Disclaimer: Don't own HP or Iron Man
Tony's New Assistant
Pepper was in shock. Nothing was going how she had expected lately. She had thought she knew and could handle Tony's craziness. But CEO? Her? Yes, she practically ran the company and his life but this was different, this was official. This was also a lot more work which meant she wouldn't have time to try and reign Tony in as much. His behaviour was becoming way too self-destructive lately and it scared her. She loved him but right now she didn't really want to be around him, not till he sorted himself out. That left her a few options but the best one was simple. Find him a new PA that could split their time between Tone and her, that would keep her in the loop on what he was doing while freeing up more of her time. He was young, only twenty-three, but he was level headed, punctual, everything Tony wasn't but needed in an assistant. She sent the message and not even ten minutes later there was a knock on her door and Harry Potter walked in to take the seat she waved him over too.
"You sent for me Miss Potts?"
"Yes Mr Potter. Would you be interested in a promotion?"
Harry couldn't believe what he'd agreed to, PA to both Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. That was a big change to working in Stark Industry's legal department. She led him into the mansion and then downstairs into a gym where they found Tony Stark boxing with another man.
"Tony I need you to sign the transfer paperwork." She called out and Harry shifted the files in his arms.
"I'm on Happy time!" He called but glanced over. "Who's this?"
"I promise this is the only time I will ask you to sign away your company. This is Harry Potter. Your new PA transferred from Legal." She answered as she sat down and Harry remained standing, letting Tony stare at him as much as he liked.
"He's a kid."
"I'm twenty-three sir, not a kid." He stood up for himself.
"He speaks!" Tony left the ring and walked over to sit beside Pepper. "Well then, new PA, let's see what you can do." He waved at the ring and Harry blinked but nodded and removed his jacket and shoes before moving to join Happy. "So... Harry Potter." He brought up his employee records and skimmed through them. "Okay so I am reluctantly impressed. Speaks eight languages fluently, can read another three. Graduated with honour from Oxford. Nice." He looked over to find the young man easily dancing around Happy before darting in and putting him on the ground. "Huh, really impressive."
Harry helped Happy up and then left the ring to put his shoes back on and grab his jacket. Tony looked him over, slightly longer than average dark hair, black slacks were neatly pressed and paired with a dark green polo shirt and casual jacket, an interesting mix of relaxed and business but it suited the kid. He picked up a tablet and held it out to Tony. "I need your thumb print and signature sir."
"Sure thing. So from Legal to PA, you like it?"
"So far sir. Is there anything you need me to do?"
"Not right now. Just do whatever Pepper wants." Tony waved him off so Harry went back to Pepper's side.
Harry stretched out behind his new desk. He had to admit the new office was very nice. He flicked on his computer and brought up both Tony and Pepper's schedules, working to streamline them. Not that Tony would be attending half of what was on his, he wouldn't live long enough. Harry didn't know what was wrong with him but he'd gotten very good at sensing those who were dying. It was obvious Tony knew he was dying, it explained everything about his behaviour lately, especially promoting Pepper to CEO. SO now he was Personal Assistant to a walking dead man. So he would do what he could to help his last days be good.
Harry stared in surprise as his boss' car was cut in two by a rather odd man wielding whips of energy. He looked over at the table to see Pepper scrambling to her feet and quickly moved to her side. They ran to the car, Happy holding up the travelling case for Tony's suit. Harry made sure Pepper was belted in safely even as Happy floored it. "He'll be okay." He assured her even as the car crashed through the raceway barriers. He took a deep breath and wove protective magic around the car as they drove the wrong way around the race track until they found Tony and Happy slammed the car into his opponent, trapping him against the fence. Harry grabbed the case from Pepper and scrambled out of the car to set it at Tony's feet. "Thanks kid." Tony grinned even as he activated the case and the Iron Man suit sealed over him. Harry moved to be between Pepper and any danger even as the madman got free of the car and went back to attacking Tony. Harry ended up yanking Pepper from the car even as Happy dove out to avoid Tony's flying body as he slammed into the already damaged car. Tony got right back up and caught the whips before managing to yank the power source out, ending the threat. He helped Pepper up even as the police dragged the man away.
Pepper and Happy were soon on their way to the airport but Harry stayed beside Tony, going to the prison where the man was being held. He remained quiet as Tony talked to the people there, not giving away he understood them. He looked to Tony who shook his head so he waited outside while his boss entered the cell, a handy eavesdropping spell attached to him. well at least he learnt what was killing the man, but he knew of no current technology that could fix it. Julian could have easily removed the shrapnel and healed the hole where the reactor sat in his chest, the Healers on Asgard could have done it as well but 21st Century Earth? Tony Stark was going to be killed by the same technology that had been made to save him.
They made their way to the plane and he retreated to leave his bosses alone to talk things out and hopefully Tony would tell her the truth. But he doubted it.
Fury was annoyed. They'd had the perfect opportunity to insert Natasha into Stark's life and then Pott's had ruined it by grabbing someone already known to her from Legal instead of Natasha. He needed someone he knew and trusted close to Stark to monitor his condition. They knew he was dying but how long did he have? Their scientists could guess but they had no way of knowing how quickly he burnt through the cores or how high the toxicity level in his blood was. Stark would never go to a doctor for this, not when he knew the cause and had his AI to monitor him. It made it very hard to judge when the time was right to approach the annoying man. Why couldn't he be more like Howard? He had respected and even liked the older man who had helped create SHIELD and spent so long looking for Captain America.
Harry walked towards Tony, taking in the shade of his skin and the way he moved as he drank a green drink. He was not doing well; the party was a bad idea but the guests had already arrived. He held out the box he was carrying to his boss. "Your watches."
"Thanks Potter." Tony browsed them before choosing one and pitting it on, he straightened his jacket but then hesitated, watching as Harry locked the box and set it aside. "What would you do if it was your last birthday, hypothetically?"
Harry looked over at him, feeling sad for him. "I would spend time with the people I love doing something I enjoy. I'd also eat all the cake I wanted since I wouldn't have to worry about the calories." He gave a small smile at the last bit and Tony chuckled. "Do you want me to find an excuse to cancel Mr Stark?"
"Why would I want that?"
"Because you're dying and can't find a way to tell anyone." Harry whispered and Tony froze.
"I... I'm not…you…how?"
"It's obvious if you know the signs. I've seen people die before Mr Stark. Forget the party and be with the people who mean something to you." Harry reached out to straighten Tony's collar for him and Tony swallowed, not sure what to do. This party was what everyone expected him to do but was it really what he wanted anymore? He had asked Pepper to go away with him while they were on the plane after all. Finally, he nodded. "Okay, I'll give everyone your excuses and get Miss Potts, the Colonel and Happy down here."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me Mr Stark, that's what a good Personal Assistant does. Now finish your shake and relax." He left the lab and headed upstairs to get rid of the crowd, at least they'd all had some drinks and finger food already. He grabbed the microphone and nodded to the DJ who cut the music. "Good evening everyone, I hope you have enjoyed yourselves so far. I know you're all waiting for the guest of honour, Birthday Boy Tony Stark. I am very sorry to be up here giving you his apologies but Mr Stark has been unavoidable called away on urgent business to New York." The crowd made restless, unhappy noises. "I know. It's not what anyone wanted but Stark Industries is a great company and they do occasionally need his help. After all he is a genius." He spotted Pepper and discreetly motioned towards the lab and the confusion cleared a little from her face. She led the Lieutenant Colonel done stairs without anyone noticing them leave thankfully. "Feel free to take a bottle or two home with you as well as some food. We'll even cut up the cake for any of you who want some. I'm sure Mr Stark will find a reason to through a party again." He smiled and then relaxed as Happy and the hired help went to work clearing everyone out.
"He's not in New York." Happy stated once they were alone.
"He's down stairs with Miss Potts and the Colonel. They're waiting on you." Harry collapsed into a chair and Happy went downstairs only for the four of them to all come upstairs a few minutes later.
"This was your idea Potter; you don't get to sit it out." Tony told him and Harry smiled.
"Sure thing boss." So he sat through the explanation on how Tony was dying and then went to get tissues for Pepper as she cried. He kept watch over the four until they all fell asleep in the early hours, covering them with blankets. "Jarvis?"
"Yes Mr Potter?"
"Let them sleep."
"Of course sir. If I may, perhaps you should sleep too?"
"Excellent idea. Thanks." Harry went to crash in the room he used when Tony needed him late.
Natasha slipped into the quiet house and looked around. Fury hadn't believed that Stark had left the state which meant something was up and she had been sent in to make sure he was still breathing. She had used a device Fury gave her to temporarily disable the AI and get in unseen. She found four people asleep on the couches and moved silently to Stark's side, watching him sleep. There was a slight displacement of air and then she froze as she felt the barrel of a gun rest against her head. "Back away, slowly." A soft, accented voice ordered and she swore. The assistant. She had seen four people and assumed but obviously he had been elsewhere. She hesitated, she could take him but that would be noisy and wake the others, so she slowly backed away, letting him heard her into another room. "Jarvis?" He called experimentally but there was no answer. "So who the hell are you and how did you disable Jarvis? And don't tell me you're with Legal, I saw you there but there is no way you are with the skills you showed getting in here." Well there went her cover. He moved to be further away, the gun still aimed and she got her first look at Harry Potter in the flesh. He didn't look at all dangerous, more like a college kid dressed for an interview. Then again Coulson looked no more dangerous than an accountant most days. She stayed silent, glaring at him and he sighed and then she felt something very strange even as she realised she couldn't look away from him.
Harry felt sick. Not because of her but because of what had been done to her. She'd been a child assassin just like he'd been groomed into a child soldier and martyr. But out of the two of them she had things worse. He silently stunned her and then altered her memories of the last ten minutes. This world was more messed up than he had thought when he had watched the news of what was happening in the Middle East, well until Iron Man stepped in and stopped it. He'd been here nearly ten years and had actually legitimately gotten his law degree at Oxford, just for fun. Then he'd been head hunted by Stark Industries and had decided he missed America so why not? Then Tony Stark had gone missing in Afghanistan and paperwork had begun trickling in on changing ownership of the company, paperwork he'd been careful to misplace every time. He had known Tony was alive but also that he wasn't meant to interfere just yet. So he'd kept his head down and worked hard to ensure he had a company to come back to. Unfortunately, Stane had gone to the board when Tony announced no more weapons so there had been nothing he could do to stop that paperwork. Tony had handled that mess himself thankfully and then he'd promoted Pepper and for some reason she'd thought he'd be a good replacement. Had she realised what he'd done while Tony was missing? He hadn't asked and she hadn't said anything. But now things were changing further with this Vanko character and now SHIELD.
Agent Romanoff knew a fair bit about the organisation she had joined but not enough to satisfy his curiosity. He wasn't scared of them should they learn of his powers, after all eventually he would die and move on, and if it came to it Death itself would step in to make him move on. That had happened only once in a world too far gone for him to make any difference. He had been captured and tortured for over a week before Death had simply ended his life there and even apologised for sending him to that world rather than killing all within it. He didn't like what appeared to be a need to control information and people the organisation had, there was no way Tony would let them control him or his company so would they act against him? He looked at the syringe she had been carrying and couldn't see anything dangerous about it so he simply injected Tony himself, watching as the markings on his neck faded. He had maybe two minutes before Jarvis came back online to decide what to do. In the end he gave Romanoff the memory of injecting a sleeping Tony and then retreated to see what she would do.
Natasha pulled her hand back and nodded when she saw he looked better already. She didn't know why she had done that without waking him but he just looked so worn out she actually felt bad about trying to wake him. And she wasn't sure what to say if he woke with others present. She had bought them some time to approach him though so she left for now.
Tony led Rhodey into his lab nervously. He couldn't believe he was doing this but his suites made a difference in the world, one he didn't want to end with his death. He'd been working on this for months now and it was done, ready for its wearer. "What's going on Tony?" James asked as they walked over to where the suits were kept. Hopefully Tony was going to destroy them or something. His orders were to get Tony back on track but with him dying that wouldn't work and despite his own rank he didn't trust the US military with the suits. Tony hit a button and a new suit rose from the floor. Instead of red and gold this one was silver and dark blue, bulkier too with more obvious weapons.
"Rhodey, meet War Machine. Go ahead and try it on."
"What? Me? Tony what are you doing?"
"I started this months ago, you're the only other person I trust with a suit so I made you one. The world needs Iron Man but I can't be him anymore and soon, well. It was built for you and only you. It's locked to your biometric data, anyone else tries and they'll get the shock of their life. We've got some time for me to teach you how to use it fully. I won't give the military my suits, Jarvis will blow them all after, but I trust you to use this properly." Tony babbled and James swallowed heavily, feeling guilty for how he had thought about Tony lately. He listened to the instructions on how to get into it and then tried it on, it felt really good.
Fury was wary as he led the way into Stark's home. Natasha had returned much later than expected and yet according to her she had only been within the house for minutes. She'd been checked over but nothing out of the ordinary had been found. That made him very careful in approaching the cliff side mansion, who knew what sort of security had been added lately since they hadn't been able to get the records. He disabled the AI again and then went to sit on the couch, Coulson standing closer to the windows to look out at the water.
"If you are looking for Mr Stark he is in the lab, I suggest you have Jarvis back online before he comes out though. He will be very displeased to find you have harmed his friend."
So this was the assistant, Harry Potter. He didn't look like much, not dangerous or extraordinary and yet Fury's instincts said not to turn his back on the boy. He didn't seem overly alarmed by their presence which was interesting, sure that Stark would protect him or that he could protect himself? But he decided to be nice and turned off the jammer, knowing the AI would alert Stark. Sure enough he came up the stairs seconds later in partial armour, moving between them and Potter protectively.
"Fury." Tony greeted flatly. This was the second time the man had broken into his house; at least last time he had been home alone. "Harry there's some paperwork downstairs that needs going over please." He bit back a smirk as he heard Harry sigh, obviously knowing what he was doing but he retreated downstairs though Tony knew he would be asking Jarvis to show him what was happening. "And you brought Agent Coulson with you this time. What do you want?"
By the time Fury left and Coulson wandered off with the other agents Tony was fuming. How dare they! He stormed downstairs to find Harry making use of his punching bag very effectively. "So I guess you heard."
"Everything. Say the word and this Director will have an accident." He spat and Tony stared at him with wide eyes before smiling slightly.
"I think we'll leave that as a future option." It was nice to know how far Harry would go for him. Pepper had never threatened anyone with death for him, then again she didn't have defensive training like Harry did. Hmm, that was an oversite especially now she was CEO. He looked at the crate of Howard's things before opening it. This was not going to be fun. He worked quietly, relieved Harry had stayed as shakes and food appeared when he needed them. So did subtle hints to shower and sleep. And having someone not under house arrest did come in handy when Harry left for the office to collect the model and then when the time came there was an extra set of hands available to set things up.
"Wow."
Tony chuckled and placed the new core in the reactor. "Yeah. Congratulations Harry, you helped make a new element. Jarvis?"
"Running tests sir." Of course that was when the phone rang and things went wrong. He placed the new reactor in despite being untested and watched Harry react with nervousness on his behalf. But it worked and he took off for the expo even as Harry called Rhodey and Pepper.
Harry tackled the kid away from one of Hammer's drone before War Machine blew it up and continued the fight. The two men were doing good despite being grossly outnumbered. Harry sent the child to his parents and then ran towards the main building, looking for Pepper and Happy to get them clear. He never made it as a Hammer drone fell from the sky and he felt his world explode in painful heat before going black. His last thoughts were hope that everyone else made it out alive.
The End
So he didn't change a lot but he did help save a lot of Tony's reputation by not having a drunken, house destroying party. And now Tony won't be so distrustful of Natasha for Avengers. And Harry knows about Shield should he end up in further worlds where it exists.
