Man of Iron, Father of Gold
Chapter 10:Reunited
With the stress and tiredness of the day, Harry collapsed into Ginny's arms. She gently laid him on the bed and caressed his hair.
Behind her Kingsley cleared his throat and Ginny stood her full height and stared at the people in front of her right in the eyes.
"Ms. Weasley...would you care to explain?" Kingsley asked patiently.
Ginny shrugged and nonchalantly said, "What is there to explain? A choice needed to be made so I made one."
"It wasn't your choice to make Weasley," Draco said.
"Yeah? Then whose? Obviously no one was going to fully listen to Harry. He's a child who for the past few years has been living with this muggle. Of course he'd choose to stay, but that won't matter to the politicians who pull the strings, does it? With no living family by blood present I think I have more right than anyone here to make this choice," Ginny said confidently.
"Ginny-!" Hermione was about to start but Kingsley raised his hand to stop her.
"Why don't the three of you go and fetch our supplies. Ms. Granger, if you would please speak with Mr. Fury, I believe he has some questions about our world."
"But-"
"Now. I believe Ms. Weasley and I have a lot to discuss," Kingsley said in his Minister voice. Slowly the three left them.
"It's the right choice Kingsley. He gave us everything and became nothing! It's about time Harry got something...we can't be selfish!" Ginny insisted.
Kingsley sighed but a ghost of a smile graced his features, "He's that type of person, isn't he? The one people can't help but be loyal to...at least the real ones that care. Even to those who quickly turned their backs on him...Harry Potter is a beacon of hope. So long as he is alive, there is hope. Hope is stronger than fear; that always amazes me."
"Hope is stronger than fear, but it's also more evil sometimes. Hope prolongs the agony." Ginny replied.
"Ms. Weasley...Ginny, I will stand by your decision. But you have to agree that this," he pointed to Harry's sleeping form, "Is only temporary. You can change his name on paper but that scar has unfortunately marked him for all of time. Even centuries from know when he has passed, he will still be legendary. Maybe Potter will get a better chance with this muggle but he will have to grow up once more. These last few days have been proof that, not only are we not the only non-muggle beings out there, but there are forces we know nothing of. Forces that can come to this planet and declare war the lights of which we have never seen.
"Potter is a survivor. He has been since the first anniversary of his birth. Do not delude yourself into thinking that the world won't call on him again. He will need to rise once more," Kingsley explained gently.
Ginny let it all sink in. Then she sighed, "Where are the healer's medical bags?"
Kingsley pointed to them near the corner and Ginny searched through them. Pulling out multiple bottles Ginny walked back to Harry. Using her magic once more she did her best to remove the Memory Charm block and filled the bottles with the memories from his first letter to leaving the grounds of Hogwarts for the last time. Ginny then reinforced the memory charm once more.
"Come along Ms. Weasley. There is still lots more we need to discuss. Not just us, but I believe we need to set some guidelines for Mr. Fury as well," Kingsley said.
Ginny nodded. She leaned down and kissed Harry's forehead and headed out the door with Kingsley.
.:~*~:.
When Harry opened his eyes he realized that he wasn't truly awake. He was in Grand Central Station again. Harry assumed he was to meet Death once more. Harry blinked multiple times, because even though the white over tone was somewhat blinding as before, he had a huge headache that made it overbearingly bright. It wasn't just his head that ached, but all of him. His limbs, his muscles, his eyes, felt like they were burning, his stomach felt as if he hadn't eaten in months and it was churning.
"Master," Death called out.
Harry snapped his head up and tried to find the direction where the voice came from. When he spotted Death, Harry frowned. At first glimpse Death was just like before; the old, thin man in his fancy, black suit and cane. However, there was something wrong. Harry blinked a few more times to make sure it wasn't a trick of the odd lighting of the place. So he blinked even more but it still happened. Death's image would flicker. One second he was that same old man, next he would be just a dark indescribable figure, then he would be a black cloaked figure with a hood and a scythe like in the stories by the Grimm brothers, to another figure he has never seen before but looked female.
Harry continued to blink as Death flickered between all these images. His headache raging on full force, the lighting, and the flickering only made things worse. Harry clutched his head in pain and fell to his knees.
.:~*~:.
The Avengers were sitting in their round table on the deck where they had first arrived to discuss Loki.
Natasha and Clint, along with Steve, Tony, and Coulson all sat in chairs at the table. Each of them lost in their own thoughts. Thor and Bruce too were lost in their thoughts but they couldn't remain seated.
Agent Hill came over with one of the magical ones. Her face was unreadable and all of them snapped their heads up and waited for what the brunette had to say.
"Mr. Stark," she began in a monotone voice, "Harry is resting in the hospital ward. You are more than free to be with him. It'll be some time before he awakens. Not too long, but still...a few hours at most. There are many things you need to discuss with our Minister regarding Harry's lifestyle and what to expect. But at the moment he is busy with Director Fury. You'll have to wait for that talk."
The brunette made a quick turn and began to briskly walk away.
"Wait!" Tony yelled. He had stood up as soon as his mind realized the words that left the brunette's mouth. "What?"
"A choice was made Mr. Stark. Though it's difficult...in so many ways, I can see the logic, but more importantly the heart behind it. Please...take care of him," Hermione whispered before making her get away.
Everyone stared at Tony and waited for his reaction. Thor's, Steve's, and Clint's smiles were wide and idiotic, Bruce and Coulson's were much more restrained but still visibly happy, while Agent Hill and Natasha merely smiled. It finally felt like they won. Victory was theirs and it felt sweet. The day was saved, they all made it out alive, and Harry was alright and he was Tony's.
The billionaires face though didn't break out into a smile. It continue to be passive as he made his way to the hospital ward where his son was.
Opening the door to the hospital ward it didn't take long for the genius to locate Harry, his son being the only one in the ward. His sweet little boy… Still little…Still his boy. His face still had some dirt, as did the rest of him, but he was mostly unscratched. Any wounds that Tony had seen at the tower were now gone and the rest would disappear soon enough.
Tony's hand ghost over his son's head, he feared that if he touched his boy he would disappear. Gaining enough courage Tony combed his fingers through Harry's hair. Tears blurred his vision and he cried silently as he embraced his son. He was on his knees while his torso leaned over the bed as he clutched onto his son. Hearing the small intakes and exhales of breath and the thump, thump of his little heart brought one of the greatest reliefs Tony had ever experienced.
Tony kissed Harry's head as tears fell freely from his eyes. After a few minutes of this Tony wiped away at his eyes, but it seemed useless, the tears wouldn't stop and for once he didn't care. He grabbed a chair and sat down while taking Harry's small hand into his.
Even though Harry was unconscious Tony smiled and began to whisper to him, "I'm sorry Harry...I lied. But it was only for a little while. I… I would have gone after you if I could. There are a lot of things I understand Harry. I'm a genius after all, but you...I've always had trouble with this, being a dad. I did my best. I tried my hardest, but the matter was...you always scared me Harry.
I'm a billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist...those things came so easy. I got the money from what my father started. I got his brains, his characteristics. You're a Stark by name and not by blood but that's good Harry...that's so, so good. We have brains, yeah, but it's lonely. You will never understand what a godsend you are to me. Despite my lifestyle I was so alone. A friend once told me that I was a man with everything and nothing. He was right. But then I got you...and I haven't been alone since. There aren't a lot of people who can understand us geniuses, let alone accept us. But you, you have heart...so much heart." Tony leaned down and kissed Harry's forehead again and also his little hand.
"No matter what happened or what happens you are my son Harry," Tony whispered. "I need you. Far more than you might ever understand. It's really symbolic really...the Arc Reactor is what keeps me alive. I'm a man of science. All mind but no heart, or at least I used to be. Then I got you Harry. You became my heart and...I'd like to think I'm doing an okay job but really Harry, if I'm honest, I just don't know. It's so new for to me, not knowing. You scare me because...I don't want to mess up Hare-Bear. I don't want to mess you up. If I make the wrong decisions you...you might turn out like me..."
"And who says that's a bad thing?"
Tony jumped out of his chair and placed himself between Harry and the impossible in front of him.
"I've gone crazy," Tony whispered to himself.
Howard chuckled and his ghostly silver-blue image shimmered a bit. "Maybe one day, but not right now, I'm actually here kid."
Tony shook his head, "That's...that's not possible."
Howard raised an eye brow and said with amusement, "You're teammates with a Norse God, a super soldier from my days, a man that can turn into a huge green rage monster, a couple assassins, fought a magical trickster and aliens...and this is impossible?"
"Okay, I see your point. But like I told Steve...I'm still working on believing." Tony replied as he looked at the shimmering image in front of him. It was his father, wearing a white collared shirt, black pants, suspenders, and polished shoes. And his own signature Stark facial hair. Very 40's if you asked Tony. That's probably because his father's (ghost?) image in front of him was of him in the 40's. "Speaking of Steve, mind if I go get him really quick? I'm sure he'll shit bricks at seeing this."
Howard just shook his head and chuckled, "It's good to see you again Tony."
Joking all but leaving his system, Tony sobered up and realized his father was in front of him! A lump rose in his throat and he had no clue whatsoever on how to continue.
Howard took in the sight of his son and smiled. Then he looked at the bed and his gaze soften, "I wasn't lying. It wouldn't be so bad if he turned out like you."
Tony snapped back into himself and scoffed, "You've been gone a long time. If you had any idea of what I've been up to you wouldn't say that."
Howard really looked at Tony with critical analyzing eyes; Tony almost feared he'd get yelled at as if he were a child again. Instead Howard's gaze soften once more and he said, "I don't know if you remember, you were very young when I told you this, but I once told you that I believed the entire planet to be one huge machine."
Tony nodded, "It was after one of many talks about my current defrosted teammate, I remember."
Howard chuckled, "It was something that helped me some days to accept that I might never find my friend. I had an idea that perhaps the super soldier serum would keep him alive. I hoped someone would find him. But back to what I was saying. The whole world being a huge machine...I was an inventor. I loved machines. And you know what I know about machines?"
Tony shrugged and looked at his feet, "I dunno? They're easier to deal with than people?"
Howard's smile faltered a bit and he frowned, "Well yes. I suppose. Machines don't judge. They don't have sarcasm, and they actually do what they're said to do."
Tony's looked away and mumbled, "Unless they're broken."
"Well that's the beauty of machines, they can be fixed. And what I was getting at is that machines come with all the parts they need. Some parts are used early on, while others have to wait until it's their turn to fit in place. Steve was just found way before his part was needed." Howard said every seriously.
"That's...very touching. Should I relay this message or do you want to do it yourself?" Tony asked with a hint of jealousy in his voice. Even after his dad came to visit the world of the living, no matter how impossible it seemed, he was still more hung up on the Super Soldier than his own son.
"With the world being one huge machine," Howard pressed on like he hadn't heard Tony, but he had. He knew what to say next to make his son understand that he understood and that he did care. "There are no spare parts. Every piece fits somewhere. Every piece is needed for the machine to function. You're not a spare part Tony. Never think that. You are very important. If you don't want to take my word for it I understand. But just look at my grandson and I think you can agree that I'm right."
"You and I," Tony paused for a bit. He had taken his father's advice and looked at Harry. He was here for Harry's sake, to protect him, to teach him, to love him. "We never had a very stellar relationship. I was so arrogant growing up...and I was a genius. When I wasn't out being Mr. Casanova I was locked away working on projects and experiments. I didn't have any friends...I'm raising a little boy with no references on what it means to be a good dad. Am I doing the right thing? Obviously not! Look at everything that my son was put through the last few hours!"
"You're not messing up Tony," Howard said with no doubt in his voice.
"Yeah? And how would you know?" Tony demanded.
"Because Harry loves you, he worries about your well-being. He cares for what you have to say. He looks for your approval and never wants to disappoint you. You're there every time you can, you put things aside so you always have time for him, you make sure he's treated like the most important person in the world," Howard said.
"That's because he is!" Tony replied.
"And that! That right there is why you aren't messing up. The world sees him as a hero, as a savior. They see the title not the person. For the world he may be Harry Potter, but to you he's just Harry. That's what he wanted, still does. Both of you are like gears that fit into perfect sync and help each other function. Harry's a bit like Steve. They found him early on and used him. His part became rusty and wouldn't work properly. While the world decided he was broken and threw his part away it was you, Tony, who decided to polish it back into its shiny working glory. You fixed him." Howard said with a gentle smile.
Tony shook his head, "No dad, it was him that fixed me."
They fell into a comfortable silence as they watched Harry sleep peacefully.
"I'm sorry," Tony whispered, "I should have been a better son."
Howard shook his head, "No, I'm sorry. I should have been there for you more. But I'm proud of the man you've become Tony. I'm happy that you've found your way. I know it wasn't easy, but you did it. And you did it all by yourself. And I want you to know that both your mother and I are so very proud of you. And we love our grandson with all of our hearts."
Tony's eyes glistened and he had to choke back a sob. He was unable to speak so he merely nodded, once more falling into another silence.
"I have to go now," Howard whispered.
"Wait! Can't you stay? Just for a bit longer? Just until Harry wakes up! Please..." Tony begged.
Howard smiled and tried to place a hand on Tony's shoulder. It just passed through and Tony shivered a bit at the coldness. "I would love to. If I can I'll try to see him but that's for another time. The only reason I'm here is because Harry's unconscious."
Tony frowned, "I don't understand."
Howard stuck his hands in his pockets and sighed, "Harry's very special Tony, far more special than you realize. He is more than just the boy who made you a father, more than just the savior of the Wizarding world, and more than just magic."
Howard's face went from gentle to serious far too fast for Tony's liking, "Tony...I am literally not allowed to say. In fact, me being here mentioning this much, I'm already breaking dozens, maybe even hundreds of rules."
Tony frowned, "What's going on?"
"You need to be very vigilant these next couple months Tony, maybe even years. I can't be sure. Time after death is very odd. You also need to widen you view and open your mind, son. You now know that you aren't alone in the universe, heck, not alone on the planet. You need to be very careful, especially for Harry's sake." Howard warned.
Tony's chest clenched in fear, "Why? What's happening?"
"I wish I could just flat out tell you but I can't. I literally can't. I'm so sorry for all these riddles but I have no doubt that you'll figure things out."
"What am I supposed to figure out?" Tony asked, trying to remain calm, though a feeling of total unease began settling inside of him.
"Just because Loki seemed to be calling out the orders don't be fooled into thinking that he's the puppet master in all of this," Howard said.
Tony's brow furrowed, "Reindeer games isn't the puppet master? Then who is?"
Howard looked very angry and his image flickered for a few seconds, "I can't say, but I can warn you. You have to be very careful Tony."
"What does Harry have to do with this? It can't be just because I'm Iron Man and he's my son." Tony insisted.
"It's not. In the coming of future events Death will play a huge role in the matter. Harry's current title might throw him into the middle of something very big and very dangerous. He'll need to learn, he'll need to know, he'll need to be ready just like the rest of you."
"I...I don't understand!" Tony cried.
"I'm very sorry Tony. I can't stay any longer. Just remember, you can't hide him away from all this. He's a Stark now. He's bound to get into some serious trouble...far too serious. These last few hours will be a joke compared to what's to come."
"Then what do I do?" Tony demanded, tears once more falling freely.
"What you've been doing, son. Love him, believe in him, and stay at his side. Goodbye Tony..."
"Wait!...will you visit again?" Tony asked desperately.
Howard's face softened once more and he smiled, "I don't know. Maybe one day when Harry's stronger I might. Heck, we might even have a family get together for Christmas or something. I really have to go now Tony. Just remember, be there for him. And also remember that I love you and your mother and I could not be prouder..."
Howard's image flickered one more time and then disappeared. Tony was left in the darkening room with his still unconscious son, new worrying information, and the feeling of not even knowing how to begin to process any of the information. He wiped a few remaining tears off his face and took his place next to Harry once more.
.:~*~:.
Harry opened his eyes once more and realized that he still wasn't awake in the real world. This time though he wasn't in Grand Central Station. He was in a room he's seen before in his dreams. A small cluttered room with posters on the wall. Some pictures moved, like the ones of people on brooms, others didn't, like the pictures of motorcycles and bikini clad women. Harry blushed at those and looked away. The room had a lot of red and gold-yellow colors.
It felt familiar. It felt safe.
"Harry..."
Harry looked up and saw four people enter the room. The only woman was a red head with very green eyes. Like his green eyes. The man next to her had wild unruly black hair, just like his, after him entered a man, with long black hair and silver-blue eyes, followed by a man with sandy blonde with brown eyes.
"Hello pup," the sandy blonde said with a gentle smile.
"I know you," Harry said with confusion, "How?"
The redhead smiled and sat next to him on the bed and placed a hand on his shoulder, "It doesn't matter where you met us Harry. All that matters is what we are."
Harry scrunched his face in confusion, "What are you?"
The man with the wild unruly hair took a seat on the other side of him and copied the woman's action, "We're your family."
"Family..." Harry said looking between the man and the woman. Then his eyes widened, "Mummy? Daddy?"
All of the adults smiled as the woman placed Harry on her lap and hugged him. The man hugged them both.
"Hello dear," Lily said.
"How?" Harry asked, silent tears falling.
"We're dead honey. You have the power to call us," Lily said.
"On occasion," Remus corrected.
"Right. Like now," James said.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
Lily combed her hand through his hair, "It's very complicated and we don't have enough time sweetheart. We just came to tell you a few things."
"What?" Harry asked, closing his eyes and enjoying his mother's movements.
"The man that attacked New York, he wasn't the one in charge. There is still danger out there Harry," Sirius said crouching down in front of Lily to meet Harry at eye level.
"What can I do?"
"We wish you didn't have to do anything dear, but you will be a part of what's to come," Lily said.
"Me? Why?"
"When the time comes, you'll understand. Our time is almost up. Just trust your new guardian Harry. He'll keep you safe," Remus said.
"My daddy Tony will be involved too?" Harry asked, worried.
"You're involved. So of course," Sirius replied.
Harry looked to all of them, memorizing all of their faces the best he could, "Do you guys like him?"
"Well, you could have ended up with someone more normal, but you're a Potter. We don't do normal for some reason. Then again it would be so boring if we did," James said with a smirk. When he saw Harry's confusion he smiled and said, "He loves you like a son. He loves you just like I do, son. So yeah, we like him."
Lily nodded, "If there's ever any doubt, trust in this man Harry. He will always put you first. That's all I could ever ask of anyone to do for my little one."
"It's time," Death said from the doorway.
The adults nodded and stood up.
"Wait! Can't you stay a bit longer?" Harry asked.
They all smiled and each took turns hugging and kissing Harry. Lily was the last and she said, "We'd like nothing more but you're still alive sweetheart. And your daddy Tony has been waiting for a long time now. We'll be here for you Harry, always. I love you. Dada loves you. So do Siri and Remmy. And so does Mr. Stark. You have to be with him now."
Before Harry could reply there was a flashing light and he woke up again, this time in the real world.
"Harry?"
Harry turned his head and saw his dad. He was alive, safe, and with him. Pulling the blankets away from him Harry jumped into his father's arms and cried. Tony cried too. "Daddy! I love you."
"I love you too buddy." Tony placed him back on the bed and looked at him with a faux strict face, "Never scare me like that again, do you understand me young man? I'll let it pass this time, but next time you nearly give me a heart attack you are so grounded!"
Harry just giggled and reached out to hug his dad again. "I wanna go home now daddy. Can we go home?"
"Anything for you buddy."
My imagination has betrayed me. I swore to myself when I started this that it would just be this. No strings attached or anything. A total clean cut! But I wanted to fix the whole Death thing without going to previous chapters and changing anything and then the part with Howard just seem too perfect...
Really it was just going to be this story with some one shots that included:
Christmas dinner(maybe with ghostly relatives)
Halloween seems fun to do
Harry getting his letter and Tony being reluctant to let him go(be it Hogwarts or Salem Institute)
Harry reaching puberty and all of the Avengers trying to give him "the talk"
Harry graduating and wanting to move out and Tony have a fit
Harry getting engaged but Tony not accepting it until he does and then he goes into full Bridezilla mode.
-Sigh- well this is technically the last chapter. The epilogue is next. and damn, I practically promised a sequel.
I got some serious mixed reviews last time so I'm curious to what you say this time.
Special thanks to blossommonkey
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