Chapter 87
Chapter Shadows of the Past
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Alex Black's POV
The sun was setting as I made my way to the hidden facility where I’d been keeping some rather unexpected guests. Hydra's fingerprints were all over the wizarding and Muggle worlds, and securing some leverage over their operations was the first step in dismantling them. Howard and Maria Stark, along with Bucky Barnes—the Winter Soldier—were key pieces in this plan.
After securing contracts through the Goblins, I’d managed to get a healer with expertise in mental magic to work with Bucky. The trigger words Hydra had embedded to control him were finally erased from his mind, but he’d been through years of psychological torture. Every session peeled back layers of trauma, anger, and betrayal. And as much as I’d tried to explain things to Howard and Maria, it hadn’t been easy to get them to believe in magic—or in me.
The door to Bucky’s room opened with a gentle creak, revealing him sitting at the edge of his bed, staring out the narrow, reinforced window.
“How are you feeling, Bucky?” I asked, carefully gauging his mood.
He turned to me, his gaze hard. “Better. At least… I can think clearly without those damn trigger words hanging over my head. Hydra may have lost their control over me, but I won’t forget what they did.” He clenched his fists. “They took everything. And I want it back.”
“Once you’re ready, you’ll have your chance,” I assured him. “The work isn’t done yet. I’m gathering as many Hydra assets as I can, and you’ll be instrumental in shutting them down.”
Bucky gave a sharp nod, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "I want to go to Russia,” he said suddenly. “Last time I tried to escape Hydra’s grasp, I had an ally—one of their Black Widow agents. She helped me... and I think I can save her, too."
My mind ran through the possibilities. Bucky knew more about Hydra’s operations than anyone, and if he had an inside contact from the Black Widow program, that could be a game changer.
“Agreed,” I said after a moment. “But you’ll be accompanied by my Men in Black security team. They’re trained in both magical and Muggle defenses and can keep Hydra off our backs.”
Bucky seemed relieved, a rare sight on his face. “Thank you, Alex. I owe you.”
“Just stay focused on the mission. We'll take Hydra down, piece by piece.”
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Meanwhile, with Howard and Maria Stark
The Starks were kept in a separate section of the facility. I’d already explained their situation to them, though Howard had been livid at the beginning. Two escape attempts later, and they still struggled to understand the reality of Hydra's infiltration.
When they finally agreed to my terms, I offered them a choice. They could take on new identities, help me fight Hydra from the shadows, or stay locked away in isolation until Hydra was taken down. They had reluctantly chosen the first option, which meant they were now known as Thomas and Martha Wayne, the "new" owners of Wayne Enterprises. With some transfiguration and potions to keep them looking young, they were ready to start fresh.
I stepped into their office space where Howard—now "Thomas"—was going over the blueprint for a new tech project I'd handed him. Maria, or “Martha,” was focused on logistics and setting up the new infrastructure for Wayne Enterprises.
They looked up as I entered. "Still getting used to the whole magic thing, Alex," Howard grumbled. "But I have to admit, with these tech blueprints you gave me, Wayne Enterprises is looking solid."
I smiled, knowing the tech was just a fraction of what they could achieve. "Once Hydra’s threat is neutralized, your lives will return to normal, and you’ll have full control of Wayne Enterprises. Until then, your role is critical to keeping Hydra’s resources and influence in check."
Maria nodded, her voice steady. "We’re on board, Alex. But don’t expect us to just sit here quietly.”
I nodded, understanding the fire that fueled them both. "I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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Alex’s POV: Reflecting on Future Knowledge
Walking back from the facility, I considered how much of the future I’d been guiding so far. There were limits to what I could reveal, and while it was tempting to confide in my family, it was risky. Maybe I could try to introduce my ideas through Divination—it wasn’t entirely far-fetched, after all. I had glimpses of the future, and perhaps studying the subject seriously could provide a way to explain my foresight.
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Harry Potter’s POV
So far, summer at the Dursleys’ had been surprisingly peaceful. Sirius had seen to that, dropping me off with a few extra protections. He’d given me a rune-carved device that set up a “Notice-Me-Not” and Muggle-repelling charm, making it easier to avoid encounters with Dudley and his friends.
The added bonus was that a house-elf, quietly appearing in my room, took care of food and even cleaned up, leaving me with time to focus on homework and studying. I’d been working through some spellwork practice with the wand Sirius gave me, my head buzzing with the possibilities of everything I could accomplish.
For once, being stuck here didn’t feel quite so suffocating. And with Sirius so close, I knew this summer was different. There was hope in that—a promise of change I could finally believe in.