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Chapter 20
Loki had managed to teleport them to the entrance hall of the castle, which had caused quite a stir amongst the many students who were walking between classes. Many had screamed, and ran, fearing an attack, and others had drawn wands. Some simply stopped and stared, in shock at the three who had appeared out of thin air, without so much as a pop, when they shouldn't have been able to. The anti-apparition wards should have been enough to keep them out, right? Either way, the teachers had soon converged on Tony, Steve and Loki, wands at the ready. Dumbledore, who was directing the search for Jade from the comfort of his office, approached them.
"Name yourselves! State your business and how you entered without my permission."
"Oh, so the Death Eaters who kidnapped my daughter right off your grounds had your permission to be here, did they?" Tony asked, his eyes narrowed. His grip on the red metal case was tight. The question was double edged. If Dumbledore answered no, the truthful answer, then he admitted that Hogwarts was not as well protected as he claimed. If he said yes, then that would look even worse.
"Mr Stark." Dumbledore said, choosing the ignore the question tactic. "I am surprised you are here."
"Yes, well, I thought I would come to collect Jade's things. You can call your search off, we found her- without your telling us she was missing in the first place, might I add. I am withdrawing Jade from this school. My wife and I were assured that she would be safe. Then we find out she's been kidnapped and Death Eaters intend to sacrifice her. We barely got to her in time to save her. If we had left the job to you, she would be dead."
"You mean you are responsible for the events at Nott manor?" Dumbledore asked.
"The Death Eaters made a very powerful enemy the day they decided they were going to target Jade." Steve said. He was in his full Captain America outfit, his shield on his arm. He was more than ready to take Dumbledore down a few pegs if he had to. "We simply did what we had too to get her back safely. It was their own fault for kidnapping her in the first place. And yours for letting it happen."
"You did not have to resort to such violence." Dumbledore said.
"Really? What, we were supposed to go hug them all, and ask for Jade back?" Tony asked. He shook his head. "People like that don't respond to the words please and thank you. They would have simply gone out and murdered innocents if they had been allowed to. I don't know about you, but I prefer them to be six feet under than the innocents that they would have tortured and killed."
"They should have been given the chance to be saved." Dumbledore insisted. "Acts of Vigilantism is not the answer to the question."
"I think it is safe to say, they lost that chance the moment they attacked a child that many powerful and skilled people have a strong attachment to, and, they have the backing of an organisation of their government." Loki said. "Perhaps you should simply step aside. You are no match for me when it comes to magic. No one here is, and then there is also what these two can do. I am asking you nicely."
Tony laughed. "Nicely? Normally, Loki when you ask nicely, you've already killed someone to make others a bit more willing."
Loki smirked. "I may accidently kill one of Jade's friends. I'd rather not." The message was clear. He was only playing nice for Jade's sake.
"Oh, and another thing, I would like to know how Jade was taken in the first place." Tony said.
"There were guests attending the Halloween feast. I lowered the wards just enough so that they could enter the school through other means, bar apparition and portkey."
"Such as flying." Tony said. "And you didn't think to make some sort of announcement a day before or something, so that the students would know that it would be easier for any enemies to get to them?" He had an audience of many. This should break the trust of several of the faculty and students in Dumbledore. And perhaps the parents when news reached them from their children of the scene they were making.
"Most students do not have enemies." Dumbledore said calmly.
"Yeah, well, Jade isn't most students, is she?" Steve asked He knew this next part would clue most people in that Jade Stark and Jade Potter were one in the same, but Dumbledore had been the one to let that fact slip to the enemy. The students knowing wouldn't change anything now. "Most students don't have a manic dark wizard out to kill them since they were one. If no one else, Jade should have been informed for her safety. You knew Voldemort-" Most of those who had gathered around them flinched, "wasn't gone. You knew he would once again target Jade. Yet you failed to recognise the danger she would be in when the wards were lowered. That is a mistake that cannot be over looked."
"And who are you?" Dumbledore asked. This man was obviously a muggle. And he was rather infuriating.
"I'm known in the muggle world as Captain America. But basic protection of a person, or persons, is to make sure they stay within an area easily guarded while there is an immediate threat. That threat grew, when you lowered the wards. Jade should not have been allowed to wander far from the castle, unless with someone who could protect her while the wards were down."
"What he said." Tony nodded. "You neglected your duty. And the promise that my daughter would be safe wasn't fulfilled. This gives me more than enough reason to pull her out- let alone the neglect of her studies. Jade had to study subjects such as the sciences, maths and English in her own time, which I find ridiculous. Now, I'm going to need someone to lead me to the Hufflepuff common room, and her dorm room."
"Mr Stark, I must insist that Jade remains here for her schooling." Dumbledore said.
"And why is that?" Tony asked.
"For one, she has some good friends here already. The second reason, is that I can teach her many things to help her against Voldemort. She may be a Stark, but Voldemort will not change his mind. You know that. He attacked her as a baby on that Halloween ten years ago, and now his followers have made another attempt."
"What things could you teach her, that someone else could not? Loki, for example, is very skilled when it comes to magic. I can make sure her knowledge of the more mundane subjects is kept to standard Cap, amongst some others, can help Jade keep in physical shape. That way she won't be dependant like some of you are, solely on magic. I'm sure you've seen Loki's handiwork. The Death Eaters trapped inside their own minds, reliving tortures until they die- how many of them are left, now, can I ask?"
"One." Dumbledore said regretfully.
"He's not going to die for a while." Loki said, his eyes were full of glee at the thought. "He really shouldn't have tortured Jade."
"I must ask that you reverse your spell." Dumbledore asked.
Loki shook his head. "I don't feel like it." He replied. "And that was simply an example of my talents." A wave of his hand, and some more students screamed as one of the gargoyles transformed into a large snake. He waved his hand again, and the snake disappeared. "I am far more powerful than you, and my knowledge of magic more extensive."
"I doubt that, my boy. You are very young. There is no way that your knowledge and skills could out surpass my own."
Loki laughed. "Oh you foolish mortal." He said, shaking his head. "I am no mere wizard. I am a god. I have been practising magic for centuries. You have been practising for mere decades. If you do not cease your attempts to control Jade's life, you will regret it." Everyone there could feel the power Loki was emitting. His head cocked to one side. "Oh, that is interesting. The secret you've kept hidden- the secret of your sister's death… Arianna, wasn't it? I suppose you don't want people knowing the truth, do you?"
"What are you talking about?" Dumbledore asked, trying to bluff his way out of the situation.
"The ability to read minds is a rather useful one, wouldn't you agree?" Loki asked.
Tony smirked at Dumbledore. "You see, headmaster, you aren't the only one who could teach Jade what she needs. And I know other magic users as well. It will be very easy to get Jade a skilled private tutor. If she wants to attend a school in America, there are several schools she can attend which will allow her to travel home each night, and they do not neglect other important studies, meaning students can easily integrate into the muggle world upon completion of their studies. And, as for her friends, it's easy enough for them to keep in contact. All that matters to me is my daughter's safety, and I will do anything to keep her safe. So, step aside, and let someone show us where we need to go, and then we will be out of your way."
"Don't forget what Fury said, Tony." Steve reminded.
"Ah, yes, S.H.I.E.L.D, or the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, has issued you an invitation to meet with several key members to discuss the threat that Voldemort and his Death Eaters pose." Tony said. They would deal with the old man then.
"Why? This is not a matter for muggles." Dumbledore said.
"We have researched the matter, and found that during your last war, it spilled over into the non-magical world." Steve said. "And before that, Grindelwald helped start World War Two. Each time you have a war, people in the muggle world become casualties. We think that's cause for concern. We are willing to work alongside you to minimise civilian casualties. I suggest you don't turn down the offer to at least meet up. We have our fair share of coping with the not so normal, and S.H.I.E.L.D does have many contacts that have… special talents, shall I say. You have seen what happened when the Death Eaters decided to mess with the main team, it doesn't normally turn into such a bloodbath, I assure you. But we have more than just magic on our side. Your side of the war almost got flattened the last time round. I think you need the help, don't you?"
"When and where?"
"An undisclosed location. The twentieth of December." Steve said. "But if you wait outside Gringotts, Salem branch at midday, then we'll send someone to pick you up and escort you to the meeting. Director Fury has allowed you to have two advisors with you at the time."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very well." He said. His eyes flicked over those gathered. "Miss Granger. If you would be so kind to show these three to your common room, and the room that you used to share with Miss Stark."
"Yes Professor." A twelve year old girl said. She had bushy brown hair and was with two boys of around the same age. Everyone started to disperse as she led them towards the Hufflepuff common room, after shooing the two boys away. No one had noticed the large black, grim like dog watching from a shadowed alcove.
"How's Jade?" Hermione asked, after she spoke the password, and the portrait door opened.
"She's fine." Tony said. "She woke up not more than two hours ago. Oh, and, she won't be calling until the Christmas holidays. Her phone's been taken due to her being grounded."
"Oh, alright." Hermione said, looking a little down.
"Did you manage to contact your parents?"
"Yeah. They said it's a very generous offer and they're sure they can pay for the trip themselves. Neville's gran and Ernie's parents said the same too."
Tony waved a hand. "I'm more than able to cover the expenses." He said, surveying the common room. It seemed comfortable enough. If a little cold in the winter.
"You should really invest in a central heating system for this place. And insulation." He commented. "It'll get cold soon. Even with that fire."
"I've already learnt how to create bluebell flames that I can carry round with me to keep warm." Hermione said, pulling a jar of blue flames from her bag. She opened a door, and allowed them into the dorm room she shared with Jade.
"Jade's things are over there." Hermione pointed. "I packed them after you called.
There was a mewl and Bonnie jumped up onto Jade's bed. She sat down and mewed forlornly.
"I guess familiars really do get attached." Tony said.
"I'll make sure no one has placed any sort of spells on Jade's belongings." Loki said, heading straight for the trunk, and opening it. The first thing he saw was the parcel. He picked it up and looked at Hermione. "Early yule present?"
Hermione frowned. "I haven't seen that before. It wasn't there when I put Jade's things back in her trunk yesterday evening."
Loki frowned and opened it, and pulled a long, silvery cloak out. An eyebrow rose. "This is a creation of Hela. The Potter line must be the descendants of the one that she gifted this to." He said. He picked up a card that had fallen to the floor.
"What does it say?" Tony asked.
"Your adoptive father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well." Loki read. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the cloak. "There is a tracking spell on this cloak. As well as a compulsion charm and a loyalty charm." He quickly removed them, and placed the cloak back in the trunk. It would be useful for Jade to have. Now the spells had been removed, it would be safe for her to use. The only other thing that had a spell on it was her potions book. "Now that is interesting." He murmured.
"What is?" Steve asked.
"The book has a spell on it that will weaken the protective barriers around someone's mind, leaving them more open to an assault." Loki said. He removed the spell, his eyes narrowed, and snapped the trunk shut. "When did Jade take out her potions book?"
"Only in the lessons and when we had homework to do."
"So the only time she did so when there was a teacher around was in the lessons?" Loki asked.
"Yes." Hermione nodded.
"What is the name of your teacher?"
"Professor Snape, why?"
"I wonder if Dumbledore will be bringing him to the meeting." Tony mused.
"Either way, I will be paying him a visit some point soon. Miss Granger, do not make eye contact with him. Or Dumbledore. It may allow them access to your mind." Loki said. "If they're skilled enough at mind reading, that is. Do not think about what I have said around any of your teachers, for that matter. And it would be best if you kept your friends in the dark, for now."
Hermione nodded. She looked at Steve curiously. "If you don't mind me asking, are you really Captain America? Or are you just trying to make people think you are?"
"No, I am Captain America." He said, smiling. "I'm also the one who answered your call."
"She had you under Uncle Steve." Hermione said.
He nodded. "I seem to have become something of an honorary uncle to her."
"Along with most of the team." Tony muttered quietly, as he grabbed Bonnie's carrier and placed the cat inside. He glanced at the cat. "The cat isn't spelled, is it?" He asked Loki.
Loki took the carrier from him. A moment later he shook his head. "No."
Tony nodded. "Good." He grabbed Jade's trunk in his spare hand and Loki handed the cat carrier to Steve. "Time to go I think. I don't think it would be a good idea to be away for too long."
"You do not trust the others abilities?" Loki asked, smirking.
"Oh, I do. But when it comes to Jade's safety, I want to be an active part of it." Tony said. He looked at Hermione. "Tell your parents to expect the details of the trip in the mail. I don't know where to send the details to your friends, so could your parents forward them on?"
"Sure, Mr Sark." Hermione said, nodding.
"Great." Tony said, grinning. "Oh, and if Jade manages to get hold of her phone, don't let on that you're coming over."
Loki placed a hand on Tony's shoulder and Steve's, and teleported out. The moment they were back in the Avengers mansion, he disappeared again.
"Where do you think he went?" Steve asked.
"Did you not hear? Jade made friends with a couple of mischievous twins." Tony said. "I may have tipped him off about them. Until all of us have a chance to have a go at him, he's going to enlist their help. Dumbledore should show up as a nervous wreck. When he's confronted by the entire team- we may not have to drug him to have a heart attack- it'll be completely natural."
"Still planning that?"
"Oh yeah." Tony said. "Though, I'm planning on waiting until everyone's had their say about what they think of him. I want the guy out of the way as soon as possible."
Steve just shook his head. He couldn't believe he was helping someone plan the death of an old man, but they were talking about Jade's safety here.
Loki found the identical red heads in a secret passageway. "Plotting, are we?" He asked.
The two jumped, and whirled to face him. "Well, Fred, what do you know, the magic user that claims to be a god." One said.
"I wasn't expecting to see him again George. You?"
"No Fred. I wasn't. Good show by the way-"
"Loki, wasn't it?" Fred finished.
Loki smirked, and nodded. "Yes. Loki of Asguard. I was told that you two could help me."
"Oh, that depends." George said.
"What do-"
"You want-"
"Help with?" They asked together.
"Did you hear about the invitation issued to your headmaster?" Loki asked.
"Of course." They chorused.
"I want him to come to that meeting as nervous wreck. I want you to raise so much trouble around here, that Dumbledore will not know what hit him. It was due to his negligence of duty that Jade was placed in harm's way. We have something in mind for him later on, but you two, are going to be the opening act. Oh, and, make your potions teacher, Snape's, life a living hell, while you're at it too. And, any interesting news that could have something, anything, to do with Jade, I want to know about it."
The two twins shared a smile that Loki knew very well. It promised trouble. "I like this guy." Fred said.
"So do I." George replied.
"You have" Fred began.
"Enlisted our" George continued.
"Valuable services." They finished together.
"Good." Loki said. "I'll leave it in your hands for now, but I'll be by to help out every now and then. And, if you really need help, just call my name. I'll be glad to help."
"One thing, how did you apparate inside Hogwarts?" Fred asked curiously.
Loki smirked. "Mortal wards are no match for my powers." And with that, he disappeared, leaving the red headed twins to their scheming.
"When you have recovered, your training will be taken up several levels." Thor told Jade as they waited for Tony, Steve and Loki to return. They were in a rec room, seeing as Hank had allowed Jade to leave the med bay.
"Sounds fun." Jade said dryly.
Thor laughed. "Yes, Natasha and I will also be helping out from now on. While the Captain and Logan will still continue your hand to hand training, Natasha and I will start focusing on your training with weapons. As I am not always here, Natasha will be your more regular tutor."
"Oh joy, they'll be able to kill me because I'll be too exhausted to even run out the front door."
"You will be fine." Thor replied. "As for your training in magic, I believe that is up to you. Your father mentioned schools here in America, but I am sure that Loki is more than willing to tutor you in magic. That may actually give you more time to pursue other hobbies of yours as well."
"Defence isn't a hobby for me. It's mandatory." Jade said.
"You will learn what you need to soon enough. And I'm sure it won't be as bad as you thought. You will have time to rest."
"Yeah, when I'm sleeping."
"Thor's right, it won't be as bad as you think." Pepper said. "If you don't get time off, they'll have me to deal with."
"Why can't I be a normal kid?"
"Because you are a Stark and you have my luck?" Tony asked, as he and Steve entered the room.
"How did it go?" Jade asked.
"Well, Loki found out a secret that Dumbledore is trying to keep hidden, he hasn't shared that with us yet, oh, and your potions book had a spell to weaken your mental barriers on it and there was something else in your trunk too." Tony pulled out the cloak and handed it to Jade. "Apparently, James Potter left it in the position of someone else before he was killed, and now they gave it back. With the charms that were on it, I'd guess Dumbledore had it."
"What charms?" Pepper asked.
"A tracking charm, a loyalty charm and a compulsion charm." Steve said. "Loki got rid of them though. Just like the one on the potion book."
Jade examined the silvery cloak that reminded her of water. She frowned and threw it on over her shoulders. Everyone in the room started when they saw Jade's body disappear.
"Loki could have warned us beforehand." Tony muttered.
"And miss the look when you saw what the cloak can do?" Loki asked, entering the room. "That is the one true invisibility cloak in the human realm. Keep it with you at all times Jade."
"I will." Jade said, nodding.
"I want to know how Dumbledore got hold of it." Pepper said. "I don't believe that James left it in his position. Not when they had someone like Voldemort after them."
"It does seem suspicious." Jade agreed. "Do you think he wanted them gone?"
"I didn't think of it that way." Tony said. "If he did, this just got a whole lot worse."
"But why Jade? Why did he want the Potters out of the way?"
"Did he agree to the meeting?" Thor asked.
"He did. We can get those answers, and more, from him then. For now, we should just watch as his reputation starts to chip away." Tony said. "Oh, and what was the secret behind his sister's death?"
"He was friends with Grindelwald. It was either his spell, or Dumbledore's, that killed her, when they got into a three way duel with his younger brother Aberforth."
"If people ever discovered that Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald there would be a public outcry." Jade said. She grinned. "Please tell me you clued someone in to that."
"I merely brought up his sister's death in front of a crowd of teachers and teenagers with curious minds." Loki said. "Someone is bound to discover the truth."
Without even really trying, Loki had managed to start people on the path to doubting Dumbledore. Silvertongue indeed. He had damn good timing, and a way with words.
"Oh I am so subscribing to a magical newspaper." Tony said. "I want to see the outcome of this."
Pepper sighed and shook her head. "Oh Tony."
"What?"
"There are more important things than subscribing to a newspaper."
"I know, but where's the fun in disrupting things, if you can't see what happens because of it? Plus, the newspaper will be informational. It will help keep us informed on what is happening in the Wizarding world, which we need to keep an eye on. Now, about your schooling Jade, what do you want to do, private tutoring, or home schooled?"
"I'm going to regret this- home schooled." Jade answered, knowing that whoever her tutor was, they wouldn't go easy on her. Not with the current situation at least.
"Then I am offering to teach you." Loki said. And for the first time since she had met him, Jade was afraid of Loki, and whatever harsh teaching methods he was bound to put her through.
"Then there's the need to go to Salem alley." Pepper said, deciding it would be best to bring it up now, when the two people who were probably best equipped to deal with the magical world, were in the room. Seeing as wizard's magic seemed to have no chance against Loki or Thor on their own, let alone together.
"Why?" Jade asked.
"I believe I have finally worked out why you are able to dream walk." Loki explained. "When we first met, I said that you being a witch might explain why you could dream walk. But, I could find no answer, until recently. I believe that, very distantly in your family tree, you have an ancestor who is a god or goddess. A demi god child of theirs would have been powerful, but over the generations, that power probably diluted, until it was just that of a mortal witch or wizard, albeit with certain alterations, and sometimes, the ability to still practice Asguardian Mysticism, which I know you can do. The spells I taught you, weren't the wandless versions of what they teach at Wizarding schools, but Asguardian spells. The question is; who is that ancestor?"
"And that is why you have to go to Salem Alley again. You need to take a deeper test than that paternity test that Nargol had you take when we discovered that I was your biological father." Tony said.
"But, I'm still able to do the same magic as other and witches and wizards." Jade pointed out.
"Purely your intention." Loki explained. "You wanted to be able to do what your peers seemed to be doing, so your magic responded to your will, leading you, and others, to believe you were doing the exact same thing. Which is why you will probably need to get a new wand as well, to make others believe that you are still dependant on it for using magic."
"Fury came up with the idea of you using your metamorphmagus abilities and go to the alley with someone else, while others and myself wait at specific areas, in-case something happens." Tony said.
"That sounds like a good plan." Jade agreed, nodding.
Thor looked at Loki and grinned. "How do you feel about having a younger sister for a day?"
A/N: I have more in store for Dumbledore and a lot for Snape too. Please review! I hope you enjoyed the quick glance into a part of what is happening to Dumbledore!