Angel Of Mercy

Angel of Mercy--Chapter 12

Melody was in the middle of eating her breakfast when Harry, Ron and Hermione burst into the hospital wing, all chatters and smiles. When they saw Melody, they ran across the room and smothered her in hugs and, in Ron's case, kisses.

"Ow...ow...OW!" Melody exclaimed, flinching. The original Gryffindor trio jumped off her and crowded around her bed. "I guess the pain-relief potions wore off sooner than Pomfrey thought they would."

"So, how are you feeling?" asked Harry.

"Like crap," Melody replied. "I'm sore, I haven't bathed in a week and I just want out of here!"

"Well, you can't leave yet," said Madame Pomfrey, bustling over with a tray of potions. "I want to keep you here for observation, just to make sure no permanent damage has been done. You can leave tomorrow, if you have a clean bill of health."

Melody sighed and flopped down onto her pillow, so accustomed to her bodily aches and pains that she didn't even bother flinching. Madame Pomfrey was done with her business and bustled out, leaving the four friends alone.

"So, what do you want to do once you get out of here?" asked Ron. "I was thinking that I could start teaching you how to play Quidditch. You know, if you get really good you could be in the team next year. Wouldn't that be fun?"

Melody just looked at him as if he had grown an extra head.

"Do you not remember what happened to me a week ago?" she asked.

"Well yeah, but that was just a little setback," Ron replied. Melody gaped like a fish at Ron's insensitivity. Harry and Hermione shared a look; this was not going to end well. "We just need to get you over your fear, and we can get you back in the air again."

"You don't get over a fear like you get over a clod, Ron; it's not that simple," Melody said softly. "I could have died; it was sheer dumb luck that I didn't break anything. At least, I'm pretty sure I didn't break anything."

"See? You're okay now. You're fine to go up in the air. We can go up tomorrow! It'll be fun!" exclaimed Ron. Melody gaped at him again.

"What part of 'I could have died' don't you understand?" asked Melody. "I happen to like having my feet on the ground, not six feet under with the rest of my body. I love you Ron, but if you want to keep putting me into danger like that, then maybe we shouldn't be together anymore."

Harry and Hermione realized too late that they probably should have left when this discussion had started. As quietly as they could, they tiptoed out of the hospital wing. Neither Ron nor Melody noticed.

"What are you saying? Are you breaking up with me?" asked Ron.

"It looks that way, doesn't it?" replied Melody. She could see Ron's eyes fill with tears.

"Well, fine then," he said, his voice strangely high-pitched. Without another word, Ron turned on his heel and stormed out of the hospital wing. Melody flopped back onto her pillow, hitting her head on the headboard in the process.

"Son of a bitch!"

***

Sunday morning came and Melody was let out of the infirmary. She had a slight limp, but Madame Pomfrey claimed that it would be gone in a few days if she was careful. She decided to go and surprise her friends by going up to Gryffindor tower. When she walked through the portrait hole, it seemed like everyone looked up; no one looked happy.

Ron, Harry and Hermione were sitting in a corner, their heads bent together in deep conversation. When Harry saw her coming, he nudged his two companions and the whispering ceased immediately.

"You're out, that's great," said Hermione, but there wasn't any real excitement in her voice.

"Yeah, we missed you," agreed Harry. He, too, didn't have any real excitement in his voice. Ron remained silent, avoiding Melody's eyes. An awkward silence passed between the four of them, and no one seemed willing to break it. Melody had a feeling she knew what had happened; Ron had told Harry and Hermione that she had broken up with him, and both felt a loyalty to comfort their friend.

"Well, I should probably go and track down the homework I missed," Melody said. She turned around and began limping towards the portrait hole when Hermione stopped her.

"I've got your homework right here," she said, pulling out a sheaf of parchment from her bag. "I eve stopped by the classes we didn't have together and got your homework from them."

"Thanks Hermione, I really appreciate it," Melody said as she took the pile of papers. "Well, I'm off to the library to go work on all of this. Don't expect to see me any time soon."

"If you need any help..." began Hermione, but Melody stopped her.

"I don't need your charity, Hermione. Don't feel sorry for me for something I chose to do. I'll see you all later." Melody turned and stormed out of the Gryffindor common room. Or, it would have been storming out had it not been for her limp.

Just as she reached the portrait hole, she heard someone say, "Good riddance."

***

Melody sat in the library, doing the pile of homework her teachers had assigned. For the past few minutes she had the feeling that someone was watching her. She looked up, and as she did she saw a flash of bushy brown hair go around the corner. There was only one person that Melody knew of that had that kind of hair.

"Get out from behind that bookshelf Hermione, I know you're there," Melody said. Hermione came out from behind the bookcase. She moved and stood next to Melody's chair.

"Do you need any help?" asked Hermione.

"Cut the crap Hermione; you didn't come down to ask if I needed help," said Melody. She finished writing something on her Muggle Studies essay before looking up at her friend. "You came to ask why the hell I broke up with Ronnie. And don't try to lie; you're a horrible liar."

"So, why did you break up with Ron?" asked Hermione. Melody sighed.

"He thought nothing of putting my life in danger; he knew about my deathly fear of heights and he still wanted me to get on that stupid broom after my ordeal," se replied. "I still love him, but I know that it would be too difficult on our relationship if we continued. I can't be with someone who can just throw caution to the wind, and most possibly my life along with it."

"So, it's all about you, isn't it?" asked Hermione. "You got scared, and you wanted out."

"I happen to like being alive, and I'd like to stay that way long enough to graduate, get a job, get married and have a whole bunch of kids," Melody replied. "If it means not being with Ronnie, then that's something I'm going to have to live with."

"You're making a big mistake," Hermione said quietly. "You're turning away one of the greatest guys around." Melody stood up, facing her friend. She fixed Hermione with an even, unblinking gaze.

"You're making me sound like a heartless bitch, like I haven't thought this through," Melody said. "Well, I'll let you in on a little secret, Hermione. That was all I thought about during my stay in that damned infirmary. Everyone thought I was out cold, but thoughts kept running through my head, and the only thing I was thinking about was the fact that Ron could have killed me. I understand if you refuse to be my friend because of my convictions, and I'm sorry we have to part like this, but I have to stand up for what I feel is right. If that means I have to lose friends because of it, then so be it."

"Then I'm sorry too," said Hermione, a touch of frost in her voice. "I'm sorry I ever thought of you as a friend." Without another word, Hermione spun on her heel and stalked out of the library. Melody glared at her ex-friend's back before sitting back down in her chair.

"Two faced bitch," she muttered as she continued writing her Muggle Studies essay. After a few minutes she heard someone whisper in her ear.

"Have my eyes and ears deceived me?" it asked. Melody turned around to face none other than the smirking countenance of Draco Malfoy. "Have the house of Lions just cast one of their own out into to cold? The house that is known for its family-like atmosphere?"

"Fuck off Malfoy," growled Melody, reaching the end of her fuse. She did not want to snap, even if it was Malfoy who pushed her over the edge. She was bigger than that.

"What did you do? Commit murder? Say something bad about Dumbledork? Or--the horror--break the heart of one of their finest?" taunted Malfoy, enjoying himself immensely as he was Melody's annoyance grow.

"You'll find out whether I tell you or not. Now kindly get your furry, ugly ferret ass out of my presence before I hex you into next week," Melody replied through gritted teeth.

"Actually, I have a fairly nice arse. Would you like to see?" asked Malfoy. Melody shuddered; was the blond Slytherin coming on to her?

"I'll take a rain check, Malfoy," she replied. "Now, I have a lot of work to do, so if you wouldn't mind getting on with your pathetic life, I'd greatly appreciate it."

"Actually, I do mind; I happen to like this part of the library," Malfoy replied, sitting down next to Melody. "I'm not very fond of the company, though."

"That makes two of us, Malfoy," she retorted. "And get your feet off my homework; I have to hand that in tomorrow!"

"Oh, so sorry," Malfoy said, not sounding sorry at all. However, he did put his feet back on the ground. "So, why do you have so much homework? I don't remember the professors assigning this much for the weekend."

"That's because this is all the work from the past week," Melody replied, becoming irritated because the Malfoy brat couldn't take a hint.

"Ah yes, I noticed the distinct lack of the loudmouth American," Malfoy remarked. "Now tell me, were you intentionally skiving off your lessons, or were you actually suspended like Snape said he would?"

"Neither, actually. I was out cold in the infirmary," Melody replied. All while this conversation was going on, she was scribbling furiously on her parchment. She finished her Muggle Studies assignment with a flourish and put it aside so that the ink could dry. As she was pulling out her Transfiguration essay, Malfoy grabbed her Muggle Studies assignment.

"This has to be the most boring class ever," he remarked, scanning the large, loopy writing. "Why would you want to learn about Muggles anyway? You should know all about them, considering you are one."

"You know, just because you can't recognize a family name, it doesn't mean they're Muggle-born," Melody informed him. "My mother just so happens to be a witch, and as far as I know my father was a wizard."

"'As far as you know', eh?" asked Malfoy, a slightly malicious glint in his eye. "What, was your mother such a village bicycle that she's not sure who your father is?"

"No more than your mother," Melody retorted as she began packing up her books. Malfoy's cheeks were rosy with an angry flush.

"Don't insult my mother," he warned.

"Then don't insult mine. As they day, 'If you can't take it, don't dish it out'," Melody shot back. She stood up from her chair and hauled her over stuffed backpack onto her shoulder. "You should blush more often; you look cute with a little color. Very flattering." She laughed when she saw his jaw drop. Melody patted Malfoy on the head and walked out of the library, her giggles breaking the somber atmosphere.