Secret Behind The Mask

Chapter Eight- Valentine's Day Ball

Snape stood there, smiling and shaking his head at her. He had to control himself from bursting out laughing.

"And, what, may I ask, is so funny about that?" Melly asked, looking and sounding death threatening.

"It's the first time you've spoken to him, alone, and you two are talking about your mother," Snape said, amusingly. "I honestly don't know what's so funny. It does have a funny tint to it."

"Well, I don't appreciate you laughing, Snape!" She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. Her face lightened a bit when she remembered something that Voldemort had told her. "Snape?"

"What?" His face was red, slowly turning purple, trying to not laugh.

"He told me that all the Death Eaters saw my dream. Did you?" She looked at him, all traces of hate and anger gone. Now, all that existed in her eyes was determination, sadness, and plea. She really wanted to know what it meant, and why it felt real. The Master of all the Death Eaters was of no help.

Snape's face returned to normal, and he no longer felt a twitch around his mouth. He looked at her, regretful. He looked at her feet, and nodded slowly. "Yes, I saw it. It wasn't pretty. Let me tell you that."

"What do you think it means?" She slid onto a desk, tired of standing up. "The Dark Lord said what puzzled him most was my being seventeen, when, in reality, I'm eighteen."

Snape sighed, and turned from her. "I don't think I'm at liberty to say what it means."

"Now, what do you mean by that?" Melly growled in frustration. "Why aren't you allowed to tell me?"

Snape just shook his head. Maybe you should go. Curfew is in ten minutes, and it would be a shame for you to miss the ball tomorrow night.

Right, whatever. She slid off the desk, and walked out. Snape really annoyed her right now. Why couldn't he tell her? Was there something more that Voldemort hasn't told her? Or, was he lying to her? Her face grew hot, thinking about it. He was the Dark Lord, so he's enabled to lie to her, right?

NO! Just because he's the Dark Lord doesn't mean anything! I should know everything that concerns me! Do you hear me Snape? EVERYTHING!

She stormed into the Common Room, ignoring Ron's "HI!" and sauntered off to her dorm room.

---

The halls of Hogwarts were silent, and ghastly. Everyone was either in the Great Hall, or in his or her rooms, getting ready for the Valentines Day Ball.

A tall, blonde wanderer strolled in the empty corridors of Hogwarts. He just turned a corner on the second floor, when he heard hushed voices echoing through the hallway. He stopped, and listened.

"He wouldn't tell you?" a voice asked.

"No!" a second voice snapped. "He rushed me out of there before I could do anything about it."

"You can think to him, can't you? Why didn't you do that?" a third could be heard.

"Because," the second voice sighed, "he won't answer me if I ask him about it."

"That's deep," the first voice said.

The wanderer noticed who these whisperers were. He smirked, and turned another corner, and saw three small and slender figures huddling in a corner.

"Yeah, well I'm going to find out about that dream," the second voice said. "Even if it means I have to ask Him again."

"Ask who?" Draco asked, making the three girls jump about an inch in the air. Pansy whirled around, smacking him in the face with her long brown hair. Draco forgot, and was surprised, to see Pansy dressed and looking beautifully.

"Damn, Draco! You nearly scared me half to death!" She shrieked.

"Now, what are three lovely girls doing alone in this corridor? Shouldn't you be getting ready for the ball?" he asked, smirking at them, but mostly at Sherry.

"We already are ready, Draco," Melly said.

Which was true. Melly wore a long, dark purple dress robe, which was hung open and revealed a tight black shirt and a dark blue skirt that trailed down to the floor.

Pansy wore somewhat the same as Melly. Only her dress robe was an extremely dark green, and her skirt was black. Her hair hung limply on her shoulders. She learned how to perform the skinny makeover charm, and learned how to work with the muggle make-up.

Sherry, on the other hand, wore her usual school robes. Her hair was normally put up, and she didn't look too happy at the mention of the ball.

"What about you Strands?" Draco asked, nodding to her. "You don't look ready to me."

Before Sherry had time to answer, Melly spoke before her. "She declined all the boys who asked her. She says she's waiting for the right man." Melly looked at Sherry, then back at Draco.

"You're not going with anyone?"

"I'm not going at all," Sherry snapped. "What's the point in going if you don't have anyone to go with?"

Draco nodded. "What were you three talking about when I came waltzing along?"

"That is strictly none of your business, Draco," Melly said, looking at Pansy, giving her a warning glare.

Pansy nodded at her, then nodded at Draco.

Draco sighed, and turned to leave, but swirled back at them, a smirk playing on his face as he looked at Sherry. He opened his arms as if expecting her to run into his arms. "Why don't you go with me, Sher?" he asked.

Sherry's grim look went away, and was replaced with disbelief. Her mouth slowly opened, then closed. She tried with all her might to hold back a smile, but she couldn't hold it in. She gave him a toothy smile, and ran into his arms, jumping up and wrapping her legs around his waist, placing her hands on his cheeks, and kissed him.

Melly looked at Pansy, and smiled and shook her head. "Waiting for the right man," she whispered to her.

Pansy nodded, and they both laughed as Draco started walking backwards and bumped into the wall, still holding and kissing Sherry.

"Melly Avalon!" a shrill voice sounded, causing Pansy and Melly to stop laughing, and Draco and Sherry to jerk out of the kiss, but smile back at each other, and start kissing again.

The bushy haired girl glanced at Draco and Sherry, giving them a disgusted look, then turned to Melly.

"Madam Pomfrey wants to speak with you," Hermione said as she gave the two snoggers nervous glances.

Melly nodded, glancing at Pansy. She jerked her head away from Draco and Sherry, and started walking, Pansy snickering, and Hermione glancing disgustedly at the two again before following.

As the three of them got to the Grand Staircase, Melly noticed that Hermione wasn't ready for the ball.

Pansy departed to the Slytherin Common Room, leaving Melly and Hermione walking to the Hospital Wing in silence. The two really didn't have anything to say to each other. Melly didn't really like being quiet, but she didn't feel like talking to Snape at the moment, and she and Hermione barely talked at all. She decided to get to know her, for the short time they have with walking to the Hospital Wing.

"So..." she began, not knowing what to say. She cleared her throat. Have you ever noticed how hard it was trying to talk to someone you barely had anything in common with, and you didn't really like without saying something obscene or disrespectful to that person without knowing it? It was incredibly hard to think of the right thing to say to Hermione, the Head Girl, without getting her all worked up in a tizzy.

"Are you going to the ball?" Melly asked, very quickly. She thought that she might have said something wrong with the look that Hermione gave her.

Hermione gave her an annoyed look. I was going to go to the ball with Ron, but you had to come. "Yes," Hermione said softly.

"With who? You don't look like you're quite ready for it," Melly said, gesturing to Hermione's school robes.

"I'm not getting ready until an hour before it starts. There is absolutely no need to get ready this early."

They walked in silence again, until they came to the doors of the Hospital Wing. Melly hesitated. She smiled at Hermione.

"You still haven't answered my earlier question," she called after her retreating back.

Hermione whirled around. "What was that?"

"With whom are you going?" Melly asked, teasingly.

Hermione looked a little bit nervous at answering her question. She bit her bottom lip, and looked at the floor, shifting her feet uncomfortably. She mumbled something, but Melly couldn't hear it.

"What? What did you say?" Melly took a step towards her.

Hermione threw up her head. "HARRY!" She shouted.

Melly jumped, and whirled around, thinking that he was standing right behind her. He wasn't. Melly looked back at Hermione, who had an annoyed look on her face.

"I'm going with Harry," she repeated.

Melly smiled, and burst out laughing.

"What?" demanded Hermione. She sighed heavily, and threw her hands up. "See? This is why I didn't want to tell you! I knew you were going to laugh at me!"

Melly clutched her stomach, gasping for breath. She held out her hand and grabbed onto Hermione, trying not to fall over. Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, and glared at a small spot on the wall, wishing that it would burn up.

"Now, why was that so hard?" Melly asked, barely able to talk.

Hermione looked at her, dumbstruck. "What?"

Melly calmed down some, still smiling. "Why was telling me so hard?"

Hermione looked at her like she just met the village idiot that was named Melly Avalon. "Because I knew you were going to laugh at me!"

Melly's serious, but curious, face returned as she looked at Hermione and pulled herself up. "I wasn't laughing because you told me that you were going with Harry. I have no right in laughing at whom you're going with. That's not me." She smiled; knowing what she just said was a lye. Of course it was her! She just didn't want to lose Hermione Granger's trust. "I was laughing because it was so hard for you to tell me. Telling me that you're going with Harry isn't bad. I'm happy you're going with someone. Especially if it is the famous Harry Potter."

Hermione half-smiled at her, then looked at the ground, feeling ashamed. "I'm sorry I bit your head off. I just...well...I really wanted to go with Ron...and...he came up to me and said that he had to let me down; said he had to go with you."

Melly looked at her, mouth open in disbelief. "Ron actually said that to you? I'm going to have to have a talk with him then. Listen." Melly put her hands on Hermione's shoulders. She almost completely has her trust. She just has diss Ron somehow. "If I knew that you were going with him, I wouldn't have asked him. If I knew that he let you down because of me, then I would've slapped him silly, or at least until he cried out for me to stop."

Hermione let out a short laugh, and Melly smiled.

"Well, I know it isn't your fault," Hermione said. "It's just that, well, I always thought that Ron liked me. I guess I was wrong though. Besides, I'm glad I'm with Harry. He's incredibly nice to me, and he won't let me down for someone else."

Melly smirked. "You're making Ron sound like the devil himself."

"Miss Avalon?" someone called from behind. The two girls turned their heads, and looked to see that Madam Pomfrey was standing at the entrance to the Infirmary, hands on her hips.

Melly nodded, and turned back to Hermione. "I better go. Hey." She stopped Hermione from walking away. "Tell Harry that he was lucky that Ron turned into the suffering bastard that he is. Harry's lucky that you ended alone. Harry's lucky that he chose you."

Hermione smiled, and walked off. Melly mentally gave herself a pat on the back. Phase One, complete. Harry and his friends are total suckers.

She turned around and walked to Madam Pomfrey, who had a stern look on her face.

"You, little missy, didn't come to me after Hogsmeade yesterday," she said, leading Melly into the infirmary.

Melly nodded. "Sorry, Madam Pomfrey."

---

Melly sat on the Head Girl's bed, playing with the Head Girl's cat, criticizing the Head Girl's choice of clothes for that night.

Hermione sighed in frustration as she threw another dejected shirt into her closet. She pulled out a black lacey one, and held it in front of her. Melly shook her head. "Doesn't go with your hair."

Hermione threw it in her closet. "Nothing matches! This doesn't go with anything in my closet..." She threw a green shirt out. "...This doesn't even belong in here..." She threw a short blue skirt out. "...And this doesn't match my hair?" She threw out the shirt that she just shown for Melly. She stood in front of her, nervously wringing her hands together, giving Melly an urgent look. "I have nothing to wear! And the ball starts in thirty minutes! Harry and Ron are coming for us in ten minutes." She fell on her bed.

"Actually, the ball starts in fifteen minutes, and the boys are coming for us in five."

She smiled in amusement as she heard Hermione yell of frustration in her pillow. Crookshanks jumped and hissed, then jumped off the bed, and climbed onto a chair near the fireplace.

Melly grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her up. "Just because you're the Head Girl, doesn't mean that you have to have the best wardrobe in the school." Melly smiled. "Get up. I'm taking you to my room."

They ran down to Melly's room, which, in Melly's relief, was empty. She ordered to Hermione to close the door, and lock it. Hermione did as she was told, and sat on Melly's bed, watching in disbelief that she was going through her roommate's trunks.

"You're not supposed to do that," Hermione stated, but Melly just wave it off as she pulled out a long, black, shimmering skirt from Lavender's trunk.

She threw it on the bed next to Hermione, and dug deeper to find Lavender's matching top. She pulled it out, and showed it to Hermione, who gasped.

The shirt was small, but was also black and shimmering. Melly threw it on the bed, and helped Hermione get dressed.

Melly turned her towards a life-size mirror that they had in their room, and Hermione couldn't believe what she saw.

Hermione was wearing a long black shimmering skirt that fell all the way down to the floor, and it dragged behind it. The shirt was small, but it gave her the curves that she's been hiding under her cloak, and it just barely showed her midriff.

She looked at Melly, who was like an angel to her. "Won't Lavender notice I'm wearing her outfit?" she asked alarmingly.

Melly shook her head. "She doesn't care. She's the one who's wearing my matching shirt to this skirt, and the matching skirt to my shirt. And, she's using my jewelry, without asking I might add. So, she won't mind." Melly turned Hermione back to the mirror. "I have two minutes until the boys come. Think I can finish you up by then?"

"I hardly doubt you can do anything at this moment," Hermione replied.

Melly nodded her thanks, and began by pulling Hermione's hair back into a ponytail. She got out her muggle make up, and began with the blush.

As soon as she was done with the make up, she decided to work with Hermione's hair. She had one minute left, so she had to hurry. She got out a clip from one of her drawers, and clipped half of the hair back into a half ponytail. She fluffed Hermione's hair a bit, and dropped some of it down in front of her shoulders.

Melly looked at the clock in her room, and smiled. "Ten seconds. Shall we go then?"

Hermione smiled and nodded, not being able to wait to see Harry's face.

They walked down the stairs to the Common Room, Melly in front, Hermione following closely behind.

"So," Hermione said. "What did Madam Pomfry want?"

Melly shrugged. "You know Poppy Pomfry...If you disobey her wishes, she'll be on you like stink on a warthog. I didn't see her after Hogsmeade yesterday, so what? I swear. She gets so--"

She suddenly stopped as they got close to the bottom of the stairs. She held out a hand to stop Hermione from asking a question of what was wrong. Melly turned to her, looking extremely excited.

"Stay here," she whispered. With a nod from Hermione, she quickly turned around and flew down the rest of the stairs.

She saw Ron and Harry talking by the fire. Melly slowly walked up behind Ron. Harry saw her, but pretended not to notice her. Melly tip toed to Ron, held her breath, smiled at Harry, and told him to be quiet.

Harry couldn't keep from smiling. Ron chatted away about new Quidditch plays for the next practice, totally oblivious to Harry's uncontrollable smile.

Melly waited for the perfect timing, and...

"AAAHHH!" Ron cried. He turned around, holding his hand to his heart, breathing heavily.

Melly smiled at him, her arms wrapped around his neck. "Hello, Ron," she said in her sweetest voice.

Ron tried to smile, but could only muster up a small, barely visible smile. "Hey."

Melly smiled wider, and looked at Harry. He was holding his stomach, laughing as hard as anyone has ever seen him laugh, and trying not to fall off the couch at the same time.

Ron glared at Harry, then looked back at Melly. He noticed she was alone. "Where's Hermione?" he asked.

Harry, now able to breath, not laughing as hard, and still smiling, stood up and walked to them.

Melly smiled at the two boys, and bit her bottom lip, not in a bad, nervous, or angry way, but in a happy, and excited way. Backed away from Ron, looking at both of them, mischief one hundred percent visible in her eyes.

She backed all the way to the stairs where she emerged from before she gave Ron the heart attack.

"Je présénte..." she said, motioning for Hermione to slowly walk out and grab her hand. "...Hermione Granger."

Hermione descended the stairs, placing a hand on Melly's hand, blushing slightly at Melly's French introduction.

"You didn't have to do that," Hermione whispered as she came up to her.

She looked at Harry, blushing even more. Harry (and Ron) looked at her mouths open. Melly really did know how to make an ordinary girl the most beautiful angel in a thousand miles.

"Credit belongs Lavender Brown, for her outstanding clothes," Melly said, walking up to Ron as Harry walked up to Hermione. "The fashionable, most brilliant make up, and hair, done by none other than the great Melly Avalon."

Ron smiled down on her. "You're bloody brilliant, you know that?"

Melly looked at him like he just insulted her. "Well of course I do! I, and everybody else at Hogwarts, know damn well that I'm bloody brilliant!"

Ron let out a short laugh, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as the two now stood watching Hermione and Harry smile and blush at each other.

---

The Great Hall was decorated with red and pink hearts everywhere. The dance floor was decorated with red confetti, and along the walls hearts, cupids, and the word "LOVE" was hung everywhere. Walking into the Great Hall gave you a warm feeling inside; you couldn't stop smiling.

Melly looked around, for no one in particular, she just wandered around, while Ron, Harry, and Hermione talked with one another. Okay, so she was looking for her other friends...and Snape. She felt totally stupid. Well, of course he won't be in here, Melly thought. She smiled to herself. Red and pink, and hearts and cupids cramp his style of the black, mysterious, Death Eater man he is.

Hey! I resent that! Snape bellowed.

Melly laughed as she spotted him at the far end where the staff table used to sit; it was gone now the ball was going on.

I didn't expect to see you here, Melly thought. I'd expect you to be...well...not here.

I didn't have a choice, Avalon. Snape had the look of a person who was nervous about his surroundings, and was getting ready to attack anyone, at that moment, who came up to him and said nothing but a simple "Hi."

Melly walked up to her Slytherin friends, not seeing Draco and Sherry anywhere.

That's too bad, Snape. I know how much you'd love to be in your cold, damp, dank, and dark dungeon all night, all alone, with no one but yourself to comfort you.

"Hey, Pansy," Melly said as she cam up behind her. "Where are Sherry and Malfoy?"

Fifty points, Miss Avalon, for provoking a professor.

"I don't know where they went, honestly," Pansy said. "They went off, smiling at each other. I lost sight of them at the dance floor."

You can't take points off me in your mind, smart-ass.

"Why were they at the dance floor? The music hasn't even started."

"Fifty points from Gryffindor," Snape muttered to himself. It's better than being a dumb ass, Melly.

Shut up.

"Where's your date, Avalon?" Pansy asked.

Melly flinched, just slightly. "Uh...Weasley? He's over with the other two." Melly smiled, uncertainly. "I have to find Sher. Tell me if you see her. Or just send her my way."

Pansy nodded as Melly went back over to Ron and the other two.

The music started playing. It was a song that Melly never heard, but obviously all the muggle-borns had. They started dragging their dates onto the dance floor, and started dancing.

"Do you know this song?" Ron whispered to Melly, who, in turn, shook her head.

"I know it," Hermione said, sounding shy. "It's an American singer who sings it. Crystle Dia can sure sing this song well."

The four of them looked at the band. It was made up of three girls. A blonde (Crystle Dia), a brunette/red head (Nicci Anderson), and a black haired girl with green streaks in her hair (Missy Shawnton). She looked like Sherry, only taller, and her skin was too tan. The band was called the Chocolate Frogs.

Crystle took the microphone, and began singing.

Get a load of me

Get a load of you

Walking down the street and I hardly know you

It's just like we were meant to be

Holding hands with you and we're out at night

Got a girlfriend you say it isn't right

And I got someone waiting too

Well this is just the beginning

We're already wet and we're gonna go swimming

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?

Why can't I speak whenever I speak about you?

It's inevitable

It's a fact that we're gonna get down to it

So tell me

Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?

Why can't I speak whenever talk about you?

Melly nodded her head to the beat. She and Ron watched Hermione and Harry dance to the song. Melly actually found herself humming the words that stuck out in her mind. She knew she was never going to get this song out of her mind.

The song ended, and the dancers and everyone clapped. Melly also thought that Crystle Dia had a good voice.

Ron and Melly saved Hermione and Harry a seat at their small table. Hermione and Harry walked back to the table as another song continued.

"You really dance great," Melly said to Hermione, who blushed.

"Thanks." Hermione smiled and giggled while she looked at Harry.

Harry smiled back at her, and then turned back to Ron. "Why don't you two go up and dance?" Hermione nodded in agreement.

Ron opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. He got nervous when thinking about asking Melly to dance. Melly looked at him with an amused look on her face.

"Maybe when a slower song comes on?" she offered.

Ron smiled of relief and nodded. "Yeah, a slower song."

Hermione and Harry laughed.

Melly smiled at Ron, who was blushing, but a waving Pansy caught her eye. She leaned forward to try and see what Pansy was so worked up about. Pansy pointed to the door of the Great Hall. Melly looked over at the door, and saw Sherry and Draco stumble in, both laughing. Melly looked back at Pansy and nodded her thanks to her.

She stood up. "I'll be right back." The three of them nodded, Ron blushing even harder when she placed her hand on his back and slid it past him.

She walked up to Draco and Sherry, who were still laughing.

"Sherry, I want to talk to you," Melly said as she got up to them.

Sherry looked at Draco, not laughing anymore. Draco nodded at her. "Go ahead. You know where to find me." He walked behind her, slapping her in the behind as he walked past, receiving a shriek from Sherry. He walked to Pansy and the others.

Sherry laughed at his retreating back, and then turned back to Melly. "What's up?"

"You and Draco a couple?" Melly asked.

Sherry smiled and nodded. "Isn't it great? You know how long I've admired him, don't you? I'm so happy he asked me. Is that all?"

"No," Melly said, her face becoming serious. "I need you to not tell Malfoy about my dream. Don't tell him about any of my secrets. For example, don't tell him about me and Snape, and don't mention I met up with you-know-who at Hogsmeade, understand?"

Sherry nodded. "Is that all?"

"Sherry?" Melly placed her hands on her hips. "This is serious. I don't want my 'God-brother' to know about these things, even if he is your new boyfriend. Understand?"

Sherry nodded, seeming to sober up. She smiled at Melly, and started walking with her to where Draco was.

"You need to loosen up," Sherry said. "No one will know about it."

"May you be forced to drink Veritaserum?" Melly said.

Sherry smiled. "May I be forced to live in Azkaban for the rest of my life."

Melly nodded as a slow song came on. Sherry smiled, as they got to the group of Slytherins, at Draco. Draco took her hand, and kissed it.

"May I have this dance, Sherry Strands?" he asked, smirking at her.

Sherry giggled, and grabbed his neck and forced a kiss on his lips. "Of course, Draco Malfoy," she smirked back. They kissed their way onto the dance floor.

Melly smiled, and decided she had better go back to the three Gryffindors. Even if she was a dark witch, she still felt a little out of place when she hung out with her Slytherin friends.

Ron was alone, waiting for Harry and Hermione to get back from getting the four of them punch.

Melly smiled at him as she sat down in her seat. She laughed as she watched Draco and Sherry kiss. They couldn't seem to keep each other's lips to themselves. As soon as they broke from a kiss, they would start kissing again.

"Ron?" Melly asked. Ron looked at her, although she kept looking at Sherry and Draco, smiling. "Remember earlier, when I was giving myself credit for Hermione's make up and hair? Well, I'm also the world's most brilliant match maker."

Ron raised his eyebrows, and looked to where she was looking, but gave a disgusted look. "Ugh...Malfoy? And Strands?" He looked at her like she was lying to him, hoping that she was lying to him.

"Malfoy is my g-well...he's-Sherry's infatuation. Strands is my best friend in the world. And, I think the two of them look good for each other."

Ron nodded, like she was crazy. "Right, anyway. Wanna dance? It's a slow song."

Melly shook her head. "It's almost over. I want to dance with you through the whole song." She smiled and nudged him.

Hermione and Harry came back with four cups of punch. They handed Ron and Melly each one, and kept one each for the two of them.

The night seemed to go on forever, and still, no slow song came on. Ron was getting a little antsy and nervous. He really wanted to dance with Melly, was also nervous that she might say "No" again.

He looked over at her, admiring her smile and laugh. Every time would talk to either Harry or Hermione, he would get the same butterflies in his stomach like he did the week before when he first started having feelings for Melly.

Finally, the band stopped playing, and the lights dimmed. Crystle began stringing on her guitar, just as she began to sing...

When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of mine

Ron looked at Melly, and smiled at her. He stood up and grabbed her hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked her, butterflies threatening to come out.

Melly smiled, which only encouraged the butterflies, and accepted. He led her to the dance floor, and looked at her, unsure of what to do. Melly placed her hand on his shoulder, she placed his hand on the small of her back, and held the other hand with hers, and led, since he didn't seem to know what to do.

I look at you, lookin' at me
Now I know why they say the best things are free
I'm gonna love you boy you are so fine
Angel of Mine

How you changed my world you'll never know
I'm different now, you helped me grow
You came into my life sent from above
When I lost all hope you showed me love
I'm checkin' for ya boy you're right on time
Angel of Mine

Melly smiled at him, and he smiled back. Ron didn't want this to ever end. He loved being in this position with her. He made a mental note to try and kiss her later. She seemed to be thinking the same thing, since she was smiling, and looking at nothing but him, and seemed to notice no one but him, but, inside her head, there was a verbal fight going on.

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

Avalon and Weasley, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.

Where did that come from?

I have no idea. I heard it from some of the students as they chanted it to Strands and Malfoy.

Shut up, please, Snape?

Why?

Because, if you don't, it gives me the right to hear what you have to say what you know about my dream.

Still on that, are? Fine, I'll leave you alone.

Nothing means more to me than what we share
No one in this whole world can ever compare
Last night the way you moved is still on my mind
Angel of Mine

What you mean to me you'll never know
Deep inside I need to show
You came into my life sent from above (Sent from above)
When I lost all hope, you showed me love (Boy you showerd me love)
I'm checkin' for ya, boy you're right on time (Right on Time)
Angel of Mine (Angel of mine)

I never knew I could feel each moment
As if it were new,
Every breath that I take, the love that we make
I only share it with you (you, you, you, you) When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of Mine

Snape gritted his teeth as his upper left arm began to hurt slightly. He rubbed on it, slowly making his way to the doors of that led to the Entrance Hall. He gave Melly and Ron one last look, and went out.

You came into my life sent from above (Came into my life, yeah yeah yeah)
When I lost all hope you showed me love (Boy You showed me love, uh huh)
I'm shakin' for ya, boy you're right on time (But boy your right on time)
Angel of Mine (Angel of mine, oh mine)

How you changed my world you'll never know
I'm different now, you helped me grow.

Snape? Melly's voice could be heard. Snape?

What? Melly now is not the time. He was walking on the field on his way to the Hogwarts gates so he could apparate where the Dark Lord wanted him.

Why is my arm hurting?

Snape stopped abruptly, almost falling over. "He wants to inform her now?" he thought out loud.

Snape?

Get out here, now!

Where?

Meet me by the dark forest. Make sure that big oaf doesn't see you.

Hagrid?

Yes, Hagrid. Hurry!

Melly nodded, which made Ron give her a quizzical look. Melly's eyes opened wide. She opened her mouth, but couldn't understand what to say. She backed away from him. "I-I-I have to go," she said quickly. With that, she picked up her skirt, and ran out.

Ron looked after her, wondering what had gotten into her. Then, without a second thought, he darted after her.

Harry and Hermione both saw Melly hurry out, then Ron sprint like the wind. They looked at each other, and dashed after them.