Stranger Danger. (A Percy Jackson and Harry Potter crossover)

Chapter #8: Late Night Bickering

3rd POV

Melody was sat on a windowsill in one of the hallways, overlooking a field. She had woken from another nightmare, had decided it was best to take a walk, and try to contact her step father. In her hands lay a cellphone and it's charger. She knew it was stupid to think there'd be an outlet around, but she had to take a look. With no luck, she decided it was better to just wait around until morning, and maybe ask a professor for help.

Harry had also had nightmares, so he'd thrown on his invisibility cloak and wandered the halls. It didn't take long for him to stumble across Melody, but he wasn't sure if he should approach her or not. He eventually decided to remove the cloak around the corner, and stroll up.

"You do realize it's way past curfew?" He said, sitting down next to her. "Holy Hera! You scared me." Melody exclaimed, pulling herself up against the wall. "What are you doing here?" She asked, looking up at him. "I could ask you the same." He smiled. They sat in silence for a few moments; both were unsure of what to say or do.

"So, your brother punched Draco this morning?" Harry questioned with a smirk.  "Yeah, I noticed." She answered. "He got pretty riled up. But I get why he did it." Harry's eyebrows furrowed with confusion. "It wasn't my fault, was it? I was telling him about how awful Draco is, and he just suddenly ran after you." "No, he just doesn't want the people he loves to get hurt again. He's been through enough." Melody stated in a hushed tone. "He got off with a warning, but McGonagall was pissed."

"Muggle phone?" Harry asked, pointing to Melody's phone, wanting to change the subject. "Yeah, but there's not exactly an outlet here." She sighed. "I didn't think you had them around here." "We don't, but I was raised by muggles." He responded. "Actually still live with them."

"I know a spell to charge it." He said after another few moments of silence. "Go ahead." She said, and gave him the cellphone. He tapped it with his wand whilst muttering a few words. The screen lit up, and a wide grin stretched across Melody's face. "Thank you!" She picked up the phone examining it. "Do you mind if take a quick call?" "Not at all." Harry got up and sat down by another window a few meters away.

He listened as she dialed a number, and sighed as she waited for the other person to pick up. He was surprised when Melody spoke in French.

"Salut!" (Hi!) She said quietly, and Harry could clearly hear someone yelling the other line. "Désolée, papa. J'ai été très occupée. Quoi de neuf?" (Sorry, dad. I've been very busy. What have you been up to?) Harry didn't understand, but he listened intently, very impressed by Melody's skills. After a few minutes, she wrapped up the conversation saying "Je comprends, au revoir." (I understand, goodbye.)

"So, French?" Harry asked. Melody jumped, whispering "Forgot you were there, sorry. Yeah, french." "You from France?" He asked, sitting back down next to her. "No, I lived there for a few years. With my step-dad, that was him." She looked down to her lap and sighed. "He's still in France." "But I thought you and your friends moved from the States?" Harry asked, very curious. "We did, I've lived there for the past year." "What about your step-dad?" "He's awful, frankly I'm glad to get rid of him. Well, at least he checks up on me, unlike my real dad." She smiled sadly. "So your mother is in the USA?"

Melody shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. "No, she died." Harry looked away for a few moments, before quietly saying, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to pry." Once again, silence washed over them.

In the corner of her eye, Melody glimted something moving. She turned, and saw a cat sat in the middle of the hallway. "Look!" She said, pointing at it. Harry turned around, and the second he saw it, he knew they were in trouble. "Filch!" He whispered. Before Melody registered what was happening, he grabbed her hand, and yanked her with him in the opposite direction of the cat. Melody realized it had to mean someone was close, and they could get caught. They ran through countless hallways, and up a few staircases, before Harry stopped in front of an empty wall, shutting his eyes.

"What are you doing? Shouldn't we hide?" Melody asked frantically, but before Harry could respond, a door appeared on the wall, and he pulled her through. Inside stood a red sofa in front of a fireplace. "The Room of Requirement." He smiled, while throwing himself onto the couch, pulling her with him. "I taught Defense Against the Dark Arts to a few students here last year." He said, getting comfortable. Melody couldn't help but notice how Harry was still holding her hand.

"Alright, your turn. Who are you?" She asked with a grin. Harry laughed, and smiled widely. "Who am I?" He asked, "I haven't really figured that out yet. "I'll be more specific. What do you like to do?" "What do I like to do? Well, I've spent alot of time fighting off evil recently." He murmured. Melody smiled, "Me too."

"Do you live with your parents?" She asked. Harry looked to his lap, sighing. "No. They're dead." Melody went quiet, and apologized. "It's OK." He said. "Where do you live now?" She asked, after yet another moment of silence. "With my aunt and uncle. They're not the best." "How so?" "They kept me in a cupboard for about ten years. I practically became a butler, with no pay." Melody gave a weak laugh. "A cupboard? You're making my upbringing sound like a dance on roses." Harry smiled back at her.  "But one day, on my eleventh birthday, I was told I was a wizard. Ever since then, things have been fairly alright. Apparently my family was rich, so that was nice." He made her laugh again. 

"Aren't you tired?" Melody asked, wanting to change the subject in case he started asking about her family or home again. "No, I'm fairly used to not getting alot of sleep." Harry looked down at their hands that were still intertwined. He didn't know if he should let go or not, but he certainly knew he didn't want to. Melody looked at their hands as well, also unsure if she should do something. " I didn't realize I was still--""I don't mind." Harry began, but she interrupted.  Their eyes met, and they sat staring at each other for a minute without either saying a word. Melody raised her hand, and brushed Harry's fringe out of his face. "What's this?" She asked, referring to his scar. 

"Voldemort tried to kill me." He said, and she gave him surprised look. She had no idea who Voldemort was, or what had happened. "How'd that work out for him?" Grinning, she wanting to keep the mood light. "Not so well."  They smiled at each other. Melody wanted to ask all kinds of questions about him, and the things he had been through, but she stopped herself. She knew that he might not want her to know everything about him, because she certainly didn't want him to know everything about her.

"I think we should start heading for breakfast." Melody said slowly, shuffling closer to Harry. "Yeah, maybe." He responded, shuffling closer as well. "Just another minute?" She asked, her face was now only a few centimeters from his. "Two." He said, as he closed the gap between them, and his lips met hers.