I do not attempt to claim ownership of Marvel Comics or the Harry Potter series.


Chapter Two

'Picking up the Pieces'


Hogwarts / 18.03.2010

Albus Dumbledore let out a sad sigh, it was all his fault.

He should seen the signs, the tatty clothes, the ever so slightly too thin frame, his shy, nervous nature. But he'd been so eager to believe the Dursleys could change for the better he'd doomed a child to an abusive home.

Albus could still remember the day after Voldemort's demise as if it was yesterday. He'd spent nearly the entire day in the Wizengamot fighting to keep Harry from falling into Lucius Malfoy's hands that he hadn't realised the mistake he was making.

A loud chime disturbed Albus from his thoughts, making him straighten up in his chair.

"Enter," spoke Albus, watching as his office door swung open to admit five individuals, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor Moody and Arthur Weasley.

Conjuring up chairs in colours matching their house, Albus schooled his features, hiding the near overwhelming guilt he felt inside of him.

After Harry's disappearance in June, Albus had reformed the Order of the Phoenix when it became apparent the Ministry investigation was going nowhere.

"Any news?" queried Albus, stroking Fawkes.

"The Auror office has just officially stopped searching for Harry," spoke Kingsley, a Senior Auror and the only member of the current Order to not be an original member.

"What now?" asked Minerva, pursing her lips, "What about the investigation?"

"Closed as well," answered Kingsley, a dark look on his face.

"Someone's paid Fudge off," muttered Arthur, he and Molly had taken Harry's disappearance the hardest, feeling as though they had failed him.

"My money's on Malfoy," grumbled Moody, magical eye spinning around, constantly scanning the office.

"Malfoy hasn't made any donations in nearly three months," commented Severus, "However, the Notts made a rather generous donation to Fudge's re-election fund just last week."

"I still reckon Malfoy's behind it," grunted Moody.

"I've read his mind, he has no occlumency barriers, he didn't do it," explained Severus, frowning, "Besides he was hosting that gala the same day."

"Nott wasn't at the gala," stated Kingsley, "Pretty notable by his absence actually."

"Have you found anything in his mind?" questioned Albus, turning to look at Severus.

"He has decent barriers, any attempt to pass them and he'd know," spoke Severus, "I'd have to brute force my way in."

"We need to know," stated Albus.

"I can get a private meeting with him," answered Severus, "But if he figures out he's been oblivated my cover will be blown."

"That's a risk we have to take," assured Albus, watching as Severus agreed with a nod of his head, marvelling at how much Severus' opinion of Harry had changed since the extent of his abuse had come to light.

"Understood," responded Severus, pausing for a second, "There is another issue I'd like to raise."

"Go ahead," spoke Albus.

"I received a letter from Draco this morning," informed Severus, "It's the first I've heard from him since August, the strangest thing it was sent by muggle post, from Florida."

"What did it say?" inquired Albus.

"Very little, just that he was okay," replied Severus, "That he's not at Durmstrang like his father is claiming."

"Very interesting," mused Albus, "It's wonder what made him decide to run away, perhaps he discovered his father was behind the attacks last year."

"It is possible," agreed Severus.

"Seems the kid's got more balls than I thought it was possible for a Malfoy to have," chuckled Moody, taking a swig of his hip flask.

"Must you be so crass?" snapped Minerva, "And that better not be firewhiskey in that flask of yours."

"Damn cat," grumbled Moody, tucking his flask away.

"It's decided then, I will go to Florida to find young Mr. Malfoy," spoke Albus, "Severus, you will interrogate Mr. Nott, Kingsley, do you have any news regarding Sirius Black."

"Nothing of note, a sighting near Hogsmeade again," informed Kingsley, "We believe his focus isn't on Harry but Remus Lupin."

"Maybe he wants to get the full set," commented Moody, "He betrayed Potter, killed Pettigrew, now he's trying to kill Lupin to finish what he started."

"Sever the ties to his old life," added Arthur.

"Albus, there is something I wish to discuss with you," stated Minerva, "Privately."

"Very well," responded Albus, "If you would mi-"

"We get it, we'll get lost," interrupted Moody, standing and hobbling to the door, followed by Kingsley, Arthur and Severus.

Once the door had shut, Albus turned to look at Minerva, "What's the problem?"

"Miss Granger and the youngest Mr. Weasley," answered Minerva, pursing her lips, "I'm concerned about them."

"How so?" queried Albus, "To my knowledge both doing very well in their classes."

"That's what concerns me," explained Minerva, "Mr. Weasley has made an incredible improvement in grades from last year, even dropping one of his more useless subject options for Arithmancy."

Albus smiled, Minerva's hatred of Divination never ceased to amaze him, "I don't see how this is a problem."

"That isn't the most concerning part, I lent Miss Granger the school time-turner and now I've heard from Septima that Mr. Weasley was asking about time-turner calculations," explained Minerva.

Albus frowned, "They're going to attempt to stop Harry from being taken."


Afghanistan / 04.02.2010

"That is not a Jericho missile," commented Yinsen, looking over Tony shoulder at a circular device which glowed with blue light.

"Yep, it isn't," replied Tony, examining his creation, "It's a miniaturised arc reactor, I have a larger one powering a factory in Miami."

"What's the output?" asked Yinsen.

"Eight gigajoules per second," answered Tony, continuing to check for flaws.

"That's incredible," muttered Yinsen, "It could power the electromagnet in your chest for fifty lifetimes."

Tony smiled, "Or something really big for-"

"Magic," spoke Harry, walking over to the workstation and taking the reactor from Tony's hand, "How did you design this?"

"I didn't, I just miniaturised my father's design," explained Tony, frowning.

"Then someone with magic helped him," stated Harry, turning the reactor over, "I can feel it drawing magic out of the air, I'd forgotten what it felt like."

Tony frowned, "There's no such thing as-"

"Don't," mumbled Yinsen, "This is the most he's said, don't ruin it."

Harry smiled, "It feels like a wand, in fact."

Turning, Harry pointed the arc reactor at the far wall.

"Expelliarmus!"

Both Tony and Yinsen looked on in shock as a beam of red light shot out of the reactor, detonating on impact with the wall.

"I believe in magic," spoke Tony quickly, his mind buzzing with ideas.

Yinsen chuckled, "That makes so much sense, of course I can't find any genetic markers that explain his healing abilities, it's something else."

Harry turned to face the others, a large grin on his face, "Stark, can you build me one of these."


Hogwarts / 18.03.2010

"Have you got them?" asked Hermione as Ron entered the abandoned classroom.

"Yep," replied Ron, handing Hermione a roll of parchment.

"Great," smiled Hermione, tapped her wand on the parchment and then on a strange gold device on the desk in front of her.

Ron watched in fascination as the calculations on the parchment jumped into the air and vanished into the device.

"Are you sure this is gonna work?" asked Ron, continuing to watch at Hermione unclipped the time-turner from around her neck and slotted it into the device.

"Definitely," assured Hermione, giving Ron a kiss on the cheek, "Now let's get Harry back."

"Alright," nodded Ron as Hermione tapped a date and coordinates into the device.

"Grab hold," spoke Hermione, holding out her hand, which Ron quickly took, "Ready?"

"As I'm ever going to be," answered Ron.

Taking a calming breath, Hermione picked up the device and flicked a large red switch, watching as golden energy flowed down her arm, cocooning her and Ron.

With a loud crack the two vanished just as the classroom door banged open to reveal Albus and Minerva, wands drawn.

Albus sighed, "We're too late."


4 Privet Drive / 29.06.2009

"Oof!"

Ron groaned, his ribs ached from where Hermione had dropped on him.

"We did it!" cheered Hermione as she clambered to the window of Harry's bedroom, "The Dursleys aren't back yet."

"Urgh," sighed Ron as he pushed himself to his feet, "What's next?"

"The cloak," answered Hermione, turning to face Ron, "Let's go rescue Harry."

"Something's wrong with Scabbers," frowned Ron, pulling his rat out his pocket, watching as it thrashed in pain.

"Why on earth did you bring Scabbers?" demanded Hermione, examining the rat.

"Where else would I leave him?" muttered Ron, shrugging, "Do you think it could be the time-turner?"

"Ron, drop it, now!" exclaimed Hermione, pointing her wand at the rat.

"What are you doing?" questioned Ron.

"That's the textbook reaction of an animagus being taken inside an anti-animagus ward," explained Hermione.

Ron paled and quickly dropped the rat on the floor, watching as it twisted and morphed into a plump, balding man.

"Oh god," gasped Ron, "I slept with you!"


Wow, that's pretty much all I can say about the response the first chapter got. Twelve reviews and over a thousand hits, thank you very much to everyone who read, followed, favourited or reviewed. You all rock.