AN- For length reasons and not wanting to repeat the book The maze will more closely resemble the one in the movie with modifications here and there. I have repeated quite a few things from the movie which I own a copy of but have no rights too. Somethings have been changed to account for Juniper not being quite as stupidly brave as Harry, Cedric and Juniper's relationship having a more romantic turn and for Juniper having the Stark's penchant for being smart mouthed at the worse possible time. Also last minute choice but Barty escapes in this one. I like him as a villain and I have ideas for him later. Hes smart powerful and just crazy enough to be interesting.
AN-*Gives ChildishAssassin a big plate of fresh baked cookies* Got it on one. Yup Fury will be popping in for a visit soon. We all know how much that always pleases Tony. Strange hasn't shown up yet in this timeline since this is just about 6 months after Winter Soldier also the OPness of Strange against Voldemort is a bit much.
AN- Thank you BioHazard82 so glad your still reading.
AN- gingin1975 Didn't get as much done this chapter as I wanted as I underestimated how much the Pensieve memory would need to encompass but I hope you like anyway. The other things I promised are coming I promise.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
At first everything was misty but then it cleared as if something had blown it all away and they where standing in what looked like a stadium the stands filled with screaming cheering teens except for the one section of adults that had demeanors that screamed teachers. In front of them was what looked like a huge hedge maze and beyond that...There where gasps of surprise and amazement from the Avengers as they got their first real look at Hogwarts.
Even Juniper had almost forgotten how beautiful it was and how your first look at it could take ones breathe away. It was broad daylight now midday so not quite the same as her first sight at nightfall across the black lake ablaze in candlelight. But still the majestic castle with its turrets and towers soaring upwards against the backdrop of the forbidden forest was like something out of a book of fairytales the Hogwarts flag fluttering from the highest turrets with the house flags flying from Gryffindor Tower, Ravenclaw Tower, the astronomy tower for the Slytherins, and the divination tower for the Hufflepuffs.
"I know you said you attended school in a castle but I never expected this." Clint said softly.
Ron shrugged. "Its Hogwarts, its home." His eyes where scanning the stands finding himself and Hermione sitting together but ignoring each other their friends close around. The professors sitting together including Snape which made his nose wrinkle in disgust, and Amos Diggory looking delighted smiling like he was on top of the world. Merlin it hurt seeing him wear that look for the last time in probably ever.
The door under the stands swung open and the Champions and headmasters entered the stadium. Albus Dumbledore led the way. It was impossible for any of them to mistake him for anyone else just from the descriptions they'd heard. Tony wondered if he intentionally tried to resemble Gandalf and Merlin to make muggleborns trust him more. Cedric Diggory was just behind him in yellow and black Hufflepuff colors. Prince charming indeed tall broad shouldered with sandy hair big brown eyes filled with warmth and life as he grinned at the cheering crowds. Then he saw a sign held by a few of his housemates that said POTTER STINKS! and gave then a scowl waving his hand for them to put it away and they did looking shamefaced at his reaction.
"Cedric was the real Hogwarts Champion. I didn't blame the other Hufflepuffs for being angry. They thought I'd cheated to get in. Cedric didn't though he knew I wouldn't do that."
Next came the boy they'd seen in Ron's Horcrux induced vision. This one had the same cool expression until he glanced up at the stands and saw Hermione. His eyes warmed smile becoming real as if she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen and he waved at her almost bashfully. Both versions of the girl blushed. The man at his side Karkoff or something Tony though scowled and nudged him to the stand where Dumbledore was waiting.
Fleur Delacour came next. Beautiful as a fairy princess with long flowing blond hair pulled back into a ponytail huge blue eyes and a charming smile as she waved at the crowds as Cedric had done. A very very tall stern looking woman, Madame Maxime maybe? At her side.
"You are a lucky man." Clint said to Bill reminding them all that he was now married to the lovely blond.
"Don't I know it." Bill said softly gazing at the slightly younger version of his wife.
Juniper came last with Madeye Moody or actually Tony reminded himself Barty Crouch Junior. She was even smaller at 14 than she was at 17 and being with the three older bigger champions made it even more obvious. She was wearing the beaming confident facade of the perfect Gryffindor exactly what they all wanted her to be. But it seemed more genuine. Oh there was a bit of worry in her eyes but the deep sadness that always shadowed her bright eyes was absent and her grin was more real and widened when a good portion of the stands exploded in cheers at the sight of her the cries of 'GO GO GRYFFINDOR!' and 'POTTER POTTER POTTER.'" filling the stadium. She turned waving at the stands holding the largest majority of her fans most dressed in the same red and gold robes she was wearing.
"Hey Potter." A incredibly handsome boy with a dark complexion and Italian accent yelled from the front of the crowd. "I bet Draco 50 Galleons you'd beat Diggory. You win this thing I'll take you to the best Italian restaurant in Britain."
"Trick offer Zambini everyone knows there are no good Italian restaurants in Britain." The younger Juniper called back.
"Guess I'll just have to take you home with me then. Maybe make it breakfast instead of dinner." He answered with a expression as close as a 14 year old could come to a suggestive leer. The aristocratic blond who'd menaced Hermione in her own Horcrux nightmare smacked him in the back of the head. As Juniper turned away with a laugh. The fake Mad-eye Moody put a hand on her shoulder to guide her over to the others as Dumbledore bellowed for quite.
"No one had died yet aside from my parents so many years ago that we all thought it was over. Moves had been made but we'd won every time. We beat Quirrell, the baskilisk, the diary horcrux, the dementors. We saved Hagrid from prison then Siri and Buckbuck from death. I beat the Dragon, saved Ron. It was almost summer holidays and I was gonna get to spend it with Sirius and Remus. I thought it was a hard year before now. Thought it was almost over. I had no idea."
Tony was glad to listen to Juniper instead of Dumbledores speech to the crowd. He already wanted to punch the man and didn't need to hear him babble about eternal glory or how there was a cup in the maze the contestants would be racing to find, he didn't even care about how the contestants could send up red sparks to withdraw from the task if they found themselves in danger. That was much too little much to late in his opinion. or even the order they would enter the maze Cedric and Juniper being the first as they where tied for first place. But then Juniper fell silent as Dumbledore drew the three champions closer to speak to him. Cedric putting a protective hand on Juniper's shouldar shooting a scowl at Blaise Zambini who looked very unrepentant.
"In the maze you'll find no dragons or creatures of the deep. Instead you'll face something even more challenging. You see people change in the maze. Oh find the cup if you can. But be very wary you may just lose yourself along the way." Dumbledore told the four teenagers in a low intense voice. Tony couldn't help noticing that the two from Britain. The two who attended Hogwarts and been fed the Dumbledore the great story where looking up at him with wide eyes soaking in every word he said while Viktor kept his stoic expression and Fleur just looked anxious for him to stop talking so the task could begin. "Champions to your spots."
The four moved to their places and they all noticed the respectful nods all four of them where exchanging. There was a reason these four where hailed as champions. Tony decided.
"On the count of three." Dumbledore called out. "One..." The cannon went off and they all looked up at the old man who had fired it who merely shrugged as if he had no idea what had happened. Dumbledore sighed and turned motioning for Cedric and Juniper at the different entrances to enter the maze.
The fake Moody gave Juniper and comforting encouraging pat on the shoulder as she entered and when she glanced back at him he gave a subtle point to the left shielding his hand from the crowd gaining a grin from Juniper. Then Tony glanced behind Moody and saw the look Dumbledore was giving him and he knew in that instant that Dumbledore had known that the imposter wasn't the real Moody. He glanced at the others and saw that Ron, Bucky and Natasha had caught and understood the look as well. Ron shook his head at them and they took his lead as he did know Juniper the best.
"I really should have known better." Their Juniper said as they slipped into the maze behind the younger Juniper before the maze closed "Three years of defense teachers trying to kill me and I trust the new one anyway. So stupid. Sorry Remus no offense."
"When you turn into a werewolf and try to eat someone you give up the right to be offended when they point it out." Remus said a hint of amusement in his voice. "And Crouch was good. We all believed he was Moody."
The maze was dark especially compared to the bright sunlight that had shone down on Hogwarts but the was enough light to see the hedge walls soaring straight up much too high to scale for a look around. Hedges that seemed to move a bit almost threateningly as if warning of what would happen to anything that got to close. Things seemed to move around them fast things that could only be seen from the corners of eyes as dark shapes, there where sounds whispers none of them could quite catch mist swirled around their ankles, and they could catch glimpses of some kind of small creatures darting around the ground. One must have brushed against past Juniper's ankle because she jumped.
"Get a grip you little idiot your a Gryffindor." She muttered to herself wand in hand. She turned to the left as Moody had indicated she should and started down the pathway. Juniper followed with the others remembering the feeling of eyes on her, weight on her shoulders remembered fear making her shiver. She felt Bucky's hand close around hers and was a little surprised. She knew they wouldn't have been able to interact with the memory people and had assumed the same thing would apply to others who'd entered the pensieve with her but it seemed not. She moved closer to him so not only was she holding his hand but her arm was against his. And then it started she winced when she heard the scream even though she knew it was coming but she did notice the way Bill paled and wondered how much Fleur had told him about their time in the maze.
Bill was the only one of them who was able to keep up with the younger version of Juniper as she ran towards the scream. They turned the corner just in time to see her nearly run into Viktor whos eyes had gone almost milky white and had his wand pointed straight at Juniper she jerked to a stop and started backing away as he watched her.
"Those eyes." Juniper said. "Its the sign of the imperious curse. He wasn't responsible for anything that happened that night."
"But he remembers and he knows its only because of you that Cedric didn't kill him." Hermione said softly.
"Cedric wouldn't have done it." She muttered softly.
Viktor brushed past the past Juniper and the girl eyes wide turned and ran in the other direction. Juniper closed her eyes tightly for a moment. She would have loved to pretend she'd run trying to find Fleur worried she was injured and deciding it was more important at that moment to find her than deal with Viktor. The truth though was that she was terrified. Viktor was older than her and physically stronger he knew spells she at the time had never even heard of. She hadn't run because she'd wanted to help her friend she'd run because she was a coward.
"Why didn't he attack you?" Rhodey asked her softly as they hurried after her.
"He wasn't after me. He was meant to stop Cedric and Fleur to make sure I was the one who got to the cup." Juniper answered softly. She'd figured that out almost immediately.
"They thought of everything didn't they." Natasha muttered.
Bill had already found Fleur she was lying on the ground wrapped in vines eyes vacant as Bill knelt beside her hands fisted tears in his eyes unable to do a thing. Past Juniper aimed her wand at the hedge and shot off a curse that had it making a screaming sound and pulling back. She crashed to her knees beside Fleur and pulled out a knife that Remus recognized as the one Sirius had carried when they where teens and hacked through the vines wrapped around her.
"Fleur." Juniper pleaded tears running down her cheeks as she checked her vitals and pulled the remains of the vines away. "Please please please Fleur. I need your help. I can't do this please." It was the youngest they had ever heard her sound. The older girl's eyes shifted to her but she seemed trapped in immobility. Bill knew he saw guilt in those eyes along with the fear and anger. He knew how badly his wife would deal with not only being helpless but being unable to help someone she considered both a child and a friend while in that state.
Understanding that Fleur could neither help her or even respond Juniper's eyes searched the ground and found Fleur's wand. "Its okay." She whispered putting the wand on Fleur's chest. "We're getting out of here. This is stupid. We're leaving." She raised her wand and shot off the red sparks like Dumbledore had instructed them to do. "Viktors imperioused and Cedrics out there somewhere but he can take care of himself right?"
"Yes." Tony answered even though he knew that version of his daughter couldn't hear him. "The boy will be fine."
There was a rumbling behind the hedges the sound of someone or something coming from the outside to collect them but they all knew something was going to happen. Juniper was not leaving the maze yet. The hedges beside them had just started to separate when the sound of spell fire reached them and a cry of pain. Juniper let out a curse that probably would have had Steve threatening to wash her mouth out with soap under any other circumstances and she gave Fleur a sad look before jumping to her feet and running towards the sound.
"Ya know Juni I hear normal people run away from the sound of fighting and screaming." Ron panted as they followed.
"Oh yeah like you know anything about whats normal." Hermione answered.
Suddenly Juniper stopped dead and held out her arms to stop them as her past version running ahead of them was suddenly in the middle of a wand fight between Cedric and Viktor.
"Juniper get down." Cedric yelled as they stepped closer to get a better look. The girl did as he said Viktor's spell flying just over her head close enough it singed a few curls she backed up against the bushes eyes wide, breathing coming in pants. Cedric's next spell broke through Viktor's shield throwing him backwards slamming into the ground. It was unclear if it was because of the spell or because of the force with which he hit the ground but he looked unconscious. Cedric a murderous look on his face advanced on Viktor wand extended.
"CEDRIC." Juniper jumped forward grabbing his wand hand pulling it down. "Hes bewitched Cedric." He tried to push her away which usually would have angered Tony but under the circumstances and the lack of force he'd used when he probably could have sent Juniper to the ground if he'd really shoved her he couldn't help but think it was justified. "Hes bewitched." Understanding came over Cedric's face but he still stepped closer and kicked Viktor's wand away from him before grabbing Juniper's arm and pulling her several steps away with him.
"You okay?" He asked her.
"Yeah. You?" Juniper answered even though her eyes where still big with shock and fear. Cedric started to answer but then his eyes locked on something over her shoulder and he froze. Juniper turned and down the passageway of hedges behind her was a small podium with the golden cup on top of it in a small clearing. They looked at each other then both started running for the cup. Cedric was bigger with a longer stride but Juniper was just faster and more agile which came in handy as the two who seconds ago had been more concerned about each other than themselves where trying to push each other back. The memory of Dumbledore's words ran through his mind. 'People change in the maze.' and he was suddenly convinced it was the maze that had them shoving, and racing each other.
Then the vines lashed out from the hedges grabbing at their legs. Juniper's smaller size, speed, and agility saved her again allowing her to dodge them if not easily reaching the safety of the clearing. Cedric wasn't as lucky. One of the vines snagged his ankle jerking him off his feet to land hard on his stomach and the others started winding around his legs pulling him backwards.
"JUNIPER." He screamed. They where all able to walk through the grasping vines which didn't react to them at all as they weren't really there. They all saw the war on the girl's face glancing between the boy and the cup a few times for a moment Tony was sure she was going to go for the cup but then Cedric yelled again. "JUNI PLEASE." She muttered something under her breathe he didn't quite catch touched the knife in her pocket and turned back to Cedric blasting the vines. She ran to his side using the knife to cut away the vines. More lashed out one almost grabbing her arm but Cedric now free grabbed her pulling her backwards until they both fell backwards into the clearing. lying still and breathing hard for a few minutes.
"Thanks." Cedric said softly. Juniper just shrugged not looking at him. "For umm a moment there I thought you where gonna let those things get me."
"For a moment there so did I." Juniper answered in almost a whisper.
"Some game huh?"
"Yeah some game."
Cedric stood and held out a hand to Juniper who took it letting him pull her to her feet and then they both turned to look at the cup. "You should take it Juniper. You saved me. Take it."
"No your the real Hogwarts champion Cedric it should be you." Juniper answered shaking her head.
Cedric looked over at her taking in her stubborn expression and then grinned reaching over to tug one of her curls lightly. "Together then. Either way Hogwarts gets the win thats the important part."
Juniper looked over at the cup started to say something then frowned. "I got a bad feeling Cedric. I don't think either of us should take it."
"If we don't then the tournament can't end. We could all four of us end up losing our magic if the contract defaults." Cedric answered. "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."
Bucky felt his breathe catch as he remembered Juniper's flashback a few days ago. It was this moment she'd been seeing. This boy. They two weren't in love he could tell but there was a deep infatuation there and a friendship that could have developed into much more if he hadn't been killed. But he couldn't even dislike the boy even as his Juniper closed her eyes moving even closer to him whispering softly. "Don't take it. Don't take it." Knowing she couldn't change what had already happened.
Bucky released her hand feeling her stiffen as he did and slipped his arm around her waist. "I've got you doll. Its going to be okay." He whispered in her ear.
"Oh you will. I'm sorry who just rescued who from those vines?" Juniper asked with that Stark smirk.
"Okay then we'll protect each other." Cedric said with a heart melting grin. "Come on Juniper lets end this. We can get a laugh watching Malfoy and Zambini argue over who won their bet."
She gave the cup another suspicious look but then sighed. "Alright. But If things go sideways just remember I warned you."
"On the count of three. One...two...three." They both grabbed the cup.
Bucky felt Juniper grab his the arm he had around her waist and then there was a weird feeling like a hook through his navel jerking him through space and dumping him, dumping all of them in what looked like a graveyard. The Graveyard.
Bucky was proud to say he was one of the few that kept his footing keeping Juniper upright as well along with Bill, Remus, Natasha, Clint, and Peter. There was a part of him that found it amusing that Steve had fallen along with Tony, Bruce, Rhodey, and even Hermione and Ron.
Cedric and the younger Juniper both hit the ground as well the cup being flung from their grips and flying into the gloom. The graveyard couldn't have been close to Hogwarts because in contrast to the bright sunlight that had shone there the graveyard was cast in shadow clouds handing overhead a slight mist falling on everything making the shadows long and almost threatening made worse by the huge old fashioned headstones. Angels and crosses one a large winged angel of death holding a scythe as crows cawing angrily at being disturbed fluttered from one stone to the next.
"Where are we?" Cedric asked as they stood. "Is this part of the task?" He went towards where the cup had disappeared not seeming to notice that Juniper had went pale eyes going to the angel of death stone and the cauldron sitting in front of it.
"I've been here before." She said her voice weak. "In a dream. I was here in a dream." She reached out touching the name on the stone and thats when Bucky realized it said TOM RIDDLE and let out a gasp.
Bill had moved closer to see as well and his eyes widened slightly. He glanced at the tombstone then the cauldron to young Juniper then to the girl at Bucky's side. "I think I know this ritual. Oh Merlin Juni..."
"You wanted to see so badly Bill Weasley. You watch. You watch the whole bloody thing DAMN IT." Juniper yelled the last part at him sensing he was ready to end the Pensieve session.
"Its a portkey Juniper the cups a portkey." Cedric said not having heard Juniper's words.
"I've been here before. Cedric we have to get out of here." Juniper said her eyes still on the gravestone.
"What are you talking about?" Cedric asked walking back over to her. He'd just reached her side when the door of a small shack nearby creaked open and a man stepped out a bundle in his arms.
He was a short man but broad with patchy blond hair that mostly stuck straight up a round face and wide dark eyes. "Wormtail." Remus's growl was almost feral and he actually took a step towards the memory man before Steve put a hand on his shoulder.
Juniper's eyes narrowed slightly going cold as she also glared at the figure. She'd known oh course she'd be seeing him but hadn't figured in how strong the loathing she held for him would be. This man was responsible for destroying her life once when she was a baby and then again here tonight in this memory. After she'd saved his life just the year before.
Steve and Bucky's eyes met both suddenly nervous that they where gonna end up dealing with both Moony and Juniper Black if they weren't able to calm the two. Remus wouldn't actually shift but that didn't mean the wolf wouldn't take control of his body if his rage grew enough and Juniper was already right on the edge.
Bill did something that caused the memory to actually pause just like a DVD and turned to Remus. "Remus you have to get control. If you can't you need to leave the memory." He said softly.
Steve reached out putting his other hand on Juniper's arm lightly. "Juni. You don't have to watch." He told her gently. "If its too hard you can go."
"I'm fine. I'm okay." Remus answered despite the growl in his voice.
Bruce moved over to the other man. "I understand." He told him. "Its harder when someone you care about is in danger. Just remember this is a memory. The real Juniper is right there with Bucky shes safe as long as you stay in control. Use that logic to push Moony back if hes like Hulk it'll confuse him enough to pull back." Remus nodded his eyes fading back to their normal soft brown.
"I'm staying." Juniper whispered softly turning her face against Bucky's shoulder for a moment.
"We're all here with you kid." Tony said putting a gentle hand on her head. "Your not alone this time."
"Its about to get bad. Its about to get really bad." Juniper said lightly glancing over to Remus.
"Its okay. I'm okay. I got Moony leashed." Remus answered. Bill studied them both for a moment then nodded and waved his wand restarting the memory.
As the man stepped out a fire roared to life under the cauldron and Juniper let out a cry of pain hand going to her scar as she fell to the ground her wand falling from her hand.
"Juniper what is it?" Cedric asked frantically kneeling beside her.
"Cedric get back to the cup. Get out." She seemed to be forcing the words out through the pain.
Cedric's eyes flew back to the man now advancing on them and stood placing himself between the man and Juniper wand extended. "Who are you what do you want?" He asked his voice shaking a bit.
Steve had already started to admire the boy when Juniper had been talking about him even before the trip into the Pensieve. Now he wished there was a way to step out of the memory and save him. The boy was young and scared but still stood between the girl who was almost begging him to run and the danger that was coming. He would have undoubtedly grown into a amazing man if he'd been allowed to live.
"Kill the spare." The voice a hoarse harsh whisper came from the bundle the man Remus had identified as Wormtail was holding.
With no hesitation he raised the wand in the hand not holding the blankets. "Avada Kedavra." The spell shot out with a flash of green light and a whooshing sound it caught Cedric square in the chest knocking him backwards to the ground. He was dead the second the spell touched him eyes wide and empty. The determination of a moment ago gone. There was no fear on his face, no pain just nothing, he was just gone.
"NO CEDRIC." Juniper screamed. But Wormtail was already waving his wand again and Juniper was jerked to her feet and slammed back against the angel of death statue the handle of the scythe coming across her chest pinning her in place even as she struggled trying to escape the stone arms that held her in place.
Their Juniper the real Juniper was still at Bucky's side his arms now around her waist as she was leaning back against him as if he was the only thing keeping her standing her face white as she pressed her lips together trying to keep back sobs even as tears ran down her face. She'd reached out and latched onto Tony's arm as well so he'd moved closer. Steve could tell he wanted to move to block Juniper's view of the memory but was holding back the impulse.
"Do it now." The voice from the blankets spat out. And Steve realized it sounded a bit like the voice from the horcrux. But more strained harsher. Wormtail stepped to the cauldron and unwrapped the blanket dumping what looked like a spindly legged half starved deformed toddler into the now bubbling liquid inside.
Then he turned to Juniper but instead of pointing the wand at her he pointed it at the grave under her feet. What looked like a human leg bone was wrenched from the ground. "Bone of the father unwillingly given." He said his voice softer than they would have expected. The bone floated over then dropped into the cauldron. Then he took out a knife turning to face the cauldron. He raised his other arm over the steam. "Flesh of the servant willingly sacrificed." He raised the knife and brought it down hard severing his own hand which dropped into the potion with a sickening sound as he cried out in pain. The wrist sealed off immediately so he didn't loose any extra blood but the pain was obvious in his face.
"Jesus Christ." Clint hissed in shock.
Then he turned to Juniper who had shrank back against the angel statue as if trying to melt into it her eyes wide with terror struggling trying to escape. "And blood of the enemy forciable taken." He sliced through the sleeve of her robes and as she tried to pull away a flick of the knife had her arm jerked out.
"Traitor." She yelled. "I saved your life. My parents trusted you they loved you. My mother thought of you like a brother." The Stark inability to keep her mouth shut no matter how much it would make matters worse. Just like her father.
Wormtails face twisted something in her words making him furious and he sank the knife into her skin not just cutting to take the blood he needed but carving as near as he could with her trying to pull away a version of the dark mark tattooed on his own arm smirking as she screamed in pain as the enchanted blade dug in. The man was going to die. It was almost a cold thought in Tony's brain. He'd signed his death warrant the moment he'd touched his daughter but now for this for mutilating his child he was going to die hard and slow. And from the expressions on the others in the group he wasn't the only one having that thought. Even Steve looked ready to rip him to shreds piece by bloody piece. He then turned flinging the blood into the cauldron with a hissing sound. "The Dark Lord shall rise again."
He backed away as the entire cauldron went up in flames a ball of fire seemed to form and then a shape the curve of the back the shape of a head a black mist rose swirling around it then it cleared and he, it was standing there. Humanoid in shape but unnaturally thin with pale skin a bald head and a flat face, There was no nose only slits to breathe from and a thin lipless mouth eyes narrow almost reptilian wearing a long black robe that fell in loose folds around his form. The mist blew away as Juniper whimpered softly her blood still dripping to the ground at her feet. He gave a soft laugh running his hands over his head then down his chest. "At last." He muttered softly his eyes opening red eyes with narrow slits for pupils like a snakes.
"Hasn't aged well has he?" Natasha asked dryly remembering the incredibly movie star handsome man the Horcrux had become.
"The kind of magic he was preforming at the end exacts a price." Bill explained. "Not to mention he probably spent a long of time possessing various animals when in spirit form. He may have absorbed enough of their essence to gain some of their features."
Tom Riddle in his new body approached Wormtail who was looking at him in shock and fear as if he hadn't quite believed the ritual would work.
"My wand Wormtail." He said his voice cold as ice and smooth now as the Horcrux voice had been. The nasty little man bowed a bit before handing over the white wand to the monster. "Hold out your arm."
"Oh thank you master thank you." Wormtail groveled holding out his ram with the severed hand.
"The other arm Wormtail." Wormtail looked distraught but held out his other arm. Tom grabbed his arm and pulled it out revealing the tattoo on his arm one that matched the carving he had made on Juniper's arm. Tony's cold anger was washed away by white hot rage. That bastard had scarred his daughter with what was essential a slave brand, the mark of her parents murderer and her greatest enemy. No wonder she did everything she could to hide it. Tom Riddle pressed his wand into the mark and it seemed to move writhe on his arm darkening from the faded grey to deepest jet black.
Juniper's eyes squeezed closed as the cracks of apparition started and figures cloaked in black robes faces covered in white skull masks started to appear. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. Around 30 at last count. Juniper was trembling slightly as she turned her head slightly to hide her face against Bucky's chest.
"Thats enough." Bucky snarled burying a hand in her curls. "You saw the ritual. Lets end this now."
Bill shook his head. "No theres more." He said softly. "Its a nasty horrible ritual and using her blood could account for some of it but theres more isn't there Juni." He said his voice gentle.
"He...he says a thing...Then theres a thing with our wands." Juniper answered not raising her head.
"J...Juni." Peter spoke hesitantly. "We...we could go out. You and me get some hot chocolate and watch some cartoons. Let the others finish this."
"No." Juniper whispered softly and turned her head to look over at Peter. "I want to see them." Peter would get it when he saw. He'd told them when they where making hot chocolate that he'd lost his own parents young and had grown up with his aunt. He more than the others would understand when he saw what happened when her wand locked with Tom's.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" Their attention was jerked back as the memory Juniper yelled at Tom Riddle who'd finished berating his follows for not finding him and turned his attention to Cedric's body his foot on the boy's face as he commented on how handsome he was. It had been enough to jerk Juniper from terror to anger and now Tom Riddle's full attention was on her.
"Juniper I almost forgot you where there standing on the bones of my dead father." He purred turning and gliding towards her. "I would introduce you but word has it your nearly as famous as I am these days. These girl who lived." He glanced back at his followers as they watched Juniper trying to hold onto her anger try to keep the fear from showing on her face. Their Juniper shrank back against Bucky trying not to shake trying not to relive the terror of that day.
"Your not alone Juniper." Tony assured her putting his hand on her shoulder.
"She is. I was." Juniper sobbed softly. "No one knew no one was even looking for us." Tony felt another swell of anger this time at himself. Where was he? On this day when his baby girl had needed him the most? Had needed her father to come save her? Off at some party with a model or two, Creating a new invention to make another million dollars, maybe even fighting terrorists or aliens. But all of it seemed worthless and empty. His daughter could have died nearly had and he never would have even known she existed. The excuse that he hadn't even known about her let alone that she'd needed saving seemed so hollow. He should have known. He should have wondered why Lily Evans had so completely disappeared from his life, he should have felt it.
"How lies have fed your legend Juniper. Should I reveal what really happened that night 13 years ago? Should I divulge how I truly lost my powers?" Bill stepped closer intent on hearing what the man was about to say. The secret that scholars, mystics, and seers had been wondering at and studying for the past 13 years. "It was love. You see when dear sweet Lily Potter gave her life for her only child she provided the ultimate protection. I could not touch her. It was old magic. Something I should have foreseen. But no matter, no matter. Things have changed." He lunged forward holding his hand over Juniper's head. "I can touch you now." He brought his hand down fingers brushing her scar bringing forward a new scream of pain as she tried to pull away from his touch and he laughed. "Astonishing what a few drops of your blood will do huh Potter?" He sneered.
He turned away and as he did the angel released her to fall to the ground. "Pick up your wand." He yelled at her as she was gasping just trying to breathe. "I SAID PICK IT UP." Juniper lunged forwards a bit to grab the familiar Holly wood wand the MACUSA agent had marveled over.
"You've been taught how to duel I presume. Flitwick's prized pupil yes? First we bow to each other." He gave a mocking bow as Juniper scrambled to her feet. "Come Juniper the niceties must be observed Dumbledore wouldn't want you to forget your manners would he?" He asked as Juniper stared in horror seeming a bit in shock. "I said bow." He waved his wand and Juniper was bowing very much and very obviously against her will. "Thats better." He smirked. "And now..." He flicked his hand and Juniper was knocked to the ground again. And then came the moment that made Hermione cry out in horror, Rons mouth fall open as a small sound of denial escaped them, Bills face blanch entirely white and Remus turn a greenish color as if he was about to loose his lunch. "CRUCIO."
The girl almost seemed to be having a seizure eyes wide, mouth opened in a silent scream and she writhed on the ground in obvious agony. Juniper remembered what it felt like. You didn't forget that kind of pain. People said that burning was the worst pain a person could experience. Well this was like being pierced by millions of flaming blades in every single inch of your body. There was no part of her that hadn't been screaming in agony. She had been able to think, hadn't been able to breathe or even scream. She would have begged for death to make it stop. Would gladly have fallen into insanity to ease the pain.
"What is he doing to her?" Tony asked his voice strained.
"Its the Cruciatus Curse. One of the unforgivable curses." Bill said his own voice choked with tears. "Its the worse most intense pain...It hits ever nerve, lights up every synapse. People have died from it, or been driven mad. Its why the Longbottoms spent 16 years in Sant Mungos hospital unable to even recognize their son. It can cause nerve damage burns them out."
It had felt that night as if had lasted hours, days, years in reality it was more like 5 minutes before Tom stopped the curse giving her a moment to breathe a moment to think the pain was over. The again. "CRUCIO." This time she did scream although she didn't remember doing it. She screamed for Sirius. Her hero her savior, the closest thing she'd ever really known to a father. It was a little longer this time as if Tom was enjoying the sound of her torment.
Natasha had actually turned her head unable to watch the torture of the girl she had started to look at as a little sister, Rhody wasn't looking either, and Bruce's eyes where averted as he tried to wrestle down the hulk who very badly wanted to smash the man hurting the young girl who was becoming part of their family. Hermione had her face buried in Ron's shoulder. Ron and Juniper wore very similar looks cold composed as if they'd slipped on masks to hide their true reactions. The others watched almost feeling as if they had to as if Juniper could survive it the least they could do was watch.
"Atta girl Juniper. Your parents would be so proud especially your filthy muggle mother. She raised her wand and tried to fire a spell but he waved his wand causally and sent her rolling across the ground. Then walked closer. "I'm going to kill you Juniper Potter." He announced coolly as if announcing that the weather was a bit chilly. "I'm going to destroy you. After tonight no one will again question my power." He continued kneeling next to her. After tonight if they speak of you they'll speak only of how you begged for death. And I being a merciful lord obliged." He gave her a shark toothed grin then held a hand in front of her face as she started up at him in terror tears rolling down her cheeks. "GET UP." her body once again was pulled to her feet without her permission.
And then it happened the moment she needed the moment they had all been hoping for. He turned away from her to face his followers and Juniper although terrified and most likely in shock pain still echoing through her body took the chance he'd given her accidently and dodged behind one of the tombstones.
"Don't you turn your back on me Juniper Potter." he thundered firing a curse that hit the stone. "I want you to look at me when I kill you. I want to see the light leave your eyes."
They all looked into the girl's face and could practically see her brain working through the odds, the options, the variables. It was a very Stark reaction. And the answers she came up with where all bad. All very bad. Trapped in a graveyard with no allies and no backup likely to come badly outnumbered and out powered. She couldn't win. Even surviving didn't seem possible. Her expression morphed into one of cold determination and Tony knew exactly what she was thinking. Even if death was the only option you still had a choice die on your feet or die on your knees.
"Godric help me." She whispered softly and pushed to her feet wand clenched in her hand and stepped out from behind the stone to face Tom who was still pointing his wand at her standing in front of his followers. A injured 14-year-old girl still bleeding and trembling slightly from the literal torture she'd just endured facing a monster and his pack of grown wizards most old enough to have children her age. "Have it your way then." she said her voice hoarse as if coming from someone who smoked a couple of packs a day.
They both fired off a spell at the same time Tom's Avada Kedavra and Juniper's Expelliarmus. One green one red and they seemed to met in midair. It seemed to send a kind of shockwave through the air that knocked the other Deatheaters away. They could see that both wands where vibrating slightly both wizard and witch holding tight
"Did she just block the killing curse with a disarming curse?" Hermione asked her voice high and a bit shrill in disbelief.
"No." Bill answered his own eyes wide. "Priori Incantatem." The words made little sense to anyone but Juniper as it was a very rare effect and only someone who'd studied wand lore would know what it was. "Did you know?" Bill asked Juniper.
"That Tom's wand and mine where brothers?" Juniper asked her voice weak. "Yes Ollivander told me they had the same core when I got mine when I was eleven. He also gave me the book to read so I understood a bit about what it meant when I was thirteen." Tony immediately like Ollivander more than Dumbledore even though he'd never met either man at least Ollivander gave her information she may need.
"Brother wands." Remus repeated softly.
"Two wands with the same core from the same creature will refuse to destroy each other in combat they will lock and then its down to the will power of the caster. The losing wand is forced to...to display the last spells performed by that wand." Juniper said softly.
"You saw your parents that night." Bill said softly Juniper's nod had everyones attention jerking back to the battle as magic crackled and popped throwing off globs of color that faded before hitting the ground the green and red pushing back and forth a humming filling the air as Juniper held her wand with both hands it looked as if it was a natural part of her a extension of her body, Tom held his with one holding in more like a gun a inanimate object that was nothing but a weapon.
"Do nothing! Shes mine to finish!" Tom ordered his followers. It wasn't a real order Tony understood that. He was trying to intimidate Juniper remind her that she was alone and he wasn't remind her that he had nothing to fear that she was the one destined to die that night. If anything to had the opposite effect and the red spells pushed harder driving the green back towards him. And then it happen the two spells green and red reached Tom's wand.
A golden glow seemed to shoot straight up and a misty form broke off and shot to Juniper's side taking the shape of Cedric Diggory. 'Hold on Juni.' He said softly his voice a echo of what it had been when he was alive.
A second misty form popped out and a elderly man was standing at her other side. 'Hold on girl. Thats the way. You can do it.'
Then a third and fourth both closer to Juniper on either side and they took form.
"Lily." The soft word from Tony held a wealth of emotion. It had been 18 years but Lily had been his first love. It would never be the real thing that he'd found with Pepper but he would always have feelings for the beautiful red head who'd given him his daughter even if he was still angry at her for hiding it from him. And the other form James Potter. It was obvious looking at him that Tony wasn't the only one who had a type. he wasn't Tony's image as Pepper was Lily's but they had the same messy dark hair, same warm brown eyes and same aristocratic feature that spoke of wealth and breeding. And the way the man even in what seemed to be a ghostly form looked at Juniper no one ever would have guessed he wasn't her true father in every way. He looked at her as if he'd gladly die for her another 20 times and consider it well worth the price.
'Juniper when the connection is broken you must get to the portkey.' The ghostly voice of James Potter told her voice firm and determined as her expression had been a few moments ago. "We can linger for a moment to give you some time but only a moment do you understand?" Juniper nodded in response as Tom's face twisted but he seemed unable to do anything to break the link of the wands.
'Juniper take my body back will you?' Cedric spoke again. 'Take my body back to my father.'
Then Lily's voice sweet gentle. "Let go. Sweetheart your ready. Let go. Let go."
Peter eyes where the only one on their Juniper as the scenario played out seeing the yearning, the pain on her face as she looked on her parents and understanding it Peter had also lost both his parents before he was old enough to remember them. Seeing them again must have seemed like a dream even in the midst of this horror show even if only for a brief moment to lose them again immediately after.
Juniper glanced at both her parents one last time then jerked her wand to the side violently to break the connection. As she did the four ghostly forms soared at Tom hitting him in the face blinding him. Juniper ran and threw herself across Cedrics body as she did the cup, the portkey seemed to fly into her hand.
Juniper had never remembered summoning the cup to her that night but had assumed that she had just forgot in the pain, terror and adrenaline that had been coursing through her now she realized she'd assumed wrong. She saw the wand of one of the Deatheaters raised to his side had been the one that had flung the portkey into her hands. Daniel Parkinson had saved her life. Pansy's father maybe not wanting to have to watch a girl the age of his own murdered but not willing to stand up to his master and friends had sent the portkey to her secretly silently. He'd participated in the razing of Diagon Alley but that night, the night in the Graveyard he hadn't been a complete monster.
The sound of Tom' scream of rage followed her as with a pop she and Cedric's where transported from the Graveyard back to the stadium where they'd started the observers pulled with them. There was a roar of applause and cheers when they appeared. It was Fleur sitting on the sidelines who first realized something was wrong as she'd probably been expecting and let out a scream of horror. The crowd then looked better and saw what she saw.
A nearly hysterical Juniper bloody and dirty from being dragged all over the graveyard clinging to the unmoving body of Cedric. They saw her friends Ron, Hemione and the two who had to be Neville and Luna struggling to get through the crowd that was suddenly frozen in shock. They saw the horrified faces of Blaise Zambini and even Draco Malfoy neither of who seemed to know what to do. They saw the redheads one a older boy a solid block of muscles they could only assume was Charlie Weasley and a tall thin reedy boy with glasses who had to be Percy Weasley, and two identical boys with the same lanky forms as Ron who could only be the twins Fred and George Weasley all of who where sitting up front jump from the seats to the stadium ground. They where headed off by Dumbledore who said something to them that had them turning to block the view of the crowd as he hurried over to Juniper and Cedric along with a pudgy man with a pale face and a bowler hat.
"Juniper." Dumbledore tried to pull Juniper away from Cedric.
"No No don't." She yelped refusing to release him.
"For God's sake Dumbledore what's happened." The other man asked frantically as Dumbledore shifted positions to look into Juniper's face.
"Hes back. Hes back." Juniper shouted looking up into Dumbledore's calm clear Blue eyes her voice near hysterical. "Voldemorts back. Cedric, he asked me to bring his body back. I couldn't leave him. Not there."
Dumbledore reached out cupping her face gently. "Its alright Juniper Its alright." He said his voice soft gentle. "Hes home you both are."
Then they heard the screams. "Let me through! Let me through." A man was pushing through the wall of Weasley's a short man with long thinning dark hair and glasses a man with Cedric's hazel eyes. "Thats my son!." He howled when he saw the body. "Thats my boy!" Then words seemed to fail him as he collapsed to his knees by the body of his child letting out a howl of pain the echoed through the stadium. Mourning not just to immediate death of his only child but everything that had died with him. All the promise all the hope and joy that had died with Cedric. The grandchildren that would never be all the great things the bright beautiful boy would have accomplished, the bright future that would have been his.
There wasn't a dry eye in the stadium not among the students watching and not among the Avengers watching. Clint and Tony in particular where affected. Clint not even wanting to imagine the pain of losing one of his own children and Tony knowing how very very close it had come to being Juniper who'd died.
"Come on. Get up. Easy easy." The all looked to see Mad-eye Moody, Barty Crouch Jr gently urging Juniper to her feet.
"No." She whimpered softly.
"This is not where you want to be right now." He told her softly arm around her in what seemed to be a protective embrace. Tony saw Charlie Weasley glance over and nod. Tony did tend to agree. Removing Juniper was the right move even if it was the wrong person doing it. "Its alright I got ya. I got ya. Easy now." Mad eyes soothed leading Juniper back into the entrance of the stadium. While in the background the pained howls of Amos Diggory continued.
"Satisfied." Juniper asked Bill and waved her own wand with a hard snap pulling them all out of the Pensieve.
AN- So now they know. Poor Bill wasn't expecting it to be that bad. I didn't plan to start the memory until the graveyard but context became a thing so I went back to include the stadium. This next chapter will be mopping up the stuff I was suppose to get to this chapter and didn't. I really hope to get them back to England soon.