It was by complete chance she had heard about the research that Dr Bruce Banner was doing on behalf of the United States government, a stray piece of data that showed up during one of Hermione's frequent hacking expeditions. She had been intrigued and delved further, hiding her electronic footprints but apparently not well enough. A week later, her personal security cameras around her campus apartment sent her an alert that the same person had been registered but was not affiliated to the school as far as facial recognition could tell.

So, when she spotted him following her, the witch attacked, pulling the startled man into the alley, "Who are you? Why are you tailing me?"

"I, I don't know…" the man stumbled out.

Hermione could tell though by his calculating eyes that the man was no idiot, so easily dove into his mind, "Agent Phillip Coulson of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, a deep black branch of the government. What do you want?"

"I was told to watch out for that," Phil muttered as he was placed back onto the ground, "What I want is to discover your intentions over the information you discovered about Dr Banner's work, despite already certain you will do nothing harmful with it."

"Certain after only a week? No, not right. How long have I been on your organisation's radar?"

"Since you were 10 and started attending Cornell the first time"

That stunned the witch, "Do you realise how creepy that is? Why would anyone have a 10 year old under surveillance? What, were you afraid I would become a pre-teen mastermind set on world domination?"

"Not exactly but we were keeping tabs on you, we at SHIELD like to keep our eyes and ears open for all information," Phil explained, "I've only been your case agent a year and until your hacking led you to highly classified materials, you had only the occasional observer. You needn't mind though, I was going to finish my investigation at the end of the week and unless you do anything else to catch our attention, you won't see us again."

"I doubt it but don't have a say do I? Very well Agent Coulson, have a nice day," the agent never felt the tracking charm that went into him from the clasped hands.

And now, with a computer set-up that put NASA to shame, and the time to dedicate to her research, Hermione collected her specially made hacker runes and activated Phil's tracker. With Harry's Invisibility cloak on, the witch apparated silently to a few feet behind the agent, surprised to find him on the bridge of a huge aircraft carrier. Working fast, the invisible and untraceable runes were placed on the main computer as well as every doorway she could find, they would attach to any electronics that passed by them.

Before she left, Hermione created a magical lily and with a parting blown kiss, the flower flew over to land in Phil's suit pocket. The agent felt a gentle breeze touch his cheek before feeling the flower. Removing it, a small smile graced his lips, knowing only one person who could do such things, so simply gave the fragrant lily a smell and placing it back into his pocket, "Well played Hermione."

Knowing it would be awhile before her runes got enough information, the witch went to work on her other large endeavour, finding not a cure for lycanthropy but a better suited method of allowing the inflicted person control during the full moon.

Over the years since placing her first hacker runes, Hermione had returned to what she now know was a helicarrier, placing new runes when the computers were updated, each time leaving Phil with another flower, he had a vase in his office now that held the immortal flowers. He never came around to chastise or arrest her, so Hermione decided that he was protecting her, earning him her trust. After first placing the runes, the witch had read all the files but with little more coming in, she set alert parameters that would tell her whenever certain words were loaded. Banner, Stark, Coulson, and Avengers were joined with her name, the agency's large files on both Dr Banner and billionaire genius playboy Tony Stark were more than enough to get them both on her alert list. Avengers was something she had found merely a thought of in the agency director, Nick Fury's, personal files, nothing more had been mentioned of it for a while.

Then in 2006, the alerts started coming in fast, all about Banner, his using the super soldier serum on himself and becoming the Hulk, going on the run. SHIELD knew exactly where he was at all times, Hermione had gone a few times to deliver him food, clothing, money and even a computer. While he didn't know her last name, after proving herself to be a friend not foe, Bruce did enjoy her monthly visits and they had had many deep talks ranging from science to relaxation methods to help keep Hulk at bay. His suicide attempt in 2009 brought a broken nose with it after Hermione found out, both were very surprised that the big guy didn't show up.

Hermione had also met the great Tony Stark, before he became Iron Man, when her patent for a new armour was challenged by the great man personally. Over 3 years the man had pestered her about joining Stark Industries, and more than once also his bed, but all Hermione allowed was for him to use her patents, on the condition he didn't use them for weapons, though after he became Iron Man she did allow him to use them on his suit. When first introduced to his new assistant both women recognised each other and as soon as polite, excused themselves.

Natasha Romanoff, known in the spy trade as Black Widow, looked weak less in her business suit but Hermione know the Russian trained SHIELD agent was well versed in unarmed combat, "So Fury has you keeping an eye on a dying man. Afraid Tony will tell all about SHIELD before he succumbs to palladium poisoning Natasha?"

The slightest flicker in the green eyes was the only outward sign of concern from the spy, "You certainly know more than you should Dr Granger. How is that?"

"That would be telling dear girl though you have my regrets that one so young went through what you did"

"I don't need your pity…"

Hermione cut her off, "I was not offering it, you and I are alike as our childhoods were marred by death, I simply hater that it happened to either one of us. Ask Phil, I'm sure he can fill you in. I shall no doubt see you around Ms Romanoff, hopefully after you are educated."

Their next meeting was soon before the battle at Stark Expo, and Natasha has been briefed by Phil about his favourite assignment, Hermione had noticed it immediately simply by the younger woman's posture, the respect one warrior gives another. They barely spoke, Tony was present, but both got out that they would gladly fight together, should the time come.

That was a week ago, Tony was safe and no longer dying thanks to a new element his father had cryptically left him, and the arse had finally admitted his feelings for Pepper. Bruce had had another issue and had made his way back to Culver University, searching for answers, but at least he had money in an indestructible bag the witch had made for him.

Today she had been interrupted from her daily SHIELD update to her door opening and a pained grunt as her magical security handled the intruder while she got the rest of the building secure. When she saw him, Hermione laughed, "The great Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD, should know better than breaking into my house. What do you want?"

"A hand?" The man was assisted up and led into the kitchen, where two coffees appeared, "Thank you."

"I would ask why Phil isn't here but you have him in New Mexico dealing with the Norse demigod Thor who arrived today. So what do you want?"

"You know about the Avengers Initiative, I want you to join. Will you?"