A/N Here is the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it.

I have re-read this numerous times and think that I have managed to catch all the typos and grammatical issues. I would like to point out, as it has come up multiple times now, that I am British and that some of my spellings differ from American ones. I didn't realise quite how many there were until I tried to write an essay on an American computer but there we are.

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine: they belong to their respective creators.

"Do you know how to fight?" Steve asked indicating the ring in the centre of the room.

Harry shrugged, "I can throw a punch as well as the next person, but it's not something I've really learned."

Steve looked incredulous. "You're telling me that you fought in a war" he stressed the word, "without learning how to fight."

"A Wizard war," Harry emphasised the word in turn, "we had magic battles."

"What if your wand snapped? It's just a stick of wood." Steve asked. Harry thought that Steve may have expected him to declare the wands unbreakable, but the question silenced him. He thought back to Lucius Malfoy and his uselessness during the war, and other wizards during his time as Auror who had had their wands snapped as punishment.

"I thought so." Steve muttered, "So you are going to learn."

"Pardon?"

"We aren't fighting Wizard Wars now. If you end up disarmed, then we'd have to protect you. So I'm gonna teach you." He dug into his bags and drew out a handful of fabric. "Go get changed, I'll meet you back out here in five."

Harry looked at the baggy white shirt and trackie bottoms in his hands.

"Now." Steve said in a tone that brooked no argument. Resigned, Harry ducked into a nearby room and changed. Upon returning, he found Steve in the ring, holding pads in his hands that Harry recognised from Muggle movies which involved training montages.

"Great." He muttered, climbing into the ring. Steve showed him how to strap his hands up to protect his knuckle and wrists while practising, explaining that they weren't using gloves as he wouldn't get those in a real fight, and got him into a ready stance.

Harry wasn't unfit, but even so, he could feel the exertion after a few minutes of the exercise Steve was having him do. Sometime during the session, Harry missed her entrance; Romanov had come into the room, and was leaning against the wall idly watching them. Self-consciousness crept up the back of Harry's neck as he hit the pads in the directed sequence.

It had been a few days since the encounter with Rudolphus and Steve had since learned the whole story about what had happened and subsequently left a message for Harry to meet him here. So they could fight. Harry could see why it would be useful, but he was was extremely aware of his lack of skill in the area under Romanov's critical and expert gaze.

"He's too small for your style of fighting.' Her light voice cut through the sounds of Harry grunting and his fists hitting the pad. Steven signalled for a halt and Harry took advantage of the moment to rub his fists and clench and unclench his fingers.

"Excuse me?" Steve looked over at the spy with a raised eyebrow.

"While he needs to learn how to throw a punch, he's too small to be able to rely on strength alone unlike you, big man."

Harry didn't bother pointing out that he was standing between them as they argued over him. He began thinking of the trip he was setting up for a fortnight from now, back to Hogwarts. Neville had invited them. Or rather he had invited Bruce.

He and Hannah had ended up staying the night at the tower, awaking the next morning when Jarvis announced that breakfast was ready. Pepper had put Tony's waffle machine to good use, and they had all tucked in, neither Neville nor Hannah having had such a treat before.

Bruce had helped keep the mood light, asking more questions about the healing quality of various wizarding plants until Neville had extended an invite to his greenhouses. If Bruce was interested. He had been, and once Tony had realised that these greenhouses were at Hogwarts, he had bugged Harry until he had agreed to take him too. The others though disappointed realised the impracticalities of such a large muggle group at a wizarding school. They left the matter alone on the promise that they would get another chance to visit the now infamous castle.

He'd have to have some disguise of course, probably some sort of aging potion or glamour. That was something to look forward to. He looked between his two instructors- they had come to the conclusion that they would both teach Harry how to fight- Steve focussing on fitness and stamina while Romanov, Natasha, took over form and style. They were now both assessing him and what promise he had shown so far, mostly his speed and reaction time.

This was going to be a fun couple of weeks. As much as he was anxious about going back to the magical world, he was beginning to appreciate it would be his only chance to get a break from what sounded like a rigorous training regime.

"I knew it was going to be archaic, but I honestly didn't expect this." Tony quipped, staring at the wrought iron gates.

"You haven't even seen it yet." Bruce said tiredly from his place by George's shoulder.

"You can learn a lot from a places front gate, let me tell you." Tony retorted.

"Oi," Harry cut in. He looked over at his friend. "You do know that it's an ancient castle, right?"

Harry didn't quite know what to feel, standing at the gates of a place that held so much meaning for him. Hogwarts lay beyond that wall. They'd flooed straight to the Three Broomsticks to avoid the anti-muggle precautions and followed the path to arrive here. The pair had been fascinated by the small wizarding village, though Tony wouldn't shut up about how typically British it was. Bruce had called it quaint.

His skin was itching slightly under the ageing glamour he wore. It was more in anticipation of discomfort, the glamour hadn't been on long, but Harry knew that it would become irritating as the day wore on. He realistically had several hours before that set in.

He could see a figure coming from the distance. He would recognise that brown coat anywhere. The size was a bit of a giveaway as well. Hagrid was coming to unlock the gates and let them into the school. They couldn't just waltz in. He wasn't a student any more. Not that he should have been able to come and go as he pleased as a student. Harry remembered their thestral journey over the walls.

"It's not all ancient now." George commented, "They did some serious reconstruction y'know."

Harry did know. He wasn't certain what to make of the possible changes to Hogwarts.

So here Harry stood, watching Hagrid start waving as he came closer.

"'ello 'Arry, George. Tony, yeah?"

"That's me, big man." Tony grinned as Hagrid slid a giant key into the gates lock. It turned smoothly for such an old gate which in turn opened swiftly and silently. "This is Bruce."

"Good t'meet you." Hagrid grinned offering one of his huge hands which Bruce took, obviously intrigued with how his hand was barely half the size of Hagrid's. "I'm Rebeus Hagrid, though mos' jus' call me Hagrid. I'm the Care of Magical Creatures Professor and the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts."

"Good to meet you too." Bruce, "I'm just a scientist."

"Your underselling yourself Doc." George laughed, clapping his shoulder, "How's about we go take a look around."

Harry felt nostalgia rolling over him in waves as he walked up the main drive to the castle. Its profile was so ingrained in him that he could see past the new extensions and pick out the original form from the turrets and towers.

"Wow." Bruce muttered as it came into view, and Harry grinned at him. "You went to school here?"

"A for-real castle. How British." Tony quipped and Harry rolled his eyes.

"Yeah. Trust me I know what you mean. When you arrive in your first year, they take you in boats across the lake. I'm pretty sure it's just so they can show it off from its best angle."

Hagrid laughed with a deep throaty chuckle.

There was a green robed figure awaiting them by the stone circle. He was casually leaning against one of the pillars and waited until they were within a few metres before pushing himself off the stone. Neville greeted them with a smile. It had been a couple of weeks since Rudolphus had attacked, and Neville ostensibly looked as cheerful as he had before but Harry recognised the shadow behind his features that had haunted all those that had participated in the War. Harry understood. The last two weeks nights had been filled with revisions of old nightmares.

"Long time no see." Neville grinned.

"Yeah, it's been so long now. Like what, a whole… two weeks?"

"Sounds about right- wouldn't guess that to look at you though." Neville clapped Harry on the shoulder and turned to the others. "Thanks for escorting them Hagrid, it took me longer than I expected to dismiss the sproglets."

"Not a prob." Hagrid grinned at them, "Sorry to run out on you guys, but I have some skrewts that need feeding. I'll see you all for lunch."

Harry watched Hagrid amble away down the hill in the direction of his hut.

"Has he really-?"

"Yup."

"Sheesh." Harry shivered. "Blast-ended skrewts," Harry clarified for their muggle companions, "Nasty little buggers."

"You chose to come on a good day." Neville changed the subject, "It's match day, Griffindor vs Slytherin."

Harry grinned, "Awesome. You're going to get an introduction to Quidditch." He told Tony and Bruce, "And it is going to be spectacular."

"That's not until the afternoon though." Neville added, "Plenty of time to show you around the greenhouses."

Bruce acknowledged this fact with an anticipatory smile and rub of the hands but Tony cleared his throat.

"If you don't mind, I would prefer a tour around the medieval castle to staring at a load of shrubs all day."

"I've seen it all before." George added, "I'll catch up with you guys later."

"Meet up for lunch?" Neville asked Harry who nodded. "I'll save you all spots on the staff table."

With that they parted and the two pairs set about finding their own ways to amuse themselves. Harry started in the courtyard and walked him through the castle. He passed the Great Hall, but thought Tony could wait until lunch when it would be busy and he could get a better sense of the atmosphere. Instead he took him around a few of the courtyards and introduced him to Sir Nick who floated across their path.

Harry had spent a few minutes idly watching the occasional 7th year cross the yard, or situate themselves on the grass to study in the sun while Tony quizzed Nick at a quick-fire pace. They parted company with the ghost when the bell rang and the corridor filled with students.

Harry noticed the occasional eye turn his way and heard mutters spring up around him. He should have really expected it since he hadn't put on some sort of disguise.

"Huh, you weren't kidding about being famous." Tony said, seemingly mildly surprised. Harry had just clipped him over the head in jest when a small voice spoke up.

"Hey, excuse me. Sir?" Harry turned to meet the face of a young Hufflepuff girl. She was probably a first year, with curly blonde hair and a round face. She looked familiar, but Harry couldn't place why.

"Yes?" He replied, with a small smile down at her. She looked slightly timid at his response. She seemed to be working up the will to ask a question.

"Um, are you- Harry Potter?"

Harry managed to reign in the old familiar resignation. He heard Tony chuckle beside him.

"Yes I am." He said evenly and a grin broke out on the girls face.

"I thought so! You're like how Daddy described you!" Ah, so she was the child of an old school mate.

"Did he?" Harry acknowledged politely.

"Yeah!" She replied eagerly, grinning and showing a gap between her two front teeth. "He told me about how you grew up together!"

Harry nodded with a small placatory smile as he tried to match the girls face up to the boys he'd know back when he was a student. She stuck out a small hand for him to shake, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"Violet Dursley!" she introduced herself, her voice bursting with excitement.

Harry froze in the act of accepting her hand. The name echoed through his head as he stared at the girl in shock. He could see Dudley in her he supposed, she carried less weight, but her face was a similar shape and her hair the same colour. Her eyes were a startling blue and sparkled up at him.

"Uh-" he found himself at a loss for words. Yes he had supposed Dudley would have gone on with his life after the war, maybe he would even have got married. But he'd never pictured him with children. Let alone a daughter. Let alone one standing before him in the corridor of a magical castle, surrounded by moving portraits and wearing a Hufflepuff robe. "Dudley Dursley?" he managed to stutter out.

Her smile grew impossibly wider. "Uhuh, that's my daddy."

"Wha- um, what are you doing here?" Was the first thing that slipped unfiltered from his mouth.

She gave him a bemused look that was so like Dudley's old 'you're an idiot' look that he had to shake himself out of his shock induced stupor.

"I'm at school." She replied matter-of-factly, "the real question is what you are doing here."

"I'm showing a friend around." He gestured generally in Tony's direction.

"So you can come back for that, but not to see daddy?" The girl asked her previous buoyant mood seemingly deflated.

Harry was stumped, "I never thought that he would want to see me." It wasn't that he hadn't thought to contact his cousin after the War, but he was ashamed to realise now that he'd never made the effort.

"So you're a witch." He stated, still slightly hung up in the fact that his anti-magic raised cousin had sired one.

"Yup." The girl, Violet, popped the 'p', "On my mother's side."

Wait, Dudley married a witch! Vernon must have loved that. But,

"How did they meet?" He realised after he asked that she might not know, but the smile just grew.

"When Dad was under Order protection." Violet stated, "He stayed at my mum's house for most of that last year. She was kept away from Hogwarts cause her mum was a known Order member."

"Who's her mum?" Harry asked, running Order members through his mind to try and figure out the connection.

"Granny Hestia?"

"Hestia Jones!" Harry exclaimed, remembering the young, black haired woman who'd taken the Dursley's from Privet Drive all those years ago. "Wow." He was still reeling under the idea of Dudley having a child with a witch. He found a grin stretching across his face. "Brilliant."

"I can't wait to tell him that I saw you."

Harry looked down at this girl who was technically his first cousin, once removed. Dudley had kept up the flower names he noted.

"Tell him- tell him I'll send an owl his way." Harry decided, with an assured nod.

Violet grinned, "I think he'll like that. He seems ever so fond of you."

Harry had to hold back a small choking sound when he heard that. Dudley? Fond? He pulled a smile together to try and cover up his smile.

"I'm pretty sure you have to get to class." Indeed the corridors bustle had calmed to a couple of sixth and seventh years who probably had frees. "We shall be seeing each other again."

The girl nodded, her blonde hair bouncing and slid past him. He followed her with his gaze and at the end of the corridor, she turned and waved. He mimicked her with a smaller gesture before remembering that Tony was standing by his elbow.

"Dudley, that's your cousin right?"

He nodded.

"I never saw him settling down and having a kid with anyone. Let alone a witch."

Tony clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, people can surprise you. Shall we go check on Bruce? Fury will be pissed if he manages to get himself eaten by a plant."

They stopped by the greenhouses to find Neville demonstrating the running of a Herbology lesson while managing at the same time to introduce Bruce to a range of magical plants. He fit so well into the role of teacher that Harry felt a well of emotion stir in him. In the role of professor Neville seemed to be free of his demons. He flitted between explaining the plants to Bruce and instructing the Gryffindors how to hold the shrub they were working with. It looked familiar, but Harry couldn't for the life of him identify it. Bruce for his part was getting caught up in a tidal wave of new information, so much so that his earlier professed nervousness of being in a room with a load of kids had vanished. He had been terrified of accidentally turning amongst children.

He and Tony left the greenhouses and Harry had led him towards the great staircase. After several questions that Harry couldn't answer and multiple discussions with paintings- including Sir Cadogan who challenged Tony to a duel- they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch.

"Huh." Tony muttered as he stared at the open ceiling and floating candles, "That's cool."

Harry grinned and walked amongst the filling House tables to the teachers table. Neville and Bruce weren't there yet, but Professor McGonagall was.

"It's good to see you well, Potter."

"You too, Professor."

A small smile crossed her face, "I'm sure we passed the 'professor' stage a long time ago."

"Habits are hard to break." He replied with equal humour, "this is my friend, Tony. Tony this is Minerva McGonagall, she was my Transfigurations professor and Head of House. She was also a member of the Order. She's now the Headmistress."

"Ah, Minnie, nice to meet you. I recognise you from the pictures."

McGonagall raised at thin eyebrow and Harry was about to comment when Neville took the spot on the bench next to him.

"You know, there's a rumour going around the students. Did you hear? Harry Potter is back!"

"Hmm, I wonder where they got that idea from." Harry replied wryly.

At that moment a cheer rose in the hall. They looked up to see a handful of figures standing in the doors of the hall. The Griffindor table had risen upon their feet upon their entrance and were applauding and whooping at them as they walked down the hall to take their places at the table. Harry found himself caught up in nostalgia as he spotted the smallest figure amongst them, standing between two broader blokes, probably the beaters, watching out for the seeker.

"The Griffindor Quidditch team." He informed the muggles, as he started filling up his plate.

"So what is this game?" Bruce asked, eyeing the team as they greeted their housemates joyously and settled on the bench to eat.

"Harry should probably tell you." Neville admitted as cut up his steak,

"So, basically, " Harry started waving a skewered bit of sausage in the Gryffindor teams direction as he began to explain the ins and outs of Quidditch for the layman. George joined them and they walked down to the pitch with the crowd, which were too caught up in the festivities to take note of Harry. He went into further detail when the match took off. The teams were equally matched, and the competitive tension only grew.

Meanwhile, in an old English garden on a bright summer's day underneath the boughs of a tree, a tanned young man was drinking tea with an elderly lady. She laughed at something he said and with a grin he replaced the cup on its saucer, leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thank you Rosie. You know how much I enjoy coming round for tea,"

He bade her farewell and stood, pulling on his brown, leather coat. With a small bow, he turned and left her heaven. He crossed the border to the living world and found himself standing over Manhattan, where his Master currently resided.

He paused and a look of concentration came to his face. He cocked his head, eyes closed, as if listening to something. After a moment, his eyes snapped open.

"Oh… Bolshevik."

Lets take a moment to appreciate the versatility of actor Tom Riley...