Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to be – well, all over the place, especially when it comes to the main character and their POV. Because of this I'm not going to use my usual style of constantly putting down "… POV". Instead, I am just going to put the words "General POV" down at the top of the chapter and if there is a change in main character POV, I will indicate this by putting the first word of that paragraph in Bold writing.
All clear? Good,

Venquine1990

Chapter 06
Preparing and Planning

13th of August 1995
Helicarrier, above England
General POV

"You lot disgust me." I snarl as I step away from my best friend and the others in the Order, the sight of Harry's eyes tearing up as he turned to walk away constantly repeating itself in my mind alongside the quick look he had send me beforehand. Moody winces and Tonks cringes, but Molly glares at me, only to be silenced by Clint speaking up: "I second that. I've never seen such cowardice in those who claim to be brave warriors, let alone friends of the fallen.
Tell me, how are the fallen supposed to be remembered if those who knew them hog their knowledge to themselves and not share it with those who were close, but too young to remember when the lost passed away? Where is the fairness in keeping such information from people whose rights to know the fallen were taken from them much too soon? And what are you glaring for, woman? Did you not see the look Harry sent Sirius?"
The woman's face turns to shock and the man named Rogers, who probably has a first name as well and who protected my boy when Dumbledore tried to Obliviate him, snarks: "Guess not." Before he motions for me to walk with him with his head. I nod at the blonde and buffed up man and follow him further down the hallway we had entered after leaving the lift. The others try to join us shortly afterwards, but to my shock the others in Rogers' team start to walk between us.

Only the twins and Ron are let through and Stark turns to look at the others as he says: "You need to use your time more wisely. Just follow us to the medical bay and think about the ultimatum Harry set you lot. And I don't want to include you, little lady, but I can tell that you think Harry was in the wrong to put adult men on the spot like this, regardless of the fact that it's about a wrong they committed against him and his."
I turn my head just a bit and see that Hermione is looking quite conflicted. This really disgusts me as it, again, proves that the girl doesn't put her friendship in the same high regard that I know Harry does. I shake my head and think: "Lily and James wanted me to raise Harry should anything happen to them and wanted SHIELD to train him. It looks like they are the only ones, other than these three redheads, that I can trust to bring honor to my fallen friends."

I am walking between the only man Harry seems to trust and those that have abandoned him these past fourteen years. I know that there are also a few others walking behind me, but they seem to either disagree with Harry and his terms or be conflicted about whether or not they should give Harry right. I can understand that the two elder male redheads are feeling like this, seeing they are family with the red-haired banshee, but the fact that the three youngest gingers are firmly on Team Harry doesn't do much to make me feel any better about these two men.
But while I walk, I tap the side of my armor and ask: "Hey Cyclops, would you mind if I connect JARVIS to the SHIELD mainframe? To help with the surgery that is coming up?""I'm surprised you haven't done so already, Stark." Fury responds and I say: "I may be hardheaded, but I do learn my lessons when needed." This makes Rogers try to hold back a snort, but he also sends me a proud smile, which minimalizes the annoyance I feel at him.
"Go ahead, Stark." Fury tells me and I tap another button, this one on my arm as I say: "JARVIS, we have green light.""I connected as soon as Director Fury gave permission, sir. I am now synchronizing my data with that of SHIELD." I nod and the grateful smile I see young Harry give me, his eyes shining to prove that he is trying to hold back tears of pain, which makes me grin in pride and strengthens my determination to see this through.

We arrive at the medical bay a few minutes after Stark got Fury's permission to connect his computer and AI with the SHIELD mainframe. I've been keeping my eye on Harry the entire time we were walking as there is something about the boy that draws me to him. But as we walked, I heard a soft voice whisper from the wall to my left: "He will need you. Be there for him when he cannot ask it of you. Your gift is what he needs now the most."
And because we're heading towards the boy's upcoming surgery, I already know what this means, even if I wonder who the mystery voice could belong to. As we reach the surgery, I spot Fury standing behind Dumbledore, who is forced to sit in a chair, being held there by Fury, Banner, Thor and the chains that connect his arms, wrists and legs to the chair.

The three men are behind a window with the curtains open around them, but there is also another room between them and us. Fury is the first to spot us, but he also locks eyes with Barton for longer than he does with the rest of us, a private conversation going on between the two through their gazes only. The two nod after a few minutes, Fury first and Barton second. "Double shift. Two people are going to be at Dumbledore's side all throughout the surgery.
I will take the full shift and the rest of you switch with each other every hour to aid me. I have the most experience with Mind Games, but if Dumbledore tries something I can't fight off, I will need you guys to help me. Nat, want to go first?" The Russian nods, a look of concerned determination on her face. I look at Harry again, somehow feeling as if he might be able to help us all get bonds like theirs. And just by looking at how his friends stand close to him, I'm sure that I'm right.

"Greetings everyone, I'm Marian, the Head Surgeon of the SHIELD medical bay. I did some research into your world and customs and want to make a little something clear before we get started. I am a Muggle. I cannot perform magic, cast spells nor do rituals. I am saying this, because something that I know is standard procedure in the Muggle world is basically taboo in yours. However, if we want this surgery to work, you're going to have to just get over it."
A few of those standing with the Avengers look troubled as I say this and the young brunette speaks up: "She means blood. And I know, but it's not a ritual, it's meant to keep Harry alive and keep his vitals stable while they work to get the magic out of his scar. And just so you lot know, blood has been used, for this exact reason, in surgery for years, if not decades. Using blood like this helps to keep patients stable and that ensures safe surgeries."

The same people that looked troubled before still look troubled now and I glare at them as I snarl: "It's either this or you follow Dumbledore's little sacrifice the poor lamb plan. Your choice." And instantly all those that had looked troubled now look to be on board. I roll my eyes at this lot and say: "Good. Now, Mr. Stark, Agent Potter, if you would please follow me. The rest of you, please stay behind this window. I will not close the curtains, but I won't allow other guests either. My medical bay, my rules. Deal with it."
"Do you – have to be so rough?""With people who would rather argue with me and for the sake of my patients, friends and colleagues? Yes." And with that I aim my finger at the window in front of my medical bay, telling them without words to just do as I say before guiding the brilliant inventor and the young but equally brilliant teenager into my medical bay. I don't like the idea of having a criminal watch me work, but want what Harry wants; for 1981 to see how wrong he was.

"JARVIS please run a scan of Harry's physical form and add that new ray that was developed last week to your sensors." I tell my closest confident, friend and assistant as Harry goes to lie down. A beam of light goes over the boy as he lies on the bed, the way he remains motionless as the scan runs over his form really impressing me. I replace my face mask and say: "Show me the results, JARVIS, and copy them so Marian can see them too, please."
And on the screen in front of me I see a scan of Harry's entire body appear as JARVIS's mechanical voice sounds in my ears: "Sir, I have detected large portions of what I can only assume is dark magic in Mr. Potter's blood. The most of it is still congregated at his scar, but it seems as if more and more has been able to spread through his body over the past month or two. We would need to flush out more than 70% of his blood if we wish to rid him of this disease."
I curse at this and yet I don't hear Marian reprimand me, which I assume is because she has already come to the same conclusion as JARVIS just told me. I slip my mask back up and turn to her as I ask: "Okay, how do we proceed?" The woman looks at me troubled and I give her a soft nod, to which she responds with the question: "JARVIS, please calculate the chance of Agent Potter's survival if we were to perform a Blood Transfusion."

Potter turns from us back to looking at the ceiling and while a small part of me wonders if the boy wouldn't rather already be under the anesthetic at this point, JARVIS distracts me and says: "I'm afraid that, because I do not have any medical files on any of Agent Potter's friends, I can only calculate his chance based on the amount of blood SHIELD has available."
Marian nods, but then both of us and Potter blanch as JARVIS, his voice sounding just as electronic as always, states: "Fifty-four percent, sir." This makes the two of us share a horrified look and I ask: "And if we were to add the blood of, say, someone on the Avengers team?" Silence is our answer for a good several minutes and this makes us both jump when JARVIS replies: "I have done extensive research, sir, and the best option available would be Captain Steve Rogers, sir.

It would increase the chance from 54 to 66%, sir." I grimace at this as it's by far not enough and I head out of the room as I say: "Alright, listen up you lot and listen good, because I will not accept even a word of interruption or argument. The dark magic in Harry's scar has moved and is now coursing through 70% of his blood. We can remove about 50% of that with a Blood Transfusion, but for that we need both the blood that SHIELD has available and more.
Without the extra blood, Harry's chance at survival are only 54%. If we were to add Captain Roger's blood, that gets raised up 66%. To me, that's still not enough, so we want to add your blood as well. There is just one problem. No one here has any information on any of your blood groups." And to my shock I see confusion and blank looks on most of their faces. "You lot do know that there are different kinds of blood groups, right?" I ask them.

"You – you're not talking about Muggleborn, Half-blood and Pureblood – are you?" The young red-haired girl, who has actually kept quiet this entire time bar when the old man tried to attack Harry, asks and I shake my head as I say: "No, I'm talking about blood groups. A, B, AB and O. And even then there is A+ and A- and the same counts for the others. And someone with A+ can receive blood from someone with A+, A-, O+ or O- blood, but only give it to A+ and AB+."
The group seems astounded at all this and I sigh as I say: "Now, I know that you lot have your reservations about –." But then suddenly JARVIS interrupts me and says: "Sir, I beg your pardon, sir, but I have done some looking into the data we have gathered on the Magical World and their rituals and I have found something you might find useful." Instantly my AI assistant has my attention and the mechanical voice continues:
"If we were to add a Blood Adoption Ritual to the Blood Transfusion, we would not only be able to drain Agent Potter of the full 70% of his blood that is contaminated, we'll also increase his survival chance from 66 to 78%, sir." "Well done, JARVIS." I mutter and spot the others looking confused, other than the Granger girl, whose eyes have widened. "Another time. Back to what I was saying, I know you have your reservations, but blood is essential to all of this.
It will keep Harry's vitals stable, it will allow us to drain him of the blood that is contaminated and I just heard from JARVIS, again later, that if we add a Blood Adoption Ritual to the whole process, we will be able to get the whole thing done and not just drain 50% of his contaminated blood. However, we can only do that if one of you turns out to have a blood group compatible with his.""So you need us to sacrifice some of our blood."

"Now." The same mysterious voice as before whispers in my ear just as the elder balding man asks his question and I step forward. Stark looks at me and I ask: "What is Harry's blood group?" Stark seems to get this information from JARVIS and he says: "He has O+." Making me smile and I say: "Same here. Combine that with the serum that is coursing through my veins." And Stark smirks as he says: "Exactly. Care to do the honors?"
I nod and another nurse comes out of a room nearby, apparently having heard everything that was going on as he has the required equipment with him. I move over to a nearby seat and pull the sleeve of my uniform up to just above my upper arm. I twist it to give the nurse access to the artery on the inside of my elbow. The man gently pricks the drip into my arm and gently lets a steady stream of my blood seep out, collecting it into a bag.
The wizards near me are all looking at this in utter amazement and astonishment and one of them asks: "And it – it doesn't hurt? No pain?" I shake my head and say: "The prick of the drip might hurt the first time it gets put in, but to me that's no more painful than a mosquito bite, it hardly hurts at all. I guess that's just another difference between magical blood rituals and regular blood donation." And this information seems to calm down most of their last nerves.

"You said you want to do a Blood Adoption Ritual?" I ask, feeling beyond agitated at the fact that Harry actually cares for Black and doesn't seem to hate him for abandoning him like he is accusing the others, like Remus and Alastor, of doing. The Adventurers – or whatever they're called – turn to me with cold looks on their faces and the Star-man states: "Only if one of you has a blood group that is compatible with his, just like Rogers."
"But our rituals don't require those Blood group thingies." I argue with the man, who snaps back: "It might not, but the compatibility will increase Harry's survival chances. And remember what the nurse said; it's either this or Dumbledore's little sacrifice plan." And the fact that a man that I have been looking up to for so long has such horrible plans for such a sweet, kind, innocent child still has me reeling every time I get reminded of it.

"Let's just get them tested, Stark. The sooner we have our results, the sooner we can start the ritual as well as the surgery." Rogers tells his arrogant partner in crime before he turns to us and says: "Just hold out your elbow the way you saw me do. We won't take as much of your blood as with me as we only want to check your blood group. However, if you're compatible, we will have to ask someone else, who is also compatible, to do what I did."
We all nod, even though I really hope that none of my precious little babies will be considered compatible. Black pulls up the sleeve of his robe as the Healer that worked on Rogers walks up to him and while I really don't like the fact that he is just going down the line and that Remus, Ronnie, Hermione and Arthur are between him and me, I make sure to already have my arm up and raised by the time the man reaches me.
With each of us the man only takes enough blood to fill a small metal tube and he hands each of them to the Stark person, who seems to be using some kind of light that comes from the crazy mask he keeps putting on to do something to the blood, even if nothing has visibly changed about it afterwards. My precious Ginny is the last to get her blood taken and after Stark repeats his process, he removes his mask and says:

"Well, I scanned each of your needles for the blood group and have some really, really good news." This makes me grin and I can already imagine the defeated look on Black's face when he hears that Harry will officially be made my son at the end of this strange procedure. But these thoughts are brought to a screeching halt as the red and gold-armored man turns to Black himself and says: "Congratulations, Sirius. You're a blood group O+, just like your godson."
"WHAT? WHAT ABOUT ME?" I screech and the man turns cold again as he snaps: "You're B-, you can neither give Harry the blood as Harry's body will fight the strange blood group nor receive his should it ever become necessary as your body will react similar to his." I gape at the man and then realize something. Praying that I'm right I ask: "And – and – and – what about Arthur?" My husband also looks curious and Stark answers:

"He's A+. He is compatible for receiving Harry's blood, but not for giving Harry some of his own. A Blood adoption Ritual is out of the question with either of you and you can't donate blood to help sustain Sirius either." The man turns his face and then, in a tone that is much calmer and more civilized, continues: "Unlike most of your kids, on the other hand. Both of those twins of yours are O's, though one of them is O+ and the other O-.
Still, both are compatible with keeping Sirius' body stable during the procedure. Though there is one thing, Sirius. JARVIS, while I was talking, did a bit of scanning and researching, both into the upcoming procedure and into the ritual. He and I know that it's normally the case that you yourself perform the ritual, but he told me that the survival chances will lower with 3% if we do it like that. Better let someone you trust do the vocal part."

I nod in understanding with the man's explanation, while trying not to feel a sense of glee over the fact that Molly and Arthur are both incapable of performing the ritual that will give them the right to claim my godson as their own. Yet before I make my decision, I ask: "What about Tonks?" And while this astounds a few of those around me, Tonks does also share my curiosity. "To be honest, I couldn't get a proper scan on her blood. It read O+- for some reason."
Tonks cringes at this and says: "It's probably because of my ability. If I'm not in my natural state, my magic courses through my blood to keep my ability up and I guess that affects my blood group as well. I could change to my regular looks and donate some more blood." Stark looks both intrigued and excited as he nods and my cousin slowly drops her usual looks, turning herself back to the looks I remember her having when she was a little girl.

The nurse returns to her with another needle and takes another bit of blood, but actually takes less this time before handing the item to Stark who again lowers his mask and uses the beam coming from the eye sockets of the mask to scan the blood. "Heh, you're an O-. You can donate blood, but not receive it. That will definitely work for the procedure." I nod at this and turn to Tonks as I say: "Just wanted to know. I wouldn't mind having you perform the ritual, cous."
My second favorite cousin beams at this, but then I turn to Remus, who I have been furious with since finding out that he hardly had any contact with Harry during his time at Hogwarts. But then Stark says: "We didn't test him. We wanted to, but then JARVIS told me that the lycanthropy is in his blood and that it would retract the 12% the Blood adoption ritual would add to his survival chance, even if we used it to keep you stable."
This makes both of us grimace and I mutter at my best friend: "Guess you just got another chance at a little more time to think through your future, old friend." Remus winces at this, obviously noticing the cold tone in my voice as I try to stay civil, even though I would rather call him by his last name right now. I turn from him to my cousin and say: "Guess it's going to be either you or one of the Weasleys then, cousin. Though I'd rather let the final choice be Harry's."

Tony, Steve, Tonks, the twins and Sirius all enter the room a few minutes after they left and while I was able to see everything that was going on in the hallway through the window between us having the curtains wide open, the door is too far away from my bed. Because of this, I only heard their voices, though I definitely did hear Mrs. Weasley's scream loud and clear. I cringe at this as I have no interest in being her son anymore after her stunt at the bridge.
"Too bad, though. Like Sirius, Mr. Weasley has been quite the admirable father-figure to me these past few years. I even recommended him to Fury after my Third, thanks to how willing he was to acknowledge my accomplishments and not try to coddle me in the sweet embrace of ignorance as the others thought I needed to be." I think to myself as Sirius speaks up: "Hey kiddo, don't know if you heard, but –."
"I did. JARVIS informed Nurse Marian at the same time he informed Tony. She told me all about it while you guys were donating blood to see who was compatible for the ritual. I guess you came out positive?" Sirius nods and says: "Alongside the twins and Tonks, yeah. JARVIS also calculated that having someone else do the vocal part of the ritual will increase your survival chance. And that we need someone's blood to keep me steady throughout.

I was debating between Tonks and the twins and would like you to make the final decision, kiddo." I sit up at this and gently hum, trying to outweigh the options against each other. "I have a pretty close bond with the twins. Fred and George have been there for me ever since they apologized for turning on me in First. They've been my shields whenever the student body turned on me and worked hard to make those that did feel stupid for doing so.
On the other hand, Tonks is Sirius' cousin, so that creates a blood connection. And considering this is needed both for the sake of the ritual and to keep Sirius stable –." At this line of thought, I mutter: "JARVIS, please do a bit of math for me. Would Sirius have a more positive chance of remaining stable through the surgery with Tonks' blood or the twins'?""The blood of Mss. Tonks would have more positive results, sir, though only because of the relation.
Misters Weasley are O+ and O- respectively and Mr. Black is also O+. He, like yourself, is able to receive blood from both of them." I nod and then realize something. "A compromise." And this thought makes me lower my voice even more as I whisper: "JARVIS, keep this between us. What if I let first Fred perform the ritual and then George?" And while silence is my answer for a bit, JARVIS eventually answers: "It would increase your survival chances to 90%, Agent Potter."

"I've got it." Harry says, speaking up even though he had almost soundlessly been muttering something a few minutes ago. He smirks at us and says: "JARVIS did tell me that this is a most unusual idea and that there are only a few known records, but I know a way we can do this, make everyone happy and even increase my survival chance." Instantly the lad has our full attention, yet his next words astound me.
"We have Tonks be the one to donate blood to keep Sirius stable, have Fred perform the ritual – and then have George do it a second time over. It will increase my chances up to 90%.""JARVIS, is that really possible?" I ask, barely able to believe that this could make the success rate of the procedure almost guaranteed and my ever trustworthy friend answers: "Yes sir. I have found records of this happening a few times over the past four centuries.
One record even shows it being done by several members of a single family, both the parents and the two eldest of the kids. It gave the child that was being adopted a mayor boost in his physical and magical health and brought him back from the brink of death, which according to the record, was the reason behind the ritual being performed, sir." Instantly I make a silent mental note to myself to further study this record and I turn to the group.

"Tony, what if I donate two sacks of blood instead of one and use both to keep Harry stable through the procedure?" Rogers asks before I can discuss the rest of the plan with the group and I call on my friend again. "Sir, doing so would increase the chance even more. From 90 up to 96%. It might even cause a similar reaction in Agent Potter's physical health as with the record." And while Harry clearly doesn't look too skinny or underweight, I can only imagine how healthy he'll be after getting a double dose of Cap's Super Soldier Serum-invested blood.
I give a nod to the Captain, who smirks and holds up two bags, which shocks me as he says: "I heard some mystery voice tell me that Harry might need me sometime soon. When you spoke up about the blood groups and explained the whole thing, the voice spoke again and said that I should act. So when I had the nurse use my blood for the demonstration, I send her a look and she made sure to switch the two bags once the first one was full.
The serum made it so that I hardly felt the extra loss of blood. Just felt a slight bit woozy for all of two minutes afterwards." I nod, feeling very much thrilled at the fact that we are going to be able to get this done and turn to Nurse Marian. The woman nods and turns to the group at large as she says: "Here's the plan. Both Sirius and Harry will be under narcosis during the procedure, so it will be up to you two to perform the ritual while I perform the surgery.

Do not start the ritual until I say so. I will remain in contact with JARVIS and we will run scans through both Harry and Sirius' bodies, the same as the one that determined that 70% of Harry's blood is contaminated. Once JARVIS gives me the signal, the two of you perform the ritual one at a time." The two nod and one of them says: "It's a good thing we need some time to wait.""Yeah, gives us time to plan on what each of us should say."
I nod at the two, feeling very proud over how serious the two are obviously taking it. Captain Rogers then lies down the bags of his blood on the small side table between Harry's bed and the one to the left of it, which Sirius goes to lie down on. Godfather and godson then share a smile and each reach out a hand to the other, grasping the other's hand firmly and lovingly before Harry turns back to looking up at the ceiling, Sirius following his example.

"Remember boys, normal blood adoption rituals require either me saying the words myself or you guys asking me questions that I will answer positively to. This time around, you guys need to give my comatose body orders that will tie my blood to Harry's and make it his as it is being transferred from my body to his. You two need to charge that transferred blood with the ritual and its purpose and make sure that the ritual makes me Harry's sole guardian, regardless of the opinion of others."
Fred and George both nod, the look in their eyes telling me they know just fine that I mean their mother. But I send them a look that gently says: "Not just her, others too." And the two give me another nod, this one filled with silent gratitude. "I'll go explain to the rest why these three are staying here. If you need more of my blood, let me know. Good luck." Steve says as he and Tony leave the room, closing the door behind them.

Wow, that happened,
To be honest, I wanted to use this chapter to write down the surgery, but the whole thing with blood groups and the wizards not knowing about that took over and got a life of its own. Also, about halfway through, I had a bit of a realization; I know NOTHING about surgery. I haven't watched any medical dramas or other kind of ER like shows in forever, so I am pretty clueless on certain terms when it comes to procedures like this.
Also, I did look up blood groups and all that – good thing too as I was calling it blood types instead of groups – but that is as far as I am willing to go when it comes to keeping this whole thing realistic. I have no idea if you can use Blood Transfusion to drain someone of 50 to 70% of their blood, but for the sake of this story, let's say you can.
Magic, people, fanfic magic,

Venquine1990