Megan was more and more surprised at how accurate people's knowledge of the night's events was as the day wore on.

"He'll be back soon," Ernie was saying confidently that morning as they came up to lunch after Herbology. "They couldn't keep him away three years ago, could they? You know what I heard? The Fat Friar told me he saw Umbridge trying to enter Dumbledore's office last night, but it had sealed itself, it wouldn't let her in! She was screaming tantrums all over the corridor."

"Ooh, I would have loved to see that," Hermione said. "I bet she fancied herself very much in his office, tyrannising all the other teachers."

"I'll have five points for being rude about our new Headmistress, Granger."

They looked up at Malfoy.

"And your shirt's untucked, Weasley, so five more for that. Ten from you, Potter because I don't like you, and ten more from Granger because you're a Mudblood."

Ron had already pulled out his wand. Megan yanked his arm down and pulled him away, followed by the others while Malfoy laughed heartily.

"He was bluffing," Harry said. "Surely he can't have taken off all those points..."

But when they looked at the hourglasses, they saw that to their horror, he had.

"Noticed, have you?" Fred asked darkly as he came up beside Harry and Megan.

He squeezed Hermione's hand using their robes as cover. They exchanged a look that spoke more than all the kisses in the world.

"Montague tried to do us in earlier." George said.

"Tried?" Megan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We threw him into the Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor."

"You could be expelled for that!" Hermione exclaimed, horror-struck.

"Not until Montague comes back, and that could be weeks from now." George said.

"And besides, we don't really care about getting into trouble any more."

"Have you ever?" Harry asked.

"Well, of course. Never been expelled, yet, have we? We always knew where to draw the line." Fred said.

"Might have put a toe across once every now and then, but always stopped before true mayhem." George added.

"What changed?" Ron asked.

"Well, Dumbledore's gone, now..." Fred said with a grin.

"And we think..." George continued.

"That a little true mayhem..." Fred added.

"Is exactly what the new Head deserves." they finished together.

"Guys, I don't think that's a good idea, she'd like nothing better than to expel you, or even any of us... and what would your parents say? If Fudge hears you're giving Umbridge trouble he could sack your father..."

"We don't care about staying any more," Fred said. "We'd walk out right now if we didn't want to do our bit for Dumbledore first. And someone once told me we'd be needing some laughs, before long."

He winked discreetly at Megan.

"And as for what our parents would say, we're of age, now, so they don't have a say any more." George said.

"I would recommend staying in the Great Hall," Fred went on. "So the teachers can't think you're involved."

"Involved with what?" Harry asked.

"You'll see," George smiled.

And they headed off. Megan and the others meant to head to the Great Hall, when Filch called:

"Oi! You, Potter!"

What had she done now? She wondered as she turned around. Filch was marching towards them, his black eyes glaring at them all.

"The Headmistress would like to have a word with you." he growled.

"What for?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"None of your business. Come on."

Megan sighed silently and trudged after him, aware of the worried glances of her friends. Filch seemed in a fishily good mood as he lead her up the stairs.

"Things are changing, around here."

"I noticed." Megan replied coldly.

She managed not to add that she didn't particularly like said changes.

"I've been telling Dumbedore he's too soft with you lot for years. Wouldn't have been dropping Stink Pellets, if I could whip you raw, eh? Would have thought twice about throwing Fanged Frisbees, if I could chain you upside down in my office, now wouldn't you?"

Trying hard not to gulp too obviously, she said nothing.

"But with Educational Decree twenty-nine, I will be allowed to do those things," he cackled. "And she asked the Minister for a signed expulsion order for Peeves. Oh, things will be much better run with her in charge..."

Megan wasn't surprised that Umbridge had made such efforts to get Filch on her side. He was a valuable asset, thanks to his knowledge of the school's shortcuts and passages, his only contenders being Fred and George, and, though only thanks to the map, Megan.

"The Potter girl to see you, ma'am."

"Thank you, Argus."

Umbridge's office hadn't changed except for the large golden plaque with "Headmistress" carved on it sitting on her desk.

"Sit," she ordered Megan coolly.

Megan, wondering what the old toad could have in store for her, sat down on the edge of the seat.

"What would you like to drink?"

"What?" Megan asked coldly, frowning.

"Drink, dear. I wish that you share a drink with me. Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice?"

A cup or goblet appeared as she named them.

"Neither, thanks." Megan answered, trying to hide the suspicion in her voice.

"I insist," Umbridge said sweetly.

It took every effort for Megan not to sigh and roll her eyes.

"Fine... pumpkin juice, then."

She turned around to uncork the bottle and pour it into the goblet.

"Do drink up. Now, Miss Potter," Umbridge began as she handed Megan the goblet and sat down. "I thought it would be a good idea to have a little chat, after the somewhat distressing events of last night."

There was a silence. Megan, who at the moment rather preferred to keep her eye on Umbridge, said nothing.

"You're not drinking, dear," Umbridge said, smiling.

Megan was about to, when she remembered two things: first, Moody never drinking from anything except a personal flask, and what he would say if she drank something an enemy had given her. And second, the potion Snape had mentioned the year before. Veritaserum. Both she and Umbridge knew they would never get anywhere by simply asking questions, so Umbridge could have decided to tip the odds in her favour... so she lifted the goblet, mercifully opaque and pretended to drink, pushing the realism to bringing the liquid to her lips and gulping, while keeping her mouth tightly closed.

"Excellent," Umbridge smiled. "Now, where is Albus Dumbledore?" she demanded.

Should I know anything, you're the last person I'd tell... Megan said to herself. But she thought it wiser to stick to a safer response:

"I have no idea where he is." she said calmly. "I'm just a student, why would he tell me anything about what he does?"

"Drink up, drink up!" Umbridge cooed. "Come now, we're both reasonable women. Let us not play games, shall we? I'm sure you know where he's gone. Consider your position, Miss Potter..."

I'll be expelled a thousand times before I betray Dumbledore, Megan thought fiercely.

"I don't know where he went." she said. "Like I said, why would he tell me?"

She pretended to drink again, carefully not looking at her goblet to avoid giving away that she knew the drink was spiked. For why else would Umbridge be so intent on having her drink from that goblet? She was looking at her with a scowl on her face.

"Very well," she said grumpily. "Then perhaps you can tell me the location of Sirius Black."

Megan fought very hard to not show the jolt the question sent through her. She carefully lowered her goblet, thanking heaven to have refrained from drinking in time, and put on her best confused expression.

"Sirius Black? That man who escaped from Azkaban a while back? I've no idea where he could be. Why d'you think I would know that?"

"Let me remind you, Miss Potter, that we both know I almost caught him in the Gryffindor common room fire last October."

Megan stood still. Umbridge was right, but they'd hoped she'd not been able to tell who Sirius had been talking to.

"And I know it was you he was meeting. So I repeat. Where is he?"

"I don't know. And I never met up with him. It was someone else, I guess."

She could tell Umbridge didn't believe her... or didn't want to, because if Megan was, as Umbridge thought, under Veritaserum, she couldn't lie.

"Fine... I'll take your word for it. You may leave."

She turned to the window, meaning her back was turned to Megan, who quickly emptied her goblet into a flower pot on the desk. Umbridge would be suspicious if she thought the goblet hadn't been emptied. Then, she put down the goblet and got to her feet. Just then, a heavy commotion sounded from outside.

"What the..." Umbridge muttered angrily. "Back to lunch, Potter!" she ordered. "FILCH! Filch! Where is that good for nothing Squib? FILCH!"

She shoved past Megan and vanished round the corner. Megan turned to the pot to see if the liquid had sunken in. It had, so she quickly followed.