"But why?" Hermione demanded when Megan told them she no longer had Occlumency lessons the next day.

"... Because he reckons I can carry on myself..." Megan said looking away.

Megan didn't like lying, but she was too afraid of Snape's wrath to tell them the real reason.

"You've stopped having nightmares?" she asked shrewdly.

"... Sort of." she said.

"Well, I don't think that he should stop until you're fully in control." Hermione said. "Maybe you should go and ask him..."

"No, Hermione." she said firmly. "Just let it go, would you, please?"

Hermione had been spending most of the day drawing out a revision timetable for them all. Ron had been startled to see that there were only six weeks left to the exams.

"How can that surprise you?" Hermione asked.

"Well, there's been a lot going on lately..." Ron said, looking gloomily at his timetable. "Oh, you gave me a night off a week!"

"For Quidditch practise."

Ron's smile vanished.

"Oh... what's the point? We're rubbish, we've got as much chance of winning the Cup as Dad becoming Minister for Magic."

Harry and Hermione went onto yet another crusade to convince Ron he wasn't as bad as he thought, leaving Megan free to let her mind wander back to what she had seen. She couldn't get her mind off it. James and Sirius had been seen as forerunners for the twins, but she couldn't see them hanging anyone upside down... or perhaps Malfoy, if he'd insulted them again... and Snape had tried to curse her father first, but when Lily'd asked "what's he done to you," James had answered " he exists"...

Megan found the sight of her mother shouting at her father disturbing also... she couldn't see how someone who clearly didn't like you could end up marrying you... and she couldn't help wondering for a brief moment if James hadn't maybe forced her into it. For nearly five years, whenever she had been compared to her parents, she had felt proud, but now, she wasn't so sure...

"Megan? Megan!"

She looked up from her notes at Ginny.

"Oh, hey, Gin."

"You okay?"

"Yeah... just lost in thought." She checked her watch. Was it that time already? She hadn't even noticed the Ron leave... Hermione and Harry were looking through books nearby.

"Why aren't you at practice?"

"Ron had to take Sloper to the hospital wing. He hit himself with his club..." she sighed. "Anyway, here, this came for you, just went through Umbridge's scanning."

Megan could tell. It had been unwrapped and roughly rewrapped, with a note "Inspected and Passed by Hogwarts High Inquisitor".

"They're Easter eggs from Mum. Here's yours."

Wrapped golden and red, it was a large milk chocolate egg, full with chocolate cream, according to the package. For some reason she didn't understand, she felt a lump rise in her throat.

"Are you okay, Megan?" Ginny asked.

"Uh... yeah. I'm fine."

"You sure? You seem rather down lately. Is everything okay with Cedric?"

"Oh, yes, we're fine, thanks." she said. "I don't know, it's just... I'd like to talk to Sirius," she whispered.

"Hm... if we think about it, I'm pretty sure we can come up with something."

"Can't see how, Umbridge is going through our mail and watching the fires."

"Well, see, that's the thing when you grow up with someone like Fred and George." Ginny said with a malicious smile. "You tend to think everything's possible."

They were picking at Ginny's egg.

"WHAT THE BLAZES D'YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

Madam Pince stormed towards them.

"Oops..." Ginny said.

"OUT!" Madam Pince snapped.

"Sorry, ma'am, it won't happen again...!" Megan apologised.

"I said out!"

They quickly gathered their things and hurried out.

Later, they found another reminder of their impending exams pinned to the notice board. Thankfully it wasn't another Educational Decree. Megan didn't think she could stand another one of those.

CAREER ADVICE

All fifth years are required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House in the first week of summer term to discuss their future careers. Times of individual interviews are listed below.

Megan saw she was scheduled to see her on Monday at two thirty, meaning she would miss most of Divination. So they went about discussing possible life careers looking up all kinds of information on different paths.

"Blimey, E in Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Charms in Newt Level to be a Healer," Ron said. "Don't want much, do they?"

"Well, it's full of responsibilities, isn't it?" Hermione said. "They don't want much for Muggle Relations, just an Owl in Muggle Studies, patience, enthusiasm and a sense of fun, it says."

Megan chuckled.

"You'd need more than that to liaise with my uncle, trust me."

"Hey, Megan," Fred said in a low voice. "Gin said you wanted to speak to Sirius?"

"Megan, no!" Hermione said. "It's too risky! Neither owls or fires are safe!"

"Yeah, that's why I'm here," Fred said. "George and I reckon we have a way to go around that."

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"Well," he said. "You may have noticed how quiet we've been over the holidays? That's because we've not wanted to disrupt leisure time as there would be no point to that. And we'd bother people's revision, which we didn't want at all. So, we're starting as usual tomorrow. And then, we figured we could use it so Megan could see Sirius."

"But how are we supposed to pull that off if no communication canal's safe?"

"Umbridge's office," Megan said. "It's the only one with a fireplace that's not watched."

"Okay, maybe. But how d'you plan to get in to her office in the first place, it's bound to be locked."

"Sirius gave me a knife, it can open any lock." She said. "I know it's crazy... but... I feel it's the only way I can... make sense of things right now."

"What do you think?" Hermione asked Harry and Ron.

They didn't look comfortable about being asked to pick a side.

"Well... it is pretty reckless," Harry said slowly. "But I think that if Megan feels better after, it's worth the risk..."

Hermione seemed about to protest.

"Look, Hermione, we all know Megan's not been in her best shape lately, and I don't want to stamp on a chance to make her feel better," Harry said.

"Of course not, neither do I, but..."

"We'll set up our diversion as far as we can from her office. Should be able to get you a good twenty minutes," Fred said.

"What sort of diversion?" Ron enquired.

"Wait and see, bro," he said.

D'you think I'm insane?

Megan lay in her bed, her coin gleaming in her hand.

No... I do think it's a bit rash, though. Cedric was saying. I suppose it's okay if it does help you feel better... but why the sudden desperate desire? What d'you think Sirius will change?

Megan had thought about it.

Well, I'm hoping he'll tell me my parents are the people I imagined... Megan said. Or if Snape was right and my dad was a pain. I know, it's probably stupid... but I feel like...I'll go mad if I don't get some sort of an answer...

D'you want me to go with you? Cedric offered.

No, it's adorable of you, but if I get caught, I'd rather be the only one.

Okay. But I'll be there if you need me.

Megan smiled.

I know you are. And that's one of the reasons I love you.

... I'm sure it'll be okay, he said. But I have a feeling you're worried about something else.

A smile touched Megan's lips.

When did you get so intuitive? She teased. Well, I am a little worried, to tell you the truth. It's Snape. My class is seeing him tomorrow.

But he's never scared you before, Cedric said. What changed?

... You weren't there when he threw me out. He was... scary. I mean, you know how he is usually. And he's never pleasant to me. But... there, he was just... it was beyond furious...

He didn't hurt you?

... He shoved me a bit, but nothing serious. The point is, he's hardly the forgiving type. I mean, he's still not forgiven Sirius for the prank they played on him when they were our age... and it's the first time I'll be with him since that night...

Well, he's not about to slaughter you in a classroom, Megan, Cedric said reasonably. And besides, Harry, Ron and Hermione will be there. But if you want, I'll keep my coin on me and we can keep in touch.

Okay. I know I'm probably freaking out over nothing about Snape. But I'd... never seen him so... mad.

He prides himself in being intimidating. He was rendered vulnerable, that time. That's all.

Megan sighed. Then, she glanced at her watch.

Oh, God, I hadn't noticed the time. I'll let you get some sleep, she said.

Okay. I love you. And don't worry too much about tomorrow. Just promise me you'll be really careful. You'll be in no end of trouble if you're caught, and not just as a student. She could use underhanded tactics to get information from you.

I'll be careful, Megan promised. Love you too.