Lily's birthday went about as well as she could've hoped. She got a box of Chocolate Frogs from Jane and a book on Transfiguration (a subject which she had been growing more and more interested in) from Seth. Her cousins had all gotten her an assortment of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products. Her last gift, from her parents was undoubtedly the best of all. It was the new Cleansweep XIX. While Cleansweep hadn't been the golden standard in brooms the new model certainly beat out the old Nimbus she'd been using.

Lily hadn't had much free time between studying for exams and preparing for the upcoming Quidditch match against Slytherin. There was a lot of pressure on Lily as it was imperative that she catch the Snitch, for Hufflepuff to have any chance of winning the Quidditch Cup. This had been coming out in practice, as Applebee was as hard on them as she could remember.

"Lily, you have to stop relaxing as you get close to the Snitch. You never know when a Bludger might come at you," he said.

Lily nodded in understanding.

The Quidditch match was preceded by a long speech by Applebee, about how they just needed to concentrate on this Quidditch match and they needn't be bothered by where they were in the Cup, or what Gryffindor did next week. Lily flew onto the field inspired and determined for the match. She was just about to get into her zone when she heard a voice.

"Hey Potter!"

It was Slytherin's new seeker, Scorpius Malfoy. She knew him vaguely from seeing him in the halls and of course, some less than flattering comments her uncle Ron had made about his family.

"Do you hear me? Your name is Potter, right," he said sarcastically.

"Yes, what do you want?" she asked.

"I just wanted to wish you luck. It should be a good match," he said.

He extended his hand. She looked at the hand nervously, wondering if it was some kind of trick.

"You can shake it, I don't bite," he said.

With a sigh she quickly gave his hand a firm shake, then flew off. It had been one of the oddest things that had ever happened to her on a Quidditch pitch. She looked down at her hand to make sure Malfoy hadn't put some kind of substance to weaken her, but quickly had to look up as the Snitch was released and the match started.

Within a few minutes she knew why Malfoy had been so sportsmanlike before the match, and it wasn't some death plot or even to psyche her out. Scorpius Malfoy was possibly the dirtiest Seeker she had ever played against. Every time they were in the same area of the pitch he made contact with her. Every time she looked desperately to Madam Bell, but Malfoy had a knack for getting her right as she wasn't looking. About a half hour through she saw the Snitch. As she was flying towards it he grabbed the back of her broom stopping her progress. She pushed him away. He proceeded to act as if he had been mauled by a Manticore as they got near Madam Bell.

"Did you see that?" he protested.

"What I saw was you blagging Potter," said Madam Bell.

She blew her whistle and ordered a penalty for Hufflepuff. While Applebee scored, making the score 50-10 Hufflepuff, she had lost a golden opportunity to catch the Snitch. She groaned.

After another fifteen minutes in which Hufflepuff scored twice more, Malfoy once again came at her, elbows raised. She was ready this time and quickly swerved out of the way. Then she saw the Snitch above her. Malfoy was closer to it, but since he was off balance from his attempted cobbing she got a head start. She easily grabbed the snitch, making sure to watch for Bludgers.

"Hufflepuff wins! They now will go into the game against Gryffindor in first place by one hundred-fifty points," said Ethan Jordan.

Lily walked off smiling, knowing that she had at least given her team a chance to take the Cup once again. She took the next weekend as a good day to talk to Eve again. It had been long enough that she thought she might as well check in. When she entered the caretaker's office she saw that Eve looked troubled. She was packing her things.

"Hey," Lily said.

Eve turned around.

"Oh, nice to see you Lily," she said.

"You too. Are you leaving?" she asked.

"It seems so. The authorities seem to think they don't need my help," she said bitterly.

"You don't think so?" Lily asked.

Eve sighed. "Nothing makes sense," she said. "Why were the pixies so quick to admit to everything, why haven't Morgan's people left the island when it's only a matter of time before the Ministry invades it?" she asked.

"You think that there's more to this?" Lily asked.

"Unfortunately, I do. When you've been through what I have, you know when something seems too easy," Eve said.

"Ms. Sage," came a voice from behind Lily.

Lily turned around to find the Hogwarts Headmistress behind her.

"I wanted to tell you that Professor Hagrid set up your portkey back home, by his shack," Sinistra said.

"Thank you Aurora," she said.

"You're welcome, thank you for your help," said Sinistra.

Sinistra didn't seem to notice or simply chose to ignore Lily. Everything seemed to be happening so fast. Lily had indeed felt uneasy about the whole Avalon plot. And now she was getting the information that she wasn't the only one from a person who was about to leave. She watched the investigator and headmistress finish their conversation, before the latter walked out.

"Wait!" Lily cried.

Sinistra stopped in her tracks.

"Is there something you'd like to ask me, Ms. Potter?" she asked.

"Sorry professor, but you've been using a cane. What happened?" Lily asked.

"Madam Pomfrey gave me a potion to treat the illness that was affecting my leg. It healed," she said.

"But you've still been using it for speeches, in the great hall," said Lily.

"I got comfortable using it. Like a security blanket," said Sinistra. "May I ask why you're asking these questions?" she queried.

"Look, just tell me, where did you get it?" Lily asked.

"At a merchant in Hogsmeade, last summer," Sinistra answered. "Now can you please explain to me the reasoning for these questions?" she asked.

"Just- just one more question," said Lily. "Have you been keeping it in the Great Hall?"

Sinistra, looking very perturbed uttered one word "Yes."

Lily had taken off running. She sprinted down the hall, and then down the four flights of stairs. She ran into the library, disturbing most of the people and earning a look from the librarian. She ignored them and found Seth at a table by the window studying.

"Seth," she said, catching her breath.

"Lily, what is it?" he questioned in surprise.

"I need you to focus. This is important," Lily said.

"Yeah," said Seth, drawing out the word in puzzlement.

"What made you think the jewel was the portkey?" Lily asked.

His expression changed to the thoughtful look he got when he was trying to remember something.

"I remembered from a book that portkeys always glow blue," he said.

Lily let loose a string of words that would make her cousin Teddy blush.

"Lily," Seth said raising his eyebrows.

"We were wrong Seth, the jewel was never the portkey," she said.

She ran off again quickly, barely hearing Seth as he tried to ask what she had meant. She felt the wind behind her. Her head was pounding as she ran. The Great Hall was within sight. Then she tripped over an invisible obstacle. She turned around to see Klara Chang holding up her wand.

"What is wrong with you, Potter, you certainly seem to be in a rush," she said.

Lily cursed. Klara had stayed out of her hair almost the entire year, and had to interfere now! The fate of the entire school was in the balance and this stuck up Ravenclaw was in her way.

"First disturbing the library, now swearing. You certainly aren't being much of a Hufflepuff today," she said snottily.

Lily got up slowly feeling her wand in her pocket.

"Klara if you're ever going to listen to me, please do now. If you don't let me in the Great Hall people will die, so I beg you to let me go," she said.

"Sorry Potter, as much as I do like to hear you beg me, I'm not stupid. So instead you're going to stay here and tell me why you really want to go to the Great Hall and the-"

Klara was cut off as Lily quickly brandished, her wand and yelled Pertrificus Totalus. Klara's body stiffened up and fell as Lily ran into the Great Hall. She ran up to the staff table and found Sinistra's seat. She found the cane glowing blue and eerily humming. Then a blue, glowing sphere seemed to start growing from it. It was growing bigger exponentially, and Lily knew it would soon overcome the entire castle. Desperately she caught it in her hand.

Lily felt like she was being pulled up, and then suddenly started to fall downwards. As she hit the ground the first thing she noticed was the sandy beach that was under her and the sound of the waves coming in. It took her a moment to realize she was not alone. A female figure stood over her.

"Hello, Lily Potter. I'm so happy that we could finally meet," said the woman.

Lily looked up to find herself face to face with Morgan Le Fay.