AN- Just wanted to mention that in this reality during the battle of the ministry Voldemort got a better grip on Juniper's mind and shot off a cutting curse at Neville that would have decapitated him if Dumbledore hadn't blocked it. Also Hufflepuff's cup is not in Bellatrix's vault I got other plans for it.

AN- I wanted the Avengers to know more about the whole situation but giving it out a piece at a time what getting in the way so they know it all now except the graveyard and Snape's lessons. I'm not sure where the idea about The Black Madness came from but I kinda like it. *shrugs* No Hydra yet but they are coming they want their Soldier back after all anybody wanna bet Juniper can make them regret that?

AN- Yikes I love my reviews! Yup Tonys got a kid. It was pointed out to me by my cousin who likes to read over my shoulder but not really help that Tony is being a hypocrite by how he reacts to Juniper's adventures VS how he reacted to Peters but there is a diffrence since Peter choose to throw himself into danger and crime fighting and Juniper never wanted anything but a normal life. Also shes his kid and nobody ever said that Tony Stark wasn't in fact perfectly capable of being a hypocrite when it suited his mood.

AN- Neither Harry Potter of the Avengers belong to me.

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Chapter Five

Juniper felt like her mind was in a tangle as she retreated to the suite Tony had assigned them crossing to the sliding glass windows and stepping out onto the balcony stepping closer to the railing than most people would be comfortable with. Heights had never bothered Juniper in fact she found them comforting they where a safe place for her. The tree she'd hidden in from her aunts evil little dog, the roof of the cafeteria where she'd been safe from Dudley and his gang, every single Quidditch game she'd played. Even falling from her broom in 3rd year hadn't snatched the joy she'd felt in flying and at the moment she yearned for her broom like a life long smoker for a cigarette. It felt like it had been forever since she'd been for a good long ride and it always helped her think helped her straighten her brain out. She sat on the floor of the balcony and slipped off her glasses rubbing her eyes trying to chase away the sight of Tony's girlfriend Ms. Potts Jarvis had called her. Especially the kind gentle smile she'd given her. The kind of smile she'd always imagined her mum would give her. She was sure if she'd known, had been expecting someone who looked so much like her mum she could have picked out half a dozen differences between the other woman and her mother. But she'd been completely blindsided and the sight of her had sent pure pain through her heart. Especially since a tiny little part of her had thought for a moment she was Lily Potter somehow alive somehow here. Oh course the logical part had known better but expecting logic from her life had never worked out well for her.

When she heard someone approach her she knew it wasn't Hermione or Ron neither of them ever moved so quietly she hadn't even heard anyone enter the room. She replaced her glasses and looked up to see Natasha already standing just inside the sliding doors.

"I'm sorry." Juniper whispered softly slipping back into old behaviors old lessons beaten into her years ago. When in doubt apologize because you'd always done something wrong. Rules could be changed to accommodate that if needed. "That was rude. I should apologize to Ms. Potts."

Natasha saw what she was doing immediately retreating into programing the same way Natasha retreated into the cold emotionless place as she'd been taught in the Red Room, the same way the Winter Soldier still flashed in Bucky's eyes. It was the eyes that gave it away every time and seeing the resignation in Juniper's broke Natasha's heart just a little.

"Don't." She said putting just a edge of chill in her voice. "Don't be who they wanted you to be Juniper whoever the hell they are. No one here is much interested in apologizes and no one is going to punish you if thats what your expecting. We don't cover problems it just makes it worse we rip them out by the roots." She knew a few of the guys would probably disagree as she was pretty much a master of hiding but she was also a master of saying what she needed to get what she wanted and at the moment she wanted to know what was going on with the girl. "What was that? You have no problem with the Avengers, but you run away from Pepper Potts like shes the devil?" Oh course there had been times when Natasha had wanted to run from Pepper too but Juniper had never seen the woman mad, or pissed at whatever stupid stunt they'd 'let' Tony pull while her back was turned so she had no reason to fear the pretty sweet looking red head.

Juniper's hand went to the locket she was wearing around her neck the silver chain tangling briefly with the cord from the horcrux pouch she didn't remember putting back around her neck as she pulled it out of her jumper. The locket had been a Christmas gift from Sirius it had two compartments room for 4 pictures the first compartment held pictures of James and Lily the second of himself and Remus. She never took it off although it broke her heart that only one of the four who'd been her parental figures was still among the living.

She opened the first compartment and held it out so Natasha who knelt beside her so she could see and heard Natasha's swift indrawn breathe. "Thats..."

"Lily Potter." Juniper broke in before she could supply Pepper's name. "My mother."

Natasha nodded remembering the story they'd heard the night before of how Lily and James Potter had died protecting their baby daughter. She couldn't hold back a rush of relief. Her first thought had been that Juniper had developed a crush on Tony and had freaked out when she realized he had a girlfriend which would have been more than a little problematic especially since she'd caught the looks Bucky had been giving Juniper. She should have known better Juniper was too mature to act like a child over something as shallow as a crush this though while much more heart wrenching was more easily solved.

"Peppers not Lily Potter." Natasha said gently then almost laughed at the look Juniper gave her. Yeah there went the programing out the window again. She much preferred the real Juniper.

"I know that I'm not a idiot. Theres no way to bring back the dead not even magic can do that but just seeing her...I don't remember much about my mum just words, a scent, a presence, and her scream that night as he killed her." A shudder ran through her as the memories the Dementors had dragged to the surface flashed through her mind. "I'm a adult now. I've fought, and killed and very nearly died but still sometimes I just...want my mum."

Natasha wasn't good at comforting people. That was more Steve's thing or Clint's. Sympathy wasn't encouraged in her own childhood so she'd done her best to kill it but still on instinct she reached out taking Juniper's hand in hers. Juniper closed her own hand in Natasha's holding tight taking the comfort that she was capable of offering. It wasn't the crushing almost smothering hug Hermione would have given her or the arm Ron would have thrown over her shoulders but it was comforting in its own way and she could sense it was hard for Natasha to do so she appreciated it. "I was taken from my parents when I was very young too. I know what its like to long for someone whos not there. I know it doesn't make it better but I do understand."

Juniper looked up at Natasha giving her a small smile. "Thank you."

"Do you want to go back downstairs or I could call and tell them to send your friends up." Natasha offered.

Juniper shook her head. "I'd rather just sit her for awhile if thats okay. Sometimes Ron and Hermione are just so noisy and the quiet is nice." Natasha almost laughed at that she'd often had the same thought about the rest of her team as well. Too few people understood the value of just sitting quietly for a bit. "You can go if you want too though. I'm okay." Natasha nodded but only moved to sit in a more comfortable position neither releasing the other's hand.

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"I've started the DNA test running. I got the blood from the jacket she was wearing last night. Could come back inconclusive but it looked like a pretty clean sample. The hair from her brush Hermione gave me should be clean even if the blood isn't" Tony looked up from where he was sitting head on Pepper's shoulder as Bruce entered the office where he'd retreated with Pepper, Steve, and Bucky to explain to the very confused Pepper what was going on.

"I don't need it." Tony answered. He'd known the second he'd seen the picture of Lily Evans he'd known. He'd had no reason to connect Lily Evans and Lily Potter when he'd first heard the name. Lily wasn't a uncommon name and he hadn't seen or heard of the woman for almost 18 years, but he still thought he should have remembered those eyes. Those beautiful emerald eyes she'd passed on to their daughter. His daughter. He had a daughter.

"Shes my kid." I was the first time he'd actually said the sentence without a qualifier. Sometime in the past hour it had gone from she might be mine, to shes is probably mine to she is mine in his head.

"Somebody beat up my kid, starved her, left scars on her. Somebody put her in a position to fight a monster when she was 12. Somebody put her front and center of a goddamn war when she was 11. Trying to kill my kid. It was bad enough when it was just A kid but its MY kid." Tony stood pacing as he talked as the rage built as he remembered the sight of Juniper sitting on the floor outside her room struggling to breathe fighting off god knew what kind of nightmares or memories her mind had conjured up, the fear and exhaustion and load of responsibility in her eyes as he'd talked to her afterwards, the tears, sobs as she'd near collapsed into his arms.

"Tony, Tony." He didn't even realized he'd put his fist through the wall until Steve had grabbed him by the shoulder forcing him to turn around and met Steve's calm blue eyes with his own. But no Steve's eyes weren't as calm as he'd thought they'd be there was a storm there too. "Shes safe. Shes here. We can protect her now. What was that thing she said we deal with what is not with what we want or what should be. Thats what we do now. We destroy those anchor things she told us about, and then we show the wizarding world dark lord included what happens when they mess with one of ours."

"Why didn't she tell me? Lily. Why didn't she come to me when she realized they where being hunted? I could have protected Juniper. I could have protected all three of them. Brought them to America kept them hidden. They would be alive and Juniper could have had a normal life." Tony said his voice hoarse as tears gathered in his eyes.

"Oh Tony." Pepper stepped forward embracing the man she loved. "Maybe she thought you wouldn't be able to help, maybe she thought they had it handled, or maybe her husband didn't know Juniper wasn't his."

"He knew." They looked over to see Hermione and Ron had followed Bruce in unnoticed by the others Clint behind him giving Tony a understanding look. He knew exactly how much having a child changed everything and although Tony was new at it it seemed he'd already caught the protective papa wolf instincts.

"James Potter he knew he had to. Magic recognizes Juniper as a Potter. The Potter Heir in fact that would only happen if James did a blood adoption. I'd like to think they would have told Juni when she got old enough to understand but Heirs are a huge deal in our world especially when your talking about a family as old, powerful and wealthy as the Potters so its possible they wouldn't have." Hermione said softly.

"Will that interfere with the DNA test?" Bruce asked.

Hermione shook her head. "It doesn't change her DNA just her magical signature. Any magical scan will register her as a Potter and a Black as she was also named Sirius's Heir. It would have protected her to a extent too. In our world a half blood heiress to two of the most powerful of the pure blood houses would get way more respect. Than a muggleborn no matter how powerful or rich you are in the muggle world."

"Wait if Lily was a witch would she be like at least a quarterborn or something?" Pepper asked with a frown.

"No your heritage comes from your grandparents. 4 Magic grandparents to be a pureblood, 2 magic grandparents to be a half any thing less and your still considered a muggleborn." Ron said.

Hermione looked over at Ron her eyes going wide. "A muggleborn head of the House of Black if they find out about this the dark families are going to completely loose their minds."

A slow evil smile came over Ron's face. "And theres not a damn thing they can do about it. Sirius would love it. Hes on the other side right now laughing his ass off. Old dog."

"You think he knew?" Hermione asked.

"Oh course James would never keep a secret from Sirius."

"Who is Serious and why is my daughter his Heir." Tony asked frustration snapping in his voice.

"Sirius." Hermione corrected. "He was Juniper's godfather. The only adult in the world who tried to get her away from her aunt and uncle he died before he could succeed and Juniper had a front row seat. It nearly destroyed her I've never seen her loose control like she did that night."

"The Black madness." Ron muttered. "It happened before when she thought Sirius had betrayed her parents in 3rd year, and when she had to had to outfly the dragon in 4th year, then last year when Snape killed Dumbledore during the battle of the astronomy tower. How many Deatheaters did she cut through trying to get to him? Would a blood adoption do that?"

"Yes Ronald it would because James Potter's mother was Dorea Black. She would get any of the Black gifts and the Potter Luck through the adoption ritual." Hermione answered with a put upon sigh.

"WAIT WAIT slow down." Tony yelled hardly knowing where to start. Dragon? Flying? Madness? Godfather? Most people would have told you that Tony Stark had one of the quickest minds in the world but he was having a very hard time following and accepting all this.

"Black madness?" Bucky asked not sounding much better than Tony.

"Many of the old families have inherent Magical traits. The Potter luck for example as Sirius explained it the Potters have the best or worst luck in the world nothing in between. The Blacks where originally mercenaries. It was said some armies would flee if they found out their enemies had Blacks among their troops. Blacks do not stop when that switch in their brain gets flipped, they don't feel pain, they don't feel regret, Juniper said there was nothing but the rage when she was fighting nothing but the flight when she was trying to outfly the dragon. With Juniper it only happens when someone she cares about is in danger. Hell that dragon was doing its best to kill her but she didn't really flip until it dived at the teachers stand and nearly killed Flitwick. She already had third degree burns on her arm from the fire and nothing but put her favorite teacher in danger and suddenly shes drawing the thing off better than a trained dragon handler and taking it down." Ron said even Hermione looked as if she'd been told something she didn't know.

"Then why didn't Sirius have it." Hermione asked.

"Why didn't...Hermione Sirius broke out of Azkaban something no one had ever been able to do, made it across the whole country being hunted by Dementors, aurors, bounty hunters, and muggle police broke and into Hogwarts one of the most secure buildings in the world just to protect Juniper and kill Peter." Ron said exasperation clear in his voice. He wasn't use to being the one who knew things usually it was Hermione who was doing the explaining to him.

"But...but he didn't he stopped."

"When did he calm down Hermione what calmed him."

"When...Remus came. He calmed down when Remus hugged him."

"Exactly All Blacks have at least one person who can anchor them. The second he was in the same room with Remus he came back to himself. Later Juniper could do it too its why he was always more focused when they where both there."

"Juniper doesn't have any anchor."

"Oh course shes does you idiot. Why do you think shes so protective of Luna?"

"Loony Lovegood." Hermione actually sounded offended.

"Yeah don't call her that where Juniper can hear you doubt she'd take it well. Lots of times the anchor is a lover, mate, or family member Juniper had none of those but she loves Luna like a sister and Luna doesn't bicker with her like we do. Never ticked her off like we can. Luna is calm, collected, kind just like Remus. Don't take it personal Hermione." Ron advised looking so pleased with himself Hermione had to tap down the urge to smack him.

"She fought a dragon at 14." Tony said. "What the hell kind of school did you three go to."

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It was another few hours before the group emerged from the office The Avengers feeling a bit shocked and working to suppress the urge to gather all three of 'the golden trio' together maybe pick up the other 3 that rounded out 'the ministry six' and lock them in a nice safe tower somewhere. Oh course they would probably figure out a way to get into some kind of death defying antics even then. They'd just been treated to a briefing of the last 7 years of Tony's daughter's life and yes the test had come back and if was confirmed by blood and hair samples Juniper Potter was to a 99.99% degree of certainty actually a Stark by blood. And inclination as well as they had noticed a few things that reminded them strongly of Tony in the story like a plunge from the skies nearly splatting on the ground, going after a serial killer she blamed for her parents death that one had even ended in a similar manner with a old friend showing up and revealing the truth, a near obsessive love of flying both high and fast, and a near suicidal disregard for silly things like rules, and their own health.

The thing that bothered them perhaps even more than the things the children had done was Ron and Hermione's almost dismissive attitude towards a lot of. Oh they acknowledged the terror of facing a basilisk, or a dragon, and they where furious towards Tom Riddle and Snape. But they saw no issue with going after the philosopher's stone for example, or saving their friend Hagrid by meeting a group of sentient man eating spiders in a forbidden forest things no child should have to deal with. Bucky had tried to keep track of exactly how many times they all especially Juniper could have been killed but had quickly lost count and given up. Between possessed teachers, cursed bludgers (they still wasn't completely clear on what that was.), and dementors (a Thing from a nightmare if there ever was one.) they couldn't understand how none of the three, or all of them actually, weren't dead years ago. Potter Luck as Ron had termed it must have been working overtime. By the end the only adult they'd had a shred of respect left for was the dear departed Sirius Black. Yeah he had messed up but he had at least tried everything he could manage to try and get to Juniper and protect her. The things that where haunting both Tony and Bucky was the lack of information they'd had about what had happened in the graveyard during 4th year(Evidently the only one she'd ever discussed it with was Sirius Black. Not even Ron knew more than dark ritual, Cedric died, Tom Riddle returned, and Juniper escaped.) and what had happened during the special lessons Juniper had attended with Snape during 5th that had left her near crawling back to the common room in agony from migraines.

When they walked out of the office Tony was ready to go find Juniper tell her he was her father and inform her point blank he was going to handle the dark lord and she was going to stay in The Avenger's building under Jarvis's watchful eyes until it was over but luckily for him there was a note pinned on the wall across from the office door by one of Natasha's daggers. A message deliver system that never failed to freak out the cleaners that said quite simply. 'Took the kid out for ice cream. We'll be back when we feel like it Nat.'

Hermione had been studying Tony's face and said softly to him. "It won't work."

"What won't work?" He asked her his expression tight.

"Trying to protect Juniper. Its too late for that. She'll see it as you trying to control her and shes done with that. Shes never been good with authority another thing I think the two of you have in common and the ministry trying to use her only made it worse. If you try to come off like a overprotective dad she'll push back. You where handling her well before you knew." Hermione told him gently.

"Shes my kid and shes gone through hell. Its my job to make sure shes protected. I've been failing for 17 years I'm not going to do that anymore." Tony almost growled. He'd always swore he wouldn't be like his father if he ever had a child and as it had turned out he was worse. His child had been in pain for 17 years Howard had ignored him but he'd never have allowed him to be abused. In fact he wouldn't be surprised if the old man clawed his way out of hell to take revenge on his granddaughters behalf because she was now the future of the Stark name which had always been the second most important thing in Howard Starks life after finding Steve Rogers.

"And you wouldn't consider it failing if she just apparated out and you never saw her again. Never knew what happened during the rest of this war if she even survived?" Hermione asked.

"Surely she wouldn't do that." Pepper said softly.

"Oh she totally would." Ron corrected. "Where you not listening to what we where telling you? Was there anything in what we told you that led you to believe Juniper would react well to someone trying to take her choices away again? Especially now that shes officially a adult in our world. I like you Tony I do and I think having you in her life would be really good for Juniper, and I think having your help in whats coming could save a lot of lives including Juni's but if she decides to leave and never see you again theres not a damn thing you could do to stop her."

"And we're with her always and forever. We're her generals, her advisors but in the end the choices are hers." Hermione chimed in.

Tony took a deep hard breathe and had to admit they where right. He hadn't taken well to people telling him what to do at a much younger age and with much less life experience than Juniper. "I don't know how to do this. Be a father." It wasn't something Tony had ever said. He was Tony Stark there was nothing he couldn't do if he didn't know how he'd study it until he did but there was no manual on becoming the father of a 17 year old witch being hunted down by a evil dark lord.

"You could start with being her friend." Clint suggested. "She doesn't need a daddy to hold her hand and walk her to school. You lost a hell a lot of her milestones. Don't try to get them back. Don't try to stand between her and the big bad thing that time has passed stand at her side instead. You can support and guide her without controlling her. Your stepping in at the time when most of us are having to start letting go of our kids and it sucks for both of you but don't push her and loose the rest of her life."

"And tell her soon. When Juniper thinks people are hiding things from her it always ends in things blowing up and broken glass." Hermione advised.

Steve snorted. "Another Stark family trait."

"I will talk to her as soon as she and Natasha get back." Tony assured them.

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It was maybe 15 minutes later when Natasha and Juniper got back walking in together Juniper laughing at something Natasha had said for the first time since Tony had met her looking carefree and relaxed. He suddenly felt pride grow in his chest. That was his daughter and she was beautiful, smart, and brave fearless even. She fought for the people she cared about and what she believed in even when it cost her. She'd been hurt but she hadn't let it turn her bitter. She was obviously a leader someone other people looked too trusted and believed in but she didn't just order others to do the fighting she was in the thick of it. She'd faced and fought not just a Dark lord, and his followers but monsters that would have made many a grow man pee his pants and she had won. He remembered the flippant remark she'd made about that Phoenix usually only healing heroes as if she wasn't one and wondered if she had a clue how amazing she was.

Ron and Hermione where both in the other room with everyone else watching a movie something that seemed to fascinate Ron who'd evidently never seen a television before which Tony found absolutely mind boggling but it should distract them enough for him to make this a private conversation with Juniper. Both had offered to sit in but he didn't want their help. He should be able to do this alone. He wasn't afraid of a 17 year old girl. Even though he had the feeling this particular 17 year old girl would be able to grind his heart to powder with both words and powers if she chose to reject him.

Juniper had actually found herself having fun with Natasha. When the older woman had suddenly tugged her to her feet and told her they where going for ice cream she'd been hesitant about leaving Ron and Hermione behind and doubted the muggle world had anything that could compete with Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor but then Natasha had introduced her to the wonders of Baskin Robbins Caramel Macchiato flavored ice cream. And New York. It was incredible. Juniper had never been in a city except for short trips through London on the way to Diagon Alley, or to and from King's cross station so had never really walked down streets crowded with so many people speaking so many language in so many accents, huge buildings everywhere the streets so clogged with cars they hardly moved bikes whizzing by. At first it had been a bit claustrophobic and she'd stuck close to Natasha's side but then the anonymity of it had sunk in.

Nobody knew who she was. Nobody noticed her except for a group of guys checking her and Natasha out. It was awesome. Going out in the wizarding world whether it was Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, or even the ministry or Hogswarts she was always recognized, stared at, and hounded for autographs, photos, and interviews. Sometimes even in the human world in Surrey she was approached by witches or wizards recognizing her. She wondered if the American Magical world would just ignore her as well if so relocating after the war on the off chance that she survived looked attractive. For the first time in a long time she was able to relax a bit not worrying that someone was suddenly gonna start hexing her from behind. Part of it was that nobody payed her a drop of attention the other was being with Natasha. She trusted Ron and Hermione to watch her back but Natasha had such a air of confidence such a certainty that she could handle anything and everything that it was easy to believe. Also the teasing questions and comments she's made about Bucky let her know that he wasn't quite as big of a flirt as she'd assumed. She wasn't quite sure if Natasha realized that but she was inclined to believe she did. She doubted Natasha did anything unintentionally. So in her eyes Natasha's comments letting her know that although Bucky was a flirt back in the days before Hydra that he hadn't so much looked at a woman in the 6 months since he'd escaped from their brain-washing was indicating maybe it was more than just casual teasing maybe he really was attracted to her. It was definitely interesting news and something she had to sort out. Did she have time to do anything about it if it was true? And all things considered did she have the right? If she was right about certain theories she had and it was looking more and more as if she where, starting anything with Bucky would just lead to him getting hurt when the inevitable happened. But maybe for the moment she could just enjoy the fact that the handsome man with the gorgeous blue eyes was interested in her.

All in all she was feeling much better when she walked back into the tower with Natasha. At least until she saw Tony something about the expression on his face put her immediately on guard and made her think something had gone wrong while they where out.

"Tony is something wrong?" Natasha asked obviously seeing the same thing Juniper was.

"No something is right but it may seem wrong at first." Tony said his voice soft. "Juniper we need to talk. Sit on the balcony with me?" He requested. He'd noticed the night before that she'd been more comfortable outside and high up something that had made sense to him when he'd heard of her flying talent and how much she loved it.

Natasha gave him a frown and glanced at Juniper as if to ask if she was okay with that. Tony wasn't sure if he should be pleased that his daughter had gained such a strong protector or if he should be offended that she was trying to protect her from him but Juniper shrugged at Natasha's look before answering. "Okay sure."

Juniper was silent as she followed Tony out through the family room and the kitchen onto the balcony where he'd brought Juniper the night before after her nightmare. The glasses and bottle where back along with a stack of papers sitting on the patio table.

"Is this about how I reacted to Ms Potts because I am sorry and I can explain." Juniper said softly as she sat down across from the seat Tony took.

"No your friends explained. Pepper understands. She puts up with me that was barely a blip on her weird shit-o-meter." Tony answered. "But umm..." His pausing was freaking Juniper out just a little. She'd had absolutely no indication up to this point that anything was capable of unnerving Tony Stark but something, something, had.

"Your friends showed us a picture of Lily and James. I knew Lily. We went to Cambridge together before you where born, before she married James." Tony said softly.

"You knew my mom?" Juniper asked a tone of eagerness in her voice. Tony realized then that Juniper having never met her mother was probably hungry for any stories about her and James.

"Yes Lily was beautiful, smart, and deeply deeply kind. We met because I got drunk and passed out in the hallway of the dorm right outside her room. She helped me get back to my room and my friend Rhodey forced me to go back and thank her the next day. I asked her out and she said no but agreed to hang out with my friends instead. I think she was lonely. She told me about what she called her high school boyfriend I assume James although she never told me his name. I could tell she still loved him but I didn't care. She was one of the few people I'd ever met who could keep up with me. Her brain worked almost as fast as mine. So I keep pursuing her. I wasn't the only one Lily broke a lot of hearts but I was the only one she actually had a relationship with." Tony said his voice still soft.

"Relationship as in..." Juniper asked she'd stiffened as Tony had spoken starting to sense where this story was going although she wasn't quite sure of the ending.

"We where a couple for a little over a month. And yes we slept together. Lily wasn't with James then. She wasn't cheating on him." Tony said softly. "They got back together sometime before Christmas and she dropped out of University to marry him. We fought about it I thought...well I told her she was throwing her life away and wasting her brilliant mind by settling for getting married and playing housewife. I never spoke to her again after that."

"When was this?" Juniper asked horror dawning over her face.

"18 years ago. Lily and I broke up about 8 months before you where born." Tony told her softly.

"No." Juniper said softly.

Tony winced but continued. "We did a DNA test on the jacket you where wearing when you got here. It was positive. I'm your biological father Juniper."

Juniper felt as if they ground beneath her feet had just shifted violently. No No No. James Potter was her father. James Potter had died to protect her. James Potter was the reason Sirius and Remus loved her. She looked like her father everyone said so. She'd inherited her flying talent from him along with her penchant for trouble and her bad eyesight. If this was true her entire life was a lie the foundation of the person she'd become in the last 7 years was built on quicksand. Not a half-blood, not a quidditch prodigy, not the daughter of a hero.

Juniper felt Tony's hand gently on the back of her neck lightly. "Its alright Juniper. Slow deep breathes. Your going to be okay." Tony who she'd felt a connection to from the moment they'd met. Who had the same dark out of control hair as she and James. The cheekbones, the lips, the smirk.

"They where right." She gasped out as she struggled to control her panic attack.

"Who was right Kiddo?" He asked gently.

"The people who said I looked like my father." She answered with a soft hoarse bark of laughter.

"They where." Tony agreed.

Juniper looked up at him seeing worry, compassion, warmth and acceptance in those dark eyes. For a moment she only wanted to throw herself into his arms and cling to him. Soak in the reality of having a father, family. She remembered the mirror of Erised back in first year the vision of generations of Potters standing with her. A heritage she now knew she had no right too. A dream. Tony was here now alive and real. She couldn't. No she couldn't. The part of her that wanted to run to buy time and space to process what had just happened was bigger stronger.

"I...I can't I need...I need to think." Juniper said in a rush standing.

"I'm not going anywhere." Tony said. "When your ready I'll be here."

Juniper turned and disappeared back into the tower. "That could have gone better." Tony whispered to himself.

"It could have also gone much much worse Sir." Jarvis informed him. Tony nodded but took a deep draw off the bottle of whiskey anyway.

Having realized their friend was back when Natasha came into the TV room to ask Clint what was going on with Tony, Ron and Hermione where waiting between the kitchen and front door when Juniper came through. The expression on her face the most confusing mix of disbelief, fear and hope Hermione had ever seen before she saw them and slammed down the expressionless face she wore when she wanted to hide even from them.

"No." It was the only word she spoke and Hermione grabbed Ron's arm pinching him when he would have spoken anyway. Then took a step closer and reached out taking the cord of the Horcrux around her neck and removing it. Juniper letting her knowing her emotions at the moment where volatile enough without the horcrux messing with her head. once she'd seen Hermione drop the pouch around Ron's neck she exited the apartment altogether.

"Ms. Juniper as we Brits stick together may I inform you that there is a excellent tea shop down the street to the left and a nice peaceful park across the street." To her surprise Juniper felt a small smile tug at her lips at Jarvis's comment as she entered the elevator.

"Thank you Jarvis."

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Juniper chose the park because oh course she did. Sitting on a swing watching the joggers and dogwalkers who where really the only ones out as it was a bit too chilly for the children to come out and play. It was familiar to her as she'd often did the same back in Surrey at the park near Privet Drive. Not comforting though. She'd never really been at the park because she enjoyed it but more because she wanted to avoid going to the place that was suppose to be home. How ironic was it that now she was doing basically the same considering how different the prospective homes where.

Number 4 Privet Drive had been hell on earth where she was scorned and hated lucky if she went to bed without new bruises and a apple and bottle of water. God she hated apples. The Avengers tower despite it belonging to a team of superheroes instead of what most people would consider a proper family had the same feeling of warmth and welcome as the Weasley's home. The Avengers smiled at her when she entered Bucky and Natasha had already started trying to feed her and she knew deep in her heart that Tony would never hurt her like her uncle had. She could have a home there, a family, a father. But she'd have to let go of James Potter to truly have it and she didn't know if she could.

She was about to have to go back anyway she was getting cold and she only had British pounds and Galleons in her pockets nothing the tea shop Jarvis had mentioned would accept. Then she heard the footsteps behind her and suddenly a warm leather jacket was settled over her shoulders a comforting smell of leather, aftershave lotion and a slight hint of gunpowder meeting her nose as Bucky sat on the swing beside her facing in the opposite direction so that when he leaned back slightly he was looking into her face and held out a paper cup to her.

"Its Smith's tea Jarvis assures me its proper British tea. You may have been a bad influence on him." He told her his voice uncommonly gentle.

Juniper let out a small laugh sliding her arms into the jacket and taking the cup wrapping her hands around its warmth and taking a small sip. "Thank you. Aren't you cold now though?" She asked.

"I tend to run a little hot. Especially around you." Bucky answered giving her a charming grin.

Juniper felt her cheeks burn again. Jesus not even Blaise had made her blush so much and some of the stuff he'd come up with had been soft core porn material. "That the best you got." She asked him raising a eyebrow.

"Oh not even close Doll." Bucky practically purred. Then his expression shifted a bit looking more serious. "Are you okay? You've had a intense few day."

"I've had a intense life." Juniper scoffed.

"So I've gathered." Bucky replied. "Tony can help. Hes a good man although he at times tries really hard to hide it. If you give him a chance I think he'll be a good father."

"I already have a good father he just happens to be dead." Juniper answered. "And my track record with father figures sucks. James Potter-dead, Albus Dumbledore-dead, Sirius Black-dead, Arthur Weasley-nearly dead. Unless you want Tony dead maybe you should be warning me away."

"Not your fault Doll." Bucky said softly.

"Oh yes my fault all totally and completely my fault." Juniper disagreed. "They all died protecting me." Bucky leaned closer putting a gentle hand on her cheek. His warm flesh and blood hand and she found herself leaning into his touch despite herself.

"Then they made that choice. They decided you where worth the risk. Taking the blame on yourself is dishonoring their choices. People die in wars. They knew that and from what I understand they stepped up to fight. Brave but also dangerous." Juniper shook her head but didn't pull away from his touch. "You didn't step up. You where dragged up, pushed to the front, and told you where now in charge. I'm guessing James, Sirius, and Arthur at least saw that and where willing to do whatever they could to take some of that load off your shoulders." He gently brushed her hair off her face tucking the dark curls behind her ear. His hand returning to her cheek.

"If I'm not a Potter who am I?" Juniper asked her voice small and slightly strained. "My entire childhood my aunt and uncle told me my mother was a whore and my father was a drunk loser who killed them both driving drunk. That I'd end up just like them and I should have just had the decency to die with them and saved them the bother of dealing with me." Juniper's eyes where cast down so she missed the cold fury that flashed over Bucky's face. Yeah if Tony didn't kill them he would. "Then Hagid came to take me to Hogwarts and I heard a whole new story. James Potter war hero, head boy, Quidditch star, Handsome and popular. Yeah he was also spoiled rotten and a bully when he was younger but he changed as he got older. The kind of man who befriended the son of a dark family trying to be someone different, a werewolf anyone else would have shunned when they found out what he was, and a weak little boy who needed someone to protect him. And Lily Potter bright beautiful kind muggle born with a huge heart. And when they met for the first time James decided he was gonna marry her and she decided he was a arrogant toerag and she wanted nothing to do with him. So he changed he became the kind of man she could love. Thats what I've believed I came from for 7-years. Someone forgot to mention the part where they broke up and she went to a muggle university and got knocked up by a near stranger. So James dies for a kid who wasn't his and now poor Tony gets a 'Surprise its a girl.' 17 years later."

"You are whoever you want to be. James gave you his name Hermione is certain he blood adopted you and her reasons sound legit so I expect if you want to remain Juniper Fucking Potter bad ass chosen one slayer of Basilisks you could or if you wanted you could be Juniper Fucking Stark bad ass chosen one and slayer of dragons." Bucky answered. "It doesn't matter what name you use your still going to be someone people follow and trust in. It seems like it should be a gift but lots of times its more of a curse. Steves the same way. The only thing thats really changed is now you have two fathers. One that loved you so much he was willing to die for you and another still alive and I expect willing to kill to keep you safe. You are beautiful strong and smart the kind of girl anyone would be damn proud to claim as their daughter." His thumb gently ran just under her lip. "And right now I just really want to kiss you."

Juniper's eyes jerked up to meet his at his last words. Emerald green and ice blue locked the very air between them seeming to electrify. She should say no. She should pull away put distance between them both physical and emotional. People who got close to her got hurt and she didn't want Bucky hurt again. But she so badly wanted to get closer. She had met him not even 24 hours ago but there had a been a spark there at first sight and she wanted to find out what it was about and what it could be. She was so tiered of being selfless, tiered of pushing away or sacrificing what she wanted for the greater good. She wanted Bucky his mouth on hers his hands on her. She wanted something that was for her not for the good of all.

"You should follow your instincts." Juniper advised her voce a little huskier than usual. The slow smirk that turned his lips at her words had her stomach tightening a unfamiliar heat rising in her. His hand slid to the back of her neck his other hand the metal one reached over grabbing the chain of her swing furthest away and pulled it towards him bringing her closer. Her own hand rose to his cheek stroking his rough stubbly cheek running into his silky soft hair. Then his lips brushed hers soft and gentle at first then deepening and heating his tongue coaxing a response from her along with a soft moan. She felt like she was in sensation overload warmth flooding her body for the first time in two years every nerve ending in her body lighting up.

Bucky growled low in his chest pulling her just a little closer his metal hand going to her hip sliding under the hem of her jumper and resting on the bare skin of her waist without moving further up or down her body. A shiver went through her at the feel of the cool metal on her skin. The cup of tea hit the ground as her hand went to his shoulder hand fisting in his shirt.

"...just disrespectful and disgraceful the way young people carry on in public. We never acted like that in our day." The shrill voice that made her think of her aunt cut through the spell Bucky's touch had cast over her and it must have had the same effect on him as he raised his lips from hers glancing over at the two elderly ladies on the sidewalk watching them with disapproving scowls before turning his attention back to her. Maybe it was the exhilaration left over from the kiss but Juniper couldn't hold back a giggle noticing that Bucky was breathing as hard as she was. He grinned as well his annoyed look at the interruption fading at her reaction and he bent his head to rest his forehead against hers.

"Obviously she was hanging out with the wrong people at the wrong places." He told her turning the giggle into a full laugh it was amazing how much her face lit up. She was always pretty but when she allowed herself to relax and show the emotions that danced through her eyes she was beautiful. He kissed her forehead lightly. "Are you ready to head back to the tower or would you rather walk for awhile?"

"I suppose we should go back. Ron and Hermione will worry."

"I don't care. I didn't ask what you thought you should do. What do you want to do?" Bucky asked catching the surprise that flashed in her eyes as if the thought of what she wanted being more important than her friends possible feelings was such a alien thought to her as to not even being worth considering.

"I...want to go back." She answered after a moment.

"Good." He stood and curled his hand around hers to pull her to her feet. "Lets go home."

AN- I know I keep saying Hydras coming and then they don't but ya know flight delays...and then the gotta buy their weapons. Its not easy arranging a attack on Avengers tower after all. Not to mention the closer Juniper gets to Bucky the more pissed shes gonna be.