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The Hub. Control Room.
Luna turned her head and looked at Coulson, who was still processing the sudden end of the crisis. A mischievous, fox-like smile curled the corners of her mouth.
"Actually," Luna whispered conspiratorially, "I don't know how to use Legilimency."
"That magic is too advanced. It requires a lot of focus, and my mind is too full of Nargles. Hermione knows it, of course, but I can't read a thought to save my life."
Coulson stood there, stunned. His mind went blank.
Can't?
What happened just now...?
He looked at John Garrett, who was unconscious on the floor, defeated not by magic, but by his own paranoia. Then he looked at Luna's innocent, slightly sly smile.
"Miss Lovegood..." Coulson said, exasperated. "Were you just bluffing them?"
Luna's eyes curved into crescents as she nodded vigorously.
"Yes!"
She clapped her hands, looking extremely happy. "I learned it from my father! He says the best way to catch a Wrackspurt is to pretend you already see it. Humans are remarkably similar."
She glanced around at the petrified soldiers and the defeated "Clairvoyant," her tone filled with genuine curiosity.
"Indeed, the world outside Hogwarts is really fun! These Muggles are so dramatic! I should have snuck out to play with Hermione sooner!"
Everyone looked at Luna. For a moment, they didn't know what to say.
To them, this was a crisis concerning the survival of S.H.I.E.L.D. It was life and death. To her, it was a field trip.
As expected of Hermione's friend, Coulson thought. Another little fox.
One was calm and terrifying (Hermione). One was dreamy and chaotic (Luna). But both shared a wicked sense of humor and a terrifying nonchalance about danger.
Coulson snapped out of his daze. "Miss Lovegood—Luna—we owe you. Really."
Luna waved it off. She turned her large, silvery eyes to Skye.
"You must be Skye? Hermione mentioned you. She said you vibrate."
Skye blinked. "Uh... yeah. I do that."
Luna smiled. "Neat."
CRACK.
Before she could say more, the air distorted.
Hermione appeared in the center of the room. She looked tired, her clothes singed, but she was unharmed.
"Hermione!"
Luna's eyes lit up instantly. She skipped over and hugged Hermione's arm. "You're back! Did you beat the Nargles?"
Hermione patted Luna's head gently. "Yeah. The show's over. Eighteen Aurors down. Three ships sunk. Is everything smooth here?"
"Yep!" Luna beamed. "I caught a Clairvoyant!"
Hermione glanced around the room, noting the frozen soldiers and the unconscious Garrett. "Good work."
Victoria Hand stepped forward, her eyes gleaming. The usually cold, rigid administrator looked like she was meeting a rock star.
"Miss Wizard," Hand said, her voice carrying a hint of uncharacteristic excitement. "I am Agent Victoria Hand. It is a... profound honor."
Hermione nodded slightly. "Hello, Sister Hand. Nice highlights."
Hand composed herself, forcing professionalism. "Garrett is a high-ranking Hydra agent. We need to take him to the Fridge for enhanced interrogation. We need to know about the Ministry's involvement..."
"There's nothing to investigate," Hermione interrupted calmly. "I know everything he knows. And frankly? He's boring."
Before Hand or Coulson could react—before anyone could even blink—Hermione raised her wand.
"Avada Kedavra."
FLASH.
Green light filled the room.
There were no screams. No struggles. John Garrett simply ceased to be. The life left his eyes instantly.
Hermione flicked her wand again. The petrified soldiers—Hydra sleepers—all slumped over, dead.
She turned around, her expression as calm as a lake.
"Alright. Cleanup is complete."
The room was silent. Skye looked horrified. Coulson looked sick. Hand looked stunned.
They had just witnessed mass execution.
Hermione ignored their shock. She looked at Ward.
Grant Ward stared at Garrett's body. His mentor. His father figure. His mission. Gone.
He looked up at Hermione. Her gaze bored into him. It wasn't Legilimency; it was simple knowledge. She knew. She had always known.
I'm leaving you alive for Skye, Hermione's eyes seemed to say. For now.
Hermione turned to Coulson.
"This time, my relationship with the Ministry of Magic has completely collapsed. It's war."
"Hogwarts will be on my side. Dumbledore will have to act."
"So..." Hermione gathered Luna closer. "A Wizarding War is about to break out. I need to go back and prepare the castle. I won't be back for a while."
"Try not to destroy the world while I'm gone."
CRACK.
Hermione and Luna vanished.
The Avengers Tower.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy. Aside from Thor, everyone was present.
Nick Fury stood at the head of the table, his single eye scanning the room.
"Tell me your thoughts," Fury said.
Silence.
After a long pause, Tony Stark leaned back, crossing his arms.
"What is there to think?" Tony scoffed. "The Ministry of Magic are fascists. We knew that. They tried to kill a kid with aircraft carriers."
"Now it seems they're just Hydra with wands."
Fury shook his head. "That's not what I meant, Stark."
He pulled up a file on the holographic screen. It was the file Pierce had uploaded before he died. Project Ouroboros.
"I'm talking about the Prophecy."
The screen displayed an ancient parchment, translated from Runes.
"When the stars align and the veil thins, a Witch of no name shall rise. She will bear the power of the Void. Her hunger shall consume the magic of the world. She will break the Statute, and in her wake, the worlds of Magic and Men shall burn. She is the End of Days."
"Pierce claimed this is why the Ministry acted," Fury said gravely. "They believe Hermione is a 'Dark Witch' destined to destroy the universe structure and enslave all life."
Tony chuckled. He laughed out loud.
"Prophecy?" Tony rolled his eyes. "Fury, are you serious?"
"That sounds like the plot of a third-rate comic book. 'The Dark Witch descends to destroy the universe'? Please. Next, you'll tell me she's summoning Cthulhu."
"Furthermore," Tony argued, "even if there is a 'Dark Witch,' why does it have to be Hermione? Just because she's capable? Is competence a crime now?"
"She saved New York. She saved London. She saved me."
Steve Rogers, who had been silent, spoke up.
"It's not just competence, Tony," Steve said quietly. "You saw her today. She blew up three Helicarriers. She absorbed enough energy to level a city."
"And then..." Steve looked at the table. "She killed Garrett. In cold blood. No trial. Just execution."
"That's not a hero," Steve said. "That's a judge, jury, and executioner."
Natasha spoke up. "She's not human, Steve. We can't judge her by our laws. Wizards have different rules."
"But do they?" Fury asked. "The Ministry calls her a Dark Witch. Dumbledore—whoever he is—is seemingly staying out of it. And now she's declared war."
"We need to be prepared," Fury said. "If the prophecy is true... if she turns..."
"Then we're dead," Tony finished flatly. "So let's hope it's not."
He stood up. "I'm going to the lab. I need to figure out how to magic-proof my suit. Just in case."
As Tony left, the room remained heavy with doubt.
Hermione had saved them. But she terrified them.
And in the shadows of the unknown, the question lingered: Was she the hero of the story... or the villain waiting to happen?