AN- Thank you BioHazard82. Your encouragement is appreciated.
AN- n7kairos This is where the balance act of a crossover comes in. Avengers seem to go with the realm of the gods at least the Norse gods being almost like another world. Then you get all the Thantos and death stuff especially if you lean more into the comics and that has to jive with the Harry Potter version of death. Death will be appearing but it will be a brief cameo if things go the way I have planned at the moment. I may want to ask your opinion at some point of a few ideas I have for taking care of Grindewald I had a certain idea in mind at first now I got like four different ideas lol.
AN- airunee Wow I can't think you enough for this awesome review. Yeah Bucky and Juniper don't seem to be taking things in any kind of proper order lol you can be sure when Blaise gets his chance hes gonna be looking for any little cracks to pick at so don't give him any ideas! I love the chance to practically create a character and so little is known about Bill I was able to do it a bit and hes one of my faves. I'm trying to work out a way to bring in Sam but since I tossed Civil war and the stuff after hasn't happened yet its hard to bring him in and work out his relationship with Bucky. He still may show up. As for who Dobby may be bringing back...Glance at avatar...ummm yeah :). I'm starting to think going on to the Thantos story may be necessary but probably in a sequel I'm gonna have to rewatch Infinity war and Endgame first which means stocking up on Kleenex and making sure my puppys are in the mood for the cuddles I'll need to recover. I think we can safely say that if Bucky and Peter but especially Bucky is stolen from her by Thantos Juniper would not take it well. Master of Death Versus The Mad Titan. I also kinda wanna see Juniper and Loki interact too.
AN- The horcrux secret gets well and truly spilled and Bill is not great about it. Jarvis and Hermione have a interesting conversation and she decides to keep it a secret just about the same time Juniper promises not to keep any more secrets from Ron lol. Juniper and Bucky have a little interlude and once again Jarvis is Juniper's MVP.
AN- Anybody remember the movie Flatliners? *evil grin*
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
CHAPTER NINETEEN
"Uhoh, Juni I think he knows."
"Yeah he knows." Bill growled as Juniper stood eyes cautious taking a step towards him.
"Bill..."
"I don't want to hear it. I swear to Merlin Juniper your just like Dumbledore hoarding your secrets like a goblin hoards his gold. You do want to die don't you. I can't think of another single reason you wouldn't tell us. At least me and Remus. Did it never pass through that brilliant mind of yours that a curse breaker and a dark arts expert might have some insight into this? But oh no you just dump it all on Hermione hoping the teenage genius might just happen upon a answer in a sea of information a literal avalanche of dark arts texts? Merlin I Could Just Strangle You!" As he spoke Bill's voice rose his anger seemed to just build as the others stared in shock at the usually calm and collected cursebreaker.
The man who'd held himself in check while Juniper had mentally battled a dark lord, who'd built a ward with a grin and a power that rang out like thunder, calmly ripped apart HYDRA's enchantments on Bucky, and had handled a Horcrux taunting him and tormenting his charges with cool professionalism was gone. This man embodied every warning or tale told of the temperamental nature of red-heads and showed why everyone was careful of setting off Molly Weasley's temper.
For the first time in seven years Bill forgot Juniper's past. Forgot every single warning he and Charlie had once researched and layed out for their family about things to avoid when dealing with abused children. He for all intents and purposes completely forgot she wasn't a Weasley born and bred in a family where yelling and threats when one of them was doing something reckless or stupid (which was disturbingly often.) was almost considered a form of affection. And he was so mad he didn't see.
In fact the only one who did was Clint. Having both grown up with a abusive father and having had therapy to deal with the results he had immediately turned his attention to Juniper and could only watch as she literally seemed to regress right in front of his eyes. A big angry man advancing on her, yelling, his hands gesturing must have set off every single alarm in her head. That it was a man she trusted implicitly wouldn't even enter into the reaction and he knew it. She wouldn't see Bill Weasley she'd see her uncle. She almost seemed to drawn into herself shoulders hunching slightly hands coming up to her opposite shoulders as if she was holding herself. Her eyes dimming as if shutters had been pulled over them. Her face paled, breathing quickened, and a slight trembling started. The others saw a girl upset her secret whatever it was had been discovered. Clint saw a abused child on the verge of a flashback or panic attack possibly both.
"Bill..." Clint had just spoke stepping forward when the reaction came. Just as Bill got close enough to be in striking distance raising the notebook as if to show her something in it Juniper flinched arm going up as if to ward off a blow a sound like a audible sob escaping her throat. Bill's arm dropped his face going white as realization of what he'd just done crashed on him. And the worst part was he knew better. He'd spent 7-years as her protector as much as he could be all things considered and seeing her react fearfully to him broke his heart.
"Juni..."
"NO." Ron near yelled at his brother moving between them. He just made it before Tony because he was still trying to process what was going on. Bucky was trying to wrestle down the impulse to snap Bill's neck. One part of him convinced he'd just become a threat to Juniper mentally if not physically, the other insisting that it would make Juniper unhappy if he did so. His life had been so much easier when he hadn't cared about things like that.
Ron gave his brother a hard glare before turning to Juniper who'd lowered her arm still trembling slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself her eyes down. Bucky started to step forward but Clint reached out putting a hand on his arm shaking his head. He'd seen the relationship forming between the two but Ron was still the closest person to her in the room possibly the world.
"Juni." Ron reached out slowly putting a hand to her cheek making her jump slightly as if she was still half expecting to be hit and maybe part of her was. "Its okay. Bill was just having a slight case of the dumb as hells. He would never hurt you. No one here would ever hurt you."
"I know." Juniper said her voice strained.
"Then look at me." Ron said voice firm. Juniper sighed but raised her chin from where Clint was standing he could see her eyes where still almost blank as if something inside her had shut down. "Uhuh." Ron said. "Look at me." He repeated even though her eyes where focused on him.
Juniper looking up at Ron knowing exactly what he meant. She sighed again and stopped blocking letting emotion and light back into her eyes. She'd learned well how not to let her feelings matter when she needed to maybe part of the Black madness but the longer she did it the harder it was to pull back. It didn't mean she didn't feel though sometimes it made her feel more intensely in just didn't matter. "There you are." He said softly even if the emotions in her eyes where hurt and fear he would take it over that blank nothingness any day. He hugged her tightly. Then pulled back to look into her face. "Now what secret is Bill talking about?" There was a bit of hurt in his voice now. He would have sworn Juniper and Hermione told him everything.
"You know Ron." Juniper told him.
"Umm no pretty sure I don't." Ron answered.
"Just cause you don't want to admit it doesn't mean you don't know." Juniper answered as Hermione came up behind her almost leaning against the smaller girl.
"Then how about you let the rest of us in on it?" Tony asked frustration clear in his voice. He'd never liked secrets something more than a few people in his life had found to their dismay and was pretty good at ferreting them out but he knew he was over his head here.
"The seventh Horcrux isn't in Tom's wand is it Juniper?" Bill asked but his voice was softer now. Juniper shook her head in the negative. "Theres a reason you can talk to snakes, theres a reason you and Tom can get into each others heads, theres a reason you can sometimes feel what hes feeling and why your scar hurts when hes near."
Hermione was crying now her face on Juniper's shoulder. "We think it must have happened the night he came to kill me when I was a baby. He probably had made preparations to make his seventh horcrux and intended to use murdering me as the last step but then everything went sideways." She said her voice almost emotionless.
"And when his body was destroyed a bit of his soul already prepped broke off and attached to the nearest thing in the room." Remus said his face nearly as white as Juniper's horror in his eyes.
"Yeah me." Juniper said softly. "Marking me as his equal. As in holding a equal part of his soul."
"So...so...we get it out." Rhodey said. "How do we get it out."
"We don't." Juniper answered.
"There has to be a way." Tony said his voice rough. "Bill theres a way right?"
"I don't know. The goblins always have us outright destroy them when they are found. No artifact is deemed valuable enough to attempt removing it considering how dangerous Horcruxes are. I've only seen 2 of them and I've never even heard of one being in a living creature." Bill answered.
"I've been looking researching. The Blacks have the most extensive collection of Dark arts books ever collected but I haven't found anything. We have to come up with something quick though." Hermione said.
"You've figured out the second part as well then?" Bill asked looking over at he girl. That surprised Juniper enough that she looked over at her friend as well. She hadn't been aware of a second part.
"What yes but not why." Hermione answered.
"What now?" Juniper asked with a dry laugh.
"The horcrux has most likely been dormant for years almost in a hibernation. When Tom possessed you in the department of mysteries it more or less woke it up." Bill explained. Understanding blossomed on Hermione's face and she nodded.
"That explains nothing." Juniper said.
"Its why you've been cold, and your always pale. I suspect you've also been getting more headaches, get tiered quicker, and eating even less if thats possible." Bill said softly.
"Its draining her." Remus said softly. "For two years so slowly. Its not affected her magic so thats not what its..."
"Its draining her life. Its similar to what Dementors do but on a much smaller scale." Bill's eyes turned to Juniper. "It will start affecting your magic soon though. Its like a parasite at the moment but the more it drains, the stronger it gets and the weaker you will."
"Like the diary did to Ginny. Why is it going so slowly why doesn't it just try I don't know attacking and taking over like the other Horcruxs? The diary sure wasn't willing to go slow over two years." Juniper asked.
"Its a smaller soul piece so not as strong?" Ron suggested. "Or maybe it knows what happened to the diary somehow and decided the long game was a better way to go? How...whats the word sentient do you think it is?"
"I think its probably not. I would assume its just instincts maybe not completely out of hibernation so to speak. If it was more aware I think it would have attacked when the locket did or at the very least the locket horcrux would have been aware of it and used it against you. Not to mention as far as we know it has never tried to possess you like the diary did Ginny?" Bill glanced at Juniper.
"No. Merlin knows I know how that feels when its forced and Ginnys told me how it felt when he did it too her. I've never lost time or woke up some place I shouldn't have been." Juniper answered.
"Well thats something at least." Bill answered then rubbed his hands over his face. "Merlin Juniper why didn't you tell us?"
"How? What we're just sitting around the table and I say. 'Hey guess what I think I've had a piece of my parents murderers soul in my head since I was a baby. Oh and I'm not sure how much of me is me and how much is him. My powers, and intelligence may be because of him. Don't worry though cause I'll try really really hard not to let it take me over and kill everyone. Can you pass the bread?'" Juniper asked her voice rising as she spoke.
"Well maybe not in those exact words." Bill said once he could trust his voice not to crack.
This time Bucky did step forward. This he understood. Being afraid that something inside you was going to break out and hurt the people you cared about. At least the Black part of her seemed protective of her loved ones. She looked up at him her eyes swimming with what was dangerously close to despair. Something else Bucky was familiar with. "Doll." He said softly reaching out and putting a hand under her elbow tugging her slightly closer. She seemed to let out a sound of relief and went more than willingly her arms going around his waist face hidden against his chest as he pulled her close.
"What do we do?" Tony asked.
Bill sighed. "Remus and I will go through Hermione's research see if theres anything she missed that we can build on. You and Bruce should start looking through the books. Maybe a muggle perspective will see something the wizards don't."
"It doesn't matter." Juniper said softly.
"What is that suppose to mean?" Natasha asked. Her voice sounded angry but truthfully she wasn't angry at Juniper. She knew all about keeping secrets even dangerous ones. She was angry that this tiny little wisp of a girl with so much power that she'd never asked for seemed to keep getting the short end of the stick.
"Tom can only die once all the horcruxes are gone. One horcrux and he'll be able to come back. And now that his deatheaters and HYDRA are aware he'll have plenty of help coming back. Even if the horcrux doesn't drain me to death...Theres only one way to get rid of a horcrux." Juniper said softly.
"Destroy the vessel." Hermione said.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
It was several hours later when Hermione finally was able to slip away to take a shower and just breathe getting a few minutes alone. Everyone else was downstairs in the family room all her research and all the books she'd borrowed from the Black library littering the floor. Bill, Remus, Bruce, Peter, and Tony pouring over them. Steve, Ron, Clint, and Rhodey on the other hand had gotten their hands on Hogwarts a history and where studying the maps of the castle and explanations of some of the castle's protections in order to start planning defensive and attack maneuvers. Hermione had been only a little surprised to find the chapters and maps on the defenses of the castle had been greatly expanded. They knew the book was somehow connected to the castle and Hogwarts was on their side. Natasha was despite Hermione and Juniper's protests reading Skeeter's book on Dumbledore. Bucky and Juniper when she'd left had still been curled up in a armchair together Juniper reading a history of Grindewald Bucky another on Voldemort who even in the text was refered to as You Know Who.
Watching the two of them made her miss Viktor even more. They hadn't gone as hot and hard as fast as Juniper and Bucky where but after three years they had gotten there. Very few people knew it but Viktor was a closet romantic with a poetic streak and had according to him known upon setting eyes on Hermione that she was the girl he wanted to marry someday. She sat on the floor and pulled a small box out of her bag opening it to look at the ring from Viktor. She hadn't told Juniper or Ron yet but as soon as the war was over the two of them fully intended to elope before travelling to Australia to find Hermione's parents.
"Ms. Granger." Hermione jumped in surprise shoving the box back into the bag and looking up as if expecting to see Jarvis even though she knew better.
"Oh Jarvis. Do they need me downstairs?" Hermione asked.
"No Ms. Granger but I wished to make a suggestion for a movie you may enjoy." The AI responded bringing a frown to Hermione's face. Why on Earth was Jarvis talking about movies at a time like this?
"Jarvis are you malfunctioning?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"No Ms. Granger I'm quite sure I am not." He answered with a slight tone of amusement. "I run self-diagnostic tests quite regularly. There is a American movie from 1990 called Flatliners staring Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland it is abo..."
"I know what its about." Hermione said interrupting him. Her father had a crush on Julia Roberts something about her hair which was similar to Hermione's mothers and her own so she'd been forced to watch all the woman's movies. "I just don't know why..." She broke off remembering the scenes in the movie where the medical students had literally stopped each others hearts rendering them medically speaking dead before bringing them back. A soft gasp escaped her. "Jarvis what is the longest anyone has been dead and been brought back without any lasting harm?"
"That is a complicated question as cause of death and quality and speed of medical care has to be factored in but in 2011, doctors in Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan successfully revived a 32-year old woman who had been dead for at least 8 hours. She had no organ or brain damage." Jarvis answered.
Hermione's mind was racing as she considered implications and started to plan. the speed and quality of medical care wouldn't be a problem. Cause of death was trickier though. To destroy a horcrux took fiendfire which would destroy a human body, the killing curse which yes Juniper had survived once but there where questions of the legal implications and did it cause permanent organ damage? She didn't know enough about how it worked to use it except for a last resort. That left Basilisk venom. Which only had one cure and one known survivor. She needed Phoenix tears or something anything just as powerful. Or somethings that in combination could be just as powerful. "Thank you Jarvis."
"Your quite welcome Ms. Granger. Good luck." Jarvis answered as Hermione headed back downstairs where both Bruce's medical texts and her own on Magical creatures and their healing properties where.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Juniper felt odd. Kind of empty. As if all her secrets spilling out had hollowed her out in a way. There was a bit of calmness that came with it. No more secrets, no more lies, no more watching her words and skating around the edge of the danger spots. And no one hated her. Yes there was annoyance and Bill had been downright furious but for the most part everyone had shifted straight into figuring out how to save her.
Juniper looked up from her book to the others in the room. Half of them working on the issue of the horcrux the other half crafting battle plans. Tony in particular had a intense expression as he was flipping through the pages of book after book at a speed unlikely for anyone but the super genius Tony Stark. Her father. Her eyes scanned the others in the room all working to help her. Her father's family. Her friends. Her family? Juniper had thought the idea of having a real family of her own had died with Sirius. Especially when Remus had left afterwards. But if this wasn't family what was. Bill had dropped everything in his life to come when she called, Remus she had discovered had given up a tutoring job to come at her request. Ron and Hermione at her side no matter what through almost literal hell at times. And the Avengers putting aside everything else to support and aid her and her friends. If this wasn't family what was?
Ron glanced up as if sensing her eyes on him and he nodded towards the kitchen raising a eyebrow. Juniper nodded and turned her eyes to Bucky he looked up from her book and down at her. She got lost for a moment just looking into those eyes. She remembered thinking the first time she saw him that those eyes where icy blue but she realized now she was wrong. Those where ocean blue eyes. Light on the surface yes but there was so much more underneath. Capable of going hard and yes icy but at the moment filled with so much warmth it made her practically tingle. He smirked slightly as if aware of the effect he had on her. A response she would have found annoying in any other man but on him it was endearing to her at least. "I'll be back in a minute." She said softly. Bucky nodded sliding away the arm around her waist as she stood and followed Ron into the kitchen.
Ron was standing near the doors to the patio back to her arms crossed. "Ron?" she said softly stepping closer.
"I didn't know Juni." He said his voice tight and she recognized his trying not to cry voice. "I'm not going to say the thought never occurred to me but I thought if it was true you and Hermione would have told me."
"Ron." Juniper repeated softly moving closer to him to stand at his side.
"Your not telling the whole truth Juniper." He said not looking at her. "I may not be as smart as you and Hermione are but I know you better than anyone. Probably better than you do. You did believe I knew but there was more to it." He turned to her looking down at her. "Why didn't you tell me Juni?"
Juniper bit her lip and then looked up at him. "I can't let you stop me Ron." She said softly. "I don't want to have to fight with you about this. I don't want you trying to stop me because...because..." She shook her head.
"Because I might be able to?" Ron asked reaching out and taking her hand. Juniper turned her eyes back to the windows. "So whats your plan if we can't get rid of the horcrux? Just step out in front of Tom and let him kill you?" She looked up at him in surprise. "Geez and the hat actually thought you'd make a Slytherin. Thats the most Gryffindor plan ever."
"Was that a insult or a compliment?" Juniper asked.
"Just because I don't like Slytherins doesn't mean I don't know they excel at planning stuff out. Even better than Ravenclaws really. No whats the term Hermione uses? Theoretical tangents?" Ron asked bringing a laugh from Juniper.
"I'm not sure if thats a Ravenclaw thing or a Luna thing." Juniper said. "It doesn't have to a complex plan if it comes to that Ron as the end result will be my death."
"Yeah. I won't let you." Ron said. "I don't care what Hermiones saying now when it comes down to it neither will she. And Tony and Bucky sure as hell won't."
"You can't stop me Ron." Juniper answered her voice as calm as she could make it but Ron could feel her pulse speed up from where he was holding her hand and he knew she knew what his next words would be.
"Remember Mom's boggart Juniper?" Ron asked. She tried to pull her hand away but he didn't release her. "She already lost two of her brothers to Tom and it nearly broke her. She still spends their birthday and their death day locked up alone in her room crying not even letting dad in. Don't do that to her Juni. Don't do that to me, Dad, Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, Fred, and Ginny."
"I don't want to die Ron." Juniper said looking up at him tears in her eyes.
"Then don't. Take it out of your head as a option. You got the smartest witch of this or any other age, one of the youngest curse breakers to ever earn his mastery, and from what I understand two of the smartest muggles in the world out there researching how to stop this from happening. Giving up is cowardly Juniper lying down and letting Tom kill you is cowardly. Your alot of things but thats not one of them. We've found a way over and over we've survived over and over. We can do it again." Ron promised fiercely.
She wasn't sure if it was what he said of the way he said it but something made Juniper believe Ron. She turned and threw her arms around him hugging him tightly. "How do you always say the right thing."
"I'm your best friend its my job." Ron answered with a relieved grin. "Next time tell me from the start Juniper. No more secrets, no more half-truths. Dumbledore was only half right the truth is only a terrible thing when its hidden for too long."
That Juniper couldn't help but agree with. She still remembered when Dumbledore had told her his view on the truth. The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution. But everytime that had been put into practice in her life it had caused more harm.
"No more secrets." Juniper promised.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
When Pepper arrived home with bags of take-out and sodas, tea for Juniper she wasn't too surprised to find everyone in the family room. Surrounded by books and notebooks scribbled notes and balled up sheets of paper and several pictures different views of a huge castle pinned up on the wall. She lived with Tony Stark this wasn't even on the top 10 lists of oddest things she'd come home too. In fact the oddest thing was Juniper was dozing off snuggled up with Bucky who was reading a book turning pages with one hand the other rubbing Juniper's arm lightly and no one was glaring at him. Progress then.
"I have pizza, Chinese, sandwiches, and chicken." Pepper announced putting the bags on the table.
"Angel of Mercy." Rhodey announced moving to pick up one of the sandwiches.
"Stop flirting with my fiancé." Tony said playfully kissing Pepper's cheek. "And you stop flirting with my Honeybear." He moved as to kiss Rhodey's cheek as well but he batted him away.
"I got you tea Juniper. I know you like it better." Pepper said as the girl opened her eyes blinking up at her and smiled at her.
"Thank you." Juniper said.
"Make her eat first." Hermione said.
"Mind your own business you." Juniper said shooting her a look.
"Shes right." Ron said from where he was already sharing a pizza with Peter. "Eat something Juni. Anything."
"See how they treat the savior of the wizarding world? Honestly no respect." Juniper complained looking up at Pepper.
Pepper chuckled softly she always liked it when she got glimpses of Tony in his daughter. "Eat something." She told her pushing a curl off her face with a warm smile.
"Fine." Juniper answered taking a carton of beef lo mein Ron handed her.
"Jarvis lets have some music while we eat." Tony requested going for Chinese as well.
"Oh course sir." Jarvis answered and a moment later Clair de Lune started playing.
"Really Jarvis?" Tony asked in a dry tone.
"This particular piece is a favorite of Ms Juniper's." Jarvis answered. Remus chuckled softly as Bruce gave her a approving nod.
"You've corrupted my AI. " Tony accused Juniper playfully then looked over at Remus. "And this I assume is your influence?" He asked motioning towards the ceiling to indicate the music.
"Theres nothing wrong with classical music." Pepper told Tony a bit of a scolding tone in her voice.
"I never listened to much music before I started school. The Dursleys didn't like it. Hogwarts doesn't have tech to listen to much of anything except for the wizarding wireless radio." Juniper shrugged. "Remus was always listening to classical and Sirius would occasionally slip in some Bon Jovi, or Queen or something but for the most part classical music was the background music...For the happiest times in my life." The time she'd spent at Grimmauld Place.
Remus's eyes where soft as he glanced at Juniper. Sirius had despised Grimmauld Place. If he could have he would have burned the whole place to the ground but when Juniper and her friends where there the place was different. Then it was no longer the house he'd grown up in and been beaten, bullied, and belittled in but a home he could give Juni. They lightened the whole atmosphere brightening and cheering not only Siri but the entire house. Especially Juniper and the twins. Ron and Hermione where her best friends but the twins awakened and provoked a mischievous streak in Juniper that Sirius had been more than eager to indulge.
"Do you remember Christmas fifth year?" He asked Juniper his voice soft.
"I remember." Juniper affirmed then suddenly her eyes widened slightly and she looked at Remus sharply. He smiled and nodded and Juniper let out a soft laugh. It was like they had just had a entire conversation with looks.
"Wanna share with the class?" Tony asked curiously.
"It was Christmas night after dinner. Everyone else had gone to bed I suppose. Remus was sitting on the couch reading passages from the book me and Sirius had gotten him for Christmas aloud." Juniper started.
"Still don't know how you got that particular book. Its extremely rare." Remus interjected.
"There are a few perks to being me." Juniper answered with a grin. It usually made her uncomfortable the way some people fell all over themselves to do things for her when they heard her name or saw her scar but that didn't mean she didn't know how to use it. "Siri was laying on the couch his head in Remus's lap. He ate so much I think he was half in a food coma. And I was sitting on the floor leaning back against Remus's legs in front of the fire while Siri was braiding little pieces of my hair and drawing."
"More like knotting your hair. I remember Mrs. Weasley having to get it untangled for you." Hermione corrected but she had a fond smile. Dumbledore may be a sore subject but all three of the teens seemed to have adored Sirius Black.
"Hush you. I'm telling a story here." Juniper told her taking another bite of her food. "It was mostly quite except for Remus occasionally telling us a little tidbit about whatever goblin rebellion the book was about and then suddenly Sirius started talking." She paused for a minute. "I didn't quite understand why at the time but he was telling us all about how we where going to spend the next Christmas in New York. He said he'd take us ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and to watch the tree lighting ceremony, and shopping in Times square. Take me to FAO Schwarz and buy me all the toys I wanted." She laughed at that one. "And to see Stark Tower. He said We'd have a proper holiday just like a proper family."
There was a wistful, longing look on Remus's face. "He wanted you out of Britain. He'd met this auror Wixington during the triwizard. She was going to help him get to America over the summer and he intended to find you." He nodded at Tony. "And tell you about...everything. He reckoned that by Christmas you'd have time to do any kinda tests or whatever and kind of settle it in your brain. He didn't want to take a chance you'd reject her so he didn't want to bring her straight away. But..." His voice trailed off.
"He died." Juniper said. "Before summer. Before Christmas." There was a bittersweet smile on her face. It was amazing how some memories could cause pain and comfort at the same time.
"I wish I'd had the chance to meet him. He sounds like a amazing man" Tony said earning him a warm smile from Juniper.
"The two of you would have gotten along so well. You have alot in common." Juniper told him.
Remus laughed. "I think the two of them together would have been down right scary. Worse that the alliance between the Weasley twins and the Golden trio."
"I have no idea what you mean." Juniper said with a smirk.
"Right. How many of the weapons currently stored in the hidden room of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes would level a city block in the right hands? And how many of those did at least one of you three of you have a hand in designing?"
"A fair few." Juniper muttered sinking back against Bucky who laughed.
"Don't worry Doll. Not your fault. Its the Stark genes." He told her squeezing her lightly.
"I wanna see." Tony said almost eagerly. He didn't design weapons anymore except for the ones he added to his and Rhodey's suits and the toys he gave to his two favorite assassin spies but he wanted too study what his kid had come up with once magic was added to the mix.
"I'm pretty sure you'll get a chance too." Ron offered around his slice of pizza. He looked over at Juniper. "You need to make a appearance in Diagon when we get back. Do the whole reassuring leader of the light, hero thing."
"I know." Juniper muttered. "I hate that part."
"They are willing to follow you. They are already on your side. Its not a matter of winning them over just holding onto their trust and loyalty." Steve told her.
Juniper nodded before yawning and leaning her head on Bucky's shoulder. "Is it my imagination or do the days just keep getting longer."
"You should get some sleep brat." Bill said softly.
"We all should." Clint said glancing over at the books and scribbled notes all over the room. "We can pick this up tomorrow."
"Come on I'll walk you to your room." Bucky said tugging Juniper to her feet.
"I'm timing you." Tony called after Bucky.
"Good night Tony." Juniper said a mix of amusement and annoyance in her tone.
Ron looked over at Hermione. "What you reckon? We give them 20 minutes before we interrupt? Or should we just give up and sleep down here tonight?" Hermione looked up at him let out a sigh and went back to her book.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
"So despite what happened when we got back did you have fun at the beach?" Bucky asked Juniper.
"I did it was the first time I've ever seen the ocean. I'm glad it was with you." Juniper said softly looking up at him as they reached the door to the suite she was sharing with her friends. "I...know I'm...alot...Alot of baggage I suppose."
"You gonna try to chase me away for my own good again?" He asked her actually sounding amused and taking the hand he was holding and bring it to his chest before he released it putting his hand on her waist pulling her close.
"No. I gave you a chance to get away. Now I'm keeping you." Juniper answered looking up at him.
"Good." He whispered raising his other hand to her cheek and backing her against the wall next to the door. The way he was looking at her made Juniper's heart thunder. Like she was something special something precious. Then he was leaning in bringing his mouth to hers. That woke her right up. Sparks, stars, fireworks...Merlin the man could kiss. Slow and deep she melted into him her lips opening under his. Her arms slid up around his neck and his own slipped to her waist before he pulled back his breathe coming as fast as her own. "God your perfect." He muttered his hands slipping lower lifting her so her legs went around his waist and he buried his face against her neck drawing a harsh gasping whimper from Juniper as he added new marks to her throat.
"You know...Theres a perfectly good bed just inside." She panted her finger's sliding into his silky dark hair.
Bucky let out a soft groan. "If I go in there with you I'm not going to be able to leave until morning."
"Do I look like I'm gonna ask you too." Juniper asked softly looking into his eyes as she leaned back against the wall.
"Not yet." Bucky said a growl in his voice as if the words had been pulled from him against his will and perhaps against his better judgement.
"You don't...want me?" Her voice was small.
"I think your in the perfect position to know thats not true." Bucky answered with a smirk as she blushed scarlet just as she had the other time he'd made reference to his obvious reaction to her. A reaction she couldn't miss the way they where pressed together.
"Then why?" Juniper asked softly.
"Because I don't want you to regret it. Its your first time and it should be special not something you do because your scared, and unsure and want to forget. Not moments snatched in your dads home before your friends come up, with the possibility of a nosy AI spying, or a protective parent type pounding on the door. When I make love to you and it will be making love its going to be special and I will be the only thing in your mind." Bucky answered as her feet settled on the floor.
"Geez Bucky." Juniper almost whined. He held back a laugh resting his forehead against her's.
"Cold showers love. They are very good for the skin I've heard." He told her tenderly. "Mine should be looking flawless by now." He kissed her again this time for soft very gentle. "Do you want me to stay with you until your friends come up?"
"I'm a big girl Bucky I think I'll be fine by myself." Juniper told him her hand sliding to his cheek causing him to close his eyes and lean into her touch for a moment. "Good night Sergeant Barnes."
"Good night Dragonslayer." He answered and kissed her forehead before stepping back reluctantly and turning down the hall and heading back towards the stairs. "I know your looking at my ass." He called back over his shoulder without looking back.
"Its not my fault its such a nice view." Juniper called back and opened the door slipping into the suite to the sound of his laughter.
By the time she had taken a shower, pulled her hair back into a braid and pulled on Pajamas with penguins on them from her closet Ron and Hermione had returned and where both in her room when she came out of the bathroom.
"Are you alright Juniper?" Ron asked as she entered the room.
"I'm fine." Juniper answered.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked. "I know Bill scared you..."
"Hermione, Ron off to bed with both of you." Juniper said waving her arms in a shooing motion.
"Fine fine but if you wanna talk or you have a bad dream or anything just wake us okay." Hermione said tugging her braid lightly. "You know thats just gonna make it curlier in the morning."
"Go to bed." Juniper responded.
"Sleep well Juni." Ron said herding Hermione out and shutting the door behind them.
Juniper sighed and climbed into bed. "Jarvis lights 25% please." She requested. The lights dimmed accordingly and it was a few minutes until she spoke again. "Jarvis are you busy?"
"My systems are capable of supporting many different operations at once Ms. Juniper so busy is a relative term for me. The care and protection of the Stark family, you and your father will always be my primary concern." Jarvis answered his voice soft and somehow comforting.
"This may sound kinda dumb but...can you read to me?" Juniper asked. She could only vaguely remember someone reading her to sleep when she was a very small child probably her mom or dad, James and she still remembered the sense of safety it gave her.
"It would be my pleasure. Anything in particular?" Jarvis asked.
"Heidi maybe?" Juniper asked. She knew it was meant for a younger audience than her but the simplicity and sweetness of the story had been a favorite since she'd read it for the first time at around 4 or 5.
"Very good choice." Jarvis answered.
Jarvis was very aware that Juniper had drifted off within the first couple of chapters of the book but kept reading aloud to her anyway hoping the sound of his voice would help the girl have sweet dreams. For a change.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
AN- I want a Jarvis I have to depend on YouTube or sticher to read me to sleep when I'm having insomnia. The battle of Wool's orphanage may end up getting moved up in the order of things in my head. I have my reasons but that will slide Hermione's and Jarvis's Flatliner idea back a bit. Dobby will be back in the next chapter and someone in the reviews did guess what, or who he'll be bringing with him to cheer up Juniper.