Avengers: Battleground

Chapter 11: The Fallen Castle

Harry sat in one of the interrogation room in amusement. He realized he probably shouldn't have been a wise-ass and let slip he obtained information from Sharon Carter. It raised questions on how he got that information. He was sure they were going to interrogate her next. He may not have been seduced by her charms, but that didn't mean he wanted to cause her to cause her any trouble. He would have to play this very carefully.

The door slides open and Phil Coulson walks in holding a folder. The door slides shut trapping the two men inside.

"May I sit?" Agent Coulson asks.

"This is your house. You don't need my permission to sit down in your own house." Harry replies in a calm voice.

"I'll take that as a yes." Coulson says as he sits down.

"I guess you guys caught on when I said I got information from her." Harry said starting the questioning.

"We had your entire conversation on record. I just went over it, and not once, did she break her cover. So, my question is, how did you get information out of her?" Coulson asks.

"Does your record include the buzzing that happened in the early morning before she left for the S.H.I.E.L.D. Commander Center?" Harry asks. Coulson looks at him carefully. "I thought not." Harry said as he looks at Coulson. He quickly uses Legilimency on Coulson and sees the recent memory he had. Harry leans back and sighs. "You seem to be under the impression that I can read minds." Harry finally said as he breaks eye contact with Coulson.

"I see we're cutting to the chase. So, can you… read minds?"

"No." Harry said honestly. "I have other means of getting information. Ways, I do not feel like sharing due to the simple fact that I don't trust S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Don't trust us? Please explain." Coulson asks.

Harry paused as he looks at the security camera. More than aware that Nick Fury and Maria Hill was watching this very carefully.

"As I told Nick Fury. Trust isn't a one-way street. It builds over time. If S.H.I.E.L.D. wants to earn my trust, they need to stop butting into my personal affairs. You'll get the information, when I feel I want to share it. Not before, and not on your terms. That information, will be given, on my terms." Harry stated firmly in a cold tone.

Coulson observed Harry carefully.

"You know you're good. Very good, getting information out of you has been hard. I'm not one who usually brags, but I tend to be very good at interrogation and getting information. The right information out of people. Because that's what we do. Get the right kind of information. Yet you're difficult. You have an incredible amount of control over your emotions. You really don't reveal anything unless you want to. That's remarkable. Not many your age can do that. It would normally takes years of training before one can even grasp on how to control their emotions. It took Agent Romanoff nearly twenty years to control her emotions." Coulson said.

"Sounds like your complimenting me." Harry said with a small smile. He looked at the folder and wondered what was inside. He doubts it was everything they had on him. "I wasn't always like this, I used to wear my heart on my sleeve. I was very easy to manipulate and control that way too. By the time I learned the lesson of controlling myself I had already lost much."

"What did you lose?" Coulson asks, clearly curious.

Harry sighed before he answered. "I'm sure someone as good as you are, you can tell what I lost without me having to say anything. The things I saw…"

"What did you see?" Coulson pressed on.

"That which would destroy any kid, if they've seen it too much. I saw war. I lost friends. Lots of friends." Harry said as he tried hard to regain control of himself.

Coulson said nothing as he looks at Harry.

"That would have broken a simple person. I've seen it happen to those of gentle hearts." Coulson said.

"I never wanted to believe I was unique, special. Never wanted to be either. I just wanted to be a normal person. However, even that was denied from me. I can never live the simple life. I also can't-I can't stop doing what I'm doing. I have to keep going. I'm going to look for fights to fight and battles that need winning. I can't stop, I won't stop." Harry said.

"Tell me this then," Coulson said in a strong voice as he puts his hands together and leans forward. "What do you want?"

Harry pauses as he taps his fingers on the table. Thinking hard about that question. It was the first time anyone really ask him that. It caused to really stop and think.

"To be honest, I'm not sure anymore. I thought I once knew. But now," Harry paused as he takes time to look at Coulson. "now I'm not so sure anymore. I've lost so much of myself I've almost forgotten who I was underneath. I guess I never knew who I was in the first place. However, I can tell you this," Harry said as he gives Coulson a strong look. "When the fighting starts, when the war begins, when the blood hits the ground, I'll be there. Whether or not you support me is up to you. But I'll be there, I'll be an Avenger. Perhaps that what I was meant to be in the first place."

Coulson analyzed at him as he folds his hands together on top of the table.

"Let me ask you this, why do you have all these secrets. You do a good job at keeping them hidden." Coulson said.

"The truth, I've learn, can be a terrible thing. Because once you learn something, once you understand what it really is, you can't unlearn it, it's there until the end. The truth can destroy a person. One day, you'll understand why I keep secrets. That day is not this day."

"You know I really wish you would open up. I get the feeling you're never going to say anything." Coulson joked lightly, though there was an undercurrent of seriousness in his words.

"Perhaps your right. All you need to know is I keep my secrets secret for good reason. Because if you knew what I did, you would hide as well." Harry stated.

"I trust you understand, that we're the good guys. Our job is to keep the world safe from the threats of those that seek to destroy it."

Harry smiles as he looks at Coulson. "One day, I'm going to quote that. Then you'll learn, when the truth is revealed, you're nothing but a hypocrite." Harry in amusement.

"I'm sure when that day comes, we're going to prove you wrong." Coulson said smiling confidently.

"We'll see." Harry said.

"Before you go, I want you to look at this." Coulson said handing the folder over.

"What's this?" Harry said as he takes it.

"It's everything we have on you. You said trust isn't a one-way street. Well this is everything we got on you. I hope you can understand, if you are trustworthy, then you have nothing to fear from us."

Harry picks up the folder before looking back at Coulson. "I'm going to go over this, and if I find S.H.I.E.L.D. trustworthy, I'll tell you who I really am." Harry said as he gets up to leave.

"I hope you can trust us." Coulson said. "You would be a great S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent." He added.

Harry walks past Coulson before standing before the door. "Sadly, for you at least, I have no desire to work for S.H.I.E.L.D." Harry said as the door opens and he walks out.

Harry returned to his room and sat down on the bed. He looks at the folder and takes note of how thin it was. He opens it and reads.

It appeared depositing the large sum of gold caused red flags to be raised and S.H.I.E.L.D. was notified immediately. They backtrack his location using satellites and every CCTV cam they could get access to. Taking note that his first real appearance was at a London Internet Café. Harry scans further and was pleased to see they didn't know he was from a parallel universe. He still remembers the warnings Hermione gave him about keeping that part hidden and a secret. It might not end well for him if it was revealed he was from another dimension.

Harry continues to read and took note of how S.H.I.E.L.D. sent agents to keep an eye on him and keep tabs on him as he travelled for two years around the globe. Apparently, they took note of how he was able to bypass customs and travel without a passport. They never got his name until he told Nick Fury. They weren't even sure it was his real name as they put it down as 'alias'. They didn't even have his birthday. Something, he also took note, Nick Fury really wanted.

The rest were things he already knew. His meeting with Sharon Carter, what was said with her meeting with the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. as well as Coulson's assumption on him being an enhanced. Reading through it more, it seemed Nick Fury wanted to meet him after his actions in Los Angeles. Believing he could be a great asset to have. However, they weren't sure on his abilities. Weren't sure if it was enhanced capabilities or technology. It seems right now, they were playing it safe. Trying to get information, yet also trying not to aggravate him. It seems they feared he was also like Banner.

Harry sat the folder down and decided to check in on Stark and Banner. See what they were doing.

Harry arrived inside Banner's lab to see, Nick Fury, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Bruce Banner and Thor all at each other's throats.

"Hey!" Harry said in a raise voice. No one paid him any attention. They just continued to argue with each other. Pointing fingers at one another. Stark and Tony look like they were about to fight where they stood. "I'm going to regret this." Harry muttered as he raised his hand. The silencing spell hit all of them at once and they all stared at each other as they tried to speak but no words came out. "Hey!" Harry said again as all eyes turn to him. "Someone, tell me what is going on. I'm going to let you speak, but I better get answers before I silence you all again." while saying that, Harry waves his hand and silence filled the room. Or continues to fill the room, it's not like he could hear them before anyway.

Everyone stares at Harry in amazement.

"A seidhr." Thor said in surprise.

"A what?" Stark said.

"In your native tongue, it would mean Sorcerer. One who can use magic." Thor said in surprise. "However, they aren't any more on Midgard. Asgard believes them to be extinct."

"Is that what you can do? Magic?" Nick Fury ground out looking at Harry. Harry gave him a hard look. Thor just had to spill the beans.

"Yes." Harry finally admitted after a few seconds of thought.

"I do not understand, why do you hide yourself?" Thor asks.

"You want to know why. Fine, I'll tell you why. Because people like him hunted my people to the brink of extinction." Harry said pointing a finger at Nick Fury.

"I had nothing to do with…" Fury said but Harry interrupted him.

"No, but your governments did. As did their predecessors." Harry stated strongly.

Everyone looks at him with expressions varying from disbelief to confusion.

"In the mid fifteenth century, Kings of the lands discovered my people. People who could do magic and preform wonders. We used our skills to help those who needed help. Plagues spilled across the lands and my people helped the sick. Treating those in need. We were cheap, never overcharging for our services and never greedy. Anyone could have afforded us. When it was discovered that our magic could also be used for combat the King's, Dukes, Earls and all the nobles in the land wanted us to fight for them. To turn us… into living weapons!" Harry said in a loud voice. No one said a word as they all were looking at him. "We of course refused. It's not why we use magic and it's not what magic is for. That is when the witch hunts began. Hunting us down like we were rapid animals. The Church took advantage of the hunts and claim we got our power by striking a deal with the devil to obtain magic and claim it was 'Dark Magic'. His people tortured mine. For refusing to be pawns and make these pathetic nobles who fight themselves to be richer and fatter. And for three hundred years, every government, took part in the witch hunt. They would first torture us, then result in burning us, if they didn't burn us they would drown us. We were peaceful, sworn to never take lives and use our magic to help others in need. But your kind had brought my people down to the brink of extinction and as far as I know, I'm the last sorcerer on earth. When I die, my people die with me."

Everyone stared at him. Harry didn't care. He was more than aware of the Death Eater's saying. He now understands why so many witches and wizards join their cause. Because they shouldn't be ashamed of having magic and living in fear. He just wouldn't go to the extreme measures they have gone.

"Have you no shame! The Seidhr's were a proud people, a peaceful people." Thor shouted in an angry tone of voice; breaking the silence after Harry's explanation was done.

"I had nothing to do with the Witch Hunt of Earth's sorcerer's." Nick Fury said.

"But your government did." Harry said. "Why did you think I never said anything. Because your government installed fear in me. And do not give me that bullshit that I should have come clean. I learn my lesson from history and you have not. I am not a living weapon nor will I ever become one. You also know, there are people in the government who would break their own laws to experiment on me. Or even try to duplicate my abilities." Harry said in an angry tone of voice. "Do you know what happens when a sorcerer is experimented on? Our own gifts, our magic slowly starts killing us and drives us insane. It also cannot be replicated. Magic is a natural gift that shouldn't be experimented on. If you do, you're tampering with forces beyond your control, I knew if I came forward and said I was a sorcerer, you would try to find ways to eliminate me as you did all my ancestors. Finish the hunt of the last sorcerer on earth. No, I knew to protect myself I had to hide myself. Never say a word about who I really was… because of people like you." Harry said as he got in Nick Fury's face.

Nick Fury stepped back as he took this in.

"Do not tell me what is best for me when you don't know. When you say that, you are speaking of what is best for you. I've heard it before. I am and never will be… a weapon." Harry said. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Agent Romanoff reaching for her Glock 26. Nick Fury was making a motion to reach for his Glock 19.

"If you think you have trust issues, you should see things from my point. I've had to hide, because I'm magical. For people like you, you seek to find a way to turn us into living weapons without even bothering to ask us what we want or what our opinion is. You always want what is best for yourself without thinking of the actual party that's involved. Fairness and equal play do not existence in the hearts of honest men. I learn that lesson at a young age. You know nothing about me. Because you cannot truly understand me. You've never had to hide or be hunted for being what you were. Had the government found out what I was when I was born they would have taken me in and train me as a living weapon. You know that's true. Why do you think I was running in the first place?" Harry said in a mock question.

The room was silence for several moments. Everyone was looking at Harry who for the first time, really opened up to anyone.

"Midgard's leaders may not have any honor. But Asgard does." Thor said breaking the silence. "If the Midgard's leaders give you any more trouble, let me know, and I will return with the Asgardian army to back you up." Thor stated.

"Wait, you would go to war…" Nick Fury said as he turns to Thor.

"You have no honor!" Thor shouted. "Killing innocent people because of their gifts is not honorable. If it happens again, Asgard will take it as an act of war." Thor said. Nick Fury stared at him in stunned silence.

"Tell me why you're all at each other's throats." Harry said trying to get off topic and to prevent Nick Fury from starting a second war on Earth.

"We found out that S.H.I.E.L.D. is using the Tesseract to build weapons of mass destruction." Banner said. Pointing at the screen next to him that show schematics of a new weapon.

"That surprises you. It doesn't surprise me." Harry said with a raise eyebrow.

"You knew." Nick Fury said in surprise.

"Of course, I knew. I knew the moment you handed me the packet about the Tesseract. Trying to solve Earth's energy crisis by using the Tesseract. Come on, that's not what S.H.I.E.L.D. does. I know for a fact, since the very beginning of S.H.I.E.L.D. that you've been after the weapons Hydra used in World War Two. I may not be as intelligent as Stark is, but I'm not stupid. I know S.H.I.E.L.D. wants the Tesseract to build an arsenal of weapons." Harry said strongly.

"Loki is also manipulating Banner. We think he may have cast a spell on him like he did to Agent Barton." Romanoff said.

"Agent Romanoff, will you please escort Doctor Banner to…" Nick Fury said.

"Where?" Banner interjected. "You rented my room."

"The cell was just in case…" Nick Fury said as it was clear he was trying to come up with a reasonable excuse.

"In case you needed to kill me, but you can't I know I tried." Banner said in a loud voice. Everyone looks at him. "I got real low. I didn't see an end to my nightmare. So, I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spits it out." Everyone remained silent as they didn't know how to take Banner suicide attempt. "So, I moved on. I focus on helping other people. I was doing good, until you dragged me back into this freak show. Do you want to know my secret Agent Romanoff, do you want to know how I stay calm?" Banner said as he without realizing it, grabs the scepter and holds on to it. Harry paused here, as he senses something strange just happen.

"Doctor Banner." Captain Rogers said in a slow voice. "Put down the scepter."

Banner looked confuse for a moment as he looks down and sees the scepter in his hands. He sets it down just as the computer started making noise.

"Sorry kids, you don't get to see my parlor trick after all." Banner said as he walks over to the computer and looks at it.

"You've found the Tesseract?" Thor said in a loud voice.

Harry ignores the others as they begin to argue again. Instead he kept his eyes on Banner. Something happen to him just moments ago, a flicker of a…

Harry eyes open wide as he realized the scepter had a spell on it and Banner silently activated it.

"Banner!" Harry said but at that moment the ship rocks violently and Harry was thrown off his feet as everyone in the room lost their footings and fell to the floor.

Stark and Rogers got up immediately and went took off to the source of the explosion.

Fury sits up and shakes his head.

"Hill!"

"External detonation. Number three engine is down." Hill reported.

Harry gets up and takes off, trying to sort out the madness. An external detonation meant the attack came from the outside.

The moment Harry stepped outside, his eagle like eyes saw a vent was broken.

"Fury, do you copy. You have been boarded." Harry said into his earpiece. He turns tail and reenters the Helicarrier.

"I copy. The bridge has been hit. We could use some backup." Fury as Harry could hear gunshots.

"I'm heading to engine three. I'm going to see if I can repair it." Harry said as he takes off.

"You can do that." Nick Fury said in surprise.

"At this point you're going to doubt me." Harry said.

Nick Fury didn't say anything.

"If one more turbine goes down, we're going to drop in a uncontrol descent." Fury said.

"Yeah I'm on it." Harry said as he takes off down the corridor.

Harry said nothing as he runs down the corridor. He was near the third engine when he spotted several men wearing S.H.I.E.L.D. gear turn to him and suddenly open fire. Harry stood there as the bullets hit his robes. Harry did nothing as bullets continue to hit him. The soldier finally stops as the bullets fall on the ground. Harry smirk knowing his impenetrable spell on his robes was still working. Harry quickly used Legilimency on the solider and saw that he was one of Loki's puppet. Not a good person either. He was a merc who killed anyone for money.

Harry cast a small force and throws it into the guy. He was launch off his feet and flew down the rest of the corridor before hitting the wall and did not get back up. His three companions all turn to Harry and open fire. The bullets continue to hit Harry before falling on the ground like pellets. Harry walks forward ignoring the gunshots bouncing off him. Harry reaches for his combat knife and unsheathes it, before bringing it down into the first guy's stomach. His body went numb before going still. Harry withdraws his knife before turning to the second guy as the first guy drops to the ground.

The remaining two mercs seemed to have realized their firearms weren't going to work against Harry. They drop their guns and bring out their knives in each hand and stand in a ready position as Harry approaches them.

Harry leans back as the second merc swings at Harry's chest, barely missing him. Harry wasn't too sure if his impenetrable spell would stop a knife as it did the bullets, and it wasn't the time to test that theory. Harry slices the man's arm causing him to drop the knife in response, Harry punches him in the gut before trying to bring his knife down into the man's jugular. He reaches up with his other hand and grabs onto Harry's wrist to stop the impact. He uses his other hand to support his left hand from stopping Harry's knife from killing him.

His partner rushes up and tries to stab Harry in the right abdomen. Harry felt the knife, hit him, but he looks down and sees his robes didn't tear through the robe. Harry looks at the man as he looks at Harry in surprise. Harry was equally surprised. He headbutts the guy before finally driving his knife into his jugular. He then spins and punches the guy in the face sending him crashing into the ground hard. A severing curse through the lungs killed him instantly.

"How's engine three?" Harry asks into his com.

"I'm about to get it running. I'm just pushing the rotors." Stark said.

"The detention level just went dark. I need eyes in there." Fury said as gunshots could be heard.

"I'm on my way." Harry said as he rushes down the corridor.

Harry didn't meet any trouble towards the detention level. He enters to see the cage was gone and a giant hole in the wall. Laying on the ground was… Phil Coulson.

"Sorry, the god rabbited." Coulson said.

"Hold on." Harry said as he places his right hand over Coulson's wound, which was dangerously close to his heart. Harry had limited knowledge on healing spells. But he began to channel the basic healing spell to heal Coulson's wound.

"It's okay. This would never work unless they had something…" Coulson said.

"Coulson stop talking. You're not going to die." Harry said. 'I won't fail. Not again. I lost too many friends from Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Not this time. Not now. I… Will… Not…Fail…. Heal!'

Harry pushes as much magic into his healing spell he was beginning to sweat.

Harry falls down no his butt as he looks at Coulson, panting heavily. Nick Fury enters the room with several men. Harry looks at Fury as he looked at situation. Harry bows his head down and attempts to catch his breathe. Everything seemed to happen too fast. Harry wasn't sure if he could protect anyone with his abilities. He needed to get stronger.

Author Notes: This is proving to be fun to write. The Battle of New York is upon us and will be revealed next week. I know I haven't fully explained Harry's abilities or powers yet and I'm doing this for a reason. To hold the suspense. His abilities and gifts will be explained later on. So did Coulson live or die.

This chapter has been beta'd by TL14