Remodeling
Peter:
The next two weeks had been a whirlwind of strange and unexpected bliss. Every morning, Harry would cook breakfast, and we’d sit together with coffee, catching up on the day ahead, talking about everything and nothing. It was the perfect mix of normal and surreal. Some mornings, Hermione joined us, sitting at the table with us, but other times, she’d stay buried in her books while Harry and I went out to explore the city. Draco would visit often, doing business with Harry while Hermione read or gave her thoughts, but mostly, it was just us—me, Harry, and Wade.
At night, we’d head out on patrols. Harry had this way of handling things—keeping everything smooth and controlled. If anything was broken or anyone got hurt, he’d either pay for the damages or use his powers to fix things and alter memories. It was as if nothing ever went wrong anymore. Patrols were faster, smoother, and surprisingly fun. No one got seriously hurt. And for me? My reputation as Spider-Man took a big boost. I was now working alongside Hallow Man, and the papers even started calling us the, “Terrific Trio of Crime Fighting.”
I hated to admit it, but I loved it. Hallow Man was a star, and me and Wade were more beloved than ever!
But still, there was that ever-growing tension between me, Harry, and Wade. Harry flirted with me all the time. It wasn’t just harmless banter; there was something to it, something that made me want to kiss him. The problem was, I liked Wade, too. And Wade liked Harry. Harry seemed to like Wade. It was like a triangle I didn’t know how to navigate, and we all kept dancing around it, teasing, flirting, but never actually doing anything. I guess we were all scared—of making a move, of crossing some line we couldn’t uncross.
Then, things got more complicated.
Tony Stark reached out.
Tony, like a second father to me, had always been there for me. But now, he wanted to meet my new partner in crime—Hallow Man. My stomach flipped at the thought. I hadn’t even told Harry this yet, and it was already making me nervous. It wasn’t just about meeting Tony—it was about everything that came with it. If Tony met Harry, then that meant... well, a lot of things. Things I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
That morning, as we gathered around the breakfast table, I finally brought it up.
“Hey, Harry,” I said, trying to sound casual, but my voice betrayed me. “Tony reached out. He wants to meet you.”
Harry raised an eyebrow over his coffee. “Tony Stark, huh? Well, tell him I’m ready to charm him with my dashing good looks and mysterious vibes.” He shot me a teasing smile.
Wade, who’d been eating his usual unholy amount of chimichangas, chuckled. “Yeah, Harry, you’re definitely gonna impress the big guy with that attitude.”
I let out a breath. “No, seriously. He’s... like a dad to me. And now you’re my partner, and he’s gonna want to know everything.”
Harry leaned back in his chair, nonchalantly twirling his coffee cup. “Well, that’s gonna be fun. Everything, huh? Should I prepare a backstory, or just go with ‘I’m a mysterious dark hero with a complicated past’?”
Wade grinned. “I think you should go with that. Throw in a couple of brooding stares, and Tony will be eating out of your hand.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, but the nervous energy still buzzed inside me. “I’m serious, Harry. Tony’s really gonna want to know everything. I can’t just show up with him and be like, ‘Hey, here’s my buddy, Hallow Man. Don’t mind the whole mystery thing.’”
Harry chuckled, pushing himself up from the table. “Don’t worry, Pete. I got this. It’ll be fine!”
I was still a bit worried. But I nodded, even if I wasn’t fully convinced. “Yeah, but you have to understand, Tony’s not just some guy. He’s...” I trailed off, unsure of how to put it. He wasn’t just a friend. He was family.
Wade, ever the wildcard, interrupted. “Oh, come on, Pete. If Tony doesn’t like Harry, we can always just... I don’t know, throw him off a building or something.”
I shot Wade a glare. “We don’t throw people off buildings, Wade. That’s not how we do things.”
Wade shrugged dramatically, grinning. “Hey, it’s a suggestion.”
Harry smiled, then gave me a reassuring look. “Don’t worry, Pete, seriously, it’s gonna be fine. Is Hermione invited?”
I contemplated but Hermione was sweet and charming, and I figured it would be a good idea. Tony wasn't fond of Wade, so anything to distract him. “Sure! I'll tell Tony to expect one more.”
“Great! Let’s go get some sightseeing in before Tony starts grilling us!” Harry exclaimed.
I nodded, trying to push down the anxiety. But as we left for the day, my mind kept drifting back to Tony and what that meeting would mean.
When we returned later that day, Hermione was lounging on the couch, still reading, her head hanging off the side. She greeted us with a kiss on each of our cheeks, her usual sweet smile on her face. “Welcome home, boys,” she said, giving Harry a hug. “How was the statue of liberty?”
Harry leaned in, kissing the top of her head. “Amazing,” he said, his voice full of excitement. “we had so much fun!”
Hermione smiled up at him. “I’m so happy to hear that.”
I sat down next to Harry, shoulder to shoulder, still trying to shake off the nervous energy from earlier. Wade plopped down across from us, his usual grin plastered across his face. “So, when are we meeting tony?”
“At 7 for dinner in Stark tower.” I said nervously.
Wade raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Ooooh, fancy. Should I wear a tuxedo, or is this a ‘don’t dress up too much’ kind of situation?”
Hermione shot Wade a playful glance. “Please, Wade, we’ll be lucky if you even show up dressed at all.”
Wade mock gasped. “Hey! I have standards! Well, sort of.”
I chuckled, but my nerves were still buzzing in the background. Meeting Tony Stark was making me jittery, and I couldn’t help but feel the pressure to impress him.
“Great, what should I wear?” She asked.
“Wear that green dress I got you that I love, it matches my eyes and I'll wear my green silk shirt Draco got me from Paris last summer,” Harry answered. “That’ll match, don’t you think?”
Hermione beamed, already heading to her room. “Perfect! I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
As she dashed off, Wade turned to me with a smirk. “Green silk shirt, huh? I didn’t take Harry for the fancy type.”
“Hey, it’s Draco’s idea, not his,” I said, trying to ease the tension in my chest.
Wade rolled his eyes. “Sure, Peter. Whatever you say. But you know, you’re the one who’s nervous about Tony. What’s the real deal with him, huh?”
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “Tony’s like a father figure to me. I’ve known him for years now. He’s... intense. He’s always got his eye on the big picture, and he doesn’t really hold back with his opinions. But he’s not all bad. I just— I want him to like Harry.”
Wade’s grin softened for a second, a rare moment of seriousness from him. “Relax, buddy. Tony’s gonna love Harry. He’ll probably think he’s a breath of fresh air. And you’ve got this. Don’t worry so much.”
I gave him a tight smile. “I hope you’re right. I just— I really want everything to go well.”
Wade gave me a thumbs up. “Well, whatever happens, at least we’ll all have a good time. And if Tony gets weird, I’ll make sure to distract him with my charm. Works every time.”
I laughed, feeling the tension ease up just a little. While Hermione got ready, I quickly grabbed a clean shirt and some jeans, always feeling a little underdressed in comparison to Harry and Hermione. Wade also put on a clean shirt and jeans, looking as usual, but at least he wasn’t wearing his usual mismatched chaos.
Then Harry emerged. My breath caught in my throat. He was wearing a very expensive-looking green silk shirt that shimmered slightly in the light. His black trousers were crisp, pressed, and perfectly tailored. He had black dress shoes that added an extra touch of elegance and a black belt with gold accents that matched his gold watch. His lip ring was gone, and his tousled hair made him look sophisticated and effortlessly handsome without the usual beanie. He looked gorgeous, like a completely different version of himself—like he belonged at some high-profile gala, not running around with the rest of us.
Hermione came out next, and I couldn’t help but stop and stare. She looked radiant in a green dress that hugged her waist and flared out just below. The transparent bell sleeves with green cuffs gave the dress an ethereal look, and the gold jewelry she wore to match Harry’s made her look even more stunning. They both looked like they stepped straight out of a magazine cover.
“Alright, ready?” Harry asked, turning to us.
I quickly pulled myself together and nodded. “Tony called a car,” I said, still feeling like I was in a completely different league.
Harry’s smile was charming as always. “That's sweet, but I'd prefer we still take mine. Magical cloaking so we can't be followed at all…tell him I handled it.”
I sent Tony a quick text about the change in plans before we all piled into Harry’s car. I felt ridiculously underdressed, but Harry sat beside me, reaching over to stroke my hand reassuringly. I instantly calmed down a little at his touch, but the nerves were still there, bubbling beneath the surface.
When we arrived at Stark Tower, I took us up to the penthouse, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was about to faint from the sheer magnitude of introducing the guy I was crushing on to Tony Stark and the Avengers. But Harry seemed so at home here. He walked up to Tony, extending his hand with a smile.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Stark,” he said in a voice I never heard him use before. “Harry James Potter. You probably know my alias—Hallow Man. And this is my lovely companion, Hermione Granger, my sister in all but blood.”
Hermione smiled, curtsied gracefully, and held her hand out to Tony who kissed the back with a smile. She then walked over to Steve. “Hello, Steve. Nice to see you again.” She curtsied again, and Steve, looking somewhat surprised, kissed her knuckles.
Tony took in Harry’s appearance, sizing him up with a raised eyebrow. “A little young to be a superhero, huh?” he said, clearly intrigued.
Harry laughed—a smooth, practiced laugh that seemed to disarm everyone in the room. “It’s a long story. Peter said you’d want to know it, and you’re important to him, so I’ll explain everything. But we should sit down, so I only have to do it once.”
Tony, clearly curious, nodded and led us all into a sitting room. Harry seemed to settle in, taking a deep breath, and suddenly looked poised—like he was running a business meeting.
“Alright, first of all, hold all questions to the end,” he said, his voice calm and confident. “This is going to be a long story, and I know my lovely companions are tired of hearing it,” he joked with a chuckle. “First off, wizards and witches are real. We have laws that prevent this knowledge from getting out, but I’m within the law to share that with you all.”
My heart skipped a beat. This was it—Harry was about to lay it all out. I had no idea what he was going to say next, but I knew he was really trying to make a good impression if he was going through this all for me.
“My story starts before I was born, with a prophecy,” Harry continued. “But first, I need to explain the First Wizarding War…”
He told his entire backstory, everything from the moment he learned he was special to his battle with Voldemort. He talked about how he became the Master of Death, and how he killed Voldemort. There were things I didn’t even know—like how Harry had managed to pull off all the impossible feats, how he fought in wars beyond what I could even imagine, and how he’d come to be the hero he was now. Fighting a basilisk at 12!
By the time Harry finished his story, I was sitting there, wide-eyed, and Tony was silent for a moment, almost as if processing it all.
“Well,” Tony said, his voice a little softer than usual. “That’s one hell of a story, kid. You definitely don’t do things by halves.” He paused and looked Harry over. “So, you’re staying in New York or going home?”
I froze. I hadn’t even thought about it. Of course, Harry had a life back home, with everything in the Wizarding world waiting for him. But he seemed so at home here, too. I wasn’t sure if he was just visiting or staying for good.
Harry chuckled softly, clearly sensing my hesitation. “Honestly, I’ve discussed it with Hermione and my financial advisor, and we’ve purchased a few homes here in New York already. Hermione has arranged for travel so she can still work from here, so we’re planning on staying.” He gave me a sidelong glance. “I think I’ve found a place here. Peter, isn't getting rid of me anytime soon.”
I blinked, caught off guard. It hit me like a wave, and I couldn’t help but smile. Harry and Hermione were staying. They were here. For good.
Tony raised an eyebrow but smiled slightly, clearly impressed. “Well, welcome to New York, then. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to talk shop.”
I exhaled, my nerves finally settling as I realized that everything was going to be okay. Whatever came next, we’d face it together. After the talk we all moved to the den and I grew anxious again knowing everyone would be grilling Harry.
But Harry moved through the group of Avengers like a seasoned professional at a networking event. It was as if he’d been doing this his whole life, handling each conversation with care and ease, and it wasn’t long before everyone was entirely charmed by him.
Harry made his way over to Bruce with the same easy confidence he’d had all evening. They were already talking shop when Bruce, his curiosity clearly piqued, hesitated for a moment before asking, “Would you, uh… ever consider letting me run some tests? You’re kind of a unique case, and I’d love to—”
Before he could finish, I groaned. “Harry, you don’t have to do that. Trust me, Bruce can get a little... carried away.”
But Harry just waved me off with a smile. “Of course, Mr. Banner. It would be an absolute honor. Wizards don't use much technology, you may be able to tell me more about myswlf than I already know!”
Bruce’s eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. “Really? That’s—wow, thank you! I’ve been working on some new things, and with your abilities—”
Harry nodded along, clearly excited to see what Bruce had in mind, while I stood there still slightly amazed at how Harry could be so calm and enthusiastic about something like that.
From there, Harry drifted over to Natasha, who had been watching from the sidelines, as she always did. She was her usual cold and distant self at first, arms crossed, offering only short, clipped responses. But Harry didn’t seem fazed in the least.
He struck up an awkward conversation and then he seemed to breach her walls. “Being an orphan shaped me in ways I’m still trying to figure out,” he said, his tone soft but thoughtful. “My parents died because of a war. Everything I’ve done since then has been to make sure I live up to the sacrifice they made.”
Natasha’s guarded expression faltered for a moment, her gaze softening as she looked at him. “With your whole story being so full of magic and battles I forgot you were an orphan,” she said, her voice more curious than distant now.
Harry nodded. “Yeah, I was raised by my aunt and uncle, but... I was always alone. Never really had anyone, not until much later.”
Something shifted between them. Natasha, always the hardest to crack, seemed to relate to him in a way that surprised even her. “I grew up the same way. No family, not really.”
“Sounds like we’ve got a lot in common,” Harry said with a gentle smile.
They started talking, and somehow, despite Natasha’s usual cold exterior, Harry managed to bring out her lighter side. By the time they were done, she was actually laughing. I couldn’t believe it—Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow herself, laughing.
It wasn’t forced or fake either. She genuinely seemed to enjoy Harry’s company. Harry further surprised me by speaking to her in Russian! By the end of it, she even gave him a small, approving smile. “You’re alright, Potter,” she said, and it sounded like high praise coming from her.
Harry just grinned. “You too, Romanoff.”
Watching Harry work his way through the Avengers, making connections with each of them in his own way, was nothing short of impressive.
As the night wore on, Harry found Steve and Hermione talking quietly in the corner of the room. He bumped into Steve, appearing a bit flustered but I suspect it was an act, and quickly apologized. “Sorry about that—and thank you, by the way, for saving Hermione the other night.”
Steve waved it off with a humble smile. “It was my pleasure. She’s a tough one, but everyone could use a hand now and then.”
Harry grinned, his gaze softening as he looked at Hermione. “She really is something, isn’t she? Beautiful, smart, always two steps ahead of everyone.”
Steve nodded in agreement, his eyes flicking to Hermione with respect. “She’s remarkable.”
Hermione, ever the modest one, blushed under their praise. She giggled, but somehow managed to look effortlessly sophisticated, as if the compliments were merely a part of the conversation.
Harry and Steve’s talk naturally shifted, and soon they were bonding over how overwhelming modern technology could be. “I can’t stand it sometimes,” Harry admitted. “There’s just so much of it. Makes me miss the days when things were simpler.”
Steve chuckled. “I hear you. I’ve been playing catch-up since I woke up. Some of it’s useful, sure, but it’s exhausting.”
After their conversation, Harry meandered back to Tony, who was deep in thought, tinkering with something on his phone. Harry didn’t miss a beat, jumping in to ask Tony about the latest in technology. Tony, unsurprisingly, lit up at the topic and started rattling off about his latest innovations, theories, and projects. Harry nodded along animatedly, showing genuine interest, his enthusiasm matching Tony’s.
When he moved over to Clint, the shift in conversation was seamless. Harry, being the charming and thoughtful person he was, immediately asked about Clint’s kids. It wasn’t long before they were swapping stories—Clint about the antics of his children, Harry about his own experiences with the young witches and wizards back home as a professor. Clint seemed thoroughly impressed, laughing and nodding as they spoke, clearly enjoying the easy conversation.
By the end of dinner, Harry had managed to win over everyone. He was effortlessly charming, respectful, and kind, with the ability to adjust his approach depending on who he was talking to. It was remarkable to watch.
What really amazed me, though, was how Harry handled Wade. The first few times Wade cracked his usual crude jokes, Tony’s annoyance was plain as day. But somehow, Harry stepped in with a quiet word or a meaningful glance, and before long, Wade was... making small talk. Normal small talk. I could hardly believe it, but Wade was actually toning it down for once, discussing things like recent missions and even asking Clint about archery techniques.
At one point, Tony leaned back in his chair during dinner and shot me a look, eyebrow raised. “You know, I gotta say,” he started, “Wade’s been surprisingly... tolerable tonight.” He gestured at Harry with his glass. “I think we’ve got him to thank for that.”
Wade grinned, leaning over to Harry. “Look at that, babe. I’m getting gold stars for being on my best behavior.”
Harry laughed, clapping Wade on the shoulder affectionately. “You’re doing great,” he said softly, and the fondness in his voice was enough to keep Wade beaming for the rest of the night.
Tony, clearly impressed, nodded in agreement. “I’ve seen the reports, too. You’re keeping him in line on the streets, Harry. That’s no small feat. You’re doing good work.”
I watched as Harry took the compliment in stride, smiling humbly. “Just doing my part,” he said, glancing between me and Wade with a knowing look. “We all have to watch out for each other.”
By the end of dinner, it was clear—everyone was eating out of the palm of his hand. Whether it was through charm, intellect, or empathy, Harry managed to connect with each of the Avengers in a way that felt personal and genuine. He was... impressive, and it left me both proud and a little awestruck. Even Wade seemed more composed than usual, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for how Harry navigated everything so flawlessly.
As we stood to leave, Tony clapped Harry on the back. “You ever need anything, kid, you let me know. New York’s lucky to have you.”
Harry nodded, his smile polite yet warm. “Thank you, Mr. Stark, I’ll keep that in mind.”
As we walked toward the exit, I couldn’t shake the feeling of pride that swelled up in my chest. Harry had managed to win over some of the toughest heroes I knew, and effortlessly. He was beyond impressive.
Once we got back to the car, Harry let out a long breath, his posture finally relaxing. He’d been holding himself up like a statue all night, but now his shoulders slouched, and the tension melted away. Hermione immediately collapsed against his side, giggling softly. Harry leaned back and told the driver, “Back to the hotel. I need to get into some comfy clothes.”
Hermione laughed, her head resting on his shoulder. “Me too. This dress is way too stuffy.”
Harry grinned and pulled out a cigarette, cracking the window as he lit up. I couldn’t help but shake my head, saying, “That was impressive back there.”
He scoffed, exhaling smoke out the window. “I’m a politician, mate. Shaking hands and kissing babies is what I do. They’re important to you, so I made sure we left a good impression. But Merlin’s beard, it’s exhausting.”
Hermione chuckled, patting his arm. “Dray would be proud of you, though. You acted like a true pureblood at one of those fancy galas he drags you to.”
Harry groaned dramatically. “Don’t remind me. I’m grateful for the baby—gives me a reprieve while Draco’s busy playing the doting father.”
Wade, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during dinner, chimed in, “You’re kinda like a chameleon, the way you just fit in. Everyone liked you! Tony usually hates me, but you had him eating out of your hand!”
Harry blew out a puff of smoke and shook his head. “That’s not true. Tony doesn’t hate you. He’s just worried about your influence on Peter. He’s afraid your recklessness might get him killed one day, but he doesn’t hate you.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious. “How do you know that?”
Before Harry could answer, Hermione spoke up, resting her head against him. “Harry’s good at reading people. He knows what they want to talk about, how to open them up, and what they’re afraid of. It’s a skill that works well in business meetings and networking.”
Harry chuckled softly. “I’m just glad it went well. You seemed smitten with Captain America, though. I’ll admit, the man’s got charm. But if he hurts you,” he added with a grin, “I’ll make sure he wishes he’d stayed frozen in that iceberg.”
Hermione kissed his cheek, laughing. “Of course, dear.”
I couldn’t help but laugh too, finally feeling the tension of the evening ease away. Tony liked Harry, more than I could’ve hoped. He’d even made a passing comment about bringing Harry on as an Avenger one day. The night had gone far better than I’d expected.
The rest of the night passed quietly, and the next morning, I headed back to my crappy apartment, expecting the same old dreary space. But when I stepped inside, I was stunned. It was gorgeous. The outside of the building still looked run-down, but inside? Everything was beautiful—quaint, modern, and sparkling like it had just been renovated. It didn’t feel like the same place. Everything looked brand new, and the space seemed much bigger than it ever should have been, almost like magic. My neighbor, Ms. Walsh, passed by in the hallway, and I quickly asked her what happened. She smiled and said, “New owners, sweetheart. They’ve done a complete overhaul of the building.”
I practically ran up the stairs to my apartment, heart racing with excitement and curiosity. When I opened the door, I was greeted with the most unexpected sight: my apartment was transformed. It felt larger, brighter, and every detail had been meticulously upgraded. The decor even reminded me a bit of Wade’s place—modern but comfortable, stylish but not overdone. It was perfect.
After showering and getting changed, I headed back to the hotel to meet Wade. When I saw him in the lobby, his expression mirrored mine—surprised and impressed. “My whole building was mysteriously remodeled,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
I nodded. “Same with mine. Everything’s brand new.”
We took the elevator up to see Harry, and as usual, he was sitting with Hermione in his lap, the two of them deep in conversation with Draco about business. I interrupted, unable to hold back my question any longer. “Harry, did you buy my building?”
Harry looked up, feigning innocence with a playful smile. “Did I? I have no idea where you live. I told you I bought property.”
I crossed my arms. “Yeah, and my building is one of them, right? What’s going on?”
He leaned back casually, shrugging. “Like the changes? I figured you’d appreciate a better place.”
I sighed. “Harry, the people in that building can’t afford a rent hike.”
Harry waved it off. “I know. I’m keeping their rent the same—grandfathered in, really. New tenants will pay a premium, but the old ones? I’ve actually lowered some of their rents.”
Draco grumbled from across the room. “Against my advisement, I might add.”
I blinked, surprised. “You... lowered the rent? Why?”
Harry smiled, almost too casually. “Well, because I’m a kind landlord. And some of them are on a fixed income! And, actually, you don’t pay rent anymore anyway. You own that unit.”
I froze. “Wait, what?”
Harry chuckled, nodding toward Wade. “Same goes for you, Wade. Neither of you pay rent. You own your apartments now. Do whatever you want with them—keep them, rent them out, it’s up to you.”
Wade raised an eyebrow. “You’re serious?”
Before Harry could answer, Draco cut in, looking a little exasperated. “Harry, which house are you and Hermione moving into? You bought six, and you’ve been avoiding that decision.”
Harry smirked, glancing at Hermione. “It’s up to her. One is hers, one is mine, one we share. The other three are safe houses. She can pick tomorrow.”
Hermione grinned and said, “I want the one by Central Park.”
Harry nodded. “Alright, that one’s yours. I’ll take the one closest to Peter and Wade—you know, for superhero lessons and such.” He winked at me.
Hermione added with a thoughtful expression, “I’ll pick one for us to share tomorrow, and we can leave the rest as safe houses.”
Harry nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a plan.”
I stood there, still processing everything, feeling like my world had been turned upside down—in the best way possible. Owning my own place? Harry and Hermione settling in New York? Everything felt surreal, but in that moment, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. My life, which had once seemed so chaotic and uncertain, was slowly falling into place, thanks to Harry and his generosity.