n7kairos- Glad you liked the new wand. So, taking your advise this chapter no more prude.
BioHazard82- Thank you so much for your support.
BlackOrchid1978- Thank you so much :). I was surprised how much a enjoyed writing Regulus. I got to find a way to keep him alive in another story. I kinda imagined him as wanting to be like his big brother but not being brave enough. So he tries even now to copy Sirius in any way he can.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
AN- Hmmm lets see who should I traumatize this chapter. So many choices *Evil grin.*
Had a bit of writer's block and got bogged down again after the cup's little show. Hoping to get the next chapter out a lot sooner than this one.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
Ron was still sitting in the kitchen when Juniper went upstairs. She'd offered to sit with him for a while but he'd told her to go away because he was going to try to write out a letter to Lavender. She'd forbidden him to break up with her in a letter but he said it was just to help him work out what to say so she'd left him alone with Dobby and Hedwig who was sitting on the back of his chair peering over his shoulder as if reading what he was writing. The little elf was probably more helpful anyway. Knowing Ron he'd find biscuits more comforting than her words.
Juniper slipped into the head of house suite as silently as possible. She paused by the glass case in the drawing room to place her precious broken Holly wand inside as well with her Order of Merlin. She didn't know why Kretcher had even put the medal there. She was personally more proud of the small Quidditch trophies McGonagall had personally gotten them for each of their cups wins. To her The Order of Merlin was more a 'hey sorry we called you a crazy attention seeking murderer and oh yeah for doing the same to your godfather as well. Shame about his death.' medal. She made a mental note to find the trophies to put in the display case, or maybe even the one downstairs.
She slipped silently into the bedroom to see Bucky laying across the bed asleep on top of the blankets wearing only a pair of black boxer shorts. Juniper stepped closer. He was lying on his back his right arm across his chest his left metal arm by his side. Lying like he was the metal arm was on full display as where the scars where it was melded into his shoulder and part of his chest. He generally moved so easily, and gracefully that until Andromeda had mentioned it she hadn't considered the pain that must come from it. The metal had to be heavier than a normal arm causing unnatural strain on his shoulder and neck muscles. Not to mention the connections between his nerves and tendons and the electronics in the arm that let him move it so normally. He looked so at peace asleep. He must have been tiered. She'd been with Ron a bit longer than she'd expected but she hadn't thought it would be long enough for him to fall asleep. Maybe the music had helped him drop off. The record player in the next room was playing softly a song she didn't recognize which must mean the house had provided it especially for Bucky. A good sign as the House of Black was notoriously picky about accepting new inhabitants. Of course maybe the house had been lonely. Grimmauld Place wasn't as ancient as Hogwarts but old enough that it had started to become protective of its family. Which was she suspected why Walburga's portrait had been so near impossible to remove.
More than anything Juniper just wanted to crawl onto the bed with Bucky waking him with caresses and kisses but she also really needed a shower. She'd done a quick wash up at the Leaky cauldron but she still felt grungy. Not to mention despite knowing it was probably in her head as Pansy surely would have made a snotty comment about it, she felt like she still smelled the musty snake smell from Amos's house clinging to her skin.
She glanced once more at Bucky longingly before tossing her cloak on a chair, placing her laurel wand on the bedside table and entering the bathroom. She shed her clothes and dropped them in the hamper that would take them directly to the laundry. Having once done the laundry for four people she really loved that feature of the house. She could have opted for the huge tub but instead she stepped into the shower stall and turned on the water as hot as she could stand it.
The sound of the door opening a little later was muffled by the running water as she rinsed the shampoo out of her hair but it was unmistakable and brought a smile to Juniper's face as there was only one person it could be.
"Mind if I join you doll?" Bucky's asked as she looked over to see him through the glass stall door. As if any woman in their right mind would say no to that. Especially as he was looking at her with a dark lustful gleam in his gorgeous ocean blue eyes. A gleam that was reflected in her own as they skimmed over that muscular flawless body.
"Well you know in the interest of conserving water you probably should." Juniper answered unable to keep the huskier tone out of her voice.
Bucky laughed softly completely aware of the effect he was having on her as he dropped the boxer shorts and stepped into the shower stall behind her. His metal arm went around her waist and he pulled her back against his chest. He smiled as she leaned back into him then let out a slight hiss as the hot water hit his skin. "Are you trying to boil yourself?" He asked.
"I like hot things. I think you'd appreciate that." Juniper told him tilting her head back to give him a flirty grin having to concentrate to focus on the words instead of the feel of his body against hers.
"Well when you put it that way." He answered as she leaned forward slightly to adjust the water to a more comfortable temperature. Bucky leaned in slightly laying a gentle kiss on her shoulder where it was purple and black from bruising where she had hit the wall from Leta's spell his fingers lightly grazing the matching bruise on her hip. "Maybe we should change the Weasley's rule you only get a cookie if you have no bleeding wounds and no new bruises in a week."
"I bruise easy. Restricting my sugar intake that much is just gonna make me cranky." Juniper warned her breathing coming faster as Bucky's hand slid from her hip to her stomach.
"Umm, wouldn't want to make you cranky." Bucky said as he nuzzled her neck. His metal hand warmed by the hot water crept upwards caressing her breasts while his other hand slid lower.
A moan escaped her throat her head tilting back against his chest eyes closing against the water. Her own hands reached backwards to rest on his thighs. "Thats my girl." Bucky purred into her ear before nipping her neck lightly.
He short circuited her brain. It was the only excuse Juniper could come up with. The moment Bucky touched her, his scent surrounding her, his body against hers the world outside this room could have ceased to exist and she wouldn't care. Especially once his hands started wandering. And oh the things he was doing with those hands.
She heard his whisper against her ear, his warm breath on her neck sending shivers over her body despite the warm water. The light bite to her neck sent her completely over the edge. She cried out Bucky's name her entire body tensing for a moment then relaxing against him her breathing coming hard.
Once again Bucky couldn't hold back a smirk as he leaned forward slightly to cut off the water then straightened scooping Juniper up into his arms. She let out a soft gasp of surprise her arms going around his neck as his mouth captured hers.
She was so light in his arms it brought home to Bucky once again just how physically fragile she truly was. As Juniper and the rest of her world seemed convinced she was invulnerable it was easy to forget. And once again that day she'd been thrown around and bruised up. Leta may have had the best of intentions but Juniper had still been hurt. He lowered her gently to the bed still kissing her. He pulled away just slightly leaning his forehead against hers breathing hard.
"Are you okay?" Bucky asked softly. "Do you hurt anywhere?"
"What? Bucky come here." Juniper answered in almost a whine tugging him onto the bed. That was enough of a answer for him as he joined her on the bed his upper body laying over hers as he kissed her again. She tasted of chocolate and strawberries never a taste he'd found particularly arousing before but it was quickly becoming his favorite aphrodisiac.
He pulled back slightly his eyes on her's raising his hand to gently trace over her lips. He grinned as a blush washed over her face. A few drops of water fell from his hair to her cheek making him realize they where both still soaked from the shower. "So beautiful." He whispered softly. Then lowered his head to kiss her again pulling a soft whimper from her as he shifted his body over hers.
Juniper ran her hands through Bucky's damp hair making him groan against her mouth vowing never to cut his hair unless she asked him too. He raised his head slightly to look into her eyes his beautiful ocean blue eyes locking with her emerald green ones as he entered her slowly.
Juniper cried out arching up against him her hands running down over his back feeling the muscles tensing under her touch. The intense pleasure ripping through her body as if every nerve, every synapse, every inch of skin on her body was reacting. Her eyes started to close her head tipping back legs going around Bucky's waist.
"Look at me Juni." Bucky's voice was gruff his breathing so hard and erratic his voice was more a growl sending a shiver over Juniper's skin. Her eyes opened focusing on his face her breath almost matching his as his rhythm sped up Juniper's arms tightened around him her nails digging into his back. The pleasure building, building, building, and then exploding like a star going supernova as she called out Bucky's name clinging to him tightly for a moment. Two more thrusts and Bucky let out a loud groan and tensed up before going limp burying his face in Juniper's neck. Juniper raised her hands combing them through his dark hair.
Bucky started to roll over but Juniper's arms tightened for a moment. "I'm too heavy for you doll." Bucky whispered softly.
"Are not." Juniper answered in a pouty tone but allowed him to roll onto his back before pulling her close to his side. "The beds wet." She said sounding a bit surprised, as if two people both with long thick hair coming straight to bed from the shower, without drying hair or their bodies causing the bed to be wet was a shocker.
"You just noticing that?" Bucky asked amusement thick in his voice.
"Your very distracting." Juniper answered and lifted her hand head on Bucky's chest and her new wand came to her hand. She gave it a wave and the bed and the two people in it where dry.
"Handy." Bucky commented. "Why don't you just always do that?"
"Just cause you can use magic doesn't mean you need to go whipping your wand out for everything." Juniper answered. She couldn't help smiling remembering the look that had been on Molly Weasley's face as she had yelled that sentiment at the twins once. "I like the music."
Bucky couldn't help smiling himself when the song Green eyes by Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly started playing as if the player had heard her words. He started singing it to her softly. Juniper let out a soft sigh of contentment snuggling even closer. The sound of the music and the soft crackling of the fire combined with Bucky's closeness soon lulled her into sleep.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Why on earth was she always walking in dreams? It was her dream she should be able to at least fly. It seemed very unfair. She missed flying so much she should at least be able to do it in her dreams. She glanced around then looked up at her companion. She didn't recognize her. She looked in her mid-twenties but wizard age spans being what they where she could be up to 15 years older than that. She was a beautiful woman of Asian decent although Juniper would never have been able to pinpoint it any more than that. There was something delicate about her, as well as a air of tragedy that brought out Juniper's protective instincts the same way Luna and Peter did. "Are we in Paris?" She asked her. She'd never been in Paris but for some reason that's what it felt like even though she'd never be able to describe why.
"Yes." The other woman answered her voice soft. "This is the last place I saw her you see."
"Leta?" Juniper asked. The woman nodded. "Your Nagini aren't you."
"What's left of me." The woman answered. "Its only when he is asleep and I am as well that I can...think. I don't think I have long."
"You intentionally sent me that vision of attacking Arthur Weasley didn't you?" Juniper asked. She had been thinking about it since Leta had dropped her bombshell and it made sense. If Tom could either block her out or send her visions why couldn't Nagini do the same.
"He seemed such a nice man. I knew he had seven children. Eight if you count yourself. I didn't want to hurt him." Nagini answered. "I'm afraid my venom may have still done more damage than anyone realizes. You should make sure the healers check him again."
"I will. Thank you. I'm sorry for what happened to you." Juniper told her looking up at her earnestly.
"Don't be sorry for things that happened long before you where born. That would take up a lot of energy better saved for other things." Nagini answered with a soft smile. "I need you to listen. Lord Voldemort, and Grindelwald are based in Malfoy manor but even with the heir at your side attacking there would be a mistake. They expect you there. Snape and Barty have both deserted Voldemort's side for Grindelwald. I don't think he has realized yet. Hes gone so mad over your destroying another of his horcrux more control is slipping from him. Hes dangerous like a rabid dog is dangerous but once the last horcruxes are gone he will be vulnerable. Grindelwald is the one you should be concerned with he is becoming as obsessed with you as my lord."
"Do you have to call him that even in a dream." Juniper asked.
"I do." Nagini answered. "Our bond is not equal like I suspect the one with your owl is."
"Oh no, we both know which of us is in control. Hedwig is completely my boss." Juniper replied.
Nagini smiled sweetly. "If only I had met you first with your parsel gifts." She sighed softly. "I can only assume that things worked out how they did for a reason."
"That usually comes from the lucky ones who benefit from the way things work out not those like us who've paid the price." Juniper said. "Its not fair."
"No. Not for me. Not for you. Not for Leta. But because of us things are fair for people like Hermione, and Ron, and Luna. They will lose things and people but they will never feel the pain of having next to nothing then having that next to ripped away as well." Nagini told her reaching out and taking her hand.
"Why do I feel close to you?" Juniper questioned.
"We have many things in common. Those with childhoods like ours see a kinship in each other. It either sparks a bond or resentment. My lord will always resent anything that reminds him that he was once one of those weak and unloved children." Nagini answered. "This is important for you too know, I'm sure Leta has warned you about Grindelwald but I have to tell you he is a extremely dangerous man. He believes what he is saying to the depths of his soul and has the ability to make others believe as well. The last time he rose to power he warned of Pearl Harbor, and the Atomic bombs and it came to pass. People will remember that. It will sway more. If you let him, if you listen to him, he will squirm his way in figure out what you want most and offer it to you on a silver platter. He may even be able to deliver. However you will never know the price, never see the trap until its closed around you. He will also find your pillars and try to knock them out. Your father, your friends, your lover. He will attempt to take everything and everyone you could possible turn too so you will have nowhere to go but to him."
"I will never turn to him." Juniper answered frowning.
"Oh, I hope not." Nagini said her eyes sad. "I never thought Credence would but sometimes the lure seems worth the risk."
"How did you become Tom's familiar?" Juniper asked her changing the subject.
Nagini sighed. "When I was approaching the end and knew I would not be able to hold my mind much longer I retreated to Albania. There are places there I knew I could hide and harm no one. I don't even know for sure how long I wandered there before Tom came. He was nothing but a spirit then possessing animals to survive. They never lasted long before he would suck them dry and have to move onto the next. When he possessed me because of the Maledictus I didn't die instead he managed even in that form to forge a familiar bond. When that disgusting little rat man came he managed to communicate with him and they...well they did awful things and made him a basic body and he made me a horcrux."
"Maybe there's a way to break the familiar bond. Maybe we can destroy the horcrux in you the same...in another way." Juniper offered.
"We both know the familiar bond only breaks with the death of either the wizard or the familiar. We both also know he can't die if even one horcrux remains. A lovely little catch-22 hmm?" Nagini said. "I know I have to die for him too. Its a price I'm willing to pay." Her voice was calm and accepting. "You can't save everyone little hero. You can save me by releasing me. My life has become a torment. He has turned me into the very thing I fought so long and hard to avoid. Don't use dark magic as I would not wish my life on anyone but please please, Juniper release me let me go on to that next great adventure Albus use to speak of. Tell Leta its okay. Tell her I'm ready to go."
Juniper nodded feeling tears fill her eyes. "Alright." She looked up at Nagini. "I'm glad I got to meet you even if it was here."
"So am I. Just remember the next time you see me it will be the snake, the familiar, the horcrux not me." Nagini said pulling her in for a hug. "You should wake up now your wand is trying to get your attention."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
"Pepppper, Pepppper wake up please I need your help." The voice sounded enough like Juniper that Pepper was already half-way out of bed before she realized no one was in the room but her and Tony who was snoring softly in the bed beside her. She blinked the sleep from her eyes trying to figure out where the voice had come from.
"Here. Over here. Please hurry." It was coming from the wardrobe where Pepper had stored the cup horcrux. She'd brought it knowing they would have to destroy it before the final battle. She'd also brought the sorting hat as Juniper had told her it could be quite helpful if it was in the mood and it was sitting over on the desk.
"Oh, that can't be good." Pepper said softly and reached over shaking Tony's shoulder. "Tony, Tony." Her voice raised a bit the second time shaking him a bit harder but he showed no sign of waking. "Even worse." She stood and started for the door intending to get Juniper to find out what was wrong with Tony but instead she found herself standing in front of the wardrobe.
Her hand shaking Pepper reached out and opened the wardrobe. The cup was sitting on a shelf looking harmless and innocent. The dragonhide bag had somehow fallen away leaving it uncovered. "Pepper, you must let me help you. Juniper is in terrible danger." The cup said.
Maybe she was dreaming that would explain a few things like how a cup was talking to her. "Your evil. Your a horcrux."
"No. He tried to make me a Horcrux but I belonged to Helga Hufflepuff. The power she left behind on the cup over powered and destroyed the horcrux long ago." The cup answered. There was a problem with that explanation but Pepper couldn't quite figure out what it was. "I only want to help Juniper. Thats what Hufflepuffs do. We are the helpers. We are loyal, kind, and helpful after all. Let me help her Pepper. If you love her help me help her. Lily Potter would do it."
That last part was almost overkill. The fact was however that Pepper very badly wanted to help Juniper. The moment she set eyes on her and seen the stricken look on her face she'd wanted to help the girl. Finding out why she'd looked at her that way had broken her heart, then finding out she was Tony's daughter, well she'd known from that second that the girl would be a big part of their life. Tony would never let his child walk away especially with all she had suffered up until that point and all she still had left to face. Not to mention the girl was making her own place in Pepper's heart. She could be so tough and even confident at times but when the two of them where alone there was always something vulnerable in her eyes that seemed to beg Pepper not to reject her. She'd seen that same look in Tony's face and couldn't resist it from his daughter any more than she could her fiancé.
"Ms Potts I think you would be well served to step away from the cup please." Pepper looked over in shock to see that it was the hat talking.
"Talking cup. Talking hat. Definitely a dream." Pepper mumbled to herself even as she tried to take the hat's advise only to find her legs locked in place.
"Of course it is." The cup reassured her. "Even more reason to pick me up and hear me out." Well that made sense. After all this was a dream so what harm could it possibly do? No. That was wrong. She shouldn't be thinking that way. After all the things she'd seen and experienced in the last few years, even before meeting Juniper and finding out about the hidden world of magic she knew better than to trust things like talking cups even in dreams. For some reason though she found herself reaching for the cup as the hat yelled at Tony to wake up.
The second her bare hands touched the cup, something Remus and Bill had told them to be careful never to let happen, a dark fog seemed to roll over her mind. She was aware of lifting the cup into her arms. Leaving the room. Aware of walking downstairs and out the back door into the garden. Then she was approaching the part of it that Hermione had warned them to stay clear of the night before. The part that held a stone circle she had told them had been used for the blood rituals the Blacks had once been known for.
"Its still has the remnants of blood magic clinging to it. Technically blood rituals have been illegal for a very long time. Blacks have always thought themselves above the laws though. I wouldn't be surprised to find the rituals continued up to twenty years or so ago." Hermione had told them.
It was the last place Pepper wanted to go. She didn't know why the Horcrux wanted her to go to the circle but she doubted it was anything that would help Juniper, or end with she herself walking away safe and sound in control of her own actions again. Pepper had more than a bit of a controlling nature. She'd had to as both Tony's assistant, then CEO of Stark industries then as the de facto caretaker of more than a few superheroes that regularly needed to be reminded they needed things like sleep or food. Anger was her default when things got out of her control. This was different though. She had no outlet. She could not even speak let along demand the horcrux stop being foolish and do as she said, or threaten to cancel it's favorite streaming service if it continued to be difficult. She couldn't even call for help. She could only try desperately to regain control of herself fighting against each step she took. She could feel tears running down her cheeks which made her even angrier. She could cry later over this...this invasion this assault but only after she had defeated the thing that wanted to use her to kill her step-daughter. Pepper had no doubt that was the horcrux's endgame. After all it was part of Tom Riddle and the bastard had been trying to murder Juniper since she was a toddler.
The night was quite and calm a sharp bite of cold in the air a scent that made her think snow may be likely soon but overpowered by the scent of flowers in the garden. (Evidently some wizarding plants generated their own heat and did well in the colder temperatures.) But there was nothing her mind could seize on to try and dislodge the control of the horcrux. She felt more than saw when she entered the circle. The full moon overhead illuminated the garden quite well but the horcrux was not allowing her to look anywhere but straight ahead. She only knew she'd entered the stone circle when the magic seemed to ignite the stones around her. The hairs on her arms stood up at the feel of the electricity as she knelt at a small stone alter placing the cup on it keeping her hands on it and started to chant words she didn't know in a language she didn't understand.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Juniper jerked awake sitting upright from a dead sleep waking Bucky as well Nagini's words in her mind.
"Doll? You have a nightmare?" Bucky asked his voice still sleepy.
"No." Juniper answered her eyes going to the wand still in her hand from drying the bed before she fallen to sleep. It was letting out a soft musical tone and vibrating ever so slightly. Once it seemed to know that she'd gotten the message it quieted and stilled. "Somethings wrong." She said softly jumping from the bed and grabbing the first item of clothing she found a black t-shirt of Bucky's that fell to her knees and a robe that had appeared on the hook on the back of the bathroom door.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Bucky asked coming fully away and standing as well pulling on a pair of pants. The calmness in his voice allowed Juniper to calm a bit as well. She took a deep breath and she stretched her magic out trying to find what was so wrong, so out of place. Instinct had her crossing to the window that overlooked the garden and she looked out to see Pepper. Pepper in the garden. Approaching the Black ritual circle with the cup in her hands.
"Oh shit." She hissed out and not even waiting to speak to Bucky she turned and bolted from the room screaming for Ron, and Hermione as she went banging on their doors loud enough to wake them loud enough to wake everyone in the house but not waiting for them to actually appear before she was running down the stairs. She would have fallen at the bottom if Blaise hadn't been there and caught her.
"What the bloody hell Potter?" He asked. "Is the house on fire?" She ignored him and just pulled away running through the hallway and too the open back door not aware that Blaise and Pansy as well as the others where following her.
As she ran out she saw that Pepper was already in the ritual circle stones ignited kneeling by the alter hands on the cup.
"No Pepper." Juniper screamed and ran for the circle.
"Potter no don't." Blaise's voice didn't penetrate her panic but Pansy's full body tackle stopped her bringing her to the ground and knocking the air from her lungs as the bigger girl landed on her.
"The circle is active. You cross that boarder you'll kill both of you. You little idiot." Pansy snarled in her ear. Not releasing her as if not convinced she wouldn't continue her suicidal attempt to save the other woman.
Juniper was able to lift her head enough to see Blaise, Ron, and Hermione stop the others yelling the same explanation. Her dad wasn't there though. Where was her dad? Her eyes focused on Pepper. No. No. Was this it? Oh Godric help her, was this her life? Doomed to repeat the same cycle over and over? Doomed to watch the people she loved die in front of her for her sake?
"OPEN THE WARDS!" It was a voice she'd heard twice before. Once in the graveyard when she faced Tom. Then it had told her to trust herself trust her wand. Then again when she'd been terrified by Bellatrix at the orphanage when it had told her to act like a lioness. Both times she had trusted it. Both times it had been right. She would have risked much more to save Pepper. She stretched out her magic again and found someone was trying to breach the wards. Something from...above? She focused and opened the wards enough for the two beings to enter letting it slam closed behind them.
Suddenly just like that there where two men in the circle with Pepper. One was huge with long blond hair and a red cape a equally huge war hammer clutched in one hand. The other man was smaller thin and pale with long jet black hair dressed in black pants and a green top that looked more tunic than shirt a staff in one hand. For just a moment Juniper thought it was actually Godric Gryffindor, and Salazar Slytherin in the flesh. But a moment later recognized them from pictures Hermione had shown her of the Avengers. Thor and Loki.
Loki reached out grabbing Pepper and dragging her away from the cup and into his arms turning so that both he and Thor where between her and the cup. "Now brother." He called. Thor lifted his huge hammer and slammed it down onto the Horcrux. The light and sound from the resultant explosion blew out some of the windows in the back of the house and had most of those in the yard crying out and covering their ears, squeezing their eyes closed. The black mist screamed from the horcrux but Loki was having none of it and waved the staff in his hand at it making it seem to burst if mist could burst and dissipated as the stone circle went inert.
For a moment the only sound was hard breathing then Loki lifted Pepper into his arms and gave them all a glare. "You need to be more careful where you keep your soul jars."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
In Loki's arms flanked by Clint and Rhody Pepper was carried back into the house and settled on the couch while Hermione and Bruce ran upstairs to check on Tony. The others followed them into the drawing room. Bucky had a arm around Juniper and Ron was walking shoulder to shoulder with Peter as both of them looked a little shaken by seeing Pepper attacked. Juniper couldn't keep her mind away from what would have happened if the two gods hadn't appeared exactly when they had. Potter luck or something else? And what was with the deal with that voice that seemed to speak up in her head now and then?
Pepper looked up her eyes seeming to search the group and then she held out her hands. One to Peter the other to Juniper. Peter took her hand and sat next to her hugging her. Juniper took her other hand and knelt on the floor to face her.
"I'm sorry Pepper. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." Juniper said softly.
"Add guilt complex to that list." Natasha told Clint.
"Thats been on the list since we saw the tournament." Clint replied calmly.
"Juniper this was not your fault." Pepper said softly releasing her hand to stroke her hair putting a hand on her cheek. "I didn't treat the cup with the care I should have. The bag slipped open somehow. I should have kept a closer watch over it."
"Come little serpents. I think its time we retired once again and left the lions to sort this out." Leta said in her cool tones putting a light hand on both Pansy and Blaise's shoulders.
"Pansy." Juniper called causing the girl to pause and turn. "Thanks."
"Didn't do it for you Potter. If you die before you kill The Dark Lord we're all screwed. After he's dead you can run into all the active ritual circles you want." Pansy gave her a smirk and turned pulling away from Leta and stalking back towards her room.
"Such a lovely girl." Clint said rolling his eyes.
"Pepper?" They all looked over as Tony was nearly running down the stairs Bruce and Hermione behind him.
"It was a simple sleeping charm." Hermione told them as Tony crossed to Pepper who stood to met him pulling her close.
"Did the girl call you Potter?" Loki asked eyes going to Juniper as she stood. "As in Juniper Potter? The girl who lived? The chosen one?"
"How would you know about that?" Rhody asked with a suspicious scowl.
"I spent a little time in the magical community when I last came to earth." Loki answered.
"Was that before or after you murdered 80 people and then turned a alien army loose on New York?" Natasha asked dryly.
"Before." Loki answered casually. "So I assume from your...friends statement the so-called dark Lord Voldemort has made his reappearance."
"Yes he is back." Juniper answered her voice soft as she faced the gods who so strongly reminded her of two of the founders.
"And that thing that was trying to possess Ms. Potts was his soul jar." Loki stated more than asked.
"We call them Horcruxes. He made seven that was the 5th we've found. The other four have been destroyed as well." Juniper told him as Bucky and Natasha both moved a bit closer as if not sure they should trust the unpredictable god to close to her.
He rolled his eyes with a put upon sigh. "I'm not going to bite the girl."
"Wouldn't put it past you." Clint said with a sneer.
"My brother is trying to make amends for his past misdeeds. He would never harm a child." Thor informed him.
"I'm not a child." Juniper objected.
Thor started to give her a patronizing smile and a answer which would no doubt have gotten him hexed god or not when Loki broke in. "If the stories have any truth to them she has defeated a dark lord at least a few times, and slayed both a dragon, and the basilisk which Salazar left in that castle of theirs. A thousand years ago which means it had to be what 50 feet long?"
"Sixty." Ron corrected ignoring the look Juniper shot him. "When she was twelve."
"Shes not a child. Shes a warrior." Juniper decided she liked Loki. Both for not allowing his brother to label her a child, and for not calling her a hero. Then what he'd said sunk in a little.
"You talk like you knew Salazar Slytherin." Juniper said.
"I did. Salazar, Rowena, Helga, and Godric." Loki answered. Juniper, Ron, and Hermione looked at him in wide eyed wonder as if he'd just announced that he'd had tea with Jesus. But then to them It wasn't a unfair analogy. The four founders had created the cornerstones that the entire British wizarding world was based on. From the time they where eleven years old until the day they died they all where judged at least partly on which of the founder's houses they where sorted into. Juniper herself still called on Godric when she felt a need for extra strength or courage. They had created rules, laws, and examples that their community still held sacred today.
"What where they like?" Hermione asked her voice soft eyes bright with curiosity that for once not even Ron shhhed.
Loki looked a bit surprised. He wasn't use to anyone being so interested in anything he had to say. Thor was always the one who got attention. The one everyone wanted to talk to or fawn over. These three chi...young magicals barely seemed to notice Thor at all their entire focus on Loki. Wanting to hear what he had to say.
The Avengers felt a bit uneasy at the way the teens where reacting to Loki. Maybe they should have seen it coming. After all Loki had magic, was the god of mischief which they seemed very good at themselves and now as it turned out had known the four witches and wizards they idolized.
Tony sighed softly. "Why don't we all sit. Maybe Loki will tell you a bit about them." He gave Loki a look as if warning him not to disappoint the teens. He needn't have worried. Loki was enjoying being the center of attention for once. Being the one who's stories people wanted to hear. After the first few minutes the Avengers including Thor where listening almost as avidly as the three teens. It turned out when given a interested audience Loki was quite the storyteller.
Helga Hufflepuff was the easiest to start with. The youngest of the quartet and the only one who'd actually been married after Hogwarts had been founded her wedding was the only one ever held in the castle. Helga had been sweet and gentle. Kind and loyal to the bone. She'd had a gift for herbology and food magic and was never happier than when in her kitchen. However if someone threatened her students or her friends Helga could turn as vicious as the badger her house used as a emblem. Loki himself had once seen her defeat and mindwipe a entire mob of muggle witch hunters who'd come for two of her students when she'd went to fetch them for their first year at Hogwarts. She'd only ever had one child a son who'd inherited all of his mother's sweetness and his father's charm.
Rowena Ravenclaw he told them was easily one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen. Widowed young with only two daughters she showed no interest in romance however immersing herself in research and teaching. Unfortunately this resulted in her oldest daughter Helena feeling unloved and neglected to the point that she stolen her mother's greatest treasure her diadem and ran away with it. Rowena asked the young Slytherin who was desperately in love with Helena, Baron Ricard to find her and fetch her home. He found Helena and when she refused to return with him he stabbed her to death in a fit of rage and once he saw what he'd done he killed himself as well. They had both become ghosts and both returned to Hogwarts. Doomed to be trapped in the castle together for eternity as the Ravenclaw and Slytherin ghosts.
"The Bloody Baron and the Grey lady of Ravenclaw tower." Hermione said softly awe in her voice. "Thats why he is covered in blood and wrapped in chains. Penance." Loki nodded silent for a moment.
"He deserves it." Juniper said a hint of anger in her voice. "He deserves worse. He murdered the person he claimed to love."
Tony who was sitting with Pepper and Peter on the couch behind the teens who where once again sitting on the floor leaned forward to tug her hair lightly. Juniper looked up at him over her shoulder. "I'm fine dad."
Thor looked shocked but Loki didn't even blink. Like Blaise earlier he'd seen the similarities and the closeness and did the math.
"You look tiered. Maybe the rest tomorrow?" Tony suggested.
"There's only two more founders and one of them is ours. Please dad." Tony couldn't help think that Juniper sounded like a little girl begging for one more bedtime story. Pepper had been right. If he'd raised her she would have been spoiled rotten. He'd never be able to say no to those big green eyes of hers.
"If Loki wants too." He said with a sigh.
Instead of answering Loki just smirked and started the next story. Godric Gryffindor was even a little bigger than Thor with a head and beard full of flame red hair until his wife had made him shave the beard. The legendary warrior was a devoted husband who'd do anything for his wife. He was always smiling especially when he was about to go into battle even if it did turn a little blood-thirsty at those times. The only time Loki had ever seen him without the smile was when everything with Salazar had happened. He was also a devoted father to his nine sons. The only thing he and his wife lacked was a daughter as his family line tended to boys but with a charm from Rowena their tenth child was a little girl. A little girl who turned out to be a fiercer warrior than any of her brothers. He was the oldest of the founders and tended to act as a older brother to them and all the students not caring a whit what house they where in.
And finally Salazar Slytherin. A ambitious, clever man with a lot of power and a fierce intelligence. When the school first open he objected to the inclusion of muggleborns on the basis of the danger they posed to the school and themselves. The other founders had agreed it was risky. If the wrong people found out about the school they would bring the witch hunters and the traitorous magicals that worked with them to attack not only the school but the homes of any other students that where named. When the other three founders insisted though he finally agreed. Only pure blood and half bloods where accepted into Slytherin though. Then on a beautiful winter day Salazar's wife and the youngest two of their four children went to play in the woods and never came home. Loki was with Salazar when they found the burnt body of his wife and the hanged ones of his youngest son and daughter. The man had been inconsolable and then his grief had turned to rage. He blamed all muggleborns and demanded they be cast out of the school. The other founders had refused trying to make him see there was no proof that any of the muggleborns had done anything to provoke the attack on his family. In fact despite years of searching they never found out who had murdered the Slytherins. Thats when Salazar had taken his remaining son and daughter and left the school forever. He had first hidden the Basilisk in the chamber under the school as a last defense if the school was ever attacked. As there had at the time been three other parselmouths as well as Loki who could also speak the language of serpents in the school he had assumed there would always be at least one among the Slytherin students who would be able to control the beast.
The last story left the three staring at him in shock. Tears where running down Hermione's cheeks and Ron looked a bit pale under his freckles.
"We where never told any of that." Juniper said. "We where just led to believe that Slytherin hated muggles and muggleborns from the beginning and put the basilisk in the chamber to kill them all when his heir returned to the school."
"If he wanted all the muggleborns dead wouldn't it have made more sense to do it while he was at the school instead of waiting for a far off future and a heir that might never return to the school?" Loki asked softly. "There is no one left alive aside from me who was there. Its much easier for those who want to push a certain narrative to do so once all the witnesses where dead. The story needed a villain and Salazar made a good one."
"How long where you at the school?" Juniper asked.
"Around 25 years or so. I taught self-transfiguration. It was a rare talent even then and I believe now it can only be accomplished by the Animagus transformation and even then its only one form." Loki answered.
"You where a teacher?" Thor asked in shock. "Brother I never knew this."
"You where never interested enough to ask where you?" Loki sneered. "I went to many realms to learn as much magic as I could. Here in Midgard at the time the four founders where the most powerful magic users. I went to the school and learned from them. As a trade I taught the students who had the necessary talents a bit of my magic."
"Why did you leave the school?" Juniper asked. Only a few weeks ago the chance to live at Hogwarts full-time as a teacher would have been everything she'd ever wanted. The castle may not have been as safe for her as promised but it had been her first true home and in some ways always would be. She couldn't imagine living there, teaching there for 25 years and then choosing to leave.
"That is a story of its own and one that we should probably save for another night if you wish to stay awake for it." Loki said a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as the girl didn't seem to notice how much she was leaning against Bucky or even that her eyelids where starting to droop.
"Good point." Juniper said. Then called out. "Kretcher."
The old elf popped in giving Juniper his regular adoring look. "Mistress Black calls Kretcher?"
"Kretcher could you prepare rooms for Thor and Loki?" Juniper asked him.
Kretcher started to speak then turned to the two men she'd motioned too so fast his neck popped a little and he almost dropped to his knees. "Asgardians. Never has the House of Black played host to such noble guests." He breathed. Then looked back over to Juniper. "Mistress Black will surely restore the glory of House Black."
"Right right. We are all very tiered Kretcher." Juniper told him smothering a yawn.
"Oh course. Kretcher will prepare the best rooms." He popped out.
"HEY! I told you to give dad and Pepper the best room!" Juniper yelled then frowned at the space where the elf had been moments ago. "Crazy elf."
"Go on to bed." Hermione told Juniper. "And Pepper should get some rest too. we'll wait with Thor and Loki for Kretcher to get their rooms ready."
"Thanks 'Mione." Juniper said letting Bucky pull her to her feet.
"I remember when sleeping through the night was pretty much a given and not a pipe dream." Juniper told Bucky sleepily as they reentered the room.
Bucky chuckled softly and kissed her forehead lightly. "We'll get back to that place doll. I promise once this war is over we will go someone quite and safe and sleep for a week." He told her as the both crawled into the bed feeling as if the few hours of sleep they'd had before Juniper had woken with the knowledge of Pepper being in danger had never happened.
"Yeah at least a week." Juniper whispered snuggling closer to him and falling asleep almost immediately. Bucky was awake quite a bit longer holding her close stroking her hair lightly and hoping he'd be able to keep that promise.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
AN- Poor poor Pepper. Maybe she was better off before she met any Starks lol. She was pretty strong but in the next chapter when its just her and Tony she is pretty shook.
Both Thor and Loki get MVP awards for their first appearance. Pansy came through in the clutch as well. Even if her motives weren't completely selfless. The thought of Loki knowing the founders was to much to resist once I did the math and discovered he would have been alive during the time they lived.
I couldn't resist playing up the obvious similarities between Loki/Salazar and Thor/Godric. Oddly enough so far our little lions seem to prefer Loki. But then I suppose knowing the founders gave him a unfair advantage.
I also couldn't resist the chance to give Nagini a voice. Like Remus she is a tragic character who could just never get a break.
Next chapter should if all things go as planned bring in our second favorite set of twins, and another battle that was never in the originals, but I always thought would made a interesting addition. Also more information from Loki throws a wrench in the plans for him to help defeat Grindelwald but that doesn't mean he doesn't have some ideas for Juniper.