Before Third.
Petunia Dursley was normal. That was the undisputed fact that she has her life around her. She never wanted her 'nephew' to ruin that. Happily, she signed the boy away to that Dr. Freak and washed her hands of the issue, even after that headmaster practically demanded she take him and she told him to never return to her home ever again.
"That boy will pay," Vernon swore as he changed into his PJs.
"Vernon, dear, nobody wants that more than me, but it will not change anything. For now, let's just continue as if we never had to encounter that boy and his freak family. It will be better for our mental health." She just wanted to go back to believing he didn't exist at all.
"Maybe you're right, but still, he attacked our son. There has to be something that can be done." Vernon said as he went into the bathroom.
She decided to let him vent a little so she pulled out her book, hoping to get a chapter or two done, when she heard him screaming.
"Ah!!!" The overweight man screamed as he felt like he was whizzing fire!
The news from the doctors was enough to send the man into a purple rage. Saying that they were wrong and he would never contract such a disgusting disease.
Unfortunately, his outburst was heard in the lobby. Petunia wouldn't know until the next day that one of her neighbors was in the waiting room on that day, and she loved to give out gossip like handing out candy on Halloween.
Word that Vernon had an STD spread like wildfire across the neighborhood. He couldn't go out without seeing whispers about it. It only set him into more of a fury.
The Dursleys learned a valuable lesson about attacking someone who controlled limitless magic and could be petty when it suited him. Not that they could ever admit it.
"Ready?" Harry asked the group as they gathered in the backyard of Potter Manor.
The adults were inside, and Harry had everyone else waiting.
Regulus was tapping his foot impatiently as Morgan did the same. Hermione and Neville were better, but they wanted him to get on with it. Motto and Hedwig were sitting up on the roof, watching them. You wouldn't expect an owl and a Demiguise to get along so well, but with their odd family they had to keep an eye on, it was a nice friendship.
"Quite drawing it out!" The brother growled.
Harry just laughed and held out his hand. The Sword of Gryffindor appeared glowing red in his hand.
"Cool!" Morgan let out. "Let me hold it!"
Harry grinned. "Sure." Then stuck it into the ground. "Here, just pull it out."
The girl jumped over and grabbed the handle. It didn't move an inch. She glared at Harry and hit her watch. It formed an iron glove with thrusters. Still, the sword didn't budge.
"Very funny." She scuffed.
"What? The sword is the one that decides." Harry sat back on a bench.
"Reg!" She motioned for him to help.
He nodded and took hold of the other side. Together, the younger kids were not doing any better.
"Are you even trying?" Regulus asked as he strained.
"Are you?!" She snapped back.
After ten minutes of them cursing at Harry, they gave in.
Harry chuckled and looked at his friends. "Whose next? Hermione?"
"No. I don't need to prove anything." She waved off.
"Unless it's a class with grades?" Neville asked.
"Big difference."
Neville chuckled and came over to the blade. "This looks wicked." He admired the blade.
"You want to lift it or take it on a date?" Harry joked.
Neville grinned back and grabbed the handle.
Harry lost his grin as the blade moved a little, but smiled back as it didn't come out of the ground.
"Alright, you win." Neville stopped.
"You're holding it with your magic!" Regulus glared.
"I could be. Or." Harry grabbed the sword, and it came out with ease. "You're just not worthy." The Thor dialect was strong in his voice.
"Oh piss off!"
"Language!" Hermione said it on instinct.
"Language!" Natasha popped her head out the window at the same time.
"There are two of them now!" Regulus groaned. "Sorry mums!" he said to both of them. Making the others laugh.
Hermione glared slightly but felt pleased at being compared to Natasha. Natasha only had to give the boy a single look, and he immediately gave a genuine apology.
"Can you use that magic to change how it looks?" Morgan suddenly asked.
"I haven't tried, but why not?" Harry held the sword in both hands.
The group watched as it shifted and bent in odd directions. The blade grew longer and was curved. Now it looks like a katana.
"Wicked." Regulus grinned.
Harry went through other styles of swords. They weren't as elegant as the true form, but he didn't try to change it permanently. After he tried different ones, he set it back to its original state.
Alright, that's long enough." He said to the sword: "Better get back before she realizes you're gone."
It vanished back on to McGonagall's wall at Hogwarts.
"You talk to it?" Morgan raised her eyebrow.
"He talks to everything. The scary part is when it talks back." Regulus rolled his eyes.
"He's still bitter about the birds I had take a dump on his bike." Harry scuffed.
"Ew." Hermione gagged.
"I got you back with the sticky glitter spell dad helped me make," Regulus smirked.
"If that had actually been permanent, you would be hot pink for the rest of your life." Harry threatened.
"Oh! Do green!" Morgan bounced on her feet at the idea. "Mini Puny!!"
"Not happening!" Regulus shouted and saw Harry holding his fingers up. "Don't you even think about it!"
Harry grinned but lowered his hand back down.
"Master Harry." Kreacher appeared holding a package. "OddWong delivered this for you."
"Thanks, Kreacher." Harry took it and nodded to the elf.
The old elf nodded back and disappeared again.
"You have an elf?" Hermione looked cross.
"He's an old Black family elf," Harry answered. "Please be it." He peaked in "Yes!"
"What is it?" Regulus asked.
"You remember that gift I promised you?"
"Duh!"
"I didn't get it done by your birthday, but I can't wait until Christmas, so here." Harry held out a small box. "Happy late birthday Puny."
Regulus practically made the paper disappear in a flash. His eyes went saucer-size at the contents. He pulled out a smaller version of Mjölnir.
"What? How? Why? Where?" The boy stammered.
"You're just missing when," Hermione noted with some humor in her voice.
"Just don't go taking down any houses," Harry said half joking and half serious because he knew his brother.
Regulus marveled at the hammer. It was perfect. "What can it do?!"
"A lot of Thors tricks like returning and smashing through everything or one. But first give I need some blood." Harry pulled out a small knife. "It has to be bound to you like Neville's axe."
Regulus winced at the cut to his finger but one quick wave of red and it was gone. Harry used his magic to tie the hammer to Regulus blood and then handed it back to him.
"Now throw it."
Regulus wasted no time throwing the hammer with all his strength. It flew out of the spell protected home and knocked over a rather large tree. "Oops!"
He almost ducked when the hammer returned and landed back in his hand. "Oh I can't wait to show Thor!! Can it do lighting too?!"
"No. Mum made me promise not to add that." Yet.
"I'm still not sure about you having that as is," Natasha said as she came out.
"I'll be careful! Promise!" Regulus held HIS hammer proudly. It was lighter than he expected.
"I'll do one better." Harry yanked the hammer out of his hands.
"Hey!"
Harry whispered something against the handle and gave it back as it briefly glowed red.
"What did you do?"
"Something like Thors. If you ever try to use it for evil or ill intent, then it won't lift for you."
"Does a prank count as evil or ill?"
"Depends on the witnesses and laws in the country," The master of pranks called from the doorway.
Natasha rolled her eyes. She couldn't get him to listen during the boys school meetings, pre-Hogwarts, but if you mention the word prank he can hear it from a mile away.
Harry showed Regulus how to shrink it like Neville's axe, and the younger boy had one wicked-looking necklace.
"So a hammer for him. An axe for me." Neville tapped his chin. "What are you working on for Hermione?"
"I have no idea," Harry confessed. "You guys are easy. She's more complicated than Quantum Physics."
"I heard that!"
"Am I wrong?!" He smirked.
"Prat!" She tried to look angry but it didn't work out.
Neville let out an inward groan. Why are they always like that? I don't know pants about crushing but come on even I can tell it's what you're doing!
While the other adults were at the house and the kids were outside there was one who was a mix of both not in attendance.
Tony sat looking at the old photo of his parents. One of the few ones where his father smiled a genuine smile Once he would have scuffed at any point the man talked to him, but now he'd be happy to hear his condescending voice.
Next to it was the drawing Morgan did of all the Avengers together. He and Steve are next to each other.
In hindsight, he was happy she stopped him from doing what he wanted and taking Barnes's jaw off. He knew he wasn't to blame, not really, but his anger at Cap was still strong.
He knew and never told me. Mr. Righteous. Asshole.
"Hey Tony," Sirius said from the doorway. He had been enjoying the Grangers company along with Frank and Alice but Tonys lack of visit had him confused. He never miss an opportunity to trade bards with Stark. And he did want to tell him about the potion news.
Tony snapped out of his thoughts. "I thought I kept out the strays."
"Hey I have a home so I am not a stray." Sirius chuckled. "You're being unusually quiet, though I noticed."
"Everyone always tells me to shut up, but when I do, it's an international incident."
"Isn't it?" Sirius smirked. "Ironman with no jokes? That's like me without any pranks. Or Harry not flying."
"Or Regulus without Morgan?"
"Now you're getting it!"
"You know, if Clint turns out to be right about them, I'm blaming you."
"It won't bother me any. It's you and Nat that seem to have an issue." Sirius laughed. "Anyway, I wanted to show you the paper." He laid the magical paper down.
Tony saw the news Flamel and his miracle potion. "How's the world taking it?"
"It's a mixed reaction. Most are happy to see a new advancement in potions, not to mention the effect, but some are getting very annoyed with your name being on everything."
"Hmm." Tony hit a button. "F.R.I.D.A.Y. Double the Stark logo on the wolf cure and the vials for potion transport."
"Right away Boss."
"Tony you a man after my own heart." Sirius laughed. "Anyway with everyone at the house it was odd you weren't so I thought I'd swing by and see if how things are going. But you seem lost in thought so I'll slip out."
"Black." Tony looked up from his desk.
Sirius lost his laugh. Tony never called him by his last name.
"You were betrayed, by your friend right? That rat you mentioned."
Sirius could never have a sunny disposition at the thought of Peter, and it showed. "Pettigrew."
"There was no spell right? That one that controls a person. He did it willingly?"
"Yes. The secret couldn't be shared any other way. That's how I knew he was the traitor." Sirius didn't know where this was going.
"If he had been though? What if he had been forced to. Say he was responsible for Harry being an orphan and you losing your best friend but didn't do it of his own free will. How would you have handled it?"
"If he had been under that spell or tortured to tell the secret? I would have blamed myself still, but no, I wouldn't have held him accountable."
"What about if Remus hid the fact he was responsible?"
"Tony, what are you getting at? I have a feeling this isn't about Peter is it?"
"Obviously." Tony lifted his drink. "My parents. I thought they died in a car crash. They were murdered by a friend. Rodgers knew and hid it to protect the guy who did it."
"That doesn't sound like Steve to me."
"Yeah well he's not as righteous as he likes to believe."
"The way you asked about Peter. Did this guy act with his own free will?"
"No. When I think about that I can't really blame him. It's Rogers who pisses me off most. He knew and kept me in the dark about my own parents."
"Can't argue with you there but it also seems like he was stuck in a bad spot. Not that he made the right choice but I can't say I would make a better one either."
"Easy for you to defend him. He's your son's godfather."
"And Morgan is his best friend. You and Bruce cured my best friend and gave him a chance to have a normal life. I think I'm pretty buggered if I try to pick a side in this no matter what."
"Agreed." Tony sighed.
"Hey you'll get no judgment from me here." Sirius told him. "Steve screwed up but you know he always tries to do the right thing."
"And I don't?"
"I didn't say that. I could but that would be a lie and you know it."
Tony tried to take another sip but realized his glass was empty "I need another drink."
"Kreacher. Firewhiskey and keep them coming!" Sirius called.
When the bottle and glasses appeared Tony nodded to Sirius. "I knew there was another reason why I let you come around."
"Here I thought it was just my charm and clever comeback?"
"Harry gives better."
"And who bloody hell do you think taught him?!"
Tony let out a small laugh. The first in a few days.
The two drank and exchanges banters for some time.
"So what are you going to do about all of this?" Sirius asked after a good buzz was going.
"Drink then regret it as Pepper turns the music up later. Then...I have no idea."
"Well it's a start." Sirius held up his glass. "To winging it."
Tony tapped their glasses together. "To making it as we go along."
Minister, you can't be serious about this!"
"Dolores. The ministry has to be seen doing something." Fudge sighed.
"She's not even a citizen!"
"She's married to one now, which gives me a legal way to act. After she destroyed the basilisk and revealed Lucius, we have to do something that shows gratitude and to make it clear we did not know of his true allegiance."
"An Order of Merlin is too much. A simple thank you in the paper would be more than enough!" She hated to even suggest that.
"It's the least we can offer." He considered giving one to Strange too but as Supreme, he was ineligible to receive any reward from any government of magic. It was to be to much of a conflict of interest.
"I must argue against it."
"Dolores, she will receive the Order of Merlin for her actions. I'm also debating about offering one to Mr. Potter. He did risk his life and brought forth Lucius's crimes." And hopefully, have Strange ease up some on my administration.
She looked ready to explode but pushed it down. "I know you have been put into a difficult situation while Strange. I will support you no matter what, but I still feel this is a decision you will regret. If you give a mouse a cookie,"
"You may have a good point, but we have to keep Dr. Strange and this Wanda woman on, if not our side, then not to see us as enemies."
"What happened to remove them from our world?"
"We have been outmatched every time!" For now, we bow our heads and wait. We may get another opportunity in the future."
It was a very foul-faced woman who left that office. Everyone naturally gave her a wide birth on her best days. Now they practically ran in the opposite direction.
When she got home she slammed the doors shut and let out a scream. Every day more and more of the world she knew was being destroyed. Ever since Strange came in it had all gone to pieces.
"There has to be a way to undo him! This will be the end of our world!!" She snapped.
"You wish Strange was gone." A dark-skinned man stepped out of the shadows. "I will make that happen."
"Who? How dare you enter my house!" She pulled her wand. Her spells went past the intruder until she went for the worst. "Crucio!!"
The spell disappeared into a portal.
"Interesting." The man shrugged.
Umbridge went flying back wrapped in some black ropes.
"Unhand me! I am..."
"I know who you are." He came forward. "Dolores Umbridge. Undersecretary of the Minster and a half-blood."
She went red with rage at her true lineage being said so casually. "I am a pure-blood of the highest..."
"Silence." He snapped. "We have a common enemy witch."
"You are one of Stranges!"
"We exited before Strange joined! Don't put his name to our existence!"
"I will have you given to the dementors for daring to lay a hand on me!"
"Be quiet or I will deliver you to a different type of demon. One that will make you beg for those creatures' lips!"
The cold way he spoke actually made her freeze for a moment.
"You have been responsible for three deaths in your rise to power." He dropped a bombshell on her. "I know the names and methods."
"You lie!"
"We both know I'm not."
She did but it didn't matter. They were just two mud-bloods and one half-blood. No one of importance. Besides she covered her tracks very effectively. "You have no proof."
"All it would take would be one whisper to Strange and you know he will look into it. Do you want that? Or do you what him gone for good?"
"Why should I trust you? You're one of them."
"Because I wish for things to return to how they were for you. After I remove Stephen, I will never allow any more involvement of my kind with yours." By removing your kind for good.
"Why do you need me?"
"Stephen is looking for me. I will never be able to reach the weapon required to take his position. You have the ability to get close."
"What weapon could I possibly reach that you couldn't?"
"His name is Harry Potter."
"Potter?! What could that half-blood possibly have to offer you? He is just a useless child."
"You have no idea what he is." Karl's eyes went darker. "Or what he is capable of. What he will do to both of our worlds."