Evelyn's p.o.v.
It's been a week since Thor returned from Asgard with new, confusing informations. Things didn't settle down because Harry got selected to participate in the Wizarding tournament, even though he's not seventeen yet. Albus is pissed, Severus is pissed, Harry is confused, claiming he doesn't know how or why his name ended in the goblet. Many don't believe him, including Severus but I think he has no reason to lie. Thor and I are doing our best with this mission but there's no positive shift. Nat didn't bring any info on Strange as well and once again, we are back on start again ...or at least it feels that way.
I'm walking towards the castle when I see students hoarding around someone, everyone yelling something. Approaching the scene, I see Harry and Draco shoving each other so I start running.
"Hey. Hey! Cut it out!", I say, pushing myself between them.
"Is that what they teach you here? To gang up on each other?", I ask, looking at the two.
"That's none of your business.", Draco mumbles and his friends laugh.
I frown and grab his arm, "This is the first and the last time you speak to me like that.", I say, my tone remaining calm.
After letting him go, I start to walk towards Harry but see his eyes wide.
"Oh no you don't, sonny.", I hear Alastor speak while a bright light hits Draco, turning him into a ferret.
"I'll teach you to curse someone when their back is turned.", he says, raising the ferrate up and down.
"You stinking...cowardly...scummy...back-shoting-"
"Profesor Moody? Wha-what are you doing?", Minerva asks, running towards us.
"Teaching.", he simply comments.
"Is that a ...is that a student?", she asks in shock.
"Technically, it's a ferret.", he tells, dumping the ferret down Crabbe's trousers.
"Stand still! Stand still!", Goyle says, attempting to remove the ferret from his trousers but gets bitten in the process.
The ferret crawls out of Crabbe's trousers and Minerva turns Draco back into his normal human self.
"My father will hear about this. About both of you.", Draco tells, getting up from the ground.
"Is that a threat?", Alastor asks him but Draco runs away.
I turn around towards where Harry was standing but see him disappearing into the forest.
"Thank you. I owe you one.", I say to Alastor before running towards Harry's direction.
"Harry!", I yell after him but there's no answer.
It takes a while before I notice him, sitting alone by the lake.
"Can I join you?", I ask, slowly walking towards him.
He shrugs, "If you want."
I sit next to him and we sit in silence for a few minutes. I can see that he's been loosing sleep over this situation.
"Are you okay?", I ask, breaking the silence.
"Not really.", he whispers.
"What's on your mind?", I ask.
"I just ...I just don't understand why no one believes me. No one. Not even Ron and Hermione. I didn't put my name into the goblet, I really didn't.", he speaks, getting rattled up.
"I believe you.", I say with a smile, placing my hand on his arm.
"I though you share the same opinion as Sn-professor Snape.", he tells and I frown, "Why would you think that?"
He looks at me, "You two are ...close.", he says carefully and I realize that everyone probably figured out that something is going on between us.
"We can be close but I have a mind of my own. His opinions do not shape mine.", I explain.
He looks at me and smiles, "Thanks for believing me."
X X X
"Why are you defending him?", Severus asks, shaking his head.
"Because he's a good kid and I believe him.", I say.
"Fine, you believe him, I don't. I know Potter longer that you and I know he's able to pull something like this. It wouldn't be the first time he lied."
"You're not being objective. You hate him because you hate his father and that's not fair to him.", I say and he frowns, "No, you're the delusional one. You lost your parents so now you identify yourself with him."
I blink a few times, "I'm sorry for having companion for someone who went trough the same crap I did because I know how hard and lonely that can be. Sometimes I can't believe how cruel you can be."
"I'm not cruel, Evie, I'm realistic.", he defends.
"No, you're not. Hatred for his father clouded your mind and now you're projecting all your negative feeling for his dad towards Harry. That's not fair Severus. You always criticize him. I never heard you say anything positive about this kid. He's a child for God's sake!"
"Why are you so damn stubborn?!", he asks, raising his voice.
"I'm not stubborn, I'm right.", I shoot back.
He closes his eye and takes a few deep breaths, "You know what? I agree. You're right and I'm wrong.", he tells and I frown, "You're just saying that."
"I don't want to fight with you.", he tells me.
"We're not fighting, it's an argument.", I say.
"Then you don't know what an argument looks like.", he tells me.
"Yes I do. A fight, or altercation, is when people start yelling at each other. An argument is an exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically-", my explaining is interrupted by him grabbing me by my neck and pulling me into a kiss.
"I don't want to fight with you, I don't want to argue with you, I don't want to have an altercation with you or any other thing your PhD brain is going to come up with. I just ...I just want you to be alive.", he explains after the kiss.
"I am alive.", I say, not understanding what he means.
"And I would like you to stay that way. Okay?"
Severus's p.o.v.
I have so much patience. Don't know where is it coming from but for some reason, I do. And as time passes, I understand that miss "I'm not stubborn, I'm right", is going to put my patience on test every now and then. How can such a beautiful human being be so heavy? Maybe there's a reason we met just now. I don't think I could handle her a few years ago ...am surprised how can I handle her now.
"We need to talk.", I say, entering Dumbledore's office.
"What's on your mind, Severus?", he asks.
"You heard what happened today? Between Potter and Malfoy."
He nods, "I did. Boys obviously don't get along."
"And you heard what Draco tried to do?", I ask and he nods once again, "Alastor did inform me."
"I don't think she's safe here.", I state.
"She's an Avenger on a mission, Severus. That comes with her job."
"Yes, I understand but-"
"I don't think you do.", he cuts me, standing up.
"I'm very happy for you and your decision to remove yourself from Lily's memory but don't project your fears onto her. She's more than capable of defending herself. I think more than you and I are."
"But not here.", I say.
"She came here, fully aware of risks and dangers."
I frown, "So what? We're just going to let her take that risk every day? What if something happens to her?"
"And what if something happens to you?", he asks.
"That's not the same. She's a muggle in a wizard world."
"And she's taking the protection potion so she will be fine."
"She's a muggle, the potions don't work on her that well.", I object.
"Do they? The healing potion worked pretty well on her, don't you think?"
"Because it was the first time she took it.", I say.
He smiles, "Why do you worry so much?"
I sigh but don't answer his question.
"Relax and enjoy. Soon enough, every question you have will be answered, trust me."
The thought of loosing her makes me sick. Especially knowing that I can do something about it but I didn't. She may be a pain in the ass but she's my pain in the ass. And I like that.
Evelyn's p.o.v.
I didn't do what Tony suggested, of course I didn't. Zipping the suit makes me feel like 50% of my lung capacity is missing.
"I told him this is too tight.", I say out loud.
"Let me see it.", I hear Thor comment and I exit the bathroom.
"So?", I ask as he looks me up and down.
"It needs to be tight so no one can pull you.", he explains.
"You have a drape hanging from you back.", I say, looking at his red cape.
He smiles, "I'm a God and I can have a drape if I want to. Besides, I think it's cool.", he tells, making a full circle, looking like a cat trying to catch her tail.
I sigh, picking up my gun, sword and dagger, "Let's go. We don't want to be late."
X X X
We walk towards a tent and I keep tugging on my suit.
"What on Earth are you doing?", Thor asks, slapping my hand.
"It's tight.", I say.
"Stop it, you look weird."
"Here you are!", Minerva rans towards us, "The tournament will start soon.", she informs us.
"Where's Harry?", I ask.
"In the tent but you can't talk-", she didn't finish her sentence and I'm already walking towards the tent.
"Professor Stark, you can't talk to him!, she yells after me.
I turn around and smile, "Today I'm an Avenger and I need to check on our students to make sure they're safe.", I simply say and continue down my path.
"Don't try, trust me.", I hear Thor say to her.
I enter the tent and look around, "Harry?", I call.
"Back here.", I hear his voice and remove a curtain, only to reveal a overly stressed out Harry Potter.
"You look pale.", I comment, walking towards him.
He frowns, "You look different."
I smile, "It's the suit. I like it but a little too tight. It has a lot of nice gadgets.", as I say that, the laser shoots out near his foot.
"Ups, sorry. I still have to get used to it."
"Please do that before you kill me.", he comments.
"So, are you exited.", I ask with a big smile.
"I'm fighting a dragon so exited is not the word I would use."
"You will be fine, I trust in your abilities.", I say, accepting the dragon thing like it's so normal.
"I'm glad someone does ...because I don't."
"Evie, we need to go.", i hear Thor's voice.
"Don't ever doubt yourself. You can do anything you put your mind into. Okay?", I ask and he nods.
"Evie!", Thor calls again.
"I need to go. Good luck.", I say, cupping his face and kissing his cheek.
X X X
"Up here, up here you three.", Albus tells, dragging us up a cliff.
"You will be surrounding this arena.", he tells to Thor, Loki and me.
"What if something attacks?", Thor asks.
"Keep them as far from the arena as you can.", he tells and I nod.
"Why am I here?", Loki asks as Albus leaves us.
"That's what I'm asking myself.", I comment.
"We need to work as a team. Loki, you go left, I'll go right and you Evie stay here."
"I'm not an Avenger.", Loki objects.
"But since you are here, you will be useful. Remember, if you behave, you will be free on Asgard."
Loki sighs at Thor's words but walks away, taking his spot.
"This tournament will start soon. I wish you all have a good time and cheer for your champion. The Avengers are here to secure everything goes well. I wish luck to every contestant.", Albus speaks and everyone cheers.
I look around and see Severus sitting next to Minerva, looking at me. I know he's worried but this is what I do. This is what I agreed to. And I will be fine, I will stay alive.
