Megan Potter - A saga of the Heart - Book 1 - A Witch's Heart

Chapter 13 - When you don't feel so alone anymore

 The last day of the exams was finally there, and the sun was high and bright, so the four of them went down to sit by the lake. But Megan had been having a stinging prickle in her forehead. She couldn't seem to shake off.

"Go to the nurse," Hermione said when she told them about it.

"No, it's not an illness... I just... ugh! I wish I knew what it means...!"

She pressed her hand to her scar in frustration.

"C'mon, it's nearly lunchtime," Ron said. "Maybe a bit of food'll help."

Megan shrugged but followed. They had to cross Hagrid's hut, and Megan could see him playing a flute outside. And then it hit her.

"Megan, what are you doing?" Harry asked as she ran towards Hagrid.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd that the one thing Hagrid wants is a dragon, and he runs into the one out of a million wizards who happens to have one?!"

They seemed to think the coincidence was rather odd, too. So they hurried after her.

"Hagrid!" Megan called as she reached him. "Who gave you that egg? What did he look like?"

"Dunno, he had a hood. But he didn't just take him, he said he'd play it at cards with me. Wanted to be sure I could look after 'im, see? I told 'im it wouldn't be no trouble, not after Fluffy!"

"Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Hermione asked.

"Well, 'o course, I mean how many three headed dogs are you likely to see, even if you're in the trade? But I said the trick with any beast is to know how to calm it. Take Fluffly, for example, just a little music and he'll be out like a light."

Megan's stomach plumetted. If he had let it slip this easily with them, he would have done with the stranger! She glanced at her friends, who seemed to be thinking the same. They hurried off back towards the castle.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Hagrid asked but they didn't answer.

They darted up to the Transfiguration classroom where McGonagall was bent over her desk, writing.

"Professor McGonagall!"

She looked up.

"What on earth is the matter with you? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

"Professor, we need to see the Headmaster immediately!"

"I am afraid he's not here," she said, looking at them suspiciously. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry and headed straight to London."

"Gone?! But it's important!"

"More important than the Ministry of Magic?" McGonagall said sharply.

"Yes. Professor, this is about the Philosopher's stone."

Her eyes widened and she was clearly caught off her guard.

"How do you kn-"

"That doesn't matter right now, but we have reason to believe someone's going to steal it!"

"I have no idea how you found out about the stone, but it is, I assure you, quite safe from harm. Now hurry along, I have work to do."

Ron seemed about to protest but Megan caught his arm and shook her head. They went out, Megan thinking hard.

"It wasn't a stranger that Hagrid got the dragon egg from, it was Snape. And I'm pretty sure he sent that supposedly urgent owl. I'll bet the Ministry will be very surprised to see Dumbledore, you'll see." Harry said as they paused.

"I know... but what can we do, with Dumbledore gone?"

"Good afternoon..."

They froze. Megan turned around and faced Snape.

"I wonder what four young Gryffindors such as yourselves be doing inside on such a day?"

"Uh... we were just..." Hermione began.

"Heading outside now," Harry said.

"Indeed? Well then hurry off."

He swept past them and Hermione, looking after him anxiously asked.

"Now what?"

"If we don't do anything, he'll have the stone by tomorrow." Megan said. "So I'm going through that trapdoor. I'll stop him if it's the last thing I do."

Her friends stared at her.

"Megan, that's crazy!" Hermione cried. "You don't even know where the stone is or what the teachers put up! Not to mention the trouble you'll be in if you're caught wandering the corridors, let alone the third floor!"

"I'll have the Cloak, I'll be fine. And now I know how to get past Fluffy, I'll just have to improvise for the rest. We know which teachers put a defence up, I'll just have to use what they taught us."

"Megan, whatever they'll have put up is going to be far more difficult than anything first-years like us can do!" Hermione said in alarm. "You'll never make it alone!"

"Then I'll die trying. Because I will rip my own heart out before I go to the Dark side," she said firmly. "I'll take the cloak. Hardly anyone knows about it."

Megan didn't expect this, but Hermione placed her hand on hers, as did Harry and Ron.

"We're not letting you go alone." Harry said.

"But..."

"Will the cloak cover all of us though?" Ron asked the others, ignoring her.

'I think it should just about be big enough if we squeeze and walk very carefully," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Guys!"

They turned to her.

"I'm not saying I want to go alone to play the heroine or anything... this is dangerous. Bigger than any of us. And I don't want you in any more trouble. You could get expelled, hurt or worse..."

Her throat tightening at the very thought, she went on:

"... You guys are my best friends... I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

Harry Ron and Hermione exchanged glances.

"We refuse to go to the dark side either." Hermione said.

And in one movement, they hugged. Megan fought tears in her eyes. This was what friendship was supposed to feel like, she knew it. And she had never felt happier

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My friends always make me feel better. What about you? Send Megan and friends your support with a vote!

The fateful moment is drawing ever nearer! What dangers will they have to face? Will they succeed? Or is this a journey from which they won't return? Let's find out now in the next chapter!

PS: Sorry for the short chapter, I have several songs I wanted to fit into specific moments but I needed to split the chapters up a bit. Any suggestions welcome!