Tony Stark becomes his worst nightmare
Chapter 4: Tony Stark becomes his worst nightmare:
Albus and Sirius went back to MACUSA after saving Tony’s life, or at least limit the damage as best they could. There, Dumbledore decided to contact Newt Scamander’s son, Jacob Scamander. He was working, with his father, in the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. As his father, he worked in the relatively new Division of Endangered Species Safety. This division, created after President Seraphine Picquery realised the value of Magical Creatures when Newt Scamander used his Thunderbird to erase the muggle’s memory after the New York Obscurus incident of December 1926.
When they got to his office, Jacob was already waiting for them with tea prepared, an old habit he picked up from his father.
“Jacob, it is good to see you again after so many years.” said Albus. Since the war with Voldemort, Albus had to stop his visits to the Scamander family, for two main reasons. One, he could not be away from Hogwarts for fear Voldemort would strike in his absence, and as for the second reason, Newt had made himself a name when fighting against Grindelwald. He did not want Voldemort to strike against a renowned magizoologist who on top of everything had experience in bringing down powerful Dark Lords like Gellert or Tom.
“It is good to see you too, Albus. If you don’t mind introducing me to this gentleman?”
“Oh yes! Jacob, this is my ex-student and fellow comrade of the Order of the Phoenix, Lord Sirius Orion Black, Lord and Head of the Most Ancient and Noble Black Family. Sirius, this is Jacob, whom I have already talked to you about”
“Pleased to meet you Mr. Scamander” said Sirius, sporting a tired smile. They had not rested since before finding Harry, and while Albus may have been accustomed to run with little energy in his body, Sirius was still used to the lazy mornings of staying in bed with his partner of the week.
“Likewise Lord Black, please have some tea, I believe you need it” Jacob had heard the recent developments happening in Britain, and by their faces, Sirius and Albus had been in the thick of it.
“So Jacob,” said Albus “What can you tell us about what is happening here in New York? We have just stopped whom I believe to be Tony Stark from falling from the literal sky!” Albus was still in shock about what he had seen today, and he had to thank Sirius quick thinking, or else they would be back to square 0 when it came to the blood wards.
“Well, to make a long story short, it seems Loki, Norse God of Lies, has decided to make Earth his new kingdom. To do so, he has employed an extraterrestrial army of, I believe they are called, Chitauri. They have been wreaking havoc in New York all morning. To stop Loki, S.H.I.E.L.D Director Nicholas Fury has created “The Avengers” a group of “superheroes” to stop him. Amongst this group you can find Tony Stark, who you have previously mentioned, and Captain America, whom I believe you met in the past, didn’t you Albus? Jacob said in a nonchalant manner. As MACUSA had wards to protect them against any type of harm, especially since the 9/11 attacks, he was not very worried about any possible danger. MACUSA protocol only stated that workers should remain inside the wards of the building.
“Well, Albus, it seems we now have seen it all. In one day we have seen the death of a Dark Lord and the arrival of a Norse God with his army, coupled with the fact that Captain America is back amongst the living!” Sirius was going into shock, and this morning had not helped.
“Yes, I am afraid you summarised it well my boy… I suggest we take shelter here at MACUSA or at a Magical Hotel before we approach Tony” Albus decided that the best course of action was to wait a few days for the whole excitement of the battle to die down before turning Tony’s world upside down.
“Well, Jacob, can you tell us how your father is?”
New York City, Mid-November 2001:
Sirius and Albus had been staying in a magical hotel linked to MACUSA for the past week. They had decided to stay due to the fact that going through the hassle of the International Floo was not worth the couple of days staying in London instead of New York. So, when The Avengers announced a press conference, they took that as a sign that things were beginning to go back to normal.
So, they got indications to the now baptised “Avengers Tower” and headed out to talk to Tony. They got there when the press conference was ending and the team was leaving. Sirius, in his usual fashion, decided to send caution to the wind and scream “ANTHONY STARK? WE COME FROM LILY!”
At that, Tony suddenly grinded to a halt, causing Steve to crash into him.
“HAPPY!” screamed Tony “Bring these two horribly dressed people to the penthouse!” he could not believe 2 english people screaming Lily’s name after the Battle was a coincidence. Plus, he had not heard from Lily in months, so that could be related.
Happy Hogan, bodyguard to Tony Stark, broke through the crowds and escorted Sirius and Albus to the service elevator. Once they reached the Penthouse, Happy took them to Tony’s laboratory, where in case of an emergency his armours could defend him and others.
Tony was already waiting there, with an armour in sentry mode behind him acting as a bodyguard.
“Well, how do you know that name?” Tony was still surprised that anyone knew Lily and could make the connection to him. He had always persevered to keep that side of him as private as possible, in the hopes that they would not follow and annoy them.
“Tony Stark? I am Sirius Black. I was the best friend to James Potter, Lily’s husband.” Sirius said with a saddened voice. Although a week or so had passed, his sadness had not gone away nor had it diminished.
“Lily married?” said Tony in shock “Wait. What do you mean “you were the best friend”? What happened to them?”
“Oh, you don’t know?”At that, Sirius had to step away, and he let Albus explain what happened. He still could not explain what happened without bursting into tears, and explaining it to Tony required a little bit of coldness.
“My dear Mr.Stark, I am afraid that as of today it has been a week and a half since James and Lily Potter died attacked by Dark Lord Voldemort, leaving behind their one-year old son Harry Potter orphaned.” Dumbledore said with misty eyes. Although he did not show it, he was incredibly saddened by the deaths of his friends.
“What do you mean? Lily is DEAD?” Tony felt his knees weakened and had to rely on his sentry armour to stay upright.
“Yes, I am afraid she is. We have come not only to deliver the sad news, but to ask for your help. I see from your reaction that you at least knew that Lily was a witch?” Albus was not shocked about the fact that Lily had told her cousin, after all if her sister knew and hated her, teenage Lily might have needed someone to confide in that was her age.
“Yes, she told me during the first summer I spent with them in Cokeworth, and her letters during the years covered her magical life. The last one told me she was seeing this guy Potter.”
“Well, they had to go into hiding due to the fact that, at the height of the conflict against Voldemort, she became pregnant with now orphan Baby Harry. At the same time, a seer pronounced a prophecy citing that the baby born as the seventh month dies would have the power to defeat said Dark Lord. Harry was born, coincidentally on July 31. Voldemort attacked the Potter’s cottage and killed James and Lily in order to end Harry’s life. But, as you may know better than us, Lily was always one step before anyone else. She invoked an ancient power in order to protect Harry.” explained Dumbledore.
“So why didn’t this “ancient power” protect her as well?” asked Tony.
“The power, as a great number of rituals, required a sacrifice in order to be obtained. In this case, the cost of protecting Harry was the life of his mother.” said Dumbledore.
“Well, I understand. Lily would have done anything for her children, of that I have no doubt” Tony was sad, but at least Harry had made it out somehow unscathed.
“So? Why are you here? I thank you for telling me about Lily’s passing, but I don’t see what else you would need from me.” Tony was very busy these days, and could not spare a second.
“My dear Tony, if I may call you Tony, Lily made it so that any blood relation of hers could still enact the protection. This protection would envelop the person’s home and would protect Harry from all dangers.” Albus could see the brain of Tony Stark working through his eyes.
“So you mean to tell me that I can and should take in Lily’s baby?”
“And Petunia’s!” piped up Sirius “We went to her first and found her and her husband dead due to a Death Eater attack.”
“WHAT? Two babies?!” screamed Tony.
At the scream of babies, JARVIS quietly warned Pepper to come to Tony’s lab.
“Tony, why did I hear the word babies screamed through the tower?” Pepper came in, not batting an eye to Dumbledore and Sirius standing there.
“Pepper, pinch me please! I think I am having a dream!” said Tony, looking directly at her.
“Why do you think you are having a dream?”
“Because these two wizards told me that my English cousins, Lily and Petunia, are both dead and I need to take in their babies, Harry and?”
“Dudley, Tony” said Sirius, containing his laughter.
“Dudley. Do you see why I know this is a dream?” finished Tony, frantically shaking Pepper.
“Tony, hear me out. I understand you have always been frightened about having children. I do not know the details about the story behind this event. But I know one thing: you will regret this for the rest of your life. Who will give them the home they need? For what I have heard, these boys don’t have anyone else who will protect them, at least not at the degree they need and that you can provide.” said Pepper calmly, taking her time to get through to a frantic Tony.
“Thank you Miss Potts, I believe that sums up our idea quite perfectly. So Mr Stark, will you take on Harry and Dudley? said Dumbledore. He still didn’t refer to Tony again due to him not answering if he could or not.
“Yes, I believe so. When will you bring them here?” asked Tony “And what about the protection?”
“Well, Mr Stark, we can bring the children here by December 1st. We need to clear some customs and guardianship papers in order for them to travel. We will need your help on the non-magical side in order to obtain guardianship of Dudley. About the protections, the night we bring the babies, Sirius and I will erect the blood wards. These wards will protect any and all inhabitants of what I believe is called now Avengers Tower who consider this Tower their home. Afterwards, we would keep in contact with you all on a yearly-basis, or in Sirius’s case more frequently, as he is Harry’s Godfather.”
“Wait” interrupted Tony “Sirius, you are Harry’s Godfather? And you are fine with him living with me?”
“Oh yes” said Sirius “I will get a place here in New York, and will expand the magical and non-magical family business on this side of the pond, so when Harry comes of age he can inherit a modern lordship.”
“Well, if there aren’t any more issues, I agree Albus, I will take in the children” decided Tony.
Hogwarts, December 1
After a few weeks filled with bureaucracy, both magical and non-magical, the paperwork was complete. Sirius would keep secondary guardianship over Harry in the muggle world, while he would still be magical guardian of Harry in the magical world.
Now, Minerva,Sirius, Hagrid and Dumbledore readied themselves with Harry and Dudley in Minerva’s and Hagrid’s arms for the Floo travel. After that, Sirius called Tony using his new phone developed by Tony. They had created it one night, where Tony had found out how bad the technological situation was back in the wizarding world. So, thanks to a couple of days of intense work, Tony had created the first StarkPhone, to be marketed in the future. This new phone had the components of the usual smartphone with the added bonus of being magically resistant. Sirius was the first user and unofficial test subject. So far, the phone had supported apparition and portkey. Now, the final test, Floo Travel, was the culmination of their testing. If the phone survived international floo travel, it could withstand any magical experiences.
Luckily for all travellers, the phone did not go up in flames or explode, so that was that.
Minerva and Hagrid, who had not seen the Avengers Tower, were amazed at it, and happy at the same time. Hagrid was just happy about Harry living with his cousin, and Minerva because she knew that with a group like the Avengers, Harry would be protected. It would be a good way to honour James and Lily.
They took the elevator, in two journeys for Hagrid did not fit in one with the rest, and reached the penthouse. There, Tony, Pepper and Happy were waiting for Harry and Dudley.
“Ooooooh, they are so cute Tony! Look at those eyes Harry has!” said Pepper. They had seen some photographs taken by Sirius, and so they could identify each child “And Dudley, with his round cheeks!” Pepper was already becoming a mother hen, and had begun to design the nursery and future rooms of the boys.
“Well, Mr. Stark, we now leave you to the beauty of childcare! We will be back for Christmas” said Dumbledore, with all four wixen taking hold of the portkey to MACUSA.
“Yes” said Tony “If the Tower still stands and I am still alive” he finished, looking at the empty space that had just been occupied by his new magical acquaintances.
“Cheer up Tony, it won’t be that bad.”
At that, Harry’s hand glowed with a reddish light and the sofa in which they were sitting began to float.
“I retract my previous statement, Tony, we should pray to every deity known to man!”