The Consequences
Chapter 8: The Consequences
Tony groaned at the morning light coming through the curtains. He sniffed at the scent of fresh coffee brewing from somewhere in the penthouse. Bleary eyed, he checked the time before dropping his head back down onto his pillow. It was hours before he usually got up, but in all fairness, he did fall asleep early last night, a welcome change from his normal insomnia-driven routine. After his talk with Harry, they sat in silence for a while, neither really knowing what to say, before they parted. The minute Tony got to his room he collapsed into bed, the toll of the last few sleepless days catching up with him.
Pushing off his covers, he sighed, realizing that he wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep now. Dragging his sore body up and into the bathroom, Tony tried to stretch before feeling shocks of pain shoot through his body. He forgot how stiff a full night of sleep makes you, and the fact that he was still one large bruise wasn’t helping. He splashed some water on his face and tried to slap himself awake. Eventually, he made his way into the kitchen, ready to snap at any person who got between him and the damn coffee that woke him up in the first place.
Tony stubbed his toe on the counter in his single minded pursuit of caffeine, cursing out any god he could think of (including a certain blonde one he swore he could hear snoring from the floor above). As he kept limping his way over to the coffee machine, desperate at this point, he heard a choked laugh from behind him.
Whipping his head towards the kitchen table, he saw a familiar mop of black hair. The young man, his son, trying to hold back a small smile as he watched the probably pathetic sight of Tony trying to function before noon.
“Good morning” Tony said, straightening up and running a hand over his bedhead. Harry smiled timidly and made his way over.
“Coffee?”
“Oh god yes.” Tony said, not able to hold back the longing in his voice. Harry laughed as he poured some into a mug (which he didn’t even think he owned but magic), and slid it to him.
Harry looked up at him, slowly sipping his own cup.
“I hope it was alright, that I made some coffee. I tried to find tea but…”
Tony snorted. “You sound like Lily, you should have heard the horror in her voice the first time they stayed over and she couldn’t find a kettle.”
Harry’s smile grew a bit wider at that.
“You know, you remind me so much of Lily, you have her …”
“Eyes… yeah, I’ve heard.” Harry said tersely, a blank look settling over his face. Tony was immediately unnerved. He remembered that blank look Harry had the night before, at the mention of bravery. He was confused by it then, but now looking more closely, under the mask, Harry looked more haunted than numb, as if he were somewhere else.
“Well, I mean, yes… but I was going to say more of the way you act, her demeanor. James was louder and…well a bit of an idiot about most things, like me. Lily definitely knew how to pick them.” He said with a self-deprecating smile. “But she was always a little quieter, fiercer, smarter, more aware of others. You remind me of that.”
Harry looked at him like a deer in headlights. Tony started to panic at the growing silence, he searched around for something to say.
“Yep… but James and I were definitely idiots. Well sort off. I am a genius you know and James definitely had a brain, but then again I saw him somehow make toast inedible once so the jury is still out on that. You would have thought he had never seen a toaster before.”
Tony frowned a little. “Although looking back, he probably hadn’t.”
Harry cocked his head at him, a question in his eyes.
“How did you find out about ma…” Harry started before he was cut off.
“Sir, there is a situation.”
Jarvis cut in, voice as urgent as an AI could muster.
“What’s wrong, J?” Tony asked, both he and Harry jumping to their feet, coffee forgotten. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Harry’s hand twitch towards his back pocket.
“Director Fury and four others somehow entered the building without my knowledge.”
“They apparated in.” He could hear Harry tell him, voice almost at a whisper.
“Sir, they are heading towards you now, I could not detect any weapons on them. They do not appear to be armed.”
“Wizards never do.” Harry mumbled under his breath, before grabbing his wand and producing a silver mist. “Tell Ron and Hermione that we have company.”
If it were any other time, Tony would just bask in the miracle Harry just produced. But now was not the time.
“Jarvis, call the dream team.” He turned to Harry, “You should leave, let me handle Fury.”
Harry’s gaze turned hard, “I’m not leaving you to the mercy of wizards, whether they are with a friend of yours or not.”
“Not a friend, a wildcard. Just for now, leave. I can handle ….”
They heard the chime of the elevator, their heads whipping around, unable to do anything but watch as the metal doors slowly opened.
Fury and four men in long flowing robes stepped off of the elevator, briefly looking around before their eyes landed on Tony and Harry. Harry was tense beside him, wand held tight in his grasp pointed towards the group.
Nick sighed, taking in Harry’s presence with a look of exasperation, “Really, Stark?”
He could feel Harry startle as Fury and another man stepped toward them. The man besides the director was in long dark purple robes, with hints of gold, and carried himself with a sense of power and self-assurance.
“Kingsley?” Harry said, eyes on the second man, who had an almost identical look of exasperation on his face. “What are you doing here?”
Kingsley and Fury shared a look, before he turned back to Harry. “First let's all sit, you can stand down Harry.” Kingley said with a deep, heavily accented voice. Harry slowly lowered his wand, wary gaze never leaving the group and wand never leaving his grip.
They all moved slowly towards the couches, air heavy with tension. Eventually Fury, Kingsley and another sat across from him and Harry, with the other two wizards taking up post behind them. Everyone in the room seemed to be holding their breath, the three men of power looking incredibly out of place on a couch in the middle of Tony’s living room, especially with Tony and Harry currently in their pajamas with shockingly messy hair. What that particular poor couch had been through flashed through his mind, and Tony had to bite back a couple remarks he was sure would not go over well, especially as Fury’s single eye was trained directly on him.
Eventually, after they had stewed enough, Kingsley clasped his hands in front of him. “Harry, Mr. Stark, I would like you to meet President Jackson of MACUSA.” Tony nodded at the third man, while Harry just sat, frozen. The President was in red robes, less cumbersome than his British counterpart, and had a hard look about him, an unyielding expression partially covered by a short, well groomed grey beard. President Jackson nodded back.
“So what brings you to my humble abode?” Tony said, his light tone of voice in direct contrast with the sharp glint in his eyes.
President Jackson clasped his hands. “The three of us have spent the last 24 hours trying to decide what to do about the situation we find ourselves in, and the massive breach of the statute of secrecy that occurred during the battle you participated in.”
Harry bristled. “People were dying, I had friends and family in danger. There are always legal exceptions for life or death situations.”
“Which is why you are not currently in a prison cell, although the option is not yet off the table, despite Minister Shaklebolt’s lengthy objections.” President Jackson cut in, glaring at him.
“Nevertheless, that does not change the fact that magic was used in a very public manner, with no-maj’s across the world tuning in. Good intentions aside, you have put us in a very difficult situation.”
Tony could feel heat flush over his face, and hot anger licked at his insides. Difficult situation!? This man sat there judgmental and unharmed, trying to stare down the teenager who just fought a man’s battle without any help from the president living in the city he saved. Hell, he ignored Tony who almost died redirecting a nuke from his government’s headquarters! “Well, maybe if your government had stepped in at all, he wouldn’t have felt the need to put himself and your people at risk!” Tony said.
“Stark!” Fury cut in, “You are lucky to be privy to this conversation at all. In fact, you and the team are lucky you still have your memory intact, which I fought like hell for by the way, not that I am expecting a thank you!”
“Excuse me?” Said a quiet voice from behind them. The two wizards on guard turned towards the entrance to the living room, wands outstretched. Barton was standing in the doorway, bow out and loaded, with what looked like the rest of the avengers behind him. Barton’s face was pale and his eyes wary, as his eyes trained on the wands pointing at him. The wonder twins were beside him, eyes scanning the situation before them.
“What was that about memories? What the hell have you got us caught up in, director?” Clint bit out. Natasha came up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder, more gently than Tony thought her capable of.
Fury swept his gaze across the lot of them as they piled in, weapons still at the ready. Obviously they were preparing for a fight from the minute Jarvis called them (awww, they got suited up for him and everything! Tony was touched). The director took in the questioning looks from Steve, the caution in Natasha’s eyes, and the utter confusion in the group upon walking in on what appeared to be a civil discussion between Tony, the kid and men in bathrobes.
Fury sighed and glanced at the wizards besides him. “You all might as well sit in, this involves you as well. But just listen for now, you will get to ask questions later.”
“Now, as I was saying…,” President Jackson said, sizing up the team now settling stiffly on the couches around them. Hermione and Ron stood behind Harry, mimicking the guard wizards behind the Minister and President. “We are in a situation. One which we hoped to avoid by staying out of the fight. Now we must decide how to act to protect the sanctity and secrecy of the wizarding world” His eyes glanced towards Tony.
“Why did you wait so long to act, then? Even just to arrest me? Magical governments are not exactly known for their patience?” Harry said, voice cold.
“Because, Mr. Potter,” Fury cut in, “All current intelligence at my disposal, which I have shared with my colleagues here, suggest that people are not questioning your origins at all.”
“You were seen performing magic alongside Asgardians who were also performing magic in the middle of an alien invasion who were utilizing magic as well, at least in the eyes of muggles.” Kingsley cut in. “Who would question an impossible being surrounded by other impossible beings.”
Fury nodded, “All current chatter suggests that people are either assuming you are another Asguardian,” Harry glanced quickly at Thor, obviously making sure he didn’t take offence, but on the contrary Thor was just nodding along, eyes shifting to Harry the minute he looked away.
“or just another enhanced individual. None are looking further. Not even our own government, as I informed them previously that a team of enhanced individuals would be put together as a part of the Avengers initiative. So that's that… for now.”
“Then what is everyone worrying about?” Tony said, frustration rising.
“We are worried Mr. Stark, about keeping it that way!” President Jackson said, face beginning to turn red, fists clenched white in his lap. “Just because no one is asking questions in the immediate aftermath does not mean that there is no scrutiny that will follow. You have no idea the danger that this could pose to the magical community!”
“Boys!” All eyes turned to Natasha, who was sitting calmly next to Barton, stoic, as if none of the revelations coming from this conversation phased her. “That’s enough. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t have some sort of solution. Please get to the point.”
President Jackson’s face contorted with anger, but he took a deep breath before gesturing for Fury to speak.
“The suggestion has been made that Mr. Potter stays on, temporarily, with the Avengers.” Harry’s jaw dropped. “We will state that he is a uniquely enhanced individual, and for the larger public, say that any further background is classified. For those government officials who can’t mind their own damn business, we will play on the fact that he was seen interacting with the tesseract, saying that his powers are an accidental side effect of SHIELD experimentation with the cube.”
“That is why you are not modifying our memories” Natasha whispered. Captain America’s eyes turned to Harry, obviously considering this plan. “You want us to work with you, to help him hide in plain sight.”
“Yes, and with enough of a cover that people would not even begin to guess that there is an entire magical community among them. We will attribute his powers to him alone, just as we have for every other enhanced individual with us.” Fury’s eyes glanced at Bruce.
Steve turned towards the wizards. “Wait, but you guys are magic. You have to have some other solution?”
“Don’t you think we would have already done that if we could?” said President Jackson, scoffing at Rodger’s ignorance. “We are powerful, but we do not have the ability to obliviate on that scale. It has only been done once before, but that was with resources no longer available. Additionally, that was before you no-maj’s mastered recording devices. We cannot use the methods we used to rely on.”
Kingsley began, “All Harry would have to do is to continue to be seen with you, whether at the tower or on missions…”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Tony said, shaking his head. “I have a funny feeling that the Avenger’s are going to have ‘missions’ frequently. You are seriously telling me that you want to send an eighteen year old kid into potential battles, potential warzones?! How can you seriously suggest throwing a teenager into those kinds of fights!”
Every wizard in the room, including Harry, turned to stare at him, like that idea had never crossed their minds. Harry in particular looked confused. Tony did not know whether he was confused because he did not understand the situation in general or that he did not understand Tony’s concern. Tony feared it was the latter.
“And why are you all looking at me like this is some novel concept!” Tony said, nearly yelling at this point. He could see Harry wince.
Kingsley coughed, looking slightly ashamed. “Forgive us, Mr. Stark. I, personally, was against putting him back into this environment but, I can assure you that Harry can handle himself.”
“It’s not about whether he can handle himself or not, I know he can! I just witnessed what he can do but he just shouldn’t have to! He’s barely an adult for Christ's sake!” Tony narrowed his eyes. “Wait, what do you mean putting him back in this environment?”
Harry’s eyes widened as he swiftly avoided Tony’s eyes. Looking at Kingsley, Tony could see Harry give a quick and frantic shake of his head. Minister Shacklebolt nodded subtly and stayed silent.
“Well?” Tony repeated. He knew that something had happened to his son, between the scars, the malnutrition and the way he flinched towards his wand at every noise. There was something else going on, and no one would fucking tell him!
After the silence drew on for a beat too long, the President spoke again.
“Unfortunately, there is no choice involved, this is for the good of the magic community as a whole.” Tony bristled at the obvious dismissal, but he knew he would find out. Tony always did, one way or another.
“Hasn’t Harry sacrificed enough already, for the good of the magic community.” Hermione whispered, speaking up for the first time during this interaction. Her tone was hard and angry, but her expression was scared, as if she was looking for a way out of this, but could not find one, yet. Tony had a feeling that despite her momentary resignation, this was not the last they would hear from her. She did not strike Tony as one who wouldn’t continue to fight for her friend.
At this, even Jackson shifted uncomfortably, “Yes well, that is another reason he is not in a cell right now…but there is no other solution apparent to us at the moment. If you find one, feel free to bring it to us at a later date. For now, I suggest that you and Mr. Weasley return to England.”
“And who are you to tell us to leave Harry!” Ron spat, fighting against Hermione, who was trying to hold him back.
Jackson straightened, “I am probably the only person with the power to tell you to do so, so there will be no more discussion!” Ron huffed in anger but fell silent at Hermione’s prompting.
The President turned back to Harry, who had not said a word throughout this entire encounter and was sitting stock still, staring at his hands clenched tightly around his wand.
“Welcome to America, Mr. Potter. Please arrive at the ministry on Thursday at 10 o’clock for further registration. Now if you would excuse me, I have another appointment.” He said, standing up and apparating away, along with his guard. Tony jumped at the loud crack made as they disappeared into thin air.
Kingsley spoke again, standing quietly, his eyes resting on Harry’s still form. “Harry, I am so sorry… “ He didn’t seem to know what else to say.
Harry sighed, looking up at him. “It’s fine Kingsley… I got myself into this mess. I should be thanking you for keeping me out of prison.” Ron and Hermione scoffed, anger still apparent. Tony narrowed his eyes at the Minister and Fury, who was still sitting.
Kingsley looked pained, “Let me know if there is anything you need…Please take care of yourself, Harry.” Tony watched his son's face close down as he looked away. Kingsley waited for a response for a moment longer, before shaking his head and apparating away as well.
Finally, after all the wizards left, Fury stood. He walked up to Harry and held out his hand. When Harry took it, the Director gave a small smirk.
“Welcome to the Avengers.”