The final weeks of school passed by quickly, I was thankful. I longed for school to be over so I could be at my own home and not have to worry about anyone discovering my pregnancy. My daughter was continuing to grow each day, I could feel her movements regularly now and somehow I knew she could sense my anxiety. I just wanted to go home.
While I loathed the idea of having to separate from Draco at the end of this term, our mental bond was making me unbelievably nervous. I feared that the more time I spent near Draco, the more likely he would realize I was pregnant. I was grateful that Madame Pomfrey had kept Draco in the hospital all this time, wanting to observe him until he was completely healed since she had never encountered the curse Harry had used against Draco.
I walked from the library to the Gryffindor common room as it began to get dark; it was eerily cold for being near the end of June. When I opened the door to the common room Hermione was pacing the floor, whispering to herself and waiting for me to come back.
"What's going on Hermione?"
"It's Harry." Hermione mumbled.
My heart dropped into my stomach, I hadn't seen him in hours. I quickly searched through the cluttered thoughts in my mind to find Harry's, his had disappeared.
"Where is he?" I asked frantically. "I can't find his thoughts, he has to be far."
"I'm not sure Mel. He came to Ron and I completely hysterical, Dumbledore's taken him to seek a Horcrux. Ron is with Neville and Ginny standing guard at the Room of Requirement, I'm meant to be with Luna right now, guarding Snape's office. I'm not there now because I needed to warn you. Something is happening Mel, I don't know what but it has to be ghastly. Harry was crazed, I've never seen him like that. More members of the Order are meant to come but I don't know when."
My mind was spinning as I contemplated Hermione's words. I held my stomach tightly, this was it. Whatever Draco had done, it was all being executed now, tonight. My knees buckled beneath me and I sank to the floor. Burning tears poured from my eyes as I thought of all the grave possibilities that could happen tonight. Hermione knelt beside me and tried to pull me to my feet, my body felt weighted, I couldn't move. I felt another pair of arms at my waist, I looked up to see Oliver at my side.
"What's happened then? Is the Order here yet? Remus? Kingsley? Anybody?" Oliver asked quickly.
"Nobody that I know of, but I have to go Oliver. I can't leave Luna to fend for herself. You're safe now Mel." Hermione murmured to me. "Take care of her Oliver!"
I thought my head would implode as Oliver sat me down on the couch. My heart was pounding painfully against my chest, the tears wouldn't stop. Oliver's forehead was pressed firmly against mine, he was trying to shush me, to calm me down.
"Think of your daughter Mel. Picture her face, picture her eyes, and imagine yourself holding her. Shh." Oliver cooed.
I closed my eyes and attempted to do as Oliver suggested. I pictured her angelical, perfect face. Her crystal blue eyes. Even in just my imagination she looked so much like Draco. I imagined him cradling her gently. I pushed the images from my mind, knowing they could never come true if Draco was responsible for whatever would happen tonight.
As a fresh wave of tears rolled down my cheeks, Oliver and I both jumped up from the couch when we heard a loud crash echoing through the corridors. Oliver drew his wand and raced to the common room door, I could hear my housemates jumping from their beds in a panic. Oliver cracked the door open and shrieks of hideous cackling flowed through the common room. I could hear glass shattering to pieces and a ferocious explosion coming from somewhere on the grounds. All I could think about was Draco. Where could he be? Why hadn't he tried to find me? Was he safe? Injured? Dead? Had they killed him? I clutched my stomach tightly and attempted to calm down but even my daughter didn't like the idea of Draco being hurt or worse. I felt completely numb as Oliver pulled on my arm.
"C'mon Mel, we have to move!"
Oliver dragged me through the corridor towards his bedroom that neighbored the Gryffindor common room. He yelled his password and pulled me through his room. He frantically opened the closet door and shoved me inside of it.
"You stay here Mel, you don't move from this spot until I come for you. Do you hear me?"
"Oliver-no. You-you-can't leave-me here. You can't leave-us-here." I mumbled as I cradled my stomach.
"I have to Mel, it's the only way I can keep you both safe. I have to guard the corridors and make sure no one comes for you."
"Let's leave then, please. Take me somewhere. Anywhere."
"And Iris? We'll leave her here alone? Leaving is not an option right now Mel, so promise you'll stay here and stay silent."
"I-promise Oliver. But please, you can't leave me!" I begged.
"I love you Mel! I'll come back for you."
Oliver placed both his hands on my cheeks and kissed me hard on the mouth. It was aggressive and intense, I knew he was really struggling to leave me behind. He wanted to take me and my daughter far away from this place but his conscious wouldn't allow him to, I had to understand that even though I was extremely afraid. Oliver lingered on my mouth, desperately praying this wouldn't be the last time he ever kissed me. I cringed at the thought of losing Oliver tonight and tears welled in my eyes.
Oliver sealed the closet door and I could hear his quick footsteps out of his bedroom. I sank to my knees and held them to my chest as tightly as I could. My daughter was extremely worried, I could feel her racing heartbeat within mine. I hummed a lullaby to her as best as I could, my voice breaking beneath my tears. I covered my ears to silence the unbearable noise that was occurring just outside the door, I prayed continuously for it to stop. I felt so helpless being locked inside Oliver's closet but I couldn't jeopardize my unborn daughter to assist with whatever was happening outside the door.
Melody!
My heart dropped when I heard Draco's aching voice inside my mind.
Please listen to me Melody. Please forgive me. Promise me you can forgive me. I never wanted any of this. I only want you. Please forgive me.
Help me Draco. Please. Come find me and I can forgive you.
Just promise me Melody.
I promise.
Before I could say anything else to Draco his mind had disappeared completely. Tears poured from my eyes as I held our daughter closer. What had Draco done? I suddenly felt my eyes rolling to the back of my head and I slumped against the wall of the closet, my arms fell to my sides. The images that entered my subconscious were horrifying, Draco was running for his life.
My eyes snapped open as I heard footsteps outside the closet door. I remained motionless and completely silent, I had my wand but ultimately no real way to defend my daughter, I had already cornered myself by being hidden in this closet. I held my hand over my mouth to silence my heavy breathing. I held in my screams as the closet door blasted off its hinges. My body was in complete paralysis as I stared into the eyes of Remus Lupin, he held out his hands and lifted me into his arms. I collapsed against his chest from the overwhelming relief of leaving that closet alive. Remus carried me to the Great Hall and carefully set me down on top of one of the tables. My eyes widened when I saw how much damage had been inflicted on the Great Hall. Remus squeezed my shoulder gently and waved someone over, I couldn't look up from my lap to see who.
"MELODY!" Iris screeched as she sprinted to me and scrambled into my arms. "Thank bloody hell Remus found you! Oliver was completely incoherent when he tried to tell everyone where he had hidden you."
"Oliver? Where is he? Where's Draco? I saw him, he was running. Where's Harry? And Hermione and Ron? Where's-"
"I'm right here Mel."
Oliver stumbled slightly as he walked to
Iris and I. He was holding a cloth against his head that had been stained by his blood. I jumped from the table and hustled towards Oliver. I held his cheeks between my hands and examined the wound, it was only bleeding slightly.
"You're bleeding." I barely managed to say as tears poured from my eyes.
Oliver wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead. "I'm alright Mel. Only slightly banged up, it doesn't even hurt anymore. They're all gone now. We're all safe."
"Where's Hermione? And Ron? And Harry? Where's Harry?"
"We're here." Hermione said as she stood with Harry and Ron beside her.
I released Oliver and more tears rolled down my cheeks as I approached Hermione, Harry and Ron. Harry looked utterly distraught. Ron's heart was aching too and Hermione was relieved to see that I was okay.
"Dumbledore's gone." Hermione mumbled into my ear as she hugged me.
"Gone where?" I inquired.
I stared at their three agonized faces and shook my head rapidly. Dumbledore couldn't be gone.
"No, no. That-that-just-can't be-"
"It was Snape." Harry sputtered through his teeth. "I saw the entire thing. Your beloved Draco was there. He was meant to murder him. But he-he-"
"He couldn't go through with it Mel." Hermione whispered.
"Did you know?" Harry spat. "Did you know this entire time and didn't bother to tell us? To tell me? He could be alive Mel."
"Harry!" Hermione shrieked.
Tears rolled down my cheeks and I shook my head. "I-I-had-spoken with-Dumbledore-he-he hinted-that Draco had been assigned something-dreadful, that he couldn't do. I-didn't-know it would happen-anyways." I mumbled.
"Well Draco's gone with them. I saw his Dark Mark." Harry sneered.
"He probably didn't have a choice Harry." Hermione mumbled sorrowfully.
"But he-he-didn't-he-didn't-"
Hermione shook her head, answering for Harry. Draco hadn't gone through with assassinating Dumbledore, just like I suspected, just like even Dumbledore himself had asserted. Draco wasn't a cruel, heartless murderer like Voldemort and his Death Eaters wanted him to be. I felt such relief in that, I felt like once this war was over, we may actually have a real chance at being a family because Draco wasn't like the rest of them.
I clutched my stomach tightly as I thought of the inevitable punishment that would come to Draco because he hadn't assassinated Dumbledore like he had been tasked. Draco had been running for his life while fleeing from Hogwarts, I prayed he would continue to live wherever he ended up.
Oliver rubbed my shoulders comfortingly as tears of worry rolled down my cheeks. Draco had to be okay. Our daughter would need him someday, and I needed her to know him. Iris stepped in front of me and held my cheeks tightly, tears rolling down her cheeks too.
"Remember your daughter Mel, you have to calm down. Everything will be okay." Iris assured me.
Oliver wrapped his arm tightly around my waist and stroked my hair with his other hand. My friends that surrounded us whispered soothing words to me, hoping I could calm down.
"Will everything ever be okay again?"
They all looked away from my eyes as doubt filled theirs. With Dumbledore gone, they all felt like the odds were against us. They couldn't answer my question.
The following days were spent in sorrowful silence, painful tears and tight embraces. The one hurting most of all was Harry. He sat unmoving for days on end as we waited for Dumbledore's funeral to occur.
Hogwarts was eerily quiet, every inch of this place was a sad reminder of Dumbledore's impact here. I would never set foot on the grounds without thinking of him and the atrocity that had happened to him.
I sat beside Harry as I had the last three days. He had finally dozed off after days of unrest and his head was resting on top of mine as he slept. Harry's hand held mine firmly as he rested, even unconscious he didn't want me to leave, and I didn't.
I hadn't realized I had nodded off too until I was being prodded gently. I snapped my eyes open but remained still, not wanting to disturb Harry. Hermione was crouching in front of me holding a plate of food out to me. I shook my head slowly and held tighter onto Harry.
"Mel, I haven't seen you eat. You need to eat." Hermione insisted.
"I'm fine Hermione." Though I really felt starving, I knew my daughter needed the nourishment.
Hermione shoved the plate into my lap anyways and squeezed mine and Harry's hands. I couldn't bear to separate from Harry now, not when I knew exactly how badly Harry was hurting. And I couldn't help the overwhelming guilt I felt. I should have told Harry, I should have told someone. Dumbledore may still be alive if I had. Draco had already incriminated himself by fleeing with the Death Eaters, I hadn't protected anyone by keeping Draco's secret.
Harry turned his head to the opposite side of the couch and settled against the cushion. I kissed his shoulder gently. I gasped when I could see Oliver watching us carefully from the corner of the room. He was brooding because I had been giving Harry so much attention. Harry was my dearest friend and after the funeral was over I wasn't sure when I would see him again since he'd be leaving school to hunt for remaining Horcruxes. I released Harry's hand and tried to stand up so I could attempt to console Oliver. Harry pulled on my hand again and I sat back down.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked sleepily.
I gestured towards Oliver and Harry looked back at him, Oliver looked away from us immediately and stalked off towards Hermione and Ron.
"Don't go." Harry pleaded as he picked the bread off my plate.
I smiled meekly and nodded and settled back against the couch. Harry tore the bread in half and handed me a piece.
"Eating is good." I stated simply.
"Out of nerves only. I can't even taste anything right now. Loads of people will be here today."
"Yeah I suppose."
I knew countless people would be coming to Hogwarts today to attend Dumbledore's funeral, but the one person I wanted to see most wouldn't be attending and that was Draco. Draco's mind had been dead silent since Dumbledore's death and I wasn't sure if I would ever hear from him again.
"You okay?" Harry asked quietly as he glanced at my stomach.
I pulled my blanket tighter around Harry and me and shrugged my shoulders. "I feel like I should be sent to Azkaban for being an accomplice to all of this."
Harry snorted and rolled his eyes. I was relieved for this reaction even though Harry had made me realize my part in Dumbledore's death in the first place. Harry wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against his chest, he kissed my hair softly.
"I can't imagine what would have happened to you had the Death Eaters found out you knew of their plan. You may not be sitting here right now."
"But Dumbledore might be. I would sacrifice myself to save him." I whispered.
"And that's why you're here Mel. You are the most selfless person I know, you're brilliant. I'm still in disbelief about this whole thing but Dumbledore knew what he was doing, this was part of some plan he'd already determined. He didn't have to bind me, I could have fought those Death Eaters off, but he didn't want me to. This isn't your fault Mel."
"I think I'll die anyways too." I whispered as tears welled in my eyes.
"Why the hell would you say that?" Harry asked as he pulled away from me and gaped into my eyes.
"If Draco was assigned to kill Dumbledore and couldn't do it, I'm sure he'll be in trouble for that. Who knows what he'll tell them to escape any punishment. I'm the only telepath that I know, other than my mother, and we both know what happened to her."
Harry touched my hair and stared me directly in the eyes. "That's why you're going to leave here after the funeral and stay hidden. You're a brilliant witch Mel, you are able to defend yourself without a wand, that's not something many can do. They won't find you. And once you're seventeen in August, they'll have no way of tracking you anymore. You'll be okay as long as you stay smart. And I imagine Oliver will be around to help protect you, Iris and your daughter."
Tears welled in my eyes again as I touched Harry's scraped chin. "Who will protect you Harry?"
"I will. I'm the Chosen One after all." Harry said with a small laugh.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and hugged Harry tightly. But the tears rolled down my cheeks as I attempted to let go, I didn't want to. I wanted Harry to come with me too. I knew he had a very important job to do but I couldn't stand leaving him behind when I went off to find safety for my family.
"I wish I could go with you." I whispered against Harry's shoulder.
"You're a mum now Mel, home and out of harm's way is where you need to be." Harry said as he stroked my back.
When Harry and I pulled away I realized that every pair of eyes in the common room were on us. But I only looked at the eyes that were most important to me. Hermione's were filled with tears as she watched us, Ron felt sorry Harry would have to leave with them, Ginny was unmistakably jealous and Oliver was troubled by our close friendship.
"It's time to go." Hermione whispered gently.
Harry nodded and helped me stand up. I adjusted my black tunic and pulled my black boots back on. I straightened Harry's tie, he smiled gently and reached for my hand. We each held out our spare arm and our closest friends linked theirs with ours and we walked out of the common room together.
The Black Lake was as still as I had ever seen it. The clouds were dreary and gray, as if even the elements were saddened by Dumbledore's death. Rows of golden chairs were surrounding the Black Lake, facing a white marble table. Hundreds of people were sitting in the chairs, I hardly recognized anyone. Merpeople from the Black Lake were resting on the shores, their tails still dipped into the water. I looked out amongst the tall trees and could see all the Centaurs standing behind them, their heads bowed sorrowfully. I held tightly onto Harry with one hand and Hermione with my other hand as the ceremony began.
Quiet tears rolled down my cheeks as the funereal proceeded. I found myself unable to focus on what anyone was speaking. I was utterly saddened by this loss and though Draco hadn't committed it himself, he had been a part of this heinous act. I couldn't believe I could love someone who could do such a horrid thing. I couldn't understand why Dumbledore would tell me to forgive him.
I still held tightly onto Harry's hand as I wiped tears away. Hagrid was carrying Dumbledore to his final resting place. His lifeless body was draped in dark purple velvet with golden stars stitched onto it, a cloak once believed to have been worn by Merlin himself. I gasped as Hagrid set him down upon the grave. This couldn't be real. I needed to wake myself up from this unbearable nightmare. But as I looked on both sides of me and saw everyone shedding real tears that I couldn't be dreaming.
There wasn't a single dry eye amongst the crowd as the funeral finished. I stood some distance away from Harry, as we all did, as he paid his final respects to Dumbledore. He was completely devastated. I couldn't imagine the near impossible feat he would have to face while mourning this loss.
After the reception had finished and all the special guests had gone, Harry, Hermione, Ron and I stood in the quiet corridors. Oliver and Iris watched from a distance. Harry had been right, I didn't think Oliver would be leaving my side anytime soon.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I stared at their three beautiful faces. I had done enough crying. But I couldn't help but be emotional not knowing when or if I would see my best friends again. I hugged them each tightly for the third time, I lingered in Hermione's arms. I couldn't imagine having my daughter without her here.
"Take care of yourself." Hermione sobbed as she touched my stomach.
Hermione jumped as my daughter pressed her foot against her hand. "She loves her Aunt already. Stay safe, she'll be waiting to meet you." I blubbered.
Hermione hugged me again, I held tightly to her shirt. I couldn't let her go. I couldn't let go knowing this may be the last time we ever see each other. Hermione and I stood for several minutes, crying in each other's arms. This was the hardest goodbye for me. I pulled away reluctantly when I felt Harry's hands on each of our shoulders.
"It's nearly dark. You better go now Mel. You need to get to safety." Harry muttered anxiously.
I nodded as more tears rolled down my cheeks. "I love you guys, always. Try to keep in touch when you can, I'll be listening for you. I wish we could see each other this summer but it's best if I stay hidden, if we stay hidden." I said while cradling my stomach.
They each nodded but I knew contact would be limited because now they couldn't risk their location ever being found out, neither could I. Hermione wrapped her arm around Ron's waist as they began to walk, she couldn't bear to say goodbye anymore. I held onto Harry's sleeve as he tried to join them. I brushed Harry's hair away from his forehead and touched his undeniable scar.
"You hear this Boy Who Lived, you are the most incredible and bravest man I know. Our world is so lucky to have you. You will be great, you will succeed. I believe in you, we all do."
Harry nodded and leaned his face into my hand. I kissed him on each cheek and lightly on the lips. Whether I wanted to or not, I loved Harry. He was my closest friend, he was my family, and he held a large part of my heart and always would. As much as I loathed having to part ways, I had the utmost faith in him. I always had, I always would, always.
**Please continue with Melody Everard's story in the sequel named "Distance". The first chapter will be posted soon. A huge thank you to J.K. Rowling for providing such amazing characters that inspired my fanfiction!**