Angel Of Mercy

Angel of Mercy--Chapter 8

Ron and Melody followed Snape down to the bowels of the school, dreading their fate. They didn't want to know what their Potions professor had planned for them; whatever it was, it was going to be bad. Ron reached down and squeezed Melody's hand reassuringly. Melody reciprocated it, more for herself than anything else.

"In here," said Snape, ushering the Gryffindors into his office. He pointed at the chairs in front of his desk. "Sit." Melody and Ron sat.

"Before you say anything, sir..." Melody began, but Snape cut her off.

"Silence!" he said harshly, giving Melody a death glare. "I have never seen any students at this school conduct themselves in the manner you have tonight. You attacked another student, something I would never expect from anyone, even you Gryffindors."

"Malfoy attacked us first!" Ron exclaimed. Melody nodded in agreement. Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?" he asked. "Do you have any proof?"

"Well no, but..." began Melody, but another voice cut in.

"Yes they do."

The three occupants of the office turned to see Julia Phillips leaning against the doorframe. "I saw the entire thing."

"Did you now?" asked Snape softly. "And who might you be?"

"I would think you would remember me," said Julia with a smirk. It had been seventeen years since they had worked together, and she had had a child since then, but Julia didn't think she had changed that much.

"Weasley, Phillips, fifteen points from Gryffindor will be taken from each and a detention for attacking a fellow student. Now get out of my sight before I make the punishment harsher," said Snape. Ron and Melody didn't need to be told twice as they scampered out of the office as quickly as humanly possible.

"I hope my mum gets out of there ok," said Melody, saying a silent prayer for Julia. "She's all I have left, except for Uncle Vernon and his family."

"If Snape does your mum in, you can always move in with me," said Ron, stopping and pressing Melody up against a wall. "It'll be a little squished, but you could always sleep in my room."

"What would your mother say?" asked Melody, running her fingers through Ron's red hair.

"She doesn't have to know," he said, smiling slightly. "I could just lock you in my room and never let you out." He leaned down and kissed his girlfriend lightly before raining kisses down her throat and all over her face.

"We both know that won't happen," said Melody. "Come on, let's get out of here before that greasy bat comes around and takes off more points."

"But I don't wanna," whined Ron, pouting.

"Keep your lip like that and I'll glue it to your nose," said Melody, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Come on, I found this really cool tower that I wanted to show you. I don't think it's been used in a while, so there's a slim chance that we'll be bothered."

"That's what silencing and locking charms are for, luv," said Ron. "Now come on, let's go!"

Melody grabbed Ron's hand and dragged him up to the unused tower room.

*****

The next morning, Melody and Ron crept silently back to the portrait of the Fat Lady. When they got there, the guardian of their common room glared at them.

"Where have you two been?" the portrait asked.

"Around," replied Melody. "Snape's a git."

The last phrase was evidently the password, because the portrait swung open, and the sixth years entered the common room. It was still early, so they thought that no one was in the common room. Of course they were wrong.

"Where the hell have you two been?" asked Harry from one of the couches. Hermione was sitting with him.

"We lost track of time," said Ron, his ears turning red at the thought of the previous night's activities. "It's not a big deal."

"It's a very big deal," said Harry. "You're talking about my cousin here."

"I'm only your cousin through marriage," retorted Melody.

"You're dating my best friend," said Ron. "You don't see me getting all protective over her."

"But you know I can take care of myself," said Hermione.

"And I can't?" asked Melody, her temper starting to take over. While her fuse wasn't anywhere near as short as Ron's, she could still be scary when she got angry.

"We weren't saying that," said Harry. "It's just...well...you're the only family I have that doesn't flinch at the sight of me since Sirius died. I'm just a little protective of you, that's all."

"I thank you for you concern, Harry, but I really don't need it," said Melody. She mentally kicked herself when she saw the expression on his face. "Look, I've been used to taking care of myself for the longest time, and it's still a little strange."

"OK," said Harry, still looking at the raven-haired girl warily.

"You know, I don't think we've visited Hagrid yet," said Hermione, changing the subject. Everyone agreed to it, because Harry wanted to see his first friend in the wizarding world, and Melody hadn't met him yet.

The foursome walked down to Hagrid's hut in amiable silence. Ron had an arm flung protectively around Melody's waist, drawing her close in an effort to protect the small girl from the chill November air. Harry and Hermione were just up ahead, leading the way.

They reached the small cabin on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Harry knocked on the door, and almost immediately they were greeted by loud, deep barks from Hagrid's boarhound, Fang. Soon after, the door swung open and a beaming Hagrid filled the doorframe.

"I was wonderin' when you lot was goin' to come and visit," he said, ushering the four sixth year Gryffindors into the cabin. "I was thinkin' that you might have forgotten where me cabin was."

"Sorry Hagrid," said Harry. "We've been a bit busy, and this was the first chance we could get to visit."

"Ah, no harm done," said Hagrid, bustling around and getting tea ready. "Who's the new girl?"

"Hagrid, meet Melody Phillips," said Harry. "Melody, Hagrid, Hagrid, Melody."

"Pleasure," said Melody and Hagrid at the same time.

"So, how did you meet Harry?" asked Hagrid as he placed a mug of tea in front of everyone.

"My mum and his uncle are siblings," Melody replied.

"You a Muggle-born, then?" asked Hagrid. The question was just out of curiosity; there were no malicious tones in it whatsoever. Melody shook her head.

"Half, I think," she replied. "My mum's family is all Muggles except for her, and I've never known my father."

"Ah, I know the feeling," said Hagrid knowingly. "I ne'er knew me mum either. Left when I was abou' three, see. O'course, it isn't in their natures to be motherly, is it?"

"Uh, right," said Melody, not sure what Hagrid was talking about. Hermione decided to change the subject.

"So, what creatures do you have planned for us to learn about next?" she asked.

"Ah, that's a surprise, that is," Hagrid replied ambiguously. The original Gryffindor Trio spent most of the afternoon trying to get Hagrid to tell them what they were studying next. Melody just sat back and watched, not really knowing what to say. She didn't take Care of Magical Creatures because of the simple fact that she didn't have enough time in her schedule. She didn't want to end up like Hermione in her third year, with all of the mess concerning the Time-Turner.

They all spent a pleasant morning together, drinking tea and politely refusing Hagrid's rock cakes. When lunch rolled around, Hagrid offered to cook, but Harry, Ron and Hermione had had enough experience with his cooking that they made excuses to get back to the castle.

"So, what's not in whose nature?" asked Melody when they were far enough away from Hagrid's cabin.

"Who what in the what now?" asked Harry.

"Hagrid was talking about how his mother left when he was three, and that being motherly wasn't in her nature," Melody said.

"Oh, that," said Harry. "I guess its okay to tell you."

"Hagrid's a half giant," Ron blurted out. Hermione glared at her friend's lack of tact.

"So?" asked Melody. "It's just like werewolves. Not all giants can be horrible, just like all werewolves are monsters all the time."

"Thank you!" said Hermione. "I've been trying to get that through their heads for years now!"

"Uh oh, here we go again," muttered Ron. Harry took his cue and kissed Hermione, effectively shutting her up. They went back to the castle for lunch in amiable silence.

*****