The train moved on as the scenery turned wild. Ron kept his eye on Crookshanks who curled up, watching Ron's chest pocket from Hermione's lap while Mira lay under the seats. At one o’clock, they got food from the plump lady with the trolley.
“D'you think we should wake him?” Harry asked, looking at Lupin. “He looks like he could use some food.”
“Don't worry, dears, if he's hungry when he wakes up, I'll be up front with the driver,” the lady said.
He might not have been very talkative, but Lupin's presence had its uses. At about three, Megan's arch enemy, Draco Malefoy, came around to their compartment, accompanied by his croons, Crabbe and Goyle and girlfriend Pansy Parkinson.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in”, he said in his usual drawling voice.
“Does something smell off?” Ron asked. “Oh. Wait, it's you.”
“Funny, Weasley. Heard your family got a bit of gold?” Malfoy said. “Did your mother survive the shock?”
Cedric and Hermione gripped Ron's arms to stop him from jumping up.
“Who's that?” Malfoy asked with a sneer as he spotted Lupin. “Looks like a-”
“That,” Megan said coolly, “is our new teacher. I'm sorry, I cut you off, you were saying, Malfoy?”
Even Malfoy was smart enough not to pick a fight in front of a teacher. So, he ordered his clique away.
“I hate having to take rubbish like that from Malfoy.” Ron said crossly.
“Ron, he's not worth it. You'll only get into trouble.” Harry said. “You know that's all he's after. I know it's not nice, but he's stupid.”
Megan sighed and rested her head on Cedric’s shoulder. She was tired of it too.
The train moved on and the rain thickened. The sky was darkening outside. The lights turned on. The noises rambled on, but Professor Lupin slept.
“I hope we're nearly there...” Ron said, trying to see outside.
Just as he spoke, the train slowed down.
“Ah, great,” Ron said. “I'm starving.”
“We can't be there, yet,” Megan said, frowning.
“She's right, it's not dark enough,” Harry said frowning as well.
“It's over two hours early,” Hermione said, looking at her watch.
“Then, why are we stopping?” Cedric asked, frowning too.
The train slowed still, and the rain grew louder than ever. Megan got to her feet and looked into the hallway. Other heads were poking out of their compartments, looking up and down, confused. The train jostled to a halt, making Megan lose her balance. Cedric caught her. Just then, the lights went out and they were wrapped in darkness. Cedric and Megan's hands found each other and he guided her to their seats. They sat down and kept their hands together.
“What's going on?” Megan heard Ron ask.
“Ow!” came a squeak from Hermione. “That was my foot, Ronald!”
“Sorry.”
“Maybe we've broken down?” Harry suggested.
“Never heard of anything like that happening from my dad or my brothers...” Ron answered. “But I s'pose it's possible...”
Megan saw the outline of Harry walk to the window.
“... There's something moving out there...” Harry said nervously. “I think someone's coming aboard...”
YOU ARE READING
Megan Potter - A saga of the Heart - Book 3 - Past and Present
Fanfiction- Things are seldom what they appear - Megan was ready for yet another long, boring summer at the Dursleys. Little did she know that this summer would soon turn out even worse than the last. The reason? Her cousin's aunt Marge. And as if that wasn'...
