The following evening, when she made her way back to Gryffindor Tower, Megan was pleased to see Harry, Ron and Hermione in the common room waiting for her. She sat down, absently scratching her hand.

"I still think you should report it." Harry said. "If McGonagall found out..."

"She'd be furious, yes, and it wouldn't take long for Umbridge to cause trouble for her as well, like an Educational Decree that allows her to fire whoever opposes her."

"Megan's right," Hermione said calmly. "Which is why it's time to take matters into our own hands... and fast."

"You mean me teaching you?"

"Yes. I think it's time to get into action."

"But I really don't think..."

"Megan, you beat me in third year," Hermione said. "The only year we really had a good teacher, and last year you were the only one who could fight off the Imperius Curse. You're the best at Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"And not only that, think off all you've done!" Harry said. "You learned an advanced charm in months, not to mention all the ones we worked on for the Triwizard Tournament, thwarted You-Know-Who three times..."

"I didn't know what I was doing, half the time, I... you don't know what it was like." Megan said. "I wasn't brilliant, I was lucky. It's not like in class! You don't just learn a few spells! He will kill you before you even open your mouth if he wants to! Cedric almost died, and – "

"But Megan, that's exactly why we need you. You know how it really is. Like you said, we don't. We need to know how to face... Voldemort."

Megan looked at them. They were looking back at her... no. Up to her, she realised. And they were right. If anyone knew how it was to face Voldemort compared to practising in a classroom... she did.

"Trust me, you'll be much better than me," Hermione said. "You'll be more patient, and people who believe in Dumbledore will look up to you, not me." Hermione said.

Midnight struck on the clock in the corner.

"Well, sleep on it, okay?" Harry said. "Come on, let's get some rest."

Megan lay awake that night, having trouble sleeping because of her hand. And when she finally went to sleep, it was to dream about black and white corridors and locked doors.

Megan, as happy about going to Hogmeade as she was, was also worried about Sirius. They hadn't spoken again since they had seen each other in the fireplace, and she knew he had been upset by her not wanting him to come. She sighed, wishing he understood that she would have liked nothing better, but that she preferred not seeing him much than maybe never seeing him at all.

"Well, you can't blame him for wanting to get out a bit," Ron said when she voiced her fears. "I mean, he's been in prison for twelve years, he just wants to enjoy his freedom a bit."

"The problem is, until Voldemort's out in the open, Sirius is still considered a murderer," Hermione said. "And the only way to clear his name is for the Ministry to catch real Death Eaters and see he isn't one of them. I mean, he hasn't got the Mark for one thing."

Hermione had managed to get used to calling Voldemort by his name.

"He's not stupid enough to risk it," Harry said. "Dumbledore'd go nuts, and Sirius does listen to him, even if he's not happy about it."

"Yeah, and the other members of the Order will keep him out of trouble," Ron added. "None of us want to lose Sirius."

But Megan still looked worried.

"Don't worry, Megan," Hermione said, squeezing her hand. "You've got enough to deal with without worrying about Sirius."

"I know... but he's the only family I have left..."

Hermione was right, of course. Megan was just managing to get through her homework, between helping Ron and practise. At least she didn't have detention to waste her time in. But Megan couldn't help but be troubled. What if Sirius did come bounding down the streets? And that someone recognised him and reported him? He had spent his Hogwarts years rule breaking and taking risks with Lupin and her father... and had never had a chance to grow up...

"Megan, I wondered if you'd thought about that idea I'd suggested to you?" Hermione asked in the library where they were working on looking up antidotes.

Megan had in fact given it a lot of thought. Part of her thought it was insane, that Cedric would know far more spells than her, and another almost saw herself showing people how to Stun properly or conjure a Patronus...

"I have, yes..."

"And?"

"... You did hear my telling you how most of the stuff I did was luck?"

"Yes, we did," Hermione said. "But you are good at Defence Against the Dark Arts. Even Viktor..."

"You're still in contact with him?" Ron asked.

"So what if I am?" Hermione asked, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "Anyway, he said that you knew stuff even he hadn't seen, and he's in his final year in Durmstrang."

"So what d'you say?" Harry asked.

"Just you three?"

"Well... don't go up the wall, please, Megan... but I can't see there being that much point in it just being the three of us. I think you really ought to teach anyone who wants to learn. I mean... you said it yourself... it's Voldemort, out there."

"Well, I'd agree, Hermione, if I didn't think that no one's going to want to be taught by me aside from Cedric, maybe Cho and the Weasleys."

"That's already someone!" Hermione insisted. "And you'd be surprised at how much support you're getting and how many people would want to know what you've got to say."

"And anyway, you can't be any worse than old toad face," Ron grinned.

"I was thinking..." Hermione said. "The next Hogsmeade visit is this weekend. What if we tell anyone who's interested to meet us there and we can talk about it?"

"Why outside school?" Harry asked.

"Because Umbridge wouldn't let us do it, and she'd tell Fudge that Dumbledore really is creating an army."