Hello my pretties! Happy five days til Halloween!
Now I know there was no chapter last week and that was not planned, but Dakota was being super picky about the end of this chapter. Still...since I've been getting a lot of frankly nasty PMs and comments lately, I have changed the update disclaimer to 'This will be updated weekly, hopefully Thursday but you know how that's been going.' I love you all and I'd really love to update exactly on Thursday each week but I have school, work, and family that also exist in this thing called life, yes I think about this story almost constantly now but unfortunately I don't have a brain wave to Word doc translator. If anyone wants to invent one to speed along these updates feel free, I have faith in you!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer in Chapter 1. Will add as needed.
After a month of waking up with Harriet tucked between them, Fred and George woke to the much more familiar lack of a mouthy witch sleeping between them. However, they did notice she hadn't gone far.
"George." Fred whined playfully, "She's doing it again."
"Leaving us behind." George agreed with a pout, "Charging ahead without backup."
Down at the foot of the bed, Harriet was going through a few yoga positions. She was currently standing on one foot, holding the other with one hand as the other arm was stretched out straight in front of her. Her green eyes had opened at the twins' banter and she was looking at them with amusement, "I'm sorry, did you want to join me for yoga? At five in the morning?"
"Could have woke us up to watch." Fred pouted as they moved their sleep heavy forms down to the end of the bed.
Harri winked at them, "Could always ask for pictures."
"Not according to your dad." George muttered.
Harri raised an eyebrow as she stood up before promptly folding herself in half, "I hardly think he would have a say in it." Harri scoffed from between her shins.
"When the first Skeeter article came out and you sent us that letter, the Marauders sent us some pictures of you." George said, swallowing hard as his gaze slid along Harriet's toned back side, "Told us not to try anything funny with them because he had charmed them to do something terrible."
Harriet slowly moved into a hand stand, allowing her muscles to fully stretch as she looked over to her practically salivating mates. "Well, we'll just have to keep these ones a secret wont we." Fred let out a hum that just edged on a moan and George nodded quickly.
George cleared his throat, "What made you wake up and want to do yoga? And at five in the morning no less."
Harriet looked up at him with a knowing smile, "Despite being asleep so long, since my magic was only wounded and not drained, Glacia was able to keep my muscles from atrophying. However, they are stiff and so is my magic, so I woke up and started my yoga routine. Yoga stretches both."
Fred's eyes scanned over Harriet's form, "Does it?" he asked softly.
Harriet slowly moved herself back onto her feet and smiled at her mates who turned red at getting caught, "It does." She said lightly with a small smile on her face.
"So you're better then?" George asked, scooting back so Harriet could join them on the bed again.
"Much better." Harriet said as she quickly pulled her hair up into a ponytail, keeping it in place with an easy bit of magic. "My muscles and magic will still be stiff for a couple days and for another week or so I'll get tired pretty quickly if I'm casting or too active but other than that I'm fine."
"It's a good thing that the winter Holidays start in two weeks then." Fred noted.
Harriet nodded, "Yes. Now, I ended up crashing earlier than expected yesterday after the match. Can you tell me what happened and what's gone on since?"
George frowned, "You don't know what happened?"
"I know I was attacked by Huginn and Muninn." Harri said, "But after the binding chain latched onto me things start to go fuzzy. I remember Mjolnir showing up, then I must have gone to Asgard because I remember Thor and whole bunch of gold. Glacia took over at some point before I changed back and it felt like someone else took over my body to fight Odin." Fred and George fidgeted, which Harri noted with a raised eyebrow but continued, "Then I remember…Wade? Showing up." She frowned and cocked her head, "Mischief and Mayhem were out but I don't remember calling them. I remember them eating Huginn and Muninn though. After that all I remember was breaking Gungnir, threatening to kill Odin, and then appearing back in the Chamber."
"You also cut off Odin's arm." Fred coughed lightly.
Harri looked momentarily surprised before shrugging, "Could have been worse."
"We expected you to kill him." George stated.
"Frigga was surprised you didn't too." Fred said.
"I would have had the right to." Harri said before leaning back to rest on her hands, "So what did I miss?"
"When you called down Mjolnir she gave you armor like Thor's." Fred started.
Harri wrinkled her nose, "Cape and everything?"
"Yes." George chuckled, "Dobby has it now."
"He can keep it. I've told Mjolnir before that my uniform is fine the way it is."
"Yeah we saw." Fred laughed, "When you came back and collapsed, Hogwarts made some huge pensive on the wall and Mjolnir provided some memories of you and Thor."
"Oh Merlin, nothing embarrassing I hope." Harri groaned.
"No, just showing how Thor became family to you." George reassured with a small laugh.
Fred's gaze softened a bit, "And we got to see you pregnant." He said gently.
Harri's eyes widened before she smiled, "Thor's blessing?" the twins nodded, "Well at least Mjolnir was focusing on family moments. That was a pretty good day. Pregnancy hormones were in full effect."
Fred reached over and pulled Harriet into his lap easily before kissing her, "You looked gorgeous."
"You did." George agreed, moving closer and kissing at Harri's shoulder, "Carrying our son, all soft and happy."
Harri's smile brightened, "Pregnancy does agree with me." Her eyes flashed with humor, "For the most part. You might not be saying this if Mjolnir had shown you one of my mood swings from that time."
"We'll love you no matter your mood." George said.
"And your still gorgeous when you're angry." Fred continued.
Harriet let out a small huff, "Charmers." She teased. Harri adjusted herself in Fred's lap so she was a bit more comfortable and so she could see both of her mates, "Anything else I missed about the attack?"
"We don't have all the details." Fred scowled.
"Fawkes blocked Asgard off so we couldn't follow you and when we tried to get to you with Strange's help we were blocked too." George continued unhappily.
"So we sent Wade after you. But he wasn't exactly overflowing with answers." Fred said, frustrated.
"He did tell us that you put a huge ice shard through Odin's throne." George offered, "And that you didn't kill anyone."
Harriet nodded, "Alright. And afterward?"
Fred and George exchanged uncertain looks before starting with what they thought may have been the most controversial. "Loki told the Slytherins who he was and exactly what happened in the attack."
Harriet's eyebrows shot up so fast that the twins thought they may fly off, "What, really?" Fred and George nodded hesitantly, "Didn't expect that. Loki usually tries to keep information strictly controlled."
"You're not mad?" George ventured.
Harri cocked her head, "Why would I be? He didn't tell them about the time travel did he?" Fred shook his head, "That's all I really care about keeping secret."
Fred nodded and George took her response as a sign to continue, "When we found out that you would be in a coma while you healed, we called Tonks come and play you so that Dumbledore wouldn't be suspicious. The Snuffles Brigade and the Slytherins ran distractions so no one would be able to focus on Tonks long enough to figure out something was wrong. It's been enough to keep Dumbledore running around, but we think he may know you were the magical disturbance that alerted the wards. Luna said he had found evidence."
Harriet hummed, "Depending on what it is it may be able to be played off. With the holidays coming up though he'll probably try to confront me before we leave, especially if Tonks was left alone for the most part."
Fred nodded, "She was only really attacked once and that was Hermione trying with the Vertiserum again but Strange's cloak took care of her. Dumbledore we've managed to keep off balance with the Brigade and the Slytherins alternating running interference." He said.
Harriet nodded in understanding, "Alright." Noting her face, George hesitantly summoned the files they had been working on from their things over in front of the fire place. Harri smiled when she saw her planning folders, "Did Loki teach you to get into my pocket dimension?"
"No." George said slowly.
"Just a bit of dumb luck that we managed it." Fred cut in easily. They had already agreed to keep Mischief and Mayhem's level of consciousness to themselves for the time being, especially with how they had left things off with their older selves.
Harri hummed but nodded, "I'll teach you the quickest way over break. That's when it will be easiest to give you the full run down of what's in there so you don't accidently pull out a Chitauri weapon before we train with it."
"So you're not mad about this either?" Fred ventured this time, he glanced over at the folders, "We added some things in."
Harriet pulled as far away as she could while still staying in Fred's lap so she could give her mates a small frown, "Why would I be mad?" she repeated from earlier, she cocked her head at her mates before blinking and letting out a sigh. "Oh, sweet Morgana I'm losing my touch." She took the folders from George and pulled him closer so she could wrap her arms around both her mates' necks, letting their chins rest on either one of her shoulders as they wrapped their own arms around her waist, "How long have I missed you feeling like this?"
"Like what?" George muttered into her shoulder.
"Like I'm taking over." Harri answered plainly, "Like I'm somehow more important than you. Like I'm your leader, not your mate."
"You are our leader." Fred answered softly, even as their grips on her tightened.
"We'd follow you anywhere." George continued.
"And you are the most important person in our world." They finished together.
Harriet's heart ached, "My genius idiots." She murmured, "You two are the most important people in my world. I would burn Yggdrasil to its roots if you asked me to."
"Terrible prank." Fred tried to joke as his and George's magic surged at her declaration.
Harriet nuzzled into his shoulder, "All that would matter was that you found it funny." She answered solemnly.
"You can't just say things like that." George choked, trying to sound calm.
Harri gave a light giggle, "Like a terrible rom com I know, but doesn't make it any less true." She pulled back to look at her mates with a serious gaze, "You are my soulmates, my partners in every sense of the word. You are not my subordinates. We are a team. Until you get experience built up and we complete the bond I will still probably be over protective and overbearing at times but that does not make you any less than me."
"But we are." George said weakly, anxiety flickering in his eyes, Fred's gaze dropped, "You have so much incredible power, more than we do. And you've lived through so much. You're confident enough not to need us." He sagged in place, "We just…we just don't see what exactly we bring to this bond." He finished softly.
"Then I've failed you." Harri said, the bond pulling and her magic reaching out to her mates. "I am so sorry." She said mournfully, "I've never really had to explain this and it seems I've done a shit job if this is how you feel. If you don't know exactly how much I would be lost without you two." She bit her lip as she took in the twins' bowed heads. "When I was growing up I was unwanted and beaten down, emotionally and physically. I was taught that I was worthless and a freak, that I should have died along with my parents, that no one could ever hold an interest in me let alone love me. As a result, I was quiet, shy, and hid myself in others expectations of me. When I came to the magic world it was no different. I was thrust into a world where I was both loved and hated by people for something that I couldn't even remember. Everyone I met was more interested in my scar than me, my connection to Voldemort, the power I held, my fame."
"Then I met two sassy little redheaded shits on a train." Fred and George looked up a little and Harriet smiled softly at them, "They didn't see my fame or my scar or my power. They seemed to find it funny if anything. Made light of it at every turn. Pranked anyone who got too pushy or cruel with the shy firsty. Took care of me when they found out I wasn't eating during the holiday break because my fear and anxiety was more overwhelming than my hunger. They contradicted everything my relatives had been telling me and just…never left. Rescuing me from the Dursleys multiple times. Healing me. Teaching me my front of confidence and helping me develop my 'inherent sass'." That got small smiles out of Fred and George and Harriet's smile grew, "I realized I had fallen in love with you when I was chosen for that bloody tournament and you guys helped me through my panic attack before starting to scheme up ways for me to not only survive but win, like it was a given that I would succeed. And in the second task it was your names were the ones the Goblet of Fire provided under the criteria of who I would miss the most if they were to disappear."
"In all honesty, you two would be better off without me." She continued, her smile turning self-deprecating. Fred and George's eyes grew wide and they opened their mouths' to protest but Harri held up a hand. "No, don't. It's true." She started to wring her hands together slowly, "My mental state when I came into the magical world was less than ideal, then continuing on the publics opinion of me flipped from day to day, so fast sometimes I thought I would get whiplash. I have no doubt that if it wasn't for you two I would have done something drastic to just get away from the pressure and the ideas beaten into me since I was a fifteen month old." Fred and George shared a stricken look but Harri continued, "You two on the other hand. You are brilliant in your own right. You are geniuses and fought your own way out of the shit treatment of your family. You pushed past expectations on your own to go your own way. I will forever be grateful to the Fates who tied us together and to you two for not rejecting me but it does not change the fact that you would have been much better off without Undesirable Number One and her problems tied to you."
"Harriet…" Fred started.
She let out a little sniff and shook her head, "As for the power," she plowed on, "it is ours, not just mine. It seems like so much because I have Glacia and my core from the last timeline on top of the still growing one from this time line." she pulled up a hand and her pointer finger took on a soft glow as she began to draw midair. Fred and George's magic started up a pleasant hum beneath their skin as Harriet drew the same triquetra with a circle around the outside as Mischief had a month prior. "I've told you that when our bond completes we will be able to share magic back and forth. There is no limit to that. Our raw power can be transferred from one to another without any ill effect, I don't want to say we share a magic core because that isn't entirely true, yet in a way it is. Soulmate magic is something very complex that we never fully understood because we kept finding out new things about it. But the take away is that my power is yours as well."
"What is this symbol?" George asked softly, "It's doodled in the margins of your plans too." And it was, they had found multiple little doodles of it with Harriet's plans, interspaced with different paw prints and little fox heads.
"Makes your magic hum doesn't it?" Harri laughed lightly, "It's us. Three parts of a whole. Separate yet intertwined. The three celestial bodies. The three Hallows of Death. Mind, Body, Soul. Earth, Sea, Sky. Past, Present, Future. The Power of Three." As she said this she traced over the triquetra again, "The most balanced of the magical numbers." Her finger went to the circle around the outside, "Each one made whole and brought into balance by the presence of the other two."
Harri dropped her hand, the shape disappearing, much to Fred and George's disappointment. Harri smiled at them, "Do you understand now? You are not my followers, not my subordinates; you're my mates, my partners. We're a team and that isn't going to change. I kept my plans to myself at first out of necessity but I'm never going to be mad at you just because you're adding or changing things. We're meant to work together." The twins' eyes were locked on her and Harri gazed back without hesitation, leaving her face open for Fred and George's scrutiny. Finally, they relaxed and nodded with smiles, Harriet smiled back before pulling the folders back over to them, running her fingers along the stray bits of extra paper sticking out, "Then let's go over things shall we?"
It was almost two hours before they ventured out from the Room of Requirement, completely shutting it off this time and allowing the room to go blank for the first time in a month. Harriet couldn't have been prouder of her mates for stepping up like they did and the only real corrections they had needed to make to the plans that Fred and George had added on to was if there was a resource that they hadn't known about that was available for them to use. Now, they were heading down to the Chamber so Harriet could catch up with everyone else for the first time since the attack, as yesterday Fred and George had swept her back to the safety of the RoR once the game once done and she had passed out soon after.
As they made it to the first floor, they came to a stop at the sound of Harriet's name being called.
Fred and George moved closer to Harriet and discretely drew their wands behind her back as they turned to find Dumbledore approaching with a disgruntled looking Kingsley and Madame Bones. A glimmer of green on top of Madame Bones hat caught Harri's eye and she quickly noted the familiar beetle's presence. Harriet held herself loosely as she pasted on her innocent, shy mask. "Good morning Madame Bones, Kingsley." Harri greeted sweetly, subtly jabbing Dumbledore by acknowledging him last, "Headmaster."
"Good morning Miss Potter." Amelia greeted, "I'm sorry we have to disturb you after such a spectacular game yesterday. I'm sure you are looking forward to a lazy day."
"No rest for the wicked I'm afraid." Harri said with a smile, "I was hoping to get some of my holiday homework hammered out before the break even started."
"We'll try to make this quick." Madame Bones said with a small smile. "Headmaster? What did you need to speak with Miss Potter about?"
Dumbledore gritted his teeth angrily as he was ignored but quickly masked it when Amelia brought the conversation back to him, "Yes, as you may know, there was a magical disturbance almost a month ago at the edge of the school's wards. I have been investigating it and have found evidence that you were there when it happened."
Harriet frowned, "I was with Professor Rani sir."
"We were with her too." Fred interjected.
"In detention." George continued.
Albus gave them a mocking smile, "I applaud your defense of your friend boys but I have evidence that says otherwise." He looked back to Harriet, "I only wish to hear what happened. How the month long storm was created. Hogwarts could not survive a storm of the magnitude that easily again."
"I don't know what to tell you professor." Harriet said, "I wasn't completely aware of what happened until after the fact."
"What is this evidence Headmaster?" Amelia asked, clearly annoyed to be dragged here for this.
Albus pursed his lips as he looked over to the Head of the DMLE, "Strands of her hair. In the center of the circle of dead ravens."
Harriet snorted and covered her mouth with a faux blush as eyes went back to her, "I'm sorry. That was rude." She brought her hand down, "But Headmaster, I don't see how that proves anything." She brought her hands up and ran them through her thick hair lightly, "As someone who has had thick hair my whole life I can tell you that it can shed worse than Snuffles sometimes." She pulled her hands free and several hairs came out between her fingers easily, "We walked back from Hogsmeade through there earlier and I fly quite often due to my spot on the Quidditch team. Those could have fallen out any time."
"I have to agree Headmaster." Amelia said, "I had quite thick hair when I was younger and it did the same. Unless the scene was controlled and closed off I can't take that as evidence and neither should you."
"Perhaps a questioning would be in order." Albus pushed.
"I think not!" Amelia exclaimed, as Harriet let her eyes widen in the picture of worry. "We have no reason to question her! She is not a suspect and you have no evidence to make her one!" Albus was trying very hard to hide his anger and Harriet had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at his effort. "Honestly," Amelia continued, "this is almost as bad as you wanting to question her about her dog!"
"Snuffles?" Fred asked, "What's wrong with him?"
"He's been a great dog!" George said, "Most of the students love him!"
"You are the one who seems to have a problem with Snuffles." Fred said looking over to Dumbledore, who narrowed his eyes slightly at him.
"Did you cast at that poor dog again Headmaster?" Amelia demanded.
"That is not a dog. It is Sirius Black. I must keep my students safe!" Dumbledore tried to reason. "Amelia, I've already told you about the empty gravesite I found at Azkaban."
"It's Madame Bones, Headmaster." She bit out. "And I've already told you that, your unsanctioned trip to the prison aside, we don't mark the graves of unclaimed prisoners! There is no way to know for certain that Black was absent from the site or not because the spot you dug up might not have been where he was buried at all! You have no evidence! For any of this! You are just attacking a poor animal who can't defend himself from magic."
Harriet looked up at Dumbledore with wide eyes, "I'm not sure why you don't like my dog Headmaster. Snuffles wouldn't hurt a fly."
"He attacked a man in the middle of the street." Albus huffed.
"The man was a drunk who was attacking a scared little girl and getting ready to attack Harriet." George reminded Dumbledore.
The Headmaster's gaze turned positively glacial as he looked to the twins, "Mr. and Mr. Weasley, this is no concern of yours."
"We're Prewetts." The twins deadpanned in return.
Kingsley chuckled at their antics, "And I would think they'd have a vested interest in their girlfriend Albus."
Dumbledore froze.
Harriet had to fight the urge to cackle at the look on Albus' face. With the cat out of the bag, the twins sheathed their wands and each wrapped an arm around Harriet's waist while she managed another blush to complete the picture. Fred and George looked on just this side of smug as they held her between them where everyone could see, already some of the students who had been too blind to what the Gryffindor Quidditch team already knew were passing and taking note of the scene with wide eyes.
It only took Kingsley a minute to notice her blush and the reactions of the student walking around them before he gave an embarrassed cough, "Oh…was that not…I mean…it's really obvious." He ended apologetically.
"Not to everyone." Fred chuckled.
"Only the team has really picked up on it apparently." George laughed.
Amelia gave them a kind smile, "Well you certainly make a lovely trio."
"Thank you." Harri said shyly.
"Headmaster do you have anything else?" Amelia asked sternly, "I'm sure these young lovebirds would like to go spend some time together and I won't be summoned here every other day for your wild accusations."
Albus' eyes had lost their twinkle and he seemed to be barely suppressing his rage, "Yes, I do." He said stiffly, clearly trying to get his masks back in order, "Miss Potter, I do hope that you plan to stay here in the castle over break. With Bellatrix Lestrange out there and us being uncertain about her true intentions, your safest place will here in the castle."
"I'm sorry Headmaster but I plan to spend the holiday with the Longbottoms." Harriet said with a smile, "It will be my first Christmas with a real family." She poured on the puppy eyes for those passing and Amelia who visibly softened at her apparent innocent enthusiasm.
"And Bill promised we could go"
"over and see her on Christmas!" Fred and George said with big smiles.
"Also, I've been getting several strange owls from Gringotts about conquest rights." Harri innocently, making Dumbledore's jaw clench, "I plan to go ask them what that is all about over the break."
Amelia's eyebrows rose but she nodded, "That sounds like an excellent holiday. You three can go now. I hope you have a good day."
"Thanks Madame Bones!" Fred said as he and George began to pull Harriet away from the adults.
"Nice to meet you!"
Harriet waved behind her with a wide innocent smile, "Bye!"
As soon as they were out of range of the adults Harriet broke out in giggles, "His face!"
Fred and George grinned at her, "Our best prank and it wasn't even intentional!"
"I can't wait to see how Ron reacts to this!" Fred snickered.
"Rita was on Amelia's hat so everyone will know by dinner!" Harriet laughed brightly.
"Good." Fred said smugly.
"Now everyone will know you're ours." George added triumphantly.
A giggle quite a bit airier than Harriet's sounded nearby and they looked over to see Luna walking out of a nearby hall with Bash trotting at her feet. "Everyone should know already but they're being blind about it." Luna hummed.
"Good morning Luna." The trio chorused.
"Good morning." She responded with a smile, Bash snorted at her feet.
Harri grinned down at him, "Good morning Buck." The margay flicked his tail in greeting before settling on Luna's feet where she had stopped. Harriet rolled her eyes and looked back to her little sister, "What's up?"
"Before you go release the Thunderer a certain green giant needs some reassurance beyond the phone call you planned for the tie, hawk, and spider." Luna said, holding out Harriet's journal that connected with Bruce's, "I've kept up communications but they felt the attack through the wrist bands and he's forced himself into solitude because the big guy is trying to escape."
Harriet took her journal and quickly opened to the end of the used pages, wincing when she saw Bruce's handwriting where it had gone shaky from trying to force a worried Hulk down. "We'll go see him."
Luna nodded, "I'll go let everyone know you'll be a while."
Harriet, Fred, and George moved off through the castle, finding one of the secluded corners that barely anyone knew about before Harriet gripped her Bruce Journal, aiming for its counterpart, Fred and George latched onto her and in a wave of blue flames they were off.
Landing, Fred and George looked around curiously, Harriet was unsurprised to find that they were in a thick wood near a tiny run down cabin that sat by a small creek. They all pulled their school robes tighter around them to keep away the chill before they started out.
"So we're going to get to meet the Hulk finally?" Fred asked, zeroing in on the cabin as Harriet headed straight for it.
"Yep. He's pretty big and really strong but once he knows you're not a threat he's a big teddy bear." Harri said, "Bruce would argue but he's still set on calling him a monster at this point. Took us forever to set him straight last time."
"Are all of our family members stubborn and misguided then?" George asked with a huff.
"Basically." Harri laughed, "They were really bad together when we first met them. Always arguing. Pretty vicious with each other too. They were one or two bad fights away from breaking up the team in some explosive manner, one that would have hurt a lot of innocents in the process. Took us a lot of work to shape them into an actual family but in the end it was worth it." Fred and George nodded, their minds whirling with questions and ideas but not wanting to get started on anything as they finally made it to the door of the cabin.
Standing on the other side of the door, the twins tensed as they heard heavy rough breathing through the wood. "Has he already changed?" George asked softly as Harriet frowned and put her ear to the door.
"No, Bruce is fighting him. He'll be green but not any bigger." She whispered before looking up at Fred from her position, "You gave my bracelets to Sirius to watch over right?" he nodded, "Can you text him so he doesn't try to show up when Bruce's glows green?" Fred had his phone out halfway through her question. "Alright. I'm going to open the door, when he's transformed I need you to take out a wall so he can get out easier. After that stay back so I can calm him down and introduce you properly."
"Got it." They chorused, whipping out their wands again.
Harriet opened the door and they were greeted by the sight of a very green Bruce sitting cross legged and trying to mediate in front of the small fireplace. His chest was heaving and the heavy gusty breaths that they had heard through the door seemed to echo now. Harri moved forward confidently, "I see that you haven't been following any of my advice." She sighed loudly.
Bruce's eyes shot open, flashing gamma green for an instant before he rasped, "Harriet?"
"Let him out." She said flatly.
"No, he'll…"
"Bruce I've heard all your excuses before but right now, he's worried. He won't go anywhere; his objective is standing in front of him. Now let him out." Harriet repeated.
Bruce's fever bright eyes flicked to Fred and George who were still standing by the door, "But…"
Harriet rolled her eyes and moved even closer to Bruce, he eyed her uncertainly as she crouched down in front of him and looked directly into his eyes. Bruce felt like she was looking past him and was proven right when she firmly ordered, "Hulk come here."
Bruce's eyes went wide and in the next second he was expanding, his muscles were bulging, veins throbbing. Of course Bruce tore right through his shirt but luckily he had managed to find yet another pair of miracle pants. Harriet backed up to give Hulk enough room as he stumbled to his feet, hunching over to keep from hitting the ceiling. "Sister Bluebird." He rumbled, eyes locking on her.
Harriet grinned up at him and a second later heard the crack of wood exploding under bombardas. "Hey big guy. Let's get out of this cramped space huh?" he let out a heavy breath but followed her as she led him out of the hole the twins had made in the wall. Once he was out he was able to stretch to his full height of just under nine feet, his joints popping in a way that made Fred and George cringe even as they were staring at him with wide eyes. Harriet was still smiling up at him, "There you go Hulk, much better right?"
The green giant didn't answer, just hunched back down to inspect Harriet, "Sister Bluebird hurt?"
Harri shook her head, "Not anymore. I'm all better."
Hulk tilted his head, "Who hurt?"
"Some asshole called Odin." Harriet replied easily, walking over to him and climbing up onto his shoulder without hesitation.
"Hulk need smash?" he asked solemnly, like he was just going to pop off to Asgard without warning to do so.
Harriet laugh, "Nah big guy. I smashed him myself. If you ever come across him you're welcome to give it a go though."
Hulk gave her a wide grin, drawing himself up suddenly and jostling Harriet in the process, a faint clink sounded as she regained her balance, "Hulk smash good. Puny Odin no match for Hulk."
"You go get him Jolly Green!" came the cheer from nowhere, Harriet frowned at the familiar voice but it fell to the wayside as Hulk began to growl.
Harri blinked and found Hulk glaring down in front of him, she peered over his cliff of a shoulder to see Fred and George had come over. "It's alright Hulk, they're safe."
"Hulk no smash?" he asked, eyeing the twins distrustfully.
"No. No smash. They're my mates, my partners. They won't hurt you." Harriet reassured.
"Unless of course you hurt Harriet!" Fred offered, looking up at Hulk without fear.
"Yes, then get ready for a quite painful smashing!" George said.
Harriet felt the urge to face palm but was able to breathe a sigh of relief as Hulk dropped down on his backside, jolting her again, to frown at the twins.
"Only you маленькие братья." Came yet another voice, this one sounded exasperated and Harriet gritted her teeth, wishing her growing insanity would stop with the Russian and allow her to focus.
"Hulk no hurt Bluebird. Sister Bluebird smash with Hulk. Hulk smash punys who hurt Bluebird." The giant was saying or more scolding as he shook a giant green finger at Fred and George.
The twins were just grinning up at Hulk, nodding understandingly, "Then we should get along fine." Fred said with a grin.
"Could definitely use some help keeping Bluebird out of trouble." George chuckled. Harriet huffed lightly but couldn't stop her smile at how easily her mates took to Hulk.
Hulk was nodding along with this seriously until he leaned closer to look the twins over, "Why same?"
"We're twins." Fred and George laughed.
"What twins?" Hulk asked, Fred and George blinked and Harriet giggled softly. It would seem that they would learn on the fly about how to explain things to Hulk.
When they finally got back to Hogwarts, the twins were more than comfortable with Hulk. Hulk was also quite taken with his new brothers and answered the questions they threw at him before asking some of his own, despite them being a little less complicated. Before he had went to sleep, Hulk made Harriet promise to bring Fred and George with her the next time he was out and she agreed without hesitation. Once Hulk was Bruce sized again and they were left with an exhausted, passed out scientist; Fred, George, and Harriet fixed up the cabin, called Dobby to have him bring Bruce food and supplies, and then put Bruce to bed.
Harriet flamed them directly into the Salazar's office and was greeted by exaggerated cheers. The Marauders, Loki and his children, Lee, Neville, Luna, Bash, Steve, and Tonks were all down there and pulled her away from the safety of her mates to greet her enthusiastically. Harriet laughed and received hugs from most everyone, stealing her own from Loki and Jörmungandr who were trying to stand strong against the hug fest.
"Lady Phoenix! Lady Phoenix!" Thor called over the commotion, everyone did their best to ignore the thunder god that was currently stuck to the wall but after several minutes of his calls they parted around Harriet so he could see her. "Lady Phoenix! You have returned!" Thor boomed with a grin.
Harriet smiled, "Hello Thor. How have you been?" she asked sweetly.
"I have been encased in your ice!" he grumbled, "I have hardly had time to be much else other than what I was." Loki's lips twitched where he stood over by Fred and George who were watching this curiously.
"Yes, well I had to make sure you were safe." She said lightly, trying not to grin, "It is actually a nice little trick." She walked forward and knocked at the ice that was over Thor's chest.
"Aye, a grand thing, but no longer needed Lady Phoenix. The Great Phoenix said you have put me here to keep me safe. I am quite safe so you can release me." Thor said eagerly.
Harriet tapped her chin thoughtfully, "I don't know…" she drawled mischievously, turning her back to Thor and smirking at her mates and Loki who were trying not to laugh. "It may be for the best to keep you there."
Thor spluttered, "Lady Phoenix! Please! I have been trapped here a whole moon!"
"Yes! But a moon where you were safe and protected!" Harriet cried dramatically, flinging herself against Steve whose smile just barely showed past his Captain-America-is-Disappointed-in-You™ face.
Thor gaped at her before trying to reason, "Mjolnir showed us the many great battles we went on together! Were those not glorious? How can we go on more while I am trapped?"
Harri sniffed but looked at him through the curtain of her hair, "I could always throw you at the enemies. My ice is indestructible so you would make a great battering ram."
"No!" Thor shouted, his eyes wide, "Release me!" full on snickers were coming from Loki and the twins now, the Marauders were doing much better as they gripped each other's arms tight in an attempt to hold it in.
Harri pouted, "It sounds like you want to leave." She turned big tearful eyes on Steve, "Cap he wants to leave!"
"Only the ice!" Thor said hastily, "I will stay! I only wish to leave the ice!"
Harriet turned the same big eyes on the thunder god, "You mean it?"
"Aye." Thor rumbled, "Sorcerer Strange is bringing me more Poptarts. I wish…to be able to feed myself this time." That's where the room lost it, everyone breaking out into laughter as Thor hung his head in embarrassment and mumbled about mean tricksters. Harriet smiled at him fondly, coming over to him and tapping the ice on his chest gently. The cocoon shattered and Thor dropped to the ground, landing easily on his feet. "Thank you Lady Phoenix."
Harriet smiled and pulled him into a hug, "Of course Thor." He wrapped his arms around her and gave the bear hug that Harriet had missed so much from the previous timeline, "Welcome to the family." She said softly.
That evening at dinner the Prophet released a special edition of the paper to announce the development in Harriet's dating life. The twins couldn't stop grinning once the paper arrived and took the announcement as an opportunity to French kiss Harriet right in the middle of the Great Hall; something that got them a mixture of wolf whistles, playful boos, calls to get a room, the furious stares of Ron and Dumbledore, and detentions. The trio took it all in stride, grinning at the jokes from the team while waiting for Ron to make his scene. Unfortunately, Hermione was there holding Ron back with a sour look of her own. Fred and George silently vowed to slowly wear Ron down until he exploded. The next morning, Fred and George got a Howler from their mother about them dating Harriet but before it could get the second sentence out, Fawkes burnt it to ashes.
Other than that the last two weeks until the Holiday break went rather well.
The second day after she woke, Harriet called Natasha, Clint, and Phil to tell them that she was awake and fine. Clint and Phil's show of support came in the form of Clint offering to shoot out Odin's other eye and Coulson musing over what paperwork they would need filed for said action. Natasha's was much simpler and what Harriet appreciated most, she simply went straight into the recruits she was picking out for the new division, acknowledging that Harriet was ready to get back to work now that she was healed. The call did come with a bit of a warning from Coulson, who said that Fury was trying to get to a couple of her new potential agents so he would have eyes inside the special division. Natasha promised to keep her posted.
Harriet invited Frigga and Thor to the Castle for the Holidays and with it Fred and George invited their father. The man was almost in tears being invited home with his sons and they were pulled into a tight hug by their father despite their protests. Harriet was happy that they were getting this second chance with Arthur and her mates had told her that if this went well they would tell their dad all that was going on, something Harri accepted with a smile.
The Slytherins were happy to have their Lady back. Harriet told them how proud she was that they had banded together and as an early Holiday gift for the snakes, moved Salazar's portrait up into the common room. The poor Slytherins were already overwhelmed with a Lady who taught and took care of them and the God that she had saved and managed to get the loyalty of, so when Salazar was presented to them and gave his own praise for their hard work well…things got a bit strange in Slytherin house for a couple days. That first night, Severus ran his supply of calming draughts dry and the second day, a majority of the house could be found sitting on the floor in front of Salazar's portrait like toddlers, listening to stories. Even still, Harriet, Salazar, and Loki made sure the Slytherins knew how proud they were and made a promise among themselves to correct the snakes if the more worshipful behavior wasn't dialed back to normal after the Holidays.
The Brigade continued to run distractions on Dumbledore and the second time he lost it in the middle of the Great Hall, Harriet managed to get a picture with the help of Colin Creevey. Said picture was of Dumbledore sending a hex at Dread Pirate Snuffles and the dog burying its head in Harriet's lap after. The picture was front page news the next morning and Skeeter wrote a scathing report about Dumbledore and his hatred of dogs, subtly adding in that he saw Snuffles as an escaped convict before questioning his mental wellbeing.
Steve and Tonks had headed back to LeFay Castle with Strange, still training and working through the beginnings of their new Shield operation. Harriet had originally wanted to send Thor with them so he could get to know Steve and wouldn't have to stay down in the dark Chamber but Loki had nipped that plan in the bud before it started. He simply turned his brother into the corgi form that Mjolnir showed them and gave Thor to their mother to sneak out for the Holidays. Harriet had rolled her eyes but conjured Thor's puppy cape without too much trouble. Dumbledore was much too distracted with the Brigade to notice the arrival of another dog, especially since that one stayed in the Defense classroom.
Soon enough they were all boarding the Express and heading back to London for the Holiday break. Frigga, Arthur, and Thor would be joining them in a couple days once Frigga finished up her pre-break teaching duties.
Their arrival back home was hectic as usual but being away from enemy territory and being about to relax was enough to offset that.
Of course not ten minutes after Fred, George, and Harriet had collapsed on their bed to just relax in the quiet with each other, things just had to get complicated again.
"Lady LeFay." Diana called sternly from the end of the bed, "You have an urgent letter that was just delivered through the wards by a strange house elf."
"Sweet Merlin can't people go two seconds without you." Fred muttered into her shoulder.
"Apparently not." Harri sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She held up a hand, "Give it here Diana. See that the elf is escorted out of the wards completely, log its signature in case it returns."
"Yes Lady LeFay." Diana said, floating the letter over to her outstretched hand before disappearing.
"Whose it from?" George asked curiously, edging close enough to examine it with her as she turned the heavy ornate envelope in her hands.
"Hmm…it has the Black seal." She noted, running a hand over the wax seal, "But I doubt it was Siri." She broke the seal carefully and pulled out the single piece of thick parchment. Fred levered himself up on one arm to watch their reactions as Harriet and George read the missive. "It's Andromeda and Narcissa." She said in surprise, recognizing their names past all the pureblood titles that they tacked on to make the letter official.
"'We humbly request an audience with the Great and Powerful Lady Slytherin.'" George read, "Can people request audiences with you?"
"She does have the throne room." Fred chuckled.
"Multiple." George laughed.
Harri hummed, "In theory they can." She bit her lip, "It's one of the bad things about taking over one of the Hogwarts houses as the Head. Technically they are aligned under the Slytherin name for however long they claim to be 'a Slytherin', family or not; it's a shaky non-binding alliance and as the head of said alliance I have to take their interests into account."
"To be able to do that they have to be able to brings their problems to you." George said, nodding in understanding.
Fred titled his head, "Do you have to take it?"
"No, but if I don't then it may create a rift." Harriet said with another sigh, looking back to the missive, "Stupid politics."
"Might as well get it over with then." George nudged.
"And it would be better to know what they needed in case they act recklessly in the future and cause problems with our plans." Fred added.
Harriet dropped the letter to her stomach with a small whine, "I'm on break, can't people leave me alone?"
George chuckled and pulled her over into a kiss, "We'll be with you."
"And if they start with something ridiculous you can just kick them out." Fred said happily.
Two hours later found Harriet and her mates in Slytherin Manor, waiting for Andromeda and Narcissa to arrive for their requested audience. Harriet was sitting on her throne in a cute, Slytherin green cocktail dress with her silver heels from the last time, with such short notice she didn't bother with much else. Fred and George were standing on either side of her in their battle gear with their hoods up and, while they did have an ear out for potential danger, they were mostly glaring at the two lumps of red fur in Harriet's lap.
When they had arrived at the Manor and Harriet had taken her seat, Mischief and Mayhem had popped into existence at her feet. Harri had been surprised momentarily before the foxes jumped into her lap and she began petting them happily, running her fingers through their fur and rubbing at their chests as they lounged over her lap. They seemed to be playing dumb for Harriet but whenever she would look away, Mischief and Mayhem would glare at their younger selves. Fred and George glared right back and, as they waited, took quick chances to draw Harri into kisses, making Mischief and Mayhem whip their tails back and forth unhappily. Harriet seemed oblivious, enjoying having the foxes out to cuddle and pet but also liking the affection Fred and George were showering her with.
Finally, an elf announced the arrival of Narcissa and Andromeda before they were escorted into the throne room. Fred and George took a step back to settle in their appropriate spots and Mischief and Mayhem rolled to their bellies to watch the two women approach warily.
"Lady Slytherin." They said respectfully, dropping to their knees with their heads bowed.
"Andromeda Tonks. Narcissa Malfoy. I recognize you as Slytherins." Harriet said formally, "Rise." Both woman rose, side by side but kept their stances respectful and submissive.
"Thank you for granting us an audience on such short notice." Andromeda said tightly.
Harriet inclined her head, "You're welcome. State your business plainly, if it is important enough for you to formally ask for an audience then I doubt beating around the bush will get us very far."
"Of course my Lady." Narcissa said, "We have come to beg you to help our eldest sister."
Harri's eyebrows shot up and Mischief and Mayhem's ears pinned back, "You came to ask me to help Bellatrix Lestrange?" Fred and George shifted subtly at the confirmation of who the two women were talking about, "The same Bellatrix Lestrange who is a fanatic of the Dark Lord I am prophesied to defeat? The Bellatrix Lestrange that tortured the Longbottoms into insanity? The one that recently escaped Azkaban?"
"Please Lady Slytherin," Narcissa began, "she is of our house and we have heard from the current students that you would not put her out simply for her magical inclination."
"How about for the fact that she willingly served Voldemort?" Harriet asked harshly, making both witches before her flinch.
"Lady Slytherin we have reason to believe that she did not serve him willingly!" Andromeda pleaded, Harriet simply raised a disbelieving eyebrow and Andromeda winced, "Not entirely at least."
"Oh I'd love to hear this." Harriet huffed, dropping her formality in her shock.
Narcissa dropped her head at the tone, "We understand that you are skeptical Lady Slytherin but our reasons are sound even if the proof does not come as easily." They both went to their knees again and bowed their heads low, "Though the story is long we beg you to hear us out and at least consider helping our sister."
Harriet clenched her jaw, eyeing the two prone women before her, her mind, memories, and instinct warring. Harriet felt her mates' hands on her shoulders and Mischief and Mayhem nosed her knees. Harriet let out a sigh, "Very well, you'll tell me your tale and I will decide how to proceed from there." She picked up Mischief and Mayhem easily and stood, Fred and George coming to stand even with her, "Come, we'll have some tea while we wait. We'll need one more person for this meeting."
So...how'd it go?
Just to let everyone know...
I've written the first piece of smut for this universe. It is on Ao3 attached to the series.
Also, for those who are following the Remix of this story where the twins join Harriet back in time, the next chapter will be up tomorrow. It was supposed to be tonight but shit happened.
See you next time!