It was impossible not to cheer up for Christmas with the Weasleys, the next day. For one, Arthur was back, well on the way to healing, which heightened everyone's spirits. Secondly, Megan was no longer sure of being possessed. And she was determined not to think about anything unpleasant today, even with the nag in a corner of her mind. And Cedric was there, which helped a great deal. That morning they enjoyed a moment exchanging gifts all together in the kitchen. Mr Weasley was thrilled at Megan's set of screwdrivers, as was Ron with his broom compass. Mrs Weaseley enjoyed her hair clip, Bill, Ginny and the twins their chocolates and sweets. She had even found a wooden dog and wolf which she gave Sirius and Lupin. This made them laugh.

"Quite a likeness, eh, Padfoot?" Lupin grinned.

"I'm not sure, mine's too tidy looking," Sirius grinned back.

"Padfoot?" Fred said looking up. "You mea-"

Megan kicked him under the table. She doubted his parents would be impressed to hear they had been using a magical map to break rules.

"A nickname at school," Sirius said, winking at Megan.

They had gotten her a set of very useful books, Practical Magic and its Uses Against the Dark Arts. She beamed at them, knowing this could be seriously helpful. Cedric gave her a wand polishing kit.

"Thought it could be useful, after the Weighing ceremony," he smiled.

Megan smiled back. The previous year, they had had their wands examined to ensure they were in condition and hers had been a little dirty. Hermione had gotten them all a set of homework planners, and was very happy with Megan's present of New Theory of Numerology. She was also pleasantly surprised by Fred's gift: a pretty hair comb that kept your hair from getting tangled even if it was very windy, and only came out of place of you removed it. Hermione and Fred smiled at each other, causing Megan to follow suit. It was good to have had a positive impact, for a change.

Tonks had given Megan a miniature Firebolt that actually flew around. She also got the usual sweater from Mr and Mrs Weasley, a box of Every-Flavour Beans from Ron, and a book on owl care from Harry. Fred and George gave her a large box of Fizzing Whizbees.

"We had thought of a few samples of our own, but..." George whispered to her.

Megan understood. Molly would have been furious, and Ginny gave her a bag of Chocoballs.

"Hey, Megan, you must know a Christmas song!" George said.

Megan thought for a minute. She had found a record of her mother's...

"Yes, I do." she smiled.

And so she sang. All in all it was a good day.

That evening, though, while everyone was around the house, enjoying their presents, Megan was staring out the window into the darkening sky.

"Feeling asocial again?" asked a voice.

Glancing up at the window, she smiled.

"Hey, Cedric." she said as he came in. "Not really... it's just... Sirius gave me another picture to put into my album..."

She lifted it up. It showed her parents, Sirius and her as a baby around a Christmas tree, smiling and laughing.

"... Your first Christmas..." he whispered.

"Yeah... I can't even remember anything of it..." she said. "And I keep thinking about Neville..."

"How exactly should I interpret that?" he teased.

"Oh, shush, you know I love you," she said, nudging him with a smile. "No, it's just... he's my age, and his parents were probably tortured around the time mine were killed, so... he never got to really live Christmas with them either... I mean, he can... be with them... but they're..."

"Not really there?"

She nodded.

"But I've got all of you... so it's not so bad." she said.

They slid their arms around each other. Megan rested her head against his chest.

"D'you realise," he said with a smile, "that in five years since we met, this is our first Christmas?"

"Better late than never, right?" she answered, smiling too.

Just then, explosions of colour filled the London sky. They looked up.

"Christmas fireworks," she said.

They looked at each other.

"Merry Christmas, Megan." Cedric said.

"Merry Christmas, Cedric."

And they kissed under the moon.

As the day they were to return to Hogwarts drew nearer, Sirius's cheerfulness drooped. And, for the first time, Megan wasn't keen on going back. She didn't want to leave Sirius all alone again... and she was far from impatient to go back to Umbridge's tyranny. She wouldn't even be able to take her mind off things with Quidditch... And because of the exams being nearer, the workload was sure to be enormous. In fact, if it hadn't been for the DA, Megan would have seriously considered asking Sirius to stay there. And what happened on the last day of the holidays didn't encourage her to want to go back to Hogwarts, on the contrary...

Megan was reading through the books she had been given, thinking what she could use to teach the others, while Harry and Cedric were trying (and failing) to defeat Ron at wizard chess and Hermione (who, Megan noticed, hadn't spent a day without Fred's gift in her hair) and Ginny were reading, when Mrs Weasley popped her head round the door.

"Megan, dear? Professor Snape is here, he'd like a word."

Megan stared.

"Professor Snape? What does he want?" Cedric wondered.

"Hurry, now, dear, he hasn't much time."

Megan sighed and got to her feet, trying to think what could be so important to Snape that he would come and see her during one of the only times in the year he didn't have to. She was fairly certain he could think of at least a million other things he'd rather do. Had her last piece of homework been that terrible? That could have waited till the end of the holidays, couldn't it? She reached the kitchen, where Snape and Sirius were seated, eyeing each other coldly. Snape was turning his back to her. She cleared her throat.

"You asked to see me?" she asked.

"I did. Sit, Potter."

"I'd appreciate you refraining from giving orders in my house, Snape," Sirius cut in.

"I was supposed to see you alone, but Black insists." the Potions master said, ignoring the comment.

"I'm her godfather." he said shortly.

Megan had to admit his presence was comforting.

"I am here on Dumbledore's instructions," Snape went on. "But by all means, stay, Black," he added coldly. "I know you like to feel included..."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius asked, anger in his voice.

"Merely that you must be... shall we say, frustrated by not being able to do anything useful for the Order."

He looked back at Megan.

"Professor Dumbledore wishes that I teach you Occlumency this term."

Happy to have looked up so many magical things over the years, she was glad to know what that was, even if she wasn't too familiar with it.

"... The magical mind shield?" Megan asked.

"Correct," he said. "An obscure but highly useful branch of magic."

"But... why does he want me to do that?" Megan asked.

They all agreed she wasn't possessed... didn't they...?

"The headmaster believes it is important." Snape said. "You shall receive private lessons once a week, but tell no one what you are doing."

"Okay."

Megan had a bad feeling, but she had to ask.

"Who'll be teaching me?"

"Myself."

"Why you?" Sirius interjected sharply. "Why not Dumbledore?"

"I assure you I did not beg for the job," Snape said icily. "Monday at six o'clock sharp, Potter. If anyone asks, you are taking remedial Potions."

Megan tried not to look too unhappy as she nodded. Snape turned to leave, but:

"One minute, Snape."

"I'm in a hurry, Black, I unlike you, am a busy man."

"I'll get straight to it, then. If I hear you're using these extra lessons to give Megan a hard time, you'll answer to me."

"Very touching." Snape sneered, eyeing Sirius with disdain. "I trust you noticed how very like her father she is?"

"I have," he said proudly.

"Well then, you'll know she's arrogant enough that criticism rolls right off her."

Sirius bounded from his chair and strode round the table, wand out. Snape whipped out his own. They glared at each other furiously, years of hate burning between them as their faces were barely ten inches from each other.

"Sirius, don't!" Megan called warningly.

"I warned you, Snivellus," Sirius said. "I don't care what Dumbledore says, I know you're not what you claim..."

"In that case, why not tell him?" Snape asked in his dangerously low voice that made him a hundred times more intimidating than he already was. "Or perhaps you're concerned he may not take the opinion of a man hiding in his mother's house for six months very seriously?"

"How's Lucius Malfoy, these days? I suppose he's glad to have a lapdog at Hogwarts, isn't he?"

"Speaking of, did you know he recognised you at the station?" Snape went on softly. "Gives you a cast-iron excuse to not leave your hideout again, doesn't it?"

Sirius raised his wand.

"SIRIUS, NO!" Megan shouted, jumping between them. "Don't!"

She was shorter than both of them, but

"Are you calling me a coward?!" Sirius snarled over her head, still glaring at Snape.

"Why, yes, I believe I am," Snape retorted.

"Get... off, Megan!" he said angrily, trying to move Megan aside.

"No! Sirius, stop!"

She refused to move, staring into his eyes with fiery resolve.

"This is not going to do anyone any good!" she exclaimed. "Now, for goodness' sake, both of you grow up!"

Sirius sighed, but Megan could feel the burning hate of Snape's glare.

"I will not let a child dicta-"

Megan knew he would probably give her hell for this, but he already did that anyway, so what difference did it really make at this point? She turned around and said:

"With all due respect sir, you started it."

There was a long, tense silence. Snape then said:

"Six o'clock Monday evening, Potter."

Megan just had time to glance back at him as he swept out.