Iris Potter stared out of the window contemplatively, absently tracing the two large round scars from the basilisk the year before last under her calves as her mind pondered their location. New York City was a rather famous city, though it didn't exactly strike her as the kind of place Petunia would want to go on vacation, and if she did, why on earth would she take Iris and Harry? Iris didn't know what her Aunt and Uncle were playing at, but she was certain that nothing good would come from it.
Sometimes she wondered what life would be like if her mother and father had lived alongside her and Harry, she scoffed, chiding herself mentally. Harry certainly did not care, he never mentioned their parents and spent every Halloween laughing with his friends, the only people Iris had met that did care were Professor's Mcgonagall and Flitwick, who had shown her pictures of her parents in first year and spent the day telling her sotries of how they'd been in school.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent into New York City. Please turn off all portable electronic devices and stow them until we have arrived at the gate. " The pilot announced over the intercom," For those of you not currently seated, please take your seats, ensure your seat belts are properly fastened and the back of your seat is straight."
Dudley grumbled under his breath as his mother started fussing over him, ensuring his seat belt was properly fastened. Iris took the opportunity to fasten her own seatbelt before Uncle vernon got crabby.
When the aeroplane finally landed at Westchester Country Airport and the family of five made it through security, Harry and Iris were shocked, though Iris hid hers much better. Unlike Surrey, New York was full of bustling streets and skyscrapers, cars and bright yellow cabs rushed along the streets and groups of tourist stampeded the crossings. It was like a scene straight from one of Dudley's superhero movies they occasionally caught glimpses of from the kitchen. Iris absently gripped Harry's hand, not wanting to lose the oblivious idiot. She was pleasantly surprised when instead of yanking his hand back, Harry simply squeezed hers in reassurance. Perhaps he was finally coming around to her being friends with a few Slytherins.
"Boy, Girl, You'll be taking a seperate cab with your Aunt," Vernon pressed a kiss to Petunia's cheek," Come on, Dudley, we don't want to be late."
Iris wondered what exactly they were going to be late for, a meow rang out from her cat carrier and she winced.
"Keep that bloody thing quiet," Petunia hissed," No respect for the people aorund you, honestly."
"Hey!" Harry scowled," She can't help it. She's been in a cage for hours, she just wants to stretch her legs! Besides, it's not like Iris can control her."
Iris winced, god damn Harry's incessant need to defend animals.
"Shut up." She hissed in Parseltongue," It's Okay, Nala. You'll be allowed out soon, I promise. You're a very good girl."
Her aunt scoffed, swinging into the taxi and shooting Harry and Iris a look that screamed “Hurry up!”.
Iris waited for Harry to get into the car before she followed, setting the cat carrier onto her lap. She smiled at the reminder of Daphne, who had gifted her Nala. She absently wondered if Rolf would like to meet Nala, didn’t he live in New York with Anthony and their relatives?
The drive took a little over an hour, and when they stopped it was outside of a tall skyscraper with a large A on it. It looked like a Llama. Aunt Petunia narrowed her eyes at the twins,” Grab your luggage.”
Harry and Iris traded looks, silently praying that this was just a really weird looking hotel.
Iris didn’t think it was.
Petunia strode up to the front desk quickly, the twins struggling to keep up as they dragged their luggage.
“May I help you?” The receptionist asked as Petunia stopped directly in front of the desk and planted both hands on it harshly. Iris grimaced as she noticed the security guards twitching towards their weapons, clearly expecting a confrontation.
She sighed as she stepped in front of Harry slightly, just in case her aunt caused a scene.
”Where can I get DNA tests done?”
What? Had Iris heard that right? She furrowed her brows, a million thought rushing through her head, had her aunt found more relatives? Was she leaving Iris and Harry with them? Would they be worse?
The woman rolled her eyes and released a heavy huff as she palmed a key card over,” Seventh Floor, this card won’t take you anywhere else. Explain to the kids and give your number to Ms Potts, she’ll call you when the DNA results come back negative.”
Petunia seemed taken aback, but then she smirked, clearly thinking she’d scared the woman,” Come.”
Iris shot Harry a look when he opened his mouth, presumably to question their aunt. Because that would end well.
The thirteen year old rolled her eyes. She vaguely noted that she had been doing that a lot lately. She and Harry stared ahead as they waited for Petunia to explain.
A vicious smirk spread across Petunias face,” It seems my sister wasn’t as perfect as everyone likes to think, apparently she cheated on her darling Husband with some American Billionaire.”
Iris cringed, shoving the information aside for now to turn to Harry, he was ridiculously protective of their mother. Perhaps it was due to how little they heard of her, people often preferred to talk about James Potter. The pureblood.
Harry’s nostrils flared,” That’s a lie! Our mother was a hero! She would never do that!!”
Iris pressed a hand to Harry’s arm, whispering to him quietly,” Calm down. Don’t give her the reactions he wants.”
Petunia gave a nasty grin,” Her journal’s say otherwise. I found them when I was cleaning out the attic, she left them for the girl.”
She handed Iris a stack of brown leather books, tied in a careful bundle.
”What’s his name?” Iris asked softly, throat thick with emotion as she took the items from her, holding them as though they were the most precious things in the world.
”Tony Stark.” The ravenette’s eyebrow flew into her hairline. You had to be an idiot not to know who he was, the billionaire superhero what the kind of wealth that made Vernon Dursley’s eyes light up with greed.