Chapter 1
“Did he happen to mention who he was bring with him?” Asks Tony as he lounges in the armchair, the rest of the Avengers scattered around the rest of the furniture, with the exception of Natasha; who was leaning against the wall watching the elevator, Thor; back on Asgard for Loki’s trial, and Wanda who was pacing the room, everyone kindly ignoring the floating lamp following behind her.
“Nope, just that he had someone in mind.” Being Visions very helpful reply.
“How do we know if we can even trust this guy, there is no record in Shield on anyone having powers like Wanda’s” Asked the redhead as she continued glaring at the entrance to the room.
“Nat, you’re the one who found the guy.” Clints only response was the glare being turned to him.
“You guys aren’t helping.” Snaps the pacing girl, before she groans as the lamp crashes to the ground.
“Mr. Stark, Dr. Strange and his companion have entered the building.” Jarvis’s voice fills the room and the group tense each now joining Natasha in watching the door.
It only takes a few minutes for two more people to enter the room, one the previously mentioned Dr. Stephen Strange, with his sentient cape, and odd necklace. The other a young woman if they were to guess they’d place her at about seventeen, significantly shorter than her male companion, she actually looked rather frail, her clothes while they fit were loose on her body, plain jeans, paired with old shoes and a worn Queen tour t-shirt, and a well taken care of but equally worn leather jacket. Her hair pulled up into a messy bun and held in place by an odd stick. Like the doctor she wore a necklace that hung low over her chest: a cracked black stone and thin silver chain, and four odd rings adorned the fingers on her right hand. Her hair pulled back the angry red lightning shaped scar on her forehead was in clear view. But what caught their attention was her eyes, they glowed an eerie vibrant green as she scanned the room visibly sizing up the people there.
“This is you’re expert Strange? She’s a kid, what are you 16-17?” Tony asked, condescension clear in his voice.
The girl to her credit kept her face impassive, only raising an eyebrow. She kept her voice soft her accent barley noticeable with her short reply, “19.”
“And you are an expert? You can help me?” Wanda cut in. Trying to repress a shudder when the girls eyes landed on her though they quickly left her and moved to the broken lamp on the floor, her lips quirking for a moment.
“I can try, while the Dr. here gave me a bit of an overview of your situation, I’ve never heard of someone accessing there magic at your age. You are 16, correct?” Her British accent much more noticeable.
“Y-“
“Perhaps it would be best for you to introduce yourself first? Maybe prove you actually know what your doing.” Natasha interrupted her eyes not leaving the small girl, as warning bells rang in her head.
It was Strange that replied, “This is Heather Potter, speculated in some circles to be the strongest witch in the world.”
“A witch? You’ve gotta be kidding, what’s she gonna do bipity bopity boo little red better.” Stark scoffed.
This time the girl smirked and pulled the stick out of her hair, it now cascading in messy curls down her back. Without a word she waved the stick repairing the lamp and returning it to its spot on the end table beside Tony’s chair. “If I’m right there absolutely nothing wrong with her to fix, it’ll just be a matter of teaching how to influence and instruct her magic. Know if you’re not gonna prove yourself useful, do be quiet. And I do suggest you refrain from making such comments in the future.” As she finished speaking she narrowed her eyes into a glare at the man. Not reacting to his flinch.
This time it was Steve who interrupted, “Please excuse him, he’s just a jerk. I’m Steve Rogers, and these are Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, Vision, Natasha Romanoff, Wanda Maximoff, and the aforementioned jerk Tony Stark.”
“Don’t worry I’m familiar with the type.” Heather responded, shooting a quick glance to the man standing beside her, ignoring Clints chuckle at Tony’s offended look.
“You asked my age before, is it important?” Wanda asks stepping closer to the other woman.
“If I’m right then it can be yes, typically if someone has a talent for magic it manifests by the age of seven, at most eleven. By the age of seventeen the ability is full formed. We would have to do some test to make sure there are no issues or future complications.”
At the mention of tests the group became glanced at her with more caution. “And if you’re wrong?” Banner asked.
“Then I can’t help you. I’m not allowed to talk about magic to those who don’t interact with it.”
“There are rules to magic?” Clint asked.
“Many, one of which involves entering peoples minds without permission.” Her gaze cut back to Wanda as she finished talking.
The other girl didn’t apologize for the attempted intrusion, but did look rather sheepish. “What would the test entail?”
Heather chose to answer rather than push the issue, “A simple spell to scan your body for a magically core, painless I assure you. And some answers on to the circumstances of your abilities, the doctor her only informed me of your control issues.” She said her voice never straying form the soft tone.
“Alright do you need anything to do the spell?” She asked the relief clear in her voice.
“Just my wand, may I?” With her nod, Heather waved the wand again, and a golden glow encased Wanda.
“As I thought. Do you have any idea what might have happened to activate your core?” She asked with a nod.
“The stone in my head, was used in several experiments to do so.” Vision answered instead.
For the first time since entering the room Heather left where she was standing by the entrance, approaching the red man, her steps silent as she moved across the room, Vision didn’t move from where he was sitting just watched the woman approach, both ignoring how the rest of the group tensed as she walked by, Strange apparently deciding his job was done was quick to go back down the elevator to leave the building.
“Mhm, interesting, may I?” She asks once again, holding up her wand.
The red man nods but before she can cast Natasha interrupts again. “What are you going to do?”
“A harmless diagnostic spell, I just wish to know the nature of the stone is all.” The impassive look on her face from before gone, replaced with a look of curiosity. Not waiting for them to interrupt again she waves her wand muttering something this time as she does.
The look of curiosity only grew as she read the odd paper that appeared after the spell. “How long ago was it that you accessed your magic?” She asked her eyes not leaving the paper.
“Only a few months, the odd stuff started happening a few days after I got here.”
“The odd stuff, as you put it is called accidental magic, its common, in children as their cores develop, if you think back there should be a pattern of it during moments of emotion or focus, don’t worry as you learn to control your magic it will stop.” Heather reassured, her face becoming much softer as she finally looked up and smiled at the other witch.
“You’ll teach me then?” Wanda asked trying not to sound hopeful.
“I will, your friends will have to accompany us though in a few days, to a magical bank to sign some secrecy documents and to register that they are aware of magic, to avoid any legal issues, we should also register you as my official apprentice. We should also get you a line and inheritance test done while there.”
Suddenly the tense quiet was broken as they all started asking questions. “Why would we need secrecy documents?”, “There’s magical banks?”, “Apprentice?”
“Yes, apprentice it will excuse you from having to attend a magical school to get your qualifications. As the magical world as a whole is a secret, yes the secrecy documents are necessary to make sure none of you tell anyone even accidentally. And there is a magical bank, Gringotts, they have branches all over the world, and are run by the Goblin Nation.” Heather butted in speaking louder to drown out the questions, “Until those documents are signed I’m not going to be able to share any more information with you, but rest assured I will answer your questions after, so long as there not rude.” She added at the end shooting a pointed look at Tony.
“Know trust me I do understand that you all have a lot of questions I have been there, but seeing as my ride felt like ditching me I am going to have to find myself somewhere to stay for the nig-“
“You can stay in the room next to mine it’s empty.” Wanda cut in her previous nervousness forgotten as she sends Stark a glare, daring him to argue.
The man just coughed before agreeing, “Jarvis why don’t you tell her where the room is.”
“Of course, sir.” The AI replies, though much to the mans disappointment Heather didn’t seem surprised by the voice in the ceiling.
She did look rather wary though, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Wanda said before grabbing the other woman by the wrist and leading he further into the tower. Heather not actually putting up much of a fight, not really wanting to go threw the hassle of finding somewhere else to stay.
“I don’t like her.” Natasha said as soon as the two girls were gone.
“You don’t like anyone.” Clint scoffed.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t get the same vibes, she’s dangerous.”
“Did you see her eyes?” Cap interrupted.
“It’s impossible not to, the creepy things were glowing.” Tony shivered.
“That’s not what I meant, they looked empty.” Steve corrected.
Tony shrugged “Who cares, you all saw that scar on her face, how do you think she got it?”
“I dare you to ask her that.” Clint said with a laugh.
“I’m more worried about the one on her hand.” Bruce said, he’d been rather quiet the entire time, and like Steve there was concern in his voice.
“What scar.”
“I noticed it when she walked by me, the hand with all the rings, looked like someone carved words into the back of it, didn’t get the chance to read what they were.”
“Jarvis pull up the security feed zoom in on her hand.” Tony instructed, “I must not tell lies. What’s that supposed to mean. Jarvis run a background check on her.”
“Already started sir.”
“I’ll have Fury send me any shield files he has.” Nat added.
“Maybe that’s not a good idea, we involve Fury and he’ll have questions, and from what she said we’re not allowed to give him the answers.” Bruce cautioned.
“That’s another thing that worries me.” Nat added, “the way she was talking there are more people like her, people we had no idea about.”
“Look she said she would give us answers, lets wait till then, and Nat if your gonna be involving Fury, it’ll probably be best not to mention magic, if your right and she’s dangerous it’ll be best not to piss her off. We do not need another Loki, especially if there are more people like her.” Steve tried mediating.
“We can tell him we hired Wanda a tutor, do to her less than regular education or something.” Clint offered.
“I think we should just wait and ask her to tell us, I do not believe she means us harm.” Vision inputted.
Though before the conversation could continue, the pair of witches reinterred the room deep in there own conversation. “So, you think I might have had magical ancestors?”
“It is possible, that’s what I hope to find out tomorrow at the bank. We know you have a magical core, the question is did the stone create one, or just activate a dormant one.” Heather responded, her posture more relaxed than earlier, and her eyes more fond than harsh. “If you do, then we will also get you an inheritance test, that will tell you if you have any titles of your own, or vaults in the bank. Though since your from Sokovia the vaults might be foreign.”
“Would that be an issue?”
“No, you could choose to leave them wherever they are, or transfer them here.”
“And you said titles, what are those?”
“Mhm, that ones more complicated to answer, I grew up in Britain and while I know most of Europe uses the same system, the American wixen government doesn’t have the same history and use a completely democratic system.”
“Wait you guys have a completely different government?” Buts in a baffled Tony.
“Yes and no. I can’t really explain it to you yet.” She responded somewhat sheepishly.
“Well how long will it take getting the paperwork done?” Bruce asked, “You could tell us after right?”
“Yeah, I can. As for how long that entirely depends on how annoyed the goblins are.”
That made Steve curious, “Why would they be annoyed.”
“Yeah.” She sighed, “A lot of wixen are bigoted arssholes.”
“Would we get it done today if we went now?”
“Probably, if were going though I should probably place some glamours on us.”
That made Clint nervous, “Glamours?”
“Magical disguises, you lot are pretty famous here, and I am in the magical world. And I really don’t feel like getting mobbed today.” She explained, “Completely harmless.” To show them she waved a hand across her face, turning her eyes from the previous green to a dull brown, her hair became straight and lightened to a dirty blond, and now had bangs that hid the scar on her forehead.
“Ooh, do me.” Tony said. This time instead of using her hand she pulled her wand form her sleave and waved it over the man. His hair went down to his shoulders, and his jaw softened, his goatee gone, and his eyes became a light blue. She turned to each of the Avengers waiting for them to nod or voice their consent before she cast anything on them.
Finally, there was just Clint left, who looked rather nervous. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, with the rest of us disguised we shouldn’t have any issues.” Heather reassured, “I’m well aware that not everyone is comfortable with magic.” The man just nodded.
Heather considered making a portkey, but based on Clints earlier reaction decided non-magical travel would be best. It would take the group just over an hour to make it to the bank, where she quickly removed all the glamours. “The goblins aren’t fond of disguises, and please don’t stare and let me do the talking, Goblins have a very unique culture and they do not forget offenses, and if you want to smile make sure you do so without teeth, they’ll take it as a threat if you do.” She cautioned before ushering the gapping group of hero’s into the building. And approaching one of the tellers.
“Greetings Teller, may your vaults never empty.” Heather spoke, in the growling language of gobbledegook. Ignoring the wide-eyed looks from her companions.
“And may your blade never dull.” Replied the equally wide-eyed goblin.
“I am Lady Heather Dorea Potter, of Britain, Lady of the Houses Peverell, Black, Slytherin, and Gryffindor. If possible myself and my companions would like to rent one of your conference rooms, the non-magical in our group need to register and sign secrecy documents, my wixen friend and I would like to organize an apprenticeship as well as get her a line test and possible inheritance test dependent on previous results. As well as an in-depth magical exam, by one of your nations healers, if one is available at this time.”
“If you would confirm your identity Miss Potter, I will have one of my brethren check to see if such a room is available.”
She nodded and didn’t hesitate to pull her own knife from her pocket to cut her hand and drip several drops of blood on the magical parchment the goblin provided.
“Follow me, Lady Potter.” The goblin instructed after reading the results.
They led the group down several hallways before ushering them into a room with a long table, once everyone was seated the goblin snapped his fingers and a small stack of papers appeared in front of each person as well as a black quill, the goblin not moving from in front of the door.
“Read the documents before you sign them, you will have to use the quill to do so, but be aware the quill uses your blood to sign the parchment it will hurt but wont leave any marks once healed.” She explained.
“Why blood?” Tony asked as the entire group looked warily at the dark quills.
“It’s what makes the documents binding, as you guys aren’t magically there won’t be any negative side effects, the magic of the contract simply wont let you talk about magic to anyone who doesn’t already know.”
“What do you mean not let us?” Clint demanded now full-on glaring at the quill.
“It means you if you try to talk about magic to someone who doesn’t know you wont be able to, your tongue will stick to the top of your mouth or your hand will freeze up. You will be able to talk about anything else and you will still know about magic.”
“And if we say no?” He asked.
“Then I wont be able to teach Wanda at the tower or share with you anymore information, nor will your friends.”
The group grimaced and started looking over the document, Clint in particular looked like he swallowed a lemon while he did so.
“Now Wanda.” Heather said turning to the other witch, “You saw me cut my hand and put my blood on the parchment before, you’ll do the same thing with the line test here, the magic in the parchment will use the magic in your blood to trace your direct family tree, up to 10 generations or up to 20 till you find a magical ancestor.” The red head nodded at her, looking warily at her own parchment now.
“Teller may she use one of Gringotts blood knives?” She asked the goblin; they didn’t respond simply snaped their fingers once more and a silver knife appeared on the table in front of Wanda.
The younger girl took the knife and cautiously ran it along her palm letting the blood drop onto the parchment. Watching amazed as the cut healed immediately after not a mark left. Both witches watched as the blood was absorbed into the parchment and names started to show. “What do the different colours mean?” She asked as she hovered her hand over several names written in red.
“The Black symbolizes squibs, someone with a dormant magical core, the grey are non-magical people, and the red are wixen.” The parchment only went back the original 10 generations finding magical ancestors 6 generations back on her paternal side of the family.
She handed her a new blank parchment, “Know you will do the same thing on this one at it will match your magical signature through your blood to any vaults or titles.” This time she didn’t hesitate to cut her hand and hold it over the parchment.
“Oh, there isn’t any.” She said the disappointment clear in her voice.
“That’s fine, there isn’t always.” Heather reassured her before handing her a third parchment, this one already covered in writing. “This is a basic apprenticeship contract, as I said earlier it will excuse you from having to attend a magical school, which is mandatory to ensure that everyone has control of there magic. As the age of majority in the wixen world is 17, we will have to get you some emancipation forms as well unless you want me to be your magical guardian.”
“Wait like parent?” She asked alarmed.
“Not quite no, that would only be the case is you were under the age of 15, as you’re 16 it would just make me your representation in any legal matters and your financial backer. If you would prefer to handle those yourself then we can set you up a vault, which I would do anyway, and I would make sure to give you books on wizarding law, which is pretty universal outside of punishments and the regulation of dark magic.”
“I think that’s fine then.” Wanda nodded before going to pick up the quill.
Heather reached out her hand to stop her, “Read the entire document before you sign it, these are magically binding, breaking it will lead to your magic punishing you, depending on the infraction it can strip it entirely. Never sign anything with blood unless you’ve read it first.” She paled and dropped the black quill like it was hot.
After making sure she was reading it carefully, Heather turned back to the rest of the Avengers, Clint was still glaring at his Parchment quill held tightly in his hand, while several others were nursing there hands or still reading. “May I cast healing spells on my companions.” She asked turning to the goblin.
Who nodded curtly in response eyes watching her carefully as she drew her wand. “If you guys would allow I can cast healing spells on your hands.” Most of the group would accept the offer, apart from Natasha, Clint, and an already healed Bruce.
Once Wanda finished with her contract, Heather read it as well and signed it herself.
“Wanda” Heather said, once again turning to the other witch. “While we are here if it is alright I would like for you to see a goblin healer, they will check your magical core and make sure there aren’t any issues we have to worry about.” When the red head confirmed that would be fine Heather once again turned to the Goblin, “Teller, thank you for your time, we are finished with our business here. As I mentioned earlier, my friend would like to be examined by a healer, would one be available to see her?”
“Healer Glorktack has agreed to see the witch, the muggles will have to stay in the main lobby.”
“Would you be alright to see the Healer by yourself Wanda if not, I can go with you, But your friends aren’t allowed in the healing hall.
“I think I’ll be ok.” She answered warily.
“Alright the Healers name is Glorktack, and you address them by Healer not Doctor, don’t worry about speaking there language they do speak English, just be polite and there shouldn’t be any issues, if you would like me to go over the results with you later make sure to ask for a copy.”
As another goblin lead Wanda to the Healing hall the rest were brought back to the lobby, once there Heather once again turned to the goblin, “If I may take up a bit more of your time Teller, I would like to organise the transfer of some of my vaults to this branch as well as set up a trust vault for my apprentice.”
The goblin led her to one of the desks before handing her an inheritance test, and once again she used her own knife to cut her hand before handing the parchment back. “I would like to transfer the library sections of each of my vaults as well as the main Peverell vault, the trust vault will be for Wanda Maximoff, to be set at 1000 galleons per year, and accessible by key.”
After signing several more documents and once again getting permission to heal her hand, the goblin addressed her once more. “Will you be paying for your companions along with your apprentice Lady Potter?”
“I will.”
“It will be 5 galleons for the initial identity test, 10 for each inheritance test and basic line test, 3 galleons per registration, 4 galleons per secrecy document, 6 galleons for the apprenticeship contract, 100 galleons for the rented conference room, 50 galleons for the medical test, 100 galleons for each library vault transfer, 500 galleons for the main vault transfer, and 200 galleons for the opened trust vault. A total of 1326 galleons, sign here and we will automatically remove the money from your main vault.”
“Thank you for your time, Teller, please add another 100 galleons for yourself and Healer Glorktack each.” She said before signing the parchment. “May your blade taste the blood of your enemies.”
“And may your gold grow, Lady Potter.”
“Don’t we have to pay for all of this?” Steve asked her once she made her way back to the group.
“I took care of the bill Mr. Rogers.” She replied, with a small smile.
Though that made the entire group frown at her, “How much do we owe you?” He insisted.
“You don’t have to worry; money is no issue for me.”
“It’s not for any of us either kid, so how much?” It was Clint who pushed this time, the group nodding along as well.
She didn’t bother to fight them on it, “for your share of the room and the documents 106 dollars.”
“I’ll cover Wanda’s share as well,” Tony added.
“That won’t be necessary Mr. Stark. As Wanda is now my apprentice I am in charge of all her financial needs.”
“Then how much do we owe you for teaching her?”
“As I said Mr. Stark she is now my apprentice, no payments are necessary nor will I accept them, though I would like to now how much I will owe you for staying in the tower.”
“Oh nothing,” Seeing her about to argue he adds; “I don’t charge any of the others I’m not about to charge you.” Which she did grudgingly agree to.
It didn’t take much longer for Wanda to return and the group make there way back to Avengers Tower.