Written In The Stars IV -[Harry Potter xF!Oc]

Chapter Twenty: Winky and Dobby.

"Fits, doesn't it? Remember what Malfoy said on the train, about his dad being friends with Karkaroff? Now we know where they knew each other. They were probably running around in masks together at the World Cup... I'll tell you one thing, though, Harry, if it was Karkaroff who put your name in the goblet, he's going to be feeling really stupid now, isn't he? Didn't work, did it? You only got a scratch! Come here — I'll do it —"  Ron caught Pigwidgeon in midair and held him firmly so Harry could tie the letter to his leg.

They were in the Owlery sending a letter to Sirius about Harry's first task, Mel was there to send Hedwig with a letter for her mother and Lupin telling them the very same thing.

"There's no way any of the other tasks are going to be that dangerous, how could they be?" Ron took Pig to the nearest window. "You know what? I reckon you could win this tournament, Harry, I'm serious." 

Mel chuckled, she knew Ron was trying hard to get back into Harry's good graces without knowing he was already there, right at the top.

"Harry's got a long way to go before he finishes this tournament," Hermione objected. "If that was the first task, I hate to think what's coming next."

"Right little ray of sunshine, aren't you? You and Professor Trelawney should get together sometime. Well, we'd better get downstairs for your surprise party, Harry — Fred and George should have nicked enough food from the kitchens by now." 

"Hold on, let me send mine!" Mel was having a bit of trouble tying her letter to the owl's leg.

"Let me," Harry walked up to her and skillfully wrapped it up so Hedwig could take fly. "D'you want to send her?"

He stretched out the arm where Hedwig was. Mel couldn't act like everything was fine, things weren't fine at all and it was stupid to pretend they were. She'd tried to kiss him and he hadn't tried to stop her, did that mean he had feelings for her? 

Well, of course, he did! He said it all those years before, they were family... But you don't try to kiss your family!

"Mel?"

"Oh!– You do it!" Mel walked past him and left the owlery in a hurry.

When they arrived at the party, Hermione took her to a corner.

"What was that? When we were in the owlery, you were weird."

"I wasn't."

"You ran out."

For a moment she considered telling the truth, but she knew what Hermione would say: 'Told you so! He likes you!' and if Ron were to have an opinion he'd say something like 'As long as you don't snog around me it's fine.' Erick would say the same thing: 'Just tell him.'

They didn't understand, she'd known Harry for years, she couldn't just tell him! She was scared! There, she was ready to admit that, she was scared. Of being wrong, of all the things that could take a wrong turn... She's a kid. 

She doesn't know how love's supposed to feel and if it's supposed to feel like this, isn't love meant to make you happy? Why is she worrying all the time? Why is she nervous and quieter? Why are the butterflies doing nothing but to worsen her state?

Mel wants to know, and the only way is through experience but she doesn't think she's ready yet. She doesn't want to look at him in a few years and regret ever feeling a certain way about him. So instead, she lies.

"I got sick– from eating too much," She finally replied. "Or at least I thought I was sick. It was a false alarm. Sorry if I scared you, though."

"Oh," Hermione frowned, "You're okay?"

"Think so..."

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