A.N. – Hey! I'm really sorry about the slow update last time, but my computer decided to be stupid and wouldn't let me transfer the document, so I had to wait until I got a new printer hooked up to my other computer and retyped all the documents on this computer so I could get it to my cousin . . . My other computer wouldn't take floppy disks, CDs, or memory sticks. It's a pain in the butt. Anyway, hope you like this chapter! Read and Review!

Chapter Four

A day passed without word from Alice. Lily spent most of her time gazing hopefully out the window in search of an owl, but hadn't yet seen one.

Elbow propped up against the windowsill, Lily pressed her nose against the windowpane and dozed on. Then, with an unusually loud snore, her eyelids flew open and she gazed around her bedroom.

Finally! Her mind screamed when she spotted an owl sitting atop the mess of laundry that had accumulated in the corner during Petunia's absence. But that isn't her owl!

It was true. Lily had seen this owl before, but it wasn't her friend's. It was his.

James Potter. The name sent a fresh new wave of fury and disgust through Lily. How she despised him! Arrogant, cocky, and conceited, he had a certain charm that made every girl at Hogwarts (except Lily, of course) go weak in the knees. He spent most of his time at Hogwarts languishing in his own popularity, bullying unsuspecting students, snogging girls, and annoying Lily. He paid little attention in any of his classes, though his grades were among the best in the year. And Lily hated him for all of it.

Lily could vividly remember the day she really began to loathe him. Her first year had almost come to an end and, while Lily had been shy and avoided most unnecessary contact with anyone, she had finally befriended the girls who shared her dormitory: Emma Gregor, Alice Chambers, and Lina Richmond. Lily had been so elated at her new camaraderie that she felt only a small jolt of dread when in Transfiguration, Professor Whyte had partnered her with the most popular boy in first year.

Oh, he had been perfectly fine to start with. All charming and kind, he didn't seem the least bit affected when she dove out of sight to hide her blush. In fact, he apologized for her embarrassment and tried to act as thought nothing had happened — but even then, wonderful actor as he was, Lily didn't miss the smirk.

Looking back now, Lily didn't understand how she could have been so stupid.

James had always been one of the more advanced students in Transfiguration (better than Lily herself if she was forced to admit it), so he hadn't been terribly afraid when Whyte told them that they were to transfigure their guinea pigs into kerchiefs and back again. James did this all with an arrogant laziness. Lily could hardly help but be intimidated.

She managed to perform the trick, but while frightened, intimidated, and feeling sick as she found things way over her head, it was a bit shaky. She was so relieved at having done a fairly good job that she didn't notice when James pulled his wand.

And then it happened. Lily couldn't help but shudder in embarrassment at the memory.

Lily never did find out if James had transfigured the wings or if it was some charm, but he managed to enchant her guinea pig into growing wings. The poor creature, quite frightened and alarmed, soared once around the classroom before flying directly at a very unsuspecting Professor Whyte. While James had found this all very amusing, Lily had failed to find the humor in the situation when she was landed with her first-ever detention. This wouldn't have been a bit deal for James (detention was an almost daily occurrence with him), but it was an extremely big deal for Lily.

Ever since then, Lily Evans hated James Potter and all his self-important arrogance.

Perhaps that was why, Lily thought with a grin, she had felt the need to answer his request for a date in third year as she had. It was a lovely memory. The most satisfying part, for Lily at least, was seeing James Potter, stunned beyond comprehension, being herded into the Hospital Wing with a black eye. Lily had thought after that particular incident, James would see she wasn't interested and leave her alone. Unfortunately for Lily, she was to receive no such luck. Instead of driving him away, the event seemed to have made the boy even more persistent for a date. That too had become an almost daily occurrence.

Her need for answers overpowered her hatred and she read his letter.

Evans 

If you haven't yet, don't tear this up. I don't plan on saying anything stupid, but I won't make any promises.

My parents, like Alice's, are Aurors. When Alice got your message, she immediately transferred the information to her parents who then brought it to the attention of others. You've caused quite an uproar. My parents are requesting that you tell them everything you can about the owl itself; they say it's important.

They request your presence at our home tomorrow. I'm afraid it's urgent and don't be fooled: I protested against it. Unfortunately, the letter you found could provide just the break we've all needed.

I can't say much in a letter, just in case it's intercepted. Apparate to: POTTER MANSION.

See you tomorrow, bring what information you can.

Yours,

Potter

Lily's breath caught in her throat. Attend a meeting, at POTTER'S house?

I won't do it! I won't, I won't!

Lily mentally kicked herself.

How could you be so selfish? Potter said this could be just the break they've needed. It could be for the greater good of the Wizarding World, Lily Evans. Your home, your friends. You can definitely handle a few uncomfortable hours for that.

But it's POTTER!

Lily sighed. Frankly, she agreed with both halves of the argument, but she knew she had to listen to the side that made more sense. If it would help her friends and her home, she really had no choice.

--

"Mum, I'm going out. I don't know when I'll get back, but I should be home in time for dinner."

Mrs. Evans looked up from her tea, no doubt a bit surprised by Lily's brisk tone and the fact that her daughter wasn't wearing her pajamas at only seven o'clock in the morning. "Where are you going?"

Lily sighed. Why did her mother have to start acting like a mum just when Lily didn't want her to? "I'm meeting up with a few of my friends today and we're going shopping for a wedding present for Alice's older sister," Lily lied through her teeth, hoping her mother would buy it. Alice didn't have an older sibling. Lily seriously wished she hadn't mentioned that in conversation.

Mrs. Evans believed the excuse. "Tell Alice's sister I'm happy for her," said Mrs. Evans simply, returning to her tea. "Oh, but take a piece of toast!" Lily grabbed a piece off the plate.

Lily let out the breath she had been holding and raced upstairs, grabbed the cage that had become the strange owl's temporary home, and apparated to the destination Potter had designated. Once the swirl of color had died down she found herself standing in the center of an enormous room decorated with several paintings of medieval witches and wizards in ostentatious gowns. Many people were sitting on three couches that had been set in a circle around a table, and heads instantly started turning her way.

She realized she didn't recognize many of these people and bit down the panic that was rising quickly to the surface. Maybe I missed Potter's home . . .

No such luck.

"Hey, Evans," said an altogether too-familiar voice. "I was wondering when you were gonna show up."

"My mum wouldn't stop talking," said Lily, knowing she was being unfair to her mother. "I did get a piece of toast out of the whole deal though," she added as an afterthought.

James chuckled. "Is that the owl?" he asked. "I didn't know you'd kept it! You never answered my letter; I didn't know if you were coming or not."

"Lollipop was still with Alice. I never got her back after I sent Alice that letter."

"Speaking of that," said a gruff voice, "let's get down to business, shall we?"

Lily turned. James stood there, his black hair as tousled and windswept as ever, that silly grin plastered on his face. She noted with annoyance that he'd grown even taller over the summer holiday. She narrowed her eyes disgustedly at him before moving to observe the person beside him.

Beside him stood a very odd looking man, his scarred face and tortured eyes a testament to the many battles he had seen.

"Hello," Lily said to the man, holding out her hand. "I'm Lily."

"Moody," growled the man as he took her up on her offer. Lily did a double take. Did he just insult me?

She managed to say, "Excuse me, sir?"

"He's not insulting you, Evans," interjected James with a slight touch of amusement. "That's his name. Alastor Moody." She felt an odd sensation when James said this, but immediately dismissed the possibility of him being able to read her mind.

Lily felt the heat rush to her face. "I'm sorry, sir."

"It's fine. You're not the first to make that mistake, nor the last, I'll wager." Moody stepped closer to Lily, his eyes probing the furry creature in Lily's hands.

"You can hold him if you'd like," Lily proposed. "He hasn't made much of a fuss or tried to get away. Actually, he didn't even seem very keen to leave his cage this morning." Lily explained, "I've had him in my owl's cage, since mine's currently out delivering a letter. I've never seen an owl this comfortable around a stranger."

Moody looked at James with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah," said James, half sadly, half admiringly. "She does always talk that much."

"I'll thank you for that assessment, Potter," snapped Lily angrily. "It's an important bit of information. Honestly, it's like this owl was mine."

Moody grumbled, "And you're sure you've never seen him before?"

Lily nodded. "Very sure. I didn't recognize the handwriting on the note either. If you'd like to see that, I have that with me as well."

Moody took the letter from Lily's hand, studied it for a moment, and handed it to a dark skinned witch on the couch. "Look familiar?"

The witch looked up and shook her head. "I have to agree with the Evans girl," she said. Lily felt a bristle of indignation rise up within her at being referred to as "the Evans girl", but quickly squashed it. "I can't place it. I can check it with anything we have on file at the Ministry, but that could take a while."

"You've got a wand, Cecile," someone spoke up from the crowd on the couch. "Use it."

The witch glared but otherwise ignored the rather rude statement. "Meanwhile, there are some tests that we could perform on the owl to "

"Hang on," Lily interrupted quickly, holding her hands up as she attempted to ignore the stares that were being directed her way. "Tests? They won't hurt the owl, will they?"

"Evans "

"I know it'd be for the best of the world and could help track down whoever it is you're looking for, but doesn't anyone else think that it'd be a bit wrong to hurt her just for that?"

"Evans," said James with an impatient wave of his hand. "The spells won't hurt it. Irritate it for a bit, maybe, but I'd say it's worth it. Besides," he lowered his voice and looked her in the eye, "you're in a room with a dozen witches and wizards who think this is the right way to go about things. Do you really want to test them?"

Lily sighed. The owl's huge yellow eyes followed her as she placed it carefully in James' arms. "Happy now?" she whispered, narrowing her eyes at him.

James shrugged. "Could be a lot happier, but yeah, for now I'm fine."

"Glad to hear it," hissed Lily.

"I'd like a chance to analyze this," said the witch who had been called Cecile as she held the letter in the air. "It could take a while, if you don't mind."

"Why would I mind?" Lily asked. "It's not as if it's mine anyway."

"Very well," said Cecile.

Lily looked around at the sea of unfamiliar faces. "Um, am I done here?"

"Suppose so," answered James as he heaved his shoulders. "See you 'round, Evans."

"Bye."

A.N. – Did you like? I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed, I really appreciated it. This story is a bit slow in the beginning but don't worry – the end makes up for it! Or, at least I hope it will. Bye now.