Megan felt a little guilty at putting Mrs Weasley in that position, but as much as she liked her, she was a little tired of her coddling. She knew she was trying to protect her own, however the time wasn't for protection, but for preparation, in her opinion. Sirius turned to Megan, joining his hands under his chin.

"So, what do you want to know?"

"Where's Voldemort? What's he up to? I've been watching the news, but no strange deaths have been reported, from what I could tell..."

"That's because there haven't been any, yet." Lupin said. "Not as far as we know, at least, and we know a lot."

"More that he thinks we do, anyway," Sirius added.

"Why d'you think that is?" Cedric asked beside Megan. "That's he's not killed anyone, I mean."

"To not draw attention," Megan said.

Sirius nodded. He and Lupin exchanged a glance with a glint of amusement.

"You really are as sharp-minded as your parents." Lupin said.

"It would be dangerous for him to bring attention to himself because his comeback isn't quite the one he'd hoped. You messed it up nice and properly for him." Sirius said to Megan with a grin.

"I did?" Megan asked in surprise. "How?"

"You weren't supposed to survive," Mr Weasley explained. "It was supposed to be in great secret, but you made it out and brought his return to light almost as soon as it happened. His whole plan is down the drain, he has to find a new idea."

"The last thing Voldemort wanted was for Dumbledore to know he was back," Lupin said. "But you made sure he was the first to know."

"He was just the first beside us..." Megan mumbled.

"That doesn't matter, what matters is that Dumbledore knew at once." Bill said.

"But how did that help?" Harry asked.

"Because Voldemort's always feared Dumbledore," Cedric answered.

"Exactly," Tonks agreed. "And thanks to you, Megan, the Order was reformed barely an hour after Voldemort came back."

"And we're working as hard as we can to thwart his plans." Bill added.

"Do we know what they are?" Megan asked.

"Dumbledore has an idea, and he is usually accurate," Lupin said. "He reckons he'll start by strengthening his ranks. He had huge numbers at his command, bewitched or bullied. You heard him planning on recruiting giants, they'll just be one of the groups he'll be after. He's not stupid enough to take the Ministry with just a dozen followers."

"So you're trying to stop him from getting more minions." Megan said.

"That's it. Mainly by trying to convince people Voldemort really is back, getting them on their guard. But it's proving to be rather difficult," Bill sighed.

"Why is that?" Ron inquired, frowning.

Megan looked at Lupin.

"You mean because of Fudge not believing us and hushing the truth up..."

"Right again," Lupin smiled sadly. "People trust the Ministry... and Fudge won't shift."

"And it gets worse," Tonks said. "Not only does he not believe Dumbledore, he's frightened of him."

"Frightened of him?" Megan repeated, astounded.

"He's convinced Dumbledore brought up the story of Voldemort because he wants to overthrow him." Sirius clarified.

"What?! He thinks that Dumbledore wants to be Minister for Magic?!" Megan asked incredulously. "That's rubbish, no one in their right mind..."

"That's the problem, Fudge isn't in his right mind," Lupin interrupted patiently. "And the fact that Dumbledore has always been more popular, cleverer than he is hasn't helped. Dumbledore was offered the position of Minister, but he declined. And Fudge never forgot that. He probably believes Dumbledore but is too scared to face the truth."

"But why?" Megan asked.

"Because it would mean trouble like the Ministry hasn't faced in fourteen years." Sirius said. "He's so much more comfortable thinking it's just a lie."

"So you see the problem," Lupin went on. "If people don't believe the truth, it's hard to convince them. And of course the Ministry's pressuring on the Prophet to not divulge Dumbledore's "rumour-mongering", so hardly anyone in the Magical Community even knows what happened. Which makes them easy targets if the Death Eaters use the Imperius Curse."

"And not all as are strong-minded as you." Sirius said, winking at Megan.

She had experienced the Imperius Curse when she had faced Voldemort, after being shown what it felt like by the fake Professor Moody. She shuddered at the memory. It was ironic, though, that part of the reason his return had failed was one of his most loyal servants.

"But... you're telling people, aren't you? That he's back?" Hermione asked.

"Well, seeing as I'm a mass murderer with a ten thousand galleon price on my head, I can't exactly go around with leaflets or something, can I?" Sirius said.

"And I'm not very popular with the public, either." Lupin said. "Occupational hazards of a werewolf. And Tonks and Arthur would lose their jobs, which we have to avoid at all costs. It's essential for us to have eyes inside the Ministry, because you can bet Voldemort will."

"We convinced a few people, though." Bill said. "Tonks here, and other Aurors like her, who are great to have on our side. Shacklebolt, another Auror, has been an incredible asset as well."

"He's in charge of the hunt for me, so he's been claiming I'm hiding in Tibet," Sirius said with a wink at Megan.

"But how are you putting the news out, then?" Megan asked curiously.

"Why d'you think Dumbledore's in so much trouble?" Sirius replied. "They're trying to discredit him. So people are even less likely to believe him. If he keeps defying the Ministry, they could shut him up in Azkaban, and that's the last thing we want. The only reason Voldemort's not openly spreading his evil is Dumbledore! If he's out of the picture... well, let's say it'll be bad for all we hold dear."

Megan shivered at the thought, the memory of the graveyard still clear in her mind. Cedric's arm wrapped protectively around her.

"But how is Voldemort mobilizing people?" she asked.

"The way he knows best," Sirius said. "Lying, bewitching, blackmailing... He's quite experienced in acting secretly."

"What is he after?" Megan asked. "Aside from followers?"

"He's looking for something he didn't have last time," Sirius said. "When he was powerful before. A weapon."

Megan couldn't repress a shudder.

"What kind of weapon?"

But before anyone could answer, Molly stormed in.

"Enough! Tell her much more and you may as well induct her in the Order now!"

"Good," Megan said. "I want to join. Voldemort's out there, if he's raising an army, I want to fight!"

"No," Lupin replied. "It's for wizards of age and who have left school. You're not ready yet. I know you've had your share of Dark arts, but you're still only fifteen. There are dangers you have no idea of. I think Molly's right, you've heard enough for now."

"Off to bed, all of you," Mrs Weasley said.

So they left and marched up the stairs to their room.

When the others went into the boys' room to congregate on what they'd heard, Megan and Cedric stayed on the landing a minute.

"You okay?" he asked, touching her cheek.

"Yeah... I just... feel useless. I mean... he almost destroyed both of us... and I... to think he could make other people go through what we did... it kills me."

She looked away, biting her lip.

"Hey. Hey, look at me." He said, lifting her face to look at her. "We can get through this. We've faced bad stuff before. But now that he's back, things will be different... I know you want to stop anyone from suffering, even people who hate you... and that's one of the reasons I love you. But... you can't save everyone..."

"... I know." She said.

They joined the others in the boys' room.

"What d'you think that weapon is?" Ron was asking.

"Dunno," Harry answered with a shrug. "What can be worse than the Killing Curse?"

Just then, the twins appeared, making them jump.

"Do you have to do that?" Hermione asked, a hand to her chest.

"Gotta practice, haven't we?" Fred grinned. "We're not all as brilliant as you."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but smiled. And Megan thought she noticed a tinge of pink on her face.

"Got there, yet?" George inquired.

"The weapon?" Fred finished.

"Yeah, we were just wondering what it could be," Ron said.

"Could be anything," Fred said.

"But what's worse than death?" Hermione wondered aloud.

"I'd say being soul-less," Megan said, with a shudder, "but... the Dementors are there for that, so... it's not exactly secret..."

"Maybe it can kill loads at once," George suggested.

"Or maybe it's a particularly painful way of doing it," Ron shivered.

"Voldemort doesn't need anything like that," Megan said. "The Cruciatus Curse is more than enough."

They glanced at her.

"Did he..." Hermione began, eyes wide with horror.

"Yeah." She said shortly. "He did."

Hermione gasped. Cedric's hand on hers tightened, and they fell silent, all wondering what terrible weapon this could be.

"Who d'you think's got it now?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, but I hope it's our side..." Ron said nervously.

"If that's true, the chances are Dumbledore has it," George said.

"You think it's at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.

"Bet it is, they hid the Philosopher's Stone there," Ron said.

"This weapon would be a lot bigger, though, right?" George said.

"No, not automatically," Cedric said.

"Yeah, he's right, size isn't a guarantee of power, look at Ginny!"

"What?" Megan asked. "What's Ginny got to do with anything?"

"You've never been on the receiving end of her spells." Fred smiled.

Megan paused, thoughtful.

"I think it's somewhere else. Hogwarts would be too obvious." she said.

"Shh!" Hermione suddenly whispered. "Someone's coming!"

Sure enough, footsteps came up, paused, clearly listening to see if there was any talking, and then went back down again.

"Mum... She doesn't trust us," Ron said.

"She's trying to protect us," Megan said.

But they decided it was safer to end the congregation there for now and slipped back to their bedrooms.