With the sun nearly set, Ron waved goodbye to Harry as he and Tony were escorted to a fireplace. Tony looked skeptical and to be perfectly honest, so was Harry and all the Americans. Ron had heard few fairy tales when he was little, and had lived parts of his life knowing of magic, and had spent the last school season immersed in magical lessons and culture, but for the life of him he could not figure out how they planned on getting Harry back home using a fireplace.
After of course he had gotten a strange agreement from the Weasleys to hold onto his school supplies. Until they met up at King's Cross. Clint thought it was a little odd but kept quiet.
His eyes darted over to Percy who grabbed some sort of bowl. He saw what looked like ash or soot had been mixed with glitter and placed inside. He could feel his brow scrunch up in confusion. Percy looked to Harry and held out the bowl.
"Have you ever traveled by floo?" Percy asked in his usual well controlled tone.
"Last I checked you don't fly using chimneys," Tony snarked. It did give him an idea of another access point for a suit though... "So what? A broom is going to appear and fly us back to the Duckee family?"
"Um, I think you mean Dursley," Harry said trying to hide his smile.
"Don't argue Harry. Tin can is terrible with names," Clint responded with a tame name so as not to incur the wrath of the people whose home he was in.
Percy hardly seemed bothered and took it like a champion.
"Floo powder is simple to use," he said holding out the powder closer to Harry, "Grab a handful, think of where you want to go, speak the name clearly and throw the powder to the ground while you are in the fireplace."
Harry grabbed a handful with Tony looking at the powder distrustfully.
"I don't like to be handed things," he commented dryly looking at the powder.
"You won't be needing it sir. You're a muggle."
"That some kind of wizard slang? I think I take offense to that."
"It means non-magic folk," Molly explained in a tired yet somehow still slightly motherly tone.
"Just say that then. America calls that no-maj. Muggle sounds like you're trying to insult us."
"Tony stop," Bruce sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He was ready to call it a day but Tony of course was only making it longer. Harry, the ever sensible boy in Bruce's eyes, took a handful of the powder, a small amount slipping out of his fingers to the floor but still quite a bit in his hand. Percy seemed a bit perturbed on how to deal with Tony's mannerisms.
"I will not take being insulted Brucie."
"It's not an insult Tony. It's a description."
"But as a non magical person," he said in an exaggerated tone, "I should have a say as to what I want to be identified as. As a human being, that is my right."
Clint rolled his eyes at Tony's theatrics.
"Tony, Harry needs to go home remember?" Clint pointed out, as he gestured to the dark haired boy. He watched as his eyes seemed to lower slightly. Clint remained impassive but made a mental note to look into the Dursley family. It could just be his own background and his paranoia as a spy paired with the fact that somehow, someway, Tony had found a kid who had a family that had a magically inclined kid who the rest didn't seem magically inclined and that they trusted the man child of a billionaire to go running off in a magical environment without them. Sad that the statement was far from the strangest he had thought. Or been through for that matter.
"In a minute Legolas-"
"So how do you floo?" Clint interrupted Tony's tangent.
"Simply say the name of the location you wish to go in the floo network and throw the floo powder on the ground," Percy answered clearly.
"Make sure you say it right-" Fred began.
"-Or you might end up somewhere else!" George ended with glee in his voice.
"So where would we go?" Harry asked.
"Where'd you enter the alley?" Ron asked, "I'm sure there has to be something near there."
"The Leaky Cauldron."
"That will do just fine," Molly broke into the conversation. "Just make sure that you are clear in your pronunciation. And hold Harry's shoulder!"
Harry nodded his head. Tony placed his hand on Harry's shoulder in a casual manner.
"Leaky Couldron!" he said quickly. He threw the powder down and a green fire filled the fireplace. Ron jumped back, bumping into Clint who remained steady but seemed unnerved.
"You let yourselves get lit on fire," Clint commented in false calmness. His hand went to Ron's shoulder to steady him.
"Wendelin the wierd was famous for allowing herself to get caught by witch hunters and let herself be burned," Hermione commented with excitement brimming in her voice. Ron turned to stare at his fast talking and excitable friend. "She cast the flame-freezing spell to make them harmless. People have commented it feels like one it is being tickled."
Ron stared at Hermione with slight surprise. Moreso about the fact rather than she had one ready. Hermione was always passionate about learning.
"You don't say," Bruce added sounding a slight bit tense. Clint instinctively searched his face for any trace of a green hue. Thankfully, there was no worry about a wild Hulk destroying the small-ish home and welcoming a whole new court case on the custody issue with Ron.
Tony had traveled many different ways. He had also traveled many different ways while incredibly intoxicated. Hell, he had traveled while intoxicated, drunk and doing many things he had been shamed for and would somewhat regret. None of them could prepare him for the green inferno that enveloped both him and the little scarface boy. Harry nearly fell on his face as he went forward.
Tony, someone far more used to being off balance and having to move, firmed up his grip on Harry's shoulder and stumbled as gracefully as he could forward. Neither landed on the floor but Tony did almost run into a patron to his displeasure.
"Well that was pleasant," Tony grumbled. He walked over towards the bar, bringing Harry along with him, slightly obscuring him from people in front of them.
"Bar tender," he called out commanding attention, "A bottle of the fire whiskey."
"A bottle eh? Got a bit of a get together do you?"
"For later. That fireplace travel is murder. You may want to get that replaced. Real hazard there," he said as sarcastically as it was casually. The man at the bar gave an indulgent smile before grabbing a beautiful hand blown rich brown colored bottle with, if Tony had to guess, a deep amber colored liquid inside. Tony didn't wait for a price and put a pile of galleons on the table and quickly made his way out, "The round's on me."
He felt his lips twitch upward as he heard cheers and whistles at the promise of alcohol as he left with Harry in tow. No one would trust what a drunk saw. He should know. He didn't believe half the things he thought he saw or did when he was drunk.
"Get in the car Harry."
Harry did so but hardly seemed enthusiastic. The drive was fairly quiet with only minor sounds of irritation from the slow traffic of London.
In little time they did make it back to the cookie cutter style homes of Privet Drive.
"Thank you Mister Stark. For the time out to get my school supplies."
"Yeah yeah kid. Use it well, go to school, don't do what I would do."
"But, didn't you save the world?"
Tony blinked and looked at Harry.
"I did. So do what I would do. But don't do what I would do. There's a grey area in the middle and that's what you should do."
"Erm. Okay?"
"Glad we had this talk."
There was an awkward silence before Harry opened the door to leave the car.
Tony watched as the door was shut and Harry made his way to the door. Harry walked controlled yet somewhat meekly to the door. He opened it slowly when a hand shot out and he was quickly pulled inside. Tony narrowed his eyes.
"Jarvis. You record everything?"
"There wasn't much for me to record sir. You were in what appeared to be a technological dead zone."
"You at least get everything from here?"
"Everything from Privet Drive has been recorded sir."
"Good. Find me everything you can on the family here and find that number for Barton's magic lawyer."
"Of course sir."
Clint didn't bother to pray. It wouldn't matter in the moment. Either he would take a step in the right direction or he would make things even more uncomfortable. Thankfully, the twins Fred and George convinced Ginny and Percy into playing a game of Quiditch with Ron and Hermione with Arthur and Bruce as their scorekeepers and referee. So any and all awkwardness would be solely between himself, and Molly Weasley.
Stepping in the quiet bungalo, he entered the kitchen, seeing Molly Weasley working away at what was that night. Perperations precise and her hands a whirl as she navigated the kitchen with magic.
Fragrant and familiar meat and roasted vegetables permeated the air as a welcome and comforting smell. A pleasant and homey feel Clint only had under the deepest of covers. A layering of scents of home and promise of good food was tantalyzing to say the least.
"Hello Molly. Got anything for me to do to help out?"
Molly whipped out her wand and used it to send plates and glasses to the table as she opened the oven door. A beautifully golden turkey was removed, steam curling off it in waves, dressing pouring out from the back cavity.
"Everything smells wonderful," Clint added, not bothered by her silence towards him. It was clear that the kitchen was not just her domain, it was the throne of the kingdom of her house. "Roasted parsnips and sweet potato? Lovely turkey fit for a king, pleasantly stuffed too."
Molly remained quiet as she continued to set up the meal, levitating items for more space for the rather grand appearing food.
"Ron's going to love it."
She paused only for a moment. Most would miss it, but Clint watched for any tell.
"He doesn't talk about it often, even to me. But he does enjoy meals like this. Where people come together and enjoy each other's company and good food. But lots of times, Ron is earing one on one, sometimes a group of three. Not alone, but with everyone busy..." He let it trail off, exposing a time before the Battle of New York. Back when the secrecy was like breathing. But after the battle, he might still be an agent, but he was in the front line fighting. It was harder to send him undercover.
Molly rubbed a hand to her eye. Perhaps premoving stray tears, Clint didn't know. Her back was still turned to him. Her gaze trailed out the window to see Fred and George zipping around Percy on their old brooms. Ginny was being talked to by Arthur, no doubt having tried to pull an aerial stunt, and Hermione was keeping her feet on the ground as Ron hovered near Bruce as he looked over the brooms in fascination and curiosity.
"There is some lettuce, to your left that needs chopped for tonights salad."
The corners of Clint's mouth quirked upward and he mock saluted Molly Weasley.
"Ma'am! Yes ma'am!"
Well here is the next chapter. I feel like I need an extreme nap. Lord knows that's what Mysticarts should be doing right now. She's sick. But rather than take a nap, she's curled up in a chair with a blanket reading fanfiction and hissing at me for telling you all.
Mysticarts: 'm not hissing. 'm sipping my soda. It helps my nasuea... but reviews would be better...
Needy girl.