i.
Tony's been caught up to speed in the last years on much of what happened in the British Wizarding War. He knew Barty Crouch Jr. was a convicted Death Eater, he knew he was one of the terrorists who'd tortured Madame Longbottom's son and daughter-in-law to the point of mental break, he knew the man's father had been the previous head of law enforcement and was heavily involved with the Triwizard Tournament.
What no one seemed to know was how the man had escaped from Azkaban, nor how he'd managed to polyjuice himself into Alastor Moody and go unnoticed for so long.
Amelia Bones' eyes flash with fury when Sirius suggests that the wards around Hogwarts had been meddled with.
"I mean, really, 'Melia. A troll, a professor possessed by the Dark Lord, a basilisk, and at least four marked Death Eaters?" Despite his words, there is no trace of humor in his voice. "That's far too many incidents to say that one merely slipped through the cracks."
Amelia Bones levels her glare at McGonagall, who bristles at the insinuation.
"I am only acting Headmistress," she hisses, "and only in the eyes of the Wizengamot. The school's magic, and thus the wards, still report to the official Headmaster."
Madame Bones tightly nods in acceptance. "My apologies, Minerva. What do you need from me to assume control of them?"
"A standing Wizengamot member and half of the Hogwarts board of governors."
"You've got Lord Black here for the Wizengamot and Lord Malfoy for the Board," Tony says helpfully. "Send out Patronuses to the rest of the board. If you start with Madame Longbottom, she'll get the rest here."
It's sound advice, and the group disperses to begin sending out Patronus messages. Narcissa stands beside Tony as they watch the other three work, and he forces himself to stay relaxed despite her curious gaze.
"Why aren't you sending any?" she questions, voice soft but question dangerous as a cutting curse.
Tony shrugs. "Never been able to do that spell." It's the truth, too.
Surprisingly, she dips her head in understanding. "Lucius as well."
Not his favorite comparison, but he'd take it for now.
ii.
They eventually made it to the Room of Requirement, although only after Hermione resorted to levitating Draco through the halls and up the stairs. He'd expended so much of his magical core to break free of the forced transformation that he'd be lethargic for a while, but she understood why he didn't want to voice such a thing. That said, time was of the essence and Tony had told them to hurry, so Hermione had ignored Draco's protests.
Their small group of four had grown by the time they reached the seventh floor. Harry had asked Blaise to discretely gather some of their friends, so the Slytherin had run off before they left the infirmary. Many of them were already at the seventh floor when they arrived, but Draco had them pause a few moments to await Blaise before they summoned the room.
"Regent Dagworth-Granger said not to let anyone else in until he arrived," the blond reasoned.
Harry rolled his eyes. "That's such a mouthful. He's told you to call him Tony."
"They're enacting curfew," Padma interrupted them before a spat could occur. "What's going on? Blaise wouldn't tell us."
Katie Bell frowned lightly. "He mentioned something about a ferret? He was pretty out of breath, so he didn't say much to us either."
Draco flushed red, but then Blaise rounded the corner with Cedric Diggory in tow and drew their attention.
"Lucky I found him on the stairs and didn't have to go down to the dungeons, or that'd have taken forever," Blaise panted, leaning against the wall for support. "Well? Let's get inside. Lady Malfoy looked terrified, and I'm not about to disobey an angry Regent Dagworth-Granger."
They all looked to Hermione, so she dispelled the levitation charm on Draco and moved to pace in front of the wall three times, furiously thinking of a safe place only Tony could find where they could hide from danger and Draco could heal.
She shouldn't have been surprised when she pushed the familiar door open and led the group into a perfect copy of her and Tony's apartment.
"Hermione?" Harry questioned under his breath, watching with caution as their friends spread out to explore the space– all except Dean and Draco, who hovered close to them. They recognized it, having been to their apartment after the attack over the summer.
She grimaced. "It'll be fine. Let's get settled."
iii.
Once it was well past midnight and Tony still hadn't retrieved them, the group took turns staying up and waiting for the all clear. They scattered throughout the space, the room providing extra cots, pillows and blankets for them all to rest on. It felt different enough from their common rooms that it was like a giant sleepover, just the distraction they all needed.
When Harry noticed two missing members of the group though, he grew suspicious. He begged off to the loo, following the corridor that he knew from home to lead to his and Hermione's rooms.
He stopped in his room first. Hermione's request for somewhere safe with Tony had recreated even the finest details of their home: in this case, his wall of photographs, both magical and not. His fingers reached out to brush over one of him, Hermione and Hope all asleep in his bed.
He missed Hope. He wished she was here… especially because then he wouldn't have to deal with this alone.
And by "this," he meant the very obvious crush that his sister had on Draco-bloody-Malfoy.
By the sight he was greeted to when he opened her bedroom door though, perhaps it was far more mutual than he'd originally believed.
Hermione sat on her bed with her back against the headboard, head tilted to the side but supported by a pillow wedged between her cheek and shoulder. Malfoy was lying down with his head pillowed by her thighs, the Slytherin otherwise tucked under a knitted red and golden blanket. It was… cute. Positively domestic of them.
Harry didn't hate it, since Hermione clearly cared about the snake, but that didn't mean he had to like it either.
Still… they weren't misbehaving, and everyone needed some rest. He'd leave them be.
For now.
iii.
Once she heard the door shut, Hermione peeked through her eyelashes and smiled.
Harry was a good brother.
iv.
The castle is in a state of organized chaos throughout the night. Thanks to the escalation to Madame Bones and the arrival of several Auror units, Tony, Sirius and the Malfoys aren't expected to step in magically to help. Rather, they're a source of truthful information as the newcomers worked to understand what exactly had gone on within the castle walls the past three and a half years.
Tony's more than pleased to share what he knows with them all.
A cerberus. A possessed teacher. Plants that strangled anything they touched. Not one but two trolls. A basilisk. Multiple marked Death Eaters… as much as Tony hated to admit it, a werewolf loose on a full moon.
Dumbledore could've had Remus Lupin taken to a safe location outside of the school grounds on the morning of full moons and returned him a day later. He placed his own motivations above the safety of school children… above Hermione and Harry's safety.
The board members make it to the school just before midnight. Tony watches with cold satisfaction as they all filed into the Headmistress' office, varying degrees of sleep and anger on their faces. Lord Pucey is the only one who tries acting on said anger, but he cowers quickly under Augusta Longbottom's icy glare.
"I do not care what differences we may have in the Wizengamot," she chastises him as if he's a troublesome toddler. "Based on what Regent Dagworth-Granger has said, our children are all in danger."
"What do you need from us?" Lady Abbott asks. All eyes turn towards Tony. They're under no illusion that he is the one who is responsible for their presence.
"To transfer the wards to Minerva McGonagall and induct her as the true Headmistress," Tony replies succinctly. "Right now, Dumbledore is out there somewhere with control of the castle wards, allowing our kids to continue to be in harm's way. He could've stepped down, but he didn't." His voice rises the longer he continues, the more he thinks about how much danger Hermione and Harry have been in while at this blasted school. "He could've sent a warning, but he didn't. He's had more than enough chances. This is the only way we can make sure our kids are safe."
There is silence once he finishes and he waits for them to make a decision. It comes from a grizzled older woman whose name he doesn't know, but she looks at him like she knows him.
"We will do it. Come, Minerva– to the ward stones."
v.
Only Minerva, Sirius, and the board go to complete the oath. Narcissa tells Tony in an undertone that the stones are required as an override of sorts as Dumbledore is not physically present. The proximity to the Ley lines will keep all present from draining their core with the magic required to seal the oath.
This leaves them with not much to do except wait with Madame Bones and listen as she receives reports from her Aurors. They had started their sweep with the dormitories and common rooms, wanting to ensure that where the students were sheltering was secure. Students from all houses were in possession of dangerous objects, many of them in their upper years with what were claimed to be family heirlooms. So far a number of illegal love potions had been confiscated, several cursed jewelry pieces, and a hexed Quidditch ball set. The entire sixth year boy's room in Gryffindor tower had to be evacuated as well– just what had the Weasley twins been up to?
They'd been expecting the group to return, but instead a Patronus darted into the room. The silvery cat spoke with Headmistress McGonagall's voice: "Meet us at the 7th floor of the grand staircase."
"Fuck!" Tony is running before the Patronus even disappears. He knows without a doubt that they are headed to the Room of Requirement.
He's right. Minerva is looking at him with a critical eye when he skids to a stop, the others not far behind. "The children?" She correctly deduces.
Tony nods shortly.
She purses her lips. "There is more than I would like that must be addressed, but this is by far the most… vile."
"Of course it is," he groans. And to think he'd sent them there to be safe.
He could be self-hating later. For now, he focuses on what he could do. The kids were waiting for him.
He paces along the wall three times, hoping that the magic of the school could hear his desire despite him being a no-maj. Sometimes he ended up lucky, and this was one of those times. He knocks solidly three times on the replica of their London apartment's front door and then calls out for Hermione and Harry. Hopefully one of the kids was listening for him.
The door peeks open slightly. A pair of deep brown eyes meet his. They're accompanied by the tip of a wand.
"What does Hermione call Sharon when she wants to annoy her?" Dean asks him firmly.
Tony smiles slightly despite the situation and the annoyed yell from his sister. "Sharie-bearie."
"Tony!"
Dean lets out a yelp as he is pulled away from the door, allowing it to swing open further and reveal Hermione. Her curls are pulled up in a messy bun and her uniform is wrinkled, but otherwise she is fine. He feels further relief as Harry comes up behind Hermione, now that the coast is clear.
"Are you alright?" He asks.
Hermione and Harry share a look. "We're fine," Hermione says slowly. "Just tired, but we've been taking naps in shifts."
"Is everything alright?" Harry asks.
Tony sighs. "Why don't you all join us out here? Headmistress McGonagall needs to investigate something with the room."
Something in his gaze must convince his kids not to argue, for they do as he asks without complaint. All the kids file outside, and Draco only gives half-hearted complaints to his mother's ministrations as she checks for herself to ensure he's alright.
Hermione sidles up to Tony and leans her head against his shoulder.
"What's going on?" Her voice is soft.
He places his arm around her shoulders. "Dark magic of some sort. I didn't want you in there any longer." He looked around at the kids, who were all pretending not to eavesdrop. "Harry, Hermione, and Draco can stay here because we're your guardians, but the rest of you will have to return to your common rooms with one of these lovely individuals." He gestures towards the Aurors that are now arriving with Amelia Bones, who had followed him at a more sedate pace.
The kids put up token protests but none of them work and they allow themselves to be led away. Seeing even Tony so worried has most of their arguments shut down before they begin. Hell, he only lets his kids stay because he knows they'd sneak out otherwise. At least this way, he can keep a controlled eye on them.
"Headmistress, if you will?" Madame Bones nods towards the magical room, flanked by the remaining trio of her Aurors.
The elder witch purses her lips as usual but does as requested and paces before the door three times, muttering under her breath as she went. On her third pass, the door morphs before their eyes into a rather plain wooden door, one that Tony had noticed in halls all over the castle. It looks as if it belongs.
"It's inside," the Headmistress confirms. "I'll join you."
The remaining group waits quietly outside as Amelia, Minerva, and the three Aurors enter the room. Tony notices the glances Draco keeps sending Hermione, and him and Narcissa stifle simultaneous sighs. The longer he can avoid that situation, the better, so he does his best not to think about it.
He's distracted when he sees Harry starts to wince. He squints his eyes every few moments, as if someone is shining a bright light in them.
"You good, kid?"
Harry flushes slightly at the attention. "Just starting to get a migraine, that's all. It's nothing."
Tony doesn't believe him. Tony can't remember a time Harry was sick, but he does remember stories Hermione had told about their first year, how Harry had headaches during Defense lessons with their possessed teacher.
Harry's face looks pale and his smile is more like a grimace. "I'm fine…"
And then the Aurors come out of the room, several items hovering in front of them. Tony, Narcissa and the kids press up against the wall as the largest item passes – a large antique wardrobe– followed by several glittering pieces of jewelry.
"...Tony?" Harry's words are breathless now and Tony watches in horror as he nearly collapses, his glasses falling off his face as he leans forward and presses his palms against his temples. "It hurts."
Minerva, Narcissa, Amelia, and one of the Aurors turn towards Harry at the exact same time. Hermione is the one who reacts fastest.
"I'm sorry, Harry– stupefy!"
vii.
Hermione being distraught is the main thing that keeps Tony grounded. It's easy to be in the moment paying attention when he knows he has to look out for her. She's torn between having a breakdown over stunning her brother, and interrogating Minerva over what caused this.
Narcissa notes it first: the item closest to Harry when his symptoms has intensified. "That's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem."
"Not very lost anymore," Tony mutters.
She hums lightly, but Tony can see the clench of her jaw. He returns his attention to Hermione, whose hair is beginning to frizz from the crackle of static electricity around her. Her magic is losing control.
"Hold on a sec, kiddo," Tony says, one hand circling her wrist which has unconsciously begun to raise her wand in her frustration. "Run it by me again?"
Her eyes don't leave Minerva. The headmistress' lips are in a tight line, but so far she has not interrupted, so Tony knows Hermione is right on the money.
"I looked in the Restricted Section, but all I found were references to books on mind magic, so i borrowed them from Draco." The boy blushes under his mother's newfound attention. "Nothing reflected Harry's symptoms though– he felt Riddle's anger. If it was mind magic, then Harry wouldn't have been able to identify it as not his own." There are visible sparks in her hair now. "And when Professor Moody spoke about the Unforgivables in Defense, he said that the Killing Curse is labeled such because it splits the caster's soul." Tony's stomach drops; it is public knowledge what curse Harry is purported to survive. "This is soul magic."
He's connected the dots as she spoke and continues with what she leaves unsaid. It is all he could burden from her for now.
"They're two handheld radios getting feedback from each other." His gaze turned to the hovering tiara, glinting menacingly in the torchlight. "That's got a slice of the bastards soul in it, doesn't it?"
viii.
Harry is taken to St. Mungo's for precautionary scans.
The diadem is moved to the Headmistress' office to await Gringotts' opening hours.
Hermione is already speaking with Narcissa about specialists she knows who would be receptive to per-hour consultations.
Once he's been retrieved from speaking with the board members, Sirius pops off with only a muttered word about checking the Black family library and after a moment's hesitation, takes Draco with him for some "family bonding."
Tony sits with Harry. He sits and observes the scans that the healers run (files their designs away for later), and he plans on where to go from here.
ix.
They ennervate Harry early the next morning, when they are certain he does not pose an immediate risk to himself or others. He is clearly confused, eyes blinking rapidly as he observes his new surroundings. It doesn't seem like his head hurts anymore, which he confirms when the healer asks.
His expression is stony as he listens to Hermione's suspicions. His fingers clench at the sheets beneath him.
The room is silent when she finishes, lip worrying between her teeth as she watches him for any reaction.
"You're bloody quick with a stunner, sis," he jokes, a shaky smile sliding onto his face. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."
Hermione laugh is somewhere near a sob. Tony's huff is between a chuckle and a sigh.
"What do you have in mind?" Harry turns to Tony. His eyes are wide and reflect the fear that Tony is trying hard not to show himself.
Deep breath in. He's the adult here.
"Well… whoever made that flaming goblet didn't agree with the notion of medical disqualification," Tony starts lightly. "That's my immediate concern. I don't think keeping it in you a few more months will make much difference to your health or safety as it is now," he says honestly, despite the way the words feel ashy on his tongue.
"I want it out," Harry says.
"I know," Tony replies. "And we're gonna get it out, but I'm not putting you at risk with a half-assed plan either."
"I'm emancipated," Harry tries.
Tony raises a brow. "And?" Like he gives a shit about the laws right now. Emancipated or not– Harry is his kid now, just like Hermione. His responsibility.
Harry's shoulders drop. "I know you're right. I just wish you weren't."
Tony gets that. Any other day, that'd be an insult, but now? He wishes he wasn't right either.
"What about the diadem?" Harry continues.
"Now that is something we can handle sooner." He rises from his chair and pats Harry's thigh impatiently. "Up and att'em, Harry. We've got an appointment to make with the goblin horde."
x.
Tony and Hermione had rarely been inside Gringotts. The majority of their money was back in the States and under much more secure management system than at the hands of a magical creature community that had waged multiple bloody rebellions against the discriminatory Wixen government. That, and Tony hadn't wanted to spend too much time there and have anything lead to questioning their identity as members of House Dagworth-Granger. They'd only gone for quick currency exchanges if they forgot in advance and never stepped foot past the lobby.
Tony wasn't sure that he even would be able to, considering his no-maj status, but like hell he was going to let Harry and Hermione go in alone with Sirius, Minerva and Amelia Bones. Sirius had officially labeled Harry as his heir now that he was recovered enough to claim lordship of House Black, Minerva represented Hogwarts as the diadem was one of the founder's, and Amelia joined as this was part of her open investigation.
They're greeted by a duo of goblins before they even reach a teller and brought back to a long, ornate hallway. Tony treats it like he's on his way to a Stark Enterprises board meeting: shoulders back, smug smirk, confident walk. He can see the way Hermione dons the mask that'd made her a media darling in her few short outings. Harry looks askance at all of them and does his best to imitate them, but it's clear he's tired. Tony places a brief but reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Amelia gives the introductions once they're escorted into a room with a long mahogany table, a rather large goblin seated in the middle of one side with two armored guards flanking him. He stands and the two grasp forearms.
"Lords Black, Dagworth-Granger and Potter, Heir Dagworth-Granger, Headmistress McGonagall, this is Ragnok of Clan Drak, leader of the Horde and head of Gringotts."
For once in his life, Tony kept his comments to himself. His knowledge of Gringotts and the goblins was only cursory, but enough to know that pissing them off would lead to enemies with sharp swords and long memories. It wasn't worth it with what was at stake.
"Your message said you had an object of interest to us all to be destroyed?" Ragnok cut right to the point.
And one that has already been destroyed, Hermione interrupts before any of the adults can answer. Tony's proud of the nonchalant way she pulls a tattered black diary out of her inner pocket of her robes and slides it across the table for Ragnok to examine. "Sorry, Headmistress McGonagall, but I knew this would be important to show."
He knew what it was by the way Harry flinches when he sees it. That horrendous second year and the giant petrifying snake– he's glad Hermione had brought it along as well.
One of the guards snarls and Ragnok recoils. "It is a good thing we had per-arranged this meeting," he says lowly, "for if you had brought this into our halls with no warning, we would have struck you down where you stand."
"You know what it is then?" Amelia confirms.
"An abomination," he gnashes. "A shredded soul."
"We have another." Minerva levitated the diadem over the table so none of them had to touch it. "This one is intact."
"To see goblin-forged jewels bastardized in such manner…" Ragnok's fury was a sight to behold. "What do you seek of us?"
"Assistance in removing the soul fragment without damaging the vessel."
"It cannot just be about these jewels," Ragnok said slowly. "Wixen do not hold the same regard for our art as the horde does."
"They want to try it on the diadem before they do it on me," Harry blurts. Tony sighs and runs a hand through his hair. He already knows he's going gray from these kids.
"We weren't going to say it like that, but he's right," Tony says. "I understand the tiara is important to your people, but my son's life is more important to me. We'd like to work with you to develop a cleansing ritual."
Ragnok leaned forward with interest. "It will take some time, for certain. But yes, we are in agreement."
xi.
Tony arranges a meeting with their cousin, Terezia Varga. Right off the bat, he asks her if she's heard of Occlumency.
She raises a brow at him from across the cafe table.
"It's an old magic," is all she says.
He can work with that. "That's not a no, so I'll take that as a yes. I want to hire you to tutor Harry and Hermione."
Terezia observes him carefully. "I want to meet Néni Ana. Consider that my payment."
"I'll do you one better. Stay with us over Easter and summer break, and we'll have some real cousin bonding time."
"I accept."
xii.
"Tony?" Hermione peeks her head into his workshop, creeping in after he waves her over. "Can we have a Yule party?" She came to perch on the edge of his worktable. "Harry doesn't want to go to the Yule ball, and neither do I."
He paused his soldering to look up with concern. "Are you sure? If this is to make me less worried–"
"No!" Hermione yelped. "I promise it's not. Neither of us want to deal with the spectacle of it. Harry especially doesn't want to be the center of attention right now. I thought it might be nice if we had something here instead."
He raises a brow. "There's something else she's not saying."
"And this way, Harry can have Hope over as his date," she added slyly.
"I'm proud of you."
"Love you too," Hermione said with a smile and kissed him on his temple.
"Talk with Jarvis to get everything set up!" He called after her.
"I will. Oh, Draco's coming too!" She said just as the door closed behind her.
Tony made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a groan. It was something he would've done.
"Yup. Proud."
xiii.
He never expected their penthouse to be full of kids on Christmas night. With a little help from Sirius, it'd been altered enough to pass for a fully magical residence. The temporary Floo connection meant the kids could all come directly from home– since they were skipping the Yule ball, there'd been no need to stay at Hogwarts over the entire holiday. The ones that had remained simply came through the open Floo in Hogsmeade at the Three Broomsticks.
Hope and Sharon had both been escorted by Rhodey. To be fair, Susan had essentially done her equal share of escorting the younger girl. Rhodey had an amused smile when he walked in.
Hope and Sharon are joined quickly by Dean, Seamus, Blaise, Parvati, and Padma, the latter three who hand over thank you letters from their parents, as they'd explained this was the reason they went home for the holidays. Draco was side-alonged with Sirius, who was cajoled by Narcissa into spending some time with the family that day.
The guest list was slightly expanded, Sirius says with a grin as he joins Tony at the kitchen bar.
"And that means?"
"You'll see," he winks. Tony is not at all reassured.
When the Gryffindor Quidditch team piles through the Floo only to shortly be followed by Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, and Viktor Krum alongside their cousin Terezia, Tony just sighs heavily.
"Harry didn't want to be the center of attention, but the press would notice if only he was missing." Sirius takes a leisurely sip of his firewhiskey. "So now he's not the only one missing."
"I hate that you're right."
"Blessed Yule to you and yours," Sirius tips his glass in cheers and downs the rest.
The chaos that will inevitably be the papers of the next day is worth Harry's excitement now.
xiv.
The party is in full swing and the adults a few drinks in by the time Tony gets a moment with Hermione.
Fleur Delacour had looked very lost at first, but Sharon had latched onto her and soon the French girl had opened up. Viktor Krum had asked Hermione to dance, and it was worth Tony not intruding just to see the look on Draco's face. Dean was trying to teach the Gryffindors the steps to a no-maj party line dance. Terezia had disappeared into the kitchen with Néni Ana for a private reunion while Rhodey and Edwin Jarvis stayed to supervise.
By the time Hermione dances with Tony, she is wearing the arm bracer he made for her and gifted this morning, his latest mini-repulser model. Harry has a similar model on after he saw how well it worked when he faced the Death Eaters with it at the World Cup.
"The Malfoy boy? Really?" Tony asks her.
She rolls her eyes. "He swore an Unbreakable Vow to protect me, Tony."
"Hmph. still. Rhodey's giving him the shovel talk now."
"What?! Tony!"
"Nope. You're gonna let me have this one. I'd do anything for you kids."
"I know," she whispered.
There was a loud bang and they all whirled in the direction of the Weasley twins. "Sorry Lord DG! Christmas crackers went off too early."
"I told you we should've search and frisked them." Hermione heads towards them, hair sparking at its tips.
This was one battle he was happy to let her fight on her own.
A/N: tbh this story has a soul of its own- it takes me where it needs to go. as a reminder: Death Eater ideology and irl supremacists and hate towards others just for existing is bad! thanks for coming to my TED talk : )