Megan Potter - A Saga of the Heart - Book 6 - Dark Temptation-

Chapter 14 - Gardian hawks and awkward conversations

Megan couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She was almost surprised she could breathe. She had always hated Malfoy but never as much as now. But she was also furious with herself. She had been foolish... Harry's determination to believe in foul play had made her rash. Maybe it had rubbed off on her, or maybe she'd just wanted to prove him wrong... she wasn't sure. Maybe she'd just wanted to know for herself. After all, if Malfoy was a Death Eater, she couldn't have just let him roam around the school! She tried summoning her wand without speaking, but no good. Her friends would just think she'd gotten off without them... she began to feel a little hopeless. No doubt Malfoy would be gleefully telling his tale in a few minutes... And suddenly, Megan's heart lurched. The train had begun to move. It was going to leave and no one knew she was still on it! What on Earth was she going to do? Just then, the door opened. Someone pulled the cloak off her.

"Wotcher, Megan."

Someone was leaning over her. In the wandlight, Megan saw Tonks. She couldn't move, but a wave of relief washed over her.

"Finite," Tonks said.

Megan felt as though she could breathe again. She gasped and fell limp.

"Oh... thanks, Tonks..." Megan panted, taking her hand to heave herself up."I thought I was done for."

"Come on, let's get off. We'll have to jump."

They hurried out of the compartment after her. Tonks pulled open the door and leapt out. Megan, trusting her, followed. They rolled over on the ground. It was not exactly a soft landing, but Megan was too relieved to be out of her predicament to care.

"You okay?" Tonks asked as they got to their feet.

"Yeah, I think..."

Megan felt a little embarrassed.

"Who did it?" Tonks asked, scanning her face.

"Draco Balfoy." Megan said bitterly, clutching her nose.

"Hold still, and I can fix that." Tonks said.

Megan moved her hand.

"Episkey."

Megan's nose made a cracking noise, and she gasped in pain. But then, she touched it gingerly. And it seemed healed.

"Thanks," she said.

"You're welcome. C'mon, we'd better get you to the castle. You should probably get your Cloak on, too."

She raised her wand as Megan did so. A large silver hawk shot out of her wand and soared across the sky into the distance.

"Is that a Patronus?"

"Yes, I'm sending word ahead that I've got you so they don't worry." she said.

"How did you find me?" Megan wondered.

"I saw you hadn't come off the train, and I knew you had the Cloak. And when I saw the closed blinds in the compartment you were in I thought I'd check."

"Lucky you did..."

"Don't mention it," Tonks said. "So how have you been?"

"... Not so bad, I guess. I spent my summer at the Burrow, so that was fun. You?"

"Oh, you know, busy with Auror work."

Megan noticed she looked a little wistful. But she didn't know how to bring it up.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"What? Oh, yes. Just tired. Been up on duty for hours."

Megan thought it best not to insist and asked instead: