Halloween arrived, with its black, orange and silvery white decorations all over the castle. There were floating pumpkins in the Great Hall, live bats, miniature ghosts and witches floating around the students letting out evil cackles. Silver threads woven into spiderwebs hung around almost every corner, and the stone walls were bewitched to look darker. It was very different from the Christmas decorations, but fascinating all the same. But for Megan, Halloween wasn’t quite as cheerful as it was for everyone else. Everyone would be in Hogsmeade and she would stay behind. Still, she didn’t see much point in spoiling her friends’ fun, so she tried to hide her glumness. But her friends knew her and saw through it easily.

“We’ll bring you loads of sweets from Honeydukes,” Hermione promised, looking sorry.

“Yeah, you’ll see, you’ll loose all you teeth over them!” Ron tried to joke.

They had gotten over their quarrel in face of her unhappiness. Megan was glad her being stuck in the castle by herself had served that purpose at least.

“Don’t worry about me,” she said, hoping she sounded casual enough. “I’ll be fine. I’ll catch up on some homework, or something.”

Cedric joined them at the entrance. He too, looked sorry for her.

“It really won’t be the same without you…”

“Don’t worry.” She said, hugging him to hide her cracking façade. “You guys have fun.”

They followed the line, which Filch was examining closely.

“Staying here, Potter? What, too scared to go past the Dementors?”

It was Malfoy.

“She’s a damn sight less scared of them than you were on the train last month, eh, Malfoy?” George said loudly.

Many students laughed. Malfoy glared, but said nothing and strode off. Megan allowed herself a smile. Then, she turned away and climbed up the stairs all alone.

She was trying to think what she would do to occupy herself for the rest of the day as she approached Gryffindor Tower when she saw Colin. She tried to turn away but –

“Hey, Megan! Hi Megan!”

She sighed and turned around.

“Hullo…” she said wearily.

“Aren’t you in Hogsmeade? Why not? Why not come and sit with me in the common room…?”

That was the last thing she wanted to do. But saying it like that was unfair to Colin.

“Uh… I-Oh! Drat, I left my book at the library, I’d better hurry and get it…”

So she marched off before Colin could say another word, feeling even more depressed than before. She wandered dispiritedly along the corridors towards the library when she ran into Filch.

“What are you doing?” he demanded, eyeing her nastily.

“Nothing.” She said, truthfully.

“A likely story!” he snarled. “Why are you looming around, why aren’t you in Hogsmeade buying the same rubbish as your nasty little friends!”

Megan felt sorely tempted to point out that she, at least, actually had friends. But he seemed angry enough already. And she wasn’t in the mood to argue with Filch.

“Go back to your common room!” Filch ordered.

Megan turned away, the thought of heading to the Owlery in mind, and was walking across the covered bridge when she heard her name.

“… Megan?”

She looked around. It was Professor Lupin, whom she hadn’t noticed.

“Oh… hello, professor.”

“What are you doing?” His tone was a lot nicer than Filch’s. “Why are you alone?”

“… Everyone else is in Hogsmeade.” Megan said.

“Ah…” he watched Megan a moment.

They stayed silent a while. Megan then realised they hadn’t really spoken about the Boggart incident. Now was as good a time as any. Probably better in fact, because she didn’t run the risk of being overheard.

“Something on your mind, Megan?” Lupin asked.

She took a few steps forwards.

“… Yes, actually, sir, there is…” she finally said. “I was wondering…”

“I think I know what this is about.” He said, with a smile. “You want to know why I stopped you from battling that Boggart, don’t you?”

“Erm… well… yes.” She admitted.

“I thought it was obvious, Megan.” He said.

Megan was slightly surprised, having expecting him to deny it.

“Obvious?” she asked “Why?”

“Well, I assumed that it was going to take the shape of Lord Voldemort, which I thought wasn’t a good idea in a classroom… I thought it would cause panic, and with everything else going on, it seemed inappropriate. Clearly, I was wrong.”

Megan was astonished. Aside from the fact that that was the last answer she was expecting, Dumbledore was the only one Megan had known other than herself to use Voldemort’s name. She stared at Lupin. He was undoubtedly very different from the other teachers she had known.

“… I thought about him, at first…” she said, honestly. “But… then I remembered that day on the train… and the Dementor.”

“… I see… Interesting.” Lupin said. “I must say, I’m impressed, Megan. That suggests that your greatest fear is fear itself… very wise.”

Megan wasn’t sure what to say, so she was silent.

“So, you’ve been thinking all this time I didn’t believe you were capable of tackling the Boggart?”

“To be honest… yes.”

Lupin gave a small smile.

“Before I fainted on the train… I heard someone scream…” Megan went on.

She wasn't sure why she was telling him this. Maybe because she thought he would be able to help her understand what had happened.

“Dementors make us relive our worst memories, feeding on our pain.” Lupin said.

“… I think it was my mother…” Megan said.

Again, Lupin smiled, but there was a touch of nostalgia to it.

“You know, Megan, I recognised you the first time I saw you.”

Megan let out a sigh. Her scar was a pretty dead give-away.

“Not your scar, your face.”

She looked up, confused.

“You look a lot like your mother, Lily.” He said.

“… You knew my mother, professor?”

“Yes, in fact, I did.” He said, turning away. “She was there for me when no one else was. She was an uncommonly kind person as well a singularly gifted witch. Not unlike yourself, from what I’ve heard,” he added, glancing at her with a smile.

Megan smiled back awkwardly.

“She had a talent for seeing the beauty in others, especially when they couldn’t see it in themselves…”

Megan smiled.

“Your father, though a good man, was more … shall we say, talented for trouble.” He smiled.

He turned back to stand beside Megan.

“… You’re more like them than you know, Megan… In time, you’ll see that, too.”

They exchanged a look. Just then, Snape strode up, a flask in hand.

“There you are, Lupin. I have brought what you asked.”

“Ah, thank you, Severus.”

“I would drink it directly. I have a cauldronful, if you need more…”

“Thank you, Severus, I’ll probably take some tomorrow.”

“Not at all.” He said, and strode off, a look in his eye Megan didn’t like.

She glanced questioningly at Lupin who said:

“I’ve been feeling a little off colour, and this potion helps. Luckily, Professor Snape is among the few who are capable of making it.”

Megan fought the urge to pull the flask out of his hand and he drank from it and pulled a face.

“Disgusting… unfortunately, sugar makes it useless.”

“Professor Snape’s well known for wanting the Defence Against the Dark Arts post.” Megan said.

“Really?” he said, taking another gulp.

“And some people reckon he’d do anything to get it…”

He drained the flask and put it in his robes.

“Well, I’d better get back to work, Megan. I’ll see you at the feast.”

“… Yes, sir…”

Megan, still slightly dazed by her conversation with Lupin, made her way to the Owlery, where she stayed tending to the owls for the rest of the afternoon, enjoying the peace and quiet, until it was time for the others to return. She then walked back to the castle and went back to the common room, where, thankfully, Colin was nowhere to be seen. And she figured if he did make an appearance, she could always retreat to her dormitory where he couldn’t follow. Shortly after, they arrived. As promised, the others were loaded with sweets from Honeydukes. Cedric had even gotten her a protective charm bracelet.

“Thanks, Cedric,” she smiled, though he wasn’t there. “And thanks for the sweets.” She added to the others. “So tell me, where did you go?”

It sounded like the answer was everywhere. Dervish and Bangs, Zonko’s, Three Broomsticks…

“And the post office with hundreds of owls and colour coded depending on how far you want them to go…” Hermione said.

“Pity we couldn’t bring you some Butterbeer, it’s great.” Ron said.

“What did you do?” Hermione asked. “Homework?”

“Not exactly…”

And she told them about the encounter with Snape.

“And Lupin drank it?” Ron asked incredulously. “Is he mad?”

“Well, in any case, we’d better head down, the feast is starting soon. And I think he wouldn’t have done it in front of Megan if he were trying to harm Lupin.”

“Probably not…” Megan agreed, who thought it wouldn’t be much of an obstacle, as he could just claim she didn’t like him and was accusing him on purpose.

They went down to dinner, and not for the first time Megan found herself facing Cedric, who was at the Hufflepuff table. They smiled at each other, and she raised her hand, showing the bracelet he’d given her and mouthed:

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he mouthed back.

They looked at each other for a moment, then Cedric’s attention was demanded elsewhere.

“So, what exactly is going on between you two?” Hermione asked.

“Nothing,” Megan said. “We’re friends, that’s all.”

But she had a nasty feeling her flush was counteracting her words. Thankfully, Hermione didn’t press on because Harry distracted her attention by talking about Hogsmeade.

“So all in all, it was great,” Harry said. “But we wish you could have come.”

“It’s okay. I had a bit of peace, for a change. Not so many people ogling at me.”

And answers to my questions… she added to herself. Or some of them anyway.

“Yes, I expect that gets a bit tiring, doesn’t it?” Hermione asked sympathetically.

“You’ve said it.” Megan sighed.

“How can you get tired of being famous?” Ron asked incredulously.

“Trust me, it’s easy,” Megan said.

Ron didn’t look convinced. Just then, the food arrived, and he seemed suddenly otherwise occupied.

“Don’t you ever stop eating?” Hermione asked in disbelief.

“Wha’” Ron mumbled, his mouth full. “’M n’gry.”

Hermione wrinkled her nose. Megan smiled and rolled her eyes.

A little later, however, Malfoy had to stick his nose in their business.

“So, Potter, too scared to go out the castle gates?”

“No, I couldn’t pass up the chance to spend an afternoon away from your slimy aura,” she retorted coolly.

Ron chortled. Malfoy, of course, furious and vexed, turned his venom on him.

“I didn’t think you’d be going, Weasley. It seems just foolish to torture yourself with things you know you can’t afford…”

As always, that hit a nerve, and Malfoy loved pressing on it. Megan held out her arm to stop Ron from going over and pummelling Malfoy into next year.

“Don’t, Ron. He’s not even worth it.” Megan said calmly.

She turned to Malfoy.

“You must have a very sad and lonely life, Malfoy,” she said casually, “to be so intent on bringing others down. I don’t envy you at all.”

Her friends laughed. Malfoy, pink with fury, made to speak, but they all knew he’d never do anything in front of the teachers, so he merely stormed off and out of sight.

“What’s the matter, Malfoy, lost your appetite?” Ron called after him.

“All right, Ron, enough,” Megan said with a smile.

“Nice one, Megan!” Harry grinned.

“Boy, does it feel good to put him back in his place for once!” Megan said.

“I know. Brilliant!” Ron said enthusiastically.

As usual, the feast was great. There was all you could think of and more. Megan sometimes wondered where they got it all or how they paid for it. As far as she knew, entry to Hogwarts was free, she’d only ever had to pay for her books and potions ingredients (although, when you were like the Weasley, more needs than means, it could be difficult enough)… The great hall was decorated with its usual floating pumpkins, live bats and candles. Megan glanced at Lupin who looked as well as he had done when she’d seen him on the covered bridge. He was chatting away happily to Flitwick. Megan did notice, however, unless she was imagining it, that Snape’s eyes were turning to Lupin more often than was natural…

“Is everything okay, Megan?”

Hermione’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

“What? Oh… yes, fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Hermione didn’t press any further. But Megan was suddenly feeling a little oppressed in this noisy, full room.

“Uh… I’m going to head back, I’ll see you back at the common room.”

“You really sure you’re all right?”

“Yes, I’m just full.” She said, which was only half true.

She got to her feet and walked out, but rather than go straight up, she leaned against the wall a moment. She was still thinking about everything that had happened today.

“Megan?”

She glanced round to see Cedric standing by the entrance to the Great Hall.

“Oh, hi Cedric.”

“Is everything okay? You look worried.”

“I’m not sure I’d say worried… more preoccupied, I guess, or confused.”

She told him about the events of the day.

“Well, everyone knows Snape’s been wanting to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts… Maybe this year he’s just more annoyed at not getting the position than before.”

“Maybe… but that potion business worries me a little… I mean, it’d be really easy for Snape…”

“No, it wouldn’t. Think about it, he’d be stupid to do something like that with Dumbledore around. He’s smarter than that. And if Lupin and Dumbledore don’t seem worried, I don’t think you should let it get to you either.”

Megan sighed.

“Maybe you’re right…” she agreed. “Maybe I’m just going paranoid… I mean the past two years were rather eventful, and I guess I’m just worried it’s going to go that way again…”

Cedric heaved a sigh as well.

“Well, I hate to say this but with Black on the loose, it seems to me like it’s heading that way.”

“I know,” Megan said heavily.

Just then, Harry, Ron and Hermione came out of the Great Hall, followed by several other students from several houses.

“I’d better go,” Megan said. “I’ll see you around.”

“You bet you will,” he smiled. “Good night.”

“Night, Cedric. Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

And he walked off.

The evening ended noisily as people headed upstairs to the portrait hole. Megan was feeling better, and even Malfoy wouldn’t have been able to spoil it. They turned the corner, expecting to find the portrait hole. But instead, they ran into a thick crowd blocking half the staircase, talking animatedly, but in such a confused mess that Megan couldn’t make out a word they were saying. The crowd was so thick she couldn’t even see who was who.

“What’s going on?” Harry asked.

“I don’t know, I can’t see,” Megan said, trying unsuccessfully to peer through the crowd.

“Neville probably forgot the password again…” Ron said.

“Hey!” protested a voice.

They glanced round and saw Neville behind them.

“Oh… you’re there…”

“Someone up there would know it, anyway,” Hermione said.

“Oh, really? Then why’s no one going in, genius?” Ron asked.

“Well, there’s obviously a problem, pea-brain!” Hermione retorted.

“Guys, don’t start again,” Megan put in. “You both have a point.”

“Make way, everyone, move, please, Headmaster coming through!” called a sharp voice.

Just then, Percy and Dumbledore strode forwards, followed by Filch. They broke through the sea of students, giving Megan and the others room to move closer. Where the portrait lay, there were several large gashes on the canvas, and the lady was nowhere to be seen.

“The Fat Lady’s gone…!” Megan gasped.

Indeed she had.