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

Chapter 23 - Secret confidant

So, how did the tryouts go?

Megan let herself fall onto her bed, coin in hand.

Ugh... it was a mess, but I think we have a reasonable team. It's not going to be the same without Wood and the twins...but we would have had to change some members eventually... You should have seen it, even some people from Hufflepuff were there! I felt so stupid...

Megan, the only ones who should be feeling that way is them. They know full well they had no business on that pitch. Dumbledore wouldn't have made you captain if he didn't think you could handle it. I'm sure you'll do fine. You're a great player, you know the game like the back of your hand.

I suppose.

She sighed.

If only that was the only problem.

Uh oh. Tell me everything.

Nothing too serious I don't... think.

What do you mean?

Megan slid a hand under her head, frowning.

It's just... I'm really getting worried about Harry... he won't hear anything we say, he's convinced Malfoy's up to something... and that he's a Death Eater, which we're still not sure of... And he's still using that wretched book... the longer it lasts, the more I feel there's something wrong somewhere, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

Megan gazed at the ceiling of her four poster. Hermione was finishing some Ancient Runes homework downstairs. Megan was glad she could talk to Cedric in peace without having to keep her expressions hidden from the others.

What do you think? Cedric asked. About Malfoy, I mean?

Megan let her head fall back on her pillow, heaving a sigh.

... I'm not sure, to be honest. I mean, Malfoy's definitely got some kind of plan. But it's a bit of a leap to say it's for Voldemort... then again, though, why else?

To get his father out of prison? It would be easier without the Dementors guarding Azkaban. And we know for a fact it can it can be broken out of.

... Maybe, Megan agreed. He definitely wasn't very happy that his father landed in Azkaban, least of all because of me... But... Harry's just become...

She paused.

What?

Well... you remember me last year? Mood swings, irritable, not much fun to be around?

This was the topic that worried her most.

Yes, but that wasn't you, he reminded. What about it?

... Harry strongly reminds me of that at the moment.

There was a pause.

You think he's possessed?

Honestly, I don't know. I mean, he's not been too out of character, his eyes are clear... but I mean, I was like that because of Voldemort's influence. And I'm torn. On the one hand, it wouldn't make sense because he's using Occlumency against me, so he can't very well block me and open it to possess Harry...

But? Cedric asked, guessing she wasn't quite finished.

But... it would be easier to use him to spy on me than to possess me again... even if it would be exhausting to possess Harry all the time...

Has Harry had any blank spots?

Not that he's mentioned, though I haven't asked. But it could be more subtle than that. I mean, I didn't, did I?

True...

There was another pause, then Cedric said:

Personally, I don't think he's possessed. Voldemort's not the type to waste time over someone he doesn't deem relevant.

But it's not Harry he's after, it's me, Megan reminded.

I know. But there's something else I think would explain his behaviour, Cedric told her.

What?

You're forgetting that Harry was at the Ministry last summer.

Megan frowned at her coin.

... So?

So, he'd never been so close to the danger before, Cedric explained. In your first year, he stayed in Gryffindor tower. The year after, he stayed in the bathroom. The year after that, he stayed with Ron in the hospital wing, and he wasn't in the maze.

But he was at the Ministry...

And that night had been brutal for all of them.

It seems like it roughed him up more than we thought.

But he never said anything...

He probably doesn't realise it himself, Cedric said. Or he's too proud to admit he's still upset by the experience. Men don't tend to admit to their weaknesses.

But we're his friends, Megan said. What does he think, that we'll laugh at him or something?

Men use their minds differently than women, love, Cedric said. I think Harry'll be all right. But keep me posted, okay?

I will... What would I do without you?

You'd be fine. My father's calling, I better go. I love you.

Megan sighed, wishing she could just hear his voice a little longer.

I love you too.

She put the coin away and lay down, but it was a while before she fell asleep.