Secret Behind The Mask

Chapter Fifteen- Nightly Wonders

Dinner was delicious. Steak, carrots, corn, potatoes, and pumpkin juice was that choice tonight. Who doesn't like pumpkin juice?

Ron, Melly, and Hermione walked in the Common Room, laughing and talking about whatever they could think of. This topic was of Slytherins. Harry would be laughing at everything they were saying about the Slytherins, only if Melly wasn't also saying those things. He followed them in, grumbling how much he didn't trust Melly, so he was going to stay with her every waking moment that night.

The three giggling eighteen year olds fell on the couch in front of the fire, and the grumbling "other" sat down on the chair next to the couch, glaring at "the happy giddy Melly".

Hermione sighed, finally sobering. "You're right, Malfoy does act like...that," she said, not daring to repeat what Melly had said.

Harry still couldn't believe that Hermione would let Melly call Malfoy that and not do anything about it. He always got in trouble when he called Malfoy anything close to a skinny-blond-over-powered-stupid-dumb-slurry-drunky-prick. No, he always got in trouble; but now, Hermione has got someone whom she didn't have to bother with.

"No, he doesn't, not that much," Melly admitted.

"How could you say that after calling him a skinny-blond-over-powered-stupid-dumb-slurry-drunky-prick?" Ron asked, not able to word the words right because he was still laughing.

Melly shrugged, not laughing anymore. Actually, Ron was the only one laughing at that statement.

"I have lived with him since I was ten, what do you think, Ron?" Melly replied, giving him a glare but not being able to hide a grin.

Ron stopped laughing, and shrugged. "Did I ever tell you how sorry I am?" he asked.

"For what?"

"For you having to live with Malfoy all these years."

Melly shook her head. "No, but your apology is accepted."

They smiled at each other, then Ron furrowed his eyebrows at her. "Apology? What am I apologizing for?"

Melly laughed. "For making me live with the Malfoys for almost ten years," she said, slapping his arm. "How dare you!"

"I didn't do it! I swear!" Ron said, rubbing his arm where she smacked him. He glared at her. "But, I did make you fall off the couch," he said in a low growl.

Melly stopped laughing, confused to what he was saying. "You never made me fall off the couch," she said.

Ron smiled at her, and grabbed her sides. "Oh, I will," he whispered in her ear.

Melly screamed as Ron began tickling her.

Hermione smiled and moved off the couch, so Melly wouldn't kick her, and sat on Harry's lap.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Are you going with her tonight?" Harry asked, whispering so Melly or Ron couldn't hear.

Hermione sighed. "Why? Listen Harry, she never spends time with us-"

"She spends every waking moment with you two!" Harry shouted, causing Ron to stop tickling Melly, which caused Melly to fall off the couch.

Ron looked at Melly, and silently apologized for making her fall off the couch.

Hermione stood up from Harry's lap, grabbed his hands, and forced him to stand up.

She got close to his face. "I don't appreciate you always nagging about her," she hissed. Hermione looked at Ron, and then apologetically at Melly. "I won't be able to join you tonight, I'm sorry, Melly. I have-Head Girl duties to attend to, and they are extremely important. I'm sorry."

She glared back at Harry. "Are you happy now?" she hissed again. She quickly walked out of the Common Room, and up to her room.

Ron and Melly watched her leave. They turned to Harry after they heard her door slam. Harry stood, looking down at Melly. Poor, little, innocent Melly, on the floor, with her legs still on the couch.

Melly gulped, and looked away. For some reason, she didn't like it when Harry stared at her like that. It made her feel uncomfortable, and uneasy. She looked back at where Harry stood, and saw him walking to the boys' side of the dorms.

She quickly stood up, and ran to him, leaving Ron in the Common Room, wondering what was going on.

Melly stopped him right before he went into his dorm room, and spun him around. He shrugged her hands off his shoulders.

"What do you want," he snapped.

Melly sighed. "Why don't you believe me?"

Harry shook his head. "Why should I?"

Melly shook her head. Should she tell him the truth? The truth had been haunting her, for reasons she never knew, all throughout dinner.

What was the truth?

The truth was that she really did know what happened yesterday morning in the library. The truth was that she really did hate the three of them. The truth was that she didn't know how her hair changed. The truth was that she didn't hate the three anymore; and it was killing her inside, a little bit, that Harry still didn't trust her.

That was a good explanation, wasn't it?

Melly opened her mouth, but couldn't think of how to start it. "The truth?" she managed to say. She sighed and decided to just throw everything at him. "The truth is that, yes, I do know what happened yesterday, you're right. I did say that I hated you, you're right on that also. But, what you don't understand is that I don't really hate you. I only hated you," she lowered her voice, "for coming to the forest Sunday night. I don't hate you. And I seriously did not mean anything that I said. I was just angry that you saw that. Angry that you saw everything; and now, my life could be ruined, because you, and Ron, and Hermione all know my deepest, darkest secret."

Harry was silent for a moment. "What about what you said to Him?" After Melly gave him a confused look, he continued. "About you saying that you would join the Death Eaters no matter what?"

Melly smiled. She giggled in a whisper. "I only said that so he wouldn't get mad. I gave Him what he wanted to hear, but I got punished anyways. Maybe not for saying anything that had to do with Death Eaters, but I still got punished."

Harry nodded. Is this what he wanted to hear? Is this the key to unlocking his like for her? No, it wasn't even close. He still didn't believe her. But, one question remains. If she answers this question, he would then consider forgiving her, but no promises.

She turned to leave, since she figured she wasn't going to get anything out of him. Well, she thought, gave it everything I had.

"Melly!" Harry called to her.

Melly turned around and looked up at him, since she was on a few steps lower than he was.

"One question," he said. After Melly nodded, urging him to go on, he continued. "Are you going to be a follower? A true to him follower?"

Melly looked down, biding time. Of course she was, she wasn't that stupid! She probably would get killed if she said no to Voldemort.

She shrugged, and decided to leave it to the lamest excuse she could think of. "I'm still too young into this war to know where my loyalties lie. Right now, I care for Ron; I care for Hermione; and, I care for you, only because Ron and Hermione do, and because I like you, Harry, I really do. But, I also care for my friends in Slytherin, who are bound to become followers; I care for Snape-"

Harry gave her a dirtied, disgusted look.

"-I care for my mother; I care for my Godfather; and, I care for my father. The only thing that's holding me in neutral at the moment is how much I care for you, Ron, and Hermione. You can't imagine."

"So," Harry said, descending down to where she stood. She totally had him in the bag. "If I were dying at the hands of Voldemort, what would you do?"

Melly had think on that one; really, truly think. What would she do? Let him die there? What? She furrowed her eyebrows in concentration. "I never thought about it," she answered quietly.

Harry nodded, and walked back up to where the dorm door was. He turned to her. "You think on those two questions," he said, walking into the dorm room.

Melly decided that she did indeed have to think on the questions. She nodded to herself, going back to where Ron was.

---

The night was cold, and Melly had to keep herself warm by staying close (really close) to Ron. He had his arm around her shoulders, keeping her warm. None of them spoke.

Melly pondered. What would she do if Harry were dying at the hands of Voldemort? Well, if she knew about Harry dying at the hands of Voldemort, she would probably find a way of stalling Voldemort. But then, she would get punished for interrupting his work.

Voldemort doesn't pick favorites, He only treats those how they deserved to be treated. If it was a new comber, he would probably be mean to them. If it was Lucius Malfoy, or Snape, or someone from the inner circle, then they would probably, no, most definitely be treated with respect. So, where did she lie in all this?

"Melly? Are you all right?" Ron asked, squeezing his arm so Melly was closer and warmer to him.

Melly looked up at him as they came to the lake's edge. She smiled at him, and nodded. "I'm fine," she whispered, and looked out over the lake.

"So, what if Harry was dying at the hands of the Dark Lord?" Ron asked.

Melly gasped, and looked up at him. "You were listening?"

Ron looked at her, apolitically. "I'm sorry, but I really wanted to know if Harry will forgive you yet, or not."

"How much did you hear?" she asked, her fear growing. What if he heard her say that she really did know what she was doing in the library? What if he heard every single word that she said to Harry?

"I only heard the question of if you were a spy or not," Ron replied.

Melly let out a sigh of relief. She smiled and chuckled. "Did you hear my reply?"

Ron shook his head. "Ginny came in. She wanted to know what I was doing, and I told her nothing, that she should go see if Hermione was okay. She gave me a weird look, but when went anyways. So, what was your answer?"

"You seem anxious about it," she said, not looking at him, but at the forest boundary. She sighed. "I want to know something. What would you do if I said no, I am not a spy, and I don't plan on being a spy?"

Ron's eyes grew wide. What did that mean? That she was a true follower? "I-I don't know what I would do."

Melly looked at him. "Would you leave me?" she asked, involuntarily. She winced at hearing her say that, but didn't show that she didn't know where that came from. You don't like Ron, Melly! You don't like Ron!

How do you know that you don't like Ron? A voice in her head said. For all you know, this could be your last time with him. He could probably walk away right now, and you would never speak to him again. How would you feel?

Kind of bad, Melly replied. Is this Snape?

No, I'm not Snape. Do I sound like him? Anyways, you wouldn't feel kind of bad; you feel really bad, incredibly bad! I can see into your mind, and into your heart. You really do care for this boy, and you can't ruin that, Melly Fate Avalon!

Ron smiled at her, and kissed her. He pulled away, smiling at seeing that Melly was smiling back at him. "How could I leave you?" he replied. "In all honest truth, I don't know what I would do if you said that you weren't a spy."

"And, what if I said that I was a spy?" Melly asked, her nerves finally calming down.

Ron looked like he sighed of relief when she asked him that. He was really hoping that the last question she asked wasn't leading in her telling him that she wasn't going to be a spy.

"I would love you forever and ever," Ron said, grabbing Melly and twirled her around as he hugged her. She laughed as he set her back down on her feet. "And no matter what, I will always love you, even you were a true follower to him."

Melly sighed and buried her face in his shirt. She loved the way he smelled, the way he felt so warm when she was so cold.

Wait, she wasn't supposed to feel like this, not to him anyway.

I told you cared for the boy, Melly Fate Avalon, the voice inside her said.

Who is this? Melly asked.

The voiced laughed. I'm quite sure you will find out in time my dear.

Melly turned her head, smiling, admitting that the voice was right, she did care for Ron. Did that mean that she loved him also? She opened her eyes, and saw Hagrid's cabin. She wondered if he was in his hut, watching them from inside.

Then, she saw his dog (Fang, was it?) run out of the house.

Strange, she thought. Maybe Hagrid really was in there watching them? No, he couldn't have been. He was still in the Great Hall when they left, and she saw Dumbledore talking with him.

Melly watched as the dog-Fang-ran into the forest, barking like mad. He stopped at the forest line, and stared at Ron and Melly. He then began barking to them, and made movements that Melly thought meant that he wanted them to follow him.

Melly moved back from Ron, took his and, and led him to where Fang was motioning for them.

"Fang?" Ron said, grabbing the big dog's neck and petting his head. "What is it?"

The dog began to whine. Ron let got of him, and the dog darted into the forest.

"FANG!" Ron called.

Melly grabbed Ron's hand again, and led him into the forest. "Come on, Ron!" she said.

Ron and Melly ran as fast as they could after Fang, Ron in front, and Melly slightly behind.

They ran until they lost track of Fang, and they began to worry.

"FANG?" Ron called out. "FANG!"

Melly looked around. She could feel someone there, watching them. Then, she saw it.

"Ron!" she screamed, but it was too late; Death Eaters surrounded them.

Melly gasped. She looked from dark cloak to dark cloak, wondering if she knew they knew who she was. She decided to find out.

"Don't come any closer!" she yelled, grabbing her wand. She saw Ron do the same, but she told him to put it back. Her attention back on the still approaching Death Eaters, she wondered if they did know or not. "I am your Dark Lord's daughter! Do not come any closer!"

They didn't listen, they continued to approach.

She heard Ron call her name. She looked at him, but was seized by the arms. She screamed, yelling at the Death Eater who got her to let go of her, and kicked with all her might.

"Get out of here, Ron!" she called. She looked around, and noticed the Death Eaters started disappearing in the trees whence they came. "Go! Don't worry about me! I'll be fine!" She grunted while trying to kick the Death Eater who got her.

One of the taller Death Eaters, whom Melly didn't notice until now, started charging after Ron. She looked back at Ron, who had his wand out.

"No! Ron! Don't!" she screamed. "Get out of here!" she screamed again.

Ron saw the Death Eater charging for him. He looked back at Melly, who was being dragged in the trees, kicking and screaming at him to leave. No, he would not leave Melly there.

He pointed his wand at the charging Death Eater. "Expelliramus!" he shouted. The Death Eater flew back and hit a tree, hard. He collapsed on the ground, and lay motionless.

Ron looked around, but no one was to be seen. He couldn't even hear Melly's screams anymore.

Panicked, he ran back to the castle. As soon as he got inside, he saw Hermione patrolling the ground floor.

Hermione saw Ron, panting for breath and flushed. She ran up to him.

"Ron? What's wrong? Is everything okay?" she asked.

Ron only shook his head, and continued running, down to the dungeons. There was only one person he could think of that could and would help Melly.

His eyes were teary as he got to the dungeon classroom door. He stopped only for a second to catch his breath, Hermione right behind him. Ron burst through the door.

Snape looked up from his papers, but, as soon as he saw whom it was, looked back down.

What a coincidence, he thought; I'm grading his paper now.

"What is it Weasley?" Snape said, making another mark on the paper.

Ron, still panting from running so far, walked up to his desk, muttering, "Melly," and "Death Eaters".

Snape heard him, and shot his head up. He looked at Hermione, who shrugged her shoulders.

"Shut the door, Miss Granger," Snape ordered. Hermione did as she was told, and ran up to Ron, who was now at Snape's desk. "What about Melly?" he asked.

Hermione gasped.

"She was taken away by Death Eaters," Ron said.

Hermione gasped again.

Snape shook his head. "She couldn't have."

"Well, she was!" Ron shouted. "We ran into the forest after Fang. We lost him, and then Death Eaters attacked us! They wouldn't listen to her. No matter how many times she told them that she was their master's daughter, they wouldn't seize."

Snape looked at Ron for a moment.

Melly? Melly? Are you there? She shouldn't know occlumency, not yet. Melly! I demand you answer me! Melly!

He sighed in frustration. He walked to his office, and grabbed his Death Eater cloak. He threw it on as he walked out the door, Ron and Hermione at his feet.

As they drew outside, Snape ordered Hermione to go inside, just in case something was to happen, like if Melly got back before he did.

After Hermione left, Snape ordered Ron to take him where Ron and Melly were attacked. Ron did so.

"This is where she was taken," Ron said as they arrived at the spot. Ron pointed to a motionless Death Eater, hoping that he wasn't dead. "That one tried to attack me."

Snape nodded. "I'll take it from here. You go back to the castle with Miss Granger," Snape said, not taking his eyes off of the Death Eater.

Ron nodded, but didn't move.

"Did you hear me?" Snape bellowed, now looking at Ron. "Get back to the castle! Now!"

"No!" Ron said. "I want to help Melly!"

"If you don't go back now, you might as well kill her yourself," Snape said.

Ron stared at Snape, then at the motionless Death Eater, his eyes burning from long wanting to escape tears. He finally decided at what Snape said was true. He looked back at Snape, then walked, morosely, back to the castle.