Last time...

Hera stood face to face with a Dementor, and wait…He wasn't sure what, but there was something different about her. Was that a giant wolf? Save those thoughts for later. He started snapping pictures, thankful for the charm Professor Flitwick had helped place on his camera some time back that allowed for nighttime shots without the needed flash. She began flitting about, popping in and out of view all over the place, and that's when he realized the people inside the home were shooting paintball projectiles that absolutely covered the Dementors, thus exposing them to their view. With the mist dissipating, and the shots stopped firing from inside the home, Hera stopped popping in and out of view.

Was she wearing armour? How had he missed that? Where had she gotten the Scottish halberd? Hera began attacking the Dementors head on with a swing of the halberd, decapitating them as she went, though he couldn't say for certain just where the heads landed…or if they just turned to mist. The wolf went after arms like they were sticks. Her skin began turning blue like it had during the Second Task, and Colin could make out her blood garnet like eyes and the circle of small horns that now adorned her head; though none are particularly tall, the largest of them were in the back, getting smaller along the sides, and all but nonexistent at the front. Was it a reaction to the cold of the Dementors? What would the muggles think when they saw it?

He watched as several wizards apparated in, only to be shocked by the scene they were witnessing. Maybe it was a good thing it was such a late hour, or else the muggles would definitely be able to see her now. She was popping in and out again, beheading Dementors every time she did so. The wolf seemed to have no trouble following after her, tearing into Dementors as it went. Colin was unsure she'd even seen the other witches and wizards pop in. Was that Amelia Bones? The Head of the DMLE was here?! Patroni began zinging all over the place, alerting Hera to the fact that reinforcements had arrived, and she flung out a rope to reel in one of the Dementors before they could flee.

Chapter 56

"Hera!" Tony called out worriedly, as he rushed out to her.

"I'm fine, Brother! See? Not even a scratch!" Hera exclaimed happily, halberd secured at her back by some kind of clasp the armour just happened to have, as she pulled in the Dementor in question. "You might not want to stand this close. I don't know what being near the Dementor will do to you specifically."

"I'll manage." He insisted, though Hera could see he was already looking a bit pale. Pulling her into a hug, he whispered. "You nearly gave me a heart attack, Lil Sis."

"Hera Potter, my name is Amelia Bones. I'm the Head of the DMLE. We met briefly before the start of your Third Year, I believe." The woman stated, as she walked towards them, pulling her attention from Tony. "I'm going to have to ask you to come with us."

Fen stood in front of her automatically to guard her, and Tony tensed at her side.

"It's standard procedure. From what your Master tells me, there's been a breach in Ministry security, and judging by the evidence you just reeled in, I'd say it's enough to warrant a full scale investigation." Amelia pointed out. "We need to get your statement. We may also need to obliviate anyone who saw what you did. Are you aware of anyone who saw you besides the man next to you? I'm told he's your brother."

"My relatives," Hera gestured back to the house. "but they're exempt. I don't know if anyone else saw. Most of the lights are off, but that doesn't mean much. Where will we be going? I don't feel like the Ministry will be the best option, not if the breach is a threat."

"We have a place offsite." Amelia promised, and then looked at Fen. "Can the…uh…wolf stand down, please? This isn't an arrest."

At that, Fen did stand down, though he still guarded her zealously.

"Hera?" Remus questioned, taking in the sight of her. Sirius wasn't doing much better, just this side of gawking.

"I'm fairly certain the two of you should have seen me like this by now." Hera commented idly, wondering if they actually had. "You saw my hand turn blue."

"I'd heard about what happened around the time of the Second Task, but hadn't seen the full transformation myself." Remus admitted. "Even Skeeter's stories didn't really describe this with any accuracy."

"This is all very fascinating, but unless you'd like to expose magic to muggles, might I suggest we. Get. Things. Moving." Snape pointed out.

Amelia made a quick motion with her hand, and several agents went around the neighborhood.

Dudley and his parents cautiously stepped outside.

"That was bloody brilliant! I can't believe that actually worked." Dudley blurted out the second he made eye contact with her. "You're insane. I hope you know that."

"I really wouldn't come any closer, Dudley. Reliving your worst nightmares isn't a pleasant experience." Hera reminded him when it looked like he'd been about to step closer to her.

"She isn't in trouble, is she?" Dudley asked worriedly, looking to Amelia.

"No, but she could have been had she not thought ahead to send for me." Amelia replied kindly, taking in Dudley and his family. "Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I'd have never believed it either."

"Amelia, we might have to consider this as an attack on her family." …Her brain stalled when she saw him.

"Professor Moody?" Hera asked with uncertainty.

"Don't know much about the professor part," The man grumped. "but aye. It's me."

"When's the first time we ever met?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Literally right now." He remarked, wryly, before turning to a purple haired young woman next to him. "I think I like her."

"Hera Potter, if I hadn't been informed, I'd have never believed it." Rita Skeeter commented, suddenly strolling up to them. "How would you like to give an exclusive interview for the Daily Prophet?"

"Just as long as she shares it with us." Luna added, suddenly there with her father and Colin. "Hermione sent for us. Apparently, Hedwig was worried about you."

She just looks to Tony. "I swear my life was boring at one point. Honest."

Hera winds up just going ahead and giving the three way interview in an interrogation setting that very evening in a safe house who knows where. While Amelia asked very pointed questions, Luna asked after the halberd and her armour, and Rita asked after her feelings on the matter. The three were writing furiously with their quills, their dicto-quills having given out some time before, when Tony sighed and pulled out three ink pens. "It'll change your lives, I swear." he'd said, and while Rita worked it out right away, occasionally Luna would just fiddle with the pen to hear the popping noise, and Amelia marveled for just a moment before getting back to it. Moody chimed in with the odd question here or there, but he mostly stood in the back with Tony, Sirius, Remus, and Snape. Xenon just watched his daughter work, the very picture of a proud papa.

"Alright, I hate to cut this short, but this interview is done." Tony butted in, once he noticed Hera was hanging on by a thread. "We all need sleep, and you have all the information you need."

"Just one more question." Surprisingly it was Luna who objected. "What if a muggle saw you turn blue?"

"Muggles have these people cropping up all over that they call Mutants. Some can look like I did, and they can do all kinds of things; walking through walls, read minds, change their appearance at will, and so on." Hera explained. "Why would they think I was anything else?"

The next few moments were a blur to Hera, as she would much rather be asleep right now. There was something about staying with Sirius for a bit, and the Order of the Phoenix. Amelia had promised to look into Umbridge, but right now they weren't able to move on her, and Hera had had to undo the bindings on the Dementor before it could be taken into custody. Hera's relatives would be outfitted with the latest ward stones, so their lives wouldn't be interrupted, but they'd be safer than that flimsy blood ward. Hera hadn't wanted their deaths on her conscience.

Umbridge was to be their new Defense teacher, and Amelia was hoping Hera could keep her distracted long enough that they could build the case; any extra evidence Hera sent would just be gravy. They had enough to arrest her for this alone, but it they wanted her to be able to answer for all the crimes she'd committed. To that end, Hera was getting her own charmed diary, complete with a small vanishing compartment for any papers Hera could send. She was officially, though not on paper yet, an informant for the DMLE. Once she got that, they were off. Tony asked the purple haired woman to make a side trip back to his place first to grab a few things, and Hera couldn't help herself.

"Tony, if you sleep with her, I will have no problem holding you down while Snape cuts out your liver for potions ingredients." Hera threatened, sleepily but to the point.

Tony stammered in embarrassment, while the woman's hair turned from purple to red as a blush enveloped her face.

...

It's only once she is safely ensconced in what Sirius had assured her was 'her' room while here, that Hera allows herself to lose composure over what had happened. Had she really just…against an army of Dementors?…Holy fucking shite!…What had she been thinking?!…Why had she…Had that really been?…She quickly unclasped the halberd and held it in her hands. It was strange that none of the adults had tried to take it away, and Hera wondered if maybe it could keep itself hidden if it didn't want to be seen or found.

A stone she should not know about, had never really seen in that last life, rested just below the blade of the halberd. She knew it for what it was: the Soul Stone. Where had Winky and Dobby even found it? Had it been hidden on earth all this time? Why would they want her to have it? As power hungry as her last life had been, Hera wasn't so sure she should be trusted with such an artifact.

"I don't understand…"

It's not meant for anyone to hear, whispered as it is, but Winky and Dobby both pop into the room anyway.

"Why?" She asked, looking from the stone to them. "Why would you give this to me?"

"Because you understand what it is, what it means."

It was the most straightforward answer Winky had ever given.

"But I shouldn't have-"

"Nonsense." Dobby insisted, patting her hand in consolation.

"But how did you find it?" Hera wanted to know. "How did you even know it for what it is?"

"Magic calls to magic, and the stone called to yours. We is being simply following the threads." Winky shrugged. Dobby nodding enthusiastically beside her. "There was a man with a red skull that told us what we needed to do to retrieve it."

"Man with a red skull?" Hera murmured to herself. She wasn't unpacking that right now. There was a lot of shite that had gone down with Red Skull at the end of World War II, if she was right about who they'd encountered. "Never mind that now. What did he say?"

"He said that only those who understood what it was, that understood the price, could possess it. One of us needed to sacrifice what we loved most." Dobby warned, his voice taking on a grave tone. "A soul…for a soul."

"But then how…?" Hera trailed off. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

"I took Mas– Mr. Barty Crouch Sr from his home, and then I tossed him down the ravine." Winky answered with a tone that chilled Hera to the bone, before she switched back to being the kind house elf Hera had grown to care for as she did Dobby. "Hate is not so far removed from Love that the stone did not understand this. Winky loved her family, yes she did; still does, but that family threw Winky away when she was most loyal. Winky mourns the loss, but Winky would do anything to protect our Little Miss."

Considering what Hera had done to Lockhart for shakier reasons, she didn't feel like she had any moral high ground to argue from here.

"You…did this to protect me?" Hera asked, latching on to that bit.

"Yes, Harry Potter Miss!" Dobby nodded enthusiastically, his voice low. "The stone is tied to you, and pulling at your magic from so far away! It wanted your attention, wanted to help, so we is bringing it. It can help."

Dobby made a gesture towards her scar, and she understood.

"You think it can get rid of the thing in my scar?" She asked to clarify, but both Winky and Dobby grimaced at that. "You think it can destroy the other soul pieces."

Winky and Dobby nodded, though solemnly.

"Well, it's a starting point, which is certainly more than we had before." Hera remarked thoughtfully, and they finally relaxed. She hugged them briefly before letting go, noting that they were not so subtly trying to dab at their eyes. "Now, it sounds like you two had quite the adventure. Care to tell the tale?"

The two smiled shyly, look to each other in silent conversation, before settling down onto the bed to share the story of their adventure.

This was not Ásgarðr, nor was it a world that Loki had known. She should not be here, at least that was the feeling she got. There were no signs of civilization, no signs of life. The place was a barren wasteland. What could have possibly called her here?

The further along she walked, however, the more she saw how wrong she was. There were signs of life. There was someone who lived in this hell? From the few signs she found, there was at least one someone. What she couldn't figure out was how they were surviving here.

There was no vegetation she could visibly see, no animals, no bugs. What was this person eating? From the few signs she could see, the person was still living there. Most likely, the person was watching her from some hidden location. The entire place felt desolate to the point of oppression, magic designed to keep people in; a prison. It was overwhelming.

Hera wondered if she could leave things behind, if they stayed where she left them. She could bring things with her, but she'd never tried leaving things before. Deciding to try, Hera began digging through her beaded bag. If there was ever a person who needed a care package, it was whoever was trapped in this hell hole. Not sure what she could leave as far as clothes went, she tried to think of other things, and ended up leaving some of everything.

"Listen, I…" Hera tries, getting the sense that whoever it is that's trapped there is nearby and most likely distrustful. "I don't know who you are, or where this is, or even why you're here. For all I know there might actually be a reason you're trapped in this hell hole, but…this can't possibly be helping your mental state, whatever it was before this. So…I'm leaving this basket of food and supplies, and I'll try to visit again soon, but I can't promise when that will be. Okay?"

There is no answer, but she doesn't expect there to be one. Taking another look around, this time tapping more consciously into her ability to see magic, she realized this place was saturated with soul magic. This could only mean that the Soul Stone had wanted her to see this place; to maybe help the person that was trapped here, or keep them there. The power was old, but fluctuating…tied to a life force perhaps? That was just stupid, especially if the person in question wasn't immortal in the truest sense. Few were, and for a reason.

There was a golden tinge to the magic, something both familiar and not. She'd felt this magic on Loki when she'd taken the thread from him, but not from Loki himself…Oðin then. Whoever was here had been trapped by Oðin, tied to the place with his life. It might be entirely possible to break this person out without killing the Ás, but that wasn't something she was in a position to think about attempting at the moment. She took one final look around, and upon seeing nothing new, she let magic guide her home.

The next morning, she's waking up in an unfamiliar bed, but Jör and Fen are with her, so she doesn't worry. Hedwig is resting on a perch, and hoots to her when she sees she is awake. Still kind of out of it, Hera coos happily as she rubs the top of Hedwig's head in thanks for her quick thinking the night before. After Hera gets out of the loo, Jör decides to be living jewelry or something, and wraps himself around her like he did at the Ministry. Seeing no way out of it, and accepting that her Familiars are just as protective of her as her friends tended to be, Hera makes her way down stairs in the hopes that she can locate the kitchen.

It's easy enough to find, and soon she gets cracking. There are…at least fifteen or so magical signatures in this place if Familiars are included, not counting pests and other such things, and how she knows that she's not thinking too much about at the moment, so she gets to the fry up. Tony is the first to wander in, and he looks like he's having flashbacks, but when she grins at him he relaxes…right up until she smacks him in the face with a handful of butter. After he cleans up, he still helps her keep the dishes clean as she goes, amused when she feeds Jör bits of bacon as she cooks. Ron wonders in at some point, followed by Fred and George soon after; all three freeze to take stock of Jör before sitting down. Then it's Percy, who stares at her like he can't even believe what he's seeing anymore, before making his way over to the tea set up to get it going.

Sirius and Remus shamble in like the walking dead not long after that. Ginny sort of stares blearily at her before heading over to the tea set with Percy, who keeps looking back at Jör every so often. Arthur makes it down next, happily accepting a cup of Scottish blend from his youngest, not fazed by Jör in the slightest now; he'd been there that day at the Ministry, after all, and had already had his freak out moment. Molly comes in just as Hera is plating the last of the food, and Hera just grins as the woman fusses over her, getting her own breakfast before sitting down. She's enjoying the flow of conversation throughout the kitchen when she's drawn to a particular conversation.

", and this is my wife Molly."

"Wait. You're Molly? Molly Weasley?" Tony asked in astonishment.

"Yes. I…Well, I…" Molly stammered, clearly flustered. "I wasn't really my best self, you see…"

"You're not the first to insult me with the misinformation fed to you through unreliable news sources." Tony shrugged, waving a fork dismissively. "Hera speaks highly of you, so I assume you must be alright."

"I sent you a Howler." Molly objected, as if to remind him.

Hera couldn't help but snicker. "She sent you a Howler?"

"I'd never been so annoyed and fascinated all at once." Tony nodded. "It was right about the time you turned the snake pit into a frost pit."

"Ah." Hera murmured, still a little embarrassed about the whole thing.

...

A little while later…

"There's an Order meeting tonight, and I'd like to get this out of the way before then." Sirius remarked, surprised when Hera didn't take the bait of curiosity. "What? Nothing? Not even a little bit interested?"

Hera snorted, picking at her eggs. "You forget I haven't seen my friends in a good bit, and I have two brand new Familiars I got by getting into trouble through no fault of my own. They're gonna want stories."

"Fair, but still. James would have-" Sirius began, but her sharp glare cut him off all on its own.

"Would that have been before or after he stopped being a toerag?" Hera asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

Remus looked away slightly, but it wasn't enough to hide the amused grin from her. The others were all in various states of amusement, while Sirius sputters in mock indignation. After the meal, Molly shewed the children from the room to prepare for the meeting. While it wouldn't happen till later in the day, there were still things to do. This wasn't a place for children, Molly had repeated as she glared at Sirius. Though Hera wasn't unaware of the silent argument the two kept having with their eyes, she was also aware that Molly was exerting her own will over her as if she were Hera's mother, and that Sirius had the potential to forget that she was not her father.

...

It is as she's leaving the room that she tripped over something in the floor, and landed hard against a curtain, ripping it off the rods holding it up. Cue screaming, earsplitting, bloodcurdling screeches the likes of which could be pulled from torture victims, and Hera was all too familiar with what that sounded like through dreams and memories not entirely her own. However, this was not someone being tortured. It was, Hera realized, a painting of an older woman; drooling, her eyes rolling, the yellowing skin of her face stretched taut as she screamed; and because she screamed, other portraits woke up and began screaming too. She screeched louder as more people started filtering into the hallway.

"Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, begone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers-"

When Hera heard the word freak, she lost it. Charging her hand with magic, she slammed it against the painting. Ice traveled over the painting from her hand, and the screaming stopped. If that weren't enough, there was a loud crack as the painting split from the wall, shattering as it fell to the floor. The adults looked on in shock, though she didn't know why.

"I don't like being called a freak." She mumbled, as she looked anywhere but at them.

"I'm just impressed you managed to remove her from the wall." Sirius insisted with a whistle. "She'd put a permanent sticking charm on that thing. How'd you like my mother, by the way? Piece of work, right?"

"Piece of something." She grumbled, causing him to snort in amusement.