Hey! Back for another chapter, just as promised. Just a warning this chapter gets a bit heavy with exposition, mainly for the Arbiter, Master Chief and Cortana. Also the first scene in this might get incredibly dull, but I needed this scene, it saves me a lot of trouble later on. Though after this chapter we get into all the exciting stuff, thank god. It's all I've been able to think about as I've been writing this chapter, it gets incredibly distracting. Also their a author on this site who I've noticed recently that I thought I should warn you about, well calling him an author is giving him way too much credit. If you didn't know about him, his name's Pedro Peter, he's copying and pasting peoples stories on this website and posting them as his own. But he might of changed his name by now, he's done that before. But anyway if you want to give the real authors the credit they deserve then their is someone who keeps reviewing on all the stories the account posts called Shannon186. They will direct you to the original story. But so this doesn't end on a bad note I just want to thank everyone for the support they have given this story, it's more then I thought I would get I just one week of being up. Enjoy!
For Supreme Mugwump Babajide Akingbade heading the ICW could sometimes be incredible boring. He accepted his position on the ICW because he wanted to help Uganda the best that he could, he just didn't know how boring it would be most of the time. So, when a messenger ran in saying a muggle had come unannounced requesting an audience with the ICW he almost couldn't contain his excitement that something might happen that could keep his interest.
The ICW weren't used to muggles or No-Maj, whatever people were calling them these days, so when one comes to the ICW requesting an audience in the middle of one of their meetings it caused a bit of an uproar, of course some countries favoured them more than others, but that sentiment was becoming less common. It seemed a good majority couldn't care less and suggested to just throw him out. However, Babajide had a different idea. "While I understand that most of you would rather not let a No-Maj into are meeting you must remember that we are all here to prompt peace in ALL areas of the world." With that said Babajide turned to the messenger and requested she let the No-Maj in.
As soon as the No-Maj entered the room Babajide could tell that he knew more about the magical world more than most No-Maj normally do. Before anyone could say anything the no-Maj opened with "Members of the ICW, I'm Director Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. I realise turning up unannounced is rude, but I didn't have another choice. A S.H.I.E.L.D facility was attacked yesterday by someone called Loki. He stole an item of importance to S.H.I.E.L.D, an item that could pose a serious threat in the wrong hands. He also uses some sort of magic, not like yours but similar to it. I realise that I'm asking for a lot, but I need all the help I can get."
Fury paused before continuing. "I would like to request a pardon to allow a member of your world to be exempt from the Statue of Secrecy, so they can assist me against Loki"
Silence, it was the loudest silence that Babajide had ever heard. Asking for pardons from the Statue of Secrecy was a serious request. Babajide could count on his hands the number of people who could request a pardon, they were rarely ever asked for and even then, most of the time they were denied. But something about this seemed different, Director Fury seemed shaken, it wasn't obvious but thankfully Babajide was good at reading people. Fury looked like he had seen something that he never expected he would have to worry about. Babajide thought it was only fair the ICW hear him out.
"Alright then Director" he replied, "who is it you request to pardon?"
In all honesty Babajide was ready to hand over the pardon that moment whatever this Loki seem to have taken, it didn't sound good. All he needed to do was for Fury to put forth someone reliable, someone who could represent the Wizarding World in a good way, and someone mature enough of course. But Fury seemed like a man who had a good head on his shoulders. Who was he going to suggest? An underage student? Babajide couldn't see Fury doing something like that.
"Harry Potter" Fury answered.
Well Babajide had been wrong about people before.
-0o0-
As Harry walked into the Dursley's living room he had thought about of about ten different ways he could explain to them why he would be leaving tomorrow, and about fifty different ways it could end horribly wrong. The one thing he was bagging on was their dislike of him. "What do you what boy?" Vernon said from his spot on the sofa watching the news, which right now was talking about Tony Stark, something about clean renewable energy.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'll be leaving tomorrow Uncle Vernon" Harry replied, hoping that Vernon wouldn't think too much about it.
"Why? Don't the other freaks pick you up later in the summer?" Apparently, Harry wasn't going to be so lucky today.
"They're not the ones picking me up Uncle Vernon" Harry replied trying the best he could to hold back his anger at Vernon calling his friends freaks "It's actually a government organisation called S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Whatever, the less you're here, the better in my opinion." With that said Harry ran back upstairs, wanting to get out of that situation as soon as possible, and jumping into bed wanting tomorrow to come as fast as it could.
-0o0-
When Fury left the ICW meeting 4 hours later he was exhausted, but he couldn't feel better. After spending an hour explaining to them that, no, he wasn't crazy for wanting Harry Potter to be the one pardoned to help him. It then took another hour to discuss the fact that he was still in school and normally wouldn't be allowed to preform magic outside of school. It then took another two hours for the ICW to review the case that he had made before giving their verdict, apparently it could have been a much shorter if Britain had chosen a representative to replace their previous representative and Supreme Mugwump Albus Dumbledore but the current Supreme Mugwump Babajide Akingbade and the rest of the ICW weren't holding their breath, evidently it could be up to two months before they decide on one. Seems like the ICW doesn't think highly of the Ministry of Magic in Britain.
But Fury had made his case and was now walking out of there with a piece of paper signed by him, the Supreme Mugwump and three other members of the ICW stating that one Harry James Potter of the United Kingdom can use magic openly outside of school and in front of muggles. He had already sent Coulson the OK to pick up Harry before heading to New York to pick up both Captain Rodgers, which he could already tell was going to be a disaster, before then going to pick up Master Chief, The Arbiter and Cortana. If all went to plan hopefully Coulson would also manage to convince Stark to help them as well, when he would turn up though is a different question and with the news that Natasha had managed to enlist Doctor Banners help as well and was on route to the Helicarrier was just the cherry on top of the cake. Hell, maybe if a certain God was able to make his way to Earth Fury might just be able to eat his cake to, but how many times had Fury been able to do that in his career?
-0o0-
When Director Fury had told Harry that he was going to be picked up by S.H.I.E.L.D he imagined someone in a black SUV standing in front of the door ready to take him to the airport to get on a government place or helicopter. So, hearing what sounded like one of those fighter jets from those war movies that Dudley watches flying overhead before landing just outside the street was a bit of a surprise.
After grabbing his bag, broom and Hedwig's cage with her inside he then made sure his wand was in its holster, again something Hermione had sorted for him, before he answered the door to an Agent Coulson who then escorted him the plane apparently called a Quinjet, without much of a goodbye to the gaping Dursleys, Harry followed. According to Agent Coulson they had two more stops to make in New York before they made their way to the S.H.I.E.L.D base they would be operating out of.
The flight over gave Harry time to read up on the people S.H.I.E.L.D would be bringing in for this, something he should have done before but became too distracted reading about Loki and the threat that he posed. At one-point Harry had to ask Coulson to clarify, while he wasn't the best at history in school he was still pretty sure Captain America had died in World War Two. But no, Coulson repeated what he had read, saying that Captain America had been found frozen in ice after 70 years. Harry couldn't imagine how horrible that must have been for him to wake up in a time he didn't understand.
Before they made their first stop in New York Harry had also managed to read up on Ironman, he still couldn't believe that people in the magical world hadn't heard of him, Ironman had only been around for a few months before he first found out about him being a wizard so when he learned that they didn't even know about him it was a shock for sure, at least Hermione knew about him. After they became friends they would sometimes talk about him, as in Harry would talk about how cool he was and Hermione, even at twelve years old, would be trying to work out how it worked, no that she ever got close.
He had also read up on Doctor Banner, and after seeing the videos, Harry could understand why Fury requested Banner to help search for the cube. That guy could be scary. Then there was also Natasha and Bobbi, two S.H.I.E.L.D agents who were apparently the best of the best, but Harry couldn't find anything overly interesting about them, most of everything was blacked out, so he moved on. Before he could move on to the last two people they arrived at their first stop in New York.
-0o0-
After meeting Agent Coulson and being told that one member of the group Fury was putting together was already on-board Steve had expected to see a person, at least in their mid-twenties, to be waiting for him to jump on and maybe be dazed for a second that he was meeting Captain America, not that Steve was vain it's just how most people seemed to react to him. So, when he boarded and saw a teenager with a small rucksack, a broom and an owl in a cage, he was incredibly confused, although he had a nagging feeling that he should know something but couldn't remember what.
When the teenager looked up and saw him Steve could see him piece together who he was, his eyes widening not long after, making Steve a little uncomfortable, he never really enjoyed his fame as Captain America he only did it to help people. But then something Steve didn't expect happened, the teenager composed himself walked up to Steve holding out his hand and said in greeting "Hi I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
Thrown off guard by the teenagers, Harry's, seemingly identifying and understanding of his discomfort he dumbly replied "Steve Rodgers." Steve had never met someone who before even talking to him was able to pick up of his discomfort of his fame, that fact that Harry had picked up on and understood that just by looking at him told Steve all he needed to know right now.
Taking a seat across the plane from Harry, Steve decided he should at least try to make conversation instead of letting the current awkward silence sit. "What's with the owl?" Steve found himself asking. Yeah defiantly a great conversation starter.
Before answering Harry looked over to Agent Coulson, who in turn nodded, before turning back to Steve and answering "Her names Hedwig, she's my familiar. She also delivers my letters to my friends. Might sound weird I know but"
"You're a wizard" Steve interrupted with an amazed look on his face. Harry looked at him with surprised confusion. As Harry went to open his month, presumably to ask how he knew about wizards, their conversation was interrupted by Agent Coulson making his way to the back of the Quinjet. Turning to them two after lowering the ramp he told them "I'd prepare yourselves if I were you, these last two people can easily catch you off guard." With that said he exited the Quinjet, a knowing smile plastered on his face. Harry and Steve, confused by Agent Coulson's words, forgot about their previous conversation.
-0o0-
As Thel Vadum otherwise known as The Arbiter been preparing for S.H.I.E.L.D's arrival he had been thinking over every decision he had made that lead him to this point in his life. Joining the Covenant military, commanding a fleet in the name of the Forerunners to accomplish The Great Journey, only to find out after over twenty years of war and killing millions of humans, destroying countless of their worlds that The Great Journey was nothing but a lie, a work of fiction that the Prophets had created.
Thel was thankful the humans managed uncloud his vision from the lies of the Prophets and show him that the Halos that the Forerunners had created weren't sacred ring worlds ready to take the worthy onto The Great Journey, but weapons, machines of war created to wipe out all life from the galaxy in order to save it from the Flood, a parasite that feeds on any living creature with independent thought, a parasite that can continue to live on with just one spore.
Thel didn't know if he could ever thank the humans enough for saving not just him but his species, so he did all he could. He fought beside them against his once allies, killed the leader of the Covenant and stood beside their great hero, their Master Chief, into the depths of the Flood infested ruins of High Charity, the once holy city of the Covenant to retrieve his companion Cortana.
He stood by him as he activated an unfinished Halo to put an end to the threat of both the Flood and Halo rings for good. He stood by him as they raced against a collapsing Halo to escape it on a human ship called The Forward Unto Dawn, even as they made their escape through a slipspace portal that seemed to transport them to an Earth that wasn't the same one they had left, he still stood by him. But now, now he didn't just stand by the Spartan because he was thankful to humanity, he did it because the Spartan was his ally, his partner in battle, his… friend.
Thel wasn't sure when he had come to see the Spartan as his friend, he didn't even know if the Spartan thought of him the same way, but through the many battles he and the Spartan had faced he couldn't think of someone better to call friend.
"Arbiter" broken out of his, Thel turned towards the doorway of his bedroom to see the Spartan standing in the doorway, even after a year it was still weird for Thel to see him without his armour on, "Agent Coulson's at the door, you ready?"
"You have no need to worry Spartan" Thel replied "I am prepared."
"Good, our equipment will be returned to us when we arrive." Thel, of course, already knew this after Agent Morse had told them yesterday but Thel knew it wasn't for him. Since it had been taken away Thel could tell that the Spartan didn't feel comfortable without his amour. He seemed uncertain about his actions and always looked tense like a wound-up spring.
When Thel asked Cortana about his odd behaviour after his armour had been removed she explained to him that the Spartan, or John as she called him, had never been out of his armour for any extended amount of time since he was in his late teens early twenties. Which then lead onto a conversation about the Spartans upbringing. While she struggled at first, calling it classified, she eventually gave in and told him everything.
She told him about how he had been taken by a group called the Office of Naval Intelligence, ONI, at age six and had, along with 74 other children out of a possible 300, extensive military training, where the methodology was tough, even brutal and violent in some areas, along with high-level education, which included mathematics, science, physics, reading, writing, and military tactics. Then when they reached fourteen they were put through biological augmentation procedures which caused them to feel enormous pain throughout the process and ended up killing 30 of the candidates and paralysing another 12. It wasn't long after that, that he had received his amour and, while having received two upgrades since then, had barely been out of it since.
Thel had gained a lot more respect for the Spartan after that. Going through an ordeal like that and still being sane must have been no easy feat. Though Thel had a few choice words of this ONI and it appeared that Cortana shared that sentiment form the way she had called Doctor Halsey, the one who conceived the SPARTAN-II Program, a monster. Though later Cortana did explain that Halsey regretted her action as she came to care for the Spartans, though Cortana refused outright the explain how she knew this, that didn't change anything for Thel though, she had still chosen to torture children. When he explained this to Cortana all she did was give him, what Thel had learned to be, a knowing smile and agreed that it didn't for her either.
After giving his armour one final check he walked out of his room and joined the Spartan and Cortana after greeting Agent Coulson.
-0o0-
If you had asked Phil Coulson five years ago if he thought that he would be helping Fury assemble a group of unique individuals to help S.H.I.E.L.D fight a Norse god who had stolen a cube from space that S.H.I.E.L.D had been experimenting with to use it as some sort of power source then he would have denied that such a situation would ever come to pass. But here he was escorting an alien and some sort of mix between Captain America and Ironman, who also had an AI that could easily give J.A.R.V.I.S a challenge.
Phil had to emit though it wasn't so bad, he got to meet his idol for one. It had been incredibly hard for him pasted half hour to be professional since he had met Captain America. It had been all he wanted to do since they had found him in the ice, but sadly Phil had been unable to be present for that. He had been assigned to investigate the fluctuation of an unknown energy signature in New York that had resulted the appearance of the Master Chief, the Arbiter and their AI Cortana.
Since then he had kept in regular contact with them to both keep them updated to their progress on finding them a way home and to make sure they were keeping a low profile. So, when Coulson was told he would be picking them up to help with tracking down and capturing Loki he was slightly shocked. He hadn't expected Fury to what to bring them in as well, but Fury's choices normally worked out in the long run, Coulson just wasn't sure if the public positively to someone like the Arbiter running around. He just hoped that the Arbiter would go down better with Harry and Captain Rogers, let alone the number of ways Tony could stick his foot in his mouth whenever he decided to join.
Before they entered the Quinjet, Coulson turned around to both the Arbiter and Chief and ask to speak with Cortana. Once Chief had taken her chip out of the pocket of his trousers he told her "Before Director Fury can inform everyone about your… interesting situation he requested that you remain silent, only because AIs aren't something that are common right now. In fact, there is only one known AI currently in existence."
While unhappy with the situation, Cortana agreed knowing that it was probably best if Fury was the one to break the news. After all he probably knew more about the other people who had come on board for this then she did, so he would know the best possible way to inform them about the fact that three of their group had either time traveled, crossed over from a different dimension or maybe a bit of both.
As Coulson entered the Quinjet with Master Chief and the Arbiter he saw Harry and Captain Rogers look up. The fact that they both shot up at the sight of the Arbiter told Phil that this wasn't going to be as easy has he was hoping. "Both of you stand down, it's alright they're friendlies."
Looking both in the eye, god it was getting harder and harder for Coulson to not fanboy out, they both relaxed before sitting down. The Arbiter though seem to find it amusing though, if the deep chuckle he heard behind him was anything to go by. "Agent Coulson?" Phil turned to a slightly pale Captain Rogers and nodded at him to continue. "Is tha-that an alien?"
It seems even Captain America could get caught off guard from time to time, not that Coulson blamed him. Before he could reply the Arbiter did so himself. "Yes, I am… Captain Rogers I believe?" At the Captain's nod he continued, "I am what is known as a Sangheili, or Elite if you wish."
Taking over the introduction Coulson gestured towards the Arbiter "This is the Arbiter and this" he said pointing towards Master Chief "is Master Chief. Arbiter, Chief this is Steve Rogers and Harry Potter"
-0o0-
"Greetings" Thel said holding his hand out. Harry, apparently taking this in his stride, walked up to the Arbiter and replied with a simple "Hi" before shaking his hand. When Harry came up to shake his hand Thel noticed something, Harry seemed to be quite a bit shorter than the rest of the humans here, and while he knew both Captain Rogers and the Spartan were a bit taller than most human male even Agent Coulson was taller than Harry. This led Thel to a thought that he didn't like at all, a situation that was similar to the Spartans.
"I do not mean to be rude." He started with "But how old are you exactly?"
Harry seemed to become uncomfortable with this question, but Thel was determined to know. If what he thought was true, then S.H.I.E.L.D would definitely be answering for their choice to bring a child into this.
"Fourteen" Harry eventually replied with looking down sheepishly as he did so.
For Thel one of the most interesting things about the Spartan not having his armour on for the last year is that it had allowed him to more accurately tell what he felt about something, even then it was still hard to do. So, when Harry told him how old he was and Thel saw the Spartans face seemed to tense around round his mouth and his jaw became tighter Thel knew that the Spartan was thinking back to his days of training and didn't seem to be comfortable with someone else deciding to do the same thing, even if they didn't get the idea from the SPARTAN-II Program.
With some anger in his eyes Thel looked up to Agent Coulson and asked, "And who believed bring in someone so young into this was a good idea?"
Coulson seemed to take a more defensive stance before replying "Out of everyone similar to Mr. Potter that Director Fury considered he was believed to be the best one for the job."
"That shouldn't excuse the fact that Fury has decided that a child would best be placed in a group of people ready to face death to protect this planet from this Loki" the Arbiter argued.
-0o0-
Harry could see where this was going, it reminded him of the argument over him participating in the Tri-Wizard Tournament last year. An argument where he had no control, no say in anything. An argument where everything was decided for him, no matter what he what or thought. No Harry had had enough. Before anyone else could say anything on the matter they were all interrupted by the boy in question. "So, your all just going to forget I'm standing here?" Everyone turned to him before he continued "You're know going to ask my opinion and just decide for me? I'm here because I want to help, I want to make sure that Loki doesn't harm anyone. Fury believed in me, believed that I was the right person for the job. Do I believe that? No, not for a second, but does that really matter? I could help make a difference, make this world a safer place. Isn't that all that matters at the end of the day?"
Harry could see the Arbiter looked unsure, but he could also see Steve looked almost proud, same as Coulson, though he couldn't tell what Chief was thinking he seemed to be quite closed off. "While I do not agree with your decision, I will respect it." The Arbiter replied "I can do nothing but respect a person who is willing to die to help the innocent, I am just uncomfortable with the knowledge of how young you are, it is not easy to see someone as young as you ready to die. To give your life for something when you have so much left to live."
All Harry could do was smile at the Arbiter, at least he could except it. "I understand, if I was older, I don't think that I could either. But Fury told me I have done things no one else my age has done, and while I know that to be true, I still believe it wasn't down to me alone that got me out of those situations. But I have a chance to help this world. I'm not going to throw that away.
From off to the side where he had been sitting Steve stood up, came over and shook Harry hand smiling at him, "Well he gets my vote" Steve said to the group. Walking away from the Arbiter's side Master Chief walked over to Harry and also shook his hand saying, "Mine too" with a slight smile on his face. The Arbiter looked on from his position, sighed then nodded in agreement with, only what Harry could guess was, a smile.
"Great" Coulson said with a smile, glad to be out of that argument, "now why don't we get on our way?" With that said everyone took their seats ready to head off. Turning to the pilot Coulson told him, "Let's go." With that said, the pilot took off.
22/4/18 - Grammar correction
