The weather was much lighter than the day they had left in September. There was not a cloud in the sky, and the mood in the compartment was equally bright. Megan, Harry, Cedric, Ron and Hermione were much more cheerful as well. Chudley and Hedwig were dozing in their cages, while Crookshanks was curled up in an empty seat. They talked more freely than they had in a week. Megan felt like Dumbledore's speech had unlocked her, somehow. She could talk of what had happened more easily now. They also discussed what Dumbledore might be doing to stop Voldemort, except for the minor interruption of the food trolley. When Hermione came and sat down, she put her money back, dislodging a copy of the Prophet. Megan glanced at it, wondering whether she wanted to know what it said.

"There's nothing," Hermione said, following her gaze. "I've been checking. Just a small piece on the following day, saying you won. They don't even mention Cedric or the graveyard. I'll bet you Fudge is trying to keep it quiet."

"He won't keep Rita Skeeter from writing something, when she gets her say." Ron said. "She writes whatever she pleases."

"Oh, she hasn't been writing anything since the third task," Hermione said. "In fact," she went on with a gleeful grin, "she won't be writing for some time."

"What? What are you talking about?" Ron asked.

"I found out how she spied on us from the grounds when she wasn't supposed to be there," Hermione said.

Megan could tell she had been dying to tell them but that the circumstances hadn't been appropriate.

"How?" Megan asked.

"Yeah, how d'you find out?" Harry asked.

Hermione grinned.

"Well, you gave me the idea, actually, Megan."

"Me?" Megan asked, raising her eyebrows. "How?"

"Bugging," she replied. "Look..."

She pulled out a glass jar with something large inside it, something that looked rather like...

"A beetle," Hermione said. "Rita Skeeter's an unregistered Animagus. I said I'd let her out in London and that she's to keep her nasty quill to herself for a year. See if that teaches her about writing filthy lies about people."

Megan was about to congratulate her, when the door opened.

"Well, bravo, Granger." Malfoy said. "You caught the reporter and Potter's Dumbledore's pet again. Yippee."

He wasn't alone, of course. Crabbe and Goyle were behind him.

"Get out, Malfoy," Megan said sharply.

She hadn't seen him since the third task and didn't mind in the least.

"Told you to pick your allies better, didn't I?" he sneered at Megan. "They'll be the first to go, now the Dark Lord's back. Too bad it didn't work with Di-"

BANG! Megan had whipped out her wand and shot the first hex she could think of. But she wasn't the only one. Harry, Ron, Cedric, Hermione had all risen to cast hexes of their own, and not just them. As they toppled to the floor, Megan saw Fred and George behind them.

"Thought we smelled dung," Fred said. "You guys all right?"

"Fine." Harry said.

"C'mon, let's move them, they'll stink up the compartment," George said, and they pulled them out into the middle of the corridor.

The twins then joined them in the compartment.

"You going to tell us who you wanted to send that secret letter to?" Ron asked.

"Oh, that..." Fred said, uncomfortably, then sighed. "It doesn't matter, it wasn't important anyway... If you must know, we were blackmailing Bagman."

"What?!"

"Yeah... we were trying to get a bit of money at the match, so we took a bet on Ireland winning and Krum getting the Snitch. But then, he refused to pay up."

"Tried being nice, saying we had played by the rules and had earned our payment. But he then turned nasty and said we were too young to gamble anyway."

"But wasn't it all your savings?" Ron asked.

"Tell me about it," Fred said. "Turns out Lee's Dad had the same problem, and Bagman's actually got in some spot of bother with goblins. Borrowed lots of gold off them."

Megan remembered seeing him with goblins in the Three Broomsticks and how uncomfortable he'd been when she'd asked about them. Now she knew why.

"Took all the gold he had and that still wasn't enough," George said. "So he put a bet on you, Megan."

"Me?" Megan asked, blinking.

"Yeah, that you'd win."

"So that's why he kept offering to help me," Megan said. "He knew no one would bet on me because I was the runt which meant he could score some cash..."

"But she won, so problem solved, right?" Hermione remarked.

"Na, goblins don't play fair. See, they said that she and Cedric tied, so it's not what he bet. He fled the country I think, right after the third task."

Megan let out a startled breath as she leaned back, prouder now than ever that she had never let him coax her into accepting his help.

The rest of the journey was pleasant, and Megan found herself wishing it wouldn't end. She really didn't want to go back to the Dursleys, but Dumbledore wasn't giving her much of a choice. A little before reaching the station, Fred and George got up to collect their things. Megan watched them go, stepping over the Slytherins on the floor, when she got an idea. She pulled something out of her bag and stepped out after them.

"Fred, George, wait!" she called.

They looked round. Fortunately, no one was out in the halls yet.

"Here," she said, handing the bag of gold to Fred.

They stared at her.

"What...?"

"Is that your...?"

"Take it. Start your Joke Shop. I don't want it, it's connected to too many bad memories. Besides, I don't need it. You'll make better use of it."

"No, we can't..."

"You can," she insisted, "and you will. Just... don't tell your mother."

"Megan..."

"Look, I don't want it, so I'll just toss it away," she said. "But you could really do something with it. We're all going to need a few laughs, trust me. Probably more than usual, before long. Just do me a favour, buy Ron some new dress robes."

"A thousand Galleons..."

"Yeah. Think how much fun you can have with it," Megan grinned.

They glanced at each other. Then they leaned forwards and kissed her on both cheeks.

"Thanks," they said gratefully.

"You're welcome," Megan laughed (boy did it feel good!). "Now go and hide it before your parents see it. They may not be desperate for you to join the Ministry any more, but they won't accept money from me."

They left, grinning at her as they went. Megan grinned back, as familiar hands slid around her waist.

"That was good of you," he said.

"Well, your parents wouldn't take it, and I don't even want to look at it... I can't stand having anything that reminds me of that night. I don't need any mementos of it anyway... so it seemed the best way to not let it go to waste."

He kissed her cheek.

"You'll be okay, you know," he promised, giving her a light squeeze. "You're strong enough to come back from this."

"I doubt I'll ever be the girl I was, though..."

He sighed.

"Neither of us will be exactly as we were, of course... but that doesn't matter. Because as long as we keep getting back up, we'll be fine."

Megan nudged her head to his. They stood in silence for a moment.

"Come on, we'll be there in a few minutes." he said when students began moving in the compartments around them.

He let her waist go to catch hold of her hand. She smiled and followed him into the compartment to gather her things.

https://youtu.be/DlDLhPrOVEI

The Weasleys, Dursleys, Nelsons, Grangers and Diggorys were standing near the barrier, as well as many other parents. They waved (well, all but the Dursleys who were standing a little away from the others) when Megan and the others crossed it together.

"How are you, dear?" Mrs Weasley said.

"Much better, thank you Mrs Weasley."

"Oh, good. And Cedric, it's lovely to see you back to health." Mrs Weasley said kindly.

"Thank you, Mrs Weasley." He smiled. "It's good to be back."

Megan was relieved he was back to normal too and squeezed his hand tightly.

"Bye, Megan," Hermione said, hugging her harder than she had done before.

Megan hugged her back and waved as she walked away with her parents.

"See you around," Harry said squeezing her.

"Have a good summer," she smiled.

And he too, left with his mother and father. Then, came the Weasleys.

"We'll have you over soon," Mrs Weasley said, hugging her tightly.

They all hugged her one by one as they left. Megan could see Vernon growing impatient.

"Well, here we are..." Cedric said.

She looked up at him uncertainly.

"Come here..." Cedric said.

Megan held Cedric against her a long time and kissed him even longer. He pulled back, looking amused.

"Relax, Megan, we've spent summers apart before," he said, smiling.

"You hadn't almost died, the other times..." she reminded.

"I'll be fine." He pulled out his shield pendant. "I've got my lucky charm, haven't I?"

Megan smiled weakly and kissed him one more time. They broke apart and he said:

"My parents are waiting..."

"Yes, go, don't keep them waiting... I love you."

"I love you too."

He kissed her forehead and walked off. His mother threw his arms around him and they hugged warmly, like a true family should. Megan glanced at them, unable to resist a pang of envy for what she'd never have.

Megan followed silently as the Dursleys left the station, Nathalie jabbering on as usual about the great clothes she'd seen in such and such store, or her new designer handbag. Vernon was nodding, but saying they would have to see before rushing off to the shops. Megan took a few deep breaths, looking up at the sky. It was a beautiful blue without a cloud. And just warm enough to not be too much, exactly the way she liked it.

"What's that on your finger?" Nathalie asked, grabbing her hand.

"It's a ring," Megan said evenly.

Nathalie rolled her eyes.

"I know that, dumbbell. I mean where did you get it? Did your boyfriend give it to you?"

Megan pulled her hand away.

"As a matter of fact, he did."

Nathalie turned away sulkily, grumbling about her never getting anything from her boyfriend. Megan ignored her and looked at the ring, thinking of Cedric. She remembered all the things Harry had told her just before she'd found out Cedric had recovered. He had said something about there being "more good than bad." and when she thought about it, she realised he was right. He was alive. That was what mattered, whatever had happened. Yes, she'd miss Cedric, but it would only be for a few months. She'd thought not long ago that she'd never see him again. She smiled as she took in the bright sunshine. Even being with the Durlseys didn't manage to taint her good mood. Cedric was alive, and they were together, that was enough to make her happy for now.

"So how did you manage to get that stud to be your boyfriend?" Nathalie asked her.

Megan looked at her and smiled slightly.

"... You know, I sometimes ask myself the same thing," she said.

Nathalie eyed her like she was crazy, but Megan ignored her. Hagrid was right, Megan told herself as she crossed the car park. It was useless to worry about Voldemort now, it would just make her unhappy, she thought, as she climbed into the back of the car. What would come would come, and when it did... she would just have to be ready for it.