AN- Northmanlv- Thank you so much! I consider it a huge compliment to hear you where surprised as I so hope I'm not being predictable. I will do my best to continue to do so. I hope you continue to enjoy.
AN- BioHazard82-Thank you so much.
AN- Guest I appreciate that so much. It is so flattering that your rereading as I know theres so many other things to read here. Thank you for giving this story your time and leaving a review.
AN- Yes yes I know since I tossed out civil war and Bucky never went to Wakanda he shouldn't have a vibranium arm but his original titanium arm but...but...I need it to be vibranium. So lets just say Killmonger's dad sold a small amount of vibranium to HYDRA and they used it to create a new arm for their Winter Soldier. Yup thats totally what happened.
AN- This chapter kicked my butt. I'm never happy with any fight scenes I write so If anyone wants to make complaints about this one please be constructive. I really am willing to take any notes to make the next battle great. Bringing Andromeda in wasn't planned but It did give me a chance to plug a hole I always wondered about in cannon. Why was Harry never taken to Saint Mungos? I liked writing her too balancing a Healers bedside manner and a Blacks imperious manner which honestly wouldn't have been something that would have faded much.
AN- HAPPY HALLOWEEN! To all who celebrate Halloween. RIP James and Lily Potter. A moment of silence for out fallen heroes please...And now its time for the Battle of Wool's Orphanage. Buckle up.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
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Juniper paused after entering her room rubbing her hands over her face and taking a deep breathe before moving to her closet. This was not the day she would have picked for a battle. She was still tired from her nightmare and had a mild headache her brain crowded with thoughts of Hermione's plan to get rid of the horcrux in her head. Not to mention the new nightmare of Bellatrix getting her hands on Hermione. She traded her pajamas for a pair of jeans and a black long sleeved shirt under a brown leather jacket and brown timberlands boots. She didn't wanna wear Bucky's jacket afraid it would get damaged or stained but she left on the wolf necklace tucking it out of sight under her shirt.
By the time she walked back into the hallway Bucky was there waiting for her. Before she could speak he stepped forward raising his hands to gently cup her face. "Its going to be okay Juniper." He promised softly.
Juniper was a bit surprised by how much better just his touch and words made her feel. "I'm going to kill Bellatrix." She told him her voice soft. She was well known to the wizarding world for holding back. For her disarming spells for going for disabling her enemies. Lately though, lately her spells had been darker. She still didn't know if she'd killed the HYDRA agents who attacked the other night but either way that had been a spur of the moment, impulsive attack that had come from her darker side. This however was her fully in control not in the heat of battle planning to kill her cousin one of the few blood family members she had left even if she was mad and evil. Something about it felt wrong even though she knew the woman fully planned on murdering her as soon as she got a chance but she was evidentially a imminent threat to her true sister. To keep Hermione Granger safe she would do much worse things than killing Bellatrix Lestrange.
"If you don't I will." Bucky promised softly. Surprise flashed in Juniper's eyes. "I love you Juniper. Your people are my people. Nobodies hurting Hermione."
Juniper's arms went around his waist and she hugged him tightly resting her head against his chest for a moment. "I'm sorry Bucky. I'm so sorry."
"For what doll?" Bucky asked his arms going around her one hand stroking her hair.
"I know you don't want to have to kill anymore. And now today you might have to because of me." Juniper answered looking up at him.
Now it was his turn to be surprised. The only other person who seemed to understand that was Nat. But then Juniper did have more in common with both him and Natasha than the others. All three of them had been made into weapons against their wishes, all three had been brain-washed by different methods, and all three where trying to break free and live their own lives. He briefly wondered if it was better that he and Natasha had been used as assassins while Juniper had been forced in the mold of a hero. He and Natasha would be encouraged and commended for walking awhile while if Juniper had tried to escape the role written for her she'd most likely face only anger, and accusations.
"Like you had to fight HYDRA for me?" He asked her. "We all do things we don't necessarily want to protect people we care about."
"I love you Bucky. I don't want you to have to do anything. Especially because of me." Juniper said softly stretching up to kiss him lightly then pulled away taking his hand as they headed downstairs.
Natasha had returned before they had and handed Bucky his jacket as he entered. Juniper turned to face the two super soldiers and the assassin trying to not to think about the oddity of the group that would be going on this mission. She'd certainly never expected to be fighting alongside muggles in a wizarding war. "You have to be careful. Spells aren't like guns there are no flesh wounds. A spell hits you its got you. Look out for anything green especially the three unforgiveable curses are all green when they are cast."
"The mission is to get the cup then get out as quickly as possible?" Steve prompted. Juniper nodded. She was so not use to this. With the others in the six she was use to fighting with no direction was needed. They all knew exactly what their roles in the group was and what they and the others where capable of.
"The cup is hidden under a piece of floorboard in the basement of what use to be Wool's Orphanage. We don't have to worry about civilians as the building has long been abandoned. I would suggest that Natasha concentrates on getting the cup and activating her portkey as soon as she has it while the rest of us cover her and then as soon as shes ported out we can follow. Simple enough in and out. Maybe if we're lucky we can be done before the Deatheaters even arrive." Juniper said as Bill gave each of them a portkey and a piece of paper with the activation words each of the keys having a different one so they could be triggered separately.
"Don't touch the horcrux with your bare hands." Bill warned handing Natasha a pair of dragonhide gloves. and a bag of the same material to place it in. "I'm not sure how strong it will be or what effect it would have on a muggle."
"We need to find a new word for that. Muggle just feels offensive." Natasha said taking them.
"Its the English term. American wizards use no-mag or mundanes." Hermione said as she handed Juniper a pain potion and a pepper-up both of which she took without protest.
"Muggle it is." Natasha answered.
Hermione let out a laugh then looked over to Juniper. "You know Dobby can only take three of you. Your gonna have to call Him stop stalling. And just remember to be kind to him."
"Fine." Juniper said and took a deep breathe. "Kreacher, as head of the house of Black and your mistress I order you to come to me now."
The crack of the new elf arriving was much softer than Dobby's. This elf was also obviously much much older his skin grey, and wrinkled white hair sprouting from saggy ears nose long and drooping. The only thing still sharp about him was his dark eyes which immediately focused on Juniper. His manner of dress was also unlike the other elf as he seeming to be wearing what looked like a pillowcase with a locket around his neck identical to the horcrux Ron had destroyed.
"Kreacher lives to serve the ancient and noble house of Black." He said in a croaky voice bowing to Juniper. "Even though new mistress is misguided enough to keep company with filthy muggle scum."
Juniper gave what seemed to be a suppressed scream of anger and glanced at Hermione as if to say 'you see what I'm dealing with.' Hermione just held up a hand. "Kind." She repeated.
Juniper took another deep breathe as if to calm herself. "Kreacher How many people can you take with you when you apparate?" She asked.
"Kreacher is much older and stronger than the youngling Mistress." He gave Dobby a provoking look. "Kreacher can carry four."
"Dobby is sorry Juniper Potter. Older bonded elves are stronger." Dobby said seemingly mournfully.
"Dobby is a bad bad elf." Kreacher accused then tacked on. "Mistress Black."
"Potter."
"Black."
"Potter."
"Thats enough." Juniper said breaking into the elves bickering before they brought her headache back. "Dobby can you take Bucky, and Steve? Kreacher will take me, Ron, and Natasha." She looked over to Kreacher. "You will take us straight to the former Wool's orphanage in London. Afterwards you will return straight to Hogwart's with Dobby. You will speak to no one about anything for four hours after returning and you will stay within eyeshot of Dobby or Winky for the same amount of time." She said not wanting to leave him any wiggle room for loopholes if he decided to try and betray her the same way he had Sirius. She didn't think he would as their relationship wasn't as...antagonist as the one he'd had with Sirius and he was grateful to her for giving him the copy of the locket Regulus had created but she still didn't trust the elf.
"Dobby will. Dobby will make sure Kreacher behaves too." Dobby said brightly.
"Juniper..." Tony started and she looked up at him. He started to say one thing then seemed to change his mind and instead took off the watch he was wearing. "Here take this. It'll keep you linked to Jarvis we'll be able to hear whats going on. If you need some firepower just tell Jarvis to deploy. The gauntlet will resize itself to fit you and Jarvis can fire it for you."
"Thanks dad." Juniper said softly fastening it around her wrist it almost slid off before it seemed to shrink to fit her much thinner wrist.
"Juni, be careful okay." Hermione said.
"I always intend to be careful." Juniper said with a sigh taking the hand Kreacher held out to her and Natasha. Ron reached out and put a hand on the elf's shoulder. Dobby held out his hands to Bucky and Steve who took his little hands. "Alright lets do it."
A second later the familiar but still bizarre feeling of being forced through a tight, spinning rubber tube washed over her. They where spit out in a obviously abandoned building with boarded up windows dirty concrete floors and walls covered in graffiti mostly 666 and Hail Satan. Obviously the dark feeling that filled the abandoned orphanage had drawn wanna be Devil worshippers.
"Hail Satan?" Ron asked. "Why would anybody wanna do that?"
"I'll explain later." Juniper answered with a sigh as the two house elves popped back out and she turned at the sound of retching to see that all three of their companions where losing their breakfast on the dirty concrete floor. "Oh right we should have remembered to mention that. Almost everybody gets sick first time they apparate."
"First time? No way I'm doing that again." Bucky growled causing a grin to tug at Juniper's lips.
"Yeah. I said that too." Juniper answered. "Frankly none of the ways wizards have to travel are fun except flying and I guess the Knight bus if your a adventurous type."
"Lets just find this thing and get back." Natasha said wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and pulling her gun chambering a round.
Juniper nodded and using the memory she had viewed in Tom's head led them through the hallways pausing briefly beside one of the room doors knowing somehow that this was the room Tom Riddle had occupied for eleven years until he'd left for Hogwarts and then returned to every summer. She couldn't resist peeking in. It wasn't really big but was bigger than her cupboard had been and had a window something she'd never gotten. "Whiner." She muttered to herself and continued on to the staircase pulling out her wand. "Lumos." She said softly and Ron followed her lead.
The stairs didn't seem completely structurally sound and Juniper was glad they wouldn't have to go back up as they creaked and almost swayed as they descended into the musty smelling basement some spots even seemed soft as if almost rotted away. They went down in a row as if by silent agreement to not test the steps by asking them to hold too much weight at once. Juniper in the lead, Natasha at her back gun aimed up, Ron with his wand lit and held aloft at her back, Steve close behind, and Bucky bringing up the rear a larger gun than Natasha's in his metal hand held to the side. As soon as she got to the bottom of the steps she stepped to the side so the others could join her and recast the lumos adding the maximus so that the light spread further lighting up more but not all of the basement. There where a few half walls standing as if someone had started building more rooms down here but had deserted the project before it was done making the right half of the basement a bit maze-like.
Ron glanced at the dirty floor. "No footprints. We got here first."
"Thank Merlin." Juniper said then glanced at Natasha. "It should be under the floor boards in the back left corner." She said but her eyes where twitching back and forth looking for something anything out of place. "This feels wrong. Too easy." She muttered softly.
"Too easy to cover footprints." The voice was a familiar one although it had been more than a few years since she'd heard it. On the Quidditch pitch back at Hogwarts. She jerked back turning to the left where the voice had come from to see Marcus Flint smirking at her wand extended. Before anyone could do anything there was a crash behind them as the stairs where smashed into and came tumbling to the basement floor in shards causing them to have to dive out of the way to avoid falling wood. Juniper hit the ground blinking frantically to clear her vision of dust and wood particles to see the man, creature who'd smashed into the supports of the stairs to bring them crashing down.
"Hello, Poppet." He said his voice more a growl than proper words. Over 6 foot tall, all muscle, long grey hair pulled back from a sharply featured face with long fang like teeth and almost claw like nails even in this form, his feral eyes wolf amber. It had to take a lot for Ron to turn his back on this particular threat but he did so putting his back to Juniper as she scrambled into a sitting position as he crouched watching her back.
"Hello, Greyback." She answered her own voice close to a growl as well.
"As in Fenrir?" Steve asked already back on his feet. She'd seen the man look stern before and even angry but she'd never seen that level of fury on his face that he leveled at the child predator.
"Heard of me then? Been talking about me love. Your not my usual type but I could make a exception." Greyback replied giving Juniper a look that made her skin crawl.
Then the laughter started the loud mad laughter that still occupied a large corner of Juniper's nightmares and she felt her mouth go dry with fear. as she turned her head enough to see the other side of the room they where in and her eyes went wide.
There where three figures there. To the left a tall elegant raven haired Italian woman she'd only ever seen in pictures in the paper. The black widow of Milan Madame Sabine Zambini Blaise's mother. To the right a whip thin man with almost skeletal features stringy blond hair and wild blue eyes. Rabastan Lestrange. And in the middle the woman herself Bellatrix Lestrange her mad eyes focused on Juniper.
"Oh no Fenrir. My baby cousin is mine. You can have one of the others." She cackled. Looking at her made Juniper feel like a baby rabbit watching a snake slithering closer and she had to fight the urge to freeze. A reaction most people forgot when they listed reactions to fear yes flight and fight where both reactions but so was freeze.
Bellatrix legitimately terrified Juniper on multiple levels. She had touched the Black madness a few times before but when Bellatrix had killed Sirius it had consumed her so completely she could have killed not only the woman but anyone who'd stood between them. She'd seen what she could become not only in her own reaction but in Bellatrix's eyes. That fury had provided the opening Tom had needed to possess her and had very nearly led to her killing Neville. And Bella was caught in that madness constantly. The worst of it was a part of Juniper could see the appeal. Everything seemed so simple so...pure when in the grip of the madness there was nothing but the fight, the blood, the kill.
The voice that suddenly roared through her head wasn't one Juniper recognized and she would wonder later if she'd gone a little mad or if her subconscious had decided it was gonna have to slap her conscious mind aside of they where going to survive this. "YOU ARE NOT A BLOODY RABBIT! YOU ARE A LIONESS! NOW FIGHT!" At the same time Natasha started firing at the trio Bellatrix apparated a short distance to avoid the bullets while Madame Zambini and Rabastan both dived out of the way neither confident enough to try Bella's trick and either unaware of the possibility, or not powerful enough to shield against the bullets as Juniper had.
"Expelliarmus." Madam Zambini cast at Natasha and Bucky in quick succession causing their guns to fly from their hands.
The next few minutes seemed to happen in almost slow motion as the lock Bella had held on her seemed to break and she raised her wand toward Madam Zambini understanding something immediately by the fact that she hadn't cast the spell wordlessly. She may be skilled with potions and poisons but she wasn't powerful enough to cast wordlessly. "Langlock." She cast aloud as well mostly so the foolish witch would realize what was about to happen as her tongue glued itself to the roof of her mouth rendering her mute. Natasha also realized in seconds what had happened even if she didn't recognize the spell and leapt at the other woman.
Juniper spun knowing that Natasha could take the other woman and cast her own Expelliarmus this time silently spinning Fenrir's wand into the air where she caught it and snapped it. Fenrir's roar of fury shook the whole building even as Steve tackled the bigger man as he advanced on Juniper who spun again trusting him to be able to handle himself as she had evened the playing field as much as possible.
Ron had already engaged with Flint and they seemed evenly matched. Ron was physically stronger and Juniper knew well he had incredible stamina and was a consistent dueler while Flint was faster and more agile with unknown reserves his spells varying in strength. She had to trust that Ron would prevail.
"CRUCIO." Rabastan's voice thundered wand aimed at Juniper.
"NO!" Bucky yelled. The only thought in his head was that he would not let Juniper endure that curse again. Experiencing the agony himself would be preferable to watching her go through it again. He grabbed her his metal arm flung up to shield them both in both pure instinct and muscle memory. He felt the impact of the spell then...nothing. The spell hit the vibranium arm and almost seemed to fizzle out. Juniper's eyes met Buckys the shock and fear she felt on realizing he'd taken the spell meant for her turned to amazement as she realized the vibranium had neutralized the curse. A smirk appeared on Bucky's face. "I got him. Just concentrate on Bellatrix." He said pulling out his daggers instead of looking for his gun hidden by the darkness and standing advancing on Rabastan who looked equally as shocked.
Juniper quickly jumped to her feet her eyes darting around looking for Bellatrix. "Bella where are you? Come out and playyy." She called out in the same sing-song manner Bellatrix often used.
"I killed Sirius Black. I killed Sirius Black." The voice same from one of the corridors formed by the half built walls.
"Trap." Juniper muttered under her breathe but the third time it was repeated she chased after her into the maze of half built walls anyway letting herself be separated from the others.
It was after only a few turns that Juniper came out into a more of less empty space where Bellatrix awaited her. Both had their wands out pointed at each other. "Bringing muggles into things. I expected better of you. I suppose your Black blood is a little thin at this point."
"Doesn't really matter how thin it is does it as I'm the head of the family." Juniper asked forcing down the fear that tried to rise again.
"Your lying you filthy half-blood." Bellatrix shrieked her momentary facade of calm disappearing like smoke.
"No. I'm not. Sirius was never formerly disinherited and he left me everything. All the money, all the properties and business, all the power and position of head of the family. I wouldn't try to take back the Black name now that your husband is dead Bella dear. It wouldn't go well for you. Especially as you murdered the last head." Juniper said her voice nearly a hiss. Bad things happened to witches and wizards who attacked the heads of their family. Magic did not approve. Killing family was outside the natural order and Bellatrix was making a habit of it.
"The family tree had to be pruned. Take away the rotted parts. The mudbloods, half-bloods, and blood traitors a true head would know that. Toujours Pur." Bellatrix answered. then screamed it. "TOUJOURS PUR." And starting throwing cutting curses. Juniper cast a shield charm getting it into place only after the first curse had sliced her hip. It wasn't bad but it was enough to make her feel stupid. She should have already have had the shield in place or even attacked first. Why had she engaged in a conversation with the mad woman who was a threat to not only herself but Hermione? And now she was pretty much pinned in. She couldn't cast a curse without dropping her shield and Bella was casting constantly trying to break her shield. Casting...high. Casting at her head. Okay she could work with that if she could do it fast enough. Not that she had much choice.
Still holding the shields she waited until Bellatrix paused momentarily then dropped to the ground and dropped her shield just as Bella fired again the curse going over her head and fired her own curse a Everte Statum that had Bellatrix flying backwards through two sets of drywall back into the main room they'd started out in.
Bucky knew he shouldn't look away from the wizard he was fighting to the witch behind him but he had too. Half a glance told him though that the figure who'd been flung through the dry-wall was wearing a long black robe and he didn't even try to hold back a grin. The long dark curls may be similar but Juniper had been wearing Jeans and a shirt which meant it was Bellatrix getting flung around like a ragdoll this time.
"Thats my girl." Bucky whispered softly.
"Wouldn't count your victories so soon if I was you tin man." The wizard who's throat was in his metal hand pinned against the wall his wand under Bucky's foot choked out. "Bellas always liked playing with her food." He saw the knife just before the other man drove it into his neck where the metal arm met his actual flesh through the scar tissue to the hilt and wrenched it to the side as if he was trying to pry the arm off.
Ron on the other side of the room was focusing on nothing but Marcus Flint and the duel they where in. He was aware of the positions of the others in the room. CONSTANT VIGILANCE! But his mind was focused on one thing. Putting Flint down hard and fast. Just as he'd been taught by Juniper and Moody. Flint's spells where darker but Ron was damn good at dodging and shielding and Flint not so much. Truthfully though neither where doing a lot of damage to the other as Flint was so bad at landing a spell and Ron because he was unwilling to use any truly dark spells. Then Ron's Aguamenti hit Flint right in the face he ducked under and popped up right in front of Flint as the water stopped and slammed his fist into his face something he'd been longing to do for 6-years and Flint went down like a box of rocks. Ron smirked turning to see if any of the others needed any help.
Steve had very rarely felt fury with the strength he did when he looked at Fenrir Greyback. The man was a monster pure and simple. Not only had he attacked and ruined Remus's life as a young boy, he'd also permanently scarred Bill Weasley, and God only knew the extent of what he'd done to Draco Malfoy and so many other children he'd attacked and turned into werewolves. The man didn't even have the guts to go after grown men let alone fighters who may have a chance no he went after children. The threat he'd presented to Juniper had just been the thing that snapped his control as her breaking his wand had evened up the odds a bit. He was not hurting one more child. Especially not one under Steve's protection. He tackled him so hard he slammed him into the brick exterior wall stunning him long enough for him to get in a couple of good blows before he started clawing and biting. In minutes it was almost impossible to tell which of them was more badly injured and whos blood was splattered where as they where both covered with wounds and blood.
It only took Natasha moments to disable the other woman once Juniper had stopped her from using her magic. One good jolt from her widow bites left her in a heap on the floor. As none of the kids had ever mentioned any woman but Bellatrix Lestrange being on Tom's team she had to assume she was merely a meaningless foot soldier so just left her unconscious on the floor. Her role in this mission was to find and secure the Horcrux so she didn't even bother to check on the others. They where all capable of handling themselves or they wouldn't have been chosen for this mission after all. Back left corner. Natasha quickly pulled on the dragonhide gloves Bill had given her and started ripping up the floorboards relieved to see the boards where still there still looking as old and worn as the others. She had to doubt the sense of the deatheaters. If she had been in their ranks she would have retrieved the cup and sent it back to headquarters before setting the trap. In fact she probably would have just set the building to blow as soon as the basement door was open and called it a day.
A smirk appeared for a moment when she saw the dirty cloth wrapped around a bundle she lifted it out to find a small golden cup with two handles something was engraved on it but Natasha didn't take the time to figure out what it was and just shoved it into the bag and reached for what Bill and Juniper had called a portkey. It wasn't there. Natasha looked around eyes widening to see the dark haired Italian woman sitting up a nasty smirk on her own face the portkey dangling from the broken chain in one hand Natasha's gun in the other. Natasha realized she must have jerked it from her neck when they'd had their brief scuffle. She also had to wonder if maybe the woman hadn't been affected by her widow bite at all or just not as much as a...muggle would have been.
There was a popping sound and the woman's hand almost seemed to explode port key and all as she screamed a fine bloody mist filled the air the shock and pain strong enough to break the spell keeping her quiet horror twisting her pretty features as she started at what moments ago had been her hand nothing but a stump pouring blood now left.
"Natasha!" She turned at Juniper's yell seeing the wand in her hand was still pointed at the other woman and realizing she must have been the one to blow off the woman's hand. She hurled something at Natasha which she caught automatically and yelled out "Nonesuch." Natasha felt herself being hooked and dragged through space as they had in the maze and dumped on the kitchen floor back at the tower.
"Damn it Juniper." She muttered under her breathe. Yes it had been the plan for her to get the horcrux and return to the tower but now Juniper didn't have a portkey.
"Its okay." Hermione told her helping her to her feet. "As long as shes holding on to one of the others portkeys it can bring her too. Ron knows that."
"NOOOOO." Bellatrix's scream of rage as Natasha had ported out with the horcrux had Juniper turning back to the woman. Somewhere in the slight sliver of Bellatrix's brain that still functioned she had a memory one of Grindewald stopping her in the hallway on the way to meet Fenrir, Sabine, Marcus, and Rabastan, of his power smashing right through her barriers and implanting a imperius one so deeply buried it wouldn't even turn her eyes as it wasn't a true control but merely a temporary order. 'Let them take the horcrux, don't kill the girl. Slaughter her companions if you wish but do not kill the girl.' And that part of her mind found a loophole. The other who'd already ported out was a girl. She hadn't killed her. She started throwing the darkest curses she knew at her cousin just getting faster and fighting harder as Juniper deflected or shielded against all of them throwing back some of her own.
"Bucky stop playing around and finish him!" Ron yelled obviously confident in Bucky's abilities even as his arm damaged by the knife sliding under the metal was throwing off sparks the metal plates shifting and grinding. He didn't release his enemy though. He was more than use to pain even use to his arm being damaged and fighting through it. Instead of his hand loosening as the wizard obviously hoped it tightened. The wizard paled and made a gagging struggling sound. He jerked his hand and felt the bones break and he dropped the body.
Ron was trying to get a bead on Fenrir with his wand as he and Steve wrestled on the floor blood flying and avoid the curses and magic Bellatrix and Juniper where throwing off from their duel. Bucky who'd had a lot of experience breaking up Steve's fights although they where usually not quite so even muttered. "Be ready." And stalked over to the pair hauling up the werewolf who was currently on top trying to rip through Steve's shield which he'd finally remembered to use and flung him away his flesh and blood arm strong enough thanks to the super soldier serum. "Pick on somebody your own size." He snarled a line he hadn't gotten to use in a very long time as Steve was no longer the 5'2 he'd once been.
"Bombarda." Ron snapped his wand making the movements that caused a explosion knocking Fenrir back and gorging another chunk of flesh from his chest to add to the wounds Steve had already inflicted. Bucky grabbed Ron by his shirt and dragged him along with Steve behind one of the half walls as the duel between the two witches became even more fierce magic almost seeming to splash everywhere.
"Screw this." He heard Fenrir snarl before he pulled out what looked like a medallion close to what Bill had made for them and flashed out.
"Steve? You with us?" Bucky asked patting his cheeks lightly.
"Had him on the ropes Buck." Steve answered with a sharp gasp.
"Yeah yeah." He answered then turned to peek out from behind the wall with Ron. Juniper was starting to slow down her spells not looking quite as bright as Bellatrix's "Is it my imagination or is Juniper doing a lot more blocking than attacking." He asked softly.
"Juniper Potter can't beat Bellatrix." Ron said softly and he remembered the line from Luna's letter. 'Ron you will know what to do when the time comes. Trust your instincts.' "Bloody Hell sometimes I hate Luna."
"Ron what..."
"We need the other one." He told Bucky softly. "When the time comes make sure Juniper has her hand on the Portkey when you say the passwords." And before Bucky could grab the stupidly brave boy he darted out. "HEY BITCH!" He yelled at Bellatrix as she was pulling back to throw another curse at Juniper who seemed to be tiring panting slightly the fear starting to creep back into her eyes. Fear this time of losing to Bellatrix fear of dying at her cousin's wand in this filthy basement, fear of failing her friends and the family she'd fought so hard to create.
"CRUCIO!" Bellatrix thundered. The curse hit Ron and he fell to the floor screaming in agony. He'd never known pain like that could exist and he clung desperately to the single thought that was keeping him sane. It was for Juni.
"NO." Juniper screamed out and Bucky saw the rage wash over her expression her eyes going almost black. For the first time Bucky saw a resemblance between Juniper and Bellatrix beyond their hair. Her spells where suddenly stronger, quicker, and he suspected darker.
Bellatrix let out a laugh. "There you are little cousin." She cackled. "Now you look like a true Black."
"No need to insult me old woman. I'm already going to kill you."
"Or you could just join me. Blood is thicker than water you know." Bella called out even as she was throwing curses that would have decapitated her if she hadn't deflected them.
"Misquote The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. My covenant is not with you cousin."
Bucky's eyes focused on Ron who was lying immobile shaking and shuddering. He crawled forward a little and grabbed him dragging him back into the hiding spot. "Steve you need to take Ron and go. I'll get Juniper." They needed to get out now. They had the horcrux but Ron was badly injured, Steve was loosing blood at a accelerated rate, and his arm was still sparking and grinding. And that wasn't even taking into account the numerous cuts and bruises he could see on Juniper from near misses and glancing blows from the curses.
"No Bucky. You take him." Steve answered softly eyes focused on Juniper.
"Steve..."
"No Bucky. Juniper Potter may respond to you but that is Juniper Black. And she will only respond well to her anchor." Bucky clenched his teeth in frustration but had no choice but to acknowledge Steve had a point. "I'll bring her home to you Bucky now go."
There was no real choice. If Ron died or was permanently disabled because of their hesitation not only would Juniper never forgive them she would never recover and Bucky knew it. He shifted the boy in his arms to put his hand against the portkey with his own. "Ratchet." He growled out and a few minutes later he and Ron where on the floor in the tower kitchen Bill pulling the injured boy from his arms.
"Come on Darlin'." Steve whispered out loud glancing out at the duel. Both witches now literally and obviously going for not just blood but death. He was starting to feel light headed from blood loss and they needed to get out soon he saw the light from the curses flash across the watch still on her wrist and yelled ."JUNI DEPLOY." Reminding her of the secret weapon her father had given her.
Juniper's eyes glinted and she repeated the word. "Deploy." The watch suddenly flashed and encased her hand in seconds and fired almost before she raised her hand it hit the ground in front of Bellatrix knocking her backwards with a shriek of anger. Then he heard the sound of gunshots and he saw Juniper's body jerk he looked over in more shock than anything and saw the now one handed Italian woman leveling Natasha's gun at Juniper's back.
"No shes mine!" Bellatrix screamed and Steve saw one of the green curses they'd been warned about shoot from her wand towards the other woman even as he lunged out of the hiding spot arms going around Juniper as he grabbed her hand pressing it into the portkey. "Eagle." He started to black out as they where transported back to the tower and both he and Juniper where spilled onto the kitchen floor Steve unconscious Juniper landing on her hands and knees gasping for breathe.
"Where they shot?" Hermione asked sounded half panicked. She'd been expecting spell damage but the sound of the gun shots they'd heard from the link Jarvis was downloading from the gauntlet had freaked her out more than she would have expected. She gotten use to spellfire as she'd had no choice but to a muggle gunfire was still nerve shattering.
Tony and Bucky where on either side of Juniper in a blink steading her before she could fully collapse on the floor as she gasped almost desperately through the searing burning pain her mind jerked back from the darkness by Steve's touch, the shock of the pain, or the suddenness of being safely back...home she wasn't sure. For a second she was trying to figure out what that last spell had been but Hermione's words made it clear. Shot. She'd been shot. She didn't know nearly enough about guns except that Bucky and Natasha seemed fond of them but being raised in a country that had by and large banned them to her being shot meant dying. She wasn't ready for that. Damned if she was gonna die by gunshot. She forced the air in and out of her lungs even though her lungs didn't seem to want to cooperate. Forming words was so far outside her current skillset she didn't even try just clinging to Bucky on one side her father on the other. She needed to lay down maybe if she laid down the room would stop spinning and tilting.
Seeing the blood soaking through her shirt Tony pushed up the back of her shirt. He was distracted for a moment by the sight of the scars on her back but pushed it aside ruthlessly and grabbed a towel Natasha handed him to wipe away blood. "Two bullet wounds." He said his voice thick. This was not suppose to happen. His daughter was not suppose to get shot. She'd been with Captain America, Black Widow, and The Winter Soldier she should have been safe. Or as safe as one could get entering what was basically a war zone. She sure as hell shouldn't have gotten shot in a magical fight. He glanced at Bucky then bit his tongue as he saw the guilt and fear in the other man's face his focus totally on Juniper. He did love her. He'd said it before but the look on his face at that moment brought it home to Tony in a way words hadn't, couldn't the Winter soldier the man who'd killed his parents was in love with his daughter. Well hell.
"Andis coming." Bill said he was still cradling Ron who was clinging to him shaking but looked incredibly torn part or him obviously wanted to go to Juniper but not willing to leave Ron. As soon as he'd heard the Cruciatus Curse being used and Ron's screams he'd demanded Hermione call Dobby who'd come for her, Kreacher in tow and he'd sent him for Andromeda Tonks the wife of the man who the kids had mourned when they'd heard of his death only a few nights ago. That seemed so long ago now.
"I don't see any bullet wounds." Remus said his hands running over Steve his voice shaking ever so slightly. Also torn between the man who was coming to mean so much to him and the girl who'd been the most important thing in his life for 17-years. "I think its just bites and scratches but without the serum he'd be dead by now. Hermione how much Blood replenisher do you have."
"Not enough for both of them." Hermione answered her voice shaking tears in her eyes. As she watched Bruce kneeling with Tony and Bucky over Juniper before dropping to her knees and digging the vials out of her bag.
"Then its a good job I brought plenty." The cool voice was unfamiliar and they all jerked their eyes over to see Dobby standing holding hands with two women one tall a bit older than their kids with a heart shaped face spiky mousy brown hair and a pretty face a little on the plainer side. The second woman on the other hand had Natasha pulling a gun she'd fetched as soon as she'd returned leveling at her wondering frantically why Dobby would bring their enemy past the wards. Bucky shifting to place himself between her and Juniper.
"NO no. Shes not Bellatrix." Hermione spat out quickly seeing the issue immediately. "Thats Andromeda look at her eyes." When they did they saw no hint of the madness in Bellatrix's eyes. She looked tired and her eyes where red and puffy from recent tears but not mad.
"Trust me My unfortunate resemblance to my sister distresses me much more than it does you." Andromeda remarked dryly even as she passed a vial to Bill. "This will stabilize Ron. Nymphadora help Remus please." She crossed over to Bucky and raised one eyebrow. "I do believe from her breathing that one of the bullets punctured a lung. If you wish me to help her move."
Juniper looked up at Bucky eyes clouded with pain but it was his Juni. He didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad one that she'd come back to herself without Steve's help. But her breathing was labored and hard and her lips where slightly blue. "MOVE BUCKY." Tony's yell convinced him to move aside so the witch could join them.
"Hello Juni." Andromeda said gently laying a hand on her forehead. "I need you to lay down please let me see what you've done to yourself this time."
It was Tony who was more of less holding her in a sitting position thinking it might help her breathe easier who laid her back but it made her breathing come harder and harsher. Andromeda waved her wand and what looked a little like a oxygen mask appeared over her nose and mouth easing her breathing immediately. "You and your little band of merry followers are never boring I will give you that. Passed all the way through thats good." Andromeda commented pushing Juniper's shirt up to see the see the gunshot wounds from the exit point waving her wand over the wounds the bleeding slowing as she started a soft chant. A soft glow came from Juniper's skin as well as Andromeda's wand. "Good good. Black magic, family magic, like to like. Good girl." The wound seemed to heal on its own. It closed up the bleeding stopping her breathing easing. "There we go love." She sat back slightly. The wounds where still raw and angry looking, still painful but no longer life threatening. "I suppose telling you to make sure she takes it easy for a while would be pointless?" She asked looked at Hermione.
Hermione gave a soft snort. "You've met her." Andromeda rolled her eyes and waved her wand to remove the mask and took a few of the vials Hermione passed her and held them to Juniper's lips forcing her to drink them despite her shudders of disgust. "There now thats better isn't it?" She asked cupping Juniper's chin and looking into her eyes. "I delivered you Juniper. Don't make me bury you."
Juniper nodded most of the pain had faded but her eyes where still hazy. "Ron and Steve are they okay? Did Natasha get back okay? The horcrux?"
The last word had Andromeda and the other woman who she'd called Nymphadora looking over at Remus in horror and he nodded in confirmation. "Oh course a horcrux. Bastard." Andromeda commented then turned her attention to Juniper. "They will be fine." And Bucky got the idea they would be because no one would dare to do anything to displease this woman.
She looked up and focused her eyes at him eyes zeroing in on his shoulder. It had stopped bleeding and frankly Bucky suspected the damage to his prosthetic arm was more severe that that done to his actual flesh and blood shoulder. At the moment he didn't care about either. Tony had fixed it before he could fix it again and he'd slapped duct tape over wounds until they'd healed more than once in the past. She pointed at him regardless and he felt a warmth in his skin spread not only healing the wound but relaxing the muscles in a way he'd hadn't felt since he'd had it fused onto his shoulder. "Better than Mad-eyes leg but still rather barbaric." She muttered softly before standing and almost gliding over to where the girl and Remus where working on Steve.
"I've met the most interesting people since you came into my life." Bucky said to her a tenderness in his tone as he slipped his arms around Juniper helping her sit up leaning into him.
"Oh just wait until you meet Hagrid." Juniper responded giving him a tentative smile. Then looked over to Tony who was still holding her hand as Pepper knelt behind him putting her hands on his shoulders. "Dad is Ron okay?" She said softly trying not too breathe too deeply as it still hurt.
Tony glanced over at Ron. He was still in his brother's arms but the potion he'd forced down his throat had eased his shudders some of the tension going out of his body. "Yeah Kiddo hes already looking better." He said softly brushing hair off Juniper's face with her free hand.
"Do you need anything to eat Juni? Or drink? Water?" Pepper asked.
"Water please." Juniper answered mostly because Pepper looked like she badly needed to do something. She jumped slightly when Rhodey wrapped a blanket around her shoulders then gave him a smile. "Thanks Uncle Rhodey."
"Innervate." Juniper looked over as Andromeda used the spell to wake Steve. Tonks had healed most of the bites and scratches although there where some marks left. Most likely thanks to the super-soldier serum he'd be perfect again in a few days at most. "Drink." Andromeda ordered handing him a blood replenisher. He jumped back a bit but seemed to see quicker than most that she wasn't Bella. When Remus gave him a nod he downed the potions coughing and making a face. "There was some muscle and tendon damage but it seems you have some healing gifts of your own. You'll be sore but you'll heal."
"Will he be a werewolf now?" Natasha asked.
"Oh course not. I never would have let him fight Fenrir if that was possible." Juniper said surprised. "Muggles can't catch Lycanthropy. Also its not the full moon. Thats why Bill never became a werewolf he was attacked outside of the full moon too."
"I did gain a appreciation for rare meat and sharper senses though." Bill said finally seeming to relax as it became clear that their little task force where going to survive with no major costs.
"Don't raise your voice. Your lungs still aren't happy with you." Andromeda told Juniper firmly. Then to Steve. "How do you feel?"
"Much better mam thank you." Steve answered.
"Mam. I like this one." Andromeda said patting his shoulder. She stood again and crossed to Ron. "Ronald." She said cupping his cheek to look into his face. "Your eyes look pretty clear. I'm going to put you on a potion regiment that should minimize the damage but it looks like it was only active for a few moments. You should be fine."
"Yeah Juniper stopped her pretty quick." Ron said his voice hoarse. Pepper who was already getting Juniper a water grabbed one for him as well handing it too him. He took it gratefully.
"Her? Bella?" Andromeda asked. Juniper glanced over at Kreacher who was standing with Dobby to the side wringing his hands obviously having a trouble obeying her order by keeping his mouth shut. Juniper nodded. "Did you kill her?"
"Not yet." Juniper answered softly. "I'm sorry Andi. I know what she did to Ted. I will kill her."
"Theres always tomorrow." Andromeda said and if she had any mixed feelings about talking about murdering her older sister she showed no signs of it. She glanced over at Tony. "Your Tony Stark?"
"I am." He answered. Andromeda nodded. "I assume you know who Juniper is too you then."
"You knew too?" Juniper asked in surprise.
"There is very little about my patients I don't know." Andromeda answered then glanced back at Tony. "We should talk but now is not the time." She turned her attention back to Hermione. "I will send you potions for Ron and Juniper. I trust you to make sure they are taken. Especially the nutrition potions for Juniper."
"Andiiii." Juniper whined.
"What did I tell you about raising your voice." Andromeda asked giving her a stern look. "If we weren't in the middle of a wizarding war I'd have you admitted to Saint Mungos for a eating disorder this moment. Or maybe just put you under the guardianship of Molly Weasley for a few weeks."
"There are circumstances." Bill said his own voice soft as well.
"The parasite feeding on her life and magic?" Andromeda asked raising a eyebrow in a imperious manner.
Bill looked up at her his mouth falling open in pure shock. "How...how...Just how?"
"I'm a highly trained magical healer and I may have been disowned but I spent the first seventeen years of my life as a Black. I am well versed in the darkest of subjects." Andromeda asked.
"Andi if Juniper had been brought into Saint Mungos for treatment who would have been put on her case?" Ron asked softly.
"I would have oh course. As I said Lily was my patient. I delivered Juniper and took care of her when she was a baby. If she had been brought in I would have been notified immediately." Andromeda answered frowning at him her eyes narrowing at him. "And she should have been." She glanced back at Juniper. "I believe there was at least 3 or 4 occasions you should have been brought to the hospital or a the least seen by a healer."
"I'm just a bit accident prone is all. Poppy took good care of me." Juniper answered leaning into Bucky as he looked over at Tony and both men had to suppress the urge to start cursing Dumbledore's name again.
"Poppy Pomfrey is a mediwitch. A cold, a broken bone, a minor potion accident thats fine for her to handle. She should not be treating a patient whos unconscious for days, Basilisk poisoning, Dementor exposure, The Cruciatus Curse. You should have been brought to me. And don't think I won't be having a conversation with Poppy about the long term malnutrition and abuse signs because if she missed those she has no place in a school either." Andromeda answered.
"I'm not talking about this." Juniper said.
"No ones saying you have too." Andromeda answered. "As I was saying before I got sidetracked." She paused to give Bill a look making it clear she blamed him for that. "Take the potions. Hermione you monitor that."
"What are we twelve?" Ron grumbled.
"No just irresponsible and reckless. I know you two." Andromeda answered calmly. "Try to take it easy your magic will help heal whats left but your lung will take more its a very delicate healing. If you have trouble breathing or if the pain gets worse instead of better contact me immediately." Her gaze moved to Steve. "If you where a typical Muggle I would suggest pain meds and antibiotics but if you where typical you would be dead. I doubt infection will be a factor but If any signs of it appears contact me." She turned her eyes to Ron. "You may have tremors for a few days but as long as you listen to Hermione and take the potions as I instruct it will pass. And next time duck." She turned to Bucky last to his surprise. "I will also sent some potions to help ease some of the muscle pain that arm causes in your neck, back, and shoulder. Its ridiculous to endure pain just because. So don't argue."
Andromeda leaned down once more to ruffle Juniper's hair lightly then glanced over to Tony. "I will contact you for a conference soon. Come Dora."
The other woman rolled her eyes. "Right mum." She said pausing she leaned over and hugged Juniper taking the opportunity to whisper to her. "Do me a favor and end this quick to much more time trapped in the safe house with mum and we'll kill each other."
Juniper smiled and hugged her back. "I'll do my best." Andromeda held out a hand to Kreacher. "Take her straight home and head back to Hogwarts Kreacher. You may speak again."
"Yes Mistress Black Kreacher will take the filthy blood traitor and stain on the name of the great and noble House of Black back to her humble hovel." Andromeda's glare was enough to make the elf cower before she took him hand and they flashed out Dobby taking Dora a few moments later.
Tony glanced over at his daughter. "Interesting family ties you got there Kiddo."
"Your family ties too now dad." Juniper answered.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
AN- Next chapter its time to smash another couple of horcruxes and maybe we'll finally get the muggle with the scarred face. He just keeps getting pushed back. Poor dude.