~*~ Chapter 4~*~

All through June and July, Lily and the boys were inseparable: pulling pranks, swimming, and playing Quidditch mostly. Quidditch. It was Lily's new love and she was a natural, superb flyer, even on her slow Double-Helix Dash. James flew amazingly well as a chaser and could pull of the wildest plays. Lily could play all positions pretty well, but wanted to improve as a beater; bashing objects at other people was a specialty of hers and when her temper was high, her talent went beyond exceptional. Remus and Sirius were okay players: not the best but could get the job done.

"Watch it Lily!"

"Sorry. I'm just practicing."

"Yeah, well you almost took my head off!" Remus said shakily.

She shrugged innocently. "May I suggest protective gear? A helmet perhaps?"

"Quidditch players do not wear helmets. Just take it easy. Save it for the Slytherins." James lazily tossed the quaffle through a hula-hoop, the best thing they had to use as a goal.

"I'm not backing down. If I don't exert myself, I'll never improve. Just don't say I didn't' warn you."

"How reassuring."

About the time he said that, Mr. Potter came running out to the field, flagging them down. His appearance was shocking to say the least: cuts and a trickle of blood running down his face, his robes were entirely disheveled, and the right lens of his glasses was cracked straight down the middle. All in all, he didn't look like the respectable minister of magic that he was, and Lily could tell that something was up.

"Kids, get down here now! Hurry up!"

They landed their brooms in lightning speed and took off back to the house with Mr. Potter after exchanging knowing glances.

"Dad, what happened?"

"There's no time to explain now! This is an emergency and if you don't do exactly as I say, you'll regret it. I don't care how bizarre my instructions are, you do them without question. Where you live to see another day may depend on it."

Hearing his say that made Lily panic. She felt as if her whole body was being run through a ringer, causing every last ounce of water to be squeezed out of her.

By now they had reached the house and he took them into his study. "On the count of three, touch this cigar and when you land, go directly to Sweengter's Sheep Lot. When you get there, ask for Morgaine Cleeta and do everything she says!"

"But what's going - " Sirius started but Mr. Potter had already begun counting.

"1, 2, 3!" They touched the cigar and felt for the first time, the naval-pulling experience of a portkey.

It felt as if they were traveling through time, like endless spinning trough a blue tunnel. The four of them landed, with very little grace, in a pile on the ground.

Lily clutched at her stomach. "Remus, you're lucky I don't get motion sickness very easily." She was lying on top of him. "Portkeys definently aren't for the light at stomach."

"Now that we've established that, would you mind getting off me?"

"Gladly." She hopped up a little too quickly and the world transformed into a big blur as all the blood rushed to her head. "Whew...I'm spinning again. A word to the wise: get up slowly."

Being boys, they did the 'manly' thing to do and stood up just as fast as Lily had done and soon felt the effects she had described.

Lily giggled as she watched them walk around dizzy, Sirius running into a few trees. "What did I say?" She said exasperatingly.

"Come on, get serious guys. Something's wrong and Dad knows it." James gave himself brownie points for getting their attention and being the one in charge, for once.

"What do you think happened?"

"How would I know that, Sirius?" He snapped.

"Then why did you ask us in the first place?"

They stared eachother down, making Lily think she should do something before they were at eachother's throats. "Sirius and James! Quit acting like 2 year-olds! We could be in serious danger here and you are arguing like adults going through a divorce! We need to find that Morgaine Cleeta, whoever she is."

"Where'd Dad say she'd be?"

"At some sort of sheep farm. Common sense tells me to go this way."

"Why that way? My common sense points me in this direction." James turned around.

"Then apparently you don't have any common sense, because I can hear baa'ing," she said smartly and glared at him.

"Oh."

"You are so daft."

As they ran over there, despite the situation they were in, Lily was enraptured by the scenery. Truthfully, it wasn't much, but it was like stepping into her early childhood fantasy world: grasslands as far as the eye can see on her left, to the right was a beautiful apple orchard, and surrounding the road rested a canopy of tree branches shading the hot sun.

"I wonder where we are," womdered Remus, quickening his jog.

"No idea, but it reminds me of Kansas a little in 'The Wizard of Oz'" Lily sighed dreamily.

"Kansas? Do you actually think Mr. Potter would send us all the way to America? We're probably just in Scotland or something."

"I guess it depends on how serious this is as to where he'd send us."

"Oh good, we're here." Sirius grinned.

"Sheep!" James yelled and took a sharp detour over to the lambs.

"James, get your rear end back here. The barn is this way. We don't have time to pet stupid animals."

He sulked, but followed her anyway.

"Children!" A womam dashed over to them as soon as they came into view, dropping a pitchfork. "I'm so glad you're here! Come, follow me inside immediately."

She quickly ushered them into her small country house and locked the doors swiftly.

"Erm, Lily?" James gulped nervously. "We don't even know who this lady is and she's locking us in her house. Does that not seem scary to you?"

"Shush!" She hissed. "This must be the woman your father told us about."

"But how do you know that for sure? She locked us in her house!"

She scowled. "Well let's ask, shall we?"

He waved his hands 'no' frantically, but she simply rolled her eyes as the woman strolled in with a plate of bananas, a tub of peanut butter, and 5 glasses of milk.

"Ahh, nothing like peanut butter and bananas to relieve stress." She smiled, taking a seat on a chair.

"Excuse me, but are you Morgaine Cleeta? James here thinks you're a criminal." Lily smiled sweetly as James threw her a murderous stare.

The lady chuckled. "Yes, I am Morgaine Cleeta, owner of Sweengster's Sheep Lot and researcher of Arthurian Legend."

Lily's eyes widened at the mention of Kind Arthur, her favorite king in her favorite time period. "I love King Arthur!" She beamed.

"Well, when we're not visiting in the middle of such an unfortunate situation, I'll be sure to show you some of my work."

"I'd love that." She then gave James an 'I-told-you-so' look of triumph.

He blushed. "So you really are Morgaine Cleeta?"

"One in the same, unless there's another one that I should be aware of, but you can call me Morgan."

"So Morgan, can you tell us what is going on?"

"Even if I knew a lot, which is not much, I'm not sure I'd tell you. Your father, James, probably wouldn't want me to, and him being the English Minister doesn't ease my conscience in case I mess up."

"English Minister? That plus your accent tells me we're not in England anymore."

"You assume correctly. We're in the United States. Texas to be exact."

"No wonder it's so hot here. Texas! I hope we can see some cowboys."

"I don't know about that, Lily. Not until it's safe, nor until I hear from Carson can I let you leave this house."

"How do you know my father?" James asked, grabbing a banana and smothering it with peanut butter.

"Carson and I were always good friends. We grew up together, and he was always there, protecting me from anything I was scared of. Our parents were good family friends, but there was an ordeal between them when I was twelve and my parents moved to America because of it. To this day, I don't know what really happened, but I do know that dad didn't want me near the Potters. Carson and I, we knew that we meant a lot to eachother, and we cried out eyes out before I went on the plane. I had never seen him cry. Even when he broke his wrist, he never cried, thinking the adults were nuts for fussing over him. But he did cry when I had to leave."

Her eyes became cloudy as ageless memories flooded back to her: memories she had hoped she'd never have to confront, but the living truth of what had really happened was sitting right in front of her. These kids, they were the proof, the resultant, of every mistake she and Carson had ever made. What happened 15 years ago shattered her heart, and she had hoped she'd never have to go through it again. But here it was. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks: these children facing her, they were the reality of the situation and seeing them, these four young people that had haunted her dreams ever since she threw her life away 15 years ago, reminded her that someday she'd have to face him, tell him that he was right, and lose every ounce of pride she had built up through these past tormentful years.

She snapped back into the nighmare-ish reality of the situation as she realized they were staring at her, obviously intrigued with her life of pure hell, of which she was grateful they knew nothing about.

"Like father, like son," Lily muttered, hoping James would hear.

Morgan forced out a laugh. "From what I've seen of James, I'd have to agree, though I'm not sure that's such a bad thing." What was she saying? Yes, another Carson would put a damper on her conscience.

James blushed when she winked.

"How long have you two been in touch?"

"Actually, Carson just sent me a letter a week ago. I was amazed that he actually remembered me." Actually remembered me? Ha. How could he ever forget? We made eachother's lives hell on earth and because of it, I lost my family. Morgan fought desperately to keep from crying; they were digging up painful memories.

"So shy did he send us to you?" Asked Remus, who had stayed quiet up until now.

"...because it's safe here..." She went back to thinking to herself: No kidding, it's safe here. No one would look for them here because I doubt Carson ever told them. No one knows about me; what we had ended the moment everyone I loved was torn away from me in the blink of an eye.

"From what? Safe from what?"

"Well, umm..." She faltered for words. Who was the evil one? Am I keeping these innocent kids safe from a dark lord? Safe from Carson? Or safe from myself? Am I even keeping them safe at all by keeping them here, locked away with my pain, anger, and hatred towards a loved one of theirs? They shouldn't share my pain. It has been 15 years since I threw him out of my life. 15 years since he stomped on my heart and soul. 15 years since...since... She couldn't bring herself to think about it. Thankfully, Lily interrupted her thoughts.

"Morgan, you know what's going on. I know you do." Lily folded her arms against her chest.

Wow, this girl is witty. Thought Morgan, She won't quit until you give up and confess. Sighing heavily, she took a swig of milk and began. "From what I've been told, there's been evidence of a cult in Western Europe, growing and gaining power and allies." She was dismayed to see the children leaning forward in their seats, hanging on her every word.

"Go on."

"Evidendly, Mr. Potter has reason to believe you're in danger, for reasons unknown to me." Well, it wasn't exactly a lie, she told herself. It just wasn't the whole truth. She contemplated the fact that she was getting herself stuck deeper and deeper, and if she let one thing slip, that'd be the end of it. They're bright, they'd figure it out, no doubt in my mind.

"So you can't tell us any more?" Sirius asked with his mouth full.

Absolutely not. I've told you too much already, she thought. "No, but maybe you could ask Mr. Potter when he gets here."

"When is he coming?"

"I don't know," she answered truthfully, simply dreading the idea of seeing and talking to him for the first time since...

They shook her from those thoughts again. "Well, what are we going to do until then?"

"For one, no leaving this house. That's right James, no petting the sheep."

He flinched. How did she know what I was thinking?

"Rule number two, the attic is STRICTLY off limits."

"Why?" Remus raised his eyebrows.

"Do as you're told!" She snapped and then immediately regretting being harsh right off the bat. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blow my top. It's just...dangerous...up there."

"Dangerous? How so?"

"What is this? 20 questions!?" She bit her lip. "If you have to know...there's cowgirl stuff up there. Guns mostly. I do live in Texas, after all. But a lot of those are old and I don't want you touching them. Plus, your dad might kill me, James, if I let you see what's up there." Well, that was no lie either. There were guns, and Carson would go on a murderous streak for her blood if James happened to take a look.

"What are guns?" The three boys asked at the same time, not having a clue as to what it was, other than a muggle utensil.

"Dangerous muggle objects that can be deadly."

"Why do you have something deadly in your house?" James quivvered. Morgan baffled him: right when he would begin to trust her a little, BAM! She says she's got something dangerous residing in her attic.

Lily playfully slapped him upside the head. "She's not going to use them on us, doofus."

"How do you know?"

Morgaine chuckled to herself but let Lily handle it.

"Maybe she has wolves that try to get her sheep. If they do, she can shoot them and kill them. Or if she's feeling generous, just scare them off with a gun shot."

"Yeah, but how do you know that we're not going to be used as target practice!?"

"James! Use your head. Would your dad leave us with someone he couldn't trust?"

"No, I guess not. He must trust her."

"Good, now say it."

"Say what?"

"Tell me that I was right."

"Awww, Lily..." he whined.

"Do it James."

"Fine. You were right."

She smiled brilliantly. "Aren't I always?"

During this conversation, Morgan was silently thinking to herself: He trusts me? Carson Potter actually trusts me?! I've been waiting for this moment for 15 years. She smiled gleefully, but it anyone looked close, they'd see the hint of mischief seeping through her eyes.

"Morgan? Hello?" Sirius was waving his hands in front of her face, trying to get her to snap out of it.

"Oh sorry. I zoned out there."

"No sweat. We were wondering if you have any games to play."

"Lily exploding snap maybe?" Lily asked as James nudged her in the side.

"Lily! We don't even know if she is one of us." He did not trust this lady one bit, despite what his father may think of her. She was full of secrets. Full of lies. He could just feel it.

She laughed and pulled out her wand. "Don't worry James. I am a witch."

"Then why are you living out here raising farm animals?"

"I ask myself the same question sometimes." She gave him a warm smile. "It's very relaxing, that's for sure. I don't have to worry about the hubbub of the wizarding world. There's always something wrong, though I've come to realize the same goes for the muggle world. I know it's cowardly of me to hide from my past in the wizarding world, but if I didn't care about its future, I most certainly wouldn't have agreed to letting you stay here." She saw their identical expressions of bewilderment and giggled. "So how about that game of exploding snap?"

~~~~~~
The next two days consisted of nothing but chess, exploding snap, talking, sleeping, and for Lily, reading excessively boring books. Morgan wouldn't let them out of the house to even get any fresh air. I would have been more interesting if they could listen to the wiarding wireless, but her network wasn't working. So basically, they were bored out of their minds.

"The sheep are calling me." James said in a mesmerizing tone with his face glued against the window.

"Oh give it a rest, James. They're sheep for crying out loud."

"But they're so cute!"

Remus snorted. "And you're so gay."

Lily giggled. "Have you ever eaten 'chops?"

"Yeah, they're delicious." He licked his lips.

"They're made from sheep."

"What!?" He looked like he had been slapped in the face.

"All too true. But instead of wallowing in sorrow for the sheep, come play a game of chess with me."

"Lily," he said dryly. "I've played about 30 matches against you today and beat the pants off of you every time."

"I'm getting better," she defended herself.

"No offense, but you stink at chess."

She scowled. "Offense taken. If you're so good, why don't you teach me?"

"Naw, not right now."

"It's not like you have anything else to do. We've done everything we're presently capable of. For the zillionth time I say, I'm bored."

"There is one thing we haven't done." Sirius grinned mischeviously.

"What?"

"We haven't taken a look in the attic."

"Oh no. We are not going there!" Lily threw the cards into the air out of surprise, causing them to explode.

"Why not?"

"Let's think: because she told us not to, perhaps?"

"Exactly my point."

"Sirius, if she didn't think we shouldn't go up there, she wouldn't have bothered wasting her breath."

"But Lily, she's hiding something," James said unconvcingly.

"Yeah, antique guns."

"There's got to be something else."

"What makes you think that? There's not something else."

"Oh, I get it." Remus grinned knowingly.

"You get what?" She was completely exhasperated. These boys were intolerable.

"You're chicken."

"I am not," she replied stubbornly.

"Yes you are. You're scared of what we may find up there, aren't you?"

This struck Lily like lightning. She was afraid of what she'd find, and as far as she was concerned, she could stresslessly live without knowing. Sighing, she watched the exploding snap cards reassemble themselves into a little pile.

Remus repeated the question. "Aren't you?"

"Yes Remus! I am! Happy? I trust her! I don't care what she has up there! I don't want to find out!" She had completely blown her top.

Most people would have dropped the subject right after witnessing her temper, but Remus was being foolishly persistant. "Well, if you don't care what she has up there, then you shouldn't care whether we go to not."

"Fine Lupin. I'll go, but just to see your sorry face when we find nothing important up there."

The three boys smiled triumphantly and tugged on her sleeve. "Morgan's working on the flowers on the porch, so we're good. Just be quiet in case the windows are open."

They stepped on to the assention of forbidden stairs that until now, they had not set a toe upon. The wooden planks creaked with every step and even though she was outside, it felt as if Morgan's black eyes were watching their every move, piercing into their very conscience.

"This is bloody creepy," James whispered.

"Getting cold feet, are you Potter?" Lily sneered.

"It's like everytime I'm around her, I feel like she can read my mind."

"Maybe she is a mind-reader. She could be psychic," Sirius suggested.

"That's a load of crock if you ask me." Lily waved her hand dismissively. "I don't believe in all that super-natural stuff."

"I still don't like her. I think she's weird."

"Shh! The walls have ears..." Remus droned in a far-off, mystic voice.

Lily rolled her eyes, and when they reached the top, slowly pushed open the attic door.

It took nearly 10 seconds for the dust to clear away so that they could see. They tup-toed in to take a look and the boys were disappointed with what they saw. All along the walls were rows and rows of different kinds of guns.

"James, I swear, if you touch a single one of those, you will experience the wrath of Lily Evans. And if you think you've seen me mad before, boy, you've got another thing coming to ya." She warned when she saw James walking over to a rather large one.

"You spoil everything, Lily."

She glared at him, not saying anything.

"Can't I just take a closer look?"

Silence.

"Just to see how it works?"

Still silence.

He threw his hands up. "Fine fine! I give! I'll stay away from the guns."

"Good choice," Sirius whispered, watching Lily walk to the other side of the room, a small smile playing upon her lips.

"Well, as you can see Gentlemen, there's nothing so mysterious up here, is there?" She asked. "Just like she said. Guns and some old boxes."

"I'm looking in the boxes," Remus said.

She rolled her eyes. "You are such snoops."

Every box she could see was labeled 'Winter Clothes', 'Aunt Sybil's China', 'Records', or 'Photos'.

"Oh yeah. Looks peculiar to me," she sarcastically mumbled.

They boys were looking through the record box, commentating on her taste in music.

"Eww...Beach Boys."

"Sissy music."

"Hey! I like The Beach Boys!" She defended herself.

"Like I said, sissy music."

Lily scowled, wishing she had a book to chuck at him.

"Now here's real music!" Remus held up an album.

"The Beatles!? I can't believe you know who they are."

"Of course we know of The Beatles. They're a wizard band, but their agent convinced them to go muggle so they could make him more money."

Nodding, Lily looked around her and felt a pang of guilt. They shouldn't be in here. They were trespassing, legally speaking.

"Guys, we should get out of here. There apparently isn't anything up here that looks suspicious."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Let's go," Remus agreed.

James sighed, knowing he'd have to face the whole 'Ha! I was right and you were wrong!' talk from Lily once they got within a safe area. "Fine. We need to put everything back the way it was."

They began shifting the boxes around to their original places as quietly as possible. Lily was pushing one with pictures in it, and when she went to close the top, something caught her eye. "Hey! Look at this!"

"It's Morgan," Sirius observed.

"No kidding, but look at her st--" Lily began, but was interrupted by the door banging open.

"What are you doing in here!?" Morgaine bellowed.

Lily dropped the photo in surprise and flinched when she heard the glass of the frame shatter on the ground.

She turned to look at Morgan, and truthfully felt she had never seen anyone angrier in her whole life. Her dark eyes were bloodshot and her face resembled that of an over-ripe tomato, along with her clenched knuckles, ready to pop.

"I told you not to come up here! I keep you safe in my home, risk my own neck for your ungrateful lives, and you can't even listen to the one thing I ask of you! I did you disobey me?!" She barked.

"I...uh...we...wanted to uh..."

Lily, who was close to tears, jabbed him in the ribs and whispered, "Just shut up James. You're not helping."

"That's what I thought!" She scowled when he wouldn't come up with an excuse. "Just get downstairs and don't bother to talk to me today."

James, Sirius, and Remus ran out as fast as they could while Lily lingered for a few seconds.

"Morgan, I'm sorry. I really am. I told them --"

"Lily, just go." She sniffled, "What's done is done. Just go."

Without another word, Lily slowly left, dragging her feet like a hurt dog, wishing she ahd followed her own conscience to begin with. Then she wouldn't be in this predicament.

++++++

Once Lily had left, Mrogan took a deep breath and gathered up the broken glass and frame. Turning it delicately in her hand, her slim fingers found the hidden compartment in the frame to still be intact.

"Good. Just in time. She didn't open it."

She was afraid that Lily had discovered the secret that this picture frame contained, but luckily, it hadn't been tampered with. If past memories of hers were discovered by others...she shuddered...she wouldn't know what to do. At times, even she seemed to have forgotten the past.

"I wonder if they got a good look at the photo...I hope not." She glanced heaven-ward, silently thanking God for her timing.

She watched as a stray tear fell from her eye and on to the picture, blotching part of its features.

"Come on. Pull yourself together Morgaine," she told herself, shaking. "Don't let them hear you cry. Be strong. Don't let them see the real you. Don't cry. Don't --"

She couldn't handle the once-lost memories as they thundered into her in a wave of emotions; she couldn't keep herself from sobbing.

"Why'd I do it? How could I betray them?"

She fought with her conscience. "No no. You had to do it. It was worth the risk. Don't back down now."

She bawled into her hands, photo forgotten as it lay on the floor, absorbing her flood of tears.

++++++

Lily lay on her bed on the second floor of the colonial farmhouse and looked around her, deep in thought. She knew Morgan was beyond upset, for the sound of her sobs were easily carried through the thin floorboards above. She also thought she knew why...That picture...The expression Morgan had...What she looked like...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note:

Ok, That's all I've got written right now. There'll be more up soon! I thank you SO much for the reviews! Please continue reading and reviewing!

Love, Kristy