Harry Barton
AN: Thank you all for reading and reviewing. Wow after the last chapter I didn't expect writing this one would come so easily but it just seemed to want to be written the way it came out. Hope you guys like it.
Chapter 6: Secrets and Reunions
"Darcy, Darcy! Wake up!" Jane shook her closest friend "Wha's up?" Darcy's sleep voice came from under the blankets "I've got a hit, the Bifrost was activated" Darcy rolled over sleepily "Does that mean you hunk of a god has returned"Jane pouted at this "I don't know, but its someone from Asgard, so get up we need to check"
Darcy groaned "Fine, fine I'll get up" Jane nodded in satisfaction "Good, I'll go get the truck ready." Darcy sat up rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Mumbling about unreasonable hours and love struck bosses chasing after a dream. She wandered around her room wishing for coffee as she bumping into the table three times before finding the clothes she wanted to wear.
Jane wandered back into the room, Darcy had just finished getting dressed "Good, your ready lets go" Darcy wasn't going to go without a fight, it was early and she was hungry "But what about breakfast"
Jane shook her head, "No time for that, come on" She grabbed Darcy's hand and pulled her out the flat they shared barely stopping to lock the door. Darcy groaned how was it that Jane had so much energy. She supposed then if she ever managed to find a guy that she fancied as much as Jane fancied Thor she might just have as much energy especially if she hadn't seen him for a year and a half.
But she had never managed to find anyone that she could do that with, all the boys she seemed to go out with either were too shy to really say anything or just wanted to sleep with her, none of them seemed to be able to hold intelligent conversation. She didn't know what that said about her choice in dates or if she just had really bad luck.
Harry lay in bed, far too comfortable to want to move, he was looking forward to shopping today. He smiled to himself. In five days he had found his father, been freed from the Dursleys and had part of Voldemort removed from his head. Damn Dumbledore for sending him to the Dursleys surely his parents will had said something about his father. Hopefully the Goblins would be able to tell him.
He would have to speak to Tony about contacting Hermione, hopefully he would be able to call up Hermione's home phone number, he had it written down somewhere even if he'd never been allowed to use the phone at the Dursleys. Rolling out bed he stretched pulled on some of the nicest, smallest clothes that he had been allowed and made his way towards the kitchen.
The kitchen was a mess, Tony standing in the middle pancake batter everywhere, the floors, walls and ceiling. In the middle of the mess stood Pepper batter dripping from her hair and suit staring at Tony with shock and annoyance in her face. Bruce and Clint were peaking out of behind the couch, having duck behind it for cover when the pancakes Tony were cooking had exploded.
Harry took one look at it all and started laughing, he was nearly doubled over with laughter when Peppers glare turn on him, he sobered up quickly but was still chuckling as he moved to sit with Clint and Bruce who had come out from behind the couch and was now sitting on it. Pepper turned her irate gaze back to Tony "And just what were you thinking when you decided to try and make breakfast, I know you can't cook without fiddling with the appliances and trying to make them cook faster." Tony smiled his personalised I'm sorry, forgive me smile.
Pepper just shook her head "JARVIS can you please find us something to eat please?" she asked. "Of course Miss Potts." the voice of JARVIS replied. Breakfast as usual when it was made my JARVIS was excellent and they were just finishing up when Pepper spoke up "Right, if everyone will go get ready I think we should leave in about an hour." They all nodded and moved their separate ways to prepare.
For the first time Ron and Hermione were allowed to sit in on the Order meeting, Dumbledore was sat at the head looking worried but Hermione couldn't tell what he was worried about, Harry being missing, or Harry being missing which meant his plan was ruined, ever since she had realised all the books on the Tri-Wizard tournament had disappeared from the school library she had become suspicious of the headmaster.
Similar looks were on the faces of Sirius and Remus and the Weasley Twins had flat out refused to help look saying if Harry wanted to be found he would have at least sent an owl. Then next 15 minutes after this were filled with Molly screaming at them for being Irresponsible and demanding they come home. This just caused them to walk out saying they were much happy living where they were now.
Dumbledore looked solemnly around the room. "Unfortunately there has still be no news of Harry. But it is becoming more important to find him as every day passes" Molly gasped in shock "You don't think You-Know-Who as got him" She asked. Dumbledore shook his head "No I'm sure if Voldemort" Half the table flinched at this name, non worse than Ron which amused Hermione Dumbledore continued ignoring them "Had found him he would be gloating about it" Molly seemed slightly pacified by this.
Sirius and Remus shared a look, she was awfully worried about someone she had only really known for a couple of months, the months that Harry had stayed around the Weasley's before that start of the previous school years. "I want everyone to be on the lookout, Remus can you use your contacts in the muggle aurors to see if anyone matching his description has been seen" Remus nodded, he had already done and come up empty that but we wasn't about to tell Dumbledore that until he knew what his game was, the wolf inside him was practically screaming that something was wrong. "Mundungus I want you to ask around your contacts, find out if Harry's being staying somewhere underground" "will do govner" Mundungus slurred.
Dumbledore nodded "Well is that's all" "Hang on a moment" Moody interrupted "What about that attacks on muggleborn's they're increasing" Dumbledore with held a wince he hated having to pretend to care about them.
"See if you can set early warning devices up around muggleborn locations, we can't do anything unless we arrive before that attack" Moody grumbled but assented. "Well if that's all I must be off, if there is any news on Harry's don't hesitate to call me" with that Dumbledore stood and exited through the floo. Moody stood and walked out the door as he passed Sirius and Remus "I need to speak too the pair of you, I'll be upstairs second room on the right."
Jane pulled the Truck into the deserted car park, the run down warehouse stood, broken windows in front of them. Darcy looked at Jane in confusion. "Are you sure were in the right place" Jane nodded "Positive, its just in there" Jane pointed at the warehouse. Darcy sighed sometimes traipsing through deserted warehouses wasn't as fun as it used to be. They entered the warehouse and Darcy stared at the perfectly cylindrical hole in the roof.
"Well I guess that proves the Bifrost was activated here" Darcy said, pleased that this wasn't another dead end. "So does that" Jane pointed to the markings etched onto the ground. "Right lets get the equipment set up and start monitoring, we need to see how long these markings stay for this time, after this set of data we'll know if its a set time or determined by how long the Bifrost is activated for" Darcy nodded and they got to work, this would be a long day.
Harry and Natasha were sat on the couches, Clint was out on the balcony waiting for Pepper to get ready, probably Tony was distracting her again. Natasha looked at Harry, he had never seen her look worried before, this made him worry "Harry" she said her voice low so Clint couldn't hear them. Harry looked at her "Are you sure your alright with me and Clint seeing each other" Harry just smiled and with a nod "Of course I am, you make him happy and I know he cares about you a lot more than he will let on" Natasha still looked worried "But what about" Harry cut her off "Your worried about replacing my mum?" Natasha nodded. Harry smiled reassuringly "You won't, I never knew her but I know that you'd never try and replace her, its just not who you are" Natasha's face broke out into a smile "Thank you Harry"
Harry jumped up as Hedwig flew in through the window a letter attached to her leg. "Hedwig" He shouted as she flew once around the room before settling on his shoulder. Clint and Natasha just stared at the bird which seemed quite name and was not letting Harry stroke her head. "Harry?" Clint asked confusion evident in his voice. "Oh sorry" Harry didn't take his eyes off the owl "This is Hedwig, my owl, wizards use them to send mail." Clint nodded "Why?" Harry looked stunned, "Umm tradition I guess" he didn't really know how to answer that question "Also technology doesn't work around magic"
At this Natasha and Clint shared a look, a look which Harry saw "What?" he asked suspiciously. Clint stepped forward and sat down. "Harry magic doesn't affect technology at all, it never has done" At this Harry looked confused "But no-one uses it, and all the books say that it doesn't work" Clint and Natasha shared another look. "Well unless the magic in Britain is different from American magic it most defiantly works around technology"
Harry thought about this before realising something "Shit of course they would tell use technology can't work around magic, most of them don't even want to admit that non-magical folk exist, it's just another way of separating the worlds" At this Clint nodded he knew all too well what magical Britain was like after reading the SHIELD files on it. Harry shrugged "Well it's just another reason not to go back then"
"So what does your letter say?" Clint asked. Harry blinked as he had forgotten about the letter in his hand "It's from Hermione and my Godfather Sirius" Clint and Natasha shared an amused look "Hermione your girlfriend?" Clint asked. Harry shook his head "Nope she's more like my sister" Clint gave him a strange look "How would you know what having a sister is like?" Harry shrugged "I don't but we talked about it, we don't have romantic feelings so we guessed we we're more like siblings, she doesn't have any siblings either so we kind of just adopted each other"
Harry stopped when he realised how weird that sounded but shrugged "Right the letter, Well apparently Dumbledore is overly keep to find me but won't tell anyone why, they're all worried about me, but so long as I'm safe and happy they recommend that I stay put, oh and they suggest going to Gringotts to check out my inheritance"
Pepper, Harry, Natasha and Clint walked through the magical part of down town New York, Clint, Natasha and Pepper looking around in amazement and even Harry was impressed, it certainly was much nicer than Diagon Alley, the buildings newer and bigger. As with Diagon Alley the bank sat overlooking one end of the street they walked into the bank, Natasha opted to wait outside and check they hadn't been followed. She still acted as if there was a threat around every corner.
Clint and Pepper just stared at the Goblins until "Don't stare, they see it as it as a threat" Harry hissed both of them flinched in surprise and then quickly moved their eyes else where. The waited in line for a teller when they reached the front Clint was about to speak when Harry spoke up "Good Morning Master Teller I was hoping that someone could help and tell me about my inheritance and if I could go over my account" The goblin just raised his eyebrows slightly "Your key?" He said in a neutral tone.
Harry reached inside his pocket and pulled out his key and handed it over. The goblin took the key looked at it for a moment before jumping off his stool and disappearing through the door behind him. Harry blinked "Well that was unusual" Five minutes passed before the goblin came back and bowed slight "I apologise for the day Lord Potter, if you please follow me" Harry just stood there shocked before Pepper placed a hand around his shoulders and steered him after the goblin "You're a lord?" Clint asked amazed "I have no idea" Harry responded as they followed the goblin down the halls, the stopped in front of a pair of carved iron doors.
The goblin knocked and waited "Come in" The voice inside was a goblin but it had a different accent to the one they have first met. The goblin stepping inside "Lord Ragnok, Harry Potter and company to see you" "Send them in" The goblin stepped out of the office "You may enter" he said.
An hour later they exited Gringotts, Steve had showed up and was waiting for them with Natasha, she immediately could tell something was up "What's wrong?" She asked. Clint sighed "It turns out Dumbledore, Harry's old headmaster has been manipulating and stealing from him, he's also a lord back in England."
Natasha looked furious "Care to explain how" she said, anger palpitating through her voice.
Harry answered her "Dumbledore sealed my parents will and sent be to the Dursleys, it had strict instructions not no send me there and a list of people I was met to go live with, it even stated an orphanage rather than the Dursleys, and they to make sure they didn't get rid of me he's even been paying them $2500 a month, from my money.
Natasha's just got angrier, what sort of man would do that to a person "It also turns out he's stolen $1500000 from my family vault to fund whatever it is he does"
Pepper spoke up "The goblins are hoping they can get most of it back, not that it will make much difference to his account."
Harry shrugged "I don't care, I want Dumbledore destroyed, he ruined my life, and possibly got my parents killed, he also knew that Sirius wasn't the one to betray them as it said in their will and Dumbledore was one of the witnesses" Clint looked at Harry "And just how are you planning on destroying Dumbledore?" Harry shrugged "The same way Tony's going to destroy the Dursleys, I'm going to destroy his image, without people looking up to him there's not really anything he can do."
Pepper smiled, she was used to this type of payback as it was Tony's favourite "Well it's certainly better than trying to fight him" she reasoned.
Tony stood there arms crossed looking furiously at Thor while Loki stood, slightly nervously off to the side. "What is Reindeer Games doing here?" His voice was low and angry. "Loki is here to serve his punishment as decreed by the All-Father" Tony's scowl just got deeper "And who is he to decide that his prisoners get dumped on earth? Don't we get a say"
Thor just looked confused "Your Director Fury approved of this action, I would assumed that he would have told you" Tony looked stunned and looked over at Bruce who was leaning on the table staring in shock at what Thor had just said. "Can you believe this?" Tony asked incredulously. Bruce gave wry smile "Unfortunately with Fury I can believe just about anything"
"Damn that man, JARVIS call Fury" Tony waited impatiently tapping his foot on the ground. "Sorry sir my Director Fury is unavailable, however he told me to tell you that Loki's punishment is set and final and to suck it up." Tony scowled, damn Fury "Fine he can stay in the room next to yours, but your responsible for him Point Break"
Thor nodded "That is what the all-father wished and that is what I shall do" He turned to Loki "Come brother I shall show you to your quarters"
Harry just stared at the street stretched out in front of him, there were hundreds of shops selling everything from antiques to cars. Pepper just smiled at the look an Harry's face "How many of the shops are we going to go into?" he asked slight fear in his voice.
Natasha just answered "As many as we have to, and no more" Clint had to refrain from jumping in and saying what that really meant, 'We'll go into as many as we want, if you don't like it tough'. He was broken out of his musing by Pepper speaking "Right well its probably easiest if we just head for Barney's see if we can't pick up as much as possible" Clint let out a small sigh of relieve.
Natasha sidled up to him an whispered "He's never been shopping in his life, do you really think we want to scare him off so soon?" Clint shook his head, it was just like Natasha to be this sneaky and ensure Harry wouldn't mind coming shopping again.
Barney's was huge five floors all dedicated to shopping, he knew without Pepper or Natasha he would be total lost and probably would have already run out of the shop. As it was they steered him to the third floor. "Right, we should start off with casual clothes" Pepper said, "The easiest way I think would be for you to go round and pick out stuff you like Harry and once we've got some you can go try it all on Ok" Harry nodded "Sure, that sounds fine"
Three hours later and Harry now had a whole new wardrobe, numerous t-shirts of different colours and styles, 6 pairs of jeans and 5 slacks of different colours. Not to mention two slightly different coloured suits one dark blue and one black. Harry couldn't understand why the different colours were important and Peppers answer had been "You need different colours for different occasions" They were now headed for a shoe shop and judging by the looks on Clint's and Steve's faces they could be here for a while.
Harry was trying on another set of shoes, he already had a pair of work out shoes, couple of casual ones and a pair of black smart ones to wear with his suits but Pepper had decided that he needed another pair. Steve had tried to convince them that harry needed a pair on combat boots but both Pepper and Natasha had vetoed it, what they didn't know is when harry had distracted them.
Steve had brought them anyway, they would be a gift he decided. Harry saw a line of jackets hanging up along one side of the store, and stood up to go have a look. There were dozens of different styles and sizes of jacket. Harry saw Clint about to pull one out when Natasha's hand stopped him "No Clint, a jacket is the one thing he's allowed to pick out himself" Harry smiled at this. He stopped at one, it was a bikers jacket with smooth leather and angel wings sown onto the back of it, the inside was soft, he pulled it on. It was slightly too big, but Harry decided that he wanted it.
They had just left the store, they had sent all their purchases back to the tower with Happy Tony's driver and were now walking down the street, Natasha had decided that Harry should know the layout of the city, when gunfire made them all jump, Harry looked at his dad but Steve was already snapping off instructions. "Clint go up high find out what's going on. Pepper, Harry stay close to me and Natasha." They took off at a run Clint moving up the side of the nearest building almost as fast as they were running. "Left down that alley there's an old warehouse, the gunfires coming from there, I'll go in through the upper floor" Clint's voice, calm and collected came through their earpieces. "Understood" Steve was in his Captain mode, unflappable and deadly calm.
They slide to a halt outside the side door to the warehouse, "Barton what do you see?" Steve's voice was urgent. "Two girls pinned down, five shoots armed with AK's look like mercenary's, SHIT."
Steve instantly looked worried, Clint hardly ever swore "It's Jane and Darcy" Harry looked confused before Pepper whispered in his ear "Jane is Thor's girlfriend and Darcy her intern, they do consulting work with SHIELD" Steve looked around, trying to see if there was another way in. Seeing non he swore gently "Right here's the plan Harry, Pepper stay out of the way."
Harry scowled at that, he wanted to help, but was shot down by the look Natasha sent him. "Barton, Romanov you provide covering fire, I'll go in and get the girls, Barton where exactly are the positions of them in there?" They waiting for a moment before "The girls are off to your left as soon as you enter, the five men are spread out to the right, that door opens to to right inwards, should provide some cover"
Seconds passed before "I'm in position, above and to the left of you as you come in, Natasha use the door as cover, Steve you've got 6 feet before you come to a set of pallets, the girls and 15 feet back behind metal sheeting, between the pallets and the metal there's no cover" Steve winced at this but they had no choice they had to get Jane and Darcy out, if only to stop Thor from smiting New York searching for the ones that hurt her.
"Right well its to late to change the plan now, so we go on my command" Natasha nodded "Go" Shouted Steve and threw the door open bounding across the space and sliding behind the pallets even as bullets ripped through the space where he had just been. But from there the whole plan went FUBAR, Steve was pinned down, Natasha and Clint couldn't keep the shooters pinned down., pistols never faired well against automatic weapons.
Harry knelt outside the warehouse feeling useless while Steve was pinned down. He felt a tingle in his palms, something he only felt when he used magic but this time it was more pronounced like it was waiting for his command. He slipped into the warehouse keeping behind the door, ignoring Peppers protests. He let the energy in his palm build up before stepping out from behind the door and sending a ball of electricity down the warehouse it exploded in front of the gunmen sending three of them flying a sickening crunch told him that at least one of them had hit something hard. The gunfire stopped and the two remaining men stood up dropped there rifles and ran. Fear evident in there eyes.
Harry slumped down breathing heavily he hadn't meant to kill anyone. Natasha knelt down next to him resting her hand on his shoulder "Look at me" She commanded. Harry slowly raised his head to look her in the eyes "What you just did, you did to protect us yes?" Harry nodded "Those men down there were terrorists, they didn't care about killing people who couldn't defend themselves"
Harry nodded he understood what she was trying to tell him, but it didn't make that fact that he had just killed any easier. Natasha held out her hand and helped him to his feet.
Pepper rushed over "Idiot" she mutter as she checked him over "That's the kind of thing I would expect from Tony" Harry half smiled at this "That's not a compliment" Pepper admonished.
Before Harry could react he was hit by a brown haired girl hugging him tight mumbling her thanks into his ear "Can't...breath..." He managed to get out after several seconds. The arms released him "Oh my God, I'm sorry but thank you, you saved me us, your energy thing that was cool, could you do it again" Harry blinked he wasn't sure how to answer this.
"Darcy calm down" The other girl, slightly older than the first smiled before stepping forward and hugging him lightly "I'm Jane and this is Darcy" Harry smiled, "Hi I'm Harry" Darcy was looking between Clint who had joined them on the ground and Harry suspiciously "Are you two related?" she sounded almost accusing as if something had been hidden from her.
Clint nodded "He's my son" Darcy nodded "Cool." Harry blinked Cool wasn't the reaction he had been expecting. "Come on" Pepper said hanging up her phone "Tony's worried about us" Clint smirked "Us or you" Darcy and Jane shared a looked "Thor's at the tower as well" Jane nodded "Right we're coming"
Back at the tower, Thor was pacing worriedly, while Tony sat at the table, drink in hand trying not to look as worried as he felt. Bruce was up in his lab distracting himself, worrying never did the other guy any favours. They had heard from Pepper that Jane and Darcy had been attacked when they were investigating the Bifrost point, and Steve being Steve were in the wrong place at the wrong time and decided to jump in, luckily no-one had been hurt, but that didn't stop them from worrying. Thor was looking forward to seeing Jane again, he hoped she wouldn't react badly to him being gone for so long, he was also worried as he knew that he would have to bring her to Asgard before too long and he didn't know how everyone would react.
The lift door opened and the group stumbled out. Tony was the first to react rushing forward and sweeping Pepper into a hug, she looked stunned for a moment before relaxing and hugging him back. Thor was the next one the react seeing Jane he moved forward with a huge smile on his face, but stopped when he saw the look on her face.
SLAP. Thor took a step back in shock, Jane stood there hand raised "You didn't contact me for a year, and then you just turn up here" Her voice was angry. Thor looked about to speak but her face soften and she threw her arms around his neck him hugging him tight "I missed you" She said. "And I you" Thor smiled and leaned back kissing Jane hard. Several seconds passed before Tony spoke up "Ok, well while those two get reacquainted why don't you all go get cleaned up"
Harry looked down at himself and realised his clothes that he had put on only hours earlier were filthy. "Opps" Clint and Natasha started laughing "Don't worry about it, just put them in that hatch by your door and JARVIS will do the rest" Harry nodded and moved off to get cleaned up. Darcy spoke up "What about me and Jane, I mean I'm sure Thor would be will to help her out of her clothes" Jane blushed at this "and I'm sure if I asked nicely one of you guys would help me out of mine?"
She looked around while everyone looked around trying not to make eye contact "No, oh well, the point is we don't have any clothes to wear" Tony looked pensive, but Natasha spoke up "Come on then, I'm sure we can find something to fit you"
Pepper nodded "I'll take Jane, once Thor's finished greeting her, she's more my size" Tony smiled and clapped his hands. "Good and once we're ready I'll take everyone out for dinner" Clint and Bruce looked like they were about to argue but Tony cut them off "No arguments, we're all back together for the first time so we're going out"
Several Hours later they were stepping into the small restaurant, Loki had declined to come, even though Tony had invited him, no one was sure if it was because Tony wanted to see if he could change or if he just didn't trust him and want to know where he was.
The restaurant wasn't busy only two small families were there, but Tony swore up and down that it was the best Chinese restaurant in New York, and knowing Tony he had probably tried them all. The other people barely glanced at them when they walked in, something Harry was immensely glad about, he still hated being stared at, and judging by the looks on everyone else's faces they were glad of this fact too.
They were lead to their table by a young waitress who winked at Harry when he smiled his thanks which cause him to blush lightly. "Awww, Mini Merlin has a crush" Harry just blushed harder, damn Tony. Thor and Bruce just laughed at him. Natasha just rolled her eyes and Pepper slapped Tony slightly "Just ignore him Harry, he's just a man child"
At this Tony pouted and caused everyone to laugh. They all sat down, Harry was nervous, he had never been to a restaurant before, the Dursley's had all ways told him he didn't deserve to go. Clint noticed his look and leaned down to whisper to him "The Dursleys never took you out did they?" Harry just shook his head sadly. "Ok well you order one starter and one main, if you don't know what something is don't be afraid to ask" Harry smiled gratefully "Thanks." The meal was excellent even better than the food Harry had eaten at Hogwarts, the company was better just small talk about insignificant things, no worrying about work or assignments. Several hours passed like this with Harry sitting back and listening, he would answer questions directed but on the whole was happy to stay quiet.
Tony had finally decided that Harry needed to catch up on modern culture so they were all sat around watching Star Wars episode IV. Harry had questioned why that had to start on the fourth film in the series and why they were called episodes, but Tony had just told him that's how it was and you should watch the films in the order they were made, not there numerical order, they were just better that way. Looking around Tony realised him and Thor was the only two still awake. Bruce and Steve had headed off to bed about an hour ago.
The only reason Thor hadn't left was that Jane was curled up next to him legs over his lap and head on his shoulder, how she was comfortable Tony wasn't sure but she was, as for him, Pepper was leaning into his side asleep and she looked so peaceful when she sleep he didn't want to wake her. He looked over at Clint and Natasha both had nodded off at either end of the couch but there feet were touching, Tony thought it amusing how they believed that no-one had noticed they were together.
He glanced over at Harry but he was asleep as well, curled up leaning on Darcy, well really they were leaning on each other. At that point Tony realised what he had been missing from his life, companionship, friends like these gather around him, that was what life was about, it didn't matter what that masses of people outside thought as long as the people in here liked him, that was all that mattered.
AN: Thank you for reading, reviews are always welcome.