Storm Clouds

For Love Or Money

**~**~**~**~**~**

Sirius came to quickly, and was determined to behave as if nothing had happened. He ate his meal, all the while chatting with Bill and Charlie, or joking with the twins. Harry was perhaps the only person who noticed anything odd; Sirius was refusing to meet his eyes.

Mrs. Weasley seemed to be handling the situation better. It had taken her longer to recover from her faint, but as soon as she was able she commented on how pleased she was that there was one more person in the world who cared for Harry. And one united to him by blood at that. Harry had no desire to mar the holiday celebrations, otherwise he might have mentioned that he wasn't so sure of Morgan's "care" for him; she seemed more interested in getting him into the Order.

Besides, he was concentrating on a plan to get Sirus to himself and pin him down after the meal. If his godfather thought that his remark of "Morgan's alive?" had been missed in the confusion he was sorely mistaken. Harry was thoroughly intrigued as to why Sirius could have thought that Morgan was dead, when Morgan herself had told him that Sirius had saved her life that day in the street with Pettigrew.

Dinner ended rather abruptly, and before Harry could pin Sirius down he was being dragged outside for a snowball fight. Fred, George, Charlie and Bill had challenged the younger four, promising to do no magic in their efforts to win.

"Yeah, right," Ron muttered as they trudged upstairs to get their cloaks. "Like that'll happen."

As predicted the four younger students got the worst of the fight. Bill and Charlie had kept their word, but Fred and George more than made up for that. Fred in particular made excellent use of an Everlasting Freeze charm; his snowballs struck with particular force and richoted about, striking more than one person. It wasn't until Ginny was nearly smothered by one barrage that Bill called a halt to the proceedings, threatening to cast the Everlasting Freeze on the twins if they did not cease and desist. A raucous argument ensued as the twins defended themselves.

Harry took advantage of the uproar to have a quick conversation with Ginny, using cleaning the snow from her cloak as cover. "So," he said as he brushed the snow from her back. "What do you think?"

Ginny was quick to catch on. "About Sirius, you mean?" When Harry nodded she continued. "Seems strange, don't you think? Didn't Morgan herself say that it was Sirius who saved her life that day? Why would he think she was dead?"

"I don't know, but if you're willing I'd like you to be there when I ask him."

"Why?" Ginny asked, her brow wrinkling.

"Because everything I have to tell Sirius is one heck of a story, and I need your viewpoint for maximum impact."

**~**~**~**~**~**

It was nearly three hours later before Harry and Ginny managed to corner Sirius. He had done a remarkably fine job of avoiding them until that point. Desperation set in, and Harry resorted to stalking Sirius when he went to the bathroom. He was waiting outside the door and quickly shoved Sirius into Ginny's room, where she was waiting. The two teenagers blocked the door to keep him there.

"Want to tell me what this is all about?" Sirius asked. "It must be something urgent if you felt the need to accost me in the bathroom."

"You must have known this conversation was coming since you've been avoiding me all afternoon," Harry fired right back.

Sirius acknowledged the truth of that with a wry grin and a nod. He sat in the chair at Ginny's desk. "All right, now that we've both established our skills in the verbal fencing arena perhaps we can get down to the topic at hand. I think I can make a good guess as to what it is."

"Then why don't you start?" Ginny asked.

"You're wondering why I believed Morgan was dead."

Harry nodded. "She herself told us that she was there that day, in the street with Wormtail. She said that you pushed her out of the way of his curse and saved her life. So, yeah, I think it's a little strange that you thought she was dead."

Sirius sighed and pushed a hand through his dark hair. "Its simple enough. Barty Crouch told me she was dead."

Harry and Ginny exchanged a glance. "Why would he do that?" Ginny asked.

Sirius laughed, but it was a sound with no joy. "We are talking about the man that personally signed the order that condemmed me to Azkaban without a trial, aren't we?" He looked at Ginny. "But you may not know all of that."

"I do. Harry and Hermione told me."

"Well, then you should be able to figure it out. Crouch enjoyed tormenting me every chance he got; telling me Morgan was dead was just another tactic in his overall war, I guess." Sirius sighed. "But it was me who made the mistake of believing him. I had tried to save her life that day; when I was hauled off by the Magical Law Enforcement Squad she was unconscious and bleeding badly from her temple. For all I knew she was dead."

"She has a scar on her temple," Harry said, pointing to his own. "Shaped like a star. She told me it was a relic of a curse, like mine."

"That would be it, then," commented Sirius. "I believed she was dead because, in all honesty, I had no reason to believe otherwise." He again pushed a hand through his hair. "What a fool I was. I should have raised a ruckus and demanded proof. But I was already dealing with the grief of James and Lily's deaths - grief made worse by the Dementors - that I didn't have the heart to do it. One more death on Voldemort's plate was all I thought, and I pushed it out of my mind." He grew lost in thought. "Why didn't Dumbledore tell me two years ago?"

"He couldn't. Morgan was hidden away under strong, protective charms." Harry answered.

"But why? What was so important about her?"

Harry and Ginny exchanged a glance. With a shrug Harry deferred to Ginny.

"Sirius, how much do you know about Morgan? I mean, do you know who she really is?"

"I've always known that she was James' little sister," Sirius said, beginning to pace the room. "Ever since we graduated from Hogwarts. James told Remus and I, swearing us to secrecy. He said that her life would be in danger if the truth ever became known." He stopped his pacing and turned to face them. "I also know that there is something else, connected to her being a descendent of Godric Gryffindor, but even James didn't know the whole truth of that."

"What about the Order of the Phoenix?"

Sirius looked incredulous and snorted. "The Order of the Phoenix? That's a myth, a fable, a fairy story. Meant to awe young wizard children and inspire them to keep away from the Dark Arts. Its not real."

"What would you say if we told you it is real?" Harry asked.

"I'd say you need to be admitted to St. Mungo's," was Sirius' response. "Its not real."

"It is!" Ginny said, her voice strong. "And Morgan is the Guardian of the Phoenix. That's what's important about her; why her life is in danger. She protects the power of the Order, and dispenses it as needed to the living members." Sirius still looked doubtful. "Its true!" Ginny exclaimed. "We saw it in Hogsmeade. She destroyed three Dementors without a wand or an incantation! And she was transformed into a phoenix!"

"Ginny. . . ."

"She's telling the truth, Sirius. There were more witnesses besides the two of us. Ron and Hermione were both there; so were a lot of other students. Its true," Harry concluded. "You can ask around if you like."

"Plus Mum and Dad know, and they believe it," Ginny added, as if that confirmed everything.

"I always knew that she was an extremely powerful witch," Sirius mused. "I mean, we were in sixth year when she was in her first, yet she could do things that we didn't have any clue about!" He glanced at the two teenagers. "Well, if you two are so insistent I guess I'll go along. Mind, I'd still like to have some proof for my own eyes, but I can accept what you've told me." He sighed. "One last question, though. Why do Arthur and Molly know all of this?"

"Well. . . ." Harry began.

"Because it's the responsibility of each Guardian to find her successor," Ginny said, chin in the air. "And Morgan's successor happens to be me."

"We don't know that for sure, Gin," Harry said.

"If you want to nit-pick, yes. But we both know that I'm the frontrunner for the job."

"We don't even really know that."

"Oh, please! After what happened with that vision quest. . ."

"Will you two stop for one minute?" Sirius shouted, stepping between the combatants. "Can we stay on topic, please?"

Harry gave Ginny one last glare which she heartily returned. Sirius tried to hide his smile behind his hand. It was just like watching Lily and James during one of their disagreements.

"If Morgan's life is in so much danger why did she come out of hiding? And now, of all times?" He paused. "Where was she? Well hidden, I'm sure, but where?

"Canada," Harry answered. "Under the protection of their Ministry of Magic. And she came back because she was summoned."

"Summoned how?"

"The call to a lost witch," Harry answered, then proceeded to tell the entire story of his cut hand and the bloody dishcloth. Sirius grinned at the thought of Lily's sour-faced sister unknowingly casting a spell. He was still smiling when Harry concluded the tale with what happened the night of the vision quest.

"Looks like you're in for it, Miss Weasley," he said with a nod to Ginny.

"Thanks," she all but snarled in response. "Like I needed reminding."

Sirius only grinned wider. "So," he said, abruptly changing the subject. "How's Lupin reacting to all of this?"

Harry and Ginny exchanged glances, clearly puzzled. "Fine," Harry answered. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"You mean nobody let the best detail of the whole saga slip?" Sirius asked with a laugh. "I suppose its all a moot point now, at any rate."

"What are you talking about?" Ginny asked.

"Morgan and Remus. At the time James and Lily died they were engaged to be married."

**~**~**~**~**~**

Sirius' bombshell had its intended effect. For the rest of the Christmas holiday Harry was too absorbed in thinking about Morgan and Lupin to badger Sirius. He told Ron and Hermione the rest of the story during the train ride back to Hogwarts.

"That horrible man!" Hermione commented, speaking of Crouch. "Not only did he condemm Sirius without a trial but he told outright lies to make him feel worse? That's a wreatched way for a human being to behave!"

"Wretched enough to justify what his son did to him?" Harry asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hermione blushed. "Well, no, but still. . . ." She let the subject drop.

Ron, predictably, was more interested in Sirius' revelation of Morgan and Lupin. His rude speculations were cut short only when Ginny threatened him with a Full Body Bind. "Honestly, Ron! Are you fifteen or five years old?" she commented.

"He has a point, though," Harry said. Both Ginny and Hermione shot him scathing looks. "Not about that! But as to why this hasn't been mentioned by anyone until know."

"Maybe because it doesn't matter anymore," Ginny said, pulling her Transfiguration textbook out. "Their feelings could be completely different now."

"Didn't you say that Morgan had lost part of her memory when she came out of the magical coma?" Hermione asked. "Maybe her relationship with Lupin was one of the blank spots."

"Could you forget it so completely if you loved someone that much?" Harry asked.

"Perhaps, perhaps not," was Hermione's response. "But we aren't talking about someone who chose to try and forget painful memories. We're talking about damage to her memory indirectly caused by the curse Pettigrew used that day in the street. I doubt she had a choice." And with that she seemed to consider the conversation over. She pulled The Standard Book of Spells ~ Grade 5 from her bag and began to read.

Ron glanced at Harry, shrugged once, and settled himself in his seat for a nap. Ginny was engrossed in her Transfiguration textbook, so Harry had nothing to do but think about what Sirius had revealed.

And think about it was exactly what he did. He had seen Morgan and Lupin in each other's company countless times since the school year had started. Had there ever been any sign that they had once been on the verge of marriage? Lupin always had a look of sadness in his eyes; it was sometimes hard to tell if it had a particular cause. But Morgan had always been perfectly calm and friendly towards him when they were together; no evidence of particular regard in that.

Unable to sit still any longer Harry rose and left the compartment. Except for one glance from Ginny no one seemed to notice his departure. He walked all the way to the front of the train, stopping briefly to exchange greetings with the old witch that sold from the candy trolley and buy some Chocolate Frogs. On the way back he caught a bit of conversation and ducked out of sight to listen. It was Malfoy and his Slytherin gang, and they were talking about Morgan. Harry held his breath as Malfoy spoke.

"You just wait. There's something fishy about her, I'm telling you. My father found out that she was with Sirius Black the day he was captured, and then she was shipped off to Canada shortly afterwards." Harry could almost hear the self-satisfied smile in his voice. "She's probably as guilty as him."

"And what proof is there of that?" Harry caught his breath when he heard Pansy Parkinson's voice. Terrified that she was going to give it all away her crept forward enough to peer around the edge of the compartment door.

"Maybe she was trying to stop Black, and she got sent to Canada for her own protection," Pansy said with a shrug. "Besides, if she was in league with You-Know-Who wouldn't your father know?"

Malfoy's normally pale face blanched even whiter. "You'd best keep those ideas to yourself if you want to see your next birthday," he growled, voice full of menace. "I only put up with that attitude from you because your father saved my mother's life. . ."

"Oh, spare me!" Pansy exclaimed, standing up and throwing the magazine she had been holding onto the seat. "You don't give a damn about your mother, Draco, so maybe you should just drop that act." Harry jumped back as she slid the compartment door open. "And don't do me any more favours, I beg you." And with that she slammed the door, turned, and bumped right into Harry. He clapped a hand over her mouth before she could speak and dragged her out of sight.

"What the hell was that for?" Pansy asked as soon as Harry removed his hand.

"I didn't want you to give away the fact that I was standing there," Harry replied. "The last thing I need is to be caught spying on Malfoy."

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough to worry me. If Lucius Malfoy knows things about Morgan it could become major trouble." He bit his lip. "Especially since he's in an ideal position to pass information to Voldemort."

Pandy flinched when he said the name. "I hope I distracted Draco from the subject. That's why I said what I did about his mother. If he gets off on that tangent he's likely to forget he was plotting something else." She smiled slightly. "He fancies himself a great strategist and plotter."

"I know," Harry commented dryly. "I can still vividly remember he and his cronies dressing up as Dementors during a Quidditch match third year."

Pansy had to stifle a laugh. "That was probably the stupidest idea he has ever had in his life. And that's saying something."

Harry grinned. "That's good to know." He glanced back towards the compartment where Malfoy was sitting. "Will you be all right? He won't try and get back at you in any way, will he?"

Pansy shook her head. "No. He knows I'll curse him into next century if he tries."

"OK. Well, I'd better get back," Harry said, turning to leave. "Thanks again, Pansy."

"Again?"

"First the watch, and now this. Helping Morgan, I mean."

"All in a days work for a potential Guardian of the Phoenix," she joked. "Now get out of here, Potter, before a not-so-nice Slytherin catches you lurking in this part of the train."

**~**~**~**~**~**

Classes re-commenced two days after they returned to school, and all of the fith years received a nasty shock. With O.W.L.s coming up in less than six months their workload was about to increase. The mountain of homework assigned by Professor McGonagall on the first day back was just the beginning.

Between the piles of homework and increasingly hard classes it was over a week before Harry had an opportunity to talk with Morgan and Lupin about Sirius' revelations. He planned it all out with the help of Ron, Hermione and Ginny, and had the three of them at his side when the interrogation commenced.

Morgan arrived in her empty History of Magic classroom after dinner, in response to a note sent by Hermione asking for additional information regarding how Shakespeare was able to write such convincing witchcraft in his plays. She walked over the threashold to be confronted by the four students, all looking overly serious.

"Let me guess. This has nothing to do with Shakespeare, does it?" Morgan asked with a grin. Her smile faded slightly, however, when they all heard Lupin's voice outside the door.

"Whatever this is about, Harry, it had better be good. I hate missing desert." Lupin stopped dead halfway into the room, glancing about as if seeking an escape. Ginny beat him out, however. She darted behind him, shoving him completely in the room before slamming the door shut and casting the strongest locking charm she knew.

"That charm is completely useless, Guinevere," Morgan remarked, not even looking at Ginny. "You know that I can break it and get out of here any time I choose."

"I also know that you won't, because you're forbidden to use the magic of the Order against your successor, except as instruction," Ginny retorted.

"I don't need the power of the Order to break a fourth year student's locking charm, but I'll not debate the point with you." Morgan glared at all four students. Harry found it interesting that she hadn't so much as glanced at Lupin yet. "What exactly is all of this in aid of?" she asked.

"I think I can guess," Lupin's said in his quiet voice. "You saw Sirius over the holidays, didn't you?" he asked. Harry nodded once and Lupin continued. "And he, no doubt, imparted what he considered highly interesting information?"

"I am going to kill him!" Morgan raged as soon as Harry nodded in response to Lupin's last question. "I am going to find something even worse then Arvada Kedavra and use it on his worthless ass!" She stormed about the room, her anger creating a wake of palpable magic behind her. "When the hell is he going to grow up?"

"Morgan. . . ." Lupin began.

"No, Remus! I am not going to tolerate you making excuses for him anymore! He was a prat then and it seems that a stretch in Azkaban has only made him worse!" She took a deep breath and finally faced Harry. "He told you about Remus and I, didn't he?" Without waiting for a response she turned to Ginny, Ron and Hermione. "And Harry told all of you? So nice to have all the details of my past hashed out by a quartet of nosy teenagers!"

"We didn't hash anything out!" Hermione exclaimed. "We don't really know anything, except what Sirius told Harry and Ginny."

"But you were curious enough to plan this little stunt to get some more information," Lupin said. "Very resourceful. What do you think, Morgan? Five points for each of them?"

"Or twenty points taken away from each of them," Morgan replied. She was still angry, that much was obvious, but she had calmed down enough so that her magical presence didn't fill the room. She took a deep breath and pushed a hand through her hair. "All right, short version of the story. Remus and I were engaged to be married. Two months before the wedding James and Lily were murdered, I nearly died from Wormtail's curse and Sirius landed in Azkaban. When I came out of my coma we called the engagement off. End of story."

The four students exchanged glances. "You're not going to get anymore information, so you should probably quit trying. I told you its none of your business and I meant it." She faced the door and held out a hand. With a loud click the lock opened and she swept from the room without a backward glance.

The room fairly vibrated with silence after Morgan's departure. Lupin stood, staring at the door she had left through. Harry was somewhat stunned at the abruptness of of that departure, but he was afraid to ask Lupin any questions. None of the others disturbed the quiet either. No one seemed to know what to say.

Finally, after a number of agonizing minutes Lupin turned away from the door. "I'm sorry," he began. "I had thought she'd be over everything by now, but it seems to still be an issue."

"What's an issue?" Ron asked. He let out a soft grunt as Hermione elbowed him in the ribs.

Lupin smiled. "Its all right, Hermione. Unlike Morgan I don't mind discussing it. Its obviously still a sore point with her about why we called everything off."

"And why was that?" Harry asked. He was surprised to find himself rabidly curious as to the answer.

"Its really quite simple," Lupin replied with a shrug. "I refused to allow her to 'cure' me." And with those words he left the room, leaving the four young people stunned speechless.

Whatever reason I was expecting, Harry thought to himself, it certainly wasn't that!