginny waved and departed for the changing rooms.
I rejoined Astoria, completely baffled. Why would Draco say he was sick if he had detention? I posed this question to Astoria, who stopped short as soon as the words had escaped my lips.
"When exactly did he tell you he wouldn't be playing in the match?" she demanded.
"Uhh... a week and a half ago, I think..." I said uncertainly.
"Aha!" Astoria shouted. "That little weasel, I should've known, he wasn't supposed to..." she trailed off into incomprehensible mutters.
"What?!" I asked anxiously.
"I can't believe..."
As Astoria turned to face the castle, lost in thought, I heard an eruption of noise echoing from the direction of the Quidditch pitch.
"Astoria, we're missing the game..." I groaned.
"Shut up, I'm trying to figure something out here!" she snapped irritably. "7th floor." she muttered, pointing up at the castle. From what I could tell, she was pointing to the exact corridor that the Room of Requirement was in.
"What about it?" I asked, less annoyed now that she was actually telling me something.
"That must be where... but he shouldn't... really, he's hopeless... but if I'm correct... but no, he can't do it alone... there's gotta be another explanation... what do you think, Melody?" Astoria turned to me expectantly, as if I was supposed to understand what she had just murmured under her breath.
"So confused." I snapped. We had missed the first five minutes of the game and by the looks of it, we weren’t heading down to watch it anytime soon.
"Never mind, I really shouldn't tell you, you'll get upset." Astoria replied quickly.
"No, I won't." I answered defiantly.
"Yes, you will."
"I really don't think so."
"I really do think so."
"Trust me, I won't freak out."
"Trust me, you will."
"Just tell me -"
"That's a bad idea -"
"No really -"
"I shouldn't -"
"But I can handle it -"
"But I shouldn't -"
"I don't care -"
"You will if I tell you -"
"Ugh!" I exclaimed. "Can we please just forget this and go to the game?" I pleaded.
"You can if you want, I'm gonna go catch Draco."
"Who are you, Potter?! Draco's sick! Or in detention!"
"Trust me, he's not."
"Okay, well, maybe not, but still! What could he possibly be doing?!"
"I can't tell you!"
"Yes, you can!"
"No, I can't!"
"What's so bad that you can't tell me?!"
"You'll get upset!"
"No, I won’t!"
"FINE! Draco's a Death Eater!!" Astoria screamed. She clapped her hand over her mouth as my eyes went wide.
"What?!" I roared.
"I didn't want to tell you, but you made me, and I'm sorry, but its true -"
"He is NOT!! Death Eaters, are, are, evil, sick, twisted people, and nobody I know would ever be one!" I shrieked.
"Well... actually... you know two." Astoria mumbled, barely audibly.
"Wha- how do you know?!" I demanded, thrown off guard.
Astoria shook her head, distressed. She turned and sprinted back to the castle, leaving me standing alone on the frosty castle grounds. I didn't follow her.
What did she mean, I knew two Death Eaters? Sure, we were in Slytherin. Yes, we were mischievous. And it's true that we got a kick out of making other people miserable. But Death Eaters?! No.
I didn't want to believe that Draco was a Death Eater, but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. Mysteriously disappearing every once so often and not telling me where he was, clutching his left forearm about five times a day, stuttering at the mention of You-Know-Who. But I didn't want to believe it. So I tried not to.
But Astoria... how would she know?
Unless...
Unless she was a Death Eater, too.
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
It wasn't true.
It couldn't be true!
Astoria and Draco, Death Eaters?
I snorted at the foolish thought. No way. What would the Dark Lord want with two sixteen-year-old Hogwarts students, anyway?
I shook my head and walked back to the castle, trying to ignore the nagging voice in the back of my head that told me my suspicions were true.
Without realizing it, I had walked to the 7th floor corridor Astoria had pointed at from the grounds. I had finally gotten distracted from the conflict at hand - until, that is, I heard their voices.
"...can't be, she would never suspect us to be Death Eaters." Draco was whispering. My eyes went wide. No.
I peeked my head out from around the corner, trying to be as silent as possible. Draco and Astoria were arguing in front of the blank stone wall that would, at their command, turn into the intricately carved wooden door that lead to the Room of Requirement.
"If you haven't noticed, Draco, she's not dumb. Anything but. She's going to figure it out any second now." Astoria hissed.
"But she won't want to believe it. She won't want to think her friends are Death Eaters, so she'll block it out until she’s convinced herself it's not true. I think we're safe... until she sees this." Draco rolled up his left sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark, burned into his left arm. Before I could stop myself, I shrieked. Astoria and Draco whipped around in a panic.
Before I could move, Astoria had her wand out and pointing at me. "Petrificus totalus!" she yelled. Draco tried to stop her, but it was too late. My body stiffened and I fell back against the stone wall of the corridor.
"Sorry, Melody, but we can't have you spilling out secret. I'm going to have to modify your memory." Astoria said calmly.
"Wha - you can't - we can just - are you sure there's no other way around this?" Draco pleaded.
"Draco, I know what I'm doing. I've done this before, it's perfectly safe, and she'll have forgotten this whole day. I'll make her think she spent the day studying." Astoria replied.
"She won't remember this at all?" Draco asked.
"Not a thing."
"Well, then, I guess this can't hurt... Melody, I'm really sorry for lying to you. You mean the world to me, and..." Draco took a deep breath. "I love you."
It would've been such a Cinderella moment if I hadn't been in a Body-Bind and Astoria hadn't been laughing at Draco.
"Okay, now that you've got your sappy love speech out of the way, can I modify her memory?" Astoria asked impatiently.
"Unfortunately, yeah." Draco sighed.
"Okay." Astoria pointed her wand at me. "Obliviate!"
It was as if a storm cloud has flooded into my brain, blocking out my memory. I felt dazed and confused, and a faint memory of the library and a Charms essay was all I could remember doing for the day.
"Sorry, again." I heard Astoria say, her voice sounding distant. Why was she sorry, and what did she mean, "again"? I was completely clueless.
I heard a whisper.
"Stupefy."
Everything went black.

[Chapter 10 - What's Wrong With Me?]
I slowly opened my eyes and glanced around, discovering that I was laying on my bed in the dorm. Astoria was pacing the room, throwing nervous glances at me every few seconds.
"Why're you so tense?" I asked groggily. She jumped at my voice.
"What did you do today?" she demanded.
"Uh... I went to the library and worked on Flitwick's essay... I missed the Quidditch match. Wait, why?" I asked confusedly. Astoria started hyperventilating for a few seconds and her hand clenched tightly around her wand.
"Um Astoria are you okay?" I asked, "You're acting weir-" but I stopped, a voice inside my head whispering directions to me, controlling me. I felt the room slide in and out of focus. The voice was telling me to go down to the common room. I fought it off.
"That was weird..."
"What?" Astoria asked, but although I didn't notice it, her eyes were glittering knowingly.
"Nothing. Anyway... what were we talking about?" I blinked rapidly a few times to bring myself back to my senses.
"Oh, um, the Quidditch match. We lost. Potter caught the Snitch." Astoria said.
"Oh. Too bad Draco had detention, he would've flattened Potter." I said with a slightly dreamy smile.
"Erm... yes, Draco had, er, detention. Yes. That's why he wasn't there. Detention. Yes." Astoria said awkwardly.
"Astoria... what's wrong?" I asked. The room slid out of focus and there was the voice again, telling me to go to the common room. I nodded, unable to fight it off this time. The room came back to focus.
"It just happened again!" I shrieked.
"What?!" Astoria asked, but there was no mistaking the glimmer in her eyes this time.
I shook my head and walked towards the door.
"Where're you going?" Astoria questioned.
"Common Room." I answered automatically.
"Good. Now go." Astoria murmured in a small voice. I turned and left the room, unable to stop myself, unable to ask what Astoria had meant.
By the time I got to the common room, I felt more like myself, but there was still that tiny voice that I was trying ever so hard to fight off. I looked around for a distraction and, to my relief, there was Draco in his normal winged armchair by the fireplace, gazing distractedly into the flames.
"Hi." I said to him and forced myself into the chair next to him with some difficulty; the voice was telling me to leave the common room, to stop talking to Draco.
Draco jumped at my voice just as Astoria had done. "What did you do today?" He asked hurriedly.
"Library... Astoria asked me that same question, though, that's a weird coincidence... anyway, how was your detention?"
"Huh? What deten - oh. Erm... it was bad. I was polishing trophies with no magic...?" Draco said rather uncertainly, sounding more like he was asking me rather than telling me.
"Oh." I replied, not able to say anything more over the voice, which was becoming so powerful I wasn't sure I could control it any longer.
Pansy bounced up to Draco and I and threw her arms around Draco in a fleeting hug, then started stroking his hair. Draco knocked her hand away and Pansy glared at me as if it was my fault.
"Hi, Draco!" she said beamingly, determined not to give up flirting for the night. She turned her beady eyes on me. "Hi... other."
"She has a name, you know!" Draco exclaimed hotly.
"That's a she? I thought that was an it." Pansy smirked.
"Go away, Pansy. Before I jinx you."
"I think I'll risk it and stay." Pansy decided, plopping herself down on Draco's lap and throwing her arms around his neck.
"I really think you should go." Draco growled, trying to keep his temper down, but it didn't work; he pushed Pansy off of him and onto the oriental rug that covered the floor by the fireplace.
"That hurt, Drakey!" Pansy pouted, standing up and straightening her robes. "But no matter, I'll just take it's chair."
It all happened before I knew it - there was a crack, a flash of light, and Pansy was hanging upside down in midair, screaming. Draco was on his feet, smirking up at her, his wand keeping her aloft.
"Put me DOWN!" Pansy shrieked.
"No." replied Draco calmly. "Not unless you promise to leave Melody alone."
The tiny controlling voice suddenly clouded my mind. As long as I have you under my control, let's have some fun with this. Hm... tell Draco to put Pansy down.
I obeyed; I couldn't stop myself.
"Draco! Put her down!" I said in a terrified voice. Draco stared at me for a second like I was crazy, then turned his attention back to Pansy.
"Promise, Pansy, and I'll put you down."
"No." Pansy said flatly.
"I guess you're staying here, then." Draco replied coldly.
"Ugh! Fine! I promise to leave IT alone." Pansy said, making a point of calling me it.
"I don't think I heard you correctly. What's her name again?"
"It." said Pansy.
"Wrong." said Draco.
Keep telling Draco to put Pansy down. And act really upset about it. The voice instructed me.
"Draco! Please! Just put her down!" I exclaimed. Draco ignored me.
"So what was her name again? NOT it." Draco continued, making Pansy raise higher and higher into the air until she was touching the stone ceiling.
"That thing?" Pansy guessed.
Keep trying.
I fought the voice off for a moment; that particular command wasn't that forceful.
"No." Draco replied to Pansy's mocking answer.
"The hideous creature standing next to Draco?" Pansy sneered.
The voice inside my head laughed, and for a moment I thought I knew whom it belonged to - but no, it couldn't be.
"Wrong again." said Draco indifferently.
Tell Draco to let her down! Just keep trying!
"Oh, Draco, just let her down!" I pleaded. Once again I was ignored.
"Promise, Parkington." Draco said. Pansy looked especially hurt that Draco had stopped using her first name. Finally, she gave in.
"Fine... I won't make fun of Melody." Pansy said grudgingly, although her voice was also filled with hurt. "When you're around." she added under her breath; Draco didn't hear.
"Liberacorpus." he said, and Pansy fell onto a velvet couch, gasping and half-sobbing.
Tell Draco off for doing that to Pansy.
To my horror, I obeyed the voice. "Draco, that was really unnecessary." I started.
"I'm sick of her! That little- that little- ugh!"
"I know, but really, what you did wasn't right, Draco. You should apologize!" I said, wanting to hit myself in the forehead the entire time.
Draco was staring at me incredulously. "The right thing?! Apologize?! What are you, a Gryffindor?!"
I opened my mouth and closed it, at a loss for words. I was stung. Evidently Draco realized this, because, his face immediately fell into an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, Melody, I didn't mean - "
"Forget it." I mumbled.
Go talk to Pansy.
No, no, no, no. I did not want to go talk to that brat! But the voice was clouding my mind once again.
"Shall we go talk to Pansy?" I asked Draco. He looked taken aback.
"What's wrong with you?!" he demanded, staring at me curiously. "You must've hit your head and become delirious when we - er... when you fell."
"Nothing's wrong with me." I said quickly, although I was bursting to say that something was very much wrong with me, that I was being controlled, by who or what I did not know... but the controlling voice wouldn't allow that. "Lets go talk to Pansy."
"I'd rather not..." said Draco, but he followed me over to the shaking girl all the same.
"Hi." I started, not knowing exactly what to say. Pansy looked up and her face assumed a hateful expression.
"What do you want?" she spat.
"Erm, well, you look upset, so I thought I'd try to cheer you up - "
"I don't need your sympathy. Cheer me up... what are you, a Gryffindor?!" Pansy scoffed. I glanced back at Draco, who was looking shocked and abashed.
"That's the second time I've been asked that tonight." I admitted. Draco gasped and flushed furiously.
"Melody - I didn't mean - you can't possibly think - " Draco spluttered.
They're right, the voice said, what if you don't belong in Slytherin at all?
"You guys are right. I don't belong in Slytherin at all." I said before I could stop myself.
"Melody! What?! That's insane - you're crazy - something happened when you fell - don't believe us - I didn't mean that - " Draco looked devastated, where as Pansy had a satisfied smirk on her face.
Leave the common room.
I turned and left, looking back as the hidden door closed behind me, to see Draco standing as still as a statue, horrified, and Pansy's eyes glittering as if she knew that was going to happen -
I gasped. Was Pansy the one controlling me? Had she put the Imperious Curse on me?!
I collapsed on the cold stone floor outside the Slytherin common room very suddenly, feeling like something evil had been lifted away from me. I waited for the voice to try to tell me to do something, go somewhere, say something, but my head was only filled with my own terrified thoughts.
I was frozen in fear and worry - what had just happened? What was wrong with me?! I needed serious help. I thought momentarily of Madam Pomfery, but decided against it - what if she thought I had gone insane? Would she cart me off to St.Mungo's? I wasn't about to take my chances. There was only one person who I could possibly think would be safe to ask about what had happened to me, and that person was Dumbledore. I stood up and started running up to his office, the sound of my footsteps echoing down the empty hallway.
I needed the truth. And I needed it now.

[Chapter 11: Say Hello To Reality]
I stood impatiently in front of the stone gargoyle, wondering how long I’d been there. The annoying statue kept saying the Dumbledore was busy, and that I should come back later. I had not left.
Suddenly, the gargoyle stepped aside and there was none other than Harry Potter, descending down the spiral staircase with a bewildered expression on his face. He narrowed his eyes when he saw me.
“What’re you doing here, Carnka?” he demanded accusingly.
“I could ask you the same question, Potter.” I sneered, shooting a look of loathing at him as I pushed past him and ascended up the staircase. I knocked on the intricately carved wooden door.
“Enter.” said a slightly weary voice. I pushed the door open and stepped into the office. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, gazing at me with interest.
“Ah, Miss Carnka. To what do I owe this late pleasure?” Dumbledore stared at me over his half-moon spectacles, giving me the feeling of being X-rayed.
“Well, it’s kind of a long story, Professor. But I think I need help.” I said anxiously.
“Have a seat and explain.” Dumbledore gestured to the seat on the other side of the desk behind which he was sitting. I sat down and bit my lip.
“I don’t really know where to begin.” I admitted with a small laugh.
“Begin from the beginning. Tell me everything you wish to tell me. You will find that I keep secrets very well, and yours will be no exception.” Dumbledore said kindly.
And so I started from the beginning, from the day I met Draco, feeling that all of this was important to discovering what was wrong with me. I told Dumbledore about my hatred for Potter and his friends, and about how much I loved my two best friends, Astoria and Draco, and then about Pansy, and how annoying she was, and about what had happened tonight. I told every detail I could possibly remember, and relived the significant moments between three months ago and right now. I gave all my suspicions. Thirty minutes later, I finished.
“I see.” said Dumbledore.
“So sir, do you think - ?”
“- that you were put under the Imperious Curse? Oh, yes, very much. As to Miss Parkington, as much as she may loathe you for being close to Mr. Malfoy, I highly doubt she was the one who did that to you. Quite frankly, I don’t think she could’ve pulled it off.” Dumbledore said.
“Oh.” I replied. “But sir, do you think you know who did, if Pansy didn’t?” I asked curiously.
“Oh yes, I have a very good idea of who would’ve done this to you, and I have a good understanding of their reasoning, also. However, I am not going to tell you my suspicions, Melody, for they will only cause you distress. I am confident that you will discover the answer to this question and many more in due time.”
I wanted to shout at Dumbledore; make him tell me. This was so unfair! I needed the truth now.
“You will understand why you had to wait when the time comes to know the truth.” Dumbledore said quietly, as if he had read my mind.
“Thank you, sir.” I said stiffly. I stood up from my chair and started walking briskly towards the door.
“Melody?”
I turned around slowly to face Dumbledore once again.
“Yes?”
“If you’re having doubts about your true place at Hogwarts, why don’t you try on the Sorting Hat again?” Dumbledore nodded towards the patched and frayed old hat sitting on a shelf next to his desk.
Without asking how he knew about my worries, I nodded and walked over to the hat. I picked it up and placed it on my head, clenching my eyes shut.
“Ah, yes, I remember you… very hard to place, you were.” said the Sorting Hat in my ear. “Stunningly intelligent: Ravenclaw. Exceptionally bold: Gryffindor. Friendly and kind: Hufflepuff. Ambitious and mischievous: Slytherin.” it continued.
So why did you end up putting me in Slytherin? I thought, desperate to know.
“Slytherin has helped you on the way to greatness, has it not? You’ve made many good friends there, as well…”
That’s why you put me in Slytherin?! I thought, bewildered, because you knew I would like it there?
“That’s all that matters.” said the Sorting Hat happily. “Unless you’d rather have been in another house…”
No! I love Slytherin; I would never want to be in another house! I thought hurriedly.
“Then that makes all the difference. SLYTHERIN!” Declared the hat loudly. I took it off and opened my eyes.
Dumbledore placed the hat on the shelf and smiled at me kindly. “Did that answer your question?” he answered.
“Sort of… but I still don’t quite understand, why -?” I murmured.
“You’re in Slytherin because it’s what makes you happy. The hat put you there because it knew you would love it there.” Dumbledore answered my unfinished question.
I nodded, still not understanding at all.
“Thank you, sir.” I said with a smile. Then I turned and left the room.
I walked into the Slytherin common room just as the clock struck 1 AM. I glanced around to see if any of my friends were still awake.
Astoria was standing near the door, throwing dark glances around the room and reminding me strongly of a watchdog. Her crystal eyes landed on me and she gasped.
“Melody! Hi! You look exhausted, you should go to bed!” she exclaimed, rushing towards me. I was quite positive I looked anything but exhausted, and I was getting suspicious.
“I’m fine.” I insisted. “Where’s Draco?” I asked, glancing around. The room was mostly filled with whispering groups or kissing couples.
“Er, I dunno, but you should get some sleep - !” her eyes darted nervously to the corner of the room and widened frighteningly. “Go to bed, Melody!” she said in kind of a half shriek, trying to push me towards the dormitories.
I shook her away and glanced to where she had been staring.
Draco’s armchair by the fire was occupied, but not with Draco staring thoughtfully at the crackling fire. Instead, there was a couple there, two figures seemingly glued together by the lips and hidden in shadow, so that I couldn’t see who they were. I glanced back at a frightened looking Astoria quizzically.
“What’s so frightening about - ?” I stopped midsentence. The couple had broken apart, and in the light of the fire I recognized them, with a pang of horror and betrayal.
Pansy Parkington was grinning at me evilly from on top of Draco’s lap.
My jaw dropped slightly and I felt hot tears rushing to my eyes. I made no effort to stop them. Draco jumped up, came running over to me.
“Melody, that was not what it looked like - !”
“Liar! Don’t talk to me!” I sobbed, tears streaming down my face as I ran into the girls dormitories. I heard Astoria blowing up at Draco right before I closed the door.
I collapsed onto my bed, the room spinning before my eyes. That could not have just happened; Pansy and Draco couldn’t have been…
I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. But sometimes, wishes are meaningless, hopes are crushed and dreams float away with the wind. Sometimes, you just have to face the truth.
Because this was reality. This was real.

[Chapter 12 - On The Verge Of Insanity]
I had cried for an hour the night before. I had cried myself to sleep. I had cried when I woke up. And now, I couldn't cry anymore. I was numb.
"Melody, come eat breakfast." Astoria begged. The only thing she had convinced me to do so far was get dressed. I had, and now I was sitting on my bed, staring blankly out the window at the fluffy white snow blanketing the grounds.
"You go. I'm not hungry." I said quietly, without shifting my gaze.
"Well even if you're skipping breakfast, come down to the common room at least. Draco's waiting down there, he keeps trying to come up, he really wants to talk to you." Astoria said pleadingly.
"Okay." I whispered, "I'll come."
"Excellent!" Astoria grinned and ran from the room.
I stood up slowly, and glanced to the other side of the room where Pansy was still sleeping, her mouth lolling open, her irritating snores filling the room. My hatred for her had exploded, and I was tempted to curse her while she slept. Before I could do any harm, I exited the room and walked slowly down the stairs.
I stepped into the common room and within two seconds, Draco had pulled me into a tight embrace. When we broke apart, I slapped him across the face.
"What was that for?!" he asked, rubbing his cheek and looking completely bewildered.
"I think you know exactly what that was for." I hissed scathingly.
"Listen, Melody, last night was not - "
I slapped him again for no good reason and started stalking away. Draco followed me.
"Get away." I said coldly.
"No, Melody, wait." he grabbed my arm. "Please just listen to what really happened."
I glared at him, but sat down in a chair and waited. Draco sat in a chair next to me.
"Well first of all, before I start... why'd you slap me twice?! " Draco asked incredulously.
"I don't know!" I moaned, overcome with emotion, "I love you - but I hate you, I can't stand you - but you're my whole world, and you just kissed me - really unromantically by the way - and then last night you kissed Pansy, and you're so confusing and ugh!" A tear trickled down my cheek as I stared into Draco's beautiful grey eyes.
"Listen, Melody, last night was all Pansy. She cornered me, I couldn't stop her." Draco looked awkward, "And I guess I kissed you just then to make up for it, I dunno - "
"Oh, that's sweet!" I yelled, "Kiss me because you feel bad for me, like I'm some charity case! That's what it's been all along, hasn't it?! You're toying with my emotions, Draco, and I'm sick of you! You're so insensitive and frustrating and... and..." I sobbed, "I hate you!" Blinded by tears and driven by heartbreak, I fled from the room.
I bumped into somebody and stumbled, but strong arms caught me before I fell. I blinked the tears out of my eyes and smiled at Russell weakly.
"What's wrong?" his big brown eyes were filled with compassion, understanding. I felt like I could melt.
"Oh, nothing, I'm just heartbroken." I said mildly. The words brought on a fresh wave of tears. I sank down to the ground and Russell sat down besides me. I leaned my head on his shoulder and cried my heart out.
Finally coming to my senses, I lifted my head up. "I got your shirt all wet." I sniffled. Indeed, Russell's shoulder was soaked.
" 'S okay. I don't mind." he said. One lone tear trickled down my cheek and Russell wiped it away with his finger. I gave him a weak smile and leaned my head on his shoulder again.
"I'm glad I bumped into you," I said, "this is really helping me take my mind off... what happened." I sighed. Russell put his arm around me, and I didn't push it away.
"You're a really nice guy, Russell." I whispered, leaning in closer. My heart was telling me I shouldn't be doing this, that I would always love Draco.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Astoria at the end of the hallway, looking at Russell and I rather awkwardly.
"Well, she's not down this hallway, Draco, so don't even look." I heard her say. My heart snapping in two, I leaned forward and my lips met Russell's.
"What are you doing?!" Draco demanded furiously. Russell and I broke apart and I turned to see Draco standing about ten feet away, his hands clenched into fists.
"Exactly what you did with Pansy." I hissed, standing up. My heart was screaming to forgive Draco, to tell him how I felt about him, but I tried not to listen to it.
"I thought you and Russell were just friends!" Draco exclaimed, glaring at Russell. Him and Astoria quietly slipped away to stay out of the awkward conversation.
"We are." I replied coldly. "And I thought you hated Pansy?"
"I do." Draco murmured.
Silence.
"I thought you loved me." Draco said quietly.
I took a deep breath and walked up to Draco, until our lips were barely inches apart.
"I do." I whispered. Then I turned and ran away.

[Chapter 13 - No Need to Explain]
Draco found me late that night, sitting in my chair by the fire and gazing into the flames. He took my hand and I glanced up at him. He was carrying his broomstick and wearing a smile.
We strolled out of the common room hand in hand and headed for one of the secret entrances that led out of the castle. Several minutes later we emerged in Hogsmade and proceeded up the steep hill, which was now blanketed in snow.
We reached the crest of the hill and gazed up at the stars twinkling across the inky night sky. Draco's broom was hovering expectantly in front of us.
And once again we were flying into the stars, but it felt different this time. More familiar, but at the same time, much more extrodinary. I felt all the stress and worry of the past few days melting away, and my mind was peaceful; untroubled and happy at last.
All this time, Draco and I had not said a word to eachother, but I could tell that he felt the same way I did.
And how did I feel?
My mind told me I was happy, peaceful, forgiving and understanding. But it was the change that took place in my heart that really mattered; my heart had recovered from the scars of the past and I was finally ready to fall in love.
The gentle rocking of the broom and the feeling of the wind in my hair were making me tired. I leaned on Draco's back and closed my eyes, but remained awake.
After several minutes, I opened my eyes an infestimal amount. I watched through my lashes as Draco landed the broom on the ground. He glanced back at me and chuckled; evidently, he thought I was asleep. He melted a large patch of snow so that the grass was visible, warm, and dry.
Draco gently lifted me off of the broom and placed me on the soft ground. I continued to feign sleep. Draco lied down next to me and propped his upper body up with his elbow, gazing at my apparently sleeping figure with those hypnotizing grey eyes.
After a few moments, he reached his hand out and brushed my curly hair out of my face, then started stroking my cheek. It was taking all my strength not to give myself away by smiling. Draco pulled his hand away and sat up, staring up at the stars.
"You have no idea how much I love you, Melody, " he whispered, more to himself than to me, "but I doubt you'll ever feel the same way about me."
"I do." I murmured, forgetting I was supposed to be asleep. Draco whipped around and I closed my eyes just in time.
"I could've sworn..." I heard him say. After several minutes of silence, I opened my eyes a tiny bit to watch the scene through my lashes once again.
Draco was laying on his back, staring up at the stars, his expression torn between a dreamy smile and what looked like... sorrow? I was too tired to ponder this. Glancing down at Draco's watch, I discovered it was 1 AM. Exhausted, I couldn't stop my eyelids from drooping, and I drifted off to sleep.

I was awakened by a cold raindrop splashing down on my cheek. My eyelids flew open and I glanced up at the sky wildly, discovering, to my relief, that it was still nighttime. My eyes traveled to the right and there was Draco, asleep, his hand in mine. A cold rain was splashing down on us, which was odd for December, when it should be snowing. I shook Draco awake.
"Wha - ?" he said groggily.
"What time is it?" I asked, standing up and peering around through the rain, which was growing steadily worse with every passing second.
"Er, I dunno..." Draco stood also, and then glanced at his watch. "3 AM, just about." he replied.
"I suppose we should be heading back soon, then." I said sadly.
"I suppose..." Draco glanced back at the castle in the distance, then turned back to me.
"You fell asleep on the broom. I melted the snow here - " he pointed to the ground beneath us, which was weirdly reppelling the rain. " - and carried you over. You're really beautiful when you sleep, you know." he added sheepishly.
"I wasn't asleep." I grinned.
"Then... then you heard when I said... that I love you?"
I nodded and took several steps towards Draco. "And I responded."
"Aha! So I'm not going crazy after all." Draco smiled, pulling me in closer.
"I wouldn't care if you were crazy or not, you'll always be perfect to me." I whispered, putting my arms around his neck.
"I'm sorry our first kiss was so awkward." Draco apologized, referring to that disastrous morning, which seemed so long ago although it wasn't even 24 hours previously.
“No matter,” I breathed, "let's just pretend it never happened."
And then the space between our lips was gone. My stomach was doing cartwheels, and my heart was soaring. The rain was pouring down on us, soaking us to the bone, but it really just added to the romanticness of the moment. After many glorious moments, Draco and I broke apart. I stared up at the sky, laughing.
"I feel like we're in some sappy romance novel! Kissing in the rain..." I giggled and, unable to help myself, kissed Draco again. We broke apart and I opened my eyes at the same that Draco did. He stared over my shoulder with a grin.
"If you think kissing in the rain is the weirdest this night can offer, turn around." he said.
I glanced behind me and gasped. There, to complete the romantic moment, was a shooting star, flying through the sky over the castle, where there were no rainclouds.
"Make a wish." whispered Draco in my ear. I turned back around with a smile.
"I don't have to. I have everything I could ever want right here." I said, leaning in to kiss Draco again, but a shadow crossed his face.
"What's wrong?" I asked, pulling back.
Draco looked suddenly distressed. "I'm sorry Melody. I can't hide this from you any longer." he took a deep breath and then pulled his left sleeve back, revealing the Dark Mark burned into his skin. "I'm a Death Eater." he looked on the verge of tears.
I said nothing, my eyes wide.
"I couldn't bear keeping a secret like that from you. It was killing me. And it would've been even harder if I had continued to hide this from you, after tonight..."
I stared into his eyes, which were filled with tears and were silently pleading: I'm sorry. I mustered up a small smile and ran my hand through his hair.
"Nothing has to change between us, you know. I'll always love you, Draco, no matter what." I whispered. I pulled him in and kissed him again.
I heard approaching footsteps and before I could do anything, Snape's cold voice issued from a few feet away.
"Sorry to break up your cozy little meeting, but I believe you two are out of bounds."

[Chapter 14 - Consider Yourself Lucky]
“Into my office.” said Snape coldly.
Soaking wet and shivering, Draco and I trooped into Snape’s dimly lit dungeon office. Snape followed us in and closed the door behind him.
“So,” he began, “You two though it would make a nice romantic evening to sneak out once again.”
Draco and I said nothing.
“Do you have any idea how reckless that was?!” Snape shouted furiously, “You could’ve been attacked, captured by Death Eaters - “
Draco snorted. “You can drop your act now, sir. She knows.”
“Wha - you told her?! Draco, you could’ve blown the entire mission! What were you thinking?!” Snape demanded. I glanced at Draco, bewildered.
“He’s a Death Eater, too?”
Draco nodded.
“DRACO!” shouted Snape, “What. Are. You. THINKING?!”
“He’s thinking he can trust me, and he’s right.” I replied coldly, “Now, continue with your ‘you two are so reckless’ speech.”
“I believe you were saying something about being captured by Death Eaters?” Draco sneered.
“I was captured by a Death Eater tonight and I enjoyed every second of it.” I smiled and kissed Draco.
“If you two are quite done.” said Snape, annoyed. Draco and I broke apart reluctantly.
“Not really,” I muttered, “Anyway, get on with our punishment.”
“I do not wish to put you in detention, especially since Draco has his mission to carry out…” Snape gave Draco a cold glare before continuing, “So I will take 100 points from Slytherin.”
Draco and I grinned at each other, knowing we had got off easy.
“Miss Carnka, I need to speak to Draco in private fro a moment.” said Snape.
“If it’s about the mission, let her stay!” Draco replied indignantly.
“I understand how you feel about this, Draco, but there are some things - !”
“I would tell her everything anyway!” Draco cried.
“You will do nothing of the sort.”
“Yeah, I will!” shouted Draco. He grabbed me by the hand and pulled me out of Snape’s office without another Word. As we reached the Slytherin common room, Snape caught up with us.
“Draco, you need to be careful. You are suspected for Katie Bell’s accident already, and any more careless mistakes could give you away -!”
“Pureblood,” said Draco loudly over Snape’s advice, and the wall slid open to reveal the Slytherin common room. As soon as the room was in view, Snape silenced, gave Draco one last warning glare, and sulked away.
“C’mon Melody…” Draco said, pulled me into the common room. My face was pale, my heart beating fast.
“You did that to Katie Bell?” I whispered in a frightened voice.
“Well, that wasn’t supposed to happen!” said Draco hastily, “She was supposed to give the package to -!”
“- Dumbledore.” Astoria finished, “His mission is to kill Dumbledore. And yes, Melody, I’m a Death Eater too.” The words were spoken without emotion. Then she turned to Draco and punched his arm. “I can’t believe you told her!” she hissed scathingly.
“Well I had to! It was killing me, keeping it from her, you know that, Astoria!” Draco exclaimed.
Astoria sighed, shaking her head. After a few seconds she looked back at us, a smirk on her face.
“So did you two kiss yet?” she asked.
I giggled. Draco grinned.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” said Astoria, “It was about time! You should’ve heard him, Mel - ‘She’s perfect, Astoria! I can’t get her out of my head! I think I love her!’” Astoria mimicked in a high pitched voice. When she said the last sentence, I thought I saw a shadow cross her face, but decided I had just imagined it.
“Did you really say that, Drakey?” I exclaimed, throwing my arms around a blushing Draco.
“Yeah, but not it a voice like tha - !” The rest of his sentence was cut off because I had kissed him. When we broke apart, there was no mistaking the glum look on Astoria’s face.
The corners of her mouth were turned down, and her usually sparkling crystal eyes were dull, full of something that looked like - could it be? - longing. A wild thought crossed my mind - could Astoria have loved Draco? No. Impossible. They were always teasing each other, getting mad at one another for no good reason… they were more like brother and sister than anything else.
“Melody? You okay?”
“Hm? Oh, er, yeah, fine…” I replied, coming back to my senses.
“You looked all spacey.” Draco commented, “Cutely spacey, though.”
I giggled. “I was just thinking, and I’m really tired… I think I’ll go to bed now.”
“Me too.” agreed Draco. “Night Mel, night A.”
I kissed him goodnight (Astoria frowned), and then departed for the girls dormitories, Astoria at my side.
Once we had changed into our pajamas, I checked to make sure the other girls were asleep before saying, “Okay, what’s wrong, A?”
“Nothing.” she replied quickly. “Night Mel!” she scrambled into bed and turned on her side, facing away from me. I flicked my wand to turn the lights off and got into bed as well.
Some time later, right as I was on the verge of sleep, I heard a strangled sob. I opened my eyes to see a silhouette of Astoria shaking as she lay awake in the darkness. I fumbled for my wand on the table beside me.
“Lumos.” I murmured, and the tip of my wand lit, casting a soft glow over the room. Astoria rolled over and looked at me. Her beautiful face was contorted with sadness, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I think you already know.” she sobbed.
I nodded reluctantly.
“I’m sorry,” she sniffled, wiping her eyes on her sleeve, “I’m happy for you guys, I am, but still, it hurts… seeing you with him… I remember when it was me in your place… but they’re all just memories now…”
I felt my mouth hanging open a bit, utterly confused. Astoria seemed to understand my confusion, because she continued:
“Draco and I had been going out since the beginning of our 5th year. He broke up with me because he met you. Of course, once I got to know you I could see why he liked you, why he liked you more than me… because even though you may not realize it, you’re a much better person than me. So I can see why he loves you… but it hurts. It hurts to know that he’s never coming back to me. And even though I tried to forget about the past… I never really gave up on him. You’re a lucky girl, Melody.” Astoria finished with a weak smile, although she was crying harder than ever now.
I opened my mouth and then closed it again, at a loss for words.
“But I’m not about to get in between you two. I remember the blissful feeling of being in love. Enjoy him while you still have him, Mel. ‘Night.” Astoria rolled over buried her face in her pillow, muffling her sobs.
“Nox.” I whispered, and the wandlight extinguished, throwing the room into shadow once again, just as a shadow of doubt had embedded itself in my mind.

[Chapter 15 - Do You Really Mean That?]

“So, Draco, you’re coming with me to Slughorn’s Christmas party, right?” I asked, my eyes wandering aimlessly around the Slytherin common room. Astoria, Draco and I were sitting in our usual armchairs by the fire, fatally bored.
“Sorry, I have to work on stuff for the mission… it’s not turning out well so far.” Draco replied in a whisper. Astoria smirked.
“See, if the Dark Lord had chosen me, we wouldn’t have this problem.” she sneered.
I watched in amusement as Astoria and Draco fought in hushed tones over the mission, and who was smarter and better looking. I was finding it hard to believe they ever could have dated. They were constantly bickering; although in truth, their continuous fighting never did seem to affect their friendship. One minute they would be screaming their heads off at each other, the next laughing at some inside joke and acting like best friends. They were more like brother and sister than anything else. The only difference was that whenever Draco kissed me (which, to my delight, was happening quite often) she would either watch longingly or, if she was in a bad mood, clear her throat rather loudly and then stomp off in a huff if we didn’t stop right away.
So caught up was I in my thought, I barely noticed Astoria and Draco trying to snap me out of my deep-thinking trance.
“Shall I hex her?” joked Astoria, drawing her wand rather comically.
“No, I think some snogging will bring her back to her senses. I’m goin’ in.” laughed Draco. Astoria giggled reluctantly, but her smile faltered as Draco pressed his lips against mine. I kissed him back enthusiastically, and then we broke apart and I giggled.
“Sorry,” I apologized, “Got lost in my thoughts again.”
“Probably took a wrong turn at the daydream section.” snorted Astoria.
“Yeah, as I matter of fact I did,” I lied, “I was daydreaming about how spectacular it would be if Draco came to Slughorn’s party with me. There’ll be mistletoe…” I added, grinning at Draco mischievously.
“Why do I need mistletoe,” asked Draco, “If I can just do this anytime?” he leaned forward to kiss me again but Astoria pressed her hands against our foreheads and pushed our heads back.
“Before you two have a major ew- fest, I’ll be going.” she snapped irritably. I shrugged apologetically at her before she turned and disappeared out of the common room door.
I turned back to Draco.
“Now, where were we…?”


I had arrived, solo, at Slughorn’s party, having not convinced Draco to come. I glanced around, the first thing I saw being Granger and that Gryffindor bloke, McLaggen, under the mistletoe. I scowled, thinking that that could’ve been me and Draco.
Some time later, as I was, to my misfortune, talking to Luna and Professor Trelawney, there was a commotion from the doorway. I glanced over to see Filch, dragging none other than Draco in by the ear and saying something about gate-crashing. I rolled my eyes, sighed, and waited for the commotion to be over before making my way over to him.
“You just couldn’t stay away.” I smirked.
“I wasn’t trying to come, I was trying to work on the -!” Draco stopped, for Potter was eavesdropping.
“Mind your own business, Potty.” I sneered, pulling Draco away from the chattering group.
“Yes, well, I was trying to work on the mission,” said Draco in a hushed voice, “But I got caught on my way there.”
“Well you should stay and hang out, now that you’re here! Come on Draco, please? Don’t leave me with them…” I moaned, glancing over to Slughorn, Trelawney, Luna, Potter, and Snape.
“No, Melody, seriously, I have to go…”
“Yes, you do,” said Snape in a bored voice from behind us, “And you’ll be coming with me.”
Before I could say a word, Snape grabbed Draco by the arm and marched him out of the party. After making an excuse to leave, I followed.
As I approached a door at the end of the hallway I could make out Snape’s voice, and Draco’s protests. As I made for the doorknob, I heard movement from beside me. I whirled around, but nobody was there. After waiting for a few suspicious moments, I shrugged and pushed the door open, barging into the room.
“Out, Carnka.” said Snape coldly.
“Let her stay! She knows!” Draco protested.
“Listen, Draco. I understand that you need someone to feel close to, with your father in prison -.”
Without warning, Draco stormed out of the classroom. I followed him after throwing a dirty look at Snape.
“My father… all Potter’s fault… not funny… doesn’t understand… he shouldn’t…” Draco was muttering under his breath as he strode up to the seventh-floor corridor, me following nervously behind.
Draco paced three times in front of a blank stretch of wall across from the tapestry and a moment later, an intricately carved wooden door popped into existence. I followed Draco inside, and my jaw dropped.
Mountains of old books, broken furniture, busted statues, forgotten quills and suspicious bottles filled the cathedral-like room. The piles stretched farther than the eye could see, forming kind of a maze.
“What is this place?” I asked in awe.
“Room of Hidden Things,” said Draco, grabbing my hand, “C’mon.”
We weaved our way through the mountains of isles of long-forgotten until we had reached what appeared to be a broken vanishing cabinet.
“I need help fixing this,” he said eagerly, “I need to get people in here for the mission.”
“Um… well, alright…” I trailed off as I peered at the dusty wooden cabinet. Draco beamed.
“There’s a pair, I take it?” I asked, pulling open the creaky cabinet door and taking a look inside.
“Yeah, in Borgin and Brukes.”
“Ew.”
Draco laughed.
“Well, I think you just need to try sending stuff through the cabinet until it works.” I declared.
“Well… er, I tried to send a bird through.” Draco started, his expression suddenly stricken.
“And?”
“It died.” Draco said, looking down and biting his lip.
“Hey.” said Astoria from behind us. I jumped; I hadn’t heard her coming.
“Hey.” said Draco.
“Working on the cabinet?” asked Astoria calmly.
“Yes… good to see you’re in a better mood.” I said approvingly.
“Yeah, well if you two start snogging again I won’t be.” she snapped. Then her expression softened. “I’m sorry, I just can’t get used to it, you guys being together…”
“I know, it’s like a dream.” I said with a smile.
“Almost too good to be true.” Draco added, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I leaned backwards on him, smiling.
“You guys better not be this lovey-dovey when you’re over my house for Christmas break.” warned Astoria.
“Astoria!” I sighed, exasperated, “You told me that I should enjoy him while I still have him, so I am!”
“You don’t have to worry about that, Mel, we’ll always be together.” said Draco, kissing me. Astoria wrenched us apart with some difficulty.
“That’s what you told me.” she said coldly, scowling at Draco.
“But that was before - !”
“Before you met Melody, I know.” Astoria finished his sentence, “But what happens when another pretty girl comes along? You’ll dump Melody just like you dumped me.”
“Wha - ?! No!! Astoria - ! I swear - !” Draco exclaimed frantically, “But… you said you were okay with it anyway! You said you liked us better just as friends - !”
“Yeah, I said that. But do you really think I actually meant it?! You’re so insensitive and gullible, Draco. You need to stop believing what everyone says.” Astoria snarled. Then she turned and stormed away.
I turned back to Draco, who, like me, was completely bewildered at this outburst.
“So I guess this means we’re not staying at her house for Christmas?”

Yaay! It's here!

Yay! I know! xD I shall eventually finish typing Chapter 16 and post it. LOL

YAAAAAAY!!! Sorry, I can't wait.

Lol I can't wait either! Me likes Chapter 16. And 17. And 18. And 19. The last chapter of Book 1 is Chapter 20, and it's excitingful and then you see why it's called Don't You Trust Me.

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LOL! This is going to be an interesting site. :: (Does that work? We shall find out.)

UPDATE: The smiley does not work. xD

LOL Lauren! And where do you make the charrie people? I used to know, but I forgot... LOL

What, the rolling eyes smiley? It does work! *nods vigorously* It's just a different smiley code. Check on the smiley listie ---> see it's : [ : : with no spaces

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