Chapter 4 In which Harry is Lord Potter-Black
20th February 2016, London
For the first time in a long time, Potter Manor was decorated to the nines in honor of the upcoming festivities. The Starlight Ball was a Wizarding tradition that no one had any choice in; it was a 6 hours event held on the last day of February where all the "who's who" of the Wizarding world and the leaders of the Muggle world who are in the know, would attend. No one really knew how the whole affair had started but it was here and here to stay.
As tradition dictated, the honor of being the host of the ball circulated from Family to Family. Last year, the Malfoys were "lucky" enough to be chosen. This year, it was the House of Black's turn.
"I still say we should have just hired someone to take care of this," Harry grumbled to Hermione as he looked over yet another menu.
"Harry," Hermione chided him softly, "It's tradition for the Lady of the House to be in charge of all preparations and since you are not married, the duty falls upon you."
"But you're muggleborn," Harry whined, "Why in Merlin's name are you so uptight about these sort of thing."
"Oh shush," Hermione said, hitting him lightly on the arm, "Tradition is tradition and you have broken enough of them by going off to New York. How's that going by the way?"
Harry paused for a second to think of a suitable answer.
"Weird," he finally settled on.
"How can accounting work be weird?" Hermione asked in confusion, "From what I read, it's all the same accounts over and over again."
"Well, Stark Industries isn't normal by any account," he told her…
Flashback
The last thing Harry expected when coming in to work on Monday was a shouting match between Chris and Katy. The two girls had been getting along just fine and hadn't shown any signs of animosity before today. He wondered what had caused such a change.
"It's a joke," Katy was saying as Harry pushed open the door, "I'm sure it is! A hazing ritual. We should just ignore it."
"We can't just ignore it," Chris protested, waving a piece of paper around, "What if it's real? We'll get in to trouble."
"What's wrong?" Harry interrupted, making both girls turn to him.
"Harry!" Chris exclaimed, jumping up from her seat and handing him a piece of paper, "What do you think we should do with this?"
Harry looked down and started to read. It was an expense report – a 10 000$ purchase from HKS Farms for…
"20 sheep!?"
"It's a joke," Katy insisted, crossing her arms in annoyance. "We'll wasting time debating about this."
Harry frowned unsure what to do.
Luckily, the door opened then and Martin came in, probably attracted by the noise.
"Martin!" he exclaimed, handing over the paper, "Is this for real?"
The man read the content before an expression of utter amusement crossed his face.
"I can't believe it took you guys so long to get to one of these," he said.
"It's a joke right?" Katy insisted.
"Oh no," Martin replied with a smirk, "It's real alright. This, ladies and gentleman, is what we here have dubbed a Stark Expense."
End of Flashback
"Sheep, really?" Hermione repeated with a laugh, "What in Merlin's name is that all about?"
"Apparently it's Avengers business," Harry explained, "You remember that groups of Superheroes from a few month ago."
"I do," Hermione nodded.
"Well, Mr. Stark keeps forgetting that he can't continue to charge expenses incurred while "saving the world" to the company account. When Ms. Potts doesn't notice, things like this happen."
"Is that the last time it happened?" Hermione asked, intrigued.
"Oh no," Harry answered with a pained groan, "Dealing with those things are a pain in the neck. I have half a mind to go find Mr. Stark myself to tell him just how difficult he's making our job."
"You should," Hermione told him seriously and Harry laughed.
"Come on," he said, turning his attention back to the menu, "Let's not worry about that right now. We have a party to plan."
"I'm surprised Potter," said a snide voice, making Harry tense slightly, "I thought for sure you would have messed up."
"Malfoy," Harry said evenly, forcing a smile on to his face. They weren't school children anymore. Harry couldn't exactly hex him, no matter how much he would enjoy it.
"Draco," a female voice chided and Harry found his smile become more natural as he took in the beautiful figure of Malfoy's wife, Astoria Greengrass. How such a sweet, unassuming beauty could end up with a cold hearted beast like Malfoy was anyone's guess. Maybe rumours about an arranged marriage was true.
"It's lovely to see you again Astoria," Harry smiled at her and kissed the back of her hand, a move that he had practiced enough for it to become natural.
"It's good to see you too," Astoria replied serenely, "I heard that you started working for Stark Industries."
"Yes," Harry confirmed, eyes widening a little. He was more then a little surprised that Astoria - the epitome of the Pureblood princess - knew about the muggle world.
"How is that going?" Astoria asked, looking sincerely interested.
"Astoria," Malfoy interjected before Harry could answer, "This really isn't the time. We have socializing to do."
Astoria rolled her eyes - a move so out of character that Harry actually choked a little.
"Of course dear," she replied, taking his arm without another comment. Harry watched them go with amusement.
Barely a minute after the Malfoys departure, Minister Shane and Minister Taylor (from the Muggle side) made their appearance.
"Wonderful, wonderful party," Shane boomed. He was a tall man with greying hair, who loved his food as much as he loved talking about his precious daughter.
"Thank you Prime Minister," Harry answered smoothly, shaking both men's hands, "Will her Majesty come tonight?" he asked the Muggle Prime Minister. It wasn't uncommon for the Queen to drop by during these sort of events, but the security detail planning it entailed was a bloody nightmare.
"She is," the Minister confirmed, "As will as Prince Harry and Prince William."
"Oh really?" Harry repeated, eyes wide. That was a first. While the British Royal Family technically ruled over the Magic realm of Britain as well as the Muggle one, the young heirs to the throne, Harry and William, had never stepped foot anywhere magical. This would be the first time they would attend a party where wizards were present in majority.
"At the Queen's request," the Prime Minister said, answering the unasked question.
Harry nodded politely at that.
They talked a few minutes after that before someone caught Prime Minister Shane's eye and the man left to go say hello to the person who had hailed him.
"I heard you got a new job with Stark Industries," the muggle PM commented after Shane had left.
"Does everyone know?" Harry chuckled ruefully, "Yes I did."
"Must be tiring," Taylor shook his head, "Have you met Mr. Stark in person yet?"
"No," Harry answered, "I think he's in California at the moment."
"He's coming to NY soon, or at least, that's what I heard. He's an interesting man, that Tony Stark. I can't say if you'll like him or not, but you won't forget him, that's for sure."
"A prodigy, isn't he?" Harry said. He remembered reading about Stark when he researched Stark Industries, "Graduated MIT at 15. Must be tough on him. I have a feeling he didn't have a happy childhood."
"You can say that again," Taylor replied darkly, "Howard Stark may be a lot of things, but a good father he was not."
Harry wanted to ask more, but Taylor had shut down and had moved the conversation to another topic until he too was hailed away.
Harry sighed, looking around the room before deciding to make a few rounds before getting a drink. He wondered just how early he can start kicking people out without being rude. He had to get up early tomorrow so he can return to New York.
At exactly 15 past 8, the trumpets sounded; the melody of a familiar song drafting across the crowded ballroom.
"The Queen is here," Harry's current conversation companion said, turning his attention to the double doors of the entrance. Harry did the same, watching in anticipation for them to open and admit the monarch in question.
Truth be told, no one in the Wizarding world really knew how to treat Queen Elizabeth. On one hand, the position of the British Monarch had been given the power to rule over Magical Britain by Merlin himself. On the other hand, the Queen was a muggle and should really have no business dealing with Wizards. Harry himself didn't really have an opinion on the matter, and is grateful that no one radically opposed to the Queen's position has made themselves known just yet. He liked the Queen, having met her when he had received his Victoria Cross some time ago. She was like a grandmother; sweet and smiling, but at the same time strong-willed and nurturing. He hadn't really met the princes though; in Harry's opinion, catching a glimpse of them at the back of the room during his ceremony wasn't exactly meeting them.
The door to the room finally swung open and two burly secret agents stepped through, their pressed black suits making them stand out amongst the other guests. They were part of the Queen's special task force; wizards who are tasked to protect the Queen 24/7.
The two agents surveyed the room, taking in everything at once. When they were satisfied with their inspection, they stepped aside to let the guest of honor to enter.
Despite her old age, Queen Elizabeth II looked as spirited as ever, sprouting a pink ensemble that should have made her look ridiculous. Behind her, dressed in military garbs, were her two grandsons. Princes Harry and William looked rather nervous in Harry's opinion but was hiding it well. However, the way the younger Prince's hands were twitching sort of give it away.
"Excuse me," Harry told his companion before starting to make his way towards the front of the crowd. It was his duty as host to welcome them and get them settled.
"Your Majesty," he greeted her when he was close enough, "It's wonderful to see you again."
"Young Lord Potter," the Queen smiled at him, "You did a wonderful job with the party."
"Thank you," Harry bowed his head, blushing slightly at her praise. "I see the His Highnesses have decided to come tonight."
The two princes took that as a cue to step forward; William first, and extended their hands.
"Lord Potter," said the older Prince, "I've heard a great deal about you."
"All good I hope," he said easily, shaking his hands before doing the same with Harry.
"Is it true you're working for Stark Industries now?" Prince Harry asked somewhat eagerly, making Harry blink.
"Yes," he replied hesitantly, wondering just why the other man was interested in where he was working.
"I've always admired Stark," Prince Harry said brightly, "If I hadn't been born Prince, I would have wanted to become an engineer."
"If you hadn't been born so hopeless in math, you mean," Prince William interjected, their brotherly banter a breath of fresh air for Harry.
"Now, now boys," the Queen chided, but with a fond smile, "This is not the place."
When both looked properly chastened, the Queen turned back to Harry and indicated for him to get on with his welcome.
Harry led the Queen around the room, introducing her to some of the most notable magical dignitaries. The two Princes followed, eyes wide as they took in the floating chandeliers and dancing ice statue in the corner. Harry knew that they must be itching to take out their cellphones to film the whole thing. Unfortunately for them, the amount of magic in the air would have fried their electronics in a second flat.
When the Queen was properly settled in deep conversation with the Muggle Prime Minister and some high ups in the Muggle Relations department at the Ministry, Harry took his leave – or was about to when Prince Harry intercepted him.
"Have you met the Avengers yet? In person I mean," he asked.
"Your Highness, is it possible you are a superhero fan?" he asked the 30 years old.
"It's just that Britain never had these sort of thing," he said sheepishly, "My brother finds it all really foolish because he's all responsible now that he got married and has two children."
"I don't think that should deter anyone from liking superheroes," Harry assured him, "And no, I haven't met the Avengers, but I have seen their work."
"Oh?"
"Yes," Harry grimaced, "I can't really say anything too specific, but Tony Stark tends to submit any expenses he incurred during his other day job to the Stark Industries account. Trying to properly account for things like 10 Million for a destroyed building downtown, is a headache of the Accounting department."
Prince Harry laughed at that.
"I can see the problem," he said, "I had wondered once how he was financing his missions."
"Have you met Stark?" Harry asked curiously.
"No," Prince Harry admitted, "William had at one point, I think. He told me Stark was difficult to describe."
"That I believe," Harry replied, "As I was saying to a friend of mine, I have half a mind to fly to California to knock some sense in to that man. It seems sometimes that he's doing everything in his power to make the Accounting department tear their collective hair out. There's about 2 month left until the true start of tax season and I'm already having nightmares about it."
Another laugh from the other man was his only reply.
TBC
