AN- Okay small trigger warning here. There are hints that a sexual assault may have taken place in this chapter. Its not against any of the main characters or even a character who is present at the time and it is just a possibility but I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable.
AN- I intend for Dobby and Remus to make appearances soon. It always annoyed me how underused house elves where in cannon so I'm gonna fix that. Sam may show up as well not sure how well he would fit in as I retconned a lot of his Avengers involvement out when I tossed out Civil war. And Uncle Rhodey will surely show up as well at some point especially since he knew Lily when she and Tony where together.
AN- I like the Malfoys really I do but I needed sacrificial lions(or snakes lol.) and a way to bring the Slytherin students around to Juniper's side. Once again Potter Watch was mostly stolen I think you can guess which parts came from the books/games and what came from my brain.
CHAPTER SIX
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Tony was halfway through the bottle of whiskey when Pepper joined him on the patio plucking the bottle from his hand and crossing into the kitchen to pour it down the sink him following her.
"Ah Pep..."
"No Tony. We both know that when you drink to much you say things that while very clever you end up regretting later. You can't do that right now. Not when your relationship with Juniper is just starting. You don't want her seeing you like that." Pepper answered turning to him her expression stern.
Tony started to respond then paused and finally nodded. "Yeah okay you have a point." He said running a hand through his hair. He'd never really tried to moderate his behavior for anyone but Pepper but she was right. He had done damage to relationships with those closest to him Happy, Pepper, and Rhodey because of drinking he didn't have a relationship with Juniper that would survive that. "I don't know what the hell I'm doing here. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to protect my kid but if I do its gonna drive her away."
Pepper slid her arms around his waist pulling him close. "Treat her the way you wish Howard would have treated you."
Tony snorted. "Shes more mature than I was at 17, she may be more mature than I am now. Shes been a figurehead since birth, Fighting since she was 11, a leader since she was 15. Steves the only person I know who could relate to any of it and he chose it as a adult. At her age I'd have been curled up in a corner whining about how it wasn't fair."
Pepper couldn't hold back a laugh. "I think you should give yourself a little more credit than that. From what I've heard from Rhodey 17 year old you was a arrogant little shit."
"Is she back yet. It was okay to let her go right? Yeah sure 17 year old girl from a small town in England wandering around New York alone how could that go wrong? I should go find her."
"Tony shes fine. Shes capable of protecting herself and Barnes left right after she did anyway so I'm pretty sure shes not alone." Pepper told him as he pulled away to start pacing.
"Yeah and thats another thing. The freaking Winter Soldier Pepper. Thats who my kids flirting with. Why not Ron hes seems like a good kid, hes completely devoted to her whys she not flirting with him." Tony said.
"Same reason you aren't with Rhodey maybe." Pepper suggested perching on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. "Hes like a brother to her Tony. And shes not flirting with The Winter Soldier shes flirting with Bucky Barnes who seems like a decent man. You should be glad." When he gave her a disbelieving look she waved a hand distractedly. "Think about it this way if something develops between her and Barnes shes more likely to considering staying in New York after the war. I would rather have my stepdaughter in the same country as us at the least. Especially since its seems shes as prone to getting into trouble as her father is."
It took a second for Tony to process the entire statement then his eyes widened and he glanced at Pepper in surprise.
"What? If you want to keep the purchase of a engagement ring a secret don't put it on the card I handle paying for. Oh course I suppose it could be for someone else but then poor Junipers gonna be a orphan again." Pepper answered.
"I was...gonna do this is a more romantic way you know. Like a nice dinner and dancing." Tony said taking out a ring box. Looking up at her he went down on one knee. "I don't deserve you Pep. Everybody knows it but you so I figure I better lock this down before you figure it out too. Marry me?" He opened the box to reveal a blue diamond shaped and cut to resemble the arc reactor that had once saved his life and still now powered his Iron man suit a inscription on the inside of the band reading TONY STARK'S HEART.
"Oh Tony." Pepper breathed out. "Yes oh course I'll marry you." She said her eyes tearing up as he put the ring on her finger.
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"You have good aim, good instincts. Just relax your fingers a bit. Its a bow not a wand." Clint advised Ron as the younger man pulled back the bow string eyes fixed on the target and released the arrow. It found the target only one ring off from the bullseye.
"Not bad. Natural talent." Clint said a hand on his shoulder as he glanced over Natasha who was observing.
"Not really. Its not that different from aiming a wand and Juniper had us doing drills for hours back in fifth year." Ron answered then continued obviously mimicking Juniper's tone. "Power in the spell doesn't mean shit if it doesn't connect."
Natasha grinned at that. Yeah that sounded like the girl she was getting to know. She hadn't been as shocked as the others when she'd been told Juniper was Tony's kid. It had been more like a 'oh course she is.' reaction. She looked like Tony not a carbon copy but there where enough similarities that a casual observer seeing them together would assume she was Tony's daughter. Similarities in expressions, mannerisms, and even speech patterns things she would have thought to be environmental not genetic had showed as well. And there was the snark. She'd seen it more when it just been the two of them but it was definitely a Stark family trait it seemed. Personality wise though she truly seemed to have more in common with Steve. Girl was a natural leader and caretaker and it didn't surprise her to hear she'd had her comrades practicing hard to get down the basic skills they'd need to stay alive for what was coming.
"Smart girl." Clint commented.
"Oh yes. Smart girl. Hermione is convinced Juniper could have been top of our year if she had just concentrated on school work instead of quidditch or sneaking out after hours to help my brothers with pranks. She called her brilliant but lazy. I think the truth was Hogwarts was the first time she got to have any kind of life so she decided to live it how she wanted while she had the chance. It wasn't long enough." Ron pulled back the bow string and let the arrow fly putting it near the first.
"Are you in love with her?" Clint asked.
"Juni? Merlin no shes like my sister." Ron answered making a face.
"No Hermione." Clint answered seriously
Ron took a deep breathe lowering his bow. "I messed that up good and proper. 4th Year Yule ball I asked her to go with me in the most insulting way possible. Then I tried to blame Juniper said she'd been to involved in flirting with Cedric Diggory and Blaise Zambini to help me. By the time the ball came around they where both furious with me. At least Juni was still talking to me. Hermione went with Victor Krum." Ron gave a disgusted sigh. "Hes handsome, famous, rich, a quidditch star hell I'd pick him over me too. He went back to Bulgaria at the end of the year but they are still together. She spent the last two summers with him they wrote constantly. Even now hes working on drumming up support for Juniper in the Eastern European wizarding communities. Hes a awesome guy." The last sentence was loaded with bitterness. "And I'm with Lavender I guess. Its fine. Its better. If we had become a couple Juniper would have been in the middle of any fights we had and squeezed out when we needed alone time and she didn't need that on top of everything else. Its better."
Clint patted his shoulder in sympathy. "Not easy being the guy friend of a couple of pretty girls."
"Yeah. But they are worth it. I'll protect them both with everything I have until the day its not enough and It'll be worth it." Ron raised the bow again and this time the arrow hit dead center.
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Hermione was perched on a stool in Bruce's lab wand in hand transfiguring a teacup to a mouse and back again as Bruce ran tests trying to figure out how it was happening when Steve joined them.
Hermione looked up giving him a bright grin. "I keep telling him its magic but hes convinced he can figure out how it works." She told him with a almost conspiratorial grin bringing a laugh from him.
He didn't come down to the labs often but with Tony and Pepper having a private conversation in the kitchen, Nat and Clint teaching Ron archery in the training room and Bucky off with Juniper he'd honestly just wanted some company.
Steve glanced over at Bruce. "Any theories?" He asked coming over to sit next to Hermione looking at the little mouse who let out a almost friendly squeak.
"Rearrangement of the molecules in some way. But from living material to inanimate its not possible. This defies all the laws of science, and common sense." Bruce muttered eyes glued to the microscope eyepiece.
"Wait until he sees some of the crap Juniper can pull off. And quidditch. Defies every law of physics. Dear Merlin if Tony ever sees Juniper in a game he'll have a straight up heart attack I think shes nearly killed herself in the games more than by Tom's hand. Especially if shes playing against the Weasley twins." Hermione had seen several pick-up games where the Gryffindor team took separate sides and the Weasley twins had taken unnatural glee in attempting to be the first beaters to ever unseat the chosen one. To date only the Dementors had managed it. Yeah they loved Juniper and considered her their little sister but...QUIDDITCH! Honestly Hermione didn't understand boys.
"Stark genes. Howard found it fun to hang out in war zones with no military training, Tony well you saw the New York incident, so I guess Juniper being a bit reckless follows." Steve said.
"Junipers not reckless. Shes a adrenaline junkie with a death wish and a saving people thing. She use to intentionally draw her cousin and his friends to chase her to stop them from picking on some other kid. She got into a fight on the Hogwarts express before we ever saw the school for the first time because these three boys where picking on Ron. She never defuses she goes straight to the nuclear option every single time." Hermione gave a sigh. "She also the best friend I've ever had and she scares the hell out of me. If...if she decides she needs to sacrifice herself to save someone she cares about she'll do it without a second thought."
"Reminds me of someone I know." Bruce said glancing up and at Steve with a small grin.
"I have no idea who you could possible mean." Steve answered calmly.
"Right you don't know anyone who'd throw themselves on what they think is a live grenade for example." Bruce answered with a laugh. Then looked over at Hermione. "It hard being friends with these types. Worth it though. We just gotta be sure to do our best to look out for those grenades. It would never occur to them to just kick them away from everyone including themselves. We're the smart friends. We're the ones who find the third option."
"Third option. Right. Just gotta find that third option." Hermione said nodded a expression on her face like he'd thrown her a lifeline. If Natasha or Tony had been in the room they may have picked up on the undercurrent of almost desperation in Hermione's tone but Bruce was a scientist, and Steve was a soldier neither of them where spies or geniuses that studied peoples reactions so they wouldn't see anything off about that reaction until much later. Perhaps until it was too late.
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The family room was empty when Bucky and Juniper returned so he took the chance to tug her down on the couch with him a arm around her shoulders and asked Jarvis to put on a movie for them. The AI chose Labyrinth a fantasy movie starring David Bowie one of Tony's favorite singers. It was a good movie but Bucky probably would have enjoyed it if it was a piece of crap since Juniper was curled up close to him her head on his chest. So close he could hear her heartbeat and feel her breathing. There was something comforting about it. It was probably ridiculous since they had just met barely knew each other but he felt something. Not love he didn't believe in love at first sight but more than just attraction. He knew attraction and he wanted more than to get her into bed.
He looked down at her in surprise when she turned her head against his chest when the Fireys appeared on the screen. "I don't like things that take off their heads." She said her voice a little muffled.
Bucky didn't even try to hide the amusement in his voice. "You fight dragons with no problem but your afraid of muppets?"
"Things shouldn't take off their heads." Juniper insisted.
"Don't worry Doll I'll protect you from the scary things." Bucky promised running a gentle hand over her dark curls.
Junipers head popped up and she looked up at him going pale, green eyes wide. She looked up at Bucky but she wasn't seeing him she was seeing another face. Narrower, younger, shorter sandy blond hair, guileless brown eyes and a kind smile. "Its okay Juni we'll grab the cup at the same time 'kay. Don't worry I'll protect you from whatevers on the other side."
"Don't say that. Don't ever say that." Juniper said her voice higher than normal.
"Alright baby I won't its okay. Come back to me now. Look at me." Bucky said cupping her cheek lightly. He knew a flashback when he saw one he'd had enough of them himself and although he wasn't sure why it had triggered her he was making a mental note not to ever say anything about protecting her. She took a deep breathe her eyes clearing up as she focused on Bucky for a moment before leaning into him burying her face against his chest.
"I'm sorry." Juniper whispered softly.
"Don't be sorry Juniper. Its just your mind working through stuff processing." Bucky whispered into her hair softly.
"Are they gone?" She whispered.
"What doll?" Bucky asked.
"The things that where taking their heads off."
Bucky laughed looking back at the screen. "Yeah they're gone. Its safe to look Dragonslayer."
The others started filtering in a few minutes later Tony and Ron both stopping to glare at Bucky and Juniper snuggling on the couch while Steve and Hermione both smiled the others seeming more concerned with the toppings for the pizzas Tony was ordering and which movie they where going to watch next. Clint finally won insisting that Ron should see Robin Hood as a study aid. The chose the Kevin Costner version and it was obvious Juniper deeply identified with Robin a young man returning to the world he'd been born to finding the masked monsters who'd murdered his father where taking over the country and fighting them with a ragtag band of misfits. Yeah who'd have ever dreamed she'd identify with that in any way. All 3 of the kids also took a instant and intense hatred to the Sheriff of Nottingham that seemed to exceed the usually hatred shown to a movie villain.
When Tony suggested one more movie before bed Ron looked uncomfortable and glanced at his friends a bit frantically.
Juniper looked up at the clock and looked over to Hermione. "You got it?"
"Yeah." she said softly and reached into her ever present bag pulling out a ancient looking radio with a wire antenna.
"Wizarding wireless its the only contact we have with anyone back home at the moment." Juniper said as they where still unaware they'd been observed the night before.
Hermione carefully turned it on and Juniper slipped away from Bucky's side to sit in front of the table with Ron and Hermione. The three of them started tapping it together running through the same words, names, and nonsense sounding phrases from the night before until Moody finally worked.
"...Yes, yes, that's true. Now, picking up the latest stories about You-Know-Who: we've heard rumors that he keeps being sighted abroad."
"Well, who wouldn't want a nice little holiday after all the hard work he's been putting in?"
"True. But the point is people don't get lulled into a false sense of security, thinking he's out of the country: maybe he is, maybe he isn't. But the fact remains he can be faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo."
"I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but: safety first!"
"And what of the rumors about Juniper Potter? Do you believe she's still in the country? Do you think she's still alive?"
"I do. If she had been killed, or had run away, the Death Eaters would want us to know: they'd tell everyone."
"And what would you say to Juniper, if you knew she was listening?"
"I'd tell her to keep it up, whatever she's doing. We know she'll help finish You-Know-Who!"
"Thank you very much for those wise words."
"Sadly this is not the only news we have to report. It is with great regret that we inform our listeners of the murder of Ted Tonks and Dirk Cresswell. A goblin by the name of Gornuk was also killed. It is believed that Muggle-born Dean Thomas and a second goblin, both believed to be travelling with Tonks, Cresswell, and Gornuk, may have escaped. If Dean is listening, your parents and sisters are pretty desperate for news. We ask you to take a moment's silence, in memory of those who have fallen."
Ron let out a soft groan and both girls leaned towards him hugging him. "Escaped they said he escaped." Hermione whispered to him softly.
"Dean did but not Ted Tonks. We met him the night of the battle on my birthday remember he kept bringing us blankets and hot chocolate." Juniper said eyes brimming with guilt once more. "It was Bellatrix. I know it was Bellatrix."
Then the moment of silence was over and the voice returned. "We also have a message from a friend of Junipers. Oh course in this case the term friend is relative."
"True this 'friend.' definitely speaks with a forked tongue."
"Although he did help us reestablish contact with Hogwarts where this particular part of the broadcast will be coming from."
"Potter." It was a smooth male voice one it took them a minute to recognize and it was Ron who did.
"Zambini! Why the hell are they talking to Zambini?"
"Shhh." Hermione hissed.
"Juniper I...need your help." The name was hesitant and the next four words sounded pained the young man with the Italian accent was obviously not used to saying them. "Its Draco. When his father failed at the ministry 5th year and got arrested. The Dark Lord he gave Draco to Fenrir to punish his father."
"Oh Merlin." Hermione breathed in shocked horror, as Ron paled his freckles standing out in stark relief Juniper's eyes going hard and cold.
"Thats what he was hiding last year it wasn't the Dark mark Potter I told you that." The boy paused taking a ragged breathe. "Lucius was broken out of prison he heard what the Dark Lord had done and he attacked him. The Dark Lord killed him and Bellatrix killed Narcissa when she tried to intervene. Draco is of no value to him anymore Potter, Juniper, he'll kill him. You know he will. I know you and Draco never got along but we did. Please Juniper if you ever valued our friendship at all tell them, tell Longbottom to let Draco into the safe room at Hogwarts."
A soft male voice softly said. "She can't contact us Blai...She has no way to contact us."
"SHE CAN. SHES JUNIPER FUCKING POTTER. SHE CAN." The boy yelled as Juniper put her face in her hands. Then stood taking out her wand.
"No Juniper don't. They know your Patronus. Everyone does." Ron cautioned.
"No we'll take him. We'll take Draco. Just go get him and bring him back. We'll keep him safe." The male voice said.
Juniper's shoulders relaxed a bit. "Thank you Neville." She whispered softly.
"We got this Juniper. We're holding down the fort just do what you have to. We'll be ready." The voice continued almost as if he'd heard her.
There was a soft click as the original voices came back. "Listeners, that brings us to the end of another Potterwatch. We don't know when it'll be possible to broadcast again, but you can be sure: we shall be back!"
"Keep each other safe. Keep faith."
"And do what you can to stop You-Know-Who!"
The broadcast went to static and they where all silent for a few minutes Juniper standing her arms now wrapped around herself as if she was cold despite still wearing Bucky's jacket, Hermione just staring at the radio as if expecting it to come back to life and tell her that what they'd just heard was a lie or a joke, and Ron just had his hand on his forehead elbow on the table expression miserable.
Bucky stood and took a step towards Juniper. "Juni."
"Don't. Not now. I can't." Juniper said softly. He froze looking a bit lost.
Steve understood. He got it. Juniper didn't want comfort, didn't think she deserved comfort. He didn't understand all of what had been said on the broadcast but he'd seen the pain that the deaths had caused in her and watched as the sound of her friend begging for help she was too far away to provide hit her like a physical blow. Her friends had only briefly mentioned Draco as a bully and Zambini not at all but it was obvious that whatever had happened to Draco wasn't something that any of them considered just punishment for past abuses, and Zambini was someone that Juniper at least considered a friend. He pushed to his feet and crossed to her circling around in front of her her head and down eyes closed.
Steve reached over tilting her chin up. "Look at me." There was something in his voice a command that had Juniper obeying without making a conscious decision to do so. "It wasn't your fault. None of it."
"You don't know." Juniper snapped out her words sounding forced, clipped and hard.
"Yes I do. I've had men under my command die, I saw civilians die because I moved troops that had been protecting them, I had men under my leadership taken tortured and brainwashed. My friends men I considered family slaughtered because of my choices that they trusted. I had to accept that none of it was under my control. I...We do the best we can with what we have but we aren't Gods Juniper. And your enemy isn't a complete idiot he wants to hit you where it hurts. He wants to cripple you make your question every choice you make. Wants you convinced if you breathe wrong someone else is going to die because of you but its not true. Hes the one killing and hurting your friends. Hes the one who needs to pay for it. And your the one whos going to make that happen. Your friends all believe that. Its obvious they all love you, trust you and will follow you to hell and back. And you didn't run. You retreated and found allies powerful allies that will be at your back as you do what needs to be done. You are the leader they need. You can get the job done. Got it?" Steve said his expression fierce. Juniper's eyes seemed to be searching his face for something but whatever it was she must have found it because something in her expression softened and she nodded.
"Draco isn't my friend. I hated him he was a bigot and a bully, and a spoiled little rich boy. Last year I thought...We got into a fight. I nearly killed him. I knew something was wrong I saw it but I wouldn't listen when Blaise tried to tell me it wasn't what I thought it was. I should have tried to talk to him..."
"Hey he broke your nose on the train, and he cursed you first in the bathroom when exactly where you suppose to talk to him?" Hermione asked.
Juniper sighed. "I don't know Hermione."
"Face it Juni. You may want to save everyone but Draco was never gonna share with us. The two of you have been at each others throats since the moment you met." Hermione pointed out.
Ron looked up with a weak grin. "Gryffindor's golden girl and the Prince of Slytherin they where never gonna get along. Lions and snakes. Blaise could be lying could be a trap trying to draw you out."
"No if it was a trap they'd have used a more innocuous Slytherin Theo Nott, or Daphne Greengrass maybe. And Blaise may be a good actor but his pride never would have let him beg like that unless it was true. Unless it was Draco." Juniper answered and rolled her eyes. "No accounting for taste."
"Wait, wait wait." Ron said holding up a hand. "Draco and Blaise really? Since when?"
"Since always." Hermione answered.
"No way Blaises slept with half the girls and a quarter of guys at school. He spent 4th year chasing Juniper around like a dog in heat."
"Could you have thought of a less classy way to say that." Hermione asked Ron.
"And Draco is half engaged to Pansy Parkinson. When it comes to monogamy they are both shall we say flexible." Juniper said watching a bit worriedly as Hermione rose to her feet and started pacing.
"Is that why you went to the Yule Ball with Cedric instead?" Ron asked. "I thought you'd pick Blaise personally. The whole bad boy thing."
"Maybe a bit but I did like Cedric he was...kind."
"Not to mention Blaise only wanted you because he thought you where the chosen one." Hermione snorted
"But I am the chosen one." Juniper responded with a Stark smirk. Hermione picked up a newspaper on the table and wacked Juniper in the back of the head with it. "Right sorry."
Clint looked over at Natasha. "How come we never thought of doing that when Tony starts?"
"Don't know but definitely gonna remember it." Natasha answered then looked back over at the kids. "What or who is Fenrir?"
The kids all came back down from the momentary mood lift the school gossip had caused with a almost audible thump.
"Fenrir Greyback. One of the highest ranked Death eaters. Alpha werewolf hes barely human anymore he revels in his werewolf form. Revels in cruelty and bloodshed. He likes going after children. Little boys especially. He likes their fear. Gets off on how easy they are to control. Most werewolf victims are accidents. Werewolves lose control on full moons unless they have a special potion which is horribly expensive and near impossibly complicated for amateur brewers to make properly. Fenrir has forbidden all werewolves under his control from taking it. If he had his way werewolves would overrun Britain." Hermione said.
"He attacked Remus when he was a child seven, I think because his dad pissed him off. I'm gonna catch the bastard and I'm gonna skin him alive for Remus." Juniper said her voice colder than any of them except Ron had ever heard it. "The implications of Draco being 'given' to Fenrir are more than terrifying at the least hes a werewolf now. The Malfoy line is ended. Werewolves can't hold family titles or inherit. Everything will default to the main line in France."
"Sounds like most werewolves are only dangerous a few days a month as long as they take the potion or lock themselves up not even that. Why aren't they allowed to inherit?" Bruce asked.
"Pure blood bigotry." Juniper answered. "They've made laws making it impossible for werewolves to attend school, hold jobs, live in most communities. Its driven most of them to join Tom out of pure desperation. Hes promised them and alot of other 'dark creatures' the right to...just live."
"We can fix it. After we win the war our side should hold enough sway in the Wizengamot to repel the dark creature laws between that and finding a way to make the wolfsbane potion cheaper attacks should plummet." Hermione said it was obviously a conversation they'd had before. Tony glanced over at Bruce feeling pride in his daughter rise in him again. These kids where warriors, soldiers but they also had plans ready to implement after the war was over. These three kids where not only going to save their world they where going to change, and reshape it.
"I think I've lost my taste for another movie. I'm gonna head to bed if thats good with you Tony." Ron said.
"Oh course Ron." Tony said with a nod.
Then Ron glanced at the girls. "Coming up?"
"Yeah." Hermione said tossing the newspaper back on the table.
Juniper nodded but paused at Bucky's side. "Good night Buck."
"Good night Doll." Bucky answered gently touching her cheek and leaned closer to brush his lips over hers. Smiling at her quick intake of breathe.
"Want your jacket back?" She asked softly.
Bucky shook his head pulling the jacket closer as she started to remove it. "Looks better on you." Her smile was more than worth the jacket making his own heart skip a beat. He suppressed the urge to kiss her again since Tony and Ron along with the rest of the group where still watching but it was a struggle. "We should go back to the park tomorrow." He whispered in her ear making her laugh before turning and following her friends upstairs.
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Ron and Hermione had been asleep or at least in bed for hours but Juniper was too keyed up to sleep. She wasn't sure if it was worry over Blaise, Draco, and Neville, The announcement of Ted Tonks death and Dean's disappearance, finding out the truth about her parentage, or what had happened with Bucky but her brain was swimming as she balanced a muggle sketch pad on her knees drawing with the colored pencils both gifts from Remus for her birthday. He said they helped him after nightmares on sleepless nights and he was right to a degree. The view was also calming. Maybe to a lot of people looking over the skyline of New York in the middle of the night everything still lit up and people moving around wouldn't have been relaxing but to Juniper it was proof that life was still moving on. The city was filled with people going about their business. Working, shopping, going on dates, or to work with no knowledge of the war and Voldemort or her petty problems. After growing up on Privat Drive where everybody knew everything about everybody then living in the tight knit insular world of Hogwarts it was nice. She never would have thought she would like a huge city like New York but she loved it so far.
At the same time it felt like more. The muscles in her back between her shoulders felt tight as they had the night they'd had to go after the Philosopher's stone, the day the Horcrux had taken Ginny to the chamber of secrets, the night Sirius had drug Ron into the tree, 4th year god 4th year she'd felt like this all year. It was like something was about to happen. She shook her head trying to convince herself it was just paranoia.
"Jarvis."
"Yes Miss Juniper." The AI responded immediately his calm accented voice soothing.
"Is Tony still awake." She asked remembering he'd said he didn't sleep much either.
"Yes Miss Juniper he is in the kitchen working on some schematics for a new suit. Hes alone at the moment Miss Potts retired a few hours ago. Would you like me to ask him to come to your room?"
"No I'll go to him." Juniper answered. She considered changing as she was at the moment wearing a old t-shirt of Bill Weasley's that fell nearly to her knees but left most of her arms bare and leggings from Luna which meant oh course that they where Gryffindor red with golden lions on them. There where no pockets for her wand and she didn't wanna wear her arm holster on her arm with nothing to cover it. She gave a slight smile and stuck it behind her ear as Luna often carried hers deciding not to bother changing she didn't want to give herself time to chicken out on this talk. She could have left it in the room it probably would have been fine but Moodys constant vigilance speeches had drilled their way into her brain and she didn't like it being out of reach anymore. She cast a glamour over her right arm then pulled a ace bandage she carried for just this event over her left forearm. Noone ever questioned it past being told she'd pulled something in whatever the latest issue she'd had was. In the spirit of wearing her wand as Luna did she didn't put on shoes either and slipped silently out of the suite into the hallway.
The tower was silent as she moved down the hall and then down the stairs to the family room where pizza boxes, plates, and cups where still sitting waiting for the cleaners to come through in the morning. Juniper could practically hear her Aunt Petunia screech in protest and paused gathering the boxes taking them with her into the kitchen where Tony was sitting with a pile of graph paper, and special looking pencils sketching out...something that looked much more complicated than anything she'd ever be able to understand much less create. She dumped the boxes in the trash and then crossed to the fridge pulling out a bottle of water mostly to stall a bit and give her hands something to do.
"You don't have to do that. I pay very well to not have to clean up after myself." Tony told her glancing up at her.
"Habit." Juniper answered with a shrug sitting on the same stool she had that morning.
"Nightmare?" Tony asked his eyes going back to the papers. It was obvious he was trying to give Juniper the time and space she'd asked for and she felt a swell of gratitude towards him.
"No just couldn't sleep." She said. "Got a bad feeling."
Tony looked up again giving her his full attention. "You get those alot?"
Juniper shrugged. "Usually only before something bad happens. Sometimes though its just...paranoia I suppose. Hermione says I've just hit it right a few times because I'm good at picking up on context clues."
"Hermione seems the type to rationalize everything but logic isn't always right." Tony said. "Jarvis run some extra security scans and raise security level to yellow." Tony ordered. Juniper gave him a smile. The only one who'd ever really took her 'feelings' seriously before was Sirius and it was incrediably gratifying to have Tony not only listen but do something about it.
"Thanks." Juniper said taking a sip of her water before looking over at him. "I don't want to change my name and I don't know if I can ever call you dad."
"I'm not going to ask you to do anything your not ready too." Tony said softly and stood coming over to lean against the bar to look at her solemnly. "I need you to understand something Juniper. This is not a competition between me and James Potter, or me and Sirius Black for that matter. I am deeply and eternally grateful to both of them. They did what I couldn't protected you, loved you. James got your first smile, first word, first tooth. Sirius got to be your hero and guide you through a very hard time. I don't know if I was equipted to do either and I know I couldn't have done it better. I'm your third string father-figure and I get that you'd rather have either of them here than me. I can deal with that. I don't know how well I'd handle you not letting me have any part of your life though. I'm only asking for a chance to be a part of your family."
"Thats not entirely true." Juniper said softly trying not to feel like a traitor as she said it. There wasn't much she wouldn't give up to have Sirius back but she didn't really remember James Potter. Would she trade Tony for Sirius? Probably. Would she trade him for James Potter? Honestly? Doubtful.
"I don't know how to be a family. The Dursleys never wanted me. No matter what I did or how hard I tried to make them like me. The Weasleys are awesome but still this whole big perfect family of redheads. I don't resemble any of them physically or personality wise. I still feel like a intruder half the time no matter how much they reassure me I belong. I belonged with Siri and Remus. The three of us where all outsiders all damaged we fit. But then Siri died and Remus had to leave and that dream was over. I don't know if I have it in me to try again." Juniper's voice was too calm her eyes to dry for the emotion in her voice.
"I never expected to have a kid. My dad...well he was shit as a father and I was always terrified I'd end up being just like him and I never wanted to do to someone else what he did to me. I'm just as damaged as you are Juniper just as afraid to try but I have my team and you have yours so I think we both kinda tripped and fell into our own kind of families. Family isn't blood its who you fight for and who will fight for you. I will fight for you Juniper. I would offer to slay your dragon for you but you've already done that for yourself." That surprised a laugh out of her. "We've both created our own families but that doesn't mean we can't add each other to them. I'm proud of you Juniper. I look at you what you've accomplished and I can't believe I have a part even just a small biological contribution type part in who you are." He reached out putting his hand on her cheek giving her plenty of time to pull away if she'd wanted too. "I never expected you but now that your here. I couldn't have imagined a better daughter if I'd tried to build one myself. I want to be your dad someday but for now I'm willing to settle for friend and someone to unload on sometimes. We can figure out the rest as we go okay?"
Looking into her eyes Tony knew for a fact that noone had ever told her they where proud of her. The way it made her eyes light up he decided he'd try to find a chance to tell her that as often as he could. He was surprised when she threw her arms around him but hugged her back with a smile. "Just promise me you won't die on me too." Juniper whispered sounding much younger than her actual age.
"Don't worry kiddo. Hard to kill is a Stark family trait too." Then the sirens went off.
"SIR, SIR we have intruders. Intruders with HYDRA gear. Three entry points. Three entttt..." Jarvis's voice cut off and the lights blinked then hummed back on but Jarvis didn't come back. Neither Tony or Juniper had time to do much but release each other when the window behind them shattered and a device of some kind that let out a piercing head splitting shriek was thrown into the room sending them both to the floor with cries of pain covering their ears then all went black.
AN- So HYDRA finally made it to the party. Tony and the rest of the Avengers are about to get to see what Juniper and her friends can actually do. Not sure how happy I am with this chapter but I really wanted to get a look at what the others where doing in the tower while Juniper was with Bucky.
AN- Gotta say as a GOT fan I had a hard time keeping a straight face when I wrote the Starks being hard to kill line.
AN- I'm trying to hit a balance with the trio. Yeah they are soldiers, warriors but they are also still 17 year olds with school gossip and romantic woes preying on their minds.