The following week, Megan and the others' attention was caught by a gathering by the notice board.

“They're starting a duelling club!” Seamus announced. “First one tonight! Learning to duel, that could come in handy after what's been happening these days.”

“You think that beast of Slytherin's the duelling type?” Ron asked.

But they read the sign anyway.

“He's got a point though. I mean, it could be useful.” Ron said. “Should we go in?”

The three others agreed. So, that evening, at eight, they hurried back to the Great Hall. The long tables had gone while a long platform had been set up in the middle of the room. Students were gathering around it and chatting excitedly.

“I wonder who will be teaching us?”

“I don't mind as long as it's no-Oh no...”

It was Gilderoy Lockhart. He strode on to the platform, wearing golden robes and escorted by Snape, wearing his usual black.

“Gather round, gather round!” Lockhart announced grandly. “Can you all hear me? Can you all see me? Good, good. Now, in the light of recent events, Dumbledore allowed me to form this little duelling club, to train you, in case you ever need to defend yourselves, as I have had to do myself on quite the occasion. If you want further details, see my published works.”

Megan had to admit the principle was good, but she doubted he would teach them much more than he did in his classes, which wasn't much already.

“And allow me to introduce my assistant, Professor Snape. He kindly agreed to help me with a little demonstration. But don't worry, your Potions master is in no danger whatsoever.”

They stood facing each other. They raised their wands at eye level, brought them down, and bowed. Then, they turned around and stepped ten paces forwards, backs turned to the other. Then, they turned to face each other again, and raised their wands.

“We hold our wands at the ready, as you can see, according to the proper duelling position. Now, on the count of three... Three, two... one!”

“Expelliarmus!"

A red spark shot out of Snape's wand and struck Lockhart clean in the chest, sending him flying backwards. He hit the wall. There was a mixture of laughs and cries of horror. Lockhart got up and laughed, working to get his wavy hair back into place.

“Ha ha ha, excellent work, professor Snape, but of course, if you don't mind me saying, if I had wanted to counter you, it would have been child play.”

“Of course. Perhaps we can let two students try?” He said stiffly.

“Yes, certainly. Now, let's see... Potter, Nelson, how about you?”

“I don't believe that would be relevant. They are both friends, and would hold back so as to not harm each other. Might I suggest someone from my house, in order to make it more... realistic?”

“... Excellent idea, professor Snape."

Harry gave Megan a boost onto the platform. Malfoy climbed up on his end. They said nothing as they stepped towards each other. To avoid being accused of provocation, she was careful to let him take his wand out first. Then, she pulled out her own. Megan and Malfoy stared coldly at each other as they rose their wands to eye level.

“Scared, Potter?” Malfoy whispered

“You wish.” Megan said.

They lowered their wands and bowed slightly, never taking their eyes off each other. Megan listened intently as she took her ten paces for any sign Malfoy would try and use foul play. Then, they turned to face each other.

“Wands at the ready.”

With her natural grace, she took the duelling stance.

“One the count of three,” Lockhart said. “You will cast your spells to disarm your opponent. Only to disarm. We don't want any accidents.”

There was a pause.

“All right, then. Three... two...”

But Lockhart never reached “one”, for Malfoy had shouted:

“Everte Statir!”

Megan, who didn't expect it, didn't have time to block it and was struck in the chest. She flew backwards and landed hard on the floor of the platform. She gasped for breath a few seconds.

Okay, you want to play it that way? I can too.

She sprung to her feet, and in one fluid, graceful move, took the stance and shouted:

“Rictusempra!”

 This time, he was struck and spun backwards.

 “I said disarm only!” Lockhart's voice called.

“Furnunculus!” Malfoy yelled.

 “Protego!” Megan shouted, raising her wand to shield herself.

 Then, she slowly raised her wand and drew a semi-circle, and said:

 “Avis”

 A flock of birds appeared and fluttered about her cheerfully. She smiled while Malfoy sniggered. Then, she shot her arm forwards again and shouted:

 “Oppugno!”

The birds soared onto Malfoy.

 “Finite Incantatem” Snape said, freeing Malfoy from the flying attackers.

 “I think we have seen enough,” began Lockhart. “That will-”

 But before he could say anything more, Malfoy shouted:

 “Serpensortia!”

 And a long snake shout out of his wand and landed on the platform. Pitch black, it was almost a meter long, and looked around lazily.

"Don't move, Potter, I'll get rid of it for you,” Snape said coolly.

“Allow me, Professor Snape,” Lockhart said.

He pointed his wand at the snake.

“Olate ascendere!”

The snake flew into the air and hit the floor. It hissed angrily. It looked around again, and then slithered to the left, fangs out. Megan looked, and her heart skipped a beat. It was heading straight for Justin Finch-Fletchley! Cedric, who was near him, pushed forwards and raised his wand, ready to strike.

The next few moments would be the most confusing of Megan's life. She saw nothing else but the snake sliding across the platform towards Cedric who had sprung in front of Justin and the others around him.

“Stand back, everyone,” he said. “It's okay, just keep calm.”

“Get away from them!” Megan shouted. “Don't you dare touch them!”

The snake stopped abruptly. Megan stayed still, not taking her eyes off it.

“Hypera Ivaneska!” Snape said, and the snake vanished.

Megan turned to Justin and Cedric who had been holding an arm out.

 “Are you okay?”

 “What d'you think you're playing at?”

 Megan felt as though she had been stabbed. She turned to Cedric who was talking to the people behind him. Unable to bear the idea he could be angry at her too, she looked away. She was too afraid of what Cedric's face would express. She knew she would never face him again if he looked at her the same way Justin was.

 “Come on, Megan, let's get out.” said Harry amidst the confusion.

 He held out his arms and helped her down. Then, amidst the ambient confusion, they headed out.

Harry, Ron and Hermione led Megan to Gryffindor common room. Megan only noticed when she was in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady. She was hurt and confused. Why had Justin looked so angry...? She had kept the snake off him! And the fear of what Cedric might be thinking sent a cold chill through her whole body. She hadn't seen him, and in fairness, she hadn't tried to. If he was as furious as Justin had been...

 Harry and the others turned Megan to look at her.

 “You're a Parslemouth,” Ron said. “Why didn't you tell us?”

 Megan managed to detach herself from her feelings and asked:

 “I'm a what?”

 “You can talk to snakes,” Hermione said.

 “What? But I can't...”

 And it hit her. That was the only explanation. She had thought she was speaking to it in English... but in reality... she had spoken snake language...

 “So... why is it so bad? I'm sure loads of people can do it...”

 “No,” Harry said gently. “It's not a common gift, Megan... this is bad.”

 “Why? If I hadn't told that snake to back off Justin...”

 “So that's what you told it?”

 "Of course! You heard me, didn't you? And what did you expect me to do, let it attack him?”

 “I heard you speaking Parsletongue, Megan, I have no clue what you said to it. And for a second, the snake did go towards Justin... people don't look very much further than appearances, sometimes.”

 Megan was even more confused. She had spoken a different language without realising it... how crazy was that?

 “How can I speak another language without knowing I can?”

 The others exchanged concerned looks.

 “Guys, you don't seriously think I tried to hurt Justin...!”

 “No, of course not, but... Megan, the reason the Slytherin house emblem is a snake... is because Salazar Snytherin was a Parlsemouth.”

 “Yes,” Ron added. “And now... the whole school's going to think you're his great- great-great-grand-daughter or something.”

 “But I'm not!” Megan exclaimed, panic clutching her heart. “I can't be...”

 “He lived a thousand years ago,” Hermione said quietly. “For all we know... you could be.”

 The Sorting Hat's words rung in her head, flowing like ice through her body. 'Slytherin could help you on the way to greatness...'

 She clapped her hands to her mouth and turned away, feeling quite sick.

 “Megan...”

 “I'm fine. It's just... bad luck, I guess.”

 She turned to a window, breathing deeply. Then, she wiped a tear from her eye.

 The hat thought about my going to Slytherin... she thought to herself. But I'm a Gryffindor, I wouldn't be if I had Slytherin blood, would I...?

 But it wanted to send you to Slytherin, remember? Said a voice in her head.

 Megan couldn't get those words out of her head, and she lay awake late, that night. She would go and find Justin tomorrow and set things right. Yes, that was it. Anyone should have noticed, shouldn't they...?

However, the moment she was expecting to meet Justin didn't occur. The last Herbology class was cancelled because of a strong snow storm. Professor Sprout wanted to tend to the mandrakes, and as they were now essential for the restoration of Colin and Mrs Norris, she didn't want to have anyone else on the job. So, Megan and the others were in the common room. Megan was staring into the fire, thinking.

 “Megan, why don't you just go and see him if it's so important,” Hermione said, looking up from her book.

“Yeah, maybe I should. I'll see you later”

She got up and headed to the library. She figured he could be working there, since the Herbology class was out. There was indeed a group of Hufflepuff second years gathered in a corner. She was about to go and ask them if they'd seen Justin, when she caught snippets of what they were saying:

 “Told Justin to stay in the dormitory. After the snake thing, he was only too happy to. If Potter picked him as her next victim, he better keep a low profile for a while.”

 Megan froze. What...? He couldn't seriously think that... could he? She stepped behind a bookshelf, listening.

 "You really think that Potter did it, then, Ernie?” a blond plaited girl asked.

 “Well, think about it. Hannah,” He said. “She speaks Parlsetongue, and everyone knows that's the sign of dark magic. How many good wizards do you know who can speak to snakes?”

 “But she and Malfoy, who's a Slytherin, hate each other.” Hannah said.

 “Yeah. But Megan's had trouble with Filch in the past, and his cat is attacked. Then, Colin Creevey, who'd been bugging her day in day out, is struck too.”

 Megan thought about what he had said. It did make it sound like she was the culprit... maybe whoever was doing it was aiming to frame her...? But she didn't know if she believed it herself...

 “But she always seemed so nice, though...” Hannah said. “I mean, she did destroy You-Know-Who, she can't be so bad...”

 Ernie lowered his voice. Megan, who had developed acute ears thanks to her music, still had to lean in slightly.

 “No one really knows how she made it out alive, that night...” he said. “She was just a baby, wasn't she? She should have been blown to smithereens! My idea is that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was afraid Potter would shadow him someday, and he didn't want that, so he tried to kill her.”

 “Let's just imagine for a moment, that she is the one behind this,” Hannah said. “Why would she hurt Justin? They never got into any trouble with each other.”

 “I'd like to know that, too.”

 Megan stepped calmly out of her spot and watched as their faces turned slightly pale.

 “... We were all there,” Ernie said. “We saw what happened.”

 “Then you saw me try and keep the snake off Justin! You might not have noticed, but Cedric Diggory was there too. And he's one of my best friends.”

 “Yeah, well he's not on the Muggle born list.” Ernie said.

 Megan knew different, but she didn't think it was worth arguing.

 “Look, just tell Justin I never sent the snake onto him. Okay?”

 “Why? I don't know it's the truth,” Ernie said. “I heard you didn't like your Muggle family much.”

 This was too much. She fought her tears as hard as she could and said:

 “It's impossible to like the Dursleys. Try it, you'll see.”

 Then, she turned and left the library.

Once in the now deserted hall, she stopped in a corridor she knew was usually empty, and then, let her pain flow freely. Tears streaked down her face, and she slid to the floor. This was just so unfair... Why didn't people even let her try and explain...? She was innocent, why would no one listen...?

 Don't be stupid, she told herself. What could you explain? You don't understand half of what's going on. And besides, you think it could be true.

 No, it can't be! Said another part of her. You are in Gryffindor. You may be a relative of Slytherin's, and we don't even know if that's true, but you are not him!

 Megan couldn't convince herself.

 “Megan...?” Said a voice.

 Megan gasped and looked up. And fear filled her heart.

 “Cedric...!”

"Hey... sounds like you're having a tough time.”

 Megan nodded. But she felt relieved he wasn't looking accusingly at her.

 “Come here,” he said.

 She looked at him. He took her hand and helped her to her feet before hugging her, stroking her head. She buried herself into his chest. Then, she looked at him.

 “You don't think I attacked Justin, do you...?”

 “No.”

 She told him what the other Hufflepuffs had said. She sighed with relief but also resignation.

 “You're probably the only one who doesn't think I'm a murderer...”

 “First, no one's dead yet. Second, do Harry, Hermione and Ron think you're guilty?”

 “... No...”

 “Then it doesn't matter what those idiots think. They'll have to see you're innocent sometime. Once we find the Heir of Slytherin, we'll expose him and your name will be clear.”

 Megan squeezed him again. He hugged her back.

 “Thanks, Cedric...”

 “You're welcome. I have to get to class. But you be careful, okay?”

 “... If I do get attacked, that would clear my name...” Megan said darkly.

 He caught her shoulders and made her look at him.

 “No. Don't ever talk like that. Who's going to stop this thing if you're attacked?”

 Megan smiled feebly.

 “In that case, I'll try and keep safe, then.”

 She kissed his cheek and left.