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

Chapter 38 - The Slughorn Extravaganza

Megan imagined Slughorn had used magic for the party, because his office was at least five times bigger than the average teacher's study. Megan felt like a fish out of water, and even if Harry and Hermione were two of her closest friends, she would really have liked to have Cedric's hand to hold on to, like an anchor. The room was packed with people and a huge golden lamp hung over their heads, real fairies fluttering in it. The walls were covered in baubles, candles and tinsel which was a little too much, to Megan's liking. The room was full of chattering guests wearing their party clothes. In the corner was a large table laid with piles of food. There was an orchestra on the far end of the room but the chattering was louder.

"... Hide me, there's Cormac...!" Hermione said, sliding behind Megan.

Megan wasn't the only one he'd been pursuing. He'd been trying to get Hermione alone with almost as much fervour as Romilda with Harry.

"Garlic buttered prawns?" asked a waiter.

"No, we're fine, thank you," Hermione hissed. "Though, on second thought, garlic might keep Cormac from trying to kiss me...!"

It was true that Cormac had shown a lot of interest in Hermione, which she did not return. She grabbed a fistful of prawns and crammed one into her mouth, while still managing not to look ridiculous. She was wearing a pale pink dress that suited her well. Megan sighed, glancing around for Cedric in spite of herself.

"Megan! So delightful to see you!"

Megan forced a smile on her face and turned around.

"Professor Slughorn," she said.

"So happy you were able to attend! And who's your guest?"

"Oh, I came with Harry, sir. I have a boyfriend outside the school and I didn't want to go with anyone else, so my best friend seemed the best choice."

"Indeed, indeed." Slughorn said. "Ah, the torments of love, eh? Can't live with it, can't stand being without it! And Miss Trevil, how wonderful!"

He glanced around.

"Did Miss Granger not come with you?"

"Yes, she's..."

Megan was about to say "right here", but she wasn't.

"... around somewhere, she was thrilled to come."

"Ah, excellent, excellent. Oh, Megan, you haven't yet met my good friend Eldred Worple, an old student of mine."

"Ah, Miss Potter! Pleasure to meet you! I was just asking Professor Slughorn the other day, "Where is the biography of Megan Potter we're all waiting for?"

"... Er... are you?"

"Oh, always the modest one!" Worple grinned. "Yes, Horace did say so. But, really, I'd be more than happy to write it myself."

"Oh, uh... well, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea of my life being spread out for the world to see..."

"Oh, it wouldn't take more than a few months, with a few interviews of say, four or five hours, and think of the gold you could make...!"

"No, thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested. Excuse me, I've seen a friend of mine."

She slipped away. She'd seen long brown hair vanish behind a curtain.

"Hermione!"

"Oh, there you are. I left Cormac, I just had to hide... There's mistletoe all over the place."

Megan shuddered. She would have to watch out for that.

"Garlic prawns not enough?"

"Not enough," she said, gulping down a flute of pink champagne.