Dear Everyone, times are rough right now and I thought I might cheer you up with a tiny update. It's not very long, I know. But I hope it's something.

Since I am a high-risk patient, I can't be out there marching with all these amazing people finally getting their voices heard.

If it hasn't been obvious from everything I have written so far: Black Lives Matter!

Each Day. Every Day. We see you. I hope this time, finally, SOMETHING will change for PoC all over the world.

Stay as safe as you can, while still making sure your voices get heard.

Tony

Tony Stark had always raveled in being the stereotypical rich playboy. He liked fun, women and casual sex. He didn't make a secret out of it, either. Every woman, whose company he had enjoyed, had known it was only for a limited time. Except for Pepper, of course. He wanted fun, yes, not broken hearts and disappointed women. There was only one thing he had been even more careful about: protection. He brought the condoms and he made damn sure to use them. No glove, no love. And he always used his own. No one would trap him into anything.

Sometimes he wondered, if the reason he was THIS careful, was the memory of his father's heartbroken voice when he told his Mom about the daughter he never got to know. No way was that going to happen to Tony!

He would protect himself. His family and any poor potential child that could have been turned into the plaything of an overly enterprising mother. No fucking way.

So how in hell had Tony now ended up like this?

Spending his Sunday sitting on an uncomfortable chair in the midst of bored people scattered around a high school gym.

The Midtown School of Science and Technology Decathlon Team was CRUSHING it and Tony was happy to be there, really. The Kid had spotted him in the crowds early on and smiled and waved at him and Tony had to admit: it made the whole boring endeavour worth it. Not that the Kid was boring, mind you. And Tony didn't have anything better to do right then anyway. So why not show up in support?

The whole concept was still somewhat new to him. At Hogwarts he couldn't really show up for Harry (except for the freaking Triwizard Tournament. And hadn't THAT turned out great?). Same went for his nieces and nephews. Well. He DID of course come to lots of plays and stuff at their Muggle schools before Hogwarts, but still… and that hadn't really been an option lately and… oh damn, he was rambling. How did he manage to ramble, while thinking? Did other people do that, too?

He should really pay more attention to what was going on up front.

"Sorry, excuse me….", someone was trying to squeeze past the people sitting to his left. The hell were they doing in the middle of… Happy?

Tony narrowed his eyes, as the big man tried to make his way towards him.

Tony got up and nodded towards Happy, when the man to his left looked at him in annoyance. It took him about three minutes to actually get free, before he reached Happy and they scuffled out of the Gym and into the hallway.

"What's wrong?", Tony asked, not bothering with polite nonsense.

"Lily has been kidnapped.", Happy declared and Tony felt his whole world tumble down around him.

"No."

"Apparently she was out with… Barnes. They were attacked by a group of wizards. Harry was on vacation and is on his way back to London. That's all we've got right now."

"To London it is then. Now.", Tony's mouth was dry, he had trouble getting the words out.

"The Jet is waiting for us.", Happy agreed, as they walked outside and towards the car Happy brought.

The way towards the private airstrip felt like an eternity, but at the same time Tony couldn't remember the ride at all. Lily. Someone took the Tiny Terror. How was this even possible? It was Harry all over. Harry getting hurt. Harry getting tortured. Harry just… vanishing. This was not supposed to happen. Voldemort was dead. Who in the hell was there, that would be stupid enough to go after Harry? He thought Harry was their saviour. Their hero. Who would… no. Just no. Tony had spend so much time worrying about what was out there, coming for them all. In space. All the alien armies and mystic forces and now it was the damn WIZARDS. Again.

He threw the door open and almost ran up the stairs towards the plane, Happy closely behind him.

Pepper was sitting on one if the seats, phone in hand and worry on her face.

"Pepper? What are you doing here?", Tony stopped dead in his tracks, as the crew closed the door behind him and the engine started around them. Ready to go, at least.

"I left her a message.", Happy informed him and set down across the aisle from the fierce-looking redhead.

"Actually, I was already on my way. Hermione called me. She couldn't reach you and thought I should know anyway."

"My phone is off.", Tony told her, still feeling slightly shocked.

"We gathered.", Pepper told him as they finally left the ground.

They set in silence for a bit, until Tony finally managed to reach for his phone, staring at the 13 new voice messages in shock.

"I didn't really expect you to come.", he suddenly said, noticing the last two messages were from her.

"Why? Just because we aren't together anymore, doesn't mean I don't care about the kids that called me 'Aunt Pepper' for years."

"Right. Sorry. I'm not quite… here.", Tony admitted. There were three messages from Happy. Six from different numbers he didn't know. One from Hermione.

His heart froze. One message, the very first, was from Harry.

He could hear Pepper talking. Her voice soothing, even if her tone was anything but. Harry had called him. Harry had left a message. And Tony had had his phone turned off.

Happy was coming up to his side, Tony could feel his presence. Still he kept staring at it. He should really listen to it, but somehow the idea felt too dangerous.

Someone had taken Lily. The baby of the family. His baby brother's little girl. They had taken her and he, Tony, was hours away.

Abruptly Tony got up. He needed… space.

He set down on the other end of the plane, still looking at his phone, he didn't know for how long.

Happy and Pepper talked for a bit. Someone offered him a drink. Food. He didn't answer. The voices got quieter and finally fell silent.

Carefully, anxiety heavy in his stomach, Tony tapped the message and lifted the phone to his ear. There was a heavy silence. Breathing in the background. Then, finally, his brother's voice.

"Tony? I…."

More silence.

"Tony, someone took Lily. I… We don't know who. Or why. Or if she is okay. We…"

Pause.

"I know you are mad at me. And for good reason. And I am mad at you and I feel I have good reasons, but… Someone took Lily, Tony. Someone took my baby and I just… please call me."

Tony could hear Harry's voice breaking and feel tears running down his own face.

"I just need to hear your voice. I just… please tell me everything is going to be okay. Please. I need you to tell me it's going to be okay."

Silence.

"I can't do this without you."

Longer AN down here, sorry.

In the last 24h, Rowling has again gone ontop Twitter to write hurtful and harmful comments. I know some of you are rightfully disappointed and this message is for you: Whatever Rowling does, she will NEVER take the world of Harry Potter from us. It is out there. It is ours. Her views and comments DON'T matter. If there is one thing I have learned from all those years studiying literature, it is this: The reader gives meaning to a text. We are the ones that will in the lines, relate to themes and give every text meaning. We change the work, as it changes us at the same time. No one can take that away from us.

That being said: I try to write about things and themes I know. The source material for this story is... less than diverse. I try to add things where I can and there are many things I have planned for the future, but the truth is: I am an incredibly privileged white woman. I know that. I can write about what I know and what the people close to me know and have shared with me, but I can't talk about rascism or transphobia, because I just don't KNOW.

If you have a story out there you want to be read: Tell me. I want to read and share your story.

If you feel a character or a situation within the universe of this Fanfiction speaks to you or could be used to tell your story: Write to me. We can talk. Maybe there is something we can do, to make this story something we can all enjoy.

And as always: If I mess up somewhere, please tell me that, too.

We see you. We love you. Your stories are valid. Stay safe.