The Parents We Should Have Been Pt.2
“This special session of the Wizengamot will come to order,” the voice of Madame Vers cut through the noises of that courtroom, quickly drawing it silent, “We have convened to discuss the matter of one Harry James Potter and his guardianship. It has come to light to this court that a great injustice was served with the placing of Mr. Potter and we are gathered here today to ensure that the young man is placed in a home that will truly come to care for, nurture, and raise Mr. Potter,” she paused for a moment to gesture to the middle of the courtroom where two desks had been placed
“The two parties that are contesting for custody of Mr. Potter are one Albus Dumbledore,” the elder wizard merely gave a nod in response to his name, “and Loki Laufyson with his partner, one Anthony Stark,”
Tony stood on principal when he was addressed, noting that not a single face seemed to recognize him. It was a bit odd, considering the last time he was in a court room he was being blinded by a number of camera flashes going off. However, as he took his seat, he did notice a lot of them were muttering and pointing towards both himself and Loki. There was no telling what they were saying exactly, but Tony knew when people were whispering ill words about him.
“Let it be known that despite his position in the Wizengamot, Headmaster Dumbledore will be placed under the same scrutiny as any other person who stands before us. In addition, should neither party be found suitable to care for Mr. Potter then he will be placed in the custody of a member of the Wizengamot, with preference given to the Houses with the oldest standing,”
Tony felt Loki stiffen at those words, and he gave the God a reassuring pat on the knee. No matter what happened, Harry was going to be coming home with them. He had it on good authority that Thor was standing by in Asgard, awaiting the signal to come down to claim Harry as under their protection. It was no doubt going to cause chaos, but at least they would have their kid.
And probably a war with Wixen kind, but Tony was a parent now. He would happily start a war for his son.
“As the matter of custody is what is on the table, I found it prudent to bring forth Mr. Potter’s last guardians. While one Sirius Black was not able to be reached for an appearance, his brief time as Mr. Potter’s guardian shall not have any bearing on this case. I would like to call both Mr. and Mrs. Dursley to the stand,”
Tony tried his best to keep the glee off of his face as Vernon limped forward towards a small podium with his wife. The man looked uncomfortable and in pain, which was perfect in Tony’s mind. If he had his way, neither one of them would know a single moment of peace ever again.
“State your names for the record,” Madame Vers asked. Though Tony couldn’t see the man’s face, his body language spoke about how he’d rather not do that at all.
After a moment, and prodding from his wife, the man finally caved.
“Vernon Dursley and this is my wife Petunia Dursley,” the words were strained, said through clenched teeth.
“Thank you very much. Now, as the last known guardians of Mr. Potter, I would like to start off the proceedings by asking how you came into the guardianship of the boy. During our investigation into the history of Mr. Potter’s guardianship, at no point was he brought to my department to determine his next of kin. If you would please enlighten us as to how Mr. Potter arrived in your custody,”
Vernon crossed his arms as he glared at Madame Vers
“That ruddy menace just showed up on our doorstep one day. We are good and normal people, but you freaks had to come and drop off that child late at night without even as much as a knock on our door,”
What could best be described as a scandalous whisper ran through the crowd,
“Are you telling us that you found Mr. Potter on your front porch and he was not formally placed in your custody,” Madame Vers, who knew this information already, asked for the sake of proper clarification
“That’s right,” Petunia finally chimed in, “I hadn’t talked to my sister in years, though she sent us a letter letting us know that she had given birth to the boy. I went out to check the mail and the boy was right there, with a note explaining that my sister was de-,” the words seemed to be stuck in her throat, “That my sister had been killed and that we had to take care of the boy now. We never heard anything else until those letters started showing up, the same ones Lily got,”
The whispering had quickly turned into shouts of doubt and confusion, Tony picking up on the odd word here and there. Seems like most of the public had a different idea of what Harry’s life had been like growing up. As Tony scanned the crowd, his eyes found the one face that looked as if they wanted to be anywhere other than in that spot. Harry looked pale, even with Arthur by his side, doing everything in his power to get people to not stare at his son.
“He really shouldn’t be here,” Tony muttered under his breath, fighting down the urge to get Harry out of the courtroom by any means possible
“I know, Tony, but we can’t do anything about it right now. If it gets too much, he has Arthur with him. He’s known that man longer than us and I’m sure he will keep our son safe,”
Tony didn’t doubt Loki’s words, but it did little to make him feel any better. His son was about to have his entire life put out there, and that couldn’t be good for his already fragile sense of self.
“If I am understanding this correctly,” Madame Vers leaned forward in her chair, the faint lines in her tan skin taking on a slight harshness in the low light, “You did not receive any contact from Mr. Potter’s alleged Magical Guardian, nor any Wixen during the time he was in your care,”
“That’s right. And we never saw a dime for raising the bloody brat,” Vernon roared, seemingly spurred on by the turn this was taking, “We gave that boy the best we had, the clothes off our damn backs. Not only was he ungrateful for it, but you people didn’t even lend a hand to reimburse us for all the money we spent,”
“You’re a damn lie,” Tony shouted, the words and anger pulled out of his mouth without warning, “I saw where you kept him! In a room with locks on the outside and a cat flap for food,”
“Mr. Stark, if you do not compose yourself you will be thrown out,” Madame Vers rounded on the man, her grim face easily putting Tony under heel.
“My apologies, just don’t like liars. Please, continue,” Tony was pulled back down into his chair by Loki, who was glaring daggers at Vernon the entire time
“That being said, we shall turn to your care for Mr. Potter. As you have just said, it is your belief that you took great care of your nephew. Would you care to elaborate on how you cared for Mr. Potter,”
Vernon seemed to be taken aback, his voice stumbling as he tried to find words. Tony watched with glee, knowing that Vernon was going to be his own undoing
“We uhh, we gave the boy everything we could. We didn’t have much, since your lot didn’t uhh, actually help with his welfare,” Vernon tried
“Hmm, is that so? Well during our investigation, we found some rather damming evidence to the contrary. Tell me, before Mr. Potter was given his letter to Hogwarts, where was he sleeping,”
“In our house,” Petunia spoke up, though one could hear the fear in her voice, “We kept him in our house with what little space we had. We had our own son to raise and take care of,”
“Where in your house, Mrs. Dursley? Do not attempt to play coy with me when it comes to the health and well-being of a child. Answer the question plainly,”
“It…we didn’t have a choice. We wanted to keep him away from Dudley, so he didn’t rub any of his freakishness-,” Vernon tried to cover
“I was not asking you, Mr. Dursley, though the words you choose to describe your nephew are more damming than if you were silent. Now once again, where did Mr. Potter reside within your home Mrs. Dursley,” the anger was evident on Madame Vers’ face, her amber eyes glowing with ire
“We-,” Petunia was starting to cry, her voice weak, “We didn’t think about it. It was just easier to put him-,”
“Put him where Mrs. Dursley,” Madame Vers all but roared
“We put him in the cupboard!” Petunia finally shouted, “We put him in the cupboard under the stairs. Vernon didn’t want to hear him crying and I just couldn’t...It wasn’t fair to us, that Lily would just do this, leave me behind with him. So I…I hid him away,”
Hushed silence. The kind of quiet that buzzed in your skull. That was what filled the courtroom in the wake of what Petunia said. Even Tony, who knew this information beforehand, still couldn’t comprehend just how someone could do that to a child. Their own blood no less. Even if Lily was just a surrogate for his and Loki’s child, Harry was still a part of her family. And instead of opening her arms to him, Petunia hid him away for her own comfort.
Disgust was too weak of a word for what Tony felt towards that woman and her husband.
“From what age did Mr. Potter live in the cupboard Mrs. Dursley,”
“He…we put him in there maybe…a month after he showed up,” Petunia struggled to speak through tears, “He never stopped cr-crying. He kept asking for Lily and I couldn’t-,”
“Your grief over the loss of your sister is no excuse,” Madame Vers stated sharply
“I tried to tell her,” Vernon found his voice, and what he thought to be an out for himself by the sound of it, “That he didn’t need to be in th-,”
“Don’t you dare Vernon,” Petunia hissed, “You don’t get to throw me under the bus. You were the one who said we should beat the freakishness out of the boy the moment you laid eyes on him. The one who wanted him to work to the bone for us so he could ‘earn his keep’,”
“Tuney I don’t think you-,”
“No! No Tuney this or that! You beat the boy almost to the bone, Vernon. All because you were afraid of what he could do,”
“Like you were any different,” Vernon began to tear into his wife, “Or was it alright to have the freak of a child outside from sun up to sun down working in your gardens since he was four,”
“That’s enough,” Madame Vers brandished her wand, casting a silencing charm on the pair, “You both are awful and disgusting people and you will both be paying the price for the abuse you dealt to Mr. Potter. There is no measuring of sins here. You both are at fault,
“We obtained records of Mr. Potter’s schooling before he came to Hogwarts. Despite showing a high aptitude in Muggle's interest and sciences, you both insisted that it was your son he was stealing from. In addition to this, you told his teachers that he was a troublesome child with a criminal record, damning him to their indifference. At every point in Mr. Potter’s life with you all, it seems you displayed willful and malicious negligence for his very existence. I am more than certain that the crimes and harm you have done to Mr. Potter go beyond the examples we have seen today and I would love nothing more than to place you both in custody for them. However, this trial is to ensure that Mr. Potter is placed in a home that is truly loving and nothing like what you provided. I assure you both, you will pay for what you have done,”
Tony did not often believe in the justice of the law. He had spent part of his time behind Stark Industries skirting around the law for his own benefit to know that for a fact. Yet, as Madame Vers dismissed Petunia and Vernon with a glare that could render fat from bones, he knew those monsters would face their due. He would much rather be the architect of their demise himself, but knowing that Harry would be getting the justice he so rightfully deserved would work. At least for now.
“Tony, no matter what happens to them, I want my pound of flesh from them,” Loki muttered under his breath.
“In due time. For now, let’s just be happy Harry gets to see justice done,” Tony responded, giving Loki a quick squeeze of his hand.
The conversations in the courtroom were still hushed and the few words that Tony could make out all came from somber-sounding voices. His eyes and attention however were only for Harry. His son was stock still, a deer in headlights as voices all around him whispered and looked at him. Those brilliant green eyes of his were vacant, staring straight ahead. Tony knew what it was like to disassociate and it was clear Harry was doing the same. Tony flicked his eyes over to Arthur, a simple unspoken gesture between the two was all it took for the man to whisper something to Harry.
Whatever Arthur had said broke Harry out of his state. He mutters something back to Arthur before looking directly at Tony. A slim smile broke out across the boy’s face before he took a steadying breath. He turned back to Arthur, giving the man a nod before the pair of them left the Courtroom, many eyes watching as they did so. He had no idea what was going through his son's head at the moment, but for now Tony was glad he wasn’t going to have to endure the rest of the trial.
“If I may,” Madame Vers drew the attention of the court once more, “I would like it to be known that the reason for the Dursley’s appearing here was not only to impress upon the Wizengamot the past that Harry Potter lived but also the fact that we failed him. His name is spoken with reverence from our lips and in our most hallowed halls. We proclaim him to be our hero, despite my reservations about placing such a title on a child who has yet to even take his O.W.L.S. And we failed him. My department should have been there from the moment the life of Lily and James Potter was stolen from them. Harry deserved better. I implore the Wizengamot to ensure that we do not fail him yet again,
“Now, in the matter of Mr. Potter’s custody, two parties have come forth with interest towards taking over guardianship of the young man. Albus Dumbledore, the floor is yours to state your case. Let it be known that despite your position as Supreme Mugump and Chef of the Wizengamot, your titles shall have no bearing on the decision,”
Tony’s eyes shifted over to Dumbledore, the man in what could only be described as a fashion emergency of robes. How the man honestly thought the bright colors of orange and blue were remotely okay to wear for court proceedings was beyond him. If Tony could make the effort to dress somewhat decently, then the man who had played a part in his son’s torment should have done the same.
The grandfatherly demeanor of the man was turned on high as he all but trotted out to the podium before Madame Vers. He cast his eyes around the room, those blue eyes twinkling with their own light. He had the confidence of a man who knew things would always go his way. A man who had already set up the board to make sure the pieces fell where they needed to. It irked Tony to no end and he was looking forward to when the man's hubris would topple his little game.
“Madame Vers, thank you for taking the time out of your day to see to this matter. The welfare of all our children is so very important with the return of darker forces,” Dumbledore began, his smile soft and somber.
“Yes, be that as it may, we are not here for the welfare of all children, just one. Now, Headmaster, if you may inform us as to why you believe you are the proper choice to raise Mr. Potter,”
Dumbledore didn’t speak at first, instead opting to look around the chambers. His eyes seemed to seek out particular people, a small smile quirking at the edge of his lips. All before his eyes landed on both Tony and Loki. The look of disdain was fast, fleeting almost, but Tony had caught it all the same.
“Madame Vers, when I look around this chamber, I see a number of souls who would do a great job in raising young Harry. I would be honored for any of them to take on the role, however I fear that such a thing requires a different hand,
“Young Mr. Potter has been in my care for a number of years, ever since that faithful evening all those years ago. While I may have, regrettably, placed Harry in the hands of those that would do him harm, it was not with ill intent. Lily often talked amicably about her sister, if a bit reserved. They were, as far as I was aware at the time, the only living relatives for Harry. As you all may know, family is something I hold of true importance. It was under this belief that I placed Harry within the care of his Aunt and Uncle,”
Dumbledore looked around once more, his eyes misting over as he appeared to be holding back tears. Even his voice wavered with emotion as he spoke,
“Due to my own blindness, I did not follow up with Harry. I was so certain that the nature of Harry being of her own blood, that Petunia would have done right by her sister’s son. I am sad to say that this old man was subject to the folly of his own optimism. The price for that was sadly the childhood of Harry. All I am asking for is the chance to right the wrong I started and to be what Harry truly needs, a teacher. A confidant. Most importantly, a mentor that can prepare him for all that he will and may face as he grows,”
The speech was filled with passion and meant to elicit emotions in the crowd. Even Tony, though he could see through the man's lies, was slightly moved. The image of a grandfather who was repentant for his mistakes was something that Dumbledore used in spades.
“Right. Well, Headmaster Dumbledore,” Madame Vers adjusted her glasses ever so slightly, as she pulled out a scroll to refer to, “While I applaud your willingness to forgive yourself in light of your shortcomings, I still must question not just your capabilities as a guardian for Mr. Potter, but your motives as well. If I may, you have been the Headmaster for how many years now,”
“I will be starting my 68th year this coming term Madame Vers,”
“In those 68 years, we have never seen you so concerned for the welfare of a single child. The only time you ever personally attended to a child was a young Mr. Riddle who has since vanished off the face of the Earth. What about Mr. Potter has made you so willing to insert yourself into his life,”
“Well,” Dumbledore looked slightly askance as he spoke, “I was the mentor to both of his parents during their time in Hogwarts and the short time they were alive afterward. Lily and James were so very important to not only me but Wixen kind as a whole. They were crucial in the first downfall of the Dark Lord Voldemort,” several Wixen flinched at the name, Madame Vers included,
“I was there after Harry was born and found him to be someone who I felt inclined to protect. Once he arrived in the halls of Hogwarts, it was clear the boy had picked up his father's almost reckless nature and predilection for trouble. I’ve done my best to ensure that Harry has had a good moral compass to guide him towards the Light,”
“And this is the only reason for your interest in Mr. Potter,” Madame Vers was starting to needle, not letting Dumbledore off with such an answer, “I would remind you that this is a hearing to see if you are fit to raise Mr. Potter, not just look after him,”
“Well, Madame Vers, there is another reason for my wanting to keep young Harry close. He is a young man who has a destiny placed upon him and one that only I am fit to see him through. While I cannot divulge the specifics, for the safety of Harry, there is a matter of prophecy concerning him that I was made privy to a year before his birth
“Harry has the burden of the Greater Good placed upon his shoulders and I fear if anyone else shall raise him, then he will not become the man we need him to be in the future,”
A ripple of conversation began to run through the courtroom once more, whispers about prophecy and whatnot filling the air. Even Tony looked over to Loki for understanding, though the God seemed far more focused on never breaking eye contact with Dumbledore as the man spoke
“Matters of prophecy are powerful things, and while I will not deny that you are an important figurehead within our community, I fail to see why ensuring Mr. Potter is ready for his future should be your duty solely. Not to mention, if you were aware of the prophecy before his birth, why would you send him to his Aunt and Uncle if you are the only person capable of helping him fulfill this prophecy,” Madame Vers pressured
“As I said before Madame Vers,” there was a slight hint of agitation in his voice as Dumbledore was questioned once more, “It was due to my own wishes of wanting Harry to be raised by family. I was intending to train the young man while he was at school. Had I known what I do now of his home life, I would have never left him in their care,”
“And yet you did. Let us not forget that, when a child of magical decent is orphaned, they are to be taken to my department. This is to ensure that any living kin of magical blood is found for them to go to. Due to your insistence of Mr. Potter going to his family, we could not properly do our job,”
“At the time Madame, I was under the impression that the Potter line had died out and that Harry truly had no magical kin to call on,”
“Which is why it was not your choice to have made. Had you not gone and done what you willed, Harry would not have been placed with those Muggles and spent more than half of his life living in a cupboard and never knowing the love of those who cared for him,”
“There was no time, I had to be sure that Harry was safe from the remains of the Death Eaters after Vold-,”
“Headmaster, I would request that you refrain from using his name. While you may hold belief that names hold power, your views are not shared with the rest of us,”
“My apologize to the court and the Madame,” Dumbledore responded, though there was even more irritation lacing his voice, “The Dark Lord followers were still a risk and I was not willing to allow harm to come to Harry by running right to the Ministry,”
“Then why didn’t you, after things had returned to peace? Why not after the trials of which you were a part? Why not when we the populace would ask about the child and you would tell us he was living a happy life with his relatives? You had many a time to come in and let us find a place for Mr. Potter, yet your hubris got in the way. Not only that, but you also refused to stay in contact with his relatives. While we may never know if it would have lessened their abuse, it would have been better than what did happen,” Madame Vers was fuming as she spoke, hard eyes drilling into Dumbledore’s
“Headmaster, while I can see why you did what you did, that is no excuse for it. You are not above our laws and our policies. No matter what greater good you may see. While the judgment of your custody is not up to me, I do hope that those within this courtroom take what has been said seriously. Do you have anything else to say,”
Dumbledore let out a small sigh of frustration, before turning back to face both Tony and Loki, anger in his eyes,
“While I may have to live with the pain that Harry endured on my hands, I would much rather this have happened than for him to be raised by individuals who care more for the destruction of the world than anything else,” his eyes roamed back to the courtroom as a whole, “I do hope you all see me for a man that is aware of his mistakes and his wish to atone for them. Harry will be best served in my care and I will do everything I can to make sure he is raised with all the love he should have had from the start,”
The chatter in the courtroom was hard to discern as Dumbledore finally returned to his spot. Many were still trying to come to terms with the part the man played with Harry being placed with Muggles. Others were still voicing their support that Dumbledore was the best choice for Harry. Yet, amongst them all, there were voices that were questioning not just the man’s ability to care for Harry, but his ability to care for any child under his care. For the first time, the credibility of Albus Dumbledore was up in the air within the Wizengamot.
“This man is just as manipulative as he’s ever been,” Loki said, leaning close to Tony, “Though I will say that Madame Vers did a great job of not letting him get away with much. Though I wonder why she didn’t grill him on his other shortcomings,”
“Whose to say,” Tony responded, suddenly feeling a small pang of worry in his chest, “You think she’s gonna be the same way with us,”
“Oh, most definitely. Chin up darling, we are up next,” Loki gave Tony’s leg a firm squeeze before turning his attention back to Madame Vers
“Loki Laufyson and Anthony Stark, I would request that you step to the stand. As your reasons for seeking custody are unique in their nature, I will inform the Wizengamot that their claims have not only been confirmed by our methods but by those of the Goblins as well. Gentlemen, if you may state your case,”
This was it, the moment that had been built up in Tony’s mind for almost a month. All that stood between him and having his son in his life was just getting the third degree from a witch who looked ready to pull no punches. Loki and Tony both had prepared themselves for having their worst moments dragged out for the court to see and were ready to state their cases against them. Seeing as Loki was the only one with magical blood, they had decided that he would do most of the talking.
“Madame Vers and members of the Wizengamot. Though you may not know of me, I assure you, I have been a part of this world far longer than most. My name is Loki Laufyson, son of Asgard,” Loki had paused for effect, and his words had his desired effect
Chatter had picked up rather quickly as everyone began to whisper about the fact there was a living God in their presence. Several members looked ready to worship the man, while others were watching on in slight fear.
“Yes, I am the Loki of your legend. While I know the Aseir have not been in contact with Wixen kind for an untold number of years, I have always held this place in high regard. So much so that I lived my life amongst you all not so long ago. I had forsaken my godly heritage and nature to live amongst you all as I found everything you all stood for to be almost intoxicating. I fell in love with Wixen kind and valued every moment I spent here on Earth. At least until the war,
“I had the honor of fighting alongside James and Lily Potter during the height of the last Wizarding War. They, alongside a few others, became close friends of mine. We confided in each other about so many things, including our love lives. At the time I was involved with Mr. Anthony Stark, a Muggle of quiet renown in their world. In the rush of that love, I became pregnant with his child. The sudden influx of extra magic from the child broke through the charms I had placed on my godly magical heritage. When it did, I knew that my child was not going to be safe with me,”
Loki’s breath hitched for a moment, and Tony reached and out took hold of his hand. Despite the slight cold nature Loki had about him, the way his fingers curled around Tony’s always felt warm.
“I…I had to return to Asgard and Odin would not have taken kindly to my child’s presence. It was Lily who came to me with a solution. She could not bear children, despite her and James’s best efforts. So, in order to make sure my child had a proper chance at life, we performed a surrogacy ritual, allowing Lily Potter to bare my son. A son who would be named Harry James Potter,”
The gasp was loud. Loud and coming from every last person in the courtroom. Gasps became cries of lies and slander. Yells of demanding proof. Shouts that Loki be dragged to Azkaban for daring to even suggest such a thing. So many people who were so sure of the truth that they had been told, that hearing anything to the contrary was going to shatter their worldview.
“I demand you all hold yourselves to order,” Madame Vers shouted, her voice magically amplified to ensure she could be heard over the rabble, “As I have said before, this has already been proven to be true. If the court will hold, copies of Mr. Potter’s Bloodline test, performed by my department, will be given to you. Within them, you will see that Lily and James Potter are listed as his surrogates while Loki and Anthony both are listed as his true parents,”
The sound of fluttering scrolls filled the air and with it came more mutters, although they were more muted than before. Tony caught sight of Dumbledore with his own copy of the scroll, those eyes of his glinting with a twinkle that looked more menacing to Tony than anything else. For a moment those blue eyes locked with his own and Tony felt something itching in his brain. Having dealt with Wanda’s brand of mental voodoo he was quick to avert his eyes, making a note to talk to Loki about whatever that was.
“Mr. Laufyson, would you like to continue,” Madame Vers asked once the court had ample time to read over the scroll,”
“Thank you. After the ritual, I returned to Asgard, seeking the aid of my people to put an end to the Dark Lord's reign of terror. Sadly, Odin saw fit to place the blocks on my mind of my time in Midgard amongst Wixen and of your plight. It wasn’t until recently that those blocks were removed from my mind. When they were I sought my son, wanting to be the parent he deserved,
“To my dismay, I found out that my son was in danger. Before I left, I had given my memories to a friend for safekeeping, with them locked behind magic to never be revealed unless Harry was in danger. The friend was told to seek out Anthony Stark for aid if I was not reachable. We both found each other in the search for our son and now that we are together once more, we merely want to be the parents we should have been for him from the start,”
Tony was glad that Loki was the one who had taken up the task of talking to them all, as he doubted he could have done as well. Hearing what Loki had gone through from this perspective was humbling for Tony. To have your memories of your son and the person you loved taken away sounded haunting, and Tony wanted nothing more than to comfort Loki. Let him know that things were going to be better. That he was going to make them better.
“I am glad that you found your son and your love Loki. That being said, I do have to question if you are both truly the best fit for Harry. For starters, is this your most recent return to what you called Midgard, Mr. Laufyson,” the question was direct and meant to get to a single point. One Tony knew was coming.
“No, it is not. Before my most recent return to Midgard I had arrived a few years prior, as head of an invasion on New York City,” Loki spoke plainly
The chatter began to turn loud once more.
“What do you mean by invasion Mr. Laufyson? Many of us are not aware of what goes on within the Muggle world and require a more in-depth explanation,”
“I was given control of a fleet of warriors known as the Chiutari by a horrible individual known as Thanos. Using powerful magic from an object known as the Mind Stone, he took control of my will and poisoned it toward Midgard. Under its control, I invaded New York with the intent of destroying all who opposed me and ruling over its people, all under the purview of Thanos,”
“How many lives were ended because of your invasion,” Madame Vers asked
“Hundreds,” Loki responded, swallowing thickly as he spoke, “Hundreds of lives, ended because I was not strong enough to resist the will of a single man. Even though I was not in full control, what I did still fell on me. In coming back here, I hope to not only reconnect with my son and Anthony but also atone for my crimes by protecting this realm from those that seek to harm it,”
“Mr. Laufyson, while I do empathize with your plight, my wife was one of the many who were placed under Imperio by the Death Eaters, this does not change what your actions were. You are asking us to place a child in the home of a man who led an invasion with the intent to rule over a people. Why should we give you custody of Harry in light of this?”
Loki gave Tony a smile, squeezing his hand one more time before leaving from behind the desk,
“I have been alive far longer than all within this courtroom. I have a history of bloodshed that stretches to the times of Merlin and beyond. I also have a history of compassion. Despite what I have done, these actions pale in comparison in what I have done to heal. While I am a God of lies and deception, I have used those skills for others. Worlds that would have been destroyed have been saved due to my silver tongue in the ear of the former All-Father. I will always bear the sins of my past and I will continue to atone for them, but that will never get in the way of my desire to protect,
“More than that, I want to protect my son. I’ve been told what my son has gone through since he was born. Attacked by a madman who held the shade of the monster who killed Lily and James. Bitten by a basilisk and left to die. Set upon by legions of dementors. Not to mention the tournament that almost ended his life. All of this was at an institution that was supposed to be a safe haven for my son to learn. Instead, he has had to face challenges that most Wixen would balk at. All under the watch of the Headmaster,”
Loki finished with a huff, having been pacing the length of the courtroom, making sure to keep them all focused on him as he spoke. His brow was slick with sweat and his eyes filled with emotion. Tony had never seen him look so vulnerable before. It was beautiful to watch.
“I’m not going to be a perfect father, not by a long shot. Yet, I cannot and will not be remotely like those who have tried to do their best for Harry and failed, all while working for the greater good in the background,”
Loki returned to his seat and the courtroom was left in silence. Thoughts were all over the place, all of them focused in on what they just heard. Not only about the man being a literal god but his crimes as well. Many were stunned that someone would willingly admit to something like that, even if they had been under the control of another. For many in the court, it was hard to feel one way or another about Loki.
“Thank you for your words Mr. Laufyson, as well as your honesty. As for you, Anthony Stark, I fear that your actions would go over the head of many a Wixen within this hall. However, I must ask why you feel that you can care for Mr. Potter. I had my more Muggle-inclined agents look into you and your history, including your job as a flying metal man,”
Tony was a bit taken aback to have been addressed by Madame Vers. Looking over to Loki, who merely gestured for him to stand, Tony steeled himself and stood. More than anything he was missing the constant reassurance of FRIDAY in his ear; his AI would have known just what to say to help him stay calm and bury his nerves. Instead, all he had to center himself was Loki being right beside him.
That would have to be enough.
“Right, well first off let me say, you all have been wonderful today. I’m still trying to grasp the whole magical thing, and while it seems a bit limiting, I’m glad it hasn’t dulled your sense of justice and fairness. At least by much,” Tony couldn’t help the snark and sarcasm, it was just built into him
“To the point please, Mr. Stark,” Madame Vers warned
“Sorry, let me get to that. Put simply, Harry couldn’t be safer than if he were with me. Point blank, period. I know you all don’t know what goes on beyond the walls you all have put up, but the world is far more dangerous than just your little Dark Lord running around. So much more dangerous. I should know, I used to play a part in making it dangerous,
“Before I had my character development at the hands of some terrorist and someone who I saw as an Uncle, I sold weapons. Weapons that make the little sticks you all have here look like, well sticks. My name was probably the last thing many people saw before they were snuffed out of existence. Yet, I turned a corner. Turned over a new leaf. I left all that behind for the sake of making a better world. I became a hero. Saved the world a few times, and gave the city I loved clean energy. Doing my part to make sure this little ball was still spinning, yet something was still missing,
“I didn’t know what it was until I met Harry. The moment I saw that messy hair and green eyes I knew I’d do anything to protect him. To keep him safe. To make sure he had a life better than the one he had been given. I know you all claim to love Harry, but you only care about the image of him. Even this man,” Tony leveled a finger at Dumbledore, “Seems to have his own plans for my son, but none of them are about him getting to be a kid. Cause I think all of you seem to forget that. All of you know what he has done and what he has lived through, and does any of that sound like a kid getting to live his life,”
Tony felt exasperated, his heart pounding in his chest as he spoke, not used to such a wellspring of emotions coming from him. It was weird, none of it was planned or being fed to him by FRIDAY. Just his honest feelings for that scrawny kid who had become the center of his life in such a short time.
“Just…just trust us when we say Harry needs to be with us,”
Tony fell into his seat, letting the words of the rest of the Wixen go by. His eyes drifted over to look at Loki, who held his gaze with a soft smile. There was an entire conversation in those eyes, so many things that were longing to be said and Tony could hear every last one of them. Hopefully, by the time this entire day was over, he’d be able to answer them. With his family. That would be nice.
“Well, if that is all you have to say, I believe we should give the Wizengamot time to deliberate their ruling,” came the voice of Madame Vers.
Tony looked around the chamber once more, trying to get a read on what the general vibe was. It was honestly hard to tell, truly the decision was going to be a close one. Whatever the outcome though, Tony knew he wasn’t going to be leaving London without his child in tow. No matter the cost. He wasn’t going to lose his kid before he even got to know him.
Predatory eyes watched the exit, hidden within the bushes. The same one he had been taken out to avoid the press after his own trial. Out of sight and out of mind. He could feel the voices in his head swirling and tumbling about. So many voices, so hard to tell what was his and what was theirs. So hard to ignore their call and what they wanted. What they desired. Even now he still felt sick to his stomach at knowing their plan and the part he was to play in it. Yet, he could do nothing to stop it.
It was the first time he had ever felt whole in so long. Felt connected to a part of him he didn’t even know had been stolen when he was young. He was going to do anything to keep that feeling. To not feel alone. As long as he did what they said, he would never be alone again. He’d have them All of them.
The many souls of the House of Black.
His keen ears picked up the sound of commotion coming from the hidden exit, disguised as a Muggle portable loo of all things. He could hear the voices in his head, filling his thoughts with theirs. The utter disgust at something so Muggle even being associated with the magical world. They would see to it that it was removed. When they had the boy, they’d have more than enough power to do as they pleased.
‘No. Not my pup. Not Harry’ came a stray thought that the man once recognized as his voice. It was quickly buried deeper, alongside those pesky feelings and emotions.
A Black had no use for those, not when they got in the way of progress. Not when they got in the way of the goal of furthering the Dark.
The mongrel form of the wizard tensed as he saw the figures stepping out of the portable loo. First was a redhead man, a WeasleyBlood Traitor. He was followed closely behind by a long-haired man that he barely recognized and another that he was all too familiar with. A Muggle that his vessel pup was asking about. Right between them was him. The boy. Harry. Brimming with power and potential.
The group was conversating, nothing the animangus paid attention to. Instead, he stalked closer, the magic of the multitude of souls inhabiting his body keeping him from being detected. His pupvessel was laughing, a sight that he hadn’t seen in so long. Smiling and sharing a laugh with those who would soon be brought to heel. Ones that would pay for their traitorous ways.
The boy broke away, moving slightly away from the others. Just enough to do what needed to be done. The form of the dog began to melt away, giving birth to the form of Sirius Black. The man was clad in proper robes, the Black crest embroidered upon a black velvet robe. He looked like an inky shadow come to life, only his eyes visible from within the hood that hung over his face.
As he took his strides, hand outstretched, he watched as the boy pup turned around to face him, seemingly seeing beyond the hood and its magical darkness.
“Si…Sirius, is that you,” came the half whisper from Harry. His voice was soft, filled with worry.
For a moment, the souls of the House of Black lost control. The confusion slipped from Sirius’ eyes as he looked at Harry, the hood pulled back so he could see all of his Godson.
“Harry. I…I am sorry,” the man managed to say through tears before the souls once more wrestled him back under their control.
Their hand tightly gripped the shoulder of the child and pulled him close, holding him prisoner with sheer magical force alone. They paid no mind to the three men, ignoring their calls and cries. They smirked, the mouth of their current vessel filled with an uncomfortable number of teeth as they continued to warp his visage with their presence.
“Harry,” cried out the Muggle, running forward. He would never make it as they vanished from the spot with a simple turn.
They had their prize.
They would rise ever more powerful, and raze the land for this generation Dark Lord.
All would fear House Black once more.