A/N- CONFESSION TIME!
I've already written the chapter where HP characters finally interact with American characters. It's called 'Encounters' and it is AWESOME!
Thanks for the reviews and follows and favourites!
And thankyou, Nile Freya for pointing out the plot hole! I am super grateful!
Here's the next chapter, enjoy!
Chapter takes place in late August, just before September 1.
Chapter 3
Horcrux Hunting
Loki was a paranoid bastard, and he had a good reason to be one.
His family was like one of those crazy big ones on soap operas. The perfectionist, the follower, the rebel, the absent Dad, the crazy aunt and, of course, yours truly, the only sane one left to patch up the crazy family.
Like that did any good.
Anyway, perfect eldest brother, who took 'Daddy's Boy' to a whole new level was already looking for his wayward little brother, and Loki wasn't very interested in drawing the Archangel's attention.
He had heard that Balthazar had a running bet on how long Michael's rant will go on for if he found Gabriel, and so far it had been a unanimous opinion that 'if' was the key word in that sentence.
Loki would very much like to keep it that way, thank you very much.
So when Crowley contacted him, Loki was wary. Witches and wizards were pretty much Earth's equivalent of Angels, which naturally meant there was a vested interest in their development.
Not to mention, the pesky British hunters (who called themselves by some fancy-schmancy name that sounded like something out of a boy-band) were pretty much the T-Rex of hunters all over the world (not counting the budding hunters that were the Winchesters).
Fortunately or unfortunately, they had an agreement with the Magical Ministry. The gist? Live and let live.
Of course there were plenty of details. The Boy-Band hunters will not interfere in Ministry affairs, and the supernatural communities will be under the hunters' jurisdiction.
Technically, Loki would have been at the hunters' mercy. However, he was protected by Magic as of last night, when Vic-Celeste had admitted him in the Wizarding World.
Getting a legit Ministry recognised natural witch on your payroll was the equivalent of getting a hundred million lottery prize in the demon world. This gave that particular demon access to a bunch of completely pure souls, with an extra kick that was magic.
Magic was a part of His consciousness. It was sentient, and judged a soul on its crime against nature.
As an Archangel of the Lord, it was Gabriel's duty to serve Magic. The only thing holding him back (aside from the fact that God has basically abandoned them) was that announcing his entrance in the Wizarding World was more obvious than dancing in front of the Host, covered in hot pink paint and wearing his birthday suit.
But as Loki... he needed a legally recognised witch. And who better, than the Girl-Who-Lived?
His first meeting with Celeste had been... peculiar.
Flashback-
Loki was grinning at Celeste, his hand extended. "Well?" He asked.
Celeste started at him, her face blank. One moment Loki was giving her his most charming grin, the next he was nursing his almost crushed hand.
"What the hell?!" He yelled.
Celeste's eyes flashed and she growled. "You are a freaking god and were my father's patron, and you never thought to check up on me?!"
Loki was reminded of another redhead with the same temper and gulped. He did not want a repeat of 'The Closet Incident'. Evans women were scary.
"Look, blame Dumbledore, okay? I wanted to check up on you, but what with him destroying your parents' wills, and setting up pagan wards wherever you went, I wasn't able to!"
The anger in her eyes lessened and she gave a confused 'huh?'.
"Pagan Gods like me can only come to our favoured ones when we are acknowledged by Magic" Loki explained. "There are two places where Magic is strong enough to be sentient. Hogwarts, and the Ministry.
As long as one of these bodies accepts our presence, we have a sort of... immunity you can say.
Your father summoned me in his Sixth year at Hogwarts, and She accepted me. We wreaked havoc for about a year in James' place while he tried to woo your Mom. Obviously he succeeded.
When you were born, I was a little... indisposed. However, I still promised to take care of you if something happened to the others. In fact, James included a clause in the will stating this very fact. But since the will never made it to the Ministry or Hogwarts, thanks to old Dumbles, and never came contact with their Magic-"
"Your hands were tied" she said softly before collapsing on a nearby chair.
"Dumbledore..." She growled. "I want him to pay"
Loki nodded grimly. "You and me both kid"
"Wait" Celeste said frowning. "If only Hogwarts and Ministry can offer you immunity then why ask me?"
Loki laughed. "Because those are all normal cases" he said. "However, this is way different. Magic owes you many favours, and it always repays it's favours"
He should know. After all, he knew the Being whose consciousness was called Magic.
Celeste snorted. "Magic doesn't make any sense" she said bluntly.
"Yep" His father never did.
Celeste nodded and smiled. "Well, I guess nothing to do except forgive and forget, huh?"
Loki nodded eagerly, before going back to business mode. "Okay, sooo?"
Celeste caught on before reluctantly shaking her head. "Sorry, not yet" she said. "As much as I want to see the purebloods scream in terror, we'll have to wait just for a while"
Loki visibly deflated. And he so wanted to prank Snape.
"But" Celeste said. "There are some who, I think deserve a little... more. Maybe an intro prank? Nothing deadly of course"
Loki's eyes widened with delight and he nodded happily. "Got it boss!" He saluted before vanishing.
He had a rat to catch.
Celeste was kind and helpful with a bleeding heart. However, she could also be vindictive and vengeful.
And, most importantly, she was like him.
"Why? Why did you run?"
"...Because I didn't want to fight. Those people... they might be evil, but they're still my people. I couldn't see any more bloodshed. Associating with demons has done more against Voldemort than almost a decade sitting around. And if this means that this war will stop, then I'll do all of this a thousand times over."
/
Crowley was a businessman, plain and simple.
So when he was contacted by a natural witch, claiming that she had a business proposition, he was of course interested.
Imagine his surprise when the girl turned out to be Gryffindor's Golden Girl, Dumbledore's Champion and the Hope of the Light (insert other silly titles) Victoria Potter.
What followed next was an in-depth conversation about their new 'business arrangement', with the senile old leader occasionally cropping up.
There were rumours about Dumbledore's insanity, but the best and most believable was based on the fact that Dumbledore had the Elder Wand.
Death had created that Wand years ago and given it to the Peverells along with two other objects, understanding that somewhere along the line of the family, His true master waited.
Only a person who could handle the power of all three will be declared the true Master of Death, and it was painfully obvious that the power of the Elder Wand was too much for the old man.
However, this wasn't the time for reminiscing.
Ringing the doorbell, he waited for Vic- Celeste to open the door.
A bleary eyed 15 year old opened the door, one hand holding a cup of coffee, the other an ancient tome, 'Magic Moste Evil', Crowley recognised and waved him inside.
"Most people don't study dark magic at 8 in the morning" he said, mildly amused.
"Well, I'm not most people" she teased before getting serious. "Anything on the soul pieces?"
Crowley handed her the folder he was carrying and gave a running commentary while she read it. "Gringotts has already confiscated Hufflepuff's cup and I already have your piece of the soul, so its two down and five to go. I've tracked down the next two, one's in Little Hangleton..." here the girl flinched, no doubt reliving the Hufflepuff kid's death (What was his name? Eddie something?) "... and the cave we were suspecting to be the next location"
"The one where he tortured those kids?" she asked.
Crowley shook his head. "I doubt he tortured them. More like scared them with his so-called 'Satanic powers'"
"Whatever" she snorted before setting the folder down. "That leaves us with three more. The snake, the one at Hogwarts and Voldemort himself"
Crowley raised his eyebrow. "Are you sure the last Horcrux is at Hogwarts?" he asked condescendingly, giggling internally when he saw a flash of annoyance in her eyes. Ah, it was so fun annoying her.
Celeste glared at him. "Of course" she said just as condescendingly. "Which one of has the most experience with the Dark Lord?"
'You forgot to say 'I survived every single time I met him so I am obviously doing something right' at the end' Crowley thought although silently applauded the girl. She knew how to play, unlike some other idiotic wizards.
"What about Loki?" Crowley asked.
Celeste smiled mischievously. "He dropped by last night. I gave him the go-ahead with the condition that he had to get me pictures. Oh and he found out from a little bird that we're hunting Horcruxes, and he wants in"
Crowley sighed, before nodding reluctantly. "Fine, he can help"
"Oh goody!" she beamed.
"But I'm pretty sure Hogwarts is warded against pagan gods"
Celeste chuckled. "Oh Crowley, don't worry. I've got an inside elf who'll be happy to assist his 'Great Victoria Potter Ma'am'"
Crowley stared at the girl before shaking his head in an 'I-don't-even-want-to-know' gesture.
The two fell into a companionable silence as Celeste took a deep sip of her coffee, which was finally broken by Crowley.
"So after this..." Crowley began casually.
"...We're over" she said with a tone of finality. "I don't want anything to do with my past anymore. And, no offense, but you're a part of it"
"None taken" he said drily. It was nice to see someone who was blunt and honest along with cunning.
"We can call in favours and stuff" she continued. "But I'm not killing an innocent or doing your dirty work. And no demon deal scouting, except for jerks I don't like"
Crowley smirked. "Aw, so our last days together. You must be getting distressed"
Celeste rolled her eyes. "In your dreams, demon. Nobody will ever miss seeing your ugly mug, much less me. You'll be the one to miss my charm"
Crowley scoffed. "Your charm doesn't even hold a candle to mine love"
Both knew, however, that despite their insults, there was a tentative friendship between them which will always be there, even if sometimes buried deep.
/
Getting inside the cave was quite simple. The defense was pathetically inadequate. Honestly, Inferi? A potion causing despair? One hour with Alistair was more terrifying than a creepy cave.
The human they had brought along for the ride to be used as a meat shield (not that Celeste knew about that), was screaming, which sounded horribly boring to the King of Crossroads. Honestly, even old grannys screamed better than the man.
After the potion was completely gone, Crowley took out the necklace, before his face contorted with rage and he threw it down in disgust.
The fake necklace broke, revealing a small note signed 'RAB'.
Cursing in twenty different languages, out of which fifteen were dead and three were completely unheard of, he walked out of the cave in a fit of fury, leaving the human to the mercy of the Inferi. He disappeared the moment he got out of the dratted cave to Gringotts.
This was a mystery for the goblins to solve.
/
Luna Lovegood was in her room, staring at a photograph. The picture had two young teenagers, one blonde and one with bright red hair, laughing side by side.
Luna stared at hers and Victoria's picture with tears in her eyes.
Victoria had been the only one who had accepted her, who had understood her. Luna knew she was different, ever since her mother died. She knew that, unlike the other kids, she could see and feel an aura which wasn't hers. Only later did she find out that those beautiful women dancing in her garden, those wise tiny sized people with long beards, even the twisted and sneering darkness that she often saw every now and then, were the Fae. But nobody had believed her.
Nobody, except Victoria Potter.
Luna had become slightly worried when the Blibbering Humdingers started whispering about a different Victoria right before the first task, but she dismissed it. Victoria would never align herself with demons after all! She was pure, and sweet. Unlike the nightmares her father had said demons were.
Luna did know, however, that Victoria was emotionally weak after her selection as a Champion. And Luna felt slightly guilty in breaking the girl who had given her so much.
"Victoria". Luna found her in the library, sitting alone in the corner so as to not draw attention
"Hm?" the redhead started, staring at Luna as if she was an alien. "Lu-na?" she croaked and it pained Luna to see her friend so broken.
"There is something you need to know" Luna said, eerily serious.
Victoria sighed. "Is this about the Tri-Wizard Tournament? Luna, I've been saying this for days. I did not enter myse-"
"I know" Luna interrupted. "And yes. This has to do with the Tri-Wizard Tournament"
Luna took the seat next to Victoria. "Last year, father and I researched magical contracts. Its something we do every year. He says it will help me when I start my career as a journalist"
"O-k?"
Luna took a deep breath. "One of the most quoted example was that of the Goblet of Fire. It was created using the ancient Albion Magicks of Hogwarts, and it is the vessel of Magic itself. Magic... it never forces itself upon anyone. Magic can never bind two or more people without their consents"
Victoria looked slightly confused. "Wha- Luna that's impossible. My magic is bound! Dumbledore said so!"
Luna shook her head. "Did you give your consent before the Calling of the Champions?"
"No!" Victoria said forcefully.
"Did you give it when they gathered the champions in a room?"
"I-" Victoria's eyes widened in horror. "Dumbledore, he... he asked Crouch whether I should compete or not, and Crouch said that I had no other choice. I... accepted it when Dumbledore said... he said..." Victoria breathed as tears started to appear near the corner of her eyes. "He said I had to compete because I was bound the moment my name came out of the Goblet"
Victoria suddenly got up and headed towards the deeper sections of the library. "I need to see... to know..."
Luna wiped the tear that had started running down her cheek, as sharp pain seemed to blossom through her chest. The last time she had felt this pain...
"It's true" Victoria was trembling. "Y-you were right, Luna. I-i-it's true. H-he lied!"
"I'm so sorry Victoria" Luna said.
Victoria shook her head, before bursting into tears and grabbing Luna into a hug. She cried and cried, and kept on mumbling in Luna's shirt.
Watching her only friend cry so desperately, she felt a sharp stab of pain in her chest which almost made her cry. "D-don't cry Vic. P-please o-o-or I'll al-also-" Luna choked as tears started to appear in her eyes.
It hurt to see Victoria like that. It pained to see the one person who had pulled her out of the darkness plunge into it herself.
Why was Luna feeling so much pain, when Victoria's trust had been broken, and not hers?
Her body had behaved oddly the whole year.
Her heart jumped to her neck and she felt as if she was suffocating from fear when she saw Victoria facing the Horntail...
Her chest prickled when she saw Dean Thomas and Victoria dance together in the ball...
Her stomach seemed to turn to mush as she realized the one thing Victoria would miss the most, would be her. Warmth seemed to spread all through her body and her cheeks heated up when she realized that Victoria had plunged into the freezing cold lake to rescue her, Loony Lovegood...
Her chest prickled once again, when she saw Cedric kiss a stunned Victoria on the cheek and ask her out, before being vehemently rejected, at which her heart soared...
And it soared again, and again, every time Cedric was rejected by Victoria...
Her mind didn't seem to work, her eyes didn't seem to see, her ears became incapable of hearing. The only thing she could focus on was Victoria screaming and crying, hugging the dead body of Cedric Diggory and refusing to let go...
Her hands shook, and she was barely aware of her surroundings when she read the letter. She didn't know when she hit the ground, didn't know when she started crying. The only thing she remembered was that Victoria was dead. Dead, gone, just like her mother.
"My Little Moon?" said a soft voice and Luna looked up to see her father's concerned eyes.
"Daddy" she choked out. He sat on her bed, and Luna huddled closer to him, putting her head on his lap and curling inwards, just like he once did the last time Luna was like this.
He stroked her hair, and they sat in a long silence, before it was broken by Luna.
"W-Why?" she said desperately. "Wh-why d-do I f-feel like this? Why does m-my life feel w-w-worthless? Why is my chest h-hur-hurting s-s-so much? What did I do?"
"Oh my Moon-Calf" her father said softly. "It's because you loved her"
"L-love?" Luna asked, eyes blinking. "L-like you and Mommy?"
"Yes my darling" he said softly.
"Oh" Luna said weakly before pulling her father closer. "C-can you t-tell me about her?" she mumbled.
Her father kissed her forehead gently. "As long as you want, my Moon"
/
"We have done the tests"
"And?" Crowley said impatiently.
Kraphog glared at Crowley. "Patience is a virtue, hell-spawn" he sneered. "The only reason you are standing inside this bank is because of your partnership with Warrior Celeste. If I was in your place I would-"
"-have definitely been more charming that's for sure" Crowley snarked.
Kraphog's eyes glinted. "I would watch my tongue if I were you, coward" he snapped. "Your race is the reason why so many of my kind were slaughtered, and the remaining discriminated against. Like I said before, Warrior Celeste is the only reason you are still standing here and not a stain on the wall. However if you want, that can easily be arranged"
"Mr. Mcleod. Kraphog. Stop fighting amongst yourselves" Ragnok entered the room, glaring at the two until they were suitably cowed.
"Very well, Kraphog. I'll take it from here"
Kraphog shot one last venomous look at Crowley before heading out.
"Forgive me for that " Ragnok said pleasantly. "You must be aware of the many incidents in which demons and goblins have interacted?"
"A little, yes"
"Hm. I shall go as far as to say that this might be the friendliest of interactions between our races"
Crowley snorted. "Stop with the history lesson, and tell me who wrote the note"
Ragnok frowned slightly. "Very well. However, I just want to add one thing. Kraphog was, to an extent, correct"
Ragnok looked Crowley in the eye, and Crowley realized how foolish it would be to anger the goblin. He had eyes which Crowley had only seen on other demons before. There was the same ruthlessness as Alistair, the same masked near-insanity as Lilith's, the same glint as Azazel's which spoke of manipulations which had been going on since the beginning of time.
"The only reason you are still here, is because of Warrior Celeste. Without her protection, you are nothing" he said mildly.
Crowley inwardly gulped. Yes, time to retreat.
"I'll keep that in mind" he said tersely.
Ragnok clapped his hands. "Good! Now for the locket, we recognised the magical signature on it. It was very faint, but it was still there. The initials RAB just made it easier.
The former owner of the locket was Regulus Arcturus Black"
"Bollocks"
/
Celeste braced herself for the reaction that was about to come. "Okay" she muttered. "You can do this. Remember, he's just a fan. He's just a normal fanelf. Yes"
"A fanelf?" Loki asked, amused.
Celeste nodded. "Fanelf" she said with a shudder.
Loki patted her shoulder, which would have been a serious show of support, if Loki wasn't sporting a shit-eating grin and inwardly cackling at the ridiculous scene.
An incognito girl, trying to prepare herself for an encounter with a fan, who was apparently also an elf?
Hilarious.
Taking a deep breath, Victoria spoke. "Dobby?"
A loud pop, and a small creature barrelled right into Celeste, crying and talking a mile a minute.
Loki blinked before rubbing his eyes to confirm that, yes, a small shrivelled creature with big bat ears and droopy eyes wearing a tea cosy and two differently coloured socks was snuggling into the redhead's arms, whose expression at the same time, seemed to be bordering on affection and exasperation.
'Well' Loki thought. 'Now I've definitely seen everything'
It took about an hour to calm down the excitable elf, and another to explain their situation. After deciding on the day before Halloween as the day they would sneak in, they managed to extract a promise from Dobby not to tell anyone about Celeste being alive. Dobby agreed happily and the elf apparated back to Hogwarts.
Just as Dobby disappeared, Crowley hurried in the apartment, grim faced.
"What is it?" Celeste asked.
"This" he snarled and threw a note at her.
Celeste's eyes widened. "RAB?" she asked. "Do you know who he is?"
"Yes" Crowley said. "Regulus Black"
Whatever he had imagined Celeste's reaction to be, he had not expected this.
Celeste just shrugged. "Well that isn't so difficult, is it?"
Crowley just stared at her. "Not difficult?" he seethed. "The Black House is one of the most closely guarded homes in all of Britain! Even the demons they have dealt with don't know the exact location! So unless you plan to reveal to your godfather that you're still alive, I don't know how this is, in any way, 'not difficult'!"
Loki grinned. "You're forgetting me amigo" he said cheerfully. "Sirius has known me since he was 16. I'm one of his best buds! I'll go in, steal the stolen necklace, and get out. How about that, huh?"
Before Crowley could blow a fuse, Celeste intervened. "Awesome. Get going then. And I'll even bake you a chocolate cake when you come back"
Loki's eyes lit up. "Please tell me you know how to make your mom's triple layered chocolate heaven" he begged.
Celeste smirked. "With an extra layer of vanilla" she added.
Loki started salivating and, saluting Celeste, disappeared, mind fixed on the four layered cake.
Crowley glared at her. "Do we have to include him?"
And no. He wasn't whining. Kings never whine.
Celeste smirked. "Jealous?" she teased.
Crowley hmphed. "In your dreams"
Celeste just rolled her eyes. 'What a drama queen'
/
Draco was lying on his bed, tear tracks visible on his cheeks.
It had been a long day. It had been a long week. Heck, it had been a long summer.
When Draco had first heard about Potter's death, he hadn't know what to feel. He knew he should feel happy that the girl was dead, that she was gone. That he should gloat, because that was what he did. He hated Potter, he supported the Dark Lord, and he embraced the ideals of the Dark. And yet...
Why did he feel so empty?
A long time ago, when he was just a young boy, he had been alone. His mother wasn't in the best of health, his father was too busy with the Ministry, and his only companions were two boys who were barely able to pronounce a word properly, let alone hold a conversation with him.
His only friend had been a family elf by the name of Dobby. He had told him beautiful stories, of knights and wars, of kings and their fools, and of a young girl with red hair, who defeated the Dark Lord.
Draco had admired Victoria Potter. And when he finally met her...
She rejected him. She refused to shake his hand. She refused to acknowledge him.
That small incident had changed him. He saw her as the enemy, as the one in the wrong.
His pride had been hurt. And he wanted to hurt her for that.
It was a bitter realization that the girl in the stories was not real.
She wasn't the calm, yet strong girl. She wasn't caring and beautiful.
She wasn't any of those things... but when she was gone, suddenly, she was.
Draco looked at his left hand. The hand where, tomorrow, he would be branded.
Like cattle.
"No" he croaked.
He was Draco. The dragon which soars in the sky. And a dragon submits to no one.
And certainly not to a half-blood with delusions of grandeur and immortality.
Making a decision (and praying to every god the attempt worked) he whispered brokenly, clinging to the small shred of hope burning inside him. "Dobby?"
/
Dobby had become a Malfoy elf when Young Master Draco was born. His first and foremost duty had been to take care of the child. And like every other child, Draco had fallen in love with the stories of the Girl-Who-Lived.
Every night, Dobby would entertain the Young Master with the tales of the brave and beautiful Victoria Potter, and every night Young Master would fall asleep dreaming about her.
Dobby still remembered the Christmas of Young Master's first year, when he had complained to his father how horrible Victoria Potter was, but when with Dobby, he seemed almost on the verge of tears when he confessed how hurt he had been when he was rejected by the girl he had heard so much about.
That was the start of the end, for Dobby's life as a Malfoy elf. Young Master gravitated towards his father more and more, and by the time of Easter, he was a mini-Lucius. He grew cruel and, even though Dobby saw a flicker of pity and sadness in the Young Master's eyes, he refused to speak, letting his father vent out his frustrations on the elf that had practically raised him.
Dobby still missed his Young Master sometimes. So when Young Master called his name, in an almost tearful voice, after a moment's hesitation, Dobby answered.
Young Master didn't look so young anymore. He looked gaunt and pale, his pale blue eyes shining with tears and bags under his eyes.
"You came" he breathed before he surged forward, yanked at Dobby's tea cosy...
... and crushed him into a hug. "D-Dobby" he said, shaking. "I-... I'm so... I'm so sorry"
Dobby patted his former Master awkwardly. The only person who had ever hugged him before was his Great Miss Victoria.
"Please... Get me out of here" Draco pleaded, and the small part of Dobby, the one who had loved raising the child, who had loved watching the child's eyes light up with glee and awe as Dobby used illusions to animate scenes of stories, took control.
Dobby snapped his fingers as the pair landed in Number 12 Grimmauld Place and nodded towards the stunned members of the Order of Phoenix.
"Dobby's Old Bad Young Master is now good and he wants to help Miss Victoria's Dogfather" he said solemnly as Draco suddenly yelped and looked at the occupants of the room with fearful eyes.
Dobby wasn't a Malfoy elf. But that didn't mean he wasn't loyal to the only person in the abusive household of the Malfoys who had looked at him with adoring eyes. Draco Malfoy wanted a second chance, and Dobby was willing to show him the path.
Whether he wanted to walk it or not, was his decision.
/
Sirius was in a bar, trying the age old method of coping.
Drinking away his problems and getting knackered.
Draco Malfoy wants to help us against Voldemort.
One glass gulped down in one go.
My favourite niece has the hots for my best friend who's a werewolf.
Another one gone.
Amelia Bones is launching a secret investigation in the Graveyard Incident.
The third was gone as quickly as it came.
His goddaughter was dead...
A wave of depression crashed into him, as Sirius fingered the glass. He... he...
He failed. Again.
The fourth glass finished, Sirius slammed it on the counter. "Another" he rasped.
"Geez, Padfoot. At this rate, you'll die from alcohol poisoning, you know?"
Sirius could've gotten whiplash with the speed he turned around.
Familiar silver eyes stared back at him. "Loki" Sirius breathed.
Loki snapped his fingers, and Sirius immediately felt sober. "Wha- you can cure inebriation?" he demanded. "Why didn't you ever use it in sixth year?"
Loki snorted. "And what, let you guys drink all the time? No thanks. I appreciate a drink, every now and then. But I don't appreciate drunkards and alcoholics" The last part was said pointedly.
Sirius laughed bitterly. "Well, if you were really around, you would've agreed about this" he said, motioning around himself.
Loki's eyes flashed. "You think I don't know?" he said furiously. "You think I didn't feel the guilt? The crippling regret? Do you think I had a choice?"
"You always have a choice" Sirius snarled.
It was Loki's turn to laugh. "Been to prison, and yet you're still that same naive 16 year old" he sneered before standing up. "I came here, to help you take down the man responsible for Lily and James' deaths, and for damning Victoria to a life of abuse and neglect" he mocked. "But, well, looks like you have forgotten that there are others out there too, who loved and genuinely cared for them. The world doesn't revolve around the Marauders, Sirius"
"Lo-" Sirius said desperately.
"No Sirius!" he hissed. "Who do you think gave the tip about Pettigrew? Who do you think kidnapped him from Malfoy Manor and dumped him in that warehouse?"
Sirius gasped. "That was-" he began weakly.
"Yes, me!" Loki almost shouted. "So, you see, you're not the only one to blame. You are not the only one who cares. You're not the only one bogged down by guilt and regrets and responsibilities. So, grow a fucking spine and stop acting like a fucking tragic hero!"
Sirius slumped. His face darkened.
"I understand" he said softly. "It's... It's just..." Sirius sighed and rubbed his nose. "I failed her"
Loki sighed and, snapping his fingers, handed Sirius a conjured glass of whiskey.
"We all did" he said.
Silence reigned as the two sat lost in their thoughts.
Sirius stared at the glass before groaning.
Loki smirked. "Wanna go home?"
Sirius nodded. "Yes please"
"The address?"
Sirius didn't think twice about answering. "Number 12, Grimmauld Place"
'Aaaand mission successful'
/
Poke poke.
"..."
Poke poke.
"..."
Pokepokepokepokepoke-
"Oh for Lucifer's sake, WHAT?!" Crowley snapped, glaring at Celeste from his paperwork. Demons were always a little OCD about the proper documents (something about an alternate version of Hell with an Earl Grey loving paper pushing demon)
Celeste gave him her most famous pout. "I'm bored. I want to go on an adventure" she whined and Crowley cursed. He knew it. Celeste might deny being a Gryffindor, but regardless, she had been one for four years. Recklessness rubs off when one is exposed to it long enough.
"Damned Gryffindor. Thought you're baking that Trickster a special cake?"
"It's done"
"Of course it's done" Crowley muttered under his breath.
"Can't we go handle the Horcrux in Little Hangleton?" Celeste persisted, giving him the wide eyed, innocent kid routine.
"No" Crowley flat out refused.
"Why?"
"Because I don't have any minions right now. It would be foolish to waltz in the house, steal the Horcrux and destroy it" Crowley didn't bother to beat around the bush. He was already tired and cranky, he didn't need another headache in the form of a redhead package of trouble.
Celeste pouted. "Pleeeeease?" she begged, making her eyes go wide and giving Crowley the Evans Puppy EyesTM.
"No" Crowley said, averting his eyes from her devastating attack.
Celeste scowled, before a thoughtful expression formed on her face. "It doesn't matter you know" she said nonchalantly. "You'll have to head back to Hell to hand in your paperwork, which takes about a day in human time. And, of course, I'm not going to take advantage of that situation, and get out of this stuffy apartment to hunt down the Horcrux myself. That's just plain silly"
"..."
"..."
"Five hours"
"Thank you love"
"But I'm sending backup after you"
/
Everybody had their own ways of coping.
Ron liked to eat away his troubles. Fred and George blew things up. Mrs Weasley cooked. Sirius went around in his Animagus form and curled up in front of the fireplace.
Hermione read. And read. And read.
She wasn't the only one.
"What do you want?" she asked irritably. Malfoy fixed her with a cold stare. "Same as you Granger" he spat.
Hermione raised an eyebrow in response. "You never read"
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "The only interactions we've ever had" he said condescendingly "are altercations in the corridors. Do not presume to know my likes and dislikes"
Hermione glared at him. "You're disturbing me" she hissed in a low tone.
Malfoy snorted. "You do know we aren't in the Hogwarts Library, don't you? No need to whisper. And you don't own this library either, so stop trying to kick me out of here"
Hermione shot him her fiercest look and slammed her book on the table. "Shut up Malfoy"
Malfoy stilled before looking at Hermione ferociously. "Do not call me that" he said furiously.
Hermione was taken aback for a moment before recovering. "Why? I thought you liked being a Malfoy. What was it that you used to say? Oh yes. 'My father will hear about this'" she said mockingly.
Draco growled. "Call me anything you want, but not that. Never that" His face darkened as Malfoy clutched the arm rest of his seat. "What kind of family" he began shakily "abandons their own life and blood and and..."
Hermione's anger receded as she studied Draco. Haunted eyes, filled with anger and hatred... but not aimed at her.
"What did they do?" Hermione asked quietly.
Draco flinched and averted his eyes.
"Draco"
Draco flinched. "Father... gave me up. He... he was never really stable. Mother was sick, most of the time and was never able to... keep an eye... on him"
Draco breathed deeply. "When I was six... I said that I wanted to be Potter's friend. Father..."
Draco caught himself just on time and stood up suddenly. "I don't... I'm going... Stay out of it Granger!" With those words, Draco ran out of the room, leaving a contemplative Hermione behind.
'Looks like there's a new mystery to solve'
Another one of Hermione's coping methods was solving puzzles. And Draco had kindly enough given her one.
/
Here we go! Phew, that was seriously hard to get out.
I honestly wasn't planning the stuff with Draco, but then, I thought, why not?
Plus, I have an idea for his role in the future (way waaay into the future).
Did anyone notice the reference to the 'Earl Grey loving paper pusher'? Its from an awesome oneshot called 'Friends in High Places', which really had me laughing out loud.
And yes. I named the goblin Kraphog. Sue me.
Next chapter, we have the last three horcruxes, and Voldemort's master plan. No more spoilers though... Update will be most probably next month (because I'm a very slow writer... and I want to finish till chapter 10 before posting the next one. Not giving any spoilers!)
On a different note... know any good Supernatural/Naruto crossovers?
Triple layered Chocolate Heaven with an extra layer of vanilla with cherry on top for your thoughts?