Her lazy way of making the journey from Ravenclaw to their decided meeting place was because she was still a bit intoxicated. She could handle the attention from every quidditch wound she'd ever gotten because it was a battle wound. Quidditch injuries were easily shrugged off and they didn't hang with an awkward silence that came from Rita and those of her friends that didn't expect it from her. She was the girl that had stolen Eli from Lily? Really? Was that even possible? Usually quiet and reserved, it didn't register that Amelia Bones might have something to say because she usually held her tongue. At least for Eddie's sake. But after pining over Kingsley and pining over Eli and the ridiculousness over Ares Nott, she'd taken a flying leap of faith and had landed with catlike grace. It was a first.
Her intoxication could be blamed on many things. Hestia's problems were a heap of mess that, frankly, Mel didn't feel like having to deal with. Hestia was practically a zombie. which meant that though she was there to help, her friend acknowledged her barely. And because she wanted to rant and scream about her own problems, she felt selfish and guilty when Hestia's were so much more abundant. So she drank. And felt better. Or at least, less worse. Except for the morning when the headaches were intense and the stomachaches were worse and she drank more just to keep them at bay as they, like a pack of ravenous wolves, chased her through the day.
She had arrived at the empty classroom a few minutes after Eli had. She'd grabbed a bag, as she was prone to do, what with being female, and had packed the mask, just in case he should decide that the girl in the Red Dress was more fun than she was. Or more likable. Or prettier. "Hey," she offered after a few moments of watching him. "You don't look like too much trouble now, do you?"