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

Chapter 26 - Rising friction

Harry was angry at the others siding with McGonagall, Megan could tell, as they discussed the events walking down the hall.

"Who d'you reckon the necklace was meant for?" Ron asked.

"Goodness only knows..."Cedric said gravely. "But whoever it was, they made a narrow escape. It would have been impossible to open the package without touching the necklace."

"Yes, it could've been meant for loads of people... Dumbledore, for example. The Death Eaters would love to get rid of him, he must be on their hot list..."Hermione said.

"Yes, I think so too," Megansaid, frowning. "Or it could be Slughorn. Dumbledore told me he reckoned Voldemort really wanted him and I bet he's not happySlughorn's siding with Dumbledore. Or..."

"Or maybe it was you..."Hermione said in a shaky voice. "It's a necklace. You're a girl. Itmakes sense..."

Megan gave her a soothing smile.

"Yes, but there are two things that mean it's not me: first, it doesn't matter whether the target was a man or woman, as you only need touch the necklace to be cursed.And second, if it had been me, why didn't Katie just turn around to give it to me? We were right behind her on the road."

"Yeah, and it would have been easier to give it to her outside the castle, what with Filch and his Secrecy Sensors." Harry said. "So if Malfoy told her to take it to the castle..."

"Harry, Malfoy wasn't in Hogsmeade!" Megan said exasperatedly.

"Then he had an accomplice!"Harry insisted. "If he's joined the Death Eaters, he'll have better help than Crabbe and Goyle..."

Megan and Hermione exchanged looks saying "no point in arguing." They reached the Entrance Hall where Cedric was going to return to the school entrance to go back home. Tonks had joined them to escort him.

"You lot all right?" sheasked. "Minerva just filled me in."

"We're okay, thanks, Tonks."Megan said.

She turned to Cedric.

"Sorry it had to be like this," she said.

Cedirc turned to her, tucking alock of hair behind her ear.

"It's okay, love. When one is friends with Megan Potter, weird incidents are to be expected," he smiled. "Besides, it's not your fault what happened to Katie."

"We barely had time to see each other..." Megan sighed.

"We'll catch up next time,"he said.

He tilted her chin and kissedher.

"Sorry, we have to go. Amos asked for him to return before dark." Tonks put in.

Cedric rolled his eyes.

"I am an adult, you know."

"You're nineteen." Megansmiled, though a little wistfully. "That's not so old. And you're lucky to have someone who cares so much about you."

She did have the Weasleys, her friends and Cedric, but it wasn't quite the same.

"Well, you better go. Give my best to the Weasleys, and the others," Megan said to Tonks. "And take care. Both of you."

"Noted," Tonks smiled."Catch you later."

Tonks and Cedric left. Megan forced the pain off her face. She didn't want to show how much she already missed him. It was probably not much fun for Cedric either, she didn't want to make it worse for them both.

The common room was quite full when they reached it, and there was a distinct smell of damp clothes.The space around the fire was so crowded it blocked out the light of the flames completely. Even Megan, now that she took a moment to think, was freezing. But maybe that was the backlash of the day's events. Given the calm atmosphere, the news of Katie's fate had not yet spread. There had been no other witnesses of the incident.