Chapter 28: Time Marches On
Thanks for all the reviews. I do appreciate each and every one of them.
It's time for the huge time skip. Don't worry, Ivy will still have her cuteness in this story. It's just going to be split now. Well, that all depends on my muse. I might have Ivy storm the gates of Hogwarts. Who knows. Either way, cellphones will play a major role in the story.
Another short one. My muse is on the fritz.
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Ivy introduced Harry to her pen pals, Luna and Neville, via owl, and they wrote to him too. The four of them were fast friends. Tony got tired of them using owls and gave the two wizard children phones, and there were constant conference calls almost daily.
Neville had to hide his phone from his family, since it was a muggle invention. He would make the calls in his greenhouse or his room, where he was left alone most of the time.
Luna, on the other hand, had to fight her dad for her phone almost all the time, until he forked over the money to buy one for himself. Her mother also purchased one, and it was what saved her life. Having a phone to call for help, got Sirius to her side almost immediately when she was injured in her experimentations. He got her to St. Mungo's in time.
Harry and Ivy were in school, which Luna and Neville were not, they were being homeschooled, if you could call it that, so they had to wait most days until homework was done, or for the weekends.
The years had been kind to them. School was easy and their friends were great. Gandr and Fenrir were wonderful parts of the family. Sadly, they never got Sleipnir to the mansion. He was just too watched over. However, they did get to sneak in to visit him often.
Even Ivy and Frank snuck up the Yggdrasil to see him from time to time. He would come to see her at the end of his pasture, and he was excited to meet the friends of his brothers and father. He was more than content with his lot in life, so not everyone was sad for him. He was young though. He was tickled pink to meet Frank, never having met anything like him.
Ivy never got to meet Odin, for which everyone was thankful. However, Frigga came for a visit at Tony's house.
"Mother," Thor's voice boomed throughout the house one morning when his mother appeared in the living room. She was replenished in a majestic golden Asgardian gown that was quite out of place in the modern Midgardian home.
"Son," the regal woman said as she stood among the shocked people who were filing in. Thor's voice having drawn them there.
"Why are you here, Mother?" Loki asked as he bussed her cheek. His sons were wary of the woman, though they didn't think she knew who they were.
This time Ivy was standing in front of them protectively. Harry by her side. All the magicals were visiting since it was summer vacation. They got together once a year around this time to practice magic and just hang out.
"My sons are here, why else," she said, taking a seat as if she was the queen, which she was. "You hardly ever come to visit your mother," she chastised, like mothers everywhere.
"You know Father does not want Loki to come to Asgard," Thor boomed, taking a seat next to her.
"Can I offer you tea?" Tony said, sarcastically. He was not one for airs. It was his house dammit. She was not in control here, her position as Queen of Asgard be damned.
"No, thank you," she said with a sniff. "My, but you have surrounded yourselves with some powerful people," she said, seeing the magic of Ivy, Sirius, Siri, Remus and Harry.
Fenrir and Gandr were still hiding behind people, but she could feel them as well, though they had a different magic about them. Something more animalistic and godlier. They were not Asgardian, but they were godly.
"Yes, the Avengers are very powerful Midgardians," Thor said, misunderstanding her immediately. He was very proud to be part of the Avengers, they had saved the world with just their wits and human strength and toys.
"She means the magicals and the children," Loki corrected him. "Children, go play," he suggested, making shooing motions. He was not quite ready for his mother to meet her grandchildren. He knew she could feel them, but they didn't trust his adoptive parents. They feared them. Of course, they would probably fear his true parents too. Well, not fear, since they could eat them without a thought, but…
"I would meet these powerful children," she said, her tone brooked no argument.
The kids stayed where they were, but Ivy curtsied prettily and said, "I am Ivy Harriet, this is my cousin Harry James, and behind me are my friends, Fen and Gandr." Her cuteness radiated off her with each word spoken. Harry beamed at her side and did the same. Projecting harmless children to the queen.
"Come, let me look upon you," Frigga said, waving them forward.
"No, thank you," Ivy said cutely, for them all. "We are wary of strangers," she offered as an explanation. She then took Fenrir's and Gandr's hands and turned to her room. They went without protest.
"What a rude child," Frigga stated with a disapproving air. On Asgard her word was law, bar Odin's, and everyone, bar Odin, obeyed her. She was quite put out that this child did not.
"She had a rough life before Tony adopted her, as did they all," Bruce said, in an apologetic tone. He quite liked how Ivy handled it, but he felt the need to apologize anyway.
"She doesn't trust strangers," Tony said with an unapologetic tone. He didn't care that Ivy had snubbed the queen.
"You should teach her manners," Frigga said, reprimanding the father of the child.
"She's polite enough," Tony disagreed. He went to the bar and poured some juice.
"Tell me how you plan on getting Sleipnir away from my husband, and why you feel the need to do so now," Frigga said, changing the subject. She had a sneaking suspicion that the two older male children that had just left were Loki's, but if he wanted to keep it a secret, then she would not call him on it yet.
"It is time," was all Loki said, then they started making plans, but they were all for not. Heimdall was watching too closely. They talked for an hour or so, making the Avengers and the magicals either help with the planning or move off to do whatever it was they were doing before the queen showed up. Soon enough Frigga left, and everything went back to normal. Well, as normal as things went when Deadpool and Sirius were around, but normal enough.
The queen and Hel made many visits to the mansion over the years. Alastor Moody kept them informed on what was happening in Britain, when Sirius was kept in the dark.
Dumbledore was at a standstill. He could not legally get Ivy, and he could not overcome the wards around the mansion. Nor did he know how to overcome the muggle methods of protection. He made one mistake trying to take her from school, and Goose tried to eat him again. He was stymied and hated it.
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Years went by and Ivy and Harry were now going on eleven, along with Neville. He had been shocked when he found out that he was a day older than the 'twin cousins'. Thus, being the oldest of all the friends, for all he felt like he was the youngest. He was the shyest one of the bunch and felt that Ivy was the most mature by far.
Luna was a year younger, but she didn't care.
Neville was nervous that he wasn't going to get his Hogwarts letter, but Harry said he could join him in his lessons if he didn't. What Neville was most worried about was that his family would cast him out, if not outright kill him. After one such discussion between the kids, Siriusly called her 'twin cousin'.
"Sirius," Siri said to the man via their cellphones, "you need to keep an ear out for Neville Longbottom. He was Lily's godson in my world," she said, very concerned for the child. She knew that Madam Longbottom was a heartless old battleaxe.
"How do you propose I do that?" Sirius asked, looking at her hologram with astonishment. Neville was Lily's godson here too. "I can't just march up to Longbottom Manor and demand to see him."
"Offer to sponsor the lad," Siriusly said, thinking on her feet. "Harry is very fond of the boy, as is Ivy." She knew that by using the kids it would get him hopping. It was a low blow, but she was just that worried.
"I'll see what I can do," Sirius said, hanging up the phone. He put his brain in motion and thought on how to word his proposal and floo called the manor.
Augusta Longbottom answered the call. "What can I do for you, Lord Black?" she inquired with a lifted brow. She had no idea why the man was in her floo. He had never called on her before.
"I would like to propose a sponsorship for young Neville," Sirius said, his head floating in the fire. He really liked the cellphones better. They were better on his knees. That and he could hold them in his hand.
"Indeed?" she said, then asked, "Why?" Wondering where this was suddenly coming from.
"To make up for the foulness my cousin befell upon your family. I know it is not enough, but if the lad gets into Hogwarts, then I will pay for his time there. Kit him out and get his books, and some spending money. If not, then I will sponsor him in the muggle world. I dabble in both worlds, he will not falter," he stated, letting her know that he'd be responsible no matter what.
She seemed to sigh with relief. For all that Neville had bounced out of the window, he had yet to show any more signs of magic, and that could have been a fluke. She worried that he was not strong enough to get into the school.
"I would appreciate that," she said, still making him stay in the fire. "I will contact you either way," she ended the conversation with that.
"Until then, Madam," Sirius said and withdrew his head. That was done, and everyone would breathe better knowing that Neville would be taken care of no matter what. He called Siri and let her know it was done and she was happy about it.
Harry heard and called Neville, who was relieved as well. He started making plans in case he needed to go to the muggle world. He asked Harry a ton of questions about them, and he was fascinated with the technology. He knew they were great, his phone was an excellent example, but Merlin, the things they came up with.
The discussion went on until Neville got his letter, which they then changed to what he was going to do alone in Hogwarts. That all changed the next day.
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It came as a surprise when Harry Potter got his Hogwarts letter in New York. "Why am I getting one? I live in the states?" he asked Siri. He had been expecting a letter from Ilvermorny. Not that he planned on going, Loki and Siri taught him everything he needed to know.
"I don't know," she said, taking out her phone and calling Sirius. Maybe he knew what was happening.
"What?" Sirius asked, not one to mince words when he was busy. "I'm at the bank," he said as if that explained his surliness. He was setting things up for Neville.
"Harry just got a Hogwarts letter," she said, not putting herself on hologram, but keeping it to voice. "Any idea why?" she asked, cutting to the chase.
"Not a clue. Are you going to send him there?" Sirius asked, then mumbled something to the goblin that he was talking with. "Look, I've got to sort Neville's trust vault so his family can't use it. Talk with Tony and sort it out," he said and hung up.
"Rude," Siri said, and rang Tony's number.
"Mr. Stark is busy in his lab, is it important?" Jarvis' voice came on the line.
"Yeah," Siri said, thinking this couldn't wait. Her nerves would fray if it did. She thought they had kept Harry off Dumbledore's radar. So why was Harry getting this letter? "Kind of," she added in an undertone.
Harry was sitting listening to every word. He wanted to be a part of this discussion. He took out his phone and called Ivy, so she could be a part too. They had a quiet talk and then sat back and waited. Ivy on speaker, with Gandr and Fenrir listening as well.
"What's up?" Tony said with his hologram was doing something off to the side.
"Harry got a Hogwarts letter," she said without preamble.
"That's weird. You aren't even from this reality," the billionaire said, putting down his schematics and suit parts. "Let me go upstairs and call a family meeting," he offered and started towards the stairs.
Siri worried her fingernails with her teeth, which was a nasty habit she had picked up in Azkaban, that she hadn't quite kicked now that she was out. She tried putting fake nails on, but she just bit them off. It was a total waste of money and time.
"Okay, everyone is here," Tony said, putting her on Jarvis' server so that she could see everyone and everything. Bruce, Loki, Thor, Clint, Steve, Natasha and Pepper were all sitting around the living room and looking worried.
"The children are with Ivy?" she presumed, hoping that they would stay there. She let Harry stay here because it was about him.
"Yeah, I figured I'd tell them later. Ivy got her letter and promptly tore it up," Tony said with a great deal of smugness. It gave him a swollen head that his little girl was smart enough to not even think about going to that school. She was doing well in her studies with Loki, and Sirius and Remus could come back and start teaching her wanded magic now. Her nonmagical studies were already at the high school levels, so there were no worries there. If she wanted to, she could test out. Which he probably would let her do.
"You should do the same," Clint said, not sure why they were even talking about this.
"I don't think so," Bruce countered. "Harry is an unknown to this world, how did Hogwarts even know he was here? We might need to figure that out before he bows out."
"Dumbledore's meddling?" Natasha asked, though there was doubt in her tone.
Tony pulled out his phone and shushed everyone for a moment. "Alastor? Did Albus say anything about an unknown student to you. A family member of Ivy's?" He listened for a moment. "Yeah, her cousin." A moment more of listening. "No? Okay. A magic book, you say. Oh, okay. Thanks. I'll talk to you later. bye," he said, and hung up.
"So, not Dumbledore," Pepper said, getting the gist of the conversation.
"No, not him," Tony said, putting his phone down.
"I think, we shouldn't send him," Loki said, and everyone agreed.
"But I want to go," Harry said, making everyone remember he was there.
"Why?" was the collective response to that. There was a great deal of concern in all their tones. England was not where they wanted any of the children to go.
"Neville will be there," he said as if it was obvious. "Ivy's not going, and Neville will be all alone. Luna will be there next year, and you know how strange she is. She's going to be picked on. I can keep in touch with my phone, and I can let you all know what's going on there," he said, sweetening the deal.
"You are not a spy, or a weapon," Siri said, going to him and wrapping him in a hug.
He turned his large green eyes to her and softened his face into his cute look. "I can help them," he added as if he was their only hope.
She softened. She knew that look, he was determined. "Albus Dumbledore will want to know what you know about Ivy," she tried to argue.
"I know that she's an adorable little girl, who lives in the United States. That's what he already knows," Harry said, turning up the cute wattage. "Loki has already taught me how to protect my mind and body," he reminded them.
"He's going to try and make you the hero," she tried again. She was folding, she could feel it.
"He's going to fail," he countered. "No one knows me from Jack," he pointed out, looking at the Avengers who were watching with various degrees of entertainment. That was until Ivy came into the room. Not that they were scared of her, no they loved her to death, and would die for her. They just knew that she was as stubborn as Harry. "As far as anyone is concerned, I am a distant cousin of the Potters," he reminded them.
"If Harry wants to go, then I say let him. We can hook him up with all the necessities that he needs to keep in touch and informed. I am sure that Jarvis will be more than happy to help," she said, sweetly to the air.
"Of course, Miss Ivy," the AI stated as if that was a given.
"Dumbledore is not to be underestimated," Loki said, hoping the man didn't bend so low as to using a child to get what he wanted.
"Can you put some protections on him, or give him something that the old man can't detect?" Tony asked, thinking something Asgardian.
"I can," Loki said, going over the many things that he could do. He'd give him an amulet that would get him through any wards the Midgardians had.
"Goose," Ivy called into the room. Goose came out into the room and looked at her. "Do you want to go to a magical school?" she asked in her sweetest voice.
"Not on your life," the non-cat said, sitting without being affected. "However, I know someone who might," he offered, and then disappeared. He reappeared next to Harry a few minutes later. With him was another non-cat, only this one was a calico. "This is Star. She is like me. Don't piss her off," he said, then reappeared at Ivy's feet.
"Hello, Star," Harry said, holding out his hand to pet the newcomer. If Goose liked her, she was okay in his books.
The non-cat didn't say anything, just rubbed her head against his hand and crawled into his lap. She started purring. She had been without companionship for a while. Goose had been in touch with her these last few months she had been on earth, but it had taken him this long to convince her that these humans were mostly harmless. The kids were the best, according to Goose. That and she could eat any of the adults that messed with her charge.
"Well, that does make me feel a lot better," Siri said, knowing that these non-cats could eat wizards. She hoped this Star would eat Snivellus. Or maybe just scare the hell out of the man. She never forgave him for what he had done to Lily. He had broken her heart with his heartless words and actions. Lily had forgiven him, but Siriusly never had.
"I guess that's sorted. Does that mean you're going to London?" Tony asked, wondering if he needed to make travel plans.
"Yes, do you have a flat there?" Siri asked, hoping she didn't need to go house hunting.
"Sirius and Remus are staying in it for now. They are set to come here at the beginning of September, but if you think you can handle them as roomies until then, then you're welcome to it," Tony offered, picking up his phone and going over flight plans. He messaged his pilot to prepare for an overseas flight and that he'd be in touch.
"I put up with your intern Parker and occasionally Deadpool, I can handle Black and Lupin for a short while," Siriusly said, looking at her bedraggled nails and sighed. She needed to get them manicured again.
"Okay, I guess that's settled. Harry, I'll see you in a week," Loki said, going over what he needed to get for the kid.
"I'll get things set up for you guys to travel in a week then," Tony said, still going over flight plans. "Get on the phone to Gringotts and get your papers sorted," he said to Siri.
"Will do," she said, they all said their goodbyes and hung up. "Are you sure this is what you want?" she asked Harry.
"Yeah," he said, knowing Ivy would be on the phone with him every night so she would still be part of his life.
"Okay," she sighed and started getting everything organized. She didn't like it, but if Harry was determined to go and he had Star with him, maybe it would be alright. It wasn't like she feared for his life, it was more that she didn't want to be caught up in the middle of that old man's manipulations. Still, she was a Black and manipulations were her family's bailiwicks. He wouldn't know what hit him if he tried to get past her. If she found out that he was behind Sirius' incarceration, then it would be double the impact for him.
"Come on, Star, let me introduce you to your new home," Harry said, taking Star to his room.
Thus, began the start of a new adventure for everyone.