I seriously didn't mean to make you all wait several months for this update. Honestly, I planned to have another chapter for you guys that next week, but time just got away from me.

I'm a bitch, there's really no excuse. Sorry for the wait, but I can't lie and say that all the "please update" reviews didn't make me feel good about myself.

Lol, but anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy….


"Everything's coming together how you planned it, Granger," Draco whispered in Hermione's ear. They stood off to the side of the stage, behind the dark heavy curtain watching Harry's performance. He always had a way with the crowd, she thought to herself.

"They'd follow him to the ends of the earth." Draco looked at his husband, smiling proudly. "And he-" he stopped himself, his lips flickering downwards in a barely perceptible motion. "We'd follow you to the ends of the earth. You have the world at your feet."

Hermione's face pulled inwards. "I-no. I didn't want that."

And as though Harry could hear Hermione's horrified stammer, his lips stretched into an uncomfortable smile. An unnatural smile.

"The Lady of the hour, everyone."

Harry grabbed Hermione's wrists and the blinding flashes of the cameras combined with the roar of the crowd took away two of her senses.

Hermione's arms came up to shield of from the rush of the stimuli to her senses. And when she was able to zero in on the crowd, the blank look in all of the eyes froze her. Despite the news coming from her mouth and the appearance of a mass celebration, no one looked...happy.

They all looked dead. Faces gaunt, eyes sunken in, and blankness in their eyes.

She turned to look at Harry, befuddled. But the man standing next to her wasn't there. But in his place, was the boy she grew up with. Clothes too large, hanging off his small frame, and cuts littering her face.

"Congratulations, Hermione. You became the monster we were fighting against."

Hermione reached for him but he took a step back. Her face fell and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Harry, no. This wasn't supposed to happen. I swear. I wanted everyone to be safe and happy. Not just a select group. I wanted things to be better than when we were growing up," she pleaded to him.

The background noise of the crowd faded away and she looked around to see the setting had changed.

The sun disappeared and gray blanketed the sky. The lawn of Hogwarts castle was covered with dead bodies.

Including Harry's, and Draco's, and Luna's, and everyone who had originally survived. The body at her feet, although mostly composed, had a hand pointed and stretched out to her.

Ron.

She whimpered.

"What was wrong with the way things were before?" he accused.

"R-ron…?"She began to cry out softly, her breaths coming out in shallow gasps.

"You just had to go and fix what wasn't broken, didn't you! You were always such a perfectionist." he spat hatefully.

The eyeball that wasn't rolling out of his skull, that was barely covered with rotten skin, glared at her. The pretty baby blues she had once dreamed of as a young girl, were now unrecognizable.

"You killed everyone. You're no better than Riddle. The only thing dark around here is YOU!"

His hand shot out and grabbed her.

Hermione woke up drenched in sweat. She reached a shaking hand down to he rankle where he ghost tingling of a skeletal hand grabbed her.

Her breaths were uneven and her chest fell and rose too fast to be healthy. She dug around underneath her pillows until she felt her wand. Allowing herself to calm down with the knowledge that she was safe and was able to defend herself from monsters that were actually real.

"It was just a dream. Just a dream. Just a dream." she repeated over and over to herself, finally relaxing the choking grip on her wand. She yanked the thick comforter from around her tangled legs and shoved her feet clumsily into her slippers.

She stumbled out of her room and into the hallway, making her way to the elevator. She went down several floors, practicing mimicking her breaths after the rhythmic hum of the elevator. She ran her hands through her hair haphazardly, snagging it a few times.

Her eyes barely recognized the dark silhouette standing in the kitchen in the dark before her body reacted. Her hands reaching out to grab the knife on laid out on the counter.

A cold, metallic arm stopped her onslaught, millimeters from his exposed carotid artery. Another arm, warmer this time, pressed her against the refrigerator. Her mind instantly ID'd the mystery man in the kitchen, since she only knows one man with a metal arm. She resisted the urge from her body to keep resisting, knowing that he was only restraining her from her continued attack.

"Do you make a habit of standing alone in the dark, in a strange building?" Her labored breaths once again coming out in pants. Man, she thought, really gotta work on cardio next week.

"Not by choice." His rough voice grumbled out. His breath brushing across her nearly, barely shoulders. "I couldn't find the light switch."

She then became very conscious of her state of dress and his lack thereof. She pushed against him, clearing her throat.

"I'm calm now, you can let go of me." Her eyes flickered away from the dark strands that hung in front of his, and she fidgeted uncomfortably.

She could feel him tense up before letting go of the arm he held above her head, and took a large step back. And if she knew him better, she would've laughed and teased him about it, finding the whole encounter only slightly dramatic and more than slightly awkward. But of all of Tony's teammates that invited themselves to re-reside in his penthouse/tower, Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, was the man she knew the least. On paper and in real life.

Captain Rogers was easy. He took to what he probably thought of as stealthy reconnaissance against her while being forcibly polite only in company. He was an open book. Natasha and Clint were kind, somewhat aloof, but kind nonetheless, and respectful of her privacy. Clint was barely there anyway.

Tony was his usual self, slightly overbearing and more-than slightly obnoxious, hovering around her a little more than usual. But she expected this. He wasn't completely okay with his home being invaded once again by Avengers and Company, but he was working diligently to help them out with their problem and help them out of his life once more. T'Challa was an honest saint. The King was the friendliest of them all, offering conversation at times she didn't know that she needed.

And Sam, well, he was the just a goofball. He made fun of everyone, pulling a smile out of her more times than she would admit to his face. He was the only one that could bring up the awkward silences and tenseness in the air without making it worse. She could see them being friends...if he wasn't so attached to Captain Obviously-Spying-On-Hermione.

But Barnes. He was a bit of a mystery. She knew everything there was to know about the guy on paper. But the man that existed on paper in the early part of the 20th century was no longer the man before her, not after being tortured by HYDRA and not after spending time in Wakanda. Whatever they did for him there, healed him. Mostly.

She really shouldn't complain that he made no effort to talk to her or be around her. Between Steve's suspicions, Tony's mother-hen-like behavior, and Vision running between them and following Wanda Maximoff around like a kicked puppy, she barely had a moment to herself. It was hard for her to get away and contact Harry. And Peter didn't help with his unexpected visits and calls.

But damn her, she liked the mystery of this man. The wounded child look in his eyes, the searching, far-off stare. Hell, it's the reason why she stuck so close to Harry in the beginning. Harry was always so timid and unsure of himself when she first met him. And recognizing this at the tender age of 11 was an easy feat, but figuring out how to connect with him and gain his trust wasn't something she learned until maybe her sixth year. She had made many mistakes when it came to Harry, but most of those were due to her own overwhelming personality.

Barnes stood in front of her, still as a statue and looking as though he belonged in some futuristic museum of anthropoid robots, only a more rugged version, if that were possible. She hadn't realized that she was staring at him this whole time.

She cleared her throat and reached around him to the switch behind his head.

"Tony didn't pay too much attention to where the light switches were placed because he planned to have the entire building voice controlled, which explains why they're all in really hard places to find, unfortunately."

Barnes still didn't move from his stiff position, but he did dart his eyes in her direction and away very quickly.

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting your solitude at the moment. I just came to make a pot of tea." She turned away from him a bit, not fully, and reached for the teapot Tony bought for her. She could feel herself begin to ramble at his silence but she couldn't hold herself back. "Tony doesn't drink much tea, although I've tried telling him the many benefits of a well-prepared pot of tea and the wonders it can do. Coffee is more of a bad habit I've picked up since being in the states, but I wouldn't dare dream to drink it at night." She laughed.

She reached for her favorite mug and placed it on the center island. She noticed that he had moved fully facing her now.

"Would you like some? I'll have prepared more than enough for the two of us. Tea always helps calm me down after-well, after anything really." She waved her hand carelessly hoping he didn't catch her slip. She saw his expression remained blank, but something in his dark eyes changed after her slip. But the screaming of the pot distracted her enough and she reached above in the cupboards to grab another mug.

"Uh, no-" she heard his raspy voice begin to say.

But she poured both of them cups of the Darjeeling tea. "Really it works wonders. You'd be surprised what a steaming cup of black tea would do for the restlessness." she muttered. She passed him the warm mug, careful to not touch the already jittery man. She noticed him frowning at the mug for a minute.

She wondered what he was-

"You're a soldier."

She looked up at him abruptly. His eyes for the first time looking directly at her, with no hint of hesitation.

"I'm-yes. Like Rhodey mentioned the other night, I was in the Royal Marines commando group for-"

"Nuclear deterrents." He finished for her, not looking away. His gaze, albeit intense, was not enough to make her look away first.

"So, yes, I was a soldier." she sipped at her mug, eyes still maintaining eye contact and not-flinching at the steaming tea that scalded her tongue.

A small twitch in his eye was the only response she got from him before he looked down at his cup of tea she poured and reached for it. He hesitantly brought it up to his lips before taking a few small sips.

"From my experience, being a soldier only ends in one way. And making tea for wounded old men in a dark kitchen isn't one of them." His voice still slightly gravelly, gave her chills. He wasn't looking at her anymore, but rather just over her shoulder at the cupboard behind her.

She slowly put down her mug, "Perhaps I'm a soldier for wounded old men." She smiled at him.

His eyes flickered back to hers, a glint flashing through his eye.

"Tony is always hurting himself in the lab with his new inventions. He needs my help around here occasionally." She smirked at him going for another sip. She wasn't sure exactly what she was doing.

Playing with fire had become a fun pastime of hers after she spent time in Romania at Charlie's Dragon Reserve. The Dragons were familiar creatures she seemed to have an affinity for after all that had happened. And with their notorious tempers, she had came in contact with the not-so-cuddly side of theirs all-too often. Charlie called her nutters around his Weasley-bred smirk. Something about the torturous heat and the pounding of her heart when facing danger made her feel more alive than anything she ever experienced.

But...flirting? With the man who played a big role in severing the strained ties between Tony and Steve months ago? The man who was kidnapped during war and held captive for seventy years under a secure anti-governmental brain-control super soldier program, whose tentatively began to find his way to himself?

Yeah, this spelled nothing but trouble. Of course this would be nothing but friendly but perhaps he could use another friend besides the Paranoia Pete.

Oh God! Witty nicknames for people who annoy her-she's been spending too much time around Tony.

She quickly finished the rest of her tea and rinsed out the mug in the sink, only the sounds of soft running water between her and Barnes.

"On Tuesday mornings I use the gym on my 6th floor. It's not as high-tech as the the one on the 11th but no one else uses it. It's nice and quiet when you need to just work-out in peace." She shrugged turning towards him. He was tracing the handle on the cup with his human arm. She just noticed that his metal one was missing.

So he can take it off? She thought absentmindedly.

"Just in case the other gym gets too crowded."


"Where you going Bunny?" Tony asked over the intercom in her room.

Hermione jumped a bit, too busy in her thoughts, and looked up at the ceiling exasperatedly.

"Have I mentioned to you how odd it is for you to have cameras in my room?"

"Several times before, but I told you it's just so that I can have access to the building at all times in case of an emergency. Plus, the system is alerted to not allow me access if you're naked. But I noticed that you're getting ready to go out. Going to get lunch? I was thinking about an Italian sub. Or pizza. Or both."

"Uh, no actually. I was hoping to go to the library to see if I could find this book Peter mentioned the other day." Hermione said as she shrugged a light jacket on.

"What is it?" she heard the faint sound of beeping in the background. "I'll just order it for you, you don't have to go out and get."

"No, it's fine." she hurried. "That's what libraries are there for Tony," she forced a chuckle out. "No need to make them go out of business. Plus, I've been cooped up in here since the Gala, I could use some fresh air."

"Do you want me to-"

"Tony seriously, I'm a big girl. I don't need you to hold my hand and help me cross the street. Besides, I'll pick us both up some lunch. I was thinking that Spanish food spot on Main."

"Ooh, Lenny's sound perfect. You know me so well."

Hermione's laugh this time was genuine. "Well after you forced me to eat the same food you did for months, I kinda picked up some of your bad habits. I should be back within an hour."

"Call me-"

"If I run into any trouble. I know, I know."

She could hear Tony's chuckle this time. "Fine, fine. I know when I'm being rushed off, shoo, shoo. Bring me something spicy."

Hermione shook her head as she heard a muffled bang and a curse before the intercom shut off.


"My sister has sent me a report of some signatures she picked up once more, that matched the same electromagnetic waves from before." T'Challa pulled up a holographic schematic. Rhodey, Natasha, Steve, and Clint, via video-call, huddled around the image.

"Is that the same area as before?"
"They're focused around the lower edge of the Wakanda border, but not quite the same exact spot as before."

"They're definitely looking for something, and they know the where to look." Rhodey brought up.

"Is it possible to set up any heightened security around the border so that we can get some facial profiles on our end? Putting a face to these people, or whatever they are, would make our jobs a lot easier."

"The Vibranium energy and the energy from these individuals are acting as magnets. Somehow, whenever one gets too close to the shield around the city, our shield bulges inwards, as if to escape contact."

"Is Wakanda at risk?" Steve concerned.

"No, the energy output from the shield is repelling the Latcas from coming too close. Shuri thinks that the magical energy the Latcas have is too similar to the energy from the Vibranium and they're repelling one another."

"Do we know if these people are aware of energy repel?" Tasha inquired next.

"Not that we are aware of. Their magic is all internal and as far as we know subconscious, but I don't think we should underestimate them. At some point they will become aware of it and we might face some trouble then." T'Challa dissolved the holograph.

"These people may be onto something. If the energy frequencies are so similar that they are repelling one another, it's possible that they originate from the same place. And if we verify this, I think we're gonna have a bit more trouble on our hands if they're able to manipulate the force of the magical energy the core is emitting."

"No kidding," Clint snorted.

"I'll let Stark know what came up. I think he's been working on something in his nerd lab, this might help him out." Tasha stood up and walked out of the room, passing Hermione on her way to the elevator.

"Getting lunch?" Tasha asked.

"Yeah after a library run. Would you like anything?" Hermione offered.

Natasha shook her head. "No, I'm good. I've had lunch already." Hermione nodded and continued walking towards the elevators.

Steve looked up at hearing Hermione's voice. He turned back towards the group that was beginning to disperse, "We'll wait until Stark's alerted to the new development and then we'll reconvene. T'Challa, let us know if Shuri gives you any more updates on the signatures, and we'll take it from there."

Steve inconspicuously grabbed his jacket from the bag of his chair while Clint logged out of the video call and everyone was getting ready to leave the room. He ran to the stairwell after peeking at the floor highlighted above the elevator.

When he got outside of the building he strained to see which direction the young woman headed in. When he caught sight of the dark curls and the familiar leather jacket he threw his hood up and briskly walked to catch up with her. He was careful to keep several people in between them and not to get too close. He followed her for several blocks, crossing the street once, before she turned down a dirty alley next to a Chinese restaurant. Steve looked up at the stores beside the alley and noticed that it went straight from 75 to 79, completely skipping 77 in the middle. He hurried down the alley after her and stopped short at the brick wall and lone filled dumpster. He threw his hood off and looked around the alley before realizing that she was nowhere to be found.

"What the…" He turned back heading towards the streets and didn't see the familiar head of curls.

"How did she just disappear?"


The young woman pulled the hair tie from around her wrist and tied her curls back into a loose bun before looking up at the bar sign ahead. She squinted her eyes until they adjusted to the darkened atmosphere.

"Granger," a smooth, deep voice called from her right.

A tall, dark-skinned man stood with his arms opened wide and walked the short distance to hug hum. The smell of expensive cologne filled her nose and she smiled.

"Blaise," she let go of him and looked up into his dark eyes.

"You're looking distinctly American in that get-up, Granger. They're converting you," he teased as they sat down. He made a gesture to someone behind her before two beers were placed down in front of them.

She rolled her eyes, "Well, we're in America. I don't think walking around with English Wizarding robes will appeal to the Wizarding or Muggle populations in America."

Blaise nodded looking around at the Wizards, Witches, and other magical folk in the room laughing and cavorting at one another. The bar wasn't filled to the brim, but it was just past noon.

"Admittedly, as odd as it feels to not wearing robes, I can't say I miss it. It's nice not having the weight trailing behind you. Wizardry here is much more relaxed and less traditional." she said before taking a sip of the bitter dark liquid.

Blaise's eyes sparkled at her and he took a slow sip of his as well. "Just don't start liking them better than us, Granger."

She rolled her eyes. "Give me the updates. How's the sales this quarter?"

"Right down to business, I like it." He pulled out a large envelope from the inside of his jacket and opened it up. "They're up from last quarter."

"Good." she nodded.

"Sales among the younger wizards and witches are surpassing the older generation, but we expected as much. There's been a little backlash to the technology from the Wizengamot and the older pureblood families, but with Luna in charge at the Prophet and Potter's pandering, we've been able to bounce back and avoid too much negative press."

Hermione grimaced around the mouth of the beer. "What have the ministry been saying about the Wiztech?"

Blaise smirked, "They hate it of course. They feel like we're becoming too 'muggle' but they aren't openly detesting it because of the majority support its gathered. Neville has already been considering a way to institute it better into the curriculum at Hogwarts. But it's been a bit of a struggle because a lot of the professors feel like the technology is becoming a distraction in the classroom."

Hermione hummed. "Have Neville put in a proposal to the Board of Governors to place restrictions on the use of Wiztech in Hogwarts. That way it will get the professors and some of the old families who are on the board off his back."

Blaise waved his wand and words began appearing on the side margins of his reports, mimicking what Hermione was saying.

"Also, start working on instituting the tablets and computers."

Blaise frowned, "Dray and I've been running tests for the last two weeks. They're still months from being ready for the public."

This made Hermione frown too. "Speed it up. We're going to have to kick the tech into high gear if we're going to finish Phase 2. I want this done by the end of the month Blaise, no excuses." Blaise nodded. "And have Harry begin spreading the word about how growing up in the muggle world, they have millions of books and information at their fingertips. It'll appeal to the older Wizards with the inferiority complex because they hate to be outcompeted by those without magic."

She polished off the rest of her beer and before another thought occurred to her. She smirked.

"How's my old friend Dolores?"

Blaise gave out a sharp laugh, bringing some attention from the other patrons of the bar their way.

"She's completely frazzled. Potter has more standing and backing than she's ever had, and with his impending nuptials to Malfoy, all the attention from the gossiping part of society is on the two of them and not her. The children at Hogwarts all hate her, partly because of her past there and the stories they've heard and partly because of her decrees she's been trying to pass to get the Wiztech banned in public places. But it's been falling through at every turn."

"Is she still wiping people's minds and snapping their wands?" she sneered.

"The program has been temporarily put on hold. With the influx in birth rates the past year, the Ministry has been trying to find a way to accommodate the population increases. St. Mungos have been complaining that they aren't receiving enough support from the Ministry in the Natal ward or the long-term care ward, for the victims of the war."

She snorted again, "Of course they haven't. The Ministry, along with trying to sweep the past war and their indiscretions of the rug, is bound to discard a few programs and institutions that cater to the very things they are trying to forget. Have Wiztech partner with Neville and Harry on a project for St. Mungos. Neville will be the champion for the long-term care ward and the psych ward, and Harry for the Natal ward. Harry already has a reputation as man who loves children. Strike up a deal with S. Mungos in their support of Wiztech for donations to the wards. And I want you to begin designs for the hospital technology."

Words blazed across his paper furiously as Hermione spoke.

"You got it, Madame." Blaise smiled at her charmingly. "But enough about business tell me how it is living with Iron Man and his band of 'heroes'."

Hermione's posture relaxed a bit at the change of subject. "Tony's...well, Tony is a piece of work. But I love him. I didn't think he would adjust to having me around so soon, but I guess I underestimated his need for companionship. I get the feeling he isn't as naive as he plays when it comes to me hiding things, but he doesn't bring it up. Maybe he thinks I'll leave him too if he does." She looked down and worried her lip.

Blaise narrowed his eyes at her. "But you are gonna leave him at some point, right?"

Her eyes sharpened and shot back to his. "Tony's my brother, period. Sure, I'm using this time right now as a cover so that I can get our plans straight without detection, but I'm never just going to leave him."

Blaise put his hands up in surrender. "I get it, family is family. But living in the states was supposed to be a temporary thing. I thought the whole point of gaining control of the Wizarding World in Britain was so that you could come back and live in peace."

"Lower your voice." she said slowly and without hesitation. Blaise's posture stiffened before giving a short nod.

"And you're incorrect in your assumptions. A side effect of my plans is so that I can return to the Wizarding World, yes. But the goal is to restructure the society as a whole and to eliminate prejudice, as much as humanly possible anyway, while acknowledging the traditions that hold that society in place. I'm not some evil dictator trying to run the country Blaise, I don't want to control anyone. But if I must temporarily dominate a few institutions of society so that people can live in peace, then so be it."

Hermione waved over and another beer was brought to the table as she and Blaise lapsed into silence. Blaise taking in what she just said looked properly scolded.

"I didn't mean to insinuate that-"

"I was a new up and coming Dark Lord," she lowered her voice at the end. "You did, but I'll ignore it. But I apologize for blowing up the way that I did. My tension have been a bit high and my feelings a little sensitive lately. After the Gala-wait! Harry mentioned something about an underground group emerging with Voldemort's sympathizers."

Blaise cursed. "Fuck, I meant to ask you about that. Are the Avengers aware of your magic yet."

"No, I was able to kill Bellatrix without being detected, and the other goons she was with either died or apperated away after she was taken down. Steve Rogers is suspicious of me and might have overheard a snippet of my conversation with Harry the other night, but not enough to piece together anything about me. But he did try and follow me out here earlier. He's a pain, but nothing I can't handle. Honestly," she gave a short laugh, " he's doing nothing but making himself look like an ass to the rest of his teammates. Rhodey is still suspicious of me too, but he won't disagree with Tony anymore than he already has."

"Good, the last thing we need is the Avengers on our ass messing with our plans. Their sanctimonious leader-"

"Ex-leader. They disbanded remember?"

"A team like that, Granger? They may be on the outs right now, but they'll reunite. We're counting on your relationship with Stark not blowing up in our faces to keep their agency away from us. But back to the Neo-Death Eaters. Theo heard that the guy whose supposedly in charge has never been seen. He gives his orders to a small group and they pass it down like that. But he's been allegedly denouncing the Dark Lord but has been giving claims to the house of Slytherin, so we're not sure how to take that."

"Riddle was the last known heir. He made sure of that."

"Riddle was a sociopath who was too arrogant for his own good, he could've made a mistake somewhere. Some long lost and forgotten squibs maybe gave rise to a magical-born long down the line." Blaise shrugged.

"Possibly. But I feel like we're overthinking it. Does Theo know what they're plans are? What ideology are they preaching?"

"He said he hasn't been able to get a clear picture. None of the lowerlings really know the guy they're following, but he's promised them something big. And they're reportedly looking for something. They've been getting a lot of overseas assignments to find some type of-"

"Magical source. The Avengers are aware of that much. They've been focusing their energy in Africa. Get someone on our side into the Ministry department that regulates International Portkey traveling. I want to know who is a part of this group and when they leave. We also need to get some of our own out there. If there is a 'magical core' out there, I don't want them finding it and using it."

Hermione drunk her second beer to the label before putting some money on the table. "Keep me updated on everything and send Ginny out next time. I miss her. I'll let you all know where we'll meet next time."

Blaise stood up and put the notes away. "Will do, Granger. And you keep yourself safe around them, okay. Those Avengers are magnets for trouble."

Hermione smirked. "How long did it take for Harry to explain that one to you?"

Blaise laughed and hugged her. "Longer than I'm ready to admit. And I see you've put on some pounds, nice." he winked at her.

Hermione pushed him away. "Shut up. Tony's been fattening me up since we met. I'm actually off to get us lunch now."

"I'm not complaining Granger, I like it."

"Go back to your girlfriend before I tell her about your flighty Italian ways."

"She's aware. That's how we keep things interesting in the bedroom." he gave her one more wink before kissing her cheek and swaggering away.

"How is he ego ever makes it pass the door, I'll never know." she chuckled to herself quietly. Her stomach growled and she checked her watch. "Shit."

"It's about time you made it back, I was about to go out looking for you." Tony strolled out of the elevator and onto the main living floor where everyone was gathered.

Hermione was taking out the food she got from Lenny's from the bag and was putting them on plates.

"I didn't realize how late it was getting. I sometimes get caught up in reading. But I found the book for Peter, dropped it off for him, picked me up a book, and then got us lunch. I've had a fairly productive day, and I won't let you ruin it." She waved her fork at him dangerously.

"Calm down Bunny, I was just worried for a second you were trying to off me by starving me to death. But now that I know you are about as starved as I am, now we're even." Tony grabbed his usual the Hermione scooped onto a plate.

"That food smells pretty good over there, Stark." Sam chimed in from the couch where he was playing chess with Steve.

Not knowing who he was referring to, Hermione answered before Tony could.

"Oh, do you want some?"

Sam nodded, looking a bit surprised she was offering.

"There's plenty back at Lenny's there's a house phone several feet from you, I would order you some."

Tony and Natasha laughed Sam's insulted look. Tony gave Hermione a high-five and shuffled back to the elevator.

"I'm going back to the lab. Nobody bother me. I'm going to look into those new energy signatures T'Challa sent me."

Hermione's ears perked up and made a note to ask him about that later, but gave no outward signs that she was paying any attention.

When Tony left and everyone was preoccupied once more. Hermione grabbed a bottle of water from her bag and walked over to Steve.

"Here you go, I thought you might need it." At his confused look she continued. "After the little trip you took earlier. You seemed to be in a hurry and I thought you would need something to cool you down. Wouldn't want you to get dehydrated and tire yourself out. Your team needs you, Cap."

Steve Rogers frowned and narrowed his eyes at her, catching on to what she wasn't saying. She was aware of him following her earlier and now she was warning him to back off. He took the water carefully and sat it down slowly, without looking away from her knowing eyes. She gave him a condescending smile and headed towards the elevator.

When she was gone Sam asked him what that was all about. He waved it off but thought back to earlier. She was definitely hiding something, something she didn't want him or the others to find out. How could they trust her if she's keeping so many things from them. She was nowhere near the local library the direction she headed. Perhaps he was going about it the wrong way, but Steve knew something about her was off and dangerous. And he'd be damned if was going to stop until he figured out just what she was into.