Since the students weren't always there at the same time at breakfast, the post came in at lunchtime. Swoops of owls soared in silently.

"Whoa!" Megan gasped as she watched them fly to their owners. "Hello, Hedwig."

"This is how we get our post." Harry explained. "Beats opening a silly mailbox."

Megan smiled and stroked Hedwig's soft feathers and gave her a small piece of bacon. Hedwig let out an appreciative hoot, gave Megan a gentle nip on the finger and flew off with the other birds to the owlery.

"She's beautiful", Harry said as she soared off.

"Yes, isn't she? Hagrid got her for me."

"Wish I had an owl..." Ron groaned. "All I've got is Scabbers, and he's useless."

Scabbers was Ron's rat, and he was, indeed, fairly inactive. He was already a middle aged rat, having belonged to Percy, who was four years older than Ron.

"You know that you, Ginny, Fred and George are welcome to use her when you want to," Megan offered.

"Thanks..."

He didn't say it, but Megan knew he was thinking it just wasn't the same.

"Harry, you have an owl, don't you?"

"Yes, Halon. He's in the owlery too, I expect."

They finished their breakfast and went off. They had their first transfiguration class, and Megan's impression of McGonagall that she was not one to mess about with was proved true. She was strict, and clever, and one of the first things she told them in the class was:

"Transfiguration is a difficult, dangerous branch of magic, and requires commitment and concentration. So anyone messing around in my class will leave and not return."

And they had taken notes for nearly an hour before they were allowed to try turning a match into a needle. Hermione, of course, succeeded in her first try. Surprisingly, Megan was triumphant first time too. Harry was close enough to squeeze through after a few tries, but Ron took a little longer.

"I don't get it, why do spells work with some and not others?" he asked.

"That depends on the concentration you put into it. Here, try again, but really try."

With a flick of her wand, his needle returned to a match. He took a deep breath, and pronounced the spell. This time, his needle flashed silver and pointy.

"Very good, Weasley. See what one can do when they put their mind into it."

The class ended soon after that and they were all fascinated.

"I can't wait to try bigger spells!" Hermione was saying excitedly

"I'm more interested in Defence against the dark arts." Harry said.

Megan didn't have a preference, she wanted to learn as much as possible, and she and Hermione often discussed books. Ron called them know-it-alls, but Harry countered that they very well might need that knowledge someday. What Harry and Megan were looking forward to was flying. But their excitement was dampened slightly when they found out they would be learning with the Slytherins.

"Great... more reason for Malfoy to laugh at me..." Megan sighed.

"Cheer up, you'll still get to fly." Harry said, squeezing her shoulder.

She watched the owls float off, then looked at Hermione, who was reading the Daily Prophet, the wizard newspaper. She caught the front headline and her heart skipped a beat. She waited as patiently as she could for Hermione to put it down, because it was rude to take something someone else was reading, but luckily it was soon.

"Hermione, can I borrow that?"

"Go ahead."

She pulled it to her and opened it at the page she wanted.

GRINGOTTS BREAK IN LATEST:

More news about the spectacular feat that occurred last week in Gringotts Wizard Bank in London, England. A high security vault has indeed been broken into, an unprecedented in Gringotts History, bank managers assure. The theft attempt, however, was unsuccessful. Indeed, the vault had been emptied earlier that very day, so, Gringotts staff insist, nothing was taken, and all other property is as safe as before. They would not disclose the nature of the target of the robbery, but it was attested today that there would be reinforced security just in case.

Megan sat frozen in shock. Last week... she had been in Gringotts that day! It was the day of her birthday! Had the robbery occurred during their visit to Gringotts? What had they tried to take...? Wait a minute... that little package Hagrid had taken from a high security vault! Could it have been that? He hadn't told her what it was but it couldn't be a coincidence... could it...?

"Megan? Megan, you all right?"

She snapped back to reality.

"Yes, sorry... I was uh... just thinking about something. Thanks Hermione."

Even though she was nervous at flying for the first time with Malfoy around, Harry was right, Megan thought as they made their way to the pitch a little later. She wouldn't let Malfoy spoil her enjoyment.

Madame Hooch was a brisk woman with very short spiky grey hair. In front of her, were two rows of broomsticks.

"Welcome to your first flying lesson." she greeted them. "Now, flying when inexperienced can be very dangerous, so I will ask you to listen to me and do exactly as I say. Understood?"

"Yes, madam Hooch." a chorus of voices answered.

"Good. And consider yourself warned, any disobedience will be severely punished. Now. First, stand next to a broom, hold out your right arm straight above it, like so, and say "Up"."

Megan held out her arm and said in a clear voice:

"Up!"

Her broom soared up and she grasped it tightly. Harry, beside her, had been successful too. They exchanged a smile. Then, she glanced at Hermione, whose broom seemed recalcitrant to move at all, and Ron, who was smacked in the face by his broom.

"Shut up, Harry!" He grumbled as Harry laughed.

To Megan's surprise, Malfoy's broom soared up into his hand too. Although she had been even more surprised to see the broom fly into her own hand, given she'd never consciously called upon the magic in her before. Finally, everyone had their broom in hand. So, Madam Hooch said:

"Very good. Now, this is the tricky part. Flying. So I want you to do exactly as I say. If you don't want a broken neck."

Megan couldn't help gulping. She was sure that Madam Hooch wouldn't let them get too badly hurt but there was only so much she could do.

"And on my whistle and only on my whistle, you will kick off the ground hard, hover a few feet and lean forwards slightly to get back to the ground. Any questions?"

There were none.

"Very well, then. On my whistle!"

But before she had touched it to her lips, Neville accidentally kicked off, and shot upwards.

"Neville!"

"Lonbgbottom, come back down here!"

"Help!" he screamed, terrified, clinging to the broom for dear life.

But the broom was being confused by Neville's contradictory movements, and it rocketed sideways, before finally hitting a stone wall and sending Neville to the ground.

"Neville!"

Megan, Madame Hooch and most of the Gryffindors dashed forwards to his side. He moved slightly. Madame Hooch felt a few spots on his body.

"You were very lucky, son, just a broken wrist."

She pointed her wand at his wrist and said:

"Episkey."

A brace and bandages appeared around his wrist and she helped him up.

"Now, none of you is to move until I get back."

And she led a tearful Neville away.

Megan, who had been crouching beside Neville, was about to take Harry's hand to stand up, when she spotted something twinkling in the grass. She held out a hand to pick it up, but Malfoy was faster. He snatched it up and looked at it.

"That's Neville's!" Megan said, recognising it.

It was a glass ball. It had a golden ring around it. The one Neville had been bothered over on the train. It was his brand new Remembrall, which was useful to him as he often forgot things.

"Oh, is it? Then, maybe I'll keep it."

"Give it here, Malfoy." she said coolly, stepping forwards.

But he just tossed it into his other hand.

"I don't want this stupid thing anyway." He said. "I think I'll put it somewhere that idiot can get it from."

He looked upwards and smiled. Then, he raised a leg over his broom and kicked off. He had obviously flown before. Megan bit her lip and made up her mind. She rose her leg and slid it over her broom.

"Megan, don't! You'll get into such trouble, and you don't even know how to fly!" Hermione was saying.

But Megan ignored her and kicked off. She soared upwards, and it seemed like instinct. She was soon level with Malfoy, who was looking slightly less comfortable, all of a sudden.

"Give it here, Malfoy, or I'll knock of your broom!"

"Oh, really?"

His sneer did seem a little forced. He turned slightly and said:

"Your call, then."

And with that he tossed the Remembrall as hard and far as he could. Megan darted forwards, instinctively leaning ahead to gain speed. The Remembrall was speeding towards the castle tower ahead. Megan sped on, and managed to yank it to safety and spin to the left to avoid hitting the wall herself. She smiled to herself and sighed in relief, before leaning forwards slightly to head back to the ground. The Gryffindors cheered. The Slytherins glared.

"Amazing, Megan!" Harry called.

She landed and smiled at him.

"Megan Potter!"

Megan froze. Professor McGonagall's voice rang louder than any canon. She turned round, uncertainty in her eyes.

"Follow me."

Hermione took her broom for her and Megan followed in silence. She had no idea what Professor McGonagall was going to do, but she had no doubt she was in trouble...