A Witch, A Wolf & A Vampire
Chapter 4: Me Familia
Iris had spent the rest of the day cleaning the house with help from Rosalie as well as getting two guest rooms ready, she was smiling brightly and even the impending visit of the Volturi Queens didn't dampen her mood, she would be seeing her sister and brother and one of her best friends for the first time in almost a year. Sure she had written a few letters and had a few floo calls with them over the time period just to check in but she selfishly had been so focused on muggle-school, Teddy and her relationship with Rosalie that she didn't consider her Hogwarts friends too much, not that they would blame her as the last time they had all been together it was the eve of the final battle. She knew that she would be returning to Hogwarts for the one-year vigil for the Battle of Hogwarts and she would have to give a speech, she would see Minnie and she would turn down a teaching job from her again, but perhaps Rosalie would go with her and Teddy?
"Okay I'm about done with the guests' rooms and the bathrooms," Rosalie said, plopping herself down on the couch with Teddy in her arms. Iris smiled at the two recalling their conversation about Rosalie's past.
"So… I think before the Volturi arrive and even before my family becomes aware of everything. We need to have no secrets between us, I know we have had a silent agreement to not speak about our past, but I think our pasts are becoming relevant… so I will share my story with you first if you'll meet me halfway and share your own?" Rosalie asked nervously.
"I… okay," Iris had conceded and listened intently as Rosalie told her of her past.
"I was born in 1915 to Maria and Marcus Hale, at the time my father was a banker. We lived in Rochester and even through the great depression we maintained our financial and social status. Growing up during that time for a woman meant getting married and having a family was everything, I became a quite materialistic girl. I met and fell in love with who I thought was a lovely man, Royce King the 2nd, he was the son of the bank owner…" Rosalie took an unneeded breath and Iris placed a gentle hand on her own giving her a warm smile.
"We were engaged shortly after and I was happy for a time, I was to have a wealthy husband, and eventually children. But one night, Royce and his friends got drunk, and I was walking home from a wedding dress fitting. That night… he and his friends… they raped me and beat me. Royce called me a scarlet woman, a whore. They left me for dead. Carlisle found me dying and changed me, for decades I resented him for changing me. I got my revenge of course, even wore my wedding dress. I was a little theatrical back then. I always resented Carlisle even if things did get better and we were joined by others in our little family, but I could never have a child of my own. Eventually everyone found their mates except Edythe and I, and I began to resent my family because they were happy. And then I met you and the moment our eyes met all that resentment faded, I felt whole for once in my existence. Of course, that wholeness became fear when I first heard about Teddy, I wondered if you were already someone else's and I feared what I might do if you were. I would have let you go, of course, your happiness meant everything to me, and I would have stood aside if it meant you would have been happy. But, and it's selfish of me to say but I'm glad you weren't someone else's and that it was just Teddy and you. Because it meant that I had a chance to have both you, and him. A child I always wanted and a love I pined for," Rosalie said with tears in her eyes that would never fall, Iris smiled at her and leant in to give her a kiss which she eagerly reciprocated. Iris kept her hands on Rosalie's.
"Before I was born there was a war going on in my world… my parents fought against the Dark Lord, and on Halloween night they were betrayed by someone they thought was a friend and killed. He tried to kill me, but he failed, and I became the girl-who-lived…" Iris began her story watching as Rosalie tensed as she began to tell her about her years of abuse, her schooling at Hogwarts and the constant danger she found herself in. Though Rosalie's eyes darkened at the mention of Iris' previous relationships.
Now everything was out in the open and Rosalie had even met Tonks and Remus, the latter being a Werewolf himself and she was surprised to hear that Werewolves weren't as extinct as the Volturi would have them believe they were just under the protection of the Wizarding world but living under strict imposed rules. Tonks liked Rosalie and even said so to the woman many times and she thanks Rosalie for being Teddy's other parents because apparently Iris would likely just allow him to get into trouble so she would feel better knowing he had a good role model around him.
The sound of cracking outside got Iris's attention as she headed to the door, Rosalie followed quickly to see Iris wand in hand and pointed at three people approaching who also had wands in their own hands, Rosalie noted there was a blonde girl, a bushy haired brunette and a ginger male.
"First year in Hogwarts, after the trap door incident. What did you say to Ron and me?" Iris asked.
"That I was going to go to sleep before you got us killed, or worse, expelled," the brunette replied before asking her own question.
"What did you confess to me the night before the Yule ball, when everyone thought you were going alone?"
"I confessed that I was a lesbian and that I had been asked to the Yule ball by Daphne Greengrass and I accepted her invite," Iris replied, both girls grinned before putting their wands away.
"Iris it's so good to see you!" The brunette squealed, engulfing Iris in a hug.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" The ginger said with mock offense.
"Of course, not Ron, come here," Iris rolled her eyes before pulling Ron into their hug.
"They're quite good friends, aren't they? You must be Rosalie," Rosalie found herself next to the blonde girl who appeared her age, but she seemed to have a light almost dream-like tone and a faraway look.
"I am, it's a pleasure to meet you," Rosalie said.
"It's a pleasure for me as well, I do hope you won't mind that Iris and I used to date for a bit. Nothing too serious just some exploring. I'm Luna by the way, Luna Lovegood," she said brightly.
"She did mention that you two briefly dated, as she also dated Ron's brother and his sister at one point."
"Yes, Iris experimented a bit. Mainly in our friend groups where she felt safe to do so. But from fourth year on it was exclusively girls," Luna replied.
"I do hope you don't come across Daphne Greengrass though. She's still in love with Iris and is waiting for her to come back to her," Luna said walking off towards the house, before Rosalie could ask more Iris was grabbing her hand and pulling her over to her two best friends.
"Rosalie these are my partners in crime, this is Hermione Granger, Brightest Witch of our Generation. And this is Ron Weasley, my first friend," Iris introduced.
"Crime! Hardly Iris! I was always the one getting us out of trouble," Hermione protested, even as she turned to Rosalie.
"Do not believe everything she says, it's a pleasure to meet you, Rosalie. I have a few questions about vampires I wanted to run by you if you didn't mind?" Hermione looked at Rosalie with excitement while Ron rolled his eyes.
"Sorry about her, she gets overly excited sometimes," Ron said.
"It's alright, I always imagined just what kind of friends Iris would have had growing up the way she did," Rosalie said and both Hermione and Ron stiffened before looking at Iris who was now with Luna and Teddy scolding the girl on what she should not do with Teddy.
"I'm guessing she told you about the Dursley's and Voldemort?" Hermione asked, Rosalie nodded and both sighed.
Aro had to keep a low profile when in the Volturi castle, sure, being an Elite Guard member of the Volturi along with being brother to Queen Didyme afforded him more than some of the others yet they still held him at arm's length which pissed him off. So, for centuries he planned slowly, attempted to create bonds within the Volturi and to know who he could trust when the time came. His fellow Co-Conspirators were Caius and Marcus who both sought to overthrow the Queens and so the three had planned but didn't quite know how they could succeed given the loyalty of most of the Elite Guard as well as their powers.
Of course, their plans changed drastically when they met their current Mistress, Delphini Riddle was a powerhouse, a Witch with such prowess that Aro wouldn't dare question her. But she had offered them the power the sought as long as they helped her with her project. They would bring in suitable test subjects and even help obtain the human scientists required magical ingredients and help subdue any creatures that were needed alive. Once Delphini had the control she knew she would have, in return for their faithful service, she would execute the Volturi Queens and install them as the Kings to oversee the Vampire world directly under her command.
Now he was left with a few of the Elite guard while they were away from Volterra dealing with some kind of situation, his interest was in the nomads who were left in the dungeon.
"Afton I'll take over my watch of the prisoners now," Aro said as he approached.
"Alright, they haven't said or done much, and we've provided them with some things to keep them amused," Afton said as he left.
"So, you're the brother of Queen Didyme? What's your gift?" Victoria sneered at him.
"I don't have one," Aro growled.
"So, you're an elite guard because your sister is Queen? With her ability to see and read bonds, Sulpicia's ability to read thoughts and memories and then Athenodora's ability for battle strategy… you seem to be left out," Victoria cackled, Aro resisted the urge to throttle them.
"I am going to ignore your insults in favour of offering you something else. I have a… friend who is making strides in progressing our species and the world as a whole. I believe that we can help each other out, I can get you out of here and make it, so you never existed, if you'll join our cause," Aro said.
"Oh? You have an agenda that does not involve the Volturi?"
"Oh, it involves the Volturi, but we must be smart. I can tell how much you want to avenge your coven mate. I can offer you that chance," Aro smirked.
"I'm interested, but what will you do to help us?" Victoria asked.
"I will send you to help some associates of ours, they will be able to help you help us. You'll get your revenge as long as you help us however, we require," Aro explained.
"We'll have to think about it," Victoria said slowly.
"Very well, you have until my shift is over to decide."
Edythe and Bella were notably absent having decided to stay in the house, when they had gotten the call that the Volturi were arriving. Iris had been grilled by Luna in what she was expected to do for the sake of inter-species relations and while Hermione, Ron and Luna wouldn't attend the meeting themselves, they would be on standby ready to step in if the conflict got violent for any reason.
The meeting place was the clearing that the incident occurred in, and that Carlisle and coven would meet the Volturi there prior and then Rosalie would turn up with Iris once they had all arrived.
Luna in the meantime had meandered onto the Reservation where the Quileute's resided as a tourist seeking knowledge about the shifters. With her almost seer like abilities, she was able to understand creatures and hunt down knowledge with ruthless efficiency hence why Kingsley had made her the department head.
"Alright, you know what to do?" Hermione asked as she took Teddy of Iris' arms.
"Yes 'Mione, I know. I am going to speak with them diplomatically, if they apologise, I will accept it and I will offer my own apology," Iris grumbled.
"And you won't try to incinerate or prank then?" Hermione asked with a suspicious tone.
"No! Who do you take me for 'Mione! That bastard threatened Teddy, I wasn't going to let anything happen to him! He made his intention known so I dealt with him like I dealt with Dolohov, Wormtail, Bellatrix and the Lestrange brothers. Or did you forget who saved you in Malfoy Manor," Iris was getting sick of her friends rambling.
"You're right, I know, I'm sorry. It's just… we don't want to risk another war," Hermione absently rubbed her arm where the word 'mudblood' was carved by Bellatrix.
"Is that all you've been thinking? That I'd start another war just because one vampire threatened Teddy and me? 'Mione I'm dating a vampire of my own and we are very happy even if we haven't had sex yet. You knew I fought for Remus and supported S.P.E.W. With you. Give me the trust I give you," Iris was upset, but she took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
"You're right, I'm sorry for assuming Iris. Things have just been so tense since the aftermath; we've been constantly dousing fires all around while trying to rebuild. Honestly if you came back to help it would solve a lot of problems, but Kingsley insisted on allowing you your freedom," Hermione sighed.
"I deserve that much at least after everything," Iris said arms crossed.
"I know, I know! I'm not saying everything right. I'm sorry, look, I know you'll do the right thing. I trust you like you trusted us to get rid of Nagini. I'm just letting out my work frustrations and that's not fair, I'm sorry," Hermione said, silently asking for a hug by opening her arms.
"I forgive you, and don't worry I'll make peace with the vamps," Iris sighed, giving Hermione a hug.
Iris smiled as she headed towards Rosalie who was standing just outside giving them some privacy despite both knowing Rosalie heard everything.
"They really could go to war with the entire vampire race if you said for them to?" Rosalie asked quietly once they were in her BMW and driving, Iris let out a humourless laugh.
"The bigots and anti-species radicals would only need the excuse of my wanting to kill the vampires for the actions of one of them to take up arms, the rest would follow because they wouldn't go against me. But don't worry Rose, I have no desire to see you or anyone you care about hurt," Iris said intwining their fingers.
"I know, I mean you told me about your past and what you'd done. But I guess it just never fully registered just how power you have," Rosalie murmured.
"Does me being a powerful woman intimidate you?" Iris smirked with a raised eyebrow.
"Hardly, with your height," Rosalie replied.
"Oh? Sizeist are we? Well how about I use my power to subdue my tall, beautiful, vampire, mate," Iris ran her fingers up Rosalie's arm and watched as her eyes turned black and she shivered, grip tightening on the steering wheel.
"You're an evil woman, no wonder short girls are evil. You're closer to hell," Rosalie mumbled with a pout while Iris just giggled.
The rest of the drive towards the field was done in relative silence and before they knew it, they'd arrived at the field. Standing in black cloaks were three elegant, beautiful women, vampires. Flanking them were who Iris assumed were the Guard. Carlisle and the Cullen coven were off to their left, her right as they waited patiently.
Iris froze when she looked into the eyes of the three Queens as she felt a foreign emotion wash through her, each step she took towards these three vampires felt like she was taking one step closer to the feeling of home and warmth.
"Figlia del mio cuore, ti vedo," they whispered but everyone heard them.
"Daughter of my heart, I see you," Didyme felt herself and her wives say as they looked at this girl with eyes if emerald and hair of fire. She was truly enchanting.
Didyme's gift of seeing bonds was one that both brought her much joy and sadness, being able to see mating bonds, familial bonds and parent bonds has been both a blessing and a curse. It helped her and her wives know just where to strike if they needed to win a victory quickly, she would tell Athenodora just who was connected to who and then they would take care of the rest. The curse? She saw vampires' mate and until she met Sulpicia and Athenodora, knowing about the bond and seeing it brought her much envy when it came to others. Things got better once she had her mates but when she witnessed parental bonds and familial bonds in others and even their forming, it was something that made her undead heart ache. One thing she and her two wives desperately wanted was a parental bond.
They had almost given up on ever having that kind of bond, yet, when her eyes and that of her wives met the emerald of one Iris Potter. She had watched the warm blue line of parent and child form between herself, her mates and this young woman. It took almost everything to stop Didyme from running over and enveloping the girl in a hug, and she could tell Sulpicia and Athenodora had the same thoughts.
"Cia," Didyme said holding out her hand, her platinum haired wife took a hold of it, seeing everything that Didyme did before she took a hold of Athenodora's hand and transferred the memory to their raven-haired dark-skinned amazon.
"We found her at last," Sulpicia murmured.
"Miss Potter, I wish it were under better circumstances that we saw each other again," Sanguine said, oblivious to what was occurring between the Queens and the Witch. He took a step forward to politely greet her, however, his actions to their vampire instincts were slightly aggressive.
Three growls echoed from the three Queens as Athenodora shot forward picking up Sanguine by the neck much to his surprise while Sulpicia and Didyme put themselves between Iris and Sanguine with Didyme holding a protective arm around the girl who didn't flinch though her wands were in her hands in mere moments as if expecting an attack from the three Queens.
"Don't you dare touch her," Athenodora growled, Sanguine just hung their limp as all three queens sported black eyes.
"I'm sorry my Queen, I didn't realise…" he trailed off, choosing to remain silent.
"What's going on?" Edward asked confused.
"A parental bond formed, the Volturi Queens are Iris' vampire parents," Edythe replied, her voice in disbelief as she turned to Rosalie.
"You're fucked Sister," Edythe said, a smirk forming on her lips.
Summary of the Pairings:
Fem!Harry (Iris) x Rosalie Hale x Leah Clearwater
Athenodora Volturi x Sulpicia Volturi x Didyme Volturi
Bella Swan x Edythe Cullen
Emmett Cullen x Maggie (Irish Coven)
Edward Cullen x Laura Cullen (OC)
Alice Cullen x Jasper Hale (Cannon)
Esme Cullen x Carlisle Cullen (Cannon)
Ron Weasley x Hermione Granger (Cannon)
A/N: As Always, Pat. r30N is a fair few chapters ahead. I will be uploading chapters on fanfiction as I upload a new chapter on Pat. This way I continue to cycle new chapters through and as noted on "This is War" my best writing method is to write multiple stories at the same time so hopefully you enjoy all of them! If you do wish to follow Pat. it's /zyrakenzi