Disclaimer: Tony Stark and the rest of the characters are the property of Stan Lee and Marvel Studios/Disney. Harry Potter and all associated characters and settings remain the intellectual property of JK Rowling and her associates. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Warning: This fic is un-betaed and will most likely stay un-betaed. There will be mistakes and misspellings. There will be things that don't match up with what I wrote before (feel free to point out those mistakes). This is called writing by the seat of my pants. I lost myself as a writer, I think, by participating in fest after fest – it's time I wrote for myself again.

Notes: A guest said, "What's up with everyone and their granny finding out Harry isn't Tony" (or something like that – I am too lazy to get it word-for-word). My reaction? I burst out laughing because, really, this is person number five that knows that's still alive. Also, Clint works for SHIELD – I doubt Harry could keep anyone in that place from finding out. As to the rest of your comment about friends not making sense, I should point you to a different author's note, but that would be redundant. (How does Neville's not make sense? Really?)

Also, this chapter is crap. Crap, crap, crap. I've been working too much and attempting to do homework between it all and it's just all messed up. But I wanted to get something out and written because I haven't written for myself in days. School, yes. Friends, yes. RPS, yes. Myself? No. So here we go.

Chapter 24

Harry did his best to just find what he needed, but a few things leaked through that Clint was obviously thinking about. Tacos, mostly, but things like a woman named Natasha and a man named Nick came through. Still, Harry found what he wanted and he quickly pulled away from Clint so he could grab his phone and send out a message to Hermione.

He tried to feel bad for the headache that returned to Clint's head, but Harry couldn't really focus on that right now.

Hermione had prided herself on knowing everything about justice systems. She already had a head start being openly raised as a Muggle, but things had changed since they began school. Still, it only took her about a month to be familiar with every branch and department. Her return text indicated that she had never heard of the Strategic Homeland whatever until Agent Coulson approached her after Afghanistan and, even then, information on the department was so scarce she figured it was new. But according to Clint's memories, it was started by several people over decades ago. Decades.

"Jarvis, when is Stane scheduled to get back from his trip?"

"Tomorrow, sir."

Harry nodded and stood. "Let Hermione know I've got something heading her way and to call me when she gets it."

"Yes, sir."

Clint sat up a little straighter. "Where are you going?"

"Don't worry about it, I just need to run an errand."

"Who's Hermione?"

Really, there was going to be a day where he didn't mess everything up. "A friend of mine. Go get some rest."

"I want to help." Clint stood and shook his head once. When he looked at Harry again, it was without the pain of a headache. "It's what I'm here for."

Harry sighed. "You want to help? Go to my office and protect Pepper and Happy. I don't trust anyone there anymore."

"If I'm there, who's going to protect you?"

Harry scoffed and made his way upstairs, only slightly annoyed when Clint followed him. "I can take care of myself."

"Sure, maybe I'll believe that." Clint rested a hand on Harry's arm, making his pause. "Let me borrow a phone and I'll get her protection."

Harry rolled his eyes, but tossed Clint his phone. "I'm getting you a phone so you never have to borrow mine again. It's my phone."

"Tony, please." Clint tightened his grip on Harry's arm. "I need to know what's going on so I can pass over the right information."

"Who are you sending?"

Clint grinned and dialed. "The best guy I know." He paused and then waved Harry on ahead. "Sir, Mister Stark has a request of you."

Harry sighed and went back to climbing stairs. He unlocked a hidden door with the press of his hand, debating for a moment whether or not to let Clint through. He figure it couldn't hurt anymore, so he left the door open as the agent spoke to whomever was on the other end of the phone. Small details, just what he knew, but even Harry could tell the voice on the other end was reluctant.

"Tell him he'll get his interview all nice and pretty if he does what I ask," Harry told Clint as he opened a door at the top of the smaller set of stairs.

He ignored as Clint relayed the message and went straight to a stack of parchment and quills they had specifically for this kind of mail delivery. As soon as Harry picked up the quill, it didn't take long for a barn owl to slip into the window, hooting at him.

Clint jerked back, the phone almost dropping from his hand. "The hell is that?"

Harry eyed the phone before arching an eyebrow at Clint.

"It's off." Clint held up the phone and rehit the 'end' button to prove it. "He's on his way now."

"Good. I need you to text Rhodey while I write this. Tell him to come back because we have an emergency."

"Will that seriously make him miss military things?"

Harry shrugged. "Just say 'need you home. The snakes are slithering.' He'll get what it means."

"You're the boss…"

Harry patted his pockets down and swore when he didn't find what he was looking for. He then held out his hand and accio-ed the lock chip he has in his lab. Thankfully, Clint said nothing as the device flew into his hand; he really didn't want to explain magic to him at the moment, though he was sure that conversation would come later.

He picked up the letter and read over it, hoping that Hermione would understand what he was asking her to do. It would be simple enough: go to his office, hack into the mainframe, and find the shipping manifests. The chip would get her in and copy the files she found and he was even nice enough to include other places where Stane could have hidden the files.

Though, really, Hermione could probably figure all of it out on her own. Initially, she was the one that taught him how to do simple things like check his email. Hacking into a computer would be no problem.

Yeah, right.

He was tying the note to the owl's leg just as Clint said, "He'll be here later tonight and says that you're lucky his unit was already on their way back."

"Asshole, I know he can get here faster." He would need to adjust memories, but Blaise could do it. Harry sighed. "Whatever."

"Now what?"

"Now we wait for Pepper. That owl I sent off is sending her something that will break into my work computer and find out information."

"You could have asked me…"

Harry shook his head. "You being in my office would look odd. At least she can make excuses."

"I could claim to be a body guard."

"Who is… not guarding my body?" Harry smiled a little. "Thanks, but no."

"Tony? Can I ask what you plan to do with the information she brings back?"

He would take out his weapons no matter where they ended up, that's what he would do with the information. After they were taken care of, he would bring down Stane, but he needed the weapons gone first.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with," he said instead, leading the way out of the makeshift owlry. "Go… check the perimeter or something. I've got Edwin in the—"

"Sir," Jarvis said, cutting in. "Mister Edwin would like to inform you that he has gone to wait for Mister Rhodes as per previous plans."

"Well isn't that convenient." He had forgotten that Edwin wanted to talk to Blaise about something in the suit and thus had agreed to pick him up from the airport. "Son of a bitch."

"This is like a bad horror script," Clint murmured, but quickly threw up his hands in a stance of surrender when Harry shot him a look. "Sorry, sorry! Just saying…"

"Shut up, Clint. Go check outside and watch around the area until Rhodey gets here."

"Sure thing, boss." He waved Harry's phone at him. "Keeping this just in case. I know you have a land line and—"

"No, mine." Harry snatched the phone back. "Do you have a radio of some kind?" Clint hesitated, then nodded. "Good, turn it on. I'll tap Jarvis into the system."

"You can't—"

"I can." Harry turned toward his lab. "Out, Clint. Only talk to me if there's something important."

He didn't hear Clint's reply, and he really didn't care to. Once he was in his lab, Harry turned on several screens and asked Jarvis to wait for the lock to catch whatever Hermione found. He had no idea how long it would take, but he hoped that it would be soon.

Paranoia would always get the best of him. "Jarvis?"

"Sir?"

"Total lock down. I don't want you talking unless it's to tell me that Hermione or Clint or Blaise or Neville is trying to contact the house directly. If anyone is stupid enough to listen in to what goes on upstairs-" he would need to add the same protections that he had downstairs to the rest of the house "-then I don't want them hearing anything."

"Yes, sir."

Right, now something to do. Harry paced the lab for a few minutes, Clint calling in once to affirm that he had a good vantage point outside. He attempted to work on the suit, but couldn't get his mind to concentrate on something so complicated. Really, he didn't want to be here. He wanted to be with Hermione, making sure that she was okay. Why was he still here?

Harry left the lab at a run, debating on informing Clint where he was going, or simply leaving him behind. Leaving him behind sounded like a good idea and he could, maybe, Apparate to his office. Could he still do that with the reactor? Well, there was always floo since he was connected. The thought barely crossed his mind when his phone went off, Hermione's face filling the screen.

He settled back on the couch so he could see what she found out. It was a video with the words "PUT UP YOUR SHIELDS NOW" under it, which was strange simply because he was sure that there was nothing that important about shipping manifests. Curious, Harry pressed play, though he soon regretted it for two reasons. One, he recognized that room and those people as the ones in Afghanistan. Two, he could now actually understand what they were saying thanks to a translator reading.

"You did not tell us that the target you paid us to kill was the great Tony Stark. As you can see, Obadiah Stane, your deception and lies will cost—"

And then came the third reason he regretted pressing play. His guard had dropped down, allowing someone (and god, he knew who) get close enough to put a device to his ear and paralyze him. Where the hell was Clint?

Stane walked around the couch and Harry had to hold back a growl. Which wasn't actually that hard to do since his mouth didn't seem to want to work. His magic was sluggish as the reactor in his chest whirled slower. Something told Harry that he was going to die, but like hell he would just lay over and do it. He pushed as hard as he could, hoping to get free.

"You remember this one, right?" Stand asked, and Harry hoped that he would just continue talking. The longer Stane talked, the more likely he was to not notice when Harry moved. "It's a shame the government didn't approve it since there are so many applications for short-term paralysis."

The video continued playing and Stane looked down at the screen with a smirk.

"When I ordered the hit on you, I worried that I was killing the once golden goose. You were washed out, but still productive enough." He leaned in close, too close, and Harry wanted to cry. He wanted to move. "It was just fate, I guess. You had one last gift to give and it was your greatest gift of all."

He had a device. There was a device poised over Harry's chest. Over the reactor. Oh shit where was Clint! That fucker was supposed to be watching him!

"Do you really think that just because you have an idea, that it belongs to you?" The device pressed against Harry's chest and a small whimper escaped his throat. Oh God, no. "Your father helped give us the atomic bomb. I can't imagine a world where he was just as selfish as you."

The device twisted and ripped and all Harry wanted to do was scream. This was worse than any curse he had ever gotten. This was worse than Afghanistan when Yinsen helped him put it in his chest. This was worse than walking up to Voldemort and letting the bastard kill him.

"What a masterpiece. Look at that, your legacy, fronting a new generation of weapons. This will put the balance of power in our hands, the right hands." Stane pushed away with a sigh. "I wish you could have seen my prototype. It's not as conservative as yours was."

The suit. He must be talking about the suit. Oh god, Harry had given him the suit somehow.

"Too bad you had to involve Pepper and that annoying driver of yours. I would have preferred that she, at least, lived to become my secretary." He sighed, tucking the reactor in his pocket. "Good legs like that shouldn't go to waste. Shame. Ah, well, I suppose I can get a new one. I did interview a Russian woman who could easily take her place."

Harry could do nothing but watch as Stane walked away, his magic receding deep into himself. What was it Miranda had said? His magic could keep the shards out, but for how long? How long? No, he needed to move.

Harry stared blankly at the wall, unable to lift a finger.

Damn it, he needed to move.

TCM – I am a huge fan of brotherly bonding! So yes, Clint will get close (and god will that mess Harry up during the Avengers timeline), but not that close. :P Bruce always reminds me, in some way, of Remus and Harry will make that connection as well. They'll be just as close. Steve might be the only one Harry isn't close to, but I haven't really thought about him yet.

Also guys: anyone who does like slash, I have a new series up on AO3. It's Tony/Steve and they adopt Harry and Dudley (yay crossovers!). I have the next part of that coming as soon as I type it up (it's the kind of fic I write during class, haha). Search for it under the same name as here (or look up An Iron Magic there - that's me) and the title of the series is called The Rogers Family. The first fic is called Foundations.