Chapter 16 part 1
/A/N: Sorry for the really long delay. I was stuck with school. I had 17 units this past sem. Thankfully I still maintained my straight A's like a true Ravenclaw. However sadly, english isn't my first language so this is the best I could do when it comes to grammar (while maintaining the speech patterns of the characters, however some 'definitely Draco's parts' are definitely my own faults). Please feel free to message or comment any mistakes you wish fixed. On with the story./
Unbelievable. . .
There were only two people in the entire building - one guard and the receptionist. Apparently everyone took the day off because it was the 24th.
Even if this situation is advantageous for me. . . Still. . . This is a government building with highly confidential files you know?! What would you do if I was a criminal set on stealing something very important!?
Probably because it is the day before Christmas and they are still working, that the only two employees didn't even greet or talk to me.
It is because of this situation that I had no problem passing through the building and stepping through the doors that divide the muggle and wizard worlds.
When I looked back at the building, I was surprised to find that it was the Woolworth Building. This can only mean that I am now in New York. About 2800 miles from Malibu.
This. . . This is . . .
I did not notice that my eyebrows had furrowed.
For a moment I considered going back into the building and finding some sort of interstate floo, until I remembered that Stark towers was also in New York. If I go there then Jarvis could do the rest.
I have neither a map nor a working phone and I can't risk using magic, so I'll just have to rely on people.
Since I can't use magic to look older or have adults start 'worrying' about me and take me to a police station, hospital, or orphanage. . .
I grimace at what I was about to do but it is the only way to prevent people from overly associating with me.
I turn a corner and disappear into the shadows between the two large buildings.
Bins fell to the ground, disturbed by a stray cat. The dead silence of night breaks with the crash or metal on the concrete floors as paper and plastic waste spill out, filling the air with a rotting stench.
How foul. . .
My lips curve downwards in disdain as I use one hand to cover my nose and mouth.
There is no other way.
I take off my enlarged scarf and cancel the spell before wrapping it around the lower half of my face. Slowly I bend over and swipe my hand on the greasy, mouldy, soot covered floor.
I internally gag as I wipe it on my face, hair, and clothes. I repeat this process until I was fully covered with it and ruffled up my hair.
Merlin's saggy pants. Breathe Draco. breathe
A hot burning liquid raced up my throat as the rancid smell enters my nose. Wrong place to breathe!
. . . wait. . . I can't cast magic but I can use one of its disciplines.
You stupid, idiotic, half-witted clot! Why didn't I use divination?!
I cover my eyes with the palms of my hands and grunt.
I glance at the putrid rusty bin and sigh. I try to focus on my sense of touch rather than the unpleasant smells as I dig into towers of rubbish.
"Gahhhh!"
I just touched something soft and slimy. What sort of horrid repulsive substance did I touch?!
I shook my head to forget whatever that thing was and dug through the rubbish once more. Soon, I found everything I needed. A paper cup, a half full bottle of questionable but clear water, and an old bag of tea leaves.
I washed the cup of any remaining impurities and filled it halfway with water before ripping open the teabag and dumping the fine tea leaves into the cup. I look up at the sky and identify the position of the stars and planets.
Andromeda is-. . so north is . . Cassiopeia . . . there Ursa Minor. Mars and Jupiter are at 5 and 4:30, Saturn is . . . there at 5:45
It must be 3:40 then so I must rely on the energy of Mars.
I inhale deeply and breathe-out magic into the cup. The leaves slowly whirl into figures as I turn on my spot. I stop when the image gets clearer. A falcon facing 1 o'clock.
I run out of the alley like a crab to prevent the cup from turning and cough deeply, expelling the putrid air from my lungs.
I didn't immediately run forwards as there was a shocked man standing stiff with a hot cup of coffee on one hand and a briefcase on the other. He must have been shocked when a child ran out of a dark alley before the sun rose.
After I blinked a small scowl appeared on his face before moving past me saying something about a dirty runt. A bubble of anger formed in my chest but it quickly diminished as I thought of the more important thing I have to do rather than waste my time to teach that muggle a lesson.
As I run, I spot an abandoned skateboard. I guess now is a good time to learn. I snatched it as I ran by and place one foot on the board like I have seen in those highschool movies.
I'm coming dad, and that terrorist had better be ready for a world of pain.
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Timeskip~ 35 minutes
I arrive at the building, panting as if I had just run a 1000m race. Well, I guess I did do that. Wiping at my sweat with my forearm, I look down at my bloodied trousers. They're dark, so the blood is barely visible, but it just goes to show my foolishness at trying out something new while someone's life depended on it.
At least I now know how to ride a skateboard. Surprisingly it was more difficult than riding a broom. The physics are the same though.
As I recall, the building will only open about 2 and a half hours from now, but I can still get inside if I can contact Jarvis. Thankfully, dad installed the new wireless charger system on the ground floor.
I take out my phone and place it by the door. The screen lit up and showed the image of a battery being charged.
Excellent!
After the bar read 5%, I switched on my phone and opened Jarvis' user interface; commanding her to open the doors for me.
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I didn't take long for me to reach the pent-house where all the secret / personal/ iron man files are. I could probably use that to find and help him!
"Jarvis, where is my dad?"
"Last traced in 5 miles outside of Rose Hills, Tennessee on December 22, 22:59."
". . ."
What.
"Search for the most recent videos and articles mentioning my father."
A blue holographic 360 degrees interface appeared around me as boxes of images and texts appeared one after the other.
The most recent ones were just news reporters arguing whether he was already dead or not. However, there was one repeated video that was posted and reposted by hundreds of people. Most were amateur phone videos, while some were actually in HD. A sense of dread filled me, but I could not stop my finger from hovering over the foreboding image.
I shudder as I recall Mr. Grimsditch's words, "I'm sorry. It is taken with great pain, the loss of a such great man brings. Especially to family."
I shake my head, forgetting all that nonsense as I calm myself down. I gather enough bravery on my finger and click on one of the video links with the repeated image. 'Iron Man Challenges Mandarin and Loses Explosively!'
It mocks me. It is definitely mocking me, and I will find and kill the person who posted this. The image expands to fill my whole screen, and immediately I could hear my dad's voice.
{{{"Here's a little Holiday greeting I've been wanting to send to the Mandarin. I just didn't know how to phrase it 'til now. My name's Tony Stark and I'm not afraid of you. I know you're a coward. So I've decided, that you just died pal. I'm gonna come get the body. There's no politic here, just good old-fashioned revenge. There's no pentagon, it's just you and me.
On the off-chance you're a man, here's my home address. 10880 Malibu point 90265. I'll leave the door unlocked."}}}
What- what? W-why would he-?
.
.
It was all his fault. . . He basically just invited the terrorist to kill him in his own house! Bleedin' blasted bollocks, why does that sound so familiar?
He told the terrorist to go there. When was this? I scrolled down to see that it was posted on Dec.20.
In the NAME of ALL that is BLOODY MERLIN! T-That bastard! I trusted him and he invited a serial killer to the house! That house that I ignorantly stayed in for two sodding days.
Days in which I could have easily been killed by a murderer without anyone noticing!
He-! He lied to me. . . He tricked me into trusting him, then left me alone at the hands of a murderer without warning. He left me to die and- . . . and- . . .
It doesn't matter. . . It was my foolish mistake to trust him. I can't believe that I was fooled this easily! I should have never let my guard down. He isn't the first to betray me and certainly wont be the last unless I make them loyal myself.
Besides, I don't need him. Sure he has money and power, but he is too foolish and there are thousands just like him, thousands that I could control to my will, just like what father taught me. . . All of slytherin once bowed their heads to me. Both higher and lower years knew to respect me. I did it once, and I could do it again. I will make the WORLD bow!
He must have only adopted me to look good in front of the media, but now that the incident at the orphanage has completely been forgotten, he no longer has any use of me. I could feel anger take over my body, burning a fire from within, a rage that I haven't felt in ages. I took a deep breath and exhaled, expelling the vexation that may cause me to act violently without a backup.
Letting my emotions and feelings take control of my decisions is unbeffiting for a slytherin and heir of Malfoy house. Friendship and trust? HA! They're big jokes! There is only respect and subordination available to those who are capable enough of wielding them. A
Malfoy should never let himself be placed into a situation where he would owe anyone. Whatever is given I would return ten-fold, be it amity or blood. After living with these muggles for several tears, I almost forgot who I am. I was born a Malfoy, and I will be one 'til my last breath. I know who I am, my identity is my blood.
"Sanctimonia Vincet Semper."
(He is not serious. He is just so frustrated and angry, that he is spouting out nonsense).
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*December 27- 5:05 pm*
Though I am definitely sure that he has a black heart- I have to be careful and gauge out just how much of what he feeds me are lies before I strike back! -Is what I wish to do at once, but it has already been 4 days with no sign of Tony.
Well. . . There was the strange fireworks that were captured above Norco two days ago. (Which I have sufficient evidence to believe that they were all self-destructed iron-man suits, since a few minutes or hours before that, all of his suits had flown out of the building.) But after that was complete silence once more. Jarvis wouldn't even tell me why, "Insufficient Authorization" he says.
Another thing I noticed was that Pepper must really not like me. I have been missing for a total of 5 days but there were no news. missing reports, nor posters about me at all. She couldn't have known that I was here in Stark Towers since I had ordered Jarvis to hide any evidence of me living here. (To do this, I am not ashamed to say that I hacked and altered a few programs here and there. Totally harmless, nothing that can't be fixed.)
These past few days were dedicated to locating him on the gps (done by Jarvis), figuring out what his intentions were using all credible videos and articles I found on him (which remains to still be a mystery), and practicing my battle magic.
(The afternoon that I got here, in Stark Towers, I had gone back to Amorr Alley to purchase and illegal ward that identifies my house, or where the ward is, as being the home of an adult wizard, thus making it free to use magic. Of course, it was nothing a few hundred stacks of cash can't buy. I had easily exchanged it for a generous mound of Dragots, there were also no problems with the transaction as well since all Goblins basically have little to zero interest in wizards. They only care about your money.
However, I could not get a vault since that would require me to give out my name, and I cannot risk having my identity by blood revealed just yet. Thus, I just put it all in a Mokeskin pouch which also costed a hefty, but not too hefty amount of Dragots.)
With each hour that passes, I have noticed my anger for Tony simmer to a sleeping state, with curiosity being my current major driving factor to figure out 'Why'? 'Why did he try to kill me, in such an incomprehensible way?' None of the evidence connects.
Finally, at 3:03p.m. There was news that Tony was back and that there will be a conference tomorrow at noon.
Typical of him to first contact the public before his own family!