Chapter 5
Megan had always been an early riser. She loved to wake up just before dawn, just as the sun was rising.
It had always filled her with hope and serenity, even in the darkest points of her life.
Watching the dark blue sky turn a mixture of pinks, reds and oranges, spread across the grey clouds that littered the sky.
Then the sun would peak over, winning out against the darkness. It was the way the world was supposed to be.
There would always be dark points, but the light would always win.
The beauty a new morning held always made her think of Alicia. They had been through so much together, had saved each other and never ran away when things got bad.
Megan guessed that this is what it was like for Harry and his friends. She had, fortunately, been kept well informed on Harry's life and everything he had accomplished.
His two friends, Ron and Hermione, had been there from the start, and here they were, still with him, until the very end. Prepared to sacrifice themselves for Harry so that he could defeat Voldemort.
Voldemort- She still couldn't think the name without feeling the familiar pangs of anger, grief, sadness and guilt. She wanted revenge so badly. She would torture him until he begged her to stop, and then when he had recovered, she would do it again, and again, and again, until he screamed for death. He would pay for what he had done to James and Lily.
But then she wouldn't be enough. She didn't have the power to kill him. That was Harry, it was his destiny. He alone had to kill Voldemort, it couldn't be any other way.
But he needed training. He wasn't near ready to face someone as powerful as Voldemort, though she doubted that the dark lord was ready to face a vengeful young man who had already had so many people taken away from him, and who was determined not lose anyone else.
She had seen the fire in his eyes last night. It reminded her of her darkest point, when she had been most vengeful. She carried that same fire.
After James and Lily were killed, Megan had become a shell of her former self. Not quite knowing where she was or where she was going, only focusing on making Voldemort and his followers suffer for what they did.
The night she met Alicia was the night it all could have ended. There were too many Death Eaters in that camp, more than she could handle. Maybe that's why she rushed in without a thought. She knew she probably wouldn't come out alive, and that was fine.
Death would be welcomed, rather than live each day, falling deeper and deeper into a pit of darkness.
It was hard to fight for survival when you had nothing left to live for.
But then she had seen a young girl with long blonde hair, shaking in the corner, her wrists and ankles bound in shackles. Her clothes were ripped, her body cut and bruised where she had been beaten and tortured for days.
Megan knew immediately that this girl was special. She had to make it out of this cave alive.
Megan managed to stupefy 4 of the Death Eaters and body bind another 3, which gave her just enough time to break the chains that held the girl to the wall.
She half expected the young girl to make a run for it, instead, she fought along side Megan until all of the dark lord's followers had been taken down.
The death toll for that day was 5 Death Eaters. They had stunned 5 and bound 3. Those 8 were now living out their days in a soulless existence in the wizarding prison Azkaban.
Megan's first reaction when the girl introduced herself as Albus Dumbledore's niece was to send her back to Hogwarts so she'd be safe, or let the Order of the Phoenix take her. She'd have qualified Aurors protecting her then.
Alicia was not one to back down from a fight though. She had of course, heard of Megan and her reputation. There weren't many in the wizarding world that hadn't.
Alicia had been out on official ministry business when she had been captured by
2 Death Eaters and taken to a camp in the mountains where she had been held for 6 days, beaten and tortured everyday.
She had felt something big coming on the sixth day. She just never expected a tall dark haired woman to rescue her. Especially one that didn't appear to have any will left to live. But she had been rescued, and she had fought to make sure that this woman made it out alive.
Megan had set out again the next day. Thirteen Death Eaters was a huge victory, but Voldemort was still out there, and she had to find him. Alicia had been very persistent in her efforts to convince Megan to let her join her, and Megan found that for some reason, she couldn't deny Alicia anything. And so they had traveled together, hunting down Death Eaters and criminals. Megan had refrained from killing every dark witch or wizard she came across, and now only killed when was absolutely necessary.
A soft, gentle hand on her shoulder shook her from her memories. Raising her head, she saw the reason she lived. Alicia smiled down at her, a mug of hot tea in her hand.
"Ah, you're up bright and early!" Megan grinned as she took the proffered mug and Alicia sat down on the damp grass next to her.
"I'm up early, I am not bright" Alicia grumbled in return. Megan chuckled. Alicia really wasn't a morning person.
"What got you up so early?" Megan asked.
"I heard Harry calling for 'Professor Dumbledore'. I guess he still has nightmares about that night." Alicia answered sadly.
"Apparently, he's always had nightmares. Most of them related to how Voldemort is feeling, or what he's planning."
"We should be thankful that he's dreaming of the past then, right?" Said Alicia.
"I think he's going to try and get into Harry's mind again, now that Albus isn't here to protect him anymore" Megan said carefully.
She didn't like bringing up the subject of her uncles passing. Alicia had convinced herself that it was her fault. She had found the location of the locket and had let her uncle know. She should have researched it more, maybe even tried to retrieve the locket herself, she was after all younger and healthier than he. Dumbledore was too old to endure the trials of the lake.
"We should have been there, Meg. We could have saved him!" she whispered, trying her best not to cry.
"He knew the risks involved Alicia. He knew that Malfoy was up to something, and that Snape had performed an unbreakable vow. You know that he would not have had it any other way. He died protecting Harry … something he had sworn to do from the day Harry was born."
"I know, I know. I just can't help thinking that we could have done something. We could have got Snape!" Alicia cried.
"We're not sure whether he's good or bad yet." Megan reminded her.
"He killed my uncle Megan, and now he's with them. Are you really willing to give him the benefit of the doubt?"
"You gave it to me!" Megan told her.
"That's different. You never killed innocent people that made a difference to the world."
"I didn't care Ali. If I thought they were evil, I killed them. It was as simple as that. I didn't give them a chance. Do you have an idea how it feels to live with that regret. I almost killed Sirius because I thought he was guilty. We have to be sure before we go after him."
Alicia had had enough. She couldn't stand there and listen to her best friend defend that murderer. She stood up angrily and looked down at Megan.
"He is a coward. My uncle could do greater things than Snape could even dream of, yet he killed him to protect that smarmy brat so that he'd stay alive and join Voldemort. Whether he's good or evil, he doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt".
And with that, she stormed back into the house, slamming the door behind her, not sparing a thought for anyone else who might still be in bed.
Megan knew she had gone too far. She knew better than to defend the wizard that murdered the greatest wizard ever to live, but they had to be sure. And no matter if Alicia agreed with it or not, they would get to the truth.
After a few minutes of sitting outside, Megan decided to head back in. when she walked into the kitchen, Hermione was standing at the oven, attempting a cooked breakfast. It wasn't going to well to say the least.
The bacon was burnt, the sausages were split and the eggs still had bits of their shell in the frying pan.
"Do you want me to take over?" she asked, taking pity on the young girl as she watched her getting flustered.
"Would you mind? I didn't want to use magic, but it turns out I'm a better witch than I am a cook."
Megan chuckled. She remembered the days when she was a disaster in the kitchen. But then Alicia had taught her shortly after they had started travelling together.
"Did you see Alicia just now?" Megan asked, trying to sound as cool as possible.
"Yes. Erm, I don't mean to pry but… did you two have a fight?" Hermione asked, worrying her bottom lip.
"Just a bit of a disagreement" Megan replied off-handed.
"Oh, ok. As long as it's nothing serious"
"We'll be alright. I'll let her cool off then apologize later" Megan told her as she turned over the sausages, now cooking nicely in the frying pan.
"Are you and Ron ok? I heard raised voices last night."
"MmHmm" Hermione nodded. "You'll get used to it" she said wryly.
"Get used to what?" a gruff voice sounded from the doorway. Hermione and Megan turned to see Ron standing there, scratching his head and messing up his already sleep tousled hair.
"You being your usual prat self" Hermione replied teasingly.
"Blimey, I only just got up, what could I have done in that time?" he asked indignantly.
Hermione didn't answer. Instead, she turned back to the oven and started counting.
She reached number 7 when Ron got nearer, sniffing, and cried;
"Hermione, you burnt the bacon!"
"And there it is" she moaned.
Megan watched the two of them with a smile as they bounced insults off at each other. They weren't hateful remarks, it was almost as if they were playing a game. The twinkle in their eyes as their voices got louder. She had, of course, been warned about these two teenagers. How their arguments were legendary and the real reason behind them. Not that you needed to witness an argument between them to see that they were crazy about each other.
Hermione continued to go around the kitchen, gathering up plates and cutlery ready for breakfast, all the while still arguing.
Megan wasn't even sure what this argument was about. It had long gone past the point of burnt bacon.
Finally, the food was cooked and Megan began scooping food onto the plates. When she finished piling one with sausages, bacon, eggs and beans, Hermione picked it up, whirled around and shoved it into Ron's hands.
"Breakfasts ready!" she smiled with forced sweetness.
"Ah thanks. I'm starving" Ron said cheekily, popping a forkful of beans into his mouth and walking over to the table.
Megan chuckled at the look of pure disbelief on Hermione's face.
'Alicia is going to have so much fun this week' Megan thought fondly, 'She's a sucker for a love story'.
Harry and Alicia joined the others shortly after. Alicia sat eating her breakfast in silence. Megan tried talking to her but knew deep down that she wouldn't get any response.
Both Ron and Harry glanced questioningly at Hermione for an answer, but she merely shrugged, indicating that she didn't know anything.
"So how are your dueling abilities?" Megan asked, pushing her empty plate away from her.
"Not bad. We managed to fight off the Death Eaters at the department of mysteries and then at the school" replied Harry.
"But we were all injured at the Ministry, and we had a lucky potion at school. Although our summer was spent training". Hermione added.
"We have a training schedule that was made up for us which we have to practice everyday" Harry continued "We can fight them".
Megan nodded. Watching the three friends. They were still so young, it wasn't fair that they had to go through this, but she needed to know how capable they were. Everybody had finished their breakfast by now, and they were all sitting up, ready to discuss whatever would get them ready.
"Would you be able to kill one of them?" She asked. She noticed them all tense up. It was clear that not one of them were quite ready to do that.
"I will… if we have no other choice, I will" Ron said darkly.
"Would you be able to kill a friend, someone you trusted?" They all appeared slightly confused about this. "If one of you were to turn evil, if one of you joined them, would you be able to kill them?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione were horrified. That thought had never crossed their minds. It was something they would never doubt.
"Have you ever had to kill someone you trusted?" Hermione asked anxiously. Not even sure she wanted to know the answer to that.
"Growing up, my sister was my best friend. We did everything together. I trusted her with my life. She was ambitious though, wanted to be the Minister of Magic. One day, she was approached by a man that offered her more than that." Alicia told them sadly.
"It wasn't a case of good and evil anymore, it was all about the power. Riddle's offer was too good for her to turn down."
"She became a Death Eater!" Harry said knowingly. Alicia nodded.
"Yes. She left and no-one could find her. Then, we had a lucky break. I finally found her, but when it came down to it, I couldn't do it. I knew that she was evil… but she was still my sister." Her voice cracked and a lone tear slid down her cheek. It wasn't often that she talked about her sister. It still broke her heart, even after all these years.
Megan watched her partner for a moment, then forgetting their previous argument, crossed the room and sat down next to Alicia. Placing a strong arm around her shoulders, she continued the story.
"One night in a bar, we came across a group of Death Eaters in disguise. We started to fight, and I eventually faced her sister. I had already been injured, she played on that and I collapsed from the pain. She was about to kill me when Alicia stepped in."
"I had already lost one best friend, I couldn't lose another. It was my darkest moment. I killed my own sister because otherwise, she would've killed Megan, then I'd be as good as dead… we all would."
The two women shared a loving glance and Alicia leaned into Megan's embrace.
The trio looked at each other. Could they really kill one of them. Sure, they'd all die for one another, but to actually look into the eyes of someone you loved, then take their life, with everything they hade been through and shared. It would be too hard. They all glanced down at the floor, all thinking the same thing. There would be no way they could.
"It may come to that. You need to be prepared for every possibility." Megan said sternly, acknowledging the expressions of the three friends.
"How about spiritual connections?" Alicia asked. She was answered by three confused faces.
"It will help a great deal. A spiritual connection, especially within a bond as strong as yours, will provide a certain amount of protection, as well as make you stronger both individually and as a collective. The downside, of course, is that if one of you is killed, the power loss will weaken those of you remaining. But, essentially, it could be the difference in winning this war" Alicia explained.
"What kind of protection will it provide?" Ron asked.
"In a sense, we're sharing our powers. With spiritual also comes emotional. Our powers are channelled through our emotions. Because of the intensity of our feelings for each other, our bond is strong enough to carry our powers to one another. It creates a sort of barrier around us that would mean certain curses couldn't touch us, unless with the intent to kill." Hermione explained.
Megan and Alicia both stared at her, completely dumbstruck. Not sure how a girl of her age could know all about an ancient ritual. Harry and Ron, however, looked as though this was a daily occurrence. Of course, it was. They were all too aware of how brilliant she was.
"She's read every book ever made!" Ron explained somewhat proudly.
"So, unless the killing curse is used, we're practically invincible?" Harry asked.
"You're not invincible as such. The connection is stronger when you're together, and it's only as strong as your love for each other. But there is a ritual that comes along with it." Megan informed him.
After a few moments thought, Harry spoke.
"I think Ron and Hermione should do it"
"We're not doing this without you Harry!" exclaimed Ron.
"You have to. I'm the one that has to face Voldemort, it's kill or be killed for me. If the worst happens, I want you two to still be protected."
"It will be stronger if there is another person sharing their love and power." Alicia cut in.
"You can't get much more love between those two!" Harry cried, wildly waving his hands towards them. Hermione and Ron both looked up at him, throwing daggers. If looks could kill, all they'd need to do is see Voldemort and this whole mess would be over.
"Oh, stop it!" he shouted at them. "I don't want you two to be left unprotected if I'm not here."
"We're not doing this without you Harry" Ron repeated.
"If you want us protected, you'll have to join in. and that is the end of that!" Hermione told him matter of factly, arms crossed over her chest.
"Hold on, if all it takes for us to be protected is this ritual, why isn't everyone doing it?" Ron asked, surely that made sense.
"It's very old magic and is practically unheard of. Also, blood rituals have been forbidden for centuries." Megan explained.
"Why does it always have to involve blood?" Ron groaned. Harry and Hermione grinned at their mutual best friend. As brave as he was, he could be a little squeamish at times.
"So what do we have to do then?" Harry asked, finally giving in.
"It's actually very simple. Megan will make the potion while I teach the three of you how to connect your minds and entwine your spirit. When that's all done, it's just a case of drinking the potion, joining your blood and a few chants." explained Alicia.
"And how do we create the blood bond exactly?" Ron asked, his face still scrunched up in disgust.
"Have you ever heard of 'Blood Brothers'?" Hermione asked, to which he shrugged his shoulders to say he hadn't.
"Basically, we have to cut our hands, then hold hands so our blood joins together" supplied Harry.
"Except where there's three of us, we'll need to sit in a circle and cut both hands. Then I should imagine we chant the ritual whilst holding hands and keeping our spirits connected"
"Very good Hermione" Alicia praised her, still impressed by this girls knowledge.
"Ok, but why exactly do we need to join our blood?" Ron asked again.
"Blood is the basic essence of life. By joining our blood, it seals a part of our souls together forever. So, we'll be able to call upon the others power when we need it. No matter how far apart we are." Hermione explained.
"We need to get on with my work out for the day. Would you like to join us?" Megan asked.
The trio looked at each other. What with spiritual connections added to their list of things to do before they left The Hollow, more exercise was one thing they could really go without.
"I'm still quite tired actually, might take a nap before I start on everything." said Harry, feigning a yawn.
"I really should continue researching" Hermione added as she slowly backed out of the kitchen. The two older women turned their attention to the remaining red-head who gulped and said nervously;
"What she said" the quickly left the kitchen and followed Hermione up the stairs.
Once they were alone, Megan turned to face Alicia, taking her hand in hers.
"I'm sorry about earlier. It's just, we have to know the truth. Believe me, I want the greasy git to suffer for what he did, but we do need to know."
"I know" Alicia agreed. "But you were prepared to kill Sirius without knowing the truth, and even when you did find out he was innocent, you were still wary of him. Therefore, don't expect me to welcome him back with open arms."
"And I would never ask that of you. Lets just forget about this morning and focus on getting these kids ready, yeah?"
Alicia looked up at Megan and smiled innocently. "Do I get to have some fun while we're here?" she asked.
Megan grinned, knowing that the 'fun' Alicia meant involved Ron and Hermione.
"You spotted that huh?"
"Oh yes!" She grinned.