She'd had a lovely week spending time with her different families. There had been plenty of giggles and warmth. She had looked around at these people who had helped guide her and protect her. In their own ways, they had each prepared her as well as they could for what was to come. They would be there for each other in the future to come. She looked at herself in the mirror again. She had a duty. It was prophesied. She was to back Harry up. Help him do what needed to be done for all of their sakes. Albus had told both her and Harry of his vision all those years ago. Albus had not needed to tell Harry what fate had in store. His Marauder family and Lily had been open with him from the start. He was a brave kid. He took the news better than Iris had thought he would. Almost like he had been expecting it.
She thought again of the other world. She felt pulled towards it more and more. She suspected it was the fear of what lay ahead on earth. The other world. The people who lived there called it Equilibrium. Iris called it Equi for short. It meant safety. She lay on the bed and closed her eyes. In her mind, she saw the golden doorway and veil and felt her body move in the way it always did. Except, this time was different. She felt a tingling in her arms. She opened her eyes and saw the veil solidly in front of her physical body. Her body felt like her Equi body. Lighter and stronger but there was something more solid in her. She breathed more rapidly and turned around. Before she would always see her other self on the bed laying still. This time the bed was empty. She shook her nerves out and stepped through the veil, feeling the usual tingling as she walked through the star-filled tunnel and into the white room with the neverending ceiling. Her Gran, mum, James and Lily were waiting for her, holding a Happy Birthday banner with smiles on their faces that fell when they saw her expression.
'What's wrong, Iris?' Lily asked immediately.
'My other self came through with me this time,' Iris said worriedly, 'I feel different too. Still light and strong but more whole.'
Greta hugged her, 'Don't worry petal. It's your eleventh birthday today. Your magic is officially reaching maturity. Why don't you go back and come through again to set your mind at rest.'
That little voice in the back of Iris's head that she didn't like to listen to wondered if she could just stay here. She dismissed it. She needed to be tough.
She turned around and walked back through the veil. Her tummy felt a slight drop as she stood in her bedroom again. She turned around, closed her eyes and thought of the veil. The familiar tingling sensation went down her arm. She opened her eyes and gasped. The golden veil stood proudly in her bedroom. It had resized a little. It looked a little smaller but that golden shimmer was unmistakable.
'Awesome,' she whispered. She walked straight back into the white room and the expectant faces of the others, 'It works,' she grinned, 'I only have to picture it and it appears. I can walk straight through now,' Her mind went quickly to work, 'Will I actually need to sleep now?' she asked them.
They both looked perplexed, 'We can't answer Iris. Time will tell. This is truly the unknown,' her mother admitted, 'The overwhelmingly good news is you can completely retreat to safety, even if you get caught. It's a godsend, Iris.'
Iris smiled, relieved. Her self-preservation was key, 'I'm going to see if I picture Grimmauld if it will take me there or back to my bedroom or where I came from. I'll be back in a bit. If it works Grandma's going to get a shock.'
They smiled at Iris's excitement.
Iris was nervous but optimistic. If this would work it would make life so much easier. She turned back around to the veil and pictured 12 Grimmauld places Drawing room. She took a few tentative steps and this time kept her eyes open as she felt the tingle. She passed through the passage, saw the stars and the other doorway as she walked into the golden shimmer. Her tummy flipped again as she walked into Grimmauld Place's drawing-room and she grinned as she saw the surprised expressions of Bella and Walburga as they sat drinking their tea.
'Iris,' Walburga said, shocked, 'What on earth?'
Iris grinned. She turned to look at the golden doorway, 'What on Equi, Gran?!'
Bella had stood up and was gingerly looking at the doorway, 'Of course. Your birthday,' she whispered.
'This is the veil you have been going through?' stated Walburga in awe. She was looking at the swirls of the veil, 'It's beautiful.'
Iris grinned, 'It certainly beats going through the floo. Although, I would advise you not to go through. I don't think you will be able to get back.'
Bella and Walburga nodded at her wisely. Iris gave a jolt. Her brain had gone into overdrive.
'Are you alright Iris?' Walburga asked her. She was concerned. Iris looked catatonic.
'Iris?' Bella asked her.
Iris snapped out of it, 'We would have to test it,' she muttered to herself.
Bella and Walburga looked confused.
'What if Gran and oh, James and Lily came through with me from the other side? And all the others that Riddle has put there. They wouldn't be able to get back through the veil. Not that way. It would only work one way for them. They would have to die again properly to do that.'
Bellatrix looked concerned, 'Iris, that is a big if.'
'Don't you see? It makes sense why I was giving this ability. Riddle has messed with forces he shouldn't have. This is their way of messing with him.'
'Bellatrix is right to be cautious Iris,' Walburga said softly, 'The only time the dead have arisen again is by being Inferi. That is no life to live Iris. It is too much of a gamble, my child. You have to understand as well that it is perhaps better for them to live where they are. It certainly sounds like a better world they have moved to. They can help us and you better where they are.'
Iris frowned. Bellatrix moved towards her.
'Iris. Unless you are told differently by the Angels then I think it will be wise to leave this well alone. This gift is for you. You have done so much with it already. Maybe when you're older and you are giving clear instruction then do this. I don't think this is what your gift is for. It is too much of a gamble with their souls. It could destroy them.'
Iris paid attention to that, 'You're right. I just got excited.'
'They can all visit us. I think that is the way your gift is intended to be used. You have given Harry his family back as well as can be done under the circumstances. The Angels can help people through you, Iris. Ivy and Hayley keep me informed of your many patients.'
Iris smiled sheepishly, 'It's all Gabriel, really. I don't do anything.'
'Nonsense, Iris. When you were just a little girl and didn't really know anything much your first instinct was to help. Do you remember when you asked Gabriel to take that bad magic off me?' Bella asked in her forthright manner.
Iris tried to think back, 'Not really. I remember you telling me about it but I was so young. I get little flashbacks sometimes. Like with that bastard Pettigrew, but then only fragments.'
'You see, Iris. Instinct,' said her Gran, 'That's how Gabriel knew what he could do. Because of you.'
Iris smiled at them, 'Happy New Year by the way. I'll see you at the weekend. I'll have my wand by then.'
Bella smirked, 'The fun really gets started then.'
Iris smiled conspiratorially, 'Yes. Much fun to look forward to. See you two later. I'm off to see mum and gran.' She waved goodbye as she walked back through the veil.
It disappeared the moment she left as Walburga and Bella watched in shocked silence.
'I thought I had seen it all only a decade ago, Bella. I hadn't realised the fun was only just starting.'
Bella smirked in response, 'May we never live in dull times.'
They clicked their cups of tea together and continued their chat about Madam Rosmerta's latest toyboy.
Iris reappeared in front of her Gran and the Potters, 'It works brilliantly,' she beamed, 'Although I still need to see if I can get into the Astral plane on Earth. It's a very useful skill.'
Greta's mouth twitched. She suspected Iris spent more time than she should in the muggle world at night. Still, it wasn't as if she could hit the Babysham's just yet. She wasn't in any danger. With what was coming in the world, some drunkards in the club were the least of her worries. Both Hayley and Greta had been bemused by the liking and interest Iris had taken to muggles. The young girl seemed so drawn to them. They realised it was because of Equilibrium. The blending of the best of both worlds was an inspiration to her. It was common to see Iris on her little flying motorcycle gliding around the streets here.
She had made do on Earth by going to the motorcycle track. Her sense of freedom when driving was unequalled. She would go round and round with the engine revving and an expression of calm on her face. When Sirius had found out her love of them he had become very pale and quiet. For her ninth birthday, he had bought her a motorcycle that was adapted to be powered by her magic and charmed to fly. Iris's resized Triumph Bonneville was her most prized possession. She knew when she had her wand she could resize it accordingly. It was definitely going in her trunk and being taken to Hogwarts.
She had been told they had a huge Quidditch pitch at the school. She liked to fly and enjoyed watching the Quidditch but wasn't too enamoured with the actual sport. Not to the obsessive levels of the Weasleys and Harry. Too much crash, bang and wallop for her. The Wizarding World had the equivalent to muggle race tracks and Sirius would go flying together. It had gone a little way to repairing the bridge between them. Sirius and Iris both had a love of leather jackets, jeans and leather boots too. They both thought James Dean the epitome of cool. Iris bought him a rocking black jacket for his birthday which was both a very pleasant and very awkward moment between the two of them. She knew he was still waiting for her to grow horns and hooves and she would never forget their history but a cease-fire of sorts was accomplished.
Her Greengrass family and Walburga had, at this point, admitted defeat into turning Iris into a debutante. Bella thought it was hilarious. Fortunately for them, Daphne and Astoria had taken to it like ducks to water which took the pressure off Iris. Sirius had over time warmed to the unconventional girl. Iris was always careful with her manners which was a balm to the old school purists but that was all that could be said for her undertaking traditional ideals. As Iris said using your manners showed respect to whoever you were talking to. The house-elves were accorded the same respect she showed her other family.
They made their way through the picturesque village where Greta and the Potters both lived. Iris was never tired of how beautiful it was here. Some plants and lakes were so different from Earth.
They arrived at the quaint cottage. Several neighbourhood cats lounged in the garden. Iris had been so happy to see the animals here.
She stretched herself. She felt stronger in herself. Different. Lighter. They had different types of food and drink here. Not much was needed to be eaten. No animals were eaten. There was no hunting. It was considered absolute law here. No one had ever violated that law. The animals here roamed free. Bodies had changed form here and no one had the urge to eat meat. Physical strength was generated by the Magic in the air. Iris could feel it flow and ripple through her on occasion. She had stopped eating the meat on earth as it had made her feel a little queasy when she travelled here. She maintained her physical strength on earth from her trips to Equilibrium. The two constants between both worlds were tea and biscuits.
The day stretched on with her nearest and dearest. They spoke of the developments with Iris and each agreed with Bella. It was all too risky to attempt.
'You have considered this then? Iris asked.
'We have,' Lily spoke to her, 'We cannot violate the laws of the universe like Riddle has done, Iris. Except for you and Hayley, the rest of us can only move on. That we have been able to help raise our son is a miracle in itself. You cannot ever know how much this has meant to us. Harry is not very good at expressing himself but always know how highly he regards this gift you gave us.'
Iris smiled gently, 'You've both been very decent to me. Always have been. When I consider what my Grandfather has done to the world I do not take that for granted. Thank you for not judging me. Many are. When I leave my body I explore the country. Both of those worlds. Wizarding and Muggle. I hear what a lot of Wizards and Witches say about me,' Iris' eyes darkened a fraction, 'Harry needed you. There are very high expectations for him. He won't be able to do what he has to do alone. He gets a lot of strength from you both.'
They looked at her with different expressions, 'Perhaps, Iris,' James said.
'By the time of your next birthday you will have started at Hogwarts,' Hayley said to the young girl, changing the subject, 'Are you excited?' she smiled at her. Her smile faltered as Iris frowned.
'I'm glad I will know a few of the others. I won't feel so overwhelmed. It's just. It really is the start of it all for me. I've been preparing. All of you have helped me in different ways. I look at the world,' Iris paused, 'I see it for what it is. I compare it to here. The world it could be. I read about our history. It is brutal.'
The others couldn't help but agree.
'But there is so much good there too,' she continued, 'It's worth fighting for. I've looked at so many books about our history. Many are going to get killed in the coming war. It's already starting in the shadows in Britain. Death is inevitable for many. We can't save them all. But Harry and I. We can stop him. We're going to have to chop the head of the snake off. Hitler is replaceable. They already have them lined up. There have always been dictators in both worlds. They all eventually die or are killed. Even Grindelwald has grown old. Riddle is not going that way through conventional methods. He is the one the Order needs to target. Him and his minions. Bring him down and we bring the whole lot down.'
They looked at the young, determined girl unsettled. She looked so young. Even with her extra time learning on earth due to not needing much sleep she was still so young.
She smiled grimly at them, 'I'm going to help load the gun and Harry's going to pull the trigger. That I promise. We will end him for good. Then Lucifer can have him. He won't be destroying any more people's lives. I want him to end up in the next cell to Pettigrew,' her eyes had darkened onyx black as she spoke.
They didn't doubt her conviction for a second.
When the blue moon had risen Iris said her goodbyes. Her mother would return to her body her own way. Iris wasn't tired in the slightest. If anything she felt energised from her time in Equilibrium. She focused on the golden gate and walked through the shimmer into her bedroom.
Sitting on her bed she closed her eyes and pictured herself rising out of her body. No response. She stayed in place. She thought logically. How to separate herself. She pursed her lips and looked around her room. Her eyes strayed to the full-length mirror. Perhaps. She moved across to it and looked at herself. She looked a little taller. Her grey eyes fixated on herself. Lifting both hands she put them up to the mirror. They started to sink into the mirror. Joy rushed through her. She eased herself inside the mirror and stepped out of the back of it. She felt the lightness immediately. She wasn't solid. It was morning here now. She moved back to the front. She had no reflection.
A quick exploration of the Greengrass Manor confirmed that none of the occupants was aware of her presence. Mitty was making Breakfast as Dawn was filling up the kettle. She focused on her room and returned immediately to the mirror. Stepping into the back of the mirror she pushed gently through to the other side. Turning around she saw her reflection grinning back at her. She lay back on the bed grinning widely. All in all a very successful birthday. In a couple of days, her mum was taking her to get her first wand. She would be well and truly on her way.
Her grin faltered. She had been well and truly on her way the moment Riddle targeted her mother. The lights were blinding in front of her. But she had her army. Her mum. Bella was teaching her well. She had Harry by her side. Lily and James. They all wanted the same thing. As did many others. She did have her allies. Gabriel, Lucifer. Her Black family. Her Greengrass Family. Dawn's life could have been much easier without all the worry but the Bones family always fought on the side of the light and knew what was at stake. They had lost a lot of their family in the last war. Daphne and Astoria were her blood and they loved each other. That was obvious. But they were so different to her. Iris could have her moments where she shut down emotionally, but her two sisters were so exceedingly coolly refined.
She had that wild side to her that she couldn't tame if she tried. Iris had, over time, toned down her enthusiasm for her music and movies in front of them. They were growing older. She spent more time away from them. They were on different paths but they were her sisters and there was a bond there. Her mother and Grandmother could be detached sometimes too. A Greengrass trait she had been told. Iris genuinely felt like the Black sheep of the family but she knew they each cared about each other. She was perceptive of people.
Her life was strange. She knew she was odd compared to them. She couldn't not be. When her parseltongue ability had revealed itself on a day out in the woods with a very surprised grass snake the year before the lack of enthusiasm from them had confirmed in her own mind where she stood. The harried expressions on both Gareth's and Dawn's face said a thousand words. Like Sirius and Aurthur, there would be some who would have doubts about who Iris would grow up to be.
She recalled the happier times of her childhood with the Potters, Walburga and Bella. Two such diverse groups but both much more accepting of her. She was simply Iris to them. Molly had shown her much more demonstrative affection than Dawn. The Weasley kids had pulled themselves together after the initial shock and they just got on with it. She assumed they trusted Harry's judgement. Seeing Lily and James reunited with the young boy who was an honorary brother to them was more than enough for them to accept her.
Arthur seemed more cautious, but as with Sirius, she could understand the reluctance. They had both had front row seats to much of the Death Eater's devastation the first time around. Riddle's Granddaughter would be a bitter pill to swallow. Iris was pragmatic. She imagined when Tom was young no one could have predicted what he was capable of.
What was she capable of? She sighed. She moved over to the open-top glass cage that harboured Esmerelda, her gorgeous snake. A golden Lancehead pit Viper. Esmeralda had been kidnapped and was being held two streets away from Grimmauld Place a year ago. Iris was on her Muggle Astral travels and had noticed the suspicious man at two o'clock in the morning. He had been taking a wriggling sack into his home. Following him in she noticed the shabby conditions and chemical lab and could hear Esmeralda calling for help in anguished tones. Iris had quickly found the best woman for the job and within ten minutes Bella and she were breaking in. A quick stunner was all that was required.
Esmeralda was so relieved to be rescued, and by a speaker no less, that Iris and she had bonded very quickly. Bella was pleased to see Grimmauld Place had an actual snake resident there occasionally.
'A Slytherin home without a snake is like a room without a view,' Bella had proclaimed. Esmeralda had informed Iris she liked rats to eat especially. Kreacher was given the responsibility to acquire these which he was very proud of. Iris contemplated later feeding Pettigrew to her. On further questioning of Esmeralda, Iris found out that somehow she had been one of many kidnapped in Ilha da Queimada Grande by very bad men. She was from an island near Brazil. She had told them she was one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. One of her bites could kill a man in an hour. His flesh would burn and he would bleed to death. Bella had grinned widely at that.
'Do you think they were Hitler's men? Or Riddle's?' Iris asked Bella.
'Possibly. Could just be rogues. She will be a good bodyguard for you, Iris,' Bella had answered honestly. Iris was inclined to agree. Esmeralda hadn't been able to tell them more. The men had her locked away. There hadn't been much talking. They had wanted the snakes alive.
Bella and Iris went back to the house but it had been deserted. The chemical lab had been cleared out, 'Riddle's man, I think. A Muggle couldn't have cleared it out so quickly,' Bella had stated what Iris was thinking.
'So close to us. How many of these sort of places are in operation?' wondered Iris aloud.
Bella had looked at Iris gravely, 'More than should be,' Iris nodded. Bella had never lied to her.
Still, as she stood by the glass and Esmeralda glided up her arm and wrapped around her Iris felt comfort. They hissed quietly to each other. Her snake was looking forward to Hogwarts too. There was no doubt at all that she would not be allowed to stay without Iris at the Greengrass Manor by herself. Dawn's lips had gone into a very thin line when Bella and Iris had explained the situation.
'Can you just keep her in your room?' Dawn had said nervously. Iris had felt her distress. When she tried to explain Esmeralda would not be dangerous to her family Dawn had given her a withering look, 'I would prefer not to risk it,' The conversation was over as Dawn stormed out of the room. Iris didn't push. Many people were frightened of snakes.
Iris was spending more time at Grimmauld recently. Esmeralda wasn't too long in length. Maybe a couple of feet. She would wrap her around her torso and neck when Iris was reading in Grimmauld Place, which she loved. She dare not go into the Astral plane with her or through the veil. Lily and Hayley had told Iris to wait before trying to take anyone through with her. Not even the Angels knew what would happen if she did that. They most probably would die. She had left the Muggle school the year before to focus on her lessons with Bella and Lily. She would miss her Muggle friends but knew with sinking clarity where she was going they couldn't go with her.
She took a look at the portrait of Salazar Slytherin. She understood for the times he lived in his hatred of the Muggles. They had been brutal to the magical world. The Muggles had turned on the Dark Witches and Wizards and then the light too. The statute of secrecy had been implemented when the first gun had been invented. A protego could not block a bullet. Times had changed. The world had moved on.
There was certainly a curiosity amongst the Muggles towards their world. They knew on some level it existed. Proof of that was in their Arts. It was everywhere. Religion. They knew it was hidden from them. However. Iris was not naive. There would be Muggles who still feared them. There would be persecution if it became official. She understood the dangers of Riddle revealing their world. The glass window was the best option. Hinted at but enough smoke and mirrors to deny. Iris did not understand Pureblood dominance. She was still resentful that Sirius could have treated her mother and her as callously as he did and they had no defence at all. Riddle had been granted Pureblood status officially during that farce of a trial. She supposed that made her the purest of Purebloods in Britain officially.
In reality, her Great Grandfather, Riddle Senior had been a Muggle aristocrat. She had been to see the Riddle family home the month before under the protection of the Astral plane. She could now apparate quite accurately to where she needed to be. She walked through Little Hangleton. When she arrived at the house it looked deserted and desolate. The garden seemed to be the only colour in the place. Gareth had done some homework for her. It was owned under a different name. Tax purposes had been the vague reasons for ownership. It sounded like Riddle still had it. An old gardener was tending the plants. Gareth had found out about the triple murder that had taken place in 1943. He had found out that Morfin Gaunt, Tom's uncle, had freely admitted he was responsible. He was in Azkaban.
The Gaunts. Iris clenched her jaw. Gareth had dug deep.
She had read the reports. They had been Pureblood maniacs. Interbreeding. Violence. Aggression. Stints in Azkaban. Gareth had acquired a memory from Bob Ogden. A Ministry worker who had a violent encounter with the Gaunt family. Iris had stood in the Black pensieve for hours watching the unpleasant altercation in a loop. She kept looking at the squalid shack. Merope, who would later become Tom's mother, was a completely broken woman. She watched the clearly very rich and arrogant Tom Riddle Senior. Iris looked at the two of them. Merope had clearly resorted to giving him a love potion. It was so twisted. Merope did not look in her right mind at all. Could Tom Riddle have committed these murders? Possibly. Revenge for abandonment. Memory charms would have worked on Morfin.
Iris gazed at the once upon a time elegant house that had belonged to the Riddle family. The shack the Gaunts had lived in would be around here somewhere. Riddle had been on a horse and cart. It would be in the woods. She moved towards the trees. She found an overgrown dirt track that looked like it hadn't been used in years. She kept moving forwards. When she approached the shack her heart had sunk. It looked even worse than the memory. The dead snakeskin hung on the door. It was definitely the place. She closed her eyes and walked through the solid door. Even in the Astral plane she still expected to bump her nose.
On the table sat a display case. She could see the threads of magic protecting it. She frowned. Moving closer she tilted her head. It was a signet ring that looked familiar. Iris concentrated. Morfin had been wearing it. A family heirloom ring. It had a snake engraved on it. She went rigid. The other item she had seen with a snake on it had been the locket. She had watched the memories of Rita and her gran enough times. Right. She pulled herself together.
Time to get the big guns. She went to find Dumbledore and Gabriel.