Chapter 4
Summer after 3rd year-Avengers facility
The first summer in which Harry comes to stay involves an above average amount of stress for Tony. Pepper is four months pregnant and, thankfully, getting over the sickness of the first trimester. However, with a baby on the way and a mysterious son they hope will stay with them; buying a new house and getting everything organized has been a nightmare.
Not to mention the thick fog of depression that continues to cloud everything anybody does post Thanos.
So, stress.
---
When Pepper and Tony take Harry to see his room, Harry stares and stares. There's a silence that lasts long enough to become heavy with anticipation and regret before Harry breaks it by turning to thank them with enough enthusiasm to leave them breathless.
Tony frowns, feeling wrongfooted. He's the first to admit that the room is nice. It's fairly large and has enough empty space to make the room feel open and airy. The walls are a muted forest green which complicates the simple but elegant white desk and bed covers and there is a wardrobe in the corner next to a large window. It's nice but Tony thinks tears are a little much.
Still, they accept his thanks with bemusement as Harry places his trunk in the corner of the room and attribute the reaction to the generally emotional atmosphere.
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Summer 2023
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As a wizard who grew up in England, it's fairly ironic that the first time Harry travels to Italy, he takes an 11 hours flight from America. It's not a lot longer than the flight he and Sirius took from England to New York after Harry's third year, and at least this time he doesn't have the prospect of meeting his father or his escaped convict godfather getting arrested to worry about. Harry swallows as he considers how much he wishes they were still here for him to worry about.
---
At the airport Harry is introduced to a boy called Brad. He's intimidatingly tall and handsome in a way that reminds Harry painfully of Cedric.
He introduces himself as they wait in the queue for customs.
"Hi, I'm Brad, were you one of the ones affected by the blip? I feel like I haven't seen you around."
Harry ducks his head, "Nah. Name's Harry. I actually just moved here and my mum wanted me to go on this trip so I would know people for next year."
Brad smiles and Harry's traitorous heart skips a beat. "A Brit huh?"
Harry rubs his head, "is it that obvious?"
Brad nods, "Don't worry, the ladies love a British accent, unless you've got somebody back home?"
Harry shakes his head.
"Well, we've got the whole trip to fix that."
Harry rolls his eyes, "What about you, anyone special?"
Brad’s smile turns mischievous, "Not just yet, but I hope to fix that."
----
Harry is pleasantly surprised to find that he's seated next to Brad on the plane, considering he feels as if he's done enough small talk for one day.
However, his tentative contentment gives way to suspicion when he notices Ned and Peter whispering furiously to each other and, from his seat next to Brad, Harry could hear whispered mutters of "MJ" and "plan."
They were definitely up to something. Harry could tell, because the boy had the subtlety of a brick. A scathing judgement coming from him.
---
When Peter fakes a perfume allergy, presumably to get close to this aforementioned "MJ"and ends up seated next to the teacher he can't help but laugh a little. As somebody whose plans have frequently taken a turn for the unfortunate he's glad it's not him this time.
Harry turns to the pretty brunette girl he's somehow ended up next to as a result of Peter's shenanigans."Hi, " he says, turning to face MJ, "Harry, Harry Potts."
"Uh hi, MJ," Harry resists the urge to laugh as they shake hands.
She squints, "You know it's super sus that you're attending the summer trip of a school you don't attend."
"I'm actually attending next year, if that makes it any better. I just moved here and Mum didn't want me to waste my summer because I don't know anybody."
MJ snickers "Mum, nice accent."
"I grew up in England, if that wasn't obvious. My friend Pansy is of the opinion you Americans butcher the language."
She snickers again mouthing Pansy to herself.
"Where were you living before? If not with your mother?"
Harry ducks his head, "it's a long story, but I grew up with my dad's side of the family in England and I didn't really know much about mum until reconnected when I was twelve. Since then I've mostly done the school year in England and summers in America."
MJ raises an eyebrow. "Why the move?"
"Uh," Harry runs a hand over the back of his hair. "My Dad died, and then so did Mum's husband and she just thought it was best to have the whole family together."
MJ blows out a breath, "Rough."
Harry winces "Yeah, sorry to be a drag."
MJ shrugs, "I prefer honesty to false optimism"
Harry grins, "Most of my friends share that exact sentiment."
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Summer after third year-cont
On his first night in America, Harry feels so overwhelmed he almost cries in front of Pepper and Tony. It's so embarrassing that thinking about it almost makes Harry cry again.
His life has changed so much that it's almost like discovering magic for a second time. New country, new house, more family than he's had in his entire life.
It's sort of humiliating that the thing to send him over the edge is a bedroom all to himself.
----
Over the next few days Harry is introduced to a sliding door of people.
The first is James 'Rhodey" Rhodes, apparently one of his Dad's oldest friends. He laughs when he meets Harry and jokes that he's shocked that Harry is Tony's only accidental love child. This prompts Sirius to laugh a little too long and a little too loud and a hasty subject change.
The second is Happy Hogan who, impressively, seems to be more uncomfortable with social cues than Harry. In a stunningly awkward miscalculation Happy informs Harry that he's glad Tony has somebody to cheer him up in Peter's absence. The sentiment serves to infuriate Sirius, exasperate Pepper, add to Harry's growing insecurity and cause Tony to go curiously blank.
Next, there's a blue woman named Nebula who despite her angry black eyes and generally hostile disposition, is more endearing than scary.
Then Rocket, who Sirius manages to piss off by calling him a Racoon but likes Harry because he can keep up with his wit. Even if he resents having to censor himself on account of Harry's youth.
There's Natasha "Call me Nat" Romanov who laughs when Harry tells her that red hair seems to be a bit of a theme in his life.
There's Steve Rogers, apparently Captain America. His blonde hair and pointy features give him a likeness to Draco Malfoy that sets Harry's teeth on edge. However a memory of Dudley receiving a figurine of him for his birthday before Petunia burnt it on account of the super soldier's 'freakishness' gives Harry an odd sense of kinship.
Finally, there's Thor.
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Summer 2023
The trip so far has been going much better than Harry anticipated. Having hit it off with both Brad and MJ Harry's fears of being the weird kid with no friends who always gets partnered with the teacher had somewhat lifted. So when they land in Italy Harry finds himself uncharacteristically excited.
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Unfortunately, it does not take long for Harry's optimism to deflate. It's not the dilapidated hotel that gets to him or even the fact that one of their planned destinations happens to be close. Instead, Harry's good mood is ruined when he finds himself rooming with an obnoxious Draco-Malfoy type kid.
The kid's name is Flash and he spends 90% of the time complaining about his rich kid problems like he thinks he's some sort of martyr suffering on behalf of humanity. Harry, who has only just escaped a long and devastating war, honestly feels like he could throttle him.
----
It takes all of one day for all hell breaks loose, Harry feels as if he should have expected it. He supposes it was rather naïve of him to assume that the end of Voldemort meant the end of his woes. He's disappointed is all.
---
The day had started okay, in spite of a frankly underwhelming hotel, the city of Venice was beautiful and Harry had been content to hang with MJ and Brad as they took photos and admired the scenery whilst desperately trying to avoid Flash.
He's just been roped into listening to one of Flash's dull and meandering rants about how superior he is to Peter Parker when the canal erupts in an explosion of water and chaos. The explosion sets his teeth on edge and he has to grit his teeth against the panic that settles low in his gut.
As people begin to flee in panic, he's struck with a moment of indecision. He feels as if he should intervene, he has the power aftercall, but he's been leery of magic since the end of the war.
He watches in paralyzed indecision as what looks like a giant made of water rears up from the canal and punches a building. He anxiously looks around for somebody else who might take responsibility for this mess.
He almost laughs when Peter unsubtly and ineffectively shoots some web at the monster. The web, predictably, passes through the water with no effect on the creature. As Harry takes in the scores of people fleeing for their lives and considers what might happen if it takes out buildings full of people, a steely resolve builds in his gut. He hastily casts a disillusionment charm on himself before running towards Peter.
Theoretically, if the creature is made of water, Harry might be able to make it evaporate.
Just as he has this thought, the creature is bounding towards a bridge that covers the canal. It's filled with people.
Peter, the massive show off, uses a giant oar to pole vault onto the bridge. Harry apparates next to him and they exchange dubious glances before turning to face the, now alarmingly close, water monster.
Just as Harry is raising his wand, and Peter is grabbing his mask a flying figure appears in a jolt of green mist.
In Harry's experience green is never a good sign, so he turns his wand on the figure. Peter, who must have been alerted to Harry's presence due to the crack of apparition, nocks his wand out of his hand.
"Dude, he's here to help."
"How do you-" before he manages to voice his concerns, the water monster advances. Harry,caught off guard, falls into the canal as the bridge collapses beneath him.
---
By the time Harry gets himself out of the canal and relocates his wand, Peter, the monster and the green figure are long gone. He could try and assist, he supposes, but he's just a little bit bitter that Peter didn't even attempt to make sure he was okay. Instead he makes his way back to the hotel.
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Summer after third year- cont
The introduction between Harry and Thor goes like this:
"Like the Norse god of thunder? Wicked. All the kids in my year liked Greek mythology because of this book series but I liked Norse better because I thought the Vikings were cool. Did you know any Vikings?"
Thor chuckled heartily, "Some," his gaze goes distant, "they were certainly a lively bunch," he adds tone fond.
"I read somewhere that people used to worship specific gods they felt connected to and I always felt connected to you because of my scar." Here, Harry pushes up his skin to reveal his lightning bolt scar.
Thor smiles for the first time in a long time, "I am honored that you think so highly of me. Although I haven't been living up to my reputation as of late."
Harry waves his hand dismissively "Don't worry, you can't be worse than Gilderoy Lockhart. He was my second year defense teacher and was famous for his skill and talent but his biggest 'talent' was being a total hack that was half decent at a memory charm."
"At the very least I promise to be as honest as possible."
Harry beams.
---
Summer 2023
It's a few hours after the debacle with the Mr. Green Flying man-dubbed Mysterio by the Italian media- and the water monster. Harry feels strung out and on edge, pacing the walls restlessly and unable to hold a conversation.
It's getting late and all the students have retreated to their rooms to unwind and get ready for bed. With nothing better to do Harry sits on his bed and pulls out his phone to call Pepper.
"Hi Mum," Harry winces, preferring to refer to Pepper by her first name, but not willing to give up the façade in public.
"Hi Harry, enjoying your trip?"
"The plane was alright. The girl I sat with was pretty nice. The hotel isn't exactly Tony Stark standards but at least it isn't infested like grimmauld."
Pepper laughs and warmth bursts in Harry's chest. "At least there's that. We've missed you here. Morgan especially. She hates not having you to entertain her at dinners."
"I'm sure there are plenty of people that would be willing to shower her in attention, but I appreciate the sentiment. Send Morgan my love"
The conversation lasts for a few more minutes and Harry suffers through Pepper pestering him about making friends and participating with the kind of irritated affection only felt between family.
When the call finishes he's immediately accosted by his obnoxious roommate.
"Did you say Tony Stark standards? And send your love to Morgan as in Morgan Stark?" The kid is practically vibrating.
"Yeah." Harry hedges leaning away as the boy is suddenly right in his face.
"How do you know the Starks? What are they like? Do you know Spiderman? Did you know Peter knows Spiderman."
"Slow down," Harry bites, "I know the Stark's because Pepper is my mum. Hence Harry Potts."
"Potts?"
"Oh my god, she goes by Stark now but Potts is her maiden name."
"Pepper Stark is your mother?"
Harry pinches the bridge of his nose. "Yes."
"Does that mean Tony Stark is your father?" Flash asks fervently before callously correcting himself, "was your father?"
"He was my step father," it’s this lie he hates more than any of them, "and I'm done with this conversation." he says before storming out of the room.
----
Harry spends some time wandering the hotel to calm his nerves. He's heading back to his room when he spots Nick Fury of all people heading into Peter's room. Curious, he decides to investigate.
--
"Hi Nick," Harry says, coming to sit on the couch next to an unconscious Ned, "what's up?"
"What's up?" Nick mutters to himself looking thoroughly disgusted, "What's up is your friend here can't pick up his goddamn phone."
Harry, feeling uncharitable, wrinkles his nose at the use of the word friend. He turns to face Peter and affects his best approximation of disappointment , "That's just rude man."
Peter glares. Harry smiles.
"It's straight up insulting. A high school kid dodging my calls., like I don't have better things to do than following up Peter Parker."
Harry swings his legs absently as Nick spends some time reaming Peter Parker. After Peter's performance earlier that day, disarming him before leaving him to drown, Harry's feeling a little bit low on empathy.
He refocuses on the conversation when Nick places a fancy hologram thingy on the table before launching into an explanation of the water creature.
He informs them of a Cyclone that had a face in Mexico and a similar attack in a village in Morocco. Explaining to them how a pattern seems to be emerging and steps must be taken to address it.
He informs Peter in no uncertain terms that he's to come with him to a more secure location to continue the discussion. He then eyes Harry speculatively, "You can tag along if you want."
Harry considers refusing. Honestly, he does. It's just thatwhilst he may not actively seek out trouble, he's never been able to ignore it knocking on his doorstep.
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