"Where have you been?! What did he do to you?! Oh my goodness, you look so pale! Melody??!!"
"Please, Becky, stop heckling me," I said, covering my face with my hands. A well of emotion felt like it was about to pour out of me, tears of relief that I just couldn't let anyone else see. I couldn't bear to see the look of worry on her face and end up bursting into crying fits right in front of her.
"What did he do? Oh, Melody, you have to tell Snape and Dumbledore! They'll want to hear about it! He didn't get permission to give you detention! He's never gotten permission! Melody, please —"
"You heard what 'Professor Moody' said," I snapped, shocking her into silence. "I don't want to get into any more trouble with him, and I especially don't want you slipping into his bad side either... just leave me alone, I don't want to talk about it." My voice was cracking as I sprinted up the stairs to our dormitory, and threw myself into bed.
How does Harry deal with it? He's nearly been killed two times within the past couple years by the Dark Lord and still manages to act like it doesn't perturb him in the slightest. He'll have a third attempt on his life soon, thanks to me. I was nearly killed by no less than a memory of dad as a teenager, but that's not as important. Harry had saved me then, and I just saved myself now by my own wit... well, technically the Room of Requirement had a bigger part in helping me than I did in helping myself. I hadn't even thought Crouch actually wanted me dead.
I feel so very weak and vulnerable and gullible......
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Over an hour before lunch the next day, I went to go see Crouch alone. Not much he can do to me during the day, and anyways — on top of explaining my idea to him — I'd like to be sure he knows I'm not scared of him. Because I'm not. I'm over the bout of emotion I had last night before crying myself to sleep. I'm refreshed and strong.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were just walking out of his office as I got there.
"Oh, Melody," Hermione said brightly. "Are you going to come to the library any time soon?"
I scratched the back of my neck, starting to lose my nerve. I'd managed not to bump into anyone all morning, with the exception of going to class, and even then I didn't personally speak to anyone.
"Yeah, of course... I — erm — I meant to come yesterday, but something came up."
Hermione seemed to be the only one who didn't notice my awkwardness. "So I'll see you later today?"
"Yeah, sure," I said as they walked away.
Harry and Ron gave some concerned glances at me over their shoulders. At least their suspicions wouldn't be the thought that I was doing anything evil, probably just that something was wrong. And something was wrong. I walked into 'Professor Moody's' office, and slammed the door behind me.
'Moody's' head snapped up from behind his desk. He glared at me.
"So tell me. Was your night a success?" I hissed sarcastically.
"Partly," he reluctantly replied.
"Oh, so I suppose you caught your father. Excellent. And then you got my message, too, in concerns to that stupid 'partly' response."
"Indeed, I did."
"Would you like me to reinforce it?" I asked, wrapping my hands behind my back as I bent forward to glare pointedly at him.
"I already heard it loud and clear."
"I'm sure you did, but are you going to heed my warning?"
He didn't answer.
"Of course not. Then again, why would you? You've never seen me use the sort of magic that my father uses unless in practice which, may I remind you, were lessons that you gave me. Waste of time, may I say, for you to teach me such things and then believe that you're just going to be able to kill me.... Because I'd have gladly taken your magical energy last night, and called it a day!"
His hands clenched into fists.
I pulled my hands from behind my back to clap. "On to the matter I really need to talk to you about. We can use your father, I just need a little extra practice on a few things with you before this plan is foolproof."
He sighed resignedly, "What do you have in mind?"
"I'm glad you asked," I said, collapsing into the chair in front of his desk. "Because there's only one way I can think of, but it'll require a lot of preparation and magic. More than dad's potion, actually. The only problem —"
The door slammed open then, causing me to jump in my seat. Barty as 'Professor Moody' flinched as well. Both of us stared at the door with our wands up.
Marcus stood in the doorway. "I knew you were doing something for your father this year!"
I can't believe my stupidity, I'd thought furiously, never dropping my wand even an inch as I sped toward him. I should've put a silencing charm on the door. Marcus flinched as I dragged him into the room.
After a few glances in the hall to find no other students within listening distance, I closed the door before placing a few silencing charms on it. Once that was finished, I rounded on Marcus with my wand at his throat. "Are you bleeding insane?! Someone could've heard you!"
He chuckled sheepishly, "I'm not that stupid."
I groaned, wiping my hand up across my face and through my hair in frustration. "What the hell.." I put my wand away as I went back to my chair. "It doesn't matter anyway, I told you that you had lost any and every opportunity to help with this. So go away."
"Just let me help. I'll prove myself to you this way," he pleaded. "I'll do anything!"
'Professor Moody' had to tap me on the shoulder, a smug smirk on his face as I looked at him. "Well, princess, how did he find out about you?"
I rolled my eyes. "His parents are devoted to being in dad's favor. They realized whose daughter I must be, so they sent bighead here —" I gestured to Marcus, "— to get in my favor. Complete failure, might I add."
"Letting personal feelings get in the way of a good henchman?" he asked.
I glared heavily at him, "It's more than that, Barty, shut up."
"Please, Melody," Marcus said, reminding me of the fact that he was still there.
"Didn't I tell you to go away?" I asked exasperatedly, looking up at him with strong dislike. "Why do I still have to deal with you? We're broken up."
Marcus clenched his fists, strenuously pursing his lips together.
His reaction was not doing anything good to my nerves.
"I want to kill Malfoy.. so badly.." he admitted softly as he stared down at me. "But I haven't, because it would make you upset... that's how much I care about your feelings...."
I scoffed in response.
He closed his eyes, "If you don't let me help you so I can prove myself, then the best thing I can do is flunk my NEWTs this year... so I can force my help on you next year. How does that sound, Melody?"
That suddenly gave me food for thought.
I looked at 'Professor Moody' as I imagined the horror of seeing Marcus for another year... and thought of something we could do. Since he was offering his assistance, it was the perfect way to tie my plan together.
When I grinned at Marcus, his bravado quickly faltered.. uncertain what I was really smiling for.
"Then, I have the perfect job for you, Marcus... think you're up for it?"
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I closed 'Professor Moody's' office door behind me some time later, and began making my way to the Great Hall. Draco, Trixy, and Lissy will probably badger me about being gone all day yesterday. Becky might back me up but... I don't know. I just hope I can get everything over with.
A tap on my shoulder caused me to jump.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked with a laugh, draping his arm around me. "I've just noticed, but you seem to have become a bit jumpy lately."
I sighed, relaxing. "No, I... I'm fine, I —"
"No, you're not," he said seriously.
I overcame the urge to look down at my feet, and instead looked up at him. "Really, Draco, I'm fine."
He raised an eyebrow at me, but didn't get the chance to say anything else when we were pounced on by Lissy and Trixy.
"Well, it's lunchtime now! I'm hungry, are you hungry?" Lissy turned dramatically to Trixy.
"Definitely hungry!"
"Come on, let's go!" Lissy grabbed hold of my hands and pulled me through the hallways, tripping over her own feet every now and then. I laughed unguardedly for the first time in twenty four hours.