Tony was tickling the fruit outside of the Hufflepuff common room. He wished sorely that that was a euphemism but sadly, it was just was he was trying to do. He had tried climbing through the barrel, whose location he charmed out of a second-year but was repelled quite violently back out again. He was only saved a trip to the infirmary by his quick reaction time with his Ferrus suit.

He was humming Black Sabbath lyrics to himself as he pet the banana and then frustrated, just began yelling.

"Pepper! Pepper open the damn painting door before I just buy a new painting for this damned thing! It will be a large painting full of naked women susceptible to my charms!" He kicked the side of the wall.

The door flung open and a harried looking Pepper poked her face out. Tony immediately broke out into a grin.

"Stark, what is your problem!? I am trying to do the potions homework, which you have as well! Our houses have that class together, which you would know if you bothered to show up! Some people can't simply buy their good grades you know." She huffed and walked back toward her common room but left the door open for him to follow her.

Tony made a face and began crawling through the tunnels after her, dodging hanging roots. "It's not going to thorw me out again, is it? Because, you know, that's one of my pet peeves. Being thrown out of places. It's just not nice. How can you stand crawling through these tunnels? It's not diginified, Pep."

"Some people like it! I happen to think it's cozy! Now, did you come here to insult me and my house or did you have something you needed? I'm going to get in trouble for you, again, you know! Having you here! No one but a Hufflepuff has been in our common room for centuries!" Pepper turned toward him, waving her wand in his face.

"Breaking tradition, just for me? Pepper, I'm flattered." He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him, smoldering in her direction.

"Don't you smolder at me, you big handsome cloat! I will turn you into a chair and have Thor Odinson sit on you!" She hit him playfully in his chest. It was hard for anyone to stay mad at Tony.

"That big Gryffindor? You'd have to command him like a dog. Poor thing, dumb as a sack of rocks. Him and the other transfers. I heard that brother of his, the one in Slytherin? I hear he can change his shape at will, to anything! And that he's adopted." But they were getting off topic, which was him. His favorite topic. He waved his hands wildly. "But come, let me show you what I came here for."

Pepper sighed heavily. She knew Tony would have a big performance ready. She noticed some stubble growing on her chin. She hoped he hadn't come just to show her the small patch of hair he called a beard.

"Alright, this better be good."

"It is! I'm showing you first. I haven't even shown Banner yet." A blatant lie. Tony wasn't even sure why he said it. But it was out. Hopefully the two wouldn't compare notes.

Tony took out his wand, longer, thinner and much darker than Pepper's. "Ferrum Wer!" Tony suit began to take shape on his body. He was getting used to the sensation. It was kind of cold and he became much heavier but lighter as his enchantment began to levitate him.

Pepper's eyes grew wide. "Tony…" She breathed. She could immediately tell it was sophisticated. It was the first time she was really confronted with the genius everyone talked about Tony Stark having. Here was the reason he didn't show up to half his classes but was still head of his house.

"I know. I know. It obscures my face. It's the little sacrifices for the greater good that truly make me who I am." She could here the smirk in his tinny voice.

"It's amazing. You made it for Bruce's…" She stopped short.

"Yes. You're not supposed to know about that though and if anyone asks, no. This is to make me look even more awesome and it does. If word gets out, I will never speak to you again." Tony was suddenly very serious.

"I would never! Stark, you know me better!" Pepper was hurt. She thought Bruce was a really great guy. Shy, but in a cute way.

"Good. I should go. I have an… appointment."

Suddenly a figure jumped out from behind a chair by the fire place.

"WOAH STARK! THAT'S ALMOST AS COOL AS MY TRICK!" And then there was a hawk flying towards the boy's dorm.

"Ugh! Barton! How long were you there!?" Pepper chased him down. Tony's suit retracted from him quickly and with a stricken look on his face, he raced to the Ravenclaw tower.