Chapter 65
Chapter : The Weight of Change
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Alex’s POV
I woke up in my bed, the events of last night flooding back to me in a blur of adrenaline and exhaustion. I had changed everything. Howard and Maria Stark were supposed to be dead by now, their deaths cementing Tony Stark's path towards becoming Iron Man. And yet, here I was, lying in bed, knowing they were alive because of me.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up, feeling the familiar pull of guilt mixed with satisfaction. It wasn’t like I wanted them to die. But I had meddled with the timeline—something I always told myself I wouldn’t do without careful consideration. The Winter Soldier was in my custody, along with the HYDRA agents, and the Starks were safe. For now.
As I stood up, my mind drifted to the secret lab where I had left the Starks and the others. I needed to check on them, to figure out what to do next. And beyond that, the Philosopher’s Stone—or what I assumed to be a flawed version—was still waiting for me in my research space. So much work to do, and so little time.
I grabbed my wand from the nightstand and threw on a cloak before heading down to the lab.
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The atmosphere in the hidden space was still, the only sound being the gentle hum of wards and protective enchantments. The Starks lay in their respective beds, their breathing steady. The Winter Soldier and the HYDRA agents remained unconscious, securely bound in magical restraints. I had ensured they would be unable to move or cast any spells, not that they would know how to fight against magic anyway.
I stood over Bucky Barnes, watching him closely. I knew who he was, knew the weight of his story. But in this timeline, things were different. Steve Rogers hadn’t yet found him, and his redemption was far off. I could alter that too, but what would it cost?
"Do you even know what you're doing, Alex?" I thought to myself, pacing the room. "You’ve already broken the timeline. What’s one more thread?"
I shook my head, focusing on the task at hand. For now, the immediate problem was making sure the Starks stayed safe and that HYDRA didn’t get wind of what I had done.
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A few hours later…
Back in the main house, Sirius and Marlene were finishing up breakfast. I could smell the scent of bacon and eggs as I walked into the kitchen, my mind still buzzing with all the events of the previous night. Harry was sitting at the table, grinning as Sirius tried to teach him a spell for cooking food from a distance. Of course, it didn’t go well—the toast ended up halfway burnt—but the sight of it made me smile.
"Morning, Alex!" Sirius called out, giving me a suspicious look. "You were up early. Everything okay?"
I nodded. "Yeah, just catching up on some research."
"Right," Sirius said, eyebrow raised. "You’ve been doing an awful lot of ‘research’ lately. You’re not still obsessed with that stone, are you?"
I hesitated. Sirius had no idea what I had really been up to. If he knew I had saved the Starks from certain death, he’d probably be furious at the risk I had taken.
"I’m close to figuring it out," I lied smoothly, forcing a smile. "Besides, it’s not just about the stone. There’s a lot of magical theory I’ve been working through."
"Well," he shrugged, "just don’t let it consume you. We don’t need another obsessed wizard in the family, right?" His tone was light, but I could see the genuine concern in his eyes.
"Yeah, of course," I replied, trying to shake off the weight of last night. "Anyway, I’ll be around if anyone needs me."
Marlene glanced up from her coffee. "You need to take a break sometime, Alex. Even the greatest wizards had downtime."
I gave her a small nod, appreciating her concern. But even as I agreed with her, I knew I couldn’t let this rest. There were too many variables in play now.
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Later that day, I found myself back in my lab, staring at the Philosopher’s Stone. The red stone sat on the table, its magical aura faint but present. I had tested it again and again, and though it didn’t seem to have the full capabilities of the legendary stone, it clearly had some properties of magical storage.
"Is it real?" I thought, running my fingers over the surface. "Or is it just a failed experiment from centuries past?"
I had recorded every discovery meticulously. Every spell I had cast on it, every test I ran. But I still didn’t know for sure. The lore behind the Philosopher’s Stone was ancient, and there were few reliable sources left to consult.
"Maybe I’m just not seeing the full picture," I muttered, leaning back in my chair. "There’s something more here… there has to be."
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As evening approached, my thoughts drifted back to the Winter Soldier. He was still unconscious, but I couldn’t keep him locked up forever. The Starks, too, would eventually need to return to the public eye. I needed a plan.
I leaned forward, scribbling down ideas. I could wipe their memories, but that would be a risk in itself. Tony Stark wouldn’t become Iron Man unless tragedy struck him, but what if I could influence him in other ways?
My thoughts were interrupted by a faint knock on the door. Harry walked in, looking hesitant.
"Hey, Alex," he started, scratching the back of his head. "Sirius told me to ask if you wanted to join us for dinner, but you looked pretty busy."
I smiled at him, trying to hide my mental exhaustion. "Yeah, I’ll come. Just finishing up some notes."
Harry nodded, but didn’t leave. Instead, he leaned against the doorway, watching me curiously.
"You’ve been acting a bit… distant," he said, his tone careful. "Everything alright?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer. Harry had no idea what I had been doing behind the scenes—how much I had altered in both his life and the wider world. But he was my brother now, and I couldn’t keep lying to him.
"Just… a lot on my mind," I said, deciding to give him a partial truth. "There’s more happening in the world than you know, and I’m trying to make sure we’re ready for it."
Harry frowned, his green eyes narrowing. "Like what?"
"Like Voldemort," I said simply. "And everything else that’s coming. I know you’re already thinking about it."
Harry’s frown deepened, but he didn’t push further. "I get it. But just remember, you’re not alone in this. Whatever’s coming… we face it together, right?"
I felt a pang of guilt. "Right. Together."
As Harry turned to leave, I glanced back at the Pensieve Projector on my desk. So many memories. So many secrets. And I wasn’t sure how long I could keep them all hidden.
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End of Chapter