A DAY'S WORTH
Chapter 17
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to their respective owners.
-ADW-
Harry jerked awake at the sound of his phone ringing. It wasn't like the phone was lound or anything but he hadn't exactly been sleeping as he kept drifting in and out of sleep for practically the whole night. He groggily reached for the phone and saw it was Claire's assistant who was calling, one of the few people that weren't part of the family but had his number.
"I sincerely hope you have a good reason for calling me, Natalia." Harry said, easily slipping into his CEO persona.
"I... sorry to disturb you, Mr. Potter." The Italian nurse said, her voice firm and professional without a trace of an accent. "Mrs. Summers is over two hours late and I can't reach her mobile. Maybe you could try to check on her..."
"Claire is never late for work." Harry frowned and the woman hummed in agreement. "Alright, let me check on her, I'll get back to you."
Harry hung up and got out of the bed. He slipped on a bathrobe which immediately transformed into a pair of black sweater pants and a matching t-shirt. Arriving inside the living room, Harry called for her but there was no answer.
Trying to push down the dread that had been haunting him since yesterday which seemed to come back threefold. He arrived at her bedroom only to find the door had been ripped from its hinges. Inside the bedroom were signs of struggle but it clearly hadn't been very serious as there was little damage.
The good thing was that there was no body, or even blood. He could only hope that whoever had attacked her was still holding her alive. He tried to feel for the port-key she always carried on her person but he couldn't feel anything. It was like the connection didn't exist anymore.
Harry's phone rang again and he saw that it was Jennifer, his lawyer. "Jennifer! Are you okay?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
"Well, that's new. You never call me by my name." Harry could hear the smile in her voice. "Anyway, what the hell is going on, some idiots just tried to kidnap me!"
"I have no idea." Harry sighed. "Claire has been taken, I was hoping it was just about her but if you were attacked as well, then it's probably bigger."
Harry paused as he considered his next words very carefully.
"I believe something big is happening and it somehow has something to do with me." He said. "Someone knows who I am and is probably targeting those around me. I would rather you didn't get caught in it any more than you already have."
"What are you suggesting, Harry."
"The port-key to Potter Cottage." Harry said. "Do not forget that you have it."
And with that he hung up and called T'challla.
"Harry Potter." The prince said by way of greeting. At least that's what Harry assumed. "How may I help you?"
"Keep Jenny in Wakanda by all means." Harry said without preamble. "I have reason to believe that someone is after her and there is no safer place I can think of other than Wakanda."
Well there was Potter Cottage.
"If that is what you wish." The prince replied. "Should I be expecting trouble?"
"I can't say for sure." Harry answered. "Whoever it is, I doubt they can get in Wakanda but if they try please keep at least one alive. I would like to have a chat with them. Oh and please send my regards to the birthday girl."
Harry hung up again and slipped the phone back to his pocket. Looking around, Harry tried to find any clue on what had happened but nothing came to mind, he could feel something however right outside the bedroom door. It felt like a magical signature but nothing he was familiar with. It felt slightly like the aura he felt when he used the resurrection stone all those years ago before walking to his death but not the same.
Whoever had left the signature had teleported directly into the house, grabbed Claire and teleported right out. Not sure what to make of it, Harry teleported to Jack's hotel room and the moment he arrived at the entrance he felt the same signature again right where he was standing.
He opened the door and winced at what he found inside. Jack had put up quite a fight and the whole room was in shambles. There were cracks on the walls, the bed had been broken and almost every single thing in the room had been disturbed.
"Hello, Harry." A soft male voice said and Harry turned to see someone he hadn't expected to run into for some time.
"Loki Odinson." The god of mischief quirked an amused smile, clearly pleased with the fact that Harry had recognized him.
"I see you've heard a obout me." He commented, his hands behind his back while he stared down at Harry. "I've been looking forward to meeting you Harry Potter, ever since I saw you in my brother's memories."
The Asgardian was even taller than Thor and Harry had to admit he looked regal in his armor and green cape, coupled with his horned helmet.
"I can't say the same, I'm afraid." Harry replied. "Especially given what I saw in your brother's memories."
"Oh, that's disappointing." Loki smirked. "Either way, here we are."
"Indeed." Harry agreed. "Where are my friends?"
"They're fine for now and their health lies solely in your hands." Loki paused, cocking his head to the side. "No, that's not right. Their health is in my hands but it will be determined by your actions. Or lack of as it so happens."
Loki waved his hand and an image appeared of Jack hanging upside down, chained to a wall with Claire next to him in the same position. There were some hideous looking creatures that stood guard over them all with their weapons trained at them.
"A simple mental command and anyone of those could easily pull the trigger on their weapons." Even as he spoke, one of the creatures turned to another and shot its head off. "But it needn't be like that. All I need you to do is stay your hand and let me do my work. Once everything is over, I will return your friends back to you in full health."
"Your work?"
"I have plans for this planet." Loki said. "I don't want any conflict with you, I just need you to stay out of my way. If you wish to fight me, that's fine by me but I would suggest you wait and get your friends back first."
Harry stared at the man for a moment before he walked towards him untill they were inches apart.
This is what is going to happen." Harry said. "I am going to do everything in my power to get my friends back and when I do, I will tear you into so many pieces they'll never be able to put you back together."
"That's fine by me." Loki shrugged. "So long as you just don't interfere, then I'll be waiting for that fight."
Harry walked right through the illusion of Loki without another word, crossed the doorway and teleported back to his room at the J-Mansion. He sat down on his bed and gathered his thoughts. Despite taking to an illusion, Harry knew the god of mischief was telling the truth. Well for the most part about Claire and Jack being prisoners. Even then, he knew Loki hadn't told him everything.
What he didn't understand was how he had managed to severe the connection he had with Claire's port-key. While he new he could bring back Claire if she died, he would need to find her necklace first and even then he still hadn't figured out how to bring back all of her. Jack on the other hand, would truly die if Loki decided he was no longer important.
Harry's only option right now was to comply with Loki's terms, or at least keep up the illusion that he was complying. Meanwhile, he would be working on a way to find where Loki was hiding as it seems it was the only way he would be able to get back his friends in one piece.
-ADW-
"Harry!" Natasha exclaimed from the other end. "Your timing is as usual uncanny."
"I take it you were planning on calling me?"
"Yeah." The redhead replied. "We have a situation and there is a high possibility we may require Jack's and your unique talents."
"Let me guess, Loki?"
"I...how do you know about that, Harry?" Natasha asked. "It has barely been hours since Loki arrived here on earth and he hasn't been seen ever since he escaped with the Cube."
"Cube?"
"It's what they call it back here." Natasha said. "I don't have much knowledge of it either, all I know it that it's powerful enough to reduce a while continent into pieces."
"Wow, that's dangerous." Harry whistled. "How on earth did SHIELD get in possession of something like that and the hell have they been using it for?"
"Like I said, I don't know much of what's going on either but I'm sure we'll be finding out soon at the briefing."
"What briefing?"
"Well, Fury is putting together a team and he tasked me to convince you by all means necessary to help out." Harry could hear the amusement in Natasha's voice. "But first I need to get Dr. Bruce Banner on board before fucking your mind out."
Harry raised an eyebrow at the mention of Jeniffer's cousin. "The Hulk?"
"Banner actually, at least for the moment." Natasha said. "Apparently the cube releases some energy that contains gamma ray's or something like that and if there is anyone who knows all there is on gamma energy then it would be him."
"I guess that makes sense." Harry said before something struck. "Say Natasha, do you this Cube could be considered magical?"
Natasha was quiet for a moment. "I wouldn't go as far as calling it magical, at least from what little information I have."
"So it hasn't exuded any... unexplainable feats?" Harry insisted. "Like say... teleportation."
"Well, Phil told me it opened a portal through which Loki arrived." Natasha said after a moment of consideration. "Why do you ask."
"I've got my suspicions that I'll need to confirm first." Harry said. "But if Loki is in possession of what I think the Cube is, then the situation is worse than you can even imagine."
"Harry?"
"Give me a few minutes and I'll call you back." Harry hung up and teleported right outside the New York Sanctum fo the sorcerers and knocked firmly. Almost immediately the door opened and he stared into the cold eyes of the Ancient One.
"Harry Potter." She stated in her flat voice. "I was expecting you."
"You know why I'm here then?"
"You want to inquire about the Stones."
"Loki has the Space stone." Harry said and the bald woman nodded.
"It's not the only one that he has." She replied. "The other, while not as powerful is even more dangerous than the Space stone."
"Which one is that?" Harry asked even as he got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"The Mind Stone."
"Well, fuck." Harry swore as the severity of the situation seemed to sink in. He turned to the Sorcerer Supreme who hadn't even let him enter. "What do you plan to do?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing." She confirmed in the same flat voice. "This is not my fight. I will protect the Sanctum but that is as far as my participation will go."
"Are you going to just sit there while some guy who by the way is in possession of two effing infinity Stones goes around murdering people?"
"Like I said, this isn't my fight." She answered. "The forces that will defend the earth are capable enough and my involvement isn't necessary."
Harry stared at the woman for a moment, not sure what to make of her.
"And what happens when he decides to add a third stone to his collection?" He finally asked, convinced that she was really planning on sitting out whatever storm was coming.
"Then I will protect it with my life." She replied simply as she took a step back. "Good luck, Mr. Potter."
And with that, she slammed the door in his face. Harry didn't waste time, he spun on his heel and teleported back to Potter Cottage into his study and checked the small box at the top of a bookshelf which normally had Jack's ring that contained the suit. Sure enough it was empty, confirming his suspicions.
He didn't even need to spread his senses to feel the signature that he now knew belonged to the Space stone at the entrance of the study. Knowing that Loki had the Space stone, he wasn't surprised that he could by-pass his wards, even then, he would have been obliterated the moment he arrived.
The only explanation was that he had used the Mind Stone to force Jack to come for the suit since he was keyed into the wards. With the Space stone, he created a portal for Jack to go through, pick up the ring and with the suit, he had teleported back to him.
If Loki had Ombra under his control, then they were royally fucked since Harry couldn't intervene without knowing about Claire's health. Harry would have been able to know the suit's location however, with the Space Stone, Loki probably sent Jack and Claire as far away as possible which explained why he felt like his connection had been severed. They were simply too far away for him to sense.
Harry had been preparing for a world threat since he arrived and all his plans involved him being at the center of it. Somehow, he never at any one point thought that when the time to complete his task came, he would be forced to be on the sidelines fearing for the lives of those he cared about.
That didn't mean he couldn't adjust his plans. He had allies, he had people that would willingly fight on his behalf with just a word and he would put them to use. As a matter of fact, Loki's attack also gave him an opportunity to do something that had been bugging him and the was introducing the Inhumans to the world.
With Jenny's school near completion and her plans on letting mutants and Inhumans to be admitted, it was inevitable for the two groups to come out from under the radar and join normal society. He knew they will be feared for their power, and with Loki attacking earth, he gave the two groups the opportunity to be introduced in a situation where people see them in a positive light.
Especially after watching them use their abilities to protect the people. He knew there will be those who will call them freaks and abominations but he was ready for that. J-Corp had enough money to move around. If the Wizarding world taught Harry one thing, it was that with money and the media on your side, almost anything is possible.
Harry knew that whatever the outcome of this crisis, the world would never be the same again. There were people like General Ross who will most likely seek to control the Inhumans but he would deal with them as they came. He wasn't sure what Xavier's plans about the mutants were but he knew Black Bolt had been looking for a good opportunity to come out.
Infact the monarch had been getting impatient, and Harry had done everything in his power to placate the powerful and quite honestly, he had been approaching a breaking point and tell the man to do what he wished. Loki's attack was definitely a...well godsend.
But first, he was going to find the Asgardian trickster and when he did, well Harry had a few tricks of his own.
-ADW-
"What are we going to do?" Jeniffer Walters asked as she stared at Harry.
Over three hours since he talked to Loki, Harry was lounging in the sofa at Claire's. He had used every single tracking/scrying spell he knew of but he couldn't find Loki. Whatever magic he was using to hide himself was so powerful that none of Harry's spells could give him even a vague idea of where the god could be. A first for Harry to be honest.
"We wait." Harry said simply. "As much as I hate it, there is nothing I can do right now other than to wait for Loki's move."
"What about Claire." Jeniffer asked. "I may not have gotten to know her very well but I don't think you can handle Jenny all by yourself."
Harry frowned at her and she grinned.
"Like I said, I don't know her much other than her being your friend's widow." She shrugged before becoming serious. "Anyway, how do you plan on getting her even if you find where in the galaxy she is...if she is too far for you to sense the port-key, can you even teleport there? Do you have enough power?"
"I have something I can tap into for some extra power if mine isn't enough but that is still useless unless I get Loki or the Space Stone." Harry sighed before he stood up. "I need you to prepare for a press conference in four hours, it's time to put what we talked about in action."
The lawyer nodded seriously. "And what will you be doing?"
"I need to talk to Black Bolt." Harry told her as he reached in his pocket to withdraw a ring similar to his and Jack's. "I don't know if I'll get another opportunity to give you this."
"What's this?" She asked curiously even as she slipped it on her finger and it resized to fit her. "I hope you're not proposing."
"It's something for you that I've been working on." Harry replied. "It's not finished yet but it will be enough for now. You know how to activate it?"
"Rub my finger over the black gem." She said before she raised an eyebrow. "You know that I don't need armor right?"
"Yeah but there is more than just armor in there. You will have to find out when you put it on." He said before he spun on his heel and disappeared.
-ADW-
Nick Fury blinked as the image from the J-Proj minimized and the light came back to the room while a small window with the frozen image of Loki stayed above the high tech projector. He looked at the other people in the room to gauge their reactions and wasn't surprised to see that they mirrored his own.
Harry Potter had shared with them his encounter with Loki and quite honestly, Fury wasn't sure what to make of it except for the fact that Loki was weary of Potter for some reason. While he knew Potter was highly trained, on par with Ombra and way above almost every SHIELD agent, the British wasn't overly special to warrant the measures the Asgardian had taken to keep him out of the fight.
It was obvious there was a lot he was missing, info that Romanoff was privy to but was deliberately keeping from him. If there was anything that Nick Fury hated, it was being kept in the dark and whatever royalties she felt she owed Potter, it didn't compare to SHIELD.
"I'm guessing you're wondering why I sent you that." Fury turned to the J-Proj to see a live feed of Potter seated behind his desk in some office. "Yeah, I kinda of hacked into your system to have this call.l but that's not the issue here."
The man paused and looked to the side away from the camera. "Really, Walters! I'm in the middle of posturing here!"
"It's almost time and you're not finished with dressing!" A woman snapped from off camera before a tie and a coat was thrown at the man.
"Oh bloody hell!" Potter sighed before he grinned at the camera. He stood up and with impressive speed knotted the tie around his neck, slipped in his coat and sat down again. Gone was the Harry Potter the the former spy and in his place was the CEO of the most successful Tech company in New York.
"I have it on good authority that neither of my friends are currently on earth." Harry Potter said seriously. "Whether they're at Asgard or somewhere else, I have no idea. Everything I have tried hasn't been able to track them and the only way I can find them is currently in Loki's possession."
"The Tessaract?" Romanoff asked and Potter nodded. He tapped something on the table and the feed now showed the Cube that Loki had stollen.
"This Cube holds a very powerful stone." Potter continued even as the cube shattered to reveal a blue gem. "It is called the Space Stone and at full potential, it gives the welder absolute power over space."
The dark-haired man paused as he let that sink in before he continued. "I'm not sure how much of it's power Loki is capable of tapping into but he has used this Stone to capture my friends and transport them to God knows where."
The blue stone disappeared and was replaced by a familiar Sceptre. "I'm sure Fury recognizes this. On top of this thing is the Mind Stone and just like the Space Stone, at full potential it gives the welder control of every single mind in the universe. I don't think I need to stress just how dangerous that could be."
"That's what he used to control Clint?" Romanoff asked again and Potter nodded.
"And just how did you get this information?" Fury asked with narrowed eyes.
"The Sorcerer Supreme." Potter replied and Fury's frown deepened. The Ancient One as she liked being called was another headache and unknown he would rather not deal with. If she was in league with Potter, then that didn't bode well for anyone.
"So if these Stones are as powerful as you seem to imply..." Coulson asked. "Then why is he going through all this subterfuge and hidding?"
"Loki all by himself won't be able to tap into their full power without destroying himself in the process." Potter answered easily. "With the Sceptre, he is able to channel just a fraction of the Mind Stone's power but no matter how little he uses, he would do serious damage as I'm sure you already know."
"And the Tessaract?"
Potter looked at Maria Hill who had asked the question. "The Cube limits what power is drawn from the Stone and for now, he can't use much of it. However, if he were to get like seven others like him to share that power then the results will not be pretty."
"The Stones when properly used are very dangerous as I'm sure you can imagine what kind of damage a psycho like Loki with absolute power of minds and space can do." Potter said sternly. "They're even more dangerous if mishandled as their combined power is enough to obliterate half the planet and leave nothing behind."
Fury didn't doubt the ex-british spy as he knew well enough what the Cube was capable of and if this other Stone was as powerful and their power combined, then obliterating half the planet may be underestimating.
Looking at his fellow audience, he could see that while Coulson and Hill looked sceptical, Romanoff had no doubt that what Potter was saying was the truth. Just how attached had she became to this man?
"So what's your plan of action?" Fury finally asked.
"Well I've done everything in my power to try to find Loki and his knew toys but I've come up with nothing." Potter smiled slightly like he was in on a joke that the others didn't get. "Whatever the god of mischief will be doing, I won't be able to interfere directly untill I get my friends back so you guys will be on your own for now."
"How do you plan to get them though, if they are off planet without getting them killed?" Natasha asked and Fury narrowed his eyes at the emotion he could detect in her voice.
"I have a way of getting the location from Loki while keeping him from ordering his minions from killing them." He answered. "However, it requires me to get the drop on him and administer the potion."
"A potion?" Romanoff grimaced and Potter chuckled.
"It will shut down his bodily and mental functions yet he will still be alive." Potter said. "Once I've recovered my friends, I'll administer the antidote and he will be all yours."
"What kind of...potion is that?" Coulson asked and Potter grinned mysteriously but didn't answer.
"I've been wondering something though..." Maria Hill started. "Why is Loki afraid of your involvement? Why go through all this to keep you from the fight?"
"Well, Agent Hill." Potter said seriously taking the woman by surprise that he knew who she is. "I can be very dangerous, especially when those I care about are concerned. Something Loki didn't consider when coming up with his plans and may not live long enough to regret."
With that ominous statement, the window disappeared leaving the four in silence. Before anyone else could comment, Fury switched on the news to show Potter's press conference. It had been communicated about four hours ago that there would be a press conference where Potter would announce the new CEO of J-Corp.
People had speculated trying to guess who would be made CEO. Fury was honestly curious to see the person the British spy trusted enough to hand the reigns of the company that he had personally been running all there years. He knew that Potter didn't trust many people, infact he could count the number of likely candidates on one hand and still remain with some fingers.
Potter arrived, smiling roughishly at the people looking all the part of the handsome billionaire without a trace of the stern man they had been talking to. He talked about the company, thanking his employees for all the work they do and listing some of J-Corp's latest products.
Despite how impatient the press were for the new CEO, they were captivated by Potter. Fury had to admit the man knew how to handle his audience, knowing when to make a joke and when to appear serious. When to grin and when to look stern all the while making sure that he had their attention.
"Now I would like to introduce to you one of the strongest women I've had the pleasure of meeting, right up there with a certain redhead I'm quite fond of." Out of the corner of his eye, Fury saw Romanoff shake her head with a small smile. "She is Jeniffer Walters and she is the new CEO of J-CORP!"
The brown haired woman walked up to the podium, smiling at the press easily. She reached and hugged Potter before she turned to speak.
"Well, I didn't see that one coming." Romanoff said drawing the others' attention. "Harry has been running J-Corp by himself and as far as I know he had no plans of changing that any time soon, and most definitely not giving it to someone he met only months ago."
Before she could elaborate further however, an Agent burst into the conference room. "Director, Loki has been sighted!"
"Meet Rogers and get there ASAP!" Fury told Romanoff who nodded curtly and followed the Agent. When he turned back to the press conference, he saw that Potter had excused himself and was practically running off the stage.
Whatever Loki's game plan was, he knew they will be finding out soon enough and something told him he won't like it.
-ADW-
Soooo, I'm back! Not sure how often I'll update but I'm already halfway the next chapter will be concluding Loki's invasion. Hopefully.
I've always felt like the Infinity Stones were under-used? Despite how much power they were implied to have, we never got to see it except in Endgame. I'm hopping to try to exploit them in this fic.
Anyway, next chapter will be loaded with action, both magical and physical filled with twists and turns as I use my all knowing powers to the maximum.