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

Chapter 27 - Fireside debate

"You know, if the necklace wasmeant for someone here, whoever planned it wasn't very smart, though,when you think about it," Ron was saying, sitting down in anarmchair by the fire after dinner in the now empty common room.

People were full of dinner andtired after their day in Hogsmeade, so almost everyone had gone tobed now, which gave Megan and her friends a chance to talk morefreely. They had preferred to avoid the topic over dinner. Ron satcross legged on the floor, Harry was in an armchair, and Megan satnext to Hermione on the sofa.

"I mean, the curse didn't evenmake it to the castle! Not exactly foolproof." he went on.

Megan frowned, thinking.

"No," she agreedthoughtfully. "It wasn't very well thought out at all."

"Since when has Malfoy been agreat thinker?" Harry asked with a snort.

"We don't know it's him..."Megan said heavily.

"We don't know it's not!"Harry insisted.

Hermione seemed about tointerject sharply, but Megan spoke before she could.

"Anyway" she said, liftingher hand to prevent yet another argument. "That's not our point,right now. Ron's right, this attack seems very amateurish..."

"What's your theory, then?"Harry asked.

Megan nibbled at the tip of herthumb, thinking.

"Well... we know the targetwas most likely in the castle. It could be more or less anyone, butif it is connected to Voldemort in any way, then it was probablyDumbledore."

"Or it might have been you,but the Imperius Curse wasn't well done." Ron suggested.

"No, I don't think so,"Megan said, shaking her head. "Voldemort wouldn't want anyone tokill me but him. When we were in the graveyard, when I got free, hetold the Death Eaters there he didn't want them to intervene, that hewould be the one to do it."

Hermione's eyes widened withfright, and she grabbed Megan's arm. "And besides, he's not one tomake half baked plans like this. He's far too meticulous for that.I'm starting to wonder if the sloppiness wasn't due to fear..." shemused, looking into the fire.

"Of Voldemort?" Hermioneasked.

Megan nodded.

"... I think so. Or at least Ican't think of anyone scarier than him. In any case it was extremelylucky Katie didn't get harmed worse..."

"Yes, it was..." Hermioneagreed with a shudder. "I wish we knew who the actual target was,at least..."

"It would be helpful," Meganadmitted.

"Do we think whoever it waswill try again?"

Hermione frowned in worry as shepondered.

"... Possible, since the cursedidn't reach its target." she said. "If it is someone working forVoldemort, then almost definitely. And if it is Malfoy, he's probablyterrified of failing. I'm not saying he's a Death Eater, though,"she added when Harry started to speak.

"I'm with Hermione," Megansaid. "As a matter of fact, I think it's not likely he is a DeathEater."

"How do you mean?" Harryasked.

"I actually think that maybehe's not," she said. "I reckon it's possible he's just beingused. Pressured to do what Voldemort wants without actually beingenrolled."

Ron looked confused.

"... Why? Seems like a wasteof time to me."

"Because Malfoy's fatherfailed to get the prophecy!" Harry said impatiently. "And nowthey're desperate to stay in his good graces, so they can't refusehim anything, and Voldemort can use him as he pleases!"

Megan hated to admit it, butthat did make sense.

"... Maybe," she allowed."Or it could be he wants to be a Death Eater, to restore hisname's honour. He always flaunted his name around like it made himroyalty. He's probably been asked to fix his father's errors and thisis a sort of... initiation..." Megan said, frowning and rubbing herneck thoughtfully. "Maybe he really will be made a Death Eater ifhe succeeds at whatever they want him to do. Or he's being led onwith the hope of being one but Voldemort's not too eager to do it, sohe's using him for his dirty work to spare himself a Death Eater forsomething else..."

As much as she hated Malfoy foreverything he'd done to them over the years, Megan couldn't helpfeeling a little sad for him. He had mostly just been following theeducation his father has given him, and was now caught up in theirallegiance to Voldemort.

"Whatever is going on, it'sugly," Ron said darkly.

Megan nodded silently.