The next DA meeting was one of the most enjoyable they had had. Megan, though still sorely missing Quidditch, wanted to see how much they had progressed, and for that, had set them up in one large circle, and placed a mannequin in the middle.

"Okay, now, send the dummy to each other using the first spell you can think of, each time using a different one. Okay? Go!"

One by one, they sent the mannequin spinning around the room. They had covered Reduction and Engorgement Charms, Banishment and Levitation, Stunning and Disarming, so far. They had also done the Impediment Jinx.

"Great. I think it's time to go a little more to the offensive." Megan said after they had all done this for half an hour. "Now, banishing, stunning and disarming are very good defence tools, but you can't win a fight on defence alone, so I'll show you a rather strong but handy spell."

She spun around, looked at the mannequin and shouted:

"Reducto!"

It burst into pieces.

"Now, I'd recommend using it on objects to wound your opponent, or else slow them down if they're chasing you, because its effects can be quite nasty, as you can see. Let's see what you can do."

A row of dummies appeared and they each took one.

"Reducto!" everyone shouted.

Most of them were pretty well broken, but the most effective was Ginny's. Hers had been reduced to a pile of ashes.

"Okay, great job everyone. Practise for a bit, and then we'll leave it at that."

Twenty minutes later, she called to a stop.

"Excellent work, all of you. So that's it for this lesson. And we won't be seeing each other until after the holidays. Just keep practising as much as you can, and well done, you've all made amazing progress."

Megan was surprised to see them clap loudly. Flushing slightly, she smiled and wished everyone happy holidays as they walked out, thanking her. She then noticed Cedric staying behind. She waited for Fred and George to leave, then made her way to him.

"You know teachers aren't supposed to date their students," Cedric grinned.

"You're older than me, and I'm not an official teacher, so it doesn't count," she smiled.

He wrapped his arms around her as they looked at the mirror. Some people had put articles and pictures in the corners. Megan had placed a picture of her parents, and glanced up at it. Cedric saw it in her reflection.

"You all right?" he asked tenderly.

"Yes... I still can't believe how much I've been able to teach them. I just wonder what my parents would think... if they knew I was doing this."

"They'd be as proud of you as I am," he said, kissing her hair.

Megan smiled and turned to look at Cedric himself rather than his image.

"Are you okay? You've seemed a little... distracted." she said tentatively.

"... Well, Umbridge is taking over the school, and it's irritating to not be able to stand up to her directly... and You-Know-Who's back, so I'm worried about my dad if he attacks the Ministry... but he's a smart wizard, he'll be okay."

Megan sensed he wasn't telling her everything. He caught her hand and looked at it.

"Does it hurt?"

"No. It's ugly, I know..."

"It'll be gone, soon." he smiled.

There was a pause.

"You're a great teacher." he said. "I was hopeless at Stunning, before."

"I still think you'd be better at it than me."

"Nah, I'd be too scholar. Besides, as Hermione said, people look up to you. Not me."

He glanced upwards and smiled.

"Mistletoe..."

Megan looked too. Above them were indeed the little white balls and green leaves.

"Yeah... this reminds me of the Yule Ball." She said.

They had almost kissed for the first time that night, but they had been interrupted.

"True. But this is better than the last time." Cedric commented.

"Why, because we aren't competing against each other, this time?" Megan teased.

Cedric smiled.

"No. Because last year, we never got to do this."

He leaned forwards and kissed her.

"What are your plans for the holidays?" Megan asked the others when they were back in the common room. "Cedric said he's going home."

They had of course promised to write and keep in constant contact, but it was never quite the same as being with him, feeling his hand around hers.

"Oh, well I'm going to the Burrow," Harry said.

"Me too." Hermione said.

"Oh..." Megan said, trying to hide the twinge of pain she felt at that. "That sounds great. I'm sure you'll have fun."

They all glanced at her in confusion, then Ron smacked his forehead.

"Oh, silly me! Sorry, I forgot to tell you, you're coming too, of course!"

This time, Megan was the perplexed one.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "It's not just because I mentioned it?"

"Yeah, Mum told me to invite you days ago!"

Megan smiled, feeling better. The idea of spending Christmas alone, even at Hogwarts, was depressing (though it was always better than the Dursleys). Then, Harry grinned at her:

"So, Cedric and you look like you're doing okay."

Megan couldn't help a smile, her face suddenly hot.

"Oh, yeah... fine. He's the best."

"But he seemed a bit preoccupied, today." Hermione said.

"Did he? I didn't notice..." Ron said.

"You don't look very closely," Hermione said impatiently.

"... I've felt that too, but I'm not sure why or what to say..." Megan said. "I don't want to pry... I shudder at the thought we might argue."

"Well, he's worried about you, because of what's going on, with your... mood swings," she glanced uncertainly at Megan, who nodded in assent. "And he's mad at Umbridge for what she's doing and what she did to you, but can't do anything because he's worried his father will be fired if he does, frustrated because he can't say Voldemort's back for the same reason... and he's probably worried that he'll fail his exams because of everything else."

"If there even are NEWTs..." Harry muttered. "If You-Know-Who finds what he's looking for, there's no telling what'll happen."

"Yes, well he hasn't, yet." Hermione said. "There hasn't been any reports or anything. Though if they had lost the weapon, that wouldn't be all over the news."

"But one person couldn't feel all that, they'd explode," Ron said.

"You may have the emotional range of a teaspoon, but others don't," Hermione said.

They exchanged glances and laughed. And with that the recent tensions eased up a little, which felt tremendously good.

"Well, I'm off to bed, I'm beat," Harry said. "Night, girls."

"Hold up, Harry, I'm coming." Ron said. "Night!" he called as he hurried after him.

"Good night," Hermione said. "Coming, Megan?"

"Yeah, I'll be right there."

Hermione's footsteps disappeared and Megan glanced out the window again.