The Three Broomsticks was a small pub, very warm and cosy. A curvy woman was going around serving the tables. The five friends found a table in a corner, with Megan in the least visible spot. Cedric and Harry went to get the drinks.
“Happy Christmas!” they said as they handed the tankards out.
Megan wasn’t sure what to expect, as she never drank any alcohol, and didn’t particularly want to end up drunk in front of Cedric… She picked up the tankard and took a careful sip. It was fabulous and warmed her whole being in seconds.
“Nice, isn’t it?” Cedric grinned.
“It is.” She agreed. “It’s like-”
But before any of them could hear what it was like. The door suddenly opened. Megan looked around. And gasped. It was professor McGonagall, accompanied by Cornelius Fudge, Flitwick, and Hagrid. If they saw her they were all in huge trouble.
“Quick, put your hood up!” Cedric whispered.
Megan quickly pulled it over her head, just in case the tree was insufficient. There was the scraping sound of chairs being moved as they sat down. They were served and began conversing.
“Join us, Rosmerta, m’dear. I hope business is good?”
“It would be a lot better, if Dementors weren’t wandering into my pub every night! It terrifies the customers!”
“Ah, none of us like the things, my dear, but what can we do? I mean, it is Sirius Black we’re talking about… I just met some, they’re in quite the fury against Dumbledore. He won’t let them into the grounds.”
“I should certainly think not!” McGonagall snapped. “How can we be expected to teach with those ghastly things around us?”
“I quite agree, Minister,” Flitwick said.
“They are merely here to protect you from Black, who is, need I say, much worse!” Fudge said.
Megan’s heart pounded uncomfortably. She had completely forgotten that this was the last weekend of term for the teachers as well…! She needed time to get back into Honeydukes if she wanted to get back into the castle…
“Sirius Black in Hogsmeade? What would bring him here?” Rosmerta asked.
“Why, the Potter child of course,” Fudge said. “I trust you heard what happened on Halloween?”
“I did.” She said. “So you think he’s still around, Minister?”
“I’m sure of it.” Fudge said.
Hermione cast a meaningful look at the boys.
“You know, I remember him from school, and he’s the last person I would have expected to go to the dark side…” Rosmerta said. “Are we even sure he did?”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Fudge said heavily.
“Really?” Rosmerta asked. “How so?”
“You remember that when the Potters found out You-Know-Who was after them, they went into hiding?” McGonagall said. “Few knew where they were. One who did, was Sirius Black.”
“Yes,” Flitwick said. “He and James were thick as thieves, weren’t they?”
Megan, unable to believe her ears, listening intently, barely noticed her friends looking at her. Cautiously she peered over her shoulder.
“Yes, Black and Potter… you never saw one far from the other, did you…” McGonagall said. “Rather like the Weasley twins, really. Dumbledore was relentlessly fighting against You-Know-Who, as you can imagine. But he had spies, and one of them tipped him off. Dumbledore alerted the Potters at once, of course. Naturally, You-Know-Who isn’t an easy person to hide from, so Dumbledore proposed the Fidelius Charm.”
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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'...
