AN- n7kairos- Oh don't worry Leta's coming. I know exactly how I'm bringing her in. I'm pretty sure you'll be pleased.
AN- BioHazard82- Very true. I think Wanda will be annoyed to find out Tony has family when he in her view destroyed hers. I think the idea of killing his daughter would appeal to her. At least at first Wanda is capable of being reasonable.
AN- bahnannah- I always kind of got the feeling that Pietro was willing to follow Wanda's lead in most things so if they can get her on side Pietro will eagerly follow. I can definitely see him hanging out with Ron and Peter. I can also see some jealousy from Wanda until she understands what's really going on. I have upgraded my spell check so hopefully most of those things will be better in this chapter, and I will pay closer attention to those specific things. Thank you.
AN- Narcissss- I actually knew a girl named Juniper in grade school so it came to mind when I was looking for a unique name that fit the Evan's girls flower theme names. I've seen Holly and Rose a lot so wanted something different. When I read that in Magic Juniper is used for protection rituals, cleansing objects of negative energy and removing evil spirits and that it was a fire element plant it seemed a perfect fit. Don't forget many names in the magical words are not normal by 'muggle' standards- Severus, Draco, Remus, Nymphodora, Bathilda, Alecto, Fleur, Merope, or Xenophilius for example.
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CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
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"You have blood on your hands." Bucky who was sitting by the side of Juniper's bed watching her sleep jumped almost violently at Hermione's soft words and looked over at her in shock. She pointed at his hands, and he looked down realizing what he'd taken as a accusation was actually a observation. At some point he'd gotten blood on his hands. Juniper's blood. Stark blood. Crap.
Hermione handed him a damp washcloth before turning her eyes to Juniper. She looked to be sleeping peacefully now. Magic had proven to be incredibly handy again as a few flicks of Hermione's wand had changed her Pjs, sheets and blankets to clean unbloodied ones and washed the blood from her skin. There was little sign the scars had been recently bleeding and in fact the one on her forehead actually looked a bit lighter than it had before. Bruce had removed the mask replacing it with a nasal cannula that blew slightly warmed oxygen directly into her nose but had left the IV in dripping the warm saline into her arm.
"Her temperature is normal now. Probably the most normal it's been in several years." Hermione observed. "You should go shower get something to eat. I'll stay with her."
"I promised I wouldn't leave her." Bucky answered. Everyone else had gone to get cleaned up, changed and let the others know what had happened although Pepper had to drag Tony and Bill had nearly had to pick Ron up and carry him before he'd agreed to leave her.
"I think Jarvis and I can watch after her for just a bit. Right Jarvis?" Hermione asked.
"Oh course Ms. Granger." Jarvis answered.
"Not the point." Bucky answered. "I made a promise to her." He looked up at the girl's hazel eyes. "I will never break a promise to her." He saw a spark of approval in her expression as she nodded and sat down on the other side of the bed.
"Your part of the reason she did this you know." Hermione said softly. Bucky's surprise only increased as he looked at her raising one eyebrow in question. "She really likes you. You made her see she could have a future that included more than fighting, and betrayal."
"Aren't you breaking the girl code telling me this?" Bucky asked even as her words warmed his heart and had him fighting to keep the grin off his face that Tony had objected too.
Hermione shrugged. "Usually yeah but the two of you seemed to have skipped over all the flirting and playing games stuff. I think it's the intensity of war. It would shock you to know how many couples have married straight out of Hogwarts. Of course living in the school with the same people for seven years may have something to do with it too. After sharing a common room, classes, and meals for that long you can get so close the thought of living without the other person can be intolerable I imagine." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Same thing happened after the draft during the war. A lot of young men married their sweethearts before they shipped out." Bucky told her nodding.
"But not you? Or Steve?" Hermione asked.
Bucky grinned. "At the time I had more than a few sweethearts and Steve...Well back then Steve wasn't exactly the perfect physical specimen he is now. He had something with a woman named Peggy Carter, but it never had a chance to be more than infatuation on either part. I think he's visited her at the nursing home a few times since he's been awake."
Hermione smiled. "And how many sweethearts do you have now?"
Bucky's eyes went to Juniper. "Just one."
"Good." Hermione said sitting back in her chair. "If anyone in this world deserves the chance to be happy its Juniper." She glanced at her as if making sure she was still asleep then looked up at Bucky. "There will be people in our world who will object strongly to your relationship simply because you're a muggle. I don't know if she plans to announce her true parentage, but it won't matter, they still won't like it. The head of two old and noble families with a muggle will not be viewed in a good light. The only pureblooded families that Juniper truly cares about are the Weasleys, the Longbottoms. the Lovegoods, and the Bones and they will support Juniper no matter what so just keep that in mind."
"So, our relationship will make things harder for her in the wizarding world." Bucky said softly.
"It could." Hermione answered. "I imagine more than a few of the bigots who would object the loudest will be lost in the war. But the ones who aren't, the ones who weren't radical enough to join Tom but still don't like the mixing of the Wizarding and Muggle worlds, well they are also likely the ones who'd be cowed at the thought of annoying a man with the reputation of The Winter Soldier. And that reputation exists even in our world."
Bucky gave a wicked grin following the girl's logic. "So, Juniper still gets to be the kind, pure, savior, the leader of the light but others watch their words to avoid setting off her pet assassin boyfriend? Why Hermione that's downright Slytherin of you."
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Juniper woke a lot slower than she was used to unless she'd been drugged. For a second she actually thought she was back in the hospital ward at Hogwarts until she saw Bucky asleep in the chair beside the bed. She smiled softly and glanced to the other side to see her dad also asleep. It made her wonder if she'd just been asleep that long or if the horcrux removal had been as hard on them as it had on her.
She felt...good. Better than she could remember feeling in... ever. She reached up to remove the tubes in her nose and when she did, she realized she wasn't wearing her glasses. So how had she been able to actually see Bucky and her dad instead of Bucky and dad shaped blobs? She looked at them again and not only was she able to see them she could do so better than she ever had with her glasses on. Had removing the horcrux actually improved her vision? She looked at her arm with the IV needle still in it and saw the tube had been pinched off, so it wasn't running so she just pulled the tube loose and sat up quietly ignoring the slight head rush.
"Ms. Juniper, I don't think..."
"Shhh." Juniper warned Jarvis. "It's fine." She whispered carefully swinging her legs out of bed and standing. Or trying to her legs on the other hand had other plans and immediately folded. She would have hit the floor if Natasha hadn't entered just as she moved to the edge of the bed and seen what was going to happen just before it did. Natasha lunged forward grabbing her arms and lifting her back onto the bed surprising both Bucky and Tony into wakefulness as she did.
"Savior of the wizarding world Juniper Potter, who slayed a dragon and a basilisk, survived numerous attacks by a evil wizard and the removal of a horcrux a procedure never before attempted died of a cracked skull after falling out of bed today." Natasha said then frowned. "I think you should aim for a slightly more impressive obituary."
"Haha." Juniper said then looked up at her with her best wounded puppy dog look. "I just needed to use the bathroom."
"That look always work for you?" Natasha asked.
"Mostly." Juniper answered with a sweet smile.
Natasha sighed. "Come on babe." She said sliding a arm around her waist to help her to the bathroom across the room.
"Jarvis why didn't you wake us?" Tony asked.
"I'm sorry sir Ms. Juniper said shhh." The AI answered.
Tony looked over at Bucky. "She runs the tower now, doesn't she?" He asked with a extremely serious expression.
"I think we should all just count our blessings that she doesn't seem to have any goals of world domination." Bucky answered just as seriously.
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Juniper didn't have to expend much effort to get her dad and Bucky to agree with her moving upstairs to continue her recuperation on the couch. After all Tony Stark's couch was as big and comfortable as most beds. She put up a token protest when Bucky insisted on carrying her but considering how worn out, she'd felt from just going to the bathroom and back with Natasha's aid she gave in fairly quickly.
Everyone was waiting upstairs when Bucky carried her in and seeing her brought smiles to most of their faces. Juniper may have still looked worn out, but she had a bit of color in her cheeks, she looked almost relaxed as if part of the weight on her shoulder's had been lifted.
"Juni." Pepper said coming over and hugging her when Bucky lowered her to the couch. "Where are your glasses honey?"
"Here." Tony said handing them to her. Juniper took them and held them up looking through them. Everything looked blurred through them and for the first time she noticed scratches on the lenses.
"How on earth did I see anything with these?" She asked then looked up at them. "I don't know why but I can see fine now. Is it possible the horcrux was affecting my vision?"
"I suppose it could have been." Bill said with a slight frown as Dobby scampered over to stand next to Juniper who put a arm around him. "There's so much we don't know about horcruxes, and we know even less about how the human brain works. It could have been putting pressure on your optic nerve or retina but seems like the muggle doctors would have suspected a tumor and done ton of tests."
Juniper shrugged. "Never went to a muggle doctor."
"You never..." Tony had to pause for a moment to push down his rage again. "What about the Optometrist who prescribed your glasses?"
Juniper gave him a blank look then shrugged. "Never went. One of my teachers told Aunt Petunia I needed glasses, so she took me to the Pharmacies and had me try on the reading glasses on the rack until she found a pair that worked. A couple of times they got too small or Dudley broke them too bad for me to fix so I...um...I'd go back and snitch a new pair." She looked incredible guilty over that. "I kept track though of how much it cost so I can pay them back one day. And I never took anything else. Well, some seeds once but that was from the plant nursery."
"You...you..." Suddenly Ron broke into laughter plopping down in one of the chairs. "You stole glasses and seeds." He finally managed to get out in between his laughs. "Every other kid in the world is snitching candy and your stealing glasses and seeds."
Hermione started laughing too. "Merlin, Juni only you."
"Hey, you try reading Ivanhoe with a big crack in your glasses." Juniper protested. "The language is hard enough when you can see perfectly." It made both her friends laugh harder.
Tony and most of the others where to angry that Juniper had needed to go to such lengths to be able to find the humor at the moment. It would have been different if the Dursleys had finical difficulties but even then, England had universal healthcare. There was no excuse for not getting their niece the health, and eye care she'd needed. Andromeda had hinted that Juniper hadn't had proper healthcare, but he'd never thought it was that bad. But then now that he thought about it how could they have taken her to any health care professional? They were all mandated reporters and couldn't have missed the signs of abuse and malnutrition. Which made him think about her primary school teachers. She'd attended that school for seven years. How the hell had the teachers, school nurses, and administrators not seen? Hell, how had the cafeteria workers, librarian, janitors, and other parents missed it? He made a mental note to hack the child protective services to find out if there had been reports that had been ignored or buried. If there, wasn't he was going to shut that school down if he had to build a private school and give every student in that district free tuition.
"Aside from that how do you feel?" Bruce asked.
Juniper shrugged. "Pretty well actually. I mean I'm kind of worn out, but my head doesn't hurt at all."
Something about the way she said it had Remus's eyes flying to her face. "Is that different?" He asked.
Juniper shrugged again. "I don't know there's usually at least a dull ache." She'd probably been 8 or 9 before she'd actually realized that most people didn't feel that constant pressure like their skull was just a little too tight. She was use to it. So, use to it that absence was going to take some getting adjusting. At one point as a child, she'd even assumed the constant headaches where the reason all the adults she knew where always cranky.
"Did you know about this?" Bill asked Hermione.
Hermione who had stopped laughing just shrugged. "She could be bleeding from a gaping gut wound and wouldn't mention it unless someone asked. I don't always know the questions to ask."
"She thinks the most barmy things are normal anyway." Ron said. "Happens when you grow up with nutters like she did."
"Mate, in case you didn't notice I am still in the room." Juniper said rolling her eyes.
"I think we should ask Andi to look you over just to be safe." Bill said. "Dobby can you..."
"No, Andi's busy she's the only fully qualified med-witch for all the safe houses." Juniper answered trying not to yawn.
"Dobby will go." The little elf said brightly then stepped away and popped out.
Juniper let out a huff. "Maybe there are benefits to having house elves that can't disobey."
"Liar. You know Dobby makes life so much more interesting. Besides its good practice for when you have a toddler." Hermione answered. "Andis not going to be happy with any of us you know that right."
"Yes but at least if she gets too mad, I can pretend to fall asleep." Juniper answered giving Hermione a smirk.
"Why don't we do a few tests why we wait for Andi?" Bill asked sitting down across from Juniper.
"What kind of tests?" Juniper asked.
"Well, you were afraid some of your traits where from Tom's horcrux so... what's 247 times 632?"
"156,104." Juniper answered with only the slightest pause.
"Looks like your mathematical skills are still intact." He took out his wand and pointed it at the coffee table. "Serpensortia." Instead of the poisonous cobra Draco Malfoy had conjured with the same spell this one was a lovely brown snake that looked more confused than aggressive a odd thought. Juniper had the idea none of the others would recognize it. It was a Northern Water Snake something else she expected none of the others would know automatically.
The snake raised its head. 'Two-legs. There were no two-legs. Why am I here? Where did my lake go?'
"My friend wanted to see if I could speak with you. I am sorry I will have him send you back." Juniper said hearing the hissy inflection of Parseltongue entering her voice.
"Sorry Juni but that's creepy as hell." Natasha said with a wry tone as the snake answered her with a agreement.
"Sorry Nat but I think it's kind of cool." Clint disagreed winning him a smile from Juniper.
"Can you send him home please?" Juniper requested to Bill who nodded with a smile and waved his wand banishing the snake back to his lake.
"So, your Parseltongue is your gift and was never from him." Bill told her with a bit of smugness in his grin. "We can test your magic when you feel better. Are you still cold?"
Juniper looked a bit surprised then shook her head. "No, I'm not." She was still wrapped up in a blanket, but it was a light one wrapped around her shoulders loosely.
"Her skin feels warmer." Bucky said brushing the back of his hand lightly over her cheek from where he was sitting beside her.
Juniper smiled and leaned into his side. "Your still warmer." Bucky put his arm around her and pulled her a bit closer as there was a snap signaling Dobby retuning with the impressive Andromeda Black.
"Dobby told me what you did. I expect foolishness from the children but the rest of you should have known better." Andromeda said her voice like ice as she glared for a moment and every single person in the room and even those that where older than her felt as if their own mother had just scolded them.
"An... Mrs. Tonks please... It was all my idea." Hermione admitted.
"Yes dear, I am aware. The whole thing stinks of your brand of practical, by the book brilliance." Andromeda answered.
"Juni, was that a insult or a compliment?" Hermione hissed.
"I'm not sure quick say thank you just in case." Juniper whispered back.
"Umm, thank you?" Hermione squeaked.
Andromeda sighed and waved a imperious hand at Bill who quickly scrambled out of her way (He was brave not stupid.) and she sat on the table across from Juniper. "Let me look at you Darling."
Juniper sat up away from Bucky and Andromeda leaned forward just slightly waving her wand over Juniper noting her flinch. Of course she flinched. Trained Aurors who'd been crucioed flinched when a wand was pointed at them. Then Andromeda's eyes went wider. "This is not possible." She said softly to herself.
"What?" Juniper asked a bit alarmed at her reaction.
"Shh. Be still." Andromeda answered sternly the waved the wand in a more complicated pattern a strange expression on her face as if she wasn't sure how to react to the results she was getting. Then she sat up straighter a stern look on her face and looked around her eyes settling on Sam. She didn't meet his eyes so she didn't read his mind but something about him told her all she needed to know. "You. Your military you have medical training give me a report. Now."
Something about her tone had Sam snapping to attention just as he would have for the meanest drill sergeant he'd ever had. "I was called to assist in this...practical, by the book brilliance two days ago..."
"I was out for two days?" Juniper asked surprised.
"You shut up. I'm not sure how angry I am with you yet." Andromeda growled at her.
"As it was obvious Juniper was determined to carry out this plan with or without my aid I agreed to assist." Bucky turned slightly to watch Juniper as Sam gave his report realizing she had no idea what had happened between her drifting off and coming back to them either. She looked calm as Sam reported how they had basically killed her, how Bucky had cut the scar on her forehead open, and how the black mist had escaped the wound. That changed when he reported how the horcrux had lashed out and ripped open her scars. She paled slightly her eyes flashing with a trace of panic as her hand went to the scars carved into her arm as if making sure they hadn't been made worse. Bucky reached out taking her hand linking their finger's together and she looked over at him with a shaky smile. Then looked over at Ron in pleased and proud surprise when she heard how his patronus had attacked and finished off the horcrux. Even Andromeda glanced over giving him a approving glance which had him nearly blushing with pride.
It was the part about Steve giving Juniper his blood that seemed to surprise them both the most though. Juniper seeming surprised and touched while a brief flash of relief flashed over Andromeda's face. When she heard the last part about the voice though her eyes flew to Juniper's face. "You saw Regulus?" She asked in surprise.
"I had a whole conversation with Regulus. He told me to call him Reg though." Juniper answered.
Andromeda made a soft sound that sounded like half-sob, half-laugh. "Oh my. I almost forgot how he hated his name. Just like Dora. And I imagine he was calling you some ridiculous pet name?"
"Cutie." Juniper replied wrinkling her nose.
A laugh escaped Remus. "He used to call Lily Angel face. James nearly decked him more than once."
"Did he..." Andromeda started then stopped. "No. Don't tell me anymore. There are some things healers don't need to know about. Death is our enemy, and it must stay that way." She said then looked over to Steve. "I don't know what it is about your blood, but it seems its healing properties carry over during blood transfusions. At least with muggle issues."
"What do you mean?" Tony asked softly. "Does this have anything to do with why you wanted a conference with me?"
"Yes." Andromeda answered softly her eyes however were still focused on Juniper and she reached out taking the hand Bucky wasn't holding. "Juniper when a child is mistreated the way you where it has a effect on their physical health as much as their mental health."
"I don't know what you mean." Juniper said but something about her expression and the way she shifted on the couch was not convincing.
"Malnutrition especially at a young age can have a devasting outcome. You had two big advantages over many children, however. The most critical time for a child is in the final stages of pregnancy and the first two years of life that is when the brain is developing and during that period you were very well cared for. Your parents and your godparents," She glanced over at Remus to include him in that category. "Took very good care of you. And you had your magic to compensate to some degree for the damage."
"But not all." Hermione said softly.
Andromeda shook her head. "Not all. You've broken a lot of bones." Juniper kind of shrugged and nodded. "Your bones weren't as strong as they should be, your lungs either its why I couldn't completely heal you from the gunshot wound. Your immune system wasn't strong, and you've obviously not had the inoculations you should have. I'm guessing you were sick a quite a bit especially as a small child."
"I suppose." Juniper answered remembering her aunt shoving her into her cupboard with a bucket to be sick into and a bottle of water snarling that she better not have infected her precious Dudykins. "It never lasted long."
"Your magic. Juniper if your magic hadn't been as strong as it is you would be dead. You would have had more accidental magic outbursts if so, much hadn't been spent on trying to keep you alive. All of your organs where weakened, your bones. You should have been taller, bigger..."
"Shaped more like Hermione than Peter." Juniper burst out then her face flushed scarlet. She hadn't meant to say that, but her slight figure had always made her a bit insecure even though it had never seemed to put off Cedric, Blaise, or Bucky.
"Frankly yes." Andromeda squeezed her hand lightly. "I get it." she said softly her lips twitching slightly. "I grew up with Narcissa remember." Oh yes, she remembered. She'd only seen Narcissa Malfoy a few times but while Bella and Andi where beautiful Narcissa Malfoy had been the most breath-takingly stunning woman she'd ever seen complete with a hourglass figure.
"You're talking in past tense as if these issues no longer exist." Remus said his voice strained it was obvious he was praying he was right.
"They don't. The magically inflicted wounds are still there including the nerve damage, but the organs are healed, the bones are strengthened, even her vision has corrected. Look at the bullet wound." Andromeda suggested.
Juniper realized since she'd woken up, she hadn't felt the ache at breathing she had before, and she pulled up her shirt to see the bullet scar on her stomach had disappeared. "Look at my back." She requested of Hermione turning her back to her.
Hermione caught the back of her pajama top and pushed it up smiling at the smooth unmarked skin. "Perfect." She said tapping her back lightly before pulling the top back into place.
Juniper looked over at Steve. "Did you know?"
Steve shook his head grinning. "You're giving me to much credit Darlin'. That kind of things more Bruce's area."
"I think your lying Steve." Juniper answered. Steve's grin widened slightly but he didn't answer. "Thank you." He simply nodded and then it was Tony looking at him in surprised gratefulness.
"Do not however take this as a pass to be reckless. I believe this is a one-time healing not something that will repeat. Understand?" Andromeda asked but didn't wait for Juniper to answer. "You will continue taking your potions especially your nutrition potion. Dobby said Professor Slughorn sent a Wiggenweld potion you should take that it will help you recover. Then I want you to take it easy for a few days at least. This..." She glanced over at Steve. "Miracle will extend your life from a few decades to with your magical strength a century or more. As long as you don't do anything foolish."
"I need to ask you something Andromeda. It's kind of personal but it's important to me it's something I have to know." Juniper said softly. Andromeda nodded cautiously. "What was Bellatrix like as a girl?"
"Ah." Andromeda said softly then she sighed. "Bella was always extremely bright, extremely powerful and extremely sadistic. We couldn't have pets something our parents only realized after 3 kneazles mysteriously drowned and our house elf found Bella cutting up a fourth. She enjoyed practicing curses on the younger children in the family and our parents never stepped in unless there was a danger of her scarring up Cissy's perfect little face or damaging my exceptional brain. Of course, the other adults in our family did nothing to help, Bellatrix was the strong one they said. The one who would carry the family's legacy forward. Bella was the eldest of us all so Sirius and I spent a great amount of our youth protecting Cissy and Reg from her. I truly believe that without us neither of them would have lived to become toddlers. Sirius once caught her holding a pillow over Cissy's face. That was the first time he manifested his own version of the Black Gift."
The look of relief on Juniper's face was unmistakable. Andromeda leaned forward slightly putting a hand to her cheek. "Bella takes the Black Gifts to a dark place." She said softly. "Siri was better but growing up with Walburga Black didn't help him. I can't help you with this Juniper not like I wish I could. I was not the first born in my family and neither was Tonks." Juniper nodded remembering Sirius telling her of Andi and Ted's first child a little boy who'd died of Dragonpox when he was only 3 before Tonks was even born. "There's only one other besides Bella. He had access to his great-grandfather as a child and he had it too. He also has all the old journals. Just remind him as head of the family you have more right to them than he does but It would be better if you two played nice."
"Might also be better if the earth started spinning in the opposite direction and it's probably just as likely." Juniper answered with a frown. Andromeda laughed. "Oh Juniper, I think you might find you and Draco have more in common than you'd think."
"Doubtful." Juniper muttered softly.
"Don't mutter and sit up straight." Andromeda ordered and Juniper obeyed automatically. "You do realize that technically the ancient and noble house of Black comes down to you and Draco." That was a sobering thought. The Blacks had once been of the most powerful and respected families in the wizarding world now they were reduced to a angry pompous young werewolf, and a half broken muggleborn neither actually bearing the name.
"Are you and Tonks interesting in being officially reinstated into the family?" Juniper asked giving her a hopeful look.
Andromeda laughed. "Sirius and I both spent most of our lives doing everything we could to get kicked out of the family and I actually managed it. Only thing I ever actually bested him at. We were both blasted off the family tree, but I was actually officially disowned. My Ted may have been a muggleborn but the Tonks name is one I am proud to bear. Dora will have to make her own decision, but I lived the best years of my life as a Tonks and that will be the name, I carry for the rest of it. However, the Tonks family will always owe allegiance to the Lady Potter Black."
"Does that mean you're not mad at me anymore?" Juniper asked.
"Oh no. I'm still mad at you young lady. And I expect Molly and Minerva will have a few things to say about this as well." Andromeda answered.
Juniper paled as did Ron, Hermione, Bill, and even Remus. "Oh no please please Andi don't tell Mrs. Weasley and Professor McGonagall." The only thing more terrifying to Gryffindors than Molly Weasley's temper was Professor McGonagall's disappointed disapproving glare. The thought of facing both of them was enough to make her want to find the nearest cupboard to hide in.
Andromeda rolled her eyes. "This is what comes of associating with so many Gryffindors. Lucky for you I'm a Slytherin. I will keep your little secret as long as you stay out of life-threatening situations."
"Kind of in the middle of the war here Andi. Define life-threatening situations." Juniper requested.
Andromeda sighed. "No intentionally stopping your heart. No stepping into situations where the only outcome is your death. No disregarding Lovegood, or Granger's advice. Fair enough?"
Juniper nodded. "I can live with that." She was starting to feel tiered again and hadn't noticed she'd been leaning more into Bucky until Andromeda's eyes went to him.
She studied him for a moment before looking back to Juniper. "You could do worse. You should listen to him too." She'd seen the way Bucky looked at Juniper and had seen that same look in Ted's eyes when he looked at her. "I should get back. Get some more sleep. When you wake up take the Wiggenweld potion and eat something with lots of protein. And a piece of advice get some plain glass in your frames and wear your glasses in public in the wizarding world. It's part of your image." She started to stand then paused. "Oh yes, I can't believe I almost forgot." She swished her wand and two packages seemed to appear from nowhere on the table. "Letters you Mum left with me. For you and..." She looked over to Tony, "For you. I think she expected if the worst happened, you'd be raised either by Tony or Sirius and Remus." She stood while Juniper's eyes where still on the letters. "Now Dobby you keep a eye on her report to me if she does anything foolish again. Juniper, behave I expect I'll see you again soon." She waved her wand and was gone again.
"I really like your cousin." Natasha said with a grin.
"Yeah, two out of four are cool. Unfortunately, it's the latter two that are official." Juniper answered.
"So, Draco Malfoy is your cousin?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, technically through James Potter. The Black family tree is more like a bush but James's mother Dorea Black, Sirius's father Orion Black, and the Black sister's father Cygnus Black where all siblings. Draco is the son of the youngest Black sister Narcissa. Orion was the oldest, so Sirius was the heir. I'm not even going to try to untangle the degree of relation there my brain just shuts down at the thought of being related to Bellatrix or Draco in any way." Juniper answered.
"Could have been worse." Remus said in a casual tone that meant he was about to say something he knew was going to set Juniper off, but he found it hilarious. "When Lucius Malfoy found out Lily was pregnant before all the prophecy nonsense, he approached James about a marriage contract between you and Draco."
Juniper's eyes went wide, and horror and Hermione actually jumped to her feet. "Thats illegal."
"The actual binding kind is. It doesn't stop the pure blood families. They are no longer binding and can in theory be broken with no consequences but in general it does result in being shunned by the family. Thats what happened to Andromeda. She was meant to marry Theodore Nott senior and when she ran off with Ted, he married Aliane Selwyn instead." Remus replied.
"Tell me he didn't do it." Juniper said not about to be distracted from the horror of the possibility that somewhere was a marriage contract with her name linked to Draco Malfoy's.
"Of, course not. If he had Lily and Sirius would still be in Azkaban for torture, murder and probably desecration of a corpse. James laughed in his face and told him he'd sooner see you marry a centaur than a Black." Remus answered. Juniper snickered trying to smother another yawn her eyelids feeling heavy.
"You should grab another nap, Doll. Want me to carry you up to your room?" Bucky asked her.
"No, I don't want to be alone upstairs. Can't I just sleep here on the couch and you guys can just do whatever you need to do?" Juniper asked.
"Of, course Kiddo. If that's what you want." Tony told her.
"I'm going to go shower and change while you sleep." Bucky told her.
"Did you stay with me the whole time?" Juniper asked looking up at him.
"Of course, I did. I promised." Bucky answered. The look she gave him before leaning up to kiss him lightly was more than worth the two days spent in the chair beside her bed.
"Go. I'll be fine I promise. You too dad, Ron." She knew them well enough to know they'd probably been downstairs with her the last two days more often than not. Bucky stood so she could lay down on the couch and Tony pulled the blanket up over her shoulder's as if tucking in a much younger child making Juniper smile. The first time she'd ever been tucked in she'd been 12 and staying at the Weasley's. It had absolutely humiliated Ginny who she'd been sharing a room with when Mrs. Weasley had bustled in and tucked them both in even dropping kisses on both girl's foreheads but that had been the first time Juniper had actually fell asleep feeling safe. It shouldn't have worked now considering she knew exactly what kind of monsters where out there and that they were truly out to get her, but it did.
Peter plopped down on the floor next to the couch and started taking books out of his bag as Bucky headed upstairs. "Okay if I hang out here and work on my homework?"
"Perfect Petey. Thats good." Juniper answered softly as her eyes fluttered closed.
Tony watched both Juniper and Peter affection in his eye before looking down at the stacks of letters. They were in 'muggle' envelopes the top of the one in the smaller stack tied with twine had his name written across it in a script still slightly familiar from when he'd stolen study notes from Lily after skipping classes. The envelope on top of the other stack read Juniper- Age 5. It would very like Lily to write letters to the daughter she was afraid she wouldn't live to see grow up for the important milestones in her life. It must have been terrifying to be afraid enough to do so. It did soften Tony's anger towards her to have proof of how afraid she'd been. Thats she'd been right was even more horrifying.
Tony picked up his stack leaving Juniper's right where they were. He knew no one in the tower would touch something so precious. "Umm, Pepper, Rhodey?" There was a request in his book as he nodded towards his office. He didn't want to read them alone.
The golden trio wasn't the only group in the tower that could communicate without words. "Of course." Pepper said softly and Rhodey nodded before they followed him into the office.
Hermione sat beside Peter. "Oh, American history. May I?" She asked motioning towards one of the books he wasn't using. Peter grinned and nodded in agreement.
Ron actually rolled his eyes. "Somebody save me from the bookworms."
Clint couldn't help laughing. "Stop making friends with smartie pants." He advised Ron slinging a arm around his shoulder's. "Come on I'll show you the difference in straight bows and crossbows and you can practice shooting in wind."
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AN- Next chapter will be another interlude I like to space them a little more than that but I'm anxious to introduce the Maximoff twins now. They won't be in the story proper for a little longer but they need a little set-up. Chapter after they will no doubt, no excuses be Fury. I can't decide between them taking the Quinjet to London, or elf apparition. Any opinions?