Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story. This is just for fun and I hope you enjoy reading it.
Child of Silence
By Angelwings Sorrow
Chapter 45 "Dementor, Death Bots and Expo, Oh My!"
Dawn was slowly rising and Harry glared at the horizon. He thought he would have more time for his morning exercises but no, classes would start soon. He had managed to avoid those Dementors but it wasn't a permanent solution. He needed a defense against them because he couldn't keep dropping unconscious every time he ran into one.
"Mr. Lokison, I thought you would be smart stay indoors with the Dementor roaming about."
"Morning Professor Snape. You know me I can't stay indoors for too long." Harry typed out on Friday.
"Yes I can understand that. I find myself leaving the castle just for a reprieve from certain annoyances." Snape had acquired a shadow in the form of the DADA Professor, since the beginning of school.
"Professor why are the Dementors here?"
"There is rumor that the Dark Lord will come back to England. His followers need extra support so they are freeing those arrested and placed in Azkaban who are also death eaters. They had their first successful prison break a week before the Students returned to school. Peter Pettigrew escaped but it was not as flawless as they hoped. The rat set off as many alarms as he could during the escape. Bare in mind these were not intentional but Pettigrew has always been a clumsy wizard and his grades were average at best. If he was smart he would stay away from the castle at all cost but he never was very bright. I personally do not know why he would come here in the first place."
"He's a coward and a traitor Severus but this is the only place he knows by heart." A voice interrupted. Harry raised an eye brow as he watched his potion Professor rolled his eyes with his back still facing the approaching man. That had to the first and only time he had ever seen Snape make a facial expression.
"Morning Professor Black."
"Good Morning Mr. Lokison, Severus." Regulus smiled cheerfully. "I believe that Pettigrew is here to hide because he wants the safety and the familiarity of the only home he ever truly knew. Peter is technically a Half-Blood his mum was a Squib and father was a muggle who hated him for turning out to be a wizard. When he came here he wedged himself into my brother's circle of friends and tried to be one of the Marauders. So being here would be a comfort to him."
"Thank you for the history lesson and your unfounded theory but what are you doing out here, Black?" Snape sneered.
"Well, since I am the Defense teacher he wants me to do rounds on the castle ground to keep the Dementors away from the castle and the Students. Also my theory is not unfounded Sirius would tell me everything and complained on how needy Peter was."
"Excuse me Professor is that possible to drive off Dementors?" Harry asked trying to stop the brewing argument between the two former Slytherins.
"Yes, in our study of the dark creatures we can defend against them but they do not die."
"Of course not mortal they are soul reapers." A voice sneered drawing their attention of the three male. Harry couldn't stop the bright smile that lit up his face.
"Excuse me Madame, how did you get on the castle grounds?"
"Shut up Black, before you embarrass yourself further." Snape hissed elbowing the younger man in the gut to shut up. "This is Mr. Lokison's Aunt Hela the Goddess of Death." pinched his nose embarrassed by association. Regulus snapped his mouth shut and his eyes widened.
"Aunt Hela!" Harry opened his locket before running into the arms of the Goddess.
"Hello my adorable nephew." Hela smiled holding the boy close ignoring the mortals. She was never one to express happiness or joy but when Haraldr came in her life she couldn't stop showing the love and joy she had for the boy. "I would have been here sooner but my work has kept me busy."
"I'm glad you're here I didn't get to see you much this summer." The demi-god reluctantly let go of his aunt knowing her time on earth was limited and she had to return to Niflheim.
"I know Haraldr, despite how work had kept me in Niflheim and then the soul I sent on to Helheim got mixed up by one of the lesser gods. I swear they are getting lazy in the jobs. Anyways your Grandmother wanted to spend more time with you."
"I understand Aunt Hela."
"Now I came here to tell you a bit about these Dementors that were once my servants as soul reapers. Now centuries ago when I was on Midgard creating the Hallows for your ancestors some dark wizards took the opportunity to capture a few of my reappears that I had with me. At the Time I was on Midgard to claim the lost souls that didn't make it off the battle field and had bounded themselves to the land. Well, I was distracted with the mortals who thought themselves clever, that I didn't notice that three of the reapers went missing as they travel together in a dark cloud. Like this," Hela summoned a cloud of reapers. The temperature went down but Harry didn't feel any other side affects. "Line up reapers."
The cloud disbursed and formed a straight line for inspection. The looking just like Dementors but smaller and had human like faces, not the skeleton skull that the dark creatures had. Harry walked closer to them but felt nothing but calm not the fear a dread of your happiness leaving the body.
"There is nothing to fear from my reaper dear nephew. What do you feel from them?"
"I feel calm and at peace, like there is warmth in my chest; but how do they make the air so cold." Harry looked confused to his aunt.
"Excellent you are feeling what a soul feels when a reaper comes to collect it. The cold you feels is the opening to Niflheim where I judge them before sending them off to Helheim. I designed them to be warm and welcoming soul the soul is calm and more willing to leave Midgard and cross over. Now the dark magic that was use on them has warped their purpose and has damaging side affects. I heard what has happen when you were on the train and let me tell you, your father was ready to come burn the castle to the ground."
"Thank you for stopping him. With dad in New York it had to be you and or Uncle Thor there to stop him." Harry blushed he did not want his father coming her and making a scene.
"Yes, we both were dining with your father at the time Winky came to the Manor for Shadows milk. She told us about your run in with the Dark creatures. So I thought it would be best to show you my reapers and give you their history so you know that I did not create those dark beings before your Uncle Thor tries to convince you otherwise." Hela defended still mad at her little brother for daring to suggest such a thing.
"Amazing, we don't have much history on these Dementors as it was mostly lost over the years. Mostly we just have ways to defend against them and we do not have ways to destroy them so they are mostly kept on Azkaban Island to keep the prisoners in line and by absorbing their happiness while they drift through the halls. Years of exposure, though drives the Prisoners insane."
"That's because they are drawing out the soul a small piece at a time. As for destroying the Dementors, only light magic can kill the dark. My reapers despite them looking dark they were made of light magic and the waters of Valhalla. I will leave you these reapers in this emerald box. Like I said they were created to bring souls over they don't need to eat or reproduce they just exist. You are a god of Death so they will follow your instruction. I know you won't be able to carry the box with you at all times so I want you to learn the mortal's defenses against the dark creatures." The Goddess of Death placed a hand on Haraldr's shoulder letting her magic wash over him giving him control of the reapers. Then she pulled the emerald box from thin air before calling the reapers who then disappeared inside the box.
"Yes Aunt Hela. Thank you." Harry took the box and put it in his school bag before hugging Hela tightly. "I'll miss you."
"And I you, my adorable nephew. Work hard at your studies and I will see you come winter. Now I must go before there is another build up in Niflheim." Hela kissed Haraldr on the forehead before vanishing in a cloud of green smoke.
"Mr. Lokison, I believe I will have to show you and your team on how to create a Patronus." Snape stated decisively.
"Now Severus, I know you are well versed in the Dark Arts but I am the defense teacher so it should be me who should teach these students."
"They need instruction not anecdotal stories of your youth with your mutt brother."
"Professors! I believe both of you will need to teach MAGIC. There are nine of us and we will need to split into groups for personal instruction. I will owl you both when I can fit you into our training schedule." Harry said before closing his locket and grabbing his school bag before leaving the professors for breakfast.
"Did he just give us orders, in our heads? I swear I heard him in my mind."
"You get use to being ordered about by the young Prince but you are to tell no one about his mind voice." Snape sighed before turning towards the castle and back to his lab.
"Interesting I didn't think you would listen to anyone but yourself and your ego, Prince or not Prince." Regulus teased following the potion Master.
"I listen to intelligent people unlike you. I am surprise the sorting hat put you in Slytherin you are too much like the Mutt, rush in and think about it later. Mr. Lokison is cautious and smart he is more like his sire rather than his barer. So when he makes a decision then he makes it for the well being of all not just himself." Severus stated seriously. He may have had problems with James Potter from when they were children but he let those feeling go years ago. The man's son had surprised the potion Master because Harry surpassed James in kindness and humanity as well as intelligence.
"Then I look forward to these private lessons. Other than his homework which, are all Outstanding, I have yet to see Mr. Lokison's true potential."
"He down plays his power as not to draw the attention of certain parties. Black, why are you following me, don't you have a class to attend?" Snape snapped as descended the stairs to the dungeons.
"Not until ten, I have late mornings on Wednesdays. You seem to be close to the Ravenclaw."
"Black, keep you mouth shut the walls literally have ears. Now I need to prepare for my class I have Gryffindor and Slytherin first years." The potion Master stalked into his potion lab. He had to bottle the finished pepper up potion for the hospital wing. Students seem to flood the infirmary with colds during the first weeks back to school.
"Ouch, I feel for you. I was just trying to make conversation and catch up with an old friend, but I see you're busy. So I'll leave to your work and I will see you at dinner as I promised Professor Flitwick to have tea and lunch with him and his cat."
"I do not need to know your itinerary, Black. Please leave."
"Right see you, Sevy." Black said cheerfully before ducking out of the room before the flying hex could hit him.
XxXxXxXxXx
"Okay Petie Pie, I need you to climb up on the ceiling with Tweety and check all the security cameras make sure they are operating. Capsicle says some of them aren't getting a clear picture." Tony smiled at the teen.
"Okay, Mr. Stark." Peter grinned ready to help out. He ran over to Clint wear he was getting the climbing gear ready. It took along time to get used to Mr. Stark's use of nick names but eventually Harry taught him who was who in nicknames.
"So Red you want to tell me something that Peter isn't supposed hear."
"Ivan Antonovich Vanko is missing. I wanted to make sure he was still imprisoned before we left Italy. That's why I came back after the rest of you. There was a mix up in the records and some fancy shuffling in the Italian prison system. Someone went to a lot of trouble to bury his escape they don't even know when he disappeared. I just informed Steve and Bucky of the added threat."
"Great that guy is the last thing we need to worry about. Okay, you go tell that boy toy of yours to pull up our files on dealing with Whiplash. I might need to add some adjustments the Mark 45 and have the suit Harry made me as back up." Tony muttered as he read over the file she gave him.
"Of course Mr. Stark, Justin Hammer here to see you escorted by Agent Coulson." Natasha took the paper file taking persona as personal assistant.
"Thank you Ms. Romanoff. Also make sure Parker gets fed once he finishes with Barton." Tony spoke in code which meant get the kid out of here.
"Yes sir." The spy slipped away from her SHIELD handler and the two execs.
"Hammer, to what do I owe to this harassment?" Tony smiled.
"Stark, Rumor has it that you have new armor for your 'Super hero' thing." Justin made the quote marks in the air with his fingers.
"You know Hammer green is not a good look on you. Now who has been whispering in your ear? The Armor is not for the public, it's mine a gift."
"You mean a gift to yourself. As you said no one has yet to duplicate your suit."
"Very good Hammer you do pay attention when your betters are speaking. You right the suit is Stark tech and only made by a Stark but the suit I assume your spies have told you about was not made by me. I only wear for special occasions."
"What do you mean not you? The Alien you married made it?"
"Loki is too busy and prefers Asgardian leather. Well look at the time I am late for a meeting. I suggest you leave I have important things to do and I don't have time to listen to you whine."
"I am not one of your minions Stark. I came to tell you that Hammer tech has taken over the War Machine project. The DOD wants a true patriot to replicate and maintain the Armor. I wanted to see your face, when I told you that, you are obsolete now that Hammer Tech is superior to Stark Industries." Justin smirked getting into Tony's face.
"I guess you have yet to see a doctor about these delusions of yours. Hammer tech will always be inferior to Star Industries whether it is by my Genius or my son's genius, you will never get close." Tony glared poking a finger into the man's chest.
"Son? Since when did you have a son?"
"That is none of your business, he's away from school because I want him to have a normal life and not be harassed by people like you." The ex-mortal was now mentally kicking himself for the slip of the tongue. Hammer always knew just what buttons to push and he could help but push back. "We're done here, Agent please escort Mr. Hammer out and make sure he is not allowed back until the exhibit presenters are here with their tech for set up."
"Yes, Mr. Stark, this way Mr. Hammer. Oh and Ms. Potts requested your presence once you were done in the arena."
"Thank you Agent Coulson good-bye Hammer." Tony turned on his heel and walked away dreading dealing with Pepper because no doubt she was listening to the meeting thanks to Jarvis. She probably sent a text to her Agent boyfriend to order him to the office. He was in deep shit and he wish Loki was here so he could say his finale good-byes.
XxXxXxXxXx
"Potter!"
Harry casually looked up from his Norse Spell book to see Terry and his friends storming in the hall their hair sporting a rainbow of colors along with pimples scattered on their faces. Harry was lucky he wasn't eating anything at the time because he would have choked at the sight. While he had perfect facial control the other students did not. The laughter rang through out the Great Hall and there were many spit takes over the lunch.
"Boot, you look colorful." Eric a fellow Ravenclaw snickered.
"Shut up Moon! This is all Potter's fault!" Terry growled.
"His name is Lokison, Terry. How is it Harry's fault? We've been busy all morning with no time to waste on your new look." Neville asked as he and Harry were having lunch together discussing their Asgardian crops.
"How is it that his hair and face aren't hexed? When every one else in the dorms was hexed." Michael complained. He hated having yellow hair like some stupid Hufflepuff.
"Maybe it's because I make sure to have wards on my stuff to prevent situations like this." Harry typed out on Friday.
"You better un-hex us or else!" Terry pulled his wand and pointed it at Harry and Neville.
"Mr. Boot it is against school rules to pull your wand on a fellow student. Five points from Ravenclaw." Regulus said loudly drawing the attention of the quarrelling boys.
"Professor, look what Potter did to us!" Terry whined.
"It's not fatal Mr. Boot but it will last the weekend. It is not a hex I am familiar with so it will have to run its course." The professor stated after waving his wand over the inflicted boys.
"But sir, shouldn't you give him detention for doing this to us?" Michael protested.
"Do you have proof that Mr. Lokison pulled this prank on you gentlemen?" Regulus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"They Do Not Professor Black, Harry has been with me all morning we had all our classes together also we spent our free period with Professor Sprout in the Green houses." Neville answered while glaring at the group of Ravenclaws.
"Then no, Mr. Lokison is free to go. Without proof you can not accuse another student of a crime. Now unless you want more points taken off for slander I suggest you return to your dorms and ready yourself for class."
"Yes professor." The group of boys chorused leaving the hall defeated.
"Well you boys enjoy the end of your lunch and I'll see you both in class. Gryffindors right after lunch and Ravenclaws just before dinner." Regulus smiled to the two before heading to the head table to grab a sandwich to go. He spent most of his lunch hour arguing with Severus on the method on which to teach the MAGIC students. In the end they were dead locked and would have to rely on the young Ravenclaw to decide the best course for his friends.
"Well they were a colorful group." Fred smiled as he popped up behind the two third years putting his arm around the Prince.
"Even with the Pimples they brought us all some cheer." George smiled hooking his arm around the younger lion.
"How did you hex them? You two couldn't possible get in to Ravenclaw Tower." Nevile asked the laughing twins.
"We didn't enter the Tower of Know-it-alls." George put a hand on his chest in mock offence.
"But they should take care in what they eat and drink." Fred snickered.
Harry rolled his eyes before standing up gathering his things. Then he turned and signed to the others. "Let's go, you jokers, class is going to start and I need to exchange some books at the library before Charms."
"Yes Prince Firsty." The twins grinned escorting the third years to class.
XxXxXxXxXx
"Welcome One and All, Back to the Stark Expo! I am your wonderful and handsome host Tony Stark. Now I know many of you wanted to see my gorgeous Husband but he could not be here today, He has his Princely Duties. Don't worry every one I'll send him your love. Now we have got some great tech for you to see starting with the latest in defense." Tony tapped his arc reactor allowing the suit Harry made him to cover his body. The crowd went wild seeing him in his Iron Man suit.
"Sir there is in coming unidentified flying objects."
"J, do you have a visual?" Tony cut his mic to the arena to keep Jarvis' words private.
"Sir one of them is War Machine with Master Rhodes."
"Can you patch me into his suit?"
"No sir I seem to be blocked out." Tony did not like that. He built War Machine he should be able to access it. He feared that this was a result of Hammer messing with the suit.
"Well Stark, how do you like my new improvements?" a voice rang out of the PA system.
"Pepper who the hell gave Hammer a microphone?" Tony switch to connecting to his CEO who was watching everything from the Sky box were they monitoring the Expo demonstrations.
"I don't know but he was not slated to show today." Pepper's voice came through the helmet.
"Sir, I am detecting an outside cyber attack taking over the Arena's system."
"Now I'd like every one to see the new and improved War Machine, and the Iron Legion!" Hammer announced smiling to the crowd as Rhodey landed with an army of Mark III suits.
"Hammer what are you doing?"
"I'm giving the people what they want." Justin whispered covering the mic. Then he turned to the crowd. Tony made his way to Rhodey who manually lifted his face plate.
"Look Tony, this was not my idea." Rhodey hissed.
"Why can't Jarvis connect with you?" Tony asked after lifting his own face plate.
"I don't know. I was there whenever he had access to the suit but I couldn't understand half of what he was doing despite my experience with you."
"Sir the Iron Legion is arming themselves." Jarvis warned.
"Hammer, Stop them!"
"Back off Stark, I am about to show everyone how Hammer Tech has improved on your inferior Iron Man."
"Sir they are loading live rounds and they are preparing to fire." Tony watched the scans of the mobile suits light up red.
"Tony, I am locked out of my suit." The Colonel whispered in a panicked.
"Rhodey, can you move?"
"No, I'm not in control. Someone else is controlling the War Machine." The face plate slammed down automatically.
"Welcome Friend of Stark. Sorry you were caught in the middle but your suit is now under my control, as well as Hammer's army. You will have to bare witness to destruction of Stark just as his father destroyed mine." Rhodey was now panicking as he listened to the voice coming through his helmet and he couldn't signal Tony at all.
"Now as you can see the Iron Legion is fully equipped." Hammer continued to ramble on headless to know that his army was ready to fire on the crowd. Tony had been communicating with the Avengers. Natasha was with Pepper and Peter in the booth dealing with the hacker on the arena's system.
"Mr. Stark there is a signature embedded in the code." Peter voice trembled through the link.
"What does it say Peter?"
"Whiplash."
"Fuck." Tony had a feeling that it would be that bastard. If he wasn't the bad guy Tony would envy the man's genius. Then the pieces began falling in to place, the contract with the Department of Defense, the speed at which the suits were produced and then taking the control away from Rhodey. Vanko is the only one who could have pulled this off as well as taking over the security system of the arena. "Peter, try to chase him out, then suit up. We're going to need help getting the crowd out safely."
"Yes sir."
"Cap I hope you and your Hubby are moving the people out of here."
"Bucky and I are slowly getting the crowds out, starting with the Families with small children. Hammer's got his hold on the spectators."
"Damn! This tin soldiers are about to open fight so be careful they're about to stampede."
"Locked on target."
"Wait I didn't give an order." Hammer turned to the bot the spoke.
"Voice not recognized. Ready to fire."
"No! I…" Justin pulled out of the way by Iron Man with a shield held up deflecting the bullets flying. The crowd roared in panic as they fled from the arena.
"Mr. Stark I locked Whiplash out and restored the War Machine controls to Colonel Rhodes with Jarvis' help."
"Great job buddy now get Spider-Man down here. Hey Wonder Twins I need you to hunt down Vanko's hidey hole to shut the Legion down."
"Copy that. Nat I'll meet you at the south gate I got the bikes ready."
"I'll be there in five."
"Tones I'm back in the saddle I'll get them to follow me." The Air force Colonel took flight with the War Machine.
Tony flew off with Hammer by the guy's shoulders taking him out of the sight of the Iron Legion. The whole place was in Chaos and the police were being called in by Pepper. Steve and Bucky were getting the crowd out and to safety. Tony landed just outside the expo and turned on Hammer. "Where is he Justin?"
"Where is who? I got to get back in there I need to get my army under control." The tech exec panicked.
"You were never in control. Now where is Vanko?" Tony saw how Justin paled and went weak in his arms.
"He's at my company headquarters."
"You hear that Red?" Tony asked through his helmet to the other Avenger.
"Yes, I did, Clint and I are in route."
"Pepper, keep an eye on this guy until the cops get here." Justin's head whipped around to Stark CEO standing behind him. Tony took off leaving the two execs to help with the Iron Legion
"You can't hold me here. This is not my fault. Your Boss just can't handle someone being better than him."
"Try it Justin and the cops will have to haul your unconscious body off to jail." The red head showed him her charged repulsor bracelet aimed right at his chest. Hammer quickly backed down and sat on the curd to wait for the police to arrest him.
"Team how's it looking?"
"Buck and I got the inside secure we took out ten of the iron suits." Steve reported.
"I could use a hand Tones I'm getting over whelmed here."
"On my way Platypus." Both avengers worked in tandem taking out fake Iron Man after Fake Iron man.
"It's good to be back, so now you deal with me." Tony and Rhodey looked up to seem Vanko land before them in a suit of his own his helmet retracting so he could face the duo.
"Vanko I thought you were in Italy making License plates."
"You, funny Stark, you will die laughing." Vanko stepped forward, helmet in casing his head, unlashing the reactor powered whips.
"I got something special for this guy. I'm bust his bunker with the XY." Rhodey activated one of the shoulder missiles.
"The what?" The missile shot forward and hit Vanko's armor and fell to the ground as it fizzled out.
"Let me guess Hammer Tech?" Tony asked and Rhodey slumped in disappointment."
"Yeah."
"I got this." Tony launched his own missiles but Vanko's helmet cam down and he whip out at the two causing explosions. The two Avenger battled taking different angles but eventually being caught by the whips.
"Hey I could really use a sidekick."
"What?"
"Put your hand up. Just like this." Tony charged his repulsor and Rhodey mimicked his movements. The firing of the two repulsors connected causing an explosion hitting whiplash square in the chest and freeing the two friends.
"You lose." With his last breath Vanko triggered the bots self-destruct sequence as well as his own armor.
"Tones we got to go these are rigged to blow."
"Team I need a head count!" Tony began flying off to the Expo while Rhodey flew to meet the other Avengers.
"Steve and I got the kid after we cleared out the Expo."
"Pepper?"
"I'm still at the arena making sure everyone was evacuated."
"Stay where you are I'm coming to get you." Tony swooped in and grabbed his CEO then shot up into the sky just as the bombs went. "That was close."
"You two okay?" Steve asked as Tony and Pepper landed next to the Avengers plus Spider Man.
"Yeah we barely made it. Thanks Tony." Pepper said trying to catch her breath and calm her windswept hair.
"I had to save you how else is Agent Coulson going to propose to you so we can baby agents?"
"TONY!" Pepper turn a bright red and buried her face in her hands as her Boys stood there laughing at Tony's bad joke.
"He has a point Potts when is Phil going to man up and pop the question?" Bucky teased.
"Bucky, give her a break. They have only been dating three years there's not rush." Steve chided.
"Three years? Man, he's over due with getting down on one knee." Rhodey said in disbelief.
"Will you guys stop it! We'll get married when were ready. But don't you dare give him the Avenger Shovel Talk or I am canceling Christmas. Then Hela, Natasha, and I will take Harry to Switzerland for the holidays without you guys." Pepper warned with a glare and all the guys backed down without another word.
A/N: Yay! Chapter done. Okay so I got a review that asked if I am moving my work over to AO3. The answer is no. I have been on FFnet for years. AO3 is where all my Avenger Loki/Tony stories are because they get more love there. I will still Post COS and GOST here as I finish chapters but any new Avenger Stories will be posted on AO3. So thanks to Spider Bun's ADHD I am cranking out one chapter a week but not for the same story. So with three active stories means one chapter to one story every three weeks. Please be patient the Plot Bunnies are working hard. Thanks for Reading and Keep Reviewing the Plot Bunnies are running low on food.