The next weekend Cedric and I met up with Harry, Ron and Hermione in Hogsmeade so we could all met up with Sirius at the same time. I still thought it was crazy of him to even step foot back into the UK while there was still an active search for him but I also understood that he wanted to make sure that Harry was safe. So, I was going to do everything I could to make sure that he was safe if it was the last thing that I did.
As we walked through the main streets of Hogsmeade, a man with shoulder length dark hair and a scarf wrapped around his neck so that it covered the lower half of his face caught my attention. There was something very familiar about the man but when I turned to have another look at him, he seemed to have vanished into thin air. So, I figured that I must have been seeing things and when Cedric asked me what was wrong, I told him it was nothing. I didn't want him thinking that I was pushing myself to far like Loki was, he had way too much to worry about than me going crazy and hearing and seeing things that weren't real.
When we arrived at the Three Broomsticks there was a large black, shaggy dog waiting outside and we all knew that it was Sirius. I assumed that he hadn't had anything proper to eat for a while so I had gone to Dobby and asked him if there was any extra food lying around the kitchen. Of course, Dobby came back with a picnic basket full of food which I had packed into my backpack. In his dog form, Sirius could smell the food in my bag and barked happily at me while waging his tail.
Once he had calmed down, Sirius led up out of the village and up on of the mountains that was on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. It was quite a hike and some of us were talking the walk better than the others.
"Bloody hell, how much further up do we have to go," Ron whined as we continued to follow Sirius.
"For heaven's sake, Ronald! Go and wait to us in the Three Broomsticks if the walk is bothering you that much," Hermione snapped at him.
"I'm not complaining, I was just wondering. That's all," Ron sulked, making Hermione roll her eyes at him.
I couldn't help the small smirk that appeared on my face as I listened to the pair bicker. It was so clear that they liked each other but wouldn't admit it to themselves or each other. When I looked over a Cedric, he had the same smirk on his face and smiled at me, telling me he had picked up on it as well.
Eventually Sirius led us in to a cave that was on the mountain and turned back into his human form. The poor man was still wearing the same prison uniform that he had on the last time we saw him, his hair was long and matted together and he had lost so much weight he almost looked like a skeleton.
"Please tell me some of that food is for me, Elsa?" he asked me in a husky voice making it clear it had been a long time since he had spoken to anyone.
"Of course, it is, I had a friend of mine put it together specially for you," I said as I pulled the food out of my backpack and handed to him.
"You are an angel, Elsa," he said as he started eating the chicken leg that Dobby had packed.
"Asgardian, actually," I joked as he threw the bone aside and started on the next as a creature, I hadn't previously noticed took the bone. "Beaky! How are you?"
At the sound of my voice, the hippogriff looked up at me and walked over to nuzzle my neck with his head. Knowing that I was still accepted by the hippogriff, I wrapped my arms around Buckbeak's neck and gave him a hug.
"I know, I've missed you to buddy," I told him as I stroked his soft feathers.
"Ladies and gentleman, I give you my girlfriend Elsa Rogers, the animal whisperer," Cedric joked.
"And that's why I am Newt Scamander's unofficial apprentice," I said proudly. "How have you and Beaky been?"
"Good as can be living the life as a wanted fugitive," Sirius said with a smile.
"You shouldn't have come back, Sirius. It's too dangerous," Harry told him, the worry for his godfather written all over his face.
"I'm perfectly fine, people in the village have been seeing me as a loveable stray and that they give their scraps of food to," Sirius said. "Besides, I'm doing a lot better than the other man I've been seeing around."
"What other man?" Hermione asked him.
"I'm not sure who he it. But I've been seeing this strange fellow hanging around the caves. He keeps writing in this journal that he always carries with him. And he had..." Sirius started to say but I cut him off.
"A metal arm," I said, smiling, knowing that I wasn't going crazy and seeing things.
"And he had a metal arm. I'm assuming you know who this man it," Sirius said.
"I'm pretty sure I do and I'm really sorry but I have to go and find him. If it's who I think it is, Dad and I have been looking for him for over two years," I said excitedly.
"He's been staying in the cave that's about a mile up from this one. Go and find him, Elsa and I hope it's the man you have been looking for," Sirius said kindly.
"Thank you so much, Sirius. And I promise that I will come and see you before I leave," I said, taking hold of Cedric and dragging him out of the cave with me.
"I can't believe that I have finally found Bucky!" I squealed as we started climbing higher up the mountain.
"Are you sure its him? I mean you and your dad have been looking for him for so long, it's crazy to think that it's going to be this simple to find him after all this time," Cedric said in a concerned voice.
"Tell me who else would be writing in a journal and has a metal arm. Besides, I thought I saw him down in the village but I thought I was going crazy," I said.
"So that's what you were looking at," Cedric laughed.
"Yep. I just hope he's in the cave now," I said excitedly.
"What if he's still, you know the, the Winter Solider," Cedric asked, sounding worried again.
"Well, I'm a lot stronger than I was last time I saw him and can now do the Asgardian magical version apparition, so I can get us out of there in two seconds flat."
It didn't take long to get to the next cave and when we walked in, it was clear that someone was living in it. There was a pillow and blanket folder neatly on one side and a stack of journals piled next to an open backpack.
"Sargent Barnes, are you in here?" I called out, cautiously.
"Sargent Barnes? Being a little formal, aren't you?" Cedric asked me.
"What else am I going to say? Hey, Uncle Bucky! It's me, Elsa, your goddaughter that you tried to kill a few years back. The one who is the daughter of your super solider best friend and his demi God, time traveling wife who you found out was pregnant before you 'died'. The same demi god who then traveled forward in time after said super solider husband was frozen," I said, jokingly.
"Actually, when it comes to Steve and Kimberly, I would believe anything," a voice said from the back of the cave.
"Uncle Bucky, is that you?" I asked cautiously.
"Not too sure about uncle, but it's defiantly Bucky," the man said as he stepped forward into the light.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Bucky standing in front of me. I couldn't believe after so long of searching, my godfather was actually standing in front of me. Not being able to contain my excitement, I ran forward and threw my arms around his waist and hugged him as I fought back tears of happiness. At first Bucky froze, unsure about what to do as I hugged him but when I didn't let go, he gradually started to hug me back until the point he was hugging me like he would a daughter.
"I never thought I would get to meet you, little one," he told me with a voice full of emotion. "I was so excited when Steve and Kimberly told me I was going to be an uncle and it was one of the things that ran through my mind as I fell from that train in Germany, that I would never get to meet you."
"Well, you have and I have heard so much about you. Growing up Dad told my cousin Danny and me how much we reminded him of the two of you growing up," I said.
"Let me guess, you were just like Steve, weren't you? Throwing yourself head first into things and standing up for what's right," Bucky laughed.
"I don't know about throwing myself head first," I said, making Cedric laugh. "Seriously Ced? Who's the one who just agreed to face a dragon?"
"Says the girl who fought an army of killer robots," Cedric laughed.
"God, you are so much like Steve it's scary," Bucky said before he looked over at Cedric properly for the first time. "You were the boy that day at Washington, aren't you."
"I am, Sargent Barnes. I'm Cedric Diggory," Cedric said walking over and shaking Bucky's hand.
"It's Bucky, I haven't been Sargent Barnes for a long time," Bucky said sounding sad. "You look really familiar, but I don't know why."
"You knew my grandfather. He was Brigadier James Montgomery Falsworth," Cedric told him.
"Well, I'll be god damned, it really is a small world," Bucky said in shock.
"Dad's going to be so excited to see you! We have been looking for you ever since Washington!" I started to babble excitedly. "Not to mention Pa, Gran, Danny..."
"Wow, hold up there little one. I'm not going back. Not yet anyway," Bucky said.
"Wait, what do you mean you're not going back? You can't stay here, living in this cave," I pointed out.
"You have got me on a good day, little one," Bucky admitted, shame filling his voice. "Somedays I don't even remember who I am, let alone anyone else. Hydra...they messed with my head and I don't know if I will be the same again. I've done some horrible things and I just don't know how to live with it."
"So, what, you did horrible things while under the control of someone else. So did my Uncle Loki, I mean he tried to take over the world while under the control of someone who he still can't name to this day, no matter how hard he try's. Nat was a soviet red room assassin and can't even talk about what she did in her past but they both keep going, keep doing the right thing. We can help you Bucky and besides, I can't lie to Dad. He needs his best friend now more than ever," I told him.
"What do you mean, now more than ever?" Bucky asked me.
"Uh, it's Mum," I said, my voice breaking with emotion which made Cedric wrap his arms around me. "She's been in a coma for over a year now and there are no signs of her waking up any time soon."
"What? How can Kimberly be in a coma? I thought she was part demi god or whatever it's called," Bucky said with concern filling his voice.
"She is, and so am I. Well, technically I'm part Asgardian, part super solider. But what she's in is a form of Odin Sleep. Well, that's what we're calling it at least. It happened when we were fighting Ultron. He, uh, hit her with a blast so hard that it sent her flying in to the brick wall of the building we were fighting him in. At first, we thought she just needed time to heal but now, we just don't know," I told him, as Cedric held me closer.
"Damn it, Kimberly. Out of all the people, why did it have to be you," Bucky muttered to himself as he ran his metal hand through his hair and sighing.
"That's we asked. But Dad and I are doing what she would want us to do. We're living our lives and fighting for what's right no matter what. But we both miss her like hell every single day."
Bucky looked at me with tears in his eyes, trying to fight back the emotion he was feeling. I guessed all of this was hard for him because he had been used as an emotionless killing machine by Hydra for so long that feeling again must have felt so strange.
"You are so much like your father; Elsa and I know that this is asking a lot. But please forget that you ever saw me here, I'm just not ready to join the world yet," Bucky said, still fighting back tears.
"But I can't lie to Dad, I've never lied to Dad. He can read me like an open book, he says it's because I'm too much like him for my own good," I told him.
"Yeah, I can see that. You may look like both your parents, but you have Steve's fighting spirt and his stubborn streak," Bucky laughed, shaking his head at the both of us. "But I am not safe to be around, little one. I don't know when he will show up again and I couldn't live with myself if I hurt you or your dad again. So how about this, give me a few weeks and then you can tell him that you saw me but you couldn't get to me to get me back. That way if he comes looking, by that time I will be long gone and I give you my word that I will come back to you all once the Winter Solider is gone for good, okay?"
"Okay," I agreed, seeing his point of view. "But can you do me a favor?"
"Anything for you, little one," Bucky said, smiling down at me.
"My friends godfather is living in the cave downstairs and he's kinda a wanted mass murder who broke out of prison. Can you keep an eye on him for me?"
"Are you talking about the guy who can turn a dog?" Bucky asked me.
"That would be the one and how are you taking all of this so well? I mean I mentioned a dragon not that long ago and you casually mention a man turning into a dog. Most people would be freaking out by now," I asked him.
"I was wondering that myself," Cedric added.
"Let's just say I've known about the existence of the wizarding world thanks to Hydra for a very long time. They weren't the biggest fan of anything magical but knew better than to take them on," Bucky told us. "And I'm guessing there's more to the story than this guy being a wanted mass murderer."
"There is a lot more, trust me," Cedric told him.
"Turns out he's not a mass murderer, he just killed one man who betrayed his best friend. Well, he thought he killed him, but the man set him up for the mass murderer before escaping. For twelve years Sirius thought Peter was dead and was quite happy to spend time in the world's worst prison for his murder. But when he found out that Peter was still alive, Sirius broke out of the wizarding world's most notorious prison just so he could avenge the death of his best friends and look out for his godson," I told him.
"And your close with his godson?" Bucky asked.
"Harry's like Elsa's adopted little brother. They are so cute together," Cedric told him.
"Then I'll keep an eye out on this Sirius as long as it's safe enough for me to do. Besides, something tells me that the two of us will get along."
"Trust me, Uncle Bucky, you will."
"Elsa, Cedric, you know Dobby the house elf, don't you?" Hermione said, sitting down with us at the Hufflepuff table a few days later as she dumped a basket full of badges and flyers on the table.
"Uh, yeah. He's a sweet little elf and I'm guessing you guys finally got around to see him," I said as I picked up a few of the badges that had fallen on to the table and putting them back in the basket.
"Yes, Fred and George showed me how to get into the kitchens," Hermione said in a huff.
"Why am I not surprised," Cedric sighed. "I'm assuming your leading to something with all of this, Hermione."
"I think that the way that house elves are treated isn't fair and they should be paid the same way that Dobby is and after seeing Winky, I know that this is what I need to do. She is so distraught about being given clothes she's drunk on butterbeer all the time," she told us.
"First off, whose Winky and second how is she drunk on butterbeer when it's not acholic?" I asked, confused about what she was talking about.
"Winky is Mr. Crouch's house elf, or I should say she was his house elf. She was the one that Dad interrogated at the world cup and that was the night that Mr. Crouch fired her for not doing as he asked. It was one of the saddest things I had ever seen," Cedric told me.
"And butterbeer is acholic to house elves but that's beside the point. I think that all house elves should be given clothing and should be paid and given holidays," she explained.
"That's going to be a lot easier than said than done, Hermione. Dobby is a rare house elf, most don't want to be paid and live to work," I explained.
"How can you say that, Elsa! I thought you of all people would want to free the house elves! You claim to care about magical creatures but I'm guessing house elves don't count," she snapped at me.
"First off, don't ever put words in my mouth that I didn't say. Second, never accuse me of not caring about magical creatures. And third, have you done an in-depth study in to house elves?" I asked her.
"Well, no. I haven't," she admitted.
"I hate to break it to you, Hermione but there is a horrible history of houses elves preferring to die than to be set free. And not all house elves are treated the way that Dobby and Winky were. There is a fine line to tread here, Hermione because they don't want to be set free and suffer when they are not working. Trust me, I have done research into this whole topic. You would be better off trying to educate people on how they should be treating house elves should be treated and petitioning for the Elf Legislation to be changed so that it's the law to treat them fairly. If you decide to do that, I will be behind you 100%. But I won't be part of destroying the lives of house elves that are being treated fairly," I told her.
"She's right, Hermione. You would be doing more harm than good setting every single house elf free. My neighbor Mrs. Abbots is in her 90's and had had her house elf Kiki since she was in her early 20's and they are the best of friends. She has her own bedroom with a double bed, she cooks and cleaning alongside of Mrs. Abbots and they do absolutely everything together. Kiki is the happiest magical creature I have ever seen and if you forced her to leave Mrs. Abbots her whole life would fall apart," Cedric tried to explain to her but I could tell she wasn't paying attention.
"So, you're not going to join S.P.E.W," she demanded.
"What's spew?" Cedric asked her.
"It's not spew, it's S.P.E.W. The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare," she corrected him.
"All we're asking is that you do more research before you invested everything into this and if I'm wrong, I will be more than happy to join S.P.E.W," I told her.
"Fine, I will," she said in a huff, picking up her basket and stalking off.
"This isn't going to end well, is it?" I asked Cedric.
"Most likely not."