Chapter Four: What To Do?

AN: I just wanted to thank everyone for their wonderful reviews. Also, thanks for putting this story on so many Communities, 24 so far. If anyone spots any typos, feel free to mention them in a review or PM. Now for the story.

~~~Travelers~~~

Harry woke up yawning. Bright sunlight was barely coming in through the curtains at a steep angle and he judged it to be around noon. Hermione was lying sprawled across his bed in a tangle of long wavy hair, ivory skin, and wrinkled white sheets. He sat up and casually surveyed the room. While it wasn't as nice as the one in the hotel they'd just left, it had two advantages that endeared it to Harry.

First, they accepted cash, a not inconsiderable issue as they could not be one hundred percent sure the bank cards they'd been issued weren't compromised. More importantly, there was only one bedroom with two beds in it, giving him a much needed dose of the girl who was his best friend and quite possibly, the love of his life. Just thinking about her and the way he felt brought a smile to his face. Too bad she was still asleep, he thought ruefully. Harry glanced around looking for something to distract him from thoughts of her.

Then he saw the perfect thing. While he was waiting for Hermione to wake up, he was going to watch some telly. Harry quickly figured out the remote control and was able to turn it on. He slowly ran through the channels until something caught his eye. With a quick, concerned glance at the figure next to him, he turned up the volume.

Breaking News!

This is Constance DeChance on location with WABC 13 Eyewitness News. WABC was notified of a brewing situation less than an hour ago and rushed to bring this breaking story to you. We are at the site of what is being called a terrorist attack here at Midtown near the corner of 3rd Avenue and East 46th Street. The primary business affected is the Gold Exchange, which a source tell us deals in precious metals.

Upon arrival, this reporter noticed several key things. There has been a strong police presence in the surrounding area with a sidewalks and streets blocked off to pedestrian and vehicular traffic for more than one hundred yards. This can be indicative of a bomb alert. Not police, but instead plainclothes agents are conducting the search of the building. It has been suggested that these plainclothes agents seen entering the premises themselves are members of an elite bomb squad which would certainly explain the precautions-

Harry cut the sound and gave Hermione's foot a squeeze. "Wake up, Hermione. We've got a problem."

Hermione woke up clutching the sheets around her, much to Harry's disappointment. "Wha..." was all she managed as she stared around, still half asleep.

Harry turned up the sound more and she appeared to fully waken rather quickly at the bombardment of sounds and images from the telly. Within minutes she was wearing a long-sleeved nightshirt and pacing between him and the television. Harry, his patience dwindling, asked, "What do you think we should do?"

Hermione waved an arm in his direction. "I don't know! I need to think. Why can't I think?"

Harry stood up and took Hermione's hand, tugging her back towards the bed. With a half hysterical giggle, she said, "I really don't think that will help, Harry."

"Quiet, you," Harry said as he sat down on the bed. Scooting back a little with his legs apart, he patted the bed in front of him. Hermione sat between his legs with a sigh of exasperation, which quickly turned into one of pleasure as Harry began to brush her hair with the enchanted brush he'd bought her.

The slow hypnotic strokes calmed them both down. It was odd, he thought idly, how something as simple as brushing another person's hair could be such a sensuous experience. Hermione's hair had long ago lost that thick bushiness, instead falling in waves of soft, silky curls almost to her waist.

Still, it needed a hundred and one strokes from the golden brush daily to keep it that way. The ritual of brushing Hermione's thick, silky hair was a pleasure for them both and it wasn't just the brush that stroked its way through her curls as Harry's fingers occasionally joined in. He could feel the tension drain out of both of them as he brushed and stroked.

Hermione's breathing had slowed as she, too, relaxed under his ministrations. Harry mentally counted the strokes as he neared the end: Ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred, one hundred and one. Setting the brush down, Harry gently brushed the hair back from the slim column of Hermione's neck. He was just about to kiss her there when she suddenly sprang to her feet.

In a decisive tone, Hermione exclaimed, "Okay, I've got a plan. We're going down to the site of the crime under glamors and we're going to scout things. We'll find out what they know and if it's anything significant, we'll plan accordingly."

Harry, his libido only more incensed by a decisive Hermione, bit back a groan of frustration, instead arguing, "How are we going to get close enough to see anything? The lady on the telly said that they're keeping people hundreds of feet back."

Hermione chewed her lip as she considered this. "I don't know. I didn't consider that."

Harry could barely think as the girl he loved seemed intent on driving him crazy. Somehow, he got out, "Why not go in under a Disillusionment Charm, instead? That way we can walk right up to them and listen to their conversations."

Hermione shook her head, her hair swaying with the movement. "Except that it's broad daylight and the Disillusionment Charm produces that heat shimmer effect that would allow them to track us."

Harry grinned. "Well well. You mean I know something that the great Hermione Granger, smartest witch of her generation, does not?"

Hermione gave him a disgruntled look. "If you do, it's something to do with DADA."

Harry nodded, his grin showing no signs of disappearing anytime soon. "How right you are, my dear."

Hermione stamped her foot in annoyance. "Tell me already!"

Harry calculated the odds of getting Hermione to stamp her foot again as he'd rather enjoyed the jiggling effect it had produced. However, looking at her face, he decided that discretion was the better part of valor in this case, and said, "Only Magical Beings see the shimmer. As far as Muggles are concerned, it's true invisibility."

The storm on Hermione's face cleared as if by magic, and she squealed, "That's brilliant, Harry! That will work perfectly for us to infiltrate their investigation. Great job."

Harry smiled at her enthusiasm. In a suggestive tone, he casually said, "Something that great probably deserves a reward."

Hermione bit her lip and played with her hair, winding it around one finger, as she considered his idea. "What kind of reward?"

Harry's could feel himself getting aroused as she teased him. "The best kind of reward."

Hermione shook her head in mock sorrow. She started to turn away as she said, "Sorry, Harry, no time for a reward. We have to-"

With lightning fast reflexes, Harry reached up, grabbed Hermione's arm, and pulled her down onto the bed next to him. All she had time for was a breathy, "Oh, Harry..." before his body covered hers.

~~~Travelers~~~

Miri stood and watched as agents boxed up items that were likely destined for the Sandbox, although all the destination showed was a coded grid number. Others took readings, using several different types of specialty meters, as the various pieces of equipment were carted away, They were taking pretty much everything; hard drives, electric bulbs and wiring, and even the FaraCage that had been less than useless. After a moment, she was joined by her erstwhile partner, Agent Ward, who asked, "They finding anything useful?"

Deciding to err on the side of formal and respectful after his earlier rebuff, Miri said, "No, sir. So far there's been zero signs of any form of radiation or errant energy readings of any kind. At least, not that any of our mobile stuff can pick up. They're packing up a bunch of stuff to take somewhere else where I presume they'll run more tests."

From the expression on Agent Ward's face, he didn't seem too happy with her answer. "I understand. I wonder what they'll be sending off to Stark?" This last wasn't said in a conversational tone, more as if he was asking himself something.

Still, Miri responded as if electrified. "Stark? As in, Tony Stark?"

Agent Ward gave her a look of disillusionment. "Yeah. So?"

Miri lowered her voice, but couldn't restrain her enthusiasm. "So, it's Tony Stark! Genius billionaire inventor? Iron Man? The guy who's richer than God and twice as intelligent."

In a chiding tone, Agent Ward informed her, "The guy who's been on SHIELD's watch list for a while now."

Miri was startled. "I didn't know that. What for?"

He mocked her. "Genius billionaire inventor? Iron Man? Pick your reason. The guy says he out of the arms business, then invents that armor, the best weapon in existence? And keeps it private? It takes a lot of influence within Congress to get away with that one. So, yeah, SHIELD keeps an eye on him."

Miri speculated aloud, "I wonder what video we have of him?"

Agent Ward's eyes hardened. "I don't find that appropriate, Agent Campbell." He looked uneasy at having mentioned Stark's status to her, as if she couldn't be trusted to know something sensitive.

Miri could feel herself starting to blush and immediately practiced the meditation techniques taught by the Academy to prevent physiological responses. "I am cleared for that level of information, you know. It's just that I don't usually gossip about stuff at work, even to other coworkers. I just try to... stay focused on my job and not get distracted. Being in the field is different and more than a bit distracting."

Agent Ward nodded, relaxing. "That's a good attitude to have. Compartmentalization exists for a reason, after all. I-"

Just then, Agent Ward leaped to the side so fast he was almost a blur. He lashed out with a swinging kick and then a spinning backhand, before pausing, becoming as still as a statue. Miri was beginning to wonder if Agent Ward had just lost it, when he turned back towards her and relaxed, tension visibly running out of his body. Still, she kept her hand near her sidearm, just in case. Agent Ward stood there a moment, then shook his head, murmuring, "I could have sworn..."

Cautiously, Miri asked, "Is everything okay, Agent Ward?"

Agent Ward met her eyes levelly, as for the first time, a faint humor suffused his own. "Stand down, Agent Campbell. There was nothing there. I guess I'm just jumpy. Teleporters and doomsday devices, oh my." This last was delivered in an utterly deadpan voice.

Miri nodded shakily. She felt the same. Still, she wouldn't have expected an agent of Ward's experience to jump at shadows. Miri guessed it was just a result of the importance of the case they were working.

~~~Travelers~~~

Harry slowly moved a few more feet away, breathing hard. That had been close. Not for the first time, he thanked fate for giving him a Seeker's reflexes. When the man had jumped right at him, Harry had spun just out of his way, then ducked flat to the ground to avoid a kick and a punch that would have taken his head off. Scuttling away on all fours as fast as he safely could, Harry hadn't risen to his feet until the other had stopped moving for some time.

Harry was fortunate that the man hadn't tagged him or even brushed against the material of his clothing. Either would have given away his presence. The presence of someone invisible. As paranoid as these people already appeared to be, the last thing he wanted to do was to add to it. They'd probably start shooting at shadows and might even clip him or Hermione by accident.

Before his little incident, Harry had discovered some information. This entire operation was being run by something called SHIELD, which almost had to be an acronym of one kind or another. It had to be a secret agency of some kind, like MI-6. Regardless, Harry didn't have the slightest idea of what it stood for or what the people working there did other than investigate unknown events. He did know they were hauling various items off to be tested at someplace called the Sandbox as well as by a Tony Stark, likely the same person Harry had read about in the paper, who liked to fly around wearing a metal suit.

Harry hung around another forty-five minutes, but didn't learn anything really new. Since it was getting close to the deadline he and Hermione had set, he decided to apparate back to their hotel room. There he waited with increasing impatience for her to return. It appeared that she was running late.

He started imagining all kinds of horrifying scenarios from Hermione being caught by the Kicking Man to her splinching herself after apparating. When it was more than ten minutes beyond their scheduled meet time, Harry started getting ready to go back and look for her. That was when he head the faint crack of someone apparating and he knew Hermione was back.

Harry waited a moment, then sighed in heartfelt relief as Hermione appeared, glamor of a middle-aged muggle women firmly in place. Then she caste a wordless Finite to appear as herself. She started to speak, then ruefully shook her head and cast another wordless Finite to end the Silence Spell on herself. Finally, able to speak, she began to babble.

"It was utterly fascinating what they were doing, Harry. The equipment they were using was advanced beyond anything I've seen before. I-"

Harry chuckled. "Breath, Hermione. Did you find out anything relevant?"

Hermione playfully glared at him a moment, then shrugged. "You first. I know you were listening in on the bigwigs of the operation."

Harry temporized, "I wouldn't say that. But I did find out who's doing the investigation. It's some organization called SHIELD. I don't know-"

Hermione interrupted him. "It stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."

Harry's eyebrows rose as he wondered how she knew that. "Well, that's probably why they call it SHIELD. What a mouthful. Anyway, they were gathering samples of everything present to send to some secret lab called the Sandbox. Also, they mentioned sending things to Tony Stark."

Hermione looked puzzled. "Who?"

Harry patiently explained, "The guy who I told you about who flies around wearing metal armor."

Hermione gave him a look of amusement. "Harry, I told you that you can't believe what you read in a tabloid. It's-"

Harry pounced. "Ha! I'll have you know that the two agents I was listening to were talking about him being Iron Man. So, I think he must be real. Anyway, that pretty much all I got, other than names: Agents Ward and Campbell. Oh, and Agent Ward is as paranoid and jumpy as Mad-Eye Moody. He nearly took my head off when he even thought there might be someone there."

Hermione looked worried. "Harry, he sensed you?"

Harry shook his head. "Not really. More like he's a paranoid bloke and was just making sure. From what he said, he was jumping at shadows. I wouldn't worry."

Hermione nodded in relief. "That's good because we have plenty to worry about. The reason that SHIELD was there is because they were monitoring the Gold Exchange. It seems that they were a front for illegal financial transactions that had been traced to several terrorist organizations. After this 'nine eleven,' they started watching any businesses that moved cash or liquid assets."

"You found out all of that from listening in on them?" At Hermione's slightly guilty look, Harry sighed. "Hermione, what did you do?"

"I might have seen a stack of file folders labeled 'TOP SECRET.' I also might have opened the top one and read the first few pages." Hermione's shifty look probably meant she'd read more than a 'few' pages.

Harry rolled his eyes. He made a sweeping gesture towards Hermione and intoned, "Let that forever answer the question of why you were sorted into Gryffindor."

Hermione grinned fiercely back. "Don't you forget it. But that's not all I learned, Harry. They had a few frames of someone wrecking the equipment with a bunch of lights going off. They didn't see who and they don't know how, but it's got them very worried. They think it was an EMP-"

Harry was puzzled. He hadn't heard that term before. "A what?"

Hermione explained, "An EMP: electromagnetic pulse. Like magic, it damages electronics, overloading circuits and the like. However, the back up hard drives were in a Faraday cage, which is supposed to protect from EMP, but didn't work so well against magic. From what I heard, I think that they think that it was a new kind of EMP, which can't be shielded against."

Harry considered what Hermione had said. "It makes sense that they'd be worried about something like that. It does sound scary. I mean, imagine airplanes falling out of the sky. Or everything in a building like one we were in suddenly not working. Which reminds me. I guess the video recording equipment was off somewhere else which is why they caught us on tape?"

Hermione nodded, then stopped as if struck. At Harry's questioning look, she said, "One of the techs said something about teleporters. I didn't know what he meant at the time, but what if they were talking about us? Harry, they must have seen us apparate in! I can't believe I didn't think about that when I saw the video frames! They're going to be twice as worried now!"

Harry nodded decisively. "Right. I am going to destroy the cards immediately. We don't need the money and who knows to what lengths they'll go to track me down. Better to be safe than sorry."

Hermione sighed in obvious relief. "That's good. I was going to suggest that anyway after getting such a concentrated dose of Big Brother this afternoon." Then she looked stricken. "What about Mr Neil? We can't go back and buy the bookstore now."

Harry knew Hermione wasn't going to like his suggestion even as he made it. "I'll use a Memory Charm on him. I'll give him a memory of meeting a different looking Harry Potter."

It was a measure of how worried Hermione was that she only frowned before nodding. "Fine, but no more Memory Charms after that if we can help it. What about your last name? Did you give it at the Gold Exchange? Or anywhere else?"

Harry shook his head. "No. I was at least that security conscious. If I use a subtle glamor that only changes a little of my facial appearance, just enough to make me look like a different person, that should be enough. Besides, that way it'll be less of a drain on my magic."

Hermione gave him a wide-eyed look. "Do you think you're going to need to keep a glamor up for the foreseeable future?"

"I don't know. But as you say, better safe than sorry." it would bloody bite, but the last thing Harry was going to risk was Hermione's safety.

Hermione looked thoughtful. "You know, I can probably make you a necklace or bracelet that will maintain the glamor for you."

Harry smiled in relief. "Seriously? That would be great. Is something like that hard to make?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know for sure. In all my reading, I don't remember coming across anything exactly like it. But theoretically, it shouldn't be too hard. It's a single use spell, after all. Certainly no harder than that beaded bag I made in sixth year. Besides the Undetectable Extension Charm, I had to use a ton of different runes to anchor the spell and organize the interior. It was actually an interesting bit of arithmancy when I calculated the placement of all of the various runes for lightness, dur-"

Harry held up a hand, halting Hermione. Weakly, he said, "I believe you." More cockily, he continued, "Just don't forget what I look like when you're around this other bloke called Harry Potter."

Hermione looked like she wasn't too happy to have been interrupted when waxing on about one of her favorite subjects. "We'll have to see about that. Since I'm making the charm, I get to pick what you look like. Now should I make you look like Bill Weasley or Gilderoy Lockhart?" She giggled with abandonment at Harry's look of utter horror.

~~~Travelers~~~

Tony Stark slid out from behind the wheel of his Nissan GTR Black Edition, marveling at the car he'd just picked up to 'give a spin' to. While he wasn't one hundred percent sure he liked it better than the Audi R8 he often drove, it did have more acceleration. What it lacked was the elegance and sheer luxury of the Audi, but that had become increasing less important to him as time wore on.

Instead, Tony was becoming more and more of an adrenaline junkie. It was something he could admit to himself, even if he wouldn't have told either Pepper or Rhodey in a million years. And unfortunately, after being Iron Man, and doing the things he could wearing the suit, neither car could manage that visceral sense of excitement, the adrenaline rush of living on the edge that the armor could. Still, he thought he would go ahead and pick one up to add to his permanent collection as it was a fun drive, hitting a hundred miles per hour in only six point eight seconds, over half a second faster than the Audi.

He also liked that it looked exactly like what it was, a brute of a machine built for speed. After all of the times recently that Tony felt like he was hiding himself, it was refreshing to drive something as frank and unpretentious as the Nissan. Much like his armor, which he built to be the most powerful and sophisticated weapons system on the planet. Certainly, when he was wearing it, Tony could definitely be himself, warts and all.

With a start, he realized that he was still standing there while a valet stood patiently waiting on him. With a wry grin, Tony tossed the awestruck young man the keys. "Keep it under a hundred when you're parking it," he quipped as he walked off, enjoying the brief look of shock on the kid's face. Was he ever that young, he wondered? Or had he been born old and set in his ways? Well, being with Pepper had certainly taught this old dog some new tricks.

It was something to ponder, Tony thought as he caught the elevator for the twenty-second floor, the highest point so far completed on Stark Tower. Anticipation built within him as he wondered what Pepper was going to say when she saw him. Probably something to the effect of he'd better have the work she'd asked him to do done or else.

Frivolously, he wondered if she would draw a finger across her throat for emphasis, but decided she was much to uptight to do so. Speaking aloud, he said, "Jarvis, make a note to get Pepper tipsy tonight and try to get her to do something spontaneous and if at all possible, at least a little embarrassing."

His AI answered in his cultured voice, "Are you quite sure, sir? I could point out that there is a seventy-four point one percent probability of this not ending well."

Tony made a Mr Burns' gesture as he said, "Excellent. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Whatever scenarios you're using to calculate for those results, suggest one or more of those later."

If an AI could be piqued, Jarvis sounded exactly that as he intoned, "Very well, sir."

When the elevator doors opened, Tony sneaked out, holding his finger to his lips as several different people started to say his name. He spotted Pepper across the large open space that would eventually be sectioned off for lab or office space, depending upon the need, and walked over, making sure to stay directly behind her. He gave a warning look to Mark Seros, the project manager who was facing him, while Pepper was bent over the blueprints, looking closely at some detail.

As Pepper stood up, Tony slid his hands across her eyes and intoned, "Guess who?"

In an exasperated voice, Pepper replied, "It had better not be my playboy boss slash boyfriend, because if he were to show up without the plans I asked for that are due the day after tomorrow, I couldn't be held responsible by any court of law." With that, she whirled around and gave him a surprisingly chaste kiss considering they hadn't seen each other in four days.

Then again, he thought, it wasn't that surprising considering the audience they had. Deciding to showboat a little to take the attention off of them as a couple, he feigned confusion. "Plans? What plans would those be? Oh, wait, I have it. Here you go, Miss Potts." Tony handed Pepper the briefcase containing his Iron Man armor. Then he took it back. "Wait, that not it. Let me see... ah hah! There you are, complete plans as requested, for the Arc Reactor, and for the Stark Tower through floor forty-five."

Tony set two folders with the requested materials within them into Pepper's waiting arms. "But wait! There's more." Tony rummaged around in his other case for a moment. "Ahh... what do we have here? It's the remaining plans for all of Stark Tower, complete with wiring diagrams and initial lab equipment orders. How do you like that?"

Pepper's expression had run the gamut from exasperation, to annoyance, to confusion, before finally settling on a simple smile of joy. "Tony, I don't know what to say."

Tony smirked. "Well, wonderful, jawdropping, awesome, amazing, and stupendous are just a few of the adjectives that come to my mind when I think about myself." He waggled his brows at Pepper, still conscious of her smile and the feelings it engendered within him.

Pepper leaned forward and Tony braced for a kiss. Instead, she softly asked, "Jarvis, thanks for doing the lion's share of the work on this."

Tony stared at Pepper in bemused chagrin as the dry voice of his AI said, "It was my pleasure, Miss Potts. I have spent the majority of my processor cycles on this project ever since you left."

Pepper gave an impish smile as she said, "I can tell. The entire building? You really shouldn't have."

Tony had had enough. "Now wait a minute. What about my processor cycles? I've gone without food and sleep in order to get these plans for you."

"So your usual modus operandi when I'm not there to hold your hand and to remind you to sleep and eat?" Pepper spoke in her usual arch tone, belied by the soft look in her eyes.

Tony bridged the gap between them, aware that everyone had finally cleared out to allow them privacy. Sometimes it was good to be the boss. He slowly kissed Pepper, then stopped, pulling back until his mouth was an inch from hers. "That just goes to show you how much I need you."

There was a look of vulnerability in her eyes as Pepper asked, "You need me?"

With complete sincerity this time, Tony agreed, "I need you." He searched her eyes. "Now it's your turn."

"My turn?" Pepper questioned as she glanced surreptitiously around.

"Yes. I just told you I need you. Now you tell me you need me."

Pepper smirked as she stepped back, crossing her arms. "I'm a modern woman, Tony Stark. We don't need- mmmpph!"

Tony kissed Pepper like he'd wanted to do from the first moment he'd seen her standing there studying the plans, with her oh so proper business suit and perfectly coiffed chignon. Now he ran fingers through that selfsame hair, mussing it, as he cupped the back of her head, increasing the depth and passion of the kiss. Meanwhile, her arms, which had instinctively raised to push him back now twined around his neck. Cupping the taut curves of Pepper's bottom in his other hand, Tony ground himself against her. Her body felt boneless as she molded herself against him.

Tony lost track of time, but he doubted more than ten minutes had passed before he finally released Pepper from his kiss, although his hands loosely clasped around her waist still kept her captive. He murmured in her ear, "Now what were we discussing?"

Pepper eyes went from dazed to amused in an instant. With a faux huff of exasperation, Pepper admitted, "Fine. I need you, Tony Stark."

Tony gave her a winsome smile in return. "See how much better it works out when we're honest with each other?"

~~~Travelers~~~

Barnaby eyed Hermione Granger's phone number as he psyched himself up for the call. Ever since talking to his brother-in-law out in Phoenix, he'd been considering If he dared to go this route. It had been the sight of the gold bar that had done it. That had gotten him to thinking about just how much money he could save on taxes if he could persuade Miss Granger to pay in cash, or better yet, gold bullion.

The easy way her companion, whose name Barnaby was embarrassed to have forgotten, but blamed on a shiny distraction, had produced that bar of gold, couldn't help but make a man think. About saving a ridiculous amount of money in taxes from the federal government, the state of New York, and New York City. All told, he could save almost a million in taxes if he played it right.

Still, it was the wrong thing to do and risky. This wasn't some waitress failing to report the full amount of her tips. Instead, Barnaby would be reporting only three million of the real sale price of five. And there was no certainty that Miss Granger would agree. However, no one loved the federal government, and they're being from England should only help as the tax authority there was so voracious as to make New York's seem positively cuddlesome.

Oh well, no time like the present to find out. Dialing her number, Barnaby waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Miss Granger? Barnaby Neil here. I have a proposition for you."

~~~Travelers~~~

Next time: Harry and Hermione continue to dodge SHIELD. Tony examines something other than Pepper.