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This chapter has NOT been beta yet, please excuse the bad grammar and spelling you happened onto; or better yet please highlight to me. With all said and done, I do thank you for pointing out the blunders which I would never have realized without your insight.

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Glossary:

"Blah blah." Spoken words.

~Blah blah.~ Thoughts.

*Blah blah.* Spoken words in other language.

CHAPTER XXI – Here Comes Tony Stark The Father

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ON THE NIGHT OF THE TROLL INCIDENT

"Severus, I am concern. I am very much concern." Dumbledore said softly to the black robed Snape at his side.

"As am I, Headmaster." The potion master drawled at his side.

They stood at the foot of a bed in the school hospital wing; it was late night after curfew. All students, the obedient ones were in their common rooms or bed, the prefects and professors on night rounds will be on the lookout to catch those disobedient enough to try to break curfew.

The course of their worries currently lay in the hospital bed the men stood, the small body of Edward Elric-Stark. Well the hospital bed did not actually held the child, the golden blond's body was currently floating about a foot off the bed cocooned, shroud like a mummy in a soft glow of white/blue of power.

"If this is not the power of the Philosopher's Stone, than I don't know what it is." Dumbledore stroked his long white beard as he eyed the cocoon of power.

The golden blond's body was barely visible beneath that glow. Once awhile thread thin strands of the power would arc over the surface or dance over the little blond's.

Three days later, relocated in the headmaster's round office, the same two men worried over the same issue, actually Dumbledore worried over the same issue while Snape quietly listens as they sat by the fireplace.

"You spoken to Seigneur Flammel? Is there any chance that he will –"

"After this Troll incident? The Wizarding world will be over run by muggles before Seigneur Flammel will allow something as dangerous as the Philosopher's Stone to be anywhere near children. Especially his nephew."

"That Stone is just too dangerous to be left unguarded, you know that Snape! Still I guess Seigneur Flammel has a point in not wanting the Stone here. But I just can't allow the stone to be left unguarded!"

"Indeed? Unguarded? Seigneur Flammel is a very formidable wizard, with 600 years of experience and knowledge; I don't think there is anyone more capable, Dumbledore." Severus hinted at Dumbledore's oversight.

"I just feel that it will be better if I take over protecting the Stone." Dumbledore impatiently brushed Snape off. "We have to get that Stone, Snape! Seigneur Flammel is nowhere capable enough to handle Voldemort."

Snape fought the urge to sigh and pinch his nose bridge. Dumbledore was going to get himself in serious trouble keeping that line of thinking.

To just brush off Seigneur Flammel's capabilities was not a smart thing to do. But with the rumors of Lord Voldemort's return; Dumbledore seemed to be forgetting just how powerful the French Alchemist was. Granted that Seigneur Flammel never given to showy display of power unlike Lockhart. But Snape clearly remembers that one time when the Frenchman caught Sirius and James were about to hex Snape, and bound both of the boys into the stone wall. It a wondrous work of wandless magic that could not be undone until Seigneur Flammel decides otherwise.

Severus smirked at the fond memory, Dumbledore was then the Transfiguration teacher back then, Snape watched from behind a pillar how Dumbledore had tried and failed to undo what Seigneur Flammel done to the Gryffindor boys. It seems that Dumbledore had forgotten about that incident, the headmaster will be in for a very hard and painful tongue lashing if Seigneur Flammel ever found out. The French Alchemist was a very mild mannered and friendly wizard, but very private; meddle with what he consider personal and private and all of hell's fury will not match up with the man's temper. Snape sighed inwardly and made a mental note to duck when the Frenchman actually finds out.

"And what about Elric-Stark? There are just too many questions with this boy. How could a mere child command such power? Dear ol' Flammel never manage anything to this scale. Why didn't Elric-Stark's name appear in the Book of Names? We know every potential wizarding child's name will appear upon the first accidental magic. Why were there no records of his first accidential magic? Why did those muggles wanted his blood? What did they knew of this boy that we don't? Most of all, why is his birthday happened to be on the same day and almost to the same time as Harry's? Does he have anything to do with the prophecy? Just who is this Edward Elric-Stark?"

"A child of mystery, indeed. I told Flammel that I find his nephew to be extremely gifted, he said that Elric-Stark is not gifted but cursed." Snape leaned forward, resting his lips into his laced fingers.

"How can a mere child be cursed?"

"Look at Pot- ah Lokison and say that again, Dumbledore. No child should be single out for such burden."

The aged headmaster was clearly not listening. "Why would Flammel say such about his nephew? It's regretful that Nic' refused to let me arrange matters for his nephew; now that child will not have the right influence, certainly not with that muggle -Tony Stark."

The potion master snorted softly. Right influence? To have a mentally and emotionally balanced child, was for that child to be wanted and loved. There was no better place than at muggle Tony Stark's side, besides Elric-Stark had already said in his actions that he will not be moved from that man. They will be looking at a hell of a fight if Dumbledore really decides to put his nose into Elric-Stark's life. And by the look on the headmaster's face, Dumbledore was already planning to do just that.

Snape shuttered recalling the Widzarding public's cries of outrage when Harry Potter's medical records were released to the media, when Dumbledore ignored their warnings and tried to remove Harry from Nomansson and Ladifaerie's care. Snape wandered if he really should start praying if Dumbledore decides that he should meddle with the golden boy's life.

But to who and what deity?

Whatever else Dumbledore wanted to say was cut of by a flash and loud clap of thunder right in the room; Snape drove onto his knees in front of Dumbledore with his wand out to protect the headmaster. Wild wind ripped around the room throwing parchments and small objects about.

When the white brightness of the flash dimmed and the wind died, the potion master found himself staring at the luscious form of Lady Luka Ladifaerie, the muggle Tony Stark and a blond stranger –

Was that man in armor and holding a hammer?

Snape blinked. No, the blond brawny man was in muggle clothes –beaten denim jacket, tee and stone washed jeans. And he was a very big man with very hard blue eyes, Snape almost regretted being in front of Dumbledore as he was pinned by the rage filled glare of not only Lady Luka Ladifaerie but mostly of Tony Stark.

"JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO DECIDE THAT I SHOULDN'T BE INFORMED OF MY SON'S DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER AND INJURIES! EDWARD ELRIC-STARK IS MY SON AND I WANT TO SEE MY SON! NOW!" The muggle hollered at the top of his lungs.

The stun look on Dumbledore's was priceless, this muggle's temper seemed to be as bad as Seigneur Flammel's wrath. Snape fought down the smile that threatened to pull up the corners of his mouth. "H-how did you managed to get here? How are you a muggle able to break through the wards?"

"I networked. You'll be surprise the type of people with useful skills you get to meet. My son." Stark growled.

"If you will come this way, I'll take you to your boy." Snape gestured politely, leading the way out of the headmaster's office.

Snape set off at pace just short of running, knowing from Stark's expression the faster the muggle could see with his own eyes that his son is well the better. After a moment of consideration, Snape sent off a Patronus to Seigneur Flammel to meet up at the hospital wing as back-up. But for whom, Snape was not sure. The boy Edward was still comatose the last time Severus and Flammel checked in on the boy, Tony Stark's reaction will be interesting.

~Or so it seems.~ Snape thought, it seemed that that was not how Dumbledore thinks, Snape never thought he would see the headmaster rushing to cut the billionaire muggle off.

"Mr. Stark, I assure you that everything is alright. Edward is fine; we are just keeping him in the Hospital wing for observation for a day."

"Oh?-" Stark said simply.

That one word was so leaden with sarcasm that Snape arched a brow in surprise the floor was not crack from the word's impact.

"So the boy is fine. But you are keeping him in the Hospital wing for observation for … how many days since now? 3 days, that's also counting today, dear headmaster. 3 f**king days! You saw fit to owl-message Luka on the night of this accident, but not me. She was staying with me! There was no way any f**king owl addressed to me could go astray!"

Severus was glad for the professors' access only short cuts; the students really do not need to hear how colorful this muggle's language was getting. Flammel and MacGonagall were already waiting outside the hospital wing's door by the time Snape reach the corridor leading to the hospital wing's doors; Stark did not even pause to greet them. He shoved opened the doors and stalked.

"Muggles are not informed because they just don't have the ability or power to do anything, besides muggles can't entre Hogwarts." Dumbledore tried to explain as he followed Stark, Luka and Sirius, in their company a blond stranger.

"Edward is MY SON! And you think I shouldn't be informed about this?! Do you think you can hide something like this from me, Tony Stark; especially when it involved MY son?!"

Snape slowed his strides, he was not alone, also keeping a safe distance from the upset parent were Flammel and MacGonagall.

"Magnifique (Magnificent). Let me guess, Dumbledore zought just because Seigneur Stark is a muggle 'e need not be inform of de incident and Edward's condition." Seigneur Flammel shook his head.

"It appears so." Snape's sigh was quickly joined by MacGonagall's.

"Divinite merci, why did I even try to warn him? Dumbledore is more stubborn zan a goat." The Frenchman pinched his nose bridge.

"Seigneur Flammel!" MacGonagall gasped.

Severus turned sharply to cough into his fist, hiding the grin and snigger.

Pomfrey rushed out of her side office like a brooding mother bulldog but was sharply set back on her heels by the angry billionaire. He simply jabbed a pointer at her face and then the floor. A clear sign for her to stay put and wait.

"Flash news! I am no ordinary MUGGLE, -by the way I really hate that word and if you haven't notice; I am here –inside Hogwarts. For YOUR info' muggles are not without ability and power, with the right tech can find and enter this place. I've done it with Hammer's third rated tech. I demand to know how on earth Mountain-Trolls managed to get into this so-call school which YOU assured me to be very safe! Then I will decide if I still want Edward to continue his studies here." Tony continued to yell as he stalked over to where Edward lay.

"I am taking this to International cow …your so-call International Council of Wizards; you have purposefully neglected to inform the student's parent of this mishap!"

"Blue blazing dickwad; Dad is f**king pissed." Edward moaned.

"Language, Ed." Tony scolded in a softer voice, his dark eyes looking over every inch of the golden blond, hunting for bandages and visible injuries.

Tony carefully sat on his boy's bed, and reached out to cup a pale cheek before running his hand up through the golden locks.

"Just tell me this one thing. You didn't seek out those those things. If you did, so help me young man; I'll lock you up in your room and throw away the key." The billionaire started with a plea and ends with a growl.

"Dad, I swear I didn't seek those things out, they sought us."

"Good, now tell me what actually happened. And don't skip anything, Edo." Tony shifted and gently put his arm around his boy's small shoulders.

Over at the next bed, Luka fussed over an embarrassed but happy Harry, like Tony Luka was seated beside her boy but she might as well be in bed with Harry, Luka was hugging Harry to her full chest all the while running her hands all over his face, hair and shoulders. Until she touch Harry's arm and jerked away when the boy hissed in pain.

"Harry, what happened to your arm?" Luka whispered in shock.

Harry sighed in annoyance and opened his mouth to complain when the front door of the hospital wing dramatically jerked open and the bane of Harry's life since the start of the school year strutted in.

"Ah! The dear parents of Harry Potter and Edward Elric-Stark! No, no need to thank me, I'm sure you are loss for words. I was only doing what I can for the poor ignorant boys. Don't be too hard on them, I'm afraid reading of my adventures in my biography – Magical Me has inspired the boys." Lockhart flashed his picture famous grin at the billionaire who fought down a sneer.

Then he looked over at Harry's parent and promptly lost his thought and drools.

"Oh, sweet vision of divine beauty -Ahem!" Lockhart gave himself a small shake before he came onto Luka.

"My dear lady, how fortunate you are that I am here! Those trolls were no match for me!" Lockhart reached out and tried to pat Harry's shoulder, which will allow him to put his hand on Luka's.

Foxxy darted in between and swapped a claw at the man's hand hissing. Lockhart jerked his hand back with a nervous smile.

"Edward just told me that he and his friends fought the trolls alone." Stark frowned at the blond man.

"Well, boys; we all know what adventure seekers they can be."

"Are you calling my son a liar?" The muggle's voice cooled several degrees. Snape arched a brow wandering if the muggle had taken lessons from Lucius Malfoy.

"The letter clearly said that my Harry-dear and Edo were 'found' with his friends Hermione, Draco and someone called Ron. There was no mentioning of you being with them." Luka sniffed.

"R-real? W-well, what I meant was that I can take on any troll." Lockhart paused uncomfortably and covered. "Why, I'm sure you know how vastly knowledgeable and powerful I am! Its all written in my biography - Magical Me. I can tell you so much more, show you so much more."

Lockhart leaned close and over Luka, eyes drawn to the low cut of her top and visible swells and cleavage of those full bosoms.

"I must say, that is a very interesting neckline. You just have to-"

"Step away earthly man, at once. Or I shall have to make you." The silent blond stranger spoke up in a rumbling voice.

"And just who are you?" Lockhart huffed.

"I am Thor, son of Odin."

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Referene & Foot note:

Here are the translation for some French words that Nicolas Flammel say:

(Magnificent-Magnifique), (Deity's mercy-divinite merci)

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