Hello again everyone! I got a little carried away so this is a LONG chapter.
Here are some of the big things that came up in the comments after last chapter:
Harri and the twins adding a fourth member (preferably from the MCU). I'm sorry but that will not be happening. I LOVE stories that are Harry/Loki or Harry/Tony but in this one Harri will ONLY be paired with the twins, I am new to writing threesomes and don't want to jinx it by adding another set of body parts. We are open to any other ships you want to see though! I have had suggestions for Natasha/Sirius, Bruce/Remus, and oddly enough Bucky/Luna, all of which I have had several ideas pop up for me to further think on those. My sister keeps asking for Loki/James and I have all but decided that Loki will end up with one of the Marauders, the question is which one. So... in conclusion, Harri will be paired only with the twins, comment for input on the other pairings.
Next, I specifically DID NOT specify time frame since I was mashing the two world together. I do have a general idea how the timeline line up but I'm not sticking a year on it because I want to be able to add fun references without getting worried about correct times.
Finally, I am so very grateful to everyone who is following this story. When I and my sister where teasing out the outline for all of this and joking around with what we wanted to put in and what we didn't we NEVER thought it would have gotten this big. Thank you all for your support. We hope that this story can keep up with your expectations and maybe rise a bit above!
Without further ado... Christmas Time is Here!
Disclaimer in Chapter 1. Will add as needed.
Harriet wasn't completely sure what was going on. Ever since she had returned from the Chamber after threatening Snape the twins had been stuck to her like glue. Sure before they had liked to hang out with her but this was different. They attached to her the second she had stepped into the common room then stuck with her through the rest of her day, even through her boring holiday homework when they usually would have gone off to experiment. During dinner they sat closer than normal and, when the traitors tried to sit across from them and talk to her, they interrupted each conversation within seconds of her showing her annoyance. After dinner that first night they had dragged her to the Room of Requirement and kept her there with experiments until around two in the morning before they all snuck back to the tower. The next morning, they had woken her at six and had taken her out to the common room, still in her pajamas and half asleep.
Their strange behavior continued to escalate that day when the twins willingly split up. One of them always stayed with her while the other would go off into the castle for one reason or another that they refused to elaborate on when questioned about then they would switch every so often. Whenever the traitors found her in the castle, which ever twin that was with her at the time would drag her off for some ridiculous made up reason that had Harriet giggling and the twins blushing. That night the twins inexplicably wanted to test a prank product in the common room, an occurrence that landed Hermione in Madame Pomphrey's care for the next three days. Harriet was a bit suspicious when she saw the twins share a high five after they received the news of Hermione's stay but she got her room to herself for the next couple days so she left it alone. The twin's behavior continued through and after Hermione's hospital stay and after that the know-it-all traitor would go to bed straight after dinner. When Harriet recognized the symptoms of a strong sleeping potion she raised an eyebrow at the twins who did their best to look innocent and avoid eye contact.
After being essentially kidnapped the first morning Harriet attempted to get up before the twins to go to her work out but the second she stepped from her dorm room the twins had been there. After five minutes of trying and failing to get them to go back to bed she had given up and taken them with her to the Room of Requirement for her workout. She mostly worked on her flexibility with them there, not wanting to explain quite yet why she felt the need to practice kick boxing and martial arts. So the twins got to watch as she swung around on the uneven bars, practiced Clint's free running style on a small course provided by the room, and practiced on the balance beam. They were quite drawn in by the activities.
Despite her mates' strange behavior Harriet was enjoying the holidays. She had yet to stop her Christmas playlist and she could see that it was starting to get to those that remained for the holiday, it was a pretty extensive list but she kept resetting the shuffle for shits and giggles. She was also having fun watching Snape be indecisive about her offer, many times he looked like he wanted to approach her but he didn't, other times he was glaring at her with as much hatred as before; she had taken to waving at him with a cocky smile on her face just to see his eyes harden and his jaw clench. Spending extra time with her mates without the hassle of school was just a bonus.
Today was Christmas Eve and Harriet had finally managed to get the twins to leave her for a bit, she needed to go to the Room of Requirement to brew a few potions for her brothers. So she had told the twins that she needed a bit of a privacy to wrap presents, which was true, but the three-hour time period she claimed was a bit excessive. She did say that they could join her after the first two hours so she knew they would be there the second the time was up. Either way it gave her plenty of time.
As she reached the seventh floor she was stopped by a call of her last name, she looked back to see Snape ascending the stairs, his gaze focused on her. "Yes Professor?" she asked politely.
"I would like a chance to…. speak with you about what we discussed before." Snape said hesitantly.
Harriet studied him carefully for a moment before nodding, "Very well. Come." She turned and continued through the seventh floor with the potions master behind her. Then waved a hand for him to stop when she had to pace in front of the wall before leading him into the RoR that was currently in the form of a masters' level potions lab.
"What is this place?" Snape asked curiously, "I've never been here before."
"This is the Room of Requirement." Harriet said, setting her bag with the snakes in it down on the back row of tables before turning to the middle row of tables and beginning to set up. "It can be anything you wish, all you have to do is pace in front of that wall three times requesting something in your head and it will provide. There are very few limitations." Harriet explained as she set out four large cauldrons and propping up a potions book next to each one.
"Please tell me you're not going to attempt brewing four things at once." Severus said exasperatedly.
"I've done this combination before Professor." Harriet said, setting out four different sets of ingredients and turning to each recipe she needed, "They're relatively easy ones. I wouldn't attempt it if they were more difficult." She waved her hand at the two cauldrons closest to the door, "But please, feel free to help."
Snape narrowed his eyes at her for a second before sighing and moving things around so he was opposite of her with those two cauldrons. "Why do you need pain reliever and calming draught?" Severus asked even as he began the two potions.
"My surrogate brothers are in need of them." Harriet said easily, "I got alerted to the need from one this morning and I know the other will be needing some as well." She had already started her cauldrons heating while she prepared the ingredients for her two potions. Once she had the first ingredients in Harriet glanced up at Snape, "Now what did you want to talk about Professor?"
"I went to see your relatives." Snape said cautiously.
"Oh?" Harri replied, uncaringly.
"Your memories weren't false."
Harriet snorted, "No, they weren't."
The potion master's jaw clenched and he was silent for a minute, "I want in." he said abruptly.
Harri shot him an amused look, "'In' Professor?" she teased.
Snape gave her a halfhearted glare, "You know what I mean Potter."
"I know what you mean Professor." Harri said calmly, "Do you?"
The pale man huffed, "I want to help with whatever you have planned. Not just for my vow, though that does factor in. You were right, I've grown lax. Allowed myself to be used terribly in the midst of my grief and guilt. You seem to be against Dumbledore and against the Dark Lord. I was drawn to the Dark by false promises and I've never fully agreed with the Light's twisted ideals."
"And you think you'll agree with mine? You believe I won't use you?" Harri asked softly, her eyes focused on the brewing potions.
"I don't believe that you would use me with malicious intent." Snape answered evenly, "After all, everyone uses each other to a certain extent. As for your ideals, I'm not sure, but your sole intentions currently seem focused on protecting those you care about."
Harriet gave a small smile, "Yes, my family comes first. The safety and happiness of those I care for are the most important things to me. I do have certain political views but until I have Voldemort and Dumbledore taken care of those aren't my focus." She looked over to him when her two potions hit their first simmering stage, "Knowing that are you still willing to side completely with me? To help me? Especially since that route will make you staying here a necessity. I wasn't just sucking up when I said you were wasting your talent by staying here."
Snape let his own potions simmer, "I would have to stay here regardless. The vow is to protect you to the best of my ability. It won't be to the best of my ability if I leave."
Harriet smirked, "There are ways to release you from the vow. If you aren't giving it willingly I don't want your help."
"It's an unbreakable vow Potter." Snape snorted, "The keyword being unbreakable."
"I know of two different rituals is the LeFay library alone that will counter it." Harriet said, rolling her eyes and going back to her potions. "I refuse to be Dumbledore or Voldemort. I won't trick or force people into my service." She added the next ingredients and Snape watched in amusement as she stirred both potions at once in different directions. Harri looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, "That in mind. Are you still willing?"
Snape studied her for several seconds before nodding, "Yes. I will side with you and keep my vow at least until you've taken care of Dumbledore and the Dark Lord."
Harriet smiled, "Good. Before I get too into things I ask that you take a vow not to reveal the information I tell you to anyone not already in the know. It will protect both you and myself."
Severus nodded and stepped back away from the cauldrons before raising his wand, "I, Severus Tobias Snape, vow on my life and magic not to reveal any information learnt in the presence of Harriet Rose Potter to anyone not already in the know through any means unless given permission by Harriet Rose Potter herself."
Harriet nodded with a smile, "Thank you Professor." She set her stirring rods down for the second simmer times and went over to her bag to pull the snakes free. "First things first." She set the snakes down and glared at them, *Remember your promise. I will hex you if I feel you're going to far.*
*Yeah yeah.* Sirius pouted.
*We'll keep our promise Princess.* James said.
In the next second the Marauders all stood in their human forms next to Harriet, Snape's eyes went wide at the sight of the three men. "How….." he started, he looked sharply at Harriet, "They're supposed to be dead."
"Good to see you too Snape." Sirius snarked. Harriet smacked him upside the head and he yelped, "Ow pup! What was that for?"
"Manners!" Harri snapped before going back over to cauldrons, "Make yourselves useful. You said you'd help wrap the presents while I made the potions."
"Of course cub." Remus said with an amused look to James and Sirius. The three pulled out Harriet's gifts and the rolls of wrapping paper she had gotten one of the elves to purchase.
"Are you going to explain this?!" Snape asked, still glaring at the three Marauders with almost tangible hate while he continued to work on his potions.
"Let's start with Dad shall we?" Harriet said, "We can't get a clear picture of how it started since his mind is so fuzzy about that time but at some point before that attack Dumbledore changed him out for a golem. He was being held in a little cottage under the influence of potions meant to keep him docile, weak, and obedient."
"So that's what those potions were for." Snape muttered.
Harri nodded, "The potions he was under required Master level brewing so I assumed he had you make them." She took one of her cauldrons off the fire and covered it, "I can only assume that he was keeping Dad in case he had to kill me before I could have an heir and he could gain control of them. Anyway, when I took the Gringotts tests last summer I discovered he was alive and saved him."
"If Dumbledore was holding him captive then why hasn't he done anything to find him after you saved him?" Snape asked, lowering the heat on one of his cauldrons and tossing more ingredients in the other before stirring.
"I created a simple golem that took his place and wasted away under the apparent strain of long term potions use." Harri said with a shrug, "It didn't take much."
"You just…. created a golem." Snape deadpanned, "That's an advanced skill."
"Ugh, don't we know." Sirius complained from where he was struggling with wrapping one of the presents, "It took us three days to make the one we needed to kill Moony off."
James looked over at Severus with a small smirk, "When it comes to my daughter you'll have to suspend a certain amount of disbelief. She likes surprising people with things like this."
Harri rolled her eyes, "Oh come off it. Golem's are useful so I studied them and broke them down to their easiest form. If I had used the traditional golem rune formulas, then yeah it will take a bit of time. But for short term use ones the broken down version works just as well. If I had needed them to last it would have taken me longer."
"I assume you used one to rescue the mutt as well." Snape said.
"Yup." Harri replied with a grin.
"And….. Lilly?" Snape asked.
The room went quiet and Harri frowned, "No, Dumbledore didn't replace her. She really was killed by the Dark Lord." Snape swallowed hard and James bit the inside of his cheek, for several long minutes the only sound in the room was the crinkling of paper and the bubbling of the cauldrons.
Finally, Snape got up the strength to talk again, "How do you know and do all this? You're only eleven."
"I traveled back in time." Harriet answered, "I'm technically twenty-six."
"What?!" Snape exclaimed with a jolt, in his shock he dropped the ingredient in his hand. Into the wrong cauldron. His eyes snapped to the cauldron just as the alarm charm started to go off, Harriet waved her hand and cast a shield around it just seconds before it exploded.
Harriet banished the whole thing, cauldron and all before looking at Snape, "I came back in time and merged with my younger self. That's how I know these things and can do what I can." She returned to her potion and pulled it off the fire to cool before restarting the potion Severus had just exploded. "I'll give you a journal tomorrow that will show you what happened in the last timeline but right now it's too long of a story for….." she froze midsentence making the four males look over to her.
"What is it Princess?" James asked worriedly.
Harriet was staring at the wrist that held her bracelets, "Bruce is transforming." She said softly. A second later she was in motion; she put a stasis charm on her potion and ran over to her bag.
"Who is Bruce?" Snape demanded, "And why do you have a gun?!"
Harriet checked her hand gun before sliding into her hip holster then pulling out her throwing knives and securing them to her belt. "One of my surrogate brothers." She said distractedly, "He's transforming. I need to go."
"I thought you said you were going to let them come to you." Sirius said.
"I will." Harri said, "Once he's transformed he won't remember, not at this point. He hasn't accepted his other half yet. I can go and make sure that the Hulk isn't captured and doesn't hurt innocents though."
"You can't leave the school!" Snape snapped.
Harriet moved her hand to touch the bracelet that was currently glowing green, "You can't stop me." All four men rushed toward her and managed to get a hand on her just as she was engulfed in blue flames.
In the next second they were tucked into a thin line of trees on the upper edge of a huge valley. Harriet shook the four males off of her and stepped forward in time to see Bruce running through the middle of the field, his skin tinged green, with soldiers on his tail. The soldiers were yelling at Bruce and had their guns aimed at him.
"Hey!" came a voice from just a few feet down the tree line, the four wizards and one witch turned to see a solider in full gear looking at them, "You civilians need to evacuate. We're apprehending a dangerous mutant in this area."
Harriet dropped her glamours and began to move at the same time, she rolled forward and jumped up, kicking the man in the face. The man dropped like a rock before struggling to get up, Harriet sent a wandless stunner at him and he collapsed fully. Harriet reached down and took his helmet off before pulling the headset free from it, she put it on and instantly heard a familiar gruff voice giving orders to the soldiers going after Bruce. "General Ross." She purred, making the com line go quiet.
"Who is this?!" the General demanded, "This is a closed line!"
"Oh please." Harri huffed turning to focus on Bruce's progress, "Your soldier was easy to take care of." She kicked the felled men, "Newbies you know."
"Who are you!" he demanded again.
"That's not important." Harri dismissed, "What's important is you calling a full retreat for your men. If they make any moves against Bruce Banner or his counterpart not only will they deal with the Hulk's wrath, they will also deal with mine."
"Princess, those muggles look like they're going to shoot him." James said worriedly.
Harriet watched Bruce stumble a bit in the center of the field and the soldiers surround him, "Decide General."
"That man is going to be property of the United States Military brit! If you come between my forces and our target, we will take you out!" General Ross replied, "Bring him in men!"
The first shots rang out and the four wizards winced without taking their eyes from the scene they were watching, so they saw Bruce jerk and slump forward, they saw the green grow more pronounced and Bruce begin to expand, and they saw when a fully transformed Hulk stood up and roared as the soldiers backed up and continued firing.
Harriet ripped the headset off and transformed into Glacia without a second thought before diving down into the valley, she winged a blast of blue flames at a group of solider before circling the Hulk to get his attention. She landed and put up a green and blue tinged shield around them before transforming back and looking to the Hulk. The giant green male eyed her warily, crouched and tensed. Harri held her arms out and her hands palm up to show that she didn't have anything as she made eye contact and bowed, "Hello Hulk."
Hulk's eyes narrowed and a growl came from deep in his chest, "You blue bird?" he gruffed, shaking the wrist that had the expanded bracelet on it, the phoenix outline glowing slightly.
Harri nodded, "Yes, I'm the blue bird." She straightened but made sure her hands stayed visible. "My name is Harri."
"Harri." He repeated, he glared at the shield around them that was absorbing bullets and small grenades harmlessly, "You trap Hulk."
Harriet shook her head, "No buddy. It's not a trap. It's protection. You can get out but they can't get in. I wanted to talk to you before we smashed them."
"You let Hulk smash?" he asked, surprise in his voice.
"Of course big guy. They're trying to hurt you and put you in a cage. I wouldn't want you to just lay down and take it." Harri replied.
"Why Blue Bird want talk to Hulk?"
Harri smiled, "I think of Bruce as a brother but I know he wouldn't let me meet you intentionally." She stepped closer slowly, "I want to be your friend."
Hulk grunted and leaned closer to sniff at her, Harri let him and let Glacia and Godvia draw in his familiar scent in turn. "You no fear Hulk." He stated.
"Of course not Hulk. I wouldn't want to be friends with someone I feared." Harri responded.
Hulk considered her for another moment before huffing harshly, "You Bruceman sister, you Hulk sister."
Harri beamed, "Deal big guy!" she saw tanks pulling up in the valley just beyond the group of soldiers, "How about we smash these idiots then?"
Hulk bared his teeth in a mockery of a grin and picked Harriet up by the back of her shirt only to set her on his shoulder, "Blue Bird stay and smash with Hulk."
Harri cast a sticking charm to keep her in place and nodded, "You got it brother!" she pulled her wand and looked over to the huge face of Hulk, "Ready?" he gave a grunt of affirmative and jumped straight out of the shield. Harri let it fall and placed a smaller one around herself to keep debris from hitting her before focusing fully on the fight. The Hulk landed again causing a small quake that threw all of the soldiers from their feet, Harriet laughed delightedly and set her sights on the approaching tanks. The front three all shot explosive shells as one and Harri cast a wall of feindfyre to engulf them, they exploded before they even had a chance to near Hulk and Harri.
Hulk shot forward with a speed that should be impossible for anything that big and grabbed the first tank by it gun before swinging it to hit the second. Harri left him to smashing what was in front of them and leaned backward so she could take out what was coming from behind them. There were three jeeps racing toward them with the sonic weapon that Bruce had told her about a couple times before, Harri cast overpowered long range blasting hexes at each and they blew the weapons to pieces. Then Harri focused on the soldiers; she cast stunners and sleep spells at those who truly looked like they wished they had been ordered to retreat but those who looked to be having way too much fun shooting at her brother she sent vicious hexes at, leaving them bleeding and broken.
"Blue Bird fly?" came Hulk's question.
Harri looked upward to see two army choppers approaching, guns at the ready. "You got it big guy!" Harri said releasing the sticking charm and transforming into Glacia as she jumped from Hulk's shoulder. She flew at them with a furious shriek, Hulk answered with a roar of his own. Flames poured off Glacia in a wave as her powerful talons pierced the relatively thin metal of the copters front, ice spread over the machine and she let the ice flow until she heard the blades stutter before releasing it and moving to the next one. This one she flew inside of and tossed the soldiers out of it, making it lose control and crash into the final tank causing an explosion.
Glacia flew back down and hovered next to Hulk as he took in the trashed valley around them, she made a cooing sound and Hulk looked to her, "No more smash Blue Bird. Hulk find safe spot now." Glacia circled his head and clacked her beak before following as he took off. She weaved around him as he moved on land and rose and fell with him when he jumped until he found a cave he considered safe enough. Glacia landed and changed back right in front of the cave as Hulk checked inside to make sure it was clear.
Harriet looked up when she heard a hoot and smiled when she saw Bruce's owl, "Hey there." She held up her arm and the owl flew over to land there, "You brought Bruce's things right?" the owl bobbed its head, "Good, so what did Brucie name you huh?"
"Vi-ll-ard." Hulk struggled to get out.
Harri looked over to Hulk with a raised eyebrow, "Villard? Really?" Hulk gave a short harsh nod and Harri rolled her eyes fondly, "Nerd." Hulk grunted his agreement. Harri walked over and let Villard hop down to perch on a rock next to Hulk, "You alright now big guy? This place safe enough?"
"Safe now." Hulk grunted, he tilted his head, "Blue Bird okay?"
Harri patted herself down and nodded, "I'm all good Hulk."
"Harriet!" came a worried shout, Hulk stood and growled as the Padfoot leap from the bushes with James, Remus, and Severus right behind him.
Harri ignored them and looked to Hulk, "It's all right buddy. They're with me. They won't hurt you." Hulk looked down at her then back to the four figures who had burst from the foliage of the jungle they had settled in. Harri glanced at the four before walking closer to Hulk slowly and placing a hand on the back of his larger hand. "It's okay. You're safe."
"They hurt Blue Bird?" Hulk asked warily.
Harri shook her head, "No, they won't hurt me."
"Harriet." Remus called warily.
Harri looked over to him and smiled, "It's okay Moony." She looked down when she heard a soft wuffing sound and saw that Padfoot had come closer, eyeing the Hulk warily. Harri looked back to Hulk to see him staring at Padfoot, "Hulk this is Padfoot, Padfoot this is Hulk." She introduced with amusement.
The Hulk stared at Padfoot for a couple more seconds before nodding and reaching down to pat him awkwardly, "Good puppy." Harri stifled her giggles, Remus and James were snickering quietly, and even Severus looked amused; Padfoot was just staring up at Hulk with a bewildered look.
"Harriet, we need to go. We only have twenty minutes before your mates show up." James reminded around his laughter.
Hulk looked at Harri with a frown, "Blue Bird leaving?"
Harri gave him a sad smile, "I've got to big guy. My mates will freak out if I'm not there on time."
"Hulk come with?"
"Not right now buddy." Harri sighed, "Bruce doesn't trust me yet. He will have to call me when he's ready."
Hulk huffed, "Bruceman puny. Not know he can trust sister Blue Bird."
"It's a bit more complicated than that." Harri said patting his hand, "But when you come out I'll try my best to come see you."
"You know when Hulk come out?" he asked.
Harri held up her arm where her Bruce bracelet was still glowing, "Of course! See? We match."
Hulk bent down to examine her arm and nodded, "Blue Bird come see Hulk when he come out?"
"I'll do my best big guy." Harri responded.
Hulk nodded again and laid down on the cave floor, "Blue Bird be safe." He muttered as his eyes closed.
"I'll try brother." Harri said softly. She stepped back and watched as Hulk shrunk into an unconscious Bruce, she smiled and conjured a sheet to cover him. "Villard." She called as she stepped back, the owl straightened and looked at her, "Wake him if there's danger." She ordered, Villard hooted in acknowledgement. Harri walked over to where her father, Remus, and Snape were with Padfoot at her feet, "Grab hold." She ordered, they all did and she flamed them back into the Room of Requirement.
Severus was the first to step free, "What…. exactly…. was that?" he demanded.
Harri rolled her eyes and went back to her potions like the whole trip hadn't just happened, "That was Bruce Banner and the Hulk, one of the surrogate brothers I acquired before I traveled back in time. The U.S. army, specifically General Thunderbolt Ross, is hunting him in hopes they can weaponize his blood or him himself."
"And your animagus?" Snape demanded, "A phoenix?"
"An ice phoenix." Harri amended, "It's how I had the power to travel back. Though that wasn't the intention I had when it happened."
Severus stared at her, trying to figure out if she was lying or not, Harri just continued working on the replacement potion for the one the potions master had blown up before their trip. Finally, he sighed, "I'll still help but I think I need a bit of time and a stiff drink to come to terms with…. this." He said, his hands gesturing from the three Marauders who were back to wrapping presents then to her herself.
Harri gave him a kind smile, "Of course Professor. I will have a copy of the journal to you by tomorrow. It's got secrecy charms on it so don't try and talk about any of it." He narrowed his eyes at her nonchalant tone before leaving in a huff. Harri glanced over to the Marauders, "That went well."
Sirius barked a laugh, "I thought his head was going to explode at several points."
"Harriet, are you sure… Hulk… won't hurt you?" Remus asked worriedly.
"Yes." Harri replied, "He trusts without question until that trust is broken and then its lost forever. Unfortunately, right now he only comes out when Bruce is in danger so he doesn't have anyone like that. This is new for him."
"If you're sure." Remus said uncertainly.
"I'm sure Moony." Harri soothed as she let the potion simmer and started bottling one of the ones she had finished. "He actually reminds me a lot of you." Remus choked on his spit.
"He does act a bit like Moony huh?" Sirius piped up, "We saw him sniff at you."
Harri hummed, "Checking me for fear and dishonesty."
James finished the present he was on and walked over to her, "I can see it." He agreed, he hugged her sideways so as not to disturb her potion, "But you need to warn me before you rush into the middle of something like that again. I damn near had a heart attack!"
Harriet looked up at her father with a sheepish look, "Sorry Dad. I didn't even think about that." She blushed and looked away, "I guess I kind of missed battle."
"I hear ya pup!" Sirius said, "You were awesome! You took down two of those muggle flying things like it was nothing!"
"Helicopters." Harri offered with amusement. "They're good for quick travel and a high shooting point but since they need to be light enough to fly they have some pretty obvious flaws to exploit."
James rolled his eyes at his friend and looked down at Harriet, "Just try to tell us the plan next time, huh?"
"I'll try dad." Harri said with a smile.
"That's all I can ask." James said, "Now do you need any other help? I finished my stack of wrapping."
Harri pointed to the potion that she had covered up, "That should be paste by now. Can you put it in the containers?"
"Of course Princess."
Remus and Sirius were both on their last presents and James was halfway through the paste when there was a knock on the door. It opened a sliver, "Oh Harriet!" Fred sang.
"Are all sensitive items of the present persuasion put away?" George called.
The Marauders changed to their snake forms in record time and Harriet checked to make sure that the two half wrapped presents weren't ones for the twins before calling, "One second!" she threw her glamour back up and dove for her bag to stow her gun and knives before taking a deep calming breath. "Alright guys. All clear."
The twins burst into the room, taking in the four used cauldrons and the mess of wrapping paper on the other table. "What are you…."
"Doing brewing?" they questioned, they closed the door behind them and stepped in further.
Harri smiled, "A couple of my brothers needed some potions so I got distracted with them."
"You have more brothers than Tony?" Fred questioned.
Harri smiled, "I have Tony, Clint, Bruce, Steve, and Bucky for my brothers in my surrogate family."
"Oh, who needed potions?" George asked curiously.
"I could have helped." Fred pouted.
"Clint and Bruce." Harri answered George first before looking to Fred, "I know you could have but I really did want time to wrap your presents without you two peaking."
"Oh?" Fred said with a grin, "Where are these presents we're not supposed to peak at?"
Harri pulled the stack of finished presents to her with an amused smile, "Don't you dare."
"Please Harriet." They pouted in unison.
Harri rolled her eyes, "You guys have a ways to go before that will work on me."
"Is that I challenge?" Fred asked with a smirk.
"I think it was." George agreed, copying his brother's expression.
Harri rolled her eyes, "Go ahead and try." She shrunk the stack of presents down and finished the last two quickly before going back over to the potion. "I just have to finish then and bottle everything then we can go back to dinner."
"We'll help." Fred offered. They both moved to help Harriet in bottling the two finished potions as well as finish putting away the paste. Harri finished the potion she was working on and left it to cool while she wrote out instructions for her brothers as well as her acknowledgment that they would need to test them on others first instead of blindly using them themselves. Once that was done she boxed up Clint's which were ready to go and sent Trew back to the manor with the package to send off with one of the owls there. When the last potion cooled enough she bottled it and packaged it up for Trew to send to Bruce with a manor owl as well.
Harriet let the twins escort her to dinner and then played exploding snap with them in the common room after Hermione took her new early bed time. Ron had attempted to join their game but Fred had directed one of the exploding cards at his younger sibling causing him to leave with wounded pride and singed eyebrows. Around eleven they decided to call it a night so they could get up early for Christmas the next day. Harri couldn't wait, she had gotten her mates some great gifts but the Marauders had decided to give them a few as well and she couldn't wait to see their reaction.
"Harriet!"
She jolted upward in her bed as the excited exclamation drew her from slumber, "Wha?" she looked up blearily to see the twins bouncing around her dorm room excitedly, Hermione sleeping like a rock through the whole thing. The Marauders looked up from their snake pile at the foot of her bed but immediately turned away in an attempt to sleep more.
"It's Christmas!" they exclaimed.
Harri frowned, she didn't feel like she'd gotten her normal five hours, "Tempus." She cast, the spell showed one-thirty and she flopped back on her pillow with a groan. "Three more hours." She huffed.
"Nope! It's Christmas!" Fred cried.
"Barely." Harri moaned, "Go sleep for a bit longer."
"Not a chance!" George cried as they both leaned over her.
Not thinking clearly, Harriet did the one thing that always worked in the last timeline; her hands flew out quickly and grabbed the two by the fronts of their pajamas before she rolled, dragging them onto the bed and under her. She flopped down on top of them with her full weight and yawned sleepily, "Sleep. Three more hours. Night." She said disjointedly, not noticing that the twins were sharing a shocked expression and not caring when a minute later they wrapped their arms around her and snuggled in.
When Harriet woke correctly she was in a very familiar position and, knowing that they had yet to complete the bond this time around, that alarmed her. She took stock of her surroundings quickly, not entirely sure how she had managed to cuddle with her mates. Fred was laying on his back with her tucked into his side, her head lying on his shoulder, George was behind her with his arm over her waist, just under her own arm, and his head tucked down so his forehead was against her shoulder. Fred's left arm was trapped under her and gripping his brother while his free hand was up holding lightly to her wrist where her arm rested on his chest.
Harri didn't remember how she had gotten in this position but she didn't want to move. Precious memories of waking up in this and similar positions time and time again filled her and silent happy tears started to fall.
Best Christmas present ever.
*Princess?* came the whispered hiss of her father, Harri didn't move for fear of waking her mates but her eyes darted over to where he father's snake form was rising just on the other side of Fred. *You're crying. Are you okay?*
*Never better.* she answered truthfully, slightly tightening the grip she had on each twin.
*I guess you wouldn't move even if I made a fuss about this.* he said, a smile in his voice.
*Not if Dumbledore and Voldemort strolled through the door and demanded it.* Harri agreed, snuggling closer to Fred. She lay there and basked in the feeling of being with her soulmates, letting the broken and new bonds strengthen from their close proximity.
Twenty minutes went by without either of the twins so much as twitching before they were rudely interrupted by a scream. Harriet's eyes shot open just as the twins sat up, taking her with them and effectively putting her on their laps. They all three looked over to see Hermione staring at them with wide eyes. "What are they doing in the girls' dorm?!" she shrieked.
Harri frowned and rubbed at her ears, "Sweet Merlin Hermione, stop your screaming." The twins snickered behind her.
"They aren't allowed to be in here! They aren't allowed to sleep in the girls' dorm let alone a girls bed!" Hermione continued to scream.
"Oi, that rule is never enforced!" Fred protested.
"And it's not like we were doing anything!" George huffed.
"Right! We came it to wake Harriet for Christmas!" Fred continued.
"But she pulled us in and laid on us to get us to stop bothering her." George finished.
Harri blushed when she realized what had happened, she thought she had managed to suppress most of her learned responses to the last timeline. Apparently that didn't work when she wasn't fully aware of her surroundings.
"You should have gotten up and left!" Hermione continued.
Harriet's jaw clenched and she set a wandless stinging hex at Hermione that had the girl yelping and stumbling backward to her bed, "Oh be quiet!" Harri groused as she moved from the twins' laps, "They didn't do anything other than disturb my sleep a bit apparently. Give me a Christmas gift and shut your trap!" she slid off the bed and picked up the three Marauders, "I think its high time to go open our real presents." She directed at the twins.
"Hear, hear!" the exclaimed sliding off her bed. They grabbed her presents where the elves had put them at the foot of her bed and she grabbed her bag that held the special presents before they all trooped down to the common room to the sound of Hermione's continued lecturing.
Percy and Ron were already in the common room, sitting by the fire with their stacks of presents set in front of them. Percy looked up and smiled at them, "Come on, we've been waiting for you."
"I'm surprised you two weren't up earlier." Ron commented to the twins from where he was already stuffing his face with fudge sent by his mother.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Percy reprimanded off handedly as the trio sat down, Harri in the middle as usual.
Fred grinned, "We were up at one this morning."
"Yeah, we went to go wake Harriet first but we were waylaid." George added.
"By a cuddly kitty." Fred teased, Harri blushed and waved him off.
Percy looked over to them with a raised eyebrow, "You were with Harriet in her dorm? That's against the rules."
Harri gave him a sly grin, "Actually, its fine as long as there was another student from that particular dorm there."
"Was Hermione even awake?" Percy questioned.
"No." Harri said evenly, "But nowhere in the rules does it state that the other student has to be conscious."
Percy tilted his head and studied her, "I guess it doesn't. Nice save Potter."
Harriet grinned, "You have to know the rules to exploit them Percy."
Percy chuckled, "That you do." He went back to organizing his presents and stopped when he reached one wrapped in red and gold paper before looking over at Harri, "You didn't have to give me anything."
Harri waved him off as she made sure her own stack didn't topple, "I saw it and thought of you. No biggie."
"Well let's get to it!" Fred said.
"Let's open Harriet's presents first!" George added, grabbing for two presents wrapped in red and gold paper from his own pile.
"Yes!" Fred exclaimed, grabbing his two.
"Fine with me." Percy said, Ron pulled the red and gold package from his own pile as well.
The twins leaned over to Harri, "You got Ron a present?" Fred asked with surprise.
"We got the impression that you didn't like him much." George said, his eyes hardening as he looked over at his younger brother.
Harri smiled serenely, "I doubt he'll like this present or what it implies." The twins shared a raised eyebrow before nodding. Harri looked around, "Well go on. I want to see if I got the right things for you guys."
The twins and Ron ripped into their packages enthusiastically while Percy very carefully unwrapped his package bit by bit. Ron got his out first and, as he read the title of the book, his face went tomato red, "Bloody hell." He muttered.
"What did she get you Ronnikins?" Fred taunted, pausing in his own present opening.
"A book." He squeaked in embarrassment.
"What book?" Percy asked, genuinely curious.
Ron ducked his head and turned the book around for his brothers to read, the twins burst out laughing as Percy simply looked over to Harriet with a raised eyebrow, "Dude, That's Rude! What is that book about?"
"Manners." Harri said with a grin, "You said at the beginning of the year he had forgotten everything your mother taught him. I'm just helping him review." Percy's lips twitched in the beginning of a smile as Ron wrapped the book in his newest Christmas sweater and sat on it. Harri ignored him and looked to Percy, "Come on. Finish up."
Percy finished unwrapping his present as the twins caught their breath. Harriet fought her giggles as Percy shook the red t-shirt open and read it, "I am the rules." He huffed and a smile broke out on his face as he let the shirt drop into his lap, "Thank you Harriet."
"Of course."
"You got him dead on." George snickered. Harriet nodded and looked between the twins expectantly, they finally continued the opening of their first gifts. They both looked at the small mirrors in their hands curiously, "I know we're handsome but I didn't think we needed handheld mirrors Harri." George joked.
Fred held his up and ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know Georgie it has its perks."
Harri rolled her eyes, "These are communication mirrors. The Marauders used them as a way to communicate when they were apart."
"The Marauders?!" the twins exclaimed happily, clutching the mirrors tighter now. "Really?"
"Yep. I have one as well." She pulled on from her bag to show them, "I'll show you guys how to use them… when The Rules aren't around." She sent Percy a smirk and he rolled his eyes with a small smile. The twins nodded seriously and tucked their mirrors into their pockets. "Second ones now. Those are the ones I'm waiting on."
The twins fell on their second gifts excitedly. Fred managed to get his open first and he stared down at the case full of rare ingredients with excitement, "Experiment supplies!" he sang happily, he smothered Harri in a hug, "Thank you Harriet!"
"Of course." She replied, "Just be careful." She whispered to him, "Some are Class A non-tradable materials." He immediately turned back to the case with wide eyes.
"Sweet!" Harri turned back to George in time to see him pulling free his own set of high end spell detection and recorder orbs both of which were keyed to spell all results down into a thick book that was charmed with endless pages. Harriet was immediately wrapped in a tight hug from him as well, "Thank you!"
"You're welcome." Harri replied, hugging him back.
"Let's do the rest already!" Ron whined. Harri rolled her eyes but joined everyone in going wild with the rest of the presents, she tucked the one that she knew was the invisibility cloak into her bag and made sure not to physically touch the ones from Mrs. Weasley but ripped through the rest with appropriate excitement. She got candy from the other members of the Quidditch team and a golden snitch hair band from Lee, Fred had made her up the potion to fix her eyesight with a note that said he'd gotten Snape to look it over and approve it, and George had made her a prank spell that gave people the main features of their inner animal and the counter. Harri thank them both with tight hugs and promises to use them both at the first chance.
Finally, when all the presents had been opened Percy called for them all to go down to Christmas breakfast. Harriet agreed but stopped the twins before they could exit the common room with their brother, Hermione, and the few other Gryffindors who had stayed for the holiday. "What is it?" Fred asked worriedly.
"Did something happen?" George continued.
"Everything is fine guys. I just have two more presents for you but it wouldn't do for them to be getting all over the school. Especially to those who would report such things." Harri said with a smile.
They leaned closer, "You didn't have to get us so much Harriet." George said softly.
"We are grateful for what you already did get us." Fred agreed.
Harri rolled her eyes, "I didn't get these for you. I was just told to make sure you got them." She pulled out the two presents and held them close to her, "Now these are for you to share, but if I see that you are spending too much time with them and not sleeping I will ration out your time with them."
"With a description like that,"
"There can be no promises." The twins said, eyeing the packages curiously.
"They're from… the Marauders." Harri said dramatically.
The twins' eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, "They're alive!" they exclaimed excitedly.
*Of course we're alive!* Sirius exclaimed.
*Hush, they don't know it's us!* James reprimanded, hitting Sirius with his tail.
Harri rolled her eye mentally at them, she held out the first one. "This one first." She held out the thinner object and the twins took it together and held it reverently.
They tore the paper from it and stared at the thin book with unconcealed awe, "The Marauder Pranking Compendium." They read breathily.
Harri nodded, "A description of almost every prank they ever pulled here at Hogwarts."
"Wow." George breathed as he stroked a hand over the four embossed animal prints on the cover.
*You guys went really dramatic with the book.* Harri hissed with amusement.
*We knew they would appreciate it.* Remus replied.
*Look at their faces!* Sirius crowed, *I can't wait until we get to reveal ourselves.*
*They might faint.* James chuckled.
"You two going to be okay?" Harriet giggled.
"We're going to be so much more than okay." Fred rasped, his eyes not leaving the book.
Harriet gave an over dramatic sigh, "I guess if you want to stare at that one you don't want their second gift." The twins both zeroed in on the second package, Harri took the Compendium from them gently and handed them the second one. They tore into this one with just as much excitement as the first and pulled the much thicker book free.
"The Marauders Journal." Fred read, they looked slightly confused.
Harri laughed, "This one isn't focused on the pranks but rather the people themselves and their lives at school as well as unexplored ideas." Now she saw the light gleaming in their eyes again.
"You know we could probably use this to find out their names ourselves right." Fred asked as he opened the cover and took in the first entry that had Moony written across the top.
Harri grinned, "I think not. They agreed with my deal and made sure that there were no names in there, only aliases. The most you'll get is the rough time frame they were in school."
"You're in contact with them?" George asked.
"I talk to them all the time." Harri said truthfully, Remus gave a hissy chuckle. Harri gave the Compendium to George and readjusted her bag, "Ready for breakfast now?"
They look torn, "But… Compendium." George whined, clutching the book.
"And Journal." Fred added, his eyes still going over Moony's first entry.
"I told you I would ration your time with them if you didn't sleep but I will also do so if you don't eat." Harri said seriously, "Just bring them with you." They relaxed a little bit and allowed her to lead them down to the great hall for breakfast. *I told you we should have waited.* Harri huffed to the Marauders.
*Aw pup, but look how happy they are!* Sirius pointed out.
Harri softened, *I know.*
The twins spent the rest of the day with their faces stuck in the two books letting Harri lead them around the school to meals and then safe reading spaces, they would only look up to tell the other something that couldn't wait for the other to read the book. Harri even took them with her to give Tony his present and wish him a Merry Christmas but the two barely registered it; Tony got a laugh out of it, especially knowing that the ones they were reading about so obsessively were currently posing as snakes not three feet from them. In the end, Harri did have to take the books to make them sleep with promises to let them read them again as soon as she woke up in the morning. Relaxing back into the bed she had shared with her mates that morning Harri thought it was a pretty good Christmas.
Chapter Notes
Aw, the twins are being all protective. ;) Just to be clear, Harri knows what's going on with the traitors and such, the twins are just discovering whats going on. They DO NOT know that Harriet knows. Harri thinks their being all protective because of the bond. Next chapter the twins will confront her with what they've learned over break.
'quite drawn in by the activities.' Wink wink nudge nudge.
So... the breaking of the vow. I can just hear it now, its UNBREAKABLE she can't BREAK an UNBREAKABLE vow! Cannonically, maybe. However I always thought that while it can't be forcibly broken by the one who made it that it could be revoked by the one the vow was to/focused on. In this case, because the vow was to protect her, Harri could release Severus from his vow.
Aw, James bragging on Harri like the proud papa he is.
People may ask why Dumbledore didn't save Lilly as well. To him Lilly was just a muggleborn, Lilly never went to Gringotts to see if she had any ancestors so she never knew that she was the last descendant of Morgana LeFay, so Dumbledore never knew she was valuable enough for him to save.
Hulk just jumped in there. Any other writers out there experience when the story decides it wants something else before you do? This is what happened while I was writing this chapter. So... Hulk detour!
Would that be a Nerd or a Geek? I always get them mixed up. lol
Yes, Hulk trusts Harriet. "But that's awful quick don't you think?" No, I don't. Hulk isn't weighed down as much with Bruce's distrust and wariness as the man himself. For Hulk, all he sees is a girl who wasn't afraid of him, protected him, and didn't smell of lies. If she were ever to betray that trust she would never get it again but as of this time he trusts her.
Also, on the Hulk front. Keep his nickname for Harri BlueBird or no?
To make the family connections clear before someone says that I'm missing people in Harri's roll call to the twins. Clint, Bruce, Tony, Steve, and Bucky she see as brothers. Thor and Loki she sees more as uncles. Natasha and Pepper of course are sisters. She did get to meet Thor's parents last time but they were never close enough for her to really view them from a familial stand point. Everyone else close to the Avengers from a cannon point of view either weren't close to them in this story(the last timeline) or Harri never saw as family. She doesn't trust SHEILD.
The short little interlude at one thirty in the morning with the twins was so you guys could have a bit of cuddling after being so patient with me! Plus... look at how adorable! Don't get too excited, things wont start getting steamy until Harri's fourth year. (though second and third year will be kept short and sweet since their main events have all but been taken care of)
'Dude, That's Rude!' is a real book folks! Its a kids book on manners!
Harri's not touching the presents from Mrs. Weasley in case they are charmed or dosed which we will find out next chapter was exactly what happened.
She didn't open the cloak because she didn't want Ron or Percy to question it.
The twins gifts aren't big or inventive but you have to remember that they are third years with no extra money(since their from a poorer family and the shop hasn't started up yet). They just made her things they thought she would appreciate and with a bit of ulterior motives (Fred wants to be able to see her beautiful green eyes without her glasses and George knew the inner animal prank would make her smile, cuties). Realistically Fred wouldn't be able to give her such an advanced potion without his mastery but... eh whatever.
Ta Da!
Next Chapter... Keeping Up Appearances.