Chapter 25: At the Edge

I walk to Amelia's side and inspect the wound, frowning as I say, "You can't fight with a wound like that. You need to get medical attention, and the medic died during yesterday's battle. I can send you to Hogwarts, if you would like."

"Sure." she says, "Madam Pomphrey will be able to fix me up. But I don't think I can take a portkey with this injury. I don't want to risk making it worse."

"Will you be able to stay on if I let you use my pegasus?" I ask and she winces a bit.

"Maybe if I get patched up a bit first." she says and I nod.

"I can do that. I know basic first aid, get your battle robes off and let me see the wound." I say as I summon a med kit. She pulls her battle robes off and pulls her shirt up enough that I can see the large stab wound in her side. "Alright, good news is, it probably didn't get anything vital." I tell her as I pull out some alcohol, "Bad news is, it is bleeding profusely. This is going to hurt."

"I can take a bit of pain." she says as I pour some alcohol on a rag. I begin cleaning the wound, which went pretty deep, but doesn't go all the way through her torso, so that's good.

She winces a bit and I grab some gauze and a bandage, placing the gauze to the wound before beginning to wrap her torso as I say, "This is just a patch to stop the bleeding, when you get to Hogwarts you just need to tell Madam Pomphrey that I've cleaned and patched the wound and that you've lost some blood. She will tend to the wound and give you a pepper up potion. Don't come back until Madam Pomphrey has given you a letter stating that you are fully healed and battle ready, got it?"

"Yeah. I got it." she says as I finish with her wound and slowly help her up. "At least I'll get to see Susan for a bit."

"While you're there, can you give something to Harry?" I ask as I pull a letter from a hidden pocket in my armor, "I'm not gonna be there for a while and it's too dangerous to send owls here."

"Of course." she says as I call for Night. "I've already told the soldiers that you're in charge while I'm gone. I'll see you when I return."

"I'll see you then, ma'am." I say as I help her onto Night's back and look at my pegasus, "Take her to Hogwarts and come right back." Night whinnies before flying away with Amelia on her back. I hear the forces of Loki approaching again and sigh before calling out, "Prepare for battle!"

We all get ready before charging back into battle. The next several months are basically a tug of war over the land around us, winter and spring both passed and now I think it's summer, but I don't know what month it is. I've just walked out of my tent and found Amelia walking into camp proudly. I walk over and she hands me a letter. I read it and find that it's a letter from Madam Pomphrey that clears her for battle. I sigh and Amelia says, "Madam Pomphrey said that the only reason I made it to her was that patch of yours. Thank you."

"No problem, General Bones. These last few months have been rather hectic, shall we go to the command center and discuss them?" I ask.

"Of course." she says.

We enter the largest tent and I stand across from her at a table with a map on it. I tell her about how things are going here before taking a breath and asking, "How is Hogwarts doing?"

"Everything is running smoothly." she tells me, "Your family is doing well too, King Hadrian says he misses you and Lily told me to tell you that she's proud of you and that she loves you."

I nod before frowning and asking, "Do you happen to know the date?"

She chuckles a bit and tells me, "Yes, today is July twenty eighth. War really makes time fly, huh?" I nod before hearing the Chitari approaching. I sigh and she says, "I suppose that's our cue."

I hum in agreement before summoning my sword and armor. I get everything on and walk out, heading for the usual battlefield. I see them approaching, with much more forces than they had yesterday, and frown before saying, "They called in reinforcements."

"We might have to pull our camp back if we lose any more land." Amelia tells me.

"Then I suppose we should try not to lose any more land." I say and she chuckles.

She then takes a breath and calls out, "Charge!"

We charge into battle and begin fighting as I hear Hella think to me, 'The Bones family swore allegiance to Loki a few months ago, about a week after you sent her to Hogwarts, General Bones doesn't know about you being on our side though.'

'Cool.' I think before jumping into the battle. We end up having to retreat and pull our camp back; the next two years are filled with us being pushed back, finally, it's time to return to Hogwarts. We're arriving at Hogsmead right now, looking tired and ragged. We walk through the wards and I see Harry, Neville, Lily, and my friends all waiting for us. I feel my muscles relax a bit and walk forward, pulling Harry into a hug.

We then walk together to the castle, when we get inside I immediately summon my crown and place it on my head before walking up to the royal table. I sit in my throne and look at Amelia before saying, "I invite you to sit at our table, General Bones. Your niece can as well if you want."

They nod and take seats around the table with me and my friends. I dish myself some food and begin eating, enjoying the first good meal I've had in three years. When I finish the food I sigh contently before getting up and beginning to head downstairs to my bedroom, intending to sleep in an actual bed for a while. I lay in bed and fall asleep instantly.

The next morning I wake up and walk upstairs where I'm greeted by the sight of Vernon and Dumbledore standing in the hall and talking to each other. I frown as Natasha comes to my side and asks, "Who the hell let the old guy out?"

"It has been three years." I point out with a sigh before walking past them.

"Ah, Iris my dear girl! If I may please have my wand?" Dumbledore says while stepping in my way and smiling at me.

"I don't believe it has been three months since your release from your cell. You won't get your wand back until that time is up. As far as you are concerned, I am Queen Iris, and you will address me as such." I tell him before walking into the Great Hall. I take my seat and begin eating before looking at Harry and asking, "What day is it?"

"July thirtieth." he says easily.

"Happy birthday Neville." I say instantly. "I'll make you your gift after breakfast."

"Thanks." he says. The rest of breakfast passes quickly and I get up and go to my forge and make Neville a sword before making one for Harry to give him tomorrow. I then begin filling out various orders that have come in over the last three years, sending them off with notes explaining that I was out at war. After I get caught up with them I grab Neville's sword and walk out to head to lunch. When I arrive I pass the sword to Neville and he grins at me before saying, "Thank you, it's beautiful."

I nod before going to our table and sitting down, dishing myself some food, but being forced to pause when Vernon suddenly slams his hands onto the table in front of me, spilling my drink over the table. I frown before calmly sitting my goblet up and grabbing the pitcher of wine that is on the table. I developed a slight taste for wine when a shipment accidentally came to our encampment last year instead of water, the water came a month later but we still drank the wine at dinner. Only having a single cup per day due to the lack of supply and needing to stay sober.

I refill my cup and set the pitcher down, taking a sip from my cup before slowly looking up at Vernon and saying, "Did you need something, sir?"

"You think you're a big shot? Sitting up here in a throne and acting like you're better than me because you went to war?" he asks angrily.

"No, I think I'm better than you because I am not inhumane. I sit up here, in this throne, because it is my throne." I tell him calmly. "You have clearly not been informed of my position in this kingdom, so I will allow this incident to slide due to your lack of knowledge. Now, apologize for spilling my wine and go back to your seat."

"Apologize to a freak like you?" he asks while grabbing my arm and trying to pull me from my seat. I pull out my sword and point it at his throat.

"Release my arm." I say lowly and he lets go of me. I sit back down and say, "Hogwarts is a kingdom, ruled by King Hadrian, King Neville, and me, Queen Iris. You will not disrespect me again or you will be sent to the dungeons. Now, apologize and go back to your seat."

"Don't talk to me like that, girl!" he yells but I don't flinch.

"You don't get to give me orders." I hiss at him as I stand, "You think you can waltz into my castle and give me orders? You think things will go back to how they were when I was that scared little girl in the cupboard under the stairs...but that's the thing you don't get, Vernon."

"What?" he snaps

I lean forward, looking him in the eyes as I snarl, "I am not that little girl, Vernon. You want me to fear you, but I've faced far too much to fear you anymore."

"You just need to be reminded of your place, girl." he says lowly and I laugh.

"You don't get it, do you?" I ask before jumping over the table, kicking him away from it and landing in front of him. He falls backwards as the room falls completely silent. I glare down at Vernon as he groans and looks at me. "I don't fear you. You try something like this again, and I will end you."

He jumps up and lunges at me. I dodge around him and grab him by the back of his shirt before throwing him to the center of the room. The crowd gasps as I run up to him and lift him by his neck and slam him into the ground again. I then lift him again and throw him into the far wall of the room before Dumbledore calls out, "Iris, my dear girl, I think that's quite enough of that."

"I'm not your dear anything." I snap at him before calming myself down and saying, "He grabbed my arm. That was in self defense."

I turn to walk out but get stopped when we all suddenly hear a big boom! We all race to the windows and find Loki's forces lining the wards, clearly trying to gain our attention by shooting them. I take a small breath and hear Hella say, 'Claim that you and the kings are going to discuss what to do, surrender or fight.'

I turn to Harry and he nods before saying, "Neville, Iris, I think we have things to discuss."

I nod and walk with him towards an empty classroom, pausing briefly when one of the students fearfully ask, "What are you going to do?"

"We are going to discuss our options." I tell them. "We will tell you our decision tomorrow."

We walk away and enter the empty classroom, putting up various privacy wards before turning to face each other and grinning as Neville says, "So, it's finally time."

"Yep." I say cheerfully before hearing Hella say, 'Exactly why did you tell the student that the decision would be made tomorrow?'

'Well, mainly because I want to reveal what side I've been on from the start on my birthday. It seems fitting. That way this whole thing will have both started, and ended, on my birthday.' I think back

'That's almost poetic.' she thinks back and I grin at my brothers. A while passes before we all walk out, nodding to each other and walking to our dorms. I fall asleep with a smile on my face.