*Melanie had just returned to regular classes after half a week in the hospital wing. She had gotten sick again, and of course she had known it, but she was pushing herself to go to class. In the end, she had keeled over in the middle of an exercise and started shaking uncontrollably, almost passing out right there. She was ridiculously embarrassed, now more people were wondering about what was wrong with her, and more word was spreading. How she wished people would mind their own business.

She was alone at a table for four in the library catching up on the homework that she had missed that week and personally writing an apology to her professor for what had happened. Everyone else seemed to be sitting with at least one other person, catching up on everything that had happened over holiday. She couldn't help but feeling like she didn't belong here anymore. She sighed and continued writing one of her essays, silently wishing someone would take the lead and join her.*


~Mel

Roaming around randomly seemed to be all Zeke had been doing lately. It was strange, everyone had been warning him about the gigantic pressure he was going to be under during his last year at Hogwarts, but since school started he had not experienced anything remotely stressful.

In fact, he had been rather bored so far.
Everything seemed to be dull: the first years' eagerness to learn about Hogwarts was getting to him, reminding him that he would soon be left to himself, no longer a part of the safe enviroment the school had offered.

Desperately searching for something to fill the emptiness that the beginning of his final year had created, Zeke had started spending more time in the library. Reading was the one thing he would never get bored with.

He had read his way through random topics, and at the moment he was reading a book on toads and their importance throughout the history of magic.

Yawning, Zeke put down the book. He didn't care about toads, as he hadn't cared especially about centaurs, magical cleaning and most of the other topics he had read about.
What he really wanted was company. The problem was that everyone else seemed to be busy keeping each other company.
Zeke knew that this probably wasn't true, and that if he started talking to someone they would probably be more than willing to talk to him. However, he didn't want to give anyone a chance to put him down, so he stayed in his isolated corner of the library.

Zeke rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms.
"There has got to be something more interesting to do around here" he mumbled, as he got up. His legs were heavy from being in the same position for too long.
With lazy steps he made his way through the library.
Not watching where he was going, he managed to trip over someone's streched legs, causing him to fall to the floor.

"Bloody -" he called out, not finishing the sentence. A sharp pain shot through his knee as he quickly got up and turned towards the owner of the legs he had just tripped over.

"Is there any chance you might.." he said in a grumpy voice, intending to shoot a nasty comment at the person, when he realised who he was talking to.

"Mel?" he said, narrowing his eyes to make sure he got it right. It had been a very long time since he had talked to her, and this wouldn't be the first time he mistaked someone for being someone else. The last time he had talked to Mel, she'd been completely shattered, mourning the loss of her baby. She had been little more than a shadow of a person. Now, although with a somewhat sad mood on her face, she looked good. Really good, in fact, with a melancholy-like quality to her. Her hair might be different too.
Zeke really wasn't sure whether this was the same person.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to.. You are Melanie Hunter, right?"
He hated the fact that he had to ask, but she simply looked so diferent. After all, he figured, asking would be better that having a conversation and then find out it wasn't Mel after all.
He served the question with his trademark wry smile, hoping to make it sound less dim-witted.

*Melanie was finishing off a sentence when she felt something collide with her leg. It had hurt a little bit so she quickly pulled her legs away and heard a loud thud and a grumbled complaint. Well, that meant that it had to be a person, of course. Melanie recognized it as Zeke at once, which caused a light blush to spread across her cheeks. She really shouldn't have left her legs sticking out like that. Whenever he started to get angry, though, Melanie was horrified with herself. She hadn't meant to make him angry...and she never anticipated the fact that he all of a sudden would dislike her. A wave of relief shot through her when he calmed down and realized it was her. A small part of her was upset that he hadn't remembered her automatically. Was she really that forgettable? Oh well, it was better than being yelled at.*

Melanie:"No, no, it's my fault, I'm sorry." *she assured him quickly, still embarrassed.*'I was the one who was in the way....I'm so sorry I didn't mean to- Oh well...yes, that's me...sorry." *she finished, surprised with how incredibly awkward she sounded. She had almost forgotten to answer his question, too.*"Well, um...besides slightly hurt...how are you?' *she asked before blushing slightly again.

Oh yes, very nice there, Mel. Not only are you horrible at making conversation but you're always bluntly obvious with your emotions. she thought to herself. It's no wonder you scare off every guy you have a crush on anymore.*




~Mel

Calmed down by her reassurance, Zeke was quickly back to his usual laid-back self. His face in a wry grin at her overuse of the word 'sorry', he shook his head as to cut her off.

"No need for apologies, at least not from you. I'm the one who wasn't watching my step.. mind if I sit?" He said, but took it for granted that it was alright. He took a seat in the chair next to her, and let his eyes fall on her once again.

"Oh, and don't think I don't remember you, it's just that you look different.." he said, realising his point wasn't sure to have come across right.
".. And I mean that in a good way" he said, a smile unwillingly flashing across his face.

He watched her face as she stumbled across the words, but looked away when answering her question. When seated so close to her, eyecontact was a bit overwhelming.

"Bored, to be frank" he said, speaking the first thing that came to mind.
"But also good, I suppose. Have been spending too much time on my own, buried in books and lots of nothing-to-do-time" he said, looking up at her shortly.

"And you?" he said, not because it was polite to return the question, but because he was truly interested.

*To let Zeke know that he could sit with her, she eagerly nodded her head. She had expected him to sit across from her, though. Whenever he sat next to her, she felt her heart stop and she gave a little nervous jump in her seat as she turned to look at him in surprise. She also couldn't help but be flattered when he said that she looked different.

Melanie:"Well, um...I guess I would look a little bit different? I mean...I did...I've had a haircut and everything and....I guess...I bought some new make-up and...and what not." *she stupidly added. Instantly looking away from him as soon as she realized that what she was saying was completely going to the dogs.*

"Well, for starters, I'm a lot better now than I was. I got Mark back just before the school year ended." *she didn't feel the need to elaborate on that whole situation. After all, it was rather depressing.*'I spent the summer here with Alex and Ian since it was open for the tournament. I'm also kind of....scared for the end of the year. And just...everything. It's all sort of...overwhelming."



~Mel

Zeke smiled patiently. It seemed she had a hard time finding her words, but this did not annoy him. In fact, he found it rather cute.

"Yeah, I suppose that makes sense" he said in a calm voice, letting her know her confusing way of speaking was not annoying to him.

As she spoke of getting Mark back, Zeke nodded. He knew this, he had heard it from someone but did not remember whom. He didn't ask further to it - he had the feeling that if Mel needed to talk about it, she would know that she could.

By her final comment, Zeke looked her in the eye. It was as if she had been able to read his mind, putting words on what he was feeling. Although scared was perhaps a bit strong, this was what he was truly feeling.

"I couldn't agree more" he said honestly. "I've been trying and trying to grasp the fact that we're nearly done, but I don't think it's really been able to sink in yet.. There is a lot of time left, though, we have to remember that. Exams and I don't know what not. But right now it just seems like we'll be kicked out of the nest in a moment, right?" he said, hoping she wouldn't find his metaphor too lame. Everything he hadn't been able to put words on was now flowing out freely.

"It makes me feel kinda small, you know? and unprepared.." he said as he frowned slightly. He truly had no clue what he was going to do after Hogwarts.

"Do you know what you want to do afterwards?" he asked Mel, glancing at her, quickly.

*Melanie sighed at the question. She was more than qualified to do what she wanted, but there were a few things holding her back....*

Melanie:"Well, I want to be a Healer but...I'm afraid that they wouldn't hire be because they're afraid of..accidents and...having to let me take too much sick time. I might have to take a few years off for Mark, too, and...by that point I don't even know....Well, if I'll be in any condition to work. Before any of that, even, I have to find some place to live and some way to pay for it. I have three growing boys, all of them in demanding stages as far as money goes." *Melanie closed her eyes and sighed*"See, it's something I try to avoid thinking about too much. I know I'll figure it out, but I'm so afraid of...everything. I don't want to be that person. You know, the trash living in the apartment next door who can never afford anything and is a complete wreck of a person...."


*she paused, only then realizing exactly what sort of a weight she had just put on Zeke's shoulders*

"Oh h*ll, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go off like that...especially not now. I didn't want to....well, I didn't want to upset you. This was supposed to be a happy conversation."



~Mel