Evan: He closed his eyes for a minute in pain. "I know, it's just-" He knew what he felt, what he thought, but there was no words for it. He didn't want to lose another sister.
Professor Black: She laid her hands on his shoulders and turned to look at him face-to-face.
"You can't leave again. Students need you; Hogwarts needs you. I need you. This isn't like last time-it isn't like Christine. She didn't have a choice. This time, it's my decision, and I've decided to take that path. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice."
Melanie knew now why she couldn't save her mother, but could her body and herself. This magic was old magic, and very few people had it.
Melanie couldn't protect herself if she was to protect a loved one.
As she walked to the main entrance, Melanie couldn't help but think how horrible it had been the last time. She'd been helping heal students when she heard footsteps appear in the Great Hall, and turned to see Evan supporting his sister's dead body. She had left her position immediately and laid a hand on his shoulder, trying to tell him it would be all right. She had sat with him and cried with him. And when he left, she was crushed. Nothing could help the pain it had left her, for the only family member she had trusted to always be there had left her.
Melanie spent months in despair. She knew he was upset and she shouldn't bother him, so she didn't. Melanie'd taken a temporary job at the ministry, just to get by, having planned to become a professor at Hogwarts as soon as possible.
And then, one Sunday, she'd wandered into The Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, expecting to browse and by nothing when she saw him standing there at the counter. He'd looked awful, but he was there. She couldn't describe the surprise and joy that had come to her that day.
She hated to hurt Evan again. But this time, it was crucial. Melanie only hoped he would forgive her.