Beta: Marwana

Disclaimer: I have no right to any of the characters; they belong to J. K. Rowling and to Stan Lee

Pairings in this chapter: HP/GW

Warnings in this chapter: AU fanfiction, Crossover, mention of torture

Nr words in this chapter: 3,820

"Talking"

"Talking in another language than English"

'Thinking'

–Parseltongue–

Dream/Memory/Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper

Time change/date of time

Chapter XIII

–He's Good In What He Does–

25 May, 2008

"You've all received the official statement of what occurred at Stark Industries last night. There have been unconfirmed reports that a robotic prototype malfunctioned and caused damage to the arc reactor. Fortunately, a member of Tony Stark's personal security staff…" Harry heard Colonel Rhodes say during the press conference which was beingdisplayed on the television which he could see from the waiting room where he was waiting as Pepper prepared Tony for the conference.

Apparently Harry's magic boost had not just destroyed Stane's arch reactor (and killed the man, by… 'melting' his body for lack of a better word) but it had also destroyed the huge arch reactor that ran the fabric. When Harry had found out he had wanted to pay Stark back, but he had merely laughed it off.

"'Iron Man.' That's kind of catchy. It's got a nice ring to it. I mean, it's not technically accurate. The suit's a gold-titanium alloy, but it's kind of evocative, the imagery, anyway." Harry heard Stark's comment as he read the newspaper and as Pepper healed his nose.

Coulson approached and handed Stark some cards.

"Here's your alibi."

"Okay." Stark said looking at it with disdain.

"You were on your yacht."

Harry heard James mumble something along the lines of 'He has a yacht?' to his Siblings.

"Yeah." Stark said dropping the newspaper, not really seeming convinced with his alibi.

"We have port papers that put you in Avalon all night, and sworn statements from 50 of your guests."

"See, I was thinking maybe we should say it was just Black and me alone on the island." The man said before Pepper pulled the lint that was above his eye painfully.

Stark looked at Pepper amused as she shot him a glare.

"That's what happened." Coulson stated.

"All right."

"Just read it, word for word."

"There's nothing about Stane here." Stark commented, as Pepper started to put makeup on his wound to hide it.

"That's being handled. He's on vacation. Small aircraft have such a poor safety records."

Harry snorted.

"And what about Black?"

"He was never there. He was at his Uncle's at the moment, while the kids were being babysitted by Colonel Rhodes who owned Evans a favour."

"What about the magician that was there with me?"

"Already handled, he never existed."

"But what about the whole cover story that it's a bodyguard? He's my… I mean, is that… That's kind of flimsy, don't you think?" Stark started to whine.

Harry sighed. He didn't like this idea of hiding 'Iron Man' but it was what the agency was doing and there was nothing he could do. He was forbidden from talking to Stark until after the conference press, so he wouldn't give the man 'ideas'. Honestly what was Fury thinking? Harry wasn't even his Agent! Although the American Aurors had been on Fury's side and they had both persuaded Harry to obey or they would take the fact that he used the British Auror name without being one to court and the Chosen One name wouldn't save him then. If it weren't for Harry being afraid of losing the kids' parental authority he would love to see them try to take him to court.

"This isn't my first rodeo, Mr. Stark. Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you." the man said as Pepper finally finished. Stark exchanged a brief look with Harry before looking at the cards again. "You've got 90 seconds."

"Agent Coulson? I just wanted to say thank you very much for all of your help." Harry heard Pepper say, as he approached the man while Stark read the cards.

"That's what we do. You'll be hearing from us." The man said back.

"From the Strategic Homeland…" Harry grinned as Pepper started to repeat the mouth full.

"Just call us S.H.I.E.L.D." Harry pouted when Phil ended his fun, it would've been fun try to watch Pepper try to say the whole name without failing.

"Right."

Harry looked towards Stark to see the man sending him an amused look. It was the max that the two had traded since Harry had heard the reprimand, the brief looks that the two shared not counting. Pepper turned to Stark, picking up his jacket as Phil approached Harry.

"Let's get this show on the road." The woman exclaimed.

"You know, it's actually not that bad." The man said approaching her to put on the jacket. "Even I don't think I'm Iron Man."

"You're not Iron Man."

"Am so." Stark said with his mouth full of paper cards.

"You're not." Pepper said, Stark turned to her as she arranged the jacket and he took the cards from his mouth.

"All right, suit yourself. You know, if I were Iron Man, I'd have this girlfriend who knew my true identity. She'd be a wreck, 'cause she'd always be worrying that I was going to die, yet so proud of the man I'd become. She'd be wildly conflicted, which would only make her more crazy about me." the man said and Harry rolled his eyes and left the room after Phil and the kids.

Honestly, did he really think this man could change? All the man cared for was sex!

Harry entered the lobby where the press conference was being held, the kids ran to the corner where Yinsen was and Phil stayed by Harry's side, most likely babysitting him. Harry looked towards the stage where Rhodes was talking.

"And now, Mr. Stark has prepared a statement. He will not be taking any questions. Thank you."

Harry watched as Stark entered the stage.

"I have a feeling what I'm going to hear when I arrive at the office today." Phil mumbled and Harry looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Been a while since I was in front of you. I figure I'll stick to the cards this time." The man said making the room laugh. "There's been speculation that I was involved in the events that occurred on the freeway and the rooftop…" Stark started and Harry sighed, there we go, the man was faking that this never happened.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but do you honestly expect us to believe that that was a bodyguard in a suit that conveniently appeared, despite the fact that you…" Harry looked at the journalist in confusion, hadn't they said that no one was allowed to ask questions?

"I know that it's confusing. It is one thing to question the official story, and another thing entirely to make wild accusations, or insinuate that I'm a superhero."

Harry's eyes grew wide in amusement and he heard Phil groan at his side.

"I never said you were a superhero." The blond female journalist interrupted.

Stark seemed taken by surprise.

"Didn't? Well, good, because that would be outlandish and… fantastic." Harry had to contain his laughter behind a hand. Wasn't the man supposed to read some cards? "I'm just not the hero type. Clearly. With this laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I've made, largely publicly." Harry was having trouble keeping his smile of his face, biting the inside of his cheek not to laugh as Phil groaned about cards.

Harry saw Rhodes approach Stark and mumble something in his ear, probably about sticking to the cards and Stark reacted by raising the cards and looking at them as he spoke.

"The truth is…" Stark took a good look at the cards before looking up and his eyes found Harry's, whom had just confirmed to himself that the man was going to state every lie that Phil wanted him to state. "I am Iron Man."

Harry's eyes grew wide in surprise as the journalist stood talking loudly to be heard and pictures being taken as Phil groaned, Stark winning a smirk at the corner of his mouth.

–UNF–

Tony looked at Potter as he saw confirmation in the man's face. As if the man had admitted defeat. He barely knew the man, but since the man's wife's death the only thing he had seen bring Potter's spirit up was this Iron Man thing and Tony could already see the man going down.

"I am Iron Man."

Tony smirked when he saw the light in the man's eyes return. If asked about it, Tony would just tell that he was looking after his heir; Albus. Potter was his Father after all.

–UNF–

Harry lowered his head trying to contain his glee as Phil groaned at his side.

"Did you speak with him?"

"No. I have not." Harry answered, looking at the man with a smirk.

Phil took a good look at Harry before starting to walk away.

"I don't know what the man is doing but whatever keeps you happy makes the Dark Lord less chilly so please keep doing it." the man commented before leaving the room.

Harry closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall behind him. Phil was right of course, there was something about Stark that kept him in place. That kept him grounded even after he had lost everything. Even after… after he had divided his soul.

"Are you allowed to talk to me now?" Harry opened one eye to look at Stark and noticed that the press had left. Harry closed his eyes again and nodded, wondering how long he had stayed in that position if he didn't remember hearing them leave. "Good. Are you going to explain to me now about the whole hocus pocus to me now?"

Harry grinned and shook his head. Harry opened his eyes to see Stark pout.

"Why not?" the man whined.

"You'll have to earn it." Harry answered back.

Stark raised a cocky eyebrow but didn't argue. Harry took one of his necklaces out and looked the ring on it before handing the man the necklace. Stark looked at it and then towards Harry with a raised eyebrow.

"For good luck. Just don't lose it. Keep it save it as if my life depends on it." Harry explained before walking away. He had a school to choose.

–UNF–

Tony looked towards the ring and then towards Potter as he walked away. As if his life depended on it? had the man put a part of his life in this? was that even possible?

Tony looked down at the ring and put the necklace around his neck and under his shirt. There was only one man who could answer his questions. Tony smirked and headed home; he had a mainframe to hack… As he got outside Tony grabbed some papers, which he had printed as they waited for the press conference, and gave them to Pepper - the woman looked at them and looked them over, her eyes growing wide - before entering his car and driving to the airplane.

–UNF–

Harry arrived home with the kids and joined the Agent at the café, before he looked the papers he had been given from the schools over in order to choose which one was better. Harry looked sideways towards the Agent and knew that he had to hire an employee to work for him, someone he could trust, someone…

"Hi." Harry looked up into Pepper's smiling face and raised an eyebrow. The woman showed him some papers and Harry looked at them warily. Last time the woman had come with papers for him he had ended up in a penguin suit. "Trust me, you want to see this."

Harry sighed and grabbed the file and opened it before he started to thumb through the pages.

It was about Malibu's High School. Great school. Good grades. Complete families study in there. Special classes. Special classes which were taken by families for generations.

Harry's eyes grew wide as he started to get started to realize what it was. Harry flipped to the next page only to see an official file about renting a room in Starks' house. Harry looked at Pepper who handed him a pen with a smile.

"It's a public school and he still keeps up with his special schooling. And Tony wants the payment to be made in the usual take out I usually take for him. You cook for Tony and he lets Teddy stay and if the boy needs a tutor we'll find one. I believe that even if you fed us every single hour a month it will still be cheaper than the other schools."

Harry looked down at the papers.

"How did he…?"

"I told you. He's good in what he does."

Harry grinned at Pepper and called Teddy showing him the papers. The boy looked them over and then looked at Harry with a pleading look.

"Can I?"

"As long as you don't bother Mr. Stark."

Teddy nodded eagerly, Harry took the files and the pen and started to fill them in.

"Pepper." The woman hummed as she sat by the counter as Teddy ran off to tell his siblings. "Can you locate me one person? I heard she was married but I'm not sure and if she did marry I don't really know her new name."

"Just tell me the name. I'll see what I can do."

"Luna Lovegood. As in love plus good."

Pepper nodded as she wrote it on her ipad.

"And this is?"

"Lilu's Godmother. We went to school together and she was a year under mine. When I found out about the betrayal she was out of town and between Ginny having Lilu and my divorce from Ginny and me taking the kids' parental authority and coming to the states I lost contact with her. She's one of the few people I can stand from then… I just would like to hear her voice again."

"So… '81 right?"

Harry shrugged.

"I guess… she was in the year under mine but I'm not really good with memorizing birthdates."

"If I can't find her, I'll put Jarvis on it." Harry nodded thankfully. "So if you two are friends now, why do you keep calling each other by the surname?"

Harry blushed and shrugged. He went to work in the café as Pepper worked on her ipad.

"Evans." She called after a while. Harry looked at her from the coffee he was making. "Middle name?"

Harry turned to Teddy, whom was seated at a table with the others three.

"Ted!" the boy looked up at him. "What's your Sister's Godmother's middle name?"

The boy frowned in thought.

"No idea. Last time I heard from my Godmother she said that Luna had joined someone with a name like… Rudolph Salamander I think?"

"You think or you know?" Harry asked after he handed the coffee to the costumer.

"Rolf Scamander." James amended. Harry raised an eyebrow at his son. "Mom was the one who said it. And she has twins. Two boys. They are Lilu's age according to Mom. She also said that that was why Luna was away during… during the whole fight." The boy finished lamely and Harry nodded thankfully.

Harry turned to Pepper with a questioning look but the woman was already on the ipad searching for it.

–UNF–

Harry had just laid the kids on bed when his cellphone rang, Harry went to pick it up when he saw Stark's name on it.

"Yes?"

"Can't you get new pick up lines?"

"Oh I'm sorry, Mr. Perfect, but it's easier. I can't answer with my name in case it is someone who knows me by my other name." Harry retorted with a glare. "And I can't answer with good morning in case whoever ison the other side is halfway around the globe and it's actually good afternoon. And…"

"Kay. Makes sense." The man conceded, interrupting Harry's rant. "Do you know a guy named Fury from the agency where your Uncle lives?"

"It's the Director. He was the one who contacted the American magical police to forbid me from giving you ideas about admitting it was you. Why?"

"He just entered my house uninvited and put a virus in Jarvis."

"That sounds like him." Harry said amused. "What are you doing?"

"At the moment I'm taking care of the shit the man did to my AI."

There was a while as Harry heard the man work which Harry used to prepare tea and then he heard a shriek.

"What is it?" Harry asked, hoping it was not something serious.

"Your pest just tried to kill me!"

Harry's eyes grew wide and he couldn't help the laugh that escaped him.

"Pass her the phone."

Stark started to grumble about damn reptiles and about how he was going to buy Harry a normal one as he put the call on speaker. Harry started to hear the snake hiss hungrily and couldn't help the laugh.

"She's only hungry, Stark. Go to the kitchen and grab a rabbit from the freezer. You better grab two, one for each one."

"You want me to feed it?" Stark asked sceptical.

"Do you want to be their dinner?"

"Good point." There was movement and after a while Harry heard Stark insult the snakes as he fed them. "When are you going to pick them up?"

"Why should I? You seem like you're having quality time together." Harry argued sitting on his couch with his legs crossed and with his tea in hand, amused.

"Potter!"

"Kay, kay. Calm your hippogriffs. I'll go there tomorrow or you can send them with Pepper the next time she goes to visit you for work."

"It's not funny. That thing is huge. Why did your boss didn't just take it with him?"

"First he is not my boss as I'm not an Agent. And second I heard that he doesn't exactly like snakes."

"You said yesterday that Albus destroyed all your electric power system the other month?"

"Only in my flat. The café downstairs is well."

"How do you live then?"

"We have candles and… how do you think others people like me live if they don't use technology?"

"Ever?"

"Ever." Harry answered amused at the outraged tone.

"No wonder you were surprised that your wife was calling you." the man argued and Harry heard him screech happily suddenly. "There Jarvis is back on."

"Good to know. Are you still going to bother me with your presence?"

"It's not like you have a television to keep yourself occupied with and reading a book with candle lights is not the best idea… no wonder you need glasses."

Harry snickered.

"You're just bored and want to annoy me to have something to do."

"That too. When do you and the kids come back here?"

"Why?"

"Well I promised Albus to take all of you to Disneyland, didn't I?"

Harry's eyes grew wide.

"I…"

"It's only an hour from my house. Actually if I met you at the airport in LA it's only 40 minutes…" the man added the last part in an afterthought.

"You're serious?"

"No… that's your son."

Harry laughed, ran a hand though his hair and looked towards the portrait who was looking back with a questioning look.

"Fine. Let me see… can we wait for June?"

"Something special with June?"

"Lilu's birthday is at the beginning of June and so I could celebrate her birthday by going to the park and at the same time compensate Teddy for missing his own birthday."

"See you in a week then. I have to call Pepper to make sure nothings get's appointed at that time…"

"I have to prepare things first. And talk to the kids. And get someone to watch over the café. Bloody hell, I need an employee." Harry groaned.

"Don't you already have one?"

"Nope. SHIELD put an Agent in charge of my café while I went to rescue you… but I can't keep him forever."

Stark hummed from his side of the phone and Harry waited for a while, sipping on his tea and then…

"I'm gonna hack your Agents."

Harry snickered.

"What did Fury do?"

"He messed with Jarvis' voice. Do you have any idea how much work it will give me to put it back up again?"

"No. Because I'm not a genius but if you want I can wake Yinsen up and he'll go visit you. He'll be more than happy to help. Trust me he's been playing babysitter, he must be wishing for something that will save him from the kids."

"What about you? or what are you going to do now?"

"Well… I returned to my café today. I'm returning to what I like, I guess."

"Visited your Uncle already?"

Harry groaned.

"Been avoiding him, actually. He reported Ginny so she was kicked out of the country and doesn't stop Mothering me. I'm 27, by Merlin's pants." Harry heard Stark chuckle from the other side. "It's not funny! All the man cares is taking over the world and taking control over me and what I do." Stark hummed. "You're ignoring me, aren't you?"

"Wha… no. I heard you. Your Uncle is being a Mother hen to you."

Harry sighed.

"What are you doing?"

"Hacking SHIELD's mainframe." Harry rolled his eyes, not quite believing the man was actually going to do it. "Tell me you didn't just do that."

"Do what?" Harry asked confused, sipping from his tea.

"Roll your eyes at me."

"What? I did not!" Harry asked outraged.

"Okay. You just rolled your eyes on me."

"How would you know anyway?" Harry asked sceptical.

"Easy, pretty eyes. You do this little hum with your mouth when you roll your eyes."

"Are you spying on me now?"

"Nope. I'm just observant. But don't worry the moment I install you a whole new electrical system in your house and café I'll be able to put Jarvis in to check on you every time."

Harry groaned.

"That's it. You are in no way coming close to my house ever!"

"Why not?" Stark wondered as if confused.

"Why? You just threatened to install Jarvis in my house to spy on me!"

"To make sure you and the kids aren't attacked behind my back. Hello! I'm Iron Man! There are going to be attacks daily from now on. And your kid called you the Boy Who Lived and the Chosen One. I have no idea how you got those titles but you said yourself that you want to escape from your past, but after your ex we can be sure that they can find you. And next time it can be someone who wants to attack you."

"You're starting to sound like Voldemort." Harry groaned.

"How many names does your Uncle have anyway?"

"I don't know… why?"

"Every time you speak of him you call him by a different name."

Harry shrugged.

"Oh well…"

"You just shrugged on me, didn't you?"

Harry growled.

"That's it. Where are the cams?" Harry looked up and around to make sure he wasn't being watched over.

(TBC)

Next: the beginning of the second Iron Man movie. And Tony and Voldemort have a chitchat…

~Isys

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