Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Avengers.

Authors Note: Thank you to those of you that reviewed and welcome to the new followers and favourites.

Chapter 32: Decisions

As the light shined over every nook and cranny of Asgard, as it bloomed life into every flower and woke every child, the Queen of Asgard was not as fortunate. She hadn't left the dungeons too long ago, spending the night with her son and grandson, making sure they weren't taken without her knowledge. She had left to change and even then, she heard word that Odin had made his way to the dungeons as if he was waiting for her to leave. Running back to the dungeons as gracefully as possible, ignoring the looks that were sent by soldiers and servants, she knew the rumours were true when she saw even more guards stood inside the entrance of the dungeons.

Pushing past several of them, Frigga saw Odin stood in front of their cell, Loki stood protectively in front of Fenrir, whose eyes were red, teeth were sharp and growing, and his claws had come through. Frigga knew it wouldn't take much for Odin to step closer and Fenrir would completely go into his wolf form. Loki, however, she could sense his magic itching to be released. Overnight, it had returned but he still wasn't as powerful as he was before. Odin was the first to notice Frigga as father and son kept their eyes on Odin. Odin said, "Frigga".

She quickly interrupted him from saying anything more and asked, "what decision has been made?"

"I was waiting on you, my Queen," Odin said and for the first time in their thousands of years together, she saw something in his eyes that she rarely ever saw. Fear. Fear that she saw when they went to battle, every time Asgard was under attack, even when she was giving birth to Thor. It was the fear of losing her. She truly loved her husband, as he loved her, but he also knew her love as a mother to both her children was strong. Strong enough for her to leave and live in heartbreak outside of Asgard.

"The decision?"

Odin looked between Frigga and the cell before Frigga walked closer and stood in front of him so he could look at the three of them together, even if they were separated by the cell. "A decision of peace," Odin said.

"You're going to kill us," Fenrir said.

"No," the answer surprising them all but not as much as Odin's next words did, "I'm letting you go".

"What?" Frigga gasped.

At the same time, Fenrir returned fully to his natural appearance, Loki glared at Odin and said, "the conditions? You would never let us go knowing we could come back and start Ragnarok".

Odin nodded knowing it was the truth so he answered "your daughter, Dahlia, is mortal because of her mother and from what I have been informed, wizard lives on Midgard are longer than mortals', but not by much".

Fenrir glared and said, "what are you getting at?" Not knowing about wizard biology but he knew his sister was being used to get them to agree to whatever Odin would suggest.

"I offer a solution. With you being her father, she has the potential to age like us," Odin then brought a golden apple of Idun.

The people of Asgard many generations ago ate the apples to retain their youth as they would all live for thousands of years, but the apples slowed down their physical ageing which is why many were given them as young children or even babies. As generations passed, children were being born with the already genetic ability that after a year or so of ageing, their ageing would slow down naturally without the apples. It became rare that anyone ever needed them. Loki was aware that the frost giants had their own method of preserving youth and it had something to do with them being connected to their world, the power of Jotunehim allowed them to age slowly like the Asgardians. Unlike other frost giants, Loki aged because as a baby, he was given the apple but Loki knew that trying to extend Dahlia's life through frost giant methods wouldn't work because Dahlia hadn't aged on Jotunheim and biologically her father aged through Asgardian methods. The fact that she also has Aesir magic would be a danger for her.

"By having the apple of Idun, Dahlia should age and live as long as your other children. I will give this to you, I will let you go and I will give you the talisman that holds Jörmungandr to the seas on Midgard".

Loki frowned, he never thought there was a talisman, there was never any clue.

"All I ask is that you never return to Asgard, you never be the cause of any war or attack that isn't morally justified, and each member of your family signs a soul-binding contract that states what I have just said".

Loki let off a small laugh and said, "and if we break it, we all die. No Niflheim, no Valhalla, our souls are destroyed by those contracts. Why would you think I would allow my children to sign something like that?"

Odin shrugged and said, "you desire family above all. You want your children to live happy, healthy and safe. Above all else, you do not wish to outlive one of them".

Loki then glanced over his shoulder, looking at his son. Loki's face full of remorse for the suffering his children had already lived through. Could he really allow them to live life knowing the man who condemned them to such fates would live without retributions? Could he really have them live life knowing their souls were tied to a contract but be happy?

Fenrir, knowing exactly what his father was thinking, touched his hand, showing comfort but not enough to show weakness to Odin and the guards, and whispered, "papa".

Loki quickly turned to Odin and said, "bargaining with my children's lives...that is what it has come to".

"I will give you time," Odin said, "I am aware you must speak to your other children about this matter. You have until the end of the day, then if you agree, you will be taken to Midgard, to your daughters. I will give you the talisman to summon Jörmungandr and you will have two days to decide".

"If we decline?" Fenrir asked as Odin turned to walk away.

"Then the mortal child will live only one single mortal life. You will never lay eyes on the apple again, I will never give you the talisman to release Jörmungandr and you will be put back where you belong," Odin said sternly and then walked away his guards following him, as did Frigga as she wanted to know more about how her husband came to this decision.

At breakfast the next morning at Hogwarts, everyone was talking about the previous day's events. However, the hall wasn't as filled as many people seemed to believe it would be. Many of the professors, along with all of the Avengers, were absent. Even students who didn't have classes until the afternoon woke up early, hoping to find out more about Dahlia Potter and being a god's daughter. Every house had their opinions and most wanted to speak to a certain circle of friends in Gryffindor, hoping that they could answer some questions. But of course, Ron refused to talk to anyone outside of Gryffindor and when he did, all he spoke of was Dahlia's betrayal and secrecy and how she wasn't his friend anymore, while Ginny was silent. Hermione and the twins had tried constantly to see Dahlia but couldn't get past the two guards standing by the doors of the Hospital Wing. The twins even used their skiving sweets to pretended they had an allergic reaction and that only caused Madam Pomfrey to come into the hallway to examine them and even she whispered to them to stop their foolishness as she didn't know how patient the guards were.

That left the three of them irritated and the twins unpredictable in their methods of getting to Dahlia. "We could always cause an explosion-" Fred said.

"Draw the guards away," George finished.

"Are you insane?" Hermione exclaimed quietly, not wanting everyone around them to listen to what they were talking about. "That'll only make them more alert, maybe even have more guards inside the Hospital Wing. We have to think about this rationally-"

"Guys, guys," Lee Jordon said, running past the rest of the students and to the twins and Hermione, "have you seen it? The camp outside?"

"What camp?" Hermione asked.

Lee seemed particularly happy and exclaimed so everyone could hear, "the camp of the dead. Its next to the greenhouses and the Great Lake. There's hundreds of them. Soldiers. Dead".

The twins and Hermione spared one glance at one another, as did many people before they jumped up and ran out of the room, wanting to see it for themselves. The remaining professors were trying to calm the students down and to stop them from leaving as they weren't aware of the danger that awaited them if they got to the camp.

However, not everyone was interested in such a camp. One Gryffindor was more worried about his godsister laying in the Hospital Wing, not knowing if she would live or die. It only made it worse that she was under questioning by everyone, even the Daily Prophet. 'Potter? Girl who lives, Daughter of god?' was the title. They questioned her name as Potter's Heir, saying if it was true that Dahlia took the role knowingly and committed a crime. Taking money and belongings that wasn't rightfully hers. Neville knew it was wrong, she could be dying and people worried more about a crime she may or may not committed and the power she may have as the daughter of a god.

Leaving the Great Hall when many did, making their way to the camp, Neville made his way up to the Hospital Wing. Hoping that unlike the twins and Hermione, who he overheard, he would be able to see his god sister.

Approaching the doors, he saw two guards stood outside. A light elf by the name of Eran and a dwarf named Grozmek. Akio placed the two guards in charge, two that he trained himself while he ran the camp, and Hela stayed with Dahlia. The Queen knew some of the soldiers may be short tempered when it came to interference from outsiders, but Akio would keep them in line. She needed him at the camp. Neville didn't know them clearly, but he could tell what race they were thanks to the lessons taught by Thor. Neville nervously shifted the newspaper between his hands, not knowing how to request the visit, especially since the dwarf had his eyes trained on him and visibly clenched his fists around the war axe he held.

Neville eventually stood a few feet from them as Grozmek grumbled, "what do you want, boy?"

"I err...I want to see Dahlia. I'm-" he stuttered but was then cut off by Eran.

The light elf said, "I'm sorry but the Princess is not to be seen by anyone. We will tell you what we told the rest, she is recovering well".

"But-"

"Didn't you hear, boy?" Grozmek snapped, which made Neville visibly flinch, "leave".

"I'm her godbrother," Neville said, knowing it was the only thing that may change their minds.

Luckily, Neville thought right as the soldiers glanced to one another before Eran disappeared into the Hospital Wing, returning only moments later to ask, "what is your name?"

"Neville".

"Full name?"

"Neville Frank Longbottom," and as Neville said his name, Eran nodded to Grozmek as he opened the door and gestured for Neville to enter. When he did, the door was closed, and the soldiers returned to their positions.

Entering the Hospital Wing, Neville looked to Madam Pomfrey's office and saw the matron at her desk writing, the door was open just in case of emergency. He saw that the rest of the Hospital Wing was empty, except an occupied bed at the end of the room, in the centre, at which his godsister was laying while her sister stood at the windows with her back to him. He took nervous steps towards the bed, not knowing how the Queen of the Dead would react to his presence. He saw that Dahlia was pale, paler than he had ever seen her and being in hospital every year, he had seen her pale quite a few times. He heard her wheezy breathing and could tell she had bandages wrapped around her stomach underneath her now silk two-piece pyjama clothing. It was only when he got within reach of Dahlia did he freeze when he heard Hela, "she's healing well. She should wake up soon but she's on quite a few potions and antidotes at the moment".

She turned and Neville braced himself to see the horror of a decaying body as many had said she was but she was beautiful with her long black hair and piercing green eyes. Her left side, however, was covered with a silver mask, as well as a long glove covering her arm. Neville could only guess that the rumours and what Professor Odinson taught them was true, that half of her body was truly decaying.

"You've grown up quite a bit since I last saw you. You look a lot like your mother," Hela said walking towards the bed, until she stood on the opposite side of Neville, Dahlia's bed between them. Hela saw Neville's hands shaking, he was biting the inside of his cheek with nerve, but she could tell he wanted to ask. "I knew you when you were just a baby. When I visited my sister, you were sometimes there. Your mother caught me visiting when you were both just five months old and we had to place a memory charm on her. The only people who knew were Lily and I and the charm could be lifted by saying the right incantation. From what Lily told me, she lifted it on several occasions to talk to Alice. Your mother knew each time the charm was put back...Neville, you can ask me anything. Nothing will harm you, while I'm here. You're Dahlia's godbrother and friend. Please sit," Hela said gesturing to the chair next to the bed while she sat on the bed, holding her sisters hand.

"I err...erm..." Neville stuttered but mustered up some of that Gryffindor bravery as he sat, placing the newspaper on his lap and asked, "Hermione, Fred, George, they're her friends, her best friends, they couldn't get in. Why?"

Hela thought for a moment as she rubbed circles on her sisters hand using her thumb. A moment of silence passed before Hela answered, "loyalty...family...trust...my family are not very big on trusting others. It is a rarity in itself. Our loyalty extends to our family as does our trust. My sister has spoken of all of you, told me tales of mischief and danger. The others in the castle, they're just friends, they can turn on her in an instant. Can you honestly tell me that not one person, who Dahlia calls friend, has not turned on her since the discovery of her heritage?"

Neville opened his mouth and wanted to say no one had but then thoughts of Ron and Ginny at breakfast, people who Dahlia called friends, turned in an instant for protecting herself.

Hela saw this and said, "exactly".

"Why me?" Neville asked, more confident in speaking, "your majesty, goddess, Queen".

Hela smiled and said, "call me Hela, you did as a child. You can see her because in a way...I trust you. You're bonded to my sister in a way that no one in the castle is. You'll always be her godbrother, no matter what. I hope you are as loyal as my sister says you are. That and maybe you can tell others how my sister is doing, especially those twins. From stories I've heard, it won't be long until they try to blow their way through here with explosives".

Neville couldn't help but laugh and nod.

"Good. But know this, my trust only extends so far. I trust you because Lily and Dahlia love and trust you, I would hate for you to find out what happens to those who take my trust for granted".

Neville nodded immediately and said, "understood".

The first lesson of the day for Neville and for many Gryffindor fifth years on a Wednesday was Transfiguration just before lunch. Of course, the free periods spent beforehand that should have been for homework were fuelled with gossip and rumours, but for Neville, he stayed with his godsister and her sister until it was time for him to leave. Hela told him what they were like as children, stories beyond Midgard and the nine realms and in return, Neville told her about Dahlia. Of course, she knew all the stories but hearing them from someone else's perspective gave her the chance to look at them differently. While her sister told her, her own emotions and what happened, Neville could provide insight to what everyone else saw. How others treated her sister and she wasn't at all impressed when Neville let slip Ron's reaction to Dahlia's heritage. He also told her about the news article but Hela read it after Neville left as she told him she worried little about Midgardian news concerning her sister as the majority of the time it was just rumours.

Neville had to run to the ground floor Transfiguration classroom after going to the Gryffindor tower to collect his books and bag, forgetting them that morning. He almost sighed in relief when he saw that they were just going into the classroom but knew Professor McGonagall would have stern words with him if he was late. He ran the rest of the way, and went in just as the last Slytherin did.

Neville didn't take his usual seat by Dean, he took Dahlia's seat by Hermione which had him given a few looks. Of course, Professor McGonagall didn't seem to mind as she turned to the board and began to write as the students got out their books, parchment and quills from their bags. As Neville and Hermione got theirs out, Neville said quietly, "I saw 'Lia, she's fine, she's healing".

"You saw her? How?" Hermione asked a little too loudly so that everyone in the classroom, as well as Professor McGonagall, could hear her.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Longbottom, no talking," Professor McGonagall said.

"Yes, Professor," they said in union but that didn't stop Hermione from whispering, "how did you get in?"

Neville hesitated as Professor McGonagall began to talk about the Gemino curse or the Doubling Charm as it was also known. It was only when the professor turned her back did Neville whisper, "I can't tell you that but what I can is that she's healing, been given an antidote for the poison for the knife and Hela said she hopes 'Lia wakes up today. But..." Neville said nervously, "but once she's awake, once she's healed, they're gonna take her away. In a few days, they're gonna take her to Niflheim".

"They can't do that," Hermione said.

"Five points from Gryffindor. Mr. Longbottom, please move seats," Professor McGonagall said while the two Gryffindor looked guilty for being caught talking once again. They forgot, that despite the Professor's age, her Animagus was a cat and cats had strong senses, especially hearing.

Neville, almost hesitant, picked up his books and moved back to his seat next to Dean. Hermione looked between him and the professor, as if she wanted to say something but everyone knew she wouldn't. If anything, Hermione was patient, she would wait till the end of class.

The end of class came and Neville was the last one out and he was immediately pushed to the side by Hermione and asked, "is she okay? How does she look? What are they giving her? Do they know what time today she's waking up?"

Professor McGonagall then came out of the classroom and Hermione stopped asking questions, but the professor stood by her side, gestured for Neville to speak and said, "answer, Mr. Longbottom".

Neville looked between them before taking a deep breath and answering, "she doesn't look that good, she's pale and her breathing is wheezy but Hela says she'll be fine. The knife she stabbed herself with was from the world of the dead, Niflheim, and it does have poison on it but they've given her the antidote. They've giving her potions from Niflheim, Hela said that will help heal her quicker but they don't know exactly when she will wake up. Hela said they don't know exactly what time but their healer says it should be sometime today. It'll then be up to 'Lia who she sees".

"Mr. Longbottom, how exactly did you get into the Hospital Wing to see her?" Professor McGonagall asked, her back stiffened as she added, "some of the professors haven't managed to get past the guards". Of course, Professor McGonagall had tried and failed as had many other professors, the only one who surprisingly hadn't was Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore from Professor McGonagall's knowledge. Both locked away in their respective offices, Professor Snape only come out to teach.

Looking between them, Neville only replied, "I'm kind of like a...liaison between her and everyone. we have lunch we best go". He then turned and walked away, making his way to the Great Hall while the professor and student could only look with questioning gaze.

It wasn't long after Neville had left the Hospital Wing that Hela received another visitor, this one was welcomed, as he was always welcomed. She was sat by her sister's side but had her sister's locket in her palm as she was looking down at the pictures of her family, the family she longed to have but the fates had decided otherwise. It seemed like they would be incomplete forever, but Hela knew she would keep Dahlia close. She wouldn't let her get hurt again. She felt hands on her shoulders and usually, she would attack or call her guards, but she knew those hands anywhere. She knew the kiss that was placed on her cheek and as she closed the locket and placed a hand over her shoulder, on top of theirs, she smiled as he walked around and said, "my love".

"Falcon," she said, leaning up to kiss him as he summoned a chair to sit down beside her. His hands falling from her shoulder and down her own. "What are you doing here?" Hela asked, knowing he, unlike herself, couldn't take time off from collecting souls.

He had done that once, when he tried to stop her from her suicide mission when it came to the year of sorrow. Souls were lost, some destroyed as they had nowhere to go, no one to guide them. Even when the council took over, they didn't have the power to command Falcon to do his duties and collect souls because a) they were simply souls put in charge, they didn't have the power that Hela did over him when she truly wanted to command him, b) they knew even if they tried, he wouldn't listen, and c) they knew he would be one of the last hopes to bring their lost Queen back to them and restore Niflheim.

He answered, "I've just been collecting souls from Muspelheim and I wanted to check on you...you didn't eat anything last night, or this morning, and I know you, you'll miss lunch too".

"I'm not hungry," she said, her eyes focusing only on her sister.

"Well you don't have much of a choice," he said teasingly, "I've already gone down to the camp and a serving girl is bringing you something to eat".

"Always worrying about me," Hela said smiling for a moment.

"Of course, I do. You have a lot of people who worry about you and I don't just mean you as a ruler, I mean those who know you truly...your bothers, your father, your sister, me..." he then whispered, "I also may have stopped off at home and even Mr. and Mrs. Evans are watching you now through a looking glass. Of course, they're worried about Dahlia but you too. They worry just as much".

Hela closed her eyes as she put her head down for a moment, then opened them and said, "you'd think they were my gr..." she immediately stopped herself from saying it, believing it to be wrong.

"You know," Falcon began, "it isn't wrong to say that word...grandparents. They care for you just as much as Dahlia, don't you see? Even in the year of sorrow they worried about you".

Hela immediately stood from her seat and walked towards the windows to look out to the lake. Falcon knew it was to hide her emotions as even when it came to him, when it involved matters of Lily, she sometimes closed herself up.

"When the sky turned red, they grieved but they also quickly came to the castle, did you know? They came to find you but you had already gone off on your vengeance. Every time they heard word you were back, they came because they wanted to comfort you. But then when you came back at the end of the year, you pushed them away, began to call them Mr. and Mrs. Evans again and it wasn't until you discovered Dahlia was alive did you let them back in". Falcon stood from his seat and stepped around Dahlia's bed. "But even then, you haven't truly let them back in before-"

"I let their daughter die," Hela almost screamed as she turned to him and he could see tears streaming down her cheeks. She shrugged and said, "I could have saved her, and I didn't".

"What do you mean?" Falcon asked, stepping within reaching distance but she crossed her arms, showing she didn't want to be touched.

Hela hesitated and took a few moments to get her tears under control before she answered, "31st October 2011, Halloween night, it was a Saturday. I never really knew what Halloween was until Lily introduced me to it. She had a way of making me feel better about myself on Halloween because you can be whoever you want to be, look however you want and people don't point and aren't scared. I could walk around Midgard without my mask on and no one would blink an eye. That night, James wasn't supposed to be there but he was relieved of Order duty and so I was supposed to go and make a distraction for the Order so that they would call James, so that he would leave the house and I could visit..." Hela shifted nervously on her feet, "I was late. Odin had sent another spy that I had to deal with. Lily always told me that the Fidelius Charm was perfect, that no one could get through without being told. She never suspected Peter would betray them. I told her to let me have guards placed outside, just in case, but she was always concerned if Odin discovered they were there. That he would question what they were doing and discover them. That I could understand but she always told me not to worry. Always tried to make me feel better". Hela shook her head, "I've seen war, I've seen people die in front of me, I've caused it sometimes but yet Lily still treated me like I was a child, wanting to protect me...I should have listened to my instincts. I should have placed guards there without her knowing...I shouldn't have been late," the damn broke and she cried more. "I was supposed to be there but I wasn't. I found out when my father came and told me, broken. He could just sense it and when I went to see for myself, I hid under my cloak and I saw them bringing her body out".

Her voiced cracked and falcon ignored her protests and pulled her forward, holding her in his arms.

"A sheet was covering her body but her hand fell out and I saw a bracelet papa gave her. I then heard them say there was blood in the crib and I just..." she cried louder but now began to hit Falcon's chest but he barely moved, allowing her to take her frustration out on him. She said angrily, "I could have saved her, them. Saved Dahlia from all the years of torment. I could have fought him, I could have killed him if I wasn't late".

Falcon tightened his grip on her as she stopped hitting him. He kissed her forehead and said, "all these years carrying this guilt, you should have told someone. The Evans' or I, someone. Hela, listen to me, you are not responsible for what happened".

"But-"

"No," he cut her off, "it was not your fault. It was Voldemort, Tom Riddle, he did this not you, never you. No one blames you, no one ever will. Please talk to me or someone. This guilt is not yours to carry so let us help you". Hela then slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, slowly but tightly as she cried into his shoulder.

Authors note: Please review.