"Ah, another Malfoy," the hat sounded amused. "You are not what you seem, or what your family and peers see, are you? Your heart is double. A Malfoy in name, but your true lineage is hazy, which makes you quite tricky to place. You would do well in...
Along with the rest of the Order and Sirius in his Animagus form, I walked with my trunk through the station. A wizarding war was looming over all our heads, this year and the next two were going to be far from normal.
"Melody, this came for you, dearie!" Molly handed me a letter just before we boarded the train.
"Thank you, Mrs Weasley," I say and she hugs me.
In our compartment I open the letter:
'Miss Pond,
Mrs Weasley has written to inform me of what happened at Malfoy Manor. She has also informed me that you will be known going forward, as Miss Melody Pond. I've spoken to your professors and this will be respected, and while I am pleased for you. I must warn you that your family may be in danger, however, Mrs Weasley has ensured me that you've taken relevant precautions. It will be difficult, but while things are as they are, they will be safe until you can reunite with them.
Dumbledore.'
We got off the platform at Hogsmeade Station. I walked with the twins who were talking about their business, one day they hope to open a joke shop. They had been making all kinds of things over the summer which they hope to premier at school.
It wasn't a bad idea. There had to be some happiness and laughter somewhere.
"I'm surprised the Ministry's still letting you walk around free Potter," Draco sauntered over. "Better enjoy it while you still can. I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it!"
Harry was about to go for him, but Ron held him back. I went for him instead.
"Ally!" Draco's scared eyes stared at me.
"I never was Ally," I glare at him. "Melody is my name, I'm not a Malfoy and I don't need to be scared anymore. You're following after Lucius, which you don't have to, but you have no choice."
"Come on, it's only Malfoy! What do you expect?" Ron said.
As we walked past him, I could see the desperation in Draco's face. He was conflicted.
"Hey guys," Neville walked up to us as we all waited to get into a carriage.
"Hey Neville," we chorused.
We all piled into a carriage, there was a girl already in her with long white-blonde hair.
"Everyone, this is Looney Love-" Hermione caught herself and looked around. "Luna Lovegood." There was uncomfortable silence. "What an interesting necklace!"
"It's a charm, actually," Luna said, playing with it. "Keeps away the Nargles. Hungry? I hope there's pudding!"
"What's a Nargle?" Ron whispered.
"No idea," I whisper back.
The carriages stopped in front of the Hogwarts entrance, Hermione and I went off to go change into our robes before joining the feast.
"So, we're officially calling you Melody now?" Gaia says as I sat down next to her at Slytherins table.
"Yes," I say grinning.
"Suits you more than Ally! It's great to see you again," she hugs me. "I also see that you're showing a bit more leg!"
"No, no, I didn't know! I need to get some new robes," I say hastily.
"Ahuh!" Gaia nudges my shoulder and roll my eyes at her.
"Good evening, children!" Dumbledore addressed us. "Now, we have two changes to staffing this year. We're pleased to welcome back professor Grubbly-Plank who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures while professor Hagrid is on temporary leave. We also wish to welcome our new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher. Professor Dolores Umbridge, and I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck."
No one made any inclination to do anything as we took in the woman dressed in all pink. She was sat to the left of Snape.
"Now, as usual, our caretaker, Mr Filch, has asked me to remind-" but Dumbledore was cut off.
"Hem, hem!" From Umbridge prompted Dumbledore to stop and glance over at her as she stood up, making her way over.
"Thank you, headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. And how lovely to see all your bright happy faces smiling up at me," she said even though no one was smiling. "I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends," she went on. "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school, progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, let us perfect what can be perfected and prune practices that ought to be prohibited. Hm! Hm!" Her insipid laugh and smile at the end did not encourage any response; only Dumbledores feeble applause.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Thank you, professor Umbridge. That really was most illuminating. Now as I was saying, Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that magic is forbidden in the corridors..."
I don't think any of us were prepared for someone quite like Umbridge.
***
"Hello Little Pond!" The Doctor spun round and smiled at me as I walked into my dorm.
"What are you doing here?" I quickly closed the door behind me.
"Well, Amy and Rory are worried about you. They haven't heard from you in a while," he says.
"You can't tell them anything. If they know anything about what's going on, they'll be in danger. There's a war coming and it has to play through," I tell him. "I wish that I could talk to them, but if I do, I won't be able to keep them safe."
"Little Pond, I'm the Doctor. I can help you," he says seriously.
"This isn't your fight," I shake my head at him. "Tell them absolutely nothing and make sure they're safe!" He's about to say something but I cut in, "you need to leave Doctor. This isn't goodbye, it's goodbye for now!"
"Melody Pond you better come back," he tells me.
"Of course, I will."
"Swear to me on something that matters," he says to me.
"...Fish fingers and custard," I say.
"The exact words spoken by your mother when I once asked her the same thing," he smiles. "I trust you, Pond!"
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
He leaves soon after I was able to convince him. This shouldn't have to be how it goes!
