2ND SEPTEMBER 1994 - 12:00 PM

The first two classes of the first day back had been excruciatingly slow for Meera. Thanks to their absolutely splendid fortune Meera and Evie ended up having double Potions and he did not go easy on them for their first day back.

Evie was in a rather foul mood at the moment as Snape had given her detention for not writing enough pages for her summer work.

'You were supposed to write 3 pages, Miss Brooke. You only wrote 2.' she imitated Snape's snide tone perfectly make Meera laugh.

"Whatever happened to quality over quantity?" her friend joked.

"I know right! He hasn't even read my work, and he's already decided its insufficient." she exclaimed.

He said he might consider revoking it if he thought her essay was good enough. Obviously, this isn't going to happen because Snape hates everyone...even his own house. He loves to bully and pick on his students and abuses his authourity. Evie wondered why Dumbledore lets him stay.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Evie asked.

"A lot." Meera said.

On top of all of this Snape gave them homework on writing an essay about the properties of Moonstone and why it is useful for the Draught of Peace, due their next lesson

"How did you manage to write three pages?" Evie asked her.

"I made my handwriting bigger and left more spaces between my lines. He can't exactly say that isn't my handwriting now, can he?" Meera replied. Evie nodded.

Meera was about to join the Ravenclaw table but Evie pulled her over to the Hufflepuff table instead.

"There is no way we can finish that essay Snape wants by the next lesson. We're most certainly getting homework from our other teachers...Snape can't expect us to do research and write an essay on something we've never done before that quickly." Meera said. "There are so many different sources to consider..."

"Meera calm down, you're overthinking this." Evie said. "If I could write essay like you're first drafts then I'd be over the moon and Snape would probably like me a little more...hell Harris wouldn't have to proof read for me. That's how good they are. You'll be fine."

"That's it...we need to find older students who did the same subjects as us and find what the course structures was." Meera said.

"Yeah...we need to get a sixth years old essay." Evie paused pensively for a few minutes and then noticed a familar face further along the table.

"Oi, Diggory!" she shouted He looked up quickly and his friends also looked at her. "Get your ass over here now!"

Over the past few years she and Cedric have become better friends, starting out as just teammates. Both had wanted to be seeker and tried out for it, but Cedric was just a teeny tiny bit better than her and so they chose him. Hence, she became the Keeper.

When he'd become Captain last year it had annoyed her further. Although she was younger she felt that she deserved the captaincy as she was far more competitive than him. However, over time she had to admit that he proved himself to be a good captain.

Cedric got out of his seat and made his way over to them and sat next to her. Even sat down he was quite a bit taller than her much to her irritation. "What's up?"

"Could I take a look at your Moonstone essay from last year?" she asked him.

The relief was evident as his shoulders fell a little and he slouched a little more and smiled at her. "Snape set you homework?"

She nodded.

"Well you write yours first and then use mine to proofread and add to it." Cedric said. "I'm not letting you copy mine...you'll just get in more trouble with him."

"What makes you think I'd copy it and Meera won't?" Evie asked haughtily.

"I...I mean because Meera...well she..." Cedric struggled to find the right words. Evie noticed his gaze linger longer on her dark haired friend as he tried to figure out what to say. "Well there's a reason she gets the grades."

"I'm not gonna lie to you but most of my essays are textbooks paraphrased." Meera shrugged. "We just wanted to see how long yours was so we could get an idea of how much to do."

"Oh...sorry Evie." Cedric apologised. "It's just its what you did for Care of Magical Creatures last year...I assumed...."

"Once...because I forgot to do it and it was due that afternoon." Evie said. "Anyway, how was period one?" she asked him. She noticed him grimace and frowned.

"Moody made us watch him perform the unforgivable curses. It wasn't pleasant." He explained shortly. "Its expected to be on the sixth year curriculum but that lesson was horrible and I have a feeling he's teaching that to O.W.L. students as well...he said something about feeling that ministry was wrong about restricting when they could teach it."

"What are they?" she asked when she noticed Meera's expression sour.

"You'll learn them in the lesson, I have to go or I'll be late for Ancient Runes"

Meera looked up from her lunch and rose her eyebrows at him. "You continued Ancient Runes?"

"It gets better." he shrugged and left. "Good luck with DADA."

Defence Against the Dark Arts was a rather unpredictable subject for most Hogwart students as they had a new teacher ever year and it was difficult to find out what they were expected to do for the subject. For the first three years they had disastrous teachers whose contribution did little to help Hogwarts student. Finally, they had Lupin and everyone prayed that he would break the pattern of the leaving professors as he was the best they'd had. He was a good teacher, amicable and in general someone who was approachable.

Over their four years in Hogwarts Lupin was the most competent teacher she'd had. Now they have Mad-Eye Moody an ex auror, who is said to be extremely paranoid these days. He was feared by many of the students due to his history. Evie didn't really know much about him, but for some reason she could not bring herself to trust him.

Thankfully, she and Evie did not have to face him for another hour, because they had HIstory of Magic. For once Meera was glad that she had to sit through Binns lesson.

They noticed Harris sprinting up the stairs on the way to the classroom grinning broadly as he waved. He wasn't watching where he was going and so he stumbled on his way up.

Evie and Meera chuckled as they entered Binns' classroom and seated themselves in the back. Meera gave her a disapproving look as she began doodling in a notebook, but Evie ignored her. Eventually, Meera gave up in trying to persuade Evie to write notes, knowing that their homework will probably consist of most of their notes and that she could always ask Harris' help to persuade her instead.

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2ND SEPTEMBER 1994 - 15:00

The three hour lesson of History of Magic ended surprisingly quickly for Meera and if there wasn't a sixth year class waiting outside the room she'd have taken an extra five minutes to pack up...perhaps spilled ink everywhere on purpose...just to be late to Moody's lesson.

As she exited she noticed a couple of familiar faces among the sixth year crowd. She knew that Harris took it as an elective but was surprised to see Cedric Diggory enter the classroom.

"Oi!" She yanked at the hood of Cedric's cloak, to stop him from entering. Her eyes were narrowed as she surveyed him through her black glasses. "When did you get an O.W.L in History of Magic? You got Acceptable, Binns never accepts Acceptable."

"Well he does now." Cedric said grinning down at the younger girl. "I was only a mark away from Exceeds Expectations, so Binns made an exception."

Meera glared at him and she shoved him a little after she let go of him.

Of course he made an exception.

This is Cedric Diggory we're talking about the perfect golden boy, who's gets whatever he fucking wants.

"Binns did say I have to come to extra classes though, if that makes you feel any better." Cedric added as he steadied himself.

The Ravenclaw couldn't help the small smirk that came on her face when she heard that: extra classes with Binns are equivalent to the strongest sleeping draught Snape could concoct.

"Good luck with staying awake Diggory! I bet you'll fall asleep in your first five minutes." Meera grinned.

Many wondered why Meera Ranga had it in for the golden boy of Hogwarts. At this point she actually doesn't know what started or fuels this...rivalry for a lack of better word, but likes to maintain it for the fun of it.

"Why do you love hating him so much? I mean I know he's annoying, but he's not worth that much energy." Evie said.

"I don't know actually...its kind of a natural instinct now...and I don't hate him." Meera disagreed. "I just find him irritating."

Evie huffed with annoyance as Meera dragged her to the front of the classroom. "Why are you such a teacher's pet?"

"I'm not a teacher's pet. I'm being practical. I can't see from the back so I sit in front." Meera replied coolly. "I let you choose where we sit in History of Magic."

"Fair enough." The blonde muttered begrudgingly.

Meera pulled out her textbook and notebook as she settled herself down.

"You're so organised that it is actually disturbing." A familiar voice said behind her.

Evie and Meera turned and glared at the brunette behind us. Melissa was a rather idiotic obnoxious bitch who asked stupid questions. "And my boyfriend...he totally agrees..."

"Shut up Barbie, no one wants to hear you talk about Ken." Evie snapped at her. Melissa frowned at her and the two girls turned away

The class fell silent as Moody walked past the rows. His gaze fell on the books on several students desks. "You don't need any of those."

Evie pulled out her wand as Meera put her books away, annoyed at her friend's amusement.

"Or that. Not yet." He growled to the grinning Hufflepuff. Meera didn't think he meant to be that aggressive. Evie's grin fell and she put her wand away.

Moody took out the register and ticked off their names as each person answered, his magical eye swivelled around, stopping at each student as they answered.

"Right." He said, as the last person (Zacharias Smith) announced themselves as present. "I've heard from Professor Lupin, that you've progressed well on your study of dark creatures, catching up quite quickly with what you'd missed in your third year, due to incompetent teaching. Now we'll be moving onto curses"

He looked around the classroom. All were silent and the only sound that could be heard is the slight whirring of his magical eye.

"I suggest you put that away now, Miss Edgecomb." He said curtly, Meera turned and saw on the opposite side, Marietta had been trying to show Cho something, who was persistently ignoring her, sparing only a few fleeting glances at what she showed her. "This lesson is about the Dark Arts. Not an hour for you to catchup on missed homework."

Marietta went red in the face and hurriedly stuffed something into her bag. Meera turned back quickly to avoid the scrutiny of her professor.

"You are behind on curses...very behind." Moody continued. "So I'm here to teach you about what wizards do to each other, for the next year..."

"Why aren't you staying?" Evie blurted, but immediately regretted it, looking quite apprehensive as Moody's magical eye and all eyes in the class fell on her.

Evie didn't mind attention too much when it came from her fellow Hufflepuffs, she liked to be standoffish there as she trusted and respected most people in her house. However, she did not like speaking up in lessons that were with other houses, respecting very few people from them. This is understandable as the Ravenclaw girls are quite snobby and Meera herself chooses to tell them to eat shit and let loose with her Hufflepuff friend.

That isn't to say that she wouldn't put people in their place if they disrespect her or her friends, the girl maybe small, but has a large heart and a vicious temper. She's a fireball of passion and the epitome of a Hufflepuff when it comes to loyalty and dilligence.

Evie visibly relaxed when Moody's face twisted into a smile, looking unnaturally menacing as it twisted and contorted his face in strange ways. However, it was good to know that underneath all the hardcore, bad-ass, no shit-taking, legend reputation, there is some friendlieness.

"Miss Brooke, ay? Professor Sprout speaks very highly of you...yes, I'm staying for just this year. One year and then back to my quiet retirement."

Someone sniggered in the background and muttered. "What? Is he going to wrestle dustbins again?"

"Would you like to repeat that again, Mr Smith?" Moody's voice was cold and menacing once more as he turned to glare at the opposite side, where Zacharias Smith sat with one of the Ravenclaws.

Meera tried to put a name to the face...she'd learnt it this morning...Jake? Jack? No...Jason. One of the beaters of the Quidditch team. Meera had made it her goal to know as many of the Ravenclaw's names as possible...because prefects are supposed to know people apparently (according to Cedric at least).

"So...since Mr Smith has nothing to say, I'll continue. Curses. They come in many shapes and forms. According to the Ministry, I'm only supposd to teach you countercurses and leave it at that. I'm not supposed to show you Dark curses...the illegal ones...until sixth year. You're not supposed to be old enough...too young...too innocent they say. But Dumbledore has got a higher opinion of your nerves, he believes you can cope and I say, the sooner you know what you're up against, the better. How would you defend yourself against something you've never seen? A wizard who's about to put an illegal curse on you isn't going to care about niceties when he does so. You must be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful." Moody said, he paused, regarding the students once more. "So...do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?"

Meera rose her hand tentaively, not raising her elbow away from the desk. Evie appeared surprise. Normally, Meera took every opportunity to answer a question in a lesson if she knew the answer and she knew the answer quite a lot. Over the years she'd chosen to discard a mask of modesty and be confident with her skills.

However, the reluctance was evident as she raised her hand rigidly and her eyes flitted around nervously. She had pulled out her pendant and began fiddling with it subconsciously.

"You!" Moody said pointing at a Hufflepuff. "Give me one of the unforgivable curses."

The Hufflepuff swallowed and said. "Er...the Imperius Curse..."

Moody nodded to himself, got heavily to his feet, opened his drawer and retrieved a glass jar with three black spiders in it. Meera drew back with a little apprehension...she flinched when insects were around...she didn't find them gross, they just...scared her a little. Moody took one and placed it one his hand before pointing his wand at it and muttering. "Imperio."

Meera felt sympathy for the spider that had jumped out of Moody's hand and began swinging backwards and forward on a fine thread. It rigidly straightened its legs and did a backflip which as much grace as a baby bird trying to fly for the first time.

By doing so it had broken the thread and began to do cartwheels. Moody then jerked up his wand and it spun around on one leg while holding two over its head, gracelessly imitating a ballerina.

Quite a few people laughed, Meera however just felt uncomfortable. She noticed then that Evie's knuckles were white as she glared at Moody. The girl found a way to adore most animals and even a few insects, so seeing this was not amusing to her.

Not only did she look angry, but she looked wounded or pained as if somehow she could feel the spiders pain. Meera had a newfound admiration for the girl's ability to empathise with animals.

Although she'd read about the Imperius Curse, she'd never understood what they meant by 'total control'. Seeing this she finally did so and frankly it sickened her.

It bothered Meera because she'd seen this kind of magic in many shapes or form of in the Muggle world...voodoo, in Tamil comedies in India it was used as devices for amusement. She never believed it could be possible to manipulate someone in such a way using magic. To completely strip them of their ability to control their impulses...leaving them helpless.

Moody remained grim faced however, glaring at the laughing class.

"You think it's funny?" he growled. "You'd like it, would you, if I did it to you?"

The laughter died instantly and some's eyes were wide with fear.

"Total control," Moody said, quietly as the spider balled itself up and began to roll over and over. "I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, throw itself into one of your cloaks..."

Meera flinched involuntarily at that, retracting a little.

Moody continued onto explain how some witches and wizards who supported You-Know-Who, were forced to do so by the Imperius Curse.

"The Imperius Curse can be fought, and I'll be teaching you how, but it takes real strength of character, and not everyone's got it. Better to avoid it if you can. CONSTANT VIGILANCE." he barked, causing the class to jump.

Moody picked up the currently somersaulting spider and replaced it in the jar, a touch careleslly (much to Evie's indignance). She wondered what he'd meant when he said he'd teach us how to resist it.

"Anyone else?" Moody asked."

Meera's hand went up again, but Moody's eye was fixed on someone behind her.

"The Cruciatus Curse." someone suggested, uncertainly.

"Your name's Jason, correct?" Moody asked, the boy nodded.

Moody nodded to himself and retrieved another spider, before placing it on the desktop. "The Cruciatus Curse...hmm, needs to be a bit bigger for you to get the idea." Moody muttered pointing his wand at the spider. "Engorgio!"

Meera staggered backwards once more, as the spider swelled and became larger than any she'd ever seen.

Moody pointed his wand at the spider and said. "Crucio!"

Almost immediately, the spider's legs bent in upon its. It rolled over and twitched horribly, rocking from side to side. If it were a human it would squirming and perhaps screaming. Evie's knuckles were white and her face looked deathly pale as her eyes remained glued to the spider. She looked as though she was going to be sick. Meera nudged her to try and get her to look away, but Evie seemingly ignored her. She could hear her say something faintly. "Make it stop. Make it stop."

There is no way Moody's all seeing eye could not have picked this up. She was clearly uncomfortable...a lot more than the rest of the class, but he ignored her...it was as though he didn't hear her. The spider continued to jerk and shudder.

"Stop it!" Meera shouted getting up from her seat. "Stop it! That's enough! Can't you see it's bothering her?" The shrill outburst shocked her classmatesa as they'd never seen her interrupt a teacher before."

He raised his wand and the spider's legs relaxed, but it continued to twitch a little.

"Reducio." Moody muttered and shrank it back to it's proper size. He then turned to Meera. "You can sit down now, Miss Ranga."

She seated herself and felt her ears burned a little. 

"Pain." Moody said softly. "You don't need knives or nails to torture someone if you can perform the Cruciatus Cursee...That one was very popular too once."

He then regarded the class, his eyes lingering on Evie, before he said finally. "Anyone know any others."

Meera was sure everyone knew this one. It was the one Harry Potter was famous for surviving after all.

"Do you know anymore Miss Ranga?" he said. His eyes were fixed on her and Meera swallowed uncomfortably.

"Avada Kedavra." Meera said shakily, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked down and allowed her hair to fall over her face to shield her face from the uneasy stares she recieved from the rest of them. To her shock and revulsion, Moody's face twisted into a slight smile. "Ah yes, the last and worst. Avada Kedavra...the Killing Curse."

The last spider he pulled out appeared to be in a frenzy as it scuttled away from Moody at a desperate attempt to run away. Evie's eyes were downcast, only glancing up for mere seconds before she looked down again. Meera took her friend's hand and held it tightly, in a comforting grip.

"Avada Kedavra." Moody roared.

There was a flash of blinding green light and a rushing sound as though a vast, invisible bird of some kind was soaring through the air. Instantaneously the spider rolled over onto its back, absolutely unharmed, but unmistakeably dead.

There were several stifled cries; Evie shuddered and pulled her left hand out of Meera's hastily rubbing at her eyes. Evie only became more indignant as Moody swept the dead spider off onto the floor and kicked it out of his way.

"Not nice." he said calmly. "Not pleasant. There's no countercurse to block it and only one person has ever survived it and I'm sure you all know who that is."

Evie rose her hand and it shook a little as she looked at him. Moody looked at her.

"Please may I go and see Madam Pomfrey sir. I have a pass." Evie said holding it up.

Meera had persuaded Cedric to sign an out of lesson pass for Evie by saying she'll give him whatever he asked for...that's why she'd agreed to tutor him in Muggle Studies last year.

Moody nodded and Evie hurried out of the classroom. Meera regretted picking the front seat as she watched her friend leave.

"Avada Kedavra's a curse that needs a powerful bit of magic behind it - you could all get your wands out now and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I'd get as much as a nosebleed. But that doesn't matter. I'm not here to teach you how to use it." Moody said.

"Now if there's no countercurse, why am I showing you? Because you have to know. You have to appreciate what the worst is. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you're facing it. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he roared once more and the class jumped again. "These three curses, Avada Kedavra, Imperius and Cruciatus, are known as the Unforgivable Curses. The use of any one of them on a fellow human being is enough to earn a life sentence in Azkaban. That's what you're up against. That's what I have to teach you to fight. You need tempering, preparing and arming. But most of all, you needd to practice constant, never-ceasing vigilance. Get out your quills and copy this down..."

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2ND SEPTEMBER 1994 - 19:00

Meera spent the rest of the lesson taking meticulous notes on each of the Unforgivable Curses. No one spoke until the bell rang and Moody dismissed them. Before she left however, Meera pointed her wand at her notes and muttered. "Geminio."

The pages duplicated and she quickly wrote Evie's initials on the second set.

By the time Meera had gathered her things, the class was empty. She had heard them talking about it, as if it was a show and it sickened her It wasn't entertaining, it was cruel. And there was something off about Moody...why did he smile when she mentioned the Killing Curse. He looked like the Cheshire Cat...and when he tortured that spider...he seemed to like the last two spells. Only the Imperius Curse bothered him.

Meera was sure she was imagining things but made a note in her mind to find out exactly how mad Mad-Eye Moody is. Did his years as an auror make him so deranged that it made him ignorant to the discomfort of others? There is no way that he didn't see how uneasy Evie had become over the lesson. She'd hoped her friend was okay as she'd looked rather ill when she'd left the lesson and uncharacteristically pale. As she descended into the entrance hall she heard a familiar snide voice say. "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?"

She noticed Evie in the crowd her fists clenched. The colour had returned to her face and she looked annoyed rather than ill and that was always a good sign; Malfoy's presence usually made her ill tempered. As Meera joined her she smiled shortly before turning back to glare at the Slytherin boy. "Mr Weasley and Moody are on the paper and Malfoy's being a little shit."

A few sixth years were joining the crowd; Harris tried to push through to shut Malfoy up only to be held back by Evie. "Let him finish, Harris."

Harris knew better than to cross Evie when she was angry and so stood back. Cedric however is an idiot and received sharp kicks in the shins, from Meera and Evie who pulled him back and shoved him out of the way. Meera turned and snapped trying to create an air of disapproval. "No."

This might have worked a little better if Meera was taller than the boy or at least as tall as him. However, this only amused Cedric who was about 5 or 6 inches taller than her, his chin being just above her head. Evie was quite a bit shorter than both and somehow managed to intimidate even if she was small. Cedric and Meera's awkward height difference only made looking up at him whilst in close proximity more uncomfortable and so Meera could never really deliver the full extent of her threats seriously.She turned her back to Cedric, choosing to watch the scene in front of her unfold. Malfoy was currently making fun of the Weasleys' house.

"Your mother could do with los­ing a bit of weight, couldn't she?" Malfoy asked.

Ron was shaking with fury as everyone stared at him.

"Get stuffed, Malfoy," said Harry. "'C'mon, Ron. ..."

"Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you, Potter?" sneered Malfoy. "So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?"

"If you don't shut your mouth right now, I'll kick you're sorry ass so hard that you'll end up in the bottom of the Black Lake." Evie snarled.

That was where Harris drew the line, grabbing the hood of the Hufflepuff's robes to ensure she didn't act on her words.

"Oh yes...little Miss Brooke, Hufflepuff's shortest Quiddtich player in a century and an incompetent Mudblood. You know her don't you...she must have grown on you for you to be able to ignore all that dead weight she's got." Malfoy smirked.

Meera's eyes widened as she understood his implication. Evie's eyebrows furrowed and Meera nudged Cedric. "Grab onto her robes, Diggory!"

Cedric frowned but did so, much to Evie's indignance.

"You know your mother, Malfoy?" Harry said. Both he and Hermione had grabbed the back of Ron's robes to stop him from launching himself at the contemptible blonde, "that expression she's got, like she's got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?"

Evie relaxed under the two sixth year's grip and gave Harry an approving grin. Malfoy's face went a little pink. "Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter."

"Keep your fat mouth shut, then," Harry said, turning away.

In a flash Malfoy pulled out his wand and sent an explosive spell towards Harry. Harris pulled his own out almost at the same time as Cedric to manage the situation. Meera's grip on hers tightened.

However, before they could do so, a roar echoed across the entrance hall. "OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!"

Malfoy had disappeared and in his place was a pure white ferret, which was shivering in the stone-flagged floor. Moody was limping down the staircase, pointing his wand at said ferret. Meera's urge to laugh died as she saw her Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor and she shrank back subconsciously, as he entered the Great Hall. A silence had fallen upon the students, no on but Moody moved a muscle,who turned to look at Harry

"Did he get you?"Moody growled. His voice was low and gravelly.

"No," Harry said, "missed."

"LEAVE IT!" Moody shouted suddenly

"Leave what?" Harry asked, bewilderedly.

"Not you - him!"Moody growled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at one of Malfoy's sidekicks, who had just frozen, about to pick up the white ferret.

It seemed that Moody's rolling eye was magical could see out of the back of his head.

Moody limped towards them and the ferret which gave a terrified squeak, scurried away towards the dungeons.

"I don't think so!" Moody roared, pointing his wand at the ferret again.

It flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor, and then bounced upward once more. "I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned," Moody snarled as the ferret bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain.

"Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do. ..." The ferret flew through the air, its legs and tail flailing helplessly. "Never...do...that...again..." Moody said, speaking each word as the ferret hit the stone floor and bounced upward again.

Out of the corner of her eye Meera noticed a bright flash and turned to see that Colin Creevey was squeezed in between the twins as he snapped a picture of Malfoy. The twins grinned and Meera rose her eyebrows at them with an expression of mock disapproval.

"Professor Moody!" a shocked voice said. Professor McGonagall was coming down the marble staircase with her arms full of books.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," Moody said calmly, bouncing the ferret still higher.

"What - what are you doing?" said Professor McGonagall, her eyes following the bouncing ferret's progress through the air.

"Teaching," Moody replied calmly.

"Teach - Moody, is that a student?" Professor McGo­nagall shrieked, the books spilling out of her arms.

"Yep," Moody said.

"No!" Professor McGonagall cried, running down the stairs and pulling out her wand; a moment later, with a loud snapping noise, Draco Malfoy had reappeared, lying in a heap on the floor with his sleek blond hair all over his flushed face. He got to his feet, wincing.

"Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!" Professor McGonagall said weakly. "Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?"

"He might've mentioned it, yeah," Moody said, scratching his chin unconcernedly, "but I thought a good sharp shock -"

"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!"

"I'll do that, then," said Moody, staring at Malfoy with great dislike.

Malfoy's pale eyes were still watering with pain and hu­miliation. He looked up at Moody and muttered some­thing in which the words "my father" were distinguishable. Meera snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Oh yeah?" Moody said quietly, limping forward a few steps, the dull clunk of his wooden leg echoing around the hall. "Well, I know your father of old, boy. ... You tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son ... you tell him that from me. ... Now, your Head of House will be Snape, will it?"

"Yes," Malfoy replied resentfully.

"Another old friend," Moody growled. "I've been looking for­ward to a chat with old Snape. ... Come on, you. ..."

He seized Malfoy by the upper arm and hauled away towards the dungeons. Professor McGonagall stared at the pair a touch apprehensively as they left, then waved her wand at the books she'd dropped before gathering them into her arms.

As soon as the crowd had dispersed Evie had run off to find Colin Creevey so that she could get a copy of the photo of 'Malfoy the Flying Ferret'. Meera now walked with Cedric and Harris. Harris was laughing hysterically, while the Hufflepuff boy looked at them with mild disapproval.

"Oh, stop being such a perfect snob, Diggory. I know you want to laugh." Meera said grinning. Meera noticed his lips curve up however and he tried to hide his amusement.

"No, I don't." He denied turning away from her.

"Yeah right." Meera snorted. She shoved him playfully trying to get some response from him and he glared at her. He shoved back, but his was a lot stronger. She slapped his arm after steadying herself.

"Hey!" He exclaimed.

"You deserved that." she said and he glared at her.

"As much as I enjoyed watching your lover spat, can we get to dinner before everything runs out." Harris interjected, getting in between the two of them before the Hufflepuff could do anything.

"Lover's spat?" Meera and Cedric asked.

"What the hell Harris? You know that I'd see the dark side of the moon before I date Diggory!" Meera exclaimed.

"Yeah...we're not lovers." Cedric insisted. Although he appeared shocked by Harris' suggestion his tone suggested he was impartial to the idea.

"When did I say you were? Its an expression." Harris said seeming very amused. "Unless something is going on..."

"No!" Meera said. "And I don't care what Evie would do to me, but if you try and hint at that one more time I will gouge your eyes out."

"Ok! Jeez calm down Meera. I was just messing with you." Harris said, putting his arm around the dark haired girl. For a moment the Slytherin thought he noticed a tinge of disappointment in the Hufflepuff boy's eyes but his thoughts were soon cut off by Evie joining the three of them talking eagerly about how the twins had agreed to let her in on the planning of some joke yearbook of some sort.

As the four of them entered the Great Hall chatting and laughing Meera tried to appreciate the moment. Over the four years, these four had found each other and formed an unusual friendship. Meera has never really accomadated change in her life, but these people joining her life, is by far the best thing that can come out of change. She hoped that despite everything crazy that goes on in Hogwarts that this would never change.