A/N: YAY! I am back… it seems that coming back to my computer desk has chased my muse off. But I think I got that tricky minx back for this. If not, I will probably delete this chapter and rewrite it when my muse is back in full force.

Also thank you guys for volunteering to be my beta (Wonderland-fae, and Stephanie MRV) I didn't get back to you guys because I was deciding if I wanted to have it beta'd. I have decided to leave it as-is. I don't think that the grammar and spelling take you out of the story to much after listening to it on the app. If I ever change my mind, I will definitely keep you guys in mind. ANYways, back to the important stuff!

Xx T.S. xX

After having a bit of a panic attack while talking to Roady about what happened in New York, Tony decided that next time it would be an automated suit that makes the sacrifice play so he could be around for Hermione. Although Hermione is making full robotics Tony decided to go with ones that can shift to suits. It never hurts to have one close that can transform to protect yourself. Maybe even one that can come apart, oh and you can implant sensors so that you can summon the pieces. Tony got stuck on thoughts and forgot to sleep… again. Who needs sleep when you get woke up with nightmares a few hours in anyway? Between nightmares of New York and ones about Mia being imagined and not real. Those are thought that Tony didn't need right now.

A few hours later Happy called interrupting the last modifications on the sensors he would inject into himself.

"Hey boss, you busy?"

"Hey Happy, how is being a hall monitor going?"

"Very funny boss, you know Pepper only made me head of security here so I can keep an eye on her. Like you told me to."

"Yeah, yeah. So did you call me just to skive off work or was there a reason?"

"You know I miss how it used to be back in the day when it was you and me before you went off to the super friends. You respected me more."

"I miss you to buddy, now the reason you called? Don't make me say please."

"That appointment with the people with AIM is finally happening. Turns out we met the head guy back in the day. Kilian, Aldridge Kilian. Little skinny nerd, tried to get you to fund his think tank. You sent him to the roof and forgot about him. Well, now he is all tall and smart, he is currently showing Pepper his big brain. If you don't do something soon you might lose her."

"I doubt that but thanks for the heads up."

"I am serious Tony. Pepper is one of the best things to happen to you. You better not lose her, Mia is attached to her too. Also, I don't like the look of the guy that is with him. I think I am going to keep an eye on him."

"You do that, and I am not going to lose Pep. So stop stressing. Also, shouldn't you be searching the interns by now. they might be stealing pens!" Tony finished with a scoff while hanging up his phone. Tall, dark, and handsome wasn't Pepper's MO. She wouldn't leave him. Right?

Tony tossed that in the back of his mind as he went back to working on the modified suit that came apart and could be summoned.

Xx H.G xX

Hermione stood from her desk in her master's classroom. She had just sat through what would have been her classes lesson. Gryffindor and Slytherin first year potions. The poor lions didn't make it out without losing 20 points for Weasley's mouth after Snape had grilled the Potter boy on things in the intro chapter in the potions text. If Heir Potter had opened his text even once he would have known the answers.

Hermione shook her head before walking up to her master with the ingredients he had asked her to prep for tomorrows 3rd year classes. Purposely Hermione addressed Snape using his title to let him know she is trying to be professional instead of calling him Sev like he had given her permission to do when not in class.

"Master, you may want to be a little more lenient on Heir Potter. I don't think he comes from a good home. He may have been punished if he didn't fit in at home. If that is the case, do you think he would crack a book if any of the lions didn't?"

Snape arched his eyebrow before saying "I will consider it apprentice, there is also a personal reason that I am not inclined to share but know that I will TRY to target him less."

Snape then stood from his desk and beaconed Hermione into the passageway to their shared sitting room. "Now that the official talk is out of the way. How is it going Mia? Has your father gotten back to you about your mom? I know he said that you would have to wait for him to look into it. Has he sent you any of those E-Mails yet?"

Hermione sat down in her favorite seat with a huff, "not yet Sev. I understand that he had J on it like I have LAIL on it but so far nothing in the digital world has changed so we will probably need to get someone to drop in and watch them but Happy is the only person I would trust with my mom and he is tied up with being Pepper's security thanks to Tony being so paranoid about this Aldridge guy. Apparently, all he did was flirt with Pepper when he had this meeting with her then ask her to fund his think tank with some not some ethical projects in the works."

Sev scoffed at that. Having talked to Tony over the phone on Hermione's last check in and homework swapping trip to Hogsmead, Sev knew that Tony was all about the ethical aspect of everything. Always looking for the best way to improve the world. There was no way he would work with this think tank and even though Pepper was in charge of the public face of the company, it was still Tony's company, and he would have last say.

Sev was pulled out of his thinking by Hermione, who had decided to continue while slumping farther into her chair. "Pepper said that Tony hasn't left her side and that he sent Happy to follow the sketchy guy that was with Killeen. Happy told them he had a bad feeling about him. Pepper is super annoyed by it all."

Hermione sat up quickly looking somberly. "I know he is busy with this personal stuff. So, I am trying to not make to big of a fuss by pestering him."

Snape looked at her before saying "we will find out what happened with her, until that you will stay with me or your father for the holidays. After all…" He stopped speaking until Hermione looked up at him before continuing "I finally found someone that I can have an intelligent conversation with. I refuse to put that at risk." He finished with a wink.

"How very Slytherin of you Sev." Hermione responded with a small smile on her face.

"of course, I am the head of house after all. Now attend apprentice we must go attempt to teach the next round of dunderheads." Sev said putting his signature impassive look on his face and heading back down the passageway to his classroom with Mia right behind him.

A/N: sorry for a short chapter but an update is an update, right? I hope so because this is all I have written so far. Hope to see you all soon. TTFN