I was going to wait until Dakota okayed the entire chapter but someone asked me for a treat now that they've finished their Biology final! This is only like the first fourth of the chapter, which is way less than I wanted to put out but it was the best place to stop while I finished up the last changes.
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Alice moved from Potter Manor's floo and headed for the ballroom where an elf had told her Harriet was at currently. She was grateful that the young leader hadn't gone out shopping like her fathers believed, she was sure she would have lost her nerve if she had needed to search for the girl.
It had been almost a week since Harriet had informed them of Bellatrix situation and the entire week the Longbottom's had been in turmoil. Alice's first and aggressive reaction was to just kill Bella, suspected binding to her famly's will or not; after all, this was the woman who had put her and her husband into vegetative states what they would have still been in if it hadn't been for Severus and who had made sure her son had grown up with his troll of a Grandmother. Luckily for Bellatrix, Alice's sense of justice from her days as an auror had nagged at her and she had sat down to really talk it out with Frank. They both knew that Harriet would honor their decision and after the shock had died down they had pretty much settled on having her turned in to the Ministry.
Then Neville, her sweet Neville, had asked about the second choice Harriet had offered.
Neville hadn't been completely thrilled with the news and had practically clung to Alice while she was raging in their family suite that Harri had provided for them, but despite his fear, Neville was looking ahead. Something the made Alice so proud and sad at the same time. Neville had quietly pointed out ways Bellatrix could be of use if she really wasn't as crazy as she acted. Keeping the Slytherins in line, giving them insight into Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and even helping with their efforts going forward with her knowledge of rare and forgotten Dark Arts. Even under all of their anger at the woman, Alice and Frank couldn't deny that she would be an asset to Harriet's cause if they could get her onside and get past the reservations they had about her.
For Alice to even begin to think that way though she needed a sign that this was more than just a crazy theory thrown out by desperate siblings. And surprisingly, she found it.
In a memory of when this whole trauma had begun.
Alice frowned when she entered Potter Manor's ballroom to find it filled with photo equipment and clothes scattered everywhere, the room was filled with the sound of clicks and light laughter. Coming around the sheet that had been suspended magically from the ceiling Alice was surprised to find Harriet posing, with her broom in hand, in a skimpy version of her Quidditch uniform. Luna was snapping pictures at each new pose and Lily's ghost was floating behind her in near hysterics as Harriet changed for each shot.
"Do I even want to know what's going on here?" Alice asked suddenly, making Harriet jump in surprise and spin to face her.
"Alice! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Harriet breathed, clutching her Firebolt to her.
"What's all this?"
Lily's laughter died off and she smiled at her friend, "James and the others gave the twins pictures of Harriet but charmed them so they couldn't do anything inappropriate with them so Harri is making them pictures for Christmas."
Alice's eyebrows went up, "And you're okay with this? You're her mother."
"I'm dead." She said with a shrug, "Plus Harriet's twenty-eight, if she wants to make her husbands pictures to wank to then that's her decision." Her smile turned into a grin, "Besides, I remember helping you with something similar for Frank."
Alice rolled her eyes, "The poor man was too thick to take any of the hints I threw at him. I had to give him some way to get a release so he would stop being so tense."
Harriet laughed, "I bet that went over well."
"Definitely." Alice snorted, "Should have seen the blush though." She eyed Harriet's outfit, "You seem awfully comfortable in that."
Harri looked down at her outfit before shrugging, "I've worn less. Fred and George bought me lingerie before and after seeing their reactions to it I got real confident. Plus, unless it's scratchy or too tight it's actually kind of freeing to walk around like this."
"They'll no doubt enjoy it." Luna mused, snapping another picture of Harriet's more comfortable position.
"Yeah, well we'd all three enjoy it if they weren't so shy about exploring more." Harriet huffed, "I'm not a nymphomaniac but seriously, I've been having these dreams-"
"Whoa!" Lily shouted, "I'm down for some in-depth talks with you but listening to that is a bit too far for mother and daughter!"
Harriet grinned, "Come on mum, it's just sex. You told me you watched over me all my life, you're going to try to tell me that you didn't catch an eye full at some point." Lily just buried her head in her hands in response.
Alice snorted, "Why haven't you done anything Harriet?"
"We're all three underage." Harriet said bluntly, "I know most of their hesitation is guilt because my body is thirteen despite my mental age being twenty-eight. I'm not going to force them into sex just because my older brain is telling me I'm horny. It's why I've let them set the pace for our physical contact instead of being all over them like I'm used to. I'll respect their wishes and deal with my own issues internally. They're not obligated to help me with that just because we're soulmates." She smirked, "Besides, I know how to take care of myself." Lily let out a groan at that and Harri snickered. "Everyone does it mum." She gave an exaggerated pout, "Stop shaming me. I could be doing worse to keep my mind off of it."
Alice couldn't keep herself from adding to Lily's discomfort, "When do you even find the time? You're so busy with everything and you hardly sleep alone between the snakes at Hogwarts and your mates when your home."
"Big sister does take abnormally long showers." Luna offered.
"Subject change!" Lily squeaked.
Harri laughed, "Alright mum, whatever you say." She looked back to Alice with an amused smile, "What's up?"
Alice sobered quickly, "We've come to a decision on Bellatrix."
Harri's eyebrows shot up, "So quickly? You know you could have had longer to think right?"
Alice shook her head, "We've…we've been doing a lot of thinking and discussing. At first, I wanted to just outright get rid of her. Then when I calmed down enough to think, I and Frank figured handing her over to the Ministry would be best." She paused.
"And…" Harri prompted gently, she could see there was more just from the look on Alice's face.
"Neville was in the room." Alice blurted after a moment of struggling. Harriet and Lily both frowned while Luna nodded in understanding.
"He was in the room while you were talking or…" Lily began.
"No," Alice sighed, "that night when the LeStranges came for us." Alice took a fortifying breath, "Neville pointed out that Bella could be useful and we agreed by I couldn't even begin to get past the attack that affected Neville so much without some sort of proof that she was truly being controlled in some way or tried to get out of it. Frank was…he thought we could give her a bit of a trial run and then if she wasn't truly changed after the bind was cleared then we could turn her in but I couldn't…I ended up trying to go back over my memories to find some redeeming factor in Bella that would help me move forward. I didn't exactly interact with her much before the war so the only real memory I had of her was of the night and…Neville was there."
Harriet set her broom down and came over to put a comforting hand on Alice's shoulder at the auror tried to even out her breathing, "Take it easy, you can take your time." Luna quietly began putting the camera away.
Alice gave her a grateful look before continuing, "Neville was there when they came for us. Bella…Bellatrix came in the room first; the brothers were securing the wards. Bella stunned us but I remember her…I remember her stopping when she saw Neville in the cradle. I was so scared that she was going to…" Alice swallowed hard but pushed along, "I was so scared she was going to kill him but she didn't, she…her eyes glazed over and she pulled his blanket over his head. The brothers came in right after that and she planted herself in front of the cradle. I don't…I can't remember anything after the pain started but…but I can only assume, since he wasn't harmed, that she hid him and protected him from the Lestrange brothers." Lily let out a soft gasp. "No matter what she did to us, she protected Neville. That was enough of a stepping stone for me."
Harri blinked several times, surprised at the revelation, "Wow, so…did you tell Frank and Neville?"
"Frank only had pieces of it in his own memory before the haze took over but I borrowed your pensive to share my memory with Neville." Alice said, she visibly steeled herself, "We're all three in agreement, if you can clear her of the bind then you can bring her in."
Harriet studied her Godmother for several seconds, seeing only sincerity in her eyes, before nodding, "Alright then. We'll set up her capture and see what we can do from there." Alice blew out a short breath, "We still need to figure out what ritual they used but we've narrowed it down to a list of the more likely ones. I'm going to try and get Walburga to talk with a few of the darker tricks that Sirius is overlooking in his bid to avoid his mother. If everything goes well, we'll be able to get her settled before the break is over or just as school is getting back into swing."
Alice sagged a bit, dropping her head down, "Alright, if you need help with it just-"
She was cut off by the ringing of Harriet's cell phone.
Harri wince, "Sorry Alice it's..."
Alice waved her off, "It's not a problem. I know you have a whole bunch you're working on. I need a moment anyway."
Harri gave her a small smile before putting her phone to her ear, "Hello?"
"Does your protection against Fury extend past just us?"
"Hello, Natasha." Harriet hummed, "Yes, it does, cyclops plays too fast and loose with all of his agent's lives. The only ones not under my protection are the Hydra assholes."
"We're ninety-five percent sure she's not Hydra."
Harriet sighed, "What's he done and do I need to come over there and beat his ass?" Harri heard shifting on the other side of the phone that sounded much too close together, "Are you and Clint in a vent?"
"Fury has progressed to torturing someone into agreeing to spy on your division." Natasha reported shortly, "They're just a newbie. We tracked them down as soon as we got wind of it. Clint managed to hit her with a tranq arrow filled with morphine to stave off the pain."
Harriet snapped her fingers and motioned to Dobby when he arrived, "Are you on the Helicarrier or at a base?" Alice looked over at her curiously as Dobby popped away.
"New York headquarters. Don't come to the bracelets, there isn't enough room for you in here."
"Have Phil meet me at the front doors in ten." Harriet heard Clint curse softly in the background.
"Make it five," Natasha said before hanging up.
"Right." Harri huffed, tossing her phone gently on the table next to her. "Sorry Alice, I have to go grab everyone to infiltrate a Shield base and rescue somebody. Steve and Bucky should…"
"Nope." Luna piped up.
"Nope?" Harri questioned with a frown.
"It's not time yet." Luna said airily, "Bucky and I will be at Daddy's house for Yule Break. I'll send Steve with Tonks to meet Andromeda and to go visit Peggy." She was out the door before Harriet could protest.
Harriet's eyebrows shot up, "Alright then." Dobby showed up with her mission clothes and Harri changed with a flick of her wand. "I'll just go get Fred and George then, we shouldn't have any problem…"
"Actually Harriet." Alice broke in, "Maybe you and I could do it. I need a bit of a work out to clear my mind."
"Girls night?" Lily asked with a grin.
"Not sure how they would take ghosts mum." Harri sighed before looking at Alice again, "And if this goes like I predict I'll be crucioing somebody during this. Will you be able to handle that?"
Alice frowned, "Maybe wait until I get the person we're rescuing out before you do that."
Harriet nodded, "I can accept that." She crossed her arms, "But you'll be explaining to my mates why they weren't called."
Alice rolled her eyes as she transfigured one of the pieces of fabric on the floor into a cloak similar to Harriet's, "Fine."
Lily waved to them, "Have fun! I'll be going back to Hogwarts to bother the goat now that I'm back."
"See you later mum!" Harri called as she pocketed her phone, grabbed Alice, and flamed away.
As soon as Phil got the text from Natasha he swiftly made his way down to the entrance of the New York Base with their three go-bags. He was entirely on board with his agent's decision to call the witch and if he was correct, they would be going with her when she departed. He had put up with a lot under Director Fury and some of it he agreed with, most of it actually, but this he didn't. This he couldn't condone.
He and his team were already close enough to the target to alert the Director of any pertinent information to begin with but the way that he had chosen to 'recruit' someone to this infiltration mission was wrong. Now, Phil wasn't against torture in certain cases, lord knowns he's watched enough and even participated with some of Natasha's, but it was not the way to go about recruiting someone to a cause. At least, not if you wanted that person to be loyal and truthful. Fury had allowed his hurt pride and his desperation to take away his common sense. Since the majority of the agents had already heard about the unpredictable and powerful witch through the grapevine, no one wanted to be the first to spy on her and find out the potential lengths of her wrath(their liberal use of the shield cookie remains certainly kept the uncertainty alive). With that the Director had resorted to drastic measures that led to this.
Phil reached the front doors in enough time see two hooded figures sweep from an alley like an oncoming thunderstorm, their faces covered in shadow and their cloaks billowing behind them dramatically.
"Well this will be fun." Phil muttered darkly.
The last three-fourths will be posted tonight or tomorrow morning, depending on how fast I get the changes completed!