Disclaimer in Chapter 1. I also don't own Lethal Weapon...any of them.
Steve stuck his head out of his rooms quickly and checked the hall for people. Or one person in particular. Bucky. Ever since he had been brought to the castle a week ago and he found out Bucky was still alive, his old friend had been stuck to his side. Of course Steve was relieved and excited that Bucky was alive, despite all of the horrible things his friend alluded to that kept him that way, but Steve needed a little time to himself to process all the information that he had been given over this time. Hence, the sneaking out.
Seeing that the hall was clear, as it should be for five in the morning, Steve darted out of his room and through the little bit of hallway that took him to the end of the family wing. He darted from the doors, down the halls, through the foyer, and slipped from one of the grand castle doors before he stopped, listening closely to attempt hearing if his best friend had followed him, despite the fact that he wouldn't be able to hear Bucky because apparently…he was an assassin!
Nevertheless, once a few minutes passed without Bucky popping out of nowhere to scold him for ditching sleep Steve relaxed and stepped away from the castle a bit to stretch for his run. He had only managed this three times so far in the week he had been here, he needed it. Not only to recover from the ice but because running helped him think. The monotonous activity helped focus his thoughts, work through things, assess information; all of which he needed right now.
As Steve was shaking his muscles loose in preparation a meow interrupted his thoughts, he looked down and smiled. "Hello again." He greeted softly. The large spotted cat sat down next to him and looked up at him with big green eyes, it licked it pink nose and Steve chuckled, "Are you running with me today too?" the cat let out a sneeze that Steve supposed was an affirmative. He smiled, the cat had showed up all three times he had managed to sneak out to run, it kept pace and would settle on his lap if he stopped to work through something. He never talked and it never made a noise beyond a pur but it was a calming presence. "Let's go then." Steve started off and, as before, the cat kept pace easily.
Steve set a course around the castle and toward the forest where he would run along the edge and down to the beach. As he settled into a rhythm, Steve's mind began to wonder to all he had found out, all he had been suddenly dragged into when he was rescued by Harriet and Bucky a week ago.
Seventy-years. He had been frozen in the artic, in the plane, for seventy-years. A whole generation had passed him by. He couldn't believe it. He had missed so much. He had missed… Everyone he knew was dead. Expect Bucky of course and Peggy who was alive but apparently suffering from dementia. Would she even realize the significance if he went to see her? Would she think he was a hallucination? Steve's chest ached, he so wanted to see her but even with Harriet's offer to take him to her, he was afraid.
Harriet was another thing. Not only was she a witch, and apparently a powerful one at that, but she was also from the future. A future where they had been part of the same family. Her story was wild but Steve supposed it was no wilder than himself being alive after being frozen for seventy years. Still, Steve could hardly believe it, magic or not. It seemed completely impossible. Harriet even agreed with him! When she had told her part of the story she had admitted she didn't think it was possible and it had only happened because of her animagus form Glacia. It made Steve's head hurt just to think about.
This family she had spoken of sounded promising though. Apparently they all lived together, they all fought together, and they were very close. Steve would be lying if he said that wasn't something he wanted, something he knew he would need to get through this time. Bucky was going to be with him but there was a whole mess of future concepts, idea, and new history for him to wade through. He couldn't imagine what would have happened if he had been left by himself to learn this new time or with Shield for that matter.
Steve wasn't stupid. Even before Harriet and Bucky had presented it as a possibility he knew that the Shield Director wanted him for something. Sure the Director may just have wanted information or something similar but Steve didn't think it stopped there. He was way too adamant about having Steve back. Then Bucky told him about Shield being infiltrated by Hydra(which was apparently still around despite his efforts) and he knew that he wouldn't want anything to do with Shield until he was sure that it was free of Hydra, something that Harriet said was already in the works but was slow going to keep Hydra unaware until the last minute.
Overall Steve was over whelmed.
That was an understatement.
Every day he was getting new information. More was piled up on the information he already had, causing him to have to reevaluate what he had before. Oh he understood why Bucky and Harriet were breaking it into different days. If they had dumped everything on him at once he wouldn't have been able to handle it. Steve knew his limits and liked to push himself sure but it was good having two other people know them and hold him steady. Still, with the information cascade he had settled into a seemingly perpetual mindset of 'what crazy thing will I be told tomorrow?' It was disconcerting and really he just wanted something that would give him a break from the daily earthquake that set his mind whirling.
Making it to the shore Steve slowed and dropped onto the nearest flat rock with a sigh. He rested his elbows on his knees and dropped his head into his hands with a deep sigh.
Steve didn't know how much more he could take. He needed time. He didn't like what was being hinted at. The war that had wiped out this new family he had been a part of, the evil they were up against, or even the relatively smallest bit of information, his role within the family. Harriet hadn't outright said it but despite everyone stating multiple times that she was their leader, Harri kept hinting that the real leader was him.
A soft mew drew Steve from his turbulent thoughts and he drew his hands away from his face to see the cat sitting in front of him, its head cocked at him curiously. "What the hell am I supposed to do? I don't know the current president let alone how to lead a team of super powered people outside of a time of war!"
Steve jerked backward with a little yelp as the cat suddenly transformed, his arms cartwheeled and he ended up on his ass behind the rock.
"Are you okay Steve?" Harriet asked worriedly, standing up and leaning over to look at his sprawled form.
"Harriet?!" Steve exclaimed in embarrassment and disbelief.
Harri lifted an eyebrow, "Yes?" she reached down a hand to him.
Steve took it and hid his surprise as Harriet easily hauled him back on to the rock, "The cat had been you this whole time?"
"Yes…" she said with confusion, "You didn't realize?"
"Why would I think a cat was you?!" Steve huffed, brushing sand out of his hair.
Harri dropped into the sand in front of him, her legs tucked under her as she rubbed at her arm, "Well, my eyes don't actually change in that form and I didn't think you'd willingly run around with a wild ocelot. At least I hope you wouldn't."
"A what?" Steve asked with a blink.
Harri sighed, "An ocelot. It's a dwarf leopard. It's a wild cat Steve."
"I…didn't know that." Steve said sheepishly, "I just thought you were a big cat."
Harri laughed lightly, "No, not just a big cat."
Steve's brow furrowed, "Why have you been running with me?"
Harri smiled up at him, "You're my brother Steve. I know that running helps you think through and process things but while this property is mostly safe there still are wild, magical animals running around. I just came along to ward them off. They know I'm the Lady of the Castle and won't harm someone with me." She brushed her hair back, "I truly thought you knew it was me, I didn't mean to trick you."
Steve relaxed at the explanation, "I didn't realize about the magical animals. Thank you." He said softly, Harri nodded.
Harri cocked her head, "Do you still want to talk?"
Steve sighed and slid off the rock to sit cross legged in front of Harriet, "I guess I should."
"You don't have to rush it Steve." Harri said reassuringly, "It's a lot to take in. You haven't found your footing yet. We can wait if you want."
"No I…I need to before the next bit dumps on me." Steve said, stress evident in his tone.
Harri studied his face for a few seconds, "Alright. Just ask what's stressing you out the most right now."
Steve steeled himself, "I was the leader of the team wasn't I?"
"Yes." Harri said truthfully, "There were certain situations where others were more familiar with the problem and took lead but you were our leader most of the time."
Steve slumped back against the rock, "I…I don't know if I can." He ran a hand over his face as panic began to flow over him. "I've been frozen for seventy years! I don't recognize the world around me! I can't…"
"Whoa Steve." Harri said, holding up her hands, "Calm down." She leaned forward and put a hand on his shoulder, "Breath. Deep in." Steve took a deep breath, "Good, out." Steve let out a breath. "There you go." Harri said softly, "It's alright Steve. You don't have to take over if you don't want to."
Steve looked up at her, his blue eyes boring into her, "But you said…"
Harri rolled her eyes, picking up where he was heading, "I said I was holding it for when you were ready. If you're never ready, then you don't have to take it. I'm not going to force you into a position you'll be uncomfortable in." she sat back a little with a smile, "I've had to convince everyone else of this and I will convince you too. I'm not looking to make an exact copy of the last timeline. I'm looking to gather my family and have us happy and safe." She huffed, "Or you know, as safe as people who are addicted to superheroing can be." She gave Steve a lopsided smile, "I want you happy, not stressed trying to fill a role you're not ready for."
"But what about you?" Steve asked.
Harri sat back, "Don't give me those puppy eyes, seven years and I'm immune to Captain America's Puppy Pout™." Steve blushed but Harri nudged him, "Steve I'll be fine. I'm not particularly attached to the position but I am comfortable in it and honestly, until our family is back together and has built up its bonds again, it's the logical place for me. I know everyone's skills, personalities, and limits and I have experience built up over hundreds of battles with you guys to base decisions off of. For now, I'm the best choice and I have no problem with being what my family needs at the moment."
"And later?" Steve asked warily.
"We'll cross the bridge when we get there." Harri said easily, "But I will never force you into anything." She leaned forward and wrapped her small arms around Steve's broad shoulders, "For now, just relax. You have plenty of time to process things, to decide what you want to do, where you want to be. We're your family, we will be here no matter what you decide."
Steve sagged into Harriet's hug as relief flooded him, "Thank you."
"Of course Steve." Harri said gently. After a few minutes of comfortable silence Harri pulled away with a mischievous smile, "Now, I just felt Bucky leave the castle to look for you. What say we play sneak up on the assassin?" Steve chuckled, his face relaxing as his worries fell away momentarily in favor of messing with his best friend.
Over at the DMLE, Tonks was sitting in the relatively empty bull pen, reviewing the Figg Statement for probably the hundredth time over her morning tea. This was currently all the concrete evidence they had against Dumbledore. It had given them leads but unfortunately Skeeter had gotten ahold of it, sending Dumbledore enough of a warning to make it almost useless. The negligence charge would be all they could definitively pin to the man, even the conspiring to commit child abuse that Madame Bones had thrown out to cement the longer restraining order could slip without further proof.
"Still picking that statement clean Tonks?" Kingsley asked in amusement from the desk directly across from hers.
"Yes." Tonks huffed, "I want the truth of Dumbledore, not what we've been told. These last couple times I've seen him have really showed me something different."
Kingsley hummed, "Yes, much different." He tapped his wand against some papers to complete them and send them off toward the filing department. Kingsley pushed his chair over to Tonks desk, "Have you thought about the Order?"
Tonks looked up from the paper, "Thought about the Order what? Like in terms of this mess?" Kingsley nodded and Tonks bit her lip, her hair tinging blue, "It's made me wonder about its true goal. I mean I joined to protect people but is that what we're really doing under Dumbledore?" she tapped the paper, "This Dumbledore? That knew a little girl was being abused and did nothing or at the very least dropped her with muggles and never checked on her again?"
Kingsley nodded, "I've been wondering the same." He admitted quietly. "I think there are people in it that truly want to protect people, my problem is with the leadership and said leaderships accountability."
"Kingsley!" came a shout, the dark skinned wizard jumped to his feet, immediately at attention as Amelia Bones round the corner from her office. "With me!"
"Got something boss?" Tonks called curiously as Kingsley grabbed his over robes quickly and jogged after Madame Bones.
"Skeeter sent us an apology with a lead!" Amelia returned, "We need to go before the Headmaster can cover it up! Keep an eye on the monitoring devices! Remember to note if the Headmaster tries to get to Harriet again!" with that she and Kingsley reached the apparate point in the office and disappeared with a crack.
Tonks sunk back in her chair with a huff, "I could have come along." She muttered as she ducked back down to continue reading.
Slowly the room started filling up with her fellow aurors, all going to work on their own cases or heading out to man important posts. Tonks greeted a few, mentally grumbling and wishing for her mentor. At least she would have had someone to spar with. She dropped her head onto her desk, "So bored!" she moaned.
Tonks' head jerked up when one of the monitoring devices chimed; she practically skipped over to the devices, quickly finding the one that was going off. Her enthusiasm only dimmed a little when she saw that it was the device monitoring Privet Drive, they had placed it in hopes that the Dursleys would return. Tonks quickly silenced the monitor and grabbed her robes, barely stopping on her way to the apparate point.
Wanda huffed as she walked down the sidewalk of the rather boring Surrey neighborhood, trailing after the hulking mutant that was sniffing around like some common dog. She glared at all the cookie cutter houses around her, after almost a year of searching they were all that remained between her and the one who could save her brother.
She had started with Stark, despite the hatred she held for the man, but she couldn't get close. Something was keeping her away from his house and something else was guiding him away from her when she managed to find him outside of his home. Her power had also failed her on the Stark front, even subtle bits seemed to slide off of him. So that lead had failed.
Wanda had next tried focusing her telepathy on the metal phoenix that still held just the slightest bit of cold energy. She had followed the trail for months only for it to lead her to two dead ends, one a set of strange foreboding feeling ruins in Scotland and another to a large area along the sea which had some sort of barrier that kept her from the end of the trail. She had returned to the Mutant School feeling defeated and miserable.
Professor Xavier had offered to try what she had with Cerebro to expand the power. That had created another lead that narrowed things down to a small section of England. With that Charles had sent her off to find Logan, who he believed she could get to track down her savior. It had taken very little to discover that he could detect a little of the person's scent coming from the power the was held within the phoenix, but it had been considerably harder to convince him to help her. She had been literally tossed from his cabin twice before a crazy bit of luck had happened.
"Wolvie have you found my charming birdie yet?" sang out an obnoxious voice from behind her.
"Shut up Wade. Why are you even here?!" Logan growled.
Wanda dropped her head with a small groan, "Should have asked Rogue or Kitty to come."
"Sunstarmonster asked for me!" Deadpool chatted back happily, skipping past Wanda to throw his arms around Logan, "So here I am! Like six chapters earlier than I was supposed to be but when have I ever been on time?!"
Wanda watched the two arguing mutants in front of her warily, despite her power they were both experienced and very dangerous so she didn't want to be caught unaware if their anger suddenly turned on her. She also grudgingly felt some gratitude toward the crazy red suited anti-hero. He had arrived during her attempts to get Logan to help her. It was him who had given her the first real bit of information she could get about her savior.
Her savior was a powerful female.
That was more than she had gotten in her entire search! And she had only gotten it because Deadpool happened upon her changing from her bird form in New York of all places. Apparently the mercenary had tried to sell her and the girl had left him paralyzed in an alley after turning his katanas into balloons, after that she had sent him pizza!
Who was this crazy person she was searching for?
"Here." Logan announced gruffly, shaking Deadpool off of him as he came to a stop in front of a plain looking house.
"What a quaint little bird house!" Wade cooed before striding toward the door without hesitation. Logan grumbled under his breath but followed after Wade. Wanda looked around carefully before following them, shivering when she felt something pass over her lightly. "It's empty!" Wade announced just as Wanda stepped through the now destroyed door.
Wanda stepped over to Logan who was crouching in front of an opened cupboard underneath the stairs. "She lived here." Wanda's blood ran cold, Logan sniffed again and reached in to scratch at something, "There's blood."
"Someone hurt her?" Wanda asked softly.
Logan looked up at her with a hard gaze, "Yeah." He answered finally, he stood and closed the door, "But I doubt if she was powerful enough to save you that she's still being hurt by them."
A pop sounded in the kitchen and Deadpool leapt down the stairs without touching on, "Hear that?" he asked curiously.
"Of course we did." Wanda huffed as Logan let out one set of claws and stalked toward the door that separated them from the kitchen. They entered warily, Wanda with her red power already swirling around her hands and Deadpool with a katana drawn. They scanned the room carefully before moving in to check the dining room.
The second Logan stepped into view there was a flash of light and ropes wrapped round the unsuspecting Wolverine, causing him to drop to the floor like a ton of rocks. Wanda threw her power outward as she stepped forward, she heard a surprised exclamation but yelped herself when something surrounded her and her power, rising her to the ceiling easily and trapping her power around her.
"Easy birdie!" Wade called, "It's just me!" he stepped out and frowned through his mask when he came face to face with a petite woman with bright purple hair and glowing eyes of the same shade who was pointing a thin stick at him. "You're not the pretty bird."
Wolverine chose that moment to claw his way through the ropes around him and launch himself at the woman. She rolled out of the way but Logan caught her by her ankle, she hissed and kicked him in the face, before flicking the stick down at him and firing another beam of light at him. This time it hit and Logan slumped into unconsciousness. The woman scrambled to her feet and once again pointed her stick at Wade who had begun to move forward, "Who are you and why have you trespassed on this crime scene!" she demanded, the tip of her stick glowing ominously.
"I don't think you want to do that." Wade growled low.
Wanda beat against the bubble that was containing her, "Wade don't! She could know who we're looking for!"
The woman narrowed her eyes, "Who are you looking for?" never dropping her stick from where it was leveled at Deadpool's chest.
"There is a girl who saved me!" Wanda said, pulling the metal phoenix from her pocket and waving it at the woman, "She left me this phoenix!"
The woman maneuvered so she could keep Wade in sight but look up at Wanda, she glanced at the metal, "The only known phoenix in Britain is Fawkes."
"Does Fawkes have blue feathers and the ability to turn into a cute girl about yey high that has black hair and crazy green eyes?" Wade asked, dropping his katana to let it rest at his side.
The woman's eyes narrowed further and her hair turned red, "Fawkes isn't blue." She said slowly, "And he can't turn human."
"But you know who he's describing." Wanda pressed, kneeling in the little bubble and looking at the woman intently.
"What do you three want with her?"
"I'm here to be her sidekick!" Wade announced jovially, his mood doing a 180.
The woman frowned and Wanda hurriedly jumped in, "I need her help! Please!" the woman focused up on Wanda, "Please, I need her help to save my brother."
The room was tense as the woman considered Wanda's plea, eventually she let her stick sink, "I'll take you to her."
Wanda let out a relieved breath, "Thank you."
"But you'll have to do it my way."
Harriet was sparring with Strange during the group training time when a house elf popped up to the side of the platform, "Young Lady Harri!" the elf called, effectively drawing everyone attention from their own training.
Harri delivered one last kick that was blocked by the Cloak before she called time out with Stephan and looked down at the little elf. "Hello Poe, has something happened at Potter Manor?"
"A Miss Tonks bes askin' for Young Lady Harri in de fireplace." Poe reported smartly.
Harri frowned, "Let her through but don't let her out of the receiving parlor. I will be there in a minute or two."
Poe bowed, "Yes Young Lady Harri." He said before disappearing.
"Is everything alright?" Steve asked even as the Marauders converged on Harriet and changed into their snake forms.
"I don't know." Harri said as she changed clothes quickly and threw on her glamours. She picked up the Marauders and allowed them to take their places as she looked to Fred and George, "Coming with me?"
"You're actually going"
"to let us this time?" they asked in surprise.
Harri smiled, "You know I only kept you from it because you hadn't trained. You've come far in your training."
"Then of course!" they chorused, quickly making their way over to her.
Harriet looked to everyone else, "I'll send a patronus if we need the cavalry." She looked over to Luna who was lounging in a sun spot by the window like a cat, "Or Luna will tell you, whichever comes first." Fred and George latched onto her and with that they flamed over to Potter Manor.
They landed in the foyer and Harri let her school persona drop into place as she led Fred and George to the parlor with curiosity on her face. When she entered it was to find Tonks sitting in one of chairs with a shaking cardboard box at her feet. "Wotcher Harri!" Tonks called in greeting, standing when Harri appeared. Tonks blinked when she took in the twins, "Fred, George, I didn't expect you two here."
"Bill let us visit Harri"
"while he was at work today." They lied easily.
"We've been practicing some Quidditch moves." Harri added with a smile.
Tonks looked between them before a grin came over her face, "I'm sure that's what you three were doing."
"Tonks!" Harri squeaked in faux embarrassment, letting her glamor color her cheeks. Behind her Fred and George were doing their best to look innocent.
Tonks giggled, "Aren't you three adorable!" she waved a hand, "That's not why I've come though."
Harri furrowed her brow, "Oh?"
Tonks gave a serious nod, "Some people showed up at the Dursleys today looking for you."
*The old man?* Sirius guessed.
*The Dursleys wouldn't be able to get free of the Goblins.* Remus said.
Harri frowned, "Looking for me? Why would they do that? I don't have any friends in the muggle world."
"I wouldn't call them friends." Tonks said, "They don't seem to know who you were, but they did describe you to me." She crossed her arms and leveled a look at Harri, "They also seemed adamant that you could turn into a blue bird."
Harri tensed slightly and she heard the slight whisper that meant Fred and George had drawn their wands with her shielding the motion from view. She frowned and cocked her head, "A bird? I've not begun an animagus transformation and I highly doubt I'd be a bird, let alone a tropical one."
"One of them said you saved her and needs your help and another said they were trying to be your…sidekick?" Tonks continued with a frown.
"Sidekick?" Fred and George said with a frown, Harri felt a headache coming on as she made connections.
Tonks softened her stance a bit, "Harri, I'm not in any position to ask and you're not the one being investigated so I can't demand but I'd like the truth."
Harriet considered her options. If it was who she thought, it was going to be a headache either way but she had considered bring Tonks over to her side. Not disclose everything of course. That was for her family and her mates but just enough to gain her help. In the last timeline Tonks had dated Remus for a little while before the war really kicked in full force and they broke off, in that time Harri had gotten to know her as a sort of kooky Aunt rather than a distant cousin, Harri knew she was interested in protecting people and not what Dumbledore was planning.
Harri dropped her act just the slightest bit and straightened up, her face becoming serious, "This has nothing to do with your investigation. I'd like a vow of silence please."
Tonks frowned, "Harriet…"
Harri shook her head, "We all know who has a strange interest in me and his capabilities; I know as an Auror and the daughter of a Black you were taught how to shield your mind. I can't risk it." She flicked her wand into her hand in clear view of Tonks who tensed back up, "I can't risk it getting out."
Tonks looked torn but her curiosity won out and her hair turned completely black, "I, Nymphadora Tonks, vow on my 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."
Harri relaxed and cast a secrecy ward for the people she was sure were in the little cardboard box, "Thank you Tonks." Behind her Fred and George relaxed, "Now I'll answer as we go. Who do you have in the box?"
Tonks raised an eyebrow but walked over to the box, "Not one for small talk are you?"
"If one of those people in the box is who I think it is then I have a hostile in my manor so no, no small talk right now." Harri said.
"They didn't seem hostile." Tonks said with a frown as she flipped back the flaps on the box.
A red and black blur shot out of the box and toward Harriet, leaping into the air only to be snatched by Harriet's seeker reflexes. Movement stopped, the blur solidified into a black and red bunny that was looking up at Harriet with big eyes, its nose wiggling as it chattered a mile a minute. Harri sighed, "I can't believe you turned Deadpool into a little bunny." She looked over at Tonks, "Do you have any idea who this is?"
"Um, crazy muggle in a strange suit?" Tonks guessed, pulling a black and silver bunny from the box next, this one looked murderous, its big ears practically glued to its head.
"Crazy muggle assassin." Harri said, looking back to the bunny, "Behave. Remember what I told you Wade." With that she dropped the bunny and threw the transfiguration reversal at him at the same time.
Deadpool landed sprawled at her feet with a yelp, he immediately rolled and gripped onto Harriet's legs, "Birdie! I have searched high and low, far and wide, from Marvel to J.K.'s domain!" he cried, Harri rolled her eyes at his insane babbling.
"Okay what is with the bird thing?" Tonks asked, petting the grumpy black and silver bunny gently.
"I'm an ice phoenix." Harri said, kicking Deadpool off of her none to gently but he didn't seem to care, just jumping up and skipping over to Tonks.
"I can't believe you turned the vicious Wolverine into a precious little bun bun." He cooed, taking the black bunny from Tonks who was staring at Harriet slack jawed.
"You're an ice phoenix!" Tonks exclaimed as Harriet choked and pointed at the black bunny, "That's Logan?"
At that point precious little bun bun Wolverine decided the bite Wade's hand hard, making Wade jerk and release him, giving Logan a chance to bolt for the door. Harri rolled her eyes and took the opportunity to prove her point to Tonks, she changed to Glacia, effectively dropping the snakes into a heap on the floor, and flew after Logan. She dove and snatched the bunny easily from the ground before flying back and canceling the transfiguration right above Wade which ended with a severely pissed off Logan crushing Wade. The twins laughed at their cursing as Glacia swooped over between them gracefully and changed back to Harriet. She bent down and picked up the Marauders gently, hissing a quite sorry as she slid them back around her neck.
"You said you hadn't done an animagus form!" Tonks exclaimed over Wade and Logan, pointing at Harriet.
Harri smiled, "Ah, actually, I said I hadn't started one. I've finished two." She corrected.
"Are you kidding!" Tonks exclaimed, "I haven't had the chance to do the first one!"
"Harriet's the best!" Fred bragged, throwing an arm over her shoulders.
"No one can compare!" George added, sliding his arm around her waist.
Wade managed to throw the still grumbling Logan off and bounce to his feet, "So these are the twins you were talking about!" he said.
Harri smiled at Wade in amusement as she leaned back in their mates, "Yes, but remember, I don't share Wade." Tonks choked in the background as Wade pouted enough to be visible through his mask and Fred and George blushed.
"You don't share." Tonks asked in delight, rubbing her hands together as she came forward, not noticing Logan who was pulling the last bunny from the box. A small brown bunny with glowing red eyes. "Are you claiming Fred and George Harriet?" Tonks asked excitedly.
Harri beamed, "Hell yeah. They're my soulmates." She answered proudly.
Tonks and Wade grabbed each other, seemingly by instinct, as they bounced in place and squealed, "It's so adorable!" Tonks cried, the twins' blushes darkened but they gripped Harriet tighter.
"Oh my god!" Wade said, fanning himself, "You three will be magnificent together. I don't suppose…"
"No you can't watch Wade!" Harri snapped, Fred and George looked to him in alarm while Tonks looked to consider the idea. "You either Tonks! I swear to Merlin…"
"Hey!" Logan bellowed, everyone looked over to see him holding the little brown bunny. "Can we get on with why we're really here? Cause I left my perfectly nice, quiet cabin to come deal with this crazy shit and I'd like to fucking go home!"
There was silence for a moment before Wade stepped away from Tonks, "I liked you better as a bunny Wolvie." Wade huffed.
Logan growled at Deadpool as he walked forward and shoved the brown bunny into Harriet's hands, "A one-way ticket to reality would be nice right now." Logan gruffed, crossing his arms as he glared at Harriet. Harri raised an eyebrow before giving the bunny to Tonks, pulling a pin from her hair, and transfiguring it into a metal phoenix. She cast the portus spell for the school and gave it to Logan who looked unimpressed. "How does it work?"
"You have to say 'I'm too old for this shit'." Harri said with a smirk.
Logan growled again, "I'm too old for this shit." He said, the portkey snatched him away in the next second.
"You sure are Murtaugh!" Wade called after him, holding up a hand to Harri for a high five, "Lethal Weapon. Priceless birdie."
"He didn't want anything?" George asked.
"Then why was he here?" Fred added.
"He's our tracker!" Wade said, "Bunny girl here is the real reason we're here."
"Then why did you come?" Tonks asked.
"To annoy me." Harri muttered.
"To fill the sidekick position!" Wade answered, "If it has good dental at least, cause I gotta keep these pearly whites nice and shiny to drawn attention away from the mess that is my face."
"We're her side kicks." Fred huffed, George nodded seriously.
Harri rolled her eyes, "Don't be ridiculous Fred. You're my partners. Much higher than a sidekick. If we took on Wade he'd be like an unpaid intern, running around to get us tea and stuff." The twins looked smug. Harri looked to Wade again, "Wade, we don't have need of a sidekick at the moment."
Wade let out a put upon sigh, "And I thought we had something."
Harri rolled her eyes, "You wouldn't like the position right now anyway, too much paper work not enough un-aliving people."
Wade cocked his head, "I would miss it."
Harri nodded before turning back to Tonks with a sigh, "Alright, last one." Tonks set the brown bunny down and canceled the transfiguration, causing the Scarlet Witch to appear before Harriet who steeled herself. Feeling her unease, Fred and George drew their wands again.
Wanda looked up at Harriet with big eyes as she hurriedly stood, "Finally, I've found you."
Harri regarded her blankly, "Why were you looking for me?"
Wanda ducked her head and pulled out her metal phoenix, "You saved me…And I wanted to say thank you."
"You're welcome." Harri said stiffly, trying to squash her distrust. This wasn't the same Wanda who had messed with Tony's mind in an attempt to create a skewed AI, but she knew the girls hate for Tony ran deep and she wouldn't allow her to come close to Tony with that kind of attitude. Especially with such unfounded hatred. "Is that all?"
Wanda shook her head, "I need your help. My brother is still there. Still with them. There's no telling what Hydra is doing to him!" her breathing was starting to pick up and she clutched at the metal phoenix as everyone tensed around her, "They probably think he helped me leave. They'll punish him! He'll be hurt."
Emotions warred in Harriet. On one hand this girl wouldn't hesitate to hurt Harri's brother and a vindictive part of Harri was growling that they reaped what they sowed after voluntarily joining Hydra in the first place. On the other hand, this girl, though having begun to train under Hydra and holding unfounded hate that was probably nurtured at Hydra, was still just a kid and Harri could relate to wanting to save and protect a sibling.
Wanda was crying now, the silence and the possibility that the one she had used so much time looking for wouldn't help her in the end was weighing on her, that she would have lost her chance to save her brother on one plan that fell through. Her grip on the metal phoenix was so tight now that it was starting to break skin, "Please." She sobbed, "Please, help me. You've broken in before. You can do it again. Please, I can't live without my twin."
Fred and George went rigid behind Harri and her jaw locked even as Tonks' inner Hufflepuff took over and she hugged the girl, trying to soothe her.
Harri snapped her fingers and Dobby appeared, "What can Dobby be doin' for Harri Potter?"
"I need my computer and headset and we'll need some tea and snacks please Dobby." Harri said.
"Dobby will do so quickly!" Dobby answered, popping away. He popped back up in a couple seconds with Harri's computer and headset before popping away for the snacks.
Harri nudged Tonks and cocked her head as she led everyone through the manor and into the den. Tonks got Wanda settled on a couch while Harri and the twins sat on another and Wade wondered around the room, uncomfortable with Wanda's crying. "We'll be able to help right?" George asked worriedly, locking hands with Fred behind Harriet.
"We'll do what we can." Harri answered, starting up her computer and locking her headset in place, "Jarvis? You there?"
"Always Miss Potter. What can I do for you?" Jarvis asked.
"If you have a moment can you help me scan Hydra for someone? We need to mount a rescue." Harri said.
"With pleasure Miss Potter. What do we have for searching?" Jarvis asked as numbers started to fly by on the headset and Harri hacked her way into Hydra files with the back door she had left after finding Bucky.
"Wanda." Harriet called, the crying girl looked over to Harri, her eyes puffy, "I need your brother's names and designation."
Hope lit in Wanda's eyes, "Pietro. Pietro Maximoff, codename Quicksilver. When you saved me he was still a trainee. They were looking for ways to strengthen our mutations."
"Fuckers." Wade muttered from somewhere behind Harriet.
Harriet nodded and waved at the table when Dobby appeared with snacks, "Eat, you'll need it if we're going to be doing this." Her focus fell back to her computer and the holograms Jarvis was running at the edges of her vision.
Wanda and Wade practically fell on the food.
"Don't think we can't see your dislike for her." Fred whispered in her ear, leaning in close to watch the information that was flying across Harri's screen.
"Why don't you like her?" George asked, leaning into her other side. The Marauders looked up at her curiously too.
"She was our first Avengers mission last time." Harri muttered, "She had used her powers to mess with Tony's mind, showing him his greatest fears. We went to detain her. She never mentioned a twin, probably protecting him." She bit her lip through a rough bit of code and softly thanked Jarvis when he helped her through it, "Other than that she blames Tony for killing her family. The faulty bomb that collapsed her house was a Stark Industries model. She blames Tony even though he was only doing his job, designing it. He wasn't the one to buy the weapon or shoot the weapon. It would be like me be pissed at Ollivander because the killing curse that took my mum from me came from a wand he made." Harri huffed.
*You're still helping.* Sirius noted, *Even though her brother will most likely hold the same belief.*
*Of course I'm still helping Siri. I'm not heartless and I couldn't imagine the pain my mates would go through if one of them died before the other. No one deserves that, not even her.* Harri said, *Besides, just because I'm helping doesn't mean I'll let them anywhere near Tony with such beliefs in place.*
It took another half an hour before Harri and Jarvis found Pietro, by that time Tonks had drifted off to sleep with Wanda's head in her lap and Wade had pulled out his phone where he lay next to the table to play some game.
"Ha!" Harri said with a grin, making Wanda jolt into a sitting position, "Got him. Good work Jarvis."
"As cliché as it sounds, I believe teamwork got us where we are Miss Potter." Jarvis answered.
Harri chuckled, "Good point J." she turned her screen toward Wanda, "That him?"
Wanda ran over and stared at the screen desperately, "That's him! He's alive!" her legs trembled as relief flooded her face.
Harri nodded, "Yep and the base they're holding him at is actually just a small testing base. So which is it?" she asked her mates, "Guns blazing or sneaking in?"
"I would hope its guns blazing." Came Loki's voice, everyone looked over to the doorway to see Loki, Steve, Bucky, Jor, Sleipnir, and Fenrir all standing there in their battle gear, "Or we're here for no reason."
Harri grinned as she closed her computer and stood, "Guns blazing it is." Dobby appeared with Harri, Fred, and George's battle gear and they changed with practiced flicks of their wands. "Dobby, please take Tonks back to her desk at the DMLE."
"Who is she?" Steve asked curiously, his eyes following the strange changing of colors in her hair as she slept.
"Tonks is an Auror. A magical police officer if you will." Harri said, Dobby popped away with the unconscious Auror, "I'll send her a message tomorrow." She added as she let the Marauders off her.
"Holy shit!" Wade exclaimed as the snakes changed back to human, "Can all of you become animals?"
Harri giggled, "Most of us."
"How are we going to get to the base that has Pietro?" Wanda asked anxiously.
"Magic." Harri said vaguely as Fred and George activated their headsets and pulled up their hoods. "Jarvis, can you give me a sheltered place near the base?" she asked as she walked over to a clear space and everyone gathered around her.
"Of course Miss Potter." Jarvis responded, flashing coordinates and a satellite picture across Harri's holograms.
"Alright." Harri said as everyone in her group latched together, Harri reached out to Wanda and Wade, "Grab hold or you'll be left behind." Wanda latched onto Harri's hand tightly but Wade just gripped her hand like he was going to shake it. Harri pulled her flames up around them and they were gone in a flash.
They arrived in a small grove of trees that was across from the small base, everyone broke along the tree line to observe the facility. "Alright, circle up." Harri said, "Quickly, before they decide to get smart and send out a patrol." That earned her a few chuckles as they circled together, looking to Harri for direction. "It's a small base, two levels above ground, one below; only two hundred people total not including prisoners and test subjects. Anyone wearing the Hydra insignia on their shoulder has taken the oath and should be wiped out. The priority is getting prisoners out. Once they are clear, Fenrir, Jor, you can go wild and destroy the place." The brothers exchanged an excited look, "The base only." Harri warned, "This is on the outskirts of a small town, try not to drag the rest of the town into it." They nodded solemnly. "Okay, everyone got coms on?" they all nodded.
"Good. To keep them from setting up anything significant, we'll be splitting up. Jor I want you along the side that leads to town to keep any from trying to run off through the civilians. Steve, dad, Siri, I want you to go on the left side; Loki, Sleipnir, Bucky, Wade, you'll be in the front, you'll draw the most fire but I know you can handle it. On the right is where Fred, George, Wanda, and I will enter. Fenrir, Remus you'll be on the right drawing out and protecting any of the prisoners or test subjects we send out your way. Everyone understand?" there were nods all around, "Good, five minutes to get into position. I will send up red sparks when it is time. Move out."
As Harriet's group moved into position she looked to Wanda, "Follow what I say, don't deviate. On this mission you're under my supervision." Wanda nodded seriously, "Stay close behind us, you don't have any protective gear. Don't going running off ahead, you're pretty powerful but they already know how to stop you. Stay calm, I know your powers respond to your emotions, if you bring down the building on top of us we'll have trouble saving ourselves let alone your brother."
"How do you know my powers respond to my emotions?" Wanda asked, her eyes wide as she crouched next to Harriet, opposite of where Fred and George were.
"Call it an informed guess." Harri said flatly, her eyes checking the wall they were getting ready to breach. The timer on her headset reached zero and Harri shot red sparks into the air from her wand.
As one all four groups moved forward to attack, only Remus and Fenrir hanging back behind Harriet's group to wait for any prisoners. With a trio of bombarda maximas they blasted their way in, taking out several of the Hydra agents within with the first hit. Fred and George flanked Harriet, standing a few feet further from her than normal so they had clear casting paths. They cut effectively through the base, heading toward the lower level where their goal was.
When they finally reached the bottom floor Harri slowed them to a stop, peering into the huge main room where test subjects and prisoners alike were all caged like animals in a huge room. Guards lined the cages, their guns at the ready and looking a bit twitchy at the explosions coming from overhead. "How do we get past that?" Wanda asked worriedly.
Harriet shook her arms loose and Mischief and Mayhem popped into existence, hanging off her shoulders with their back paws on her belt for support. Harri looked to Fred and George, only her mischievous grin visible to them through her hood, "Wanna give it a go?"
"Yes!" they said excitedly.
Mischief and Mayhem jumped from Harriet over to their respective counterparts and draped themselves around their necks. Once the circle was complete Harriet pulled the bond tight, as tight as it would go without being completed, and they began to glow as their minds connected.
/Let's go./ Harriet thought. Thinking as one the trio stepped into the room before them and attracted the attention of the guards.
What followed was hardly a fight, it wasn't even a skirmish.
The three soulmates moved around each other like they were dancing; their awareness of enemy locations, enemy weapons, and their mates expanded exponentially through the bond. Harriet would pull Fred out of the way of the bullet and George would shoot a spell over his shoulder to catch the guard who had shot at Fred. Fred would spin Harriet out of the way of a kick and George would flip her over his arm to catch another guard full in the face with her foot. Fred and George would be fighting back to back and Harriet would flip over top of them to nab a guard in their blind spot. It was a deadly dance and within ten minutes of its start the three dancers stood among a sea of bodies, bearing only minor injuries from their battle.
Harriet let Mischief and Mayhem fade as she released a breath, "And that…is how that is done." She said with a bright smile. Fred tugged her over a body and into his arms for a kiss which she returned passionately. George stepped off the body he had ended up standing on top of and tugged Harriet from his brother to claim his own kiss.
"That was amazing!" Wanda exclaimed from the doorway, her eyes wide as she took in the bodies and the three standing in the middle of them.
The trio looked over to her with a smile and Harri stepped away from her mates reluctantly, "Let's free everyone." They all took different sections of the room and set about freeing the prisoners and test subjects. Harri, Fred, and George doing quick first aid where needed, before sending them out the door, telling them to follow the path and to find the wolf outside.
"He's not here!" Wanda cried, coming from the last cell.
"Relax Wanda." Harri soothed, "He was in a testing room when we found him. Jarvis?"
"To your left is a door, down that hallway is the testing rooms. Mr. Maximoff is in the third room." Jarvis reported.
Harriet repeated it to Wanda and the girl tore across the room to the door, Harri, Fred, and George followed. When they came into the hallway they found two guards standing in front of the door that held Pietro, Wanda's eyes blazed and red wisps flared around her fingers. With a single motion both guards flew head first into the wall across form them. She stalked down the hall to them and kicked them both repeatedly, ignoring the groans they let out.
The trio watched this with mild amusement, "You should probably"
"go get Pietro."
"He'll probably want to get"
"in a few kicks as well." Fred and George commented as Harriet destroyed the door.
Wanda brightened and rushed into the room after Harri.
Inside Wanda froze at the sight of her brother. He was strapped to an exam table with two IV's in his arm. He was bloody and beaten, bruises and lacerations covered him and the awkward angle of his feet made it clear that his ankles at the very least had been broken. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow.
Harriet was running a diagnostic on him as Fred and George stepped around the horrified Wanda and joined their mate, "He's in bad shape. We couldn't see this much on the security camera." She murmured.
"Any potions he needs right away?" Fred asked, pulling out his potion pouch.
"Blood replenisher and pain reliever for now." Harri said, "I'm going to put him in a magical coma so we can get him out of here and to the castle. I'll have to check for internal damage when I have more time to do the more in depth scan." Fred nodded and quickly administered the two potions as Harri carefully removed the IVs and stored the bags so they could have it tested later.
"Top two floors clear." Loki announced.
"All prisoners clear." Remus added.
"Copy." Harri said, "We're clearing the last prisoner. He's in worse shape than the others at the moment. We'll flame him to the castle and then come back to assist in clean up."
"Copy that." Steve replied.
"Wanda." Harri called sharply. The girl jolted, "Get over here. Your brother needs you. You can't freeze up." The girl rushed over to Pietro and gripped his hand tightly, "Good, I'm going to take you to our house. He'll be fine. He just needs to be healed. Understand?"
Wanda let out a sob as she clung to Pietro's arms, "Yes…" she said shakily, "Thank you. Thank you for saving us."
Harri softened and nodded before flaming them all away.