Alma Sharp is the daughter of Esteban Sharp and his Muggle lover. While her mother was pregnant with her, she found out about the existence of magic and took the news very negatively. Thus, Esteban had to obliviate her immediately after Alma's birth and raise the girl on his own.
Born on December 13th, 1974, she is a Ravenclaw like her father, whom she adores and looks up to.
Alma has a keen and strategic mind, which she uses while playing her favourite game, chess, as well as Quidditch in the position of Chaser. She's also very headstrong and competitive, beating her opponents smartly. Many consider her irritating due to her snarky attitude.
Alma participates in many chess tournaments and eventually decides to design chess boards and pieces for a living. Her passion is what put her together with her husband, Murphy McNully. Together, they have two children, Castiel and Caissa McNully.
(because he’s super underrated in the Hogwarts Mystery fandom fr)
Here’s a list of all the cool stuff I like about him:
1. He beat Minerva McGonagall (and her brother) at Wizard’s chess, her specialty subject. As a student! In a chess tournament that he won! She was a literal teacher, and he still beat her! Which is pretty impressive, I think.
2. Murphy is a statistical/mathematical genius. Who else can calculate incredibly precise stats in a moments notice and constantly incorporate them into speech all the time… for fun? Total nerd, I know, but still. His potential is definitely wasted being a Quidditch commentator. Should’ve been a statistician or something.
3. He has a near encyclopaedic knowledge of Quidditch. In one of the TLSQ’s, he mentioned reading Quidditch Through the Ages 78 times. Even I haven’t read the Harry Potter series that many times. Also, he pretty much knows everything about the sport, despite (probably) never have played it himself.
4. Murphy is a genuinely kind person also. Always offering to help Lyds (MC) with training, learning manoeuvres, and generally just hanging out. He also really loves his mother, mentioning her quite a few times and saying she’s his favourite witch. That’s sweet. Murphy can be vulnerable too, as he was to Lyds in the first Quidditch season over a chess game.
As her relationship with Orion blossoms, Melody deals with her feelings and finds an unexpected ally in her Aunt Olivia whom she always disliked.
Olivia, Helena and Cynthia belong to @helenadurazzo
July 1989
The Tremblay house was light and cozy; around it, there was a spacious area covered with fresh grass and trees both fully grown and youthfully thin. Only greenhouses and enclosures for magical creatures disrupted the calm, relaxing view. Melody remembered too well how her uncle and aunt, particularly the latter, attempted to involve her in their beloved activities, which only fueled her annoyance and distaste for said locations. Still, the place was, from a certain angle, more appealing than the Midway Estate, lost in smoggy, noisy London, with only a small yard that received enough care not to look entirely lifeless, but nothing more. No wonder they eventually decided to gather in Helena's house - Melody's own home could barely offer any space for outdoor activities.
Their big and cheerful company had been playing Quidditch over a treeless meadow for the whole morning but dispersed afterwards. Andre, Helena and Skye remained on their brooms, either defending the improvised hoops or attempting to score; Miles and Murphy were chatting animatedly on the terrace, each holding a glass of cooling soda in his hand; Erika was nowhere to be seen, possibly enjoying some solitude in the house. Melody accommodated herself under the dense tree crown, its shadow sheltering her from the scorching summer sun. Her chosen spot allowed to observe almost the whole area, including the entrance to the greenhouses where Orion showed up a few moments later, much to her relief. Those lands were more cursed than all the Vaults together, so Melody had already started to worry about his long absence.
Warm weather made Orion get rid of his usual attire, yet he didn't betray his style, putting on a light shirt with rolled sleeves and linen trousers. In contrast, Melody picked her black and white Montrose Magpies t-shirt and denim shorts, an outfit so simple and Muggle that Grandmother Mariam, had she been there, would have definitely lectured her on proper clothing for a witch of her lineage. She also noticed that Orion almost never wore shoes while moving around the yard, just as he did now, walking in her direction and stepping on the grass with bare feet. Melody also tried freeing her legs from the eternal captivity of sneakers and understood why he enjoyed this feeling so much.
"You must be speechless after spending so much time with my plant obsessed aunt," she said once Orion came closer, inviting him to her snuggly shelter with a gesture of her hand, and he instantly landed on the spot next to her, "so blink twice if your mental health is in need of help."
Orion only chuckled to her half joking, half genuine concern. He looked peaceful and content with a walk, which wasn't surprising to Melody despite her words: he was the one to take some interest in gardening out of the two of them.
"Olivia is a caring and kind-hearted woman, her company was more than enjoyable to me. I struggle to understand your distaste for her and her plants."
Olivia? Melody must have missed the moment when Orion became so close to her aunt. The fact that it happened before he even met her mother properly stirred a somewhat weird feeling inside, and Melody once again wondered how she would react to her choice of partner. But for that, she needed to be aware that her daughter had engaged herself in a romantic relationship in the first place.
"When someone forces you to do something you don't have any desire or obligation to do, it usually sets you against the activity and, in a way, against the person. Why do you think I still despise Herbology in spite of Sprout being a decent teacher?" she responded, and a memory suddenly flashing in her mind made her smile. "Did my aunt tell you how I burned one of her greenhouses down as a kid?"
Orion looked at her with curiosity. "She didn't. Regarding her genuine love for nature, this must have been a painful story to share."
"For her, but not for me," Melody snorted. The company of her dear friends, Orion's most of all, made her almost forget about the stiffness that happened to overtake her when she shared some details of her life. "I think I was around five. Our parents dropped me and Jackie here as they usually did while being occupied with their Auror missions or wanting to spend some time together. Lottie and Louis were elsewhere, probably with our grandparents. Yes, definitely there because I had to throw a tantrum to avoid going to the Hearst Hall. Though whether I chose the lesser of two evils is a controversial question.
Anyway, Jackie immediately went to Uncle Garrett's enclosure with Renée, treacherously leaving me face to face with Aunt Olivia. Well, also with the twins, but they fully support their mother, so their presence only made everything worse. You can guess where she eventually dragged me." Orion only snorted. "I have no clue why she kept doing that at all. I was usually just wandering around instead of being helpful. At some point she headed back to the house to get something she ran out of. Helena and Miles tagged along, and I rushed after them - I was in the far end of the greenhouse. However, the door slammed shut in the meantime, probably by the strong wind, and I couldn't open it."
Cheerfulness on Orion's face faltered a bit. "Were you afraid?"
"I was panicking," Melody admitted. "I really hated it there, and no one seemed to hear my screams. They probably didn't notice my absence yet. My emotions fed my accidental magic, and it started to live its own life. The flames spread quickly, not leaving a single burn on me but turning everything around into ash. They soon engulfed the walls, causing glass to shatter. When I realised what was going on, I didn't even try to stop it." She smirked all of a sudden. "To be honest, if I could draw well, I'd immortalize that moment in a picture. Auntie had such a spectacular heart attack." Orion shook his head, as if not believing that he was dating someone so murderous, but Melody could swear that amusement flickered in his dark eyes. "In general, my visits to the Tremblay house rarely ended well. A bit later, I infamously fell from one of these wonderful trees. I still remember how Jackie kept yelling that I was dead."
Orion had already heard this story: Melody once explained her initial uncertainty in balancing on a broom with the incident.
"The flashes of fire burn not only in your heart, but also on the tips of your fingers. It seems to me that the element comes naturally to you." Orion took her hands in his, caressing them lightly, and Melody felt her heart make twice more beats than necessary. Disturbing her balance effortlessly while being its part was the strange sort of power he had over her, and deep inside, Melody was full of indignation, aimed at herself: always annoyed by sugary couples, she was becoming disgustingly romantic herself. Moreover, unlike her, Orion barely ever lost his steady calmness. "However, I still believe it should work in complete harmony with the other traits. Fire may be warming once controlled, but untamed, it brings ruination."
Of course, he wasn't talking about the greenhouse Melody was so proud of having destroyed. She leaned closer so mere millimeters separated their faces. "Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are. We're connected by one web and influence each other directly. I have a lot to learn from someone as patient as the Flobberworm itself, and this someone will always have my fire to ignite his own when all that remains is a smoldering ember. The only difference is," Melody breathed almost in his lips, noticing that Orion was watching her as if bewitched, "that we reached a bit higher level than being solely friends."
She quickly kissed him in the corner of his lips and withdrew. "Should we join the others? I think they're planning a new match," she said innocently, narrowing her eyes, full of barely hidden mischief. Orion coughed awkwardly, snapping out of a momentary trance and getting to his feet. At last, she wasn't the flustered one.
Little did Melody know that the two of them were followed by the attentive gaze of blue eyes, so similar to her own ones.
***
The pleasantly cool evening had already begun covering the area with twilight when Melody slid into the yard quietly, merging with the shadow of the canopy with the ease of an infamous Hogwarts rule-breaker. Her friends' cheerful voices were left behind the closed doors - as much as Melody loved their company, she also enjoyed the rare moments of solitude - and her gaze immediately rose to the sky that was still burning with crimson blush on the horizon.
She would have to return home soon. The Tremblay house was too small to comfortably accommodate such a big number of guests, and Melody didn't mind making the task easier for her uncle and aunt, especially since Orion and Andre volunteered to follow her. The latter had been to her house too many times to count thanks to the friendship between their families and felt almost at home there; Orion, on the other hand, saw it only from outside as he escorted Melody till the gate after their recent walk, therefore she wanted to organise a little tour for him. While she sometimes wondered if the house merited such a loud title as the Midway Estate, it was undeniably spacious and full of its own sort of mysteries.
The front door opened, and the moment of quiet peace was hopelessly ruined. Melody almost sighed when she noticed who exactly interrupted her smooth flow of thoughts. Aunt Olivia had a light cloak thrown over her shoulders, clearly not enjoying the breezy wind, as she came to add water to the soil in numerous pots. There were lots of them even in the yard, as if plants didn't fill the entire space of greenhouses, along with all the windowsills in the house.
Melody preferred to ignore her presence, yet her aunt had different plans.
"I saw you and Orion in the afternoon," she said casually, not turning her attention away from the work. "He's a good young man, so calm and intelligent and respectful of my plants. You two make a cute couple."
Her words made Melody shudder and curse mentally. Was it obligatory for her to find out? Orion and Melody didn't make a secret out of their relationship, but they didn't expose it either. Her cousins weren't the ones to gossip endlessly, especially months after she and Orion had gotten together, yet Aunt Olivia still became aware, and Uncle Garrett was sure to follow. Melody couldn't be sure that they wouldn't loosen their tongues while talking to her parents, and it definitely wasn't the way she would like for them to discover the news.
"Shouldn't you pay attention to my cousins' relationships and not mine?" Melody asked in an indifferent voice, hiding the internal stir of emotions. Aunt Olivia's approval meant little to her, yet Melody could see why she took a liking for Orion. Unfortunately, his activities would hardly seem impressive to her own parents, who valued duelling skills above everything else. Melody did tutor Orion - he was decent, especially in defence - but her father would surely consider this level worthy of only a frown.
"I'm perfectly aware of my children's love lives, Melody," Aunt Olivia responded cheerfully, as if her niece's intonation didn't border with rudeness. "Renée is obvious; she and Kai are perfect for each other. Helena is dating Erika, Miles is now single after breaking up with Tulip. What a nice flower name," she noted, and Melody couldn't help rolling her eyes. "My kids trust me. I don't think I can say the same about my sister."
Melody bit back a smirk. Aunt Olivia was blissfully unaware that her son had been cursed for months and her younger daughter had forged his letters home in order to keep this fact concealed.
"You know little about her family, then." The bonds among the Midways had their complications, that much was true. Melody knew she was the favourite of neither of her parents and kept her own secrets from them, yet she would prefer not to hear such things about her mother, whom she loved dearly.
"Maybe in Cynthia's case it's expressed less," her aunt admitted, "but there's still Jonathan. I wasn't his wife-to-be for a few years for nothing."
The tale of Jonathan Midway being betrothed to the older Hearst sister and eventually marrying the younger one was well-known to all of their children since the early age. The fact that her quick-tempered father somehow tolerated Aunt Olivia as his fiancée while his aversion to Herbology matched and potentially even exceeded Melody's own never fitted in her head, as did the fact that the woman standing in front of her could end up being her mother. Still, there was a grain of truth in her words, as much as Melody wasn't willing to acknowledge that.
"We have more in common than both of us might have thought before." Aunt Olivia put a watering can on its place and leaned on the wall next to her. She made herself comfortable as if preparing for a long conversation, Melody noted with doom. "My parents' values don't differ greatly from Jonathan and Cynthia's, you know that very well. You also know that I wasn't a daughter they wanted in all aspects, unlike Cynthia - it's still seen from their attitude towards me and even my children. You're in a better situation, yet it's still clear that you aren't the princess of the family - Lottie is."
That was also a statement Melody couldn't deny, at least in terms of her father's affections. Seeing him dote on her sister the way he didn't on her sometimes made her a little bitter, though she never really strived to get her father's attention, as warming as the crumbs of pride he happened to express were. Her love for Lottie was too encompassing and sincere to be clouded by jealousy. Aunt Olivia, it seemed, felt the same way towards her sister. Melody couldn't imagine her wishing her mother ill.
"I traced the parallel clearly when I found out Jonathan had sent you a Howler," her aunt frowned. "Your grandfather did the exact same thing when he discovered I had entered Hufflepuff and not any other Hearst's beloved Slytherin. Today, once again, I saw myself in you. I know the standards our families set for a husband - after all, I was betrothed to their embodiment, a Pureblood Auror - and I know that your father would hardly approve of Orion. Once upon a time, I also delayed informing my parents about dating your Uncle Garrett as much as possible, for he was as far from duelling as I was and not even Pureblood." Aunt Olivia fixed her wavy black hair, collected in a loose bun, looking determined. "There was quite a scandal in the result, yet I defended my right to be with someone I love. You also will once the time comes."
"I planned on talking to Mum," Melody said suddenly, surprised by her own eagerness to share this with her not exactly adored aunt. "There's no sense in hiding this relationship unless I'm ashamed of it and Orion, which I can never be. But we aren't together for long, and the right moment never seems to come."
"It will eventually." She raised her hand to stroke Melody's hair. For some reason, the gesture didn't stir as much rejection inside as it used to. "You have my word that none of your parents will hear anything from me on this matter. And if you ever need a place for a meeting with Orion," her aunt winked at her, "you know where to go."
Such amount of kindness was almost suspicious. "Why are you doing this?" Melody put on her lowered mask. "After what I had done to your greenhouse, I thought I'm not exactly your favourite niece."
Aunt Olivia shook her head. "I mourned my greenhouse, it's true. It was ruined, but an even bigger and more beautiful one blossomed in its place." Melody almost grimaced, remembering how she showed it off to everyone who would listen. "I don't hold a grudge against you for this, though I'd surely prefer for the story not to repeat itself."
"That's something we can agree on." Melody didn't plan on getting locked in a greenhouse again, and while setting it on fire for fun sounded tempting, she did have some conscience left. "It's quite late already. I should probably return home."
"Orion's going with you, isn't he?" Aunt Olivia's eyes twinkled. "Isn't it a good moment to talk to your mother?"
Saying short goodbyes to her relatives and friends - she would go back tomorrow anyway - Melody made her way to the fireplace of the Tremblay house, touching Orion's fingers lightly and feeling him squeezing hers in return. The gesture was barely noticeable, yet she was sure that Aunt Olivia was attentive enough to catch it - the way a smile on her face got reflected in her eyes with a mysterious twinkle made it very clear.
Melody only shrugged her shoulders in response. She didn't prepare herself to such a conversation today.
Melody accidentally becomes Professor Rakepick's assistant on the lesson for older students. Suspicions, discoveries and a tiny bit of showing-off ensue.
Warning: Orion and Melody are shamelessly besotted with each other.
Helena Tremblay belongs to @helenadurazzo
April 1989
Leaning on the cold stone wall, Melody crossed her arms on her chest and took deep, slow breaths. Even with her eyes closed, she could see the dancing flames of the torches that lit up the whole grandeur of the Duelling Club. Blissful silence reigned over the empty fighting platforms: the vast majority of students still had classes to dedicate their attention to. In fact, the huge clock on the opposite wall had just announced the beginning of a new one.
Melody couldn't care less. Once an utterly responsible witch with no absenteeism, she now relied on the notes of her cousin and friends to survive the subjects she didn't deem important enough. It was no whim of hers, but a necessity to set her priorities, otherwise she would simply suffocate under the weight of tasks and duties.
She didn't deal with the chaotic hurricane of her fifth year at Hogwarts alone, of course. From time to time, she could use a helping hand in her preparations for the upcoming exams; Skye took care of certain matters that lay on the shoulders of the temporary Ravenclaw Captain; the detentions weren't such a burden with Jae, Tulip and Tonks to keep her company. It only left the Portrait Vault, accompanied by exhausting trainings and plotting and all-consuming anxiety bordering on obsession. At times, waking in the middle of the night for no apparent reason, Melody could swear that she had seen Miles's tortured face inside the portrait frame in her sleep.
It was also his voice that haunted her, much like Jackie's did, and wild hope to find her brother alive burned in her tired muscles during every single attack she unleashed on the lifeless dummies.
Her moment of rest must come to an end, for there was no time to waste. With a sigh, Melody straightened up, barely noticing the commotion outside of the heavy doors before they flipped wide open.
Rakepick entered the Duelling Club in big, assertive steps, followed by a group of pupils. Melody's keen eyes instantly caught the sight of Orion, with Murphy and Face Paint Kid on different sides from him. Skye and Bean were nowhere to be seen, as they took the bare minimum of subjects after their O.W.L.s in order to concentrate entirely on Quidditch. Among the blue and bronze ties, several green and silver ones could be spotted; unsurprisingly, Erika Rath was among the wearers.
Her intense gaze settled on Melody, Rakepick raised her eyebrows. "Miss Midway, if I'm not mistaken, your classes aren't yet over."
"Indeed. I'm supposed to attend History of Magic now," Melody answered truthfully. "However, additional practice seemed to be a more useful pastime to me."
Rakepick snorted, amused and satisfied in equal measure. "Good, very good. I'm positive Professor Binns won't miss you. Sixth year, meet your new classmate!"
When Melody approached the group, still a little bewildered by the turn of events, Murphy glared at her jokingly. "Tell me, how can I be expected to come up with accurate predictions in regards to you if you can just stumble into our lesson out of nowhere?"
"Actually, I was here first," she whispered back with a giggle, "but I swear, after this attempt to skip a class, I'm quite willing to believe in karma."
"Look at the bright side," Orion smiled mysteriously. "It's not at all frequently that our gloomy gathering has such a prominent source of inspiration."
Heat spread over Melody's cheeks immediately. "How can your gathering be gloomy if there's a literal ray of sunshine in attendance?" she countered, never the one to refuse a challenge. Orion always managed to control his emotions better than she did, yet Melody could still discern the sudden, tender shyness of his expression.
She loved the new level of intimacy between them, established after their heartfelt confessions in this very hall. They chose to keep it gradual and careful, for both had a lot on their plate and needed time to solve their personal issues. Melody felt as though she had gained her own piece of pure happiness that shone even in the darkest of times; Orion looked like harmony and passion were steadily returning to him, his eyes glowing with newfound strength.
Fingers almost imperceptibly interwoven, the two of them stepped closer to a platform that Rakepick climbed onto for better effect.
"Our today's lesson requires more space than the DADA classroom is able to provide," she announced. "Now, will someone remind me what we have studied the previous time? Perhaps Mr. Baldwin?"
Face Paint Kid cleared his throat. "We've discussed the Dementors, ma'am."
Hearing his real name pronounced aloud was somewhat odd, even alien. Melody's Quidditch mate once admitted to loathing the pomposity of being Prescott Baldwin so much he preferred to be recognised for his favourite hobby, and the approach did succeed. Nowadays, few called him anything other than a well-known nickname, just like Bean was their good old Bean rather than Sabrina Takeda.
"And we shall return to the Dementors very soon, fortunately, in a figurative sense. As for the current moment, I want you to divide into pairs and make use of the duelling equipment. It would do you good to revise the spells we've learned so far," Rakepick instructed. "Miss Midway, I doubt you will encounter any difficulties with the curriculum, so I ask you to play the part of my apprentice."
Melody nodded through the conflicted feelings that the woman had been stirring in her for more than a year and a half at this point. On the one hand, her hiring was a refreshing change from Dumbledore's usual passivity when it came to the Cursed Vaults; on the other, Melody wasn't fond of being reduced to a mere assistant in her own investigation. A part of her was thrilled to have a truly competent DADA professor for the first time in five years, and so it looked up to the famed Curse-Breaker, to her undeniable skill and experience that Melody endlessly learned from. Another, hardened part harboured doubts and suspicions about ulterior motives and possible connections to Jackie, though Rakepick behaved as though she had never met him.
To her left, an unfamiliar Slytherin huffed with obvious derision. "Why should some Ravenclaw upstart be given leave to train with us, let alone to boss us around?"
Thank Merlin, Melody became smart enough not to jump on every nasty person with fists like she had done before. A little tense in response to hostility, she waited alongside the hushed students. After all, Rakepick wholeheartedly disliked her authority being questioned, and her decisions doubted.
"It seems like we have a volunteer for the demonstration," the professor said coolly. "Come, Mr Wilkes, you have nothing to fear if your self-esteem corresponds to your knowledge." As the boy shrugged and started making his way through the little crowd, she turned to Melody. "Are you up for a duel, Miss Midway?"
Melody didn't bother to restrain her growing smirk. "Always, ma'am."
Orion's fingers brushed hers for a mere second, yet it was enough for her to feel inexplicably warmer as she ascended several steps that led to the platform. Wearing a short cardigan instead of a full-fledged school robe, as well as trousers in place of a skirt, might have been the most reasonable decision Melody made today, for it gave her extra freedom of movement. She bowed, as was traditional for this kind of combat, and automatically assumed a fighting stance, effortlessly neat after years of practice. Reluctantly, her opponent did the same.
"Get ready," Rakepick spoke. "Three, two, one!"
Melody was in no hurry to attack, a tactic Bill jestingly called 'playing with prey' for its deliberate, almost taunting slowness. The same couldn't be said about the Wilkes guy: she had to summon her shields the second Rakepick let the duel begin. As he fired offensive spells one after the other, all unsuccessfully due to her strong protective charms and natural agility, Melody couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed. She expected to battle against the characteristic Slytherin cunning, not this inappropriate straightforwardness that would cost him all his force very soon!
At least she could sincerely admit that Wilkes knew his incantations well. By the standards of the sixth year, he might have been considered a decent student. Unluckily for him, the Cursed Vaults taught Melody to exceed expectations.
The boy stumbled, barely avoiding her sudden charge. The sneaky ropes of Incarcerous crawled on the floor, reaching his legs. Briskly, Melody moved her wand to the right and down, making her opponent's weapon fly right into her free hand.
"That's unfair!" he bellowed from the ground.
"I see no deviation from the rules. And even if it wasn't so, who told you that your enemies would never try to trick you?" Rakepick signed to Melody to return the wand to its master. "At least Miss Midway was kind enough to give you a chance to show off."
Some snickers could be heard from their audience, with the inclusion of Erika no less. Apparently, Wilkes wasn't particularly well-liked even among his fellow snakes.
"Now, it's time for you all to take up your arms. Strive not to pronounce the charms aloud."
Glad to avoid further scrutiny, Melody escaped to her friends. Face Paint Kid met her with eagerness. "That was pretty cool!"
Melody turned to Orion, the upturned corners of her lips mirroring his. "So, what about a little warmup for those crunching bones?"
"They do demand physical activity after so much sitting." The response pleased her immensely: knowing Orion, he could easily have meant his break from Quidditch and desire to return.
Murphy immediately changed vague compliments for indignation. "Hey, Orion is my partner!"
"You should have thought about that before getting involved in clandestine matchmaking," Melody said smugly. Orion huffed a very gratifying laugh, sending the commentator an apologetic yet amused glance.
As they found a rather quiet corner, Melody stood at the most suitable fighting distance without delay. There were few things she wanted more than additional moments with her beloved in that crazy lifestyle of hers, but duelling practice was nothing short of essential for them both. She still remembered the way Orion's expression had frozen for the shortest of moments when in the beginning of this academic year, she had curiously asked him why he continued attending DADA classes despite having no particular inclination for the subject. It was his parents' lack of preparation and inability to protect themselves that caused their early passing, he had explained, and he needed to learn on their mistakes.
"Here's the plan," Melody started. "First, you attack, I defend myself. Then, vice versa. If we have enough time, we can make it a full-fledged duel, alright?"
Orion nodded. However, he looked uncertain. "We always targeted dummies on our previous trainings."
"It's a splendid method to master spells, but we should apply them in real combats more often. Besides, I'm still in the snitch-catching business because of my speed and dodging talent, so you'll have to try hard."
And so Orion did. It seemed like every conjured charm fed his confidence, for his attacks soon became more diverse and daring. Even though he did his best to keep them nonverbal, Melody recognised every flash: other than the several tricks she taught him, Orion used the spells from the DADA curriculum. Protego and good reaction served her well despite the creeping tiredness she began to feel more and more keenly. It was the last lesson for today, and her quickness clearly suffered from the lack of proper breaks.
More automatically than consciously, Melody stepped aside from a powerful Flipendo, only for another incantation, cast instantly after the former, to hit her in the shoulder, almost causing her to drop her wand. Orion didn't grab onto the perfect chance to disarm her; instead, he moved to her abruptly, his expression alarmed and his tone guilty.
"Are you well? I apologise, Melody. We really should have practised on the dummies-"
"You're progressing with each passing day, Orion," she interrupted him softly, having recovered her posture swiftly. Pride swelled in her chest, and she made sure it found reflection in her voice and eyes. "Great job! I do tend to unintentionally sway to the left side more, as I'm a left-hander. Not only did you notice that, but you also used the observation to your advantage."
He only shook his head. "I understand that offence is one of the two columns duelling stands on, but hurting you is the last thing I would ever desire."
"I know. It's the same for me." She touched his hand comfortingly. "I trust you."
To know my weaknesses and never weaponize them against me in truth, was left unsaid. Still, Orion got her message, and it added that particular shine to his eyes that even her most sincere praise couldn't quite achieve.
They exchanged places. When it came to fighting, Orion leaned more towards being a Keeper, so his shields were sturdy, and his movements precise. Melody now fully comprehended his unwillingness to point a wand at her, yet she reminded herself that going easy on her beloved would do nothing to develop his defence skills. With renewed energy, she attempted the same relatively harmless tactic she had previously neutralised Wilkes with, and it left Orion's footing precarious. Another flash flew past his ear, right before Rakepick's amplified voice filled the space, announcing the end of the exercise.
"Good, though not enough for those of you who aspire to become Curse-Breakers and Aurors. That is, if you want to survive your first serious assignment."
Someone in the crowd chuckled, probably believing her words to be a dark joke, and Rakepick's manner changed to severe. "Only a fool would undermine the dangers of Curse-Breaking. The most well-conceived of plans can spiral down in the face of unpredictable circumstances, unnecessary emotions and incompetence. And believe me, the consequences of failure are often disastrous."
Acutely reminded of Jackie and her own relentlessly approaching mission in the Portrait Vault, Melody swallowed heavily. Orion's gaze snapped to her, and his face clouded.
"Now, we're moving back to the Dementors, in particular, to the only existing way of defending ourselves against them. Hopefully, Mr. Wilkes's example taught you to distribute your strength rationally, as you will need some left for the Patronus Charm."
Whispers scattered around the hall. The Ravenclaw Prefect - Melody remembered that his name was Constantine, but most either shortened it or used the surname - frowned. "It isn't mentioned in our curriculum. They say it's far more advanced."
"Indeed?" Rakepick asked with fake suprise. "Well, let's say I have more faith in you than the authors of your curriculum, apparently, do. As Mr. Weatherford correctly pointed out, many witches and wizards are unable to produce a Patronus due to its extreme difficulty. The charm has two forms, incorporeal and corporeal. The former has no particular shape and resembles glowing fog. While it does fend the Dementors off, its effect is nowhere near as powerful as that of corporeal Patronuses. Those generally take the shape of the animals with whom the casters share the deepest affinity."
She eyed them expectantly. "As the Patronus Charm channels positive emotions to create protection, it is the happiest, most radiant memory that can bring it to life. Though there are no Gryffindor students here today, I believe one of you will be brave enough to volunteer to try first."
Even the cockiest ones made no sound, likely afraid of public fiasco. Rakepick raised an eyebrow.
"What about my apprentice? If my memory serves me right, Miss Midway, you spent much effort on your Patronus training last year. I even heard you had achieved notable successes."
"It's true," Melody conceded. It had been a necessity back then, as the Dementors had posed a serious risk to everyone's safety. The critical moment had left her no choice but to do her absolute best. As for now, she wasn't completely confident in her ability to produce the charm. Yet, for the second time on this lesson, she headed to the platform.
Why didn't Rakepick show them how to cast a perfect Expecto Patronum herself, anyway? Either she saw no reason to make an exertion herself when there was Melody to do the job, or... Only pure of heart could accomplish a Patronus, a fact she happily omitted in her lecture. This random thought almost made Melody stop dead in her tracks.
The gears were turning chaotically inside her head. What was next? Rakepick dedicated the class to a complicated spell in order to trace out students with great magical potential to recruit them for... something? It sounded very paranoid, but given the lady's peculiar character, nobody could tell what was truly going on in her mind. Naturally, theories ensued.
Melody breathed in and out evenly, abstracting herself from obsessive musings, as well as the presence of a dozen people and their attentive looks. Outside of a few major problems, like her brother's disappearance and the hereditary curse, her life was good enough, yet she had a trouble recalling powerful memories sometimes. Those involving Jackie could produce little more than a weak flash of light, perhaps too tinted with sadness of a loss. Deep in thought, Melody bit her lip. Her first victory in a Quidditch match; the shenanigans she had gotten into with Andre, Helena and Miles as children; her mother's gentle instructions during their practices in the duelling room of the Midway Estate...
Her eyes linked with Orion's encouraging ones for a second, and Melody could almost hear his words from not a month ago, so earnest and sweet and hopeful that her heart would link with his in an unbreakable bond. How her voice had wobbled while finally expressing the endless extent to which she needed him; how they had hugged afterwards, foreheads touching and breaths mingling... Melody sensed her resolve strengthening.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A silvery fox jumped out of the tip of her wand, striding around in elegant, assertive movements. Some of her temporary classmates gasped in astonishment.
"Bravo!" Rakepick looked far too pleased, as though Melody's success was entirely her merit. "Foxes are said to be intelligent, sly and resourceful. These are Slytherin traits, are they not? I wonder why you found yourself under the eagle banners, Miss Midway."
Melody left the implied question without an answer. Almost five years ago, she had refused to let the choice be made for her, and she would keep this little liberty to herself.
Seeing that her students weren't too willing to come forward, Rakepick allowed them to train in relative privacy. Melody couldn't help basking in Orion's admiring smile for a few moments as she silently sent her fox to rub against his legs. Still, feeding a corporeal Patronus with magic was an exhausting affair, and so she freed her spirit animal at last.
"Do you want to try?" Melody asked her beloved, wholeheartedly convinced that if any person in this hall could cast one of the most prominent charms light magic had to offer, it was him. "Out of the two requirements, good intentions and great power, you fulfill both."
As far as Orion advanced in his recovery, the blow of a past injury, among other things, lingered in his struggle to find harmony within himself. As his fifth careful attempt ended with nothing, Melody could trace the now visible crease on his forehead and his measured intakes of breath, aimed at calming the inner unrest. Her hand found its way to his forearm.
"You shouldn't strain yourself needlessly."
"I will never overcome this issue completely if I sit idly and give it a permission to consume me," Orion argued.
"You aren't alone," Melody spoke soothingly. "I'm here to help, and Murphy is as well. Still, you don't have to press it forward if that's not how you feel. Balance isn't something that can be achieved forcefully."
His own words from a while ago, returned to him in a kind yet firm manner, made Orion straighten his back. Concentrating, he closed his eyes, and the way his features softened showed that a fitting memory occurred to him on its own. His wand began to draw a perfect circle in the air, his lips pronouncing the incantation quietly.
Shimmering light covered Melody's vision, cutting through the solemn interior of the Duelling Club. At first, it seemed smooth and formless, like water under the moonglow, yet after a closer observation, she could swear that the flows of clear, intense magic carved feathers on two strong wings.
"It has the outlines of a bird. I'm ready to bet a solid pouch of galleons that it's an owl," Melody said with wonder. "How beautiful."
"If my Patronus is capable of burning so brightly, what can be said about my spark?" There was a lightness to Orion's intonation as he let the charm disperse. "The surf carries everything that the sea repels to the shore. So shall my soul clear of any distortion."
"That's the spirit." Her palm slid down to his, squeezing it. A surprised sigh escaped her mouth as he raised their joined hands and placed a kiss on her knuckles.
"Excellent technique, Mr. Amari. With more training, you will be able to cast a corporeal Patronus in no time." Rakepick's voice sounded from behind Melody's back. There was a strange glint in her eyes as she watched the two of them. "The lesson is coming to its logical conclusion. Miss Midway, I plan on holding additional practice in the evening."
Melody nodded. "For the whole group?"
"Yes. I've already informed Miss Snyde, and the older Mr Weasley must have transferred the note to his brother. I trust you will bring Miss Tremblay along."
"Of course." If not for the curse, Miles, with his impressive knowledge of healing and fairly good duelling skill, would have been the one to accompany them to the Portrait Vault. Helena, no less talented and desperately willing to save her brother, volunteered to take his place, and Melody couldn't possibly refuse her.
As Rakepick dismissed them, Melody let out a sigh of relief, brief yet well-deserved. Hours that followed the classes were never entirely hers to spend as she wished, but right now, with Murphy and Face Paint Kid discussing the latter's new Quidditch quiz and Orion joining in delightedly, Melody anticipated an ounce of rest.
