Two months later. London. Piccadilly Circus.
Summer was always a busy time for the Piccadilly Circus, for it was the time when the majority of the tourists and travelers would start coming into the capitol of Great Britain and England. The shops and malls of the city would always experience a significant increase in customers and profits would go through the proverbial roof. Restaurants and cafés would be filled to the brim with customers, including couples wanting to have a nice and quiet date, and being unable to accomplish it because of the influx of the people.
Fortunately, for Hadrian and Amelia, the former had made quite a few friends in the world and had connections thanks to his work as a Special Shield Agent and as the heir of Potter-Black Industries. Plus he was also a rather active superhero in both UK and USA, not to mention Europe, and though his identity was kept a secret from the general public and most people, thanks to a few little charms that made it impossible for most to identify him as the Nephalem. Still, with the amount of work he had been doing for the good of common people, he had earned himself respect and admiration of many.
That included the owner of one rather prestigious restaurant, a Wizard who left the Wizarding World to be with his wife and their Squib daughter. Unfortunately for him, his family had engaged him to a witch from a prestigious East European country, whose family took it as an insult, that the man chose a normal girl to be with instead of their daughter, and so the patriarch sent his sons after him. Hadrian just happened to have been on a break and was taking a stroll down Piccadilly when he saw the ruckus and rushed to help. That was almost nine months ago, and the conflict had been resolved, but the owner and his wife now always had a table reserved for Harry, whenever he wished.
And it was good for him, because the last three weeks have been really rough on him, due to work in SHIELD and the drastic increase in the terrorist activities in UK and Europe as a whole. Just in these three weeks he alone had busted eight cells of IRA, three AIM hidden groups and two of Hydra's cells, and that's not to mention the number of the terrorists that he either killed or captured. The situation was almost getting out of hand early this month with the attacks and actions taken by terrorists, but the rapid actions of SHIELD, MI-5 and Scotland Yard have managed to prevent the worst damage from happening, but not without losses, for a couple of terrorist acts did succeed. Thankfully, the loss of life was comparatively smaller than would have been if the Downing Street had not decided to get SHIELD involved early on.
In those days, almost no one in the SHIELD had much of a break and worked overtime, Sub-Director Coulson included, and Nephalem was his go to choice when they needed to deal with super powered terrorists or villains. Thankfully, Hadrian had the skills and powers just to put them all in their place, and now that the rush hour was over, finally he had time to spend with his girlfriend Amelia Bones, as they had their lunch.
"You know, I never knew there ever was such a thing as a "romantic luncheon". I did hear of "romantic dinner", but luncheon…" Amelia said with a bit of lighthearted humor.
"What can I say? You inspire me to develop new things." Hadrian joked back, with Amelia chuckling. "And I've also missed so much that I couldn't wait any longer, and so decided to have luncheon with you instead of having to wait till evening for a dinner."
"Hm, can't say that I blame you, because I too have missed you, Hadrian. Madly." She told him with a smile, as she took his hand into hers. "Oh you have no idea how much I needed this! Last few weeks were a nightmare for us in the Department." She said with a tired sigh, as Hadrian gently stroked her hand.
"Sounds like you too have had a rough time in the Ministry." Hadrian noted, pouring a little more wine in Amelia's cup. "Sorry I wasn't able to call you, Amelia. Since the end of May… It's been almost like 9/11 for us, if not worse."
"Yeah, I have heard, and don't worry about it. I'm just glad that you here with me, safe and sound. Even if you did try to call me, I probably wouldn't have picked the phone, because I was either on patrol, raid or in Ministry." Amelia responded, as she looked at her boyfriend. "I've practically moved to live there, because of Minister's "grand new plan." She said with sarcasm.
"Should I notify SHIELD, so that we have time to prepare for a disaster?" Hadrian joked, with Amelia laughing a little at it. "But in all seriousness, what is this grand new plan of his that has you practically living in the Ministry and working overtime?"
"It's another one of those stupid ideas, only this time he has gotten support for it from Wizengamot's top players. Basically, a new act was passed last month that was meant to increase the security and protection of the populace, but in all reality is just a set of legal means for further prosecution of everyone who isn't of noble blood or was born in Wizarding World, and are "suspected" in connections with dangerous elements." Amelia shook her head. "That act has more holes in it than a half-eaten cheese, yet they still passed it on, and now we are working overtime to respond to all those new threats and all that…"
"Sounds to me like the Ministry is taking full advantage of it, and not in a good way." Hadrian said with full seriousness. "Let me guess: that act promotes denunciations and prosecution of the magical creatures, along with first-generation wizards and witches, is that it?"
"In basic terms, yeah, and the worst part is that we can't do anything about it. Frank Longbottom and some others are lobbying to have that act repeal, but as it stands, we are not getting enough support for it, especially because Potter is supporting this damn thing." Amelia let out an irritated sigh. "I'm sorry, Hadrian, I know that you have had it rough at SHIELD too, and yet here I am talking about my problems…"
"It's okay, Amelia, if anything, I'm very happy to hear you talk, and being able to see after this long." Hadrian smiled to her, with Regent Bones smiling to him with a bit a blush. "And as for that act, I think I can help you and your friends out with it."
"You help us out with it? I hope it doesn't involve you strolling into the Wizengamot and taking everyone hostage." Amelia joked a little.
"No, but, let's just say I know someone who can metaphorically all the necessary players in your parliament hostage." Hadrian smiled to her. "Arcturus Black is my grandfather, and as I'm sure you've heard the rumors, he does have a certain pull in the Ministry. I can pay him a visit and ask him about this whole business and have that act repealed."
"You would do that?" Amelia was surprised to hear it. "Harry, you have no idea just how much me and the others have been trying to get that thing repealed with no avail. It's a gross misuse of power and authority and a complete disaster upon the rights of people, and if it's not removed, we'll be facing a full blown civil war."
"You don't have to convince me of anything, I'm meeting him later this evening, to talk about a few of Black Family things he wanted to discuss." Hadrian assured her, with Amelia feeling very grateful to him. "And for the record: I'm not doing this for your friends and for the so-called Light party. I'm doing this because my girlfriend shouldn't be made to live at her work, especially when she has more important things to attend to." Amelia immediately felt flattered and adopted a mischievous look to her face
"Hm, and what important things does she have to attend to?" She asked with a bit of a sultry tone, while moving her leg to touch Hadrian's inner thigh under the table, immediately getting the needed reaction. "Is this what my boyfriend wants me to attend to?" She asked as she gently caressed the area, while Hadrian let out a sharp exhale.
"I was going to say herself, but this was a close second." He admitted, as Amelia continued her moves under the table.
"You always know the best things to say." Amelia admitted, as she continued her little play. "And this is a gross misuse of your privileges and power, Mr. Black." She chided him playfully.
"Only the best for my lady." Hadrian answered, before Amelia moved her leg a little closer to his crotch. "Amelia… You are quite daring today." He commented, as she continued her play.
"Let's just say that I feel inspired to award my man for what he is doing to me." Amelia said to him with a bit of a hushed and seducing tone, before she leaned in closer. "And that's just the appetizer, a small taste of things to come."
"You have my… undivided attention." Hadrian exhaled slowly, as Amelia's foot touched Hadrian's crotch, with her blushing a little at what she felt and adopting a positively seductive look.
"Susan has been dying to have a sleepover with her friend Hannah, and I've decided that it would nice for her to have it, so before I came here, I've dropped her off at Hannah's." Amelia revealed, as she pressed her foot a little more into Hadrian. "So I have the mansion all to myself tonight, and I was wondering if you would like to come over, for a sleepover of our own." She told him seductively.
"With the incentive and appetizing you are providing me right now, I fear we might not be able to sleep too much tonight." Hadrian responded, as he moved his hand underneath the table and gently caressed Amelia's foot, causing her to intake air and blush even more, making it clear that she was as flushed and aroused as she made him to be, though he controlled himself better. "With the way you've been teasing me, only fair I return some of that affection back, wouldn't you say?" Hadrian asked in a mischievous way, as he gently caressed her thigh.
"S-stop it, you are going to make me want to take you there right now." Amelia warned him, as she was getting very hot and bothered.
"And would that be so bad?" Hadrian asked in an innocent way.
"Yes! Because… Because I want to make it special, for the two of us." Amelia admitted to him, as she finally withdrew her leg from him. "We've been together for almost half a year, and I-I know that you wanted to take it slow, and I agreed to it. These past months- they were the best in my life, because of you, Harry, and now… Now, I want this, for you and me to get closer, and I want this to be not just some simple hook up or something. I want it to be… Well, I want to be meaningful, and for that…" Amelia embarrassingly tried to explain it all, but Hadrian just gently caressed her cheek, making her blush again.
"I understand… And I too have been thinking about it, Amelia. I know I've been a bit of a handful at times, but now… Now I want it too, and I want it to be special." Hadrian admitted and assured her, with Amelia smiling to him. "And if you want to wait a few more hours, I'll wait."
"Yes, and I promise you: this will be the night you won't forget in your life." She assured him, as she reached to him and placed a deep passionate kiss upon his lips, which he reciprocated. "Another thing for you to look forward to." She told him, with Hadrian ready to respond, when his phone suddenly rang.
"Ugh, you have got to be…" Hadrian groaned, as he looked at the caller, with Amelia instantly noticing him changing the expression. "It's from work. I…"
"Take it. They don't call you unless it's important." Amelia told him, knowing well that Hadrian never gets calls unless it is something serious, with Hadrian nodding to her, standing up and walking a short distance to a more secluded place in restaurant, before taking the call.
"Coulson, you officially have the worst timing in the world." Hadrian stated with an irate tone, before calming himself.
"I've heard the same from Tony Stark, but I'm afraid I've got no one else for this." Coulson told him. "Twenty minutes ago, there was an explosion in Little Whinging, Surrey, which completely destroyed two houses and damage four more that surrounded it. No casualties, thankfully, but MI5 wants SHIELD to assist in the investigation."
"Then send the usual response team of investigators and criminologists. I'm a Special Agent, a Magical Response operative and a field combat expert, not a general investigator or criminologist." Hadrian responded, really not wanting to go there.
"I already did, but five minutes ago, our Magical Response Department just informed that there was a massive spike of magical energy in that very same place, exactly at the same time as the explosion took place." Coulson informed Hadrian, who feared that this might be why he is sent there. "MI5 and Scotland Yard are informed of it already, but they don't want to get the Ministry involved. They want our specialist, and you are our best specialist in this field, and they know it, especially with Morgana being on her Island out of reach. The Director General wants a professional, non-biased person to ascertain the situation, and has personally asked for your assistance."
"I swear, I knew I was gonna regret working with MI5 when you asked me to…" Hadrian let out a frustrated sigh, before collecting himself. "I'll be in there. Send me the coordinates and all that they have."
"I will, and I am sorry for this, Hadrian. Good luck." Coulson responded, before hanging up, with Harry returning to his girlfriend with a grim look on his face.
"Is it about the explosion in Surrey?" She asked of him, surprising him a little, before she showed him her phone, where it was clear that the news were all over Internet. "Thank goodness nobody was hurt this time."
"Yeah, but they want me there, as a consultant and a specialist from SHIELD." Hadrian said with guilt clear on his face. "Amelia, I…" His girlfriend rose up and kissed him in the lips, showing that she understood.
"I know, honey. Just be careful, okay?" She asked of him with a small smile.
"I will, and I'm sorry for it." Harry told her.
"Don't be, you had no way of knowing if it will happen or not." Amelia told him. "Although on the plus side, that does give me the time to pick up the attire for when we do decide to have our special sleepover." Hadrian chuckled at this one.
"You really want to make it something else, don't you?" He asked of her.
"I want to make the best night of our lives. Now go get them, tiger." She told him, with Hadrian leaving her, but not before paying for the luncheon, before Amelia's own phone rang, showing the face of her colleague. "Alice, if you had called me a few minutes earlier, I would've cursed your knickers to turn into stone, but now I'm free and frustrated, so hit me."
"Sorry, Mel, but I've got no time for your jokes. The Head of the Department has commanded an assembly of all Aurors, without exception. All hands are on deck." Alice Longbottom informed Amelia, who let out a sigh.
"If it's another one of those damn raids of theirs, then tell them I refuse to participate and they may consider it as an act of protest against their laws." Amelia responded.
"No, it's not about that. Amelia, the Unspeakables… They've reported Code Nocturne." That immediately got Amelia's full attention, as she knew that this was really bad.
"You are serious about it, Alice? Code Nocturne is only ever used if…" Amelia tried to speak up, but she was interrupted.
"Yes, only when an awakened True Source has been identified, and that is the case now." Lady Longbottom told Amelia. "Amelia, you know firsthand how dangerous those creatures are. Minister and Dumbledore are calling every able body for this one, since the Unspeakables say it's the biggest one since Morgana La Fay herself."
"Dammit… I'm on my way." Amelia said and rushed to her workplace, mentally apologizing to Hadrian.
Surrey. Little Whinging. Privet Drive. Fifteen minutes later
Having exited the portal some distance ago, Hadrian drove his car towards the crime scene, before he was stopped at the barrier of the crime scene, forcing him to park his car and walk out. An officer moved towards Hadrian, just as he had exited his car.
"Sir, this is a restricted area, I'm going to have to ask you to leave it, unless you live here and can testify as a possible witness." The police officer stated to Hadrian, before he pulled off his ID.
"Apologies, Constable, but I'm no witness." Hadrian showed his ID to him. "Special Agent Hadrian Black, SHIELD. Your superiors have requested my presence here, suspecting that there might be some unusual elements involved in this. Now, if you would kindly show me to the Inspector and Agent of SHIELD in charge of examination, I would be much obliged to you."
"Yes, sir. Please, follow me." Constable immediately led Hadrian to the crime scene, where the criminologists and SHIELD specialists were at work. "Sir, Special Agent Black, says that he was sent here by our superiors." The Inspector and the SHIELD Agent turned to look at Hadrian.
"I wasn't made aware that we'd be getting more Agents, especially Special ones." Scotland Yard's inspector stated.
"It's alright, Inspector, he is one of us, and if he's here, then he was called here by the top brass." SHIELD Agent immediately told him, before shaking Hadrian's hand. "Hadrian, it's good to see. Didn't think Coulson would take this so seriously. Seems a little excessive, sending heavy armor over this."
"Yeah, that's what I get for getting up close and personal with MI5. Good to see you too, Lance." Hadrian shook the hand of Lancelot Hunter, one of SHIELD's general investigators and Agents. "Can you bring up to speed on all this?"
"We ourselves only had gotten here and just set up the crime scene, so for now we've got only what you can see yourself." Lance stated, as he, Hadrian and Inspector walked towards where seemingly the epicenter of the explosion was. "35 minutes ago, an explosion of unknown origin took place right here, at Privet Drive 4, type of explosion is still being determined. Force of the explosion destroyed this house and the one next to it, while damaging the surrounding four by various degrees by the resulting shockwave and flying fragments of the houses. No casualties, massive property damage and not a clue who or what had set off this explosion."
"We at first thought that it was caused by a gas leak, but we've got the confirmation from the gas-works that there was no leak and that the gas pipeline is intact." Inspector stated, as they have reached the place where the Privet Drive 4 was. "Whatever it was, it sure was powerful enough completely destroy this two-storey house with comparatively little debris remaining, while the other one looks like it had been hit by an artillery shell."
"Yeah, it sure does look like it." Hadrian said. "Lance, have you identified the approximate place of where the explosion took place?"
"With all the damage it did and power it was a little challenging, but our experts think it took place right there." Hunter pointed to where the garage once was, with Hadrian simply walking there. "According to our initial analysis, the center of the garage is where the explosion took place." Lance noted, as Hadrian moved to the spot, before kneeling at it, noticing something there.
"This is some strange stain in here, large one and in a form of a puddle…" Hadrian stated, as he examined it, before casting a quick and hidden examination spell, getting the answers on what it was. "Have you been able to identify who this house belonged to and if there was someone during the blast?"
"According to the records, the house is registered on Vernon Dursley. He lived here with his wife Petunia Dursley and their son Dudley Dursley, who is 10 years old. All three should be arriving… I believe those are them." Inspector stated, as he saw the three come out of their car outside the perimeter, with a look of shock and horror frozen on their faces.
"Inspector, would you kindly explain them the situation and then ask them the usual questions? My colleague and I will join you momentarily." Hadrian asked of him, with Inspector nodding to them and leaving them.
"So, what are we looking at?" Lance asked of Hadrian, already knowing that he has learned more than he and his team.
"This entire area where the garage was is saturated with concentrated magical energy, pulled from all over the area and focused right here. No normal magical person could do it, since this is the magical energy gathered from all over surrounding area, and then transformed into fire." Hadrian stated, as he turned to Lance.
"I had a feeling we might be dealing with something like that here, or maybe a mutant who has awakened its powers, but I didn't want to make any hasty conclusions." Lancelot told Hadrian, who nodded to him. "So, if someone had caused this explosion, then who would have the access to Dursley's house and garage, and what would they be doing in here?"
"Bleeding to death, if that bloodstain is to be believed." Hadrian stated to him. "That is dried blood on the floor, and while the fire had taken out the scent of it, it left it there, probably had dried it to the floor. And while it took out pretty much everything in here, it did leave this untouched." Hadrian walked a little to the left, before levitating out of the ashes and singed floor a wrench, covered in dried blood.
"Looks like the records are not telling us everything about this place and family." Lance commented, as he glanced at Dursleys, as they were talking to the Inspector. "I'm gonna have the wrench examined, but it seems obvious who would use it most. Want me to take them into detention immediately?"
"No, give a call to HQ, request information on Dursleys and everything that they are involved in. Have someone examine the wrench and the area over there, where I've sensed blood as well was aplenty." Hadrian told him, with Lance nodding to him. "In the meantime, I'm going to have a few words with the neighbors. Maybe they will tell us more than the records about Dursleys." Lance nodded to him and took the wrench to the criminologists, while Hadrian walked to the young couple that owned the house next to Dursleys.
"Good afternoon. Special Agent Black from SHIELD. I am sorry for your house. I hope your insurance can cover the damage done to it." Hadrian told the two, while showing his ID. "Now, I would like to ask you a couple of questions about this house and its residents, Mr. and Ms.…"
"Gregory. Miles Gregory and this is my wife, Vanessa." Miles introduced himself, with Vanessa doing the same. "Thank you for your concern, Agent, and I'm sure we'll manage. Just happy that we didn't get caught in it."
"What did you want to know about the Dursleys?" Vanessa asked of him.
"Well, first of all, I'd like to know about them as persons and individuals, what manner of neighbors they were, and if they seemed somewhat strange or queer in some way?" Hadrian asked of them. "And did they have any guests or relatives staying here yesterday or today?"
"No, I sure didn't see any relatives of that pig and his nosy snob wife coming over, nor any guests." Vanessa stated with clear disgust. "And as for what they are as neighbors? Well, officer…"
"Agent, actually, ma'am. And apologies please continue." Hadrian corrected her politely.
"Yes, Agent, the Dursleys, well they are as awful as they come. They may appear all nice and neighborly, but that only on the surface they are like that, but if you take an interest, you'll find that they are snobbish, rude, absolutely horrible and downright amoral!" Vanessa said with passion. "Vernon is a damn pig, who likes to flaunt his wealth and thinks it gives him the right to do whatever he wants. He constantly makes crass passes at me and almost every other neighboring woman in here, safe for Missis Fig, and only because she is old. He does not even hide it and makes downright disgusting suggestions towards us, while his wife is no better. Just as snobbish and arrogant her husband, but she loves to flaunt around her garden that she supposedly worked on, while also loving spying and listening on the people, gathering rumors or downright fabricating them. She is the gossip mill of Privet Drive, and doesn't know when to stay out of others' business, and when we rebuke her, she tells her husband and he will start making threats to us all, like he owns the whole town. I swear, sir, those are just the worst kinds of people, and their son… Oh, don't even get me started on it, and that's not to mention how awfully they treat their niece, that's just stuff of nightmares and…"
"I am sorry, Missis Gregory, for interrupting, but did you just say that they have a niece?" Hadrian stopped her, with Gregory answering this one.
"Yes, they do, a girl of 5, I think. A scrawny little thing, looks practically like she is barely fed, with pale green eyes, and red hair, but with a lot of grey in it, like she's far older…" Miles spoke up, when his wife interrupted him.
"Not older, but beaten, abused and tormented by those monsters and their spawn!" Vanessa stated, barely able to contain her tears. "Agent Black, that girl, she moved in here about two years or so ago, a-and ever since then it... She… They…" Vanessa was about to break down, with Hadrian immediately offering her his hanker to wipe her tears.
"Here, Missis Gregory. You can keep it." Vanessa took the hanker and began wiping her tears. "Mr. Gregory, can you elaborate on what your wife has just stated?"
"Oh I can do far more than just elaborate. The whole Privet Drive knows that Vernon and Petunia don't only mistreat the girl, but downright abuse and beat her, if not worse. We live right here and often hear screams and shouts directed to her, and whimpers and cries from her, especially when Vernon's awful sister visits with her psychotic dog. The whole neighborhood knows that they like to sick that dog on the girl, and her son and all of the local bullies, they've been beating and bullying that poor thing ever since she appeared her." Miles stated with fury that Hadrian could understand. "She is mostly kept in the house, only allowed out when it's to school or to work on that garden, and she doesn't even have gloves on, not to mention that she looks barely 4 years old."
"Did you ever try to report this to the local Constables or to the appropriate agencies?" Hadrian asked of them.
"Of course we did, but every time we would get nothing out of it! I have tried filing reports to the local Scotland Yard and child support services and more, but all I got was that they could not and would not admit them! I've asked their school headmistress and teachers to testify, but they only rebuked me!" Miles stated with shock to Hadrian. "About a month ago, one of our neighbors down street decided to confront those wretches directly, and two days later he was found in a ditch, beaten half to death, while Vernon pranced around like he was the King of England, not even hiding that it was he who did it!"
"He and his wife have openly stated to us, that if we try and ask questions about Rose, or report or anything, then we can say goodbye to our lives, if not worse!" Vanessa said, with fear in her eyes, while Hadrian was a little surprised to hear that name.
"Rose… This is the girl's name?" Hadrian asked of them.
"Yes, it is, Rose Potter, she told me." Hadrian's eyes widened a little when he heard it. "A year ago, I tried to approach her, offer to feed and take her away from the garden, but she… Agent Black, she just… The poor thing had bruises and burns all over her hands, and she shook away from me as if I was plague! Sir, please, you must do something about it, about those monsters! We tried everything, but that bastard Vernon has bought or scared everyone and everything!"
"Yeah, and what's also interesting is the fact that Vernon and his company haven't ran out of all that money, especially after that scandal and when they were ready to sell their car, just to get by." Miles scoffed at it, with Hadrian containing himself.
"What scandal? Did Vernon and his family had financial problems, which disappeared suddenly?" Hadrian asked of him.
"Exactly. I am a COO in a construction company, and our company had a contract with Grunnings who supplied us with drills, only two-thirds of their drills them didn't even last a quarter of expected time, or worse, broke down and caused injuries. It had gotten so bad that the company was facing several law suits and was going bankrupt." Miles explained. "Everyone knows about it, but then, all of a sudden, all of their problems disappeared, and Vernon was richer than ever, and even his company was doing wonders! Cases were dropped and nobody ever brought it up again, though some tried from what I've heard, and they went nowhere."
"And when did it occur, precisely?" Hadrian asked of him. "Would it have coincided with the appearance of Rose Potter?"
"Yes, it did. Once she appeared, all of Vernon's problems disappeared and he's been living like a king ever since. Agent Black," Miles looked directly in the eyes of Hadrian. "Before Vanessa and I left for mall, I… Our house adjacent to their garage, and… I-I heard noises from that garage, like grunts and whimpers, and then… It was as if someone was beating a slab of meat. And then Vernon got out of there like nothing had ever happened."
"Agent, please, you have to do something about it…" Vanessa pleaded to him, with Hadrian knowing and sensing that they did not lie about a thing.
"Don't worry, ma'am, we will, and thank you for your cooperation. Now, I want to tell all that you told me to the Constables and my colleagues over there, and also give us the names of those who could testify as to validity of your words." Hadrian instructed them.
"All of Privet Drive will, Agent, I assure you, these monsters deserve nothing but the worst for what they did." Miles told him, with Hadrian shaking his head, before departing, coming to Lance, Gregory couple moved to other agents.
"So, did you find what you wanted?" Lance asked of Hadrian, before shuddering a little at the look in his eyes. "Hadrian, are you alright?"
"I've learned more than enough. Have operatives take testaments of the people here about Dursleys and have them compiled as per standards, and I need a full report on their bank activities, withdrawals and deposits made in the last two years. Inform the internal affairs of Scotland Yard that they have corrupt constables here who take bribes and possibly beat an innocent man, and send HM Revenue and Customs an order to investigate Grunnings. Inform DFE, Scotland Yard and child support services to investigate the school in which Dudley Dursley is studying, and send to all of them Scotland Yard. Also, inform animal protection agencies of Vernon Dursley's sister and order them to look into her." Hadrian ordered with a tone that did not take no for an answer, with Lance immediately typing down all of them and sending them where they need to be. "And have interrogation rooms ready at the closest station, along with the operatives ready to take them in, and also contact the child support services, request a specialist for Dudley. Be ready to take them in at my command."
"Right away, Hadrian." Lance finished up all that he was commanded to do, and motioned to the operatives to be ready, while he and Hadrian walked towards the perimeter, where Vernon Dursley was practically going ballistic.
"What do you mean you can let us inside?! I live in here and I demand that we…" Vernon turned practically purple from rage.
"Vernon Dursley. Special Agent Black from SHIELD, I have a question to you." Hadrian interrupted him. "Where is your niece Rose Potter and why isn't she registered in the official records pertaining to your family and house?"
"What?! What are you talking about?!" Vernon shouted at him.
"Where is Rose Potter and why didn't we find anything about her when we made a request about her to our general database?" Hadrian repeated his question.
"I don't fucking know any Rose or Potter or whatever! I demand that you…" Vernon responded.
"If you don't want to answer willingly, then we'll do it differently. Boys, take them." Hadrian commanded, with the operatives to take the family captive. "Vernon Dursley, you are under the arrest, accused of child abuse of physical, psychological and sexual character, extensive tax evasion, bribery of government workers and officers of police and more. Petunia Dursley, you are under arrest, accused of child abuse of physical and psychological character. Additional charges will be presented to you upon the progress of the investigation. You have the right to remain silent, and everything that you say may and will be used against you in the court. Now take them!" Hadrian ordered the men, turning away and ignoring everyone.
The magical spike and explosion was caused by a person possessing ability to draw and transform magical energy around itself into a fire element. The person's name is Rose Potter, 5 years old, thin, pale green eyes and red hair with lots of grey in it, looks smaller than her age may suggest. Suffered from continuous and extensive abuse of every kind from Dursleys, current location is unknown, possibly deceased, but unconfirmed." Hadrian quickly explained to Lance. "This is Code 7-Alpha, possible 9-Gamma as well. Have police be on the lookout for her in here and all surrounding towns and regions, inform them that the child is scared, psychologically scarred and may not be fully aware of her actions, so approach with caution and immediately inform us about her." Lance nodded, as his aids began to do their part, while Hadrian called Coulson.
"Coulson here." Coulson answered.
"Coulson, this is Black. I'm finished here. Lancelot Hunter will send you the report and all of my findings." Hadrian stated. "I'm taking personal charge of this investigation and give it priority Level 7. Have the Magical Response monitor all possible spikes in magical energy in the UK and report them to me directly."
"Level 7, so it is something serious. Alright, I'll have all of the necessary resources allocated to you, but I need to know, what are we dealing with in here?" Coulson demanded to know.
"We are dealing with a physically abused and psychologically scarred little girl who had just manifested her powers and turned two houses into nothing. It is Codes 7-Alpha and 9-Gamma, a mutant with possible magically based abilities, who is 5 years old and whose name is Rose Potter." Hadrian reported.
"Potter? You don't think that…" Coulson knew what it could mean.
"I'm thinking of a lot of things, sir, but I need solid data first, so I'm going to have interrogate Vernon Dursley and his wife. Requesting permission to use EIT, sir." Hadrian asked.
"Enhanced Interrogation Techniques?" Coulson knew what it meant, and he knew that Hadrian never requested it if it were not something very serious. "Granted, Special Agent. Use whatever means necessary to complete the investigation, however, first try to get the information without the usage of EIT, or at least attempt to do so."
"Is this an order, or a request, sir?" Hadrian asked for clarification.
"A professional recommendation. The MI5 may be more on board with our less stellar methods, but Police and current cabinet at Downing Street do not take kindly to us using those, at least when they learn of them and when they are initiated without their agreement." Coulson informed Hadrian. "However, given the importance and severity of the situation, you have permission to use any means at your disposal, Special Agent."
"Thank you, sir, I'll try the soft approach first. Find out everything about Potter family and specifically their youngest daughter. I need everything. And… Contact the Xavier Institute, request assistance from the X-Men." Hadrian asked as well.
"Is she this dangerous to warrant the involvement of the X-Men?" Coulson asked of Hadrian.
"The girl had suffered extensive and continuous abuse of every kind, sir. With the power she has and a state she is in, she is a danger for everyone, especially herself, and Xavier and his X-Men are best when it comes to dealing with mutants of every kind. If they are not available, request usage of their Cerebro to track and find Rose Potter." Hadrian requested.
"We'll get right on that. And Hadrian, should we get the Ministry involved in this?" Coulson asked of Hadrian, recognizing him as the head of this investigation and trusting him.
"No, the Ministry will likely treat this as a case of a True Source appearing, and they have a very straightforward and merciless protocol towards those. You inform them, and we will have a witch hunt on our hands to deal with." Hadrian stated, with Coulson agreeing. "I've already given Hunter additional commands and orders towards other services and agencies, request they be transferred to their intended destinations immediately and that Lancelot Hunter and his group be allocated to me as an investigative unit."
"Granted, they are under your command, Special Agent, and I'm also transferring under your command two Special Agents and a Reserve Agent to help deal with this situation. Agents Romanoff and Black have requested to take part in this investigation, and Colonel Danvers has requested to be included as a potential heavy hitter, should things get too hot. They are ready and waiting for a rendezvous." Coulson informed him.
"I'll send them my coordinates. And sir, try and reach Morgana. Black out." Hadrian hung up, before moving to his car.
Half an hour later. Little Whinging. Police Station.
Natasha and Eva were standing in the observation part of the interrogation room, looking through the one-sided mirror as Hadrian was interrogating Vernon Dursley, with the latter refusing to speak about anything and demanding to speak with his lawyer. The two SHIELD Agents have been brought up to speed on what had happened and they, like their male Special colleague, had neither sympathies, nor any form of mercy towards Vernon. For now, Hadrian was playing it cool and professional, but Eva clearly saw that Harry was at the end of his patience and was ready to resort to far less moral ways of gaining the information.
"Sorry for the hold up, had some trouble finding the coffee machine." Carol Danvers entered the room, holding two cups of coffee and one of tea for Eva. "So, did Hadrian crack him yet?"
"Not yet, and he is running out of patience for the professional approach, so to speak." Natasha commented. "Surprised he is still treating him like a good cop would. After what I've heard, I would've long since resorted to EIT."
"Torture, plying out nails, truth serum?" Carol asked, getting a surprised eye from Natasha. "Hey, before becoming the wonder woman I am now, I was in the Air Force Intelligence and worked there for a long time. I know the ropes, and had been on the receiving end of a few of those. Question is, what would Hadrian use from the EIT?"
"Telepathy, most likely, since it also classified as an EIT." Eva said, as she took a sip of her tea. "And Harry isn't just running out of patience. He's on edge, tense and distraught, barely holding himself back from tearing that swine a new one."
"You can tell by looking at him?" Carol asked of Eva. "Or did you use telepathy?"
"Hadrian and I have been on many missions together during our days in Weapon Plus, we often trained together, memorized our movements and slightest changes, practically learned how to read each other. He was trained to read opponent's next moves via body movements on the slightest level. I learned to use telepathy for it in a constant way, both as an information tool, and a diversionary one." Eva responded, as she eyed her best friend and former partner. "He may've gotten stronger, but his tells are the same, and he is angry, furious even. And he wishes that he was wrong, almost begs for it."
"About what?" Natasha asked, before it clicked in her head. "You mean about Rose Potter?" Eva nodded at that.
"Harry almost never talked about his family, well, the one that kicked him out, and I imagine that he never really wanted anything to do with them." Carol noted with a sigh. "I'm guessing he never really knew anything about his siblings, after he was taken by Sinister."
"Last thing he ever heard was that he had a little sister named Rose born, and that is it. After what had happened, neither he nor Dorea wanted anything to do with the Wizarding World, and now… Now Harry is scared, afraid that his deliberate ignorance and refusal to learn about his family may have cost an innocent girl her life." Eva stated, as she looked with sympathy at Harry. "He never fully let go of what had happened there on Muir Island, and though he had healed from it, he still holds every single one of us in him, a piece of everyone's soul in himself, so to speak. Sometimes, he even goes there, just to… To remember them."
"Survivor's guilt… It never goes away fully." Natasha noted, with Carol and Eva agreeing with her. "Hope you don't mind switching subjects, but since when are you a part of the SHIELD, Eva?"
"Since last November, after I've applied and was accepted as a Reserve Agent and a combat instructor for the trainees and advancing Agents. Coulson was looking for specialists who had expertise in urban, closed, open and other means of combat, and I was second best CQC specialist in the Weapon Plus, with a substantial record to show for it." Eva answered. "I was honestly looking for something to do, something outside of home, and so I decided to become a SHIELD trainer. The pay is good, good working hours, weekends are off and all the social pleasantries, but since May I've been also made a Reserve Agent with Level 5 access, when this terrorist rush was starting to begin and SHIELD found itself a bit shorthanded."
"With the record, skills and powers like yours, you could've become a full-time Agent, even a Special Agent like Hadrian. You've got all the qualifications for it." Natasha commented. "I've seen your file, and I have got to admit, you make most of my former Red Room colleagues look like chumps. By the way, remember that mission in St. Petersburg?" Natasha smirked a little at that one, with Carol raising her eyebrow.
"Infiltration and retrieval of information from a Russian oligarch?" Eva asked, with Natasha nodding to her, before Eva's eyes widened a little. "Oh, so it was you who had set off the alarm? I should've known that you were no simple secretary, especially from the way you looked at me back then."
"I thought you were either sent by FSB or CIA, and could've jeopardized my eight week long work there, so I had to act fast, and you were a good distraction." Natasha said, with Eva shaking her head at the memory.
"Yeah, you have any ideas how hard it is to fight with high heels and that short of a skirt, especially against former GRU Spetsnaz, without relying on my powers?" Eva glared at Natasha, who simply chuckled. "At least I've managed to get the data. What were you doing in there, anyway?"
"Investigating possible connections between Hydra and a Kronos Corporations, trying to determine possible illegal activities, nothing fancy, just my usual run of the mill work." Natasha shrugged at it, while Carol was still being left out of the loop. "By the way, ever wonder why there were no reinforcements after I've sounded the alarm?"
"Honestly, no, I was happy to just get the flash drive. Guess I have you to thank for it?" Eva asked of her.
"Consider this a professional courtesy." Natasha smiled a little, with Eva deciding to simply chuckle at that.
"Something tells me this is something that you won't be telling me any time soon." Carol commented, with both spy women nodding to that. "You know, looking at the two of you and hearing you tell such stuff, makes me miss my days of Air Force Intelligence. Didn't do any deep undercover missions, thankfully, but I've had my moments to shine."
"Whatever you say, Cheeseburger." Natasha chuckled, recalling Carol's old call sign in Air Force, before she and everyone dropped the jovialities. "Hadrian is done playing nice with him." Natasha commented, with others agreeing with her.
"Mr. Dursley, for the past forty or so minutes I have been playing nice with you, even though I have no reason for it, other than simple professionalism. However, I'm afraid that you've exhausted my patience and I've had enough of your prattle." Hadrian glared at the man, as he walked around him, menacingly keeping close eye on him. "I am giving one last chance, Vernon: tell me everything right here and now, or I'll get it out of you by other means."
"You mean, by beating a false confession out of me, or maybe injecting me with some weird stuff? I know how you government secret spies work. I have seen the movies and TV, and you cannot do that! I have my rights, and I demand to see my lawyer!" Vernon repeated it again. "You idiots don't even know who you are dealing with! I have friends in very high places, friends that will make you disappear for even looking at me funny!" Vernon practically spat spit from all of his gloating.
"You know what I think, Vernon? I think that it is you who does not know who he is dealing with. We are not your local Constable, curious concerned neighbor or a social worker, and not even a tax inspector. We are SHIELD, and we are an organization that deals with threats that are beyond traditional agencies and services' abilities to contain and eliminate, and compared to what we deal with on the regular basis, you are nothing more but an insignificant bug that is not worth our time, effort and resources, normally. However, thanks to your actions, you have now earned our fullest attention, and do you know what that means?" Hadrian asked of Vernon with narrowed eyes, scaring the man. "Within the next hour, our specialists will know everything about your financial records and history, including how your little company did managed to stay afloat after you put out malfunctioning drills. Fifteen minutes from then, our operatives will have collected all of the testimonies from your neighbors. An hour later, and we'll know everything about your activities throughout your life: every fraud, every bribe, every illegal activity. What we have now is enough to send both you and your wife to prison until your son turns thirty, if not more, but I think we get you a life sentence, for both of you."
"Y-you can't…"
"Do you know what they do with child abusers in prison, Vernon? Or how about rapists? Men who take a too avid interest in adolescent often end up crippled or even dead in the prisons." Hadrian said with cold tone, slowly to let it all sink into Vernon. "And as for those who like barely old enough to go to school… Now that's stuff of real nightmares. Do you want to experience that, Vernon? We'll arrange the absolute premium, just for you and your wife, and I assure you- you'll not be able to forget it, for however long you'll be allowed to live there."
"I… I won't talk… M-my friends…"
"Won't help you now, Vernon, and this is your final chance. Talk and you may have a chance at a minor leniency in court, or keep your mouth shut and I'll get my answers in other ways, and then you'll say good bye to everything nice in this world." Hadrian told him, with Vernon making it clear that he was not going to talk. "As you wish, Vernon." And with this, Hadrian has finally resorted to his telepathy, entering Vernon's mind to finally get his answers.
As per SHIELD's protocols, Hadrian wasn't allowed to utilize Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, in most of which he was excellently versed, without the express permission from his immediate commander. Coulson was not a person who preferred to resort to those and demanded that people under his direct command use those only as a last resort, and Hadrian always respected his wishes. Yet there were moments when such things were necessary, and even Phil Coulson knew that, which is why when Hadrian asked permission to use those, he granted them. Though not a normal investigator or even an Agent, Hadrian was a Special Agent with a high clearance level and status in the SHIELD and one of the higher ranked operatives in the European branch of the SHIELD, and that came with certain privileges and trust from the higher ups.
Telepathy in which Hadrian was best versed at was always his go to method to gaining information quickly and efficiently. The SHIELD maintained a number of trained telepaths in their ranks, almost all of them being assigned to investigations, information analysis and interrogations. Aside from himself, Hadrian knew of only one other Agent that was a field operative and who was a highly skilled and trained telepath. He did not have the honor or pleasure of working with Betsy Braddock yet, but he had ran into her brother a number of times, though when he was donning his Captain Britain persona.
Getting into Vernon's mind was an effortless thing for Nephalem to do, and before a moment passed, all of his mind and memories laid out before him, and with a speed that rivaled that of a supercomputer, Hadrian browsed and analyzed through it all. It took him 3.4 seconds to completely go through his memory, pick up the necessary information and then transfer it to his own brain… And when he did that, all of worst fears of Hadrian became reality and all of his pleas to the Heaven fell on deaf ears. He was no fool and he suspected from the start that Rose Potter could be from his former family that she might be just like him, thrown away and abandoned.
He maintained his professionalism and cool, didn't let his worst fears and anger take over, stating to himself that she could be someone else, since both Potter and Rose were common names in England and world as a whole. He decided not to act without having more data and information, without knowing the whole history, at least holding himself back and hoping that it was not as he feared. Now that he had the whole picture… He mentally screamed in agony and maddening fury, for he berated and chastised himself for being such an ignorant and arrogant fool!
Rose Potter was his sister, his little sister who was born just like him, without magical powers, and James and Lily found out about it! They could have contacted Dorea, informed her about Rose and her being a Squib, let the grandmother take care of her granddaughter if her parents were too disgusted to even look at her… However, they did not. Instead, they chose to entrust the girl in the hands of near complete strangers yet again! Have they done out of spite or hidden motive or for some other reason, none of that mattered to Hadrian, for when he is done here, he'll have words with his former parents, and those won't be niceties.
They threw the girl in the hands of the very worst kind of people, prejudiced, greedy and snobbish, looking down at everything that did not meet their so-called standards of "normal." From the very moment, they hated and abhorred Rose, wanting nothing to do with her, but they kept her not out of duty or obligation, but out of greed, desire for power and perverse pleasure of holding power over the child. To keep Rose there, Potters started to deposit large sums every year to Dursleys' bank account, and dealing with any unwanted attention coming their way. In exchange, they were to raise Rose in whatever manner they wished, so long as she never grew up to interact with the Wizarding World in any way. Essentially, so long as they kept her away from Potters, Dursleys would live like royalty, and they immediately took to it like leeches taking to blood, and as Hadrian saw it, he couldn't help but think that killing Rose, as noble families of old at times did, would have been a far greater mercy.
Because once she was in the hands of Dursleys, her life became living hell, for she was not even a human in their eyes, not even a dog or an animal, but less than that- a slave, a tool and a dirt. They beat her, abused her in ways that Hadrian only saw in Weapon Plus, made her their House Elf, put her in the cupboard to live, and the best thing she could hope for was being left alone. They've cheered for their son when he beat her to death, chuckled when a bulldog nearly ripped a piece of her flesh out of her leg, choked on laughter when they demeaned her out loud, calling her a waste of air, a freak and worse. They had not a single ounce of mercy or decency towards her, and so Rose saw the very worst that humans are capable of, including giving into the darkest, atrocious and most perverse things.
Power is an addictive drug, one that can make a person forget about morals and decency, devolve them to a social and moral deviant and an aberrant. Vernon Dursley is one such person, who once he felt power and might, he thought that he had the right to do everything he wanted, even the unspeakable and unforgivable… And he did it, with Rose. If there ever was a person whom Hadrian hated more than Essex, it now was Vernon, for the things he saw that pig in human flesh do to her… It didn't make him sick or make him want to vomit, oh no…
It broke him as a human being, and finally unshackled the Nephalem inside, and in that moment when he finally saw everything, Hadrian's human form disintegrated and his demonic form replaced. Before Vernon could even whimper, Hadrian ripped the bolted to the floor steel table, tossing it aside like it was a nothing, giving him direct access to Vernon, as he grabbed him by the throat, raising him above himself with absolute ease.
"You rotten wretch, I have seen bastards and monsters that made my blood boil! But you… You have just surpassed all of them, for you are worst then all of them!" Hadrian's voice roared, as his energy flared and made the entire station shake. "You speak of friends in power? They won't help you now, Vernon, for now you shall suffer as Rose had suffered at your hand, FOR ALL OF YOUR LIFE!" And with this, Hadrian unleashed his full might upon the rotten man, just as his companions rushed into the room.
It would have been so easy to kill this man, to make him disappear and never be heard from again, but that was not what Hadrian wanted, oh no. He was beyond reason, beyond understand, beyond mercy and humanity with him, and so he will not grant this person any leeway or freedom through death. Instead, Nephalem unleashed not the might of his energy or Chaos that flew through him, but the might of his telepathy and mind, as he invaded Vernon's brain and mind, and then proceeded to punish the man. With the force of a metaphorical battleship, Hadrian completely severed all of his senses, leaving him deaf, blind, unable to taste, smell or feel anything, breaking the connection between the brain and the body, completely and utterly isolating Vernon in one place, his brain, yet leaving him completely aware and conscious.
And in his brain… This was where Hadrian had truly surpassed himself in every way, for he made it so that Vernon's mind would never be able to free itself from what Nephalem had imposed upon it. And that was an endless loop of agony, pain and absolute horror, one that consisted of every, single, thing Vernon, his wife and son had done to Rose, magnified by a factor of a hundred. Vernon's body will live, as will his brain, and he will not be allowed to go mad or break down, for Nephalem used Chaos magic to prevent it. This rotten bastard will forever be locked in the hell of his own making, trapped to relive everything he had done to Rose from her point of view, to feel every single pain and suffering without the release of death, insanity or otherwise. Though Hadrian may not have the senses of Rose to draw upon, the memories and all of the pain he absorbed from Weapon Plus have given him unparalleled amount of experience when it came to all kinds of pain. More than enough to substitute for the lack of original material, and make Vernon's remaining existence Hell beyond any measure.
Once his body had gone numb, Hadrian finally released him, letting the fat man drop down like he was a sack of rotten potatoes, unable to do anything physically but breath. Only then did Hadrian's human form return, and Carol spoke up.
"Harry… What… What did you do?" She asked of him, while Eva tried to scan Vernon's brain, only to cry out of agony a second later. "Eva!" She rushed to her to prevent her from falling.
"Ugh… He… He is locked in his brain, in a state of endless agony, feeling…" Eva said, as she tried to collect herself.
"Feeling what he deserves…" Hadrian simply stated, as he turned away from Vernon and left the room, moving past his companions without even giving them a glance and forcing them to follow him.
"Harry!" Natasha called out to him, as he entered the emptied conference room, provided to the SHIELD by local police. "Harry, wait! Talk to us, please, we…" At that moment, Hadrian roared with an impossible might, as he slammed his fist onto the table, destroying it and then into the ground, causing it to crack, as he fell on his knees.
"Stupid! Arrogant! Ignorant bastard! Stuck-up! Son of a bitch!" Hadrian cried out curses, with each word he beat the floor before him, destroying and breaking it, as he berated himself.
For minutes all Hadrian did was curse himself and beat the ground, wanting and wishing to feel the pain from his hands and arms breaking and turning into blood and broken pieces of flesh and bones. But he couldn't do it, for he was beyond the point where such things would even hurt him, and so he was stuck in it, breaking the floor and unable to feel pain and suffering, unable to stop.
"Harry, STOP!" Carol Danvers moved in front of her friend, grabbing his arms and holding them with all her might from further damage. "Please, stop, Harry!"
"Let me go!" He demanded, as he tried to get out.
"No, we won't." Natasha moved to help Carol, as she knelt before him and made him look in her eyes. "Harry, talk to us. Please, tell us what you saw."
"No… I can't…" He shook akin to a leaf, unable to comply with their request, as the final damp began to break and tears appeared. "I… I let it happen… I should have stopped it, should have known…"
"Harry." Eva knelt near him, close to Carol and Natasha, as she looked in his eyes with plea. "You couldn't have known, and there is nothing to change now, but right now… If you don't talk to us, we will lose you, and we can't bear with it."
"Harry, please… Let us hear it." Carol asked of him, as she felt him finally stopping struggling. "We are your friends, Harry, and you are our friend, our family. Please, let it out."
"You cannot bury it under the guilt, Harry. It will kill you from the inside, burn out your soul. I know it, I've been through it." Natasha told him softly, as tears began to fall from his welled up eyes. "Let it out, Harry. Please, let us help you."
For years, for as long as he could remember at this point, Hadrian has always carried in him guilt and pain, his and others, always keeping it in him, never letting it out. For years that burden remained with him and he carried it, walking with it in the daylight and not even flinching, but today that burden has shown itself, revealed it's true weight when Hadrian stumbled. He was broken, not by a villain or a scientist from Weapon Plus, not by a wizard or a witch, but by a simple mortal man with the capacity for great evil and no capacity for empathy and mercy. Though he was fully aware of what humans are capable of, of what great evil they may inflict, today… Today Hadrian saw the depths of depravity, atrocity and ugliness that was human soul, and he saw how his sister, another victim of his parents' malicious carelessness, had suffered… and died.
With tears flowing freely and no strength left to struggle, Hadrian let it all out, for the first time opening his soul to his friends and family, revealing to them, that he has failed and that he was guilty.
Guilty of ignorance, for he never once cared to learn about his little sister.
Guilty of prejudice, for he thought Rose to be like the rest of Wizarding World.
And finally, guilty of not saving her, for he had once made the promise to never let another suffer like he had suffered.
And he failed, and his sister paid the price, for she died in pain, defiled and alone, left on the cold, dirty floor of a garage, breathing out her last breath…
In the realm beyond living and dead.
A presence, an entity had appeared in the place where no living or dead had passed in hundreds of thousands of years, unsure of where it was or how it had gotten here. All it could remember was pain, loneliness and suffering, before nothing… It once had a name, a life and body, but now they were unimportant to it, beyond it for some reason, and yet… It remembered all.
"Am I… dead?" It asked, not knowing how it could speak, but it, surprisingly, was heard.
"Yes, my child, you are no longer among my living children." A voice spoke, caring and warm, filling the entity with the sense of safety and love that it had not known in a long time. "Your life as a mortal was cut short by the one at who's hand you had suffered greatly, my daughter."
"Daughter?" Entity asked. "What… Who are you?" It, or rather she, had asked of the bearer of voice.
The bearer of that voice revealed itself, and the entity finally realized that before the one who called her, she was but a small ball of light, preciously held in the hands. The bearer of the voice was a woman of unmatched beauty, beyond words, yet it paled before the love and care it showed to the little entity. Her mere sight could calm the storms, and her gentle embrace could melt the winters away, and she held her close to her heart, warm and strong in beating. The entity had never met, seen, heard or even imagined of her, and yet… She knew who it was, for she was with all who lived on Earth.
"Mother…" Entity called her, with the woman smiling to her. "Am I going away?"
"All living things die and go away, but you… You, like countless before you, were not meant to die now, when your hour has not come yet, my daughter." The Mother Goddess spoke to the entity. "Once your last breath was drawn, I claimed your soul from the embrace of Hela, and brought you here, to me."
"Then… Am I alive?"
"No, my child, you are not." Mother Goddess told her. "But you may again live, not as you were, but as something more, as someone that all my children need."
"Your children? Who are they?" Entity asked.
"All who walk under the sun upon this world are my children, nurtured and protected by me, guided to grow, multiply and develop into what you all have potential to be. Not without ability for darkness and evil, you all hold potential for greatness and goodness in you, all of you…" Mother Goddess told her with kindness, before her expression saddened and grew grim. "Yet after eons of my watch over all living, more and more cries and pleas I hear, pleas from my children of all kinds and races, and I watched them suffer, be mutilated, tormented, killed and eradicated by untold numbers, by those who once called me their Mother too, yet now… Now they see themselves as above all, a rot and pestilence upon the living and the world."
"Who are they?" Entity asked of Mother Goddess.
"They are those who call themselves the Wizarding Kind, and you have become the latest victim of their pride, prejudice and arrogance." Mother Goddess stated to entity. "For hundreds of years, from followers of e and my will they grew into prejudiced, self-entitled and arrogant deviants, seeing their illusion of a world as worth saving no matter what, shunning all that are not them, and killing all that would appear to threat their way of life. Misguided at first, I gave them time to reconsider and evolve past their flawed ways, but instead of repentance and growth, they fell into depravity and stagnated, dragging countless innocent souls with them, destroying entire races and civilizations… Millions upon millions died and suffer just so thousands may exist in their worthless illusion."
"They… They must be stopped." Entity said. "But… What can I do, Mother?"
"You, my daughter, will become my Will made manifest. For eons I was only an observer and a watcher, hearing pleas and cries of my children, suffering at the hands of those who care naught for others. This ends today and now, and you shall begin their end." Mother Goddess told the entity. "I shall breath in you a new life, and give you passage to Earth, but when you return, you shan't be a human as you were. You will be more than all of the living, closer to me in spirit and living than all who came before you. You will become My Deliverance for the prosecuted, Salvation for the suffering, Shield for the endangered, but for the wicked you shall be My Scourge, My Vengeance against the oppressors and My Wrath against those who seek to bring pain to the innocent."
"Will I… Be a Witch?" Entity asked of Mother Goddess.
"No, my daughter." Mother Goddess responded truthfully. "You will be a hero, My Hand and Will made manifest. Do you accept this charge and responsibility?" There was but one answer that the entity could give.
"I do, Mother." Entity accepted, and Mother Goddess smiled to her, as she began to give form and body to the entity and before long, she was done. "What shall be my name now, Mother?"
"From now on, you shall be Theia and you shall be known as My daughter. Now go, my Theia, spread My Will and word that Gaea, Mother of All Life and Mother Earth, has awakened and that her Avatar and Daughter bring Her salvation for the innocent, and damnation for the guilty." And with this, Gaea allowed Theia to depart her realm.
And the moment Theia arrived back on Earth, all became clear and known to her, and she knew her purpose. The moment her first step was made as a new being and Goddess, the world shook, and the Wizarding World quaked, for all that bore the allegiance to Wizarding Kind felt and knew in their heart- The Hour of Reckoning is upon them.
Decided to get to this one a little earlier than before, figured that I should get rolling since it rolls so well, and I'm glad I did. And as you can see, this is the beginning of the new big arc, and this… This will be big, not just for Nephalem and Co., but for pretty much everyone. I'll keep this one short and say, that be prepared for the unexpected.
Since we did have Chthon in one of the biggest chapters of this story, I decided that it would only be fair to have his sister Gaea, the literal Mother Earth and de-facto mother of all creation on Earth, be here, and believe me- this Mommy is mighty. How mighty you may ask? Well, this Elder Goddess is the mother of Thor… Yup, that very Thor Odinson that we all know and love in the comics, and believe me, he takes after both of his parents in smiting department. Gaea is Chthon's equal in might and power and is literally the Mother of many pantheons, literally holding command over all of Earth, magic on it, and energy and life. And she is PISSED! Royally so! And Theia, who is my OC, is going to show just what it means to piss off the Mother of All Life.
As always, I'd like to thank you all for your dedication and support in helping me make this story much better. And for all who are still asking, this is now officially a Harem story, as I have come to this decision. Now, please leave a comment, a review and a suggestion about the possible romantic interests, future events, and please, ask questions in PM or in the Review, I am always happy to receive constructive feedback and answer it.
Next time: Theia's path of salvation and damnation; Desperation of the Ministry; Avatar of Gaea meets The Nephalem; Mightiest of Magic come together for a council…