TITLE: Spellbound

DISCLAIMER: All things Harry Potter belong J K Rowling. Tony Stark, SHIELD, Nick Fury, and everyone else belong to Marvel Comics / Marvel studios, as does any of the characters in the MCU that get dragged kicking and screaming into this... basically, if you recognise it, it isn't mine… I'm just here for the fun.

Ginny was still smiling as she slipped back into Hermione's room, catching her mum giving Hermione an awkward hug in the bed and wiping her tears away. "Hey," She said quietly as she moved over. "You ok?" She asked, seeing the fresh tears on Hermione's face.

"Just… it just hit me again," Hermione said quietly. "I'll never see them again." She said with a sniffle.

"Hush dear," Molly whispered, rubbing Hermione's shoulder reassuringly. "I know it's not the same, but you're part of our family, always will be." She said with a small smile.

"Mum's right," Ginny smiled from where she'd walked around to stand by Molly.

"How's your father dear?" Molly asked as Ginny approached. "Still talking with Mr Stark?"

"Yeah," Ginny nodded. "They're fine, he seems alright." Ginny said thoughtfully, thinking to how Mr Stark had interacted with her and her father. "Dad asked if I could go with Hermione when she gets out of hospital. Stay with her and Mr Stark for a while until Hermione feels better with it?"

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Molly frowned over, looking at her daughter and then to Hermione. "We don't know anything about this Mr Stark really."

"That's why dad thought it'd be better if I was with her," Ginny explained. "That and I can help slip her some potions whenever I can, try and get her healing better without all this muggle stuff, but not too fast that Mr Stark gets curious."

"Hmmm," Molly nodded at the thought but was still frowning about the idea of leaving her youngest daughter in a strange man's house, even if he was supposedly related to Hermione. "I think I'll go and have a talk with your father and Mr Stark myself."

"That's what dad said you'd say," Ginny said with a smile. "He didn't agree to anything until I said I'd do it."

"Still, I'll see how I feel after talking with him myself I think." Molly said firmly. "Excuse me girls." With that said she moved to leave the room, heading back to confront Arthur about this plan of his and actually talk with this Mr Stark herself for a bit.

"Was he really alright with it? With you coming with me I mean?" Hermione asked softly.

"He suggested it," Ginny said with a laugh. "He's panicking a bit talking to dad." She explained. "He keeps thinking he's saying something stupid or doing something you won't like."

"He only just found out about me," Hermione muttered thoughtfully. "I'll bet having a daughter wasn't part of his plan." She said softly.

"He came didn't he?" Ginny said, rubbing Hermione's shoulder softly. "I mean, you'd never have known if he hadn't have turned up. He could have just stayed in America if he didn't care, right?" Ginny mused.

"I… I guess so," Hermione nodded slowly, unable to find a fault in Ginny's logic.

"He's trying to figure everything out," Ginny explained with a small smile. "He's got something at his house that's even sorting out a bedroom for us both."

"Some thing?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrow slightly at the words Ginny had used. "Thing?"

"I don't know," Ginny shrugged. "He called it Jarvis, it sounded like a person, but he said it wasn't." She shrugged trying to remember what he'd called Jarvis. "A compooter?"

"A computer," Hermione nodded. "A machine that does things for you." She explained at Ginny's baffled expression.

"Oh," Ginny frowned. "I didn't know they could talk."

"Neither did I," Hermione said in agreement.

"He seemed nice though, he, it, whatever." Ginny shrugged off the thought. "He didn't like calling me by my name though, had to tell him my last name so he wouldn't sound silly."

"Wow, it must be super advanced then," Hermione exclaimed, trying to picture what sort of technology Mr Stark must have access to that would impress Ginny like that.

"Oh yeah," Ginny grinned back. "Mr Stark said he could show you any book ever written, like having your own personal library ready to answer you whenever you want." She laughed as Hermione's eyes lit up at that information. "I told him you'd love that."

"Merlin, that'd make homework and research so much easier!" Hermione breathed out in awe.

"He won't have magic books though right? Just muggle books?" Ginny asked thoughtfully. "I mean, he's not said anything about magic or shown that he knows anything, he's just a muggle right?"

"I think so," Hermione nodded in agreement. She was pretty sure he was anyway, if someone like Tony Stark had been a wizard, then she definitely would have seen it in the Hogwarts library somewhere by now.

"So it'd just be muggle books then," Ginny said as she sat down and got comfortable in the chair next to the hospital bed.

"Probably," Hermione said, idly wondering if there was any way she could get all her magical books into Mr Stark's computer system and how easier it would make things. "Did… did he mention anything about America?" She asked quietly.

"Nope," Ginny shook her head. "I think he's just trying to deal with everything today first, he's got the same look Harry does when he can't even think about tomorrow yet, let alone anything else." She said with a small laugh. "How are you dealing with all of this?" She asked quietly, not wanting to upset her friend any further.

"Honestly?" Hermione asked before shaking her head. "My brain kind of shut down when he said he was my dad." She explained. "Everything after that, it's a bit of a blur really." She admitted. "My dad is… was…" She forced out the correction, swallowing a lump in her throat before continuing. "I loved him, and now I find out he wasn't my real dad at all? I don't know how to handle that." She admitted quietly.

"He was your dad," Ginny whispered, leaning down and hugging her friend loosely. "I don't know what I'd do without my mum and dad." She said softly. "I don't… I mean… Mr Stark isn't going to replace them, they'll always be your mum and dad right?" She said, fumbling over the words and trying not to sound stupid. "But if he's your real dad, don't you want to get to know him at least?" She explained her thoughts.

Hermione simply nodded at that, sniffling quietly as she leant into Ginny's hug. "I just miss them, so much!" She cried, letting her head roll to the side onto Ginny's shoulder.

Molly Weasley strode down the hospital corridor towards the waiting room where she knew her husband was, intent on giving him a piece of her mind for arranging for her daughter to stay in the house of a stranger for the summer, it wasn't until she was right outside the door of the waiting room and took a deep breath, intent on starting the 'conversation' as soon as she walked in, that she cocked her head to the side and listened to what Arthur was saying inside the room.

"Oh no!" Arthur laughed. "Molly told me she was pregnant with our first at breakfast. She'd just handed me a plate of eggs as well." He laughed as he told the story. "I tried to sit down, missed the chair entirely and ended up with the plate of eggs all over me." He explained with a loud laugh that was soon joined by another.

"I was the same," The other voice replied, which Molly was guessing was Mr Stark. "JARVIS told me Hermione was my daughter, my brain just shut down completely." He explained with a laugh. "Next thing I know I'm on the floor wondering what hit me."

"It's a changing moment in your life," Arthur laughed happily. "So you came to England as soon as you found out?"

"Told JARVIS to get the jet ready, I was on it less than an hour later." Tony's voice replied. "I… I'm just worried I'm going to screw this all up." The voice continued in a much more subdued tone.

"We all worry about that," Arthur's voice replied in a consoling tone. "The first few weeks with William, I was afraid to even hold him. Molly had to force him into my arms, and I wouldn't even move while he was there." He explained, drawing a smile from Molly as she remembered the time when William had been born.

"I can't even imagine that," Tony's voice came back with a touch of awe in it. "I… I've just missed so much, I didn't even know about her! What sort of father am I when I didn't even know I had a daughter?" He practically demanded.

"The father that came for her when she needed you." Arthur said wisely, making Molly smile proudly at his reply. "I can't say I know what happened or why you didn't know about the girl," Arthur continued. "But the fact that you are here when she needs you speaks more about you now than the times you didn't know you had her."

"I'm… I just don't know what I'm doing," Tony's voice admitted. "I'm not used to this, feeling confused." He clarified. "I'm second guessing everything I say, that's not like me. I'm like a missile, I know what I want to do, and I do it. But now, my brain is rushing off in a dozen other places at the same time thinking if I'm doing the right thing, saying the right thing."

"We all say the wrong thing now and again," Arthur laughed back. "I dare say Molly has smacked me time and again for saying something stupid in front of the children." He explained, making Molly smirk as she remembered only a few weeks ago slapping his arm for talking about that enchanted car again in front of the twins. "Do you have someone like that?" He asked before quickly continuing. "Sorry, I don't mean to pry."

"No, I mean, ask anything you want." Tony's voice came back. "Someone, yes, maybe?" Tony answered hesitantly. "Pepper, she's… It's still pretty new, we're still sort of working it out." He explained.

"Ah," Arthur nodded. "And does she know about Hermione?"

"Told her earlier," Tony admitted. "She's flying over when she can get away from meetings." He explained. "She'll fit right in here." He said with a laugh.

"Oh?" Arthur questioned. "Slightly mad then?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Redhead," Tony laughed, causing Arthur to laugh loudly alongside him. "I'm sure you'll meet her, we'll have to have you all over some time for drinks."

"Or a meal," Arthur replied easily. "Molly loves cooking, I'm sure she'd love to have you, Hermione and Pepper over for a meal."

Molly smiled at that thought, her earlier ire forgotten as she listened to Mr Stark's insecurities and stories, it was obvious he and Arthur had bonded over stories of fatherhood, making him seem far more approachable and human than the distant unknown that had just walked into Hermione's life.

Still smiling at the thought of having an even larger family to cook for, Molly stepped forward and pushed open the door to the waiting room, watching as Arthur and Tony both turned to look at her.

"Hello dear," Arthur smiled, standing up quickly. "Did Ginny ask you…"

"Ask?" Molly frowned, turning to Arthur. "Oh that girl," Molly muttered, shaking her head. "No, she told me you'd made a plan, not that she was asking me."

"Oh no, I know better than that," Arthur chuckled as Molly swiped at his arm playfully.

"I should go," Tony said as he stood up, feeling a bit awkward. "This is… you know, family stuff." He said, gesturing between the two of them.

"Nonsense," Molly said firmly. "Sit down and we'll talk about this plan of yours." She said, nodding and leading Arthur back to his seat. "I must admit Mr Stark…"

"Tony, please." Tony interrupted.

"Tony then," Molly nodded with a hesitant smile. "I am a bit cautious about letting my daughter stay with someone I hardly know, even for Hermione's sake."

"I get that," Tony said, holding up his hands. "Really, I'm just trying to think of what's best for Hermione here." He explained. "I know what she's going through, I never got to say goodbye to my parents either." He continued when Molly and Arthur looked at him. "They both died in a car accident when I was twenty-one." He explained. "So, yeah, I know what she's going through. After they died, I basically shut down, shut everyone out. Started drinking, I was stupid, and I don't want to see Hermione go through the same." He admitted.

"Oh you poor thing," Molly whispered, trying to imagine what it must have been like for the young man to have lost his parents like that.

"Look, all I'm saying is that if I'd had friends back then, maybe I wouldn't have taken a nose dive like that." Tony explained. "I can't say I was close to my father, he was a cold calculating… but we're not talking about him." Tony said, waving the thought away and realising that his father hadn't actually been like that, especially after seeing the footage Fury had brought for him a few months ago. "I just want to try to be a better dad than my dad ever was to me." He explained.

"All we can ever do is hope our children do better than us," Arthur smiled reassuringly across the room at Tony. "I'm sure your father would be proud of you."

"I'd hope so," Tony admitted aloud for the first time, not really knowing if his dad would be proud of him for dismantling the war factory his company had become or not. "But this isn't about me," Tony said, trying to get the conversation back on track. "Hermione is going to need her friends to get through this. Me and Pepper, we're new. We'll be there for her and I can talk to her about what happened, but she's not going to open up to us like she would to Ginny, not for a while at least." He said, hoping that one day maybe Hermione would be able to talk to him like that.

"Well, yes, obviously I can't argue with that." Molly admitted. "The girl will need her friends obviously."

"I've got the space, the resources to get whatever she needs to recover," Tony explained. "I just… I want her to feel comfortable while she recovers and adjusts, with all of this, her parents, me, happening all at once, I'm surprised she's doing as well as she is." He admitted.

"She's a strong girl, I think she'll surprise you." Molly said with a small smile. "But I do agree, things would be better for Hermione with Ginny there for her, especially through the nights."

"See, that's what I was thinking." Tony admitted. "And she can be there for her when I say something stupid, which will probably be a lot of the time if I'm honest." He said with a wry chuckle.

Molly smiled at that, seeing the insecurity for what it was. "And your partner?"

"Partner, yes, that's the word I was looking for." Tony clicked his fingers happily. "Pepper, she'll tell me when I'm being an idiot, she always does." He said with a laugh.

"A redhead as well, are you sure she's not one of ours?" Arthur laughed along.

"Not unless this is a bad daytime tv show somewhere or a really messed up dream," Tony chuckled. "But yeah, Pepper will be there as well. She can help with the girls' shopping or… you know, girl stuff." He said with a shrug. "Not that I've even got a clue where to start with all of that."

"Perhaps," Molly started, holding up a finger. "Perhaps Ginny could stay with Hermione." She continued sternly. "Providing we're comfortable with the arrangements and can keep in touch with the girls."

"Of course," Tony nodded emphatically. "I was already going to sort out a phone for Arthur to use, so he could call any time to talk to them, or they can call him, or I can when I'm panicking." He finished with a chuckle. "Arthur said he works in the city as well? Right? So he can pop in every day to check on them and see how they're doing."

"Well, yes, I supposed so." Molly nodded at that, a bit mollified that Mr Stark was willing to have Arthur check up on them every day.

"Really, I'll have JARVIS know to let you both in any time you want, you don't even have to call first." Tony continued on.

"And where exactly is your house?" Molly queried. "If Ginny is going to be staying with Hermione, obviously I'd like to know exactly where the girls are."

"Sorry, stupid." Tony muttered, shaking his head at that. "Stark Offices?" He asked, looking between the blank stares he got from Arthur and Molly. "Right," He said, pulling out his phone. "JARVIS, what's the address of the London offices?"

"The Stark Offices are located at One Canada Square, Canary Wharf," JARVIS announced from the phone.

"Oh, of course." Arthur whispered, shaking his head and still staring in astonishment at the glass muggle phone Tony was talking to. "The large building with your name on it." He said with a chuckle.

"The top three floors are all private residence," Tony explained. "For when me or Pepper are in the city. I haven't been there in years though, but it's all set up and ready."

"I see," Molly frowned. "And where do you normally live then?"

"Me?" Tony asked. "Malibu, I was thinking about relocating to New York, I've got a big project going on there and the new offices will have the same apartment areas the London building has, I just haven't put much thought into it lately."

"Well," Molly mused thoughtfully before continuing. "Arthur, why don't you go with Mr Stark…"

"Tony," Tony interrupted before letting Molly continue.

"To see the place Hermione will be staying." Molly continued, fixing Arthur with a look so he knew what she meant. "If you think it's suitable, then we can see what Ginny thinks about short stays with Hermione then coming home at the weekends." She offered firmly.

"That works," Tony nodded. "I can drive Hermione and Ginny down to you, it'll probably do her good to have some fresh air and get out of the city every week. If you don't mind her staying with you at the weekend of course?"

"Of course not," Molly said quickly, a bit surprised at the question.

"I just… I want what's best for her," Tony said in a fluster. "I know my lifestyle might not be right for her right now, so I'm trying to think of any way I can to make things easier for her."

"I can see that you're doing everything you can dear," Molly said with a small smile. "You're doing just fine." She nodded in satisfaction, inwardly giving Mr Stark more marks for putting Hermione before himself. "Oh, Ginny does have a pet owl, I don't suppose you'd mind if she brought it along as well if Arthur thinks it's suitable?"

"An owl?" Tony asked before blinking a few times in shock, missing how Molly squeezed Arthur's knee to stop him saying anything. "Uh, sure." He said, trying to imagine what sort of people kept owls as pets. "You mean a flying one right? The birds?" He double checked.

"Of course," Molly laughed at Tony's confusion.

"Ok, just checking." Tony nodded before shaking his head in amusement. "Ok, yeah, that can work. There's the roof garden where she can let the guy out for a bit to fly around, I don't know if it's safe in the city for owls to fly around though."

"Oh it's perfectly safe," Molly said quickly. "Lots of people in the city have them."

"Oh, ok then." Tony shrugged, wondering if owl pets were just another British thing he'd completely missed before and hadn't thought about. "Yeah, that's fine." He shrugged, accepting it. Having a feathered pet along really wasn't that much of a hassle if it meant Hermione got her friend to stay with her.

"Wonderful," Molly smiled. "Why don't you go and tell the girls the news then? And I'll talk with my husband about things." She said with a smile.

"Right, gotcha." Tony smiled, getting the subtle hint. "I'll be… you know…" He said, gesturing to the door as he walked.

"With your daughter," Molly said with a laugh. "You should tell her you know, about your parents. It might help."

"Yes! That," Tony chuckled, nodding at Molly's advice. "Again, thanks so much for this, really." He said fervently. "If there's ever anything I can do for any of you, name it." He said, really meaning it.

"Of course, dear," Molly smiled. "Now, go and talk with your daughter." She said, pointing to the door.

"Right, daughter." Tony nodded before heading to the door and leaving Arthur and Molly alone to talk.

"Mr Stark?"

Tony paused in the corridor as he heard his name being called, spinning around he saw the doctor from earlier heading towards him with some papers in his hand. "Oh, hey." He said with a smile.

"Here are my recommendations for Miss Granger's requirements," The doctor explained passing him the papers. "I've also added a list of private nurses who will be able to attend twice or three times a day to check on her medication and help with limited exercise to keep the blood flowing and help with the healing process."

"Sounds good," Tony nodded as he flicked his eyes over the lists, nothing stood out that should be any problem for him to get hold of. "I can have this ready by tomorrow." He said, his voice full of surety in his resources.

"You mean to have Miss Granger moved to private care tomorrow then?" The doctor asked.

"That's the plan, I'm just going to talk with her now about it." Tony explained.

"Very well, I'll have the final x-rays done tonight and ready for discharge tomorrow lunch time then if that is suitable?" The doctor asked, making a note of Mr Stark's plan.

"I'll be here." Tony nodded, bringing his phone out of his pocket as the doctor started walking away. "JARVIS, reach out to the London office, I'll need one of the limousines and a driver tomorrow morning, and a wheelchair ready at the office." He announced.

"Of course, sir." JARVIS responded automatically.

Tony smiled at that, strictly a limousine wasn't really needed, he probably could have found a reasonably sized car well enough to fit the two girls in and made sure they had enough room to be comfortable as well. "Oh doc, sorry." Tony shouted, jogging quickly to catch up with the doctor. "Hermione wanted me to ask if she could have her clothes and things back? I don't know what she had on her when… well, it happened."

"Of course, I'll have them ready for tomorrow for you." The doctor nodded with a soft smile.

"Thanks, that'll be a load off her mind." Tony smiled back before heading back towards Hermione's room and knocking on the door before pushing it open and peeking inside cautiously. "Safe to enter?" He asked jokingly, not wanting to intrude on anything private the two girls were talking about.

"Hi Mr Stark," Ginny smiled up from where she was sitting on the edge of the bed and talking with Hermione.

"Owch," Tony mimed clutching his heart. "I feel old already." He chuckled as he walked into the room. "Everything ok?" He asked, closing the door quietly behind him.

"We're just talking," Ginny smiled, looking at Hermione who seemed to be staying quiet and looking quite nervous. "Did you talk with mum and dad?"

"I did," Tony nodded as he walked over, pulling over the chair and sniffing at the now cold put of coffee with disdain. "If it's alright with you and Hermione, you can come and stay with her while she's recovering." He said with a smile.

"You… you'd do that?" Hermione asked nervously, speaking up from her bed.

"Of course," Tony said firmly. "Arthur said he'd be popping in every day as well from work to check on you both as well, and I'll drive you down to… Otter something or other," He frowned, trying to remember the name of the town or city he'd been told the redheaded family lived at.

"Ottery St Catchpole," Ginny filled in for him with a laugh.

"That one," Tony nodded, clicking his fingers and pointing at Ginny. "So, it'll be in the city during the week, weekends at Ottery, if that's ok with you both?" He asked hesitantly, looking between the two girls. He could see the smile on Ginny's face looking like she was eager for a new adventure, but the apprehension on Hermione's face made him pause. "Ginny, can I talk to Hermione for a bit?" He asked softly.

"Oh?" Ginny frowned, looking between the two of them. "Oh, oh!" She said, catching on. "Right, I'll just… I'll go and chat to mum and dad about getting things ready!" She said, sliding off the side of the bed. "You ok 'Mione?" She asked quietly, leaning in for a last hug.

"Yeah, go on," Hermione tried to smile reassuringly but the nervous tension showed on her face.

"Ok, back soon." Ginny smiled, squeezing Hermione's hand before moving out of the room, giving them one last look before letting the door close on them.

"Sorry," Tony said automatically. "I should have asked you first before planning anything." He admitted, slumping down in the chair a bit. "I'm terrible at this."

"You… you really don't mind Ginny coming?" Hermione asked quietly, still trying to get used to the idea that she would be living with him soon.

"I thought it would be best," Tony admitted, running his hand through his hair sheepishly. "I talked to her parents about it and they seemed ok with it. I was going to take her dad back later on and show him around, see how he felt about it." He explained.

"Oh," Hermione frowned, knowing Mr Weasley meant well, but the idea of him visiting a muggle building was both amusing and slightly worrying.

"How are you doing?" Tony asked, trying to get comfortable in the chair and feeling anything but. "Just realising, this is the first time we've really talked, just us."

"Yeah," Hermione nodded, wincing a bit but the pain was duller now thankfully. "I'm… I don't know." She answered honestly. "Is empty a good answer?"

"Any answer is good if it's true," Tony said with a shrug. "Empty is good, honest. I didn't tell you before, I lost my parents when I was younger as well. Probably about a year or so before I met your mom actually." He admitted.

"When… when does it stop hurting?" Hermione asked, tears starting to fill her eyes again.

"It doesn't," Tony admitted honestly. "I won't say you get over it or it gets easier, or any of that greeting card nonsense, it doesn't, you won't." Tony said softly. "You learn to deal with it, to push through it, to live on because it's what they would want you to do."

"Is that… is that what you did?" Hermione asked, rubbing her face against the side of the pillow to wipe some of the tears away.

"Me? No," Tony laughed quietly. "You want the truth or a nice story?" He asked with a small smirk. "Figured I'd ask since we're on an honesty thing here and it seems to be working pretty well so far." He said when he saw the look she gave him.

"Truth?" Hermione nodded with a small smile.

"I drank," Tony said solemnly. "A lot, for a long time." He admitted. "Didn't crawl out of that hole until I'd hit rock bottom." He said quietly. "I hid myself away, from friends, everyone. Crawled into a bottle and locked the door behind me."

"Why?" Hermione asked, trying to understand why he'd do something like that.

"It numbed everything," Tony answered. "Made things easier. It was easy to fall over, do something stupid, then forget about it all with a mind-numbing headache in the morning. Rinse and repeat." He explained honestly. "I didn't want the 'im so sorry' platitudes or 'im there for you' speeches from everyone, I got sick of hearing them whisper about me and saying how sorry they felt for me." He said, hoping Hermione wouldn't put two and two together and realise how drunk he'd actually been when he'd slept with her mother.

"How long?" Hermione asked, surprised at how honest Tony was being with her, her mum and dad talked with her before, but always sanatised and clean versions of the truth, she knew they were just trying to make things easier for her to understand, but hearing the cold unvarnished truth for once was actually really nice.

"Too long, didn't crawl out until Rhodey, old friend from MIT, dragged me to a clinic to get myself clean." He said with a smile. "Without him, I don't know what I'd have done." He said quietly. "That's why I wanted Ginny there for you, you'll need her."

Hermione simply nodded at that, blinking in the silence for a while and trying to keep away the tears.

"I figure you've got a lot of questions for me, probably a few that'll be embarrassing or awkward, but you've got the right to them." Tony explained. "I won't say there aren't things I won't answer, but if you want to know anything, you can always ask."

"When did you meet my mum?" Hermione asked after a long pause.

"Christmas party, ninety-five." Tony answered easily.

"You said she was working for you?" Hermione asked curiously, eager to hear a bit more about what her mum must have been like when she was younger.

"Not directly," Tony explained. "She worked in the London offices, she was a secretary I think, I'd have to check though, JARVIS will have her employment records somewhere."

"Who's Jarvis?" Hermione asked quickly, catching onto the name Ginny had mentioned before.

"Computer system I designed." Tony explained, giving her the simple explanation he'd given to the other girl before. "He helps run the business, keep me on time, manages my schedule, does more for me than anyone else except Pepper really."

"Pepper?" Hermione latched onto another name, turning it into a question.

"Um, awkward question." Tony explained. "If I say partner, it kinda explains it, but not everything. She was my CEO, that's me now again by the way, but she's a lot more than that." He said nervously, wondering if he should say that she was flying over as well to see them, or if that would just be a bit too much at the moment.

"Ok," Hermione whispered, absorbing that for the moment. "You really want me to come and stay with you?" She asked seriously.

"Of course." Tony said firmly. "Look…" He breathed out, ruffling his hair as he tried to get his thoughts together. "I didn't know about you growing up, honestly, from what I've seen of you, your mum and dad did a much better job with you than I could ever have done." He admitted honestly. "I was a wreck, and I'd never even thought about kids before," He said with a laugh to try and make Hermione smile. "But I'm trying to do the right thing, and now I know about you, I'd like to be part of your life, if that's ok?" He asked softly.

Hermione nodded, blinking away some more tears as she looked over at Tony and seeing that he really meant every word of it. "I… I'd like that Mr Stark."

"Owch!" Tony smirked, covering his heart with his hand again. "You make me feel older every time you say that, you know?" He said with a small smile. "It's Tony." For now, he added privately in his head, not even sure if he'd ever be ready for the teenage girl to call him dad either. "I haven't got the right to ask you to call me anything else, so I won't. It'd be awkward for you and confusing for me." He explained with a chuckle.

"Tony," Hermione said through a small smile.

"There we go," Tony said, returning the smile before looking at the clock on the wall. "Reckon I've got about twenty minutes before they kick me out of here to take you down for some more x-rays." He said with a chuckle. "Got any more questions?" He said, relaxing a bit now with the girl.

"Um…" Hermione paused, staring at Tony.

"Go on, if it's something private I'll tell you." He said.

"What's that?" Hermione asked, using her free hand to try to point to his chest where she could make out a blue glow coming from underneath his Black Sabbath t-shirt.

"This?" Tony asked, tapping the arc reactor in his chest. "Simple explanation or long story?"

"Twenty minutes long?" Hermione asked hopefully.

"I can probably cut some stuff out," Tony said with a laugh as he settled down and started to tell his daughter the story of how he'd been injured and created the arc reactor technology before being rescued, and happily Hermione followed the story eagerly all the way until the doctors came to ask Tony to leave so they could run the last x-rays on Hermione's arm and let then talk to her about a regime to help her recover.