Author's Note : I don't own Harry Potter or Avengers or anything from Marvel Universe.

The First Step

There was a building in the middle of the London but only few people knew about it and even fewer were allowed to enter it. It was deep underground and hidden by magic and was considered one of the safest places on earth. In its deepest level, in the safest room a dark skinned, strongly built, middle aged bald man was pacing restlessly as he was feeling anything but safe. There was a knock on the door and anxiety bubbled inside his chest. He took a calming breath and answered in his trademark deep commanding voice, "Enter."

The door opened and a scrawny teenager who couldn't be more than sixteen entered the room. Though his composure, demanuar and mostly his eyes told another story. They depicted a world weary soul.

Upon noticing the teenager the man paused a little and one who knew him could see the conflict inside his mind. After a moment he visibly came to a decision and let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and sagged inside the cushy chair behind the large table. Instead of the strong persona he was faking he now looked like a tired old man who still has a battle to fight. Clearly he thought that he didn't need to maintain any charades infront of the young man.

With a gesture he offered the boy a seat and asked, "How are you Harry? Sorry I couldn't keep in touch as much as I should."

A faint smile appeared on Harry's face as he replied, "I'm fine Minister. No need to worry about me." And a faint grimace appeared on the man's face as he replied, "How many times do I have to tell you to not call me that!" Though there was no real annoyance behind it.

Harry replied, "I'm sorry I forgot. Won't happen again Minister! Oops! Sorry again!" with a mischievous smile on his face. And an amused smile appeared on Kingsley 's face as he visibly relaxed.

"Please tell me that you are ready to join the Auror force now Harry, you have been training for about a year now."

Harry replied, "I am and I know that the new ministry under you leadership is nothing like the old one but still there are some things that I don't like and it makes me hesitate in permanently joining the Auror force."

Kingsley frowned at that and asked, "Like what?"

Harry pursed his lips and replied, "Like the numerous secrets kept by the department of mysteries, the secrecy policies that are not justifiable and the bullshit propaganda that ministry is still promoting."

Kingsley was thinking and he came to a decision soon, "What do you mean?"

Harry explained, "We are taught from the beginning that our world is hidden because it provides protection from the mugglues. Basically we don't want another witch-hunt. But truth is that we don't need protection from the mugglues. It's the other way around. Arthur had to fight to pass mugglue protection act which prohibited mugglue baiting. It protects them from us."

A small smile appeared on Kingsley's face, "I guessed that you would come to this decision. Rest assured Harry you will be able to know everything as you'll be a class-I Auror." Harry opened his mouth to protest but Kingsley stopped him before he could utter a word, "Not a word Harry. You deserve it and you know it. Now what do you want to know?"

Harry looked Kingsley in the eyes and asked, "What are we really hiding from? Why did Godric felt that he needed to build a castle, a magical fortress? From whom was he trying to protect us?"

"That is one of the most closely guarded secret Harry, known to only a dozen or so men."