Rose Potter and the Avengers

A/N: Hey, my first story. Reviews appreciated, wah wah wah. Besides the clothes on my back, I own nothing

Prologue: The Next Great Adventure

Rose Lily Potter was innocently walking down Diagon Alley to go meet with her account managers at Gringotts.

The Goblins were not upset with her for her break in two months ago. They had told her that they knew exactly what was going on as soon as the three had stepped in to the bank and gave a token effort to stop them to keep up appearances. In fact, they were actually more upset with Griphook for his betrayal of them than anything. They still kept the Sword of Gryffindor as "reparations" for her crimes, while secretly handing her a set of fine goblin made daggers made specifically in recognition of her victory over Voldemort ("These are more suited for your build anyway").

Not wanting to upset the goblins, she accepted them gratefully and even received an offer to step in to any Gringotts branch around the world and receive lessons as often as she would like from the goblins.

Those meetings, which went extremely differently from how Rose thought they would, led to the goblins setting up today's meeting about her inheritance. Dumbledore had been taking care of the Potter (and later Black) fortunes. Despite Rose's initial belief that Dumbledore was taking money from her, Dumbledore had done an extremely thorough and great job of handling her assets, according to the goblins. The details of exactly how well would be explained at this meeting.

The meeting passed without fanfare. The account manager, Bloodtooth, handed her a summary of her accounts. The number on the paper went over Rose's head, but she did notice the note by Bloodtooth that said that he and Dumbledore had worked together to increase her total worth by triple what it started at with her parents' death. Needless to say, Rose was loaded. What completely blindsided Rose was a letter left for Rose with Bloodtooth for her to read after the war was over.

My dearest Rose,

I feel like this is not enough to make up for all that you've had to put up with and go through during this. Much of which was done because of decisions I've made. Needless to say, things cannot be undone, but if it makes any difference, I am terribly sorry for everything. I visited the Dursleys' shortly before the completion of your fourth year and what I saw in their minds horrified me. If Voldemort had not just returned, you would not have been placed there again, period. I changed the wards then and there to include protection inside the home as well, but the damage was done. I am impressed and saddened that you went through that and somehow came out such a wonderful young lady.

My mistakes do not end there, but you need not the reminder. I only mention them to give you some of the last advice that I can hope to give you. I only hope that you take it in the spirit that it is offered.

I knew early on that your early life would not be easy. I did not anticipate exactly how difficult you would have it. My dream for your life was to have you live with loving relatives, have an enjoyable time with friends at school while learning to handle your fame (your aunt was supposed to inform you of on your 10th birthday as well as our world), graduate as a top student, receive extra training with myself and select others to have you ready when Voldemort returned and have you face him with a ready force behind you giving you the support you need for victory.

I hope you will be able to move on from what has happened, but I know it will not be easy for you to do so. I wish to tell you how I overcame what happened to me when I lost Arianna (my sister, in case you haven't learned) and later my friend Grindewald. I reached a low point after my defeat of Grindewald. Everyone wanted me to step into leadership roles immediately that I was not ready for. I was still struggling with my loses from that war. I decided to travel the world and take in the sights and sounds of both muggle and magical aspects of the Earth. I must say, it was probably the greatest decision I could have made. It gave me great insight into people and magic. I learned of poverty in the jungles and slums of Africa, I learned of the foolishness of certain governments in Russia (why I never took up Minister of Magic), I learned of youth and freedom in America (still a growing enterprise of a country, despite their flaws. They are very refreshing), and I learned many other lessons. When I returned to England to teach, I had learned of many new types of magic, I had advanced in our general fields of Transfiguration, Charms, Defense, and even learned a little of the Dark Arts (remember to be careful with those and remember your cleansing rituals. Don't learn that from a book, if you do learn it. Find a teacher).

If I could tell you anything now, I would advise you to think about a world journey, a pilgrimage of sorts. Take off on your own. If you take your friends, you will stick to their sides and not meet new people! That is the best part; branching out! Go out and enjoy the world as I once did.

This money that I've made on your behalf is nothing. Blow it all, if you would like. That is why it is here, my girl. Just for that purpose. I have always had faith that you would come out on top and new you would need some basic things to live a full life (because let's face it, it will be hard to have a normal job with all your fans and the press). Don't worry about saving money, you have plenty.

Whatever you do, my dear, don't forget to live. Those of us that have passed don't want you to swallow yourself in guilt. I don't know who all will survive til the end, but I know that no-one that you know would be happy to watch you from this side if you are sitting in guilt. I personally want to watch you enjoy yourself. If I can watch you from this side laughing and enjoying yourself, I can honestly say, my afterlife will be very sweet.

Also, if you come across any sweets that you have not yet tried during your life, always try it. You never know when you will come across your favorite sweet in a random place. Random fact: my lemon drops have always been purchased from the same little store in a town in southern Florida. I've never purchased them from anywhere else.

Please, live, Rose.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

My Greatest Accomplishment

Your Headmaster of Hogwarts

Rose left the bank after that in a daze, trying to come to terms with the advice that Dumbledore had left her. It sounded like a good idea, but did she really want to leave her friends in England? Maybe they would want to leave the country too and meet back every so often and see each other. But there was so much work to be done in England with the cleanup after the war. She herself had been in meeting after meeting, cleaning up at Hogwarts, attending funerals, and every other thing under the sun.

Rose was deep in her thoughts and not keeping her guard up, which is why the green curse that just barely flew by her left ear (thank Merlin for bad aim), caught her completely off guard. Rose turned around and saw the last Inner Circle member, Dolohov, surrounded by five other Death Eater's, apparently trying to continue Voldemort's reign of terror.

She barely had a chance to dive out of the way of another Killing Curse, when she was hit with a Cruciatus Curse from Dolohov. Caught off guard as she was, the curse caused her to drop straight to the ground in pain and hit her head on the cobblestone path and remember nothing else

When Rose woke up in a daze later, she was confused by the bright lights and tried to snuggle back into the soft warm sheets, waiting for the torture that was sure to follow her revival, obviously having been taken by …. Wait? Soft, warm sheets?

Rose shot straight up, getting a sharp pain in her head in the process.

"Rose!"

More pain in her head, but at least it was a welcome voice, if loud. Rose was forced back down onto her bed and slowly opened her eyes to see the relieved face of her best friend, Hermione Granger, eyes red and tears down her face.

"Hey, 'Mione."

"Hey, yourself. How are you feeling?"

"I'd make a herd of Hippogriffs or run over by the Knight Bus joke if I didn't think George would be disappointed, but somewhere around there. How come I'm in the hospital?" Rose replied, just now taking in the sterile white walls of a private room of what she knew was St Mungos.

"You don't remember the attack?"

"No. I remember that, but only the beginning. I went down embarrassingly early." Rose threw her arm over her eyes in embarrassment.

"Stop moping, you were caught off guard, or so I've heard. Ron's getting the full story now. You know how he is. He wants to make sure he has names of everyone who hurt you." Ron's attitude was nothing new. After his abandonment in fourth year, he had stuck up for "his girls" like the fiercest mama bear looking after a pair of cubs.

"He's never going to let me live down going to Gringott's alone, is he?" Rose moaned.

"Should he?" Hermione pouted, "You shouldn't have been alone. It's only been 2 months since you beat Voldemort and we still haven't caught Dolohov."

"Yes, we have," came a voice from the door.

Rose turned to see Ron Weasley, her other best friend standing at the door with a smug and simultaneously worried look that Rose could never figure out how Ron pulled off.

"He got hit by some adoring fan of Miss Potter here, along with every other Death Eater that decided attacking a hero in broad daylight was smart," Ron said cheekily as he moved over to Rose's bed and took his best friends hand (being the best friend of two girls made him quite capable of having a healthy emotional range far exceeding a teaspoon). "Are you alright?"

"My head's on fire from 'Mione screaming my name when I woke up, but yeah," came Rose's typically cheeky reply followed by Hermione's typical swat on her arm (sans any heat or force).

"Well, if that's all, we'll get a healer in here after we chat a bit."

The seriousness in Ron's tone took both girls aback a little.

"Ron?"

"Rose, this is the third time you've been attacked by rouge Death Eaters. You've been attacked twice by former snatchers upset with losing their new business." Ron fixed Rose with the most serious look she'd ever seen on him. "Not to mention you were alone and walking down Diagon Alley in a daze according to the witnesses, not keeping an eye out like I made you promise when you said you wanted to go alone."

Rose dropped her head to her chest in shame and Hermione, who would normally chastise Ron for how he was talking to Rose, was oddly silent.

"I'm sorry, Ron," came the weak whisper from Rose, the sincerity of which broke her best friends' hearts, but not Ron's resolve.

With Hermione and Ron both tightening their grips on their best friends hands, Ron continued, "If the war was still going on, it might be different, but as long as a single Death Eater or sympathizer is out there, you are going to be a target. We were lucky this time that there was a DA member in the crowd that didn't freeze up and got the crowd pulling wands instead of fleeing that we even have you around this time."

Ron used his free hand to pull Rose's chin up so emerald eyes met tearful blue. "Do you know what that would do to 'Mione and me?" Ron choked out.

"It'd devastate us." The weak whisper from 'Mione got their attention, seeing tears freely flowing from her eyes. "More than anyone else we've lost so far. Just like if any of the three of us was taken."

"She's right. But the difference remains that you've been attacked 5 times already and neither of us were with you or have been attacked at all. We can't keep ignoring it like it'll go away." Ron's determined moist eyes fixed firmly back on Rose's.

Rose's chin made another retreat back to her chest, her long silky black hair (silky from her Mum, black from her Dad) covering her whole face as she croaked out, "What can I do? It's not like I can just stop living."

For the first time since he'd come in Ron faltered a bit, "I.. I don't want you to be mad Rose, but we read the letter Dumbledore left." Rose's body didn't tense up, so Ron hoped she was okay with that. ""Mione and I think it's a good idea."

Rose's head shot up at that. "What idea?"

Hermione took that chance to get excited, "For you to see the world, of corse!"

"But, but what about you two?" Rose stammered.

The look of understanding on Ron's face, so uncommonly seen there, took Rose's argument right out of her brain before Ron could even tell her, "Rose, nothing will ever come between us, and in no way will we ever be anything but the best of friends, but this is something we think you should do yourself, like Dumbledore suggested. Not to mention," Ron pulled out a mirror, "'Mione finished our mirrors so we'll always be a call away, even your little Teddy will get one when we get around to making one, as will all of our friends and family. Just because you'll be out traveling doesn't mean you'll be alone."

"And no one deserves it more than you," came Hermione's earnest agreement.

Rose, bless her heart, still tried to stammer a token argument, "But there's so much to do…."

"And none if it needs to be done by you." The deep bass voice from the door catching them off guard made them turn to see the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt at the door, finally releasing a tearful Molly Weasley to administer her pseudo-motherly affections on Rose. Arthur Weasley turned from asking the rest of the Weasley clan to file in slowly instead of typical Weasley rush formation (applied in Quidditch and Hospital Room entering).

Being who she was, Rose had procured the large private room at St Mungos that the staff had always insisted she have both for her fame and for the large number of visitors she always had, so they all fit.

Ginny, looking far too smug for her own good, moseyed in last causing George to roll his eyes, laugh (something not heard often anymore after Fred's death) and answer Rose's unanswered question, "Gin-Gin is the one who snuck away from Mum and Dad and just happened to be in Diagon Alley during the attack."

"Hey, it really was a coincidence. I'm just proud of the fact that I downed Dolohov and then activated Rose's hospital portkey." Ginny dropped the smug look to glare at George.

Rose reached her arms, recently freed from Molly's grasp, out for Ginny, who practically ran into her friends hug. "Thanks, 'Gin."

The banter between the two Weasley siblings lifted her heart immensely. Of all her romantic relationships (grand whopping total of 3), two had been Weasleys. Her first was with George's twin brother Fred. She really liked his mischievous nature and that, coupled with her uncanny ability to tell the twins apart, had led to her and Fred dating for 4 months in her 3rd year. They were a great couple that just ended up splitting up over nothing. Fred was a great boyfriend to Rose, and they both really enjoyed the relationship, but they just didn't feel like it was that serious and split it off, never having hard feelings over it.

The other Weasely that she dated, and only Ron and Hermione knew, was Ginny. She and Ginny had become attracted to each other while dueling each other before and after DA meetings during Rose's 5th year. Both were prodigies in DADA, so they had always been each other's dueling partners since Rose had a need of one while preparing for the tournament in 4th year. Ron and Hermione were still thanking Ginny for being the one to take Rose's hits, since both could not come close to Rose's natural skill in that area.

Rose and Ginny's relationship had started without any fanfare as they both were unaware that same-sex relationships were not taboo in the wizarding world. In fact, it only came to Hermione and Ron's attention much later. Both had noticed Ginny being more involved in their group, but didn't realize the reason.

It was Hermione who found out first, actually catching the two in Rose's bed, having both been each other's first experience with any kind of sex. Hermione, despite being very open-minded, was so caught off-balance that she babbled like an idiot for the entirety of the next day while Rose and Ginny flushed red. Ron, the oblivious boy he was, didn't catch any of those subtle clues, and walked in on Rose and Ginny snogging the next night before a DA meeting, and promptly fainted.

They had secretly dated almost the entirety of the year, finally being open about it when Fred and George had thankfully left the castle. The rest of the castle noticed, but didn't think it newsworthy enough to inform the press or the rest of the Weasleys.

It was a fit of depression that ended their relationship during the next summer. Distraught by Sirius's death, Rose became detached from her girlfriend and the tension finally became too much to recover from by the time she snapped out of her mood. Ginny's parents thought Ginny was upset with Sirius's death as well and didn't comment of her broodiness. Ron didn't see it any part of his business to correct them. It was a mutual split, but they stayed good friends, even enjoying a drunken rendezvous after a particularly boring Slughorn dinner party.

It was these happy memories Rose thought of while she held her "secret" ex-girlfriend in her arms.

"Thanks, Gin," She repeated. "I know I can always count on you to take out the biggest and badest Death Eaters."

Ginny chuckled and stepped back so the rest of the Weasley's could give her a hug, even Percy who held a soft spot in his heart for the girl, and never truly went against her, always keeping his head down and playing good little Ministry worker, passing along as much info as he could safely get his hands on to his father for Rose's sake.

"Well, why don't we get back to the serious topic, before Miss Potter here tries to weasel out of a good thing." Kingsley's slight tease towards her legendary stubbornness made her blush and open her mouth to protest, getting cut off before she can start.

"What are we talking about?" asked Molly.

"Well, we're trying to convince Rose here to get out of England and explore the world, per Dumbledore's advice." Ron started smirking as the words got thoughtful smiles from everyone surrounding the Girl-Who-Lived (Twice).

"Wonderful idea."

"Why didn't I think of that?"

"I don't see any problem with that, as long as she stays in touch."

"Splendid!"

"Alright, alright. I'll do it," Rose's answer came with a token annoyed face that none fell for. Everyone broke into wide smiles.

"Brilliant!" Ginny started, "Come, George, we'll start a list of things Rose will need to take with her."

"Coming, sister dear." George's reply was followed by Ginny looping her arm into his and him whispering into her ear, "And you can tell me why I never heard of your little tryst with Miss Potter."

A furiously blushing Ginny ran George out of the room while Arthur and Molly came up told the girl, "We're going to head over to Andromeda's and make sure she knows you're okay before we head home. Take care dear." They filed out with their three eldest sons, leaving the three best friends and the Minister.

"Well, now that that's settled, I'll go get the goblins started on your paperwork. You know, as the Ministry has to approve all that and, as Minister, I can push it through them without anyone being the wiser." With that Kingsley left them alone.

"You'd think they wanted me to leave today," Rose pouted.

Ron's broke out in laughter and Hermione giggled as Ron told the girl, "No, we just don't want to give you a chance to change your mind. This'll be good for you. That's what matters."

Hermione added her two cents, "And don't think Molly won't throw you a going away party. Or that Ron and I are leaving this bedside before you are discharged. You won't be going away easily. But I agree with Ronald. This'll probably be the best thing for you. I'd hate to see you stuck at home all day."

Hermione was right of course. She and Ron stayed with her until she got out of the hospital and took her home where the Weasleys started getting her ready for her trip. The only thing Rose got to help with was her clothes choice, which Hermione and Ginny insisted they go all out for.

All told, it took two weeks to get Rose ready for the start of her trip. She spent a whole day out shopping with Hermione, Ginny, and Fleur (who made sure she had plenty of dresses for all occasions both fancy and casual). It was a brutal, yet amazing day with the three girls, getting Rose through her first splurge day of clothes yet barely touching her fortune.

George, while teasing Rose and Ginny mercilessly and threatening to tell everyone about their past relationship, came through with the most practical thing. He went and picked up (with Rose's money), a 10 compartment trunk filled with all her books from school and her Potter and Black libraries (minus any duplicates which he left in Grimmauld Place), a surplus of potions and potion supplies with stasis charms to keep them fresh in case she stayed in a muggle area for a long time and had no access to fresh supplies, and all sorts of other necessities that she would need for later. She would later learn that the reason he volunteered for this responsibility was so he could also hide a large stockpile of joke products in it as well.

Charlie left for three days for Romania and came back with a new set of dragon armor that fit her perfectly. He refused the payment, saying that it was a gift from all the dragon handlers and that they refused payment as well.

Bill sat Rose down one afternoon and taught about all the different places he had been to as a curse-breaker and also all the different translation charms and gave her a book on other useful charms for a traveling witch.

Fleur delivered some things from the goblins, including a list of every city that had a Gringotts branch, a list of exchange rates for every country (from galleons) her identification, passport, and a briefcase would allow the goblins to send all her statements straight to her.

Andromeda Tonks came by with Rose's godson, Teddy, for two reasons. Primarily, it was so Rose could spend several days with Teddy before she left, but also so Andromeda could help Rose with the Potter and Black seats on the Wizengamot. She ended up leaving with the proxies for both, although grudgingly.

Ron and Hermione stayed with Rose for the entirety of the process, shooting down all of her efforts to change their plans and simply spending time together before she had to leave.

Finally with everything packed and no reason to delay the trip, the Weasley's held a going away party for Rose with all of her friends, family, former teachers, and other members of the DA and Order. The entire time, Rose felt like a pinball, tossed around between everyone, receiving hugs and gifts of everything people thought she might need, from maps of magical China to some risqué lingerie (from Ginny, who smiled innocently at the glaring and furiously blushing witch).

The next day, shortly after lunch, Kingsley showed up again at the Burrow, along with Andromeda and Teddy to see Rose off. After informing the witch that everyone she had seen yesterday had a communication mirror, and making sure she got one last hug from everyone, the witch kissed Teddy's forehead one last time and stepped over to Kingsley, who had her portkey.

With Ron and Hermione smiling nearby, she was handed a single lemon drop, turned to grin at her friends and said the activation phrase, "The Next Great Adventure."

Omake:

"GINEVRA WEASLEY YOU GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!"

Ginny put down her magazine on her bed and went down the stairs in confusion, wondering what she did wrong.

"What is it now? I could've sworn I've been a perfect little angel this whole week, since Rose was getting ready to leave."

Molly Weasley held up a letter to her daughter, who took it carefully and started reading.

Dear Mum,

I just wanted to let you know that apparently, ickle Gin-Gin has been keeping secrets from you. I wasn't aware that she had been keeping it from you so I thought I'd be the one to let you know. I and your daughter dated most of her 4th year and partially into the next summer.

Just thought you ought to have been aware of that.

Your (adopted) daughter,

Rose Lily Potter

P.S. Gin, this is for your parting gift.

Ginny paled as she looked up at her mother.

"Wha... what about it, Mum?"

Mollly narrowed her eyes and Ginny flinched.

Damn that girl.