When the weekend arrived, the first person to show up was Logan of all people. Much like they had done previously, they opened a portal to the Institute and all those who would be attending for the weekend away walked through.
When they were all gathered Harry dialled a number he had never called before. "Hello?" the voice of a young man said form the other side.
"Mister Parker, I presume?" Harry asked with a smile on his lips.
"Yeah, I'm him." Peter confirmed.
"Did you receive the package last night?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Peter said. "What is this thing?" he asked.
"Are you holding it right now?" Harry asked mildly.
"Yes." Peter confirmed again.
"It's a portkey." Harry said.
"A what?" Peter asked.
"A port-key." Harry enunciated.
"Portkey?" Peter asked, unknowingly saying the word that activated the item he was looking at.
Suddenly he appeared in front of Harry. "Yes, a portkey." Harry said summoning it from Peter's hand. "It also has a security feature that allows you to change into your outfit without people noticing it's you. You can have it back at the end of the weekend, since it can be activated one more time to take you home."
"What the heck just happened to me?" Peter asked, having landed on his feet, but suddenly in a ready position for combat.
"Welcome to New Atlantis, Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man." Harry said.
"I'm not-" Peter tried to start denying.
"My name is Harry Potter-" Harry interrupted him.
"Like from PI?!" Peter exclaimed.
"- also known as Ghost, of the Avengers." Harry finished.
"Ghost?!" Peter said shocked. "Ghost from the Avengers knows who I am. I know who he is! This is too much."
"All of us know who you are, kid." Tony said as he stepped up.
"Mister Stark?" Peter looked like he was going to hyperventilate.
"Well done, instant recognition." Tony joked. "Welcome to the 'Stark Intern Orientation' weekend."
Peter was dumbstruck, but only for a moment. He jumped away, a split second before a gruff voice from behind him said, "Enough gawking kid." Logan looked at him as he stood against a nearby tree, horizontally. "Nice reflexes."
"I believe he reacted before you moved to scare him." Xavier said. "Good reflexes indeed, bordering on precognition."
"What?" Peter asked, suddenly realizing he was standing against the tree with many people watching and he was not in costume. "Oh, no."
"Don't worry kid." Logan said as he unsheathed his claws. "Everyone here is an enhanced. Your secret is safe. Though we will have you sign a contract, like everyone else on the island has." It was true. Even the children from the Institute had signed. It was deemed necessary as allegiances could change, even if people believed they would not.
"We'll get to that later." Harry said. "Peter, meet Mister Logan. He'll be your drill-sergeant- I mean camp councillor." he corrected quickly.
Logan knew it was no accident. "Okay, Mister Parker. Let's see if you live up to Richard and Mary's standards." he said.
"You knew my parents?" Peter asked. Harry had also not known.
"Sure did kid. They were fine agents. Your father was a tough one too. It was a terrible thing when they died. They actually rescued me once." Logan said. "I was the first one to congratulate Mary on her pregnancy with you."
"Can you tell me about them?" Peter asked.
"Can do, but you have to earn it." Logan said, knowing it would light a fire under the kid's ass.
"Sir, yes sir!" Peter said with a passable salute and a cocky smile on his face.
"Go join the other kids and make some friends. There will be team exercises this weekend and you need to know who you're working with." Logan said. "I suggest you go join her group." He said pointing at an Asian girl. "Noriko is a good team leader and she's smart as a whip."
Peter nodded and hurried off. "Why not tell him to join Piotr's group? He's a good leader too." Scott asked.
"Colossus is a heavy hitter. He leads from the front." Logan said. "Peter is also a heavy hitter, but we want him to know how to work with a team and follow commands, not just a leader. I also want him to engage his brain, not just his brawn."
"That skinny kid?" Scott asked.
"That skinny kid can catch a speeding car and not break a sweat." Tony said. "He's got the proportional strength of an actual spider."
Scott whistled. There were many strength-based enhanced in the world, but with him being smart and with the powers of a spider, this kid had great potential. "That's an impressive load-out." he said.
"You've got that right." Tony said, before turning to Scott. "I called dibs. No stealing my protégé."
Scott narrowed his eyes, something people could actually see now that he had PI-made, intent based, contact lenses. He could now fully control his power and see in colour. It was technically the contacts with the control, but nobody could know that, without being told. Jean was very happy, as was Scott, for that matter. "Let the kid decide." he said with an unrepentant smile.
Tony smirked too. He wasn't worried. Peter already looked up to him. He was sure the kid would rather join the Avengers anyway. "Peter's a smart kid. He'll make the smart choice."
Logan had gathered the kids together and some of the elf and nymph kids joined them. He gave them the same warnings as the last time. Then they were off with Logan running alongside them and Wanda following on the Carpet. She'd volunteered to be the second this year as Darcy was unavailable, much to her regret. She still took every opportunity to visit the island, though her opportunities were becoming fewer and fewer.
Speaking of Wanda, it had come as no surprise when she found part of her focus to be the very same sort as Harry's. Fawkes had had to donate a feather, but he didn't seem to mind at the time as it was close to his burning day. The wood for her wand was from one of the vine trees on Alfheim. She'd had to go exploring to find something that she could feel had a resonance with the phoenix feather.
Once she had a focus, her training came much more easily, though she was making slow progress until Harry had used the room to summon facsimiles of his own teachers from Hogwarts, with his knowledge of spell casting. He would summon one instructor every second day, who would focus on one branch of magic all day long. Her off days were for practice and relaxation. He was sticking with the basics of DADA, Transfiguration and Charms. If she wanted subjects he didn't really study like astronomy, she could ask Tony to get her an online course or something.
If she wanted to learn Potions, Hank had gone through the course quickly and was planning on becoming an instructor for the subject, so that new people could be trained properly. If she wanted to learn Runes, Jarvis could set her up with a tablet for the subject. She'd actually shown an interest in his own field, that of enchantment. He told her that she'd have to finish with her core subjects first as they all tied into it.
Jarvis had decided to take on a whole new subject in his spare time, just for her. The subject of Arithmancy was closely linked to spell creation. Its study was supposed to be as difficult, or even more so than Runes. Tony found no interest in it, since it wasn't something he could use. Jarvis, however, could attempt to create unique spells for Wanda. Harry had warned him to let him test them first, just in case. Spell creation was not something to play around with idly, especially for a novice like Wanda.
Steve and Beast decided to join the kids as well, as it was a lovely morning on the resort. Little did they know the rest of the island was experiencing quite a bit of rain. It would clear up by the end of the day, but Logan had decided to leave the weather in place. It would toughen the kids up by his reckoning.
After everyone had left, Harry took the remaining adult guests to the guest house, where he had modified the enchantments to allow only the person who opens a door to open it again, unless they specifically gave permission. The doors were also all different colours and patterns, set by the current mood of the person opening it. It was an easy spell, not even worth calling an enchantment by Harry's standards. This ensured that nobody entered each other's rooms accidentally. He really should have done that sooner.
After everyone was settled, and since it was morning, the bar served juice and light snacks, since people had already eaten breakfast. Jarvis' new Pensieve Tablet was brought out and bound to Charles, who would still be the best person to use this with. The person sharing a memory had to place the tablet against their head while the bound person willed it to extract a memory. There was even a little green indicator to show a memory had been completely extracted.
For the rest of the functions the tablet worked the same as normal and it was a big hit, just like before. Women tended to be more interested in special moments, but Charles thought he saw a future in having people relive the moment their powers activated, especially for those who struggled with control. If they could be made aware of the triggers, then they might be able to start learning how to use them willingly.
When afternoon came, Logan called Harry on the Mirror. "This rainstorm is becoming worse, not better, like it should have. Morale is getting low and I doubt everyone can hear me when I tell them to be careful. I think it's time you took control."
"Will do." Harry said. He concentrated for a moment and then looked at the mirror. The rain was still pouring even if the wind had calmed down instantly. A couple of seconds later the rain simply stopped.
"You could have kept a drizzle going." Logan complained.
"The island doesn't need the water and the children can still get sick." Harry argued. "I'll let it stay overcast for now. The sun will break through just before four PM."
Logan reluctantly agreed. He was still of the opinion that nature should have her way, but even he could admit that she could be a fickle and even downright vengeful bitch. "Fine. Open the portal at four as well. We're already almost at camp. We should be by the third enclosure by then."
"Will do." Harry agreed and closed the connection.
When four PM rolled around, it was a bedraggled bunch of kids that walked through the portal. Harry quickly started pouring the butterbeer, non-alcoholic of course. The kids were enjoying it, but the idea of a long-weekend on a tropical island with tropical storms as the forecast, did not sound like fun to them.
"What do you think?" Harry asked Logan, who seemed his normal self, though slightly more contemplative.
"I'm thinking you have the right idea." Logan said. "I wouldn't mind normally, but I do like seeing them enjoy themselves too."
Harry nodded. "You can go ahead and tell the kids that you arranged it with the sentient island to protect you from the storm." When Logan looked at him strangely, Harry shrugged, "You are the caretaker of these lands. You probably could ask it and it would comply. The children should know that you did it especially for them, though."
"I really hope you are kidding." Logan said.
"No, you really could ask the island to change the weather." Harry said. He was certain of it now that he thought about it. The island's enchantments were all tied together, after all.
"Damn." Logan swore. "I think I may have caused the storm, then." It was Harry's turn to look at him funny. "When the kids complained about the rain I laughed and called it nothing. Told them they could learn from a bit of a storm. That's about when it started getting worse."
Harry laughed and when Logan looked at him in shock, he laughed harder, "Leave it to you to have control of the weather and making things worse when you yourself like the weather to take its natural course." Logan scowled. "Relax, my friend. We don't need to tell the kids you were trying to drown them. If anything this will count as a valuable lesson for them in a controlled environment."
Logan seemed to accept that logic much better than being laughed at. Then he nodded and walked off. He soon told the kids exactly what happened. Logan didn't like lying. Strangely it seemed the kids appreciated the honesty and soon rallied their spirits when food started being served. Nobody seemed to blame Logan, since he was unaware. It spoke volumes of the amount of tolerance that was being taught at the Institute. Harry looked over and saw Charles smiling proudly at the future of their kind.
Just as Harry finished making food, a scene he had not seen in a while occurred. Steve and Beast were racing again and this time it seemed Steve was going to win. They were both covered in mud and skid marks, although Harry assumed it was from slipping. When Beast grabbed a log that formed a natural barrier on the side of the path and tossed it straight into Steve, he thought differently. Steve stumbled and took a couple of seconds to correct himself, which cost him the lead. Steve soon followed suit, but with a large rock thrown at Beast's legs, at speeds that would cripple a normal man, which tripped him up and Steve retook the lead.
Steve finally jumped over the entirety of the pool and touched the counter first. Beast roared for a second, but then straightened up and held out a monstrous hand when he had walked calmly over the bridge to the bar. "Well played, Steven." Beast said. "I did not expect you to trip me into that sandpit. It cost me the greatest lead when I couldn't build up speed quickly enough."
"But if it hadn't been for that you would definitely have won again." Steve argued.
"Wisdom is to learn from your mistakes and true wisdom is to learn from others'." Beast said. "I will learn from this and next time, I'll be learning from yours." he said confidently.
"We'll see about that." Steve smiled. Then he turned to Harry. "Did we miss lunch again?"
"I just finished the last order, so you're exactly on time." Harry said. "What can I get you?"
"I think I'd like the same as we got last time. Burgers with pickles on the side, please?" Steve said. Beast nodded along. Harry waved a hand and cleaned them up, before setting to work on the food. "Thank you." Steve said looking at his once again pristine clothes.
"Indeed, it's much appreciated." Beast said. "You have no idea how difficult it is to get mud out of my fur sometimes."
"No problem." Harry said. "Can I get you a beer, while you wait?"
"I daresay we are rather parched, but I'd like a Butterbeer please." Beast said looking at all the kids. "Though the normal one would suffice." he finished with a wink.
"You do realise I can serve anything non-alcoholic, even alcoholic beer turns back into water if it comes from the tap." Harry said.
"Oh, I hadn't thought of that." Beast admitted. "One beer then, please?"
Harry poured the man a large draught glass of beer and handed him a shot of Firewhiskey on the sly. "Did you place a wager on this race?" Harry asked. Beast did seem slightly more upset than Harry thought he would be.
"Oh yeah." Steve said with a smile. "I almost forgot."
"I had rather hoped you would." Beast said glaring at Harry lightly.
Steve smirked, "Two shots of every-flavour for my furred friend, please."
"You have become cruel since our last race, Steven." Beast complained.
"Are you saying you would have forgotten our bet if you'd won?" Steve asked, daring the man to deny it.
Hank seemed to deflate. "A bet is a bet. I am man enough to admit I would have carried it through, just as I will now."
Harry smirked but complied. It had become a game of dare amongst the Avengers. Thank Tony for that one. He placed the two conjured shot-glasses in front of the man. One of the shots was grass green and the other pink. Tony leaned in close, wanting to see what happened. He really loved this game, though he hated losing at it.
Beast sniffed at the shot glass with green liquid. "I smell nothing." he said.
"That would be correct." Harry said. "It's part of the game. The flavour only emerges when it's in your mouth."
"Let us not delay then," Hank said as he poured the contents into his mouth. "Hmm, it tastes like paint." He looked at Harry, but Harry had the answer ready.
"It's completely harmless and will vanish once it reaches your stomach." Harry said.
"Thank you." Beast said. He eyed the other shot and wondered what it could taste like. What was pink that one could taste? Nothing popped into his head, so he shrugged and downed the next shot. "That's just wrong." he said.
"What is it?" Tony asked excitedly.
"It tasted like the colour blue." Beast said.
"The colour? How can you taste a colour?" Tony asked.
"Wow, I didn't know my magic could do that." Harry said. "I wonder if the other sort is also something I could make?"
"What are you talking about?" Tony asked.
"A synesthetic taste." Harry said. "A flavour that associates itself with a different sense."
"You can do that?" Tony asked.
"Apparently so." Harry nodded. "I once heard of an every-flavour-bean that tasted like a headache."
"A headache?" Hank asked. "Your magical world seems to have ventured down interesting paths of thought."
"I called it insanity myself." Harry scoffed. "Who needs to know the taste of a concept, colour or feeling?"
"Psychopaths." Tony answered easily. "If you could manufacture the taste of empathy, you'd have bottled a cure for psychopathy."
"I doubt a literal taste of something they intrinsically lack would cure their illness, although it is possible that with repeated dosing something akin to true empathy could arise naturally." Charles said as he strolled closer.
"What about sociopaths?" Tony asked. "Studies indicate they were not born with an antisocial personality disorder, rather they lost something due to circumstances."
"I think those cases may be even more difficult." Charles theorised. "A subconscious mind that rejects something it already had, may be more difficult to cure than someone that never knew true empathy to begin with."
"Are your subjects always so intellectually oriented?" a voice asked. Peter Parker had apparently decided to join them. "I hope it's okay that I'm here. I thought maybe you were discussing missions or something."
"Do you really think that's what we do in our downtime?" Steve asked.
Peter just stammered, but the reason became obvious when Harry was tugged by someone. Xamantha had entered the bar and was holding her hands up expectantly. Harry just smiled at her and the twenty Nymphs waiting outside the bar to be greeted.
"Where are the rest?" Harry asked, when he saw Xera at the lead of the troupe.
"These are the ones that won the game of chance to come join you, Lord Harry." Xera explained. "We realise that you have many guests and did not want to impose on your space."
"Don't worry about it tomorrow. The kids only join us in the afternoon, so you are more than welcome to come join us in the morning." Harry said with a smile as he hugged her, with Xamantha on his hip.
"You know you're always welcome." Natasha added from where she was sitting with Pepper and a mirror propped up before them at the counter. Frigga had called when she was made aware of wedding plans happening without her. That would simply not do, so even if she wasn't invited, with so many guests already in attendance, she would not be left out.
"Thank you, my Lady." Xera said with a curtsy before walking to her to hug Natasha as well. When Xera noticed Frigga, she curtsied again. "Queen Mother." she said respectfully.
"Good afternoon Xera, my dear." Frigga could be heard saying. "How is my favourite grove doing this afternoon?"
"The grove thrives as always, Queen Mother." Xera said. "Thy son, Lord Harry, provides us with every necessity and more."
"Not yet." Frigga answered with a hint of humour.
"We could not ask for more." Xera said with a smile as she stepped back to allow another Nymph to hug Natasha.
The Nymphs had formed a line to hug Harry and then Natasha. It had become a tradition and neither Harry nor Natasha could or wanted to break the habit. Harry knew that in the absence of other kinds of physical contact, this was the least he could do to quench their need for it.
"Who are they?" Harry heard Peter ask from behind him.
"They are the Wood Nymphs of New Atlantis." Charles informed him. "They are not hired models."
"Did you just-" Peter started.
"Read your mind?" Charles finished for him. "No, though I didn't need to. Many of my own students had much the same thought the first time they met them." he said. "They are a magical race of tree spirits."
"Spirits?" Peter asked.
"They normally live inside their trees." Charles confirmed. "They have certain abilities that allow for them to influence the growth of nature, specifically plant life."
"And their allure." Harry spoke up after he hugged the last Nymph. "They have a supernatural ability to attract males, besides being beautiful, that is."
"You flatter us, Lord Harry." Xera said with a blush. Praise from her Lord was something they all appreciated.
"Just an observation of fact." Harry said easily.
Thy Nymphs giggled, but soon they were swimming and playing in the pool, while the youngest Nymphs and elves played in the shallow pool. They were never forbidden from the pool areas as Harry liked the atmosphere created by happily playing children. Except for when there was nobody to supervise.
"Why do they call you 'My Lord'?" Peter asked.
"He is our divine Lord and King due to his familial blessings, his personal power and the many gifts he bestows freely on those who reside within his domain." Xera said.
"Please can you stop telling people that?" Harry asked. He didn't like it when she went on about him like that. Her perspective was skewed, too. "From my perspective the land belongs to those who live on it and care for it."
Xera just smiled indulgently. "The fact that he is humble, too, is just another reason why we love him so." she said to Peter in a stage whisper.
"Give it up, Harry." Logan said. "You know they'll never change their minds. At least with you as their benefactor, nobody is taking advantage of them."
Harry had to agree. Some of the things he had seen still angered him to think about, but he was slowly getting over it. Yao's influence was helping, but even she could not stem the growth of support for Harry from his people. Every Nymph on the island thanked Harry for not just their survival, but for the chance to actually live.
The Elves were also finding a strange thing happening among their youngest. They had started seeing the beginnings of accidental magic popping up here and there. This last fact was the reason why Harry was considering building a school on the island. A school for the study of magic. But it would be a few years yet, until that became necessary, since the children in question were still way too young, even if they showed great promise, by having such ability so young.
Harry focussed his thoughts back on the people around him. It was good to see so many people enjoying the atmosphere. The children had finally relaxed after their horrible trip to the camp site and some of them had gone to the changing rooms that the Room of Requirement had become to get something to swim in.
The pool, which had been expanded ever since the occupants of the island had increased, had a steady circular movement going, which one of the mutants had encouraged with their powers. Some of the people seemed to like it as they lazed about and let the water carry them around the large circle.
That's when Pietro asked, "Why haven't you opened the waterslide?"
Harry looked at Pietro like he'd been slapped by a fish. "You know what? It slipped my mind."
As Harry lifted his hand, Wanda spoke up, "It's probably a bad idea to do it now. We're taking the children back to camp soon."
"She's got a point, Harry." Jarvis said. "Perhaps it would be a better idea to wait until tomorrow afternoon, when they return from the hike Logan has planned."
Logan smiled at this, "I like it. We wear them out on the hike and then tempt them with more exercise, climbing the waterslide's stairs."
"I didn't thinking about that." Jarvis said with a smile. Unlike normal people, Jarvis loved it when he forgot something. It proved to him again that he was not just a machine. Harry didn't see that lasting forever. He just hoped Jarvis didn't forget the password to his subconscious or something. Then he'd be stuck being as human as he had wished himself.
Logan took his drink in hand, downed it and stood up. "I suppose it's time to get to camp." he said.
"Should I open a portal?" Harry asked.
Logan thought about it, before nodding. "I'll fly them here in groups, after the hike tomorrow." he said, before smirking. "Those that didn't forget what we taught last time anyway. Those kiddies get to hike here for dinner."
"Be careful of-" Harry started warning, but Logan's look silenced him. "Right. I mean, have fun!" he corrected quickly.
Logan just walked off and Harry turned a Portal on the other side of the pool that would go to the camp. "Hold up Peter." Harry said. "I'll send you after. We still need to talk." Peter nodded and stayed behind, watching the other kids go.
"Harry?" Tony asked.
"You'll see." Harry said.
When everyone had left, Harry let the portal close and looked around as he exited the bar. No sooner had he left it than the observant Elf had appeared to take up the post.
"Come on, Peter. We're taking a ride." Harry said as his carpet appeared next to him already floating in the air. Tony was already with him. Natasha nodded at him when Harry sent her a look, knowing that he was going to discuss something difficult.
Harry took them up and over the island. The sun had just set and the sky still had a warm glow. "How are you enjoying the island, Peter?"
"Me?" Peter asked, apparently surprised that THE Harry Potter wanted his opinion on his private magical island. "Um, it's cool." he tried for nonchalant. He failed, but he tried it anyway, before smiling sheepishly. "Okay, fine. It's amazing! The things Mister Logan was showing us today as we walked was already interesting, but then I saw an actual Unicorn! And a giant Pegasus!"
"It is kind of cool, isn't it?" Harry said, looking out over the island. He spotted one of the Erumpents and flew them closer to see them for himself. The creatures looked up and spotted him, but didn't move otherwise. They just continued grazing. Harry noticed the area they were standing in was growing plants rapidly, to replace what the Erumpents ate. "The big winged horse was known as an Abraxan in my home reality."
"Reality?" Peter asked looking between Harry and Tony. Tony nodded. "You mean you come from another dimension?"
"Another reality." Harry corrected. "I'm no scientist, but I'm almost certain you're universe is part of a multiverse with infinite incarnations of possibility. My home world is outside of that somehow."
"Wow." Peter said as he stared off into nothing and contemplated the consequences of a multiverse. "How is that even possible?" he asked.
Harry wiggled his fingers and replaced Peter's arms with giant crab arms. "Magic." he said, before turning them back quickly.
Peter was freaked enough to scoot away from Harry. "Don't worry, kid. Harry likes shocking people, but he's one of the good guys." Tony said.
"Okay." Peter said still looking between Harry and his arms. "So magic is real? I mean, really real?" he asked. Harry nodded. "What can it do?" he asked despite himself.
"It would be easier to tell you what it can't do and then work our way back to the possibilities." Tony joked. "He's even taught me how to make magic items."
"You mean like that bracelet thing?" Peter asked.
"Do you not have it on you now?" Harry asked with a sharp look.
"Of course not." Peter said. "It's like a badge right? I carry it when I'm Spider-Man."
Harry looked angrily at Tony, who winced, "Yeah, that's my bad." he apologised. "Listen, kid. That is not a badge, it's your safety net. It's one hundred percent magically enchanted by Ghost himself. I should have told you, but you're supposed to always have it on you."
"But what if someone sees it?" Peter asked.
"It will look like a normal armband to them." Harry said. "Or a Medical Alert bracelet. It will look like whatever makes people ignore it."
"Except if you specifically show it to someone." Tony clarified. "Then it will look like it really does." To emphasise his point, he showed Peter his arm and pointed at a spot where a bracelet had just appeared. "All of us Avengers wears them." Tony said, pointing a thumb at Harry, "Even he does. Mister 'I can teleport myself across galaxies in seconds'."
"Really?" Peter asked. "That's really cool. Have you been to the moon? Could you take me to Asgard? What's Thor like?"
"Relax, kid." Tony smirked looking at Harry pleadingly. Harry nodded and turned a portal. "Brace yourself." he said excitedly as Harry transported them to the lunar base. Unfortunately it was new moon, so they were getting a lot of sunlight, but there were still many more stars to see from the surface of the moon than through the atmosphere on Earth. "Welcome to EPI's moon base."
"What?!" Peter jumped up and looked around. "What?!" he repeated and he saw the grass, trees and fountain at the park. "What?!" he said a last time as he saw one of EPI's ships doing a standard patrol, flying by slowly as a pilot saluted them. "How?!" he looked down at the grass not too far down. "Can I?" he asked pointing. Harry started taking them down and Peter took that as permission, jumped down and landed on the soft grass. "This is so cool! I wish I could tell May."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Harry said as he landed next to Peter who was still looking around. Peter froze. He really hoped Harry wasn't suggesting what he thought he was suggesting. "Your aunt is the only person in the world who cares for you, probably more than you care for yourself. I'd be a fool not to suggest you tell her." Harry said.
"We won't force you to tell anyone." Tony said before Peter could object, giving Harry a look. He thought he knew what Harry had planned. "The thing is, secrets hurt everyone. When you keep a secret like this, you're hurting both her and yourself."
"I can't tell May!" Peter objected vehemently. "She'd never let me out of the house!"
"Like she could stop you." Harry said. "And don't look at me like that, you were thinking it!" Peter had just been about to object, even though he knew that if he needed to go, he'd find a way. "Listen, we're not going to tell you how to live your life, but all of us on the team know what it is like to lose someone." Harry looked him straight in the eye, "I know that look, Peter. I carry it with me everywhere I go. I lost my entire world. I can't stop feeling guilty. Even though I know I'd do anything to save them."
"Can't you find a magical way back?" Peter asked.
"It wouldn't matter, kid." Tony said for him as Harry looked off into the distance. "Harry's world died when a monster engineered its destruction. Harry was the only survivor." Tony said patting Harry's shoulder. "He's a bit of an idiot, though, so he blames himself. It's not like he sent the nukes himself. He didn't pull the triggers. He didn't blow up the hospitals. Every one of them died and he feels like he could have saved more of them.
"But let me tell you something; all of us carry varying degrees of that with us." Tony said. "You know my story. You know Cap's story. Do you know Bruce's story?" he asked.
"He was interviewed a couple of years ago and turned into the Hulk on live television." Peter said. "Everyone knows his story now."
It had been Jarvis' idea. While public opinion was still good, it was best to milk it. Once the world knew about Hulk and Bruce, it became infinitely less likely that anyone could do anything underhanded. After all, who would attack or kidnap the man who was their best chance to curing cancer?
"So yes, you know his story." Tony said. "Do you see a pattern forming here?" he asked.
"You're all trying to stop something from happening again." Peter said.
"Exactly." Harry interjected. "Trust us when we say, we're only trying to do that right now. Don't keep this from your aunt. She'll likely ground you for putting your life at risk, but once she sees that you've got a calling she'll just worry that you'll lie again in the future."
"And that knowledge will be like torture to her." Tony said. "She'll blame herself for not knowing, thinking that she should have noticed. Then she'll start thinking you're keeping more from her, whenever you get shifty."
"I don't act shifty!" Peter said, avoiding eye contact and looking rather shifty.
"Look at yourself, kid. You can't even lie to yourself without having ten tells." Tony said. "Do you think your aunt can't see them as well, that she doesn't know them all?"
Peter finally stopped looking away. "I thought you said you weren't going to force me?"
"We're not." Harry said. "We're just giving you the facts."
"On the bright side, if your aunt knows what you're doing, she can't argue with you being paid for it, now can she?" Tony said.
"That won't work Tony." Harry said shaking his head. "You show me a caring parent and I'll show you someone that will tell you to shove your money where the sun don't shine. That might even work against him." he said. "She might decide he's only doing it for the money and get a bunch of extra jobs so that he doesn't need to do dangerous work."
"And then I'll never see May." Peter agreed as he sat down on the carpet, finally starting to see what they were getting at. "Fine. I can see you know what you're talking about, but if I do tell May, I want a bracelet for her too."
"Deal." Harry and Tony said at the same time. Harry continued, "And we'll need the both of you to sign magical contracts. It will protect ours and your secrets, even from mind-readers."
"She also doesn't like Spider-Man." Peter put in.
"Has she ever met him?" Harry asked. Peter shook his head. "She'll change her tune once she sees you in action after she knows. The first time will freak her out, though."
"After that, she'll ask you a million questions, before she starts accepting things." Tony said.
"We can help with that, though." Harry said.
"How?" Peter asked.
"That's for us to know and you to find out." Tony smirked.
"Could we bring May here?" Peter asked with a sudden smile. Suddenly telling her the truth didn't seem like such a bad deal.
"I don't know." Harry said with a hidden smile. "Isn't she at work?"
"What does she do anyway?" Tony asked.
"She's a nurse in the emergency room." Peter answered.
"Oh, that makes things easier." Harry said, having a thought. Aunt May might find herself a recipient of an invitation to come work for EPI. Soon.
"So…" Peter trailed off, before continuing, "Asgard next?" he asked with hope in his voice.
"I'm afraid us 'mortals' aren't allowed on their cloud." Tony scoffed.
"You know there's reason for that right?" Harry said.
"Oh, please. I'm not fragile, and Peter here is probably stronger than most of them." Tony said.
"Still doesn't change the rules." Harry said. "You do know the actual reason right?" he asked not waiting for an answer, "They don't allow normal humans, because your short lifespans would only hurt them when they form attachments." It wasn't strictly true, but Harry knew he was really hoping for a philosophers' stone, so that he didn't have to contemplate the situation he just described.
"You're full of it." Tony said. He knew Harry had just described one of his own fears. He suspected that that was the reason Odin had approved a Golden Apple Tree for New Atlantis. The old man really cared for Harry. "And I'm living forever, so don't go grouping me with everyone else."
"Why do you say normal humans, like you're not one of us?" Peter asked.
Harry looked at him and said simply, "I age very slowly. I'll live a couple of thousand years, so they allowed me in."
"How old are you?" Peter asked.
"Thirty-seven." Harry said.
"You look old, but not that old." Peter nodded, seeming to understand.
Harry cast a glamour on himself and Tony that made them both look younger, while simultaneously aging Peter twenty years. Then he conjured a mirror. "I don't know. I think we look good for our age, right Tony?" he said throwing an arm around Tony's shoulder. They both looked like they were in their late teens.
"Damn! I'm looking good!" Tony said putting a hand on his cleanly shaven face and feeling the beard under the glamour.
"What did you do?" Peter asked looking at himself. "I'm ancient!"
"You're only twenty years older." Harry said. "That's hardly old."
Peter soon caught on when he felt his unblemished face under the glamour with the beginnings of laugh lines next to the eyes. "That was so mean." Peter said.
"Blame Loki." Tony said. "Did Harry ever tell you that he was adopted by the Asgardian royal family?" He walked to Peter and led him through the portal that Harry had just opened to the Island. As they walked Tony told him of a couple of Harry's better pranks in the prank war.
The next day dawned bright and early as Harry and Natasha got up together. She, regretfully, had to go to work. The kids would be going on their hike to the creatures today and Sunday they had off, while Monday was a public holiday and they would be doing their teamwork exercises then.
Harry apparated to the camp and started up breakfast. He noted Wanda was already there, drinking a cup of tea. He smirked and wondered if she had spoken to Darcy. Either way he had work to do. The kids had started stirring and he knew Logan would be there soon to bring the food out.
Pretty soon the kids were sorted and Harry apparated back to the bar, where the adults had started gathering and drinking tea and coffee served by the elves. There were a couple of elves allowed behind the bar now. Harry didn't want to saddle just one guy with the job, in case he got sick, so he'd allowed a small staff to serve as waiters and bartenders, with the proviso that they take enough breaks and never overwork themselves.
As he understood it, there was a lottery for who got to do the job. They then rotated the shift so that everyone got a chance, except for the lucky bartenders who Harry had to allow behind the Bar. They had soon become very popular. Exclusivity breeds demand, after all.
Harry soon had breakfast served and started on another project of his. He allowed the waterslide to appear and then set to work. By the time the kids came back from their trip, much more excitedly than the previous day, Harry was ready for them. He had hidden the waterslide, just like before, and waited to serve lunch first.
Once lunch was consumed, he asked the adults who had seen him work earlier if they wanted to go first. Nearly all of them jumped up to get in line. Harry had not allowed anyone on the waterslide when he was working on it, so they had been left to only trace out the impossible twists and turns and had wanted to give it a try.
Harry led them to where the entrance was and held a hand up to pause them. "Can I have your attention please?" he asked needlessly. The moment the adults moved so excitedly, the kids had all started paying attention. "I'd like to thank you for coming to visit the Island. As a special treat I have decided to provide some entertainment." There were a few scattered cheers. "Allow me to present my waterslide." He said it deprecatingly, like it was a small insignificant thing.
What he revealed left the kids mouths hanging open. The best part was a new feature; an elevator of sorts. You walked to where the stairs used to be and it started levitating you straight up to the entrance of the waterslide. It then deposited you in the stream, already at the right speed, to maximize your experience.
The adults went first and Harry let them go a couple of times, before he unleashed the hoard on the waterslide. Logan soon had a position at the entrance to the elevator, where he made sure too many didn't try to go as a group. Harry had assured him of their safety, but Logan didn't trust all these kids to not somehow find a flaw in the design to exploit, so he dutifully took his post. Scott decided it was a good idea and stood in the water near the exit of the crazy waterslide, to get the children out of each other's way.
The day was another rousing success and Sunday followed a very similar trend, but with kids now flying on brooms and playing quiddich. It technically counted as a team exercise, so Logan didn't argue one way or another. He was playing ref from his carpet. Harry had been disappointed when he realise Logan liked it better than brooms, but didn't argue when he realised Logan probably liked it better because it could carry cargo.
The team that won the game got to get their lunch first as was becoming tradition. Then Logan scurried them off to camp for a night of fun with ghost stories. Knowing he could manipulate the island had given him some ideas, like the mist rolling in just as soon as the fire was lit and everyone was ready.
The rumble of lightning in the distance was a nice touch, Harry thought, from where the adults were watching remotely through a hidden and silenced mirror. The fact that he had enlisted the help of some of the creatures of the island, had made a wonderfully scary effect and Logan had needed to introduce all the creatures who had participated to put some of the younger kids at ease.
The next day Logan had them run drills as teams, having them perform functions that would have everyone perform only as fast as their slowest member. The idea wasn't to frustrate them, even though a lot of them were frustrated by the pace. The teams that did the best were the ones that were better at teamwork and that was what Logan was after.
The morning quickly gave way to afternoon and the kids were all exhausted by the time they arrived for lunch. Physically and emotionally in some cases. Harry had had to admit that Logan was a very good instructor, keeping everyone's strengths and weaknesses in mind before giving everyone their individual group tests. He had specifically designed the tests to push at the boundaries of every member's capability.
When lunch was over Logan informed everyone to go clean up their cabins before they could spend an hour swimming and flying as they wanted. The weekend was at an end and this was their last time to enjoy the island's attractions. Some of the kids had flown off to go spend some time with the Hippogriffs, as they enjoyed the calm, proud creatures' company. They were still a favourite attraction on the island, as Charlie was very welcoming to any of the children he had met before. This scored him big points in their opinion.
Which, in turn, scored those children big points with Harry and Logan. If anyone was going to come work on the island it would be people like those, who truly enjoyed the company of the creatures.
When the time came for everyone to leave, Harry opened the portal, but handed out special X-Men Trainee armbands, which was requested by some of the kids, having seen Peter's armband and wanting to show their pride in their own team. Harry didn't mind. Added protections for the kids was always a good thing.
Everyone said goodbye and left to the institute, until it was just Peter, Jarvis, Wanda and the Avengers on the island. Even Rhodey and Sam had joined them, since it was an official Avengers weekend. There had been quite a bit of interest in meeting the X-Men and visa-versa, as much could be learned through sharing experiences.
"So, Peter." Steve asked. "I hear you want to be an Avenger."
Peter hesitated. "I'd love to, but I think I have some things to get used to first. This weekend taught me that I have a lot to learn." he apologised.
"This one shows promise." Thor enthused. "Learning your weaknesses and coming to accept and improve upon them is a great thing to do. I wish I was wise enough to do so in my youth."
"You're still young, Thor. At least by Asgardian standards." Harry said. "Comparatively speaking, I'm more mature than you are."
Thor smiled at Harry, "That doesn't change the fact that I am older, and so, I'm still the eldest." It sounded like Thor was bragging, so Harry just shook his head with a smile.
Steve took control of the conversation again, "I agree with Thor. You are showing that you have the right stuff and once you are ready, there will be a place for you in the team." Then he smirked, "If you survive high school, that is."
"Yeah, good luck with puberty, kid." Tony joked.
"Don't let him fool you." Harry stage whispered, "He's actually looking forward to you joining our ranks. You should see some of the stuff he's got in mind for you."
"Hey!" Tony objected. "That's a surprise and you know it!" he pouted. Then he turned to Peter and handed him a small parcel. "This is for you. I had Friday fabricate it for you after you told me about the reason for your goggles."
Peter took out a small briefcase, which had been shrunk. "Is this shrunk?" he asked intelligently.
"It will un-shrink itself in an hour." Harry said. "I thought it would be best if you had an easy way to hide it until you could stash it."
"Remember to have that talk with your aunt and let us know when you are ready for her to meet us. We'd love to have all this info under contract." Harry said as he handed him the portkey he had used to bring Peter to the island.
"Are you sure my contract won't activate if I tell her?" Peter asked.
"You are allowed to tell your own secrets, just not ours." Tony said. "Just like we can't tell your aunt about you."
Peter nodded in understanding. He had read the contract, had to actually, but just wanted to be sure. "Okay. I'll be in contact." he said before activating the portkeys' return function.
"He's a good kid." Steve said. "It'll be nice to work with him."
"Don't get your hopes up yet." Harry said. "I'm still hoping we won't need him for a few years."
"You just had to go and say it, didn't you?" Tony asked rhetorically. "Now we'll need him within the year."
"Knowing you, he'll be training with us by next week." Harry laughed.
"So, what's next?" Tony asked.
"Next, I'm getting back to work. It's time to go medieval." Harry said with a vicious smile.