The Goddess of Death

~ oOo ~

Chapter Two: New Starts

Loki

He stared down at his hand in amazement. This was beyond his wildest dreams. He had a soul mate. Someone out there who would be able to accept him as he was and still want him. This was so incredibly rare, it hadn't been heard about in centuries on Asgard.

He looked out the window in the library at the courtyard. It was his hidden spot where he would go and think, where Thor was unlikely to find him. But they would know where to find him, and he would know where to find them. But only if they were in the same realm, as all things had a limit. Even the magic that connected them and called to one another. He turned away from the sights of Asgard.

His soul mate wasn't on Asgard, this meant. He could not feel through their bond that they were near. But where could they be? Did he dare go through the secret passageways and search? After what he planned for Thor's coronation tomorrow? The All-father would surely notice him missing, it would lead to questions. And it could lead to Thor's resentment, for announcing this news would ignite anger and jealousy in his brother. Thor's emotions would get the better of him. And what if they thought him lying? What if they thought it was all a jest to steal the lightning of Thor's special day?

Mother would believe him. But would that be enough to gain permission and use the Bifrost to search for his soul mate?

Best to leave it for now, to let his plans go forth and after the All-father realized Thor wasn't ready for the responsibility of looking after the realms would he search for his soul mate. And then he would finally find the happiness he'd been searching for.

He turned his head back to the window, to the fighting arena watching Thor practice with Sif and the Warriors Three. For the first time not feeling jealous of their friendship.

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Calla

"Calla! Oh, my Merlin! Callie!" Padma ran towards her where she stood watching other witches and wizards binding Death Eaters so they wouldn't escape. She turned her head to see her friend rushing towards her dark hair whipping into her worried face.

"Padma!" She blinked feeling the rush of adrenaline from battle leave her as she staggered in place leaning most of her weight on the staff beside her. "What happened to your face?" She asked as Padma skidded in front of her almond-shaped eyes wide.

"Oh this?" Padma touched her cheek where a scar sat diagonally across her jaw, blood leaked out of it and was smudged as her fingertips gently touched it. "A weak cutting curse, bastard went down with a well-aimed jelly-leg jinx." Her friend rolled her eyes. "Death Eaters these days…"

"The requirements must have dropped." She laughed, partly in relief. Everything seemed funny at that moment.

"What we saw earlier…" Padma frowned her words hesitant as her eyes watched Calla's face. "I don't really know what to ask, and I don't know if you even have the answer, but there will be questions."

She sighed running a hand through her hair. "All I want right now is to see Teddy and sleep. I don't want to stay here, I don't think I ever want to come back."

"I understand." Padma's lips tugged up as her own eyes scanned the carnage around them. "I'm sure Luna could provide a suitable distraction so they don't notice you missing."

"That sounds wonderful." She smiled for the first time since the battle had started.

"I'll see you tomorrow though, right?" Padma bit her lip and her question tentative. Her heart warmed at her friend's worriment, but it did hold a ring of truth since there was nothing more she wanted to do than escape the wizarding world.

"The pre-planned party at Longbottom manor that Lisa was telling everyone about?" She asked, her question more rhetorical than anything else since she already knew the answer.

"Of course," Padma gave her a deadpan expression. "I plan to drink so much Firewhisky that I'll finally get enough sleep, hopefully not enough you'll find me in Egypt though, unlike last time."

"I look forward to it." She rolled her eyes, noticing at the edge of her vision the blonde they talked of earlier coming towards them.

"Calla! The nargles told me you needed my help?" Luna's silvery blue eyes looked up at her, her face was covered in soot for some reason making them stand out more than ever. And it looked like part of her wavy blonde hair was singed and her right sleeve was torn off but it didn't look like spell work had done it. "Oh this?" Calla's eyes were drawn to Luna's face as the younger girl pointed at her sleeve. "Dean pulled me away from a killing curse, unfortunately he ripped my sleeve in the process."

"Oh, well I'm glad you're okay." She blinked slightly taken aback, even though she should be used to her after all these years.

"Callie needs your help Luna, she wants to leave without being noticed." Padma smirked, her hair lightly blowing in the breeze.

"Simple, there are a lot of nargles around after all." Luna beamed at them before skipping off towards where most of the people were standing.

"I'll find you first when I get to Neville's, just to make sure you're not completely wasted by the time I arrive." She laughed remembering her seventieth and how Padma had been found sleeping in Lisa's bathtub two hours into the party.

She was definitely a lightweight. Especially when it came to Ogden's Old Firewhisky.

"You'd better!" Padma pointed a finger at her, her chocolate brown eyes narrowed. She smiled in response unable to help herself. "Oh Callie!" Her friend waved her arms in the air giving up her stern façade and pouncing on her squeezing her arms around her in a hug. She wrapped her own arms around her friend happy for the comfort. After a minute or so they let each other go with tears in both of their eyes.

"Get some sleep tonight." She bit her lip in worriment; after all they hadn't had a good night's sleep in a while.

"You too! And you'd better not lie to me about it 'cause I'll just ask Tonks!" Padma's face fell to an anxious look as she looked at the dark bags underneath Calla's eyes.

"What would I do without you?" She asked sarcastically.

"You'd never have survived without me Potter!"

"Yeah, yeah…" She rolled her eyes at her friend's dramatics, glad that something's hadn't changed. There was suddenly a loud noise that sounded like an explosion from the other side of town drawing everyone's attention. The two girls grinned at the familiar noise, taking it as Luna's distraction.

"Give Teddy a kiss for me?" Padma's eyes lit up and her own lips tugged upwards at the thought of her godson.

"Of course. Bye Paddy!" She gave her friend a gentle wave and smile before she closed her eyes and twirled on her feet imagining the Potter cottage grounds. The familiar feeling of being sucked through a straw gripped her until it let her go and colour once again was visible.

She looked up at her ancestral home, letting the smile on her face fall off as she found herself alone. She staggered into the house, the door opening when it recognized her magic and blood. The weight of everything she'd been through these last couple of years was finally catching up with her.

"Winky?" She leaned against the wall, her hands clutching her staff to her chest.

"You is calling Mistress?" The house elf appeared in front of her.

"Where are Dora and Teddy?" She asked, wanting to reassure herself that they were indeed alive.

"Misses Dora and wee Teddy are in the parlor; shall Winky prepare supper?" Winky looked up at her with her big brown eyes.

"Yes, thank you Winky." She nodded at the elf watching as her little helper vanished to the kitchens. She started walking towards the parlor at the back of the house. It looked over the garden; a pleasant view when they ate breakfast just outside the patio doors.

She walked through the hallway, looking out as the sun fell down and the candlelight began to light her way. She got to the open door to see Dora seated on the floor waving her wand about and creating bubbles. Little Teddy sat in her lap clapping his hands as his hair changed colours in his excitement. She smiled at the scene. This is what she was what she had fought for.

Yet, they seemed so distant. It wasn't just the distance in the room, but it felt like a different matter internally. She stepped closer wanting to distance herself from this feeling, wanting to be in their company.

"Dora?" She practically whispered into the air. But it didn't matter the volume of her voice, Dora turned her head a slight smile on her lips.

"Callie?" Her dark purple eyes widened at the sight of her. "What happened?" In a fluid movement she picked up Teddy and got off the carpet. She couldn't take all her feelings anymore and rushed towards her. Dora's arms opened automatically, as if by motherly instinct. She flung herself into the hug, with the only family left to her. They stayed like that for a while as she let her tears flow. She turned her head to look at Teddy, to find his hair turn blue as he noticed her tears. She leaned towards his forehead and dotted it with kisses. He began to giggle and Dora let her take him into her arms. She hugged the little boy with all her might. Unable to tear herself away from him and what he represented.

"It's over," She looked up at Dora, who still looked slightly puzzled. "It's really over. For good this time." Dora's eyes widened her hair flashing through an array of colours. "He's never coming back."

"Oh Callie!" Dora squealed, her hands flashing up to her mouth. "I'm going to be angry with you later for not telling me, but right now we're going to celebrate!" Dora smiled and hugged them both. "This calls for Firewhisky, not for my Teddy though," Dora untangled her arms from them. "This little guy is going to get a million kisses and maybe even some tickles!" Dora winked at her son tapping him on the nose.

"Winky's taking care of dinner, I'm sure she'll provide alcohol for us once we've eaten." She smiled at Dora's happiness.

"Oh, this is wonderful!" Dora span in a circle her hands thrown in the air, before crashing into the sofa and falling onto it laughing.

"Yes, it is." She smiled at her.

"We must dance to celebrate!" Dora yelled. "Winky!"

"You is calling Winky, Madam?" Winky popped in.

"Lily's record player that's in the ballroom, can you bring it to us?" Dora clapped her hands together.

"Of course," Winky popped away and then came back, the record player appearing on the table that Dora had pushed to the side so she could have access to the floor to play with Teddy.

"Thank you Winky." She smiled at the elf as Dora sprang up to start the music.

"You're most welcome Mistress." Winky replied. "Is there anything else Winky be doing?"

"Well you can have tomorrow off." She smiled at Winky as the elf's eyes widened.

"Winky would like to be asking a question." Winky shuffled her feet.

"Yes?" She smiled as she bounced Teddy who was sucking on his fingers.

"Is it true Mistress? That he-who-must-not-be-named is gone?" Winky looked up at her nervously.

"He's gone for good this time." She smiled at the elf. Winky looked up wide-eyed nodding. Her big brown eyes filled with tears as she smiled.

"Winky is glad." Winky nodded and popped out of the room just as Dora got the record player to start.

"Callie! Put Teddy down we're going to dance!" Dora grinned her hair becoming bright pink ringlets. She smiled as she put Teddy in his rocking chair, his golden eyes on them.

Before she could think about it Dora grabbed her hand and pulled her away from Teddy. An unfamiliar song started playing and Dora started jumping up and down waving her hair. She giggled at the freedom and danced along with her despite wanting to be consumed by her bed sheets. Soon enough Dora let go of her hand and she joined in with her enthusiasm, dancing about the room to Teddy's laughter.

She smiled at the sound of his giggles; bouncing over to him she picked him up and twirled him around the room. She saw Dora trip over her own feet as she tried to pull off some dance maneuver. She gently bounced Teddy her heart feeling lighter just by watching him.

"Dinner is being ready Mistress." Winky popped up next to her, the elf's eyes taking in the scene. Dora was currently on the floor on her back.

"We'll meet you in the dining room then." She smiled at the elf that had become her friend. When she had finally found the family home in Godric's Hollow after seventh year she'd been embarrassed by the attention of the two-House elves that she'd grown closer to in Hogwarts, and it hadn't felt right to leave Winky at the school after Dobby's sacrifice. They'd worried over everything about her, they'd cried when Kreacher had died a year ago and Dobby had only been killed a few months after. But the old Black family elf had felt a great weight had been taken off his small shoulders after getting his story out and having the locket he'd been guarding over finally destroyed.

Moving into her Tudor cottage hadn't been a hard choice; her ancestor Ralston Potter had built the estate after retiring from the Wizengamot in the 16th century. It was situated somewhere in Godric's Hollow and was slightly larger than the houses around it, as they'd been converted into semi-detached homes whilst the Potter cottage had stayed the same with its slightly wonky timber frame and tiled roof.

Luckily the Potter family had been more interested in adding to the family coffers with their hard work than putting their wealth on display. So, it wasn't over the top or more like a museum than a family home.

There was a small pottery studio in the back of the garden, as the Potter family didn't want to forget their humble beginnings. Their namesake Linfred Potter had created pottery in the twelfth-century; his experiments had laid the foundation of the Potter family's fortune. She'd found out in the family grimoire that he was the originator of a number of potion remedies including Skele-gro and Pepperup. This had made her feel terrible when thinking of her own potion skills. At least she had got an EE in her Potion NEWTS exam.

There were many homemade pots, bowls, vases and sculptures that her ancestors had made all around the house. Giving it a warm, homely feel unlike Grimmauld Place. Apparently, it was a family tradition to teach their children how to make pottery. It saddened her that she had never got the chance to learn from her father; perhaps she would take some lessons in the muggle world so she could carry on the tradition to her own children. Though she would never know the traditions in which her family had passed down to embed magic into their creations.

They made their way into the dining room, Winky got rather upset if they tried to eat in the kitchen. It had made her feel rather lazy to not be cooking in her own home. But she and Winky had come to an agreement that Winky would allow her to bake when she wanted to, in exchange she would teach Winky all the recipes she knew and exactly what she liked to eat.

The pleasant smells of French onion soup filled the smaller room. The chandelier's candles made the room glow. The room had a cabinet along one wall filled with Pottery and seashells; the walls had a couple of tasteful landscape paintings that looked to be painted by one of her ancestors since she recognized the landmarks from the outskirts of Godric's Hollow. The table fitted six people around it, Teddy's high chair was already out and matching the olive green, white and gold colour palette the room had. The white walls and curtains let in the last rays of the sun, making the room feel warm and cozy.

She placed Teddy down in his seat, smiling as his eyes turned hazel green like her own as he saw the food in front of him. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she ate Winky's cooking, the delightful smell of onions made her stomach grumble as she and Dora sat down. They all ate in a comfortable silence that was sometimes interrupted by Teddy's baby talk.

Half way through the soup Teddy's head dropped and the two of them giggled quietly at the exhausted baby. Dora gently took him out of his chair and went to put him to bed upstairs.

She stopped eating once Dora was out of sight, her eyes drifting to the view outside the window. She rested her chin on her palm, her heart feeling heavy in her chest. It was over.

What was she going to do now? All her life had led to the downfall of Voldemort, she and everyone else hadn't expected her to live past it. At least her schooling was complete and she didn't have to be surrounded by kids who would only stare at her. One small mercy in all this.

Would she get a job? What sort of job did she want? She definitely didn't want to be an Auror, after everything the Ministry had put her through she would never work for them. Hearing the sound of Dora's approaching footsteps she decided to put thoughts of the future on hold for another time.

She blinked rapidly at the grin that had overtaken Dora's face when she came back into the room. Her silent confusion was answered when Dora brought the bottle in her hand from behind her back. The Blishen's fire cinnamon flavored whisky label looked old-fashioned which meant that Dora had snuck into the cellar before coming here instead of asking Winky. It was also a bigger bottle than the ones that could be brought in Hogsmeade.

They spent most of the rest of the night in silence with only her mother's record player playing in the background once they went back to the parlor. It wasn't Dora's old celebratory style but somehow, she felt better for it. They both needed something that made this part of their lives final, they didn't want fireworks and laughter, but they also didn't want a mourning.

Finally, after a couple of hours they wobbly made their way upstairs to their separate rooms for the night. With a long hug that made her not want to let go and be alone she went into her room.

Her eyelids fell shut as she snuggled into the pillow, she couldn't stop the yawn from escaping her mouth as she let herself fall into the darkness.

Her dreams swirled about her unconscious mind until a golden light appeared. It grew bigger until it eclipsed her vision and became an amazing library, the bookshelves stretched to the ceilings, pillars connecting with the amazingly tall ceiling. She'd never seen anything quite like it. Everything looked to be so old fashioned like Hogwarts but so much more modern than the medieval style. The most unusual thing about it though was that it didn't feel like a dream, she felt as if she was really there. It reminded her of her dreams of Voldemort when she would access his mind, but I didn't feel sinister like those. In fact, she felt the joy of freedom, and the eagerness to explore.

She swirled about feeling like Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Lisa had shown her the film when she'd visited before their fourth year. She felt so dazed by the sheer number of books around her that she didn't notice the person in one of the corners of the room. She looked down at herself and found her usual overlarge nightshirt, she felt a blush rise to her cheeks, and hoped she wouldn't be noticed by anyone dressed like this.

Grinning she skipped over to the window and found her breath escaping her as she looked out at the magnificent city. Everything appeared to shine, as if it were the idea of heaven personified. It felt too amazing to be something she'd come up with her imagination. The buildings looked to be made up of cream pillars and gold architecture. They sparked in the sunlight, yet despite the warm glow of what looked to be midafternoon she could see stars in the sky just passed the clouds.

She turned around from the amazing view and finally noticed the man sitting in a window seat. His gaze was fixed on whatever he was seeing out of the window. She looked his tall frame over, admiring the gold and green clothes he wore. His aristocratic features, the slight wave in his black hair where it reached his jaw. His high cheekbones and the muscles in his neck as he stretched it, looking out the window. She noticed the book his hands were clasped around. But most of all she felt at peace in his presence. She watched as he breathed out, realizing that she had copied his action.

She hesitantly stepped closer, a need filling her that only he could satisfy. She kept quiet not wanting to startle him as he leaned his forehead against the window. She leaned against the bookcase he was next to, watching him as he closed his eyes.

"It's for the good of all." He whispered as if consoling himself. She leaned forwards worried. She wanted to brush his hair away from his forehead, she wanted to stroke his cheek but most of all she wanted to know what it felt like to touch him.

His eyes suddenly opened as if sensing a disturbance. His light blue-green eyes scanned the room, though he didn't seem to see her.

"Eek!" She yelped as her heart thudded through her chest in surprise.

"Is someone there?" He called out as he frowned. She ran towards the other shelves trying to stop the blush from rising to her cheeks and to get away from the man who had effortlessly captured her attention. This was officially the weirdest dream she'd ever had. But with a misstep she tripped over herself and cashed backwards into one of the bookcases. The trip backwards made her heart pound and she suddenly found herself gasping and sitting upwards in her bed back home. Breathing heavily, she looked round in confusion, unsure of what had just happened.