Diagon Alley was bustling with a miriad of individuals readying for the upcoming school year or the end of the British summer. Many of which were readying themselves for the upcoming school year, buying books and quills, bottles of ink and per food to care for their animals away from home.
Ron stayed close to his dad, avoiding showing his vibrant hair under a ballcap to hide from any possibilities of Tony's dreaded nightmare, paparazzi. Clint also wore one as his mug was placed in the paper a year ago, and they didn't need to be swarmed because they were recognized.
Hermione and Bruce had no such issues however. They were relatively unknown to the populace and free to let their hair hang loose and openly look at and explore everything from potion ingredients to the animals in the pet shop.
Ron felt a small twinge in his own chest thinking of his own pet Scabbers. It wasn't his for very long, but it had been his very own pet. Something that hadn't been allowed when he had been on the Helicarrier for obvious reasons. One of the pluses from actually finding his biological family he guessed.
Not that they were buying anything at the moment, they needed to first head to the wizarding bank Gringotts for actual usable currency in the crowded shopping area. Clint thankfully kept the group together, passing various individuals of mainly robes but a few wearing suits? No there was someone wearing a full blown suit.
Whatever. As long as the person and his kid didn't cause them trouble, then they'd be fine. It was that fleeting thought that had them well on their way to Gringotts, none the wiser.
Tony and Harry were also caught up in the wild chaos of the Magical Britian scene. While Harry had no problem moving through the slightly dirty and dusty alley to avoid bumping into people, Tony took great consideration and while keeping up with Harry, he was more likely to part people and walk through in his usual self indulgent fashion.
People didn't say much to him but there were a few heated glares he pointedly ignored.
"Oi! That who we think it is?" a certain voice caught his attention. Both annoyed and pleased someone in the hidden away, technologically impaired society that someone recognized the Tony Sta-
"Harry Potter!"
There was a small pause in his stride, miniscule at best when a gaggle of red heads surrounded his escort.
They all looked about the same, with two looking uncomfortably identical for not being manufactured. Twins no doubt. Thinking on it a bit, he mused that this must've been Ron's biological family he didn't bother to learn the names of. Just knew they were red haired dominant and a lot of them. Check and check.
"Hullo," Tony's guide now addressed as Harry responded. Did he know them or something? Must have. He had met the family. Insanely few that young were famous without their families being in the spotlight as well or coming from well off or already famous families. The ones he met at the dinner the day before, did not appear to be even close to the type.
"Fancy meeting you here."
"Enjoying a fancy bout of school shopping Harry?"
"A bit. If Mr. Stark here doesn't mind."
Tony raised a brow as the group turned to look at him in all his glory.
The adult male held out his hand to Tony. Tony gave it a look and then looked back at the man.
"And you are?"
"Arthur Weasley," he said pulling his hand back realizing the hand shake wasn't going to happen. His eyes did trail over Tony with a curious expression.
"I say, is this the current muggle fashion. It's rather more complex than the previous sets."
"You mean my suit?"
He glanced down at his own rather nice outfit of black armatti shoes, black slacks, a button up shirt with a lilac vest, from Pepper, and a dark jacket.
"For the best dressed," Tony replied in his usual fashion.
"Fascinating," Arthur stated getting a bit closer. Tony took a step back.
"I know I'm gorgeous but keep your space please," Tony deadpanned.
"Ah. Sorry."
He thankfully took a step back.
"Might I ask you a few questions?"
Tony gestured to Arthur for him to proceed as he and Harry were pulled into the whirlwind of shopping with the Weasleys who did not recognize him, Tony Stark. Store to store gathering small bits here and there. He especially found himself enjoying watching the twins look over various pranking items at a place called Zonkos. Arthur was quite a stroke to his ego if not a tad annoying as he asked various questions with rampant attention.
"Arthur. It's time."
"Ah, right. We're going to head over to Flourish and Botts to meet a rather popular author."
"Sounds decent enough. You coming too Harry?"
"Sure. I need some books."
"Fantastic."
Sauntering over to the rather overfilled bookstore, and forced their way inside the tiny bookstore. The store was... well rustic would have probably been the best way to describe the wood finished book store with leather bound books. Everyone seemed to shop at the same clothing store as near identical black robes could easily be seen. He did note one exception from one man with straight and long pale blond hair. Wizards were weird.
"Look how many people are hear!" a familiar female voice proclaimed.
"Yikes. His books better be worth it." a familiar voice of an asshole archer responded.
"I'm sure they will be Clint."
Tony smirked. With a graceful pivot, he turned to the door surpising Arthur Weasley. Arthur looked towards the direction Tony was looking but in the rather packed bookstore it was near impossible. Tony watched as Clint "Hawkass" Barton just happened to enter the store he just so happened to be in along with little Ron and Brucie, his science buddy and the frizzy haired little Hermione. Somewhere in the back of his head, he noted to have Natasha or Pepper talk to her about her hair. No hair could be impossibly manageable.
He opened his mouth to speak when he was cut off by some older woman with a chin wart.
"Oh Merlin he's here!"
"Mummy," her small child whined, clearly not wanting to be there.
"Not too much longer dear."
"Good day to all you lovely witches," a voice dripping with a honey sweet smoothness permeated through the air. Tony lazily turned his head towards the voice of whoever the witches were all... Bothered for. He was mildly disappointed that this was the best the wizarding community had for a handsome and famous icon. Curly dirty blond hair that hardly looked like it was fit for a full grown man. Especially considering his more square and slightly angular face. Fine lines hidden by tacky make up no one else seemed notice. And his outfit...
That man needed professional help and a personal tailor. Tony was a proprietor of wearing suits and showcasing his own glory, but never making the suits all purple-lavender as Pepper would say- and have an attached open cape with arm holes. It made him look like some miscolored pig had he not had already had the displeasure of meeting that particular family the night before.
"A true pleasure to be here before you all. I'm sure you're all here for signed copies of my own autobiography, Magical Me," he said with a cheesy smile as he picked up a book with the picture on the front giving the same smile.
Harry made his way to Tony as the witches fawned over the man. There swooning made it even more unbearable. Tony would need a drink or two after this. Maybe it would be good to try that Fire Whiskey stuff?
"Don't worry. There is plenty of me to go around-"
Tony snorted at that. Blue eyes met brown and the smile grew terse for just a moment before relaxing.
"I'm sorry," Gilderoy chuckled, "Did I say something funny?"
Eyes wandered to Tony who merely raised a brow and let a smirk come to his own face. He stepped in front of Harry to get closer to blondie bookseller.
"Well, maybe just to me. But it could be that I'm just not used to a man propositioning himself off for 1-7-15- well you get the picture, countless woman in a day."
The shit eating grin on his face said it all as a few women appeared flustered or offended by his comment but to his credit, Gilderoy Lockhart seemed unphased.
"Why sir? Surely you don't think these women are promiscuous?"
"Hardly. They're not saying that there is plenty of them to go around."
No one knew how Gilderoy would respond and no one ever would as a small photographer pushed and shoved his way into the front.
"Out of the way! Out of the way!"
"Excuse you," Tony snarked, offended by photographer. He didn't like paparazzi on the best of days. But the little magical midget was not the type he cared for at all. The photographer didn't care as he pulled out a camera Tony was sure would be more useful in Roger's time. The light smoke, the bright light, and the gaudy little man ignoring him.
While Gilderoy had given his "award winning" smile to the camera, Tony's vocal complaint, regained his attention. His eyes were on Tony for the briefest of seconds before falling to Tony's side.
"Well I'll be... Harry Potter."
"That's not what it says on the book," Tony immediately responded. He could hear a snort far too familiar from being in his tower and hearing Tony's usual sass.
Gilderoy ignored him and reached out his hand. Tony could feel the movement around him as the kid he had brought with him- Harry was his name, though how the ham knew that, he had no freaking clue- being pushed forward to be in the same lime light as the hack author.
He could feel his irritation grow as his hand quickly grabbed Harry's shoulder and held him in place. Bright green eyes looked up at him in slight confusion and awe. A normal enough response for an abnormal situation. Who wouldn't act in awe and the Marvelous him? Other than of course, the backward chamberpot using shut ins he was surrounded by and people who hated him.
"I don't think Harry wants to be singled out Gordan."
Murmers and gasps could be heard easily throughout the building.
"A bit of an over reaction to a picture," a deeper voice broke in. Slithering through the crowd easily was the man Tony noticed earlier with the long light blond hair.
"Not an over reaction if the kid doesn't want it Rapunzel."
Tony held his stance to the icy and rather emotionless man with platinum blond hair and gave his own "award winning" devil may care smile.
"I'm sure," he paused for a dramatic second, "Mr. Potter can speak for himself."
Smooth and vile were his tone despite the innocent word usage. Like alcohol.
"Now now, let's all be reasonable individuals," Gilderoy interjected, the fans watching with rapt attention, "No need to start anything tumultuous gentlemen. We are all civilized people he commented as the photographer made a run for the door.
"Hey-" Tony barked out at the skeevy man when a muscular arm shot out in front of the man. The man ran into it and his camera flew from his hands, slamming into a wall and breaking into pieces.
"Oi! Wha's yur problem ey?" the man spat out, "Yah dun an' broke me camera!"
Like a well timed machine, people began to turn, giving attention to a "wide eyed" Clint Barton who was frantically moving his hands in a manic and somewhat familiar manner. He could see Bruce rubbing his eyes in irritation and Hermione looked mortified. Ron on the other hand was holding back a smile as he stepped forward.
"Sorry sir. My dad didn't quite hear what was going on up there and no one around us was answering questions."
"Well 'e should 'ave moved closer den!" he spat angrily.
Ron did a few gestures to Clint, to which Clint responded with some very fast gestures.
"It wouldn't have done my dad any good. He's deaf. I translate."
"See! Perfectly reasonable," Tony called out, sauntering over to the four with Harry in tow, deliberately ignoring the inflated egos behind him.
"You should go digital. Wouldn't have this problem," he added with smug satisfaction. "Legolas, Brucie," he greeted first when Ron and Hermione surprised him.
"Harry!"
"How are you?"
"We haven't heard from you all summer! Have you been busy?"
Gilderoy held a terse grin, then attempted to draw the attention back on what everyone had come there to see. The Marvelous him. With elegance and charm, many of the witches focused back at him, begining to clamor for his attention. He hid his aggrivation well as a large group of red headed individuals who only vaguely looked familiar began to move to the back where the hauty man was. No matter, they wouldn't be forgetting him after the day, even if it did take a small dip into his profits.
"I've been fine," Harry said with a smile, "It's great to see you two."
Ron opened his mouth to speak when a gaggle of red heads seemed to appear behind Tony. Ron swallowed as he saw Molly and Arthur- his biological mother and father- Percy with a rather perturbed expression next to Ginny who seemed shocked and a bit tired, and Fred and George who wasted no time throwing an arm each around his shoulders.
"Hey there Ronnikins!"
"Wasn't expecting you here today-"
"But it's simply wonderful-"
"Nay- Marvelous it is to see you here today."
"Erm... Thanks?"
"It really is a pleasant surprise," Arthur said to Ron. he then looked towards Clint before looking back at Ron sheepishly. "He, Uhhh... can't hear me can he?"
"It'll be fine as long as he can look at your lips while you're talking. He's gotten to be very good at reading lips."
Arthur grinned and Ron had to hold back a groan.
"It. Is. A. Pleasant. Surprise. To. See. You. Both. Here." He had sloweddown the sentence and emphasized the movement from his mouth in order to try and help his dad.
Clint raised his brow and spoke back, "You don't have to slow it down or over exaggerate. Speaking normally works just fine."
"Oh sorry. I just assumed-"
"It's fine really. It happens."
"Ah yes. Well, may I ask what you're doing here? Not that you aren't allowed here but-"
"Look, Hermione wanted signed copies of their school books. And since the man is here to sign them, we figured why not. That and these are incredibly hard to buy in America."
"They are?"
"Magical imports from Britain are rare," Bruce added.
Ron used the oppertunity of boring conversation to tug on the dad's arm. Clint turned to look at him.
"Mind if Mione and me look around?"
"Just stay in the store. I don't want to try looking around everywhere here deaf."
"Not my fault your batteries died."
"They were brand new."
With Clint's permission and the allowance of Arthur and Molly, the children left the adults to speak of boring things like imports.
Ron had attempted to escape his family but no luck. Well, Percy kept distance, finding a book that caught his interest but glancing up every once in a while to make sure no mischief was occurring from the twins who seemed to have stumbled upon a book of joking curses.
"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?"
Ron nearly groaned hearing the all too antagonistic voice he had enjoyed being away from back in America. Looking up the stairs not too far away was Draco Malfoy himself with his usual sneer.
"Famous Harry Potter," he continued on in what Ron recognized as a showman's behavior speaking to a crowd-according to his dad. "Can't even go into a book shop ithout making the front page."
"Leave him alone. He didn't ask for that!" Ginny defended.
"Oh look Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend."
Ginny went scarlet as Ron's eyes narrowed.
"You saying there's something wrong with someone having a girlfriend? Wasn't your mum your dad's girlfriend once? Or does it work differently with erm... people of your lineage?"
Draco's face tinged slightly pink, his eyes held storms at the comment directed at his family. He opened his mouth to speak when someone else interrupted.
"Draco. It's time to go."
"Yes father."
"Ron, Ginny-"
"Arthur." Like poisoned velvet the name slipped out.
"Lucius," Arthur responded in the coldest voice Ron had heard him use.
"Busy time at the Ministry I hear. All those raids... I hope they're paying you overtime?" His long fingers gingerly pulled out a book from a couldron in Ginny's hand and gave it a once over, noting it's used condition and slightly cracked spine. "Obviously not," He slid the book back in with a ku-thunk.
"It does make one wonder what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"
Arthur's face flushed darker than Ginny's and Ron could feel his stomach churn uncomfortably.
"We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy."
"Clearly," he stated, his pale eyes straying to Hermione then to Ron, "The company you keep, even your family thinks you can sink no lower-"
To many, it was too fast to know what just happened. But to Ron who had grown up watching his dad and Aunt Tasha spar, saw a messy but powerful tackle as Arthur had thrown himself at Lucius Malfoy, knocking the man to the floor.
"Woo! Go dad!" One of the twins yelled.
"Arthur! No stop!" Molly cried out.
Ron pulled Hermione back and grabbed Harry as well as Hermione pulled the shocked Ginny out of the way. Quick as can be, Clint ran over and pulled Arthur off Lucius with Bruce and Tony soon following. Bruce offered his hand to Lucius but it was duly ignored as the long haired wizard stood up indignantly. His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath and acted as though he did nothing deserving of being tackled to the ground by a middle aged man.
"Come Draco. We're leaving."
Draco hurried on the heels of his father outside as Molly began to reprimand Arthur for fighting in the book store. Ron didn't think she would have stopped within the next decade had Gilderoy Lockhart himself not shown up.
"Why are you all alright?" he asked in a sugary sweet fake concerned voice.
"Oh, um. Yes Mr. Lockhart. We're all fine."
"Please, call me Gilderoy. Mr. Lockhart was my father. And for the children, you may all call me Professor."
"Professor?" Harry blurted out the single worded question now floating through everyone's mind.
"Why yes. I came here not only to sign copies of my autobiography Magical Me, but to announcecthat I will be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher this year. And as your professor, since you all seem to need a little more protection, each of these students here," he said gesturing to the Weasley children, Harry, and Hermione, "will recieve a full set, all signed by yours truly."
There was shock and applause by his generosity as Tony stared him down.
"Thanks but I've already covered their school supplies," Tony responded, "So there's no need."
"We don't need cha-"
"I like to think of it as investments. You're all Little Legolas's family right?"
"Little Legolas?"
"So it's a smart investment to have you all have the school supplies you need. Unless you want to be like me and be expelled constantly from blowing up labs-No." He pointed at the twins before they could say they wanted to get expelled that way. He then turned to look back at Gilderoy with a victorious smirk. Gilderoy gave a polite yet constipated one back.
"How generous of you Mister...?"
"It's Tony. But you probably know me as Iron Man. The reaction was mixed as muggle born children and muggle parents looked at him in awe. With eyes split on Tony, Harry Potter, Gilderoy Lockhart and the Large and lucky family recieving all of Gilderoy's work for free, no one moved to stop them as all but Gilderoy left with their large purchase.
All remained unaware of a journalist in the upper balcony with a magicked camera documenting everything for her next scoop.
I spent time analyzing Gilderoy's face. And then put it through a Tony filter. Needless to say, mistakes were made.
Mysticarts: Hello I am Mysticarts here with your psa for the chapter: if someone tells you they are deaf and they read lips just speak clearly and normally. They can still understand context, slowing down actually makes it harder to understand the shape of the word. Also yes mistakes were made.
Thanks for the slap of confidence.
Mysticarts: Are you sure that's how you want to phrase it?
Yeah why?
Mysticarts:Okay *smacks Melancholy in the face*
Ow! What was that for.
Mysticarts: The slap of confidence. It's supereffective. Come on guys. Give her a slap of confidence. Maybe that will get her to update more.
Jerk.
Mysticarts: Love you too sis!