Waking up
Bright light. Ah. Very bright. She blinked a few times to let her eyes adjust. She heard a beeping sound to her left and above her was the bright light of a fluorescent tube. What the hell? Where was she? What happened? She closed her eyes. Trying to remember. She had been afraid. Why? She had been angry. Why? Memories flashed before her eyes.
Loki.
He knew.
She had attacked him. Didn’t she? Why would she do that? She liked him. A lot. So why would she harm him?
Dobby…Magic.
She had used magic. Oh no! No, no no no no…oh my God!
The light in the room began to flicker and the beeping increased. She felt strange, as if something tried to burst through her chest.
‘Sweetie?’
What was that? Someone was here. ‘Honey, it’s me, Tony. It’s okay hun, you are safe here. No one is going to hurt you. Please, sweetie, open your eyes.’
She did. She saw the concerned face of the man she considered her father. He looked terrible. She swallowed and tried to speak. ‘Wh…wha happe?’ Damn, she sounded so weak. She tried again. ‘What hap…’ Tony held up his hand and took her hands in his. ‘All that matters is that you are safe. I will tell you everything, but please calm down.’ She then realized that Tony looked afraid.
Of her? Why would Tony be afraid of her? She closed her eyes and tried to focus on her breathing. After about a minute the beeping slowed down and she no longer felt as if something tried its way to burst from her chest. She heard Tony take a deep breath and felt him kiss her forehead.
She didn’t realize they were not alone in the room. Steve, Natasha, and Bruce stood by the door. Bruce looked at Steve and Natasha. He made a gesture with his head and they followed him out of the room. ‘What the hell was that?’
Steve took a deep breath. ‘That’s what happened earlier. She had a panic attack after Loki had pinned her against the wall. We don’t know why he did that. He has been zapped back to Asgard. When Tony tried to comfort her earlier, the same thing happened. We don’t know what it is.’
‘Is she an Enhanced?’ Bruce asked. ‘We honestly have no idea.’ Came the reply from both Steve and Natasha. ‘Director Fury?’ Bruce was concerned. Fury trusted them to make their own decisions, but from what he had just seen and felt, Darcy was dangerous. Poor kid. He liked her. Even the Hulk liked her. Bruce was certain that if something happened to Darcy, the Hulk would offer help. He saw how Tony talked to Darcy. From her body language, he saw she was distressed.
Alexis shook her head. Oh God, this was the worst possible outcome. Everyone knew now, that she was weird and nothing like them. She feared they would treat her differently. That they would resent her. Sent her away or worse, lock her up. She started crying. How was this her life?
‘You know we can trust them. Would it really be so bad if they knew?’ Tony wanted to comfort her. He loved her so much and would do everything in his power to protect her.
‘And what if the Ministry finds me and finds out I told you guys everything? You would be Obliviated and then you wouldn’t even remember me,’ she cried.
‘I could never forget you hun.’ The look Alexis gave him broke his heart. ‘Yes, you would.’
`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/
Luna looked at her sleeping child. The girl who was bullied in most of her schoolyears was now married to the Prince of Slytherin, Draco Malfoy. She was happy. Aurora was loved by many. Narcissa and Lucius had fully accepted her as Draco’s wife, and doted upon their granddaughter and Lord Voldemort, well, he was actually a big softie.
Asking one of the House Elves to look after Aurora, she went into her husband’s study and used the Floo to get to Malfoy Manor. Narcissa was in the parlor. ‘Luna, dear, how lovely.’
She greeted her mother-in-law and they discussed Aurora for a bit. When Lucius walked in, he kissed her on her cheek. Both Malfoys present, Luna stated why she had come. ‘I felt Alexis. Her power, that is.’ Lucius paled. ‘You mean she is alive?’
‘Yes, of that I never had any doubt. But what I felt, it was dark. I have not told Draco, but I feel she is in great danger, from herself.’ Both Narcissa and Lucius tried to understand why Alexis would be in danger from herself.
‘She is in danger, because she doesn’t use her magic,’ came the reply. Luna, Narcissa and Lucius looked over at the door, where a woman with wild dark curls stood. Bellatrix Lestrange. Most feared of the Death Eaters. The woman who was responsible for so many lost lives, and so much pain. She looked remarkably healthy. And sane.
After Tom had regained his sanity and reshaped the Wizarding community, he had freed his followers from Azkaban. Most were sent there without proper trial. Bella was in a terrible state at that time, but with the help of the Goblins, a lot of Potions, even more energy, and a lot of spells, she was way better than before. She had withdrawn from public life and focused on herself. Because of her childhood and her mental legacy of Black madness, it was difficult to overcome the hatred she had for Muggles and Muggleborns. She had spiraled out of control when she had lost her baby. That was of course no excuse for the terrible things she had done, but she did make amends. She also understood what happened to the Potter girl.
‘You believe she is an Obscurial?’ Lucius asked. Bella mused. ‘Makes sense.’ Bella turned around and left. She didn’t want to be part of this. She had stayed away from Tom, knowing that he would never choose her. She wanted him to be happy. And she mostly wanted to be left alone.
Narcissa looked at her daughter-in-law. ‘Would you be able to track her? Knowing now that she might be an Obscurial? Luna looked in thought. ‘Well I have felt her now, maybe I can focus on that feeling and have some success. And maybe she is something else, not an Obscurial…maybe she is something new. I just can’t over-exert myself.’
She gave Narcissa a pointed look. After understanding what Luna meant a large smile appeared on Narcissa’s face and she hugged Luna tightly. ‘Congratulations my dear. Does Draco know?’
Before Luna could answer, she went rigid and her eyes became a bright white. She stared into the room with an intensity that had Narcissa and Lucius very worried. Miles away, in Riddle Manor, Tom doubled over in pain. Knowing Hermione wasn’t at home, he pressed his Mark, calling both Lucius and Severus to his side.
Lucius felt the burn of his Mark, as did Severus. Lucius cursed, and Disapparated from his house. When he Apparated at Tom’s side, at the same time as Severus, they found Tom on the floor of his study, lying in a pool of blood and vomit.
In Malfoy Manor Luna kept staring at something that no one else could see. The Floo rumbled and Draco entered the room, rushing over to his wife. He exchanged a worried look with his mother. Afraid to touch her while she was in this state, Draco asked after his father. ‘He was called, by Tom. I don’t know,’ came his mother’s reply.
After about four minutes Luna closed her eyes and went lump in Draco’s arms. She started shivering. ‘I felt her again. She is scared. Was scared, I don’t know.’ Luna started sobbing as Draco continued to hold her.
‘Did you see anything else?’ Draco asked. ‘No, but I think I heard something. A voice.’ Luna swallowed and looked up. ‘It was such a weird voice. It didn’t sound human.’ At this Draco paled and looked at his mother for guidance.
‘It promised to kill.’
`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/
Thor, Jane and Loki arrived back at the field that Tony named The Asgardian Pick Up Zone. They walked in silence towards the Tower. Getting in the elevator they were greeted by Jarvis, who told them everyone was in medical, with Darcy.
‘I need your word you will not interfere, brother,’ Loki said. Thor looked over. He raised an eyebrow. ‘I have to help her. Mother told me why and I intend to do that. Help her. I do not mean her any harm, but I need your word, you let me help her, my way.’
‘Your way?’ Jane asked with a hint of worry. ‘What does that mean?’
‘It means I need a word with whatever is inside her, and in order for me to do that, I need her angry, or afraid, whatever works best.’ With those ominous words, Loki left the elevator first.