My Dad, the Boy (*Man) Who Lives

December 14th 1991

The school had announced their three weeks holidays since a month ago. Now it was 11 days before Christmas and many students were queueing for the Ilvermony buses. The buses would bring them down the mountain through an invisible path to a hidden bus station closed to the foot of the mountain, where only the students’ parents and legal guardians were permitted to see by the powerful ancient enchantments, whether they were magic or no-maj.

Many kids, young and old were entering the buses, excited to get home for the holidays. But one student has glued himself to one of the tall pillar with a small backpack hanging on his left shoulder. At first, he was rather invisible and unnoticed, probably because of a certain ring that he has.

The young Horned serpent has traded his blue and cranberry uniform with a simple cream sweater covered with a beautifully crafted black winter coat and dark grey pants. His mom always told him that it was the person who wore the clothes, not the other way around. The little wizard didn’t get it, but his mom just looked at him with that mysterious smile and said that he would understand when he became a grown up.

The pre-teen brunette was tapping his foot on the floor impatiently. He was waiting for his dad to come to him. The man told him to wait, since he had a last staff meeting.

His good friend Teddy had left just earlier with his grandmother. They were visiting relatives and old friends in England for the whole holidays. Tony missed his best friend already, but he didn’t mind.

Teddy lost both his parents when he was a baby. Even if Tony’s dad was his Godfather, Teddy still has other family awaiting him in England. And Christmas was a holiday that should be spent with family. He wished Teddy a great Merry Christmas and fun times with his relatives. Maybe not as fun as being with Tony and Harry though, he thought grudgingly.

“Sorry, Tony.”

His dad startled him for a sec when his hand came upon his head. The man had a duffle bag clutched on his hand. “I hope you didn’t wait that long.”

“Nah,” the boy smiled. “Teddy and aunt Andromeda was waiting with me. But they were in a hurry, so.” He shrugged, in a universal sign of ‘what to do’.

“Alright then, should we enter the bus now?”

“Do we have to?” Tony gave his dad a long face.

Harry urged his son to walk with him side by side. “You know that while we’re within the school’s boundaries, there is such a thing as a no apparition zone, don’t you?”

Tony grumbled in protest but didn’t have any response to that. He didn’t exactly not like the bus. It was just so booooooring.

Apparition was interesting and fast, even brooms seemed particularly inviting at the moment. After knowing magic, normal things like car, train, airplane and bus… Ugh bus, seemed so mundane.

“Now, now Tony. After we got off the mountain, we’re going to apparate to three different apparition zone. “his dad tried to cheer him up a little. “It’s only a half an hour ride. Bare with it.”

Tony pouted.

“Smile Tony. We’re going to see mom and Howard soon. I don’t think they deserve seeing you acting like a spoiled prat, young man,” Harry admonished him with his parent’s voice.

The thought of seeing his other parents reminded him of his excitement. He immediately apologized to his dad and sheepishly said,“Sorry, dad.”

With a sigh, the healer amended him, “It’s fine, Orion. I was a teenager too, once. All those hormones and urges pent up could made oneself had an emotional ride and…”

Tony could feel his face reddening and he covered his Dad’s mouth with both hands to shut him up before letting out a whine, “Daaaaaaad.”

Having a healer as a dad just sucked some time.

At least he would be home soon and have his family whole again for the next three weeks. Tony couldn’t wait.

***

December 16th 1991

They were in the dining room when he received the call. It wasn’t a good news. But it wasn’t exactly unwelcome.

Peggy was just informing him that a few classified information has been leaked somewhere within the organization. Among them was his latest project pertaining the super soldier serum, his creation. They weren’t as successful as Steve’s, but they were the next best thing. He needed to get his project moved immediately. If they knew that he’s been keeping them at home, his family would be in danger.

It’s a good chance to rid off the serum.

Peggy told him that he had scheduled a meeting with Pentagon’s representative. They would take his project and safekeeping it for a certain unknown time, at least until he could decide what to do with them. He couldn’t trust the military with the serum, but he also didn’t have the heart to destroy his invention.

Thank Peggy that she took account of Howard’s fear and hid the news of the completion of the serum from the military knowledge. The military wouldn’t know what they’re helping him to hide. For all they knew, Howard Stark was in their debt.

Right now, the important thing was that the serum would be moved soon. He couldn’t risked having them here at home where his sons and old friends lived. So it has to be tonight.

It’s a good thing Maria was invited to that gala in DC tomorrow. It wouldn’t raised any suspicion if they were to drop by DC tonight. Then the Millionaire remembered that the party was also the one that he and his wife have vetoed so that they could spend three whole weeks of holidays with their sons. Damn.

“But you promise not to go anywhere when I’m home,” his son said, in that crushing voice. “You promise.”

“We did Tony, and we wouldn’t have gone if it weren’t extremely important,” Howard tried to reason with his youngest son. “It’s only for two nights. We’re going to be here the day after tomorrow. You wouldn’t even notice that we were gone.”

He put on his most charming smile at his son, which of course didn’t work. Not at all.

“Your father is right Tony,” Maria backed him up. She cupped their son’s cheek and kissed him gently on his cheek. “It will only be for two nights.”

Tony still looked unhappy, but before he could storm out, Harry, who was standing not too far away, blocked his way and turned the boy around. “Tony, don’t forget to say your farewell.”

Reluctantly, the boy hugged them both and whispered slowly. “See you soon. I love you mom. I love you father.”

Soon, Jarvis came to take the boy upstairs. Tony looked back at them with a devastated look for the last time before Edwin ushered him up. Before Harry could take his leave, Howard stopped him. “Harry, could you wait for a moment?”

The young man looked puzzled but conceded nonetheless.

“Howard, is it necessary to…?”

Before Maria could interrupt him further, Howard held his hand up before his wife. “I think so dear. It’s very crucial and I think an extra protection will be needed.” He looked back towards his oldest son with a serious face. “What do you say Harry? Would you be willing to accompany us to DC?”

The wizard didn’t say anything for a minute. “Is it dangerous?”

Something on his face must have answered his question because Harry looked frustrated for a moment before he resigned himself. “It seemed that the three of us are destined to disappoint our boy for a couple of nights.”

Maria stroke her son’s arm with hidden mirth. “I think this time you can put the blame on your father, dear.”

Howard grimaced. “Hell hath no fury like Tony’s pair of disappointed doe eyes.”

***

Two hours later, on the way to Pentagon…

Harry was driving on an empty road with his parents on the back of the car. He still felt guilty when he remembered the look on his son’s face. The young genius seemed to understand the reasoning and made his dad promised to take care of their parents; still, he couldn’t hide his crestfallen face.

The wizard needed to find something BIG to make up for it.

“Harry, could you turn off the music?” Howard asked from the back passenger seats.

Turning it off, Harry noticed that Howard has his hand around Maria’s. Her head laying between the man’s shoulder and neck. Even sleeping, his mom’s hair was as neat as when she first styled them. The strains of white was visible beneath her blond hair.

“If only I could leave her at home,” the businessman gently rested his fingers on his wife’s chin. He shook his head dejectedly. “I would have.”

“Without her, it would look suspicious if I went to DC by myself. But by doing so, did I just sign a death sentence for my own wife?” The question was directed at himself rather than at Harry.

“Howard, is this trip has anything to do with SHIELD?”

“Sadly, it’s the military rather than SHIELD,” he sighed in defeat. “I regret taking this cursed project.”

“You meant to say…” The Brit gripped the steering wheel rather strongly as the realization struck him.

“I was foolish.”

The harshness and contempt behind those words made Harry flinched. Even Maria stirred a bit at her husband’s loud voice.

Howard then lowered his voice and caressed Maria’s hair. “It’s been a long time since I thought about trying to recreate the super soldier serum. It was one of my biggest regret after Arno’s death (biological son) and Steve’s missing.”

“It’s your kryptonite?” Harry joked lightly, trying to dissipate the knot in the pit of his stomach.

When Howard told him, that it was dangerous, he didn’t think it was this dangerous. His family was in danger. Thank God, he has put as many protective charms as he could and a giant ward around the mansion when he and his son began living there. The protection there could almost rival the fidelius charm.

It was a wise decision on Howard’s part to ask Harry to come along. He could better protect them this way. The British wizarding hero had even casted some protection charms over his adoptive parents. As a precaution.

Running and hiding away from death eaters and Voldemort had made him one paranoid arse. Living with Howard just made his senses heightened up especially in a situation like this.

“I’m sorry Harry,” he looked at him from the rearview mirror with a sad look on his face. “I promised you that Tony would have a good life. And now because of my ambition, he could be in danger. We all could be in danger.”

Harry felt loss when he saw the charismatic Howard Stark looked as defeated and hopeless at the situation.

“Howard,” he said quietly. “Accepting your offer twelve years ago was the best decision I have ever taken.

“But…”

“I don’t regret it,” he pushed, “Neither does Tony. He’s the happiest boy in the world, Mr. stark.”

“And today I made him sad,” Howard sighed heavily.

“Our son is brilliant,” he said. “But he’s a kid, a pre-teen. He will bounce back, Howard. So don’t worry about it. After all, we raised him well.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” the old man admitted. “Tony will…”

BANG! It was the sound of something hitting the car’s tire before it all went to shite. Harry lost control of the car but he managed to activate a protective charm enough to cushion himself and his parents when the car hit the tree.

The car was busted; unfortunately, the shock of being in a crash was short-listed when he heard the groan of his father and his mom’s moaning in pain.

“Howard… Howie, what happened? Harry. Harry! Are you okay?!” Maria sounded frantic.

“Maria, we’re okay,” Howard held her in his arms, rubbing her back in a calming gesture before looking in Harry’s direction. “You did this, Har. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Before he could reply, suddenly a bullet stopped just a few inches in front of his head and bounced away from his shield. “Don’t thank me, yet. Get down!”

After his warning, a few rounds of bullets flying towards him and where Howard and Maria were sitting down before.

It wasn’t long before the shooter ran out of bullet and appeared from the bushes. The shooter appeared to be a strong man with long black hair and a metalic left arm (wicked!). He had a blank expression on his face.

The assassin was almost within their distance and the wizard made up his mind. Harry immediately whispered a spell that immediately knocked the man unconscious. It’s one of those spell Healer’s learned to have their patients in a state of comatose to heal or find a counter-jinx for their ailments.

Or for this sort of occasion.

“Sergeant Barnes?” Howard got out of the car and kneeled in front of the unconscious man. He sounded perplexed.

“Howie?” Mom crawled out of the car, still looking fearful.

“Can you see him?” The man sounded obscure.

Harry opened the busted car door and stepped out to stand near his adopted father. “Howard? Do you know him?”

“Yeah, yes.” His voice was trembling. “It’s almost 50 years, but I recognize that face anywhere.”

The inventor turned around and Harry noticed how white his face was. “His name is James Buchanan Barnes, best friend of Captain America. And hedied 46 years ago.”

***