A/N: Hello all! This is my first adventure into a crossover story. I REALLY hope you like it; I have been working this for about a month. I would love your opinions, reviews, thoughts, what you like, what you didn't.
-Summary: 13 years of pain, suffering, & a wish for death is suddenly taken away when a man with slate/blue eyes gently grabs my wrist and just gives me a smirk.
-Story revolves mostly in normal London, with some mentions of the WW, maybe an 'adventure' to it later on. Fem!harry, nonromantic john/sherlock, differentish Mycroft (to a point) and Greg just being Greg.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but original characters. Duh. That is all I will say.
A/N: Guys, you don't understand how much I love the reviews from you guys. Only one person asked about a certain scene in the last chapter….hmmm, NOW back to present day Stella and…whom?
The car ride to either Uncle Mycroft's townhouse or the 'public' apartment was smooth while my eyes took in the file some surprise. Five murder victims all killed in mysterious, not traceable ways; no evidence of any foul play and three of the victims were in perfect health. All victims were found a quarter mile from their homes in similar positions.
"Ok, so tell me more, Uncle. There's more than what is in the file, isn't there? No way would you invoke the code word or me for a string of murders unless there was an aspect that even you could not solve." I ask, closing the file, looking up at the man on my right.
His lips twitched upwards at the corners for a brief moment before he answered. "The last victim, Katie Jenkins, was not alone."
Quickly going over Jenkins' case again, I see nothing about a spare body being found near her, meaning…
"She wasn't alone… and her companion was hidden…was able to remain hidden while the attacker fled? Did she happen to catch their appearance? How many there were? I would guess at least two, but one strong witch or wizard might do."
"The victim's sister, Hailey Jenkins, was hidden so they would not find her, but she did report that a woman was there, along with another being that hissed." His eyes watched me carefully, gauging my reaction.
I feel my eyebrows shoot up at the mere mention of hissing; I haven't thought about Parsaltounge since I left Hogwarts. Until that year, I hadn't known that my ability to speak to snakes was weird; I always thought they could understand English and most people just refused to talk to them. It wasn't until Lockhart's 'dueling' club that it came out that I could talk to snakes and that's when everyone started treating me like I was the Heir of Slytherin; goes to show you how idiotic school children could be. Not being around snakes in London, I just kind of, forgot about my gift, partly because I had a lot of other things to occupy my mind and partly because I was afraid something like that would drive the dads away from me; should have known better, really I should have, dad was fascinated, but da refused snakes in the flat, as did Mrs. Hudson in the end. So that ability was left to 'collect' dust in the end, like my magic; really no need to talk to snakes for friendship in the end when Cadence took up most of the conversations that occur between us anyway.
"I can think of one person with a thing for hissing creatures. But Hailey said being, not a person, so…so a snake, no big jump there, but the woman, do we have an idea as to who that is?"
"No, but Madam Bones assures me that we will know when we arrive at the meeting. She has an informant that has given valuable insight as to whom the person is."
"So, why am I needed in this case?" Confusion was racing through my head; why would he need me if there was a mole?
"There's audio from Hailey's phone of the snake and the woman."
Of course, I'm the only Parsaltounge on 'staff', hence my presence here. That's why this case wasn't brought to dad's attention, not that he could do a truly effective job, seeing as parts of the cases involve the Wizarding World and I would have eventually found out, sooner rather than later. I nod in understanding to my uncle before turning my eyes to my mobile, which had dinged a moment before. Cadence…wondering how my 'meeting' at Scotland Yard went and if I was going to feel up to going out later that night. Bless this Scottish redhead that decided to sit next to my first day three years ago, despite my shy behavior. Too bad I was nowhere near ready for any kind of clubbing; emotional drainage from the meeting aside, this would take forever. After sending the reply off, I'm left moments before we pull up in front of…well this was not what I was expecting to see.
10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister is in his office at this exact moment and I'm here…
"Someone he knows is involved, that's why I'm here."
"The latest victim is his niece, so yes, he's directly involved."
"Oh gods, this will be nationwide soon. Best figure it out quickly then, shant I?"
After we sail past security, Uncle Mycroft leads me to a meeting room with voices drifting out of the open door; the topics must be friendly then if they are allowing it out of the soundproof room. Uncle Mycroft is in front of me when we walk in, so I can't take stock of the people gathered in the room for a brief moment before I take in a head of hair I never thought I would see again.
"Draco Malfoy?" My voice is soft, but the question carries over to the blonde, whose gray eyes soon lock onto mine, shock quickly hidden behind a smirk.
"Well now, this is the last place I thought I'd find you Stella Potter." His voice has dropped several octaves since I last talked to him, but the familiar pattern of snarky wit lets me know he's still the Draco I started to know.
"Actually, it's Holmes now or did your father not inform you of this?" I can tell instantly that this was not the correct thing to ask, judging by the way the three people behind him flinched and his eyes darkened.
"Lucius is no longer any concern. The Dark Lord killed him after…after delivering your message."
But there is no anger at his words, at least, not at me; no, that anger was towards Riddle. I give no words, only lock eyes and pass my message, which he receives with a small nod; I then concentrate on the three people behind him: a woman with short blonde hair & green eyes, a tall, dark skinned man with dark eyes and another woman with long brown hair drawn into a bun and honey eyes. That's when Uncle Mycroft return to my side, his warm hand guiding towards the small magical group; it was at times like this I was very appreciative of this man & his intuition.
"Madam Bones, my niece, Stella Holmes. Stella, this is Madam Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"Pleasure, Ms. Holmes." Madam Bones responds, extending her hand, her honey eyes watching me carefully. She had heard Draco saying my old name and I know this may have caused issues if it weren't for the agreement, really an order, the Minister of Magic signed from my Uncle Mycroft forbidding the MoM from interfering or trying to run my life again.
"Are you related to Susan Bones? Cause your remind me of her in so many ways…OH! Yes, that's right; you're the aunt she was always going on about in the study group. One of the few people I miss from Hogwarts." My hand slips into hers, a small smile on my face as I remember the Ravenclaw.
She only gives me a smile before turning to the remaining magical diplomats; both strangely tense as they watch me, putting me on edge.
"Ms. Holmes, may I present Auror Shacklebolt, the head of our Auror department." I shake hands with the dark skinned man, but he was again watching me closely; I note that Uncle Mycroft is always within two feet of my person, meaning he trusted no one from the wizarding world around me.
"And this is Heidi Alms, my second in command." The blonde woman's hand was ice cold, but I don't release like I want to until she does.
"Ok, let's not waste time; I want to hear the audio from the latest crime scene. How is the Prime Minister & his niece, Melanie?" I ask this of the small brunette woman at the front of the table; she's the PM's right hand woman and it seems his voice in the meeting; an understandable position, concerning what his family is currently going through. I may have never personally met the man, but I have dealt with her on a number of occasions as there were quite a few of the dad's cases that had high level people involved.
"He is as one would expect, but he would thank you for your concern, Ms. Holmes. The family is obviously in a state of grief for Katie and worry for Hailey, who's still traumatized over the incident." Melanie replied before turning on an overhead projector on, a still image of Katie Jenkins pops up. "Ladies and gentlemen, if we can begin, as Ms. Holmes has suggested." The door closed, activating the soundproofing.
I sit in the middle, my eyes already locked onto the screen, while I sense Uncle Mycroft standing against the wall next to me, his blue/slate eyes watching the occupants of the room carefully, but every other second they flicker back to me, as if checking I'm still here. A flash of blonde brings Draco to the chair in front of me while Madam Bones sits on the other side, Heidi next her while Auror Shacklebolt was somewhere behind me; I can still feel his dark eyes watching me, setting me on edge further. Melanie begins the video, showing us both the sisters talking about the newest film that they had just seen when they stopped suddenly at the sound of a large crash.
"Katie, what was that?" Hailey's voice didn't pull her sisters eyes from a shot outside of the frame.
I watch Katie's eyes widen after a moment before she quickly turned and pushed her sister. "Move Hailey, come on! Go hide now. There are people running here, I've seen them before, from Uncle's office; they're murderers!" Katie stops after about two minutes of frantic movement, but her eyes are locked onto her sister. "They saw me, but not you, now hide!"
There's a sudden jostling of the camera as Hailey finds her hiding spot, where now just Katie's legs are visible, walking back towards the alley entrance; she was walking towards known murderers to protect her sister, but if only she had known…
"Well, lookie at this little itty bitty thing. Thought you were running, little duck." A shrill woman's voice fills the room, causing Draco to flinch; interesting, need to follow up on that reaction later.
Katie gets no time to react before a bright green light slams into her, & I can't stop the flinch that racks my body as that memory flashes for a moment; the hardest part was hearing Hailey struggle not to cry out, her sobs muffled into an unknown source. The heel of a dark boot kicks Katie's body before a high pitch laugh echoes in the alleyway. Then I hear it: the hissing creature, but then another voice, almost the same, joins the creature's voice. Panic racks my mind, my body trembling as the voice continues to speak. I can feel the tears running down my cheeks as the evil spews from his mouth. Eventually the group disappears and Hailey jumps out of her hiding spot towards her sister, the video ending there.
"Stella?" Uncle Mycroft's voice is soft, his hand gently gripping my shoulder.
"It…I…he was there, with the snake…Voldemort was in the Alleyway. Where was Katie's body found again, on Glentworth Street, am I right?" My next question doesn't need to be asked to my uncle: Voldemort and his Death Eater were within ten minutes of my home. "He's been planning this for months, seeing as the ministry has been rejecting the notion that he has returned; this has allowed him to gain tremendous footholds for his followers and servants! But before, it has been just his Death Eaters going out, but he came personally for this murder, meaning he knew who she was. They didn't know Hailey was there, although the snake was suspicious; but Voldemort has been able to gain knowledge on Britain's well known in power; if you know of any wards around the Queen's residences, they need beefing and boosts in the even the most remote areas." At these words, two men at the front of the room quickly left, phones attached to their ears.
The room begins to explode with activity, the right hand people of the people in the muggle government revamping their security protocols from the ground up. The blonde in front of me was still, his head bowed over the case file of Katie Jenkins.
"Draco, the woman, who was she?" I ask this in a whisper, bringing his gray eyes into mine again.
"Bellatrix Lestrange, my aunt. She is insane and is obsessed with the Dark Lord & frankly, I'm not surprised that she has been the one behind these murders. She is his bloody shadow and nothing he says is wrong; ironic she's all for his blood purity speech, while he himself is a half-blood orphan."
I can see his fingers trembling, but when he finally looks up, his face was set with determination. "I'm going to end this and finally stop the ones that are bringing my family name into the ground."
"Well, I certainly hope you succeed, Draco. But, how are you, I mean really?" I keep my voice in a whisper, letting it only carry between us.
"I don't know how I should be, Stella; my father & I were not the closest, but he was still my father. My mother is torn as well, knowing she should appear as a grieving widow, but they haven't shared a bedroom since I was born. They both had lovers on the side; how can she pretend to cry for the public?"
Unsure, I reach out a grip the nearest hand. "You react how you want, Draco. The public will think what they want no matter the lengths you and your mother go to."
I see a small smile creep onto his face before he sighed. "Right as usual Potter, no Holmes, forgive me. When did that happen?"
"Oh…about 2 ½ years ago? Roughly around that time, it just sort of happened, although in my mind, I thought that it had happened when dad brought me home."
Draco's smile widens before he pulls me into a quick embrace. "I'm glad for you Stella, you look good. Much better than the last time we spoke."
"Yes well, three years will change anyone. Speaking of change, where in the world did the twins get the means to open that joke shop? Molly was dead set against last I knew."
We've moved to the hallway at this point, the area cleared of low-clearance staff. Draco & I are near the doorway should Uncle Mycroft need me; I can still hear him discussing the Queen's protection detail inside.
"Oh, they may have had a silent partner involved." He gave me a small wink before falling silent.
The comfortable silence was something I missed about the blonde; he never felt the need to always talk, making moments like this a pleasant period. But, the moment was ruined when I felt a large presence behind me followed but a deep voice
"Forgive me, Ms. Potter." Hands grabbed me and I felt the sensation of apparition as Draco's horrified face disappeared. I tried to fight off the kidnapper, but his iron grip refused to let me move; why is it always like this?
When we finally stopped, my mind was spinning, as was my stomach, but I held in the urge to spew over the floor. Which was stone; stone floors that I knew very well and wished to never see again.
"Hogwarts." My voice is small, but it carries in the environment.
"Welcome back, Ms. Potter, we've missed you."
I freeze at the familiar tone of a meddling old man who could never leave well enough alone. When I look up into twinkling blue eyes, I break out of Kingsley's hold and race forward, fists tight; but I fail to see McGonagall until the last minute, the red stunner striking me in the center of my chest before the world went black.
Meanwhile, in 10 Downing Street.
"Mr. Holmes!" Draco yells out, running into the room, only to come face to face with the man.
"Where's Stella?" Mycroft's voice & eyes were ice, his body stiff, but radiating off anger.
"Auror Shaklebolt has taken her! Came out of bloody nowhere and just apparated out of the damn building with her!" The blonde's voice was shaky but just as angry.
They were not expecting Madam Bones' voice to join them, her honey eyes blazing. "Damn that man! I should have known he was working for that meddling old coot! Oh, no, this is not going to stand. I am going to personally walk into that bleeding school and bring her home, Mycroft, you have my word."
"No, this is not acceptable. I know of two others who need to be informed on this and I care not for you rules, Amelia. My niece has been kidnapped and taken back to place she wanted nothing to do with again; I have an obligation to inform her fathers that this has happened. After they arrive, we will accompany you to Hogwarts." He replied, fingers tight over his umbrella.
Amelia Bones suddenly understood why this man was so good at his job, why some many respected and feared him; she could only nod before he turned away, placing an object to his ear.
Mycroft dialed his brother's number, not looking forward to aftermath of this…event. Albus Dumbledore has messed with the wrong girl; Holmes women are not known for being lenient with attackers, & although it had only been three years, Stella was most defiantly a Holmes.
There was another moment that required his brother's presence and this was the moment to take it. It was beyond time that Dumbledore had a discussion with the Holmes men about Stella's treatment before 221B.
My eyes open to find myself tied to chair, in what looked McGonagall's office; who would have thought that woman would be ok with the kidnapping. She was always strict, but fair at the same time; what had happened in the last three years? I begin to assess the ropes holding me, knowing that they were binding spell ropes and would require some use my magic to release them. Before I could even start, the door opened, & Dumbledore walked in, followed by a man I did not recognize with sandy brown hair, amber eyes and scars over his face. When the door clicked close behind him, he leaned back, his eyes watching me with some sadness.
"Let me go. You have no right to keep me here!" I know it's pointless to try and talk to him, but I felt the need to yell at the coot anyway.
I try and send feelers out to my dads and Uncle Mycroft, but something is blocking me, like the wards around the school were preventing me; not surprised about that.
"Ms. Potter, this is your home and it is where you are safest."
"NO, you just ripped me from my home, you blind old coot, and it is MS. HOLMES! You. Will. Respect. That!" The anger was building, just waiting for the right time. "I left, Dumbledore and I DID NOT want to come back, how dare you do this to me."
"Now, you only say this because they have messed with your mind, Ms. Potter."
"Stella, please. Your father would be…Lily…" The other man's voice was soft, tears in the back of his throat.
I study the man intensely for a long while before finally speaking. "You knew them; in fact, you were best friends with James and cared for Lily like a sister. You would have taken me in, but something prevented you from doing so; judging by the ragged appearance, the amber eyes, & the scars, I'm guessing werewolf, which is fascinating by the way, we must talk later about this. But something I think you should know is that I am not a simple reproduction of James & Lily Potter; I will tell you what I told Sirius Black, I am not their daughter anymore. They will always will be my birth parents but they did not raise me; I have two wonderful dads, two amazing uncles, a grandmother who means the world to me and a land lady who is better than most of England. I have been happy for the past three years and now you and the rest of this world wants to drag me back to a war I want no part of. A war that has no bearing on any longer; I do not belong here anymore and will not be forced back."
His amber eyes were wide & filled with unshed tears. "My name is Remus Lupin and yes, I did know your parents. Knew them very well and I almost felt like death after they died; it broke my heart to not be able to take you in. You say you spoke to Sirius?" At my nod, he continued. "Then he must have given up on gaining custody of you and he would only do this if he knew you were safe with your new family."
"Remus, do not be fooled, she belongs here." Dumbledore's voice was agitated as we ignored him to talk to one another.
I found the clock on the mantle of McGonagall's fireplace and can barely hold back the grimace. "I have been here for four hours and that is four hours too many, Dumbledore. My uncle will have phoned my fathers as soon as Kingsley took me and nothing is going to stop them from coming here. Besides, Uncle Mycroft has wanted to speak with you for a very long time."
I think I may have accidently timed things too well when I feel all three connections again as the door slams open, da's leg extended before it drops. I can see my dads, Uncle Mycroft and Madam Bones in the doorway; I cannot explain the sudden sensation of tears running down my cheeks as I begin to struggle against the bindings. The dads move quickly into the room, dad towards me while da moved to Dumbledore, his browning pointed at the old man's chest; he was shaking with controlled anger, his blue eyes sparking.
"Poppet, you just can't stay out of trouble, can you?" Dad's voice was soft, but his fingers were shaky as he cupped my cheek. "Let's get you up, shall we?"
"Allow me, please Mr. Holmes." Lupin's voice suddenly spoke from my left, his wand pointed at the bindings that fell off an instant later.
My arms wrap around dad's neck, breathing in his scent while I'm secured into his chest. I watch over his shoulder as da continues to rant at Dumbledore, the browning still pointed at the headmaster.
"HOW DARE YOU! How dare you even touch my daughter, you demented old Codger!" Da's voice is almost boiling with the heat that laces the words.
"Now, good sir, there is no need for such a reaction."
In contrast to da's voice, dad's was a mirror of Uncle Mycroft's. "No, there is a need for a greater one, as you have violated several agreements and treaties by even talking to Stella, let alone kidnapping her back to an environment she left for a reason."
I've released his neck at this point, but I'm almost glued to his side, his arm securing me into it. I can feel the anger keeping his body rigged, but his fingers were moving in a familiar pattern on my bicep; his way of reassuring himself that I was still there. I can see Dumbledore ready to retort dad's comments and I can't stop the anger that spews out.
"Not another word, Albus Dumbledore. You kidnapped me, tied me up for four hours and actually attempted to convince me that I was brainwashed into thinking I was actually HAPPY! You're upset that I am not the pretty little cannon fodder you wanted in this bleeding war of egos! You can end this with Voldemort, but you have been setting up the population of this idiotic wizarding world with the hope that their 'savior' with come back from the dead only to die again instead of ENDING IT YOURSELF!" I'm shaking in dad's arms, anger from years ago bursting out.
The next voice that filled the room was not one I expected, but it was most welcome. "Attempt to touch my cub again, Albus, and I will let Moony out to play." Lupin's voice was gravely & his amber eyes were lit up as he watched the headmaster. "This is beyond your need to try and 'bring her home.' This is about you not knowing when to quit before you have karma backfire, but I see that is it too late for you to stop. You've brought this down on yourself, remember this."
Lupin catches my eye before nodding, drawing a smile from me before I responded with one of my own. The silence only lingers before a moment before Uncle Mycroft moves forward until he's stands next to da, who finally lowers his browning once my uncle has the old man in his sights. Da rushes to me, pulling me away from dad, who looks very upset at the lack of contact.
"John, do give her back eventually." There was a small smirk before his face set again as he concentrated on Dumbledore.
"My name is Mycroft Holmes, Albus Dumbledore, and we need to talk."
A/N: I'm SOOOO sorry that it took so long for me to get this out. I had a bit of writer's block right slam in the middle of this chapter, but I brought it here to you now. HAHAH, Dumbles done messed up. Ok, so you know what to do. Reviews are my bread & butter.