General Warnings: Child abuse, torture/experimentation, fantasy violence/gore, potential and probable slash in later chapters.
Chapter Specific Warnings: Fantasy violence, references to torture/experimentation, references to child abuse, implied past child sexual abuse, graphic description of fantasy gore/character death (in vision), slash
Chapter Six: Why Is It Always HYDRA?
Harry practically glued himself to Bucky's side as they approached Avenger's Tower a day later. Bucky didn't seem to mind, au contraire, he looked just as terrified as the little wizard and equally glad to have somebody by his side. The Tower was as intimidating the second time as it was the first, too tall for Harry to even see the top from outside, and with more expensive technology than Harry had seen outside the Tower in his whole life.
"Don't worry, you won't have a security problem this time," Steve joked lightly, not quite noticing how uncomfortable Harry seemed.
"Well, you haven't gotten any better at talking to people, except now it's not just dames," Bucky snorted, only getting a relieved smile from Steve, who couldn't be happier his friend recognised him and remembered their old joke.
They managed to get inside and into the elevator without dying or getting stopped by security, always a plus, and Steve pressed the button for the Avengers personal communal floor. Harry shifted uncomfortably, having been trapped at the front of the elevator by pure misfortune and being too awkward to ask any of the occupants to move so he could.
"Mr Rodgers and Miss Romanoff, I have been told to inform you that Sir is hosting a small gathering this Saturday," JARVIS announced, startling Harry, and three groans came from those named.
"How small, is small?" Steve asked with a half groan.
"I am unsure, Mr Rodgers, the guest list included at least fifty people when I last saw it." The AI responded calmly.
More groans were made and Harry stifled a laugh before he was informed by Natasha, "Kid, you're coming too," at which he blanched.
"But-"
"Nope, if I have to go, so do you." Natasha insisted.
"Sir has informed me that young Harry is indeed on the guest list," JARVIS informed dutifully.
Harry groaned.
~ AG ~
"JARVIS, could you direct me to the kitchen please?" Harry requested softly, casting a quiet tempus. 5:42 AM, he would have been up by now at the Dursley's, cooking.
"Of course, young Harry."
With the directions of the AI and additional lights turning on when Harry got lost, he soon reached the kitchen and was left floored.
Even the Dursleys wouldn't want this many unnecessary things.
There was at least one, and often more, of every kitchen appliance imaginable, from simple mixers to a cotton candy machine and several slush turners. There were pots and pans aplenty, all from the finest brands, and twelve hobs on the stove, though JARVIS insisted there were more on other levels. There was even a mini fridge hidden in a cupboard containing solely alcohols of 50% and up.
Half of the appliances looked to have never been used.
It took a few seconds for Harry to remember what he was doing as he began to make preparations for breakfast.
"What time do people usually wake?" He asked JARVIS once he had decided on what to make, going for a full English breakfast, something he had perfected making during his time with the Dursleys.
"Sir has an alarm set for 6:30." The AI revealed. "It is currently 6:04."
Harry felt a panic bubble in his chest, feeling very much like he had woken late at the Dursleys, and slipped back into the mind frame he did every summer. He needed to hurry and make breakfast or Uncle Vernon would be mad, Uncle Vernon would punish him, Uncle Vernon-
"JARVIS, you amazing AI, you ordered breakfast-" Tony laughed before he caught sight of Harry standing at the stove, cooking in a frenzy similar to what he saw from Pepper on a work binge.
"Kid, you okay?" He asked, seeing how he froze at his voice.
This was it, Harry thought, Uncle Vernon would be so mad he'd kill him. But he couldn't die yet, he wanted to but he couldn't. He had to stop Voldemort, he had to apologise to Sirius and Remus, he-
"Kid, its alright, I'm not gonna hurt you. This looks nice," Tony continued the gentle and hopefully soothing words, which he really sucked at. God, he was terrible with children.
The compliment brought Harry back to reality, and Mr Stark hovering over him to see the food sent him straight back into a panic. He dropped his head, gripping the side of the counter for support, tensing up.
Tony moved straight back, looking confused, but just sighed. He had to get the team up for a mission to a HYDRA base.
He really ought to help the kid, Steve would murder him after all of he got burnt - or more likely Natasha would, she was rather protective of him... For some reason. Not to mention Barnes, that man scared even him but he did seem to hover around the kid, he definitely had yesterday.
Seeing the kid was almost done, Tony had an idea, walking towards the bedrooms once more.
"Alright, why don't you dish up and I'll get the others so we can all eat together?" He suggested, waiting until the boy nodded, still tense, before he disappeared off to do what he had offered.
Harry relaxed finally. Tony made him quite uncomfortable with his swaggering walk and haughty speech, reminding him of Draco Malfoy, but when he had stood so close behind him he could only think of one thing.
Freak.
Disgusting.
Slut.
Worthless.
Pain...
Harry took a few deep breaths, steadying himself, before he began to set the table and lay out the food, enough to feed an army... Or the Avengers. There was little difference.
He stood back by the stove when people began to trickle in, Dr Banner coming first with Natasha, talking to one another about something, both thanking him when they sat, though the latter fussed over the likelihood of him getting burned before resolving after testing the food as in her mind he 'had to be an expert' in cooking to make that good food and was thus relatively safe from burns.
Harry soon found himself forced into a seat as Steve piled food onto his plate to force him to eat, claiming, "You're going to need that today. If you're up for it, we're going on a mission."
He wasn't up for it, he didn't want to fight for the first time in the league to be a good person to be , but he found himself nodding, not wanting to disappoint anybody or be sent back to SHIELD. Bucky looked like he very much agreed with Harry, looking quite uncomfortable as he too was roped in.
But they soon found themselves on the Quinjet, being suited up, Bucky in his Winter Soldier getup and Harry in...
Well, Harry had been given some clothes by Pepper Potts, apparently Stark had sea un gran artista en it necessary to invest in clothes for him, allegedly mysteriously foreseeing the future when he would be staying with them. So Harry was wearing a pair of black jeans, a Rolling Stones top that reminded him almost painfully of Sirius, and a leather jacket, memories long forgotten from a short childhood of fifteen months, of mischievous uncles named Padfoot and Moony, and half a whispering echo from his mother's voice encouraging him as he sat, nervously bouncing his leg.
However, as twisted as it was, Harry couldn't help but feel oddly happy to be included in their group, to be apart of their family. Even as they headed into a fight, Harry couldn't help but feel at home.
~ AG ~
Sirius cursed as he touched down, finally reaching American soil, revving the engine of his motorcycle before he continued down the highway, weaving in and out of cars. Moony pressed his head against Sirius' back with a groan, his travel sickness still affecting him.
It had taken them a week to get there, half of it spent trying to get out of Dinas Emrys (after retrieving the necessary supplies) and then the rest convincing Albus that the trip was not only necessary but beneficial. Not to mention the full moon, which had left them unable to travel for two days. Saggita was the same age as the Weasley twins now, she had just finished her term at Ilvermorny, which ended earlier than Hogwarts terms, and was headed to a wizarding college in a year, Albus had requested they try to get her to come to Hogwarts, having such a skilled witch on their side would be a great advancement with Harry gone.
Other than her all O's in the American equivalent of OWLs, Sirius could tell Albus wanted her for her inheritance. He himself knew little about wizarding creature inheritance, other than that one would come into them on the day they reached their majority. Though many mistook this to mean their sixteenth, it meant their magical majority, their seventeenth. He felt rather bad for lying to Moony about the inheritance, but it was close enough. She had become a creature and had been thrown out of the Black family mansion in America and sent to live in a studio apartment in New York. She just didn't become one through an inheritance.
"Moony, I'm gonna stop for gas. You alright?" He yelled back, knowing he wouldn't be heard otherwise.
Remus just groaned again, supposedly a confirmation, arms tightening around Sirius as the animagus sped up considerably to reach the nearest gas station. They'd be meeting Saggita soon, for some kind of muggle food in a muggle café.
Remus was still wondering what creature this mysterious cousin could be. The most common creature inheritances were usually veela or occasionally half-fae, but nymphs, banshees and hu hsien were also fairly regular, though hu hsien only appeared in those of Chinese descent, and Sirius had said he was mostly sure the American side of his family were far too prejudiced to allow an interracial union, even then.
Remus stumbled off of the bike when they reached the city and parked up outside a café named something stupid he couldn't read with the world still spinning. Sirius kicked out the rest and chained his bike to the rail, casting a quick few protection spells and a notice-me-not discreetly before he went to help his mate, steadying him gently and wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"Let's get you a cup of tea before you pass out," He said, sounding faintly amused at his mate's struggle and far too chipper after the long drive.
"I am apparating to the hotel room and we are portkeying back to England, Padfoot, even if you have to leave your bike here." Remus moaned as they went into the café, making Sirius laugh aloud. Sirius ordered them both tea and a slice of chocolate cake for Remus to perk him up before Saggita arrived.
The two were in the midst of a 'friendly' argument discussing whether Harry really was alive or not when they were interrupted.
"He's alive. Do you two not watch the news?" A silky voice questioned, making them both look up.
Remus' jaw dropped.
"Saggita!" Sirius laughed, shooting up to hug his cousin.
The girl had amber eyes, hauntingly familiar, and a claw scar down the left side of her face, partially covered by her hair and a medical eye patch. Unlike most others he had met, she wasn't wild-looking, and she certainly didn't seem feral. In fact, she looked incredibly poised and distinctive human, but with the eyes and the scent Remus could tell.
She was a werewolf.
"Sirius, gentle, please," She said, squeezing out of his grip, and Remus could see the exhaustion in her eyes that he knew all to well. It must have been her first full moon, she was still clearly suffering even though she had cleaned up. He got the impression she was the type who kept herself meticulously.
He couldn't believe Sirius had lied to him.
He couldn't belive he believed Sirius' lie.
Sirius may be smart, he may be a prankster, but he was a terrible liar so it really was shocking that Remus hadn't picked up on it.
He supposed it was only half a lie, but nethertheless.
When Saggita finally got out of the hug, she looked at him, eyes widening slightly as she recognised what he was.
Sirius hadn't told her about that.
"Remus Lupin, I presume," She said with a small amused smile. She was holding back from asking something, it was clear to see, and it was something he didn't want to hear, he was sure. He had seen that look from James and Sirius many times.
She was like a younger female version of Sirius.
Oh, he could feel his already grey hair greying further.
"Nice to meet you," Remus nodded and shook her hand, not getting up, still feeling sick from the ride. He hated motorbikes. With a passion. But that wasn't the most pressing matter, "What did you mean, about Harry and the news?"
Saggita sat down, before she answered, smiling as Sirius poured her a cup of tea. "I assume you mean Harry Potter, he's been all over the news the last few days. He was in Washington, fighting with Captain America, Black Widow, and the Falcon against the Winter Soldier. He was taken into the Tower a week or so ago by Tony Stark. MACUSA has been looking for grounds to remove him from their care, but... Well, nobody wants to go up against the Avengers after the whole Manhattan thing."
Sirius and Remus processed this for a second, Remus understanding a good lot more of what she was saying, having been in the Muggle world during the Chitari invasion and the formation of the Avengers, while Sirius had no clue it even happened.
"Fighting - soldier - Avengers - what do you mean, whole Manhattan thing?! Why haven't they gotten my godson back? These Avengers are forcing him to fight for them!" Sirius fumed, only not attracting attention as Saggita hurriedly threw up some silencing charms and wards to avoid being heard.
"The Chitari Invasion? Loki trying to take over the world?" Saggita seemed just as confused. Were the British wizards that unaware?
Wow.
"What?!" Sirius practically jumped out of his seat, and had to be held back by a tired Remus, who grabbed onto the back of his shirt and pulled the thankfully still underweight man back onto his chair.
"Loki, the god of mischief, the evil god that destroys the world in Ragnorök, was beaten by some Muggles, and those same Muggles have my godson?!"
"Put simply, yes." Saggita shrugged. "He's safe, they healed his injuries to the best extent Muggle medicine can."
Sirius looked like he was about to faint.
"Injuries?" He asked, picking up his tea for the comfort the drink brought him.
"Oh, nobody knows were they came from, but from the pictures from the fight a few days ago, it's presumed they came from HYDRA, as he had their symbol on his chest." Saggita reasoned.
"Hydra? Like the seven headed thing in Greek mythology that my mum wanted to call Reg if he were a girl?" He frowned.
Saggita sighed, oh there was a lot to explain.
"So why does nobody in Britain know about this?" Remus asked finally, when the conversation had come to an end.
"The president needed to be sure it was him." Saggita shrugged.
"So, can we go see him?" Sirius asked, looking deflated in his chair.
~ AG ~
Harry watched in fascination as Dr Banner changed slowly into the Hulk. The menacing weretroll on steroids surprisingly didn't scare him, even though Banner himself did. The Hulk grunted, coming to stand beside Harry as they got out of the Quinjet, waiting for orders in when to attack.
"Little wizard," The green giant rumbled, stepping in front of Harry as bullets shot at them from the trees, shielding him. Hulk roared as he was hit, in anger rather than pain as the bullets bounced harmlessly off him.
He surged forwards and the Avengers followed him in large trucks, only Bucky pausing for a moment with Harry, looking a bit overwhelmed. Neither had been allowed on a vehicle.
"Ready, Harry?" The soldier asked, seeing the terror on the boy's face.
"As I'll ever be," Harry replied shakily before he ran after the group, Bucky by his side.
The heat of battle was not something he was used to, having a shield spell that moved like an actual shield in response to his magic was draining him as he shot off spells he didn't even know he knew.
"Cultro!" He shot with a cutting motion at a group of men, not sparing a second glance as they fell, dead from a curse Harry had found in a book on dark magic, which he would later discover to be a favourite of one Anton Dolohov.
"Mucus ad Vespertilio!" The bat-bogey curse hit its target and distracted the HYDRA agent, who fell, unable to escape the flying bogies inside their helmet.
"Colloshoo!" He cast at an agent as they were hit by the Hulk, who laughed, punching the poor agent repeatedly as he swung back on ectoplasm that held him in place.
"Defodio," gouged parts of the agents out and tore apart a bunker.
And many more shot off and hit, leaving the Avengers with far less opponents.
Until he was met with a blue streak.
He shot off a spell, destroying a tree, but not affecting the blur of a person in any way. As he prepared another spell, the blur shot past again and Harry was knocked off his feet and back into the air, landing painfully on his back with a grunt. As he struggled up, an older teen walker past him with a cocky look on his face.
"You didn't see that coming?" He asked in a Serbianaccent, or what Harry thought was a Serbian accent.
Harry grit his teeth and waved his hand, erecting an invisible wall in front of the teen, that he slammed into when he tried to speed off.
The teen fell back, clutching his nose, which looked broken. Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of savage pleasure. He was pretty sure the other had re-broken his rib, so sympathy wasn't exactly the first thing in his mind.
"You stopped me." The teen stated, seeming at a loss for words, though he still found a way to fill the silence. "You're a mutant!" He realised and sped towards Harry with unknown intentions before he was stopped by a blast from the bunker Harry thought he had destroyed.
Harry yelled out in pain, gaining the attention of Natasha and the Hulk. The teen disappeared.
"Harry's been hit!" Natasha yelled to the team, covering Harry somewhat with her body as the bunker continued to shoot. "Can somebody destroy that bunker-"
She stopped at the Hulk tore through the bunker and began to smash at it with a roar.
"Thank you," Natasha conceded with a small smile.
Natasha didn't remain for long, just checking he was alright until he shooed her off, pulling himself up against a tree with a moan as he aggravated the new wound in his arm. His magic had healed his breaks and his dislocated shoulder quite a lot, but now his arm was actually broken.
Great.
He could hear them talking about an Enhanced and a drawbridge, but the pain was really getting to him.
"Ferula," He whispered, wishing he had some dittany or even one of Snape's terrible potions as he struggled to his feet, determined to help.
He heard a huge shock wave and winced, knocked back into the tree himself.
"For gosh sake, watch your language," He heard Tony tease through the communication device and couldn't help but snigger. He hadn't heard the original over his own desperation as he had to run through the snow, but it was nonetheless funny. He could guess what had happened.
He stepped forwards, hoping to find Tony, collapsing to the floor when he accidentally apparated, though Tony didn't notice, standing by a wall.
"Please be a secret door, please be a secret door, please be a secret door," He was grinning like a child in a candy store as the wall pushed back and opened. "Yay."
"Like your enthusiasm." Harry muttered, pulling himself up, startling Tony.
"Holy sh-" Tony cut off with half a shit-eating grin as they both heard the warning "Tony," through their communicators.
"You appeared from nowhere, I will find out how you do that, now, come with me. You know these psychos." Tony said.
Together they descended the dark stairs with no light, undoubtedly a bad idea.
"We have another Enhanced. Female. Do not engage." Steve's words rang through Harry's ears. A few moments later, "I've got Struker."
"Yeah, I've got something bigger," Tony replied, looking around as they finally reached the bottom of the stairs and entered a huge cavernous room filled with machinery.
The remains of what Harry knew to be a Chitari monster hung above them. Harry walked through in a silent shock, trailing behind Stark, who examined a robot so like his own creations with a deep frown.
Harry spotted the scepter they were looking for and tapped Tony, pointing to it.
Tony looked up, taking in the bright scepter, the blue light from which was giving a small amount of light, electricity crackling around it with machinery all around, linked to the robots and many more like them, Harry had no doubts.
He didn't notice a red-haired girl sneak up behind him and Tony and enchant both of them, not before it was too late.
Sounds of screams erupted around him as he turned eyes widening in pure horror at the sight before him. The room seemed to fade away into the steps of Hogwarts, where many bodies littered the floor. The ginger hair of Weasleys unnamed was stained with blood, Hermione's eyes were glassy, a hole in her chest where her heart had been ripped out, Ginny was dying, impaled on a iron pole that had been bent to prevent her escape. As he looked closer, he saw more and more people, all littering the steps and grounds in a grotesque and horrific image, until he noticed the Avengers. They were there, they were all dead or dying too. He could see the Hulk's chest heaving as he suffered through an evisceration curse, the head of Tony's suit had been crushed and there was blood pouring from the metal steadily, Natasha and Clint lay too still, Steve had his own shield forced through his chest, pinned against the wall.
Even Thor lay with blood on his lips, a chunk ripped out of his throat.
And standing above it all, was none other than Voldemort, he too dead however, a purple monster holding the dead body up, skull in hand, before he crushed that too.
The purple being stated him down, one hand covered with the blood of Voldemort, the other in a golden gauntlet. Harry didn't know whether the giant was friend or foe, before he saw his vicious grin.
This was a foe, a terrible foe, one he would undoubtedly he facing, stronger than Voldemort, enough so to just squash him like a bug without a care.
"You couldn't have saved them, child. Nothing could have," The voice was surprisingly gentle, and Harry fell to his knees with a sob.
It all disappeared.
Tony was standing next to him, looking shellshocked and confused. He blinked before looking back at the Chitari creature, before he noticed Harry.
"It wasn't real. We need to get the scepter." He muttered, unclear whether he was trying to psyche himself or comfort Harry. He walked forwards, holding his arm out to call the arm of his suit, and snatched up the scepter.
"Let's go kid." He said, still looking shocked and out of it, offering his free hand to Harry.
The two left the building shakily, never noticing the twin siblings staring after them, the girl grinning a savage grin, the boy just looking at his sister, undoubtedly wondering if she had lost her mind.
~ AG ~
Pairing still hasn't been decided so can people take a look at the pill on my account page to help me pick! Please, keep suggestions reasonable, I'm not pairing fourteen/nearly fifteen year old Harry with a thirty years old plus man or woman. Gross. No.
