Mistletoe.
Harry kept a calm exterior and rarely showed getting worried, but whatever Draco was doing had his stomach flipping. He had watched the other boy but only saw those lessons with Snape and the boy's new interest in an old book. An old diary by what he had read over his shoulder, but nothing really stood out in it.
I still can't see why he's interested in someone who went to school here a century ago. Malfoy never seemed to like history, at least not any that didn't sceam purebloods are supreme. But it did have mentions of dark spells, so that's something he would be interested in.
He hoped some time away from school would let him relax more, and with Christmas coming up, he had it. Then a new worry came over him at that.
Christmas dinner with Hermione. Before, having dinner with the Grangers wouldn't be an issue, but now he was dating their daughter.
Just relax. Wanda told him.
Easy for you to say.
You can literally do anything with your magic, but Hermione's parents have you worried.
I can't cast spells on them, and I've been trying not to invade anyone's minds unless absolutely necessary. I come across as a hypocrite with Snape and Dumbledore doing the same.
It will be fine. You have Sirius charm.
That didn't work on you.
No. It worked on Natasha. That's impressive.
Harry smiled at Wanda's words or thoughts. She was right. He just needed to be himself.
He picked up his books and left the library. Usually Hermione was with him, but she was with Luna and Susan doing—who knows what?
With classes over tomorrow, he finished up any work that he had, including the essay Snape wanted. The less time he thought of that man, the better his break would be.
"Potter."
Speak of the devil. "Professor." He acknowledged.
Snape loomed over the boy. "Spending time in the library so close to break? Curious."
"I like having my work done before school ends. A habit my mother had too, I believe." Harry added the last part as a dig. Any time he brought up Lily, he knew it drove Snape crazy with rage.
Snape glared at the mention of Lily. "Good. I would hate to think you were up to something." He replied.
"Not everyone has the luxury of private lessons like a certain blonde." Harry smiled back, pushing Snape's buttons. It was so easy to get under the man's skin. "It's so nice of you to help your Slytherin get his mind organized."
Snape sneered. "Sneaking around after hours, are we? As arrogant as your father to admit it."
Harry looked bored back. "No offense, professor, but didn't my father have other flaws? I mean, was arrogance his only hangup? If so, then he was truly an amazing wizard. The bravest man who ever lived was a little arrogant." He shrugged.
Snape was prepared for an argument with the brat, but he was not prepared for that. His face turned purple at the boys words. Potter was a coward! "You..."
"Mr. Potter." Another voice interrupted the pair before he had to save Snape. "Finshed your assignment?"
"Yes Professor." Harry turned to his'savior'.
"Very good. Better hurry on and pack for the break." Remus waved Harry off with a wink.
Harry winked back and left the two there. Despite wanting to watch the coming conflict.
"You just have to look for any chance you can, don't you?" Remus growled almost.
"Someone has to keep an eye on the boy." Snape shrugged. "You never know when he could repeat history and lead someone to a vicious end. Like the man who raised him did."
Remus's eyes went dark. "Next time you have a thought. Let it go. Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it."
"Petty insults." Snape raised his nose up. "Don't you have some cubs to look after?"
"I do, in fact." Remus knew he was saying that as a dig at his werewolf past but knew how to counter it. "And an amazing wife. James, Sirius, and me all got a happy life; even if James was cut short, what do you get? What do you have to show for all your superiority? Nothing."
"Shut it, Lupin." Snape snapped.
"Dumbledore says you're brave because you will be of use when Voldemort returns, but let's face it. You got nothing to lose. You have nothing. No one at all, and it is your fault." Remus saw him reach for his wand but already had his out. "Have a happy Christmas, Snape."
Snape wanted to cast the killing curse at the wolf; he would always be a wolf to him as he left. He bellowed his robes as he turned back to his quarters. He did learn something from this. The boy was spying on him. He would have to set up spells to detect that bloody cloak for Dracos futures lessons.
Hermione sat next to Harry on the train, nothing new there, but she found herself leaning more against him and his arm behind her back on the rest.
"Have you kissed yet?" Luna asked in her dreamy voice.
"Luna!"
Susan burst out laughing with Neville. Blaise let out a small smirk.
"I'm sure it will be lovely." Luna told them. "You both have a happy glow, but Harry's always glowed, so it's hard to tell a difference." She tilted her head a little.
"It's my sunny personality." Harry grinned back. Luna could make jokes about his chaos, and only a few would get it. Her sight did let her see more than most.
"It's still not appropriate to talk about." Hermione said.
"I didn’t hear a no." Susan chipped in.
Hermione glared back but the girl just smirked.
"At least the twins aren't teasing you guys anymore." Neville gave a silver lining.
"I had to threaten them with telling Sirius not to invest in their joke shop." Harry mumbled. Despite all the teasing, he was happy, and as Hermione leaned into him, he could tell she was as well.
At the station, the six departed out to meet their families when Luna saw something in the air. It was fast. She went after it, not sure what dimension it was in, when her bag slipped off her hand and on to someone's foot.
Luna hadn’t had any issues with bullies, sense her head of house made an example of those girls, but that didn't mean she didn't run into a few who didn't think she belonged in Ravenclaw. Unfortunately, one of them was the one she dropped her bag on.
"Stupid Looney." The girl muttered.
"I'm sorry. I was looking for the..."
"Another stupid creature that doesn't exist? You're a nutter."
Neville saw this and stepped in. "Piss off."
The girl glared, but seeing Susan's and Hermione's wand slip out made her turn away.
"Thank you, Nevile, but you didn't have to do that." Luna smiled at him.
"You apologized, and she was being a daft cow." Neville smiled back, but his face went crimson when she kissed his cheek and took off to her father. "Wha..." Someone chucked behind him. "Piss off Harry!"
"Neville!"
Neville froze when he saw his mother. "Sorry mum."
"Remember, I still have that soap." She warned.
Neville did remember. He cursed in the house once too many times, and she used it on him. Magical soap, where everything tastes like soap for 12 hours. He didn't want that again.
"Any news on Loki?" Harry asked as he met with his parents and brother.
"None, and that makes me feel nervous and on edge." Natasha replied.
"I made a new friend. He was going to meet me today, but something came up." Regulus told him.
"The new blood? Well, I'm sure I'll meet him soon." An invisible tug happened on Harry's leg. "Hey Motto."
Hermione and her parents came over to the group a few seconds later.
"I told you there wasn't anything bad that happened this year." She argued with them. "Harry, tell them, please."
"None that I know of, but the year is still going." He replied.
"That doesn't help!"
Jean grinned a little at their banter. "At least there haven't been any trolls this year."
"So far."
"Harry!"
"Richard. Jean." Sirius chuckled as he stepped forward. "Are you still coming to dinner?"
"Of course." Richard said, keeping his eye on Harry a bit longer. He didn't want to play the protective father and never planned to, but it was different when you're looking at your daughter's first boyfriend.
"Mr. Weasley." Stephen was greeted as the redhead entered. "Glad you could make it."
"Just Bill is finding Dr. Strange."
"Then just Stephen. Or Strange is popular as well." He motioned to the chair. "Please take a seat."
"Thank you." Bill sat. "What can I do for you? Your letter was vague."
"It concerns what we talked about last time."
Bill swallowed. "That's what I thought. Sorry, the idea of those things still makes me a little ill."
"Agreed." Stephen nodded. "How well do you know Hogwarts?"
Bill looked confused. "As well as anyone who was a student. Why?"
"If you wanted to hide something there and no one would find it, where would you put it?"
Bill's confusion increased. "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"I'll be blunt. I think Voldemort may have hid one of his anchors in the school."
Bill was never a tan man; many redheads like him burned, but even his white face somehow got even paler. "Another. In Hogwarts?!"
"That is my theory."
"Based on what? I'm not doubting that you believe it, but why?"
""You're an expert on curses, right? Voldemort had his curse alive for decades, and it never got weaker. Something was fueling it."
Bill nodded. "A Horcrux would be perfect for that. The dark power would be like a muggle...non-magical battery."
"That's my reasoning as well. However, if one is hidden in the school, then there are limitless places it could be." His magic he used with the vault wouldn't work there. The school was too well protected with defensive spells.
"Well, if no one's activated it, then there's no way to track it, I can think...wait." Bill suddenly remembered something. "There was a rumor of some room that can become anything a person desires, but I never found it."
"Rowena's room." Stephen said. "Like Salazar, she created a personal area to work, but she made it usable for those who could find it. Unfortunately, she never wrote anything about the location." Even his book was lacking the information.
"There was an old elf that had been at Hogwarts for a long time. He might know something or have told someone." Bill remembered. "No. He passed away my final year." He liked Deek the few times they talked.
"It might be true for any of the elf's. They are often overlooked." Wong said.
"And mistreated. Remind me to work on a law to change that. After Dobby's help, I think they deserve it." Strange put that on his ever-growing list. "Speaking of which." He realized they had an elf that worked at the school now and would be happy to help.
This buffoon is in charge? He makes Thor look like a genius.
Loki sat back, invisible to all, and watched this Minister of Magic. He was not impressed.
That is one ugly woman. Like a toad turned human.
So far he had a small list of competent humans who worked here, like the Bones woman, but the one at the top was who he came to see. It was entertaining, at least.
They were discussing Strange and himself, Barley, with others. He learned of Dumbledore and Potter, but the fact they didn't see him as a threat really annoyed the Trickster.
He wondered why they were talking in this unused room instead of the man's office until they implied Strange had the room charmed to listen in.
This doctor is clever, but does he truly see these worms as threats? Asgarden chickens are more fierce.
But the woman was dangerous—not to him, but to others. She was clearly willing to do what the minister refused or didn't have the spine to do.
After their talk Fudge left the room then the toad woman after.
Standing, he followed out the door behind the toad. He was very tempted to simply remove her from existence. One quick slip of his knife, and he would be doing the world a favor.
Her office was just as unpleasant as she was. She took a sip of her tea after checking for any charms. "This Mordos plan better work." She quietly swore.
Mordo? Now who is that? Loki took note of that name as he slipped back out the doorway. It was pathetic how easily he walked around here with no worries. He barley changed his face and just walked like he was superior to others. The fact he was made it easy.
Back at his temporary house, he mapped out all he learned.
The Ministry.
The history of the magical world. What a disappointment that is.
The location of Wakanda. I still need to find where they have the stone there.
The Avengers and all the information Regulus had provided.
He popped a Sugar Quill into his mouth as he thought. Asgard was in desperate need to have something like this. Of course he didn't plan on going back, so it didn't matter.
The candy made him think of the boy. Regulus was a very unique human. The son of the Black Widow and a wizard that loved pranks. The fact the boy wanted to meet him was hilarious. The irony of Romanoff giving birth to a son that idolized the very nature of his godhood was too good not to chuckle.
The time he spent with the boy was interesting. He found himself liking the child. Well, as much as he could like a human. He may even enjoy the feeling of having a 'friend'.
Harry had Pietro in his arms as Tonks was holding Lyall. Both the three-month-old boys were awake and looking around in wide confusion. Taking in all the sites.
"He's fascinated with your face, not the hair." Harry told Tonks.
"You're just jealous of the good looks."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Dora." Harry glowed his eyes at Pietro, who smiled at him.
The whole family was there, minus Steve. He decided to come by after Tony left to avoid the awkward atmosphere, but they knew it was just going to be a matter of time until they had to have that conversation. When the doorbell rang, Harry quickly, but gently, handed Pietro over to his mother before running to the door.
He straightened his outfit out before opening the door to see his girlfriend and her parents there.
"Hey." He smiled.
"Hi." She smiled back.
Richard had to cough to get their attention. "I believe this is where you invite us in."
"Oh right! Sorry." Harry moved out of the way. "I'll take your jackets if you want."
Jean saw the boy trying to be a gentleman and let him help her with the winter jacket. Richard handed him his and finally Hermione. With a flick of his wand, Harry had them floating high above the room on hooks.
"They'll come to you when you want them back." He told them as he saw the dress Hermione had decided to wear. Bloody hell.
The full table had been set up with Kreacher and Natasha. Harry and Regulus helped set the plates and silverware, while Sirus was in charge of making sure Motto didn't eat all the dessert. How he got that task was still bothering him.
Richard watched Harry and Hermione the whole dinner. He knew it was silly, but he barely saw his daughter, so he was feeling like she was slipping away even with her doing everything she could to show her world to them. Maybe it was just watching her grow up.
He had missed a lot of it when she was younger. She was born right when their practice was beginning, which caused her to be raised more by her teachers than him or Jean. By the time they had it a successful operation, with time he planned to be around her more, she had received her Hogwarts letter.
Still, he was pleased to see the boy was still the same as before—a bit of a showoff but kind and funny. Seeing anyone who made Hermione smile and laugh made him smile. Besides, it's not like they would get married. They're kids. It would probably be over by next year.
After the very delicious meal, Harry pulled Hermione off to the side. He pulled out a small box and handed it to her. "Happy Christmas."
Hermione grinned and opened it to see a small bracelet with a round disk on the side. It had the Hogwarts symbol on it. The whole thing looked very jeweled and expensive. "Harry, this is beautiful."
"It's more than that." He said as he put it on her wrist. "Okay, don't jump." He moved to the side and held her from behind.
"What are you doing?!" She blushed.
"Nothing like that." He pushed a small red jewel on the bracelet.
Hermione almost shrieked when a large shield grew from the small disk the size of a manhole cover. "What?"
"I didn’t think a weapon like an axe or sword would be a good fit, and since you're good with a wand, I thought defense would be better."
Hermione held the shield out. "It's so light."
"Well, it's made out of vibranium."
"What?!" She knew that was the rarest metal on earth and worth a fortune. This had to be millions of pounds! "You can't give this to me."
"Hermione." He whispered. "I can make vibranium with the snap of my fingers. Don't tell a certain king though."
Hermione was still reeling from the fact she was given the most expensive bracelet on the planet, like it was no big deal. "Harry, this is too much."
Harry shrugged. 'Neville's axe is just as much. So is Regulus hammer. Besides, I want you to be safe."
Hermione touched the jewelry again, making the shield go back to a bracelet. "You don't expect me to throw it, do you?"
Harry laughed. "I can ask Cap to teach you about it if you want."
She shook her head back at the boy as she giggled. She then noticed something moving above them. Both teens looked up to see the mistletoe high over their heads.
"I didn't do that." He said quickly.
Around the corner Sirius smirked as he lowered his wand, only for Natasha to pull it from his hand.
"Stop teasing them." She told him.
He smiled back. "I'm not." He motioned to the mirror he was watching them from.
"We don't have to..."
Hermione looked at her feet until she moved forward. "Or we could..." Summing all her courage.
Harry felt his heart beat faster. "If you want."
They awkwardly shuffled until she leaned up slightly while he leaned down.
There were not fireworks. No lights showing some fantasy soul magic, and it was awkward, but when they finally did their first real kiss, it was something both of them smiled at. A first true kiss.
"So." Harry's blush was bright. "Was that good?"
"I liked it." She blushed, too.
"Me too." He smiled back taking her hand.
Natasha looked at Sirius, who just smiled back at her. She gave him a small smile and handed him back his wand. Only for another mistletoe to appear above them.
"Your pushing your luck." She told him.
"You would break tradition?" He smirked.
Natasha rolled her eyes with a smile before grabbing his collar and pulling him in for what he wanted.
"Ew," Regulus told his parents as he came in.
"How do you think you got here, son?" Sirius asked.
"A gift from God." The boy answered. "I was delivered on a cloud. That's the lie I'm going to tell myself forever."
Gifts were handed out until only one big one was left. It had Harry's name on it.
Tony and Wanda held it out for him.
"Enjoy." Tony opened the container. "This magic isn't easy to work with."
"Meaning Wanda and Doc did most the work." Harry smirked back.
"Don't take up sass with me. I'm fluent." Tony replied back.
Harry looked in to see what they had done with the basilisk hide. It was a fully made suit from the dead king snake. "You guys made me a suit?"
"We had a lot of skin. I still don't know what to do with it all." Wanda told him. "Not to mention all the venon."
"Yeah, those glands filled a bucket." Tony added. Plus the container that held the beast eyes that Wanda disappeared then returned later. He had some ideas for those, though. A surprise if you will.
Harry was floated in the air by Wanda, who made the suit and his clothes into one. The red and black basilisk hide outfit was like a second skin. Red trim mixed together over the black vest down to the belt and boots. Even the wand holster was made of the magic resistance skin.
"Isn't it odd to make it now? I mean, he's going to grow more." Hermione pointed out.
"The skin stretches, and it can be manipulated if he gets too big. I make pants for the Hulk; I think I can handle his skinny frame." Tony motioned to Hary.
"Skinny?" Harry glared at Tony.
"You're no Thor."
"Yet." Harry corrected as he looked at himself in a mirror. He looked like he was ready for war. Deep down, he knew he had to be because one was coming. He looked at Hermione and wondered how she would look in the same outfit. The image made him smirk.
"What are you smiling about?" Hermione asked.
"Just a funny idea." He said. "What do you think?"
"You definitely make an impression." She did think he looked really good in this. Heroic and a bit scary.
"We do have a lot of skin left. Maybe a suit for you?" He smiled as he saw her parents looking away.
She blushed slightly. "I don't think I would look very good in it."
"One of the few times you're wrong." His eyes glowed.
Hermione looked down to see a similar outfit on her. "Really?" She felt ridiculous.
"Really." He chuckled.
"Already at the dressing similar stage of the relationship?" Wanda teased.
Both blushed as the rest of the adults saw them.
"Hermione?" Richard turned from taking with Remus to see her in the suit. "They made one for you?"
"It's magic." Wanda's eyes glowed. "Just some demonstrations."
Jean didn't know how to feel. At first, it looked like Hermione was going to war, but at the same time, with how dangerous Hogwarts has been, it might be best if she had some extra protection.
Those two are going to be a force together. Natasha found herself thinking and loving the idea.
"Magic can make them look like regular clothes." Sirius spoke mostly to himself.
"Where's mine?" Regulus asked eagerly.
"In development," Sirius told him. "Morgan wants to pick the color schemes."
"No! Don't you dare let her do that!"
"You're not fun." Morgan grinned at him. "It would only be some pink."
Regulus looked at Tony with fury. "If you do that, I will never forgive you!"
Everyone laughed at that.
Albus Dumbledore was a man who, once set to his goal, couldn't be swayed. Some would call it stubborn, but he preferred driven. So when he finally put all the clues together for the location of the Gaunt shack, he didn't dally.
The numerous spells around told him he had the right spot. It took over an hour of carefully weaving spells and checking for trials before he finally managed to get into the old shack.
It was in such a state of decay that he knew only the magic was keeping it standing. He went over every inch, slowing until he found what he was looking for.
Ah. A hidden spot under the floor. I expected something more complex, Tom, but you were just a boy then. Not quite the genius full of darkness that you would become.
The images of the young Tom Riddle still pulled at the age wizards heart. Had it been any other time in his life, Albus would have put more effort into guiding the troubled boy, but the war with his old friend had come too much for him to stay out.
He pulled the box out and checked it for any curses or traps. Finding none, he carefully pulled the lid open.
Only to find nothing in it but a card. Panicking, he picked the paper up and turned it over to read.
Zugzwang, Headmaster.
The card lit into flames and turned to ash, but not before leaving a symbol in the air. The symbol of the Eye of Agamotto stared back at him.
The calm and calculated Headmaster snapped for the first time in recent memory as his magic flared, causing the whole shack to shake.
Curse that foolish man!!!