Harry had spent a large portion of the day following the invasion, flying around Manhattan and sending alien corpses and items to SHIELD warehouses. Then he spent time repairing damage. People were looking in wonder and recording on their phones, as buildings repaired themselves, monsters disappeared and wounds were healed.
When he finally went back to Stark tower to rest, it was to gaping mouths. "What?" Harry asked.
"You've been flying around and fixing things, healing people and removing corpses and you ask 'what'?" Tony asked from his bar counter.
"No, I've been looking for the dastardly bastard who might be doing such despicable crimes." Harry responded, testily. "Of course I have. I don't know if you noticed, but there are a lot of suffering people out there. Buildings were about to be condemned and people would have lost their homes! What was I supposed to do? Did you see that sky-scraper that was about to topple? Did you know that there were still people trapped in it?" he asked incredulously.
"Hold on a moment! Do I look upset?" Tony asked the room. "Does he think I'm angry at him for probably saving more people than the rest of us combined in the last couple of hours?"
"Well, you do sound kind of jealous. Not really angry." Bruce said.
"Well, I'm not! If I could do what he's doing, you bet your ass I'd be out there right now doing it!" Tony responded heatedly.
"You do sound a bit envious, friend Stark." Thor said over a tall glass of beer.
"Okay, fine. I'm a little jealous about his ability to do those things. But, come on! People are comparing him to an angel flying around Manhattan saving lost souls and giving people second chances!" Tony exclaimed.
"And saving lives is a bad thing?" Romanoff asked. She had elected to stay when Barton left. He needed to sleep. Steve was volunteering, helping out some rescue efforts, last they heard.
"Well, no. But it's not miracles is it? It's magic. Even Harry has said that Magic runs on rules like science. Therefore it's quantifiable. And miracles aren't. No offence Thor." Tony said.
"I never encouraged the Norse people to follow me after my earlier adventures on Midgard. Harry here isn't either. I don't see the problem." Thor stated.
"That's beside the point, why didn't you make any statements? They don't know what to think!" Tony explained.
"If you must know," Harry sighed, "I was a bit of a celebrity in my old world. I never liked it. Being stormed by fans, jumped on by groupies and having to burn my trash so that nobody goes selling my old junk just because I had once owned it. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find a girlfriend when they all treat you like some kind of god?"
"Yes." both Thor and Tony said.
"Okay, fine, besides the two of you, who probably love it, does anyone else understand?" Harry asked. There was silence. "Exactly."
"Okay. I can understand that, but you have a costume. Do you walk down the street looking like you do all the time?" Tony countered.
"First off, this is not a costume. This is genuine dragon-hide armour. Secondly, does it matter? I wanted to help the people, not get recognition for it." Harry said.
"Well people recognized you." Tony said pointing at the screen. He could see the words 'Ghost, continuing rescue efforts and restoring the city.'
"You have a great heart, Harry and I agree with you, not everybody does it for the fame." Pepper said. She had taken the first flight home once things were resolved. She had struck Harry as an oddity. She was so down-to-earth. How she and Tony had ended up together, Harry would never understand.
"On whose side are you here?" Tony asked incredulously.
"Why, I'm on the side of the angels, Tony." Pepper laughed at his perplexed expression.
"Okay. Let's drop the subject. Is that normal for wizards, though? Could all of you do that kind of thing?" Tony asked pointing to the screen where they were once again showing the sky-scraper correct itself, its pieces floating back to their original spots.
"Generally speaking, yes. That, not so much. I was one of the most powerful wizards out there, but since I came here, it seems I have more endurance. Back home I'd be in a coma from magical exhaustion for a week, from doing all that." Harry said.
"Maybe it's because you are the only wizard here? Logically speaking, if there's more people absorbing magical energy, there'd be less to go around?" Bruce theorised.
"It's possible, I suppose. I don't mind it, of course, and it'll make rune work easier, if it's true." Harry said with a pointed look at Tony.
"That's right! That book said that some runes work better in places rich in magical energy. Do you know if there are real lay-lines in this world?" Tony asked.
"Lay-lines aren't real, Tony. Everybody knows that." Harry joked.
"Hey, how am I supposed to know that? You show up doing magic and tell me it's possible for normal people to do some magic, given the right circumstances. I can only speculate at this point." Tony defended himself.
"Normal people can learn to channel magic through runes. You're a far way off from doing magic yourself. That being said, did you know there are safety runes made specifically to protect buildings from things like fire and age?" Harry asked. "There's even supposed to be one that can repair damage, at the cost that you can't make changes, or it will revert."
"That is interesting and maybe I can read all about it once you give me the books?" Tony had a hungry look in his eyes.
"Fine, I did say I would." Harry said. He got up and disappeared.
"Does he do that often?" Pepper asked, shocked.
"Yes," came the reply from everyone.
"Okay then," Pepper said, having been shocked again by the communal response. Tony was staring at her. "What?"
"Nothing, I'm just waiting for your response for when he comes back." Tony said.
Just then Harry popped back and Pepper jumped at the sound. Tony just laughed. "You could have warned me!" she swatted his arm.
"You'll get used to it." Already he was moving around the counter to go to Harry, the hungry look back in his eyes. Harry handed him the next volume. He walked over to Bruce and handed him two books. "Hey, why does he get two books?" Tony complained.
"Because he can't start making potions without the ingredients." Harry replied. "You, on the other hand promised not to experiment and still almost caused an explosion, doing just that."
"Tony, what is he talking about?" Pepper asked sweetly.
Tony stared daggers at Harry for a second. "Nothing, honey. He's just jealous of my intelligence." he assured her.
Pepper just glowered at him. "If you experiment with me under the same roof as you, I swear, I will move out!"
"Gee, thanks, Harry." Tony said sarcastically.
"She's right to be worried. Runes can be dangerous. One of my friends' mothers accidentally killed herself right in front of her daughter and she was a researcher with a mastery in Runes." It wasn't exactly true, Luna's mother was a spell researcher, but the same principle applies. "I've stressed to you the importance of being careful many times now. If you kill yourself accidentally I can't be held accountable."
"Tony, please don't play with something you don't fully understand?" Pepper begged him.
"Okay, fine! I promise I'll be careful and wait until I have a proper grasp of the dangers." Tony said to Pepper. Then he looked at Harry, "Happy now?"
"Yes, actually. Tony, we're going to change the world with the stuff we come up with and there's no hurry. I'd like to get rid of your dependence of that arc reactor first before we start, though. There's always a danger that something we work on could depower it or overload it." Harry said.
"What do you mean get rid of his dependence on it?" Pepper said.
"He means that he's got a spell and some potions that will get rid of the shrapnel and the need for the arc reactor." Tony said with a soft smile.
"Really? That's wonderful news!" Pepper actually had tears in her eyes. She turned about and ran to Harry hugging him fiercely. "Thank you so much!"
"Keep your hands where I can see them, Potter!" Tony exclaimed.
Pepper turned around on him, scowling. "You will not ruin this moment for me, Tony. You won't!"
"Hey Harry. Care to whip us up some butterbeer? My arc reactor is running low." Tony said.
"Sir, your arc reactor is at 74% capacity. I don't think…" Jarvis began.
"No it's not." Tony began, "Jarvis, shut up." he stage-whispered.
"As you wish, sir." Jarvis complied. Harry was still amazed at this technology. A genius loci built my man.
"Thank you, Jarvis. You're welcome to talk to me whenever you want." Harry replied.
"You're welcome, Harry." Jarvis replied. He'd taken to using Harry's first name at his insistence.
Harry looked at Tony and said, "You should have just asked if you wanted more. I actually have a tap enchanted with it at my bar. Limitless butterbeer and soda at the turn of a knob."
"I'll take one. How much will it cost me?" Tony asked, seriously.
"Enchanting is expensive work. It'll cost you at least five thousand galleons." Harry said sarcastically.
"Jarvis?" Tony said.
"Running search now." Jarvis replied. "125 results found. Shall I display them?"
"Please." Tony responded.
On the main screen, that Harry had thought was a TV, a galleon appeared. "Apparently 25 of them were sold to a pawn shop in Malibu six months ago. Collectors have since entered a bidding war. Currently they sell for about $2500. They are pure gold and bear the image of a dragon and what appears to be a wizard, sir." every head in the room turned to Harry.
"What? I needed cash. I only got a couple of thousand for them, though." Harry responded flabbergasted.
"Jarvis, get me one of those coins." Tony said. "Do you have any more of them?" he asked Harry.
"A couple of million, yeah." Harry said.
Tony just laughed, until he realised that Harry wasn't kidding. "You're serious! Holy sh…"
"Tony." Pepper warned.
"This is amazing!" Tony said. "The guy is a bona fide hero, with more money than god and he worries about fame! Seriously though, give me your account info. I'll set up a payment. I'm assuming you want the galleon's gold value in payment?"
"Actually, Tony, that gold is from my world. I can't use it or your economy will take a hit." Harry said seriously. "And don't worry about payment. I'd feel bad charging a friend."
"And he's conscientious too. Why aren't you walking around with supermodels hanging on both arms vying for your attention?!" Tony asked incredulously. "And I refuse not to pay for it. When I show it off one day, I want to be able to brag about how much it cost and being one of the first to own one. Add to that that you're setting the standard for future enchantments that produce an infinite resource. We can't have my business partner underselling himself."
"Supermodels might be some people's dream," Pepper said looking sternly at Tony, "but Harry is a nice man. We'll have to find him a nice girl. Natasha, you interested?"
"Oh, I've indicated my willingness on multiple occasions. He never gives me an answer or evades." Natasha joked. Or he thought she was joking. He wasn't certain anymore. Not since…
"Hold on! Why do I need a match maker?" Harry asked.
"Because, nobody deserves to be alone. Plus, who will we take on double-dates that isn't interested in doing business?" Pepper asked.
"That excludes me then," Harry said triumphantly, "I intend to do a lot of business with Tony."
"But you're already working together, that's different." Pepper said. "At least with you around, Tony doesn't seem to have the upper hand in the conversation. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I like it! Let's set a date. Natasha when works for you?" Pepper asked suddenly enthused.
"What is happening?" Tony and Harry asked at the same time.
"Shush, the women are talking." Pepper said and took out her tablet to look at dates.
"Quickly, Harry, make with the Butterbeer to distract them!" Tony said. He sounded like he was in a real panic.
"Right," Harry said. He walked to the counter and conjured a pitcher, filled it with water and transfigured it into Butterbeer. Tony hastily took out glasses for everyone and poured drinks.
Harry levitated them from the counter and floated them to the other occupants of the room. Pepper jumped when she saw the floating glass. When she saw Harry had his hand up, directing the drinks, she took one. Natasha took another. Thor put his, now empty, beer glass down and took the floating drink. He had been enjoying the back and forth of conversation and didn't want to spoil his entertainment, much like Bruce, who was listening to them and already reading one of the books, stopping only long enough to take the glass floating in front of him.
"A toast," Tony said, "To victory!"
"To victory." everyone intoned and took a drink.
"Oh my, this is delicious!" Pepper said. "I don't know that I can drink too much of it though, it seems rather rich."
"That's the beauty!" Tony said. "Its water, turned into butterbeer. It turns back into water in your stomach. You can drink as much of it as you like and never gain an ounce!"
"Really? That's amazing. Imagine the health benefits. Or dieting! This could lead to the end of obesity!" Pepper said in wonder. "You really are amazing, Harry."
"Thank you." Harry said, glad that they had changed the subject, or so he thought.
"Anyway as I was saying, I know this wonderful little place that overlooks the beach…" Pepper continued.
"It didn't work, Harry. Do something else!" Tony said urgently.
"She's your girl, you do something." Harry replied, resigned.
"She knows all my tricks, but you've got so many of them!" Tony begged.
"I don't think my tricks will work here. Besides, I won't really mind spending an evening with two beautiful women." Harry said sincerely.
Said women apparently heard him and stopped their conversation to thank him. Harry suspected, now that he had accepted his fate, they were just continuing to get on Tony's nerves.
He turned to Tony and whispered, "Besides, I can always do this." He got up, put down his glass and went invisible.
"Traitor." Tony said. "Take me with you!" he finished.
"Would that I could, Tony." Harry replied becoming visible again. "But I might fry that heart of yours."
"When can you have the potions ready?" Tony asked seemingly resigned himself.
"A couple of days, I think. In the meanwhile, I think I've thought of a magic I can use around you. It's also an example of what runes can do." Harry said, having had a thought. He conjured a bowl and replaced it with his Pensieve. Thor recognized it and got up, wandering closer. "This is the only Pensieve currently in existence in this world. I, one day, would like to create my own one, but the process was lost, hundreds of years ago."
"What does it do?" Natasha asked as Tony started examining the detailed runes on the first rune-based artefact Harry had ever shown him.
"This marvellous devise allows people to share memories!" Thor enthused. "Harry showed it to us yesterday, when Steve, he and I went for a drink on his flying carpet. A most wondrous experience!"
"You have a flying carpet?" Natasha and Pepper asked, with wide eyes, a look Harry could not identify in Natasha's eyes.
"What is it with people and flying carpets?" Harry asked.
"What kid didn't dream of finding a magic carpet and flying around?" Pepper asked, rhetorically.
"Or escaping." Natasha mumbled.
Nobody answered. Pepper just had a smug look on her face. "I suppose I could take you ladies on a flight sometime, but please let me invite Coulson. He wouldn't forgive me if I took you all out on it for a joyride and had not invited him." Harry said.
Tony in the meanwhile had finished his inspection of the bowl. "I don't understand anything on here, I just recognize the runes. It sure seems intent is important, and I didn't think rune words and clusters could go this far..." he said to Harry.
"This is, admittedly, one of the most complicated rune schemas I have ever seen myself, but once you see what it does, you'll understand." Harry said. He then started thinking of a memory he'd like to share.
"I would suggest something from your earlier years at your magic school. I doubt the ladies would appreciate some of the earlier or later memories you showed Steve and I." Thor suggested.
"That makes sense. Good call, Thor. Wouldn't want to be drowned in a sea of oestrogen the moment we come out." Harry said deciding on a memory. He put a finger on his temple and withdrew it with a memory clinging to the finger. He placed it in the bowl and explained the process.
Soon Harry was reliving his sorting from first year. Foregoing explanations and skipping over many of the other children's sorting explaining only that one could accelerate and rewind the memories till you got to the necessary parts. Everyone stared in wonder, save Thor, who had seen his own share.
"Is this kid drinking wine?" Tony asked, having walked over when he saw it.
"I never noticed that. Probably. Wizards are mostly immune to alcohol poisoning and getting drunk. As such there were no laws against underage drinking." Harry explained.
"What do you mean, you never noticed? We're inside your memory!" Tony exclaimed.
"The human mind is an amazing thing Tony. Our subconscious picks up more than our conscious minds. That's why Pensieves are so sought after." Harry explained. "You never know what you missed and your subconscious picked up."
Tony whistled, "I can see how that would be useful."
Thor look up at some stage, inspecting the ceiling and exclaimed when he noticed a bird in the rafters of the great hall. "By the Allfathers beard! Is that a phoenix?!"
Harry looked up and saw Fawkes. "Huh, I never noticed him there either. He was my old headmaster's familiar. We never saw him again after Dumbledore died." Harry explained.
"He must have been a great man to be able to familiarise himself with a being of such purity!" Thor exclaimed reverently.
"He was." Harry said. He had long since forgiven him for his faults.
"My father will never believe I saw a Phoenix. He once expressed a desire to meet one, but thought them all extinct." Thor said in wonder.
The memory ended and everyone went back to themselves. Harry checked on Tony first to ensure there were no effects to his arc reactor. He was fine.
"I'm sorry. If I were able and knew where Fawkes was, I'd be happy to introduce them." Harry said. His eyes suddenly got a far off look, "Do you hear that?" he asked in wonder. Harry stood up and went to the window as if searching for something, but couldn't spot anything. The feeling went away.
"What did you hear?" Tony asked, wondering if he should be worried.
"I could have sworn I heard phoenix song. I must have imagined it. Fawkes is in a whole other reality. He couldn't…" There it was again, but this time, stronger and Harry knew he wasn't imagining things. He ran out the window to the helicopter pad.
"Harry, what is it?" Natasha came out after him, eyes on the sky as if expecting to see another portal.
"I'm not certain, but for a second there I could have sworn I heard my old headmaster's familiar. He was calling to me." Harry explained.
"Both times seemed to happen after you said his name. Is there a chance that your saying his name calls to him?" Thor asked, having followed them out.
"You think so?" Harry asked and then thought about it. Nodding he said, "You might be right, names hold power and Dumbledore always said Fawkes would come when someone showed him loyalty." When he said it, he felt it again, this time though, there was a tone of panic and confusion. "Oh, no, I think he was trying to come to me and is in trouble! Everybody step back!" Harry raised his arms, and started concentrating pure magic at his fingertips. He was still tired from his work restoring the city, but he couldn't help himself. It's what he did.
When the magic became too much to look at, Harry yelled, "FAWKES!" at the top of his lungs, sweat running from his face with the effort, focusing all of his intent on sending the magic to help the phoenix. The magic flared even brighter, before dissipating into nothing. Harry fell to his knees as the magic left him, breathing hard. Whispering to himself he said, "I better not have killed you Fawkes."
Suddenly there was a flash of light and fire as a song that could now be heard by all filled the air. Harry looked up and saw something he never thought he would again. "Fawkes!" he exclaimed, before promptly falling unconscious.
It was some hours before Harry regained consciousness. His magic was back at the level it had been the night before, before he sent most of what he had left to assist Fawkes. Harry opened his eyes to an unfamiliar room. He was struggling to recall how he had gotten here. He sat up and looked around. Next to his bed on the back of a chair, slept a very tired and bedraggled looking Fawkes. His head under his wing, but seemingly sleeping peacefully.
Harry slowly and quietly got up. He went out the door and went down the hall till he reached the familiar lounge area and found Bruce sitting there. Bruce looked up and a smile bloomed on his face. "Oh, hi there Mister 'I just summoned a magical being from across realities'. Good thing you told us magical exhaustion is a thing or we might have worried more." Bruce said, but with good humour, as he got up.
"Yeah, that's kind of my thing. Random stuff just keeps happening. Anything happen while I was out." Harry asked.
"Nothing much. Tony is working on that device to send the Tesseract to Asgard with Thor and Loki. I've helped out in design, but it's all in production now. It should be ready in a couple of days." Bruce responded.
"Anything else? I didn't blow up the electronics in here did I?" Harry asked, thinking about how quiet it was without Tony around.
"No, it seems to have all dissipated when you sent your magic to help your friend." Bruce said. "You have had a couple of visitors though. Agent Coulson, Steve, Clint and Natasha." here he got a thoughtful look. "She actually seemed worried there for a bit."
"Nah, it's probably just an act. She loves doing that." Harry scoffed.
Bruce's eye-brows raised. "You think so, do you? Because I don't think her coming back was an act, Harry. She was actually here." Bruce said. "You do realise that she might actually like you, right?"
"I hadn't considered it, actually. She's been the same way since I met her." Harry said, thinking back.
"And you never did anything super magical to help her out in any way, did you?" Bruce asked.
"Well… kind of." came Harry's lame reply.
"Don't you like her? Is she not your type?" Bruce asked.
"No, of course I like her! She's fun to hang out with, can carry an actual conversation and have you seen what she looks like!? You could be gay and still want to be with her!" Harry exclaimed.
"That's enough. Jarvis, if you would?" Bruce asked.
"Of course, Doctor Banner. The message is sent." Jarvis replied.
"Jarvis, what did you do?" Harry asked quietly, dangerously.
"I sent a recording of your conversation to Agent Romanoff at Doctor Banner's request." Jarvis stated.
"Oh did he, now?" Harry's eyes flashed.
"Now hold on, Harry. Before you get upset!" Bruce tried to placate Harry.
"You better start explaining, before I turn you into the world's angriest greenest Chihuahua." Harry said still stalking forward.
"Okay, okay. I saw you struggling last night and you seemed the shy type around ladies, so I thought I'd help you out." Bruce said honestly.
Harry's anger dissipated, but then he smirked. "You do realise that puts you on the list of people to get even with, right?"
"Jarvis, any chance you could stop that mail?" Bruce asked suddenly scared.
"I'm afraid not, Doctor Banner. She seems to have already listened to it. I received a thank you from her in return." Jarvis said.
Bruce just slumped. "Any chance saying sorry would help?" he asked Harry.
"It can't hurt." Harry smiled and walked away. Today seems like a good day to get his pay-back on Tony. Maybe that will put Bruce in the right frame of mind.
"I'm sorry!" Bruce called after him as he left.
"Jarvis, do you know where Tony is right now?" Harry asked.
"He's working on the project Doctor Banner informed you of in his lab, Harry." Jarvis replied. "And I do apologize for my complicity in Doctor Banner's plan. He assured me it was for your own good."
"Don't worry about it, Jarvis. You're the good sort. I can tell your intentions were pure." Harry said. "Please let me know when Fawkes wakes up?"
"Of course, Harry." Jarvis replied.
"Oh, and Jarvis. I'm about to do something funny. It's completely reversible, so no harm will come to Tony. I expect you to not say anything to Tony, but be a dear and send a recording of when he notices to Agent Coulson?"
"Of course, Harry." Jarvis replied.
Harry was led to Tony's lab by a helpful Jarvis. Entering he said, "Hey Tony. You remember how you sent that video of me to the internet?"
"Hi Harry, good to see you up. And yes, I do recall something about someone uploading a video of you to the internet. I believe you thought it was me and turned my fingers to thumbs to show your displeasure." Tony said, as he continued working.
"Oh that wasn't your punishment. I'm just here to remind you that payback is still forthcoming." Harry said. "So what are you working on?"
Tony's fingers had stopped moving the moment Harry said it. "You know, I didn't know you when I did that. Couldn't we just let bygones be bygones?"
"I'm afraid not, Tony. As you told me yesterday, I'm setting a standard for the future. Can't just encourage people to get away with things, now can I?" Harry said with a smirk.
"What are you going to do?" Tony asked apprehensively.
"Oh, I'm sure you wouldn't want me to spoil the surprise." Harry said with a smile. Tony seemed entirely too scared to talk about the project, and Harry didn't want to keep him, so he decided to leave having put in place his magic, layering it for a few days.
When Harry left, he was informed that Thor had come to visit. He went back to the lounge only to be informed Thor had gone to Harry's room. He found Thor standing in his door just looking at the phoenix. "Hey, Thor. How are you?" Harry asked as he walked up.
"I am still shocked by the presence of this wondrous creature. When I awoke this morning I was certain it was a dream and had to come verify it once more." Thor said, still staring at the Phoenix.
As if knowing it was being spoken of, the phoenix awoke and looked up at them. "I believe Fawkes has woken up, Harry." Jarvis said from the ceiling.
"You know Jarvis, I think you might be right." Harry chuckled in amusement at the AI's sense of humour.
Fawkes just looked up at the ceiling for a moment and flamed away onto Harry's shoulder. Harry wasn't shocked, but Thor had jumped towards where the phoenix had been, thinking it was spontaneously combusting. Looking back at Harry he showed relief. "It seems to have some of your talent for shocking people." Thor chuckled.
"You have no idea. Fawkes here, once saved my life. You recall the fight with the basilisk?" at Thor's nod, Harry continued, "He was the one that blinded the basilisk. Phoenixes are immortal, you know. When they grow old, they burst into flame and are reborn from the ashes."
"Truly, you are a good man Harry, for one such as that to come to your aid. Greater even, as I sense it has started bonding with you." Thor said.
"What?" Harry asked looking at Fawkes. The bird nodded, puffing its chest out proudly. Then he warbled a sad note. Somehow, Harry knew it was still in mourning over their old world. Harry scratched the phoenix's head, "Don't worry, Fawkes. I am told I was brought here to fix things." 'For our old home too' Harry finished in his head. Fawkes looked up sharply, apparently having heard the thought. Fawkes let out a song of pure joy and a feeling of hope bloomed throughout the penthouse.
Harry wouldn't argue or complain about the company. Hell, Bruce would be happy to have the calming presence of the phoenix around. Thor however, seemed amazed yet again. "Truly? You were sent here to help this realm?"
"To be fair, I thought it was random, but when has that ever been the case in my life. I honestly don't know what is coming, but I doubt your brother's attack was the end of it. He may have been part of it, though." Harry said uncertainly.
Thor grew pensive and nodded. They went back to the main lounge area, were Bruce was sitting with his eyes closed a small smile on his face. "Hey Bruce. How are you feeling?" Harry asked.
"Better than I have in a long time, Harry. That sound just now, was that the phoenix?" Bruce asked with awe in his voice.
"That would be Fawkes' doing, yes. Phoenixes can lighten spirits and calm emotions in equal measure." Harry replied.
Bruce got up, walked to Harry, looked Fawkes in the eye and said, "Thank you." The phoenix jumped from Harry's shoulder to Bruce's' and rubbed his head against his. Bruce reached up almost automatically and rubbed the phoenix's head. Feeling even better, the smile on his face growing more.
"Okay, so I'm about to head home. I've got some potions to brew for Tony. Want to come see where I live?" Harry asked with a hint of excitement.
"Absolutely!" Bruce said, not wanting to give up the chance of seeing his first potion in the making.
"I'm afraid I would do you no good in the making of potions. My skills lay in other directions. I should probably go spend some more time with Jane, while I still have time." Thor excused himself.
"No problem, Thor. See you again soon." Harry said as Thor walked away. He looked up at Fawkes. "Do you have enough strength to travel to my home or would you rather catch a lift?" Fawkes just released an indignant squawk and stared at Harry. "Okay, Bruce, put a hand on my shoulder and I'll take you there."
Fawkes made another chirp and Harry frowned. "Are you sure?"
Silence.
"Okay, never mind. Fawkes has indicated that he will take you. See you there." Harry said and apparated away. Fawkes and Bruce following after.
"Okay, that was strange." Bruce said, looking at the Phoenix, who seemed no worse for wear.
"Welcome to my home." Harry said to both of them.
"Where are we?" Bruce asked.
"Malibu." Harry replied. "It's where I arrived when I came to this world and it quickly grew on me. SHIELD provided the house, but I suggest you don't leave the property without me. It's protected magically and you won't find your way back."
"You mean to tell me, we're in a magically secure villa at the ocean and I don't have to worry about anyone finding me?" Bruce asked. At Harry's shrug and nod he laughed, "You are quickly becoming the best friend I've ever had! A safe place to work and a phoenix for company, I haven't felt so good in years!" he exclaimed.
"Friend or not, there are some secrets I must protect and for that I have this," Harry pulled out some Contracts. "While you are living with me," at this Bruce frowned, "Oh wait, I haven't told you about that yet, have I?" Bruce shook his head. "Oh, sorry about that. Let me show you around first." Harry took him on a tour of the house. With all the expansion charms, it was more of a mansion, so it took a while.
"You mean to tell me all this is mine?" Bruce asked indicating the rooms they were currently standing in. It had a large living room with comfortable couches with a kitchen, a potions lab stocked with everything he might need including a chemistry set, but no potions ingredients, yet. A bedroom with a king-sized bed and a walk-in wardrobe filled with clothing in Bruce's size. Harry had requested help from SHIELD getting him things Bruce might need. The kitchen was stocked with a gas stove and a cupboard that was enchanted to act like a fridge and freezer, also expanded for convenience, stocked full with food. Harry had showed him the cupboard and indicated that the freezer section had stasis charms that activated once the glass door was closed, meaning he could put anything away and have it remain unspoiled indefinitely. The fridge part was actually cold, to keep water and other things, cold.
"Well, yes. The whole upper east wing is yours, Bruce. I hope you don't mind. I love the sunset, so I took the west wing." Harry replied. "There will be some things to get used to, like magical light activated by voice command, but you'll acclimate quickly. Oh and you'll love this," Harry said as he walked to a fireplace. "Hearth, activate." The logs in the fire instantly took to burning. "Hearth, deactivate." The fire went out. "The wood doesn't ever burn out and the fire should generate enough heat to heat up your entire place." Harry said proudly.
"That's both useful and interesting. Was this one of your ideas for free energy?" Bruce asked, still looking around. He was currently inspecting a bookshelf that had a couple of new volumes Harry hadn't given him yet. He could see himself sitting by the fire reading late into the night.
"Not really, enchanting a fireplace is less effective and wastes energy. I was thinking of enchanting something like an engine that runs and creates permanent rotation. That could be hooked up to generators, right?" Harry asked.
"If you can do that, he'll probably ask that you demonstrate with a car first. I can imagine him wanting a car that doesn't require fuel." Bruce chuckled.
Harry went about explaining and demonstrating the Contracts to Bruce. Bruce had no issue with signing them after he realised they protected both their interests and would make it easier to trust each other. Harry then took him and Fawkes down into the trunk. "Okay, Fawkes. I'm just warning you, there's a window in here that has an illusion of Hogwarts, the way I want to remember it."
He opened the door and Fawkes immediately flew to the window, looking longingly out the window, a sorrowful song being sung for a long lost home. "I know, Fawkes. I miss it too." Harry said walking up to the phoenix and softly stroked his feathers. Bruce was impressed with the illusion and had the customary response when seeing the giant tentacle. This seemed to have the effect of lifting both his and Fawkes' moods.
They went to the library next, while Fawkes somehow communicated that he wanted a perch set up by the window. Apparently it was now Fawkes's room. Harry didn't mind. Harry warned Bruce about the restricted section and once Bruce was scared by the monster book of monsters, Harry showed him how to calm it down. Strangely, Bruce seemed to take an instant liking to the book after that.
Harry showed them the fields and crops that were being tended to magically. He showed him the vault next knowing the last two places they visit, would be where they stopped to work. Bruce was dumbfounded by the enormous wealth and the artwork, pointing out some of these things could be mounted in his home. He could just claim they were replicas. Harry liked the idea.
Next Harry showed them the greenhouses. Fawkes loved being surrounded by all the magical plants and let out a happy song, Harry getting the impression that Fawkes was proud of him for what he had accomplished. They spent an hour there, Harry showing him some of the simpler plants, how to tend to them and harvest from them without damaging the plants. Having some ingredients in hand they left. After that he pointed out the other doors with greenhouses, with more and more dangerous plants. He warned him not to go in them yet, and never without permission, since some of them were in stasis.
Once they reached the potions lab, Bruce started getting more excited. Seeing vials of clearly marked potions, that Harry had made and preserved over the years, he couldn't help himself. He started looking through them and asking questions, while Harry set up a workstation for Bruce and himself intending on using the ingredients they had just gathered to make a potion Harry was certain Bruce would want to know first.
It was two hours later when Bruce had completed his first, and quite successful batch of calming draught. Harry congratulated him and seeing his happy smile gave him the plants he would need to make his own from now on. There was a small greenhouse set aside out back for Bruce's private use. It was obviously much larger inside. He decided, once they exited the trunk to immediately go investigate and plant his new possessions. He was planning on cultivating an entire section dedicated to these ingredients.
Harry was happy for him. That night they ate dinner in the communal kitchen, Bruce having popped into the trunk again to go fetch some herbs and spices he'd noticed and made them a foreign dish he had picked up on his travels. Harry instantly decided that Bruce was now the cook. Bruce just smiled and accepted, taking it as a compliment.
The next day found Harry hard at work brewing the first of the potions he would need for Tony. The Skele Grow potion. He had given Bruce a book containing the summary and explanation of how they worked the previous night. When he found that Bruce reminded him of things as they went, he was reminded that he was in the presence of a genius, so he handed over the reins to Bruce, much to his shock. He still stayed by his side explaining cutting techniques and explaining why certain stirs in certain directions would make a difference in the end result. Bruce drank the information in, seemingly a bottomless pit that craved knowledge.
This was working out better than Harry had anticipated. He'd have to give Bruce the book on wolfsbane potion so that he could start taking the potion apart and seeing where substitutions were possible. He had already asked about obtaining more mundane ingredients to start experimenting on. If he could build up a font of knowledge about what plants contained what qualities, when put in potions, he'd be one step closer to gaining a mastery in this field.
There was a break in the brewing where the potion needed to simmer untouched for three hours. Harry decided to take Bruce for a walk. Fawkes didn't mind staying in Backup Plan. He'd either visit some of Harry's crops to feed himself or watch Hogwarts from his perch, which Harry had created for him. He sometimes even went to go sun himself in the vegetable garden watching the chickens as they lived out their lives in their self-sustained eco system.
They exited the property and Bruce suddenly looked confused, "Where did we just come from Harry."
"It's a Fidelius, Bruce. Just like the trunk." Harry informed him. He then whispered the secret in his ear. Seeing Bruce's eyes widen, for him the property had suddenly shifted into view out of nothing, he said, "The third most secure place on the whole planet!"
"Really, what are the other two?" Bruce asked, not thinking he'd get the answer.
"Number two is a secret, that I'm not allowed to tell you, sorry. Contract protected information. The most secure place on this planet, however, you've already been in. My trunk." Harry said.
"That makes sense." Bruce conceded. "Wait does that mean I'm in on one of the biggest secrets on the planet?"
"Yes it does Bruce. Now you know why the Contract was needed." Harry said.
Bruce just nodded once and they started walking down the road. Suddenly Bruce froze up when he saw a traffic camera. He knew the army were connected to those. "Camera. I can't be here." Bruce started turning back to the house before Harry could stop him.
"Bruce, stop!" he reached out and grabbed his arm. "Look." Harry pointed at a car window. Bruce looked and didn't recognize the person looking back at him. The features were still somewhat his, but his eyes were blue, his jawline different, his nose more slender and his hair dirty blonde.
"When did you do that?" Bruce asked still looking at the somewhat handsome face looking back at him.
"Before we left home." Harry replied.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Bruce said.
"I probably should have, but I kind of forgot with the Fidelius thing. I see through my own glamours, so I forgot that you look different to other people." Harry said.
"'To err is human.'" Bruce quoted, taking a moment to calm down. They started off down the road again having a conversation about potions and how to create counters before testing potions. Harry sharing some anecdotes about the twin's canary creams. Years later, Harry had gotten some of their secrets from them. Peruvian Darkness Powder being one of them. The other was the canary creams.
"So there I was, about to be trampled on, having just escaped the twin's trap when Hagrid picks me up, trying to protect me from the crowd. He then checked me out and threw me, seeing nothing wrong with my wings!" Harry was saying.
"Really?" Bruce was enthralled. Life and death situations seemed to happen to Harry when people were just playing. The wizarding world sounded crazy, but fun.
"Yeah, really. Just before I landed, I turned back to myself and got knocked unconscious. And that's how my naked picture ended up on the front page of the Daily Prophet." Harry finished his cautionary tale.
"So you're saying that because they forgot to add one ingredient, you forgot who you were and shrunk out of your clothes, leaving you naked when you reverted? That's insane. Couldn't they test it on a subject who was willing and somehow contained?" Bruce asked.
"By that point, nobody trusted them. They were mischievous and tended to use their fellow students as test subjects without their knowledge. They used all their gained knowledge to start a joke shop and were quite the success before everything went to hell in a hand basket." Harry said.
"They sound certifiable." Bruce said.
"To each their own." Harry said noncommittally.
They reached the local farmer's market and Harry picked up some fresh fruit, while Bruce was getting some advice on where to procure certain herbs and plants. He was looking for things that had similar properties to things he had read about in the books. Some mundane plants that helped act as binding agents and solvents between different stages of the brewing processes as well.
If Bruce had anything to do with it, he'd have a list of anything that has magical usefulness by the end of the year. Harry wouldn't stop him, but suspected that at some point he'd have to expand on Bruce's greenhouse, or put a secondary one in.
By the time they were on their way back, loaded down with multiple bags of seeds, bulbs and plants, Harry's book started vibrating. He put down a couple of bags so he could use his hand to retrieve the book. He excused himself from Bruce for a moment in case it was classified and opened it to see the mirror active. "Good afternoon, Agent Coulson. How can I help?" Harry asked.
"I'm calling to thank you for getting me that footage, Agent Potter." Coulson said with a smile.
"I missed it? Damn, I knew I forgot something! I'll probably have to get there soon, before he starts taking his anger out on those around him." Harry said, he was moving back to Bruce already at this point. "I should be available to do so in the next two hours or so?" He said looking at Bruce for confirmation, who nodded. "If you could get in contact with him and tell him I'll be there tomorrow though, I bet you'll get more footage out of it." Harry said with a completely straight face.
Coulson smiled, "I'll make sure he gets the message. Thanks Agent Potter. That will be all."
"Wait! I'll be taking the coffee machine to Stark Tower when I go. Since I can't go by apparition I was thinking of taking the carpet." Harry said.
"I'll be there, but just out of curiosity, why take him a coffee machine?" Coulson asked.
"To give him something to start on with the runes. Showing him that might get Bruce the equipment he needs sooner." Harry explained.
"He's settled in, then?" Coulson queried.
Harry tilted the mirror to Bruce. "I am, thank you. Harry even helped me make my first couple of doses of calming draught. I should be able to keep myself stocked from now on, if I can get the plants he gave me to do so, to reproduce quickly enough." Bruce said with a smile.
"Good, I'm sure the director will be pleased to hear you're making progress." Coulson said. "I'll see you in two hours." And with that the mirror went inactive.
"I was meaning to ask you about that. Any chance you can set me up with one of those mirrors? Probably the rest of the Avengers too. Would be useful to have an untraceable form of communication." Bruce asked as they continued walking.
"I don't see why not. I should be able to have that ready by the time Thor and Loki leave. Good idea, thanks!" Harry said.
"No problem. That's why you keep me around after all." Bruce smirked. He was becoming more open and friendly, probably a side-effect of relative freedom. Harry would have to spend some time adding that glamour to an enchantment, which meant research and he'd started loving the research.
Two hours later they had gotten the potion to a point that it needed to be left at room temperature for a day. Harry was once again impressed with Bruce. He had improved in leaps and bounds, even coming up with some time saving ideas on the fly. Apparently his past experiences were helping him here. Science and magic finally seemed like they could co-exist, even if it was only in the mind of a genius.
Coulson showed up in the basement, and Harry went to go fetch him. Only Harry knew the secret of the room and Fury preferred it that way. Not only could nobody enter, but nobody knew where the doors were, in or out. He'd never felt so safe in his life. Harry had found him sleeping on the couch multiple times after he had had a rough day.
Coulson was excited. You could tell by the way his smile almost reached his eyes. Harry had taken the coffee machine to the back door earlier. Bruce had homework. He was going to go through Harry's library and find out if there was a way to increase the flow of time in the greenhouse. Harry had never heard of such a thing, but that didn't mean something like that didn't exist. Maybe once Tony and Bruce had ancient runes down, he could get one or both of them into Arithmancy. Spell creation would be easier with someone to work out the formulae.
"You ready?" Harry asked Coulson, as he conjured a carpet and replaced it with a magical one in his trunk.
"I've been looking forward to this." Coulson said.
"Well don't be disappointed when it turns out to just be another form of transport." Harry warned. Coulson scoffed and got on the carpet and sat down. Harry conjured some cushions and a table again. Might as well have a drink while they were going to be sitting around for a while. He turned to Bruce, "Do me a favour?" He asked.
"You want me to check on the potion and ensure that it doesn't need any more powdered scarab beetles in about four hours?" Bruce asked with a smile.
"You got it! You'll be a master in under a month." Harry complimented. "Okay, we're off. Don't go off the property and say hello to Fawkes sometime. I don't like him sitting alone in my, his room like that." Harry asked.
"Yes, mom." Bruce joked.
"You're a comedian," Harry said before casting some concealing charms that would have people ignore them if they're spotted. Then he slowly lifted off. One wave of his hand later and the wind stopped buffeting them.
"Can you let the wind blow until it gets colder? That's supposed to be part of the experience." Coulson said. Harry cast some sticking charms on the cushions and did as Coulson asked. Who was he to argue?
During the flight Coulson told him about the new unit he was supposed to start leading soon. He'd be leaving the director's side. Harry was happy for him. It's not like he wouldn't see him around. They had a couple of drinks once it got too cold and Harry blocked the wind again. They toasted to Coulson's promotion and chatted about Harry's plans for his newly registered company. Apparently SHIELD had people on standby the moment market shares became available. Fury had insisted that they get first option to buy in. Harry didn't have a problem with that. Fury just wanted access to the goods and services they were planning on making available.
When they reached their destination, Coulson was still happy he had come. "I thought you said these were slow." He had said at some point.
"You never listen. I said brooms were faster, not carpets are slow."
Once Harry cancelled the concealment charms, the door opened and out ran a very angry Tony. "Fix it!" he all but screamed. Harry saw Pepper walking out behind him, barely hiding a smile.
"Mr. Stark. I love what you've done with your hair." Coulson said.
"You said he'd only come tomorrow!" Tony scowled.
"And your reaction was priceless. Thank you for the entertainment. I'm still considering putting it on the internet." Coulson said with a straight face.
Tony was suddenly pale. It made for a strong contrast against Natasha's hair, currently growing out of his head. It was even styled the way she wore it. With his, now clean-shaven face, it made for an odd sight.
Harry just laughed and waved his hand cancelling the trigger on the layered spell. Tony's hair and facial hair returned to normal. He felt his face and head and sighed in relief. Then he turned on Coulson. "You won't upload it. You enjoy having leverage too much."
"True, I'll keep it for when there's something I really want." Coulson said with a straight face.
Tony then noticed the coffee machine and then next to it, the table. He immediately went to the table and picked up the three-quarters-full bottle. "You are going in my cabinet!" he said to the firewhiskey.
"Hey! At least pour us a drink first!" Harry said. Tony just scowled at him, but nodded. He had no right to take it, so a compromise was better than nothing.
Harry hoped the effects would have Tony in a better mood. He walked inside and poured four drinks, but when he looked up, Coulson was already gone, having activated his portkey with a soft goodbye to Harry. Tony shrugged and poured Coulson's drink in with his. Harry had been storing the carpet again and had apparated home and back again to get into his trunk. When he returned he picked up the coffee machine and took it inside, placing it on the counter.
"What am I supposed to do with the relic?" Tony asked handing him one of the smaller drinks.
Harry smiled and unobtrusively performed a switching spell with the contents of the glasses. When Tony went to take his, he scowled, but let it go. He had more than half a bottle, after all.
"To new hairstyles!" Harry toasted and Pepper, having gotten a drink from Tony, toasted with a smile on her face.
Tony said nothing, but watched Pepper's reaction. She had taken a small sip, having heard all about firewhiskey from Tony. Tony tried the fire trick with partial success, but when he swallowed, he smiled anyway. "Damn you, Harry. I can't even stay angry at you with this stuff!"
"Don't look in a mirror, then." Harry said, smiling. Pepper was trying and failing to hold in her chuckles.
Tony looked around at the alcohol cabinet's reflective surface. He saw himself with Pepper's hair this time. Again clean shaven face. "What did I ever do to you?" he complained. Harry just lifted an eyebrow. "Okay, fine! I'm sorry I posted that video of you on the internet, okay?" Immediately his hair turned back to normal.
"Damn!" Harry swore. "That was too quick, I never even got to see any of the others."
"What did you do, Harry?" Pepper asked once she had calmed down.
"I made it so whenever he said bad things about me, his hairstyle would change. Until he apologized, that is. Now he's spoiled all my fun! It was going be Coulson next and then Fury!" Harry said.
"Hopefully he's learned his lesson now?" Pepper asked with a pointed stare.
"Yes, be more creative the next time I anger him so it's worth it." Tony mumbled, taking another sip and smiling again. "So what's with the coffee monstrosity?" Feeling much calmer now that he knew his torment was over.
"Look at it more closely." Harry said.
Tony did and at first saw nothing, until he spotted it. A set of runes, carved into its shell in a couple of places. "You've runed it. What's the runes do?"
Harry reached into his pocket, took out the third book Tony had been looking forward to, inadvertently causing his dilemma earlier today when he swore at the wizard for making him promise to Pepper not to experiment, and handed him the book. This third book marked the beginning of his ability to practice what he had been studying. "You tell me." Harry said with a smug smile.
Tony reached over the counter and grabbed the book. "Finally, my reign of terror begins! Mwa-ha-ha-ha!"
"Is that a good idea?" Pepper asked dubiously.
"As long as he stays within the guidelines mentioned in the first three books, he'll now be able to start understanding what he's doing." Harry explained. "For the really powerful stuff he'll need me for now. To power the rune clusters. He will also need Hermione's research to start working on powering those himself, which he doesn't get until he's mastered all five books and their mastery texts." Harry said slightly smugly.
Tony deflated for a second, before he smiled a predatory smile. "I bet I can figure it out before then."
"If you must." Harry said shrugging. He then turned to Pepper, "Pepper, can I offer you a room at my place when Tony destroys his tower?"
"That won't be necessary, Harry. We have many houses. I could just move into one of them if he starts threatening my safety." she said mildly.
"Oh, come on!" Tony whined.
---A couple of days later---
"Here you are," Harry said handing a mirror to Thor. He had already given each of the other Avengers theirs. "This should allow you to communicate with us from just about anywhere."
"Thank you, friend Harry." Thor said. "And you are sure you cannot give Jane one without one of those 'Contracts'?" Harry had offered her one, but she did not like the thought of something holding that much power over her.
"I'm afraid that's the rules. My secrets are too important and must be kept from the general public. Anyone finding out she has some of them would put her in great danger. I would not want to place her in harms' way." Harry assured.
"I understand. I would have preferred her have one of these, but I can understand your reasoning. That does not mean I have to like it, but I can respect yours and her wishes, both." Thor intoned sadly.
"So, you guys ready to face the Allfather?" Harry asked changing the subject. The Avengers were all there, all with pouches around their necks. Tony's newly restored chest now capable of having such an item. At first he had refused to wear it, until Harry had taken it and hung it on a wall and Natasha fired several shots into it with her gun. The wall didn't even have a scratch. Tony's tune changed instantly. He was now trying to get Harry to make Pepper one as well.
Speaking of Natasha, she seemed to be on leave and had been asking to see him. Coulson had contacted him for her and they had met up once or twice at Stark Tower. She was first to receive a pouch and mirror. She had not brought up the recording but her smile seemed a bit more friendly, than teasing these days. They had an appointment later today to take Harry's carpet to Malibu from New York, where they would be taken to Harry's home before they went out for dinner on the, no longer dreaded, double-date.
They had all greeted Thor and Harry was the last one, having only completed his mirror earlier that day, to give it to him now. Harry was slapping Thor on the shoulder saying he hoped that Odin liked his gift, a bottle of Firewhiskey, when Loki had a gleam in his eye, he turned the device in his hand and activated the transport while Harry was still too close. "Oh, sh…" was all that was heard before all three of them were transported away.