A NOTE from SasoriHime:
OMG~! I really did not expect such great feedback! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR FOLLOWING, REVIEWING,ETC. It made me really happy! So thank you all! :) I apologize for not updating sooner, the new semester has been driving me crazy since I'm trying to adjust to my new classes!
DISCLAIMER: I'm just going to say it once so I won't have to keep re-typing this into other chapters too, so yea...I don't own Harry Potter or the Avengers!
(Chapter 2: Questions & Answers)
(Hermione's POV)
The atmosphere was thick, very thick…and very tense.
Hermione had flooed St. Mungo's earlier, Angelina Johnson was now taking her place in the healing ward as she went to Artemis's office in the potions department and floo-traveling to her friend's Auror office. According to Blaise, no one had spoken at all in the past twenty or so minutes, not even Draco, who always had a tendency to be sarcastic and speak out loud to break silences. Both agents were changed into transfigured sweatpants and white t-shirts, no doubt to make sure they were completely unarmed, and still bound together by invisible ropes, but now they were sitting in cushiony royal blue armchairs that Artemis had conjured up, and for some reason, bolted to the ground with a sticking charm. When asked why, all she said was; "I can't risk these two escaping and telling S.H.I.E.L.D. about us."
Adrian was affronted that two muggles could actually escape from being tied up to a chair by magic, but one look from Artemis shut him up, even after befriending her 5 years ago and even as going close as to going on more than a few dates, he was still hesitant around his co-head.
Everyone, as in Artemis, Draco, Severus Snape, and Hermione, was sitting in Artemis's office in a semi-circle with the two agents facing them; Artemis's desk and files were situated outside the half circle and away from the captives. It was only after Blaise had left for a meeting in Italy and Adrian to his Auror-trainee shift when Artemis finally broke the long silence with her first question.
"How did you get into Hogsmeade?"
Silence.
"It's not really a hard question, Clint, Natasha, though if you choose to be difficult, our failed mission 10 years ago will be child's play compared to what I can do."
The two agents looked up at her with their haunted eyes as she said this; Hermione noticed Clint trying to break free of his invisible restraints, earning a snicker from Draco and Snape who had also caught on to what the agent was doing. They knew he would never get free without the counter-spell.
Even so, everyone in the room, sans Natasha and Clint, knew that their friend would never resort to torturous methods unless heavily provoked or when no questions were being answered, meaning Artemis had lost her patience. Vetiraserum was an option, but Snape had used the last of his supply on recently captured werewolves who were out to avenge Greyback, it took more than one dose for the potion to take effect on magical creatures. You would think that after six years everything would stop, but nope, there are still dark wizards, witches and even magical creatures out there thirsting for revenge of their fallen lord. So unfortunately, the next batch of truth potion wouldn't be ready for another month and Artemis didn't want Clint or Natasha staying in the magical world any longer than necessary.
"How did you, or maybe Nick, find Hogsmeade? What does he want?"
Again, she was only met with silence.
"You've changed Penelope." Clint finally said after a short pause, his eyes only slightly softening.
"That's not an answer."
"I'm not giving you one."
"Well then you should start talking." The raven haired woman retorted.
"I'm getting tired of these pauses", Draco muttered from beside Hermione as another wave of silence greeted them, again.
"Leave then." Hermione hissed.
"But Artemis said I could be here."
"Then shut up before I hit my only godson!" Snape hissed this time.
Hermione rolled her eyes before shifting her attention back to Artemis, Natasha, and Clint.
"Now, again, how did you find Hogsmeade and what does Nick want?"
The answer from Natasha was immediate this time, though she was now speaking Russian.
(A/N: This part is suppose to be in Russian, but I don't speak Russian and I didn't want to use any translating site in case someone Russian actually reads my story-line and call me stupid in their minds for poor Russian grammar that some translating websites have, so let's just assume this part is spoken in Russian, ok?)
"Nick sent out ten agents to an old hideout in England three weeks ago, they were supposed to retrieve highly radioactive substances from an underground hideaway that was discovered a month ago. They never returned, we suspect that they've been captured and detained somewhere, Nick sent us as back up, but that was three days ago, we lost track of the hideout, the agents are nowhere to be seen, and when we stepped into an invisible wall, we lost all contact with S.H.I.E.L.D. and found a rackety town full of shops."
"So it was an accident that you stumbled upon Hogmeade?" Artemis responded in kind, when they didn't answer she continued, "There's more to it isn't there?"
"Finding you in that town was just as surprising as you finding us, consider it a sort of bonus for us since you were part of our assignment." Clint answered (in Russian).
"What does Nick want with me? I've already told him that I was done working for him and his stupid cause!" Artemis snapped.
"Nick is back to trying to establish the Avengers plan, he wants you and a Dr. H. G. Potter-Black part of the group." He replied when Natasha didn't.
"That plan was supposed to be established five years ago when Dr. Bruce Banner was supposedly able to replicate Steve Roger's hero experiment," Artemis stated quickly and angrily, "We all know how well that went, that was the reason why the Avenger's plan was canceled is it not? Why is it being re-established?"
"Nick prefers to tell you why himself" Natasha answered, "How did you even get all of that information, Penelope? It was classified information in the government scientific research archives, Nick almost couldn't even get into it."
"That's for me to know and for you never to find out." Artemis's tone indicated the end of their conversation.
(A/N: Russian-speaking minute end. )
Everybody, meaning Hermione, Draco and Snape, frowned in confusion at the foreign language only the two, and former agent, could understand. Hermione looked at to gauge Artemis's expression only to see confusion, anger, then realization, and finally, comprehension. When Artemis suddenly turned to face Hermione, she frowned. Hermione wondered why? Did they talk about her? Artemis shook her head and sped to her filing cabinets, she quickly pulled out random files and tossed them onto her desk; it was only a few minutes later when she finally pulled a small stack of files out and gestured for Draco to help her move a table in between them. She expertly slid the folders across the 4 foot long table. Ten files were revealed, Hermione recognized the files as the papers flew out of their folders and onto the tabletop in a nice organized fashion, Clint and Natasha watch in shock as the papers flew around before finally settling down.
Setting the table lower for the two agents eyes; the group watched as Clint's and Natasha's eyes widened in shock before turning into disgust.
(Natasha's POV)
After viewing small bits of the files from her position, the red haired woman sat back in her blue seat and let all the information of the unfortunate agents sink into her mind, she could tell Clint was doing the same thing. It was only a few minutes later when Natasha felt like throwing up reading of those agents' deaths, beside her, Clint was clearly trying to keep a straight face, despite the fact that cold sweat was slowly dripping down his forehead. It really didn't help that each picture was moving too, seven of the pictures graphically showed an agent erratically twitching into impossible angles before starting over again, the fore mentioned seven were tortured to death, two men had instant deaths, which left one man, who was the only survivor that had almost died from extensive blood loss.
"What the hell is this?!" Clint demanded.
Natasha couldn't even bring herself to speak as Clint shouted for answers; what the hell happened to these agents? What kind of monster did this to them? It was inhuman, evil, and the worst thing Natasha had ever seen in her entire life, and she has seen a whole lot too, but this was on a whole new world. Looking up at the other occupants of the room; she noticed that they all had a blank, but haunted, and faraway look in their eyes. The room temperature suddenly fell as gloom filled the air.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. agents sent by Nick, we found out from their badges. They were already like this when we found them two and a half weeks ago, we couldn't save them in time…they were broken beyond repair. It was luck that the last man survived at all." And unfamiliar voice spoke up.
Natasha's gaze shifted to the curly haired woman across from her; her haunting and rich brown eyes held wisdom, kindness, and understanding, as if this wasn't the worst, or the first, horrendous thing she has ever seen. Despite how calm, collected, or blank the others looked on the outside, Natasha could see that they were haunted by something…their past, Penelope included, and the young woman looked more haunted now than she did ten years ago. (A/N: Just saying here, that to Natasha and Clint, Artemis is still Penelope, the name she was personally known as before she ran away. To Hermione, Harry, and co. she is Artemis.)
"I'm Healer Granger, but you can call me Hermione", the petite curly haired woman continued, "I was the healer, or the doctor, at the scene, and I saved your last agent from blood loss, he's still alive but under extensive care."
"What happened there?" Natasha muttered so quietly they had to lean in to hear only to resume to their original positions as her voice got louder, "What kind of monsters did this?!"
"That's classified information, Natasha. I've already broken six rules just showing you these files. I can't tell you anymore about the case, it's already been closed, but if you're looking out for revenge for those agents, there's no need, my squad and I already took care of their attackers days ago." Penelope answered.
"Why do you keep saying 'squad'?" Clint pointed out, he quickly continued his questioning before anyone could answer, "Who are you? What are you? Who are these people? What have you been doing ever since you left us Penelope?"
Everyone watched as the ,formerly greasy, raven haired man quickly got up and pulled out a slim twelve inch black wood stick, he swiftly swiped the air a few times before stopping and nodding to Penelope to continue, Natasha and Clint could hear the faint sound of buzzing around them. Penelope glanced at the others before stepping up to them and answering Clint's questions all in one go.
"I am Artemis Penelope Leonhart-Lupin-Black, Head Potions Mistress and Co-Vice Head Auror of 104th squad in the Ministry of Magic. These people are my friends and mentor: Dr. H. G. Potter-Black, Draco Malfoy, and Severus Snape. I'm a witch Natasha, Clint. I left to find magic and learn about it. To help save the Wizarding World and magic."
"Magic?" Natasha murmured just as Clint said, "she's Dr. H. G. Potter-Black?"
END CHAPTER
SasoriHime: Not so much action right now, but I promised there will be some soon! Next chapter will be in a mystery peron's POV before switching on to Tony Stark (Iron Man). Find out what happens to Mr. Stark's and Ms. Pott's relationship in the next R.W.L.B.W.o.t.A. Chapter 3 : Wanna Know Why?
Beserked2: Lol! I kind of got carried away with the names didn't I? Thanks for the note though! Now I know what not do to for future updates/chapters/stories!
Once again, thank you all so much!
Review! Tell me what you think!
