A/N : Hi everyone, in this chapter you will learn more about the contract.
I made many adjustments to the Peverells' tale to make it suit my story.
Next chapter will be about the wedding. See you soon !
Chapter 2 : My ancestors were totally bonkers !
''So, now what ? '' Tony wanted to cut the awkward staring contest and get straight to the point. No need to waste precious time he could use to learn about this wizarding world and start planning how to incorporate this new information in his research.
Still, no words came from the green eyed beauty. Disappointing. He was hoping for a little more of a smart mouth, a daredevil. He would have liked it; it would have been something different since no woman ever challenged him. No one could win against his mind games . They just wanted something from him, being a generous person, he always gave it to them but never stayed long enough to do more. They never gave him reason to chase after them.
He knew that he was hopeless in the relationship department. He couldn't stick long enough to understand the other party. But you couldn't just blame him, his brilliant mind was always overworking, over-analysing which made him easily distracted. If you wasn't interesting, exciting, mysterious then you had no chance with him.
Finally, the tight lipped old woman decided to have mercy on his already wasted time, clearing her throat , she adressed him :''You must be Mr Anthony Edward Stark.''
No shit Sherlock, those brits were always so prim, so proper. He snorted, but the glare he received from Pepper made him back paddle. With his most fake, sugary voice he said : ''That would be me My Lady .''
She lifted an eyebrow , then continued like he was just an annoying fly : ''Well, I think introductions are in order. I am Andromeda Tonks , Miss Helena Potter's lawyer and relative.''
Oh ! Double trouble . That would explain her stoic behavior. But all that rigidity couldn't be good for the health.
''Next to me are Miss Hermione Granger and Mr Ronald Weslay Miss Helena's best friends. The one who escorted you here is Mr William 'Bill' Weasley.''
He already liked Fang, he seemed to be a cool guy, or wizard...whatever .
The brunette was studying him like she wanted to extract his brain and read all his thoughts, well, good luck with that .
Ginger was looking pissed, hopefully he wasn't an old flame AKA 'friend'. It would be rather troubelsome , he avoided jealous exes like the plague.
Wait! What was he talking about? Was he seriously considering getting married ? The culture shock must had turned his brains to mush . Damn! The world was screwed without its brightest mind.
Lawyer Tonks cleared her throat, again, when he met her gaze, he received an icy glare .
Oh, his mind must have wandered a little bit. ''Finally, this is Miss Helena Potter. Heiress of the Most ancient and noble houses of Potter and Black . And the reason we are here today.''
Bingo! He knew it. Helena ….it suited her. Looking closer at her exquisite face, he noticed that she looked tired. The part that scared the hell out of him? He wanted to make her feel better.
''Mr Stark, I know that this was a real shock to you. Even in the wizarding world contracts this old and ironclad are unheard of. But let me give you the facts to make you understand.''
He clapped his hands together twice :''Get to work ''. Pepper stomped on his left foot . And he felt rather saw the daggers coming his way from the lawyer's eyes.
''The Peverell Brothers are considered a myth in our world. They possessed three items coveted by every wizard and witch called: the Deathly Hallows.
The legend says that Death himself crafted those items and gifted them to the three brothers. That would also explain why the one who holds them is called 'the master or mistress of Death' . Wars were started just to get a Hallow, which made this gift a real curse.
Over the years, the descendants of the Peverells were hunted, which made the oldest magical family in Britain almost extinct. So they made up stories to make people believe that they lost the three treasures, even though only the Death stick was usurped.
To protect themselves, the Peverells who survived changed their last names and their children lost contact with their brethren. Some of them even left the continent to increase their chances of survival. The three Hallows are: the Elder wand , the Ressurection stone and the Invisibility cloack. Each one of them is considered a priceless treasure, owning the three of them would make any wizard or witch invincible .''
Tony felt a headache coming. Damn ! he needed a strong cup of coffee right now but he doubted little wrinkled guys had the stuff in their bank.
What .The. Hell . Magic and gifts made by death . Were those people for real ?
If he hadn't crossed paths with Bill Weasley AKA Fang before this meeting, and almost had a heart attack when he moved the bricks with a twirl his stick, if he hadn't seen Diagon alley -the name was so hilarious - and saw with his naked eyes things that belonged to a Disney movie, things that could put him in a psychiatric ward for life if told to the wrong people, he would have laughed in their faces and called the closest shrink.
Damn, the wrinkled little guy sneering at him behind his desk was a living proof that all this information was real.
Hopefully, the next thing that she would say wouldn't be : ''oh, and there is seven realms and talking racoons living somewhere in the universe.''
He must have looked completely confused, because green eyes decided to take pity on him :'' Mr Stark, I know this is so much to take . It's hard even for muggleborns -which are wizards with non magical parents- in the first time. I remember when I learned that I was a witch it was surreal. So please try te keep an open mind. Andy is the best person qualified to explain these things; being raised in a pureblood family . Oh ! sorry, purebloods are wizarding families who have no muggles or muggleborns in their family tree. I am a halfblood, my father James Potter was a pureblood , and my mother Lily Evans was a muggleborn .''
Her soft voice calmed his nerves, a little. ''I'm sorry, please carry on Miss Tonks.''
''No need to apologize, I would say you are taking all this rather well.'' Ha! Only if she saw the storm brewing in his mind right now .
''Well, the Peverell family were thought extinct and their story became a myth . But the truth was that they survived the hunt. Cadmus Peverell's descendants, who inherited the stone changed their last names to Gaunt. The last heir was killed a year ago so the branch is already extinct. Ignotus Peverell's descendants who inherited the cloack became the Potters and you are looking at their heiress : Helena. Now, Antioch Peverell's offspring who inherited the most coveted Hallow were the most hunted . They sadly lost the Death stick and left the continent for good and this is where you come Mr stark. You are the last heir.''
Tony laughed bitterly :''No shit. I'm not a wizard I'd have known if I was one.''
''Please wait a moment. I'm almost there. Helena mentioned the different types of magical people but she forgot something: the squibs. They are children of wizarding families with no magic, almost like muggles. They are the origin of muggleborns because after many generations they can give birth to wizards, and you Mr Stark are a squib.''
The silence was deafening. And for the first time since he could remember -which could only mean ever- Tony Stark, America's one and only genius, playboy and billionaire couldn't find a comeback.
Fuck! His breath got trapped in his lungs. This meeting was putting all his knowledge into question.
Lawyer Tonks gave him a moment to collect himself then went straight for the jugular :'' Your mother Maria Collins was the last descendant of Antioch Peverell. Her ancestors emigrated to the states many centuries ago after changing their last name . For an unknow reason, they gave birth only to squibs. It's believed to be caused by a curse they received while protecting the wand but I am not sure.''
Tony could feel the noose tightening. His doom was coming. Pepper stiffened next to him, Yeah ! Even cool, collected Potts could feel the shift in the air.
Damn ! He needed to figure this shit out. Fast.
Helena felt sorry for Stark's predicament. Swallowing all those pills in a single sitting was tough . His turbulent gaze met hers briefly and she read his silent questions there. She nodded at him once to assure him that they would work everything out. Together.
Andy kept her calm and continued : ''Now let's finish with the contract . The true story of the Peverells preserved in their sacred grimoire, which you can have access to later, says that Death's gift to them wasn't for free.
There was a prophecy made by Fate saying that the Peverells will give birth to the Master of the Hallows . But first, they will suffer for a millennia since the items will be a heavy burden. There will even come a time when their heirs will kill each other. Just then, the one rightful master will emerge and embrace Death. But the family's magic must stay within its members to survive the loss, so the two remaining descendants must unite their hearts and souls to activate the Hallows and bring them to their full potential, only then peace will prevail.
When Death, who had waited an eternity for his true master, asked how can Fate be sure that those two beings will be compatible, Fate promised him that those two won't know peace and love until they meet. Their souls will be twins yearning for each other .
Before the brothers took possession of their gifts, Death explained to them that he will be waiting for their descendants to give him his master, so they must make sure to find a way to protect their family's legacy and magic .
They knew that their survival was doubtful, and this prophecy could be lost to time, so they came with a solution: A magical contract written with their blood ensuring the union of the last heirs. They placed a very powerful charm on it to make sure that when the time is right, it will activate. And so, here we are .
You are the two last heirs, and you were betrothed a millennia before your birth. Helena had already killed Cadmus' last heir and collected the three Hallows, she is The Mistress Of Death. The contract says that when the younger of the two reached his 18th birthday, you will have only a year to court and learn more about each other before getting married. ''
Helena looked at Stark and saw the shock in his eyes. She felt a strange urge to comfort him. To reach out and take his hand in hers.
She was somehow used to Fate playing dirty games with her life. But from what she learned about Tony Stark -thanks to Hermione's research- he must be panicking.
Feeling suddenly embarrassed and ashamed, She didn't know what to do.
Could anything be worse? She was robbing him of his freedom . What had her ancestors been thinking?
While she was chained and contained since her birth, Stark was free, wild .
From what she gathered, he lived his life to the fullest, he was only eight years older than her so, he was young, handsome, extremely rich and a genius.
What could she give him ? Sure she was attractive, even though she was an innocent she knew that guys lusted after her, she was a war hero, the Vanquisher of the darkest lord, she was the Lady of two noble houses. And what almost everyone didn't know -bar the people present in this room- she was the Mistress Of Death.
But Stark already had all what he needed, and more. How could she throw him in her crazy world and make him question everything he knew? How could they with a begining like this, have the sort of life that she dreamed about ?
Would the young orphan's dream come true ? She wanted a love like her parents. She wanted a family of her own. She wanted someone who would give his life for her, who would love her fiercely, unconditionally. She wanted the whole thing.
But everything about them was forced by Fate and Death and written a millennia ago in blood.
Would Stark understand ? Would he come to love and cherish her ?
Helena's chest constricted and her stomach shrank. She gave up so much already, couldn't she at least have this ?
Raising her head, she locked their eyes. Only then, she saw the resignation in his.
His gaze held hers in thrall as he said. "How do we do this…..thing?"
Ragnok made his presence known for the first time : ''To make your acceptance known you have to reunite your blood. Here, you can use this dagger to make a small cut in your palms and join your hands together.''
Stark looked horrified, all this talk about blood must make him question their sanity.
''Mr stark, for magical people, blood is sacred it contains the essence of our magic. That's why all important papers or ….deals are signed in blood.'' Helena wispered softly, knowing with a mind like his, Stark wouldn't do anything until he understod all the whys and hows of it.
Brazenly, she took the dagger and sliced her palm , then handing it to Stark, she noticed something odd that flashed in his eyes. Something that looked like hunger, respect, intrigue or all three mixed together but whatever it was, it was fleeting. The shutters came back down and his dark, captivating eyes hardened .
He sliced his palm, then suddently stood up and reached for her hand.
It took her a moment to understand what he wanted. Mimicking him, she stood up then connected their palms together, interwining their fingers and making sure that theirs cuts were aligned.
Suddenly a bright light engulfed them, making her breath catch. It blindsided her with its intensity and she almost collapsed. She was on fire, the rush of power she was feeling was endless. She felt invincible, mighty and …..whole, for the first time in her life.
Looking into Stark's eyes , she found a blazing inferno. his eyes were all over her face, studying her, trying to read her. The way he was staring made her feel flushed and excited at the same time .
He tightened his grip on her hand and nothing was said for a few long moments. Only the sound of their heavy breathing filled her ears.
Relief and gratitude overwhelmed her. And in that instant, she knew that her dream wasn't impossible. The taste of anticipation was strong within her and a spark of hope ignited in her heart.
Things would change now. Already it did between Stark and her. This weight of responsibility. The burden of proving their worth as the last heirs of the legendary Peverell family. The duty of being the long awaited Mistress of Death.
Blood was reunited. Hallows were activated . And there would be wedding bells in the near future.
Suddelny, Stark leaned over her, his naughty, chocolate brown eyes sparkling with mischief, and something darker. she shivered in spite of herself.
His breath was warm against her cheek when he whispered huskily : ''What do we do now ?''