Melody was walking across the fifth floor hallway, an enormous stack of books in her arms. stupid Melody, like always, had forgotten her wand in the classroom. She was still far to used to the Muggle way of doing things. She noticed absentmindedly that the hallways were devoid of students- strange for a Friday afternoon. There must be some meeting or assembly she was missing. She sighed, all she had to do was find the stairs- especially some that would get her back down to the second floor.

Jack had been wandering aimlessly around the school, his mind totally wrapped up in the new information that he had gotten from AJ. Today he wore a long-sleeve t-shirt and jeans with his tennis shoes, trying to conceal the brand-new Dark Mark that was on his left forearm. Does Melody know...? He wondered to himself. A second after he had finished the thought, he spotted her walking along, a huge stack of books in her arms. We need to talk... he thought as he walked over to her. "Hey," he said, grinning, "need any help?" He looked at the books in her arms- there were quite a few. She must have forgotten her wand in the room again. He chuckled to himself silently, that was so Melody.

"Sure." Melody said, setting the books on the ground. She looked up, seeing the expression on his face. He couldn't conceal anything from her- he looked very troubled. "Jack?" Melody asked tentatively. "Is something wrong?" her eyes laced over his face, everything about his expression told her something was clearly wrong.

Jack's deep amber eyes searched Melody's face. He took her hands in his and took a deep breath, wishing for everything it was worth that they wouldn't start a fight. "Well," he began, "I... heard something..." he paused, not knowing how to continue. How am I going to tell her about my Mark, the baby?

Melody sat there, wishing Jack would talk more. "Jack- if something's troubling you you should tell me." Melody sorted through the books in her pile- all related to Muggle Studies. Muggle History of Britain, The Complete Guide to Mobile Phones, Understanding Muggle Society, Muggle Cuisine 101... such titles with esteemed doctors as authors passed through her nimble fingers, their jewel toned spines shaking off dusts as she tried to separate them into different piles.

"Okay..." Jack said, trying to think of the best way to tell her everything, "but I don't think you're going to like what I have to say..." He paused, that was saying it lightly. She was probably going to hate him for this. He sat down next to her and took her face in his hands before letting her go and then showing her his left arm. "I don't know how to say this any other way." He said, lifting up his sleeve and revealing the Mark. "I'm so sorry..." he looked away at the floor. Will she hate me? I wouldn't blame her... but I did it for the baby...

Melody sat there, stunned, looking at the wriggling snake and skull on his forearm. "sorry?" She whispered. "Sorry?" she whispered again. Is that all you can possibly conjure up- a simple sorry? she thought, she fought to catch her breath. What had he done? Why? He betrayed them all! Dumbledore, the Potters, Sirius, The Weasleys, Lupin, Hunter... her... "Jack..." Melody began, her voice stronger. She couldn't find the words to explain this hurt.

"Before you hate me," Jack said, gripping her upper arms and holding her so he knew that she was facing him, "there's something you should know." He struggled to find the right words before he continued. "I was forced to. By AJ. She found out... that..." he looked into Melody's eyes. "She found out that we were going to have a baby; she threatened to kill you and the child if I didn't cooperate." He said this all a little faster than normal, trying to make Melody understand that he hadn't wanted to do it, he was forced... please understand... please...

Melody looked at Jack like he was the stupidest man on the planet- on any planet. "Jack!" Melody said, totally shocked. "JACK!" She raised her voice even more. "Don't you think i'd KNOW if I was pregnant?" Don't you think I'd care to TELL YOU?" Melody was furious- how could he have been so stupid! "Jack- you were forced to join by a lie! How could you be so stupid? How?" Melody said, feeling so hurt she couldn't even describe it, tears and hate creeping up her throat.

"The mood swings, the fighting, it all makes sense, Melody!" Jack said, trying to mask the pain in his face. "The sudden sickness!" He still had her arms in his grip. "Have you even bothered going to the Hospital Wing or something to see what was wrong?" His voice was strained from trying to make her understand and restraining himself from yelling. "I couldn't let her kill you."

I. Hate. You.
How could you have been so stupid? How?

Melody suddenly sat still, contemplating what he had said. She had been sick, moody- "Do I LOOK pregnant to you Jack?" Melody yelled. "Let them kill me! You betrayed us jack! You betrayed the Order! You betrayed me!" Melody looked at him, his pleading face, his hopeless eyes. What had he done? What had he DONE? "What have you done Jack?" Melody exclaimed, her voice shaking.

Jack no longer knew what to feel. She didn't look pregnant, no, but he still suspected that she was. "I couldn't let them kill you." He said, letting go of her arms and putting his in his lap. "I couldn't do it." He repeated. There was nothing really more to say; he had no idea what to do next. "You can't explain the moodiness or being sick, can you?" He said, looking back up at Melody. "We can't know unless we get you checked out..." his voice trailed off.

"You believe her?" Melody shouted, her temper rising. "Why? I would know if I was pregnant Jack! So maybe I have a stomachache in the mornings? Maybe I'm a little moody! Maybe that's just the way I am Jack!" Melody said, coming up with whatever bull she could- she was so scared of the fact that he may be right. What could she possibly do with a child? She couldn't raise one! She would make a horrible mother. What kind of parents would they be? Always fighting.

What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you!
If you're so upset than just leave!
Maybe I will! *slam*
GOOD RIDDANCE!

"Of course I believe it," Jack said calmly. He could see the signs in her eyes; she was afraid of him being right. And the thing was, he wasn't quite as afraid. He knew that they weren't the best couple- nor would they be the ideal parents- but he knew that they would be able to work it all out... somehow. "All I'm asking for is to go get you checked out to see if it is true..." so I know that I did the right thing. He finished in his mind.

What the hell are you doing? LET ME GO!
MELODY, LISTEN TO ME! CALM DOWN!
*tears* I hate you, Jack, I never want anything to do with you... ever. Get the hell out of my life. Right now.

"Jack- I think I'd know if I was pregnant!" Melody said, shaking her head in disbelief, for she almost didn't believe it herself. I mean, I guess there WAS the possibility that she COULD be pregnant. She looked at him, guilt growing in her stomach for yelling at him. "I'm sorry." Melody said, putting her hands against her face. "I'm sorry I yelled Jack."

"It's okay," Jack answered, closing his eyes. "I don't blame you..." he really couldn't, what he said probably shocked her and made her angry, and the Mark... well, that was a whole other story... "I just want to see if I was told the truth, and if I was..." he trailed off.

"Jack, I don't think I'm pregnant." Melody repeated again, taking on eof the stacks of books. She lifeds them up- wasn't there something about not doing work like this when you were pregnant? Well here she was. Melody sighed, shifting her weight from one side to the other as she waited for Jack to get his pile. "First and foremost- I need to get my supplies back to my classroom."

"I know you don't think you are..." Jack said, trying not to let her know how much he wanted her to believe him. He picked up his pile. "But I still want to make sure, okay?" His eyes were begging her to get a test or something as he held the pile of books.

Melody looked into his eyes, the hopefullness, the pleading, the worry, it ran across his eyes like a sever weather warning on a muggle tv set. Melody couldn't ignore it- and why not give him the evidence that she wasn't? But what if she was? Melody wasn't sure she wanted to find out. She couldn't handle being a mom. She wasn't ready, she wasn't good enough. A baby needed a loving, nerturing set of parents... perferably ones that were married.

"We can get it checked out," Jack said to Melody, "and if you are, we can figure out where to go from there. If you're not, then... well, we can figure out where to go from there too." He looked into her eyes, his own pleading with her. "I just have to know..." he said quietly.