Megan's things were all packed. The past three days felt like a dream. Or a nightmare. Or both at once. She wasn't sure. She'd almost never been far from Cedric, which had been wonderful. But it had been diffcult to find a moment's peace with all the students eager to understand what had happened. After an entire morning trying to escape nosy third years, they had taken to using the Marauder's map and Invisibility Cloak to be alone. Though that didn't stop the most persistent to try and learn more over meals or in the common rooms. When this had happened, however, Megan had been able to count on her friends, who'd kept them away.

Megan took one last look out the window at the glistening lake, then made her way down the stairs. Everyone was hurrying past her, for once barely taking any notice of her. She didn't mind that in the least.

I'm probably the only one who's not eager to get home... she sighed to herself.

Eventually, she was outside. They were all waiting in the crowd for the carriages that would take them to Hogsmeade. Megan sighed at the thought of facing the Dursleys again.

"Hey, there she is!" Harry said. "Megan! Over here!"

Megan beamed and went over to them. Cedric wrapped his arms around her, kissing her cheek as a greeting. She slid her hand up to touch her cheek. Her fingers brushed the scar, and she couldn't repress a slight shudder. But if Cedric noticed, he didn't comment.

"Mégane!" called a voice.

Startled, they broke apart. Fleur and Gabrielle came up to them. Fleur let go of her sister's hand and hugged Megan, who squeezed her back.

"I was glad to meet you," she smiled, flashing her perfect teeth.

"Me too," Megan answered, smiling too.

"I 'ope we wille see each ozer again." She said. "I'm 'oping to get a job 'ere to improve my Eenglish."

"It's good already," Megan assured.

"Thank you." She turned to her sister. "Viens, Gabrielle."

She smiled at Cedric, and reached for her sister's hand. They left with a final wave. Then, Krum marched up and said:

"I saw you fly. You are very good."

"Thanks," she said as he shook her hand, a little surprised.

"And I am glad you are okay," he said, to Cedric, shaking his hand too.

"Thanks."

He then turned to Hermione.

"Could I have a vord?"

She followed him a little way away.

"Hurry, the carriages won't be long..." Ron said, though he spent the next few moments watching them instead of the carriages. Megan looked up at Cedric.

"He's not the only one who's glad you're okay," she smiled.

"Oh, I wonder who else there is," he grinned, catching her waist and kissing her.

She grinned as their lips met. When they pulled away, he wrapped his arms around her as she pressed her head against his chest, listening to the steady, very alive beat of his heart. She closed her eyes a moment, and after a moment, her heart beat in rhythm with his.

"I'm not going anywhere, you know," Cedric said gently. "You can relax."

Her eyes opened, and she realized she'd been gripping his jacket so tightly her knuckles were whitening.

"Sorry..." she said, loosening her grip. "I just.."

"Hey," he interrupted, tilting her chin up. "We went through a lot. You've nothing to apologise for. We're alive, that's what matters. Okay?"

She smiled weakly and managed a small nod.

"Except for wrinkling my favourite jacket. That is absolutely inexcusable, Miss Potter," he added, his tone playfully stern.

Megan laughed as he wrapped arms around her and drew her close, her head fitting perfectly under his chin.

"Have you got a new Headmaster yet?" Hermione was asking Krum as they came back a few seconds later.

Krum shrugged. He nodded to them, and was about to leave when Ron called his name to ask him something.

They watched the Durmstrang ship float away onto the lake and the Beauxbatons carriage fly off into the sky, into the sunlight. Megan felt alive again, with Cedric's arms around her. They were standing in the open corridor, looking out onto the lake. There was something different about this sunlight.

"You think we'll ever have a quiet year here?" Ron asked.

The others looked at each other.

"No," they all said in unison with a smile.

"Nah, didn't think so either." Ron grinned. "Oh, well, what's life without a couple of vicious dragons?"

He hopped off the windowsill and they made their way to the carriages. Megan and stopped, and looked round, having noticed Hermione hadn't followed. She was looking uncertainly ahead.

"Everything's going to be different, from now on... isn't it?"

Megan glanced at Cedric, then crossed the space to Hermione and she squeezed her shoulder.

"Yes, it will... I don't think there's any way to avoid that." She said. "Things are too far gone now."

"But we'll face it together." Cedric said.

"Yes," Megan agreed. "Together."

They smiled at each other and kissed.

They walked away, each promising to write to each other over the summer. And shortly after, they were trudging up the path to Hogsmeade, Ron clutching an autograph in his hand.