Chapter 28: Letters, Lines, and Unspoken Things

The owl found me at breakfast. It landed beside my plate with a soft thud, scattering crumbs and drawing a few curious glances from the Gryffindor table. I recognized it instantly. A sturdy brown owl with calm eyes and an air of quiet authority. My dad’s owl. My stomach twisted as I took the letter from its leg, my fingers suddenly unsteady. I didn’t open it right away. I folded it into my bag instead, my appetite gone, my thoughts loud. Hermione noticed, of course. “You’re smiling without realizing it,” she said softly. “I am not,” I replied automatically. Ron squinted at me. “You totally are.” Harry just watched me, his expression gentle in that way that meant he knew better than to push. I waited until later, until I was alone near the window in the common room, sunlight spilling across the floor. Only then did I open the parchment.

My Melody,

I received your letter this morning. I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m not. Not because I doubt you. Because I know how deeply you feel things.

My chest tightened.

Heartbreak doesn’t make you weak. It means you were brave enough to care. People forget that. Ministers especially.

I huffed out a quiet laugh through my nose.

I’m proud of you for listening. Proud of you for surviving something that hurt instead of pretending it didn’t. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. And it certainly doesn’t mean rushing.

The words felt like a hand steadying my back.

As for the boy, judge him by what he does next, not just what he says. Trust is rebuilt in actions. If he’s worthy of you, he’ll understand that.

I blinked hard.

And Melody… no matter how dark things feel, remember who you were before the world tried to harden you. Strength and kindness can exist in the same person. I’ve seen you prove that your whole life.

I love you more than words.

Dad

I pressed the parchment to my chest, breathing through the ache. He always knew exactly what to say. That afternoon, Draco proved my dad right. He didn’t corner me. Didn’t grab my arm. Didn’t demand anything. He simply walked beside me after Transfiguration, leaving a careful distance between us. “I’m not asking you to forgive me,” he said quietly. “I just wanted you to know I meant what I said. And I’ll wait. As long as it takes.” I didn’t answer. But I didn’t walk away either. That was something. Pansy, on the other hand, was far less subtle. She blocked my path near the Slytherin corridor, her smile sharp and poisonous. “He always did have a thing for broken girls.” I looked at her calmly. Too calmly. “You lied,” I said. No accusation. Just fact. Her smile twitched. “Prove it.” “I don’t need to,” I replied. “You already did.” Something dark flashed in her eyes, but she stepped aside. For the first time, she didn’t have the upper hand. By evening, the Golden Trio had me cornered on the couch. Hermione hugged me without warning. Ron awkwardly patted my shoulder. Harry smiled. “You don’t have to tell us everything,” Harry said. “But we’re here.” “I know,” I whispered. Later that night, as I climbed into bed, I realized something had shifted. Not everything was fixed. But lines had been drawn. Truths spoken. Armor tested. And for the first time since Dark Melody was born, I wasn’t sure she had to stand alone anymore.