“...Ron?!”

Indeed it was. Ron Weasley, youngest son of a large, good but poor wizard family. He was also the last person she’d expected to see. The familiar freckled face grinned at her.

“Hiya, Megan!”

And just when she was recovering from the shock and about to ask what on earth he was doing her and how he had gotten a flying car, another voice spoke.

“Always wanting to stand out, aren't you?”

Megan looked past Ron. Behind him was another redhead boy with a cheeky smile, and his twin behind them. Megan's mouth fell open.

“Fred, George?! What are you...?”

“We're here to rescue you!” Ron said.

Megan frowned and looked around.

“How? I may be small, but I'll never fit through these bars!”

“Leave that to us.” Fred said. “Here, tie this to the bars, and stand well back.”

He held out a cable with a large snap hook. She took it, clasped it around the window bars and stepped back. Then, Fred, who was driving, reared the car forwards to yank the bars out of the window. The bars fell down and landed hard on the ground. That plus the crashing of the wall would have woken the dead.

“We better hurry, the Muggles will have heard that racket.” Fred said.

Megan still couldn't believe her eyes.

“C'mon, get your stuff!” Ron called to Megan. “We had best not stick around too long.”

She immediately turned to pick up her nearest possession.

“Hold up, we'll help,” George offered.

“Take the wheel, Ron!” Fred ordered.

Then, they slipped out the open window into Megan's room. After quickly untying the rope on the back of the car, they set to work. Together, they had soon gathered everything into the boot of the car, ven the huge trunk, which had taken all three of them to push in. Just as Megan was about to take George's outstretched hand and follow them in, she heard a loud hoot.

“Hedwig!”

Megan bolted back to grab her cage and rushed back to the car, but the damage was done. If they hadn’t been awake before, the Dursleys would be now. She could hear Vernon's heavy footsteps up the hall.

“Oh, be careful, Vernon,” Petunia said.

“Dad, what’s going on?” Came Nathalie’s voice.

“I don’t know,” said Vernon with a grunt. “But it’s coming from the second bedroom.”

“Hurry!” George said.

Fred had already taken his place back behind the wheel, while Ron climbed into the back and George took his place in the front. As fast as she could, Megan pelted across the room and held out the cage to George before yanking her favourite picture off her desk. Mira, already inside, barked. The door flew open. Megan looked around. There, purple in the face, his moustache bristling with anger, his large stomach covered by his revolting white and brown pyjamas (who wears wool in the middle of summer?), was Uncle Vernon. Petunia peered in behind him, along with Nathalie.

“GET BACK HERE!” Vernon's voice boomed.

“Quick, get in!” Ron called.

Megan threw her picture to Ron and made to follow but Vernon caught her leg when she was half into the car. He began trying to pull her back out, while Ron and George caught hold of Megan’s arms and held onto them. They soon saw they wouldn’t get far like this. Megan tried kicking him off but his arms were a lot larger and blocked her movements.

“GO, FRED!” George yelled.

So Fred pressed down on the accelerator. As the car moved away from the window, Vernon didn't let her go. So he toppled out of the window and his hands slipped, releasing Megan's leg. Megan heard Petunia scream as her husband fell. But it was only about seven feet, and the ground below was grass. And sure enough, he got to his feet, furious, but unhurt. Up in the air, however, things had taken a dangerous turn. They, for one thing, were far higher up than seven feet. And Megan was hanging over the edge of the door, and the sudden weight on her leg made her slip. And she was now unable to pull herself up. She would have fallen if a firm grasp hadn't caught her. She looked up.

“Leaving so soon?”

It was George. She smiled and they helped her climb in. As they floated off, Megan felt lighter than she had in weeks. She was free. She was leaving the Dursleys – for a while at least – and she was with friends.

“Who the blazes was that, anyway?” Fred asked.

“That was my uncle. He never had much patience with me,” Megan smiled.

Then, a thought occurred to her. They were in a car. And you needed to know how to drive a car. But most people of twelve or fourteen didn’t.

“Where in the world did you learn to drive, you’re not yet old enough!”

“Dad taught us. Took a bit of convincing, but he taught us. I mean, we are fourteen, we’ll be of age soon enough. And we always thought it could come in handy. Plus, better than spending a fortune taking lessons when your parents can give you some for free.”

They stayed silent for a few minutes. Megan could still hardly believe what had happened. Eventually, Fred turned to her:

“By the way, Megan,” he smiled. “Happy birthday.”

Megan grinned.

Ron then turned to her too.

“So what happened?” he asked. “I wrote you about a dozen letters, you never answered.”

They had been driving for about fifteen minutes.

“I know, I'm sorry... I couldn't.”

Ron raised his eyebrows.

“Why ever not? Those bars on the window?”

“No, not exactly.”

She told them all about Dobby.

“So they locked you up?” Ron said in outrage.

“What can I say, they hate me.” Megan shrugged. “But it's a good thing you came, I'll tell you that much. I had no idea what I was going to do. But I still don't get what Dobby was on about.”

She looked ahead.

“Very fishy... maybe he was sent as a joke,” Fred said thoughtfully. “Any idea of someone who'd have a grudge against you?”

“Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.” Megan said immediately. “And I bet they would be angry at Dobby for coming to talk to me. He seemed to be saying his masters didn’t like me much. But I still can’t think what Dobby meant by terrible things and plots…”

“Me neither,” Ron admitted. “Maybe, since they’re so much smaller, what they see as big really isn’t that much to us? So the plot he’s talking about really isn’t so awful after all?”

“I doubt that. And anyway, if there really is anything from Malfoy, I’m not putting anything past him. I mean, let’s not forget he’s the reason we got caught after trying to help Hagrid with Norbert last year. And he would love to find some way to throw us out, I’ll bet.”

Hedwig let out a hoot. Megan glanced at her then turned to the twins.

“Say, can I let Hedwig out? She hasn't been able to fly for a while.”

“Sure, go ahead.” Fred said.

So, she unlocked the cage and Hedwig flew out the open window. She definitely looked happy to fly again. Megan could see a church to the west, and all kinds of buildings. But it was nowhere she’d ever been before. It all had a strange blue tint in the night glow. The moon lit everything up. It was an incredible sight.

“You're too far north, Fred.” George said.

“Oh, right.” His brother said, and steered the car to the left.

“Where did you get this, anyway?” Megan asked glancing around the car.

“Oh, this? This is our Dad's old car. We borrowed it.” Ron said.

“You guys are going to be in such trouble! We're not supposed to use magic outside school!” Megan said, feeling a bit worried.

If she got an official warning for just a levitation charm inside a house that wasn't even her doing, what would it be for flying an enchanted car to break into a house?!

“Oh, we didn't enchant it,” Fred assured her. “Dad did that years ago. He loves Muggle stuff, so he'll probably bore you with questions,” he warned with a smile.

“But surely you're not supposed to use it anyway?” Megan asked.

“Well... not really, but it was for a good cause, right?” Ron said. “I mean, we couldn't leave you stuck there like that!”

Megan was touched that they'd take this kind of risk just for her.

“You did all this just for me...?”

“Of course.” Ron said. “And from what I've learned from you, you'd have done the same.”

Megan felt herself flush slightly. But of course, this was true.

“Good, we're almost there. We better get there before sun up.” George said.

Megan started. Had they been driving that long? Or had it just been early when they’d come and found her? She looked to the East. Indeed, the sky was getting brighter.

“Er… there’s one thing I’m not sure we took into account…” Ron suddenly said.

“What’s that?” Megan asked.

“What exactly are we supposed to tell Mum?”

The three brothers thought for a minute.

“Hm… she’ll kill us if we tell her the truth,” George said. “I know! We’ll sneak upstairs and pretend to be in bed. Then, you, Ron, come down and say ‘look who turned up in the night!’, and voilà! She’ll be so pleased she’ll forget to ask questions!”

Megan wasn’t sure that would work. Neither, it seemed, was Fred.

“You do know there’s absolutely no way in High Heaven she’ll ever believe that?” he said.

“Worth a try, don’t you think? And if you have a better idea, let’s hear it!”

“Is your mother so bad you have to lie to her?” Megan asked with a smile.

“Na, she’s all right. Smashing cook. Probably think you’re underfed, you’re so skinny.” Fred grinned.

“I am not skinny, I’m thin, thank you very much!” Megan laughed.

“All the same to her,” George smiled. “Can’t stand the idea of someone being hungry.”

That didn’t sound so bad, Megan thought with a smile. She watched the sunrise over the quiet village. The houses were further apart here. It looked like a normal village… but somehow, didn’t quite have the same feel. Soon, the car slowed down.

“Here we are. Ottery St Catchpole,” Fred said.

“I’ve never heard of it,” Megan said.

“It’s a wizard community.” Fred explained. “We prefer sticking together rather than being stuck in the middle of the Muggles.”

“Not that I chose to do that,” Megan smiled.

“Of course not. Especially grumpy ones like your Uncle. What was his problem, anyway?”

“Oh, he just likes having his way. And Dobby’s ruining my aunt’s cake, and then the owl made him lose a very big potential client. So let’s just say he wasn’t all too pleased with me.”

“Who knew you had it in you?” George grinned.

“I was fine with staying in my room and saying nothing,” Megan sighed. “It would have made things a lot simpler.”

“Well, since I’ve met you, Megan,” Ron said. “I’ve come to wonder if there is such a thing as simple with you.”

Megan sighed again.

“You know, Ron, since I stepped into the magical world, I’ve been thinking the same.”

“Well, when you escape a Dark wizard three twice, I suppose you’ve got to expect not to have a nice quiet life. Even if you’re an ordinary wizard, I’d say.”

Megan laughed.

“Trust me, being a Muggle is not as peaceful as it sounds.”

They drove on for five moreminutes or so.

“Look, Megan, there's home!”

Megan peered out the window where Ron was pointing. Below, was a large building with a small pond and garden, and...

“What's that?” she gasped. “In the bushes?! Something just shot out of them!”

“Oh, that'll be a gnome,” George said. “There's hoards of them and they drive mom crazy.” “Hold tight, we're heading down,” Fred announced.

And sure enough, the car edged slowly downwards. Finally, he said:

“Touchdown!”

And they went down towards a large gravel drive. Soon, they landed quietly in the front drive. They climbed out the car, and Megan looked around. Before her stood a very unusual house. It was entirely made of wood, and a large part of the first floor stuck out ahead. There were two large hen coops and a wide garden round the back of the house. There was a large shed, filled with objects Megan couldn’t quite see. Around them was a large garden with flowers and thick green grass. All was quiet as the sky brightened. It was no mansion, but one could tell it was a happy home. Rough, perhaps, but solid. Megan had never seen anywhere like this, but she had never seen anything more inviting.

“C'mon, we'll try and sneek in quietly,” Fred said.

Megan followed the three brothers inside. As she glanced around, Megan couldn't help smiling. It was amillion times more welcoming than the Dursleys' house.

“Welcome to the Burrow, Megan. It's not much... but it's home.” Ron said, in what he wanted to be an offhand way.

“It's amazing,” Megan said honestly.

Ron flushed pink.

 Just then, they heard the sound of feet running.

“Uh oh... I'd hoped she hadn't woken up yet...” Fred said.

A plump woman with fiery red hair came storming in.

“Where have you been?! D'you have any idea how sick with worry I've been?” she fumed. “Beds empty, no note and worst of all, car gone! You might have died, you could have been seen!”

“But, Mum...” Ron began.

“No buts, young man! You have no idea how much trouble you're in!”

“But Mum, they'd locked her up!” Ron protested. “There were bars on her window!”

“Be that as it may, Ronald, you violated several wizarding laws!” Mrs Weasley snapped. “I don't believe this, never have I had such trouble with your brothers!”

“Mrs Weasley...?” Megan asked tentatively.

As if she were another person, Mrs Weasley's face softened and lit up.

“Oh, I don't blame you, Megan dear...”

“No... I mean... Mrs Weasley, please don't be angry with them... Ron got worried because he didn't get any answer from me... I know what they did was wrong, but they meant well... ”

“Oh, I know. Yes, Arthur and I were worried about you too... we were just talking about coming to get you ourselves last night. And not by breaking the law,” she added icily, eyeing her sons with narrowed eyes. “Come along, then. Have some breakfast,” she said.

Megan had never seen as much food, except at Hogwarts, of course. She immediately liked the Burrow. Magic was alive everywhere. And the Weasleys were much more pleasant company than the Dursleys. They always smiled at her, made her laugh... she felt like she belonged, something she had never felt with the Dursleys. Not that she had ever really wanted to, but being constantly outcast hurt her. Soon the kitchen was filled with the smell of sizzling sausages, bread buns and eggs. Megan smiled at the thought of Vernon seeing this spread. Nathalie had made a new policy at Privet Drive: no carbohydrates. So everything that Vernon liked, such as bacon, pasta, ham, pork and everything fattening, was gone from the house. Megan had never minded because she didn't like having too many salty things around either. Vernon would have been on those pans before anyone could say anything. Just then, the door opened and a tired looking wizard, also with red hair, came in.

“Morning, Weasleys!” he called cheerfully.

“Hello, Arthur dear,” Molly said.

“Hi, Dad!” the others answered.

Mrs Weasley laid a plate of sausages and eggs in front of him as he sat down. He hungrily tucked in.

“What a night... nine raids! And it was hard job hushing the Muggles up, too....!”

Just then, he noticed Megan, who happened to be sitting between him and Ron.

“Oh, I say, who are you, young lady?”

“Oh, I'm sorry, how rude of me.” Megan said. “I'm Megan, sir. Megan Potter, It's an honour to meet you. Ron's told me a lot about you.”

“Good Lord, are you really? Why, I'm the honoured one. Ron's told us all about you, of course. When did you get here?”

“This morning,” Molly said before anyone else could. “Your sons flew that darn enchanted car of yours to Surrey and back, last night.”

“Really?! How did it go?”

“It was great! Sweet as a nut,” George said.

“Arthur!” Molly chided. “Don't encourage them!”

“Uh, yes, you're quite right, of course, Molly...” he said. “That was very foolish, boys. You should have told us about your plan to get Megan, for as you know your mother and I were discussing it ourselves and in a much safer way.”

Just then, an owl came floating in... and stumbled halfway across the table. Ron only jut had time to yank his and Megan's plates out of the way before the grey owl landed in front of them.

“Errol!”

“Look, no wonder he crashed, there are about half a dozen letters!” Fred said.

He lifted the pack of letters and glanced at them.

“Oh, it's the Hogwarts letters. Here, Megan, there's yours too.” he said, handing it to her.

“Really?”

Sure enough, her name was inscribed on the envelope.

“Dumbledore must know you're here, Megan,” Arthur said. “Doesn't miss a trick, that man.”

“Oh, no,” Molly agreed. “Well, I guess it's Diagon Alley soon.”

“Oh, and there's another one, for you. Here,” Ron said, picking it up and handing it to her.

“Oh, that's Hermione.”

She pulled it open and read it. Judging by the writing, she had scribbled it at top speed, the way she would have said it. Megan smiled at the thought as she read.

Dear Megan.

How are you? Ron told me all about the situation, and both Harry and I have been so worried, I hope you're both all right. But I also hope you didn't do anything illegal, did you? Anyway, I'm on holiday in Dijon, in France. I love it here, there's so much to learn about magic! I wish you could see it! Maybe we can go again, someday.

I'll be going to Diagon Alley next Wednesday to get my school books. I've already agreed to meet up with Harry there. Why not join us there? Let me know ASAP. But I suggest you use another owl, Ron, I don't think yours will take another journey that long... greetings to your parents and brothers, Ron. See you soon!

Love, Hermione.

“That's perfect,” Mrs Weasley said when Megan told her about Hermione's suggestion. “We need to get you your things anyway.”

“Hm... these won't come cheap, mom...” Fred warned. “Loads of these are Lockhart's, and they're expensive.”

Megan raised an eyebrow. She opened the Hogwarts letter and glanced at her book list. And sure enough, a long list of books was printed, a large amount of which were written by one Gilderoy Lockhart. Molly turned to the sink, pointing her wand at a pan which started to wash itself.

“We'll manage,” she said, but Megan caught a flicker of worry in her voice.

“Who's this Lockhart guy?” She asked.

“Oh, he's a very bright wizard.” Molly said. “He's fought all of these dark creatures, and he wrote books about them so that everyone can know how to do it too! He's so modest! Many people would keep the credit to themselves, you know?”

“Molly, the only person who could do all the things that he did is Dumbledore.” Arthur said. “Personally, I wouldn't give him much credit.”

Molly didn't say anything but she looked disapproving.

Megan's stay at the Burrow was only of about two weeks, but it was the happiest holiday she had ever had. There was not a day without her laughing herself hoarse from Fred and George's jokes, or Molly scolding them. And, as she was sharing Ginny's room, they had become quite good friends too. She was glad of that, for she had always regretted not finding the time to do so before. Mrs Weasley, however, was a caring mother. And she was especially intent on giving Megan double helpings of food.

“You're so thin and pale, dear...” she would say.

And Megan was really touched by such caring attention, but she felt guilty. They scratched for every coin they could find, while she had a huge fortune sitting in her vault in Gringotts... She would gladly have given half or more of it to the Weasleys, but she knew they wouldn't accept it, and she knew better than force them to. However, if one of them were to need medical attention and that the Weasleys couldn't afford it, she would not let them refuse. They enjoyed the warm weather, degnoming the gardeb. Ron, Fred, George, she and Ginny also often played Quidditch in the orchard, alternating positions as referee.

Wednesday finally came. And after breakfast they put on their cloaks to head to Diagon Alley. Megan was glad of the prospect of seeing it again. She still clearly remembered her first visit with Hagrid. So she was quite surprised when they went to the living room and stood around the chimney.

“You first, Megan!”

Megan blinked.

“I'm sorry...?”

“Mom, she's never travelled by Floo Powder,” Ron said.

“Oh, yes... of course. Well, you go first then, dear, show her how to do it.”

He nodded and took a pinch out of a large flower pot she was holding out. He turned to the firing grate, threw the powder into the flames, which spat before turning a vivid green. Ron turned to Megan.

“You step into the flames,” he explained. “Don't worry, the powder blocks the heat. Then, you say where you want to go. But be careful to keep your arms and legs in, so they don't hit anything. Watch me.”

He stepped forwards and said:

“Diagon Alley!”

And in a burst of flame he was gone!

“Mind you speak clearly, though,” Arthur warned. “And don't get out until you see Ron. Fred, George, perhaps you should go ahead of her.” he added.

Soon, they too had vanished in a burst of green flames. Even though she had green eyes, Megan had a strong distaste for green. But she trusted the Weasleys. So, she took a deep breath and took a pinch of Floo Powder and threw it into the flames. They turned green again. She stepped forwards. Ron was right. The heat didn't affect her. But he had apparently forgotten to warn her about the ashes.

“Diagon-”

She coughed a couple of times and tried again.

“Diagon... Dia-gon Alley!”

And she felt as if she was sucked down a pipe.

*************************************

Would you enjoy Floo Powder? Why/Why not? Share your feelings in a comment! Send her some encouragements with a star!

Will Megan get to Diagon Alley safely? What will happen if she doesn't? Let's find out in the next chapter!