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: Hey! I hope you are doing fine. I'm still out of country and will be back home next week, but I worked and am finally posting this chapter. I don't know how this one turned out and I'm not happy with it, but anyway, here it is.

Sophie – Don't worry. I'm not going to turn this into a love triangle. It's so common that it would become boring. Stefan and Athena are more like siblings, than anything else.

Potter Home, Mystic Falls

He couldn't remember how long had it been since he had been sitting here, but as he looked out of the window, he realized that it was almost midnight now. He tried calling Stefan numerous times, but it went straight to voicemail every single time. Damon was almost positive that Stefan was with Athena and he couldn't do anything but hope, that Stefan would call him and he'd be able to talk to Athena. There had to be some way to make her listen to him. He didn't know if he was more jealous or relieved that his brother was with Athena.

'It should have been him, not Stefan.'

He tried to stand up, but staggered on his feet, as the now empty bottle of firewhiskey slipped from his fingers and onto the floor. His other hand was holding Athena's picture tightly in his other hand which was her only thing he was left with. He was sure that she wouldn't forgive him for what he had done. Not only he treated her like a pariah which she had enough of from the Dursley's, but he threatened her and killed her friend on top of everything. He didn't regret killing the girl and he couldn't. He knew she was under Imperius Curse and it wasn't her fault for casting the spells, but when he saw her torturing Athena, which he now knew felt worse than dying, he couldn't stop himself. He acted on instinct which was how he had always worked and lived to see this day or else he had been dead long ago. He knew that he wouldn't think for a second before killing the girl or anyone else who'd try to harm her or his brother, and he would do it again if needed.

Lost in his own misery, Damon moved towards the door blearily, tightly clutching onto Athena's smiling picture in his hand and went downstairs. He had thought that he'd feel better after drinking that amount of alcohol, but he'd been wrong because instead of numbing him down, the pain in his chest grew exponentially. He reached downstairs and this time his gaze went to the drying blood scattered on the floor. He didn't need to smell it to know that it was Athena's and his anger inflated suddenly. Damon looked around and saw her letter lying on the floor near the table, where he had dropped it before. He picked it up and looked at it once again. As far as he understood Athena, he knew that there wasn't anything he could do to earn her forgiveness, but he could do this one thing as an idea popped into his head. It wasn't enough to atone for what he'd done, but it was a start. And for her he would do it. He folded the letter and kept it back in the envelope, after which he kept it in his pocket along with her mother's letter and the picture, and blurred out of the house, the frame which held her picture still clutched in his hand tightly.

He went to the Mikaelson's house, dropped the letter at the door, rang the bell and left. He just hoped the devil-incarnate would find it. Now that this was done, there was one more thing he needed to do. Ask a certain person some things which couldn't wait any longer!

The Burrow, England

Stefan was just looking around when three people came out of the house and their eyes zoomed on Athena. He recognized Hermione, but not the other two. The redheaded girl called her Mum and Dad, while the other two ran towards them. Hermione didn't spare him a glance and fell on their knees beside Athena; but before he could say anything, the redheaded guy fired a spell at him and he fell on ground paralyzed.

"Oh God!" Hermione said as she saw Athena and her eyes went wide.

"Merlin!" Ron breathed, once he tied the guy and saw Lavender's body and Athena soaked in blood.

Molly, Arthur, Ginny, Percy and his wife Audrey came running outside and everyone gasped at the sight in front of them. It had only been months since the war and one of them was dead again. Molly's hands went to her mouth in horror; while Arthur, Percy and Ginny tied the 'guy', before releasing the body bind curse. They pointed their wands at him and Percy asked menacingly, "Who are you?"

But before he could answer, Athena looked up at them and said in a hollow voice, "He's my friend and he didn't anything. It was a death eater."

Their eyes widened as they heard this. They had thought that now Voldemort was dead, they could live their lives normally, but it wasn't the case. Arthur released Stefan's binds and gave him an apologetic smile; at which Stefan gave a tight-lipped smile back, not knowing what to do. He was feeling out of sorts with the wizards as everyone had the wands tightly clutched in their hands.

Hermione kneeled next to Athena, held her hand before looking into her eyes and whispered, "Athena, what happened?"

"She was imperiused. I saw her with someone before the person disappeared." Athena's voiced croaked.

Stefan could see that she that she wasn't able to answer these people, so he decided to tell them what he knew, "Athena was already bleeding when we reached there. Lavender used… Crucio…" he stopped before looking at Athena for confirmation, at which she gave a single nod and all of them sucked in a harsh breath simultaneously, "on Athena and my brother. She bound me and was about to use some curse on Athena, but Damon snapped her neck before she could do it."

Ron took a threatening step towards Stefan and asked outraged, "Damon?! He killed her?"

"I know she wasn't herself, but we are predators. Our first instinct is to kill, not to think when it comes to people we care about and Athena is… important to my brother. He could have handled the situation better, but he is reckless and did what out kind would have done. I'm not saying what he did was right and I'm not defending Damon, but who knows what she could have done." Stefan tried to placate the angry wizard. He knew what his brother did wasn't right, but he also knew that Damon acted on his instincts.

"What are you?" Percy asked Stefan with narrowed eyes.

"Vampire."

"Vampire?!" He shouted. Then he turned towards Athena and screamed, "Not only you told a vampire about our existence, but you brought him here? Are you out of your mind?"

"Percy!" Arthur, Molly, Ginny, Ron and Audrey exclaimed together.

Percy looked at them and asked, "What? It could land us all in Azkaban. Haven't we lost enough?"

Before anyone could reply, Audrey looked at her husband and reprimanded, "Percy, now is not the time."

"I am sorry. But I- I just wanted her to be with her family and I couldn't think of any place else to go." Athena whispered to no one in particular as her eyes filled with tears again.

"Oh, my poor dear!" Molly rushed towards Athena and hugged her.

"She isn't stupid. The President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) Mr. Samuel G. Quahog. knows all about it. And they are Americans, not Britishers." Hermione said haughtily to Percy.

Molly's patience was wearing thin. One of them was lying dead, Athena was bleeding and still convulsing with the aftershocks of Cruciatus, and they were all busy fighting with each-other.

"THAT'S ENOUGH, ALL OF YOU! NOT ANOTHER WORD!" yelled Molly and all their eyes widened. They hadn't heard her use this tone on anyone since the war. Since Fred died. Then she turned towards her husband and they shared a look and he nodded at her. They had a funeral to arrange. Then she turned towards Athena and said softly, "Come on. Let's go inside. We'll take care of everything."

Then she turned on Stefan, whose eye's widened and he back away.

"I'm sorry, dear. Come on in. We'll talk about it later." She told him.

She turned and walked back into the house taking Athena along. Hermione and Audrey followed her while Arthur, Percy, Ginny and Ron stayed where they were. Stefan glanced around nervously and was faced with two redheads who were glaring at him angrily, so he decided to follow the lady and went inside. A tear fell from Ron's eye as he stared at Lavender's body, lying lifelessly in his garden. They were just getting over the people who died and now another one was dead. It seemed like it was a never-ending cycle of deaths to him and another tear fell. His dad gave him a sympathetic look and squeezed his shoulder before turning back towards the task at hand.

Mikaelson Manor, Mystic Falls

He was in the living room talking to Elijah, when Kol and Rebekah came inside. They shared a glance and he raised his eyebrow at them.

'What was it now?'

Rebekah gave him an envelope and said, "Someone left this on the doorsteps. You should take a look."

It was a letter addressed to him written on a parchment and he didn't need anyone to tell him that it was from Athena.

"It was already open." Kol added, at which both Klaus and Elijah's arched their eyebrows in a very similar fashion.

Klaus opened the letter, dreading what he would find inside. As soon as he read the first word, he felt warmth filling inside his chest. It was from his daughter and she called him 'Dad'. Well, not exactly, but it was the first time she openly accepted him as her father and a sense of love that hit him in the next second, took him by surprise. He felt a prickling sensation in eyes and he was startled to find that his eyes were filling with tears rapidly.

'Athena was definitely Lily's daughter. She had been the one of those people who were filled with compassion and their daughter was just like her. He couldn't have been more grateful for having made the 'mistake' of sleeping with Lily in that moment.'

He never knew what being a father was like and it never mattered to him, but now he couldn't wait to know his daughter. It still felt surreal to him that he was a father, but being called 'Dad' by her changed it all. He blinked his eyes furiously to dispel them as he thought about his daughter. It pleased him greatly to know that she liked the painting and her room. It wasn't such a big thing, but she was the only one in his thousand years, who told him that something he did made someone happy. Not only someone, but his own daughter. Moreover, he couldn't believe that she was willing to give him and his family a chance to know her, even after everything they did to her. Even after knowing that he and his family were killers and he couldn't explain the feeling of happiness that coursed through him. Yes, she left for the time being, but she had promised that she would come back and tell him whatever he wanted to know. And he wanted to know everything about his daughter, everything he should have known, everything he should have faced for her had known about her existence. He wanted to know about the war Esther mentioned, what she had been through and how she could have faced death?

He wanted to fly to England right at this moment, but where was he going to find her? He had no idea where she lived. But as he thought about it, an idea struck him like lightning bolt. He had a hunch how to find her or at least he was going to try. He had wasted enough time. He wasn't going to waste more.

"Niklaus?" Elijah's voice brought him out of his musings and he looked up startled. He had forgotten that his siblings were here with him.

Their first thought was – 'who was the letter from and what exactly was in it that made Niklaus emotional?' They had never seen their brother like this, but then they realized that there was only one person who affected their brother like this, and it made them anxious to see Niklaus like this.

"Is something wrong?" Elijah asked as he shared a look with Rebekah and Kol.

Klaus didn't reply, but showed the letter to Elijah, who read it and a small smile tugged at his lips. The only thing that came in his mind was – 'their mother couldn't have been more wrong. There might be darkness inside Athena, but her kindness and compassion overcame it all and he was sure that it would stop her from becoming like 'them' one day. She was definitely the best thing that happened to his brother and in extension to their family. One thing he was sure of – Anything relating to her would make or destroy them all. He just hoped it wasn't the latter.'

"You're going to England." He stated calmly, at which Klaus gave them a nod.

"And how exactly are you going to find her?" Rebekah asked.

Klaus just smirked and blurred to his room. He wasn't going to wait. He was going to find his daughter.

Gilbert House, Mystic Falls

Alaric and Jeremy were in their room, while Elena and Caroline were sitting in the living room, enjoying a peaceful day after what felt like years when someone knocked on the door. Elena opened the door and was pleasantly surprised to see Damon standing there.

"Damon."

"Elenaaa…" he slurred as he entered inside, closing the door behind him.

Her breath hitched as she observed him closely. He was drunk and a drunk Damon was never good. It mostly happened either he was extremely happy or because something must have happened. His being here after the events of this morning and that too drunk couldn't end well.

"You're drunk." She exclaimed.

Damon wasn't here to answer her questions or any pleasantries, so he asked what he wanted to know since this morning, "You knew?'

Her brows furrowed as she tried to understand what he was talking about. "What?"

"You knew killing the Originals will kill her." he whispered.

Realization hit her as she realized what he was talking about. He was going to make her feel guilty about Athena, as if Stefan didn't do it already. Why couldn't they understand that she did what she had to do! Esther wasn't wrong. They couldn't see, but Athena was evil just like Klaus, her father.

"Don't you understand? She is Klaus's daughter. Esther told me that she could become just as dark as her father someday. I did it for all of us. Haven't we lost enough because of Klaus that we need her daughter to mess-up our lives even more?" Elena tried to explain.

Caroline, who was sitting in the living room, pretending as if she wasn't aware of the conversation going between the two, gasped inaudibly. She wanted to give Damon and Elena privacy, or at least some semblance of privacy because God knows what was going on between the two. Of course, she knew that Athena was Klaus's daughter. Elena had told her after the day of the ball, but she forgot to mention that the girl was linked to the originals and would have been dead. She couldn't believe that Elena would try to kill an innocent, a girl their age, even if she was Klaus's daughter. She didn't know how to feel about it. It wasn't as if Athena had done something to harm any of them. In fact, from what she knew, the girl had saved the Salvatore's from Klaus and Rebekah. She heard Damon speaking and focused on their conversation once more.

Damon looked at Elena incredulously. He was having a difficult time recognizing the girl he had come to know and care about. The girl, he foolishly thought he was in love with and he couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. "Are you even listening to yourself? How can you be so callous about killing someone? Someone who hasn't done anything to you or anyone else? If you really believed that, why didn't you tell us that she was connected with all of them? You didn't tell anyone deliberately. If it hadn't been for Klaus threatening Bonnie, she would have been dead!" he screamed at her.

Caroline moved towards them slowly as to not alert Damon of her presence. She knew he was in love with Elena and wouldn't hurt her, but the way he screamed at Elena alarmed her. He was reckless, so she wasn't going to take any chances. She knew she was being foolish because Damon won't hurt Elena. Would he? She couldn't remember a time when Damon would raise his voice at her. He would do anything, kill anyone for her, so she wasn't able to understand why he was reacting like this. And why did it matter to him what happened to Athena? If it had been Stefan or anyone else, she would have understood, but she couldn't understand why the girl affected Damon in anyway. He cared about no one, but Stefan and Elena. Nothing and no one else mattered to him!

She moved just in time to see Damon's blood-shot eyes filling with unshed tears as he whispered to himself dejectedly, "She thinks that I planned to kill them even after knowing that she would die!"

Caroline was sure that she wouldn't have heard him if it weren't for her 'sensitive hearing'. He looked so heartbroken as he looked up, that even she felt bad for him without even understanding the reason behind it. But one thing she was sure about, there was more between Damon, Elena and Athena, than the eyes met.

"Why are you fighting with me on this, Damon? I haven't seen you talking to her in weeks. You get angry the moment someone even mentions her name. Now suddenly you care about what happens to her? I thought you yourself wanted it, because she was Klaus's daughter. Wasn't it the reason you hated her? What is all this about?" Elena sighed as asked him.

Alaric and Jeremy came downstairs when they heard the commotion, not knowing the whole conversation, but just in time to witness what happened next and it left them all stunned.

Her words were what triggered his anger. He knew it was no one's fault but his own, but he couldn't think beyond the fact that Elena made it worse. Everything was his fault and he knew it, but what he couldn't fathom was that the girl he loved could have been dead, because Elena thought she had the right to take every single decision for everyone. She did what she felt was right without asking anyone else, once again. That too without informing what they would be doing and he couldn't help, but compare her to another girl who had destroyed their lives. What he did next was because of his anger at himself for being a fool, at Katherine, at Stefan for being with Athena and making her happy when he couldn't and lastly, at Elena.

In an agile motion that left even Caroline stunned, he blurred forward and pinned Elena to the wall, holding her by the throat.

"Da-mon! You-re hu-rti-n me." Elena croaked out as both her hands went to his hand and she tried futilely to remove his hand from her throat.

"I made a mistake, just like I made a mistake by sleeping with you and I'll regret it for as long as I'm alive." He hissed at her menacingly as he tightened his fingers.

Caroline was the first one to recover from her shock. She blurred forward and pushed Damon away from Elena and situated herself between the two, ready to fight if it came to that. Elena fell down on the floor breathing heavily, while Damon crashed into the table which broke into pieces. He looked up in time to see Rik standing there with a wooden stake in his hand, looking from him to Elena, not understanding what had happened; while Jeremy was pointed the crossbow at him, looking confused.

Everyone was looking at him in an accusatory manner, but he didn't care. He looked down at Elena who was looking at him with hurt shining in her eyes as they rapidly filled with tears, but they didn't affect him like they used to do. They didn't matter to him. After realizing that he wasn't in love with her, he thought that he and Elena could have been friends. How wrong had he been! He couldn't be friends with someone who reminded him so much of Katherine. So, he said the words he's never thought he'd say.

"There is more of Katherine in you than just your looks. You're more like her than I or anyone ever realized. After all, you proved that you're her doppelgänger in every sense of the world!" He spat at her before leaving the house.

"What was that all about?" Jeremy asked though clenched teeth as he helped his sister to the sofa.

Alaric was looking at Elena. Her eyes were closed and tears were falling rapidly. Caroline gave her a glass of water which she took a sip from and kept it on the table. He knew Damon was eccentric, but what he had never imagined was him hurting Elena and after they had slept together the other day, because of which Stefan wanted to leave. What had happened from this morning to the night? There was something nagging him from the moment he heard Stefan telling Damon that 'Esther connected all six of them together and Elena knew.' He was sure it had something to do with the Originals, he just needed to find out what it was.

Caroline shared a look with Alaric and said, "Elena. I think you should tell us everything."

10 Days Later

Grimmauld Place, London

It had been almost two weeks since he came to England and it was a pleasant change. One that he now realized that he needed more than anything. Athena was in her room which had been her 'hiding place' ever since they've been staying here. First thing he did when they came here was texting Damon and informing him that he was in England. After which he tried to talk to Athena and explain her the reason behind Damon's actions, but she wasn't ready to hear them yet. He understood her reasoning, Damon had been an ass to her which was an understatement, but he didn't try to talk to her again about it. She needed time and he didn't want to seem too pushy.

He was sitting in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place waiting for Athena, while her house elf, Kreacher was cleaning the kitchen while muttering something under his breath. Stefan ignored the elf and contemplated everything that had happened in the past days. Athena was going to attend the funeral with the Weasley's, while he would be going out. It was almost December and he had always loved London at this time of the year. It would give something to do, other than thinking what might be happening back at home and with his brother. Elena had been calling and texting him constantly, but he didn't reply, no matter how much he wanted. He was here to clear his head and he didn't want to think about her or coming here would be for nothing. Caroline called him to know where he was, so he told her where he was and would be back after sometime.

They stayed with the Weasley's for 3 days and in that time, he realized that he liked the people very much, apart from Percy who either wanted to send him back or hand him to the authorities. Everyone had put their foot down and threatened the man, after which he settled some, but not much. He still couldn't handle a vampire living with them and made it clear every minute of every day. Stefan didn't want to impose on them and specially after what had happened, so he told Athena that he should leave and find a hotel for some days. Apparently, he chose the wrong time to say it, because Mrs. Weasley told him that he was their guest and wasn't going anywhere. These were the kindest people he had ever seen and almost all of them treated him like family.

Apart from Percy and Ron, who was avoiding him like a plague. He knew the reason behind it was Lavender and he didn't blame the guy one bit. If it hadn't been for Arthur, Molly and of course, Athena, everyone would have killed Damon by now, he was sure of it. The only reason they didn't act on their wishes was Molly and as she told him that they knew that stopping Lavender was necessary. Using Cruciatus curse was unforgivable and there was a chance that the person, which they all were sure was a death-eater, wanted Athena dead. She told him that they all understood it, but it was too soon and they weren't ready to face it again. She was saddened by the death of Lavender and said that things could have been handled without killing, but she knew that it might not have been possible for a muggle to stop a witch or a wizard.

Mr. Weasley were fascinated by muggle inventions and wanted to learn everything he could tell. Stefan was still bewildered by the fact that these people had no idea about the world outside their own. What was happening, the inventions and especially the electronics – which clashed with their magic. He wanted Damon to know where he was, but his phone didn't work until it was near the Burrow.

He also couldn't believe how Molly took care of him as she gave him blood of the animals she cooked for the meals, two times a day and without even asking. He had been startled at first, but later realized that she was just like that – a warm-hearted and caring person. She was the one Athena thought of as a mother. It didn't matter to Molly that he drank blood and she served it to him, just like she served food to her family. For the first time in his existence, he missed his own mother and he wondered if she would have been just like Molly. Taking care of him and Damon and loving them despite their flaws. Probably, they would be humans and would have lived a normal life then.

He looked around and sighed. This place and these people were a marvel. They had been through a war, lost people, but still were trying to live as normally as possible. He realized that Athena's fiancée Fred was a Weasley when he met George, his twin. He couldn't imagine losing his brother, but after seeing George, he shied away even from the idea. How tough it would be for all of them and especially for Athena and George, who would be reminded of her lost love, every time she would look at George and he would be reminded of his twin, every time he would look into the mirror.

When Athena told everyone that she would be staying at her godfather's house, everyone protested, but they relented eventually after Molly made them promise that she would bring their food for them. Now, it had become their routine. Athena connected the floo with the Burrow's and Molly, Ginny and Hermione brought their lunch and dinner daily.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear Athena until she called him.

"Stefan!"

"Sorry. I didn't hear you." He said apologetically, as he looked at her.

She frowned at him and asked, "Are you alright?"

He wanted to roll his eyes at her, but instead he gave her a sympathetic smile. He couldn't remember when he had last seen her smiling. It was like all her happiness has been sucked out of her. There were dark circles under her eyes which held no signs of life in them. She answered when asked something, but other than that she hadn't spoken to anyone since the day they came to England. He tried to talk to her, cheer her up in any way he could, but it had all been in vain. He even told her that she should stay in the Burrow, but she outright refused him. There was only one person he had seen her talking to – George, and that too was on the 2nd day.

"You're getting late." He said as they moved towards the fireplace. He still hated that thing and it had nothing to do with the fact that 'muggles cannot floo'.

"Are you sure you'd be alright?" she asked him concerned for the millionth time.

This time he did roll his eyes at her. "I'm a grown man. I can take care of myself." He answered mockingly.

"Of course. I forgot that you are the age of my grandpa, maybe even older." She said with a small smile.

He looked at her with narrow eyes, but his lips twitched upwards as she disappeared in the flames. It was the first time he'd seen a glimpse of his friend in what seemed like a long time. He didn't know what it was, but he was just glad that she was feeling better.

Somewhere In London

Petunia peaked out of the window when someone knocked on the door. She opened the door, after making sure that the two standing there were 'normal' people and not some unwanted and uninvited 'guests' who didn't belong in their world.

She smiled at the two handsome men and asked politely, "How can I help you?"

"Hello. I'm Klaus Mikaelson and this is my brother Kol." Klaus looked into her eyes as he compelled her and said charmingly, "Be a dear and please invite us in. There are a few things we need to talk about."

Petunia blinked and said, "Please, come on in."

EN: I should mention that Jeremy came back the same day Stefan left town. It will be explained in the next chapter

And I want to thank you for all the love you've bestowed upon this little story of mine. Your reviews keep me going and are the only thing that push me to finish the chapters when my muse doesn't work.

I hope you liked this one and have a nice day everyone! :)

Nov 8th, 2018