When Magic Meets Iron

Ned Leeds was not okay.

He was so far from okay that he wasn’t even in the same galaxy as okay.

Because Tonight had been insane.

One second, he was just a concerned friend/Brother following Harry, and the next, there was a scary dude in a cloak throwing literal green death lasers, Harry was fighting with a glowing stick, and Ned had somehow—somehow—moved a trash can with his mind.

Which, by the way? Should have been impossible.

But it happened.

He knew it happened because he saw it.

Felt it.

The way his panic had surged, the way his chest had tightened, and then—boom—the trash can launched straight at that terrifying guy’s head.

What. The. Hell.

Ned barely registered when they got back to Harry’s house.

His legs moved on autopilot, his brain overloaded with questions.

Too many questions.

His breathing was getting too fast, his hands were shaking, and he was pretty sure he was about three seconds from a full-blown panic attack.

What just happened?

What was that fight?

What was that stick?

(A wand . Some part of his mind whispers.

He ignores it.)

Why did the scary guy know Harry?

Is it related to Harry's work?

What were those lights?

(Spells the same part of his mind whispers)

What the hell did he mean by ‘Boy Who Lived’?

Was Harry supposed to die?!

His head spun. None of this made any sense.

"Ned?" Peter’s voice cut through the fog.

Ned barely processed that he was standing in the middle of the living room, frozen, breathing too fast.

Peter was watching him with growing concern, and May had that look—the one she got when she was about to go full Mom Mode.

Even little Teddy was peeking at him from behind Peter, big green eyes blinking in confusion.

Then, before Ned could totally spiral, a slender and strong arm wrapped around his shoulders.

"Come on, buddy," Harry murmured. "Let’s talk."

Ned let himself be steered toward Harry’s room, too numb to resist.

He barely registered Harry gesturing at Peter and May, silently telling them to back off.

Peter hesitated but nodded, scooping up Teddy while May sighed, giving Harry a pointed look before letting them go.

The moment the door shut behind them, Ned collapsed onto the bed.

His hands were still shaking.

His mind raced. Harry stood in front of him, looking at him with something between patience and understanding.

Ned opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

And then he just—blurted it out.

"I think I have powers."

Silence.

Harry blinked. Once. Twice. Then, to Ned’s absolute horror, he laughed.

"Okay," Harry said, amused. "That’s one way to look at it."

Ned gawked. "Dude, I moved a trash can with my mind! And you—you were fighting with a glowy stick and that scary guy was throwing death beams and I don’t—I don’t even know what to do with that!"

Harry sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright. First of all, deep breaths."

"I CAN’T BREATHE, HARRY."

Harry rolled his eyes but didn’t push.

Instead, he sat beside Ned, giving him a moment to process.

Ned pressed his hands against his face. "Is this… part of your job? Does SHIELD know you do laser stick fights in alleys?"

Harry chuckled. "No, SHIELD has no idea. And I’d prefer to keep it that way. I'm pretty sure only the director of shield knows."

Ned groaned. "Okay, cool. Cool cool cool. So I just found out you have secret powers and that I might have secret powers, too?"

Harry hummed. "Maybe."

Ned yelped. "MAYBE?!"

Harry sighed. "Look, Ned, I promise I’ll explain. But first, I need you to calm down, alright? You’re not in danger. No one’s coming after you. Just breathe."

Ned tried. It didn’t really work.

But Harry just waited.

Finally, after a long moment, Ned managed a shaky breath.

"Okay. Okay. I’m good. I’m fine. Explain. Please."

Harry studied him, then nodded. "Alright. But just… keep an open mind."

Ned had a very bad feeling about this.

"Harry," he said slowly, "are you about to tell me you’re a Jedi?"

Harry snorted. "Not quite."

Ned sat on the bed, still feeling like his world had just tilted sideways. Ned—somehow—had done something that shouldn’t be possible.

And now Harry was looking at him with the softest expression Ned had ever seen, a mixture of patience and something almost like excitement.

"Ned," Harry started, voice calm but serious, "what happened back there—when the trash can moved—was magic."

Ned blinked. "Magic."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. Real magic. The kind that isn’t smoke and mirrors or sleight of hand. The kind that’s been hidden from the world for centuries."

He paused.

"Do you know if anyone in your family had magic?"

Ned frowned, trying to think. "I mean… my grandma used to say that her grandfather was a magician and that magic flows in our veins, but I always thought it was just bedtime stories."

Harry smiled a little. "It might not have been just a story. If you’re okay with it, I can check for you. I promise it won’t hurt."

Ned hesitated, his heart still racing from the night’s events.

But if there was anyone he trusted, it was Harry. He nodded. "Okay."

Harry lifted a hand, fingers barely moving, and suddenly a warm, invisible force wrapped around Ned.

It wasn’t tight or overwhelming—it was comforting, like being wrapped in a soft, protective cocoon.

It felt like cool freshwater on a hot summer day, like floating on a cloud, but beneath the surface, there was something powerful. Something vast and untamed, like a storm brewing over the ocean, electricity crackling in the distance.

It was Dangerous.

However he doesn't feel threatened.

Instead he feels—

Ned let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. "Whoa… it’s like… safe. It feels safe."

Harry withdrew his magic, looking a little startled.

Then—to Ned’s absolute shock—Harry blushed.

Ned gaped. He had never seen Harry blush before. Not once. And suddenly, he felt an intense, irrational need to protect this moment.

No one is allowed to steal my big brother away.

Ned was also starting to develop a brother complex, and oh, Peter was going to be so annoyed—so much for teasing him.

Harry coughed awkwardly before continuing. "So… I’ve confirmed it. You have a magical core, but you’re what we call a squib. That means you have magic, but it doesn’t manifest in traditional ways and can only be used in certain branches of magic."

Ned tilted his head. "So, like, I can’t do spells?"

"Not the way I do," Harry admitted. "But your magic is attuned to something else entirely. Runes."

(Harry had become awfully sensitive to magic during the war and what he did to check Ned's core gave him a bit of his magics characteristics.

It's like telling apart colours.Though he cannot tell everything just their inclination.Like some might excel in potions while others in blood magic.

He can also feel the core colour—light,dark and neutral.

Every one has both light and dark, the percentage of a colour, the more easy those spells come to them.For example a witch with 30% dark core and 70% light would prefer light magic spells than dark magic spells as it comes easier.Neutral are those who are close to harry, like 46%light and 54% dark. They are very rare and have little trouble with dark or light.True Neutral are extremely rare almost considered non existent if not for historical records.

Ned is inclined towards light with 70%light and 30% dark.

Harry is True neutral.)

Ned frowned. "Runes? Like, Viking runes?"

Harry grinned. With a flick of his wrist, glowing symbols appeared mid-air, hovering in intricate patterns. One pulsed gently before the image of a small bird formed out of golden light, flapping its wings before vanishing in a shimmer.

"Runes are an ancient form of magic that can be inscribed, coded, and activated in different ways," Harry explained. "Your magic naturally aligns with them, which honestly explains why you’re so good at coding. It’s basically modern rune work without magic."

Ned’s eyes widened. "Wait—so you’re telling me that I’ve been doing magic this whole time without knowing?!"

Harry chuckled. "No what you have been doing is not magic but coding is similar to runes so it comes easy for you."

Ned leaned back against the pillows, his brain breaking a little. "Okay, yeah. This is crazy. But also? So cool." 

"what else can magic do?"

Harry smirked and waved his hand.

The air shimmered, and suddenly, the room changed. The ceiling transformed into a moving night sky, stars twinkling above them. Little glowing orbs drifted through the air, casting soft light. With another flick, the orbs turned into tiny golden fish that swam through the air before vanishing in puffs of smoke.

Ned’s jaw dropped.

Harry grinned. "That’s just the simple stuff. There’s a whole world of magic out there."

(Draco: THAT is NOT SIMPLE stuff POTTER!!  *face pams*

Bill:*pats Draco'd shoulder comfortingly* Don't mind him, you know that he's dense when it comes to his power. He has zero common sense when it comes to what a normal wizard can do and cannot do.)

Ned finally snapped out of his daze. "Okay… okay. And Can I see see this world?"

Harry held up a hand. "One step at a time.and it's our world.I’ll give you the basics first. But for now, what you need to know is that the wizarding world is hidden from non-magical people—Muggles, or No-Maj in America. There’s a whole society, government, schools, the works. Teddy and Delphi are also wixen, like me. And magic is the reason I’m able to keep my information hidden."

"Tomorrow, I’ll take you to MACUSA and the wizarding alley here in New York. You’ll get to see everything."

Ned let out a slow breath. "Alright… Alright. This is happening. I have magic. And you’re a literal wizard. And I almost died tonight. But I also moved a trash can with my mind."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, that about sums it up. And you moving the can is called accidental magic which is what it says literally magic done by accident."

"You might be a squib but you still have magical core,so accidental magic is very much possible if it's a life and death situation or if they are extremely terrified or angry. However that magic is still very weak compared to a wixen's accidental magic."

Ned exhaled. "Okay. Cool. Cool cool cool cool cool."

Then he promptly passed out from sheer information overload.

The next morning, Harry stood in the Leeds family’s living room, hands casually tucked into his pockets as he made his case.

“I was thinking of taking Ned out for a bit after school. You know, just a brotherly outing. We’ll be back before dinner,” Harry said with his usual charming ease.

Mrs. Leeds looked between Harry and her son with a small smile. “Well, I trust you, Harry. But you’ll make sure he eats properly, right?”

Ned groaned. “Mom—”

“Of course,” Harry promised solemnly. “I’ll make sure he's safe.”

Ned shot Harry a grin.

After school, Harry brought Ned back to his place. 

Ned, standing beside him, was practically vibrating with excitement. “Alright, where first?”

“First,” Harry said, smirking, “you get to meet the real Teddy.”

When they arrived at Harry’s house, Ned was expecting something cool, but nothing prepared him for the sight of a small boy with bright blue hair and golden eyes beaming at him in the doorway.

“Teddy, meet Ned,” Harry introduced.

Ned blinked.

Then the boy grinned at him, and his hair melted from turquoise to a deep purple before shifting into a dazzling gold.

“Holy—” Ned took a step back, eyes going wide. “what. WHAT IS HAPPENING.”

"DUDE—YO—YOUR HAIR—A—AND EYES—?

Harry chuckled, ruffling the boy’s now-green curls. “Ned, meet Teddy. He’s a Metamorphmagus. He can change his appearance at will.”

Teddy puffed out his chest proudly, his eyes now an unnatural glowing amber. “It’s cool, right?”

“That’s—That’s not just cool, that’s insane!” Ned gawked. “You’re telling me he can do this whenever he wants?”

Teddy nodded enthusiastically, shifting his nose to resemble a pig’s snout before giggling and returning to normal.He briefly morphed into a perfect tiny version of Harry, complete with messy black hair and green eyes before giggling again.

Ned clutched his head. “Okay. Okay. This is so unfair.”

Harry chuckled. “Metamorphmagi are rare. Teddy got it from his mother. He can change his features at will, but it’s tied to emotion. It’s a special ability some wixen are born with.”

“Wixen?” Ned echoed.

“The gender-neutral term for magical folk,” Harry clarified.

Ned was still staring at Teddy, who was now cycling through different hair colors like a neon sign. “That’s so much cooler than moving a trash can.”

Teddy cackled.

“Alright,” Harry said, clapping his hands. “I need someone to watch Teddy and Delphi while we’re out.”

Ned tilted his head. “Oh, May’s not babysitting today?”

Harry smirked. “No need.”

With a snap of his fingers, two small creatures appeared out of nowhere. One had bat-like ears and a wrinkled face, while the other was shorter with large green eyes and a proud stance.

Ned yelped and stumbled back. “WHAT THE—”

“This is Kreacher and Dobby,” Harry said, completely unfazed. “They’re house-elves.”

Dobby beamed. “Dobby is honored to meet Master Harry Potter’s guest!”

Kreacher, meanwhile, gave Ned a slow once-over and simply nodded. “The young master’s friend does not seem entirely foolish.”

“Uh… thanks?” Ned said weakly.

Harry smirked. “House-elves are magical beings that help take care of homes. They’re incredibly powerful and ridiculously loyal.” He glanced at them. “I need you two to watch over Teddy and Delphi while I take Ned out.”

“Of course, Master Harry,” Kreacher grumbled. “The little ones will be safe.”

Ned was still trying to process everything when Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door. “Come on. Time to show you something really cool.”

Their first stop was an unassuming building in the city: Woolworth’s.

“We’re going to Woolworth’s?” Ned asked, puzzled.

“Just watch.”

Harry led him through the doors, past rows of normal customers. But as they approached an old elevator, Harry pulled out a coin, tapped it against the metal panel, and murmured something under his breath.

The entire elevator shifted. The doors shimmered, and suddenly, they weren’t in Woolworth’s anymore.

They were inside MACUSA.

The grand lobby stretched before them, filled with people in flowing robes and tailored suits, moving between floating golden memos. Charmed candles hovered in elegant chandeliers, and large banners displayed various wizarding news headlines.

Ned’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God.”

Harry chuckled, steering him forward. “Welcome to MACUSA—the Magical Congress of the United States.”

Ned spun around, taking it all in. The receptionist, a sharp-looking woman in a dark blue robe, raised an eyebrow as they passed. Her expression turned into shoch and awe as she watched Harry.

Ned was too shocked and taking in the magic to notice.

Harry immediately used magic to change his appearance. His hair became blonde and eyes blue.

At Ned's questions gaze and amazement at Harry's new look and whispered "Wow."He explained." It would be easier this way."

When Ned wanted to question more—

Harry nodded politely at her before leading Ned toward a side corridor. “Come on. The real fun is in the alley.”

Through another hidden doorway, they stepped into what looked like a bustling city street—except everything was magical.

Shops displayed floating books, broomsticks hovered outside storefronts, and cauldrons stirred themselves in apothecary windows. Street lamps burned with soft blue flames, and the air smelled like roasted nuts and something sweet Ned couldn’t place.

“Okay,” Ned breathed. “This is officially the coolest thing I have ever seen.”

Ned quickly forgot about the questions regarding Harry's looks.

Harry laughed. “Welcome to Ilvermorny Alley. First stop—Gringotts.”

Ned barely had time to register the towering, white-marble building before they stepped inside.

The sight of goblins—actual goblins—working behind high desks, counting gold and inspecting enchanted objects, made Ned grab Harry’s sleeve.

“Dude. You never told me there were goblins.”

Harry smirked. “I figured I’d let you be surprised.”

One of the goblins, a sharp-eyed one, looked up. “Lord Potter. A pleasure, as always.”

Ned turned slowly toward Harry.

Harry sighed. “ They can see through my disguise because their magic is different.Let’s just focus on your inheritance test.”

Ned, still overwhelmed, followed Harry to a side desk.

"Business?"

"Inheritance test for Ned Leeds," Harry said smoothly.

The goblin’s eyes flicked up at that, assessing Ned with an unnerving gaze before nodding and calling for another goblin to assist them.

Moments later, they were seated in a private chamber deep within the bank.

A sharp-looking goblin named Ragnok placed a small silver dagger and a parchment in front of Ned.

"A single drop of blood will suffice."

Ned swallowed nervously, glancing at Harry, who nodded in reassurance.

Taking a breath, he pricked his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the parchment.

The effect was immediate. Golden letters swirled across the page, forming intricate, glowing symbols before settling into readable text.

Ned Leeds, of the House of Ardeshir.

Ragnok’s expression flickered with recognition. "Ardeshir… That is a name long thought lost. Your ancestors were renowned rune masters and enchanters, known for their advancements in magical crafting. Their legacy vanished centuries ago after their stronghold was destroyed in a magical catastrophe. Few believed any descendants remained."

Ned’s jaw dropped. "Wait—so my family was some kind of magical geniuses?"

"In their time, yes," Ragnok confirmed. "If their talent still runs in your veins, you may be able to reclaim that knowledge."

Harry explained to Ned. "Rune magic is powerful."

Before Ned could even wrap his head around it, Ragnok motioned for them to follow.

"You have a vault. Not a large one, but enough to contain what remains of your family’s holdings."

The ride down into the depths of Gringotts was an experience all on its own, with twisting tracks and an unsettling speed. When they finally stopped, Ragnok unlocked a small but ancient-looking vault door.

Inside, there were no mountains of gold, but what Ned saw made his breath catch—old tomes with strange inscriptions, enchanted tools, and rune-inscribed objects that hummed with latent power.

He reached out to touch one of the books, feeling warmth beneath his fingertips. "This… this is mine?"

Ragnok nodded. "These are your birthright."

Harry placed a reassuring hand on Ned’s shoulder.

"We’ll go through them together. And I’ll make sure you get books on the basics of magic too, so you can understand everything properly."

Ned, still in awe, grinned. 

Harry led Ned through the bustling wizarding alley, his steps confident but his demeanor relaxed.

Despite the wild experience of Gringotts, Ned was still bursting with questions, and Harry—ever the patient big brother—decided they needed a quiet place before diving into the madness outside.

Besides Ned needs to be fed and watered.

They stepped into a cozy little café tucked into a corner of the alley, its entrance marked by an elegant, floating sign that changed colors depending on who looked at it. Inside, the tables hovered just slightly off the ground, gently rocking like boats on calm waters.

Drinks poured themselves from enchanted kettles, and plates of pastries hovered obediently at a customer’s side, waiting to be plucked from midair.

Ned’s eyes widened as he took it all in. “Dude, this is insane.”

Harry chuckled, guiding him to a secluded table. 

A menu floated in front of them, shimmering as if written in golden ink.

Harry casually ordered a butterbeer and a plate of assorted pastries, while Ned, after staring in amazement, ordered a Chameleon Fizz, a drink that promised to change flavors with each sip.

The moment Ned took his first sip, his face transformed in rapid succession—first pure delight, then shock, then confusion. “Wha—what the heck?! It was cherry, then mint, and now it’s—oh God, is that bacon?!”

Harry laughed. “It’s a wizarding favorite. Keeps things interesting.”

As they ate, Harry explained some of the basics of wizarding society.

Ned listened, enthralled, as Harry spoke about Quodpot (America’s chaotic, explosive alternative to Quidditch.), the differences between MACUSA and the British Ministry, and how wizarding food was often laced with minor enchantments to enhance flavors or effects.

Ned soaked it all in like a sponge, occasionally muttering, “Peter is going to lose his mind when I tell him this.”

When their meal was done, Harry set down his drink and pulled his wand out discreetly.

With a murmured spell, his jet-black hair lightened to a golden blonde, and his emerald eyes became a striking blue.

Ned stared. “Dude. You just went full undercover mode. Again”

Harry smirked. “It helps me walk around without unnecessary attention. Trust me, it’s better this way.”

Ned raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. The moment they stepped back outside, he understood why.

As they wandered through the magical marketplace, Ned started noticing something weird. Harry—disguised though he was—was everywhere.

Huge moving posters displayed different versions of him.

In some, he wore battle armor, his wand raised like a sword, eyes blazing with magic.

In another, he stood like some noble lord from a fantasy novel, regal and untouchable.

One depicted him as a warrior, a commander leading an army. And then there were the toys.

Ned skidded to a stop in front of a shop window displaying Harry Potter action figures.

Tiny versions of Harry dueled each other with sparks flying.

One figure transformed into a magnificent silver-blue phoenix with glowing green eyes. Another had him riding a broomstick, dodging an invisible opponent.

“Oh my God,” Ned whispered. “You have merch.”

Harry sighed. “Unfortunately.”

But the true highlight came when they passed a particularly shady-looking stall.

A vendor in garish robes waved them over excitedly. “You, sir! You look like a man of culture! Interested in authentic Harry Potter memorabilia?”

Harry tensed. Ned, on the other hand, was very interested. “Wait, what kind of memorabilia?”

The vendor beamed and began listing items. “A genuine lock of his hair! A toothbrush used by the Chosen One himself! Bottled air from his greatest battles!”

Ned lost it. He doubled over, laughing so hard he had to clutch his stomach. “Pfft—Dude! Your hair? A toothbrush?! And AIR!!?!!?Who even—” He wheezed, barely able to breathe.

Harry groaned and dragged him away by the sleeve. “This is why I use disguises.”

Ned wiped away tears of laughter. “Man, I knew you were famous from the posters all over, but I didn’t think you were ‘black-market toothbrush’ famous.”

Harry muttered, “Capitalist nonsense,” under his breath, still looking mortified.

As they walked, Ned began noticing more. The way people whispered when they passed Harry’s images. Some looked up at the posters with admiration. Others with reverence. A few with something close to fear.

At one point, he overheard a conversation between two witches. “The Boy Who Lived… Do you think he’ll ever return to England?”

Another scoffed. “The Man Who Conquered has no reason to. He did his duty. He deserves peace.”

Ned turned to Harry. His big brother was a living legend.

They continued through the alley, with Ned occasionally bursting into laughter about the toothbrush incident.

Harry, still red in the face, muttered, “I am never letting Teddy or Delphi hear about this.”

(Even if they will find out about this sooner or later.)

Ned grinned. “Oh, I am absolutely telling them.”

Harry groaned. “You’re worse than Sirius.”

Ned paused. “Who?”

Harry hesitated before sighing. “I’ll tell you later.”

(Harry needs to create an account for Ned just in case.

And if Ned truly wants to learn about magic then Harry needs to meet a certain sorcerer supreme.

After all runes are well and good but it's not safe for Ned to be alone in the wizarding world as a squib.Even if it's better now there is still some people with prejudice.     

It's better for Ned to learn some Mystic arts to protect himself.

However He needs to speak with Ned and his parents before doing anything.

Maybe some time after the enthusiasm and shock has worn off and Ned learns some general knowledge about magic?.)

Harry warned Ned before going back home. "Ned you must not tell anyone about this, I will speak your parents but apart from them no one must know, including Peter."

Ned."But —"

Harry cut him off."I know what you want to say Ned, and yes we know about Peter being Spider-man and it's not fair to keep this a secret from him but this is a must. I never planned on revealing magic— even if I took counter measures in case of a reveal—because it is safer than way. You only got to know about magic because you have it. Anyone not belonging to a wixen's family knowing magic's existence is punishable by law."

Ned looked dejected."oh."

(Although with Harry, Ned can leave scot free, it's better to warn beforehand.)

"You saw my fame Ned, I have enemies that come with it, I don't want anyone to hurt my family which also includes you, my little brother. Besides we can perhaps be able to tell them sometime in the future. This is still new to you so it's best to adjust first. And who knows— both Tony and Peter are smart so they might find out about it themselves."

Ned felt warm at those words and gave a large smile.

"But you must never reveal it yourself."

"okay." Ned nodded.

Harry smiled."good."