Beyond Himself

Chapter 2

The gang arrived back to the Ministry after another meeting with S.H.I.E.L.D and went to their bullpen to unpack their files and reports while Kingsley and Mr. Weasley went to their own offices.

"Back from playing with the muggles so soon?" Draco asked casually as he approached the group while holding a steaming hot cup of coffee.

"Done being a prat? Oh wait, that's a birth defect, not a job," Ron replied while rolling his eyes.

Draco matched the action and sat at his desk. It was odd at first after the war, but in time the Malfoy's were pardoned, though it was all thanks to Harry who believed that Draco was being used just as much as he was and Harry knew that Narcissa was just doing her motherly duty in the few moments he was with her and...well, he just felt pity for Lucius. The eldest Malfoy, in thanks to Harry for giving his family a second chance, retook charge of the Malfoy Lord title and did good with it. He helped rebuild Wizarding businesses and also give intel on dark and cursed objects and residences used by Death Eaters. Draco though, was surprisingly comfortable joining the Potter Task Force and being their Potions Master.

The Potter Task Force was created in the hopes to mending the connection between the Ministry and Harry. It started as basically the Golden Trio plus some of their close friends like Luna, Neville, and Ginny. The would work with the Ministry as equals and be paid by them, but they were basically Harry's team and they answered to him.

At first Harry didn't want anything to do with the Ministry and just be done with all forms of politics now that he was freed from Voldemort. He wanted to finally just be Harry and have some fun with his life. But he soon realized that that wasn't going to happen easily.

A few Death Eaters remained and they were beyond pissed. Voldemort had promised them the world and they had given everything to the cause. Now that Voldemort had fallen and they weren't heroes or lords or kings, but petty criminals, they were seething with hate. They had nothing, they were nothing.

They wanted revenge.

Some tried to get it on their own, and that was when Harry decided to take the Ministry's offer of having his own task force. They had tried to attack Luna and Ginny, and though they made it out alive, they still took a trip to St. Mungo's.

Considering their tactics as the Golden Trio and Silver, Hermione and Luna the brains, Ron and Neville the force, and Harry and Ginny the leaders they had a good thing going on. Hermione told Harry that maybe they should expand. They had Neville who was good with Herbology, Luna good with Astrology and Cryptology, but they might needed to expand more. Like how Bill was good with curses and such. Word spread quickly about the famous Potter Task Force taking people in and everyone wanted to be a part of it. They turned plenty away because they were nothing but fans. Though when Draco came in they were all very skeptical at first but he came through and actually did try. Actually, in the beginning you can almost say that Draco was over compensating in every task he did. And that's how they added a Potions Master to Harry's Task Force.

"Oh har har. Granger, you know it's unfair to prewrite him clever comebacks," Draco drawled.

"Oi! I can think for myself you know!" Ron defended himself, though he did go a bit red in the cheeks.

"Well I supposed if there is anything rarer than you actually coming up with your own clever comebacks is the fact that Potter is actually with all of you. Aren't you supposed to be in someone's bed?" Draco smirked and raised and teasing eyebrow.

This time it was Harry who blushed, but he lifted his chin and scoffed, "Watch your mouth Malfoy. I'm your boss."

"What? You going to sleep with me too? Wouldn't your muggle get jealous?" Malfoy replied.

"He's not mine. He's just...I don't have to explain myself to you! Do you have your reports by the way?" Harry demanded as he tried to steer the conversation the other way.

They've been dealing with the muggles for a few months now and his 'fling' with Tony has been known among them all since day three.

"Right here boss. And what? Did he tired of you already?" Draco asked by was smacked on the back of the head with a file folder by Hermione who gave Harry a sympathetic smile.

Out of everyone she knew his situation better than everyone else. She knew exactly who Tony was and what he was like. She also had this sense of how he felt and knew that he found Tony more than just attractive and more was beginning to feel that it was more than a fling. He kept telling himself that was it is, but...Tony could have moved on but he hasn't. Harry' managed to keep the billionaires attention on him and himself alone. And really, if they were both willing to keep on pretending to not notice the time that's passed and how Harry stays far longer than he should and that Tony doesn't really mind, well...then they'll pretend.

"Come on, meeting in Kingsley's office." Hermione said and all of the HPTK followed her to the Minister's office.

When they entered Kingsley's office it was changed from a basic office to a meeting room with a round table with a seat for all of them plus Kingsley, Mr. Weasley, and the head Aurors from Magical Homeland Security. A tall fellow with dark hair and pale skin named Mr. Thomas who was entering his forties and an olive skinned woman with dark hair as well named Mrs. Storm who was in her mid thirties.

"How are the meetings going with the American muggles?" Mr. Thomas asked.

"Very well. They're desperate to have some footing in the supernatural and are willing to comply so long as we aren't too demanding and we are the same," Kingsley replied.

"Good. And what about Project Phoenix?" Mrs. Storm asked.

"Project Phoenix?" Ron echoed.

Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and the attention went to him, "There is progress. We are still in the early stages but it'll be months rather than years like we thought."

"Whoa, what's going on?" Draco asked as he, Neville, Ron, Ginny, and Luna shared confused expressions.

"Yeah, what's Project Phoenix?" Ron asked.

This time it was Mr. Thomas who cleared his throat, "Since the war has ended there were a few Death Eaters who managed to escape as well as Snatchers. The Snatches we aren't too worried about because they're coward thieves who look for a paying gig. When the boss paying them dies for whatever the reason, they usually just go to their next job. Unlike Death Eaters who were offered more by Voldemort. You can see why they would be upset and would want to...retaliate."

"Yeah, we were attacked remember?" Ginny said with a roll of her eyes.

"Yes, quite. Since that attack there have been others. Some where carried out, some where merely attempted and other were stopped before they really could get going. The point is...it's alarming how the attacks continue and increase, even though we catch and arrest those who commit the attack." Mr. Thomas explained.

"They're recruiting again?" Neville asked quietly.

"There is no guarantee but it is a strong possibility," Mrs. Storm said.

"So...what is Project Phoenix again?" Ron asked.

"In honor of the Order's name sake that helped defeat Voldemort. It's also the main reason we've made contact with the muggles in the first place." Kingsley answered.

"It was an idea...a bonkers idea but then we began to reason it out and it's good to have an ace in the hole," Mr. Weasley said.

"Okay...but what is it?" Ginny asked this time.

"We plan to use the invention that Mr. Stark is creating," Kingsley said.

Those who weren't aware were now alert and sitting up in their chairs, "How exactly?" Draco asked.

"They've been studying out magical signature. Learning from it and trying to harness it. They cannot of course but they can fight against it. From the plans that I have been shown, Mr. Stark has a prototype...a mechanism that acts as a force field making it painful for magic users to pass through. He's working on it to improve it. Make it impossible for them to pass through and perhaps make the area this mechanism is affecting to make it impossible for wizards and witches to use magic at all." Kingsley explained.

"I...why...why would you allow the muggle to have that sort of power?" Draco demanded.

"Because we need it," Kingsley said.

"Need it? That would make up vulnerable!" Draco said outraged.

"We'll be starting programs to teach our aurors hand to hand combat as well and weaponry for such times. It's not for all over, but for certain places. These Death Eaters are pure bloods whose main use of power is their magic. They'd be most likely lost without it. Or at the very least, it could give us an advantage should we need one." Kingsley said.

"Will we need one soon?" Luna asked and all heads turned to the older Aurors.

The elders looked at one another before nodding. Kingsley said, "We've been getting a lot of rumors, far more than normal about sightings. Like I said, mere rumor but...all of it is bad."

Harry started feeling odd for awhile now, but he put it as stress over work and the news that there was a possible growing army of Death Eaters coming for him and his friends. He thought it was just worry, but he was used to far worse and never had symptoms like these. Each morning he would puke, his nose became extra sensitive to smell and rarely anything seemed good.

After a week of disappearing and calling in sick, Hermione finally showed up at Harry's apartment with Poppy to check him over.

He fussed a bit, claiming it was a stomach bug or something, but Poppy reasoned that if it was just that she could fix it in a flick. With a sigh, Harry surrendered and allowed the medi-witch to magically diagnose him.

When she read the results she gasped and insisted she do it again. Harry and Hermione shared twin worried looks, especially when Poppy did it a third time.

"What's wrong with Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, what's wrong with Harry?" Harry repeated, fear making his stomach churn which did not help his condition...whatever it was.

"Mr. Potter I need to ask, though it seemed a bit obvious, but have you been sexually active?"

Both Hermione and Harry froze as the question and blushed. Poppy rolled her eyes and said, "Come now, it's not like you're the first male pregnancy I've worked on."

"Whoa! Did...did you say...pregnant?" Harry stuttered.

"The results do not lie Mr. Potter. Congratulations," Poppy said.

Harry placed his hands on his stomach in shock, his mind was empty.

"Madam Pomfrey, may we have a moment alone?" Hermione asked.

Poppy nodded and excused herself. Hermione took a seat next to Harry and wrapped an arm around him and rubs his arm, "You okay?"

"I...I dunno...I'm pregnant...I'm pregnant Hermione..."Harry said as if tasting the words in his mouth.

Hermione gave him a small smile and said, "I know..."

Harry laughed a bit, "I'm pregnant...I'm going to be a father!"

Hermione smiled, knowing how much Harry's always wanted a family, but then the smile turned sad and she sighed. She had to bring Harry into reality, "Harry...Tony's the father."

Harry tensed, "I...I have a right to tell him. Besides, he already knows so I won't be breaking the Statue of Secrecy."

"Harry...you know what he's like," Hermione said gently.

"He's not like they say he is! He's not...it's all embellished stories. I know perfectly what he's gone through!" Harry snapped.

"True, but Harry...you're pregnant and we're so sure they're coming...you'll need to go into hiding now," Hermione said softly.

Harry snapped his head up and looked at Hermione as if she'd just slapped him. She might as well have but he knew she was right. They were coming after him that was sure. And now that he was pregnant, if anyone caught wind of this, they triple their efforts to target him, he'll eventually become an easy target, and even if he makes it to labor, he'll still need to be in hiding for the sake of the infant...he'll have to go and hide and most likely cut off connections with his friends for long periods of times when they probably won't know where he might be. He'll have to go through this alone...

Hermione hugged him and he gladly returned the hug, seeking comfort. They sat in silence for a long moment as Hermione let Harry cry.

Later that night Harry invited over his task force and told them the news, knowing he could trust them. They were all shocked but happy and sad for him all at once. Ginny and Draco insisted that Harry tell Tony, but Hermione didn't think it was a good idea and Kingsley agreed. They made plans to move and hide Harry, sending Poppy and Draco wherever he was going to be moved. Poppy acting as his healer and mid wife and Draco as security, plus they were sure he'll be needing a potions master.

They're goodbyes were sad but in time. The next day after Harry was moved, there was an attempted to break into his apartment.

Their fears were beginning to be realized. Death Eaters were out there, they were looking for Harry, and they had no idea of how many or what sort of creatures had been recruited.

"Potter is magic, and though midgardian males cannot carry children, Potter, like my brother, is capable because of his magic." Thor explained.

Tony didn't stick around for the rest of their conversation as he ran to the lab and activated the anti-magic force field to full force to trap the wizards here before they left.

Half way to running to the lab he remembered Jarvis and had the AI activate it for him while he ran to the wizards and demand answers.

"Oi!" Tony called just in time, the wizards seemed about ready to leave.

"Stark, what the hell?" Fury demanded, his voice promising a very long lecture, but Tony paid him no mind.

"Is it true?" Tony demanded.

Kingsley glared at Ginny and then stared intently at Tony.

"Yes, it is." Ginny confirmed.

"H-how long..." Tony asked but it was still such a loop, he couldn't form the question correctly.

"About six months now," Ginny replied.

Kingsley sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Let's speak in private Mr. Stark."

Tony nodded and followed Kingsley into the conference room that was empty but Kingsley double checked with magic and cast a silencing charm.

"Where is he?" Tony demanded.

"Safe," Kingsley replied.

Tony furrowed his brow, "I didn't know he was in danger."

"He's Harry Potter. For him to not be in some sort of danger is like there not being a single cloud in the sky." Kingsley said in an easy matter.

"I want to see him. Take me to him," Tony demanded.

"I cannot." Kingsley said.

"Why the hell not? He's pregnant with my kid!" Tony said.

"Be that as it may be, Mr. Potter's locations isn't at liberty to say."

"You don't seem to get it, do you? I'm not letting you leave until I get something and I want Harry," Tony said.

"Mr. Stark, why are you so adamant about this? This should be a blessing in disguise to you," Kingsley said.

"What do you mean?" Tony asked.

"You are not being asked to care for the child. You are not being asked to be in it's life. Come on Mr. Stark. We all know your reputation. You're not a relationship type a guy, let alone a father kind of guy. You've dodged a bullet as they say. No child support, no story for the press, you get off Scott free."

Tony narrowed his eyes, "I think that's for me and Harry to decided, not you."

Kingsley sighed and said, "Alright Mr. Stark then look at it this way. That child is already in enough danger being Potter's child and is making Mr. Potter a vulnerable target. That's already one hell of a mess. If we add you to the equation and things leak out and they will, because things like this always leak out, that child is in double the danger by villains from magical, muggle, and other world backgrounds. Harry, if he makes it to term, will not only have his enemies to worry about but Iron Man's and Tony Stark's as well. Not to mention that you are a man of science and technology, not magic, something Mr. Potter and the baby will be."

Kingsley undid the charm and began to walk out. He stopped and called over his shoulder, "It's not your problem Mr. Stark. Don't fool yourself into thinking it is."

Sorry for any obvious mistakes. Posting without checking. Insomnia is still plaguing me, sorry. I'm glad some people liked this. I really dunno where I'm going with this, just...rolling with the punches I guess. So, yeah, I dunno how long or exactly that the major events of this story will be so that's why this might seem a bit rushed.

TBC