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..."

Megan was about to get to her feet to look too when the door opened and something fell onto Megan.

"Ouch!"

"Ow, sorry... who's that?" said a voice.

"Ginny?" Megan asked in the dark.

"Megan? I was looking for Ron..."

"Here, sit down." Cedric offered.

"Wait, Ginny, watch ou-" Hermione began.

A loud hiss explained the warning. She had almost sat on Crookshanks. Mira was hiding under the seats, growling in fear.

"Ow! He scratched me!" Ginny said.

"Quiet!" Said a new voice.

Professor Lupin had woken up. They stayed silent as he rose. Megan then saw flames in his hand. His face still looked worn but his eyes were bright and alert.

"Everyone, stay where you are," he said. "I'm going to see what's going on."

But he never reached the door. The windows covered in frost and the air became cold. There was a deafening silence as a dark figure suddenly appeared in the hallway. It had a hood and Megan couldn't see it.

"What the...!" Cedric gasped.

"What is it?"

"A Dementor... but what in Merlin's beard would it be doing here…?"

Megan glanced back at the figure. It raised a hand and Megan almost screamed. It was a grey, bony and slimy, like something dead decayed in water. She shivered. The hand rose and pulled the door open without touching the handle. The door opened and the cold intensified. The cold was overwhelming. Megan could hardly breathe for the cold, she couldn't feel Cedric's hand anymore. She could only hear the cold wind blowing, her heart fighting to beat properly... and then, came the screaming. She tried to shake herself, she wanted to help... but she couldn't move... Then, there was a bright light, and it was over.

"Megan! Megan, say something! Megan, are you all right?"

Someone was tapping her face.

"Wh..."

She opened her eyes. Cedric, Harry, and Hermione were leaning over her. Lupin was watching from above. Megan breathed slowly to shake off the sick feeling in her stomach. The lights had come back and the train was moving again. She then realised she was being lying over Cedric's lap. Mira was nudging her face in concern.

"Uh... sorry..."

She felt Cedric her her sit up.

"Are you okay? You scared us..." he asked.

"... I think so... where's that thing, the Dementor...?"

"It's gone."

"Who screamed?" Megan asked.

"...Screamed...?" Hermione asked nervously.

"I heard screaming." Megan said.

"... Megan, no one screamed..." Cedric said gently.

He helped her back onto a seat. Suddenly, a sharp snapping sound made her jump.

"It's just professor Lupin," Cedric said.

He was breaking a large slab of chocolate and handing pieces to Ginny and Ron, the prior looking particularly shaken.

"Here," he handed Megan an especially big piece. "You'll feel better."

She took it but didn't eat it.

"Eat, it'll help," he smiled as he handed Cedric, Hermione and Harry chocolate too. "Now, excuse me, I must speak with the driver."

And he walked out.

"Are you sure you're okay, Megan?"

"... Yeah. But what... what happened...?" she asked.

"The Dementor looked – well, given that it has no face, I can only guess – around, and you went rigid and... you just... went."

"I thought you were having a fit or something. You sat wide eyed and frozen..." Hermione said shakily.

"Then, Professor Lupin pulled out his wand and then fired something bright at the Dementor." Cedric said. "And it fled in panic."

Megan looked at them.

"... Did any of you... pass out?"

"No... It felt weird though. Cold, like I'd never feel cheerful again." Ron said.

"I know, it was horrible..." Hermione agreed. "What were those things doing on the train anyway?"

"They're Dementors. They're the guards of Azkaban," Cedric answered. "I expect they were looking for Black. They thought he'd feel safe in a place full of students. I'll let my father know about this, I can't believe any sane person would authorize something like this."

Megan felt weak and shivery. And a little ashamed. Why had she been the only one to faint? She didn't understand.

"I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know."

Megan looked up at Lupin, who had returned. She took a bite and to her surprise, a warm feeling spread through her.

"Better?" Lupin smiled.

"Yes... thank you, Professor."

"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes." He said. "How are you feeling?"

"... Fine," she said, trying not to sound too miserable.

Cedric wrapped his arm around Megan's shoulder, and she didn't complain. She rested her head against his shoulder. They didn't talk much after that. Finally, they reached the station, and more than before, there was a scramble to get out. Cedric jumped down first then helped Megan and Hermione while Ron and Harry helped a shaky Ginny.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! This way, please!" Called a loud familiar voice.

The gang looked above the crowd at the huge shaggy head at the other end of the platform as worried first years walked nervously towards him.

"All righ', you lo'?" he smiled at them.

They waved at him but the crowd was too thick to hope to speak to him. Cedric led them through the mass of people to a muddy track which led to dozens of stagecoaches, pulled by what had to be invisible horses. Megan, Harry, Cedric and Hermione got into one carriage while Ron, Ginny, Neville, a fellow third year Gryffindor who had lost a lot of his chubbiness over the summer, and Seamus, another Gryffindor, climbed in another. Megan leaned against the wall. She still felt weak, despite the chocolate. And she also didn't want to see her friends look at her worrying if she was going to pass out again. The carriage rode on towards a magnificent set of iron gates, with stone columns on either side. Behind, up more dirt track, was the castle itself. Megan saw two more black Dementors by the gates. Megan closed her eyes as the cold swept briefly over her as the coach drove past. There was silence in the coach. They reached the foot of the castle. Cedric got out first and held out a hand to Megan. She was proud that she didn't wobble as she got down and smiled at Cedric as he offered her his arm.

"You fainted, Potter?" said a gleefully drawling voice. "Is it true? You, the great Potter, fainted?"

He shoved past them and stood in front of Megan, blocking her path, eyeing her maliciously.

"Get out of it, Malfoy," Ron said.

"Did you faint, too, Weasley?" Malfoy asked. "The big scary Dementor frightened you too?"

And they chortled.

"Is there a problem, here?"

Professor Lupin had come up. Malfoy sneared at him and his shabby robes.

"Not at all, professor," He said and marched off with his goons.

Hermione and Harry caught Ron's arm and led him up the steps. Megan, who was still holding Cedric's arm, walked with him up the stairs through the large oak entrance doors. But just as they headed to the Great Hall, Megan heard her name.

"Potter, Granger, I'd like to see you both."

Megan and Cedric exchanged a glance. Professor McGonagall was looking in their direction. Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House, she was a strict yet fair oman who was not to trifle with. Surely they weren't in trouble…?

"No need to worry, I just want a word."

"I'll see you later," Megan told Cedric, kissing his cheek.

She and Hermione followed their Head of House and Transfiguration teacher up the staircase and into her office, a small room with a welcoming fire, where she invited the girls to sit down.

"Professor Lupin sent an owl to inform me you were taken ill on the train, Potter."

Here we go... Megan sighed internally, her cheeks going red.

She was already embarrassed enough about the incident... why bring it up again?

"I'm fine, professor," she said. "Really, I don't need anything."

Just then there was a knock and Madam Pomfrey entered.

"Oh, you again?"

She bent over Megan.

"Doing something dangerous again, I suppose?"

For once, Megan hadn't.

"It was a Dementor," McGonagall said.

"Ah, those dreadful things," Madam Pomfrey said disapprovingly. "Terrible creatures, and the effects they have on delicate people..."

"I'm not delicate!" Megan protested, flushing.

"Should she have bed rest? A night in the hospital wing?"

"I'm fine!" Megan said, trying not to sound too impudent.

Malfoy would have laughing material until graduation for sure, if she went to the hospital wing. And that, she couldn't take. He had more than enough fun on her behalf as it was.

"Well, some chocolate is in order, at the very least." Madam Pomfrey said.

"I had some," Megan said. "Professor Lupin gave some to all of us in the train."

"Did he?" Madam Pomfrey said approvingly. "So we finally got a decent Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, it seems."

McGonagall was still eying Megan.

"Are you sure you feel well, Potter?"

"Yes," Megan assured.

"Very well. In that case, wait outside while I speak with Miss Granger for a moment. Then, we'll go to the feast together."

Megan nodded and left the room.

Madam Pomfrey left right after her and headed for the hospital muttering to herself. Fortunately, Megan only had to wait a few minutes. Hermione came out with a large smile, followed by professor McGonagall. They headed to the Great Hall. The room was full of hats and Professor Flitwick was just taking the Sorting Hat and stool away.

"Oh," Hermione said. "We missed the Sorting."

New students were sorted through a magical hat that chose the hat most suitable (Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw). Megan and Hermione glanced at McGonagall as she sat down at the staff table. They sat down. Megan saw that once again, she and Cedric had managed to find seats opposite each other. They exchanged a smile, and Megan almost managed to ignore the stares that followed her. She sighed. Had the news travelled that fast?

"What did McGonagall want?" Harry asked as they sat down.

Megan began to answer, but Dumbledore stood up and she broke off. Professor Dumbledore was the headmaster, and a much respected figure in the magical community. Though very old, he always gave an impression of energy. Megan respected him, not because he was said to be the greatest wizard in the world, but because you couldn't help but trust him. Megan felt finally appeased since the train incident.

"Welcome," Dumbledore smiled "to a new year at Hogwarts. Now, I have a few things to say to you, and as one is particularly unpleasant, I suggest we get it over with before digging into this luscious feast. Now, as you have noticed, after their visit on the train, some of the Azkaban guard is staying with us, on Ministry of Magic business."

Megan then remembered Mr Weasley saying Dumbledore wasn't happy about the Dementors coming to the school. Now she knew what that had meant.

"They stand around every entrance. And let me make it very clear: they are not fooled by tricks like potions, spells or cloaks." he said, glancing around the room. "And it is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving. Therefore, I warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. And I look to the Prefects and Head Boy and Girl, to make sure no student gets on the wrong side of the Dementors."

Dumbledore paused and looked around.

"On a happier note," he went on, "I would like to introduce two new members to our teaching body. First, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor R. J. Lupin. He has kindly consented to fill the post."

There was a slight applause, saved only by the loud clapping from those in the compartment with him.

"Look at Snape," Ron said. "What's got him all worked up?"

He was looking like something particularly disgusting had been thrust in his face.

"Dunno... but it looks like it's got something to do with Lupin, look..." Megan said.

Snape was glaring up the table at him.

"Well, he has always wanted the position..." Harry reminded them.

It was no secret Severus Snape wanted the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher which he had for several years been denied. But even for Snape, that expression was one of pure loathing. Megan thought she was the only on who earned that look, and she got it often.

"As for the second teacher, since Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, has retired at the end of last year, I am pleased to announce that his post will be filled by our very own Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take the position additionally to his game-keeping duties."

The applause was a lot louder this time, particularly from the Gryffindor table. Megan and the others exchanged astonished glances. Hagrid hadn't said a word about that! Megan glanced upwards at Hagrid, who was red in the face.

"We should have known," Harry said when the noise calmed a little. "Who else would have us buy a biting book!"

Megan smiled. It was true, that did sound like something Hagrid would do. They were the last to stop clapping.

"Well, that's everything of importance," Dumnbledore said. "Please, dig in!"

The platters filled with food and drinks. Megan piled food onto her plate and began to eat. As always, every bit of it was delicious. The hall echoed with chatter and laughter, however Megan, as hungry as she was, did want to see Hagrid about his new job. She and the others knew what it would mean to him. He wasn't a fully certified wizard, as he had been expelled in his third year for something he hadn't done, which Megan herself had been suspected of too. Luckily, Megan and the others had cleared both their names last year. Finally, when the last morsels of chocolate tart and ice cream vanished, professor Dumbledore sent everyone to bed. Megan and the others got their chance.

"Congratulations, Hagrid!" they called as they reached him.

"S'all down ter you kids," he said. "Can' believe it... great man, Dumbledore. D'yeh know, soon as ol' professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough, Dumbledore came straight to see me."

McGongall ushered them away. Once they had reached the door, Cedric turned in the other direction.

"Well, I better hurry off to my common room," Cedric said.

Megan looked at the others.

"I'll be right there." she said.

They headed off. Then Megan turned to Cedric.

"In the haze of the start of term, we didn't get much time to talk." he said.

"No..."

"So, how did you resort to blowing up your aunt?"

"She was being insulting, and I just... couldn't take any more, I suppose."

"Remind me never to get in your bad books," Cedric grinned.

"You could never be."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't want to put you or your dad in that kind of position. I mean, he works for the Ministry and I was sure I was going to be arrested."

He chuckled.

"It takes more than that to end up in Azkaban, especially at your age," Cedric smiled.

"Yeah, I know. But that and the warning after what Dobby did last year… I was… scared, I guess."

"It's only natural," Cedric said. "But what matters is you're here now."

Megan nodded. She couldn't agree more.

"Well, early start tomorrow, we better turn in. Good night," Cedric said.

"Good night."

Just then, he leaned forwards and kissed the corner of her lips, as she had done the previous year. Megan went pink but he was gone before she could say anything more. Feeling a little frustrated and confused (did he like her or had he just miscalculated a plain cheek kiss?), she hurried off before she got into trouble or missed the password. She shot up the stairs and just heard Percy say

"Coming through, coming through! The password is Fortuna Major!"

She joined Harry and the others.

"Was there a problem with Cedric?" he asked.

"...What? Uh... no, nothing. Well, I'm worn out. Good night, boys."

They headed up their separate staircases and into their dormitories. As Megan looked around the familiar circular room, with the rich red four poster beds, she felt home at last.