Secret Behind The Mask

Chapter Seven-Hogsmeade

Honeydukes Candy Shop was rarely quiet on a Hogwarts Hogsmeade day; the only customers were Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Melly, although Melly didn't help much with the quietness.

She found her own little corner near the French Coasters, little strawberry flavored hard candy. No one hardly ever went over there, so she found her privacy.

What did the dream mean? Why did her arm hurt so much after she awoke from it? Well, she thought. I've had dreams where I've woken up and my stomach was hurting, or some part of my body. But...this is totally different than any of those dreams. I actually felt the pain. Do you hear me Snape? I am talking to you, you know.

I hear you, Snape sighed. I don't know what to say, sorry.

Melly groaned aloud. Why won't you answer me? I know you know...Snape?

He didn't answer, which made Melly groan even louder.

"Melly?" Ron came from behind the isle of shelves, and walked up to her. "There you are. I've been looking for you. We're about to leave. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Ron," she answered, sounding a little more annoyed than she meant to. "I'm just trying to think about why I was screaming in a dream?"

Ron smiled, warmly. "Don't you worry about it. Okay? It was a dream, nothing more. Dreams can't hurt you. They can be very convincing, though."

Melly smiled at him, and thanked him for his concern. Which she said in one hundred percent sarcasm.

"Shall we go then?"

Melly nodded, and followed him out of the store, where they met the other two.

"What'd you buy, Harry?" Melly asked, trying not to sound too caught up in her thoughts. She really didn't care what Harry bought, but thought that it would keep her mind off of the dream, for two seconds. Before Harry could answer, though, Melly saw something. It motioned for her to follow him, then disappeared into an alleyway. She then turned to the other three. "Anyone hungry? How about Three Broomsticks?"

The others nodded. Melly smiled and said that she would catch up, while heading off towards the alley where the dark figure disappeared. She wasn't afraid. Why need be? Her father was one of the most feared wizards in this time...even she feared him. She lived with Lucius Malfoy since she was eleven. Or was it ten? I can't remember.

Before entering the alley, however, she stood and watched the trio disappear into the pub.

She glanced nervously into the dark alley, but in the end, gathered up her courage and cautiously walked in. She got about half way to the dead end when she heard a hissing voice behind her. She quickly turned around, but nothing was there. Strange, she thought. She slowly turned back to where she was going, only to be face to face with Lord Voldomort himself.

She jumped, and squealed, just a tiny bit. "Why are you doing out here? In the middle of Hogsmeade? In the middle of the day?" Her voice slowly quieting down as she said her questions.

The dark lord smirked at her. "Have a nice dream, dearest?" he asked her.

Her face paled. "How do you know about my dream?" she snapped.

He smirked, wider, if that was possible. "Why, all of us saw it..."

"What?" she yelled. "All of who?" Her voiced rose higher with each syllable.

"The Death Eaters and myself," Voldemort said, keeping his voice low and menacing. "I will not handle that tone of voice with you, Melly."

Just count backwards from ten...nine...eight...

"To tell you the honest to the Dark Lord truth, I have no idea how that came up." He looked around himself.

...Seven...six...five...

He leaned in closer to her. "What puzzles me the most is that...in your dream, you were seventeen. You're eighteen, if I'm not mistaking?"

...Four...three...

"And..." he grabbed her left wrist, and pulled up the sleeve, just a little bit, to reveal two bracelets; the same two that were in her dream. "...You still wear these?"

...Two...

"I gave these to your mother out of love." He sneered at the word. "I'm surprised she gave these to you. Actually, I'm surprised that she kept them after I left."

...One...

"Your mother was a fool for love, and the Dark Arts." He dropped her arm.

...Ten...

"You realize that these bracelets actually mean nothing? They're not magical, just some lame muggle jewelry. She had no idea, thought that they actually had a meaning, a purpose to themselves."

...Nine...eight...sev-aw, who am I kidding? This isn't working. Why is he talking about my mum that way?

"You have felt pain in your life, right? Your mother died. So, I guess these bracelets were pieces of useless junk."

Melly's face went flushed. "Don't talk about my mum that way!" She was visibly shaking at this point. He just smirked at her, making her angrier and angrier by the minute. "Why are you giving me that face?"

"You have a very high temper. I wander, were you born with it...or did you learn it?" He crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at her, like a father scolding his child.

Melly had gotten to many of those stares to last her a lifetime. "I learned it, from Lucius; who was, and still is, more of a father figure than you'll ever be!"

Voldemort's eyes widened at that last statement. "Well, I'm so, incredibly sorry for not being there for you, but I was a bit preoccupied."

Melly snorted. "Being a spirit. I honestly thought, and hoped, that you were gone. Just like the rest of the wizarding community who weren't loyal to you. My mother was rejoicing. She was so happy that I was going off to Hogwarts with Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. Mind you, she still cried for you at night. She thought I wasn't listening, but I was. But, anyway, she died. She was a dark witch, who was not loyal to you, but still loved you. Now, tell me, how can you insult her like that? She may have been a crazy woman, considering she fell in love with you, but, she still was dark, and still, secretly, wished for you to be back with her."

As she said this, something had dawned on her. "Father, how could you have been in an argument with her, and leave her when I was only three, if you disappeared not even a year after I was born?"

Voldemort's face eventually grew soft, listening to Melly vouch for her mother. "We never got in an argument," he said, his voice frighteningly soft, but he still hissed like a snake. "You were living with the Malfoys then. Your mother got in an argument with Lucius, and she left, taking you with her. I gave clear instructions for Lucius that, if anything should happen to me, he and Narcissa look after you and your mother. Because of her, he failed to do so. She then died, and you were placed where you rightfully belonged."

Melly felt a tear running down her cheek. She absolutely hated talking about her mother. She didn't understand how she went on these many years without her. Although, Narcissa had been like a mother to her, she still wasn't the same.

She shook her head, more tears falling. "No, I wasn't placed where I was belonged."

He looked at her, puzzled.

"I was sorted in to Gryffindor." She looked up at him. "I'm so sorry that I had to be put in that house."

Voldemort nodded. He then shot his head up, at eye level, glancing down to where Hogsmeade was. Melly looked where he was looking, and saw someone walk past, but suddenly stop, look at her, and walk into the alley.

She looked back at Voldemort, but was only to see that he had disappeared.

"Melly?" It was Ron. "What are you doing here?"

She sniffed, wiped her tears away with her sleeve, and looked at him and smiled.

"In truth, I have no idea what I'm doing here," she answered.

Ron smiled at her, unsure of her at that moment. Melly laughed, and Ron followed in a nervous chuckle.

"So, what do you want?" Melly asked, feeling better than before.

"I was looking for you," Ron said.

Melly shook her head. "You didn't have to look very hard, did you?"

"Nope, I guess not."

They stood there, for the most uncomfortable five minutes of Ron's life. He couldn't bring himself to look Melly in the eyes. He could feel her staring at him, but he knew that if he looked at her, he would throw himself on her, kissing her nonstop.

He was finally saved from the temptation when she cleared her throat. "Shall we go then?" she offered.

Ron nodded, still not looking at her. He was the first to walk out, then Melly. They walked side by side into the Three Broomsticks.

Melly thought, while she pretended to listen to the three chat away, that she never talked about her mother in such a manner like she did back in the alley. She never vouched for her, she never cried over her. Why the sudden change? Maybe it was something that had to do with Voldemort. She wasn't sure.

Snape? Are you there?

Hmm?

I need to speak with you.