AN- BioHazard82 thank you for your encouragement as always.
AN- Guest Thank you for your thoughts. Glad I got you to read something from the fandom.
AN- Juniper well, dies, the horcrux gets rowdy and she has a talk with a surprising guest star. The blood transfusion was for a reason but will not be key. It was just a little gift I wanted to give Juniper after I've put her through so much in the last couple of chapters. Hope you all enjoy.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
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At first the scar bled when Bucky cut but then the skin almost seemed to smoke then black smoke was coming from the wound a wisp at first then more. Juniper's entire body jerked her back arching and a scream ripped from her throat. Not her scream. They had all heard her scream in the pensieve memory and this was not her voice. Not her scream. Her eyes flew open blue as they'd been when she'd had the vision from Voldemort.
"I. WILL. NOT." The harsh male voice seemed to come from Juniper and the dark cloud at the same time. "I am LORD VOLDEMORT! I will not die." Then bright light seemed to pierce the cloud. "NOOOO! The black smoke seemed to try to pull back into the scar making Juniper's body jerk as if she was having a seizure.
"Nooo! Leave her alone." Bucky yelled his hand passing right through the smoke as he and Tony tried to hold her down.
"I'll take her with me." The voice sneered and suddenly the wounds on Juniper's body made by black magic opened as if they were new. Her upper arm where the Basilisk fang had pierced it was first blood running from it sluggishly true but in a way that shouldn't have been possible as she was not only frozen but her heart was not at the moment beating. Her hand was next not as bad as the fang wound as it had never been meant to bleed badly but more to scar, to hurt, but blood flowed from it regardless. Then finally and worst of all the dark mark mutilating her left arm the sheet it was laying on soon soaked through with blood dripping onto the floor.
Pepper and Steve both lunged forward as if coordinated Pepper grabbing a extra sheet to wrap around the Basilisk bite and Steve applying pressure to her arm. Both Bruce and Sam tried to get past the black cloud that seemed intent on keeping the closest things they had to doctors away.
Bucky realized he was still holding the sword of Gryffindor, or dagger at the moment and it was glowing as it had when they'd destroyed the locket. On pure instinct he swung it at the black cloud where it still seemed connected to Juniper's scar and there was a scream of pure agony. Juniper's body went limp the bleeding slowing but not stopping and there was so so much blood.
The black cloud seemed to race around the room shattering bottles slamming machines into walls ripping holes in the walls. Hermione threw herself over the bottles of potions to guard them and then Steve was shielding her as Tony did the same pushing Pepper onto the bed and placing himself between her and Juniper and the cloud.
"RON DO SOMETHING! Hermione yelled. Later she wouldn't be able to say why she yelled at him instead of Bill or Remus or even what she expected him to do but it did spark action from him.
Ron remembering what had helped at least in the aftermath of the last horcrux destruction pulled his wand. "Expecto Patronum!" In general Ron knew his patronus of a Jack Russell terrier wasn't as impressive as his brother's tiger, Remus's wolf or even Juniper's stag but the creation of pure light went after the dark mist just as a real Jack Russell would have a villain attacking their master colliding with and causing a boom of imploding black mist which seemed to dissappate just before it settled on anything.
Gone it was gone. The horcrux that had tormented Juniper so long was gone he sat on the floor hard hands trembling slightly in reaction from the adrenaline rush.
Hermione was the first to move pulling away from Steve and pulling out the vial of Fawkes's tears and lunging to Juniper's side pulling out the stopper. The others heard her whispering. "Please please please." Over and over but she wasn't aware. She careful turned Juniper's face towards her and took out the dropper she'd stuck in her pocket and squeezed a two tear sized drops onto the scar on her forehead. There was a sound that sounded a bit like sizzling and the scar closed as Juniper had once told her the Basilisk wound had. She then grabbed her arm unwrapping the sheet Steve had wrapped around it and quickly dropped several drops on her arm smearing it with the blood to make it go further and it had the same reaction then the piercing wound on her upper arm before making the choice to leave the hand as it didn't seem to be bleeding at all anymore and half the tears were gone capping it and shoving it back into her pocket. Her eyes landed on Juniper's face trying not to choke on sobs at the sight of her friend's face, eyes closed face smeared with blood and even less animation that when she was asleep. If it wasn't for the blood she would have looked like Snow White. Remus put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her away to cry into his chest as Bruce and Sam jumped into action to do their part.
The two men didn't even seem to speak. Sam quickly moved to the defib machine as Bruce started the warming IV and fit the oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. Pulling the blankets out of the warmer. "Clear." Sam said making sure no one was touching Juniper and gave her the first jolt with the machine making her entire body jerk.
Bucky flinched the sight nearly sending him into a flashback of his time in the chair at Hydra. Steve reached out gripping his arm tightly. Hermione held out the vial of unicorn blood to Bill still holding on to Remus and he took it prying Juniper's mouth opened and dribbling a little down her throat. Then pulled back. "Again." Sam hit her with the machine again. "Come on baby, you made promises here." he nearly whispered.
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Juniper had as most everyone had dreamed of falling before but this time instead of waking with a jerk as she usually did she opened her eyes to find herself in a strange place. Not a unfamiliar one she realized just...strange.
It was King's Cross station in London. She'd passed through it twice a year since she was eleven which in the grand scheme of things probably wasn't that much but it was an important place in her life. It meant freedom and escape from the Dursleys half the time and a return to a horrible dismal existence the other.
It was usually crowded, dirty, and grey. But not today. Today it was completely deserted which was strange as there was a train sitting in the station as if waiting for passengers. Everything was clean sparkling clean and white to the point that it was almost blinding. She glanced down at herself and realized she was wearing a white t-shirt and clean blue jeans her long curly hair loose and hanging around her shoulders and half-way down her back.
"Well this is...odd." Juniper said aloud as she looked around for anyone or anything that might tell her what was going on. She saw a woman with long white hair kneeling with her back to her in a...garden? Why was there a flower garden in King's cross? Had she fallen down a rabbit hole at some point without noticing. She took a step towards the woman but before she could take another there was movement from the corner of her eye and she turned to see the figure of a man a bright light behind him so she could only see his silhouette moving towards her. There was something familiar about him. Tall and broad shouldered but lean with shoulder length hair moving with a easy confidant grace.
"Well, hello Cutie pie." The voice was familiar even though the words didn't fit.
"Sirius?"
"Nah, Lucky you. You get the younger much better-looking Black brother." He stepped away from the light so she could see that although he did look a lot like Sirius he was younger that she'd ever seen Sirius not much older than her honestly. His face was slightly rounder, his eyes more blue than grey. The charming grin he shot her was identical to her godfather's as if he'd spent hours in the mirror trying to copy it exactly. "Although I have to admit your not the first pretty girl to be disappointed I'm not my brother."
"Regulus Black." Juniper said softly. She'd seen his picture a few times before. Once in a old picture of his year's quidditch team he'd been seeker as she recalled, then again in a picture in Slughorn's office where he'd kept a collection of keepsakes of his favorite former students, then finally a family picture at Grimmauld Place.
"Call me Reg little cousin. We are family after all." He answered rocking back on his heels slightly instead of taking another step forward as if sensing her unease and not wanting to startle her further.
"Your dead. Am I dead?" Juniper asked trying not to notice that her voice trembled on the last word.
"Only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive." Regulus answered with a grin as if hoping the words would make her laugh.
"What?" Juniper asked confusion and frustration flashing in her eyes at the unhelpful answer.
"Guess you've never seen the Princess Bride huh Buttercup?" Regulus asked grimacing seeming unhappy that he'd upset her. "Please don't cry. I can explain better I promise."
Juniper focused on him seeing that he looked genuinely distressed. "I'm NOT going to cry." She said.
"Oh, course not your a Black." He held out a hand to her and after a moment she took it.
"I am. But I'm also a Potter and a Stark." Juniper answered.
"Yup, that you are." Regulus agreed and started walking tucking her arm into his as if they were entering a ballroom. "This is what is known as a between place. YOUR between place. A space between one world and the next. Each time it changes specially tailored for the traveler coming through. Although most past through to quickly to even notice." He smiled softly. "King's Cross. It seems apt. A train seems rather tame for you though. I would have expected something grander for you. A dragon or something maybe."
"Its the Hogwart's Express. It is grand." Juniper answered softly.
Regulus looked over to the steam engine and smiled as if realizing she was right. "So it is."
Suddenly a wind blew through the station and as it cleared Juniper heard a soft pained whimper and looked towards it to see what looked like the small figure of a curled up naked child with rough raw skin as if it had been flayed. Moaning in misery. She gasped and started to move towards it but Regulus tugged her away. A little away from the Hogwart's express too she couldn't help but notice.
"You can't help it." He told her softly.
"Its the Horcrux." Juniper stated more than asked but he nodded his head anyway. "What will happen to it?"
"Not my department." Regulus answered as the woman gardening stood and crossed to scoop the thing into her arms as if picking up a nasty bit of garbage that needed to be disposed of rather than a feeling creature still keeping her face concealed from Juniper. "Don't feel sorry for it Cutie. It was never a part of you it was feeding off you like a tick. You on the other hand are my department and we only have a little time for you to choose."
"Choose what?" Juniper asked.
"Choose to either go forward or go back." Regulus answered.
"I get to choose." Juniper asked looking up at him.
"This time yes. Don't go expecting special treatment if you die again. There are circumstance with the Horcrux and the Phoenix tears, and Unicorn blood and all." Regulus answered.
"Why are you here. I mean no offense, but I never even met you. You died before I was even born. Why not Mum, or Dad or Sirius?" Juniper asked.
Regulus shrugged, "They have nothing to atone for. They are in a different place. The place you will go if you get on the train." There was a longing note in Regulus's voice. "Those of us who have regrets, who did bad possibly even evil things but tried to redeem themselves are assigned to work for one of the great powers until they have paid their debts. Death chose me so I will stay with her do her bidding until..."
"Until I die?" Juniper questioned softly.
"What happened to you is the greatest symbol of the damage I caused by supporting Voldemort. At least in my mind. So yes. I will only find my true peace when you find yours." Regulus squeezed her hand lightly. "But that is not your concern. Its my debt to pay and I will gladly pay it."
"What...is it like?" Juniper asked softly eyes going to the train. Regulus followed her gaze.
"There is no pain, no fear, no doubt. There is only love and joy. Everyone you loved and lost is waiting for you there. Your parents, Sirius, Cedric, Mad-eye, the Longbottoms, Xeno. You will have the knowledge those you left behind are fine and happy and will join you when their time comes and it will seem only a finger snap to you." Regulus answered softly.
"But it won't be true." Juniper said softly.
"I can't see the future. Not even the dead have that power. It is possible they would be able to defeat Voldemort with the knowledge they have." Regulus said softly. Then looked at her. "I know its tempting but Juni you have so much in front of you back in the world. Yes there is pain and fear but there also so many experiences you will never have if you give up now. So many things you'll never know about yourself, your family, and what could be. You've seen so little."
"You think I should go back." Juniper said.
"There is another reason I was the perfect person to meet you. I was the same age when I died as you are. There are so many things I never got. I want all those things for you cousin. You have a father who loves you, a family that adores you, and a man who looks at you like you set the stars in the sky. If you leave them now it will break them." Regulus told her his blue eyes full of some unnamable emotion as he looked at her.
"And I need to see Tom dead. 'The woods are lovely dark and deep but I've got promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.'" Juniper near whispered.
"Thats a quote from somewhere, right? Merlin, I hate talking to people so much smarter than me. Part of the reason I steered clear of Remus and your mum."
Juniper giggled. "Its a poem from Robert Frost a muggle poet."
"Maybe you can recite the rest when you come back. A couple of hundred years from now." Regulus suggested.
"I don't know If I fancy living that long." Juniper said with a smile.
"But you are going back right?" Regulus asked.
Juniper glanced back at the train a longing look in her eyes.
"I get it cutie, I do. Its much easier being a dead martyr than a living hero. But dead all the possibilities die with you and you haven't even reached the tip of what your capable of who you are. Live for both of us Juniper." Regulus said his voice intense.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm going back." Juniper answered. Then she glanced over at the woman who seemed to be burying the Horcrux in the garden. "Is that..."
"Shhh. Don't bother her shes busy. You'll met her later I'm sure. After all one more artifact and you'll be her master." He grinned slightly at the look Juniper gave him.
"Is Dumbledore...is in he in the place with my Mum and dad and the others or is he working for one of the powers?" Juniper's voice was hesitant. Regulus had said those with regrets had to chance to redeem themselves and she so badly wanted to believe Dumbledore regreted what he'd done to her and so many others.
Regulus sighed softly. "Even knowing what he did you still ask about that old codger. I don't know how someone with Black blood ended up with such a soft heart. Must be the Potter influence. No cutie hes not in either place. He did things that where objectively evil, let things happen that he had the power to stop and didn't, and used people like pawns on a chess board with no regrets. He will be punished. He will live the pain of everyone he hurt through his actions and inactions both physical and mental and when..." He paused for a moment. "Not sure whos in charge of deciding these things maybe karma, but when its decided hes learned his lesson, he will be given another chance. He will be reborn. I seriously doubt he'll be given as much power this time around but he will be given a chance to live a life he can be proud of. I suspect he'll be an orphan like you and Tom Riddle were. I sincerely hope so anyway."
"Enough about him you have much better role models now. Look to your father, Pepper, Remus, Arthur and Molly. They all have had moments but I suspect they will all roll through here no problem. Hell Steve will probably skip this point altogether. Time isn't infinite even here and as much as I am enjoying the company it is time for you to go home."
"How do I get back?" She asked him. He put his hand on her shoulder's and turned her towards what looked to be the wall that led to the muggle part of the station. "What you do is walk straight at the wall. Best do it at a bit of a run if your nervous." He told her laughter in his voice as he echoed Molly Weasley's words from first year.
"Exactaly how long and how closely have you been watching me?" Juniper asked.
Regulus chuckled. "Don't worry I never looked when you were snogging Bucky, Cedric, or Blaise."
"That was one time." Juniper protested.
Regulus laughed. "Yeah, well you can tell your boyfriend hes lucky I'm dead or he'd have some serious competition." He said kissing her forehead lightly.
"Reg you'd be 18 years old than me and your my cousin." Juniper said her face wrinkling is disgust.
"Yeah, like either of those things have ever stopped a Black." Regulus answered giving her a wink. She stepped away from him and started towards the wall.
"Regulus, Is this real or is it just in my head?" She asked turning back just as she passed through the wall.
"Oh course its in your head. Why should that mean its not real." His answer followed her as she passed back through the wall.
"You talked her into going back." The voice seemed to echo from everywhere but Regulus was use to it and turned to face the white-haired woman. She was beautiful ageless seeming to be both old and young at the same time so much power in her ancient eyes they were as white as her hair seeing everything and nothing. She looked human but in a deeply unsettling way like something alien who was wearing a person mask but couldn't quite get the movements and actions right. Most where unsettled if not downright terrified of her just from instinct. Most feared death Juniper had almost seemed fascinated by her. After so many years in her presence as her assistant Regulus had adjusted but after just a few moments with Juniper who even in this place radiated so much life and light it was a little like being plunged back into chilly water after sitting in the sun.
"I did. She probably would have anyway but...I'm not sure it was a kindness considering whats coming." Regulus said softly.
"She is the earth's greatest hope against the mad titan if she can harness the power of the Hallows." Death answered calmly.
"And if she can't?" Regulus asked.
"Then she dies. Millions die. She would just be one of many." Death answered.
"And its nothing to you." Regulus stated.
Death cocked her head studying him as if trying to understand why he thought it should matter to her. Death was a part of life the next natural step. She wasn't evil as some mortals tried so desperately to paint her. She was necessary. "We sent their champion back. I bent the rules to do so. I could have kept her. Probably should have. She has more a chance of becoming my master than any other in thousands of years. I have never allowed another with that chance to live so long. I did this because you asked you should show more gratitude."
"I am sorry my lady. I am grateful." Regulus answered bowing his head.
Death nodded. "You could have encouraged her to board the train and hastened your own freedom from my service."
"But if I had I wouldn't deserve that freedom." Regulus answered.
"You mortals are so odd." Death observed and turned to the horcrux which she had buried in the earth with only its head sticking out. "Troublesome insect." She said thoughtfully then stepped on its head crushing it into a nasty paste. "I wonder if it will help my roses grow?"
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"She lost so much blood." Tony said his voice hoarse as he clung to Pepper eyes on his daughter's pale face.
"The blood replenisher only helps if she can swallow it." Hermione said her voice filled with tears.
"Whats her blood type?" Sam barked out.
"Ummm, Red." Ron said earning glares from his brother and Hermione.
"AB Negative." Bruce answered. "I typed it when I did the DNA test. Tony's B negative he is compatible but..."
"But mine would be better as I am AB negative." Steve broke in already rolling up a sleeve.
"The serum?" Bucky asked. He looked lost his eyes locked on Juniper's face as if desperate for any sign of life. A flicker of an eyelid, a twitch of her lips, a furrow of an eyebrow anything.
"Without Howards machine it won't bond to her DNA it may help her heal faster if anything, but I doubt it will go beyond that." Bruce answered. He had done very basic tests on Steve's blood and DNA and found the serum in every inch of his body. The only explanation was Howard Stark's lost technology. He hadn't tested anything of Bucky's. He was able to tolerate Tony working on his arm but anything else that even seemed like medical testing caused flashbacks to his time with HYDRA but he had to assume they'd found another method.
"Bill, do you know how to..."
"Got it." Bill answered before Bruce even finished the question moving to the cabinet, he'd nodded at that held what he would need to start a blood transfusion.
"Clear." Sam hit her with the paddles again.
"We got a heartbeat. Its weak but its there." Remus said eyes on a read out he had hovering in the air over Hermione's shoulder.
"We need to get some blood in her or shes not gonna have enough to keep her heart going." Sam said placing the paddles down and moving to help Bill who'd already got a line in Steve's arm and was connecting it to the port in Juniper's IV.
They all were practically holding their breath as they waited. Steve's blood running into Juniper's veins the only sound the slow steady increase in her heart monitor then they all heard Juniper's breath catch a hard gasp coming from her lungs then her voice. How they heard it through the mask was a mystery but not as much as what happened next. "Regulus, is this real or is it just in my head?"
"Oh course its in your head, Why should that mean its not real." The voice seemed to come from thin air. A man's voice that sounded faintly familiar to all the magicals in the room, sounded quite a bit like Sirius Black except to Remus Lupin who gasped knowing exactly who's voice it was.
"Regulus?" He questioned eyes wide. But who or whatever belonged to the voice was obviously gone as Juniper started gasping desperately nearly sitting up trying to pull the mask from her face as Bruce and Sam tried to keep her still holding her arm to keep her from ripping out the IV. The monitor Remus had on Juniper went wild as her heart desperately tried to pump enough blood to keep up with her panic.
Bucky who was closer than most of the others fell to his knees beside the bed. "JUNI, JUNI, Doll look at me." Her eyes bright with fear and confusion went to his face. "Theres my girl." He whispered softly putting a hand to her cheek next to the mask. "Your home Juniper your safe." He said his voice nearly shaking with relief.
"Bucky." Juniper whispered voice hoarse and muffled by the mask her body relaxing. Her breathing was hard and labored but she was breathing.
Bill wrapped a warm blanket around Steve who was sitting in a chair next to Juniper's bedside now his arm relaxed making no move to indicate he was feeling any effects from the amount of blood he was donating. Bruce was wrapping warmed blankets around Juniper who was starting to tremble slightly.
Hermione pulled away from Remus to take the Blood replenisher potions over to Juniper and handed them to Bucky.
"Can you drink these for me doll?" Bucky requested gently. She nodded and he lifted the mask enough to help her drink the potions smiling slightly at the face she made.
"Her blood pressures almost baseline. Breathing returning to normal. Temperature coming up. Slowly but coming up" Remus announced with a relieved sigh.
Tony released Pepper and walked over to Bucky putting a hand on his shoulder. "Hey Kiddo." He said softly the warmth in his eyes unmistakable.
"Hi dad." Juniper said softly she tried to smile for him but her lips where trembling.
"How you feel baby?" Tony asked taking a warm damp washcloth Pepper handed him to wipe the blood from her forehead.
"Hurts." She answered softly. Hermione drew closer a bit worried about the admission as in the past Juniper had to be on death's door to admit to any pain or sickness. But then again...
"Where does it hurt Juni?" Hermione asked her.
"All of it." Juniper answered then closed her eyes more of an avoidance tactic than truly falling asleep.
Juniper's mind felt slow and sluggish as if thinking was just too much work. Her entire body ached both her arms felt as if they were on fire and the mask on her face was wicked uncomfortable. It was like her skin was super sensitive and it just ached as if she had a mild sunburn all over. She almost wanted to cry just because she felt so off and out of it. Not to mention frustrated with trying to figure out how to put together the proper words to tell her dad how she felt then Hermione where it hurt. Why couldn't they leave her alone and let her try to sleep? It was all Regulus's fault. She decided. She didn't know why or how but at the moment it made sense to her. "Stupid dead man." She muttered softly. "Blacks are so unhelpful."
Remus hearing her couldn't hold back a soft chuckle. "I know the feeling Bambi. Sleep you'll feel better when you wake up."
Sam moved to unhook Steve from the IV. He pulled away slightly. "Its okay I can give more."
"Steve shes good. Her blood pressure is stable shes breathing. Your donation along with the potion was more than enough." Sam promised.
Steve seemed to think about it for another moment then nodded. "Alright if your sure."
Across the room Hermione had moved to where Ron was sitting on the floor and joined him leaning her head against his shoulder. "We did it." Hermione said softly. "We saved her."
"You saved her. This was all your idea 'Mione." Ron said the adoration in his voice plain. "Juni knew you would be the one who would find a way and she was right." He paused for a second. "And we can never tell her that. She already thinks shes always right."
"I am always right." Juniper's half asleep barely audible voice came from the bed causing her friends to smile.
"For anyone who had any doubts left definitely a Stark." Steve said but there was affection in his voice for both of the Starks in the room.
Juniper startled slightly her eyes opening again. "Bucky."
"I'm right here Juni." He promised taking her hand and bringing it too his lips kissing it lightly.
"Don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere Doll." He promised not releasing her hand as her eyes drifted back closed. "And neither are you."
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AN- If anyone is wondering it was always going to be Regulus at King's Cross. That may be the only part of the story except for Bucky and Juniper that I never wavered on even when her 'death' was different. She didn't ask about Dumbledore originally, but I decided that maybe was something that should be clear. It was so much fun writing Regulus and Juniper that I almost wish I had found a way to keep him alive.
AN- The way Juniper feels after waking up it taken from what I remember after waking up after sedation for a major surgery so not the same as dying but the closest I could come. I was told by a nurse I was having a conversation in the recovery room with my dead cousin so there is that.
AN- I hope death was creepy enough. She is totally and completely inhuman and doesn't understand mortals at all but somehow does have a slight sliver of care for Regulus or maybe she just thinks letting Juniper live will provide her a little entertainment.
AN- Next chapter will be a interlude chapter on how what happened here will go over in England. Some people will be pleased others...well not so much. Love you all!