Written to serve double duty for
May 2022 HH Roll-A-Drabble:
Trope: Creature
Magical Spell: Bombarda/Bombarda Maxima
Crossover Fandom: Marvel
and
2022 Tropes & Fandoms writing event:
Roll Date: 06/25/22
Square: 76/Regular
Trope: Mistaken Identity

Not Again

"Oh, no...not again!"

Hermione groaned under her breath as she heard the loud crash...and the screams that followed it...from right outside the bookstore where she had planned to lazily browse her afternoon away.

Why does this seem to happen every time I come to New York? she asked herself when it became obvious that those plans were ruined. Instead, she rushed to the window with the few other patrons in the shop to see what disaster had befallen the city this time.

After all, during her last solo holiday there...which had been planned in order to visit the plethora of famous museums...she had unexpectedly been sucked into the foray against the invading Chitauri army. The witch did not have time to even worry about the Statute of Secrecy then - mainly because she was too busy throwing as many Bombarda and Bombarda Maxima spells at the murderous creatures and their machines as she could in order to protect as many people as possible. However, the presence of the nearby Avengers...as well as the general chaos of the situation...kept the attention off of her and helped to cover her actions. When it was all over, though, she had still apparated away from the scene as discretely as possible.

She had not planned to return to the city, either.

Nevertheless, just a couple of years later, Hermione found that she could not deny her dear friend when Luna asked for her company as she returned to the States...and her husband, Rolf...after her visit back home to Britain. After some consideration, Hermione even found that she was eager to pick up her holiday where she left off last time...minus the portal creatures, of course. Consequently, she had agreed with Luna's plan.

It turned out to be a good decision - especially since Hermione spent a pleasant couple of days visiting with the extended, fascinating, and beast-loving Scamander family. After that, she decided to head back into the city and enjoy some quality time on her own before her Leave of Absence was over and she had to get back to the daily grind of her life at the Ministry. Plus, she knew well that she certainly did not have anybody or anything special she had to hurry back for, anyway – especially since her very public and volatile breakup with Ron six months earlier. Therefore, she decided to take the time in New York to enjoy herself as much as possible and do all of her favorite muggle-style holiday activities that her pureblood ex had never really understood...much less wanted to do with her.

Unfortunately, however, she realized without a doubt that she had somehow ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time again, when she saw the chaos outside the window as the new giant unidentifiable creatures du jour wreaked havoc in the streets. What she did not see, though, were any of the Avengers this time around. After all, they had been pretty easy to recognize during her last NY disaster. She had even run into the big green smashing guy and the muscular one in the star-spangled costume a couple of times during that battle. They had both watched her warily at first, of course. However, when it became clear that they were all on the same side, they just left her to it – especially since they all obviously needed to work together in order to protect the city to the best of their abilities.

Perhaps they just don't know about this problem yet? she pondered to herself about the absence of the superhero team...even as she also hoped that somebody would be able to inform them in time.

Unfortunately, Hermione knew she was in a muggle sector where she doubted that there were any other witches or wizards around to help. In fact, that was why she had chosen the particular area in the first place. After all, even this far away from England, she was still often recognized in the wizarding world...even if it was just for being Harry Potter's best friend and the female part of the Golden Trio. The lack of Magicals nearby, though, meant that even the Scamanders were too far away to be of immediate assistance. Nevertheless, Hermione knew that she could not let innocent people get hurt just because there was nobody else to step up.

Consequently, she sighed heavily in acceptance of the idea that she would just have to handle the situation herself. Therefore, she reluctantly laid down the book that was in her hands before she also drew the hood of her jumper up. As an afterthought, she proceeded to whisper a spell the Twins had taught her long ago back at Hogwarts that turned her hair color into the particular shade of red that was the Weasley family's trademark. With that small degree of a disguise, she felt better about her anonymity as she rushed out the door and into the street with her wand in hand.

Once she had engaged with the creatures, however, not even Hermione, the head of the British Ministry's reformed Department of Magical Creatures and Beings, could tell if the troublemakers were some sort of animals...or sentient beings...or even if they were from Earth, at all. Therefore, she decided to err on the side of caution and focus on incapacitation instead of annihilation. She would then leave the rest for the appropriate American authorities to decide. She only had a chance to throw a few heavy duty stunning spells at the creatures in question, though, before the ones that were left started to chase her.

Consequently, she formed a hasty, but reasonable, plan to lead them to a less populated space...perhaps one of those underground car parks...where she could better deal with them with less collateral damage. Unfortunately, as she turned to put her plan into action, her complete lack of focus on anything else besides the creatures caused her to run straight into a brick wall. At least, that was what it had felt like - until Hermione looked up quickly in confusion only to find that the obstacle she had collided with was really the hard body of a big muscular blond man.

"Nat? What are you doing here?" he asked in the casual way that one might greet a friend instead of a stranger who had just accosted them.

Merlin, he's gorgeous! Hermione's mind and body automatically noticed...even at such an inconvenient time...and with the knowledge that it was obviously a case of mistaken identity. However, "Sorry!" was all she managed to say aloud as the guy steadied her and her hood fell back.

"You're not Nat," he stated the obvious and then paused. "You do look familiar, though. Have we met before?" he asked politely, but with obvious interest, before he finally looked up to see what had made her run his way in the first place.

"You may want to get behind me, Miss," was then his unexpectedly calm reply to what he saw. He even put a muscular arm out protectively in front of her.

For her part, Hermione was simply not used to such chivalry. After all, she had always been expected to take charge...even with her circle of mainly male friends...back home. She had to admit, however, that it was a nice change that someone was attempting to protect her for once.

Nevertheless, she did not have the time to properly appreciate the unfamiliar feeling, since the creatures were right behind her and she knew that the man...as muscular and good looking as he was...could not possibly be a match for them. Therefore, she intercepted his arm with her own and attempted to push him behind her.

"Let me handle this," she told him. "If you want to help, go see if you can get someone to contact the Avengers. After all, I don't know how long I can keep this up on my own."

The man then stood open-mouthed in surprise behind her as she cast a Stupefy spell first and then an Incarcerus next and left the closest creature knocked out and trussed up neatly in front of them. Nevertheless, the sight did serve to bring to mind the only other time he had seen someone fight so efficiently.

"It's you!" Steve breathed as he took another look at the woman in front of him and finally remembered her as the Unknown Ally from the Chitauri invasion.

At least, that is what he had called her on his report and during his debriefing with Fury after the battle. Steve did not understand then why the man had just sighed and rolled his good eye at the description of her powers...not until the Director had insisted that he sign an unusual NDA...with a quill pen of all things. After all, that was old-fashioned even for him! However, once Fury explained about the secret magical society that lived parallel...with only occasional intersections...to the world he knew, it all made sense to him. He had even met a couple of witches and wizards since then, as well, but the one from the battle had stayed on his mind for some reason.

Even though he was now sure it was the same woman, she had looked different then. In fact, instead of the red hair that she now sported...the color that had temporarily caused him to confuse her for Nat...at the time of the Chitauri invasion she had long lively dark hair that had reminded him a bit of Peggy, instead – especially when he heard her charming accent, too. He had to admit now, though, that he found her to be quite pretty either way.

...

Unfortunately, Hermione was not a Legilimens and so she could not hear any of the thoughts that ran through the man's head. Therefore, she was confused by his obvious recognition – especially since she was sure she had never seen him before. After all, she knew that she definitely would have remembered someone as big and good-looking as he was!Nevertheless, she still had to admit that there was something vaguely familiar about those earnest blue eyes that gazed so intently at her.

The woman finally figured it out when a strange whooshing sound overhead that was followed by a clang on the pavement caused her to look up and see that one of the Avengers...the one they called Iron Man ...had finally arrived as he landed on the street next to her and the man in question.

"Saw the ruckus from the Tower and...since there was nothing good on TV...thought I would come and help you two out. Nice wrangling, by the way, Glinda. I can definitely tell that it's not your first rodeo."

Despite the gravity of the situation around them...and the fact the man was talking specifically to her...and it was obvious from his irreverent mixed metaphor and Wizard of Oz reference that he somehow knew that she was a witch...Hermione still took a moment to marvel that the voice could be heard so clearly through the mechanical suit without magic. She assumed that it must have been engineered that way, but she hated to admit that she did not have enough of a muggle scientific background anymore to understand how. Maybe she should take some classes...

However, the intriguing thought of continuing her muggle education was interrupted by the voice again as it continued.

"At any rate, thought you might need this, Cap!"

Iron Man then detached a large disc from his back and handed it to the other man. The sight of the easily recognizable shield...combined with the cheerfully familiar greeting...immediately brought to mind the identity of the man she had accidentally assaulted.

"You're Captain America," Hermione breathed in recognition as she finally understood why those blue eyes had not been those of a complete stranger. After all, she had seen them underneath his cowl when they had fought together the last time she had been in New York.

"Steve...Steve Rogers, Ma'am," he countered, seemingly relieved that she remembered him, "and we really need to stop meeting this way." He smiled at her and then watched, quite impressed, as she paused their conversation long enough to put another creature out of commission for the time being. "Your hair was different last time, though," he said, once he had her attention again.

"It's a disguise," Hermione admitted sheepishly as she touched her hair and it momentarily flickered back to her normal brunette color...right before she pointed her wand at another creature and put it to sleep.

They were then interrupted by their companion. "So, we're doing things the friendly touchy-feely way this time around, are we?" Iron Man...or Tony Stark, as Hermione finally remembered the name of the famous billionaire genius...snarked as he gave them a warning. "You may want to cover your ears or something, then. Otherwise, this is going to be very uncomfortable."

Hermione quickly caught on to what he meant. Consequently, she had just enough time to throw a Muffliato Maximus spell over both herself and the super soldier to act as a silencing shield before the man in the mechanical suit sent out a sound pulse that not only shattered the nearby windows, but also immediately rendered the rest of the creatures unconscious, as well.

"Thank you," Steve told her gratefully when he realized what she had done.

However, Hermione simply demurred as she instead went to insure that the creatures stayed immobilized once they woke up again. Therefore, the man also made sure to stand next to her with his shield at the ready...just in case. However, his assistance was not needed. Iron Man had done a thorough job and the troublemakers were all out for the count.

As if he had been magically summoned, the Gryffindor-colored mechanical suit immediately appeared next to them and its faceplate slid open to reveal the man inside. "I just intercepted an encoded message that the military is on their way," Tony told them. "I hope it's not General Ross. I hate that guy. He's such a dick! Trust me, it takes one to know one. I'm guessing, though, Glinda, that you don't want to still be here for any of that...no matter who's in charge. Right?"

"Right!" she agreed vehemently. "If we were in England, it might be different. However, I don't have any authority here, so I need to let MACUSA know about this in case they need to intervene," she paused to wave her hand towards the chaos before she continued. "However, if you know about us, then you also know that..."

"You're supposed to remain hidden and unrecognized...hence the disguise." Steve finished the statement for her before he nodded in understanding. After all, he did work for SHIELD, so he knew all about secrecy...even though his eyes reflected his unhappiness that they obviously did not have time to get better acquainted this time around, either.

Hermione definitely reciprocated his disappointment. However, she knew that it was best if she did not get caught up in a confrontation between MACUSA and the muggle military – which could become an even bigger international incident if she was involved, as well. Therefore, it would be much better for everyone to let the Avengers handle it, instead – especially since she had unintentionally made herself look like one of them in the first place. At least her disguise had worked to keep her secret. That was the only good thing she could think of as she smiled sadly at Steve before she took out her wand and prepared to apparate away.

"Glinda, wait!" Tony interjected before she could do so. "You guys do that abracadabra disappearing and reappearing thing, right?" At her confused...yet still slightly amused at his terminology...nod, he continued. "Well, Cap and I will be in that building over there." He pointed to the tallest tower in the vicinity, "if you want to pop by the top floor, the penthouse, for dinner tonight...and meet some of the others? Around 7:00?"

Steve looked at her hopefully and she found that she was powerless to resist those eyes of his, so she accepted the invitation. "I'll be there," she replied with a wide smile, "and by the way, my name is Hermione."

"Hermione...I like that!" Steve's smile widened, as well, but before he could say anything else, he was interrupted by his friend.

"Glinda it is!" Tony grinned at his own supposedly witty remark before he paused to listen to something inside his helmet. "Now, you better grab your broom and sweep on out of here if you don't want to meet our guys and gals in green," he told her. "They're almost here."

Hermione heeded his warning and with just one more goodbye wave to Steve, she apparated away with a sharp crack. Therefore, she did not hear Tony's typical innuendo-laced remark after her disappearance.

"Capsicle, I saw the way you looked at her...and I promise that I'm going to get you melted if it's the last thing I do!"

However, Hermione probably would not have minded if she had indeed heard – especially since her thoughts were less crude, but otherwise quite similarly engaged! In fact, as she reappeared at the MACUSA Visitor Center to let her contact there know what had happened, she realized that she now had high hopes that...despite its intial setbacks...and with a little assistance from a certain Captain...perhaps her current trip would not turn out to be a complete disaster, after all.

In fact, if things went really well, she might even consider extending her leave from the Ministry and sticking around for a while to take some of those classes she had been thinking about...