It had been hard for Ron to fall asleep that night. What with jet lag and the fact he slept on the plane was keeping him wide awake. Not to mention Hermione telling him all about the time she had spent in Tony's labs apparently doing hands on potions work. Apparently, Tony wanted to know how it was possible that one person could do something identical to the person next to them, but one getting a magical potion and the other getting what seemed to be the equivalent of an obscure and expensive stink bomb.

Ron could only assume it had something to do with magic in general but what did he know. He had only begun to really learn about his magic not long ago. What did he really know about a person's apptitude or not? He was twelve for goodness sake.

These were the thoughts keeping him awake, eventually leading to his drifting off into sleep sometime late into the night. Waking up the next day to a rather open and empty room had been a bit of a shock, but easily overcome. Just because he had been used to small rooms or rooms with other people, did not mean the large gold and red room would freak him out.

It was going to be a good day. It didn't matter what the weather was, or what exactly he would be doing. He was with his dad and his Aunt Tasha. With that mindset, he set off to find his dad, to go to the airport and pick up Scabbers.

With a grin on his face and excitement thrumming through him, he made his way to figuring out where exactly the kitchen was again.

Entering the kitchen he expected to have some cereal or perhaps have his dad waiting and sipping some coffee. What he got was his dad on the phone looking utterly constipated and uncomfortable.

Ron frowned but made his way to his dad and stood next to him. He tried to listen in. But the soft voices only gave way to mumbles and apologies. He waited a moment more when his dad hung up the phone with a hasty goodbye. He rubbed hie eyes with one hand and used the other to pull Ron into a one armed hug. Ron wrapped his arms around his dad returning the impromptu hug.

"Something wrong dad?" Ron asked knowing his mannerisms.

"Yeah. But first, ice cream."

"For breakfast?"

Clint paused for a moment.

"We'll have them with waffles."

"Dad. What's wrong?"

Clint sighed and tightened his grip on Ron.

"That was the airport."

"Are they ready for us to get Scabbers?"

"Ron, there is no easy way to say this. But Scabbers is no longer with us," Clint explained vaguely. Ron frowned and felt his eyes begin to prick with hot, salty tears. His nose began to burn slightly in the way it normally did when he tried not to cry. Both his dad's arms were wrapped around Ron now and Ron put both of his arms around his dad.

He buried his face into his dad's chest.

"He's dead?"

"The trip, seemed to be a bit too much for the old rat is all Ron." With that, tears began to cascade out of his eyes and onto his dad's shirt. Clint rubbed his back in comforting circles as Ron mourned the death of his pet rat. The tears became sniffles after about five minutes, but he held onto his dad, relishing the warmth and protection he offered by just being there.

"Better Ronnie?"

"I-I think so," Ron said letting go of Clint and stepping back a bit with Clint lowering his arms. "He really was an old rat."

"Was he? You haven't even had him for a year," Clint commented innocently. Ron let out a watery chuckle.

"Yeah. But Percy had him for years after Charlie found him apparently. They took him in not too long before you found me."

Clint raised a brow but didn't say anything.

"I think I'd like that ice cream now dad."

"And waffles. Because it's breakfast time."

"Right," Ron agreed as he rubbed away the lingering stray tears in his eyes.

"And tonight, we binge movies. I say... Charlie and the Chocolate factory. And Lilo and Stitch."

"And Aladin?"

"Sure. I'm sure nobody will mind."

Hermione was thrilled to no longer be the only magic user in Tony's rather large tower. As much as she enjoyed getting ahead in her school work and showing off her knowledge and prowess in magic it was a bit irritating to have Tony watch meticulously and trying to recreate the same effects of magic. At the potions.

Ron was a welcomed distraction, especially with his private lessons with Doctor Strange. A lesson that took place outside the tower she was going to as well.

While he had told her before he was only working with Ron, she was certain he would make an exception with her stellar grades at Hogwarts showing how good she was already at magic.

"Doctor Strange is a really good teacher. But he keeps you on the same spell for a long time Mione. You sure you want to ask?" Ron asked one last time on the car ride over the home of Doctor Strange with Clint driving.

"Absolutely. I can't wait to learn."

Ron gave a small smile as he fiddled with his gloves, enjoying their silky softness.

"We're here you two."

"Thanks dad. We'll call you when we're done."

"What are you talking about? I'll just be parked out front for when you're done. Besides. Did you even remember to bring your cell phone?" Clint asked. Ron blushed a little as Hermione, ever responsibly showed hers.

"No," Ron answered sheepishly as his ears began to burn. Clint pulled out his own phone and fiddled with it for a bit.

"It's still in your bedroom isn't it?"

"Yes," Ron said dropping his head. He then lifted it with a curious look on his face.

"Are you tracking my phone?"

"... Maybe."

"Da-ad!" Ron whined.

"What? You keep loosing it," Clint argued.

"Ugh," Ron groaned, "Let's go Mione, at least Doctor Strange doesn't make fun of me when I lose something."

Hermione did her best to hide her chuckle as she and Ron slid out of the car and made their way to the well hidden Sanctum Sanctorum of Doctor Strange.

For those who are interested, I did make a community dedicated to the stories for this "universe". It has the stories I have written, the stories I am writing, and will have the stories that I will write. It also has stories that exist with the universe's canon, or follow a similar idea or format.

As for ice cream waffles, this is a breakfast I occasionally do with my little sister. Our little nerd breakfast for emotional moments. It's fun. Our combinations are cinnamon waffles with melted butterscotch chips and vanilla ice cream, and buttermilk waffles with melted chocolate chips, and either mint or black raspberry ice cream. And for the pet thing, short lived pets that leave little impact, give me a similar emotional reaction.