You're the old woman who put me to sleep!!
Iris Stark (it was easier than saying Potter-Stark) had been having a relatively normal day so far. She had gotten back from camp two days ago, and she had a week left before school started up again.
Her twelfth birthday would be in a month and she had been planning who she was going to invite and what the theme was going to be. She wasn't all that bothered by it, but her aunt Pepper was insisting that she have a party, and her dad wanted it to be big, and special. So she was indulging them for the time being.
For now, though, Iris had had enough of planning and wanted to go hack at one of the dummies in the training room her dad had installed for her. When the monster attacks happened quite frequently Tony realised it was probably best to let his daughter play with sharp things. If he could that man would probably wrap her up in bubble wrap and hide her in a tower. She found it rather cute.
Even though Iris didn't like fighting other people, she was still amazing with a sword. Luke and Annabeth were the only people who knew exactly why she disliked fighting, and they had often trained with her. They knew what to do if she had a panic attack whilst training, they knew why it was and how to handle it. She was eternally grateful to both of them.
She had just gotten ready from her shower and was about to head down to the training room when Jarvis got her attention.
"Sorry to interrupt ms Iris, but I'm afraid your father needs you down in the main living room.''
Iris groaned out in annoyance before turning back to her room to take her armour off.
''Do you know what he wants me for J?'' She asked.
''Yes miss, you have a guest.''
Iris was interested then, not many people knew about her, and if it was Pepper or Rhodey they would just come to find her themselves.
''Who is our guest?'' She asked.
''She says her name is McGonagall and that she is Professor at a school named Hogwarts.''
Iris hadn't given the AI enough time to finish before she was sprinting out of her room. She knew that name! She knew that school!
She came tumbling down the stairs and sprinted into the large living room like she had Hellhounds chasing her. She barely had time to register her father's amused face, or the startled look on the witch's face because that's what she was! A witch!
Iris pointed at her and shouted ''You!'' She felt a little bad when the old woman jumped in fright, but it was her! She knew where her brother was! She could see Harry.
Before Iris could pounce on the woman, she was scooped up by her father and plonked on the opposite end of the large U-shaped sofa. He stood in front of her, blocking her view of the confused witch
''Iris, Princess, look at me not her, I'm much more interesting,'' Tony said when she kept trying to look around him. ''Iris. Calm down. Breath. No seriously, breathe. You want answers, so do I, but you need to be calm alright.''
Iris nodded and continued to copy his breathing motions. When Tony was satisfied he moved and sat down next to Iris.
The young girl smiled at the witch, who gave a tight-lipped smile back. Just as she was about to start speaking Iris blurted out, ''It's you! You're the old woman who put me to sleep!''
Tony sighed and slapped his face whilst the witch reared back in surprise.
''What?'' She asked.
Iris was bouncing in her seat again as she explained.
''I remember. After Hagrid came and got me and Harry that night, he met you and Dumbledore. But then you made me fall asleep, well technically Dumbledore was the one who made me fall asleep but you were the one that was holding me. Where is Harry anyway? I want to see him, I've missed him, is he ok?''
Iris took a breath after she finished speaking. Professor McGonagall sat in shocked silence and looked to her dad for a bit of help. Whilst Tony explained her memory condition Iris anxiously sat, waiting for information.
Her knee was bouncing and she was playing with her fingers as she worried about whether or not she would get to see Harry again. What if the older witch didn't know where he was? What if she did but had come to tell her she wasn't allowed to see him? What if something had happened to him?
Her anxiety was running high by the time Tony put his hand on her shoulder and broke her from her thoughts, even though it had only been a minute or two. Iris looked at the witch and waited with bated breath for her to start talking.
''Well,'' she said, ''I'm not sure what exactly you know, so I will tell you what I do and hopefully we can piece things together.''
At Iris' nod, the witch continued.
''I am the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a place in Scotland where young wizards and witches go to learn how to use magic.''
''Yeah I gathered as much from the name,'' Tony said. Iris slapped his shoulder without looking away from the witch and nodded for her to continue.
''Your parents went to our school, you should have been enrolled last year, and your brother will be joining us this year. But-''
''Harry will be there?!'' Iris interrupted. The Professor nodded with a smile on her face.
''As I was saying, but due to some complications we couldn't enlist you.''
''What complications,'' Tony asked with a frown.
''Well,'' replied McGonagall, ''to put it simply, Ms Potter was not where she was supposed to be.''
''What do you mean by that?'' Iris asked, leaning forward and choosing to ignore the use of an incorrect name to address her. For now. She was a Stark, not a Potter.
''You were supposed to live with your aunt and uncle alongside your brother. Somehow you ended up in America instead. We had no idea where you were and since you are not registered with the American magical department, MACUSA, no one knew you were here.''
Tony tilted his head. ''How did you find her then?''
''It was completely by chance,'' she replied. ''One of our kind started working in foster care and came across Iris' file in passing. When they recognised your name, they got into contact with the British Magical Ministry, and well, here we are.''
''But will I get to see Harry?'' Iris asked eagerly.
She didn't care about how she ended up in America, she was glad to be there, she just wanted to know about her brother.
McGonagall gave her a pitying smile and nodded.
'You will get to see him soon, and then when you start school you shall see him every day.'
''Wait, hold up,'' Tony said holding his hands up in a stop sort of motion, ''how is that going to work?''
The professor frowned and tilted her head. ''Whatever do you mean.''
''Well, what's going to happen? You want her to go to a school in Britain but she lives here in America. She has a summer camp she goes to and everything. How is she supposed to travel between countries every day?''
Iris frowned, realising her dad had a point. How was she supposed to do that every day? What if she had to go to an American school instead? That would suck because she wouldn't be able to see Harry. And she had always wanted to see the magical school in the hills her uncle Padfoot always spoke about. What if Harry thought she had abandoned him?! No, she had to go to Hogwarts. But then would she have to move to England? That would be horrible because she would be so far from camp. What if there was an emergency? What if a monster tried to attack her and she needed help but she couldn't get it because she was so far away? What if Harry tried to help and got hurt?
No, she concluded, Harry would be safe. She would protect Harry the way she couldn't protect Thalia. Even if that meant he didn't know about her world.
If she was a better person she would hide their relationship from him, but she was too selfish for that. She wanted a relationship with him, she wanted to be his big sister. He just wouldn't know everything.
Iris was broken from her thoughts by her father's mad voice.
''Absolutely not! No! I'm not having it. I'm not sending my daughter to a boarding school.''
She put her hand on his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder. She knew how much he hated the boarding school he was sent to as a child.
''It's fine Dad, at least that way we won't have to move. We can stay here in California and I'll come back in the holidays.'' She said in a soothing voice. She could feel the anger leaving him.
''You sure about this princess?'' Tony asked relaxing slightly.
''I get to see my baby brother again. Of course I'm sure.''
Tony sighed and McGonagall smiled softly. She reached into one of her pockets in her robe and pulled out a letter.
''Well then, you will be needing this,'' she said, handing the letter to Iris.
She reached out and took it. The letter was thick and made out of yellowish parchment. Her address was written on the front in scrawling green ink.
Ms I. Potter
Room facing the sea
Second floor
Stark mansion
Miami
California
Iris turned the envelope over anxiously and marvelled at the pretty purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms she assumed was for Hogwarts. There was a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H. She pulled the letter out and read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Ms Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all the necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1st September. We await your owl by no later than 31st July.
Yours sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Iris looked up at the witch who sat opposite them once she had finished reading.
''What does it mean they await her owl?'' Tony asked, who had been reading the letter from over his daughter's shoulder.
''Wizards and witches use owls to send letters. They don't use phones, because the magic messes up the technology. Remember I told you that Dad.'' Iris explained patiently.
''Oh yeah, you said James had an owl didn't he?'' Tony asked back.
''Yeah,'' Iris replied, smiling wistfully. ''Magnus, he called it Magnus.''
The professor looked a little shocked before she cleared her throat shakily.
''There is more,'' she nodded towards the letter still being clasped by Iris.
''A list of equipment that you will need to purchase for the school year,'' she finished.
Iris pulled out a second piece of paper and unfolded it. She read through it, still aware of her dad reading over her shoulder and breathing annoyingly down her ear. When she got to the bottom of the letter about the no brooms rule, Tony chuckled.
''Wonder who ruined it for all the first years?''
Iris snorted and the Professor smiled a little. The young girl looked up at the witch and asked where they could buy the stuff.
''Well,'' McGonagall replied, ''I am not so familiar with the American magical shopping districts, but if you wanted to be able to see your brother before you start school, he should be doing his shopping today as well. I can take you to Diagon Alley if you wish. Harry will be there.''
Iris smiled and nodded her head enthusiastically and Tony chuckled.
''So, you got some magical heebie-jeebie transportation? Or are we taking my jet to England?'' Tony asked.
Iris rolled her eyes and huffed.
''Honestly Dad,'' she said in exasperation.
Tony just looked at her.
''What?'' He asked innocently.
McGonagall chuckled at their interaction.
''Yes, Mr Stark, I do have a magic heebie-jeebie form of transportation. I came prepared.''
''Cool,'' Tony replied. ''Iris said you have a different currency, do you have anywhere I can exchange some money?''
McGonagall seemed a little surprised at his question.
''Ah yes we do, but Iris' parents set up a bank for her and her brother, so it really isn't necessary.''
Tony frowned and crossed his arms.
''Yes, it is necessary, because I'm her father, and I'm going to pay for my daughter's school things thank you very much.''
The older witch had a startled look before she nodded.
''Alright then,'' she said, ''should we get going? There is an inn on the Ally that you can stay in till school starts.''
''One minute then,'' Iris replied. She turned to her father. ''Dad I'm just going to go grab the emergency travel bags.''
''Alright,'' Tony replied absent-mindedly, texting Pepper on his phone. ''Grab some extra cash as well, I want us to have enough.''
Iris nodded before running off. She came back moments later with two small travel bags in hand. She handed one to Tony and put the other on her back.
They both turned to the witch, who was pulling out an odd-looking glass orb.
''This is what we call a portkey. Place your hand on it and don't let go, we shall be travelling cross country so it may feel weird.''
The father-daughter duo nodded and each placed their hands on the orb. Moments later they were gone.