AN- Sorry this is late but don't you hate it when you write over 300 words then get this feeling like the characters are looking over your shoulder and saying. 'Nope thats not what happens.' I swear this chapter was suppose to be about the Horcruxes being destroyed but Juniper, Hermione and Bucky had different ideas. Are you gonna argue with those three?
AN-BioHazard82- Thank you so much. My only review for this chapter. *hugs*
AN-Hope everyone likes this one better. Too much angst? Should I put in more action, more romance? Maybe another interlude chapter? I think the conversation between Tony, Steve, and Pepper was important as he'd been taking this all much to well. Originally it was gonna be Rhodey instead of Steve but I think because of the subject Steve was a better choice. And more pensieve memories Yayyy. You'll recognize some scenes from the half blood prince. Most specifically the chapter known as the Prince's tale. Its not mine.
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CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
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Juniper didn't want to get up off the floor. In fact she really didn't want to even move. "So all in all I'd say getting shot is a zero out of ten would not recommend." She said not even opening her eyes completely as she was quite comfortable leaning against Bucky as long as she didn't move or breathe too deeply. He actually chuckled softly and laid a kiss on her dark curls.
"Could have told you that Doll." He told her softly.
"Same with the Cruciatus Curse." Ron said.
That had Juniper's eyes which where half closed opening all the way and the glare she sent Ron would have had him running for cover if he'd been capable.
"Juniper no. Remember what Andromeda said. Not saying he doesn't deserve it but you can't properly yell at him if your lung collapses in the middle of it." Hermione said quickly moving between her two best friends and kneeling in front of Juniper. "Come on I'll help you get cleaned up. Bill can do the same with Ron after we can all come back down here and decide what to do with the cup." She glanced at the bag Natasha was still holding. She had a feeling it'd take a act of god to pry it from her grip unless it was to Steve or Juniper. Chain of command seemed like something Natasha would respect and for this particular mission the top spot seemed to have been a shared one. "Could you hold onto that for a bit longer."
"If Steve can hold it while I shower." Natasha answered.
Steve nodded. "Everyone get cleaned up. If someone could get some food together? And we'll met back down her in two hours for debriefing."
Juniper sighed but relaxed glancing up at Bucky. "Your arm?" She questioned softly. She'd heard it making whirring clicking noises and had seen sparks back at the orphanage.
"I can fix it." Tony said reaching out to smooth Juniper's hair. Or tried to. It reminded him sharply of how his mother had always tried the same with his only to have the stubborn curls fluff right back up. "Don't worry kid. I'll take care of Robocop here. You go with Morgana."
"You wanna tell him or should I?" Hermione asked taking Juniper's hand to help her to her feet trying not to pull on her afraid of hurting her.
"What? That Morgana was real?" Juniper asked in a innocent tone as she stood.
"Wait what? What about Merlin and Arthur? Was all that real? I heard you mention Merlin but the way you used his name I thought it was like calling on a deity or something." Bruce commented looking interested.
"Some of it. A ton of its been jumbled around but Merlin was a amazingly powerful and influential wizard." Remus answered. "He is not considered a deity more like a saint for a Catholic. Religion is a extremely complicated matter in the wizarding world but I'd be glad to tell you all we know about Merlin and his cohorts."
"I've heard this story before I warn you run for your life or your brain will be overflowing with dates and the names of battlefields. I'll give you the highlights later." Juniper whispered to Bucky.
He smiled softly and nodded kissing the top of her head and watching her leave with Hermione before turning to Tony. "Okay lets get this over with. I don't want Juniper coming looking for us. No reason for her to know how...difficult maintance on my arm is." Difficult sounded better than painful. Tony nodded and they headed downstairs to Tony's workshop.
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Truthfully Bucky liked Tony's workshop. Unlike Bruce's lab which was filled with intricate, delicate scientific equipment and chemicals which could be caustic or even explosive if handled wrong Tony's workshop held tools of all kinds along with the computer equipment built to be more durable due to Tony's penchants for explosions and setting things on fire. Not to mention he found Dum-E and U absolutely fascinating. Especially the way Dum-E seemed to delight in spraying Tony with his fire extinguisher. Even when he wasn't actually on fire. Technology had always interested Bucky even back in the 40s. He was the one who'd dragged Steve and their dates (Umm Becky and Dot?) to the Stark Expo that long ago night. The night that had changed the coarse of not only their lives but history. After all if Steve hadn't met Dr. Erskine that night he never would have been accepted into the army and someone else entirely would have been Captain America. Someone who wouldn't have cared so much about saving Bucky and the rest of the POWs in his unit. Bucky tried not to think too much about how their lives would have been different if that had never happened. He preferred to think about Tony's cars he decided. That was easily his favorite thing about this century and the thing he and Tony had...well not exactly bonded over but had come to peace over maybe. Steve and Natasha had almost forced them to work on the cars together and once Tony had started explaining to Bucky how they worked he had thawed to him a bit.
"Take a seat and assume the position." Tony said nodding at the desk chair he'd just pushed over beside his work table and Bucky obeyed sitting and placing his arm on the work table.
Tony sat and picked up a screwdriver getting to work on his arm. They where both silent for a few minutes then Tony finally spoke. "You need to tell her."
Just from his tone Bucky knew exactly what Tony meant. For a moment his mind flashed back to that night. Forcing the car off the road, his fist colliding with Howards Starks face as he whispered his name pleadingly, his hand around Maria Stark's throat refusing to look at her as she struggled weakly. "It wasn't me." Bucky said his voice a bit hoarse. "She never even met them. She doesn't have to know."
"Too many people already know Bucky. She will find out someone will tell her at some point. You need to tell her first before someone weaponizes it against both of you." Tony replied his eyes focused solely on what he was doing expression tense.
"Are you going to tell her Tony?" Bucky asked forcing himself not to jump as pain flashed through his shoulder.
Tony glanced up at him. "No. If I was going to I would have done it when I found out you'd spent the night together."
Bucky winced. "We didn't..."
"I know. Its your secret to tell her but if you don't and someone else does...It will be so much better coming from you. Open and close your hand." Tony answered.
"I know." Bucky admitted following his instructions. "I don't want her to feel betrayed. Not by anyone but especially not by me. But losing her...it would kill me. Ironic I survived a war, falling from a train and losing my arm, 70 years as a HYDRA assassin, UN killers, and you but if that tiny little green eyed...pixie turned away from me that would kill me."
A slight smile flashed across Tony's face as Bucky used the same nickname he had for Juniper the first night. The one that had made her look at him like she was considering cutting out his liver. "Shes not going to turn away from you Bucky. She loves you. You make her happy. Make her feel beautiful and special and you really see her." Tony actually rolled his eyes. "Love my kid but not crazy about listening to her wax poetic about her boytoy. At least Peter isn't likely to pull that."
A slow slightly sappy grin appeared on Bucky's face. "Stop that." Tony ordered. "Do not grin like that about my baby girl in front of me."
One of Tony's computers gave out a sharp beep and Tony glanced over at it. "Jarvis?" He questioned.
"Your accountant has finished the review of the books from the company you just purchased and found the irregularities that you planted. He is asking if you wish him to bring the matter to the attention of the authorities and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or if you wish to handle the matter yourself?" Jarvis answered.
A evil smirk appeared on Tony's face. "Oh by all means Jarvis let him know to turn the matter over to the proper authorities. And assure him they will have my full cooperation in the matter."
"Tony?" Bucky questioned. "What did you do?"
"I purchased a certain drill company in Surrey. And I may have adjusted numbers in some of the records to make it look like one of their managers has been skimming money and cheating on his taxes." Tony answered. Then grumbled, "Lets see how Vernon Dursley likes being crammed into a small little space and bullied by people stronger and meaner than he is. Just wish I could figure out a way to cut his meals while he enjoys the prison system as well."
"Cheese sandwiches and apples. That was her usual meal for years." Bucky said a growl in his voice. "And did you see the scars on her back?"
"I saw." Tony answered a slight catch in his voice. "This is just the beginning Bucky don't worry. Juniper doesn't want us to kill them but nothing is going to keep me from making the rest of their lives miserable. I'll leave the boy in peace but Vernon and Petunia Dursley are going to long for the days when Death eaters where all they had to worry about."
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"Your gonna have another couple of scars but not to bad." Hermione informed Juniper briskly as she helped her remove her bloody shirt without it pulling on the healing scars.
"Great its been almost three years since I got a new one. I was afraid I'd lost my knack." Juniper said dryly.
"Thats one talent I don't think you'll ever lose." Hermione answered in the same tone as Juniper studied the bullet wounds. They looked as if they'd been inflicted weeks ago. "How do you feel?"
"Physically breathing to deeply, or moving quickly hurts. Magically...Hermione my magic was weakening faster. I couldn't keep up with Bellatrix until Ron triggered me. It has to be the Horcrux. I can't beat Bellatrix with it draining me." Juniper said softly.
"We still have time to find another way. We can't try my way until your lung heals a bit and we get responses from the messages I sent this morning." Hermione said.
"What if something else like today comes up. Something where I have no choice but to fight?" Juniper asked looking over at her. "We may not be able to wait Hermione. We may not be able to wait for this to heal completely or for Hedwig to get back with Fawkes. We may have to go for it as soon as Dobby comes back with whatever Slughorn and Hagrid can come up with."
"We'll talk it over with the others." Hermione said softly.
"I'm talking to you Hermione." Juniper answered stepping into the shower and turning on the warm water watching the blood and dirt wash down the drain.
"Juniper I couldn't do this alone. I'd need at least Bruce on board. Probably Bill and Remus too. I'm not a doctor or a expert in dark arts. This isn't gonna be like brewing polyjuice potion in the girl's bathroom you know." Hermione answered a bit of surprise in her voice.
"Bucky, Tony, and Pepper are never going to be okay with it." Juniper answered her voice raised a bit to be heard over the shower.
"I don't know I think after this they may be getting a better idea of what the stakes are. Especially if you tell them its already starting to affect your powers." Hermione pointed out. "Maybe they'd feel better if we brought Andromeda in."
"No. Shes needed at the safe house. If Ron hadn't been hit I would have said Bill shouldn't have called her." Juniper answered.
"I could just strangle you sometimes." Hermione muttered under her breathe. She was pretty sure if Andromeda hadn't been called Juniper would at the very least be confined to a bed in the medical wing hooked up to some nasty machines if not dead.
"What?" Juniper asked.
"Nothing. You want one of your Weasley jumpers right?" Hermione asked knowing Juniper well enough to know she'd want one of her comfort sweaters.
Juniper paused then answered. "Yes please. The maroon one."
"Right." Hermione answered and then paused just before exiting the bathroom to get Juniper clean clothes. "Don't forget Juni we got the horcrux and everyone on our side is still alive. Technically we won."
She left the room just in time to miss Juniper's whispered replied. "Yeah this time."
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"Helga Hufflepuff's cup." Hermione's tone was almost reverent as they all looked at the small cup sitting on the kitchen table on top of the bag Natasha had shoved it in. It seemed so much more innocuous than the locket ever had. It was cute even, with the badgers carved into the side the gold gleaming cheerfully despite having been buried for so many years.
"Is it me or does it seem even more perverse that he used this for something so evil when it started out as something so good?" Hermione asked.
"Good? Is it magic?" Steve asked.
"It was I don't know if I'd trust it now though. Helga created it when there was a famine and the crop harvest in her village failed. Did you ever hear of the Cauldron of Plenty?" Juniper asked.
"Isn't that a Irish legend? Something about a cauldron that provided endless food and drink?" Natasha asked.
Juniper nodded. "It was based on the cup. Helga was always good at food based charms and spells. People are still trying to figure out how she did it"
"So you can't just create food?" Tony asked. He'd been wondering how it was possible to starve a witch and why they'd been food deprived when they where on the run.
"We can't create something out of nothing. We can summon it if we know where it is, or transfigure one thing into another but when its destroyed it returns to its base state. Meaning if we for example transfigure a rock into a sandwich when we eat it it turns back. A rock moving through your digestive system is alot more painful than hunger I'd imagine." Hermione explained.
"Not to mention it would still taste like a rock." Ron volunteered.
"And you would know that how?" Hermione asked raising a eyebrow at him.
"Umm just a guess?" Ron answered flushing a bit and sounding more like he was asking than telling. Bill chuckled hugging his brother again. He hadn't moved out of arm reach of him since they'd returned as if he was afraid if he let him get to far away something else would happen to him. He'd even accompanied him into the bathroom when he'd showered. That Ron had let him showed how shook up he still was. Juniper on the other hand kept glaring at him the explosion was coming they all knew it. They could practically see her swallowing down her anger not wanting to start screaming at him while he was still suffering the initial effects of the curse. But as soon as she thought he was recovered enough she was gonna let him have it. Hermione was just waiting for it looking back and forth between her two friends but at the same time she kept touching them both as if assuring herself they where okay. a hand on Ron's shoulder, brushing Juniper's hair. Bucky had once had the thought that if Juniper lost either Ron or Hermione it would destroy her. He realized now it went both ways. If any one of the trio fell it was likely all of them would.
"Why doesn't this one feel like the locket did?" Natasha asked eyes on the cup.
"They're all different." Juniper answered. "If the diary had felt like the locket Ginny never would have written in it. I never would have written in it. Let alone trusted it when it showed me the memory of Hagrid."
Hermione snorted. "You never believed Hagrid hurt anyone. None of us did."
"No but I did think Tom believed that he had. It never occurred to me until it was almost too late that he had intentionally set him up." Juniper answered trailing a finger over the side of the glass her dad had set in front of her as soon as she'd come downstairs. Some kind of green smoothie. He'd claimed it was healthy. Juniper wasn't positive he wasn't trying to poison her but at his pointed look she took another sip.
"There was almost something...seductive about the diary. But in a very unthreatening way. It felt like a trusted friend." Juniper explained.
"Perfect for luring in lonely vulnerable 11 or 12 year old girls." Natasha said with a scowl.
Juniper nodded. "He was handsome, and seemed kind. When Ginny checked his name in the school records the only two things she found out was that he was head boy, and that he won a award for special services to the school. He must have seemed like a ideal friend and I think she even developed a crush on him. Until she started loosing time and got scared."
"The locket wanted to scare us I think. Wanted to make us feel uncomfortable and off balance." Hermione offered.
"The ring. I never saw it before the horcrux was destroyed but there was something about it that made Dumbledore put it on." Juniper continued.
"Dumbledore was alot of things but he wasn't a fool. I can't understand why he would do that." Ron said with a frown.
"It tempted him." Hermione said softly. "Thats the common thread right? The diary tempted Ginny with the promise of a wise and understanding friend. The locket whispered in our minds about power. This..." Hermione nodded at the cup. "Feels calm and harmless. Trust me and I'll tell you the truth. I'll teach you all you need to know. I could do so much good. No more hunger no more starving children."
Juniper almost found herself reaching towards the cup as Hermione's words washed over her. That was it. That was the cups trick. Damn it. She took another sip of Tony's green drink managing not to make a face.
"What do you tempt a man like Albus Dumbledore with? With Grindelwald locked up and Juniper completely under his thrall..."
"HEY!"
"Sorry Juni truth is truth." Ron answered before returning to his point. "He was already considered the most powerful wizard in the world. He already had plenty of friends like Scamander, Moody, and McGonagall and I doubt he'd fall for all this peace and goodness shit knowing it was a piece of Tom's soul so why?"
"What do you know about the ring?" Natasha asked. She had a gut feeling that this was going to be important in some way.
Juniper sighed. "It was the Gaunt family ring. They where descended from Salazar Slytherin so the ring was priceless and probably had magical properties. Technically it probably should have been Tom's anyway as he was the son of Merope Gaunt and the only one in the family left after she and her father died was her brother Morfin who was violent, and insane. Tom was around 16 or so when he found him. After Morfin told him how his father had deserted Merope while she was pregnant he killed his father and grandparents on that side and framed Morfin for it before taking the ring. Morfin spent the rest of his life in Azkaban prison."
"Nice family." Clint snorted.
"Oh thats not even the worst part. Tom Riddle senior was a handsome, rich, and very engaged muggle that Merope had fallen in love with after seeing him just a few times. I kinda feel bad for her as her father and brother where very cruel to her and she was welll...not a attractive girl. Merope was also not magically gifted but she was skilled in potions so she dosed Riddle senior with a love potion and kept doing so until they where married and she was pregnant. Not sure why she stopped maybe she hoped he'd developed genuine feelings for her or that the baby would make him stay. But oh course neither where true. I mean basically she'd been drugging and raping him for over a year by that point. So he ran home to his parents who'd disowned him and Merope found a orphanage, Wools Orphanage, and gave birth to Tom giving him his father's name before dying." Juniper explained. "Tom Riddle Senior is the one who deserves sympathy. Dumbledore seemed to think the reason Tom Junior was so evil was that being conceived under love potions meant he'd been born without the ability to love."
"Convenient excuse." Tony growled. "Thats makes it all Merope's fault doesn't it? Nothing Tom did was his fault, or the fault of the teachers who saw what he was and did nothing about it."
"Not the point." Remus said softly. "That gets into the whole nature versus nurture debate and we don't have the time for that at the moment. Juniper what did the ring look like?"
"Ugly, although not as tacky as the locket. It was gold, old, made before any smelting techniques where perfected I'd guess. It had a black stone that was cracked I think from when Dumbledore destroyed the horcrux and it had this symbol carved...Holy SHIT!"
"Language!" Steve exclaimed.
"Sorry Steve." Juniper said a hand going to her chest as the exclamation had stung a bit. "But the symbol on the stone." She pulled at her wand and like Hermione had done when telling the story of the three brothers drew the symbol in the air. Triangle, circle, line. The symbol of The Deathly Hallows.
"The Resurrection Stone." Ron breathed out. "Thats why he put it on. But that means Dumbledore had all three Deathly Hallows at one point. Does that mean hes the master of death?"
"No. He didn't have them at the same time and he never owned the cloak. He borrowed it from James and after his death was just holding it in trust for Juniper." Remus said. "Umm Juni you do know what that means right?" She gave him a questioning look.
Bill and Remus exchanged looks. "Well if the ring came down through the family line of the middle brother and the cloak through the family line of the youngest..."
"Oh Hell No." Juniper objected eyes widening. "I am not related to that monster. And...and even if I am its was like so many generations back it doesn't even count anymore."
"It also makes you a descendant of Slytherin. Thats where the Parseltongue comes from." Bill said.
Ron couldn't hold back a snicker. "All those rumors back in 2nd year where right. You are the Heir of Slytherin."
Juniper immediately pulled back from Bill and picked up one of the muffins she'd baked that morning still on the table and threw it at him scowling when he dodged. "Good job your a seeker not a chaser you'd totally have missed the hoop."
"I hate you." Juniper told him.
"Liar I'm your best friend and you love and adore me." Ron answered his grin almost cocky obviously the potion Andromeda had given him helping more and more as time went on.
"Yeah. Yeah I do. But if you ever ever for any reason pull another stunt like you did today I swear to Merlin I will curse you unconscious, bind you, drag you to your mum, and tell her exactly what you did." Ron, Bill, Remus, and Hermione all winced at the threat. Tony realized this was the second time Molly Weasely's wrath had been invoked as a threat. He had to meet this woman. "Just what the hell did you think you where doing Ron? I mean yeah I've done some stupid reckless crap but you where just begging Bellatrix Lestrange to Crucio you or worse Avada Kedavra." There was a tremble in her voice as she said the last words.
"I knew she wouldn't use the killing curse cause It would leave her wide open for you to hit her with any spell you wanted to use. And I did it because we needed your darker alter ego to come out to play. You need Black magic to fight Bellatrix the kind of magic Juniper Potter is afraid to touch." Ron answered his tone turning serious. "I will do whatever I have to to keep you breathing Juniper and if it takes letting that witch curse me I'd do it again."
"BILL will you do something about him please." Juniper almost begged looking at the man she saw as her oldest brother who was looking at Ron looking like he almost had tears in his eyes.
He reached out put a gentle hand on his brother's head and said softly. "I'm so proud of you."
"Mental! All of you just completely mental!" Juniper complained.
"She still doesn't get it." Hermione sighed directing the comment to Tony amusement and sadness warring in her eyes.
"I know what that curse is like Ron. I know first hand what it does to a person. I'm not worth that." Juniper protested.
"Ah but to me you are." Ron answered leaning over to touch her hand across the table seeing her eyes well with tears as well. "Now don't cry cause if you do I will too and that would totally blow the macho image I'm going for here. Lets figure out how we find that stupid ugly rock."
"Shouldn't we concentrate on the horcruxes first?" Bruce replied. "Destroy the cup and the one in Juniper's scar?"
"After what happened with the locket I'm afraid to expose Juni to this one until we destroy the one in her." Remus said softly.
"And we can't do that until Dobby and Hedwig return." Juniper said just as softly.
"So you've decided?" Tony asked softly.
"My powers weren't as...deep as they should have been when I was fighting Bellatrix. I think the horcrux is starting to drain my powers. If I can't face her I sure can't face Tom. And I don't know how much time I have left before it starts becoming more aware and trying to take over. Seems my best chance to live is too die. Story of my life." Tony had to fight to keep his face from crumbling as she looked over at him something pleading in her expression as if she was silently begging him for his support, to stand by her, to be the dad she needed. He reached over and pulled her into his arms holding her tightly for a few minutes and she let him. "If thats what we have to do. Then I'm going to be right there with you the whole time. I almost lost you before I even knew you existed. No way in hell I'm letting you go now." His eyes met Bucky's over her head dark and brooding but he nodded in agreement. They both wanted a physical enemy they could tear apart to protect the girl they both loved. Both wanted to protect her from anything that could possible hurt her and at the moment the greatest threat to her was in her own head. It was mind bendingly frustrating for all the Avengers who where use to enemies they could, in some cases literally, pound to dust but especially so for Tony and Bucky.
"Okay so stupid, ugly rock." Clint said repeating Ron's words. "What do you think this Dumbledore would have done with it?"
"Do you think he might have hidden it at Hogwarts? I meant thats what he did with the Philosopher's Stone." Hermione suggested.
"Maybe. If I had it...I'd either want it close so I could see the people I lost often or...if it was like the story said and being here caused them pain I'd want it where I couldn't get to it. The temptation to use it would have been...alot." Juniper said sitting up a little more but she keep hold of Tony's arm.
"Maybe he gave it to someone he trusted?" Rhodey suggested. "Someone who would understand how valuable and dangerous it was?"
"Bugger." Juniper muttered softly. They looked over at her in question. "Snape was the one who treated Dumbledore's hand once it was cursed. Dumbledore trusted him right up to the moment he murdered him." She looked over at Bucky. "I think its time I had a look at that memory Draco sent me."
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"I still can't believe you had a memory from the possible triple agent spy and never mentioned it until now." Natasha muttered for possible the fourth time as Hermione and Juniper pulled out the Potter Pensieve for the second time. This time Juniper had declared it was just gonna be herself, Hermione, and Natasha going in as it was to mainly look for evidence on the possible location of the Resurrection Stone and too many people would be a distraction. Ron was personally of the opinion that she didn't want anybody there who may look to hard at anything shady they may see about Dumbledore. Well Natasha would see it but not necessarily share but that was beside the point. He should be able to come as well and if he was pouting about it? Well he was seventeen he was allowed.
"Its a memory from Severus Snape sent via Draco Malfoy." Juniper said emphasizing the names as if they should mean something. And okay they had heard stories of both of them. The school bully and the nasty teacher. That didn't necessarily make them liars though or enemies. Sometimes former enemies made the best allies. Loki and Bucky for example.
"The memory isn't tampered with." Remus promised her. "Bambi you don't have to do this you know. There could be...things you aren't ready to face, aren't ready to know. I could go instead."
"I know. But I have too. I knew Dumbledore as much as anyone could. How he thinks. I may see something anyone else would miss." Juniper said and Remus had to nod in acknowledgement. She glanced over at Ron. "If Hedwig comes back before we get out?"
"I'll take care of her. You know I will." Ron grumbled his tone grumpy. Juniper leaned over to where he was sitting on the armchair and kissed his cheek anyway.
"Its only fair you got to go to Wool's with her." Hermione said teasingly.
"Ladies are we ready?" Natasha prompted having no patience with the teen angst.
Juniper stepped over and lifted the basin with as much ease as she had the first time giving it the same gentle spin pouring the silvery metallic liquid from the vial into the basin and then the three reached forward to touch the silvery liquid.
Watching it happen was different from experiencing it and a bit alarming honestly as it seemed like the three where sucked into the basin.
Bill gave a soft breathe turning to the others. "This may take a while. Have you ever tried Ogden's fire whiskey?"
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"Tony are you okay?" Tony who was standing out on the patio looking over the city with a glass of the wizard whiskey Bill had poured him jumped slightly and looked over as Steve and Pepper came out to join him.
"Are they back?" Tony asked anxiously.
"No, not yet. Bill said it would take a while. Are you okay?" Pepper said repeating the question Steve had asked wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I don't know." Tony answered softly hugging her tightly before looking over at Steve. "I can't help thinking...Is this all my fault? Everything happening to Juniper."
"Tony or course not. How could you think that?" Pepper asked in surprise.
Tony's eyes where still on Steve. Eyes filled with pain, frustration, and the beginnings of anger. "You go to church. Know the bible back and forth. All that wrathful God of vengeance type stuff. Sins of the fathers being visited on the children stuff. Is this, whats happening to Juniper because of me? Because of all those years I spent creating weapons? All the children killed in wars by things I created, and now my daughter is trapped fighting a war she doesn't want any part in. Is this my punishment Steve. Is God making my daughter suffer because I was a bastard? Am I going to have to watch my kid die because of all those other parents who had to watch their child die in unjust wars because of things I created? Because if it is its fucked up Steve. She doesn't deserve this. Shes a good kid. If anyone deserves to be punished its me."
"She is. Shes the best kid." Steve assured him moving forward to hug both him and Pepper who had tears running down her cheeks from the emotion in Tony's voice. Tears he was choking back because after all Stark men where made of Iron, and real men don't cry where lessons Howard Stark had hammered into him since childhood.
"God doesn't work like that Tony. Nothing that has happened to Juniper has anything to do with you. Except shes a hero like her dad. Shes strong and doesn't back down. Shes in this because of Albus Dumbledore, and Tom Riddle. If God has had any part in this it was bringing her here to you. We will destroy those horcruxes, take care of Riddle and Grindelwald and you'll get to spend the rest of her life being the best dad in the world." Steve told him with all the honesty and reassurance he'd learned to project in his voice. And he believed it. He had to believe it. Juniper was family just by virtue of being Tony's kid, and the amount of trauma she'd been through qualified her to be a honorary Avenger meaning he would die to protect her. They all would.
"Steves right Tony." Pepper said. "None of this is because of you. We didn't get a chance to watch her grow up, or protect her from the stuff shes gone through but we can help and protect her now. Thats what we have to focus on. Now. And so far honey you have been doing a amazing job. No one could have handled all of this as well as you have. I'm so proud of you. I'm ready to go out and buy you one of those world's greatest dad coffee mugs."
Tony couldn't help it Pepper's words brought a smile to his face. "I'm fairly sure it only counts if she buys it." He pulled away from both of them to take another drink out of the glass he'd managed to keep a hold of. "I just wish...I wonder what she'd have been like if I'd had the chance to raise her."
"Spoiled rotten. Jeez between you and Uncle Rhodey she'd have never had the chance to actually want something before she had it." Pepper said amusement sparking in her eyes. "I'm sure she'd still be a amazing kid if those relatives of hers didn't destroy that spark inside her I doubt a little over indulgence would have. But she would have been different. Probably would have had more self confidence, possible even less self preservation instinct if thats even possible, more sarcastic maybe. She was born to be a Hero though Tony. If it wasn't Tom Riddle it would have been something else."
"Yeah. Yeah I know." Tony said with a sigh. "I never thought I wanted a kid but now...I only just met her but I can't imagine my life without her now. From the first time I spoke to her I felt, I don't know a connection. And then I found out she was my kid. I gotta do this right. I am gonna do this right."
"Tony you are doing this right. When she needed comforting she turned to you. Not Remus, Not Bill or Ron, not even Bucky. You." Steve said softly.
"Yeah, yeah thats something huh?" Tony smiled at that.
"She wants to connect Tony. Which considering all shes been through is a miracle." Pepper told him putting a hand on his cheek. "She takes after her father."
Steve couldn't help smiling himself as Tony's expression brightened. He could hardly believe there had been a time when he'd hated Tony. When they had first met he'd seen nothing but the cocky, selfish, spoiled, playboy he tried so hard to project to the world. He'd actually been disappointed to wake up to a world where his old friend Howard was gone and what he'd considered a poor copy was all that was left. He knew now that Tony was actually a step up. Howard had been a genius and innovator but his contributions to the war had been to the form of money and weapons Tony actually took it a step further and found a way to join the fight. Howard had seen injustice and pointed it out Tony saw the same and corrected it. Howard never would have flown a nuke into a portal in outer space. Oh course Howard would have asked for help if his blood was turning toxic. You win some you loose some. But watching him interact with Juniper was like seeing a whole new Tony. Even before he'd known she was his daughter he'd been ready to step up to fight at her side as soon as he realized what she was facing. Understanding Juniper as he did he knew that would go alot further than all the clothes and shoes in the world.
"Theres something else we need to talk about Tony." He said his smile not fading.
"Oh crap what now?" Tony groaned softly. "Don't tell me Dobby popped back to tell us Darth Vader and Sauron have joined Tom too?"
"I understood that reference." Steve said with a bright grin then shook his head. "No this is a good thing. Bucky said when the wizard at the orphanage shot at them with the torture curse it hit his arm and fizzled out. He shot another couple of things and the same thing happened. Vibranium is a effective block against magic. I had Ron shoot a few curses at me and the same thing happened when they hit my shield. If we can get some more shields or even armor made of Vibranium it could turn the tide Tony."
A thoughtful look came over Tony's face. "Vibranium absorbs sound waves and other vibrations, including kinetic energy. The implications of it shorting out magic is interesting." Then his face cleared of the science fog he'd almost sunk into. "Its not easy to get ahold of though. King T'Challa only allows small amounts of it to be taken out of Wakanda. If nothing else he may be able to fight with us when we explain the situation to him his suit is made of Vibranium. I need to at least talk him, pay him, hell blackmail him out of enough to at least make me a new suit. I'm not getting sidelined next time. One way or another I will be with Juniper when she fights Tom."
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The first memories where surprising but not shocking and they did explain some things like why Snape had saved Juniper several times over the years, and the way he'd sometimes stared at Juniper like he was searching for something. Lily. He'd been looking for Lily.
Hermione reached over taking Juniper's hand squeezing lightly as they watched Lily as a little girl playing with a young Petunia. Watched as their relationship turned dark and ugly and Petunia became jealous and Lily grew closer to Snape. Lily scolding him for picking on Petunia. Then the Hogwart's express seeing a young James, Sirius, and Remus bickering with Lily and Snape. Juniper couldn't help smiling at her mother told the Marauders off and flounced out of the compartment pulling Snape with her. "You tell 'um Mum." She whispered softly. It actually reminded her of her and Ron's confrontation with Malfoy and his goons. It couldn't have even been the same compartment. Seeing Snape's face as Lily was sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin and going to sit beside Sirius made Juniper feel sorry for him. He may have done some detestable things later but at that moment he was a eleven year old boy watching his only friend join the boys who'd been picking on them earlier.
She hated watching as they drifted apart. As Snape turned more towards the dark arts and Lily nearly begged him to stop hanging out with future Death eaters. As her father and godfather bullied Snape. She knew that happened and hated watching it again. Seeing the genuine cruelty in their eyes hurt. She knew exactly how it felt to be where Snape was. Lily defending him and then the snap, the break she knew had to be coming. Snape calling Lily a mud blood. Hermione gasped her hand tightening around Juniper's as Lily's face went white hurt written all over her. Snape's eyes widened in horror as he realized what he'd said and tried to apologize but it was too late.
The next part was even more of a surprise Snape and Dumbledore. Snape begging Dumbledore to protect Lily to save her. Dumbledore expressing his disgust that he seemed more than willing to let James and Juniper die then blackmailing him to act as his spy. Seemed just a bit hypocritical if she thought about it too hard. Condemning Snape for wanting to protect just Lily but then forcing him to become his spy before he agreed to protect them. That it was Snape who'd revealed the prophecy to Tom should have been a huge revelation but Juniper had gotten the feeling it had been the case since she'd seen Lily and Snape's fight about the Death eaters he was hanging out with.
The next scene nearly drew a whimper from Juniper. Snape on the floor of the room she recognized as her nursery in Godric's Hollow from the dementor induced memories cradling Lily's body in his arms tears of grief and agony pouring down his face as he rocked her. Juniper was sitting in her crib behind him crying softly and repeating "Mumma, mumma, mumma." Little arms reaching out pleadingly. As they watched he lowered Lily to the floor brushed her hair off her face then gently closed her eyes before he stood and turned to the crib he stared at baby Juniper for a moment then picked her up and to her surprise held her close for a few moments comforting her. "Shh little one. Dumbledore will be here for you shortly. I'm sure." He said softly. Then he gently brushed his hand over her cheek and the baby's eyes closed. A sleeping charm to soothe a fussy baby. Then returned her to the crib before hurrying out.
"That was...unexpected." Hermione whispered.
"Shes was a newly orphaned baby. All it means is that his heart wasn't made of stone. Not then anyway." Natasha warned her.
Back at Hogwarts. Snape shouting at Dumbledore obviously still distraught but ending up pledging to protect Juniper mostly on the basis of her 'having her mother's eyes.' as long as no one knew. Then a flash of memories from after Juniper came to Hogwarts. Her sorting, shaking hands with Percy, hanging out with Hermione and Ron, the first potions class and her smart-ass reply of 'Hermione seems to know the answer seems a shame not to ask her.' followed by the loss of five points. A argument Juniper remembered from 5th year. 'Don't say a word against my father. My father was a great man.' and Snape's reply as he grabbed her arm roughly. 'Your father was a arrogant swine.'
Dumbledore's office now Snape was pacing up and down in front of Dumbledore. '-mediocre, arrogant as her father, a determined rule-breaker, delighted to find herself famous, attention-seeking and impertinent-'
'You see what you expect to see, Severus,' Dumbledore 'Other teachers report that the girl is modest, likable, and reasonably talented. Personally, I find her an engaging child and much more like Lily than James.'
Then the memory they had been hoping for. Dumbledore office again. The old man slumped in his throne like chair almost looking his age as Snape tended to his hand his rotting withered hand. Juniper had almost forgotten how bad it had been. She couldn't hold back her gasp of surprise her eyes going wide as they listened. Snape told him the curse was only temporarily contained and it would kill him probably within a year. And then Dumbledore asked Snape to kill him. To save Draco Malfoy's soul from being damaged. Anger flashed in Juniper and Snape's eyes so closely Hermione was shocked both of them looking at Dumbledore at that statement. As Dumbledore gently convinced and coerced Snape into agreeing to it.
"Juniper?" Hermione asked but her friend wouldn't look at her and didn't answer causing Natasha to give her a worried look. But their attention was drawn back as another memory came up.
A memory that seemed to prove Ron was right. A conversation in which Dumbledore told Snape that he was to inform Juniper she had to die to destroy Tom. Not only that he wanted him to tell her to make sure to die only when all the horcrux but the snake was destroyed and that she must die by Tom's hands. A conversation that seemed to enrage and horrify Snape.
'You have kept her alive so that she can die at the right moment?'
'Don't be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?'
'Lately, only those whom I could not save,' said Snape. He stood up. 'You have used me.'
'Meaning?'
'I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter's daughter safe. Now you tell me you have been raising her like a pig for slaughter-'
'But this is touching, Severus,' said Dumbledore seriously. 'Have you grown to care for the girl, after all?'
'For her?' shouted Snape. 'Expecto Patronum!'
From the tip of his wand burst the silver doe. She landed on the office floor, bounded once across the office, and soared out of the window. Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
'Lily? After all this time?'
'Always,' said Snape. He watched the doe soar out of sight and he asked another question the one that would turn Juniper against Dumbledore forever. The final betrayal the one thing that Juniper could not forgive. A betrayal beyond him leaving her with the Dursleys. Beyond leaving her alone with no support after both Cedric, and Sirius's deaths. Beyond even raising her with the full intent of letting her be killed by Tom. 'And Black Albus? How did the mutt fit into your plans. He would never have let that happen if he'd lived.'
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AN- Yeah Albus what about Black huh? Oh I guess we'll find out next chapter. Kind of a cliffhanger? Please don't hate me these is to plug a plothole that always bugged me.