Chapter 2 – New Friends and Allies
Harry Potter: Magical Avenger
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Harry Potter universe nor do I own the Marvel universe which is where the Avengers and other characters came from.
Author's Note:
I apologize for the slow updates. I write this fic while I commute to and from my job using my battered and weary iPod Touch's Notes application. I am making this up as I go along and right now I am thinking on expanding this fic's scope to include superheroes and villains from various Marvel titles. I apologize if you only wish to read about the Avengers. Thanks for your support and reviews. Lastly, to those who sent private messages to me asking why Harry, being from the future and all that, did not bring with him advanced tech, my main reason is that while he was an engineer in the past, he did not really foresee being sent into another earth and, in my thinking, he primarily went to other magical communities seeking a cure for his immortality problem, not to assimilate tech around the world. I see this Harry as more of an end user guy, wherein he understands the way tech worked in his previous world but not enough to replicate it.
It was a clear April evening and Harry was standing on his penthouse's roof deck, reflecting on the events of the last couple of months. He has finished his SHIELD training which was a bit grueling and intense two months. His instructors were very impressed at his dedication and desire to learn as much as possible. He was able to combine his demolitions training along with the undercover and counterintelligence into the two months he was on 'leave' since he really did not have much to improve on in the physical fitness and hand to hand combat areas. From what he was able to glean from his trainers' surface thoughts; they were all very positive in their reports to director of SHIELD, Nick Fury. They recommended that Harry Potter should be recruited into the organization if at all possible. While Harry was pretty chuffed at the glowing reports of his instructors, he was still undecided and frankly a bit leery of joining the agency. He has had enough of shadowy organizations for ten lifetimes. He knew that at some point, an offer would be made for him to join SHIELD, most likely in the next few weeks. He resolved to at least hear them out before turning them down gently. Harry went to bed after finishing his dram of single malt without reaching a definite solution to his SHIELD dilemma.
April 2007
Harry has been back from his personal leave for a few days and he has just finished getting caught up with the paperwork which has piled up in his absence when he got called into his boss's office. The black man with only one eye he saw in his trainer's surface thoughts was in the office with the ambassador. He waited a few seconds after knocking twice before entering the room.
"You wanted to see me, ma'am?"
"Yes, Harry. My guest and I were just discussing you. This is Director Nicholas Fury of SHIELD. Apparently, your instructors were very complimentary with their reports regarding your performance in training that they recommended you for recruitment."
Nick Fury then shook Harry's offered hand. "Your instructors were very impressed, Mr. Potter. I have known them for about a decade and believe me when I say that they rarely lavish such praise on anyone."
"Harry, my posting as the head of the UNSC will end on the thirty first of December this year. As you probably know by now that it will either be the Russian or Chinese ambassador who will replace me in this office. Of course you are welcome to stay in your current posting though I know you do not really get along with either of them. A person of your gifts will not really have a problem getting employed if you decide to leave this office. Indeed, I am willing to add you to my personal staff. I also know that the guys at the State Department would like to hire you if you wish to leave the UN altogether. Director Fury has another proposition for you."
"Mr. Potter, SHIELD is a multinational agency as such your talent with languages along with the competence you have in other disciplines and your security clearance make you an ideal part of the agency. I am here to offer you a place in SHIELD if you do decide to leave the UN. You will initially be assigned to Agent Coulson so he can guide you in becoming a SHIELD agent, think of it as an apprenticeship program. Your compensation and benefits package will be the same if you join us. We are prepared to hire you immediately or after the ambassador's term is finished."
Harry was silent for a moment before looking at Julie Cross and replying. "I appreciate the offers you have presented me, Ambassador, it means a lot to me that you took the time to do this," Harry then looked at Director Fury, "Director Fury, you have my thanks for taking time from your undoubtedly busy schedule to offer me a job. I am very much tempted to sign up with SHIELD but I have to take my time to consider all my options but I can tell both of you that I plan on remaining in my current post until December."
"What are your plans between now and then, Mr. Potter?" Fury was thankful that the ambassador asked that question.
"I am just planning on relaxing some as the last few months were a bit hectic. I might give fishing a try," Harry said with a laugh.
"Very well, Mr. Potter. I will leave the offer on the table, so to speak. Here is my card if you have any questions. I will need your answer at least two weeks before the Ambassador leaves this office."
"I'll let you know, Director. Before I leave for the weekend, will there be anything else I can you with, ma'am?"
"No, Harry. Thanks for staying until the end of my term. I was relieved that I did not have to look for anyone else. It would have been hard to hire anyone capable for a temporary job. Have a safe drive home." With that, he left Cross and Fury to get his things and go home. Napa is calling him.
November 2007
Harry has been busy during the last few months of Ambassador Cross in office as she tried to solve as many problems as possible before she left office. The months have been productive even if they were both running ragged.
In what little spare time Harry had, he modified his old battle suit made from basilisk hide. He improved the durability of his armor and upgraded it to withstand pressure better when in outer space. He found out that when he was flying in the upper atmosphere while testing his improved bubble head charm that it was a bit constricting to move due to the pressure so he had to upgrade it since it was not really made for spaceflight.
He spent a few months in the trunk to practice his telepathy and telekinetic powers, he had neglected training it since he had mastered legilimency long before and his impregnable occlumency barriers kept the thoughts of others away so he was not assaulted with the thoughts of others. Harry also substituted his telekinesis with banishers, levitation and summoning charms. He now trained his telepathy on the elves and other animals in his trunk before using it while doing his day job. As much as he wanted to avoid it, he had to use it on other people to master it as animals and elves were really different from a human mind. He was able to hone his telepathy by varying its use from a single man in his building to city wide searching for a specific thought. At first, the city wide searches almost overwhelmed him but due to his improved occlumency, he was able to overcome the flood of thoughts he received.
He also made two bracers made of goblin silver, decorated with the likeness of his lion form. The bracers can release hundreds of small needle projectiles made from the same goblin silver coated in various potions that simulated the effects of a dreamless sleep potion on his right bracer while his left bracer contained the needles dipped in basilisk venom for the really evil things that cannot be redeemed. His telekinetic powers would guide and propel these projectiles at high speeds to his target. He was now very proficient with telekinesis that he no longer needed to make any gestures to control objects or to erect extremely powerful shields that can withstand even a tomahawk missile targeted on him. The US navy still has an open investigation on why one of its ships launched a tomahawk into the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He has also learned to hold an invisible telekinetic shield projected just a centimeter above his skin for hours; he tested this on himself using three heavy machine guns he enchanted to fire on him while he was seated on a stool reading books on genetics, computer programing and electrical engineering. He killed two birds with one stone as he was a bit weak on those fields of study.
On the last week of November, he was once more called into his boss's office. Ambassador Cross was not alone; Director Fury was once again with her. After the usual greetings and handshakes were exchanged, the ambassador quickly got to the point.
"Well, Harry, we assume that you can guess what this meeting is about. Have you decided on what your plans are starting January?"
"Yes, Madam Ambassador. I have decided to resign from the diplomatic corps and pursue other things. Director Fury, while I am grateful for the extra training that I was able to receive from SHIELD, I'm afraid I must also decline your admittedly very interesting offer. I wish to go on a sabbatical for a few months while I figure out my next move. The last few months were a bit hectic although I have enjoyed it. I might enroll in flight school to earn a pilot's license and maybe even buy my own plane." Harry smiled a bit at the two to soften the blow of rejecting their offers.
Director Fury had a small frown when he heard the negative response to his job offer. Harry's response about flying did give him an opening on giving it a last try to tempt him on signing up with his agency. "I see. I understand your position, Mr. Potter. I just want you to keep in mind that if you do decide to become a SHIELD agent, we can easily manage to have you trained on advanced helicopters and fighter jets in the US navy. It would be better than flying a private plane."
"That is a tempting and generous offer, Director. I must still decline." Harry gave another smile at Fury's blatant offer.
"I had to give it another try. I just didn't wish to see your potential wasted. I wish you luck on your vacation. If you change your mind, you can call my office." Fury stood and shook his and the ambassador's hand. "I'll be going now as I cannot be away from the office for too long."
"Have a good day, Nicholas. I will be talking to Harry for a bit more." When Fury has left the room, Ambassador Cross turned to Harry with a small smile. "I figured you would take the job in SHIELD. It is an exciting life for a young single man."
"I think I've had enough excitement for now. I plan on enjoying a bit of downtime once you step down from this office. Napa is calling me home."
"I heard you had a vineyard there. I never have enough time to take you up on your invitation to go there. Peter Turnbull and the others say that your chateau there is very beautiful and that the staff there is very nice."
"They went there for a few days while I was undergoing training. You guys have an open invitation to visit. I have five guest houses there that you can choose from."
"I might just take you up on your offer in the coming months. Did the State Department try and offer you a job there?"
"I actually got a call from the Secretary's Chief of Staff a few weeks ago. I got offered a position on the Sec State's staff. I of course politely declined. The man had the gall to say that he will blackball me from any job in the current administration if i turn him down."
"He has always been an ass. His father is the party chairman in the secretary's home state; I doubt would be in that position if he didn't have his father's connections in the party."
"Well, I told him to shove his offer up his ass, politely of course. I am glad my family left me with a little money to give me the ability to choose my own path."
"Yeah Harry if you can call a couple hundred million dollars a little money. Do you really plan on buying a plane?" The ambassador just shook her head at Harry's understatement.
"I might if I enjoy flight school and I am considering it since I fly to the vineyard at least once a month on a weekend. Besides, it's your fault. We always fly on a Gulfstream for foreign trips and I got spoiled." Harry said with a laugh.
"Air travel in the last few years really has become so stressful. Anyway, if you do change your mind, give Fury a call. We need more good men like you Harry."
"You are making me blush, Julie. I'm going back to my office."
During his last month in the UN, Harry began plotting the next few months. He was torn between starting a business or just traveling around the world while waiting for the 'exciting times' that was mentioned by the Founders when he first arrived in this world. He decided to wait until January to decide. In the meantime, he would just concentrate on his day job.
January 2008
Harry was bored. The last two weeks of December was filled with parties in the UN due to the Christmas holidays and the farewell party he got in the office. He spent New Year's eve with his officemates and New Year's day in Napa with the elves.
They have kept the trunk under maximum time dilation as much as possible to build up a population. Harry asked the elves to have a school for at least basic education so that the elves can go out into the world if they wished and blend in as there were now hundreds of young elves in the trunk. They have formed a small town community that have schools, hospitals and guilds that specialized in various crafts and were quickly growing. Harry did find out from the founders that while the elves will have a small population boom to repopulate the trunk world, once they reach the three thousand mark, magic would slow down the birth rate to about a dozen per year. Even before they were cursed to become house elves, the elves really had a small population and a very low birth rate. Right now the elves number only a thousand.
Due to the extensive use of the trunk's time dilation effects, Harry's warehouses were filled with grains, fruits, milk, wines and other drinks along with natural fibers like silk and cotton. However, what astonished Harry the most was the production of the mines and greenhouses dedicated to potion ingredients. He had tons of precious metals and many trunks filled with gemstones and other crystals while he also found that there were enough potions ingredients to brew potions for the entire magical population of Earth in his former reality for a year. This got Harry thinking about the possibilities open to him.
Harry called Dobby and Winky to him so they can have one of their conferences with the Founders.
"I have been inspecting the storerooms of our trunk world but instead of rooms I found whole warehouses full of raw materials. Do your fellow elves not use them at all?" Harry asked his head elves.
"We do use them, Harry, however, we only require small amounts compared to the amounts we produce or grow. We only use about twenty percent of the food we grow and about fifteen percent of the raw materials we obtain yearly. The elves like to work so we continue to do our work and preserve what we do not use. The miners are even grumbling a bit because we limit the amount of time they spend mining." Dobby answered Harry.
"You do realize that this trunk world is magical Harry, don't you? Any natural resource of this world replenishes automatically one it reaches a certain point. Everything is regulated by magic; from the number of its inhabitants like the elves and the animal kingdom to the mines and other resources here. It is not like the outside world wherein the resources are finite," commented Rowena.
"Does it mean that even if we mine the mountains for metals, gems and other things it would not run out? I can let the elves do what they want?"
"Yes, Harry. It will simply replenish itself. You can use them up as much as you want and it will not run out," Godric laughed at the dumbstruck expressions of the elves and Harry.
"Let me remind you that anything naturally found in Earth can be found here," Salazar advised Harry.
"I can solve the world's problems with food and water if that is the case," mused Harry.
"If that is your wish, then you can do it. You just have to find a way to explain where you get your resources," cautioned Helga.
"The modern world has become such a complicated place that you need paperwork for everything now. Government tracks where things come from and where everything goes. Remember that if you wish to use this trunk world's resources in massive quantities," explained Salazar.
"Hmm, that does pose a problem. I do not wish to resort to compulsion charms or bribes to achieve it. If I do overcome that, people might become lazy if I solve the food and water problems. Maybe I can find some other way to off load the excess produce of the elves. Anyway, that is one of the things I can devote my time to. Do you think the elves would mind if I use the surplus to sell on the outside world?"
Winky and Dobby just laughed. Once they finished laughing, Winky answered Harry. "Harry, the elves would be thankful if you take it all and leave us just the amounts we use for our community. We love to work and if you empty the storehouses, we will have space to put our new produce in. Some were already thinking of petitioning us to talk to you about it, especially the elves that like to fish and those who wants to raise livestock."
"I have to look into things before we do anything. What about the potion ingredients we have? I saw a lot of warehouses filled with those things too."
"It would be harder to use them all up unless you let the elves brew potions that you can sell outside the trunk world," commented Salazar.
"True. The regulations of various countries are very stringent when it comes to pharmaceuticals. If the elves want to try and make potions, maybe you two can let them brew as many as they want and place them into enchanted containers with space expansion and preservation spells on them."
"What potions do you want the elves to have? We have elves that have studied the potion books in the library just itching to brew more than what we use," asked Dobby.
"Let us concentrate on the general potions and pastes Madame Pomfrey used in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts like bruise healing pastes and blood replenishing potions. Maybe add the nutritional potions to correct the malnutrition, which will help those from poor countries. I'll also give you the instructions on how to brew the modified pepper up potion developed by Hermione that does not give off any special effects that is overtly magical in nature. If you could ask them to brew special batches of veritaserum and its antidote along with dreamless sleep potion, that would be great. I just want to ask them to ensure that the potions must be hospital grade or better so that we can have high quality if we ever get to sell it to the outside world."
"I will see to it, Harry," confirmed Winky.
"I have one last item on my mind. Do you have any objections to naming our trunk world? I am thinking of giving it a proper name so that we do not have to keep referring to it as the trunk world."
"I never really got to name this world when I created it. Do you have any suggestions?" Rowena asked those in the room.
"We usually just call it home but I agree that the trunk world should have its own name," commented Dobby.
"I want to call this world Elysium if you have no objections," opined Harry.
"I like it," commented Winky while Dobby nodded agreement.
"Elysium, a fitting name for a place of perfect happiness. I agree," said Godric which got nods from the others.
"Spread the word of the new name of our home, Elysium, to the other elves."
The meeting broke up at that point. Harry went back to Napa and planned out what to do with the surplus in Elysium. He took about half a ton of 24 karat gold bars that weighed a kilo each and placed it into twenty aluminum suit cases. He would be selling the gold into many private mints both in the US and Canada then the money will undergo a complicated process before making its way into his Swiss banker where most of his money is held. He does maintain a few million dollars in his Chase Manhattan bank.
While he was fleshing out his business plans, he looked into the growing prejudice being heaped upon metahumans in the world. He was aware of this even while he was working in the UNSC as he was briefed at the ambassador's request on some of the metahumans in the general area since Harry was with her on most meetings with diplomats and he already had code word clearance. Many countries are still neutral on the issue but there are now isolated issues of harassment happening here in the US. At first there were just small grumblings a few years ago but it has risen slowly to become one of the more troublesome issues in international politics. Media footage of a small number of metahumans committing petty crimes using their powers did nothing but fan the flames against them. There were many metahumans that help out their fellow man like the X-Men and Dr. Strange, all based here in New York state. They combat the villains both metahumans and normal humans along with villains of extra-terrestrial and supernatural origin. These groups try and capture the villains to prevent them from causing harm.
Charles Xavier, a powerful telepath, operates a school for gifted kids that really function as a mutant safe haven and leads the X-Men covertly, is the defacto leader of the mutants who wants equal rights and peaceful coexistence with their fellow men. While his intentions are good and honorable, he is not able to really able to reach a wide audience.
Magneto, a man with the gift of controlling magnetism and its various forms, was his former friend and ally who is now his most ardent opponent. Magneto believes that mutants have to take over the world by any means necessary in order to save the homo superior race from the persecution of the Homo sapiens. Sadly, many mutants are more receptive to Magneto's approach because of the hate and persecution they experienced from their fellow men.
Harry would be using his spare time to try and get into a dialogue with some of them to get a better feel for the cause as he thinks his telepathy, telekinesis and flight came from a mutation on his genes placed when he first arrive here. His strength, speed and endurance all come from his magical gifts. He resolved to meet with Dr. Xavier and Dr. Strange as soon as possible.
From the copies he made while in the UNSC of SHIELD files, he was able to find the location of Strange and Xavier's location. His first contact would be Strange as lived in the neighborhood so to speak.
While he was a few hundred meters away from the house named Sanctum Sanctorum on the files, he felt and saw powerful wards using his mage sight. The wards were checking him out if he was a friend or a foe. Harry did not really mind it as he had no quarrel with the Sorcerer Supreme. He rang the buzzer on the door and a few seconds later a bald Asian man opened it.
"Good morning. My name is Harry Potter and I would like to speak with the Sorcerer Supreme."
"I see. Does my master know of your coming?"
"No, I did not have an appointment. Is he available?"
"My name is Wong his man servant. Please follow me to the sitting room."
Harry was left alone in the sitting room while Wong went to get his master. A minute later, a tall man with dark hair streaked with grey entered the room. Harry could feel the magical power of the man even as he came into the room.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter what can I help you with?"
"Good morning, Dr. Strange. I just wanted to introduce myself to you. I am wizard." Harry admitted bluntly. He knew that Strange can feel his magic anyway so he would not deny that fact.
"A wizard? While I have met many practitioners of the mystical arts, this is the first time I have encountered a wizard. Shamans, witch doctors and other sorcerers are a bit wide spread in the world. You are not from this reality are you?"
Harry took a sip of the coffee that Wong served earlier to hide his surprise. "Yes, Dr. Strange, I am from a different Earth. Your reputation is well deserved."
"Thank you. And how did you know where to look for me?"
"To be honest, I used to work for the head of the UNSC for almost three years. I would have met with you sooner but I was busy establishing a new life. I was curious about the magic I felt in this area while I was passing by your street so I snooped around a bit."
"Hmm. You were the source of the surge of mystical energy I felt around that time near Central Park. I tried to look for it in my spare time but all I can feel were the strong wards that protect a building near there. They were made from 'good' magic for lack of a better term so I left it alone. I have a request of you Mr. Potter."
"What would that be, doctor?"
"In my line of work, I have to be sure of who I am discussing things. While I feel from your aura that you are good, I want your permission to use the Eye of Agamotto on you. It will not harm you nor will it reveal any of your secrets to me. All it will do is to make sure of your intentions."
"I will agree to that if you give me a magical oath that this artifact would cause me no harm nor will it reveal my secrets. If you do so, I will consent to the use of this artifact."
"Very well. I, Doctor Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, give my word that the Eye of Agamotto will not harm Harry Potter nor will it reveal his secrets. It will only judge him whether he is for the good, on my life and magic I swear this. So mote it be." A silvery light engulfed them both once Strange finished his oath.
"So mote it be. Thank you for the oath. Please use the Eye on me if you must."
Dr. Strange extended his right palm to Harry and his amulet opened like well an eye and Harry was bathed in white light. Harry felt an alien consciousness examine him. It felt like hours but it only took about ten seconds. Once the entity finished his examination of Harry, the two occupants of the room heard a voice in their head that said, "I judge Harry Potter as an agent of good and fate marked. I, Agamotto of the Vishanti, order you Sorcerer Supreme to let him learn from you, the Book of the Vishanti and your other tomes if he wishes. I have spoken."
Strange and Harry were a bit awed at the power which washed over them both. "Harry Potter, it is a great honor to be given permission to learn from the Book of the Vishanti. It is the book possessed by the Sorcerers Supreme and it is very rarely shared to anyone. I would take him up on the offer to learn from the book and both my public and personal library. I would be happy to teach and guide you in my spare time."
"Thank you, Dr. Strange I will learn as much as I can and please call me Harry."
"Alright, then you may call me Stephen, Harry."
Harry and Strange sat down and shared some of their experience and past. They did not tell each other all but the examination did give them a very big start on a friendship. Harry learned that sorcerers in this reality used invocation of various entities as patrons to perform their magic since they did not have their own cores. He was a bit leery of doing this as he did not want to be a conduit of anyone. He kept this to himself so as not to offend Strange. To each his own, he guessed. He would just have to try and adapt whatever magi he learns here to use his own extremely large magical core. Voldemort's core was easily the equal of thirty normal witches and wizards and most of his inner circle were at the very least above average. Add to that the cores of the almost a hundred strong DEs still alive when he drained Voldemort who became like a straw that siphoned all his DEs magic into Harry. He also noticed that his magical core became even bigger when he arrived in this reality. His magical reserves replenished after just an hour of rest even if he almost drained three fourths of it when he was trying to gauge how much it has grown upon the first few months of his arrival in this Earth. He made arrangements with Strange to allow him to visit the libraries whenever Harry was free. In return, Harry thought he can reciprocate this by giving Strange with copies of the Standard Book of Spells from years 1 to 7 as well as a copy of the latest editions of Hogwarts: A History and A History of Magic written by an American witch named Sabrina Spellman. Strange gave Harry a letter of introduction to Dr. Xavier. It should make meeting the other metahumans easier. Strange also promised to notify Xavier will expect him tomorrow.
Harry enjoyed the morning drive to the X Mansion in Westchester, New York. He was met by a beautiful red head named Jean Grey and guided to the office and study of Dr. Xavier. There were a few people with Xavier who was a bald man on a wheelchair. A beautiful black woman with white hair named Ororo Munro, a spectacled man with dark brown hair named Scott Summers and a man named Logan who had black hair rising to form two pointed ends like wings who was chewing an unlit cigar. Logan seemed to be in his forties while the others range from their early to late twenties.
"Good morning Mr. Potter. These are my professors here in my school. Logan is the teacher in charge of physical fitness. Ororo teaches various languages and history while Scott teaches math and science. Jean is our resident doctor who also teaches health. I am the headmaster and I also teach ethics."
"Good morning Professor. My name is Harry Potter. I used to work as a linguist and translator in the office of the head of the UN Security Council. I wanted to introduce myself to your group and I also have a few questions regarding mutations, Dr. Xavier. I also have this letter of introduction from Dr. Strange." Harry gave the letter to Xavier.
Everyone became a bit tense when Harry mentioned mutations. Harry felt two separate probes trying to enter his mind. One was very subtle, like Dumbledore's and the other was also subtle but less refined.
"Please, Dr. Xavier, Dr. Grey, it is rude to pry into another person's mind."
"I am sorry, Mr. Potter. I was just curious about your intentions. You do have an interesting mind defenses." Dr. Grey blushed as she was caught.
"I am also sorry about the intrusion. I am only looking out for the people I am responsible for. I hope you understand." Xavier apologized.
"It is not a problem. I understand your concerns perfectly however everyone has a right to their privacy, wouldn't you agree? Now I do have some questions regarding genetics and what causes, shall we say, certain individual quirks. I sought you out since you are one of the leading geneticists in the world. In the interest of disclosure, I was briefed in on some of the more visible mutants in the US and Professor X and his X-Men are included in the briefing. As I know your powers and some of your backgrounds, I think it is only fair for you to know some information about mine. However, you will not be able to discuss or spread any of what you learn with anyone I have not personally told." Raised eyebrows followed by nods were the response he got before he began an abridged account of his story. Of course, he had applied a modified Fidelius charm to keep his secrets. He also gave a brief demonstration of his powers by changing the sofa into a lion, levitating Logan while he also rose into the air and reading Scott's thoughts. He did downplay his mutant abilities to be mediocre at best. Tests on a blood sample confirmed that he had the X-gene responsible for mutation. The two doctors explained how this differed from the genes of an average male in his thirties.
"Harry, before you go, I would like to extend an invitation for you to join our team. I think we could work well together for the future of the human race," said Xavier.
"Charles, while I share the objective with you of peaceful and equal coexistence, I think we have a different approach to how we wish to achieve it. Do not worry; I do not believe that only through conquest and premeditated violence can we achieve the goal like your old friend Erik Lensherr. I hope to forge a different path to equality and peace," stated Harry. "It doesn't mean that I will not lend assistance if I can to you and your team just as I am willing to aid Stephen in the defense of our dimension from invaders if he calls me. I also know that housing many special young men and women is a very admirable and noble thing to do; it is also an expensive undertaking. If you need help in funding this sanctuary, I am willing to contribute in its upkeep."
"Thank you for your generous offer but I think I can manage it. I will take you up on your offer of help if we find ourselves in need of it. I am glad that peace and equality are also your own goals, Harry. Please do not be a stranger, come visit us when you have the time."
A final round of handshakes and Harry was on his way back to the city. He did notice a red headed woman observing the mansion. He surreptitiously scanned her surface thoughts to identify her. He noticed her earlier when he arrived at the mansion. She was Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow of SHIELD. She did not follow him nor did Harry find anyone follow him so he concluded that the X-Men were under close observation by SHIELD. It was not really unusual since metahumans were one of tr agency's main concerns.
He made a note to send a care package of potions to the X-Men and Dr. Strange once he found a way to establish his corporation. They got into a lot of scrapes and after all, not everyone had the regenerative abilities of Logan a.k.a. Wolverine.
February 2008
Harry hit the books hard to learn more about the technical aspects and finances of running a business as big as the one he is envisioning. He wants to initially gain a foothold in the global economy by introducing the healing potions then maybe branching out into other things. Every nation on earth will want the potions, he was sure of it so it will earn him legitimate money. Fame and money can get him influence on the global scale to let him speak out on equality and peace. He will be using the money he earned from the potions sales into soup kitchens all over the world's cities which will make the elves happy since they can produce as much food as they want. He will be establishing orphanages with attached schools up to high school level. This will let him mold the minds of the future generations to be more receptive to the concepts of freedom, equality and peaceful coexistence. Prejudice will not be tolerated there.
Harry decided to prepare a thousand single dose bottles of each potion and small squeezable tubes of the salves with about fifty thousand doses prepared. Since each of the potions was in different colors, he will be asking the elves to make the bottles and tubes into the same color as the potions and salves to make identification easier. The best thing about the potions and salves is that the dose does not have to take into account the patient's weight or age so each dose is approved to be used on both children and adults. The laziness of the witches and wizards made the potions idiot proof.
The ongoing war in Afghanistan and other hotspots will prove to be a boon to Harry's plans. War torn areas are always in need of medicines and the potions he plans to provide at no cost to the field hospitals should garner international media exposure.
But before he can implement his plan, Harry and the elves need to find an efficient way to bottle, label and then box the products. Harry will initially subcontract the production of the bottles, squeezable tubes, labels and boxes to a company who specialized in manufacturing the items he needs. If his plans succeed and he was positive it will, he will purchase the company and include it under the umbrella of the future Potter Corp.
March 2008
Harry has finished the initial run of ten thousand single dose bottles and tubes for his potions and salves. He has also finished setting up Potter's Herbal Medicines. The company has two initial offices, one in NYC and one in London. He hired a law firm in both countries who specialized in corporate law along with a few people to handle inquiries about the potions. He chose them all using the recommendation of his lawyers who also acted as his main head hunter. He used his telepathy to ensure that they were people he can work with and he had asked the law firm to make his employee contracts were very air tight. He briefed them on the public parts of his plans and what their roles would play. He was going to handle the manufacturing aspects himself and he would be accompanied by his lawyers to any meetings with the government or potential buyers. He hired a manager to take care of marketing and customer relations and another to handle the delivery of products. His accountant would make sure they get paid the salaries and operating expenses.
His plan to introduce the potions to the US forces in Afghanistan calls for him to be one of the trauma surgeons there and in order to do that, he needs to create a new identity for himself like transcript records from his high school up to med school and residency at the Johns Hopkins along with paper work to insert into the files of US Naval Academy, the US Marine Corps and the US Defense Department. The papers would easy to make but it would take a few days to covertly infiltrate and insert the files into each of the relevant locations. It took about a week to finish but in the end of that week, Captain Owen Hunt of the US Marine Corps was on a military shuttle to Afghanistan.
"Captain Owen Hunt reporting for duty, Major." Harry saluted his superior.
"At ease, Captain. I see you volunteered to be assigned here from Okinawa. Good man, we need good surgeons for our wounded brothers. I have to ask, what is inside the crate that you brought with you?" Major Donnelly asked Harry.
"Major, I only rode in the same plane as the crate; I did not exactly bring it with me. Maybe there are instructions or something with it, Sir."
"Very well, let us check shall we?"
While Harry made it a point to let Major Donnelly take the lead in opening the crate so he can say he was not the one to open, he also ensured that the army major would find the big box filled with dozens of booklets which was basically a for dummies guide on how to use the potions. Donnelly absentmindedly dismissed Harry to read one of the booklets, muttering about the fantastical claims of the 'tonics' and the mania for all things 'organic'.
Knowing the skepticism doctors would have in using an untested drug, Harry patiently waited for his products to be used. He hated waiting for a catastrophe to happen but he comforted himself with the fact that he is not the cause of any bad thing to happen and that his potions and pastes would work to save the lives of many of the casualties.
A brutal ambush on an international team of observer happened about two weeks into Captain Hunt's tour of duty that became the catalyst for the potions to be a household name in the medicine. Much to Harry's surprise, Major Donnelly, one of the most vocal detractors in the base hospital, was the one to suggest the use of the potions to save the lives of the team. The major asked the leader of the international team of observers if he will let the doctors use the experimental potions. They were at the last resort as many of the men were bleeding out because the blood transfusions were unable to keep up with the blood loss. The Chinese man quickly gave his authorization to try this solution. The blood replenishing and skele-gro potions were tremendously helpful in saving the team and their military escorts that day. The most seriously wounded was going to be fine after a week of hospital stay instead of maybe months or recovery if he survived at all. Harry let the buzz about the 'magical' medicines go its natural course without him fanning the flames. Doctors, both civilian and military, from the patient's countries were very interested in the new medicine. Each got a few samples of the medicines from Major Donnelly and the base commander and they wanted more for controlled testing in their own countries labs. They were given a copy of the booklets which included an email address to contact the POT company.
A few days after the ambush, Captain Hunt died of a vehicular accident. His heavily burnt corpse was only identified with his dental records.
Back in PHM's office in Manhattan and London, a frenzy of inquiries from the US Pentagon, the UK Ministry of Defense and various representatives of interested countries were being fielded by the employees who were simply instructed by their managers to get the email address of the interested party and a delivery address where samples of the PHM products can be sent. The interest became even more numerous because the ambush was leaked to the international press by an 'unnamed source,' cough cough Harry Potter cough cough.
Harry was summoned to the White House and 10 Downing Street for high level meetings with the two countries' chief executives as he refused outright to deal with underlings. He chose to go the UK first since his plans call for the help of the Queen in persuading the US president in giving him latitude.
He arrived at 10 Downing Street a bit after lunch but he was told to come along with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to Buckingham Palace. The minister was silent on the way to the palace aside from the usual pleasantries.
While undergoing a rather thorough security check, they were led to an elegantly designed sitting room to wait for the Queen, where, like the trip to the palace, little was said while they awaited the monarch.
At the Queen's arrival, both men stood and bowed to her. They performed the usual flowery greetings and settled down at the Queen's command of, "Please sit down, gentlemen."
"Mr. Potter, We have asked Prime Minister Brown to have your meeting moved here so that We may join your discussion regarding the new medicines being talked about in the media and to thank you personally for saving the lives of my subjects in the ambush including the life of my grandson, Prince William."
"I am glad be of service, Your Majesty, but I was unaware that the prince was in Afghanistan that day," stated Harry in a somewhat confused tone.
"Prince William was in an auto accident a few days ago near Balmoral Castle where he lost control of his car's steering on his way back from a fund raiser. His chase car was able to bring him quickly to the castle where the resident doctor was able to use the blood replenishing skele-gro and anti-paralysis potions to save his life and allow him to walk again. There were no witnesses and the entire staff was sworn to secrecy. The doctor is a friend of a British doctor in the American military hospital where the victims of the ambush were taken. The doctor there sent a few samples to out man in Balmoral," the PM informed Harry. "I trust you will be keeping that information to yourself."
"Of course, Prime Minister, you may rely on my discretion."
"Now, Mr. Potter, let us discuss these new medicines you aim to manufacture. Could you tell us more about them?" The Queen asked Harry.
"I would be happy to do so, Ma'am, but first I will start with a little background information about myself. I am a reality traveller from a similar Earth. The main difference is that instead of the mutants and other metahumans, my world had magical people called witches and wizards along with other sentient beings like centaurs and goblins. While the world of magical beings is hidden from the non-magical world, we maintain liaisons with the heads each of our country's government like the prime minister here and the technology of the magical world is a backwards society stuck in the Victorian era, there is no electricity, but what we have is an abundance of magical devices and indeed magical spells that perform similar functions as normal machinery. The potions and salves I am planning on distributing is our version of your pharmaceuticals."
"I find this all hard to believe but the efficacy of your medicines cannot be doubted. Did my counterpart in your earth know of this?" The queen quickly replied at the end of Harry's narrative.
"Yes, Ma'am. In fact I was one of your magical lords in England. I also hold a non-magical peerage, the Earldom of Inverness and a knighthood, that your counterpart bestowed upon me. A few years before I came to this reality, the magical world of Britain was in a civil war with an extremely powerful dark wizard under the pretense of blood superiority, that those of pure blood was better than those of mixed blood. It was prophesied that the only one who can defeat him is a child born as the seventh month dies from parents who has thrice defied him and he will mark the child as his equal. Two babies were born as July came to a close, a child of pure blood, who later came to be a good friend, and a child of mixed blood, myself. It is a curious thing that he chose me instead of the pure blood, it later came out that the self-styled Lord Voldemort is really Tom Riddle, a wizard of mixed blood like myself. He came and murdered my parents on All Hollows Eve. He also tried to kill me that night but he failed. His killing curse rebounded upon him which made him into a spirit. The spell left a lightning bolt shaped scar on my forehead, thus marking me as his equal."
"That is a very sad and dark tale, Mr. Potter," commented the PM.
"Yes, it is, Prime Minister. I gather that is not the end of the rather morbid tale, is it, Mr. Potter?"
"Unfortunately, that is true. I was left by the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Scotland, Albus Dumbledore. He was also the head of the magical version of the House of Lords. He placed me in the care of my mother's sister against the will of my parents. My aunt did not like magic for some reason and well, let us just say that my aunt and her family did not 'care' for me as well as I should have been. When I turned eleven, I was reintroduced to the magical world and I am afraid that as a young boy, I looked at this as a wish come true. I naively came to look at the headmaster as my savior from my family as I will be at a boarding school for most of the year although every summer I had to go back to my relatives. Every year without fail, I faced danger in school that I was able to luckily overcome. However, it all came to ahead on my fifth year. I was lured into a trap and my godfather died in the rescue attempt. I wad forced to look at the life I have been leading without the rose colored glasses."
"I am very sorry what had happened to you, Mr. Potter," said the Queen.
"It is all in the past, Ma'am. I was helped by a few people to train and learn all the things I needed to defeat the dark lord just as my sixth year in Hogwarts came to a close. I thought I can have a peaceful life by then but it was not to be. My friends and I along with their families were forced to flee to the US because we were being portrayed as ruthless vigilantes by those in power. The followers of Voldemort were from the pure blood upper class. My friends and I killed most of them and their relatives were out for blood. It did not help that most witches and wizards are sheep easily led by the one with the loudest voice. We were given sanctuary by the US Department of Magic from the persecution. We lived the rest of our lives there. As my friends died of old age, I remained young. I still look like a young man in his early twenties."
"You are immortal?" The PM asked incredulously.
"Is that even possible, Mr. Potter?"
"Normally it is not but a set of circumstances led me to become one. However, I am no longer immortal that I cannot die, I sacrificed it to travel to this reality. I will not grow old nor will I feel the effects of old age but I can now die, I hope you will forgive me if I do not reveal how. Now, I know that you have both held off your curiosity for too long. Would you like a demonstration?"
"I would very much like that, Mr. Potter. I have held off asking for one as you had a riveting tale but as that has ended, I think it is time we received some proof," said the Queen.
"I will be happy to do so. When I first entered the vicinity of the palace, I felt some wards around it. I gather you have someone with the ability to do magic? I would need your permission to cast spells here or I may face some repercussions from the wards."
"Yes, I was wondering if you would notice, it is one of the reasons why I am inclined to believe your tale. We give you permission to cast spells in our presence that would not harm anyone for this day only."
"Thank you. I remember doing these spells for your counterpart. Please do not panic."
Harry levitated the two leaders slowly into the air and flew them around the room. After setting them both down into their respective seats, he transfigured his chair into a large St. Bernard which he ordered to around the room playing tricks before turning it back into his seat.
The Queen and the PM were silent for a minute before the Queen spoke again, "Mr. Potter, I pride myself with the ability to discern the character the character of the people I meet and I find you to be a good and moral man though you have a much more profound goal than simply wishing to help cure your fellow man. I am not saying that this is not a worthy cause, but I can see that you have an end game. We would know your reasons."
"I agree with Her Royal Highness. What is your real agenda for want of a better word? You must know that you can name your terms with regards to your potions and we would have no choice but to agree to it providing you do not give impossible demands that would adversely affect our country's security and sovereignty."
"I admit to having a more far reaching and ambitious objective. I have learned of the plight of the mutants and metahumans and I must say that it disgusts me. I also know your personal stances on this hot issue which is why I would request your support in bringing about a peaceful and equal standing for both the metahumans and mutants along with the rest of mankind. If we do not make a stand, I fear that it can lead to a very dark and violent future for our world. I hope that by making us metahumans a very valuable and indispensable part of mankind's future, we can all learn to work together. Money is not my objective nor is power. I see money and the political power it will undoubtedly bring me as a means to an end. My potions and salves are only the start of what I can bring to the table. I will keep those things closely held for now but I give you my word that I do not seek to rule nor do I want to undermine anyone's freedom."
"Your goals are admirable but very ambitious and I must admit I share them. I maybe limited by what support I can give as the monarchy is only a figurehead but I think I still hold a bit more influence in the world stage. You will have my support." The Queen told Harry.
"For that matter, I can give you my word that I will personally support you and I will do my best to sway my colleagues in government to help bring about the bright future we dream of."
"Thank you for your support. I know this is only a start and that there will be plenty of hurdles and obstacles we will face even from the people we are trying to help. I will do my best to mitigate that side of the equation. If you need my help in defending Britain, I will be at your service. Now regarding the production of the medicines, I will not be able to disclose the process and what materials I use. The medicines are completely safe and have been tested before for hundreds of years but I see no problems in giving governments all over the world as many samples as they want to test and research. I feel bad that I will be pricing the medicines quite a bit higher for those with the means to buy them. I will use the money to employ doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to provide low cost medical care to the less privileged people."
"I see. How do you plan to do that?" The PM was curious on how Harry will pull this off.
"Much of the proceeds coming from of the medicine sales will be directed to that goal. I plan to have a compound in each of the major cities of the world. Each compound will hold the main distribution venue for the medicines and an attached hospital that will treat patients without regard to race, religious creed or financial status. There will be an orphanage and a school for those unable to pay for an education from age four until they graduate high school or their local equivalent at which point it will be up to them to work and pay for their own way in college. The compound will also have a food outlet that would sell nutritious food and drinks to anyone for a very small fee during lunch and dinner. The entire compound will be privately funded as nonprofit organizations. My initial plans are to build compounds in New York, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Moscow, Jerusalem, Tehran, Kabul, Beijing, New Delhi, Islamabad, Baghdad, Tokyo, Manila, and Seoul within the first five years of the company's operations. The reason why I want to build these compounds in the leading industrialized countries first is mainly to be able to maximize the early sales potential and to capitalize on the media buzz it will generate. This should help me in negotiating with the more difficult and problematic countries in the Middle East.
"You are that confident in your products? I know these medicines are a game changer but at the rate you want to expand is very aggressive, is it not?" The Queen was a bit skeptical of Harry's plan.
"That would be true if I intend to keep much of the profits. I am serious in saying that I do not intend to profit much from this. I only plan to keep about ten to fifteen percent of the profits and use the rest for expansion and my goals. Money does not mean much to me, Ma'am. I am already comfortably well off from my inheritances both here and from my previous reality."
"In that case your rapid expansion will be possible but let us go back about your products. Where do you plan on setting up your processing plants? I have only heard you mention corporate offices already set up here in London and in Manhattan, what about your production facilities?" Gordon Brown was interested to see if he can lure Harry into setting up the production facilities here instead of in the US.
"I am afraid I will only be putting up corporate and distribution points in the compounds around the world but my production facilities will be a secret I will not divulge. Almost all of my production will be handled using magical means which will negate the use of any nation's workforce. In the beginning, I will be subcontracting the production of the containers, labels, instructions and packaging for the products but I plan on buying or building my own plant inside the compound to handle that part of the business in the long term. This is to reduce or outright deny anyone the ability to tamper or copy my products, not that anyone will be able to as the main ingredients is not found anywhere in the globe as they are magical in nature. Even now, my lawyers are leasing one store location in many of the world's capitals. The store's only function is to sell the products, we will not be delivering it to drugstores or hospitals, if they want the products, they must pick it up from the store or they must pay for shipping and handling. I know it will probably cause some arguments at first but it will be the company's policy in the first few years."
"I was hoping to convince you to build your plants here but I can see your point, Mr. Potter. I assume the workforce for each compound will be handled by locally?"
"Yes, sir. I will try to make up for not having employees for production by staffing the compounds with locally hired employees. I hope to foster company loyalty by providing low rent residential buildings near or within the compound for each employee's husband, wife, children, parents, and siblings until the age of 18. Their children and siblings will be given preference in admittance into the compound's school, this will be the only exemption in the schools' admissions department."
"That would be a significant undertaking, Mr. Potter. When do you plan on building your compound here in London?"
"Your Highness, I am currently looking for a large tract of land in the outskirts of London and New York City. Once I get the approval to sell the medicines, I will be purchasing the land and begin construction of the facilities. Leasing will not be an option because I do not want the headache of trying to negotiate contractual terms every few years."
"In any case, I will try and expedite the approval for the products for public consumption but the earliest time will be in about three months, six months in the latest. I am afraid it will be the fastest possible time frame the Minister for Health can give without giving your company preferential treatment which would harm your company's image, smear campaigns by rival pharmaceutical companies will be salivating at any hint of impropriety, you do understand that do you not? It will go much quicker for use with the military, there three months is a firm estimate."
"I understand, Prime Minister. I am actually more pessimistic in my estimates regarding but somewhat on target for the military procurement."
"Mr. Potter, I am sure you have considered the dangers on your person from your rivals, haven't you? The Prime Minister is concerned that this is a possibility. You will be taking most of their profits away from their pockets." The Queen asked worriedly.
"I have considered the possibility, Ma'am. I do not wish to brag but I am confident I can handle anything my rivals throw at me. I am always protected though you might not see it. In fact, I will be happy to provide this to both of your immediate families if you will accept it." Harry produced a large jewelry box from his pocket. He showed them a gold ring beautifully inscribed with runes with a diamond set in them.
"Each ring will provide a shield capable of deflecting from poison gas, high powered rifle shots, grenades or even a direct hit by a mortar shell. It will grow uncomfortably warm if you are about to drink or eat anything poisoned and if you become unconscious or harmed beyond the ring's considerable protections, you will be placed into stasis by the ring and instantly teleported to a secure location that is always staffed with an expertly trained medical professional. If that happens, I will know immediately and I will get to you as soon as circumstances allow."
"Teleported, Mr. Potter?" The Queen asked immediately.
"Yes, Ma'am. Would you like to try it? It will be a bit disorienting but it is completely safe." Harry stood and took an empty saucer from the tea service on the table and it glowed blue after a silently cast a modified portkey spell. "Prime Minister, would you like to try it too? Please hold on to this saucer tightly."
Once the two leaders have held on to the saucer, Harry said, "Activate."
They all felt a rush like plane taxiing for departure and saw flashes of bright blue and white lights for about five seconds before appearing on Harry's rooftop garden in Manhattan.
"What was that and where are we?" The Queen asked Harry at the very noticeable difference in the sky. It was early afternoon in London but here it was still morning.
"Your Royal Highness, we are on my rooftop garden in Manhattan. If you look over there, you can see Central Park."
"This is an amazing experience, Mr. Potter. I barely felt it!" The PM exclaimed.
Harry can only laugh at the man's comment. "That was a modified version of the portkey charm. The original spell would have severely disoriented you to the point of throwing up in most cases because of the large distance. I think we should go back now, your security might be going nuts right now."
"I completely forgot about that. Let us be off, young man." The Queen commanded.
"At your command, Your Majesty." Harry held out the saucer again and they appeared back in the sitting room which was now filled with panicking staff and guards.
"At ease, men. Point those guns away from us, young man. Everything is all right. What just occurred is a covered under Official Secrets. None of you will mention this to anyone, am I understood?" The Queen asked imperiously.
A chorus of, "Yes, Your Majesty," was heard from the rather relieved men and women before they immediately exited the room.
"Mr. Potter, We will be most grateful to you if you will provide our families with your rings. How much would each of them cost?"
"Your Majesty, I will not accept payment for these rings as enchanting is one of my hobbies."
"But they are all made of pure gold and the diamond is of excellent clarity, surely they must cost a fortune! The exquisite quality of the design alone would command a few thousand pounds. Why they are on the level of my own jewelry and I consider myself an expert on fine jewelry."
"Your Majesty, trust me when I say that I have so much gold that if I sell a fraction of it all at the same time, I can destabilize the world's gold trade. The number of diamonds I possess will dwarf even the production of the mines in Kimberly. It makes me proud that you like my craftsmanship, Your Highness. I would like you to accept this as a small token of my appreciation, not as a bribe."
Harry gave the PM four rings, one for himself, his wife and his two children. "Do not worry if the ring is a bit bigger than your wife and children's fingers. They will automatically adjust to fit them snugly even if the fingers grow. When they wear it for the first time, they will feel a prick like an ant's bite to draw a tiny amount of its wearer's blood to key its protections to them. The wound would heal instantly so do not worry about it. Once this done, the rings can then only be removed by their wearer, even severing the finger will only transfer the ring to another finger. If the wearer wishes to hide the ring, just will it to be invisible and it will not be seen by anyone else aside from the wearer."
Harry gave the jewelry box to the Queen. "All the rings inside the jewelry box work the same way as the ones I gave the Prime Minister. There are about thirty rings in there, if you require more, just contact me and I will send them to the Prime Minister."
"Mr. Potter, you have given me a great gift, the peace of mind that my family and their children will be safe no matter what. You have only to ask and if it is in my power to grant, you will receive it."
"Your Majesty, your personal outspoken views on the metahumans and mutants along with the Prime Minister's own are enough and I dare say these rings are a necessity as your opinions will undoubtably put you and your family in danger from both the anti-mutant activists and even from the mutants themselves."
"I will have to return to the office to get started on this. I will tell Madame Sinclair that she can have the samples picked up from your London office tomorrow, am I correct?"
"That shouldn't be a problem, Prime Minister, and please, call me Harry. I always look for my Transfiguration professor whenever I get called Mr. Potter. She was quite stern, you see."
"You must have been a handful in your youth, Harry. Call me Gordon when we are in a private setting."
"I insist on being called Elizabeth if we are not in public. Your contribution to my family's safety gives you that right. You may not believe it but underneath this stern formal woman is a grandmother who likes to spoil their grandchildren."
"I will try and do that, Ma'am. I mean Elizabeth. Your counterpart also insisted on that but I hope you will be more forgiving than her. She even threatened to revoke my titles if I do not do so."
Harry laughed at the memory.
"I will be calling Bush as soon as I get to 10 Downing Street and try to be less heavy handed in your meeting. That man blusters too much sometimes. Hopefully the next president will have more common sense, the November elections across the pond are just around the corner."
A final round of handshakes was exchanged before they each left for their own destinations.
At the White House.
A short but pretty woman came into the Oval office. "Mr. President, the British Prime Minister is on line one."
"Thanks, Mellaine. I'll answer it right quick." Bush picked up the phone. "Good evening, Gordie. It is evening there ain't it?"
"Yes, George, good afternoon to you and for the last time my name is Gordon."
"You really have to lighten up, Gordie. Now what can I do ya for?" He loved to needle the Brit, too uptight if you ask him.
"The Queen and I have just finished meeting with the CEO of the company making those new medicines in the headlines earlier this afternoon. We liked what we heard of his plans and I suggest you get in line and fast track the approval for his products. It will save a lot of the young men and women in the armed forces."
"I know that! The Pentagon brass along with the pencil pushers practically wet themselves over it, thinking about the lower unproductive recovery times and lesser training costs. The bad news is that the drug companies are lobbying to have the herbal medicines banned and you know how big of a clout they have in Congress."
"Are you saying that your country will be following the lead of the drug companies? I must say the Queen will be proud to tell Mr. Potter that the country of his birth will be happy to support him in his endeavors to help mankind. Did you know his medicines saved the life of Prince William? The prince almost died and even if he survived, he will be paralyzed however these new medicines not only saved him from bleeding out, they also ensured that he will walk again! We were hoping that Mr. Potter will make his corporate headquarters here in London, if you do ban his medicine there, he is sure to revoke his US citizenship and move to London! This is splendid news, old chap!"
"Now, see here Gordie! I never said we will ban the medicines! I just said we will have some issues with the lobbyists. The generals will skin me alive if they do not have the medicines and the Taliban has them. I will be meeting with him soon to go over the details. It may be my gift to the American people; I can be the man who saved the lives of the young Americans in Afghanistan, that sounds great. Anyway, I'll be sure to talk to Potter about his drugs and give him as much leeway as I can. I will have my secretary call him tomorrow at the latest. Do you need anything else?"
"No, George, I am all done. Remember, we want that medicine to be used by those in the 'War on Terror.' It is your responsibility to them; you did kick off the war." The PM was a bit disgusted that he had to use this tactic on the US President.
President George W. Bush closed his eyes and sighed. "I know, Gordon. I pray every night for the boys and girls over there. I will never forget that I sent them off in harm's way and that it is my duty to give them the best this country can offer. You can trust me on that."
"Thank you, Mr. President. Have a pleasant day."
"You too, Prime Minister, have a good evening."
After terminating the call, the President called his secretary to place a call to Harry Potter, the owner of Potter's Herbal Medicines, to ask him to come to the White House tomorrow if possible for a meeting with POTUS. President Bush then called Nick Fury to join him in the meeting with the man.
Back in SHIELD HQ
Director Fury was in a quandary. He has been rereading a report on the 'magical' medicine being used in Afghanistan by the military hospital and about the owner of the company producing the cures. He did not know whether to be overjoyed that many men and women serving their country will be saved by this new company or to rage about the rather large intelligence gaffe that Harry Potter was right under his nose for years and he did not know about the possibility of Potter being more than what he claimed to be. He had his doubts that all those gifts that the man has can be explained by just simple training. Harry Potter was just simply too good at the things he did. He also has a report that Potter has been seen at the residence of the UK Prime Minister before getting in the PM's car and going to with the PM to Buckingham Palace. They went back to 10 Downing Street after three hours and both seemed to be on friendlier terms.
He has just received a call from the President asking him to go to the White House and join him on the meeting with Potter. Fury was glad the president did not yell at him for the failure of SHIELD to discern this possibility earlier. President Bush was normally an ebullient person, easy to show his ire or his affection; he was noticeably sober while talking to Fury earlier. Fury was asked to send over the files on Potter to complement the files the other agencies had on the young man for research purposes.
Fury just hopes that the meeting goes smoothly and that Potter cooperates. He was not so sure of that as Potter is already rich, he can leave the US and go to the UK, they will be glad to have him back there for good.