#I've no idea why you can use unforgiveable curses in it also

[ashthehermit]

Harry Potter & shallow worldbuilding

I probably shouldn't wade into these waters, but once again, I am demonstrating that my self-preservation instincts are poor, and that my family refuse to listen to my rants anymore. [TW: Harry Potter and all that entails].

I was a little confused when I saw the trailer for Hogwarts Legacy (source of ire for me, and many many other people).  I had thought that it was supposed to be set in Victorian England, but honestly, it looked a lot like it was still set in the 1990s (or the early 2000s, the films never came down on exact dates).  Perhaps this is because the movies - upon which all subsequent media has based its design - relied heavily on Victorian and early 20th century design elements.  Think Hogwarts' gothic architecture; the ministry's early London Underground tiles; and the entire interior of Grimmauld Place.  This wasn't in any way a bad thing.  Harry Potter, as a story, made good on a sense of whimsy and old British aesthetics.  The wizarding world, having no need of technology, would not modernise its aesthetics at the same rate as the non-magical world.  It was a design choice that was of great consternation to my mother.  We went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, she whispered to me 'why do they have wheelie suitcases?  I thought this was set in the 1930s?'

It makes me wonder now, why doesn't the world in Hogwarts Legacy look much different to its predecessor?  I suppose that they are wearing vaguely Victorian clothes, but shouldn't we be looking at some 1700s aesthetics, or is the wizarding world caught in a perpetual loop of Victoriana?

Truth is, the Harry Potter universe has fallen foul of the problem that irks most fantasy universes once they are analysed for too long.  It isn't logically coherent.  Like the history of Westeros, the history of the wizarding world repeats itself perpetually, never looking or behaving especially differently.  In a series of children's books that were focused on the life of one teen, the cracks didn't show.  Sure, Voldemort was in power twice, and before him there was Grindelwald (for all intents and purposes, Voldemort but European).

J.K. Rowling's world building is fine for what it was in the beginning (again, the life of one teen in Britain), or as fine as it could be.  The world was not greatly expansive, but it didn't need to be.  The best parts of it were whimsical and extensions of the cheerier side of Britain.  There was the Knight bus, a purple routemaster.  The entrance to the Ministry of Magic was inside a red phone box, one of the great symbols of British tourism.  The primary setting was a boarding school.  One of the most popular elements is the house system, which is just a more complicated extension of your average school house system.  It is touted as a categorisation of identity, but it obeys all the rules of school houses.  Siblings going into different houses is rare (to the point that it's only mentioned once) because family groups always go into the same house (unless your school just doesn't care about houses).  The bigotry in the series is also British by design.  It ends up being a simplified version of classism, that features more in subtext than text.  This being said, there isn't a great deal of specificity in the world building.  I still don't know where Hermione's home town is.  I only know that her parents are dentists and they like to ski.  Where does Malfoy live, apart from in a manor that has peacocks in the garden?  These are the kind of flaws you notice when you have analysed the story for as long as I have.

The worldbuilding gets thinner the more expansive it gets.  The students from Beauxbatons are more or less French stereotypes, Fleur especially.  Durmstrang is the same, but Bulgarian.  Much has already been said on Rowling's shallow naming conventions (Cho Chang, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and now Sirona Ryan).  Without the crutch of something being British and vaguely quaint, the world loses all of its charm, and all of its logic.

Fantastic Beasts, for some reason, begins in 1920s New York.  Most of the richness of the setting is achieved by production design rather than the script (incidentally, flashbacks set in Hogwarts still manage to look like it's the early 2000s).  Conflict in the story is wrought from an American government that is more anti-muggle than the British equivalent.  If it is allegorical in any way, I do not understand it.  But let's not pretend Rowling's allegory has ever been any good.  Claims that Lupin's lycanthropy was a metaphor for HIV and AIDs only serve to lessen the character.  At best, it's an allegory for general prejudice.  The assertion that Lupin, at the age of six, was attacked by Greyback with the express intention of passing on AIDs, is well, it's dicey.  Rowling might have intended to create an allegory for stigma around 'blood-borne conditions', but failed to consider the extra baggage that that allegory might entail.  

The same is true for Fantastic Beasts, where the nonsense is turned up to twenty.  There's a group of muggles who somehow know about the existence of magic.  They name themselves after Salem, despite the Salem witch trials being appropriate for neither this setting nor this geographic region.  Any commentary on the nature of the Salem witch trials is hardly a commentary on the nature of America at large, but rather a commentary on a single Puritan colony.  Rowling takes pieces of Native American culture for her lore, with no understanding of the cultural legacy at play.

It gets even weirder in the sequels, which zip through countries so fast there's barely any time for worldbuilding.  There's a circus!  Why!  I don't know.

For no reason at all, there's a deer that chooses the outcome of an election.  In a baffling moment, Grindelwald (as played by font of virtue, Johnny Depp) tells a group of wizards that they have to kill muggles because they are going to start a world war.  He is wizarding Hitler, and that isn't a subtle analogy.  In that same scene, Queenie Goldstein, a character heavily coded as Jewish, joins wizard Hitler because he promises her that she will be able to marry her muggle beau.  The man that just gave a speech about killing muggles, is apparently all for marriage equality!  By all means, it doesn't make any sense.  It’s far from being respectful either.

There are of course attempts to make the wizarding world more diverse in Fantastic Beasts, but without any attempt to make these characters more genuine.  There's an Asian woman, but she's Voldemort's snake and she's going to be beheaded by Neville in a few decades.  The second film has Zoe Kravitz!  Yay!  But she's part of a needlessly convoluted tale in which a powerful white man hypnotises a black woman to be his wife, and then she dies?  I don't know what to make of that.  It's not good representation, and by gum it isn't good storytelling!  The Fantastic Beasts trilogy has all the perspective of Emily in Paris.

Hogwarts Legacy can hardly improve upon this worldbuilding, because it comes from an unstable foundation.  I might have been more understanding had the game been set in say, not Hogwarts, or even a Hogwarts that was fundamentally different from the Hogwarts that we already know.  The worldbuilding remains as shallow as it ever was, and with all the bigotry retained.  Of course, the main story is based on a piece of anti-semitic folklore, expanded upon in the books, and even more so in the game.  The problem being that Hogwarts Legacy can only make sales based on nostalgia.  It can't be that different from the world of the novels, because no one is bold enough to alter the world and alienate people who want nothing more than to experience their childhoods all over again.  As such, the shallow worldbuilding is laid bare over and over again, to the point that it is no longer a setting in service of a series of novels.  It now has to be a real, coherent world, which it fails at.  We have to examine the nature of Hogwarts houses, and the mechanics of time turners (thank you Cursed Child), and the reasons why house elves don't want their freedom.  

They'll never get freedom anyhow, because Hermione's attempts at activism are used for comedy.  The world at the end of Deathly Hallows is not greatly different to the world at the beginning.  Voldemort is dead, but we are not assured of any big changes.  The world returns to what it was.  For all that The Legend of Korra may not have lived up to its predecessor, it made an effective attempt at showing that the world had been altered by the actions of our heroes.  In the Cursed Child, nothing is different.  The story spends all of its time looking to the past and imagining increasingly unlikely alternate timelines (Cedric turns evil?  Ron marries Padma Patil?).  Hogwarts Legacy does not set up the world of Harry Potter, nor does it fundamentally alter it.  The status quo is preserved.  Like Westeros, it cannot change. The new game does nothing with the world, and acts in its detriment.  Anyhow, it’s not a good work of fantasy.  J.K. Rowling loves the status quo.   That much is evident.  Don’t buy this game!  Support trans people instead.

[toodleoorblx]

I Found You, I’m Bound to You

Agatha Harkness x Wanda Maximoff

Word count: 3,580

Summary: Wanda's life couldn't possibly get any worse. But... miraculously, it has. And a certain older witch isn't helping. Or is she?

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 -/?

Warnings: violence, cursing, gore, trauma, mentions of death

A/N: This is my first Wagatha work, kinda nervousss! This is probably one of my favorite fic I've written (plot wise).

Chapter 1 -Not Your Aphrodite

Wanda's eyes flutter open slowly, each blink sending sharp stings of pain through her eyelids. It’s as if the simple act of waking is a punishment. Every morning, she rises in agony, the cause of which remains an infuriating mystery. Is this her grief manifesting physically, refusing to be contained? Or is it karma, striking her down for past sins? Whatever the cause, it leaves no room for hope or respite. Each day is a struggle, each blink a drain on her dwindling energy reserves.

She groans softly, the sound barely escaping her dry lips as she stares up at the wooden ceiling of her secluded cabin. The unforgiving light from the uncovered window across from her bed pierces her vision, adding to her discomfort. Wanda wants to scoot over, to find a position that might ease the relentless pain, but even the thought of movement sends waves of searing agony through her body. Her muscles scream in protest, her bones feel like they might shatter with the slightest shift.

This is why she has been using her magic as a crutch. Her once-strong body can no longer sustain itself without aid; it betrays her at every turn. Simple painkillers like ibuprofen are laughably insufficient against the torment she endures. She has to carefully dose herself with magic, using it as a delicate, potent medicine. Too much, and it will overrun her body, causing more harm than good. Too little, and the pain remains a merciless tyrant, rendering her almost immobile.

Wanda’s hand trembles as she raises it, summoning a faint, crimson glow that dances at her fingertips. She focuses, her brow furrowing with concentration as she channels just enough magic to dull the edges of her pain. It seeps into her muscles, wrapping around her nerves like a soothing balm. She breathes deeply, feeling a momentary relief as the magic takes effect.

Wanda closes her eyes and focuses on the stream of magic coursing through her veins. Its strong tides are contained only by the rhythmic beating of her heart. She learned to wield this spell through the teachings of the Darkhold, she has studied religiously over the past few months. It revealed things she never could have imagined, but she doesn't particularly care about its secrets.

She wants her sons back. She needs them back. She won’t give up until she has tried everything in her power. That’s the only reason she picked up the Darkhold—to be reunited with her boys, the only joy left in her life. But now, she has hit yet another roadblock.

The Darkhold has locked itself from her, and she doesn’t know why. When she began reading its corrupt pages for the name of someone who might help her find her sons, it started concealing pages from her sight. Even in her astral form, where her magic is most potent (and harder to control), the pages remain locked.

It's as if the book is mocking her. She wouldn't be surprised if it were, considering its near sentient? Whatever that’s about.

And there's another issue. Every morning, Wanda wakes up covered in blood and soot. Her already blackened fingers turning blacker and blacker. Blood from whom? Because of what? She has no idea. All she knows is that whatever the reason for her waking up drenched in blood is also the reason she wakes up in pain. It’s too much of a coincidence to ignore, even if she can't explain how she knows this.

This morning, she stepped outside and saw bloody footprints on her front porch. The sight terrified her, causing her to spill scalding hot tea all over herself. The pain was immediate and intense, but it was nothing compared to the confusion and fear gripping her heart. She tried to follow the footprints, but they vanished a few steps beyond her porch, leaving her even more bewildered. She ended up going back to bed.

She can't shake the feeling that something sinister is at play, something connected to the pain, the blood, and the Darkhold's defiance. But the most prominent questions she has were, is she close to an ax murder? Or is she the ax murderer? Because as far as she knows, she’s alone for miles. Where she can’t hurt anyone. 

Not again.

The mystery only deepens, adding another layer to her already overwhelming despair. Yet, she knows she must find the answers, no matter how dark the path may be.

And that path… where she likes it or not, is utterly, and irrevocably Agatha Harkness.

The thought of her only brings pain, guilt and anger. Ginger from how she betrayed her, pain from how she hurt her boys, and guilt from not being able to protect her sons from her. But Agatha also follows Agnes. Her best friend, once upon a time. She mourns the loss (or… non-existence) of Agnes. Fake or not, she meant something to Wanda. Her overly inviting demeanor, her funny remarks and even her relentless flirting. 

She misses it. But Agatha is at the center of it all. Wanda reels from how a single woman who she had only known a week, had wormed her way into her heart. Agatha and Agnes, despite being in her there for very separate reasons, are there nonetheless.

Agatha is, just like she said, needed. She can't do this on her own, that fact she's come to terms with, but the fact that Agatha is the other half of that claim, only brings bitterness and reluctance to her already heavy heart.

With purposeful movements she sits up. Her auburn hair blocked her tired vision. Green eyes stare at the floor. Nothing but emptiness. 

She slowly stands up, feeling slightly dizzy. She takes a shuddering breath, mentally preparing to get ready for the day (and to see Agatha.)

She wonders how she's holding up, trapped in Agnes. A small, miniscule part of her hopes that it isn't too harmful. But the majority of her psych hopes it’s nightmarish.

Wanda begins her usual routine, she quickly hops in the scalding hot shower, the water rinsing the blood away. Wanda stares at the drain, how the blood seeps into it. Getting out of the shower, she brushes her teeth, gets dressed, and opts to have a cup of black coffee this morning. (she knows she'll need it).

Wanda wears a v-neck red sweater with blue jeans… maybe she should wear her Scarlet Witch attire? Would that intimidate Agatha? No, she doesn't want to scare her just yet. If she tries anything she'll transform. Plus, she's stronger in that form, more focused.

Wanda pads to the front porch and takes a moment to appreciate the morning sky, she birds that chirp, the way the tree sway because of the slight breeze. The way the lake ripples, and the woodland creature that occasionally passes by. It's all so, so beautiful. It's what she wanted, to be alone, no one to bother her. But… she didn't think isolation would be this lonely.

She can't lie, she misses the business of her old family. The Avengers. Though never truly a part of them, their loud chatter, their laughter, their support, fills her with peace. But also just the quiet presence of them. The silent touches of reassurance, that says ‘I'm here’. 

She shudders at the memories, a voice screaming in her mind: Nat’s dead, Steve’s dead, Clint abandoned her, Banner vanished, Vision is dead, Thor disappeared, and even Stark is dead. Pietro is dead, her parents are dead, her old friends in Sokovia—all dead.

Wanda feels a wave of nausea. The cup falls from her shaking hand, shattering on the wooden planks.

Her chest rises and falls rapidly as she struggles to catch her breath, tears pricking at her eyes, a familiar presence. She grips the door frame, whimpers and pants escaping her as her chest tightens.

All of them left her.

She cries out, sinking to the floor, wailing and yearning for the fallen, for those still alive who purposely left her, for her boys.

Then it hits her—her boys. The lifeline, the hope she clings to, her only hope. The thought of one day being reunited with her sons begins to calm her breathing.

Her wails turn into cries, her cries into whimpers, her whimpers into sniffles. Slowly, she stands up, leaning against the door frame. Exhaustion takes hold of her, but she knows she needs to see Agatha as soon as possible. She needs her.

With determination, she aggressively wipes away her tears and teleports.

__

Wanda manifests in front of Agnes' home, her feet touching the ground as memories flood her mind, nearly overwhelming her. The laughter shared over cups of tea, the playful teasing, the rare moments of peace—each one now a ghost that haunts her. She takes a shuddering breath, her chest tight with emotion. Should she be doing this? Is there a better way? Doubts swirl in her mind, but she forces them aside, knowing she has little choice.

“Wanda?”

Wanda nearly unleashes her magic at the unexpected sound of the voice, jumping with a small yelp that escapes her lips. Her heart races wildly, and she whirls around to face the familiar figure. Standing there is none other than Agnes herself.

“A-Agnes?” Wanda’s hands drop to her sides, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion and sorrow. Her heart shatters at the sight of her friend, a rush of inescapable guilt paralyzing her. She never sent word to Agnes that she was leaving; she ignored her presence for months, abandoning her. The weight of her actions presses heavily on her chest as she swallows the lump in her throat.

Agnes stands before Wanda, clad in a blue and purple gardening apron smeared with dirt. Brown, dirty gloves cover her hands, and a visor holds back her brushed hair. Wanda’s eyes are drawn to a bold streak of white in Agnes' hair, a new detail that makes her tilt her head in curiosity.

Agnes’ outfit is completed with a purple t-shirt tucked into black trousers, her signature brooch hanging on a necklace. Her winning grin is plastered on her now paler face, and her blue eyes bore into Wanda’s shameful ones.

“Well, I’ll be damned! Hiya hun! I didn't expect you to drop by, hot stuff.” Wanda’s heart clenches at the pet names, memories of happier times flooding back. “It's been, how long? Feels like forever! How have you been, you beautiful thing?”

Wanda’s voice catches in her throat, but she manages to clear it. “I’ve been… fine. What about you, Agnes? How have you been holding up?” she asks, her brows furrowed with concern. She misses this—the bliss of just having a simple conversation with Agnes.

“Oh, I've been dandy! Ever since Ralph left, I’ve been so much better off!” Agnes chuckles warmly. Wanda notices the way her laughter reaches her eyes, making them sparkle with genuine amusement. “Would you like to come inside? I just made some lemonade about an hour ago.”

Wanda narrows her eyes slightly, a fleeting pang of guilt washing over her. She had completely forgotten about Ralph; she doesn’t even know his real name. Forcing a strained smile, she nods. “Sure, lemonade sounds great.”

“Alrighty then!” Agnes exclaims, turning towards the house and gesturing for Wanda to follow.

__

Wanda sits awkwardly on Agnes’s brown couch, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the cushion. She’s been finding it necessary to keep moving at all times, to prevent herself from drifting into painful memories. She wonders if Agnes would still want to be friends after hearing about all the terror she’s caused, the pain and suffering she’s inflicted.

She wouldn't even want to be her own friend.

The sound of glass cups clinking against the coffee table pulls her back into the present.

“So, hot stuff, what brings you to ol’ Agnes? Is Vision with the kiddos?” Agnes asks innocently, a small, genuine smile on her face. She takes off her visor and shakes her head slightly to let her hair fall free.

Wanda feels tears brim in her eyes. Of course, Agnes doesn't know about her family. Of course, she still thinks all is well. Wanda sighs heavily, wipes her eyes.

“Y-yes, he’s… taking them out for the day,” she lies, her voice strained. It feels odd talking about them to someone, but oddly… comforting?

“Oh, fun! But why visit an old gal like me when you could be out partying while you're still young and nimble?”

Wanda bites her lip and takes a big swig of the lemonade. She feels utterly exhausted, too worn out to hide her accent. (And quite frankly, she doesn't care anymore.) “Well, I wanted to visit an old friend. More my style,” she says, her accent showing a bit.

Agnes tilts her head, her eyes darkening. There’s something in her gaze that wasn’t there before, making Wanda want to squirm under the intensity. The firm stare is soon replaced by a smirk. “Well, well, well, hot stuff. I didn’t know you had an accent. It’s hot,” she says with a suggestive wink.

Wanda feels a light blush stain her cheeks, nearly causing her to cough. She wasn’t used to such overt flirtation, especially not now. She struggles to maintain her composure.

“Where’s it from?” Agnes continues, her curiosity piqued.

Wanda stammers, “Uhm... Sokovian.”

“How exotic!” Agnes giggles, taking a gulp of her lemonade, her eyes never leaving Wanda’s.

Agnes stands up and moves in front of Wanda, glancing down at her with an inscrutable look in her eyes. Whatever it is makes Wanda feel small, despite being a few inches taller. But as soon as it appears, the glint vanishes, replaced by a blissful innocence that almost feels disingenuous.

“I’ll be right back, hot stuff, gotta use the loo,” Agnes says with a small smile, her demeanor light and casual.

As Agnes leaves the room, Wanda’s mind races. She knows she needs to speak with Agatha, not Agnes. She sighs, the weight of her mission pressing down on her. Standing up, she glances around the living room, kitchen, and hallway, ensuring she has privacy. She casts runes on every wall, the magical symbols glowing briefly before fading into invisibility. The protection spell is crucial; she can't afford any surprises.

With the runes in place, Wanda takes a moment to steady herself, her fingers brushing over the worn surface of the kitchen table. She recalls the many mornings she and Agnes spent here, laughing over coffee and planning their days. The memories are bittersweet, a stark contrast to her current reality.

Wanda waits idly, anxiety gnawing at her. She’s terribly afraid something will go wrong. She doesn’t want to hurt Agnes by accident... but Agatha? She just might hurt her on purpose.

After another minute or so, Agnes emerges from the bathroom, a small sway in her hips that Wanda’s eyes follow before meeting her blue gaze. Agnes’s demeanor is cheerful, oblivious to the tension simmering in the air.

Wanda’s heart races. Taking a deep breath, she rushes towards Agnes, pinning her against the wall with enough force to knock a few picture frames loose. Agnes’s eyes bolt shut, and she lets out a small whimper. A whimper of pain? She doesn’t know, and guilt gnaws at her insides. But there’s no turning back now.

“Wan—” Agnes begins, her voice trembling.

“I’m sorry,” Wanda interrupts, placing her fingers on Agatha’s temples. She sends a surge of chaos magic into her mind, willing Agatha to awaken. A cloud of red magic engulfs Agatha’s form, obscuring her from sight.

Wanda takes a cautious step back. Is she the Scarlet Witch? Yes. Is she still going to keep her distance from the barely caged lion? Absolutely.

When the cloud dissipates, Agatha stands there, still dressed in her Agnes attire but with her fingers blackened, her hair longer and curlier, with the streak of white still present—odd. The air grows tense, and Agatha’s body stiffens, her muscles tensing as she adjusts to her surroundings.

Disoriented at first, Agatha’s eyes dart around the room before settling on Wanda. The initial confusion in her gaze is quickly replaced by a sharp, calculating awareness. She regains her composure with startling speed, her blue eyes now more disturbed than Agnes’s ever were. More aware of the world and the threat it poses.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Agatha’s voice is deeper, rougher than Agnes’s. Her eyes slowly rake over Wanda’s form, making her self-conscious. “You look like shit. Have you been eating?” Agatha asks with faux concern, her tone dripping with condescension.

Wanda narrows her eyes. That’s... it?

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Harkness,” Wanda spits, her eyes flashing red. She stands her ground, refusing to let Agatha’s words get to her.

Agatha tilts her head, a mocking smile playing on her lips. She shoves her hands into her pockets and huffs a mirthless laugh. “I didn’t expect you to come so soon. That’s... kinda pathetic, Wands.”

Wanda scowls at the nickname and summons a small orb of magic, the red energy crackling in her palm. She can't let Agatha assume she's in charge here. She’s the Scarlet Witch; she knows her power now. She needs to assert her dominance. “I've been busy,” she says vaguely, her voice steady.

“I could only assume…” Agatha’s eyes flick to the orb of magic, an amused glint in her gaze. 

“How come you aren't trying to actively punch me or smash a vase on my head? Why so… docile?” Wanda says slowly. She's not only trying to find Agatha’s motive, (which Wanda is sure she has) but she also wants to know out of curiosity.

Agatha’s smirk widens, and she takes a step closer, her presence imposing. “Why aren't you buckled over crying or trying to control a town? Why so... chipper?” she mocks cruelly, her words cutting deep.

Wanda feels anger bubbling beneath the surface of her composure. She can't let Agatha know she's getting under her skin, even though she already has. She forgot how infuriating Agatha could be when she wanted to be.

“Watch it, Harkness,” Wanda says darkly, her eyes narrowing to slits.

Agatha puts her hands up defensively, a smirk dancing on her lips. “Easy, tiger, don't get your panties in a bunch,” she taunts with a wink. “Unless you want me to.”

Wanda’s eyes widen in disbelief, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. “Do you—do you want to be Agnes again? Because right now, I know I’d much rather her.” She lets her crown manifest on her head, the glowing red energy crackling ominously. She thinks she's getting the hang of this intimidation thing.

Agatha raises an eyebrow, her smirk deepening into a chuckle. “How cute,” she huffs a laugh.

Maybe she’s not getting the hang of this intimidation thing.

Agatha goes silent for what feels like an eternity before rolling her eyes in exasperation. “Look, I'm in no mood for such trivial questions, sweetheart,” she says flatly. “I know you didn’t just come here because you missed dear ol’ Aggie. Why are you here, Wanda?”

Wanda gulps, feeling a lump form in her throat. Should she be straightforward with Agatha? Should she choose her words carefully? She opts for the latter.

“I… I need your help,” Wanda admits, her voice barely above a whisper.

Agatha bursts into a full belly laugh, right in Wanda’s face. This was a bad idea. If only Nat could see her now. She’d be lecturing her on why not to fraternize or negotiate with an enemy. But Nat’s black-and-white vision doesn’t work in a gray playing field. This is the only way.

Agatha finally collects herself, holding her stomach as she wipes away a tear. “And what could you possibly need help with, Scarlet Witch?” she asks mockingly, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Wanda grits her teeth. This is going to be a long day. “...Finding my sons—”

Agatha’s mouth falls open. “Wanda. Wanda, Wanda. They... they aren’t real, dear. They never were real. Just a physical manifestation of your will to have people who care.” Her words sting Wanda’s wounded heart, like throwing stones into a ditch she’s stuck at the bottom of, with no way out. Just… collecting people’s shit.

Wanda refuses to believe Agatha’s words. Admitting defeat is not an option. There’s a certain sincerity to Agatha’s words, a level of twisted truth that cuts deep.

Wanda’s eyes start to water, her magic flickering in her palms. She feels so angry, so hurt, so betrayed, so… stupid under Agatha’s gaze. How can a few cruel words, just vibrations in the air, hurt her so much?

Agatha hurt her family, hurt Wanda. She even hurt Sparky. Wanda’s heart clenches at the memory—she killed a damn dog. Agatha is sick.

Wanda takes a deep breath, in and out, in and out. A technique Steve taught her. She needs to calm down. She’s not new to people not believing her. The only soul alive that believes her boys are alive is Monica.

Wanda clenches her fists until her nails break the skin, a habit she’s picked up. She sucks in a sharp breath of air.

“Yes. Yes, they are.”

Agatha sighs tiredly, as if speaking to Wanda is the most tedious task on earth. “Honey, I can assure you they aren’t. The only way they could be is…” She furrows her brows, her mouth slightly ajar.

Wanda gives her a knowing look.“Fuck…” Agatha mutters, rubbing her temples. “I need a drink.”

[deadendtracks]

Lizzie and Tommy: Ruby's death, pt. 8

I want to come back to the point about Evadne Barwell blaming Tommy for her daughter's death, rather than her own sister or herself, for giving the supposedly cursed jewel to the girl. There's an echo of a pattern in the Shelby family of blaming Tommy for every bad thing that happens, as if it's his responsibility. I've written pretty extensively about that elsewhere so I won't go into it here except to say that this pattern is also echoed at the end of the season by Michael when he has the line about Tommy's 'lethal hand.'

Even if the sapphire was cursed, and curses are real -- the show is pretty ambivalent about this -- the point is Evadne Barwell cursed Tommy for the consequences of something he'd warned them about. He told Madame Barwell the sapphire was cursed when he gave it to her. She didn't reject it. We don't know whether she told Evadne about the curse, but she obviously found out about it at some point, in order to blame Tommy for her daughter's death.

And Tommy accepts this -- he never points out that it's unfair that he was blamed for this little girl's death, even if the stone *was* cursed. Because Tommy believes he himself is cursed.

I think a lot of this contributes to his horrific actions after Ruby's funeral, when he hunts down Evadne Barwell and murders her and two men who tried to defend her from him.

First, it's revenge: she cursed him and his daughter died. If curses *are* real, that's a horrible thing for her to have done. I have no idea if you could consider his actions justified under that belief system, but I don't think even Tommy thinks his actions were justified, so we'll leave this question.

But his murdering her is absolutely about his lashing out over the fact that he was unable to stop his daughter from dying and missed her goodbye. It's awful, and unforgivable, and possibly the worst thing he does in the course of the series.

He tried to tie this idea of making amends for all the bad things he did to reversing this curse, tried to tie Ruby's living to some kind of absolution. But she died. And I think this probably cements in his mind that he cannot ever make amends for anything he's done, that trying to be a good man is worthless. So he isn't a good man, and lashes out.

There's probably a lot more you could say about this. And it's truly terrible that Lizzie knows he did this thing; that, I think, is something he did do to her. I don't know how she found out, but it's really awful to learn your husband murdered people out of revenge for your daughter dying of TB.

I just think you have to be careful when talking about these events not to conflate this thing Tommy did with what went before, as if he never deserved any compassion in the situation. That can be difficult, I think, because he doesn't deserve compassion for this, but it is important to understanding his character.

But I do think part of what he does is about the fact that he was unfairly blamed for this other little girl's death, on some level. It's a lashing out about more than one thing. I think he kills Michael under very similar circumstances, except for the fact that Michael did try to kill him so it was much more justified, where there isn't any justification for this. But in both cases he's being blamed for things that are not remotely under his control, and importantly, for the actions of other people. I think he has a lot of rage about this, about the expectations placed on him by his family. And of course rage at himself for failing to meet those expectations, because he puts them on himself as well.

"Fuck us, Lizzie. Fuck us! Fuck you and me! Who brought this on? We brought on this curse." This is what he says to Lizzie in the hospital during his panic attack. And why is it us here, why does he include her? Probably because she wouldn't let him die, maybe, and he partially blames her for that, or is angry down deep about what she said when he tried.

[angeliana2023]

Chapter 19: The Mysterious Beyond

Author's Note: Hello, dreamers! I've been excited to write this because it's something I've been waiting for since I first started this version a year ago. When I started writing, I had this idea for Dire. I've cultivated it more over the months, and I can't believe I'm finally getting to write it... The Land Before Time mission will be crucial because Dire and Lilith are searching for the Heart. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you what it is until NEXT chapter, but it's what I've been leading up to since the first arc. So, with that out of the way, enjoy!

Disclaimer! Any of the characters, ideas, locations, or stories that aren't my OCs or part of my personal ideas aren't mine and I do not claim to own them.

Characters introduced (or mentioned)

The gang of five (The Land Before Time)

King Frostgale (OC)

Frostellia (OC)

Frostgale (OC)

Snowy Dawn (Geronimo Stilton: The Quest for Paradise)

Ice Dusk (OC)

Master Tonpetty (JoJo)

November 2012 

The team had returned from their trip, with memories to last a lifetime. Once everyone was settled back in, Dire and Lilith were at the Multiverse Hotel, preparing to leave for their mission.

"Now, listen up. In the future, Lily is destined to travel through all 14 Land before time movies. She'll be able to meet the characters, but you two have to steer clear of them.

"Ok, Aurora, but why aren't we allowed to interact with them?" Lilith asked.

"Because Lily is destined to meet them anyway. I don't want to risk the plan being thrown off course. And I also don't want the children meeting you yet, because even though you're traveling through their world, they don't need to get involved with Etherian affairs yet. I don't want to worry them.

"I understand, now. We'd better be careful." Lilith said.

"Ok, are you two ready to go?" Aurora said.

"Yes, we are," Dire said. He and Lilith stepped through the door.

When they emerged, they saw sights they had never seen before. The land was nothing like back home. It was an unforgiving, barren, wasteland.

"This must be the mysterious beyond," Dire said.

Lilith responded. "This is much different from anywhere else we've traveled since we first started going on missions."

"Yes, it is, and that's why we both must be on our guard. We must try to steer clear of danger." Dire said. As soon as he said that, he sighted a Nightdreamer monster. He and Lilith hid behind a big rock.

Monsters already? Those Nightdreamers are cruel! Lilith thought.

"Let's wait for it to pass us by." Dire whispered, as quietly as he could. The monster passed by, and the two of them heaved a sigh of relief.

"Ok, now, let's check our plan," Lilith said, checking where they needed to search for the Heart.

The rock that looks like a Longneck The Mountains that burn The pond

"That's all?" Lilith asked. "It's so cryptic! Well, I guess we have our work cut out for us..." Lilith said. She and Dire began the long walk.

As the two of them trekked, Lilith spoke to Dire. "I was wondering what exactly the Heart does. I know it's extremely important, but what is it?" Lilith asked.

"I don't know. It could be a powerful weapon like the one Coletta told me she used to decimate the Trix's Army of Darkness. Maybe it can grant a wish?" Dire asked. Lilith's heart fluttered when she heard 'wish.'

"I-I know Lily will need to use it herself if it could grant a wish, but if it was mine, I would ask for one thing only," Lilith said.

Dire was curious. "What would it be?"

"Mortality. I was created by Anankos, an ancient dragon. He created me, along with the other Astral Dragons centuries ago. I have great power, but I'm also cursed with immortality. I want to be able to experience things that a normal human being would, like falling in love, growing old, and dying with them, not outliving them." Lilith said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I understand completely. Who would ever want to live forever? I would rather be with the ones I loved forever.

"You know, Dire, you remind me of someone," Lilith said.

"Who?" Dire asked.

"His name was Frostgale. I fell in love with him years ago, but sadly, he died. Something about you makes me think of him." Lilith said.

Dire's face turned white. "Frostgale? What did he look-" Dire was cut off by a rumbling sound.

"Earthquake," Lilith said.

The ground began to shake harder and split open. Dire fell through a crack, and Lilith tried to pull him up.

"Let me go! I don't want you to fall with me!" Dire said.

"It won't matter if I fell in, as long as my gem sustains no damage," Lilith said.

"But what if it's damaged when you fall in?" Dire said. "Lilith, just let go. I'll be ok." Dire tried to persuade Lilith to save herself, and she almost let go, but she saw Frostgale in Dire's eyes. She tried to tighten her grip, but his hand slipped, and he fell.

"NO! I won't let you die!" Lilith shouted. She jumped into the pit after Dire.

"Dragons, give me strength!" Lilith shouted. Her body glowed with blue light, and she transformed into her Astral Dragon form. She managed to catch dire and bring him back to the surface...

Meanwhile, Percy and Megan were looking out for the heroes.

"So, where do you think they would be?" Megan said.

"I don't know, and I don't even know why we're here. If we're not allowed to wreak havoc on the heroes of this story, what's the point of even coming here?" Percy said.

"You know what my mother said. We need to defeat Lilith's guard and get that gem for mother! On top of that, we need to get that special weapon that was rumored to be here!" Lilith said.

Percy scoffed. "We don't even know what it is, let alone WHERE it is, so how will we get it?" Percy asked.

"Easy. Just try to silently follow behind Dire and Lilith! Wherever they might be-" As soon as Megan finished speaking, she saw a blue light in the distance.

"That was easy. How could those heroes be so dumb?" Percy asked.

The two followed where they had spotted the light.

Meanwhile, dire was still recuperating from his fall. But when he saw Lilith, he almost fainted. "What are you doing? You need to transform back! The Nightdreamers will see you!" Dire said.

Lilith transformed back. "I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to die like Frostgale. I couldn't bear losing another lover." Lilith said. "There's something I forgot to tell you. Even if my gem is just taken, and not destroyed, my spirit can never truly pass on. It will still be trapped within the gem. So I could never be with Frostgale." Lilith said.

"I understand how that feels, but, who is Frostgale? I-I think I might have known him, long ago.

"He told me he was from an ice kingdom. He was very mysterious, so that's all I ever really knew about him." Lilith said.

"Lilith... Did I ever tell you?" He was cut off by a blast of dark water.

Percy and Megan had found them! Percy was already using his new dark powers.

"Lilith, stay behind me!" Dire said.

"But dire, I can fight, too! Didn't you see what I did in that chasm?" Lilith said.

"I know, but I don't want you getting hurt!" Dire said.

"Enough talk, let's battle! Percy said, drawing his sword.

Dire drew his, also, and the two of them clashed.

Megan approached Lilith. "If those two dummies want to fight, I'll just take the gem myse-"

"STOP!" Lilith cut her off.

"How dare you tell the future Queen of Dark Etheria to stop!" Megan said.

"Why are you doing this? Look around! You can't just keep hurting people, because it isn't right! All Lily wants is for everyone to love each other, not fight each other!" Lilith poked Megan. "And you're trying to unravel it all, by turning good people bad! Dire shouldn't be fighting Percy, we should all be helping each other!" Lilith said.

But Megan wasn't convinced. "Listen. You need to respect us villains. My mother only wants to heal what Alessandria has broken!" She said Alessandria like it was a bad word.

"You guys will learn soon enough..." Lilith said.

Dire and Percy were still fighting, but it look like it would end badly... Percy sent a blast of dark water at Lilith. It hit her, and Dire prepared to use his Thunder Cross Split Attack.

"NO!" He's good, remember?" Lilith screamed.

Dire came to his senses and stopped his attack.

That gave Percy an opportunity. He aimed a blast of dark water right at Lilith's gem, and fired it!

NO!" Dire said. He lept in front of the water, but instead of hitting him, it froze in place...

"Wha-? Lilith said.

Leave now." Dire said, coldly.

"Cmon, Percy, we need to get away from them! They're obviously overpowered!" Megan said.

Percy stood down. "You're right. We should regroup. Percy said.

The two of them fled, but Megan looked over her shoulder, and said, "Don't think you haven't seen the last of us!"

"They're smart, fleeing from us! We make a great duo!" Lilith said.

But dire didn't answer. "Those ice powers you saw... Have you seen them before?" He asked.

Lilith remembered. "Frostgale uses to use powers like that! Do you know him? Lilith said.

"Did he have long blonde hair?" Dire asked.

"Yes, he did," Lilith said.

"Then it must be him... This may be painful for toque to recall, but how did he die?" Dire asked.

"I never truly knew how, but he was rumored to have been in a storm at sea with his entire family. He and I made an agreement that he would never tell me about his family, because I didn't want to grow attacked, because of my immortality." Lilith said.

Dire's face turned white. "It must've been him..."

"Who?" Lilith asked.

Dire took a deep breath. "I think I should finally tell you the truth about where I come from. Frostgale was my younger brother."

Lilith's eyes widened. "I-I knew you two were connected all along, but it's still shocking..."

Dire continued. "My father was King Frostgale, the king of the snow people. One day, it snowed for 700 nights and days in his kingdom, leaving our homes completely covered. He saved us all by making us board a ship to a new land. Onboard were my father, my mother Frostellia, my sisters, named Ice Dusk and Snowy Dawn, my brother Frostgale, and I. The voyage was going smoothly, but something horrible happened. There was a storm at sea, and my father ordered everyone below deck, but my youngest sister, Snowy Dawn was left behind by mistake. She was swept away by a wave, but I survived. I washed up to shore, and Master Tonpetty found me and took me in. My true name is Snowhawk." Dire told his story with pain in his voice.

"That's horrible..." Lilith said.

"But there's still hope. I've heard rumors that Snowy Dawn is still alive somewhere. In the future, when we go on more missions, I will search for her." Dire said.

"Well, at least you have hope. I feel your pain because I am the last of the Astral Dragons." Lilith said.

"Thank you for understanding," Dire said. He remembered. "We're behind schedule! We need to continue the search." The two of them stared at the ruined world around them. That earthquake almost completely changed the land. It looked as if the Nightdreamers did it themselves, even though it was only a natural disaster. So Dire and Lilith cautiously trekked forward, finding the rock that looked like a Longneck.

"Wow... it's beautiful..." Lilith said, marveling at the majestic rock's beauty.

"Let's start the search..." Dire said. The two of them began to search for the Heart, even climbing to the very top of the rock. Alas, they didn't find it anywhere.

As Dire and Lilith descended the rock, Lilith stopped and realized something.

"Dire... This is just how searching for your sister feels, right?" Lilith said.

"Yes, it does... Searching so futilely, but never finding anything." Dire said.

Lilith shook her head. "I didn't mean that. What I meant was, even though we didn't find the Heart here, it could be at the Mountains that Burn! Even though you can't find your sister in the places you look, there are still other places where she could be." Lilith said.

Dire smiled at Lilith. "When you say it like that, you give me hope. Thank you." Dire said before the two continued on their journey.

Meanwhile, Percy and Megan were already at the Mountains that Burn and were prepared to surprise attack the heroes!

"Alright, Percy, when the two of them get here, you know what to do! I'll use my powers to get the gem, and you'll face Dire!" Megan explained.

But Percy wasn't listening. What Lilith said about the villains trying to unravel everything the heroes were working for was awakening something inside of him...

Megan's eyes widened. She realized what was happening. "Percy, listen to me. I know you're having doubts about who's side you should be on, but know this! Those heroes are just trying to lure you in! Before I started going on these missions, I actually wanted to make friends with Lily! If villainy can change me, it can change you!" Megan said.

"Ok, Megan..." Percy said. He was just pretending to agree with her because the spell she cast upon him was slipping. The deep red color of his eyes was lightening.

"Don't worry, Percy! You'll love being a villain!" Megan said before she saw something in the distance.

"It's them!" Megan said, springing into action. She looked behind her and noticed Percy wasn't following her. "C'mon, Percy! We don't want them to get too far ahead!" Megan grabbed Percy's arm and pulled him along. Percy's eyes turned dark red once again.

"There they are!" Megan whispered, laying low, staring at Dire and Lilith. "Are you ready to do this, Percy?" Megan asked.

"Of course," Percy said. He was now under full control by the Nightdreamers.

Percy conjured a blast of dark water, and prepared to fire it at Dire! Lilith heard the rushing sound of him conjuring the blast, and jumped in front of Dire!

"Lilith, no!" Dire said, as the water collided with her. but in her place was a magnificent Astral Dragon! She used her stronger form to take the attack.

Yes, I've got you right where I want you! Megan thought, preparing to face Lilith when she turned back into a human.

Wait, what am I doing? They've seen my Astral form, and how powerful it is! Lilith thought. When she used her astral form to save Dire from falling, she turned back before Percy and Megan could see her. Now they'd both seen it!

Human form Lilith stood in front of Megan, not afraid to face her.

"I won't let you get away with this, Megan! You think you have to hurt my new friends because your evil mother tells you to, but she's wrong!" Lilith held her hand out for Megan to take. "Come home with us, Megan! To a place where no one will make you be evil ever again! Randall, Waternoose, Tex Richman, and others are already living happily at the Mansion of Lucidity! Lily's not here right now, but if she was, she would do the same thing! She would try to bring her cousin Megan away from the dark!" Lilith said.

Megan's gaze softened for the briefest of seconds but turned right back icy. "Nice speech, Dragon of stars, but I have a responsibility to uphold. I'm the future queen of Dark Etheria, so I can't waste my time listening to heroes blabbering." Megan stretched her hand out, and Lilith felt her powers leaving her!

N-NO!" Lilith screamed as Megan began to take her gem. She felt light-headed and swayed on her feet.

Just as the gem was about to leave Lilith's forehead, a blast of clear, pure, blue water blasted Megan's hand! "What the heck was that?" Megan shouted.

It was Percy! His formerly red eyes were back to their normal sea green color!

"You're back?" Lilith asked.

He turned to Lilith. "Yes. Those words you just said about Megan going home with you were enough to break the spell I was under!" Percy said.

"Uh, um... I should get back." Megan said, before teleporting away. At least she was smart enough to realize when she was outnumbered!

When she was gone, Dire ran to check on Lilith. "Are you ok? He said. He examined the gem for any cracks.

"Yes, I'm fine. It takes a lot of power to take an Astral Dragon's gem, and since Megan isn't powerful enough yet, she didn't have enough strength to take it." Lilith said.

Dire was relieved. "I'm glad." He turned to Percy. "Thank you for helping Lilith." Dire shook Percy's hand.

"You're welcome. I can't believe I turned dark..." Percy said.

"It's alright, Percy. After all, you weren't even in control of yourself." Lilith said.

"It won't be as easy in the future to break Nightdreamer spells. Megan is still practicing, and when she gets more powerful, words alone won't be enough to bring them back. Until then, Lily should practice using her powers." Dire said.

"We can think about that after we find the Heart. Let's go to the next location!" Lilith said.

The three heroes trekked to the pond, which was the next location on the quest. When they arrived, they were greeted by a beautiful sight. It was a pond with a rock overlooking it. The body of water looked majestic, Like the site of an old kingdom.

"Wow. Could this be where it is?" Lilith asked.

Just then, the three of them heard footsteps off in the distance.

"The characters!" Dire said. "We need to get the heart before they get here, so we don't interfere with their story!

The three dove into the pond, in search of the Heart. Their efforts, however, were futile. Lilith, Dire, and Percy surfaced empty-handed.

"It's no use..." Lilith said. Just as the three of them were about to give up, Lilith thought of Lily and the others back in Haventown, and how much they needed the Heart. "No. I can't let any of my new family get hurt." She turned to Dire and Percy. "If the Heart can't be found, or falls into the wrong hands, we all could die." She had renewed resolve.

Lilith stepped over to the pond's edge and looked at the water before her.

"Lilith," Dire said. Lilith looked back at him. "Good luck." He said, with a warm smile. Lilith nodded and dove into the water.

As she swam deeper, she found it harder to hold her breath. She was about to resurface when she thought of something.

Since I take the form of a fish in my Astral Dragon form, I need to take a chance and use it, even if I'm detected by villains again! My friends are counting on it!

"DRAGONS, GIVE ME STRENGTH!" She shouted. A brilliant light surrounded her, and she was transformed! Lilith swam deeper and deeper until she could see a faint pink glimmer shining from the dark depths.

Just a little closer... She thought.

She swam with all her might, harder than she'd ever swam before, and finally...

She got it.

Lilith grasped the Heart in her hands. In a split second, two things happened. First, Lilith was surrounded by a light more blinding than the brightest star, then She felt herself falling.

"AAAAHHHHHH!" She shouted, not knowing where she would land, or if the landing would be soft.

The next thing she knew, she was in a world made of pink clouds.

Dire and Percy were beside her. Lilith looked at Dire with a 'What the heck?' look, and he shrugged in return.

Power of the Gods - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Just then, a brilliant light appeared before them. From the light, a woman emerged.

Lilith knew immediately who she was. "Q-Queen Alessandria?" Lilith was in awe.

"Yes, it is I. Thank you for finding the Heart." She said, with a warm, motherly smile.

"Does it belong to you?" Lilith asked.

"It belongs to all of us. Every Etherian and Fictonian is an owner of the Heart. Even the Realiteans rely on its light because, without it, the real world would be completely overtaken by the Nightdreamers' power." Alessia said.

"What makes the Heart so powerful?" Dire asked.

Alessia suddenly got a serious look on her face. "This Heart not only possesses immense power, but it possesses the truth. The truth about who I truly am, and where we all came from." Alessia said.

"When will it be revealed?" Lilith asked.

Aurora had already started to fade. "I can't talk to you for much longer." She was almost completely transparent. "But I've entrusted Colette with the information." Alessia said. She was gone, but her disembodied voice said one more thing, before it faded completely. "Tell Lily I love her..." Alessia herself was probably more exited to meet her daughter than Lily herself was...

Lilith, Dire, and Percy began fading away, also. They were transported to the foyer of the Mansion of Lucidity, where Coletta, Aurora, and Cadenza were awaiting their return.

"You found it..." Coletta said. "I know you did, because the instant you got here, I could feel Alesia's intense power.

Lilith approached Coletta. "You bet we did!" She said.

Coletta turned to Dire. "Dire. Thank you for protecting her." She said.

Dire bowed. "You're welcome, but Lilith is the one you need to thank for saving me. During the mission, she risked her safety by using her dragon form to save me twice ." Dire said.

Lilith intervened. "But, wait, you sheielded me from one of Percy's attacks, remember?" She turned to Percy. And if you wouldn't have stopped Megan from taking my gem, I would've been lost forever, and the Nightdreamers would have an Astral Dragon's power!" Lilith said.

Dire looked at her. "But you got the Heart. If not for your Astral Dragon form, we wouldn't have it." Dire said.

"Thank you, but I think we all deserve credit." Lilith said.

"Yes, you all do. It takes a special person to put their life on the line to protect a friend." Coletta said.

"One more thing. What about the 'truth' Alessia told us about?" Lilith asked.

"It's what I was just about to tell you." Aurora said. Lily was playing outside at the moment, so Aurora called her in.

"You're back!" Lily ran up and hugged Dire and Lilith. She saw Percy, with his original eye color, and hugged him, also. "You're purified? That's awesome! But how did you do it without the staff?" She asked.

Aurora explained. "Since the villains from the movies you've already traveled through were made evil by their creators, who have ultimate power over their characters, only the power of the Daydreamers could save them, because, as rulers of the world where anything could come to be, we also have dominion. But since Megan's powers are untrained, she didn't turn Percy evil all of the way." Aurora explained. "Now, I'm going to reveal the truth of everything to you." Aurora said to the room.

Listen well... Aurora thought.

Author's note: Sorry I'm late again, but I was kinda nervous about this chapter... I don't know how well you'll receive the whole Dire secret thing... The next chapter is going to be the big one. It's the start of the final arc of this book, and I'll reveal the big secret... I'm more nervous about next chapter's secret than this one's! I also can't believe it's been over a year since I first posted this version! What's even more weird, is the fact that the first chapter and the chapter before this were both posed on September 24th! I wasn't trying to make that happen, but it did. So, stay tuned for the next chapter, and don't forget to Stay lucid!

[randomshyperson]

THE SCARLET WITCH PROPHECY - Chapter VI - The Fourth Year (Final Part)

Gif is not mine, blessed are the gif makers.

Summary: As the youngest daughter of Howard Stark, you have ordinary expectations for your years at Hogwarts. Little do you know what adventures await you when your destiny is intertwined with the legendary Scarlet Witch.

Warnings: +16. Adaptation of the Harry Potter Saga, Magical Thematic, Prophecies, Mentions of Violence, Torture and dark magic, Language (swearing and minor/major offenses), manipulation of will, Underage kissing, insinuation of smut with minors, Smut (overage), descriptions of death, aggression, obscurity, angst, fluffy, soulmates analogies. | Chapters Warnings: Heavy angst in this.

A/N: This took me a while, because i had writer block (and it's not over yet). Anyway, I hope people like this. Let me know if anything is confusing okay? Sorry about typos too.

Words counting: 11.344K

Series Masterlist ||  Read on AO3 || All Works Masterlist

//-//

The Fourth Year - Final Part

Wanda was avoiding you. Well, not just you, but all your friends.

You told Gamora what happened, but you didn't have the stomach to repeat the story to anyone else, so your sister passed the news on.

You were coping well in spite of everything. You missed her terribly the whole time, but you were pushing the feelings down and trying to stay positive about everything.

By trying to put yourself in Wanda's shoes, you understood why she did what she did. You just had to find a way to prove to her that what you felt was real, and for that you needed to find out more about your magical bond.

Your best alternative to the lack of books about it in the library was to talk to the professors. Judging from your experience with them, none of the teachers would tell you anything. But Fury has been acting very differently all year, and although you don't agree with the way he has been teaching D.A.D.A. lately, you have the impression that he would tell you anything you asked.

That's why after a particularly exhausting class where he made all students practice the shield spell until one of the boys threw up, you waited until the room emptied to talk to him, watching with curiosity as he turned a small bottle he kept in his pocket to his mouth.

"What is it Stark?" He asked still on his back. You wondered if behind the eye patch he had some enchanted eye to see around things, but the idea seemed too absurd to you.

"Sorry, Professor Fury." You say. "I have a question about advanced magic and would like to clear it with you."

Fury put his materials away in his bag, and beckoned for you to accompany him into the private office, and you followed him into the small room, watching him set the desk on a coffee table and move toward a glass cabinet of magic supplies.

"Have a seat and make yourself comfortable." He said with his back turned. "I need to prepare a potion, but you can ask me what you want."

You stumble half-heartedly to one of the empty armchairs, and then clear your throat.

"It's about magic bonds, professor." You recount. "I... well, I think I have one. And well, I'm not finding much material on it, and I don't understand how they work."

Fury makes a noise with his mouth in understanding, his hands wandering through the cabinets behind ingredients you don't recognize, but he seems to be paying attention to both you and the brewing of the potion.

"Are you familiar with the concept of magical bonds and connections, Miss Stark?" He asks and you deny it. The professor cuts something that looks like mushrooms on the table as he speaks again. "The reason you can't find books that explain to you exactly the nature of this magic, is because no wizard has been able to decipher these enchantments correctly." He explains. "The magical bonds are one of the oldest and most powerful enchantments in the magical world, Miss Stark. Extremely dangerous, yet immeasurably valuable for some purposes."

You swallow dryly, but do not interrupt. Professor Fury bends down to reach a tin cauldron and places it on the counter in front of him, on a small makeshift stove. He deposits some ingredients inside.

"Have you ever heard about any of these bonding spells?" He asks and you think for a moment.

"I think I've heard about the perpetual vow, sir."

Fury gives a small smile, nodding. He sniffs a small bottle before pouring the contents into the cauldron.

"Yes, the perpetual vow is a great example of a magical bond." He says. "But it is still an active spell, you need to recite an incantation and both parties need to voluntarily close the bond. Some witches believe it's a contractual magic, much more than a natural connection." Fury explains. "I particularly prefer to use another example, Stark. The life debt."

Fury has a smile at the corner of his lips, and a strange gleam in his eyes when he looks at you for a moment, but you don't have the courage to ask. He turns his attention back to the cauldron, lighting the flame under the metal with his wand.

"I don't know what that means." You confess and the professor doesn't take his eyes off the cauldron.

"A life debt is a magical bond created when a wizard or witch saves the life of another magical being." He explains. "And I say magical being, not just another wizard, because I've seen it happen once for a centaur to owe a wizard their life. But never the other way around."

"How does that work?"

"It's very simple really." He says. "If you save someone's life, that person or creature will owe you a debt. The bond is created, without needing an incantation. The act of preserving a life is magical enough to create that bond." He explains and his expression turns almost somber. "The best part is that the person saved needs to pay back."

"And how do they do it?"

"A life can only be paid with another life." He declares. By now, the potion is smelling. You don't know what it is, but it looks like lavender, and it makes you a little dizzy. "I have witnessed a quitting in my time as an auror, Miss Stark." He tells you, and you already imagine that what he is about to say is not something you should tell a fourteen-year-old witch, but you don't think to interrupt. "The debtor throws himself in front of the Reducto incantation to prevent the death of the witch who saved him once. I still remember the pieces flying around the room."

You looked away, uncomfortable with the mental image you were given. The professor didn't seem to mind.

"But of course not all debts are paid off like that." He added as if he hadn't just told the story of someone tearing themselves apart. "Stopping a friend from falling off his broom in a game of quidditch might be enough to pay off a debt. Or to create one too." He counters. " This kind of magic has always been very difficult to decipher."

You murmur in understanding, keeping your gaze on the floor. The professor sighs lightly, moving away from the cauldron to sit in the empty armchair in front of you.

"But I'm guessing you're not talking about any of these bonds, are you?" He hints and you swallow dryly, feeling intimidated by the watchful gaze he gives you. You figure that lying is not an option.

"N-no sir." You reply. "I wanted to know more about protective bonds. Like... like the idea of someone you care about getting hurt, causes you a really bad feeling. And it makes you ignore your own safety and makes you go too far e...."

"Impressive." The professor interrupts, his gaze almost fascinated on you, and making you swallow dryly. "And how far are we talking about, Stark? What's the limit? Would the wizard put themselves in front of an unforgivable curse? Would they offer themselves up as a sacrifice? If one were to get hurt, would the bruises show up on the other, or does the very idea make your insides turn? Or…”

"Fury." You jump in fright when Strange's voice interrupts the monologue of the other man, who was very close to you now.

Fury looks annoyed that he has been cut off, but he turns away with a smile. "Pardon the interruption. I need to have a word with you on a matter." Stephen said, but he didn't look happy at all, and his expression was one of concern and disapproval, probably from the discussion he witnessed.

You stood up awkwardly, taking a step back, your heart still racing from the things the professor told you.

"Of course, Professor Strange." Fury spoke as he stood up. "Stark, I hope that has cleared up your doubts. If there is anything else you wish to ask me, you may come to my office as needed."

You bit your tongue to avoid saying that Fury only scared you rather than clarifying anything, and nodded in understanding.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts may not be my class, but I am also available to talk with you, Miss Stark." Stephen added softly as you passed him in the doorway. You mumbled a goodbye before walking out of the office, ignoring the horrible feeling that settled in your stomach.

//-//

You were really disturbed by the conversation with Professor Fury. The story of the wizard casting himself in front of a spell gave you strange dreams, and you could no longer be sure that you wouldn't do the same for Wanda.

Your friends were equally impressed by what you told them, and you ignored the feeling of dissatisfaction at the pit of your stomach that you felt because you wish you were talking to Wanda about it, and tried to be more grateful that you have someone to talk to at all.

You were thinking of talking to Tony about everything, and you thought you'd look for him in the Slytherin hall, and to your surprise, he showed up in your common room. You thought he was there to spend some time with Steve, but he really came to see you.

"Daddy wrote for us." He explains as soon as he greets you. The letter already open in your hands as he throws himself on the couch in the communal hall. It is Sunday, but the room is very empty because with the amount of free time and foreigners in the castles, most of the students are socializing outside. You had dismissed your friends' invitation to practice Quidditch in exchange for a nap, as you were upset by the way Wanda left the main hall at breakfast when she realized you were sitting at the Slytherin table with her brother.

"Finally." You grumble as you sit down in the armchair across from Tony, stretching out your arm to pick up the letter. It must have been the first letter in three months or more. Last time, your father had said he was overwhelmed with work and would not send any news for a while. You thought it would be days, but it was months. Jarvis at least wrote to tell that he was alive, working in the basement.

Looking down at the paper, you began to read:

"Dear children, how is school going? I hope you are studying as I have always asked you to do. I have been busy with an important project at the ministry, an invention to improve the astronomical forecasts of the wizarding community. Please forgive me for the lack of contact these last months.

Tony, I received the letter about the detention, and I was quite upset when I heard about the bet. You are the older brother and you should protect your sister, not put her in danger. But I am glad that everything ended well and hope that this kind of behavior will not happen again.

Y/N, dear, I heard about your willingness to start studying Muggle Studies, and I'm very glad..."

You stop reading the letter halfway through, frowning and looking at Tony next, who was lying with his head on the cushions and his arm under his eyes.

"What kind of crap is this?" you ask with confusion and irritation, causing Tony to let out a short chuckle. "Dad telling us to study? What the...?"

"It doesn't sound anything like him, I know." Tony interrupts and then sighs, sitting down on the couch to point to the paper. "And see how he doesn't make any jokes about the dare, or any comments about your incident at the lake? It sounds so mechanical and vague."

"Do you think he hasn't read our letters? He only mentions the one from school." You say and Tony leans back on the couch, thoughtful.

"I don't know. It just doesn't sound like him." He says. "I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Jarvis wrote it."

"Why would Jarvis do that?"

"Because Dad hasn't spoken to us in three months." Tony retorts with irritation. "And well, you almost drowned and he didn't even bother to read about it."

"Tony..."

"No, it's fine." He grumbles, taking the letter from your hands and standing up. "Screw him." Cursed the boy in annoyance, tossing the letter into the fireplace in the room. You frowned, sighing. "We don't need him. I'll take care of you."

You were tired of this. Running a hand through your hair for a moment in frustration, you let Tony take your hands in his as he knelt in front of you next.

"I'm sorry I've been absent this while." He says surprising you. "I hated how all the adults were hiding things from us, and I did the same with you. I promise I will tell you everything from now on."

You nod in understanding, squeezing Tony's hand lightly.

"I need to tell you something too."

And you do. The whole conversation with Wanda and with Professor Fury shock Tony. And he has a frown creased in concern when you finish.

"I know it's a lot." You say. "But I'm terrified. I don't know what will happen to me if I lose Wanda, and all I can do is miss her."

"Hey, it's going to be okay." Tony says tenderly, releasing his hand to caress your cheeks and wipe away the dripping tears. "I won't let anything bad happen to you. I promise."

"What if you can't avoid it, Tony?" you retort softly, your voice whiny.

"I will." He assures you. "I will help you. We'll figure out a way to break this bond, and then you and Wanda will be safe."

You nod, deciding to believe his words. Your brother hugs you next, and you wish he is right.

//-//

Just like you, Tony was also unable to gain access to the restricted section of the library. But that is the least of your problems.

As the date of the last task approaches, you are a pile of nerves. Tony assures you that he will try to find something about ways to break magical bonds on the last trip to Hogsmeade in a local library, but you are barely listening to him, your thoughts wandering towards Wanda.

The other girl, on the other hand, continues to avoid you and your friends. Your only option is to ask Pietro about her, and he assures you that she is as upset as you are as if he is trying to make you feel better somehow. But all this information causes is a worsening of your distress. Pietro is not comfortable coming between you two, so you don't insist that he spend time with you or your friends, knowing that Wanda needs company. You also insist that Gamora and Nebula continue to spend time with the witch, but they comment that Wanda is not really sociable after the whole thing.

The rest of the school starts to notice the way the Maximoffs are no longer hanging out with you, and since everyone in the school loves a little gossip, the news that you and Wanda broke up starts to circulate very quickly.

You don't want your detention for the lake story to escalate, but it's hard to control the urge to jinx your classmates when their snarky remarks reach your ears.

"I heard they broke up because Wanda became a champion, and didn't want to be seen with a hufflepuff anymore." Said in a not so low tone, a Ravenclaw boy as you were walking ahead of them toward the Potions classroom.

"No, dude, that's not true. I heard that Wanda got pretty close to the other champion, Jean Grey, and obviously she'd go for a famous quidditch player than a nobody." Added a female voice, and you clutched the books in your hands tightly, but didn't turn around.

"Come on, the girl's a Stark." Retorted the boy. "I think Maximoff is a winner with either one."

The girl laughed lightly, and you wished you reach the classroom soon.

"I think you're right." The girl spoke up. "Maximoff has always been weird, I don't know how she got such great options."

Your attention wandered from the conversation when Mantis reached you. She went back to the dorm to get the potions book she had forgotten, and frowned at your annoyed posture when she arrived, but when she caught the words of the pair behind you, she threw them an annoyed look that made them fall silent.

"Don't pay any attention to that kind of gossip, Y/N." She asked gently and you just sighed.

"I just wish people would mind their own business." You grumble annoyed and Mantis agrees with a murmur.

Potions class was as difficult as it usually is. What surprised you was Professor Lensherr's tired appearance, but you imagined it must be because of the tournament finals that were being organized by the teachers.

When you were packing your materials, you almost knocked over the glass jar when he appeared in front of you.

"Stark, a word, please." He asked earnestly, and Mantis shot you a glance before hurrying to leave. The professor waited until the room was empty and then nodded to the door, which closed. "Wanda told me about your magic bond."

"Shit." You grumbled immediately, and Professor Erik raised his eyebrows. You cleared your throat, apologizing for cursing. "Look, sir, I don't know what else to say about it. I don't know where the bond came from, and I'm trying to find out..."

"I can help." He interrupts and you fall silent, surprised.

"Really?"

"Yes." He says straightening his posture and crossing his arms. "I obviously have more magical knowledge than you, and your nosy brother." He says and you understand that he is talking about the way Tony has been pestering the teachers to get information. "And if this bond affects Wanda, it is of particular interest to me."

You swallow dryly, nodding in understanding. You explain to him how you feel next, and Erik absorbs your words with a neutral expression.

"Interesting. I had my theories since you couldn't duel with Wanda in the second year, but since you became close, it wasn't my place to intrude.” He tells with a bit of a nostalgic face as you finish speaking. “I have a few questions, Miss Stark. I need clarification on the nature of this bond." He says with his arms still folded across his chest. "Last summer, Wanda had a cold. Did you feel anything?"

You thought about the vacation for a few seconds.

"No, sir." You reply. "I don't remember getting sick."

"I see." He says. "Tell me, have you ever had dragon pox?"

You nod in agreement.

"At how old?" The teacher asks, and you think for a moment.

"I don't know, four I think. Maybe five."

"Wanda had dragon pox when she was six." He declares, his gaze assessing you. You blink, trying to follow what he is trying to say. "It's not a very common disease in England, is it?"

"I don't think so." You mutter without understanding why the professor is looking at you like that.

"Wanda caught the disease in Sokovia, the country where she was born." He recounts. "We were on vacation and she came back sick. The last case of that disease here in England was almost a hundred years ago."

"I guess I'm unlucky then." You try to joke, and Erik almost smiles.

"The flu Wanda had last summer was not of magical origin." He adds, and you frown slightly, not knowing what to make of this information. "But dragon pox is magical in nature."

"Professor I don't..."

"Wanda broke her wrist at the age of seven." He interrupts as he uncrosses his arms, gesturing slightly. "She and Pietro were playing in the backyard, no magic."

"Okay..."

"I imagine Wanda has already talked to you about her exceptional magical abilities, Miss Stark." The professor continues. "Her visible magic, I meant. It started when she was three years old, when she was able to bring her toys into her crib and wrap them all in a magical cloud." Erik tells and you smile briefly at the image of a baby Wanda, but his expression makes you bite the inside of your cheek the next second. "I want to know how much of this you were able to experience, being on the other side of the country."

You swallow dryly, looking away and trying to think back to your childhood.

"I don't know, professor." You reply. "I was a child. Maybe Tony or dad will know something."

"Come on, isn't there anything you can tell me?" He insists. "Any specific memories, any strange dreams? Anything."

You think, and think, but none of your childhood memories seem relevant. And then you frown, remembering one.

"Actually... There was this one time I got really sick. I think I was about eight. Maybe nine, and dad took me to St.Mungus. I had a high fever, and I couldn't sleep at night with nightmares, but I don't remember what happened. They thought it might be the flu, but we never found out what it was. The next day I was better."

Erik was slightly wide-eyed and then he sighed.

"Before she came to Hogwarts, Wanda was afraid of losing control of her magic at school." He starts to tell. "I tried to calm her down, but she was very upset. She managed to convince Pietro to help her into my potions room and took an entire bottle of a brew for magical containment. Her magic seemed almost enraged, and she destroyed the greenhouse with a wave of energy. I've never seen her so out of control." He says thoughtfully, as if remembering the events. "She passed out from exhaustion, and didn't wake up until the morning. She was ten.”

"You don't think...?"

"That's exactly what I think, Miss Stark." He interrupts, "The dates match. Every time Wanda was in danger from a magical source, you were affected, because the nature of your bond with her is magical. And that was confirmed during the tournament by noticing the way you jumped into the lake during the second task. I imagine your little interaction with Professor Heimdall when Wanda was facing the dragon was about this as well?" He asks and you nod your head in confirmation. "Right. Well, that's a problem."

"I noticed." You grumble, but then realize from the professor's expression that in addition to what has been said, it seems to be a problem for another reason. "Why?"

"Regarding your safety, I mean." Explains the professor. "The last task of the tournament is going to be exceptionally challenging, and perhaps not the best of experiences for you."

You widen your eyes in anticipation.

"Professor, what will happen in the third task?"

"I can't tell you." He says. "But there will be many challenges. And Wanda may encounter difficulties, especially since she is only fifteen."

You sigh, trying to push the wave of worry down.

"I hate this tournament." You state in a mumble and Professor Erik gives a short little smile. "I hate to see Wanda in danger. If it's for the gold, she can have all mine."

Erik laughed, and you blinked in surprise at the sound.

"Believe me, I dislike this competition as much as you do." He says. "There is no pleasure in seeing Wanda in danger for something as superficial as eternal glory. But the goblet chose her, and she would have suffered a magical penalty if she didn't obey the contract. It was a difficult decision, but it was the best for her."

You mutter in understanding and the teacher is thoughtful for a few minutes.

"I would recommend you not watch the competition so you don't get so nervous, but clearly distance doesn't matter for the bond." He remarks. "I need more information about how all this works. I want to run some tests with you two."

You frown slightly, but before you can ask what kind of tests, the teacher speaks again.

"That will need to wait, of course. With the competition and the final exams, I understand that you are experiencing enough stress and I don't want to cause any more suffering." He explains. "Over the vacations, perhaps I can write to your father. It's time to see old friends again after all."

You are surprised that the professor makes this mention, but you don't bother to comment. He clears his throat, and signals that this is all. You thank him as you get up and then leave the room.

//-//

When the day of the last task of the tournament finally arrived, the whole school was in a joint peak of excitement.

You could hardly sleep, strange nightmares throughout your entire night combined with the anxiety at the pit of your stomach made you wake up several times during your sleep. In the morning you decided to ignore the buzz around the hallways about the task and the possible winner, and joined your friends for breakfast.

You wanted to talk to Wanda, but you didn't see her at the Slytherin table, and Gamora tried to cheer you up with news about a band you liked playing in London next month, but you could barely force a smile, feeling tired and irritated.

You heard a group of Gryffindors commenting excitedly that the occultation spell had been removed from the quidditch field, and that the gates of something that had been conjured for the last task were already visible, but before you could try to hear what they were saying, the boys were already leaving the hall and Pietro came to talk to you.

"Hey, good morning, how are you?" he asked curiously, taking a seat across from you at the table.

"Not well, if you want to know." You grumbled dejectedly, your fingers lazily stroking the piece of bread on your plate. "What about you?"

"Worried." He replied shrugging his shoulders with a small corner smile. "But I'm optimistic. Wanda is confident, and thinks she can win. And I'm trusting that everything will end well."

The mention of Wanda makes you sigh slightly and lean your chin on your arm on the table, looking at the boy in front of you.

"I miss her, Pietro." You confess upset and ignore the way Gamora and Nebula who are sitting next to the boy look at you with pity, but appreciate how Mantis strokes your back lightly. "She won't talk to me, and I can't blame her or even be mad at her."

"Wanda asked for some time, didn't she?" he asked slightly curious and you grumbled in agreement. "Well, I guess you have the right to ask the same."

You frown in confusion, and Pietro has a little smile as he pours himself some juice.

"What do you mean?" You ask.

"Ask her for, I don't know, five minutes of attention?" He suggests. "Five minutes to at least give her good luck. You look miserable, and I hate to see you like this."

You sigh, thinking about the idea. And then you smile.

"Thanks, P." You say as you raise your head.

"No problem." He says. "You can try now, Wanda should be on the lower floors. She wanted to talk to dad before the task."

You nodded in understanding and then said you would meet your friends outside.

It didn't take long for you to find Wanda. The girl was walking up the stairs as you were coming down, and well, she had no choice but to look at you.

You felt your heart race to have her looking directly at you after so long, but you ignored the sensation as you walked down the steps and stopped in front of her. Wanda swallowed dryly, but held her gaze.

"Hey." You greeted half breathlessly, smiling slightly.

"What do you want?" she asked uncomfortably, her gaze serious. You ignored the seriousness of her words.

"Talk to you."

"I already said I need time."

"I know." You said without hesitation. "But I also have the right to talk. Can you give me five minutes?"

Wanda looked away, and then at her feet. She sighed and nodded, and you waited for her to look at you again before speaking.

"I miss you, Wanda." You confessed and watched Wanda swallow dryly, her eyes filling with tears as she looked away. "And I wanted to wish you good luck in the last task."

Wanda sighed faintly, nodding in understanding, her gaze on the stairs. You raised your finger to her chin, gently turning her face so that she was looking at you. Wanda closed her eyes as you fitted your hand to her cheeks, your thumb stroking her skin tenderly as she leaned into the touch.

Her hand moved up to your forearm the next moment, squeezing before moving your hand away from her face as she pushed your arm away gently.

You sighed, ignoring the feeling in your stomach and the urge to kiss and touch her again.

"Please don't do that." She whispered. "Don't touch me as if you love me as much as I love you."

You gasped, widening your eyes at the confession. But before you could add anything else, footsteps approached and Erik was coming up the stairs behind Wanda. The girl took a step back, wiping her eyes quickly.

"Stark." The professor greeted politely. You had a hard time disguising how much Wanda's words stirred in you. "Wanda, you'd better hurry up for breakfast. The task will start soon."

"Yes, dad." Wanda agrees and she doesn't look at you as she leaves. Erik nods politely and you stand on the steps for long minutes, your heart racing in your chest.

Wanda loves you. And you can't be with her.

Ignoring your broken heart, you turn and walk back into the hall, following the crowd of students who are making their way to the site of the last assignment.

//-//

The third task was a maze full of magical trials.

You gasped as you reached the sight of the large grass ones that were raised at the entrance to the quidditch field and the matched grass gates.

The crowd of students spilled out onto the bleachers set up in front of the maze, and you began to look around for your friends, ignoring the urge to run to Wanda and tell her you loved her back, not wanting to upset her before the task.

When the crowd was fully seated in the stands, and some students were already raising their cheering posters in the air, you watched the tournament judges move along with the faculty as Agatha took her place to announce the start of the competition.

"Hey, it's going to be okay." Gamora whispered to you as the director made the announcements. "I bet Wanda will be back before you can miss her."

You try to smile, your stomach turning in nervousness.

Watching the field below, you see the champions positioning themselves at the entrance.

Jean Grey had the highest score, so she entered first. The Durmstrang students cheering loudly until she disappeared into the maze.

Soon after, Wanda entered. The Slytherin people conjured a serpent of artifice through the air that disappeared as soon as she walked into the maze.

And then Maria Hill last, the Beaubatox crowd clapping their feet until she entered.

Just like the second task, all that was left for the crowd to do was wait once the champions entered. So as soon as the gate closed, the students started talking animatedly among themselves, in addition to the betting chart that began to circulate.

You also noticed that the reporters of the Daily Prophet were asking the cheering people in the front row about the bets for the winners.

Trying to distract yourself from the sense of worry that had taken over you most likely linked to the fact that Wanda was inside a place dangerous enough to kill her, you tried to engage in some of the conversation with your friends.

//-//

With thirty minutes to go, a movement in the field below caught your attention.

"Y/N, isn't that your father?" Gamora asked poking you in the ribs to call you, but you were already looking down.

Your father was not alone. There were four other witches with him that you had never seen before, but judging by their capes, they were aurors from the ministry, as they were dressed exactly like the witches that day in the cup.

There was a sudden movement among the teachers, and then the aurors were opening the gate to the maze and Headmistress Harkness was talking to the judges, all looking extremely worried. The crowd was buzzing, and it didn't take long for the comments to reach you.

"They're saying they're going to cancel the test!" Told a Ravenclaw girl who had just leaned forward to listen to her classmates, and then he turned and said to you and Gamora, making you both widen your eyes. You looked around next, in time to catch Tony coming down the bleachers from the side until he reached your father.

"What do you think happened?" Gamora asked you.

"I don't know, but it doesn't look good." You replied already moving to leave in Tony's direction. Gamora and Nebula looked at you, but you just signaled for them to wait up there.

When you reached Tony and your father, they seemed to be arguing.

"You didn't think to send at least a letter?" Tony squawked angrily, but your father was distracted, looking around and especially back at the entrance to the maze.

"I can't talk now, Tony, please." The man asked. He gave you a short smile as you approached, and Bucky and Steve joined you all next.

"Dad, what's going on?" You asked, but before your father could say anything, the principal was asking the students to return to the castle and the crowd erupted in booing.

The tournament judges were commenting quietly among themselves, and you frowned when Professor Erik approached and whispered something in your father's ear, who made a worried frown.

"Go back to the castle." Your father ordered looking at you and Tony, but you didn't move and Tony pushed your father's hand away.

They began to argue, but you felt your whole body shiver all at once, and you looked back, thinking that someone had called your name.

Professor Erik looked at you curiously, but before he could do anything, you ran past him and into the maze.

//-//

Gasping for breath from the run, you blinked in confusion as you stopped at a crossroads. Your head was spinning slightly, and you looked around.

The maze was dark, and the walls were high and shadowed the path. You noticed that the noise of the crowd was muffled from the inside.

Taking the left path, you were not fully conscious, following only the magnetic energy that seemed to pull you around the correct path.

Your wand was raised to your hand, an illumination spell that you don't remember conjuring. You frowned slightly when you noticed another light, and then Maria Hill was standing in front of you.

"Who are you?" she asked, but you didn't answer, walking past her in a mechanical manner. The girl looked at you with confusion. "Girl, can you hear me?"

"Wanda." You whispered without stopping your walk. Maria hesitated but then began to follow you through the labyrinth.

"Are you hexed?" She asked curiously but got no answer. When she tried to hold you by the shoulders, you pushed her to the ground. "Hey, no need for that!"

You didn't answer and Maria sighed in irritation as she stood up, running lightly to catch up with you as you turned the corner.

The tugging on your abdomen began to get stronger, and then you reached the center of the maze.

"Wow, you found the center." Maria commented in surprise next to you. "But where's the cup?"

You looked around confused, feeling the pain in your head increase.

And then noises of footsteps and shouting became closer and a moment later your father and Professor Erik entered the center through one of the trails.

"Honey!" Your father exclaimed worriedly, but before he could reach you, you fell to your knees, a shrill cry of pain escaping your throat.

Your vision blurred and you had another vision.

It was the graveyard from your dream, but now much clearer than before. You were attached to something, and there was a tall wizard standing in front of you.

The man turned around and you could see his red eyes staring at you with hatred.

"Erik, what is happening to her?" You heard your father's voice sound muffled by the ringing in your ear. You were trying to breathe normally, lying on the grass with your hands on your head.

"Look out, Howard!" It was Professor Erik's voice, but you didn't have the strength to look up.

"Protego!" Someone shouted the incantation next to you, maybe it was Maria but you can't open your eyes to see.

The pain in your head seemed to subside slightly and you forced your gaze upward, not understanding what was happening.

There were two bright lights in front of you. The image was not very clear because of the pain, but you struggled to understand what you were witnessing.

A wizard you didn't know was exchanging spells with Professor Erik. And Bucky was standing next to him, his robotic movements exactly matching those of the mysterious sorcerer. Your father was dueling with the younger one.

The unknown wizard let out an angry grunt, and said something in a language you didn't recognize, and then a green light shot out of Bucky's wand and hit your father in the chest, knocking him backwards.

"Stupefy!" Shouted a female voice from your side, and the spell hit Bucky squarely.

You whimpered in pain again, and could stare no longer.

A few minutes passed before you gasped back to consciousness, or perhaps it was hours. Your tears wet your shirt, and you coughed helplessly.

You raised your eyes to a scene that you didn't understand at first.

There were three people lying on the ground. A man you had never seen before, Bucky and your father, and Professor Erik was kneeling beside the last.

You blinked in confusion and then Tony came running out of the other opening and he widened his eyes when he noticed father.

"Hey, can you stand?" it was Jean Grey beside you. Maria Hill was holding you in her other arm, and you blinked in confusion at both of them.

"Where am I?" you grumbled, and then looked forward again. Tony ran up to your father, and you widened your eyes.

"Dad?" Tony asked with his face wet with tears. "Dad? Wake up!

"Stark..." Erik started as he touched the boy's shoulder, but your brother didn't look at him as he pushed his hand away.

You forced yourself to get up and with the help of the girls you succeeded. You took two steps and then fell to your knees again, understanding what had happened.

You had just witnessed your father being murdered.

//-//

The maze was dismantled from the inside out.

The rest of the teachers moved to remove the incantations and the maze disappeared around you, while you and Tony were kneeling beside the body of your father.

Soon there were reporters trying to reach the center, but Principal Harkness ordered them to stay away.

The aurors from the ministry were also there and they conjured a containment spell around the man who dueled the professor.

"We need to get the children out of here, Harkness." You heard someone say, but their gaze was on your lap, the hand you entwined with your father's.

"We don't know how many of them then here." Another witch said.

"Darlings, let's go inside, okay?" Professor Erik asked you. You were too tired to contradict, but Tony refused.

He said something about responsibility, and they did not contradict him again. You were led out of the maze, however, and the place where the entrance was located was empty.

The reporters who had been thrown out approached you and the ministry's auror immediately as soon as they saw you two, and you blinked at the flashes of the cameras.

"Can you tell us what happened inside the maze Miss Stark?"

"How are you and your brother going to take care of the fortune now that you are Howard's heirs?"

The lack of sensitivity made your stomach turn, but you were too tired to cry.

The auror who was with you said something to keep the reporters away, and then you were taken back to the castle.

"Hey, kid, are you still with me?" The lady asked as she knelt in front of you, her expression concerned.

You sighed, feeling an urgency to close your eyes. You think she called you again before you blacked out.

//-//

When you woke up, it was warm. And when you realized that you were in the infirmary, it took you a few moments to remember everything that had happened. As you did so, you began to cry. Finally understanding that your father was dead.

Your pillow got wet, but you didn't care, finding it hard to see past the tears.

"Hey." It was Tony, looking extremely tired, standing at your bedside. You couldn't tell if he was already there when you woke up, or if he had entered the infirmary at that moment, but you didn't ask. He lay down on the bed with you next, and hugged you.

You know that he was crying too, even though you didn't look at him.

You eventually fell asleep between sobs, and when you woke up again, you were feeling better physically.

Tony was standing in the doorway of the infirmary, talking to the Auror who brought you in. When she noticed you looking, she nodded slightly to Tony and he looked at you, forcing a smile.

The two wizards walked over to you next, and you sat down on the bed.

"Hey, are you feeling better?" Tony asked and you shrugged. "Carol wants to ask you some questions."

You looked away from Tony to the woman, and she looked slightly embarrassed to have to question you after a situation like this, but she did it anyway.

"My name is Carol Danvers, Miss Stark." She introduced herself first. "I am an auror from the ministry of magic. I brought you to the infirmary, can you remember this?"

You nodded in agreement.

"I need to tell you some things, and then I'll ask you about what happened in the maze, okay?" She asked and waited for you to confirm before she started talking.

Carol explained to you how the dark wizard Korvac used polyjuice potion to disguise himself as Professor Fury all year long, and infiltrate the tournament organization. The real Fury was a family friend of the auror and was able to warn her in some way that she didn't tell you, and then the aurors used flu powder to get to Hogwarts. Your father was still an auror in secret to the ministry, and so he also joined the operation group.

When the Aurors arrived, however, Korvac had already entered the maze and they went after him. Neither your father nor the professor were supposed to enter the maze, but when you did, your brother followed, and consequently Steve and Bucky did the same. Your father and the professor went after, but the maze was enchanted to make everyone get lost, and that's exactly what happened. While you were guided by your connection to Wanda, everyone else was lost all around.

Carol told you that Korvac had found Bucky and used the Imperio curse to control him, so he was fighting on behalf of the dark wizard against both your father and your teacher. With Jean Grey's intervention, Bucky was knocked out and Professor Erik hit Korvac, but it was too late.

Everyone eventually found themselves in the middle and the maze was dismantled. Tony had already given his statement to the ministry, and Korvac was sent to Azkaban.

"Your brother told me that you have some kind of magical bond with one of the champions and that's why you went into the maze right?" Carol asked as you wiped away your tears. You sniffled slightly as you confirmed. "Miss Maximoff won the competition and she has also talked to my colleagues about what she saw in the cup portal."

"W-what?" you questioned with confusion.

Carol sighed slightly and then her posture changed. She looked back for a minute.

"Look, I trusted your father. He knew there was corruption in the ministry, and he warned me about it when he recommended me to work with him." She began as if telling a secret. "Let's keep that between us for now. I don't know who I can trust in that department."

Carol told about how the triwizard cup was bewitched to become a portal key, most likely by Korvac. She repeated Wanda's words to you, saying that the girl had ended up in a graveyard with the remnants of Mephisto's followers in place. Wanda also said that Mephisto himself had returned and that they faced each other. She managed to escape by touching the cup again.

What made you angry was knowing that the minister didn't believe any of her words, and refused to acknowledge Mephisto's return. The whole thing would be treated as a trial of the tournament that got out of hand, and Korvac, who had been captured, would be accused of all the crimes.

Carol didn't seem happy with the minister's decision either.

"I have nothing to say but tell the minister to go fuck himself, Carol." You informed irritated and the blonde smiled at you.

"You inherited your father's attitude." She comments and you think the intention is good, but it makes your heart ache. "I will close your statement then. Thank you very much for your time, Miss Stark."

You nod and Carol hesitates. She sighs lightly and touches your brother on the shoulder and your outstretched hand on the bed.

"I used to be friends with your father." She says. "Don't think you are alone, children. You have more family than you can imagine. And you can contact me if you need anything."

Carol smiles and walks away with a nod. You and Tony exchange a slightly surprised look. Tony sighs and sits down next to you on the bed. You say nothing, but you both know that this should be one more among your father's many secrets.

//-//

Nurse Cho released you from the infirmary that same afternoon.

Aside from the mental exhaustion, you were perfectly healthy.

Your friends, with the exception of the Maximoff twins, approach you in the dormitory. They hug you together, mourning the death of your father. You want to say that you feel a little better about this, but that is not true.

As you are seen in the corridors, students and professors stop you to say "my sympathies", and you answer them in a polite way. You can also hear the gossip after all.

Wanda did not obey the order of the minister of magic, and when the journalists of the Daily Prophet asked her about the tournament, she told her version. Nobody bought her story, and she was branded a liar after the minister denied the return of the dark wizard.

Professor Erik also greeted you in the hallways, and Pietro was with him. The boy hugged you tight, and you held back your tears.

"Stark, my home is always open to you and your brother." Erik said as his hand was on your shoulder. "I just want you to know that."

You nodded in understanding and then walked toward the communal hall intending to organize your belongings, since the school year would end that week.

//-//

On your last day at Hogwarts, you finally talked to Wanda.

Because your nightmares had become more frequent than ever, you had spent the last days at school without sleeping properly, and on the last night you gave up sleeping and decided to go to the kitchens.

You were in the empty halls when you heard the familiar noise of Drax monitoring the castle and stumbled to the first door you found, trying to avoid being seen.

As you waited for the hissing noise to become distant, you looked back and gasped in surprise.

There was a girl sitting on the floor and it took you a few seconds to realize that it was Wanda.

"What are you doing here?" You asked curiously, and your voice startled her. She stood up quickly, looking at you in surprise.

"Shit, you scared the hell out of me!" She complained and you frowned slightly as you realized she was crying, but Wanda quickly wiped her face.

Only at that moment did you notice the large antique mirror behind her. On the metal rim was a Latin phrase that you didn't understand.

Biting the inside of your cheeks, you looked away to the floor.

"Sorry to bother you, I couldn't sleep." You mumbled clumsily and Wanda shifted the weight of her feet before clearing her throat.

"Do you wanna stay?"

You raised your head in surprise, but then nodded in agreement.

Walking up to the girl, you stopped about four steps away from her, not knowing exactly what to do next.

"Are you going to tell me what you were doing here?" You asked again, and Wanda bit her lips before turning toward the mirror.

"I found this place in second grade." She counters. "That's the Mirror of Erised."

"I am supposed to know what that means?" You ask with mild irony causing Wanda to smile slightly.

"We studied that in fourth grade, so yes." She retorts.

"I haven't been busy this year, no time for books, if you know what I mean." You say with a smile and Wanda laughs softly. You stare at the mirror in front of you, but there is nothing special about it. It seems to reflect you and Wanda just like any other. "What does this mirror do anyway?"

Wanda turns her face to you, and you want to ignore the nervous feeling that settles on the edge of your stomach, but to no avail.

"Look closer." She says, and her gaze lingers on you for a moment before she takes a step to the side. You turn your face to the mirror again, and then step forward.

It takes a second for the image to change. It is you in the reflection, but you are not alone. Your father is standing beside you, smiling contently. You frown in confusion, gasping slightly at his sudden appearance.

Ignoring the lump in your throat, you continue to stare. The image trembles slightly, and you try to understand what the mirror is telling you. Nothing looks much different except the image of your father, but then you notice the wedding ring in your reflection.

You look down at your hand for a moment and then back at the reflection. Your image copies the movement with delay and you squeeze your eyes shut to read the letters on the ring.

Your face heats up as you read Wanda's name and you take a step back. The image becomes fainter, but doesn't disappear.

"What do you see?" Wanda asks curiously from beside you, and you startle, turning your head to her quickly.

"M-my father." You answer at the same moment, biting your tongue to make sure you don't say anything else. Wanda's expression tumbles, and she looks down at her feet. You swallow dryly.

"I'm sorry, y/n. I really am." She whispers, and you look away. There is something that is bothering you as much as your father's death, and it is the distance that seems to exist between you and Wanda now.

"Thank you." You mumble the response you have learned to give whenever someone says that to you. "W-what do you see in the mirror?" You ask next, trying to change the subject from you. Wanda looks surprised at the question and even in the low lighting, you notice the slight redness in her cheeks.

"My mother." She answers without looking at you. "And... myself. No magic. Just me and her, and Pietro and papa at a distance. We look happy and normal."

It is the most intimate confession Wanda has ever made to you. You want to caress her face, hug her and thank her for her trust, but you just nod in agreement, swallowing her words and pushing the desire to touch down.

"Have you been here many times?" You ask after a moment and Wanda sighs before confirming. "You never told me about this place before."

"I never told anyone." She retorts without sounding angry, just slightly weary. "I guess I wanted it to be something just mine."

"I understand." You comment as you look into the mirror again, the image of your reflection and Wanda's now visible. "A private space for you to visit your mother."

Wanda murmurs in agreement, and you think she won't say anything else, but she does.

"I need to tell you something."

You turn your head toward Wanda's direction, but when she turns her body toward you, she keeps her gaze on the floor.

"About the day of the task." She says. "About Mephisto."

"Okay." You mumble as you wait. Wanda takes a deep breath.

"I guess you've heard from the whole school that I fought with him." She starts with a sad smile, and you nod in agreement. "Well, there's a reason he couldn't kill me."

You frown with confusion.

"Right...why?"

"It’s better if i show you." She takes a deep breath, raising her hands between you. "Can I?" she asks, and you notice the red magic escaping her fingers.

"You can do that?" You ask impressed and Wanda nods with a shy smile. When you consent, she raises her fingers to your forehead and then you have another vision.

You see the moment when Wanda was teleported into the graveyard, and it's as if you're seeing everything through her eyes.

The moment when a hooded wizard appeared and locked Wanda in a spell against one of the tombstones. You watched the wizard walk to the center of the graveyard and conjure a rune on the ground that you didn't recognize. He recited a few words and then cast an incantation in the sky. The mark of a hydra.

Walking back to the rune, the sorcerer deposited a necklace on the ground. With a dagger he took from his pocket, he recited an incantation in a language you didn't recognize, and cut his own palm. When the blood fell on the necklace, Wanda gasped in pain.

The ground around the rune began to open up and a man crawled out of the earth. You imagined it was a necromancy ritual and they were resurrecting someone. You didn't have to ask to know that it was Mephisto.

When the wizard stood up completely, he laughed darkly. The man who helped him bowed.

"Master, you live!" Celebrated the wizard. Mephisto approached, a gentle flick of his wand wiped all the dirt from his robes, and you could see the metallic Hydra strolling along the entire length of his robes, as if getting used to being awake again.

"All thanks to you, John." Mephisto said his deep voice echoing through the room. "Your loyalty will be rewarded, my friend."

"Thank you, master." Said the man without raising his head. Mephisto touched his hood, pulling it back, and you looked at the kneeling figure. He was a man of about thirty, his blond hair was long and dirty. There was a deep scar across his cheek to the extent of his right eye, which was closed.

Mephisto raised his wand toward the young man's face, and a silver spell escaped from the tip along the scar. The mark didn't disappear, but when he opened his eye, you noticed the metallic glow of the reddish iris.

"Be my eyes again, John Walker." Mephisto commanded and the boy thanked him again. He continued kneeling as Mephisto turned toward Wanda, who was still attached to the tombstone. "I almost forgot about my guest of honor."

"Who are you?" Wanda asked angrily, you could almost feel her fear.

Mephisto smiled devilishly, ignoring the question as he took a deep breath. He raised his wand high and the Hydra's mark seemed to glow even brighter.

In the following moments, shadows began to appear in the sky, and only when the first one of them landed on the ground that you understood that they were wizards appearing.

There were at least eight of them, but because of their position, Wanda couldn't see them all. The masked witches remained static, waiting for their companions. Mephisto murmured softly, and after a moment without any movement in the sky, he sighed.

"It is only at our worst that we see who is really loyal to us." He comments somberly, before opening his arms to the crowd. "Friends! It's so good to see you all again, finally. So many years!"

Mephisto's smile doesn't reach his eyes, and then the wizards are kneeling, and recite together an "It is an honor, master." Mephisto laughs lightly, lowering his arms.

"Look at you folks." He comments with a psychotic look on his face. "You're not even ashamed that you abandoned me." He charges, but no one speaks up. Mephisto sighs impatiently. "No one has anything to say? What a disappointment."

"Master..." Started a wizard on the edge and then Mephisto raised his fist toward him hanging him in the air with his magic. Wanda's eyes widened, but the wizard let go just before the one in the air stopped struggling. As the wizard coughed to try to breathe again, Mephisto pushed his long hair out of the front of his face.

"I don't want your hollow apologies, Zemo." He says. "Nothing will erase the betrayal of all of you, cowards."

No one makes any mention of interrupting the speech, and Mephisto puts his cloak away momentarily.

"But a new era begins, and we need to leave the past behind." Says the mage. "I finally have my treasure where I wanted it, and nothing will stop me from reaching my power again."

Mephisto turns to Wanda now, a mental look on his face. The wizards look at her too.

"Master, is this...?" One of the masked men begins, and Mephisto interrupts with a devilish grin.

"Yes, my friend!" He says. "The Scarlet Witch."

The group loosely shares a buzz of excited excitement, but falls silent the next moment. Wanda wriggles uncomfortably against the spell.

"What is it, my dear?" Mephisto asks as he watches her struggle. "Is it tight? Try a coffin underground. I guarantee the discomfort is greater."

The comment makes Wanda clench her jaw as the group lets out a chuckle.

"I'm not who you say I am." Wanda retorts with irritation and Mephisto lets out a laugh approaching. You wish you could enter the vision to get him away from Wanda.

"Your name is Wanda Maximoff." He says looking her straight in the eye. "You were born in 1989 in a dirty muggle neighborhood of Sokovia. And you are a scarlet witch by birth." He narrates and then his gaze changes to malice. "And you belong to me."

"Fuck you."

Wanda's rude response makes Mephisto smile.

"Perhaps you, my dear friends, were not aware of what really happened that night fifteen years ago." Mephisto says as he turns to the group again. "I can only imagine the lies the ministry of magic must have told the world, making sure to tell I was defeated by some of their pathetic aurors."

The group exchanges surprised looks and Mephisto laughs, walking ahead.

"I think everyone has a right to know what really happened that day, don't you, my dear?" He asks Wanda, and then lets out a wry laugh. "Oh, I forgot that you were just a filthy brat back then. I'd better tell them instead."

Wanda struggles against the grip again and Mephisto raises his wand toward her, causing the spell to tighten more and Wanda to grumble in pain.

"Hold still and listen to the story, little brat." He commands. "Didn't the blood traitor teach you manners?"

You know Mephisto is talking about Wanda's father, but the girl doesn't respond to the teasing.

"Do you remember how well everything was going for us, my friends?" Begins the wizard, and he waits for the group to agree before speaking again. "I should have known that the cursed muggles in your community would bring more trouble than I expected."

Mephisto looks slightly nostalgic, but no one is going to interrupt him. He gives a wry laugh before continuing.

"You know that I was seeking the power of a scarlet sorceress for myself. And well, with all the commotion in the ministry, I decided to capture the child without being accompanied by any of you." He says. "I was always the most powerful, but now that I look back, a companion would have prevented so much delay."

When Wanda makes mention of fighting again, Mephisto strengthens the spell.

"I went to take what was rightfully mine in that muggle pigsty that is Sokovia, and I never expected that a filthy muggle would be able to stop me." He tells you and you notice Wanda's interest in the words, curious to know what he was talking about. "Maybe the traitor lied and she had some witch lineage. We'll never know, since I killed her." He comments humorously. "Contextualizing my friends, I went up to the second floor to get the child of prophecy, and I ended up running into two of them."

Mephisto counters with a wry laugh.

"Crazy isn't it?" He says. "But of course it was easy to figure out who the right baby was, since the sorceress' power emanated in the child's aura. I had no function for the other one so I decided to discard it."

Wanda's eyes widen at the confession. Mephisto was going to kill Pietro. She gasps slightly, feeling her anger rising.

"But the muggle pig begged for mercy." He continues. "You know very well how much I hate muggles, but if she had stood in the corner as I told her to do, I would have done no harm. But of course she had to throw herself in front of the infant, become a pathetic martyr."

The group laughs at the narration and you feel like vomiting. Mephisto stared at his own wand for a few seconds.

"I should have realized the sacrificial bond that was created, but I did not expect such a thing from a muggle." He counters somberly, sounding bitter. "When I skipped over her body and repeated the curse, it came straight back to me."

The group let out a chorus of surprise, but Mephisto just smiled.

"Don't worry, friends. I'm here after all." He says. "But a death curse is powerful enough to injure a body. And so I needed to escape." He counters as he walks around. "I would return for the girl as soon as I could restore myself, but where there is one blood traitor there is always another."

The group listened to the story intently and you swallowed dryly, trying to remember all the details.

"The traitor Stark and that muggle slut he called his wife were waiting for me downstairs." Mephisto counters and you hold your breath. "I knew that in my condition I couldn't stand up to an auror like Stark, but he could be useful to me. It was the perfect opportunity to have someone look after my belongings."

Mephisto sighed lightly.

"I think muggles must have some sort of self-sabotaging lifestyles about throwing themselves in front of spells, folks." He mocked causing the group to exchange confused looks. "I aimed at Stark, commanding him to protect what was mine, but it was the muggle who received the enchantment." He counters and you gasp in surprise. "Stark was furious of course, but I used the moments he spent assisting his wife to apparate."

Mephisto's expression was no longer content.

"My body couldn't handle the power of the apparatation, obviously." He counters. "After the curse, it began to betray me. I was on the brink of death for months, until I finally succumbed. My consciousness shallowed, waiting patiently for my faithful followers to find me. And here we are."

The group lets out a small exclamation and Mephisto forces a smile, straightening his posture.

"But that's in the past, of course." He says. "My sorceress is here for me, and I can regain my full power now."

Wanda swallowed dryly as she watched Mephisto approach. The wizard made a motion with his wand and the grip around her neck shortened slightly.

"I never had any use for the witch's receptacle." He says raising his wand to Wanda, you held your breath. "It's nothing personal, dear. At least you'll meet that pig of a mother of yours in hell."

The green incantation comes out of the small wood next, but never reaches Wanda. A yellow energy bumps into the magic and deflects it almost hitting one of the wizards in the circle. The group moves in fright and Mephisto has a psychotic but surprised look on his face.

"The protective spell... How?" he asks, stepping forward. “The spell killed the muggle, I saw her body! How is it still there?” He angrily asks .

His followers look as surprised as he is, and Mephisto assumes an angry expression. He raises his wand again, and even without saying anything, the emerald incantation escapes and the same thing as before happens. Distracted in his frustration, he doesn't notice that with each attempt, the spell binding Wanda grows weaker, until the fourth time he tries to curse the girl, the golden light explodes in the air, ricocheting light startling all the wizards in the circle, as Wanda falls to her knees, free.

The second of shock from the group is enough for Wanda to cause a wave of energy with her powers that kept the wizards away as she reaches for the cup at her feet, teleporting back to the school.

You stumble out of the memory, your eyes watering.

Wanda looks at you, but you turn away feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information.

"W-what was that?" You gasp taking another step back.

"I'm sorry if that was too much." She hastens to say. "I-I needed to tell you. About your mother."

You wipe away the tears, moving further away.

"I can't do this." You grumble. "Not now. M-my father just died, Wanda. I can't. I'm sorry."

The words are a little disjointed, but Wanda understands. She doesn't stop you when you rush to leave the room.

//-//

Coming home is much more difficult than any other time.

The ride on the Hogwarts express is longer than ever, but you don't mind, wanting to avoid the moment when you and Tony will set foot home without your father.

Jarvis picks the four of you up at the station, and you are grateful that Gamora lets you eat all her candy left over from the trip.

The whole feeling of stepping into the house and looking around and seeing your father's objects all around is oppressive, but you try to get used to it. You think the conversation with Tony about your mother can wait.

//-//

Tag list ( let me know if you want to be tagged or removed idk haha) @mionemymind / @abimess / @stephanieromanoff / @yourtaletotell / @tomy5girls / @justagaypanicking / @thegayw1tch / @idek-5 // @myperfectlovepoem // @helloalycia // @ENSORCELLME // @AIMEZVOUSBRAHMS @imapotatao / @aimezvousbrahms/ @ensorcellme/ @helloalycia //   @ichala​ ||  @madamevirgo

[cosmiccandydreamer]

Stability Chapter 7

Otis Driftwood x Reader

( I don't own these gifs)

"I'll never be your beast of burden

My back is broad but it's a-hurting

All I want for you to make love to me

I'll never be your beast of burden

I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting

All I want for you to make love to me"

Otis heard you before he saw you, dancing and singing in your cut off shorts and tired shirt. Your walkman swung dangerously back and forth on your hips as you sang to the rolling stones song while you washed your car. It was a super hot summer day in the unforgiving heart of texas. The car was your baby. It was a gift from Otis for your birthday, you had fallen in love with it when they towed it to the house after the last group of victims was captured. You told him you always wanted one of these so he and Rufus secretly fixed it up for you. He still insisted you go everywhere with him in his truck but you convinced him to let you drive yourself once in a while ( but not too far ) Spraying the hose over the hood you leaned over to get the farthest part, your ass poking out in the air.

"Am I hard enough?

Am I rough enough?

Am I rich enough?

I'm not too blind to see"

It was obvious the music was so loud you didn't hear him as he dragged a screaming victim toward the shed in the back. He stopped dragging her for a second to watch you and laugh softly. Well, that's adorable and hot as shit he thought to himself. The poor girl he was currently dragging took this opportunity to claw and bite at his hand in an attempt to get away in. For A split second she did, She wiggled out of his grasp and tried to take off towards the road. He quickly grabbed her and threw her on the ground pulling her by the hair back towards the house. All this while you were none the wiser, enjoying your song on your headphones. He resumed his spot leaning against the house staring at you.

"I'll never be your beast of burden

So let's go home and draw the curtains

Music on the radio

Come on baby make sweet love to me" 

 

You sang the last part a little louder using the sponge as a microphone. You were getting into this what you assumed was a solo performance. Swinging your hips back and forth you grabbed the hose and sprayed all over the trunk of the car. He was thrusting the girl back and forth by her hair to shush her as he leaned against the side of the house watching you. "Damn bitch shut the fuck up!, I'm trying to enjoy the view". He looked toward her in disgust that she would dare shrek and distract him. "Mister please let me go, I won't tell anyone". " I SAID SHUT UP" 

He suddenly heard the music better now, he looked up to see you with your headphones down now around your neck the music softly playing in a muffled tone. Staring at him with a smile slightly leaning against the car. " Whatcha doing there is handsome?". " Watching you " he smirked. 

"Am I hard enough?

Am I rough enough?

Am I rich enough?

I'm not too blind to see"

"Oh are ya now? So ...what are you gonna you do with her?" You pointed with the sponge at the dry heaving girl still on the ground with her hair in his fist. "Ah I don't know" he looked down at her then back at you " any ideas?" He lifted an eyebrow at you. "Maybe a few" you bit your lip a little tilting your head to the side. " I was going to tie her up in the shed and try that experiment I was running with you the other night but I don't think she's gonna survive. She also won't stop squirming", he chuckled and thrust her a little bit more back and forth. She muttered something inaudible. "That's fine," you said, tossing the sponge into the bucket. " We can tie her to the bed after she might stop squirming then." You flashed him a wicked smile.

 He winked at you, "my god woman you are wicked...have I told you I love you lately?" He asked, clearing his throat, the bulge that started to grow in his jeans was becoming more and more distracting. "Hmmm" you replied " maybe but you can show me how much you love me later" you leaned on the hood of the car allowing for him to get a good view of your shirt.

 He hastily sucked in the air standing up quickly, "hold that thought" he says turning back toward the shed. "Hey! " You shouted he turned back to you real quick, spinning the poor girl as well, her feet and legs dragging.  You took the soapy sponge and tossed it at him, smacking him in the chest soaking his white shirt. He cursed under his breath then laughed, wiping his face with his other hand. "You are gonna pay for that as soon as I'm back from tying this bitch up". He looked back at you one more time while heading back to the shed. 

Oh, little sister

Pretty, pretty, pretty girls

Ooh, you're a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl

Pretty, pretty, such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl

Come on, baby, please, please, please

 

"God I hate this fucking song can you change it?"... "OTIS hello?". Baby sat up from the floor of the van and snapped her fingers at Otis. "Hey get your goddamn fingers out my face woman the fuck is wrong with you" he angrily swatted at Baby's hand as she attempted to snap in his face again. " I said I don't like that song so change it" "I don't give a flying dick what you like, I'm drivin' and we're leaving this song." She slumped back angrily onto the floor. Earning a chuckle from her father Spaulding. "S'not funny daddy" she snapped at him crossing her arms. "Oh lighten up there kiddo you know the rules, the driver picks the music". 

Spaulding had finally met up with both of them at the motel. Although it had taken him a while due to some personal delay he arrived there in the nick of time to help finish off torturing the poor victims. After killing the rest of the family the daughter of Roy and Gloria was left to wear her father's skin on her face and be hung up behind the door to scare the unfortunate housekeeper when coming to assess the room. unable to get her father's skin off and running in a frantic the daughter unknowingly ran into the highway to be hit by a semi-truck. Using the van they stole from them they attempted to meet you at the next stop. 

Otis only hoped they weren't too far behind you. Suddenly Baby perked up and glanced at the passing billboard." Just in case anyone's interested, I think I'm gonna be wanting some ice cream in about 10 miles" she excitedly looked back toward her father and then to Otis. Otis looked over at her and repeated her [in a mocking tone]  "I think I'm gonna be wanting some ice cream in about 10 miles." Baby looked back at home with an angry expression "Hey DON'T you fucking imitate me, it's fucking rude!"

Otis:" Fuck you", Baby: "Fuck you! "Two fucking seconds for the kid, is that gonna kill you?" Spaulding interjected getting real sick of the interaction between the two of them.

"Yes, it is going to kill me! I have calculated the time, and two seconds is the exact amount of time that is a hazard to my fucking health!" Otis replied visibly getting more and more annoyed with the idea of stopping. " What the fuck is your problem? I'm in and out in two seconds!" Baby snapped at him. 

   

Spaulding laughed a little "You know? I think I'm gonna get me some tutti fucking fruity." "Tutti fucking fruity, that sounds good!" Baby said nudging her father. "I'm glad that finding y/n doesn't mean shit to either of you now I know who is taking this seriously" he gripped his hands on the steering wheel in anger. These fucking idiots he thought to himself. " Wow excuse you…. How dare you imply I don't care about finding my BEST FRIEND. You know she meant the world to me before She meant the world to you, she was my best friend before she was your wife ok? I met her first… don't think because I'm not sulking like you I don't worry about her. But she's stronger than you give her credit for and you've been treating her like a child!!!". Otis didn't respond to her, he was getting madder by the second. He simply gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

 "I suggest we go see Charlie lay low there for a night before heading to the next motel," Spaulding said looking over at Otis. " Why the fuck would we do that?" Otis asked, slightly gripping the steering wheel even harder. Being away from you this long was not good for his mental health. It was throwing him off his game. It was making him anxious and nothing made him anxious. This was a very foreign and uncomfortable feeling to him. He wanted to get rid of it and to do that he had to find you. He only anticipated being away from you for maybe 12 hours and even the thought of that made him very uncomfortable. 

It's now been days this is unacceptable he needs to find you. "Look I saw on the news that the police are already on your tail. It's best that we throw off their scent a bit and lay low one more day can't hurt y/n is a smart girl she's gonna be alright". Otis didn't reply, he simply looked at the long stretch of road. Spalding continued, "I would hate to lead anyone to her Otis, Baby is right we care about her too but she's tough and smart I'm sure she's seen the news she will get the idea why we aren't there". "I don't trust that fucker Charlie" Otis finally replied with a sigh. Spaulding chuckled "yeah welp get over it". 

They drove through the rest of the afternoon only stopping for ice cream of course to prevent any distress from Baby and Spaulding. Pulling up to Charlie’s fun town, Otis’s annoyance grew more by the second. He hasn't been back here in years, he used to come on occasion to enjoy some of the girls here, but that quickly changed when you came around. He didn't like or trust Charlie, he had an inkling that this man was only out for himself no matter what Spaulding said.