Last time...

"Then what's the problem?" Snape inquired.

"You mean, other than the fact that I'm not a god of magic?" Hera asked, defensive.

"Do you know that for certain?" Snape posed, causing her to freeze up.

"…What?"

"You do complicated pieces of magic as if they're nothing. You insist these things are easier than we're making them, that we could do them too if we stopped limiting how we saw magic. People already look to you as a source of information and advice." Snape continued. "You cannot definitively say that you are not a god of magic, because for all we know…you could be."

Hera looked up with eyes half closed, muttering. "This is a trap. This is a trap. This is a trap. There is no way I'm a god of magic. "

"Potter-"

"If that were true, and I'm not saying it is, would I really want to know?" She interrupted. "Especially right now?"

"Point." Snape nodded in acquiescence. "However, it does give you a place to bargain from. The boy who had been the Dark Lord wants to learn magic from you, Potter. Can you think of a better position of strength to argue from?"

Hera stopped to think about that for a moment. Though she wasn't, she couldn't be, Riddle thought she was the god of magic. He thought Loki was the god of magic, but that couldn't be true. She would have remembered that…right? It had been Oðin in Ásgarðr, not him.

But Riddle was certain, and willing to learn magic from her. She could put conditions in place, that if he broke them she'd no longer teach him. He was willing to attempt civility, to reintegrate the pieces of his soul, for the chance to learn magic from her…Strange, how the tables had turned. He even seemed willing to get in on the scheming for her other plans as well, if only because it sounded interesting. With purpose, she made her way to the door once more, only stopping when Snape spoke up in the background.

"Oh, and just so you know, Potter, at some point we will be talking about that compulsion charm you put on Salazar's locket."

She smiled, even as she opened the door, looking over her shoulder as she replied. "Of that, I have no doubt, Professor."

Chapter 94

She was surprised to see Jareth already waiting.

"For this part," He stated. "I thought you might wish for a mediator."

She nodded to him in understanding, and sat down on the other side of the table, looking to see Fen and Jör still soaking up the heat by the fireplace to settle her nerves before she began.

"You seem to be under the impression that Loki was the god of magic, but for all that Loki is known for his magic, 'twas Oðin that was given the domain in his youth. While the All-Father is not known for his magic, when he does use it, it certainly leaves an impression."

"I'm willing to bet you are, even if he was not." Riddle argued. "Why do you try to distance yourself from him? If he is who you were, you should own it. Do you know how many witches and wizards would bow before you based on that alone?"

Hera closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. This was going to be a long negotiation, and it had already been such a long day as it was. She wasn't going to be able to explain why she distanced herself from Loki the way she did without explaining everything, and Riddle wouldn't accept the ambiguous like story she'd given her friends to reveal who she had been. He would want to know everything. Well…If it helped scare him onto the straight and narrow, then by Merlin she'd tell him everything.

"You want to know why I distance myself from that life? Fine, but I want complete silence as I explain this to you. If you have any questions, tough shite, because I won't be answering any of them. If you can't find your answers in the story I tell, that's on you." She began, only pausing to look over to Jareth; who looked at her mildly alarmed. "Forgive me, my friend?"

…

"You're sure this will lead to the part of the library they're in?" Tony asked, intrigued, keeping his voice low.

None of them had wanted to leave Hera alone in there, but they'd reluctantly agreed with her wishes. With Jareth gone, Rhodey asleep in a room somewhere, and Lucius who knows where, there was no one to stop them. So Draco guided Tony and Severus through an old secret passage he said would lead them to the library. Tony was digging the whole secret passage thing, and he kind of wanted a few for his own properties, but then how would he be able to make sure he was the only one who knew where it was? Severus rolled his eyes, likely knowing where his mind had gone, but he'd seen the small smile the man had had too.

"Of course, this is going to lead to the part of the library they're in." Draco scoffed, leading the way. "I know my own house, you know."

"Not all of it, you don't." Severus commented, causing Draco to glare at the man in indignation.

"I think I hear them." Tony realized, excitement flooding his veins. This was way more fun than the shit he usually got up to.

"They'll hear us if you aren't careful!" Draco hissed in warning. "Come on. There's a viewing screen somewhere around here."

"Peeping? Weird to be peeping on a Tom instead of Tom being the peeper." Tony commented in amusement, something else that had Severus rolling his eyes at him, but he was on to his sneaky brand of humor.

~You want to know why I distance myself from that life? Fine, but I want complete silence as I explain this to you. If you have any questions, tough shite, because I won't be answering any of them. If you can't find your answers in the story I tell, that's on you…Forgive me, my friend?~

"Oh, he's stepped in it for sure." Draco noted quietly. "That's Potter's 'You're Going to Regret Everything' voice."

"That's what you call that?" Tony asked, looking to the kid. "I call it her 'Dressing Down' voice."

"Dressing down?" Draco wondered, face scrunched up in confusion. "What ever for?"

"Ever had her talk to you like that?" Tony reposed, to which Draco paled and nodded. "Did it feel like you'd been exposed? Like everything had been laid out to bare? And did you feel really really small?"

Draco nodded. "That's why?"

"That's why."

As it turned out, what Hera had in mind was more 'story time' than 'dressing down', but that didn't mean it didn't still happen. Riddle looked horrified at the things he learned, and she made sure to expose every gritty detail. Jareth looked just as horrified as Riddle did, only his was crossed with anger and heartbreak. Looking at him as she ripped Riddle a new one was painful. No wonder she'd asked him for forgiveness before starting all this.

"You know, she wasn't this graphic about it when she told us." Draco admitted, eyes wide as he watched through his spot.

"I don't think she would have been this angry when revealing her last life to you and your friends, Draco." Severus commented, his eyes focused on the scene through his own slit in the wall. "I suspect that the boy before her reminds her far too much of that last life. With what she's done, he has the potential to be someone better than he had been, but just as equally to be someone much worse, and she feels responsible for him now."

"Jareth looks like he's actively being gutted." Tony winced.

"What? I didn't see that!" Draco whispered, looking back into his spot. "Damn, he does, doesn't he? What does that mean?"

"One would think it obvious from the look of pain on his face, Draco." Severus admonished the boy, glancing his way for a moment before returning his attention to the scene they were not supposed to be witnessing. "Do be quiet. We are eavesdropping on a private conversation."

"Well, I can tell you right now that you're not doing a very good job of it." Hera proclaimed, and suddenly there was a lot of light shining on them as the wall fucking slid open to allow them to be seen fully. She was giving them all a fond grin. "I'm not even surprised. I actually expected you lot sooner."

Looking over at Severus, she added. "I thought you were a spy."

"Yes, well…Now that we're here, we might as well contribute to the negotiation efforts." Severus smoothly suggested.

"But of course!" Hera snickered, before leading them further into the library.

…

"What will happen…when I give you my name?" Riddle asked, his voice trembled slightly, belaying how nervous he was.

"Normally, what would happen would be though people remember you, your name would belong to me. Fae use this to have go-betweens in the Above, which is why it is said that you belong to them, because they can take over your body and make you do their bidding." Jareth explained patiently. "Your case is unique, so we must approach it differently. The deeds of Lord Voldemort will continue to be known, but where it was made from your name…Well, I suppose it is a good thing they use those rather ridiculous monikers. Not many will be able to connect those deeds back to you with your new name, unless you or Hera tells them, which I would recommend anyway. Incidentally, there is a certain level of stubbornness that Fae magic can't seem to dissuade. Those of that particular nature are more likely to keep the knowledge of who you were, but that will just make them seem crazy, since no one else will. Understand?"

He did understand, but it was still daunting to hear. In moments, he would have not the name he was born with, but the name he chose. There would be those who remembered him, remembered he was the one responsible for the deaths of many. It wasn't a completely clean slate, but it was better than anything he could have dared to hope for. He would even be able to continue on with his original goal to become immortal in order to never stop learning magic; Potter hadn't forbidden that, only put up the stipulation that it could not be by splitting his soul.

"Uh…Guys? I think we're forgetting someone." Potter brought up, having been lost in thought these last few moments. "Kreacher."

Fuck. If there was anyone that could put a pin in his new chance at life, it was that little bugger. He'd literally sacrificed him to a swarm of inferi, leaving him for dead. Kreacher had survived? His head smacked into the table before he could think of anything else, already grumbling. There was no way that little bugger was going to forgive him. Potter was going to be the death of him at this rate.

"What?" Potter inquired.

"I sacrificed Kreacher to a lake of inferi, Potter. He isn't likely to forgive me for that." Riddle groaned, not raising up.

~pop~

"Kreacher should not be forgiving you, nasty evil Dark Lord that you is. Poor Master Regulus is dead because of you." The little fiend scolded, having answered Potter's call. Riddle looked up at the house elf, surprised to find that Kreacher seemed confused, looking to Potter for answers. "Nasty evil Dark Lord is different. Yous did something?"

"Sort of?" Potter grimaced. "It wasn't intentional, but it's balanced him out somewhat, given him a second chance. Kreacher, you don't have to forgive him. I wouldn't ask that of you, but…I would ask that you wait before you decide, to see what can become of him."

"I hope that request doesn't apply to me." A new voice declared.

Potter didn't even hesitate, as the intruder was already slinging spells, to all but leap over the table with a shield spell pooling in her hands. Everyone else had been too surprised to react. He had been too surprised. The man looked unhinged, volatile in a way that reminded him of Bellatrix, shouting nonsense as he tried to get around Potter's shield. The floor groaned as Potter's shield encompassed those at the table, all but becoming a physical wall between them. Lucius Malfoy rushed into the room not seconds later.

"The library is not the place for duelling!" Lucius shouted, before his eyes landed on what the problem was. "I added you to the wards so that you and Narcissa could begin to reconcile, not so that you could attack guests in my library, Black."

"I should have known you'd be honoured to have Voldemort in your home, Death Eater scum that you are! I don't care what Hera says about you! Your soul is as black as it's ever been!" The man shouted, enraged.

"Are you sure you're not looking in a mirror?" Lucius countered, then lipped, but otherwise undaunted. "Look at who you're attacking, Black. It's not the Dark Lord. It's your god-daughter."

"If she'd stop shielding him, I could kill him!" Black yelled, enraged. "Why is she shielding him? What did he do to her?!"

"Padfoot-"

"No! You're not her! You can't be! Hera wouldn't protect the man who murdered her parents!" Black shouted, turning on her.

"How is it murder when they were all in a war?!" Potter shot back. Black shook his head, stepping away, shaking. "Siri, I can't think of it like that. I can't think he murdered them. They fought in a war, they all did, and people die in war. If I have to hate him, if that's what you want, I will; but that means I'll have to hate my parents too. Are you prepared for that?"

That seemed to shock the man into stopping, his face twisting with grief. "But they-"

"They knew the risks, and still made the choice. I don't hate them, but I will if that's what you want." Potter declared, stumping the man further. "I told you I reversed the ritual, right?"

Black nodded.

"This is what it did, the end result anyway. It stabilized his core, gave him back his sanity…mostly. I gave him a choice, a chance." Potter continued when the man paused. "This is what he chose. If he messes up, that's fine. People do. But if he decides to go back to the way he'd been before, that'll be on him."

"Why are you…Why are you defending him?" Black demanded, shaking and angry.

"Because of what I did, though I didn't know this is what the end result would be, I'm responsible for him now." Potter replied with a finality that told all in the room that she was not going to budge on this. Oh. That's why she… "Please, Padfoot?"

"I…I can't…I need to think…I shouldn't be here." Black sighed, not looking at anyone. "I'm sorry, Pronglet. Kreacher?"

Kreacher nodded, and grabbed hold of Black's hand, popping them out of the Manor.

"Hera?…" The man who's name he still didn't know, called. "Hera, he just needs time. It's okay. I'm sure he'll come around. I imagine that was a lot to take in for someone who saw what he has."

"I know…It's just…" She wasn't looking at any of them, all the fight seeming to drain right out of her, her back still turned. "…that was a lot of anger all at once, ya know?"

"Potter, I…If it will help him, I could let him-"

"No!" She snapped, dismissing the shield and turning to glare at him, her eyes still wet with unshed tears. "We talked about that!"

"Perhaps you all should take a break?" Lucius offered. "This will keep till morning, and there are spare rooms available."

"Maybe here soon." Potter agreed. "I'd rather we get the finicky bits done now, while we can."

and then it was back to work.

…

"So…School?" Tony suggested.

"I'll need time to gather what horcruxes I can." Riddle shook his head. "Allow me that, and I can place into school next term. Would it really be required though? It will be strange enough as it is. I'm…mentally old enough to be their grandfather."

"Oh, let's not go there, shall we? I outrank you in that regard anyway." Hera snorted, giving a shaky laugh as she sat back down. "I would suggest you take someone with you on your hunting trip."

"That will be me, if you're amenable." Jareth offered, looking to Riddle, who nodded. "In that time, we can go over a few things you'll need to know. Things are much different than you remember. A lot can change in the time you were incorporeal."

"What about a paper trail?" Tony inquired next. "He's going to be a whole new person soon. That means a paper trail needs to be drawn up for whatever name he chooses for himself; birthdate, social security number, shots, hospital records, school records, that sort of thing. Now, I know people, don't get me wrong, but I have a feeling they're not as good as your people."

"Don't worry about it. It's not a problem the goblins can't solve. Even your mundane paperwork won't be an issue." Jareth explained to him with an amused grin, before turning back to Riddle. "We've gone as far as we can without you choosing a new name. Do you have one?"

Riddle nodded.

"What about where he's going to live after he gets through with his scavenger hunt?" Tony threw out there. "Any thoughts on that?"

"I assumed I would be staying in Riddle Manor." Riddle shrugged.

"The dilapidated manor that belonged to your father's family?" Hera asked, incredulous. "You hate that place."

"It's the only option available to me. The Gaunt family squandered their wealth, so there's nothing left." Riddle explained.

"Well, you have a few other options, just so you're aware. One, Hera could probably release one of the properties to you that she has due to Rite of Conquest. That's both weird and cool that that's a thing, by the way. Two, you could…maybe room with one of your not-a-follower-anymore families. Or three," Tony went through them all, before taking a brief pause. "you can be adopted by me."

"You…"

"We've never actually been introduced, but I'm Tony Stark, Hera Potter's brother." Tony continued. "You're her twin as far as magic is concerned, right? That makes you family. Hera's willing to walk out on a limb and vouch for you, and defend you against her own god-father. I'd say that warrants a chance, wouldn't you?"

"This is all…a lot." Riddle finally stated, looking a little overwhelmed. "Perhaps now would be a good time to take that intermission, Potter?"

"Yeah, we can come at this fresh in the morning." Hera nodded, looking more tired than ever. "I'm already kinda sleepy stupid. Sleep sounds awesome."

Tony snickered upon realizing that as soon as she'd said that, Hera'd promptly passed out.

"I suspected that was going to happen soon." Lucius murmured fondly. "Draco is much the same. Come, I will show you all to spare bedrooms you may use for the night. I have a feeling I will be carrying Draco up to his before too long."

"M'not that sleepy." Draco denied, his voice betraying him even so.

"Of course, you're not." Lucius placated, making sure to put a hand on his son's shoulder to steady him while Tony gently cradled Hera and picked her up. "If you will all follow me."

It wasn't long before he heard Riddle whispering to Severus. "Was he serious?"

"Of course, he was." Severus replied quietly. "While Stark is an impetuous sort, he will back any promise he makes. He offered me a job once, and though I have yet to take him up on it, I have no doubt he would honor it."

"And he knows?" Riddle asked, sounding far more vulnerable than Tony thought a Dark Lord turned teenager would ever sound. "About everything?"

"He does indeed." Severus confirmed. The man must have seen something in the boy's face, because his expression softened somewhat. "Do not concern yourself with it now. It'll keep till morning."

"I just…I don't understand." Riddle admitted quietly. "Who I was…What I did…I did those things. I ordered others to do those things…And the revels? I allowed them, encouraged them. You know what it was like. You were there. How can they just…How can they just forgive me that? Lucius can barely look at me as it is, and you saw how Black reacted to seeing me even as I am now. His reaction I expected, but theirs? I don't know what to do with that."

Severus sighed, sharing a slightly exasperated look with Tony before looking back to Riddle. "If you're looking to me for guidance in finding that understanding, I am afraid you're out of luck there. I have been watching over Potter since she entered Hogwarts, have taken her on as an apprentice over the last year or so, and I am no closer to that understanding than I was from day one. Stark is much the same, as I am no closer to understanding him than I was the day I met him. He's certainly exasperating enough to match her. It does not surprise me that his compassion does as well."