"Dry Her Eyes"
By Loki Palmer
Author's Note: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The Avengers and all related characters belong to Marvel Comics and the late, great, Stan Lee.
Some jagoff left an abusive review on this story. I'm not going to quote from his/her review, as it has enough cussing to earn a heavy soap mouth-washing from Mama. As we in the South say, "We don't cotton to that kinda talk around these here parts." Moreover, BadVoodoo – that's the jagoff's Fanfiction pseudonym, ID# 660382 – claimed not only to hate my stories, but me as well, and proceeded to cuss me out in such hateful words … why? I never met him/her before in all my life, why should he/she claim to hate me?
Don't bother responding, BadVoodoo – your name is on my blacklist, and now all my fans know who you are. Who knows, your abusive review may get your abusive tuchas banned. Did you stop to think of that? I bet you didn't!
"Um, Loki, you do realize not everyone will like your work, right?" Yes, I do realize that, but BadVoodoo went well beyond dislike of my work; he/she got hateful AND personal.
Hoc maledictum sine respōnsō stare nōn sinam. Nēmō mē impūnē lacessit. Cavē īram meam. Si dracōnem excitās, tē incendet in cinerem.
This insult I will not suffer to stand without response. Nobody attacks me unpunished. Beware my wrath. If you awake the dragon, he will burn you into ash.
Again, let me shout this through a megaphone to all flamers/complainers/whiners:
If you don't like my story, nobody says you have to like it – use the Back button and do not leave a flaming bag of excrement on my literary doorstep. Take your flames and shove them where the sun doesn't shine: up your posterior! If you have CONSTRUCTIVE criticism to offer, that's another matter, but if your criticism is purely DESTRUCTIVE and NEGATIVE, SHUT UP AND GO SHAG YOURSELF! I'm writing the story in the way I WANT, and if you don't like it, you are welcome to go elsewhere. Cheerio, don't let the door hit you on the way out – 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT ASS PRINTS ON MY NEW DOOR!
Now that I have that unpleasantness out of my way …
Before I forget, to Proud Harmonian: that is an interesting historical note about the Salem Witch Trials. Thank you for that tidbit. [smile]
Okay, here we go - on with the story!
Chapter 12
Hel smiled as She and Harry left 4 Privet Drive. "When thou wilt see My Son, give him My greetings."
"Wait – I'm an uncle? I've been an uncle all this time?"
Hel rolled Her eyes. "Duh."
"Who is this nephew of mine? Do I know him?"
"Hmmm … yes, thou knowest him. As for who he is, let me give thee a hint from thy Headmaster: it takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but a greater courage to stand up to your friends."
"Yes … now I know him. When will I see Thee again?"
Hel kissed him on the forehead. "Senn, bróðrinn Minn." (Soon, My brother.)
~DRY HER EYES~
In the Great Hall the next morning, Headmaster Dumbledore came before Harry. "I'm afraid I have some sad news for you. Petunia, Marge, and Dudley Dursley were found dead, and Vernon was found insane. The Muggle police sent him to the looney bin."
Harry put his hand to his chest. "Oh, what a tragedy! Whatever shall I do now?"
"My office door is always open should you need to talk."
"Thank you, sir."
After finishing his breakfast, Harry looked up at Hermione and the Avengers seated around him. "Let's take a walk. Feels like a nice day outside, hmm?"
"If you want me to catch up with you later, I understand," said Neville. "Family and all …"
"You come too, Neville. As you said before, Family."
"But, Harry, I'm not –"
"Neville, just zip it and come along."
~DRY HER EYES~
Out at the Black Lake, Harry hugged Hermione as he sobbed. Much to the shock of the Avengers and Neville, the sobs turned into a maniacal laugh that chilled to the bone.
"Harry?" said Hermione. "Why are you laughing? I know the Dursleys were not the nicest of people, but –"
A thunderclap boomed overhead as Harry looked at her with a cold expression. "'Not the nicest of people?' How diplomatic of you."
Loki grinned. "A diplomat is a person who can tell another to go to Hel in such a way that he/she looks forward to the trip."
Harry returned the grin. "The Dursleys were absolute monsters to me. Why should I shed tears over them?"
Loki shrugged. "In one sense, this is a day for mourning. Thor and I never got a chance to inflict suffering onto them for how they treated you, and now it appears some lucky person beat us to it."
"Father wouldn't let us, and my earlier experience on Midgard taught me to think before I strike," said Thor.
"All the same, I had to steer clear of Thor in those days," said Loki. "He is most unpleasant when he's in a temper."
Dr. Banner nodded.
Hermione held up her hands. "I'm not defending them. Loki and Thor would have to be in line behind me, because I would have liked a piece of them. All the same, Harry, they raised you."
"And look at what a fine job they did," said Harry, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, yes, fine job, indeed," said Loki. "Who's my widdle monster? Who's my widdle monster?"
Thor rolled his eyes and punched the Trickster into the Black Lake.
The latter spluttered as he tried to stay afloat. "What was that for?"
"That infantile cooing was getting on my nerves."
Harry looked at Neville. "By the way, Neville: my sister, Hel, sends you Her greetings. She also told me she is your Mom."
"I didn't even know you had a sister, and you say she's my –" the latter part of Harry's statement caught up to him – "whaaaaaaaat?!"
"If you don't believe him, Neville, we can give you a blood test at Gringott's," said Loki. "How odd … I never would have thought Frank and Alice Longbottom capable of such … deceit."
Thor rolled his eyes. "From an infamous Trickster as yourself, I find that hard to believe."
"Scoff all you want, brother, but answer me this: how do you surprise an omniscient being?"
"You cannot, so don't bother."
Loki nodded. "Bingo. The mortals may worship us Asgardians as gods, but we are not gods. We live and die like any mortals, give or take 5,000 years. The limits on our mortal knowledge are what make surprise and shock possible, thus giving us pranksters, like Harry and Myself, a taste of joy in a well-played Prank."
"Limits on our mortal knowledge can have other consequences," said Thor with a sad shake of his head. "Sadder consequences."
"Like Pettigrew's betrayal …"
"Let me get this straight," said Neville. "If Harry's sister – Hel – is my Mother, this would make Harry my Uncle … does this mean I'm not a Longbottom? If Frank Longbottom isn't my Father, who is?"
"So far, you're accurate … Dad, do you know who Neville's Father is?"
"Yes, I do," said Loki. "Neville, you are not of the Longbottom Family, but you do belong to another of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Families around, for your Father is none other but My best friend on Midgard: Sirius Black!"
"Harry's godfather?" said Tony.
"Yes, indeed, Man of Iron," said Thor, "Harald and Neville are godbrethren."
"I petrified your nephew all those years ago?" said Hermione. "I want to say I feel bad about it."
"No need, Hermione," said Neville. "It's water under the bridge. All the same … this information is a lot to take in. It will take me time to process it all, but, as long as it will take me, I would like to promise something to Harry."
"What's that, Neville?"
Neville knelt on the ground and drew his wand. "I promise you my fealty, my friendship, my wand. Your allies will be mine, as will be your enemies."
"I, Harald Lokison Potter, accept your offer of fealty. Loyalty I will reward with honor, but treason I will reward with vengeance. Arise."
He clapped Neville on the back as they smiled …
Author's Note: Another chapter done. Read and review!
As far as my book, "Gargoyle Willie" is concerned – I will be starting the publication process for it tomorrow, November 15, 2019. After that, it should take some months to come out, most likely sometime in the year 2020. I don't have an official release date yet, but as soon as I know, I will let my friends know.
Smiles and laughter,
Loki Palmer