Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and The Vampire Diaries. They belong to J.K. Rowling and L.J. Smith. I am writing this just for fun and no money is being made.

AN: Everyone was trying to kill me after I published the last chapter. So, I want to make somethings clear before we go ahead.

People think that because Athena had been an orphan her whole life, she should accept her family with open arms. Dursley's were her family too, but that doesn't mean anything until you take efforts for someone. Being blood is important, but should it matter if the one related to doesn't care and tried to kill you? People were angry because she wasn't affected by Finn's death. Well, mind you, she was affected, but not so much. She had never talked to him, not even once; she'd never met him before and what she knows is that he tried to kill his family with his mother. That doesn't make him family, does it?

And about the fact that she is supporting the 'murderers of her uncle and not paying attention to her father', I would like to remind you that every Mikaelson, apart from Elijah, tried to kill her at some point. She is still trying to forgive them and build a relationship with them while learning their true nature. It's a slow process, but it's happening. And this is Damon-Athena's story, so I cannot leave that part behind.

I thought that Damon killing Lavender was something he would have done, either in his anger or at the given situation. Athena needs to learn that he is a predator and killing is like a second nature to him. He likes to kill without remorse. If she couldn't accept him with his monsters', I don't think that would be true love and acceptance at all.

I hope I was able to justify the reasons behind her actions and I would like to apologize for any mistakes in advance.

Finally, rant over. Now, let's get started.

THEN

Damon's body was still trembling, when his gaze went to Stefan, who was lying there immobile. He looked at the girl and saw her aiming her wand at Athena who was trying to reach for her wand. Her clothes were soaked in blood and his fury increased at seeing her and Stefan like this. He didn't think, just mustered all the strength he could; blurred forward with a sudden burst of energy and snapped her neck.

Athena saw next thing as if it happened in slow motion. She saw Damon behind Lavender as he snapped her neck and she fell on the ground lifelessly. Her bluish-grey eyes staring right at her lifelessly.

NOW

"NOOO…"

Athena whisper-screamed as she stared at Lavender. It wasn't Lavender's eyes which were staring back at her, instead it was Cedric's glassy ones. It was Fred's hollow gaze blaming her that they died because of her. Just like Lavender did. She would have been fine if it weren't for her. If it weren't for the fact that someone hated her to such an extent, that he preferred killing her friend instead of stopping her. She told him that Lavender was under the imperious curse and Damon knew exactly what it was and how it worked. He could have done anything apart from killing her and now, someone else was dead and it was her fault.

Stefan stood up from where he was lying immobile on the ground as soon as Lavender died and her spell on him broke. Athena was staring at her friend in shock, while Damon was looking at the dead girl furiously.

There was a moment of stunned silence, before Athena snapped out of her daze and crawled towards Lavender.

"No, no, no, no, no!"

"Please!"

She chanted as she tried to check for a pulse with shaky hands, which they all knew wasn't there.

"Please don't be dead!"

She cried and tears started flowing down her cheeks steadily. Suddenly, she turned towards Stefan and said in a quavering voice, "Stefan! You can help her."

Stefan was staring at her with pity. He knew he couldn't do anything to help her friend now and he closed his eyes in sorrow. Not so much for the girl that Damon had killed, but for the girl asking for help. He couldn't do anything to help her now, her friend was long dead.

"I'm sorry." He whispered the words that broke her even more.

His heart broke as Athena looked at the girl and begged, "No… Please…"

She sobbed over Lavender's dead body as both the brothers stared at her. Stefan looked at her sorrowfully because someone else she knew died. Damon had always been eccentric and had done things within a moment's decision. One part of him was angry at what he did, for he could have stopped the girl without snapping her neck; but the other part, which knew a predator's nature and was more dominant understood why he killed her. Damon might be angry with Athena, but he knew his brother loved her more and reacted just the way a vampire would if someone they love was threatened.

Damon on the other hand was insouciant about killing the girl. His only regret was that something was causing Athena pain, but he didn't regret what he did to save her. Not even for a second. He would do it again if it meant saving her. It was a reflexive action on his part, someone had hurt the girl he loved and he wasn't going to stand there and watch. Especially now, when he knew what the torture curse felt like and she had been tortured time and time. Her body was still twitching and she was bleeding, but she was in pain, so he couldn't make himself leave.

Athena looked up, but she didn't see Stefan and her gaze went directly to Damon. In this moment, she hated him. Hated the fact that he killed an innocent person. Hated herself for falling in love with someone without knowing their nature. And with a jolt she realized, that she never knew him at all. She didn't know anything about him apart from what he told her. She never actually knew what his true nature was!

'How foolish could she be and that too after being through so much in her life? She trusted him blindly because he did an act of kindness when she was a kid. She had never hated anyone in all her life as much as she hated herself in the moment.'

It didn't register to her that he did it because he was a vampire and this was what his kind did. All her thoughts were filled with self-hatred and rage towards him. She didn't think, just did what naturally came to her because right now, she couldn't see him as the kind man who had helped her once or the man she had fallen in love with. All she saw was a cruel murderer.

Damon wasn't able to look away from her when she looked-up straight at him. Her tears had stopped, but the eyes which had always looked at him with warmth were now emotionless. The way she looked at him left his heart in shattered disarray of pieces.

She looked utterly tired as she asked in a quavering voice, "I told you she was under imperious curse. How could you do this?"

"She deserved it." He replied apathetically, even though his eyes were filled with anguish.

It was the wrong thing to say as the look in her eyes turned hard and cold. Abruptly, the wind around them shifted and Damon's hand went to his throat as he started choking. He felt like there wasn't enough air for him to breathe, no matter how much he tried. He fell to his knees, clutching his throat, while Stefan looked at Damon and then at Athena in alarm. He knew she was angry at Damon and he'd hurt her, but he couldn't let her hurt his brother. Not only because of Damon, but also because she would regret doing something like this later.

"Athena?!"

Stefan said, panic lacing his voice. He looked at her, but she was staring at Damon as if in a trance, just like Bonnie did at times.

"Stop!"

Stefan blurred in front of her when she gave no indication that she had heard him, held her shoulders in both his hands and shook her lightly.

"Hey! Hey!"

Her vacant eyes snapped to him from Damon as he whispered to her pleadingly, "This isn't you."

She gulped when she realized what she almost did and closed her eyes miserably. What difference does she and Damon have? Nothing. She turned her gaze towards Damon once again, who was staring at her wide-eyed as if seeing her for the first time. He looked like he was in pain and his eyes were filled with anguish, but she didn't care. She would have until this morning, but not after what he did. Not anymore! There was one thing she needed to get-off her chest and then she'll never look back at him.

She looked into his eyes and spoke in an emotionless voice, "You listen to me, Damon Salvatore. I don't know what I saw in you, but now I realize that there's nothing good about you. Probably never was! I never really knew you now, did I?" she gave a humorless laugh at that.

"You could've knocked her out, taken her wand… anything, but this. You've decided that I betrayed you," she almost sneered at him, "and you did this to punish me… but why her? She didn't do anything. I was the one who hurt you. You should've killed me instead of her. It would have given you the satisfaction you wanted!"

She was shouting by the end as a single tear fell down her cheek. She stared at him with eyes which were dull. There was no brightness in them, no signs of happiness, but they were swirling with pain.

She didn't see his inner turmoil and continued, "I've been through hell… my whole life – living an abusive life with the Dursley's, loosing Sirius and Fred, the torture, war, dying, finding out that I was adopted and my father was still alive somewhere, he and his family trying to kill me at one point or the other… but I never lost hope. I've always believed that I'll be able to live a happy life someday. I've never pitied myself, no matter what. Not even when Fred died which will always be the worst moment of my life, but I pity myself right now."

She stopped and took an unnecessary breath as she spat, "I've never regretted anything in my life, but there's something I do now. I regret ever meeting you, I regret every single moment I've spent with you… but most of all, I regret falling for you. It was the biggest mistake I've ever made and I'll regret it as long as I live."

The expression on her face remained the same as she regarded him with eyes that were cold and furious. Damon was rooted on his spot as he stared at her, his eyes-widened at her confession. No one has ever told him that they had fallen for him, especially not the ones he loved and he couldn't comprehend what she was saying. He kept his eyes steady, resting on her face like they were home, the sorrow already building.

She braced herself and uttered the words she'd never thought possible.

"I will forget everything I feel for you, even if I had to obliviate myself for that."

Those words were spoken with such hatred, that they sent a searing agony though his heart. He couldn't imagine her forgetting him, forgetting everything they had shared together. It wasn't much, but those were the moments in which he had fallen in love with her. He couldn't have imagined that she would ever love him, but that's what she had said. What he felt for Athena went beyond everything he had ever felt. It didn't compare to his feelings' for either Katherine or Elena. He didn't simply want her; but what he had for her was pure and raw need. He needed her in his life. She was the breath of fresh air he needed to live and he couldn't fathom a life where she would hate or forget him. In that moment he forgot why he hated her in the first place, that she was Klaus's daughter or it was a possibility that she'd betrayed or used him in any way. All that mattered was that she loved him as well.

He wanted to tell her that he loved her, wanted to know everything which was now registering in his brain, wanted to tell her that he had no idea that she was connected to the originals until this morning or he wouldn't have planned to kill them. He would have done everything in his power to stop everyone and anyone who tried. He wanted to apologize to her, but her next words startled him out of his frozen state.

"I can't even look at you anymore." She shook her head at him in disgust.

She looked at Stefan and muttered, "I need to leave, else I'll do something I don't want to do and I would regret it even more."

Before any of them could say a word, she apparated out of there with Lavender's body.

Stefan turned towards Damon and saw the look of desolation on his face, but there was something else. There was disbelief in his eyes which were filled with distress. For the first time, Damon looked like the century old person he was. There was no playfulness, no mischief, not even anger, but only sorrow etched on his face. Stefan didn't know what will happen with Damon and Athena or where their future will take them, but he was sure about one thing. She had been nothing but kind to them. They were only strangers, but she helped them nevertheless, and he didn't want Athena to get anymore hurt than she already had been.

"Damon."

Damon gaze snapped to him, like he'd forgotten he wasn't alone. It was clear to Stefan that he was bewildered and overwhelmed by the turn of events. His brother was struggling to understand everything, so he said softly, "She didn't betray you, Damon."

Damon opened his mouth to protest, but he held his hand up and continued, "She found out that was adopted and came to America in search of her father. She didn't know who Klaus was until she met him couple of weeks ago. Klaus didn't believe her at first and tried to kill her. Eventually, he did when she showed him her mothers' letter. The day we saw her with the Mikaelson's was the first time she talked to Klaus properly."

Damon frowned at him and asked, "Why didn't she tell me?"

Stefan gave him a look of pity and replied, "She came to the boarding house to search for you. You were out the whole night, so she gave me the letter to show it to you. I was trying to tell you everything when Elena came that morning, after which you left again. She tried to talk to you at the ball, but you weren't ready to listen. I wanted to tell you, but I heard you and Elena… I wanted to kill you, so I left."

"I threatened her at the ball." Damon replied ruefully.

Stefan didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet for some time.

"I'm going to see if she's alright. The letter is still in your bedside drawer, read it." He said.

Stefan gave him a last look, before he blurred out of there.

Salvatore Boarding House

His heart was thudding in his chest as he blurred home. He didn't know what he was expecting to find, but the only thing which seemed paramount was to know the truth. He cursed himself for his stubbornness, for not listening to her when she tried to talk to him, for not trying to talk to her and finding the truth himself and for thinking the worst of her. But each and every person he had ever loved had used and betrayed him in one way or the other, and he didn't want her to laugh in his face, so he was cruel to her first. He slept with Elena only to forget about Athena, to remove every trace of his feelings for her; but it did neither, instead it only made him realize that his feelings for her were far stronger than they had been for Katherine or Elena.

He ran to his room and opened his bed-side drawer hurriedly. True to Stefan's words, two parchments were lying there. They seemed old and were yellowing slightly. He picked them up and opened them slowly. He read the letter hastily and then looked at the other page, which was a handmade picture of Klaus. It was a wizarding picture and his name was written at the bottom.

His hands trembled and his breath came out in harsh pants when he realized the blunder he had made. She had been trying to tell him the truth all along and he was busy in his pity-party. He remembered the devastation on her face when he had threatened her at the ball, but he hadn't stopped for a second. He had been as menacing as he could have been and he regretted everything he had done. It had been miserable seeing her so broken, knowing that he was the reason behind it.

Then his mind went to Stefan's words this morning.

'Elena knew that Esther connected Athena to the Originals. She was aware that Athena would die if they killed anyone of them, still she didn't tell anyone. She wanted them dead along with Athena, but why would Elena want her dead?'

Damon's eyes filled with unshed tears as he realized what it would have looked like to Athena. She might have thought that he deliberately wanted to kill her, he hadn't cared about her ever or else he wouldn't have planned her murder. But even after everything he did to her, she still saved him and Stefan yesterday from her monster of a father and aunt.

He wanted to talk to Elena, ask her why she lied to them, but it wasn't important right now.

He needed to talk to Athena, let her know that he was sorry. That he was in love with her and to give him another chance because he could not live in a world where she would either hate or forget him. He clutched to pieces of parchments to himself like a lifeline. He remembered Stefan telling him to keep the letter safe. It was the only thing she had left from her mother. He folded it again and blurred out to meet Athena.

Potter Manor

Athena apparated to her house and finally let lose all the emotions that were building inside her. No one was here to see her, no one would judge her every move, she was free to do as she wished and she wailed. She curled on the floor and her body racked with sobs'. She didn't know who or what she was crying for – Lavender or herself. Things would have been different if Fred or Sirius were still alive, and she cried even more for everything she had suffered. She was frustrated with herself, tired of crying, but couldn't stop herself. It didn't matter that the war was over, it didn't matter that Voldemort was dead; all that mattered was she was the reason behind everyone's death – her parents, Cedric, Sirius, Dobby, Fred and now Lavender… they all died because of her. She should have been dead, not them. Damon should have killed her, for her life was nothing but pathetic.

She opened her eyes, but snapped them close again. Lavender's body was lying beside her, neck bent at an awkward angle and eyes staring ahead lifelessly, but she wasn't able to move forward and close them. She wasn't able to touch her, because she was the reason behind her death.

Finally, she took a deep breath and resolved herself. She closed Lavender's eyes and whispered a small 'sorry' to her as her tear fell down and on Lavender's face. She stood up and went to her room. She wasn't sure she should do it or not, but she was determined to do it. So, she picked a parchment and a quill and started writing; after which she collected everything from Lavender's room and started packing it all.

Once she was done, she went downstairs and kept the letter on the table, because she wasn't sure whether she should send it or not. She knew that he will find it, if he or anyone else came looking for her. She was still bleeding and she winced in pain, but she had to do this. So, she took a dress which was lying nearby and transferred it into a portkey. She clutched it with one hand and Lavender with the other, just as the portkey activated.

After leaving Damon in the alley, Stefan ran to Athena's house. Athena had been there for him when he was at his worst and he wasn't going to let her face 'this' alone. He frowned when he saw her holding her friend close and a piece of cloth in other hand when it started glowing. His next action was purely based on reflex as he blurred forward and grabbed the cloth.

The action startled Athena as she looked-up at him with bloodshot eyes and whispered, "Stefan?!"

Before he could answer, everything around him faded and he found himself whirling in the air.

As soon as Damon reached her home, he knew something wasn't right. It was far too silent and he wasn't even able to hear her heartbeat. He blurred forward and into her house, but it was dead silent. Everything was still intact – the books, furniture, the bottles in her bar and everything else which had always been there. He blurred to her room to see if she was there, but she wasn't. Her clothes were still in the almirah along with the pictures which were hanging on the walls, but there was no sign of Stefan or Athena. They couldn't have left, could they? He had seen her not even an hour ago.

He went to her living room and looked around once more. However, his gaze went to the single envelope lying on the table. He stepped towards the table and picked it up. He noticed that it was addressed to KLAUS, and his dread increased. Even though he had a hunch what the letter might say, he still opened it and read.

Dad,

I don't know if I should be writing this, but against my better judgement here it is.

I had to go back to England and I hate leaving without informing you, but right now, I think it's for the best.

I wanted to talk to you without any interruptions, but things had been… hectic, ever since we've met. I probably won't be able to say this directly to you, so I am leaving this letter in hope to tell you things that you've wanted to know about me.

The first time I read mum's letter, I didn't know what to think. Knowing that my real father was alive came as a shock. A part of me was confused and angry of being kept in the dark all my life; but another part was hopeful, that maybe I'll have a family that I've always craved for. I was sure that you'd have a family, a life of your own and I didn't want to interfere in that. But, the first time I saw you in the grill, I was surprised when I realized that you were a vampire. I was confused, but I thought that maybe you were turned after you met my mum which was why I blurted everything out. Later, when you told me that you were her friend, I got angry because you tried to kill me and I wanted nothing more than to forget your existence.

In the short time I've known you, you did things that goes beyond everything I've fought for. You are ruthless and cruel beyond imagination, and I wanted to do nothing with you or your family.

And that was the plan, until I saw you fighting for me.

You've tried to keep me safe even in situations it wasn't needed and you agreed on things, even though I knew you hated them. I don't know how you knew, but I cannot begin to describe how I felt in the room you renovated for me in your house. And the portrait you drew was the best thing anyone ever did for me in all my life.

In those moments, I saw the man my mum might have seen you as. A kind person, who I would love to know more about someday. A loving man, who I would love to call my father. I know things won't be easy and despite everything life throws at us, I think we can overcome anything. And most of all, I want to thank you for trying.

If you're reading this letter, I want you to know that even though we've just met and the circumstances didn't allow us to know each-other, but I am looking forward to know more about my family.

You've asked me about my life again and again and I've never been sure about it, but now I am. I'll tell you everything, whenever I meet you again.

I'll see you soon.

Take Care,

Athena.

He read the letter again, just to make sure he wasn't mistaken and he wasn't. Stefan had been correct. She hadn't lied to him, hadn't betrayed him like he'd thought. The letter slipped from his fingers and fell on the floor while he stood there frozen, trying to comprehend the fact that he himself pushed away the one person who loved him.

Her words were ringing in his ears again and again.

'I regret falling for you.'

The pain he felt was so raw that he wasn't sure he was able to survive it.

'It was the biggest mistake I've ever made and I'll regret it as long as I live.'

He sank on his knees as the intensity of his actions hit him like a ton of bricks.

'I will forget everything I feel for you, even if I had to obliviate myself for that.'

He closed his eyes as his thoughts spun. She went back to England. She'll rid herself of all the memories she had of him. Of all the times they had spent together. He pushed her away and it was all his fault. She was gone and there was nothing he could do about it. He didn't know where she lived. He was a muggle and couldn't go in her world. He felt like he was unable to breathe. A heavy weight settled in his heart which was odd because to him, it felt empty. The grief consumed him entirely and he felt like an empty shell of himself.

He stood up on shaky legs after a long time and without thinking, grabbed the lamp from side-table and hurled it across the room with an agonized snarl. It shattered to pieces, but it didn't make him feel better. He went to the bar, picked up the bottle he knew was firewhisky and went straight to her bedroom. He removed a picture from the wall, it was probably the only one where she was alone, after which he settled on her bed. His eyes were vacant as he stared at the picture for a long time, then he started drinking straight from the bottle.

England

Stefan fell on the ground and winced. Yeah, he didn't like her travelling methods at all. It wasn't as bad as apparition, but he felt uncomfortable and nauseous. A pained groan brought him out of his musings and he saw Athena kneeling beside him, clutching her stomach which was still bleeding slightly. They needed to take care of it soon.

Athena looked at him confused and asked, "Stefan… What…?"

"I… I wanted to see how you were doing. I just saw the cloth as it started shining, I didn't think and just grabbed it." He explained lamely.

She didn't reply, but sighed.

"Where are we?" he asked as he looked around with wonder.

Nestled amongst rolling hills and fertile meadows was the building which had several crooked stories attached to it. Four or five chimneys were perched on top of the red roof, and he was sure that the entire building was most likely held up by magic due to its crazy construction.

"The Burrow, England."

EN:Okay, Athena wont obliviate herself. She just said that in her anger.

What do you think about Athena's reaction? Was it to your satisfaction?

Thank you for all your love. Your reviews are the only thing that pushed me to finish this chapters early. I hope you liked it and have a nice day! 😊

Oct 20th, 2018