If you're reading this for the first time, welcome! The rest of this paragraph will mean nothing to you just yet. To those who've read this before, welcome back! I'm that evil author who keeps adding details to what I've already published, so you may want to reread any chapters I name in the newest chapter if you want all the new info. If not, don't worry; nothing I add is going to really affect what you've already read. It just makes the story more complete, in my opinion.
This story is inspired by "The Almost Forgotten Marriage Contract of 1763." (Don't quote me on the year. I'm new to publishing on here and I'm afraid I'll lose my work if I go and check.) Mentions of statutory rape and child abuse, but nothing graphic. All romantic and/or sexual relationships, of which I currently plan to write a whopping one, will be between consenting adults.
This story will take place, almost exclusively, within the MCU. Chronologically, the last thing you can count on being accurate is Howard and Maria Stark's deaths. Captain Marvel is likely, but I haven't watched it yet, and it's not as essential for the story. My Heather Potter never actually trusted anyone in the British Wizarding World, despite the appearance to the contrary. She sees through Dumbledore's manipulations but plays along because she doesn't see his endgame. (Pun semi-intended.) Heather experienced everything that JK Rowling wrote for Harry through the Tournament, but in the moments we don't see in the books, Heather is figuring things out.
I have no update schedule. I hand write my first draft, then type it up and add a lot more detail, then leave it sit for a few days before actually proofreading. If you see any glaring mistakes that I missed, please let me know. Also, I'm American, trying to write a British character who would use mid-90s British slang. Do you have any idea how little help Google gave me? If you know a better way that Heather would say something, ("went to pot" instead of "sucked", for example - Google did help a little) please leave it in a review - it might help other writers, too. Otherwise, please understand that I'm gonna use what phrasing I remember from the 90s in my corner of the world, or what's used now because I didn't really care to remember what slang was around when I was seven.
I'm always amazed that the movie editors actually get enough clean takes to cut the movies together. Or maybe I'm amazed that Robert Downey, Jr actually remembers not to swear long enough for a take to be filmed - I've seen some of the outtakes. Either way, my Tony Stark and Heather Potter, in particular, will be swearing when angry and not in (most) professional settings. You have been warned.
I italicize to stress a word or phrase and underline spells. Song lyrics are italicized AND between asterisks.
This disclaimer applies for all chapters: Recognizable quotes, characters, song lyrics, etc. are the property of their respective owners and/or creators. First three paragraphs are taken (almost) verbatim and directly from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, chapter 34.
Originally posted 28 Jun 2021
Previous updates: 5 Dec 2021
Most recent update: 2 Feb 2022 (the bit about "demon spawn")
Heather's hand had closed on Cedric's wrist; one tombstone stood between her and Voldemort, but Cedric was too heavy to carry, and the cup was out of reach –
Voldemort's red eyes flamed in the darkness. Heather saw his mouth curl into a smile, saw him raise his wand.
"Accio!" Heather yelled, pointing her wand at the Triwizard Cup. It flew into the air and soared toward her –
A red light smashed into the trophy just before she could catch it; it fragmented like an exploding grenade. Her heart stopped for a split second before she remembered how, that one time as a child, she'd wished to get away from Dudley and his gang, to get to cover, and her magic had obliged, allowing her to Apparate to the roof of the school building. She felt a faint tingling in her uncut arm, but she ignored it in favor of concentrating on the concept of safety. Even though she'd never been particularly pious – being alternately told one was evil and a demon's spawn tended to reduce one's religious fervor – she prayed desperately to her father's patron god for deliverance, for asylum, for sanctuary…
"Any last words, Potter?" Voldemort sneered, his bone-white wand all but touching the teen's forehead.
The tingling in her arm grew stronger, almost burning, as the unseen words under her sleeve began to glow. Refuge became her sole thought. In that instant, her magic took action to protect its host; Heather gripped Cedric's wrist all the tighter, hoping that the rough journey to Hogwarts would not inadvertently prevent her from carrying out his last wish.
Voldemort howled in incandescent rage as the child who'd defeated him protected herself with a cyclone of wild magic. Her emerald orbs, glowing with power, popped open as she was whirled away from the graveyard with a cheeky, "Ta!" Then, pulling Cedric's body close, she pressed her face into his chest to ward off the dizziness caused by the swirling, nauseating vortex.
By the stars, this was worse than any other form of magical transport she'd experienced…