Babysitting Kidvengers

Chapter 9: Nightmares and Bargaining.


Teddy told them the story about the Three Brothers and how the youngest, the owner of the Cloak had outsmarted Death. The story revolves around three wizard brothers who once conquered death for a short time by defeating a deadly obstacle with their magic. The personification of Death appeared out of anger because he was defeated by their magic, but pretended to congratulate them by awarding them gifts of their choosing; The Elder Wand, The Resurrection Stone and the Invisibility Cloak. Two of the three brothers wished to conquer Death beyond what they had done already, and foolishly chose their gifts accordingly, leading to their early demise. The third brother was wiser, and hid under the Invisibility Cloak that allowed him to postpone death until he was ready; He lifted the veil that had helped him to evade the afterlife and was welcomed by Death like a friend.

"And the sorcerer is the descendent of such an amazing warlock?" Thor asked with starstruck eyes. He was practically bouncing in his seat by the end.

"Yup," Teddy agreed and smiled.

"But didn't you say it was just a story?" Steve asked.

"Yes, and it's famously known in the wizarding world. But most believe it to be just a story. My family and our close friends, however, know it to be true." Teddy replied.

"How do you know?" Clint asked. He was seated as far away from Natasha as possible. He didn't like being hit. For a girl, she had a really hard punch.

"Some believed this tale was about the Peverell Brothers. They can be traced to the Potter family. The wand and the stone, being lost to the original brothers for their selfish arrogance, didn't get passed down through the generations. If one wanted to be the owner of the wand and have it work for them, they would have to defeat the previous owner. It was impossible to defeat whoever held the wand in battle though, but if you managed to kill the previous owner in a different way, the wand will rightfully belong to you. So like the tale said, the oldest brother was rash and got drunk on both liquor and arrogance. He told how he possessed the most powerful wand in existence by cheating it away from Death himself." Teddy explained.

"Power such as that brings forth the curiosity and greed of others," Loki said.

Teddy nodded, "The wand had a very bloody history because people kept killing the previous owners to get hold of the wand. It eventually came into the possession of dad's old headmaster and he tried to change the wand's reputation. Eventually after that and a few more hand arounds, it became dad's. The stone, also not being passed down in any order, fell into the hands of dad's enemy. Though it became lost and found by dad's old headmaster as well."

"And the invisibility cloak? I imagine if that were to be lost...it'd stay lost? Cos' you know...it's invisible," Clint said.

Teddy chuckled but it was Natasha that answered, "Weren't you paying attention to the story? When the youngest brother was ready to meet Death, he passed on the cloak to his son."

"And before he started the tale, the sorcerer's son claimed this to be the tale of Harry's ancestors. It's only logical that it was passed down the family. So all three items are in the possession of the sorcerer Harry?" Loki asked.

"They were for a while. Dad's old headmaster had asked to borrow the cloak from dad's dad. Unfortunately in that time it was in the headmaster's possession, dad's parents were killed. The cloak was returned to dad on Christmas in his first year of school." Teddy smiled sadly, "It was the second present he ever got, but it was the first real permanent one he could keep."

"If Harry had all three items, does that make him Master of Death? And what did you mean only for a while?" Bruce asked. He was sitting next to Teddy. He felt very comfortable and relaxed next to his new friend.

"For a while, I mean, for about a day or so. The Master of Death is only possible when you have all three. Dad did have all three and he used them to defeat Voldemort, his enemy. From what Uncle Ron has told me, dad used the stone to contact his parents, my real dad, and his godfather for advice. Dad had gotten the rightful ownership of the wand but the wand itself was in the hands of Voldemort. Though he wasn't aware of this. So when he used the killing curse on dad, the spell backfired and killed Voldemort once and for all. But dad had dropped the stone in the forest after speaking with his family and he snapped the Elder wand in half after the battle and threw it off of a bridge. He kept the cloak but only because it was passed down to him by his dad." Teddy said.

"He surrendered that type of power? Why?" Thor asked.

Teddy thought for a moment. When people told him stories about his dad and about how powerful he had gotten, but then chose to stepped down, Teddy had a hard time understanding it. He had heard many different tales and outcomes and rumors.

It was when he heard it from the Weasley's and close friends that he understood.

"It's not the power you have that matters. It's what you choose to do with it that does. Dad just wanted to be a normal guy and knew himself pretty well. He didn't want to risk becoming temped by such power. Plus he didn't want the responsibility that would come with being Master of Death." Teddy said.

"That sounds like Harry," Steve said with a smile.

"Yup. Well I think it's time for bed," Teddy said as he stood up.

"Awe! But we're not tired!" Clint protested.

"I agree! Another story!" Thor demanded.

"Sorry boys. One story. That's what we agreed upon. Not very noble to go back on your word," Teddy said with a smile.

"It's the same deal we made with Harry. So stop whining!" Natasha cried.

"It is getting late. We wouldn't want to upset Harry any more by breaking bed time," Bruce said.

"Yeah, okay. I am kind of sleepy," Steve yawned.

Clint yawned too and rubbed his eye, "Fine...but tomorrow we get two stories! One from Teddy and one from Harry!"

"We'll talk with dad about it tomorrow. Now, all of you go change. And please try to be quiet. We wouldn't want to wake dad up," Teddy said.

"Where are you going to sleep?" Bruce asked.

Teddy hadn't thought of that. He and his dad didn't really make any sleeping arrangements for him yet. Shrugging, Teddy said, "He's sleeping in Tony's bed right now, so for tonight I'll sleep in his room. Tomorrow I'm sure I'll get my own."


.:~*~:.

Harry was surrounded by darkness and felt weightless. He tried to find his body and have some control but it seemed impossible. Then he blinked and suddenly he was running in a forest. It was cold and a lot of tree were bare from any leaves. Harry was running and seemed to have been doing so for a long time. He couldn't really feel it, but his mind told him that his muscles ached, his chest felt tight as he lungs worked overtime, and his paranoia was off the charts. As he continued to run with all his might, it seemed futile. It was like running in water, but he didn't dare stop.

He heard screaming but couldn't see anyone. At first all the screaming was being done at once so he couldn't tell who it was. As he ran, the screams started to make themselves known. One had been the terrifying scream of his mother the night Voldemort killed her. Another scream belonged to Cedric. Then Ron and then Hermione. Everyone he knew, from his cousin Dudley, all the way to Teddy and the Avengers, Harry heard their pain filled screams.

They were ahead of them. He just had to run faster and he'd reach them. He would save them because he could...because he had to. That's what he did. He saved people.

The cold, dark forest seemed to be never ending. Though he could hear those toe curling screams very clearly, Harry didn't see anyone.

Then to his horror he saw a massive flash of green. Panic and dread filled Harry, and suddenly it didn't feel like he was running in water anymore. The screaming stopped and all Harry could hear was his blood rushing to his ears, his heart pounding erratically in his chest, and the panting of his breaths.

He saw a clearing coming up and Harry did his best to run faster. When he did, he dropped to his knees. Both in exhaustion and misery of what he saw. Piles of dead bodies that belonged to his friends and family. From those that he lost and those who remained, all lay dead at his feet.

Harry felt sick and felt the tears stream down his cheeks. In the distance he heard an evil raspy chuckle and a pair a malice filled red eyes disappeared in the darkness of the forest.

"HARRY!"

Harry bolted up in on the bed and heard and 'oomph!'

When he looked down, he saw that Tony had fallen from the bed.

Harry wiped the sleep out of his eyes and helped Tony back up, "I'm so sorry. You okay?"

"Am I okay? Are you okay?" Tony asked, worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry lied.

"Nice try. We've been trying to wake you for a while now," Clint said. That's when Harry realize that he had fallen asleep in the kid's room, it was night, and they were all around him.

"Shouldn't you all be asleep?" Harry asked, trying to distract them.

"We were," Natasha said.

"You were tossing and turning," Bruce said.

"And you were sweating a lot," Steve added.

"And weeping..." Loki whispered.

"We tried to awaken you but we could not," Thor said.

Harry looked at all of them and realized how scared they were and because of him. He sat back and leaned against the bed post. He used to do this with Teddy when he was younger and also plagued with nightmares. He opened his arms and instantly all of them found a spot next to Harry. Tony and Natasha lied down on Harry chest and listened to his heart, since they were the youngest and smallest. Bruce and Steve each found themselves at Harry's arms. Loki laid down next to his Harry's torso with Thor behind him, and Clint took the other side. They were all clustered together, but none of them minded.

"It was scary. I thought you wouldn't wake up," Steve mumbled.

"Yeah...never do that again," Natasha demanded, though her voice was soft, as though she wanted to cry.

"I'm sorry I scared you guys. It was just a nightmare. It's over now. I'm good. Thank you for waking me," Harry replied.

"Want to talk about it? Talking about it makes it better," Bruce said.

Harry's eyes flashed with intense emotion for a second as he remembered the horrible scene. He gulped and replied, "Thanks guys. Honestly. But I just want to go back to sleep for a while longer. I'm still a bit tired."

"What if you have another nightmare?" Clint asked.

"With you guys here protecting me? Never," Harry offered them a smile.

They smiled too and snuggled into a better sleeping position and fell asleep.


.:~*~:.

"So...you're Harry's son?" Tony asked as he entered the kitchen where Teddy was eating some cereal. It was still very early and everyone else was still asleep with Harry on his bed. Tony didn't like wasting time and didn't sleep as much as other kids.

Teddy looked up and raised an eyebrow to the dark haired little boy. Wiping his mouth, Teddy said, "You must be Tony."

"You've heard of me?" Tony asked as he joined Teddy at the table.

"They told me everyone's name. Since you were the only one missing, I assume that's you," Teddy reasoned.

"Hmm...okay. So...let's talk business," Tony said.

"Business?" Teddy asked.

"How much?" Tony asked.

"How much...what?" Teddy asked as he raised his eyebrow again.

"For Harry, duh! My own father is very rich. This entire Tower? His. Plus many more things. He owns planes and businesses. Ask for anything and I'll get it." Tony said very seriously.

Teddy tried his hardest not to laugh. After everything that happened and everyone calmed down, he finally put most of the story together. "Uh...I'm sorry Tony but I'm not selling dad for anything."

Tony frowned, "Nothing?"

"Would you trade or sell him?" Teddy asked.

Tony pouted, "No...I guess not. Hmm...well what do you think about having a little brother?"

"Little brother?" Teddy echoed.

"Yup. The other day, before the whole fiasco with Bruce, Steve and Natasha were watching a movie called Matilda. It was about a little girl who was really smart but lived with really horrible, stupid people. She loved to read and was very intelligent for her age. Her mind was so advance it developed psychic powers. In the end she got adopted by the nice teacher who actually loved her for her. I figure that if she could easily get the adoption papers, so could I." Tony explained with a smile.

"You...you want dad to adopt you?" Teddy asked. He knew these kids really liked his dad, but they all had families and were actually adults. They had their own families.

"Yup! Now that I think about it, I think it would be kind of cool to have a brother. I've always been alone and never really liked sharing, but if these last few days are any indication, I think I'll love being a part of the Potter family." Tony said.

"What about your family Tony? Won't they miss you?" Teddy asked.

Tony's smile fell as he mumbled, "My dad only cares about his projects. Harry's paid more attention to me these last few days than my own father my whole life..."

Teddy's chest ached at that. As someone who never got to meet their real parents, he always saw it as a blessing to have Harry. He didn't understand the people who were alive and wasted time and moments away from those they were supposed to love.

"I suppose I could use a baby brother around. While I'm at school someone has to make sure dad stays out of trouble and remembers to eat." Teddy said as he offered a smile.

Tony returned the smile and grabbed a bowl and served himself some cereal. Until everyone else woke up, the two talked about many things. Teddy told Tony things about his dad. He also explained that Harry was actually his godfather, but kind of adopted him too. Tony smiled brightly at that and said that his chances of adoption just got higher.

Teddy didn't correct him or burst his bubble. From what his dad said, when they found the cure, there was no guarantee that they'd remember any of this. But right now Tony was happy thinking what he was thinking and Teddy wasn't going to ruin that. It didn't happen often, but it has happened before that he was made fun of because he didn't have the 'typical' family. That was all he wanted, but now he was very happy with his gran, his dad, and their close friends that were like family. He just smiled and answered any of his temporary little brother-to-be's questions.


Before anyone gets confused. Harry thought he got rid of the wand and lost the stone, but they made their way back to him. He doesn't really know what that means, but he's keeping it to himself. So as far as anyone knows, he isn't the Master of Death.

Go to my profile and vote on who should stay a kid and get another chance at childhood with Harry as their parent.