Hey everyone,
You know, I'm the kind of writer that likes to keep their readers up to date on the process of their stories. And while it might not mean anything anymore, I just want you all to know that a large bit of last chapter was deleted and rewritten. The whole arrival in the cafeteria wasn't part of the original chapter. Instead, they went back to the brig and Harry chose Mr. Weasley to go with Steve. This because I forgot a little tidbit about a few characters.
They – have – JOBS! Yeah, I felt a little stupid when I realized that I hadn't included that in my original plan, so I deleted a good 25 to 50% of the last chapter. And once I wrote the whole Apparating thing and everything that followed, I felt loads better. The whole scene with Thor and Dumbledore also helped as the transition from the end of the original chapter to that felt like a major writers block to me.
Again, thank magic,

Venquine1990
PS. The chapter title is going to have two meanings, because – I felt like it.

Chapter 09
Dumb Guards

13th of August 1995
Helicarrier, above England
Dumbledore's POV

It really was the most incredible experience to be inside the mind of someone who was actually centuries, if not millennia older than myself. Yet this God obviously never encountered someone who could use magic to mess with his mind – or perhaps just not Wizard's true magic – and so he was easy to convince that Nurse Marian was his enemy and that she should be struck down. Yet somehow my hold on him was not as strong as a hit to the head.
The minute the archer hit his friend with his bow, I actually felt my grasp on his mind snap and felt like I had been violently pushed out of his mind by Occlumency walls or something. And the Archer's words to me were very clear. He did have experience with someone controlling his mind and he knew the signs to boot. I felt really annoyed at this, but decided to just bide my time. I did use a bit of wandless magic to check the food, but it came up clean.

I want to compliment the Healer for her care, but considering who she's working for – and more importantly with – I have little interest in doing so. I do play with the idea of suggesting this potential to Remus, but the fact that the once loyal werewolf now has his back turned to me and is just eating his own meal while he's guarding me of all things speaks more than a thousand words. The one potential wizard is now lost to me.
But then I get an idea. "Remus, I wonder something. Does William know that I have been paying you?" I ask him while I think to myself: "If I'm going down, I'm taking whoever I can with me." Remus does tilt his head my way slightly, but then the archer ruins everything. "Harry does." He grins before he takes the last bite of his bun with scrambled eggs and cheese. Remus turns to him instead and the Archer returns the gesture as he says:

"And he doesn't blame you, but the old man. He knows old beardy over here lied to you. Harry even admitted that he was impressed with how believable old beardy made the lie in the first place. No Remus, the money you've been receiving, isn't from Dumbledore's vaults or the goodness of his heart. It's been draining the Potter Vaults for the past few years." Remus whitens something horrible, yet I just don't care anymore as I spot another plan ruined.
And then the archer makes it one level worse as he looks up and loudly proclaims: "And speaking of our favorite Curse Breaker. Any chance you can get in contact with your superiors at the bank and ask them to start transferring the stuff back where it came from? You can tell them that SHIELD will contact them later for compensation." And the sound of William's voice coming from one of the walls startles me as it says:

"Consider it done. Any idea on which employee approved or oversaw these transfers? I'll need to report that." And to my absolute horror the archer actually answers: "He's known as employee #21.2.5, which is funny as, in alphabetical terms, that stands for U.B.E, which are the second, fourth and sixth letter of beardy's name. Now that's a nice way to try and remain under the radar. Too bad SHIELD checks for stuff like that. Bad for him, that is."
"I'll make sure to report him. And Dumbledore, you now have the MACUSA, the ICW and potentially Gringotts on your neck. They might just see this as you trying to scam them out of potential business with SHIELD, which is the whole reason I'm still here, unlike –." At this point I tune the man out as a realization suddenly hits me. Gringotts knows who SHIELD is. The Goblins know more about the Muggle World than I do.
I sit down on the glass seat that goes around almost the entire circular wall of my cell and just hold onto my tray of food. I don't really feel like eating as the idea that I have lost the right to be called the Expert on all things Muggle to Arthur never really bothered me, mostly because the Weasleys were always indisputably loyal to me. But the idea I might have lost it to beasts who are not supposed to even like humans is just horrifying.

"Hey, eat up. Unlike you, I'd rather not have Marian mad at me." The archer states and I look up, yet I feel confused and ask: "How do you know that I'm not eating?""Simple, there are mirrors all over this room. I don't have to look you directly in the eye to keep an eye on you." This startles me and then Remus snorts and says: "I actually studied Occlumency and Legilimency back when I was a teen. It doesn't work through reflections."
I snarl at the man for this as I'm sure he told them this to prevent me from using it to scare them. The God turns to him and says: "I thank you for informing us of this, but you need not concern yourself. We dealt with my stepbrother, Loki, the God of Mischief, just a few weeks ago. We are quite well aware of what tricks Dumbledore might be up to. And as you saw, our teamwork and trust in one another makes for a mighty fine resistance to his schemes."
I frown at this and start to munch on my meal. And while I do, I just decide to go back to an old plan of mine. "You might be fed and you might think you're ready, but in the end, I have always been the one with the longest breath. I may not know how long this journey will take, but I'm sure I can wear them out before we arrive wherever you lot plan to take me." And with that I turn to just stare at their backs as I hope to creep them out.

But little under an hour later, my plan is again ruined. From the other side of where we came in, two men come in and my heart sinks a little as I spot William being one of them. The other is the man with the strange suit of armor. And suddenly I curse myself for my folly. Instead of me trying to control the God's mind, I should have used the access he granted me to learn more about this weird group. I let out a curse underneath my breath.
"Guard shift, Remus. You and Thor are relieved. We'll be rotating every hour. Just follow Thor. Harry and the others are still in the cafeteria. Fury decided they might as well sit out the rest of the journey there." Lupin nods and when he passes William, the man whispers something in his ear. And because William has his back turned to me, I can't find out what it is. All I can do is realize it's something big as Lupin's eyes widen for a split second.

Yet the werewolf doesn't show any other response. He doesn't even nod at William. Instead he just walks on and out of the huge room my cell is in. And just like the Archer, William and the man in the weird body armor turn their backs on me and take the positions now vacated by Lupin and the God. But William does seem to pay attention to me as he says: "The Goblins are going to be at your trial." And just those words terrify me.
Not because I fear those domesticated beasts, but because of a whole other reason. Fudge might have been trying to soil my name and besmirch my reputation this whole summer, but I know his strategy won't work long term and that, once Tom makes his return, people will flock to me again and beg me to save them. This will not happen if my reputation gets publicly blackmailed by the Goblins and whatever they might do as punishment for my transgression.
"It was for the Greater Good. I needed that damned mutt at least somewhat close to the brat, so that he could be there for Black once the brat was gone, due to his damned scar." But then a thought strikes me and from this an idea forms. I want to look down and make it look like I am focusing on the last bits of my meal while I think it through, but the three in front of me speak up once again. And it's the man in costume that speaks up, quite loudly even.

"Hey William, I've been wanting to talk business with you and your old man since you lot came in. You and your folks are into our kind, right?" William hardly tilts his head to look at the man and nods. And somehow, just somehow, I know that the strange man is smiling as he asks if the redhead is willing to do a bit of a financial test with him. Instantly I feel as if the crazy bastard shot himself in the foot and smirk in triumph.
William seems to look up at something for a few moments and then Molly's voice sounds from somewhere and tells her son to go ahead. Instantly I am on guard as the Weasleys were never willing to risk their low financial status before. William gives the metal freak another nod and the man proves that he has a few screws loose in both his suit and his brain as he asks: "If you were to go grocery shopping for dinner, how much would the costs be?"
William actually takes the man's question seriously as he seems to be thinking his answer through for a moment before he answers that it would cost them 16 Galleons and 4 Sickles. He also adds that he included both the traitorous brat and the know-it-all in that. The metal freak nods and he seems to be thinking himself for a moment as he mutters the question of 1 Galleon being worth 5 pounds. William nods to confirm this and then the freak continues his test.

"I don't this rude or anything, but do you know your old man's monthly salary?" William sighs, yet from where I'm sitting I can actually see that he's not turning red, like most of his family usually does, and then he answers that Arthur gets paid 20 Galleons and a single Sickle. For a moment I get the feeling that the other man wants to turn his head my way, but instead he asks the most comical and ridiculous question I have heard him ask so far.
"So why don't you just go to the Muggle world for your groceries?" William turns to him in shock and I try with all I am not to burst out laughing. Instead of that I just lean back and cross my arms as I feel as if I am getting free entertainment before I will have to fight a battle that, I now feel, I have a much higher chance to win. The metal freak shrugs and mentions how he knows that the Burrow is near a Muggle town and that conversion is a thing in Gringotts.

He asks William why the Weasleys don't just covert the Galleons to Pounds and then do their groceries. I raise my eyebrow at this as I just don't understand what the man is trying to accomplish or why he is digging himself such a humiliating grave of incompetence. Yet William seems intrigued and asks: "Mr. Stark, if I were to give you a list of what we normally buy for dinner, could you tell us the price?" My gaze switches between the two once again and I revel in the fact that, without me needing to use magic, he is entertaining me and ruining himself. The metal freak accepts the challenge and William lists several things.
A few different kinds of meat, four different kinds of vegetables that I know Molly has been trying and failing to grow herself for years, milk, potatoes and a few ingredients that Molly usually uses to make her favorite dessert treats. The metal freak nods and raises his right arm to his face as he says: "Jarvis, look up the three best and cheapest grocery stores in Ottery St. Catchpole and give me examples of receipts at these stores from said grocery list, please."

The strange voice from before creeps me out once again as it gives the metal freak confirmation. For a few minutes silence rings through the room and then the voice speaks again. "Sir, I have done as you asked and have the results. Asda Torquay Supermarket is the best rated in both quality and prices. And According to my calculations the Weasleys would have to spent 23 Pounds and 56 pennies on the list young William gave us, sir."
Suddenly my amusement gets replaced with a sense of cautious foreboding and the metal freak turns to William, his face fully turned this time. The smile on his face seems genuine, yet I can easily detect a hint of an arrogant smirk hidden beneath this. "Well, considering that 1 Galleon is 5 pounds, your dad would have to spend about 5 Galleons on that and still get a few Sickles back. Then he'd get to keep the other 15 and save those."
And suddenly I realize what just happened. The whole time the two were talking, they were ignoring me, they didn't make a single comment on how smug I looked or how much I was showing my growing amusement. This because the man planned the whole thing. Because he, as a Muggle, would know all about the Muggle economy and how much things would cost. The question to this Jarvis was just for Williams' sake.

William himself looks incredibly shocked and then suddenly the other man turns so that he is again standing with his back to me. He presses a finger against the side of his head, where I guess his ear is supposed to be, and actually seems to take a call from his superior. Instantly my attention is focused solely on the man and I use silent magic to improve my hearing. Yet the bastard only hums and utters a few words of affirmation along with the words.
He also, at one point, asks his superior of the person on the other end of the line is sure, but this is quickly confirmed. The whole call – or something of the sort – lasts another few minutes and when it ends, the freak again turns to William and says: "You might want to call your superiors. They're about to meet the Head of Stark Industries. Apparently your old man is being severely underpaid for his work and the boss' secretary is highly offended by this.
As it turns out, your old man would be earning 60 Galleons more if he worked for the American branch of his Department. But because Miss Potts knows how loving your family is and because Stark Industries loves making International connections, the guy up high wants to offer your old man to come work for him. He'll still be stationed in England and he'll still have the same job description and responsibilities. He'll just get the payment he deserves.

And because he's Magical, the top dog knows that he needs to go through your superiors to see this done. He doesn't think it'll take too much to convince those of the ICW or whatever, but he would like to make the deal with both you, your old man and your superiors. If you're interested?" And while William is awed and astounded, I feel like screaming. I know the Weasleys are prideful, but I also know they are smarter than I'd like them to be.
This was the whole reason I always used people like Lucius Malfoy and Dolores Umbridge and others to degrade Arthur's paycheck whenever possible and why I never attended one Wizengamot meeting that discussed the financials of the Ministry. Of course, even Umbridge and Malfoy don't know that I used them as I always used Polyjuice Potion to look like either one when approaching the other. And a simple bit of magic installed my memories in the right minds.
But now that William – and through those infernal camera systems Molly and the other Weasleys – know that Arthur is actually getting underpaid and that he is being offered his actual expected payment for his job, without him needing to change anything other than his employer, I just know that the Weasleys will jump at this chance. And the whole thing with the currency converter, I just know, will increase their savings drastically.

I have never liked Muggles, practically despised them ever since they dared to touch my sister. But I never thought I could hate a single group of Muggles the way I now hate the employees, boss and secretary of Stark Industries. As with one simple little test that looked like a first class joke when it started, they have undone literal decades of work. And what's worse, they've taken me the one family whose reputation always protected mine.
"If we get to the rendezvous point and people see that the Weasleys are 220% against me and accepting of my punishment, I will never be able to get back what is rightfully mine. They were my way into the goodwill of the public. I can't believe I just lost that so quickly. How did I not spot this sooner? Why did I underestimate these damned guards? How did they play me like that? Aren't guards supposed to be dumb idiots? What is going on here?"
Earlier on I had been leaning back against the wall of my cell with my arms and legs crossed and a grin of amusement on my face. Now I am leaning forward, almost down to the point that I am crouching in my seat, and I am trying to set the metal of the freak's suit aflame with my glare. And all the while my mind keeps whirling as I just can't begin to phantom what just happened or how I got tricked like this. How I got played by dumb guards.

And when I suddenly spot William walking over to the man and muttering: "It's a deal." I hate the fact that I can't cast a single spell other than my one attempt to read the God's mind. And when they shake hands, the freak actually showing his face and his suit also retracting itself past his wrist, I feel as if they might as well be standing behind me, as if they might as well be holding a knife together, a knife with which they stab me in the back.
I growl and glare at the two and then look up at wherever these cameras are and snarl: "Curse you, Weasley Families. I will not forget this. If I'm going down, I swear I will take you along with me. You have just sealed your only daughter's fate." And the fact that William looks at me in shocked confusion defuses my anger somewhat. I grin at him and take a strong sense of satisfaction out of the fact that he doesn't know.
"Not right now. But he will know. Soon he will know." I think to myself. And yet again I retake my earlier position. I cross my arms and my legs, I smirk at the backs of my guards as I can tell that William is trying to hide a sense of tension in his form. And while I await our arrival at our destination I dream and fantasize. About how disgraced the Weasleys will be. About how the brat might join me in Azkaban. About how Arthur can forget his new job. And more.

Think again, Dumbledore.
Uh oh, looks like someone forgot that he actually has that whole incident as a charge against him. I guess he didn't make the link when Harry brought up the Dark Magic Alert Ward. But does he really think that Harry, Captain America, the Order or Fury will let this lying down? Does he really think that their chances to beat him will lessen if he threatens to take the Weasleys down with him? Well, he's in for a nasty surprise now, isn't he?
Wait and see,

Venquine1990