Chapter 6
The day started as it usually did. Shouta was back in school, had been since September actually, so Tony was back in Japan. After everything that had happened over the summer and Stane’s betrayal still burning deep inside of him Tony was glad that he had a bit of a reprieve from any world shattering events thank you very much. He was also glad that he’s getting to spend this reprieve in Japan with his son. His son, that’s still so weird to say but he wouldn’t change it for the world. Shouta finally started opening up to him more, and he still calls him dad so he counts that as a win. With Shouta back in school and Tony in Japan still setting up meetings for the SI branch he wants to build in Shizuoka, he wasn’t doing anything besides working on new Iron Man suits in his workshop, a warehouse in the red light district that he got for pretty cheap in an area that Shouta wanted to be familiar with. It currently was only five in the morning so Tony had some time before he had to get Shouta up for school. Which means he was currently enjoying his fresh pot of coffee while scrolling through design ideas from the R&R team based in New York.
“Sir, there’s an owl currently tapping on the living room window with what looks like a scroll of parchment attached to it’s leg.”
“An owl?”
“That is correct Sir.”
“Similar to the ones from New York?”
“The very same Sir.”
“Thanks J. Don’t wake up Tell Tale Heart in there he needs all the sleep he can get considering his meds for his insomnia stopped working a week ago.”
Tony chugs down the last of his coffee before heading out to the living room to let in the damn owl that was probably from MACUSA again. Goddamn he was tired of them he was a no-maj they shouldn’t care about his opinion on magical happenings. That’s not his department, and they don’t pay him enough for the things they ask him to do. Opening up the window he beckons the bird in and leads it to a shelf it can perch on, and no he didn’t design it just because he knew this would happen eventually shut up Jarvis, grabbing the spare owl treats he keeps on hand. He feeds a few to the bird as he unfurls the scroll, eyebrows shooting up the further he reads as he realizes it is not in fact from MACUSA rather, it’s from the branch of Gringotts located in Diagon Alley.
He didn’t think he still had relatives alive from that area of the world except Aunt Peggy, but she was stateside and had been since WW2. He feels that paternal protective rage encompasses him again as he reads about a relative he didn’t know he had, that he was supposed to have custody of 13 years ago but was unable to due to a sealed will of all things. How this 14 year old cousin was signed up for a death tournament that was meant only for those of age in the wizarding world, and if his rightful guardian didn’t show up to dispute the claim then he would be forced to participate or he’ll lose his magic. How there were supposed to be protections in place to prevent things such as this happening, and how he only had two weeks to get to Scotland to dispute the claims at the school his cousin was attending.
“Shit. J I’m going to need you to text Pep and tell her I need a legal contract drawn up for the secret cult my family is apart of. It has to be airtight and ready to go in the next 24 hours. I also need to schedule a plane out of Tokyo to London in the same timeframe, and shoot a text to Inko telling her that I’m missing my daily hangouts with Izuku for the foreseeable future. Send a final text to Nezu telling him that Shouta may or may not be in school for the next week or two depending on what the kid wants to do when he wakes up, the rat should be awake by now, and to send all of his work through to you either way so if he needs help I’m prepared on what he’ll need. Tell Rhodey I’m going into a deadzone for a few and not to worry, that if he needs to reach me ask Pepper she has the only way to contact me. We still have those two owls set up in Malibu right?”
“Correct sir, they’re at the edge of the forest hideaway not the beach house, but they are being taken care of daily by trustworthy people and should be ready to fly at any point.”
“Great, that’s great. Any reply from Pep?”
“Yes sir, she has responded asking for specifics.”
“Tell her it has to do with some sort of magical competition that draws your name with an immediate magical contract if chosen, that has a penalty of lost magic and is trying to be held against a minor without his legal guardian present.”
“Done sir. Anything else?”
“Not yet J. Keep an ear out for Gerard Way, let me know when he’s awake, and send him to the living room once he’s up but before he gets dressed. I’ll ask him if he wants to stay with Inko for the week or come with me to the UK.”
Tony puts his head in his hands taking a deep breath before heading towards his room with the intent to pack everything he’d need for about two weeks of international travel. Once all his bags are packed he drags them into the living room, makes another pot of coffee because he won’t survive the rest of today without at least two more pots, and Shouta will need coffee too being the caffeine addicted gremlin that he is. When he looks at the clock and realizes that it’s still only 6:45 and Shouta probably won’t be up for another half hour unless he has a nightmare again, he starts making breakfast for the two of them. It’s not something they usually do, both of them not really having an appetite in the morning, but he had a feeling he’d need the energy for the things about to come today. Right as he was finishing the bacon J calls out that Shouta is awake and heading towards the kitchen instead of the living room so they can eat together.
“Thanks J. Keep an eye out for any response from Pepper about the flight and the contract.”
“Yes Sir.”
Tony finishes plating up just as Shouta is slouching into the kitchen, hair hanging in braids towards his shoulders, done by Tony last night during movie night at Inko’s.
“Hey Pink Panther, you’re looking chipper today.” Shouta grunts in reply. “I made a fresh pot of coffee if you want some.”
“.. Do we have that fancy caramel sauce you got from France last month?”
“There should still be some leftover. If not there’s that fancy belgian chocolate we got last weekend that you liked to use melted. Once you get your coffee set up I need to talk to you. You’re not in trouble and there’s nothing wrong, well nothing wrong with me so you don’t have to get all worried Fluttershy. I just want your opinion since this is your family too.”
“Alright dad. But first coffee.”
“But first coffee.” Tony ruffles Shota’s hair as he gives him a proud little smile before turning back to the plates in his hand and heading toward the island counter to put them down. He grabs his coffee off the counter and sits down to begin eating his food while he waits for his son to finish making his coffee.
“Alright dad, what’s this important thing you need to talk to me about?”
“As you’re now part of this family I’m allowed to tell you this. And after everything we’ve been through together I completely understand if you’re mad at me but you have to promise not to do anything too rash ok? If you need to leave for a little while I want you to go to Inko’s or Hizashi’s. I’d say Nemuri’s but I’m afraid she’ll take advantage of the situation and turn you into a tea lover and we can’t have that. Promise me, catboy.”
“I promise dad. Geez you’re making me worried.” And he was. Tony could see it in his son's eyes, a spark of unease and concern. It warmed his heart finally, finally, after all this time his son trusts him.
“I’m half joking kiddo. Listen there’s a secret I couldn’t tell you before, but since your adoption became official at the beginning of this month I can finally tell you.” So Tony reveals everything about the magical world, or at least the parts of it that he knows about. He didn’t have magic being a squib so he never went to any of the schools that taught magic. He did have a potions tutor, and he took a couple arithmancy and ancient runes courses throughout his life but other than that he had very limited knowledge in structured magical lessons. He then explains the situation that he’s in. A cousin he didn’t know existed, but that needed his help. “That’s where we are currently. I have to leave, and it will be within the next 12 hours or so most likely. I’ll probably be in Britain for a week or two, maybe more. And you’re a smart kid Shou, you probably can guess this but he’s probably going to have to come home with us. I’ll probably have to adopt him so the contract will stick legally in both worlds so they can’t trip him up in red tape. You just got used to life here with me and the two of us being family, I don’t want to ruin that, but kid this is something that has to happen. Which is why I made you promise not to do anything too rash.”
“I understand dad. He’s family. You didn’t know he existed but he obviously needs your help, and your help means my help. I’m not leaving you I promise, you never left me.”
“Thanks kid. I mean it. But that does bring me to the next point. I have to go but you don't. I texted Nezu he knows the decision is up to you and that there’s a possibility you’ll be absent from classes for a week or two, but you could also stay with Inko until I can come back here. It’s up to you Shou.”
“If he’s going to be part of our family, he needs the whole family dad. I’m going with you.”
“You’re a good kid grumpy cat.”
“I don’t think I would’ve been this kind of person if I hadn’t met you that day dad. I would’ve continued to shut everyone out because of Oboro. And I wouldn’t have gone to therapy as soon as I did, it probably would’ve taken me years to do that too. Thank you dad. If I can help someone who’s in the same position I was, the way you helped me then I have to do it.”
With that they share a smile before diving into their breakfast, finishing in record time and going to pack Shouta’s things.
“J tell Pep we need to make sure the airport in England knows we’re bringing the kid with us. And tell Nezu the kid’s coming with me so he needs to send double the work to you, and that he’ll be spending his work studies doing legal work with me and Pepper for the next two weeks so he’ll have the proper paperwork set up so the kid isn’t behind his classmates.”
“Anything else sir?”
“Make sure that Pep has those documents ready when we land in Britain. Ask her if she’ll send Happy out to us on loan.”
“Dad, you can’t rent out Uncle Happy.”
“I can do whatever the hell I want Panic! At the Greenday Concert you and Pep can’t tell me what I can and can’t do.”
“Say that to Auntie Pep.”
“No thank you, I like my head where it is son.”
“That’s what I thought. J you got all that right?”
“Of course young sir, sending it to Colonel Rhodes now.”
“You’re a doll Jarvis.”
“I’m selling you both to a community college. Good luck becoming a hero with their lacking education system.”
“Har-har dad, I didn’t believe you before, I believe you even less now. Besides without Jarvis I don’t think you’d know how to tie your shoes, or turn on your coffee maker.”
“Jokes on you Drowzee, my shoes don’t have laces.” Tony sticks his tongue out at his son, who rolls his eyes in response, “and coffee-makers are the one thing I will always know how to use instinctively.”
“And they call you a genius.”
“I am! I’ll have you know that by the time I was your age I had graduated from MIT summa cum laude! I have an IQ of 186! 186! I am super genius level intellect hellspawn! That’s a higher IQ than Einstein! Einstein! How dare!?”
“And yet Nezu still beats you at Chess every time you guys play.”
“Do not bring the RAT into this! He doesn’t count. High specs basically makes him a cheater. His IQ is unnatural.”
“Suuure dad. Whatever you say.”
“I’m insulted. Attacked. By my own son too. Who would’ve thought.”
“Sorry to interrupt sir, but Ms. Potts is on the phone for you.”
“Patch her through J.”
“Tony?”
“Hey Pep. Gothica and I are packing his things currently he’s coming with to England. Is that paperwork ready yet?”
“Yeah it is Tones. But do you even know who this cousin is? Because I just found out and you’re going to lose your shit.”
“That doesn’t sound good. All I know is he’s a fourth year at Hogwarts, why people still send their kids there when that daft old fool is still running it I will never know, and that his name is Harry.”
“Yeah Harry. As in Harry Potter.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.. No Pep c’mon.”
“Tones…”
“Listen universe I get it you hate me but I just got a reprieve from all this nonsense stop sending me more! I just want to help out a family member. Is that too much to ask?!”
“Apparently. Listen this does change things, but luckily I contacted MACUSA and the Gringotts branch located in New York and they’re both willing to go to bat with you over Dumbledore and the British ministry over custody and guardianship of Harry. You have backing, which you deserve after everything you do for MACUSA and with so little payment in return.”
“I mean the little payment amount is coming in handy now though isn’t it? I should just start telling them they owe me and my family favors if we ever need them.”
“That probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’ll check your current contract with them, see if I can update it at all, switch it around to add favor clauses in. But that’ll have to wait until the immediate threat is taken care of. Your plane leaves in a few hours so I’d get a move on if I were you Tones. Also Shou love it’s cold and rainy in Scotland this time of year so make sure you pack proper clothes. And don’t let Tony convince you that a three piece suit is considered proper clothes. One or two of them in case this goes to court is fine but I expect you to have full suitcases of clothes that aren’t suits. Both of you. I will have Jarvis tell me if you don’t.”
“Wow Pep, so little trust in me.” Pepper just gives him a blank stare and a raised eyebrow, “Listen it happened one time and now you don’t trust me.”
“Tony, you went to Aruba. You almost passed out from heat stroke.”
“But I looked killer when I did.”
“Not the point. And no you can’t loan out Happy sorry. He’s on official business here getting things set up for your new kid.”
“Ughh fine.”
“Tony, you have a driver in every country you spend any decent amount of time in and England is one of the ones you spend the most time in besides Italy and Japan.”
“Fiiiiine you can send the other guy. Is it a guy?”
“Yes Tony it’s a guy. Your only female driver is Stella-Luna in Sicily.”
“Ah yes, some cousin from my mom's side. Make sure you send her kids a birthday gift that’s coming up soon.”
“Yes Tony, now stop procrastinating. You have a flight to catch in 3 hours and it’s a two hour drive to the airport.”
“Cutting it close there, Pep.”
“Yeah well I figured it would tell you to move. If I hear from the pilot you delayed him taking off I will have your head Tony.”
“Ma’am yes ma’am Ms. Potts. That’ll be all then.”
“I’ll send you the paperwork through Jarvis. Text me when you land Shou love!”
“Bye Auntie Pep!”
With that done the father and son duo rush to finish packing, and in Tony’s case repacking, before rushing out the door where a driver was waiting for them. The two hour drive to the airport is filled with Tony answering any of his son's questions about the wizarding world that he has answers to, and who exactly Harry Potter is and why Tony was so upset when he found out who he was. By the time they get to the airport Tony has answered all the questions Shouta had and they’re both filled with nervous energy for the situation they’re walking into. They board the plane and get settled before they fall asleep, Shouta’s head on Tony’s arm.
In what feels like minutes to the sleeping pair, they arrive in England and are de-boarding their flight. Waiting for them is a discreet black car with tinted windows and an old man waiting beside the car.
“Get ready kid you’re about to meet some really outdated people, with some really backwards ways of thinking. They don’t have quirks and don’t know they exist so try not to mention them or they’ll think you’re crazy. Also word of advice they can be kind of wary of outsiders so try not to take anything they say to heart, they’re used to people coming in trying to destroy their culture and ways of living so it makes them a little aggressive if you seem new.”
“Got it dad. Don’t insult the natives, you know you didn’t really have to tell me that, it’s part of the sensitivity training that Nezu made me go through last year to immerse myself in their culture instead of pushing my own.”
“That damned rat, of course he taught you that. Well at least it’s better than any world ending, government crushing, conspiracy planning lessons. I know he has a folder of them too, they’re in the right side of his desk in the secret compartment on the inside underneath the black folder with the word encrypted on it in Mandarin. Like come on I know you’re a genius but how more cliche can you get. Mandarin, I don’t even know mandarin and I know about every other language in the developed worlds.”
“Dad you’re doing it again.”
“Yeah I know, I can’t help it. Stupid rat thinks he’s smarter than me. I’m a certified genius! I’m Iron Man!”
“You’re fighting with me over whether my intelligent Stout principal is smarter than you when his IQ is so high he refuses to record it. Also being Iron Man makes you certifiably stupid. Did you forget the whole almost killing yourself with heavy metal toxins thing?”
“How could I forget when all of you choose to bring that up every ten seconds.”
“Just making sure you don’t become that illogical again dad, for someone that’s a genius you literally are the dumbest person I know and I’m friends with Tensei.”
“Did you just compare me to the Iida brat?”
“.. So what if I did it’s true.”
“Shou, my darling son, he licked a lightbulb the other day because he wanted to see what electricity tasted like.”
“My point stands.”
“I give up, remind me never to talk to you again.” Tony says throwing his hands in the air. Shouta laughs while shoving his hands in his pockets, enjoying the familiar banter between him and his dad, they’ve been through a lot since they’ve met and he doubts it’s going to stop now, but he’s glad they’ve made it to this point.
———————————————
In Scotland at an isolated school surrounded by a forest, there’s a 14 year old boy named Harry Potter laying in bed and regretting his life. He’s thinking of how he got here and wishing there was a way out of the suicide competition his name was pulled from. Little does he know his wish is about to come true but his whole life will be turned upside down with it.