The Power Within
CHAPTER 13: THE POWER WITHIN
Astonishing.
To be able to conjure water and fire wandlessly was impossible. To be able to do at five years old was simply unthinkable. No one in their right minds will ever imagine anything like it to happen.
But it did. Harry Stark managed to conjure water and then fire.
The five-year-old was elemental. And no, not one but two forces.
If only someone went to trouble and checked on Harry Potter when he was six they'd know he could do it effortlessly. How else would he have survived locked either in his cupboard or out the shed for too long?
He was simply forced into suppressing the strength of his magic after being trashed and beaten for too long.
Harry Stark wasn't. Instead, he was accepted and loved. He had room to develop his abilities and was lauded when he does magic.
Severus loved teaching the boy. He was exactly what Julian described. Smart, likable, focused, and so much more.
He thought about Harry Potter sometimes. Would Harry have had this sort of power if he was looked after? Somehow, he thought Albus must have not known the extent of Harry Potter's capabilities. Only that the boy must either kill the Dark Lord or die at his hands.
It pained him to think just how much Britain threw away such potential, all to program a boy into submission and build itself a weapon.
Harry Stark was lucky enough to be adopted by a loving father who subsequently is one of the richest men on earth.
Which brings him back to his theory that Harry Potter and Harry Stark were one and the same.
The little prodigy was adopted from England. Found on an abandoned house in Surrey, no less. He just wasn't sure if the kid was a reincarnation or exactly the same person. As an academic, Severus knew there were many ways to fake death. He just didn't know how Potter turned back to a child and if someone helped him, who was it?
He reckoned it didn't matter now. Whether Stark is really Potter made no difference, at least for him. He would still continue guiding the child to his full potential.
It's a good thing he moved into Stark, now Avengers Tower after a long negotiation and persuasion from Tony. He was able to learn more about the child. Not just his abilities but his story as well.
He had issues, of course. He was so used to living alone that suddenly living with six other people and a constant flow of visitors was intimidating.
Yet, he found solace in the uniqueness of every one of them. There were all once puppets and outcasts who sacrificed more than enough to save others. They were feared, condemned, and alone for a long time.
Until they weren't.
Together, they were Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
But to Harry, they were just his daddy and his aunt and uncles.
Severus found Tony Stark deeply annoying and extremely arrogant. He wanted to punch that face so much for quite some time.
Yet every time he fusses over his son and calls him his baby, Severus' temper exponentially decreases. The man was a walking paradox. Two completely polar personalities all packed in one. And Harry wasn't bothered by any of it. The kid didn't seem to mind that he had trackers and constant supervision on him.
An overprotective bastard indeed.
An overprotective bastard with a whole lot of money to throw around. Tony Stark was not just about to let his precious son learn magic in Severus' small apartment.
The man cleared out an entire floor for him, a training room for Harry, and set him the best Potions lab to experiment on. He could hardly say no to access a world-class Potions laboratory.
So there.
Harry had sessions with him every Wednesday and Friday. The child had to take fewer classes in Exeton to be able to work on his magical education. They would sometimes train on the afternoons after the boy's regular day classes but Severus normally had the rest of the week to research and experiment.
Tony still tried to pay him but Severus put his foot against it. The accommodation he'd been offered alone was excessive. He no longer had to pay bills which gave him the extra money needed, and more, to buy certain ingredients.
It wasn't to say that Severus turned into a free-loader. He was actually turning into their personal chef and healer. Being a Potions Master had its perk. He cooks very well and he knows how to tweak certain potions to be able to work on muggles or No-Maj in American terms.
Clearly, none of his other housemates can cook. Except for the father. Tony had to learn cooking when Harry came to live with him. He was quite good, in fact. Just didn't know that many dishes.
And since the group seemed to attract bruises and wounds like magnets, his potions are very much needed.
They weren't too alarmed and surprised by the existence of magic. They did have an issue on mind magic though. Apparently, Loki had used such tactics on one of them and it was still a sensitive matter.
Other than that, they lived together in peace.
Harry is now officially a second-grader.
Exeton Academy, unlike many of the other schools, tests their students the first time they enroll and put them in grades they can best reach their potentials academically, mentally, and socially.
Harry Stark was put into first grade instead of pre-school. While he, and many others including his best friend Nick, was smart enough to be in third grade, the headmaster and their parents preferred them to place only a year ahead.
Tony personally knew how difficult it is to have friends who are older when you excel better than them. They tend to get defensive and hateful. That was why he considered his best friend, James Rhodes, like family. He was the only one who talked to the fifteen-year-old college student kindly.
Harry won't have to experience that. Exeton won't hinder his education while still letting him enjoy childhood. In fact, they allowed a change in his class schedule to accommodate his magical learning. It was their pride as well to have the youngest wizard with a fully-developed core and possibly one of the strongest in their midst.
His friends and teachers only knew he had other tuition requested by his father but not what it entails. They could not simply advertise a child was home-schooled in magic.
Tony and Severus also wanted to keep the information protected. A five-year-old being a water and fire elemental will cause an uproar.
Harry still had classes with his two best friends but had opted out in Arts and Language to make way with his new schedule.
He takes Math and his choice of sport, Polo, on Mondays; Science and Robotics on Tuesdays; and Grammar and History on Thursdays. His other classmates have to take Math and Science again on Fridays. Harry only needed to complete his homework to be able to get in par with the rest.
He still played a little violin but had his Uncle Bruce teach him instead. And only on the weekends.
Tony hated seeing his son study and work that much at five but the boy seemed to revel in learning. To make out for lost time, Tony would spend every minute of his weekends with his son. Business meetings, experiments, consultation, and building robots will have to be done during the weekdays, preferably while Harry's at school.
One very lazy afternoon, everyone was lounging on the penthouse living room and bar. SHIELD had given the Avengers a day off for one. Thor had his regular visit to Midgard. Severus had a potion simmering for the next 36 hours. And since it's Saturday, Harry had no classes.
It started with Natasha and Clint drinking martinis on the bar. Steve soon joined in and had small talk. Bruce and Thor walked in, wanting to watch a film the former suggested. Severus, in his usual scowl, plopped down in exhaustion and joined the two in watching the movie. And then Tony barged in with Harry on his shoulders who just came from their father-son trip to the zoo.
So it came down to this.
Harry was lying on his stomach, both lower leg leaning against the couch. Thor, Bruce, Severus, and Tony were on the couch. Natasha and Steve sat on stools at the bar counter, Clint now spread out on the floor with Harry.
Tony and Clint were having a heated discussion on who Harry likes more between the two of them. The said boy was torn between putting a stop to them and laughing his head out from their claims. The rest of the group just sat there looking amused.
"Alright. Let's test the father," Clint challenged slyly to which Tony rolled his eyes. "Let's see if you know your son as well as you think."
Severus thought Barton was stupid. Of course, the man knew his son THAT well. He knew all the boy's little quirks. He might even have every inch of him memorized.
Tony smirked confidently. "Hit me."
"Favorite food?"
"Meal or snack?"
"Meal."
"Buttered chicken, rice, and broccoli. On the same plate."
"Snack."
"My turkey and cheese sandwich, duh."
"Best friend?"
"There's three. His stuffed snake from when he's three. And Nicholas and Selene from Exeton."
"Birthmark?"
"Under his left ear. Looks like a bird."
Clint immediately went over to check and looked both impressed and smug at the form.
"Drink?"
"Chocolate milk. And if we're being precise, the one from Cocoa Metro."
"Favorite Animal?"
"No favorite. He loves them equally. Even the small ants. Isn't that right, buddy? They all deserve love, don't they?" Harry nods mechanically, still surprised at how much his father knew him.
"Movie."
"The Lion King."
"Color."
"Blue."
"What does he want to be when he grows up?"
"A zookeeper. Or like me. Although I do prefer if you don't turn out exactly like me, angel."
"Time of the day."
"Bedtime. He likes to sleep, what can I say?"
"His preferred way to eat eggs."
"Scrambled with a bit of cheese."
The group was both satisfied and dumbstruck. They expected him to know everything but it still was amazing.
"Fine. You win." Clint grumbled, crossing his arms, winking at Harry.
"Of course, I do," Tony responded smugly. "I've been told I am the best daddy in the world many times over, Legolas."
Harry, even though used to Tony's declarations of love, still blushed every time he was reminded. He went over to sit on his lap and cuddled. The others only cooed, Severus trying to hide the sudden flux of emotions that overcame.
"I'm going to start with dinner," he stood. "Any requests?"
A series of responses flew at the same time. There were suggestions of ice cream, fried ostrich egg (which Harry vocally disagreed to), canned tomato soup, and even blueberries for dinner. The man in black rolled his eyes and decided to make them grilled steak with mashed potatoes instead.
Too many children in one room.
"Don't worry, my protégé, you'll get it soon," Severus reassured.
Harry frowned, looking at his custom-built wand. "I tried, Uncle Sev. It's hard."
"I know, but you're only five. Summoning charms are normally taught in third year, Harry. You're doing much better than I imagined."
The boy merely sighed. He liked learning magic very much but spells and charms sometimes are difficult to pronounce.
Severus conceded. "Why don't we get back to Potions? You'll be trying the Pepper-up today."
Harry nodded and sent him a thankful smile.
They spent the rest of the Wednesday afternoon in the Stark Potions Lab making (and supervising) Pepper-up potions. While Harry's still young, his attention span was very controlled. Severus liked that in the child. He was easy to teach and had intelligent inquiries. He enjoyed every moment being Harry's tutor and honorary uncle.
He thought about all those times he moved constantly from state to state. He always felt like the place wasn't for him. He'd live relatively in comfort. The wizarding communities respected him for his works. Yet nothing felt right.
New York.
Everything felt right about New York. And he knew exactly what's right about the city. Not the stores. Not the buildings. Not even because MACUSA is here. But because of one little green-eyed boy.
He decided Harry should take a break for a while and took him out for lunch. Naturally, when he told the father of his plan, he went on and on about making sure his son comes home without a scratch. Severus eventually got used to his protective streak that whenever the man fusses, he would only nod .