AN:I do not own Harry Potter or the Marvel Universe. They belong to their respective authors and writers.

Please do not copy this story. I would like to apologize for any mistakes in advance as the author hasn't slept in two bloody days!

The first thing she did was conjured a shield around the three of them, knowing it would give Tony enough time to collect his documents and her to deal with Phineas and his men.

Although they were holding her at gunpoint, the naked fear in their eyes was clearly visible. Especially Phineas. He was staring at her like she was a ticking time bomb and would take him down any moment now. Well, he wasn't wrong. If he had kept his eyes on her all these years, he would know how unpredictable she could be and that she wasn't going to let him leave this cave while he was still breathing.

Her magic felt wild beneath her fingers, almost bursting to find a way out after being locked for such a long time and she wasn't sure whether she could control it or not. At the moment, she felt like a missile ready to destroy everything around her and she knew there was no way for her to reign it in. She could hear her blood rushing through her veins, could sense the thrumming of her magic just under her skin, could feel the raw energy as she had never before, felt more powerful than she ever had and knew that she was ready to finish this… ready to end them all, give these two men a way out they so badly wanted, a way to live the life they so desired.

Green eyes locked with blue and Phineas gulped visibly before he took a tentative step forward, raised both his hands in a placating gesture and spoke, "I - Leave him." He pointed at Tony. "Leave him and we'll let you go, both of you."

She arched an eyebrow at that because this, she hadn't anticipated. A quick look at Tony was enough to tell her that the man had frozen in place. His eyes had widened and he had paled to an alarming degree. Any other time, she would've been worried because he looked ready to faint, but right now, she didn't have time to calm him down. They needed to move, or they would be dead.

"I'm sorry, but I would have to decline." She told Phineas with a tiny smile before turning towards Tony and snapped, "Tony! Now!"

That was enough to startle him out of his trance and he rushed to destroy everything that he couldn't take.

Dorea just had enough time to focused her attention back on Phineas to see him nodding at his men and the next thing she knew; the sounds of gunshots filled the cave. Her whole body jerked as bullets hit her shield with enough force to make her lose focus, but she held on and thankfully, they weren't able to breach it. She didn't know how long would she be able to hold, so she held the shield with her left hand, while waved the other in Phineas's direction, who flew back along with three men standing beside him and collided with the wall of the cave. Then, she thrust her palm in the direction of men standing on her right side and made a grabbing motion. All their guns flew towards her and fell on the ground right next to her feet. The men stared at her horrified and while some rushed out the cave, others weren't as afraid. They kept on firing while she threw spells after spells at them, but she was alone and there were too many of them. She could see cracks in her shield and didn't know how long she would be able to hold on.

A quick glance at Tony made her sigh with relief that he had burned everything that could be used to harm anyone. She felt bad for him but shook herself. This wasn't the time.

A moments distraction cost her because the next thing she felt was pain and the shield around them crumbled like a glass wall. The force of it along with the bullet she'd been hit with was too much and she fell back, the back of her head colliding with the wooden table. The pain was too much and an ear-piercing scream escaped her, drowning everything out.

There was the sound of an explosion and more screaming as she slumped on the floor. Everything around her was blurry and blinked try to clear the black spots from her vision. She couldn't feel anything but cold and she couldn't remember why? Why was it so cold? She tried to move her head but another wave of pain made her tear up.

She closed her eyes for a moment, just a moment, but someone shook her.

A hand touched her cheek and she flinched at the wet feeling. Why was it wet?

"Dorea? Dorea…" A choked voice called and for a moment she forgot that it was her. She couldn't remember where she was… not until she blearily looked up and saw concerned brown eyes staring down at her.

Tony.

Yes, his name was Tony and he was covered in blood. Draco had been shot and was dying. Would die if they didn't get out of this place.

She pushed herself off the floor, but almost fell back when her body refused to cooperate.

"Whoa!" Tony grabbed her waist, pulling her up with no effort at all.

Dorea swayed on her feet and grabbed the table she was leaning against. Tony was still holding her hand or she would've fallen, but she steadied herself. She didn't think she had felt this much pain in her life and with her record, that was saying something. It took an effort to open her eyes before looking around and was shocked to find out that the room was littered with blood and askew body parts.

Her eyes snapped shut and she resisted the urge to puke because she knew she did that.

"Can you stand?" Tony's tentative voice said as his hand hovered uselessly over her, in case she needed help.

Instead of replying, she took a shuddering breath and said in a whisper, "Help Draco please."

He looked at her dubiously but hurried towards Draco, who had fainted by now and picked him up. Dorea glanced at the mouth of the cave where the sunlight was shining brightly and closed her eyes. She could hear voices and knew more men would be here soon. They needed to leave because she couldn't fight anymore. She didn't have anything left.

She wobbled towards the two men and looked at Tony. His eyes were wide as he stared towards the gate and whispered, "They're coming."

Dorea marvelled how calm he sounded despite the alarm she could see on his face. It took all her effort not to cry with pain when she touched both Draco and Tony's hands. It must've startled Tony because his eyes snapped towards her.

"Close your eyes." She whispered.

He searched her face for something, but in the next second, he did. He tightened his hold on Draco and snapped his eyes shut.

Dorea closed her eyes and jerked when she felt a bullet punching its way through her back. She bit her lip, but couldn't stop the tears as she twisted her arm and then they were falling… falling until they crashed into the sand and she let out a pained moan.

One of his hands was into the sand beneath him, while the other was holding his chest, while He doubled over and vomited the few bites, he had managed to choke down a couple of hours ago. He didn't know what she had done, but he never wanted to do it again. Not even if his life depended on it. It had felt as if someone had stolen his breath and he was having a heart attack. Once done, he wiped his mouth with the back of his tattered sleeve and grimaced at the feeling in his mouth.

He took in the blessed air and opened his eyes, only then realising that he wasn't in the cave anymore! The camp was nowhere in sight! No, he was in a dessert! He was free! He was going home! Back to Jarvis and his Rodney and Pepper and Happy!

He wanted to cheer with joy until he remembered that he had forgotten all about his companions! And he wouldn't be here without them! Without Dorea!

He whirled around, frantically trying to search for the two in the scorching heat and found them not far from him. He stood up on shaky legs and rushed towards them, only to fall on his knees beside them. Draco was lying in the sand, looking for all intent and purpose, almost dead. He was as pale as his hair and Tony swallowed a lump in his throat before his eyes moved to Dorea and he frowned. Both her palms were hovering over the wound on Draco's stomach as she whispered something under her breath. He didn't understand what she was doing until he saw the hole healing itself. It took a few more seconds and he stared with utter astonishment as there was nothing left but smooth skin and not even a scar.

But his awe turned to dread within seconds when his eyes fell on Dorea. She was covered in blood just like him, so he had missed the wounds that were now clearly visible. He could see at least four bullet wounds that were oozing blood and she was sweating buckets. How did he miss that? Her eyes met his before they rolled at the back of her head and she slumped sideways.

Horrified, he rushed to her side, checking for a pulse and was relieved to find one. He couldn't let her die. He was here and alive because of her. She could've left… could've saved herself and Draco, but she hadn't. She had refused to leave without him and was on death's door because of it. She had a family; a child and he couldn't let her die. He couldn't let either of them die.

He swatted her face, jerked her shoulders frantically and finally she flinched, trying to open her eyes but squeezed them shut. He knelt above her, trying to shade her from the harsh sun and swatted her face again, "Dorea! Hey! Talk to me! Dorea! Dorea? Can you heal yourself?"

She squinted at him and tried to shake her head, but a pained whimper escaped her. Tears flew down her cheeks and into her hair and he closed his eyes miserably. He looked at Draco and was relieved to see that the man was breathing. They could get him help, but he wasn't sure about Dorea and he felt his eyes filling with tears.

"Hey… don't close your eyes!" He said loudly, trying to keep her awake, for how long he wasn't sure.

She whispered something and he had to lean his ear towards her mouth to hear what it was.

"Tke' Draco – 'n lve'."

Tony shook his head without his knowledge and said, "We had a plan! I promised you I'll take the two of you to the best burger joint ever once we're out of here! You can't die without trying the American cheeseburger!"

When she didn't reply, he shook her again and tried, "No, no, no! Come on! Come on! You just have to keep your eyes open and I'll hire the best doctor in the world! I've heard they are the best! And then you can go back to your kid! you said you had a kid, right? You can't leave him!"

"Ted." Came the mumbled reply and said desperately, "You're a witch, aren't you? Normal rules don't apply to you and your kind! Wake up! You've got to stay with me!"

She jerked awake, looking up at him confused and asked slowly, "Mr Stark?"

"It's me, Tony. You've gotta stay awake, alright and we'll get help. Rhodes will find us. He's in the air force. Did I tell you about him? He'll have the team of best doctors and you'll be alright. Both of you and then you can go back to your kids and…"

"Tony…" she rasped and he stopped his blabbering. "G'me 'ur 'and…"

He frowned, trying to understand her words and stared confused when she bought her hand up, waiting for him to hold it? He did, unsure what she wanted, but gaped when a small ball-like thing which was shining brightly emerged from his chest and flew somewhere in the sky, too fast for him to see. He was left speechless and when he looked down at the girl, she had fainted.

He tried to shake her awake, but she didn't. by now, her clothes were drenched and he took a shuddering breath. He tried to check her pulse, but by now, his hands were shaking so badly, that he wasn't sure he would be able to find one even if it was there. Readying himself for what he would find, he pulled her tattered shirt up and swallowed the bile that was steadily rising. He had been correct. Four bullet wounds were bleeding and he had no way to stop them. Tentatively, he turned her aside and she flinched away from his touch as if burned, but he needed to see if she was hurt anywhere else or not. Her chances were looking bleak and he wasn't sure if she'd make another hour.

He swore under his breath and hung his head defeatedly when he saw another bullet wound on her shoulder blade and blood, that had soaked her hair. Tony didn't know what to do and he slumped uselessly.

He didn't know whether she was listening or not, but he held her hand in his and said miserably, "I'm sorry for thinking that you were demented. You aren't! You are the bravest person I know. Your kid will be proud of you. I would like to meet him someday. And I promise you… if – if, something happens to you… I'll take care of your kid in any way I can. I know I had no right, but I can still keep an eye on him, yeah? And Draco will help. I know he will."

Tony didn't believe in God. Never had, but for the first time since he had lost his mother, he prayed.

It wasn't long after, he heard the sound that he knew too well and his head snapped up to see two army choppers hovering over them and for the first time since he remembered, Tony Stark cried.

She felt strange. Numb. But somehow, she felt like she was floating. Was this how being dead felt? Was she dead? But if she was, then who did the voice belong to? Someone was begging… for what she wasn't sure.

"Come on… please! You saved us. You can't die!"

She remembered the voice, but she couldn't remember who it belonged to. There was something in the back of her mind like she was forgetting something, but right now, she could care less. All she wanted was to sleep.

...

There was a hand on cheek, shaking her. The same voice saying something, but she felt like she was underwater.

...

The next thing she heard was a name… a shout of a name – Tony, and again she was lost.

...

"Tony! What the hell?" Another voice she didn't recognise.

...

"They need help! Now!"

"Helped… shot… they…"

"Blood…"

...

There was something inside her… something that wanted out and without much thought, she let it out.

There was a scream of the same name again.

"Tony!"

"Tony!"

"Tony!"

...

The same voice spoke to her again and again and again!

"Please…

...

Hang on… your kid…"

A warm hand gripping hers tightly and for some strange reason, she felt safe and finally, her world faded into darkness.

EN: One last chapter to go which will be posted as soon as I can. Not much of a romance here, but this had always been the plot. I have another part planned which will be the part of this series. If anyone's interested in reading a series, do let me know. Also, I'm eager to know what you think of this one.

Positive Criticism is always appreciated unless it is rude or insulting. Have a nice day everyone.

September 4th, 2020