2019

He sat there in the dark, staring at the shattered helmet lying on the pristine wooden table before him. He thought of everything he had lost since becoming Tony Stark. Everything he had gained. Friends old and new, some living, some now gone.

Most of all, he thought of what he had to lose still. His wife, the love of his life, asleep on the couch, refusing to go far after his last fight. The child she carried in her belly. Their child. Their Lillian.

Slowly, he leaned forward, switching on the helmet's sensors.

"I guess, I need to start at the beginning huh?"

1 – Ten Years On

2008

Ten years. Ten years in America, living as Tony Stark. It was crazy to think. He'd lived almost as long as the eccentric billionaire weapons manufacturer as he had the boy who lived. In that time, Stark Enterprises had changed. At first, the changes had been small. Opening a separate division here, buying a smaller company out there. Now, a decade later, the company was a true conglomerate working in health care, electronics, gaming, telecommunications, botany, automobiles, construction, and he and Edwin were making plans to advance further, with hopes of moving into renewable energy and A.I. More importantly, the once vaunted Weapons Manufacturing arm of the company was no longer the vast unscalable mountain it once was. It had been dwarfed by electronics, telecommunications, and health care.

Now, whilst Stark Enterprises still produced the best weapons, that was a limited focus. They also focused on improved first aid gear and armour for the troops, as well as providing both farmers and the military with 'intelicrops' crops designed to grow in any environment no matter how brutal. Stark Enterprises was poised, within the next half decade, too faze out completely all weapons manufacturing. At first, he'd been worried about doing it. He'd felt it inappropriate to take Howard Stark's company after his death, and destroy the work he had put into it.

When he had voiced these concerns, however, Neville and Edwin both had quickly disavowed him of them. Neville had assured him that it was no longer Howard's decision to make. Harry had been both CEO and owner for years. The company was his, as was the final decision. Edwin had merely reminded him that for a business such as Stark Enterprises to thrive in such a quickly changing world, it would have to adapt.

After ten years, there were days, working in the lab with Edwin and then JARVIS, the Artificial intelligence he'd built to aid with his work, that Harry Potter felt like a stranger. He still used magic at home, when it was just him and those who knew. Those he could trust implicitly. Despite the eight years of rigorous teaching with Edwin, and the love of science he had enforced in the younger man, he couldn't take the magic out of him. In Heart, while he now thought of himself as Tony Stark, he would always be a wizard.

He'd gotten used to life in America over the last ten years, though he still couldn't come at the food. He'd take a simple roast chicken sandwich over something like a cheeseburger any day. This worked fine for Edwin, who appreciated the opportunity to cook more English and European dishes. There were things he appreciated far more however. The sports cars were one such luxury. He hadn't flown his broom in years, but flying through the valleys and canyons with the top down in his cars was a close second.

Luna had successfully gotten her qualifications as a zoologist and doctor, opening a small private clinic not far from the house, and running the Stark-Lovegood Nature Reserve, one of his favourite recent investments.

Dean too had had success. He had elected to become a police officer, after seven years in the job, however, he had quit his position, going on to work for an organisation known as SHIELD. Harry had been surprised when Dean had come home and told them of the change. He'd taken it in stride however, and, after a few assassination attempts it came in handy to have some advanced warning of potential threats.

And of course, Neville and Hermione were both still by his side. Hermione had been invaluable in the first eight years. As he learnt everything he needed to know from Edwin, she had learned to dance through the minefield that was the press and his board of directors, becoming an excellent PA. She seemed content in the life she had made at his side, though there were still days when he felt bad for taking her away from what would have been a promising career in magical Britain.

She assured him that running the Howard and Maria Stark foundation, and curating his art collection, inherited from Maria, were more than enough repayment. Despite his protests, Hermione would always refuse to hear a word out of him on the matter. He often found himself thinking of Ginny after Edwin had ended his time-consuming education, declaring him ready to face the world as the last Stark. As such, over the last two years, he had grown a reputation as both a reckless thrill seeker and a bit of a cad. Harry was ashamed to admit the last part could be construed as the truth.

There were few years over the last decade that he had not made it to the top of the New York Times most eligible Bachelors list. When they had first learnt what he was up to his friends had been disgusted with him. It had been the only time Edwin had invoked Howard's name against him, stating the older man would have been ashamed. Neville had shaken his head and walked back to his room, shutting the door emphatically. Dean had punched him in the jaw, saying he was insulting Ginny's memory.

He'd flown for Dean then, and they'd not spoken for half a year. Even now, it was the one issue on which they refused to see eye to eye. The girls had given him the silent treatment for a year when they first found out. Hermione had even threatened to walk out. She was packing her bags to portkey back to London when he – somehow – persuaded her to stay. He'd never know how he did it. He suspected it was somehow Ed's doing. The old man had made it his mission to ensure he was looked after and prepared.

And so, ten years on, it all began. It began – as did so many things in his new life – with a party. Obie had rung him up from the company the week before, to give him the good news. He had been granted an Apogee award for his intelicrops and the work he had made revitalising Stark Enterprises. Not really interested in the thing, at first, he had tried to refuse, or pull out of the ceremony. He'd given Stane the go ahead.

"Eight o'clock, Saturday Night". The older man had told him.

Edwin had snorted, insisting he go. "No Stark would ever refuse a trophy, let alone the chance to stroke their ego" the old man had stated simply, "and you are a Stark". And so, now, dressed in a suit laid out for him by Hermione, with a Gryffindor red tie and grey shirt, he made his way out of the house at half past five. He was leaving early specifically to get in a bit of fun before the ceremony. Edwin opened the door for him as he approached. He placed a hand on the old man's shoulder as he climbed into the mercedes.

"Thanks Jay, Look after the kids for me. Don't wait up". Edwin snorted as he climbed in and opened the top.

"of course not, sir" the old man replied drily. Harry watched the old man for a few moments, engine running softly. Edwin had done so much for him. He'd never asked for anything, not even recognition. The least he could do was thank him. He opened his mouth to speak.

"Well, Ed," he began slowly, smiling sheepishly as he pulled on his sun glasses, despite the sun dipping low in the sky already, fading over the horizon. He stopped himself and chuckled softly. Edwin didn't want his thanks; he wouldn't take it. They were practically family, Edwin new he meant it even without saying so, "good night, old friend".

"of course, sir. And congratulations on the award". Harry shrugged.

"We'll stick it in one of the labs". He tapped one side of his sunglasses briefly with his thumb. "talk to me, J". JARVIS' crisp voice responded. Harry was quite proud of the AI. It had been the first thing he'd developed without Edwin's help, the culmination of six years' work. A learning artificial intelligence. All but alive.

"Traffic is light across the city tonight sir. The weather is good for Vegas this time of year, a reasonably warm evening, just the way you like it. The media are discussing your award, and speculating on whether you will unveil a new project at the ceremony". Harry shook his head.

"Nah J, you know how it goes".

"Keep them guessing, Sir?" He grinned.

"Precisely. What am I looking at on the casino floor?"

"all your greatest hits sir, games, attractive company, alcohol, and no reservations."

"Blackjack?"

"Naturally, Sir".

"Good-O," he slipped off the glasses, pressing the button once again, "Night, buddy". The car sped off down the highway towards the hotel. He sped up towards the front entrance, skidding to a halt a few feet from the usher, opening the door with a flourish, he turned and waved to the media, blowing a kiss into the crowd. He tossed the keys to the usher over his shoulder.

"Don't scratch her, you hear now? She's at least ten times more valuable then you". Without waiting for a response, he walked into the casino, casting an eye around the floor. Without hesitation, he made his way towards the blackjack table. He clicked his hand as he passed an attractive young brunette cocktail waitress, instructing her to bring the tray to the table; his buy.

That was how he passed the next hour, seated at that table, laughing, drinking, and raking in cash. At 6:45, his phone beeped urgently. With a sigh, he swiped it off the table, glancing at it as best he could. He groaned.

"sorry lads, cuties, I'm going to have to take this now I think. You've reached the fabulousness that is Tony Stark. What can I do for you, Miss Potts?" Sure enough, it was Hermione's enraged voice that reached his ear.

"Where are you?" she demanded shrilly as he pulled his ear away from the phone. He frowned at it, daring the phone to worsen the hangover he was already going to have in the morning. "I'm the same place I've been since about 5:40. Downstairs. Why? Where are you?"

"I'm with Happy, staring at the stage where you're supposed to be giving a speech in fifteen minutes. I'm currently watching Obie stall for damage control!" He let out a groan, and the Harry Potter part of his brain came swiftly to life. He stood with as much purpose as he could manage, tossing his cards on the table. He turned to the brunette that had been supplying the drinks.

"Look Luv," he began, buttoning up his suit properly once again, "I need to be on stage in less than fifteen minutes. Haven't got time to pay for those. So why don't you take those," he pointed to the pile of chips lying in front of his seat, "and cash them and keep the earnings for yourself?" He winked at her as she gasped.

"But – Mr. Stark, That's got to be close to $3 million!" He smirked.

"Don't spend it all in one place then!" He called over his shoulder as he ran towards the stairs. He waved in response to her shout of gratitude, leaping the stairs two at a time. he came to a screeching halt about eight minutes later next to Pepper and Happy. Sure enough, there was Stane, playing him up to the crowd.

"as Chief Operating Officer of Stark Industries, I have had the honour and the privilege of working with a true patriot," the older man was saying. "He's my friend, he's my family. When his father died, it was my honour to guide and mentor him. I am now happy to say he has become my great mentor".

Neville snorted. Hermione shrugged.

"He's definitely good with a crowd". Harry nodded, ready to step onto the stage.

"without further ado, it gives me great pleasure to present this award to the 2008 winner of the Apoge award for contributions to science and business: Tony Stark!" the crowd let out a great, tumultuous cheer, and he strode onto the stage, waving as he went.

For a moment, when Stane turned to greet him, he seemed surprised – maybe even annoyed? – but he shook his head to clear it of the alcohol, and it was gone. He smiled as the older man placed a hand on his shoulder, and allowed himself to be pulled into a hug. Obie smiled as he reached for the award, though for a moment (probably his imagination) he seemed to pull it back. He took it, and laughed as Stane walked off the stage.

He couldn't really remember the speech. He walked off stage, tossing the award to Neville as he went. He met Stane in the entrance way. His COO wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Sorry, Tones. They gave me the wrong time; lucky you've got Pepper huh?" He said with a laugh. He smiled back, nodding slowly as he shook the other man's hand. Stane walked towards the doors.

"Good luck with the presentation tomorrow bud. Call me when it's done, yeah?" he nodded once more, heading towards the door. As he was opening the door to his Mercedes after slipping a bill into the usher's top pocket, a voice from behind stopped him. He turned around to find his best friend frowning at him.

Hermione snatched his keys off him, climbing in the driver's seat. Harry let out a groan, but fell silent at her glare. He clambered in, throwing back a yawn as he closed the door. She glared for a few moments before letting out a sigh, and running a hand over his shoulder.

"Oh Harry," she murmured softly, letting out a small sad chuckle. "what are we going to do with you, huh?" he peered at her through half-closed eyelids. "Whatcha Mean, Mione?" he asked. She smiled sweetly at the old nickname. One he hadn't used in years now.

"You've changed so much since becoming Tony Stark," she replied, smiling softly at him once more, "you know that, don't you?" he nodded as he smiled back, reaching out a hand. She gripped it tightly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before turning her attention back to the road.

"But not all of it's been for the better. Don't get me wrong, you've lost the saving people thing, which I couldn't be more grateful for. But I'm not sure entirely where Harry ends and Tony begins. I just don't want to lose my best friend, you know?" He nodded.

"Just don't change to much".

"I'll try, I promise. After the Jericho. No more tech for a few weeks, Just us". With that his head dropped against the seat, and, with a soft snore he fell asleep.